The Nation Semptember 30, 2011

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

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VOL. 7, NO. 1899 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

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Buhari, Tinubu: Nigerians must defend judiciary Knocks for single tenure, Sovereign Wealth Fund From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

I

T was a day of honour for some eminent Nigerians yesterday in Abuja.

But, for former Lagos Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, it was a good opportunity to speak truth to power.

Tinubu urged Nigerians to reject President Goodluck Jonathan’s seven-year single tenure proposal, just as they rejected former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s third term bid.

It was all at the Leadership Newspapers Annual Conference and Award Ceremony – a colourful event attended by leading politicians, professionals and businessmen.

In the audience were National Security Adviser Gen. Andrew Owoye Azazi and former Head of State Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, who urged Nigerians to defend the judiciary.

In Tinubu’s view, should the single tenure proposal sail through, it could breed dictators, paving the way for this country’s disintegration.

According to Tinubu, if Nigerians allow single tenure, they will have opened the door to fraud.

His words: “Today, we may not have time to debate the single term proposition but, to me, the answer is ‘no’. A politician elected must be accountable to the people intermittently. If you open the single term, Continued on page 2

•Asiwaju Tinubu posing with his award ... yesterday. With him are: (from left) Amb. Malami, Governors Oshiomhole (Edo), Fayemi (Ekiti) PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE Aregbesola (Osun), Amosun (Ogun), Ajimobi (Oyo) and Isaiah ... yesterday. SEE ALSO PAGE 4.

‘

The most glaring example of this has been the government’s attempt to cut short the career of one of our illustrious jurists, Court of Appeal President Justice Isa Salami. What was his crime? Refusing to put his sense of justice on sale. For this, they tarnished his name and plotted to end his career. They rumoured that he was in the pockets of the ACN. This is a terrible lie against a good man.

’

NBA raises Constitution review team T

•Daudu

HE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) yesterday raised a 12member committee to review the Constitution. It is headed by former NBA President Olisa Agbakoba (SAN).

NBA President Joseph Daudu (SAN) told the committee to produce a working document that will be presented to the National Assembly to foster peace and unity of the country. The report is expected in six weeks.

Through ascertained constitutional framework, Nigeria will be able to manage her ethnic, reli-

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

gious, racial and other differences, Daudu said, while inaugurating the committee in Abuja.

Describing the committee as very strategic, the NBA boss said its work would help to strengthen the nation, not only as “ a cohesive, indivisible and indissoluble entity, but as a functional, viable haven for over 150 million Nigerians who share a common destiny for a peaceful, secure and economicallyviable nation”.

Members of the committee in-

clude former NBA President Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) as alternate chair, Emmauel. C. Ukala (SAN), Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), Mike Osuman Mamman (SAN) and Wole Aina.

Others are: Dr. Garba Tetengi, Hauwa Shekarau, Prof. Offornze Amucheazi, Boma Ozobia, Emmanuel C. Aguma and Mr. Osita Okoro, who will be the Secretary.

The committee will receive memoranda on all aspects of the Constitution that require amendment.

It plans town hall meetings in some major cities to receive the input of lawyers and others.

Daudu said: “Therein lies our stake in ensuring, as we have always done, that this nation continues to be run as a democratic federation, run on the principles of devolution of powers, rule of law, separation of powers and an upright judiciary that the people recognise and accept as an institution of last recourse.

“We are sentinels at the gates of Continued on page 2

•AGRIC P15 •POLITICS P17 •SPORT P23 •SOCIETY P29 •MONEYLINK P55

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THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

NEWS

•President Goodluck Jonathan (second right) with visiting Chairman of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates. With them are: Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Adewunmi Adeshina (left) and Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Jeff Raikes at the State House in Abuja ... yesterday PHOTO: STATE HOUSE Continued from page 1

you would have opened the way to fraud. It is a clear path to disintegration. Six years is enough to create a dictator.

Let us reject that, like we rejected third term.”

The Action Congress Nigeria (ACN) leader was honoured as the Person of the Year for what the newspaper described as his tenacity. As he spoke, the hall applauded.

He had made a kingly entry into the arena, with party supporters singing his praise.

Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) leader and former presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari was named the Leadership Politician of the year.

Businessman Jimoh Ibrahim emerged the Leadership Businessman of the year and Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole is the Leadership Governor of the year.

The former governor urged governors to reject the Sovereign Wealth Fund, which he described as illegal and unconstitutional.

He wondered why there should be savings for the rainy day when everywhere is already flooded.

He observed that should the fund take its root firmly, it would be used to siphon money meant for development. But, Tinubu proposed an alternative – a revenue formula that will be fair to the states.

He said: “I am today shouting loud and clear to the governors of Action Congress of Nigeria and other governors, don’t allow the Sovereign Fund. It is illegal. It is unconstitutional and they will use it to siphon you and deprive you of developmental programmes. Are you saving for the rainy day when it is already flooding all over?

Buhari, Tinubu: Nigerians must defend judiciary ‘Why he got the award’

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SIWAJU Bola Tinubu got the Leadership Person of the Year award yesterday because he tenaciously checkmated and crippled totalitarianism in Nigeria, the Leadership newspaper said yesterday.

The former Lagos State governor, who is the National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), was applauded for remaining committed to the retrieval of the Ekiti and Osun states’ stolen governorship mandate.

The newspaper said Tinubu showed “that injustice can only stand when you refuse to challenge it”.

It said Tinubu demonstrated that one can change the society for better by freeing a people under siege with pragmatic leadership.

The newspaper added: “We acknowledge the capacity of focused individuals to change the society for the better” for providing clear, pragmatic leadership, during the period of freedom under political siege, by patiently deploying the instrumentality of the law to achieve The excess crude is an illegal account. There should be a new revenue allocation formula that will be fair.”

He went on: “We in the opposition advocate fiscal federalism. Under the Excess Crude Account and now its progeny, the Sovereign Wealth Fund, the Federal Government has improperly siphoned funds constitutionally mandated for state governments. This represents a massive slush fund the Federal Government can use as it wishes with little public knowledge or oversight.

“At best, the monies will be used to fund practices that enrich government cronies, but make poor the larger economy.

I cannot speak for other states, but I make bold to say that the states with ACN governors would rather see their proper

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

what many thought were lost. For becoming the arrowhead of the opposition party and effectively checkmating and crippling totalitarianism. Tinubu is the Leadership Person of the Year.”

Receiving the award from Amb. Shehu Malami, the leading light of the opposition said: “I accept it not on my own account, but on behalf of all those who believe as I do. I stand here, a Nigerian, proud and unapologetic.

“Despite all that I have endured, I will keep at it, until this race is won. I hold no malice against anyone and seek no one’s harm. I focus on the betterment of my country and the improvement of my people. I see no way to do this than via political and economic democracy and justice.”

Nigerians from all walks of life attended the ceremony. They included National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi, Edo State Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, Osun State Gov-

share of these funds in the hands of their governors than in the custody of the bureaucrats servile to PDP chieftains.”

On judiciary, Tinubu, who was docked at the Code of Conduct Tribunal for allegedly operating foreign accounts while in office – an offence he insists he never committed – stressed that he could never be silenced.

He says his trial is political; a vengeful venture for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party’s loss of the Southwest.

The Code of Conduct Bureau denies this.

The politician urged Nigerians to keep vigil over the rule of law and protect the independence of the judiciary from the monopoly of the ruling party.

The presidential candidate of the Congress for Progres-

A

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

suasion by the prosecution team, led by Mr. Thompson Olatigbe, to entertain the case and directed that the suspects be properly served before they could be arraigned in court.

She, however, ordered that the suspects be remanded in the custody of the SSS, pending their arraignment today, after they must have been properly served.

The SSS, on September 13, took the eight suspects before an Abuja Chief Magistrate’s Court where they were

charged with criminal conspiracy to commit felony to wit-criminal intimidation and threat to life and voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous means, contrary to Section 97 248(1) and Section 397 of the Penal Code, punishable under the same code.

The suspects who appeared before the Chief Magistrate’s Court were Ahmed Hassan Ezimakor, Shuaibu Abubakar, Mohammed Danlami, Salisu Ahmed, Umar Babagana, Mohammed Ali, Musa Adam and Umar Ibrahim.

ernor Rauf Aregbesola, Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

There were also ACN National Chair Chief Bisi Akande, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Senators Oluremi Tinubu, Ganiyu Solomon among other lawmakers and other chieftains of the ACN – Chiefs Segun Osoba, Tom Ikimi, Domigo Obende and Ize Iyamu.

Apart from Tinubu, other award winners are: Gen. Buhari (Leadership Politician of the Year) and Oshiomhole (Leadership Governor of the Year).

The others are businessman Jimoh Ibrahim (Business Person of the Year), Mrs Ifueko Omogui-Okauru (Leadership CEO of the Year) and Mrs Evelyn Oputu (Leadership Brand of the Year).

Companies that won awards include DANOGTE (Leadership Brand of the Year), GLOBACOM (Leadership Company of the Year) and ETISALAT (Leadership Telecommunication Company of the Year).

sive Change (CPC), General Muhammadu Buhari agreed with Tinubu on the need to shield the judiciary from being compromised.

“We just have to do something serious to ensure that the judiciary is not compromised. If it is, this nation will not survive,” he said.

Gen. Buhari, who urged Nigerians to demand that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should refund the N100billion allocated for voters’ registration since the exercise was a failure, added that there was no presidential election in over 20 states.

Tinubu had recalled that in recent elections, the opposition was confronted with abuse of power to muscle it out, adding that through the rule of law, the courts are to be the guard-

Court blocks arraignment of Boko Haram suspects FEDERAL High Court in Abuja yesterday blocked a move by the State Security Services (SSS) to arraign six suspected members of the Boko Haram sect before it.

Justice Bilikisu Aliyu turned down the request because the prosecution failed to serve the suspects with the charges before bringing them to court.

Justice Aliyu maintained that the suspects were constitutionally entitled to see the charges to enable them study them before taking a plea.

Justice Aliyu rebuffed per-

•Managing Director, Federal Airport Authority of Nigerian, (FAAN), Mr. Richard Aisuebeogun (left), Editor, Travel & Business News Mr. Ewos Iroro and Commissioner, Accident Investigation Bureau, (AIB), Mr. Sam Oduselu, at the 6th Travel & Business News Conference held at NCAA office, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos ... yesterday.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

ian of fairness and justice.

Analysing the state of the judiciary, Tinubu stressed that without such protection, democracy lies exposed to the ravages of power.

He regretted that instead of learning from the past, the PDP “now seems intent to overturn the impartiality of the judiciary”.

Tinubu cited what he described as the attempt to cut short the career of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, who he said was suspended for refusing to compromise.

He noted that his name was tarnished and there was a rumour that the former governor had pocketed the justice, adding that it was simply because the ruling party could not tolerate impartiality.

Said Tinubu: “The most glaring example of this has been the

government’s attempt to cut short the career of one of our illustrious jurists, Court of Appeal President Justice Isa Salami.

What was his crime? Refusing to put his sense of justice on sale.

For this, they tarnished his name and plotted to end his career.

They rumoured that he was in the pockets of the A CN. This is a terrible lie against a good man.

His verdicts were not for the Action Congress of Nigeria.

“They were for justice. However, those in power could not tolerate his impartiality. They sacrificed one of Nigeria’s finest jurists to send a blunt message to other jurists: go against our wish and you shall lose those robes you hold so dear.

If such a thing can befall so senior a jurist, what hope do others have? Unless the public cries out, the ruling party may succeed in turning the rule of law from an inalienable right into a tradeable item that only it owns and controls.”

The chairman of the occasion, the Chief Security Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Gen. Azazi, claimed that the 2011 elections were free and fair, contrary to the position of the publisher of Leadership, Mr. Inda Isaiah, who said no decent person would claim that the elections were credible.

Gen. Azazi, who praised Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola for good governance, also hailed the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for his effort at developing the state.

Oshiomhole, who assessed the 2011 elections, said although they were not perfect, they were far better than the ones conducted while Obasanjo was President.

The Edo State Governor, who called for the removal of all the electoral officers who presided over nullified elections, added that the INEC chairman’s credibility is not enough to make a perfect election.

NBA raises Constitution review team Continued from page 1

•The late Yusuf

constitutional propriety and justice. We speak not only out of an altruistic nationalistic desire, but selfishly because we are Nigerians with nowhere to run to when the effects of maladministration by bad leadership and, at times, rudderless followership hinged on inadequate constitutional framework confronts us.

“We are witnesses to tragic effects in other nations who, for one reason or the other, were unable to manage their ethnic, religious, racial and other differences through ascertained constitutional frame work.”

The committee, he said, will present a report after deliberations accompanied by a draft amended constitution.

Agbakoba expressed gratitude for the opportunity given the members by the NBA to serve.

ADVERT HOTLINES: 01-280668, 08070591302, 08052592524 NEWSROOM: LAGOS – 01-8962807, ABUJA – 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

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NEWS

MEND threatens retaliation against Boko Haram

• To resume bombings

N epic terrorist battle is looming over the country.

The Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) yesterday declared its intention to rejoin the bombing fray in confrontation against Islamic fundamentalist group Boko Haram.

The Niger Delta group, which bombed Abuja on the nation’s 50th Independence anniversary last year, told The Nation on the telephone yesterday that it will return to its bombings from tomorrow “as a retaliation against Boko Haram’s activities and the killing of national youth Corps members in the North”.

A MEND official who gave his name as Peters Timi called The Nation’s head office yesterday.

He described himself as the European representative of MEND. He called from a hidden number and declined to reveal where he was calling from.

He urged our reporter to get in touch with him on email address ryrosane@yahoo.com for further clarification.

The MEND official said nationals of six countries living in Nigeria “should leave or become targets of our bombings. We shall target them and their business interests in Niger-

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OPC pleads with militants

F

OUNDER of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC),Dr. Frederick Fasehun yesterday pleaded with the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to desist from carrying out its bomb threat tomorrow.

Fasehun told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the reason for the appeal was to avoid the loss of innocent lives.

“I know that the leadership of MEND cannot get up to threaten to bomb without having its reasons, but care must be taken to ensure that nobody dies.”

The OPC leader, however, urged the Federal Government to do its best to ensure that it provided adequate security in the federal capital on that day.

He also cautioned the government against having any elaborate celebration at the Eagle Square to •Dr Fasehun mark the country’s 51st independence anniversary.

“With the situation in Nigeria today, the best are the churches and places to mark the Independence Day anniversary the mosques.”

From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Ughelli

ia”.

He listed the countries as Sudan, Niger, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Libya and Mauritania.

MEND also said it is embarking on bombings “to prove a point to Boko Haram that they cannot humiliate President Goodluck Jonathan out of power”.

The president hails from Bayelsa

in the Niger Delta.

The group called for the immediate stoppage of the trial of MEND leader Henry Okah and his brother Charles, and their release from custody “to reunite with their families.”

Henry is on trial in South Africa while Charles is facing trial in Abuja alongside others, in connection with last October bombings in Abuja.

Also yesterday, the Association of ex-militants warned Boko Haram and their sponsors to stop further

attacks on innocent Nigerians.

Smith Bounanaowei and John Government, leader and national chairman of the group, spoke in Ughelli, headquarters of Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. They warned the Boko Haram group not to kill innocent people or disturb the Jonathan administration.

The group wondered why Northern leaders like former Heads of State, Generals Ibrahim Babangida, Muhammadu Buhari, Abdusalami Abubakar, and ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar and others cannot call the Boko Haram men to order.

They said for more than 38 years when the North ruled the country, there were no bombings. They wondered why it is now that President Goodluck Jonathan is in power that the Boko Haram sect suddenly surfaced.

“We, the ex-militants of the Niger Delta region want to warn that when we were agitating for our right, we didn’t bomb United Nations office but rather oil facilities in our domain.

We expected them to do same by burning rice, tomatoes and beans farm and not killing innocent Nigerians. We want to warn that if anything should happen to President Jonathan, it means the end of this country because we are ready to make it ungovernable for anyone that will succeed Jonathan”, they said.”

•Permanent secretaries at the hand-over ceremony of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation,Prof. OladapoAfolabi to Alhaji Isa Sali in Abuja... yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Senate confirms Odimegwu, 23 others as NPC members •FERMA board members too From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

THE Senate yesterday confirmed a former managing director of the Nigerian Breweries Plc, Chief Festus Odimegwu and 23 others as members of the National Population Commission (NPC).

This followed the request of President Goodluck Jonathan for the approval of the nominees.

The confirmation was in accordance with Section 154 (1) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution.

Besides Odimegwu, who was named the chairman, other members are David Alakwaya Garnuwa (Adamawa); Moses Ekpo (Akwa Ibom); Mohammadu Hamma (Bornu); Idi Baba Yukubu (Cross River); Dr Tunde Lakoju (Edo); Bala Mohammed Magaji (Gombe); Nwaogwu Ohakpugu Emmanuel (Imo); Muhammed Surajo Marshal (Kano); Mohammed Aikoye Akubo (Kogi); Alhaji Abubakar Ndakene (Kwara) and Roli Bode George (Lagos).

Others are Alhaji Zakari Umaru (Nasarawa); Chief Lere Oyewunmi (Osun); Dr. Oluremi Akinbobola Akogun (Ondo); Mrs Cecilia Arson Dapoet (Plateau); Dr Donald Charles Wokoma (Rivers); Senator Bello Jibril Gada (Sokoto); Sunday Zik (Taraba); Prof Moore Simeon Chika (Anambra); Dr Festus Ozor (Enugu); Mrs Seyi Aderinokun Olusanya (Ogun); Chris Onyejekwe Okereke (Ebonyi) and Sir Nwakanma Chimaobi (Abia).

Also yesterday, the Senate confirmed Ezekiel Olatunji and six others as Chairman and members of the Board of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

The President requested that the nominees be confirmed in accordance with FERMA (Amendment) Act 2007.

Other members of the board are Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Gusau, Air Cdr Indongesit Nkanga (rtd), Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe, Ubah Maigari, Mr Olatunji Shelle and Mr. Samuel Gwomma.

Why NNPC should be scrapped, by ex- NBA chiefAgbakoba

F

ORMER President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Olisa Agbakoba yesterday urged the House of Representatives to consider scrapping the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Agbakoba spoke while delivering a goodwill message at the inauguration of the 89 standing and special committees of the House. He said the country is being milked dry by a secretive NNPC and oil majors.

According to him, over N7trillion is lost to oil majors yearly.

He said: ”NNPC is owing so much money, the question is why? Questions like do we need an NNPC in the first place should be asked. In my view, we don’t. I will urge you to consider a law to scrap the NNPC.” Agbakoba noted that over N7 trillion had been lost to the oil majors through various means with the active connivance of the corporation.

He identified areas of the loss as the 60-40 equity arrangement between the NNPC and the oil majors, which he described as a fraud.

The senior advocate said no one knows what is being produced in the crude oil sector or at what cost it is

•Corporation is stable, says Ajuonuma • ‘89 Reps committees too large’ From: Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

being produced, adding that it is only when one knows the cost of oil (amount at which a barrel of crude is produced) that the revenue and production can be tracked.

He accused the oil majors of ripping off the country through huge legal fees to the tune of $1billion yearly and that they keep the proceeds mainly in foreign banks.

Agbakoba said the National Assembly has to operate from the point of knowledge if it is to become effective in its oversight and win the admiration of Nigerians.

But the management of the NNPC disagreed with Agbakoba, saying the corporation remains virile, strong and a veritable partner in the nation's quest for growth and economic development.

Corporation’s spokesman Dr. Levi Ajuonuma described Agbakoba' statement on the existing arrangements in the oil and gas industry, the supervisory role of the

National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) and NNPC as totally uninformed and unwarranted bar-room comment on the nation's premier revenue earner.

He said: "It is pertinent to remind Mr. Agbakoba that as far as the oil and gas industry is concerned, he remains an uniformed stakeholder. He even admitted as much before making those comments. He should have known better by limiting himself to whatever areas of expertise he claims to possess", Ajuonuma said.

"In today's global economic climate such disparaging comment on the Nigerian National Oil Company is also tantamount to an unpatriotic comment on Nigeria," Ajuonuma added.

He called on Agbakoba and his likes to make use of the Freedom of Information Act to acquaint themselves of facts before jumping to wild conclusion and irrelevances.

Former Clerk to the National As-

sembly, Mr. Yomi Ogunyomi, who delivered the main lecture titled: “Strengthening the effectiveness of committee system in the House,” said the constitution of over 80 standing committees was not an impediment to legislative workings.

Of the 85 standing committees, he said, only Appropriation met 27 times during the 2009/2010 legislative year. Majority met for just 10 times.

Ogunyomi also said some committee failed to meet throughout the year while majority were found culpable of not having reports of their activities as against set rules.

According to him, committees also had 95 workshops, 112 Bills referred to the Committees and embarked on 30 foreign workshops while meeting the 181 days mandatory sitting in a year was a challenge.

The former Clerk noted that the current House must guide against pitfalls that bedevilled previous Assemblies.

He listed role overlap, personality clashes, strong external influence

and frictions over welfare matters as major hindrances to the functions of the committees.

He said autocratic nature of Chairmen of committees and problem of joint referral also added to the inability of the committees of the Sixth Assembly to perform to optimal level, adding that for the committees to function even at 10 per cent, political parties must refrain from nominating politicians that cannot perform legislative duties.

President of the Guild of Editors, Gbenga Adefaye said there was the need for the National Assembly to gain the trust of the people through people-oriented legislations.

House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal assured the people that the committees will be efficient in its work.

“Let me again state that the operations and activities of the committees will be held to standards of efficiency, transparency and accountability, which are the same standards already defined to guide the House of Representatives.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

4

NEWS LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD

•Senate Minority Leader George Akume (middle) Senators Remi Tinubu and Jide Omoworare at • Gen Muhammadu Buhari and Aremo Olusegun Osoba at the ceremony... yesterday the ceremony...yesterday

•Congress for Progressive Change’s Deputy National Chairman Mustafa Salisu(left) with ACN chieftain Audu •ACN National Pubilicity Secretary Lai Mohammed and Alhaji Musa Gwadabe •Senators Gbenga Obadara (left) and Gbenga Ashafa Ogbeh

•Member, House of Representatives Hon Babtunde Adejare(left), Action Congress of Nigeria Deputy National Chairman Mustafa Boss, members of the House of Representatives, •ACN Youth Leader Enilolobo Abdullahi(left), members of the House of Representatives, Moruf Fatai-Akinderu, Abiodun Faleke and Yakub Balogun at the awards Bimbo Daramola and Solomon Adeola at the awards

•Senator Ganiyu Olawale Solomon and Chief Kemi Nelson

•ACN National Chairman Chief Bisi •Former Lagos State Agric Commissioner Enoch Ajiboso (left) and Cardinal James Odunmbaku PHOTOS: ABAYOMI FAYESE Akande

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

5

NEWS Customs intensifies border patrol From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

THE Zone D Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), comprising Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Gombe, Plateau, Nasarawa and Taraba states has intensified border patrol, following the return of relative peace in the zone.

Comptroller,Federal Operations Unit of the zone,with headquarters in Bauchi, Dr Haruna Mohammed, told reporters that officers and men have resumed a 24-hour patrol to check smuggling.

Mohammed said that the Boko Haram menace led to the low smuggling activities across the borders in the Northeast.

He observed: ‘’With the relative peace in Borno and Bauchi, smugglers have gone back to their usual business.

But officers of the NCS shall not relent in running the smugglers out of business.

“The 24-hour surveillance was introduced to arrest smugglers and hand them over for prosecution.”

Mohammed said several suspects have already been arrested following the intensified efforts of the command.

He said that his men would triumph over the smugglers in the zone.

“The Command is determined to kick out corrupt officers within its rank and file so as to boost the revenue generation of the Command for the development of the nation’’, the NCS chief noted.

ICPC: we are prosecuting 495 offenders NO fewer than 260 cases including 495 suspects, are currently being pursued by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) The Director of Education of the anti-graft agency, Mrs Rasheedat Okoduwa dropped the hint yesterday at the Oyo Women Alliance Against Corruption Summit organised by the Oyo State Office of ICPC at Ibadan Civic Centre, Agodi-Gate, Ibadan.

At the programme which had its theme as: “Mobilising Women Against Corruption for National Rebirth”, Mrs Okoduwa explained that ICPC had come to mobilise against corruption for national rebirth.

She said: “What better time to talk about national rebirth than now, when we are at the threshold of the nation’s independence anniversary? It is 51 years after independence and yet, the promises at independence from colonial rule still elude us”.

Stressing that women have always been at the receiving end of endemic official corruption, the ICPC official said: “This is the time for Nigerian women to rise up against corruption in all places, particularly in our public offices.

“It is women that suffer from the effects of widespread poverty. It is women, who die at childbirth and watch their babies die for lack of basic health facilities, it is women, who have to find ways to feed the family on next to nothing when factories shut down and the hostile economic environment kills cottage enterprises.”

‘1.5b people may suffer high blood pressure by 2025’

O

VER 1.5 billion people of the world population may suffer from high blood pressure by 2025, Health Minister Prof.

Chukwu Onyebuchi warned yesterday.

He gave the warning in Abuja at a news conference marking World Heart Day. The minister noted that nearly one in every three adults above 25 is at risk of the noncommunicable Disease (NCD).

Chukwu, who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Fatima Bamidele, identified high blood pressure as one of the biggest single risk factors re-

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja and Wale Adepoju

sulting in heart disease and stroke.

He also predicted a rise in the number of those affected by high blood pressure by 50 per cent in the coming years, while he put national prevalence of hypertension at 20 per cent.

To reduce the burden of the diseases, the minister said people should learn about the risk factors and take steps to reduce them.

His words: “As you are aware, economic transition, urbanisation, industrialisation and globalisation bring about lifestyle changes and

risk factors that promote heart diseases. These risk factors include tobacco use, physical inactivity and unhealthy diet.

“The burden of heart disease can be prevented and reduced by adopting some actions, such as banning smoking tobacco in your home to improve your own and children’s heart health, increase intake of fruits and vegetables while reducing salt and sugar intakes, engage in physical activities and visit a health care professional at least yearly to measure blood pressure, glucose level and body mass index.”

Saying that cardiovascular

diseases claim 17.1 million lives yearly, the minister said: “It causes as many deaths as HIV/AIDS, tuberculoses, malaria and diabetes plus all forms of cancer and chronic respiratory diseases combined.

“Currently, one third of global deaths are caused by cardiovascular diseases and 79 per cent of them occur in low and medium income contries including Nigeria.”

He went on: “I have given the foregoing statistics and risk factors as a wake up call to the fact that current trends need to be stemmed if we do not wish to be weighed down by the huge burden which

this chronic, progressive and debilitating disease is bound to impose on us as a nation.”

But, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, (LASUTH) Prof Wale Oke described hypertension as a treatable and preventable disease.

He said: “It is most important that everybody must know his/ her numbers. That is, their Body Mass Index (BMI), cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Once these numbers start going higher contact your doctor.”

Army chief decorates six officers From Marie-Therese Peter, Jos

T

•Fashola unveiling the TLS…yesterday. With him are his deputy, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (left), Bello (second right) and the Managin Director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) Mr. Ola Oransanya (left) PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

Lagos tackles filth with Transfer Loading Station •Fashola berates Fed Govt over Apapa-Oshodi, Airport roads

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HE Lagos State Government yesterday inaugurated the waste Transfer Loading Station (TLS) at Oshodi along the Oshodi Apapa Expressway.

With capacity to treat 1000 metric tonnes of municipal solid waste and 24 metric tonnes of medical waste daily, the Oshodi TLS, fitted with hydroclave equipment, is the second in the Centre of Excellence.

Fashola also berated the Federal Government for its failure to fix the collapsed Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and the Airport Road.

According to him, “the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway is a link to the nation’s major port, while the Airport road is the first point of call for visitors to the country.

“Companies, organisations bring in their goods through the ports and if those companies cannot evacuate their goods from the ports, what industralisation are we talking about”.

He urged the agencies responsible to rise up to the challenge and restore the nation’s glory.

Fashola said the facility, which also has a medical waste treatment plant to accommodate waste from hospitals across the state, was the fulfillment of his campaign promises to pursue preventive healthcare servises and decongest the hospitals.

His words: “This is a fulfillment of the promise made in the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) manifestos to aggressively

By Toluwani Eniola and Mariam Ndikanwu

pursue a programme of preventive health care and to clean up Lagos and manage waste disposal more effectively by using Transfer Loading Stations.”

Fashola said the facility would put Lagos at par with other developed countries in terms of waste collection and management .

He said the TLS would serve as transit camp for waste generated at its environs such as Oshodi, Mushin, Anthony, Mafoluku, Mile 2, Amuwo-odofin, Okota and Ilupeju. The governor said the refuse would be moved to the dumpsites overnight to prevent the trucks from being caught in traffic congestion.

He said: “ Our strategy is to clean up Lagos and manage waste disposal more effectively by using the TLS. We have delivered on this promise. We have finished the Simpson Transfer Loading Station which has been in use for more than two years.

Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment Mr Tunji Bello spoke of plans by the state government to establish 20 of such within the next 10 years.

He said the hydroclave medical treatment plant has a low operating cost, easy to operate and reduce waste by 80 per cent leaving no odour.

HE General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Armoured Division, Rukuba, Major- General Adamu Buba Marwa, has urged its officers and men to tackle the recurring crises across the country.

Maj-Gen Marwa spoke in Jos while decorating six newly promoted officers.

In a statement signed by Lt. Col. Andrew Idachaba, an Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, the GOC promised “to ensure that officers are provided with all that are necessary in the performance of their duties.”

He said security matters would be viewed with seriousness and urged all to aim at a secured society for every law abiding Nigerian.

He frowned at the way intruders enter army formations without identification and stressed that all strangers must be challenged to ascertain their missions.

He said: “Operational responsibility has been of major security challenges not only to security agencies, but to the nation as a whole.”

While congratulating the newly promoted officers, the GOC charged them to impact their trainings on their subordinates by teaching them how to be security conscious.

He urged them to use the new ranks to “improve the welfare of their respective families” On the promotion list are: Col. Benard Okorie, Assistant Director, legal services; Col. Kingkong Andabai, Commanding Officer, 23 Support Engineer Regiment, Col. Fausat Idowu Ariori, Matron 3 Division Medical Services; Col. Adekunle Aribiyi, Commander 3 Division Military Police and Lt. Col. Isah Mohammed Kabiru of 3 Division Intelligence Group.

PDP attacks CPC over comment on presidential election tribunal

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OR passing a vote of no confidence on members of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal handling its case against the victory of President Goodluck Jonathan’s in the April 16 election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated the CPC. The ruling party faulted the CPC’s demand for the participation of the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, in the handling of its petition pending before the tribunal. Salami was suspended in August by President Jonathan on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

Briefing reporters at the party’s national secretariat yesterday, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Prof.

Rufai Ahmed Alkali took a petition accused the CPC of attempting to plunge the nation into violence.

According to Alkali, the CPC’s mission at the tribunal was to heat up the polity and plunge the country into confusion and instability, adding that the party was out to cause mischief and to ridicule the system.

He maintained that CPC’s petition before the tribunal

‘The capacity of the CPC to stir hatred in the system and cause division within the political arena has never been in doubt, we are taken aback by the gutter language it has devised to describe our judiciary’ was frivolous in the first place.

Alkali said: “While the ca-

pacity of the CPC to stir hatred in the system and cause division within the political arena has never been in doubt, we are taken aback by the gutter language it has devised to describe our judiciary.

“The CPC statement describing members of the tribunal as “cash and carry” is a frightening descent to lawlessness and stands condemned by well meaning Nigerians. We now know that their mission at the tribunal is to use it as a springboard to unleash mayhem on Nigeria knowing full well that it has a bad case.

“We once again call on Nigerians to be on the alert to

these machinations and prevent a situation where they are used by desperate elements to foment trouble. This obvious contempt shown against the judiciary has been brought to the notice of the tribunal and we trust the ability of the learned jurists to deal with the matter appropriately.”

The PDP recalled a statement credited to the presidential candidate of the CPC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari shortly before the election that he would not seek redress in court if he lost the election and wondered why the party decided to make a volte face by going to the tribunal.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

6

NEWS LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT’S TRIAL OF DR. CONRAD MURRAY

Michael Jackson’s doctor in PROLOGUE

By Olukorede Yishau, Assistant Editor (News)

I

T started well. The client was Alist. The sort he had always wanted. A major break it was. The good times were here. So, he thought and he was right for the bulk of the time it lasted. But the music stopped two years ago. Then the rhythm assumed frightening tunes and the dance step became macabre: the type people dance only when they have Hobson’s choice.

This is the story of Michael Jackson and Dr. Conrad Murray. The two of them had their heritage in common: black and of African-descent.

Forget Jackson’s skin change.

But, Jackson was so many things Murray never was and will never be.

He had no childhood. Not that he was never a child. He was. But he was an adult as a child. He was so special that he could not be imagined doing the things kids do. That was abominable. No thanks to his talent and a father, who gazed into the crystal ball and knew he had a goldmine for a child. And day and night, he had to endure the rigour of rehearsals upon rehearsals. Young Michael Jackson did not have the luxury of playing in the rain like other kids.

Though he was the youngest of the Jackson Five, he was the most talented and the lead singer. His voice on its own was music. He needed no lyrics to make you dance. Just anything that came out of his mouth was worth dancing to.

To many, he was a god. Many could die just to touch him. His effect on people was electrifying. People cried when he sang. His voice did the unimaginable to many. The MJ aura you can call it.

Wacko Jacko, as he was also known before his death some weeks to his 50th birthday two years ago, fired his father Michael Snr as his manager to announce his arrival into adulthood.

At a point, he also cut ties with his mother and took residence with a diva Diana Ross, whom he saw as a good friend despite the wide gap in their ages. Ross was believed to have shown him the way to make money as a solo artiste. And plenty of money he did make.

But some would say money also made him mad. And despite the money, his adulthood was filled with bumps, craters and gullies. He was an adult who craved things that made sense to kids. He was an adult who found it difficult to keep a marital relationship. He had kids only he and a few people could tell the real story of their paternity. He grew into a man loved by many and hated by not a few.

His was a life of trials. He had to contend with women saying he fathered their kids. He had to contend with a long trial over alleged child molestation.

For a man of trials like MJ, it was no surprise to many that he was abusing drugs to kill the pains in his body and soul. Quite ironically, someone is facing a trial for allegedly aiding the death of this man of trial.

Some believe Dr. Murray is just the fall guy for being Jackson’s physician. He is the O.J. Simpson of the moment. His trial, which began Tuesday, is going to be the most watched since O.J’s. Wacko Jacko had and still has a huge fan following . They have shown this by besieging the Los Angeles Superior Court to watch proceedings and demand justice, which from their countenance and utterances mean sending Murray to prison for four terrifying years!

Poor Murray! The end is not as good as the beginning.

‘Jackson’s death was suspicious’ T

HE private doctor, who was attending to the Michael Jackson at the time of his death Dr. Conrad Murray, was pensive yesterday when the prosecution called more witnesses in his trial for the late pop icon’s unexpected death.

Alberto Alvarez, a former bodyguard of the singer, said the musician was okay few hours before his death.

He said that in the moments leading up to the singer’s death he saw what appeared to be a bottle of the powerful sedative Propofol in the saline bag.

He told the court: “I recall that while I was detaching it (the saline bag) from the IV stand, the bag was at my eye level so I was able to notice that there was a bottle inside the bag.”

He added: “I was able to notice at the bottom of the bag what appeared to me like a milky white substance.”

When shown a photo of a Propofol bottle and asked if that was the item inside the saline bag, Mr Alvarez answered: “Yes.” He described Jackson as “very happy” and “in good spirits” during the performance.

“He was doing very well for the most part,” he said.

He said the last time he saw Jackson alive was when he said “good night” to the singer.

Mr Alvarez was the first person who went into Jackson’s bedroom after Dr Murray telephoned for help as he was trying to resuscitate the singer.

He said Jackson was lying on his back, with his hands extended out to his side, and his eyes and mouth open.

“When I came into the room, Dr Murray said ‘Alberto, hurry, we have to get to hospital, we have to get an ambulance’.”

He then described how Jackson’s children Paris and Prince entered the

Family sad picture of dead star made public

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ICHAEL Jackson’s family are fuming that a photograph of the dead star was shown during the trial and broadcast to the public.

The photograph - which shows Michael lying on a gurney in the hospital after he had passed - has caused much controversy with the public said to be shocked that the photo was shown without warning.

Now, the prosecution lawyer Brian Oxman has said that the family had tried to ban the defence from showing the photograph of the star, and were heartbroken to see their family member in that way.

“Katherine is very upset. We have spoken among the family that we did not want this released to the public. It is not right,” Brian told The Sun. Michael’s sister Latoya also described the photograph as “heartwrenching” on her Twitter account.

The photo was accompanied by an audio clip of Michael slurring his words just a month before his death, while he was under a high dose of Propofol.

room behind him.

“Paris screamed out ‘Daddy’ and she was crying.

“Dr Murray said to me ‘Don’t let them see their dad like this see’.

“I ushered the children out and told them ‘Don’t worry, we will take care of it, everything is going to be OK’.”

Mr Alvarez asked what had happened, to which Dr Murray replied:

“He had a bad reaction”.

Two paramedics who tried to save Jackson’s life are also gave evidence on day three of the trial.

Martin Blount and Richard Senneff said Jackson already appeared to be dead when they arrived at his home on June 25, 2009.

The court also heard from another key witness - Jackson’s personal

• Chernoff

• Walgren

chef Kai Chase.

Fewer demonstrators, fans of Michael Jackson, and supporters of Dr Murray were in the court yesterday.

Prosecutors in the trial claim Dr Conrad Murray not only “acted with gross negligence” but also that he was the “cause of Michael Jackson’s death”.

The focus of the trial is focusing on Jackson’s health in the weeks before his June 25, 2009, death and whether Murray was qualified to administer the anaesthetic propofol.

Deputy District Attorney David Walgren, in his opening argument, played a recording of Jackson slurring his words while apparently under the influence of a substance.

Jackson speaks slowly and mumbles, sounding incoherent at times.

Mr Walgren said on another occasion, June 19, “Michael showed up for his rehearsal and he was not in good shape, he was not in good shape at all”.

He added: “He had chills, he was trembling … he was rambling.”

He went home early that evening and didn’t rehearse because of his physical condition.

The next day, prosecutors said, there was a meeting called about the 50-year-old’s health.

A few days later he was able to practise in a much better condition, Mr Walgren said.

The first witness called by the lawyers was Kenny Ortega who was the director of Jackson’s comeback This Is It tour and a long-standing friend of the artiste.

The court heard a number of examples of what the prosecution claim was Murray’s gross negligence.

They include the fact the doctor left the bedroom to make phone calls and was not present when the singer stopped breathing.

Mr Walgren said Murray had or-

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

7

NEWS LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT’S TRIAL OF DR. CONRAD MURRAY

fierce battle for his life

• Michael Jackson before his death; his parents Joe and Katherine arriving the court ahead of the third day of the trial of Murray; people holding placards outside the court…yesterday; Murray in tears on Wednesday.

PHOTOS: AFP

Witnesses recall Jackson’s last moments

• Kenny Ortega

• Michael Amir Williams

• Kathy Jorrie

• Faheem Muhammad

• Paul Gongaware

He was the director of Jackson’s comeback This Is It tour and a longstanding friend of the artist, was the first witness called by prosecutor. He told the jury the star was often incoherent and unable to rehearse for the 50 date residence at the O2 in London.

Ortega said he was so worried about his friend’s medical condition he confronted Murray.

He made available to the court an email he sent to the head of AEG Live the company behind This Is It. In it, he expressed concern about how Jackson would react if, as a result of his failure to properly prepare for the shows in rehearsals, the tour was cancelled. “It would shatter him, break his heart, if we pulled the plug,” Ortega said in the email.

He told the court he could tell something was not right with Jackson.

He was Jackson’s Personal Assistant. He told the court of a panicked voicemail he received from Murray.

After watching an “amazing” rehearsal the night before. Williams said he picked up an urgent voicemail from Murray the next day at 12:13 p.m. asking him to call back right away to discuss a “bad reaction” MJ had.

He said when he arrived at Jackson’s Beverly Hills estate, the first thing he saw was his boss on a gurney and a “frantic-looking Murray”, who, after Jackson was pronounced dead, confided to Williams that there was some “cream Michael wouldn’t want the world to know about” at the house. He said he lied to Murray that the keys to his car had been taken by the police. Murray then asked to be taken 'to get food'.

Williams said he again refused, but later drove Murray back to the mansion to retrieve the “cream”.

AN attorney for AEG Live, she described the contract she wrote up between AEG, Murray and Jackson. The document specified that Murray was to be paid a $150,000-a-month retainer, even when This Is It was on hiatus, and that the cardiologist requested a CPR machine for Jackson during the run of the shows in London.

Murray, she said, claimed he needed the machine given MJ’s age (50) and the strenuous nature of the show. Jorrie also said that in a conversation with Murray on June 24, 2009 — the day before Jackson’s death — the doctor said he’d seen his client perform and that he appeared to be in “perfect” health. She said the unsigned contract contained revisions requested by Murray, such as retroactive pay dating back to May 2009 through March 2010 and a clause exempting him from refunding any of his monthly retainer if Jackson changed his mind.

JACKSON’S head of security, Faheem Muhammad, described arriving on the scene to see Murray frantically trying to resuscitate the fallen pop star, while two of Jackson’s children, Paris and Prince, looked on.

Muhammad said when he noticed the children in the room, he took them downstairs. Muhammad added that he heard Murray asking if anyone knew CPR, which prompted fellow bodyguard Alberto Alvarez to try to help.

Muhammed described seeing the star lying on his bedroom floor where Murray, sweaty and frantic, was performing CPR. 'What did you observe about his face,' prosecutor David Walgren asked 'That his eyes were open,' Muhammad said.

"That his mouth was slightly open.'

'Did he appear to be dead?' Walgren asked.

'Yes.'

AEG Live co-CEO Paul Gongaware testified that the singer insisted that he wanted Murray hired, despite his urging that an English physician be hired because the concerts would be taking place in London.

Gongaware recounted Jackson pointing to his own body and saying, "this is the machine, we have to take care of the machine.

This is what I want, I want Dr. Murray."

Murray originally asked for $5 million a year, Gongaware said. He said that that was a "ridiculous" request.

"I told him there was no way that was going to happen," he said.

Negotiations temporarily ended until Jackson told Gongaware to offer Murray $150,000 a month, which Murray originally refused until Gongaware told him it was an offer directly from Jackson.

• Tim Lopez: The runaway witness HE did not wait to take the stand as a key prosecution witness in the trial of Conrad Murray.

Tim Lopez, a pharmacist who claimed he sent large amounts of a powerful anesthetic drug to Dr. Murray’s girlfriend in the weeks before Jackson’s death in June 2009, moved to Thailand before the trial began.

But he spoke before leaving and the court is thinking of relying on what he had said.

The unusual development was revealed Tuesday in the Los Angeles courtroom of Judge Michael Pastor. He will make a decision next week.

Lopez had testified in January that Dr Murray bought 255 vials of propofol in the three months before the singer died.

He also said Murray purchased four shipments between April 6 and June 10, 2009.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

8

NEWS Jang to Muslims: you misunderstand me

Fed Govt sets 24-month target for polio eradication T

•Let’s avoid suspicions, says Muslim leader

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LATEAU State Governor Jonah Jang yesterday regretted that his good intentions were misunderstood by Muslims.

The governor spoke through his Chief of Staff, Gyang Pwajok, at a seminar organised by Youths’ Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Advancement, a branch of Youth Action Initiative Africa.

Pwajok said: “It pains the Plateau State Government that each step we take as a government policy is being misunderstood, and government is worried over this.

“For instance, the government banned commercial motorcycles in the state capital for security reasons. Many governors have done so. It has been done in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), but that of Plateau State will be interpreted and attached to religious sentiment.

“Many states in Nigeria have private security outfits to complement government security agencies. Plateau is a case.

Many governors work on their master plans to develop their states and urban cities. That of Plateau is being kicked against.

“The Muslims will always give religious colouration to government policies and we are worried over this.

“The Plateau State Government has sponsored more Muslims on pilgrimage than any other state in the North, includ-

‘You’ve entered covenant with the people’ From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

SOKOTO State Governor Aliyu Wamakko yesterday told five newly appointed commissioners and four special assistants that they have entered into a new covenant with the residents because of the task ahead.

The governor urged the new appointees to perform their duties with the fear of God. He said: “People are aware of your past experiences and expect so much from you.”

According to him, the appointments are avenues for the state to actualise democratic dividends and representation to consolidate the yearnings of the electorate for prompt service delivery.

Bus crushes 10 in Gombe TEN people were yesterday crushed to death when a cement truck crashed into a taxi and bus stand in Gombe.

The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Chuks Osakwe said the crash occurred in Dukku.

Osakwe said the brakes on the cement truck failed, causing it to crash into the stand.

The road safety chief said the truck also destroyed seven vehicles and 15 motorcycles.

•Jang From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

ing the Sharia states. But Muslims still say Jang hates them.

I can challenge any governor in the North to counter this claim, if we are wrong. Rather than being appreciated, we are being condemned.”

Secretary of the Council of Ulamah Sheikh Lawal Farouk noted that there is a wide communication gap between the government and the Muslim community.

He urged Jang to reach out to the group to create mutual understanding and prevent suspicions.

The Head of Research Policy Advocacy of the group Samson Itodo said the dialogue was aimed at engaging youths in peace-building.

HE Federal Government yesterday set a 24month target for the eradication of polio in Nigeria.

It has set up a Special Team to achieve the target.

President Goodluck Jonathan spoke in Abuja during an audience with Mr. Bill Gates, the co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and some officials of the foundation.

The President said the Special Team would work with the foundation, states and local governments as well as traditional rulers, to sustain efforts at eradicating polio from the country.

He said: “I can assure you that we will work very hard on polio with the objective of eradicating it in the next 24 months. It is now limited to about six states and eradicating it within our tenure is a goal we will pursue with full commitment.”

Thanking Gates for the support of his foundation towards eradicating polio from Nigeria, Dr Jonathan promised that his administration would speed up action on this so that

•Bill Gates, Mark, governors assure on target From Vincent Ikuomola, Augustine Ehikioya, Onyedi Ojiabor (Assistant Editor), Sanni Onogu, Abuja and Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

the Gates’ Foundation can assist Nigeria in other areas.

Gates told President Jonathan that he had spent most of the week in Nigeria, reviewing the progress made on the polio eradication campaign and explore fresh ways to help Nigeria in agricultural development.

Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu said his administration was committed to eradicating the disease, adding that the government would punish indigenes who refuse polio vaccines on their children and wards.

Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan said the partnership with the Gates’

foundation showed the need for more efforts to eradicate the disease from Nigeria.

Senate President David Mark yesterday said Nigeria would not relent in the fight against the disease and other health challenges.

He said the Federal Government was committed to improving its enlightenment campaign against the disease.

Mark spoke in Abuja when he received Gates and members of his foundation.

A statement by his media aide, Paul Mumeh, quoted the Senate President as saying Nigeria would work harder to eradicate the disease before the end of next year.

He thanked Gates and his Foundation, saying: “We in Nigeria sincerely appreciate all your Foundation is doing and for giving our country greater

attention in polio eradication.”

Gates said his Foundation is in Nigeria on three major issues concerning polio, its vaccination and agriculture, adding that Nigeria is one of the four countries where polio is yet to be eradicated.

He promised to ensure that all African children are immunised against polio by 2013.

Gates spoke in Kano yesterday when he visited Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso at the Government House.

The founder of Microsoft, who was in Kano for an assessment of the anti-polio campaign, said he was concerned about the global campaign against the disease.

Kwankwaso praised Gates for his commitment to fighting the disease and other childkiller ailments.

He debunked the impression that polio is a spiritual attack, saying his administration is working to eliminate the factors responsible for the spread of its virus.

Addressing reporters yesterday in Abuja, Gates said polio could be eradicated in Nigeria within a few months.

He praised Nigerian leaders for stepping up efforts to rid the country of the disease and emphasised the Foundation’s commitment as a partner in the fight.

Gates met with top federal and state government officials as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to enable them understand the challenges of reaching children with oral polio vaccine and to strengthen routine immunisation.

Yakowa urges tribunal to dismiss petition •From left: Prof. Laz Ekwueme, a royal father from Anambra State; Dr. Alex Otti, Managing Director/CEO, Diamond Bank Plc; Chairman of the occasion Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd) during the Igbo Day 2011 at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos ...yesterday PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI

Protest in Benue over tribunal’s verdict

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OMMERCIAL and other activities were yesterday paralysed in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, as opposition parties protested what they described as a “cash-and-carry” verdict of the Appeal Court.

Labour began an indefinite strike over government’s nonimplementation of the N18,000 minimum wage.

Also, yesterday, the Appeal Court ordered a retrial of the petition by the state All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) governorship candidate by a new election tribunal.

As early as 6.30am, placardcarrying youths and women had taken to the streets, protesting the judgment of the Court of Appeal which dismissed the petition of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate, Prof Torkuma Ugba.

•Labour begins strike over minimum wage From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

The over-200 protesters blocked Wurukum round about, made bonfires and sang anti-Gabriel Suswam and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) songs. They also prevented vehicles from passing through the busy Maklurdi-Gboko, Makurdi-Enugu and MakurdiLafia federal highways.

There was traffic gridlock on Enugu-Lafia road and travellers were stranded at motor parks.

But the protest was peaceful .

Commercial banks in Makurdi closed and customers were turned back. Some parents ran into the protesters and returned their wards home as some schools remained close.

Despite the arrival of a de-

tachment of mobile policemen and soldiers, coupled with an early morning rain, the protesters, comprising half-naked old women, remained undaunted and dared the police to shoot at them.

Even when the policemen used tear gas, the protesters still surged forward, making the policemen to beat a retreat.

The protest reportedly spread to other suburbs such as Tilley Gyado village on Makurdi Gboko road, and Kanshio, on Makurdi-Enugu federal highway.

Governor Gabriel Suswam, who spoke through his media aide, Dr Cletus Akwaya, condemned the protest. He described it as the work of the opposition and vowed that security agencies would deal with

anyone found fomenting trouble.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ejike Alaribe said 26 people were arrested and would be charged to court.

The Court of Appeal, sitting in Makurdi, ordered that a new election tribunal under a new panel of judges be constituted to hear the petition of Prof Daniel Saror, the ANPP governorship candidate in the April election.

Justice Mohammed Tsamiya, who read the judgment, said the respondents – the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), PDP, and Suswam - should not have opposed the ground upon which the ANPP governorship candidate challenged the declaration of the governor.

Dakingari redeploys permanent secretaries

T

HE Kebbi State Government has redeployed seven permanent secretaries and two chief executives of boards.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Alhaji Muazu Dakingari, said Babale Umar Yauri of Ministry of Commerce has been redeployed to the Ministry of Information and Culture, while Alhaji Abdullahi Gebe Arugungu of the Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs, has been moved to the Commerce Ministry.

Mallam Halidu Sa’adu Libata was redeployed from the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to Civil Service Com-

From Khadijat Saidu, Birnin-Kebbi

mission.

Mallam Muktari Diri of the Ministry of Lands and Survey was moved to the Ministry of Establishment, while Musa Muhammed Kamba of the Ministry of Establishment was redeployed to that of Buget and Planning.

Dr. Faruk Abdullhai Maiyama was moved from Civil Service Commission to the Ministry of Education, while Mallam Abubakari Ruwa Bunza was redeployed from the Education Ministry to that of Environment. Aliyu Muammed Yelwa was moved to the Ministry of Lands and Housing.

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

K

ADUNA State Governor Patrick Yakowa yesterday urged the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Kaduna, to dismiss the petition challenging his election by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) candidate Haruna Sa’eed Kajuru and to uphold his victory in the April election.

The tribunal, led by Justice Garba Kwajafa, has reserved ruling for a later date as the parties in the case adopted their written addresses when the case came up for hearing yesterday.

Counsel to Yakowa, Yunus Ustaz Usman, who held the brief for the lead counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), told the tribunal that the petitioners failed to prove the case of corrupt practices.

He said: “The petitioners have admitted that they have not proved the issue of corrupt practices, as contained on Page 8, Paragraph 4.01 and Page 10, Paragraph 4.07 of the petitioners’ written addresses. We urge your Lordship to so hold.”

Usman averred that the respondents decided to “amplify” issues of criminal allegation and evaluation of dumped documents by the petitioners, adding: “The law is consistent to the effect that the documents the party intends to rely on must be demonstrated by witnesses who must tie each aspect of the documents to the petitioners’ aspect of the addresses by the witnesses, but not from the back.”

9

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

NEWS

Gunmen attack Odu’a conglomerate chief

T

HE Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, was attacked on Tuesday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, by suspected assassins.

Alli was on his way to a political meeting around 9pm, when eight gunmen emerged from the roadside and started shooting at his car.

The lawyer was kidnapped last April around Iyana Church also in Lagelu Local Government Area, a few kilometers from wherethe scene of Tuesday’s attack.

As early as 7am yesterday, Alli’s friends and family members were at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, before he was moved to a private suite in the hospital.

A source said seven bullets were extracted from Alli’s body.

•Seven bullets extracted from victim’s body From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

A politician, Mrs. Yetunde Ajibola, who was at the hospital with a former aide to ex-Governor Rashidi Ladoja, Bola Alphonso, described the attack as “an act of cowardice.”

In the April attack, Alli’s car, a black Toyota Camry (2009 model) , was snatched, but later abandoned at Orugbo in Odeda, Ogun State.

Alli’s aide, Alhaji Nureni Atanda, said in the Tuesday attack, the gunmen shot at the owner’s corner of the vehicle.

He said when the hoodlums discovered that Alli was driving, they told him to come down and shot him in the jaw and cheeks.

Atanda, who was with Alli, said he escaped and alerted some policemen a few kilometres away.

He said: “They were firing at me as I was running.

When I came out of the bush and found myself at a nearby village called Lagun, some policemen we had met earlier asked what was wrong and followed me to the scene of the incident.

“When we got near the spot, we saw Alhaji Alli crawling out of the bush. At first, he thought his assailants were back and was about running back, but I told him it was me and some policemen.

“He called my name and after assuring him that truly I was the one, we rushed to him and found that the car was still there. We rushed him to a nearby clinic, Tokotaya, but it was beyond their power. So we took him to UCH. His clothes were soaked in blood.

“I commend the efforts of

the policemen for being there to rescue him and save his life.”

Police Commissioner Moses Onireti said investigation of the attack had begun .

The preliminary report from the Divisional Police Officer showed that it was a robbery, he said.

At the hospital were Secretary to the State Government Waheed Olajide; Oyo State Chief Judge Justice Bolajoko, Commissioner for Works and Transport Yunus Akintunde; and his Finance counterpart, Zacch Adelabu.

Others were ex-President of the Central Council of Ibadan indigenes Chief Bode Amao, Commissioners, former lawmakers, local government chairmen and management and staff of Odu’a Conglomerate, among others.

Nigeria at 51: Fed Govt explains austere celebration From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

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HE Federal Government yesterday explained why it opted for a low-key celebration of the nation’s 51st Independence Anniversary.

It said the austere celebration has nothing to do with bomb explosions and threats by some militia groups.

Information and Communications Minister Mr. Labaran Maku said government set aside the celebration to reflect on issues, adding that “it is not every year that the government would roll out the drums.”

Maku said in the last one year, the country has had two elaborate celebrations – Nigeria’s 50th anniversary in 2010 and the inauguration of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration last May 29.

He said this is not the first time Nigeria would be avoiding an elaborate anniversary celebration.

The minister debunked yesterday’s reports in a national newspaper (not The Nation) linking the low-key celebration with security concerns about a possible attack by the Boko Haram sect.

He said: “Firstly, I’m disappointed by one of the front page stories in one of the leading newspapers today (yesterday), claiming that the Federal Government has stepped down celebrations in this year’s anniversary because of “Boko Haram ccare.” That story was the highest level of irresponsibility.

“Nigeria belongs to all of us and we must put the interest of this country first. The President has just signed the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act into Law as a sign of this administration’s commitment to promoting freedom of the press.

“It is increasingly a matter of concern the way a few newspapers have been reporting the security challenges this nation has. In the first instance, every Nigerian is aware that even during the military regime, it was not every anniversary that the nation celebrated with military parade.

“As a former commissioner in this dispensation, I know that for several years, we never celebrated independence with military parade, where pupils engage in march past.”

Reps to invoke FoI Act on MDAs

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•From left:El-Gammal, Kola-Balogun, Mrs. Madani, Prof. Okunmadewa and Ifaturoti...yesterday

Osun to benefit from N50b youth empowerment fund

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SUN State will benefit from the N50 Billion World Bank/Federal Government Youth Employment Fund.

The sector leader of the bank on Human Development, Professor Foluso Okunmadewa, who is also the Task leader on Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO) assessment, spoke yesterday after assessing members of the State Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) at their duty points in Olorunda, Osogbo and Ayedaade Local Government Areas of the state.

Okunmadewa said the state government has engaged youths in community development and the World Bank would help expand the scope of the scheme.

He said: “This is the third time we are coming to the state to assess the scheme, and so far, we have discovered that the government is showing other states in the country how to engage their youths constructively.

“From our past interaction with officials of the scheme, we realised that the scheme is getting beneficiaries involved in community responsibility, but this time, we are seeking the response of the corps members, so as to understand it more and help the state build upon the success it has achieved.”

Okunmadewa urged other states to emulate the scheme.

The six-man team interacted with corps members on their areas of specialty and where the scheme needs improvement.

Another member of the team, Yasser El-Gammal, said the

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scheme has the potential to be the best on the continent.

He said: “The World Bank is here to assess what the state government is doing and complement its effort by improving and helping to expand the project. We are impressed with what we see and believe it is a laudable programme.”

Commissioner for Youth, Sport and Special Needs, Stephen Kola-Balogun said the government is aware of the challenges facing the scheme and is working towards improving on them.

Explaining that Governor Rauf Aregbesola is passionate about youth empowerment, Kola-Balogun said: “Now, through OYES, the state’s economy is reaping about N200 million monthly, and at the moment, about 5,000 of the corps members are absorbed into the state teaching service, 5,000 others would be enrolled into the scheme, meaning more hands would be engaged soon.”

Chairman, OYES implementation Group, Femi Ifaturoti said the scheme is not only about engaging youths but also human capacity building.

Others members of the World Bank team are Mrs. Joy Medani, Dr. Olatunde Adekola, Dr. Sulaiman Yusuf and Dr. Aminu Alarudeen.

Others in the government’s team are Omotunde Young; Assistant Director, Community Forum, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye; OYES Commandant Col. Eni-Ibukun Oyewole (rtd) and Gbenga Odulaja.

Police to get seven APCs in Osun

OVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola has approved five Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) for the police command to combat robbery in Osun State.

Also, a police source, who pleaded for anonymity, said the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Rigim, has pledged to give the command

•Robbery suspect’s body recovered From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

two APCs in 10 days.

Commissioner for Information Sunday Akere said, at Wednesday’s State Executive Council meeting, Aregbesola approved that the APCs should be bought in two

weeks.

Akere said the lack of APCs in the state was one of the “liabilities” inherited from the ousted administration of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

Police Commissioner Solomon Olusegun said his men have recovered the body of one of the robbers

that attacked two new generation banks in Ilesa, on Wednesday.

Olusegun said two policemen, who were shot by the robbers, are recuperating in the hospital.

He said the command has begun investigating the robberies and assured the public that the hoodlums would be apprehended.

HE House of Representatives’ Committee on Reforms of Government Institutions yesterday said it would use the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act to address the collapse of infrastructure in the country.

It blamed the decay of infrastructure on the secrecy associated with governance by past leaders.

Chairman of the committee Mathew Omegara told reporters that the FoI law would promote transparency in the public service and conduct of government busi-

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

ness.

Omegara said: “The Act guarantees for every person, a right to access information or records held by government institutions, and in some instances from private institutions, except for areas classified in Sections 11-12, 14-17, 19 and 26 of the Act.” He said Section 2 of the Act requires public institutions to disclose basic information about their operation, activities and staff to the public.

Coronation for Ekiti monarch

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HE Onifisin of Ifinsin-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area, Oba Michael Fabunmi, Onarinla IV, will, on October 7, receive his instrument and staff of office from Governor Kayode at 10am.

The event will hold at the monarch’s palace.

The special guest of honour on the occasion include the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Pastor E. A. Adeboye; Chairman, Mr. Ade Ojo, Sterling Bank Plc, Dr. Adebola Adegunwa; Founder of Elizade Group of Companies, founder of Afe Babalola University, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) and the Deputy Governor Moses Adeyemo, who will be hnoured with the tittle of Otunba of IfinsinEkiti.

The convener of Ekitipanupo, an indigenous intellectual roundtable, ‘Okan’ Seye Adetunmbi, also made the honours list. Some other indigenes of ifisin-Ekiti will be recognised for their contributions to the community.

PUBLIC NOTICE GLAD TIDINGS TABERNACLE, NIGERIA. This is to inform the general public that the above named Church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part C of the CAMA 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1) Rev.Dr. Augustus Shola Agboola - President 2) Eld. Etim Brown - Secretary 3) Eld. (Dr.) James Babatunde Adeyemi - Treasurer 4) Sister Rebecca Shehu - Member 5) Mrs. Nnenne Brown - Member 6) Bro. Matthew Hassan - Member 7) Rev. (Mrs.) Mercy Agboola - Member 8.) Mr. Marcus Idoko - Member AIMS - To spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguyi Ironsi way, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: ADEYEMI AND ASSOCIATES 12 Atamunu Street, Calabar.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

10

NEWS Falae to present Kogi SDMP candidate THE Chairman of Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP), Chief Olu Falae, will, on Monday present the party’s candidate in the rescheduled governorship poll in Kogi State, Mr. Lawal Lamidi, and his running mate, Mr. Omorayewa Emmanuel Segun, to the public.

The ceremony, which will hold at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Lokoja, by noon, is expected to be attended by party supporters and members from within and outside the state.

Lamidi was endorsed at the party’s its convention at Geregu Primary School, Ajaokuta, on September 22, under the supervision of the state Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials.

INEC closes case at Kwara governorship tribunal •Witness admits non-compliance with election guidelines From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

•Belgore

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday closed its defence at the Kwara State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ilorin, the state capital.

The commission’s sixth witness had admitted that non-accreditation and noncompliance with the electoral guidelines characterised the April 26 governorship poll.

The commission called only six of the over 80 witnesses it earlier planned.

INEC’s supervisory officer for Lafiagi Ward 3, Mutuah Joshua, admitted that there was electoral malfeasance on Wednesday evening.

This prompted the commission’s counsel, Olajide Ayodele (SAN), to seek an adjournment till yesterday to call more witnesses.

But when the tribunal resumed yesterday, Ayodele said: “It is the decision of my colleagues and I not to call any more witnesses. We have, therefore, decided to close our defence accordingly.”

INEC is the fourth respondent in the petition. The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)

candidate, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN) is challenging the commission’s declaration of PDP candidate, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, as winner of the poll.

Joshua, who claimed that there was proper accreditation and lawful voting in Edu Local Government Area, backpedalled when confronted with the voters register from the area. The register showed no marks in the accreditation box.

Counsel to ACN Osaro Eghobamien (SAN) had asked Joshua whether voting would be considered valid where there was no accreditation and he had admitted that accredi-

NOA, CAN, JNI seek peace in Plateau

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HE Plateau State chapter of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) yesterday urged the residents to embrace peace to ensure that development returns to the state.

They spoke at a prayer session to mark the National Day of Prayer for Nigeria organised by the Nigeria Prayer Project (NPP) and the Yakubu Gowon Foundation (YGF).

NOA’s Acting Director, Musa Chantu said the gathering became necessary follow-

•Residents gather for National Prayer Day From Marie-Therese Peter, Jos

ing the increase in violence across the nation.

He lamented the militancy in the Niger Delta; kidnappings in the Southeast; bombings by the Boko Haram sect in the Northeast; as well as the incessant ethno-religious conflicts in Jos. Chantu noted that the violence and conflicts have increased insecurity in the country.

He said: “We have become like a nation against itself,

such that there is no place that is safe in Nigeria. The security challenges have not only threatened our peace but have also threatened our existence as a corporate entity. The level of resources committed to combating these crises as well as the colossal loss of lives and property have stagnated the nation’s development.”

The state Chairman of CAN Rev Phillips Dafes, was represented by Rev. Andrew Dido, and the Secretary-General of the state branch of JNI,

Sheikh Abdulazeez Yusuf, offered special prayers for the state and the nation.

He urged Nigerian leaders to be fair to those under them, saying there would be no peace anywhere without peace from the followers.

CAN, the National InterReligious Council (NIREC), the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), among others, collaborated for the programme.

tation is the only evidence that lawful voting took place.

Eghobiamen also asked him to confirm whether the six boxes on the right hand side of the voters register, especially the abbreviations Pre (Presidential), NASS (National Assembly), and GHA (Governorship/House of Assembly) provided in the voting columns meant anything.

Joshua again admitted that the abbreviations and the boxes meant different elections. He, however, denied knowing which elections the abbreviations or the boxes represented.

He also admitted that the mark in each of the boxes meant separate elections, nailing the evidence of his colleagues who denied that the boxes and marks meant different elections.

Out of the over 800 polling units the ACN is challenging, at least 400 are alleged not to have evidence of accreditation even though votes were returned from them.

Other units were also alleged to have been marred by inflation of results, discrepancies between entries on different electoral result sheets, misapplication of ballot papers, violence, disenfranchisement, and other irregularities.

The tribunal adjourned till October 27, when the parties will adopt their written addresses.

‘Mismanagement cause flood’ From Eunice Bosua, Jigawa

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EGLIGENCE and mismanagement of rivers are the major causes of perennial flooding in the country, the Chairman of Hadejia Jama’are Kamadudgu Yobe Basin Authority, Bunu Sheriff Musa, has said.

Musa spoke in Gutse, the Jugawa State capital, at the conference on the presentation of a roadmap for flood control in the upper Hadejia-Yobe basin.

Describing the conference as timely and necessary, Musa hoped that it would help to address flooding in the six catchment areas in the Hadejia River Basin.

He noted that flooding is the result of years of mismanaging rivers.

Musa said the solution to perennial flooding lies in the implementation of the integrated water resources management practice, “which we hope will be achieved at the conference”.

Governor Sule Lamido lamented the devastation floods have caused in the state in the past few years and urged the board to find a solutions to the problem to avert more disasters.

The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to collaborate with other governments and agencies to control flooding in Jigawa.

Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Muktari Mohammed, thanked the river basin’s board for making Jigawa the venue and promising that the meeting would solve the problem of flooding in the region.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

The Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NEBT) shall exist only as long as it takes the distribution firms to become creditworthy and be able to directly negotiate their own power purchase pacts.

-Prof Barth Nnaji, Minister of Power

ICAN to sanction erring accountants

NSE commences ranking of brokers

From Okungbowa Aiwerie,

By Tonia Osundolire

Asaba

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HE Nigerian Stock Ex change (NSE) has com menced the ranking of stock brokers in a bid to stimulate demand on the floor of the Exchange. This stemmed from the solutions and suggestions reached at the monthly Chief Executive Meeting held recently at the Exchange.

At the meeting, it was gathered that the Chief Executive Officer of the Exchange, Mr Oscar Onyema, presented a sample of ranking, which was based on the daily transactions of the chosen stock brokering houses in the past eight months.

The ranking will be based on volume and value of shares traded in the market, with a view to stimulating a healthy competition among the stock brokers.

In terms of volume, BGL Securities Limited led the pack trailed by Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Ltd, Rencap Securities Nigeria Ltd, CSL Stockbrokers Ltd and Zenith Securities Ltd. Others are APT Securities and Funds Ltd, FBN Securities Ltd, Cashcraft Asset Management Ltd, Vetiva Securities Ltd and Meristem Securities Ltd. For the top 10 value of transactions, Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers limited led the list, followed by Rencap Securities Ltd, CSL Stockbrokers Ltd, BGL Securities Ltd, Zenith Securities Ltd, and Vetiva Securities Ltd. Others are Chapel Hill Denham Securities Ltd, Afrinvest West Africa Ltd, Cordros Capital Ltd and ARM Securities Ltd. The ranking was based on the last eight months up till September 16, 2011.

In another weekly ranking for the week ended September 23,2011, Rencap Securities displaced BGL to lead the list on the top 10 volume traded.

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

-N6.747 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion

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

FOREX -

0.281 215.1 245.00 153.16 1.5652 243.2 40.57

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• From right: The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of FinBank Plc, Mrs. Suzanne Iroche; Chairman of the bank, Dr. Theo Chike Osanakpo (SAN) and acting secretary, Mr. Tony Ibekwe, at the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Bank held on September 29, 2011 in Abuja.

Shareholders approve FinBank, FMCB merger S

HAREHOLDERS of FinBank Plc and First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc have approved the business combination deal between the two lenders. This will create a bank with almost N1 trillion asset base and more than one million customers.

At the extra-ordinary general meeting (EGM) of FinBank held in Abuja, 85.7 per cent of the votes supported the combination with FCMB. Voting at EGM for business combination is usually by poll and each share carries a vote. A merger or acquisition requires at least 75 per cent of the shares of each of the merging company to scale through.

In her remarks, group managing director, FinBank, Mrs. Suzanne Iroche, said the decision of the shareholders to see the merger through was

By Taofik Salako

the best thing that has happened to FinBank under the circumstance.

She noted that the business combination would create a leading financial institution with impeccable capabilities to lead the frontiers of the Nigerian banking industry.

Chairman of FinBank, Dr. Theo Chike Osanakpo said with the overwhelming positive support for the business combination, shareholders have concluded a move considered important in salvaging shareholder value.

According to him, FinBank has now met the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) September 30 recapitalisation deadline given

to all the intervened banks while the shareholders’ vote of confidence on its board has created an opportunity for customers of the bank to be part of bigger financial institution.

In a related development, at the EGM of FCMB held in Lagos yesterday, shareholders almost unanimously approved the business combination with FinBank with 99.97 per cent of the shares of the bank voting in favour of the deal.

They also ratified two resolutions endorsing the $50 million loan and $20 million convertible loan taken from International Finance Corporation (IFC) and consequently empowered the board to issue shares to IFC

whenever the global financial institution decides to exercise its conversion right.

With the overwhelming shareholders’ consents, FCMB would take over all assets and liabilities of FinBank in consideration for issuance of FCMB shares and cash payment to shareholders of FinBank.

Speaking on the benefits of the business combination, group managing director, FCMB, Mr. Ladi Balogun, said the merger was an important phase of the growth of the bank as it would create a robust platform to achieve significant growths in operations and returns in the years ahead.

According to him, the combination of the two banks has the potential to deliver a more robust balance sheet and improve earnings for the benefit of all the shareholders.

Arisekola-Alao accuses GTBank of misleading court

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USINESS magnate, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola Alao yesterday told a Federal High Court in Lagos that it was misled by Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) into granting orders freezing some of his assets over a disputed N6.9billion debt.

In two applications by his lawyers, led by Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), Arisekola Alao urged the court to vacate the orders of mareva injunction made on July 27, having allegedly been obtained fraudulently.

He sought the dismissal a bankruptcy petition brought against him by the bank on the grounds that the bank ,represented by Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), hid from the court “all material facts” that would have afforded it a clear understanding of the dispute.

He challenged the competence of the bankruptcy petition, arguing that the purported debt, on which it was based, was currently a subject of two suits (FHC/IB/2011 and FHC/638/2011, pending both at the Federal High Courts, Ibadan and Lagos.

Other grounds raised in Alao’s applications were that

• Judge, ex-NBA boss clash over procedure

By Eric Ikhilae

aside the bank’s failure to disclose facts necessary to its application, the court lacked the jurisdiction to have entertained it, because most of the affected assets were outside the court’s jurisdiction.

He added that application upon which the orders were granted were not only an abuse of court process but also the bank failed to give undertaking as to damages, and that it also misrepresented facts as it failed to inform the court of the existence of two suits over the same loan dispute.

In supporting his argument that the bank abused the process of court in obtaining the injunction, the businessman averred that despite the existence suit in Ibadan, instituted in May this year by him and his company, Lister Flour Mills Nigeria Limited, the bank filed a similar suit before another Federal High Court in Lagos.

He further averred that rather than prosecute the suit it fled in Lagos, the bank commenced another case in form of a bankruptcy proceeding, even when

no court had declared him indebted to the bank. He argued that the bankruptcy petition was not filed in accordance with due process as there is no creditor before the court as required under the Bankruptcy Act. First Bank Nigeria Plc, one of the companies in which Arisekola Alao has investment, has also filed an application for the discharge of the mareva order on the grounds that part of the frozen properties were assets of the bank.

Yesterday, the applications could not be heard owing to argument by the bank’s lawyer, Norrison Quakers, who said he was served with the processes on Tuesday and that he required time to study them and respond.

The court, who had wanted to hear the applications, particularly that seeking the vacation of the injunction, owing to disagreement over when the processes were served on the bank’s lawyer, was however, constrained when a court’s Bailiff, Mr. Lawal confirmed that he served only on Tuesday even when the applications were filed on August 16.

At a point, before the adjourn-

ment of the case, a disagreement arose between the judge, Justice Okechukwu Okeke and Arisekola Alao’s lead lawyer, Akeredolu (SAN) on whether or not lawyers would be allowed to make oral submission in support of their written submission at the next proceedings.

Justice Okeke insisted that the practice in his court was that lawyers were not allowed to make oral submission while adopting their written submission; Akeredolu told the judge that such a practice was against the culture of advocacy in legal practice. He accused the judge of acting wrongly in granting the July 27 injunction against his client.

Silence enveloped the court while the exchange went on as everyone in court was stunned.

When the nerves later became calm, Justice Okeke said when he adjourned the hearing of the substantive case to November 7 after granting the mareva injunction, he included a provision that any aggrieved parties have the right to bring any urgent application to court at any time before the November date.

Hearing of pending applications has been fixed for October 5 and 6.

RESIDENT, the Institute of Chartered Accoun tants of Nigeria (ICAN), Prof. Francis Ojaide has threatened disciplinary measures against accountants aiding tax evaders.

Prof. Ojaide, gave this warning yesterday in Warri, during a courtesy visit on the Executive Chairman, Delta State Board of Internal Revenue (DSBIR), Mr. JoelOnowakpo Thomas.

His words “Any Chartered Accountant that aids and abet those not paying tax should be arraigned through the Institutes disciplinary process because it is very wrong and unacceptable. ICAN does not believe in that. We believe that people should pay their tax as good citizens. It is unprofessional and unacceptable to ICAN for her members to be clogs in the wheel of development.

“I was made to understand that in this State, people are refusing to pay tax, that is not good enough. No State develops without Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). So, the tax law, which is the Personal Income tax Act 2004 in this particular instance is for the generality of the people. And it is from those taxes that you embark on infrastructural development. The roads cannot develop without payment of taxes. There is no way you can run away from tax.”

Nokia to cut 3,500 more jobs, close factory

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OKIA will eliminate 3,500 jobs, shut a mo bile-phone factory in Romania and inject 1 billion euros ($1.4 billion) with Siemens AG (SIE) into their unprofitable network-equipment venture.

The closure of the plant in Cluj, which only began production in 2008, along with adjustments with suppliers will take out 2,200 positions, Nokia said yesterday. The company according to Bloomberg news, will also reorganise its map business, cutting 1,300 jobs, and review the future of its handset plants in Finland, Hungary and Mexico.

The reductions come on top of 4,000 job cuts announced in April, mainly in research and development. Chief Executive Officer Stephen Elop is slimming Espoo, Finlandbased Nokia after losing market share to Apple Inc. and as faster-moving Asian competitors such as HTC Corp. drove the price of smartphones with computer-like features below $100.

“It seems there’s a shortfall in volumes compared to what the company expected last spring and now they need to adjust production to meet lower levels of demand,” said Michael Schroeder, a Helsinki-based analyst at FIM Bank.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

12

BUSINESS NEWS

‘Standard Bank may buy GTBank’ S

TANDARD Bank Group Ltd., which this year re versed international expansion plans to focus on Africa, may consider buying a stake in Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, the most profitable of Nigeria’s biggest banks.

Standard Bank Group according to Bloomberg news, said last month it may buy a consumer bank in Nigeria.

Guaranty, Nigeria’s secondbiggest lender, is the most likely target because of its high return on equity and wide margins, according to Ilan Stermer, a Johannesburg-based banking analyst at Renaissance Capital.

“The expansion of Standard Bank’s retail business in Nigeria is critical to its success in Africa,” said Faizal Moolla, a banking analyst at Avior Research Ltd. in Cape Town who has a “buy” rating on the lender. “Nigeria has a huge population and given its growth prospects, the bank needs to have a bigger presence.”

Nigeria is forecast to overtake South Africa as the

continent’s largest economy by 2025, Morgan Stanley economists said in a report in June. Rising oil prices and consumer spending are helping the expansion, according to Morgan Stanley. That growth is attracting overseas lenders from the U.K.’s Barclays Plc to South Africa’s FirstRand Ltd. Standard Bank is seeking to revive the profitability of its operations in Africa after aborting plans to expand in Russia and Argentina. The lender is the worst-performing stock on the six-member FTSE/JSE Africa Banks Index after dropping 10 per cent this year, three times the benchmark’s 3.1 per cent decline.

Johannesburg-based Standard Bank will have about $1 billion in surplus capital during 2012 after disposing of its Russian venture and selling stakes in its Argentine units.

The lender isn’t in talks or conducting due diligence on

any Nigerian lenders, spokeswoman Kate Johns said. GTBank is not in talks with Standard Bank, Lola Odedina, a spokeswoman for the Nigerian lender, said.

While Standard Bank’s overall return on equity rose to 14.5 per cent in the first half, from 13.5 per cent a year earlier, its operations in 16 African nations outside South African posted a return of 7 per cent, after taking into account goodwill, development costs and converting earnings back into rand.

GTBank’s 19 per cent return on equity surpasses that of Nigerian rivals United Bank for Africa Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Plc and Zenith Bank Plc, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The Lagos-based lender has the widest net interest margin at 7.8 per cent, the data show.

The bank may post a 23 percent return on equity this year, more than First Bank’s 16.4 per cent and Zenith’s 15 per cent, according to Renaissance estimates.

Credit bureaus move against predator he said.

REDIT bureaus in the borrowers getHethesaidloan,” commercial banks country are planning

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to issue credit score for key borrowers in the banking sector and sell same to banks.

The score will enable banks decide the cut-off for different classes of loans and take quicker decisions in loan appraisal and approval processes.

Managing Director/CEO Credit Registry Services, Taiwo Ayedun who confirmed this in an interview, explained that a credit score is a number assigned to a customer based on statistical analysis of a his credit files, to represent the creditworthiness of that such person.

Ayedun said his firm has the backing of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to roll the product, advising that customers with low credit score can improve on it to enable them obtain the desired facilities.

He said credit score is primarily based on credit report information sourced from credit bureaus. Lenders, such

By Collins Nweze

as banks and credit card companies, use credit scores to evaluate the potential risk posed by lending money to consumers and to mitigate losses due to bad debt.

He added that banks can also use credit scores to determine who qualifies for a loan, at what interest rate, and what credit limits.

“Banks also use credit scores to determine, which customers are likely to bring in the most revenue. The use of credit or identity scoring prior to authorising access or granting credit is an implementation of a trusted system,” he said.

Ayedun explained that when a customer is handed his credit score, such document can be used to obtain a class of loan based on the cut off attached to it. “If a customer scored 650 and the cut off for auto loan is 700, such customer is not qualified to

are still the major users of credit bureau services, but other industries are embracing to improve their risk management processes.

The firm provides access to comprehensive credit bureau data base to help banks make improved lending decisions.

He explained that portfolio monitoring, which is part of its services to clients, enables banks to comply with CBN directive on riskbased supervision. It also makes it easier for the bank to be aware of customers’ loan commitment with other lenders. It also creates credit marketing opportunities.

But there are challenges which the industry is facing that have to be addressed for it to move forward. One of such is the lack of unique identifier where many bank customers have different identity cards, making it difficult for the bureau to harmonise them.

NPA staffers flay sales of London office

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HE Senior Staff Asso ciation of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan and the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar to stop the sales of the NPA properties in the United Kingdom.

Speaking at a conference organised by the Senior Staff Association of Communications, Transport and Corporations (SSACTAC), NPA branch in Abuja yesterday, the President, comrade Umar Omeiza Jimoh criticised the purported sales of the NPA properties in London and warned the Federal Government from selling the ‘national heritage’.

The sales of the properties, Jimoh said, will only generate 40 per cent of the accrued revenue to the Federal Government, 20 per cent to the agent, while the government of the United Kingdom will earn 40 per cent as taxes.

The union therefore, suggested that the properties be put to commercial use, say-

By Oluwakemi Dauda

ing that the 40 per cent of its value can be generated within two years.

The union also wants the minister to rescind the directive that ocean going oil tankers be charged 50 per cent of their accrued revenue to the NPA. The association is also seeking the reversal of the earlier directive granting ocean vessel to berth at the private jetties.

This, the union said, posses security threat to the nation and has negative impact on revenue generation of the terminal operators and NPA. Jimoh said the purported sales of NPA’s properties in London should be halted by the Federal Government.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of NPA, Omar Suleiman, who was represented by the General Manager, Public Afffairs, Chief Michael Ajayi said the port reform programme of

the Federal Government would be put under serious monitoring by the authority.

The management, Suleiman said, is committed to the improvement of staff welfare. He promised the workers a conducive work environment.

The past three years, Suleiman said, had been fruitful and rewarding for the management of the authority and the staff in the areas of enhancement of staff salaries, payment of monetisation arrears, review of gratuity policy, introduction of new conditions of service and recent promotion of staff.

He promised that the authority would embark on capacity building to prepare its workers for the challenges ahead.

He also urged the workers to put in their best, stressing that hard work would be cherished by the current management of the authority.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

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THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

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THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

AGRO-BUSINESS

W

ITH the completion of yet another ultra-modern riceprocessing mill by EbonyAgro Industries Limited, the country appears to be on the path of self-sufficiency in rice production.

Situated in Ekpa-Omaka in Ikwo, a rice-planting area of Ebonyi State, the 50,000 tonnes mill will redefine rice production in the state. The mill is the outcome of a public private sector partnership investment initiative.

A former President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Chairman, EbonyAgro Industries Limited, Charles Ugwuh, said the company is committed to the development

Firm builds rice mill Stories by Daniel Essiet, Agric Correspondent

and proper co-ordination of rice production value chain in the state, comprising agricultural input suppliers, farmers, storage and logistics providers, among others, to make rice production in the state competitive and commercially viable.

The company is also partnering with the state government to establish an industrial cluster for rice processing in Ikwo Local Government Area.

According to him, the inauguration of the EbonyAgro rice-processing mill, which starts production in October, as well as the establishment of a rice-processing cluster in the state, will change the role of the players on the value chain, dividing their functions in a way that is most efficient. It will enable the farmer to focus on what he knows how to do best, which is to plant rice. Same for the processor.

“The old system where the farmer dries his five to 10 bags of

harvested rice paddy, parboils it, goes to the mill and processes it for a fee before heading for the market to sell will no longer be feasible. It can no longer be competitive. In spite of the rigours involved, farmer will not produce high quality rice. He is likely to parboil with dirty water, put the rice on the highway to dry.”

With EbonyAgro Industries Limited bridging the rice processing gap and offering linkages to the market, rice farmers in the state will concentrate more on farming, thereby growing from mere subsistence farming into a commercially viable enterprise. To make this a reality, the company intends to bring young enterprising graduates to inter-mediate between it and farmers to improve efficiency by bringing technology to land preparation. This will ensure that the farmer builds capacity and can operate rice farms as a commercial enterprise that pays profit, not as mere subsistence.

Established to process locally

• Ugwu

sourced paddy rice into parboiled polished rice of international standard, EbonyAgro rice mill will revolutionise the entire rice value chain in the state.

Association calls for production-oriented policies

T

• Banana and plantain market at Ikire, Osun State.

Gombe votes N2b for co-operatives

G

OMBE State government has promised to contribute N2 billion in the first two quarters of next year to its co-operative scheme launched recently.

Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo, said in Abuja that the money would be budgeted to match the N1 billion fund for this year.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the agreement to provide counterpart funding to match the Bank of Industry’s fund for the project.

“The facility that we have signed an agreement on with the bank of Industry is like a revolving facility. It is initially for N500 million; that means we will provide N250 million, Bank of Industry will provide too,” he said.

“When they exhaust that, we’ll add another N250 million and they’ll add N250 million before the end of the year; that brings the total to N1 billion.

“By next year, when we take full charge of the budget, we will add N1 billion in the first quarter of 2012 and another billion in the second quarter of 2012 so that we have N3 billion rolling around Gombe farmers and Gombe businessmen.”

Dankwambo said the scheme would aid the production of cotton, tomatoes, grains and other commodities and also help cooperative societies to establish small scale businesses and enterprises in the state.

He promised the state’s involvement in the value chain of the products processing from cultivation to packaging of prod-

ucts.

He said: “We will promote and add to the complete value chain; that means from planting up to packaging and disposal of products at the market.

“That we have done and the process has commended in Gombe and Gombe people have started benefiting.”

On harnessing the state’s natural resources, the governor said his administration would partner with the Federal Government and investors to harness the huge potential of its coal resource.

“We have large deposits of coal, very fine coal that Federal Government has discovered and they have gone ahead to conduct a study to find out that it is there in commercial quantity, for commercial use.

“They’ve gone ahead further to engage a partner to work out a coal power plant that will be located in three areas in Nigeria.

“And we were told in the funding structure that the Federal Government will take a portion, the state will take and the investors too will take. So, whatever proportion allotted to Gombe State, we are ready to take it 100 per cent.”

Dankwambo, a former Accountant-General of the Federation, promised to work out modalities for capacity building to enhance the economy of the state.

Meanwhile, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Gombe State chapter, has appealed to the state government to urgently assist cotton farmers in the state in curbing the menace of pests on their farms.

The AFAN Chairman in Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area, Mallam Sule Meri, made the appeal in Gombe.

Meri said the farmers needed urgent assistance to tackle the menace to minimise imminent loss in their yields.

According to him, many farmers have embarked on cotton farming due to the encouragement given by the present administration.

He noted that a lot of them had invested in the farms but were yet to receive any assistance from the government.

His words: “If care is not taken, a lot of farmers will experience losses because of the damages done by the insects.

“Many of us will lose confidence again in the business because our crops have grown but the insects are posing serious problems to the farms”.

Also, the AFAN Chairman in Shongom Local Government Area, the Rev. Umar Sambo, said farmers in his zone were experiencing the problem but not on a large scale.

He said there were indications that the farmers would harvest more crops this year than in the previous years.

According to him, the anticipated good yields are as a result of adequate fertiliser distribution to large-scale farmers in the state.

He advised the government to ensure due process in the distribution of fertiliser at district, village and ward levels, using the traditional rulers who know the real farmers in their areas.

HE President, Lagos State Fadama Apex Association, Alhaji Abiodun Oyelekan, has called for clearer market signals and a more production-oriented policy framework that will allow farmers meet the rising domestic demand for food.

Speaking with The Nation, Oyelekan argued that increased home food production would be vital in keeping inflation in check and boosting economic recovery.

Farmers, he maintained, need clear and transparent signals to make informed production choices.

Calling for the return of marketing boards, in view of the increase in price volatility, he argued that once marketing boards are in place, the government will be able to facilitate supply chain agreements and become preferred suppliers of traceable and sustainable products, where risk is managed and shared.

With the right framework and signals from partners in the food chain, Oyelekan, said farmers would be able to respond to the challenges of producing more food.

He said farmers need policies that encourage production and efficiency.

He said farmers need a transparent, open and an accessible market where they can dispose their products, with knowledge of prevailing prices.

Oyelekan said marketing boards will revitalise agricultural productivity, including agric extension, support infrastructure for small farmers, including quality warehousing, finance, as well as market price information.

He said poor marketing systems are holding back the fight against hunger by denying food producers appropriate compensation, adding that lack of well compensating marketing systems is discouraging growers who are already faced with escalating costs of production.

According to him, farm gate prices are often low even when prices at other levels are booming, saying that the presence of marketing boards will fix the missing link for the farmers.

He said under the proposed marketing board system, there would be a common standard for the producers to set prices.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Ag-

riculture and Rural Development, Dr Akin Adesina, has said the Federal Government plans to establish a cocoa marketing and trade development corporation.

He dropped the hint in Abuja at the roundtable conference on the development of the nation’s cocoa sector.

Adesina expressed the hope that the establishment of the corporation would help in curtailing the dwindling fortunes of the cocoa industry in Nigeria.

He said efforts were at an advanced stage to increase cocoa production from its current 600,000 tonnes per annum.

Adesina stated that the establishment of Ghana Cocoa Board had enabled that country to achieve a remarkable progress in the cocoa sector.

He also said the establishment of Ghana Cocoa Board had given the country international recognition as a b i g p l a y e r i n t h e w o r l d cocoa industry.

“When established, the proposed cocoa marketing and development corporation, would make cocoa production in Nigeria to be efficient and competitive in the global cocoa market,” said Adesina.

According to him, the establishment of the corporation will require the injection of a huge amount of funds.

• Adesina

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

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AGRO-BUSINESS

Lagos moves to tackle animal Improving agric in Ebonyi T diseases HE Lagos State Government is taking steps to tackle animal diseases to save the livestock industry.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Co-operatives, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, who announced this in Lagos, at a stakeholders’ workshop on the importance of databank and early warning system in the livestock industry, said disease outbreaks have affected poor households who depend on livestock for livelihood and food security.

He said Africa Swine fever and Avian influenza remain a threat as were lack of capacity for enhanced surveillance as well as detection and response.

The commissioner said

By Daniel Essiet, Agric Correspondent

the devastation caused by the diseases have led to substantial job losses, closure of farms, fall in standard of living and the attendant threat to food security.

“The near total loss situation was worsened by dearth of credible records and insurance policies at the farm and state levels. This was occasioned by the fears of farmers to present accurate records because of peer group effect and tax purposes, among others,” he

said.

To this end, Lawal said the state is ready to commit financial and human resources to combat diseases and develop outbreak response plans.

The strategy is to introduce data bank to serve as the data base for disease prevention, control and registration of operators in the livestock industry. An early warning system is also to be established.

The commissioner said the state is determined to provide clearer market signals and a more production-

geared policy framework that will allow farmers to meet rising domestic demand for food.

He said increased home food production would be vital in keeping food price inflation in check and boosting economic recovery within the state.

With the right political framework and the right signals from the food chain, Lawal said farmers can and will respond to the challenges of producing more food.

He said the government is ready to improve the efficiency of the supply chain and secure an operational framework which is geared to the needs of a productive, forward-looking industry on the other.

• Lawal (right), Programme Manager, Agric Development Authority, Mr Kayode Ashafa (left) and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operative, Dr Olajide Bashorun, at the workshop.

PHOTO: OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL

Agbekoya farmers declare war against hunger

A

GBEKOYA Farmers’ Association (AFA), the umbrella body of all farmers in the southwest, has declared war on food scarcity and hunger, saying to the Federal Government, enough of food importation.

It was at the first national conference of the association with the theme, Feeding the Nation, which was sponsored

by Wema Bank Plc. and took place at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja.

In his speech, the association’s President-General, Chief Kamorudeen Okikiola, urged the Federal and state governments to arrest the growing hunger in the land by providing Agbekoya farmers with grants, loans and partnership to boost large-scale farming

By Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

across the country.

His words: “Agbekoya Farmers Association strongly believes that if the federal and state governments support and partner with real farmers, agriculture will be restored to its glorious days in Nigeria. It is sad that successive administrations in the country had in the past, put in place various laudable agricultural programmes like Operation Feed the Nation (OFN), Green Revolution and many others, but those programmes failed us because of lack of proper implementation and direct assistance to the voiceless rural farmers.”

Okikiola, however added: “We, in the AFA, are ready to feed the nation by, among other things, partnering with federal and state governments, international agencies like NEPAD, Agric Business Roundtable (ABR), private sectors agro-allied industries, ministry of agriculture, and agricultural banks.

“Apart from assisting farmers to market and export their farm produce, we are also out to establish agroprocessing cottage industries in the rural areas and also acquire hectares of land for mechanised and commercial farming across the regions.

“We will also establish farmers’ markets in various parts of the country; set up

storage facilities for our farmers; establish model farms for specialised cash and food crops in different locations in the country as well as establish agro-input centres, all in our desperate effort to arrest the current hunger in our rich environment.”

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, who was represented by Dr. Olajide Ayinla of the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, pledged Federal Government’s support for AFA, maintaining that the government was irrevocably committed to its agricultural transformation agenda to boost food production in the land.

‘Ondo can achieve sufficiency in rice, tomato production’

T

HE All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Ondo State has said the state can attain self-sufficiency in rice and tomato production, if the government assists farmers.

The state Chairman Mr Joshua Oyedele said in Akure that no government that wants to achieve food sufficiency “should play poli-

tics with agriculture”.

“If rice farmers are given incentives and loans by the state government, we will export rice to other parts of the country and West Africa,” he said.

Oyedele advised Gov Olusegun Mimiko to give priority to agriculture to ensure that the sector takes its pride of place in the scheme

of things.

He also suggested that the state government should consider engaging retirees in government-owned farm settlements.

According to him, if retired civil servants are given the right incentives and put on the farms, they would put in their best and be more committed than fresh university

graduates, who he said, may not want to make a career in agriculture.

Oyedele said AFAN members had cultivated tomato seedlings that would mature in two months and appealed to the state government to assist the farmers so that rice and tomatoes could be planted in commercial quantity in the state.

By Daniel Essiet, Agric Correspondent

A

GRICULTURE is a major industry in Ebonyi State.

An estimated eighty-five per cent of the populat i o n earn their living from one form of agricultural activity or another.

The state’s agricultural productivity is known nationwide especially the popular Abakaliki brand of rice is cultivated throughout the state.

Other food crops grown in large quantities include yam, cassava, maize, cocoyam, cowpea and groundnut. Cash crops such as oil palm, cashew, cocoa and rubber are also vigorously cultivated. The availability of large arable land, rivers and streams has made farming very attractive.

There is also fishing, particularly along the Aboine River, which crosses the north central parts of the state and Cross River, down to the southern part of the state.

Livestock farming is also widely practised in the state with the traditional rearing of animals, such as goats, pigs, chicken, cows, horses and pets. There is cattle ranching in Onicha, Ohaozara and Ishielu LGAs. The state government’s agricultural development programme is three pronged: a direct public participation through the establishment of agro based industries; tree crop plantations; irrigation and the provision of fertilisers and seeds; public participation in commercial private agricultural production, is through joint ventures in large scale crop, livestock and fish farming with farmers and other private entrepreneurs, both local and foreign; and smallholder agricultural production, in which government seeks to emphasise the role of the small-holder.

Ebonyi State has eleven gazetted forest reserves and many sacred grooves which protect the rich biodiversity in the state.

The Akanto game reserve (with an area of about 450 hectares) is a protected area where endemic wildlife • Governor Martins Elechi species are conserved.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources has planted over 2,000 seedlings of teak at Effrum and Ovuum Ozizza reserve. The state is also participating in the forest reserve study of the Federal Government aimed at the development of a forestry management plan.

The agricultural lands as well as the mineral resources offer enormous potential for profitable investment by local and foreign interests.

The rich agricultural potential has provided the raw materials base for traditional industries. Modern industrialisation will, however, be more feasible in food processing. There are efforts to reach farmers in the rural areas towards producing tangible changes at the household level and family economic empowerment.

The overall goal of the government’s agriculture programme is to contribute to poverty reduction by improving the living standard of small-scale farmers.

The other goals are to improve food and nutrition security; increase income through the sale of agriculturalrelated products and services.

Overall, the state government wants to guarantee food security while providing the right incentives for smallholders and large producers to emerge in the market. The Government’s aim is to encourage a private sector-led agriculture industry while ensuring that enough food is available in the country.

The present administration has put in place programmes to promote investment in agriculture.

One of these is creating an enabling environment to attract private sector and small scale operators’ interest in farm production, processing and trade.

The main thrust of it is provision of effective agricultural services that will ensure sustainable agricultural growth. Specific programmes to achieve sustainable food production and enhancing agricultural productivity and farmers’ income include: crop seed multiplication and distribution, promoting “traditional” food crops such as cassava, and yam, research into high yielding drought/pests tolerant food crops, soil fertility initiatives to combat soil degradation, livestock disease control measures, such as massive vaccinations; and provision of extension services to farmers on crops, livestock, and fisheries.

As part of the strategy to improve food securities, the state government is implementing the Fertiliser Support programme, which is to improve access by small farmers to input.

Strategy to realise sustainable food productions at community level is being implemented.

Government’s effort to ensure availability of agricultural input is well-co-ordinated. Markets are operative through rural co-operatives, and the infrastructure are being maintained through a functional Ministry of Works.

17

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Last week’s ruling by the Ebonyi State Governorship Tribunal has further widened the political divide. Correspondent OGBONNAYA OBINNA reports how bribery allegations are threatening the peace of the state.

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OTHING in the mien of Jus tice Nuhu Galandanchi, chairman of the Ebonyi State Governorship Election Tribunal, suggested that he would soon be enveloped by controversy as he made to deliver his ruling on an application by the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) candidate, Senator Julius Ucha to present the result of the forensic examination of ballot papers in the last governorship election in the state.

As the three members of the tribunal adjusted their sitting position following fierce swordcrossing by counsel to the petitioners and defendants, there was dead silence in the court room. It was obvious that the decision to be made could be decisive. All the counsel and politicians tried to see if anything on the facial expression of the judges could give an indication of where the pendulum would swing. They did not have to wait for too long. The verdict: The report was inadmissible.

That was last week. It was the beginning of a hail of debates and controversies across the Ebonyi political landscape. The questions that have dominated major discussions since last week are: Was that verdict fair or procured? Did money change hands; if so, who gave?

The tribunal had, at its inaugural sitting, assured all that it would be fair to all parties to the electoral disputes. Until last week, all the parties expressed confidence in the impartiality and fairness of the tribunal members.

It was all peaceful and tranquil.

But, it took a flurry of advertorials and reports of bribery to shatter the peace. Though the tribunal Chairman and its members are yet to directly respond to the allegation, those accused of perverting the course of justice have not only dismissed the allegation, but have also described it as the limit of political rascality.

The allegation is causing ripples on the political plane.

Leaders of the ANPP in the state do not only believe but have been propagating the allegation that has linked Governor Martin Elechi and the ruling Peoples

Tribunal blues in Ebonyi

• Elechi

Democratic Party (PDP) to the crime of influencing how the application was heard and decided, However, many people of those who know Governor Elechi, both within the PDP and outside the political space have described the allegation as the last kick of a dying horse.

Since the alleged scandal broke out last week, founding fathers of the state who worked closely with the governor when he spearheaded the move to create Ebonyi, clergymen, traditional rulers and other elders believe that Elechi has never exhibited desperation to remain in office against the wishes of the people.

His supporters say he would congratulate Senator Julius Ucha if the ANPP flag bearer wins the legal challenge.

They have also pointed out that the governor, who had faced more than 15 panels in the past without being indicted by any, could not have attempted to compromise the judiciary given his professed commitment to

• Ucha

strict adherence to the rule of law.

How it all began Julius Ucha had approached the tribunal challenging the election of the People’s Democratic Party PDP candidate Elechi. As expected, the petitioners held that the governor was not duly elected. The opposition party averred that its candidate won the poll and Elechi should vacate the Government House.

The ANPP approached the tribunal on May 26th in a motion ex parte seeking the leave of the tribunal for an order directing the 3rd respondent, INEC and the other respondents to allow the petitioners, their counsel or any Forensic expert retained by the petitioner to inspect, scan or take copies of the following; ballot papers, result sheets, voters register, entries and data in the Direct Data Capturing Machine.

The petitioner equally sought the order of the tribunal

• Governors Saidu Dakingari, (Kebbi), left; Tanko al-Makura Nasarawa; Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and Patrick PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN Yakowa of Kaduna at the Govenor’s meeting in Abuja ... yesterday.

directing the 3rd respondent and others to certify and issue to the petitioner copies of either the copies of the original documents or copies of the scanned documents as well as such further order or other orders as the hounourable tribunal may deem fit to make the circumstance of the case. The tribunal, on June 7, granted the application made by the ANPP and its candidate in the motion.

At the conclusion of its examination, the ANPP and its counsel came back to the tribunal to present the analysis of its examination but the tribunal considering the sensitive nature of the matter and also as an unbiased umpire ruled that the report of the examination cannot be tendered having not pleaded it in its pleadings. In his ruling, the tribunal ruled that, “the document sought to be tendered is a report of the Forensic Examination of ballot papers used during the governorship elections in Ebonyi state of 26th April 2011".

Justice Galadanci who read the ruling said: “The report has attached to it 15 volumes of appendixes. The expert witness Ahmed Ibrahim stated in his evidence that he made the document sought to be tendered. We have however carefully considered the objection of the respective counsel for the respondents as to the admissibility of the said document on ground that no facts were pleaded that related to the document sought to be tendered. Learned petitioners counsel referred us to paragraph 12 and 14 of the petition, which according to him constitutes sufficient pleadings of facts relating to the documents”.

He stated further that” the documents are analysis of finger prints.

He further referred us to Section68 of the Evidence Act as the opinion of Expert. As currently submitted by Mr. Ofodile (SAN), relevance of any evidence in civil proceedings is determined by pleaded facts”.

According to Galadanchi; “we have carefully examined paragraph 12 and 14 of the petition referred to by the petition Learned Counsel, and indeed the entire petition of the petitioners, but nowhere is any allusion made to the fact that petitioners shall rely on scientific or forensic analysis of electoral materials used for the Governorship Election of 26th April 2011. As a result, the document sought to be tendered which constitutes the report of such forensic or scientific analysis of Electoral materials, were by implication not relevant as they have not been pleaded.”

The verdict: “On the basis of the foregoing, we hereby uphold the objections of the Respondent learned Counsel and the said Report of Forensic Examination of Ballot papers used at the Governorship Elections of 26th April 2011, together with the 5 volumes of attached appendixes are hereby rejected and they shall be so marked tendered but rejected.”

Was the tribunal fair?

First to stir the hornet’s nest was a group, “Concerned Religious Leaders”, that accused the administration of Chief Martin Elechi of attempting to bribe the tribunal members with the sum of N500 million.

Before the ruling that stopped the ANPP from submitting the forensic report, the atmosphere in the state was calm, but since the ruling, the political class and supporters of the ruling party and the main opposition group have been locked in a widespread argument over the allegation.

In response, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has denounced the Concerned Religious Leaders.

While the tribunal Chairman and its members are yet to make public its stand on the allegation, the Christian Association of Nigeria, Concerned Ebonyi People, the State Government and the People’s Democratic Party have continued to react to the allegation published by Concerned Religious Leaders of Ebonyi State.

At a Press Conference recently, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Ebonyi state dissociated itself from the bribery allegation.

The Chairman of the Association and District Superintendent of Assemblies of God Church Ebonyi State, Rev Emmanuel Nshi said that “to the best of our knowledge, there is no group whatsoever in Ebonyi State which goes by the name Concerned Ebonyi Religious Leaders”.

“None of the names mentioned in the unsigned publication is a known Clergyman or Woman in the state nor were their denominations or worship centres indicated. The publication, CAN said, is an anonymous piece of blackmail aimed at settling political scores by Elechi’s opponents.”

Did the tribunal err in law by granting the motion brought before it by the ANPP to inspect the materials, and if not, why did the tribunal turn round to reject the result of the examination?

Reactions A senior legal practitioner who has been following the Governorship tribunal in the state, Mr. Arthur Nwaji, argued that the tribunal did not err in law by granting the leave of the ANPP to inspect the materials.

According to him, “the tribunal did not err in law because the petitioner, through a motion, got the tribunal order to inspect the electoral materials, now if the tribunal is in any way biased, maybe in the first place, they would not have granted the order but they granted the order showing that they are not taking sides with anybody.”

According to him; “accepting the report will amount to ambushing the Respondent because it was not pleaded. If they really knew they had wanted to use it, they ought to have pleaded it so that the Respondent will react to it. If the Petitioner believes that the ruling of the tribunal is not in accord with the provision of the law, they have an option which they have resorted to by going to • Continued on page 18

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEM BER 30, 2011

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POLITICS Otunba Akin Akindoju is a Commissioner representing Ondo Central on the Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). In this encounter, he gave an insight into activities of the Board, and politics in the state.

OLUKOREDE YISHAU met him.

‘People hold key to Ondo’s future’

A

• Kaduna Assembly complex.

Worries over lull in Kaduna Assembly

T

HE Kaduna State House of As sembly has been on break for quite some time. Shortly after the inauguration, the Assembly went into action, electing its principal officers same day and giving the people of the state the impression that it was not going to business as usual.

However, Mr Mohammed Musa Soba, the state Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) believes that the Assembly has been a rubber stamp and therefore nothing good can come from it. “Their performance since they were inaugurated leaves much for concern. They have not done anything at all. Even those who are supposed to be in the opposition are just in opposition by name because they have all behaved as an extension of the executive arm of government,” he said.

The assembly had sat for only a limited time since inauguration. At its first sitting, the House approved its standing committees and waited till the governor presented a list of nominees for all the Development Areas councils, the Local Government Caretaker Committees and Commissioners which they immediately approved. Even though the nomination of one of the commissioners was seriously opposed by several interest groups within her local government, her nomination was approved by the house upon representation by the governor, ignoring the protests against her. Even though they set up to investigate all the allegations against her through the various petitions, the report was never made public. In fact, her clearance by the House was not made public like others. Many believe that it could be because the nominee was a former member of the house.

Even though The Nation gathered that the Assembly had an emergency session on Monday, September 19, 2011 with a view to intervening in the dispute between the state government and labour, they immediately went back home, only setting up a committee to intervene in the dispute. Sources at the Lugard Hall, venue of the assembly sittings have it that they will not return to the House until October 4. This is however giving credence to claims by the opposition parties in the state that the house is a mere extension of the executive arm of government.

Apart from the presence of security men attached to the house and a few Assembly staff, there are no activities at the Lugard Hall Assembly complex as the only indication that the premises houses lawmakers is the sign post. A close source at the house told The Nation that “the house has not done anything since they were inaugurated. There is nothing going on there and we are just waiting for them. You can’t believe that

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

they only thing they have done since their inauguration is to screen Commissioners and local government Caretaker Committees as well as administrators for Development Areas. After that, they went on break. I can conveniently tell you that this assembly is worse than the previous ones. There are no sign of activities and right now, we are only hoping that when they resume from their long break, there will be activities in the house”.

The 34-member Assembly is made of two parties, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which has an overwhelming majority in the house with about 22 members.

However, many of the members, especially those of the CPC are first timers in the house and may lack the legislative experience to make things happen. But many believe that since the PDP has control over the House, it may be difficult for the house to put the executive arm of government in check and as Mr Soba, the ACN chairman in the state put it, the House has become an extension of the executive and therefore, “we are not expecting anything good from them.” Soba is also not happy that the opposition in the House is not making its impact felt saying “do you believe that some of the opposition members in the house are even the ones defending the government?

That should not be the case.”

However, with the state just recovering from the impact of the post election violence across the state, the house members as representatives of the people have a big role go play in rebuilding confidence in the people and put the government in check by ensuring that the electorates gets value for their votes.

• Yakowa

S an entrepreneur who ven-tured into public service about three years ago, what has being your experience?

It has both been challenging and interesting. The first few months was challenging. You know in the private sector, you take decisions, assigned tasks, draw up a checklist, set timeline and set out to implement them almost immediately. But in the public service, things do not work like that. There is bureaucracy; files move from one desk to the other, up and down before a step is taken. Although, things are now much faster and better in Ondo State, it took some of us with private sector background sometime to acclimatize. It is interesting to know how the input of a seemingly innocuous civil servant could make or mar a transaction or policy.

What is your reaction to the resignation of the former Labour Party (LP) Chairman, Dr. Olaiya Oni and his reported plans to join ACN? I really do not think that Dr. Olaiya Oni has left our party. He is a foundation member of the party. He cannot leave a house he helped to build to become a tenant elsewhere. I think what has happened is a mere disagreement that was blown out of proportion. It will soon be resolved. If he defects to any other party, there are many other foot soldiers who will deliver the votes for Mimiko. Some days back, Senator Hosea Ehinlanwo and a host of other notable politicians in Ondo State defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to LP. So, you can see that if somebody says he is leaving the party today, the next day many others are joining.

But his resignation is seen as part of the build-up to the 2012 elections in Ondo State, how

true is this?

I beg to differ. No single individual can determine what happens next year. I know Dr. Olaiya Oni is a modest man who will never ascribe such to himself. As a democrat, he knows too well that it is the generality of the people of Ondo State that will determine what will happen at the polls. Not any individual!

Do you think Governor Olusegun Mimiko deserves a second term, and why?

I would without hesitation say that he sure does deserve a second term. What is more, somebody once said: “The reward for doing is the opportunity to do more”. More than his achievements in the health sector through the Safe Motherhood and Child Project, model clinics, education, roads and infrastructure, Dr. Mimiko has demystified governance and the Office of the

‘Political parties are vehicles for actualizing ambitions. What matters most is service delivery and fulfillment of electoral promises. To that extent, if you have mismatch of personalities and platforms, the result could be disastrous.

Your personality should be as strong as the platform, if not stronger’

• Akindoju

Governor. He is simple, downto-earth and approachable. He interacts with the people and mixes freely with them. They love him and are passionate about him just as he is about them. So, if given another chance to seek their mandate, I trust that they will not hesitate to give it.

Don’t you think he would stand a better chance working with ACN seeing that all the South-West states, except Ondo, are ACN-controlled?

Politics is a game of dynamics.

And political parties are vehicles for actualizing ambitions. What matters most is service delivery and fulfillment of electoral promises. To that extent, if you have mismatch of personalities and platforms, the result could be disastrous. Your personality should be as strong as the platform, if not stronger. In the 2007 elections in Ondo State, for instance, it was clear that the people voted for Dr. Mimiko against an incumbent. His strong personality and uncommon touch robbed off on the then unknown and untested Labour Party (LP) in spite of the opposition from the highest political authority in the land, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Since his election, Dr. Mimiko has kept faith with the electorate and they have bonded so well.

For me, I would say Ondo State is a peculiar place.

Do you have any political ambition as 2012 draws nearer?

No. I am an entrepreneur in politics. I have been asked to serve in SUBEB perhaps because of my experience in the education sector. However, if my leaders find me suitable for other responsibilities in the nearest future, I won’t hesitate to heed the call.

Tribunal blues in Ebonyi • Continued from page 17

the Court of Appeal which they have done. It is unthinkable for one to allege that the state government attempted bribing the tribunal Chairman and its members with the sum of N500 million”.

Reacting also to the allegation, the Chief Press secretary to Governor Elechi, Dr. Onyekachi Eni said that: “On Tuesday 13th September, 2011, through an a faceless group styling itself as ‘Concerned Religious Leaders of Ebonyi State’ launched a composite attack against the Governor of Ebonyi State Chief Martin Elechi and his administration on one hand and the Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Ebonyi State on the other hand. Since the authors of the unsigned fabrication have neither a fixed address nor an ascertainable identity, it would have been unnecessary to dignify them with a reply.

However, because unchallenged falsehood frequently wears the

toga of truth, it has become imperative to expose the merchants of blackmail.

Eni said that, “In spite of the amateurish attempt to hide under the cloak of anonymity and fraudulent religious garb, no one is deceived that the masquerade behind the mask is a political desperado who is obsessed with a gubernatorial ambition. Like the proverbial ostrich which hides its head in the sand thinking that it cannot be seen simply because it could not see others, the sponsor’s signature of blackmail and falsehood is writ large on the tendentious fabrication. Still smarting from the pain and shame of a comprehensive electoral defeat in the April 2011 Governorship election, the new agenda is to obtain by a sleigh of hand what he could not gain from the ballot box”.

“By concocting a cocktail of fiction against Governor Martin Elechi and the Governorship Election Tribunal in Ebonyi State,

the obvious motive is to blackmail, stampede, arm twist and intimidate the tribunal towards a miscarriage of justice. The question remains; is there no limit to political rascality?”

“Remarkably, the emptiness of the allegation of bribery against the Elechi administration is demonstrated by the serial ambivalence of the poisonous piece.

Clearly, the authors have a bagful of allegations but not even a grain of fact! Since the entire fabrication is riddled with street talk and drunken gossip, Ebonyi State Government simply invites Ebonyi people and all Nigerians to judge for themselves”.

The fact that the ruling on that application is generating so much heat indicates that the battle is still on. It is to be expected that whatever may be the final judgment of the tribunal, the fight will travel all the way to the Supreme Court.

The fear is whether the load of allegations could shake the confidence in the judiciary.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION Comments

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

Expensive funeral •Late Oyo State governor’s family sniffs at N30m gift from state government to support burial

Y

OU don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, so goes an old English saying. Not even so in an African setting. It is considered rude and extremely ungrateful to throw a gift back at the giver. But that was what the family of the late erstwhile governor of Oyo State, Chief Kolapo Ishola did on September 27.

News broke within the week that the family members of the former helmsman of the state rejected the sum of N30 million which the Oyo State Government availed them as part of its contribution to see to a befitting burial for the late governor. The family claims that it has already laid out a budget of about N58 million, which the government was aware of and had committed more than half of it. In

‘In an environment in which government’s priorities are in sync with the needs of the people, the Oyo State Government would not be expected to dole out a hefty N30 million for a funeral. That it did and the money was rejected is even the more distasteful. None of our religions preaches that people will go to paradise simply on account of how huge their funeral expenses are’

other words, the family expected far more from the government.

For sure, the burial of the former governor of a state is, to a large extent, a state affair. Yes, a former number one, living or dead, is entitled to some privileges. But that is exactly what they are – privileges. It is a discretionary thing left to the government in power; there is no law stipulating the measure or modalities.

In fact, an incumbent governor reserves the right to determine the extent of courtesies and privileges to accord his predecessor, knowing of course that, someday, the shoe will be in the other foot.

We think that the sum offered by the Oyo State Government is adequate, if not a wee bit too much if we consider the parlous state of the economy of Nigeria and the world as a whole. For a state grappling with serious infrastructure challenges, having to pay a crippling new minimum wage and faced with such basic health issue such as cholera, N30 million is a lot of money. Besides, the state government is supposed to support the family and not to take over the responsibility of burying its patriarch.

The family rejecting the money is clearly in bad taste and going public with it is making mischief out of what ought to be a solemn affair. Further, to grouch that the gift from government is about half of the

budget which had already been spent is uncouth. A funeral can only be as expensive as we make it. We must continue to question the rationale of throwing large and expensive parties in order to bury our dead. We must not tire to condemn and discourage this wasteful culture in the face of unremitting poverty and a dearth of basic needs, especially when public funds are to be spent on such funerals.

Across the south of Nigeria, and especially among the rich and the elite, funerals have become huge, elaborate enterprises where no costs are spared to show off wealth and ostentatious lifestyles. Some go into heavy borrowing in order to keep up with the Joneses in this matter of resting the dead. It is not our culture and it ought not be the culture of any society which seeks to be productive and progressive. In an environment in which government’s priorities are in sync with the needs of the people, the Oyo State Government would not be expected to dole out a hefty N30 million for a funeral. That it did and the money was rejected is even the more distasteful. None of our religions preaches that people will go to paradise simply on account of how huge their funeral expenses are. So, as Dr Tai Solarin of blessed memory said, why do you have to lose your loved one and lose your money, to boot?

Four-legged soldier •A horse is buried with full military honours

I

T is not often that the Nigerian Army gets to demonstrate the lessmartial aspects of its necessarilyfearsome image. The military’s tenderness was however in full display on September 22 when it laid to rest Sergeant Farin Doki, a white stallion and the regimental mascot of 1 Division Headquarters, Kaduna.

For most outsiders, it is strange that an animal would be held in such high esteem by soldiers. It is even more mystifying that it would hold the rank of sergeant, and thus actually be a non-commissioned officer, complete with Army Number and salary.

The use of animals as regimental mascots and pets is actually a longstanding military tradition which reaches as far back as antiquity when animals were symbols of the regiments that were often named after them. One Division was therefore simply upholding tradition and acting according to established practice.

To all intents and purposes, it appears that the late Sgt. Doki was an assiduous and capable member of the armed forces. Its handler, Warrant Officer Aminu Mayo, has praised its insistence on being ridden only by soldiers in full uniform; the General Officer Commanding (GOC), MajorGeneral Joseph Shoboiki, recalls that

Sgt. Doki was always punctual and orderly at parades and conducted itself with all the decorum expected of a soldier. The late mascot, despite its non-human status, clearly upheld the major ideals of the military profession: commitment, loyalty and efficiency.

In a country where almost all aspects of human endeavour are riddled with incompetence, corruption and sloth, there are obvious lessons to be learnt.

If a horse can be trained to understand a role and carry it out efficiently, a human being should not find it so difficult. People are, after all, supposed to be infinitely more tractable than horses.

The life of Sgt. Doki shows that loyalty and commitment are still virtues that will be recognised and rewarded, regardless of who demonstrates them. Nigerians must recommit themselves to the principles of efficiency and integrity which are the joint foundations of national progress. This involves a renewed dedication to the various roles individuals play in their everyday lives: worker, parent, relation and so on. Democracy inheres in the attitudes of the citizenry as much as it is based on institutions, and only the full commitment of the people to making it work can guarantee its success.

The army’s gesture of respect for its fallen comrade-in-arms is an all-toorare demonstration of the humanity that most Nigerians would like to see more of. For far too long, the armed forces in general have often been associated with impunity, harshness and brutality in the popular mind. The army has shown that it is capable of demonstrating respect for an animal. It should work to also show that it has regard for human beings, especially those who are civilians.

Currently, the search for a successor to Sgt. Doki is on. May the new mascot be as worthy of his position as his predecessor.

‘For far too long, the armed forces in general have often been associated with impunity, harshness and brutality in the popular mind.

The army has shown that it is capable of demonstrating respect for an animal. It should work to also show that it has regard for human beings, especially those who are civilians’

The global economy waits on action from Berlin

I

F EUROPE goes bankrupt, taking the rest of the world down with it, it won’t be for a lack of ideas about how to fix the continent’s sovereigndebt mess. The Obama administration has been especially insistent that the Europeans should launch a far bigger bailout, reflecting Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner’s belief that the only way to stop a financial crisis is to overwhelm it.

At last weekend’s International Monetary Fund meetings in Washington, there was talk of allowing Greece to default on its $485 billion debt, followed by a recapitalization of European banks and a trilliondollar-plus commitment — possibly supplied from the European Central Bank — to fund Spain and Italy, thus preventing the Greek collapse from spreading. Such a plan seems more promising than the current policy, which consists of upgrading an existing $600 billion bailout fund while requiring Greece and other troubled “peripheral” countries such as Ireland and Portugal to slash their deficits.

And yet the answer from Germany, Europe’s economic powerhouse, remains: “Not so fast.”

Chancellor Angela Merkel and her finance minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, insist that they will do anything to prevent a collapse of the euro, but that there are all sorts of obstacles — legal, as well as economic — to more radical action. “We need to take steps we can control,” Ms. Merkel said Sunday. And the next step is a vote Thursday in Germany’s parliament on the existing plan, to be followed by other votes in other national parliaments and then by approval of the next $11 billion installment of aid to Greece in early October — assuming Greece has implemented austerity measures.

Yet events have already overtaken this approach, which was tentatively agreed to on July 21. Since then, markets have written off Greece and moved on to speculating against Italy’s ability to handle its $2.3 trillion debt. That country is able to fund itself for now only because the European Central Bank (ECB) is printing money to buy its bonds. That’s a stopgap. A brutal, global recession looks unavoidable unless the powers that be in Europe — and by that we mean Germany and the ECB — demonstrate clearly and convincingly that they have a plan for restructuring insolvent countries (e.g., Greece) while shoring up salvageable ones (e.g., Italy and Spain).

We understand the Merkel government’s predicament. German taxpayers are no more eager to rescue Greece from its profligacy than U.S. taxpayers were to rescue Wall Street. With a narrow majority in parliament, Ms. Merkel cannot simply open a cash spigot without triggering a backlash that would topple her government. She has had to play hardball both to keep her coalition together and to ensure that Greece and other aid recipients are irreversibly committed to using aid wisely before they get it.

But even perfectly implemented austerity could not save Greece at this point; the country needs debt relief, reforms and a fresh shot at growth. Greece’s inefficiency, tax evasion and corruption are indeed legendary, just as the Germans complain. It is also true that German exporters benefited from Southern Europe’s lack of competitiveness under monetary union, and that the ultimate beneficiaries of the Greek bailout include the German banks who will get paid back the money they — unwisely, in hindsight — loaned to Greece.

The world economy may depend on how Ms. Merkel handles this crisis in the coming days. Bold leadership does not come naturally to postwar German politicians, operating as they do in the historical shadow of a long-ago dictator who gave bold leadership a bad name. They prefer words such as “solidarity” and “responsibility,” which, fortunately, also describe what is required from Germany in the current situation. So let Berlin think of the task before it in those terms — and get on with it.

– Washington Post

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THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

S

IR: Last week, university lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) again embarked on a week-long warning strike to press home their demands for the implementation of a labour agreement signed with the Federal Government (FG) few years back.

The latest altercation between the FG and ASUU centres on the muchexpected raise in the university lecturers’ remuneration, better funding of the nation’s public universities, and extension of the retirement age of professors, from the current statutory age of 65 years, or 35 years of service as obtained in the Civil Service, to 70 years with full pay.

The 70-year retirement age demand by ASUU ordinarily appear reasonable to help in addressing the widely

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FG/ASUU’s endless industrial dispute acknowledged dearth of senior academics; yet, the step may soon turn Nigeria into a nation of gerontocratic university system with scores of ageing dons coming into lecture theatres with walking sticks.

Enthroning academic gerontocracy in the university system defies logic. A 51-year-old independent nation said to be bubbling with over 150 million “happy” citizens cannot even boast of at least 500 thousand senior

academics, together with professors to teach in its more than 100 Federal, State and private universities.

As a beleaguered industry over the years, the challenges poor leadership, inadequate funding, lack of focus, ineptitude and official corruption among others in the education industry have been attributed to the current sorry state of the sector. Even the proliferation of privately-owned academic institutions, has not improved the lot of the sector either.

That is why educational experts, notable and informed minds and other stakeholders have continued to maintain that days of many schools, but declining quality are here with us in this once thriving industry.

Miffed by an observed sharp drop in the quality of university graduates and other tertiary institutions in the country lately, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State took the bull by the horns by collapsing all his state-owned

and its globalised market forces. In a country that over 92% of citizens are living below $2 per day, they are still threatening to remove the petroleum subsidies!

These institutions have also cloned their tentacles in the state governments across the country.

At yet another alarming level, there is now a reported apprehension that Nigeria’s national security may be compromised by the presence of contingents of foreign (American) security personnel on our lands under the pretexts of combating terrorism.

What has been happening in Nigeria since 2007 is the consolidation of that re-colonisation agenda. Every element of the current crisis vis a vis the collapse of industries, educational and health

facilities, infrastructures (power, transportation, water supply), degeneracy of the environment, inflation, currency weakening, ethnic and religious violence and collapse of public security is traceable to this incessant attempt to consolidate the re-colonisation process. A good leader that is committed to the Nigerian people will reverse this disastrous trend in which the political, economic and cultural interests of the Nigerian people are subordinated to those of the dominant forces in USA and Europe that supervise global exploitation.

Need to re-define Nigeria’s foreign policy

S

IR: Upon gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria made the liberation and restoration of the dignity of Africa as the cornerstone of her foreign policy and played a leading role in the fight against the apartheid regime. Nigeria foreign policy was soon tested in the 1970s after the country emerged united from its own civil war and quickly committed itself to the liberation struggle that was going on there.

Though Nigeria never sent an expeditionary force to that struggle, it offered more than rhetoric to the African National Congress (ANC) by taking a committed tough line with regard to the settler regime, in addition to spending large sums to aid anti-colonial struggles.

Nigeria also played significant roles in the eventual independence of Angola and Zimbabwe. She was a founding member of the OAU (now the AU), and has tremendous influence in West Africa and Africa as a whole. Nigeria has additionally founded regional cooperative efforts in West Africa, functioning as standard-bearer for ECOWAS and ECOMOG, economic and military organisations respectively.

Despite what Nigeria did for the continent of Africa, what has she gained from such goodwill?

Nothing! Henceforth, economic and development well-being of Nigeria should be the mainstay of our foreign policy. While I am not advocating that Africa should be abandoned, it is high time Nigeria’s interests came first in our foreign policy objectives. Retired General Danjuma was not saying anything

new when he lamented that “right now, we are becoming the United States of ECOWAS at very great cost to us”.

While it is noteworthy that President Goodluck had expressed his government’s willingness to address the issue, the focus must go beyond Africa if he truly wants to take the country out of the woods. At the international circles, the country also needs to checkmate the manner in which she subjects her policies to the dictates of other international actors such as IMF, EU etc and governments such as UK, USA etc.

Today, what subsists is a pervading subservience of our country’s social and economic policies and our image to the dictates of Western imperialism

• Adewale Stephen Department of History, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Oyo State.

higher institutions of learning into a single university.

Asked about the rationale behind his seemingly drastic action, he explained in a media encounter thus: “We are talking of functional education; people who are not just parading the place with degrees.

There are so many people with degrees without skills. We believe we can do a lot better and we can provide our graduates with entrepreneurial skills, with functional education and we can have a university that really speaks to the name of a university, not to proliferate the whole place with institutions that are not better than glorified secondary schools....”

Meanwhile, the current administration should learn to honour agreements with individual Nigerians, groups, associations, or professional bodies. Leaders shouldn’t be speaking from both sides of the mouth. Your words ought to be your bond: this is simple responsibility.

However, relevant authorities must encourage and support young, energetic and promising men and women with exceptional first degrees with scholarships, to enrol for higher degree programmes in order to boost the ranks of senior academics in the university system.

Ageing professors and other senior academics due for retirement should be made to enjoy their retirement years with their grandchildren, but not to continue to engage themselves in any rigorous academic research and teaching required at this level of education.

• Gbenga Kayode Lagos.

FRSC, new driver’s licence and number plate

S

IR: A couple of weeks ago the President flagged off the new plate number and driver’s licence introduced by the FRSC. The licence and plate number would cost N6,000 and N15,000 – N40,000 respectively. Drivers and vehicle owners were given 12 months up to August 2012 to have their plates and licences changed or face sanctions.

The FRSC has not supplied the plates when I visited the Licencing Office at Ojo, Lagos last week .

Nigerians would not want to be reminded of the terrible experience they had when the current plates were introduced 10 years ago. The supplies of the plates were coming into the licencing Offices in tens

every two or three weeks. They were horded giving way to black marketing and touting which bloated the ‘price’ to N35,000. The situation would be grave this time considering the number of vehicles that had come into the country within the past decade.

There is no doubt that the demand and scramble will be high.

Definitely the game play will repeat itself and I would not be surprised if the price of a plate rises up to N50,000 cash and carry.

The FRSC vaingloriously projected a revenue of N200 billion for the Federal Government. When has the FRSC become a profit making body? This shows that the plates and licenses were overpriced.

I can say with all sense of responsibility that the cost of production of the driver’s licence cannot exceed N1500 ditto the cost of the place at N3,000.

One starts to wonder if changing this and that is what should preoccupy the FRSC. Many people die on our roads daily because of the horrendous state of our roads. The FRSC has not done much to provoke the federal government to rise up to the ugly situation. For every accident, the FRSC is quick to place the blame on the driver as if drivers are on suicide mission when they are behind the steering. There is no doubt that the commission has lost its focus and need to be re-oriented

and steered out of this course of eye service.

It appears that the President only looked at one side of the coin i.e. security, and went ahead and flagged off the process. If he had looked at the other side, he would probably, have roundly seen the profligacy and extortive drive of the commission.

Nigerians want a data base for all vehicles in the country if for security purpose. But to do this at an extra cost of N200b (called revenue) to the vehicle owners and drivers is outrageous and reckless.

Well meaning Nigerians, civil organizations should rise and stop this barefaced robbery.

• Comas Magoh, Surulere, Lagos.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011 16

EDITORIAL/OPINION

Reality Bites W

Olatunji Ololade

HEN we are done procrastinating and whining, we shall start to scream for a silver-lining but Nigeria will be finished. There will be nothing we could do to change our stars. We who prepared our fatherland into a funeral pyre shall burn as corpses when our killing fields become cluttered.

Dying should be the least of our worries. There is too little to remember and too much to forget in the trail of death: dying economy, dead industries; Jos mayhem and mass graves of terror, thieving banks, Boko Haram, insecurity and hospital corridors of death; blood oil, dying farmlands and deadly road networks do not aptly portray that flawless tragedy we live to complement.

Add substandard education and a failed scholarship culture, a soulless leadership and annoyingly clueless citizenry and we cut for ourselves, a perfect portrait of endless deaths. Yet we seek solace in anger and ineffectual vituperation.

People are blaming President Goodluck Jonathan for everything that’s wrong with us. Some claim it is cowardice that keeps him from squashing the bugs of tragedy ruining our nation and causing us to run amok. Others claim that what we

currently see of President Goodluck Jonathan is Nigerian presidency at its best and finest.

Everybody manages to blame President Goodluck Jonathan. Most people seem to conveniently forget that they voted for President Jonathan because of his alluring “humility,” “goodness,” “gentleness” and “charm.”

“We voted for Goodluck Jonathan, we did not vote for PDP!” claimed not a few “sensible” and overzealous compatriots amongst us. Today, we reap the benefits of voting for a “good” and “very humble man.”

Today, we enjoy the benefits of choosing the boy who “had no shoes” and the man who uses “Sir” and “Ma” for his elders even though he is their superior by station and class above other candidates for office of Mr. President.

It’s time we grew up and admitted that the fault will never entirely be President Jonathan’s. Whatever the perceived shortcomings of the last general elections, you and I were allowed a considerable measure of freewill and choice. Some of us decided to exercise their civil rights and vote, others simply chose to sit back on their chairs to curse the process and curse the times.

Whatever side of the divide we

‘Yet despite its aptness, the tragedy of his retort is inherently a Nigerian tragedy. By his utterance, we suffer another death; death of valour, character and rationale. Mr. President’s statement in his defense amplifies a national tragedy that bores deeply into the incapacities of his presidency and his speech writer or fabricator if you like’

I

21

N view of Attorney General Mohammed Adoke’s unfamiliarity with the governing process on a national scale, his well-known disdain for social theory, and his ignorance of the historical background of the contending forces in the country, there was no reason to believe that he was aware of the threat to the commonwealth he and the National Judicial Council were creating.

And in view of his single-minded dedication to the President’s political fortunes, there was no reason to believe that he will alter his course even if he became aware of it.

Having regard to the events that led to the ignominious measures meted to the person of Justice Isa Ayo Salami, the suspended President of the Appeal Court by the PDP hawks in Ekiti and Osun States respectively over allegations of professional misconduct, the political implications that followed pressed the laws of our country to the limit to get results.

There was a membrane of morality which, indefinably, gives the Aso Rock a serious crisis that invariably results in an increase in the ill-timed and inconsiderate action of President Goodluck Jonathan to rise above politics in all its ramifications. The PDP hawks’ hold on the President is so strong, making his responsibility for action weak.

To meet the crisis in the judiciary, the President showed partisanship; the normal checks and balances in government were largely suspended. Even more significant was that the normal support to the President from the NBA and well-meaning Nigerians vanished – or at least broke into fragments.

To be sure, critics remain, and most of the criticism of President Jonathan’s involvement in the judicial crisis revolves around rule of law and problems of mechanics and methods or procedures. Support for the President came mainly from his party – PDP, to President Jonathan’s strategy of selective justice and persecution of opposition leaders exemplified by the proposed trial of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

As a candidate in the April, 2011 President election, President Jonathan made promises

Parable of the President who couldn’t be a lion (1) fall, you and I offered President Jonathan untrammeled access to Nigeria’s number one seat. Yet we condemn him even as he barely spends 100 days or more in office.

Was it Mr. President who blew up the UN office and Police headquarters? Was it Mr. President who led the rampaging hordes of Jos and Borno to execute Nigeria’s bloodiest genocides and wars? Is it Mr. President that sanctions the incessant tragedies that comprise our wildest rumours and news reports?

But we blame him anyway because somebody has to take the fall.

And what better character than the “good,” “humble” man under whose watch series of bad things continue to happen to us. President Jonathan has probably realized that it is impossible to lead without falling in character and sense of worth thus his recent retort to his critics.

According to him, “Some others will want the President to operate like an army general, like my Chief of Army Staff commanding his troops. Incidentally, I am not a lion; I am also not a general. Somebody will want the President to operate like the kings of Syria, Babylon, Egypt, the Pharaoh, all-powerful people that you read about in the Bible. They want the President to operate that way, the characters of the Goliath. Unfortunately, I am not one of those.”

Yet despite its aptness, the tragedy of his retort is inherently a Nigerian tragedy. By his utterance, we suffer another death; death of valour, character and rationale. Mr. President’s statement in his defense amplifies a national tragedy that bores deeply into the incapacities of his presidency and his speech writer or fabricator if you like.

This is hardly the period for Mr. President to parry, curl into the de-

fensive or exasperatingly lash out.

This is not the period to make excuses or engage in sophistry to save face but Mr. President and his speech writer do not know that.

Every time Mr. President gets to make a speech presents a significant opportunity for him to re-sensitize the citizenry to identify with his policies and principles of leadership; it presents him with momentous opportunity to redefine himself before the citizenry and characterize his leadership in consonance with the dreams and aspirations of over 140 million Nigerians.

But as usual, he squandered it. No thanks to his most adept speech writer or adviser. The bulk of the blame however, rests with President Jonathan – not only because by virtue of his office, he is Nigeria’s most blameworthy scapegoat but because, in truth, he is yet to exude that presidential aura that is at once comforting and full of promise.

It is a shame to see President Goodluck Jonathan plummet in rating and estimation of his erstwhile most ardent fans. Ask the average man on the street; visit Facebook, the social networking website that the President sufficiently milked during his campaign for the presidential seat and you will be mystified by what radical turn the electorate has taken in candour, particularly when the issue includes Mr. President’s governance style and ability to “deliver” on his campaign promises.

“Governance is not that easy, especially when you are leading a country like Nigeria,” his apologists would say but that is why it is never meant for the infantile and drippy at heart. By his deeds, Mr. President gets to re-assert his worth and justify his right to serve as Executive President and Commander-in-Chief

The poisonous rupture of the law membrane

By M.Ade Shoyebo to the people of Nigeria. Law and order was his main theme of the campaign. A precipitous rise in the crime rate and the accompanying fear of crimes which had become so infectious that a friend of described it as “a public malady”, provided a ready opportunity of demagoguery. It was not lost.

President Jonathan’s entire campaign was based on the issue. By the time the election was over, the contention had created in some people more fear about the fear of crime than about crime itself, because they interpreted the fervent cry for law and order, without an equally fervent cry for justice, as heralding a move toward repression and tyranny.

In their view, once the people were sufficiently aroused over the threat of being engulfed by criminality and public disorders, they might be persuaded to set aside their own constitutional safeguards as the only way to preserve society.

Therefore, while the political manoeuvres of President Jonathan’s government and the hawks in the ruling party’s behaviour may at times be puzzling, not merely to the man in the street, but to the student of political and legal affairs, yet it will be found that on certain broad lines it is possible to disentangle the threads and to understand the drift of affairs. At the same time, the growth and change inevitable in all the three tiers of the government which are living organisms render any permanent branch of the powers unlikely, and moreover, the psychological element which can never be fully reckoned with in the history of nations, may at any time provide surprises which may alter the whole course of events.

No doubt, the corruption of the National Judicial Council thought, will have the compensating advantage of returning Justice Ayo Salami back to the bench if President Goodluck Jonathan could in the interest of justice reverse his decision and let the judicial process take its course. The enormous gap between what was possible and what was held to be possible, moreover exposed the Presidency, which the NJC has dragged into this matter, to a long time of limitless attack, which eventually will destroy its morale and undermine its effectiveness in stretching the truth to meet political expediency.

The law membrane has however, been strained well before the administration of President Yar-Adua whom most Nigerians cherished. President Jonathan pressed further on the membrane, enjoying the rascality of the hawks in their ruling party. The PAC- ExCJN/NJC Affairs as collaborated by the Presidency is inexplicable in terms of corruption in Nigeria history, where men of the apex body of the judiciary violated rules for private gain or privilege. The dynamics of its irrationality are compounded further by stupidity. The President allowed himself to be used in this political saga barely three months into his tenure as President and at a time when history was moving his way. The Presdient and his men were trying to speeed it up by any means, fair or foul. By so doing perhaps they wrecked their own victory. And that, as history may record, compounds their personal felonies with national tragedy.

Neither President Jonathan nor Presiden Yar-Adua however pressed the membrane to rupture. In the Obasanjo administration, the membrane did rupture – the peritonitis,

of the armed forces or not. By his words, he redefines his deeds and re-identifies his leadership in consonance with or utter violation of the hopes of every Nigerian.

This evokes the most pertinent questions? Who is President Goodluck Jonathan? Who is he to the teacher, policeman, journalist, doctor, accountant and street urchin?

Who is he to the commercial sex worker, manual worker and market woman? Who is he to the artist, lawyer, soldier, armed robber and domestic child servant? Who is he to the farmer, fisherman, jobless graduate, graduate and retiree? Who is President Jonathan to the Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Fulani, Tiv, Ibibio, Itsekiri, Urhobo among others. Who is he to the world and 140 million Nigerians?

This is one way to look at President Goodluck Jonathan: he is just another President on whose watch Nigeria endures persistent insecurity, epileptic power supply, poverty and corruption. He is the “Messiah” whose best palliative is a 2011 “Budget of Consolidation” that brazenly allocates about N111.23bn to 560 legislators thus giving them over 36 per cent of the amount meant for over 3.1 million productively working salary earners. He is the President cum doctorate degree holder who would rather continue with the policy of pacifying or “bribing” Niger Delta militants rather than tackle and effectively resolve the region’s developmental problems.

A whooping N78.52bn is allocated for the payment of “stipends” to repentant ex-militants in the 2011 budget. This amount is almost twice the total amount allocated as the wage bill for federal civil servants in the budget.

To be continued…

For SMS only 08038551123

seepage of lawlessness, began to work its way through the system from the officials of Aso Rock down to the legislators in the state and national assemblies. It has been characteristic of the late 1990s to early 2007.

That others too and the judiciary were pressing on the general membrane of morality which, in a civilized society ought to keep within the law – protesters in the street, direct action causists, students and unemployed youths subject to conscription and death in cultist war, good-willed citizens, using conscience as an excuse for violence, and strangely enough, in our society today, suicide bombers are targeting established institutions. So too, was the press pushing to its limits another membrane of law, that which similarly ought to protect the privacy of courts and constitutionality.

But Aso Rock is the place of law itself, where the law must be executed in all its precise purity, and in the Aso Rock in year 2011, pressure tempted power to the final poisonous rupture of the law membrane.

Shoyebo is publisher of Ereke News – Ikenne community newspaper in Ogun State.

‘The enormous gap between what was possible and what was held to be possible, moreover exposed the Presidency, which the NJC has dragged into this matter, to a long time of limitless attack, which eventually will destroy its morale and undermine its effectiveness in stretching the truth to meet political expediency’

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION ‘Africans have lived so long on promises. What they want to see are a few concrete deeds. They are tired of listening to pious sermons about ‘democracy’ and ‘freedom’ while the chains of servitude still hang around their necks.’

———George Padmore (1902 - 1959) Pan-African campaigner from Trinidad Tobago.

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Y mid-night today, Nigeria, the selfprofessed giant of Africa and a land flowing with abundant human and several yet-to-be-exploited and other underutilised natural resources will be 51. The administration of President Goodluck Jonathan promised a low key celebration but in the end, it would not be surprising if hundreds of million are discovered to have been lavished on the event even when millions of Nigerians are still wallowing in abject penury.

October 1 is historic and symbolic to the nation. It was that day and date in 1960 that the Union Jack was lowered for the Nigerian Green-White-Green flag symbolising Nigeria’s sovereignty and statehood. Rather than be a day of celebration of freedom and emancipation from colonialism, it has since become a day that reminds us of the beginning of our corporate lagging behind in the comity of civilised nation. That date has come to be a reminder of national leadership ineptitude in the governance of the country. Sadly, a country is either free or it is not. There cannot be any apprenticeship for freedom. Nigeria had its freedom apprenticeship in the several decades preceding 1960 but what has come to be termed as freedom post 1960 has turned into national enslavement and deprivation for citizens.

Apart from those that are in power that revel in opportunities and state privileges and perhaps few of their cronies, the mass of the people are wallowing in wants and denials.

Budgets are made but followed more in defiance than in observance. Governments under this democracy have voted trillions of naira for poverty combat, yet, over half of the nation’s population remain unemployed and in starvation due to rampaging effect of poverty and state neglect.

That Indian statesman, Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) once opined that ‘Complete independence through truth and non-violence means the independence of every unit, be it the humblest of the nation, without distinction of race, colour or creed.’ It is pertinent to ask

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OW don’t run. Not with your feet; not with your imagination. It is not what you think. Expresso has not gone into sorcery nor is it seeking to explore the inner recesses of dark covens. This column just wants to escape… away from the incipient genocide of Jos; from Boko Haram and its new found murderous fervour; away from the nattering crowd of the National Assembly and its facetious and self-serving probes, not to talk of its hollow standing committees.

Expresso seeks to hide away from Nigerian workers locked in a showdown with state governments across the land over a small change of N18,000, a sum hardly enough to purchase a respectable bottle of champagne or the vintage brand of that fiery, golden liquor, cognac.

If it were possible to become an apparition or even the mute, inscrutable albino gecko on the wall and keep away from the dizzying flux of the Nigerian conundrum. To be removed, and in fact, to vanish from the wikileakers and the unsavoury side effects of our top government officials and pillars of our most sacred establishments worshipping at the coven of the negro ambassador, Sanders. What, if not witchcraft, that would make Nigerian men (and women) of timber calibre to eat from the palm (or lap) of this American agent in Nigeria. It could not be her looks for she is half rastafarian and half balding. Certainly not her dollars, for most American public servants unlike their Nigerian counterparts, hardly have enough to buy a pal a wholesome swig of beer.

What is it about this woman that made our ‘big men’ grovel and gravitate inexorably towards her? Even my village wag had a better mind set and could have done better under the circumstance. He was used to saying that he could never be intimidated by any large buttocks; never ever. Why? He was always quick to explain that he was sure that someday, somehow, somewhere, it would fall on him to have to manage such a delicate matter because the hindside, no matter how sizeable, would never have to manage itself.

Moral of the wag’s tale: you don’t ever need to do a confessional to any American to serve your country; she needs you to serve hers.

Expresso seeks leave from the oppressive

October 1: Independence without freedom

Jonathan

whether this statement could be true of Nigeria’s independence obtained on October1, 1960 through dialogue rather than violent means. The humblest of this country is not free while there is grave and detrimental distinction of race and creed in the nation.

More fundamentally, there is ab initio no truth in the structural foundation of the country that eventually culminated into its independence.

With this deceptive colonial creation, it would then be very wrong to say that the minutest unit and the humblest of the nation called Nigeria whether in the south-east-west or south-south are truly independent from domination of the north.

If in over half a century, the nation is not genuinely free, it becomes cumbersome to

predict whether it would ever be free. Madame de Staël (1766-1817), a French writer and intellectual in her De la Littérature said: ‘A nation has character only when it is free.’ What is it that can be called the true character of this country that is yet to be free from erratic power supply, poor infrastructure, irregular policies, unstable polity, violations of human rights, official oppression, persecution and intimidation, state apathy and contempt for citizens’ welfare among others?

Nigerians celebrate being alive to witness this day but could not feel the real impact of true independence. They remain Nigerian by ancestry but desire to elope from the country at the slightest opportunity. To use the words of Tennessee Williams (1911 - 1983), U.S. playwright, Nigerians, like caged birds, ‘accept each other but flight is what they long for.’ In 51 years of independence, let me ask our leaders, past and present, especially the living, when Nigeria will take a long overdue flight to prosperity and reasonability. When will the flight to citizen-contented atmosphere in this richly endowed but badly governed country occur? Can it be assumed that the leader that will make this flight possible is among the current crop of leadership in the nation or should it be assumed that such a leader is yet to emerge?

With the way things are going under the current dispensation, that leader that can surely bring about the desired flight cannot be President Jonathan. This is because so far,

EXPRESSO STEVE OSUJI

SMS O8055001684 email:steve_osuji@yahoo.com

The witches of onimongoro omnipresence, and seeming omniscience of Baba and his alter ego, IBB. Since they would not deign to travel to a far country for a moment and allow their children’s generation space to breathe, Expresso would rather dabble in sorcery today. It is also a walk away from our stunted security clan that is currently facing the misfortune of a public test. Our security system like the entire country and even we the citizenry, is dead. We have selfimmolated - body and soul. How can we then rise to any challenge? How come our police, army, air force, navy, SSS, NIA, DMI, civil defence, boys scout and numerous other unnamed spooky enterprise of state have been run ragged by a band of boys using old rifles and a crude cocktail of explosives devices? Yes, we are literally dead. None of us, no group, no sector, can stand the simplest of a sustained challenge or test. The dead can’t walk.

This is why Expresso seeks to escape momentarily into oblivion. It wants to try the snail option. The snail once said that whenever the earth becomes too uncomfortable for him, he would simply go ahead and cover his face. Not in shame, but in self defence, in hibernation knowing for sure that the weather ahead is inclement.

Borrowing a leaf from the snail, Expresso covers his face knowing that the transformation song of our president has no rhyme or rhythm yet. You don’t transform the dead, you revive them first. To put it straight, this country is dead, morally dead,

spiritually dead, psychologically dead, economically dead; dead and dead. It is only the shell, the physical body that still stands totteringly.

You expect to see radical measures like reuniting the people, reclaiming the polity by way of radically fighting corruption, radically rebuilding our institutions and systems and radically restructuring the state.

Why can’t we radically grow our own food to the point of having enough to process and export? Why can’t we radically refine our petroleum products to the point of being a major exporter? Why can’t we draw up our budgets (at all levels) and implement them with about 90 percent fidelity? Why can’t we activate the office of the Auditor General and have it do its job as the constitution stipulates?

These are very basic steps that ought to lift the polity instantly if taken.

How do we hope to proceed when too many chimpanzees have their hands in the soup pot? Who will pull out those hairy hands stuck deep in our treasury? That’s fundamental.

Why does every government business have corruption as its underlying principle? Why are we discovering everyday that every government deal, contract, concession, agreement, etc., is undergirded by fraud? We have to deal with these witches first before we can proceed.

This is why Expresso has run to the embrace of the lesser witches of Onimongoro today.

Onimongoro is a spot on the outskirts of Lagos along the new Abeokuta road which stretches from Ojuelegba through Mushin,

he has led a lack lustre government that is devoid of any clear-cut vision and mission being badly craved for by Nigerians. At 51, it is sad that Nigerians are still daily praying for better times in the midst of official hopelessness and lethargy.

George Padmore (1902 - 1959), a TrinidadTobago Pan-African campaigner hit the nail on the head when he said: ‘Africans have lived so long on promises. What they want to see are a few concrete deeds. They are tired of listening to pious sermons about ‘democracy’ and ‘freedom’ while the chains of servitude still hang around their necks.’ Padmore aptly captures the Nigerian situation: Our people are tired of empty promises. They are, as the country celebrates 51 years of statehood, tired of unsolicited sermons from a Jonathan that does not want to emulate the good qualities of military generals and notable biblical persons even when the citizens crave the emulation of virtues inherent in these people.

So far, Nigeria’s October 1, 1960 independence is absolutely bereft of complimentary freedom necessary for growth and development.

SOA Bankole @ 70 Chief Suarau Olayiwola Alani Bankole a forthnight ago clocked the age of 70.From the information gathered by yours sincerely, modest celebration was organised on that day.

This was complimented by prayers offered by alfas (Muslim clerics) to thank Allah for His blessings over this notable politician popularly known in political circles as caterpillar, the conqueror of mountains, for his never-say-die spirit.

I say a belated happy birthday to the father of my good brother and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Sabur Bankole.

Once again, my belated but warm birthday greetings to this Egba land high chief.

‘Nigerians celebrate being alive to witness this day but could not feel the real impact of true independence. They remain Nigerian by ancestry but desire to elope from the country at the slightest opportunity’ Oshodi, Ikeja, and then Onimongoro, Dopemu, Ipaja all the way to Ota and on to Abeokuta, Ogun State. Onimongoro which is near the Lagos airport is made popular by the Punch newspapers which until recently had its headquarters nearby.

Onimongoro portion of this expressway, (which includes Ile-Zik and Cement areas) is dogged by such irrepressible potholes that some residents are sure some tar-devouring witches dwell within the vicinity. On both sides of the dual carriageway, evil potholes that defy solution dwell. In the last 10 years, even Julius Berger had intervened yet at the best of times, it takes only six months for the festering demons to return, more dangerous, more defiant. Just last May, I think it was the LSPWC that did a wonderful overnight act there fixing the potholes but alas, they are back more weird and fearsome like old hags.

Woe be-tide you should you, a stranger, think you are cruising on an expressway at night only to come suddenly upon one of those hellholes. If it doesn’t claim your limb, it is bound to get your tyre; perhaps both or worse. What do witches feed on anyway if not gore? If you look closely each day, you are bound to see shards of headlamps littered around some of the ugliest of the potholes as if in sacrifice.

The story of the witches of Onimongoro is a very long one. It is more than 10 years old.

A child born in this area these years must have grown into a teenager convinced that hellish traffic is way of life. It is a narrative of the zomof the citizenry. Imaging putting a man through the same torture routine for about 10 year. He is bound to begin to live a happy life of pain. The witches’ story continues…

LAST MUG: Ringim’s Police littering the highway: I travelled to

Benin by road last Friday for the Guild of Editors’ Conference and I made this great discovery that a huge number of the men of the Nigeria Police litter the Lagos-Benin highway. Is this some kind of safe (and profitable) haven away from the Boko Haram boys? It is bad enough that the road has failed and is almost impassable, the police compound commuters’ woes at every pole diligently collecting their ‘toll’. Ugh, what ugly road blocks not to be found even in a war zone. What a great story it will make for BBC or VOA.

NIGERIA/GUINEA CLASH

Siasia pleased with Eagles’ strikers

Pg. 24

Eguavoen calls 30 for test run

Pg. 24

Nation Friday, September 30, 2011

PAGE 23

AC Milan finds replacement for Taiwo •Taiwo

By Bimbo Adesina

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

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NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

Eguavoen calls 30 for test run H EAD COACH of the U-23 National Team, also known as Dream Team V, Austin Eguavoen has drawn up a list of 30 relatively unknown, home-based players for a test run as he opens his camp for preparations towards the CAF African U-23 Championship taking place in Egypt from 26 November – 10 December.

Goalkeeper Dami Paul and striker Edafe Egbedi, who represented Nigeria at the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals in Colombia in August, as well

as 13 Premier League players are included, otherwise the invited group is composed of lower league and amateur players.

Officials say the players would be given a one-week trial at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan beginning from Sunday, 2 October, after which the Head Coach would pick a few that must have impressed to join his established, mainly Europe-based platoon.

New Federation Cup champions Heartland FC of Owerri supply two

Nigeria Cup: Ikoyi Club donates N.3m to Modupe Cole Home

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HE Vice Chairman of Ikoyi Club 1938, Babatunde Akinleye on Monday presented a cheque of N300, 000 for the construction of the first bore-hole to the management of Modupe Cole Child Care and Treatment Home School; in fifty one year’s one the school existence.

The gesture which has become a part of the clubs anniversary was one of the activities of the on-going 73rd celebration of the club’s establishment.

Akinleye said that the sporting club has made it a duty to always seek out Orphanages or Charities with least attention to identify with on such occasion.

“We are confident that whatever we invest here or support we give here will be judiciously managed; that was our finding when we first came to make enquiries. We wanted to make an impact. And I am personally impressed with the way the school has been run given that it has been in existence since 1960. If there was no such place what would have been the lot of this 365 special people that it caters for?” he asked rhetorically.

The head of the Home, Folake Duroyanju expressed joy along with over one hundred special pupils and staffs that came to welcome the members from Ikoyi Club 1938, saying “water has been our greatest challenge and we have told virtually anyone that approached us for support this whenever the opportunity arise.”

Adding that; “When we heard that Ikoyi Club was ready to take on the challenge for us, we felt very relieved and we have even contacted people that will help us in the project in anticipation for the today” Dipo Onafowokan, the general manager of Ikoyi Club 1938 restated Ikoyi Club’s commitment to the Home by undertaking maintenance and repairs of the Bore Hole even after completion.

“We are not just going to stop providing the money for setting up the bore hole, we want to be involved in the maintenance of the project and make sure the water problem is solved.”

The Akoka, Lagos based Modupe Cole Child Care and Treatment Home School houses 200 of its 325 pupils while the rest are day students.

Osun Governors Cup draw holds SUN STATE Football October 21 Association has ordered its

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executive members and zonal Sports organizers in the state, to ensure they put machinery in motion for the realisation of Local Football Council in their respective zones of all the thirty local governments in the state.

A news release from the secretary of the association Akin Adio stated that the materialization of the Local Football Council became necessary which is in line with the Osun State Football Association statute 22.1.

The Local Football Council will consist of two elected members and secretary, and they must be people who have something to do with soccer.

However, preparation is at advance stage for the upcoming Governors Cup organized by the association as closing date for obtaining forms of competition will close on Monday October 17, 2011 while draws of the tournament will hold on Friday October 21, 2011 at the Oshogbo Township Stadium.

MTN NIGERIA CUP

Oboh, Ayinde headline amateur field

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OP Golfers, most of them captains of industry are set to make the amateur competition of the ongoing Nigeria Cup a keenly competed one as Godwin Oboh, former CEO of Union Bank, Ayinde Sanni of Global Golf and Frank Gboneme, the current Captain of the golf section of Ikoyi Golf Club take to the course this weekend.

The big-hitting trio who are well known for their regular visits to the broad fairway of the Ikoyi course, are among the high-profiled amateur golfers expected to storm the course in continuation of the Nigeria Cup; a competition put in place to mark the nation’s 51st anniversary.

Last Saturday, kid golfers took their turn on the course playing over nine-holes, while the Caddies had their day on the course on Monday.

Tuesday was dedicated to the ladies, while tour professionals joined in the celebration for a whopping sum of N3m between Wednesday and Thursday.

Invited guests mostly from neighbouring states of Ogun, Oyo and Edo have all been part of the MTNsponsored programme.

Meanwhile, the General Manager, Consumer Marketing of MTN Nigeria, Kola Oyeyemi, has praised the organisers of the competition, while also pledging MTN’s continuous support to the development of the game of golf in Nigeria.

“We will always support good initiatives that will help move Nigeria forward” Oyeyemi said beaming with satisfaction.

The week-long competition, fully backed by MTN would be rounded up on Saturday at a gala night slated for the Civic Centre.

players in defender Orji Kalu and midfielder Stanley Ohawuchi.

THE FULL LIST Papa Idris, Jude Aneke (Kaduna United FC), Orji Kalu, Stanley Ohawuchi (Heartland FC), Uche David (Sharks FC), Dami Paul (Nasarawa United FC), Imole Bashiru (Bolowotan FC), Abomina Izuegbu, Sadiq Saliu (36 Lions), Azubuike Egwuekwe, Egbeta Emmanuel (Warri Wolves FC), Kelly Godwin (Unattached), Ikechukwu Gabriel (Kano Pillars FC), Atu Irumekhai (MFM FC), Tunde Kareem (Police Machine), Yakubu Olanrewaju (Rising Stars FC), Emeka Atuloma (Dolphin FC), Chinedu Sunday, Brendam Chukwudi (Rangers FC), Abubakar Kareem, Ebenezer Odunlami (First Bank FC), Edafe Egbedi (Unattached), Arikpo Martins (UniCem Rovers FC), Laide Okanlawon, Christian Obiozor (3SC), Ekpai Ubong (Akwa United FC), Leke James (Julius Berger FC), Odah Onoriode (Unattached), George Akpabio (Plateau United FC), Franklyn Okafor (Insurance FC).

•Eguavoen

NIGERIA/GUINEA CLASH

Siasia pleased with Eagles’ strikers N

IGERIA coach Samson Siasia is pleased with the form of his strikers ahead of next month’s decisive 2012 African Nations Cup qualifier against Guinea.

Emmanuel Emenike has led a slew of Nigerian goals in Europe over the past

two weeks and Siasia, whose team need to win by 1-0 or a two-goal margin, prefers the insurance of a handsome win over Guinea.

"I am very happy with my strikers and the fact that most of them have been scoring in recent matches for their clubs.

"I believe it is a good omen for us and I will just urge them to bring that same form to the camp so as to score as many goals as possible against Guinea."

Nigeria play Guinea on October 8 in Abuja and need all three points to reach the 2012 African Nations Cup.

Joel Obi for 2012 Olympics

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NTER MILAN ace Joel Obi has revealed he is “super ready” to feature at next year’s Olympic football event if Nigeria qualify for the tournament.

Obi is within the age of 23 years allowed for the competition and he said he would be willing to honour an invitation to be part of Nigeria’s Dream Team V. “Yes, I am super ready to play for the Dream Team V of Nigeria any time I get the call-up. I am waiting for an invitation from the coach (Austin Eguavoen) to join the team,” said the exciting midfielder.

Nigeria aim to qualify for London 2012 by going past Senegal, Algeria and Morocco in a final qualifying tournament in Egypt slated for the end of November.

Obi was also linked with starring for Nigeria at the recent FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Colombia, but insisted that he never received a formal invitation to that effect.

The player, who made his Eagles debut against Sierra Leone in February, has now enjoyed more game time at top Italian club Inter.

On Tuesday, he played the full 90 minutes as Inter won 3-2 away at CSKA Moscow of Russia in a UEFA Champions League tie.

He said the victory has boosted his team’s hopes in the competition.

“I really enjoyed the game, just like my other colleagues. I am also very happy that we won away from home which has now brought us back in contention for qualification to the next

round of the competition,” he told MTNFootball.com Inter are now second behind Trabzonspor of Turkey in Group B after two rounds of matches. They have three points, a point behind their Turkish rivals.

•Ehiosun

games at the Arab Contractors stadium, which is a natural turf and the only natural turf in Abuja is the National stadium. As you know the Super Eagles have a crucial match against Guinea. So remaining in Abuja will mean using the goal project which is Astro turf and that is counter productive” Eguavoen declared.

He added that “this informed our decision to move the camp to Ibadan, so we can use the Liberty Stadium and am happy that the Federation understands because the NFF President, Aminu Maigari has given us the go ahead and as I talk to you the team Secretary Shola Ogunnowo is already in Ibadan to put all logistics in place” Austin Eguavoen also called on Nigerians to rally round the team as it begins preparations next week for the CAF U-23 championship.

“I want to use this opportunity also to seek the support of all Nigerians and the people of Oyo state to rally round the team.”

The Dream Team begins its campaign against Morocco on 27th November, before taking on Senegal three days later with a final group game being against Algeria on December 3rd.

Host Nation Egypt will face Gabon in the opening match of the tournament which ends on December 10th.

The championship will be on a round-robin basis with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals.

The top three placed teams automatically qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games, while the fourth placed team will engage a team from Asia in a playoff.

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HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have formally rejected a CAF decision to centralise the television and marketing rights for the qualifying tournament of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The NFF said they cannot afford to receive a paltry $500,000, same as countries like Niger and Chad.

“The position is that we refuse to associate with the laid down resolution on the centralised TV and marketing rights for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers,” read in part a September 24 letter signed by NFF president Aminu Maigari.

“This resolution is highly unacceptable to Nigeria and we refuse to accept it in its entirety.”

Maigari argued that there was a promise by CAF during a recent meeting in Zurich that a committee would be set up to look into the misgivings of dissenting nations and this has yet to be done.

The NFF boss informed CAF that his association have subsisting marketing and television agreements.

This will include a deal with private television station Africa Independent Television (AIT), which guarantees the

NFF at least 250 million Naira a year (about $1.7m).

CAF recently ruled that the TV and marketing rights for all qualifying matches for the 2014 World Cup in the African zone will be centralised with their marketing agents and revenue from such an arrangement will be distributed to membernations according to a sharing formula to be decided upon.

•Maigari

Okaka wants England return

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S Roma striker Stefano Okaka is eyeing a return to England.

Okaka had a previous spell onloan at Fulham.

"It is up to the boy to decide but it seems that there is no room for him according to coach Luis Enrique.

"If things do not change soon then we will seek a solution. Okaka is a striker of interest to Italian and English clubs and we will make a decision in January, '' Okaka's agent, Giampiero Pocetta, was quoted as saying by TribalFootball.

Eagles’ star Ambrose hooked

Dream Team V to camp in Ibadan N

IGERIA National U-23 team, otherwise called Dream team V will now camp in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital instead of Abuja as preparations gets underway for the inaugural CAF U23 Africa championship billed for Cairo, Egypt in November.

Similarly, the date for camp resumption has also been pushed forward to the 5th of next month.

The Team was earlier expected to camp in Abuja with the resumption date being 2nd October.

Dream Team V media officer Arafat Aliu quotes head coach of the team Austin Eguavoen as saying” the changes became necessary in other not to derail his team’s camping programme ahead of the Eight nation qualifying championship for the London 2012 Olympics”.

“We will be playing our group

Nigeria rejects CAF-TV deal

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•Nigerian midfielder Joel Obi avoids a Kenyan defender during the international friendly football match in Abuja on March 29, 2011. Nigeria won 3 - 0

IGERIAN international defender Efe Ambrose will wed heart-throb Adenike Adewale on Saturday at the Barnawa Baptist Church in Kaduna, northern Nigeria.

The FC Ashdod of Israel central defender informed MTNFootball.com he has already concluded plans to the wedding.

Ambrose disclosed that Adenike’s parents will help fill the vacuum left by his late parents.

“Adenike has been succour to me since the demise of my parents and I love her so much,” remarked Ambrose.

“She likes football a lot and she loves the game more since she knew that I am professional football player.

She studies food technology. She is a Christ-like person.

“We met at the church that will host our wedding, Barnawa Baptist Church, Kaduna. We have been dating for almost six years now and we have decided to tie the knot in the church that we first met.

“I am always very comfortable when I am with her and she encourages me a lot in the ways of God. Whenever I am down she encourages me and I believe my career will be better when we get married. Adenike is the joy of my life.”

The wedding guest list will include top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation, Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia as well as the chairman of Ambrose’s former club Kaduna United, Sabo Babayaro.

AFROBASKET FOR WOMEN

Nigeria faces Mozambique in quarter-finals

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IGERIA women basketball team, D'Tigress will today battle Mozambique in the quarter-finals of the ongoing Africa Women Baketball Championship at the Stade du 26 Mars, Bamako, Mali.

Nigeria advanced to the last eight having defeated Rwanda by 59-49 points.

Rwanda entered her last group-B against two-time champion of the Afrobasket for Women, Nigeria with an ambition to spring surprises but all that filtered into the air after an excellent first quarter start which she won by 1710 points.

After picking the first quarter the Rwandese were out-played by the Nigeria who rely on her defensive style of play to stop the FIBA Africa Zone-5

side from causing any upset.

Rwanda lost the second, third and fourth quarters by 11-19, 07-09 and 1421 points to bow to the superior fire power of the Nigeria who were the better side on the board with 44 rebounds to Rwanda 25. As final scores stood at 49-59 points in favour of Nigeria who finish the preliminary round in third place behind Senegal and Angola.

Nigeria guard Joyce Ekworomadu led the Nigeria side with 10 points and 6 rebounds, home girl and reigning Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) most valuable player First Deepwater basketball club guard, Nkechi Akashili recorded 10 points and 4 rebounds while Rosalyn Onwude completed the Nigeria charge to a quarter finals ticket with 10 points.

Lam Adesina plans big for Crown, 3SC T HE Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon Lam Adesina has debunked the rumour of the state selling its two Premiership outfits, Crown FC of Ogbomoso and 3SC of Ibadan.

The commissioner made this known when he held a stakeholders forum with the management of Crown FC and people of Ogbomoso.

Lam Adesina jnr equally used the forum to allay the fears of football lovers on the peddling rumour of selling the Club that the rumour was untrue and unfounded of both teams in the State; that government is only considering Public Private Partnership (P.P.P) and cited Arsenal Football Club of England and Emirates as an instance of such workable initiatives; that the challenges and finances confronting football clubs could no longer be solely bankrolled by government if a good result is expected.

The Commissioner therefore submitted by calling on all companies, corporate bodies, individuals and group of individuals to come around for support to lift the Club higher.

In his address, the Chairman of Crown Football Club, Ogbomoso, Mr. Gabriel Babalola commended the Commissioner and the Ministry at large for their painstaking and continuous effort while he praised the encyclopedic knowledge of sound administration and his unbiased manner of handling official issues, the Chairman traced this attribute to the Commissioner’s robust background and stated that inspite of swimming in the murky waters of relegation, the

remaining four (4) matches could do the wonder should the Ministry continues in their supervisory and advisory capacity.

Alhaji Fatai Buhari who spoke during the forum advocated for a complete overhauling of the Club many other too agreed in his favour while some advocated for stadium overhauling as the only solution to the Club's problem.

In his response, the Commissioner said he had noted everybody's point and that they would be worked upon accordingly; that the forum was to open a new vista for the Club's progress.

The Club's Scribe Debo Awogbade in his vote of thanks commended the Commissioner for his God given wisdom and prayed for God's guidance for him throughout his stay in office.

•Harrison-Egbune

Liberation Stadium hosts Samsung Cup final

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HE popular Liberation Stadium in the Garden City of Port Harcourt, will today host the final of the maiden football championship tagged Samsung Cup. The competition, which is part of the activities lined for this year’s Samsung Week has eight teams across Rivers State participating.

Just like the Lagos edition held fortnight ago with eight teams taking part in the competition, the Port Harcourt tourney has been very competitive as the teams gave a good account of themselves in most of the matches.

The teams that featured in the championship are Macjef FC, Globek FC, Bethlehem Angels FC, Masgulf FC, Orlando FC, Port Harcourt Junior FC, Port Harcourt City FC and Legend FC. In their first match, Bethlehem Angels FC overcame Glodek FC 1-0, while Macjef overwhelmed Hollando FC 2-0.

The match between Port Harcourt City FC and Masgulf had to be settled through penalty shoot-out after the match ended 1-1 at full time. But it was the Port Harcourt team that won 5-3 on penalty.

An excited Coach of Port Harcourt City FC, Joseph Egbu, said it was a great opportunity for his lads to play the inaugural Samsung Invitational football. "It is an opportunity to play in a big competition being organised by big brands like Samsung which will help in nurturing the skill and confidence of my players. We look forward to wearing Samsung colours after lifting the trophy," Egbiu said.

Head, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Nicholas Shin, said that the grassroots football competition is going to be a continuous process, adding that participants should expect more in the coming year.

He, however, enjoined the teams to conduct themselves in orderly manner and to observe fair play rules.

HERITAGE Obi urges research in Igbo culture Anambra 27

SERVICE

CRIME

5,253 get free eye treatment

Police arrest suspected sea pirates

Delta

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

Lagos 38

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Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

Edo and the World Bank’s endorsement

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•Oshiomhole

T a time many states and their chief executives are having credibility problems within and outside the shores of the country, the profile of Edo State under Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is soaring higher and higher.

From all quarters, accolades are pouring in on the governor for the quick but efficient way he is tackling the multifaceted problems the state is experiencing.

From the ordinary man in the streets to the white-collared professional in the tastefullyfurnished executive air-conditioned office, the testimonies are the same: “to God be the glory, Edo State is working again.”

The people are, of course, right to heave a sigh of relief as the state had been under a kind of siege in the past 10 years preceding the emergence of Comrade Oshiomhole as governor.

Before now, virtually every public infrastructure had broken down; roads were dilapidated and impassable; schools were broken down and not conducive to learning; health centres

What is good coming to Edo State is that every time we come, something new is happening; there is progress not in terms of report but in terms of development - Onno Ruhl, Country Director, World Bank were a shadow of their glorious past and many parts of Benin-City, the state capital, were ravaged by erosion. The people were suffering and they were not smiling about it.

However, the story is not the same today as virtually all the 18 Local Government Areas of the state have an imprint of governance-inaction.

In the area of education, the schools are being transformed from a gloomy past to a bright present and even a glorious future. The transformation of the schools transcend the schools in the state capital as other public schools across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state are beneficiaries of the total school transformation programme of the government.

Already, such schools as Niger College, Idia College, Maria Goretti, Adolor College, all in

Benin-City; St John Bosco, Ubiaja, Anglican Grammar School, Igarra and Holy Trinity Grammar School, Sabongida Ora are beneficiaries of government’s schools transformation exercise.

In the area of roads, all major roads in Benin-City, the state capital are being worked on with some already completed and inaugurated. Such roads as Stadium Road, Oba Market Road with street lights, walkways and drains and the popular Costain-Isorhorho Road (now re-named Gani Fawehinmi layout) made up of five roads also complete with street lights, walkways and drains have been inaugurated.

Work on other roads like the Airport •Continued on Page 26

C

HILDREN in a motherless home in Enugu State have hit some good fortune, and in quite a remarkable way. Shoprite, the biggest shopping chain in the country, opened for business in the state capital, drawing dignitaries to its shelves. The wife of the state governor Mrs. Clara Chime was there. So was the Deputy Governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi. But the governor’s wife was not there to shop for herself but inmates of the state Motherless Babies’ Home. She bought and donated food items worth thousands of naira to them.

It was a great day for the home inmates, many of whom looked happy to be in the company of the governor’s wife. Their jot was not just that food was provided, but that such a highly placed personality remembered them.

While handing the items to the acting Matron of the Home Mrs. Chinyere Ogbonna, Mrs. Chime said that the gesture was to express her happiness that the state is hosting Shoprite, the biggest shopping mall in the country.

She thanked the matron and officers at the home for their humanitarian services and urged them to make good use of the items for the best interest of the babies.

Responding, Mrs. Ogbonna expressed happiness over Mrs. Chime’s gesture and promised to use the items for the benefit of the children.

Recall that Governor Sullivan Chime had recently inaugurated the Shoprite Complex, a multi-billion naira affair.

Performing the inauguration ceremony at the former Polo Field in the state capital, the governor said it would help boost the socio-economic activities of the state.

Chime, who spoke through his deputy, Onyebuchi described it as a dream come true.

He observed that the mall which is the biggest of its type in Nigeria would not only provide employment to the people but would also boost the economy of the state in particular and the country in general.

The governor stated that the goods on

•Mrs Chime with one of the children at the orphanage

Hope for the motherless Chime’s wife shops for children in Enugu home Biggest shopping mall to provide jobs kets.

The General Manager assured that From Chris Oji, Enugu

display at the shop are affordable and therefore enjoined the people to patronise the company, assuring them that they will have full value for their money.

In an address, the General Manager of

the company, Mr. Anton Waggnnaar disclosed that items sold by the company were 75 per cent locally manufactured and of high quality, even as he said they are affordable.

He also added that the items were cheaper than those sold in the open mar-

his company would help to improve the economy of Enugu State not only through payment of taxes but also by providing employment opportunities for the people. He stated that most of the members of management staff of the company were indigenous to Enugu State.

THE NATION

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

Edo and the World Bank’s endorsement •Continued from page 25 Road, Akpakpava Road, Sapele Road, Five Junction and its entire road layout, Ugbowo-Lagos Road, Iheya Road, Siluko Road and the entire Kings Square beautification with a world-class musical fountain and outside the state capital, the reconstruction of the 30 kilometre Ayogwiri-Apana-ImiegbaImiakebu Okpekpe Road; reconstruction of the Ekperi – Anegbette Road and Bridge; Jattu-Afowa-IyoraApana-Ayogwiri Road; EvboeghaeUgo-Uronigbe Road; Jattu-Ibie Road; Jattu-Ayua Road; Amedokhian-Ugboha Road (8.9km); Isua-Uzenema-Ebele Road (3.23km); Irrua-Usugbenu-Ugbegun-EbudinUjogba Road; Auchi-Jattu-AfashioIkabigbo-Ojio Road (13.6km); OtuoIhievbe-Ogbe Road (18km); Igueben-Ewohimi-EwattoOhordua-Emu-Okhuesan Road (32km); Igueben-Udo Road (5.5km; Iguobazuwa-Umaza-Siluko Road (25km) and reconstruction of UhenOlumoye Road (10km) are ongoing.

In the health sector, the 5-Star 120bed Complex in the Central Hospital, Benin-City is a wonder to behold, even as work is ongoing on the Women and Children Hospital, Ewohinmi; Women and Children Hospital, Otuo; General Hospital, Sabongidda Ora and General Hospital, Igarra.

What is astounding is that all these projects are being executed at the same time on a very lean budget.

This may have befuddled the World Bank which, through its Country Director, Onno Ruhl praised the governor over the people-oriented projects and their high quality.

During the inauguration of the Steering Committee on Public Expenditure Management and Financial Accountability Review at the Government House in Benin-City, Mr Onno Ruhl said: “Any major organisation like the World Bank that has to finance projects will be telling the world how wonderful the results we have achieved in Edo State are. Our challenge is to keep up with the pace at which you are going and how we can meaningfully help you.”

The World Bank Country Director said he was impressed that, on every job site, there was a profound slogan, “People’s Tax at Work,” noting that when he visited the state six months earlier, he saw fantastic

plans, expressing joy that the plans were being faithfully implemented.

He observed that at the beginning, the people of the state were impatient because they wanted immediate results, saying that, “you have proved that it is better to plan carefully and do quality jobs.

“When I went to Five Junction, I saw people in the neighbourhood who never expected that the government could come up to fix the environment and they can now see the impact of development which is going on in the area,” he added.

Continuing, he said: “The place is even more impressive than the King’s Square. Though the King’s Square is very important, it is not every government that wants to fix the area where the people live and I saw what really impressed me and my team.”

On another visit to the state, Mr. Onno Ruhl noted that “what is good coming to Edo State is that every time we come, something new is happening. There is progress not in terms of report, but in terms of development.

This is an example of a government delivering to its people and that is why we are very keen to being Edo State’s partner. We like to work with governments whether they are at the national or state level. We believe in delivering services to the people because that is the only way we as development partners can be relevant.”

The World Bank Country Director continued: “It is in the management of resources and the accountability in the system that the difference is between just spending money and delivering results.”

However, Onno Ruhl is not alone in showering praises on the governor. His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Oba of Benin and His Excellency, the Ambassador of Nigeria to Italy were not left out in appreciating the transformation of the state from its former state of steady decline to rapid development.

While showering praises on the governor for the “massive social and economic development” of the state at the Edo Leadership Assembly’s Annual Convention held in Atlanta, Georgia, recently, the Royal father, represented by the Enogie of Obazuwa, Prince Edun Akenzua, said: “The present government of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has embarked on massive social and eco-

•Ongoing asphalting of the Jattu-Ayua road in Etsako West LG of Edo State

When I went to Five Junction, I saw people in the neighbourhood who never expected that the government could come up to fix the environment and they can now see the impact of development which is going on in the area nomic development of Edo State.

We therefore urge you all to join hands with the Oshiomhole administration in transforming education, agriculture and healthcare systems in our state to a level much higher than where we are now.”

On his part, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Italy, Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, Edaiken N’Uselu described the transformation taking place in Benin-City and other parts of the state as unprecedented.

The Ambassador said: “Two years

ago, Obama was elected President of the United States of America, the first African-American President to be so elected. The whole world commended the people of America for the change in their political horizon and the concept of change brought by Obama to the White House. On the other side of the globe, in sub-Saharan Africa, in Edo State Nigeria, change is also taking place.

“The infrastructure and political horizon is being systematically

transformed. The transformation I have seen within this short period in Benin-City as many other people would have observed is unprecedented. In my capacity as Grand Patron of Edo Leadership Assembly, I wish, on behalf of Edo people at home and in the Diaspora, to commend His Excellency, Governor Oshiomhole for the hope for a brighter future he has offered the people of Edo State. The Ancient Kingdom of Benin is fast catching up with other modern metropolises such as Abuja. The Governor has already set a standard and is blazing a trail for other governors to follow.

But there is still a lot to be done on infrastructural development and the political re-orientation, in the right direction of “one man one vote.”

There is no doubt that Edo people are the winners for taking their destinies in their hands and voting in Oshiomhole as governor as the faith they placed in the former number one labour leader has now been justified.

•Samuel Eguaikhide, a university teacher writes from Ekpoma

‘Akpabio’s commitment to industrialisation unwavering’

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HE Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Nsima Ekere has restated the Governor Godswill Akpabio administration’s commitment to the industrialisation of the state.

Speaking during the unveiling of the Chief Godswill Akpabio Way, the rehabilitated Market Road which was renamed after the governor in Ikot Ekpene, Ekere stressed that the state government was resolute on industrialising the state, adding that it was a sure way to grow the economy and empower the people.

He reasoned that by renaming

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

the old Market Road after the governor, Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area was demonstrating that it was keying into the industrialisation drive of the Akpabio administration.

Noting the historical importance of Ikot Ekpene, the first area where local government administration was instituted by the British colonial rulers in the whole of West Africa, the deputy governor pointed out that the administration had transformed the landscape of the area espe-

The state government was resolute on industrialising the state, adding that it was a sure way to grow the economy and empower the people

cially in road construction and rehabilitation.

He stated that it was in a bid to beautify Ikot Ekpene that the state government demolished and relocated the Ikot Ekpene Prisons. He assured the people of the area that a massive structure of economic importance would soon be constructed to replace the old prison.

The member representing Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Otuekong Nsikak Ekong, recalled that Market Road was one of the most dilapidated roads in Ikot Ekpene, even as he thanked the governor for reconstructing the road and many other roads in Ikot Ekpene.

He also commended Akpabio for the provision of several other amenities in the town including street and traffic lights.

The Chairman of Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, Pastor Sunny Ibuot explained that the decision to rename the Market Road after the governor was taken by the Local Government

Legislative Council after extensive consultations with all stakeholders.

He described as unimaginable the level of transformation of the state in general and Ikot Ekpene in particular.

The Paramount Ruler of Ikot Ekpene, Okuku Augustus Assiak noted that the governor’s record in infrastructural development has attracted accolades from far and near and prayed for God’s blessings and protection for him.

•Akpabio

THE NATION

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

Okorocha woos American investors

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MO State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has restated his administration’s commitment to attract investment and create job opportunities for Imo people. He disclosed this when he participated in a conference on the development of business in Nigeria which was organised

by Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars in Washington DC. The organisers of the conference selected Imo State for what

they described as Governor Okorocha’s innovative and pragmatic style in governance, thus making Imo one of the five states chosen from Nigeria to canvass for investment and business opportunities from multinational firms in all sectors of the economy.

Governor Okorocha said that the international investors should take advantage of the enormous natural and human

The international investors should take advantage of the enormous natural and human resources that abound in the state to set up companies that will provide jobs and further boost the economic transformation of the state… Imo is the China of Africa

resources that abound in the state to set up companies that will provide jobs and further boost the economic transformation of the state.

“Imo is the China of Africa. We have high literacy level and very sound people who can do anything required of them to help any company grow,” he assured.

He further pledged the commitment of his administration to put in place policies and programmes that will encourage economic growth. These, according to him, include tax-break, provision of land and guarantee on security.

The governor added that Imo State is already on the threshold of growth owing to the determination of his administration to move forward despite inherited challenges.

While he described Imo as a potential giant, the governor promised that efforts will be intensi-

fied to reposition the state to achieve its economic potential.

He further reiterated the commitment of his administration to provide jobs, transform the rural areas and ensure improvement in all sectors.

Governor Okorocha, however, listed his areas of priority to include free education, massive infrastructural development and security.

The conference was put together by the former American Ambassador to Nigeria, Renee Sandras and featured officials of World Bank and agencies of the American government.

Participants explained to governors the procedure of accessing funds and other areas of assistance and programme to help in the development of their states.

They also identified Imo as a state with great potential which will be capable of meeting the requirement of international as-

•Okorocha

sistance judging from the policies of Governor Okorocha.

The governor concluded the conference with meetings with international businessmen, Imo community and Nigerians in the Diaspora.

Obi urges research in Igbo culture From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki

•Obi

A

NAMBRA State Governor Mr. Peter Obi has expressed dismay over the negligence of Igbo culture and tradition. He therefore called on leaders of Southeast geo-political zone to invest in the research work of Igbo origin, culture and tradition.

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ATHOLIC Diocese of E n u g u - o w n e d Umuchinemere Pro-credit Micro-finance Bank (UPMFB) has disbursed a total of N194m as group/individual micro loans, advances, micro leasing of life-enhancing commodities to 2,338 people within the diocese between January and June this year.

In a press statement by the bank, signed by its Public/Media Relations Officer, Sir Abuchi Anueyiagu, the manager in charge of Credit Department, Mr. Ikechukwu Ngene, said the concept of the bank was to help the poor and to eradicate poverty, even as he disclosed that Umuchinemere Pro-credit Microfinance Bank was able to lend the N194m lifeline to that large number of the poor in its area of operation in just the first six months of the year.

Providing a detailed account of the bank’s lending activities within the period under review, the Credit Manager said the bank lent a total of N181.655m as group micro loans; N6.917m as salary overdraft/advance; and N6.8m in commodity micro-leasing.

Ngene stated that the bank gave a total of 12 tricycles amounting

Governor Obi stated this in a goodwill massage during the Southeast History Summit with the theme “Southeast Nigeria in Historical Perspective” which was organised by the Historical Society of Nigeria (HSN) in collaboration with the Department of History and International Relations of Ebonyi State University Abakaliki.

He urged other Southeast governors not to handle issues affecting Igbo tradition with relaxed attitude, even as he maintained that there should be mindful and concerted efforts aimed at developing a socio-cultural consciousness towards its revitalisation and sustenance for the interest of generations yet unborn.

Lamenting, he said: “It is regrettable that some sensitive Igbo cultures, values and norms are gradually disappearing

among youths of Igbo origin. It is not only the responsibility of the custodians of tradition to ensure preservation of these practices but also that of every Igbo man and woman.”

Governor Obi, who was represented at the occasion by the state’s Commissioner for Education, Dr. Key Onyechi stated that the history and culture of a people were paramount to the developmental agenda of any nation, adding that the Igbo nation-wide were notable for hard work and commitment to service at every given period. He expressed delight that the academic community was involved in championing the cause for the rekindling of awareness and need for preservation of Igbo customs and tradition.

On why the summit was convened, the Vice-Chairman (Southeast zone), Historical Society of Nigeria and convener of the summit, Mr. Dan Chukwu stated that it was designed to

provide a strong basis to further strengthen social and economic interactions among historians from the zone.

He said: “In curriculum contents and funding, academic history appears to have suffered some imbalance. We do know what has been the lot of the subject either at the primary or secondary school levels ever since that retrogressive policy was made.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria should encourage his-

torical scholarship in Nigeria through the establishment of an Institute of Historical Studies in Abuja. The institute to be manned by a historian as Director-General shall, among other things, carry out researches into Nigeria’s history and culturepast and present.”

The summit brought together notable historians and prominent Igbo leaders to chart a new course for the preservation of Igbo tradition within and outside the zone.

It is not only the responsibility of the custodians of tradition to ensure preservation of these practices but also that of every Igbo man and woman… The Federal Government of Nigeria should encourage historical scholarship in Nigeria through the establishment of an Institute of Historical Studies

N194m loan scheme for 2,338 rural poor From Chris Oji, Enugu

to N5.3m and other forms of commodity micro-leasing such as electricity generating sets, refrigerators, computer sets, television sets, and so on to enhance the living condition of the poor in the area.

He explained that the 2,338 beneficiaries of the loans, advances and micro leasing engage in various small trades and low income earning jobs.

He said people’s responsiveness to the products and services of Umuchinemere Micro Finance

Bank was very impressive and encouraging, even though he expressed dismay that contrary to the concept of micro-finance banking being to take care of the poorest of the poor in the society, the commercial banks were now competing with micro-finance banks over control of the grassroots people or the common man.

He lamented: “When we work hard to groom the poor customers to take our group micro loan, the commercial banks will just come from nowhere and destabilise that by wooing the customers and they don’t do

The concept of the bank was to help the poor and to eradicate poverty… The bank gave a total of 12 tricycles amounting to N5.3m and other forms of commodity micro leasing such as electricity generating sets, refrigerators, computer sets, television sets, and so on to enhance the living condition of the poor in the area

critical analysis of the customers as we do. They’re only interested in giving out money, mostly salary clients, without encouraging them to engage in profitable micro-credit activities.”

On loan repayment default, the bank manager said with the adoption of some internally developed measures, UPMFB had been able to check the incidence of non-repayment of loans, adding that the trend is on the decline, stressing that the bank tries to minimise such risk.

The bank, which officially commenced business on July 22, 1995 in a very small apartment

at a secretariat of the diocese later transformed into a micro-finance bank in 2007. Since then, it has grown to the status of having four branches; 11 customer meeting points all over the seven local government areas that the diocese is spanning; authorised Capital base of N1b; paid-up share capital of over N250m; and 16 life-enhancing products and services.

The micro-finance bank has been able to lend out this amount to the poor strictly in keeping with the church’s set objectives to eradicate poverty and enhance societal economic growth.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

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Rivers to improve power supply

NGO gives free eye services to 5,253 A

•Governor Udughan

T least 5,253 women and children have been treated of various eye ailments in Delta State through the support of Master Care Foundation, a nongovernmental organisation (NGO).

The Head of the NGO’s medical team, Dr Gloria Ferife, said in Ibusa, near Asaba, that 4,746 women and 507 children benefited from the programme in 2007 and 2009.

Ferife told journalists at the flag-off of the third phase of the free eye treatment programme in Ibusa that 2,566 women received free eyeglasses, 185 had cataract surgeries while 72 others were operated on.

She also said that 230 children drawn from 15 schools in the state received corrective eyeglasses.

The medical team head said that 4,000

Delta

women and children were expected to benefit in the third phase and already 300 women had registered.

She praised the wife of the Delta State Governor, Mrs Roli Uduaghan, the founder of the NGO, for initiating the free eye services in the state to prevent blindness.

Ferife said with more than 37 million blind people worldwide, it was imperative to offer assistance in whichever way possible to reduce the number of blind people in the country.

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HE Rivers State government has said that it will build 28 medium voltage substations to stabilise electricity supply in the state.

The Commissioner for Power,Mr Augustine Wokocha, told newsmen in Port Harcourt that the first phase of the power stabilisation project would cost N25 billion and would be completed before the last quarter of 2012.

Wokocha said the entire power stabilisation package in Port Harcourt would take N70 million, pointing out that the state government got the backing of the Presidency to improve power supply generation and distribution in

‘We ‘re committed to infrastructural development’

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OVERNOR Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has reiterated the commitment of his government to providing more infrastructural facilities to residents of the state.Akpabio stated this in Uyo, the state capital recently.

He said his government in the last four years had extended the promise of education to all children with the free and compulsory education for children up to senior secondary school.

Apart from education, the governor also explained that his administration had also extended free medical treatment to children under five, pregnant women and the aged, saying his government would continue to give the citizenry the dividends of democracy.

In prioritising the welfare of workers, Akpabio said his government had approved the national

Akwa Ibom From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

minimum wage to be paid to workers in the state.

His words: “Workers had already felt the promise with the prompt payment of benefits and a 13th month salary known as Akpabiomber, and this was simply another whiff of the promise.

“We have pursued this article of faith with zeal and zest ranging from infrastructure to education, health, agriculture, capacity-building and empowerment, commerce and industry, transportation, science and technology.

“We have also extended our social contract to child rights and protection as a responsible

government which has the interest of the people as the central measure of value.”

Akpabio noted that the state was meant to hold in its hands the promise of emancipation from the chains of bigotry, ethnicity, tribalism, clannishness and divisiveness.

The governor reasoned that in the last election, those promises were put to test.

Akpabio said: “The war-mongers gathered and beat the drums of war and ethnicity and deafened our ears, but the people refused to dance to the beats. They unleashed winds of tribalism but our ship steered by love and unity to defy all pressures”.

• From left: The Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Chinwe Newbili; Anambra State Governor’s wife,Mrs Margaret Peter-Obi; Governor Obi; Bishop Alex Ibeziem; Bishop’s wife; the state Chief Justice, Justice Peter Umeadi and his wife after the service at Cathedral of St. Faith to mark the beginning of the new Legal Year in Anambra

Fed Govt to inaugurate Onitsha port

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HE Minister of Transport, Alhaji Idris Umar, has assured that the Onitsha port would be inaugurated in November.

Umar gave the assurance at the end of his

Firm begins nomination of awards recipients

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HE selection and the nomination for seventh annual edition of Sparklight awards has begun.

In a statement by its Chairman, Tosin Adesile, Sparrklight assured the public of its continuous effort in appreciating people of great impact in the society. He said: “Our vision is to appreciate excellence in the lives of people and this will continually have effect on the nation.

“Awards should not be given to the rich alone but to people who deserve them” This topic of the seminar for this year is’

The role of the media to the Government ‘with the sub topic’ Journalism, my tribe’ to be delivered by the Ogun State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr. Tunde Sodeke.

The award scheduled to hold on the 23rd of October 23 will feature songs, seminar, comedy and presentation Sparklight Award is an annual award organised by Sparklight magazine in Ogun state for people of great impact and this edition marks the seventh.

Council chief’s wife distributes treated nets

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IFE of the Chairman, Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area,Lagos,Alhaja Ashabi Bamgbola, has been leading officials of the council to distribute the Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets.

Alhaja Bamgbola, while speaking with Newsextra, said she decided to partake in the exercise to draw the attention of the people to the danger of mosquito bites which leads to Malaria.

Malaria, she said, is an important cause of illness and death in many parts of the world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

“There has been a renewed emphasis on preventive measures at community and individual levels. Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) are the most prominent malaria preventive measure for large-scale deployment in highly endemic areas. That is why I’m involving myself in the distribution,” she said.

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

She restated the commitment of her husband’s administration to improving the lives of people through effective and innovative programmes that reduces diseases like malaria.

“The mosquito nets are designed to provide the maximum possible protection against mosquitoes, malaria, and bed bugs under almost any conditions. We are fortunate the government is doing this. It would definitely aid reduction of number of people thronging the hospitals to treat malaria,” she said.

She urged the beneficiaries not to mortgage their future and that of their family by selling the nets.

“This mosquito nets can protect you from mosquito bites, and consequently prevent you from malaria and save your life,” Alhaja Bamgbola said.

• From left: Chief Nosir Laguda, Baale of Ikota; Mr. Truman Bell of ExxonMobil Corporation Dr. Bernard Harris, first African-American astronaut during the Nigerian Malaria Control and Prevention Programme sponsored by ExxonMobil through The Family Care Association in Lagos

Aba residents decry multiple levies

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ESIDENTS of Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State,have decried the multiple levies imposed by the state government.

Some of the residents told reporters in Aba that they were subjected to paying all kinds of levies.

Mr Mathias Okolo, a businessman, said the levies included the ones for infrastructure ( N10,000), business premises ( N6,000), operation permit ( N6.000), and pollution and sanitation (N5000).

He said payments were also made for clearing of drain, refuse disposal, store licence, liquor licence and hawkers’ permit.

Mrs Joy Ukaonu, a resident, said the state Ministry of Environment issues a notice for the payment of N300 per room to “scoop drains and cart away the refuse’’.

Mr Solomon Ogunji, the Commissioner for Environment told newsmen in Aba that

Abia no such notice emanated from the ministry.

Ogunji said that some agencies had been contracted to de-silt the drains and cart away the refuse in the state.

He explained that the agencies would start collecting money from the people after successful conduct of the exercise for one month, adding that the state had been divided into compartments with Aba securing 17 and Umuahia ,15, for the exercise.

Ogunji disclosed that the state recently got N1.7billion from the ecological fund to tackle three erosion sites with N50million counterpart funding from the state government .

He blamed the poor state of roads in the state, especially, Aba, on blocked drains.

Oshiomhole restates commitment to rural roads E

• Alhaja Bamgbola (middle) with council officials giving out treated nets

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said that his administration’s commitment to the provision of roads was aimed at opening up the rural areas and boosting the state’s economy.

Oshiomhole stated this while inspecting some road projects under construction in Etsako-West Local Government Area of the state in Auchi. ‘’ Opening up the rural areas will have more impact on the economy because it will enable farmers to evacuate their produce from the farm. ‘’ It will also draw the elite to build houses in their villages instead of Benin or Auchi,’’ he said.

He said that due to the lack of access to the

Edo

rural areas, “people see what we are doing in Benin but cannot see what we are doing in the rural areas because there are no roads.

Oshiomhole said that the government was working for the rural people and not just for those in the state capital, Benin.

Some of the roads inspected includes the Jattu-Ibie,Aowa-Iyora,Jattu-Akpena roads, Ayoguiri-Akpena-Ogodon Okpekpe roads.

The governor also inspected the erosion site in Auchi and the renovation of schools under the UBE scheme.

Anambra inspection of port projects in Baro in Niger, Onitsha in Anambra and Oguta in Imo State recently.

The contract for the rehabilitation of the Onitsha port complex was awarded to Inter Bau Construction Limited on December 12, 2009.

The project which was designed by Aim Consultants Limited has a 12month duration.

The minister, who described the project as 92 per cent completed, lauded the construction company, an indigenous firm, for a good job.

He described the port as strategic and a hub in all business activities across the country.

Umar said its timely completion and inauguration for operation would make the country more commercially viable to both foreign and indigenous investors.

“In about six to eight weeks, we hope to invite President Goodluck Jonathan to commission the Onitsha river port while others will be due for inauguration in 2012.

“Onitsha is the hub of business activities across the country and, by all definitions, the port is strategic,” he said.

The minister lamented that funding slowed down the completion of the projects in the three states.

“Most of the projects ought to have been completed this year, but lack of payment slowed down the pace of work.

ASUU, rights activists pay tribute to Fawehinmi

By Emmanuel Oladesu

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EMBERS of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have joined the civil rights activists in paying tribute to the memory of the legal icon, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, in Lagos at a ceremony where 10 undergraduate students received scholarship from a foundation set up to immortalise him.

The students received N100,000 each at the Nigeria Law Publications House, Alausa, Ikeja, where fans of the human rights crusader recalled his life and time, particularly his legal battles in pursuit of public good.

Independent National Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Lai Olurode, delivered a lecture entitled: “The state, bureaucratic redundancies and citizenship in Nigeria” . The sociology teacher at the University of Lagos, Akoka, urged the government to invest wisely in higher education, stressing that well funded universities may secure a good future for the country.

Olurode said: “The state should make access to higher education more friendly and less as an ordeal that it is now. Access should be expanded to accommodate, at least, 50 percent of qualified applicants. This would reduce frustration, desperation and pull it down attitude of alienated youths. The regional and gender gaps in access to higher education should be addressed as well”.

At the ceremony were Prof. Okonjo, father of Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, ASUU President, Prof Nkachukwu Awuzie, Femi Borisade, Dr Dipo Fashina, Comrade Abiodun Aremu, Fawehinmi’s widow, Mrs Ganiat, and some students of tertiary institutions.

Awuzie described Fawehinmi as a dogged fighter and defender of liberty, adding that it would be difficult to fill the space he left behind. He asked the government to defend education through adequate funding in the national interest.

Briefly

Human rights group visits prison THE Directorate of Citizens Rights’s , a human rights protection unit in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice has paid its quarterly visit to the Badagry Prison. The group was led by its director, Mrs Omotilewa Ibirogba.

The team was received by the Chief Superintendent of the prison, Mr Sunday O Kolawole, who took the director and her team round the prison facilities.

The visit, according to Mrs. Ibirogba, was to ensure that underaged persons are not unduly incarcerated and that inmates enjoy best welfare.

Speaking further, the leader said the human rights group offers legal representation as well as advisory and referral services free of charge.

The directorate confirmed the improvement in the welfare of prison inmates as well as in

facilities, saying decongestion of the prison remained the major achievement. It promised to always seek justice for the inmates at no cost. The prison consists of 152 convicts and 165 awaiting trials bringing the total inmates to 318.

The CSP thanked the directorate for the visit, saying the group has helped in the quick passage judgment, thereby decongesting the prison. He mentioned some of the challenges facing the prison to include additional vehicles to enhance movement of prisoners.

He also sought the support of the Ministry of Health in attending to the health needs of inmates.

He said: “We need the cooperation of the general hospital. There are critical cases that require urgent attention.”

The director promised to take the request to the necessary quarters, for attention.

Rivers the state.

The Power Holding Company of Nigeria had blamed the government for the power outage in the state.

The commissioner, however, said the outage was due to the rehabilitation by the administration of the state-owned Afam Power Installations.

“We have the mandate of the Presidency to do what we are doing; we want to ensure that our people enjoy very robust power supply very soon.

“We have a very high generation bank; we want to do some more work on transmission, we want to ensure that power is evacuated from the lot we are generating to actually serve the people.”

Wokocha urged the people to be

•Governor Amaechi

patient as the ongoing work was necessary to boost power supply in the state.

NGO urges involvement of youths in HE youth should be involved in peace negotiations peace negotiations to enhance

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peaceful co-existence in the country, an NGO, “Reach them Young” (RTY), has suggested.

Mr Frances Duru, Coordinator of the NGO, made the suggestion recently in Abuja in an interview with journalists He said: “young people are the only vehicle through which peaceful coexistence can be attained, so it is imperative for people to begin to talk to them on the need for peace.”

According to Frances, teaching young people on peace will have a multiplier effect, while the idea of peace is where nationhood and patriotism can be planted in the children and the youth.

He called for the teaching of young people on entrepreneurship and the need for negotiations at school and the home.

“Someone might ask what the role of entrepreneurship in the sustenance of peace is, and the idea of negotiation.

“When a child has the capacity to

negotiate like an arbitrator and bring peace from a small unit, that child grows with that skill which he can now apply in a bigger situation,’’ Frances remarked.

He observed that most of the youth perpetrating violence and unleashing mayhem in the country could have been sidelined, adding that his NGO would be ready to bring such into the mainstream, and impart into the youth the “refusal skill.’’

By developing the “refusal skill’’, youths will not be used to participate in destructive or criminal acts.

“I believe if you make a child understand who he or she is and the potential embedded in him or her, the child grows with that and will never divert to anything negative,’’ Frances said.

He called on parents and teachers to inculcate the sense of peace and oneness in their wards and children, adding that resolutions at every point of disagreement would help a child to understand peaceful-coexistence.

Groups seek return of council chief VER twenty groups in Bariga are clamouring for the return of Hon. Akeem Omoyele Sulaiman for a fresh term as the chairman of Bariga Local Government Development Area (LCDA).

The various groups comprising Community Development Association (CDA’S), Community Development Committees (CDC’S), Traders/Artisans Association, Market men and women, professional bodies staged a rally recently in Bariga where encomiums were showered on Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other ACN leaders for supporting the return of Hon. Sulaimon.

At the endorsement rally, speakers described Hon. Sulaimon as an outstanding grassroot politician who had fulfilled his electoral promises to the to the people.

Speaking at the rally, Chairman CDC in Bariga, Prince Bili Akande-Eshilokun, said the clamour for the return of Hon. Sulaimon is traceable to the visible development he has brought to Bariga as the chairman in the past few years.

Prince Akande-Eshilokun described Hon. Sulaimon as a visionary and trustworthy leader whose achievement in infrastructural development speaks volume in Bariga and environs.

Also speaking, Mrs. Tina Ogbere,

O

Chairperson, Lagos State Barbing and Cosmetology Association, Bariga branch praised the poverty alleviation programme of the chairman through which soft loans were generously given to tradesmen and artisans to develop their businesses, adding that his achievements would be difficult to match in the history of Bariga.

Another speaker, ACN Women Leader in Bariga, Mrs. Adenike, described the council chief as a loyal party man as it reflected in his stepping down for Hon. Deji Jakande who was the party leaders’ choice for the House of Represntatives slot, while the grassroot people preferred the chairman for the position.

Replying, Hon. Sulaimon pleaded with his cocontestants who lost out in the selection process to join hands with him to continue the good work of bringing more dividends of democracy to the people, as he ascribed his emergence to God’s choice.

The Chairman who is being described by party leaders as “ Best Chairman in Lagos State” praised the able leadership of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as other party leaders for the dynamic leadership being provided for the party.

Hon. Sulaimon identified security as a major challenge in Bariga and promised he would have zero tolerance for crime in the area in his next coming, adding that all hands must be on deck to take Bariga LCDA to the promised land.

Firm acquires new equipment THE Ports and Cargo Handling Services L imited is to procure 10 Rubber Tired Gantry (RTD) from Finland. The value of the equipment will be delivered to the company’s terminal in Tin-can Island ports by the end of 2012.

RTG is equipped with a new Konecrane cabin and the latest DGPS-assisted technology for container yard with autosteering features. This keeps the crane on a pre-programmed, straight driving path, thus improving safety and productivity.

The all-electric, 16-wheel RTG’s has a lifting capacity of 50 tonnes stacking 1-over-5 containers high and 7 plus truck lane wide.

Acquiring the equipment will increase yard capacityand reduce container traffic with the management saying: “we are confident that the transition from reach stacker operations to RTG operations will be smooth and efficient.

“This goes to show the commitment of this indigenous terminal operator to deliver the gains of ports concession to the people of Nigeria”.

• Enugu State Commissioner for Rural Development Dr. Eric Oluedo inaugurating the multi-million naira electricity project at the Adarice Farm Settlement in Uzouwani Local Government Area of the state as top government officials and community leaders watch

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

29

PEOPLE THE NATION

A SEVEN-PAGE SECTION ON SOCIETY

He moves in the elite circle of the affluent and the influential, yet he does not forget his humble background. World renowned photographer Percy Sunmisola Smart-Cole turned 70 last Sunday and all his powerful friends rose to honour him. SEYI ODEWALE reports.

•The celebrator, flanked by his two sons -Tobi (left) and Bankole - and Oloye Violet Ladipo cutting the birthday cake

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All for Smart-Cole at 70

UNMI Smart-Cole, friend to many powerful and mighty men, is a

fulfilled man, no doubt. His reputation as a photographer is legendary. Through photography, he has met many of the world’s powerful men. Despite his boyish looks, Smart-Cole has come a long way.

When he turned 70 on Sunday, many of his influential friends joined the celebration.

“So Sunmi is 70”, some said in hushed tones as they arrived at the Our Saviour Church, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos for the thanksgiving and Holy Communion service. “He has taken good care of himself,” they added, praying that they too should age gracefully like Smart-Cole.

It was a classy gathering comprising the movers and shakers of society. They were all well dressed. That went without saying since Smart-Cole himself is a fashion aficionado. Stunning headgears, well-cut suits and richly embroidered national dress (agbada) were in display.

It was a gathering of who’s who in the society, with media operators and owners accounting for the large percentage of guests.

Industrialists, policy makers, politicians,

retired military officers and diplomats filled the Church auditorium. They all came to honour Smart-Cole, a man of many parts.

He is a journalist, photographer, barber, musician. You name it, Smart-Cole has done it all.

Spotting a striped black suit, baby pink shirt and purpple silk tie, Smart-Cole looked sharp and smart as always.

H e was full of smiles as he acknowledged cheers and pleasantries from wellwishers. Accompanied by his two sons, Tobi and Bankole, he sat in the first row of the pew with the event taking off as scheduled at 3pm.

The service ran through the 26 items on the programme. They were laced with intermittent hymns and songs from the choristers whose angelic voices enriched the service. Immediately after the Collect, an item on the programme, was observed, Smart-Cole read one of the Bible passages chosen for the service. He read from Luke Chapter 5 verse 27 to the end. Psalms were equally chanted by the congregation and the choristers.

The Vicar and Archdeacon of the church, Ven Igein Isemede, joined other ministers like Rev Akpos Okoro; Rev OreOluwa

Agbelusi; Rev John Nriama; Rev Clement Iwuoha and Ven Seyi Pirisola to officiate the service that was attended by a former presidential candidate in the Second Republic, Dr Tunji Braithwaite; former Foreign ministers Odein Ajumogobia; Prof Bolaji Akinyemi and Maj Gen. Ike Nwachukwu; Gen Chris Ali; former Health Minister, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Supo Sasore; Vanguard Publisher, Mr Sam Amuka-Pemu; the Chief Executive Officer of The Guardian Mrs Maiden Ibru; President, Silverbird Group, Mr Ben Murray Bruce; former Managing Director of The Guardian, Mr Lade Bonuola; former governorship candidate in Lagos, State, Mr Jimi Agbaje; Smart-Cole’s colleague, Don Barber; Dr Seyi Roberts and Guardian on Sunday Editor, Mr Jahman Oladejo Anikulapo.

In a chat, Smart-Cole thanked God for giving him the talent which he used in gaining the world’s attention. “My talent made people to recognise me. Life has taught me a lot. The little formal education I had taught me enough, while I taught myself the rest. And looking young at 70 is by His grace and the habit I developed over the

years. I don’t eat fat or red meat and I neither smoke nor drink,” he said.

But for the helicopter accident he had some years ago, he said he would have been more active in some of the exercises he usually did to keep fit. “I used to exercise very well until I had a helicopter accident that totally damaged my knees, which I had to replace. Since then I have not had the luxury of keeping my routine.”

Denied the benefit of formal education because of his parents’ poverty, he braved all odds to educate himself. He said: “I never went to secondary school or attended any university.” The trade (photography), which later gave him fame was learnt at a junior college in the United States. This, according to him, was like a college of technology.

Becoming famous he said, was by the grace of God. “I owe my life to Him and it’s by His grace that I am what I am.”

The Bishop of Ifo Diocese and former Vicar of the church, Ven Joseph Akin Odejide, who represented the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos and Dean, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev Ephraim Adebola •Continued on page 30

30

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

SOCIETY

All for Smart-Cole at 70 •Continued from page 29

Ademowo, said the archbishop could not come because the day coincided with the 10 th General Synod of the Church which he had to attend as the chief host to the church’s primate.

He delivered Ademowo’s goodwill message, congratulating the celebrator and wishing him many more useful years of service to humanity. He prayed for Smart-Cole to enjoy the goodness of God for the rest of his life.

The Vicar asked for the peace of God that surpasses all understanding to continually abide with him. “As you celebrate 70, God will give you the grace to celebrate many more decades,” he prayed. He also prayed that God should continue to protect Nigeria, that peace should reign and that God should touch the hearts of the leaders. “Nobody is sure of tomorrow, God should restore all the damage done by the locust in all aspects of our lives,” the cleric prayed.

Other clerics in attendance were: Bishop of Offa Diocese, Rt Rev. Popoola Akintunde; the church’s provost, Rev Peru Johnson and his wife, Dolapo; former provost, Rt Rev Yinka Omololu; Ven and Mrs Akinola; Ven Segun Kuti and Rev Bola Oyeleke from the Methodist Church.

Smart-Cole’s older son, Tobi, described his father as “caring.” “He is a very caring father, one who gives you room to be yourself, but with some guidance. I feel very happy for him that he has made it to 70 and I wish him many more years of usefulness to his nation and to humanity. In the next 10 years I wish to see him around, still being useful and of course, older, but very much around. He is a loving father I must confess.”

Friends and well-wishers later left for Harbour Point, on Wilmot Point Road, off Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, for the dinner party.

•Commodore Ebitu Ukwe

•Gen Nwachukwu

•Chief Henry Coker (right) and Chief Phillip Asiodu •Aremo Olusegun Osoba and his wife, Derin

•Chief Adelusi-Adeluyi and his wife, Julianah •Mr Ajumogobia and his wife, Awuneba

•Tunji Braithwaite and his wife, Simisola

•Prof Theo Ogunbiyi and Mrs Jumoke Asiodu

•Chief Opral Benson and Chief John Odeyemi

•.Mr Anikulapo (left) and Mr Barber

•Mr Ben Murray-Bruce

•Mr Amuka-Pemu

•Senator Florence Ita-Giwa (left) and Hajia Abbah Folawiyo PHOTOS : ISAAC AYODELE JIMOH

31

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THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

SOCIETY OWOYE AZAZI’S SON’S WEDDING AT CHURCH OF ASSUMPTION, FALOMO, IKOYI, LAGOS

•Groom’s Parents, Gen and Mrs Owoye Azazi and the couple, Owoye and Chimnonso

•From Left: Wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan and Hajia Bola Shagaya

• Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke (left) and Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole

•Governor Rotimi Amaechi

•Bride’s Parents, Mr and Mrs Njokanma

•From Left: President Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, Senator Femi Okunronmu and former governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo

•GMD Union Bank Plc, Mrs Funke Osibodu and her husband, Gbolade

•Asari Dokubo

•From left: Chief Sasore of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akinolu and Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN)

•Speaker, Tambuwal

House

of

Reps

Hon

Aminu

•Director-General NCAA, Dr Harold Demuren

•EFCC Chairman, Mrs Farida Waziri

•Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Mr Tony Elumelu

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

32

SOCIETY Well-wishers of ace broadcaster Rasak Gawat turned out in large number to felicitate with him on his 50th birthday.

TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO was at the City Hall, Lagos, venue of the event.

‘Mr Talk’ is 50

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HE guests could not wait for the event to begin before thronging the newly refurbished City Hall in Lagos to rejoice with a man who has carved a niche for himself in the talk business.

Alhaji AbdulRasak Aremu Gawat, a former staff member of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), now Chief Executive Officer, Gawat Communications has come a long way.

His story is that of a man who got a chance to anchor a programme in the absence of the presenter and turned it to a life time opportunity.

Following his foray into the business of emceeing events, Gawat became a household name wherever big events are staged in the Southwest.

The E ji Sari, the early morning programme he anchors during Ramadan on NTA where mouthwatering gifts were distributed to the callers, has earned him fame.

He may not be super rich but Gawat’s imposing figure commands respect.

During last year’s hajj in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar conferred on him “Mr Talk.”

“This man, you are still talking. Any time I see you either on air or at events, you continue to talk and talk and talk. I have decided to give a title – Mr Talk. We will find time for the coronation when we get back to Nigeria.”

The Sultan’s statement received a resounding ovation from the pilgrims.

At the birthday, guests took turns to congratulate the celebrator.

Governor Babatunde Fashola was represented by Alhaji AbdulHakeem Kosoko. In attendance were: Fashola’s wife, Dame Abimbola; first Executive Governor of Lagos, Alhaji Lateef Jakande; former Deputy Governor Princess Sarah Sosan; Senator Ganiyu Solomon and his wife, Ronke; Senator Muniru Muse; Secretary to the State Government, Alhaja Idiat Adebule; former Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Alhaji Ibrahim Balogun; Senator Hassan Fasinro; Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Garuba Ibrahim; Baba Adinni of Lagos, Sheikh Afeez Abou; and Chief Missioner, Nawair-ud-Deen, Sheikh AbdulMajeed Ayinla.

Other guests were Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) Commissioner, Alhaji Musbau Oyefeso; Baba Adinni of Eti-Osa, Alhaji Yekini Bakare; Executive Director, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, Alhaji Abdullahi Shuaib; CEO Centrespread, Alhaji Kola Ayanwale; former AttorneyGeneral of Lagos, Alhaja Wonu Folami; Alhaja Ramdat Okunola; Arowoshadini of Nigeria, Alhaja Muinat Shopeyin-Akande; CEO Arabel, Alhaja Sherifat Andu; General Secretary, Lagos Central Mosque, Alhaji Rajee Adenowo; Mrs Samiat Kolarinwa; Alhaji Tajudeen Olugbode and his wife, Sherifat; Hajia Bola Muse; wives of Oba Rilwan Akiolu; Muslim clerics and white cap chiefs.

The event featured prayers, lectures, goodwill messages, presentation of musical records waxed by Gawat, presentation of gifts and cutting of the cake.

•The celebrator (middle) assisted by (from left) Sheikh Abou; Sheikh Ibrahim; Alhaja Adebule and Alhaji Ibrahim to cut the cake

•Alhaji Jakande (left) and Senator Solomon

•Senator Fasinro

•Dame Fashola flanked by Princess Sosan (right) and the celebrator’s wife, Ahaja Fatimat

•From left: Hajia Andu; Alhaja Shopeyin-Akande and Alhaja Folami

•Hon Oyefeso and Alhaja Sherifat Olugbode

•Alhaji Shuaib

•Mrs Kolarinwa

•Mrs Ronke Solomon (left) and Alhaja Ashabi Bamgbola

Governor Fashola congratulated Gawat for his positive contributions to society.

He described Gawat as a

humble person.

Also speaking, Alhaji Balogun, who worked with Gawat at the state Muslim Pilgrims Board, de-

scribed him as transparent and honest.

Others, who eulogised Gawat at the event, included Sena-

•Alhaji Adenowo

tor Fasinro,s Dame Fashola, Princess Sosan, Alhaja Adebule and Oyefeso.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

33

SOCIETY For their exemplary contributions to the Ilupeju Community in Lagos, former Lagos State Governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and some others were recently given various awards by the community. DADA ALADELOKUN was there.

•Jakande (right) receiving an award from Odele

•Mr Grover (left) receiving an award from Pastor Ojelabi

•Mrs Ilaka (left) receiving an award from Mrs Fabunmi

•Mrs Don-Adinubi receiving an award from Hon Ali

I

T was a grand moment to savour the sweetness of service to one’s fellowmen. It was also a moment to show how gratifying it is to be of selfless service to the fatherland. That sums up the awards giving ceremony to honour the second Republic governor of Lagos State Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande and others recently by the Ilupeju East Community Development Association (IECDA).

Tagged: Award Ceremony 2011, representatives of Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola; Senator Ganiyu Solomon. Also in attendance were members of the House of Representatives, Hon Dauda Kako Are; member, Lagos State House of Assembly Hon Funmi Tejuoso; Executive Chairman, Lagos State Public Water Corporation (LSPWC), Gbenga Akintola; Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Ola Oresanya; Managing Director, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Rasheed Shabi, an engineer; and the Chairman, Odi-Olowo Ojuwoye Local Council Development Authority (LCDA), Aremo Adeyemi Ali. Others included the founder and pioneer President, Ilupeju Women Association (IWA), who

Honour for distinguished servants received a merit award for her association, Chief (Mrs) F.A. Ilaka; Prof. B.A. Akinola; Alhaji Ganiyu Oseni; Mr Anil Grover; CEO, Allied Waste Ltd, Mrs. Julie Don-Adinuba; Chidi C. Eneh; Arun Jain; Babatunde Adejuwon; Chidozie Mbanefo; Obashola Tiamiyu; Ms. Olubukola Kuti and Donatus Dunu.

The main hall of the Odi-Olowo Ojuwoye LCDA, venue of the occasion, was filled to capacity by associates, friends and well-wishers of the awardees, who graced the event in their Sunday bests. Songs of joy pervaded the environment.

While Lagos State Commissioner for Rural Development, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, stood in for Governor Fashola, Vice-Chairman, Mushin Local Government, Emmanuel Bamigboye, received Solomon’s award on his behalf.

Sharing the “high table” with Alhaji Jakande, who was the father of the day, was Dr. (Mrs) Alayode Akanke Fabunmi, who was also the mother of the day. Virtually all the dignitaries,

including members of the management team of the council, stepped out in uniform Ankara, which was specially made for the august occasion.

The Oba of Odi Olowo, Oba Abdul Fatai IrawoOgunsi, was there with some of his chiefs. Also in attendance were: Chairman, Community Development Committee (CDC) of the area, Alhaji Ganiyu Adebisi, and the IECDA Chairman, Apostle Babatunde Odele (Pawpaw), who was the host.

The master of the ceremony, Mr Shegun Shodipe, gave a good account of himself, drawing intermittent applause from the crowd in obvious appreciation of the dept with which he conducted the event.

Apostle Odele, in his welcome address, reeled off the various efforts of the community in complementing government efforts, just as he commended Fashola, Ali and other awardees including business operators in the area, for not shirking in their burden of communal responsi-

bilities.

Besides rehabilitating roads, home streets lamps, building drainage systems and contributing to improved security in the area, Odele enthused that the association had made giant strides in ensuring environmental sanity in the community.

Ojelabi recounted amid deafening applause, various achievements of the state government in rural development, just as he lauded the IECDA for complementing government’s efforts.

Jakande urged the association not to relent in its efforts to ensure an improved community, saying that issues of development cannot be solely handled by any government. He praised the awardees and admonished them not to rest on their oars.

The gathering was treated to an edifying drama by some youths before the curtain drew on the memorable event with a vote of thanks by the association’s Secretary, Pastor David Adedeji.

50TH BIRTHDAY OF PRESIDENT/CEO, PEARL AWARDS NIGERIA,TAYO OREKOYA AT SHERATON HOTEL, LAGOS

•The celebrator (middle) assisted by his wife and guests to cut the cake

•Former Minister of Information, Chief Alex Akinyele (left) and former Minister of Finance, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

34

SOCIETY Friends, well-wishers and indigenes of Ikole-Ekiti in Ekiti State, converged on the ancient town to felicitate with the new Elekole of Ikole and paramount ruler of Egbeoba Kingdom, Oba Adewumi Ajibade Fasiku, as he received the Staff of Office from Governor Kayode Fayemi. SULAIMAN SALAWUDEEN reports.

Pomp as monarch gets Staff of Office T

HE last time Ikole recorded a gathering of this nature was 53 years ago. This explained why everyone who mattered in the town made it a must to witness it. It was the presentation of the staff of office to the paramount ruler of Egbeoba kingdom and the Elekole of Ikole, Oba Adewumi Ajibade Fasiku, Aladesekole I. From far and near came thousands of people to felicitate with the new Oba. To them, it was an important day in the annals of the town. The staff of office is the quintessential symbol of authority for the Oba to reign.

With the monarch’s praise singer hailing him in unadulterated Ekiti dialect, saying: “Kabiyesi, omo agbogbomoja (director of affairs in town); Igi rabata l’okun (huge, fat tree in the sea); Omo gbamigbami ’soju miamia (sufficient to redeem from travails); Omo ekun teere s’ajija (seeming weak, capable to cause trouble); Oba Fasiku made his majestic entry into the venue accompanied by his wife Olori Olufunke, who was decked in traditional buba and iro dress made from striped Aso Oke. The king, fully robed in the regalia of ancestry, sat in a high backed, richly sculptured throne.

The day was bright and the sky showed no ominous signs of rain. Dignitaries were busy exchanging banters and pleasantries.

The palace, a little way off the main road, wore a new look for the day.

Drummers, dancers, praise singers, all who could add colour and meaning to the occasion jostled for space among the throbbing crowd to do their trade, while the Ekiti State Cultural Troupe thrilled the crowd to the best of Ekiti songs and dance step.

At 1:19 pm, Governor Kayode Fayemi, equally decked in a white flowing Agbada, handed the Staff of Authority and honour to Oba Fasiku, sending the gathering into bursts of ecstasy and wild jubilation.

Speaking just before the presentation of the staff of office, Dr Fayemi commended the people of the town for the maturity shown in selecting the Oba. He noted that their choice is eminently qualified and would “further strengthen the much edified throne of Elekole”.

Recalling the acheivements of the immediate past monarch, Oba Adeleye, Governor Fayemi expressed optimism that the new king would move the town ahead in development, considering his intimidating achievements.

“The shoes that Oba Adetunla Adeleye left, no doubt, are big enough. I am, however, happy that the legs of the new Elekole are equally big to match on in giant strides,” Fayemi said.

In his acceptance speech, Oba Fasiku, who is the 32nd monarch of the kingdom, promised to rule with fear of God and ensure that division or rancour ithrives in the town.

The Oba commended Governor Fayemi for appointing many of his subjects into positions of authority in the state and appealed to the government to give the town more developmental projects to turn around its socio-economic fortunes.

He appealed to his subjects to rally round him in the task of building a society which would accommodate all.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, in his

•Oba Fasiku assisted by his Olori to recieve the Staff of Office from Governor Fayemi. With them are Mrs Olayinka (right), Senator Adetunbi (left) and Chairman Ikole Local Government, Mrs Funmi Owoseni (second left)

speech, sued for unity and co-operation among monarchs in Yorubaland. He noted that this was the only way to engender progress of the region. He also commended the governor for his people oriented programmes.

Oba Sijuwade observed that the compilation of the history of Yorubaland would not be complete without mentioning the Elekole as one of the grandsons of Oduduwa. He noted the centrality of the late Oba Adetula Adeleye to peace and unity in Yorubaland.

The Oba urged the new ruler not to get involved in partisan politics, as they are expected to support any government of the day.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Galadima of Zaria, Alhaji Aminu Yakubu Alkali, who represented the Emir, Alhaji Sheu Idris, expressed regrets that the Emir could not be present at the function. He noted the historic links between Zaria and people of Ikole Ekiti and pledged to build upon it.

The Chairman of the Elekole Coronation Planning Committee, Dare Oseni, pleaded that the present Ikole Local Government be broken into three local governments for rapid development of the area.

He said: “It is also worthy of mention that Ikole is the only town in the entire world with dual, simultaneous existence as there is Ikole of this world where we are now and another Ikole in the world beyond us which also exists.

“We equally want to appeal to the NNPC to kindly consider giving Ikole town a mega station in view of its large population which would offer assurances of a ready market,” Oseni said.

Senator Olubunmi Adetumbi, representing Ekiti North, urged the people of the town to support the new Oba in an effort to bring desired development to Ikole and environs.

Dignitaries on the event were: the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka; Senator Olubunmi Adetumbi; Chairman, Ikole Local Government, Mrs Funke Owoseni; a former lawmaker representing Ikole Constituency 1 in the state House of Assembly, Hon Morakinyo Adebayo; Chief Imam of Ikole, Alhaji Fajembola; Ikole Sons Club led by its President, Chief Ben Oguntuase. Other traditional rulers present included the Owa Ooye of Okemesi, Oba Michael Gbadebo Adedeji and the Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adesida.

There was also the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Austin Oniwon, represented by Group Executive Director, Mr. Abiodun Arokodare.

Ondo State Permanent Secretary, Mrs Stella Kosemani Kolawole and Mr Gbenga Fabilola.

•Ooni of Ife, Oba Okuade Sijuwade (left) discussing with Chairman, Council of Obas, Owa Ooye of Okemesi, Oba Michael Gbadebo Adedeji

•Representative of Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Aminu (right) and Olojudo of Ido-Faboro Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro

.From right: Olojudo of Ido-Ile,Oba Aderemi Obaleye; Alaaye of Efon,Oba Adesanya Aladejare and Asiwaju of Ikole-Ekiti,Chief Ishola Filani.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

35

SOCIETY Foly Nursery and Primary Boarding School, Adetula, Mushin, Lagos on Sunday, September 18, hosted friends, relatives and well-wishers of its Proprietor, Mrs Folorunso Ogbara, who turned 60. The occasion also marked the launch of her pet project, “Destiny Orphanage.” OSAS ROBERT and SULAIMAN GBENGA IDOWU attended the event.

Celebrating a life of service A

T 60, Mrs Folorunso Ogbara is full of life. Having committed herself to serving community, she rose to celebrate her birthday this year with the establishment of an orphanage to serve humanity selflessly, motherless babies and the less-privileged, which indeed, was what she had longed for.

Friends and associates came in their hundreds looking gorgeous in their presentable attires. Men were decked in flowing Agbada while the women glittered in either their lovely Ankara or the popular Iro and Buba with their matching bags and shoes complimenting their headgears of different styles.

The pervading atmosphere told everyone about what was happening. The drapes used in decorating the premises were gold, orange and brown. The tables were also drabbed with gold drapes with each holding different assorted drinks.

Present at the ceremony were the chairperson, Mr Modupe Alakija and his wife, Folorunso; wife of the former governor of Ogun State, Mrs Aderinsola Osoba; a retired professor at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof Festus Ogunlade; while the guest of honour was the wife of the General Overseer, The City of the Lord Church, IfakoAgege, Lagos, the Rev Christiana Oladele.

Pastor Jude Amalega, who said the opening prayer, thanked God for the gift of life given to Mrs Ogbara and prayed for her success in her service to humanity. The master of ceremony, Dolapo Fujah, took to the floor with his praises of the celebrator, sending the guests rolling with laughter.

Born in 1951, Ogbara, who said she has no child of her own, confessed she has always loved children right from her childhood which explains her founding Foly Nursery and primary school.

“There are so many reasons people start school. I started school because when I was looking for a child, I wanted to be with children. I had a child at the age of 40, but the child died. So, I said I would serve at the orphanage. I started with two kids, Aminat and Lekan. Lekan passed his WASC examinations in flying colours. I was able to raise a child who graduated with A’s and B’s, no C. Not

•From left: The celebrator, Mrs Ogbara, Prof Ogunlade and Mrs Oluwafolakemi Adebanjo

•Mrs Osoba

having a child does not mean you cannot care for poor children. You can raise them to be honest.”

The event, which was chaired by Mr Alakija, was a reunion of sort as those whose paths had crossed Ogbara’s eulogised her.

Mrs Oladele, who said she has known the celebrator for a long time, said: “She is very humble, honest and never comes late to church.” Mrs Osoba who first met the celebrator 47 years, said: “It is a celebration of life in life, restoration of value to mankind and service to humanity. It’s a humanitarian project that she has longed for, for many years. I want to advise other women at her age to face their destiny and use this one as succour in their lives instead of sitting and mourning.”

After 10 years in the United States of America, Mrs Ogbara returned to Nigeria to look after orphans. She said she got motivated opening an orphanage after reading a portion in the Bible. “I read a portion of the Bible where someone said what can “I do to enter the kingdom of God and Jesus said: go and sell all your things, give to the poor, then you can follow me.” This means to serve the Lord, you must give to the poor. When I lost my child, I said what do I do? I decided if I had a child, it could be that I have one but if I could adopt, I would have raised more than 30, 50 or 100. By the time I would have left this world, I would have left behind adopted children who will be bearing my name all over the world.”

Kasali Aminat, who has lived with Ogbara for over 10 years, said:”She is very caring and any time I’m with her, I don’t miss my parents because she’s like my own mother.

closed donation and promised to continue to support the foundation, which they see as a good way to service humanity. They also called on people of goodwill all over Nigeria and abroad to rally round Ogbara and support her.

Members of the Ogbara family joined the celebrator in cutting the birthday cake, which was designed in white and blue while Lekan and Aminat, her adopted children, danced with her as Demos Daniel and the Anointed Praise band thrilled the guests to good music that kept many on their feet dancing.

•Mr Alakija and his wife, Folorunso

She has been able to care for us because she’s a very perfect woman.

One of the guests, Mr Abiodun Bada, said: “I have known her for five years and I know she has adopted some children right from six months. Some have graduated from secondary schools.”

With Mrs Osoba starting the launch, most of the guests made their generous donations to the orphanage. Mr Alakija is to serve as the Chairman of the Governing Council of the orphanage while his wife Folorunsho will be the matron and goodwill ambassador of the orphanage. They made an undis-

BIRTHDAY

ANNIVERSARY

•Mrs Abigail Olabisi Jaiyeola flanked by her children (from left) Sola, Omolola, Dele, Yemi and Biodun at her birthday.

•Mr Kayode Aboyade and his wife, Tinu at the 20th Anniversary of the late Chief Samuel Morohundiya

36

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

COMMENTARY

T

IME flies. It was like a dream five years ago when this column named ‘THE MESSAGE’ began in the great newspaper called The Nation. This columnist had, by then, written Islamic and sundry other columns for 24 years in various Nigerian and foreign daily newspapers as well as weekly magazines including the National Concord, Tehran Time’, Vanguard, The Enquiry, Africa Now and a host of others. Naming the column ‘THE MESSAGE’ in The Nation was deliberate. Perhaps, no other name accurately matches Islam as a divine religion ‘THE MESSGE’ being the greatest message to mankind from Allah through His greatest Messenger (Muhammad).

In the preamble to the very first article published in this column five years ago yours sincerely stated as follows: “Here is an Islamic column entitled THE MESSAGE. It is starting today in the name of the almighty Allah, the compassionate the merciful. It will come up on this page henceforth, every Friday Insha’a Llah. This column will be meaningful, both in title and in contents, to the Muslim Ummah, home and abroad.

Starting at a time when technology has reduced the world into a village and paring with the visionary title of this great newspaper called The Nation, this column promises to deliver THE (great) MESSAGE of Islam to all those who are ready to receive it with genuine intention.

The central focus of ‘THE MESSAGE’ will be the Man. And the word ‘Man’ here does not refer to Male gender alone. It refers to the most important creature of Allah on earth around whom all issues rotate. It is only with Man that all issues in the world can be relevant. And, Man, whether in the primordial or contemporary sense, is a product of family. There can be no talking of over six billion citizens of the world today, therefore, without a fundamental reference to the family. Every clan, tribe or nation starts with a family. Thus, ‘THE MESSAGE’ shall be addressed first and foremost, to the family. And, since there can be no survival for any family without business, it becomes necessary for ‘THE MESSAGE’ to view the family from the premise of the business in which it is engaged.

Arguably, the peace or otherwise of this world depends on those two matters: family and business. Each of these will form a major chapter in ‘THE MESSAGE’.

The rest shall be like stars supporting the moon in a celestial entourage. This column will be interesting because it will be participatory. The right of reader’s response shall be treated as sacrosanct.

And, there will be no discrimination.

Welcome on board of ‘THE MESSAGE’ being delivered to ‘THE NATION’ through The Nation newspaper....”

And, when the column was one year old in 2007, an article meant to celebrate the occasion was written in this column. It was entitled: ‘A CHILD AT ONE’. As a reminder, I decided to recall that article here for the purpose of gratifying the Almighty Allah who piloted us to this day through that odyssey. It went thus: “The young shall grow. With his brain, teeth and limbs, he shall evolve into a dependent adolescent. And, through the various circumstances of life, he shall grow into an independent adult. In the process, he must have learnt how to suck, how to eat, how to sit, how to crawl, how to walk and how to run.

Thereafter, like a competent cadet, he shall rise through the ranks to become an army General one day. Like a prince, he shall struggle through thick and thin to become a king one day. Like a student, he shall study days and nights to become a professor one day. Like a servant, he shall serve and serve loyally until he becomes a master one day. Then, he shall ask himself the vital question: “how did I reach this stage?”

It is not by leading battalions of army to war or by conquering an avowed enemy that a General of worth is said to emerge. What makes a worthy General is the ability to care for the rear as much as he ravages the war arena.

For most Nigerian Muslim readers of newspapers, especially The Nation, this column is a ‘General’ in its own right. And, to be worth the name, it becomes a sine qua none to look back, at this point, and see if the archers are still there with their bows and arrows.

Today, ‘THE MESSAGE’ as a column, is one year old. It was all like yesterday

FEMI ABBAS ON Femabbas@yahoo.com 08051101861

‘The Message’ at five when it started cruising, like the Arc of Noah, across oceans and seas, some ‘Atlantic’, others ‘Pacific’. On board were a number of issues revolving around Islamic religion. But like any newly christened child, only a few people were aware of the existence of this column until a few months ago.

Today, however, the story is different.

In virtually all corners of Nigeria and even some countries abroad, ‘THE MESSAGE’ is now a house hold name just like The Nation. Readers of the column are not from amongst the Muslims alone. They are not from amongst Nigerians alone. They cut across religions, tribes, races, genders, ideologies and interests. Their reactions confirm this.

The column was designed from inception, to serve the purpose of a weekly Friday sermon in a written form. Thus, like any informed sermon, it discusses, comprehensively, all issues affecting the lives of Muslims. It ascertains all perceivable problems and proffers Islamic solutions to them where necessary according to its intellectual ability.

This column, going by its title, is not a message to the Muslims alone. It is a message to all civilised people who want to know the reason for the existence of Islam and the extent of its workings. It is a means of harmonising the similarities and dichotomising the dissimilarities between it and other revealed religions.

It is also a mode of interaction between the Muslims and non-Muslims over some issues hitherto considered knotty and unresolved. And by making the column a participatory one whereby readers are privileged to express their opinions and observations in reaction to its contents, a better understanding is coming to the fore.

This is gradually reducing the mutual suspicion which had existed for years particularly between the adherents of Islam and Christianity in Nigeria.

Now, by understanding that religion in any society is like a university where various faculties exist and admission seekers can enrol in any faculty without one looking down on another, readers of this column are beginning to see religion as an instrument of peace rather than that of rancour.

Now, it is becoming clearer that religion is by personal conviction which should not be offensive to others who may yet be convinced. Neither should it be by coercion. And if, in the process of practicing what is believed, some element of bigotry is reflected, let that be attributed to the messenger rather than the message. Not all ambassadors are worth their mission.

There is no sphere of life without bigots.

Fanatics are not restricted to religion alone.

They are found in politics, business, professions, cultures and even sports.

Human nature must be separated from the precepts of religions.

Here in Nigeria, two major vices are abhorrent to Islam and Christianity on the ground of morality and justice. These are corruption and religious violence both of which are dangerous for the country. ‘THE MESSAGE’ took up these two vices as part of its contents declaring jihad on both and exposing as well as condemning them wherever and whenever they surface.

It is also noteworthy that this column does not overlook any wrong doing in the society, be it political, social, economic or religious. And credit is given to whoever deserves it without any discrimination on the basis of religion, tribe or politics.

What ‘THE MESSAGE’ will not tolerate, however, is blackmail especially by

immoral politicians who think that politics is their own monopoly and a no go area for religionists. These are people elected to represent the populace in governance. But on getting to office, they turn themselves into masters using the people’s mandate to exploit the same people who put them in office. They steal public funds with unbridled audacity and expect no one to raise voice on it. They use politics to intimidate and even invade the rights of professionals and private practitioners in other spheres of life without looking back.

When seeking political offices, these selfcentred politicians can go to Churches and Mosques to canvass for votes and spiritual support. But when they commit political or social atrocities in office and get condemned by Pastors and Imams, they quickly resort to blackmail, warning clergy men not to dabble into politics.

What right does politics have to rule over all other spheres of life which religion or economy should not have? What right do politicians have to dabble into religion which religionists should not have in respect of politics?

In Islam, there is no barrier between one sphere of life and another. The life of a Muslim is totally governed by the tenets of their religion. And those tenets cut across all spheres of life without any demarcation. Just as it will be improper and irrational for those in the economic or business sector to scare away politicians from economy so it is for politicians to want to prevent religionists from commenting on politics. That is an intolerable aggression which ‘THE MESSAGE’ as a pulpit in form of a column will not condone. Those who don’t want religion to be mixed with politics should not ask for votes in Churches and Mosques. As Muslims, no one will be allowed to use our political mandate to devastate our lives and still gag us.

As before, this column will continue to commend good deed and condemn evil actions in all spheres of life no matter whose horse is gored.

Islam is an international religion. It has no barriers in terms of nations, races and tribes. A Muslim in New Zealand is a brother to another in Alaska or Helsinki.

Wherever and whenever they meet, the usual greeting is ‘Salam alaykun’ (peace be onto you). They pray together in the same language and Mosques; they face the same direction of the Ka’bah in Makkah; the recite the same Qur’an in its original language; they fast together in the same month of Ramadan and they come together once in a year to perform Hajj in

the vicinity of Makkah and Madinah.

Thus, they are like a flock of sheep. If one of them is afflicted, the rest cannot be in peace. That is why the problem of Muslims in any part of the world must be the concern of all other Muslims in the rest parts of the world. That is why ‘THE MESSAGE’ must comment on Muslim activities around the world if only to inform the local Muslim readers of this column about the affairs of their brothers and sisters elsewhere in the world.

Most of these had been part of this column in the past one year. They will continue to be. One other thing added to the column along the line is the resume on Islamic health through the use of bee products especially honey. This is considered an added value from which great advantage can be derived by readers who can appreciate the benefit of apitherapy in modern day health care. It will also be continued.

In the months ahead, a new segment will still be introduced into the column. It will be called ‘FOOTPRINT’. This segment will bring to focus, the history and outstanding contributions of some great Nigerian Muslim individuals, dead or alive, who may serve as good examples to be emulated by those who are currently aspiring to greatness on the platform of Islam. In addition, great Islamic societies like Ansar-ud-Deen, Nawar-ud-Deen, Anwarul Islam, Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Jama’atu Islamiyat, Zumratu Islamiyat, Ansarul Islam, National Joint Muslim Organisation (NAJOMO), Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), NACOMYO, FOMWAN, Companion, Criterion, NASFAT, Fathu Qareeb, Islamic Education Trust (IET), and a host of other Muslim organisations which have contributed to the growth of Islam in Nigeria in one way or the other will be featured. Also to be chronicled in this column, from time to time, are some prominent Schools of Arabic and Islamic Studies, and other higher institutions as well as the great scholars behind them.

All these are being packaged for a column which has some of the best intellectuals of this country as its readers.

The formidable ship of ‘THE MESSAGE’ is already on the high sea. Let all those who are heading for the ‘cape of good hope’ come on board. Congratulations for being alive to witness one year of this ship on its life’s odyssey’’.

The above article was published on August 31, 2007 partly as a review of one year performance and partly as a promise for improvement. Today, five years after the commencement of this column in The Nation and four years after the quoted selfassessment, venerable readers can take the baton of comments from here. Has ‘THE MESSAGE’ lived up to expectation as an Islamic column? Has it fulfilled its promises in full or in part? What are the minuses expected to be rectified? What new frontiers should this column forage?

Readers are free to critique, criticise, advise, make observations and even score this column in its five years of existence.

This columnist is not apathetic to criticism since there can be no growth without criticism.

Meanwhile, I wish to express a profound gratitude to genuine readers of this column. Their readership is the impetus propelling the spirit behind the ideas and thoughts appearing in this column every Friday. Without readers, there can be no columnists. Thus, readers are greater than writers. May our common road to the ‘Cape of Good Hope’ never get blocked by the forces of evil.

The Sultan in Harvard

B

•The Sultan

ARELY one month ahead of the fifth year anniversary of his ascendancy to the throne, His Eminence, Alhaji

Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs will be the guest speaker at Harvard University, in the United States where he will deliver the prestigious Samuel L. and Elizabeth Jodidi distinguished lecture.

The lecture entitled “ISLAM AND PEACE-BUILDING IN WEST AFRICA” and scheduled for October 3, 2011 is jointly sponsored by the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs and Harvard Divinity School (HDS). The full text of the lecture will be published in this column very soon by the grace of Allah. Watch out for it.

THE NATION

38

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

CRIME WATCH

Police arrest suspected sea pirates

T

HREE men alleged to be members of a gang of six sea pirates have been arrested by operatives of the special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) Lagos State police command.

The suspects were arrested after they have successfully attacked a trawler, which they forced its captain to tow their operational boat to a safe place at the sea shore.

It was gathered that before their operational boat broke down, the suspects had raided over four ships on the high sea and all their loots were in it.

According to the police, when they got information about the operation, some policemen were deployed to the place to search for the suspects and when they sighted the operatives, the made attempts to escape by jumping into the sea.

It was learnt that the policemen chased after them under the water until they were arrested.

Police spokesman, Mr Samuel Jinadu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said that SARS operatives surprised the armed robbers when they jumped into the sea to arrest them.

He said: “The suspects were terrified that operatives can swim because they thought that immediately they jump into the sea that our men will retreat, but that was not the case.”

Narrating their individual roles in sea piracy, the suspects said they have been in the business for long and were surprised that policemen could arrest them because they thought that they are not used to the sea.

One of the suspects, who said he is the second in command in the gang, told Newsextra how he became a member of the gang.

The 49 year-old said, “My name is Odun Ipeku aka baba Ilaje. My profession is firewood cutting in the bush. I lived in Ajegunle before and that was where I met the gang leader David. I knew he was an armed robber but could not report him to the police because I was afraid. Became his friend and

By Jude Isiguzo and Ebele Boniface

anytime I am broke he used to gave me money to take care of myself. At times N5,000, N2,000 at time he even gave me N10,000 and when I am not with him I am in the bush, at Imode after Subiri cutting firewood.

I have two wives and five children, but one of my wives is late. I am now with my second wife.

“David and his colleague’s duty are to ferry turkey from Seme, Badagry area to Mainland especially Ajegunle. They sometimes rob in the high sea. Because of the money that I was getting from them, I made up my mind to join them. So on the day that we were arrested, we hired an engine boat for N3, 000. When we were on the high sea heading to Seme our engine broke down and we were trying to look for another boat or ship to assist us tow it to mainland where we can repair it, when we saw a trawler we called on them to come to our aid but they refused.

David then ordered us to attack them and that was how we were able to capture the captain and other members of the crew.

Some of us jumped into the trawler, and tied the rope to the trawler to tow our boat. David fired a shot in the air and ordered us to work.

The firing scared the crew and they ran far into the trawler. I pursued the trawler captain and dragged him back to the spot where others were standing. We asked all the crew members to lie face down or be shot. We searched everybody but the money and other properties we took were not enough hence we ordered the captain to search for money or we shoot him dead.

“Sensing danger the ship captain at gun point went inside and brought N15, 000 and we and ordered him to tow our boat to a sandy area where we found our way.

•The suspects We later shared the money and I was given N5, 000. We abandoned the boat as we could not go with it again, but the following day we went to see what we could do to remove it so that the money we would pay the owner would not be too much as the owner charges N5, 000 every day and we were not ready to pay more than a day.”, he said.

Jinadu told Newsextra that the incident occurred on August 19, 2011 but that the suspects were arrested last week.

Taofic Umoru, 25, is the second suspect and he is an indigene of Badagry Lagos state. The suspect who said he is a native farmer that plant cassava and coconut told The Nation that one Azeez introduced him to the gang...

He said, “I knew Azeez’s father very well because we live on the same village in Badagry. I don’t know Baba Ilaje. They brought him that day

for ferrying turkey because David and his members turned the whole show into robbery escapade. The robbery was a surprise to me. I did not leave even our broken down boat. I stayed in the boat because they did not tell me that they would rob and if they had told me I would not have followed them. They told me that we are going to Seme to carry Turkey when they called me. I have never robbed in my life.

“I know how to drive canoe or engine boat and that was why I was the driver. Even the sack they put in the boat was near me yet I did not know that they loaded three long hunter’s gun in it. It was when they carried the sack to the trawler and emptied the sack that I saw the guns.

Even one fell into the sea.

Even when the captain of the troller ran inside it was Baba Ilaje that ran after him and brought him back and asked him why he was run-

ning. We later forced the captain to tow our boat back to land and we found our way from there. I was arrested on 20th August, 2011 where I went to attend a burial ceremony in Badagry area”, he said.

The third suspect Azeez Akinsanya (26) from Badagry said he is a sand digger in the high sea and a fisherman when he feels like.

He said nobody arrested him rather he came to SARS office on his own when the Officer in Charge invited him.

He said, “We went to sea to collect turkey from Seme border with boat but our boat broke down. The people who called us were Ola, David and Asemu though they escaped, they said we should put gun in the boat for hunting and other special duties especially as the situation would warrant. We borrowed the guns from a hunter but one got lost in the high.

Court rejects bid to stop Access Bank’s winding-up petition

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FEDERAL High Court, Lagos has granted the application by the Access Bank Plc for the appointment of a provisional liquidator for an indigenous engineering firm, Negris Holding Limited over alleged N2.7 billion debt.

Justice Okon Abang granted the application in a ruling on a motion dated February 17, 2011 and filed

by Access Bank’s counsel, Kunle Ogunba (SAN).

In the motion, the bank asked the court for an order of a provisional liquidator for Negris following its inability to pay back the N2.7billion credit facility granted to it by bank.

The interim liquidator, Ogunba argued was to protect the res; that are the course of action, pending the hearing of the winding up petition.

The firm’s lawyer O. A. Owolabi objected and urged the court to refuse the application on the ground that the petitioner has not placed sufficient grounds before the court to justify and sustain the discretional order.

He argued that the petitioner has not placed sufficient materials like, the name of the liquidator, capacity, competence or ability of

By Eric Ikhilae

the person to act as provisional liquidator of a company as big as Negris.

He further argued that there is no way, the court can grant the application sought without going into the substantive relieves sought by the bank.

He also submitted that section 21 of the winding up procedure rule made it mandatory that such an application can only be made after an advertisement had been made by the petitioner for the winding up of the company.

But Ogunba in response argued that it is within the discretion of the court to grant such application and that the respondent argument on section 21 was distorted and cannot be considered without Rule 19 (2(A), which gave 15 days for the advertisement before the hearing of the winding up petition.

The counsel submitted that granting the application would not affect the substance of the petition, as it was only a precautionary move so that the court will not be acting in vain at the long run.

In his ruling, Justice Abang granted the application on the ground that no date has been fixed

yet for the petition and the mandatory 15 days established by the rule has not started running.

The judge, who adjourned till November 9, for the hearing of the winding up petition also, stated the order was a preventive one and which do not have anything to do with the substance of the petition except beyond mere deposition needed to grant the order The court had earlier rejected Negris moves to kill the winding -up process filed by the bank, through a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the petition on the ground that the objection borders on fact, which is premature at that stage.

Justice Abang also rejected Negris application to set aside an exparte order granted Access on the grounds that the court is satisfied that the order was properly made and that facts were not suppressed by counsel to the Access Bank.

The court further refused to stay the execution of the order as there was no appeal against the order by the court, where restrained the firm and its agents from tampering with, alienating, transferring or

dissipating any of the fixed and movable assets, properties, machinery.

Access Bank had alleged that as one of its customers, some depositors’ funds to the tune of N2.7billion was extended to Negris by way of facilities which it accepted thankfully with all the conditions through an offer letter dated July 18, 2008.

It stated that the amount was to finance the acquisition and take over of the Nigerian Newsprint Manufacturing Company Limited that was in liquidation.

The petitioner stated that offer letter provided for a duly executed board resolution accepting the offer, duly executed documents to perfect tripartite legal mortgage on the property known as All Seasons Plaza on Leteef Jakande Road, Agindingbi, Ikeja and all assets and debenture of Negris Holdings Limited.

It averred that despite the signing of the offer letter and disbursement of the facility, the respondent has wilfully refused to execute the legal mortgage and debenture itemised in the agreement.

It therefore urged the court to in the interest of justice grants its

prayer so that the depositors’ funds do not go down the drain.

But lead counsel to Negris, Adebonojo Badejo (SAN), had urged the court to set aside the order and dismiss the suit in its entirety. He also urged the court to stay execution on the orders.

He predicated its requests on the fact that the bank made some false representations and suppressed material facts at the point of obtaining the orders.

Badejo also argued that substantive petition did not disclose any ground under the recognised heads for winding up a company under the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Cap C20 Laws of the Federation, 2004.

But Ogunba urged the court to refuse and disregard the submissions and the application of the respondent and hear the case on its merit. He added that the argument of the respondent was a gimmick to stifle the case and prolong the repayment of depositors’ funds granted it as facility.

Ogunba disclosed that before the petition was filed, all entreaties to the respondent to pay up fell on deaf ears.

THE NATION

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

Imo youths name choice for NDDC board From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

•Chief Duru

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EQUEL to the recent dissolution of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Imo State youths under the aegis of Imo Youth Congress (IYC) have endorsed Chief Emmanuel Ifeanyichukwu Duru as the rightful candidate to represent the state in the soon to be consti-

tuted board of the NDDC. In a communiqué issued and signed by Robinson Nwokocha and Charles Onuma, the National President and Secretary respectively at the end of a three-day summit which was held in Oguta recently, the group argued that every calculation favours the candidature of Chief Duru. It appealed to President Jonathan to listen to the voice of the youth in the interest of peace and development in the state.

The group said: “Duru is a visionary technocrat who has distinguished himself in every of his endeavours, and therefore the most qualified candidate that would ensure credible representation of the state in the NDDC board.

“Imo youths believe so much in competence, credibility and fairness. We have consciously scrutinised all the candidates jostling to be appointed to represent Imo State and observed that Ohaji Egbema has represented the state for two consecutive tenures and therefore

completely ruled out. In Oguta Local Government Area, of all the oilproducing communities, Izombe is the most marginalised.

“We have gone through history and discovered that Oguta town has dominated in all ramifications, ranging from political appointments to elective positions. In realisation of this fact, we have resolved that it is the turn of Izombe to produce the next NDDC commissioner.

“In Izombe, we have also assessed all the candidates. Since we are conscious of credible and competent representation, we have endorsed Chief Emmanuel Ifeanyichukwu Duru as the candidate of all the youth in Imo State,” the communiqué reads.

When contacted, Comrade Robinson Nwokocha reiterated that the choice of Chief Duru is strictly based on merit and urged President Jonathan to appoint him as Imo State representative in the NDDC Board.

Continuing, he said: “We are tired of mediocrity. We need credible and

effective representation. We are tired of sycophancy. For how long shall we continue like this? Imo youths met for three days and said enough is enough. Leaders from the core oil-producing communities were all represented and they were all involved in the exercise.

“Chief Emma Duru is highly educated. He is a lawyer and a very successful technocrat. He is the first Federal Board member from the area. He is a philanthropist of the highest order. He knows the problems of our people and has solutions to them. He has zero-tolerance to corruption. He is youth-friendly

and most importantly, approachable. The youth assessed the personalities and credentials of all others and decided to pitch our tent with him.”

Nwokocha also urged all stakeholders to support Chief Duru’s candidature to ensure effective, efficient and quality representation, which he said, shall, in turn, bring about rapid development of the area.

Recall that the Imo Youth Congress is the umbrella body of all youth organisations in the state made up of youth groups from all autonomous communities in the state.

We are tired of mediocrity. We need credible and effective representation. We are tired of sycophancy. For how long shall we continue like this? Imo youths met for three days and said enough is enough. Leaders from the core oil-producing communities were all represented

Anambra community’s peace under threat

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IBO community in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State used to be a reference point for other communities for their unity and sense of purpose.

Though the community and, indeed the entire Anambra State will continue to be grateful to the Nibo Town Union (NTU) led by Okey Goodluck Nwankwo for the completion of the community’s town hall that had been under construction for 23 years, the unexpected happened on August 6, 2011.

To the chagrin of some members of the community including their monarch, His Royal Majesty (Dr) Ezeugonwanne M.C Ngene Ezeike IV and some of his titled chiefs, it was announced that their PresidentGeneral, Mr Okey Goodluck Nwankwo had been impeached.

In his place, Mr Okey Okoye, a lawyer, was elected President-General of the community following a motion moved by Chief Ogugua Uche which was seconded by the former Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Barrister K.C. Enenmou.

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Since then, confusion and division have enveloped the community once noted for its unity as there are claims and counter-claims by each camp. Several petitions from each group had been sent to Governor Peter Obi, the State Police Command led by Muhtari Ibrahim and State Security Service (SSS) to intervene to avert any bloodbath.

The battle for supremacy in the kingdom has, allegedly, claimed the life of a 58-year-old messenger of the area, Mrs. Beatrice Aniekwe.

The widow, Newsextra gathered, met her untimely death when a motorcycle operator knocked her down while on an errand of distributing anti-impeachment letters in the community.

When the incident happened, the union, in order to save her life, took her to three different hospitals including Nnewi Teaching Hospital before she died.

Though, no date has been fixed for the burial of the widow whose husband died about 20 years ago, the union has started mobilising forces to give her a befitting burial.

Not only that, the union has

We have informed our people that the number of shops leased were 56 at the rate of 200,000. Most of the payments were made in cheques…

Those who paid still have their bankdeposit slips as proofs of payment

•Mr Anthony Edokpayi, outgoing Head of Service, Edo State (left) and Dr Pius Odubu, Deputy Governor at a valedictory service for the outgoing Head of Service at the Government House Chapel, Benin City

equally concluded arrangement to complete her building which was started about 15 years ago.

The woman, Newsextra also gathered, hailed from Agulu in Aniocha Local Government Area of the state but was married to Nibo man.

Some of the allegations leveled against Nwankwo by the community were lack of respect and usurping the functions of the traditional ruler of the kingdom, Ezeike Nibo and embezzlement of Nibo Town Union’s funds, among others.

Some extracts of the meeting that preceded the impeachment of Nwankwo were made available to Newsextra by some members of the community where the new President-General promised to discharge his duties efficiently and to work according to the dictates of Nibo Constitution.

However, he implored the former President-General, Nwankwo to hand over all the property of Nibo Town Union in his custody within seven days from the date of the meeting and impeachment.

In another petition to Governor Obi, the police, SSS and other relevant authorities which was signed

by Okey Goodluck Nwankwo and dated August 10, 2011 and which was made available to Newsextra recently, he said that the purported impeachment was illegal and did not comply with Nibo Constitution of 1983 as amended.

He also alleged that the impeachment by ambush allegedly took place at an illegal meeting organised by an equally illegal land compensation committee and Ezeike IV group. He further alleged that the meeting was presided at by Ezeike IV even though government had cancelled the ordinary general meeting of Nibo on the said August 6, 2011.

Nwankwo, in the petition further said that the offence he committed was not bringing out the proceeds belonging to the community to be shared among some selfish individuals and his refusal to allot the shops belonging to the people to himself and some members of his executive.

The petition reads in part: “We have informed our people that the number of shops leased were 56 at the rate of 200,000. Most of the payments were made in cheques.

“Those who paid still have their bank deposit slips as proofs of payment. We got a total of N11.2m from these lease agreements. All will be accounted for during April 2012 Annual General Assembly meeting.”

Meanwhile, another petition by

the Enugu State branch of the union was addressed to Governor Obi, the police, SSS, Chairman, Transition Committee Awka South Local Government Area, all branches of Nibo Town Union among others.

The petition entitled “Resolution of Nibo Union Enugu Branch on the illegal meeting and purported impeachment of President-General of Nibo Union – Pharmacist Okey Goodluck Nwankwo and some members of his executive on August 6, 2011” was signed by Engr.

Chigbo Obealor as Chairman and Evangelist Emma Ekemezie as Secretary.

It reads: “We the members of Nibo Union Enugu Branch, through our Resolution in our Branch General Meeting of 07-Aug-2011 hereby state as follows:“That Okey Goodluck Nwankwo is the President-General of Nibo Town Union.

“That the purported impeachment of the President-General of Nibo, Pharm. Okey Goodluck Nwankwo and some members of his executive by some people, in their illegal meeting is unfounded and not recognised by Enugu Branch Union of Nibo.

“That all decisions taken in that their illegal meeting are regarded as null and void by the Enugu Branch Union of Nibo.

“That we commend and pass a vote of absolute confidence on the executive of Nibo Town Union under the leadership of Pharm. Okey Goodluck Nwankwo for abiding by the directive of Government of Anambra State through the Administrator of Awka South L.G.A, to call off the Nibo Ordinary General Meeting of 06-Aug-2011.

“That we condemn any act of violence in Nibo by some people who are trying to subvert the constitution of Nibo Town Union, since the Constitution is superior to anybody or group in Nibo Town.

“That we condemn in its entirely the way and manner some people, on that day, disobeyed the timeline of Government of Anambra State that called off the meeting by embarking on their illegal meeting for their personal goals.”

Other Nibo Union branches, including those in the Diaspora had been writing letters to the appropriate authorities on the upsetting issue.

The only time to stop the raging squabble in Nibo by the security agencies and the state government is now. Any delay is likely to result in another communal clash which has, in recent times, been the norm in Anambra State.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

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The aim of writing the book was to raise money for a cancer foundation through which I can promote prostate cancer awareness as well as give hope to other survivors, meet up with recurring bills from routine check-up and rehabilitation

Edo procures 69 cancer treatment machines

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EEN to deepen its commitment to healthcare, Edo State government said it has procured 69 cryotherapy machines for the state-owned hospitals. The machines are crucial in the treatment of cancer.

This, it said, would ensure early treatment of cancer and to make the cure of the disease accessible and affordable for the people.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole disclosed this during the presentation of the book My Journey Back to Life written by former DirectorGeneral, Centre for Democratic Studies (CDS), Prof. Omo Omoruyi and the launch of Omo Omoruyi Cancer Foundation in Benin-City.

Oshiomhole said some doctors have been trained on prostrate biopsy for early detection of cancer of the prostate through a privatepublic partnership.

Governor Oshiomhole urged residents in the state to undergo screening on a regular basis for early detection and treatment to minimise any threat.

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HE Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is to apply stringent measures to prevent members of the public from indulging in buying and selling of copies of decoders to their neighbours.

According to the commission, perpetrators of such an economic fraud, if apprehended, would be handed over to the law enforcement agencies for prosecution.

The NBC representative for Imo and Abia states, Mrs. Nonye Obuna Edeh gave the warning at the Multi-Choice Nigeria customer forum held in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

The forum, which featured recent innovations in the DSTV customer touch points service delivery, new developments in the DSTV channel and content offering as well as HDPVR decoder/Driffa (New Mobile de-

From Osagie Otabor, Benin-City

He congratulated the author on writing such inspirational book through his personal experience as part of his contributions towards creating awareness and giving hope to the populace.

Speaking at the occasion, Prof.

Omoruyi said he wrote the book which has two phases namely, Spinal Cord Compression and Metastatic Prostate Cancer because he survived the ailments.

He said: “The aim of writing the book was to raise money for a cancer foundation through which I can promote prostate cancer awareness as well as give hope to other survivors, meet up with recurring bills from routine check-up and rehabilitation.

“The competent and complimentary title of this book is In God I Trust. In God I Trust featured in this book from the beginning to the end. Cancer diagnosis, treatment options and the use of trial drugs are decisions that patients

have to make at all times. It is for the patient to make choices at all times. One can face different kinds of treatment plans; it is for the patient to make a choice. I made mine trusting in God for good outcome,” Prof Omoruyi said.

Prof. Omoruyi thanked the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, former governor Lucky Igbinedion for their support saying, “they reminded him of children who never took care of their parents while they were alive only to hold elaborate burial ceremonies after they are gone.”

He also said that he would rather want to be remembered while alive than all the unending ceremonies and attributes when he had gone.

He wondered what life of a cancer survivor would have looked like without care givers.

The forward of the book was written by Mr. Tunde Rahman, Saturday Editor, THISDAY, while Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi, Special Assistant to the President on Media, reviewed the book.

•Prof. Omo Omoruyi at the launch of the book

NBC set to check illegal possession of decoders From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

coder) and corporate social investment programmes.

Mrs. Edeh explained that the NBC had alerted security agencies of such an ugly development, saying “we need your assistance so that our business can go on well because DSTV is already digitalized.”

As a regulator for both the radio and TV, she assured that the NBC is poised to ensure that the broadcasting media adhered strictly to professionalism.

Mrs. Edeh also advised people wishing to establish radio, TV and cable stations to always contact the NBC for necessary guidance.

In his remarks, the Head, Cor-

porate Communications, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. Segun Fayose explained that the forum aimed at fostering mutual interaction between the DSTV subscribers and the organisation for improved services.

The Multi-Choice Nigeria, he

said, now boasts 36 dealers across the country, 201 students in 21 schools throughout the federation with Multi-Research project and authentic information on the strict call scourge.

He called for the application of mobile banking and mobile pay-

ment by members of the public as is the case with the MTN and the Internet.

Mr Fayose listed Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Aba, Asaba, Enugu, Kaduna, Benin and Port Harcourt as among the cities where the DSTV services are available.

Akwa Ibom praises Nigerian Air Force

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HE Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Nsima Ekere has commended the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for improving on its combat-readiness by investing in the regular training and re-training of its personnel.

Speaking at the 2011 Small Arms Range Classification Exercise of the 207 Special Mobility Group of the NAF, Calabar, held at the Six Bat-

•From left: Wife of Taraba State Governor, Hajia Hauwa Danbaba Suntai, Special Guest of Honour, Chief Yetunde Morohundiya, National Chairman, Association of Lady Pharmacists and Dr. Azubike B. Okwor, President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria during the association’s 10th Bi-ennial National Conference and launch of Compedium on Herbal Remedies and ALPS national information bulleting tagged Women Empowerment and Safe Motherhood held at Ostra Hall and Hotel, Alausa Hotel, Ikeja PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

talion, Ibagwa Abak Ekere, who represented Governor Godswill Akpabio at the event, noted with delight that in addition to regular training, the NAF had keyed into the global trend of introducing sophistication to contemporary air warfare.

He lauded the NAF for partnering with the state government in the maintenance of internal security through its personnel in the Joint Task Force, code-named Operation Aduma, and for educating thousands of Akwa Ibom children at the Air Force Comprehensive Secondary School, Uyo. The Deputy Governor recalled the long-standing relationship between the state and the NAF and

The Air Force formation, which covers both Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, would spare no effort in partnering with the Akwa Ibom State Government to ensure an atmosphere conducive to security and for rapid development of the state

promised that the Akpabio administration will continue to work with the NAF and other security agencies to safeguard lives and property in the state.

He thanked the NAF for the opportunity afforded him, his security aides and other personalities to participate in the shooting exercise which, he said, was the first for him.

The Commander of the 207 Special Mobility Group, Air Commodore Oluwarotimi Ogunjobi, explained that the exercise, which was a periodic one, was primarily aimed at sharpening the skills of the service personnel on the use of personal weapons to ensure efficiency.

He pledged that the Air Force formation, which covers both Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, would spare no effort in partnering with the Akwa Ibom State Government to ensure an atmosphere conducive to security and for rapid development of the state.

In his response, Air Commodore Ogunjobi commended Governor Akpabio on his landmark achievements in the education, infrastructure and security sectors among others which, according to him, made the 24th anniversary celebration of the state a worthwhile exercise.

Among the participants in the shooting exercise were a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Nsikak Eduok (Rtd), the Commanding Officer of the Six Battalion, Lt. Col. Owoicho Ochigbu, the Permanent Secretary in the Special Services Department of the Governor’s Office, Ignatius Brown, the General Manager of Radio Nigeria, Atlantic FM Station, Uyo, Malachy Ufot, and personnel from the Air Force, the Army and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

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THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

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THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011 •This is a paper delivered at the All Nigeria Editors’ Conference of the Nigerian Guid of Editors in Benin, Edo State, on September 23.

•Continued from yesterday The creation of additional states over the years has not significantly reduced the fierce competition for jobs in the public sector at the federal level, the major centre of power and the distribution of patronage in the country. In response, more and more public sector jobs are being created to the point that these jobs may not be sustainable in the long run. This policy of the equalisation of the states in employment (the so-called policy of federal character) in the public sector is partly responsible for the rapid expansion of the public service and the vastly increased cost of running the country. It is questionable whether it has achieved the desired effect as the real source of inter ethnic tension is in the award of contracts over public projects.

The Nationality Question It is the failure of the Nigerian political elite to accept and demonstrate the values of openness and fairness among the ethnic groups that is the source of the nationality question and the demand for greater local autonomy and true federalism. This quest for true federalism has begun to assume an increasingly violent form in various parts of Nigeria, particularly in the oil rich Delta region. The situation of increasing violence is disturbing and calls for the establishment of a genuinely federal and just system that will enable the federating units to enjoy greater autonomy in the management of their own affairs and resources. Clearly, under the existing federal system in Nigeria this is not the case now. The federal government is too dominant. It takes the lion’s share of the nation’s revenue, more than the share of the 36 states, and 774 local governments combined. This is what engenders the fierce competition among the ethnic groups for the control of the federal government. The lack of fiscal federalism, which allows the federal government to appropriate to itself over 50 per cent of the total revenue from oil exports, has tended to exacerbate the existing ethnic conflicts and tensions. Virtually all the ethnic groups claim that they are marginalised, that the federal government is too dominant, and that the basic needs of the various ethnic groups are not being addressed. This is a problem that has to be resolved as soon as possible.

Experience of cultural diversity in other countries Of course, Nigeria is not the only country with this cultural diversity and ethnic groups. It is a world wide phenomenon in response to the waves of migration all over the world, and the consequence of technological development that has forced different peoples of the world into greater integration. The same situation can be found in other parts of the world. In Europe political tension, though attenuated by national prosperity, can be found in Belgium between the Wolof and the French speaking parts of the country and the Basque separatist movement in Spain. Tension between the Serbs and Croats not only led to the collapse of Yugoslavia but to alleged ethnic cleansing on the part of the Serbs. The old Austro-Hungarian Empire of the Hapsburgs was destroyed by racial and political tension among the Austrians, the Hungarians, and the Serbs. This tension was to lead to the assassination of the crown Prince Archduke Ferdinand Joseph in 1914 by a Serb- Croat and ultimately to World War 1 and the collapse of the Hapsburg Empire.

In Asia the tension between the Malays and the Chinese led to the separation of Singapore from Malaysia. Indonesia has been under constant threat of breaking up by conflicts between the various cultural groups. The Soviet Union was also undermined by tension between the Russians and the other sub-nationalities leading to the breakup of the Union. The historic racial tension in the United States between the whites and the blacks is well known and documented. This is despite the fact that the United States is a nation of immigrants.

The United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland is under some political strain as Scotland is moving in the direction of outright separation from the U.K. The

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DAPO FAFOWORA

FROM THE SUMMIT dapo.fafowora@thenationonlineng.net

The ethnic factor in Nigerian politics Welsh too are not too far behind the Scots in asserting their sub-national sentiments.

Where there is cultural diversity racial or ethnic tension is never too far from the surface, often leading to bloody conflict.

Here in Africa, where colonialism brought the various ethnic groups into greater contact and economic competition in a poor environment, the response in most cases to this development has been the eruption of inter and intra ethnic violence on a scale not known before colonial rule. Examples of this phenomenon include the bloody civil war that erupted in the Congo shortly after its independence from Belgian colonial rule in 1960. Essentially the conflict was about control over the immense natural resources of Katanga province, described as a ‘geological scandal’, which the so-called “authentic Katangese’ wanted to keep for themselves. Our own civil war was fought over control of the oil resource in the Delta. Other conflicts in Africa include the ethnic cleansing among the Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda, the long civil war in Eritrea against Ethiopia and, more recently the civil wars in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Cote d’Ivoire, all of which were prompted by the competition for power and the control of mineral resources among the various ethnic groups. Even the Yoruba civil war, the Kiriji War, which lasted for decades, was caused partly by competition among the Yoruba for alternative access to the sea, as the most direct route had been blocked by the Ijebu who wanted to monopolise the lucrative trade with the Europeans on the coast. The long Fulani Jihad in northern Nigeria was more economic than religious.

The Fulani, a minority ethnic group, wanted to impose their rule on the Hausa for economic advantage.

In the case of Nigeria, the issue of the socalled minorities has assumed a salience not seen before with violent conflicts in such places as Plateau State and the Delta.

But these so-called minorities when taken together constitute a significant part of the Nigerian federation. From the point of view of power relationships these minorities constitute the majority of the Nigerian people, and they can be found at every level of Nigerian politics national, state, and local. Nigeria now has 36 states plus the federal capital territory. But there is still growing demand for the creation of more states. The creation of states under military rule was in response to the vigorous demand for additional states to take care of the perceived interests of the various ethnic groups that considered themselves minorities who were being marginalised. But even in the 36 states, most of which are not really viable on their own financially, there are still ethnic groups that consider themselves minorities and complain about being marginalised by the dominant ethnic group. Examples of this can be found in the Delta, Kwara, Kogi, Edo, and other parts of the country. Even among the Yoruba, a more homogenous ethnic group, there are intra ethnic conflicts over the control of the limited resources of the state. It is by no means certain that the creation of more states in Nigeria will reduce the existing inter-ethnic tension and conflicts. Only economic prosperity in a fairer and more open political system will achieve that objective

The role of the ethnic groups in Nigerian politics From the Nigerian experience, it can be argued that ethnic nationalism is not inherently inimical to the practice of federalism or the development of a pan-Nigerian nationalism. In fact, properly channeled and managed, it can serve as a check on

the development of autocratic power at the federal level. It was these ethnic organisations that played a crucial role in the political mobilisation against British colonial rule in Nigeria. The Arewa in Northern Nigeria, Egbe Omo Oduduwa in Western Nigeria, and the Igbo State Union in the East were ethnically based political groups that combined successfully to agitate for independence from British colonial rule.

The NCNC (the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons) started in Lagos as a pan-Nigerian political party led by the Lagos elite. Its first leader was the late Herbert Macaulay who, after his death, was succeeded by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

But the existing system of indirect rule tended to foster regional political parties.

It led to the emergence of regional political parties. Even the NCNC which started under the leadership of Herbert Macaulay as a national party became a regional political party with very strong Igbo affiliation and support.

In the period before independence in 1960 other minority and ethnic based parties had begun to emerge. These included the Otu Edo in current Edo State, the Middle Belt Congress in the Middle belt, and a cluster of political parties in other minority areas, such as the old Cross River area.

Fearing domination by the regionally based political parties, these ethnic based parties demanded the creation of states in their areas. The competition for power and economic advantage even among the big three parties was such that the country tottered from one political crisis to the other until the military stepped into the political scene in 1966, blaming the rot in the political system on the greed and selfishness of the political leaders. But as it turned out, military rule was essentially a continuation of Northern domination of the country, even in a quasi-federal system of government. Evidence abounds that military rule in Nigeria favoured the North as it promoted Northern interests above national interests.

Fears of tribal colonialism In the years preceding the granting of independence to colonial Africa, there were fears, inside and outside Africa, that independence would lead to a fierce competition for power, position, and jobs among Africans in the post-colonial period, that this would be along tribal lines, and that the more successful nationality groups in the competition would treat the others like colonial subjects. As the distinguished British colonial historian, Margery Perham, observed rightly, colonial rule was a ‘steel grid’ holding tribal African communities in peace by force. The colonial rulers were not always fair to some of these ethnic groups, tending in some cases, such as the Hausa-Fulani, to favour one group over another. Once this grid was removed each ethnic group would be ‘preoccupied with reckoning up what natural strength it had to protect itself or dominate its neighbours when all are left to find their own levels of power” in the new dispensation. (7). That was what happened precisely all over independent Africa once the steel grid of colonial rule was removed. As the distinguished West Indian economic historian, Arthur Lewis, also observed “Any idea that one can make different peoples into a nation by suppressing the religious or tribal or regional or other affiliations to which they themselves attach the highest political significance is simply a non-starter. National loyalty cannot immediately supplant tribal loyalty by creating a system in which all the tribes feel there is room for self expression”(8) The Nigerian experience would seem to

validate this view that once the restraining hand of colonial rule was removed the competition for power at the centre would be vicious and could lead to bloody conflicts as we have seen in Nigeria and other African countries with ethnic diversity such as Nigeria’s. The tribal conflicts in African countries since independence have produced some of the worst forms of human suffering known to modern history.

They have as their root causes devices by the various ethnic or nationality groups to seize power and dominate others in a reprehensible manner not seen even under colonial rule. The mass murder of Hutus in Burundi in 1972 by the Tutsis and the reverse genocidal killing of over 800,000 Tutsis by the Hutu dominated Rwandese Army in a few months in 1994 were executed in pursuance of a policy of tribal colonialism and domination.

Background to Internal Colonialism Several factors account for tribal politics and internal colonialism all over independent Africa. Time and space constraints will not allow me go into details here. But prominent among these are the following: i. strong ethnic diversity which intensifies economic and political competition among the various ethnic groups for power (Nigeria, the Congo, Kenya, the Sudan, Zimbabwe, Uganda) ii. the nature of colonialism in Africa and the process of decolonisation that tended to favour some ethnic groups to the detriment of others (Hausa-Fulani in Nigeria, Kikuyu in Kenya) iii.the uneven distribution of natural resources among the various groups (huge mineral resources in Katanga and oil in the Delta region of Nigeria) iv.the high stakes and prize involved in controlling state power.(immense economic and financial rewards for the ruling ethnic group) v. electoral manipulation to keep an ethnic group in power indefinitely. (Nigeria, the Congo, Zimbabwe) vi.military intervention to ensure monopoly of political power by an ethnic or tribal group. (Nigeria, Hausa-Fulani) It is the combination of these factors that lead to tribal colonialism. As former President Obasanjo once observed, regardless of the sophistication of our constitution or the frequency of its change, ‘as long as our leaders continue to sponsor religious, tribal, and sectional interests, the problem of ethnic politics will remain with us.” He was apparently reacting to a statement in 1993 by one of the most enlightened and prominent member of the northern elite, Maitama Sule, Nigeria’s former Permanent Representative at the United Nations that ‘the northerners are born to rule’. Maitama Sule’s statement needs no further elaboration as it contains all the essence of tribal colonialism. Evidently Northern Nigerian leaders had come to believe, after a long period of Fulani-Hausa rule in Nigeria that they were born to rule. This feeling was bitterly resented by the other ethnic groups particularly as it seemed to give northerners an undue economic advantage over the other ethnic groups.

Some of these complex political issues arising from ethnic rivalry and competition in Nigeria have been fully addressed at various Constitution Review Conferences. At the meeting in Aburi, Ghana, of Nigerian military leaders in 1966 it was in fact agreed that Nigeria should revert to a confederation. The political Reform Conference of 2005 which I had the privilege of attending also tackled some of these problems. But this latter conference broke up on the issue of fiscal federalism and a third term for President Obasanjo. The conclusions of the Conference were sent to the National Assembly but were never implemented or even debated by the House. Recently the President of the Senate, David Mark, announced that the current session of the National Assembly would address itself to some of these issues arising from ethnic politics in Nigeria. We can only hope that the issues involved would be seriously debated and that the deliberations of the House would lead to fiscal federalism and a greater devolution of power from the centre to the states and local governments so as to reduce ethnic tension and conflicts in Nigeria.

•To be continued

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

48

DISCOURSE

Towards the transformation of Oyo State Text of the keynote address by Oyo State Governor Senator Abiola Ajimobi at a three-day retreat for political appointees.

L

ET me begin today’s retreat for members of the State Executive Council and Special Advisers by expressing gratitude to the Almighty God who has made it possible for us to wade through difficult times in our determined march towards transformation and greatness.

While congratulating our Commissioners and Special Advisers on their appointments, let me remind you that Oyo State is greatly endowed with human talents. Therefore, you must see your appointment from a mass of qualified Oyo State citizens as a God-given privilege to serve the people of our state. I urge you to seize this moment of opportunity to serve with your heart and all your might.

This retreat is initiated to help retool and energise key managers of this administration towards a more purposeful; effective and productive service delivery as well as socioeconomic transformation. Our thinking is that since Commissioners, Special Advisers and other aides are coming from various backgrounds, a programme of this nature will also serve as a foundation for building team spirit. This retreat will also afford us the opportunity of interacting with the private sector to join hands together to transform our state.

Even though our population is the fifth largest in Nigeria, the estimated size of our economy is the 21st largest. As a direct result of this, our people are, on average, amongst the poorest in Nigeria. At slightly over N35,000 annually, the income of the average person in Oyo State is 20 percent of the national average and 31 percent of the Southwest Region. In the Southwest, we do better than only Ogun and Osun states.

These should begin to give food for thought.

For those who expected that we would enjoy a ‘honeymoon’ period during which our newly-installed government would settle down, the disappointment must have been incredible.

Few administrations have faced the kind of issues which we have had to deal with. Almost immediately our administration was inaugurated, we had to deal with the issue of paying the newly-enacted minimum wage. For a sState with a monthly total revenue of N4.2 billion to be faced with a monthly wage bill of N4.4 billion, to say the least, created a challenge! The violence which flared up in the transport sector through the disruptive activities of the NURTW added to our issues.

As for our people, the picture which available data paints is no less worrying. The quality of life of our people is the 18th best in our country as measured by the Human Development Index. Whilst our people are living longer than the average Nigerian, they are largely poor and the quality of their lives is below the national average. This is a situation which we must deal with decisively.

If we are to improve the condition of our people, our economy must attract entrepreneurs of different interests. For this to happen, the importance of a conducive environment for business cannot be over-emphasised. Although our state, as the 2010 Report on the Business Environment in Nigerian states shows, is ranked fifth nationally, there are a number of weaknesses which we must deal with. Water Supply is a major constraint – we are 19th in Nigeria and well below the national average. Our regulatory performance, in other words, the performance of public administration, procedures, rules and codes by which we render service to the private sector, also leaves a lot to be desired. We presently rank 21st of all the states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Whilst we are adjudged second best in Business Development Support and Investment promotion, the gap between us and Lagos is too wide! Transport and security are areas where we must pay great attention. The importance of a secure environment cannot be over emphasised. Presently, we rank 32nd. Our support for Public-Private Partnerships has been found to be non-existent. This raises the question, how do we intend to collaborate with the private sector?

That resource availability is a challenge cannot be understated – indeed no state or nation has adequate resources to meet all the needs of its people. However, we have underperformed in our attempts at mobilising financial resources. It is disheartening that Oyo State continues to be dependent on allocations from the Federation Account for our survival. It is unpardonable that the proportion of our expenses covered from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has been diminishing in the last three years. In the last fiscal year, IGR was only 31 percent of our expenditure – it had been almost 45 percent in 2008. Our IGR penetration, estimated at 0.73 percent, places us in the bottom dozen states. This cannot continue!

I made a pledge to the good people of Oyo State during my inauguration on the May 29, 2011 that the policy thrust of our administration shall be guided by the following key cardinal programmes: • Human Capital Development encompassing Education, Skills Acquisition and Health care delivery; • Wealth Creation and Poverty Alleviation;

•Ajimobi

‘We must work towards ensuring full implementation of our planned projects.

Targets will be set for the various ministries, departments and agencies. We shall also deploy monitoring and evaluation framework to track implementation of projects and programmes.

Commissioners must effectively supervise their ministries, agencies and departments under them and ensure that they are positioned to add value to good governance and ensure improved service delivery’ • Infrastructure Development and Urban Renewal; • Revitalisation and Development of Agriculture and Agro-allied Industry; • Rural Development and Integration • Security and Safety; • Civil Services Reforms; and • Local Government Collaboration and Development.

On education, our goal is to build a vibrant education system that ensures the maximum development of the potential of individuals and promotes a knowledge-driven society that drives the state’s development. We promised that there will be improved funding of educational institutions and that we will ensure quality access to education for all pupils of school age.

We also promised to address issues of infrastructural challenges, staff training and other concerns. Our WAEC pass rate has to move from its present 12 percent to at least 50 percent in four years. I look forward to making sure that these promises are fulfilled in the life of this administration.

In the area of health, our goal is to promote sustainable quality health services and systems for all inhabitants of Oyo State. To achieve this goal, we have commenced free medical mission in all our local government areas, particularly in areas largely affected by the floods in Ibadan and other local government areas, such as Ido, Ibarapa, Oyo and Ogbomosho, amongst others.

The mission is aimed at providing general medicine, antenatal care, dental care, eye care, HIV testing, among others.

We have provided free health services to about 65,000 patients since the event was flagged off. On a more permanent basis, we shall intensify our efforts in addressing inadequate health facilities in our hospitals and health care centres.

On wealth creation and poverty alleviation, we shall increase the capacity of the citizens and residents to earn a decent living through improved access to micro-credit scheme and conducive business environment. To kick-start this, we have launched the YES-O scheme to create at least 20,000 jobs in our first year. We intend to grow this number by at least 50 percent annually.

On infrastructure, I will be looking out for tangible results in the repair of our existing roads and the construction of new roads development. To kick-start the achievement of this goal, we have completed rehabilitation of some roads across the state, including the Gate Old Ife Road, Yemoja Avenue, Custom Junction, Kongi and Mokola junctions, among others. We have also begun plans to rehabilitate and beautify the Toll Gate-Ojo Road working in partnership with relevant federal agencies.

Also, a temporary bridge has been constructed at Apete to ease the adverse effect of the recent flooding. Furthermore, we shall develop a comprehensive programme to effectively manage waste in urban and rural areas. We shall also leverage the objectives of the regional economic integration with other Southwest states to resuscitate rail transportation in the state.

In addition to this, we are about concluding plans to develop the Oluyole Free Trade Zone, Okerete Transnational Border Market as well as a Dry Port to enhance the level of infrastructure in our state. In accomplishing these noble objectives, we will ensure we work with proven organisations and individuals who will replicate best practices from across the world.

In the area of agriculture, our goal is to make Oyo agriculture a major driver of growth of the Nigerian economy. Our aim is to become a top five agricultural producing states through a

profitable, sustainable and technologically driven agricultural sector. This will generate employment and additional income which will ultimately improve the standard of living in the state. Beyond agricultural production, we want to expand the value chain in our agricultural sector to include storage and agro-allied processing. Our goal is to provide quality infrastructure for socio-economic transformation and sustainable development. In addition to this, we will resuscitate our farm settlements and revive school farming.

On rural development and integration, we intend to improve the living standards/conditions and working environment of rural communities, through social emancipation. We will complete all abandoned rural electrification projects.

In the area of security and safety of lives, our goal is to achieve an economically-prosperous, politically-stable and sociallyjust society where security of life and property of the generality of the citizens and residents is guaranteed against threats or attacks.

Following the recent flooding in the state, we have commenced a massive state-wide public sensitisation, especially in view of the prediction of meteorologists of at least two more rains of similar proportions.

To effectively tackle the menace of floods in Ibadan, I have just inaugurated a Task Team constituted of experts in public and private sectors to drive flood prevention and management strategies in a timely and efficient manner.

On civil service reforms, we shall create a well-equipped and robust workforce with renewed focus on performance and quality service delivery. We shall design and implement an optimal performance management framework to drive service delivery of the state civil services. We shall also provide modern technologies to automate and enhance efficiency of public services. To this end, we have upgraded and equipped the Management Information Centre with state-of-the-art facilities, as such as ICT Multipurpose Hall, IT Training, IT Support Help Desk and computers, among others. This building was recently inaugurated to demonstrate our commitment to the creation of a robust workforce.

In the area of local government collaboration and development, we shall promote sustainable partnership between the state and local governments to improve service delivery at the grassroots. Specifically, we will establish an intergovernmental council to promote economic integration between the state government and the local government.

Honourable Commissioners, Special Advisers, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I expect that we would collectively uphold the finest qualities of a democratic government by practising collective responsibility and demonstrating visible commitment to our goals and aspirations. As long as we take a decision or formulate a policy, every one of us is expected to uphold and defend that decision or policy.

We must work towards ensuring full implementation of our planned projects. Targets will be set for the various ministries, departments and agencies. We shall also deploy monitoring and evaluation framework to track implementation of projects and programmes. Commissioners must effectively supervise their ministries, agencies and departments under them and ensure that they are positioned to add value to good governance and ensure improved service delivery.

Furthermore, we need to significantly improve our internally generated revenue and explore other funding sources, such as donor funding, grants and aid, to drive our transformation agenda. We are determined to tap into the impressive opportunities of collaborating with the private sector and other stakeholders to join hands in transforming and restoring the state to her pacesetter status. To achieve our vision, we must demonstrate visible commitment and political will, ensure transparency and accountability and continually allocate our resources in a strategic manner.

Ladies and gentlemen, transformation, in my view, simply means a complete change in the ways of working and thinking to produce results that can bring about a paradigm shift. To give you a graphic example of what a paradigm shift can do, I recommend to you the story of Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister. In all of recorded human history before 1954, it was said by experts that it was impossible to run a mile in under four minutes.

Then on the May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister, after more than a year of rigorous training, ran a mile in under four minutes and shattered the myth.

Now, the thing to note is that from 1954 till date, over a thousand people have run a mile in less than four minutes.

Why? Because Roger Bannister challenged their belief-system and empowered them with the mental attitude to do the seemingly ‘impossible’.

Can we imagine the transformation of Dubai in just 18 years?

Can we envision the possibilities in Oyo State, if we set the right foundation? Imagine a transformed • Ogunpa River in 2025 • Oyo Resort Centre in 2025 • Iwo Road in 2025 • Ibadan Oyo Expressway in 2025 Ladies and gentlemen, this is what we need to do in Oyo State. We must take deliberate actions to build strong and stable institutions and invest in social and economic infrastructure and take a radical approach to funding our transformation agenda.

Having said that, let me again reiterate that public funds are meant for the public good. Hence, integrity and transparency must be our watch word. My fellow partners in transformation, we must transition to a state in which people can be the best they can . So help us God. In closing, I urge you all to participate fully during these three days.

I would like to acknowledge the efforts and contribution of the Transformation Think Tank, led by Prof Ademola Ariyo in making this retreat possible. A lot of hard work has unquestionably gone into this initiative amongst others.

On this note, it is my singular honour and privilege, therefore, to now declare this retreat open.

Thank you and God bless you.

SHOPPING

49

THE NATION

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

e-mail: janicenkoli@yahoo.com 08033349992 sms only

email:- shopping@thenationonlineng.net

Between 1960 and 1980, a prominent feature of the economy was department stores, such as Kingsway, UTC, Leventis and Bhojsons. Soon, the stores disappeared as the economy nosedived. Fifty-one years on, the shopping arena is witnessing some changes, JANICE NKOLI IFEME report.

Return of the mall Green fest at the Adeniran Ogunsanya Mall

Choosing jewellery box Page 50

Page 51

‘Shopping is an adventure’ Page 52

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

50

SHOPPING

Return of the mall I

N the beginning, there were markets.

Everyone went there for their needs. The markets have continued to flourish. The independent streak of Nigerians was enhanced with the country’s independence in 1960. The first shot at national development

by Nigerians was to copy western lifestyle in virtually every thing. This ranged from schooling abroad, especially in London, to importing goods and service. An enabling environment was also created for foreign investments to thrive.

An area where such investments exploited was in executive retail shopping. Departmental stores, notably Kingsway, UTC, Leventis and Bhojsons, were the attraction for many shoppers. They took the shape of one-stop shopping where buyers could find virtually everything in one location. The major appeal was that quality items were bought at affordable prices.

Oba Gbenga Sonuga spoke to The Nation Shopping about the early days of glorified shopping. He said: “In those days, a visit to Leventis or UTC was a treasured one.

We were dressed in our best outfits. You had to look good because you might just run into a friend or school mate, or even a lady you had been longing to ‘talk to’ (laughter). Sometimes we did shop, but we did not necessarily go there to shop. We just went to catch some fun. It was nice having a feel of those stores, I tell you”.

The departmental stores existed between the 1960s and 1980s, the presumed glory days of post independent. They soon fizzled out as the economy plummeted. The foreign investors who owned the stores relocated them to other countries when the environment was no longer conducive for them to manage.

For years, the delight of such stores was lost as they were no longer seen. Some even traveled abroad to shop.

Long after, Mega Plaza Shopping mall, Victoria Island Lagos came up. Asides a comfortable ambiance, quality service delivery was one of its treasured policy.

Asides a comfortable atmosphere, quality service delivery was its treasured policy.

It prides itself as the leading shopping mall in the sale of electronics, household, office, information and communication technology equipment. It also has the Super Mega Supermarket, several shops, ultramodern car park, local and foreign restaurants.

These made it a recreation spot for executive shoppers, especially the elites. It also served as a haven for whites who work with the oil companies and other big foreign investments; and, of course, fun-loving Nigerians.

Down the line, the mall got a baptism of fire, when it went up in flames and lost huge capital. But the unrelenting mall bounced back as an entirely new Mega Plaza, which many agree, re-defined the art of shopping in the country.

The opening of The Palms Shopping Mall, Lekki, Lagos in March 2006;built on a 40,000m² (10-acre) land, with 69 stores, modern six-screen cinema and a car park to accommodate at least 1000 cars brought

more excitement.

The presence of South African retail giants, Shoprite and Game as the anchor tenants gave the mall a boost. Game, a discount retail chain, occupies the largest space at about 5,495m², while its rival, Shoprite also sits on an equally ample space. While Game stocks a wide range of merchandise from groceries, electronics, furniture and other household goods, Shoprite, which prides itself as ‘Africa’s largest grocery store’, concerns itself with mainly fast-moving consumer goods. Both manifest all the indices of a ramified departmental store complete with an in-house bakery, a fast-food section and different sections for a wide range of goods. Addide and Goodies, among several shops, combine to make The Palms a delightful shopping destination.

Last August, Europe’s largest retail network, SPAR, also opened its first outlet in Nigeria, at Lekki, Lagos, in a partnership with, Park ‘n’ Shop, a Nigerian retail store owned by the Artee Group. It operates from a 3,000 m² shopping complex, attracting shoppers with moderate to high income profiles. Headquartered in Holland, SPAR is one of the world’s largest supermarket retail chain with a turnover of approximately 30 billion euro and 12,196 stores that service 11 million customers daily in 34 countries. Many see it as a healthy rival to Shoprite in terms of grocery shopping.

Stores, such as Goodies, Addidas, Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall, Surulere, Lagos, Ikeja Shopping Mall, Delightsome Gifts Concepts and G-Mall, among others, also made shopping a delight in the various areas where they are located.

Many state governments are partnering with private firms to develop shopping outlets. Former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, took a giant stride when he set up the Tinapa Tourist Resort. The Centre presents the inspired and discerning shopper with a bouquet of product offers from her 54 quality retail outlets and four huge emporia each of which is about 10,000 square meters. You will most likely spend a considerable amount of your free time window shopping and taking in the vast array of displays of world class brands ranging from designer labels, perfumes, electronics, fabrics, jewelry, household furniture and accessories, up to art and craft souvenirs.

Being a Free Trade Zone, no customs duties are paid on imports into the Zone. Consequently, the prices of goods sold within the Zone are low. With the Tinapa debit card, shopping is even more exciting as no cash is required.

Other state governments have also established free trade zones. Several states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, are not left out in the development, as retail outlets are being established in different parts of the country.

The Silverbird Galleria, a huge shopping and entertainment centre, which mounted its first edifice on Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, has also replicated itself bigger in Abuja and working with some state governments to establish in other states. It also replicated itself in Yaba area of Lagos as E-Centre to serve people living in Lagos

• Tinapa

• Ceddi Plaza, Abuja

• City Malls Mainland.

While The Palm’s next location is slated for Enugu, SPAR plans to open more outlets in Abuja, Port Harcourt and Ota in Ogun State.

On the prospects of the malls in Nigeria, The General Manager, Mega Plaza, Mr Uri Sadan expressed optimism about the development of shopping malls, adding: “What matters to us is great service delivery to fulfill optimum satisfaction of our customers”.

General Manager, the Army Shopping Arena, Oshodi-Ikeja, Kobus Steenekamp, stated that, giving the fact that Nigeria is a vast country with great human and material resources, the

development of shopping malls would definitely increase.

Corporate business expert, Prof Pat Utomi, said countries like Indonesia and China were underdeveloped like Nigeria, but over the years, have remained consistent with development, expressing optimism that Nigeria would improve if the right steps are taken.

A brand consultant, Ndudi Osakwe, noted: “The local brands will enjoy the benefit of being introduced in the formal supply chain. They will become more competitive in terms of price and quality. The trickle-down effect will include better packaging and presentation of Made-in-Nigeria products.”

The brand expert foresees more retail chains making their entry into the eyecatching market.

“More foreign investors will come in to compete. Wal Mart is already in Africa, having acquired a South African retail chain, Massmart. They will not be there for a long time before making a foray into Nigeria. More investors and franchises from the US, Europe and South East Asia, especially Singapore, are also likely to locate in Nigeria within the next few years. These enterprises will be encouraged by the success stories of retail chains, such as Shoprite and the unyielding appetite of Nigerians for consumer goods,” Osakwe said.

Green fest at Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall

I

N celebration of the 51st Independence anniversary at the Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall, there will be a Green fest promo, attracting discounts and special offers.

The Mall will be beautifully decorated along with its numerous shops.

The green, white, green national flag will be freely distributed to shoppers by ushers dressed in green and white. Other unique offers are free parking for green cars, freebies for those wearing green.

There will be a party at the food court on the anniversary night.

There will be a Flash Mob, when singing of the National Anthem will be done at noon by Tosyn Bucknor.

Art Exhibitions will also feature. There will be a three-days exhibition from October 1 to 3 featuring live paintings/drawings, sculptures, ceramics, textile design, customisation of clothing.

Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall is set to mark the country’s 51st Independence anniversary in a big way. It plans to woo shoppers through special offers, writes TONIA ‘DIYAN

Kids playing at the mall

• A cross-section of guests at the bar.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

51

SHOPPING

Choosing jewellery box

Shopping Right with

Whither Nigeria?

“W

• Decorative jewellery box.

ITH all the choices – wooden, leather, cabinet, dresser top – choosing the right jewellery box can be quite overwhelming. Here are tips for making your jewellery box shopping a success.

Is the beneficiary male of female?

Are you shopping for a female or male?

It is true that men like jewellery boxes also.

But, mainly, they use their boxes to store spare change to charge their mobile devices.

Women jewellery boxes are used more for traditional jewellery, such as necklaces, rings and bracelets.

Will the person use or need the jewellery box as a stand-alone furnishing or set atop a dresser or bathroom counter or sink?

There are boxes of all shapes and sizes.

Does the person already own a lot of jewellery? This will obviously have an effect on the size of box you will be looking for.

Consider the age of the recipient What is the person’s age? This will have a determining factor on possible style, theme, and overall function of the jewellery box. Depending on the age, you may want to get a box that is timeless or one that is simply going to get them through a certain stage in life. If the person is a little girl, you would want something younger and maybe even themed to what she likes at the moment. This might change, so you may think twice before purchasing something really expensive. That said, often times, parents like to purchase their daughters’ jewellery boxes that may be considered a keepsake and passed down to future generations. If this is the case, you would want to get something considered timeless, which is a difficult task but traditional is your best bet.

W

• Cushion jewellery box.

By Janice Nkoli Ifeme

a counter or desk. The amount of space that someone has available for something like this has to be considered. If you are thinking about a cabinet type, or even a counter top or smaller box, you will still need to think about design and style in the same fashion.

The best way to figure out what type of box they will like is to take a look around at their current furnishing, especially when shopping for girls jewellery boxes.

Are they contemporary or more modern looking? More modern styles may call for leather or something less ornate in design.

If they seem to like antique styles, a more ornate wooden box may be your best bet.

Another great way of getting ideas for types and styles is to allude to things in passing, as you are out looking at furniture or shopping for someone else. Try making a comment on a piece of furniture or something similar to get an idea of what they might enjoy.

It also will help to have an idea of what type of jewellery they already have. Do they have a lot more necklaces than rings or anything else? If so, you may consider Determine the size of box getting them separate products to hold Another thing to consider is how much the different types of jewellery. For exjewellery does the person have already or ample, a simple necklace hanger may do you suspect they would have in the fuwork well for ture. If the person already has hanging in one, what aspects do they like the bathroom or dislike? This can be hard to and a ring gauge but try to make an eduholder for the cated guess, as it will help you counter. Or at determine the size of box. least make There are literally hundreds sure the if not thousands of types jewellery box and styles to choose from so or holder you gathering as much informapurchase has tion as possible will help in enough room your shopping. for the number of neckConsider the type and style laces they You would want to think currently about what type of casehave with would free standing or some room to counter top box best suit their add more in • Transparent jewellery box. needs? Remember that stand the future. alone jewellery boxes are more These can of a cabinet than jewellery box help you deand are viewed more as a piece of furni- termine where to begin looking as you ture than simply a nice ornament on top of start shopping.

E made mistakes during the oil worn out boom, not knowing that was our b e f o r e doom. Some people now have you finish everything while many many have nothing. paying.

But the Why? Let’s save Nigeria, so Nigeria won’t strong die.”

This was a verse in the lyrics of the late song- cars imster, Sunny Okosun, when he made a clarion p o r t e d call through his song to salvage the country those days can still from poverty in the 80s.

Another verse read: “Inefficiency and go com- JANICE NKOLI IFEME indiscipline, nearly run the country down, f o r t a b l y corruption here there and everywhere, infla- as tokunbo after so many years because they tion soaring high?” were made to last, if possible, a life time. But It was as if the birth pangs were just begin- then, many are outdated and no longer apning, as prices of essential commodities be- pealing as a result of the newer models that gan to rise. How true that great music! keep streaming up. To get a very strong car Since independence, the country has liter- these days or anything of good quality you ally been sinking deeper into the mire. would nearly spend a fortune.

In those days, the Naira had a great value.

But 51 years away from independence, when People’s earnings seemed small when com- one would have seen the past visions of a betpared to today, but they were of greater value. ter Nigeria come to fulfillment, alas, it is even During the early days of inflation, things worse. were still better. With the curious eyes of a Then, the late activist and music maestro, child, I can still see queues generated by the Fela Anikulapo Kuti sang that the governBuhari/Idiagbon regime while forcing peo- ment had promised water, light and housing ple to bring down the prices of escalating es- for all by 1990. We also heard about Operasential commodities. tion Feed the Nation. When all did not work I still remember the gala of those days was out, the promise shifted to the almighty Year just 30k with very rich beef to bite. Do you 2000, which seemed so far away. Soon, Year remember can coke? It used to be very thick 2000 was starring us right in the face. and nutritious. People almost went on ramThen, we shifted to Vision 2010. Before the page when the extremely rich 25cl bottle of present administration came on in May, what coca cola was increased from 15k to 20k. A we have been hearing is Vision 20-20-20. It good loaf of nutritious bread was 5k. I also seems more convenient to adjourn the days remember when it moved to 15k, 30k, 45k of better life for the masses. I hope President and even 60k. Could that be true? A child is Goodluck Jonathan would not toe the same wont to ask. line of postponing the better days.

The recent launch of the New Peak Extra In the media interaction marking his 100 Fortified Plus actually got me thinking about years in office, he proposed seven year single the past. In as much as I hold Peak in high term for governors and presidents. While this esteem to be among the greatest quality in appears reasonable, I dare say that he should milk, I must confess that all concern himself the branding and relaunch with meeting the of products of various essential needs Four years is enough for of the helpless companies we have witnessed in recent times, masses. cannot be compared with any leader to leave a legacy.

Let there be the best quality of yester- Let’s stop this vision of postlight and infrayears. structure and I respect Milo and ponement and act now. Mr you would see Bournvita for their recy- President must set the pace the ingenuity cling and all other brandand industrious ing strategies but the bit- for sustainable developspirit of Nigeriter truth is that each time ment. If he runs short of ans reverberate. these things are done, you Objectively, the that, then, he would have can bet the quality has enabling envibeen reduced for a higher gone the ways of other leadronment is lackprice. ing. Provide an At least, let there be ac- ers whose presentation Nienabling envition, nonetheless. What we ronment and geria terribly regrets now have is lesser quality you would see in the name of branding. If the transformayou think I’m speaking tion of Nigeria. fallacy, flash back to yesteryears. See what I Despite the fact that everyone, not only in mean? Can you be a witness? These are just South Africa but all over the world, urged the few examples to engage your memory. Think great Nelson Mandela to go for a second term, of others and send your comment. which he deserved, he chose to run for just Then, power supply was tolerable as peo- one term of four years, setting the pace for the ple opened up industries and almost every- development that has skyrocketed South Afone could produce something to sell. Virtu- rica to the top. That legacy has kept him highly ally everyone had something to do to gener- esteemed as the greatest statesman ever. ate income. Today where are the industries?

Four years is enough for any leader to leave The ‘ice water’ then being sold in nylons a legacy. Let’s stop this vision of postponewas pure and cheap, incomparable with the ment and act now. Mr President must set the impure water sold these days as pure and bot- pace for sustainable development. If he runs tled water. Can you recall the things you short of that, then, he would have gone the bought in those days compared to today? I ways of other leaders whose representation remember my Dad bought a brand new Nigeria terribly regrets. During the IndependPeugeot 504 (pan) for N4000. I remember an- ence anniversary service, he expressed his deother one (brand new) he bought for N7, 500. sire for God to use him to change the country.

Now, imagine the worth of cars?

Hopefully, God would surely not give up on It’s funny when you get a car on hire pur- Nigeria. chase, only to discover that the car is already

Write to us, express your views, observations and experiences. Let’s have your comments about shopping. Your comments, questions and answers will be published first Friday of every month. With your full name and occupation, send e-mail to: janicenkoli@yahoo.com SMS - 08033349992

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

52

SHOPPING MY SHOPPING

H

OW often do you shop?

I shop regularly Where do you go?

It depends on what I am buying. If it is provisions, I go to Edi-chart at Anthony, Lagos. It is like a superstore. It’s a place you can get the best prices around. For food stuff, I go to Mile 12.

What’s your experience at Mile 12, Lagos?

It’s rowdy. It can be crazy, but you have the best prices. I also shop there because it is closer to me.

Is there any particular brand you love?

Oh, several...There are brands we have used in my house for several years- like bathing soaps, milk and many others. But they would have to pay me to mention them.(Laughter) Recall an interesting shopping experience For me, shopping is always interesting.

I actually enjoy it. It’s an adventure.

What excites you while shopping?

I am an impulsive buyer. One can never know what one can find. When I find something beautiful at a bargain price, especially if you run into major sales, it excites me a lot. For instance, there was this bag I saw sometime ago at a particular shop. When I went back to the shop, I got it at a quarter of the price. That excites me.

Talk about an annoying experience

‘Shopping is an adventure’ • Mrs Iretiola Doyle, actress, broadcaster presenter

By Janice Nkoli Ifeme and Bukky Akinjole

It’s annoying when you walk into a shop and you do not get good service. I believe that every customer should be treated with respect.

For example?

I had seen a dress I liked in a shop. It used to be one of my favourite shops for clothes. I had paid part of the money on agreement to pay up and pick it on a later date. A week later, I sent somebody to go get it only to hear that it had been sold.

When I asked for a refund, the sales girl had the temerity to tell me that I should buy something else. Of course I insisted on getting my money back.

Would you say you are prudent?

Not as prudent that I will like to be but am working hard on it. The bigger your family grows, the more careful you are with cash.

Nigeria is 51. How will you assess the market trend?

It is a global village. It is growing. At

least, the privately owned shops now carry out sales.

How do you see the development of shopping malls in Nigeria?

They are better now, which means we have a wider variety and no longer held to ransom. The more, the merrier.

One piece of shopping advice Make sure you like it- look at it again. If I spend so much time thinking about it, I won’t like to buy it. Make sure you love it and it satisfies you so that you do not develop buyer’s remorse.

• Omisore

• Mrs Doyle

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

53

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

54

EQUITIES

Union Bank closes register for N10bn rights issue

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 29-09-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES AGRICULTURE/AGRO-ALLIED Company Name LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) 1 0.50 1 7.05 2

Quantity Traded 2,000 995 2,995

Value of Shares (N) 1,000.00 6,785.90 7,785.90

Quantity Traded 4,000 903,858 907,858

Value of Shares (N) 7,840.00 4,989,713.06 4,997,553.06

Quantity Traded 241,680 241,680

Value of Shares (N) 340,753.80 340,753.80

Quantity Traded 20,793,613 22,791,757 45,066 4,496,942 683,419 11,754,026 10,264,653 428,972 6,351,941 1,548,328 18,553,311 1,908,044 206,297 773,380 12,398,747 112,998,496

Value of Shares (N) 111,519,707.17 74,540,837.42 104,545.50 18,197,734.86 1,380,780.20 109,913,287.87 127,784,811.82 3,788,260.10 31,671,569.50 1,729,502.85 66,686,821.66 3,987,811.96 156,785.72 519,781.46 150,678,803.02 702,661,041.11

Quantity Traded 183,345 609,178 792,523

Value of Shares (N) 38,119,779.60 47,935,612.71 86,055,392.31

Quantity Traded 2,156,310 1,900 2,209 241,651 2,402,070

Value of Shares (N) 34,773,911.26 13,186.00 212,542.40 9,653,376.00 44,653,015.66

Quantity Traded 1,970,377 23,500 1,993,877

Value of Shares (N) 33,731,633.80 20,915.00 33,752,548.80

Quantity Traded 66,300 66,300

Value of Shares (N) 159,774.00 159,774.00

AIR SERVICES Company Name AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COM PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) 2 1.95 51 5.60 53

AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) 10 1.41 10

Company Name ACCESS BANK PLC DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC GTBANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC SKYE BANK PLC. STERLING BANK PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC UNITYBANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC ZENITH BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 104 95 10 43 47 470 424 21 113 12 233 74 4 20 189 1,859

Company Name GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) 64 217.95 144 76.18 208

BANKING Quotation(N) 5.39 3.55 2.41 4.06 2.02 9.36 12.65 9.03 5.11 1.20 3.69 2.09 0.76 0.68 12.40

BREWERIES

BUILDING MATERIALS Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 45 4 13 37 99

Quotation(N) 16.00 7.30 99.75 40.00

CHEMICAL & PAINTS Company Name CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PL Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) 50 17.00 5 0.93 55

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) 3 2.30 3 CONGLOMERATES

PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIG PL UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

28 16 42 35 121

ARBICO PLC JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC ROADS NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

1 12 1 14

30.02 0.72 33.46 27.50

224,667 5,866,397 205,801 171,347 6,468,212

6,745,676.86 4,223,805.84 6,898,008.40 4,707,326.65 22,574,817.75

13,431 210,919 21,000 245,350

331,745.70 9,947,021.70 102,480.00 10,381,247.40

CONSTRUCTION 26.00 47.16 4.65

U

NION Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc would close the register of members for the proposed rights issue today, implying that only shareholders in the company’s book as at the close of business today would be pre-allotted shares in the rights issue.

The management of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday confirmed receipt of notification for the qualification date for the rights issue.

UBN plans to issue about 1.41 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N6.81 per share in the ratio of five new ordinary shares for every nine ordinary shares held as at the September 30, 2011.

As part of the recapitalisation plan scheduled for consideration at the extra-ordinary general meeting of the bank in Abuja, today, Union Bank’s shareholders would receive three new shares for every 16 shares held and would subsequently be offered additional rights, which altogether would push their total shareholdings to 21.5 per cent in the fully recapitalised Union Bank.

Meanwhile, Pinnacle Point Group Plc, a company with cross-border listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), South Africa, has requested for immediate placement of its shares on suspension as it

• Pinnacle Point winds up

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

pursues a winding up process in a South African court.

While the notice of motion was received by the company on Monday, September 26, shareholders have been advised that provisional liquidation has been granted on Tuesday, September 27.

According to the notice of motion, the company sought to convert its business rescue proceedings to liquidation proceedings while placing it under a final winding-up order at the hands of the Master of the High Court of the Western Cape, Cape Town.

The company alternatively sought to be placed under a provisional winding-up order at the hands of the Master of the High Court of Western Cape, Cape Town.

Pinnacle Point’s share price at NSE stood at N7.28 and was last traded on June 24, 2009.

On a positive note, the Nigerian stock market for the second consecutive day remained on the uptrend with the All Share Index (ASI) inching up to 20,145.24 points as against 20,029.66 points. Aggregate market capitalisation of all equities rose from N6.387 trillion to

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 29-09-11 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. INTL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC Sector Totals

6 5 4 1 1 1 2 12 1 54

Company Name C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) 1 0.90 1

1 1

2.10

Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) 39 0.79 39

No of Deals 11 20 110 78 65 5 1 16 54 5 365

Quotation(N) 47.00 13.91 6.49 6.99 62.56 3.10 1.62 4.50 401.00 22.61

12,663.00 12,663.00

Quantity Traded 252,454 62,707 2,181,348 2,838,394 403,468 35,000 200 153,926 307,736 10,000 6,245,233

Value of Shares (N) 11,869,438.85 879,746.89 14,002,011.90 19,913,429.54 25,241,288.08 104,000.00 308.00 679,563.48 123,395,387.86 214,800.00 196,299,974.60

HEALTHCARE EVANS MEDICALPLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Sector Totals

43 6 5 27 14 95

0.90 1.16 27.00 3.05 0.95

17 17

2.15

1,030,107 137,650 11,504 412,531 58,880 1,650,672

967,515.30 159,674.00 314,457.02 1,258,595.64 53,598.00 2,753,839.96

1,270,800 1,270,800

2,732,220.00 2,732,220.00

No of Deals Quotation(N) 1 38.51 8 5.70 9

Quantity Traded 1,000 27,446 28,446

Value of Shares (N) 36,590.00 157,069.94 193,659.94

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY CHAMS PLC STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

2 3 5

0.50 0.50

145,200 74,000 219,200

72,600.00 37,000.00 109,600.00

INSURANCE Company Name AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC

No of Deals Quotation(N) 20 0.60 1 1.03

Quantity Traded 5,000 5,000

Value of Shares (N) 4,300.00 4,300.00

Quantity Traded 2,803,722 2,803,722

Value of Shares (N) 2,213,181.58 2,213,181.58

No of Deals Quotation(N) 1 0.50 1

Quantity Traded 4,717 4,717

Value of Shares (N) 2,358.50 2,358.50

PACKAGING NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COM PLC 18 GREIF NIGERIA PLC 1 Sector Totals 19

1.68 13.97

227,500 155 227,655

381,212.00 2,058.40 383,270.40

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) Company Name MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC FORTE OIL PLC MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 16 24 13 170 19 244

Quotation(N) 63.86 34.36 10.44 148.00 21.93 200.00

Quantity Traded 500 19,948 356,594 4,243 1,441,688 299,801 2,122,774

Value of Shares (N) 30,335.00 676,776.30 3,723,899.94 596,604.80 30,540,940.05 58,644,582.08 94,213,138.17

PRINTING & PUBLISHING

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

131,362.48 12,524,069.50 1,215,434.41 2,358.50 1,205,555.50 2,358.50 52,500.00 1,588,000.00 1,427.00 18,549,961.85

MORTGAGE COMPANIES Company Name ASO SAVINGS AND LOAND PLC Sector Totals

HOTEL & TOURISM IKEJA HOTEL PLC Sector Totals

55,014 25,048,139 1,227,459 4,717 2,411,111 4,717 105,000 3,176,000 2,854 35,075,324

MARITIME 6,300 6,300

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO Company Name 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC NORTHERN NIGERIA FLOUR MILLS PLC Sector Totals

2.30 0.50 0.99 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 LEASING

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY CUTIX PLC Sector Totals

N6.424 trillion.

The bullish rally at the market also became more pervasive with all the key subgroups on the upward movement, with the exception of insurance sector.

Market price movement was strengthened with league of advanced stocks recording improved numbers of 25 compared to 23 posted on Thursday while declined ones dropped to 16 from previous high of 25.

Turnover however, dropped to 177.26 million valued at N1.24 billion in 3,370 deals as against 275.73 million shares worth N2.25 billion exchanged in 4,159 deals recorded in previous trading session.

Goldlink Insurance was the most active stock with 25.52 million shares valued at N12.52 million in five deals. Other equities that recorded significant volumes yesterday were Diamond Bank, Access Bank, UBA and Zenith Bank.

Nigerian Bag Manufacturing Company topped the advancing stocks with maximum five per cent price appreciation to close at N1.68. GT Bank, UNTL, First Bank and FCMB were other major gainers.

UACN, Flour Mills and Julius Berger led the decliners with maximum five per cent value dips.

Other top losers included Forte Oil and Fidson Healthcare.

Quantity Traded 3,040,180 133

Value of Shares (N) 1,826,752.32 143.64

LONGMAN NIGERIA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

4 11 15

UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

25 25

UNITED NIGERIAN TEXTILES PLC Sector Totals

2 2

4.79 3.81

120,000 186,294 306,294

571,000.00 712,404.54 1,283,404.54

347,122 347,122

4,321,788.80 4,321,788.80

REAL ESTATE 12.20 TEXTILES 0.85

51,200 51,200

43,520.00 43,520.00

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name No of Deals Quotation(N) ECOBNK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED 49 12.00 Sector Totals 49

Quantity Traded 769,268 769,268

Overall Totals

177,253,088

3,365

Value of Shares (N) 8,874,599.44 8,874,599.44 1,237,575,410.57

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

55

MONEY LINK

Fed Govt approves concessionary exchange rate for pilgrims

T

HE Federal Government has approved for intending 2011 Hajj pilgrims, a concessionary exchange rate of N135 to the United States’ dollar.

The Personal Traveling Allowance (PTA) must be between $750 and $1,000.

The approval stipulates that for pilgrims buying Saudi Riyal Travelers Cheques (SRTCs) above the $1,000, the difference would be bought at the prevailing naira exchange rate to the dollar, on the day of the purchase.

Also, each of the 89,000 pilgrims selected from the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the Armed Forces

charge commissions from the sale of SRTCs to the intending pilgrims.

The apex bank also commenced the issuance of SRTCs to the designated banks yesterday at the CBN branches in Lagos and Abuja. Accounts of the respective banks will be debited as soon as the funds are disbursed.

Besides, each designated bank is required to sell to the CBN, the unutilised SRTCs not later than two weeks from the date of the last inward flight to Nigeria from Jedda, Saudi Arabia upon reconciliation of the transactions with the CBN and the accounts of the banks shall be credited promptly.

• 13 banks to handle PTAs

By Collins Nweze

is entitled to purchase SRTCs equivalent of a minimum of $750 and a maximum of $1,500 as PTA. A circular addressed to all authorised dealers and the general public by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Deputy Director, Trade & Exchange W.D Gotring, said: “The Federal Government has approved for intending pilgrims a concessionary exchange rate of N135 to the dollar for amount of PTA between $750 and $1,000. For pilgrims buying SRTC above the $1,000, the dif-

ference shall be bought at the prevailing naira exchange rate to the dollar, on the day of the purchase”.

The CBN has also appointed 13 banks to handle the exercise in the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT. The banks are Union Bank, Zenith Bank, United Bank for Africa, Fidelity Bank, FinBank and Unity Bank. Others are Mainstreet Bank, Oceanic Bank, Sterling Bank, Skye Bank and First City Monument Bank. Also on the list are FirstBank and Diamond Bank. The apex bank explained that the banks assigned for the exercise will not

MoneyGram strengthens commitment to education

University Press pays N144m dividends

T

HE board of University Press (UP) Plc has assured all stake holders that it has put in place measures to sustain the stable growth trend of the company just as shareholders approved the distribution of N144 million cash dividends.

At the annual general meeting (AGM) of the company in Ibadan yesterday, chairman, University Press (UP) Plc, Dr. Lekan Are, said irrespective of the operating challenges, the company has ability to continue to deliver superior value to all stakeholders.

He said the company has the resources and capabilities to tap into the emerging opportunities in the economy and translate these into higher returns to shareholders.

According to him, the current year looks very promising in view of the plans, programmes and development projects of the government.

He said the Nigerian economy would likely continue to grow with improved capital expenditure, which would translate into a more conducive enabling environment for all manufacturers.

By Taofik Salako

“We are therefore optimistic that with all the resources that we have on ground; dedicated and enterprising workforce; latest information technology and communication network; unparalleled distribution network facilities; high quality books for all categories of people; and effective cost control mechanism, your company is fully ready to unlock its potential to accomplish greater market penetration in the months ahead,” Are said.

He noted that going by early signs in the new financial year, there is every indication that the company would record improved performance this year. He said the marginal decline in the performance of the company in the immediate past year reflected the general slowdown in the economy due to electioneering activities pointing out that the performance of the company was comparatively better when viewed in the light of the economic challenges.

He said the company invested N204 million to acquire fixed assets in the

immediate past year to further strengthen its operations and position it ahead of competition.

He commended the staff of the company for their dedication to work describing the workforce as the company’s best asset and pivot for its growth.

Shareholders of the printing and publishing company meanwhile approved distribution of N143.80 million as cash dividends for the year ended March 31, 2011, representing a dividend per share of 35 kobo.

Audited report and accounts of UP showed a turnover of N1.87 billion in 2011 as against N1.92 billion in 2010.

Gross profit stood at N1.02 billion compared with N1.08 billion while trading profit dropped from N398.1 million to N289.14 million. Profit before tax stood at N326.63 million as against N410.37 million while profit after tax stood at N211.38 million compared with N276.82 million.

Meanwhile, total assets rose from N2.02 billion to N2.41 billion. Shareholders’ funds also rose from N1.26 billion to N1.77 billion.

M

ONEYGRAM has made good its promise to reach out to more primary schools in Nigeria with its commitment to education sector in the country. The company on recently donated notebooks to Oguola Primary School, Iyabosa Primary School, Ogbe Primary School, and Ebenezer Primary School, all based in Benin City, capital of Edo State.

Speaking at the book donation in Benin, Feyikemi Adebayo, MoneyGram regional director for Anglophone West Africa; described the gesture as fulfilment of MoneyGram’s pledge to take its commitment to development of the education sector to the length and breadth of the country; assuring that many more schools will still benefit from the scheme. According to Adebayo, MoneyGram has unalloyed commitment to education development in Nigeria, as it believes that the sector plays a very important role in nation building process through provision of human resource for other industries

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

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 29-9-11 SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

BAGCO GUARANTY UNTL FIRSTBANK FCMB IKEJAHOTEL ACCESS DANGFLOUR UBA WEMABANK OANDO RTBRISCOE

1.60 12.05 0.81 8.92 3.87 2.05 5.14 6.19 3.52 0.65 20.99 1.35

1.68 12.65 0.85 9.36 4.06 2.15 5.39 6.49 3.69 0.68 21.93 1.41

0.08 0.60 0.04 0.44 0.19 0.10 0.25 0.30 0.17 0.03 0.94 0.06

LOSER AS AT 29-9-11 SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

UACN FLOURMILL JBERGER FO FIDSON DANGSUGAR CAP TRANSCORP NB UAC-PROP AIICO

35.22 65.85 49.64 10.98 1.22 7.35 17.85 0.75 79.00 12.65 0.61

33.46 62.56 47.16 10.44 1.16 6.99 17.00 0.72 76.18 12.20 0.60

Amount

Exchange

Sold ($)

Rate (N)

Date

450m

452.7m

450m

150.8

08-8-11

250m

313.5m

250m

150.8

03-8-11

400m

443m

400m

150.7

01-8-11

EXHANGE RATE 26-08-11 Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD

147.6000

149.7100

150.7100

-2.11

NGN GBP

239.4810

244.0123

245.6422

-2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

(S/N) Bureau de Change 152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX NSE CAP Index

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N)

Parallel Market

28-09-11 N6.387tr 20,029.66

29-09-11 N6.424tr 20,145.24

% Change -0.589% -0.58%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

(S/N) CHANGE

Amount

Offered ($) Demanded ($)

MANAGED FUNDS

OBB Rate Call Rate

of the aggregate economy.

The book donation in Benin came barely a week after MoneyGram and its agent banks rolled out drums in road show in the ancient city of Ibadan, Oyo State to support its ongoing consumer promo, “Gear Up for School”.

The international money transfer company complemented the road show in Ibadan with donation of 1000 notebooks each to three primary schools. The schools are: People’s Primary School, Iyana Ade-Oyo, Ring Road; Ibadan Municipal Government (IMG) Primary School, Barrack Okebola; and Ebenezer Primary School, Salvation Army. MoneyGram then disclosed that the book donation was just the beginning as more schools in other Nigerian cities will benefit from the gesture.

Adebayo said the need to boost access to quality education in this part of the world cannot be over emphasized; stressing that this necessitated the MoneyGram’s resolve to make a positive difference in the various tiers of education in Nigeria.

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

•Finance Minister, Ngozi OkonjoIweala

153.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Aug ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.75%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 9.4%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 117.83 107.46 0.79 1.02 0.96 1,628.78 8.70 1.39 1.87 7,730.72 193.00

9.08 1.00 117.53 107.10 0.76 1.02 0.95 1,625.40 8.28 1.33 1.80 7,487.67 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED

CHANGE

1.76 3.29 2.48 0.54 0.06 0.36 0.85 0.03 2.82 0.45 0.01

• STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 24 Aug, 2011 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 26, Aug, 2011 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 July, 2011

07, Aug, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

56

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

57

NEWS

M

Igbo Day: Police arrest 100 MASSOB members

ORE than 100 members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) were yesterday arrested by the Special Anti- Robbery Squad over an alleged plot to disrupt the grand finale of the Igbo Day celebration at the Abakaliki Township Stadium in Ebonyi State.

They were arrested as they were trying to enter the venue of the programme. They were taken to the police headquarters in Abakaliki for interrogation.

Some of those arrested were dressed in MASSOB security uniforms. Others displayed MASSOB flags, emblem, stickers, almanacs and other items.

Police spokeman John Eluu confirmed the incident, saying the members were trying to enter the venue of the event. He added that there was a report that the group might disrupt the programme.

“Yes, some of them were arrested while trying to enter the Abakaliki Township Stadium where all the Igbo leaders converged for the grand finale of the Igbo Day celebration,” Eluu said.

“There was fear that the

Security strenghtened in Onitsha From Adimike George, Onitsha

A

COMBINED team of police and soldiers yesterday stepped up surveillance in Onitsha,Anambra State.

Residents of the city woke up to observe the joint operation of about 15 patrol vans carrying soldiers and policemen.

For several hours, the team patrolled major streets in the city. But unconfirmed report said the team was after the members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), who were allegedly going round the city with Biafra flags and singing Biafra songs in preparation for the World Igbo Day celebration yesterday at Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital.

But the Onitsha Police Area Commander, larry Osita, said the patrol was a routine exercise.

He said it was part of police strategy of combating crime in the city, adding that the command should be repositioned to ensure security of life and property.

Osita, who said crime has reduced in the area, urged residents to volunteer useful information to the police. group might disrupt the peace and security of the place, so the police had to arrest them to secure life and property”.

Eluu said the arrested MASSOB members were released shortly after the function, adding that the Police Commissioner Adeniyi Adeola, ordered their release.

MASSOB’s Director of Re-

Delta hosts Anglican bishops THE Cathedral Church of Christ in Ndokwa Local Government of Delta State will host the next Conference of the Anglican Bishops in Bendel Ecclesiastical Province from October 3 to 4.

The Archbishop of the province and Bishop of Esan Diocese, Rev F.J. Imaekhai, is expected to declare the conference open. The theme of the conference is: “Stewards of Divine Mysteries.”

The provincial spokesman Rufus Isaac said delegates are expected at Obiarukwu on October 3, for the preliminary session.

An action plan for the development of the provincial activities will be deliberated upon on October 4.

• Rev. Imaekhai

This is to inform the general public that the original Lagos State Certificate of Occupancy dated 24th December 1991 and registered as No. 65/65/1991AW in respect of the property situate lying and being at Plot 4, Block A7, Lekki Peninsula Residential Scheme 1, Lagos belonging to Modupe Abiodun Areola of 13, Bishop Kale Close, Victoria Island, Lagos is missing.

Members of the public, Financial Institutions and the Land Registry, Lagos to take note.

Mrs. Modupe Abiodun Areola

Three held for alleged govt vehicle theft

Alumni hold convention THE national convention of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Muslim Alumni (MAPAMA) will hold tomorrow and Saturday September at the Islamic Mission for Africa (IMA),IsaleApata, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

In a statement issued by MAPAMA National President, Abdul Fatai Ayoola, the 10th anniversary of the association will also be celebrated during the convention.

He said the event would be chaired by the Managing Director of Media Trust Limited, Alhaji Isiaq Ajibola. Prof Sherifdeen Tella. The former Vice- Chancellor of Crescent University is expected to present a paper at the convention. Chairman, Board of Trustees, Waheed Kadiri will be the chief host.

ligious Affairs Bishop Chinedu Okeke said the group was at the Abakaliki Township to represent its leade, Chief Ralph Uwazurike.

He said: “We are here to represent Chief Uwazurike for the Igbo Day celebration.

But to our greatest surprise, we got information that our members were arrested and we had to go to Governor

Martin Elechi immediately.

Thank God, he ordered that they should be released. We went to the state police commissioner and found that over 100 members of our group had been arrested.

“Although we have information that some people are still being held, we will ensure that they are released since the governor had already given the directive for their release.

“The struggle for the actualisation of the sovereign state of Biafra will still continue. It is a non-violent movement. We believe that someday Biafra would be actualised. The President recognises that MASSOB is a nonviolent movement.

“It is unfortunate that anytime the police see the members of MASSOB, they would want to exhibit all their powers. I don’t think it is proper.”

MASSOB Director of Information Uchenna Madu said four members of the group were rushed to the hospital following the beating they received from policemen and urged government to call the police to order.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

• Obi

T

HREE persons have been arrested by the Anambra State Police command for allegedly stealing a bus belonging to the state government.

The suspects were arrested yesterday by the Criminal Investigation Department team led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mike

Okoli.

The suspects are Emeka Chinwuko, Chidi Onyia and Chukwuma Paul Nworah.

About two weeks ago, the suspects allegedly invaded the home of Davidson Nwafor, a driver with the state government, and ordered him to produce the key to the vehiclewith registration number AN 443-EOI. The suspects allegedly took the vehicle to Lagos.

Police Investigators, led by Emmanuel Igwe and Inspector Lambert Okeke, arrested the suspects in Apapa,Lagos.

Anambra State Police Commissioner Muhtari Ibrahim yesterday paraded the suspects at the police headquarters in Amawbia.

Commissioner for Special Duties Robert Okonkwo whose driver lost the vehicle to the suspects, hailed the police.

He said the police had rescued the driver, adding that the suspects would be prosecuted.

Okonkwo said: “We have done our job, what remains now is to charge them to court. We cannot continue living in fear because of a few individuals in the society, the law must take its course.”

The suspects said they committed the crime as a result of economic hardship.

One of them, Onyia, said he wanted to raise N96, 000 to offset the hospital bill of his wife.

PUBLIC NOTICE SCRAP DEALERS ASSOCIATION,OGUN STATE This is to inform the general public that the above named Non Governmental Organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.LUKUMON ONIFADE. -CHAIRMAN 2. DAPO BALOGUN. -VICE CHAIRMAN. 3. BOLAJI GANIYU. -GENERALSECRETARY. 4. PRINCE KAMORU OGUNNOWO -TREASURER 5. MRS KOFO ODUNGUNWA. FINANCIAL -SECRETARY 6. TAIWO ABDUL LATEEF. -P.R.O. 7. MORUF KELANI ADEOYE. -CHIEF WHIP. 8. ALANI OGUNDEYI. -ADVISER. 9. MRS ADETOUN OLUWAKEMI OSINYELU. -SOCIAL SECRETARY.

Five- storey building collapses in Onitsha

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO PROMOTE SOCIO-ECONOMIC INTEREST OF MEMBERS. 2. TO CARE AND CATER FOR THE WELFARE OF MEMBERS WHERE THE NEED ARISE

A

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

BOUT 20 persons yesterday escaped death when a five- storey building collapsed at Nkpor, Anambra State. Property worth millions of Naira were reportedly destroyed.

According to tenants, the 10-year-old building on 27 Olukwu Road has been giving signs threatening to collapse since two weeks ago when cracks began to develop on various parts, sending down debris of sands and dry cement.

Eyewitnesses said the caretaker, Mama Chichi, allegedly disappeared as soon as the building collapsed.

From Adimike George, Onitsha

According to them, the landlord is resident abroad.

The tenants said the landlord had advised the tenants to vacate the building.

Chinwe Ugwuota and Eucheria Okon (tenants) said the landlord was worried that the building would collapse.

Divisional Crime Officer in the area confirmed the incident.

Police spokesman, Emeka Chukwuemeka, also confirmed the incident. He said there was no casualty.

50 suspected kidnappers held

T

HE Imo State government has arrested 50 suspected kidnappers, the Special Adviser to Governor Rochas Okorocha on Media Ebere Uzoukwa, has said.

In his determination to strengthen security in the state, Okorocha would tomorrow launch the state security outfit, “Operation Rescue Imo Community Policy.”

In a statement signed by Uzoukwa, the occasion will hold at the Dan Anyiam Stadium by 10am tomorrow.

According to the statement, about 100 branded security

From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

vans will be officially handed over to the joint security outfit.

The statement added that the the public will for the first time hear directly from the suspects their involvement in the crime.

Uzoukwa said the governor would address Imo citizens on the state of security in the state.

He urged the public to attend the event as part of the deliberate policy of government to take security to the grassroots.

Funeral tomorrow THE final burial ceremony of Alhaja Sidikat Odunsi-Eshilokun comes up at CMS Primary School,Ilaje, Bariga ,Lagos, on October 1.

Signed: O. A. SODEINDE ESQ

PUBLIC NOTICE HIS PASSION OF LOVE MINISTRY This is to inform the general public that the above named church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for the registration under part “C’’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Pastor Love Obua 2. Elder Aaron Obua 3. Mrs. Rose Idoko

4.

5.

6.

Mrs. Chinwe Umerie Pastor Emeka Chigbo Elder Dan Nwogbo.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To spread the gospel of our Lord Jesus to all nations.

2. To assist in total evangelism programme of God’s word.

3. To help in mission support and all works of God. 4. To fully take care of the spiritual growth of all Christians.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar- General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Elder Dan. Nwogbo, 08035993222. danwogbopartners@yahoo.com

• The late Madam Eshilokun

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

58

NEWS Five pupils crushed to death in Rivers

F

IVE primary school pupils and a commercial motorcycle rider were yesterday crushed to death in Nonwa, Tai Local Government of Rivers State.

It was learnt that at 1:10 pm, a Toyota Hilux van, rammed into the motorcycle, which was carrying the pupils at Gbam Junction, some six minutes drive from Nonwa, killing them instantly.

The remains of the victims were taken to Last Home

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

Mortuary, near Trailer Park in Ebubu-Eleme, Eleme Local Government.

Operatives of the Joint Task Force took over the scene of the incident as youths were mobilising for a showdown.

Police spokesman Ben Ugwuegbulam said he was still expecting details from Nonwa’s Divisional Police Officer (DPO).

Kidnapped Filipino, six others rescued From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

A

FILIPINO, Ionescu Adrian, and six other kidnapped officials of the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) were yesterday rescued in a joint security operation in Rivers State.

A combined team of the 2nd Brigade, Nigerian Army’s AntiKidnap Unit (AKU), the police and the State Security Service (SSS) participated in the mission.

Rescued with Adrian was Popoola, both workers of SEWA Limited in Port Harcourt. They were kidnapped around 8:30 pm on Wednesday.

Also rescued were Anengi Barasua, Sima Halliday and three others, who were kidnapped around 8:30 pm on Tuesday.

The NIPP officials were rescued around Elele, Ikwerre Local Government. Two suspects were arrested.

It was gathered that around 11 am yesterday, the victims were rescued from kidnappers operating on Elele-Port Harcourt Road.

The Public Relations Officer of 2nd Brigade, Port Harcourt, Major Aminu Iliyasu, and the police spokesman, Ben Ugwuegbulam, confirmed the incident.

The victims’ vehicles: a Volkswagen Vento saloon car and a Toyota Prado Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), as well as a locallymade pistol and a double-barrel gun, were recovered.

Ugwuegbulam said the victims were in good health.

Midnight fire razes building in Delta

G

OODS worth millions of naira were yesterday destroyed in a midnight fire which gutted a commercial building close to Ogbe-Ogonogo Modern Market in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

It was learnt that the fire, which started at about 12.30am, completely destroyed the building.

At the scene were charred remains of books, electrical and electronic materials, cooking utensils and other items.

A

From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Ughelli

Performing the coronation, which was attended by descendants and friends of the kingdom, the ‘Otota’ (spokesman) of the Kingdom, Emuefe Igberedjor, said the ceremony was in line with the customs and tradition of the people.

Igberedjor urged all sons and daughters of the kingdom to attend the formal ceremony slated for October 8.

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

Smoke was still billowing as scores of sympathisers gathered to lament the loss.

One of the distraught store owners declined to comment.

A cobbler, Chico Lasisi, whose shop was partially razed, said he received a call at about 12.30am, informing him about the fire.

He said he rushed to the

scene to assist fire fighters.

Lasisi praised the firemen for their prompt response to the distressed call.

His words: “I carried the pump to that place to put out the fire.

“That thing is very heavy.

My shirt got torn in the process.

“I thank the fighters; they really tried. If not for them the fire would have spread to

T

HERE was tension yesterday at the Egor Magistrate’s Court in Benin, Edo State, as supporters of former Chairman of the Committee on Demolition of Illegal Structure and Obstruction, Major Lawrence Loye, waited five hours for ruling on the bail application filed by his counsel, Austin Osarenkhoe Loye was arrested on the orders of Governor Adams Oshiomhole and arraigned on a six-count charge of illegal demolition of buildings, especially that of Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia.

In the six-count charge, the former task force chair, with

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

others at large, were alleged to have conspired to commit a misdemeanor of malicious damage, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code.

Loye was accused to have unlawfully and maliciously damaged a building, property of Ogbemudia, an offence punishable under Section 451 of the Criminal Code, cap 48, Vol.11, laws of the defunct Bendel State (1976) as applicable to Edo State.

A youth group led a peaceful protest to the court premises, calling for his release.

The protesters’ leader, Okuomose Eboigbe, said the former task force chair was performing his official duties and that the arrest was politically motivated.

A former Army Provost Marshal, Gen Idada Ikpomwen, led 10 other lawyers to defend Loye. The police prosecution counsel, T.O.B. Okei, told the court that the state has written to take over prosecution.

Ruling on the bail application, Magistrate Steven Omonua said the offence was a misdemeanor and the issues raised by the prosecution were not sufficient to deny the accused bail.

A

MNESTY officials yesterday met in Arogbo, Ondo State.

The meeting, attended by top amnesty officials from nine states, was held against the backdrop of the threat by a faction of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to bomb the venue of tomorrow’s independence anniversary celebration in Abuja.

It was gathered that the

From Shola O’Neil, Warri

Arogbo meeting was attended by some ex-militants, activists and stakeholders.

Yesterday’s meeting was preceded by another at the home of a leader of the Federated Niger Delta Ijaw Communities and Commander of the Delta Amnesty camp, Chief Dan Ekpebide, in Warri, Delta State.

The Warri meeting was

part of events to honour the Presidential Adviser on Amnesty, Kingsley Kuku.

It was attended by Provost, Amnesty Headquarters Lt. Col. Frank Lelei (rtd); Director of Amnesty Records, Abuja Lt. Col. Larry Perkins; Amnesty Camp Commandant Fred Anesah; Head of Documentation, Amnesty Camp, Obubra, Cross River State Beggi Erepade; T.K. Ogoriba; actress Hilda Doku-

A

CHIEFTAIN of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Edo State, Chief Osamudiamen Obamwonyi, yesterday chided some politicians for their use of language.

He said: “We must look at the language of politicians and find how we can refine it. Such language as ‘do-or-die’; ‘we will capture’; ‘I have not decided on my successor’ are incompatible with democracy.”

In a statement in Benin, Obamwonyi said:“Chief Tony Anenih must refrain from his undemocratic statements of “capturing Edo State” from the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria to “reclaiming the state”.

“For me, godfatherism is incompatible with democracy and who emerges the candidate of a party and how he emerged is important. We must spend some time on intra-party democracy. In a genuine democracy, party members decide who emerge the candidate and not factional leaders.

Akpabio calls for restructuring of NDDC

A

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public that the Deed of Assignment with title number 22/22/2093 belonging to Mr. Samuels Nnamdi Chionuma of No. 1, Alhaja Kudirat Lawal Close, lekki, Lagos, got lost in transit and all effort to trace it proved abortive.

If found please contact the above address or the nearest police station.

PUBLIC NOTICE ANUMUDU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ANUMUDU GLORIA CHINONYE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. NWAFOR GLORIA CHINONYE. All former documents remain valid. ESUT, NYSC and general public take note.

briefing on the state’s 24th anniversary.

He said the reorganisation was necessary so that it does not remain a drain pipe, where the nation would continue to waste money.

The governor said the NDDC’s modus operandi cannot bring development to the Niger Delta.

Akpabio said: “If the NDDC was set up as a task force to intervene and fix the deplorable condition of infrastructure, then there would be no need for the NDDC budget to get to the National Assembly.

“The NDDC should be made to focus on infrastructural development that can turn the region around.

“States should monitor the NDDC’s projects because the present arrangement does not serve the region’s needs,” he said.

•Loye

He granted him bail on N100, 000 and a surety in like sum who will be resident in Benin.

He adjourned the case till November 14.

Stakeholders meet over MEND’s threat

ACN Chieftain hails Oshiomhole

KWA Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio has called for the restructuring of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to attract meaningful development to the region.

Akpabio spoke in Uyo at a

other stores, including my own.”

Although the cause of the inferno could not be established, the landlord, Victor Wariso, suspected it to be the handiwork of arsonists.

“You can see the remains of a tyre still burning. They might have put the tyres together and started the fire from here.”

Wariso said he has reported the matter to the police and urged the security agency to carry out a thorough investigation.

Court grants ex-Task Force chair bail

Community gets monarch NEW monarch has been installed in Uwheru community, Ughelli North Local Government of Delta State.

Agboavwe Afugbeya Oyise 11 was installed as the Odion of Uwheru kingdom, following the dethronement of the former monarch, Clifford Omoyibo Adade, by Warri High Court II. Adade was removed on July 26 after 22 years of litigation over the kingship.

•Goods, property destroyed

•Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Isa Sali (left) and his predecessor, Prof. Oladapo Afolabi, at the hand-over ceremony in Abuja …yesterday

bo and camp coordinators.

Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Perkins warned that the amnesty period was over, stressing that anybody caught ‘misbehaving’ in the region would be treated as a criminal.

He described the amnesty programme as a huge success.

“We have our initial challenges of security and environment but I think it has been a huge success.

“Before the amnesty was declared, oil production got as low as 700,000 barrels a day and the economy was crumbling.

“But today, it has increased to 2.5million barrels per day and I think the amnesty programme has been a tremendous success.”

Lelei said the amnesty has rehabilitated 20,192 registered ex-warlords, most of who are being trained outside Nigeria.

The stakeholders advised ex-militants protesting nonpayment of their stipends to channel their grievance through the Amnesty Office instead of resorting to violence.

They also promised to work against resurgence of militancy in the region .

Enugu summons IMT over withdrawal of accreditation

E

NUGU State Commissioner for Education Simon Otuanya has summoned authorities of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, to explain the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal of its accreditation.

Reacting to the development in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Enugu, Otuanya said the government was yet to be briefed on the issue.

“I have invited the authorities of IMT to explain to the

government what happened. I want to be properly briefed before talking to the press.’’

IMT’s Public Relations Officer Ifeanyi Ojobo berated the press for publishing the withdrawal without authenticating the story with the institution.

According to him, the media had already written what it wanted to write so he had nothing to react to.

Ojobo, however, said the Rector, Dr Edwin Onyeneje, was out of town and could not be reached.

Some of the students who

spoke to NAN expressed shock over the removal of the accreditation.

A second-year student of mass communication, Timothy Edeh, said he was shocked to hear the development and wondered what would become of his future.

“I’m still in shock because I do not know what to do.

My certificate will not be recognised now. After my school, I do not know what to do.’’

An accountancy student, Miss Nneka Ogbu, appealed to the government to intervene in the matter.

Academic and other activities are still taking place in the institution just as the students were seen discussing in clusters.

The National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) on Tuesday in Kaduna announced the withdrawal of IMT accreditation, following the production of more than 15,000 graduates for youth service annually.

The NBTE said it acted on complaints by the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) that the school had not been respecting its guidelines.

THE NATION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

59

FOREIGN NEWS Libya’s NTC forces take over Sirte airport

F

ORCES loyal to Libya’s transitional authorities have taken the airport in the city of Sirte, the birthplace of fugitive leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Fighters moved through the partially destroyed terminal buildings tearing down symbols of the Gaddafi regime.

The whereabouts of the ousted leader remain unknown but several members of his family have fled Libya.

His son Saadi is in Niger.

Hours after an arrest warrant was issued, Niger’s PM said he

would not be extradited.

International police agency Interpol’s “red notice” for Saadi Gaddafi’s arrest says he is wanted on allegations of misappropriating properties through force and armed intimidation when he headed the Libyan Football Federation”.

The agency said that as the commander of military units alleged to have been involved in violence against civilians during the uprising, he was also subject to a UN travel ban

• Libyan leader Abdul Jalil

and assets freeze.

Interpol said he had last been seen in Niger and urged member states to help locate him and return him to Libya.

Syrian president supporters pelt US envoy States is involved in SUPPORTERS of Syrian with tomatos United encouraging armed groups to President Bashar al-As-

F

sad have thrown tomatoes and eggs at United States ambassador Robert Ford as he met an opposition figure in Damascus.

Veteran politician Hassan Abdul Azim said about 100 protesters tried to get into his office as Mr Ford arrived and then surrounded it, trapping them both.

US officials said the “mob was violent” and seriously damaged embassy vehicles, but that Mr Ford was unharmed.

Earlier, Syria accused the US of inciting violence against its military.

“Recent statements from American administration officials... clearly indicate that the

practice violence against the Syrian Arab Army,” a foreign ministry statement said.

It is thought the statement was referring to comments made by US state department spokesman Mark Toner, who said on Tuesday that it was “not surprising” that the opposition were using violence against the military.

Igbo in Lagos protests to ACN

I

GBO members in the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Lagos State yesterday protested the selection of one Mrs Edna Uju Uche-Ubochi as the Vice-Chairmanship candidate of the party in Ojo Local Government in next month’s council poll.

They said the choice of the ‘Igbo United Political Coalition’, which is duly recognised by the Lagos State ACN Executive Committee led

by Otunba Oladele Ajomale, for the slot is Pricess Chichi Funmi Gbadero.

In a letter to the national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), party secretary Primate Charles Odugbesi, Igbo leader, Chief Chris Ekwilo and Chief Ferdinand Ezeani, the group, said the decision to send Ubochi’s name was not endorsed by the coalition.

The Chairman of the coalition, David Nwachukwu and Secretary, Okwy Ogamba, said that Igbo Council of Chiefs and Ohaneze Ndigbo in Ojo Council have also rejected her candidature in preference for Princess Gbadero.

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www.thenationonlineng.net

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 7,

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

A

FTER a long and torturous period of hibernation when he mischievously kept me in suspense about what he was up to, Opalaba surfaced again the same grumpy old man that he is. While being in his company could feel like an eternity in hell, I must confess that I missed my friend’s cantankerous presence while he was away.

“So where have you been all these days and what brought you back if I may ask?”

“I presume that is a post-modernist welcome statement. The traditional is archaic with the value system it represents. Must I query your way of welcoming me back with a question about where I have been? What does it matter to your post-modernist identity if you abandon the age-old custom that requires a simple “e ku abo” as a condition for a right to an e ku ile? By the same token, however, I cannot feel any sense of obligation to answer your query because it is discourteous.” That was Opalaba’s response and it hit me like a thunderbolt.

Now a reasonable person would not respond to a cheery jolly question from a bosom friend with a depressing diatribe about tradition and its post-modern nemesis. So after that unprovoked hostile reaction, I expected the conversation to end and for Opalaba to leave. But even without being an eye witness, I know for sure that you won’t bet on it.

“You missed me, of course; I am sure you won’t deny it” was Opalaba’s sheepish response to my expression of surprise and disgust at his invective as he approached me with hands spread for a bear hug. I felt an urge to reciprocate with a nice punch on his face as an empirical evidence of my new postmodernist credentials but reason prevailed.

“Happy 51st birthday anniversary to our great country”, Opalaba gleefully announced.

“And shame to the domestic and foreign nay sayers, (including you!) whose crystal balls have continually predicted gloom and doom for our beloved land. What are they (and you!) going to say next? We have survived another year and the country is marching on.” Then in a moment of patriotic fervor, my friend thundered: Naija is marching on My land is marching on And enemies shall not prevail Naija is marching on.

I was moved and I joined him. The neighbors must have thought we were possessed.

Then I asked Opalaba, “How is Iroko?”

“Ah, “agbon bi awun. Ayisa; he is doing great” my friend proudly replied. Iroko is Opalaba’s baby boy, the last of six.

“How old is he now?” I asked. My friend responded happily that his son just turned forty a few days earlier.

“That’s interesting. He almost shares the

SEGUN GBADEGESIN gbadegesin@thenationonlineng.net

@Fifty-one

‘

Who would think that the founding fathers worked their hearts out to secure independence only to be succeeded by clueless leaders with truncated knowledge of history and impoverished ideas about the future?

•Map of Nigeria

same birth date with Nigeria. He must be a proud Nigerian as well”, I intoned.

“How is he doing?” I asked further. To this my friend replied heartily that his son was doing very well. He has his own medical practice. He has more patients this year than last and he has added two more offices. His bottom line is incredibly strong. In all, he is making good progress.

“Wonderful. That is what life is about: to make progress from year to year. It is the joy of a parent to witness the success of a child and I congratulate you”, I told my friend.

“Now, on the eve of her fifty-first birthday, how is Nigeria doing?” I asked him.

“Of course it could be better, Opalaba responded depressingly. “What with the gradual but steady slouching towards Hades, as you once put it? Fifty one years ago on the eve of independence, this spate of restlessness and insecurity was not in the forecast for the country. Who would think that the founding fathers worked their hearts out to secure independence only to be succeeded by clueless leaders with truncated knowledge of his-

RIPPLES

tory and impoverished ideas about the future?”

“Really?”

“The founding fathers were fighters. They fought the British in the battle of ideas and they won. They called attention to the tension and conflict between the ideals expressed in the British democratic system and the British colonial system with its exploitation of other peoples including Nigerians. They also confronted domestic collaborators including traditional rulers and the business class who sat on the fence.

“In their political struggles, the founding fathers were mindful of the culture of industry and selfless service. Many of then left the scene without a property they can call their own.

They promoted education with scholarships and fellowships; they advanced agriculture and industry, and they elevated the reputation of the country. When consensus was impossible, they didn’t retreat from a good fight for the people because they understood that there were powerful obstructionists in the land. You don’t build a consensus of oppressors on the back of the people’s interests.

HARDBALL

NIGERIA CELEBRATING POVERTY AT 51– Cleric

YOMI ODUNUGA

I reminded my friend that the president has told the country that he is neither a Goliath nor a General and that he is not ready to give up his style. He wants to build institutions and everything will take care of itself. Once institutions are functioning, human weaknesses can be taken care of. We would have a transformation of auto-piloted institutions.

“It is not about style, it is about substance”, Opalaba hit back. What is the substance of the president’s agenda? What big issues is he advancing to transform the country? What is worth fighting for on behalf of the people?

These are the questions he must answer.

Consider power generation; or education at all levels; or job creation. In each of these areas, who is in charge?

“The president made a scary remark the other day when he submitted that if we had good institutions, it wouldn’t matter if the President didn’t see his ministers in four years! They would know to carry on the work of their ministries. Doesn’t the buck stops at the desk of the president? Is he suggesting that institutions will be so efficient and effective that as president he would not need to supervise his ministers on behalf of the security and welfare of the people which are the main goals of the state, according to the sacred document?

“There are more fundamental questions.

What is our vision of humanity as a country?

Is this shared by the president and does it drive his agenda? What is his understanding of the human condition in our present context and does it match our ideal of humanity? If not what are the challenges and how does he intend to meet them?

“Our vision of the human being appears in the document that grounds the country’s existence. The constitution stipulates that “every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his/her person, and accordingly - (a) no person shall be subject to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment; (b) no person shall he held in slavery or servitude; and (c) no person shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.

“The social order of the State is founded on ideals of freedom, equality and justice, which (a) guarantee to every citizen equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law; and (b) recognise the sanctity of the human person and human dignity.

“It is the responsibility of the president to protect and promote these ideals for all citizens. And to do this, he must be prepared to fight like a brave General in the battlefield of ideas.”

“Amen!” I responded to Opalaba’s homily.

“But how is this rant consistent with your elderly exuberance at the beginning?” I asked.

“We must keep hope alive, my friend.”

Happy 51st Anniversary!

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•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Strong institutions, yes; but also personality

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Yes...our 51st POVERTY ANNIVERSARY

NO. 1,899

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

TOMORROW IN THE NATION

‘We hope, this time, that we would get the answer to this simple question: who killed the dreams of the victims of Abuja bomb blasts on October 1? One year on, are we sure of anything as we celebrate yet another independence in grief?’

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has continued his engagement with the country on the subject of style and personality of leadership. He has been largely indifferent to the aspect of personality, but very audible on style. He is, of course, at liberty to determine where he wants the emphasis placed, and he has selected style, his own style, instead of personality. His latest contribution came during a lecture in Abuja to mark the 51 st Anniversary of Nigeria’s independence. At the lecture, he made a strong case for building strong institutions to sustain Nigeria’s development and democracy. He strongly denounced the campaign to transform the president of Nigeria into a superman capable of doing all things. A genial ruler could also do mighty things, he seemed to say.

Does anyone doubt that we need to strengthen our institutions to make the system work? Jonathan’s argument for strong institutions is a genuine, patriotic

appreciation of the developmental crisis bedevilling the country. As he put it, the president needn’t be available for consultations with his ministers nor be overbearing before the system would work the way it should. If we had strong institutions, he said, ministers would implement their budgets as approved by the National Assembly, and, among other things, the Port Authority would clear goods efficiently rather than frustrate importers to neighbouring countries’ ports. If the system worked, he continued, the president would not need to cudgel any civil servant for them to appreciate the need for punctuality.

These are all sound arguments for strong institutions, and Jonathan has reassured everyone that by the time his transformation agenda was completed the structures required to get the system revving would be in place.

He is probably right. However, he must know that the problem of Nigeria after independence was not lack of structures but

the indiscipline that barred the structures from working. Nigeria inherited British-style bureaucracy and political system at independence, but while the British kept their own and improved them, we have failed to either sustain or modify the system to our advantage. We have never really lacked structures; the problem has always been discipline. Secondly, the president ought to know that personality, a strong one for that matter, is indispensable to the building of strong institutions, and even more indispensable to achieving the discipline required to make them work without hindrance.

By all means, Jonathan should build strong institutions, if he can, and ignore strong personality, if he must, but he doubtless requires more than style to build the structures, make them work, and enable him ignore the protestations of his friends and party who would belabour him to bend the law in their favour.

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