The Nation September 26, 2012

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Lagos police parade three ‘Bloody Sunday’ suspects P15 Nigerian girls spank FIFA U-17 host Azerbaijan 11-0 P23 Hundreds homeless as floods sack Oyo villages P13 www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 7, NO. 2260 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

ONDO 2012

N150.00

•We resigned, say Mimiko’s ex-aides •Oke: LP planning to rig Ondo poll •Akeredolu seeks transfer of police chief

•AND MORE ON

PAGES 10-12&51

PHCN: FirstBank, Otedola, IBB, Elumelu bid $1.11b Berger, Nestoil, others among successful bidders

By Emeka Ugwuanyi and John Ofikhenua, Abuja

A

MAJOR step in the battle for stable electricity was taken yesterday.

Construction giant Julius Berger, First Bank, Transcorp and Forte Oil, owned by businessman Femi Otedola, are among the consortia of companies named as successful bidders for the unbundled Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) generation firms.

Five of the six generation companies were put up for the bid. The sixth – Afam Generation Company – was excluded because non of the three companies that submitted bids for it was qualified.

The six generation companies are part of the 18 firms in the unbundled PHCN – the power behomoth that has failed to take this country out of darkness.

National Council on Privatisation (NCP) chair Mr. Atedo Peterside announced the result.

The companies are located in Geregu, Ughelli, Sapele, Shiroro and Kainji.

The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) named a consortium, which includes Transcorp Nigeria Plc, as the highest bidder for the Ughelli Power Plc, with an offer of $300 million.

The consortium of Transcorp and Wood Continued on page 2

•Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate in the October 20 governorship election in Ondo State Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu speaking at a Youths Forum in Akure...on Monday. Story on Page 12

Excess Crude Account: States demand shares in NIPP, others •Supreme Court gives Nov. 21 deadline

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HERE is a twist to the suit filed by the 36 states against the Federal Government over the legality of the Excess Crude Account (ECA).

Although it was for hearing yesterday, the matter could no go on because the parties were yet to settle.

The states have tabled fresh demands before the Federal Government as part of conditions for an amicable settlement.

Federal Government counsel Austin Alegeh (SAN) said the fresh demands were received last Thursday.

He told the panel of seven justices, chaired

by Justice, Christopher Chukwuma-Eneh,

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

that the Federal Government was committed to an amicable settlement.

“Happily, the settlement has been ongoing and we are achieving results. On Thursday, we received new proposed settlement from the plaintiff. The defendant is reviewing it and we will shortly revert to the plaintiffs in respect thereof. We believe now more than ever before that the settlement move seems to be yielding results.”

The Plaintiffs’ lead counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), promised to embrace setContinued on page 2

•Vice President Namadi Sambo (left) presenting the 18th National Sports Festival “Eko 2012” Torch of Unity to Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola at the Presidential Villa, Abuja...yesterday.

Story on Page 41

•SPORT P23 •LIFE P25 •MONEY P30 •INVESTORS P34 •POLITICS P51

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

NEWS Senate seeks supplementary budget to tackle flood

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HE Senate yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to submit a supplementary budget to address the immediate needs of victims of flooding in parts of the country.

This followed the adoption of a motion entitled: “The menace of flooding in Nigeria.”

The motion was sponsored by Senator Danlandi Sankara (Jigawa North-West) and 27 others.

The senators urged the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to “take steps to de-silt waterways and tributaries which are silted and taken over by shrubs to allow for channels and easy flow of water to contain the ravaging flood.”

They enjoined the “Federal Government in collaboration with other relevant agencies to initiate proactive and preventive measures to guard against future recurrence of flood disasters in the country.”

In his lead debate, Senator Sankara urged the Senate to note that flood has ravaged many states especially those

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

states along the River Niger, River Benue, the Cross River, the Gongola River, the Iyere River and their tributaries.

The Jigawa Senator also urged the lawmakers to take cognizance of the fact that a lot of people have died since midJuly due to the heavy downpour, while property worth billions of naira were washed away by the floods.

He noted that thousands of houses have collapsed as a result of the heavy rains, especially in rural areas, across the country.

He said he was alarmed that in Jigawa State, about 70 per cent of the houses in various communities have collapsed while others were submerged by flood.

Senate President David Mark lamented a situation where there is no Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to respond to emergencies in Nigeria.

Mark said the flooding is a clear demonstration that the country is totally unprepared

to tackle any natural disaster like earthquake if it does occur in Nigeria.

He said: “We don’t have a standard operating procedure in this country and again the rehearsal that they were going to do sometimes in Port Harcourt that became a disaster is just a typical example of how unprepared we are.

“What has happened now shows our level of unpreparedness for any natural disaster.

“If there is earthquake, God forbid, in this country tomorrow so many people will be dead.

“The reaction is bad. The reaction time is not there. The response capacity is not there and we will not know what to do.”

The Senate President noted that the rains have been excessive, but said the relevant agencies ought to have anticipated and prepared.

Senate Minority Leader George Akume (Benue North West) noted that the flood in Benue State was unprecedented and devastating.

He said that was the first time he ever witnessed the volume of water from River Benue.

He lamented that River Benue has not been dredged for the last 40 years and appealed to the Federal Government to dredge River Benue to prevent future occurrence of the kind of disaster witnessed.

He suggested that there might be need for Nigeria and Cameroon to collaborate to use the Cameroonian dam for the mutual benefit of both countries.

Senator Gbenga Ashafa noted that last year, there was heavy flood that affected Lagos and Oyo state.

He said Nigerians must begin to appreciate the fact that what happens in one part of the country affects other parts.

Senator Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West) said the flood in Kogi State has not happened in the last 50 years.

He said that nine local governments in the state have been submerged while about 9.5 million people were affected by the flood.

•From left, Chairman Senate Committee on Privatisation, Senator Olugbenga Obadara; Chairman, Technical Committee (TC) National Council on Privatisation, Mr Atedo Peterside and Chairman, Transcorp Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu,after the announcement of Transcorp Consortium as the winner of the Ughelli Power Plant in Abuja…yesterday

Fed Govt, states continue battle over Excess Crude Account Continued from page 1

tlement, if there is genuine commitment by the Defendant.

Consequently, the panel adjourned till November 22 for report of settlement or the taking of all motions.

According to the Terms of Settlement, the states are asking the Federal Government to first admit that the establishment and operation of and its unilateral deductions from the Ecxess Crude Account during the 2004 -2007 were inconsistent with the provisions of Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution.

They also asked that the Federal Government should undertake and agree that, forthwith upon the execution of this Terms of Settlement, it shall cause all sums standing to the credit of the Excess Crude Account to be transferred to the Federation Account and distributed, within 10 working days from the execution of this Terms of Settlement, among the beneficiaries of the Federation Account, i.e the Federal Government, State Governments and Local Government Councils.

Besides, they are asking the Federal Government to bear the legal costs and the professional fees of the lawyers for all the parties. This sum is to be paid within seven days of the execution of the Terms of Settlement, directly to the Plaintiff’s lead counsel.

The states are demanding equitable shares corresponding to each state and local government council monetary values in the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), Railway Modernisation Deductions and Ibom Power Plant Project Deductions.

To start with, they want all the assets, including contracts of the NIPP which was paid for using about $8.425 billion “from the Federation Account to be clearly identified, inventoried and valued by a competent and reputable Nigerian accounting firm.

Besides, they said the Federal Government should cause a company, whose sole object shall be to takeover and operate the assets and undertaking of the NIPP, to be incorporated as a limited liability company under the Companies and Allied Matters Cap C20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 with a share capital in a sum equivalent to the value of assets and undertaking of the NIPP as valued •That cause the share capital of the company incorporated is to be issued and allotted among the Federal Government, each State Government and each Local Government Council in proportion to their respective share of the US$8.425 billion from the Federation Account used to purchase and/or acquire the NIPP assets; •cause the inventoried and valued assets of the NIPP to be transferred to the company formed in pursuance of sub-clause 2.3.2 above, as payment, on its own behalf and on behalf of each State Government and Local Government Council, for the shares issued and allotted in pursuance of sub-clause 2.3.3 above, and procure the company to issue share certificates in accordance with the allotment; •enter into a shareholders’ agreement among the shareholders of the company incorporated , which will govern the rights and obligations of shareholders of the company in relation to the management and control of the company; and •waive and/or procure the waiver of the payment of any stamp duties, registration fees or other fees howsoever described relating to the incorporation of the company required to be incorporated.

The states also stated the above conditions for the Railway Modernisation Project (RMP), which was paid using about $250 million from the Federation Account.

FirstBank, Berger, others bid $1.11b for PHCN’s firms The eight top bidders

Continued from page 1

Rock/Symbion Power/ Medea/PSL/Thomasen emerged as the preferred bidder over Amperion Power Distribution Ltd and Feniks Electricity.

Amperion, a consortium, which includes Forte Oil Plc, a petrol marketing firm with majority shares owned by Otedola, offered $252 million to emerge as reserve bidder.

Symbion Power is a United States (U.S) electricity company, Medea is a Luxemburgbased engineering firm. PSL is an indigenous firm and Thomassen Services, an Oman engineering company.

For Geregu Power Plant, a group known as Amperion Power Distribution Ltd, which includes Forte Oil Plc, won with a bid of 132 million.

Other partners in Amperion include Guernsey, a company located in a United Kingdom (UK) protectorate in Europe and Shanghai Municipal Electric Power of China.

For Sapele Power Plc, CMEC/Eurafric Energy JV, a consortium, which includes financial giant FirstBank Nigeria Plc, won the bid with an offer of $201 million.

The reserved bidder for Sapele is a group comprising

F

ENIKS Electricity (Ughelli), an Israeli registered company. It is into energy, real estate, media and hotels; •IPP Energy Limited from Canada and Nigeria Power engineering; Plethora Gas & Power Limited Nigeria Power and Gas, Israel Electric Corporation, Israel Power generation, distribution & transmission, Atlantic Projects Company Inc USA & Ireland •Transcorp and Wood Rock/ Symbion/ Medea/ Thomasen PSL Power (Ughelli), includes Transnational Corporation of Nigeria PLC (Transcorp), a Nigerian diversified conglomerate quoted on the Nigeria Stock Exchange with strategic investments and core interests in energy, hospitality and agri-business sectors.

•Symbion Power LLC USA into electricity infrastructure construction, specialising in turn-key electric power systems. Medea Development S.A. Luxemburg, which is into engineering and projects development services for oil and gas and power companies. PSL Engineering and Control Nigeria an engineer-

Julius Berger Nigeria, which offered $106.5 million above the reserve price of $106 million.

North-South Power Company Ltd, with former Military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida as a promoter, Niger State government as a stakeholder, won the bid for Shiroro Power Plant, offering $23.6 million.

Other core investors in the

ing and systems control company for various sectors, including power, oil and gas and manufacturing.

•Thomassen Services and Contracting Company is into engineering, procurement and construction of power plants.

Amperion ( Ughelli and Geregu), Forte Oil Plc Nigeria and BSG Power Limited.

•Guernsey BSG Power Limited, a subsidiary of BSG Resources Limited, is an investment firm in power and renewable energy projects. Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company Limited/ SGCC of China, is into electric power generation, transmission and distribution, electricity sales, power grid planning and construction.

•CMEC/Eurafric Energy (Sapele). China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) is the Chinese company, which is building the Phase 2 of Omotosho Power Plant. It is into Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC), operations and maintenance, contract services, mining, power, real estate and international trade. Eurafric En-

company include indigenous firms XS Energy Ltd, BP Investment Ltd, Urban Shelter Ltd and Road Nigeria Plc. The “Shiroro Group’’ also has China International Water Electric and China Three Gorges Corporation, an electric power utility company.

For Kainji, Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd, a consortium which includes businessman

ergy Limited is a Nigerian EPC contractor in power transmission and distribution projects, oil and gas development and aviation. British Power International of United Kingdom is into power sector consultancy and technical advisory services.

First Bank Plc, which is part of the consortium, is a leading Nigerian bank that is into project financing and corporate and commercial banking. Aelex Solicitors and Arbitrators is a Nigerian company that is into legal advisory services, especially energy.

•JBN-Nestoil Power Services L imited (Sapele). Nestoil Plc is a Nigerian energy and associated infrastructure engineering and services provider owned by Mr. Ernest Azudialu. The company bidded through its subsidiary, Century Power Generation. Julius Berger Investment Limited, a German company, is also part of the consortium, is a construction and engineering company. Babcock Borsig

Col. Sani Bello, and NIGELEC, a Niger Republic registered company, is the preferred bidder, with an offer of $50.7 million.

The companies offered a total $1.119billion for the five companies.

The eight firms that qualified for the five companies are: Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited (Geregu),

Continued on page 60

Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited (Kainji), North-South Power Company Limited (Shiroro), Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited (Ughelli), Feniks Electricity Limited (Ughelli), Transcorp & Woodrock/ Symbion/ Medea/ PSL/ Thomassen (Ughelli), CMEC/Eurafric Energy JV (Sapele) and JBN-NesContinued on page 60

•Gen. Babangida

CORRECTION In yesterday’s editorial, “Unworthy process”, we referred to Mr. Jelani Aliyu as the man “who designed the world’s first electric chair”.

Aliyu, a Nigerian, designed the General Motors’ leading auto brand, Chevrolet Volt.

The error is regretted.

ADVERT HOTLINES: 08023006969, 08052592524 NEWSROOM: LAGOS – 01-8962807, ABUJA – 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

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NEWS

The hell called prisons Prisons are meant to be reform centres. But, over the years, they have been unable to play this role. Ex-inmates of the Kirikiri Maximum and Medium Security Prisons set free on September 18 by the Chief Judge of Lagos State Justice Ayotunde Phillips paint a pathetic picture of the prisons, write ADEBISI ONANUGA and NNEKA NWANERI

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ETRAN Anwagu was in his shop around CMS Bus Stop, Lagos Island in 2005 when he had a misunderstanding with another man and had the story of his life rewritten . Dennis Etim was arrested for robbery, instead of fighting in 2010.

Sanni Musa, a trader at the Mile 12 Market, Ketu, on the outskirts of Lagos, was arrested in place of a suspected armed robber in June 2005.

And Ifeanyi Nwaeze, an ex-commercial bus driver from Delta State, was accused of robbing someone in Egbeda, on the outskirts of Lagos.

They were all kept in a prison cell alongside hardened criminals.

In the bleak, windswept landscape of the rapidly swelling Kirikiri Medium and Maximum Prisons, they withered.

Their looks tell tales of agony. The eyes’ sockets are seemingly loosened.

They are the metaphor of lack, the simile of dejection and the apt representation of want. Yet, they just came out of what should be a reformatory centre.

No thanks to overcrowding, caused by high population of Awaiting Trial Inmates, the Kirikiri Maximum and Medium Prisons and others across the country have become the chambers of horror.

Every day, an average of 1000 Nigerians are dumped in prisons, remaining there without trial. There are those who have been there for about three years or more without being taken to court for once. Of the 42,000 inmates in the country’s prisons, 34,000 are awaiting trial, according to Minister of Interior Abba Moro.

Some believe that the figures may be inaccurate given the country’s poor record-keeping.

Inmates lack enough bed spaces.

So, not all enjoy the luxury of sleeping on the bed. Cells are unclean and without proper ventilation. Diseases are widespread. The government does not perform its role of meeting the daily needs of prisoners, leaving missionary bodies, charity groups and Nong-Governmental Organisations (NGO) to fill the gaps.

The prisons provide for inmates to engage in vocations such as carpen-

try, tailoring and so on. But not all can benefit from these. Inmates awaiting trial are excluded. They are made to pass time in prisons with nothing to show for it. Some of them have been in detention for much longer than the sentence they would have got on conviction.

Anwagu can confirm it. The 54year-old, on September 18, regained freedom from the Kirikiri Prisons courtesy of a pardon granted him and 232 others by the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, in exercise of the powers conferred on her under Section1(1) of the Criminal justice Release from Custody Act, Law of the Federation of Nigeria.

It was part of the activities marking the 2012/2013 Legal Year. The beneficiaries include those who have been in prison custody for upwards of three years and above, awaiting trial. They were committed to prison custody on holding charges by magistrate courts.

Anambra State-born Anwagu was arrested on March 9, 2005.

He said: “Life there was difficult.

The food we were given here was not good. Though we were being fed thrice a day, the food was nothing, especially the soup. Those that had money used it to cook. Someone like me, I didn’t like the food I was served a night before I was released.

So, I went to bed hungry. Before I came to prison, I was not married.

The woman I was planning to marry, I haven’t seen her since this thing happened to me. “ Anwagu found himself in prison for street-fighting. According to him, a man had come to him at CMS Bus Stop, Lagos Island, where he was selling provisions. He claimed to have fought him.

Anwagu, who lost the opportunity of getting married to his heartthrob as a result of his arrest, said he was first taken to the Police Headquatres annex (Lion Building) in Lagos.

“Two hours later, the police came back with two more people and the following morning, the four of us were taken before the DPO as those

•Justice Phillips and the Deputy Comptroller General of the Prision Tinuoye Olumide (left) at the Kirikiri Prisons

found on the crime scene. That very morning, we were charged with armed robbery and remanded at Panti and later we were brought to Kirikiri.”

The unfairness of the justice system was corroborated by an ex-inmate, Etim, 39. The father of four said he had a fight with somebody with whom he had a business transaction.

He claimed that in the course of the fight, the other man’s N15,000 got missing and he was arrested for robbery, instead of fighting. That was in 2010.

Etim, who spent two years and nine months in prison, alleged that the police officer, who investigated the matter, asked his mother to bring N250,000 to set him free.

He said: “ The I PO asked me to bring N250,000 so that he can set me free. He negotiated the price with my mum, then later on that day when he wanted to take me to court, he said my mother should bring N20,000 that he will change the robbery case to stealing. Then my mother said ‘no, my son did not steal anything’. So, immediately my mother left that day, he said my mother should come the next morning; it was that very morning, he took me to court, because my mother came late.”

Like other prisons, Kirikiri is congested. Awaiting Trial Prisoners (ATPs) are more than convicts. For instance, the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison has 1,056 inmates. 763 are awaiting trials. The Medium Security Prison has 2,502 inmates; 2,378

Nigeria braces for escalation in terrorist attacks

Senior political and military figures say government has lost control of security amid wave of Boko Haram bombings, writes The Guardian of UK

T

HE Nigerian government has lost control of security, according to its own advisers, and lacks a coherent strategy to counter the threat of terrorism.

Senior political and military figures have told The Guardian of their growing pessimism over the government’s ability to contain Boko Haram, the Islamist sect responsible for a deadly wave of

bombings and kidnappings in northern Nigeria, and are bracing themselves for an escalation in attacks.

“We have a serious problem in Nigeria and there is no sense that the government has a real grip,” a senior official close to the government said on condition of anonymity. “The situation is not remotely under control. It is just a matter of time before we see more

large-scale attacks that pose a significant threat to national security, and now Nigeria’s economic growth is also at risk.”

Boko Haram – whose name is often translated as “western education is sinful” – has become increasingly sophisticated in its operations since first launching mass attacks in northern Nigeria in 2010.

The sect first began using vio-

‘

To solve this problem would mean a total overhaul and re-planning of the criminal justice administration system. I must state that the job of decongesting the prisons vested in the Justice Ministry has not been really effective. There should be a redesigning to involve the prisons and the supervising ministry and the police and civil society organisations

‘

are awaiting trial inmates. 124 are convicts.

Most of the ATPs are in custody for petty offences. Musa, one of those freed by the Lagos chief judge, was a trader at the Mile 12 Market, Ketu, on the outskirts of Lagos. He told The Nation that policemen arrested him in place of a suspected armed robber. That was in June 2005. He said of his seven years in prison: “No enjoyment for life here o. Nothing dey here.

If I commot here now, I go go back to my brother where he dey sell market.”

Another beneficiary of Justice Phillips’ gesture, Victor Kapan, was dumped in prison when he was 20.

He is now 32.

He said: “I was a motorcycle mechanic until I was brought in here in year 2000.

Before then, some boys brought a document that I should help them change it to their own. That was all I know. I keep thanking God that I am still alive till this date because he has given me a second chance and I will never do anything that will bring me to prison again.”

The story of his life has been rewritten. “While I was here, my aunt who used to visit me, died. I also lost my junior brother and senior sister while I was there and I wasn’t allowed to attend their burials. As soon as I leave, I’ll go back to my former job but I will first go and see

lence against the Nigerian government and police in 2003, and is believed to have advanced its operations in recent months by attracting funding and support from al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb and al-Shabaab.

In 2009 Boko Haram launched a new phase of operations following the killing of its leader, Muhammad Yusuf, by police and security forces.

Since then, a spate of deadly church bombings has left hundreds dead, while attacks on mobile phone base stations have paralysed telecommunications in northern Nigeria, causing an estimated £3m worth of damage.

The government has attempted to fight back against the sect, and claims to have killed at least 35 suspected militants earlier this week, and detained 60 others during raids in Adamawa and

Yobe states in northern Nigeria – two of the areas most affected by the violence.

But its failure to stop Boko Haram attacks has led many to question the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan, who promised in March that security services would have ended the insurgency by June.

A senior defence official, who asked not to be named, expressed concern that the government had failed to demonstrate the necessary political leadership to combat the threat posed

by Boko Haram.

“Leadership is the problem,” said the source. “When we had military dictatorships in Nigeria, we did not experience this kind of weak decisionmaking. There is no way we can combat this threat without more decisive action. You cannot divorce what is happening from weak leadership and the failure to repair the divisions in our society.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

5

NEWS

in Nigeria, by ex-inmates

•A cross section of Kirikiri inmates

•An Open University Centre at Kirikiri: Awaiting trial inmates can’t benefit from it PHOTOS: BISI ONANUGA AND NNEKA NWANERI

• Moro

•Kapan

•Musa

•Odus

•Anwagu

my aged mother in the village. Then, when God blesses me, I’ll come to worship at the chapel here and visit my brothers.”

Nwaeze wasted five years in Kirikiri. The ex-commercial bus driver from Delta State was accused of robbery.

He said: “I was born September 19 1982. They said that I went and robbed someone in Egbeda. So, they came and arrested me in my house but I didn’t do anything. They took me to the station and I spent like six months at the station. While I was there, no one came to make a statement that I actually robbed him. I was

taken to a court in Ikeja once and then taken to the Kirikiri Medium Prisons for more than two years before I was brought to the Maximum Prisons.”

His ordeal has made him appreciate God. “When I was in the free world, I never used to go to church, but I knew I was serving God. But since I came here, I am now serving the living God. Today, I feel a big relief. If my mother hears my voice, she will cry. My sister and I are the only children she has. When I leave, I will go to the East and meet my parents. I can manage some of my father’s property. I don’t want to go back to

the life I used to live, living life like tomorrow did not exist. But since I had this problem, none of those ladies I used to waste money on or my so called friends has come to visit me.”

Henry Odus also benefitted from Justice Phillips’s benevolence. Odus was convicted for murder. He admitted committing the offence, which saw him spending years in prison before the chief judge came to his rescue.

Odus said: “ I was married before I came here, with two children. My wife left me and my two children came to visit me once in a while. All

I can do now is to have a repentant mind.”

But if the words of Williams Owodo, an inmate serving life at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons, are anything to go by, many of those still at the prisons may not deserve to be there.

He said: “Most of us who were sentenced to death are innocent. And Governor Babatunde Fashola should please look into our case. Our statements were written under duress.”

Morro agrees the criminal justice system needs overhauling to decongest the prisons and prevent innocent people from languishing in jail with-

out trial.

He said: “To solve this problem would mean a total overhaul and replanning of the criminal justice administration system. I must state that the job of decongesting the prisons vested in the Justice Ministry has not been really effective. There should be a redesigning to involve the prisons and the supervising ministry and the police and civil society organisations.”

Until then, the population of those awaiting trial will keep rising. It was 30,000 in 2010. Moro said it is now 34,000. What will it be next year?

“The level of poverty in the north, and the way southerners are behaving with impunity – it is not surprising that there is this level of discontent in northern Nigeria.”

Experts have frequently attributed the rise of Boko Haram to the growing divide between rich and poor in Nigeria, compounded by regionalism that has often pitched the largely Christian south against the predominantly Muslim north.

Of the two-thirds of Nigerians – 100 million people – living below the poverty line, Nigeria’s national bureau of statistics said that the number living on less than one dollar a day was higher in the north, with rates of around 70%, compared with rates closer to 50% in the south. Much of the north has illiteracy rates of above 75%.

“These acts are a reaction against decades of neglect,” the source close to the government said. “They are similar factors to what we saw driving revolu-

tion in the Arab spring.

“The Boko Haram phenomenon underlines the failure of the Nigerian state,” said Manir Dan Ali, editor of the Daily Trust newspaper. “The government has ignored the advice of its own security officials, who warned of the danger signals long ago, and worse, lacks a coherent strategy for dealing with the problem and its underlining causes of poverty, neglect and a lack of opportunities for the young.”

Resentment towards the Nigerian authorities has been compounded by human rights abuses, including extra-judicial killings, experts say.

“Male members of security forces have been going in and raiding women’s quarters – terrifying the women and humiliating the men,” said Chidi Odinkalu, chair of Nigeria’s national human

rights commission. “These are minimal things that the state should be able to achieve – to train the soldiers on these sensitivities and use female soldiers.

You can’t fight an insurgency by alienating part of the community.”

The source close to the government said: “There are middleranking senior officers who understand the counter-productive nature of raids and extrajudicial executions. But that understanding is not filtering down quickly enough to junior officers – they are making bad decisions and they are not adequately trained. The police are ethically broken, and the armed forces don’t trust the police.

“If you talk to Nigerians in the north, the misbehaviour of the security forces has become a significant factor in strengthening

support for Boko Haram.”

The military said it had addressed the problem of abuses by security services and changed its approach to operations in northern Nigeria. “We are beginning to win the hearts and minds of the people,” said Colonel Muhammad Yerima, director of defence information. “We are closing in on the terrorists – the more we catch them and interrogate them and get information, and stop the people that are supporting them, the more we will be able to combat this threat.”

But the relationship between Boko Haram and officials is complex, experts say, with some members of the security services assisting the sect. “Some members of the security forces have been working as double agents,” said Adunola Abiola, founder of Think Security Africa, a thinktank specialising in

security issues in Africa.

“Improved and regular vetting of security personnel is very important for improving security management in the country generally.”

The Nigerian government has been under renewed pressure to combat Boko Haram since the US decided to designate three members of the sect as foreign terrorists, giving US authorities powers under US law to take action.

“This designation would in theory give various departments and agencies in the US government the power to actively pursue these men which could in theory result in a violation of Nigeria’s sovereignty and possibly even territorial integrity,” said Abiola. “It was severely embarrassing for the federal government and reinforced domestic criticism that it was incapable of performing the most basic of sovereign functions.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

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CITYBEATS

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

441 commercial bus drivers use cocaine, hemp, say Idris, Opeifa N O FEWER than 441 commercial bus drivers in Lagos State have tested positive to the use of cocaine and marijuana, Lagos State Commissioner for Health Dr. Jide Idris said yesterday.

The drivers, Idris said, were detected during a screening in some parks in Iyana-Ipaja a Lagos suburb.

Idris and his Transportation counterpart, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, at a briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, said government would try any motorists found to be driving under the influence of

By Miriam Ndikanwu and Wale Adepoju

drugs or alcohol.

The government, he said, had constantly educated drivers on the dangers associated with consumption of alcohol while on the wheels.

He said: “We have so far screened 2500 drivers for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) using breathalysers with the following results obtained.

781 were found to be driving under the influence of

alcohol. 601 were found to be hypertensive. 441 were positive to psychotropic drugs, especially cocaine and marijuana. 940 were screened for visual impairment and 13 per cent had to be given special glasses.”

Idris said because of the grave consequences of driving under such influences, the government invoked Section 21 (1), of the traffic law, which prescribes N100, 000 fine or two years imprisonment or both for offenders.

Road accidents, he said,

had become major causes of deaths in the country, adding that the government may not achieve the desired health indices if it ignores the menace of road crashes.

He said: “Alcohol and substance abuse has been documented as the cause of road traffic accidents and several studies had shown that an intoxicated driver is a danger to himself, his passengers and other road users.”

Idris said a major breakthrough was recorded during the campaign in motor

parks against irresponsible driving, with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Guinness Nigeria Plc. The partnership, he said, was geared towards changing people’s attitude to alcohol and reduce its menace of harmful consumption.

Opeifa said government was focusing on motor parks to make the awareness effective because of their involvement in mass transportation.

The new Road Traffic Law, he said, was meant to restore sanity and ensure discipline among road users.

Driver sets vehicle on fire to evade arrest

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N 18-YEAR-OLD commercial bus driver, Okwudili Oputa, of 13 Karimu Giwa Street, Abule Oshun, a Lagos suburb, on Monday set his bus on fire to evade arrest by officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

Oputa and his conductor, Daniel, assaulted a LASTMA official, Ojutayo Oluwarotimi, and removed his badge.

The mini bus, otherwise known as Danfo, with registration number MUS 372XA, went up in flames at the Total Filling Station, Ojota, opposite the Gani Fawehimi Freedom Park.

The fire was quenched by the joint efforts of the officials of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Nigerian Civil

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

Defence Corps and filling station attendants.

Oputa, who was apprehended for obstructing traffic, blamed his conductor, Daniel, who is at large, for the offence. His intention, he said, was to scare the officers away and not to commit arson.

“Daniel said we should do Shakara as scare tactic to chase the officers away,” he said during interrogation.

The Imo State born Oputa said it was his conductor who brought out a bottle of petrol and sprayed the vehicle.

He confirmed that he set the bus on fire, attributing it to bad advice from his conductor.

LASTMA General Manager Mr Babatunde Edu con-

•Oputa and the partly burnt bus

demned the action, urging other drivers to cooperate with traffic officials.

Edu wondered why com-

mercial bus drivers always attack LASTMA officials.

He appealed to motorists to always see LASTMA as a

Two-year-old accident victim dies

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TWO-YEAR-OLD boy who was among the victims of Monday’s accident on Fatai Atere Way, Mushin, Lagos, is dead.

Mubarak Ololade sustained severe injuries on his jaws and part of his head, a source said.

The little boy was unconscious at the time he was rushed to Mushin General Hospital with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Akeem Ololade and two others.

He was placed on oxygen in the intensive care unit of the hospital on ad-

•Wreckage of the car...on Monday

By Precious Igbonwelundu

mission on Monday evening. He died a few hours later.

A trailer had crushed the Audi saloon car marked Lagos FS330EKY carrying the five passengers including the little boy.

They were immediately rushed to the hospital by the Lagos State Ambulance Bus (LASAMBUS) for medical attention.

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friend and not hesitate at lodging complaints to the authority whenever they are aggrieved.

Lawmakers okay N30b bond

By Oziegbe Okoeki

L

AGOS State House of Assembly has approved a N30 billion bond requested by Governor Babatunde Fashola.

It had earlier okayed a N50 billion bond in this year’s budget.

Fashola’s request followed government’s inability to access the World Bank/DPO loan of N30 billion as approved in the budget.

Considering the recommendation of the Committee on Budget presented by its Chairman, Hon. Mudashir Obasa, the House approved that the N30 billion World/DPO’s loan be converted to bond thereby, increasing the total to N80billion while the budget size remains N491 billion.

The House asked the government to notify it on time of any challenge in accessing funds.

The House also adopted the committee’s recommendation that it should be supplied with the agreement between the state and the World Bank on the facility.

The government is also to give the House the statement of account in respect of the first tranche to enable the lawmakers verify the disbursement of the fund in relation to the affected projects, while the subsequent facility is to be attached to the proposed capital project.

The House similarly requested that it should be furnished with the debt profile of the state (both foreign and local) including outstanding liabilities before it eventually accede to the request.

Doctor for probe over complicity DOCTOR at the Isolo told her to opt for out in rape case police General Hospital, in of court settlement so as to

Lagos, may face a disciplinary panel for allegedly issuing a fake report to cover a crime.

Investigations revealed that the consultant paediatrician allegedly connived with the Ejigbo Police Division to pervert justice.

A source at the hospital said a case would be instituted against the doctor.

He said other doctors who engaged in similar unethical practices were either dismissed or severely punished.

The doctor is said to have given a false verdict in a case of the rape of a five-year-old girl (names withheld), on two different occasions by a 50-year-old trailer driver, Segun Balogun, of 1, Araromi Street, Ejigbo, on August 27.

On August 29, The Nation reported how the police pressured the victim’s mother, Victoria Umoh, to withdraw the matter, demanding N5, 000 from her to institute a case against the suspect.

It was also reported how the suspect claimed that he only used his fingers on the girl. His claims were however, repudiated at a private hospital, Testimony Medical, where the girl was first examined.

Mrs Umoh was given a form at the station and asked by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Afolabi

By Precious Igbonwelundu

Folorunsho, to specifically go to Isolo General Hospital for the girl’s examination.

At the hospital, the victim’s mother alleged that a medical officer, who was supposed to examine her daughter refused to do so and asked them to pay before they could get a report. ‘’I was not happy and I told the doctor that he has not examined my daughter. So why should we go and pay money? And the doctor said I should go to a private laboratory and run a test. ‘’The day we went for the report, he was not around and it was the doctor whose name was on the report that wrote and signed it for us. I went with one of my brothers and my brother asked the doctor to check my baby before writing the report, but he said he would write the report based on what he saw on the card, ’’ she said.

The September 9, report said, no injury was found on the girl, and as such, the rape claim could not be substantiated.

Mrs. Umoh, also alleged that she is being threatened by the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) Titilope Ayegun, for telling reporters that she was asked to bring N5, 000. She alleged that the

collect N500, 000 from the suspect and share.

The DPO, she alleged, on several occasions, threatened to send her to jail for lying against an innocent man. She said immediately she got the report, the DPO asked that the matter be charged to court.

The Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), and Office of Public Defender (OPD), was said to have written to the Ejigbo Magistrate’s Court, indicating their desire to carry out a comprehensive medical check on the victim following the allegations by her mother, that she could no longer control her urine.

A letter was also sent to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), for an extensive check on the girl.

Magistrate M.B. Folami, who read the letter in court, remanded the suspect in prison custody pending the report from LASUTH. When the matter resumed on Monday, LASUTH’s report, which was handed over to the Magistrate, confirmed that the minor was violated.

It indicated that her hymen was broken, laceration was noticed at the right side of her labia minora and she was highly traumatised, which was contrary to the report signed by Dr. Asuni of Isolo General Hospital.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

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NEWS ‘Pirate’ names accomplices

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SUSPECTED pirate, who was arrested at Igbokoda, Ondo State, has named some highly-placed Nigerians as some of the backers of his group. The suspect, who is being detained in an undisclosed place, has named some of his accomplices, who the police have declared wanted.

One of the suspects was said to have scaled the wall of his house when security agents attempted to arrest him last weekend.

According to a source, the suspected kingpin, known as Wazobia was arrested after a gun duel that lasted for about 35 minutes.

The combined team shortly after, also raided the pirates’ training camp where they apprehended 13 others after some resistance.

Recovered at the camp were explosive devices, long range high calibre weapons, about 10,000 ammunition of various types and other dangerous items.

The security agents also recovered an operational map indicating that the hijackers were planning to launch another attack on the high seas.

The suspects, particularly their leader, it was learnt, made useful statements to the police.

The leader of the gang told the security operatives that he and his men had hijacked close to 20 fully loaded vessels on the high seas, in the last 10 months.

According to the prime suspect, no fewer than 24 persons, including three foreigners and uniformed men had been killed by the gang.

The major suspect, it was learnt, also named about three other storage facilities where stolen oil was being deposited for onward distribution.

One of the facilities located in Apapa, Lagos, had been sealed off by the government, as its top management staff were arrested and questioned.

Security agents are currently mounting surveillance on the others.

Wazobia said the last vessel hijacking operation he took part in with some of his boys, was about two weeks ago, where he said they killed a foreigner on board and also took some money in hard currencies.

The prime suspect gave the name of the affected vessel as M . T. Rosatomassos.

Foundation holds conference THE Foundation for Development and Environmental Initiatives (FDI) will hold its fourth International Conference on Emerging Urban Africa from October 11 to 12.

It will hold at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos with the theme: Good Urban Governance for Effective Service Delivery in Nigeria.

A statement from the Executive Director, Emeritus Prof Michael Filani and Secretary Miss Ronke Adetunji, said the conference fee is N75,000 per participant.

The statement said international and national experts of repute have been invited to present papers on 10 subthemes.

Expected participants include governors, legislators, ministers, representatives of the Presidency, government agencies, professional bodies, NGOs, among others.

Aregbesola, Okiro disagree over state police •Falana, Oyebode decry lopsided federalism O SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and former Police Inspector-General Mike Okiro yesterday disagreed over the necessity for state police as an essential element of true federalism.

Aregbesola, who called for devolution of powers, decried the lack of control over the police by the state chief security officers. Okiro, who canvassed devolution of police control to the Deputy Inspectors-General, said state police would be abused by governors.

However, Lagos lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), Prof. Akin Oyebode and Mr. Opeyemi Agbaje said that true federalism would remain an illusion in the absence of state police.

The Osun State governor and Okiro spoke at a debate on the policing system held in Lagos. The theme of the discussion organised by MC Connect, a public relations firm, is: “State police: To be or not to be”.

Other speakers at the event, which was held at the Agip Recital Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan were Dr. Tam George and Chairman of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, Mr. Onyekachi Ubani and a social commentator Mr. Opeyemi Agbaje.

Aregbesola, who was represented by his Commissioner for Physical Planning, Muyiwa Ige, described state police as a lingering issue that had troubled Nigeria’s federalism. He said the federal police had been repeatedly used for election rigging, repression of opposition and quelling legitimate protests.

He claimed that, if law making, agriculture, education and health are enshrined in the Concurrent List, governors who receive security votes monthly should have control over the police.

Dismissing the fear of likely abuse of state police by governors as baseless, Aregbesola pointed out that the federal police is also susceptible to abuse.

The governor canvassed community policing, stressing that it is unhelpful to draft people from several kilometres away to police a given environment.

He said: “It is wrong for commissioners of police to decline the directives of governors and invade his territory with mobile policemen. In the United States, there is the Federal Bureau of Information (FBI), but there are state, local government and even police on the campuses. State police is good for federalism”.

•Falana...yesterday

•Okiro...yesterday

•Agbaje...yesterday

When they loot our money, they don’t talk about ethnicity. But when it is state police, they say it will subvert nationhood – Falana

Governors who wake up one morning, suspend council chairmen and councillors and appoint their stooges will do worse things, if there is state police – Okiro

It is wrong for commissioners of police to decline the directives of governors and invade his territory with mobile policemen – Aregbesola

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor and Folahan Ajayi

But Okiro, who retired in 2009, disagreed with the governor, emphasising that it is premature to establish state police because governors would abuse the security agency.

He also said that states lack adequate resources to fund state police because they depend on federal allocations for survival. Okiro also said that community police would throw up indigenes in the police who would be used to oppress non-indigenes.

Okiro favoured the decentralisation of police, but suggested that police powers should be devolved to the DIGs. The former Inspector-General said: “Some lingering constitutional issues should be settled first before creating state police. Governors are fighting for absolute control of police to coerce opponents to dance to their will. If we don’t have effective federal police, we cannot have effective state police.

“Desperation for power, when it is not moderated, creates insecurity. Governors who wake up one morning, suspend council chairmen and

councillors and appoint their stooges will do worse things, if there is state police.”

Dr. George, who supported Okiro’s view, said governors were clamouring for autonomy from the centre which they are reluctant to give to the local governments.

Falana, however, objected to the former Inspector-General’s position, stressing that decentralisation of the police is a key element of federalism.

Dismissing the fear of likely abuse of state police, he added: “It is an indolent approach.

They argue that we are mature to use private jets and jeeps, but we are not mature for state police. All those who are opposed to a decentralised police are heavily guarded by the police. But the mases are left without security. When you get to State Houses, you think you are in police barracks. 419 kingpins even have police escorts and riders.

“Their argument is diversionary. We should end controlled and regulated federalism. We must address the fear of those who believe that governors will use state police to intimidate and oppress their opponents. The fear of ethnicity is also unfounded. When they loot our money, they don’t talk about ethnicity. But

when it is state police, they say it will subvert nationhood.”

Falana called for the democratisation of police control, adding that no President or governor should appoint the Inspector-General and commissioners of police. He said the task should be handled by an expanded body that is representative of the people.

Prof. Oyebode observed that the current police structure mirrored the defective federalism which had foisted a crisis of nation-building on Nigeria.

He said: “You call governors chief security officers, but they cannot exercise power over police. He has to plead with the IG for help. Militarism and federalism are hot bed fellows. It appears some people are feeding fat on the present structure.”

Ubani supported state police, saying that strong institutions with clearly defined powers and limits would check its excesses.

He said the fear about state police funding is unfounded, pointing out that governors are currently supplying equipment to the distressed police.

Ubani added :” Under former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, they said private radio and television were dangerous. They said it would lead to strife and deepen tribal

sentiment. Today, we have freedom to tune to stations of our choice. They say governors cannot fund the police. But they buy vehicles, office equipment and helicopters for them in Lagos and Rivers. Governors can fund police. They should stop stealing money and there will be money to run the system.”

Agbaje, who also supported state police, said that would herald effective and efficient policing system.

He lamented that 12 northern governors were opposing state police after enacting Sharia law and created Hisba, which is a de-facto police to enforce the Islamic law.

Agbaje added: “ Police is similar to NEPA and NITEL. Why saddling a single agency with the task of policing Nigeria? Police is an unwanted monopoly. If Nigeria could liberalise NEPA and NITEL, we should not continue with the dysfunctional system of a single, federal police. It is a constitutional aberration. Even in unitary Britain, their police is decentralised.

“Federal Government makes laws and have police to enforce them. The states and local governments make laws, but lack powers of enforcement.

Laws that cannot be enforced is a worthless proclamation.”

Jonathan a president on internship, says ACN

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•Alhaji Mohammed

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday described President Goodluck Jonathan as a trainee-President.

In a statement in Ilorin, Kwara State capital by its National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party wondered how else one can describe the administration’s lack of capacity to be pro-active or respond in a timely and robust manner to the recent catalogue of woes and national calamities.

In the opinion of the party, the continued bungling of the Boko Haram insurgency, which

is harvesting more deaths almost on a daily basis, the unstoppable carnage on our roads, the executive somersaults of the administration on policy issues, and in general the slow, unfocused and uncertain responses of government to issues depict a government on internship.

According to the ACN, the closure of the Lokoja-Abuja highway which had cut off Abuja, the nation’s capital city due to flooding of roads and bridges on the Abuja-Lokoja highway signposts the extent of our decayed national infrastructure and exposes the incapable hands entrusted to salvage

them. However, even worse is the fact that the President has not deemed it fit to comment on this disaster, neither has there been any visit by a minister or any co-ordinated response to the disaster from the central government.

On a week-end of multiple disasters such as the Lokoja flooding , the bomb blast in Bauchi, and the two weeks of non-stop flooding all around the country, the President’s handlers showed more concern in informing the people about President Jonathan’s trip to

the United Nations General Assembly summit than explaining or proposing a co-ordinated response to these calamities, the party said The disposition of Jonathan’s administration to the welfare of Nigerians confirms the widely held belief that the welfare or well-being of Nigerians is definitely not a priority to his government otherwise why could the President not find time to visit even by helicopter the disaster zones to at least give hope to the victims or their relations? the party queried.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

NEWS Woman, baby injured in Ibadan building collapse

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WOMAN and her baby were yesterday injured when a building collapsed in Agugu, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The building reportedly gave way due to old age and lack of maintenance.

Though some residents said both woman and her baby died in the building, the chairman of the landlords’ association, Mr Tijani Sanni, said the woman was only injured.

Sanni, who is the association’s chairman in Iyana-Idiobi, Agugu, explained that the woman was on her way to a ceremony in Oke-Ibadan when the building collapsed as she was passing by.

Sanni said: “We don’t know the woman. All we were able to gather is that she came to Ibadan from Lagos to attend a ceremony at Oke-Ibadan.”

The chairman said the association, with the family of the building owner, was planning to demolish the structure.

He said: “At the moment, we are looking at the possibility of demolishing the ruins. We don’t need the government anymore at this stage. We are capable of doing it on our own. We shall call on the government, if we need them.”

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

A resident, who identified himself as Adewusi, said he witnessed the incident.

According to him, the building is over 100 years old and it gave way at 4:30pm.

He said: “The building collapsed suddenly as the woman, who was just passing by with her child, got to the spot.

“It was so serious. The building gave no sign. We were all surprised. She was quickly rushed to the hospital. That is the only thing I can say about the incident.”

A representative of the owners of the building, Mr. Taiwo Adebisi, said: “We are already discussing with the executives of the landlords’ association on the next line of action. We are sure that an urgent action shall be taken.”

Acting police spokesman, Daniel Oboyim, confirmed the incident.

He said nobody was trapped or killed in the building.

Oboyi added: “A woman, who was passing by, was slightly affected as rubbles flew and scratched her on the body. She was taken to a hospital and she has been responding to treatment. It is not a serious accident.”

Maku is a careless talker, says Mark •Minister apologises to Senate

S

ENATE President David Mark yesterday called the Information Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku, a careless talker.

Mark was reacting to a statement credited to the minister, that the Senate’s resolutions were merely advisory and not binding on President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Senate President, who was contributing to a motion on the ravaging effects of flood in parts of the country, said Maku should be told that it was not in his place to educate the Senate on the importance of its resolutions.

He noted that the Senate would call for the removal of any minister who disparages the National Assembly through careless utterances.

Mark said: “The Information Minister is just a careless talker. He is extremely careless. He didn’t think through what he was saying. It is not in his place to tell us what the effects of our resolutions are.

He is not to educate us. We are to educate him.

“I think he talks very carelessly and I hope the President cautioned him and called him to order. Next time he does that, we will take a resolution here of any minister who talks carelessly, that such a minister be removed, because there was really no need for that at all, absolutely.

“For those who usually tell the ministers to take a bow and go, because they are very good men, I hope they are learning some hard lessons from the way they talk.”

Maku yesterday apologised to the Senate over his comment.

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

The minister showed remorse when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, to answer questions on the alleged disrespect to the Senate.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, referred to Section 88(4) of the Constitution, which empowers the National Assembly to probe any matter it has the power to make law and others on.

Abaribe said the Senate wanted to confirm from Maku the position of the Presidency on matters that had been decided upon by the National Assembly, whether such matters should be treated with disdain or acted upon.

According to him, for anybody to think that the resolutions of the Senate should not be taken seriously is a matter of concern to the lawmakers.

Senator Smart Adeyemi, a member of the committee, wanted to know whether Maku expressed his personal opinion or the position of the Presidency.’

Senator Zainab Kure asked whether or not the Doctrine of Necessity, through which President Jonathan became Acting President, was a law or a resolution of the National Assembly.

The members said Maku’s statement disparaged and denigrated the integrity of the Senate.

Maku said he had never intended to disparage, denigrate or disrespect the National Assembly in his personal or official capacity.

ONDO 2012

Oke: LP planning to rig Ondo poll

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HE Ondo State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olusola Oke, has said the ruling Labour Party (LP) was planning to rig, intimidate and destabilise opposition parties in the October 20 election.

Oke addressed reporters at the party’s secretariat in Abuja after the inauguration of the Ondo State PDP Campaign Committee.

He accused Governor Olusegun Mimiko of perfecting plans to use the Judiciary, the police and other security agencies to harass, arrest and detain prominent members of the opposition parties before the election.

Oke said: “As at today, there is a conspiracy between

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

the Judiciary and the Labour Party (LP) administration in Ondo State, such that without provocation, PDP members are attacked and, before you know it, they would use the Judiciary to detain them indefinitely.

“I am aware today that there is a grand plan by the LP to arrest prominent members of the PDP, detain them and are not to be released until after the election.

“What may be of concern is the attitude of the public to the antics of the incumbent LP government to manipulate the electoral process in Ondo State. As I speak with you, the LP poses greater threat to free and fair election in Ondo State than the

Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). “…The level of orchestration, antics and strategies for manipulating the electoral process by the LP is unprecedented. It is alarming and it is worrisome.”

The PDP candidate alleged that the LP had tried everything to manipulate the voters’ register which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had compiled.

It expressed doubts on the credibility of the electoral process under the INEC. Oke added: “There are gangs of hoodlums deployed by the LP at different locations in preparation for the day of the election. As I am talking to you, they are training thugs. And while

they are doing that, they are giving the wrong impression to the security agencies that it is the ACN and the PDP that are sponsoring thugs.

“Beyond this, I am also aware that the grand plan of the LP in the areas of their weakness is to ensure that there will be no election in these places. They will ensure that wherever they are weak there will be no election.

“On the other hand, wherever they think they are strong, that is where election will be allowed to hold. They are planning to chase away PDP supporters and maximise their returns. Contrary to the perception of some people, the LP is more of a threat to free and fair election in Ondo State than the ACN.”

Agbekoya farmers to dump Mimiko

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HE popular Yoruba farmers’ group, the Agbekoya Farmers Association, and its hunters, the Agbekoya Society, have vowed to dump Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko in his October 20 re-election bid.

They accused the governor of reneging on his promise to support their farming initiatives.

A statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olatunji Bamidele, said: “The association is angry with Mimiko for his deceit, failed promises and lack of financial support for our members in the state. He is daring Agbe-

By Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

koya and we are going to show him the stuff we are made of.”

The President-General of the farmers’ body, High Chief Kamorudeen Aremu Okikiola, and its national executive members, the statement said, had written the governor several letters on agro-business proposals.

Okikiola said the group wanted to partner the state government to cultivate 5,000 hectares of cassava, maize and other arable crops; 1.2 million metric tonnes of fishes and one million birds.

But the Mimiko-led admin-

istration was yet to respond, the statement said.

It explained that the association’s leadership had visited the Governor’s Office on several occasions for discussions on agro-business but without getting any positive response.

Okikiola said he and the group’s Grand Patron, Col. Festus Meghoma (rtd), met with Mimiko twice in April.

According to him, the governor promised to release N450million loan to the group’s 10,000 members in Ondo State to boost their farming.

The statement said: “After waiting for Governor Mimiko for over a year, the Agbe-

koya Farmers’ Association has gone to the financial market to source for funds to empower our farmers in the state.

We have embarked on the inspection of our farmlands and we are clearing the association’s cluster farms in all the 18 local government areas in Ondo State.”

Though the association claimed it did not have any political party affiliation, it added that it would soon endorse a candidate it can trust to deliver.

The group said it would back a candidate that can support its cause and vision of mechanised farming to boost food production in the state.

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (second right) welcoming Deputy Country Director (Programme) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Nigeria, Janthomas Hiemstra, to a two-day high-level meeting of environment stakeholders from the six Southwest states at the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Osogbo... yesterday. With them are Deputy Governor, Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori (left), and Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola.

‘Frivolous applications hamper administration of justice’

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HE Acting Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ekpo Nta, yesterday said trivial interlocutory injunctions debar speedy administration of justice.

He urged lawyers to desist from filing what she called frivolous interlocutory appeals before judges.

The ICPC chairman noted that such actions do not only

By Adebisi Onanuga

damage cases before the court but also run down the integrity of the Judiciary.

The ICPC chair spoke in Lagos at a media roundtable with the theme: Promoting ethics and integrity within the courts system - Towards citizens access to justice, organised by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), in collaboration

with the Royal Netherlands Embassy.

Nta, who was represented by the Director of Legal Services of the commission, Mrs Christiana Onuogu, described the court as a major stakeholder in the fight against corruption.

He urged lawyers to always advise their clients to tell the truth in court to ensure easy and quick dispensation of justice.

The ICPC chief averred that delay tactics by lawyers in cases before the court should not be encouraged.

Nta said: “Let me use this medium to charge all Nigerians to join in the moves to fight corruption head-on. I also want to call on the authorities concerned for the appointment of assistant judges in the Nigerian judicial system to help substantive judges in the dispensation of justice.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

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NEWS ONDO 2012 I’m for economic rebirth, says Oke From Damisi Ojo, Akure

•Akeredolu (third right); Hawkins (third left); Olson (second left); the Director-General, Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO), Mr. Tayo Alasoadura (seconfd right); Akeredolu’s running mate, Dr Paul Akintelure (left) and ACO’s Media Director, Mr Idowu Ajanaku, in Akure...yesterday.

PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN

Akeredolu urges IGP to transfer Ondo police chief

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HE Ondo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) yesterday urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to transfer the police commissioner.

The ACN candidate accused the police chief and his team of partisanship.

Akeredolu spoke in Akure, the state capital, when two American envoys, Jeffrey Hawkins and Rolf Olson, visited him.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

He alleged that the police chief and his men were working for the ruling Labour Party (LP).

The former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President doubted the credibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under Prof. Attahiru Jega.

Akeredolu noted that without a trusting and fair security partnership with INEC, it would be difficult to know the truth about the election.

•US envoys visit candidates The ACN candidate hailed the American envoys for representing the agents that would ensure a free and fair poll.

He said the dividends of democracy are not in building roads or providing basic amenities - as these are also achievable under a military government - but by allowing freedom of speech and the liberty to vote for one’s choice of leadership.

Jeffrey Hawkins and Rolf Olson were in Ondo State to assess the political situation in the Sunshine State and familiarise with the governorship candidates.

They visited governorship candidates and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and emphasised the need for a free and fair election on October 20.

The envoys also listed the

benefits of a violence-free poll to the growth of democracy.

Addressing reporters in Akure, the state capital, when they visited the ACN candidate, Hawkins, who is the Consul-General, said the US was interested in ensuring that the poll result represents the people’s wish.

Hawkins said American observers would monitor the poll.

Olson spoke of the need for the poll to adhere with democratic guidelines.

Activist calls for financial update on Ondo resources

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KURE lawyer, Mr. Morakinyo Ogele, yesterday called for detailed information Ondo State’s finances since the inception of the Olusegun Mimiko administration.

The activist said he was acting on under Section 1 (1) [2] of the Freedom of Information Act 2011, which gives every Nigerian the right to have access vital information

O

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

and documents that concern the people.

In a letter to the Ministry of Finance, Ogele said since the ministry had a copy of the letter, it should explain the financial standing of the state within seven days.

The letter said the government should give details of how it spent the N600million

budgeted for the local government creation in the state.

Others are: Kaadi Igbe Ayo, for which N2.7billion was spent; the N38billion left by the ousted Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration under Dr Olusegun Agagu; a N50billion loan from a local bank and bound market.

Ogele is also demanding explanations on the following: “The N61.3billion budg-

eted for the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC); N200million Arigidi-Akoko Tomato Industry, allegedly converted to a pure water factory; N7billion palm tree seeding, allegedly dumped at Ore and Bagbe; and N2.7billion, allegedly spent on the construction of a Dome in Akure, the state capital.

The lawyer noted that the residents were suffering from the financial recklessness of the LP administration, led by Dr Olusegun Mimiko.

He threatened to mobilise the people to demonstrate peacefully against the alleged misappropriation of the state fund, if the government refused to give details on how it utilised the state’s resources.

We resigned from Mimiko’s govt, say ex-aides

PEYEMI Igbede, an aide to Ondo State Deputy Governor Ali Olanusi, yesterday resigned his appointment from the ruling Labour Party (LP) administration.

The three Special Assistants (SAs) to Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who quit office on Monday, said they resigned voluntarily as against the government’s announcement that they were sacked.

The three former aides are: Kayode Agunloye (aka K.K), Soji Ojomo and Chris Anota.

Agunloye was the LP Chairman in Akoko South West before he was appointed a Special Assistant (SA).

Speaking with The Nation in Akure, the state capital, Agunloye, Ojomo and Anota said the Mimiko administration was deceitful.

Agunloye said: “We were astonished to hear on the Ondo State Radivision Corporation (OSRC) on Monday that we were dismissed by the govern-

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

ment. As early as 8am on that day, we were at the Governor’s Office to tender our letters of resignation. Immediately Deputy Governor Olanusi got the inkling of our resignation, he quickly phoned the OSRC General Manager to lie to the public that we were dismissed.

“We resigned because of the bad leadership style of Olanusi, who is from the same Akoko South West Local Government as ourselves.

“Our grievances arose from discrimination against Akoko South West Constituency I. In Akoko South West II, there are two commissioners, apart from the Deputy Governor.

Nobody is representing us in Akoko South West I and there is no Oka-Akoko indigene serving in Mimiko’s Executive Council (Exco) except those in the local government areas.”

The former aide alleged that Olanusi, who was sup-

•Another aide quits ‘We resigned because of the bad leadership style of Olanusi, who is from the same Akoko South West Local Government as ourselves’ posed to be their leader, did not assist anyone of them in the area.

According to him, in Akoko South West II, majority of the residents benefitted from two of their leaders, Col. Roland Omowa and Abiodun

Ogunbi.

Agunloye said Olanusi was at Supare when he instructed OSRC chief to carry the distorted news.

He said: “We submitted our resignation letters to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). We discussed the development with a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor, Mr. Bamiduro Dada. But instead of the deputy governor to dialogue with us on the matter, he ignored us. We did not see him as a good political leader.

“We are soldiers with followers; we are moving the whole territory in Akoko South West to our new camp.

Our dismissal report is a joke.

We are the leaders in Akoko South. We will shock Mimiko and Olanusi on October 20. The deputy governor has no weight in the area.”

Igbede, who was the Spe-

cial Assistant to Deputy Governor on Political Matters, decried the “use and dump policy” of the Mimiko administration.

He said those who worked for the success of LP and Mimiko in 2007 were driven away or relegated to the background.

The former aide said newcomers were made leaders in the ruling party in Akoko South West over old members.

Igbede noted that despite the huge resources accruable to the government, the Mimiko administration is a failure.

He said: “Look at public primary and secondary schools in the state; they are in a sorry state. The existing structures are falling down, roofs are leaking.

“General hospitals are experiencing inadequate drugs and facilities. There’s no employment, no motorable roads; even a kilometre road has not been inaugurated in the last three and a half years of the Mimiko administration.”

The Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Chief Olusola Oke, has said his administration would usher in an economic rebirth of the state, if elected in the October 20 election.

Oke spoke at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Akure, the state capital, during an interactive forum organised by the chairmen of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) chapter and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic (RUGIPO), Owo, chapter.

The forum was under the auspices of Intellectual Platform.

The former PDP Legal Adviser said Ondo State needs an economic rebirth.

He said the state should have a deliberate economic agenda that would create opportunities, generate employment and ensure a secured future against likely external financial crisis.

AAUA ASUU Chairman Dr Busuyi Mekusi, and his RUGIPO counterpart, Mr Olabamiji Kumuyi, said members of the academic community need to participate in the process that would bring quality leadership.

PDP accuses LP of promoting violence From Damisi Ojo, Akure

THE Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said the ruling Labour Party (LP) was promoting violence ahead of the October 20 election.

In a statement by the Director-General of the Olusola Oke/Saka Lawal Campaign Organisation, Dr Dare Bada, the PDP said Governor Olusegun Mimiko was creating fear to prepare the ground for his alleged rigging plan.

The statement reads: “Gentlemen, you are aware we just concluded our campaign in all the 203 wards in Ondo State. Throughout the period, we had a peaceful tour and our members kept to our creed of decent behaviour.

“It is worrisome, however, that the LP has been attacking the leaders and members of our party since it realises the rising profile of the PDP and the readiness of the people to vote the party back to power.

“Over the weekend, LP’s weird thugs invaded the PDP secretariat at Ijare, in Ifedore Local Government Area.

They removed the posters of the party, pasted theirs in broad daylight armed with dangerous weapons. It took the unusual maturity and enviable calmness by our members to let go the unmitigated brazen oppression.

“At Uso, in Owo Local Government Area, LP thugs came to the PDP office and defaced the party’s billboards.

They tore the banners and posters of the PDP.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

12

NEWS

•Some of physically-challenged... on the occasion.

A new tide in the politics of Ondo youths Sunday Dare, a journalist, writes on the interactive session the youths of Ondo State had with Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate Rotimi Akeredolu in Akure...on Monday

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HOUSANDS of Ondo youths on Monday, held an indoor interactive session with Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN). The youth forum, tagged: Youth Vote for Change attracted a massive turn out of over 2,000 youths from the 18 local government areas of the state and Akure. The BTO hall where the event was held, filled up quickly as a member of the House of Representatives Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa took over proceedings. The shouts of Action Congress! Democracy for Justice rented the air. The screams for change and the singing of the campaign slogan soon enveloped the hall with rhythmic rendition of “Gba Won Danu” “Gba Won DanuGba won si canal- Sweep them away.

Sweep them into the Canal. If the presence of Abolore Akande, the youthful Pop artiste, popularly known as 9ice, rocked the youths, the presence of Nollywood actress Funke Akindele-Oyedele, who later took the stage, excited the crowd and cracked them up without failing to deliver the central message-” Vote Right. Vote Action Congress. Vote in Akeredolu for change.Vote out Labour Party”.

The arrival of Akeredolu worked the youths up into a frenzy as the music by 9ice, urging the youths to vote serenaded the hall.

Goodwill messages came in torrents as the youths reveled in the attention they were receiving. The youth leader, Enas spoke eloquently about the desire for change and how the youths were ready this time to work for the victory of the party they trust. Enas, who read a

•Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa

prepared speech listed the issues the youth were concerned about and how the government of Olusegun Mimiko has disappointed them. He announced that the youths were prepared not just to embrace change, but to work and mobilise for change to ensure that Rotimi Akeredolu is voted into Alagbaka House and Mimiko is voted out.

Even as he spoke, the youths chorused along in agreement. Perhaps, the most interesting thing about the forum was the diversity of the youth that assembled in the hall.

Students from higher institutions, youths in vocational schools and practice and the physically challenged. They all participated and were fully mobilised. For instance, two of the disabled graduate female youths who five years after graduation were still jobless, lashed out at the Mimiko administration for treating them like beggars each time they asked for jobs. One of them sent the entire hall into laughter when she kept calling on the governor to provide jobs and help them and insisted she was referring to Rotimi Akeredolu the incoming governor.”My governor

•Mrs. Akindele-Oyedele

‘It was time to drive out the vagabonds in power and help the people enjoy good governance’ is Rotimi Akeredolu. He is the one I am referring to and not the governor who is there now”.

Party leaders and activists spoke eloquently about Akeredolu’s credentials as a progressive and a crusader for justice. They all extolled the positive orientation of the party and charged the youths to vote wisely come October 20.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, National Publicity secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria took the youths down memory lane on how youths under the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) organised, mobilised and became the backbone of the party. The youths then took active part in politics and did not need to be urged on. He challenged them that now is the time to participate, to vote wisely and

•Jesse King

•9ice

be part of the change we all desire. He marketed the ACN so powerfully such that he held the youths listening in rapt attention for almost 10 minutes.

Hon. Dabiri-Erewa was at her professional best, bringing back the days when she was an ace broadcaster. She had capsules of admonition for the youths turning the radar on herself as if to say to the youths-”look at what ACN has made of me, you can become something also if you vote wisely”.

The highpoint was when Akeredolu took the microphone and spoke for 10 minutes extempore. He was quite comfortable with the microphone and indeed with the youthful crowd. In campaign mood, he broke into songs and paced the floors in gyrations as he sang one of Fela’s famous songs, Vagabonds in Power.

The youths got up in excitement and screamed out the lyrics with Akeredolu as the lead vocalist. As the crowd settled, ACN candidate announced that it was time to drive out the vagabonds in power and help the people enjoy good governance. He spoke about his plans

to create thousands of jobs, industrialise the state and run a peopleoriented government. The interactive session was quiet dynamic as the youths asked challenging and forthright questions about his planes and how he will solve their problems. Akeredolu responded in measured, but convincing sentences. As the questions and answers went on, more youths trooped into the hall, perhaps having watched the live transmission, they decided they wanted to be part of the event.

One of such youths, Tunji said: “This is very interesting. This says a lot about this man-that he recognises the importance of the youths in politics. I will vote for him”.

After about three hours, it was time to draw the curtain. As everyone stood for him to exit, shouts of Gba won danu, Gba won danu, again rented the air. 9nice took over the stage and treated the crowd to great music. It was a day most Ondo youths would not forget in a hurry.

It was the beginning of a new partnership with the youths. For Action Congress, it was the fillip they needed to march on Alagbaka House.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTMBER 26, 2012

13

NEWS Immigration arrests 29

Lagos water regulator to fight exploitation

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

By Segun Balogun

THE Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission has promised to protect residents against exploitation.

It said it would ensure alternative water supply to curb proliferation of boreholes.

The commission was unveiled at a stakeholder sensitisation event that had the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe and Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and Lagos Environment Commissioner Tunji Bello.

Governor Babatunde Fashola, represented by Mrs. Orelope-Adefulire, said the commission’s “ultimate goal is to ensure that present and future generations of Lagos State citizens enjoy sustainable and continuous water services.”

The commission’s Executive Secretary, Tanwa Koya, assured Lagosians of better supply of water.

‘Oyo ACN not afraid of poll’ From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

THE lawmaker representing Ibadan North II in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Olusegun Olaleye, has said the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is not scared to conduct the local government election.

Olaleye spoke during the commissioning of his constituency projects in Abadina area of Ibadan.

He noted that the state government desires to conduct council polls anytime the suit concerning the formation of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), is settled by the court.

He said according to the constitution, after the expiration of the tenure of the transition committee chairmen, the governor has the grace to extend it for another 150 days.

•Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Lawal Kabir (left|); Chairman 2012 Ad Hoc Committee on Hajj, Abdul Hakeem Abdul Lateef and Commissioner for Home Affairs Oyinlomo Danmole (right) at a seminar for Lagos state Muslim Pilgrims 2012 in PHOTO : MUYIWA HASSAN Lagos...at the weekend

Aregbesola blames Fed Govt for flooding O SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has blamed the Federal Government for the flood in Kogi State and other parts of the North.

Delivering a keynote address at the opening of a two-day meeting on climate change, environmental conservation and sustainable development at the Centre for Black Arts and Culture, Osogbo, he said the duty of any responsible government was to prevent disaster.

Aregbesola said: “The situation in Lokoja and other parts of the North has brought disgrace and humiliation to this country

and this is a sign of recklessness on the part of the Federal Government. With the situation now, half of the country has been cut off as a result of the flood. If no serious measure is taken, a day may come when the bridge that joins the North and South will collapse and Nigerians will not be able to move from the North to the South.

“Already, Nigerians from the South have been prevented from moving to the Federal Capital city and those in the

North have been prevented from coming to the South. This is a sign to show how unserious our leaders in this country are.”

Aregbesola said environmental and climatic issues should not be politicised.

He said: “Let us tell some irresponsible characters in government that there is a limit to politicking. There are issues that are beyond politics.

But for their selfish reasons they have politicised everything in Nigeria.”

He noted that recent coastal

Downpour sacks 50 Oyo villages

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UNDREDS of residents were rendered homeless by flood caused by torrential rain that in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo state.

The flood affected about 50 villages,including farm settlements.

Though no loss of lives has been recorded, it was gathered that many livestocks were lost to the flood.

The popular ‘Eleran Bridge’ which linked these villages together has been washed away by the flood making it difficult to transport food items to major towns.

Ilora, the seat of Afijio Local Government, was badly affected.

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

Some of the ongoing projects were affected .

The Caretaker Chairman of Afijio Local Council, Hon. Samuel Olorode, said work would be done to the damaged bridge to alleviate the suffering of the people.

He appealed to the Federal Government to rescue the community.

The council boss expressed disappointment over the unfulfilled promises made by the Federal Government in terms of disaster management.

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From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

governor for making teachers and students in public schools to be ICTcompliant through supply of laptops computers which has empowered them to face the challenges of the 21st Century.

ANCOPSS said: “The ongoing renovation works in our schools could be rated as a deep-rooted plus to your administration.

“The magnitude and the urgency characterizing the programme are clear signs of your resolve to provide our students with a school environment that is quite inviting and conducive for teaching-learning process.

“To us, this is the first time such a huge financial investment coupled with a strong political drive would be involved in attacking the problem of dilapidated school buildings in Ekiti State.”

The Old Students of Ekiti Parapo College, in a letter by its National President, Mr. Akinola Olaniyan, commended Fayemi for restoring sanity to the education sector.

The Old Students wrote: “Your Excellency, while we know that educational challenges cannot be fully resolved in a few years, we are happy with the steps your administration is taking and that we have a listening and understanding governor and government. “ The last time I have seen students of EPC this excited was in 1966 when General Adeyinka Adebayo, then Governor of Western Region, as part of his official tour of the Region, visited our alma mater and gave the school, four thousand pounds to buy a big generator and provide electricity to the whole college.”

Fayemi has restated the commitment of his administration to fiscal

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

AN hotelier and philanthropist, Mr. Segun Oyebolu, has been abducted at gunpoint.

The suspected kidnappers have contacted his family on phone demanding N400 million ransom.

Oyebolu, who owns Citi Hotels and founder of Feed The Elderly Foundation (FTEF), an Ijebu-Ode based Non-Governmental Organisation, was taken to an unknown destination on Monday.

The Nation gathered that he was abducted in his office at Erinlu in Ijebu North East Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the police is working on the situation.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

•Community pledges support for governor’s second term •Govt: we’re committed to fiscal discipline HE Ekiti State chapter of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) and the Old Students Association of Ekiti Parapo College have praised Governor Kayode Fayemi for the comprehensive renovation of public secondary schools.

The people of Ikun-Ekiti in Moba Local Government Area have expressed their readiness to work for Fayemi’s second term in office if the governor desires to seek re-election.

The community, in a letter to Fayemi, hailed the speed with which work is being carried out on the Oye-IkunOtun Road which, it said, was abandoned by the past two administrations.

ANCOPSS in a statement by its President, Mr. Oluwole Awolusi and Secretary, Mr. Ola Adeniyi, praised Fayemi for salvaging public schools.

The body also lauded the

Ogun hotelier kidnapped

Osun Assembly suspends two council chiefs

Headteachers, old students hail Fayemi for schools’ renovation

‘Fayemi’s best yet to come’ EKITI State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation Mr Funminiyi Afuye has said the best of the Dr. Kayode Fayemi administrationis yet to come.

The commissioner urged Ekiti State residents to expect more policies and projects that would transform the state from the governor and his team.

Afuye spoke in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

He said: “Ekiti is yet to see the best of Governor Fayemi, whose transformation agenda is being acknowledged locally and globally.”

The commissioner noted that the Governor of the Year award recently bestowed on Fayemi

by Leadership Newspapers was in recognition of good governance, prudent management of resources and positive impact on the residents.

Fayemi, he explained, was given the award for creating thousands of jobs for the unemployed, giving monthly stipends to the aged under the social security scheme, turning around the education sector, tourism, among other massesoriented policies.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

erosion and flooding in Lagos and other parts of the country due to high precipitation are also attributable to global warming.

The governor said: “On a broad spectrum, regional integration can be seen as a process in which states enter into regional agreement in order to enhance regional cooperation through regional institutions and rules.

“The objectives of the agreement could range from economic to political, although it has generally become a political economy initiative where commercial purposes are the means to achieve broader socio-political and security objectives.”

THE Oyo State Com-mand of the Nigerian Immigration 29 illegal immigrants in the last three months.

The Comptroller of the Service, Mr Joseph Olaitan, spoke while decorating 73 newly promoted officers and men of the command in Ibadan, the state capital, yesterday.

An analysis of the promotion shows that 11 officers moved to the rank of Chief Superin-tendent of Immigration (CSI), 18 promoted to the rank of Superintendent of Immigration (SI), three were moved to the rank of Deputy Superin-tendent of Immigration (DSI) and another three moved to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Immigration (ASI).

Others are Deputy Chief Inspector (DCI)- five, Principal Inspector of Immigration (PII) -11 and Senior Inspector of Immigration (SII) - 11.

•Dr. Fayemi

discipline.

Declaring open a 2-day training workshop organised for government officials on result based budgeting at Emure Ekiti, Dr. Fayemi said his administration would incorporate some international best practices in public financial management into its budgeting process.

The governor, who was represented by the Head of Service, Mr. Olubunmi Famosaya, explained that the workshop was organised as part of process of inculcating the experience of other nations with result based budgeting and adopting the practice into the state’s budgeting process.

TWO local government executive secretaries in Osun State have been suspended by the House of Assembly for flouting its directive on the composition of the caretaker committee members in their respective councils.

The affected council bosses are Kunle Ayantoye of Ifedayo Local Government and Nathaniel Arabambi in Ayedaade Council Area.

The duo were accused of doctoring the list of the caretaker committee members submitted to the Assembly by Governor Rauf Aregebsola.

The 26-member House announced Ayantoye and Arabambi’s suspension and replaced them with their deputies three days after they were inaugurated for another six months tenure as the Executive Secretaries of their councils.

They were alleged to have refused to swear in already cleared caretaker committee members by the assembly and replaced them with another names against the consent of the House.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

14

NEWS Edo gets new court rules From Osagie Otabor, Benin

THE Edo State Judiciary yesterday replaced its 24-yearold Civil Procedure Rules with a new one, which the State Chief Judge, Justice Cromwell Idahosa, said was designed to strengthen and aid access to justice.

Justice Idahosa spoke in Benin, the state capital, at the unveiling of the new court rules.

He said it was the hallmark of the Rule of Law and would guide court proceedings.

Justice Idahosa said the new rules would endear in the hearts of the people a renewed faith in the administration and a rekindled hope for the speedy dispensation of justice.

He said the extant rules in use since 1988 have become obsolete and was being employed to waste valuable time.

The CJ said: “The result was that cases could last up to seven years and in some inexplicable instances up to 10-15 years.

“This is not a desirable state of affairs as it shows that the Judiciary is not playing its role, which generally is to settle disputes between all persons, states and governments.

“The idea is to have a system that resolves these disputes without disputants resorting to self-help or violence, which could lead to a breakdown of law and order.

“A good system for resolving disputes is one that is independent, transparent, accountable, efficient, costeffective and timely.”

Governor Adams Oshiomhole cautioned the Judiciary against unethical professional practices and unhealthy collaboration with the police.

IBADAN FLOODS

Ibori’s $15m bribe: Clark calls for Lamorde’s sack

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JAW leader Chief Edwin Clark has called for the sack of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, over the “shoddy handling” of the controversial $15 million bribe offered to the commission by former Delta State Governor James Ibori.

Speaking with reporters yesterday in Abuja, Clark said Delta State elders, and Stakeholders, in September, 2009, petitioned the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) demanding that the money be returned to the state treasury.

He said the needless controversy in which the money is shrouded by the suit filed by the EFCC has cast aspersions on the ability of the anti graft agency to fight corruption.

Clark said: “Lamorde has displayed gross incompetence in the manner he is handling the case. Nigeria

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

desires a more serious body to fight corruption and not the EFCC being manned by Lamorde.”

The elder statesman said there is no controversy over the ownership of the money as is being insinuated by the EFCC in the suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

He said the EFCC and all involved in the forfeiture suit should be probed.

Clark said: “The Ibori $15 million bribe scandal has revealed that the EFCC, as presently constituted, cannot fight corruption because it lacks the will, courage and determination to do so. The EFCC should be made up of men of honour and probity.

“Despite the opinion some may hold of Lamorde, he should be investigated for the unholy role he played in the Ibori saga. Based on state-

ments made by former EFCC Chairman Nuhu Ribadu; Lamorde, who was then the Director of Operations and James Garba, a staff of the commission, the ownership of the money is not in doubt, despite the fact that Ibori denied giving the bribe.”

He said the money might have been offered as a bribe to Ribadu to compromise him on the allegations of the N120 billion supplementary budget fraud leveled against Ibori.

Clark said: “Knowing that the $15 million bribe was originally part of the dropped charges in London Crown Court puts to rest the controversy about its ownership.

“The affidavit sworn on August 10 by Bello Yahaya, a police officer attached to the commission, where he claimed that the money was of unknown origin, contains several contradictions, misin-

formation and lies. It makes one believe that there is more to the matter than meets the eyes.

“The depositions ridicule the anti-corruption agency and portray it as not transparent, incompetent and uncommitted to the war against corruption.

“Senator Andy Uba made a public statement about the source of the money and where it was given, which was widely circulated by the media. Yahaya lied when he claimed that the money was not collected from Uba but was merely picked from his residence.

“This again is deliberate and unexpected from the anti-corruption agency.

Yahaya claimed that Uba denied having anything to do with the money and refused to make any statement in respect of the matter. This is another deceit and cover-up by security

Amaechi inaugurates UN House

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Delta sets up panel on flood DELTA State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has set up a committee to visit communities ravaged by flood and take measures to alleviate the suffering of the victims.

The committee is chaired by Deputy Governor Prof. Amos Utuama.

The panel immediately swung into action yesterday, visiting Anwai, Cable Point, Nigeria Immigration Service Office and other areas affected by flood.

Utuama told the victims that the state government was touched by their plight and would do everything in its power to assist them.

He said the committee’s terms of reference were to provide immediate, medium and long term measures and solutions to the flood.

The deputy governor said the flood was occasioned by the opening up of the Kanji Dam. He said: “We assure you that you will not walk alone.

The state government will assist you.”

Utuama said the displaced persons would be relocated to schools and provided with food, mattresses, water and other basic necessities.

He directed the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof.

Patrick Muoboghare, to come up with the names of schools where the victims would be accommodated.

At Cable Point, Utuama asked that a minute’s silence be observed in honour of a little girl, who was killed by flood.

agencies saddled with the anti-corruption war.

“If Uba denied having anything to do with the money then, who gave them the order to collect the money in his house? Who gave them the money in his residence?”

Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had granted an order forfeiting the money to the Federal Government, following an ex-parte application by the EFCC. Ibori allegedly offered the money as bribe to Ribadu through an undisclosed source in 2007.

The money has since been kept in the CBN’s custody, after Ibori denied offering it to Ribadu.

In an application filed to counter the forfeiture order, the Delta State Government claimed that the money belongs to it and should be returned to its treasury.

•Amaechi (middle) inaugurating the UN House. With him are Toure (right) and Boms...yesterday

35 Niger Delta ex-militants arrested

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HIRTY-FIVE Niger Delta ex-militants were yesterday arrested for allegedly harassing and intimidating offi cials of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) and the Special Adviser to the President on the Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku.

In a statement, PAP Head of Media and Communications, Mr. Daniel Alabrah said the ex-militants have been harassing and intimidating the officials to subvert the 2012 budget meant for 6,166 persons in the Niger Delta.

The statement reads: “The Amnesty Office today handed over to security agencies in Abuja 35 leaders of Niger Delta ex-agitators, enrolled in Phase Two of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

“This became inevitable, given the incessant harassment and intimidation of officials of the office, including Kuku, by these persons to subvert the provisions of the 2012 budget and channel the allowances meant for 6,166 other persons in the programme to just these leaders.

“At a meeting with officials of the Amnesty Office in Abuja yesterday, the leaders of the ex-agitators threatened to disrupt social and economic activities in sensitive governmental places in Abuja, if their request to have the Transition Safety Allowance (TSA) proposed for 6,166 persons enrolled in the second phase of the amnesty programme was not im-

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

mediately paid out directly to them and not to all the enrolled persons as enshrined in the 2012 budget.

“At this meeting, Kuku painstakingly explained to the exmilitant leaders, who are less than 100, that the Federal Government will never accede to their demand.

“Kuku further explained that extant financial regulations do not permit any Ministry, Department and Agency of the Federal Government to pay money to persons or services other than as clearly spelt out in the budget.

“The Special Adviser therefore resolved to hand the leaders of the ex-agitators over to security agencies, so as to nip in the bud any untoward act.

“It has become important to reiterate, once again, Kuku’s commitment to the transparent, accountable and tenacious implementation of the Presidential Amnesty Programme as demanded by President Goodluck Jonathan.

“It should be recalled that last week, the Amnesty Office notified the public of the unrelenting plot by certain persons to discredit both the Amnesty Programme and its chief driver, Kuku.

“The office views the unnecessary and unwarranted demand of these ex-militant leaders as one of such plots. The Amnesty Office shall continue to resist attempts to rubbish a programme that has stabilised security in the Niger Delta.”

IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi yesterday inaugurated the United Nations (UN) Office in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Amaechi expressed appreciation to the UN for its presence in the state, despite the challenges in the Niger Delta.

He urged the UN team to ensure proper planning in maintaining functional structures in the state.

The governor said: “Although proper planning is an issue in this country, there is need for the office to ensure proper planning of functional structures and institutions to promote good governance and better welfare for the people.”

He said the government would partner the UN to improve the living standard of the people.

The UN Area Security Coordinator, Dr. Larry Boms, thanked Amaechi for his support in the acquisition of the land on which the building was built.

Boms said: “The UN House in Port Harcourt would go a long way in reducing poverty, improve the living standard of the people and provide enlightenment to sustain the peaceful co-existence in Rivers State.”

The UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Daouda Toure, said the UN House would provide professional advice and assistance towards achieving set objectives of the UN agencies in the state.

Delta ACN faults list of DESIEC members

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HE Delta State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday faulted the list of nominees for the State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) sent to the House of Assembly by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Frank Eghomien, ACN alleged that some of the nominees, particularly Mr. Ewere

From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

Simon Eluebo, are card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

It alleged that Eluebo is registered as a PDP member at Ward 10, Idumuesah, Ika North-East Local Government Area.

The statement reads: “Eluebo is a well-known cardcarrying member of the PDP and a retired teacher from

Marymount College, BojiBoji, Owa. He was a member of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) while he was in service.

“Further investigations revealed that some sitting legislators and PDP chieftains in Ika North East recruited Eluebo and forwarded his name to the governor with a view to planting him as a PDP agent in the commission to

perfect their rigging of the forthcoming council elections.

“The ACN is apprehensive that if these anti-democratic plots are not quickly nipped in the bud, a needless breakdown of law and order may result in the council.

“We call for the redeployment of the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Elder Owhoavwodiasa Etederhi Osharode to his civil service

duties as an Administrative Officer, and that a retired senior civil servant, with good credentials of honesty, hard work and good conscience, be appointed on contract to replace him.

“We demand that Eluebo’s name be removed from the list of nominees forwarded by the governor to the House for the DSIEC job and replaced with a neutral and God-fearing candidate.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

15

NEWS

•(From left) Okeagbu, Ezeani and Nwuaugwu .

. The recovered weapons of mass destruction on display...yesterday

•Chambers inside the mobile armoury

PHOTOS: ADEJO DAVID

Police arrest three ‘bloody Sunday’ suspects •RPGs, IED, rifles from gang members recovered

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HE police said yesterday that they had made a breakthrough in their investigation of the “bloody Sunday” robbery.

Three suspected members of the gang behind the mid-Sunday robbery, which sent the city into panic three weeks ago, were paraded at the Lagos Police Command, Ikeja.

They are: Uche Okeagbu (23), Emmanuel Ezeani (23) and Chinonso Nwuaugwu (23).

Also on parade before reporters were four vehicles, which hitherto served as their mobile armoury. The mobile armoury ( Infinity and Toyota Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and two volkswagen buses), had been re-constructed to conceal arms and ammunition from the prying eyes of security agents.

Found in the improvised chambers were: two rocket-propelled grenade launchers, five dynamites with a detonator, two general purpose machine guns, nine AK47 riffles, 225 AK47 magazines (fully loaded), 260 rounds of GPMG live ammunition, and over 10,000 rounds of live AK47 ammunition.

Okeagbu participated in the bloody Sunday robbery in which three policemen were killed. But Nwuaugwu, an active member of the gang, claimed he was “not in action” on that day. He had taken active participation in other operations carried out by the gang.

Ezeani, who was identified as a brother to one of the fleeing gang leaders, was arrested in the gang leader’s house.

He was accused by the police of being privy to all the meetings held by the gang.

According to the police, the gang had successfully carried out seven raids on banks in seven states.

Okeagbu, who participated in the September 9 attacks, said their target was usually 10 operations at a stretch, after which members of the gang will travel out of the country to allow the manhunt for them fade out.

He said: “On that Sunday, we had people we targeted for the operation. We came with information on those we robbed. Those that were shot were people that wanted to disturb our operations. But the policemen we killed were not chasing us. They were going on their own.

We do not like seeing policemen when we are in action and that was why we killed them.

“Whenever people see armed robbers, they should not try to stop them. The civilians that we fired were the ones that tried to stop us.

We do not tolerate such when we are operating because our business is a matter of life

By Jude Isiguzo and Ebele Boniface

and death thing.”

The suspect also confessed to taking part in a bank robbery in Kwara State. The operation was less than four days after the Lagos multiple attacks.

According to Okeagbu, the gang had taken over a police station, few meters away from the bank, before the laucnhed the attack.

He said: “Before that particular operation, we took over the police station that was close to the bank. We shot at the station and all the policemen on duty ran away.

“We then moved straight to the office of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), knocked on his door and he asked us to enter. As at that time he did not know what was going on. He offered us a seat and we now told him that our gang is operating outside and that he should cooperate and he said there was no problem.

We were with him until our members outside signalled to us that the operation was over.”

Okeagbu informed that the gang has no female member, saying that the person being erroneously taken for a woman is actually a man.

“He is just big and have breast like a woman. He also behaves like a woman. He is a man”, he said.

Police Commissioner Alhaji Umar Manko, who paraded the suspects in the company of his Area Commanders, said that acting on a tip-off, the State Special Anti-robbery Squad ((SARS), led by its commander, Mr Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police (SP), stormed Ilemba-Hausa in Ajangbadi and arrested the suspects on September 23.

He noted that during interrogation, Okeagbu gave information, which led to the recovery of huge arms and ammunition concealed in two buses marked LSD467AR and AGL506XB. The vehicles, the police chief said, were carefully parked in Okeagbu’s residence.

Manko said whenever the gang operated, they drove the buses (stuffed with groundnuts or cassava) to the location, parked them in front of their target of attack and after the operation, they drove away to beat security checks.

He said one of the gang’s operational vehicles also has a censor Close Circuit Television (CCTV) to monitor whoever was trailing them.

Manko said his men are on the trail of other members of the gang who, he said, have their hideouts across the country.

. Chambers in another bus used as mobile armoury by the suspects

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

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NEWS

SEC crisis: Staff union gives Oteh ultimatum T

HE face-off between the staff and management of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) further deteriorated yesterday in Abuja as the staff of the commission protested the redeployment of a contract staff to head the department of internal control, accusing the director general, Ms Arunma Oteh of highhandedness and tyranny.

The staff of SEC accused the management of the Commission of insincerity in the way it redeployed staff of the commission early this month and sought to know the reason for the deployment of security operatives to the commission.

The workers staged the protest within the premises of the commission yesterday, chanting “Oteh must go!!!” with some of their placards reading “no to sole administratorship,” and “no to tyranny and highhandedness.” The protesting workers gave the director General of the commission Ms Arunma Oteh a two weeks ultimatum to address their demands or face their wrath.

In a letter to management of SEC, the staff union had stated that “Mr Omotayo who is one

From Mercy Madu, Abuja

of the unregularized staff who once served as a technical adviser to the DG was redeployed to head the Internal Control Department. This in our opinion creates a morale issue as Mr Omotayo by virtue of his former position would not constitute a sufficient check to executive or administrative excesses. His redeployment should therefore be checked.”

The workers letter noted that “it is on record that the Board extract of 56th Board meeting directed that if by 31st July, 2012 the contract staff of the commission was not regularized, their appointment should be terminated. This directive has not been complied with, rather a counter directive was given by the DG to the finance and account department to pay up their remuneration up to August 2012 without any directive suppressing the earlier directive of the board.”

Addressing journalists, the chairman of the union, Mr. Muhammed Salihu said that contract staff had been de-

ployed by the DG to head the Internal Audit Department and SEC Training School, among others.

“We have 21 contract staff; all of them placed in certain positions that are unbearable and against public service policy. It is unheard of that you make such a person a senior manager. You have somebody who graduated in 1994 and you make him a deputy director, we have 24 of them,” Salihu said.

He said the union had written to Oteh to have a meeting with her adding that the DG issued a query instead of calling for a meeting.

Salihu added that the union would give the management two weeks to work things out to ensure peace and harmony in the commission.

He lamented that it was unfortunate that the DG had decided to adopt sole administration pattern to administer the commission.

Salihu urged government to intervene in the situation to help develop the capital market in the country.’

Jonathan to present 2013 budget RESIDENT Goodluck Zakari Mohammed, in October Affairs, Jonathan is to present said the on-going audit of gov-

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the 2013 budget before the joint session of the National Asembly on October 4.

The intention of the President was made known to the lawmakers in a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.

The Presidnt’s presentation is howevef coming against the backgroud of the lawmakers’ declaration to reject the pro-

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi. Abuja

posal if the current 2012 budget was not fully implemented.

It would be recalled that the House is also set to embark on a week physical inspection of infrastructure projects across the country, to ascertain the level of budget implementation by the Executive.

Chairman, House Committee on Information and Public

ernment Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA), would form the basis for the acceptance of the 2013 budget presentation.

Insisting that the resolution of the House on 100 per cent budget implementation remains sacrosanct, Mohammed, said: “Until we are through with all these, 2013 might not be a matter in focus, because we still have a lot of issues with the present budget.

NNPC blames fuel scarcity on pipeline vandalism

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A S S I V E vandalisation of oil pipelines by oil thieves has been blamed for petroleum products scarcity in parts of the country.

This was the position of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) when it appeared before the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) yesterday.

It blamed the fire incident that damaged oil pipelines in Arepo, Ogun State for product scarcity.

Executive Director, Public Services, Peter Madu, told the Senator Magnus Abe led Committee that hoodlums disrupted repair works at the damaged pipeline, saying the incident affected the flow of pe-

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From Onyedi Ojiabor, John Ofikhenua and Grace Anyiador, Abuja

troleum products.

He said as a result of the attack on the crew of NNPC that went to repair the pipe line, “three of our men including an engineer were abducted and yet to be found, aside three others currently receiving treatment.”

He said however that the Corporation has made alternative arrangements to use tankers to move products to affected areas, adding that despite the alternative arrangement, many of the tankers were held up in the Lokoja, Kogi State, due to flooding.

“It would take longer turn around for the tankers to get

to their destinations and this has been responsible for the current hiccups noticed last week.”

On threat of strike by NUPENG and PENGASAN, Madu said NNPC has not been notified of any threat of strike by any body.

In his response, Abe commiserated with the NNPC over the abduction of its staff, urging the Inspector General of Police to take steps to arrest perpetrators of the Arepo incident.

Meanwhile, government said petroleum marketers would be required to revamp their retail outlets and be recertified by the Department of Petroleum Resource (DPR) before they could market biofuel.

Naira rises on foreign demand for government bond index HE naira firmed bonds from October saw foreign against the U.S. dollar

on the interbank yesterday, supported by inflows from foreign investors ahead of a bond auction this week and a $57.5 million sale by ExxonMobil to some lenders, dealers said.

The naira closed at N157.65 to the greenback, firmer than Monday's close of N157.75.

The naira has gained 1.62 per cent so far this year on the back of rising oil prices and foreign reserves in Africa's second biggest economy.

It has traded within a range of N157-N158 over the past month on high dollar liquidity, dealers said.

"Sentiment is high and we see the naira gaining further this week or at least remaining stable," said a dealer at Standard Chartered Bank, adding that dollar inflows have risen in recent months to help sustain demand.

Dealers said the inclusion of Nigeria's debt into the JP Morgan emerging market

investors pump in dollars to buy treasury bills.

Nigeria will sell N104.70 billion ($663.50 m) worth of treasury bills with maturities ranging from three-months to one-year this week, with foreign investors already buying naira to participate in the auction, dealers say.

Foreign reserves rose to $40.28 billion in September, up 10.3 per cent on the previous month.

SOS

HEALTH

FACILITY

Baby needs N2.5m to live

Dankwambo to immunise kids in border communities

Suswam inaugurates buses

Lagos

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Gombe

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

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HE Unilever Foundation is in partnership with Save the Children, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) protecting children against avoidable diseases and death.

The partnership aims to save millions of lives among children and mothers in Nigeria, China, Bangladesh and Kenya.

The announcement was made at a joint event held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The Unilever Foundation has made a three-year, 15 million Euros commitment to support Save the Children’s biggest ever global campaign, EVERYONE, which is working towards eradi-

Benue

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Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

Unilever partners NGO on children

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

cating mortality among children and mothers, in support of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals Four and Five.

Unilever and Save the Children have also partnered with China Development Research Foundation (CDRF), and along with the Meishan Municipal Government of Sichuan province, signed a memorandum of co-operation to jointly carry out a Village Early Education Centre project in Sichuan province.

Unilever’s support will bring us a step closer to ensuring that a health worker is within reach of every child, life-saving vaccines are available for all, and children have enough as well as the right food to grow up healthy “Our partnership with Save the Children will deliver transformational change that will impact millions of lives around the world. Today, over 6.9 million children die

before their fifth birthday each year – that’s one child every four seconds,” explains Paul Polman, Unilever CEO. “We have an ambition to double the size of our busi-

ness whilst reducing our environmental footprint and increasing our social impact; looking after the future generations is an intrinsic part of our vision, and it is also our responsibility.”

Janti Soeripto, Save the Children International’s Deputy CEO said: “Unilever’s support will bring us a step closer to ensuring that a health worker is within reach of every child, life-saving vaccines are available for all, and •Continued on Page 44

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ATSINA State government has kept its promise and lifted the spirits of workers. Governor Ibrahim Shema had promised to pay the N18,000 minimum wage approved for civil servants since 2011, but which generated much heat across the country, as state governments pussyfooted on the matter, citing various reasons.

For eight months, Katsina workers waited for the improved pay, approved since January in the state. Now they have it, thanks to the Shema administration’s determination to keep its word and prevent undue tension.

Addressing reporters, the state Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Development, Alhaji Mohammed Lawal Jari said government was determined to motivate workers towards increased productivity.

While virtually every state in the country continued to endure workers’ agitation or strikes for non-implementation of the minimum wage, Katsina has taken steps to avoid such unsavoury situations by approving its implementation.

The payment of the eight months salary arrears, some said, is proof that the government prioritises the people’s welfare. It was also said to indicate the government’s pragmatism, moving quickly to workers’ strike in the bud.

The administration, however, set up an audit committee to ascertain the state’s workforce as a prerequisite for the payment of the minimum wage.

The outcome of the staff audit conducted in February, revealed a total of 20,725 staff with a wage bill of N1,500,552,241.

Also approved was a continuous validation exercise for members of staff on annual leave, study leave and those on redeployment to other parastatals that could not be covered.

According to the Special Adviser to Governor Shema on

•Katsina Inset: Governor Ibrahim Shema

Katsina calms workers From Isah Idris, Katsina

Societal and Diplomatic Relations, Salisu Sada Ruma, the staff and audit committees covered all members of staff from the age of 50 years to contract staff. All incompetent staff and those who have health challenges are to be medically certified for appropriate consideration.

Also approved was the retaining

Clears eight months salary arrears

of the existing salary structure of members of staff of tertiary institutions while those on paramilitary training are to remain on their allowances pending enlistments by their respective establishments.

However, other categories of workers including casual, visiting health workers and the 1,087 ghost

workers were deleted from government’s pay roll.

The successful conduct and approval of the staff audit report by the government has facilitated the timely implementation of the new minimum wage in the state, making Katsina one of the few states to effect the implementation of the

new minimum wages.

However, some hitches were noticed while the verifications were going on. These manifested in the form of omission of names of some members of staff, underpayments, and double entries of employees’ names that occa•Continued on Page 43

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

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Gombe to immunise kids in border communities

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OMBE State government is to begin immunisation of children in border areas during the next I mmunisation Plus Days (IPD), Alhaji Ibrahim Bebeji, the UNICEF Consultant for the state, has said.

Bebeji told journalists in Gombe that the state Ministry of Health had targeted children left out in previous exercises, including those in border communities.

“Considering the position of Gombe in the North East sub region, surrounded by states with polio infection, there is the need to intensify efforts to immunise children in the border settlement.’’

Bebeji said the state ministry of health and development partners such as

•Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko (second right) visiting an exhibition stand at the International Investment Forum in Sochi, Russia

Niger to establish Shea butter factory

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HE Niger State government is discussing with United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the Bank of Industry to establish a Shea butter factory, an official has said.

The Director General, Niger State Export Promotion Council, Alhaji Ahmed Kontagora, said at a press briefing in Minna that the discussions had reached advanced stage.

“Niger state government is talking with UNIDO and Bank of Industry with a view to establishing a Shea butter refinery in the state; this is because in the whole of Africa there is no Shea refinery.

“We are also talking with some cosmetics factories that use Shea butter as their major raw material with a view to establishing their factories in the state’’, Kontagora said.

The director general did not say when and where the refinery would be sited in the state but said that discussions with UNIDO and the

Niger bank was on.

He said that the world market value of Shea nuts stands at $3.8 billion, adding that one ton of Shea nut in the state now sells for between 250, 000 and N300, 000.

“Presently Nigeria accounts for 57 per cent of world supply of Shea nuts, adding that “Niger State produces 70 per cent of the Shea nuts being exported’’.

Kontagora said that the refinery would attract pharmaceutical and vegetable oil industries to the state.

Also speaking, Dr Hadiza Mohammed, Permanent Secretary of the council, said that the Global Shea Alliance would hold its next meeting in Abuja and Niger.

“The Global Shea Alliance has agreed that Abuja and Niger State co-host its next annual conference on March 13, 2013’’, she said.

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HE Nasarawa State government has reiterated its commitment to taking development to the doorsteps of the people through provision of social amenities.

The Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Dameshi Barau- Luka, made the pledge in Lafia at the symbolic presentation of letters of award of contracts for the execution of projects under the conditional grants scheme of the Millennium Development Goals- MDGs. Barau- Luka, who represented Governor Tanko Almakura at the occasion, disclosed that the state in 2007 and 2008, accessed

funds for the execution of the MDGs conditional grants.

He said the funds enabled the government to renovate 111 primary healthcare centres in addition to the provision of hospital equipment and drilling of solar-powered boreholes across the state.

The governor said that the state was currently intervening in 54 healthcare centres under the 2011 MDGs-CGS intervention, urging communities that benefited from the programme to guard the projects against hoodlooms.

The MDGs focal person in the state, Mr Yakubu Jafaru-Loko, said that monies used in the execu-

•Special Adviser to the Governor of Sokoto State on Primary Heathcare, Alhaji Ibraheem Sokoto (left) and Dr Sulaimon Isiaka of the University Teaching Hospital Ilorin during the seminar of the Association of Health Information Managers in LUTH, Idi-Araba, Lagos

•Governor Dankwambo cases of polio resistance in settlements in Gombe, adding that this was with the support of traditional and religious leaders.

Nasarawa tion of MDGs projects were grants, advising the government to utilise the funds judiciously.

On her part, the state’s Commissioner for Planning, Hajiya Mariam Buba, called on benefitting communities to appreciate government’s gesture, warning contractors against sub-standard jobs.

Three local governments, Obi in Nasarawa South Senatorial Zone, Akwanga in Nasarawa North Senatorial Zone and Toto in Nasarawa West Senatorial Zone benefitted from the current MDGs intervention project.

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Abuja

“If you are talking about peace building and the people who are the most affected are not brought on board, you will not achieve much.

“Salient issues on the kind of conflict you are talking about, how you want to address the conflict and the issue of peace building; these are the areas we are looking at.

“We hope to be able to, in terms of negotiation, involve women and bring women to the forefront,’’ she said.

On climate change, Achakpa said that WEP was embarking on disaster management training for women in rural areas, adding that the country was overwhelmed by the current issue of flooding.

“Right now, the country is devastated by the impact of climate change and as you know, every part of the country has been affected by flooding”, he said.

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Nasarawa reiterates commitment to development

NGO advocates more women in conflict resolution T HE Women Environmental Programme (WEP), a nongovernmental organisation(NGO), has called for the involvement of more women in peace and conflict resolution in the country.

The Executive Director, WEP,Mrs Priscillia Achakpa made the call in an interview with journalists in Abuja.

She said that women should be at the forefront of peace building activities in the society, adding that this was essential because women were more affected whenever there was an attack or crisis in an area.

She said that WEP was poised to ensure that more women were included in conflict resolution particularly as it affects the Hausa-Fulanis and the Tivs in Benue.

“Women play key roles both in the house and society but unfortunately for us, we are not allowed in when issues about peace are being discussed.

“We are trying to make sure that some of these issues are brought to the fore.

Kogi pledges support for flood victims

Gombe UNICEF, WHO, National Primary Health Care Development Agency were conducting immunisation exercises at short intervals.

“The reason was to ensure that the children who missed the immunisation in the past would be captured in the subsequent rounds.”

Bebeji explained that there has not been any case of polio in Gombe State in the last three years, and that was not an excuse for them to fold their arms.

“It is time for us to work harder because the aim is to completely eradicate polio globally, not only in Gombe but in the country.”

He said the state government had overcome

•The DPO receiving the keys and documents of the van from Alao while others look on

Residents donate bus to police

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HE Nigeria Police through Anthony Police Station in Lagos State chapter has got a lift. Oke-Alo Residents Association, Anthony donated a wellbranded Volkswagen Bus to the station to enhance security of lives and property in the area. The gesture came barely 48 hours after suspected armed robbers shot dead one of the residents of the area.

It was a groundswell of praises for members of the association by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the station, Adeola Raji, a Superintendent of Police, who led his lieutenants to personally take delivery of the bus on behalf of the station.

Filled with obvious accomplishment, the association’s chairman, Dr Solomon Alao of Claims & Insurance Diagnostics Limited, told Newsextra that the donation was borne out of the association’s belief that the police could not handle the issue of security alone.

The same view was echoed by another elder in the association, Prince Remi Olowokere of Prince of Prints, who said nothing was too much to commit to security by the people in view of the spate of insecurity in the country.

Dr Alao’s Vice, Sir Jachike Nwankwo, in his contribution said: “As a people, we felt the need to collaborate with all security agencies in the country to see that insecurity is reduced to its barest minimum. While we believe that the police cannot do it alone, they must provide the needed leadership for us to produce followership through unflinching cooperation.”

The DPO pledged to use the vehicle in the service of the donor community and its environs, even as he lauded the association for being the first to give such a “wonderful

By Dada Aladelokun

assistance” and having been cooperating with him and his men.

Reacting to the DPO’s demand, Alao promised that the association would provide Base Sets and other enabling gadgets for the vehicle as well as assist in its fueling.

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OGI State Governor Idris Wada has reiterated the commitment of the state government to give support to residents displaced by flood in the state.

Wada made the pledge in Lokoja when he received a 21-member presidential committee on flooding, who were in the state to assess the level of damage caused by the disaster.

Represented by his Deputy, Arc. Yomi Awoniyi, the governor said he had taken the issue of the disaster very personal, adding:“ the government is on top the situation.”

He said several measures aimed at granting relief to the victims had been taken by the government while efforts were ongoing to relocate and rehabilitate them.

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TOTAL of 2,093 pilgrims for this year’s Hajj from Katsina State have so far been airlifted to Saudi-Arabia, the Executive Director of the State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Aminu Danbaba, has said.

He told journalists that as at Sunday morning, the Max Airline had made four flights from the Umaru Musa Yar’adua International Airport, Katsina, to the Holy Land.

Danbaba said that all the pilgrims from Danmusa, Batsari, Kusada, Matazu, Baure, Daura, Dutsinma, Kurfi, Safana, Kankia and Ingawa Local Government Areas of the state, had arrived in the Holy Land.

Kogi The governor said the state was the worst affected by flood in the country this year, describing the situation as worrisome.

He said the situation had impacted negatively on the socio - economic activities of the people.

Wada praised the Federal Government for the seriousness shown in mitigating the effect on the people and called for special intervention to fast track support for victims.

Earlier, the leader of the team, Mr Charles Agbo, said the flooding recorded this year nationwide was the worst in 29 years.

He noted that the flood in the state was largely caused by rainfall in Niger and Cameroon, which led to the release of 30per cent of water from the Kainji and Shiroro dams.

“I sympathise with the people and government of Kogi State, I assure you of the Federal Government support for immediate relief materials,” he said.

In a remark, Mr Abdulrahman Wuya, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, thanked the Federal Government for its prompt intervention.

He said the state government had reached out

• Governor Idris Wada to officials of Kainji and Shiroro dams not to release more water to avert further displacement.

Katsina airlifts 2,093 pilgrims The director said that with the smooth operation, the transportation of entire pilgrims from the state would be completed on September 29.

Danbaba also appealed to the pilgrims to cooperate with the officials in order to ensure the success of the exercise.

Rain floods Ijebu-Ode

HEAVY downpour lasting for hours on Saturday flooded major roads at Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State, destroying houses and other property.

The area affected most was the popular Igbeba Road where houses and shops were submerged by flooding.

Residents of the area, however, blamed the incident on the ongoing construction of culverts by the Ogun State Ministry of Environment.

They alleged that the construction work which started three days ago prevented free flow of water.

Alhaji Razak Akeju whose house was submerged, told journalists that divine intervention saved him and his family members from death.

Akeju said he was in his apartment with his family members when he heard a cracking sound at the back of the house during the downpour.

He explained that on getting to the back of the house, he discovered that part of the house had been submerged while the other side was cracking.

Akeju said that as this was happening, he ran out of the house with his family members.

“I am an 83 years old and all I have worked for have been destroyed by the flood. Where

‘Lagos traffic law is in public interest’ HERE have been controversy over the new Lagos State traffic law. The violation of the legislation attracts jail terms, fines and compulsory driving test for drivers. But passengers are also vicariously liable.

Many lawyers have kicked against the law, saying that the punishment is too heavy.

Members of the motorcyclists association and drivers union have also picked holes in some of the provisions of the law. Okada riders have complained that the law forbids them from plying many roads in the metropolis. Drivers said that, sometimes, they avoid normal routes for minutes and face in-coming vehicles because some portions of the roads are bad.

However, Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has said that there is no going back on the rigorous implementation of the law. The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, told reporters in Lagos that the law has forbidden rascality on the Lagos roads, advising road users and other stakeholders to be law abiding.

Ibirogba acknowledged the complaints against the traffic law. He said government was also aware that the opposition party is sponsoring campaigns against the traffic law. But he said the law, which reflects the realities of the time,

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By Emmanuel Oladesu

would be implemented faithfully by the state government. He described it as a law for behavioural change, stressing that the goal is to sanitise the society. He said it is important to also protect the investment in the mega city by such laws.

“The trouble is the fear of change on the part of drivers. The law is also corrective. What we want to do is to instill discipline and restore the respect for value and dignity. No government will fold its arms and ignore the behavioural drift in the transport sector”, he said.

The commissioner recalled that that Lagos has a traffic law as far back as 1949 when the population was not huge and few people had cars. He said, 63 years after, it is desirable to have a comprehensive mechanism to support the bold move to restore order on the road.

“The 1949 document was aimed at preventing reckless driving. There was no GSM then. Certain behaviours are not good for people on the wheel. Okada business was non-existed in 1949. Today, it is desirable, but excesses should be curtailed”, Ibirogba added.

Ogun will I start from,’’ he wept.

He, however, appealed to the state government to come to his rescue.

Also speaking, Mrs Iyabode Olarenwaju, whose house was also submerged said she lost all her property to the flood.

Briefly Church holds programme THE Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of God Parish a.k.a Place of His Glory, Ketu Area 9, is holding a day programme on Sunday, September 30. The theme is Flourishing Under His wings and venue is 21 Ogunkoya Street in Ikosi/Isheri LCDA, Ketu, Lagos State.

The host, Pastor James Owolabi, assured those who will attend of a successful end to the year.

36th annual conference

THE Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) will hold its 36th Annual Conference tomorrow.

The theme of the conference is Investing and Sustaining Businesses in Nigeria: Issues of Governance and venue is Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Abuja.

According to its president, Mr Olatunde Busari; the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim is one of the speakers at the event.

•From left: Mrs Ada Ehi, Goodwill Ambassador, Inner City Mission; Mr Dapo Isaac, Chief Operating Officer, Superscreen Television and Pastor Solayinka Agboola, Director of the Mission at the Superscreen Television’s adoption of Inner City Mission as CSR platform PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

Council inaugurates office

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HE Chairman of Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos State, Mr Olanrewaju Elegushi, has expressed his desire to give maximum support to staff welfare in view of their contribution to the development of the council.

Speaking at the inauguraton of an administrative block and multi-purpose hall at the council’s secretariat, Elegushi explained that it had become necessary to provide the facilities, even as he added that when he assumed office, the staff were not operating in a dignified environment.

He said: “The execution of this project by this administration is a deliberate policy in ensuring that environment conducive enough to workers’excellent performance is provided to achieve optimum result.”

• From left: Oba Saheed Elegushi of Ikateland, Oba Adetunji Akinloye of Ajiranland and Hon. Elegushi at the event

By Musa Odoshimokhe

Elegushi maintained that despite the financial limitation which his administration experiences, it was poised to ensure that basic facilities are provided across the five wards of the council.

Stressing the administration’s resolve to enhance the people’s welfare, he said: “On assumption of office in November 2008, I undertook an appraisal of available infrastructural facilities in the secretariat and decided, together with my team, that a befitting corporate headquarter is desirable for Eti-Osa Local Government.”

According to him, the building which houses the multi-purpose hall also has accommodation for the chairman, other executive members, the legislative chamber and has facilities for staff’s conveniences.

He said the project, which had been in the pipeline for years, became a reality during his tenure. “I commend the efforts of all stakeholders that ensured the realisation of this dream project. Let me also pay tribute to the foresight of our past leaders whose initiative was the realisation of Eti-Osa as an entity.”

The chairman reeled off some of the projects his administration had embarked on. One of these projects, he said, is a six-classroom block with a sick bay at Ikota.

The provision of computer centre that serve seven primary schools in Eti-Osa, procurement of 32-seater coaster bus, donation of two patro jeep for the Ilasan Police Station and Lekki Phase 1 Residents Association.

The event which attracted eminent citizens of the council including traditional rulers were told that the outcome of a research conducted on climate change by a non-governmental organisation revealed that Eti-Osa is susceptible to the effect of climate change because of the lengthy coastline.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY,SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

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COMMENTARY EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

EDITORIALS

Tompolo’s powers?

•Was ex-minister, Iheanacho arrested or abducted? What about the alleged stolen petroleum products?

ORMER Niger Delta militia leader, Government Ekpemukpolo, alias Tompolo, is in the news again. This time, he is reported to have masterminded the arrest of a former Minister of Interior, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, on allegations of his involvement in the theft of petroleum products. “I was abducted by Tompolo and not arrested and thereafter humiliated like a common criminal at a detention point at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)”, Iheanacho told reporters.

The former minister said that the uniformed armed men numbering about 30 who stormed his Apapa Tank Farm and Marine Road corporate head-office of his business in Lagos and carried out his arrest did not have the backing of the law.

Iheanacho described the theft allegations as strange, explaining that he is involved in “throughput” business, which allows him under the law to accept petroleum products for storage from an importer who does not own a depot or storage facility, for a fee, upon the importer showing relevant clearance documents from the Nigerian Ports Authority, Customs, Department of Petroleum Resources, NIMASA, the Navy and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

It is a cause for concern that Iheanacho described the manner of his arrest as abduction. Does Tompolo have the powers to arrest him? This question is pertinent against the background of the fact that Tompolo’s company, Global West Vessel Specialist Agency (GWVSA), signed a

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controversial partnership deal with NIMASA early this year, which was called “Strategic Concessioning.”

Reacting to public criticism of the agreement, which was seen as displacing the Navy from performing its statutory security roles on the country’s territorial waters, the government had explained that Tompolo’s company would only provide platforms, security boats, equipment and expertise to help in securing the country’s waterways and thereby raise revenue, and that its staff will not bear arms.

It is, therefore, curious that those who arrested Iheanacho were allegedly in uniforms and armed. Could they really have been Tompolo’s men? If they were, it surely contradicts the stated terms of the so-called “concessioning” deal.

Iheanacho raised the spectre of kidnapping when he complained that his release was “negotiated” by a team of his lawyers “as a typical case of one held hostage.” We recall that hostage-taking was a major feature of the activities of the Niger Delta militants and hope that this incident is not taking the country back to that ugly past.

While the public was still puzzled about the nature of Tompolo’s deal with the government, a respected foreign paper, the Wall Street Journal, reported that the exmilitiaman and some of his colleagues had been awarded multi-billion naira pipeline surveillance contracts by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

It is indeed a grand irony that a former outlaw has transformed into an enforcer

of the law, all in the government’s contentious effort to pacify the militants of the restive Niger Delta region.

This episode involving a former minister has again put the spotlight on the implications of Tompolo’s contracts with the government and the NNPC. How far is he empowered to go in securing the country’s maritime environment and its oil facilities? What is the role of the state security apparatus under the arrangement? Can it be said that the state has relinquished its powers to a private contractor?

However, the circumstances of Iheanacho’s arrest and detention should be seen beyond Tompolo’s alleged involvement. If it is true, the issue of stolen petroleum products deserves to be addressed, and the culprits punished.

‘This episode involving a former minister has again put the spotlight on the implications of Tompolo’s contracts with the government and the NNPC. How far is he empowered to go in securing the country’s maritime environment and its oil facilities? What is the role of the state security apparatus under the arrangement? Can it be said that the state has relinquished its powers to a private contractor?’

Prison congestion •Lagos CJ’s example should be sustained even as stakeholders must facilitate the criminal justice system

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E scoff at official lassitude to the salient issue of prison congestion despite the fact that the matter requires urgent national attention, especially with many of the inmates awaiting trial for years. This depraved official attitude is better underscored by the ennui shown to this over-flogged matter by successive administrations in the country. We had thought the democratic dispensation would make a difference but it has not; little has changed in this regard since the return to civil rule in 1999.

The Federal Government seems bereft of ideas on the way forward. Abba Moro, its Minister of Interior, recently bemoaned its helplessness in remedying the situation. Moro reportedly said:

‘We recollect that as far back as February, 2008, Amnesty International came out with a report titled; ‘Prisoners’ rights systematically flouted’, in which it pointed out federal authority’s tepid approach to prison sector reform. If the avalanche of recommendations of several committees set up by government to help chart the way forward on prison congestion have been implemented by successive governments, the matter should have become history’

‘34,000 of the 42,000 inmates in Nigerian prisons are awaiting trial and a good percentage of them have been incarcerated for at least five years’. He also observed that not less than 1,000 Nigerians are daily dumped in various prisons and remain there for over three years without trial. Yet, he has no clue as to what should be done or is planned to ameliorate the deplorable prison situation.

While we doubt Moro’s statistics in view of the poor record-keeping profile of the nation (the figures could be much higher), we applaud Justice Ayotunde Philips’, the 14th Chief Judge of Lagos Sate, who seized the occasion of commencement of the 2012/2013 legal year in the state to release a record 233 awaiting trial inmates at the Kirikiri Prisons. The breakdown: 130 inmates from the Maximum Prison and: 103 inmates from the Medium Prison.

This kind gesture exercised pursuant to the chief judge’s power under Section 1 (1) of the Criminal Justice (Release from Custody) (Special Provision Act) Cap L40, Laws of Federation 2007 is long overdue if the essence of justice in criminal justice system must be achieved. For instance, how can one explain that 2,378 of the 2,502 inmates in the Kirikiri Medium Prison alone are awaiting trial? Only 124 were already convicted with just four on life sentence. Overall, over 80 per cent of inmates in Nigerian prisons are awaiting trial.

We recollect that as far back as February, 2008, Amnesty International came out

with a report titled; ‘Prisoners’ rights systematically flouted’, in which it pointed out federal authority’s tepid approach to prison sector reform. If the avalanche of recommendations of several committees set up by government to help chart the way forward on prison congestion have been implemented by successive governments, the matter should have become history.

Unfortunately, the governments failed to take the bold step necessary to eradicate a criminal justice system that encourages prolonged detention and overcrowding in prison yards. Rather, it seems to derive pleasure in touting its phantom respect for the rule of law. We ask: What has the government done to improve prison infrastructure in about a decade? Nothing seems to have been done to improve the prosecution chain that delays arraignment due to poor investigative skills, inadequate Black Maria to convey suspects to courts and more importantly, inadequate/and incessant transfer of judges, among others.

But Justice Philips’ generous amnesty to inmates would only be meaningful in decongesting the prisons if it could be made a routine and not a one off-thing by her and her colleagues in other states.

Above all, the debilitating situation in the prisons demands a declaration of an emergency so as to allow for a complete overhaul of the current criminal justice system that inflicts unjustifiable punishment on inmates that may forever not get justice.

Disbanding Libya’s lawless militias

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IBYA’S revolution took a disastrous turn for the worse when Chris Stevens, the US ambassador, and three of his colleagues were murdered in anti-American protests in Benghazi. Yet popular protests last weekend against lawless armed militias, some of which might have been involved in his death, suggest Libya may yet be saved from the extremists who are its gravest threat.

Tens of thousands of ordinary citizens took to the streets to drive away the armed bands that helped to bring down Muammer Gaddafi and now prowl the country with impunity. It is encouraging that ordinary Libyans, who might have celebrated these militiamen as liberators, are not prepared to see one tyranny brought down, only to be replaced by another. The Benghazi protests offer vivid proof that the Arab spring is not dead.

Forty years of Gaddafi’s divisive rule left Libya bereft of any of the normal institutions of state. In particular it lacks a credible military or police force able to keep the peace in a country marked by tribal and regional cleavages. The militia groups, held together by a variety of Islamist, tribal and regional ties, stepped into the vacuum and have become proxy security agents for a government ill-equipped to control them.

Among their members are hardline Salafi extremists who have used a tacit security mandate to pursue their own doctrinal agendas and vendettas, in particular against Sufis whom they regard as idolatrous. Thus Salafist militia were able to tear down a Sufi shrine in the heart of Tripoli last month in broad daylight, and no effort was made to stop them. A campaign of desecration of Sufi holy places has gone unpunished.

The government has responded to public anger over these acts by demanding that all armed militias either disband or come under military control. The militias are fighting back and intimidating some protesters. But the government should stand firm. If it cannot take immediate control of the most extreme groups, it should begin cracking down on their excesses. Those responsible for Mr Stevens’ death must be held to account, as should all those involved in Sufi attacks.

Those militias with Libya’s long-term interests at heart should also be encouraged to make the transition to an organised national defence force. Only when all citizens can go peaceably about their lives, without fear of armed bands chanting religious or political slogans, will the legacy of Libya’s revolution be secure.

– Financial Times

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

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

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•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina •Group Political Editor Bolade Omonijo •Group Business Editor Ayodele Aminu •Abuja Bureau Chief Yomi Odunuga •Sport Editor Ade Ojeikere •Editorial Page Editor Sanya Oni

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: I would like to commend you for your thoughtfulness in acceding to the demands of most Nigerians in reversing the planned introduction of N5000 note and the deliberate ploy to annihilate N5, N 10 and N20 notes estimated to cost a whooping sum of N 40 billion.

I am excited that your decision to put this redenomination and introduction of new N 5000 note on hold was premised on the popular decision and wishes of Nigerians.

Sir, in line with this spirit of benevolence, I wish to appeal to you to replicate this kindheartedness also by completely reversing the increase in Premium Motor Spirit from N 97 to N65.It is not too much a surprise independence anniversary gift to your compatriots come October 1.

Nigerians are yet to feel the

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Memo to President Jonathan impact of the SURE-P proceeds you promised. If you could not realise N1.3 trillion naira targeted, at least the international oil price has kept steady above the $100 per barrel mark – way above the budget benchmark price. You can impact our lives so much with that.

Do you know that fuel queues have returned to our cities? You can put your detractors to shame once and for all by building more refineries and ensuring purposeful

overhaul of the old ones. If you had thought of this immediately you took oath of office, on May 29, 2011, today the challenges of local refining of crude would have been a thing of the past. It would have been another good reason to roll out the drums and celebrate the breakthrough this Independence Day. You can start now.

Boko Haram sect continues defiantly to ravage the North East/ West and dangerously threatening

the entire nation. How long would you allow this endemic bloodletting brute thrive to the detriment of our existence? Relying wholly on Ihejirika’s tactics could not guarantee the anticipated result. It will not and has not yielded better fruit anywhere else in the world.

Change tactics.

Thank you for honouring the Paralympians who made Nigeria proud and proved to the world that there is ability in disability. And

Perhaps that also is why it should be pertinent today to appeal to both the teachers and Ekiti NULGE who are currently at logger-heads with their government to have a re-think.

One would not want to over-flog the teachers issue but haven’t we retarded the progress of Ekiti State enough with sheer obstinacy?

The two issues being contended; the Teachers’ Development Need Assessment (TDNA) and Staff Auditing, do fall squarely into the category of pre-conditions for success in developmental goals.

Ekiti teachers cannot be collectively bad. So, why must Governor Kayode Fayemi who decided to sift the chaff from the grains among teachers not be

appreciated?

The Ekiti NULGE was not unaware that staff audit was being done and that, reasonably, it should be concluded before minimum wage was paid so as not to incur higher losses by paying minimum wage to ghost workers and dupes if they truly existed.

In any case, the governor said he would pay arrears at the conclusion of staff audit. Why shouldn’t NULGE reason with him? Do they know that, by their actions, they are dancing to the tune of detractors whose agenda, from Day One, had been to have this new government truncated like the past two?

• Jide Oguntoye Oye Ekiti

Ekiti teachers, NULGE should sheathe their swords

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IR: There is a Yoruba adage which says: ‘If a blacksmith concentrates his energy on a particular spot of an iron, he intends to shape out an end-product”.

Whatever write-ups and reports had been done in the past on the Ekiti teachers’ proficiency test and the Ekiti NULGE’s current face-off with the government, however fair or foul the write-ups and reports had been, there had been motives on the part of the writers and motives on the part of those who reacted in various ways to the publications.

Our motives are the crux of the two tussles at hand which we should frankly examine and determine whether they promote or hamper the main objective of the creation of Ekiti State.

The singular objective of those who fought for and won the Ekiti State creation, was to see the state, hitherto the often forgotten division in the old Western Region, march forward and keep pace with the luckier divisions of that old order in terms of development.

If, by that act of state creation, Ekiti division was finally placed to make development happen, how much of development have we witnessed since 1966 when a military administrator, Col. Inua Bawa, took off in the task of governance?

While Col. Inua Bawa and his

successor, Navy Captain Atanda Yusuf, were military rulers and nonnatives, only one out of our three past civilian governors, Governor Niyi Adebayo, was able to complete a term of four years. The two others, Ayo Fayose and Segun Oni were, each, unable to do a full term.

While Governor Fayose had his controversial tenure cut short, Oni was stopped by the court on account of electoral fraud. The situations were similar in their effects –the environment was rendered nonconducive for the goal of rapid development.

It was as if the ancient Ekiti Parapo War for which the division was famous was being fought, ironically, now by the Ekitis against the Ekitis!

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Muhammad Tahir Zakari (MFR) of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture for his exceptional honesty in returning the sum of N6 million wrongly paid into his account. A good number of people would have zoomed off with the sum. But he followed the dictates of his conscience and chose the path of righteousness. Would it not have been better to seek for more Zakaris and the Paralympians and confer on them with National Honours instead of those you once accused as sponsors and members of Boko Haram?

The licence of Dana Air has been restored less than three months after their flights crashed at Iju Ishaga in Lagos. As I put pen to paper, some families are yet to identify and recover the bodies of the victims.

Kindly direct the aviation minister to take another look into the clean bill of health granted to Dana Air especially when the mandatory compensations have not been paid and inquest into the immediate and remote causes of the crash not concluded.

Some national dailies have been speculating about the whereabouts and health condition of Her Excellency. Do not misconstrue the interest of the media for it is those we love, we ask after. It is our hope that as we celebrate 52 years of nationhood, we shall see her standing by your side as you wave school children and others march past you at the Eagle Square.

Accept the assurances of my best regards and happy 52 nd Independence Anniversary in advance.

•Sunday Onyemaechi Eze Samaru Zaria

What ails Nigeria First Lady?

IR: It is almost a month since Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan disappeared from the public scene.

Although, her spokesperson, Ayo Osinlu and President Goodluck Jonathan later indicated that she went for a long overdue rest and would be back soon.

Since then, there have been conflicting reports on the state of her health.

Has the President forgotten he is

no longer a private citizen? Has he forgotten he lost his privacy the moment he took the mantle of office and became the president of Nigeria?

The silence surrounding the condition of the First Lady reminds of former president, the late Umaru Yar’adua when everything was made hush hush! It was the silence that aggravated anger from Nigerians. But in this case, we are not even sure of what ails the first

lady.

Is it not about time the president comes out and tell Nigerians what the problem is?

President Jonathan should learn from his colleague, the Argentinean president who suffered from thyroid cancer. There was no secrecy!!! Everything was made public. Even the citizens were notified of the date of her surgery.

She had their empathy and support.

They rallied round her and they all

gathered together at different places to pray for her.

It is time for our leaders to start treating us like citizens. They should stop seeing themselves as masters and they shouldn’t forget that secrets comes back only to haunt and taunt.

• Kemi Okunade.

Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

COMMENTS

Nigeria@52; Ogun Crash; Wanted: Nollywood ParaOlympian and historic films; Wasted 60+yrs

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HE arrogance of government knows no bounds as we ‘celebrate’ Nigeria at 52. Shame on all governments as Nigeria ‘boasts’ of 4,700MwTony enough for a town in UK Marinho or USA when we have spent enough for the needed 100,000Mw and still reject ‘God’s’ solar power used by sunless countries.

Another 30 innocent Nigerian lives lost in Ogun State last week! No Nigeria@52 celebration for them or their families!

The trailer company will go free, of course, while the families of the dead are condemned to parentless penury! America’s normal road is 4-6 lanes each side while Nigeria’s best road is two potholed ‘lanes’ except for the irrelevant 10 lane road in Abuja -the heart of darkness and profligacy. Is what is good for Abuja not good for all Nigeria’s major roads or do they have three heads in Abuja? Nigeria’s CINS of Corruption, Incompetence, Negligence, Selfishness need exorcising!

The Ogun crash will create more physically challenged Nigerians. The success of the Nigerian Paralymics Team is a 2012 Nigeria@52 story of triumph over adversity facing athletes. In another country, directors and writers would sign up Paralympians to turn their stories into award-winning ‘Triumph over Adversity’films. But no. Our Nollywood seems preoccupied with wizards and kidnappings, violence and violation, love and lust. The ‘new’ films should highlight the early life of Paralympians, other challenged individuals and those groups fighting for access to buildings and vehicles, educational support, more mobility aides, employment and training opportunities and show the odd governor or company sponsoring a wheelchair, airline ticket or laptop donation.

Once again at Nigeria@52, governments at LGA, state and federal can, but will not, address budgets, policies and infrastructure for the challenged. One NASS member’s Salary and Perks (SAP), is more than the annual budget for all associations of the physically challenged nationwide.

The government and NASS refuse government support for modern museums and exhibitions. The implementation of a personal aggrandisement NASS Museum Plan should be suspended. It is a mockery to have a museum for the questionable activities of politicians of questionable productivity and very high cost: Returns ratio when the nation lacks arts, science and history museums and exhibitions.

These are part of education, entertainment and entrepreneurship and job opportunities for millions of youth worldwide.

By this insistence on a NASS museum, the house exposes itself to ridicule as the true history of the country is yet to enter the syllabus in any intelligent or critical detail, perhaps because the truth is bitter, unbelievable and ‘too sensitive’. But parents know Nigeria’s history and teach it. There are many good and bad biographies and autobiographies which if stripped of their sugar-coating could be compared to reveal the truth. This is a goldmine for researchers, scholars and filmmakers in modern Nigerian history. They can cut out the self-aggrandisement and come up with the authentic history of Nigeria 1960-2011 probably in several parts. The writers of such masterpieces can make them relevant by borrowing a leaf from other historians and writing the history as a ‘fact and fiction’ or ‘faction’ around fictitious individuals such as aides to the politicians involved or ordinary citizens happy, troubled or traumatised by the time.

This is already being done about the Civil War and the independence era. Because we did not have a pre-independence bloodbath does not mean it was painless or not worthy of accurate record. We have the mosquito, not ourselves, to thank for that ‘ease’. Make the films, please.

At every October 1, we appraise Nigeria. The generator noise has cost us and deafened us for the last 30 years of my own Soyinkaian ‘wasted’ generation, now 60+years. Today, we and Nigeria are nowhere near what we dreamed of when we grew up sharing our plans and expected outcomes in Nigeria’s schools and on university campuses. Looking back, life has been so incredibly difficult, complicated by CINS. Unknown to us, and perhaps unknown to them, the evil military and subsequently the malignant political class were planning Nigeria’s financial and structural destruction. Mili-

tary unitarianism and ethnic fiscal and political mis-applied federalism engineered Nigeria’s failure. Today’s Nigeria is not what we worked hard throughout the last 45 years as diligent university undergraduates, dedicated NYSC members and professionals. Are we the problem as we were in the civil service and government?

We have largely succeeded in bringing up our children at home or abroad and have lived almost our entire adult lives subsisting without and substituting for absences of tap water, electricity, landlines, security or care from the state. We have had almost nothing good from our country except what God has given that politicians cannot take away – family, the glorious Nigerian weather and clean air now polluted by 100,000 okada 2-stroke motorcycle engines in a murderous and misguided employment drive! We witnessed the economy collapse from 1970s N1:$1.5 to N150: $1. Today the preposterous N5000 banknote looms like a lethal cloud threatening malignant devaluation. Easily filled potholes litter the landscape taunting every responsible engineer while our politicians prefer stealing while we suffer mentally and physically in preventable traffic jams while they do beautification projects –planting a flower beside the pothole! What is it about Nigeria that makes politicians feel they can fail and nothing will happen to them or the country? One day there will be no country for them to rape and no road for them to escape! Where are the politicians who love the people and Nigeria@52?

‘What is it about Nigeria that makes politicians feel they can fail and nothing will happen to them or the country? One day there will be no country for them to rape and no road for them to escape! Where are the politicians who love the people and Nigeria@52?’

Sanusi’s loss, Nigerians’ gain

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FTER weeks of intense debate on the proposed N5000 note, the Presidency waded in last week and doused the raging inferno.

The debate had placed many Nigerians, especially stakeholders in the economy, at daggers-drawn with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and its management. The tension had become so palpable that it could be cut through with a knife. At that point, it was obvious that the unexpected could happen. But it took a long time to come. And when it finally came, it was with a bang: Sanusi lost, Nigerians won.

The whole thing was ignited a few weeks back when Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the governor of the apex bank, came under klieg lights and announced that the apex bank had concluded arrangements to introduce the N5000 currency bill into the country’s financial system.

Since then, the debate over the desirability or otherwise of the introduction of the new currency had spread like a wild fire in the harmattan. In most cases the observations raised by people have not gone down well with Sanusi and his lackeys. One of this was the comment made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo at a forum in Lagos. Obasanjo had said that the introduction of the bill was capable of crippling or killing production, thereby causing hyper-inflation.

Pronto, Sanusi carpeted the former President, describing him as a “bad economist.” He pointedly asked whether Obasanjo could be said to have contributed to inflation in the country by introducing the N1000 bill during his tenure as president.

Surprisingly, the position of Obasanjo was commended last week

by Professor Shamusdeen Tella, a renowned economist. He insisted that the former President was right to say that the introduction of the new notes would not be in the interest of the country’s economy.

Tella said the reasons given by Sanusi to conclude that Obasanjo is a “bad economist” are not in tandem with the current economic trends. He explained that the importation and fluctuation levels in the country’s currency had created huge instability in the domestic enterprise, resulting in broader inflation and, as such, “the circumstance does not warrant any higher denomination at all in the system now.”

According to Tella, “collecting higher denominations will mean that people would lose confidence in that money ... All these did not happen when such denominations were introduced by Obasanjo’s regime. So Obasanjo is right. Even when he brought the N1000, people accepted it.” Tella also warned that the implication on CBN’s insistence “is that there won’t be anything called cashless economy anymore.

There will be serious implication”, he said.

Also last week, the position of Tella and others before him actually got a boost when both houses of the National Assembly came down heavily on Sanusi and the CBN. They passed different resolutions asking President Goodluck Jonathan to stop the CBN from introducing the controversial N5000 note.

However, going by Sanusi’s trademark obstinacy, I doubt it if CBN has not commenced the production or even finished printing the currency and minted the new coins.

‘Sanusi must demonstrate civility and flexibility at all times in his conducts because it is not the man that makes the institution; it is the institution that makes the man.’

Nigerians should not be surprised if this becomes an open secret tomorrow. I am saying this because there seems to be a tinge of desperation in Sanusi and his lackeys who have been trying to sell the idea to the public at every available opportunity.

The media has been awash with advertorials over the issue. And these advertorials cost a fortune to place in prime time television and major newspapers. Now, by suspending the project instead of outright cancellation, is the presidency saying that the CBN can continue to waste huge sums of money on the so-called enlightenment? The government should know that Nigerians have spoken; they don’t want the new currency and coins, and no amount of propaganda can change that mindset.

Like many people have rightly observed, the new CBN’s move is a contradiction of its cashless policy, which has not even been accepted in Lagos. People have been devising ingenious methods to circumvent the policy since it was introduced. Sanusi himself attested to this fact recently when he openly admitted that the banks were conniving with their customers to sidetrack the policy.

It is a known fact that the informal sector controls a big chunk of the volume of cash in circulation.

The market men and women in Oshodi, and Oke Arin markets in Lagos; Ochanja Market in Onitsha; Fegge Market in Kano; Ariara Market in Aba; and Agenebode market in Edo State transact their businesses in Ghana-Must-Go bags stacked with naira notes. Majority of these traders are peasants and illiterates who do not have any business with the banks. Therefore, I do not see how they can embrace this cashless gambit. I think Sanusi should rather concentrate on how to strengthen the cashless policy and make it work than dissipate energy on selling the idea of N5000 note to unwilling

Nigerians.

The other issue is the coins. Sanusi wants to change some lower denominations of the naira like N5, which carries the portrait of Tafawa Balewa; N10, which bears Alvan Ikoku; and N20 which spots late General Murtala Mohammed on it.

These people represent many things to many people across the geo-political divides in Nigeria. The implication is that Sanusi is set to consign their memories to the graveyard of history.

Nobody should tell the CBN governor any longer that Nigerians do not like coins. Just like one of the parliamentarians observed last week, even beggars don’t collect coins from alms givers. If Sanusi is so adamant, let him try and introduce the N5000 in coin. Nobody will touch it. Our goods and services are not priced in smaller digits. When it becomes necessary, they are approximated to the next higher denomination. Think of any minute object or commodity such as oranges. It is either they are N10 or N20 each. So why does Sanusi want to devalue our currency by other means?

However, the CBN governor may have probably played the political card by proposing that three women activists of blessed memory Olufunmilayo Ransom-Kuti, Margaret Ekpo and Gambo Sawaba - will jointly adorn the face of the N5000 note. Even at that, there would still be problems. For instance, in Sanusi’s own part of the country, women are more often relegated to the background in the scheme of things. They can neither be heard nor seen, as it were, which is why many of the men keep their women out of public eyes. The culture there is that women should naturally play second fiddle. What this boils down to is the fact that the stark illiterates in this part of the country, who are mainly traders handling high volume of cash, may not want to have anything to do

Dele Agekameh with the N5000 note.

But Sanusi and his henchmen have a readymade answer for this. They have come out with the cheap propaganda that those who do not want to spend the money are free to reject it. If a person goes to cash money in the bank and the counter clerk tells him that all he has are N5000 notes, what will happen? The customer will have no other choice than to succumb.

As things are now, there is the need to do more research on the real problem bedeviling the naira. This is with a view to fashioning out an appropriate panacea to resolve it rather than the perennial introduction of higher currency and redenomination.

Besides, the usual arrogant posture with which Sanusi has dealt with such issues in the past, and which has manifested in his behaviour over the years, does not augur well for somebody in such a sensitive position. Sanusi must demonstrate civility and flexibility at all times in his conduct because it is not the man that makes the institution; it is the institution that makes the man.

Send reactions to: 08058354382 (SMS only)

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

22

COMMENTS ‘Gbenga, you actually hit the nail on the head on Jonathan’s ineptitude on your piece of 20-09-12. You aptly captured his inefficiency in major policy and political matters. To refer to subsidy strike in Lagos nine clear months after shows he has learnt nothing and forgotten nothing. I only hope is not building his castle in the air thinking South west wìll vote for him by attending the book launch of one of those he teargased during the subsidy strike. Lastly your joke on what manner of dialogue? Kept reeling on the ground with laughter your pen will never run dry. Amen. From Ayo Apelogun, Ilesha’

•Jonathan

For Gbenga Omotoso Building 11 new airports in Nigeria will certainly create more jobs in the aviation industry or won’t it ? From Uwem Ekanem, Uyo Gbenga, the man of the year. Goodluck Jonathan has nothing to showcase neither has he anything to tell Nigerians by October 1. He can only tell Nigerians the number of bombs that have exploded since he assumed office. Corruption is the order of the day; kidnappers, hired assassins are everywhere still our President said he is the most criticised leader in the world. He has not done anything that deserves commendation.

As long as he sticks to his policies that are not favouring Nigerians, we will continue to critisise him. He brought harship to Nigerians by removing fuel subsidy. He said he is fighting corruption yet the subsidy fraudster are moving about freely. The President said unpatriotic Nigerians sponsored the protesters why didn’t he sponsor the counter protest? Mr Goody, wake up now. From Hamza Ozi Momoh.

Dockyard, Apapa, Lagos.

Gbenga, you actually hit the nail on the head on Jonathan’s ineptitude in your piece of 20-09-12. You aptly captured his inefficiency on major policy and political matters. To refer to the subsidy strike in Lagos nine months after shows he has learnt nothing and forgotten nothing. I only hope is not building his castle in the air thinking South west wìll vote for him by attending

the book launch of one of those he teargased during the subsidy strike. Lastly your joke on what manner of dialogue? Kept reeling on the ground with laughter your pen will never run dry. Amen. From Ayo Apelogun, Ilesha.

Jonathan creates needless problems for himself through his wrong choices, actions and utterances and turns around to blame an imaginary opposition for the consequences. He is perhaps the only Nigerian President to date who believes Nigerians are incapable of differentiating between right and wrong. Anonymous.

Re: Of fuel and other crises. By now, one expects the Finance Minister to have paid the subsidy to the marketers who have been given clean bills and penalise the culprits.

We are innocent enough to be penalised to witness fuel queue again. Enough of the inefficiencies in essential public goods — fuel, roads and power. Cassava-bread remains a child’s play because the powers at the LGs, States and Federal Government will breach the rule. Although a Muslim, I completely disagree with the plan to dialogue with the Boko Haram. Where that is done, expect militancy in other parts of Nigeria. From Lanre Oseni.

It is very unfortunate that the President regards the masses as fools, who can not think on their own. Did we need anyone to call us out to protest when the President gave us over 125 per cent fuel price increase as a New Year gift? Not a few people beleive that the labour leaders were settled to call off the protest by the time they did. Nigerians were not ready to accept anything above N65 per litre. From Alh. Adeboye Lawal Ibadan.

A capital of less than N500,000 is enough to set up a small satchet (pure) water factory but our President is proud to taunt us with

the fact that pure water is not available in his village! in 2012? No wonder he calls himself the most criticised President in the whole world. From Adeleke Foster.

Anonymous.

The plan to build 11 more airports is a waste of money. Only one flight comes to Jos, some of the passengers are or were from Bauchi and Gombe, yet the flight is always diverted to Kano to be able to fill the airline before going to Lagos. Both Bauchi and Gombe are busy building or upgrading airports.Where are the passengers going to come from when the plane which they use still has to go to Kano to fill up since the mid 90s? On dialogue, the government is simply negotiating with the political Boko Haram.

The ideological Boko Haram can never negotiate a divine command and may soon start targeting the political one for daring to negotiate God’s command. In their view, God permits them to only give ultimatums.

From Buga Funj, Jos Segun Gbadegesin Re-Ideas that live. I pray to live with idea and ideals that live and also die for the idea/ ideals that live. To the end unitarism and achieve true federalism, we must see that we end corruption in its entirety, irrespective of our political affiliation! Just watch the big six who are bidding for the purchase of PHCN. These are some of those who will lead the true federated states in future. Where did the fund come from, to share PHCN purchase? They can not live for such ideas/ ideals of Steve Biko, Martin Luther King and others. From Lanre Oseni.

Re:Ideas that live: What an excellent piece of writing. Actually, in the fullness of time true federalism will eventually triumph over

• Gani Fawehinmis

unitarism. From Andy Ashinze. Lagos.

I read youur piece Ideas that live and I jumped and screamed, do we have leaders who will die for ideas that live?I don’t think so, especially, our current political leaders.

Anonymous.

For Dare Olatunji Most of the societal ills Gani fought against are still very much with us in excess.

Anything more corrupt than the men and times of today cannot be conceived. Should we not expect more illegalities where the Constitution is spurious? Gani tried his very best. Afterall, virtue is aiming at the mark, not hitting it. The man who tries hardest is thereby the most successful. From Adegoke O O, Ikhin, Edo State.

Dare, I loved reading your article. I’m particularly impressed by the hilarity evoked therein and your artistic deployment of suspense throughout your anecdote. Well, that’s the kind of society we have, consistently inconsistent about which way to go. From Saintmatthew (PH).

Re-remembering Gani, our Gani. Prisoner J40/4990-Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, will see the face of Allah. Allah will forgive him his sins. His family he left behind will never meet with any trouble. His children and grandchildren will continue to excel in life.

Late Chief, will be seated in al-janah fir dauz, AMEEN. He was an unequalled fighterleader, a GEM. From Lanre Oseni.

Amosun’s infrastructural financing model “Rough waters are truer test of leadership. In calm water every ship has a good captain”—Swedish Proverb.

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has again unveiled another financial masterstroke that promises to transform the infrastructure landscape of the state. The parlous financial position of his state compelled him come up with a novel idea that will enable him use other people’s money to develop his state.

An innovative financial system that would see well-placed construction companies undertake the construction of developmental infrastructure, especially roads, for the state on credit to be paid in instalments later. The arrangement is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme.

The payment plan, which is a direct fallout of the confidence he has instilled in the state’s financial system would come in form of ‘promissory note’ (or Treasury bill) arrangement.

The idea is akin to the popular ‘hire-purchase’ arrangement that commercial drivers enter into with auto-dealers whereby a vehicle would be released to commercial drivers on credit and the money for the vehicle is paid over a period of time.

However, unlike in the case of the normal ‘hire-purchase’ arrangement where the auto dealer keeps a copy of the vehicle key and is at liberty to confiscate the bus if the driver defaults in the payment, the companies in this arrangement will not be able to do that hence the need for a law, making it mandatory for the state government to stick with the pay-

By Olusola Balogun ment agreement no matter what, whether there is a change in government or not.

This arrangement can also be likened to a situation where a worker buys a 32’’ LG Television set from his cooperative society on credit with a promise that payment be deducted from his monthly salary over a period of time.

To allay possible fears of any default in the re-payment schedule, Senator Amosun has sent a bill to the State House of Assembly asking for the enactment of a law establishing a ‘sinking fund’-a pool of funds dedicated for a specific purpose- in the financial firmament of the state.

The proposed law also seeks to set up a legal framework which must be adhered to whenever the government wants to access any loan in the state. The law would serve as an instrument for enforcing fiscal and financial discipline.

The bill titled “A bill for a law to provide for the raising of loans through issuance of bonds, (treasury) notes and other securities, and for connected purposes,” spells out the steps and procedures to be taken by the government whenever it wants to access any loan, a sort of regulatory framework for taking loans. The bill also seeks the establishment of a ‘sinking fund’ by the state government. The ‘sinking fund’ will be made up of 15 percent of all Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state and must be dedicated to the repayment for projects executed under the ‘promissory note’ arrange-

ment.

Interestingly, the ‘promissory note’ initiative presents the people of Ogun State with a ‘Win-Win situation’. It ensures that situations where funds meant for projects are diverted becomes a thing of the past, and ensures that the people will enjoy the infrastructure before the state will start paying for it. The law would equally serve as bulwark against the diversion of developmental funds.

This novel idea would at least ensure that the people of Ogun State can always see what their money is spent on.

The state Commissioner for Finance, Kemi Adeosun, at a recent media briefing, dismissed insinuations that the Bill sent to the legislature was to facilitate the state access to Bond.

She explained, ‘it is like people in Ogun State are fixated with bond. But the bill we sent to the Assembly is not to ask for approval to take bond. Yes, bond is good as a long term financial instrument, but we are not going for it. That is not our intention. The finances of Ogun cannot sustain a bond presently. Our debt portfolio is high and our IGR is low. We inherited a debt profile of N87 billion in 2011 and as at today we have reduced it to about N60 billion; but our IGR is still very low and all these would be taken into consideration when they want to calculate the amount you can take as bond.

“Again, the process that would lead to a bond is long and might not materialize until the final year of the administration”, the commissioner noted. She added the process of accessing a bond “include applying and getting ap-

proval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), appointment of a legal team, financial advisers, trustees as well as the consent of the Federal Ministry of Finance, all these after we must have secured the approval of the state House of Assembly on the move.

“With a Bond, you have to issue what is called Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO). With an ISPO, your allocation won’t come to you intact again. The debt would be deducted directly from Abuja. Before the allocation gets to you, the Federal Ministry of Finance deducts at source.

“We are not running away from accessing a bond. We are not scared of the approval process either but we simply don’t think that a bond is the only option at the moment. We don’t think it is an appropriate and viable option for now. But with this ‘promissory note ‘arrangement, no ISPO is needed. All we need is the goodwill, a Memorandum of Understanding and a firm commitment from the government in the mould of this law we seek from the House of Assembly,” the commissioner stated.

This novel idea promises to fast-track development across the three senatorial districts of the state as no fewer than six companies are already on standby to construct 10 roads for the benefit of the people. With the arrangement, the people of the state can practically eat their cake and still have it!

• Balogun is an aide to governor Amosun

FIFA U-17 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP AZERBAIJAN 2012

Nigeria sends hosts to cleaners with 11 goals

Pg. 24

Sambo hands over sports festival’s torch of unity Pg. 41

Sport Wednesday, September 26, 2012

PAGE 23

BATTLE OF CALABAR

Mikel back

in Eagles for Liberia

•Mikel

•As Lazio star Ogenyi makes debut •Foreign players to hit Abuja camp October 8 •Home based players begin camping September 30 in Abuja

M

IKEL OBI has made a muchawaited return to the Super Eagles’ squad as Coach Stephen Keshi listed him among the 15 foreign based players that would file out against the Lone Stars of Liberia in the last leg of the 2013 Africa Nations Cup qualifier that would be played in Calabar come October 13th, 2012.

The surprise player that is expected to make a debut for Eagles is in-form striker, Onazi Ogenyi who plies his football trade in Italy with SS Lazio. He made a name for himself while playing for the silver-winning Golden Eaglets of the 2009 class and moved to Lazio with Eaglets’ teammate Sani Emmanuel after the FIFA U- 17 World Cup held in Nigeria in 2010.

Keshi, however, told NationSport that he included the name of Mikel in the 15-man list having spoken with the Chelsea midfielder severally on his plans for the team in the final leg of the Africa Nations Cup qualifier.

"Mikel Obi and I spoke two or three days ago so all the noise about Mikel, Osaze did this or that is unfounded.

"I spoke with Mikel three days ago and he told me he wants to play and he is ready to play for his country. We just hope that he plays

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja his best for the country in the match against Liberia.

"We are targeting victory and by the special grace of God we will qualify for Nations Cup. Nigeria deserved to be in South Africa.

"The invited 23 home based players would resume camp on Sunday September 30th 2012 while the invited 15 foreign based players would hit Abuja camp on 8th October.

Foreign based players list: GOALKEEPERS: Enyeama Vincent- Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel, and Ejide Austin- Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel.

DEFENDERS: Joseph Yobo - Fenerbahce FC, Turkey, Efe Ambrose - Celtic FC, Israel, Elderson Echiejile- FC Braga, Portugal.

MIDFIELDERS: Nosa Igiebor - Real Betis, Spain, Obiora Nwankwo - Calcio Padova FC, Italy, Mikel Obi - Chelsea FC, England, Joel Obi - Inter Milan FC, Italy, Victor Moses Chelsea FC, England .

STRIKERS: Ahmed Musa - CSKA Moscow, Russia , Ikechukwu Uche Villarreal FC, Spain, Emmanuel Emenike -

Spartak Moscow, Russia , Brown Ideye Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine and Onazi Ogenyi of SS Lazio, Italy.

List of home based p l a y e r s : GOALKEEPERS: Agbim Chigozie - Warri Wolves; Akpeyi DanielHeartland FC. DEFENDERS: Egwuekwe Azubuike Warri Wolves; Papa Idris - Kano Pillars; Oboabona Godfrey Sunshine Stars FC, Zango Umar - Kano Pillars, Kwambe Solomon - Sunshine Stars FC, Ezekiel Bassey Lobi Stars FC, Kingsley Udoh Heartland FC. MIDFIELDERS AND FORWARDS: Uzoenyi Ejike - Rangers FC, Mba Sunday - Warri Wolves

24

41

NATIONSPORT WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

NATION SPORT

Ajunwa condemns controversial reports on birth of triplets

By Stella Bamawo

NATION SPORT

I

Sambo hands over sports festival’s torch of unity

FIFA U-17 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP AZERBAIJAN 2012

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

Nigeria sends hosts to cleaners with 11 goals

•Chioma Ajunwa and her triplets: L-R: Little Ruth, Caleb and Joshua

Joel Obi

Di Matteo reveals long-term admiration for Victor Moses

C

HELSEA boss Roberto Di Matteo has revealed that “years ago” he wanted to sign Victor Moses, who is set for his full debut on Tuesday.

After adding Oscar and Eden Hazard to his ranks, many were surprised Di Matteo pushed ahead with a £9million deal to sign Moses from Wigan this summer.

The Nigeria international has impressed during his brief time at Stamford Bridge with two excellent substitute performances, and he is now expected to go in to the Blues' starting line-up for Tuesday night's Capital One Cup clash against Wolves.

And had Di Matteo had his way, the former Crystal Palace player would have been playing under his command a lot sooner.

"He's young and he'll still improve and develop but he's an exciting player that I tried very hard to sign, not just this year but previously as well, years ago," said the Italian, who had spells at West Brom and MK Dons before moving to Stamford Bridge.

"He's a player I like very much and he

returns soon

will have a big influence in our season.

He's strong at holding the ball, his dribbling ability is very good, he can go past defenders, which not many can, and he's got the pace as well.

"He's very good at making runs in behind, he's a very good player. It's good that nobody else noticed."

Di Matteo is expected to rest a number of the players who helped the Londoners to a 1-0 win over Stoke, especially as Chelsea play Arsenal next weekend.

Marko Marin, Lucas Piazon and Cesar Azpilicueta could make their first appearances for the club while Moses may be employed as a lone striker to give Fernando Torres some time off.

"I'm sure there'll be one or two that haven't had much time on the pitch who'll be playing on Tuesday," said Di Matteo, whose team have only dropped two points so far this term,” said the Chelsea manager.

"We'll mix it up. There are a few players who have played one or two games before that deserve a chance and there will be some senior players too."

•Chinwendu Ihezuo (r) congratulated by team mate

BATTLE OF CALABAR

NFF charges Keshi

Goal king Utaka

Abuja National Stadium pitch ready January, outshines big-name recruits says Sports Minister

to look beyond Liberia match A

Big Boss defends Eagles call-ups

•Keshi

N influential member of the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Christian Chukwu has confessed that he doesn’t see Liberia as a major threat to Nigeria’s ambition of playing in the finals of the Africa Nations Cup next year but wants Keshi to start thinking of assembling an all-conquering Eagles that would not only be a pride to the Nation but that is capable of winning the 2013 ANC Trophy in South Africa.

“I would say all hands is on deck for the return leg match against Liberia in Calabar. Everybody including the Nigeria Football Federation, The coaches of the Super Eagles’ and everybody is working round the clock to make sure that we get the needed result that would fetch us (Nigeria) the 2013 Africa Nations Cup ticket.

“It is not over until it is over so that we can get the right players to prosecute the match but I like the way is going under the

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja

guidance of Coach Stephen Keshi which is going for in-form players but not names.

We should go for the players that are in form and when that is done then we will get the desired results we are looking for”, Chukwu told NationSport yesterday.

He also continued, “I am not worried about Liberia and not that I am underrating the team but I want us to have a very powerful team for the Nations Cup proper so that we can win the Cup back again this time around and thereby place our country in the right position as one of the top teams in the continent of Africa.

“In as much as I am not against the invitation of the big stars in the team, we should also be careful as fatigue may set in for these players. It is not easy playing (for big teams in Europe) on Tuesdays or Wednesdays (UEFA Champions League)

as well as Saturdays and Sundays for their various clubs. So fatigue may set in which may hinder their performance to their national team. Also some of them may be nursing injuries too and at times they need some rest.

“For the return leg against Liberia in Calabar come October 13th, I sincerely subscribe to the invitation of players that are ready to fight, and that would not be afraid of breaking legs for their fatherland and who are willing to wear the national colour.

“We have the players that can qualify us here but we can call the players in big clubs in Europe for the final camping exercise when we are preparing for the main tournament in South Africa. Despite the fact that it was in a friendly match that we defeated Liberia with our home based players that doesn’t stop us from fortifying the same team to get us the result we crave for at home to Liberia”, Chukwu offered.

•Bolaji Abdulahi

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

Life

25

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Text only: 08023058761

‘Funding is bane of culture’ •Babawale

•STORY ON PAGE 26

Godwin Usidamen: A life in photography •Page 27

National Parks struggling to promote tourism

Behold, Lugard’s foot-bridge

•Page 28

•Page 37

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

26

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Since September 11 bombings in New York, United States, the world has seemingly lost its peace. No nation can boast of being immune from violence. Yet, every nation is aggressively promoting its culture and tourism. In Nigeria, funding is bane of culture, according to Director-General of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) Prof Tunde Babawale in this chat with Assistant Editor (Art) OZOLUA UHAKHEME

•From left: Director of Culture George Ufot, Babawale and former Minister of Culture Abubakar Sadiq Muhammed at a conference

‘Funding is bane of culture’

“T

HE Nigerian government still needs to understand perfectly what culture and tourism mean to the nation. There are some of us who cannot compete with the oil and gas sector. But, we must understand that it is not everything that translates into Naria and kobo. There are intangibles in our heritage that are more important than Naira and kobo, and that is what culture is all about.”

This is the position of Director-General of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), Prof Tunde Babawale while speaking on why the different tiers of governments must promote culture as an antidote to the increasing violence in the country.

Prof Babawale said culture provides the essential ingredients for tourism growth in most countries of the world, and as such must be marketed, promoted and funded. Culture, he said, is relevant to any society because it is economics and part of politics, as it epitomises the life of the people. According to him, most tourists from across the globe admire America today not because America gives them money or because America is very rich.

“But it is because of the American culture that is being promoted by Hollywood. If we don’t have agencies such as CBAAC promoting our culture, supporting structures and institutions like Nollywood to do that all over the world, we will get nowhere. We will remain derided as a people and be disrespected everywhere as a nation of scammers.

“That is not all. There is no nation in the world that does not have scammers. But when people make it look as if it is only in Nigeria that people throw bombs, when bombs are thrown regularly in Israel and Lebanon, we must rise to the challenge using our culture. Interestingly, people still visit these countries either on business trip or on pilgrimage,” he said, noting that people still travel to flash points such as Syria where there is a war going on.

According to him, in Europe today, no one is sure of when the next bomb would be thrown; yet, Nigerians still rush to the continent. He blamed this on the nation’s inability to put its right foot forward by promoting culture through effective and adequate funding.

Reacting to what he calls the Ministry of Culture’s poor budget, Babawale said in such a situation much cannot be achieved. CBAAC, he said, that had a budgetary allocation that is 82 per cent less than what it had last year, adding that from what is being proposed for next year, the Centre would get a 13 per cent further reduction from its budgetary allocation. He said unless something drastic is done to prevent that ab-

INTERVIEW normal situation, the Centre would be made redundant. The culture ministry has 10 parastatals and agencies under it, and CBAAC has the least budget, even when it is the only agency that has an international mandate. The latest 13 per cent reduction, according to him, is to some extent a general policy by the Federal Government.

He said: “It is not only ironic it would have been laughable if not tragic, that the only agency that is empowered by law to pursue cultural diplomacy for Nigeria is the least budgeted for in the ministry today. I have written to the finance minister over this development and I am positive that something would be done to redress this situation.”

Considering the Pan-African orientation of the centre and its international mandate, Babawale said it is imperative that the agency is provided with sufficient funding to enable it meet its statutory responsibilities. “The 82 per cent reduction in its 2012 budget from that of last year has literally handcuffed the centre and made it impossible for it to effectively carry out its activities,” he added.

Notwithstanding these challenges, Babawale is determined to realise the objectives he set for himself on assuming office in 2006. He recalled that his objective

‘But it is because of the American culture that is being promoted by Hollywood. If we don’t have agencies such as CBAAC promoting our culture, supporting structures and institutions like Nollywood to do that all over the world, we will get nowhere. We will remain derided as a people and be disrespected everywhere as a nation of scammers ... That is not all. There is no nation in the world that does not have scammers. But when people make it look as if it is only in Nigeria that people throw bombs, when bombs are thrown regularly in Israel and Lebanon, we must rise to the challenge using our culture. Interestingly, people still visit these countries either on business trip or on pilgrimage’

•Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation Chief Edem Duke

from day one has been to ensure that CBAAC would be to the African Union, what UNESCO is to the United Nations. This process, he said, would soon be completed and he would have left a CBAAC that has been repositioned with a staff that is motivated, committed, and can compete favourably with any of their contemporaries in the world.

How far has he fared in realising this? On assumption of office, he pledged to lift culture beyond the realm of antiquity and get feedback from the man on the streets. Today, CBAAC has held top flight conferences and seminars in Nigeria and in the Diaspora ranging from the UNESCO slave route project international scientific committee meeting, to conflict prevention, resolution and reconciliation in Africa, international conference on Africa and African Diaspora, Africa Day symposium and expo, international conferences, harmonisation of cross border languages, promotion of African indigenous stimulants and the Black History month celebration, among others. In fact, in the last two years, over 15 of such events have been held by CBAAC, aimed improving bilateral relationship between Nigeria and countries such as Brazil, Niger, Trinidad and Tobago, Cameroon and South Africa.

Besides, the centre has developed an African heritage centre with cultural objects belonging to different African countries and the Black race on display.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

27

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

amen: Godwin Usidamen: A life in photography

T

HE man took out time on his 62nd birthday to savour the camera which has put him into more trouble than he can count. He was once nearly sacked from the newspaper he then worked in for publishing the out-ofwedlock son of a former vice-president of Nigeria. He had to go into hiding when he published the photograph of a never-seen second wife of a very flamboyant First Republic politician. He was beaten and locked up for taking a photograph of the Chief Judge of the then Bendel State in party mood with the army commander and police commissioner which he captioned “Gold meets Gin and Whisky”, a coinage from their names. A maddened parent of a Page 3 Girl he photographed nearly had him murdered for his efforts. As a photojournalist, Godwin Usidamen stood tall where even generals feared to tread. His philosophy can be summed up thusly: “Get the shot even if the heavens fall!”

The art of publishing photographs and being damned for the affront has been the forte of the affable Godwin in his decades of work at NBC/TV, The Guardian, Punch, Vanguard, Daily Times, Sentinel Magazine etc. At his 26 Ibidun Street, off Ojuelegba Road, Surulere, Lagos operational base, Godwin is not today into photojournalism but undertakes industrial, advertising, modelling and general photography through his agency PapaGee Productions. The 62-year-old grandfather may appear retired but he is definitely not tired, and may yet stage a comeback into the charged battlefield of telling great news through greater photography.

Born September 11, 1950 in the rural locale of Uokha in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State, Godwin had his early education in his hometown and at Obiaruku in today’s Delta State before enrolling as a typist because there was no money to send the young lad to secondary school. He left Obiaruku for Auchi in 1964 with his elder brother, trekking the long distance because of lack of money. A year after he was taken to Ibadan by her mother’s younger brother who worked in the Central Bank branch there. At Ibadan he underwent apprenticeship in electrical installation and plumbing.

He bore witness to the first military coup in January 1966 at Ibadan as well as the July 1966 counter-coup in which Head of State Aguiyi-Ironsi was murdered in the selfsame Ibadan. By the end of 1966 his maternal uncle was transferred to Benin, but he could no longer continue his electrical installation apprenticeship in Benin and was now more or less used as a houseboy which he didn’t like.

When the Biafra war broke out he decided on the spur of the moment to find his way to Lagos. He somehow flagged down a Volkswagen car that brought him to Lagos,

•Otunba J. K. Randle, Usidamen and Ojora

By Uzor Maxim Uzoatu

VISUAL ART and to the home of his shocked elder brother who could not understand how Godwin evaded the Biafran soldiers who had overrun the then Midwest Region. He was declared missing back home as nobody knew where he was. He became apprenticed to a refrigerator and air-conditioner installer on a pay of one Pound a week. He left the work after four months because the air-conditioners were much too heavy for the gangling youth. He joined his elder brother Augustine Usidamen in his painting trade, painting all night and hawking the paintings all day through Palm Grove, Iddo, Carter Bridge, Marina etc.

Tired of the painting and hawking, Godwin told his brother he wanted to learn the art of photography instead. He thus became apprenticed in 1968 to Pa Johnson Ojeikere, an uncle of his who had his studio in the Yaba area and worked for Lintas Advertising West Africa. After the war, in the early 1970s, he told Pa Ojeikere he was tired of being an apprentice and wanted to actually practice the art on his own. Another brother of his bought for him the necessary working tools, and barely three months after he bought a sports bicycle and had his business name emblazoned thus: Goddy International Photos.

In 1972, he and his friend Raphael Ikharo founded More-Sell Photo Works that did jobs with agencies engaged in advertising

•Usidamen

and modeling, even getting jobs from Lintas where Pa Ojeikere reigned. By 1974 he had bought a car, and it was while washing it on a certain day that he met Usman Abudah who advised him to go into photojournalism instead of restricting himself to just adver-

tising photography.

While working as a freelance photographer he went to then NBC/TV to do some work in the darkroom only for some menacing soldiers to dash in, seizing him together with his camera. The soldiers took him to Barbeach to serve as the only still photographer to take shots of the execution of Dimka and JD Gomwalk who had been convicted for leading the coup that killed Head of State Murtala Muhammed on February 13, 1976. That was his Baptism of Fire.

He left Lagos for Benin in 1977, working for Punch because Usman Abudah had given him a letter of introduction to Sam Amuka.

He covered the entire Bendel State until resigning from Punch in 1980. It was good old Uncle Sam Amuka who again gave Godwin a job in Lagos when he set up Vanguard in 1984. Usidamen took the photographs of the early Vanguard buildings in Kirikiri Canal.

He left the Vanguard in 1985, and was employed at The Guardian on the recommendation of the photo editor Sunmi Smart-Clole.

Godwin would later work for the Daily Times, Sentinel Magazine and the Sunmi Smart-Cole Gallery in Yaba. Now he runs his own photo enterprise PapaGee Digital Productions on Ibidun Street.

“I have still so much to contribute,” the affable Godwin Usidamen says to me, flashing his trademark smile as I gleaned through his range of very rare photographs which will gain remarkable plaudits in a public exhibition.

Museum, NDE partner on job creation

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

•Usman

T

HE National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) and the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) have entered into partnership on ways of creating jobs for the youth.

They plan to explore employment oppor-

tunities through creative cultural industries and eco-museum. At an interactive session at NDE office, both agencies sought means of boosting their collaboration.

NCMM Director-General, Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman, who led his management team to NDE Headquarters in Abuja, said the collaboration is geared towards impacting on the present administration’s transformation agenda. “Today marks a landmark in the history of National Commission for Museums and Monuments and National Directorate of Employment because we are about to establish a new partnership that will create an enabling environment for employment and empowerment of the teaming youths in this country through creative cultural industries and Eco-Museums,” he said.

He stated that apart from the statutory

function of collecting antiquities and preserving monuments, the commission also train craftsmen and women who are engaged in the production of outstanding works of art, adding that the process of producing them could be preserved and inculcated into the youths.

Museum’s craft centres across the country are into production of pottery, calabash, leather works, black-smithing, raffia works and bead making. The partnership, according to the agencies would help strengthen the development of culture based enterprises among others.

Usman explained that the NCMM would provide the expertise and technicians for the project collaboration, while National Directorate of Employment centers would be used for training artisans in craft making, skill acquisition, and development of entrepreneurial skills, preservation and utilisation of heritage resources based on cultural industries among the indigenous people. The

involvement of NDE, he said, would be a viable way of fulfilling her corporate social responsibility and NCMM with NDE actualising its mission and vision.

He said: “We can further involve developmental agencies like UNDP, NAPEP, SMEDAN and UNESCO to give financial and logistic supports for a broader perspective impetus to the partnership efforts in line with the federal government agenda of this administration”.

NDE Director-General, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed assured that NDE is eager and willing to collaborate with the commission, noting that the directorate would support the commission to create employment around its activities.

Mohammed suggested the setting up of a committee and nominated two of his directors as members. For the NCMM, the Director of Monument, Heritage and Site, Mr Oluremi Adedayo and Director of Museums, Ms Rosemary Bodam were nominated.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

28

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

•Tortoise

•Elephants

National Parks struggling to promote tourism The seven National Parks in the six geo-political zones are about the only remaining viable conservation areas in the country. They have remained so because of the Federal Government’s persistent efforts at preserving the vast variety of fauna and flora resources. PAUL UKPABIO examines these parks, their tourism potentials and challenges.

T

HE road signs almost immediately after the historic Jebba Bridge are strange. At least, to first time visitors to New Bussa in Niger State.

Unlike the usual road signs, which caution motorists to drive carefully to avoid accidents at a bend or to avoid pedestrians, the road sign here tells you to be wary of cattle-crossing or wild life: The latter, most often could be a lion, baboon, hyena, antelopes, kobs or hippopotamus.

Meanwhile, a large population of Nigerians may not even be aware that such breed of wild animals, still largely co-exist with humans in the savannah forest region of Niger State in a friendly manner.

The Federal Government must actually be praised for the creation of the first National Park, the Kainji Lake National Park in New Bussa. This historically, was achieved with the amalgamation of two former game reserves, Borgu and Zugurma in 1976. And the creation of additional National Parks was further more facilitated by the decree establishing it being reconstituted in later years.

The Park is one out of the seven national parks, which are centrally coordinated and supervised by the Conservator General, Alhaji Haruna Tanko Abubakar from the National Park Service (NPS) Headquarters in Abuja: But the day to day administration of each of the parks is conducted by a Conservator of the Park, who resides around each of the parks for effective administration.

Each of the parks namely Chad Basin, Cross River Gashaka Gumti, Kamuku, Okomu, Old Oyo, Yankari and Kainji, all have their peculiar animal and plant resources. For instance, while a roll call of animals at the Chad Basin National Park may include Giraffe, Hartebeest, Elephant Red-fronted gazelle, Spotted hyena, Jackal, Serval cat, Ceracal, Python, Monitor lizard and various species of snakes, that of the park at Old Oyo consists of Buffon’s kob, Roan Antelope, Western hartebeest, Bush buck, baboon, Patas monkey, Oribi, Grimm’s duiker, lion, Warthog, Water buck, Red Flanked Duiker, Black and white Colobus monkey, Green monkey and others.

The distribution of animals and birds, just like the vegetation at each of the parks, differs from south to north with more animals being sighted in the south probably due to availability of water and food all year round in additional to the vegetation cover which provides shelter.

Also, these parks are endowed with water

TOURISM resources running across most times the breath or length as the case may be: As it is the case with the Kainji lake national park for instance, the stretch of 5340.82sq/km is blessed with the popular Oli River.

But more importantly, is the relationship between the conservation areas in the country with the tourism potentials that could be of great benefit to the people in these locations and visitors to the parks.

To start with, most of the parks are loaded with rich ethno-historical/cultural features of their environment. For instance, a visit to the National Park in Old Oyo is not all about the fauna and floral resources that the park is richly known for. It’s also about a visit to the cultural landmarks of the people, for instance again, it is an opportunity to see and learn about great archaeology in the Oyo-Ile defence wall, the Agbaku rock shelter, the Pythons Cave, Blacksmithing Centre, the town hall, Esu shrine, Ogun shrine, Akesan market and of course historic-political sites like the royal cemeteries at Igboho and Bara, the Asabari Shrine at Saki, sight-seeing of ageless tortoise in Soun of Ogbomoso’s palace and many more.

According to the Conservator General of the National Parks Alhaji Tanko Abubakar, the main objectives for establishing National Parks are: the conservation of selected and representative examples of wildlife communities in Nigeria, the protection of endangered species of wild plants and animals and their habitats, to preserve the culture, historical and archaeological features in the abandoned sites, to protect, preserve, conserve and manage representative samples of indigenous flora and fauna of the south west geographical region of Nigeria, to encourage general interest and education among the public in the knowledge of wild fauna and flora, to encourage the public to visit the National Park in order to enjoy and appreciate the aesthetic, spiritual and ecological values of nature in the maintenance of a healthy environment.

To fulfil the last objective, the parks provides ecotourism infrastructure in form of tourist camps, chalets, restaurant, internet facilities, jeep tracks linking various park locations, camping sites and many more. At a recent workshop, Alhaji Tanko Abubakar and his seven Conservators of each parks, presented a graphical details of the developments that have been taking place at these parks. The presen-

•Antelope

tations highlighted the steady growth rate of visitors to these parks, but however, one noticed that there are still more to be done, not just to attract visitors but also to keep the objectives of setting the parks alive.

While Alhaji Tanko Abubakar extended gratitude to the federal government for continuous support of the parks, funding issues topped the communiqué that eventually emerged at the end of the workshop at the foremost national park. There is no denying the fact that the National Parks are underfunded. While the total Staff strength of the Kainji National Park is 391 for instance, out of this number, 211 are protection staff, with only 151 taking part in anti-poaching patrols in 7 Ranges within the 13 stations of the park: A total number that falls far below the international (IUCN) standard of 1 Ranger per 5000sq/ m which by implication should be one ranger per every 5sq/km. “This said the Conservator General, “means, Kainji Lake National Park with an area of 5340.82sq/km requires 1068 patrolling rangers.”

The above inadequacy has therefore been presenting a security issue at all the seven parks: Security lapses which are also occasioned by ignorance on the part of those who do not see the need or reason for this laudable preservation, and those who see an opportunity of hunting this wildlife for food or for sale. These kinds of people are generally known as poachers and from the experiences related to this reporter by some of the workers at the Kainji Park, these poachers, pose great danger as they roam about the forest mostly at night, to catch these animals with dangerous weapons.

Of particular concern as noticed and highlighted by each park conservator, is the incessant clash between cattle graziers/poachers and Park Rangers at each of the parks. And these are the rangers that are supposed to protect the wild life area, and the wild life itself, but who themselves are but too few in number to be effective.

Some of such clashes have been recorded in recent times, and in most cases, resulted in either the maiming or brutal murder of Park Rangers. “It is unfortunate that this year alone, we have lost 3 Rangers to such violent attacks.

While these officers died gallantly, we are taking adequate measures to prevent further loss of lives in addition to the provisions made in the Employee’s Compensation Act to cushion the effects of these hazards,” said Alhaji Tanko Abubakar soberly.

It is with regards to the above, that news of the Hon. Minister of Environment, Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafiya working assiduously, to achieve the full complement of the Service’s Para-Military Status for the National Parks, was hailed at the workshop, as a laudable effort in the right direction.

“The process has reached an advanced stage; we would like to lend our voice in appealing to the Federal Government to grant the request. This will bring Nigeria National Parks at parity with their counterparts in other parts of the world and further motivate the staff for greater service delivery,” added the Conservator General.

Perhaps, also to be commended would be the recent inauguration of the Steering Committee on the Partial Commercialisation of all the National Parks. On this, workers at the park reasoned, will lead to introduction of reforms that would turn around the eco-tourism fortunes of National Parks, so as to play an active role in the national economy. And ease to some extent, the funds constraint occasioned through the overwhelming needs at the parks.

Alhaji Yakubu Mohammed Kolo, the Conservator of Kainji Lake Park, reiterated this further thus: “We can build a virile National Park system that will turn Nigeria into a preferred destination. The National Park as a key component of economic development in our country has a role to play in attracting direct foreign investments into the country. It is for this reason that the National Park Service is working with stakeholders, to provide the enabling environment to attract both local and international investments. With commercialisation, we will be looking at partnering such stakeholders in areas of more enlightenment programmes, a wider range of publicity campaigns for the parks, to drive tourism as well as ensure the conservation of the parks.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

29

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Forecasts Q3 Sept 2012 Oasis Ins Turnover N450m Profit after tax N63.894m Access Bank Gross earnings N54.782b Profit after tax N11.907b Resort Savings & Loans Gross earnings N960.736m Profit after tax N165.540m Trans-Nationwide Exp Gross earnings N170.342m Profit after tax N40.568m GT Assure Gross premium N9.525b Profit after tax N1.241b Pharma-Deko Turnover N454m Profit before tax N10m Cornerstone Ins Premium Revenue N919.418m Profit after tax N41.002m Skye Bank Gross earnings N99.710b Profit after tax N13.933b CCNN Turnover N3.683b Profit after Tax N402.165m Custodian & Allied Gross Premium N8.540b Profit after tax N1.345b UPDC Turnover N10.274b Profit after tax N1.002b Nestle Nig Turnover N28.850b Profit after tax N4.014b UACN Turnover N48.313b Profit after tax N4.611b Julius Berger Turnover N125.541b Profit after tax N3.993b Diamond Bank Gross earnings N27.315b Profit after tax N3.107b Oando Turnover N123.207b Profit after tax N2.967b Presco Turnover N2.400b Profit after tax N613.760m Berger Paints Turnover N976.303m Profit after tax N88.258m Eterna Turnover N56.413b Profit after tax N859.734m Consolidated Hallmark Ins Gross premium N4.110b Profit after tax N511.564m MRS Oil Nig Turnover N76.804b Profit after tax N1.068b Transcorp Total income N2.658b Profit after tax N1.507b Evans Medicals Revenue N1.619b Profit after tax N64.656m AIICO Ins Gross premium N2.561b Profit after tax N344.406m GSK Nig Turnover N6.756b Profit after taxation N580.824m Abbey Building Society Gross earnings N1.300b Profit after tax N217.537m Regency Alliance Gross premium N1.300b Profit after tax N303.777m Total Nigeria Turnover N54.466b Profit after tax N1.804b Red Star Express Turnover N2.888b Profit after tax N200.557m Cadbury Nig Turnover N9.873b Profit after tax N735m Okomu Oil Turnover N2.176b Profit after tax N667.068m Continental Re Turnover N10.028b Profit after tax N1.207b Livestock Feeds Turnover N1.379b Profit after tax N51.654m IEI Gross Premium N4.250b Profit after tax N533.898m

•INSIDE:

As far as local content is concerned, the ICT industry is uncompetitive because it is cheaper to import a base station than to fabricate one in Nigeria. It is cheaper to import a chip card than to make and personalise in Nigeria.

- Mrs Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communications Technology

Investors fret over corporate debts

I

NVESTORS have expressed concerns that the dependence of companies on short-term bank loans might impact adversely on corporate profitability and returns to shareholders.

The recession at the capital market, which still subsists in the capital-raising segment, has created a huge financial gap, which companies are filling by taking interestbased loans.

Several companies have indicated increase in financial leverage and finance expenses, which adversely impacted profit growth.

The companies including Nestle Nigeria, Vitafoam Nigeria and Chellarams Plc showed strong growth in sales but the gains were counteracted by jumping finance expenses, leaving profit almost flat.

Nestle Nigeria, which grew its sales by 22.3 per cent during the period, ended the year with a 1.6 per cent increase in profit before tax as interest expenses jumped by 325 per cent.

Also, Vitafoam Nigeria grew sales by 37 per cent but this was undermined by 35 per cent growth in interest expenses, leaving profit before tax almost unchanged with 0.04 per cent increase.

Nestle Nigeria reported that its bank loans, otherwise known as short-term borrowings, spiked up to N6.78 billion in 2011 compared with N3.40 billion in 2010.

The increasing dependence on short-term borrowings pushed finance costs from N753.3 million in 2010 to N3.2 billion in 2011.

Nestle Nigeria’s turnover rose from N80.11 billion in 2010 to N97.96 billion in 2011. Profit before tax however, inched up to N18.54 billion in 2011 as against N18.24 billion in 2010.

Vitafoam Nigeria had also reported that short-term borrowings rose by 648 per cent from N408.8 million in 2010 to N3.06 billion in 2011. Interest expenses consequently increased from N265.75 million to N357.32 million.

Stories by Taofik Salako

While the foam-manufacturing company grew sales significantly from N10.62 billion in 2010 to N14.52 billion in 2011, profits before and after tax were almost stunted at N823.57 million and N518.85 million respectively in 2011 as against N823.25 million and N512.78 million posted in 2010.

General Secretary, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Mr. Adebayo Adeleke said high interest on bank loan is crippling corporate growth and returns.

According to him, companies are finding it difficult to survive under the current interest regime.

“The real issue is the burden of

crippling interest. Interest rate is soaring to between 21 and 26 per cent, how will businesses survive?,” Adeleke noted.

Managing Director, GTI Securities, Mr. Tunde Oyekunle, said the increasing financial leverage of the companies reflect the downtrend at the primary equity market.

The Nation had earlier reported that most companies that had indicated interests in raising new equity funds were suspending the plans for supplementary equity issues as investors’ apathy continues to undermine the viability of the primary equity market.

The Nation’s check had shown that several companies who had earlier indicated interests or secured initial approvals to float new

equity issues have suspended the plan due to what they described as unfavourable situation at the primary market.

Earlier, not less than 11 companies had indicated interests in raising some N250 billion in new equity funds.

Oyekunle said the capital market recession has started to have a negative effect on investors as the downtrend is not only affecting secondary market valuation but also the actual fundamentals of the companies.

According to him, the inability to access new equity funds has forced companies to turn to interest-based finances, which are relatively costlier and mostly unsupportive of long-term growth plan.

•From left: Sales Director, Scoa Nigeria Plc, Mr Amresh Shrivastava; Programe Manager, Ogun State Agricultural Development Programe, Mr Kunle Onasanya; Regional Business Executive- South west, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr Ayo Adebayo and Group Head, Agric Finance Dept, Sterling Bank Plc. Mrs. Olubukola Awosanya, during the inauguration of Sterling Tractor Financed Aquisition Scheme for Tractor Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria, held in Abeokuta, Ogun State at the weekend.

Banks seek presidential order on holding company status

B

ANKS are seeking a presidential order that would provide clear tax status for the emerging bank-holding companies and forestall possible multiple taxations on shareholders.

A reliable industry source said lenders that have opted to restructure subsidiaries under a holding company structure were afraid that inexplicit tax laws under the Companies Income Tax Act (CITA) may impose further tax burden on a holding company and its component members.

Under the new banking regulatory regime introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2010, banks are required to concentrate fully on core banking functions. The new model requires lenders to either sell all non-core banking businesses or form a holding company to hold such non-core banking businesses including activities such as insurance, asset management and capital market operations.

Five banks including First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc, First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Plc, Stanbic

Banks slash onlines charges •Page 30

IBTC Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc have opted to keep their subsidiaries while other banks including Access Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Plc, Skye Bank Plc, Sterling Bank, Zenith Bank and Wema Bank among others are pursuing divestments from non-banking subsidiaries.

The banks have formed a common front under Banking Industry Group to engage the Federal Government to make explicit order, which would exempt bank-holding companies such as UBA Holdings and FBN Holdings from double taxations. This has to do with taxing the profit of the components as well as the profits aggregated by the holding company for distribution to shareholders. Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) will also benefit from such status.

According to the source, the banks have impressed the importance of a presidential order, which will be published in the official gazette, on the Ministry of Finance

and discussions on the imperatives of the order to safeguard the gains of the banking sector reform and forestall possible future retrospection of certain vague provisions of the CITA on bank-holding companies.

Section 19 of CITA stipulates that “where a dividend is paid out as profit on which no tax is payable due to no total profits or total profits, which are less than the amount of dividend which is paid, whether or not the recipient of the dividend is a Nigerian company, is paid by a Nigerian company, the company paying shall be charged to tax at the rate full company income tax rate of 30 per cent as if the dividend is the total profits of the company for the year of assessment to which the accounts, out of which the dividend is declared, relates.”

This implies that dividend distributions by bank-holding companies could be subject to tax rate of 30 per cent. Technically, bank-holding companies will be mainly non-operating entities that will not undertake businesses except in managing its com-

Divestment:CBN adopts case-by-case enforcement •Page 34

ponents. So, their principal incomes would be from dividends from operational subsidiaries after charging the usual 10 per cent withholding tax. As such, applying section 19 of CITA would greatly multiply taxes to be paid by the banking group.

Although section 80, subsection three of the CITA provides a safety net that net dividend incomes from subsidiaries to a holding company could be regarded as franked investment income that is not subjected to any additional tax other than the withholding tax, banks were worried different interpretations could constitute landmines.

While each bank had secured professional tax practitioner to engage with the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on tax exemptions and waivers, the Banking Industry Group was formed to secure an irreversible government order and clarification that will not be subject to change irrespective of changes in headships of government and parastatals.

Banks, Insurance firms mull share reconstruction •Page 34

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

30

MONEY

Banks slash online transaction charges B

ANKS have begun reducing transaction charges on their online deals ahead of final implementation of the ‘Guide to Bank Charges’, being reviewed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Findings by The Nation showed that banks have started a piecemeal implementation of the draft guidelines, which is at the final stage of approval by the apex bank. The document was circulated for stakeholders’ input last July. Checks also showed that the review is to address complaints arising from bank tariffs and other miscellaneous fees charged on their customers’ accounts.

For instance, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) last week communicated its decision to reduce charges on online transactions to its customers. In a mail tagged: Reduction of transaction charges on FCMBOnline, the bank slashed charges on transfers by 50 per cent.

Transactions which cost N200 has reduced to N100; N300 slashed N150 and N500 reduced N250 respectively.

“In a bid to ensure you are well informed, please be reminded of the reduction in our transaction fees for funds transferred to other

• UBA GMD, Phillips Oduoza Stories by Collins Nweze

banks on the FCMBOnline platform. Please note that you can also transfer funds up to a limit of N1 million daily, with N500, 000 per transfer,” it said in an emailed statement. The platform, it added further offers customers the opportunity to perform other banking transactions, such as Funds transfer, Forex transfer, Bills payment,

• FCMB GMD, Ladi Balogun

• Diamond Bank CEO Alex Otti

Statement download, Cheque book /draft requests among others.

Diamond Bank also said that deductions will no longer be made on account of customers that use the Diamond Debit cards for withdrawals on other banks’ Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

The lender said the move was to demonstrate its commitment to-

wards customer satisfaction as well as its resolve to drive innovation in the industry.

United Bank for Africa Plc has equally reduced charges associated with ATMs, significantly lowering the cost of transactions, particularly for its Verve debit card customers. The bank had introduced a pay-as-you-go charge structure instead of the monthly charge of N100, which a flat fee was charged to all ATM card holders. The Divisional Head, e-banking, UBA, Dr. Yinka Adedeji, said the move was aimed at delighting customers, following recent complaints and feedback as well as foster the cash-less initiative of the CBN to the mass market.

Findings also showed that there

have been slashes on Commission on Turnover (COTs) in many banks and downward review of SMS alert fees.

The CBN said the ‘Guide to Bank Charges’, which was issued to the industry several years ago is being reviewed to protect bank customers’ interest. The review, which is at advanced stage is expected to be harmonised before final approval and implementation by banks.

The apex bank said complaints arising mainly from high bank tariffs could threaten confidence in the banking system. It said that in reviewing and updating the document on the charges, the CBN will be guided by, among other factors, including considerations of financial inclusion, with particular emphasis on consumer protection, unit cost of banks, and contemporary developments in Nigeria’s banking industry.

It lamented the current practices in a number of banks, where products and services are deployed at exorbitant costs to the customers, saying that the high costs have helped in no small measure in discouraging a large number of the population from assessing financial services.

Dissatisfaction of banks’ customers could lead to loss of confidence in not only the affected banks but the entire system, and subsequently, could trigger run on the affected banks as well as the system.

CBN, stakeholders fine-tune financial inclusion strategy

T • From left: Executive Director, Corporate Bank, Ecobank Nigeria, Foluke Aboderin; Managing Director, Bolloré Africa Logistics Nigeria Ltd, Jean-Christophe Tranchepain and Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Jibril Aku at the opening of the Ecobank Maritime Centre in Apapa.

‘Financial intelligence key to wealth creation’

C

HIEF Executive Officer, SetGroup Nigeria Limited, Mr. Sanmi Akindipe, has emphasised the need for sound knowledge of money management principles. This, he said, would lead to sustainable wealth creation.

Speaking at a forum heralding its forthcoming Christian Financial Seminar, Akindipe, who is also a financial consultant in money and capital market issues, said, “Money without financial intelligence will not be long lasting.”

Financial intelligence, according to him, involves the ability to manage money judiciously and being able to make good investment decisions among others.

He said that financial education is the key to financial stability, wealth creation and fight against corruption.

Akindipe blamed the high rate of corruption, stealing and crimes on lack of poor money management skills and lack of financial intelligence.

According to him, the high rate of poverty in Nigeria can only be solved by financial intelligence and not by making money available to people.

He said financial intelligence, which involves mastering the workings of money, will go a long in helping people overcome the problem of dwindling income, poverty.

It also ensures the increased inflow of funds over a long period of time.He said: “Financial Illiteracy has created a situation whereby people with fat salary end up borrowing. Poor money management skill has also been the major factor responsible for the prevalence of corruption and stealing.”

He disclosed that one of the best money management skills is living under one’s means.

He said: “In aiming for wealth, an individual should endeavor to live under one’s means. There are three ways of living; living above one’s means, living within one’s mean and living under one’s means.

‘Nigeria’ll overcome economic woes’

E

CONOMIC expansion in the 25 leading Rapid-Growth Markets (RGMs), including Nigeria, has started to slow sharply since the beginning of this year but this will only be a temporary setback, according to Ernst & Young’s quarterly report.

Senior Economic Adviser to Ernst & Young Carl Astorri said RGMs are well placed to weather the major risks facing the global economy at the present time, given that they have the space to relax fiscal and monetary policy.

This, he said, has already happened in some RGMs, adding that

there will be further easing of monetary policy in the months ahead, particularly if the global economy deteriorates further.

Alexis Karklins-Marchay, CoLeader of the Emerging Markets Centre, said although slower expansion in the rapid-growth markets is likely this year, it will only be a blip and we will see a return to significant growth towards the end of the year.

“Soaring domestic demand in economies starved, for some time, of investment and consumption will offer business exciting new markets for goods and services in

the years ahead,” he said.

Bisi Sanda, Senior Partner, Transaction Advisory Services, believes that power sector holds the key to the Nigeria’s economic growth and development.

He says: “If the government of Nigeria completes its privatisation of the power sector assets in 2012, it will provide much required fresh breath to the much delayed reactivation of stimulus of the manufacturing sector, including the reactivation of over 100 textile mills that closed down or relocated from Nigeria between 2000 and 2007.

Power is an enabler in Nigeria.”

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said it is working with stakeholders in the financial sector to finetune a strategy on ways to drive financial inclusion in the country.

Financial inclusion, alternatively characterised as ‘access to finance’ has been defined as ‘universal access at reasonable cost, to a wide range of financial services to everyone needing them, provided by a diversity of sound and sustainable institutions.’

A report from the apex bank indicated that going forward, the regulator will synthesize the schemes and programmes of stakeholders in the area of financial inclusion; establish weaknesses and causes of failure of these pro-

grammes and how to address them; define work and action plans of stakeholders to address financial inclusion in Nigeria.

“The CBN will also promote workable models for fostering financial inclusion in Nigeria and who will own and drive them and set up special funds for promoting and developing a financial inclusion agenda for Nigeria,” it said.

The apex bank noted that it will , in addition to some of its reforms, adopt some specific models to help drive financial inclusion, such as agent banking, mobile banking, financial literacy and consumer protection, model Point of Sales (POS) services and specialised banking, such as mortgage banking and nonInterest banking among others.

EU experts to speak on cash-less policy

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EAD of the European Union (EU) Central Bank Market Integration Division Wiebe Ruttenberg is expected to visit Nigeria next month to speak on the cash-less policy initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), at a conference in Lagos.

A statement said the official would be speaking alongside other international experts at a conference being organised by De Novo (a strategy brand and media firm) and Legal Reach, a UK law firm.

The two-day programme, sponsored mainly by the CBN, focuses on the move away from the dominance of the current cash-based system by adopting alternative payment channels. This is in line with the country’s Vision 2020:20 Strategy as well as the central bank’s ambition of enthroning a worldclass payment system.

Slated for October 8 and 9 at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos, the conference is expected to bring

together experts in the global payments industry, who would provide insight and present key developments from other jurisdictions, to benchmark the way forward.

Experts, drawn from various relevant sectors of the economy such as banking, manufacturing, telecommunications, services, and even the informal sector, and from outside Nigeria, would be meeting and deliberating on the issues surrounding the cashless policy.

Key speakers at the forum include Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola; Governor, CBN, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, Attorny General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, Minister of Communication & Technology, Mrs. Mobola Johnson; and top relevant members of the National Assembly.

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MONEY

AfDB’s assets in Nigeria hit $1.5b

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HE African Development Bank (AfDB) has put the total value of its portfolios in Nigeria at about $1.5 billion. The bank is also adopting measures to channel more funds into infrastructural development in the country.

The bank said the portfolios cover loans earmarked for core critical economic projects, direct investment by way of holding equities, and credit extended to financial institutions among others.

Speaking to The Nation, the AfDB’s country representative in Nigeria, Dr Ousmane Dore, said the portfolios cover projects that have been approved in the private and public sector.

Dore said disbursement of funds took effect from December last year to ensure speedy execution of the projects.

He said efforts were on to provide funds for projects that are yet to receive the institution attention.

The development, he said, is in line with the bank’s mandates to identify and execute projects that are of critical importance to the economy of member states of which Nigeria is one.

There are specific and general projects to be financed in the coun-

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try, depending on the rankings given to them, he said.

Water supply, agriculture, health, education, roads among others are some of the public projects identified by the bank, he said, adding that the private sector projects border on technical assistance and infrastructure.

Giving a breakdown of the projects, Dore said $634.6 million was earmarked for the private sector and public sector, $699.5 million.

Dore said private sector projects include lines of credit (LOC) to financial institutions, direct investments by way of holding in equities, and public/private partnership (PPP) initiatives.

The bank has extended lines of credits of $304.4 to financial institutions in Nigeria, direct investments of $32 million and $69.2 million for public/private partnership projects.

He said $57 million was earmarked for various agricultural projects, $236.2 million for infrastructural projects such as water supply, sanitation programmes, economic and power sector initiatives. $30 million was also voted for skills acquisition and vocational education among other

projects under public sector.

Borno, Jigawa, Katsina, Kogi, Plateau, Kwara, Adamawa, Gombe, Niger, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, Osun, Taraba, Cross River and Rivers states, among others are beneficiaries of the bank’s funds.

He said the bank is yet to determine whether about 10 states would be among the beneficiaries of the loans programme.

On disbursement of funds, he said the states had not received the total loans earmarked for them.

Dore said $82.1 million out of $493.4 million earmarked for projects have been disbursed, representing a difference of 16.7 per cent.

The bank, he said, is shifting its operations to employment generation, adding that the lender intends to create jobs through the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs).

“We have set up loans for capacity building in many countries including Nigeria. We intend to provide loans for the SMEs, and we want to channel the loans through Bank of Industry and Nigerian Export Bank of Nigeria to ensure accessibility. This is one way of reducing unemployment and growing the economy,” he said.

BoA disburses N6b co-operatives THE Bank of Agriculture (BoA) has disbursed over N6 billion to co-operative groups to stimulate economic growth, its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Mohammed Santuraki has said .

He said the bank, in line with its mandates, operates about 15 per cent of its total credit portfolio through cooperative groups.

Speaking after receiving the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Award for his contributions to the development of cooperatives in Lagos, Santuraki said the bank has focused on skills and capacity building initiatives for cooperative nationwide.

He said the leadership training on the transformation of Self Help Groups were organised for over a thousand individuals, while skill building training in fish farming, cassava processing and utilisation have been organised for about 5,000 cooperative members. He said the bank altogether has provided a variety of skills to over 10,000 members drawn from various cooperative groups.

He said: “The cooperative channel is also very important in the execution of the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), and the Central Bank of Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing System (NIRSAL) programme. The cooperative and farmer groups are very important channels for our service delivery. This is especially so because for us, lending through cooperatives provides a creative alternative mechanism for securing our loans, and also provides the individual farmers linkage to the market.”

The BoA boss said cooperatives offer an efficient and effective alternative channel for the delivery of small loans, adding they will play crucial roles under the NIRSAL initiated by the CBN.

EFCC boss berates banks THE Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Lamorde has berated banks for not supporting the fight against financial crimes. He said their non-disclosure of true statements of accounts, non-compliance to the Know Your Customer(KYC) principle, among other issues have hindered the fight against economic and financial crimes.

Lamorde spoke when management of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) visited him in Abuja.

He said such practices undermined the commission’s as uncalled for activities.

Lamorde described a situation where by banks refuse to disclose the identities of some people under investigation by the commission, adding that the development prevents effective investigation of financial crimes.

The commission, he said, appreciates the need for the bankers to protect their customers, but it should not be done at the detriment of the society.

The CIBN delegation was led by its President, Mr Segun Aina. He was accompanied by the Institute Ist Vice Registrar, Mrs Debola Osibogun; Ist Vice President, Deacon Segun Ajibola; 2nd Vice President, Mr Uche Olowu; Registrar Dr Uju Ogubunka; Head, Corporate Affairs, Mr Ben Igbokwe, among others.

Elumelu appointed adviser

• From left: MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc, Reginald Ihejiahi conferring with the Managing Director and Country Chair, Shell Petroleum Companies in Nigeria, Mutiu Sunmonu, at the launch of Shell Contractors Support Scheme in Port Harcourt.

‘Irregular power supply inimical to growth’

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PERATORS have advised the Federal Government to create an environment to facilitate the utilisation of the development funds released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The Secretary, Association of Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Employees, (AFBTE), Mr Aderemi Adegboyega said the effective utilisation of the N200 billion Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (SMEs), N300 billiion Power and Aviation Intervention Fund (PAIF), among others, depend largely on the economic environment.

He said government’s ability to create wealth and employment would help fast-track the economy’s growth.

Adegboyega said the inability to meet the electricity needs of Nigerians was a major setback in growing the economy.

He said irregular power supply remained an impediment to SMEs’ moderated industrialisation and economic growth.

“There is the need to fast-track development in the power sector so that the loan to SME can impact positive on the economy,” he said.

The former President, Association of National Accountant of Nigeira (ANAN), Dr Samuel said that the government should also address the current security challenges in the country.

He said economic stability will not thrive without conducive environment that determines the success of private sector operators and inflow of foreign investors.

He urged the CBN to work against improper disbursement and poor implementation of the scheme.

A lecturer with Pan African University, Dr Austin Nweke said

that the proposed credit would only promote economic activities in an environment with developed infrastructure.

Nweke said that infrastructure development would attract investors and provide job opportunities for unemployed youths.

“Serious monitoring and transparency in the distribution of the fund would also ensure the achievement of the loans objectives,” he said.

Nweke said the loan innovation would, if properly managed assist in harnessing the potential of Nigerians and contribute to the growth of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He also urged government to establish a monitoring team that would through the CBN facilitate the provision of loans to SMEs’ at single digit interest rate from commercial banks.

CHAIRMAN, Heirs Holdings Tony Elumelu has been appointed adviser to the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Private Capital Group for Africa (PCGA) Partners Forum.

The Partners Forum compases of several leaders in industry convened to provide expert advice to the US Government on the best strategies for engagement with Africa’s private sector, and to better align its private investment and development goals.

In a statement, Heirs Holdings said: “Following the appointment of several prominent US-based members to the Forum including Edward Mathias, Managing Director and Co-Founder of the Carlyle Group, and Thomas Barry, CEO and Founder, Zephyr Capital Management, USAID has named Elumelu as the Forum’s founding African member,”.

As Chairman of Nigeria-based Heirs Holdings, an African proprietary investment company with a focus on key economic development sectors including financial services, resources real estate, and healthcare, Mr. Elumelu, it said, understands the continent’s investment environment and leadership priorities. He is also the founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation, a catalytic philanthropic organisation focused on driving Africa’s economic transformation through private sector solutions.

Raja Jandhyala, Chairperson of the PCGA said:”Last year, USAID established the consultative Partners Forum comprised of external experts and leaders from around the world who can support our efforts to promote investment in Africa. We identified Tony Elumelu as one of the leaders in the continent, and his perspective and expertise on issues related to investment in Africa will be valuable to our efforts to advocate for Africa and identify priorities for private investment.”

Bankers Institute re-elects chairman THE Alliance of African Institute of Bankers (AAIOB) has re-elected Dr. Uju Ogubunka, Registrar/Chief Executive, The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), as the Chairman of the Alliance alongside Mr. Stephen Anjichi, Registrar/Chief Executive, Kenya Institute of Bankers, as Deputy Chairman.

Also, Mr Cashmir Nyoni, Registrar/Chief Executive, Tanzanian Institute of Bankers, according to a statement, has emerged Treasurer of the alliance.

The AAIOB was established in Johannesburg, South Africa with the objectives to co-ordinate and develop the banking profession on the African Continent through its member organisations by promoting internationally accepted professional standards of competence and conduct. It is on a mission to promote co-operation and create greater support and understanding of banking education and training among members.

The alliance also called for implementation of staff exchange programme in the continent. 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.

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Banks’ divestment: CBN adopts case-by-case enforcement B ARELY four days to the extended deadline of September 30, 2012, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) appeared to have substituted a class deadline for all banks to divest from their non-core banking businesses with flexible case-by-case enforcement regime with a view to attending to peculiarities being faced by each bank.

The Nation gathered that the apex bank was satisfied that banks have made significant progress in complying with the provisions of its circular on Scope of Banking Activities and Ancillary Matters 2010.

The source said the CBN would not sanction banks for not meeting the September 30 deadline but would continue to review progress reports by banks to ensure they fully conclude the divestments from non-permissible businesses in due time.

The Scope of Banking Activities and Ancillary Matters No 3, 2010 requires banks to fully concentrate on core banking functions. The new model requires banks to either sell

Stories by Taofik Salako

all non-core banking businesses or form a holding company to hold such non-core banking businesses including activities such as insurance, asset management and capital market operations.

Most banks including Access Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Plc, Skye Bank Plc, Sterling Bank, Zenith Bank, and Wema Bank have chosen to divest from nonbanking subsidiaries. Altogether, they have about 80 subsidiaries to sell.

Other banks that have chosen to restructure into holding company structure may also have to sell some non-permissible or non-profitable assets. For instance, First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Plc is divesting from its iconic share registration company-First Registrars Ni-

geria Limited.

The source said the apex bank had taken into consideration the meltdown in the global and domestic capital markets and the adverse effects on investors’ appetites. CBN was said to have also considered the large number of subsidiaries to be sold, which glut could lead to unfavourable deals for the banks if the apex bank were to enforce the class deadline.

With the new flexible option, banks would work towards realisation of their approved timelines and where necessary, initiate a review to take into consideration emerging developments.

No bank has fully divested from its subsidiaries. Only few banks have completed partial divestments from a handful of subsidiaries. GTB had completed the sale of its 67.68 per cent majority equity stake in Guaranty Trust Assurance

(GTAssur) Plc to Assur Africa Holding (AAH). The shares were sold at a price of N1.76 per share for a total consideration of N11.910 billion, approximately $76 million. Diamond Bank had earlier sold its insurance subsidiary-ADIC Insurance Limited to new core investors.

Sterling Bank has also sold its equities in Sterling Capital Markets Limited while a capital market operator confirmed that it was about to close a deal for the fund management business of Fidelity Bank.

Access Bank has sold the lender 51.88 per cent in Intercontinental Homes Savings & Loans Plc (IHSL), a subsidiary it inherited from the acquisition of defunct Intercontinental Bank.

At the last count, GTB still has four subsidiaries to sell including its share registration companyGTB Registrars Limited. Diamond Bank also still has six subsidiaries to sell while Wema Bank and Skye Bank will sell seven subsidiaries each.

With the acquisition of Intercontinental Bank, Access Bank Plc is expected to sell or wind down some 11 subsidiaries including two

of its own subsidiaries and nine subsidiaries of Intercontinental Bank, which owns Wapic Insurance.

Sterling Bank is also expected to sell additional four subsidiaries including its share registration company- Sterling Registrars Limited.

Also, Zenith Bank may offer eight subsidiaries for sale including Zenith Registrars Limited while Fidelity Bank is expected to sell a subsidiary.

Ecobank Nigeria Plc, which recently acquired Oceanic Bank International, may offer a total of 14 subsidiaries for sale including six subsidiaries taken over from Oceanic Bank. Ecobank Nigeria may however, elect to transfer the non-banking subsidiaries to its parent holding company-Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI).

Besides, where the new core investors for the nationalised banks decide to divest from non-core banking activities, MainStreet Bank, formerly Afribank Nigeria Plc, may offer for sale its flagship share registration company- Afribank Registrars and four other subsidiaries. Keystone Bank, previously known as Bank PHB, will sell four subsidiaries.

Learn Africa targets N315m profit

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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

Shareholders to govt: release SEC audit report

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HAREHOLDERS under the auspices of Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN) has called on the Federal Government to make public the report of the investigation audit on the handling of finances of the Securities and Exchange Commission by its director general, Ms Arunma Oteh.

President, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), Mr. Boniface Okezie, said government should demonstrate its commitment to transparency and probity by releasing the report submitted by PriceWaterHouse Coopers.

Citing the release of reports of other probes, Okezie said the capital market requires highest level of transparency and government must not be seeing to be hiding issues.

Following initial report by the internal board audit committee which indicted the director general, the immediate past board of SEC had appointed Price Water House Cooper (PWC) to audit the Project 50.

It also had sent Ms Oteh on compulsory leave on June 11, 2012, after she allegedly admitted to the board’s Finance Committee that she chaired the Project 50 Committee and was the key person in the management of the sources dis-

bursement of the accrued funds.

However, Oteh was recalled from compulsory leave and reinstated as director general of SEC on July 18, 2012 through a letter by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Anyim Pius Anyim. The tenure of the board of SEC that ordered the audit had ended shortly after the decision to audit.

Anyim had stated that Oteh’s recall was based on her exoneration by report by Pricewaterhouse Coopers, although he admitted she committed some infractions.

Okezie said government should make public the audit report so that capital market stakeholders could determine the seriousness or otherwise of the infractions.

He said the release of the audit report would enable investors to compare the audit findings with the findings of the House of Representatives’ report on near collapse of the capital market, which roundly indicted Oteh and called for her removal.

Resolution 19 of the report of House of Representatives’ ad hoc committee on the near collapse of the capital market stated that: that the appointment of Ms Arunma Oteh be terminated forthwith as Director-General of Securities and Exchange Commission as her appointment is in violation of Section 3 (2) a and Section 38 (1) (b), 2

and 3; Section 315 of the Investment and Securities Act, 2007 in that she did not have 15 years experience in the Nigerian capital market as required; she has shown incompetence in the management of human and material resources at her disposal in Securities and Exchange Commission; lack of transparency in managing Project 50, regulatory failure in some of the recent mergers, acquisitions and approvals of transactions by Securities and Exchange Commission and general inability to carry along her staff, board, and management in decision making in Securities and Exchange Commission, and questionable staff recruitment policies.

It had earlier identified as some of the key reasons for the near collapse of the market in the past and lack of public confidence in the market to include conflict of interest and misconduct of the current leadership of Securities and Exchange Commission thereby fettering its regulatory capacity; loss of credibility of the entire Securities and Exchange Commission management team, led by the Director General, Arunma Oteh; regulatory failure of Securities and Exchange Commission and lack of statutory qualification by the current Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Ms Arunma Oteh among others.

EARN Africa Plc could make net earnings of about 28 kobo on every share in the fourth quarter of this year, according to latest forecasts by the board of the education resource company.

The forecasts for the fourth quarter ending December 31, 2012 made available by the directors of the company indicated gross profit margin and profit before tax margin of 57.7 per cent and 10.2 per cent respectively while net earnings per share is estimated at about 28 kobo.

According to the forecasts, Learn Africa, previously known as Longman Nigeria, could make profit before tax of N315.33 million from the total turnover of about N3.1 billion expected within the period. After taxes, net profit is estimated at N214.42 million.

The forecasts indicated potential gross profit of N1.79 billion while N100.9 million was provided for taxes.

Managing Director, Learn Africa Plc, Mr Fred Ijewere, in an exclusive interview with The Nation had assured that the new medium to long-term corporate development strategy of the company would lead to higher returns to shareholders.

According to him, ongoing expansions in products and markets of the company and its transformation from a printing and publishing company to a complete educational resources company would underpin growth in returns to shareholders in the foreseeable future.

He noted that rather than being at disadvantage, the divestment of the company’s previous majority foreign shareholder, has been turned to major linchpin to pur-

sue expansions into other African countries and businesses.

He outlined that the company has started operations in Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania and the United Kingdom adding that the positive impact of these expansions would become evident on the group performance from next year.

Ijewere assured shareholders that the company’s returns will never fall below its current benchmark as management would progressively improve returns to shareholders.

According to him, the mediumto-long term growth of the company would be driven by product and service innovation, expansion into other markets and acquisitions of strategic assets.

He said the current low price of the company presents good investment opportunity as the company would undoubtedly maintain its leadership as the largest publishing company in Nigeria while consolidating on its new businesses.

He assured that the overall outlook for the printing and publishing industry remained attractive, citing government’s commitments on education and the growing participation from the private sector.

He however, called for resolution of Nigeria’s power crisis to enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian manufacturers and drive long term investments in the sector.

Ijewere noted that the cost and instability of power impinged on the scale and margins of Nigerian printing and publishing companies and put them at a disadvantage when compared with their counterparts in other advanced countries.

First Bank to distribute divestment profits to shareholders

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IRST Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Plc has said it will distribute the net proceeds from the sale of First Registrars Nigeria Limited to shareholders.

Group Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Plc, Mr. Bisi Onasanya, said the bank will include the net proceeds from the sale of First Registrars in the profit distribution for the period ending De-

cember 31, 2012.

According to him, the bank plans to conclude the sale of First Registrars before the end of the year.

He assured shareholders that their interests and concerns would be taken care of in the divestment process.

The board of First Bank had approved the divestment from First Registrars through a tender process.

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Banks, insurance firms mull share reconstruction

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EVERAL banks and insurance companies are considering a reduction in their outstanding shares to provide headroom for future capital issues and ease share management.

Financial industry sources said several companies might directly or indirectly undertake share reconstruction in the months ahead.

The sources said that banks that have opted to regroup into holding company structure would use the restructuring as a window to reconstruct their share capital.

The 15 banks on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) currently have 335.36 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each, representing an average issued shares per bank of 22.36 billion shares. Outstanding banks’ shares ranged between 12.76 billion shares and 33.7 billion

Stories by Taofik Salako

shares.

Insurance companies have 237.3 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each with a range of 211.6 million shares and 28 billion shares.

Banks, which account for some seven per cent of total number of quoted companies on the NSE, have the largest issued shares of nearly one third of total shares outstanding on the bourse.

Banking sources said banks were worried about the size of outstanding shares, especially in the light of future new capital issue and returns.

Although insurance companies were still a bit tepid about shares reconstruction, most banks were said to be considering substantial share reduction.

Global regulators review supervisory framework for financial conglomerates

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HE global body of banking, securities and insurance regulators has released new principles for the supervision of large financial services groups, otherwise known as financial conglomerates.

The Principles for the Supervision of Financial Conglomerates was released under the auspices of the Joint Forum, a global body that comprises the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and the International Association of Insurance Supervisors. The Joint Forum addresses issues common to the banking, securities and insurance sectors, including the regulation of financial conglomerates.

The revised principles, released on Monday, supersede the compendium of documents produced by the Joint Forum in 2001.

In a statement made available by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the Joint Forum stated that the revised principles were aimed at closing regulatory gaps and eliminating supervisory “blind spots”, thus ensuring effective supervision of risks arising from unregulated financial activities and entities.

It noted that the updated principles were structured in a manner that should facilitate their implementation across jurisdictions and over time.

Chairman, Joint Forum and Chief Executive Officer of the US National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Dr Therese Vaughan said that the global adoption of the supervisory principles and their application in proportion to the risks posed would help to strengthen the global financial system.

She added that, at a minimum, the principles should be applied to large internationally active financial conglomerates.

The principles are organised into five sections and expand on and supplement the 2001 compendium in a number of ways.

The supervisory powers and authority principles are directed to both policy makers and supervisors and highlighted the need for a clear legal framework that provides supervisors with the necessary powers, authority and resources to perform, with independence and in coordination with other supervisors, comprehensive group-wide supervision.

Also, the principles reaffirm the importance of supervisory cooperation, coordination and information exchange. They clarify the importance of identifying a group-

level supervisor whose responsibility is to focus on group-level supervision and the facilitation of coordination between relevant supervisors.

New principles have been included which relate to the role and responsibilities of supervisors in implementing minimum prudential standards, monitoring and supervising activities of financial conglomerates and taking corrective action as appropriate.

Besides, the principles underscore the importance of fit and proper principles and also provide, through a series of new principles, guidance for supervisors intended to ensure the existence of a robust corporate governance framework for financial conglomerates.

Also, new principles relate to the structure of the financial conglomerate, the responsibilities of the board and senior management, the treatment of conflicts of interest and remuneration policy.

The revised principles highlight the role of supervisors in assessing capital adequacy on a group basis, taking into account unregulated entities and activities and the risks they pose to regulated entities. They include new principles on group-wide capital management.

“The principles also provide guidance on internal capital planning processes that rely on sound board and management decisions, incorporate stressed scenario outcomes, and are subject to adequate internal controls. A new principle on liquidity assessment and management is also introduced – providing guidance for supervisors intended to ensure that financial conglomerates properly measure and manage liquidity risk,” BIS noted.

It added that the principles also set out the need for a financial conglomerate to have a comprehensive risk management framework to manage and report group-wide risk concentrations and intra-group transactions and exposures.

According to the Forum, greater emphasis is placed on the financial conglomerate’s ability to measure, manage and report all material risks to which it is exposed, including those stemming from unregulated entities and activities.

“The principles focus on groupwide risk management culture and appropriate tolerance levels; addressing risks associated with new business areas and outsourcing; group-wide stress-tests and scenario analyses for the prudent aggregation of risks; bringing off-balance sheet activities within the scope of group-wide supervision,” BIS stated.

Already, Stanbic IBTC Bank has indicated it would reduce its outstanding shares by a total of N7.5 billion, which would result into cancellation of 15 billion out of the current 18.75 billion ordinary shares.

Share consolidation refers to reduction in number of outstanding shares by exchanging a specific number of new shares for certain number of outstanding shares. The value of the reduced or cancelled shares is factored into the new shares, which technically increases the market values of the new shares on the secondary market.

Besides, shareholders’ shareholdings will remain unchanged in terms of percentage shareholding, although the number of holdings may reduce.

Market analysts however, have expressed concerns that the reconstruction might lead to deprecia-

tion in investors’ values unless reconstructing banks generate substantial earnings and positive market perceptions to sustain the revaluation.

They cited a bank that had recently reconstructed its shares and re-listed sames at substantially high price, but the share price lost more than 50 per cent of the added value.

Besides the cost of managing multi-billion shares, large outstanding shares have thinned out banks and insurance firms’ earnings and adversely affected pricing of banking stocks.

Existing large issued shares also diminish ability of the issuing company to issue new shares either through capitalisation of reserves or new offer for subscription.

Many banks that had traditionally maintained regular bonus is-

sue year-on-year have recently either declined to issue bonus shares or alternatively increase the ratio of the issue.

Unity Bank currently has the largest number of shares at 33.7 billion shares. United Bank for Africa followed with 32.98 billion shares while First Bank of Nigeria and Zenith Bank have 32.63 billion shares and 31.4 billion shares respectively.

Other banks with large aboveaverage outstanding shares include Guaranty Trust Bank, 29.43 billion shares; Fidelity Bank, 29 billion shares and Access Bank, which has 22.9 billion, shares in issue.

Substantial portion of banks’ outstanding shares were issued during the 2005 to 2007 capital raising exercises, which were later deemed as bubble capital by financial services authorities.

From left: Permanent Secretary, Osun State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Olubukola Opakunle, TV Anchor Moshood Suleiman, Deputy Governor Mrs. Titi Laoye -Tomori and TV Anchor Bukola Aderibigbe after an interactive session with the Deputy Governor at the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation on the progress made in the last 22 months in the state’s education sector

Asia’s hedge funds record lower returns

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HE world’s fastest economic growth isn’t helping Asia’s hedge funds.

The Eurekahedge Asian index tracking 395 hedge funds returned 1.6 per cent within the eight-month ended August 2012, the worst performer among regions and about half the 3.2 per cent gain by the global benchmark, according to Bloomberg.

Funds have been hampered by a concentration on Asian equities, which have been driven more by Europe’s debt crisis and China’s slowdown than by company fundamentals such as earnings. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index (MXAP) has climbed 8 percent in 2012, compared with the 13 percent gain by the MSCI World Index.

“Most Asian funds have been focused on the equity space and that hasn’t done well,” said Dhawal Mehta, head of India equity investments at Reliance Asset Management (Singapore) Pte. “In the US and Europe, you have more variety in terms of the kind of funds.”

Investors have withdrawn $447 million this year from Asian hedge funds, while 73 of them have closed in 2012, according to Eurekahedge Pte, a Singapore-based data provider. Seventy-seven percent of the funds in the region are equity-related, versus 46 per cent globally, according to Chicago-based Hedge Fund Research Inc. The Eurekahedge index tracking Asian funds dropped 8.3 per cent in 2011, its second-worst year on record, after 2008. The Asian index

has underperformed global peers since 2009, when it had a record annual return, Eurekahedge data show.

“The key problem that most hedge funds have had over the past couple of years is that they have spent too much time trying to guess the macro direction of the markets and less time trying to find out what stocks are going to deliver earnings,” said London-based Richard Cardiff, who manages the $380 million CC Asia Absolute Return Fund.

This year has been more difficult for managers who invest in equities based on fundamentals such as earnings because quality stocks haven’t done as well as cyclical ones that are more sensitive to economic moves, Cardiff said, declining to name the stocks.

Managers also are struggling to meet investor demand for stricter regulatory and risk-management compliance. The often smaller asset base of Asian funds makes it harder to absorb the costs of such infrastructure.

“Managers are caught between a rock and a hard place as investors want the Asian story, but with developed-market levels of risk management,” said Peter Douglas, principal of Singapore-based GFIA Pte, which advises investors seeking to allocate money to hedge funds.

Asian hedge funds managed $125.4 billion as of August, compared with $358.8 billion in Europe and $1.2 trillion in North America, according to Eurekahedge.

“Many Asian hedge funds remain

equity focused and long biased, making them more exposed to equity-market volatility,” said Fred Ingham, London-based Asia head of hedge-fund investments at Neuberger Berman Group LLC’s alternative-assets division. “A lack of hedging tools relative to the West, coupled with a tendency to try to capture market upside, has meant that Asian hedge funds have struggled in difficult global and regional equity markets.”

The International Monetary Fund lowered its 2013 global growth forecast to 3.9 percent in July from 4.1 per cent in April on Europe’s debt crisis and slower expansion in emerging markets. Developing Asian nations are projected to grow 7.1 percent in 2012, while China is forecast to expand eight per cent and Japan 2.4 per cent, according to the IMF. Among funds investing in equities, Senrigan Capital Group Ltd., the $620 million Asia-focused event-driven fund backed by Blackstone Group LP, lost about 16 percent through August, a person with knowledge of the information said, asking not to be identified because the information is private.

Nick Taylor, Senrigan’s chief investment officer, declined to comment.

QAM Asian Equities Fund declined 19.4 per cent through August as stock-market moves have been driven by macro-economic and political news related to the debt cycle rather than company fundamentals, said Frank Holle, the Kuala Lumpurbased co- founder of Quant Asset Management Pte.

36

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

INSURANCE

‘Why decision on IGI Pension, Citi Trust is pending’

T

HE National Pension Commission (PenCom) is yet to take a decision on the fate of two Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Pension Limited and Citi Trust Pension Limited over their inability to meet recapitalisation deadline.

Investigations revealed that Citi Trust Pension Limited has gone to court to challenge the intention of the Commission to revoke its operational license over the issue. It was also gathered that the commission is taking its time to verify the claims by IGI Pension. PenCom gave the two firms 28 days revocation notice within which to capitalise to the tune of N1 billion, or be axed. The deadline elapsed last month.

The Deputy Managing Director, Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc, Rotimi Fashola, said the company actually recapitalised as required by PenCom by pooling together cash and assets which amounted to far more than the specified N1 billion mark.

Fashola said: “It is true that PenCom has sought clarifications from us on some matters, but the process of recertification is ongoing and every grey area will be resolved in accordance with the law.

We are making representations to

Stories by Uyoatta Eshiet

the commission and are of the strong conviction that it would reconsider its position after listening to us.

“It is unfair and erroneous to make the public believe that IGI PFA failed to meet the recapitalisation requirement when in fact, the company capitalised up to N1.5 billion in cash plus property. This amount is N500 million above the mark set

by PenCom. “For the avoidance of doubt, let me state categorically without any fear of contradiction, that it is outright falsehood that our PFA license has been revoked. Our licence is intact and we remain a leading player in the industry.”

PenCom released the report of its recapitalisation exercise, last month. Inm it, 18 PFAs met the recapitalisation target; three were acquired, while two failed to raise the minimum capital of N1billion.

The commission had mandated all pension fund managers to shore up their capital base from N150m to N1billion or be wound.

The release of the report followed the completion of the verification of their capital base to determine their level of compliance. The ex-

ercise, which was carried out from the beginning of July was imperative in order to verify the sources of funds of all the PFAs that claimed to have met the recapitalisation target.

This, according to the commission, was to ensure that illegal funds did not find their way into the system.

Those that cleared the recapitalisation hurdle are ARM Pension Managers Limited; Leadway Pensure PFA Limited; Premium Pension Limited; Sigma Pensions Limited; Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited and Trustfund Pensions Plc. Others are Aiico Pension Managers Limited; APT Pension Fund Managers Limited; Crusader Sterling Pensions Limited; Fidelity Pension Managers Limited; Future Unity Glanvills Pensions Limited; IEI-Anchor Pension Managers Limited; NLPC Pension Fund Administrators Limited; Legacy Pension Managers Limited; Oak Pensions Limited; Pensions Alliance Limited; Penman Pensions Limited and Royal Trust Pension Fund Administrator Limited. It, however, added that three others were acquired by other PFAs, while First Guarantee Pension Limited is under regulatory intervention.

Amana Capital Pension Limited was acquired by Sigma Pensions Limited; Crib Pension Fund Managers Limited was acquired by Oak Pension Limited, while Evergreen Pensions Limited was acquired by Oak Pension Limited, a statement from the Commission issued by the Head, Communications Unit, Pencom, Mr. Emeka Onuorah, said.

Meanwhile, the Commission is to undertake customer satisfaction survey to ascertain whether contributors are getting optimal services from their Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), its Director General National Pension Commission (PenCom) Mohammad Ahmad has said. He said the move is part of the commission’s effort to ensure contributors are properly served.

Ahmad noted that as part of the commission’s supervisory mandate, it had cause to impose sanctions on operators for failure to render returns promptly and inability to send Retirement Savings Account (RSA) statements to contributors He said: “As part of its supervisory mandate, the Commission had cause to impose sanctions on operators in respect of a number of issues. The issues include failure to render returns promptly

and inability to send RSA statements to contributors.

“In serious cases of weak corporate governance, the Commission had intervened to remove directors and takeover the management of the affected operators in order to safeguard the pension assets.

“The issue of service delivery is taken seriously in the pension industry. To that end the Commission intends to undertake customer satisfaction survey and develop regular satisfaction index.”

He said the payment of benefits to retirees in the private sector had been regular and timely and that recently the payment of retirement benefits to retirees as well as death claims to beneficiaries of deceased federal government employees has been challenging due to funding problems of the government.

Ahmad said the administration of pension has no doubt been enhanced with the passage of the PRA 2004, stressing that not only has the Act provided a platform for a more effective, efficient and transparent administration of pensions in the federal public service and the private sector, but also generated a pool of long term fund for investment that already had positive impact on the growth of the economy.

NCRIB decries undervaluation of govt’s assets

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• From left: CIIN President, Dr Wole Adetimehin having a chat with the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr Fola Daniel during the Insurance Professionals’ Forum held recently in Ibadan.

NAICOM resolves N1.22b claims disputes

T

HE National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), through its Complaints Bureau, has facilitated the settlement of N1.220billion claims which were in dispute in the first half of this year.

A statement by the Assistant Director, Corporate Affairs, NAICOM, Lucky Fiakpa, said the Bureau resolved 52 cases within the period.

He said the Bureau dealt with a total of 349 cases and held four adjudication meetings, adding that out of this figure, 86 were fresh complaints, while the remaining 263 are existing/on-going cases.

Fiakpa, said the outstanding claims are currently receiving the attention of the Commission, with a view to

achieving a quick resolution of the isues to the satisfaction of all stakeholders, particularly, members of the insuring public.

He said: “The resort to the Bureau for settlement of claims disputes by the insuring public, is an indication of the level of awareness of this channel of dispute resolution in the Commission.

“Insurance companies have been made to accept the fact that it is no longer business as usual, as their responses and compliance with the Commission’s directives had witnessed an improvement compared to previous periods.

“Consequently, not less than 85 per cent of the insurance institutions re-

sponded to queries or directives issued to them for claim settlement during the period.

He said majority of the 15 per cent residual, are largely claims already before courts of competent jurisdiction and therefore prejudicial for the Commission to intervene.

He said the complaints received this year were mainly those involving non settlement of claims on Motor Insurances, Marine, Life, Bond Issues and Pension matters, stressing that the complaints were received from individual policy holders, beneficiaries, government agencies, SERVICOM, Legal Aid Council and Public Complaints Commission.

HE undervaluation of government’s assets is capable of slowing down the pace of development of insurance, the President, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) Mrs Laide Osijo, has said.

She said this during a courtesy visit by representative of the World Bank to the Council, adding that there is the need for government to further protect the industry by living up to its responsibility, as the largest insurance client.

Osijo opined that in situations where insurance assets are not properly evaluated, leading to inappropriate rates and premium paid, could lead to the diminution of the growth and depth of insurance penetration in Nigeria.

She advised that government should make it a priority to attract foreign investment into the country in order to grow insurance capacity, among other things, and ensure that violation of insurance

Equity Assurance pays N556m in 8 months

E

QUITY Assurance Plc has paid total claims amounting to N556 million in the first eight months of the year, a statement issued by the Head, Corporate Communications of the Company, Mr Tunde Amolegebe stated. The claims settled covered all classes of business underwritten by the company within the pe-

CIIN, NCRIB seek govt’s support for industry

T

HE President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Dr Wole Adetimehin and his counterpart in the National Council of Registered Insurers Brokers (NCRIB), Mrs. Laide Osijo, have called on state governments to support the industry by procuring policies to cover their risks.

Adetimehin, made the call during a visit to the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun in Abeokuta, on the one hand, and Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, in Akure, recently.

Adetimehin said support from governments, would go a long way in promoting service delivery and enhance international best practices.

He said there are compelling reasons why the citizenry and governments should take insurance more seriously, adding that Nigerians are under daily threat from risks emanating from natural disasters such as floods, rainstorms and security risks which are taking their toll on the citizenry.

He noted that the low insurance contribution to the economy

stemmed from lack of necessary infrastructure, adding that lack of basic needs prevent people from making insurance part of their priorities.

He said: “With unemployment at an estimated 23.9 per cent in 2012, the Insurance business in Nigeria is hardly able to improve on its contribution to the nation’s GDP, above one per cent, unlike in South Africa where it is 15 per cent. The reason for this is because citizens are apparently laden with costs which are channeled at the procurement of otherwise basic

laws are met with appropriate sanctions.

The NCRIB President commended the World Bank for promoting sustainable global financial development and craved its greater support to the Nigerian insurance industry.

In his remarks, the Senior Financial Sector Specialist of the World Bank, Mr Anthony Randle disclosed that the visit was part of the Financial Sector Assisted Programme jointly facilitated by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and coordinated by the federal government, to distil information and about how best the financial services sector could be improved in Nigeria.

He said part of the issues to be handled by the joint project was to find out and advise government on reasons for low insurance penetration in the country in comparison with some other countries of the world, with a view to seeking a lasting solution to the problem.

and fundamental needs such as electricity, water and security, these, he said prevent them from making insurance part of their priorities.

“I am delighted that some state governments are making positive efforts in the improvement of citizens’ welfare and this includes Ogun State. We wish to also seize this opportunity in requesting Ogun State and other state governments to provide a level playing ground for the insurance companies within the states in the procurement of state insurances.

riod.

The breakdown of the claims payments reveals that a total of N242 million was paid on fire insurance,N114 million paid on motor vehicle insurance business and N86.9 million paid on general accident insurance. Other payments were on marine insurance claims N65.1million, oil and gas insurance – N37.7 million and N9.7 million paid on engineering insurance business.

Some of the company’s clients whose claims were paid within the period include: Friesland Wamaco, Sterling Oil Exploration and Bourbou Interoil Limited. They were paid N131.8 million, N37.7 million and N19.3 million. Others are Panaserv Nigeria Limited – N18.7 million, Ceveae International Limited – N10.3 million and the Nigerian Police – N33.3 million among others.

The current sum paid as claims represents an increase of 17.31 percent over the sum of N474.4 million paid in the same period in 2011.

37

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

BRIEF

Ode to a gallant officer

C

OMMODORE Datoru AbiKalio’s death in the ill-fated June 3 Dana plane crash was a rude awakening of the mortality of a human being irrespective of his character, goodwill, hardwork, highest level of professionalism, selflessness, compassion and an exemplary service to his fatherland. Datoru possessed and exhibited these sterling qualities as a friend, brother, family man, loyal, committed, well trained and thorough bred senior officer and gentleman. Yet, God in His infinite wisdom took him away that fateful day.

We are indeed mere mortals that cannot question the Almighty.

I had a close relationship with Datoru.

We were “Port Harcourt boys” before becoming friends. We were friends before becoming professional colleagues, family friends and compatriots in the Nigerian Navy. Datoru was indeed one of the most reliable workhorses of the Nigerian Navy and the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Datoru joined the Nigerian Navy as a member of the Second Regular Course of the Nigerian Naval College, ‘ONURA’ Port Harcourt. Although I was his senior colleague, we developed a friendship that transcended seniority, ethnicity, religion and creed. Even as a cadet then, he exhibited the highest standard of discipline, eagerness to learn, compassion and an uncanny ability to rally his colleagues for the accomplishment of assigned tasks. These sterling qualities were faithfully exhibited in virtually all the appointments and ranks he held and attained until he became a Commodore; a One Star General! As Director of Combat, Policy and Tactics, in the Naval Headquarters, Datoru was indeed, the engine room of the training and Operations Branch. He assisted in formulating policies that assisted the Nigerian Navy and the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He represented the Nigerian Navy at various conferences, workshops, symposia and at numerous committees set up at Naval Headquarters, Defence Headquarters and the Ministry of Defence. To all of these tasks, he exhibited the highest level of professionalism in line with global best practices. He was indeed our ‘man Friday’ Datoru boarded the ill-fated Dana flight of June 3, 2012. He was coming to Lagos for an official assignment. Like a loyal compatriot and good family man, he called his beloved wife, Nkechi and other colleagues. He also called our ‘Sunday group’, the Lagoon Bar faithfuls, comprising of military and civil-

Jesus Christ superstar on stage

By Commodore Henry Babalola

T

HE Saint Agnes Musical Society of the Saint Agnes Catholic Church will present a concert titled: Jesus Christ superstar, with the theme: Let Your Light Shine, on October, by 12noon at the Mc govern Hall, St. Agnes Catholic Church Maryland, Lagos. The event will be chaired by Chief K.B Mark Antony.

TRIBUTE ian friends to intimate us of his coming to Lagos and the need for a grand house reception. In line with his request and our over twenty five years of unbroken comradeship, we converged at our usual place to give a befitting welcome to an amiable friend. We were very wrong. It is pertinent to note that about six weeks to the ill-fated crash, Datoru was involved in a road traffic accident on his way to Lagos after an official assignment in Warri. Typical of Datoru, that incident did not deter him from diligently taking another Committee work. Datoru was indeed an officer and gentleman in the strictest sense. He traversed all phases of military assignments as a student, instructor, navigator, gunner, Directing Staff, Chief Instructor, Commanding Officer of Ship, Director in the Naval headquarters Name it! As a young officer, he served diligently in the Niger Delta area and despite being a ‘Port Harcourt boy’ there was no adverse report on him. All he got were accolades from superiors and the numerous civil organizations that he was deployed to serve. As an Instructor in the Nigerian Navy Professional Schools and as a Directing Staff in the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, he taught and mentored a group of young officers of the armed forces, turning them to thoroughbred professionals who looked up to him as a mentor. Datoru served meritoriously in these training institutions and earned accolades in the process. He was indeed, the quintessential teacher, tutor, instructor mentor and a perfect officer and gentleman.

To Nkechi, his adorable wife and com-

‘Datoru was indeed an officer and gentleman in the strictest sense. He traversed all phases of military assignments as a student, instructor, navigator, gunner, Directing Staff, Chief Instructor, Commanding Officer of Ship, Director in the Naval headquarters’

Lecture on role of youths

A

LECTURE on Re-addressing the Role of the Youth in the Nation Building will hold today by 12pm at The Lagos Country Club, Ikeja, Lagos. The lecture will be delivered by the Governor of Eboyin State, Martins Elechi.

Oxygen’s CD for launch

G •Abi-Kalio

panion, I say, do not weep. Be consoled by the character, high level of professionalism, courage and commitment of this gallant hero. I know that Datoru’s character and impeccable honesty and commitment would open doors for you. To his children, do not weep. Be consoled by the exemplary conduct of your father and emulate these sterling qualities. I know that God will meet you at every point of need. To his nuclear family, the people of kalioama, our ‘Port Harcourt boys’ the Government and people of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Officers ratings and civilian staff of the Nigerian Navy, especially gentlemen officers of the Second Regular Course of the Nigerian Naval College, ONURA, be consoled that a gentleman called Datoru passed through this world and bestrode it like a colossus.

He was indeed our shining star, a dedicated naval officer, a good family man, a committed and loyal friend and above all, our pride. May God give us all, the fortitude to bear this tragic loss.

As his remains are committed to mother earth today, I wish Datoru a blissful rest and I pray that God will ensure that his friends and colleagues will continue to pray for, and support the family he left behind. Rest in peace, my brother. My friend, Datoru was indeed a good man, sailor, compatriot and the finest specimen of a naval officer.

REEN N Bliss and High Society will on September 29 present a CD launch and party of the motivational comedian ‘Oxygen’ at the Clean John Event place, at 91 Ladipo Street, Bank B/stop Mushin, Lagos . The event will kick off with a red carpet by 2:00 pm.

Anniversary

T

HE United World Colleges (UWC) will mark its 50th anniversary on September 28 by 5pm at The Civic Centre Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island Lagos.

Exhibition

R

AQIB Bashorun will hold his solo design exhibition Inspiring Design at Yusuf Grillo Gallery School of Art, Design and Painting, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos on October 4.

It will run through October 18. Artist’s gallery talk will come up on Tuesday, October 9, by 11 a.m at the same venue.

Film talk at Life House

A

N hour-long discussion to be anchored

by Cora Art and Cultural Foundation & The Life House targeted at film-makers, students of film and culture enthusiasts, will hold on Saturday, September 29, between 3.30 pm and 4.30 pm. The venue is the Southern Sun Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos. This year’s festival theme is Shine Your Eye: Film as Eyewitness.

Organisers of the event said the session will provide an opportunity for the discussants and the audience to interrogate the role of film in acting as a witness to historic events.

Films selected for this year’s festival illustrate the use of film as eyewitness and the citizen’s intervention in this regard.

Behold, Lugard’s foot-bridge

•Lugard foot-bridge

N

IGERIA used to be known as Southern and Northern protectorates, which existed differently under the supervision of the British colonialists. As the years went by, the need to merge these protectorates to form one colony was imminent due to factors such as railway construction and harmonised administration for effective governance.

Zungeru was the former Capital of the North-

By Babatunde Hambolu

MONUMENT ern protectorate as well as the first national political capital of Nigeria between 1902 and 1916. It was at Zungeru that the amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorates took

place in 1914, under the High Commissioner and later first Governor-General of Nigeria, Lord Frederick Lugard.

During his era as Governor of the protectorate, apart from being instrumental to the successful amalgamation of Nigeria, his other achievements remain indelible in the annals of Nigeria history and development. In 1904 Lugard constructed a foot bridge, which was named after him (Lugard FootBridge). The bridge served as a link between his residence and other quarters of colonial Zungeru over river Kaduna. Shortly after amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorates Kaduna was made Northern Headquarters in preference over Jebba or Lokoja in 1920 by Lord Lugard. The Zungeru Foot bridge was moved to Gamji Gate Kaduna in 1954 and declared Historic Monument On 16th February, 1956

by Federal Department of Antiquities now National Commission For Museums and Monument under Antiquity Ordinance of 1953.

The bridge currently serves as a tourist attraction to teaming populace and a reminder of infrastructure laid by the colonial administrators.

The bridge is currently located in General Hassan Usman Katsina Park (formally Government Garden) which was established shortly after amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914

by Lord Lugard and lies at N 100 30.311 E 0070 27.206 with an elevation of 586M Above Sea Level.

Lugard Foot Bridge is mounted over a tribu-

tary of river Kaduna which flows through Gamji Park.

The Foot Bridge is an example of colonial engineering and construction before the advent of motorable roads and railway lines in Nigeria and a masterpiece which still maintains a solid shape, considering its age and exposure to harsh weather even though occasional maintenance is carried out.

The bridge’s main body/deck is made up of strong iron, lattice design and other complementing features for safety and aesthetic purposes such as handrails, wire gauze while beams, girders, concrete are basically for structural strength and balancing of the bridge. It is made up of 42 wooden steps with its deck and pillar painted green white green like our national flag. The bridge is supported by two pillars on both sides which is further attached to a beam and abutments which as mentioned earlier are for structural strength. The bridge is 14.2m long and has a width of 1.75m.

The century old bridge is understandably in need of maintenance, as it ages the quality, and strength declines. The bridge’s colour is fading gradually due to complete exposure to direct sunlight and rainfall. Therefore steps are being taken to preserve this monument from total decay which is of paramount importance and all hands must be on deck to uphold one of our national pride.

•Hambolu is Heritage Officer II, National Museum, Kaduna.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

38

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

D

R Tunji Olaopa was no doubt motivated by his own patriotic love for scholarship and country to publish his September 9th tribute to commemorate the birthday anniversary of Professor Ojetunji Aboyade, one of Nigeria’s most eminent men of letters. It was this same labour of love that must have compelled Dr. Olaopa to write his 1997 biography of his intellectual mentor and role model simply titled: A Prophet is with Honour: The Life and Times of Aboyade. Surely, Olaopa could have chosen to exploit his close contact with Aboyade to seek to do a hagiographic book on some of the military top brass holding public office at the time. That would have been surely a more lucrative enterprise. But Olaopa places more value on the life of the mind than on material accumulation of temporal utility. To be fair to Olaopa, he is too intellectually honest to be oblivious of the human frailties of Aboyade. In his words “…when we attempt to come to terms with the biographical profile of Aboyade, the man, and Aboyade the scholar, it is difficult not to perceive the image of a human being, with all the expected human imperfections, who struggled against all odds to make a difference that is not less historic”.

Reading Dr. Olaopa’s biography of Aboyade many years ago, one of the things that struck me was the depth of reading that Aboyade had to do in history and social anthropology before being awarded his doctorate degree in Economics. This, for me, illustrated vividly that the economy is deeply rooted in a given polity and society and a clear knowledge and understanding of the latter is a necessary condition for mastery of the former. Yet, many economists, not excluding Professor Aboyade, tend to see the discipline as an esoteric one in which only the initiated have the right to comment or make an input into economic issues and policy.

Thus, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, Minister of Finance during the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, wondered how even Awka market women could have the temerity to contribute to a debate on whether or not Nigeria should obtain an IMF loan and adopt the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP)!

It would appear to me that because of his genius in the realm of economic theory, Professor Aboyade was often rather impractical in his approach to matters of public policy. For instance, when the Murtala/Obasanjo regime enlisted his expertise in devising an acceptable revenue allocation formula for the country, the report of his committee was found to be too technical to be of much practical utility! The

Segun Ayobolu sms to 07032777778 segunayobolu2@yahoo.com

Tunji Olaopa, Ojetunji Aboyade and Nigeria’s crisis of underdevelopment (2) late Professor Bade Onimode also explained how excessive technical elitism had negative implications on some of those Development Plans in which Aboyade was a leading architect. In Onimode’s words, “The process starts with the conception of planning as a technical exercise requiring the expert skills of petty bourgeois economists, capitalist-oriented bureaucrats and similar elitist elements. This excludes other professional groups like sociologists, geographers, agronomists, political scientists and engineers in what should be a multidisciplinary process at the technical level…Consequently, the fundamental character of planning as a social process involving all social and political groups in the country, is ignored”. Thus, Onimode argues, the democratic character of planning is negated and it has been difficult to mobilize mass support for Development Plans in post-colonial Nigeria.

Another public policy issue on which Professor Aboyade’s expert advice was sought was on the wisdom of going ahead with the proposed Metro-line project for Lagos. The project had been conceived by the administration of Alhaji Lateef Jakande in the second republic. Mobilisation fees had even been paid for the contractors to move to sight. Before the project could proceed,

????????????

‘As my friends and I discussed the implications of the government’s announcement, I expressed the view that the devaluation of the Naira was a recipe for disaster and that within five years, the Naira would be worth less than 20 per cent of its existing value, leading to the possible collapse of the Nigerian economy’

Olotu to hold exhibition

By Ekekwe Chinasa

EXHIBITION

C

ONTEMPORARY Nigerian artist Oyerinde Olotu, with support from Nike Art Gallery Limited and OYASAF will hold his fifth solo exhibition at the Nike Art Gallery, Lekki,Lagos as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 52nd Independence anniversary.

With the theme, This Lagos... A Canvas, the exhibition will shed light on Lagos and its environs with different features, creatively put together after numerous researches.

During a preview of the exhibition holding between Oct 1 and 8, in Lagos, Olotu said his special interest is in history, which has influenced his works in documentary art.

He said: “I get my references, I compose, recompose and juxtapose where necessary and then balance up my composition to get my final picture.”

As a former student of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) in the 80s, Olotu specialised in painting. He worked with an advertising agency where he resigned and decided to follow his dreams of becoming an artist. He ensured that his works were present at almost every art exhibition during this time.

He explained that displaying only black and white works with a little of other colours, is a case of identity where people can relate with his paintings wherever they are seen.

The art industry, he said, is a tool that can be used to promote tourism and, as such, it should not be ignored. The Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, is expected as special guest of honour at the exhibition.

the military had struck with the Buhari/Administration regime assuming power. The regime heeded Aboyade’s advice that the Metro-line project was not feasible and promptly cancelled the contract. Of course, the statutory penalties for breach of contract had to be paid but, more importantly, the development of Lagos was set back several decades as inflationary spirals made it impossible for successive governments to actualise the project.

Another area in which Aboyade’s expertise was called upon during the Babangida regime was on the question of banning the importation of Wheat. This ban was purportedly to stimulate local Wheat production, increase economic selfreliance and bring about a fall in the price of bread. Many military governors trooped to Abuja to collect money for local wheat production saying that their soil had been found fertile for wheat production. It all turned out to be a huge hoax and an avenue to siphon public resources into private pockets. Yet, on December 13, 1991, Chief Alfred Rewane had written a letter to Professor Aboyade in the latter’s capacity as Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee. In the Chief’s words, “I am also informed that you have been a relentless supporter of the

•Makoko, by Olotu

ban, although you as an economist must be aware of the great havoc it has caused and continues to cause in the industrial sector of the economy and in the commercial life of the nation, not to mention the immense distress it is causing to poor families in Nigeria.” Unfortunately in the school of economists like Professor Aboyade and the late Milton Friedman, it may sometimes be necessary for the vast majority to suffer in the best interest of economic growth. Yes, once the nation grows and is wealthy, there is no harm in the poor continuing to wallow in their misery.

Another issue on which Chief Rewane publicly and vehemently disagreed with Professor Aboyade was on the devaluation of the Naira and the introduction of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP). Aboyade was an enthusiastic supporter, even a key architect, of the devaluation of the Naira and other components of SAP. When on Friday, 26th September, 1986, announced the introduction of both SAP and the Second-Tier Foreign Exchange Market (SFEM) for the floating of the Naira, Chief Rewane’s response was characteristically pungent, “As my friends and I discussed the implications of the government’s announcement, I expressed the view that the devaluation of the Naira was a recipe for disaster and that within five years, the Naira would be worth less than 20 per cent of its existing value, leading to the possible collapse of the Nigerian economy. I reminded them of a standard economic argument that that devaluation of the national currency is best contemplated where the nation’s economy depends largely on the export of manufactured products for its foreign exchange earnings, and where devaluation is considered appropriate to ensure the competitiveness of its manufacturers.”

Well, in the final analysis, Chief Rewane was proved resoundingly right. Nigeria till today is yet to recover from the havoc that SAP wrecked on the economy and this, unfortunately, is a key aspect of Aboyade’s legacy to Nigeria as Chairman of the intellectual thinktank that oversaw the implementation of SAP. And this is why I cannot agree with Dr. Olaopa that Aboyade’s mission “was to bring Nigeria to the acknowledgement of her historic destiny, and to point her in that direction without the benefit of wielding power.”Aboyade wielded considerable informal/intellectual influence under IBB. Unfortunately, he helped point his country in the wrong direction. All the same he remains a great Nigerian hero and we can only pray that his soul continue to rest in peace.

39

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

BOOK REVIEW Title: Sure & Steady Transformation: Progress Report of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, Volume One Publisher: GDP Associates Ltd Pages: 155 Year of Publication: 2012 Reviewer: Otive Igbuzor, PhD

T

HE book Sure & Steady Transformation is an attempt

by Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Research, Documentation and Strategy to document the highlights of the progress report of 30 ministries under the administration of President Goodluck Ebele

Jonathan.

In this review, we shall follow the normal pattern of reviewing intellectual contributions. We will therefore describe the content of the book and its contribution to knowledge. We will then do a critique and make suggestions for future edition and the way forward for the transformation of our country.

The 155-page book is beautifully laid out with good pictures.

It is easy to read with very bold prints. The book is divided into thirty two sections containing President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan inauguration address on 29th May, 2011; highlights of 30 ministries and a section on building strong institutions. In his inauguration address, the President thanked all Nigerians for the mandate given to him and declared that our decade of development and transformation had begun. He made a commitment to demonstrate the leadership, statesmanship, vision, capacity, and sacrifice to transform Nigeria in all the critical sectors by harnessing the creative energies of our people. He vowed to fight for the future of all Nigerians and in all sectors to improve the standard of living of all Nigerians.

The focus of the ministry of Agriculture is to assure food security, reduce expenditure on foreign exchange on food imports, diversify the economy, generate foreign exchange and create jobs. Within the first 12 months, it has recorded great achievements in agricultural policy reforms; transformation of several crops; institutional reforms and international donor support for the agricultural transformation agenda. Corruption in fertilizer distribution has been eliminated, a database of 4.5 million farmers developed, a growth enhancement programme launched to provide targeted support for seeds and fertilizers; electronic wallet system developed using mobile phones to deliver subsidized seeds and fertilizers to farmers and thirty billion naira leveraged from commercial banks to finance seed and fertilizer supply. The crops with specific transformation programmes include cassava, rice, sorghum, cocoa, cotton and oil palm.

The Ministry of Aviation is implementing an Aviation Master Plan designed to provide a safe, secure, profitable and self sustaining world class industry with a distinct airport experience for travelers. The ministry has developed a business code for engaging domestic and foreign operators on the flag carrier and national carrier models; an enhanced safety programme/ projects; improved regulatory oversight; massive remodeling and reconstruction of airports across the country and capacity building for workers in the sector.

The Ministry of Communication Technology is developing ICT infrastructure and policy for the country. The ministry has launched the NigComSat-IR satellite; deployed PCs to 766 secondary schools; PCs and internet access to 193 tertiary institutions; IT centres in 240 locations; scholarship scheme for masters and PhD students and many other projects.

The Ministry of Defence has rehabilitated several infrastructure including the national war museum; workshops and equipment for the armed forces. There has also been construction and rehabilitation of several barracks, hospitals, cemeteries and procurement of patrol vehicles and vessels. It has also tried to tackle the problems confronting the country including measures to curb the activities of terrorists and criminals and proliferation of small arms and weapons.

The Ministry of Education has developed a 4 year strategic plan for the development of the education sector. The ministry

Transformation’s score card is implementing an Almajiri Education programme; Girl Education programme; back to school programme in South East geo-political zone; technical/vocational education and training and capacity strengthening for principals and teachers. It has also developed library resources; constructed classrooms; awarded scholarships and developed centres of excellence.

The Ministry of Environment within the period of one year has completed the first phase of National Forest for biodiversity conservation; tackled deforestation in seven Northern states by raising six million tree seedlings; engaged in erosion and flood control projects in 62 locations nationwide and increased policy efforts towards the revival of Lake Chad.

The Federal Capital Territory has developed a roadmap for sustainable development of FCTA. It is also engaging in land administration reform; re-established the Satellite Towns Development Agency and massive infrastructural development.

The FCT has increased internally generated revenue by 35 percent since 2011.

The Ministry of Finance is focused on restoration of fiscal prudence and steady and successful macroeconomic management resulting in lowering of government fiscal deficit from 3.35 percent of GDP in 2010 to 2.85 percent by 2012; reduction in recurrent expenditure from 77.18 percent of Federal Government budget in 2010 to 71.47 percent by 2012 and raising capital expenditure from 22.82 percent of budget in 2010 to 28.53 percent by 2012 and development of a fiscal framework for 2013 budget that will reduce fiscal deficit to 2.17 percent of GDP, reduce recurrent expenditure to 68.7 percent of budget and increase capital expenditure to 31.3 percent of the budget. Other achievements of the ministry include improved management of government debt; improvement in Nigeria’s sovereign credit rating by Fitch Ratings Agency and Standard and Poor; reinvigorating the capital market; sovereign wealth fund; establishment of the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment (SURE-P) programme and spearheading the YouWIN programme.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs pursued a strong commitment to the promotion of democracy and democratic values in foreign policy, promotion of good neighbourliness, regional security and ensuring the election of Nigerians into international organisations.

The Ministry of Health is implementing the National Strategic Health Development Plan. It is rehabilitating and equipping several teaching hospitals including OAU Teaching Hospital,

Nnamdi Azikiwe University and University of Calabar. It has procured syringes, ambulances, blood banks, etc. It is also implementing programmes on disease control and surveillance as well as treatment of diseases and developing human resources for the health sector.

The Ministry of Information has developed a comprehensive communication strategy to communicate government programmes and policies to the public. In addition, the ministry has developed a multi-media communication plan, campaign for nationwide security awareness and anti-terrorism, promotion of vision 20:2020 and the transformation agenda, and capacity building for staff of the ministry.

The Ministry of Interior has formulated a new investor/tourist friendly visa policy; and has been involved in control of illegal immigrants; and control of private guards companies. It has also constructed paramilitary villages and offices across the country.

The Ministry of Justice has articulated a strategy for implementation of Justice Reforms in Nigeria. It has also drafted and gazetted subsidiary instruments to give effect to principal laws and collaborated with various organizations on the anti-corruption crusade.

The Ministry of Labour and Productivity managed the fuel subsidy removal crisis and negotiated with several labour unions on the national minimum wage and other labour issues. It has also constructed training centres and conducted training on entrepreneurial skills, industrial relations etc.

The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban development has developed national housing policy and national urban development policy. It has initiated contractor financed initiatives under Private-Public-Partnership (PPP) in ten states of the federation. It has also established a factory to produce light gauge steel, enabled mortgage financing, pursuing urban renewal and slum upgrading and creating jobs in the housing sector.

The Ministry of Mines and Steel has issued a new mineral and mining regulation as guidance on the Mineral and Mining Act 2007. It has issued 2,476 active mineral titles, provided infrastructural facilities to 33 mining communities and supported 24 Artisanal and Small Scale Miners (ASM) and trained a lot of people on the sector.

The Ministry of National Planning has championed results based management in programme and project planning and implementation. It has also institutionalised monitoring and evaluation system for enhanced performance and has improved donor co-ordination.

The Ministry of Niger Delta has organized security and consultative meetings; building infrastructures in the Niger Delta especially road, housing, water supply and electrification. It is also intervening in environmental management, skill acquisition and economic empowerment.

The Ministry of Petroleum Resources is pursuing the Petroleum Industry Bill. It launched a gas revolution in 2011 and developed the framework for local content and encouraging indigenous participation in the oil and gas industry. It is also promoting investment through the gas value chain. It has also established various task forces to reform the petroleum sector.

The Ministry of Police Affairs is building an integrated digital trunking communication network for the police. It is working on the modernization of the police academy and the commencement of activities of transforming the Police Academy to a degree awarding institution. It has also provided several equipments to the police including vehicles, bullet proof vests, radios and two helicopters.

The Ministry of Power has launched a roadmap for power sector reform. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has been strengthened and there is an on-going privatisation of the sector. Several memorandum of understanding have been signed with several companies to invest in the sector. The country attained a new peak generation of 4,322 MW by December, 2011.

The Ministry of Science and Technology has launched three low earth observation satellites namely NigeriaSat-1, NigeriaSat2 and NigeriaSat-X and launched one communication satellite NigComSat-IR. It has also promoted space technology, renewable energy technology, biotechnology, technology management, building and roads research technology, material science technology and leather technology. The Ministry of Sports has developed a National Sports policy to guide the management and administration of sports in Nigeria. It has also constructed 17 mini sports centres and 26 are still under construction.

Omojola’s experience hits Lagos street

A

FTER an unsuccessful sojourn to Spain in 2001, Funso Omojola, (aka Ekitikete) returned to Nigeria and dared all odds to rediscover his talent as an artist. His chance encounter with a roadside artist in Ikeja, Lagos was all he needed to get inspired. Since then, he has kept faith with the roadside practice.

But this weekend, road side exhibition, a path less attractive to most Nigerian artists will be the focal point of many on Sunday, September 30 when Omojola rolls out his current collection of artworks for a solo exhibition on Ikosi Road, by Day Star Church, Ikeja, Lagos. The show entitled My Experience, will run till October 1, and will feature hundreds assemblage of miniatures, medium and large sizes of paintings and portraitures of some selected leaders from across the globe. The portraitures are done in prints and embellished with some of the icons’ quotable

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

quotes, which add more value to the portraits.

Among the leaders whose portraits will be display include the late Pa Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, Chinua Achebe, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Mother Theresa and Wole Soyinka. Others are John Rockefeller, Michael Jordan, Julius Caesar and Gani Fawehinmi.

The collection is a pot-pouri of abstract, figurative and floral.

In a preview session, Omojola who trained at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, said the exhibition is providing him the opportunity to share his personal experiences in life using his artworks as vehicles. He recalled that studio practice with the sum of ten thousand five hundred naria, which was his salary as a security guard in 2002. But he

•Warrior, by Omojola

was full of thanks to God that today his art has improved with good clients too. For some

time now, he has been exhibiting at the Day Star Church, Ikeja, Lagos every Sunday.

40

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

•WORDS OF ELDERS: Some of the artworks in Funso Omojola’s exhibition, My Experience, opening on September 30, in Lagos

From furniture design to stainless steel fabrication

D

RIVEN by the desire to provide quality service to its customers by offering modern and stable solutions in balustrade systems using stainless steel and extruded aluminum, Svengati+Poliform Limited was at the group expo tagged; Lagos Built 2012, at the Expo Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. The expo, which ran from September 18 to 20, featured a wide range of stainless steel and aluminum products.

CEO of Svengali+Poliform Limited, Mr Anslem Tabansi, said the exhibition was part of a global platform being explored to showcase the company’s range of quality products and services to the Nigerian market, especially the discerning clients. He explained that participating in the expo was a timely outing at a time Svengali Designs Limited is partnering Turkey-based Poliform Metal Industry to provide latest technology products for the building sector. The expo featured mainly Turkish companies that are into designing,

By Ozolua Uhakheme, Assitant Editor (Arts)

building, construction and home items. Tabansi explained that Svengali’s business relationship with Poliform dates back to about 15 years ago when his firm was into supply of quality interior decoration products such as furniture, project lighting and stainless steel works. Svengali grew from a mono product company making wrought iron products to a multifaceted one.

Today, he has established an ultra modern multi-million naira factory at Ilupeju, Lagos for the manufacturing of quality stainless steel with the technical assistance from the Poliform, which handled the installation of equipment and training of the staff. “We don’t offer materials that are meant for everybody. We are able to offer quick services to client because we have factory on ground. Interestingly, we have a very unique installation system. The partnership is one that has done well for us in terms of technical assistance,” Tabansi said.

•Olcer, Tabansi and Managing Director, Poliform Metal Industry Nejat Olcer

General Manager, Poliform Metal Industry Mr Caglar Olcer, recalled that at the beginning he had some reservations in doing business with Nigerians but has

found Tabansi to be a reliable and trust worthy businessman hence the partnership. “We later saw that Tabansi has a wide range of services and he pushed us to other ar-

eas of business that can add value to our services. All this while, we have had a perfect communication and hope to partner for more years to come,” Olcer said.

Lescott eyes new City deal •Lescott

MESSI

not obsessed

•Mourinho

42

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Mourinho

hints at Chelsea return

•Walcott

wants to become

Arsenal legend

R

EAL Madrid boss Jose Mourinho says his next managerial move with be to the Premier League, while also admitting he still has a place in his heart for former club Chelsea.

The Portuguese boss won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and two League Cups during his three-and-a-half

WALCOTT

with scoring record

•Benitez

Wigan needs to adapt to Kone — Martinez •Messi

OTHER SPORTS...OTHER SPORTS...OTHER SPORTS...OTHER SPORTS...OTHER SPORTS...

NADAL:

No date set for return

•Nadal

•Haye

Haye rejects Ukraine showdown

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

43

Katsina calms workers •Continued from Page 17

sioned overpayments. This oversight was promptly rectified by the committee comprising government and labour representatives.

According to Ruma, the initial problems were triggered by the manual payment of salaries usually cherished by the lower cadre of employees and those in the rural areas. The cash payments, besides its susceptibility to under- or overpayments, became prone to fraudulent practices among some members of staff in the salary and wages department.

“Government’s preference for payments direct into employees’ bank account also witnessed initial hiccup, especially by Central Bank of Nigeria monetary policy directive leading to a change in bank account’s digits form 13 to 10 in 2011,” Ruma said.

The temporary challenges, he said, were resolved through a more transparent system involving directives to employees for a total compliance to banking policies on maintenance of salary account.

To further ensure a hitch-free of minimum wages and arrears to workers, the government directed the employees with salary accounts domicile in Micro- Finance Banks to open an online salary account with a commercial bank of their choice. This hitherto facilitated smooth payment of salaries to workers.

The government therefore commended the patience of the workers, especially the staffs of the States Universal Basic Education

(SUBEB) for their resilience while the staff verification and validation lasted.

During the post-negotiation joint press conference by government and labour at the Labour House in Katsina in February 2011, the chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Aliyu Matazu appealed to the workers for continued support and co-operation while commending Governor Shema’s commitment to the implementation of the new national minimum wage for workers.

Matazu said: “The appearance of the government representatives led by Special Adviser to the Governor on Societal and Diplomatic Relations, Hon. Salisu Sada Ruma in our office is a clear demonstration that government is committed to the implementation of the new minimum wage in the state.

“After some discussions and subsequent agreements reached between the government and labour during the strike, we can now say a light has been seen marking the end of the agitation for minimum wage in Katsina State.

“The implementation of minimum wage will definitely encounter some hitches at commencement due to non-compliance among some members of staff to change of account digits from 13 to 10. So, the mistake of under or overpayment could not have been deliberate which is being rectified by the joint committee of government and NLC. “What remained for those clearly verified is validation where names

•Katsina workers

of the beneficiaries will be pasted for cross-checking by beneficiaries for correction and confirmation of names and salaries.”

Comrade Matazu therefore appealed to workers in the state to exercise patience for necessary rectification on the salaries and to report any incidence of overpayment of salaries.

In the last joint press conference of government and labour organ-

ised by the Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Development, Alhaji Muhammodu Lawal Jari at Government House Katsina, he announced the full and last implementation of new minimum wages and payment of arrears to workers.

The commissioner, while addressing journalists in Katsina said: “In view of the colossal amount of N11.03b involved in the

arrears on new minimum wages from January to August 2012 and the financial commitments of the state, the joint committee of government and labour representatives has succeeded in re-negotiating down to a realistic level of N2.43b.”

Hon. Jari assured that the Shemaled administration has approved the payment of the new minimum wage of N2, 430, 565, 512 .28 as recommended by the committees.

15-month-old baby needs N2.5m to live

By Chinaka Okoro

•Israel

W

ITH his birth came the usual excitement. People gathered, ate, drank and made merry. He was a little bundle of joy in his parents’ arms. His birth further strengthened family bonds. He was even named Israel, with the biblical notion that he would be the apple of God’s eyes as His first gift to the family.

That was the picture at the home of Mr and Mrs Akin Toriola in Ejigbo, Lagos State. Mr Toriola, his father, is a local electrician. His home was blessed with a baby boy, little Ayoola Israel, on May 23, 2011.

The Toriolas were understandably eager to see their first child

grow up well and healthy, with the prospect of becoming a responsible member of the society. Against all expectations, this bundle of joy has become a source of agony for the Toriolas. And it was neither the fault of the little Israel nor that of his parents. Israel, born 15 months ago has not shown any sign of “growing up well and healthy.”

Mr and Mrs Toriola noticed that their son who was full of life at birth,“was not breathing well, wasn’t eating well, and did not cry normally.”

That problem has continued. Even when he cries, the breathing remains very abnormal. He also continues to lose weight.

Not comfortable with the unwholesome situation of their son, The Toriolas started making medical enquiries on little Israel. They told Newsextra that “when the baby was three months old, we were asked to go and do some chest Xray on the baby. That we did at Isolo General Hospital.

“We also went to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba Lagos where one Dr Okoromah referred us to Clinique De-Mercy & Services Limited at Gbagada, Lagos for echocardiogram and electrocardiogram (ECG) tests. These are medical tests that measure and record electrical activity of the heart. Re-

When I remember the pangs and pains of labour, I wish I could have provided the money…Since my husband and I could not afford the huge amount of money required in exchange of my son’s life, I run and cry to you my fellow Nigerians to help in ensuring that this little Nigerian lives

sults of the tests showed that little Israel has a hole in his heart which manifests in his physical appearance that suggests a case of Down Syndrome.”

A medical report on little Toriola which was signed by Dr B. A. Animasahun, Consultant Paediatrician/Paediatric Cardiologist, on August 17, 2012 reads: Medical Report of Ayoola Toriola Age 15 months: “The above-named presented with history of breathlessness noticed since birth, associated with recurrent respiratory tract infections necessitating hospital admissions.

There is history of excessive sweating and he has been failing to thrive.

No history of squatting but bluish discoloration of the lips.

“Examination revealed a small for age child, with prominent heart sound on the right hemithorax, tarchycardic, cyanosed, with SPO2 in room air of 73%. He has a grade 2/6 ejection systolic murmur maximal at the right upper sterna border with a grade 3/6 diastolic murmur maximal at the right sterna border.

“A diagnosis of dextrocardia with a cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) was made.

Echocardiography confirmed, Dextrocardia, Double outlet right ventricle, large posterior upper muscular ventricular septal defect L-R and severe pulmonary artery hypertension.

“He has been tablet furosemide and syrup captopril. He requires surgical intervention abroad. “…Patient and mother will also require a return ticket, international passport, some amount as pocket money.”

Based on the tests carried out at Clinique De-Mercy &Services Limited at Gbagada Lagos, the hospital recommended a heart surgery to be carried out in a hospital in India.

The sum of N2.5m is required to effect the heart surgery (all ex-

penses included) which the cardiologist said must be carried out as quickly as possible to save the life of little Israel. This sum of money is too hard for his parents to afford.

Therefore, Mr and Mrs Toriola Akin are crying to kind-hearted Nigerians, people who treasure the future of our children, Nigerians who appreciate that children are precious gifts from God Almighty, Nigerians who can imagine the pangs of labour that a woman goes through during child birth and the pains a mother or father could go through in the event of losing a child to death and Nigerians who can cheerfully choose to be Simon of Cyrene who helped Jesus Christ to carry His cross on the way to Golgotha.

The word cross is symbolic here.

Whenever and at whatever point in time you help in reducing the burden or pains of a fellow mankind, it will be on record that you clothed, fed and gave water to Jesus Christ and the Prophets to drink. History and destiny would certainly smile at you.

A little help and sacrifice towards ensuring that a dying little soul survives will surely make a lot of difference.

Hear Mrs Toriola, a petty trader and mother of little Israel: “In tears, I beg fellow Nigerians to help in

seeing that my child lives normal life again. When I remember the pangs and pains of labour, I wish I could have provided the money a day after the discovery of this defect in my child’s heart. But since my husband and I could not afford the huge amount of money required in exchange of my son’s life, I run and cry to you my fellow Nigerians to help in ensuring that this little Nigerian lives to be useful to himself and the country. I am confused.”

It is not inappropriate for Mrs Toriola to feel disappointed and be confused at one point in time or the other when she feels that the days of her only child are numbered if nothing is done fast.

For more information, the following telephone lines could be contacted: 08026306066 and 08032069949.

Payments can be made into the following bank account details: TORIOLA AYOOLA ISRAEL 0063147567 ECOBANK. Since little Toriola’s health deteriorates daily, the Toriolas appeal to Lagos State governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), public-spirited Nigerians and corporate organisations to provide financial help to enable them to take little Israel to India for the surgery as soon as possible so that the life of this Nigerian would be saved.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

44

Unilever, NGO join forces

Rotary Club woos philanthropists

•Continued from Page 17

T

children have enough as well as the right food to grow up healthy. Combining our global reach and joint ambition we can achieve long-lasting change for the world’s most vulnerable children.”

The partnership will involve improving access to health workers and life-saving vaccines, and ensuring children in need are reached with high-impact health and nutrition programmes. It will also provide a platform to catalyse a global movement and generate the public and political will for a global breakthrough on child survival. The partnership encompasses programme funding, consumer outreach, cause-related marketing and employee engagement; and will focus on the priority countries of China, Bangladesh, Kenya and Nigeria. The Unilever Foundation will be helping Save the Children reach over 2 million children and their mothers by 2015.

In China, Unilever will invest 1.8 million Euros in three years to support Save the Children’s programmes promoting children’s health, nutrition and early childhood development, including the Village Early Education Center project in Sichuan province in partnership with CDRF and the Meishan Municipal Government of Sichuan province.

In Nigeria, the Unilever Foundation will support Save the Children’s work to improve the lives of

•Children mothers and their babies in Jigawa and Lagos through quality care and support at the time of birth and immediate post-partum period. The partnership will help to build the capacity of health workers to provide quality services and appropriate care to mothers and their babies and improve access to quality mother and newborn healthcare services in hard-to-reach areas.

With Unilever’s support Save the Children will also tackle childhood malnutrition in Bangladesh by de-

livering a comprehensive package of nutrition interventions in Barisal, Chittagong and Sylhet Divisions. Save the Children will train health workers and support community volunteers to identify and treat malnutrition, whilst providing mothers with the skills to prevent it.

In Kenya Unilever is supporting Save the Children to raise awareness of the scale of child mortality from preventable causes and launch a high impact, emotive campaign

that will not only create awareness but also mobilise Kenyans, the Government and other stakeholders to put more effort and resources towards meeting MDG 4 by 2015: a drastic reduction in the number of children that die before their fifth birthday.

Finally, Unilever is supporting Save the Children’s Humanitarian Health Workers work to significantly scale up frontline health capacity so that many more children’s lives can be saved in emergencies.

HE Rotary Club of Naraguta, Jos has installed its 28th President in the person of Rotarian Group Captain Kenny Lawal (rtd).

But that event was marked by a passionate appeal for public-spirited Nigerians to join the club in order to help more less privileged people in the country.

In her acceptance and inaugural address, Rotarian Lawal further urged philanthropic Nigerians to join hands with the Rotary Club to render humanitarian services which would assist the less privileged, especially the traumatised and physically-challenged in the society.

She stressed that the club has, in the past, donated books and other learning materials to public and private primary and secondary schools and would continue to do so with the focus being on the physically challenged.

The event witnessed the presentation of awards to notable Nigerians and some members of the club who made remarkable contributions to the development of the club.

The club has, in the past, donated books and other learning materials to public and private primary and secondary schools and would continue to do so with the focus being on the physically challenged

Free coaching classes for 120 students From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

A

MEMBER of the Oyo State House of Assembly representing Ibadan South East constituency II, Hon. Sikiru Akin Alli has held free extra-mural classes for over 120 students in his constituency.

Hon Alli stated this at the end of the classes which held at Eleta Junior High, Ibadan, the state capital.

The lawmaker explained that he has also embarked on various people-oriented programmes all for the benefit of the people of his constituency, this he said includes, drilling of seven boreholes, tarring of roads and construction of blocks of classroom in some schools in his area.

He said that the project was part of his educational support programme, adding that the responsibilities of sustaining quality education cannot be left in the hands of government alone, hence the need for relevant stakeholders to join hands with the government to develop educational standard of Oyo state in particular is needed.

Alli admonished the students to give more priority to their studies in order for them to be who God had created them to be and attain their potentials.

In his remarks,the ACN party chairman in Ibadan South East Local Government, Engineer Kolawole Arowolo said the party through his representatives in government will not relent in its people oriented projects.

Hon. Alli at the occasion also presented cash prizes, free National Examination Council (NECO) forms to some outstanding students as well as free exercise books to all the participating students.

•Chief Chigozie Nwolisa (middle) presenting a cheque of N750,000 to Miss Oluchi Ogbonna. With them are Pastor Joe Madueke (right); image maker of the club, Mr. Kanayo O. Kanayo and others at the event

N

IGERIANS have been urged not to neglect the less-privileged.

The President of Diamond Fitness Club of Nigeria, Chief Chigozie Nwaolise, who gave the advice at the National Stadium, Lagos during the presentation of N750,000 cheque to the Women for Network Disability, said members of the society should not look down on that class of people.

Explaining the gesture, Chief Nwaolise told Newsextra that the club was established primarily to assist disabled and other lessprivileged people. She described the club’s effort at giving back to the society as vital.

Speaking on the objective of the club, the Publicity Secretary of the club, Mr Kanayo Kanayo said

Club donates to the disabled

By Emmanuel Udodinma

that the club lays much emphasis on fitness, even as he disclosed that jogging was designed to create awareness among Nigerians on the need for corporate organisations to be committed to their corporate social responsibilities by providing for the people the needed welfare.

“Diamond Fitness is committed to empowering the less-privileged through life- enriching platforms. We are excited that so many of our young professionals have embraced entrepreneurship and are making efforts to succeed in their endeavours. “Diamond,

as a brand, recognises can-do-it spirit in them and would do everything within its powers to support their dreams.

“I urge well-meaning corporate organisations and individuals to join hands with the club to bring relief to the disabled,” he stated.

45

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

Oyo distributes treated mosquito nets From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

•Gbadegesin

T

HE Oyo State government has commenced the distribution of insecticidetreated mosquito nets to 1.3 million families in the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed this while addressing reporters in Ibadan, the state capital. Gbadegesin explained that a total of 893,000 nets were distrib-

uted during the first phase of the programme in Oke-Ogun area of the state. He added that a total of 1.3 million families translating to six million population are expected to benefit from the free nets across the 33 local governments of the state.

According to him, the free nets were being provided in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with support from the World Health Organisation (WHO). He explained that the nets were being distributed under a partnership of the state and federal govenments tagged Malaria Action Programme for States (MAPS).

Gbadegesin said that the 893,000 free nets were distributed in the 13 local govenment areas of Oke-Ogun in July and August, pointing out that the second phase would commence towards

the end of the year.

The commissioner further explained that MAPS staff and their counterparts from the state Ministry of Health as well as staff of the local governments conducted house-to-house mapping during which residents were identified, interviewed and issued cards with which to collect the nets before they were distributed. He pointed out that the mapping helped them to determine the number of people that make up

each family thereby helping them to know how many nets to be earmarked for them.

He said that each medium-sized nuclear family got two nets while more nets were given to polygamous families, depending on the number of people that make up the family. The nets were also torn open to prevent beneficiaries from selling them.

Expressing satisfaction with the project, Gbadegesin said that

Prevention is the reason for the nets.

The weekly sanitation exercise is also helping because it is having a great positive impact on health in the state.

It has helped reduce diseases and potential outbreak of Lassa fever

malaria was the most prevalent disease in the state, in Nigeria and even in Africa. “It is the greatest killer disease. It is more so because children and pregnant women are most vulnerable,” the commissioner said.

Gbadegesin further explained that the distribution of the free nets would complement the free malaria drugs that the state provides for children, pregnant women and the aged in all state and local government hospitals in the state. ”But it is even better to prevent. Prevention is the reason for the nets. The weekly sanitation exercise is also helping because it is having a great positive impact on health in the state.

It has helped reduce diseases and potential outbreak of lassa fever. We believe that the continuation of the sanitation and improvement in personal hygiene will reduce incidents of malaria and other diseases.

“The two are the begining of good health,” Gbadegesin said.

O

KE Ayedun-Ekiti in Ekiti North local government area of the state witnessed an unusual development recently. The youths of the town marked the town’s day by gathering at the City Hall in the town to discuss how their community can participate in the planned review of the 1999 constitution.

According to the event’s facilitator, Engr. Olutoye Olatunji, the programme was organised to call attention to sections and portions of the constitution which, rather than aid, has hindered the people in terms of genuine aspirations and accommodation within the entity called Nigeria.

He noted that communities in the country should be allowed necessary reins to voice concerns on aspects of the constitution which needs change to enable their lives, saying “this means there is need for you to sit at a round table to discuss the way and manner we want to live together as a people and as a nation.”

“The very essence of federalism is the permission of democracy in the way the society is being governed, which means decisions and policies must be made to reflect the interests and opinions of the people rather than handed down fiats of an overriding power or authority.

One of the discussants, the Very Rev. Funso Ala (JP) who thanked the organisers for taking the initiative to organize the lecture said the new constitution should concede more specific roles to the traditional institutions being the closest to the people.

He averred that the present constitution appears too nebulous in the manner it has spelt the roles of the traditional rulers, saying it was time clarifications were made regarding actual roles of the traditional rulers.

•From left: One of the organisers, Segun Asake, the discussant, the Very Rev’d Funso Ala, Chief Esan Ajibola, the lecturer, Dr Femi Omotoso, Prof Funso Olorunfemi, programme facilitator, Engr Olutoye Olatunji, Hon. Oluyemi Ajayi and Tosin Akinola (in front)

When Oke Ayedun-Ekiti youths marked day with a lecture

By Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

In a lecture delivered at the event, Dr. Femi Omotoso, who explained that the constitution primarily set parametres of behaviour within a political system noted that the document serves as the bedrock of a society.

Reviewing the colonial history

The electoral bodies should also be sufficiently independent to conduct elections which shall be genuinely free and fair to allow for results that will represent the choices of the electorate

of the country all which he said shared the attribute of being handed down by the British colonialists, Omotoso noted that the 1960 constitution, otherwise called the Independence Constitution, was not only designed by Nigerians, it equally gave them entire control over their affairs.

He contended that since democracy is a cardinal aspect of the Nigerian constitution, allowing the constituent states some necessary reins of freedom would be necessary as useful affirmations of the new democratic dispensation.

The lecturer observed that an ideal federation should necessarily allow its constituents have its own police while enjoying some say and latitude in how accruals from a federated pool of resources are shared among the constituents.

Omotoso said there “is need for

the redistribution of legislative powers over resources between the central/federal government and the state governments”, adding that the necessity for a removal of the immunity clause in the 1999 constitution arose out of the familiar penchant of the political class to pilfer from the public till.

The lecturer equally canvassed a need for the incorporation of the social security scheme to enable hordes of disoriented citizens who are either too old to work while having no visible means of survival or could not find work despite either their qualifications or their physical ability.

He said the prevailing lip service being paid popular participation in decision-making and development in the 1999 constitution has to yield way to more appreciable and fundamental

accommodation of general opinions, saying there has to be actual efforts at making Nigerians participate in decisions and policies made in a nation they call and their own.

Omotoso further canvassed the introduction of independent candidacy in the new constitution, saying it was time to ensure that political parties represent actual yeaning of the electorate.

He added that the electoral bodies should also be sufficiently independent to conduct elections which shall be genuinely free and fair to allow for results that will represent the choices of the electorate.

Other dignitaries at the event included Sir (Dr.) kayode Obembe represented by Otunba Dapo Adelusi; Mr. Segun Asake; The Very Revd Funso Ala; Chief Esan Ajibola; and Prof Funso Olorunfemi.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

46

‘What we’ve done with people’s mandate’

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HE chairman of Gbonyin Local Government in Ekiti State, Comrade Adeniyi Paul Abegunde, has explained what his administration has done with the people’s mandate, saying leadership is best served if it makes people the focal point.

He spoke passionately about his efforts to re-focus on agriculture at the grassroots when he gave part of his account of stewardship to Newsextra at the council’s secretariat, Ode. On agricultural development, the council boss said his administration has acquired 1,000 hectares of land to be opened up and allotted to farmers to encourage mechanised farming; raised improved oil palm and cocoa seedlings for increased production; cultivated two hectares of improved maize; upgraded the teak plantation at Ode-Ekiti; raised birds that will lay eggs to increase people’s protein consumption and fattened pigs as a demonstration project for the same purpose.

To boost education in his domain, Abegunde said he paid N7.14 million to students as bursary allowance in the 2010/2011 session, assuring that it would be an enduring gesture throughout his tenure.

He also spoke of his efforts on healthcare: “Two rounds of National Immunisation Plus had been carried out. Besides, we have purchased a power-generating machine for the cold chain store at the Health Centre in Ode; repaired the one at the Comprehensive Health Centre in Agbado-Ekiti in addition to the purchase of five motorcycles for easy transportation of vaccine during immunisation.”

The council boss revealed that he had made several efforts to ensure the security of lives and property in the area and also itemised the capital projects that had been executed there.

Among the projects that were fully completed according to him were: Water system toilet and furniture

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HEY live on water, yet they cannot access good water to either cook or drink.

The story of the residents of Migbewe, Ago-Egun Community, Makoko, Lagos State is better imagined than told.

For well over 60 years, the community situated under the Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) have suffered depriva-

By Dada Aladelokun

and office equipment in the Local Government Secretariat; line drainage in front of lock-up store at IjanEkiti; construction of five-kilometre township roads in nine sites covering eight communities in the local government area.

The roads, according to him, included: Ilado in Ode, 540 metres; Ayedun/Ogbonomo Ijan, 540 metres; Asatedo in Iluomoba, 1460 metres; Omodowa Palace Road in Iro Ekiti, 120 metres; Oke Afin in Egbe, 320 metres; Ifinmi in Egbe, 270 metres; Odi Olowo, Imesi, 420 metres; Asura-Idekun in Aisegba, 1020 metres, and Oke Afin in Agbado, 320 metres.

Construction of reinforced concrete line drainage, he added, was in progress in eight out of nine sites including 25-metre pipe culvert which he said, had been completed.

Extension of electricity, he also disclosed, had been achieved on some routes in Ode, Imesi, Egbe, Agbado and Ijan.

Also fully completed for use, according to Abegunde, were: Meter processing and servicing of electricity at New Basic Health Centre, Ode; extension and servicing of Phase Three office complexion at the secretariat; extension of electricity to Rt Hon. Wale Omirin’s Aven at Aisegba; installation of 300KVA, 33/ 41KV transformers at Ode, Imesi and Ijan; extension of electricity to St.

•Hon. Abegunde (left) and Governor Kayode Fayemi during the quarterly briefing with the governor Saviour African Pry School, Deeper Life Bible Church Road, and Oke Iro Ayeteju; Oke Odu Street, Imesi, Egbe Ekiti; New Era College road, Ode and Ajebamidele Road, Phase II, Iluomoba.

His administration, he also said, had executed the following: Provision of office equipment for the political functionaries; renovation of open registry office; provision of temporary store for Fadama project; renovation of the council’s gate, security post receptionist post and conference hall; renovation of 10 open

Abegunde’s administration has acquired 1,000 hectares of land to be opened up and allotted to farmers to encourage mechanised farming; raised improved oil palm and cocoa seedlings for increased production; cultivated two hectares of improved maize

market stalls at Ijan, Eleyowo Market at Iro Ayeteju- Ekiti and the empowerment of Mr. Sunday Aluko, a victim of 2009 governorship re-run election.

Maintaining that the people had remained the focus of his government, Abegunde further reeled off his achievements: “Part-payment of 2012 National Programme for Food Security (NPFS) and 2012 Fadama III Development Project counterpart contributions; repair of tractor; provision of borehole at Ologoji farm at Ijan; borehole at Iluomoba and another at the Oba’s palace and two motorized boreholes at Agric Department poultry farm site along Ijesa-Isu road, Ode. Listed among ongoing projects, according to him, were: Construction of one hand pump borehole on Ifon Street, Ijan; Aba Bolorunduro, Omuaran; Aisegba, Iro Ayeteju; repair of one motorised borehole on Ikesan Street along Igbemo Road, Ijan and another one at Ilupeju-Ijan.

On sports and social development, he announced the following: Participation of the local government ath-

Succour for deprived community

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

tions, including lack of safe drinking water.

With just two privately-owned commercial boreholes in the com-

munity, majority of the people of Migbewe struggle everyday to find safe drinking water. What they find is often inadequate. They also live with sever shortage of other infrastructure.

There is good news. An Islamic

•Children of the community rejoicing at the inauguration of one of the boreholes

faith-based organisation (FBO), Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF), has intervened to address the severe deprivation suffered by the community.

The foundation, under its Borehole Water Project Scheme, has sunk three boreholes in three different locations within the community.

The development threw the residents into wild jubilation when the project was commissioned by the council boss, Hon Jide Jimoh.

According to the ZSF Executive Director, Abdullahi Shuaib, the project is part of the activities of the foundation across the nation to ameliorate the sufferings of the people.

Each borehole, Shuaib explained, has a 2,400-litre capacity storage tank and a standby generator to ensure that the people have regular water supply.

“This initiative has illuminated the possibility of Public-Faith-Partnership (PFP) between the foundation and the Government in the delivery of urban services for the poor and vulnerable people,” he said.

He described as “positive” the role played by the Zakat payers and donors of Sadaqah (charity) for making the required fund available to execute the project.

The Executive Director urged wealthy Muslims to pay Zakat and donate generously to the foundation for the benefit of the poor and needy.

Baale Steven Ajee was full of appreciation to the foundation.

letes in a competition at Sagamu, Ogun State; International Women Day Celebration; Ekiti State Community and Social Development programme Children’s Day celebration at Ado/Local Government level; distribution of emergency materials and monthly monitoring payment of allowances to the aged.

Abegunde spoke further: “We have also been observing the following: Monthly release of fueling imprest of N50,000 for Effective Routine Immunization starting for March 2012; re-roofing leaked building of CHC Aisegba and CHC Ode; roofing of Model Health Centre at Aisegba and the electrification and connection of BAC Ode to national grid.

Traditional and chieftaincy matters, the council boss said, have not escaped the attention of his administration. Apart from holding statutory monthly meetings, he explained that efforts are being made to fill the vacant stool of Ajagun of Iluomoba, noting that a request has been made to the Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs for permission to approve warrant chiefs.

“When we learnt about the borehole project, we do not belief because government that has the wherewithal to provide such amenities aren’t hearken to our call but when we see the project going on, that gave us hope that something meaningful would come out of the speculations and here we are today, glory be to God,” he said.

Ajei urged other well meaning Nigerians and corporate organisations to toe the line of the foundation.

“Sincerely, we have almost lost hope that both the public and private sectors would ever come to their rescue. The foundation has indeed enlivened our spirit. We are appealing to government in the area school building. As you can see, no good facility for our children to study here but government can do a lot on that,” he said.

Hon Jimoh thanked the foundation for the gesture.

“What they have done is remarkable,” he said.

The council boss enjoined the residents to make judicious use of the infrastructure so as to enjoy for a long time.

He called on other corporate organisations to come around and support the government to make the society a good place for all to live.

“The people of Migbewe community who hitherto lamented over their inability to access safe drinking water are now happy, courtesy of the intervention of Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation’s Borehole Water Project Scheme.

We cannot thank the foundation enough,” said Imam Jamiu Morufudeen, the Chief Imam of the community.

48

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

The governor made the point that the buses should help the poor to commute better, not worsen their challenges

Benue inaugurates 42 buses

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ENUE State Governor Gabriel Suswam has inaugurated 42 buses to boost the state-owned transport company, Benue Links Nig Limited.

The General Manager of the firm, Mr. John Baka, an engineer, put the cost of the buses at N200 million, with a loan from Infrastructure Bank and guarantee by Diamond Bank.

Baka also appealed to the state government to asphalt the company’s terminus, which is said to have been taken over by flood.

The GM further requested that the Suswam administration help the transport firm to acquire Marcopolo buses to enable it extend its services beyond the state.

The Commissioner for Works and Transport, Hon. Benjamin Ashaver also urged the management of the company to guard against misusing the buses, directing that all drivers in the employ of the firm must be well trained.

Hon. Ashaver advised the police and personnel of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) not to •The inaugurated buses Inset: Governor Suswam hesitate to impound any vehicle management of the firm to ensure From Uja Emmanuel, and arrest the driver who runs that the buses are properly deMakurdi foul of the law. This, many belive, ployed to cover all those rural will instill discipline in operators boost commuting in several areas roads. of the buses. of the state, including, especially, Suswam equally urged managSuswam hailed the purchase of the rural areas. ers of the state transport company the buses, saying they would The governor also called on the to charge affordable rates in or-

der not to rob the masses of the facility.

The governor made the point that the buses should help the poor to commute better, not worsen their challenges.

Suswam was in good company

when he inaugurated the buses.

As he cut the tape to unveil the vehicles, GM Baka offered assistance.

Commissioner Ashaver was equally on hand, as were officials of the FRSC.

‘Only staff security in Jos will reverse relocation decision’

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ECURITY concerns in Plateau State have forced the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) into a decision to relocate its North Central Zonal headquarters from Jos, the state capital.

The decision has not been implemented, but the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr Mustafa Bello, said they will

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

move elsewhere if security challenges persist, putting their staff in danger.

Bello said this when a delegation from the state led by the Commissioner for Information, Mr Abraham Yiljap, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja.

He urged the state government to put in place necessary measures that will guarantee the safety of its workers and property before the Commission could think of rescinding the relocation decision.

Bello also called on the government to address other issues bordering on the investment climate in the state.

•Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Kehinde Bamigbetan (third right); Regional Director, Sterling Bank Plc, Eniola Obe (third left); Iyana-Ipaja Branch Manager, Jolly Enabulele (second left); Business Manager, Isheri Branch, Toyin Olaleru (left); Ejigbo Council Treasurer, Mrs Omolara Oshikoya (second right) and Ejigbo NNPC Depot Branch Manager, Ajibade Adeagbo (right) during a business visit by the bank officials to the council secretariat

According to him, the commission would continue to monitor the situation in the state to ascertain its readiness to maintain its status as the NIPC North Central Zonal headquarters.

He said: “The safety of our staff is of the utmost importance to us and it is only when their safety is guaranteed that we will be able to achieve our goal of driving investments in the zone through the zonal office.”

“So, we took the decision to safeguard the lives of our staff and our property in the state and we also considered other salient issues, which are necessary in promoting investment in a place. We did not say that we are moving the office out immediately.”

“We have only considered the option and have taken a stand on it. We will continue to monitor the situation in the state and if things change for the better, we will rescind our decision, otherwise the decision of relocating the office will stand,” he stated

He also pointed out that insecurity was not the only factor considered for the relocation of the zonal offices from Jos but that other economic factors, which were initially ignored in the establishment of the zonal offices, were also considered.

Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation, Yiljap, said that the current political administration in Plateau had done much to restore peace in the state.

He said the government was worried by NIPC’s decision to relocate, adding that such relocation would negatively affect the government’s effort to restore peace in the state. ”I want to state here that Plateau state is safe for business and it is safe for investment. The people of the state are working harder today to put their relationship together and move forward for the growth of the state. So, you can be assured that Plateau is once again safe for business,” he added

The safety of our staff is of the utmost importance to us and it is only when their safety is guaranteed that we will be able to achieve our goal of driving investments in the zone through the zonal office

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

49

News

Nurses fight malaria, other preventable diseases

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URSES and midwives under the umbrella of the Forum for Local Government Nurses and Midwives (FOLGONM) are set to curb malaria and other preventable infectious diseases.

These diseases are measles,

By Wale Adepoju

pneumonia, diarrhoea, tuberculosis and HIV and AIDS. According to FOLGONM, the diseases account for 70 per cent of the estimated one million under-five deaths in the country.

The group spoke at its scientific workshop in Lagos, with the theme Child health survival strategies: the Primary Health Care (PHC) approaches. It was sponsored

by Reckitt Benkiser.

Its chairman, Mrs Mary Lateef-Yusuf said malaria is

the chief among the diseases responsible for 25 and 30 per cents of infants and young children’s deaths.

The Lagos State Government, she said, is strengthening the PHC system to be able to treat the diseases.

Brand Activation Manager,

Reckitt Benkiser, Adejoke Akindolie said her company is partnering with the association to educate mothers on the danger of malaria and other preventable diseases.

“We usually go with them to the various communities in the state to sensitised the

people. We are also present in every PHC centre across the state. The company has distributed Mortein insecticide and branded baby towels some of the communities.

Over 450 women at Pelewura Market in Lagos were beneficiaries,” Akindolie added.

Committee calls for blood donation

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AGOS State Blood Transfusion Committee (LSBTC) has called for more blood donation to save lives.

Its Executive Secretary, Dr Uwem Olusola-Oyekan said there were people who need blood to stay alive.

Olusola-Oyekan, who spoke during a blood donation organised by Genotype Foundation at Malaria Research Centre (MRC), Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.

She identified sickle cell disordered patients, road accident victims, women in labour and other medical emergencies as those who need blood to stay alive.

Blood may be needed to reduce paternal, maternal and infant mortality ratio (IMR).

According to her, only human blood can help these victims stay alive.

Calling on Nigerians to donate blood voluntarily, she said, this is the only way to make blood available to patients who are in dire need of

By Olatunde Odebiyi

blood.

Voluntary blood donation means that the individual is donating his blood without being forced to do so.

Voluntary blood donors are special and responsible people with good blood quality.

“When the blood is donated, it is tested for genotype, blood group and HIV/AIDS status which makes blood donors know their health status each time they donate blood.

“They are not likely to have infections because they are well-schooled on healthy lifestyle, and as such stand a chance of staying healthy.

“Blood donation is a very safe exercise. There is nothing to be afraid of in donating blood. The blood pressure of the donor will be checked, sugar level, blood sugar, cholesterol level and hypertension before the exercise can begin,” Olusola-Oyekan said.

This, she said, can also help donors to know their fitness level.

“The essence of encouraging voluntary blood donation is to ensure that there is enough blood in the blood bank; this will help to make blood ready for use by any patient even before the need arises.

“Voluntary blood donors are rendering good service to the society. They are helping to save others’.

Oyekan said blood can be donated between three to four months or at least, once a year.

People from 18 to 65 years can donate blood. This has no effect, whatsoever on them. In fact, it will help their blood production.

“If you do not donate blood, the body has a way of destroying it, because the blood is meant to last in our body for 90 to 120 days after which it is destroyed by itself,” she added.

“Blood donation makes you healthy because you reproduce new red blood cells which transport oxygen through the circulatory system delivering to the necessary organs and tissues in the body,” she said.

•From left: Managing Director, Diamond Helix Medical Assistance Ltd, Dr Ufuoma Okotete, Mr. Adeniyi Akofiranmi and Dr. Vivian Mbaba at Apollo Hospitals/ Diamond Helix Training for Doctors in Enugu.

Ogun tasks stakeholders on malaria eradication

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N appeal has gone to all stakeholders in the malaria control programme in Ogun State to work for success in the campaign against malaria.

This was part of the submissions at the review of the Annual Operational Plan for malaria control held at the Hilltop Tavern, Onikolobo, Abeokuta, the state capital.

The plan, which covers malaria prevention, malaria in pregnancy, advocacy, communication and social mobilisation, health system strengthening and information, is being

By Olatunde Odebiyi

implemented by the State Malaria Control Programme with support of donor agencies in the elimination.

In his submission, a consultant with the Support for National Malaria Control Programme (SUNMAP), Dr. Funmi Idowu, said the state has done well in the implementation of the operational plan, adding that more could be achieved in the course of the year.

Dr Idowu implored other stakeholders to assist the state combat malaria, hailing the Technical Working Group, non-

governmental organisations (NGOs) and development partners for their support.

In his remarks, the Director, Public Health, Dr Qudus Yusuf, affirmed that the implementation of the operational plan has helped in preventing malaria.

He said: “The government with the support of donor agencies had supplied antimalaria drugs and long lasting insecticidal nets to public health facilities and hospitals adding that the gaps and challenges identified would be forwarded to the appropriate authorities.”

Pain cause of patients’ hospital visit

E • Some blood donors

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P HOTO: OLATUNDE ODEBIYI

‘Preventive therapy will reduce maternal anaemia’

PROFESSOR of paediatrics at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Olugbenga Mokuolu has said the use sulfaxodine-pyrimethamine by expectant mothers will help reduce maternal anaemia.

According to him, the therapy will also reduce delivery of low birth weight babies and prevent malaria in infants.

Prof Mokuolu spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital at the 114th inaugural lecture of UNILORIN. The lecture was entitled: “Saving the innocent from unsolicited encounters: The worm as a sharp threshing instrument.” Mukuolu whose contributions to the study of malaria in children has won

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

international recognition said the use of low cost technologies and care strategies are important panacea for reducing neonatal deaths in Nigeria. “Some of these include the recycle incubation technique, use of oxygen concentrators, and fabricated radiant heaters among others”, he said.

He urged the Federal Government to facilitate the scale up of some of these technologies and make them available at secondary and primary levels of health care as a means of further improving access to quality health care.

Hospital gets branch in Abuja

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ODERN technology has increased the success rate of InVitro Fertilisation (IVF) to 40 per cent, Managing Director, Nordica Fertility Centre Dr Abayomi Ajayi has said.

Ajayi spoke in Abuja ahead of the opening of a branch of his hospital in Abuja.

He said the prevalence of infertility in Nigeria is on the

increase with 20 to 25 per cent among married couples, but stressed that awareness of available solutions is also on the increase.

“Acceptance is getting better by the day; it will get to a point when you don’t need to convince people, because if they need IVF, they come to you, just like it is routine in the western countries. Any

Nigerian, who could afford a tokunbo vehicle, can afford an IVF treatment.

“All the figures we have on infertility are from outside Nigeria and it shows that infertility is increasing. There is no doubt that we are seeing more infertility and that is because people now know that it is possible they can get help,” he said.

XPERTS have identified pain as the major cause patients, visit to hospi-

tals.

According to a professor of Surgery and Head, Department of Surgery, Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Babatunde Solagberu, pain can be discomforting.

Solagberu, who spoke at the launch of Flexilor, a pain molecule (drug) by Glenmark, appropriate assessment and management of pain is the major right of patients accessing care in the hospital.

Pain, he noted, has several values because it can increase or reduce.

Quoting the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), Solagberu said, pain is subjective and must be translated subjectively to objective measure.

By Wale Adepoju

He said value should be given to pain being suffered by patients when they are treated to know their progression which is important to the outcome.

The management of pain is multi-disciplinary and multimodal because all health experts are involved, he noted.

“Pain arises when the tissues around joint are ruptured or about to be ruptured. There are chemicals within the body that are called pain metabolise that are released once a tissue is damaged or there is a potential to damage. That is what usually starts off pain,” he added.

He said efforts are geared towards removing the pain metabolise from the body because of the discomfort it causes.

“Several measures such as washing away the metabolise

chemical, exercise and applying local heat are used to remove the pain.

“The effect of a pain killer is to maximise the effect of pain metabolise in the body and the way they are appreciated in the brain because of the motional component to the brain.

About 60 per cent of an adult’s body is water,” he said.

On the drug, he said, it can be combined with other drugs by specialists to treat serious cases which may include cancer among others.

An Indian pain expert, Rishi Jain said the drug, which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and a nonopioid, can cure all kinds of pains.

It is different from other pain killers in similar doses because its safe to use by renal patients with digestive impairment.

Drivers, riders told to abstain from drugs, others

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OMERCIAL bus and taxi drivers, and motorcycle operators have been enjoined to stay off drug and alcohol.

According to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), drug and alcohol are the major contributors to road accidents.

At a campaign against drug abuse and alcoholism organised

by National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving at the agency, its DirectorGeneral, Dr Paul Orhii condemned drinking and smoking

By Wale Adepoju

by drivers and motorcycle riders before embarking on a journey. This, he said, may lead to impaired mental function, which affects the ability of the users to make accurate judgement, especially when driving or riding.

Quoting, the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) 2012 report, he said alcohol and cannabis are the most abused substances in Nigeria.

The effect of the use of alcohol and other substances abuse impact negatively on the health,

economy and social life of the people.

Chairman, Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mallam Ahmadu Giade said the problems associated with drug abuse and alcoholism are enormous, adding that the practice is not only dangerous to the individual but also the society at large.

Giade, represented by Assistant Director, Drug Abuse Prevention Education (NDLEA), Mrs Stella Ngwoke said major organs of an abuser such as the kidney, liver and heart can be affected.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

50

NEWS Dana hostess’ family yet to get entitlements

Nsukka car dealer held over stolen vehicles

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

From Chris Oji, Enugu

AN air hostess with Dana Airways, Miss Uche Ulasi (28), who was killed in the Dana plane crash, was buried at the weekend at her Ndiakwu Otolo home town in Nnewi, Anambra State.

Her father, Senior Apostle Afam Ulasi, said she worked with Dana Airways for over three years.

Ulasi said since his daughter’s death, the company has not contacted him about her entitlements and has failed to reply his lawyer’s letter.

He said the late Uche was preparing to travel abroad for her Master’s degree when the plane crashed.

Head of Corporate Communication, Dana Airways, Mr. Tony Ufsidamen said that the company had contacted all the families of victims.

Ufsidamen said the late Uche’s entitlements would be given to her family.

Enugu prepares for fiesta ENUGU State Governor Sullivan Chime has restated his determination to improve culture and tourism in the country.

Chime spoke at the Nike Lake Resort Hotel, Enugu, at the unveiling of the 2012 Cultural and Tourism Fiesta’s Secretariat.

He said the annual Fiesta is intended to showcase the rich cultural heritage and tourism potentials of the state.

The governor, who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, regretted that Nigerians have abandoned their culture for the Western way.

He praised those working to make the event a success and invited all Nigerians to the event.

Commissioner for Culture and Tourism Joe Mammel said this year’s fiesta hold between December 13 -22.

Mammel said it would feature symposiums, an award night, Christmas Carol, cultural day, cultural food fare, children’s beauty pageant, visits to tourist centres and carnivals, among others.

T

•Anambra State Governor Peter Obi (right) discussing with the Global Vice-Chairman of the Sun Group, Mr. Shiv Vikram Khemka, at the 2012 United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York...yesterday.

Nigeria’s democracy is for a clique, says Okorocha MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday described Nigeria’s democracy as a “democracy of the clique”.

He said Nigeria’s democracy must be redefined to meet the yearnings of the masses.

Okorocha spoke in Abuja at the public presentation of a book, entitled: “An Assessment of the Nigerian University Environment”.

He said: “Democracy is supposed to be the government of the people, by the people and for the people, but it is a democracy of the few, by the few and for the people.

Or we can say our democracy is the government of the clique, by the clique and for the clique. There is need for us to redefine democracy in Nigeria.”

The governor called for an

I

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

overhaul of the education system. He said education should be made free and given top priority.

Okorocha said: “We must give priority to education and make it free. If not, the problems of Nigeria will not stop.

“We are repackaging education in Imo State. Our security votes have been diverted to education. Education should be made free and there should be punishment for any parent, who does not allow a child to go to school.

“We must change our educational system and make universities have areas of specialisation. There is no more professionalism because there is no

specialisation. I propose that we establish a University of Energy to end our problem in the power sector.”

Minister of Information Labaran Maku attributed the declining state of education in the country to the replacement of the Teachers Grade 2 Certificate with the National Certificate in Education (NCE).

He said the root cause of the education sector’s problems is at the primary and secondary level.

Maku said: “Until primary and secondary schools are properly managed, the country can never get it right. You can never be a good student in the university, if you had no good foundation from the primary and secondary school.”

•Okorocha

He urged corporate organisations to support the sector The author of the book, Mr. Temple Onyeukwu, spoke on the need to streamline certain examinations, especially the Post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), so that it would not clash with other examinations.

Suspected burglar electrocuted in Ebonyi

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middle-aged man was yesterday electrocuted in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.

The police said the man was trying to break into a grocery store, when the incident occurred.

Police spokesman Sylvester Igbo said: “This morning, we received information that a burglar broke into a shop at No. 22, Ezza Road. When he went into the ceiling, there was no electricity. Power was restored

From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki

while he was still up there and he was electrocuted.

“When the owner of the shop got there this morning and saw that the shop’s doors were damaged, she alerted the police, who discovered the body in the ceiling.

“The body is yet to be identified and has been deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FETHA). The police have

started investigating the incident to unravel what happened, if the deceased had accomplices and how many people were with him” The owner of the shop, Mrs. Chukwu Virtue, said: “I have lost over N1.8 million to burglars. This is the eighth time burglars are coming to my shop.

“This morning, my brother came to the shop and discovered that the padlock had been cut and the roof of

my neighbour’s shop had been broken. We alerted the police and the man in the roof was confirmed dead.”

Igbo said two suspected robbers; Friday Emeba and Emeka Iwuoha were arrested on the Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway.

He said two locally made double-barrelled pistols, a vehicle number plate, two live cartridges, one chisel hammer and two handsets were recovered from the suspects.

HE police in Enugu State have arrested an Nsukka car dealer for allegedly receiving stolen vehicles.

Police spokesman Ebere Amaraizu said Ogbonna Collins was arrested following confessions by his alleged accomplices, Chukwuka Eneh, Emeka Okoro and Abuchi Nweke, who allegedly snatched Mr. Okoh Christian of his Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), marked No.DQ460FST, on the Ogui Road.

Amaraizu said the car, cash and recharge cards were recovered from the suspects.

He said Collins’ suspected partners, Livinus Orji, Orji Chidinma and Arinze Udechukwu, have also been arrested.

Amaraizu said: “All the suspects have confessed to the crime. They told us details of their nefarious activities.

“Two unregistered Toyota Camry cars, a Kia Rio and an unregistered Passat Station Wagon were recovered from the suspects.”

He said Collins said he has received many cars from the gang.

Ovie-Whiskey for funeral

T

HE funeral ceremony of the late Justice Vic tor Ovie-Whiskey will begin on Thursday with a valedictory court session at the Warri High Court, Delta State, by 10am.

It will be followed by a Service of Songs by 4pm at Endas Grammar School, Orho-Agbarho.

On Friday, the lying-instate is slated for 8-9am at No. 4, Old Ughelli/ Agbarho Road, OrhoAgbarho.

It will be followed by the funeral mass and interment at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church, Oviri-Agbarho.

Reception will follow immediately at the deceased’s country home in Ohorhe, via Effurun.

On Saturday, the in-laws would be received and the ceremony would be rounded off on Sunday with the thanksgiving/outing mass at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church, Oviri-Agbarho.

Controversy over administration of Imo councils

A

•Chime

CTIVITIES at local government councils in Imo State have grounded to a halt following the dispute between the council chairmen and the state government.

The chairmen have continued to report in their offices although the government had mandated the newly appointed Directors of Administration and General Services (DAGS), to take over the councils.

Civil servants have stayed away from their offices. Some of the council secretariats have been taken over by grass and rodents.

The offices of the treasurers,

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

DAGSs and secretaries to the local governments were locked yesterday.

It was learnt that computers and files had been moved to unknown destinations, from where senior council officers operate.

At Ngor Okpalla local government, some structures have been destroyed by rain.

A junior council worker, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “We are disturbed by the ugly situation. We live in the fear of being attacked by thugs anytime we come to work.”

Some of the embattled

chairmen said they run the councils with their personal money.

The Chairman of NgorOkpalla Local Government, Mr. Enyinna Onuegbu, said: “I run the council from my pocket. Since the Appeal Court granted our prayer, Governor Rochas Okorocha has refused to hold the Joint Account meeting, thereby denying the councils their allocations.”

At Owerri North Local Government, the Chairman, Dr. Eric Ogwo, said: “The DAGS and Local Government Secretary are operating outside the council. Since we were reinstated by the Appeal

Court, we have not received salary. Last Thursday, I learnt that my workers were asked to come to another local government, Owerri Municipal Council, to collect their salary.”

The Commissioner for Local Government Affairs did not pick his calls when The Nation phoned him.

In a statement, the governor’s media aide, Mr. Ebere Uzoukwa, said the chairmen lack the competence to discuss the JAAC meeting and the disbursement of council funds, because their tenures expired on August 8.

Uzoukwa said the chairmen’s tenure elongation suit was dis-

missed by Justice Ngozi Opara of an Owerri High Court.

He said: “Okorocha is running an open administration and has nothing to hide.

Against the backdrop of the erroneous impression created in some quarters by some disgruntled element that activities in the 27 LGAs are being stalled, the state government states emphatically that various activities, including developmental projects, are moving on smoothly under the management of the DAGS, who are presently in charge of council activities, pending the conduct of the local government polls.”

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

51

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

ONDO 2012 Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), President Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) is the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the October 20 governorship election in Ondo State. In this interview with select journalists in Lagos, he says Governor Segun Mimiko will not be helped by the incumbency factor, as the people are resolved to vote him out. Deputy Editor (News) ADENIYI ADESINA and Group Political Editor BOLADE OMONIJO were there.

Mimiko has lost the election, says Akeredolu H

OW do you hope to success fully challenge the incumbency factor considering the performance of ACN in the 2011 general election which was not quite impressive in the state?

The performance of ACN in the last general election was actually determined by many factors. I concede that ACN did not do well in the election. But when you ask people, they will readily tell you that there was a belief that there was an understanding between the ACN and Labour Party. Many of those who voted Mimiko and Labour Party did so with the understanding that both parties are the same.

But it was a matter of time before they all knew he was never part of them. In fact, he is PDP to the core and that is where he is going to end up at the end. So, we can all imagine the fortune of a party whose supporters went around with the assumption that both LP and ACN are the same.

But you cannot use that election to judge this one because many of the ACN members have returned to their base. The ACN has won over half of those who are in Labour and over half of those in PDP. So, I can tell you that ACN is quite formidable in Ondo State today, more than ever before.

When it comes to the issue of incumbency, I know he can out-smart all other parties put together when it comes to spending. He can spend in the rallies, campaign and giving people all sorts of things. This is because he is not spending his money but state fund. Obama cannot try it without going to jail. Cameron cannot try it. But in Nigeria, you can’t control it because there is no demarcation between an individual fund and the state fund. But we must know that the power of incumbency cannot match the resolve of the people. When people are determined, there is no amount of money you can spend to entice them.

When the people were determined in Oyo, Akala left. When they were determined in Osun State, Oyinlola left and also in Ondo, when the people were determined, Agagu left for him. So, if he can oust Agagu who had all the support of the federal government at the time, so, who is Mimiko? We will run him out of Ondo State that I can assure you.

Considering the fact that you are from Ondo North, specifically, Owo which has smaller population, how do you hope to win votes from other senatorial districts of the state?

I am very sure that ACN as a party must have considered all these permutations before making a choice of a candidate from Owo. And I want to say categorically that no one is better placed than a candidate from Owo. In a state like ours, there are so many fallacies being dished out to the public and because you repeat, it seems to bring about some elements of truth. Of course, Akoko is an integral part of Ondo North Senatorial District and it has four local governments with 54 per cent voting population while Owo has

‘When people are determined, there is no amount of money you can spend to entice them.

When the people were determined in Oyo, Akala left. When they were determined in Osun State, Oyinlola left and also in Ondo, when the people were determined, Agagu left for him. So, if he could oust Agagu who had all the support of the federal government at the time, then who is Mimiko?’

• Akeredolu

two local governments areas with about 46 per cent voting strength.

So, the figures are not determined by the numbers of local governments areas.

Secondly, the relationship between Owo and Akoko has always been that, if you rub my back, I will rub yours. Most times, when the governorship candidate comes from Owo, the senatorial candidate has always been from Akoko. The current senator representing Ondo North is Prof. Ajayi Borofice who hails from Akoko. He is a member of ACN. So, the choice of a governorship candidate from Owo is just to balance the relationship that has often existed between the two Today, Akoko people will say “we are sure that ACN will win Akoko but our problem is Owo.” So, the Akoko people are solidly behind ACN and they are supporting our candidature.

Concerning the central senatorial zone, with all apologies to my campaign director, that senatorial zone is like a pool. We have Owo people there and Akoko, people from the south senatorial zone among others. I remember we once joked that if you remove the population of other senatorial zone from Akure in particular, that is when they will know that there are more non-indigenes in Akure than the indigenes.

Of course, the figure in central is large but it is not just for the indigenes of the senatorial zone, it also comprises those from other senatorial zones.

And when it comes to the South, yes, Olusola Oke is from the place and luckily for us, our deputy governorship candidate is also from the area and he belongs to the largest ethnic group there, I mean the Ikales who are much populated than the Ilaje where Oke hails from. So,

when you look at it, you will discover that a lot of balancing is already in place. And again, Oke knows that the race is actually between two persons. I know PDP will eventually work with us. Of course, we have always worked together because we both have one agenda and that is to get Mimiko out of that seat. When we meet at rallies, we joke, drink together and we often tell each other that the important thing is that Mimiko leaves that seat.

Recently, the governor alleged that illegal registration of voters is being carried out by your party and the INEC chairman also confirmed that illegal registration is going on in Ondo State though he refused to mention any party; what is your view on it?

Well, we are not in government.

So, we couldn’t have been carrying out illegal registration of voters.

ACN does not have the resources.

We are not PDP and we are not controlling federal government. We are only controlling some states, so you will agree with me that this is a tissue of lies. So, who are the people doing the registration? Suspiciously, it should be the Labour Party. When the issue was raised, I remember INEC saying it was wrong for Ondo State government to be doing its biometric registration of the labour force at that point in time. I think that is where the suspicion came from.

The government has been there for almost four years, why has the biometric registration not taken place? So, why is it being carried out on the eve of the election? And it has also been discovered that some of those being captured are not even workers with the state government. But one thing I know is that such steps will be a futile ex-

ercise as there is no amount of rigging that will change the result of the election. INEC should be commended for what it did in Edo State and I have confidence that the result of Ondo election will be free and fair.

How do you feel, considering the fact that the incumbent governor was recently endorsed by prominent personalities like Dr Tunji Braithwaite, Dr Fredrick Fasehun and Mrs Ganiat Fawehinmi, among others?

Endorsements don’t win election.

Who is Braithwaite in Ondo State politics? Nobody. Who is Fasehun in politics of Ondo State? Nobody.

Yes, Ganiat Fawehinmi can ride on the goodwill of her husband, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi. But I can tell you that if the husband were to be alive, he would have supported me. So, I will rather prefer having the spirit of the husband who is no more rather than that of the wife who is around.

Yes, when Chief Fawehinmi died, the governor gave him a befitting burial and we also know that he established a diagnostic centre which he named after him, even though it has just come to the notice of everybody that the centre is actually not funded by the state government but by some private investors and probably he has some interests in it.

Some people have suggested that you are not your own man...

I wish to place on record that I have always been my own man. The assumption in some quarters that I was hand-picked is not correct. I have served as Attorney General of Ondo State before and I know Ondo State very well. It is also instructive to point out that when I was a former president of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and I was championing a number of campaigns aimed at curbing government excesses, was

anybody using us? So, all along, I have always been my own man at every given opportunity and at every point in time.

There is also a belief that your emergence elicited so much controversy that the party is yet to recover.

How would you respond to this?

The process that produced me was fair because all the aspirants signed up to it; no exception. Every political party has its process of selection, which I believe is democratic enough. At the end of the day, some people, feel aggrieved, which I believe is normal. But we have continued to talk to them and most of them are now with us. If we have one or two who felt they must eventually go, there is nothing we can do about that. It is politics. It is personal ambition. If you chose to be governor and somebody offers you deputy governorship ticket and you go, that means you never wanted to be governor. So, for me, nobody can fault the process of my emergence, because it was thorough and we were all part of it. So, by and large, I believe the Action Congress of Nigeria that chose me has made the best choice for Ondo State ahead of the governorship election.

Your opponent, the incumbent governor, kick-started his campaign few weeks back and we all witnessed the mammoth crowd that graced the event at your home town, Owo; what will you say this portends for your chances?

The crowd you saw were people they brought from outside. People from Owo never came out. They brought in people from all the 18 local governments areas to Owo in many buses. People before us have said it, may be because the time has passed. We all know, crowd doesn’t vote. We are unperturbed because we know people are behind us.

Even with the crowd that was brought to Owo, if you ask them to vote, we know that over 70 per cent of them will vote for us. You can bring people to rally. You can drive people to rally and you can more or less bribe people to come to a political campaign. They were more or less forcing people to come out. They are forcing civil servants while teachers were given numbers and at the end of the day, you gave them money. We have been out and we have seen crowd too, those who will attend rallies from 9 am till 11 pm without being given a kobo.

Those are the real crowd. Those are the people we have. If you do your research in Owo, you will confirm what I’m saying and you will discover that the crowd was brought there.

Considering the fact that the governorship election is close by and your major opponent is a sitting governor, what do you think can make him lose the election?

Let me say emphatically that Mimiko has already lost the election. He can never win any election in Ondo State and that is why he is running from pillar to post. This is because he knows quite well that he has lost the forthcoming election.

•Continued on page 52

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

52

POLITICS Ajibola Bashiru, lawyer and Osun State Commissioner for Special Duties and Regional Integration, spoke with Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU on the national question and Southwest’s quest for integration .

‘No going back on Southwest harmony’

I

S the Southwest ready for the challenges of regional autonomy and true federalism?

The Southwest is ready for the challenges. There are a lot of activities that have been done in the area of regional integration. A document, DAWN, which is Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, by Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), has been released. A special technical committee has been inaugurated earlier by Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the governor of Ekiti State. Sequence to that, Mr. Dipo Famakinwa was appointed the Director-General of Southwest Economic Development Corporation. The headquarter is at the Cocoa House, Ibadan. It is an important landmark in the history of the region. There have been series of meetings at Osogbo, Ibadan, Abeokuta and Ado to articulate the final implementation of the report and development agenda. The final implementation of the report will spell out the details of the implementation of the agenda. This agenda is to be pursued within the framework of the regional structures put in place. The stages of the implementation require the support of our legislative houses. Agriculture is a pivotal area the region has to develop. In this regard, there is agricultural revolution going on.

The Commissioners for Agriculture from the region met in Lagos. The blue-print on agricultural development has been developed. The final report will be submitted to the governors for ratification and implementation. Each of the states has been given “regional commissionership” in terms of clusters. The commissioner from Osun State, my humble self, was given the infrastructure cluster. We want to upgrade and construct roads to facilitate free movement of people and goods in the region. We want to develop the rail infrastructure. We are talking to investors to come and make formal presentation to the commission. There are clusters on good governance and development.

So, the stage is set.

Talking about visceral commitment, how committed are the states in the region to the agenda?

There is a high level of dedication and commitment on the part of the Southwest governors, although Ondo State appears reluctant to join the integration programme, may be for partisan reasons. Except that, all the states are collaborating together. Regional integration is about leveraging on the comparative advantage that can be gotten within the region. A part of the region may not be endowed with finance, but it may be endowed in other areas. for example, in Osun, there is abundant land resources. Lagos has financial resources. For us to crystallize a developmental and industrial programme in this region, we need massive and large scale agriculture to grow the agro-allied industry. Lagos and Osun can collaborate in this winwin situation. It is not about money alone. Resources for production are varied and they abound in different parts of the region.

Southwest leaders are pushing for true federalism. But some people are wondering whether the region can now survive without oil. What is your view?

Based on the handout economy being operated now, some people will say that, today, it will be pretty hard for any of the existing states to survive, with the exception of Lagos. The reality was that, before oil was discovered in commercial quantity, Western Region was surviving. At that time, Western Region extended to Asaba. The regional integration

• Bashiru

programme is being put together to mobilise resources to crystalise an economy. When we talk about federalism, what we require is that there must be an economy to sustain the federating unit. We talk about true federalism because Nigeria presently is not practicing true federalism. We practice unitary system of government masquerading as federalism or at best, military federalism. The military by their training, orientation and hierarchy of command structure, is a unitary system. But federalism envisages autonomy, independence of action of the federating units. The period between 1966 and 1976, when the military were in power marked the distortion and outright negation of the concept of federalism. Decrees were made at the centre and governors were merely appointees of the central military commander.

The Constitution of 1999 mirrored that hierarchical structure. In federalism, there must be devolution of powers to the federating units and the central government should exist for things that are common to the entire federating units; defence, currency and foreign exchange. When the federal government deals with primary health care, primary education, agriculture when it does not have land, that is not federalism.

Southwest can sustain itself. It is viable in terms of agricultural resources.

That is why the leadership of the region is concentrating on agriculture.

In Osun State, we have the evidence in Ife-Odan, Mokore, Patara, Akinleye.

You see massive food production.

Cattle rearing is going on. We want to get value beyond production. We can sustain the region through agriculture and education. If education is developed, there will be remittances from skill development. That is why we should operate Academy for Youths for skill development. Oil itself has become a curse. That is why people are agitating for states which would rely solely on the handout from the federal government.

Many feel that regional integration is a foundation for succession Regional integration cannot and is not a foundation for succession. We know that the right to self determination is an internationally recognised right under international law and it does not amount to succession. What it amounts to is that every people have the right to organise themselves to foster development for their betterment.

We have different people in Nigeria.

By culture and orientation, we are different. Some cultures believe in the pursuit of wealth. Some believe in hard work. Some believe in religious affinity. Yoruba, either Christians, Muslims or traditionalists, are never known as fanatics. They accommodate all beliefs.

In the West, we are positioned to practice agriculture, but because of dilution and standardisation by the centre, we cannot articulate ourselves. Regional integration is an agenda for development, self-determination and agenda

to make government meaningful, and not succession. We believe in the advantage of diversity and a country with a large population, but we must address the basis of that relationship.

There are about 10 or 11 countries that have population that is more than 100 million. Among them are India, Indonesia and Nigeria, which opted for federalism. India and Indonesea are developing because their federalism are well articulated. But in Nigeria, we are practicing unitary system. Over 80 federal commissions exist in Abuja and they do not impact on the people.

Is the implementation process not too slow?

A lot of activities are on, but they are not media activities. Experts have been brought to critique the report of the technical committee originally developed at Osogbo. We are at the stage of putting up the strategies for implementation. If you don’t plan very well, you cannot succeed. As soon as the final report is approved by the governors, activities would start. It is also necessary to carry along the people. The government of the State of Osun has approved that a sensitisation workshop should hold for political leaders, bureaucrats, journalists and other stakeholders in the region in November. Experts from UNO and other agencies are coming. What we want to do is to make use of our cultural uniformity and geographical contiguity fir the development of our people.

The South is agitating for state police. But the former Speaker of House of Representatives said the current crop of leaders in the Southwest lacked the maturity of Awolowo, Ajasin and Ige era and that we should apply caution.

I don’t think the former Speaker is well endowed in terms of experience and intellectual disposition to comment the way he had commented. It is gratuitous insult for people who have been elected to be described as politically immature. He was fortunate to be number four citizens by their arrangement in PDP. He is not in position in terms of experience, competence, and intellectual disposition to comment the way he commented.

State police and any form of state institution is prone to abuse at intellectual level. That is where we have safeguards. Has the federal police not been use to abuse? Should it therefore, be abolished? There are facts to show that the federal police is prone to abuse. It was the federal police that was used to abduct a governor, Ngige, and nothing happened. It was the federal police that was used to terrorise our people in Osun State throughout the purported second term of Oyinlola. Every institution has the tendency to be abused.

Mimiko has lost the election, says Akeredolu •Continued from page 51

How? If you have a government that has nothing as achievement in four years, how do you expect people to vote for such government? In four years, he started one or two roads, none is completed. And I have said while I was campaigning that he can never complete any of those roads because I will be the one to complete them. I’m standing on that. Again, you have a government where the army of unemployed has increased and many of these unemployed are voters. How do you expect those people to vote for government that does not provide them with jobs?

So, you are saying the crowd does not represent the strength of the party?

Many of those you see in their rallies were there because they are forced.

Some, out of inducement and some are there for sight-seeing. Some go there to collect vests and money. In the heart of the Ondo State people, Mimiko is out already. You can stay here in Lagos, watch television and start to imagine how we are going to defeat him because of the crowd you see. But I don’t have any doubt in my mind that he is going to lose. And if we are to look at it critically again, are the people of Ondo State foolish? They are not.

Oba Adesida Road has been there all the while, with street lights on it and then you remove them and put other ones. At what cost? There is no project today that he can commission except for the markets which are responsibilities of the local governments. And this is someone who has refused to conduct election at local government levels. And the markets, nobody is even going there. Just drive through Ondo State and you will see that there are no people in those markets. Some people have refused to go to the markets because they believe they are more or less rituals stuff. Of course, I don’t believe in such any way because they don’t mean anything to me.

What about the town halls?

The other one, you force people to go and be building town halls. What has the state government got to do with the building of town halls? What are the people there to do? These are what people could raise money among themselves to build. And in fact, some of these town halls are already collapsing.

In Opete for instance, a side of the town hall wall has collapsed. So, the government has not achieved anything, except hardship. The economy is grounded. How do you expect people to retain it? You need to go to the state, the whole place is dry. There is no money. That is the reality people of the state are facing and many people who are not there don’t know. And that’s the reason we are confident we are going to win.

Specifically, what are your programmes for the people of the state?

We have told the people of Ondo State that we have a five-cardinal programme. This includes education, technology, agriculture, entrepreneurship and infrastructure. I have told them that I have absolute commitment to the rural areas and our farmers will have cause to smile and that is why they are with me.

As part of other things we will do when we get there, we will improve our IGR. This not going to be by tax but by ensuring we increase the number of places where we generate money into the coffers of the state government.

And I’m very sure many people will be happy to pay their taxes. On the issue of surplus bitumen in the state, even if it is too much for just a state, about six to seven states can come together and run a company that will take care of it. We will jointly invest in it and we will still make our money because we are going to involve other people there. Our investment will be larger and investors will be happy to participate.

Share with us your programmes for education?

Education will take the chunk of our resources when we get there. This is because it will be made free from primary to secondary level. At university level, we will give scholarships. But such scholarship will not be limited to those who have Second Class (Upper) because that is what is obtainable now and I think it is not right. You may not be brilliant and your parents may not have the means to sponsor your education.

Also we will ensure that bursaries are paid when due to indigent students.

We will also support those who are in law schools and it will be more than the N25, 000 they are being given now.

The role of first ladies has been abused in recent times; if you eventually emerge, what role will your wife be playing?

It’s quite unfortunate that my wife is not here. But I can tell you that I’m married to a person that is highly political. She is somebody who does not believe in wasting people’s resources. So, we are going to have a first lady who is not going to waste people’s resources. I know that for sure. She runs a non-governmental organisation that addresses women issues. She is the President of Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BECAN). She already has an idea of what to do. It is not that when she gets there that she will start thinking of what to do. I’m sure her programme may include “let us all jug for a week. Let’s have breast cancer examination for all women”, among others.

•President Goodluck Jonathan (left) in a handshake with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport during his departure on Sunday for the 67th session of the UN General, Assembly in New York. With them is the Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 , 2012

53

DISCOURSE Text of the paper by Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, delivered by his Special Adviser on Regional Integration, Revd Tunji Adebiyi, 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.

Development agenda for Western Nigeria: Prospects and challenges Introduction I am extremely delighted to stand before you, this wonderful audience to share my thoughts on the way forward for a people, a region and a race bonded by faith and values.

In agreeing to dissect the subject of this discuss, I have concluded that as much as possible, the unity and progress of our country, Nigeria remains uppermost in the minds of all of us gathered here, while at the same time, the short and long term development of Western Nigeria, the Yoruba race, home to some 45million people will constantly occupy my mind and thoughts.

The Yoruba people, who occupy the Southwest of Nigeria, are a highly researched ethnic group in Africa. The people can boast of a rich cultural heritage, manifested in their history, sociology, and philosophy. The Yoruba are bound together by a common progenitor called Oduduwa, a common language, and a rich spirituality.

From the above definition, features of the Yoruba includes: highly researched, rich in cultural heritage and history, as well as sociology and philosophy. While these attributes aptly apply, the nagging question remains how far have we fared in recent past? Is the Yoruba nation of the pre-independence are still the same today? Is the South West under the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo the same we have today? What is the place of the Yoruba nation in Nigeria today? How relevant are we in the Nigerian agenda? While you search for answers to these posers, let us avail ourselves an insight in to the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), a new dawn as some will call it and the dawn of a new era as claimed by the proponents and authors.

While the DAWN document seek to provide answers to the questions earlier raised; it also raises not few eyebrows as to the acceptability, implementation and a long term effect, positively, on the lives of all Yoruba speaking people of Nigeria.

Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) When I first heard of attempt by a group, the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) to chart a new course for development for the South west region of the country, I was skeptical of the intentions of the promoters; my skepticism was borne out of the political undertone and the usefulness of such endeavor rather than altruistic intent of members of the ARG. It is common knowledge that politics have taken centre stage in our polity and policies that we play politics with lives, with death and even with the Almighty, God! But at the launch of the DAWN document, precisely, on 6th of March, 2012, at the newly refurbished city hall in Lagos, the commercial and economic capital of Nigeria, I saw a document rich in content and clear in its terms.

The DAWN document for me is perhaps the most detailed, well-researched and well-thought out, and meticulously prepared socio-economic framework, and I make bold to say that if the letters of the framework is marched with the necessary political will and the committed human capital, it will mark the beginning of the total transformation and economic integration of the south west.

However, what is by far the most significant step taken into the realization of this lofty objective is the setting up of the technical committee by the government of the five states of Ogun Oyo, Lagos, Ondo, Osun and Ektiti states to study the recommendations of the document and made recommendations to the government.

It was inaugurated by Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state on 21st June 2012, and who charged the committee to take a critical look at the document as presented by ARG and advice appropriately.

The DAWN framework as presented by the technical committee reminds all of us, the Yoruba speaking public and nonYoruba’s alike but who are stakeholders in the Nigerian project of how far and how well Obafemi Awolowo and other political and economic leaders of the region during the Action Group (AG) and Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) days have taken us. It makes bold to say, that the Yoruba race remains the most developed economically, educationally and socially if put side by side with other regions.

The reason for this is not farfetched, the Awolowos, Akintolas, Bola Iges, and other political leaders of that time never took the people for granted. While they lay claim to provide leadership than other parties, they ensured that governance is felt by the people at all strata of the human development.

Leadership to them means service to the people and democracy as being practiced at that time in developmental democracy.

So it may not be out of place to say the DAWN document is an off-shoot of that era; a new beginning of the old order and indeed far reaching thoughts and insights on how to create a new era.

Perhaps, maybe we can look at some of the key element of the DAWN document as presented by the authors.

According to the document, the states that make up the South West, which are also the platform for implementation of the document are: Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo. One striking feature of the document is that each of the States have unique strength and the technical committee in its wisdom decides that each state will contribute what it’s got in abundance.

Take a look: Ekiti: (Education and human capital, agriculture and Tourism) Lagos: (Commerce, industries and services) Ogun: (oil and gas, energy and industries) Ondo: (Oil and gas, energy, agriculture (cocoa)

Osun: (Tourism, agriculture (cocoa and animal husbandry) Oyo: (Agricultural vale-chain-processing, packaging and Small Scale Enterprises) The above development activities for each state underscore the import of comparative strength and advantage in productive activities.

The technical committee submits that the Key elements towards actualizing the DAWN agenda should be:

Budgetary re-direction For the Southwest to be on the fast lane to development, the technical committee suggested a “shift emphasis of budgets towards capital expenditure”. This has implications for governance in the region. To achieve this, there may also be the need to cut over-spending on recurrent expenditure, bloated political bureaucracy, extravagance in government, frivolous spending on unnecessary overseas travels, and adherence of financial frugality.

Power self-sufficiency The states can strategically tap from the privatisation process of the PHCN generation and distribution entities, especially at Ikeja, Benin, Ibadan and Lagos. Independent Power Projects can also be considered for the Southwest industrial estates, tertiary institutions, teaching and general hospitals, water works, airports, government secretariats, seaports, high income residential areas, major markets and commercial centers.

Agriculture According to the technical committee, “policy framework should link agriculture with manufacturing, through extending agricultural value-chain to storage, processing and packaging”.

The group also believes that agriculture is meaningful, if it can boost food security and employment in the states. To accomplish these, it is recommended that states should increase budgetary allocations to the sector, first by five percent, and in another three years, by 10 per cent. The group also called for the establishment of Southwest Agricultural Market Information System.

Human capital development The main thrust is that “education should be for sustainability and development”. This, in the committees view, is achievable, only if it extends from mere knowledge acquisition to skill acquisition, and the skills should be relevant to industry, entrepreneurship, social values, justice and concern for the living environment.

The technical committee suggested that civics and basic science should be re-introduced in primary schools, adding that the civics syllabus, which should be based on Yoruba concept of Omoluabi, should promote the ideals of Yoruba heroes, including Samuel Ajayi Crowther, Obafemi Awolowo, Adekunle Fajuyi and others.

Other suggestions include a regional standard education inspectorate, computer education, elevation of polytechnics to degree awarding technical and technological tertiary institution, common data base for educational planning, and regional scholarship trust fund, collaborative research projects in education.

Health The technical committee suggests preventive approach to medicare and a system of sanitary inspection, based on persuasion and incentives, rather than punishment and sanctions.

Transportation Southwest governors should construct virgin roads, upgrade the existing ones and rehabilitate others linking them to the federal roads that leads to ports, since they have no control over the federal roads. Integrated rail transportation is also possible, if the hindrances are removed, the committee said the states can negotiate with the federal government to construct rail lines in the zone. It stressed: “A rail link from Benin City to Lekki Lagoon is a distance of 100-150 km. This will open up a tremendous amount of commercial activity with the eastern part of the country, reduce the pressure on the Lagos-Ore-Benin Road. Furthermore, it will open up the bitumen area of Ogun and Ondo States.

This loop, to be completed by the development of inland waterways, through the Lekki Lagoon to Badagry, will turn the Epe axis to a major passenger and goods terminal with tremendous

The Yoruba people, who occupy the Southwest of Nigeria, are a highly researched ethnic group in Africa. The people can boast of a rich cultural heritage, manifested in their history, sociology, and philosophy. The Yoruba are bound together by a common progenitor called Oduduwa, a common language, and a rich spirituality

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commercial benefits”.

Housing and urban development Southwest, the technical committee says , should establish a “Southwest Mortgage and Urban Development Bank, which will be a secondary mortgage bank, to assist home owners, developers, primary mortgage companies and savings and loans operators to access funds for their housing development. The committee also said that “the idea of the development of a “Rural Integrated Development Authority for the region is long overdue”.

Security and law enforcement On the vexed issue of security and law enforcement, the technical committee suggests that “community policing and Neighborhood watch capacity in the Southwest should be strengthened, beginning with rising of awareness in schools”. It therefore, asked legislators to push for laws that would back state and community police.

Culture and Tourism The technical committee advocates the establishment of Culture Board of Western Nigeria to coordinate the tourism activities and make the sector income yielding to respective states.

Governance reforms Southwest government should shun avarice, graft, corruption and other vices. According to the committee, inclusive governance, accountability and focused policy with constant measurement would foster administrative efficiency in the region.

Conflict management Four building- blocks were suggested. They are the establishment or reactivation of the Public Complaints Commission/ Office of ombudsman, Regional Early Warning Centre, apolitical Council of Elders, and Peace Education at all educational levels. To the committee, these would encourage home-grown conflict management in the zone.

In all of the above elements, it is evidently clear that the technical committee has assisted all of us, the Yoruba people, to fashion out a way of our underdevelopment and according to them, if the framework is pursued to a logical conclusion, Southwest would migrate from “mainstreaming to region-streaming”.

However, one of the key elements, which I will dissect for the purpose of this gathering, is how the South West States can effectively use Agriculture, as means of achieving the agenda set by the DAWN document. I have no doubt in my mind that if the political leaders, policy makers and opinion molders can put heads together and pursue vigorously, the agricultural endowment of the region, vis-à-vis other strength and comparative advantage in all the states, there will and should be enough food for our people, enough to export and enough for us to tell our brothers from the other side of the Niger, to look for other markets for their produce.

But in achieving this, so many challenges confront us and until when we conclusively tackle these challenges, El Dorado seems far away.

Agriculture, as minute as it may appear, will achieve three things as far as regional integration and the DAWN agenda is concerned: the south west region will generate thousands of jobs; the need to provide accessible roads for movement of farm produce will improve the infrastructural facilities; the availability of enough food to eat for the people will put a stop to local and foreign importation of foods to the region, which will in turn save a lot of money in foreign exchange and import duties that can be used to develop other strata of human development.

In the time of Chief Obafemi Awolowo led government of western region, agriculture was the major source of revenue before the discovery of the black gold, called crude oil.

It was with the proceeds from the cocoa and other farm produce from this part of the Niger that Awolowo and his team built all the roads, bridges, schools, health facilities and human capital development, most of whom still exist till today.

•To be continued

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 25-9-12

Honeywell Flour assures shareholders

H

ONEYWELL Flour Mills Plc has been positioned for sustained growth and improved returns to shareholders, the board of the company has assured.

Addressing shareholders at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos yesterday, chairman, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Dr. Oba Otudeko, said the company has made significant investments in expansion of its manufacturing capacity and human capital development to ensure it remains ahead of competition.

He outlined that the ongoing expansion of the company’s milling capacity from 1,610 metric tonnes per day to 2,610 metric tonnes per day is being complemented with additional investments in power generation, grains storage and warehouses.

Shareholders of the company approved distribution of N1.19 billion as cash dividends for the financial year ended March 31, 2012.

The dividend, which translated into 15 kobo per share for every 50 kobo share represented an increase of 15 per cent above the 13 kobo paid the previous year.

•Stock market returns to positive “Broad sales growth was achieved across our strong food brands resulting in a 12 per cent increase in revenue from N34 billion to N38 billion. Good management of our costs led to a profit before tax of N3.66 billion, relative to last year’s performance of N3.51 billion; a growth of four per cent yearon-year. Our company’s profit after tax rose by eight per cent to N2.7 billion, from N2.49 billion achieved in 2011,” Otudeko said.

In his address to shareholders, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Honeywell Flour Mills, Mr. Babatunde Odunayo said despite the challenges, the company was able to successfully defend their quality superiority and brand leadership positions across all product offerings.

Speaking on the expansion project, Odunayo disclosed that the new plant would be commissioned in October 2012, which he said, would enable the company to achieve a 62 per cent capacity increase in whole wheat meal, from 1,610 metric tonnes (mt) per 24 hours to 2,610mt/24

hours.

Meanwhile, share price of Honeywell trended upward by 4.76 per cent at the stock market yesterday, adding 10 kobo to close at N2.20. Gains by Honeywell and 33 other companies restored the bullish rally, pushing the benchmark index up by 0.42 per cent.

The All Share Index, the valuebased index that tracks all equities, improved from 25,839.00 points to 25,947.60 points. Aggregate market capitalisation of all equities rose from N8.227 trillion to N8.262 trillion.

Dangote Cement recorded the highest gain of N3.72 to close at N119.98. Okomu Oil Palm followed with a gain of N1.76 points to close at N37.01.

Lafarge Wapco Cement Nigeria added N1.07 to close at N56 per share.

Nigerian Breweries led the losers with a drop of N2.45 to close at N135.95. Flour Mills of Nigeria lost 95 kobo to close at N69 while UACN Property Development Company dropped by 63 kobo to close at N12.09.

Total turnover stood at 472 million shares worth N3.84 billion in 4,977 deals

‘Power firms listing ‘ll revolutionise NSE’

T

HE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has said the listing of power companies being privatised by the Federal Government on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) would revolutionise the capital market and widen opportunities for Nigerians.

Speaking after the Capital Market Committee (CMC) meeting yesterday in Lagos, Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Arunma Oteh, said that the capital market community appreciates the move

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

to privatise the generation and distribution companIES of the energy sector.

She however, added that listing of the power companies and other big firms would give Nigerians opportunity to participate in the unfolding development in the power sector.

She noted that listing of such firms would start a revolution such as it was witnessed in the telecommunication sector over the last 10 years.

“As a capital market community we advocate that if the government wants these companies to be managed well post when the assets are sold to the private sector, then it is important that there is a process for them to be listed on the floor of the Exchange,” Oteh said.

Also, she noted that this move will help value the companies properly because of the potentials that they have.

“So it’s a win-win situation for the promoters and also the Nigerian people cause they can participate in creating wealth,” Oteh said.

She commended the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) for its intervention in the capital market attributing the recent recovery in the market to the banking sector.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 25-9-12

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

55

MONEY LINK

AMCON gives update on debtors’ list A S the published list of debtors continue to reverberate in the financial services sector, the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has explained why it gave a clean bill of health to one of the listed companies.

A national daily had last Friday listed 113 companies and 419 directors/shareholders as debtors to the corporation, with a circular from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directing banks not to extend further credit to the debtors.

Among those in the list are

Stories by Collins Nweze

Femi Otedola, Alhaji Sayyu Dantata, Sir Johnson ArumemiIkhide, former Power Minister, Prof. Barth Nnaji, Mrs Elizabeth Ebi and Dr Wale Babalakin, including their firms.

Butbarely 24 hours after the list had been published; one of the companies listed on the debtors’ list was cleared by the corporation.

However, a statement from AMCON yesterday, confirmed that it forwarded the list of its debtors to the CBN and that at the date of transmission to the apex bank, the list

was accurate.

“Since then however, there have been changes to the debt positions of few debtors to AMCON due to restructuring and/or repayments,” the statement explained.

AMCON said that given changes that had occurred during the intervening period, certain names which ought not to have been on the list were circularised to the banks. The Corporation said it has identified these names and have recommended to the CBN that they be removed accordingly.

The corporation said that the debtor’s list will continue to be updated whenever concrete settlements are reached.

“We refer to the circular recently issued to banks by the CBN on the prohibition of further credit facilities to debtors whose accounts have been assigned to the AMCON. “In reaction to objections raised by specific debtors and the need to make our position clear on the subject, AMCON confirms that it supplied the list of its debtors to the CBN in the course of its compliance with due administrative regulation. As at date of transmis-

Deloitte Global posts $31.3b revenue

D

ELOITTE Touche Tohmatsu Limited (DTTL) has announced aggregate member firm revenues of $31.3 billion for the fiscal year ending 31 May 2012, marking the network’s highest revenue ever.

In a statement, the firm said aggregate revenues grew 8.6 per cent, the strongest revenue increase since 2008. Deloitte member firms experienced growth across all three major geographic

regions, led by exceptional results generated in Asia Pacific, the Americas, and a number of developing markets, as well as across all business lines and industry sectors.

“Complexity, disruption, and speed of change are the new reality for our member firm clients, and for Deloitte’s own business. Deloitte’s success this past year is the result of adapting business strategies to anticipate client needs and address the chang-

ing requirements of a dynamic market,” DTTL Global CEO Barry Salzberg said.

He explained that in a challenging economic environment, $1.4 billion of Deloitte’s $2.5 billion aggregate growth in the past year came from member firms in the three largest economies in the world. “I believe that is a testament to Deloitte’s ability to not only gain strength in highgrowth strategic markets, but also continue to build momen-

tum in established markets globally,” he said.

It said that Deloitte continues to focus on hiring, developing, and retaining top talent as a key driver of the expansion of business activity.

In 2012, the Network hired 51,400 professionals; its total workforce now exceeds 193,000 professionals worldwide and the organisation is well on its way to achieving its growth goal of 250,000 professionals by 2015.

Oswald Boateng supports AfDB’s $22b project in Africa In a statement, the firm said this brings to reality, an initiative first raised at the March 2009 conference on Growth Corridors, hosted by Made In Africa Foundation’s Ozwald Boateng and UK Foreign Minister, David Miliband.

The $22 billion would take advantage of the AfDB’s AAA rating, which would make its

T

HE African Development Bank (AfDB) has proposed plans to float Africa’s first infrastructure bonds to member nations to raise up to $22 billion for investments in much needed infrastructure projects such as ports, railways, roads and energy, across the African continent.

tive effect on the continent’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), raising it by an estimated two per cent. This would lift millions out of poverty and dramatically decrease regional disparity. Its effect on Africa could be similar to the Marshall Plan which was a huge stimulus for growth on the European continent in the

African bonds a more secure investment than those issued by a number of European states potentially, making it one of the more attractive opportunities in the global debt capital markets.

The investment of $22 billion in infrastructure projects across Africa would, if implemented properly, have a posi-

FGN BONDS Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 25-9-12 SYMBOL

DNMEYER OKOMUOIL DANGFLOUR ASHAKACEM PORTPAINT AIICO HONEYFLOUR CCNN WAPIC AIRSERVICE

O/PRICE

0.81 35.25 8.08 13.78 3.30 2..10 5.07 12.12 0.64 1.98

O/PRICE 1.64 9.20 12.72 2.45 4.55 0.63 1.20 0.54 0.54 1.77

E

COBANK Nigeria has unveiled a Maritime Centre in Apapa designed to provide customised banking services to its maritime customers.

The centre according to the statement, also handles financing to the maritime sector.

Unveiling the branch, Managing Director of Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Jibril Aku said the Ecobank Maritime Centre will aid the provision of value added services to the bank’s customers in the maritime sector.

Aku noted that the Maritime Centre has a dedicated Collections and Payment Desk for maritime businesses. “Corporate customers, shipping agents, and general public would be able to make payments for their transactions in the comfortable lounges at the centre,” he said.

The centre will also undertake project financing and provision of working capital in the form of short/medium term overdrafts facilities; invoice discounting for maritime practitioners, shipping companies and vessel owners amongst other business activities.

The choice of Apapa for a maritime branch, he said, was informed by the fact that Apapa is the hub of all maritime activities in Nigeria and indeed, West Africa, as it is home to the Tin Can and Apapa Ports, and to a good number of shipping companies as well as clearing and freight forwarding firms and allied businesses. “The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), which regulates all maritime sector activities, is also based in Apapa.

C/PRICE

0.89 37.01 8.48 14.46 3.46 0.66 2.20 5.31 0.67 2.07

CHANGE

0.08 1.76 0.40 0.68 0.16 0.03 0.10 0.24 0.03 0.09

C/PRICE 1.48 8.74 12.09 2.33 4.33 0.60 1.15 0.52 0.52 1.72

CHANGE 0.16 0.46 0.63 0.12 0.22 0.03 0.05 0.02 0.02 0.05

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.8%

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

LOSERS AS AT 25-9-12

SYMBOL FIDSON UBN UAC-PROP IHS UPL ROYALEX EVANSMED NEM NIGERINS FIDELITYBK

spective of the personalities involved. It added that this policy is critical to the attainment of this objective.

Ecobank inaugurates Maritime Centre

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

Currency

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Mustafa

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

MANAGED FUNDS

OBB Rate Call Rate

•AMCON CEO, Chike-Obi

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

sion to the CBN, this list was accurate. Since then however, there have been changes to the debt positions of few specific debtors to AMCON due to restructuring and/or repayments,” the statement said.

The Corporation said the publication of the list by newspapers was unauthorised as it was intended for the information and use of the banks only.

AMCON said that in line with its statutory objective, the corporation is committed to ensuring that every indebtedness that had culminated in the hitherto unhealthy state of the Nigerian banking industry is repaid irre-

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 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

56

NEWS

Flood displaced over one million in Kogi, says Wada

G

OVERNOR Idris Wada of Kogi State yesterday said over one million people in the state have been displaced by floods.

He spoke when he received members of the Senate Committee on Ecology at the Government House, Lokoja.

The governor said his administration, despite its meagre resources, has resettled the victims in camps.

From Muhammad Bashir Lokoja

He appealed to the Federal Government to assist the state financially to ameliorate the suffering of the people.

Governor Wada said Ibaji Local Government was submerged by the flood, adding that more communities were on the verge of being taken over by water.

The Chairman of the committee, Senator Bukola

Saraki, said they were in the state to assess the level of damage.

He said they were concerned about the disaster that had befallen Kogi and other states, adding that the committee would assist the affected states.

Other members of the committee are Senators Barnabas Gemade and Attai Aidoko.

Fourteen of the 21 local governments are affected by

Kwara, Niger, others to replicate Lagos traffic management

By Leke Salaudeen

T

•Wada

the flood. Prominent among them are Lokoja, Ibaji, Idah, Bassa and Omala.

HE governments of Kwara, Niger, Edo, Oyo and some other states are set to establish traffic law enforcement agencies to be fashioned after the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), it was learnt.

The Executive Chairman of LASTMA, Mr .Young Arebame, said the states are seeking assistance from the Lagos State Government to establish the traffic agency.

He told our reporter that ’’we have begun action to replicate LASTMA in those states as requested by the governments. We have put structures in place for the take-off of traffic law enforcement agencies.”

According to him, the development underscored the value of traffic management in an environment and the success of the Lagos State Government initiative in traffic management to enhance the economic development of the state.

He said the economy of the state depended on free flow of traffic.

Arebame said: “Eighty per cent of inhabitants of any city make use of highways in moving goods. Where government fails to ensure this, it affects the economy. ‘’If goods are produced by manufacturers and they cannot move them to market in time, such goods will lose value. Traffic congestion leads to loss of man hours and constitutes health hazards to road users. This is why governments are proactive in tackling traffic problems. ‘’With the establishment of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) in Lagos, you can travel from Ikorodu to CMS on Lagos Island within 25 minutes. Unlike before when a commuter could spend the whole day on the road. ‘’If Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu had not established LASTMA that is sustained by Governor Babatunde Fashola, Lagos would have been groaning under traffic jam and the economy of the state would have suffered. That is to say the nation’s economy will be affected because Lagos is the nerve centre of the nation ‘s economy.”

Peace committee lopsided, says northern CAN From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

T •From left: Saudi Ambassador to Nigeria, Khalid Omar Yousef Abdullah, Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, during a reception to mark the 84th National Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.

NEMA distributes relief materials From Jide Oritunsin, Minna

T

HE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday began the distribution of relief materials to flood victims in 14 local government areas of Niger State.

An official of the agency said the gesture is to cushion the effect of the flood.

He added that the materials would alleviate the condition of the people.

The items distributed include mattresses, nylon mats, buckets, mosquito nets, blankets, bags of rice, guinea corn, maize, millets and sugar, cartons of soap, powdered milk, beverages, noddles, water, palm oil and clothing materials.

Handing over the materials to Sani Kutigi, a member of the House of Representatives, the Director-General of the agency, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Sidi, said they were donated to cushion the effect of the flood.

Policeman killed as car falls off bridge

A

BLACK Honda saloon car with registration number CY 691 LND yesterday fell off a bridge near Wuse Market, Abuja, killing the driver and a police corporal.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who visited the scene, reports that the car knocked off the concrete embankment on the bridge before crashing into the ravine.

The car was torn into pieces with the engine separating from the body.

F

The Divisional Traffic Officer at the Wuse Police Station, Mr. Kassim Yusuf, confirmed the death of the driver, who, he said was a police corporal at the FCT Command.

“The deceased, Isah Obadiah, was a corporal with the Special Anti Robbery Squad of the FCT Command.

“He closed from duty and was heading home when the accident occurred,” he said.

He said the victim’s body has been deposited at the Wuse General Hospital mor-

tuary.

Yusuf, who said the cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained, added that the body of the driver was flung out of the car.

The Deputy Director of Operations, Road Traffic Services in the FCT, Mr. Yusuf Clark, said reckless driving might have caused the accident.

“He must have skidded as a result of reckless driving. I believe he was moving at more than 100 km per hour,” he added.

Bomb attack: Igbo traders close OLLOWING Sunday’s shops in Bauchi suicide attack on St John’s

Catholic Church, Bauchi where three people died and many were injured, Igbo spare parts dealers yesterday closed shops to mourn the victims.

The streets were deserted and business activities were low. The few people on the streets wore mournful looks.

The Chairman of the National Auto Spare Parts Dealers in the state, Mr. Martin Nwakaibeya, said they closed to honour the victims.

He said the injured are receiving treatment in the hospital.

“It was a very painful incident. We feel that since they were our colleagues, we should show solidarity. We closed our shops to honour them,” Nwakaibeya added.

The husband of the late Gloria who was killed with her friend, Mrs. Veronica Osi, said he was disappointed that the government had not been able to address insecurity.

Mr. Paul Onwe from Ohukwu in Ebonyi State, who wept as he recalled the last moments he spent with his wife, a mother of one, described her death as sad

and painful.

He said: “I am sad. That day, after church, she and her friend decided to visit someone. They were waiting for KEKE NAPEP when the suicide bomber struck.

“I went everywhere looking for her. I later saw her body in a mortuary. Our president and governor should resign if they cannot protect the citizens.”

The husband of the late Mrs. Veronica Osi, Benedict, who hails from Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, could not hold tears as he mourned his wife, a mother of seven.

Police move to curtail banditry in Sokoto

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OKOTO State Police Commissioner Shuaibu Lawal Gambo yesterday said his command has mobilised two armoured vehicles to curtail cross-border banditry and smuggling of arms and ammunition into the country.

He said: “We are working with the Nigerian Immigration Service to fight border crimes.”

According to him, the command has re-strategised its mode of operations, using the special unit squad to fight border crimes.

Gambo said his command would not compromise security,

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

adding: “We need the support of the public to perform our constitutional duties.”

Addressing reporters in his office in Sokoto, the police boss said security was a collective responsibility that required everybody’s support.

His words: “Security is paramount in attaining development.

We require the support of reporters and the public to achieve this.”

HE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has rejected the composition of the Ambassador Zakari Ibrahim Committee on Reconciliation, Healing and Security.

It said its findings would not reflect the feelings of northerners.

The Christian umbrella body in the North alleged that the composition of the committee was lopsided in favour of the Muslim community, saying only 11 of 41 members are Christians and that they were selected without its input.

In a communiqué at the end of its meeting in Kaduna, signed by the Public Relations Officer, Sunday Oibe, northern CAN said if the committee was constituted for the purpose of reconciling people, there should be an equitable representation of stakeholders so that its findings and recommendations would be accepted by everybody.

It said since the committee was set up to ensure peace and stability, there was need to ensure some level of balance in its composition to convince stakeholders and carry them along.

The communiqué decried the assassination of the Borno State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Zannah Malam Gana and the bomb explosion in Bauchi during which innocent Christians were killed.

CAN expressed concern over increase in corruption in the country, especially among public office holders and called on President Goodluck Jonathan to demonstrate the political will by stamping out corruption.

3,000 FCT pilgrims head for Saudi Arabia From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

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HREE thousand pilgrims in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday travelled to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj.

They boarded Kabo and Max airlines.

Of the pilgrims, over 530 went through screening at the permanent camp and were taken to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by the mass transit buses provided by the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board.

The Director of the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Surajo Ado Faskari, who addressed reporters at the permanent camp, said the exercise would be concluded on October 4.

Association holds career talk

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JOWA Community Grammar School Old Students Association, Ajowa-Akoko, Ondo State, will on Saturday hold a career talk for SS2 and SS3 pupils.

According to a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the association, Mr. Sola Imoru, the talk will guide the pupils to make a choice of career, which will help them optimise their potentials and contribute to national development.

He said professionals would advise the pupils on the relevant careers and the strategies to use to excel in the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Baptist president to inaugurate projects

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HE President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. Supo Ayokunle, will on Saturday, inaugurate the Baptist Comprehensive College, Ipaja, Lagos and the new pastorium of First Baptist Church, Ipaja, to commemorate the church’s 30th anniversary.

The pastor of the church, Rev. Michael Abodunrin, said the ongoing crusade with the theme: ‘The Courage to Move Forward’, which began on Sunday, will end tomorrow.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

57

NEWS

Emirs begin consultations over stranded 700 pilgrims •Reps protest •NAHCON: No suspension of Hajj

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MIRS have begun consultations on the next line of action following the refusal of Saudi Arabian government to allow 700 women pilgrims into Jeddah.

Also, some Muslim groups are mounting pressure on Emirs and some leaders of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) for a boycott of this year’s Hajj.

The Saudi authorities had on Sunday prevented the 700 pilgrim from Jigawa and Sokoto states, from entering the country because they do not have male companions.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The Emirs in the North have started consultations on the next line of action. These pilgrims are still stranded in the open place at the airport in Jeddah with cold.

“The Saudi government used to do this to Iranian pilgrims. Now, they have turned against Nigerian pilgrims.

“Although the issue is being addressed at diplomatic level, the Saudi government has remained unyielding.

“These Emirs are already under pressure from some Muslim groups to prevail on the Federal Government to allow Nigerian pilgrims to boycott this year’s Hajj.

“But the Sultan of Sokoto has been appealing for calm so that the issue can be resolved peacefully.”

A senior Emir, who spoke in confidence, described the maltreatment of the pilgrims as “unacceptable and absolutely humiliating.”

He said: “Treating these innocent Muslim women as common criminals under degrading conditions at detention centres is an act of hostility least expected of a host country like Saudi Arabia.

The Emir said: “We have no knowledge of any law by the Saudi Authorities, which say that female pilgrims must be accompanied by their husband or male relatives. Our women have never been subjected to this legal requirement before.

“In fact, if such law ever existed, the Saudi Arabian authorities have never drawn the attention of Nigerian pilgrims’ authorities to this regulation.

“Introducing such tough

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

regulation when the female pilgrims are already in Saudi land is unjust and unfriendly. It is also disturbing that this requirement is only being imposed on Nigerians at the 11th hour. Is this discriminatory treatment fair or just?

The House of Representatives yesterday protested the detention of the female pilgrims.

According to the lawmakers, the introduction of new policies without prior knowledge or notice was questionable and a sign of total disregard for Nigeria, as a country by Saudi authorities.

The lawmakers questioned the essence of valid visa obtained by the pilgrims (especially those aged 40 and below) who were denied entry for not having their male partners (Muharam) with them.

Deputy Minority Leader Kawu Abdulrahman (ANPP, Kano), who under a point of order lamented the plight of the pilgrims, said the victims were not notified of the new rule.

Chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Nnena Elendu-Ukeje, regretted the incidence but said the Committee had intervened.

According to her, the understanding between the two countries had allowed direct flight into Medina, “Nigeria naturally feel offended but the issue is under control as some of the women are being allowed to go in,” she added..

Chairman of the Committee on the Millennium Development Goals, Alhassan Ado Garba (PDP, Kano) however critised the said development saying that as at yesterday, many of the affected pilgrims were still not attended to.

“The last call I made to one of my sisters called Hajara revealed their pathetic condition. Hajara is sick and could not access any form of medication in the last 48 hours. Though, they allowed my mother to go in but she could not leave her children there.

“I am not sure the situa-

tion is under the control of the government because I also called our Ambassador to Saudi about the matter,” Garba lamented.

The House resolved to direct the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to urgently wade into the matter, with a view to ensuring that the pilgrims are allowed to perform the Hajj.

The Speaker Aminu Tambuwal however, urged continued interface between the Committee and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a view of briefing the House tomorrow.

NAHCON yesterday said it has not suspended this year’s Hajj operation because of the maltreatment of 700 pilgrims by Saudi authorities.

The commission also confirmed the airlift of 23,000 pilgrims so far.

Its spokesman Alhaji Mana Uba, who spoke with our correspondent, said the issue is being addressed diplomatically.

Uba said: “We have not suspended Hajj operation because of the challenge being faced by some of our female pilgrims in Jeddah. We are also not contemplating a boycott of this year’s Hajj.

“As I am talking to you, we have airlifted more than 23,000 pilgrims and the women constitute about 45 per cent.

The spokesman gave insight into how the female pilgrims became stranded.

He added: Actually, we are trying very hard to resolve the matter through diplomatic means. The challenge arose from the screening in Jeddah by Saudi authorities.

“These female pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia with their Muharrams (male guardians) but the authorities separated them from their male counterparts.

They created two rows separately for men and women.

“Coincidentally, the men were cleared before the women only for the authorities to allege that the women have no guardians.

“Our consulate in Jeddah has stepped into the issue.

We hope that within the next few days, we would be able to resolve it.”

Ajasin Varsity goes on mid-semester break

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HE authorities of the Adekunle Ajasin University, AkungbaAkoko (AAUA), have declared

a mid-semester break from October 2.

In a statement, the Registrar of the Institution, Mr. Bamidele

Olotu, urged students to vacate the campus accordingly.

Olotu wished the students safe trips to their homes.

Senate confirms ICPC boss Nta

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HE Senate yesterday confirmed the nomination of Mr. Ekpo Una Nta as the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) by President Goodluck Jonathan.

This followed the consideration of the Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption on the screening of the nomi-

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

nee.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Victor Lar (Plateau South) while moving the motion for the screening report to be considered said: “That the Senate do consider the report of the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, Financial Crimes and Anti-

Corruption, on the screening of Mr. Ekpo Una Nta, or appointment as Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and approve the recommendations therein.”

The Senators approved the recommendation of the committee that Nta be confirmed through voice vote.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

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FOREIGN Kenyan soldier suspected of killing six Somali civilians

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KENYAN soldier with the African Union peacekeeping force (AMISOM) in Somalia is suspected of killing six Somali civilians in the southern part of the country, the Kenyan military has said.

The incident could anger the local population in the runup to an offensive against al Shabaab rebels in the southern port of Kismayu in a final push by African nations to stabilise the country.

The Kenya Defence Force (KDF) said the incident happened on Sunday in the Juba region after several people approached a KDF defensive position.

“A KDF soldier allegedly opened fire killing six people.

The soldier was immediately disarmed and has since been put on guarded seclusion,” it said in a statement.

It said the matter was being investigated by AMISOM force commanders, KDF and the Somali army, who would later release their findings.

Obama decries killings in anti-Islam movie protest U S President Barack Obama addressed the United Nations General Assembly yesterday, focusing on protests that followed the anti-Islam movie in the Middle East and African countries, including Nigeria.

“There are no words that excuse the killing of innocents. There is no video that justifies an attack on an embassy,” he said.

Stressing the need to protect the freedom of speech, Obama added: “Here in the United States, countless publica-

A PUBLIC NOTICE READING ATTITUDE AND DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION This is to inform the general public that the above named Foundation has applied for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Cap. C20, L.F.N. 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. Mr. Sulayman Akinlawon.

3. Mr.Abiodun Adeiga.

5. Mrs.Mardiyyah Taiwo.

7. Mrs. Justina Amenaghawon

2. Mr.Nasir Alabi.

4. Mr.Mayowa Olalekan.

6. Mr.Luqman Keshinro.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES inter alia are 1. To promote mass literacy in Nigeria, 2. To resuscitate the reading attitude of Nigerians, 3. To encourage Nigerians in the art of reading.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: W.A.Olasupo, Esq. (Solicitor) 08056241049.

PUBLIC NOTICE COUNSELLING FOR PEACE INITIATIVE Notice is hereby given to the general public that COUNSELLING FOR PEACE INITIATIVE has applied for registration under Part C of the companies and Applied Matters act 1990 as a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

Dr Ifeoluwa Ojo 2.

Mr Kunle Balogun 3.

Mrs Janet Ojo 4.

Mr Leke odukoya 5.

Dr Olufemi Ojo 6.

Dr Michael Adegoke AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To promote peace amongst youth through counseling and seminal/workshop.

2. To promote peace within the comminuty by using counseling as Alternative to Dispute Resolution.

3. To encourage citizenship and civic education based on peaceful co-existence, religious, tolerance, ethinic diversity and nation building.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded within 28days of publication to the Registrar General, corporate Affairs Commission,plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja,within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: Dr O.O.Ojo For Divine Chambers

VACANCY VACANCY VACANCY EXPERIENCED HOTEL MANAGER, CHEF AND RECEPTIONIST URGENTLY NEEDED IN PORT HARCOURT..

tions provoke offence. Like me, the majority of Americans are Christians, and yet we do not ban blasphemy against our most sacred beliefs.

“Moreover, as president of our country, and commander-in-chief of our military, I accept that people are going to call me awful things every day, and I will always defend their right to

do so.”

Obama remembered the late US ambassador Chris Stevens killed on September 11 along with three other Americans in a militant attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

“I tell you this story because Chris Stevens embodied the best of America. He built bridges across oceans and cultures, and was deeply invested in the international cooperation

20 dead after underground crash in China coal mine

T least 20 miners died and 14 were injured yesterday after two overloaded carriages crashed underground at an illegally run coal mine in the northwestern Chinese province of Gansu.

The carriages were carrying 34 miners when they slipped and overturned after a cable pulling them snapped at the mine run by

the Qusheng Coal Mining Company in Gansu’s Baiyin city, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Rescuers had pulled all 34 miners out of the mine and local hospitals were treating most of the 14 survivors for unspecified injuries, the agency said.

It quoted local officials as

saying an “initial investigation suggested the carriages were overloaded’’ and that the broken cable had been replaced on July 29.

The mine was also “operating illegally,” as it was one of 55 mines that safety officials had ordered to halt production pending a

reorganisation into 10 larger coal mines, the agency said.

The Qusheng mine opened in 2003, with a designed annual production of 90,000 tonnes of coal.

Following yesterday’s accident, provincial safety officials ordered all coal mines with annual productions of under 300,000 tonnes to suspend operations, it said.

U.S. drone kills senior al-Qaeda figure, five others in Pakistan

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U.S. drone strike killed a senior alQaeda figure and at least five other insurgents in north-western Pakistan, an intelligence official said yesterday.

Abu Kasha al-Iraqi, a high-ranking al-Qaeda planner and facilitator, was killed late on Monday when “a U.S. drone fired two missiles into a mud compound,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

Another al-Qaeda opera-

tive was also among the six charred bodies pulled out from the debris by locals in Khaider Khail area located around five km south-east of Mir Ali, the main town of North Waziristan, one of the seven tribal districts along the Afghan border where al-Qaeda linked Taliban rebels are thought to have hideouts.

On Saturday, a drone strike targeting a vehicle in the same district killed three

people.

Pakistan opposes the drone attacks, saying they fuel anti-US sentiment and drive support for the militants.

The latest airstrike came as President Asif Ali Zardari, in New York to attend the UN General Assembly, met U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to discuss bilateral relations, which have been strained by the drone strikes.

They also discussed a film produced in the U.S. that mocks Prophet Mohammed.

The video has sparked violent protests in Pakistan, which reached their peak last Friday, killing at least 23 people and injuring over 200.

A church was also set ablaze in Pakistan’s northwestern town of Mardan, drawing condemnation by Pakistani as well as international leaders.

Newswatch dispute: Ibrahim sues Ekpu, others

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MAJOR investor in the troubled news magazine, Newswatch, Jimoh Ibrahim has sued four other directors of the organisation over the comapany’s management dispute.

The directors named as defendants in the suit before a Federal High Court in Lagos include: Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese, Yakubu Mohammed and Soji Akinrinade.

Ibrahim is seeking to strip the other aggrieved directors of that status and prevent them from declaring a trade dispute between him,(with 51 per cent stake) and the remaining shareholders (with 49 per cent LOSS OF DOCUMENT The general public is hereby informed of loss of original certificate of occupancy, Reg. as No 90 At Page 90 in Volume 1991u and dated 1st March, 1991 in Lagos State Registry, Alausa, of the property situated at 11, Abolade Street, Ijeshatedo, Lagos.

It got lost in transit and belongs to Mrs. Victoria Mopelola Egbewale. Lagos State Lands Bureau and General Public not

PUBLIC NOTICE OLANIYI

SEND CV AND APPLY online to niccavogroupltd@yahoo.com

From Adeola Fayehun, New York

that the United Nations represents.”

He argued that the attack on the Benghazi consulate was more than a simple “attack on America” but an assault on bedrock UN values of diplomacy.

He vowed to hunt down those behind the attack.

“The attacks on our civilians in Benghazi were attacks on America. There should be no doubt that we will be relentless in tracking down the killers and bringing them to justice,” Obama said.

I formally known and address as Miss Olaniyi Olawunmi Olufunmilayo now wish to be known and address as Mrs Kuteyi Olawunmi Esther Olufunmilayo. All former document remain valid.

General public pls take note.

•As court restrains them from acting as company’s directors

By Eric Ikhilae

stake).

He particularly prayed the court to restrain the defendants from acting on behalf of the other shareholders who own the remaining 49 per cent stake.

He argued that the defendants, with just 6.3 per cent cumulative share holding, and having resigned from the company, could no act for the company or its other shareholders. The suit also has as plaintiffs, Ibrahim’s Global Media Mirror Limited and Newswatch Communications Ltd. In the substantive suit, the plaintiffs set six questions for the court’s determination and sought six declarative reliefs and an order.

He prayed the court to among others decide whether the respondents, having resigned from the company on May 5 this year, could continue to act for the company and parade themselves as its directors.

They also want the court to decide whether or not the re-

spondents, with just 6.3 per cent equity, could act for the owners of the company’s 49 per cent stake; whether in view of their minority share holding, the respondents could also declare, in law, give notice of trade dispute with the company and its Chairman.

Ibrahim urged the court to declare that the respondents, having resigned from the company, and their said resignation endorsed by the company’s board, they have ceased to by the company’s directors.

He also want the court to declare that Ekpo and others having resigned from the company, can no longer be referred to as its employees.

Ibrahim argued, in a supporting affidavit deposed to

by Gloria Ukeje, that Newswatch owed about N362,132,764.19 when he bought into it and acquired 51 per cent majority shareholding.

He said that by the current shareholding structure the defendants do not have

•Ibrahim

enough shares for them to be qualified to be on the board.

Meanwhile, the court presided over by Justice Okon Abang has temporarily restrained Ekpu and others from acting on behalf of the company, from decalring trade dispute; from making any form of publications in respect of the company and the Share Puchase Agreement by which Ibrahim bought into the company.

The orders contained in a September 5 ruling on the plaintiffs’ application for interim injunctions, are to subsist pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Hearing of the substantive suit has been fixed for October 15 before which the defendants are expected to have filed their response to issues raised.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

59

FOREIGN Obama warns Iran on nuclear bid

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RESIDENT Barack Obama yesterday warned Iran that the U.S. will “do what we must” to prevent it acquiring a nuclear weapon, and appealed to world leaders for a united front against further attacks on U.S. diplomatic missions in Muslim countries.

Preparing to take the podium at the UN six weeks before the U.S. presidential election, Obama hopes to counter criticism of his foreign record by Republican rival Mitt Romney, who has accused him of mishandling the Arab Spring uprisings, damaging ties with Israel and not being tough enough on Iran.

Seeking to step up pressure on Iran, Obama told the UN General Assembly that there is still time for a diplomacy but that “time is not unlimited.”

His tough talk appears aimed at easing Israeli concerns about U.S. resolve to curb Tehran’s nuclear drive, as he reasserts before the world body that he will never let Iran develop an atomic bomb and then simply contain the problem.

But he stopped short of meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s demand to set a clear “red line” that Iran must not cross if it is to avoid military action.

“A nuclear-armed Iran is not a challenge that can be contained,” he will say.

“It would threaten the elimination of Israel, the security of Gulf nations and the stability of the global economy.

“The U.S. will do what we must to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.”

Obama is also seeking to reassure voters that he is doing everything he can to head off any more violence like the September 11 attack in Libya that killed the U.S. ambassador and three of his colleagues.

A wave of Muslim anger over a crude anti-Islam video made in California has swept the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.

Americans were stunned by images of U.S. flags again burning in the Muslim

world, the focus of intense personal diplomacy by the president at the start of his term.

“The attacks of the last two weeks are not simply an assault on America. They are also an assault on the very ideals upon which the UN was founded,” Obama will tell the assembled world leaders.

This eruption of violence has confronted Obama with the worst setback yet in his efforts to keep the Arab Spring revolutions from turning against the U.S. and has demonstrated that he has few easy options.

In his speech, he has the delicate task of articulating U.S. distaste for insults to any religion while at the same time insisting there is no excuse for a violent reaction, a distinction rejected by

Two killed, many displaced as typhoon churns off Philippines

T •Obama

many Muslims.

The crisis has exposed a deep divide over the issues of free speech and blasphemy at a time when Islamist forces are in the political ascendancy in the Middle East after several veteran dictators were ousted.

“Today, we must declare that this violence and intolerance has no place among our UN,” Obama will say.

Jonathan, Ki-moon in closed door meeting

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R E S I D E N T Goodluck Jonathan on Monday met with the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, as the 67th Session of the United Nations General Assembly began in New York.

The UN Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that shortly after receiving the

president, both parties went into a closed door meeting.

NAN learnt that they discussed recent developments in Nigeria, how best to enhance the fight against piracy in the Gulf of Guinea as well as the implementation of the International Court of Justice judgment on

WO people were killed and thousands forced to flee their homes as a powerful typhoon churned off the Philippines’ east coast, the Office of Civil Defence said yesterday.

Typhoon Jelawat gained strength as it moved closer to the northern Philippines, packing maximum sustained winds of 205 km per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 240 kph, the weather bureau said.

Jelawat dumped heavy rains over an 800-km-wide area, prompting authorities to ban small boats from sailing in the country’s eastern coast.

A 5-year-old boy died when he was hit by a falling tree in the southern city of Zamboanga, while a 31-yearold man died after

Bakassi.

According to a source, they also agreed on the pressing need for the stabilisation of the political situation in Mali and for a concerted international approach to problems in Guinea-Bissau, Darfur and Sudan-South Sudan.

NAN also learnt that they discussed terrorism in the Sahel and the importance of socio-economic factors in reducing it by ensuring increased investment in agriculture, education and employment.

E-11 hails Fayemi on projects From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

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HRILLED by the quality of projects being implemented across Ekiti State by the Dr Kayode Fayemi–led administration, an Ekitibased socio-political group, E-11, has hailed the governor.

Chairman of the group, Mr. Femi Ajiniran, gave the commendation in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, at the weekend after visiting some of the completed and ongoing project sites.

The suspected projects included: roads, school and the Ikogosi Warmspring Tourist Centre among others Ajiniiran described the quality of the work being done

UN says Yemen sliding into EMEN is descending hunger crisis into a humanitarian

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emergency situation, as almost half of the country’s 24 million people are facing hunger, the UN food agency warned yesterday in Geneva.

The Arab country is affected by rising international food prices, because it imports nearly all key staples like wheat and sugar.

“Yemen is facing a deteriorating humanitarian crisis with high food and fuel prices, rising

he was struck by lightning in the central city of Bogo, the civil defence office said.

A 27-year-old man was missing in floods in Sirawai town in Zamboanga del Norte province, it added.

More than 8,400 residents evacuated in Zamboanga City and two towns in Zamboanga del Norte after flood waters reached nearly one metre, local disaster relief officials said.

Some roads were also closed due to landslides, the army said.

The weather bureau urged residents in the northern Philippines to be alert since Jelawat could make landfall on Thursday over Cagayan province.

poverty, a breakdown of social services, diminishing resources, internal conflict and political instability,” the World Food Programme (WFP) said.

Nearly half of the country’s children below the age of five suffer from stunted growth due to malnutrition.

The WFP said it was planning to provide aid to 5.5 million people in Yemen by the end of the year.

as “well complementary of the avowals of the governor and is such as we ourselves in the group feel proud of and can identify with.

“We had made our plans known to him (the governor) and he said he would accommodate our report whenever we carry out the inspection and submit our reports.

“This is just the first phase of the inspection. We will report back to the larger house. The position of the entire membership will then be forwarded to the governor for necessary correction/ amends.”

He noted that though the pace of work on the roads and the schools is fast, the contractors, especially those handling the schools, should be monitored so that they would redouble efforts to finish in time in view of the fast approaching resumption.

Ajiniran’s deputy, Mr. Olufemi Ayeni, described the standard of the renovation as impressive, noting: “These are schools which have generally degenerated in quality and requiring critical attention.”

60

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

NEWS

House report asks govt to contest Bakassi judgment

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HE House of Representatives report has said Nigeria must contest the ruling of the International Court of Justice October 10, 2002 which led to the ceding of Bakassi and the commencement of the delineation of the boundaries between Nigeria and Cameroun from Lake Chad to the Seas.

The report of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Justice and Special Duties interactive meeting with experts on the maritime boundaries of Nigeria and the future of Bakassi, was laid before the House yesterday.

The 10-page report, which has 10 findings and four recommendations said Cameroon obtained the judgment fraudulently.

The report in its findings, states: “The foundation on which the International Court of Justice ruling was predicated was “ab initio” faulty and that the Bakassi Pennisula on the basis of indigenous ownership, historical consolidation and effective occupation had always belonged to Nigeria.

“There is no concrete evi-

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

dence of ratifications of the 1913 agreement on which the International Court of Justice ruling was predicated. The 1913 Anglo-German treaty which Cameroon rested its claim was not signed by both countries before the outbreak of the First World War in 1914.

“The memoirs of Prince Karl Max Lichnowsky, a former German Ambassador and a Principal negotiator of the 1913 proposed agreement was found. He was quoted to have regretted the non-entry into force of the Agreement. He said ‘The Treaty which offered us Extraordinary Advantages, a result of more than one year’s work was thus dropped. It would have been a public success for me.’

All the subsequent agreements made between Britain and Germany, as well as France explicitly recognised that the Bakassi Pennisula had been effectively occupied by the Efik ethnic group of Nigeria.

“After the World War I, Ger-

many renounced all it’s territorial claims in 1919 and all the former territories controlled by Germany came under the mandate of the League of Nations.

“A plebiscite was conducted on March 18, 1961, in Southern Cameroon to determine communities that either wanted to stay in Cameroun or join Nigeria. Communities such as Manfe, Bamenda, Kumba, and Victoria participated. Bakassi never participated in the exercise because it was never in contention that Bakassi was Nigerian. (see appendix 1 Southern Cameroun Gazette published by EUEA Authority 18th March 1961, Vol.7,no.14 showing the result of voting by plebiscite districts of the whole Southern Cameroun. “it is worthy of note that the people of Bakassi had always participated in Nigerian elections.”

The committee said it “noted that the people of Bakassi have asserted unequivocally their unwillingness to and/or live under Cameroonian authority.”

The report’s recommendations read: “The committee

hereby recommends that the Nigerian Government should as a matter of urgency and necessity approach the International Court of Justice for a review of the 2002 judgment on the basis of the following assertions.

(1) Article 61 of the International Court of Justice ICJ’s statute clearly defines the procedure to seek for review of its judgment. (see Appendix2.)

Based on the fresh evidence that was not known to the ICJ and more importantly the 10year timeframe stipulated by this statute, the Nigerian Government should proceed immediately to file for a review.

(October 10-2012 is the deadline) (2) The Green-Tree-Agreement entered into by the government of Nigeria and Cameroun as a result of the ICJ judgment which eventually led to the Nigerian government ceding Bakassi to Cameroun is a clear violation of Section 12(1) of the 199 constitution which states that “No Treaty between the federation and any other country shall have the force of

•From Left: Actor Olumide Bakare, one of the 150,000 winners, Mrs Akinteye Funmilayo and Trade Marketing Manager (MTN), Southwest, Lawrence Akharume, at the Southwest regional presentation of cheques to MTN Ultimate Wonder promo winners in Ibadan...at the weekend

2015: Let Igbo produce President, say Southeast leaders

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EADERS of various Igbo communities in the Diaspora have urged Nigerians to support the agitation of the Southeast to produce the President in 2015.

The Igbo leaders, acting under the umbrella of the Association of Ndiezendigbo in the Diaspora, in a communique at the end of their meeting in Ibadan, lamented that the Southeast is the only region yet to produce a President.

The communique , signed by Eze Hycinth Omeroha Ohazuruke; the Ezendigbo of Lagos State and National President of

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

the association, raised fresh issues on the purported support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term bid by some Southeast groups.

The Igbo leaders maintained that in the interest of justice and equity, an Igbo should be voted President in 2015.

“The association is still hopeful that Nigerians will put their conscience in use in 2015 by supporting and electing an Igbo man to become the next President of the country, taking into consideration the fact that with

all the contributions of Ndigbo to the development of Nigeria, no Igbo has been opportune to lead,” the communique reads.

The Igbo leaders, however, praised the efforts of President Jonathan towards fixing bad federal roads in the Southeast and other parts of the country like the Lagos-Sagamu road, Ore-Benin road and LagosIbadan road.

They commended President Jonathan for listening to the voices of the Nigerian masses by reversing the plan to introduce the controversial N5,000 note.

The association hailed Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi for the warm reception accorded its members, who visited the governor in the company of the General Secretary and Administrative Secretary of the Ohaneze Ndigbo, High Chief Nduka Eya and Mr. Ibeabuchi.

“The association noticed the tremendous changes in the state in the area of development and cleanliness of Ibadan. The association admired the construction of a flyover bridge in the ever busy Mokola area,” the Igbo leaders said.

Boko Haram must be fought, says Soyinka

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OBEL laureate Prof.

Wole Soyinka is against dialogue between the Federal Government and the fundamentalist sect Boko Haram.

“This is a violent organization. What do you do with them? I’m sorry but you must fight them,” Soyinka said.

The 1986 Nobel Prize winner in Literature spoke to IPS during a visit to the United Nations on the International Day of Peace.

The International Day of

Peace was celebrated on September 21with a debate about how to build a global culture of tolerance. Among the participants were superstar actor Forest Whitaker, economist Jeffrey Sachs and Soyinka.

After his speech, Soyinka spoke to IPS about the situation Nigeria, where Boko Haram has been responsible for thousands of deaths and the bombings of many churches, the Police Headquarters and the UN office in

Abuja.

Boko Haram (western education is a sin) is seeking to establish sharia law in the country.

“We have an organisation which closes down schools, shoots faculty teachers, knocks out children and turns most of the north into an educational wasteland.

How can we reach the children there? We must first get rid of Boko Haram,” Soyinka said.

“We have a contradiction,”

he acknowledged. “How do we get rid of Boko Haram?

Violence must become involved. That is a dilemma.”

Calling for armed intervention on Peace Day may certainly seem like a paradox. But Soyinka’s call for attacking Boko Haram to stop the group’s attacks on schools made more sense after the debate, where speaker after speaker highlighted the importance of education to enable a global culture of peace to grow.

law to the extent to which any such Treaty have been enacted into law by the National Assembly”. The implication is that the Gren-Tree-Agreement does not have the force of law.

(3) Increasing security challenges and the threat to our territorial integrity was put on full glare as it was noted that there is decreased piracy activity in the Somalia-Eritrea region due to heavy UN presence on those waters and a transfer of the nefarious activities to the waters surrounding Nigeria as a result of skeletal (if any) presence of the Nigerian Navy on the waters of Bakassi owing to constant conflict between the Nigerian Navy and the Cameroonian Navy as to who owns the waters. Vulnerability of the Bakassi water ways poses a huge security risk as we battle insecurity on land and we are faced with insecurity on water.

(4) The Nigerian government

must realize that SELF DETERMINATION is a fundamental right to which Bakassi people can avail themselves of especially where a sovereign state abdicates her responsibility towards a constituent part of her territory. We must therefore do everything within our power to ensure that the people of Bakassi continue to feel,that they are part and parcel of their homeland.

Given the short window period on the issue, the report which was jointly signed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Nnena Elendu-Ukeje, Chairman House Committtee on Justice, Ali Ahmad and Chairman of the House Committee on Special Duties, Bello Kaoje, is mostly likely to be given accelerated consideration and its recommendation adopted this week.

FirstBank, Berger, others bid $1.11b for PHCN’s firms Continued from page 2 Niger and you can only give a

toil Power Services Limited (Sapele).

The NCP reminded Amperion Power Distribution Limited that the rules allow it to win only one generation company.

Peterside said: “Out of the 23 bids that made it to the evaluation stage, 10 failed the first test of completeness and responsiveness. The remaining 13 bids were then subjected to full technical evaluation. Out of the 13 bids, eight scored the minimum of 75 per cent that was required to progress to the next stage.

The bidders that scored 75 per cent and above were asked to submit the post-qualification bidders’ guarantee, following the approval of the evaluation results by NCP. “Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) also observed the entire process from bid submission to the conclusion of evaluation. They were, therefore, witnesses to the fact that all late-comers were turned back.”

The NCP chairman said there was no controversy over the sale of generation plants located in Kainji and Shiroro in Kwara and Niger states.

“Kainji and Shiroro are hydro assets; you cannot sell River

consensus to the people utilising it. So there is no controversy over the issue of hydro plants,” he said.

Mr Obinna Okudo, Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp, told reporters that his company would “deliver optimum services to Nigerians.’’

“We are going to let Nigerians know that a Nigerian company can lead a foremost Nigerian sector (electricity),’’ he said shortly after his company was announced as the preferred bidder for Ughelli.

Director-General Bolanle Onagoruwa assured investors of NCP’s commitment to international best practice in the sale of the 17 PHCN successor companies.

Onagoruwa said: “We wish to reaffirm that the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) will continue to ensure that electricity sector privatisation transactions are completed to the best of internationally accepted standards.

“We have come so far and achieved so much since mid2010 when this administration restarted the electricity sector reform programme.

“With your support and with the strong desire to serve our patient and long-suffering citizens of Nigeria, we will continue to strive to achieve even more and ultimately succeed.’’

Profiles of the eight companies Continued from page 2

Steinmuller (BBS) of Germany is a power generation EPC firm.

Steag Energy Services of Germany owns and operates a power plant as an independent power producer. Quantum Power of Israel is also a power generation plant owner and operator. Harith Fund is a South African investment fund organisation.

•Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited (Kainji) includes RusHydro International and RusHydro JSC from Russian Federation.

It is Hydro-power generation company. Other owners of the consortium include Col. Sani Bello, a Nigerian businessman, Amni International Petroleum Development Company Limited, a Nigerian oil and gas exploration and production company owned by Chief Tunde Afolabi NIGELEC, a Nigerien power generation, transmission and distribution company, Paqua Energy Limited, a Nigerian special purpose vehicle (SPV) owned by engineering and technical services firms, Confluence Cable Network Limited, a Nigerian com-

munications firm, Crust Energy Nigeria Power, Oil and Gas, TAK Nigeria Chemical and Fertilizer Trading Company, Anchorage Holdings Nigeria, which is into real estate development, and All Stream Energy Solutions Nigeria, a Kaduna-based energy sector service company.

•North-South Power Company Limited (Shiroro) owners include XS Energy Limited, a Nigerian electric power generation company, BP Investment Limited, a Nigerian infrastructure investment and civil works firm, Urban Shelter Limited, a Nigerian infrastructure development and management company and Transatlantic Development and Investment Company, a United States’ hydro electric power investment company. Others are: China International Water Electric, which is into construction and management of dams, hydroelectric power stations, China Three Gorges Corporation, an electric power utility company, Niger State Government and Roads Nigeria Plc, a Nigerian construction and civil engineering firm.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

SPORT EXTRA EAGLES VS LIBERIA

I‘ll make my fans proud against Liberia— Joel Obi

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NTER MILAN midfielder, Joel Obi who was listed in the 15-man foreign based Super Eagles’ squad set to battle the Lone Star of Liberia in the final leg of the Africa Nations Cup qualifier come October 13th, 2012, has vowed to make soccer-loving

• Joel Obi

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja Nigerians happy with his dazzling displays in the heart of the team in the match already tagged the Battle of Calabar.

Eagles’ handler, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi had named the player who just returned from injury to the main squad of the Italian giants and the player has promised to make use of the opportunity to thank his fans who had stayed with him through his period of predicament.

“I would say a big thank you to the coaching crew of Nigeria and most especially the Manager (Stephen Keshi for giving me another opportunity in the team. I am very happy to be invited and also to rejoin my teammates.

It’s really nice to be back in the Eagles.

“I know the importance of this game and I want to give

my best to the team if I am fielded that day. I want to compensate the coach for believing in me. I am using this medium to tell my fans in Nigeria, Joel obi will give his best to make them proud in the match against Liberia and even in subsequent matches” Joel told NationSport in a telephone chat from his base in Italy.

He also disclosed that he was yet to be notified of his invitation for the all important match but added that he would try hard to be fit for the game in Calabar.

“Nobody has told me of my invitation. I am just hearing about it from you. But it is good news and I would try hard to be fit and ready for the match which is about three weeks from now. Also with the caliber of players you (NationSport reporter) told me now that the Chief coach has invited for the game, I am very confident of victory against Liberia”, Obi assured.

Ruthless Chelsea hammer Wolves 6-0 •As Moses nets on full Blues debut

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OHN TERRY found the perfect sanctuary at Stamford Bridge tonight as Chelsea romped into the fourth round of the Capital One Cup by blitzing Wolves.

Having spent the morning at Wembley - a place he used to call home - defending himself against a Football Association racism charge, Terry enjoyed some respite in a stadium where he will always be welcome.

The Chelsea captain was a virtual spectator as he was treated to his side's biggest win for almost 21 months thanks to goals from Gary Cahill, Ryan Bertrand, Juan Mata, Oriol Romeu, Fernando Torres and Victor Moses.

It was just the pick-me-up Terry would have wanted ahead of day three of his personal hearing into allegations he used a racist slur against Anton Ferdinand something he has been denying ever since their altercation almost a year ago.

He trained on Sunday and after day one his hearing yesterday - was typical of the defender, whose career

has been one of defiance in the face of adversity.

It was also possible the 31-yearold recognised this evening's game might be his last before a four-match ban if found guilty of the charge against him.

That verdict could also have cost him his England career had he not dramatically taken the decision out of the FA's hands on Sunday night.

The FA had already stripped him of the England captaincy, but not as far as the Chelsea fans were concerned as they predictably chanted: ``There's only one England captain.''

Terry acknowledged the support, which continued as his every touch was cheered in a game that also saw warm receptions for debutants Cesar Azpilicueta and Lucas Piazon as Chelsea rang the changes for a competition not exactly top of their agenda.

Wolves' decision to rest 10 players made it crystal clear where their priorities lay and it looked like they could not wait to get back up the M40.

LAGOS NUJ MEDIA GAMES

Football draws hold Oct. 2

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HE Main Organising Committee (MOC) for this year’s Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council Media Games, has concluded arrangements to hold the draws for the football event on Tuesday, October 2 at the Auditorium of the Lagos State Sports Writers Association (SWAN) secretariat inside the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Chairman of the Council, Comrade ‘Deji Elumoye, who is also the chairman of the MOC, said all hands are on deck for the success of this year’s event.

“On Tuesday, October 2, we will unveil plans for this year’s event and as well hold the draw ceremony for the football event which is a 5Aside tourney.

“We expect officers of all participating Chapels to have submitted their team lists to the secretariat of the Union

on or before the draws ceremony.

“This year’s edition of the Media Games will be different from past editions as innovations have been put in place to make the event a unique one,” Elumoye said.

He reaffirmed that this year’s edition of the Games will hold at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos between Saturday, October 6 and Friday, October 12.

The games, which started in 2005, as a multi-sport competition among media organisations in the Centre of Excellence, will hold at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos state from Saturday, October 6 to Friday, October 12, 2012.

Some of the sporting activities for the games include: football, tennis, tabletennis, marathon, scrabble, chess, ayo, draught, swimming and athletics, among others.

Ronald Zubar set the tone, tripping Mosesforaright-wingfree-kickMata crossed to the far post, Cahill doing his hopes of succeeding Terry in the England defence no harm by stooping to head home in his best impression of his skipper.

Chelsea's fringe men and youngsters, who looked really lively, then combined for the second goal in the seventh minute.

Romeu's shot was saved by Dorus De Vries but Lucas Piazon kept the ball in and turned it back for an unmarked Bertrand to blast home.

The third goal was an exhibition from the established stars in the team, Mata starting and finishing a flowing move, exchanging passes with both Ramires and Torres before finishing expertly.

It was so easy, it looked like even Torres himself would have no problem getting in on the act but he hesitated badly when clean through.

It was not all plain sailing for Terry either.

His lack of pace was twice exposed, firstly when David Davis' strike was tipped over the bar and secondly when Slawomir Peszko easily surged clear of him and Cahill, rounded Ross Turnbull but shot into the side-netting.

Wolves spared Stephen Hunt the relentless jeers he had endured in the first half - Chelsea fans unlikely to forget his involvement in Petr Cech's infamous skull fracture - when he was replaced by Anthony Forde during the break.

But the home side struck quickly again when Moses drew De Vries intobringinghimdownandtheywere finally awarded a penalty after several recent snubs.

Romeu made no mistake from the spot for his first Chelsea goal.

Peszko fluffed another finish from 12 yards not long after the restart and Torres' travails continued when his latest shot was deflected behind.

But they finally ended when he poweredhomea58th-minuteheader from Mata's resultant corner.

RESULTS

CARLING CUP Bradford 3-2 Burton Chelsea 6-0 Wolves Crawley 2-3 Swansea Leeds 2-1 Everton Man City 2-4 Aston Villa Milton 0-2 Sunderland Preston 1-3 M.brough Soton 2-0 Sheffield Swindon 3-1 Burnley West Ham 1-4 Wigan

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

62

SPORT EXTRA

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We fixed AFCON 84’ match to kick out Ghana —Shoaib

X - A L G E R I A N midfielder Mohammed Shoaib has revealed that his country connived with Nigeria in a match-fixing scandal to eliminate Ghana at the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations.

In what could be a massive disgrace for African football, the midfielder who played in the tournament in the Ivory Coast, says they struck a deal to eliminate the Black Stars.

Nigeria needed a draw to

advance to the semi-final of the tournament but Ghana had to win against Malawi and then pray for the Super Eagles to falter against Algeria to be able to advance.

Ghana won the match against Malawi but could not advance because Algeria and Nigeria drew.

In a shocking revelation, Shoaib says Nigeria and Algeria hatched up the plan to settle for a draw to ensure Ghana elimination from the tournament.

The midfielder shamefully admits that they learnt how to fix matches following their ordeal at the 1982 edition, where it was suspected a similar plot between Germany and Austria in the World Cup led to Algeria’s elimination from the tournament.

"We made a deal with

Nigeria to end the game with a draw and they moved with us to the semifinal, while Ghana crashed out of the tournament although they won against Malawi" Shaouib told the Algeria media on Tuesday.

"Algerians were still depressed after the plot between Germany and Austria in the World Cup 1982 which ousted us so we did the same to Ghana two years later," he added angrily .

Despite Nigeria progressing to the semi final they eventually lost the final match to Cameroon who clinched the title.

The Confederation of African Football could be sparked into an overdrive of investigating this revelation as it has got the potential to damage the credibility of the African game.

I didn't ask for Keshi's job—De Kruif

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ORMER Heartland of Owerri Technical Adviser, Lodewikj De Kruif has described as huge joke the purported report credited to him in the Nigerian media that he has declared interest in the Super Eagles coaching job.

Speaking with NationSport exclusively from Holland on Monday shortly after he got words from his associates in the country,De Kruif disclosed that he never granted any interview like that, while warning whoever that wrote the report to desist

32 teams for Lagos Beach Volleyball tournament A LL is now set for the maiden Lagos Beach V o l l e y b a l l Championship with 32 teams jostling for honours at the two-day tournament.

The competition holding at Lagos Bar Beach on Saturday September 29 to Sunday 30 and it is being organised by

Keshi joins Soccerex cast

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IGERIA coach Stephen Keshi is the latest addition to a starstudded cast of football legends who will grace the Lagos Soccerex Seminar on September 27 and 28.

Keshi, the longest serving captain of the Super Eagles, will speak at a session on 'Managing Football in Africa' during the seminar.

"We are excited to have someone of Keshi's legendary status join us at the Soccerex Lagos Seminar," Soccerex Director Daniel Krebs said.

The former defender is in the process of revitalizing the Nigerian senior national team, having infused an exciting blend of players from the domestic league.

Keshi masterminded Togo's first ever FIFA World Cup qualification in 2006, and was also part of the Nigerian coaching team, led by Shuaibu Amodu, who qualified Nigeria for the 2002 World Cup. Soccerex will provide a platform for the former defender to provide an insight into his vast technical knowledge.

the Lagos State Volleyball Association.

With the huge followership that the game commanded at the London Olympics, Beach Volleyball has become a medal hauling event since 1996 at Atlanta Olympic Games in United States.

For the Lagos tournament, teams within the state have been invited, while universities, Nigerian Police, Customs , Nigerian Army and foreign missions in the country have also confirmed participation.

The participating teams are made up of 16 male and 16 female teams, which are expected to participate in the colouful competition supported by Lucozade Sport and Multichoice Nigeria.

According to the Chairman of the Lagos State Beach Volleyball Committee, Yemi Adeyeye, aside the two-day competition, quarterly tournaments would be staged

in some of the beaches in the state with the next championship scheduled for December. He said that the competition has the backing of the Lagos State Volleyball Association headed by Chief Owolabi Martins.

Adeyeye added: "Beach volleyball started life as a recreational activity by the seaside since the 1980s, however, this sandy sport has become a highly popular spectator event. Beach Volleyball also has a reputation as a fair and clean sport, one which to date has been spared of scandal and doping allegations. The main difference with indoor volleyball is that, in addition to the court size and surface, each team consist of two permanent players instead of the six players that play on court."

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri from smearing his name.

"I received calls from my friends in Nigeria that I granted an interview stating that I would like to take Keshi's job. I didn't grant any interview like that and I have never declared interest in the Super Eagles' head coach position because I know it is not vacant. Please tell journalists to cross check their facts well before going to press," Lodewikj counselled.

He also used the brief chat to refute claims he had discussions with clubs in Nigeria notably Warri Wolves, Sunshine Stars and Kwara United.

The Dutchman though admits he will still like to continue work in Nigeria if good offers come but he challenged the media to uphold the tenets of the profession and not use it to witch-hunt people.

Ç

“Uche Kalu is a very good striker and I am happy I brought him here. He is a great striker and has shown that since his arrival,” said coach Bulak.

“We thought we won’t get a replacement for Bikoko, but Kalu has shown that he is better than Bikoko. Bikoko is a good player no doubt, but Kalu is ahead of him. He uses both legs well and can play

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IGERIAN National League side COD United is pleased to announce its participation at the prestigious Soccerex Seminar Lagos which holds from the 27th-28th of September at The Oriental. The Premier League hopefuls have secured a stand and will fully participate in all the events at the seminar which will feature some of the biggest names and brand in world football. Confirming the news, Chief Executive of the side, Shola Opaleye said that the decision to take a stand at Soccerex is in line with the club's determination to become a leading football brand not just in Nigeria but in Africa.

"We are happy to announce that we have already secured our stand at Soccerex and we are already looking forward

to the numerous opportunities that Soccerex presents. It is also an opportunity for us to listen and learn from some of the leading lights in world football, while also exhibiting what we are about as a club.

We believe that despite being a few years old, our accomplishments and aspirations are worth sharing with participants at Soccerex and we look forward to sharing ideas with all visitors to our stand. We are excited and we can' wait for the event to start."

The club recently concluded its summer camp held in partnership with Bolton Wanderers FC and a total of 7 boys will depart the shores of Nigeria in November for England to receive advanced training at the Bolton Football Academy.

Ige appointed SWAN Executive Advisor

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ENOWNED sports marketing executive, Taye Ige, has been appointed as an executive advisor to the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter.

In his capacity as the executive advisor, Ige, who is the Managing Director/CEO of HotSports Nigeria Limited, will be bringing his wealth of experience to bear on how to make the different properties of the association such as SWAN Cup and a host of others a commercial success, in addition to making them rallying points for all sports writers.

Presenting letter of appointment to Ige on Tuesday in Lagos, Fred Edoreh, Chairman of SWAN Lagos Chapter, said his appointment is part of the rebuilding process of the association which is geared towards moving it to the enviable height where it ought to be. He explained that the SWAN Cup, a football competition which is part of the annual SWAN Week, will be made bigger and better and as well used as a platform to bring in all sports journalists including veterans as one united happy SWAN. “To drive the success of this initiative, there was need to bring in somebody who has the

wherewithal. So we brought in Taye Ige to be the executive advisor for us under the project and we are glad he has accepted to work with us not only in marketing but flowing through the process in making sure we have all our members participating in the SWAN Cup and making it a success,” Edoreh said.

Reacting to his appointment, Ige expressed appreciation to the association for giving him the honour and privilege to be of service to a foremost professional association like SWAN. He pledged his commitment to work with the association’s executive in introducing initiatives that would further the course of a commercially successful SWAN Cup and also create the right atmosphere that all practitioners would enjoy.

“Our primary assignment is to make properties like SWAN Cup a toast of the corporate world.

That we must achieve,” Ige said.

To demonstrate his commitment to the project, Ige announced that HotSports, his sports media marketing and production company, would lead the pack of the corporate organizations to sponsor the 2012 SWAN Cup competition.

Fears over standard of Kwara Football Academy

•Keshi

Turkish club hails super buy, Kalu AYKUR RIZESPOR manager Giray Bulak has saluted the efforts of Nigerian striker Uche Kalu, who has thus far scored four goals. The Turkish club coach exclusively told MTNFootball.com that the Nigerian striker is a great buy for his team and has even rated him a better player than the striker Bikoko whom he replaced.

COD United joins leading football figures at Seminar

anywhere in the attack, a top man, supporting striker and as a winger. We have done good business during the transfer, Uche (Kalu) is a good buy.”

Kalu is on loan from Enyimba to the Turkish Lig 1 side till the end of the season.

He has got off to a great start by scoring four goals in his first three games and thus leading the scorers’ chart in the Turkish second division.

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HERE are fears among stakeholders, coaches and aspiring footballers alike that the standard of hitherto prestigious Kwara Football Academy has fallen.

Problem of the institution which has strong backing of Kwara State government according to those interviewed started with the departure of former Super Eagles coach and pioneer Director of the academy Clemence Westerhof.

Four years after leaving KFA, Westerhof still has much to celebrate about the initiative introduced by Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, as the current Technical Director, Paul Ashworth is still struggling to justify the huge investment on him to make the Academy produce quality players for both local and international use.

Ashworth replaces Westerhof as the Technical Director of the institution, and is in charge of

football and everything that concerns the players, but the Englishman has not added any outstanding and quality players to the one discovered by the Dutch coach after almost three years in charge.

Ashworhth is on a huge pay of 9,000 dollars and N50,000 monthly allowance, with four return tickets per annum to Europe.

Aside the fact that he has not gotten any concrete offer for any of the players, various screening exercises organised by the school was badly handled, culminating in the admission of over-aged and poor quality players.

Finding revealed that no player in the Academy is fit to play outside the country, except those groomed by Westerhof, and some of them are gaining exposure with Kwara United and Abubakar Bukola Saraki FC, both of Ilorin.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.7 NO.2,260

TODAY IN THE NATION ‘What is it about Nigeria that makes politicians feel they can fail and nothing will happen to them or the country?

One day there will be no country for them to rape and no road for them to escape! Where are the politicians who love the people and Nigeria@52?’

TONY MARINHO

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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HREE weeks or so ago today after my two-part piece on the onshore/offshore dichotomy on allocation of the country’s oil revenue, the issue seems to have returned to the front pages of our newspapers.

First it was President Goodluck Jonathan himself who, through his spokesperson, Dr. Reuben Abati, pronounced the 2004 Act abrogating the dichotomy a closed issue. Shortly thereafter, his Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, followed suit. Then six days ago, the new president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Okey Wali, announced that the NBA “fully endorses” the position of the Attorney-General. Wali, it may be recalled, was a one time attorney-general of Rivers State, a leading oil producing state.

“We,” he said, “agree with the AGF that this matter has been settled by the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court in AG Adamawa State and 22 others versus the AG Federation and eight others...we condemn any attempt by some politicians and their sympathisers to deliberately over-heat the polity by resurrecting the matter.”

With due respect, Wali, Adoke and his principal are guilty of, at best, playing politics with the law, and, at worse, downright lying with it, akin to the subterfuge of lying with statistics.

To begin with, as the three gentlemen know all too well, Supreme Court judgments are not cast in stone; all over the world apex courts have been known to reverse themselves when the need arises. Second, if the word of Supreme Courts is final and irreversible why did many of the most vociferous objectors of the re-opening of the 2004 Act even more vociferously reject our own apex court’s April 2002 judgment upholding the onshore/offshore dichotomy as untenable, to the extent that they even threatened to secede from the country? Why did they insist that beyond the court’s judgment there has to be a political solution?

However, the issue here is not only that Supreme Courts can reverse themselves. It is also not only that these latter-day the-word-of-supreme-courts-is-final advocates are being inconsistent. More importantly, the issue is also that the Supreme Court never dismissed the case of AG Adamawa State and 22 others versus the AG Federation and eight others on its own merit, as Wali would want the world to believe.

True, the court unanimously dismissed the case of the 22 states that sought the nullification of the 2004 Act which abrogated the onshore/offshore dichotomy for the purposes of revenue allocation among states. But the judges also differed among themselves on the merit of the case. For example, whereas Justice Oguntade said he did not see “anything intrinsic or extrinsic” in the law which was contrary to “the letter and spirit of the 1999 Constitution”, Justice Kutigi dismissed it only on the grounds that the plaintiffs went about their case the wrong way.

“It is,” he said, “doubtless that this action seeks to challenge the validity and effect of the 2004 Act. But the plaintiffs had chosen to go about it the wrong way...Unfortunately, the

People and Politics By MOHAMMED H ARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

The resource control furore: one more word

•Adoke

plaintiffs have not asked this court for any interpretation of the relevant provisions of the Constitution or of the 2004 Act itself. They therefore committed a blunder!”

Justice Oguntade might as well have been right. But then he was talking merely about the abstract principle of the letter and spirit of our supreme law of the land. The story might have been different if the principle were tested against some specific issues.

In any case, the fact that not all the Supreme Court judges agreed that the case lacked merit left enough room for a re-examination of the case.

So for our President to say the case should not be re-opened because it has been pronounced upon by the Supreme Court is simply untenable. Worse, it betrays an attitude that he is the President, not of all Nigerians, but of a section of it – specifically the section he comes from which seems implacably opposed to the re-opening of the issue.

Feedback Newswatch: sad end to a great news magazine My piece last on the sad putative demise of Newswatch elicited 41 texts and a couple of emails. Nearly a dozen of the reactions corrected the date I said Dele Giwa, one of its four

founders, died on; October 19, 1986, not in 1985 as I said. The majority of them were angrier with the top management, led by Ray Ekpu, for apparently allowing themselves to be suckered by Chief Jimoh Ibrahim than with the chief for killing the magazine in effect.

One of the reactions also corrected the date I said Newbreed made its debut. This correction is published below along with some of the more interesting ones.

Sir, I enjoy your column every week for the quality of efforts evident in it but do not always agree with your conclusions. Just a minor information: Newbreed came on stream in 1972 not 1976. I remember this clearly because myself and Chris Okolie were charged for seditious publication over my article “Rivers State as I see it” published in its April 1974 edition.

Joe Agbro. +2348051821777 Sir, It is surprising that the founding editors of Newswatch will sell one per cent to Jimoh Ibrahim without checking his antecedent. This man is Nigeria’s Mitt Romney. He buys troubled companies not to revive them but to sell off the assets and make profits. I have no tears for them. +2348023049640 Sir, As usual your piece on Newswatch was a master piece. However, you should have mentioned the fat millions collected by the squad.

They sold their rights of ownership of the magazine to a Smart Alec. Please advise them to use the millions to run for seats in the National Assembly where there is free money.

No crocodile tears from them. Dele (RIP), whom I knew very well at Brooklyn College, (New York), would have done the same or worse.

Rest in Peace Newswatch.

D.M. Badamosi fmngs +2348037044586 Sir, One is not surprised you remembered Obasanjo’s ban on Newbreed in the 70s but can’t remember that it was your Nupe brother, Ibrahim Babangida, who was responsible for the ban Newswatch suffered. By now your articles

HARDBALL

should reflect the views of a nationalist not a tribalist. It is too early to forget the deeds of Obasanjo and Babangida. +2348038358461 Sir, I agree with your commentary today on the rise and fall of Newswatch magazine. As a student, there was no week I did not buy Newswatch magazine at N1.50. Similar magazines now sell for N500 and this is a good measure of how much the Naira has crashed over the years.

It is very sad indeed because the magazine as an idea and now a brand should have been sustained, no matter the circumstance. Nigeria is also failing today because we do not know how to build institutions.

Kind regards.

Ehi Braimah (08033017348) Dear Sir, I have read and followed your writings since my school days. I am in my late 40s now. So I have read you a long time.

What some people do and we call it business turnaround in Nigeria is simply hostile takeover and asset stripping. Your catalogue of our dear Chief’s escapades bears me witness.

Only a fool with means and connections will not have gone for those companies he went for. NICON with all those houses and what not was a sitting duck. Nigeria Airways had more landed property than planes. So if a Corporate Undertaker shows up? Hide the assets list.

Sir, I write today, not because I have qualifications in Literature, Entrepreneurship and Business turnaround but because Newswatch’s murder could have been prevented. We have this knack of taking our own counsel in this country. The tendency is to rate size, intelligence or connections over diligence.

I am saddened because these were men I respect so much, and who back then, wanted me to work with them before life took me on a different route. Their error of judgement and lack of care in signing the papers is at best infantile.

Who was their financial adviser? I am sure they had none.

•Otherwise there would be no need for these shares nonsense.

•How come they signed off the company without receiving the promised capital injection. At least they should have followed BPE’s Nitel saga.

•How did Chief succeed in opening an account in the name of a company he is yet to acquire and be the sole signatory?

Sir, I am sure you see the point now? Newswatch was acquired for nothing.

He opened the account, transferred money into it and is spending the money himself.

Let them talk to a good business lawyer who is versed in mergers and acquisitions. This is not a journalistic battle, it is a business war. You don’t carry a gun to fight a man in a tank; you stay far and shell him with anti-tank missiles.

Babafemi Oduyingbo •For comments, send SMS to 08023211188

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

More and more dysfunctional

N

IGERIA seems to be awash with small arms. Hardly a day passes without an announcement by the police of one seizure or another of arms and ammunition.

The magnitude of each seizure often gives indication that the arms are certainly not meant for robbery or even kidnapping alone.

Just this weekend, the Lagos State police announced the recovery of five rocket launchers, five dynamites, 11 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), 250 loaded magazines and 17,000 rounds of ammunition from a house in Lagos. Early September, security agencies also announced the recovery of a cache of arms in Oraifite, Anambra State. In that instance, the police said, albeit with a dose of exaggeration, the Anambra seizure was substantial enough to defeat a small army. According to a newspaper report of the Oraifite seizure, the recovered arms, some of them in underground armoury, included 17 rockets, 13 rocket grenades, one rocket launcher, 27 AK-47

rifles, one K2 rifle, two other rifles, one general purpose machine gun, six pump action guns, three locally-manufactured guns, one Berretta pistol, and some 14,425 rounds of live ammunition. The seized weapons doubtless packed a hefty punch.

The weapons recently recovered from both Lagos and Anambra States are merely examples of the ubiquitousness of light arms in the country. More pass through the eye of the needle than are seized by the authorities. The Boko Haram Islamic sect, which is waging a sectarian cum socio-economic insurgency in the northern part of the country, also packs an even deadlier punch than the arms seizure in the two states listed above. It does appear that no one can halt the flow of arms nor curb the criminal uses to which the weapons are being put virtually on a daily basis. Indeed, the problem of kidnapping, which feeds on light arms, has become so pervasive that it is even under-

reported, while the country has seemed to reconcile itself almost completely to the menace of armed robbery.

The proliferation of light arms, whether they are able to defeat or pin down a small army or not, kidnapping and ethnic and sectarian violence obviously indicate that there is something fundamentally wrong with the country. Officials appear to scratch the problem only on the surface. There is neither a coherent nor intelligent attempt to decipher the problem, let alone proffer realistic and targeted solution. As a result, the country is getting more and more dysfunctional, and the problem will get worse with each passing month the government continues to apply the anodyne measures of sermonizing and police action.

Perhaps the problem is fundamentally rooted in politics, especially the need to restructure the country away from the unitary system that masquerades in the 1999 constitu-

tion as federal, but which has proved unworkable and now even cancerous. Perhaps the country’s leaders, or those purporting to lead it, need to climb down from their high horses to acknowledge that it is time to sit down and discuss not only where we should go and how, but also who we really are, the resilience of the ties that bind us, and the nature of the factors that disunite us.

There is no guarantee that the country’s present leaders have the courage to meet the tough questions and hard choices confronting Nigeria. There is also no proof they will not begin to scramble for solutions only when things begin to unravel. But if the country is to put a lid on the burgeoning forces tearing the nation asunder, forces that are deceptively manifesting as kidnapping, armed robbery and sectarian bloodletting, we must urgently draft bold, intelligent and honest leaders willing and competent to handle the national crisis threatening to undo us.

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WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO