The Nation September 24, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

CBN to battle billionaire debtors

PHCN firms: Oando, Vigeo, others to wait

NEWS

Page 25

•BPE shifts financial bidding date

•Apex bank to call in law agents

NEWS

Page 4

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TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

VOL. 7, NO. 2258 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

ONDO 2012

N150.00

•Akeredolu to Mimiko: your time is up •AND ON •Ondo PDP flays plan to probe Agagu MORE PAGES 8&9 •Judge withdraws from PDP vs CJ suit

Bloody day in church Suicide bomber kills three Kids among 46 injured From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

S

UICIDE bombing made a shocking and bloody return yesterday – after a long lull.

Three people died during a church service in Bauchi.

Forty-six others, including two policemen, were injured, some critically.

A suicide bomber, driving an Opel Vectra saloon car, hit the barricade at St. John’s Catholic Church’s entrance at about 9.00am when the first mass ended and the second mass was about to start.

This is usually when there is a lot of people either leaving the church or coming in.

The casualty figure would have been higher, but for security men who prevented the lone bomber from driving into the church premises, according to an eyewitness.

An unconfirmed report said a woman and her six-year-old son were among the dead.

There were many children among the injured.

Bauchi police spokesman Hassan Muhammed Auyo, who gave the casualty figure as three and 46 injured, confirmed that two policemen were injured.

The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bauchi State chapter, Rev. Lawi Pokti, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that more than 40 other worshippers were injured.

He put the figure of the dead at four.

•Wreckage of the suicide bomber’s car …yesterday

The suicide bomber ‘came in an Opel saloon car but could not get through to the church premises. So, he hit the barricade at the gate and detonated his explosive device

Continued on page 4

Floods overrun Abuja-Lokoja road

’

SEE ALSO PAGE 11

•Ogbeh’s farm submerged in Benue

F

LOODS have taken over the Lokoja-Abuja road- the major access to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) – the seat of power.

The River Niger has overflowed its banks, submerging the road and many homes. The floods caused a chaotic traffic on the road, with vehicles forming long queues on both sides.

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

The queue at the Lokoja end of the road has extended to Obajana village, about 15 kilometres drive to the Lokoja city centre. Many passengers are stranded The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) is expected to close the Continued on page 4

•Some of the injured victims being evacuated to the hospital…yesterday

PHOTOS: NAN

•FCMB’s Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ladi Balogun and the Chairman, Dr. Jonathan Long (right) during the Court-Ordered Meeting where 99.98 shareholders of the bank approved the FCMB and FinBank merger...at the weekend.

•CITYBEAT P10 •SPORT P23 •CEO P32 •JOBS P37 •POLITICS P43

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

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NEWS

UK’s annual gas Several times, the Federal Government has shifted the goal post of when to end gas flaring, which cost the country over $2 billion last year. The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited and other LNG projects through which the gas being flared can be monetised are not receiving enough attention, writes OLUKOREDE YISHAU •Vice-President Namadi Sambo (left), Akwa Ibom State Governor Goodswill Akpabio and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar at the third Unity Conference for the Southsouth and Southeast Muslim Ummah in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State... at the weekend.

•Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony Elumelu(second right), CEO, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Dr. Wiebe Boer(first left) Deputy Director, Entrepreneur Development Centre (EDC), Ms. Nneka Okekeani and Director, EDC, Peter Bankole, at the EDC’s Annual SME Convention, held in Lagos... at the weekend.

•Marketing Director, Guiness Nigeria, Mr. Austin Ufomba , the company’s Managing Director Seeni Adetu, Commercial Director Lisa Nichols, Marketing Manager, Innovations Sola Oke and Corporate Relations Director Sesan Sobowale at the launch of SNAPP in Lagos...at the weekend.

T

HE flames light up the sky all day. The noise that comes from them is a continuous roar, like that of a jet set to take off. The villages around the flares are all very hot.

And, wait for this: doctors have reported higher rates of cancer, children with asthma and there are suspicions the burning gas may be making residents infertile.

These are the lot of communities who live near Nigeria’s more than 1,000 onshore well heads and are daily blighted by gas plumes that rise from the ground, spreading toxic smoke and chemicals over their farms.

These toxic orange flares – a byproduct of the 2m-barrel-a-day oil industry – spew the equivalent of the United Kingdom’s annual gas use every three months, The Nation learnt.

This development has earned the country a place as the second largest gas flaring nation, behind Russia.

Aniete Aniete, a fisherman in the Niger Delta, said: “Because of the flares, it is so hot, it is smoky. The air is thick and it is constantly daytime here. Our rivers are black and the [acid] rain eats our houses. Our bodies are covered in oil. You feel that if you live to old age here, it is a miracle.”

In Nigeria, burning off the associated gas (AG) has been illegal since 1984. The Federal Government has set up several deadlines to end the practice. Some reductions have actually been seen recently. Oil companies and the Federal Government blame each other for a lack of infrastructure needed to trap and pipe flared gas.

The oil majors, ExxonMobil, Shell and Chevron between them flared 23.5bn cubic feet of gas in January alone, according to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).

Alexandra Gillies of Cambridge University, who is researching Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, said the Ministry of Petroleum Resources could end flare if it got tough with the oil companies.

“The ministry could make the plan succeed, if they worked systematically and really got tough with the companies,” he said.

The Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which is being considered by the National Assembly, has a provision against flaring.

A section in the Bill reads: “Any licensee who flares or vents gas without the permission of the minister in (special) circumstances ... shall be liable to pay a fine which shall not be less than the value of gas.”

Environmentalists believe tightening existing legislation will not stop the release of greenhouse gases that are choking the mangroves of the Niger Delta.

The chairman of the Southsouth Youth Leaders Forum, Amachree Odiedim, said: “Another law won’t change anything. All eyes always turn to multinationals but the flaring originates from government-owned companies too.”

Towards ending flare

•Head, Mobile Banking, Stanbic IBTC Mr. Yinka Shorungbe (left) , CEO, Livewell Initiative Mrs. Bisi Bright and Permenent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Femi Olugbile at the fifth anniversary of Livewell Initiative and launch of Easy Health powered by Stanbic IBTC Mobile money in Lagos PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA.

Former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon last Wednesday revealed that over 460 billion standard cubic feet of gas that, if processed and exported, would have fetched the country over $2 billion was flared.

With a gas reserve of 187 trillion cu-

•Omotowa

bic metres estimated to last 109 years and unproven reserve of about 600 trillion cubic metres expected to last about 300 years, the country has the 7th largest gas reserve.

Gen. Gowon, who spoke while on a visit to the NLNG Plant in Finima, Bonny Island, said the country is thus not gaschallenged but gas-infrastructure-challenged. “We have more than enough gas to meet our entire domestic and export market commitments several times over,” he said.

Odiedim said infrastructure to pipe the gas to facilities where it is needed must be put in place. “The government should tackle basic things, giving deadlines to clean all the hundreds of constant little spills and changing obsolete, 50-year-old facilities. Then we will know, OK, this isn’t business as usual,” he said.

For the former Head of State, a major way of ending gas flare is to allow LNG projects being undertaken, such as the NLNG Train Seven, Brass LNG and OK LNG to be completed on time.

He said: “The NLNG has successfully pioneered gas monetisation and is the most significant arrow-head in government’s quest to end gas flaring.”

He added that half of the production volume of the NLNG comes from gas that would have been flared.

Former Head of Interim National Government (ING) Chief Ernest Shonekan said the Federal Government must sanction the NLNG Train Seven.

This is because nothing much can be done without the consent of the government, which has 49 per cent of its $13 billion assets through the NNPC. The remaining 51 per cent is owned by Shell Gas BV, Total LNG Limited and Eni International.

The seventh train has the potential of increasing the plant’s capacity to 30 million metric tonnes.

The former head of ING said: “Nigeria no longer has the luxury of deferring major decisions or of picking and choosing developmental projects to do and in what order. The LNG market is tightening. Other nations are not staying idle…

“That Nigeria is still flaring gas is an unacceptable fact in today’s world, not only from a health and environmental perspective, but also for the basic fact that the perpetrators are burning cash. Again, as a former captain of industry and a statesman, I find it detestable that our country not only still leaves value on the

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

3

NEWS

gas use ‘flared in Nigeria every three months’ THE FIGURES

$2b •Estimate of what Nigeria loses to gas flare 2m •Nigeria’s total barrel of daily oil production 460b •Standard cubic feet of Nigeria’s annual gas flare 22m •Amount of metric tonnes of the country’s LNG 187t •Cubic metres of Nigeria’s proven gas reserve 600t •Cubic metres of Nigeria’s unproven gas reserve $2.2b •The amount FG may realise annually from Train Seven 80m •Qatar’s metric tonnes of LNG production

•A typical gas flaring site in the Niger Delta

We must monetise our gas resources, says Gowon Former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon was on Wednesday at the Finima, Bonny Island, Rivers State plant of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited. He spoke about the evil of gas flaring and others. Excerpts:

N

IGERIA started commercial oil export in 1957 but only produced its first LNG 42 years after, in 1999. I am aware that Nigeria LNG Limited has, in just 13 years of production, brought in over $51 billion in revenue, delivered $9 billion dividends to Nigeria and paid $10 billion to the Joint Venture companies. If you do a simple math, you will see that the Nigeria LNG project would have earned $130 billion over the 35 years of inactivity.

It is therefore very disheartening if one stops for a moment and thinks about how different this country would have been if we had the benefit of an LNG plant since the 1960s. Think of how much money the nation would have made from gas export; how many roads, how many schools and how many jobs would have been created in Nigeria in the 35 years the LNG plant was sitting idly on the drawing board.

Think of how much cash, sorry gas, we burnt between when we found oil in 1957 and when Nigeria LNG was able to start monetising our gas resources in 1999. Last year, this country flared over 460 billion standard cubic feet of gas that, if processed and exported, would have fetched the country over $2 billion and minimised the health and environmental impact of gas flares.

History recorded that the windows of opportunity to build LNG plants disappeared in both the 1960s and 1970s – the two times we came so close to building an LNG plant in Nigeria, when due to delays in reaching decisions, other countries, especially in Europe (i.e. North Sea) got to the global market earlier than we did. But opportunities do not disappear; they go elsewhere, especially when we fail to utilise them.

Think of how oil palm industry left Nigeria for Malaysia. Think of how athletics – we won Gold at the Sydney Olympics 12 years ago – left Nigeria to Jamaica. And the worst of all, countries we started out with in the LNG business have all left us behind.

Nigeria LNG Limited used to be the fastest growing LNG plant in the world. But for the past five years, a country like Qatar has moved from 20 to 80 million tonnes range, whilst a country like Australia has made final investment decision to build LNG projects up to 80 million tonnes. I now understand that Mozambique and Tanzania will soon be joining the gas producers with the export of LNG. All the LNG projects on the drawing board in Nigeria (NLNG Train Seven, Brass LNG, OKLNG) will add about 30million tonnes of LNG to our table and walks away, year after year, but also continues to literally pour money into flames by flaring gas!”

State of the LNG projects When the NLNG started, it was with only two trains, which had a capacity to produce about six metric tonnes of LNG per annum. In less than a decade, the

national output, which is not that much when we compare with Australia which has only 60% of our reserves but effectively generates much higher domestic electricity and will soon be exporting much more LNG than the all the LNG companies in Nigeria combined.

So I am still not completely fulfilled that we haven’t reached our destination in that journey we started so long ago. I am worried that history is about to repeat itself as other players (including the USA, a previous importer now a net exporter) will get to the global market ahead of us and it may be another 30-50 years lost. I will not like to see another great opportunity lost due to our lethargy.

We can’t afford to sit on the fence any longer. The time to build Train Seven is now!

Nigeria LNG Limited has become too much of a good example to be allowed to fail; too much of a national beacon to be allowed to stumble; too much of a winning model to switch midstream.

Like the Nobel laureate, William Faulkner would say, I hope that this company’s success will not merely endure; it will prevail. We live in very perilous times, that even only to endure, nations and companies must prevail – over an accelerating technology that threatens to escape their control and over volatile markets that obscure hard work and make success seem like lottery.

I have in private discussions with the management of Nigeria LNG Limited been assured that Train Seven will provide no fewer than 10,000 construction jobs; will attract over $8 billion in Direct Foreign Investment with its strong balance sheet; and will increase monetisation of gas resources, otherwise still being flared.

With a proven gas reserve in the country of 187 trillion cubic metres estimated to last 109 years and unproven reserve of about 600 trillion cubic metres expected to last about 300 years, Nigeria has the 7th largest gas reserve and is not gas-challenged; it is only gas-infrastructure-challenged. We have more than enough gas to meet our entire domestic and export market commitments several times over!

It’s seven years since activities leading up to Train Seven started in September 2005, five years since Sales and Purchase Agreements were executed with five international buyers, and five years since PreFID construction activities started in April 2007 with $300m spent so far on such activities as soil preparation, preloads, and geotechnical

Nigeria LNG project grew to a sixtrain operating plant producing 22 million tonnes of Liquefied Natural Gas per annum.

Five years ago, it signed sales and purchase agreement for its seventh train intended to raise production to about 30 million tonnes of LNG. But up till now, the seventh train is still a

•Gen. Gowon

investigations on Bonny Island. We no longer can afford to delay or dither.

As a former President and a statesman who constantly prays for this country, including for us not to repeat the mistakes of the past, I urge the government and the shareholders not to let this happen. Let’s build Train Seven now before the window of opportunity goes away to other countries.

I gather that the Honourable Minister for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Deziani Allison-Madueke, and the former Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Mr. Austen Oniwon, publicly announced that Train Seven FID will be taken by 2013. This is good.

It is important to provide the market and investors comfort at the highest levels that the FID will be taken from 2013, which will also ensure that all stakeholders follow up with the work necessary to ensure that this happens. It will also go a long way to assure the market that Nigeria is serious about meeting this time table, this time around, and when the history of NLNG is told, the resolve and prescience of the current government in making it grow, will be rewarded with high praise.

dream, a situation which has made other countries leave Nigeria behind.

No thanks to the inability of the country to improve on its LNG production capacity.

The Nigeria LNG Limited, once the fastest growing facility in the world, has slipped from controlling 10 per cent of the market share to about 8 per

cent. Qatar and Australia are now the leaders. Qatar has moved its output from 20 million metric tonnes to 80 million metric tonnes. Australia, from its previous 20 metric tonnes, now churns out 81 metric tonnes annually.

NLNG is stuck at 22 million metric tonnes. Australia has 10 LNG projects, with 20 trains and $215 billion worth

of final investment decision.

The United States (U.S.), formerly a major LNG export destination, plans to become a net LNG exporter by 2016, with 1.1 billion cubic feet per day, projected to rise to 2.2 billion cubic feet per day in 2019.

China, with an estimated gas reserve of 1,275 trillion cubic metres, is also planning big for the LNG market.

The Brass LNG, The Nation learnt, is about to take Final Investment Decision (FID) for 20 million metric tonnes. In the case of the OK LNG, sandwiched between Ondo and Ogun states, Nigerians may have to wait till 2014 to know what direction it is moving.

NLNG’s Managing Director Babs Omotowa believes the delay in the progress of LNG projects may dip Nigeria’s market share in the global liquefied natural gas supply by a marginal 5 percent in 2017.

Omotowa, while speaking at the 2012 edition of the Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG-12) conference in Abuja, said output has stagnated at 22 million metric tonnes per annum.

He said: “Looking at the market share dip to 10 percent in 2008; which is now 8 percent and will be 5 percent by 2017. Accelerated progress on Train 7 and other LNG projects will help build a better Nigeria.”

Shonekan said efforts at developing the country’s gas reserves are grossly inadequate, given the fact that a country like Australia with less gas reserves now have an LNG output of 81 metric tonnes. He also believes the country has a capacity to undertake more than one LNG projects at once, which suggests he sees no sense in NNPC’s position that the seventh NLNG train has to wait for the Brass LNG.

What is in Train Seven, other LNG projects Building the seventh train of the NLNG plant, say industry watchers, will bring in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) estimated at over $8 billion, help reduce flared gas and improve the country’s revenue profile.

The country will also reap an additional $2.2 billion annually in dividend.

Omotowa believes the delay in progressing the NLNG Train 7 project, the Brass LNG and OK LNG projects, has deprived Nigeria of raising its LNG production to 52 million metric tonnes per annum.

Construction of the three LNG projects will create jobs. NLNG estimates that no less than 10,000 hands will be needed for its seventh train.

And when completed, more hands will also be needed to man the plants, thus helping to reduce the army of unemployed.

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THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

NEWS Floods overrun Abuja-Lokoja road Continued from page 1

•The submerged Efugo Farm in Makurdi...yesterday

PHOTO: UJA EMMANUEL

PHCN firms: Oando, Vigeo, others to wait

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IDDERS for electricity distribution companies will have to wait longer as the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) yesterday postponed the opening of financial bids. The opening of bid, earlier scheduled for October 10 will now hold on October 16.

A statement by the BPE in Abuja said the postponement was to give bidders the required 15 working days to procure and submit their postqualification security.

The agency said the shift in date was necessitated by the time lost from the postponement of the last meeting of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) from September 13 to September 18.

It assured stakeholders that all other dates in the timeline for the privatisation of the successor companies of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) remained un-

changed.

The agency said the opening of the financial bids of investors for the five generation companies, whose technical proposals met the requirement would take place as scheduled on Tuesday.

The statement named the three bidders shortlisted for Ughelli Power as Feniks Electricity, Transcorp and Wood Rock/Symbion Power/ Medea/PSL/Thomasen and Amperion Power Distribution Ltd. For Sapele Power Plc, CMEC/EURAFRIC Energy and JBN-Nestoil Power Services were shortlisted. Amperion Power Distribution Ltd emerged for Geregu Power Plc. Mainstream Energy Solutions was shortlisted for the Kainji Power Plc. North-South Power was listed for Shiroro Power Plc.

On Afam Power Plc, the sixth generation company put up for sale, the privatisation agency said no bidder was technically qualified for the company.

On September 18, the NCP approved a list of prospective investors qualified to bid for 10 electricity distribution companies.

The electricity distribution firms proposed for sale are located in Ibadan, Ikeja, Abuja, Enugu, Jos, Eko, Port Harcourt, Yola, Kano, Benin and Kaduna.

The NCP said Ikeja Distribution Company received the highest number of qualified bids with eight firms.

They are: Oando Consortium, Amperion Power Distribution Company Ltd, Honeywell Energy Resources Limited and Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Company.

Others are Vigeo Holdings, Gumco, African Corporation AFC and CESC, Kepco/ NEDC Consortium, West Power and Gas and Rockson Engineering.

The Eko Distribution Company received the second highest number of bids, with six firms showing interest.

The bidders are Oando Consortium, Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Company, Sepco-Pacific Energy Consortium, Kepco/ NEDC Consortium, Honeywell Energy Resources, Limited West Power and Gas as well as Rockson Engineering.

Three bidders shortlisted for Ibadan Distribution Company are Western Consortium, Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Company and Kepco/NEDC Consortium.

For the Abuja Distribution Firm, the NCP approved two Continued on page 58

road today.

In a statement yesterday by deputy corps public education officer Mr. Bisi Kazeem, the FRSC said: “FRSC intends blocking the Lokoja-Abuja highway as water level rises andthe road becomes impassable.

“Motorists are advised to completely avoid the route and ply alternative routes.”

Mr Isaac Martins, the head of Operations of the State Sector Command of the FRSC said the problem was more serious with the small cars, adding that it takes officials and youths assisting them an average of 20 minutes to help a car out of the water. “ Vehicles are moving but they are moving slowly.

That is just the situation at hand now,’’ Martins said.

He urged motorists to use alternative roads, pending when the flood would be over.

Also in Kogi State, the Nigeria Red Cross Society said yesterday that it had deployed three boats in the riverine areas of Ibaji Local Government to rescue trapped flood victims taking refuge on tree tops.

Mr Mustafa Allah-Dey, the chairman of the state branch of the Red Cross, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja that the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) released the boats for the rescue operation.

Allah-Dey said that men of the Navy and officials of NEMA, SEMA and the state Ministry of Environment were also involved in the operation, adding that many of the victims were said to be in life-threatening situations.

To him, the people should be blamed for their predicament, adding that they failed to heed several warnings to quit their homes to avoid being trapped.

The chairman said he did not have the figure of the exact number of people

trapped and that no report of casualties had been received.

He only described the situation in Ibaji as “very terrible”.

In Makurdi, the Benue State capital, the billion naira farm belonging to former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Audu Ogbeh was submerged by floods.

The water overflowing from River Benue which has caused havoc in Makurdi, ravaged Efugo Farm and home of the political chieftain, in Terwase Agbadu.

The Agbadu settlement is on the Makurdi-Gboko road.

The farm and the house are not far away from the bank of the river.

Yesterday’s flood covered a two-kilometre stretch, overrunning homes and farms.

The floods also affected the Living Faith Church, Benue Links, Federal Mass Transit Park, Kucha Utebe and parts of Benue Brewery’s factory.

Many residents hurriedly moved into camps provided

by Benue State government.

There was panic, following rumours that more water would be released from Lagdo Dam in Cameroun, which is the cause of the flooding.

The Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency(SEMA),Mr Adikpo Agbatse, said the situation was beyond the capability of the state. He advised those still living close to River Benue to relocate.

Efugo Farms has poultry, piggery, livestock feeds section and a massive rice plantation. A close aide of Ogbeh, who pleaded anonymity, put the value of the farm at over N2 billion.

The farm covers 10 kilometres. It has pigs, chickens and hatch eggs valued at over N50 million. All were destroyed. The floods washed away many birds.

Ogbeh, who is based in Abuja, could not be reached last night.

Bloody day in church as three die in suicide bomb attack Tambuwal, HURIWA condemn bombing

Continued from page 1

“The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in collaboration with stakeholders also confirmed that three people died from the explosion.

“Apart from the suspected suicide bomber who was killed by the explosion, a woman and a child also lost their lives after the incident.

“Twenty two other injured victims are currently receiving medical treatment in hospital in Bauchi,” According to a statement by NEMA’s spokesman, Yushau Shuaib.

The CAN chairman said: “The incident occurred around 8.55a.m. when the first set of worshippers were coming out of the church and the second session was about to start.

“The suicide bomber came in an Opel saloon car but could not get through to the church premises. So, he hit the barricade at the gate and detonated his explosive device.

“He and three worshippers died while over 40 others were injured. Some of those injured are battling between life and death.”

A worshipper, Mr Osondu Chukwu, told NAN that but

H

OUSE of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and pro-democracy Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) yesterday condemned the suicide bombing at the St. John’s Catholic Church in Bauchi.

Tambuwal described the attack as ignoble, wicked and horrendus.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal urged security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of the violent act are brought to justice.

He said the gains recorded by the security agencies in their battle against terror in the country in recent weeks should be built upon in order to protect the citizens at all times.

While condoling with the victims of the blast, Tambuwal urged Nigerians to be more prayerful and to provide useful information that would lead to the arrest of the perpetrators and their sponsors.

HURIWA urged President Goodluck Jonathan to declare a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Adamawa and Kano State for six months to enable the for the barricade, the casualties would have been more.

“The sound was massive and you can imagine if he had succeeded in getting to the hall where the service was taking place,” he said.

Mr Adamu Abubakar, the

government take far-reaching emergency measures to combat the rising spate of targeted bomb attacks and to bring the perpetrators of the dastardly crimes to justice.

The Rights Group also chided the Federal Government for doing nothing to improve border security to prevent illegal arms from flooding into Nigeria through the borders.

In a statement signed jointly by the National Co-ordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Officer Miss. Zainab Yusuf, the rights group urged the government to stop the sensational media celebration of the capture of suspected kingpins of the insurgents in the North, but to concentrate effort towards the building of formidable intelligence of the security operatives to effectively deter the continuous bomb attacks and targeted killings of high profile government officials and innocent worshippers.

HURIWA urged the Federal Government to probe the widely held allegation that the suspected bombers arrested and

Secretary of the Nigeria Red Cross in Bauchi State, also told NAN on telephone that three persons died along with the bomber.

“Three persons died and 48 others were injured. Those injured are now being treat-

detained without proper documentation and speedy prosecution may have bribed their way out of detention.

HURIWA also blamed the governors of the affected states in the North for, according to it, failing to play their constitutional roles.

The Rights group said: “Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda has come under intense criticism from a cross segment of the people, especially from the ethnic and religious minority tribes from Tafawa Balewa area for allegedly failing to protect their constitutional rights by surreptitiously undermining their representation at the House of Assembly through the suspension on nebulous grounds of the female member representing the constituency in the Bauchi State House of Assembly.”

The group condemned the Bauchi Catholic Church bomb attack as an unprovoked attack on innocent persons for the mere fact that they have chosen to worship their God in accordance with their faith.

ed at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi,” he said.

Bauchi State Health Commissioner Dr.Sani Mallama said yesterday at the Trauma Centre of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching

Hospital Bauchi that many people are critically injured.

A source at the centre said, “about 50 people sustained various injuries from critical to minor.

“You can count by yourself, though journalists are not al-

•Speaker Tambuwal lowed in here, but since “you were allowed in you can see things for yourself, but don’t take photographs.”

The commissioner said even those in critical conditions were being stabilised Continued on page 58

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THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

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NEWS FoI: SERAP, WARDC sue Fed Govt

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HE Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Women Advocates and Research and Documentation Center (WARDC) have sued the Federal Government to the Federal High Court, Ikeja.

They are asking for leave “to apply for judicial relief and to seek an order of mandamus directing and or compelling the government to disclose and make available upto-date information on government/public spending relating to maternal death prevention for the past five years.”

Joined as defendants are the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke and the Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu.

The suit followed a Freedom of Information request by the groups dated August 13, and signed by SERAP’s Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni.

The motion exparte was brought pursuant to Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act, and Order 34 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2009, and signed on behalf of the groups by SERAP’s Staff Attorney Chinyere Nwafor.

The organisations argued that “under the FoI, they have the right to request for or gain access to information which is in the custody or possession of any public official, agency or institution.”

According to the groups, “the defendants/respondents have a binding legal obligation to provide the applicants with the information requested for.

The information requested for relates to the details of spending on prevention of maternal deaths for the past five years; and this information does not come within the purview of the types of information exempted from disclosure by the provisions of the FoI Act. Up till the time of filing this action, the defendants/respondents have failed, neglected and refused to make available the information requested by the applicants.

The defendants/respondents have no reason whatsoever to deny the plaintiffs/applicants access to the information sought for.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the application.

Why govt won’t sell power transmission firms, by minister T

HE Federal Government won’t sell its transmission companies due to security reason, Minister of State for Power Darius Ishaku, said at the weekend.

He said no nation would put up for sale the transmission subsector of its power grid, stressing that it could be counter-productive.

Ishaku made this known when he visited the Afam Power Station in Rivers State.

Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

He assured workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) that they would benefit more, with the privatisation of the power sector.

The minister said: “Power generation and distribution can be in private hands, but the link and the most critical part of the entire process that takes power to the final consumers is the transmis-

sion subsector. Power in private hands can hold the entire nation to ransom.

“No country in the world privatises the transmission company of its power sector.

Transmission is the most critical link between generation and distribution of power.

“If power transmission is privatised, the owner of the company can hold the whole nation to ransom. That is why government thought it wise to only bring in man-

agement consultants, who are to train Nigerians for a brief period and leave citizens of the country to run it.

“Privatisation is all about hope. Hope for a brighter tomorrow. In the last 20 years, there had been no manpower development in the power sector.”

Ishaku added that PHCN engineers were the last crop, with some of them retiring, without younger persons to replace them.

•From Left: Minister of National Planning, Dr Shamsudeen Usman; Mr. Maku; Senator Muhammed, and officials of FCT, inspecting the expressway during the tour in Abuja...yesterday

Illegal refineries, vandalisation are our greatest threat, says Maku I INFORMATION Minister Labaran Maku at the weekend attributed the twin menace of illegal refineries and pipelines vandalism as the greatest threat to the nation’s socio-economic development.

The Minister spoke while inspecting the Civil Defence Academy during the National Good Governance Tour of projects in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Apart from the illegal activities causing environmental pollution in the Niger Delta, he said it is adversely affecting the nation’s economic income.

Maku noted that the illegal activities are posing great danger to the future of the people of the Niger Delta.

He said: “The greatest threat to Niger Delta region is illegal refinery and pipeline vandalisation. Our forefathers left behind good and safe environment for us. The pollution and contamination that is coming from the Niger Delta is great.”

“If these communities do not stop these activities, it will cause great danger to the future of the people of Niger Delta.”

“So, it is in the interest of those communities and the nation

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

to stop the destructions they are doing in the Niger Delta area,” he said.

Maku also reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to tackle the challenges of environmental degradation in the region.

Inspecting the N13.4 billion Inner Southern Expressway in the city, Maku said the road is strategic and will greatly decongest traffic.

“It will remove grid lock in the city and add value to the residents of the city,” he stated.

The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed said the 3.8 kilometer road is aimed at reducing traffic congestion within the city centre.

Falana salutes ‘outstanding jurist’ Akanbi at 80

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AGOS lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) yesterday described former chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other miscellaneous offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Muhammed Mustapha Akanbi, as a man of outstanding integrity and a jurist of extraordinary courage.

The commendation was contained in a tribute he presented to Justice Akanbi on his 80th birthday in Lagos.

Falana said while some retired judges set up consultancy firms which “serve as agents for corrupt judges”, the jurist is involved in the management of the Akanbi Foundation at Ilorin, Kwara State, where seminars and public lectures are held, from time to time, on the state of the nation.

The human rights activist

By Adebisi Onanuga

said the fight against corruption could have been won if members of the legal profession had collaborated with Justice Akanbi .

Falana recalled how Justice Akanbi turned down the offer of a second term from President Olusegun Obasanjo “when he saw the apparent lack of political will to fight corruption by the government.

Though he worked closely with Nuhu Ribadu, the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to tame the monster of corruption, Falana said Justice Akanbi called it quits when he was frustrated while “Mr Nuhu Ribadu whose appointment was renewed for another term was ultimately

disgraced,demoted and dismissed from the police”.

According to him, most of the high profile cases initated by patriotic Nigerians were either compromised and struck out for want of diligent prosecution or subjected to unending adjournments because the anti-graft agencies were hijacked by corrupt characters under the late President maru Yar’Adua’s administration.

Falana described the Ibori saga as a serious indictment on the Judiciary, which could have been avoided if the fight against corruption had been taken seriously.

The senior advocate praised the ‘gallant’ efforts of Justice Akanbi to combat the menace of corruption as the pioneer chairman of ICPC but which he regretted was

frustrated by powerful corrupt elements in the society.

He recalled that the ICPC under Justice Akanbi filed charges against ministers, senators, permanent secretaries, senior advocates and other powerful people but that their prosecution was messed up by the courts aided by senior lawyers.

“For the two years of the existence of the ICPC, all the cases filed in several courts in the country against corrupt public officers were stayed to await the judgment of the Supreme Court in AttorneyGeneral of Ondo State v Attorney-General of the Federation (2002) 27 WRN 1 wherein the plaintiff sought unsuccessfully to invalidate the ICPC Act. “The requests made to the

•Justice Akanbi

CJN to appoint independent counsel toinvestigate 25 governors accused of corruption in line with Section 52 of the ICPC Act were not granted”.

NUC clears Lead City varsity From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

THE Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State has received a clean bill of health from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to resume lectures in all its approved courses.

The clearance ends a regime of muscle-flexing between the two parties over regulations.

A statement by the institution’s Director of Corporate Affairs and Communication, Dr Ayobami Owolabi said the clearance was communicated through a letter dated September 17 by the commission.

The letter was addressed to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Onabajo.

The commission withdrew the institution’s licence in June, citing nonadherence to regulatory guidelines as the reason for its action.

The statement also assured the NUC of implementing all the quality assurance directives in the university’s forensic audit report.

It expressed gratitude to members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), House Representatives and other stakeholders who made positive contributions to the resolution of the crisis.

By the lifting of the suspension, the university will resume full academic activities in all its accredited courses.

Pilgrims challenged on good conduct INTENDING Christian pilgrims to this year’s pilgrimage have been admonished to adhere strictly to tenets of the Christian faith while in the Holy land.

The Federal Commissioner, National Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) in charge of the Southwest, Mrs. Adefarati Taire, spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State while addressing the first batch of the intending pilgrims during screening.

Mrs. Taire also urged them to shun all acts that could tarnish the image of the State and be good ambassadors of the country during the pilgrimage.

She also advised them to give their detailed and accurate bio-data to officials of the NCPC in order to have a stress-free pilgrimage.

This, according to her is to help both the pilgrims and officials of the commission to make adequate plans that will ensure a success of the exercise.

Chairman of the Ogun State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Bishop Oludotun Ogunseye while also speaking, pointed out that the screening was mandatory for intending pilgrims.

He noted that a comprehensive data was needed to ascertain the genuine intention of pilgrims in order to forestall cases of defection.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTMBER 24, 2012

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NEWS

‘We didn’t know what happened to us ... we just saw ourselves in hospital’ F

OR FIVE surviving victims of the multiple road accidents that occurred on Tuesday at Mabolufon junction, near Ijebu–Ode, Ogun State, it was like walking through the valley of the shadow of death.

They lost consciousness for 36 hours after the accident that killed more than 30 people and left scores critically injured.

The survivors spoke with The Nation from their hospital beds.

Most of the victims were mainly hawkers and commuters who were displaying their wares and waiting to board Lagos-bound vehicles.

But the ill-fated truck, which veered off its lane to ram into two fully-loaded passenger buses, ran over them at the bus stop.

Mrs. Joy David and Mr. Tawaliu Saka, who have been receiving treatment at the State Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, were still writhing in pains when The Nation visited the hospital.

Mrs. David, a snail seller at the Mabolufon junction and others were battling to unravel the mystery of the accident.

Mrs. David said: “I can’t remember what happened, I don’t know. I only woke up and saw myself on this bed in pains and with bandages and cotton wool on my body. I was told I had an accident.”

It was learnt that four more bodies were seen and evacuated from the heap of the flour on Tuesday. Mangled human parts were seen at the scene.

The Chief Medical Director

•Victims of Ogun multiple accidents relive ordeal

•Some victims of the accident on the hospital beds...

(CMD), State Hospital, Ijebu Ode, Dr. Wellington Ogunsanya, told The Nation that his hospital responded promptly.

Saka and others have stabilised.

Ogunsanya, however, said five of the victims who suffered from “severe fracture, head injury, lung - limb fractures were referred to bigger

‘Northern women need business skills’ From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

WOMEN entrepreneurs from the North must sharpen their business skiils, an enterpreneurial expert, Mrs. Shimite Katung, has said.

Mrs. Katung spoke in Abuja yesterday.

She said women entrepreneurs from the North have not been as successful as their counterparts in other regions because of lack of business acumen.

She said a summit was being planned for women enterpreneurs from the 19 Northern states and Abuja.

She said: “A platform needs to be created to showcase the success stories and provide capacity building to engender new enterprises, while ensuring that the tradition and culture are not encroached upon.”

Mrs. Katung said the summit would educate them on how to know basic account skills, the use of an accounts officer, writing business plans, surfing the internet for information and networking with other entrepreneurs.

trauma centres at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu and the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan for special care.

The Nation gathered that the driver of one of the Lagosbound busses involved in the accident was among those who suffered severe fracture.

His leg was chopped off

PHOTOS: ERNEST NWOKOLO

from above his knee region by the truck.

The driver was reported to have taken off from Ajebandele, Ondo State.

He had stopped at the junction to drop Mrs. Adebowale, a nurse and an employee of the Ondo State government.

Though the driver and Mrs. Adebowale survived the acci-

dent, but not without severe injuries that sent them into coma for more than two days.

Mr. Ayomide, who had relocated to the hospital to take care of his wife, Sola, said the woman was waiting to collect the balance of the N1, 000 she gave to the driver, who also came to split the N1, 000 note around the Mabolufon junction.

NAICOM ‘forces out N1.22bn claims from insurance firms in six months’

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HE National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) said its Complaints Bureau facilitated the settlement of N1.2 billion claims by insurance companies in the first half of the year.

In a statement in Abuja at the weekend, the commission said the payment involved 52 cases concluded by the bureau during the period.

It said during the period, the Complaints Bureau dealt with 349 cases and held four adjudication meetings.

Of the number, 86 cases were fresh complaints. The remaining (263) were existing/ongoing cases.

The statement said outstanding claims were currently receiving the attention of the commission and assured the insuring public of quick resolution of issues.

The industry regulator noted that it was “no longer business as usual’’ with insurance firms, considering that there had been remarkable

improvement on compliance with the commission’s directives”.

“Consequently, not less than 85 per cent of the insurance institutions responded to queries or directives issued to them for claim settlement during the period.

“Majority of the 15 per

cent residual are largely claims already before courts of competent jurisdiction and therefore prejudicial for the commission to intervene,’’ the statement said.

It noted that complaints received during the year were mainly those involving non-settlement of

claims on motor insurance, marine, life, bond Issues and pension matters.

It added that complaints were also received from individual policy holders, beneficiaries and government agencies, such as SERVICOM, Legal Aid Council and Public Complaints Commission.

Director of Music for the Conference of Lagos West Baptist Church Lagos, Rev. Isaac Oladimeji (left), Chairman, Lagos West Baptist Church, Rev. Jacob Aremu (second left), Mrs. Mary Adeniji and the President of the conference, Rev. Julius Adeniji at a news conference on the 4th Session Lifeway International Conference of the church in Lagos...yesterday PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN.

The man added that it was while she was waiting to collect the change that the killertruck rammed into the parked passenger bus and those standing around it.

According to him, she regained consciousness on the hospital bed.

She survived a neck injury and bruises on other parts of her body.

Mr. Tawaliu Saka, a 67year-old taxi driver, said he never knew what happened to him until a day later when he woke up and found himself in the hospital.

He said providence saved him from being among those crushed to death.

He said: “When the bus from Ondo State pulled up, I rushed to the place ahead of my colleagues to find out if anybody was going to Ikorodu. But there was only one person and that was Mrs. Ayomide, who was waiting to collect her change from the bus driver.”

Saka said he had barely finished making inquiry when he heard a bang from behind and was quickly swept off the ground, hauled into a distance and passed out.

That was all he could remember about the accident.

The Secretary to the Ogun State Government (SSG), Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa and the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ikemefuna Okoye, visited the victims yesterday.

The CMD told The Nation that the SSG personally donated N200, 000 for the treatment of the victims.

Youths to honour Suswam A GROUP, the Benue Youths in Diasporas Association, plans to honour Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam for exemplary leadership.

The president-General of the group, Comrade Philip Agbese, said Suswam has remained committed to the ideals of governance.

He said: “The civic reception in Abuja is to harness our resources to have an elaborate event where other illustrious sons of Benue State would be invited to throw light on the administration of Governor Gabriel Suswam for posterity.”

Speaking on the National Honour of Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) conferred on Suswam by President Goodluck Jonathan, Agbese said the award is a testimony to the excellent leadership of the Suswam-led administration in Benue State.

He said:“I want to authoritatively confirm to you that the celebration of the award on our governor cannot end in good number of years to come because it is a true reward for visible achievements and quality leadership.”

“Mr. President should be commended for doing a thorough research as the father of this nation to fish out golden fishes like Suswam for this year’s national honour as a way of showcasing rare patriots.”

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

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THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

NEWS ONDO 2012 Buhari, CPC leaders for Ondo From Damisi Ojo, Akure

FORMER Head of State General Muhammudu Buhari will be in Ondo State on Saturday.

He is to present the party’s governorship candidate in the October 20 election, Prince Soji Ehinlanwo, and his running mate, Mrs Damilola Oluyemi, to the electorate.

A statement by the Director-General of the Soji Ehinlanwo Campaign Organisation (SECO), Mr Yomi Adetimehin, said this would bring effective changes to the state.

He said the event would hold at the Democracy Park in Oja–oba, Akure, the state capital.

The statement said the event would draw members from parts of the state and focus on CPC’s theme of real transformational change in Ondo State.

Akeredolu to Mimiko: your T time is up HE Ondo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate in the October 20 election, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), at the weekend urged Governor Olusegun Mimiko to start packing his things from the Government House because he would lose the election.

Akeredolu spoke in Lagos when he addressed reporters in company of his running mate, Dr Paul Akintelure.

He said: “He (Mimiko) has lost the election. He can never win because he has nothing, absolutely nothing, to show to the people as his achievement in the past four years.”

The former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President accused the governor and his ruling Labour Party (LP) of

abandoning many projects.

The ACN candidate said Mimiko, “who started one or two roads, didn’t complete any”.

He added: “I know he will not complete them. I shall complete the roads when, by the grace of God, I am elected.”

The frontline lawyer said the number of jobless youths in Ondo State has increased because of the poor leadership the governor has provided.

Akeredolu: “These are the people who will vote and they have parents and family members who will also vote.

Mimiko is out of the minds of Ondo State residents; they are

only waiting for the Election Day to see him off.

“Mimiko has no project to inaugurate except markets, which he has been building inside the bush. Nobody goes there. He builds town halls.

What are the people doing?”

According to him, the ACN and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will collaborate to vote out the governor.

He said: “Mimiko has refused to organise a local government election since he came into office.”

Akeredolu dismissed the crowds at LP rallies, saying they did not reflect the people’s acceptance of the party.

He said: “We are not per-

turbed by this because civil servants are forced to attend.

Some are induced. But the people will still vote according to their conscience. You will see the result of the election from Owo.” The ACN standard bearer promised to take Ondo State into the Southwest regional integration, adding that the state cannot afford to be the weak link in the region.

He also promised to begin a massive rural development of the state, if voted in the October 20 election.

“I shall open up the rural areas,” he said.

Akeredolu said education would get the lion’s share of the budget in his administration, “because it will be free at the primary and secondary levels”.

Oke to help the elderly From Damisi Ojo, Akure

THE Ondo State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olusola Oke, at the weekend said he would provide social welfare for the aged, if he is voted into power in the October 20 election.

Oke spoke in Akure, the state capital, when he addressed a group of elderly people at his Olusola Oke/ Saka Lawal Campaign Organisation office.

He said the social welfare package would be a continuation of the PDP programme to improve on the prevailing economic situation in the country.

The former PDP National Legal Adviser said the aged deserve to enjoy good living condition and that it is the part of the PDP programme to assist them.

He said the party would also consider the elderly in an all-encompassing policy framework of his administration, if elected.

NCP launches campaign THE National Conscience Party (NCP) has launched its campaign in Akure, the Ondo State capital, and promised to reduce poverty, if elected in the October 20 election.

Its National Chairman, Dr Yinusa Tanko, spoke at the weekend at the opening of the party’s secretariat on Hospital Road.

Tanko, who was accompanied by the party’s National Secretary, Comrade Ayodele Akele; State Chairman, Adelana Oladunjoye and the governorship running mate, Mrs Benedicta Ogbeto, said the state was the traditional home of the party.

He said NCP had been repositioned to make positive impact during the election, adding that it was out to improve the lives of the masses.

Ondo PDP flays Mimiko’s ‘plan’ to probe Agagu From Damisi Ojo, Akure

T

HE Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the weekend condemned an alleged plan by the Olusegun Mimiko administration to constitute a probe panel that would investigate his predecessor, the Olusegun Agagu administration, which left office about four years ago.

A statement in Akure, the state capital, by the PDP Director of Publicity, Mr Ayo Fadaka, reads: “This ludicrous plan is dictated by the discomfort of the (ruling) government at the visible role that Dr Agagu is playing in the party’s campaign for the next election.

“Dr Agagu is widely respected across the state because of the many legacies that his administration bequeathed to the state while he was in power. It is of essence to say that they were all projects that have a direct relevance to the lives of the people, and the party is proud of him.

“It is equally important to declare that our campaigns have been greatly accentuated by these achievements while Mimiko’s campaigns have only been on excuses for his inability to perform in office.”

Youths parley with Akeredolu From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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•Akeredolu (left) with Senator Bode Olajumoke at a church service for the investiture of the ACN candidate as life patron of Boys Brigade of Nigeria of St Andrew’s Cathedral, Owo, Ondo State...at the weekend. Story on Page 9

Judge withdraws from Ondo PDP, CJ suit

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N Akure High Court Judge, Justice B. F. Adeyeye, has withdrawn from a case filed by the Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Olaseinde Kumuyi.

He said the withdrawal was to prevent a likely bias.

Through its counsel, Dapo Agbede, the party had filed the case, accusing Justice Kumuyi of partisanship.

It alleged that the CJ participated in the ward congress of the ruling Labour Party (LP) and signed the list of the local government executives of the party.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

The PDP also alleged that Governor Olusegun Mimiko and Justice Kumuyi used the machinery of the state to frustrate it and its governorship candidate.

But counsel to the CJ and the LP, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), said Justice Kumuyi had filed a preliminary objection, requesting that the case be thrown out because the court lacked the capacity to hear it.

Following an argument on the preliminary objection, Justice Adeyeye reserved ruling till last Friday.

But before the Friday rul-

ing, counsel to the PDP, Dapo Agbede, had filed a motion, asking the judge to withdraw from the suit on the ground that he had been the counsel to the governor before he was made a judge.

The lawyer added that Justice Adeyeye was in the legal team that helped Mimiko to reclaim his mandate from the tribunal.

According to him, the defendants conspired to frustrate the PDP and its governorship candidate by using preliminary objection.

The counsel to PDP averred that the judge was a personal counsel to Mimiko in many

other cases before he became the governor.

But Justice Kumuyi’s counsel argued that the motion was an attempt to intimidate the court and prevent the ruling.

The judge said he was Mimiko’s lawyer before he became the governor and, therefore, he is withdrawing from the suit on the ground of likely bias.

The motion prevented the judge from ruling on the preliminary objection brought by the CJ and the LP. The case was remitted to the court Registrar for re-assignment to another judge.

Nobody arrested me, says ACN lawmaker

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HE Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) in Akure North/South Federal Constituency yesterday debunked the rumour that the police had arrested the lawmaker representing the constituency, Ifedayo Abegunde.

The state-owned radio station, the Ondo State Radio Vision Corporation (OSRC), as well as some newspapers reported that the ACN chieftain was arrested at the weekend.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

They alleged that the police invaded Abegunde’s home in Alagbaka in search of incriminating objects on “orders from above”.

The lawmaker said some policemen were in his home, on the instruction of the government, but did not find anything incriminating.

He said the police commissioner had confirmed that he was not arrested.

Abegunde said: “Nobody arrested me. I’m a federal lawmaker with two policemen as my security aides. As I am talking to you right now, I am attending to a crucial meeting in Akure as a free man. I know those behind the report; they will be disgraced out of office soon.”

Through its Director in Akure North/South Federal Constituency, Mr. Saka Yusuf Ogunleye, ACO said the report was an attempt to smear

the character of the party chieftain.

Ogunleye said the ruling Labour Party (LP) has been intimidating Abegun, adding that the police could be contacted to verify the veracity of the story.

He said: “This distorted news from OSRC confirmed the unethical stance of the station that its reporters failed to confirm a story before rushing to misinform the citizenry.

CORES of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) youths from across the country will today converge on Akure, the Ondo State capital, for a forum with the party’s candidate, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

The forum will hold at the BOT Hall, near Ilesa Motor Park in Akure, at 10am.

It will enable 2,000 youths to interact with the ACN candidate on issues affecting them and the change they desire in the state.

A statement by the party said there would be a special performance by Nigeria’s music star, 9ice.

It said the event would be aired live on some television stations nationwide.

Mimiko to revive ailing industries

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NDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko at the weekend assured the residents that his administration would revive ailing industries and establish others to create jobs and boost the economy.

The governor spoke in Ose Local Government Area during his re-election campaign.

He assured the residents of resuscitating the Ifon Ceramic Industry, which had been comatose.

Mimiko, who said he revived the moribund industry, noted that foreign technical partners had been brought and works is going on.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

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NEWS Ajimobi to back non-indigenes

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YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has promised his administration’s support to all non-indigenes residents in the state in order to promote peaceful co-existence.

The governor gave the pledge while receiving the executive members of Ndi Eze Ndigbo led by its National President, Eze Hycint Nwabueze at the Governor’s Office, Ibadan at the week-end.

He said all ethnic nationalities resident in the state would be properly accommodated and that their well-being would be ensured through the provision of adequate security for lives and property.

Ajimobi assured the Ndigbo that his administration would promote the interests of the Igbo resident in the state, whom he described as hardworking and enterprising.

He added that the provision of infrastructural development and clean environment had also been given priority by his administration in order to raise the living standard of the people of the state and ensure their well-being.

The governor solicited the support of Ndigbo residents for his administration, promising that the government would provide a conducive atmosphere for their businesses to thrive.

NANS advises with AAUA, poly striking workers From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

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HE National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) at the weekend urged the Ondo State Government to intervene in the crisis between the workers and management of the Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) and Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO).

Workers of the institutions are on strike following the failure of the government to pay the arrears of their allowances.

A statement by its NANS Secretary Joint Campus Committee (JCC) of the state chapter, Rufai Adewunmi, and the Southwest NANS Public Relation Officer (PRO), Zone D, Taiwo Bamigbade, hailed the workers for demonstrating peacefully against the government.

The students’ body urged AAUA workers to dialogue with the government in the interest of the students who, it added, academics have been put to stand still.

NANS advised the students to remain neutral.

It urged the parties in the dispute to explore mature and decent means to resolve the crisis.

Osun complaints body summons PHCN managers From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

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HE Osun State Public Complaints Commission has summoned the business managers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to a meeting.

This followed the deluge of complaints the commission said it had received from the public against the company.

Its commissioner, Prof. Rasaq Abubakre, spoke in Osogbo, the state capital.

He urged the managers to extend more courtesies to their customers and give them value for their money.

The commissioner regretted that consumers were groaning under a “heavy yoke of heavy billing while they enjoy less of PHCN’s services”.

•Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi with community leaders at the distribution and presentation of cheques for community development projects to 26 communities in the state...at the weekend.

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Why NBA named its Abuja house after Akeredolu, by Daudu

FORMER President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Joseph Daudu, at the weekend said Ondo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) deserved the naming of the association’s house in Abuja after him.

He said Akeredolu’s integrity, honesty and dedication to duty were among the virtues the NBA saw in him when it named its office in Abuja after the politician.

Daudu spoke in Owo, Akeredolu’s home town, when he felicitated with him on his investiture as the

life patron of the Owo Battalion of the Boys Brigade of Nigeria at St. Andrew’s Cathedral.

The former NBA president noted that Akeredolu deserved the honour for his virtues.

In a statement in Akure, the Ondo State capital, by the Director of Media, Publicity and Strategy of the Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO), Mr Idowu Ajanaku, Daudu noted that the honour was a testimony to the ACN candidate’s com-

mitment to his people.

Also at the event was Senator Bode Olajumoke, who described Akeredolu as man of faith and integrity.

Olajumoke said Akeredolu provided purposeful leadership when he was NBA president.

He said he and Akeredolu belonged to the Anglican community, where they shared words of God together and moved the work of God forward.

The investiture, Olajumoke said,

was timely.

Akeredolu thanked members of the Anglican community for the honour.

He promised to rededicate himself to serve the people, especially if elected the governor.

The ACN standard bearer said his hope and aspirations in life depended on God, who he said has been his pillar of strength in his journey in life.

At the event were Akeredolu’s running mate, Dr. Paul Akintelure; the Director-General of their campaign organization, Chief Tayo Alasoadura, clerics, among others.

Ex-Oyo Governor Lam Adesina stable

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FORMER Oyo State governor and Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state, Alhaji Lam Adesina, may be flown abroad for more medical attention, it was learnt yesterday.

Our correspondent learnt that though the former governor responded well to treatment at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, the state capital, the government was willing to fly him abroad for further treatment because of the seriousness it attached to his health.

•May be flown abroad From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

“He was already stable and doing pretty well before he left the UCH,” a close source to the former governor said.

Adesina left the UCH at the weekend to an undisclosed hospital from where he may be flown abroad.

It was learnt that the former governor needs some privacy to enable him get sufficient rest that his state of health calls for.

The private ward in which he was admitted at the UCH had attracted crowds of visitors.

Several politicians, including Governor Abiola Ajimobi, commissioners and top politicians, family, friends and well-wishers thronged the ward.

This reduced the former governor’s period of rest.

Adesina was governor from 1999 till 2003 under the Alliance for Democracy (AD). The 73-yearold retired teacher-turned politician remained in the opposition party - the ACN - until it regained

•Adesina

power in last year’s general elections.

‘Aregbesola’s focused leadership attracts accolades’

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SUN State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Sunday Akere, at the weekend said the Rauf Aregbesola administration was getting recognitions and accolades from different quarters because of its focused leadership.

The commissioner spoke in Osogbo, the state capital.

He said the administration was proactive in the implementation of policies and was getting support and accolades “from far and near” for these.

Akere said Aregbesola dredged several streams, rivers and water tributaries that threatened the lives of the residents for years during the raining seasons.

The commissioner noted that the dredging has prevented flooding in the last 22 months of the administra-

tion.

He said: “Before Aregbesola took over as governor of the state, the raining season had always been a period of sorrow, pain and anguish for several residents because flooding could sack them from their homes. The worst of such was experienced in July 2010, when property worth millions of naira were washed away and lives lost to floods.

“Former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, rather than assuage the suffering of the people affected by the flood, derided and mocked them by asking whether he sent the rain water to their homes. But in a complete reversal of role and policy approach, Aregbesola swiftly went to work early in 2011 and moved heavy dredging caterpillars that were never seen before in the history of the state. In several towns, he cleared the water-

ways and packed away wastes and debris that obstructed the free flow of water during rain falls.

“While reports of flooding and the attendant loss of lives were reported daily in other parts of the country in 2011, none of such was witnessed anywhere in Osun State. This made the people to applaud Aregbesola for his positive visionary style. As 2012 was approaching the raining season, without waiting for the forecast of woes and calamity, which the rain could cause, Governor Aregbesola went to work again. He dredged more kilometres of waterways; he did not fail to touch areas from where dredging had begun the previous year.

“With the forecast of a downpour leading to the loss of lives, in a quantum never witnessed before in the country this year, Osun State still retains its flood-free rating, courtesy of

the good works of Aregbesola.

“In recognition and appreciation of this, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and some other agencies of government, under the Africa Adaptation Programme (AAP), are bringing the six states in the Southwest to Osun to share in the success story of the Aregbesola administration in the area of flood control.

“The two-day high level meeting, holding on September 25 and 26, will bring together environmental stakeholders from the six Southwest states to Osogbo to discuss the topic: Addressing climate change, environmental conservation and sustainable development through a regional framework.

“The states, during the meeting, will review common challenges, shared responsibilities and how to work together for a safer environment.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

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C ITYBEATS Club hails commissioner LAGOS State Commissioner for the Environment Tunji Bello has been praised for transforming the state’s landscape.

Olorogun Atebo of Lagos Chief Akinlaja Taliat Yusuf hailed him when he was conferred with outstanding performance award by the Prince Club of Lagos at Akoka, Yaba.

Atebo said: “Tunji Bello has demonstrated that he is a worthy political godson of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu through outstanding performance in the environment ministry.

“Lagosians note with delight that since Bello assumed duty, the health challenges facing Lagos residents have reduced considerably due to improved clean environment.”

Bello, who was represented by a frontline ACN chieftain, Alhaji Ibrahim Alao Megida, a Mainland–based business tycoon,Alhaji Shuaib Olanrewaju Lookman and Prince Suleiman Oloko, urged Lagosians to sustain the Keep Lagos Green Project of Governor Babatunde Fashola.

Don’t maltreat prisoners’

By Saffiyah Abdur-Razaq

PRISON warders have been urged not to see prisoners as criminals, but as people to be rehabilitated.

A Muslim group, AlMu’minaat (The Believing Women) Organisation gave this advice during a visit to the Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Apapa, Lagos.

President of the group’s Lagos State Chapter Hajia Basirah Afunleyin, also urged the inmates not to see themselves as criminals, but, as people who made mistakes and are in a correctional home.

She appealed to the warders to be fair to the inmates.

She said: “Your focus should be reforming these prisoners such that by the time they leave this place they would have become better citizens.

“If however they are maltreated, or unfairly treated, they would become hardened and be resolute in going back to their old ways whenever they secure their release.”

Speaking on the topic: Upholding Faith in Times of Trials, the group’s Dawah Officer, Hajia Rafat Salaudeen, urged the inmates not to lose hope.

Hajia Salaudeen who preached tolerance and patience, told them to see whatever happens to them as a trial from Allah.

Hajia Afunlehin said the visit was to sympathise with the inmates and assist them.

“It is expected of any religious group to be their brothers’ keepers and love one another. Our coming is to assure these people that they could still enjoy good life after leaving the prison.

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

Police accused of killing newly wedded man

By Eric IKhilae

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NIGERIAN -based in the United States has accused the police of killing his friend.

He alleged that his friend Ugochukwu Ozuah was killed at UPS bus stop on Oshodi/Oworonshoki Expressway, barely five days after his wedding, by policemen on stop-and search last Thursday.

Ozuah was allegedly murdered five days after he got married.

His friend, who was simply identified, as Omene, came from the United States to witness the wedding.

Ozuah, who lives in Oke Oluwo Estate in Anthony Village, had gone to drop Omene when some policemen, stopped them for a search.

It was gathered that before he stopped, the policemen, who thought that the late Ozuah was not going to stop, opened fire on the car, killing him instantly.

Omene said immediately the late Ozuah was shot, the policemen sped off in their vehicle.

“I was so shocked at what had happened and I jumped down from the car and ran back to the estate to inform his wife. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Anthony Police Station was also informed,” Omene said.

The Na t i o n g a t h e r e d that when the DPO arrived at the scene, he came up with the theory that the deceased was killed by criminals in police uniform and not policemen.

The family is asking that policeman who shot their son, be fished out and prosecuted.

The command’s spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), who confirmed the inci-

THE dispute over the stool of Ijegun monarch, a Lagos suburb, has shifted to the Court of Appeal.

A contender Chief Sulu Ayinla Akinremi, has asked the court to void the installation of his younger brother, Nuraeni Akinremi.

His prayer is contained in an application for mandatory injunction declaring illegal, null and void Nuraeni’s purported installation as the Oba two years ago, despite the pendency of a suit challenging his (Nuraeni’s) choice.

Akinremi is contending that he was earlier chosen by the kingmakers.

The substantive suit, at the High Court was initiated by Sulu on February 2009 to challenge the decision by the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs and Boundary Matters and Attorney-General to drop him in favour of Nuraeni as Oba of Ijegunland in Igando/Ikotun Local Council Development Authority.

Lawmakers want illegal abattoirs closed

By Oziegbe Okoeki

•Ugo with his wife Joan, on their wedding day. With them is the bridal train

By Jude Isiguzo

dent, maintained that armed robbers killed the man.

She pleaded with the family to remain calm as investigation of the incident had begun, adding that the suspect would be brought to book.

The late Ozuah attended Kings College, Lagos and University of Ibadan (UI) where he read Computer Engineering.

His sister, Mrs. Uzor

Nwogu described his brother as a perfect gentleman and easy-going.

“I have never seen him fight anyone. My last conversation with him was a few days ago, when he was trying to know my assessment of the wedding and inquiring whether everyone who attended was well taken care of.

The late Ozuah left behind a 70-year-old mother, Mrs. Chine Ozuah, who has

been in shock since the incident.

Hundreds of sympathisers thronged her Maryland home yesterday to condole with her.

The late Uzoah’s younger sister, Uju, still finds it hard to believe that her brother is dead.

“I don’t know how to describe my brother. He was a very calm person. He taught me how to be gentle and diplomatic. It’s hard to believe that I would never see him alive again,.” she said.

Robbers shoot woman in Lagos

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WOMAN was shot and an undisclosed sum of money carted away when robbers invaded a beer distributing company at Unity Estate, Idimu, a Lagos suburb.

Madam Sadiat Shodiya, a resident of the building housing the firm, was hit in the leg.

A police patrol vehicle, allegedly riddled with bullets was also abandoned at the scene by policemen who were outgunned by the ban-

By Jude Isiguzo

dits.

Sources said the hoodlums, who held residents hostage for over three hours in the early hours of Saturday, arrived on the premises around 3am.

They were said to have shot into the air to scare people.

It was learnt that the robbers, who operated for over an hour also attacked some residential apartments.

The estate is about 500 meters from the Area ‘M’ Command and the Idimu Police Station.

Sources told The Nation that it was the sound of gunshots that attracted policemen to the scene.

The policemen allegedly fled after their van was demobilised with bullets.

The Area Commander Ibrahim Kaoje, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), said his men did not abandon the

operation.

Kaoje said policemen overpowered the hoodlums who fled to escape arrest.

A resident, who pleaded for anonymity, said his family lay on the floor to avoid being hit by stray bullet.

“The robbers were shooting sporadically for over an hour. It was like we were in a war zone and there was panic everywhere. It was just God that saved us,” the source said.

Court acquits man of N63m advance fee fraud

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Sibling asks court to depose monarch

N Ikeja High Court has discharged and acquitted a man, Leonard Duru, of the allegation of conspiracy and obtaining $399,868 (about N63,179,144) by false pretence from a Switzerland based company, Intronn Druck AG Company.

Justice Olubunmi Oyewole said he did not find the accused guilty on each of the 18-count charge preferred against him by the Economic and Finan-

By Adebisi Onanuga

cial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC, had through its counsel, Mr. A.B.C. Ozioko, brought the charge against Duru, who goes by the aliases, Emmanuel Obieze, Dr. Enitan Obi and Mr. Obi. The commission alleged that Duru and others at large, between March 21, 1996 and July, 1996, with intent to defraud, obtained $399,868 from the Switzerland based company by

falsely pretending that the money represented the cost of establishing a branch of the company in Nigeria, a claim which they knew to be false.

The commission alleged that the accused and others at large, also forged the Central Bank of Nigeria letter head, dated 4th April, 1996 and Teo Travels and Tours Limited, purporting the documents from the companies respectively.

The prosecutor said the

offences contravened sections 8(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act No 13 of 1995 as amended

by Act no 62 of 1999; Section 467(1)(b) and Section 468 of the Criminal Code Cap C. 17 Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.

The accused, represented

by Mrs. B.O. Awachuo, which earlier had its no case submission overruled had rested her case on that of the prosecution.

MEMBERS of the Lagos State House of Assembly have urged Governor Babatunde Fashola to stop the operation of illegal abattoir and smuggling of livestock and processed meat.

They urged the governor to direct the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and the Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit to stop such activities which they claimed are becoming prevalent in the state.

The lawmakers also urged the governor to ensure compliance with the state’s laws, to guarantee the provision of hygienic animal products.

Their position was contained in a resolution adopted by after a motion entitled: “Proliferation of Illegal Abattoir and Unwholesome Meat Processing in Lagos State,” moved by Abdulbaq Balogun of Ajeromi/ Ifelodun Constituency 2.

Balogun said the existence of illegal abattoirs and lairage across the state, particularly inside military barracks, contravenes Section 3 of the Meat Animal Traffic, Trading and Slaughtering Law, 1993, which states: “No person shall slaughter any cattle which is intended for sale or dress the carcass at any place within Lagos metropolis other than at the abattoir.”

The lawmaker, who also noted the unhygienic methods adopted by the operators of illegal abattoirs to slaughter and process meat meant for public consumption, said besides, livestocks and processed meat are brought into the state for sale through the various border communities without compliance with the provision of Section 4 of the Meat Inspection Law, 1978.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

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NEWS KOGI FLOODS

•A flooded Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Lokoja

•Gridlock on Lokoja road

•Residents...yesterday

•Motorists wading through the flood...yesterday

•Flooded hotel in Lokoja.

PHOTOS: NAN

1.9m people displaced by floods in Kogi S

ENATOR Smart Adeyemi yesterday raised the alarm that about 1.9 million people have been displaced by floods in Kogi State.

Besides, the National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA) said nine local governments in the state were under threats with some parts submerged.

Adeyemi, who spoke with reporters in Abuja after returning from a tour of the affected areas, said the figure was confirmed to him by NEMA’s North Central Co-ordinator.

The Senator inspected the devastated areas in company of three members of the House of Representatives Sunday Karimi, TJ Yusuf and Mohammed Buba.

Most of the displaced victims are housed in 10 camps.

Adeyemi however, donated N250,000 to each of the 10 resettlement camps. He said the flood has “reinforced the need for the Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Commission(HYPPADEC), which, in

•Victims in 10 resettlement camps From: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

his view would have assisted the affected areas.

“The flood has wreaked enormous damage in the communities, nine local governments, including Lokoja, Kotonkarfe, Ankpa, Dekina, Ibaji and Bassa, were badly affected.

“To get to the real spots, we had to take canoe on two spots on the highway. More than 10,000 vehicles and trucks were stranded on that highway,” “I want the Federal government to immediately come to the aid of the people in those communities because this is not what they bargained for,” he said A statement by NEMA’s Head of Public Relations, Alhaji Yushau Shuaib, reads: “A technical team comprising officials of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and critical

stakeholders in disaster management at the weekend visited areas devastated by the massive floods along the banks of Rivers Benue and Niger and their tributaries in Benue and Kogi states to assess the damages and identify suitable intervention required to address the problem. “As most of the areas remained flooded, about 10, 000 displaced persons are taking shelter in four camps each in Benue and Kogi states while many more are also taking cover with their relatives. NEMA has already deployed relief items to the camps to assist the Internally displaced People (IDPs).

“The flood in Benue affected the communities in Makurdi along the river belt. Nine local government areas were affected in Kogi State with Ibaji Local Government Area almost completely submerged.

“The inhabitants are now taking refuge in the neighbouring communities. The other local gov-

ernments areas affected are Bassa, Ofu, Kogi, Omala, Ajaokuta, Ankpa, Igalamela and Lokoja where choice property including hotels, residential buildings, government offices and fishing communities along the confluence of Rivers Benue and Niger were also virtually submerged.

At a meeting with the Governor of Kogi State, NEMA’s Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Dr. Charles Agbo, who led the team warned of prolonged flooding as more water would still be released from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon and Kainji Dam with the intensifying rains.

He also urged the state government to enforce the standard regulation on urban planning and development as well as permanently relocate communities in the flood plains to safer locations.

Agbo warned that even after the flood, most of the submerged houses

may become too weak and no longer be safe for habitation in addition to the potential health hazards from the disaster. Therefore, he said the state governments must to rise up to their responsibilities to the affected communities as the Federal Government, through NEMA would provide necessary support for the displaced persons.

Replying, Governor Idris Wada appreciated the concern of the Federal Government towards the flood situation and requested supports to reinforce the efforts made by the state government to assist the displaced persons.

He urged NEMA and relevant organisations to identify measures to mitigate future occurrence of the flood.

The flood has also cut off the Abuja-Lokoja road. Though temporary diversions have created to ease gridlock on the route, traffic officials and emergency workers are having hectic moments in controlling the stranded motorists

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

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NEWS Delta lawmaker’s wife abducted From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

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HE wife of the member representing Bomadi Local Government Area in the Delta State House of Assembly, Mrs. Campaign Preyor, has been kidnapped.

She was abducted at Kpakiama around 11pm on Saturday.

It was learnt that the gunmen were looking for Preyor, who usually spends the weekend at his country home.

Sources said they whisked his wife into a speedboat, when they couldn’t find Preyor.

Police spokesman Charles Muka said the kidnappers have not contacted the family.

Ovie-Whiskey’s family disagree on funeral From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

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Woman pours hot water on husband

HE family of the former chair of the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO), the late Justice Victor Ovie-Whiskey, are in disagreement over his funeral ceremony.

Justice Ovie-Whiskey died on July 18 at 89 years.

He is survived by three wives and children.

A source said the elders of the family have disassociated themselves from the deceased’s burial rites on grounds that they were not informed before the programs were made public.

The Onogbegha-Edjeminor family of Ohorhe family in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta state, headed by Pa Famous Owhofachor, at a meeting chaired by Mr. Lucky Igben, resolved that the date earlier fixed was chosen by one of the deceased’s children without consultation with the family.

Pa Owhofachor said: “We know they are Ovie’s children and we respect them, but the family should be responsible for the burial.”

The family urged the public to disregard the earlier date and said they would announce a new date.

It was learnt that some of the children were not happy with the family’s decision.

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CJN urged to reconstitute panel on Delta senatorial dispute

•Archbishop Ignatius Kattey (right) trying to reconcile former Rivers State Governor Celestine Omehia (left) and Governor Rotimi Amaechi during the thanksgiving service of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) President, Mr. Okechukwu Wali (SAN), in Port Harcourt...yesterday.

WOMAN in Benin, the Edo State capital, at the weekend poured hot water on her husband.

It was gathered that Mr. and Mrs. Osas Olaye, who have been married for over 25 years and have four grown up boys, prayed together at about 12:40am before retiring to bed on that fateful morning.

It was learnt that the man’s screams woke the neighbours up around 4:20am when the incident occurred.

Olaye, who suffered severe

From, Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

burns in the hands, stomach and chest, is presently receiving treatment at a private hospital in Benin.

Narrating his ordeal on his hospital bed, he said he was woken up by the hotness of the water on his body.

Olaye said he was rushed to the hospital by his children and neighbours.

The victim, who was recently employed by his church as a bricklayer, said when he returned from work

that evening, his “quarrelsome” wife accused him of cheating on her but he ignored her.

Olaye said his wife’s aggressiveness had cost him several jobs. He said in over 10 years, his wife had not engaged in any money yielding venture and was always insisting that it is a man’s responsibility to cater for his home.

On the whereabouts of his wife and the effect of the attack on their marriage, Olaye said: “My wife just left here (hospital) now; she still dey

vex with me. If I leave her and my children, they will suffer.

Na my wife.”

Sources at the hospital said Mrs. Olaye has not shown any remorse for her action.

Efforts to reach Mrs. Olaye failed.

One of the couple’s children said there was no dispute between his parents prior to the incident.

He said his mother’s family has volunteered to pay his father’s medical bills.

The boy said his father’s family had not been informed of the incident.

Navy arrests 15 expatriates in Rivers

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HE Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Commodore Oyetunji Fadeyi, at the weekend handed over 15 expatriates and a vessel to the police in Port Harcourt and Bonny Island for loitering on Nigeria’s waterways.

The suspects include nine Filipinos and six Romanians.

They were arrested aboard a vessel, MT ST Vanessa, on June 19, 2012, by operatives of NNS Zaria, at 45 nautical miles off Akassa in Bayelsa State.

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

Fadeyi said prior to the arrest, attempts by officials of the NNS Zaria to interrogate persons aboard the vessel were resisted.

The vessel is a motor tanker registered in Belgium and belonging to Sea Tankers Shipping (SAS) of Parc Innolin-7 Rue Du Golf 33 700 Merinac, France.

He said: “In a bid to enforce arrest, men of NNS, Zaria, had to employ the use of force on MT ST Vanessa.

Many shots were fired across

the bow of the vessel to stop it from escaping.

“MT ST Vanessa was eventually arrested and handed over to the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Bonny, for investigation into the vessel’s suspicious activities around Akassa area, which is within Nigeria’s exclusive economic zone.

“Investigations revealed that the last port of call of the vessel was Lome, Togo, and since its arrival on Nigerian waters, the vessel was observed to be loitering around Akassa-Brass for about two weeks, without clear and spe-

cific mission before its arrest.

“The captain of the vessel claimed that he was directed by the owner to stay around Akassa and await further directives. Akassa is notorious for crude oil theft and other economic sabotage.

“MT ST Vanessa’s crew stated during investigation that they chose to alter course and steer seaward because they thought the vessel was under attack by pirates. The excuse is not tenable.”

It was learnt that there have been pressure on the Navy from prominent persons for the vessel’s release.

weekend inaugurated various projects across Akwa Ibom State.

They included the new Accountant-General’s office, the third Ring Road and the Fourth Flyover in Uyo, the Second Underground Drainage in Abak and the Ikot Ekpene City Centre Plaza.

Sambo praised Governor Godswill Akpabio for giving the state a face-lift.

He restated the Federal Government’s commitment to partnering the state.

Sambo said the Federal Government has approved the building of Ibaka Deep Seaport.

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

At the AccountantGeneral’s office, Akpabio said the new building would create a conducive working environment for workers and encourage improved productivity.

He thanked the civil service for collaborating with the government in the implementation of policies and programmes.

Akpabio urged the VicePresident to ensure that the Federal Government refunds the money spent on repairing the Abak-Uyo Federal Road.

dual-carriage way with pedestrian walkways, was to divert traffic to Airport Road.

Akpabio said the state government is negotiating with the Ministry of Interior for the demolition and rebuilding of Abak Prisons.

The State Accountant-General, Mr. Udo Isobara, said the project cost N250 million.

He said the building has five open apartments; 16 offices, each of which had its own toilet, air conditioners, computers, scanners, cameras and round-the clock internet facility.

Isobara said 15 new sub-

By Eric Ikhilae

Musdapher requested the presiding Justice of the Appeal Court in Benin to comment on the issues raised in the petition. Azekwoh said since then, no further action was taken in respect of his case.

He contended that the appellate court “threw out” his appeal “on no grounds known to law and morality, thereby occasioning huge miscarriage of justice.”

Azekwoh said: “I have not been heard by the court. It is not because I was absent or my counsel did not appear or that the processes were filed out of time or statutorily inhibited in any way.

“If I am not heard when I am supposed to be heard, my humble opinion sir, is that time starts running from the time when I was to be heard.

It is my fundamental right and cannot be waived. Since I have not waived the same, I respectfully plead Your Lordship to intervene.”

‘Probe Delta judge’s kidnap’

By Eric Ikhilae

Sambo inaugurates various projects in ICE-PRESIDENT said the Fourth Flyover Akwa Ibom in He Namadi Sambo at the Uyo, which has 150 metres

V

A

SENATORIAL candidate in the 2011 election in Delta State, Mr. Jude Azekwoh, has urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Mukhtar, to constitute a fresh panel to hear his appeal against the decision of the Delta Legislative Election Petition Tribunal.

He said his earlier petition to the National Judicial Council (NJC) against members of the Court of Appeal panel in Benin was left unattended to.

Azekwoh, who contested the Delta North Senatorial Election on the platform of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), said his appeal against the tribunal’s decision in Asaba was allegedly subjected to “unfair, unjust and illegal termination” by the appeal panel.

He urged the CJN to probe the conduct of the panel’s members.

Azekwoh had petitioned the NJC under the former CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher and Justice

A •Sambo

treasury offices have been completed in Ikono, Ini, Mkpat Enin, Nsit Ibom, Obot Akara, Okobo, Essien Udim, Etim Ekpo, Ukanafun, Ika, Urue Offong/Oruko, Onna, Itu, Oruk Anam and Nsit Atai local government areas.

N Itsekiri leader, Chief Rita Olori Ogbebor, has faulted the apology offered to judges in Delta State by the government over the recent kidnap of a Justice Marcel Okoh.

She urged the government to probe the incident.

Justice Okoh of Court 4 of the state’s High Court was handling the case filed against the state government by members of Okere Community, who claimed that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan forcefully confiscated their land.

In a statement yesterday, Ogbebor said: “An assault on a judge anywhere in the country is an assault on the nation’s Judiciary and the entire justice system. The kidnapping of a judge is not a matter that can be swept under the carpet by an apology from a top government official.

“The court is the last hope of the common man. Our judges cannot and should not be allowed to work under intimidation, harassment and constant threat.

“Their oath of office expects them to dispense justice without fear or favour. This is why I am insisting on a probe of the ugly incident.”

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

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COMMENTARY EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

EDITORIALS

Forced to eat the humble pie •CBN should regard the so-called restructuring of the naira in its own image as closed

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N September 20, President Goodluck Jonathan ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to apply the brakes on Project Cure, the planned currency restructuring under which it had sought to redesign the existing denominations of N50, N100, N200, N500 and N1000 currency notes and the conversion of the lower notes of N5, N10 and N20 to coins.

Giving effect to the presidential directive, the apex bank’s public notice issued on the same day read: “the CBN hereby informs the general public that the President, on Thursday September 20, 2012, directed that further action on the approved restructuring be stopped”.

The statement added: “In full compliance with the provisions of the law, the CBN hereby announces that further action on the said restructuring exercise has been stopped, until such a time Mr. President may direct otherwise”.

There is no question as to whether or not the President acted right on this occasion. He certainly did. Next to Nigerians’ opposition to the removal of the so-called subsidy on petrol, there is hardly any other issue on which a broad spectrum of Nigerians appears so united as the opposition to the currency restructuring. Of course the arguments adduced by the CBN, since the August 23 anouncement, to justify the planned wholesale restructuring remain unconvincing. The point which is unfortunately lost on the CBN management, is that the restructuring underlies all that is wrong with the finan-

cial system. It admits there is a problem; the problem however is the therapy, which in our view seems clearly misdirected.

The problems facing the financial services sector are beyond what the superficial currency restructuring could address. For instance, we could not find the nexus between the policy and inflation – the monster behind the travails of the naira as a store of value. Again, we sought for – but couldn’t find – the link between it and the prohibitive costs of lending which have kept the real sector at bay.

How about the lingering issues of inefficient payment systems that have remained despite the so-called cashless initiatives? These are formidable challenges any day. So, rather than dissipate energy on currency restructuring, these are what should engage the CBN. The claim that the restructuring would not induce inflation should equally not go unchallenged. Those who see the proposed introduction of N5, N10 and N20 as possible inducement to inflation obviously know a thing or two about the Nigerian consumer psychology.

Overall, the deliverables of the much hyped policy certainly come short in terms of addressing the problems facing the financial services sector. We do not even see the presidential intervention as one of pandering to the populism. After all, it goes to the heart of the making of public policies that those who undertake them embark on the widest possible consultations. As for Project Cure, we expect

the CBN to consider the matter as closed.

There are of course lessons to be learnt from the affair. One is that the nation may have quite a lot to benefit from a proactive, truly independent CBN; nothing however is to be gained from an insular institution that prefers to see contrary opinion as contemptible.

The posturing of the apex bank as an all-knowing institution would seem vintage Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s CBN. Had the bank been less haughty and less disdainful of contrary opinions in the restructuring push, most likely it would have gained from the feedback spawned by the planned measure. The failure to do that is what has led to the situation in which it is now forced to eat the humble pie.

‘As for Project Cure, we expect the CBN to consider the matter as closed. There ‘ are of course lessons to be learnt from the affair. One is that the nation may have quite a lot to benefit from a proactive, truly independent CBN; nothing however is to be gained from an insular institution that prefers to see contrary opinion as contemptible’

Private jets as status symbol •Nigeria has more of these than commercial ones; the story of a country so rich, yet so poor

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HE irony is poignant with sharp dramatic effects. There are about 150 private jets in Nigeria while all the domestic airlines in the land operate with less than 50 functional jets. A Nigerian ‘big man’ who is not known to run any business conglomerate owns no fewer than three jets while some airlines can barely boast of four airworthy craft. That is the current narrative of Nigeria: a very rich, and very poor country.

This stark reality is exposed by a recent report from the aviation industry which shows that Nigeria is in contest with China as two of the fastest growing private jet markets in the world. It says that private jet ownership in Nigeria grew astronomically by 650 per cent from 20 jets in 2007 to 150 in 2012. This suggests that in the last five years, rich Nigerians have acquired about 130 private jets totalling about N1.18 tril-

‘More crucially, with Nigeria rated among the most corrupt countries of the world, we wager that this streaming in of private jets can only be the reward of unbridled corruption.

Unlike in other parts of the world, say China, which is the second largest economy in the world and which can boast of thousands of thriving conglomerates, business moguls and entrepreneurs that can afford private jets, Nigeria is still largely an impoverished country with an import-dependent mono-economy’

lion. A new jet sells for between $40 million and $50 million. It is also said that the new owners of these jets are preponderantly, top politicians, oil moguls and big business men. Major new generation church leaders too are not left out.

Remarkably, the identities of the Nigerian owners of these jets are shrouded as the machines are often purchased by proxy through foreign firms based usually in North America. The offshore firms in turn, lease the craft through Nigerian companies. Moreover, most of them come with foreign registration particulars. Notably, there are more orders from Nigeria with delivery dates running into 2013 and even 2014.

There is nothing wrong with people acquiring private jets or any property for that matter. Nigeria is supposedly a capitalist system. The constitution provides for the right to own property under the law. Therefore, the sharp rise in the number of private jets in the country is not by itself, a condemnable act. In fact, it may well signify a positive and salutary upswing in the economy.

But on the contrary, facts indicate otherwise. Nearly all human development indices show a downward trend in the quality of life of the average Nigerian and poverty index is still in the range of 70 per cent.

More crucially, with Nigeria rated among the most corrupt countries of the world, we wager that this streaming in of private jets can only be the reward of unbridled corruption. Unlike in other parts of the world, say China, which is the second largest economy in the world and which can boast of thousands of thriving conglomerates, business moguls and entrepreneurs that

can afford private jets, Nigeria is still largely an impoverished country with an import-dependent mono-economy.

Unlike in Nigeria where majority of the jet owners are top politicians, this class of people would be hard put to give account should they be found flying in private jets in places like China and the United States. And if by chance a U.S. top politician can justify his ownership of a private jet, he would have the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) to contend with, in which case he would pay numbing taxes.

Ironically, we wager again, that it may well be the little tax paid by the little people that may have been converted into private jets for the Nigerian jet-set top politicians. There is also the issue of ostentatious lifestyles of the Nigerian rich.

While a Chinese or Indian rich would build a factory first, his Nigerian counterpart would opt for a brand new private jet.

As Nigeria’s ‘new rich’ take to the sky, we must not fail to remind that the country’s national carrier was run aground many years ago; that aviation infrastructure is currently in dereliction and passengers are exposed to all manner of danger. Need we recount the state of Nigeria’s power sector, refineries, schools, hospitals and roads? It is otiose to note that those glistening metal birds competing for space in Nigeria’s substandard airports is no sign of a burgeoning economy.

On the other hand, it is a recipe for social upheaval when basic amenities are in regression and the ruling class basks in obscene ostentation. The auguries are ominous.

In defence of the right to free speech REEDOM of speech is the essence of democracy. It is a check against oppression and a guarantor of the civil liberties that make up free and tolerant societies. Charlie Hebdo, the French satirical weekly magazine that has published cartoons of Mohammed, is testing that freedom to its limits. But the right to free expression cannot be compromised.

The magazine’s decision to publish comes at a time of dangerous tensions between the Muslim world and the west.

US diplomatic missions have been targeted in violent protests after a low-budget film that ridicules Mohammed was posted on the internet.

Muslim anger is understandable as any depiction of the prophet is considered blasphemy. But there is no justification for the violence, which has cost innocent lives. Though Charlie Hebdo’s timing might be ill-advised, and the cartoons explicit, they make a serious point and it is one protesters should appreciate. By highlighting the risible nature of a film without artistic or intellectual content, its importance is diminished.

In democratic societies there are enough laws to constrain abuses of the right to free speech. It is a crime in Europe, the US and elsewhere to incite hatred, whether religious or racial. One French Muslim group has launched a lawsuit against the weekly. The courtroom is the right place to judge whether a line has been crossed, not the street.

Keeping the debate in the law courts is the challenge facing the Islamist governments that came to power after the Arab uprisings. They must reconcile the tensions that are emerging as they move towards more open societies. They should resist the temptation, indulged by their autocratic predecessors, of encouraging such protest as a way of letting disaffected citizens release steam. This is a mug’s game. The extremists stirring up violence on spurious grounds have no interest in building democracy.

Mainstream Islamist governments will only win legitimacy by making all parties abide by the rule of law. Tunisia’s ruling Ennahdha party has rightly drawn attention to the dangers of manipulation by extremists. Too few have followed its example.

Western governments, meanwhile, must resist their own temptation to buy peace with the Muslim world by imposing new constraints on free speech. While they can and should denounce needless provocation, they should be equally firm in their defence of citizens’ right to speak out.

– The Financial Times

F

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

•Editorial Page Editor Sanya Oni •Chairman,Editorial Board • Executive Director Sam Omatseye (Finance & Administration) •General Editor Ade Odunewu Kunle Fagbemi • Gen. Manager •Editor Online (Training and Development) Lekan Otufodunrin Soji Omotunde •Managing Editor Northern Operation •Chief Internal Auditor Yusuf Alli Toke Folorunsho •Managing Editor • Senior Manager (Sales) Waheed Odusile Akeem Shoge •Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon •Advert Manager Robinson Osirike •Deputy Editor (News) •IT Manager Niyi Adesina Bolarinwa Meekness •Group Political Editor Bolade Omonijo •Press Manager Udensi Chikaodi •Abuja Bureau Chief Yomi Odunuga •Manager, Corporate Marketing •Sport Editor Hameed Odejayi Ade Ojeikere •Group Business Editor Ayodele Aminu

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THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

S

IR: One of the factors that has assured and sustained the atmosphere of peace and stability which Niger State enjoys is the respect for and recognition of the plural nature and multi-ethnic composition of the state.

For those who believe that peace and stability are some of the most important ingredients for progress, Niger state under Dr Babangida Aliyu provides an ample case study.

At a time when some states in the North are enmeshed in violence triggered by petty sentiments, Dr. Aliyu has obliterated such primordial differences in Niger State. Between 2007 when he came to power and now, he has turned Niger State into a monolith of peace in the way he has wiped out all forms of divisions in ethnicity and religion. For his administration in Niger State, everybody resident here is a Nigerlite and enjoys every amenity or provision of the government without discrimination. The concept of state of origin does not exist.

Every school child in the primary school and students in the secondary school in the state enjoys free education without discrimination; every child up to the age of five, as well as all pregnant women and the aged are entitled to free and quality medicare without discrimination.

The fears of ethno-religious disturbances that are threatening some states in the North would hardly have a perch in Niger State mainly because of the governor’s belief that encourages peaceful cohabitation among persons irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliation.

This belief was reinforced last July when he inaugurated the Committee on Peace Building for Sustainable Democratic Culture in Niger

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

Retaining Niger State on the peace map State. The committee, which is made up of distinguished citizens of the state, representing diverse interest groups, has the mandate to forge a common purpose of peace and harmony for the state.

The terms of reference of the Barrister Abraham Yisa-led committee include” to create awareness of the social, economic and political potentials and challenges facing the state and its people; consider and

integrate issues like elections, media challenges, youth empowerment, rural urban migration, security and welfare etc into the subject of peace building.

During the inauguration of the committee, Dr Aliyu struck the right note when he admitted the existence of serious security challenges in the country, especially in the North where the situation has presented alarming trends which have

resulted in the loss of several lives and properties Essentially, the committee’s main assignment is peace building and conflict prevention/resolution activities with a view to creating a platform for the promotion of smooth communication between and among all stakeholders in Niger State, since confidence building and mindset change are important components in preventing con-

S

• Danladi Ndayebo Minna, Niger State

What about being the most criticised President?

S

IR: Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is, to me, the luckiest President. I can’t recall any of those folk-stories, with which our Yoruba elders had given us orientations about life, which portrayed success as a self-imposing attainment in a manner reminiscent of our current President’s.

The zeal-inspiring stories of Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, our own Obafemi Awolowo, Aminu Kano, MKO Abiola and other listless sages that have featured, at one point or the other, in the leadership histories of nations have combined to differently confirm the life of man as being, generally, more of failure than success.

Perhaps, if I were not a living witness to how that seemingly unattainable ambition that legends like the Great Zik of Africa, the irrepressible Awo, the indomitable

Aminu Kano, Abiola the martyr and their ilk meritoriously laboured for eventually became an unsolicited gift for Dr. Jonathan, I would, probably, have cast off such narratives, as his, as mere fables invented by pure imagination.

It is on record that, in our 52 years as an independent nation, the emergence of this President has been the only event in history that has ever given Nigerians the cause to hope as against the pessimism to which prolonged military rule and recurrent civil illegitimacy had betrothed us as helpless brides. Even the reigns of all the pre-2011 civilians that interrupted the military foray in the corridors of power only succeeded in heralding a departure that was only a difference between figure six and half-a-dozen.

President Jonathan certainly got it wrong in attempting to whip up

sentiments for himself, by describing himself as the most criticized President in the world, and conjuring the dream of a better tomorrow which the present day is not, in the least, indicative of.

Perhaps, Dr. Goodluck needs reminding that Nigerians are, today, not really bothered about bad roads, for the roads have always been bad; we are neither complaining about the perpetual darkness that has always lightened our national character. It is only a people who have the slightest hope about their existence tomorrow that would bother about all those infrastructures which the President referred to in his speech.

I do, in no way, doubt the efficacy of the Biblical prophecy that the rejected stone can become the cornerstone of the house, as indirectly alluded to in the prediction of

Kudos to LAMATA management IR: It is commendable when leaders listen to the concerns of the led, and take positive action to address and attend to these concerns. It shows a leadership that is empathetic and focused.

True leadership in Nigeria has always been a misfortune. With the bountiful resources, a proactive leadership cadre in this country can indeed take up its place of pride in the comity of nations. Until we are for-

flicts.

The good news is that the Governor Aliyu-led Northern Governors Forum took the fight for peace a notch higher when it inaugurated the Northern States Committee on Reconciliation, Healing and Security late last month. The initiative, which received applause from across the country, has been regarded as a bold attempt by the forum to tackle the growing insecurity and the fratricidal conflicts in the region.

Niger State under the Chief Servant therefore presents a good template for other stakeholders to copy in being proactive in finding solutions to contemporary challenges.

tunate with such, we may be like a rudderless ship on the ocean of life and nationhood.

Dr. Dayo Mobereola, the managing director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has shown to be such a listening leader, at least from my own experience. I ride in the BRT bus for obvious reasons. It is faster and far more convenient than the regular ‘Danfo’ buses that serve the many Lagos

routes.

Some weeks back, I had laid before him, a complaint, concern and observation directly to his email. He responded with the promise to see that the issue raised will be resolved.

The BRT corridor along the CMS route had these huge pot holes that made it difficult for the buses to use.

Rather than drive along the corridor, the drivers resort to using the regular lanes. The drive down this bad

spot when used creates a discomforting experience for the passengers and also impacts on the shocks of the bus.

Recently when we passed the route, I noticed that the spot had been filled and the ride smoother. I will like to commend the office of the CEO, LAMATA, Dr. Mobereola for demonstrating insightful and responsive leadership.

•Stephen Ipalibo Lawson, NTA, Lagos

Jonathan that ‘would leave office as the most praised President’. But, it suffices to ask a self-imposing question here – of what use would stable electricity, spotless roads, safe skies, functional education and all other desirables, which are mere life accessories, be to a population steadily bombed into extinction?

The truth is that the current tenant at the Aso Villa has been a subject of deeply-rooted anger of Nigerians simply because the opportunity that the “smart” ones had hitherto robbed us of, particularly during the June 12 tragedy, was, for the first time offered through making of His Excellency as the firstever President we can truly call ours.

Then, isn’t it morally and logically valid that the manner one scolds ones child is not the same one does another person’s?

Therefore, our President would do himself some great favour by resisting the temptation to measure up to his critics, either by reinforcing his external voices or crafting personal eloquence in self-defense.

The buck stops at his table!

Cultivating the tu quo que (what about you?) leadership is resignation to fate while accommodating the harshest of criticisms in policy flexibility may just be the bail-out for a leader in dilemma.

• Rasheed Olokode Lagos

21

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

COMMENTS

I

N the run-up to the October gubernatorial election in Ondo State, the nation has witnessed series of violence orchestrated by the government of the incumbent and re-election seeking governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, against the opposition political parties in the state. It all started on April 20, when the Ondo State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria organized a public lecture to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the death of the former governor of the state, Chief Adebayo Adefarati. The Oyemekun Road, Akure, venue of the lecture was reportedly stormed at noon by members of the ruling Labour Party who sang and danced provocatively to abusive songs against the opposition party.

As the guests, mostly ACN members, began to arrive, the situation became rowdy as their supporters also stationed themselves outside the hall singing and dancing. The situation, however, turned violent when some invitees to the lecture, including former commissioners and special advisers who served under the late governor were prevented from entering the lecture hall by Labour Party members. The situation later spread into the town where pockets of violence were recorded but the quick intervention of the State Independent Electoral Commission which banned all forms of campaigns and rallies until July 21, saved the day. The Police Command in the state also took a pre-emptive action by banning all types of political gatherings in places where clashes had been recorded.

On Saturday, July 28, however, the fragile peace in the state was again disturbed when members of the ruling party attacked a convoy of the ACN governorship candidate, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, (SAN), near the state secretariat on Oyemekun Road, Akure. The ACN candidate was on his way home after the party’s congress. There was a free-for-all fight in which dangerous weapons and ammunition were reportedly used and in the process several vehicles were vandalized while some passers-by were either robbed or wounded. Akeredolu, however, escaped unhurt but some members of the party were injured in the attack. Though the spokesman for the Labour Party, Femi Okunjemiruwa, alleged that members of the opposition party fired shots at the secretariat, the Special Adviser to the ACN candidate on Media, Idowu Ajanaku, said the incident happened at the Lafe Junction on Oyemekun Road when hoodlums blocked the convoy of Akeredolu who was returning home after he was elected the governorship candidate of the party.

The hoodlums, according to Ajanaku, hauled stones and pebbles at the convoy prompting the security details of the candidate to take measures to ward off the hoodlums.

A day before this attack, there was also a clash between members of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and members of the ruling LP in Ode-Irele Town. According to the PDP Director of Publicity, Ayodele Fadake, the clash was sparked off when the state government decided to inaugurate a community-based project on the same day that the opposition PDP had obtained Police permit to hold a political rally in the town. According to Fadaka, some LP members planned to

“Nigeria has a lot to learn from Indonesia, one of the Asian Tigers!”

N

IGERIA and Indonesia share a lot in common. Both are emerging economies bugged down by weak currency, corruption, unemployment, poverty and poor infrastructure. But placed on a scale of one to 10, Indonesia is much better off. For instance, although the Indonesian media, especially Jakarta Post newspaper, continues to report incidents of corruption among politicians in Indonesia, the incidents pale into insignificance when compared to the magnitude of the massive corruption in Nigeria.

But Nigeria has its own areas of strength as this article would try to highlight. However, this analysis is meant to compare the two countries in terms of socio-economic parameters and thereafter draw conclusions and make recommendations for improvement in Nigeria.

My analysis would be based on what I saw and heard during my recent visit to Indonesia, as well as facts and figures from secondary sources. To begin with, let me state that Indonesia is older than Nigeria. It got its independence in 1945 while Nigeria got hers in 1960. My visit happened a week after the country celebrated its 67th independence anniversary on August 17.

The entire country, urban and rural, was awash with the country’s white and red colours, mounted everywhere on the roads, buildings, bill-boards, etc or used in decorating shopping malls, super-markets, corporate offices and so on. You could see a people so proud of their country, so patriotic in defending their country and its values, cultures, language and foods! This observation was a big contrast to Nigeria.

Right from the Jakarta international airport, you would see a positive image of Indonesia.

You would see orderliness in immigration formalities. You would encounter officials who are smart-looking and professional in their job.

In contrast, as you arrive MurtalaMuhammed international airport Lagos, what you experience is confusion, tardiness, and too many officials in various uniforms, many of whom seem less interested in their official functions. The branding of Nigeria must start at Nigeria’s entry points with these first-line officers, and good systems and procedures!

In terms of population, Indonesia is almost twice the size of Nigeria. By 2010, the country had a population of 237.6 million. Nigeria has about 167 million. Nigeria has 36 states and a federal capital territory, divided into 774 local government areas. Indonesia has 27 provinces

Ondo and the politics of intolerance

By Opeoluwa Bakare defect to the PDP but due to the calibre of the personalities involved, the ruling party quickly fixed its own event in the same town, apparently to cause confusion. These incidents are by no means the only ones since the campaigns started. Aside the series of unprovoked attacks and harassment of the opposition, the ruling party has also used other coercive means to prevent the opposition parties from making their impact and freely sell themselves among the people as the political campaigns gather momentum.

But be that as it may, one begins to wonder why the reelection bid of Dr, Mimiko is witnessing such violence. This is a governor who has over the years sought to convince the world that he has performed in all spheres of the economy of the state. In education, in health, in agriculture and other sectors of the state’s economy, there have been claims of unprecedented achievements that had not been equaled by other governments in the country. While no attempt, whatsoever, is being made here to contest such claims, the series of state-orchestrated violence attending the on-going political campaigns cast doubts on such claims. If there is any lesson drawn from the 2011 General Elections, it is the fact that Nigerians have begun to demonstrate the freedom to make a choice of those who will lead them based on performance. Except in the few places where factors other than adequate political enlightenment played a dominant role, the elections were adjudged largely as free and fair by both local and international observers. The performance criterion was evident in the several states where governors of ruling parties failed to secure a second tenure. It was also evident in the few election petitions filed in against their defeat by the governors some of who later withdrew their petitions.

So, why the violence in Ondo State? Why have the opposition parties suddenly become targets of state-orchestrated violence? Could it be that the much talked-about popularity of Mimiko is a fluke after all? Is the attack and harassment of the opposition an indication that the “Iroko of Ondo State” is suddenly afraid to face the opposition? Is the governor afraid to allow free flow of ideas for moving the Ondo State forward in terms of education and economic development?.

There can only be one explanation to this action of the LP government in Ondo State. The government of Mimiko is afraid to face the reality of the present development in our democratic experience – the choice by Nigerians of the performance factor as the criterion for election. What is happening in Ondo State today may be reminiscence of what happened in Imo State in the 2011 elections where the boastful Ohakim claimed stupendous achievements only to be exposed and swept away by the gale of change in that state.

What is happening in Ondo State is certainly a minus for a governor who claims to be an agent of change. It is a sad reminder of the events that took place during the 2011 political campaigns in states like Benue where the state government severally denied the opposition ACN the use of its facilities for political rallies, In Ebonyi where the PDP government of Elechi Amadi hounded the opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), led by Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, a son of the soil, out of the state capital, Abakaliki, with the lame excuse that the town was too small to host the party’s presidential rally and Bayelsa State where the former deputy governor, Mr. Peremibowai Ebebi, who was seeking a senatorial seat, was arrested by the police on a charge of an alleged offence committed in 2009.

The truth of the matter is that beyond its undemocratic tag, this attitude of victimizing the opposition parties will expose Mimiko and his party, the Labour Party, as incompetent. If after four years of leadership, Dr. Mimiko is not willing and ready to face the challenges by the opposition, then, certainly his claim of performance is a fluke. Any governor who has performed will be proud to allow the opposition to come in and challenge his administration; because, aside the confidence it would build in the people, such a challenge will give him the opportunity to showcase his achievements.

Again, Lagos State comes in here as a good example. The Peoples Democratic Party launched its presidential campaign at the Tafawa Balewa Square, in Central Lagos where it boasted that it would “capture Lagos”. Barely a week later, the ACN launched its own presidential rally on the same ground and had the opportunity to reply the PDP. The party told the opposition PDP that it would not only fail to capture Lagos but it stood the risk of losing the states which it still presided over in the South-west. That is the beauty of democracy.

It is, indeed a sad commentary for Mimiko to resort to this method to secure a second term. The truth is that his intolerance of opposition does not allow for a free flow of ideas on how to move the state forward, Indeed, Governor Mimiko may have chosen a policy option that will , most certainly, see him out of office.

Bakare wrote from Akure.

‘Is the attack and harassment of the opposition an indication that the “Iroko of Ondo State” is suddenly afraid to face the opposition? Is the governor afraid to allow free flow of ideas for moving the Ondo State forward in terms of education and economic development?’

Lessons from Indonesia

By Jossy Nkwocha divided into 357 districts, which I am told, runs Nigeria’s kind of local government administration.

But the difference is that those elected at district levels are like a task force for rural development. My team visited many rural areas and saw that although their roads are quite narrow, they are tarred and maintained. You could see poverty but rural folks are happy with their agriculture and plantations. Rural folks are happy with their small made-in-Indonesia commercial buses, majorly driven by ladies. They are so proud of their foods and local black tea!

Indonesia knows how to cut its coat according to its cloth! Despite its size and population, it has a unicameral legislature – the Indonesian House of Representatives. This helps them to reduce the cost of governance.

At the economic front, Nigeria is many poles away from Indonesia. As at 2011, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Indonesia calculated on purchasing power parity, according to the World Economic Factbook (2012), stood at $1.121 trillion. That of Nigeria was $414.5 billion.

Calculated on the basis of per capita, the GDP of Indonesia is $4,700 while that of Nigeria is $2,600. Unemployment rate in Indonesia is estimated at 6.7% while that of Nigeria is 21% as at 2011. Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has recently released new statistics that are frightening. The population of Indonesians living below poverty line is estimated at 13.33% while that of Nigeria is 70%.

What really struck my team was the level of industrialisation in Indonesia. In Purwakarta, Cempaka and Bandung where Indorama Corporation has sprawling industrial complexes producing polyester filament yarns, polyester staple fibre, polyester chips, PET resins, all types of fabrics including laminated ones, etc, you see production plants everywhere, producing various consumer/industrial products shipped to various countries of the world!

These companies employ millions of young and old Indonesians. You could see people working at the plants; producing goods/services of value. In Nigeria, I look back at Apapa Industrial area, Ikeja industrial area, Ilupeju industrial area, Kirikiri industrial area, Ogba industrial area – all in Lagos – almost all the companies there have closed down, and sent all their em-

ployees into the labour market.

I look at Trans-Amadi industrial area in Port Harcourt – all the companies have closed down.

I look at the many industrial areas in Kano, Kaduna, Maiduguri, Jos and Sokoto – most of the companies there have closed down. It is the same with companies in Onitsha, Aba, Enugu and Nnewi. Years ago, Nigeria threw its doors wide open for all manner of imports.

President of the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dr. Herbert Ajayi recently cried out that 800 companies closed down between 2009 and 2011 due to harsh business operating environment (The Nation, September 12, page 9).

As usual, Nigeria copied the concept of trade liberalization and global competitiveness from the West, without any policy to protect local industries. Nigerian industries couldn’t cope, and all died of economic asphyxia. The lesson the world has leant from the so-called “Asian tigers” including China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, etc, is that countries grow economically by protecting their local industries and strengthening their manufacturing sector.

Today, Indonesia can boast of multi-billiondollar companies including Indorama Corporation, Jardine/Astra International, Salim Group, Sinar Mas Group, Wilmer International, Djarum Group, Phillip Morris International, Bakrie Group, Lippo Group, Uniliver, and many more which are making billion-dollar revenues and swelling the country’s economy.

Indeed, the August edition of Globe Asia, Indonesia’s No. 1 Business magazine, listed 100 Top Indonesia-based companies whose 2011 revenues have helped to insulate Indonesia from the global economic crisis.

Indonesians consume goods produced locally but Nigerians consume goods produced abroad (in Indonesia, China, Malaysia, etc).

Nigerians like to live big, while Indonesians like to live moderately. Despite Nigeria’s trillion-Dollar oil revenue, Nigeria likes foreign loans and aids while Indonesia likes savings and investments!

Another contrast between Nigeria and Indonesia is that Indonesia-based companies are relatively unencumbered by national politics and bureaucracy. In Indonesia, there are laws regulating industrial operations. Governments at the national, provincial and district levels

create conducive environments for businesses to thrive and flourish. Fiscal policies are aimed at attracting foreign investments, protecting local industries and creating more employment. Tax incentives are part of the fiscal policy. Lending rate for strategic sectors is lowered. Our country has something to learn here. In Nigeria, state governments seem to breathe down on small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) and make them to close down.

In Nigeria, investors complain of multiple taxations, overbearing regulatory framework, and regular political interferences. Yet, such companies are expected to provide their own infrastructure: road network, electricity, water and security. These hinder economic development and growth.

As a result of economic boom in Indonesia, crime rate is very low. Indonesians seem to be at peace with themselves — happy and contented with what they have! Ironically, Indonesians are not as “religious” as Nigerians. You may not see a church or mosque, but you see a people that are respectful, hard-working and honest.

Jakarta, the Indonesian capital is a beautiful city of high-rise buildings and apartments, thousands of shopping malls, international hotels, and well-paved roads and toll-gates. It perhaps boasts of the highest number of motorbike riders in the world, all well-kited but daring. All businesses are conducted in Indonesian language, not English language as in most countries. The mantra seems to be “If you live in Indonesia, you must speak Indonesia!” Talk of national pride!

The Indonesian people have a culture of keeping everywhere clean: roads, buildings, offices, name it. Government offices are sparkling clean, mostly painted in whitecolour. Indonesia has high maintenance culture, which is lacking in Nigeria. Indonesians are not crazy about made-inEurope- and America fashion. I didn’t see the “sagging” and nudities of the Nigerian fashion revolution. What has happened to Nigeria’s traditional wears and attires?

Indonesia is a tourist destination. What beats my imagination is how they turned a volcanic eruption site into a tourist centre! You cannot visit Indonesia without vising that site – about 130 miles from Jakarta, the state capital!

Nigeria, I think, has a lot to learn from Indonesia, one of the Asian Tigers! · Nkwocha, a company executive writes from Port Harcourt.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

22

COMMENTS

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ECENT arrest of former Minister of Interior, Capt. Emmanuel Ihenacho by officials of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and armed forces personnel attached to the Global West Vessel Specialist Limited (GWVSL) over allegation that his company received stolen petroleum products in its depot is bound to elicit considerable public interest.

For one, Ihenacho was until recently, the minister of interior, an office that superintends over the internal security of the country. Thus, any action directly or indirectly connected to him which has the prospects of sabotaging the collective interests of the country, is bound to attract measured public indignation.

Secondly, in the wake of the recent fuel subsidy scandal, the nation has been fully sensitized to the monumental fraud that goes on in the oil sector. More so, with the chilling revelation that several companies and personages received huge sums of money in foreign currency in the name of subsidy payments for fuel purportedly imported into the country even when no drop of the commodity was brought in. Many of such companies have since been charged to court and the nation anxiously waiting for the outcome of these cases.

Again, oil is very central to the survival of our economy. Given our sole dependence on it for the execution of our development programmes, any loss of revenue from it is bound to have deleterious effects on our economy. For this, any clue as to why Nigerians are not taking full advantage of this gift

‘It remains a big puzzle why the owners of the MT Grace vessel, Capital Oil PLC to which the alleged stolen oil belongs were not arrested. We are yet to be told what has been done to the Navy, NPA, DPR and NIMASA who cleared and documented the controversial consignment for discharge at the tank farm’

C

Emeka OMEIHE 08121971199 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

Between NIMASA and Ihenacho which nature has bountifully endowed them is bound to arouse the interest of the famished, poor and deprived masses of this country. Thus, the allegation is not only serious and weighty but equally very sensitive.

For all these, the controversy between Ihenacho’s company, Integrated Oil and Gas Limited and NIMASA, just like the fuel subsidy scandal, is bound to be in the domain of public opinion for quite sometime to come.

More so, with some searing issues raised by the company that have further thrown up questions regarding the propriety in singling it out in a business relationship and transaction that involved other agencies of government including the NIMASA itself.

The offence of the company was that it received a consignment of allegedly stolen fuel brought into its depot by a vessel. DirectorGeneral of NIMASA Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi said the vessel which has been impounded is used by pirates to hijack oil-bearing vessels and steal their fuel. According to him, it was run by a cartel whose activities have been under the agency’s surveillance.

But the company is not denying it received the fuel which is now said to have been stolen.

It is equally not denying that the now controversial consignment was brought to its storage facilities. But its contention is that the rules guiding such transactions were not observed in their breach. Its argument is that the fuel was received in its depot on a throughput basis and that all the necessary clearance documents were obtained before that consignment was received.

And that the rules guiding such transactions requiring that necessary inward clearance

HANGE is constant. This truism best describes the political situation in Kwara, a state gradually shedding its political image as the Sarakis’ fiefdom. Until the 2011 general elections when they nearly lost the governorship seat, the Sarakis were the lone voice in the state politics, dictating the way of life. Opposition parties, their candidates most time disenchanted lackeys of the Saraki political clan, would contest election, lose and disappear. They would resurface in four years, weakened and discredited. That would leave the Sarakis holding the yam and the knife, caring little about human capital or even infrastructural development and waiting to manipulate their way back to government in future polls.

Today, the Sarakis no longer have a field day in Kwara State; their disregard for public sentiments are now being exposed by a consistent, strong and credible opposition led by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) whose governorship candidate in the 2011 poll, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN), has remained a strong (and alternative) voice in the state politics. Kwarans now have opposing views on how their state is run – the absence of which was largely responsible for the way the Sarakis had run the state like a fiefdom over the years.

Evidences abound that Kwarans, including many in the government, are happy about this and are latching onto the bravery and outspokenness of the ACN to let out what was clearly a pent-up anger at the misrule, oppression and corruption of the past years.

It is now commonplace to see hitherto shy Kwarans storm the street to protest the impunities of their government: fuel subsidy protest, looting and destruction of PDP secretariat in Ilorin, the motorcyclists’ protest and the IEDPU’s well-coordinated opposition to the government’s land policy and the open protest by Malete communities against the government’s ‘land grabbing’policy are a few examples. The people are no longer intimidated by the powers and influence of the Sarakis because attention is now easily turned on them –thanks to the opposition and the social media.

This is not to say that they have been defeated. No. But the days of barefaced impunities seem gone. For instance, it is no longer easy (it was the norm before) to lay claim to some blanket achievements. On May 28 when the state government claimed to have tarred over 600 kilometres of road in one year and were even bold enough to list some of them, the opposition quickly rushed to the media in a detailed advertorial to expose the lies with incontrovertible facts. It was the same thing on twitter, where young Kwarans spent days dismantling what they call the edifice of lies by the state government.

This ultimately leads to the question of 2015. It is interesting that even the Sarakis are now forced to acknowledge the existence of political opposition in Kwara, despite the initial denials. They now blame everything on the opposition. It is not certain who will win the crown. What is certain however

documents be issued by the Nigerian Navy, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the supervising NIMASA were fully observed. They also claimed that the vessel that brought the fuel to their tank, MT Grace is owned by Messrs Akoto Ventures/ Danyomile Marine Services Limited well known to both NIMASA and Integrated Oil and Gas Limited.

They further claimed that MT Grace passed through NPA channels and facilities enroute to their jetty and was cleared for discharge by both the DPR and the Nigerian Navy even as the cargo was officially consigned to Messrs DPR/Capital Oil PlC and not their company.

The issues raised by the company are very weighty as they have brought to the front burner a lot of posers that are very germane to the resolution of the alleged oil theft. First, NIMASA claimed that the vessel which has been under surveillance is used by pirates to steal fuel from oil-bearing vessels and that its activities have been under surveillance for sometime now. But Integrated Oil and Gas argued that the identity and ownership of the vessel is very well known to NIMASA itself.

If that is so, the following questions beg for very urgent answers: *Why was the vessel allowed to pass through the facilities of the NPA enroute to the jetty without being arrested? * Is it true that after passing through NPA channels both the DPR and the Navy cleared it to discharge at that jetty? *Is it true that the alleged stolen fuel is fully served by the availability of the necessary

inwards clearance documents issued by the Nigerian Navy, the DPR, the NPA and the supervising NIMASA? *And at what point did NIMASA discover that the said fuel was a stolen consignment especially since it claimed it has been monitoring the pirate vessel? * From where was the oil stolen and why was the ship not apprehended at that point? * What are the identities of the owners of the vessel and the oil consignment? *And why were they not arrested before the invasion of the final point of the vessel’s destination?

These posers are very central to the resolution of the nagging issues that have been thrown up by the manner this matter has so far been handled. More so as Ihenacho, whose company is at the center of the controversy has imputed political motives and an attempt to destroy his business into the whole saga. They have also raised issues with the development of an armed unit within NIMASA that is under the operational control of parties who are neither trained nor constitutionally empowered to command federal forces under arms. That such a situation could lend itself to abuse goes without saying.

Had the invasion of the tank farms and offices of the company been cleared through our regular security command, the commando operation that left officials of the company handcuffed and thoroughly humiliated may not have taken place.

Then also, the litany of questions that have been thrown up by the issue would have been addressed before action is taken on who and who to hold culpable for the said malfeasance.

It remains a big puzzle why the owners of the MT Grace vessel, Capital Oil PLC to which the alleged stolen oil belongs were not arrested.

We are yet to be told what has been done to the Navy, NPA, DPR and NIMASA who cleared and documented the controversial consignment for discharge at the tank farm.

Unless and until these claims are proven to be false, there are definitely more to the stolen fuel scandal than ordinarily meets the eyes. In the circumstance, the federal government should institute with great dispatch a highpowered probe into the matter. The issues that have been raised are damn weighty and only through a thorough inquisition shall we get at the root of the matter. For now, the way the matter has been handled has been less than tidy.

Kwara and its changing political environment

By Abdullah Ishaq is that the Sarakis would go to the 2015 election more fragmented, more discredited and therefore less powerful to orchestrate the sort of rigging that marred the 2011 general elections.

Contrary to the claims made in commissioned newspaper articles and manipulated video clips on television screens, Kwarans still cannot feel the impact of governance. They are annoyed even the more by bogus claims in the media. It is like committing two grievous sins: the sin of poor performance and the sin of lying against the people. The poor showing of Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed and claims that former governor Bukola Saraki presides over the sharing of the state allocation have made nonsense of their appeal to zoning in the 2011 poll and hence give fillip to the opposition’s claim that the only reason Saraki Jnr picked Ahmed as successor was to cover his ills. The events of the past months especially the N9.2b loan scam involving Saraki Jnr have helped this insinuation. The opposition has also raised many instances of corruption, controversial loans (as in the case of the N10b the PDP-led government obtained to execute the same projects for which Saraki Jnr had raised and accessed N17b bond) and poor governance. Unfortunately for the Sarakis, their support base (the uneducated, old and dying, but large men and women voting public) is waning by the day and the ‘money power’, long relied upon to sway poor voters, may no longer save them because the youths, now forming the largest voting bloc, have learnt to collect money and still vote against them. The booing of Ahmed at the recent Eid-el fitri praying ground in Ilorin, the attacks on Saraki Jnr at Ilorin Airport by some PDP dissenters, and the outpouring of emotions on Unilorin FM (on August 15) against the government stopping of Belgore free holiday coaching programme are dangerous pointers for the PDP and the Sarakis.

Ahmed and Saraki Jnr might have parted ways after all. The denials notwithstanding, two main camps have already emerged within the PDP: loyalists of Saraki Jnr and those grumbling about the godfather’s arrogance and poor leadership. The latter believes Ahmed should assert himself. Who wins is a matter of strategy. The cold war between Ahmed and Assembly Speaker Razaq Atunwa is a symptom of this rivalry. Saraki’s loyalists believe Ahmed had released incriminating documents about their leader to those seeking his head.

It is also believed Ahmed was behind the recent allegations of fraud against Atunwa. The Sarakis are not known to take prisoners. They will fight Ahmed to a standstill. And another group is emerging on the sidelines of the two above: those routing for the former PDP National Chairman Kawu Baraje as the next governor in 2015, an ambition riding on ‘omo oko

and omo ale Ilorin (bona fide Ilorin indigene)’ sentiment sure to truncate in its embryonic stage the Saraki Jnr’s emergence as the new godfather.

In case Saraki Jnr used the PDP structure to sideline Ahmed in the 2015 race, and that is likely if the infighting continues, that would combine with Ahmed’s poor showing to make Kwara South a no-go area for the PDP. So far the expectations of the Kwara South elite, especially those of Igbomina stock, who ditched their traditional opposition to bad governance and alleged Saraki’s oppression, have not been met and they could use the 2015 to retrace their steps.

The coming together of the Sarakis after the 2011 poll is not in any way an added strength for them. It is for many Kwarans, including many top former Sarakite politicians who went to ACPN, a confirmation of deceit and conspiracy to sustain the Saraki political dynasty. Many of them with integrity may seek to take their pound of flesh as seen in the recent defection to ACN of the influential Chief Ayeni faction of ACPN. The so-called Saraki/Idi Ape reconciliation is at best a fluke.

It has not, will not and cannot address the core issues of the dispute.

The scenarios above have given the lie to some sponsored newspaper articles which attempted to place the Sarakis in firm control of the state. They are not. The happenings in the state show waning influence of the Sarakis and explain why opposition may cling the governorship seat in 2015 if they intensify the effort of rallying the people against the perceived past and current impunities of the Sarakis. As for whether they will change: you cannot teach old dogs new tricks.

• Ishaq writes from Ilorin, Kwara State capital

In case Saraki Jnr used the PDP structure to sideline Ahmed in the 2015 race, and that is likely if the infighting continues, that would combine with Ahmed’s poor showing to make Kwara South a no-go area for the PDP. So far the expectations of the Kwara South elite, especially those of Igbomina stock, who ditched their traditional opposition to bad governance and alleged Saraki’s oppression, have not been met and they could use the 2015 to retrace their steps.

Mikel deserves praise, insists Di Mateo Pg. 24

Manu fancies Eaglets’ against Guinea Pg. 25

...as team goes on 3-day recess

Sport Monday, September 24, 2012

PAGE 23

Super Eagles

Pg. 24

paid bonus for draws

24

41

NATIONSPORT MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT NIGERIA/LIBERIA AFCON TIE

Yobo rates Turkish League high CSKA Moscow's

S

UPER EAGLES’ captain Joseph Yobo has rated the Turkish League very high among others in Europe, while expressing joy on the recent desire of many more young Nigerian players in the League.

In an exclusive chat with NationSport, the Fernabache of Turkey defender said “ the Turkish League is not a pushover.

It is very competitive also. When I was there, I thought it would be an easy one, but, I later found out that it is just the same standard with what is attained elsewhere in

•Yobo

From Andrew Abah, Abuja Europe. It is good as many Nigerian players are coming over there. It would be good for our football if they are able to make it there. It would be go a long way to improve their game. It doesn’t matter which club you are playing for over there, the League is good because you play with the best of players in the World. I think, the Turkish League is very competitive”.

On why it took him much time to tie a final deal with Fernabache after staying with them for upward of two years, the record chasing former junior International said " I don't know why it took time for Fernabache to finally tie a permanent deal with me, all I know is that we always talk on phone, so I don't know. But one thing that remains is that transactions don't come so easy. I am happy now that everything is over, I have a three-year deal, and football goes on".

Continuing, the towering defender said, " I want to put the past behind me, all I know is that everything is okay now, I'm looking into the future. I went to Fernabache because I wanted to challenge for Champions Cup. Because Fernabache is such a big club which was the difference when I was playing for Everton.

Now I'm in a place where I am under pressure to win the League at the end of every season. We are challenging to win the FA Cup every season, and these keep me going". He promised to hit camp immediately the invitations come, and said he is always in touch with the other players, as their spirits are high towards the return leg match against the Lone Stars of Liberia.

Mikel

teammates slam Ahmed Musa

S

UPER EAGLES’ player, Ahmed Musa has responded to the criticism of Tošić and the rest of his colleagues in his post match comments to Russian Media. ''I do not mind when they swear, all the players are my friends. I just try to score as much as possible. The match with Volga was very difficult, but the main thing is that we won, and I was involved in this. I think that CSKA can become the champion!'' Musa told Sport Express Russia.

CSKA Moscow provisionally tops the standings in Russia with 21 points from nine matches.

CSKA Moscow do not have a striker presently and have drafted Nigeria international Ahmed Musa to lead the front-line.

So far the former record goal scorer in Nigeria's top division has netted three goals in his last four matches in the Russian championship including Saturday's winner at Volga.

For all his running, Ahmed Musa's goals in the Premier League could have been more, but he has been ineffective sometimes in attack. Serbian teammate Zoran Tošić screamed, screamed and screamed at Musa when he missed a golden opportunity to level the game

deserves praise, insists Di Mateo C

•Mikel

C

good Nigerian team, but will still hope to get a result on the road to reach Algeria 2013.

“We played against a very good side, who showed they are the defending African champions,” Luvhengo remarked.

“We had a chance to score at least two goals early in the game, we put them under pressure, but could not really hurt them.

“However, Nigeria came back at us, we took the pressure, but I was disappointed we let in a goal even though at that moment Nigeria deserved a goal.

“The return leg in Nigeria will be very difficult, but we will fight there. They are a good team but we will fight them. We just need to score in Nigeria and the pressure will be back on Nigeria. That is our target.”

The South Africans will play on an unfamiliar astro turf pitch, but the coach insisted it will enhance and not affect their passing game.

“It’s very good that we are playing on such a pitch, at least it won’t be bumpy pitch,” he reasoned.

N

IGERIA’S Super Eagles were paid full win bonuses for draws in Malawi, Rwanda and Liberia, MTNFootball.com has scooped.

The Eagles will rank as one of the top national teams enjoying the best incentives as they each received $10,000 even though they ought to get half that amount when they were held to draws in Rwanda, Malawi and Liberia this year.

In February, the Eagles were held to a goalless draw by the Amavubi of Rwanda in a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Kigali.

The coach Stephen Keshi-led team were to have pocketed $5,000 being half of their win bonus for a draw, but instead each player got the full sum of $10,000.

It was also the case when they were forced to a 1-1 draw by hosts Malawi in a 2014 World Cup qualifier in Blantyre and they again received the full payment of $10,000.

This month, each Eagles player was again $10,000 richer after they were forced to a 2-2

•Ahmed Musa

draw by Liberia in Monrovia.

One of the Europe-based stars who featured against the Lone Star of Liberia confirmed to MTNFootball.com: "Yes, we received $10,000 for the draw in Liberia."

A top official argued that the payment of full bonuses for these draws was to further motivate the players ahead of the challenges ahead.

"You will agree with me that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have done very well to adequately prepare the various national teams for major matches and tournaments," the official defended.

"It is the same spirit of ensuring nothing is left to chance for the Eagles to qualify for both the AFCON as well as the 2014 World Cup that it was agreed to make full bonus payments to the Eagles even after matches they drew."

The Eagles host Liberia in a return leg match for the 2013 Nations Cup on October 13, while they lead their World Cup qualifying section with four points from two matches.

They resume their qualifying campaign for Brazil 2014 with a home game against Harambee Stars of Kenya in March.

Manu fancies Eaglets’ against Guinea ...as team goes on 3-day recess

T

•Obuh

morning by the time the club were made aware of two highly offensive comments directed at him on the social media website.

It is not yet known whether the tweets came from Blues fans angry with the mistake Mikel made on Wednesday night which led to the late Juventus equaliser at Stamford Bridge.

But the club insist they will deal as robustly as they can if any are found to have been posted by Chelsea members or season ticket holders.

"We haven't seen any evidence to suggest that those directing racist abuse were Chelsea supporters," said club spokesman Steve Atkins.

"But we've made our position consistently clear over the years on any discriminatory behaviour, within our support.

"Should any evidence come to light that any Chelsea supporter, season ticket holder or member is guilty of such abhorrent behaviour, then we would take the strongest possible action against them – which would be to ban them.”

Keshi to release Sports Ministry moves to settle rift list of players HE plans of the National From Patrick Ngwaogu, Sports Commission (NSC) to Abuja on Friday set up two committees this From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja

B

ARRING last minute adjustments, Super Eagles’ handler, Stephen Keshi has concluded plans to release list of both the foreign and local based players for the camping exercise for the team’s all important last qualifying match for the 2013 Africa Nations Cup holding in South Africa.

NationSport gathered from the team sources that Keshi would meet with his assistants on Tuesday to put a finishing touch to the list after which he would present it to the Technical Committee of the NFF tentatively on Wednesday before making it public on Friday, well on time for the camping exercise that would kick off Friday for the Nigerian based players.

Keshi had told NationSport last week that the camping exercise would start at the end of this month with the Nigeria based players, while the foreign based players would join the team at least five mandatory days to the match slated for the U.J Esuene Stadium, Calabar on October 13, 2012.

It is likely to see few changes in the team as the Eagles’ coach has vowed to inject freshness into the team by introducing new players that are hungry for success and ready to fight to the last, in the make or mar match. He is also eyeing strong and athletic players that can match the African pattern of play to give him the needed result in the match.

LAGOS A.B.A VS REPTON BOXING FALLOUT

Repton triumphs 4-1 over Lagos

Super Eagles paid R bonus for draws

Obuh promises 2013 AYC ticket OACH JOHN Obuh has promised the Flying Eagles will be at next year’s AYC in Algeria after they drew 1-1 with South Africa in Nelspruit.

The Flying Eagles are the defending African champions having won the 2011 competition in South Africa and they maintained an unbeaten record in the qualifying tournament for the 2013 edition after they fought back from a goal down to tie with a good and spirited Amajita of South Africa.

The return leg match will be played on Sunday, October 7, in Ilorin with the overall winners advancing to the eight-nation AYC in Algeria in March.

“It won’t be an easy game in Ilorin, but we will qualify,” declared Obuh.

“I’m okay with the draw in South Africa as well as the overall performance of the team. We gave away the ball rather easily at the beginning but we later settled down and took the game to them.”

Six-time African champions Nigeria will be the favourites to beat their South African counterparts in Ilorin, but Obuh warned that playing in front of the home fans would not count for much against a good team.

“These days there isn’t such a thing as home advantage because a good team can play anywhere and win. Football has changed and so we can’t relax to ensure we finish off the job in Ilorin.”

Amajita coach Solly Luvhengo said after the draw at the magnificent Mbombela Stadium that they were up against a very

HELSEA midfielder Mikel Obi deserves praise and not abuse for the job he does, his manager Roberto Di Matteo has said.

"I had a good conversation with John, and he seems to handle it well (racial abuse on Twitter)," said the Chelsea boss Di Matteo.

"I have a lot of faith in him. I think he's done extremely well for us in that position. It's a bit of a dirty job there to try and break up the opposition's play and it doesn't always get recognised with the right credit."

Di Matteo has also condemned in totality the abuse rained on Mikel after the Champions League game against Juventus at Stamford Bridge last week.

Meanwhile, Chelsea will ban any fans found to have sent racist tweets to the Nigeria international.

The midfielder had already closed down his Twitter account on Thursday

HE coach of wave-making Golden Eaglets, Manu Garba (MFR), believes his wards would be ready to take on their second round opponents in the elimination matches towards a place at the 2013 African Under-17 Youth Championship to be held in Morocco. West African side, Guinea are yet to kick a ball in the qualifiers after getting a draw into the second round on account of their presence at the last African Championships in 2009.

Nigeria on the other hand, had missed out on

qualifications for both the 2009 and 2011 editions in Algeria and Rwanda respectively. But Garba has enthused that the Nigerian team is ready to take on any team following the manner his wards steamrolled Junior Menas of Niger with a 101 aggregate score line in the first round.

“With all modesty, we are ready to take on any team and we don’t mind if it is Niger or Spain,” the usually reserved Garba said matter-of-factly. “In football, there are three areas to measure performance and that are

composure, commitment and concentration.

We are proud that these boys have these attributes and they can only get better.

“Whatever the situation is, we have told them never to lose concentration and we are happy that they were not carried away even when they were comfortably leading with four goals against Niger,” he explained, adding that the team is yet to reach its limit.

“We rested some of the players today against Niger so that we can see what others can do.

Above all, we don’t have a first or second

team in this Golden Eaglets and this sort of give us the confidence that whoever gets the nod to play would represent the country well,” he noted. The Golden Eaglets are expected to play Guinea at home on October 14 with the reverse fixtures in Conakry two weeks later. “We shall be ready for Guinea because our preparations for the upcoming matches are well on course,” Manu stated.

Meanwhile, the Golden Eaglets have been given a brief three days recess in order for the players to loosen up after strenuous training regimen. “Work and play should go handin-hand and we want the players to relax so that they can be refreshed when we commence training again,” an official of the team volunteered.

NPL SPONSORSHIP TUSSLE

EPTON Boxing Club on Saturday confirmed its superiority over Lagos boxers with a resounding 4-1 victory at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

The Lagos boxers had avenge previous defeat 4-2 on Thursday at the Eko Hotel and Suites, but the visitors landed full force against their hosts to confirm their supremacy in the annual International amateur boxing contest In the first bout, National Champion, Sikiru Fatai lost to O. Davis of the Repton Boxing Club in the 62kg bout, while Rilwan Oladosu defeated T. Tear of Repton by unanimous decision in the 64kg.

Upcoming boxer Saheed Lawal was overwhelmed by K. Ozimkowski in the 69kg category.

Nigerian born boxer, Ben Falaja of the Repton club of London subdued Ganiu Hammed in the 69kg.

But the highpoint of the boxing contests was between another Nigerian born boxer, Umar Sadiq of Repton and Wasiu Balogun.

The lanky boxer stole the show with technical knockout in the second round, forcing the Lagos boxer to bow out in the second round of the 81kg clash of the night, at the indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium.

Meanwhile, The Lagos team had lost in previous editions 5-3, 6-1 in 2010, and 4-4, 3-2 in 2011 respectively.

T

week to find a lasting solution find in the sponsorship deals involving the Nigeria Premier League may put them once again at logger heads with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

NationSport gathered in Abuja at the weekend that the Minister in charge of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi in an effort to find a lasting solution for the NPL sponsorship tussle may have decided to set up the committees.

According to our source at the Commission, "the Minister is concerned about the litigations on the sponsorship issue involving GLOBACOM and he is setting up a committee to look into it, and suggest a way out of it. The second one would be on the broadcast right. He wants to unknot all the issues involving the actual owners of the broadcast right, and they would also suggest a way forward.

The two committees will have less than two weeks to submit their reports. That is why the Minister had directed the NPL to shelve its plan to begin the new season next month. There is no way these things would be hanging, and a new season would start. We have to find a lasting solution to it once and for all, so that our league would run like that of other climes" the source who is an egg head of the Commission said.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the NFF are viewing such moves as a

serious interference by the supervising ministry. According to someone who is supposed to know in Federation, the Commission, is stepping its bounds and trying to take over the jobs of the Federation " I hope they are aware that the NPL is under the Federation, and it is the statutory role of the Federation to find solutions to any issue that is affecting the running of the League body. The Leagues have just ended, and we are expecting their various Leadership to forward their problems to the Executive Board that would find solutions to them.

Since the NSC is setting up committees on it, we would sit down and be looking at them. We would not confront them, but would watch and see" the source who refused to be named said.

•Bolaji Abdullahi

Agbim: Liberia will be ‘roasted’ in Calabar

H

OME BASED Super Eagles’ Captain Chigozie Agbim has boasted that nothing would spare the Lone Stars of Liberia from been roasted in Calabar when the two teams meet in the all important Africa Nations Cup return leg qualifying match on 13th October.

According to the Warri Wolves of Warri goalkeeper, "I don't think of defeat at all. We have all it takes to win the match. They were very lucky to pull that draw on their home ground, If they could not win in their country, I don't know what is giving them that confidence that they can do it here in Nigeria. I can assure you that nothing can spare them here in Nigeria. Our boys are fired up, they were not happy with that draw in Monrovia, and are very much poised to inflict a high defeat on the Liberians here in the return leg match. I don't see them standing between us and the

From Patrick Ngwaogu, Abuja Nations Cup. We want to be in South Africa next year, and that is the ultimate for most of us now, after which the World cup".

The former Court of Appeal FC of Abuja goal tender said he is not worried about the invitation of foreign based goalkeeper in the team, saying he is ready to learn from them "I am not more bothered if more foreign based goalkeepers are invited to the team. It makes for more competition, and makes me to learn more from the most experienced ones, and from there, better my game. Being in the national team alone, is an experience that cannot be quantified in whatever way. The experience whatsoever, supercedes that of the club, and I am very proud to be part of it" he concluded.

•Chairman LBHF Olawale Edun counsels, Lagos boxer Olaide Fijabi after winning his bout against Repton’s Karel Ozimkowski at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Grand Ballroom, Victoria Island, Lagos on Thursday night.

Photo: BOLA OMILABU

25

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

THE CEO

NLNG is one of the biggest success stories in our country. From what I am told, the company has invested $13 billion so far since inception, and has become a pacesetter in terms of revenue generation for the government.

-Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga

JOBS

‘Setting up panels after plane crashes won’t work’ – 32

In auto sector, jobs abound - P. 37

News Briefing

Interbank rates fall on budget cash

‘Why banks are denied certification’

T

THE British Standard Institute (BSI) has said poor security and information management system are hindering many Nigerian banks from getting the ISO 27001 certification

- Page 26

Nigerian Content Fund gets $100m OIL companies have already contributed about $100 million towards the Nigerian Content Support Fund (NCSF) to be launched in October. The fund represents one per cent of oil firms’ profit

- Page 26

NAICOM battles money laundering THE National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) is to establish a unit with the sole responsibility of fighting money laundering.

The Nation gathered that the unit, which would help monitor the transactions of insurance firms is near completion.

- Page 39 DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$107/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,800/troy ounce Rubber -¢159.21pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N7.560 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -11.9% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending-22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $35.8b FOREX CFA 0.2958 EUR 206.9 £ 242.1 $ 156 ¥ 1.9179 SDR 238 RIYAL 40.472

•From left:Alhaji Wasiu Oladimeji, Oyo State Commissioner for Environment; Mallam Ahmed Kuru, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Bank Limited; Engineer Kayode. Ajisafe, Managing Director, Kadis Nigeria Limited; Alhaji O. Salami, Accountant-General of Oyo State; Mr. Oyadeji Oludele, Director of Treasury, Oyo State and his deputy, Alhaji Olawoye Sina, at the Bank’s Customer Forum at the Civic Centre, Ibadan… recently

Billionaire debtors: CBN to involve law enforcement agents

B

ILLIONAIRE debtors whose firms, directors and shareholders were barred from securing further loans from local banks are in for bigger troubles.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at the weekend, said the debtors, amongst whom are Femi Otedola, Alhaji Sayyu Dantata, Sir Johnson ArumemiIkhide, former Power Minister, Prof. Barth Nnaji, Mrs Elizabeth Ebi and Dr. Wale Babalakin, including their firms would be handed over to law enforcement agents, should they fail to repay their loans.

A total of 113 companies and 419 directors/shareholders, were affected based on report published in one of the national dailies last week.

CBN Spokesman, Ugochukwu Okoroafor, told The Nation that should they fail to repay their loans, the apex bank will involve the law enforcement agents to achieve full recovery, to ensure financial stability, and instil discipline in the banking sector. “We are a bank, not law enforcement agent. Should these debtors fail to repay their loans, law enforcement agents will take care of it for us,” he said.

A top CBN official, who pleaded anonymity, also explained that the regulator had to bar the debtors from further credit, to enable them honour their obligations, adding that the apex bank decided to use ‘naming and shaming’ because according to him, that’s the only way the debtors will be compelled to honour their obligations.

Managing Director, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mustafa Chike-Obi, declined to comment on the matter further, saying it was a CBN affair.

The CBN had last week, barred banks from extending further credit to the affected per-

equally directed banks to shun further credit to Cross River and Zamfara States because of the failure of the Tinapa Business

By Collins Nweze

sons and their companies. This became exigent due to difficulties the AMCON is having with the debtors, after it took over bad loans worth over N3.4 trillion from the banks.

The apex bank, in a circular dated September 17, confirmed that the restriction would apply to individuals, organisations, companies, as well as principal shareholders and directors of companies where the outstanding value of loans purchased by AMCON amounted to N5 billion or above as at the day of purchase, without regard to the actual amount paid by AMCON. The circular, signed by CBN’s Director, Banking Supervision, Mrs. A. O. Martins,said: “It has become necessary to stop debtors who failed to repay their loans to banks and had these loans subsequently transferred to AMCON, from further enjoying credit facilities from Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), until they fully repay agreed outstanding to AMCON.” The CBN also stated that any bank that flouts the guidelines would be made to make an immediate provision of 100 per cent of total principal and interest outstanding in the account of the customer and related parties, in addition to whatever regulatory penalties the CBN may decide to impose.

According to the report, the list of debtors showed that Zenon Petroleum, owned by Otedola, is indebted to banks to the tune of N192.4 billion; MRS Holdings Limited, which belongs to Dantata, owed N119.98 billion; Seawolf Limited – N98.32 billion; Arik Air Limited, belonging to Arumemi-Ikhide – N85.481 billion; NITEL Plc/M-Tel – N71.547 billion; and Capital Oil and Gas Limited, which belongs to Ifeanyi Ubah – N48.014 billion.

The banking watchdog

Resort and Accountant General, Ministry of Finance, Zamfara to pay back loans collected respectively.

HE interbank lending rates eased more than 500 basis points on Friday to an average of 10.83 per cent, compared with 16.33 per cent last week, after cash dispersal from the August budgetary allocation to government agencies hit the system.

Proceeds from oil sales are shared from a centrally held account every month to the three tiers of government - federal, state and local - providing liquidity to the banking system and determining lending rates.

About N570 billion ($3.62 billion) from oil receipts according to Reuters, were shared among the three tiers of government penultimate week, and traders said about half of the funds hit the system last Thursday, sinking the cost of borrowing among banks.

“We have a large volume of cash hitting the system from budget allocations on Thursday and rates have fallen more than 5 percentage points since then,” one dealer said.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

26

BUSINESS NEWS Flight Schedule MONDAY - FRIDAY LAGOS – ABUJA Departure Arrival 1. Aero 06.50 08.10 2. Associated 07.00 09.30 3. Air Nigeria 07.00 08.20 4. IRS 07.00 08.20 7. Arik 07.15 08.15 7. Chanchangi 07.15 9. Air Nigeria 08.15 09.35 10. Aero 08.45 10.05 11. Arik 09.15 10.15 12. Chanchangi 10.00 11.00 13. IRS 11.15 12.35 14. Aero 12.20 13.30 15. Air Nigeria 13.25 14.45 16. Chanchangi 13.30 14.30 17. Arik 13.45 14.45 18. IRS 14.00 15.20 19. Aero 14.10 15.30 20. Air Nigeria 14.50 16.10 21. Chanchangi 15.30 16.30 22. Arik 15.50 16.50 23. Aero 16.00 17.20 24. IRS 16.30 17.50 25. Arik 16.50 17.50 26. Chanchangi 17.30 18.30 27. Air Nigeria 17.35 18.55 29. Air Nigeria (T/TH) 18.30 19.50 20. Arik 18.45 19.45 31. Aero 19.20 20.40

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LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

By Akinola Ajibade

banks have not documented their security management programmes to meet the BSI’s requirements.

He said: “It is not that the local banks are not putting the information and security management processes in place, but their inability to document the processes in a way that would meet the requirements of the institute is the issue. I think that is one of the challenges facing the banks.

Once the banks have been able to do the proper things in this area, they are sure of getting the certification. We have received a massive amount of interests for certification and training services.”

He said banks need to do what is called “top-down commitments” on the issue of security management, arguing that the development would help them in winning

the confidence of many globally acceptable rating agencies.

“By top-down commitments, I mean the interest in information and security management programmes, must come from the management to the least workers in the banks. It should not be at the level of the managements or the boards of the financial institutions only.” he added.

He said the issue of information security is beyond putting technology in place, adding that it is a major governance issue that can directly or indirectly affect any organisation’s reputation and its survival.

He said ISO certification demonstrates to stakeholders that the banks are run effectively, improve performance, profitability, corporate governance, widen market opportunities, and improve staff responsibility and commitment.

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HE British Standard Institute (BSI) has said poor security and information management system are hindering many Nigerian banks from getting the ISO 27001 certification.

ISO 27001 certification, an initiative of the British Standard Institute, is awarded to companies or financial institutions that have complied with the all known information and security management standards globally.

First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, and a few others, have so far received the certification.

The Strategic Business Manager, Middle East and Africa Region, BSI, Omar Rashid, told The Nation that many banks were denied the certification because their security management processes were not complete. Omar, who was on a short visit to Nigeria, said many

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LAGOS – PORT HARCOURT (CIVIL) 1. Aero 07.15 08.35 2. Arik 07.15 08.35 3. Arik 09.00 10.20 4. Aero 10.50 12.30 5. Arik 11.40 13.00 6. Air Nigeria 12.00 13.10 7. IRS 13.30 15.00 8. Arik 14.00 15.20 9. Air Nigeria 16.00 17.10 10 Arik 16.10 17.30 11. Aero 16.15 17.30 12. Arik 17.10 18.30

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‘Why banks are denied ISO certification’

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LAGOS – ABUJA SAT/SUN Arik 7.15; 10.20; 2.20; 5.20pm – 7.30; 9.15; 10.20; 2.20; 4.50; 6.45 Aero 07.30; 09.35; 13.10; 14.50; 20.20 – 07.30; 09.35; 13.10; 14.50; 20.20 Air Nigeria 08.15; 14.30; 17.15; 18.30 – 08.15; 13.30; 14.30; 17.15; 18.30

•From left: His Royal Highness, The Olu of Mushin, Oba Fatai Ayinla Aileru receiving a 3kg O-Gas cylinder from Mr. Yomi Awobokun, CEO, Oando Marketing PLC during the launch of Secondary Distribution Point to deepen the reach of cooking gas for low income households, in Mushin Lagos...recently

Onosode heads investors’ protection fund

By Tonia Osundolire

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HE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) at the weekend inaugurated the Board of Trustees for the Investors Protection Funds (IPF) as part of efforts to enhance investor’ confidence in the Nigerian stock market.

Gamaliel Onosode chairs the ninman board which included Oscar Onyema, Misan Kofi-Senaya, Kyari Bukar, Chief Sola Abodurin, Fubara Anga, Edosa Kennedy Aigbekaen, Sam Onukwe and Umaru Modibo. IPF currently has about N625 million.

Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Oscar, Onyema said investors now have a statutorily backed avenue for reducing the losses suffered as a result of the bankruptcy, insolvency, negligence or wrong doing of dealing members.

He noted that board would need to work to justify the confidence reposed in them stressing that the investing public is watching the performance of the board.

He tasked the board to look for ways to modernize the IPF in line with global best practices, enhance the quantum of funds available in the IPF, and create clear guidelines for compensating legitimate claimants from the fund.

In his remarks, Chairman, board of IPF, Mr Gamaliel Onosode expressed extreme humility at been called upon to chair the board of the IPF, thanking the other members of the board for the confidence reposed in him.

Describing the membership of the BOT as a combination of the ancient and the modern day market operators, he promised to be on the side of ensuring the best for investors at all times.

Onosode promised to be guided by facts and figures at every time, noting that by virtue of being the oldest stockbroker, “I am likely to be sympathetic with the processes, procedures and all the regulations that quoted companies have to confirm with.”

In accepting the membership of the BOT, the chairman said that the role of the IPF by his understanding “is expected to moderate loses by investors.”

Nigerian Content Fund gets $100m from oil firms

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IL companies have already contributed about $100 million towards the Nigerian Content Support Fund (NCSF) to be launched in October. The fund represents one per cent of oil firms’ profit.

Speaking at the Nigeria oil and gas Trade and Investment Forum, in Onne, Rivers State, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board ( NCDMB), Ernest Nwapa, said: “The designated accounts for NCDF and procedure for payment of one per cent sum has been set up. The structure for NCDF has been developed and approval secured for award to Financial Advisors.

•Onne Port $2b Phase 4 jetty ready in 2014

By Toba Agboola

“The new fund would be used as a pool to attract and facilitate venture capital. Professionals will run the NCDF, which closes all the identified gaps in the old fund.”

Nwapa said the structure of the new arrangement would insulate the operations of the fund from the NCDMB, but added that the board still has overall responsibility for the fund.

He said industry cooperation would be required to succeed in using funds for targeted capacity, and attributed the growth of

the Nigerian Content from five per cent in 2004 to 35 per cent in 2010.

The implementation of the provisions of the Act, which was signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan on April 22, 2010, is envisaged to ensure the retention of about $40 billion in the Nigerian economy within the next four years at an average of $10 billion yearly.

According to statistics, the Nigerian economy currently retains only $4 billion out of the yearly oil and gas expenditure, estimated at $20 billion.

The new legislation also has a capacity to create over 30,000 direct employment and training opportunities; as well as enhance the establishment of three to four new pipe mills to service the demands of the industry and develop one or two dockyards.

Also, the $2billion Phase 4 jetty under construction in Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone, Port Harcourt, would be completed in 2014,.

The Head, Commercial, Intels Nigeria Limited, Iuri Tarmulus, who stated this during a tour of Onne Port, last week, said over 30 million cubic meters of sandfilling has been done, while about $500m has been invested.

Telecos base stations to hit 25,000, says RenCap

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ENAISSANCE Capital has predicted a rise in the Base Transreceiver Stations (TBS) of Nigerian telecom operators from 22,000 to 25,000 by December 2012.

In a report conducted by Renaissance Capital and titled: ‘Halfway through 2012: Time to reflect,’ the firm said the annual cost of buying diesel for running the base stations of the telecom operators would increase from its current N178billion when the telecom operators create an additional 3,000 base stations by December.

It said: “Recent publications have made references to the N178billion spent on diesel annually by the

By Akinola Ajibade

Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Nigeria.

We believe such a figure is too high if the reference is to diesel costs only, although we agree with reference to the N22, 400 required to maintain a diesel generator per site on a daily basis, which implies that $4,200 per base transreciever stations per month.

The report indicated that the telecom companies would spend more money in maintaining the base stations, giving the current price of diesel and the increase in the number of base stations, adding that the telecom operators have

stepped up investment levels in order to address problems such as network congestion and poor service quality. “ We are aware of major investment plans by all three GSM competitors ( for now we ignore M-Tel), and we expect the number of base transceiver stations to approach 25,000 by the end of 2012. We believe Glo will roll out over 2,000 BTS over the next year or so. In December 2011, Airtel announced its investment of more than N93billion ($600million) on the expansion of network capacity and the improvement of quality of service during 2011, in Nigeria.

“ The MNO constructed more than 500 sites in 2011, and planned to finish 1,000 sites by March, 2012 when the total investment was due to reach $1billion,” it added.

According to the report, Etisalat will increase its base stations to 5,000 in 2013 to boost its operations. “ Based on our analysis, Etisalat has 3,000 base stations by the end of 2011. As part of its strategy to boost its operations, Etisalat plans to build 1,000 more base stations in 2012 and another 1,000 in 2013. This will bring its total number of base stations to about 5,000 by the end of 2013,” the report added.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

27

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

Argentine growth halts as Fernandez tightens controls

A

RGENTINE President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner’s effort to stem capital outflows and extend her control over South America’s second-largest economy has brought growth to a standstill.

Gross domestic product (GDP) according to Bloomberg was unchanged in the second quarter from a year earlier and shrank 0.8 per cent from the first quarter, the national statistics agency reported

last Friday. Economists had forecast year-on-year growth of 0.5 per cent, according to the median estimate of 10 economists surveyed by Bloomberg. This was the first time GDP hasn’t grown annually since a 0.3 percent contraction in the third quarter of 2009.

“The government’s policies have halted growth because they led to lack of confidence and of investments,” said Walter Molano, head of sovereign research for emerg-

ing markets at BCP Securities in Greenwich, Connecticut, an investment bank that focuses on developing nations. “Argentina could have easily continued growing 7 per cent or 8 per cent for years.”

Since her re-election in October, Fernandez, 59, has banned most purchases of foreign currency, restricted imports and nationalized, the country’s biggest oil producer.

While those policies have eroded business confidence and invest-

ment, a drought in the U.S. that has pushed up soybean prices may provide some relief for the world’s third-largest producer of the oilseed.

Argentina, which has expanded an average 7.8 per cent a year since 2003, will grow 2.5 per cent in 2012 and as much as 5 per cent next year, Molano said. Fernandez’s government forecasts growth will accelerate to 4.4 percent in 2013 from 3.4 percent in 2012, according to the 2013 budget.

The Argentine government has defended its record and says growth will rebound.

“The engines of economic growth next year will be a boost in domestic consumption and in investment,” Economy Minister Hernan Lorenzino told lawmakers when he presented the 2013 budget on Thursday. “Argentina’s economy continues growing in an international economic context in which some important regions in the world are in recession.”

Emerging-market stocks rose, paring the first weekly decline this month, as gains in commodities lifted producers and investors speculated losses were excessive given central bank stimulus measures.

The MSCI Emerging Markets In-

dex rose 0.8 per cent to 1,006.40 at 4:03 p.m. in New York, trimming this week’s loss to 0.8 per cent.

India’s benchmark gauge jumped to a one-year high and the rupee rallied the most among major currencies on tax cuts that added to policy reforms last week.

In the U.K., the government posted its biggest August budget deficit on record, heaping pressure on Chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne as the recession hits tax revenue and pushes up spending on welfare.

Argentina’s Fernandez tightened import restrictions in February to boost the country’s narrowing trade surplus and bolster central bank reserves. With Argentina locked out of global credit markets since its $95 billion default in 2001, Fernandez has tapped the bank’s holdings since 2010 to help pay the nation’s foreign debt. She plans to use $8 billion of reserves for the same purpose next year.

The import restrictions led to shortages of foreign-made parts, forcing manufacturers such as Fiat ’s local unit to trim production.

Fernandez also tightened controls on dollar purchases in a bid to slow capital outflows, which accelerated to $21.5 billion in 2011 from $11.4 billion the previous year.

‘UBS overlooked limits when trades made money’

A

•Oil rig

Japanese firms say China protests affect business plans

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OKYOAbout 41 percent of Japanese firms see an escalating territorial row with China affecting their business plans, with some considering pulling out of the country and shifting operations elsewhere, a Reuters poll showed on Friday.

The Reuters poll comes as relations between Asia’s two biggest economies have hit their lowest point in decades over a dispute centered on an uninhabited group of islands in the East China Sea — known as the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.

Customs officials in the port city of Tianjin near Beijing have told Japanese companies their imports will be inspected more frequently, the Asahi newspaper reported, in a worrying sign that Japan’s shipments to China could slow.

Automaker Honda Motor Co said it was already making contingency plans.

“We are trying to forecast things in advance and preparing as much as possible to avoid any impact on our business,” Takanobu Ito, Honda’s chief executive, told a news conference.

Street protests in China have forced some Japanese firms to suspend operations in that country, and the share prices of Japanese firms with exposure to China have tumbled.

But with the upheaval of recent days abating, companies announced the resumption of their activities.

Japanese electronics giant Panasonic Corp fully resumed operations on Friday at its damaged circuit board plant in Suzhou, eastern China, and restarted some production at its electronic parts plant in the eastern city of Qingdao.

Toyota Motor Corp will have all nine of its plants in China operating normally from Monday, a spokesman said. The company suspended operations at some factories in response to the demonstrations.

The Reuters poll of 400 large and medium-sized firms, of which roughly 260 responded between August 31 and September 14, was taken before the worst of the protests, which damaged factories, restaurants and retail stores.

“We’re worried that Chinese workers could start boycotting production lines at Japanese firms in

China or start making unreasonable demands for wage increases,” said one transportation equipment maker.

Firms in sectors such as wholesale, transport equipment and electric machinery were among those expecting the most fallout from worsening relations with China and other parts of Asia.

Some of the firms which see friction with China affecting business plans have suffered not only from rowdy protests involving damage and consumer strikes, but other problems as well.

“We were stranded at customs there even as we followed proper procedures for exporting parts,” said one machinery firm.

A transport machinery company complained that it was excluded from bidding in China.

“We need to consider closing our base in China and withdrawing our personnel,” said one metal products company.

Others voiced caution about investing in China, while considering putting off plans to make inroads into Chinese markets or seeking alternate sites.

LAWYER for Kweku Adoboli, the former UBS AG trader on trial for unauthorized trading, said the bank had a culture that overlooked trading limits and other rules as long as employees made money.

Charles Sherrard, a lawyer for Adoboli, said UBS became “more aggressive in terms of its desire to make profits” in 2011, while crossexamining one of Adoboli’s former bosses at a trial in London last Thursday. Sherrard cited e-mails from Adoboli telling managers about positions he had that exceeded trading limits.

“This is the first example where culture, the practice at the bank you were working for, the risk limits didn’t matter as long as you were making money,” Sherrard said to Ron Greenidge, who oversaw UBS’s exchange-traded-funds desk until April of last year.

Adoboli, 32, is on trial charged with fraud and false accounting over unauthorized trades that lost UBS $2.3 billion. Adoboli according to Bloomberg, admitted he risked $5 billion on Standard & Poor’s 500 futures and a further $3.75 billion in the German futures market shortly before he was arrested, Greenidge said in testimony Sept.

19. He has denied the charges against him.

Risk limits for the bank’s ETF desk were agreed on orally and could be exceeded, Greenidge said. The only written risk limits were “at a very high level,” Greenidge testified.

Greenidge, who worked at UBS for 19 years, said yesterday he was dismissed for gross misconduct because of Adoboli’s trades. He said he felt the bank was making him a scapegoat and had no knowledge of the fictitious trades or an internal account at UBS allegedly created by Adoboli, which he called his “umbrella” and stored as much as $40 million in to cover losses.

Sherrard read out Adoboli’s performance reviews from 2009 written by Greenidge, which said the trader needed to work less.

Greenidge said Adoboli was a “great ambassador for the ETF product” and had outstanding performance that year.

John Hughes, one of Adoboli’s former colleagues on the Delta One trading desk, said in a peer review he was “great with clients” and was “certainly the good cop of the ETF team.” His only criticism was that “too many people take his good nature for granted.”

European shares rise on Spanish bailout talk

E

UROPEAN equities rose on Friday, briefly testing last week’s 14-month highs, as banking shares were lifted by speculation Spain was moving towards a bailout request.

Euro zone banks rose 1.7 percent and Spain’s Ibex 35 added 2.9 percent as Madrid was said to be taking steps to meet conditions for an international rescue, which could pave the way for monetary support from the European Central Bank.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index provisionally closed at 1,119.66 points, up 0.4 percent on

the day and broadly flat over the week, which was marked by soft economic data from the euro zone and China curbing optimism over global central bank stimulus.

“The Spanish have done all the right things as far as the Germans and the ECB are concerned, (the bailout) is a formality,” David Hussey, head of pan-European equities at Manulife Asset Management, said.

“Consolidation is inevitable but there is this massive global stimulus, money will chase real assets... and I think (the rally) will continue.”

28

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

AFRICAN BUSINESS

Zambia launches record-breaking euro bond Z

AMBIA’s debut $750-million, 10year euro bond strengthened on its first day of official trading on Friday after becoming sub-Saharan Africa’s most successful bond launch with bids worth more than 15 times the amount on offer.

The yield on the bond from Africa’s top copper producer fell to 5.2 per cent on Friday after it was sold on Thursday at a yield of 5.625 per cent, carrying a coupon of 5.375 per cent. The total order book was $11.9billion, the finance ministry said on Friday, underscoring investors’ huge appetite for rare, high-yielding African assets.

“This is not only the largest order book for sub-Saharan Africa, but also at 5.375 per cent the lowest coupon, meaning the most favourable price,” Zambian finance minister Alexander Chikwanda said in a

statement seen by Reuters.

Around 425 investors took part in the issue, with 56 per cent of them from the US, 40 per cent from Europe, three per cent from Asia and others accounting for 1 per cent, the finance ministry said.

Fund managers received 85 per cent of the allocations, with the rest being distributed to banks and pension and insurance funds.

Barclays and Deutsche Bank were the lead managers and joint book runners.

Friday’s trade brought the yield closer to that on Ghana’s 2017 euro bond, currently yielding 4.8 per cent, and analysts said it could decline further.

Zambia and Ghana are rated B+ by

Rwanda fines MTN, warns Tigo

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WANDA’S telecoms regulator said it would fine the country’s unit of South African telecommunications group MTN for the second time in four years for poor quality service.

MTN Rwanda is the by far the country’s largest mobile phone operator with about two thirds of its subscribers.

The regulator on Thursday said it had carried out a survey in August showing MTN had failed to meet minimum thresholds on call completion rate, speech quality, signal strength and other measures, the regulator said.

MTN said an independent technical teams had carried out another survey of its Rwandan networks the following month and found no major problems.

The September survey found that “despite hitches that sometimes might be beyond our control like fibre cuts, our network is operating within all Key Per-

S

the IMF said in a statement after a mission to the west African state from September 6 to 19.

“The current account deficit should decline, but would remain high in light of imports associated with investments in the energy and mining sectors. The overall balance of payments is expected to post a slight deficit.”

IMF urged the new Senegalese government to maintain its budget deficit target in order to ensure fiscal sustainability. Senegal’s budget deficit is expected to be reduced to less than five per cent of GDP in 2013.

Between 2000 and 2010, Senegal’s budget deficit grew to 6.7 per cent of GDP or 455 billion CFA francs and was projected to hit 8.2 per cent if nothing was done.

Mozambique’s currency crushes cashew comeback

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OZAMBIQUE’s cashew industry is ailing, and the symptoms point to a bad bout of “Dutch disease.”

In a nutshell, this illness strikes an economy when the discovery of a resource such as oil draws in a flood of dollars, boosting the local currency but making all other exports uncompetitive.

The term was coined to explain the decline of manufacturing in the Netherlands after the discovery of North Sea oil and gas in the late 50s.

In Mozambique’s case, an investment boom in the nascent coal and gas sectors hoisted the metical by a whopping 33 per cent against the dollar from September 2010 to the end of 2011. It has since retained the bulk of those gains.

Foreign direct investment soared to $2.1-billion (US) last year – when the metical was the top-performing currency against the dollar – compared with just $7.8-million in 2010, central bank data showed.

While the government will welcome the money, it has crushed any cashew

emerging markets analyst at Standard Bank. “The QE programs that have been undertaken in Europe and the U.S. have contributed to a large amount of dollars that are in search of yield.”

She added that Zambia’s low public debt levels, a current account surplus and strong foreign direct investment inflows were also attracting investors.

While Zambia’s dependence on copper, which accounts for about 77 per cent of exports, was a concern, its strong fundamentals could support the bond in the future, she added.

The IMF forecasts GDP growth of 7.7 per cent this year and inflation has fallen to around 6 per cent from more than 30 per cent in 2000.

“There could potentially be some upside in the Zambian bonds,” Babb said.

Stuart Culverhouse, chief economist at Exotix, said many investors had become familiar with Zambia, whose domestic bond market is open to foreigners. “For a lot of people it’s a sound, robust story,” he said.

Namibia’s debut $500-million euro bond, issued last October, was oversubscribed five and a half times, while Nigeria’s January 2011 offering of the same size was two and a half times oversubscribed.

The order book for Ghana’s $750-million bond, launched in 2007, was nearly $3-billion.

Ghana was the first sub-Saharan African country other than South Africa to issue an international bond. Since then, it has been joined by Gabon, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Congo Republic, Nigeria, Namibia and now Zambia

formance Indicators in our license obligations,” MTN said.

MTN will be fined 3,000,000 Rwandan francs for each day in which they do not comply with the notice, for a maximum of one month, the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) said in a statement.

It warned of further unspecified actions should MTN fail to improve its services.

Johannesburg-based MTN, which owns 80 per cent of the Rwandan operation, said it has been trying to improve its services since receiving an initial warning by the regulator in March this year.

In 2009, the regulator fined MTN Rwanda $140,000,saying it had failed to roll out network upgrades or address problems such as dropped calls.

Senegal’s growth to rise to 4.3 % in 2013 ENEGAL’S gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to tick up to 4.3 per cent in 2013 from a forecast 3.7 per cent this year on the back of infrastructure projects and a recovery in its agricultural sector, the IMF said on Thursday.

The International Monetary Fund said inflation, which stood at 1.5 per cent in the first half of 2012, was expected to remain well below two per cent in the coming months.

Completion of projects in the electricity and road sectors, recovery in the agricultural sector and mining projects will contribute to boosting growth.

“Despite the gloomy international context, GDP growth is expected to increase slightly to 4.3 per cent in 2013, sustained primarily by major projects,”

Fitch. However, Zambia has a B+ rating from Standard and Poor’s, compared to B for the west African gold, cocoa and oil producer.

Proceeds from Zambia’s euro bond, which will be eligible for the JP Morgan EMBI Global Index, will be used to upgrade its infrastructure, particularly in the road and energy sectors.

Though analysts and investors had expected the bond to be oversubscribed, the size of the order book came as a surprise. They said it testified to the strong appetite for scarce African paper and resurgent risk appetite after the European Central Bank announced a bond buying plan last week to aid struggling euro zone members.

“It’s a reflection of the amount of liquidity that’s now available in the advanced economies,” said Yvette Babb,

comeback and put the livelihood of tens of thousands of peasant farmers at risk in a country where agriculture still accounts for a third of gross domestic product.

The tropical southeast African nation and former Portuguese colony was once the world’s top producer of the coveted nuts, but – as with most of its economy – the industry was gutted when civil war erupted after independence in 1975.

The end of conflict two decades ago allowed the cashew sector to sprout anew, and in 2010, sales rose to a post-war peak of 113,000 tonnes, the third-highest in Africa behind Ivory Coast and GuineaBissau, according to the Ghanabased African Cashew Alliance.

But sales then tumbled to 63,000 tonnes last year.

Market and industry players say the currency’s appreciation prompted buyers in India, where most of Mozambique’s cashews are processed, to search for cheaper options elsewhere.

• From left: Chairman, Investor Protection Fund Board of Trustee, Mr Gamaliel Onosode; Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr Oscar Onyema and Chief Executive Officer, ICON Stockbrokers Limited, Mr Chike Nwanze at the Investors Protection Fund Board of Trustee inaugural meeting at the Stock Exchange House, Lagos...last week

Labour strife spreads to Anglo American ONMIN, the London-listed company, agreed on Tuesday to give its miners salary increases ranging between 11 per cent and 22 per cent to halt its strike, which had triggered the worst outbreak of violence in South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994. That unrest, which had forced Lonmin to halt its South Africa operations, was marred by intimidation and violence in which 45 people died, including 34 miners shot by police last month.

Lonmin resumed operations on Thursday, when about 80 per cent of its 28,000 employees returned to work. The settlement will add about 14 per cent to its wage bill.

Alan Fine, of AngloGold, said it was not clear what the workers’ demands were at the Kopanang mine.

But Lesiba Seshoka, a spokesman for the National Union of Mineworkers, said the miners were demanding R12,500 ($1,500 ) a month – the original demand of the Lonmin strikers.

“It looks like this is just a contagious thing,” Mr Seshoka said. “Our greatest worry is that if you are going to have sporadic demands throughout

L

the industry, then it will undermine collective bargaining and that’s going to be chaos.”

Kopanang mine produced 90,000 ounces of gold in the first half of the year, about four per cent of the company’s overall production during that period.

The industrial strife had already spread to Gold Fields, where 15,000 workers have been on strike for nearly two weeks, and Anglo American Platinum, the world’s biggest platinum producer.

On Thursday, Amplats said less than 20 per cent of some 26,000 workers at five mines in Rustenburg had returned to work on Friday after it lifted a suspension on the shafts’ operations earlier in the week.

Amplats has threatened to pursue “legal avenues” against those who remain absent.

The unrest has led to mounting concerns that traditional labour mechanisms used to resolve disputes between workers and employers are breaking down.

When the strikes began in the platinum sector, industry officials said it was less likely to spread to gold be-

cause gold companies use collective bargaining to negotiate with unions.

In contrast, platinum companies have negotiated on a company-by-company basis.

They also pointed out that that the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union – a militant, upstart union that has made strong inroads among platinum workers – had a much weaker presence in gold mining, where the NUM dominates.

But the unrest has shown workers becoming increasingly frustrated with their union representatives and taking unilateral action that exacerbates tensions and complicates negotiations.

Their demands also appear to become more militant, with concerns that the wildcat strike at Lonmin and the high level salary increases in the wage agreement will lead to greater demands.

Jacob Zuma, South Africa’s president, said on Monday that the value of lost production in the gold and platinum sectors due to work stoppages during the past nine months was close to R4.5bn ($530-million), while the indirect impact of strike actions had cost the Treasury R3.1bn.

New airlines brave Africa’s riskiest skies

I

TS tarmac littered with dozens of dilapidated planes, the airport in Congo’s capital Kinshasa makes clear the dire state of the country’s aviation, even by Africa’s generally low standards.

The planes have been abandoned either as mechanical failures or by companies that went bust in a sector where a lack of proper infrastructure means pilots sometimes navigate with the help of Google Maps and devices like those found in cars.

“Crazy things happen here. We

have to stop those crazy things happening,” said Frenchman Jean-Marc Pajot, who, with his new FlyCongo airline, is setting out to prove there is a market for those determined to make it work.

On the face of things, it looks like a good business.

An airline can charge $700 for a seat on the 1,600 km flight from Kinshasa to Congo’s copper mining centre of Lubumbashi. To fly a similar distance between London and Lisbon, a return ticket can be had for

less than $100.

With economic growth forecasts of around 7 per cent until 2015 thanks to its mines, Democratic Republic of Congo’s business prospects look healthy alongside regional peers. Air passenger numbers more than tripled in the decade to 2010, growing nearly twice as fast as they did globally.

But as in much of Africa, a spurt in growth after decades of decline has not translated into an improvement in infrastructure for airlines or anyone else.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

29

65TH KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING

T

oday Wednesday 19th September, 2012 (2nd Dhul-Qa’adah, 1433 AH) the Kano State Executive Council held its Sixty Third (63) sitting in continuation with sequence of previous sittings during which important policy issues and program that positively impact on the quality of lives of our citizenry were deliberated upon. Today, Council sitting was presided over by the Governor Engr. RABIU MUSA KWANKWASO FNSE during which 21 memoranda were submitted by 10 MDA’s for deliberation by the Council. An expenditure of N1,076,424,600.66 covering 13 projects was approved for execution by the Council.

1 Ministry Of Agriculture And Natural Resource The Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources submitted two (2) memorandum for consideration by the Council as follows; (a) Request for founds to facilitate for restocking Kano Zoological Garden with various wild and Attractive Domestic Animals. Council was abundantly notified, by contents of this memorandum of the fact that the Kano State Zoological Garden is currently stocked with over sixty (60) different species of wild animal as well as some attractive domestic ones which are sources of spectacular pleasure to large number of visitors especially during festive periods. Alas! these animal are ageing and suffer from inbreeding which negatively impacts on the continuous existence of some Species in the Zoo and calls for restocking the Garden with more / younger wild animals along with more ataractic / exotic domestic ones. The restocking will ensure survival of the Species thereby attracting more visitors which interprets to generating more revenue. So, the requested sum of N5,000,000.00 was approved for release by the Council to the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural resources to facilitate for the stated project. (b) Submission of report on Investigation of alleged Irregularities in the disbursement of post Training Packages for the Animal Traction Programme:- Contents of this memorandum presented summary of the details on issues that transpired in the disbursement exercise on post training packages for the Animal Traction Programme in which ten (10) Local Government Council Areas were Concerned. Ninety (90) beneficiaries were involved across the 10 L G As (i.e 9 for each).

Nevertheless; Minjibir, Madobi, Bagwai, Danbatta and Ungogo L G As had one problem or the other which instigated the under listed recommendations; i. Henceforth, nomination of the beneficiaries for the training should be done by the C R C officials. ii. All the nine(9) beneficiaries from Minjibir L G C A be punished for their unbecoming behaviour to the C R C officials while the five(5) from among them that refused to purchase the work bulls dealer be made to return the money . iii. Yusif Hamza from Ungogo LGCA be made to return the money he snatched from the work bull dealer. Council noted and considered Contents of the report and directed for the adoption and enforcement of the recommendations in the report as well as the strict adherence to the procedure for ATTP Post Training Program.

2.

State Affairs Ministry The responsive Council considered the Contents of this memorandum and approved for the release of the requested sum of N10,105,000.00 to the State Affairs Ministry to facilitate for the payment of Press Coverage of the Kano – Niger Republic Trade and Cooperation Conference- Thus; Nigeria Television Authority (N T A) live coverage for two (2) hours = N5,755,000.00 Federal Radio Corporation (F R C N) network Programme live Coverage for two(2) hours N4,000,000.00 Honorarium for forty(40) Correspondents = N200,000.00 Honorarium for Government House Press Crew = N150,000.00 Total = N10,105,000.00 3.

Ministry of Water Resources Four (4) memorandum were submitted by the ministry of water Resources for consideration by the Council as follows; (a)Presentation on the Supply of three thousand (3000) Metric tons of Allum:- Council was politely but emphatically notified of the hindrances affecting the steady Supply of the stated quantity of Allum to the Ministry of Water Resources by the contracting Firm whose Supplier in Kano ( Asba Chemical and General Enterprises) was disrupted from performing his obligation seemingly by forces internal to the ministry of water resources Council noted, considered and directed the supplier to continue (b) Request for funds to facilitate for the procurement and installation of one (1) additional 1650KVA electricity generator at New Tamburawa Power House;- The aggregate sum of N155,040,048.45 was requested for release by the Council to the Ministry of Water Resources to facilitate for the procurement and installation of one (1) additional 1650 KVA electricity generator including the supply of complete accessories for the two excising electricity generators at the New Tamburawa power House (Water treatment plant). This will boost and backup the required energy at the plant considering the incessant power outages from the National Grid or routine maintenance services. Council considered and approved for the release of the requested sum of money to the Ministry of Water Resources to facilitate fore the stated purpose . (c) Request for funds to facilitate for the procurement of Aluminium Sulphate (Alum); Contents of this memorandum substantiated that “Alum” is a routine requirement in Water treatment which makes its regular supply paramount. So, the Ministry of water Resources requested for the release of N86,000,000.00 to facilitate for the procurement of 1000 metric tons of alum from Messrs. Genson Nigeria Ltd and N 55,900,000.00 for the procurement of 650 matric tons of alum from Messrs Lad pharm International Ltd. Council noted, considered and approved for the release of the total sum of N141,900,000.00 to the Ministry of Water Resources to facilitate for the procurement of 1650 matric from the referred contractors (Companies). (d) Request for funds to facilitate for the repairs /rehabilitation of the Irrigation office Block and soil and Water Laboratory at Farm Centre Kano :- Council was politely notified, by contents of this memorandum, of the need to salvage the bad condition of the irrigation office and the soil/ Water Laboratory at the farm Centre. The office requires rehabilitation while the laboratory requires the provision of equipment. The requested sum of N17,582,549.46 was approved for release by the Council to the Ministry of Water Resources to facilitate for the referred purposes. Both the irrigation office and the water/soil Laboratory are vital to dry and wet seasons farming and cannot be allowed to remain in their present condition.

4.

Ministry Of Works, Housing and Transport Submission of the implementation of 2012 constituency projects and request for ratification for the release of funds to facilitate for the execution of 166 projects in 22 LGCAS under the constituency projects scheme; Contents of this memorandum presented details on the execution of 166 projects under the constituency projects scheme undertaken in of 22 LGCAS. Council noted, considered and approved for the ratification of the awarded contracts to the sum of N598,992,424.82 expended on the construction of mosques, classroom blocks in primary schools, Islamiyya schools, Health centers, provision of electricity Generators, Bus, furniture and public address system.

5.

Ministry of Education Presentation of the interim minutes on Bilateral Agreement between a Delegation of Niger Republic and Kano state Government on the Establishment of the Bilingual School project; Council noted, considered and endorsed the agreement.

6.

Office the Secretary to the State Government Two (2) memoranda were Submitted by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government for deliberation by the Council as follows; (a) Presentation of a report on the investigation of the Gongoni factory situated at Kazawa in Minijibir LGCA;- The Special Adviser on Environment presented the referred report in compliance

with the executive directive issued on the on the 11th May, 2012. Based on observation during the investigation, six(6) recommendations were proffered which ultimately inform the underlisted suggestions i. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Tourism should appraise and articulate strategies for implementing recommendation (2,3 ,5 and 6). ii. The Ministry of Education should examine recommendation number 4, and advise Government on the way forward. iii. The Ministries of Health and Agriculture should study recommendation number one (1) and advise Council noted and directed for the execution of suggestions (i-iii). (b) Request for funds to facilitate for reimbursement of funds expended in the operations of the committee on the revival of Rabi’u Musa Kwankawaso Horse Racing; The requested sum of N900,000.00 was approved for release by the considerate Council to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government for onward payment to the 5 - number Committee on the revival of Horse Racing to be shared in accordance with the details presented in this memorandum.

7.

Office of the Head of civil Service Four (4) memorandum were submitted by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of deliberation by the Council as follows; (a) Submission of report from the Committee on verification of Qualification(s)/suitability of Teaching Staff at the State Tertiary Institutions;- Content of this memorandum presented ten (10) items in ten (10) pages along with nine appendices on the referred issue. The Committee concluded the report by expressing gratitude for the opportunity given to serve the Government in this capacity and hope that the recommendations proffered in the report will assist the processes of transforming the Educational sector. (b) Request for the release of funds to facilitate for the conduct of induction / re-orientation program for “New Civil Services”;- The requested sum of N 1,790,000.00 was approval for release by the Council to the office of the Head of Civil Service to facilitate for the conduct of the induction/ re-orientation program for “New Civil Servants” so as to conform with the wholesome tradition of familiarizing them with the underlisted; i.

General overview of service and its history ii.

Oath of secrecy iii.

Scheme of service iv.

Financial regulation and accountability (C) Request for funds to enable the participation of eleven (11) officers at three (3) series of workshops organized by the Center for management Development and African Capacity building Foundation;- The cordial relationship between the referred foundation and the state Government provided for the opportunity of the state being invited to participate at the tuition-free colloquium. Usually, top-ranking Civil Servant are invited.

The series of workshops will hold on; i.

17th -21st September 2012 (Sokoto state) ii.

24th - 28th September 2012 (Ekiti state ) iii. 8th – 12th October, 2012 (Oyo state) Importantly, eleven (11) officers of the rank of Directors from different MDAs are slated for the program and the financial implication is to the sum of N1,210,000.00. Council considered and approved for the release of requested sum of money to the office of the Head of Civil Service to facilitate for the stated purpose. (d ) Request for funds to enable the sponsorship of five (5) officers to attend a National Workshop (17th -19 September, 2012) at ASCON Campus Badagry Lagos State;- Five (5) officers have been selected according to contents of this memorandum to attend the National Workshop tag-named “reinventing Government and Enhancing Service Delivery ; The Role of the regulation and Service Commission”. The workshop will certainly equip the officers for better service delivery.

So the requested sum of N800,000.00 was approved for release by the Council to the office of the Head of Civil Service to facilitate for the referred purpose.

8. Office of the Deputy Governor /Hon. Commissioner for Local Governments Submission on the 2nd preparation Meeting held between the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the chairmen/secretaries of State Pilgrims welfare Boards on 2012 Hajj;- Contents of this memorandum presentation the Nine(9) salient points/issues discussed/deliberated upon at the referred meeting. Council noted, considered and directed the state pilgrims Welfare Board to ensure implementing the decisions taken during the session especially those that directly affect the Agency for successful 2012 Hajj operation by the state.

9. Ministry Of Higher Education Submission on Agreement between Asal management construction Ltd. An City Scape properties Ltd; Content of this memorandum alerted the Council of the fact that Asal Management construction Ltd . Handling the construction of student – hostels at Kano state University of Science and Technology Wudil has mobilized back to site but assigned City Scope properties Ltd to undertake the contract on its behalf as per agreement dated 20th March, 2008 between the two parties. As such, all correspondences including subsequent payments should be between the state Government and the City Scope properties Ltd. Council noted and directed the Ministry of finance to effect all subsequent payment on the contract KUST/ PP and D/PSQ/08/34 to the Assignee- City Scope Properties Ltd. 10. Ministry of Land and Physical planning The Ministry of Land and Physical planning submitted three (3) memorandum for consideration by the Council as follows; (a) Request for the release funds ta facilitate for the relocation of Jawallah GSM market;- The sum of N32,870,277.45 was approved for release by the Council, as requested by contents of this memorandum, to the Ministry of Land and Physical planning to facilitate for the relocation of the Jawallah GSM Market to another selected alterative site away from their current location which is within the area affected by the flyover at the Silver Jubilee Cluster,(b) Request for funds to facilitate for the relocation of Vulcanizes, Mechanics, etc, from silver Jubilee area; A newly designed location has been identified for the relocation the vulcanizes, Mechanics. Etc currently occupying the Silver Jubilee area, as such the Ministry of Land and Physical planning requested for the release of the sum of N26,789,300.48 by the Council to facilitate for the execution of the project. Council noted, considered and approved for the release of the requested sum of money to the Ministry of Land and Physical planning to expedite action on the stated project so as to give way and allow for the commencement of the flyover project envisaged for the site. (c) Request for funds ta facilitate for the Demarcation and survey of the plots and facilitates at the three (3) cities (Kwankwasiyya, Amana, Bandirawo);-The sum of N86,445,000.00 was approved for release by the Council, as requested by contents of this memorandum, to the Ministry of Land and Physical planning to facilitate for surveying of the plots and facilities at the three (3) cities of Kwankwasiyya, Amana and Bandirawo in order to enable the immediate development of the cities for occupation within the stipulated earmarked period of time targeted by the incumbent administration.

Signed: Commissioner, Information, Internal Affairs, Youth, Sports & Culture

30

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

MONEY LINK

Why finance houses’ reform is stalled, by operator

A

PPROVAL from the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is delaying ongoing reforms in the finance houses subsector, The Nation has learnt.

An insider at the Finance Houses Association of Nigeria (FHAN) said pending issues such as withdrawal of licences of 47 finance houses whose liquidity were called into question in May, and funding for the subsector will be decided after the CBN board’s assent.

By Collins Nweze

He said progress is being made now, unlike before when nothing was happening in the subsector. He said the reform is taking shape and may be concluded by year-end.

However, he said the CBN may withdraw licences of 47 finance houses whose liquidity were called into question in May. The apex bank had, given a 30-day notice to 47 closed or inactive finance

also considering developing a regulatory framework that will govern finance lease practice, institutionalising a “funding pool” to stimulate lending activities in the sub-sector and structured programme to address the reputation and poor visibility challenges of the sub-sector.

President of the association, Samuel Durojaye, had earlier said in a statement that the CBN reforms in the sector will transform, and reposition the finance company sub-sector to enable it

companies to submit evidence of their existence and/or operations, or lose their operating licences.

The order had expired on Tuesday, April 18.

The banking watchdog said that the affected finance companies had closed shop, ceased to operate, or abandoned finance company business.

The source said the withdrawal of the institutions’ licences is certain because their conditions are beyond repair.

He said the apex bank is

Access Bank’s half-year profit hits N30b

A

CCESS Bank Plc has announced an audited Profit Before Tax (PBT) of N30.07 billion for its halfyear ended on June 30, 2012.

A statement from the bank said its Profit After Tax (PAT) grew by a 225 per cent to N26.13 billion compared with the N8.08 billion recorded in the corresponding period in 2011.

Similarly, the bank’s Profit Before Tax (PBT) rose from N12.37 billion recorded for half-year in 2011 to N30.07 billion in June, 2012, representing a 143 per cent growth over last year’s performance. Gross earnings rose by 103 per cent to N108.7 billion in relation to last year’s figure of N53.65 billion.

The bank’s Group Managing

Director/CEO Aigboje AigImoukhuede, said the bank is now firmly established as a top tier Nigerian Bank. “Leveraging on our sustainability driven business philosophy, robust capital position and the quality of our workforce. I am confident that we will continue to deliver strong returns for our investors in 2012,” he said.

Analysts have described the

bank’s performance as a valid testament to its financial strength and capacity for sustainable growth.

Analysis of the result has shown that Access Bank is already extracting value from its acquisition of Intercontinental Bank by leveraging scale and access to large retail deposit base evidenced by the Bank’s low cost of fund.

‘Certified bankers to work in other African countries’

T

HE Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has said that certified bankers in the country are now qualified to work in other African countries.

The institute said in a statement that a communique issued at the end of its Annual General Meeting called for an intercountry recognition and acceptance of qualifications and cer-

tificates of member countries.

This it said, will encourage and promote mobility of labour as well as skills among banks in the continent.

It stated that the alliance would periodically conduct professional examination moderation exercises to strengthen examination policies, regulations, curricula and practices with a view to ensuring that quality

standards and improvement in candidates’ performance are maintained and adhered to, at all times.

According to the alliance, “a smooth implementation of the Staff exchange programme (SEP), which is aimed at, among other things, to enhance cross fertilisation of skills, bonding, mentoring among member Institutes’ personnel would be

vigorously pursued”.

It stressed the need for the AAIOB member institutions to participate actively in the establishment, programmes and activities of the Global Banking Education Standards Board (GBEStB), which is expected to be launched at the World Conference of Banking Institutes (WCBI) scheduled to hold in Nairobi, Kenya in June, 2013.

FGN BONDS Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 21-9-12 SYMBOL

STERNLBANK FIDSON DIAMONDBNK REDSTAREX CCNN FLOURMILL CUTIX CADBURY ASHAKACEM UBN

O/PRICE

1.40 1.41 3.31 2.77 4.60 64.70 1.81 21.56 13.13 8.70

C/PRICE

1.54 1.55 3.59 3.00 4.83 67.92 1.90 22.63 13.78 9.13

O/PRICE 15.03 10.03 1.06 0.93 604.00 145.00 1.16 1.98 0.64 6.00

C/PRICE 13.91 9.53 1.01 0.89 580.00 140.00 1.12 1.93 0.63 5.92

record such a fundamental milestone for the protection and empowerment of albinos.

The Deputy Governor, Operations, Mr. Tunde Lemo, expressed delight for visit and informed them about some policies of the Bank geared towards making life easy for the physically challenged and other vulnerable members of the society.

These policies are visibly inherent in the recruitment, currency restructuring and corporate social responsibility polices of the bank.

He said the CBN would critically look into the committee’s request and determine the best areas it can come in.

He further encouraged the members to give the national assignment their best and contribute their own quota to the desired efforts of the federal government to make Nigeria a nation that all Nigerians will be proud of.

CHANGE 1.12 0.50 0.05 0.04 24.00 5.00 0.04 0.05 0.01 0.08

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.8%

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

CHANGE

0.14 0.14 0.28 0.23 0.23 3.22 0.09 1.07 0.65 0.43

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12

LOSERS AS AT 21-9-12

SYMBOL INTBREW BETAGLAS TRANSCORP PREMBREW NESTLE NB IKEJAHOTEL BAGCO JAPAULOIL NAHCO

T

HE National InterMinisterial Committee on the draft National Policy on Albinism paid a courtesy visit to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as part of its official mandate to meaningfully engage national stakeholders and secure support for the proposed National policy.

A statement from the apex bank said the vice-chairman of the Committee and founder/CEO, The Albino Foundation, Mr Jake Epelle led his team to the regulator.

He said the challenges facing albinism in the country to include lack of access to health facility, low literacy level, high rate of poverty and societal contempt.

He hinted that if the albinism policy is eventually formulated and implemented, Nigeria will be the first country in the world to

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

Currency OBB Rate Call Rate

Apex bank to support policy on albanism

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

MANAGED FUNDS

NIDF NESF

and reports, as well as the renewal of their operating licences every year.

Durojaye enjoined them to note that the apex bank is taking the issue of corporate governance practices very serious and, therefore, counselled members to identify structural weaknesses in their various organisations and take immediate remedial steps to rectify them.

DATA BANK

Tenor

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

play increasing role in Nigeria’s financing value chain.

He acknowledged the apex bank’s continuing support to and engagement with the association on this project.

He called on FHAN members to support the bank’s efforts at strengthening the regulatory environment by regular and timely rendering of all statutory returns

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE 9.17 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE 125.13 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 116.60 LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.77 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.10 BGL NUBIAN FUND 0.93 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,717.91 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 10.45 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST 1.87 STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY 8,652.66 THE DISCOVERY FUND 193.00 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

9.08 1.00 124.96 116.90 0.74 1.10 0.91 1,713.62 9.94 1.33 1.80 8,411.80 191.08 1.62

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

31

MONEY MARKET REPORT

N570b federal allocations ease interbank rates T

THE Nigerian interbank lending rates fell last week after N570 billion oil receipts to the three tiers of government hit the banking system. The rates averaged 10.83 per cent, compared with 16.33 per cent the previous week.

The budgetary allocation to government agencies for August, provided liquidity to the banking system and determined the lending rates. “We have a large volume of cash hitting the system from budget allocations on Thursday and rates have fallen more than 5 percentage points since then,” one dealer told Reuters.

Dealers said the market opened with a cash balance of about N317 billion compared with a negative balance of N42 billion penultinate Friday. The secured Open Buy Back (OBB) equally fell to 10.5 per cent from 15.75 per cent , 1.5 percentage lower than the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) 12 per cent benchmark rate and 50 basis points above the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate.

Overnight placement and call closed at 11 per cent apiece compared with 16.50 per cent and 16.75 percent, respectively this week.

Dealers said rates should remain flat last week or inch up marginally because of inflows of additional funds from matured treasury bills.

Analysts said they see rates remaining flat or at most inching up a little this week because of more funds coming to the system from treasury bill maturities, unless the CBN embarks on a mop up exercise.

T-Bills The Federal Government plans to issue Treasury bills of all maturities worth a total N104.70 billion ($664.34 million) at its regular bi-monthly debt sale on September 27. At this week’s auction, yields on the 91- and 182day paper fell by more than 100 basis points.

Dealers said some foreign investors including pension fund and local fund managers were taking position in the market ahead of Nigeria’s inclusion on the JP Morgan index.

At the bond auction this week, marginal rates on the 5-year and 7-year paper dropped by more than 300 basis points as Nigeria prepared for its inclusion on JP Morgan’s Government Bond Index for emerging markets (GBI-EM) from October. “We still expect some yield narrowing ahead for the FGN bonds, driven by the JP Morgan factor and the improvement in inflation prospects light,” FBN Capital wrote in a research note on Friday.

Banking credit The aggregate banking system credit to the domestic economy stood at N13.09 trillion in July 31, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Economic Report has showed. The data depicted a decline of 1.6 per cent, on month-on-month basis, in contrast to the increase of 0.5 per cent at the end of the preceding month.

Also, banking system’s credit to the Federal Government, on month-on-month basis, fell by 26.5 per cent to negative N1.7 trillion, compared with the decline of 13.1 per cent at the end of the preceding month. The development was attributed, largely, to the decline in banking system’s holding of Federal Government securities.

As at December 2011, aggregate banking system’s claims on the Federal Government fell significantly by 251.5 per cent. The Federal Government, however, remained a net lender to the banking system at the end of the review month.

Economy Nigeria’s economy is expected to grow at a slower rate of 6.3 per cent in 2012, compared with 7.4 per cent year-on-year in 2011, Renaissance Capital (RenCap), an investment and finance firm has forecast.

According to the firm, slower growth is positive for inflation, but it argued that there was no need for rate reduction yet.

In an emailed report, tagged: ‘Nigeria: 2012 GDP growth - Soft growth, moderating inflation, but no cuts yet,’ RenCap said pressure on the consumer is evident from the significant slowdown of the wholesale and retail sector in the first half of 2012.

This, it said, remained a fair indicator of consumer demand and would lead to a decline in demand-driven inflationary pressures, this year.

Non-interest banking The Federal Government said it was committed to making sure that the non-interest banking system takes strong root in the country as

By Collins Nweze

well as provide Nigerians with good alternatives.

Minister of State for Finance, Yerima Lawan Ngama, who spoke disclosed this in Abuja at a seminar on ‘Developing Islamic Financial Institutions in Nigeria,’ organised by Mutual Benefits Assurance plc, denied insinuations that noninterest banking was a religious system. He urged Nigerians to take advantage of the noninterest financial system, adding that the benefits of the Islamic financing system help to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.

Budget implementation The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has criticised Federal Government on its budget implementation, saying the citizenry are yet to feel the positive impact of the budget despite huge funds that have been released.

Speaking at the ICAN symposium in Abuja, the President, Adedoyin Owolabi, said the nonimplementation has culminated in high rate of poverty and unemployment in the country.

He said there has been a mismatch in the brilliant proposals of the budget and its achievement in terms of reduction in unemployment, poverty, inflation, and infrastructure deficit.

•Naira notes

Local content Fidelity, Access, FirstBank, Citi Bank and Standard Chartered have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shell Exploration and Production Companies in Nigeria (SEPCiN) for the support of contractors towards the actualisation of Nigeria’s Local Content project.

In a statement, Fidelity Bank said the initiative was aimed at placing Nigerian contractors at the front line for service delivery to the oil and gas industry. Managing Director and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mutiu Sunmonu said that Shell is committed to supporting the federal government’s efforts to reform the industry especially through the local content policy.

Jaiz Bank The Kano State government has signed a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with Jaiz Bank Plc and Agama Consortium to the tune of N500 million for the establishment, implementation and operation of the Kano Geographic Information system (KANGIS) under the state land act.

Signing the contract agreement at Government House, Kano yesterday, Governor Kwankwaso, explained that the provision of affordable accommodation for its citizens is part of the policy of his administration.

According to him, the government has concluded arrangements to sell Government quarters to the residents of the state. He added that those who cannot afford to buy the houses would be granted loans.

The Managing Director of Jaiz Bank, Mustapha Bintube, said the agreement is based on a three-year Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, comprising three indigenous companies, with Jaiz Bank serving as the funding, as well as the lead collection bank.

NDIC The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has commenced training of its staff in risk-based supervision (RBS). The training programme is for the corporations examiners, to enable them understand and examine the risk profile of banks and the various risk management models being deployed by the banks.

A statement from Mallam Hadi S. Birchi, Head, communication and public affairs unit of the NDIC, said the training is in conjunction with the CBN and will include critical areas, such as overview of risk management, understanding the framework for risk-based supervision and risk mitigation techniques.

•Dollar notes

SMEs Funding The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) and AllWorld Network Incorporated are working out modalities that will make it easier for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to secure funding and gain prominence from reputable global businesses.

Both institutions said during a media briefing in Lagos that they are in the process of selecting 50 SMEs in the country under the ‘Nigeria Fast Growth 50’ that will benefit from the scheme.

The move is part of efforts to showcase and rank the most innovative and dynamic private companies in the country thereby making it easier for them to attract funding and technical support from abroad.

Co-founder, AllWorld Network, Deirdre Coyle explained that the Nigeria Fast Growth 50 application process is open to private companies in Nigeria who have been able to grow revenues of 100 per cent or more in the past three years. Companies will gain global recognition, a network of growth entrepreneurs.

World Bank The Head, Payment Systems Development Group, the World Bank, Massimo Cirasino, is expected to visit Nigeria, in October, to speak at a confab focused on the current cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Cirasino, who would be speaking alongside the Vice-President, Global Mobile Solutions, Citibank, United Sates of America (USA), Kevin Brown, is attending a conference on issues surrounding the policy, being organised by De Novo and Legal Reach a UK

‘Overnight placement and call closed at 11 per cent apiece compared with 16.50 per cent and 16.75 percent, respectively this week. Dealers said rates should remain flat last week or inch up marginally because of inflows of additional funds from matured treasury bills’

law firm.

In a letter addressed to the State House of Assembly by the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Ben Akabueze, said the increase has become necessary since the state may not be able to access the N30 billion World Bank component of the 2012 borrowing provided for in the budget.

The letter states: “You will recall that the 2012 Budget provided for deficit financing of N66.430 billion, representing 13.5 per cent of the total budgeted expenditure. The two major components of new borrowing in the Y2012 Budget were Bond Issuance (N50 billion) and World Bank (N30 billion).

Bank to bank credit Enterprise Bank Limited (EBL) has rolled out the Enterprise MasterCard Verve, an international brand of Master-Card, in partnership with MasterCard and Interswitch. A statement from the bank said the product is accepted worldwide as a means of payment for goods and services at over 30.9 million MasterCard locations and over 1.9million Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in more than 210 countries.

Also, the product assists transactions to be consummated in the currency of the country as long as the card is linked to the customer’s Naira account. The successful roll-out exercise follows a strong bid by the bank to guarantee convenient banking services to its growing clientele.

Sterling Bank at the weekend gave out cash prize of N2 million to four of its savings customers in the second monthly draw of the bank’s ongoing Savers’ Promo held in Lagos.

The winners, who won N500,000 each, are Ofosu Yeboah (Alaba Main ETB Branch), Maurice Henry (Utako ETB Branch), Opakunle Muyibat Keinde (Iwo Road Branch) and Bienonwulu Loveth of (Asaba Branch).

United Bank for Africa (UBA), has achieved the mark of ISO 27001 Certification for its Internet Banking application and data centre operations. The bank in a statement, said, the feat validates UBA’s commitment to continuously strengthen the security of services provided to customers.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

32

THE CEO

‘Setting up panels after plane crashes won’t work’ After the June 3 Dana plane crash, the government set up a committee to probe the accident and also audit airlines. It wasn’t the first time such a step had been taken. Is that the right way to go?

No, says Captain Akin George, Managing Director of Aero Airlines in this interview with KELVIN OSAOKUNBOR. What is required, he says, are bold steps to transform aviation.

I

N the aviation sector today, aircraft financing remains an issue, how serious is it, and what is the way out?

We all know that the world has just come out of the banking crisis, so financing across the board, within and outside Nigeria is tough. The Nigerian industry itself, from a banking point of view, is also just recovering, so the banks are also worried. One of the issues loudly expressed is that the aviation sector is so hugely capital intensive, it requires huge sums of money. The banks have the capability to support aviation, but the current interest rate that the banks are offering is quite frightening. If you go to the bank today as an airline operator to obtain a loan at the going rate, it could be unfriendly for the business. Imagine, if as an airline operator, you collect a $40 million loan from a Nigerian bank, if the bank has the capacity , then you have to pay 20 per cent for the monthly interest on the loan. The question that will arise is, how much money am I making from the airline business to enable me pay back the loan. It is not possible.

If I were to take such loan from a European bank , of which we are talking of about one per cent interest rate, or at most about 1.5 per cent as interest rate , it is a completely different ball game. That is what we have been saying, that government needs to facilitate access to financing for airline operators.

What options are on the table?

It will be nice to propose this multilateral approach or model of financing for

• George

operators in the aviation sector. The attraction is to go to where the money could be accessed at the lowest interest rate possible.

But, the unfortunate thing is that, we must have a credit rating. And when Nigeria is not looked at as a country with good credit rating, when it comes to the aviation business, that is not good enough.

Imagine discussions with foreigners on issues concerning aircraft leasing. The details of the aircraft were sent to us, but the partners abroad sent a second correspondence, saying they are not willing to register the aircraft in Nigeria, citing the operating business environment. Until such issues affecting our credit rating in the international business community is sorted out, it will continue to be a barrier towards our ability

to do serious business with other global players.

Is it true that operating cost in Nigeria is the highest in Africa ?

Well, operating cost for aviation across the board is quite high. It is not just a Nigerian problem. What we have different is that there are certain things in Nigeria that make it higher, one of which is the fact that taxes in Nigeria are quite high. The way we do business in Nigeria also is quite high. Things that take 24 hours to accomplish in other places, would take a week to be done in Nigeria. It is what we call the Nigerian factor.

We have been clamouring that government should reduce taxes on airline operations, but, regrettably, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has just increased the

‘There is nothing new about the committee and its recommendations on how to improve airline operations in Nigeria. This issue has been in the industry. We have talked about it over and over again, but why are we talking about the issue again when the recommendations have not been implemented. I think we need to move beyond setting up committees and take bold steps to turn around the aviation sector’

taxes in the industry. In one breadth we say government should give operators a lifeline, yet the regulatory agency is asking for more from the operators.

Can you shed on light these taxes ?

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority imposed a statutory five per cent tax on tickets sold for any flight in Nigeria. Since last month, the NCAA now collects taxes on fuel surcharge. This is not good for the business because, before now, airlines already were paying N2.95 per litre as tax.

The question we are asking is, why the new tax? Again, we are looking at the holistic situation. As far as this matter is concerned, these are just general taxes, and the air fares that operators will charge must reflect the new tax regime.

What is the implication?

What this means is that, it is going to impact negatively on the business. If airlines now increase their fares, it will reduce the number of people who can afford to travel by air. The idea is, if government wants to encourage airlines, it needs to reduce the taxes so that many passengers could fly. When more passengers fly, the airlines get more money. There is no better way to put this. With increasing taxes, the number of passengers travelling will naturally decrease. Even, in the past few months, the passenger traffic has been on the decline. The decreasing passenger traf• Continued on page 33

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

33

THE CEO •Continued from page 32

fic has nothing to do with the few number of airlines around. That is not the case, not even the crash of one of the domestic carriers. In terms of figures, the total number of passengers travelling by air in Nigeria today is on the decline.

The truth of the matter is, the flying public in Nigeria in terms of number, is yet to attain the passenger traffic that existed, in say, January this year. The industry is harvesting from the few number of carriers today.

Airlines are just grappling to survive to keep their operations afloat.

The issue of intervention, by way of funding has been on the front burner for some years now. What approach do you suggest?

Well, intervention by government for the airline industry in Nigeria is not a totally bad idea. But, my take on this issue of government directly giving cash to operators is a touchy subject. This is coming to me from the background of the controversies that surround the petroleum subsidy issue in the oil and gas sector. You see what happened in the oil and gas sector about subsidy money.

It is something that we need to be extremely careful about . My take on this issue is that if government wants to intervene by way of giving airlines cash, it should not be free of charge. What we are asking for is the ability to access serious funds, at a reasonable rate, where we are able to make returns on the funds, at a friendly interest rate.

How should the intervention funds be applied in the aviation industry?

I am convinced that my proposal about government not giving free money to domestic airlines may not be understood by many people in the sector. The best way for the funds to be applied is for each airline operator to come out and state what it needs.

And such a proposal of what the operator needs has to be justifiable. Imagine, a businessman approaching a bank for a loan, and he is unable to explain why and what he needs a loan for. That is the scenario I am trying to paint.

Everybody that goes for a loan must know what he wants to do with the money. The operators should be able to convince government what they want to do with the money. There must be justification for what the operators want to do with the intervention funds. What is unacceptable to me is for operators to take money they do not know what to do with, and they are expected to pay 18 or 19 per cent interest rate on loans.

That was what landed operators in the initial trouble in the first place.

Apart from intervention funds, in what other ways do you think government could assist airline operators?

Without trying to make the issues complicated, airlines need to have access to funding. It is pure and simple. If government could do that, the problems will soon be over for domestic carriers and their managers. If you have access to funding to sort out your problems, you need to reduce your costs , the main costs are the government taxes.

Once that is taken out, government could go a step further by improving infrastructure at the airports.

Infrastructure; if government could improve that, it will reduce costs. If we have access to funding for our business, we will make more money, reduce the cost of operations; then, the equation is balanced.

Everybody wants this to happen overnight, it is not going to work that way. What government needs to do is to ensure that measures put in place to improve the business and operating environment for airlines must be long lasting. Not quick fixes, which will not solve the problems of the aviation sector.

Aero Airlines, arguably is the oldest carrier in Nigeria. What has kept it going?

Well, having multiple aircraft type is good for the business but it requires caution. One thing is to ensure that you have the right equipment, another is to do the right job with the right aircraft. Given the different markets we serve, we have aircraft that have given us economies of scale. But, it will be a wrong model for an airline to have an equipment type that is not suited for the right route. Sometimes, some airlines take inefficiencies to some areas to gain in other areas, that is why we have to balance things up.

Agreed, Aero Airlines has multiple aircraft type, but this is because of the areas and routes that we operate in. This is in terms of the region, in terms of the short haul operations.

Can you give details about your aircraft type?

As you know, we have the Boeing 737 - 400

‘Setting up panels after plane crashes won’t work’

• George

‘Infrastructure; if government could improve that, it will reduce costs. If we have access to funding for our business, we will make more money, reduce the cost of operations; then, the equation is balanced. Everybody wants this to happen overnight, it is not going to work that way.

What government needs to do is to ensure that measures put in place to improve the business and operating environment for airlines must be long lasting. Not quick fixes, which will not solve the problems of the aviation sector’

• George

and 500 series, which is the preferred type of aircraft for our kind of market environment. At the same time, we got our turbo propeller aircraft, the Dash eight Q 300, and Q 400 series, which enable us to serve our

smaller routes, especially routes that do not have larger airports, such as Port Harcourt NAF base, Osubi Airstrip, and also the Obudu Ranch in Cross River State.

What are the options for aircraft mainte-

nance for domestic carriers, against foreign checks?

Everybody would wish that aircraft maintenance is done locally, because of the cost implications, which also allows operators to bring in the expertise into the country.

And when you get technically minded people, when you go back home, it not only affects aviation, it also affects the country as a whole. Our aim is to increase the pool of Nigerian airlines with the required technical expertise to carry out aircraft maintenance locally.

But, it will always remain a high cost business, because aviation is not cheap, and we should not be looking at everybody doing aircraft maintenance at home. That is not to mean that it should also be made unnecessarily expensive. The airlines that have the capacity should make some profit.

There has been a push for waivers to be axed. What is the position?

It is important for government to consider this issue, because it is key to the development of the sector. It is simple for government to say, remove the waiver on aircraft spare parts and import duties. All government needs to do is to give a directive to that effect. We also need a waiver on the importation of aircraft. If those two things are done, I mean waiver on aircraft parts and importation, it will take a huge chunk off business costs. If you are importing an aircraft of about $10 million, you have to pay over N143 million as import duty. The question is, who is going to pay that money?

What is your take on calls for mergers and consolidation of domestic airlines?

I do not think it is a bad idea. But mergers and consolidation of airlines are like contracting a marriage. You do not force one party or person to marry another person.

We have always seen the result of that. That is what people are canvassing. We should let the industry sort itself out in that direction. If you have airlines that are able to stand on their own too, once the other issues have been sorted out, they will go forward.

Our airlines, the way they are currently structured, are highly personalised, and that will always be a barrier in trying to force one or two airlines to forge a merger. They will create a bias, which will create barriers that will make it difficult for the merger.

How is the cost of the price of aviation fuel impacting on your airline?

This indeed is a major headache for many airlines. It is seriously affecting our operations. One of the highest cost elements in our operations is the price of aviation fuel.

The price has been fluctuating, and we have been canvassing that it is unnecessarily high in Nigeria, if we can achieve any significant reduction in the price of aviation fuel that will be nice.

How would you assess the state of airport facilities?

We have always said that the facilities at airports are poor, we could see that they are working on the terminal buildings, which is a step in the right direction. Terminal buildings are not the only areas that government must look at. The first thing is from the safety point of view to make sure that, beyond the infrastructure, all navigational aids required to make aircraft land during the day or at night should be put in place.

If all these things are done, and we are able to operate local flights at night, it will be good. The power supply issue will always remain a major problem, because sometimes at the airport the light goes off as our aircraft is trying to land. This should not be.

Yes, government is working on the terminal buildings, it is good for passengers, but we also need to ensure that airlines have the equipment to run safe operations.

How much have you lost to bird strike?

Currently, we have our consultants working on aircraft engines damaged by bird strike and for each engine we have to spend $1.5 million for the repairs and overhaul.

This year, alone, due to bird strike, we have repaired five aircraft damaged by bird strikes. You can see the huge loss on our part to bird strike.

What’s your view on the administrative and technical review committee set up by government to audit domestic carriers after the DANA Air crash ?

There is nothing new about the committee and its recommendations on how to improve airline operations in Nigeria. This issue has been in the industry. We have talked about it over and over again, but why are we talking about the issue again when the recommendations have not been implemented. I think we need to move beyond setting up committees and take bold steps to turn around the aviation sector.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

34

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 21-9-12

Shareholders approve FCMB, FinBank merger

F

IRST City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc would harness synergies from its merger with FinBank to compete effectively in the top tier of the Nigerian banking industry.

This assurance came just as shareholders of FCMB and FinBank at the weekend approved the coalescing of the two banks. The vote for the business combination was nearly unanimous with 99.98 per cent of FCMB shareholders voting in favour of the merger resolutions. The business combination had earlier been approved by financial services regulators.

With the shareholders’ approval, the entire share capital of FinBank has been cancelled and the bank dissolved without being wound up.

Consequently, all assets and liabilities of FinBank, including its real properties and intellectual property rights, have been transferred to FCMB. In their joint address to shareholders, chairman, FCMB, Dr Jonathan Long and chairman, FinBank, Dr John Udofa said that the postmerger FCMB would increase its market reach and harness other operational synergies to achieve economies of scale

By Taofik Salako

and compete effectively in the top league of the banking sector.

According to them, the business combination was driven by the need to achieve FCMB’s goal of becoming one of Nigeria’s top full service banks offering a comprehensive range of corporate, retail and consumer banking products.

“The ongoing reforms in the Nigerian banking sector has created a dynamic and competitive environment, in which market leaders are likely to be those banks which have the lowest cost of funds, together with the strongest liquidity and capital adequacy ratios,” they stated.

They said the boards of the two banks believed that the business combination would lead to significant financial returns in the medium and long-term.

Speaking after the meeting, group managing director, First City Monument Bank, Mr. Ladi Balogun said the approval was an important step in the evolution of FCMB. According to him, while the last six months have been challenging, the management of

the bank is confident that with the transaction almost complete, it will fully realise the anticipated financial and strategic benefits and see value accretion in the coming months.

“I am grateful to our shareholders who have been supportive and patient during the entire integration process.

The 99.98 per cent support for the transaction is a strong validation of its benefits to all shareholders. I also appreciate the continued dedication and focus of my colleagues at both banks as this process evolved,” Balogun said.

He noted that FCMB is one of Nigeria’s most enduring institutions with a solid reputation as a premier wholesale banking group and a well-run and rapidly growing retail banking franchise.

“We look forward to building on this capability as a merged entity, with a greater focus on our customers,” Balogun added.

He pointed out that with the shareholders’ approval, the next step for the bank is to file the shareholders’ resolution with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal High Court.

According to him, once the bank receives final approval, the final stage of the process is expected to be concluded in a matter of days at which point the two banks will begin to operate as a single entity.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 21-9-12

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

35

EQUITIES WATCH

Email: taofad2000@yahoo.co.uk

Sterling Bank opens today its highest price so far this year but the share price still represents significant discounts to the recent historic highs. With continuous improvements in earnings over the period, TAOFIK SALAKO reports that the share price appears to be more sentimental than fundamental, and it may be opportunity for discerning investors.

What future consideration for Sterling Bank?

S

EVERAL banking stocks are trading at their highs, a strong indication of a sector-wide recovery. Altogether, the banking sector has so far this year gained N778 billion in new capital gains, nearly half of total capital gains by the stock market.

Banking stocks opened this week with a market capitalisation of N2.614 trillion, an increase of 42.4 per cent on total sectoral value of N1.836 trillion recorded at the start of the year.

Banks are running ahead of the market.

Aggregate market value of all equities indicated total gains of N1.705 trillion at the start of trading this week as equities' secondary values rose from 2012's opening value of N6.533 trillion to open this week at N8.238 trillion. The benchmark index at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the All Share Index (ASI), opens today with a year-to-date return of 24.81 per cent.

The NSE Banking Index meanwhile opens today with a year-to-date average return of 46.5 per cent. Sterling Bank is also running ahead of the sectoral and overall market's returns. With a year-to-date average return of 52.5 per cent, Sterling Bank has so far added N8.32 billion in capital gains to investors.

But the current market consideration is still substantially below Sterling Bank's historic performance. The bank had traded between a low and high of N1.06 and N2.91 before closing at N1.23. In 2010, Sterling Bank's share price hovered between N2.99 and N1.23 and eventually closed at N2.31. In 2011, Sterling Bank rallied to a high of N2.91 but closed at N1.01, about 6.0 kobo above the year's 95 kobo.

This year, Sterling Bank has shown stronger recovery, rising from a low of 80 kobo to N1.54, its opening share price today. Besides the wide gap between the bank's historic pricing trend, Sterling Bank also appears relatively undervalued compared with its peers and latest earnings report.

Improving fundamentals The lowly share price of the bank appears to be lagging behind fundamental performance. Audited report and accounts of the bank for the year ended December 31, 2011 showed robust growths in incomes and profitability as well as improvements in assets quality and returns. Gross earnings rode on the back of 110 per cent growth in non-interest income and 23 per cent growth interestbased incomes to N45.2 billion in 2011 as against N30.4 billion in 2010, indicating an increase of 49 per cent. Interest income had increased from N24.5 billion in 2010 to N30.2 billion. Operating income also grew by 32 per cent to N27.0 billion in 2011 compared with N20.4 billion in 2010. Profit after tax and extra-ordinary income thus jumped by 60 per cent to N6.7 billion in 2011 as against N4.2 billion in 2010. The bank emerged with a stronger and healthier balance sheet as the proportion of bad loans to total loans and advances surpassed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)'s industry target of 5.0 per cent at 4.8 per cent. Non-performing loans had stood at 10.7 per cent of gross loans in 2010.

Sterling Bank's total balance sheet nearly doubled from N259.6 billion in 2010 to

N504.4 billion in 2011. Total deposits doubled by 104 per cent to N406.5 billion as against N199.3 billion while the bank expanded its risks assets as net loans and advances including rose by 60 per cent to N163.5 billion from N101.9 billion in 2010.

Shareholders' funds also grew by 56 per cent from N26.3 billion to N41.0 billion. Sterling Bank distributed a dividend per share of 10 kobo for the 2011 business year. Earnings per share had stood at 51 kobo in 2011 as against 33 kobo in 2010. The payout for 2011 implied a dividend cover of 5.10 times. Even at today's opening price, the cash payout for 2011 indicates a dividend yield of 6.5 per cent while earnings yield stands at 33.12 per cent.

Building new momentum Interim reports of the bank for this year have showed significant improvements on previous performances. The latest report and accounts of the bank for the period ended June 30, 2012 showed that gross earnings rose by 59.3 per cent to N32.69 billion in 2012 as against N20.52 billion recorded in the comparable period of 2011. The report also showed significant improvement in profitability as profit before tax rose from N2.55 billion to N3.25 billion. Profit after tax increased to N3.01 billion as against N2.2 billion in corresponding period of 2011.

The half-year report built on the first quarter performance when the bank grew gross earnings by 79 per cent to N17.2 billion. Interim report for the three-month period ended March 31, 2012 showed that core interest income doubled by 116 per cent to N13.6 billion while net interest income jumped by 73 per cent. Operating income grew by 49 per cent just as profits before and after tax rose by 24 per cent and 16 per cent respectively. Gross earnings stood at N17.2 billion in first quarter 2012 as against N9.7 billion recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2011. Net interest income had risen

from N3.6 billion in 2011 to N6.3 billion in 2012. Operating income rose from N6.1 billion to N9 billion while profits before and after tax increased to N1.6 billion and N1.3 billion respectively. Key balance sheet items also improved during the period with total assets adding N17 billion to close the quarter at N521.4 billion as against N504.7 billion in December 2011. Customer deposits increased from to N412 billion as against N392.1 billion in December 2011 while net loans and advances grew from N164.3 billion in December 2011 to N177.8 billion in March 2012.

Steady outlook Market pundits identified the stable management and growth agenda as a major mitigating factor for Sterling Bank. Already, the bank has outlined a eight-year plan strategic growth plan aimed at building a globally competitive financial franchise with strong fundamental performance and sustainable returns to shareholders. The 20112019 strategic growth plan details key identifiable goals and parameters for measuring performance of the bank, giving a directional outlook for year-on-year assessment of management performance. Overall, the bank plans to build a fully scaled business model with institutionalized processes that will endure beyond the stewardship of current owners and management while transforming into a systemically important operator that impact significantly on all segments of its business over the long period.

Within the immediate future, Sterling Bank fundamental targets include double digit annual growth in gross earnings, diversified income streams with leading positions in all segments of operations as well as a diverse retail funding base. Besides, the bank will strive to keep non-performing loans below five per cent of gross loans and advances, focus on single-digit cost of funds and consolidate on products and services that would make

•GMD, Sterling Bank, Yemi Adeola

the bank the consumer banking franchise of choice to customers. Some of the key performance indices to measure the performance of the bank include return on average equity, non-performing loan/gross loan ration, costto-income ratio, revenue growth, loan growth, deposit growth, total assets, sources of funding and capital adequacy among others.

"The outcome we seek is to become the financial institution of choice through the creation of exceptional value for all our stakeholders: employees, shareholders, customers, business, communities where we operate, partners, vendors, the financial services industry and the country as a whole," managing director, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Yemi Adeola said on the strategic outlook of the bank.

With the earnings outlook for this year, analysts said prospective earnings and dividend yields evidenced relatively significant discount at current market price.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

36

DUE DILIGENCE

UTC Nigeria: Still tight U

TC Nigeria Plc’s operational performance remains tenuous but major assets restructuring enlivened the profit and loss accounts and balance sheet of the company. Audited report and accounts of UTC Nigeria Plc for the year ended December 31, 2011 showed a tight operational performance as the food company struggled with sluggish sales and historic cost items. While the company showed modest recovery with a positive operating profit in 2011 as against negative position in previous year, exceptional item worsened pre-tax loss in the immediate past year.

However, extraordinary income optimization and restructuring of the company’s assets boosted the net earnings position for 2011, placing the company in good stead to pay its first dividend in several years. The assets restructuring also improved the balance sheet position of the company with less financial leverage, improved liquidity and generally better financing position.

Financing structure UTC Nigeria’s total paid up share capital remained unchanged at N617 million, consisting of 1.233 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each.

Shareholders’ funds meanwhile, improved by 22.5 per cent from N1.34 billion in 2010 to N1.64 billion in 2011.

Total assets inched up by 7.2 per cent to N2.85 billion in 2011 as against N2.66 billion in 2010. Current assets had declined by 10 per cent from N587 million to N527 million. This was however, counterbalanced by 12 per cent increase in permanent assets, which rose from N2.1 billion to N2.33 billion. Total liabilities dropped by 8.3 per cent from N1.32 billion to N1.21 billion. With 55 per cent decline in bank loans, current liabilities dropped by 43 per cent from N1.03 billion to N595 billion.

Long-term liabilities however, doubled to N619 million in 2011 as against 289 million in 2010, reflecting the refinancing and rescheduling undertaken during the period.

The company’s financing position emerged stronger in 2011 as gearing ratio dropped further from 33 per cent to 12 per cent. The proportion of equity funds to total assets improved from 50 per cent to 57 per cent while current liabilities represented lesser threat at 21 per cent of total assets as against 39 per cent in previous year.

Fiscal Year Ended December 31 Nmillion Profit and Loss Statement Main Business Segment Total turnover Cost of sales Gross profit Operating expenses Interest and other incomes Finance expenses Pre-tax profit(loss) Post-tax profit (loss) Basic earnings per share(kobo) Gross dividend (Nm) Cash dividend per share (kobo) Net Assets per share (kobo) Balance Sheet Assets: Fixed assets Total long term assets Trade debtors Current assets Total assets Liabilities: Trade creditors Bank loans Current liabilities Long-term liabilities Total liabilities Equity Funds Share capital Total Equity Funds

•UTC MD, Mrs Folusho Olaniyan

pre-tax loss before exceptional item of N5 million in 2010 with profit of N81 million in 2011. However, with Efficiency exceptional item of N235.1 million The company maintained tight grip in 2011, the bottom-line turned negaon costs throughout the chain, which tive with a pre-tax loss after excepimpacted positively on operating eftional item of N155 million as ficiency. Although there were no deagainst N5 million in 2010. While tails to determine actual productivtax write-back had boosted profit ity and cost variables of staff, the overafter tax to N79.8 million in 2010, all cost efficiency was better in the tax charges increased post-tax loss immediate past year. Total cost of to N162.2 million in 2011. Extraorbusiness, excluding finance charges, dinary income of N1.56 billion reimproved from 96.3 per cent of total corded in 2011 turned the net earnsales in 2010 to 95.3 per cent in 2011. ings position to positive with posttax profit after extraordinary item Profitability of N1.40 billion as against N79.8 million in 2010. Thus, the positive UTC Nigeria showed modest imnet earnings position of the comprovement in profitability, although pany has been sustained mainly by its sluggish top-line still represented non-operational income, although major constraint. With almost flat its historic exceptional costs were sales, the company fell on cost manalso limiting factor. agement to drive the bottom-line.

Notwithstanding that the net earnTotal sales stood at N2.80 billion in ings position was mainly propped 2011 as against N2.82 billion in 2010. up by extraordinary item, further Cost of sales meanwhile dropped by earnings analysis showed improved 2.7 per cent from N1.81 billion to outlook. Basic earnings per share N1.76 billion. Consequently, gross leapt from about 6.0 kobo in 2010 to profit inched up by 2.4 per cent to N1.13 in 2011. This prompted distriN1.04 billion compared with N1.01 bution of a total of N62 million to billion in previous year. Operating shareholders, representing cash diviexpenses dropped slightly from dend per share of 5.0 kobo. The diviN908 million to N905 million. Opdend cover stood at 22.60 times while erating profit thus strengthened net assets per share improved from from N104 million to N131 million.

N1.08 in 2010 to N1.33 in 2011. Both About 51 per cent increase in nonthe book value and earnings outcore business income and 34 per cent look of the company showed a gendecline in interest expense further eral sense of undervaluation for the supported the midline, replacing food company, which shares cur2011 2010 rently trade at few 12 months % change 12 months

By Taofik Salako

2,798 2,798 1,762 1,036 905 39 89 -155 1,399 113 62 5 133

-0.9 -0.9 -2.7 2.4 -0.3 50.7 -34.1 2879.6 1653.1 1783.3 0.0 0.0 23.1

2,823 2,823 1,811 1,012 908 26 134 -5 80 6 0 0 108

2,309 2,326 120 527 2,853

13.8 12.2 11.0 -10.2 7.2

2,029 2,074 108 587 2,661

138 198 595 619 1,214

-59.7 -54.7 -42.5 114.2 -8.3

342 436 1,035 289 1,324

617 1,638

0.0 22.5

617 1,337

kobo above its nominal value of 50 kobo.

Besides, the intrinsic profit-making capacity of the company was better. Gross profit margin improved from 35.8 per cent to 37 per cent.

Operating margin was better at 4.7 per cent as against 3.7 per cent. Prior to the addition of exceptional item, pre-tax profit margin stood at 2.9 per cent in 2011 as against -0.2 per cent in 2010. However, post-exceptional item pre-tax profit margin slumped to -5.5 per cent in 2011 as against -0.2 per cent in 2010. Underlying returns also followed the distortions of exceptional and extraordinary items.

Return on total assets worsened from -0.2 per cent to -5.4 per cent.

Net return on equity however, improved from 6.0 per cent to 85.4 per cent.

Liquidity The liquidity position of the company improved considerably, although it remained cautious. Current ratio, which relates easily available finances to similar probable liabilities, improved from 0.57 times to 0.89 times. Although it remains negative, the proportion of working capital to total sales improved from -16 per cent in 2010 to -2.4 per cent in 2011. Debtors/creditors ratio stood at 87 per cent in 2011 compared with 32 per cent in 2010.

Governance & structures UTC started business in Nigeria in 1932. It became a private limited liability company in 1969 and con-

Fiscal Year Ended December 31

verted to a public company in 1971.

Its shares were listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in 1972. It recently restructured its operations to focus on the food business after a chequered history as a conglomerate for more than seven decades. The new focus both marked the end of an era and signaled the dawn of a new era.

The board and management of the company remain stable. Mrs Foluso Olaniyan still leads the executive management team as managing director. The company broadly complies with code of corporate governance and best practices.

Analyst’s opinion Against the background of the macroeconomic environment and the company’s legacy issues, the performance of UTC Nigeria in the immediate past year reassured on the prospects of the company. The continuing tight cost management and operational and financial restructurings showed a clear and pragmatic managerial direction, a major cushion in a sluggish market such as the current fast food industry.

The food and beverages sector generally has been grappling with challenges of poor infrastructure and liquidity squeeze, which have spiraled costs of operations while simultaneously reducing disposable incomes and access to capital. The fast food industry, which thrives on economic boom and high-street behaviours, has particularly suffered from the sluggish economy.

Notwithstanding, UTC Nigeria needs to break new markets and jumps-tart its top-line to drive future profitability. There is a limit to which cost management can counterbalance declining sales. While it appears to have an edge in the early adoption of government’s cassava initiative, it’s too early to vouch for sustainability and impact of the policy. But there remains a sense of assurance of the prospects of the company going forward.

2011 %

2010 %

Financing structure Equity funds/Total assets Long-term liabilities/Total assets Current liabilities/Total assets Debt/Equity ratio

57.4 21.7 20.9 12.1

50.2 10.9 38.9 32.6

Profitability Gross profit margin Pre-tax profit margin Return on total assets Return on equity Dividend cover (times)

37.0 -5.5 -5.4 85.4 22.60

35.8 -0.2 -0.2 6.0 NA

Efficiency Pre-tax profit per employee (Nm) Staff cost per employee (Nm) Cost of sales, operating exp/Turnover

NA NA 95.3

NA NA 96.3

Liquidity Current ratio Working capital/Turnover Debtors/Creditors

0.89 -2.4 87.0

0.57 -15.9 31.6

JOBS THE NATION

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

37

• Auto workshop

With the coming of many automotive firms and service centres, there is high hope of job opportunities for those who have the relevant training and background. DANIEL ESSIET writes.

In auto sector, jobs abound F

ROM all indications, the auto industry seems to be back on track. New companies are coming up, creating job opportunities. Car dealers and service centres are major employers in the industry. Those they recruit and the kind of jobs they do vary from one dealer to the other. Those employed by new-and-usedvehicle dealers include salespersons, technicians, service and parts’ workers (other than technicians), supervisors, general office workers and others.

There are also openings for engineers, maintenance machinists, automobile manufacturing service representative, oil and lube technicians, body and paint specialists, finance; insurance, service advisers and collision repair appraisers. The automotive industry is huge and there are

opportunities in it for graduates and technicians. With an upsurge in car ownership, auto workers will continue to be in business.

Cars require regular maintenance to remain in top shape. It requires the dexterity of an expert to change the oil and service the car every three months. Auto accidents are a fact of life. Whenever accidents occur, the car must be repaired.

Auto body technicians and spray painters come in here. Auto body technicians are responsible for replacing body parts and repairing the damage caused in accidents,while spray painters repaint the car after being worked on.

According to a bullet proof specialist, Mr Okoi Arikpo, the industry offers fantastic career and skills opportunities for young

people in the fields of design, engineering, supply, manufacturing, retail and after sales.

From manufacturing and engineering to sales, maintenance and repairs, there is a job for every skilled worker.

Depending on his skill, a worker can take to light vehicle maintenance and repair, heavy vehicle maintenance and repair, motorcycle maintenance and repair, fast fit operations, accident repair and body building.

Others are parts distribution and supply, vehicle sales, rental and leasing, roadside assistance and recovery, and lift truck operation.

To remain relevant, today’s mechanic must keep up with the technological innovations being incorporated into every new vehicle model. Where once a tune-up required little more than a set of wrenches, today’s auto

shop must have state-of-the-art facilities, such as sensors and computers.

Arikpo said technicians who work on modern cars have to be highly skilled. The industry requires a considerable number of employees to fulfil these demands. On the other hand, vehicle dealers are making major investment in service and parts to increase sales and customer satisfaction.

With this development, thousands of other auxiliary jobs would be created, raising hope for the unemployed.

Besides, a likely high demand for qualified workers in future, Arikpo said the industry has been transforming technologically, citing technology-driven vehicles and creation of high value and highly • Continued on page 38

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

38

JOBS

In auto sector, jobs abound • Continued from page 37

skilled jobs to buttress his claim.

The industry, he said, is on the lookout for skilled employees to handle the next generation of cars and trucks.

Since the industry is dynamic, Arikpo said apprentices are vital for it to develop and maintain a world-class skills base. He said the industry needs to invest heavily in training and employ more people.

The work force is made up of those in engineering or other relatively high level jobs; the number of those in skilled manual jobs is declining. Consequently, the proportion of the work force with degrees or equivalent qualifications is tending to rise over time.

Like other parts of manufacturing, the average age of the workforce in the automotive industry is increasing.

Arikpo said specialisation in high quality, well engineered and high value-added vehicles work is increasing. The introduction of new techniques and key strategic skills development, he said, are essential to retain and further develop the existing supply chain capacity in the auto industry. According to him, the industry needs to train and develop technicians, engineers and managers skilled in the operation and management of modern auto workshops. For specific job opportunities, he stressed the need for more auto body specialists. The challenge, he noted, is that it is hard to get young people interested in getting their hands dirty. For Arikpo, the field to get in right now is the auto industry because of the demand for technicians.

Managing Director, Autoville

Mr Abel Bassey, said the frequent development of cars with high technology has made sales training imperative. He said technical skills are in constant demand because they are the most recognised skills gap. He said automotive service technicians and mechanics work on traditional mechanical components, such as engines, transmissions, belts, and hoses.

However, they must also be familiar with a growing number of electronic systems.

Braking, transmission, and steering systems, for example, are controlled primarily by computers and electronic components. He said other integrated electronic systems, such as accident-avoidance sensors, are becoming common as well. In addition, more technicians are required to work on vehicles that run on a sensor system. This means new technicians should be able to use computerised diagnostic tools. Automotive technology is rapidly becoming more sophisticated, and most experts believe the best opportunity exists for those who have a degree in auto engineering.

Bassey noted that, those with good diagnostic and problem-solving skills, and whose training includes basic electronics skills, should have the best opportunities.

Persons without formal automo-

• Arikpo

tive training are likely to face keen competition for entry-level jobs, he added. There are openings for service technicians such as automotive air-conditioning repairers, brake repairers, front-end mechanics, transmission technicians and rebuilders and tune-up technicians.

On the highway, there is need for mobile diesel service technicians and mechanics to help repair, or overhaul broken down buses, trucks, and other machines with a diesel engine.

There are also companies in

• Bassey

search for technicians and mechanics to work on farm equipment and construction vehicles. Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians inspect, maintain, and repair vehicles and machines used in construction, farming, rail transportation, and other industries. As the stock of heavy vehicles and mobile equipment continues to increase, more service technicians will be needed to maintain them.

Those with formal training, Bassey said have better chances in

‘To remain relevant, today’s mechanic must keep up with the technological innovations being incorporated into every new vehicle model. Where once a tune-up required little more than a set of wrenches, today’s auto shop must have state-of-the-art facilities, such as sensors and computers’

job placement. This is because functional education significantly reduces the amount of on-the-job training new service technicians’ need. Employers expect service technicians to be familiar with engine components and systems and know how they interact with each other, to be able to disable major parts for repairs and couple them back. Generally, most job opportunities will come from the need to replace workers who retire or leave the occupation. Those with higher certificates are preferred by employers strongly prefer them.

Those without formal training may have difficulty finding jobs.

The majority of job openings are expected to be in sectors that sell, rent, or lease heavy vehicles and mobile equipment, where a large proportion of service technicians are employed. Most entrants into automotive engineering have a degree level qualification.

CAREER MANAGEMENT

E

VERY task has its own techniques and strategies to assure effectiveness and success.

Even madness, they say has its own methods! Job search requires certain skills, knowledge and techniques.

As I said earlier, the central issue is that most lack job search skills.

There are few things in life more important than finding a job that not only meet your financial needs and expectations but also gives you psychological satisfaction.

Unfortunately, there are few people who understand how you go about finding such a job.

As you will discover, sooner or later, it is not necessarily the most “qualified” person who gets a particular job. More often than not, it is person with the skill for convincing the recruiter/employer that he/she is, in fact, the most qualified person for that particular job.

So we will continue this week on those things that could be responsible for your inability to secure a good job in spite of many attempts and good effort.

Last week, we discussed two issues (i) inadequate understanding of yourself- your skills, accomplishments, personal aptitude/ preferences for job/career goal (ii) poor understanding of the Hiring process – most people search for job in a manner directly opposite the way employers recruit.

Let us examine the other things

Basics of effective job search (II)

By Olu Oyeniran

• Master Change associated with unemployment. Joblessness is tough, really tough. It is more so if it resulted from sudden loss of job.

It disrupts social, economic and family life. Of course the most obvious effect of joblessness is lack/ loss of personal income, with attendant loss of personal esteem and dignity.

On top of this is loss of identity.

When meeting a person for the trust time a usual question is “what do you do?” As if it is required for you to be properly identified. You can imagine if you were asked this question by your intending in – law!

Whether you are unemployed, under employed, employed by looking for a better job, or entering the work for the very first time, or entering after a long absence, you are facing change. And change affects our emotions – relief, anticipation, or renewal, or you may fell anger, sadness, fear, depression or confusion.

These feelings are natural. The key to successful management of change (and attendant transition) is attitude. Williams James, the father of modern psychology, said “we can alter our live by altering our attitudes” if we learn to man-

age our attitudes, we won’t feel paralysed, and benefits will follow. Related to this your attitude to job search. Are you hopeful or pessimistic? Do you feel dejected and defeated? Do you realise that those skills and experience you deprecate is exactly what same employers are looking for if only you can package them and yourself appropriately?

The guy I mentioned above found it difficult to identify his core skills.

After thorough questioning about his work and life experiences we were able to identify some transferable and job skills. But he thinks those skills do not amount to much and that they are probably cancelled by other ‘deficiencies’!

The next important consideration is how much of you time, energy and money are you willing invest in yourself, or better still in your future? I have seen a lot of applicants who feel that they should not be expected to pay for seminars/ services that will enhance their chance for good employment in the shortest possible time (never mind that most of them possess state-ofthe-art GSM handsets and make at N50 or more worth of call or take at least a bottle of coke everyday).

If you are looking for a job that will pay you N400,000 p.a., how

much should you invest to make it happen this year, and not next year?

If your current pay is N400,000 p.a., how much should you invest to get a N1.2 million job instead of a N600,000 p.a job?

In the same vein, do you realise that looking for a job is indeed a full time job if you are unemployed? Are you ready to work at it, and continue to work hard until you get result? Are you adequately prepared? Are you doing enough research?

• Have an effective resume The basics of a resume/CV are that it should be letter perfect, neat, easy to read and organised. It is expected to give your education history, work experience, skills, accomplishments, hobbies/interest and some other relevant information. It is not expected to be more than three pages long. These are the easy part.

The hard part is putting that resume to work, making it do as mush as a resume can do i.e. making it a successful sales dance. Your Resume is your self-marketing tool. But no matter how well – organised, how neat, how smoothly written your resume is, if it does not have any “sell” in it, it is not doing its job.

And what is the “selling” resume?

It is a resume that gives the employer who gets to read it good reason(s) to invite you for a face – to face interview. The job of a resume/CV is to get you invited for job interview.

Simple. It is a resume that showcases everything you have to offer in the most positive light (with respect to the job position at hand), yet without strain. This is the tricky balance you must achieve. If my experience is anything to go by not many can achieve that.

Most Resume/CV I see, are bland, poorly written, lack order/aesthetics and (wait for it) tend to demarket the candidate! Is your Resume drawn up in the appropriate format? Does it contain the key information about you, you experience, skills and accomplishments? Is it a selling document? Do you use your resume/CV effectively?

On a final note, our website, www.jobsearchhow.com.ng is now hosted and there is ( and will be) tons of useful information and past articles.

See you on this page next week.

Olu Oyeniran is the Lead Consultant, EkiniConsult & Associates.

Website: www.jobsearchhow.com E-mail: oluoyeniran@yahoo.com Tel 08083843230 (SMS Only).

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

39

INSURANCE

NAICOM to float unit against money laundering

T

HE National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) is to establish a unit with the sole responsibility of fighting money laundering.

The Nation gathered that the unit which would help monitor the transactions of insurance firms is near completion.

The project , which has been in the works for about three years now, was conceived to help check fraudulent activities, especially, money laundering.

Financial institutions, the source at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) revealed, are at the forefront of the fight against financially motivated crimes.

He said: “As criminals seek to disguise the true ownership and movement of their illegal proceeds, the insurance sector is ultimately vulnerable to abuse for the purposes of laundering the proceeds from crime. This is why it is

Stories by Uyoatta Eshiet

imperative to build capacity within the Insurance sector to prevent money laundering and deny wrong doers the benefits of their misconduct.”

Also, Acting Director, Inspectorate Directorate, NAICOM, Farinu Olusegun, has called on stakeholders to support the government and the commission in the fight against money laundering, adding that the government alone cannot successfully prevent and control the menace without the support of the civil society, especially the private sector.

He said those who developed the standards against money laundering recognised the role of the insurance industry and therefore included specific obligations and responsibilities for the sector.

He said NAICOM would continue to forge partnerships with all stakeholders, especially, insurance

institutions that should be the vanguard of the crusade against money laundering and terrorist financing, adding that the commission shall sustain cooperation with other organisations at home and abroad to share best practices and promote greater cooperation in their collective efforts.

Director-General Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Sunday Thomas, said insurers have been charged to preserve their customers’ information for not less than 10 years after the end of any transaction.

Thomas said the move is in line with the industry’s bid to have detailed information of customers.

He said companies are to display in their offices the notice stating the corporate responsibility for disclosure of information in respect of transactions above specified threshold.

He said insurers are also to iden-

tify the nature and scope of the business to be transacted, the duty to obtain evidence of identification, keep customers information up to date and review customers’ information at every point of transaction.

He noted that insurers are to report to the NAICOM observations detrimental to the their operations, adding that they have to also receive and vet suspicious transaction reports from staff; rendering “nil” reports with the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), where necessary.

Thomas urged the operators to develop robust risk management systems, including procedures, internal control and audit systems, perform the necessary Customer

‘Positive image will improve industry’

T

• From left:, Acting Executive Secretary of Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) ; Deputy President , Mr Ayodapo Shoderu; President of Standard Insurance Consultants Mallam Ahmed Salawudeen being decorated by the President of NCRIB, Barrister Laide Osijo. With them is Mr Rotimi Edu, Honourary Treasurer of the Council during the visit of Salawudeen to NCRIB Secretariat recently.

Royal Exchange Group records N2.37b growth, pays dividends

R

OYAL Exchange Group has reported 59 per cent growth, equivalent of N2.37 billion for the 2011 business year.

The Chairman, Kenneth Ezenwani Odogwu, disclosed this to shareholders during its 43th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos, last week.

He said despite the uncertainty that characterised the global economy for most part of 2011 and the slow growth rate experienced in key industrial countries, the economy was able to record moderate growth as a result of some well ‘thought-out’ policies of government.

This, he said, enabled some sectors of the economy to record some level of growth. “ The rise in the money market rate which is attributed to the monetary tightening policies of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), led to the increase in the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) and this resulted to the sharp increases in the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), four per cent in September to eight per cent in October 2011”.

Odogwu said Royal Exchange Plc and the insurance industry generally, took advantage of the development as their businesses depend on available investments income, adding that this is already having positive impact on the industry.

He said Royal Exchange Plc achieved a gross premium of N5.24 billion, as against N3.29 billion recorded in 2010. This translated to N2.37 billion as net income before

overhead expenses, compared to N1.85 billion in 2010, resulting in an increase of 28 per cent.

Hr said despite theincrease, the investment income of the company stood marginally at N280.42 million, from N254.36 million in 2010.

He attributed this to the slow recovery of the capital market and the relatively low rates that prevail in the money market.

Analysis of the statement of account revealed that management expenses recorded an increase of 3.8 per cent, fromN1.79 billion in 2010 to N1.86 billion in the review period. The chairman said the increase was kept low as a result of the stringent cost control measures aimed at

minimising operating cost without impacting negatively on productivity.

The group achieved a profit before tax and exceptional item of N105.64 million from its operations, while an exceptional item of N855.84 million increased the profit before tax to N961.48 million.

On the subsidiaries, the group chairman stated that Royal Exchange Prudential Life Plc, posted a loss of N240 million. He reported that remedial measures have been taken to turn the company around. He announced a dividend of 4 kobo for every 50 kobo ordinary share to shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Due Diligence (CDD) on their customers, beneficial owners and beneficiaries.

According to him, operators are also to effectively monitor unusual transactions, take enhanced measures in respect of higher risk customers, keep adequate records of transactions and promptly respond to enquiries by the NFIU in respect of any transaction with any individual, entity, or organisation named in the request.

He noted that there should also be protection of the security and confidentiality of such requests, create high level awareness and training among the staff, ensuring that all branches and subsidiaries observe appropriate AML measures.

HE Corporate Affairs Manager, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), has said the insurance industry will develop when operators engage in activities that will improve their public image on the one hand and that of the industry on the other.

He stated this while speaking with The Nation in his office in Lagos. He noted that the industry operators over the years did not care enough about their image.

This, he said had cumulated to the poor perception the public has on insurance. He noted that operators’ neglect of professional public relations executives also contributed to the problem.

“Coming to the realm of insurance generally in Nigeria, it is a known fact that the industry has continued to be bedeviled by multifarious problems, chief of which is image challenge. The problem of poor image and public acceptance has for long limited the growth capacity of the industry and its ability to contribute significantly to national economy”, he said.

Adaramola said this nagging problem has definitely necessitated the need for ingenious utilisation of public relations strategies by all actors in the industry.

He stated further that while insurance acceptability in places like America, Europe and other growing economies in Asia and in countries, such as South Africa, Egypt, Kenya etcetera, are high, the case of Nigeria is remarkably different.

“It is believed that insurance is bought in such economies, whereas it is sold here in Nigeria.

Despite renewed efforts by the regulatory institutions and government to reverse the trend, the industry’s image problem has remained a pain in the neck of the industry,” Adaramola said.

He noted that every component

of the industry need to imbibe public relations but the insurance brokerage sector needs it most. “If there is a component of the industry that must imbibe public relations, mostly at the level of their individual practice, it is the insurance brokerage sector”. It is noteworthy, according to him that Insurance brokers constitute a significant profile of insurance practice in Nigeria in terms of number of practitioners. He said they are also believed to control the greater percentage of the nation’s insurance business.

“With over 500 registered members of the NCRIB, there is hardly any nook or cranny in Nigeria where you are not likely to find a broker. Consequently, insurance brokers play pivotal intermediary roles between the insured (the public), and the insurance companies.

“By their professional calling, the insurance broker engages in the selling of insurance products to both corporate and individual clients, assisting them to understand the technicalities of its services for their maximum benefit.

“It is a commonly held notion that the average client approximates the image and character of an insurance broker or an agent to that of the industry at large.

“These crucial duties predispose them to be well-rounded both in technical and interpersonal public relations and communication skills. Insurance, being an intangible product could only be assessed, appreciated and accepted by clients depending on the personal presentation by the broker,” he added.

Adaramola noted that gone are those days when the utilisation of soft public relations skills, such as grooming, etiquette, poise and personal reputation management, were pushed to the background in preference for hard or technical skills or patronage.

CIIN spends N200 million on college

T

HE Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), may have spent over N200 million on the college of Insurance and Financial Management (CIFM) project. The Director General, Mr Adesoji Adepegba, disclosed this while reviewing the achievement of the institute in the last 10 years.

Adepegba told jouralists in Lagos, last week that the institute was able to mobilise the amount which it has spent on the first phase of the project, saying academic work would start very soon.

He said the programme will in-

clude a two-year certificate in insurance after which graduates would go for a one year industrial attachment and return for another two years Advanced Certificate in Insurance.

He said the certificates would be equivalent to the Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and the Higher National Diploma (HND), which are handled by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

The HND certificate is equivalent to a degree, he said, adding that at this stage, the HND insurance graduate of the college will have one or two papers to write

to become an insurance professional. He said the effect in the long run will be such that when five people gather, at least one of them would be an insurance professional.

Adepegba said the objectives of the college include: to provide qualitative education and training for persons engaged in the practice of insurance and allied services throughout Nigeria; to provide consultancy services in the fields of insurance and financial services for the insurance industry in particular and the financial sector of the economy in general and to undertake research in

all aspects of insurance and allied subjects relevant to the economic development of the nation. Other objectives of the college according to the Director- General include: to collect relevant data on the insurance industry, maintain a database and provide information on all aspects of insurance for public use; to constitute a research platform for determining the industry’s manpower needs from time to time and to benchmark international standards in insurance and financial management education with a view to making the College a Centre of Educational Excellence globally.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

40

Taxation

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS About Self-Assessment 1. Why is the Service migrating from government assessment to selfassessment?

The Service is not migrating but strengthening self-assessment because the Service did not get the policy right at the beginning.

2. What is the difference between Administrative Assessment and Best of Judgement?

Administrative Assessment means an assessment raised by a relevant tax authority where a taxpayer has failed to file returns and pay taxes due on or before the due date or where there is an understatement of tax in the returns filed. Best of Judgement (BOJ) is an administrative assessment, however in issuing it shall be based on spot audit, third party information to identify material fact upon which the assessment will be raised.

3. Is Spot Audit provided for in the tax law?

Spot Audit and third party information is provided for by Section 26 of the FIRS (Establishment) Act. 4. What is the difference between Administrative Assessment and Government Assessment?

There is no difference between Administrative Assessment and Government Assessment. They are terminologies used interchangeably as assessment raised on behalf of government by the relevant tax authority.

5. Will an objection arise under a self-assessment system?

Ordinarily under a self-assessment system the taxpayer may not object against his own assessment, however he may object against an assessment raised administratively.

6. How does an Assessment Program differ from a Filing Compliance Program?

Assessment program is used to raise assessment for taxpayers who fail to file on due date. However, Filing Compliance Program is used to enforce compliance to ensure all taxpayers file their tax returns and make payment of tax due on or before due date.

7. What should be the relationship between RPP/Audit/RAU? There must be collaboration between them and the chain must not be broken. RPP receives returns; carries out arithmetic checks and passes them to Tax Audit for RAU- a subunit of Tax Audit to carry out analysis for case selection.

8. What are the KPIs for RAU? The Key Performance Indicators shall be set in line with the Risk Assessment benchmarks and agreed from time to time. i) The time spent on risk profiling of taxpayer data. ii) The report generated on weekly basis not later 2-day after a week. iii) The tax yield of the report.

9. What should you do when you notice the basis period is not correct?

It is RPP’s responsibility to correct the basis period, re-compute and notify the taxpayer for payment.

10. Should all tax returns be risk profiled?

Yes, all tax returns should automatically be risk profiled. After data entry, the taxpayer file is forwarded from RPPU to the Head of Audit for the Selection Criteria Analysis.

11. Should RPPU be communicating directly with taxpayers?

RPPU can communicate directly to/with taxpayer by notifying him when an error is observed during the review of returns.

12. What action is to be taken when tax returns are not submitted on due date?

FDAEU should visit the taxpayer immediately with a demand for the returns and inform the taxpayer the consequences of having failed to comply due date. Administrative assessment procedure will commence after the visit.

13. What happens to the seized books of a Taxpayer who was distraint; at what point do you return the books that were seized?

Make copies of the seized documents and ensure it is endorsed by the taxpayer then return the books immediately in line with the provisions of Section 26 and 30(2) of FIRS (Establishment) Act, No 13 2007.

14. When an Additional Assessment is raised, should it be back-dated to the due date of filing/payment?

Yes, it should be effective from the time the payment was due.

15. The penalty for late returns and penalty for late payment do not appear to be equitable. Could this be reviewed?

A recommendation has been made for the review to make it a percentage of tax due.

16. How do you encourage taxpayers file in their appropriate Jurisdiction?

If the taxpayer has previously filed in a wrong jurisdiction, the taxpayer’s file should be moved to the jurisdiction within which his address falls. Then the taxpayer should be advised accordingly.

17. What is the working relationship between Filing Debt Arrears Enforcement Unit (FDAEU) and the Returns Payment Processing Unit (RPPU)?

RPPU conducts arithmetic checks of a tax return, captures data and refers a list of non-compliant taxpayers to FDAEU for further actions including a visit to the taxpayer to find out why he failed to file and remind him of the consequences of late and non-filing.

18. When is a Tax Clearance Certificate issued to a taxpayer?

A Tax Clearance Certificate is issued only when tax liabilities including penalty and interest for the relevant assessment years are paid.

19. The focus of Self-Assessment appears to be on only CIT. Is VAT not part of the Self-Assessment Process?

Self-Assessment is a regime and covers all tax types 20. After the risk assessments of returns have been done, are all the returns then passed to the Audit Unit?

Yes, the Audit works on the result of the risk analysis to draw up its audit program for further action. In any case, RAU is a sub-unit of Audit.

21. Presently there are no Audit Units in some ITOs what will happen to the audit functions in these offices?

All offices are expected to have Audit Units by the time Self-Assessment

headquarters support to ensure taxpayer service is effectively carried out in order to target compliance gap.

• ALHAJI KABIR MOHAMMED MASHI, AG. EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, FIRS

With respect to Companies Income Tax, a taxpayer is required to file tax returns and make payment of tax due not later than 6 months after the accounting year end.

However, he has the option to make instalment payments of tax due in a manner that the final instalment is paid not later than 2 months after due date. is fully implemented. However, where there are no Audit Unit, the Regional Audit shall perform the audit.

22. What is the process for approving a request for instalment payment of tax?

Where a taxpayer intends to conclude instalment payments not later than due date of filing, the taxpayer is required to notify the tax office of his intention. However, where a taxpayer intends to conclude instalment payments beyond the due date of filing, he shall request for approval. In any of the cases, the taxpayer is expected to commence instalment payments before due date such that the final payment is made not later than due date.

23. What are the conditions for granting extension of time for filing returns? · Written application to be submitted before due date of filing returns and to show good cause for taxpayers inability to file by the due date. · If the Board is satisfied with the cause, it may grant approval under the following conditions; a) Upon sudden death of any Principal officer of the Company; and b) Where the Company experienced Natural disaster.

The approval to extend the time within which to file returns will not alter the time within which payment of tax is to be made.

24. The law allows two months grace from due date of filing, does this now mean the grace period is Eight months?

With respect to Companies Income Tax, a taxpayer is required to file tax returns and make payment of tax due not later than 6 months after the accounting year end. However, he has the option to make instalment payments of tax due in a manner that the final instalment is paid not later than 2 months after due date.

25. What about the incentive for self-assessment filing, will taxpayers who file still enjoy this incentive?

The incentive for self-assessment filing that existed up to 2007 was abolished by Companies Income Tax (Amendment) Act 2007.

26. Considering the non-compliant culture of Nigerians, do you think that self assessment as a means to achieving voluntary compliance will work in Nigeria? Put in another way; are we ripe for voluntary compliance?

The self-assessment tax regime is concerned with the provision of proper enablement for taxpayers and enforcement actions that will ensure compliance.

27. My understanding is that the first instalment of tax payable should be paid on due date and the remaining maximum of five (5) instalments paid after due date but not later than November 30, 2011.

In accordance with the self-assessment regulations, instalment payments may commence before due date of filing provided the final payment is made not later than due date. In addition, the regulation only provided for three (3) instalments. Note that the Companies Income Tax Act does not say six (6) instalment payments must be granted.

28. When was the Taxpayers Service Policies, Processes andProgrammes Department (TSPPPD) created and what is the purpose of creating the department at the Headquarters when Taxpayers Service Unit already exists in all the Integrated Tax Offices?

TSPPPD was created in April, 2011. TSPPPD at the Headquarters is responsible for generating procedures for delivering uniform taxpayer service, formulating the annual operating plan and providing

29. Is it only the (Headquarters) TSPPPD that will carry out sensitization and education of taxpayers?

TSPPPD shall be responsible for policies and coordination of TPS activities. However, the TPS Units in the tax offices are to deliver the direct services to the taxpayers.

30. How much time is required to check a return?

Checking for arithmetic accuracy and completeness of the returns has replaced full desk examination of accounts and as such it is estimated that an average of thirty (30) minutes should normally be sufficient to deal with a case file. This will naturally also depend on the skill and experience of the officer.

31. Which Unit is responsible for data capture of tax returns?

The Returns Payment and Processing Unit (RPPU).

32. In the work flow described in the Handbook on Self-Assessment, Tax Returns are expected to move from the front desk of Taxpayers Service to the Central Registry; does this mean it is no longer necessary for the Tax Controller to endorse the returns before sending them to the Central Registry?

The Tax Controller (TC) needs not endorse the returns before sending them to the Central Registry, what is required is for front desk registry staff to forward a schedule of the returns and mails to TC and he may call for any of the files. This is to reduce the workload of the TC who is charged with the general administrative function of the office.

33. When tax returns are submitted at the front desk and assessment numbers allocated at that point, who does the separation of the documents bearing in mind that assessment numbers may be used as documentary evidence in court?

Once an assessment number is issued at the front desk to a tax return that has been submitted, it is documented under the name of the officer who issued the number. The documents are separated by CRU and despatched to the appropriate units.

34. At what point does a Front Desk Officer at Taxpayers Service issue acknowledgement of receiving Returns?

The Front Desk officer reviews the content of the tax return and if satisfied that the required documents are attached to the tax returns, the form is duly completed and signed; an acknowledgment is then completed and issued to the taxpayer.

35. What happens to a Tax Returns that is filed late, does this still qualify as a Self Assessment return?

It is still a Self-Assessment return as the taxpayer has the responsibility of computing the tax and filing the returns but he should be penalized for late filing beginning from the date the returns fell due.

36. In the Self Assessment System what documents would the Legal and Prosecution Department require to prosecute MDAs for failure to deduct or remit tax?

The Audit Report of unremitted funds.

37. What should be done by RPPU while checking the arithmetic accuracy of a return and you encounter a taxpayer claiming a huge relief?

Simply capture the information as indicated during data capturing process. This claim will be verified during the audit process.

38. Why is it is necessary to invite the taxpayer when an error is observed in the arithmetic calculations and the subsequent raising of Government/support assessment?

This is to remove delays which usually characterize exchange of correspondences between the taxpayer and the Service in respect of re-assessment notices which will reduce objections.

39. How does Best of Judgment (BOJ) operate in a Self Assessment System?

Best of Judgment shall be based on spot audit to identify material fact upon which the assessment shall be raised. Spot Audit is justified by Section 26 of the FIRS (Establishment) Act, No 13, 2007.

40. What is the legality of administrative assessment? Is it contestable in the court of Law? Administrative assessment is an assessment raised by the tax officer based on material evidence obtained from the taxpayer and/or third party sources. FIRS (Establishment) Act empowers the ascertainment of profit/income through calling for the books of taxpayer or visiting their premises (see S.26, S.29 and S.30 of FIRS (Establishment) Act, No 13, 2007). The taxpayer has the right to contest any assessment raised on him.

41. Where there is conflict between the Handbook on Self Assessment and the FIRS Establishment Act which supersede?

The FIRS (Establishment) Act shall supersede because it is an act of parliament while the handbook in an administrative document for guidance only.

42. How do we deal with Capital Allowance under the Self Assessment System?

The Capital Allowance shall be computed as usual by the taxpayer and inputted from the tax return during data capture by RPPU. 43. In a Self Assessment system how do you treat a non/stop filer?

A Non-Filer or stop-filer shall automatically be subject to spot audit.

This is one of the selection criteria that must be reviewed by the auditor and once this information is clearly indicated in the case file, the system automatically picks this up for audit.

44. What is the effective date of the commencement of the Self Assessment Handbook?

All officers are to familiarize themselves with the handbook because Management has approved its immediate use for the implementation of Self-Assessment.

45. Please provide more clarifications on the issue of how mails and returns movement should be handled?

When tax returns and other correspondences are received by the front desk officer, they are documented in the register and a schedule of the document is prepared. A copy of the schedule is forwarded to the Tax Controller and Central Registry respectively. Central Registry takes the responsibility of making sure the document is safely kept in the appropriate file for onward transfer to the appropriate Unit Head.

MOURINHO:

"I think Brendan, he can't be [a] champion with that team. He can't make miracles with that team. It's not an easy job. Liverpool expectations are very high. The reality is that Liverpool, at this moment, they're not the best team in the Premiership. Not even close. The squad is not at that point."

Real Madrid manager, Jose Mourinho, saying Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is not a miracle worker after failing at Anfield on Sunday.

LUIZ

signs new five-year Chelsea

•Luiz

deal D

AVID Luiz has signed a new fiveyear contract with Chelsea which will keep him at the club until 2017.

The Brazil international moved to Stamford Bridge in January 2011 in a £21 million deal from Portuguese side Benfica.

Having been linked with a switch to Barcelona in the summer, the 25year-old, who won both the Champions League and the FA Cup with Chelsea last season, has ended speculation regarding his future by committing his long-term future with Roberto Di Matteo's side.

"I am very happy to sign a new contract with Chelsea," Luiz told the

Monday, September 24, 2012

RACIAL ABUSE

English FA decides Terry's fate today J

club's official website.

"It is a great club and I look forward to winning more trophies here. I want to play for a long time at the top level which is what playing for Chelsea means.

"I love everything about the club and especially the fans, who have made me very welcome and given me great support."

Rodgers is not a miracle worker

OHN Terry will attempt to clear his name once and for all this week as an independent Football Association panel decides whether it believes he directed •Ferdinand a racist slur towards Anton Ferdinand.

It is understood that Monday will see the start of Chelsea captain Terry's personal hearing to answer an FA charge he used "abusive and/or insulting words" that

"included a reference to the ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race of Anton Ferdinand" in last October's Premier League clash at QPR. Terry has already categorically denied the charge and is set to do so again in person - at what is said to be a secret London location - more than two months after being found not guilty at Westminster Magistrates Court of calling Ferdinand a "f******

R

•Terry

black c***".

The two players could come face to face again as the FA panel considers the case, barely a week after Ferdinand refused to shake Terry's hand before the latest west London derby at Loftus Road.

If found guilty over the coming days, Terry is likely to be banned, although reports suggest it may only be for four matches, possibly due to the complexity of a saga that had dragged on for almost a year.

The implications for Terry beyond any formal punishment could be more severe and there is likely to be pressure on both the FA and Chelsea to take further action against the 31year-old, most notably by managed to tip his calling time on his England Ferguson on the OBIN van career. shot over. touchline added Persie's The written judgment of the Talking point further fire to the second-half panel in the case of a guilty Liverpool are incident. penalty handed verdict may have a big say in still without a win Goal of the match Manchester United a determining the extent of the but showed Rafael's curling 2-1 victory over 10damage. promising signs, effort was very easy man Liverpool on an Terry's legal team will particularly in an on the eye, but emotionally-charged reportedly attempt to ensure impressive first afternoon at Anfield. Gerrard's opener was they do not even get as far as particularly special on half. Can they turn considering a verdict.

Steven Gerrard things around? a significant day for was influential in The delegation, led by United will be the Anfield club. midfield and George Carter-Stephenson QC disappointed with Chance of the crowned his solid their display in the who successfully defended match display with the opening 45 minutes Terry in court - is said to be Young Reds opening goal for ready to argue that his acquittal substitute Suso forced but showed Liverpool. in a criminal trial means the FA character to come a quick-thinking save Controversy of the case cannot proceed. back. from United keeper match Lindegaard, who Jonjo Shelvey's sending off is guaranteed to divide PREMIERSHIP RESULT opinion between the Liverpool 1 - 2 Man Utd. opposing fans, with Jonny Evans also Newcastle U. 1 - 0 Norwich C. going in strongly, Manchester C. 1 - 1 Arsenal while his heated Tottenham H. 2 - 1 Q P R. words with Sir Alex

van Persie's penalty sinks Liverpool

EAL Madrid manager Jose Mourinho believes new Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers faces an unenviable task in turning Liverpool into Premier League contenders, suggesting that the Northern Irishman "can't make miracles".

After two draws and two defeats in their opening four games, Liverpool are already 11 points behind league leaders Chelsea and welcome last season's runners-up, Manchester United, to Anfield on Sunday.

And Mourinho has stated that the Reds, in his view, are "not even close" to possessing a squad capable of competing at the top end of the table.

"I think Brendan, he can't be [a] champion with that team," Mourinho told Sky Sports. "He can't make miracles with that team. It's not an easy job.

Liverpool expectations are very high. "The reality is that Liverpool, at this moment, they're not the best team in the Premiership. Not even close. The squad is not at that point."

The Portuguese coach, who won back-to-back Premier League titles with Chelsea in 2005 and 2006, does think, however, that Rodgers can build a side capable of challenging if he is given time to invest in new players.

R

•Mourinho

Other Sports...Other Sports...Other Sports...Other Sports...

•Koscielny

Koscielny delighted after strike at Man City

S/African boxer killed at 47

A

rsenal hero Laurent Koscielny was delighted after he scored the Gunners’ equaliser against Manchester City.

Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny celebrates scoring during the Barclays Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester.

The north London club fell behind before half time to a Joleon Lescott strike but the Frenchman struck back from a set-piece to share the spoils.

“Yeah. I’m very happy to score,” Koscielny told Sky. “We did a good game.

“We must do better but we came back and we are very happy.

“Yeah, it was difficult. Man City are champions. It’s a good point.

“We’re happy with his. Now we don’t lose so it’s better for us.”

•van Persie

words the loss of his friend.

“It’s very sad. My heart is broken. It’s just terrible. I can’t believe it happened.”

Sanders secured a stunning second-round CORRIE Sanders, the They were telling South African boxer who everyone to lie down and knockout win over Wladimir Klitschko in knocked out Wladimir give them their wallets Klitschko to become the and mobile phones. They 2003, sending the current world champion to the WBO heavyweight didn’t take much. They canvas four times en route champion, has died in a were working their way shooting incident while through the room when a to victory in Germnay. attending his nephew’s car alarm went off outside He next fought Vitali Klistchko a year later in 21st birthday party. and they panicked and Los Angeles for the The 47-year-old was at a ran. vacant WBC heavyweight restaurant just outside "Corrie was the only one title, but lost that by a Pretoria when an armed shot. He didn’t try robbery took place, where anything heroic as far as I TKO in the eighth round.

Police in South Africa are it is understood that he could see. He was just in investigating the events. was shot in the stomach. the wrong place, by the Sanders, who had not entrance. They shot him fought since 2008, was through the stomach and taken to hospital for I also saw a wound in his further treatment, but arm, it might have been after an eight-hour battle, from the same bullet, he died of his wounds. which went right through An eyewitness, speaking him.”

•Sanders to The Sowetan newspaper, Harold Volbrecht, said: "There were three of Sanders’ former coach, them. Armed with pistols. struggled to put into

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

43

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Although the gubernatorial election in Delta State is two years away, politicians have started jostling for vantage positions in a bid to clinch the exalted seat when the the tenure of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan expires.

In this report, OKUNGBOWA AIWERIE examines the chances of the Anioma people to produce the next governor.

Delta 2015: Will Anioma produce the governor?

T

HE question which has dominated public discourse in Delta State for some time now is whether the gubernatorial ambition of the Anioma people from the Delta North Senatorial District will be realized in 2015.

In the face of stiff opposition by other ethnic groups, including the numerically superior Urhobo from the central senatorial district, the Anioma group, undoubtedly, have a mountain to climb in their quest to occupy the Government House, Asaba.

The Anioma ethnic group’s claim to the top job is hinged largely on the rotational policy, which may count for nothing in the rough and tumble of Delta politics.

The Urhobo ethnic group has not hidden its desire to reclaim the governorship position since Chief James Ibori left office and has left no one in doubt in that regard.

In the build-up to the 2015 election, the tribe have remained the most visible, judging from the plethora of political platforms that have mushroomed over the last few months.

These groups include the Urhobo Political Forum (UPF) led by Chief Ighoyota Amori, the Urhobo Political Congress (UPC) headed by Sir Tom Amioku and the Delta Central Political Movement (DCPM) led by Olori Magege.

The mobilization and sensitization of the grassroots within the zone are on, but the reverse is the case in the Ibo- speaking areas of Delta North where there is perceived lethargy.

The Delta South Senatorial District, which currently occupies the office, may decide to hang onto power with the emergence of an Ijaw candidate. This will effectively kill the Anioma dream, should it receive the backing of Chief E.K Clark.

In this regard, the Minister of Niger-Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, who is nursing a gubernatorial ambition, may get the slot.

But Protem Chairman, Anioma Agenda (AA), Mr. Alex Onwuadiamu, denies that political actors in Delta North are disunited and uncoordinated in their 2015 calculations.

He said Anioma will ensure that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) abides by the principle of zoning and rotation of public offices. He claimed that these are enshrined in the Nigeria Constitution and the Constitution of the ruling PDP. “What we are saying is that the principle of zoning and rotation of public offices as enshrined in the Constitution of Nigeria and the Constitution of the PDP be adhered to.

“The governorship of Delta State has gone to central senatorial zone, it is now in the south senatorial zone and by that principle come 2015, and it will be the turn of Anioma people to produce the governor for Delta state that is all we are asking for”, he stressed.

Onwuadiamu disagrees with the perception of complacence and perceived disunity among politicians of Anioma stock, stressing that the Anioma people will soon begin the process of sensitizing the populace.

• Governor Uduaghan

Onwudiamu said no political zone can win election in the state without the support of other groups, adding that the need to work with other stakeholders cannot be ignored.

“How we will go about it is by consultation. We have said that we will consult with our brothers and sisters in the south and central districts, quite a lot of them are already working with us. We will mobilise our people, we will sensitise the entire populace on the need for equity and justice.

Very soon there will be a lot of town hall meetings, seminars, symposia on this same issue. We are not just starting with a road show; we are consulting our people quietly and simultaneously.

“We are consulting different political stakeholders on the need for equity, unity and justice in our polity. It is not something we can do alone, Delta State is made up of three senatorial zones and if any zone, like we have seen in the last election, feels that it can do it alone it will always meet with failure. That is why we will always seek for reasonable partnership from the south and central, that is how elections are won in Delta State. This one is not going to be an exception”, he added.

A big obstacle to the realization of the Anioma dream is the considerable large number of wealthy and influential aspirants within the PDP who may refuse to step down for each other, thus leading to bitterness and rancour within the party.

This may force many to seek their political fortunes elsewhere which would automatically deplete or divide an otherwise Anioma block vote for one of their own.

Although none have declared his intention,apart from former Delta Commissioner of Finance Chief Clement Ofuani, one does not require the services of a clairvoyant to know that the under top politicians are eying the top job.

• Edwind-Clark

These include the Speaker of Delta State House of Asembly, Mr. Victor Ochei, who represents Aniocha North Constituency; Ndudi Elumelu, member of House of Representatives from Aniocha/ Oshimili Federal Constituency, Senator Arthur Okowa from Delta North District, ex-presidential aide Dr Cairo Ojougboh, and Chief Godson Obielum. But, Governor Uduaghan’s Chief of Staff Dr Festus Okubor is said to be the dark horse.

Others from different political parties are multi-millionaire businessman Okocha and Democratic People’s Party candidate in the 2010 senatorial election Mr. Ned Nwoko. Political watchers believe that this will work against the emergence of an Anioma person as candidate.

Pundits believe a consensus candidate will be difficult as Anioma lacks a true leader with considerable political clout. Besides, signs of disunity may have started rearing its ugly head as the major opposition party, Democratic People’s Party (DPP), whose chairman is an Anioma son, Chief Tony Ezeagwu, dismissed such sentiments.

He said his party will support any Deltan that emerges through a democratic process, stressing that DPP will not turn back any aspirant on the basis of ethnic consideration.

According to him, the DPP does not recognise the principle of zoning within its ranks. His words: “I am a man with a very broad mind. When you talk about Anioma people clamouring, I will not say what anybody is doing is wrong or right or I am supporting or not supporting. The issue is I am in DPP and the state chairman for that matter.

“You know that it has been clamoured long ago in PDP that Anioma man must be their candidate based on their zoning arrangement which I am not part of. As far I

‘A big obstacle to the realization of the Anioma dream is the considerable large number of wealthy and influential aspirants within the PDP who may refuse to step down for each other, thus leading to bitterness and rancour within the party’

• Orubebe

am concerned if an Anioma man comes to my party to take form, I will not deny him.

And if an Urhobo man comes to take form, I will not deny him either because in my party there is no zoning arrangement for now, our party is open for all Deltans. What we believe in is not even who governs the state but who gives the people what they want, dividends of democracy. When you clamour Anioma, Anioma, Anioma, are you telling us that Anioma people were not in Ibori’s government”?

Ezeagwu added: “Anioma man was a deputy governor in Ibori’s government, we had a lot of them who were commissioners, who were board chairmen, what did they achieve? At a time, I took a full page newspaper advertorial in a national daily calling on our people in PDP to protest and resign because of marginalisation against the Anioma nation.

“The issue was that they created wards and made all the wards in the central and south two each, all the wards were divided into two each. And as at the time, Delta north had the highest local governments of 9, the then deputy governor his local government he could not add 10 wards to make it 20.

The only thing they did was to add four.

Even in Ika North East that hitherto had 14 wards could not attain 20 but those that were 10 in central and south senatorial districts got additional 10. So Delta north was completely marginalised and I called on our people in PDP as at the time that they must protest and resign but nobody listened to me and it is still like this till tomorrow.”

Stakeholders agree that Chief Clark will play a major role in the emergence of the flag bearer.

The Ijaw leader had opposed the imposition of Governor Uduaghan in 2007 by former Governor James Ibori and 2015 presents an opportunity for the Clark faction to wrest power with Ibori, who is in a British prison.

Despite assurances of rapprochement between Uduaghan and Chief Clark’s factions, political analysts are of the opinion that the 2015 Delta governorship election is a struggle for political power between these two factions in Delta State than simply a struggle by the Anioma ethnic group for power.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

44

POLITICS

Emulate Southwest, Evah urges Niger-Delta

By Musa Odoshimokhe

I

•From right: Yaba Local Council Jide Jimoh, Osun State SSG, Chief Moshood Adeoti, Lai Mohammed, Senator Kolawole and Dele Belgore when they received the defectors in Ilorin last week.

Fear of ACN grips PDP in Kwara

S

HOULD the spate of defections to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) by members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties in Kwara State continue, the PDP, in particular, may be in for serious misfortune. This is the current fear being nursed by many PDP chieftains.

Recently, the expansive Latara Hall, Ajase-Ipo Road, Ilorin played host to scores of defectors, ACN supporters and loyalists from within and other neighbouring ACN states.

It was an occasion for the celebration of the defection of some members of the PDP, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) and Accord to ACN. The defectors claimed they were leaving a “retrogressive and oppressive” PDP in the state to the progressive party, ACN. Notable among the defectors are former PDP deputy governorship candidate in the 1999 election, Barrister Akinmade Yahaya Abolarin; former Commissioner and a leading light in the Saraki political dynasty, Chief James Ayeni, and a former PDP chieftain and ex-chairman of Ifelodun Local Government, Engineer Jide Usman.

ACN national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; the party’s governorship candidate in the 2011 election, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN); representatives of Osun and Ogun state governors among others, were also on hand to receive the defectors at the colourful ceremony in the state capital.

Spokesperson of the defectors, Prince Shuaib Olanrewaju premised their defection on what he described thus: “The reason for our defection is premised on the fact that the state was among the original twelve states created since 1967, having nothing in terms of human capital and social transformation to justify the age of its existence.

When we all joined hands with the PDP in the last year poll to deliver the state to the party, our expectation was that the good people of the state would be rewarded with good dividends of democracy.

“Unfortunately, unemployment, poverty and fraudulent political promises occasioned by the PDP’s bad leadership have become the order of the day. All around us, you find mortuaries of wreckage inflicted by PDP in the state. During the past nine or more years, we all have been running a political race, the spectators (the electorate) have been looking on (though not impotently). Our state is like a patient whose condition is daily deteriorating.

“There is the need for the state to be delivered from the hands of PDP that has constituted itself to a political demon and clog in the wheel of progress of the state. In order to achieve this political deliverance,

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

it becomes imperative for all the progressive elements to join forces to fight these political oppressors and chase them away from governance. We promise to form a solid followership for the ACN to engender meaningful development in the state. We are declaring for the ACN today; we shall cooperate with the party from the ward, local, state to national levels to ensure the party’s victory in the 2013 local government election in the state and the national elections in 2015.”

Prince Kolawole added that “here and there, there are evidences of total falling out of the common people with the irresponsible government of PDP. We all know that this state is dead broke. We do know it too, we had to accept that it is so because workers’ salaries are not paid when due and few weeks ago, the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) threatened to go on strike over non-payment of their salaries and other entitlements.”

The ACN spokesman accused the PDP-led Federal Government of incapable of proffering solution to the nation’s problems.

He posited that the PDP-led government’s ineptitude had resulted in the alarming rate of youth unemployment, epileptic power supply and general infrastructural decay.

Maintaining that the PDP government had failed Nigerians, the Mohammed threw jibes at the party’s leadership for its spirited effort to defend President Goodluck Jonathan’s aide, Dr Doyin Okupe, over allegation of contract scandal levelled against him by the Benue State government The PDP, Mohammed insisted, had never been truthful to Nigerians on any national issue, citing the “many lies the PDP government churned out to Nigerians on the

‘The reason for our defection is premised on the fact that the state was among the original twelve states created since 1967, having nothing in terms of human capital and social transformation to justify the age of its existence.

When we all joined hands with the PDP in the last year poll to deliver the state to the party, our expectation was that the good people of the state would be rewarded with good dividends of democracy’

illness of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.”

He added that Nigerians deserved to know the exact situation of the health status of the first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.

Lamenting what he called lack of development and dearth of infrastructure in Kwara State, Mohammed said that the PDP-led government in the state was in no way different from the PDP government at the centre, adding: “The PDP at the national level is not performing, so you cannot expect anything different at the state level.”

In his remarks, Belgore advised Kwarans to stop “suffering in silence” by teaming up with the ACN to sweep PDP away in the next general elections.

Belgore added: “ACN remains the only viable alternative to PDP and the party that genuinely has the interest of the masses at heart.

It is becoming clearer that PDP has absolute nothing to offer. Kwara in 2012 is worst than it was last year. People are coming in droves to ACN and there is a lot more than what you are seeing. This decamping, you will keep seeing more as we go along. My charge to Kwarans is for them to defend their right, support the party that will protect their interest and advance their cause and development. It is no point suffering. Support ACN and we will rout that evil called PDP out of our state.

“This is not the Kwara state of my dream with these PDP people in power. What I’m seeing is a state of nightmares. It might be the dream of a few selfish people that are bent on plundering the state for their own personal gains, but it is certainly not my dream state and that of majority of Kwarans.”

JAW Monitoring Group (IMG) Co-ordinator Comrade Joseph Evah has said except the Niger Delta people emulate their counterparts in the Southwest it will be difficult to forge ahead in the nation’s political equation.

He told The Nation that if not for the machinations of the other regions or zones that were dragging the South-west backward, it would be competing with countries like Malasia, Singapore and Korea.

Evah who bemoaned leadership ineptitude in the Niger Delta, recently led about 150 students of tertiary institutions to tour Ghana, where they had the ample opportunity of studying the legacy of Kwame Nkrumah and other eminent political gladiators from Ghana which the people of South-west Nigeria can boast of.

“I was in Ghana recently; we decided to tour Ghana with some Niger Delta students because our problem in the Niger Delta is leadership. We want to produce leaders like those of the South-west. Mind you before the South-west could produce the kind of leaders they have, it involved lots of painstaking. We don’t have those who can adequately fit into the position our compatriot in the South-west.”

According to him, a nation without good leaders cannot make progress no matter the resources of wealth it is endowed with. If for instance our oil dries up today this marriage called will automatically end. After all, Korea, Malaysia and Singapore don’t have oil yet they are making waves in the world.

“That is why we are not moving forward in terms of development and that why local government areas no council chairman in our areas don’t give bursary to students. When you go to the Yoruba areas the council chairmen present their work to the people. If you go to our areas the National or State Assemblies members don’t present their programme to the people, so we have problem of leadership that is why billions of naira that are pumped into the region have not manifest.”

The people don’t even know why they are leaders; we produce emergency leaders in the Niger Delta. If we continue like this our children will suffer in the next 50 years, so we decided to borrow a leaf from what the Yoruba. We had to tour Ghana because it suffered in the late 70s and early 80s. Ghanaians were roaming about in Nigeria and other African countries. That was why I had to take over 150 students to tour universities in Ghana, visited some of their personalities.”

He stressed that if not for their prayers, some forces wanted to manipulate the president in order to take charge. “It is our deliverance service that is still keeping the president alive, if not Jonathan is no more. I mobilised Niger Delta students to strom Abuja then he was the Vice President when a lot of people were harassing him. Yar’ Adua was alive people were harassing him as if he has nobody. All the governors were not going to him; some forces have manipulated the governors to the extent that he was ignored. Nobody was interested in him, people were manipulating the villa, they treated him as if he was a houseboy and we had to mobilised through prayers and change the situation for him.”

Evah said: “We are urging our son to work harder for the Nigerian people because he is entitled to another term. If he works very hard and convincingly to the interests of Nigerians, we won’t have any problem. People will say since others have gone for second term let this man who has worked so hard go for a second term.”

In fact the people will not even bother about where Jonathan comes from, that is why we are interested in his projects, he must ensure that electricity is 100 per cent, reduce unemployment. We are really disturbing our son not to fail the nation now that we are in the saddle, we are fasting and praying for him. That he should bring back that period when he was popular as acting president.”

On the purported adoption of President Jonathan by the South South Peoples Assembly, he said all the South South could not have adopted him. “I am not a Peoples Democratic Party member, all the South-south people are not all in PDP, not even with the fact that I am not in any of the political parties. If PDP people gather it is a different ball game entirely but if the Southsouth leaders gather to tell our son what is missing it is better. They are supposed sit down to tell our son what is missing in the region, they are supposed to tell him not to waste our time and how best to tackle problems in the country.”

He said the President who had not fully regain his popularity following the hike in fuel price this year, would be taking another unpopular path if he went ahead with the N5,000 note, one of the method which those who don’t want him to continue have devised to stall his 2015 bid.

•Evah

•From left: Ekiti State Governor Dr Kayode Fayemi, Chairman State Council of Obas, Oba Gbadebo Adedeji; and Chairman Ekiti State Social and Community Development Agency, EKSCDA, Chief Ibidapo Awojolu, during the presentation of cheques for community development projects to 26 communities in the state.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

45

MOTORING

Honda CR-V dazzles in Abuja T HE fourth generation Honda CR-V thrilled Abuja auto lovers last week when The Honda Place (THP), authorised marketers of Honda automobiles took the wrap off the model at a gala night in Sheraton Hotels Abuja.

The remodelled crossover was unveiled in June.

Coming 16 years after it was introduced; the CR-V has continued to enjoy customer loyalty and increasing sales year-on-year due to its uniqueness, ample passenger room, cargo capacity and competitive pricing.

THP Abuja Branch Manager Mr Arvind Sharma, described the new CR-V as a sedan-like ride with stunning economical four-cylinder engine spectrum.

“While some models offer V6 engines, Honda CR-V has remained focused on its practical aspirations and true-to-form design, becoming the best choice available in the all-important compact, small-SUV segment,” Sharma noted.

Redesigned for 2012, the new Honda CR-V maintains its previous size, with minimal hardware changes though with enough style and feature modification to keep Honda’s top selling crossover fully

•Honda CRV

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

competitive.

And like its predecessor, the remodelled CR-V is offered in familiar LX and EX-L trim levels.

The LX model though comes pretty well-equipped, its EX-L option gets additional convenience and luxury features, but without navigation systems for the local market.

A peep in the hood underscores CR-V’s standard 2.4-litre inline

four cylinder engine with 185 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque’ mated to Honda’s fashionable fivespeed transmission, just as all models comes in the traditional front wheel drive safe for the all-wheel drive that is optional.

Other technical features on the new CR-V focuses on the next generation mini-utilities, which come as standard, e.g. two info screens, a rear view camera, Bluetooth, and a function that reads incoming text

messages from paired phones – provided the phone is a BlackBerry.

Sharma said the main goal of the new Honda CR-V is to be an excellent family vehicle as affirmed by test drivers.

Safety, however, remains a strong selling point for the CRV. With top five-star government safety ratings, the CR-V ranks best amongst safety conscious cars in its class.

Other standard safety features include stability control, braking assist, and front-side and headprotecting side curtain air bags.

Honda has undoubtedly traversed several hurdles in its sixand-half year decade in automobile engineering, becoming an icon with a lineup that runs the gamut.

Some of Honda’s inspiring models are fuel-sipping hybrids, spacious minivan, reliable family sedans, practical SUVs and a pickup.

FRSC urges commuters on safety

T

•Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation Comrade Kayode Opeifa; Chairman, Coker-Aguda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Hon Omobolanle Akinyemi-Obe; her Ojokoro counterpart Hon Benjamin Olabinjo and Chairman of Conference of Local Governments/LCDAs Hon Akeem Sulaiman during a stakeholders’ meeting with senior officials in the LGAs/LCDAs at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja.

PHOTO: TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

HE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has urged market women to be vanguard of accidents on the road.

FRSC 2.19 Oshodi Unit Commander Samuel Aderemi Ogundayo said this during its week-long- nationwide Public Enlightenment All through and Free Safety Checks exercise (PEAFSC) ushering in its annual “ember months” campaign.

Ogundayo said commuters might not be able to enforce safety rules and regulations, but they could, however, check for some safety accessories like tyre, windscreen wipers, lighting system before boarding or before the start of the journey.

According to him, they had the choice of avoiding such vehicles and reporting such with the vehicle details at the nearest FRSC unit.

He urged commuters to “be conscious at all time while on the road and change their orientation for better”.

The event featured a road show and free safety checks from Ile Zik bus stop to Oshodi Park.

By Biodun-Thomas Davids

According to RS2.19 road safety checklist analysis as made available

by Ogundayo, “total number of free checks carried out in the unit was 248, while 234 offences were recorded. The sum that would have accrued to FRSC through the unit within that one week is N521,000”.

Meanwhile, FRSC Bayelsa command said motorists who flout road traffic regulations in the state would pay a fine of N10,000 or serve six month jail term.

The sector commander of the commission in the state, Mr Jack Vincent said the decision followed the increasing rate of motorists’ recklessness recorded daily on roads in the state.

Vincent said the order would be strictly enforced, especially as the year was coming to an end, adding that the issue would be part of the one-week “Ember Months” road traffic sensitisation campaign.

“We have discovered that the major problem with our people is attitude and we have decided to make ‘change of attitude’ the focus of our campaign this period.

SAFE DRIVING

W

ITHOUT doubt, driving, out of all professions, involves the use of the brain, hands, legs, eyes, ears and nose simultaneously for the gathering, interpretation and application of information from multiple sources to ensure effective vehicle control.

Apart from the Almighty God, drivers are another set of people that have control over the lives of people, to kill or to keep alive irrespective of status, colour or age. For example, no matter how tight the security of the President of a nation is (military or civilian), his driver can terminate his life without carrying a gun.

Driving is a noble profession like any other profession. Driving is, however, of greater relevance above all other professions. A mistake made by other professionals can be corrected but an error on the part of a driver may be incorruptible (loss

Rating drivers high of lives and valuable properties).

It is, however, disheartening that those drivers are among the most relegated and abused set of workers in organisations particularly in Nigeria.

For example: •In terms of salaries, most drivers are rated very low.

•The conditions of service of most drivers are near inhuman. Several drivers are given the work of house helps in addition to their official jobs.

•Most drivers are compelled to sleep in the vehicles while their principals comfortably sleep in hotel rooms. This puts their body system in a bad form for next day’s driving.

It also makes them susceptible to sicknesses such as malaria fever.

Some drivers, however, prefer to sleep in the car at the risk of their

principals.

•Most drivers are hardly allowed time to rest thus exposing them to stress and fatigue which can result to a drain on their energy level and also cause microsleep which can lead to crashes.

An average driver needs at least six hours of uninterrupted sleep every day. Anything short of this will result to sleep debt which they must pay to avoid the consequences which can result to the loss of lives and valuable properties.

•Some drivers are deliberately starved because their principals or employers don’t believe they also deserve good and regular food like other human beings.

•Drivers are not usually treated with courtesy by their principals. They are usually called “Common Drivers” good for nothing set of people. This is a very graveous mistake on the part of

the employers of drivers and their principals. This can lead to depressive disorders on the part of drivers and impair their driving.

•Most drivers are not usually considered for training and development programmes because they are not seen as workers that need capacity building. In terms of the assets in organisations, drivers are in charge of high – value properties. The prices of cars that some drivers are controlling in the range of N10 million and above, not to talk of the invaluable lives of the human beings they drive to short and long distances.

Employers and principals of drivers should endeavour to treat them well, honour them, cherish them, give them fair remunerations and other conditions of service. Stop the mal-

Jide Owatunmise •Registrar / Chief Executive , Professional Driving and Safety Academy

treatment of drivers to prevent them from becoming victims of depressive disorder and road crashes.

Drivers must be regularly re-trained to catch up with the changing driving environment and vehicle technology as well as enhance their efficiency and effectiveness.

46

DISCOURSE

The Yoruba in history Text of the Keynote Address delivered by Ekiti State Governor Dr Kayode Fayemi, at the National Convention of Egbe Omo Yoruba (National Association of Yoruba Descendants in North America (US and Canada) at Hilton BWI Airport Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland, US. Mo ki gbogbo omo Yoruba n’ile l’oko, ni ona odo. Mo ki yin wi pe, eku ise: ODUDUWA A GBE GBOGBO WA O. Amin.

FEEL extremely delighted standing before you this great day. I feel even more honoured that I am standing before some of the world’s most sophisticated, educated and cultured people who, occasioned by different circumstances, have found themselves living and working in the United States and Canada.

I stand before you as a servant, a messenger and also as an elected leader of our people, my people, at home. I must confess that I cherish the invitation extended to me and my colleagues in the South West and I relish the request from you to give an insight into our dream for the people of the South West, about the form and character of governance, which we hold in trust for you, the people. Despite all the tribulations of the past, it is a great thing that today Nigeria has a constitution and that the country has adopted democracy as the form of government. We are marching forward, but we should not delude ourselves that we are already at the destination.

One thing is clear, this millennium has witnessed one of the most amazing events in world history. For instance, never before has democracy become so profound that it has assumed the status of one language that unites the world, one slogan spoken by everyone across the continents, from Europe to America, from the Pacific to the Atlantic, from Asia to Africa. Democracy and its soul mates, liberty, freedom and justice, has become a wind that requires no entry visa into any territory; it has been sweeping across the world like a cyclone. This offers a huge window of opportunity for Nigerian and the people of the Southwest to explore to the brim.

I

The Yoruba People in History Each time I look at the circumstances of my birth, I always have a million reasons to thank my creator. As Yoruba people, we have a rich history. We have every reason to be grateful to nature and creation. We have a wealthy homeland, located in the midst of a vast, beautiful tropical forest; varieties of rolling hills and dancing slopes – a fauna and flora that create a most astonishing picturesque mosaic; a retinue of gorgeous birds and reptiles, and even rare animal and plant species.

We are endowed with everything that a nation needs to survive. Our territory is graced by a vast ocean, with thousands of tributaries that snake through our villages, our hamlets and the backyards and hearts of our great cities. Our land is rich in inexhaustible natural resources including but not restricted to oil and gas, many of which are yet to be explored. In the realm of the art, in philosophy, epistemology and cosmogony, the Yoruba people have a remarkable past. Long before the coming of the Europeans, we had set up great Kingdoms and a system of government that cared for the people and that does not promote despotism.

In our age long system of government, the King had his limitations. There was separation of power, for instance between the King, in the Old Oyo Empire and the Oyo Mesi and then the Balogun or the Aare Ona Kakanfo, who was only fashioned to administer the theory and practice of war.

Our forebears built one of the most sophisticated armies ever known to history. At a time in the 18th century, the Oyo Empire was reputed to have had about 100,000 soldiers.

Of course, we also fought wars, even among the sub-Yoruba ethnic groups.

History says that the Yoruba military was so awesome that in mid-19th century, the King of England had to invite the then leader of the Ekiti Parapo War, Ogedengbe, who had established a flourishing defence trade with Hamburg in Germany. Ogedengbe was said to have been invited for a state visit to England which he declined, saying he was too busy with the affairs of the state. The fact is that wars were the past time of only great and powerful nations in the primordial era and even now; weak and impoverished nations do not fight and cannot sustain wars. This only demonstrated the prowess of Yoruba nation in the ancient times.

Our history is not restricted to wars. It is noteworthy that the Yoruba in the 11thcentury had a flourishing textile industry. The then authorities provided clothing for the old, the young, armed and defenceless people alike. We even had extraordinary steel and iron industry and a timehonoured economy and commerce. Our business men and women centuries ago were active in the trans-Atlantic trade.

However, like all nations that witnessed colonial invasion, due to the incursion into our homeland by foreign powers, there was a tremendous damage to our being and essence, a huge, inestimable loss in material, cultural and spiritual terms to our past and to our common future. One of the most outstanding developments in our history was the forceful amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914 when the British brought all the ancient, sometimes viciously antagonistic nations into one entity called Nigeria as announced by Lord Lugard. Of course there are great nations that emerged out of conquest or out of mutual aggregation of values and tra-

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

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‘Today, it is factual that those of us elected owe the Yoruba people a lot; we feel indebted to them. The only way we could pay back is through good governance, through fairness, transparency, the recognition of the people as the custodian of power and the unflinching belief in the indomitable prowess of the ordinary man and woman on the street, as the real owners of political power’ ditions from whence the lowest common factor of governance and development were woven.

In our own case, the reverse is the case. As a nation, we have not been able to transform our diversity into strength.

In 2014, It will be 100 years since Nigeria as we now know it came into existence, yet we are still confronted with various contentious issues on how to run the world’s most significant black country. There is yet no consensus on the constitution which is the grundnorm of any society, no harmony on even the system of government and the character of federalism that Nigeria should adopt. Nigeria since 1966 has moved from a federal state into an over-centralised entity that makes many of us to continue to express concern about the future of the country. You may wish to recollect that at independence in 1960, Nigeria had three different regions, East, West and North. It is noteworthy that some of the most outstanding legacies in each of the region were established during the era of regional autonomy.

In the South West for instance, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo established the first TV and Radio stations in subSaharan Africa, Cocoa House was built from revenues generated from cocoa and coffee, the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU) was built by the old Western region and today, even across the world, OAU is reputed to be one of the most outstanding real academic estates in the world. I am sure that many of my brothers sitting in this hall today are beneficiaries of the Free Education programme introduced by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo under the auspices of one of the best organized political parties in Africa, the Action Group, (AG). In the North and East, it was in the regional era that institutions like the Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU) and University of Nigeria, (UNN), were put in place, so also were economic conglomerates like the Oodua Group of Companies and the NNDC – the Arewa conglomerate.

At independence in 1960, there was regional autonomy and each region had its own constitution. There were only about 26 items in the exclusive list of the Federal Government, today there are 66 items on the exclusive legislative list of the Federal Government. Suddenly, this unity in diversity was trampled upon by the military, with far reaching consequences. During these terrifying years of military rule, the Yoruba people and Nigeria at large suffered startling damages. So many vast business estates like the then affluent auto and textile industries and our flourishing farm settlements disappeared. A once vast regional economic bloc became prostrate, leading to huge human migration. In the 80s and 90s, the Yoruba people and indeed Nigeria lost moral and economic values that we have kept for many generations.

We lost our dignity. We lost our egalitarian tradition and our survival as a people faced a peril. These agonizing years of military repression bruised our psyche, our sense of judgment, our ethics and our sub-consciousness as a people greatly diminished. The totalitarian imposition and horrendous decimation of the Yoruba educational system, our economy and commerce by the military hegemony forced many Yoruba people to relocate from a once cherished homeland into Europe and America. Today, these people have produced children, forming a generational chain that might be lost forever. Many of these children may never dream of returning home, they may never speak their mother tongue,

and may never be taught their own history and values and may even view any rendition of their culture and heritage with dreadful resentment. We suffered. A once boisterous Yoruba economy was sacrificed on the altar of parochial political interests by the military. The military ruined the people and its wealth, turning a rich and prosperous people into scavengers and destitute.

However, good enough, in 1999, a new civilian dispensation came into place due to our campaigns and sacrifices.

While in exile, we lost our freedom. We had hope of a greater Nigeria, but we knew that he who lives on hope alone feeds but on a lean diet. We took practical steps to remove the usurpers from the positions they stole from the people. Our success was partly fueled by the tidal waves of freedom that continues to hit the world till date. At this point, I wish to pay tribute to the heroic role played by the Egbe OmoYoruba in that struggle. Throughout the difficult era, your organisation was marvellous. You did not betray the Yoruba people. You stood by justice and truth. This explains the respect and reputation the Egbe continues to enjoy today.

The state of the region: Challenges and prospects What have we gained these past years since the military left the political stage? One great thing is that we shall never return into the ignominious days of military rule. Today, the reality is that there is no alternative to democracy. The world has no alternative. Africa has no choice. Nigeria has no option. The Yoruba people have no preference except democracy which gives us the most enduring foundation to build the treasures that ensure the greatest good for the greatest number of our people. However, democracy, which is the right of the people to freely elect their leaders, while offering the best opportunities to transform the society, only automatically transforms into good governance when it is operated by honest, dedicated and visionary leadership. In 1999, we had a muddled constitution that was imposed by the military, yet in its state of imperfection, it was by far better than the retention of continuous military rule.

However, for the people of the South West, we have had our own dose in the struggle to ensure that democracy equates justice and liberty and that the right people are elected to steer the affairs of the states. Before the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) came into power, it was a terrifying, dreary epoch. This was partly due to the hangover of military rule. For instance, in 1999, we had a generation of people that have neither seen nor witnessed democracy and have been used to a martial culture, where truth was defined by might, yet this generation was old enough to cast their votes. They have never heard of Awoism, they have never heard of free and compulsory education, or the four cardinal principles of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria, (UPN). The talk of the glorious days of the Yoruba, was, to them, like the mewing of a lost cat in the wilderness.

This was compounded by the fact that the military that handed over power to civilians was also interested in continuing the rot through their protégés. This was largely responsible for the brutal repression of our people, through massive rigging of the elections and outright stealing of ballot papers by the enemies of the people. However, majority of Yoruba people still ensured they fought hard to retain a fast slipping tradition of politics characterized by the desire to serve the people. The emergence of the Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN) was informed by the fact that we know that the historic responsibility of those manning the affairs of the South West is to lift a drained people to their feet. But we also realise that the oak tree is not felled in one stroke. Our political tendency has one huge advantage.

We understand the past, we appreciate the present and we can predict the future. We were part of the real struggle against military rule, we were involved, hand-in-hand, in the open, in the trenches, on the streets and in the dark alleys, in the great effort to save Nigeria and Yorubaland from extinction.

Unfortunately, for sometime, those who saw the campaigns of the people against military rule as anathema suddenly shot themselves into power using the same military tactics that they had used to oppress our people for decades.

During this reign of pseudo-democracy in the South West, many people lost their lives for instance in Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Edo and Ondo states in the historic struggle of the people to reclaim their mandate.

We appreciate these struggles, this iron-cast determination of our people. We feel honoured that the entire Yoruba territories rose up against unelected leaders who emerged by sheer wielding of guns and bayonets and this has earned us immense respect as a determined people who will resist oppression and cheating at all times.

Today, it is factual that those of us elected owe the Yoruba people a lot; we feel indebted to them. The only way we could pay back is through good governance, through fairness, transparency, the recognition of the people as the custodian of power and the unflinching belief in the indomitable prowess of the ordinary man and woman on the street, as the real owners of political power.

Regional Integration: The Journey so far Since the ACN took full control of most parts of the South West, we have been faced with the challenge of building individual states in the South West and at the same time seeing ourselves beyond the artificial territorial constructs called states, recognizing the sanctity of the Yoruba nation as one indivisible entity, with common history, shared dreams, aspirations and common destiny. Each state in the South West has its own peculiar strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. We are convinced that the best way to ensure development in the South West is not to allow ourselves to be enslaved by artificial boundaries but rather to build a future founded on our history and our shared values and aspirations as one people. One practical step we took was to adopt the philosophy of Regional Integration.

• Continued on 47

, 2012

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

47

DISCOURSE

The Yoruba in history

Conclusion of text of the Keynote Address delivered by Dr Kayode Fayemi, Governor of Ekiti State, at the National Convention of Egbe Omo Yoruba (National Association of Yoruba Descendants in North America (US and Canada) at Hilton BWI Airport Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland, US. • Continued from 46

I wish to take snippets from the framework of this noble idea as conceived. The ‘main objective of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria is to accelerate the growth of the Western Region in a viable, equitable and sustainable manner. The Master Plan will complement existing development plans already prepared by the component states within the region.” I read the following from the document “there are Yoruba states endowed with sea ports, others are not, some are sanctified with evergreen, tropical and lush green vast land, others are not, some are blessed with hills and mountains, giving credence to the immense traditional tourism corridors, while others are not. For some of the Yoruba states, the influence derives from skilled manpower, for others it is industry. We can become a strong and virile people, if we harness these potentials, if we think together and act together for the common good of our people.”

So, the idea of regional integration was fashioned to strengthen the unbreakable umbilical cord that binds the Yoruba together in matter and in form. The inaugural meeting of the Southwest governors took place in Ado-Ekiti and was attended by the authorities in the Southwest states. Five of the Governors came personally to that inaugural meeting – Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Ogun, and of course the host Governor while Lagos and Edo sent representatives. At that meeting, far reaching decisions were taken and without any reservation, we agreed to work together as one people. There have been issues raised on the fact that the political parties in the South West are not one, and that this might be a stumbling block. We recognize the fact that there are political tendencies in Yorubaland and as a people innately and viscerally committed to democracy – our culture allows the blossoming of a thousand flowers, however, this should not be antithetical to regional integration just as the various political tendencies in Western Europe do not impede the idea behind the formation of the European Union, (EU).

I hereby quote from the working document of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, (DAWN). ‘Irrespective of the different party ideology exhibited by Ondo State, the development opens a new opportunity for deriving the benefits of economies of scale in the development process of this region. What are we going to make of this new opportunity? The answer is to go back to what worked in the past... in the present context.”

The document added “the purpose of the new initiative is to foster regional integration as a catalyst for decentralisation. There are several dimensions where one can identify the influence of the integration process in the evolution of the decentralisation model. The European regional development policy for example makes provision for financing for the poorest regions in the EU. These also provides incentives to become a more competitive and efficient economy and to require more policy and budgetary discipline.”

Below are some of the areas of proposed integration of the Southwest states: Common resources and possibilities for joint ownership Transport • Fast Rail • Water • Highways Education • University of Technology • University of Education • University of Agriculture Energy Research Projects • Small Hydro • Solar • Wind • Transmission Stations Tourism • Security(eSurveillance) • Emergency Management (Contact Centre) Information & Communication Technology (ICT)/eGovernment • Interoperability Framework • eGovernment • eGovernance •GIS– (a) Tourism Development Deci-

sion Support, (b) Water System, (c) Transport, (d) Emergency Management, (e) Land & Urban Development, (f) Agriculture & Forestry (g) Mineral Resources, (h) Power Systems, (i) Education& Health, (j) Demographics and (k) Environment We have been moving forward in this direction. It is noteworthy that after the historic meeting at Ado-Ekiti which I hosted, there have been various practical steps taken by the state governments to promote regional integration. In reality, we are working towards ensuring that the regional integration agenda is people-driven. Some of the steps taken include the setting up of the Technical Committee (TC) for the implementation of the roadmap to economic recovery of the South West states. The Technical Committee has on its team three representatives from each of the South West state and they are complemented by representatives from the Yoruba Academy. An interim secretariat has also been established.

The TC has now been expanded to include experts drawn from various fields without consideration for the political affiliation of members.

The team has been having series of sleepless nights debating and pro-

‘So, the idea of regional integration was fashioned to strengthen the unbreakable umbilical cord that binds the Yoruba together in matter and in form. The inaugural meeting of the Southwest governors took place in Ado-Ekiti and was attended by the authorities in the Southwest states’

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•Fayemi

viding solutions in the areas of agriculture, industrialisation, economics, art, philosophy, security, infrastructure, housing and every other area crucial to the overall development of the people of the South West. The technical committee has also met with each of the Governors and the legislatures in the last six months and a draft Implementation Plan has just been submitted for the consideration and eventual approval of the Western governors. That Plan takes adequate notice of the place of the Yoruba Diaspora in recognition of the crucial role men and women sitting in this hall will play in the transformation of our motherland.

We are making efforts to ensure the integration agenda becomes the document of the people, the people must own the processes and its practical implementation which informs the various meetings currently on-going with strategic social and political forces in Yorubaland on the Regional Integration theme. We are equally not unmindful of the need to enter into collaborative partnerships with other regional compacts like BRACED in the South South, the Northern Governors Forum and the South East Governors’ Compact. We are also not unmindful of the importance of carrying our representatives both at the state and national assemblies along in the formulation and implementation of the regional integration plan.

Indeed, the Yoruba Assembly that just met in Ibadan on August 30 is a non-partisan move that has enjoyed the support of the Governors in its efforts to have a common position in the on-going constitutional reform process. I believe

many in this Hall have already seen the outcome of that Assembly and its recommendations.

We recognise the fact that the South West people have passed through various difficulties and this in itself has brought a feeling of inertia since a blithe heart is likely to think more of gloom. For regional integration as a development strategy to be effective and actionable, there is the necessity of an essential reform of governance in the Southwest towards a more performance-based model that locates people at the centre of the programmes and agenda of the government. As such, governance not only has to be inclusive and accountable, but its impacts and achievements have to be measurable in order for its legitimacy to be guaranteed. Equally, the civil service as the engine room of governments in the region has to be re-professionalized and returned to its merit-based and glorious past that obtained in the old Western Region. Therefore, for the regional agenda to thrive, there must be a credible, performance-based coordination between States and their local governments that is governed by cooperation and commitment to the public good, and joint actions by State governments in the Southwest in the areas of capacitybuilding, service delivery, and performance management.

It is this performance based governance that is gradually returning to our region and it is restoring the people’s hope in democratic institutions as we have seen from their endorsements of our tested and trusted governments in Lagos and Edo States. It has also enabled the building of a fresh partnership with the people and bringing a new reality where myths and fiction once lay siege. We are convinced that the people of the South West have confidence in us having elected us as their leaders. But even as they trust us, we also know that eternal vigilance is the price to pay for our freedom and we expect our people to continue to hold our feet to fire. We are also committed to sustaining this trust through the overall transformation of the entire South West by making the territory a place for everyone to live a decent and prosperous life.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the state of play on regional integration. I thank you all for your time and once again, I deeply appreciated the opportunity given to me to speak to a great and inspiring audience of this nature. Thank you. Oodua A gbe wa o.

Ase

NEWS Babalola, Ali get KSU Award

500 pilgrims depart Lagos Airport

F

IVE hundred Muslim pilgrims left for Mecca, Saudi Arabia, through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, at the weekend on one of the designated carriers, MedView Air. The pilgrims were from Oyo State.

Speaking to reporters at the Hajj Camp, the Managing Director, MedView, Alhaji Muneer Bankole said the airline, which is designated to carry 6, 500 pilgrims to Mecca, would keep to the schedule.

Bankole said Medview would carry pilgrims from 16 states, including Ogun 1,573; Oyo 1565; Edo 350; Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Southsouth, and the Armed Forces 505.

Bankole said the airline carrier would not

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

fail in its obligations, adding that there are about 18 flights from Lagos Zone alone.

According to him, the pilgrims would depart from Lagos, Ilorin, Maiduguri and Port Harcourt on B747 and B767 aircraft.

He said: “The stage has been set and we are ready for the exercise and we pray to Allah to grant us a safe journey to and from Saudi Arabia. We are using B747 with the configuration for 517 people and in all the zones that we are operating; we will be using two aircraft, which have been on ground for sometime now.

“We have about 18 flights out of Lagos zone alone and we hope to finish as scheduled.

Talking on the hitch-free

exercise, the 2010 and 2011 exercises we partook in is still very fresh in the memories of our passengers and the officials. Last year, the baggage came ahead the pilgrims, which shows our efficiency. So, we have put in a lot of measures and that is why we have taken a bigger aircraft this time around to carry the pilgrims on time.”

Some of the pilgrims expressed delight at their participation in this year’s Hajj.

Alhaji Idayatu Salami said she would seize the opportunity offered to move closer to God and pray for peace and adequate security for the country.

She enjoined other participants to be focused and seek the face of God in the holy land.

From Muhammad Bashir Lokoja

•Chief Babalola

T

HE Kogi State University, Ayingba, at the weekend honoured renowned legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola and former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Ahmadu Ali with honorary doctorate degrees.

Babalola and Ali were honored on Satuday during the university’s fourth convocation ceremony.

Eminent lawyer Babalola,

the proprietor of the Afe Babalola University, AdoEkiti, was honored with the honorary Doctorate Degree of Letters while Ali, former Minister of Education, received the honorary Doctorate Degree of Science (Honoris Causa).

Decorating the awardees, the Chancellor, Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onisha, described them as promoters of quality education in Nigeria.

The Obi, who congratulated the university management for its foresight in bestowing such honours to meaning Nigerians, particularly from Kogi State, to contribute towards uplifting the university.

According to him, qualitative education is the bedrock of development in any society, adding that he endorsed the nomination of

the recipients based on their sterling quality in the promotion of education.

Speaking on behalf of the award recipients, Aare Babalola (SAN), thanked the management for finding them worthy of the award.

He called for the collaboration of his university and the Kogi State University in making the students future leaders.

While describing the state Governor, Captain Idris Wada, as a believer and promoter of quality education, Babalola urged the graduates to always contribute to the development of the university wherever positions they found themselves.

Earlier, Governor Wada congratulated the recipients for their well-deserved award, saying his administration would continue to encourage excellence.

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THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

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THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

50

NEWS Kwara ACN accuses govt of mismanagement •Seeks probe over CBN’s loan ban on state

T

HE Kwara State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has accused the Peoples Democratic Partyled government of wrecking the state with its “financial recklessness and corruption”, days after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) barred banks from granting loans to the state.

The Chairman, Kayode Olawepo, said in a statement issued in Ilorin that the CBN hammer was inevitable in view of what the ACN called “the financial recklessness and corruption of the immediate past and present PDP governments in the state.”

He added: “It is interesting that this blacklisting comes amid empty boasts by the Kwara State Government officials that the state is viable and is in no financial mess. It is an embarrassing situation, though it is a case of a chicken coming home to roost. We saw it coming and warned against it.”

Olawepo said ACN’s findings showed that the state was owed N6.8 billion and was short-listed for the penalty following its failure to repay its backlog of loans, which led to the purchase of the debts at an agreed price by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

The party called on the anti-graft agencies to probe the alleged mismanagement that led to the state

‘

The fact that the CBN doubts the state’s ability to repay the loan confirms our position that much of the socalled projects embarked upon are unviable and are mere conduit pipes with no benefit for the people

’

being declared unviable by the CBN, and bring to prosecuted anybody found wanting.

The statement added: “The CBN circular said the state and others in the same condition have no viable means of paying their loans and so cannot be allowed to borrow again. In other words, the 45-year-old Kwara State is not a viable entity! This revelation confirms our repeated alarm that the state is being wrecked under the PDP government. No thanks to financial recklessness, misplaced priorities and corruption.

“The fact that the CBN doubts the state’s ability to repay the loan confirms our position that much of the socalled projects embarked upon are unviable and are mere conduit pipes with no benefit for the people.

“To underscore the recklessness of the PDP admin-

istration in Kwara, while the state fails to pay salaries and cannot pay pensions, it recently set up a committee to celebrate Nigeria’s 52nd independence anniversary in a grand style. Also, while the majority of the people live in poverty, this same PDP-led government is building a mansion for former Governor Bukola Saraki and using the state funds to bail out ‘thriving’ Shonga Farm, which it once declared as a private concern.

“On the contrary, other states that receive comparable federal allocations don’t have problems paying salaries and have not been declared unviable by the CBN simply because they have not mismanaged their funds in the way the PDPled government has mismanaged the funds of the Kwara people.

“We urge the PDP government to stop living on a begging bowl - which is responsible for this mess. It should instead show genuine leadership to bring out the best in the people who remain the most potent source of success.

“We also enjoin the law enforcement agencies to investigate this allegation of financial mismanagement and bring to book whoever is responsible for bringing the state to its knees in this manner. Transparency and good governance demand this and Kwara people have a right to know what has happened to their funds.”

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

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THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

With ekpoita :funtreatsvilla@yahoo.com / 08077706130

Behind The Phrase Cool As Cucumba Meaning: Calm and unruffled.

Origin Cool here means imperturbable rather than having a low temperature. Cucumbers are cool to the touch.

First recorded in John Gay’s Poems, New Song on New Similies, 1732: “I ... cool as a cucumber could see The rest of womankind.”

BUSINESSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

1. Price (4) 3. Financial Instrument (6) 7. Money, in relation to wants (6) 8. Single Item (4) 9. Merchandise (4) 11. Wagers (4) 13. Trade (4) 14. An Eastern Currency(3) 16. Buoyant (5) 18. Sell (4) 20. Amass, as in profit (4) 21. Book of Records (6) 22. Financial Institution (4)

DOWN Teller (7) Divides (6) 4.Comany’s Shares (6) 5. Item entered in book (5) 6. Card with highest value (3) 10. Measuring Device (5) 11. Unwritten Cheque (5) 12. Number (5) 15. Sum up (3) 17. Relax (4) 19. Cash Box (3)

PHOTO PUZZLE

RICHSINGLES Mabruka Mai Deribe

SIMPLY WEIRD PEOPLE & PLACES

Find alternative words for the words in the clue below. The numbers beside the words indicate the spaces in the grid where the letters that make up the alternative words should be placed. when done, the name of a forerunner of the seat occupied by the person whose photograph appears inset the grid would be spelt. The first one has been solved to spur you on.

The Black Blondes of Melanasia

A B CLUE Arunma Oteh, DG. SEC

Mabruka Mai Deribe is the daughter of late super rich Mai Deribe. A fashion designer of repute and held in high esteem in the fashion circle, Mabruka Mai Deribe is the designer behind Mabs couture. Her line of fashion include hand- made fashion accessories- earrings, bracelets and rings , crystallized ankara print fabric and dressy kaftan dresses.

What’s more? She is blessed with a beautiful body which keeps men gaping and gazing in awe and admiration.

Fortunately she is still single but for those who would dare to get fresh with her, they must according to her, be imbued with the qualities of her late billionaire father.

Hmm, a seemingly tall order!

Pep Talk

1. Bleat of sheep (7, 8) 2. Noise (9, 6, 1) 3. Freedom (10, 3, 2, 5, 4)

They are noteworthy because they manifest the conventional Melanesian physical type, but their hair has a blonde cast to it. When you ask the people why there are so many blonde people on the islands, they answer 3 things: they have white ancestors, they receive too much sun, or they do not eat enough vitamins! – Langania village, New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.

sudoku Simply fill in the missing spaces in the grid to ensure that every row, column and 3 by 3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9

They are the Melanasians, a native group of people living on the Soloman islands of northeast Australia famous for their beautiful black skin and naturally blonde hair.

The odd combination has got scientists wondering about how such a color combo develops over time.

What’s truly beautiful in this fascinating discovery is that it’s a great example of convergent evolution, where the same outcome is brought about by entirely different means. The variant is completely separate from what causes blond hair in Europeans, and doesn’t even exist in the European genetic set.

The diamond may adorn royalty, regardless of personal worth; but jewels of thought render even poverty illustrious and sublime - Gems for the Fireside

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

53

NEWS ‘Peace has returned to Kano’

Kogi flood: Wada hails Fed Govt’s aid

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

From Muhammad Bashir Lokoja

G

OVERNOR Idris Wada of Kogi State has lauded the Federal Government for alleviating the plight of the flood victims.

Wada, who spoke through his deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, said this when he received a 21- member Presidential Committee on Flooding.

Members of the committee were in the state to assess the level of damage done to lives and property.

He said government has taken the effect of the flood personal, adding that it is on top of the situation and is planning to give relief materials to the victims.

Governor Wada said much is being done to relocate and rehabilitate the victims, while government will give relief materials as palliatives.

According to him, Kogi is the worst affected by the flood. He described the development as worrisome and impacting negatively on the socio- economic activities of the people.

He appealed to the Federal Government for special intervention, adding that the state, since the release of water from the dams in Nigeria and Cameroun, has been hit by floods.

Wada urged the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to assist in controlling traffic on the Lokoja-Abuja Highway, as the flood is restricting motorists’ movements.

Earlier, the Presidential Committee, led by the Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), but represented by Mr. Charles Agbo, said the flood is the worst in the last 29 years, adding that it was caused by torrential rains in Niger and Cameroun, which have led to the release of 30 per cent of water from the Kainji and Shiroro dams.

He sympathised with the people and government of Kogi State and assured the Federal Government of support.

The director-general lauded the state for its sense of organisation and arrangement and enjoined the government to seek ways of improving its urban renewal scheme, which he said would discourage people from building on water channels.

•The protesters...yesterday

Thousands protest anti-Islam M film in Katsina

EN, women and children in their thousands yesterday defied the sun to protest what they called the antagonistic policies of the United States of America and Israel to Islam and Prophet Mohammed (SAW).

The crowd, led by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), with Ustaz Sayyeed Ibraheem Yaqoub ElZakzaky as the National President, staged peaceful protests round Katsina, the state capital. They were led by the IMN Katsina chapter leader, Ustaz Ya’qub Yahya Katsina.

During the protests, which took off at the Katsina Central Mosque, near the Emir’s palace, protesters chanted

T

From Isah Idris, Katsina.

anti-America and western slogans. They marched through the old market, Rafindadi, Mobil, Massalachi Modibo, Ladan Wapa and General Hospital areas.

They were monitored by the police.

The protesters carried a caricature of the American President Barak Obama, which they burnt.

A protester, who identified himself as Yusuf, said: “Death to America, death to Israel and their evil collaborators. Let them perish because of their hatred for Islam and its holly prophet,

Mohammad (SAW).”

Two protesters, Mariam and Bilqis, shouted: “Let the agents of evil machination, the so-called America and Israel, perish in their hatred for Islam.

They are failures, they will always fail.”

Others chanted popular slogans: “Labaika Yarasululah, Labaika Yarasululah, Allah ya sine America, Allah ya sine Israeli (meaning, God punish America, God punish Israeli people).”

The Katsina chapter leader of IMN, Ustaz Katsina, while addressing the press during the rally

said they have no grudge against their Christian brothers, but against the American and Israeli people that are hiding under Christianity to ridicule Prophet Mohammad and Islam.

He said: “True Christians have respect for Islam, and Muslims also respect Christianity.

“Those that mock and ridicule Islam and the prophet of Islam, I believe, are infidels.

The likes of America and Israel who sponsor blasphemy against Islam.”

He said the movement would not stop the protests until the perpetrators (film makers) were brought to book, circulation of the movie halted and an apology tendered to the Muslim world.

SSS arrests Niger group’s leader

HE State Security Service (SSS) at the weekend in Minna, arrested the Vice-Chairman of the Concerned Citizens of Niger State (a pressure Group), Alhaji Awaisu Wana, for calling for the impeachment of Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu over alleged financial recklessness and non- compliance with the appropriation act.

Wana was arrested by the SSS about 4pm on Saturday in his Maitunmbi home for allegedly being in possession of video compact discs (VCDs) and documents capable of causing disaffection between the people and the government, thereby heating up the polity and destabilising

•For being in possession of inciting materials From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

the state.

Findings showed that Wana was accused of translating the petition his group sent to the House of Assembly, calling for the impeachment of the governor, into Hausa and Gwari languages and dubbing the VCDs with the intent to distribute them in the 25 local governments.

Confirming the arrest of his deputy, the Chairman of the group, Alhaji Mohammed Moude, said Wana was arrested by the SSS for possessing the VCDs containing the allegations of his group in local languages.

He said the move was to keep the people of the state,

especially the rural dwellers, abreast of the mismanagement of the state resources.

According to Maude, a senior special assistant to the governor took the VCDs to the government and SSS. It was learnt that when government presented the VCDs and documents to the SSS, it alleged that Wana’s intention was aimed at discrediting the Governor Aliyu administration.

The State Director of the SSS, Dr. Larry Obiagwu, confirmed on the phone, the arrest of Wana. He said he was invited over the documents and VCDs considered inimical to security.

According to him, “we are

trying to sieve the information and statement made by him to know which are meant to subvert the government. The documents and VCDs are capable of having effects on the people’s attitude against the government.”

Admitting that people have legitimate windows to ventilate their grievances until 2015, the security boss warned that people should not subvert the government of the day to the detriment of peace, adding that by 2015 people would have the choice to elect new leaders.

A source in the SSS said Wana may be taken to court today.

Mark seeks intervention fund for states ravaged by floods

S

ENATE President David Mark at the weekend urged the Federal Government to provide intervention fund for states affected by floods.

He said the fund would enable flood-ravaged states to meet the challenges of relocating the victims.

A statement by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Senate President, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Senator Mark spoke when he visited Kabawa and Ganaja areas of

•Donates N.5m to victims in Kogi From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, ravaged by floods.

He was quoted as describing the effect of the flood as devastating. He said he thanked God that the number of casualty is minimal.

The Senate President was quoted to have said: “The victims are entitled to decent

living.

Kogi State Government will collaborate with the Federal Government to ensure that you return to your homes as soon as the flood recedes and the rain subsides.

“But I urge you not to be in a hurry to return home so that you do not contract water-borne illnesses.

“What I have witnessed in

the state as a result of the flood is sad. I never thought the situation was this unimaginable.

“I had earlier visited Benue State. I can say that nobody has seen anything near this in the last 30 years.

“I have seen the effect of the flood and I will contact the agencies responsible for a situation like this so that they can come up with what

can be done to salvage the situation.”

Mark was said to have donated N500,000 to the flood victims who are seeking refuge in a primary school.

Kogi State Governor Idris Wada described Mark’s visit as a morale booster.

He urged the Senate President to use his position and relationship with President Goodluck Jonathan to assist the state.

GOVERNOR Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State has said peace has returned to Kano and Nigerians are not fleeing the state as being insinuated.

He also said his administration has canceled security votes for himself and local government chairmen.

Kwankwaso, who spoke with reporters in Abuja, said there is no exodus from Kano as being insinuated.

He said: “What we have today is our own version of the security challenge. This is why we are all up and doing. We are working round the clock to ensure that our states, especially Kano, are safe so that Nigeria can be peaceful and so that people can go about their normal businesses.

“Kano is peaceful. There is no city of Kano’s size that does not experience criminal activities. If you go to any state, if you go to any country, if you go to the US, UK, France or Germany, we have people taking guns to schools or public places like cinemas and shooting.

FCTA threatens to revoke land ownership From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

THE Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) may revoke ownership of plots in areas or districts provided with the basic infrastructure and re-allocate same to genuine and serious people interested in developing them.

The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, said in Abuja at the weekend that the government has met its own part of the obligation by proving the required basic infrastructure, adding that allottees in such areas must rise to the occasion by taking possession of their property by developing them, or they risk revocation.

Senator Mohammed said he wondered why any serious allottee would not take advantage of the world class infrastructure provided by the government unless he or she is a prospective land speculator.

He warned that refusing to develop such plots signified that the affected allottees were not interested in the property.

The minister said the provision of infrastructure in the Karmo District is funded by the FCT Administration through its Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR), which is the FCT Statutory Budget.

According to him, though the project was initiated by a previous FCT Administration, the transformational government of President Goodluck Jonathan believed in continuity and was committed to complete the project in a short period.

The Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, praised the FCT Administration for not waiting for the Federal Government to undertake such a gigantic project that has a direct benefit to the Nigerian people.

One hundred and seventyeight million naira (N178 million) has been approved by the FCT Administration as compensation for the residents of villages along the Abuja Light Rail right of way or corridors.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

54

NEWS LP chief seeks law to punish erring public officers •‘PDP sponsors 30 parties’

N

O fewer than 30 of the 62 political parties belong to the the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Chairman of Labour Party, Chief Dan Nwanyawu, has alleged.

He said the 30 parties are either owned or sponsored by the PDP. Only nine political parties, he said, have functional offices in Abuja as stipulated by the electoral laws.

Nwanyawu also said that Nigerians should salute the courage of President Goodluck Jonathan for upturning the plan by the Governor of Central Bank Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to introduce N5000 banknote against the wishes of Nigerians.

Delivering a lecture entitled: “Transformation of Nigeria Politics: The Labour Party Perspective” at the Institute of Security Studies in Abuja at the weekend, Nwanyawu called on the National Assembly to make a law that will punish public officers who deliberately misadvise the government as well as laws that will make electoral fraud impracticable..

He said: “Out of the existing 62 political parties in Nigeria, 30 of them are owned by the PDP out of which just nine have functional offices in Abuja while the rest have their offices in their briefcases.

“The best political system

From: Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

for Nigeria is a two party system. Such arrangement will make it difficult for rigging because it is just two parties, there will be no need for anybody to carry ballot boxes because there won’t be such opportunity.

Touts will not have jobs and the electoral tribunal will be useless because a clear winner will emerge just as was the case in 1992 general election between the SDP and NRC. The issue of merger or alliance will not arise because it is just two of them and they have different ideologies.”

He also advocated for the removal of immunity clause on criminal matters and such crimes against the state in a way that even governors and all those in the position of authority will be made to face the law when found wanting.

He noted that the Nigerian judicial system is in deep rot, a reflection of the deep rot in the nation’s political system. “Understaffed, under-motivated and underpaid, Nigerian justices and the institutional structure they service are very open to political contamination; are morally and ethically compromised; and dispense justice in a manner that services the rich and harms the poor, the powerless and the voiceless”, he said.

•Pilgrims to Saudi Arabia about to board a Med-View flight at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja...yesterday.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

Presidency deplores impeachment threats against Jonathan T HE Presidency yesterday deplored what it called the threats of impeachment being dangled before President Goodluck Jonathan by members of the National Assembly at every given opportunity. It said the lawmakers should put the nation’s interest above any other consideration.

Addressing reporters in Abuja yesterday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, enjoined the legislators and other members of the public to give due respect to the office of the President, irrespective of their political affiliations.

Okupe described conflicts

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

between the legislative and the executive arms as normal in a democracy as, according to him, such conflicts tend to strengthen the principle of checks and balances.

According to him, members of the National Assembly remained the best the nation has produced since the return of democratic rule in 1999. The legislature has always demonstrated its readiness to work harmoniously with the executive for

the good of the people, Okupe said.

He went on: “There are bound to be conflicts and disagreements but moderation must be the order of the day.

Even in the face of conflicts and disagreements, the interest of the over 160 million Nigerians must be paramount.

“The legislative arm of government has the constitutional right to impeach the President.

But that impeachment should be the last option. It’s not that any time there is one form of disagreement or the other, the leg-

islature will be threatening the President with impeachment.

“There is always room for dialogue. Our democracy is new and we have to build it and allow it to grow. The legislature will be passing good laws while the executive will be executing the good laws for the development of the country”, Okupe added.

The President’s aide said his boss decided to stop action on the proposed N5000 banknote by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) based on protests by the public.

Okupe explained that the President’s intervention was to allow the CBN enough time to educate the public.

PDP praises Jonathan for stopping N5000 banknote

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for reversing the planned introduction of N5000 currency note by the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN).

It described the President’s action as an indication of his responsiveness to the wishes of the people.

A statement by the party’s national Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, yesterday said the President has a listening ear, adding that the government has demonstrated that power really belongs to the people.

Metuh maintained that the PDP will continue to anchor its policies and programmes on the needs of the people and will not relent in serving the interest of the nation at all times.

He said: “The primary concern of the PDP is to ensure the welfare of the generality of Nigerians. We know full well that the opinion of the people in every government policy and action matters a lot if we must achieve this cardinal premise of our manifesto. This is the essence of this decision by the President to reverse the introduction of the N5000 note” Praising the National Assembly for standing on the part of the people in kicking against the proposed N5000 note, Metuh said the synergy between the lawmakers and the executive will lead to the success of the administration’s transformation.

The statement added: “The

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

critical role of the National Assembly as the representatives of the people is tangentially commendable at this juncture. We pay a deserving tribute to the maturity of the leadership of the National Assembly, Senate President, David Mark and the House of Representatives, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal in meeting with the President and in working together with him to guarantee the best for the nation.

“We also commend Nigerians for their constructive criticisms of our programmes.

Our party appreciates this pivotal role of the public in the making of good governance and shall continue to promote it.

“It is for this reason that we established the Freedom of Information Act (FoIA), so that every Nigerian will have unrestricted access to information and be educated enough to make contribution on how the nation is governed.”

Vehicle owners warned THE Lagos State Police Command has warned owners of accident and abandoned vehicles parked at Onipanu Division to remove them or lose them to members of the public through auction.

The vehicles are Ford bus marked XY394APP, Mitsubishi Gallant DM942ABJ, and Nissan Blue Bird BH460Mus.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

55

NEWS

Be focused, ACN tells Orji •Govt: we’re working

From Ugochukwu UgojiEke, Umuahia

•Orji

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Abia State has advised the Governor Theodore Orji administration to focus on addressing the state’s challenges.

The party said the protest by lawyers in Aba against the deplorable situation of state and federal roads in Abia is on course.

Speaking through its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Offor

Okorie, ACN said the lawyers did well by telling the world that Orji and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have no plans for the masses.

Okorie said the achievements of the Orji administration were only on the pages of newspapers and radio announcements.

He said many roads in Abia were inaugurated on the pages of newspapers, radio announcement and billboards.

ACN said: “How can a governor allow his people to suffer the way Abians are suffering? The reaction of the lawyers in Aba has shown the falsehood of the PDP-led government.

“Very soon, the people at the grassroots, who have been deceived by the visionless PDP government at all levels of government, will revolt and the lies of the present administration would be exposed to the world.

“For five years, Orji has been sleeping, forgetting his responsibilities. We pray he wakes up from his slumber and becomes productive in the remaining three years.”

Offor said the people are tired of the “PDP’s deceit”, adding that only ACN can make a change.

The governor said the ACN is being economical with the truth on the true position of things.

He said his administration has built more roads than any other administration in the

‘For five years, Orji has been sleeping, forgetting his responsibilities.

We pray he wakes up from his slumber and becomes productive in the remaining three years’ state’s history.

Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ugochukwu Emezue, Orji

said: “When I came back from my working visit overseas, I told reporters that work would begin on Aba roads after the rains and same was repeated when Aba landlords visited me to support the planned demolition of illegal structures.

“I directed the State Road Maintenance Agency to do palliative work on Aba roads, pending when the rains will stop, and I am happy to tell you that they are doing that very well.

“The lawyers have not done anything new. They have exercised their rights in a democratic set up and are trying to distract me. I am aware of the neglect of Aba by past administrations and I am determined to change that by demolishing the already marked 1,800 houses that are obstructing the water ways.”

ANPP leader advises Ndigbo on state creation From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

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GITATORS for the creation of states in the Southeast have been urged to harmonise their demand before presenting it to the National Assembly.

The member representing Takai/Shanono Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Kawu Sumaila, told reporters in Kano yesterday that unless stakeholders in the Southeast speak with one voice, they may not achieve their aspiration for a new state.

Sumaila, who is the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Minority Leader, said: “In state creation, you will need 24 state assemblies and two third of the National Assembly to back your request. I urge our dear brothers from the Southeast to present one request as a zone, then, we can bargain.”

The legislator, who recently received the OFR National Merit Award, opposed the creation of state police.

He said it would be used by governors to silence the opposition.

Sumaila supported the creation of roles for traditional rulers in the ongoing constitutional amendment.

He said as custodians of our culture, they play a prominent role in stabilising the polity.

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From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

ANAMBRA State Governor Peter Obi yesterday inaugurated the Patrick Ifeanyi Agazie Memorial Foundation (PAMF) in Awka, the state capital.

PAMF aims to collaborate with the government and other selfless organisations to assist the less privileged in the society.

Obi, represented by the Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Social Development, Lady Henrietta Agbata, hailed the foundation for the initiative.

He said the government would partner the group on its programmes.

PAMF Founder Mrs. Chika Agazie said the foundation was named after her late husband, Mr. Patrick Agazie, who died in 2010.

She urged individuals and organisations to support the foundation.

Catholic bishop rededicates Obi, 5,000 others From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

•Abia State House of Assembly Speaker Ude Oko-Chukwu (left) handing over the key of an L300 bus to a beneficiary of the Empowerment Programme by the Ochendo Youth Foundation in Osisioma Local Government Area. With them is Deputy Speaker Asiforo Okere (second left) and the Foundation’s Co-ordinator, Mr. Chinedum Orji (middle)...at the weekend.

Anambra oil crisis: Ohanaeze Ndigbo cautions parties

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HE media body of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Ohanaeze Media Forum (OMF), has called for caution among parties claiming the oil fields discovered in Anambra State.

In a statement by its National President Peter Anosike and Secretary Ngozi Emedole after the group’s national exco

By Emmanuel Udodinma

meeting in Lagos, OMF said: “It is a sad development that the discovery of oil, which should be a source of joy to these communities that have co-existed peacefully for centuries, has deteriorated to this war of words being championed by some politicians with evil mo-

tives.

“Some evil-minded politicians have been lending their voices to unnecessarily heat up the polity in order to perpetrate violence. The people of Aguleri in Anambra State, Ibaji in Kogi State and Uzo Uwani in Enugu State have been relating well in the past and must not allow themselves to be used at this

point by evil elements that can go to any extent to achieve their evil purpose by fomenting trouble. Violence will only leave the society, especially the youths who are the most vulnerable, worse off.”

OMF advocated dialogue and appealed to the National Boundary Commission to resolve the dispute.

Onitsha monarch hails Adenuga as Ofala Festival kicks off HE Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe (CFR), has described the conferment of the National Award of the Grand Commander of the Niger (GCON) on the Chairman of Globacom Nig. Ltd., Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr., as an honour well deserved.

The Obi spoke in Onitsha, Anambra State, at the weekend, while receiving the cheque for the sponsorship of the 2012 Ofala Festival from Globacom’s representatives, led by the company’s Divisional Director, Southeast, Mr. Michael Ehumadu.

Anambra gets charity foundation

He said Adenuga has done a lot for the nation and deserved to be honoured.

The traditional ruler thanked Globacom for making last year’s Ofala Festival memorable.

Achebe said: “I congratulate Dr. Adenuga on the National Award of GCON conferred on him by the President. Dr. Adenuga has done quite a lot for this country and the honour is well deserved. It is good that the private sector is being recognised and honoured by the nation.”

The monarch said this year’s Ofala Festival would

mark his 10th coronation anniversary and thanked Globacom for being part of it.

He said: “We are happy that Globacom is partnering us. Our intention is to anchor Onitsha on the map of culture in Nigeria. Onitsha is changing and Globacom is part of that transformation.”

Ehumadu said: “Globacom will make this year’s edition of the festival more colourful to celebrate the Obi’s 10th coronation anniversary and appreciate the people of Onitsha for their support and faith in

Globacom.”

The festival began yesterday with the Iwaji (New Yam Festival) and will end on October 8 with the inauguration of the block of classrooms built by Globacom at the Metropolitan Secondary School, Onitsha, by Governor Peter Obi. Other activities lined up for the festival include a youth rally, seminars, health awareness campaigns, a novelty football match and a royal banquet in honour of the monarch.

In 2011, Globacom signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the tra-

•Dr. Adenuga

ditional ruler to sponsor the Ofala Festival for three years.

OVER five thousand members of the Catholic Men’s Organisation (CMO) in Anambra State, including Governor Peter Obi and the founder of the Las Vegas Pain Institute in the United States (US), Dr. Godwin Maduka, were yesterday rededicated by the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor.

Bishop Ezeokafor urged them to serve God with their wealth, avoid immoral acts and be accountable anywhere they find themselves.

He urged them to be good examples and to bring up their children in the fear of the lord.

Bishop Ezeokafor spoke at the St Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Awka, during the General Convention and the installation of the CMO’s Grand Mayor, mayors, grand patrons and patrons.

Maduka was installed as the organisation’s Grand Mayor.

Obi said he would never fail in his obligations as a member of the CMO and urged members to be active.

Maduka urged Catholic men to be their brother’s keeper at all times.

CMO President Sir Eugene Okeke and the Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Alfred Anazodo, advised members to be contented with whatever they have and shun covetousness.

They urged rich members to assist the poor ones, rather than subjecting them to mockery and servitude.

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THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

FOREIGN NEWS Nepal avalanche kills nine climbers AN avalanche has swept away climbers and their camps in northwestern Nepal, killing at least nine people and leaving another four missing.

Officials said the dead on Mount Manaslu included climbers from Germany and Spain.

Police inspector Basant Mishra said the bodies of a German climber and a Nepali guide were recovered from the 26,781ft mountain, located 60 miles northwest of the capital Kathmandu.

He said: “Rescue pilots have spotted seven other bodies on the mountain.”

Mr Mishra said at least five injured people had been rescued by helicopters and flown to Kathmandu.

French tourists sit inside ambulance after avalanche in Nepal French survivors inside an ambulance after the avalanche on Mount Manaslu.

Sources at the Spanish foreign ministry that one of the dead was Spanish.

The accident took place at 22,950ft, making it difficult for rescue teams to reach the scene.

Helicopters were dispatched to the remote area to look for the missing after the early morning accident, but cloud and fog complicated rescue efforts.

Hundreds of foreign climbers flock every year to Himalayan peaks in Nepal, which has eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains.

September marks the beginning of the climbing season, which runs until November.

In the last major accident in the area, at least 42 people, including 17 foreigners, were killed in heavy snowfall in the Mount Everest region in 1995.

Iran nuclear: Germany’s Siemens denies sabotage claim IRAN is under UN sanctions and the MP did not say where the equipment had come from. Tehran is engaged in a standoff with Western countries which suspect it is building a nuclear bomb.

The UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has rebuked Iran for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that Iran is only six or seven months from having “90%” of what it needs to make a nuclear bomb.

He has urged the US to draw a “red line” which, if crossed, would lead to military intervention.

Iran has insisted that its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful purposes, and warned that it will retaliate if it comes under attack.

A senior commander with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday that such a conflict would “turn into World War III”.

Pakistan PM condemns $.1m Islam film bounty

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HE Pakistani government has condemned a minister’s offer of $100,000 for anyone who kills the maker of a controversial film that mocks the Prophet Mohammed.

The country’s railways minister invited the Taliban and al Qaeda to help kill the filmmaker behind Innocence of Muslims, which sparked violent protests around the world.

Ghulam Ahmed Bilour told reporters in the northwestern city of Peshawar: “I announce today that this blasphemer who has abused the holy prophet, if somebody will kill him, I will give that person a prize of $100,000.

“I also announce that if the government hands this person over to me, my heart says I will finish him with my own hands and then they can hang

me.”

Pakistani Federal Railways Minister Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour The railways minister said he would kill the filmmaker himself However a spokesman for Pakistan’s prime minister said the government “absolutely disassociated” itself from the minister’s statement.

Protests against the film left 21 people dead and more than 200 injured across Pakistan on Friday. Another day of demonstrations by thousands of Pakistanis was largely peaceful.

Speaking on Sky News, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan said he did not approve of the bounty, but that the minister was “acting out of anger”.

He said: “To denigrate the Prophet is a very hurtful thing

... Osama bin Laden was declared a terrorist to the world, so should this man (the filmmaker) be described as a terrorist to the world because he has inflamed 1.4 billion Muslims?”

A Muslim demonstrator holds a placard during a protest to denounce an anti-Islam film Crowds in Nigeria burned images of President Obama He added: “Can’t we ask, or anyone in Pakistan, can’t they ask al Qaeda or the Taliban - brothers in faith to help fight this terrorist, when the present American administration is using al Qaeda in Syria to topple Bashar al Assad’s government? So why double standards?”

More than 5,000 protesters marched towards the parliament in the capital Islamabad,

including hundreds of women, chanting “We love our Holy Prophet” and “Punishment for those who humiliated our Prophet”.

In the eastern city of Lahore. about 1,500 people rallied in front of the US consulate chanting: “The US deserves only one remedy - jihad, jihad”.

Hundreds gathered in the southwestern city of Quetta, calling for the makers of the film to be killed while scores in Peshawar, where six people died in Friday’s protests, shouted anti-US slogans.

The low-quality production was made in the US, but a clip, translated into Arabic, has been circulating on the internet.

According to the US media, the producer of the film, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, is a 55-year-old Egyptian Copt

and convicted fraudster who lives in Los Angeles.

Nakoula, who has been questioned by law enforcement agencies over suggestions that making the film may have breached the terms of his parole, is said to have produced the movie under the pseudonym Sam Bacile. He is now reportedly in hiding with his family.

In Nigeria, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of the second city Kano to protests against the film.

The crowd - which set fire to images of President Obama and stamped on US flags stretched for several miles through the city centre.

The demonstration was organised by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, a proIranian group that adheres to the Shia branch of Islam.

Israel rules out changing Egypt Camp David peace treaty SRAELI Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman says Israel will not change the 1979 peace treaty with Egypt.

It comes amid calls in Egypt to amend the treaty which limits the number of Egyptian troops allowed in the Sinai peninsula as violence increases there.

An Islamist group says it launched the latest attack from the area - a clash inside Israel on Friday.

The group, Ansar Beit alMaqdis said the attack - in which an Israeli soldier and three militants were killed, and another soldier wounded - was in response to an amateur anti-Muslim video made in the US. The violence comes as Egypt’s new Islamist President Mohammed Mursi makes his first trip to the US since being elected in June.

He will attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

In an interview with the New York Times, Mr Mursi criticised US administrations for having backed Middle East dictators. He urged a change of policy, including a state for the Palestinians.

I

•Destroyed buildings in the al-Arqub neighbourhood of the northern city of Aleppo during fighting between Syrian government soldiers and rebel forces... yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Wife of missing American pleads for help from Iran’s president T HE family of retired FBI agent Robert Levinson can’t help but count the days since he vanished during a business trip to Iran’s Kish Island on March 8, 2007.

Saturday marked 2,024 days since he’s been gone.

“Every day I miss him,” said Christine Levinson, his wife of 38 years. “I wake up and his side of the bed is empty.”

She left her Florida home this week to travel to New York in hopes of making a personal plea to Iranian Presi-

dent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is attending this week’s U.N. General Assembly.

Levinson is convinced Ahmadinejad can help in the search for her husband.

Wife wants freedom for hostage husband Missing FBI agent pleads for help.

“In the past he has said that he will investigate and he will have his people investigate,” Levinson told CNN. “He has

promised to help us. So we need to get him in touch with whoever can help us get the job done and get Bob home.”

The Levinson family says Robert was working as a private investigator looking into cigarette smuggling in Iran when he went missing. The State Department has repeatedly denied he was working for the government and has urged Tehran to find him.

Last year, the Iranian gov-

ernment said it would make inquiries about Levinson but did not know what happened to him.

Digital billboards were posted in Times Square this week with Levinson’s picture and a message to U.N. delegates asking for help in finding him.

“Because the U.N. General Assembly is here, we can get the world to help us,” Christine Levinson said.

After protests, two Islamist militias agree to close bases in Libya

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WO Islamist militias have agreed to close their bases in the eastern Libyan city of Derna, state news and a source said Saturday.

A third base will be shut on Sunday, said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The state-run LANA news agency said the militias, which it identified as Bou Salim Martyrs and Ansar alSharia, will also disband.

The move comes after hundreds marched in the nearby city of Benghazi and took over the headquarters for Ansar alSharia. Individuals from the

radical Islamist group are accused of having been involved in the attack last week that left four Americans dead.

Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide Anti-U.S. demonstrations worldwide Libya PM: Libyan attack preplanned.

Was there enough protection in Libya?

Video: Libyans try to save Chris Stevens.

Protesters demanded an end to all security activities of armed groups operating

outside the official command of the army or police.

Mohamed al-Magariaf, president of Libya’s General National Congress, later told reporters that a joint security office would be established to bring together the army and the various brigades backed by the government. Militias outside that office will not be allowed to operate, he said.

As militia members fled the headquarters in Benghazi, demonstrators torched a vehicle and took over the

group’s building without firing a single shot.

Army General Naji alShuaibi said the citizens, whom he referred to as “revolutionaries of the February 17 uprising,” later asked that the Ansar al-Sharia headquarters be handed over to the Libyan army.

Some protesters also gathered at locations that house forces loyal to the national authority, he said, including the headquarters of the Rufallah al-Sihati battalion.

Gunfire could be heard there, but it was not clear who was responsible.

Thousands displaced by flood in Edo From Osagie Otabor, Benin

THOUSANDS of people in three local governments of Edo State have been displaced by flood.

The affected local governments are Estako Central, Esan South East and Estako East.

In Esan South East, residents of Illushi and Urho have sought refuge at the council’s headquarters in Ubiaja.

Those of Estako Central have been resettled at Udaba and Ekperi Grammar Schools.

Estako Central Chairman, Suleiman Bagudu said 60,000 residents were displaced in the area yesterday.

As of press time, Governor Adams Oshiomhole was visiting the affected communities by helicopter and canoe.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTMBER 24, 2012

57

FOREIGN Corrie Sanders, ex-heavyweight champion, dies in shooting FORMER heavyweight world boxing champion Corrie Sanders has died after being shot during an armed robbery.

The 46-year-old was attending a family celebration at a restaurant near Pretoria in his native South Africa. He died in hospital.

Sanders pulled off one of boxing’s major shocks when he beat Wladimir Klitschko to win the WBO heavyweight title in 2003.

He retired in 2008, having won 42 of his 46 fights.

A police spokesman said Sanders was attending his nephew’s 21st birthday party when gunmen entered the restaurant.

“In the midst of the celebrations, about three suspects came in,” the spokesman explained.

“They were planning to commit an armed robbery.

Then in the armed robbery they shot randomly. Corrie was shot in the hand and also the stomach.

“They fled with a digital camera and also a handbag of one of the people who was in the restaurant.”

Police have not yet made any arrests but the spokeman said they were “in hot pursuit”.

Sanders vacated the WBO title in December 2003 to concentrate on a challenge against Wladimir’s older brother Vitali for the vacant WBC belt.

Man mauled after leaping into tiger’s lair A VISITOR at a New York zoo was savagely attacked by a tiger after apparently jumping out of a train over animal enclosures and falling into a tiger’s den.

Officials at Bronx Zoo say 25-year-old David Villalobos was alone with an 11-yearold male tiger, weighing around 400lb, for about 10 minutes in the Wild Asia enclosure before he was rescued.

The zoo’s director, Jim Breheny, said that after leaping from the visitors’ train, Mr Villalobos fell 17ft over a perimeter fence surrounding the enclosure.

He said the victim suffered bites and wounds on his arms, legs, shoulders and back, and also a broken arm and broken leg - possibly from the jump.

He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he is said to be in a stable condition.

Tiger and zoo keepers Zoo keepers monitor a tiger through thick glass at the zoo Mr. Breheny said staff used a fire extinguisher to chase the tiger away, and told the man to roll under a electrified wire to escape further attack.

Zookeepers then managed to get the beast into a holding area where it usually sleeps.

Breheny said: “If not for the quick response by our staff and their ability to perform well in emergency situations, the outcome would have been very different.”

US rules out military intervention in Mali

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HE United States of America (USA) yesterday declared that military intervention in Mali is not the best option in resolving the crisis in the country.

The US Deputy Assistant Secretary, Reuben Brigety, disclosed this in a telephone press conference with African journalists on Peace and Security in the region.

According to him, the

•’America working with ECOWAS to resolve crisis’ From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

situation requires other options and continuous dialogue with the principal actors, especially ECOWAS and the Malian people.

He said the first and most important thing is to restore democratic, legitimate and all

inclusive people’s government in Bamako.

He said: “I think military intervention is not possible in Mali right now. But we are working closely with ECOWAS to bring solution.

There has to be a democratic government in Bamako.”

Brigety said the US policy in

Africa, especially on security issues, is to work closely and collaborate with African countries or regional blocks to bring solutions with African perspective.

The US African Command (USAFRICOM), he said, has sent one of its planners to work closely with ECOWAS.

•A US military infantryman shouts out his rifle’s serial number during an arms inventory verification excercise by officers of the 1stplatoon, C-Coy, 1-23 infantry at Zangabad foward operating base in Panjwai district prior to operations on September 23, 2012.

PHOTO: AFP

Cameroun’s ex-minister Yaya jailed in ‘Albatross’ case

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COURT in Cameroun has sentenced ex-minister Marafa Hamidou Yaya to 25 years in jail on corruption charges.

He has been found guilty of embezzling millions of dollars intended as a downpayment on a presidential plane.

Three co-defendants, including a former head of now defunct national airline Camair, received the same sentence.

Another senior politician, former PM Ephraim Inoni, is also facing charges in connection with the fraudulent deal to purchase a presidential jet in 2004.

Marafa Hamidou Yaya was then secretary-general of the presidency, and Mr Inoni was his deputy. They were part of a delegation that went to the US to buy a $31m (£20m) jet, the Albatross.

It developed problems on its inaugural flight, and was later found to be an old aircraft with a new coat of paint.

President Paul Biya, his wife Chantal and their children were

on board when the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing.

Inoni went on to be prime minister from 2004 to 2009.

Yaya held several senior government positions before holding the powerful interior ministry portfolio. Mr. Biya sacked him in December 2011.

He told the court he was “disappointed but not beaten” by the sentence, declaring himself a victim of “slanderous accusations”.

Those sentenced on Saturday included former Camair head Yves Michel Fotso.

In May, a former ambassador to the UN, Jerome Mendouga, was jailed for 10 years in connection with the Albatross affair.

Mr. Biya - who has been in power since 1982 - was re-elected for a sixth term last October, in a vote that was criticised as fraudulent by critics.

N/Korea seeks permission to fly through Iraq

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ORTH Korea has requested permission from Iraq this week to fly a plane through its airspace to Syria, an adviser to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has said.

Al-Maliki rejected the request out of suspicion the plane would be carrying weapons, said adviser Ali alMousawi.

The prime minister talked by phone with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Friday afternoon, officials said.

Biden asked Iraq for help in stopping weapons from reaching Syria, according to a statement released by his office, and stressed to the Iraqi prime minister “the need to prevent any state from taking advantage of Iraq’s territory or airspace to send weapons to Syria.”

Al-Maliki “expressed the Iraqi government’s discomfort with some informal U.S parties of stirring suspicions about Iraq’s position toward the Syrian crisis,” and that Iraq has held a “firm position in rejecting any weapon supplies or violent activity over Iraq’s territories or its airspaces,” according to a release from his office.

“Al-Maliki reiterated the position of the Iraqi government based on the need to find a peaceful political solution for the Syrian crisis and its rejection to supply ammunitions to any party involved in the Syrian conflicts,” the release said.

Opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s rule are concerned about the shuttling of arms to his government by entities such as Iran. Iraq borders Syria and Iran.

Earlier, Syria’s besieged president slammed the rebels battling his government forces, but said the “door to dialogue is open.”

“Dialogue with the opposition is the only way out to address the crisis,” al-Assad said in a magazine interview published Friday.

The cries for freedom and democracy that spread across the Arab world last year also reached Syria. That set the wheels in motion for a standoff that morphed into a

civil war between the alAssad government and a burgeoning rebel movement.

More than 26,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the one-and-halfyear-long conflict, according to opposition activists.

Al-Assad, who blames the violence on terror groups, told Egypt’s Al-Ahram alArabi magazine that “armed men are engaged in terrorism against all of the state’s institutions.”

Rivals meet to discuss Sudan oil, border plan

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UDAN’S President Omar al-Bashir and South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir talks on the border have been difficult The leaders of Sudan and South Sudan have been urged to agree a peace deal to overcome a bitter dispute during talks in Ethiopia.

UN Secretary General Ban Kimoon called for “co-operation and mutual development”, and the US said Sudan should accept an African Union border plan already agreed by South Sudan.

Tensions over oil and borders have threatened to spark a new conflict.

The UN has threatened sanctions if Sunday’s talks do

not produce a deal.

The Security Council has called for an urgent agreement on a demilitarised border zone.

Oil wrangle President Omar al-Bashir and his South Sudanese counterpart, Salva Kiir, are to meet in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

Last month, the two countries agreed to re-open their land border after a closure lasting more than a year.

But the border remains unmarked.

On independence, the South gained two-thirds of the region’s oil while Sudan retained the processing and

export facilities.

In January, the South shut down oil production, accusing Sudan of stealing its oil, and the two countries’ economies have been damaged as a result.

The BBC’s James Copnall in Addis Ababa says the list of unresolved issues is formidable.

However, the hope is that some degree of progress would encourage South Sudan to restart oil production, providing much needed revenue to both countries, he adds.

Delegations from the two states have already been in Addis Ababa for talks since 4 September.

‘Speeding drink driver’ kills teenagers AT least six teenagers were among seven people killed after a motorist smashed his car into a bus stop in Moscow.

Police have suggested the 29year-old man, Muscovite Alexander Maximov, was driving under the influence of alcohol and was speeding at 125mph (200kph) when his white Toyota mounted the kerb and ploughed into the victims.

Moscow’s emergency services said the vehicle hit the bus stop with such force that it was dragged 20 metres along the pavement, scattering the victims in all directions.

Four further bystanders were injured in the accident, which took place in west Moscow near the city’s film studios.

The bus stop in west Moscow where the accident happened The bus stop in west Moscow before the accident “According to preliminary information, the driver was under the influence of alcohol,” a Moscow police spokesman told the Interfax news agency.

“There is a possibility that he was under the influence of drugs as well as alcohol,” another police source is reported to have said.

John Terry retires from England FORMER England captain John Terry has announced his retirement from international football after playing 78 times over nine years for his country.

Terry, 31, says the decision is in response to the Football Association’s disciplinary charge over alleged comments to Anton Ferdinand.

The Chelsea defender was cleared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in July of racially abusing Ferdinand.

He said his FA personal hearing on Monday makes his position “untenable”.

“I feel the FA, in pursuing charges against me where I have already been cleared in a court of law, have made my position with the national team untenable,” he said.

Fake pilot ‘hitched a free ride in cockpit’ A 32-year-old unemployed Italian man used false IDs, a cap and uniform to convince crew he was a qualified pilot, police said.

An unemployed man wore a pilot’s uniform to hitch a free ride in the cockpit of a commercial flight, Italian police claim.

The 32-year-old was stopped at Turin’s Caselle airport on suspicion of using false IDs, a cap and uniform to convince crew he was a qualified pilot.

He managed to fly for free inside the cockpit aboard a flight from Munich, Germany, to Turin in April, according to Carabinieri paramilitary police.

The two real pilots flew the Air Dolomiti plane while the man, who has not been identified, did not touch the controls.

The case is reminiscent of that of Frank Abagnale, who pretended to be a pilot, and whose story was made into a Hollywood film, Catch Me If You Can, starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead role.

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THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

NEWS

2015 : Buhari, Bafarawa discuss North’s unity

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OLITICAL leaders in the north have began a process of reconciliation and unity ahead of the 2015 Presidential elections.

They are insisting that leaders must put aside their political ambition and concentrate on addressing the problem of disunity in the region.

Former Sokoto State Governor and Presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party in the 2007 elections, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, said after a meeting with the former Head of State, Major Gen. Muhammadu Buhari that the major concern in the north now is not political agitation for offices, but the unity of the region.

The former governor said before now, discussion about moving the north forward was centred on politi-

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

cal parties, pointing out that the time has come when such discussions should shift from political party affiliation to the general interest of the north.

“I think there is solution to our disunity in the North because before now, discussions towards achieving unity has been based on political parties. But now, I came to visit Gen. Buhari to discuss the way forward for our people in the North.

“Our strategy is that we will take our time, plan things and see how we can come out with the way forward. And like I said, I have come to see him, I will not tell you the strategy we will adopt. This visit is a step forward.

“What we are looking out for now is unity. We are not

talking of CPC, ANPP or any other political party. All we are after is to see that the North is united.

“I think everybody is going to drop his political ambition for now until the time comes because what is important now is our unity.

The people will decide the next political direction when the time comes”.

Bafarawa said: “I didn’t come as a member of ANPP to visit Gen. Buhari, and I did not come to see him on the ground of his own party, CPC. I came to him to discuss in order to chart the way forward on how we can unite in the North because the North is in disarray.

“We need to unite since we are masters of all trade when you talk of political activities in the North. All the political parties in the country can be found in the

Bauchi explosion: Fears over threats to dialogue with Boko Haram

F

•Gen. Buhari

North. Therefore, we have to concentrate and put our house in order.

“That is why I have come to see my brother, Gen. Buhari on how we can unite ourselves before we even talk of political parties. I came to see him in order to move the Northern region forward.

Gen. Buhari said he was in support of everything the former Sokoto state governor said.

OLLOWING renewed bomb attacks in Bauchi, there were fresh fears over threats to dialogue with Boko Haram group.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that there were indications that talks with the group might have suffered some setback.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “I think so far, the talks between the government and Boko Haram have suffered a little setback.

“The two parties have not been able to reach a compromise on some issues. But the government has not given up at all.

“Although security agencies are already probing the cause of the attack on the Catholic Church, there are suspicions that it might have been a consequence of challenges in dialogue.

“We learnt that the sect

Bloody day in church Continued from page 4

and we are coping with the situation.

“We have also put teaching hospitals in Kano and Jos on the alert in case we are not able to cope, we will quickly move such cases to these places for urgent attention.”

The bomber, it was learnt, arrived at the church gate at about 9 am, immediately after the first Mass, (service of the church). He could not enter the facility due to the nailed strong bars at the gate.

The bomber, according to a church source, asked the security men at the gate to open it for him but they refused.

“He then reversed the car and drove towards the gate, rammed into it and his car exploded.”

There was an attempt to burn the church last year by a woman, who allegedly said she was asked to attack the •Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal (right) and Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, at a meeting in Abuja…yesterday.

Fuel sells for N120 per litre as scarcity persists in Lagos

A

LITRE of petrol sold for N120 per litre in Lagos yesterday as many filling stations closed shop for lack of product, an indication that fuel scarcity in the state is far from over.

The Nation’s investigation showed that most of the filling stations along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, from Lagos toll gate, Ojota, Ogudu Expressway Way, including outlets owned by the majors such as Total, Conoil and MRS were out of stock. The few that sold such as Amo Oil adjusted their pump price to N120 for a litre as against N97.

Although some filling stations such as Total Association Avenue in Ilupeju and Mobil along Agidingbi and Oregun Road were dispensing at N97 per litre, The Nation gathered that in many parts of Lagos, most filling stations were dry.

The refusal of marketers to import fuel as a result of the government’s reluctance to pay their over N200 billion subsidy reimbursement for the products imported, and the vandalisation of a major product distribution pipeline, Line 2B, at Arepo in

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

Ogun State, have been blame for the scarcity of fuel in Lagos in the past two weeks.

The oil marketing groups including the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), and Jetties and Petroleum Tank Farms Owners of Nigeria (JEPTFON), said they will have a meeting this week to deliberate on their next action toward recovering their money from the

government.

The Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr. Osten Olurnsola, at an a meeting, appealed to them (marketers) to step up product supply especially as the festive periods approach.

He said: “We are approaching the end of year with the expected usual surge in social and festive activities. The attendant elevated quest for consumption of petroleum products cannot be over-emphasised. We wish to encourage marketers to ensure product availability to the public at this critical period.

Marketers are strongly ad-

vised not to engage in acts that may lead to creation of products scarcity, and other associated ills such as hoarding and product diversion for profiteering.”

Spokesman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Fidel Pepple, said the corporation is collaborating with the security agencies to fix the Arepo pipeline seriously damaged by oil thieves who also shot dead three employees of the Pipeline and Products Management Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of NNPC.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

members are also not happy with the recent assault against them by security agencies in Kano and Yobe states when the dialogue is in progress.

A government source added: “There is hope that the dialogue will work, the government is on top of the situation.”

Boko Haram had in February made some demands.

The demands are: •Reclaiming the mosque of Ahlul Sunna Lil Daawa Wal Jihad •Withdrawal of all security personnel from the streets of Maiduguri •Release of all Boko Haram members in detention without trial •Trial of all security men and politicians implicated in the execution of its late leader, Mohammed Yusuf.

church.

She was arrested and handed over to the police. The then Bauchi Police Commissioner, Mr. Ikechukwu Ayo Aduba, had said “she has been transferred to Abuja for further investigation”. Ever since, nothing about her has been heard.

St. John’s Catholic Church, Bauchi, is the Catholic Diocese headquarters where Bishop John Golten Malachi presides.

It is the second church to be attacked. The Harvest Field Church next to the Living Faith Church, Yelwa Tudu, on the outskirt of Bauchi, was attacked by a suicide bomber on July 3.

St. John’s Catholic Church which shares a boundary with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, was established in the 70s outside the Bauchi City walls.

PHCN firms: Oando, Vigeo, others to wait Continued from page 4

bids, namely, Kam Consortium Utility Company Ltd. and Interstate Electrics Ltd. Four firms emerged for the Enugu company - Rensmart Power Ltd, Proglobal Power International consortium, Interstate Electrics and Eastern Electric Nigeria Ltd. Aura Energy Limited was the only bidder for the Jos Distribution Company. Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Company emerged for Yola. Sahelian Power SPV Ltd. was named for Kano.

Two bidders were shortlisted for the Port Harcourt Distribution Company. They are 4Power Consortium and Rockson Engineering.

For the Benin Distribution

company, four firms emerged.

They are: Southern Electric Distribution Company, Rensmart Power Ltd., Vigeo Power Consortium and Rockson Engineering.

The prospective bidders listed by the NCP were for 10 distribution companies, excluding the Kaduna Distribution Company.

The council said the two bids received for Kaduna were not “technically qualified’’. Fresh bids will be invited from all the pre-qualified bidders in respect of the company.

This implies that all the 54 companies that previously submitted technical and financial bids to acquire majority stakes in the 11 distribution companies will be eligible for the fresh.

New state for Southeast: Kalu faults Kwankwaso

F

ORMER Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu yesterday criticised Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso for allegedly disparaging the bid of the southeast for an additional state.

Kwankwaso was quoted as saying that the southeast is undeserving of a new state.

Kalu said he was concerned that a compatriot could make such an assertion.

He said: “Injustice to one

is injustice to all. The southeast zone has the least number of states. Kwankwaso’s northwest has seven. I do not begrudge them. He says Kano is more populated than the former Eastern region, that is questionable. I hope he knows that in the United States, Wyoming with a population of less than a million is as important as California with about 30 million.”

The ex-governor said nothing should be spared in giv-

ing the southeast a fair deal even if it means going into the federation called Nigeria through the back door.

“We shall keep up the struggle.When President Umaru Yar’adua died,we accepted the ‘Doctrine of necessity’. Following Chief Moshood Abiola’s death, Nigeria bent backwards for an all-Yoruba Presidential duel.

Gen. Yakubu Gowon was a Col. when he became Head of State in 1966 ahead of his

seniors who agreed to work with him, men like Brig. Babafemi Ogundipe, Commodore Edet Wey and Col. Adeyinka Adebayo. If the Senate must go under the table to balance the equation, heavens will not fall, “he said.

Kalu advised the Kano governor to liaise with one of his predecessors, Alhaji Kabir Gaya if he had a grouse with the Senate Committee on Constitutional

Amendment.

“Dr. Kwankwaso is my friend. And I know Kano people have nothing against a new southeast state.

Maybe,the governor has something against certain individuals in Abuja. He could sort things out through Senator Gaya. All states in Nigeria were created by leaders from the north.And this structural imbalance must be tackled now”, Kalu advised.

THE NATION MONDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER , 2012

59

SPORT EXTRA

Youth tournaments are T priceless—Sahin

HERE can be few Turkish players with better firsthand knowledge of the advantages of playing internationally at youth level than Nuri Sahin. The 24-year-old midfielder has already made 32 senior appearances for his country, having shone as a youngster in different European and global tournaments. To many he is a model footballer, who has come through the ranks and since become an idol to younger generations.

2005 was an unforgettable year for the affable playmaker. First he led Turkey to UEFA European U17 Championship glory in Italy, where he was also voted player of the tournament. He followed that up by playing a leading role in his country’s top-four finish at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru.

There he was awarded both the adidas Silver Boot for finishing as second highest scorer and the adidas Bronze Ball as third-best player. All of a sudden, Nuri Sahin was a household world.

Sahin, born and raised in Germany, subsequently experienced a swift upturn in his career trajectory. He became the youngest ever player to appear in the Bundesliga after making his debut with Borussia Dortmund later that year. A first senior cap for Turkey soon followed, against Germany of all teams. Shortly after coming on as a substitute he put Turkey 2-0 up and today he remains both the national team’s youngest ever player and scorer.

When a short loan spell at Feyenoord ended, Sahin returned to Dortmund and was the attacking fulcrum of the championship-winning 2011 side, earning the additional honour of being voted Bundesliga player of the season. However, his ensuing eye-catching move to Real Madrid was overshadowed by injuries. With first team appearances at a premium in Spain, Sahin moved to Liverpool on loan for the current season.

The next couple of years hold two tournaments of particular interest to the midfielder. To begin with, he will be closely following the action in his homeland when the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2013 gets under way, where memories of his own participation in youth competitions are sure to come flooding back. Then comes the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, a tournament Sahin is determined to participate in, as he revealed to FIFA.com in an exclusive interview.

In nine months the football world will turn its attention to Turkey... [laughs] Yes, definitely. We’re hosting the U-20 World Cup and I can tell you already that everyone

is full of drive and anticipation preparing for it. It’s a great opportunity for Turkey to prove it can organise a big tournament.

Football plays a huge role in everyday life in Turkey, maybe the biggest role. Not a day goes by when football isn’t mentioned.

We’re so passionate. I’m really looking forward to it and I know that my compatriots will enjoy the tournament a lot.

You know the answer to this better than most people: how important is it for a young player to take part in a major international tournament?

It’s priceless, especially for their development. These kind of tournaments are the first step

“I have to say, I don’t know the team that well, but generally Turkish sides tend to go far once they’ve qualified for the finals.

That’s why I’m convinced that the guys will make an impact. They’ll be well prepared and will go into each game with the whole country behind them. With those conditions in place, winning the title is well within the realm of possibilities.”

into professional football. You appear on television for the first time and you return home full of confidence because you’ve tested yourself against the best. I have wonderful memories of the U-17 World Cup in Peru in 2005. For me it was the perfect introduction and I had a lot of fun. The tournament made the next steps easier for me and was a big help in making me a better player.

Football plays a huge role in everyday life in Turkey, maybe the biggest role.

Turkey midfielder Nuri Sahin In your opinion, what is the Turkish U-20 team capable of achieving on home turf at next year’s tournament?

I have to say, I don’t know the team that well, but generally Turkish sides tend to go far once they’ve qualified for the finals.

That’s why I’m convinced that the guys will make an impact.

They’ll be well prepared and will go into each game with the whole country behind them. With those conditions in place, winning the title is well within the realm of possibilities.

Where do you think Turkish football currently stands compared to the world’s top teams?

Unfortunately the senior side wasn’t involved at the last two big tournaments, the 2010 World Cup and EURO 2012 in Poland and Ukraine. That was a huge step backwards, especially when you consider that Turkey finished third at the 2002 World Cup and got to the semi-finals of EURO 2008. But it’s something we just have to accept and now we must look forward to the future optimistically.

Where does that optimism come from?

We have a new coach, we’re taking his playing philosophy on board and we’ll return to our former strength. But there’s one thing we can’t forget: there are no small teams in international football anymore. There are three or four sides at the top but it’s very close after that. That affects us too.

We (Turkey) have a new coach, we’re taking his playing philosophy on board and we’ll return to our former strength.

Nuri Sahin What has been the biggest change under the new national team coach Abdullah Avci?

I think we’re all benefitting from him. He knows almost the entire team as he worked with several players in the youth sides.

There’s no-one else in the whole country who knows the players as well as he does. For example, he coached me at U-17 level. The advantage is that he is aware of every player’s strengths and weaknesses.

Looking ahead to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, what can you achieve there?

Our first objective is of course qualification, no doubt about it.

We’ve started fairly well and are confident going into the games.

After losing 2-0 in the Netherlands we beat Estonia 3-0 at home. But we can’t afford to make the mistake of underestimating our opponents.

What are your personal aims for the next couple of years?

First of all, I’ll give everything to have a successful season at Liverpool and to play as many games as possible. Recently I’ve experienced how quickly an injury can set you back. And of course, I want to be in the starting eleven for Turkey. That’s my main aim and I think I’m close to achieving it.

To go to Brazil as a starter in the Turkish side?

That’s my goal and I’m confident I’ll be on the pitch in Brazil as long as I stay healthy.

That’s what I’ll be focusing on.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

60

SPORT EXTRA

L

EE WESTWOOD knows all too well the psychological pressures of playing in the Ryder Cup. His appearance this week at the Medinah Country Club, within the Chicago commuter belt, will be his eighth under the flag of Europe and he fully expects the crowds lining the fairways to be biased, loud and fiercely patriotic in their support of the United States.

'The Ryder Cup is very partisan,' he said. 'Nobody turns up just for the golf, they turn up to root for their side.'

Westwood's experience tells him this could actually work in favour of Europe's finest golfers defending the Ryder Cup under the captaincy of Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal. For alongside hardened campaigners like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker, the American team have four rookies, Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson, Jason Dufner and Keegan Bradley.

And Westwood admits with a twinkle in his eye, that he will not be shy of reminding the American newcomers that they are shouldering the expectations of a nation.

'I can imagine what it will be like for those Americans playing for the first time,' he said. 'We'll try to heap some pressure on, remind them how they are favourites in front of their own crowd. It would be only fair to ask them, "You wouldn't want to let all those people down, would you?"'

For Westwood, the Ryder Cup is an engagement like no other. 'At a tournament, you see a good shot and you applaud because you are not emotionally linked to anybody,' he said. 'At the Ryder Cup everyone takes sides. You're taking on not just the USA team, but the whole country. It's a challenge I like.'

From the moment the Europeans assemble at Medinah on Monday they will be men on a mission. Any fair and legitimate tactic to gain a psychological edge will be seized.

Yet unlike Kiawah Island in South Carolina 1991, dubbed the 'War on the Shore', or 1999's 'Battle of Brookline' in Massachusetts, there is little fear of bad Ryder Cup blood being generated this week - neither Olazabal, nor his American counterpart David Love III, will countenance the game being wronged on their watch.

In contrast to the American team, the Europeans have only one rookie, Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts.

He is assured of being looked after not just by Olazabal, but by his four vice-captains, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjorn, who will be cheerleaders, amateur psychologists, entertainers, and figures of inspiration.

'You can, at times, feel isolated and

HOW WE CAN BREAK AMERICA:

Westwood's plan to pile pressure on US rookies

alone on the course,' said Westwood.

'It's always nice to have a friendly face riding around in a buggy to show you are not out there completely on your own. Ollie could be the X-Factor for our team.'

Olazabal won the Masters twice at Augusta, yet he is perhaps best remembered in America as the younger Ryder Cup partner of the late Seve Ballesteros. Yet Olazabal's presence will prove more substantial than merely evoking the memory of Ballesteros, widely regarded as the man who blazed a trail for members of the present European elite like Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald and Graeme McDowell.

'The Seve influence is bound to have rubbed off,' said Westwood. 'Yet when you talk to Ollie, and know him as a man, you realise he wouldn't need anyone else's influence. He's so solid, passionate and educated.'

Olazabal's last Ryder Cup duty in America ended in defeat. He was a vice-captain when Europe, at Kentucky in 2008, were doomed after Nick Faldo, the greatest ever British golfer, failed to grasp the demands placed on a leader. He

lurched from one mishap to another, controversially dropping Westwood when he was playing in the fourballs and on the brink of equalling Arnold Palmer's record of 12 matches unbeaten.

'It just seemed such a strange time to drop somebody,' said Westwood last week. 'Some of the criticism of Nick was fair, some of it unfair. All the captains I've played under had good points and bad; and some will admit they made mistakes.

'People ask if captains matter. I always say captains can't get it right, but they can get it wrong.

'Nick's decision to tell me [on the 10th tee] I was being dropped for the next day, was not the right way.'

Westwood admits that was his worst Ryder Cup experience as he lost his focus at that point and he and playing partner Soren Hansen only just held on for a half with JB Holmes and Boo Weekley.

Westwood has been on the winning team five times, twice in the United States, after winning 16 of his 33 matches and halving six. 'This Ryder Cup could be a classic,' he forecast.

'It's a long time since I saw the two teams with such high quality players

in them.'

Colsaerts, at No 35 in the world, is the lowest ranked player at Medinah.

'With the Americans at home and the crowd behind them, and with Europe trying to defend the trophy, it's like the perfect storm,' said Westwood. 'It will be close - but I think we'll win.

Rory is on fire, myself and Luke are in the top four in the world; Paul Lawrie, Sergio Garcia and Peter Hanson have won recently, Colsaerts and Ian Poulter have won the World Match Play in their time and Francesco Molinari is Mr Reliable.'

In addition, Justin Rose is in form, McDowell can draw on the memories of claiming the winning point at Celtic Manor, while Martin Kaymer is starting to rediscover his touch.

Westwood has a rich archive of memories, yet one victory stands out.

'At Celtic Manor, Luke Donald and I beat Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker 6 & 5 in the foursomes,' he recalled.

'That was their strongest pair… and I'm sure in the back of Davis's mind he made Steve one of his picks to partner Tiger again.'

Will Woods and Stricker remember what happened to them two years ago? 'Hopefully!’ smiled Westwood.

Schumacher hit with grid penalty for crash

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• Schumacher

ERMAN veteran Michael Schumacher was hit with a 10place grid penalty Sunday after admitting blame over a spectacular collision during the Singapore Grand Prix.

The punishment, to be served at next month's race in Japan, comes after the the seven-time world champion's Mercedes ploughed into the back of JeanEric Vergne's Toro Rosso shortly after the withdrawal of a safety car.

Officials said Schumacher, 43, had admitted failing to take into account his lower braking power after the safety car, which allowed his tyres to cool and lose grip.

"The driver admitted the collision was his error," race organisers said in an announcement.

The Mercedes driver had earlier appeared mystified by the high-speed crash, which smashed up his front wheels and left his car partially airborne.

"At one point I couldn't accelerate and then I went hard on the brakes and tried to brake as hard as was possible, but the accident wasn't recoverable," Schumacher said.

"Obviously I feel sorry for Jean-Eric... but we need to find out what happened."

The incident may raise pressure Schumacher, whose place at Mercedes is reportedly under pressure following speculation that McLaren's Lewis Hamilton is considering a move to the German marque.

Vergne sportingly put his arm around Schumacher after the crash and refused to be angry with the celebrated German.

"I was pretty focused on overtaking (Sauber's Sergio) Perez. I had a good move on him and at the end, braking, I just got hit by Michael," he said.

"It's done, I have nothing to say. It's just a shame. It doesn't make any sense to be pissed off about it."

The most spectacular collision of an incident-packed grand prix put both drivers out of the race on lap 39, and prompted the second safety car of the night.

The grand prix was preceded by a sombre minute's silence for Formula One doctor Sid Watkins, who died this month and was credited with vastly improving safety standards in the high-speed sport.

Wozniacki wins first tour title of the year

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AROLINE WOZNIACKI earned her first WTA tour title of the season with a crushing victory over Estonia's Kaia Kanepi in the final of the Korea Open.

The top seed needed just an hour and two minutes to see off Kanepi 6-1 6-0, the Dane allowing her opponent just one hold of serve which came in the fifth game of the match.

Wozniacki had needed three sets to defeat Russia's Ekaterina Makarova in Saturday's semi-final, but there was no element of fatigue holding her back.

The world No 11 said: 'Yesterday was a very difficult match, but the final is the final, and you just do anything you can to win.

'Today I did well at turning defence to offence and offence to defence.

That's actually a strength of mine.

'I'm very pleased with how everything turned out.'

The Seoul title marked the former world No 1's first tour triumph since August 2011 but she was eager to play down talk of a swift rise back up the rankings.

'I want to enjoy it and be positive so that's what I'm thinking about right now,' she added.

'I want to build up for the next season and hopefully my results this week will help me move forward and get back to playing my best.'

• Wozniacki

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

61

SPORT EXTRA

AVB revels in overdue home win

W

ITH the team 1-0 down at half-time, the Villa-Boas-led Tottenham Hotspurs team left the field to a chorus of boos but they regrouped after the break and put in a much-improved performance to leave White Hart Lane with three points thanks to a strike from Jermain Defoe and an own goal from Alejandro Fauralin.

Villas-Boas' team had drawn 1-1 in their previous Barclays Premier League home games against West Brom and Norwich while three disallowed goals prevented the Portuguese

from registering his first victory in north London against Lazio on Thursday night.

His sheer joy was therefore understandable to see as he punched the air with glee having watched his team close out a nervy last 20 minutes to secure a second consecutive league victory against an impressive QPR side.

"We have wanted this home win for some time but for whatever reason it has escaped us," Villas-Boas said.

"It's an important win for the team. We wanted to repay the fans for the trust they have put

in us so that's why everyone felt emotional at the end."Tottenham's first-half performance was on a par with the horror show that the team produced against Norwich.

There was little confidence and fluency in the team and Gareth Bale looked redundant at left-back, where he started in place of the injured Kyle Naughton.

The tense atmosphere inside White Hart Lane turned to an angry one after 33 minutes when Faurlin carved open the hosts' back four to allow Bobby Zamora to tap

home against his former club.

Had Brad Friedel not pulled off two excellent saves from Clint Hill and Junior Hoilett it could have been 3-0 to the away side at half-time.

Villas-Boas did not lose faith in his team, however, and insists he was not tempted to give his players the hair-dryer treatment at the break.

"It was very, very calm at half-time," the Portuguese said.

"I think the players really put on more of a show in second half.

"The big difference was the desire."

•Mr Larry Ettah, Group Managing Director/CEO, UAC of Nigeria Plc (centre), receiving the sponsorship brochure of the 18th National Sports Festival from Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, Chairman of the Sponsorship and Marketing sub-committee of the Local Organising Committee of the Games (R) during a courtesy visit to the UAC House last week. With them is Mr Joe Dada, Executive Director, Corporate Services, UAC of Nigeria Plc (L).

Enyimba’s winger sure of stay

E

NYIMBA forward Onyekachi Okoye believes he will be retained by the club folloing his performance in the last season.

Reports from the Aba base of the two-time African champions League winners indicate that there will be massive clearance of players as a result of the team's failure to pick any of the continental slots for next season but the former Lobi and Akwa United player told futaa.com that he

is willing to stay with the sixtime Nigerian champions for next season.

"If I have to rate myself I will say i scored 6 out of 10 and this is because I was out for almost three months due to injury. I really want to prove to the club that they did not make mistake by signing me and hopefully I will still be with them next season," he told futaa.com.

The winger scored five goals for the People's Elephants who ended the season in fourth.

2012 GOVERNOR'S CUP

Tennis players in rush for Nigerian visa

T

•Ambassador in a group photograph with Flamingoes

Mancini laments lack of concentration

M

ANCHESTER City boss Roberto Mancini has rued his side's lack of concentration after conceding a late equaliser

to Arsenal in their 1-1 draw at Etihad Stadium.

Joleon Lescott opened scoring for the hosts despite the Gunners enjoying the majority

of possession in the first half but, with the game entering its final stages and with City seemingly in control, Arsenal centre-half Laurent Koscileny

Power outage stops Vallecano/Madrid match UNDAY's Liga clash between Rayo Vallecano and Real Madrid has been postponed until Monday night after wires serving the stadium's lighting were cut prior to the game.

The match was due to kick off at 20:00 CET, but the unexpected

S

turn of events means that the pair will now go head to head 24 hours later than originally scheduled.

Speaking to Canal+, Vallecas president Martin Presa explained: "We have suffered a sabotage. Someone has cut the cables from the tribune.

The encounter will now be played on Monday night as a result of the wires to the stadium's lighting system being damaged.

"The solution is to reconnect the cables and expect electricity to give the spotlight. The wires were cut off and that's not normal."

Heartland's De Kruiff dreams Super Eagles job

D

UTCH coach Ludewijk de Kruff has revealed desire to manage the Super Eagles of Nigeria. The former Heartland coach who has been linked with some few clubs after the close of the season said he is not ruling out working with the Nigeria senior national team in future.

"Of course that is the aim of every coach. To manage a good side like Nigeria and as an ambitious coach, I won't rule that out, he said when asked if he ever thought of

coaching Nigeria at time of his career. If it comes fine and if it doesn't no problem."

De Kruiff managed Heartland of Owerri to Federation Cup success but fell out of favour with the management of the Premier league side which led to his exit from the club midway into the concluded season.

He was reported to have been contacted by Warri Wolves but a deal could not be reached owing to his high wage demand.

•Keshi

rifled in an equaliser after hesitation from the home side’s defence.

And Mancini felt that his side let themselves down with their inability to kill the game off.

"I'm disappointed because we were 1-0 up and we conceded a goal from a corner," the Italian told Sky Sports.

"After that we had four or five chances to score a second goal but we didn't close the game.

"We need to pay more attention. it was strange, with just eight minutes to go our concentration should be 100 per cent."

After wrestling control of the game off a lively Arsenal side in the second half, City had several chances to add to their tally; with Sergio Aguero going close on more than one occassion and Vincent Kompany unlucky with an improvised bicycle kick.

"We had the game under control," Mancini continued.

"It was just the last 10 minutes. I'm not sure why. We were too deep. We had chances to score.

HE 12th Governor's Cup Lagos Tennis Championship has attracted foreign tennis players across the globe as there is a mad rush for the Nigerian visa in order to participate at this year's edition.

The tournament which has been scheduled to hold from October 13-27 at the Lagos Lawn Tennis club,Obalende is expected to leverage Lagos as the 3rd mega city of the world.

Players from about 15 countries have sought for letters of invitation from the NTF as at September 9, with the federation expecting this number to be tripled by September 27 when the entries for the first leg of the championship will close.

Some of the countries are South Africa, Spain, Belgium, USA, Kenya, Zimbabwe, United Kingdom, Portugal, Canada, Italy, Germany, Israel, Botswana, India and China.

Secretary of the NTF, Mrs. Nkana Mbora disclosed that Indian players have sent a large number of request for letters of invitation. "players have been requesting from the secretariat of Nigeria Tennis Federation, NTF, letters of invitation to enable them process their visas to Nigeria to feature in the International Tennis Federation, ITF approved Futures, which will be played at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos," she said.

Meanwhile, the ITF states on its website that players should put in their registration for the first leg (Futures 1) of the competition, latest by 14:00GMT of 27 September, while withdrawal deadline has been fixed for Tuesday, 2 October by 14:00GMT. Giving details on the format of this year’s competition, the ITF says the qualifying matches for the first leg will

By Stella Bamawo be played weekend of 13 and 14 October, with a Sign-in deadline of Friday, 12 October before 18:00 local time. The Main Draws of 32 fixtures will begin on Monday, 15 October.

According to ITF, registration for the second leg of the championship, which will serve off on Monday, 22 October closed on Thursday, 4 October by 14.00GMT, while withdrawal deadline has been fixed for Tuesday, 9 October by 14:00GMT. The qualifying matches for the second leg will hold in the weekend of 20 and 21 October with the Sign-in deadline on Friday, 19 October before 18:00 local time.

The total prize money for the Governor’s Cup since it became an ITF approved circuit has been $80,000 for Main Draw players with the men’s category carting home the sum of $30,000 with hospitality, while the women’s category wins $50,000 without hospitality. With the humane nature of former Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, partial hospitality has been accorded by the organisers to women players-concessionary accommodation plus transportation to and from Airport, competition venue and hotel accommodation.

The main sponsors are Etisalat Nigeria, FCMB Plc with other co sponsors like Julius Berger Plc, CCECC, Stomberg Limited, Plycon Limited, SMC Limited, GlobeHFP Limited, LASACO Assurance Plc and NASTON Limited just to mention a few.

The sponsors, who are Friends of the Governor, have been supporting the competition in both individuals and corporate capacities. This tourney has always been no fee payment for all spectators.

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

62

SPORT EXTRA

Obagoal fires winner on Levante debut

N

IGERIA striker Obafemi Martins scored the winner on his debut for Levante against Real Sociedad on Sunday.

The former Rubin Kazan hit man came in as a 46th minute substitute for Iborra and scored the match winner for Levante in the 87th minute to seal a 2-1 win for his side after he collected a pass from Ballesteros.

The former Inter Milan forward had his 64th minute effort disallowed for offside.

“I couldn’t ask for a better debut than this,” said an ecstatic Martins. ‘Obagoal’ strength was too much for opposing defenders to deal with as Levante trailed 1-0, before they came back and secured the maximum three points.

The out of favour Nigeria international moved to the Spanish La Liga as a free agent after he cancelled his contract at Russian club Rubin Kazan this summer.

He has signed a two-year deal.

Martinez coping without Moses

R

OBERTO Martinez’s eye for talent is Wigan Athletic’s secret weapon, declares TV pundit Chris Kamara, who believes the Latics can cope with the loss of Victor Moses.

Instead on mulling over the Nigerian’s nine million pounds summer switch to Chelsea, Kamara insists Wigan should be rejoicing in his departure as yet another vindication of Roberto Martinez’ methods.

“Of course Victor is a loss to Wigan as he was always going to be because he is a very talented player,” said Kamara.

“But with his departure you have to just give Roberto Martinez credit for the eye he has for a player, which is a great attribute for a club to have in a manager.

“Being able to spot a great player before he has fully developed is one of the hardest skills in the game and Roberto clearly has that and that is great for Wigan.

“Obviously the Premier League is always going to be the first priority for a club like

Wigan and preserving their status.

“However they are going to be one of the clubs for whom the Capital One Cup is a competition that they think they could target and every manager wants to take his fans to Wembley.”

Moses made a big-money move to Chelsea last month and to some dissenting voices his exit only served to underline Wigan’s lack of ambition, seemingly ushering in another tough season striving for Premier League survival.

•Martins

BATTLE OF CALABAR:

Keshi, assistants meets on team list Tuesday

S

UPER Eagles handler, Stephen Keshi would meet with his assistants on Tuesday to put finishing touches to the Eagles’ list of players that would confront the Lone Star of Liberia in the final match that would decide Nigeria’s participation in next year’s Africa Nations Cup holding in South Africa.

A list of 25 players is expected to be drafted by the Eagles’ coach for the all important final leg of the ANC qualifier that is slated for October 13 in Calabar after which he would present it to

•List to be released Friday •Vows to invite result-oriented players From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja

the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation before releasing it to the public on Friday well on time for the camping exercise that would kick off same weekend for the Nigeria based players.

Keshi had told NationSport last week that the camping exercise would start at the end of this month with the Nigeria based players while the foreign based players

would join the team at least five mandatory days to the match slated for the U.J Esuene Stadium, Calabar on October 13, 2012.

It is likely to see few changes in the team as the Eagles’ coach has vowed to inject new players that are hungry for success and ready to fight to the last in the make or mar match. He is also eyeing strong and athletic players that can match the African pattern of play to give him the needed result in the match.

RUGBY SEVENS WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

Nigerian team head to Morocco Wednesday •Coach expresses optimism

T

HE Nigeria Rugby national team will leave the shores of the country on Wednesady to begin their campaign for a place at the Rugby Sevens World Cup qualification series slated for Morocco, at the weekend.

Coach of the team, Steve Lewis at the weekend expressed optimism that the team will do well in its quest to clinch one of the ticket at the African qualifiers.

"We leave on Wednesday night and the tournament is next weekend. I have been to the United Kingdom, i went to Kano and Zaria,to scout for players and we had the camp here in Lagos last weekend.

In terms of selection we are casting our nets wide, and i think we have a strong squad.

"In terms of preparation it is difficult because most of them are based in the United Kingdom and others are based here. We only have two days to train in Morocco before the first match on Saturday," he said.

Lamenting Nigeria's nottoo- impressive performance at the African Championship in Botswana, Lewis said: "In Botwana during the African Championship we won two and lost two.A result that is

By Innocent Amomoh not good but we remain positive.

The sevens tournament will pave the way for a place at the World Cup in Russia, so two teams out of eight will go through next weekend from Africa. We have a chance, though we are seeded sixth, but we think we can pull an upset," he said.

On how much he knows his opponent at the African qualifiers, Lewis said: "We will be playing against Ivory Coast, Magadascar ,Zambia, and Morocco. Morocco we know a lot about because they have a lot of players playing in France. Magadascar are improving and Zambia we saw most of their players recently and we played Botswana two weeks ago.So we think we are ready.

The British -born tactician continued: "We need to do well next week and make headlines and that will be significant for us to bring the game into public focus. It is not all that a popular sports like football, so we need to get the headlines and with financial support we will do well. The players are excited about this fantastic opportunity to prove a point.

EKO 2012:

Ogun wins South-west 1 zonal elimination •As Oyo battles NSC Coordinator over protest

A

S the zonal eliminations preparatory to the National Sports Festival ended in Ibadan over the weekend, Ogun State’s athletes posted good performances by claiming nine out of 13 slots available in the six team sports events at the tourney.

Ogun State picked tickets to represent the zone in male and female categories of Volleyball event, hockey male event, Basketball female, Football female Abula male, female and mixed doubles, and handball male event at the expense of Oyo State who hosted event that just qualified the football male event, Basketball Male, hockey female and handball female.

Meanwhile Oyo State protested to the zone 1 office of the National Sports Commission who organised the zonal games against Ogun State’s men volleyball team who they claimed fielded ineligible players.

Oyo State singled out Isa Zubairu an Army officer serving in Lagos State as well as Manasseh Jika also an Army serving at the Staff College Jaji, Kaduna and Odagore Abiola a police officer serving in Lagos State that are not eligible to play for Ogun State’s male team that defeated them 3 straight set.

The protest of Oyo was thrown out for lack of merit by the Dr. Steve Olarinoye,the zonal coordinator of NSC southwest who headed the main organizing committee for the event. This development angered Oyo who strongly alleged Olarinoye for taken a unilateral decision by not

conducting thorough investigation before discarding their protest.

They, however, have appealed Olarinoye’s decision and forwarded their appeal to the NSC’s main organising committee for National Sports Festival headed by Abba Yola.

“Is it proper to decide a case without inviting the complainant and the respondent to state their case” Oyo queried in their appeal letter added that since all norms were not followed before judgment was passed on our protest, it is suffice to say that the secretariat was compromised and we are of the opinion that the suggested jury is deliberately protecting the team protected against at the detriment of the complaint”.

Oyo, however, seeks for the revision of the case and prompt justice saying Nigeria’s abysmal performances at the last Olympics is a clear indication of our dwindling fortunes in sports through negligence, carelessness and subversion of justice.

OTHER RESULTS ITALY - SERIE A Sampdoria 1 - 1 Torino Atalanta 1 - 0 Palermo Bologna 1 - 1 Pescara Catania 0 - 0 Napoli Inter Milan 0 - 2 Siena Udinese 2 - 1 AC Milan SPAIN - PRIMERA DIVISION Mallorca 2 - 0 Valencia Levante 2 - 1 Real Sociedad Atletico Madrid 2 - 1 Valladolid GERMANY - BUNDESLIGA I. Bayer Leverkusen 1 - 1 Monchengladbach Hoffenheim 3 - 1 Hannover Werder Bremen 2 - 2 Stuttgart

THE NATION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

63

SPORT EXTRA AHEAD EKO 2012:

Lagos Table Tennis team relishes China training tour

F

OR ten days, the 12-man Lagos table tennis team were exposed to top flight training at the Chinese National Training Centre in Hebei, China and after returning, they admitted that they are at the right frame of mind to dominate the event at the 18th National Sports Festival tagged Eko 2012.

Speaking at the weekend after their arrival aboard an Ethiopia Airlines from Beijing, Team captain, Ayo Omotara could not hide his joy, saying they are keen on demolishing any team at the festival.

Omotara, son of former international, Titus, admitted that some of the lapses in the team have been perfected in China. “We are happy that we went, saw and leant a lot and we are hoping to put the experience to use when the festival begins in November.

There is no doubt that the facilities at the Training Centre

•John Terry and Anton Ferdinand altercation that sparked off the investigation

AHEAD OF RACISM HEARING

Ayila, Haruna demoted to Dynamo Kiev youth team

D Terry quits international football J

OHN Terry has retired from international football with immediate effect.

The Chelsea defender's FA hearing for allegedly

racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand takes place on Monday, but Terry has pre-empted the verdict by calling time on his 78-cap England career.

Terry made his England debut back in 2003 and was twice stripped of the captaincy for off-field reasons.

The 31-year-old's decision

leaves England manager Roy Hodgson with a selection headache heading into next month's World Cup qualifiers.

were excellent and we utilised it very well. This is an experience that will remain with us forever.

We are now using this opportunity to assure the government that we return the state to the zenith of the game at the festival.

The team is indeed ready and we hope to continue to use the knowledge we acquired in China in our training,” Omotara assured.

For Olajide Omotayo, among the things that he leant from the trip were speed, accuracy, endurance and discipline, which he hopes to usein the course of his career. “I think the speed, accuracy and endurance of the Chinese were some of the things I picked from China.

For me, all these will indeed help me as a player and for us, the discipline of the Chinese is one of things we took away from the China training tour,” he said.

YNAMO KIEV coach Yuri Semin failed to call up two Nigerian players - Yussuf Ayila and Lukman Haruna - for the big Ukrainian Cup clash with bitter rivals Shakhtar Donetsk on Sunday, a game which corresponds to the 1/16 round of the competition.

The official website of the Ukrainian vice - champions reported that both Nigeria

internationals will remain in Kiev to train with the youth team.

Nominated in the 19-man squad to face The Miners, are left back Taye Taiwo and forward Brown Ideye, the top scorer for the capital side this season.

In preparation for the match, Dynamo Kiev trained twice on Saturday morning without the Nigeria duo.

Tenger in the dark over Tornadoes

Nsofor lifts Lokomotiv Moscow N O

BINNA Nsofor came off the bench to score his second goal of the season for Lokomotiv Moscow

away at Terek Grzny on Saturday night.

Nsofor, who replaced Giushakov in the 57th minute,

found the back of the net in the 83rd minute to dash their hosts’ hope of recovery by giving his team a 2-0 lead. Lokomotiv

Efe Ambrose thrilled with Celtic debut

N

IGERIAN defender Efe Ambrose has said he was delighted to finally debut for his Scottish side Glasgow Celtic on Saturday.

Ambrose, who got his work permit in time to make the bench for his side on Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League tie against Benfica, played his first game for Celtic in a 2-0 win over Dundee United when he was throw into the fray in the 86th

minute as substitute for Scott Brown.

Ambrose told MTNFootball.com he is happy and hopes for more appearances.

He said, "I am happy with my debut and look forward to playing more games and achieving a lot with a great team like Celtic," the Nigeria international said.

His compatriot Rabiu Ibrahim was an unused substitute.

The central defender had to

settle for only a place on the bench in the Champions League group tie at home against Benfica on Wednesday because he was late in rejoining the team as he pursued his work permit in Israel.

"It is a good one that I was selected for the Champions League game. I wanted to play the game but I joined the team a bit late to start due to processing of my work permit,” Ambrose informed MTNFootball.com

eventually won 3-0.

An elated Nsofor told MTNFootball.com he was excited with his personal contribution as his Russian club aim for the top.

"It was a great game and I am excited that I contributed to the victory with a goal,” said Nsofor, who has been overlooked by Nigeria as he fights to regain full fitness after a knee problem.

“We have been doing well and I hope we will continue this way and even get better so that our goals will be achieved."

Lokomotiv now occupy second spot with 19 points from nine games behind leaders CSKA Moscow, who parade Nigeria flying winger Ahmed Musa.

AFTERMATH OF DEFEAT TO GARCIA

IGER Tornadoes' coach, Justin Tenger said he is in the dark over management plan for the side's 2012/2013 National League season.

Tornadoes were demoted at the end of 2011/2012 NPL season after they finished 17th on 48 points from 36 matches.

Tenger said there has not been any word from the management after the last day game against Jigawa Golden Stars in Minna on September 7.

"I don't know anything the management has in place for the new season.

"Nobody has called me, there was no official pronouncement on break, no date for resumption, everybody is on his own.

"I'm totally in the dark over happenings in the team.

"I'm about to submit my technical report for the new season, maybe the occasion will avail me the opportunity to hear

and know the thinking of the management," he told supersport.com.

The former Kwara United gaffer said his continued stay with the team will depend on the responses of the management to new terms he will put before them.

"I'll stay with the team if they fulfilled my terms.

"Of course, I'm still on contract but I'll put before them new terms which we must amicably agree for my stay to be guaranteed," he said.

Tenger described the out gone season as terribly bad but added that his intention will be quick return of the team to the elite league.

"Last season was very poor but we must move on with our lives.

"If everything works very well my immediate target would be to return the team to the Premier League," he said.

Flamingos can win Group A- NFF

Ajose: I will return to the gym T

W

ORLD Boxing Council (WBC) Welterweight contender, Olusegun Ajose has decided to put his recent disappointment behind to return to the gym in preparation for another shot at the world title.

In a chat with reporters at the weekend, the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games second rounder, said his defeat to Danny Garcia penultimate week was a set-back though, but he will definitly not relent in his effort to win a world title.

Ajose got his long awaited opportunity to have a mandatory shot at the world titlr but was stopped by Garcia

By Innocent Amomoh

in the tenth round.

"I was not happy with myself that i lost, i was mad with myself, i know i could have done better i lost to a guy that i am technically better than, but he gave a good fight but for the spirit of fair play he won, and i think i need to get back to the gym and prepare better for another fight.

"The politics was there, but it is about the fight not the politics. He was better prepared, and tried my best and worked hard but i wasn't as prepared as i would want to.

"I changed my style against

Garcia because of his style. He punches very hard and so i had to change my style a little bit, but i would have done better to win the fight," he said.

Ajose continued: "I really have to get back to the gym and keep working hard.

Hopefully i should get a world title fight soon. Everything being equall maybe in a year or so.

"Obviously Garcia got a lot of support compared to what i got. It is sad because that is not the way it is supposed to be. I won almost everything except the Olympic Gold. And as a professional i have won almost everything except a world title. i shouldn't be

abandoned when i am preparing for a world title.

"The is my country and i am always proud to be a Nigerian, i should get the needed support but hopefully in my next fight i should get some support," he said.

Ajose said it will take about two million dollars to prapare for a world title fight. "It is an amount we can afford, and i just hope that in my career i will have an opportunity to showcase my tallent and let Nigerians know that they have a world class boxer.We are still working on it with help from some corporate bodies we should be able to make headways.

HE General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Barrister Musa Amadu has assured that the Flamingos are capable of topping Group A in the ongoing FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan despite playing a pulsating 1-1 score draw against Canada in their first group match on Saturday.

“It was an average good result.

I don’t have any fear whatsoever as regards the abilities of the team although we lost some scoring chances at goal. We showed clearly in the match that we are a better team than the Canadians.

“We will correct the mistakes we observed in the first match against Canada in the second group match against the host team Azerbaijan. This is a match we must win convincingly knowing fully well that the host

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja team ar just cutting their teeth in this level”, the NFF Scribe told NationSport yesterday. He also believed that with the support given to the team so far by the Football Federation, the Flamingos are capable of going far in the competition. “We have given and are giving all the necessary support to the team out there in Azerbaijan for the Flamingos to top the group which I am very sure we could”, Amadu assured.

Flamingos lost clear cut scoring chances at goal against Canada most especially in the first half of the first group match on Saturday and had to come back from a goal down to end the game in 1-1 score draw.

Colombia defeated the host team 3-0 in the second match to top the group.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL 7 NO 2,258

TODAY IN THE NATION ‘It remains a big puzzle why the owners of the MT Grace vessel, Capital Oil PLC to which the alleged stolen oil belongs were not arrested. We are yet to be told what has been done to the Navy, NPA, DPR and NIMASA who cleared and documented the controversial consignment for discharge at the tank farm’ EMEKA OMEIHE

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

W

E need a constitution for the varied peoples of Nigeria. But we need the varied peoples of Nigeria first. That is the conundrum in the search for a document that will tell us how to engage ourselves. But what we are looking for is not a constitution, but a formula for success.

I recall years ago when Hilla Liman was the leader of Ghana and the country was in a constitutional ferment. The thick-set man with a professorial air purred: “No document, no constitution can govern a people if the people are not ready to govern themselves.”

So while we have debated, sparred, issued petitions and memoranda over how to shape our new laws, we should consider whether what we have will redound to a society of legitimate hubris, the sort that produced the United States of America after contentious hours of cerebral exchanges. Or the French constitutions from republic to republic even as Charles de Gaulle saw his ego bruised. Or the British whose unwritten model continues to marvel although the country had to see itself decline. It was once the empire where the sun never set but now a shrinking island. Its finest hour came in the era of the man who coined the phrase with his courageous growl: Winston Churchill in the Second World War But no one can doubt the conjuncture of the two requirements in today’s Nigeria. We have a fractious people, debating the most trivial obsessions with as much zeal as the earthquake matters. These tell us that we are as far apart as we are close. We also need a template that will make these heterogeneous challenges worth the sweat and blood of the past few years.

If the Niger Delta States seek one thing, and the Southeast neighbours seek another in the midst of a rampaging North, what shall we say of the Southwest cousins who are working out a coherent document of internal engagement? This tells us that we are not discussing as yet other important ingredients of this formula: how do we educate our children to engage a technological world where even a cutting-edge nation like the United States is feeling left behind? How do we get our healthcare into a high gear where its brightest do not have to travel abroad to be doctors and its sick cannot get cure unless they travel abroad? Most of the country is not covered by infrastructure development even when the extant ones are in a state of terminal decay.

We produce a lot of food but most of it rots away while we go to a foreign country to launch an export product – palm produce – that we once taught others how to seed.

We are still in the early days, in the morning of Genesis where to identify anything we have to point because many things in

RIPPLES Mimiko alerts Jega to plans by ACN, INEC officials to rig election - News

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchsam@yahoo.com 08054501081(sms only) •Winner, Informed Commentary 2009& 2010 (D.A.M.E)

Out of Golgotha

•Senate President David Mark

Nigeria do not have a name yet, to adapt Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s classic novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude.

So what is the constitution going to do for us if we are not ready to do it on our own?

We have been calling for a truly federal state, for fiscal discipline, for the extirpation of corruption, for the rebirth of education, for a return to the agrarian glories of the palm oil days, the cocoa boom and the groundnut pyramid. We do not do these with any sense of togetherness but only with a sort of wistful impotence.

The northerner wants oil in the Chad for

HARDBALL

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Suspending or ending the banknote controversy

S

Sounds like the voice of a DROWNING MAN

revenge as much as the oil-laced Niger Delta denizen basks and gloats. But for us to have a true constitution we must be aware of who we are and how we relate to the others. We have not done a good job of that yet, except the Southwest that has come together with its integration strategy. The South-South will have to do something, but it has a greater challenge than the South west, the north and the Southeast, which enjoy greater degrees of cultural symmetry. In the Southsouth, the people are not one, in spite of the impression given outside. Contiguity does not amount to homogeneity. Given the histories of inter-ethnic conflicts and suspicions in the region, sometimes the relationship of the groups reminds one of playwright Jean Paul Satre’s famous quote: “Hell is other people.”

It will take a personage of Obafemi Awolowo’s image to construct such an alignment in the region. The concept of the Southsouth as a region is still arbitrary, just as Okoi Aripko described Nigeria as a mere geographical expression. Goodluck Jonathan does not have the moral heft or charismatic aura to do that because he thinks more like a Bayelsan than a South-south faithful.

The North did well in that front in the past, but only as a hegemonic project. The ebullient Governor Babangida Aliyu, as leader of the Northern Governors’ Forum, is investing his region with a sunny look while pushing positions that bring the North together as a force. Outside the Northern Governors Forum, the North has become fractured and it requires an outsize figure like the Saudauna to string the various tendencies together.

The Southeast has the potential but only the potential. Its elite have lofted a mercantile opportunism above the practical good of

an industrious race. Not long ago there was little outrage when some of its leaders dared to sell its presidential rights away of a bridge that was their right any way. That was when President Goodluck Jonathan remembered that his middle name was Azikiwe. It seems to me that only the memories of the civil war draw the Igbo together and that is a tragedy. But the people suffer month after month from the ravages of another civil war, which comes in the way of slow lynching.

The Southwest provides the best example.

With the exception of Ondo State because of a Judas governor, the rest of the Southwest is framing what is truly a formula for success.

It wants to work together in the areas of infrastructure, trade, education and seeks autonomy rights within a federal structure.

Where I differ with them is their call for a parliamentary system. The problem with presidentialism is not its expensiveness. Corruption suffocated the First Republic. A corrupt people cannot ennoble a good system, and vice versa. It is what we bring into the system that will make it what it becomes.

That brings me to where this article begins.

Is it the society that makes the law or the law that makes the society? The society makes the law so that the society can become itself.

When constitution monger Abbe Sieyes wanted to fashion a constitution for France in the Napoleonic era, the dictator wanted to insert many clauses that would make him a czar of France. Sieyes theSn asked Napoleon: Do you want to be a king then? We reject the present constitution because the military made it. Constitutions do not come out of vacuums. Prophet Isaiah wrote about the connection between law and experience: “To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because the light is not in them.” There is no law without a testimony and vice versa. We need to see episodes of our lives in the law before we can make it work, or else it will set us up for rigmarole.

“The revolution was in the hearts and minds of the American people,” asserted Benjamin Franklin in the high noon of the American Revolution. The 13 colonies saw themselves as different countries. But under the charisma of George Washington, they framed a constitution. They saw themselves in it.

Even at that it was not perfect. The people lived with it and have made several amendments, fought a civil war, accommodated the minorities and women, Catholics, etc . That is because they loved the country before they loved the document.

So as we contend to make a new law, we have to show if the document is just a theatre of war or a way out of Golgotha.

POKESMEN of the Presidency and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr Reuben Abati and Ugo Okoroafor respectively, on Wednesday issued separate statements announcing the suspension of the currency restructuring exercise that would have seen, among other things, the issuance of N5000 banknote. The statements indicated that the suspension would enable the CBN to do a lot more in persuading the public on why the restructuring was needed. Given the apparent suddenness of the decision, it was thought that the massive opposition to the new policy was persuasive enough to make the President yield to pressure. The CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, not being a politician himself, and therefore inured to the danger a disaffected electorate could constitute to the President, had been unyielding. He and his team had given the impression the opposition to the new banknote was uninformed.

It is unlikely the opposition to the currency restructuring exercise, which had taken many frenzied weeks to crystallise, would weaken anytime soon. At least two former Heads of State, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Gen Yakubu Gowon, had suggested the policy was misplaced and needed to be jettisoned. But

Sanusi had uncharitably countered by arguing that while former President Obasanjo, whose opposition to the policy received wide and dramatic publicity, was a good farmer, he was nonetheless a bad economist. That Sanusi counter itself was to generate another round of intense debates and helped tickle the imagination of comedians. A rough estimate of the distribution of opposition to the banknote policy showed that more people were opposed to it than supported it. And while Sanusi stood, and still probably stands, unreasonably inflexible on the policy, it is unlikely anyone can revive it, no matter how ingenious the apex bank’s economic arguments and propaganda are.

The most remarkable thing about the government’s volte face is how suddenly the Presidency changed its mind. It was evident to everyone that the National Assembly was dead set against the CBN policy. The President himself uncharacteristically read the mood of the legislature well. With the fire of the fuel subsidy brouhaha still burning, and an angry National Assembly still seething, it would be impolitic of the President to goad the eminent parliamentarians into more fury.

By finally disapproving the N5000 banknote,

the Presidency was both saving itself further confrontation with the legislature and helping Sanusi avoid a parliament that was still eager to cut him to size. The National Assembly, it will be recalled, had on resumption from recess made it a priority to draw a red line over the banknote controversy. The Presidency correctly read the legislature’s foul mood and sensed the hopelessness of fighting a battle it could not hope to win.

The National Assembly’s motion against the N5000 banknote makes the public wistful. Had the legislature joined the people in fighting the fuel subsidy withdrawal policy when the government heedlessly announced it on January 1, that battle would also probably have been won. Unlike Sanusi and the CBN, the legislature read the minds of Nigerians quite brilliantly and sensibly stood by them. It should be an alliance that must be nurtured if democracy is to survive and flourish. If the unwritten alliance between the people and the legislature worked this time, as indeed it should always do, we must wait to see whether the parliament could be trusted in the face of threatening controversies not to undermine the republic when it occasionally but recklessly indulges in moments of policy narcissism.

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