The Nation September 30, 2012

52ND INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL REPORT

–PAGES 13,19-26,69

THE TROUBLE WITH NIGERIA •Oritsejafor

•Yakassai

•Fani-Kayode

•Sani

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Vol.06, No. 2264

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

SUNDAY

ONDO 2012:

N200.00

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Tinubu, Akeredolu, ACN govs storm Ondo for mega rally –PAGES 4-5 ACN to Mimiko: You’re part of PDP failure

2012 Budget: Reps dare Jonathan –PAGE 2

Begin nationwide projects verification tomorrow Presidency opposed to the one-week tour Dana crash still nightmare for me –Oduah

–Pages 60-61

Oloibiri Oil Museum: •The distressed Qatar Airways plane being towed by emergency officials on landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos yesterday. Inset: The damaged tyre of the aircraft.

Row over N34.9bn contracts –Page 6

248 ESCAPE DEATH AT MMIA AS QATAR AIR MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING

Pg 2

NEWS Hajj: Airlift of pilgrims to resume, eight states on standby, says NAHCON • Saudi Arabia may give limited waiver FROM: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

T

HE Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello yesterday said Nigeria still stands a good chance of meeting its target of airlifting pilgrims to Saudi Arabia once the row over Muharams (male guardians for female pilgrims) is resolved.

He said eight states already have their pilgrims on standby having adjusted to the new rules imposed by Saudi Arabia.

He said the visas of the 1,500 female pilgrims returned to the country from Jeddah and Medina are still valid because they were really not deported.

There were also indications last night that the Saudi authorities might give a limited waiver to Nigeria on Muharams.

Bello, who addressed journalists in Abuja on the impasse between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, said there is no cause for alarm.

He pledged that all pilgrims would be airlifted before Jeddah Airport is closed on October 20.

He clarified that Nigeria did not violate Saudi laws as being insinuated.

Bello said: “Hajj predates Nigeria; it predates Saudi as a country. The issue of Muharam is a fundamental aspect of hajj and we couldn’t have violated it.

“If there was any change of rule, we were not communicated. We didn’t break any Saudi law, all hajj officials at all level have always been preaching to the pilgrims to obey the law of the land.”

“Muharam is a fundamental issue in hajj exercise. There appears to be a change of position of Saudi government on who constitutes Muharam. It is always understood that the constitutionally established bodies like us can stand as Muharam. We are going to sort out all the technical issues so that they can go back”.

He said that airlift of pilgrims will soon resume.

He added: “The airlift of pilgrims will soon start. Eight states with 32 flight schedules are on standby to commence operation when the challenges are sorted out.

“We are hopeful that we will meet our target before King Abdulazeez International Airport Jeddah and Madina airport are closed to traffic on October 20.

2

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

2012 Budget: Reps dare Jonathan T

HE House of Representatives is pressing ahead with its planned Status Inquiry of capital projects listed for execution in the 2012 budget, regardless of objection from the executive arm.

All House committees have been mobilized with funds to avert a situation whereby Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) will come to their aid.

The one-week tour, which is scheduled to commence tomorrow is expected to end on October 9.

• Begin project verification tour tomorrow • Presidency opposed to the one-week exercise FROM: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

A principal officer of the House, who spoke in confidence, said: “All the MDAs have submitted a list of projects executed or being constructed to the committees in the House.

“We have also made available all the capital projects in the 2012 budget to House members so that we can crosscheck whether

the Executive list tallies with ours. There is certainly no going back on the Status Inquiry Tour.

“We are aware that the Executive made its position known to the House leadership that the tour was unnecessary but wants to assist this arm, especially Mr. President, to know the actual status of projects.

“We have closed that chapter of the opposition

from the Executive to this exercise. And this decision is collective. Every House member endorsed the exercise.

“This is not an exercise to witch-hunt the President or any member of the Federal Executive Council. It also does not have any link with the recent budget implementation row between the government and the National Assembly.”

L-R: Gov.Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos, Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun, Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Ernest Shonekan and Sulatan of Sokoto, Sa"ad Abubakar

248 escape death at MMIA as Qatar Air makes emergency landing

ANIC swept through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, yesterday following a distress call from an in- bound Qatar Airways plane intimating the control tower of difficulty in its tyres retracting for landing.

On board the Airbus A330 were 248 passengers.

The message from the pilot of flight QR592 from Doha to Lagos soon sparked a flurry of activities in the aviation sector which is desperate to rebuild its image in the aftermath of the June 3, 2012 crash of Dana plane in Lagos which claimed over 153 lives.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) alerted the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) which in turn mobilized the Army, Police, Civil Defence, Road Safety, the Medics, Federal

P

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor with agency report

Fire Service, State Fire service and Julius Berger fire Unit.

Their response was swift.

By 11.30am they had all assembled in strategic places at the airport and quickly broke into three groups and apportioned responsibilities accordingly.

In group one were eight firemen and NEMA officials fully equipped with fire fighting gadgets. They were positioned where the plane was to touch down and their duty was to put out any fire that might break out.

Next to them, in the second group, were medical and para-medical personnel who were to administer first aid treatment on those on board the plane

after evacuation and before referral to appropriate hospitals, while in the third group were FRSC, Civil Defence and Police officers who were deployed on emergency routes that might be needed to get victims to the hospital.

The main routes were airport to the nearby Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and airport to the Nigerian Air Force medical centre.

But by the time the plane eventually landed at 12.57 there was no need to put the plan into use as the tyres retracted after several attempts by the pilot.

The passengers were not even aware of what was going on until they disembarked.

“The plane has landed safely,” said Harold Demuren, the Director general of the NCAA said,

adding: “We lost one of the tyres.”

The aircraft landed at the cargo terminal and was then towed to an area where passengers were able to disembark.

He said that no passengers were injured during the emergency landing and that one of the plane’s tyres had to be replaced. A mechanic at the airport said one of the plane’s left tyres was flat.

Three passengers who were on board said the crew had made no announcements about the mechanical problem during the flight.

“They landed safely.

There was no problem. I didn’t notice any other thing,” said Raphael Ashala, 30, a Nigerian who was on his way back from a Doha business trip.

One of the tyres was said to have burst shortly after take- off from Doha.

Responding to a question, the source added: “All committees have been allocated funds to make this assessment of projects easier. They all accessed their funds as at the close of work on Friday.

“They have been directed not to collect any money or assistance from the MDAs or any government agency.”

Contacted last night, the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Zackary Mohammed said: “Most of our members have already left Abuja for this exercise. We will be back on October 9.”

A government source said: “The Executive did its best to make a comprehensive report on budget implementation available to the House.

“The President also met with the leadership of the National Assembly before he traveled to the UN. It was a confidence-building session on the budget implementation and the grouses of the lawmakers.

“With what the President and his team did, the government is of the opinion that the Status Inquiry is unnecessary. More so, a similar project assessment tour is being conducted by a team led by the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku.”

Out of the N1.3trillion voted for capital projects in the 2012 budget, the Federal Ministry of Finance said it has released N710.4billion.

Only N535.2billion of the amount is cash-backed.

The Ministry also admitted that the MDAs have so far utilized N320.9billion, which is about 25.5per cent of the N1.3trillion.

Meanwhile, the Presidency is yet to communicate to the House of Representatives its position on the shift of October 4 initially fixed for the presentation of 2013 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly.

The House had rejected the date fixed by President Jonathan because its Finance and Appropriation Committees are still considering the framework for the budget.

Another principal officer said: “We have not got notice of a new date from the President. But since we have started our project implementation tour, it will certainly be after October 9.

“Before we rejected October 4, we consulted with the Senate, which is also occupying the chairmanship of the National Assembly.”

Column

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Major Triumphant (“I am not dead yet”)— Colonel Victor Anuoluwapo Banjo

nooping around With

Tatalo Alamu

T

HE above were the defiant last words of Colonel Victor Banjo after each round of furious bullets failed to silence him. It was an unequal struggle between man and man-made metal. The great colonel eventually succumbed to the fierce velocity, thus ending the life of one of the most brilliant and mysterious officers thrown up by the Nigerian military during the years of the locusts, 1966 to 1999.

The neat and cruel symmetry of dates only reinforces the metaphysical mysteries that often accompany the birth of national tragedies. For Columbia and Latin America in general—according to the incomparable Gabriel Garcia Marquez—it was one hundred years of solitude.

For Nigeria, it has been ninety eight years of the syndrome we now name as elite solipsism and still counting.

There is an exacting and intriguing connection between war and literature. Some of the greatest writers the world has produced have been arms bearers in their prime.

Count Leo Tolstoy, arguably the greatest novelist of all time, Leon Trotsky, Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, Andre Malraux, a.k.a Colonel Berger, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Eric Blair, a.k.a George Orwell, Wilfred Owen and the great war poets of England and a host of others. These were writers of the greatest pedigree. Two of them were Nobel laureates in literature. Perhaps an immediate but superficial explanation is that apart from love, it is war and literature that evoke the deepest passion in humanity.

Readers of Victor Banjo’s memorable memoirs, particularly his hugely touching and affecting letters to his beloved wife from prison, must wonder what a great writer lost to Nigerian literature. This is the stuff of the greatest penmanship anywhere in the world. Banjo writes with passion and poetic brilliance; his observations are laced with penetrating acuity. The letters are wrought from the furnaces of epic sonnet at its summit.

Like all supremely gifted people who are conscious of their godgiven endowments and the possibility of deploying these for restorative and redemptive actions, Banjo could be difficult, impossible to fathom and perpetually obsessed by a single solution. Yet there can be no denying that he was a great Nigerian patriot and nationalist. Even his obsession with a single solution which could be a vice only led to the virtue of granite clarity and phenomenal will. Eventually, there is probably only a thin line between genius and monomania.

It will be recalled that Colonel Victor Banjo was arrested shortly after the major’s mutiny of 1966 for physically threatening the new Head of State, General Thomas AguiyiIronsi. It was rumoured that he was close to the radical majors and was tacitly in support of their action although he was not a direct participant. A less brave and self-assured man would have lain low, but not the testy Colonel who probably viewed Ironsi with barely concealed contempt and condescension.

It was in prison, or what may be termed in retrospect as true preventive custody, that the greater events of 1966 and the killings of Nigerians of Igbo origins found Banjo. Incarceration in the east probably saved his life. Imprisonment saw Banjo resuming his friendship with his old buddy, the then Colonel

S

3

•Major Akinyemi

Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu. Although very sympathetic to the gory plight of the Igbo, he was not persuaded that this should lead to the break-up of Nigeria.

In prison, Banjo had renewed contacts with other committed Nigerian patriots and nationalists who were not sold on secession but who also felt that General Yakubu Gowon was an interloper who had no business presiding over the affairs of the nation. Thus crystallised the idea of a Third Force which was to rid the nation of the ethnic revanchists who had installed Gowon and the secessionist bugaboo in the east.

It turned out to be a bridge too far for the great colonel, or perhaps it was the old Majidun bridge that was too far. Given command of a Biafran army that was to rid the midWest of Nigerian forces and then head for Lagos to topple the Gowon administration, the colonel began to nurse other ideas.

It was reported that an advance unit of Banjo forces actually got as far as Ikorodu. It was a fraught and dire moment for the federal government and there were rumours of hurried evacuation plans to spring the

W

HILE we are still on the issue of promising Nigerians cut down in their prime, it is sad to report of a great tragedy that occurred in the Gbagada suburbs of Lagos last weekend. It was murder most foul. Like all freshly wedded people, Ugochukwu Ozuah looked forward to a life of bliss and prosperity with Joan, his fetching bride. With the home front firmly secured, his head must have been humming with a million brilliant ideas about the future. But this was not to be. The young man was cut down in a hail of bullets.

His family insist that the police are the culprits. The police are insisting that the dastardly act was carried out by still unknown assailants, possibly armed robbers.

Somebody must be lying. What is clear is that Ugochukwu did not kill himself. He did not commit suicide.

Or perhaps he did by being born in the wrong country at the wrong time. When he was asked whether he had a conception of hell, Wole Soyinka famously retorted that having lived in Nigeria for over seventy years, he had a fair idea of what hell is like.

But we deceive and make a big fool of ourselves if we think the rest of the world is not aware of what

beleaguered Gowon from Dodan Barracks. But back in Benin, the colonel appeared to stall and stonewall probably due to immense logistic difficulties. There was even a farcical short-lived Republic headed by a military doctor. It would seem that after Banjo serially disobeyed his orders, Ojukwu tricked him back to Biafra where he was executed after a celebrated trial of saboteurs.

For a nation already serially traumatised, the best way to avoid further ethnic kerfuffles is to place the Banjo tragedy in a severely dispassionate sociological perspective.

War is hell. Secondly, once an army loses its way in the political jungle, it will eventually turn on itself in an orgy of fratricidal bloodletting. This is the lesson the Nigerian military ought to have learnt from its years of misadventure. Apart from the nation, the greatest casualty of military rule is the military itself.

The logic of a strife-torn army unravelling at its ethnic and regional seams is strange and compelling. There is no paddy for jungle.

Once Colonel Banjo accepted a military rank and the command of an army from the Biafran army, he had accepted Ojukwu as his commander-

in-chief. He was bound by military ethos to accept and obey his orders to the letter.

Treason cannot cancel out treason except by superior force. Within the context of the mass hysteria of a faltering and tottering Biafra and the enduring trauma of the Igbo people at that point, it would have been impossible for Ojukwu to save his old friend from certain death. Not even friendships forged in radical comradeship often survive a poisoned polity. When Majors Adewale Ademoyega and Emmanuel Ifeajuna caught up with each other in prison, the argument about who was remiss in his role during the uprising led to memorable fisticuff which shook the entire prison.

Perhaps in an unviable federal prison, there is always a stiff price for an ethnic nationality to pay for political sophistication and a cultural incapacity to stomach tyranny and misrule. But by his radical daring, his contempt for personal suffering and his noble self-sacrifice, Colonel Victor Banjo has joined the pantheon of Yoruba avatars who have sacrificed themselves in the pursuit of a greater and better Nigeria. If political martyrdom were to be added to this list, then it becomes an endless cortege indeed.

Last Friday, the Yoruba race in Nigeria added another illustrious son to the pantheon of its military sons who have chosen self-sacrifice as a noble profession. There have been weeping and wailing ever since. But one thing should be clear.

Major Akinloye Akinyemi, a.k.a Sergeant Carter, might have died physically, but his cult of heroic example will survive for many generations to come. It was the mortal remains of the late major that were interred last Friday, leaving him with the robe of immortality.

In the end, nothing could be better and more uplifting than the moving tribute and homage paid to him by three of his classmates at Government College, Ibadan, and the lengthy obituary by his military colleague and former comrade in arms,

Murder in Gbagada goes on in Nigeria. Contrary to days of yore when savagery and barbarity could be hidden, we now live in an open global village. Even before snooper received a plaintive report of the crime the following morning from one of Nigeria’s top female lawyers whose son was one of the groomsmen at the wedding, the internet, Facebook, Twitter and other global fora of enhanced social communication were already awash with report of the murder in all its chilling and horrendous details.

This is one heinous murder too many, and it must not be allowed to be swept under the carpet. All those who have children of marrying age must rise as one to demand justice.

In Latin America, they ended up with Mothers of the Disappeared. In Nigeria, Mothers of the Murdered (MOM) should rise as a group. As usual, the police have begun to muddy the water. They declared promptly and peremptorily that the poor chap was a victim of armed robbers. Then they resorted to the familiar Kayode Soyinka Syndrome by fingering a near victim as a principal suspect.

This will not wash.

It is just as well that the energetic, enterprising and proactive

new Inspector General of police is reported to have requested for the file. Readers of this column will notice that we are always reluctant to damn the police. This is the first time in five and a half years that we are coming down hard on our police force. This is because we feel for the plight of an under-manned, under-paid and under-motivated police force. But there can be no denying that the Nigerian multiethnic underclass has sent its most homicidal and pathological elements to the force. These are the trigger-happy scoundrels and criminals in uniform. Nigeria will know no peace until they are decoupled.

Until the debate about state police is resolved one way or the other, the I-G has his work cut out for him. The list of victims of police elimination is long and lengthy, and so is the trail of proper justice. A few years back, Bayo Awosika, the son in law of the revered columnist, Allah De, was murdered in gruesome circumstances at a Police Check point in Lekki Phase 1. Nothing has been heard of the case. Mr Abubakar must be told that enough is enough.

Colonel Tony Nyiam. First published in an abridged form in a national newspaper, the full devastating disclosures came later in the online Sahara Reporters.

Scion of the notable Akinyemi family, the late major was a model officer in every material particular.

He was in a class and league of his own always finishing far ahead of others in terms and times of physical and mental exertion. Top honours and rave commendations at the elite Sandhurst Military Academy were followed by a First Class degree in Electrical Engineering from a prestigious British university.

There is a lot about Akinyemi that recalled the martyred Colonel Banjo. Both were extremely brilliant officers, mercurial in disposition and also first class military engineers. Even as he was pushing his lithe body to the limits of physical endurance, he was also pushing his mind to the zenith of pneumonic capacity. This mental agility and the conquest of physical pains would serve him well during subsequent ordeals.

It was not surprising that this gifted officer chose the elite paratrooper unit as his natural turf.

Given his antecedents and glittering records, Akinyemi ought to have finished at least as a four-star general who could hold his own in the rarefied echelons of global military titans. But in an army imploding from its internal contradictions, the unhappy consciousness is a sure recipe for tragedy.

The unhappy and troubled major began asking unhappy and troubling questions about an army courting disaster and death by misadventure. Instead of heading for the stars, he was directed to the military dungeon where his tragic predecessors had ended up. He only escaped the firing squad by whiskers.

Twice the major was arrested and detained and twice was he arraigned before military investigating boards, first during General Babangida’s tenure and later during General Abacha’s reign of terror. He lost his commission in the process.

It was perhaps Major Akinyemi’s encounter with Abacha’s murderous goons that left their indelible scars. Mentally abused and grotesquely tortured, he was also rumoured to have been injected with a poisonous substance which eventuates in fatality by slowly targeting the vital organs. If this were to be so, the major must have been an extremely tough cookie indeed.

It is just as well that “Sergeant Carter” finally found peace and solace in god as a Christian soldier and officiating pastor of The Redeemed Christian Church of God. The major is at ease, but the nation is still ill at ease. Perhaps it is only the dead who are probably lucky. We say this because there are several walking dead and living casualties out there crying for mercy.

As we bid a final goodbye to this illustrious son of an illustrious father, it is useful to remind ourselves of the heroic sacrifices of those who made the current dispensation possible. As the nation celebrates its fifty second anniversary, many of the demons of yore are still very much with us. Only full disclosure will lead to full closure for an unhappy nation. May the fallen major rest in perfect bliss.

4

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

News

ONDO 2012 Group mobilises for Akeredolu

A

GROUP, Ondo Democratic Coalition (ODC), has expressed determination to work for the victory of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), come October 20.

A statement by its coordinator, Mr. Taiwo Arikawe, and publicity Secretary, Deji Adesida, said the ACN is the only party that can give Ondo the much- needed developmental leadership. The group, which started its house-to-house campaign in Irele last Friday, said Akeredolu is the best candidate to govern the state.

It said: “We are supporting Akeredolu because the people of the state will be the major beneficiaries of an ACN -led government. We have keyed into his promises and that of his party the ACN, and we are convinced he meant well.

“We believe him and we know he will deliver on his promise because he is a man of integrity. As for Mimiko and Labour Party, they have disappointed the people and it is time for them to go.”The Secretary of the group, Mr. Samuel Ilori, disclosed that the Ondo central campaign of the group will start tomorrow from Akure.

A Deputy Director General for Akeredolu Campaign Organisation, Hon. Stephen Olemija, thanked the group for its support. He encouraged them to remain focused.

Tinubu, Akeredolu, ACN governors storm Ondo for mega rally

A

LL is now set for the gubernatorial rallies of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) ahead of next month’s governorship election.

Expected at the three –day rallies starting on Tuesday in Ikare- Akoko in the Ondo North senatorial district are the party’s chieftains such as the National Chair, Chief Bisi Akande, National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Segun Osoba; Otunba Niyi Adebayo; Chief Lam Adesina and all the governors of the six ACN controlled states.

The campaign train will move to Ondo in the Central senatorial district on Wednesday and Ore, and move to the South senatorial district on Thursday.

The Redemption rallies, as they are called, will afford the leaders of the party to present the ACN candidate, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), to the people, and shed light on why the state should join the rest of the South West in the development train of regional integration.

Besides, they will speak on how Governor Olusegun Mimiko has wasted the N660 billion that has accrued to the state during his tenure.

The numerous abandoned projects include the Doomdome, Ondo road dualisation, Owo road dualisation, Arakale road dualisation, Arigidi Tomato paste factory, Owena Multipurpose dam, Alpha D factory.

N600m LG fund: Mimiko has case to answer, says Ogele A

N Akure-based activist, Barrister Morakinyo Ogele, who is seeking to have Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, prosecuted over alleged misappropriation of about N600m earmarked for the creation of additional local governments in the state, has insisted Mimiko has a case to answer.

He told our correspondent yesterday he is set to approach a court of competent jurisdiction to have the Mimiko-led

Stories by Dare Odufowokan

administration questioned over the money.

Ogele said the failure of Mimiko to respond to his request for a public explanation on how the fund was spent has convinced him the money must have been misappropriated.

In a letter to the governor through the Commissioner for Finance last Tuesday, Ogele asked the governor to explain

how N7billion palm tree seedlings project at Ore and Bagbe and the N2.7 billion “Igbe Ayo” project were spent.

He vowed to initiate litigations against against officials of the ministries of finance and budget planning if Mimiko failed to respond on time.

Speaking yesterday, he said he will now proceed to institute a case against the Governor as he is convinced Mimiko has no plan to re-

spond to his request.

Ogele also urged Ondo indigenes to be wary of the politicians and political party the will entrust the state to on October 20.

According to him: “With politicians like Mimiko and political parties like Labour Party(LP) we just need to be more careful the way we vote.

Our votes as our power will save us from further looting of our treasury.”

PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN

•L-R: Akeredolu (left), Mimiko and other governorship candidates during the live TV debate in Ondo recently.

ACN will not treat workers as slaves, Akintelure assures

T

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) deputy governorship candidate in Ondo State, Dr. Paul Akintelure, has assured the civil servants that an ACN-led administration will not treat them as slaves.

Regretting that the present government had abandoned the workers for too long, Akintelure said the people must be delivered from the visionless administration.

He also assured that people in rural communities would benefit from the ACN government which, if elected, will be people- oriented.

The medical practitioner said the residents and indigenes will experience real dividends of democracy in contrast to the current pauperised situation in the state.

Akintelure, who cited the ACNcontrolled neighbouring states like Osun, Ekiti, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos and Edo as examples of what his party can doif elected, said the sunshine state would start enjoying the benefits of progressive governance with effect from February 13, 2013.

He said with climates suitable for fish farming, rice and cocoa cultivation across the state, the promised 30,000 job creation within 100 days will not be an impossibility for his administration.

“This will be generated through Public Private Partnership (PPP). We will also put

in place various need-based agencies for waste management, traffic control, environmental sanitations etc,” he said.

He said workers in the state deserve better treatment than what they currently get

from the LP government.

Akintelure added: “Civil Servants are not slaves. Their welfare would be of paramount interest to the ACN government. Our own government will not treat you as slaves because you are the

ones laying the golden eggs.

“You must vote for ACN to replicate the glorious experience of the western region through the present south west regional integration agenda.

We must do this for our children. Let’s keep our date with destiny come October 20.”

You are part of PDP failure, Akeredolu tells Mimiko

T

HE Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) has challenged Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, to explain why he should not share in the blame of the Dr. Segun Agaguled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government.

The organisation said Mimiko is also responsible for the failure of the PDP government, which he strongly berated and described as the years of the holocaust at the gubernatorial debate in Akure at the weekend.

A statement by the Director of Media, Publicity and Strategy Akeredolu Campaign Organisation, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku said: “Is Mimiko not the Secretary to the State Government and member of the State Executive Council in the Agagu government?

“If he was that pained why did he not denounce the policies of that administration or resign?”

It also noted: “The same Mimiko was rewarded with a ministerial appointment by

the same PDP and under former President Obasanjo whose administration paupersied the entire South West, leaving the Ota road, his home town in a dilapidated state.”

ACO added it is irresponsible of Mimiko to promise to continue working for the state after his admission of failure during the debate.

The organisation queried: “In saying he was going to continue what he is doing now, is it that he would continue to build market stalls, boreholes his token gifts to the people of Ondo in the 21st century?

“Would he continue to build fountains where there is no pipe borne water? Will he continue to conceive abandoned projects like the DoomDome, Ondo township road dualisation, Owo township road dualisation?

“Will he continue to aggravate youths of the State with gross unemployment? Will he continue to punish the Staff of Adekunle Ajasin University and Rufus Giwa Polytechnic

Owo who have not been paid 28 months areas of salaries and allowances against the holy writ that a labourer is worthy of his wage?”

I am the next governor of Ondo, Oke boasts From Damisi Ojo, Akure

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ondo State, Chief Olusola Oke, at the weekend reassured supporters of the party he would win the October 20 poll.

According to him, the party would win the election with the majority votes without rigging the poll. He spoke at Akure while addressing crowd of the National PDP Youth Vanguard Ondo State chapter and South West zone.

Oke said his experience as a public office holder and antecedents where of serving the people put him in a better position to win the election.

He said he will surely win because the people of the state know him and his economic blueprint will earn him victory in the next election. According to Oke:”By the grace of God and the support of the good people of Ondo State, I am the next governor of Ondo state.

“The people of Ondo State know me and my running mate. We have a unique economic agenda that is genuinely designed to give Ondo State an economic solution. We must salvage this state together because of the younger generation.

“We are confident that our economic agenda will earn us the mandate of our people.”

The former national legal adviser of the PDP said the youths must support the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure votes count in the October election. He said all the politicians must also support any effort that will guarantee free and fair election.

Oke said this becomes necessary because of the desperate plots of the incumbent to rig the election.

The southwest coordinator of the National PDP Youth Vanguard, Comrade Dele Dumiye, said the PDP candidate is a worthy ambassador and his record as the National Legal Adviser of the party is worthy of emulation.

He described Oke as an experienced politician that can add value to the state if elected.

Buhari shuns CPC rally

F

ORMER Head of State and 2011 presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), yesterday shunned the mega rally organised by the party in Akure, to canvass vote for the party’s governorship candidate in the October 20, poll, Soji Ehinlanwo.

A statement by the Director General, Soji Ehinlanwo Campaign Organisation (SECO), Mr. Yomi Adetimehin,

had at the weekend said that Buhari would be in Akure to present the party’s candidate and his running mate to the electorate.

Only few members of the party were mobilised to the venue of the event, and the rally did not start until 4.30pm which was against the official time scheduled for the rally.

It was learnt that there is now division among the party leaders over the choice of candidate to endorse for the coming election.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

News

5

ONDO 2012

Mimiko, Oshiomhole not similar, says ACN

T

HE Ondo State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has appealed to indigenes of the state to ignore attempts by the ruling Labour Party (LP) to draw a similarity between Governor Olusegun Mimiko and Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

The party said attempts

by Mimiko and his handlers to use distorted statements credited to Oshiomhole to hoodwink the people ahead of the October 20 governorship election will not succeed.

A statement by the party read: “The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State wishes to bring to the attention of the good people of Ondo State the latest antics of the drowning Labour Party (LP) and Governor Olusegun Mimiko in their bid to deceive and hoodwink the people.

“Having failed to shore up his dwindling popularity, Gov. Mimiko in his usual deceitful manner is trying to ride on the popularity and credibility of Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State.

“The Ondo governor, using manipulated statements

E

DUCATION makes the difference. Always. Especially applied knowledge, in all areas of human endeavour. Countries such as China (fastest developing economy), India (best in medical tourism and ICT),Cuba(with the most computer literate citizens) and even neighbouring Ghana which has since become a destination of choice for the children of Nigeria’s nouveau riche, have shown what quality education could do for its people. It was for the singular purpose of the focus on education that the defunct Western Region administration of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo first gained international attention back in the sixties. But we must ask ourselves what exactly that government did right? It was the first and still remains the only one in the country to have earmarked 26 per cent of its annual budget as earnings from cocoa to fund it. Thus, it fulfilled the benchmark set by the United Nations Organisation, as monitored by UNESCO. Based on this premise, the gubernatorial candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Barrister Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has made public his party’s manifesto in the critical area of educational development. Worried about the parlous state of education in the country and more so in Ondo State, with the national embarrassment of increasing failure figures at external examinations such as those conducted by WAEC,NECO and JAMB Akeredolu, has affirmed that his administration will make a paradigm shift. In that wise, education will be made free and compulsory at the primary and secondary school levels. All public schools will be restored to their former glory.

credited to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governor, is trying to deceive the people to the effect that he has been endorsed by the iconic labour activist for the coming October 20, governorship polls.

“This has been running as an advert paid for by Mimiko on an Independent Television in Edo State. Our findings, however, revealed the comments packaged as documentary were the comments (Oshiomhole) made three and half years ago at the inauguration of Governor Mimiko, which was attended by all the leadership of ACN with hopes that Mimiko would run a purposeful and progressive government.”

It added: “The question the people of Ondo State should ask Mimiko is what has he done in the last three years to make Oshiomhole, who is eager to see the victory of ACN in Ondo, to endorse him?

“How does Mimiko think Oshiomhole will support the candidate of another party when ACN has Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), a man of honesty, integrity, vision, pedigree like Oshiomhole in

the race?

“How does he think that Governor Oshiomhole will support him when it is on record that the Labour Party

in Ondo mobilised materially and financially to back the notorious Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the ACN in Edo during the last elec-

tion?

“Therefore, we see this latest move as a desperate bid to use credible people like Governor Oshiomhole and others

to promote his image.

“But that will not work as Mimiko and his amorphous LP will be rooted out of Ondo State on October 20, 2012.”

•R-L: Minister of Water Resources ,Mrs Sarah Reng Ochekpe, Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Tunji Bello, Executive Secretary Lagos State Water Regulation Commission, Mrs. Tanwa Koya during the flag off and sensitisation programme of the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission in Lagos, recently.

Akeredolu's vision on education

By Idowu Ajanaku

To achieve his noble vision in this direction, emphasis will be placed on sustainable infrastructural development and training of teachers in all schools across the three Senatorial Districts of the state. He posited that unlike Mimiko who spent a whopping amount of over N600 million on one mega school, such huge sum would be equitably distributed to build solid structures for the public schools. It goes beyond mere fanciful school buildings to having well-equipped libraries, laboratories as well as the provision of state-of-the-art computers to pupils and students across the state. Only recently, Ekiti state, one of those under the ACN party was voted as the most ICT compliant amongst, the states. This will serve as an inspiration for us.

Furthermore, unlike the Mimiko administration which refused to employ one single teacher over the past three and half years, Akeredolu’s ACNled government is going to channel much resources towards human capacity building.

The teacher-to-students’ ratio as recommended by the UNO is far from being attained in the state. Therefore, more qualified teachers will be employed. And he affirms his commitment to the payment of the minimum wage, as a booster to increase performance.

In a similar vein, the querulous issue of underfunding in all the tertiary institutions of learning including Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education will be resolved. Of utmost significance to Barrister

Akeredolu is the review of curriculum in such citadels of knowledge. This will be done to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. The salutary aim is to ensure that more graduates from Ondo State are not only employable but be gainfully employed through its forward-looking entrepreneurship scheme. The cardinal objective is also to make each graduate from the state to imbibe the attributes of critical thinking, initiative and effective communication skills.

Not left out in the determined drive to make the state the reference point in education as it was in the sixties, development will be holistic. Therefore, other institutions of learning such as schools of Nursing and Vocational schools are accorded the desired attention in terms of funding, provision of durable infrastructure and staffing.

Besides, the focus will be on applied scientific knowledge. On 5 that score, Information, Communication, Technology(ICT) shall form the solid plank upon which the administration will base development. Ondo State wishes to create its own Silicon Valley, comparable to what exists in the United States. If it could be done there, who says it cannot be replicated here or even done better? To give light to this lofty dream, efforts are afoot to have credible data on Ondo State indigenes in the Diaspora. The aim of course, is to get them back home to use their wealth of experience to industrialise their homeland. With a clement economic climate this will be made possible, through well structured Public Private Partnership, PPP. The vision is to establish modern and well equipped

•Akeredolu

TECHY VILLAGE (TV) in each of the three Senatorial Districts.

There will be a synergy between technical colleges, local artisans and the TVs to update their knowledge. The government will encourage these artisans to take part in the execution of its projects. Several of them will gain easy access to soft loans spread over a reasonable period of time to actualise their dreams. Different vocations will be accommodated in this all-embracing attempt to free Ondo people from the clutches of the unjustifiable poverty foisted on them by the directionless government of Mimiko.

To increase their daily income such artisans in the state will be encouraged to take

some quality time off their trades to update their skills at the TVs. Some will be involved in the fabrication of machines to expand the scope of small and medium scale enterprises across the state.

Therefore, with time, many Ondo citizens will be active as collaborators with policy makers in the fields of agriculture, health care delivery, sound education development, road construction and tourism.

Consequentially, they would see themselves as part and parcel of government and not view government as a distant body of ‘them’ and ‘us’. It is for the good people of the state to realise that they have been short changed for

far too long that campaigns are being taken to their door steps. Barrister Akeredolu and his able, resourceful and indefatigable team members are on a salvaging mission to take the state from the grip of impostors, rabble-rousers and fraudsters who have wasted the common patrimony of the Sunshine State.

Their hands are firmly on deck to set sail to the harbour of hope for a brighter future.

They are carrying out this salvaging mission through sound education. And it is all because, sound education makes the difference.

Ajanaku is director of Media and Publicity, Akeredolu Campaign Organisation.

6

Azikiwe’s son to Nigerians: Give Igbo next president Nwanosike Onu, Awka

C

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

News

HIEF Chukwuemeka Azikiwe, the first son of Nigeria’s first president, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, says it is the turn of the South East to produce the country’s next president in 2015.

The Owelle of Onitsha said yesterday that the geopolitical zone is truly deserving of the slot in 2015 because it has never held the position.

He said his late father only served as a ceremonial president which cannot be equated with an executive president.

Azikiwe who hosted members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the Inosi Onira country home of his father said: “It is our legitimate right (Igbo) to aspire to the executive presidency of Nigeria.

“We have never produced an executive president. Our father was a ceremonial president under the parliamentary system where power was vested in the Prime Minster and the parliament.

“Aguiyi-Ironsi was an executive head of state for six months. Zoning will be a good thing to promote unity.

“But we must realize that this thing is got by give and take and negotiation and diplomacy; it is not by force.

“I think we should put our best foot forward, find those of our people that have good relations with the other zones; those who are trusted, listen to them in order to get Igbo president.

“Also, the timing should be right. We will try as much as possible to get it soonest, but let’s be careful so that we don’t antagonize some other zones.”

On Nigeria’s 52nd independence anniversary, he called for continued unity and patriotism among Nigerians and recalled the efforts made by his late father and other nationalists in getting the colonialists out of the country.

“Our father taught us that your responsibility is to try and understand different people and judge people according to the content of their character, not by the appellation of their tribe or clan,” he said, adding: “My father believed that if you try and find the things that we share in common with other people it becomes easier to forge unity because you have a common front. So he would say let’s emphasise our common values; let’s concentrate on things that hold us together.”

IX persons have been confirmed dead in a petroleum pipeline fire in Umueke autonomous community in Osisioma local government area of Abia State.

They were among hundreds of people scooping oil from the damaged pipeline.

Several others were burnt, some of them badly in the accident, last Sunday.

Deputy Governor Emeka Ananaba, on an inspection of the scene on behalf of his

S

Abia oil pipeline fire kills six • Several others injured scooping fuel Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

principal, Chief Theodore Orji, expressed regret at the loss of lives.

He described the activities of pipeline vandals as very costly and a risky ven-

ture and advised the people of the state to desist from such acts to save their lives.

He said Abians should focus on legal and meaningful ventures that would guarantee them a useful future instead of vandalising pipelines.

The Commissioner for Petroleum and Solid Minerals, Don Ubani said the fire raged between 4 and 6.30 pm last Sunday.

He said those who received burns are in the hospital for treatment.

The commissioner said

EKSU shut as students loot farm

T

HE agricultural farm of the University of Ado Ekiti was yesterday looted. About 3,500 birds, 120 crates of eggs, 10 goats, 75 sheep, 25 rabbits, 30 pigs were carted away by students protesting the crushing to death of one of them by a hit and run driver.

They also torched the institution’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre and set ablaze at least five vehicles and several buildings in the town.

The university authorities said the losses might be more and immediately shut down the institution.

Abiola Teslim Yusuf, a final year student died on Wednesday night of injuries he received after being run over by a vehicle close to Osekita Hostel, an offcampus students hostel in the town.

The protesting students, about 150, launched out of their rooms early yesterday at the start of what was supposed to be a peaceful protest.

However, the protest soon took a twist when the burning and looting started.

The police spokesman in the state, Mr Victor Babayemi, said seven of the students who allegedly partook in the looting and vandalism have been arrested and a search for the fleeing driver commenced.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Oladipo Patrick Aina, condemned “the most barbaric

• Set ICT centre, five vehicles ablaze • Over colleague’s death

By Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

conduct displayed by supposedly cultured youngsters.”

He told reporters that investigation would soon commence into the incident and the culprits brought to book.

He said the action of the students was capable of jeopardising the on-going infrastructural development in the institution.

Announcing the imme-

diate and indefinite closure of the institution, Aina said the management, working in concert with internal security officials, would assess the level of damage to buildings and other properties, as well as uncover the extent of the involvement of students and staff.

Prof Aina was disappointed at the failure of the police to respond to the institution’s distress call before the protest got out of hand.

He said: “I had called the

Police authority at about 7am on Friday to inform them when I got a security report that the students were mobilising for protest over the death of their colleague only for them to come well after the damage had been done.”

The police denied the allegation with their spokesman, Victor Babayemi, saying they acted promptly.

The VC said he personally supervised the transfer of the accident victim to the Ikere Ekiti Specialists Hospital for medical attention immediately after the mishap.

•Lokoja Flooding: Alternative road being constructed under the supervision of officials of the Federal Ministry of Works yesterday in Lokoja.

Photo: OLUGBENGA ADANIKIN

the damaged pipeline has been repaired three times and pledged the readiness of the state government to continue to monitor the pipeline’s right of way.

Rivmap not for political reasons —Princewill From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

T

HE leader of Princewill Political Associates (PPA) and chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State , Prince Tonye Princewill, has said the Rivers Music and Arts Project (RIVMAP) was not set up for political reasons.

He told reporters in Port Harcourt during the maiden edition of RIVMAP that it was meant to emancipate youths from poverty and hopelessness by discovering, nurturing and grooming talents in the arts to stardom.

The competition was in there categories - Music, Comedy and Dancing- with Timi Julius, a 22 year-old from Bayelsa State emerging winner of the star prize of a N5million record deal, the Thrillers won the N2million Prize in the Dancing Group and Mr. Jacob John, a Welder/Fabricator based in Port Harcourt from Akwa Ibom won the N1million meant for the Comedy group.

Princewill said the event would be “an annual event designed to take youths residing in Rivers State that may not have the opportunity to be promoted, to rub shoulders with the best in the entertainment world as I intend to promote the champions in each segment to USA and Europe to have the best exposure in their respective industry with the hope that they will become some of the best performing in the world.”

Oloibiri Oil museum: Row over N34.9bn contracts

A

FRESH controversy has erupted over the award of N34.9billion contracts for the establishment of the Oil and Gas Research Centre and Museum in Oloibiri, Bayelsa State by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Oloibiri, where oil exploration was first struck in Nigeria in 1956, is bereft of any significant development or infrastructure.

To address the neglect of the village, the government decided to build the museum for which 10 contractors are now bidding.

But the decision of the BPP to award some of the contracts to companies it had earlier refused a “No Objection” certificate has turned the jostle for the project dirtier.

BPP had, in letters dated July 9 2012, July 12, 2012 and July 24 2012 and signed by the Director General, Emeka Eze, recommended seven companies to the Executive Secre-

•Aggrieved contractors ask Jonathan to intervene From: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

tary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).

The seven firms which the BPP claimed to have “passed the Due Process” for the N33.

949, 076, 952.95billion projects are Beks Kimse Ltd, Megastar Construction and Technical Co. Ltd, Sajook Nigeria Ltd, Kinetic Electromechanic Nig. Ltd, Unipad Nigeria Ltd, Meson Investment Ltd and Commerce Services.

But in a September 11, 2012 letter to the PTDF, the BPP made a U-turn and asked the PTDF to award the contracts to Beks Kimse Ltd, Megastar Construction and Technical Co. Ltd, Mercury Engineering Ltd., Gabezi Nigeria Limited, Kinetic Electromechanic Nig. Ltd, Meson Investment Ltd and Z

Cubes Nigeria Ltd., at a cost of N34,962, 631,734.69 Three firms earlier considered fit for the contracts by BPP were removed from the list.

They are Sajook Nigeria Limited, Unipad Nigera Limited, and Commerce Services.

A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The award of the contracts has created tension because those the BPP earlier refused certificate of no objection have been given the jobs.

“We call on President Goodluck Jonathan to look into the process and ensure justice.

“Apart from awarding the contracts to those refused certificate of no objection, the sum of the contracts increased from N33.9billion to N34,962, 631,734.69.”

Another source said: “We are suspecting a foul play be-

cause some of the companies that did not originally undergo Due Process Screening were awarded contracts.

“In fact, three of the firms which have been finally shortlisted are said to belong to one person. That means an individual is getting about 50 to 60 per cent of the contracts.

“The government should ask security agencies to probe the award of these contracts in the interest of justice.”

A reliable source, however, said: “I think you should leave the BPP out of this issue because it conducted due diligence but at a point, the PTDF on July 10 rejected the companies that had passed the Due Process Certification for the Oil and Gas Museum in Oloibiri.

“The Director General of BPP, Emeka Ezeh, in a letter of July 24 2012 titled “Due Process Review Report on

Contract for the Establishment of Oil and Gas Research Centre and Museum Oloibiri, Bayelsa state by PTDF”, said, “the Bureau wishes to reiterate her earlier decision that, Due Process certificate of No Objection Cannot be granted for the award of the contracts for the establishment of Oil and Gas Research Centre and Museum, Oloibiri, Bayelsa state in favour of some contractors.

“Award of contracts like these requires some technical challenges and the BPP has to weigh all options.

“The DG of BPP has no vested interest in any of the affected companies. For the records, the BPP in a review report on July 9, 2012 said: ‘It is apparent that the PTDF reviews were skewed in favour of particular firms thereby deceiving other bidders and casting aspersions on the integrity of the government arising from non transparent procurement procedures.’

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30 , 2012

T

HE late Secretary-General of the National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Dr. Lateef Adegbite, was laid to rest in his Abeokuta hometown yesterday amid eulogies and deep feelings of sense of loss from President Goodluck Jonathan, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saa’d Mohammed Abubakar, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and his Lagos State counterpart, Mr Babatunde Fashola(SAN), among others.

President Jonathan in a condolence message called Adegbite a bridge builder while Sultan Abubakar, Obasanjo, Amosun and Fashola described him as an icon and a patriot who invested his time, energy and resources toward uplifting mankind.

Adegbite who ,until his death on Friday, was the Baba Adini and Seriki of Egbaland was buried in his private residence at Onikolobo, Abeokuta, Ogun State, after a brief jannazah (Islamic burial rites) led by the Sultan and the Chief Imam of Egbaland,

News

7

Rain of encomiums from Jonathan, Sultan, Obasanjo, govs as Adegbite is buried Ernest Nwokolo and Mariam Sanni, Abeokuta

Alhaji Liad Orunsolu.

His remains encased in a silver colour casket and draped in clothes bearing Arabic inscriptions and designs of the Holy Kabba, arrived his compound at 3:35pm in a Mercedes hearse marked TOS 7.

The arrival of the body elicited a spontaneous chanting of “Allahu Akbar,” from the large number of sympathisers, friends and relations who gathered in and around the compound.

He was lowered into the grave at 3:56pm.

At the burial were Governors Amosun and Fashola, the Sultan of Sokoto and President of the NSCIA, Abubaker Sa’ad, former President Obasanjo, former Head of In-

terim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan and former Governor of the old Western State, Brig-Gen Oluwole Rotimi in whose administration Adegbite served as the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and later, Attorney - General and Commissioner of Justice.

Also present were former Ogun State governors, Chief Olusegun Osoba and Gbenga Daniel, Senator Gbenga Kaka, Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Prince Surajudeen Adekumbi, Chief Alani Bankole, former Minister of Mines and Steel, Alh. Sharafadeen Tunji Ishola and a host of others.

President Jonathan in a condolence message said of the deceased: “Dr. Adegbite’s tenure as the Secretary-General of

the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) would forever be remembered for fostering peace and unity among religious groups in the country and for his moderating influence.”

“He was a devout Muslim leader, distinguished lawyer and academic,” the President further noted, adding that the late Seriki Musulumi served meritoriously as Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Public Awareness on Security and Civic Responsibilities.”

President Jonathan urges the Adegbite family, the people of Ogun State, the Muslim community and Nigerians to take consolation in the knowledge that the late renowned Muslim leader made indelible contributions to the development of the country. He prays

•Torched vehicles at Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti following student protests at the weekend

that God Almighty would grant his soul eternal rest.

The Sultan said :”Words are not enough to express how the Muslims accept the loss of this great servant of Allah. We have worked with him for six years and I know how much he had put his energy and resources to serve the Muslims.

The family has not lost any body, the loss is for the Muslim Ummah.

“The Almighty took him for reasons best known to him. Let’s continue to remember Baba Adinni whenever we are praying, because he has paid his dues to Islam. May the Almighty Allah in his own wisdom who knows that we have worked for Him and reward him.”

Other tributes : Obasanjo: “We know that we are missing an icon. But we take consolation in the fact that he lived a worthy life and legacy worthy of emulation.

His place will be difficult to fill within our community, Egbaland. We pray that God will not leave us mourning and groping in the dark for a worthy replacement.”

Amosun: “Another national icon of Ogun State extraction is gone. One by one, the ranks of those whose toils and sweats got Nigeria Independence and nurture the nation is being depleted. His life was an admirable confluence of religion, tradition and civilisation, leaving indelible footprints in the sands of time.”

Fashola: “I am privileged to know that if he puts himself first, he would probably have lived longer, but he spent much more time; Islam came first, community came first, Nigeria came first. And that is the life of service that should be cherished by all of us and perhaps our multi ethnic, multilingual and multi religious gathering here will help us move closer to the unity, the peace and the kind of Nigeria we he lived and died for.”

Oluwole Rotimi : “He was not just my Commissioner but my personal friend. We entered King’s College together

in 1950 and left in 1956. I left for the University College, Ibadan and then to the army.

He travelled to England to study law and he too became a lecturer at the University of Lagos.

“In 1971 when I became to the Military administrator of Old Western Nigeria, I invited him over to serve his father land. He was my Commissioner between 1971 - 75 first as Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and later the Attorney - General and Commissioner for Justice.”

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) : “Dr Adegbite died preaching religious tolerance and coexistence because he was a true and strong believer in one united Nigeria inhabited by people who are socially diverse, economically empowered and politically active.”

The Jama’atu NasrilIslam (JNI) :”Dr. Adegbite was upright, fearless, committed and an accomplished Islamic worker and a lawyer of high pedigree, alhamdulillah. It is on record, that he was the pioneer National President of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN).

Senate President David Mark: “He was a colossus of sort, a true statesman and a passionate believer in the unity of Nigeria.”

Speaker Aminu Tambuwal: “ The death of Dr. Lateef Adegbite, is a monumental loss to the Muslim ummah and Nigeria. He lived an exemplary life of service, humility, and dedication whose impact would forever be felt by all Nigerians.”

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State: “Dr. Lateef Adegbite was an illustrious citizen of this country.

He was always ready to offer sincere advice to successive governments on peaceful coexistence and religious harmony in the country.”

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State: “Nigeria has lost a bridge builder between the North and South who worked tirelessly for the unity and progress of the country.”

Nigeria at 52: Avoid obsession with the past, Atiku urges Nigerians

F

ORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar wants Nigerians to avoid obsession with the past, which he says is capable of making them hope in today and the future.

Atiku, in a goodwill message on the occasion of the nation’s 52nd Independence Anniversary, said a sense of nostalgia was leading Nigerians to give up about the present and the future.

He reviewed the last 13 years of democratic rule and said it was understandable for people to be impatient for change because of their harsh experiences.

He, however, noted that the democratic process takes some time to get rooted and in the process mistakes were bound to occur.

According to him, the beauty of democracy lies in the power to replace leaders who have failed to deliver the goods.

The Turakin Adamawa, however, also maintained that

•We must reclaim our lost glory, says Fashola From Tony Akowe,Kaduna and Kolade Adeyemi,Kano

good governance and sincerity were essential factors in sustaining people’s faith in the system. He said democracy is a covenant between the leaders and the people and once the elected officials deviate, democracy itself will be affected.

He advised elected leaders at all levels to see power as public trust rather than as a means of self-enrichment and suppressing perceived opponents.

Atiku identified largescale corruption as the biggest obstacle to making the lives of the people better and that leaders must demonstrate courage and political will to terminate this national cancer.

The former Vice President said the luxurious lifestyles of leaders at the expense of the people could lead to disen-

chantment with the system.

In a similar message, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State said the time has come for Nigeria to reclaim its preeminent status in Africa given the reality that the Continent has become the next frontier of world development.

Governor Fashola, who fielded questions on the state of the nation from newsmen after the Special Friday Jumat Service to commemorate the Independence Anniversary, said in the context of the African Continent being the next investment destination of the world, Nigeria should rise and take the lead in reaping the economic benefits of that reality.

“The rhetoric on Africa has changed. Ten years ago, I think it was an international Magazine which published the screaming headline “Africa, a hopeless Continent”. But today,

that rhetoric has changed. The magazine has eaten its words and people of the nations across the world have said Africa is the next frontier”, the Governor said.

Noting that Africa is now experiencing six to seven percent annual growth on a sustainable basis while countries such as Ethiopia and Somalia are now experiencing development and holding elections, Governor Fashola declared, “In that context, where do we lie.

That is why I started with Africa; we must reclaim our preeminent status.”

The Governor, however, said this would not happen “if, as a people, we continue to put ourselves down,” adding, “Those who condemned us 10 years ago have said we are the new frontier. Must we continue as a people to put ourselves down?”

Governor Fashola expressed delight that in the last 48 hours, Nigerians have been asking very honest questions as to whether we, as a people, are the problem or the nation itself. He added, “Even the sermon today is a call to nationalism, a call to patriotism. Let us see our challenges as building blocks for greatness”.

“This is not the worst place to live on earth and I can tell you that. Let us take the financial issues for instance, the Spanish government raised its taxes by 52 percent, Italy has raised its tax by 60 percent. Italians are leaving their country.

That is not our position here.

People are being struck by earthquakes, Tsunami, but we have arable land for farming here. There are challenges here alright but they should be seen as building blocks for us to aspire to greater things”, the Gov-

ernor said.

The national publicity secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Mr. Anthony Sani, speaking in an interview in Kaduna, decried what he called lack of quality leadership in Nigeria.

He said: “The trouble with Nigeria is corruption which has affected every aspect of our national life. It is corruption that steals people’s empowerment, steals their opportunity and steals their future. As a result, national ideals and moral values as well as social contract among individuals and among groups have collapsed.

“I believe there is a need for cultural renaissance in order to change our ways of doing things. Another area is leadership that is accountable to the people. But this cannot happen if votes of the people do not count. And votes will not count if the people do not regard government resources as their own.”

8

News

Bauchi restates commitment to NYSC scheme From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

B

AUCHI State has expressed commitment to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

According to the government, the scheme has come to stay as one of the binding factors among Nigerians and it is a pointer to the indivisibility of the country.

The Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Alhaji Mohammed Lasi, disclosed at weekend when he inspected the on-going construction of accommodation and other facilities at the NYSC Orientation Camp at Wailo, 63 kilometres from Bauchi along Maiduguri Road.

Among facilities inspected were the old hostels, exercise and recreational and parade grounds.

Commenting on the four blocks of new hostel being constructed by TBC Africa, the commissioner expressed confidence that “the new hostel accommodation will be ready before the next orientation camp scheduled for November 2, 2012.”

The new hostels are designed to accommodate 1,000 corps members with each block housing 250 members and spread across the camp.

Among facilities in the new hostel are conveniences, laundry space and a sentry box at the entrance into the building.

Appreciating the government’s gesture, Bauchi State NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Nuhu Kwagi, represented by Mrs. Sarah Kure, said the new hostel will alleviate the acute shortage of accommodation being experienced during orientation camp. ”Besides, the provision of other facilities will be beneficial to the corps members and the staff of NYSC and enhance our camp activities,’’ she added.

Giving assurance that his firm will deliver the project on schedule, Ade-Omotosho Austen, Business Director of TBC Africa Construction Ltd, said: “I am assuring you that the four hostel blocks will be ready on schedule,” adding that ,“even though we have not been paid mobilisation fee, we will deliver, because we do undertake turnkey projects.”

Two held over export of 4.285KG Meth to India

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

T

HE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two suspected drug traffickers.

They were nabbed for attempting to export 4.285kg of methamphetamine to India at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos during routine check on passengers boarding Ethiopian airline flight to India.

The substance that tested positive for methamphetamine was valued at N68.5 million.

The substance, according to the NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, was hidden in a brown luggage.

The suspects are 41-yearold Eboro Joe Okwudili and 30-year-old Opara Daniel.

Hamza explained: “Eboro was the person travelling while Opara Daniel was assigned to monitor Eboro to avoid diversion of the drug.

“During screening, the drug was discovered in his luggage at the baggage checking desk”.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Independence: Abubakar assures of adequate security L

Lagos Assembly wants better NYSC Camp

By Oziegbe Okoeki

T

HE Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has expressed the preparedness of the Force to ensure hitch-free 52nd Independence celebration.

The police boss spoke with reporters yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, shortly before being decorated with an honorary doctorate degree by a faithbased Islamic private institution, Al-Hikhmah University at its second convoca-

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

tion.

Other dignitaries honoured by the university included Governors AbdulFatah Ahmed, Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi, Aliyu Wammako and Abdul-Aziz Yari of Kwara, Oyo, Sokoto and Zamfara states as well as Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi.

Abubakar expressed delight with improvement in the nation’s security situa-

tion compared with what was on ground eight months ago when he assumed office.

The police boss said the recoveny arms and ammunitions in parts of the country was testimony of progress so far recorded in the area of security.

According to him: “Nigeria is better today security wise. There is peace and stability in the country.

“We shall continue to do our best to ensure security of life and property of

the citizenry.”

On the 52nd Independence anniversary of Nigeria, he said the police will ensure criminals have no hiding place.

On the proposed police intelligence school slated for Ilorin, the IGP said: “the school will soon take off.

We have gotten the bill for it. The land has been allocated and we are trying to mobilise contractors to site so that the project can start.”

•Members of the National Association of Seadogs, Jokaina Deck, during a protest in Calabar, the capital of Cross Rivers... yesterday

AGOS State House of Assembly has appealed to the state government to urgently build a befitting National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp.

The Chairman, House Committee on House Services and Special Duties, Hon. Ipoola Omisore, made the call when he led the committee members on a visit to the Ministry of Special Duties as part of its oversight function.

Omisore, who said said that the NYSC orientation camp was nothing to write home about if compared to other others, argued it behoves a mega city to have a befitting NYSC orientation camp.

He said it would be a misplaced priority if the government leaves the camp in such a bad shape.

According to him: “We must do what is expected of us and we must rise up to our responsibilities.

“When it comes to the issue of Corps members, Lagos has the highest chunk and people must be adequately catered for without fear or favour.

“But it is sad that out of all the South-West states, Lagos State has the poorest NYSC camp.”

Responding, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed, said the state has been working tirelessly to ensure there is a befitting NYSC orientation camp.

He assured the project will materialise soonest.

Obi seeks aids for communities submerged by floods

Bayelsa explains Dickson’s absence A

B

AYELSA State has cleared the air on the absence of Governor Seriake Dickson in the last two weeks.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Chief Fred Agbedi, said Dickson is overseas not on account of critical health challenge but to rest.

The governor, he also explained, is meeting with potential investors in the state.

There have been speculations on Dickson’s absence in the state, especially how he left the country.

Many argued the governor must have been critically ill to be away for so long, especially close to the Independence celebrations.

But Agbedi told reporters in Yenagoa the governor is

From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

merely having a rest and not sick as widely speculated.

According to him: “It is important to let people of Bayelsa and Nigerians know that there is no life- threatening ailment that prompted our governor going abroad.

“He went because he needed rest and has some en-

gagements as a way of attracting investors and development to the state.”

He also explained Dickson has not had time to rest since the rigorous processes that led to his election this year.

Agbedi added: “There is no law that says the governor should announce when he is going to rest.

“He travelled because as a

We are not Northerners, Middle Belt youths protest

Y

OUTHS from the Middle Belt have rejected identi-

fication of the region as North Central.

The youths, under the aegis of United Middle Belt Youth Congress (UMBYC), said they have nothing in terms of culture and tradition with the North.

By Sunday Oguntola

The President of UMBYC, Barrister Abuka Omababa, told reporters at the weekend that the nomenclature North Central presently applied to us is unacceptable.”

He said: “The Middle Belt have nothing in common with the North. We want a clean and

NDIC donates labs to varsity

T

HE Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has donated a science laboratory complex to the Kwararafa University, a community-based varsity in Wukari, Taraba Sate.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of NDIC, Dr. Samuel Gani, disclosed the edifice is worth N20 million.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony at the weekend in Wukari, Gani, who

human being, he needed some rest to be able to regain himself after all these elections”.

The deputy governor, Real Admiral Gboribiogha Jonah, he said, has been running the state smoothly since the governor’s absence.

He stressed: “The governor’s absence has not in any way affected the activities of the state”.

From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

was was represented by the BOT Secretary, Mr. Timothy Agbu, said the university was approved as a private university by the Federal Executive Council of Nigeria in June, 2005.

The institution became operational in March 2006 with 61 students and the colleges of Natural Sciences and Management/ Social Sciences.

The Vice-Chancellor of

Kwararafa University, Prof.

Yakubu Ochefu, said: “the donation is a testimony that NDIC shares a vision for educational development, particularly in promoting science and technology”.

Ochefu said the university needs another N27 million to furnish and equip the laboratory building.

He urged other stakeholders and the government to emulate the NDIC.

everlasting break from the political oppression of the North”.

Omababa added: “We have resolved to stand on our own and not follow any region again. We are no more willing to be the tools of the North again”.

The North, he said, only align with them when it is time for census, election and to gain upper hand in the domination of the political space.

The youths also vowed to prevent “illegal transfer’’ of the oil wells in Ibaji to Anambra State.

They claimed the village is in Kogi East but grossly neglected by the government, a development, they alleged, that is making Anambra make claims on it.

They vowed to mobilise youths in the area to protect the oil wells.

NAMBRA State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, has called on organisations, the Federal Government and the International community to rescue the state from flooding.

He said Anambra is the worst affected by the current flood ravaging many parts of the nation.

Obi spoke yesterday during a tour of affected local governments of Ayamelu, Ogbaru, Anambra West and Anambra East.

He said he was calling off a trip to Mexico to oversee rescue missions.

According to him: “The only trip I am disposed to undertaking for now is answering calls to help the affected communities or for discussions on how to mitigate the suffering of those affected.”

The governor held meetings with stakeholders at the communities he visited on possible way of rendering immediate assistance.

He set up camps for the displaced and sent vehicles and boats to evacuate those trapped, while ordering cabinet members to stay with affected communities.

According to him: “We will continue to do everything possible to see that our people are taken care of even if it means borrowing this time around.”

NEWS REVIEW

9

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

•Akinwunmi

hungry man is indeed an angry man.

Unfortunately, the signs of hunger are vividly painted and etched on the face of the common man on a daily basis.

First, it was the news of the ban of imported wheat which affected bread, indomie and other pastas. The price of bread soared to the rooftop, it shrunk in size and then the taste of cassava in the loaf became another bone of contention.

A visit to markets across the country reveals a nominal price hike in food prices. Foodstuffs like beans have indeed risen in price almost 100 per cent. The rising prices are quite disturbing.

The northern part of the country undisputedly is the food basket of this country. Unfortunately, the Boko Haram crisis has affected farmers in the region and agriculture has been adversely affected. Just when the traders were trying to find solutions to this problem, the floods crept in, thus causing more havoc.

So when the Federal Government raised the alarm of an impending food scarcity in 2013 during the week, it was indeed a confirmation of the people's fear.

One obvious reason experts point at is the disastrous effect of flooding experienced in some parts of the country this year.

One of those affected is Kogi State, and those in charge have

A

Nigeria’s looming food crisis

In the past few weeks there have been all kinds of alarm pointing towards a food crisis next year.Yetunde Oladeinde takes a look at the problem and implications for the nation. decided to put measures in place to reduce the effect of the flooding that has ravaged the state, and consequently food products.

The devastating effects of flooding caused by heavy rainfall is indeed a great source of concern. It has submerged many farmlands and calls for serious attention if famine must be averted in the country.

Is there a way out of this imminent famine? Experts say that a post flood management mechanism should be put in place to address the food shortage.

Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia

believes that there is need for a national debate to address this food security threat. 'Where you have in a country, well over 5000 farmlands washed away, then the chances are that there is cause for attention. It is of national interest. So, all what we are saying is that it is a national emergency. It calls for sober reflection.’

She adds: "Kogi being the hardest hit and as a way to mitigate the effect, we have keyed into a programme to access the rapid maturity of seedlings to enable fast growth of farm products.’

In Adamawa you also find another moving story of sorrow

and tears told by farmers who lost almost everything to flood.

The Director of Agriculture, Dr Walia Hamman, reveals that the flood has affected almost half of the state and thousands of farms totally submerged or washed away.

"According to the report reaching us from our staff across the state, between 30 and 50 thousand tons of maize, rice and other food crops were likely to be lost to the flood."

While proffering solution to the problem, Hamman advises government and those in authorities to come up with a new agricultural insurance scheme

which would take care of rural farmers as well as facilitate relief whenever there is a national disaster.

During the week, two hundred scientists from 33 countries gathered in Abeokuta, Ogun State, to share experiences and develop strategies that would contribute to sustainable root and tuber crops development.

The forum which was the 16th triennial symposium of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops (ISTRC).

The Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, assured that the Federal Government had put adequate measures in place to transform the sector.

For Yomi Akanni, a businessman, it is better to save crops for the rainy day. "Most times, you discover that there are a lot of products that are wasted because the rural people do not have means of preservation.

Food preservation which is the process of treating and handling food to slow down food spoilage is very important.

It would also help to prevent the growth of bacteria, fungi and other micro organisms.’’

He further added: "We also need to encourage people to do some subsistence farming. This is a form of farming in which nearly all of the crops or livestock raised are used to maintain the farmer and the farmer's family, leaving little or nothing for sale. Pre-industrial agricultural peoples throughout the world have traditionally practiced subsistence farming.’’

Interestingly, the food crisis which is predicted to be catastrophic is not limited to Nigeria. Is the threat for real or are people just crying wolf? It is actually a global trend and there is anxiety everywhere.

Increasing global population and climate change have led to droughts in many countries.

About a month ago, the heads of three United Nations agencies, Gen. Graziano da Silva, Kanayo Nwanze and Ertharin Cousins called for swift international action to prevent a world food crisis.

The arguments of the experts who work with the UN World Food Programme (WEP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is that there is an urgent need to prevent the rising food prices from hurting tens of millions of people in the coming months.

"The current situation in world food markets, characterised by sharp increases in maize, wheat and soyabeans prices, has raised fears of a repeat of the 2007-2008 world food crisis.

To prevent a food crisis, therefore, it is necessary to address both the immediate and long term issues. There must also be a coordinated response by food producers to deal with hike in food prices.

10

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

News Review

Frustrated pilgrims, flash floods Three killed in fresh church bomb attack

T

HREE worshippers lay dead at St. John's Catholic Church, Bauchi, last Sunday, after a suicide bomber smashed his bombladen car into a barricade at the church just after the first service for the day. The police said 46 others were injured, two of them policemen. Security sources and worshippers said the casualty figure would have been higher but for the barricade.

Floods submerge Abuja-Lokoja road

UNDER WATER WORLD A man carries another through floodwater as the swell of the River Ouse flows through the city of York, England. Thousands of people around the UK are enduring problems caused by flooding, although forecasters predict the worst of the rain is over in the most intense September storm in 30 years. Photo: Getty Images

T

HOUSANDS of travellers were left stranded on the strategic AbujaLokoja road during the week as the Rivers Niger and Benue overflowed their banks, submerging the road, vehicles, hundreds of homes and farms. Vehicular queue at the Lokoja end of the road, at some point, extended as far as Obajana, about 15 kilometres from Lokoja, the confluence town capital of Kogi State. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) had to close the high way to traffic in view of the attendant risk of allowing vehicles to wade through the water.

35 Boko Haram members killed in security crackdown

A

security crackdown swept through Adamawa and Yobe States on Monday in the latest of the strategy to neutralise the Islamist sect, Boko Haram. Thirty-five members of the sect were killed in a gun battle with security operatives who were on a house-to-house search for terrorists and their arms.156 others were arrested during the raid. A kingpin of the group named Abubakar Yola, alias Abu Jihad, was gunned down by security agents during a shoot-out in Mubi, Adamawa State. Seized from the sect were over 300 improvised explosive devices,25 assorted rifles, and over 2000 daggers, swords, bows and arrows.

Jonathan visits First Lady in Germany

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday visited his ailing wife, Patience, who has been receiving treatment in a German hospital for about a month. The President who was on his way to New York, USA, to attend the first-ever High Level Plenary Session of the United Nations on the Rule of Law, had a stop-over in Germany to see his wife. Her condition is yet to be made public.

PHCN: FirstBank, Otedola, Elumelu win with $1.11b bids

T

HE National Council on Privatisation (NCP) on Tuesday named successful bidders for five of the six unbundled Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) generating firms - Geregu, Ughelli, Sapele, Shiroro and Kainji.The successful bidders are: Transcorp/WoodRock/ Symbion Power /Medea/PSL/Thomasen Consortium for Ughelli at a cost of $300million; Amperion Power Distribution which includes Forte Oil won the bid for Geregu with $132million;CMEC/Eurafric Energy JV for the bid for Sapele Power Plc with an offer of $201million;North-South Power Company got the bid for Shiroro Power Plant for $23.6millio ;and Mainstream Energy Solution Ltd won the bid for Kainji with an offer of $50.7million.

Bakassi: Senate asks Fed Govt to appeal

T

HE Senate resolved on Wednesday that Nigeria should appeal the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling that gave Bakassi to Cameroun. Nigeria has up till October 10, the tenth anniversary

of the ruling, to file an appeal .The House of Representatives had earlier taken a similar position. The Senate argued that the appeal was in the best interest of Nigerians in the affected areas, including Bakassi.

CAPTURED ATTACK Iran to 'retaliate' if attacked by Israel Kenyan troops backed by

I

RAN has vowed to "retaliate" against any attack after Israel's prime minister called for a "red line" to prevent it from acquiring a nuclear bomb.

Eshagh Al Habib, the Iranian deputy ambassador to the UN, said on Thursday that his country "is strong enough to defend itself and reserves its full right to retaliate with full force against any attack.’’

Habib, who denied any nuclear military programme, told the UN General Assembly (UNGA) that Israel is a "regime which is based on terrorism and is the father founder of state terrorism in the world.’’

He said Iran's nuclear programme was "exclusively peaceful and in full conformity with our international obligations.’’

The Iranian envoy accused Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, of making " b a s e l e s s allegations" against Iran during a firebrand speech to the UN assembly earlier in the day.

Netanyahu called for "a clear red line on Iran's nuclear weapons programme" in his address to the 193member assembly.

African Union forces

K

ENYAN and Somali troops have captured Somalia's southern port city of Kismayo, the last bastion of al-Shabab fighters, Kenya's military spokesman has said.

"Reports that Kismayo fell today to Kenyan Defence Forces and Somali government troops is indeed very true," Cyrus Oguna, military spokesman, told Kenya's Citizen television.

Oguna said that the troops

had entered Kismayo early on Friday.

Al Jazeera's Catherine Soi, reporting from Nairobi, said Kenyan forces faced "minimum resistance [but] have not yet taken the whole of Kismayo".

There have not yet been any reports of casualties in the operation which has seen the group surrounded from three sid es, 4km outside the city.

"Now we hear shelling from the ships and they [rebels] are responding with anti-aircraft guns," Ismail Suglow told a news agency.

T

HE authorities in Saudi Arabia have rejected about 1500 Nigerian pilgrims, most of them women, ahead of this year's hajj.159 of such women have already been sent back home from Medina, Saudi's second holiest city. The host country said the Nigerian women were not

ASYLUM

UK and Ecuador fail to agree on Assange’s fate

B

RITAIN and Ecuador have failed to reach agreement on the fate of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at a meeting of their foreign ministers, officials say.

"We see no immediate solution," Ecuadoran Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino told reporters after meeting on Thursday with British Foreign Secretary William Hague on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Assange has been sheltered inside the Ecuadoran embassy in London since June 19.

Though Ecuador has granted Assange asylum, if he steps outside the building he will be arrested to be flown to Sweden, where he is wanted in court over rape and sexual misconduct allegations.

Assange fears that could lead to extradition to the US, where he could face charges stemming from WikiLeaks' publication of thousands of diplomatic cables that laid bare W a s h i n g t o n ' s powerbroker manoeuvers across the globe.

a

s

ail to s fate

t on the fate of f their foreign

nister Ricardo ritish Foreign ral Assembly. sy in London

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

News Review

and PHCN bid war Nigeria stops Hajj flights over deportations

T

HE National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has suspended pilgrimage flights to Saudi Arabia after hundreds of women from the African country were prevented by the authorities in the Gulf kingdom from proceeding with their pilgrimage.

In a statement on Friday, the commission described the situation as an "unprecedented and worrisome development,’’ adding that the suspension would enable it to "appraise the situation critically.’’

Uba Mana, a spokesman for the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, said on Thursday that Saudi immigration officials at King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah refused the women

entry, saying they were not travelling with a husband or male relative.

An official put the number of the would-be-pilgrims at 509.

The first batch flew home on Wednesday, officials said.

Goodluck Jonathan, the Nigerian president, had set up a five-member team to negotiate with the Saudi authorities, an official statement said.

The women denounced their treatment in the hands of the Saudi authorities, with one traveller saying they had been treated as criminals.

Some of the women said they had been kept at Jeddah airport for as long as five days, under what they said were humiliating conditions.

Pope's ex-butler on trial for theft over Vatican leaks

T

Saudi rejects 1500 Nigerian pilgrims accompanied by their husbands or male relations.1000 others are stranded in Jeddah while another 500 would-be-pilgrims were prevented from entering Saudi Arabia.

HE trial began Saturday for Pope Benedict XVI's former butler over the alleged leaking of hundreds of secret papers from the Pope's personal apartment to an Italian journalist.

The butler, Paolo Gabriele, could face a sentence of up to eight years in an Italian prison if convicted, although it is possible the Pope could choose to pardon him. He is charged with aggravated theft.

Gabriele did not enter a plea but has admitted leaking the papers to the Vatican prosecutor, according to Vatican statements.

Vatican computer technician Claudio Sciarpelletti, who worked in the Vatican's secretariat of state, is also on trial, accused of complicity in the crime. If found guilty, he faces a shorter prison term of only a few months.

The Gabriele case is thought to be the most significant ever heard in the Vatican City courthouse, which has handled

mostly petty theft cases in the past.

Corruption claims based on the leaked documents rocked the Catholic Church hierarchy and could even affect who becomes the next Pope.

Pope's butler leaked papers to shock 'corrupt' church Saturday's initial session was held under closely controlled conditions, with only a handful of approved reporters allowed to attend.

Those reporters later briefed other journalists on the proceedings. They had been made to hand over their own pens in exchange for Vaticanissue ones in case any contained concealed listening devices, the reporters said.

They recounted that the three lay judges, led by Giuseppe Dalla Torre, heard that Vatican investigators had seized 82 boxes of various sizes of evidence from Gabriele's apartments in Vatican City and Castel Gondolfo, a small town near Rome.

11

THE WEEK IN QUOTES "Out of the existing 62 political parties in Nigeria, 30 of them are owned by the PDP out of which just nine have functional offices in Abuja, while the rest have their offices in their briefcases."

—Chief Dan Nwanyawu, National Chairman of Labour Party, arguing in favour of a two-party system in Nigeria.

"The Information Minister is a careless talker. He is extremely careless. He didn't think through what he was saying. It is not in his place to tell us what the effects of or resolutions are. He is not to educate us.

We are to educate him."

—Senate President David Mark on the Minister's statement that the Senate resolution halting the N5000 banknote was not binding on the executive arm.

"I know that there are circumstances that the resolutions of the National Assembly carry force of law. There are resolutions that are meant as guidelines, but in any case it does not mean that the president would not obey them. It was never intended to disrespect the Senate."

—Information Minister Labaran Maku apologising to the Senate on his statement that the Senate resolution on the N5000 banknote was not binding on the executive.

•Labaran

•Mark

•Dan

BIAFRA DISPUTE RETURN Eto'o announces his Chinua Achebe publishes China accuses Japan Biafran memoir of stealing islands comeback for Cameroon

R

ENOWNED Nigerian author Chinua Achebe has published his longawaited memoir, There Was a Country, about the brutal three-year Biafran war.

He acted as roving cultural ambassador for Biafra when the south-eastern area tried to split from Nigeria in 1967.

For more than 40 years he has remained silent about his war experiences.

One of Africa's best known authors, Mr Achebe's debut 1958 novel, Things Fall Apart has sold more than 10 million

C

copies.

It has been translated into more than 50 languages and focuses on the traditions of Igbo society and the clash between Western and traditional values.

The prizing-winning 81-year-old author and academic has written more than 20 works - some fiercely critical of politicians and a failure of leadership in Nigeria.

But he has never addressed the atrocities of the Biafran war, in which he was caught up with his young family - except occasionally in his poetry.

HINA has taken a bitter territorial dispute with Japan to the UN General Assembly, with Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi accusing Tokyo of stealing disputed islands.

The Japanese government's purchase of the East China Sea islands from a private owner has infuriated the Beijing government and sparked violent protests in several Chinese cities. "China strongly urges Japan to immediately stop all activities that violate China's territorial sovereignty, take concrete actions to correct its mistakes and return to the track of resolving the dispute through negotiation," Yang told the UN assembly on Thursday.

China has demanded the return of the islands, known as the Diaoyu in Chinese and the Senkaku in Japanese, for decades.

Yang reaffirmed his country's historical claim that Japan tricked his country into signing a treaty ceding the islands in 1895.

C

AMEROON striker Samuel Eto'o has announced he has ended his self-imposed international exile.

Eto'o missed last month's 20 loss to Cape Verde in their 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifier first leg in protest against the national team set-up.

But the 31-year-old has been persuaded by Cameroon's government to return.

"On the request of the highest authority of the Republic, I make myself available to the Indomitable Lions," Eto'o said on his website.

"I am encouraged by my desire to serve my country with the same faith, ardour and determination of 15 years ago."

Eto'o's decision comes after he met with Cameroon's Prime Minister Philemon Yang, Minister of Sports Adoum Garoua and the Cameroon team manager Rigobert Song and coach Jean Paul Akono.

12

News

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

UNIBEN seeks N1.3bn to tackle erosion

Kano targets 6 million kids for Polio vaccination

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

T

HE University of Benin is seeking N1.3bn to tackle gully erosion threatening the Ugbowo main campus of the institution.

It said five buildings in the staff quarters within the institution have been abandoned following the encroachment of gully into the university.

Public Relations Officer of the institution, Harris Osarenren, who conducted newsmen round the erosionravaged areas in the institution, said the gully started from outside the university and has taken much of its land.

He disclosed part of a perimeter fence of the university has also been destroyed.

According to him: “We have been writing letters to organisations for assistance but no help has come.

“If nothing is done to check this gully, we might have to relocate from the Ugbowo campus and we all know the enormous cost it would take owing to the infrastructure in this place.”

Bende council workers protest over nonpayment of salaries Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

T

HE workers of Bende Local Government Area of Abia State have called for the immediate sack of their transition chairman, Ikerionwu Okarime, for not paying their salaries since April this year.

The workers, who staged a peaceful protest to Government House Umuahia, asked Governor Theodore Orji to intervene in the matter and save their lives by removing the council chairman whom they alleged was not working hand in hand with the state government.

They said some workers, who were captured by the biometrics were not paid their salaries too, alleging that only few workers received salaries, despite the directive of the chairman of the biometric system and the Chief of Staff at the Government House, Cosmos Ndukwe.

The council workers, who dropped a coffin in front of the chairman’s office, two weeks ago, said they are not kicking against the biometrics exercise but would want their salaries released and wondered why the chairman should hold their salaries for so long.

The chairman had about four months ago returned the sum of N3.5 million to the state government as excess funds, but the workers said that the man was only trying to be praised as the money was meant for their allowances and staff welfare.

The angry workers, who carried placards with various inscriptions, expressing their anger, accused the transition council chairman, Ikerionwu Okaremia, of “sitting on their salaries” ostensibly to earn huge interest from the bank where he kept the money.

K

•Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN discussing with the President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Mr. Goodie Ibru during the Private Sector Stakeholders' Forum on the Lagos Traffic Law at the LCCI Conference & Exhibition Centre in Lagos... at the weekend

Financial irregularities: Lagos Assembly to sanction errant MDAs

T

HE Lagos State House of Assembly will henceforth sanction any Ministry, Department and Agency (MDAs) that fails to update Fixed Assets Register and Unretired Payment Vouchers as such offence would be regarded as negligence of governmental duty.

This was contained in the recommendations of the House Committee on Public Accounts (State), which was presented by the committee chairman, Yusuf Ayinla, at the Committee of the Whole House. Ayinla in the report, which was on the accounts of the state government for the

By Oziegbe Okoeki

year ended 31st December, 2010, disclosed that some MDAs were guilty of certain anomalies that needed urgent intervention.

Some of the anomalies, according to him, include late submission of financial statements, non-reconciliation of bank statements, non-submission of relevant documents with payment vouchers, negligence of accountants and internal auditors to effectively monitor financial matters in their MDAs, among others.

The House, in its resolutions, resolved that MDAs that

have revenue potentials should henceforth prepare realistic revenue estimates and block loopholes that characterised collection of the state revenues so as to forestall incessant shortfalls.

It was also resolved that all ongoing projects embarked upon by the MDAs in the year under consideration should be expeditiously executed while evidence of completion should be forwarded to the Assembly.

The lawmakers also asked MDAs’ accountants and internal Auditors to ensure that all irregularities found in their accounts during the exercise

should be rectified within two months or face appropriate sanctions.

The lawmakers also admonished internal auditors to ensure regular reconciliation of nominal roll registers with payroll in order to avoid incidence of ghost workers, emphasising that prompt transfers of salaries of officers deployed must be carried out immediately, while unclaimed ones should be remitted to the chests 35 MDAs were indicted in the report due to observations raised by the PAC regarding outstanding issues in their account.

Opposition parties kick against new Bauchi SIEC O

PPOSITION parties in Bauchi State have kicked against the newly appointed members of the State Electoral Independent Commission (SIEC), claiming they are card-carrying members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Bauchi chapters of the

By Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) last Friday unanimously rejected the reconstitution and compo-

sition of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC).

Spokesman of the opposition, Alhaji Nasiru Darazo of the ACN told newsmen in Bauchi that the appointment of only card- carrying mem-

Boko Haram: Okada riders to assist FG leadership of ACOMORAN in OLLOWING growing cases of insurgencies with vital clues South West” by Alh. Sani

F

across the country, occasioned by Boko Haram sect and other criminal elements in the country, the commercial motorcycle operators (Okada riders), under the aegis of Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), have resolved to furnish the federal government with “vital information” that could help bring the situation under control.

This is coming just as the Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Prince Surajudeen Adekumbi, charged members of the association in the state to be vigilant and adopt internal monitoring mechanism to ensure that none yields himself as instrument of criminality.

Adekumbi, who spoke shortly after laying the foundation stone for the N25m Sec-

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

retariat of the state’s ACOMORAN in Abeokuta at the weekend, also charged the body to contribute financially to the Security Trust Fund (STF) of the Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s administration.

On insurgency, the group said the resolve to henceforth assist the governments at all levels with data bordering on “security challenges,” would among other things, be their “contribution” towards ensuring “national progress, love, tranquillity and national interest.”

This was contained in a Communique issued at the end of its tri -ennial National Council Meeting in Garki, Abuja, and made available to The Nation, where they equally declared as null and void, the dissolution of the “legitimate

Hassan and others.

The Communique was signed by ACOMORAN’s leadership - Chief Alfred Opara(Board of Trustees Chairman), Alh. Babangida Shehu Maihula(National President), Alh.Shamsudeen Apelogun(Chairman, South West Zone), Moses Wakama(Chairman South East), Zaid Abubakar(Chairman, Northern States) and Adeosun Egunjobi (BoT member).

And also during the meeting attended by participating leaders from 22 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the Association urged President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene on the side of the Okada riders by helping to lift the restriction of Okada operation in “South - South and South - East regions of Nigerian.”

bers of the PDP into the electoral body clearly exposes the intention of the government to rig and manipulate the forthcoming local government elections.

He said the recent approval of the reconstitution of the state SIEC by the Bauchi State House of Assembly (BAHA) as requested by the executive arm of government in the state was fraudulent.

The BAHA approved the appointment of Alhaji Abdulmumini Kundak as chairman of SIEC. Other members include Alhaji Yerima Misau, Alhaji Shu’aibu Galadima, Alhaji Maikano Baraya, Mr. Idris Madaki, Alhaji Idris Zakarai, Alhaji Ahmed Mu’azu and Alhaji Danlami Iaa Siyi.

The opposition parties appealed to the state government to appoint neutral persons to the commission in the interest of fairness and fair play to create level- playing field for all.

Darazo said: “For now, we have lost confidence in the ability of the state government to be fair to all of us.

“We have no confidence in the present electoral body and we will soon meet to take a common position before the preparation for the election, but we lost confidence in the present SIEC in the state.”

ANO State is targeting 6 million children from ages 1 to 5 in the next vaccination exercise against the dreaded polio disease.

The Commissioner of Health, Dr Abubakar Yusuf, disclosed this to reporters yesterday in Kano.

He said: “Based on census figure, we are targeting 6 million for the vaccination and the state government has released all the necessary funds for the immunisation exercise to all the 42 local government areas.”

He stressed that the government has held series of meetings with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children Educational and Scientific Fund (UNICEF) who are major partners, to ensure the success of the exercise.

The commissioner assured of 100 percent coverage of under - served areas during the exercise using the newly introduced Geographic Information System (GIS).

By using the GIS, Yusuf said: “supervisors will easily know what is happening in the under - served areas, which are the main targets for the exercise.”

He also commended the use of the newly- introduced community- based Tsangaya or Koranic education system aimed towards eradicating polio at the grass root by using Mallams and Imams teaching children within the age bracket.

We’re better prepared to handle floods, Lagos assures

By Miriam Ndikanwu

L

AGOS State has appealed to residents not to panic over persistent downpour and the attendant flooding because measures have been put in place to manage such situations.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the September edition of the sanitation exercise yesterday, the Head of Service, Mr. Adesegun Ogunlewe, said Lagos will not experience the devastating floods recorded in other parts of the nation.

Ogunlewe, who led the monitoring team, said government had cleared many of the drainage channels, adding that expansion of canals is ongoing to tackle the challenges of flooding.

According to him: “We are well prepared and the drains this year have been cleared and we have also warned that all those living close to the canals evacuate those areas for the government to have easy access. We will work to ensure that that flooding is reduced to barest minimum.”

13

COMMENT and ANALYSIS THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Is Nigeria a toilet of a country? ‘’Nigeria is just a toilet of a country where evil reigns’’Lord Apsley ORD Apsley and I were colleagues at Harrow School in England approximately 36 years ago. I have never forgotten his uncharitable remarks about Nigeria which led to a heated arguement between us. At that time I found it ironic, and I still do, that this quintessential member of the English upper class not only had the nerve to say such things to me about my country but that he could say it with such confidence. My response to him was that if Nigeria was indeed a ‘’toilet where evil reigns’’ then it was a toilet that was created by his British forefathers who not only dumped the evil there by defecating in it but who also refused to wash their hands, to flush and to leave the toilet after they had finished. My point was simple and it was that Nigeria was as much their mess as it was ours. For a young man who had been born into wealth and power and who had been brought up to believe that ‘’Brittania’’ had civilised the world and had brought nothing but immense benefits to the natives of her colonies, he found my response most disconcerting. I have never forgotten what he said about my beloved country on that occassion. It was painful and regrettable.

Yet I look at what has happened to us in the last 52 years of our existence as an independent nation and what we have suffered in the last 98 years since the 1914 amalglamation of the northern and southern protectorates and I really do wonder. If the truth must be told, things have not gone too well for us. I was born in the same year as we gained our independence and as I ponder and reflect on the last 52 years all I see is violence, bloodshed, dashed hopes, lost opportunities and shattered dreams. I see a brutal civil war in which two million people died. I see a string of violent military coups and repressive military dictatorships and I see suspicion and division between the peoples of the north and the south. I see dangerous tensions between the numerous ethnic nationalities, continous strife and sectarian violence. I see church bombings, the slaughter of the innocents, islamic fundamentalist rebellions, battle-ready ethnic militias and bloodthirsty local war lords. I see economic degradation, decaying infrastructures, environmental disasters and untold suffering and hardship. And finally I see poverty and unemployment, poor quality leadership and a dysfunctional semi-failed state which is still struggling to find it’s true identity. If this sounds like a scene from Dante’s hell please forgive me but this is what I see.

On October 1st every year we make nostalgic and inspirational speeches about the ‘’labours of our heroes past’’, pop the champagne, pat each other on the back, go to churches and mosques to give thanks to God, dance at owambe parties and congratulate one another on our independence. Yet we refuse to sit back in deep reflection, take stock of what has really been going on in our country and carry out an honest and candid appraisal of our situation. We are not ‘’a toilet of a country where evil reigns’’ but we must admit that we are in a mess. A really terrible mess. And the question is why are we in such a mess, how did we get there, why have we not been able to get out of it in 52 years and what role did our former colonial masters play, and are still playing, in creating and sustaining that mess.That is the subject of this essay.

If we want to answer these questions we must go back to the beginning. The problem is that the British established a faulty foundation for Nigeria right from the start which they knew could not produce anything wholesome. The Nigeria that they handed over to us in 1960 was nothing but an unworkable artificial state and a “poisoned chalice”. It was destined to fail right from the

Lekan Otufodunrin Otufodunrin@thenationonlineng.net 08023000621 (SMS only)

Calling NYSC

L

L

•MKO Abiola

By Femi Fani-Kayode

outset. Worse still they handed us that poisoned chalice with a malicious and mischevous intent and without any recourse to our people in terms of any form of a national referendum. The British did the same thing in varying degrees when they left virtually each and every one of their other ‘’third world’’ colonies. The most obvious cases however were Nigeria, the Sudan, India and the nation that was formerly known as Malaya. Every single one of these four countries had monuemental problems with sustaining their unity after independence and all of them, with the exception of Nigeria, were compelled to break up into smaller entities before they could bring out the best in themselves as a people and fully exercise their human potentials. Consequently India broke up into three and became India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, the Sudan broke into two and became Southern Sudan and the Sudan and Malaya broke into two and became Malaysia and Singapore. Nigeria is yet to find the courage and fortitude to go that far and whether we will eventually break up or not remains to be seen.

Yet the truth is that when you force two incompatibles with completely different world views together into an unhappy marriage, lock the gates of the house, throw away the keys and bestow leadership upon a “poor husband” to rule over a ‘’rich wife’’ in perpetuity, you are looking for trouble. The bible says “if the foundation be faulty what can the righteous do?” Our foundation as a nation is faulty and the consequence of that is that everything that is built on that faulty foundation is unproductive, unsustainable and unpleasant. And until that foundation is fixed the biblical ‘’righteous’’, no matter how well intentioned, can do nothing about it. It will always be a case of one step forward and ten steps back. Some have made the point that what exists in the Nigerian space today was once a collection of confederations and that our level of integration centuries before the British came to our shores was far greater than many care to admit. This may be true but upon their arrival the British, rather than build on that and allow us to forge a united nation ourselves based on dialogue, trust and consensus, instead played up our differences, drove us further apart, set us against each other all the more and compelled us to remain in the same cage hoping that we would eventually kill each other in the process.

The result of the amalgamation was therefore predictable. It was either that the “poor husband” (the north) would fully subjugate

•Awolowo

and eventually kill the “rich wife”(the south) or the “rich wife” would fully subjugate and eventually kill the “poor husband”. And we are right in the middle of that struggle for mutual subjugation till today. In 1960 the British ensured that power was handed over to the most pliable region at the Federal level by establishing an alliance with the northern traditional institutions and political ruling elite and fixing the census figures in their favour. Consequently by 1960 we had a situation where the well-educated, enlightened, progressive and predominantly christian south was played out through intrigue, deceit and fixed census figures and instead power was given to a fatalistic and ultra-conservative muslim north who were prepared to do anything the British wanted them to do, who had already overwhelmed and supressed their own ethnic and christian minority groups and whose major preoccupation was to dominate and control the entire federation, to keep the south out of power at the centre and to “dip the koran in the Atlantic ocean”. It did not stop there.

Even after the British left in 1960 they continued to meddle in our affairs and they encouraged, sponsored and supported a string of repressive military regimes, all of which derived their power from a northern-controlled army officers corps whose retired generals, up until today, are the ones that determine who will be what in our country. That is our story. Some have argued that despite the ignoble intentions of the British we ought to have been able to sort out our own problems 52 years after they left us. This is a good point. It does however betray a tinge of naivety and a lack of appreciation of just how chronic those problems were right from the start and just how malevolent a hand the British dealt us. I say this because the bitter truth is that the system in Nigeria cannot be changed simply because the forces that have controlled our country since 1960 are deeply conservative and the foundation and the structure upon which she has been established has been designed in such a way that makes radical and fundamental change impossible. Some have compared Nigeria to a badly wounded, gangerous and dieased leg which can only be cured through restructuring or which needs to be cut off in order to save the rest of the body. The consequence of doing neither is death for the whole body. It follows that the only way real change can come is if the country is broken up into two or more independent nations or, if we insist on remaining as one, through the auspices of a peoples revolution (our very own ‘’Nigerian Spring’’, Continued on page 67

AST Wednesday, Served, a book on the compulsory one-year national youth service experience of Joe Agbro Jnr, a staff of The Nation, was presented in Lagos.

At a time when many are questioning the relevance of the scheme and calling for its discontinuation, Agbro Jnr deserves commendation for publishing a book which makes a good case for the retention of the service.

The interesting experiences he shared in the book confirm how the service has truly been an opportunity for young Nigerians to know more about the people and places of the country. That Agbo Jnr from Delta State who grew up in Lagos still cherishes the year he spent in Ebonyi, which he says is like his second home, confirms that the scheme has indeed been accomplishing the objective of enhancing the unity of the country.

By the time I went for my national youth service in the old Sokoto State in 1985, I had never gone beyond Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States.

Serving in Sokoto gave me a better understanding and appreciation of the northern parts of the country.

Each time I hear of Sokoto, I remember the Bodinga camp, Sokoto township, Illela border town, Kaura Namoda, now in Zamfara State and many other places I visited during the service.

Years after the service, I keep running into the people we served together in Sokoto, some of whom we have remained friends.

While some of us like Joe Agbro Jnr would want the scheme retained, there is need for an overhaul of the service.

Recent cases of killings of corps members in the north have made it imperative for the issue of security of the young graduates to be taken more seriously.

In deploying corps members, priority should be given to places where their security can be guaranteed. State governments and communities that cannot protect corps members don’t deserve to have them posted to their states.

The welfare of the corps members who have accepted to serve their country should be given better attention. Much as we want to expose them to the reality of the situation in the country, the orientation camps should have basic amenities.

The situation where camps don’t have water, toilets and other basic facilities despite the yearly allocations for Orientation Camps is not good enough. Their allowances have to be paid promptly instead of subjecting them to hardship occasioned by delays like the recent case when they waited for another month before they were paid.

Unfortunately, when some corps members after waiting endlessly for an official explanation wrote about their plight, the NYSC in Ebonyi State for example invoked the provision of a bye law to extend the service of Samson Folarin, a graduate of University of Lagos, for a month without pay.

The punishment for Folarin and some corps members over the years like that of another excorps member in Sokoto who also wrote about the extension of his service for a similar reason is unjust.

If the NYSC fails to discharge its responsibilities to the corps members who are far away from where they can get money to take care of themselves, it is not right to penalise them for speaking out. If the corps members can write about the positive sides of their service years and not get punished, it is wrong for them to be punished when they draw attention to lapses.

The bye law being invoked by the NYSC which says corps members should not grant press interviews on the policies of the organisation needs to be reviewed. Despite all efforts made by Joe Agbo Jnr, the national, state and local government levels of the NYSC were not represented at the launch of his book. The lack of interest of the NYSC in a book that will prepare future corps members for the year ahead of them and those who are about to begin their service is not the way to reward young people like Agbo, who have opted to remain patriotic to their fatherland despite the challenges they have faced.

Served or any other that has been written about the one-year service year is a book every intending and serving corps member should read if the NYSC gets it acts right.

14

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Comment & Analysis

Ogochukwu Ikeje ohgeeoh@gmail.com 08084235961 (SMS only)

E

VERY Sunday I put out my views and perspectives on the nation and its affairs in this space. And every Sunday you, the reader, indulge me, firing back your views and perspectives on my position. Those observations, revered and applauded, are, however, not often heard. Today, they will as you take over the space.

The editions of September 16 (Who will stop this national dishonour?) and September 23 (The joy of listening) remarkably stirred the readers, triggering a near deluge of reactions.

However, only some of those reactions will be printed here due to space constraints.

Who will stop this national dishonour?

You have spoken the minds of all Nigerians in the categories of middle and lower classes. In fact, it is nauseating. God bless you more. +2348066210767 Great article. The press, however, appeared to have missed the biggest ‘fart’ in the national honours list and that was the award to the chairman of the African Liberation Party who just happened to have been the same guy who took the legislature to court in a bid to prevent impeachment proceedings against Jonathan.

SFB +2348087426905 Mr Ogochukwu, I love your article.

Permit me to say this, the president does not care about us and our yearnings; each

Now, it’s your turn president wants to outdo the other on failure. Imagine an honour Prof Chinua Achebe has turned down twice. I liken the president to that king in the Bible that prepared a banquet and invited guests who turned him down…What did he do but send his servants, go into the streets, bring everybody you see to come feast on my table…and who did they bring, executive thieves, petroleum subsidy robbers, sycophants, bribe takers, treasury looters, etc.

The joy of listening The kind of listening we need from our leaders is not the one after they have fumbled like the decision to print N5000 naira [note]. The fact is that our leaders arrogate to themselves wisdom that nobody else has. In this sense, they are the most foolish.

Remi Rominiyi, Egbeda, Ibadan +2348124253384 President Jonathan says he is the most criticised president in the world. It’s simply because he hardly listens. Now that he has listened on the N5000 note and the bastardising of the national awards, he will begin to experience the joy of listening. The more he opens his ears, the less the critiques, the better his government and the more peace he enjoys.

Dr. Charles Uka, Owerri +2348033524655 It’s a good decision to halt Sanusi’s N5000 note. It is now a rested issue. Let him not bring another controversial policy.

Thanks to the National Assembly for their wise action. This annual award should be stopped for now because the system is being abused…honouring people with questionable character. A committee should screen well before coming out with names.

The reader takes over Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State +2348084475093 I totally disagree. The president has no listening ear at all! It was the intervention of the National Assembly and because the impeachment threat is still on the burners, that is why he soft-pedalled.

Remember oil subsidy of January.

F. Dare, Kaduna+2348095294338 Democracy is the government of the people which means leadership is about listening to the yearnings of the people.

Simplicita. The citizenry have spoken with one voice against negative policies that would further impoverish their lives.

Laide Owadusi, Esq. +2348021483687 The government in any civilised and even in semi-civilised state is expected to be the spokesman of the people. When what the government says or does contradicts the people’s wish, the government, and not the people, should make amends.

Sofor Victor +2348034487157 About the N5000 note suspension by the President, I believe it is the presidential language of having it dead and buried. I want Sanusi to take note of that. He has sworn that come what may, Jan. 2013 would see the introduction of this currency. It made many of us to think, whose interest is he serving? Is it his or the public? Any public officer that does not have the people in mind will ever leave office in disappointment despite his brilliant performance, a lesson to all arrogant opportunists.

Babale Maiungwa, Kaduna

+2348134184944 May I commend your lucid and exquisite rationcinations of burning issues.

Your choice of words and witty candour is ennobling of a prose and creative pen pusher. However, I don’t share your view that the Presidential directive to suspend the N5000 note and the intended review of the National Honours Award due to public outcry is indicative of a listening FG. The feeble rethink and capitulation was due to the intervention of the NASS, especially the lower chamber that already has an impeachment issue with Mr. President. His stance on the oil protest and the PCA, Ayo Salami, among other blunders, will remain a puzzle to all fair-minded compatriots.

Ayo Aregbesola, Akure +2347062272073 You are mistaken, Mr. Ikeje, Jonathan only listens to himself, all are gimmicks towards public acceptance and perhaps, consideration for his 2015 hallucinations.

Wole St. Jones, Lagos+2348033264813 Listening president? The presidency is as confused as the president. If a committee can be set up to screen, why didn’t they do so before dishing awards to friends and political supporters? As for the N5000 note, he did so to save his ass or the NASS will have many reasons to send him packing. If he is a listening president, he should settle the queues at the filling stations, tackle insecurity, give good power supply, build infrastructure, reduce unemployment and make life bearable for Nigerians.

It’s hurting but our leaders are liars and execuTHIEVES. Dr. D.D. Ogbu, Maitama, Abuja +2348029554857

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Comment & Analysis

15

Resurrecting Bakassi The challenge now should be how to get the people on their feet again

T

HE clamour that Nigeria should appeal the judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which ceded the Bakassi peninsula to Cameroun in 2002 is approaching hysteria. For those convinced on the need for Nigeria to seek a review of the judgment, the opportunity for appeal, which closes in a few days time must be explored, regardless of the chances of success.

Many others however believe that there are no new facts to be put forward for the ICJ to review the judgment and as such the nation should come to terms with the loss of Bakassi. On our part, we are yet to see any compelling new evidence why the judgment of the ICJ could be upturned on appeal.

The opportunity that was open to Nigeria under international law was to have refused, ab initio, to submit to the jurisdiction of the ICJ, considering the history of the peninsula. But of course, it is commonly believed that those who stood to gain materially gave all the assurances that the trial would be a walk-over, regardless of historical missteps. Having submitted to the jurisdiction of the court, and lost; we hope the new demand for a fresh legal battle is not to gift some Nigerians an opportunity to gain, while the country loses face in the international arena.

More critically, in our view, is the failure of the Federal Government to keep her promise to protect and rehabilitate the people of Bakassi after the judgment was given in Cameroun’s favour.

For us, and we guess many Nigerians, it is unacceptable that the promises made by the government to resettle the people have so far amounted to mere political hyperboles. We believe the people of Bakassi were shortchanged historically by trading their territory for gains for the country in the past; and it would amount to political perfidy to gloss over their present plight, as if it is a natural disaster, for which the country

E

VERY Igbo knows one way or the other, it is a matter of time before the language goes extinct. The factors that would lead to these are not farfetched. On many occasions we have tried to bring the attention of those that matter to this issue through the media. One can only hope that someday the right choices will be made. Igbo has a rich cultural heritage that dates back to the 30th century. Around the 9th century, bronzes found at Igbo-Ukwu were used to make items like iron swords, bronze and copper vases and ornament. The Portuguese explorers made contact with Igbos in 1434 long before the Atlantic slave trade exports that took millions of Igbo people including other Africans to America.

Although historians of Igbo culture have not agreed on their exact origin some believe

T

is helpless.

Under international law, the people inhabiting that territory have a right to choose their future; whether to become Camerounians or remain Nigerians, or even become an independent state were the parameters realisable. But having been Nigerians all their lives, the people obviously prefer to remain Nigerians, even though no official plebiscite has been conducted. But by the implication of the judgment and that choice, they have turned to Nigerians living in a foreign territory, and this has seriously eroded their rights to engage in their main economic activity which is fishing within the waters abutting the peninsula.

It is even more embarrassing that while Nigeria under the so-called Green Tree agreement, was working assiduously to hand over the territory affected by the judgment to Cameroun, it neglected to put in place a clear roadmap to protect the rights and interests of the people still living on the peninsula. Unfortunately, the people of Bakassi displaced by decisions beyond their control have become soft targets for Camerounian gendarmes, and that is totally unacceptable. In our TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

•Editor Festus Eriye •Deputy Editor Olayinka Oyegbile •Associate Editors Taiwo Ogundipe Sam Egburonu

•Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi

LETTERS

view, Nigerians, wherever they may reside, deserve protection from their government; and while working out modalities for a permanent solution to the crisis, a strong and clear message must be sent to the Camerounian political authorities to rein in their security agencies.

Unfortunately, many public figures in the region are using the crisis for political mileage.

For them, what is important is that they are seen to be politically correct, even when their positions are untenable or even dubious. Again, some politicians or interests who are removed from the direct effects of the crisis are not disposed to treating the crisis as a national emergency, and tend to downplay the situation. As the nation swings between the two political extremes, the people of Bakassi are left to suffer the misjudgments of a political leadership that has shown lack of capacity to promote and protect its citizens in dire straits.

We earnestly urge the Federal Government to immediately fulfill its obligations to the people of Bakassi. That obligation will include, adequately resettling them and providing a tenable environment for their economic activities.

Again, their natural rights protected under international law must be respected by the Camerounians at a clear behest of Nigeria’s leadership. There is also the need to provide for adequate compensation and protection of their cultural rights, including retrieving physical totems where possible, for transfer to the new territory that will be provided for them.

For us, it is important that the choice of the people of Bakassi to remain Nigerians does not lead to regret because of the nonchalant attitude of those in authority. As we await the actions of the Federal Government to protect the rights of the Bakassi people, we hope it will be guided by patriotic pragmatism.

Imminent death of Igbo Language that they have been located around the Niger-Benue confluence. Hence, due to population pressure, they migrated through the Niger. But generally, history tells us that many of these tribes supposedly came from different parts of Africa many centuries ago.

Several history books claim that these tribes originated from Sudan, Egypt, North Africa and other territories. Nevertheless the Igbos, Hausas and Yorubas were among the early settlers in Nigeria. It is part of our history that Igbos have manifested their zest for adventure and industry in their roles as national public servants, educators, captains of industry and commerce and phi-

lanthropists.

The colonial contact brought many changes in the traditions of Igbo people. With the arrival of a new culture, the Igbo traditional beliefs, religion, family structure and functions including social stratification were all affected. The gradual substitution of new status values for the old in the areas most exposed to the foreign rule had infectious impact.

For instance, the modern Igbo with his Christian education and western orientations have the belief that the good will be rewarded in heaven while the bad will end up in hell after the judgment day whereas, the traditional Igbo believe in the ideology that the spirit goes

neither to heaven nor hell but comes back on earth to join his lineage.

Another thing is our adventurous nature. The Igbo people are increasingly mobile, they were found in all parts of the country before the civil war broke out. They are also presently found in many African countries particularly Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia and Dakar. Unfortunately, not much is done by the Igbos outside to preserve their culture and language especially to their new born. This is because they are traders and industrialists, they tend to blend with their immediate environment in all ramifications.

Their dressing, language and

tradition gradually fade. The most unfortunate and a major contributor is the fact that most Igbos do not visit home often, they stay many years without a single visit. Some have never been to their hometown because of a misguided belief that their hometown is bewitched and ridden with evil spirits.

Igbos accept changes so easily and adapt to them. They readily embrace the western type of education through Christian philosophy of evangelism. This is what is depicted in our home videos today. There has been no effort by the Nollywood directors and writers to educate us a little about our history, one that will make people see and

LASSA, please check indecent advertising

HERE is no doubt that the administration of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola has been doing its best to make Lagos State live to its lingo as the ‘State of Excellence’. However, there are some salient untoward happenings which urgently require the attention of the State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASSA) and by extension, the State House of Assembly. It is common to find boutique managers displaying

openly dummies of naked women, all in the name of doing business. This is bad for children and teenagers who are passersby on streets and roads where such boutiques are located.

Managers of such boutiques also fail to realize that this not only give a bad image to the state but also portrays the country in bad light. This unfortunate development in the state, and possibly in other states in the

country, becomes worrisome when it is common to find law enforcement agents such as the police, staff of KAI (Kick Against Indiscipline), the agency established by the Lagos State government to check acts of indiscipline in the state and who should be courageous enough to check the societal menace by cautioning the boutique managers look the other way.

Another societal menace many are grappling with has to

do with noise pollution from speakers of record sellers. A good example of an area that is notorious for this is Pen Cinema in Agege Local Government Area. The menace is so pronounced that it has become impossible to make or receive calls within 200 metres from all roads in that vicinity.

It is rather unfortunate that rather than the noise pollution menace in the state to abate, it is on the increase and becoming more widespread despite the

firm presence of LASSA that is charged with responsibility of advertising policy in the state.

It is therefore hoped that LASSA will sensitize boutique owners and record sellers on the dire need for decency and decorum to be imbibed in the manner by which products and services are advertised in the state.

Odunayo Joseph Iju, Lagos State.

understand that the region was not completely primitive. No attempt to paint a beautiful picture of the culture and tradition of the Igbos. No attempt to depict the Igbo history based on events that took place in the past.

Another thing is to learn to give honour to whom it is due. Prof. Chinua Achebe, has taken a bold step to regain the pride we once had for our language with a new Igbo dictionary/encyclopaedia. This is very important as Igbo is the only tribe among the three major tribes in the country without a channel on DSTV. The others have Africa Magic in Hausa and Yoruba. Sadly, most of the English speaking Nollywood films are done by Igbo actors and directors. Further steps needs to be taken to ensure that the language is heard on renowned radio network service like BBC, Voice of America and others like German radio, France and Chinese radio if possible. As the Hausa language has achieved success with the Hausa BBC station.

Until we take this issue seriously, we will be working towards the prediction that the Igbo language will go extinct by 2025.

Ugochukwu Obinka Director, Planning and Research

SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 500 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS: sundaynation@yahoo.com

16

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Comment & Analysis

Revisiting our unification policies (2) Ropo Sekoni ropo.sekoni @thenationonlineng.net

T

HE title of last Sunday’s column should have been ‘Revisiting our unification policies1,’ and not ‘Piercing the Fog of Revolution’ that the column carried. Today’s piece is to provide more illustrations to support the thesis of last Sunday’s column; the tendency that our country is moving increasingly in the direction of a Union of policy rather than one of affection, largely because of the failure of civilian governments since 1999 to be more creative and freedom-affirming than the military governments before them.

In an effort to unify a country that had been pushed close to the brinks by rigged elections in 1964 and 1965, the country’s military governments before, during, and after the civil war created policies they considered to be the best ways to create a united nation out of the diverse nationalities amalgamated in 1914. Before the war, the military government, as we posited last week, abolished local and native authority police systems across the country and put the country under one central police, on the excuse that state and local government leaders abused the local police system in the past and in the hope that one central police is better positioned to unify the country and bring justice, fairness, and ef-

About forty years of the NYSC had not produced any concrete evidence that the scheme has achieved its goals ficiency to its law enforcement.

The country has been at the mercy of a police force controlled by the central government ever since. This is despite the fact that the force is visibly incapable of securing citizens and their property or maintaining public order, more so since the emergence of Boko Haram. Even after forty-six years of federal monopoly of law enforcement, several retired military and police officers, as well as anti-federalist political leaders continue to state pontifically that establishing any other layer of police system in the country is tantamount to balkanizing the country.

Three unification policies stand out to be revisited out of the legion initiated between 1973 and 1979: creation of Unity Schools; establishment of compulsory National Youth Service for graduates of tertiary institutions; and federalization of pre-existing regional universities. The rationale given for all of these policies is the same: “to encourage and develop common ties among the youths of the country and to promote national unity.” Military rulers believed that these policies would create a Nigerian Persona that they thought was lacking in all other spheres of the nation’s life apart from the armed forces.

Just as there is no evidence that the centralisation of the police has worked for the citizens of the country, there is also no evidence that the three policies

designed to promote unity have achieved the goals for which they were created. For example, after several decades of the existence of Unity Schools and with about half a million graduates from such schools, there is no statistical evidence that the country is more united than it was before the advent of Unity Schools. In addition, universities taken over from regional governments have over the years lost the international reputation and the high standards they had before they were transformed into Unity Schools at the tertiary level. Regions from which such universities were appropriated by the federal government have had, in the undying spirit of federalism, created new universities, adding in the final analysis to the pool of underfunded universities and impoverished tertiary institutions in the country.

Similarly, about forty years of the NYSC (controlled even in a post-military era by a military officer) had not produced any concrete evidence that the scheme has achieved its goals, apart from anecdotal evidence that many graduates from the scheme married across state or ethnic lines. I grew up in colonial Nigeria and grew up to know that trans-ethnic marriage was part of the culture as far back as the 1940s.

Whether it was in Lagos, Ibadan, and Ondo, where I lived as a young boy, one did not have to

go to another street to identify men or women with spouses from other regions. There are several colleagues of my generation now in their 70s with Fulani mothers and Yoruba fathers, Igbo mothers and Hausa fathers, or Ebira fathers and Yoruba mothers, etc.

Despite several calls for abolishment or re-conceptualisation of the NYSC, elected government leaders are ignoring citizens’ calls for policy reversal or change, on the anecdotal claims that the schemes enhance national unity. What is needed is for the government to set the Federal Bureau of Statistics to work to investigate the following points: percentage of increase in trans-ethnic marriages since the commencement of Unity Schools, Federal Universities, and National Youth Service Corps; percentage of former corpers offered employment in the states in which they served and had thus chosen to relocate to such states; number of NYSC hosts and corpers that see the scheme as a means of cheap but unappreciated labour to less developed states. Unless these questions are answered with statistical evidence, no one has a right to say that the NYSC, for example, has impacted on the political and social life of the country.

It is also necessary to juxtapose answers to the questions above with statistical evidence on the number of serving corpers that had

been killed as a result of sectarian or religious violence; the number of corpers that had died on the road on their way to or from their posts; the number of corpers that would have participated in the scheme if it had not been tied to getting postservice jobs from federal and state government agencies; and percentage of leaders of Boko Haram that attended Unity Schools, federal universities, and fulfilled NYSC obligations. It is only after doing the cost and benefit analysis of NYSC and Unity Schools that any government can justifiably say that asking for a review of some of the policies bequeathed by unelected governments is tantamount to putting the hands of the clock of unity and development back.

Largely because the country’s post-military government is afraid to revisit policies imposed on the nation by unelected governments before it, political and cultural leaders with the mindset of military rulers are already networking to start a new round of low-wattage but high-verbiage unification policies patterned after those whose impact is yet to be verified. They have started to prepare or programme citizens for a policy that empowers the federal government to award indigeneship of communities to members of other communities and another one that creates grazing corridors all over the country for the use of nomadic cattle breeders, something that is reminiscent of the nomadic education of the military era that is now replaced by elected governments with Almajiri education.

To be continued

Autumn in New York with Ahmadinejad T

HE gathering of world leaders at the United Nations every September turns the city into the landscape of a cheap thriller. The streets are lousy with ministers, tyrants, and potentates and you can’t cross Third Avenue without fear of death by motorcade.

On Monday morning, as in recent years, the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, invited a few dozen journalists to the Warwick Hotel, on Fifty-fourth Street, for what his representatives bill as “an exchange of ideas” but what turns out to be a group interview. With the carriage, dress, and manner of a cocksure regional politician, Ahmadinejad strolled into the conference room just after 8am and got down to business. He does not much conceal his pleasure in provoking his earnest questioners.

When asked about the Israeli leadership’s threats to carry out an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, Ahmadinejad said that he viewed them as a kind of desperate diversion. “Fundamentally, we do not take seriously the threats of the Zionists,” he said.

“We do believe that they have found themselves at a dead end and they are seeking new adventures in order to escape this dead end.… I don’t think it is anything of utmost importance. But if such an event were to happen, all equations in the region would see a deep change.”

Ahmadinejad will address the General Assembly on Wednesday, which is Yom Kippur, and

By David Remnick

no Israeli delegation will be present.

(Today, when Ahmadinejad arrived at a U.N. discussion on law, the Israeli envoy Ron Prosor walked out of the hall.)

At the Warwick, the Iranian President said that he found the whole nuclear issue “a very tiresome subject.”

“At the end of the day, everyone knows that Iran is not seeking a nuclear bomb. The scene resembles one of a comedy show.

Those who accuse us are those whose warehouses have nuclear stockpiles. They talk of security. If you are so preoccupied with this, why not do away with your own nuclear stockpiles?”

When he was asked about his hostility toward, and threats directed at, Israel, he said, “We say occupation must be done away with. We say war-seeking and war-mongering must be eliminated…. Has the Zionist regime conducted itself in any other way in the last sixty years? If they don’t change, what will become of them?

Assume that one day the rights of the Palestinians will be legitimated… Will anything known as Zionism remain?”

The Israeli state, he said, was a rootless “fabrication” and not “born out of historical events or hopes,” while the Israelis “believe they find themselves at a dead end and they are seeking new adventures in order to escape this dead end.” He made it clear that he sees Israel as a kind of temporary phe-

•Ahmadinejad

nomenon, a historical aberration not long for the world. The Israelis “do not even enter the equation,” he said. “During a historical phase, they present minimal disturbances that come into the picture and are then eliminated.”

Ahmadinejad was also intent on doing what he could to further aggravate the troubled relations between President Obama

and the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been demanding that the U.S. declare its “red lines” on the Iranian nuclear issue. “At the end of the day, who determines what the U.S. government should do?” he said. “Is it the Zionists who tell the U.S. what to do and about red lines?… Who are these Zionists to dictate and tell the United

States what to do?”

After Ahmadinejad assured everyone that, despite economic sanctions, Iran was in better economic shape than the European Union and that it was not defending the Assad regime in Syria but, rather, doing its solemn best to help find a peace settlement, I asked him a question about blasphemy and free speech. What did he have to say about both Salman Rushdie (who, despite the lifting of the 1989 fatwa, has been threatened yet again by an Iranian cultural foundation, which raised its bounty on his head last week) and the violence surrounding an anti-Islam video on the Internet?

“If someone insults you when you are walking down the street, would you not react or file grievances?” he said. “Is insult not a form of crime? It certainly would be. Insulting divine figures is not a crime? Of course it is.” The video, in his eyes, was also the doing of Zionists. “If you are talking about the most recent events,” he said, “some of these Zionists are seeking adventurous games as a way to find a salvation for their dead end. In a place where under the guise of freedom sanctities can be insulted.”

And what of Rushdie?

Ahmadinejad smiled, ominously. “Salman Rushdie, where is he now?” he said. “There is no news of him. Is he in the United States? If he is in the U.S., you shouldn’t broadcast that, for his own safety.”

Culled from The New Yorker

Comment & Analysis

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Tunji

Adegboyega tunjade@yahoo.co.uk 08054503906 (sms only)

F

OR their era, the Babatunde Folorunshos, the Ishola Oyenusis and the other armed robbers who made the headlines in Nigeria in the 1970s were indeed armed robbers to reckon with. But if they were to be operating today, they would not have qualified for the kind of attention that they got then, given the ‘professionalism’, expertise, precision and sophistication that today’s armed robbers bring to bear on their illegal trade, unless they retrain and retool. Today’s armed robbers have taken full advantage of modern gadgets and arms and ammunition in a way that would make those who are shaping our present world regret that their inventions are now being turned into the tragedy of modernity.

When the news of the armed robbery that shook Lagos on September 9 hit the town, many people knew from the way the robbers operated that a lot of logistics went into their operations; we also knew that it was not the kind of robbery that was hastily executed; it must have been well planned and perhaps rehearsed before the day of attack; we had every cause to suspect too that sophisticated weapons were deployed by the bandits. Indeed, this is the area that interests me most.

Confessions following the arrest of three of the suspected robbers in the Ajangbadi area of Lagos, following a tip-off, exactly two weeks after their operation confirmed that much. Indeed, the songs that they sang at the Lagos State Police Command in Ikeja after their arrest are enough to instill

17

Robbers and the tragedy of modernity Policemen should be steps ahead of criminals, not the other way round the fear of God in many of the people who saw what they referred to as their armoury last Monday, when they were paraded by the police. Not a few persons too would have wondered how the 23 year-olds - Uche Okeagbu, Emmanuel Ezeani and Chinonso Nwuangwu- could have been so sucked into armed robbery. Obviously, going by their confessions, ‘bad society’, as the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti called it, had a great influence on them.

It was Okeagbu’s confession that led to the recovery of a large cache of ammunition: one rocket propel grenade launcher, 225 AK 47 magazines fully-loaded, over 10,000 rounds of AK 47 live ammunition, two general purpose machine guns, 260 rounds of GPMG live ammunition, five dynamite with detonator and nine AK 47 rifles. A Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) team led by Mr. Abba Kyari, found the gang’s armoury in two Volkswagen buses parked at Okeagbu’s residence at Ajangbadi. The police also seized a Toyota Camry belonging to the gang. The car was fitted with sensors and camera. That way, the robbers could monitor whatever was going on behind them. If we recollect the kinds of arms and ammunition that the police seized in Oraifite, Anambra

State recently, in the course of arresting a suspected kidnap kingpin as well as many others, we should worry about the source/s of these weapons.

Indeed, all these and more should be enough to make one wonder why, in spite of all these unsavoury developments, the government cannot see the larger picture of what should constitute national priorities. A nation besieged by these kinds of security challenges ought to be able to put its acts together to deal frontally with them. Just last week, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) said some 800 companies have closed down in the country in the last three years alone. LCCI has not said anything new, though; the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and other bodies that should know had raised similar alarm in the past. The implication of this is the erasure of millions of direct jobs and many more of ancillary others. This point has come for mention in view of the fact that many of the people involved in violent crimes in recent years are youths, most of them with tertiary education but with nothing meaningful to do. And, since the state cannot provide them with something worthwhile, the devil is delighted to keep them busy. But

“This is some progress made in the battle to demystify the gang that shook the state after a long break from such incidents, but it is not yet uhuru. Neither the state, nor any other part of the country is safe until the real kingpins of the gang are held … We have to keep such people out of circulation if Lagosians and Nigerians as a whole are to have a truly merry Christmas and happy New Year”

that is at the peril of the larger society.

The Lagos State Police Command has every cause to be angry and to put in their all to fish out those who troubled the peace of Lagos ansd almost rubbished their efforts at crime prevention, because, when on September 9, the gang struck, the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, said the robbers succeeded largely because his men were sleeping.

The command swiftly denied this but that would not have impressed anyone.

However, with the arrest of three of the suspects, the command is probably trying to prove to the IG that it is not sleeping. And, that, really, is the next logical thing to do; it is not that there is yet any fool-proof system to stop people from armed robbery, but those going into it would think twice if they know that the chances of being caught are high.

We saw the typical robbers’ greed in this Lagos gang. Like most other robbers, this gang too comprises Oliver Twists. Even as the dust was yet to settle on the Lagos robberies, the gang went to Ilorin in Kwara State, where it allegedly robbed a bank and attacked a police station. If their confessions are anything to go by, the suspects had carried out at least four major robberies this year alone in places like Ibadan where they had four operations; Uyo; and Share, Kwara State. It is not clear when the other robberies in Akure, Ondo State, Osogbo, Osun State, Okene, Kogi State and, Auchi, Edo State, as allegedly confessed by one of them, took place.

Now, if these people stole as much as N50 million as was reported in Lagos alone, how did they share the proceeds and what did they do with it

that they could not resist the urge to go for another operation so soon?

No doubt if it were possible to ride a horse in the stomach of the state commissioner of police, Mr. Umar Manko, there won’t be any obstructions. This is some progress made in the battle to demystify the gang that shook the state after a long break from such incidents, but it is not yet uhuru. Neither the state, nor any other part of the country is safe until the real kingpins of the gang are held because, as we have seen, they have robbed in many parts of the country.

Again, if we go by the confessions of one of the arrested suspects who said he got N500,000, N800,000 and another N800,000 and N100,000 (for the Lagos robbery where at least N50million was said to have been stolen), then who are those who got the lion’s share of the loots? We have to keep such people out of circulation if Lagosians and Nigerians as a whole are to have a truly merry Christmas and happy New Year.

Above all however, the Federal Government has to rethink its attitude towards the police. It is criminals who should be following the law enforcement agents and not the other way round. Policemen cannot be carrying glorified Dane guns and be expected to confront criminals with the most sophisticated weapons. That is akin to a man jumping in front of a moving train.

On this note, I say happy 52nd Independence anniversary in advance.

If you have cause to thank the government; please do; but for me, I give glory to God Almighty. May next year’s anniversary be more rewarding (Amen).

These days, it pays to own a canoe too!

Postscript, Whoever knew that come one day, canoes would rush around on Nigerian roads where big trailers would fear to tread?

Unlimited!

By

Oyinkan Medubi 08187172799 (SMS only) puchuckles7@gmail.com

D

URING the week, I listened in on a radio programme on

the ‘curse of the ember months’. I was prepared to learn how I could meet those guys and give them a piece of my mind, thinning out the population the way they do around Christmas, the ember months that is, not the radio people. No, I do not necessarily have anything against them radio guys; it’s just that my diary is full. Anyway, I was very relieved to learn that there is no such thing as an ‘ember month’s’ curse. Instead, there are careless and desperate drivers who want to make extra money for the Christmas period, period. In the process, they make mistakes and kill people.

I also learnt, on that radio show, that the Christmas period usually witnesses, how do you say it, a little bit of madness, no? People use the period to show off what they have achieved during the year, such as how many cars they have bought. This is why a single family that used to go home for Christmas in public transport finds that it needs to take seven cars to ferry everyone in the house home: one

each for the father, mother, children, servants, luggage, food, family dogs ... That’s right; the dogs must go for Christmas too. Who else is going to sing, ‘It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas’ for the family? The children? Are you serious? In a family that takes seven cars home for Christmas, the children do not need to know anything.

I would not.

Seven cars! Imagine that, and in a land where three quarters of the populace cannot even ferry themselves to work with a bicycle.

Sometimes I wonder, should those ones commit suicide? What is just wrong with us that we lose all reason and dignity as we drool and grovel in abject ecstasy at the feet of these material things? Obviously, such families need some talking to.

The unfortunate thing is that none of us can actually raise the first stone to condemn the family mentioned above because I think that is the secret dream of everyone of us: to show the world up in our little ways! How else will the world know we have ten cars if we don’t take seven of them home for Christmas? That is what makes life a little fair, at least. So, I guess our mindless worship of these mindless material things will continue unabated until something shows up to let us know how really flimsy we are, such as floods.

Oh, the floods, the floods!

Have you seen pictures of the Kogi floods? I mean, here is Kogi

State, in gentle somnambulism all the year, undulating along the pathway of life minding no one’s business, not even its own, and it is suddenly and furiously thrust into national limelight, not by some great achievement but by the floods! It is a rather sad event, isn’t it, particularly for those killed, displaced or discomfited.

When I saw the pictures, I just went, wow! There’s just water, water, everywhere in Lokoja! And Noah was nowhere in sight, only Mother Nature! Incredible!

I mean, here we are, dying or killing each other over land, money, power, positions, just name it, and all the while not one of us realises that nature is in masterful control. How come none of us realised this? We really need to go back to our books.

Seriously, don’t we ever learn?

Has no one told us the story of the man who was so desperate to purchase an airline ticket he went and colluded with the tickets clerk to withdraw one that had earlier been sold to someone else and the plane now crashed and killed the desperado? Have we never heard that story? Or of the man who insisted on taking a particular seat in a bus on a long distance journey, only to be the only one to die in a crash the bus was involved in? You have not heard? Silly me, I thought these things were common knowledge.

Look now, one of the Lokoja

pictures was of a house with a car parked in front of it, both neck-deep in water of course, and as I looked at it, I thought, this car ain’t going nowhere any time soon, not to the market, the office, the shops, nowhere. But then, right beside it was a canoe and its paddle and I thought, what ingenuity! This man had prepared for a rainy day, literally!

What message did this modern day Noah receive that the rest of us didn’t: when you buy your car, make sure you purchase a canoe to go with it? Who would have thought that one would need a canoe, no matter how little, after one had bought a car?!

More pictures showed how houses had been completely submerged in water; and how big lorries, trucks, trailers were attempting to wade through the waters. I saw however that canoes, tiny little canoes, were able to move and were being used to ferry people and things over the waters. And I thought I spied a little canoe stretching out a helping hand to a big lorry across the water. Perhaps not, it might have been just my eyes playing tricks as usual. When I looked at that picture again, I thought how indeed are the little risen and the mighty fallen! Whoever knew that come one day, canoes would rush around on Nigerian roads where big trailers would fear to tread? Who knew indeed, that some day, some rainy day, some little canoes would be

the heroes of their owners’ lives?

As they say, life is full of strange turns and twists.

Let’s look to now; there are some lessons to be learnt from these strange turns and twists. To begin with, I think we should all accept the fact that life is indeed full of strange turns and twists and it never pays to disdain the little guy.

What do you mean you already knew that? What about your neighbour? If Nigerians as a people were to accept that they knew that, then we would all cling less to these material things, accumulate stolen funds less, stow away public funds less and generally not carry on as if we were in control. I think the only thing we are in control of is the food in our stomachs, not even the one on our plates. A fly may come suddenly and perch comfortably on it.

Now, don’t go getting me wrong again. What I mean is that the larger order of things (such as floods, lightning strikes, earthquakes, etc.) is not in our hands.

However, we can help the little things such as preparing for the larger order of things: getting a canoe, preparing systems for the delivery of relief materials, equipping hospitals well enough to take care of the injured, etc. We may not be in control of things in general, but we can at least focus on the things that truly matter such as making this world a better place by serving others, not just ourselves. Now, I’m sure not everyone can afford a canoe (imagine, Noah spent years building his own!), but we can at least bear in mind that nature rules, ok, cause we don’t, ok.

18

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Comment & Analysis

Road map to Nigeria's greatness and glory days F

OR well over two decades, there has been a growing concern about the deplorable social and economic state of the Nigerian nation. Successive governments in Nigeria have been condemned and variously described as corrupt, inept, incompetent, negligent, reckless, inefficient and unresponsive to the yearnings and welfare of the people.

Because these governments appear ill-founded and the major actors seemingly bereft of ideas, they were unable to steer the ship of the Nigerian state out of murky waters of retrogression and move it forward.

A lot of Nigerians lost faith or are rapidly losing faith in their country. A host of them migrate daily to other lands and contribute meaningfully to their host countries what they should have given to Nigeria on a platter.

Good governance cannot be taken for granted or undermined in the life of any nation. It is a major determinant of a country's progress and most especially a determinant of a country's success rating in the comity of nations. It therefore behoves any seriousminded government, authority and people to take it seriously.

Everyone we have asked how Nigeria's problem can be solved has promptly replied that we need focused people in leadership positions. Interestingly, Nigeria is blessed with achievers, persons who are patriotic and love Nigeria dearly. Persons who will work tirelessly for her without asking for any reward or recompense; Persons of integrity not of doubtful character, civil, conscientious and trustworthy. Unfortunately, most of them are often frustrated and

obstructed from participating in government. Government College products easily and definitely fall into this category of people because of their enduring legacies of solid educational foundation, sound moral values and quality service delivery. In addition to possessing most of these virtues, they have been well-groomed through their top quality training to assume positions of responsibility in a credible society. They have been found to be reliable, dependable, altruistic, focused, hardworking, result-oriented and are most unlikely to yield to influences for evil or bad practices.

A few questions are germane here: Is the existence of this category of people known? Are they an endangered species? Can they be easily and readily identified? Are their tribes being properly utilised?

Are they themselves readily available and accessible? Are they proactive, publicise or market themselves properly and sufficiently? Are they being wellbranded and packaged to attract positive response? Questions, questions, questions.

It has also been observed that the pre-1980 Government College Ibadan Old Boys as indeed likeminded Old Students from other Government Secondary Schools of that era up and down the country have a lot to show for the education they received and they are eager to do so. Many of their qualities have remained untapped by the Nigerian society. However the authorities and the society have repeatedly and consistently exploited their good nature, dedication to work, modesty and candour without commensurable reward. Values other than

By Olutunde Oni

edifying, deification of money, corruption, fraud and moral decadence rule the Nigerian waves. The Nigerian space is dangerously polluted in every facet and this unfortunately is in the public domain. Rumours of disruption, corruption and looting of the commonwealth, destruction of our psyche and humanness, ethnic jingoism and political jobbery and brigandage are rife and the authorities seem powerless to handle or halt their escalation.

Beyond 1980, after the cataclysmic disruption and overturn of the status quo, Government College Ibadan entrants have been drawn from a small geographical area (called catchment area) and it has had serious and telling effect on the standard of the school. It has also progressively eroded and limited the percentage of talents available at each year of entry. The boarding system, which was the adamantine bedrock of the great school tradition, mores and high values, has been virulently attacked, stiffed strangulated and finally scrapped.

The real magic that once moulded and formed the boys' character has disappeared. In its wake, a near death affliction on the College. The aftermath, confusion rudderlessness, ill-conceived and inconsistent policies from one administration to the other.

Today, many challenges knaw and strike repeatedly at the conscience of the college, its old boys and the education sector, namely: how to redeem the battered image of the school; rapidly halt and reverse falling standards in education and scholarship; overcome the

glorification of mediocre leadership and enshrine meritocracy in all spheres of our endeavour. The race is starting with the Ideas Group.

As these challenges multiply and grow, our thinking and attitude must radically change to confront them. We have to react positively and meaningfully. Even in this hostile Nigerian environment which hardly recognises merits and rewards industry, hardwork and productivity, some GCI Old Boys have managed to excel and distinguish themselves attaining the pinnacle of their career wherever they have found themselves by dint of self determination and effort against daunting odds. Getting to the top would certainly have cost less if they operated from a well organized group equipped to support, encourage, succor, advise and mentor them. Such a group whatever name it carries is long overdue - a group that would constantly give a solid backing, pressure and IDEAS for nation building. Churches speak out, so do the mosques as indeed professional bodies, Labour Unions, Student Unions, Lecturers, Market Women, Artisans. The list is endless.

They all speak out vociferously on matters that impinge on their welfare, lives, livelihood and national affairs. Should products of Government College and other responsible institutions remain docile for God knows how long? The time is now for them to wake up and speak out and chart a course for our nation. Speaking out requires a re-orientation dynamics and re-

jiggling of a modus operandi in order to attain clearer objectives.

Public relations and regular commentaries will form the thrust.

It is expected that this will gain recognition within the Nigerian society - its political and economic space. Its scope will cover and forge ahead with re-engineering, reconnection, networking and breaking the jinx of individualism and parochialism.

We have the new information order and the unhalting progress in the IT world to thank for rapid communication and networking.

We hope to relaunch a bid for societal relevance.

To achieve this, the IDEAS GROUP will interact with like minds and other progressive bodies in the country at different levels. Additionally, men and women of integrity and high moral values will be wooed and encouraged for a good working relationship - to think along the same lines and achieve the same goals for the good of all our citizenry. The ultimate aim is to channel these activities to dovetail into creating an enduring legacy for all.

We strongly believe that our country Nigeria can and should be salvaged. Capable men and women abound - men of integrity, honesty and sincerity. When a level playing ground is created, this indomitable breed of Nigerians will emerge to extricate Nigeria from its quagmire and move it forward leveraging on purposeful leadership and informed and discerning followership Oni, a Medical practitioner wrote from Ibadan

Delta: What Uduaghan got right H

E may not have performed to the utmost satisfaction of critics who, based on the spate of recent kidnappings in the state, had to draw hasty conclusions that Delta under Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has not only collapsed in terms of security of lives and property, but also on infrastructures.

Although, these cynics are entitled to their own opinions, but the truth strongly lies in the fact that such arm-chair criticism cannot take one laudable achievement from Dr. Uduaghan, and this is the fact that Delta is at pace!

From casual discussions to formal ones, I have actually made attempts to administering questionnaires on one project Dr. Uduaghan, the Governor of Delta State has got right since he became the executive governor of the state.

Responses were not encouraging as most people spoken to, generally, have become cynical about government and nihilistic that nothing good can come from it whether in Delta State or anywhere in the country.

Severally too, I have discarded the assessment project until I met an old woman whom I offered a ride from Ughelli to Oleh. Mama Rukome was angry that her customers didn’t pay for her commodity on time, hence she was stranded at the point I

met her.

When I probed further, Mama made me understand that she had not for any reason, in the past two years she has been plying the Oleh /Ughelli route trading in “tapioka or kpokpogari” missed the Uduaghan bus. Meaning Mama has been patronising the Uduaghan transit bus because it provides comfort, it is reliable and above all, it is affordable.

Mama Rukome does not bask in this euphoria alone.

There are other Deltans who couldn’t hide their joy for the relief the Uduaghan’s mass transit has brought. If not for the fact that the Delta mass transit was not extended to the riverine areas of the State, the Delta mass transit would have dwarfed other projects as one project Dr. Uduaghan has got right.

Tellingly, security of lives and property has been an enormous challenge to the leadership of this country. It became monstrous soon after the civil war when arms found their ways into the hands of people who, ordinarily, were not supposed to have custody of such weapons.

The smiles brought about by a return to democracy after what seemed to have been an endless wait for it was short-lived.

Again, the despicable level of insecurity in the country got out of control when the nation’s

By Okofu Ubaka

economy took a dive down the precipice.

Some sophistication was injected into robbery and other related crimes. The militant activities of Niger Delta youths and their commercial romance with Lebanese and Russians crude oil merchants gave crime a fillip in the coast of South- South Nigeria.

The present Delta State government has demonstrated that it is learning very fast from past security pitfalls. It was an ingenious Dr. Uduaghan who realised quite on time that collaboration with the military would bring about the much deserved safety of lives and property in the state.

Deltans living outside the state can attest to the fact that the security situation in the state has improved. To be fair to Dr. Uduaghan, I think there couldn’t have been anything Deltans had wished for more than peace and security.

If you ask an Itsekiri man, or an Urhobo man or an Ijaw man, what he would like to have in place of peace and security, without hesitation, he will tell you peace and security cannot be traded for anything. This is no thanks to the avoidable communal crises that further worsened the level of

underdevelopment in the area.

The Uduaghan security initiative has made it possible to drive through Sapele/Warri road and Sapele/Abraka road on one hand, and the other Ughelli/ Kwale/Asaba road without encountering a bloody clash.

We should not whip up sentiments and take undue advantage of the fact that infrastructures in the state are decaying. Also we were all witnesses to the prolonged court case over who was the duly elected governor of the state. That alone was enough distraction.

Quite regretfully though, Deltans had at a time lived in feverish fear. Warri, Sapele, Ughelli, Oleh, to mention but a few, were towns in the state that were notorious for dare-devil robbery attacks.

Last year, August to be precise, Kwale (Utagba-Ogbe) witnessed one of the fiercest robbery attacks on a new generational bank in the whole of Ndukwa nation. Same last year, a youth corp member serving at Oleh was shot dead outside Emore Secondary School where he was attached to for the 12 months compulsory primary assignment.

Understandably, kidnap cases were even more dreaded than robbery. Both the mighty and the not too high in Delta State were in awe of kidnappers.

In some cases, their victims were

murdered in cold blood before ransom was paid.

My neighbour and the Managing Director of DeltanLine, Elder Eyone Isaiah, was picked up from his country home one drizzling night in October, 2011.

He didn’t regain his freedom until an undisclosed amount of money was paid. But the good thing is that he was released and those behind the crime are presently in police custody awaiting prosecution.

There have been so many kidnap cases that were foiled by the JTF team in the state. Before this time, it was reminiscent of a “Nightfall in Soweto”.

But Dr. Uduaghan has stepped up to these challenges.

Men of JTF are common sights on highways and street corners.

Robbers and kidnapers now know that it is no longer safe in to carry out their criminal trade in Delta State.

Whichever way it is looked at, Delta has made some considerable progress in the safety of lives and property. Come to think of it, development can only thrive in an environment that is safe. True, investors cannot invest in an environment deep in crisis. The return of oil servicing companies to Warri is a sure sign that things are getting better in our Delta.

Ubaka a social critic, wrote from Koko in Warri-North LGA

INSIGHT

19

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

52ND INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY: SPECIAL SECTION

O

N September 30, 1960, few hours before Nigeria’s independence, the Kofat Muazugal Quarters in Kano had a unique appeal not only for Nigerians who held it in high esteem but also for the visiting international community, eager to behold one of the wonders of the world. Housing what was described as the biggest and artistically displayed groundnut pyramids ever seen on planet earth,Nigerians and visitors to the country acknowledged it then as one of the concrete symbols of the country’s economic success.

Pa Udensi Onyekwere, a retired civil servant now in Umuahia, Abia State capital, who was in Kano in the early 1960s, told The Nation that “each of the pyramids, made up of about 15,000 tons of groundnut bags, not only engaged thousands of workers and businessmen, but also attracted foreign businessmen and tourists eager to take photographs, thus transforming the quarters to one of the busiest commercial areas in West Africa.”

The retiree recalled that the Northern Nigerian Government, under Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, the Sarduana of Sokoto, was very passionate about the development of the groundnut trade. So, all through his government, the trade boomed and the pyramids only became bigger and better.

Today, Sunday, September 30, 2012, exactly 52 years after independence, those groundnut pyramids and the multi million pounds they brought to the country’s coffers, are no more. In their place are buildings and empty fields sometimes used for recreational purposes.

So, as Nigeria celebrates its independence anniversary tomorrow, October 1, it may be difficult to see any foreign guest curious enough or anxious enough to visit the area and to take lifetime photographs as was the case in the 1960s.

Even residents of Kano, especially youths and middle aged men born from 1970s, are not likely to take any special notice as they make use of the empty fields as football training grounds this independence anniversary vacation.

The stories of palm trade in Eastern Nigeria, cocoa in Western Nigeria and that of other agricultural products across the country, are not less pathetic.

Okpara’s farm settlements in eastern Nigeria: Dr. Michael Okpara, the late Premier of Eastern Nigeria, was considered by his admirers and hard-nosed economists as a master strategist, who had a tall dream of building Africa’s strongest economy. He had ample faith in the country’s natural endowments and reasoned that the country will easily lead the rest of Africa and beyond if the leaders chose to do the right thing.

He captured this vision when he said, “Nigeria has a bright future if its leaders will observe certain basic tenets. If the leaders of this vast and rich country will be fair minded and ensure that no part of it is neglected, then the country will be moving forward to a very prosperous future. Nigeria is one of the few African countries that can look after themselves because of its natural wealth, especially oil.”

Though he believed that availability of natural resources, especially oil, was a major advantage for Nigeria’s economic development, he set out to build an economy that was not necessarily dependent on liquid gold.

Even as the world was highly excited with discovery of oil in the country and the region, Okpara, in 1962, launched an agricultural revolution, a move that made some observers to describe the zone then as “Japan of Africa.”

Under the project, the Government

A dream deferred

Sam Egburonu, Associate Editor, reports that 52 years after independence, agriculture, which used to serve as the country’s economic mainstay, has been taken to the background at dire consequences for the country and the people.

•Adesina

•Jonathan

Macro-economic trend This is a chart of trend of gross domestic product of Nigeria at market prices estimated by the International Monetary Fund with figures in millions of Nigerian Naira.

Year

Gross Domestic Product (2000=100)

US Dollar Exchange

Inflation Index

Per Capita Income

(as % of USA)

1980

50,849

0.78 Naira

1.30

7.22

1985

98,619

2.83 Naira

3.20

1.87

1990

286,374

8.94 Naira

8.10

1.49

1995

1,928,642

54.36 Naira

56

1.28

2000

4,676,394

102.24 Naira

100

1.11

2005

14,894,454

131.01 Naira

207

1.96

of Eastern Nigeria worked closely with local farmers and multipurpose cooperative societies. It also established cooperative community farms and Cooperative Farm Settlements and ensured that they functioned optimally.

Recalling the benefits of that policy, Pa Onyekwere said, “During Dr. Okpara’s period, the government of the region incorporated ordinary farmers in its agrarian revolution schemes; it organised cooperatives and with that unique effort, recorded unprecedented production of food and cash crops. Then, all the cities within the region and our immediate

neighbours enjoyed abundance of foodstuffs.”

He confirmed report that Malaysian economic planners, impressed by the economic successes of the region actually paid visits to Eastern Nigeria to learn about palm three production and processing. “They sent officials who were trained on production of palm oil. They took palm seedlings with which the Asian country delved into production of palm trees. You know the rest of the story. Malaysia is today the world’s leading producer of this lucrative crop. Where is Nigeria and where are the Okpara Farm settlements,

which were everywhere in the region as at the time the war started,” he asked regrettably.

Some of the cooperatives include, Igbariam Cooperative Farm Settlement, in today’s Anambra State, Ulonna Farm Settlement in Umuahia, Abia State, Lamenting the fate of the area after Okpara, Onyekwere said all the settlement farms and the industries that were set up then were abandoned shortly after he left office and joined his ancestors.

According to him, while very little or no tangible effort has been made to effectively revive any of the farm settlements since crude oil exploration and export began to dominate Nigeria’s economy, most of the few major industries that had been built in the South-East zone since then, had been equally abandoned.

Such industries include Golden Guinea Breweries, Niger Gas, Niger Steel, Nkalagu Cement Industries, Enugu Petroleum Depot, Sunrise Flour Mills, Modern Ceramics and Anambra Vegetable Oil Company of Nigeria (AVOC).

In fact, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Ebonyi, Enugu and Anambra states on May 2011, openly expressed concern over this development, describing it as unfortunate.

This retrogressive record was not limited to Eastern Nigeria. It was indeed a general problem across the country as petrol dollar ensured that other agricultural activities suffered gravely.

•Continued on Page 23

20

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

INSIGHT

52ND INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY: SPECIAL SECTION

Power : No light in the tunnel Any solution in sight?

Despite trillions of naira expended on providing adequate power supply by successive governments in Nigeria since independence, the results have not been commensurate with the massive investments, reports Remi Adelowo

C

AN Nigeria achieve an adequate and sustainable power supply anytime soon? This is the poser many Nigerians are asking, following the failure of successive regimes to fix the problem five decades after the country gained independence from the British.

While South Africa with a population of 50.5 million generates almost 40,000 megawatts of electricity, Nigeria, boasting of a population figure of over 150 million, produces a little over 3,000 megawatts. For many Nigerians, this is scandalous, to say the least.

Several factors have been adduced for this ugly development, two of which include lack of adequate planning and poorly thought out policies to cater for the electricity needs of country’s growing population and corruption.

Background The development of electricity in Nigeria dated back to 1898 when the first generating plant was built in Lagos from where it spread to other parts of the country.

In 1950, the Federal Government passed the Electricity Corporation of Nigeria Ordinance, which gave birth to the Electricity Corporation of Nigeria. The ECN thus became the statutory body saddled with the responsibility of generating, transmitting, distribution and sale of electricity to all electricity consumers in Nigeria.

Between 1952 and 1953, the country generated 165 megawatts of power, most of it provided by ECN. In the following decade, the firm went through an expansion period and increased its transmission lines, a development largely due to the rise in urbanisation and demand for electricity.

However, in 1951, the corporation had commissioned a feasibility survey for the creation of a dam along the Niger River. But it was not until 1962 that the Niger Dam Authority (NDA) was created as an autonomous entity and charged with the provision of hydro power.

The Kainji Dam project subsequently followed with construction starting in March, 1964.

Four years after the country gained independence, ECN had added additional power plants, including one at Kano producing

•Jonathan

6 megawatts of electricity and another at Ijora, Lagos, producing 86.25 MW. It also opened new plants along the Oji River (25.5MW) and Afam (20MW).

That was not all. A western grid was also created from LagosIbadan-Ilorin with extensions at Abeokuta, Oshogbo, Akure, Benin and Sapele, while an Eastern grid extended from Afam-Port Harcourt-Aba and OnitshaEnugu-Nsukka with additional extensions at Nsukka, Calabar and Umuahia.

In 1973, the Federal Government promulgated Decree No 24, which ensured the merger of ECN and NDA to become the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA).

The new organisation was saddled with the task of generating, transmitting and distributing electricity to all parts of Nigeria starting with only four major power stations namely, Ijora, Delta, Afam Thermal stations and Kainji Hydro power station, with a total installed capacity of 532.6MW serving more than two million customers.

After the formulation of the third national planning in the early 70’s, NEPA expanded its generating capacity. But the expanded capacity could not provide for the increasing potential demand of electricity and developmental obligations in the steel, mining and fertilizer industries and towards the end of the 1980’s, the corporation went through a serious technical under-perform-

•Nnaji

ance.

During this period, the company was plagued by frequent collapses in its transmission lines leading to instability in its grid system and power outages, it also had to battle with inefficiency in planning, management and maintenance and losses due to government debt and lack of proper pricing.

By the end of 1980’s, the corporation was only transmitting about half of its total installed capacity.

Originally established to be a self financing company remitting dividends to its owner and to provide constant electricity to consumers and expand electricity provision to all local governments in Nigeria, but sadly however, these lofty objectives have not been met till date.

Generating Stations and beginning of power problem The largest station of NEPA is located at Egbin, Lagos State. It was constructed by a Japanese firm Marubeni and has a total installed capacity of 1320MW. However, the total installed capacity was usually higher than the generating capacity. Also in the 80’s, the Sapele power station was established thereby increasing the country’s generating capacity to 2948MW. In 2000, the installed generating capacity increased to 5958 after the establishment of the Jebba and Shiroro hydro power stations.

The generating stations were

nominally operated at the National Control Center in Oshogbo, Osun State. Between 1985 and 1987, many of the company’s older generating sets became faulty, including four generating units at Kainji and other units at Afam and Ughelli resulting in a loss of over 1000 MW. Though they were later repaired, disturbances in the grid system especially with fired plants continued.

Measures to address power outages Between 2001 and 2008 during the Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration, Geregu, Omotosho and Olorunsogo thermal power stations with a combined generating capacity of 1084MW, were inaugurated to boost the nation’s electricity capacity.

In between that period, specifically in 2004, the Federal Government initiated the National Integrated Power Project 9NIPP to boost the nation’s overall generating capacity. This is designed to take full advantage of the abundant natural gas in the Delta region and Calabar, which can add 561MW to the national grid; Egbema and Imo State 338MW; Ihobvor in Benin (415MW); Gbarin near Bayelsa supplying 225MW; Sapele in Delta State (451MW) and Omogu in Rivers State (230MW).

Sector Reforms As a result of the perennial inadequate electricity supply, the

Federal Government enacted the Electricity Power Sector Reform (ESPR) act on March 11, 2005 with a view to making the private sector the leading engine of growth and reintegrate Nigeria into the global economy as a platform to attract foreign direct investment in an open and transparent manner.

The reform culminated in the repeal of the National Electricity Power Authority (NEPA) act and its restructuring from vertical integration structure into 18 unbundled autonomous companies, which consist of one transmission company, six generation and 11 distribution companies respectively.

The act further provided for the establishment of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the National Electricity Liability Company (NEMNCO), which are special purpose entities created to manage the residual assets and liabilities of the defunct NEPA after privatization of the unbundled companies.

The Act also provided for the establishment of a Power Consumer Assistance Fund to subsidize underprivileged electricity consumers while undergoing privatization processes.

Lack of political will Realising that the power is the •Continued on Page 23

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

INSIGHT

21

52ND INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY: SPECIAL SECTION Nigeria was the first to have a wellfunded, developed railway system in Africa. But 52 years after independence, trains have virtually disappeared from the nation’s tracks, leading to monumental human and economic loss, reports Sunday Oguntola

I

N 1965, Ibrahim Biu, a Kolanut merchant, moved his goods to Lagos from Kano in just 14 hours. 47 years after, it takes the 72-year-old businessman almost a week to take delivery of the same goods in Mushin, Lagos from Kano. “I never imagined things would get this worse for this country,” the retiring merchant lamented last week. Back then, he simply joined trains in Iddo Lagos. He could avoid travelling twice in a week and made substantial profits. But not anymore. “I don’t travel to Kano again. I only tell them to help me bring the Kola with trailers.”

His profit margin has shrunk significantly, almost killing the business. “Since I am not there to monitor, they just send whatever Kola is available to me. I cannot choose the good ones. I spend more on transport and I am quitting the business by the end of this year because I am not making profit again,” Biu confided.

From grace to grass He said the death of the rail system is wholly responsible for the near collapse of his business.

“When there were trains, I could travel anyhow. It was just for 1014 hours. The journeys were smooth and enjoyable. No accidents, no armed robbery, no disturbance. But these days, I cannot travel again on road. I wait for one week for the goods to get to me here,” he added.

Biu’s case illustrates the graceto-grass story of the nation’s railway. 52 years after independence, rail transport has nosedived, even gone into complete oblivion across the nation. Tracks are in disuse, coaches abandoned and passengers stranded. 75% of the nearly 200 trains owned by the National Railway Corporation (NRC) are not functional. The 3,505 kilometers (2,178 mi) of single track lines, all have 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge operated by the NRC are barely existent, completely overgrown with weeds.

A retired railway worker, Mr. Eugene Ugwu, said those who saw the glorious days of the corporation cannot but weep. “At a point, we were the most vibrant, active rail system in the whole of Africa. The hope was that NRC was going to become the largest employers of labour like in India.

It is amazing we made a 360 degree roundabout and found ourselves in no where today,’’ he lamented. He added that Nigerians freely moved across the country in trains, boosting the nation’s economy. “Goods were cheaply exchanged from the North to the

Rail transport: Running on the spot South and vice-versa. Kids attended schools in far-away states with trains. Businesses thrived and the roads lasted longer because they were fewer vehicles using them”.

But like most things in the country, rail transport has become a shadow of its old self. Less than twenty trains traverse the whole of the nation each day, most of them in Lagos. Since the Akere Bridge collapsed, trains have become stranded in the North. The tracks have become more or less relics.

The collateral damage has been very colossal. Pressed to the wall, Nigerians now rely only on road travels, since air tickets continue to skyrocket. With more vehicles on the hard-pressed roads, accidents have become monumentally high with hundreds of lives and millions of goods lost in the process.

The roads too, obviously overused, easily cave in, costing billions to rehabilitate and maintain.

Nigeria, which was the first African nation to have a wellthought through and funded railway system, is now lagging behind. As far back as 1895, the Lagos railway became operational from Iddo to Ibadan. Almost 120 years after, 52 as an independent nation, Nigeria is spending over N31bn to reactivate the same track. The tracks between Zaria and Jos covering a distance of 194 kilometers (121 mi) has since been closed and removed. It’s been backward steps all the way for the nation’s rail sector.

The Draft National Transport Policy published in August 2010 by the Federal Government succinctly captures the state of the sector. It said: “it has deteriorated in all areas, and caught up in a vicious circle of declining traffic, endemic deficits, decreasing capacity to serve its customers resulting in further loss of revenue.

“In short, the railways have ceased to be economically viable, if the present imbalance of the transport sector is to be corrected and the goals arising from increasing industrialisation be actualised, the Nigerian railway must be resuscitated”.

There has also been massive revenue loss and loss of corporate patronage. The Chairman Board of Directors, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr Bello Mohammed, admitted this much. According to him: “We have customers like the Flour Mills who have moved their stocks from Lagos to the north; we have some cement companies which are relocating from north to south; we have the cattle traders; Kolanut traders and the farm produce merchants.

“We also have the various food industries, the Nigerian breweries, the Nigerian Bottling Company; they all used to be our customers; the importers from Lagos, Port Harcourt and Warri ports all used to make use of the railway.”

These firms and merchants moved away to bear heavier costs transporting their goods across the nation. These costs are later

• N20.3 billion: Total 2012 approved budgetary allocation for the NRC, N16.3 billion of which is for capital expenditure.

• N31 billion ($207 million): Amount approved on special request in the supplementary appropriation bill of 2010 for the construction of Lagos-Ibadan rail lines.

• N12.13 billion: Total expenditure on the newly revitalised Lagos-Jebba rail lines by the Jonathan’s administration.

• N12.2 billion: Contract

The figures worth of the 640km Jebba-Kano rail rehabilitation awarded to Costain West Africa Plc in December 2009 • N67 billion: Value of the contracts for the rehabilitation of 2,119-kilometre three Eastern rail lines, comprising 463-kilometre rail line from Port Harcourt to Makurdi; 1,016 kilometres rail line from Makurdi to Kuru including

•Minster for Transport Senator-Idris-Umar

passed on to consumers in the form of higher selling prices. This translates to lower purchasing power and deepens economic gap in the nation. “Life would have been a lot easier and better for us if trains are working. Goods would move more cheaply with passengers, boosting our economic fortunes and improving trade balance across the nation,” Peter Ogudoro, a chartered Administrator, stated.

As it is, the nation’s rail tracks remain largely colonial legacies.

The routes remain the same old tracks mapped out by the colonial authorities to ensure quicker movement of goods from the hinterlands to port cities for onward movement to Europe. The government has not deemed it fit or necessary to build new tracks to take care of the bulging, emerging passengers’ paths. This, Ugwu said, is a great disservice that exposes the irresponsibility in government’s corridors.

“It is a shame that we have millions of new passengers that are not taken care of. The tracks were not conceived for them but movement of goods. That we have spur line to Jos and Kafanchan; and 640-kilometre rail line from Kuru to Maiduguri respectively.

• 14,000: Number of passengers moved daily in Lagos city alone by the NRC. • 18: The number of mass transit trains plying different routes in Lagos • 2: Trains moving from LagosIlorin per week • $1.488bn: Amount approved

by FEC for Lagos-Ibadan railway modernisation project in July.

not added new ones in 52 years after independence shows our government officials don’t know anything at all,” he stated.

Investments without fruits?

Though the Jonathan’s administration has done much to revitalise the sector, the efforts remain largely unproductive. The government approved N20.3 billion this year for the NRC. Of this, N16.3 billion is set aside for capital expenditure. Another N12.13 billion has been devoted to the newly revitalised Lagos-Jebba rail line. In December 2009, a contract worth N12.2 billion was awarded to Costain Plc for the 640km JebbaKano rail.

In July, another $1.488bn was approved by FEC for Lagos-Ibadan railway modernisation project.

Experts say this massive capital injection is crucial to the resuscitation of the rail system. But Nigerians are wondering how long it will take these efforts to bear fruit. “I want the trains back as soon as possiblein fact like yesterday,’’ Josiah Pam, an indigene of Jos, stated. As a student back then in Kaduna, he took trains to school along with others. “I enjoyed myself thoroughly almost at no cost. It was fun then and I still weep when I remember they are no longer there”.

President Jonathan, early this year, reopened the Lagos-Abeokuta rail service. He went through the two-hour ride in a brand new coach labelled Dame Patience Jonathan from Ebute Metta. The 98-kilometre rail track took him to Abeokuta.

When will Nigerians embark on the same ride? When will Biu’s record 14-hour trip to Kano from Lagos happen again? He sees he looks forward to it happening again. But will it ever happen?

22

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

INSIGHT

52ND INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY: SPECIAL SECTION

‘We’re better as a united country’ Anthony Sani, National Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), speaks with Tony Akowe on the challenges of the nation

A

T 52, Nigeria is still lacking in quality leadership. What really do you think is the trouble with Nigeria?

Nigeria has been lacking in quality leadership because in most societies leaders tend to suit the people. The trouble with Nigeria is corruption and this has affected every aspects of our national life. It is corruption that steals people’s empowerment, steals their opportunity and steals their future. As a result, national ideals and moral values as well as social contract among individuals and among groups have collapsed.

What do you think needs to be done for the country to attain its full potentials as envisaged by the founding fathers?

I believe there is a need for cultural renaissance in order to change our ways of doing things.

Another area is leadership that is accountable to the people. But this cannot happen if votes of the people do not count. And votes will not count if the people do not regard government resources as their own. One way of making people to be politically aware to the extent of making judicious use of their democratic rights and elect leaders is for the people to pay direct tax. Once people are made to pay tax and regard government as their own, nobody needs to teach them how to make their votes count, and how to make leaders accountable.

As things are today, Nigeria is more or less a Trust Fund State where the beneficiaries have no say in its management. And the leaders like it that way out of their fear that taxing the people would make them become politically aware with dire consequences on those leaders who want to pillage the commonwealth.

Many believe that issues of ethnicity, religion, indigeneship, among others, are major problems confronting the nation. What is your take on this?

I do not believe ethnicity, religion and indigene or settler is the issue. This is because interdependence in Nigeria is very deep and wide that contemplating divorce is revolting. Nigeria is not the only country put together with diversity.

Indonesia is a very diverse country. Other countries that are also diverse are Tanzania, Germany etc. America is a country of settlers.

What stands these countries out away from Nigeria has been the common resolution to work hard and overcome the differences that divide the people and make the most of their diversity. And this is because these other countries know that culture and traditions are dynamic whereas core values of humanity are for eternity. But in the case of Nigeria, instead of living up collective challenges for common good, elbow-throwing grievance groups clamour for balkanization, as if they do not

know that we are better off in one united Nigeria.

So much has been said about the present day crisis in Nigeria, but there seems to be no solution in sight. What is the way forward?

Yes, there has been crisis. But it is wrong to submit that there is no solution in sight. I have seen governments and religious leaders making efforts and the efforts are reducing the intensity and frequency of the crisis as we go along. Terrorism is driven by the highest commitment by those who have been convinced to believe that they have nothing to lose if they die. And so, the only way to make such people reconsider their positions is for us to work on their head and heart, which can take time. Consider how long America stayed in Iraq, how long NATO has stayed in Afghanistan and also the case of Palestinians, and you would hardly avoid the conclusion that to bring terrorist activities under effective control cannot be a day’s job. But I believe the situation is not beyond control, given the will not only by government but by all Nigerians who must know that what does not kill this nation can only make it stronger.

There is the belief that the present NSA (Col Sambo Dasuki) is doing so much in curtailing the Boko Haram insurgence. How would you access him and his style?

As I have said earlier, the campaign against such insurgence is not an easy task. It requires the support of all Nigerians of all faiths to live up their collective challenges. I notice he is using both stick and carrot which seem to be reducing the activities of the sect. But whether such approach can bring the menace under effective control is difficult to say now. Somehow, I still believe dialogue is about the most effective instrument that can rein in the menace. And this cannot take effect unless there is a definite policy on the part of the government which can convince Boko Haram to come out and embrace the offer of dialogue. This is because there is still the fear by members of Boko Haram that government just wants to use dialogue as a ploy to arrest them. I want to believe government must go as far as effort can go and bring the members of the sect onto the negotiation table.

In what areas do you think

Nigeria, especially the leadership, needs to improve?

The leadership must know that they exist because of the people who should trust and have confidence in the leadership.

Once the people believe the leadership lives at their expense without giving anything to the people in return, there is bound to be problems.

So leaders must try and rewire the politics, reengineer our sense of justice, bring the people together to unleash their synergy, make mercy smarter, make hope more strategic, change our ways of doing things away from corruption, make people pay tax and dare the rest of us to follow. Motivation or inspiration is the instrument while social skill is the requirement.

The onshore/ offshore issue seems to have resurfaced

•Sani

with Northern Governors insisting that the issue must be restored in the constitutional amendment. What is your position?

ACF has submitted its positions to the Committee of the National Assembly on the Review of the Constitution in which it said the forum is not opposed to derivation so long as it is meant to reward efforts or compensate for environmental degradation.

Offshore exploration of oil is not a result of any effort by littoral states, nor does it degrade the environment of the oil producing communities. And so the proceeds of the offshore exploration of oil should not be included in the calculation of the derivation.

When there is a very wide disparity in incomes between constituent parts of a country, it de-

“I do not believe ethnicity, religion and indigene or settler is the issue. This is because interdependence in Nigeria is very deep and wide that contemplating divorce is revolting. Nigeria is not the only country put together with diversity. Indonesia is a very diverse country. Other countries that are also diverse are Tanzania, Germany etc. America is a country of settlers.”

feats the concept of nationhood which brings people together and enables them unleash their synergistic potential. Such a wide gap breeds instability rather than unity and stability. I hope you are aware that some oil producing communities in Delta State have demanded that their share of 13% derivation be paid to them directly, precisely because they feel short changed by their state government. Such demands suggest there is something wrong about the application of derivation to the extent that the PIB has another provision for Host Community Fund.

In a communiqué at the end of your last meeting, the ACF talked of a Road Map to be implemented by stake holders as part of effort to address security challenges and problems of socio economy of the North. But the BOT chairman of ACF has said Vice President Sambo has no clout, that the northern governors are feckless while the Northern Leaders Political Forum is indifferent about the problems of security and peace in the North. Who then will implement the Road Map? I do not believe General J. T.

Useni was reported correctly.

Even in his personal views, the General is aware of how the VP led the northern governors who contributed to the success of the Arewa Conference on Peace and Unity. They all did so morally, financially and also organisationally. Other leaders like the former VP Atiku, ministers and members of the National Assembly contributed to the success of the conference. It is such efforts on the part of VP Sambo and northern governors that have inspired the ACF to reduce the resolutions of the conference to implementable Road Map, which we hope will be implemented by stake holders led by the Vice President.ACF is, therefore, very appreciative of the support by VP Sambo right from the time he was governor of Kaduna state. But if Gen Useni truly said what he was reported to have said about the VP, about northern governors and the Northern Leaders Political Forum, then we should concede to him the right of personal expression on issues of national importance. More so that he is a respected statesman and a seasoned politician.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

INSIGHT

23

52ND INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY: SPECIAL SECTION

Nigeria’s problem is corruption -Yakassai W

HAT are the things our leaders have refused to get right 52 years after independence?

Our major problem is the problem of corruption and mismanagement; because of these two factors, countries that were at the same level with us at the point we had independence have surpassed us in terms of development and good governance.

Take for instance; countries like Brazil, Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia who were in the same place with us. They have gone far ahead of us. They had the same problem we are facing today, but they were able to overcome them through hard work and resoluteness.

Sir, are you telling us that the dreams of our founding fathers who fought relentlessly for the country’s independence are yet to be realized?

Well, I can tell you that the dreams of our founding fathers are yet to be achieved, and the reason boils down to the issue of corruption and mismanagement.

Remember that the incursion of the military in the First Republic did a great damage to the foundation of democracy in Nigeria.

For this reason, most of the things that were supposed to be put in

Alhaji Tanko Yakasai was Political Adviser to former President Shehu Shagari in the Second Republic. In this interview with KOLADE ADEYEMI, the elder statesman and renowned northern leader expressed serious concern that 52 years after the country’s Independence, it has continued to wallow in corruption, maladministration and mismanagement of public funds. place to solidify democracy were shattered; and things have never remained the same since then. So, in essence, I can tell you that Nigeria is yet to realise its dreams and aspiration 52 years after independence.

Why do you think we are finding it difficult to integrate as one indivisible nation 52 years after; because even in recent times, we continue to face the problem of ethnic war as it is being noticed in states like Plateau and Bauchi?

The problem of ethnic conflict can also be traced to lack of good leadership. When you have good leadership that carries all classes of people along irrespective of tribe, religion or ethnic background, you will find out that nobody will complain. People complain because they are being marginalised or cheated. But when you give everybody a place, you will find out that there will be peace and harmony which shall in return, give way to national development.

•Yakassai

What is then the way forward?

The only way forward is for the government and the people in power to ensure that every seg-

As political as they come

•Jonathan

•Continued from Page 19 It is on record for example, that as far back as early 1980s, Nigeria had become almost completely dependent on oil production which then generated close to 25 percent of its GDP. Official records show that by 2008, this figure had risen to 60 percent and till date, it has remained on the increase.

This trend has impacted so negatively on agriculture that Nigeria, which used to be net exporters of many agricultural products are now major importers.

A recent report captured the trend thus: “Annual production of both cash and food crops dropped significantly in the latter decades of 20th century, cocoa production dropped by 43 percent, (Nigeria was the world’s largest cocoa exporter in 1960), rubber dropped by 29 percent, cotton by 65 percent, and groundnuts by 64 percent.

Cocoa trade in Southwest The government of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the Premier of Western Nigeria in the 1960s,

made an enduring mark in Africa, especially because of the way it wisely managed and invested proceeds of cocoa and other lucrative agricultural products from the region.

But as was the case with groundnut and palm oil trade, cocoa business has suffered greatly since independence. It is on record that Nigeria was the world’s largest exporter of cocoa at the beginning, but reports in the last decade indicate that it had been struggling to retain the position of the fourth largest grower.

Many reasons have been adduced for this decline. Aside neglect for white collar jobs since the emergence of oil, cocoa farmers also blame current government policies for their predicament.

For example, Felix Oladunjoye, the Secretary-General of Cocoa Processors’ Association of Nigeria (COPAN), at the height of the recent global economic crisis, blamed the phenomenon for the deteriorating cocoa trade in the country. The global crisis, he said “has crippled business; almost everything is at a standstill.”

Although it suffered greatly like other major agricultural products, cocoa, according to Alhaji Tajudeen Oladeinde, remains one of the few agricultural products that are still being produced for commercial purposes and for export. He said their products are still shipped to chocolate makers in Europe though the trade has been at a very dull in recent years.

To sustain this, the Federal Government, in 2005, launched an ambitious cocoa revival campaign aimed at boosting production, local processing and domestic consumption of cocoa products.

That effort notwithstanding, Nigeria has remained a light weight in the trade it once led the entire world.

The way out: Dr. Jona Aremu, economist and international consultant, told The Nation that at independence, Nigeria had very tall dreams. “Our expectations were high. We danced joyfully, knowing that we had what is required to build a great nation.

Also, the emerging ruling class, who understudied the colonial administrators, made eloquent and achievable promises.

“But we missed it all when the military took over power and changed everything. This was worsened by the long military rule, which made it difficult for the promises at independence to be fulfilled.”

He regretted that since then, agriculture was sacrificed at the alter of petrol dollar and so everybody started moving away from the farms in search of white collar jobs or oil money.

To redress the situation, he said, “Nigerian government must ensure that local communities have up-to-date infrastructure. To remain in the farms, farmers must be encouraged, the quality of their lifestyle must be improved and good transport facility must be made available to transport their goods, he said.

Pa Onyekwere agreed. According to him, “People are running away from the farms because they feel farming is an inferior job and that they would never make it if they remain in the villages. That impression must be corrected if we want to return the lost glory.”

ment, tribe and region in the country is carried along. We should learn to do away with nepotism and favouritism in our polity. Those in power should learn how to be transparent and accountable so that they can regain the confidence of the people.

What is your opinion on the issue of state creation?

I do not subscribe to the argument in favour of state creation because doing that at this point of our nation’s history is doing what is impossible. For one thing, creating more states in Nigeria

today will continue to drain our economy. It is improper to continue to use 70 per cent of our recurrent expenditure on funding states. The agitators for state creation should leave the issue for now because it will be counterproductive.

You are aware that politicians from the North and South have started warming up over the 2015 presidency. As an elder statesman, who do you think should step into President Goodluck Jonathan’s shoes?

I keep on saying this that anybody who is talking about 2015 election at this time does not mean well for Nigeria. How can you begin to talk about 2015 presidency barely one year after the 2011 general elections? Have we sat down to monitor the level of progress being made by those in power? The people we voted into power last year made several promises to Nigerians; and nobody wants to know how serious they are in the implementation of their manifestos, policies and campaign promises. These are the questions we should be asking at this point: what are the people we voted for doing to alleviate our problems? How far have they gone in fulfilling all the promises they made at the polls? What I am saying is that talking about 2015 at this stage is purely diversionary.

Any solution in sight?

•Continued from Page 20 biggest challenge retarding the socio-economic development of the nation in the last two decades, late President, Umaru Yar’Adua, while campaigning for election, promised to declare an emergency in the sector.

Perhaps for lack of political will or failure to fully grapple with the enormity of the problem with a view to marshalling out a blueprint to addressing it, the previous administration achieved little or nothing to improve on what it met on ground.

Sale of power generating plants Yar’Adua’s successor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, quickly took up the gauntlet to confront the power menace. First, he appointed a tested technocrat, Professor Bath Nnaji as the Minister of Power to spearhead the power sector reforms. Few weeks after Nnaji assumed office, he announced the Power sector road map, which outlined specific steps to be taken and timelines to achieve the set objectives.

Nnaji has since been relieved of his duties, but the government has assured of forging ahead with its reform agenda. And just a few days ago, a major step in the battle to achieve stable electricity was taken.

After several policy flip flops, five generation companies were sold to private investors. The companies are located in Geregu, Ughelli, Sapele, Shiroro and Kainji.

Eight companies had earlier

bidded for the firms. They include Amperion Power Distribution Company (Geregu), MainstreamEnergy Solutions Limited (Kainji), North South Power Company Limited (Shiroro), Amperion Power Distribution Company Ltd, (Ughelli), Feniks Electricity Ltd (Ughelli), Transcorp & Woodrock/ Symbion/Medea/ PSL/Thomassen (Ughelli), CMEC/Eurafric Energy JV (Sapele) and JBN-Nestoil Power Services Ltd (Sapele).

At the end of the competitive bidding supervised by the National Council on Privatization (NCP) and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Transcorp emerged the highest bidder for the Ughelli Power Plc, with an offer of $300million.

For the Geregu Power Plant, Amperion, a consortium with Forte Oil ownwd by Mr. Femi Otedola as the majority stakeholder, won with a bid of $132million, while Sapele Power Plant went to CMEC, which includes First Bank Plc, with an offer of $2011million.

North South Power Company, with former military president, Gen. Ibrahi Babangida, as a promoter, wonthe bid for Shiroro offering $23.6million, while Kainji Plant was bought by Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd, with an offer of $50.6million. All the successful bidders offered a total of $1.119billion for the five companies.

Will privatisation do the magic?

Expectedly, in spite of the comments by the Chairman of the NCP, Mr. Atedo Peterside, that it was

24

THE SUNDAY INTERVIEW

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

52ND INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY: SPECIAL SECTION

The trouble with Nigeria Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is a clergyman noted for telling it like it is. In this no holds-barred interview with FESTUS ERIYE in Port Harcourt, he discusses the trouble with Nigeria, why negotiations with Boko Haram don’t make sense, and his amazement over the United States’ reluctance to declare the sect an FTO, among other issues. thing. Whatever prayer from that service would go on beyond that: we have a plan for prayers for the next one year – a systematic prayer that would take place in all our churches for the next one year. So, we must ask forgiveness and decide we can’t continue this way. Look, we’ve almost consumed the goodwill of our children. Sometimes, it is so discouraging when you see that many of the politicians who are doing what they are doing now are young.

If young people are doing what they are doing now, what hope do we have? It’s so bad.

Leaders of faith like yourself have uncommon access to the political leaders. What people would like to know is what goes on when you get together with these leaders? Do you convey the frustrations of the average man who does not have that kind of access to our leaders? What really happens at these encounters?

Whenever I have the opportunity to talk to them, I do tell them. You see, like we said, something is basically wrong. A lot of our politicians are heavy on promises but very low on delivery. It is not that we are short of words to say. I don’t want to mention names, but I have been in situations when I would say I won’t pray. What am I praying about? If you didn’t listen to me why must I pray for you at this point? There have been situations like that – not necessarily with those in leadership now but down through the years. The romance with darkness and wrong has been so strong with a lot of these people... it’s like I said, it doesn’t matter what you tell them now, but the moment they leave you it is a different thing. People they will be speaking with is a different thing; the kind of deals they will go into is a different thing. Some of them are so desperate for political power they can even sell their soul just to get that power. At the end of the day, Nigeria suffers for it. So what do you do? The Bible instructs us ‘pray for your leaders.’ So we cannot stop praying for them. We have to continue praying for them – even with all the mess.

So what should committed Christians do? Do they sit on their high horses pointing the finger at godless politicians or jump in there, get their hands dirty and see if they can make a difference? don’t know where we got I think that thisIthing wrong that we have basically we so separated state and church the Americans would call it. are a nation of as The separation has become so hypocrites; we wide that there’s a total disconIt’s so wide to the point pretend a lot. nect. where the average human beWe know what ing who’s a Christian goes to on Sunday, listens to a our problems church sermon, and walks out of are but we church and believes he left God that building. He goes and never like to in he lives two different lives. I confront them. believe committed Christians get involved in politics.

And anybody must They must because, in a sense, who would if we wait for every politician get it right, they may never like to confront to get it right. I think it is importhem, in a tant for committed Christians take their commitment, their sense, becomes to passion for God, their depth of the enemy. I faith and integrity into the poarena and begin to show think that is litical that there are people who can part of our still take a good stand for God. a few of them out there problem. There now, but they are still very, very few – a lot more need to get into politics. This is what we are pushing; this is what we are saying to our people.

Go out there, join the political party, begin to vie for positions, and prayerfully God can be able to position some of these people who are decent and proper and they will be able to find their way up in the right places where they can make the right decisions.

But somebody like Pastor Tunde Bakare did exactly that and many in Christendom criticised him saying he left his pastoral duties and went into politics. How do you respond to that?

I’m doing my best not to directly talk about Bakare. But, you see, I think what we need to understand is what some people are saying is that there’s nothing wrong with being a politician. But if you want to be a politician, be a politician. There’s nothing wrong with that. But if you want to be a pastor, then be a pastor. What •Continued on Page 25

“

“

E

VERY year at this time, there is a ritual when people start talking about how Nigeria has not measured up to the expectations of its founding fathers. This year, in your own assessment, should we be lamenting or rejoicing?

I think you put it correctly when you said it’s like a ritual.

Having the anniversary celebration every year is like a ritual as far as I am concerned. The truth is, when you look at Nigeria the way it is, in my opinion, the only reason why we can, at least, say ‘thank God’ is that we still exist as a nation. Otherwise, I don’t see physically anything to celebrate. The celebration would be that we still exist as a nation. Thank God for that, because I believe that Nigeria is still a nation to be hopeful about. I look more to the future and believe that the situation will not remain like this.

If you look at some nations of about the same age as us, you’ll find that many have become like medium powers. Some of them that used to depend on Nigeria for expertise in areas of agriculture like Malaysia are already substantially industrialised. What would you say is the trouble with Nigeria?

I think that basically we are a nation of hypocrites; we pretend a lot. We know what our problems are but we never like to confront them. And anybody who would like to confront them, in a sense, becomes the enemy. I think that is part of our problem.

But then if you really want to give a name to the problem of Nigeria, the major problem of Nigeria is corruption. Corruption has eaten from top down, from down up. There is no segment of the society today where you don’t find corruption. Corruption is like a worm that eats slowly. And it has eaten so much that there is nothing that holds anything together that has not been affected by his cankerworm called corruption. So, when you have a society where honesty is thrown to the dogs, where integrity has no place; when you have a society where people don’t live on principles but on immediate gratification, then definitely that society cannot move. It’s not as if here is no corruption in elsewhere of the world, but it is in a sense ‘controlled corruption’. It is not this bad.

It is not this type of corruption where a group of people come out to say ‘we want to probe corruption in this place.’ Then, you find out that the people probing these people need to be probed too.

Then you ask yourself, ‘where is this thing going to end? So nothing sees the light of day. Nothing that can create progress would see the light of day because just all about money... In that condition what happens? Now, Boko Haram has complicated it and has taken the problem now to another level. So when you have corruption and you have corruption on one hand, insecurity on the other hand, my brother, you need divine intervention. And I think that is where Nigeria is right now.

People have been quick to blame ‘leadership’- by which they mean political official holders. But everyone knows the difference between good and bad – so we should blame the church, leaders of faith, the followership: who should we blame?

We are all to blame. Nobody is exempted from the blame.

Naturally, the major blame would be on the political leaders because as a faith leader I don’t have legislative power; I don’t have executive power; I don’t have any kind of powers except the powers given to me by God to stand behind the pulpit and preach.

And that I have done by the grace of God faithfully for 40 years.

And anybody who knows me knows that I am one of those who will tell you the truth. If you love it, God bless you; if you don’t it’s your business. But you must first begin by blaming the political leaders because when you look back, the situation where we find ourselves did not begin today. It has been a gradual process – something that developed from level to another level. And because it was not dealt with at the very initial stage... Most of these problems started developing in the late 70s; that’s when it started building gradually. If it had been dealt with then probably we would not be where we are. The greatest problem, I think, was the intervention of the military into the political life of this nation.

They ruined Nigeria. Wherever we find ourselves today, they must take at least 60% of the blame. So, you cannot run away from putting the blame squarely at their doorstep. But as a faith leader I must take part of the blame too. Can I really say I have done all what I ought to have done all these years? Well, to a large extent, I think I have. Still, a lot of the people who are doing the things causing corruption in Nigeria go to church. So, who do you blame for that? Probably, I am not saying what I should be saying the way I should be saying it. But at the same time a lot of them only want to hear what they want to hear. This thing has developed to an extent that a lot of people are hardened. They are so hardened that they don’t even hear well anymore. They don’t care about whatever you’re trying to say. You can say all you want but what they want to do is already in their mind. That still does not mean I should not take part of the blame. So the blame goes around. If we can admit that we all have blame, we should all now ask God for forgiveness, and ask the average Nigerian for forgiveness. We should all repent of what we have done to ourselves. Look at the nation! Do we really like where we are? Is this where Nigeria should be? I don’t think so. Nigeria can be better. That is why we have declared a three-day fasting in the church from September 27th, 28th and 29th and on the 30th, we will have the service at the National Ecumenical Centre. The Muslims are doing the same

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

THE SUNDAY INTERVIEW

25

52ND INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY: SPECIAL SECTION

Boko Haram is built on this ideology. It is a terrible satanic ideology that says it is either what we want, the way we want it, or nothing else.

Boko Haram is funded from within by those who want to use Boko Haram to create political space for themselves. Boko Haram is not political but there are people who have political inclinations who think they can use Boko Haram. So they give them a little here, a little there to help them. So Boko Haram is funded from within by such persons. Boko Haram is also funded from without by those who want to see Nigeria divided along religious or ethnic lines. These are the things that I said. I also said Boko Haram is sustained by media apologists who deliberately and internationally feed the public with politically correct half-truths. They have a strong media connection. They constantly confuse the public and make people think one way, when actually they are going this way. But they have never hidden their intention. They have never minced words about what they want. So, these were the things I said on Monday. I never said that Boko Haram is political. I believe there are good Muslims who believe in their religion and follow it properly, but these are fundamentalist Jihadist Islamists. Their ideology is one that they use to dominate the nation and take it over if possible.

From what you have said there is an international dimension to the funding of Boko Haram...

Oh, you better believe it!

Do you feel frustrated that your efforts to get the Americans to designate the group a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) have not worked so far?

To be honest with you, I’m not sure if I would say I feel frustrated: I am amused and amazed.

It’s not because they don’t know the truth. They know the truth. They are probably learning how to be hypocritical themselves now. I don’t know if you’re aware that my stance of saying the American should designate Boko Haram as an FTO, is the stance of the FBI, CIA, the Justice

“

When you listen to Boko Haram themselves, they have never said once, ‘our problem is poverty’.

They have never said once, ‘our problem is marginalisation’. They have never said, our problem is that we don’t have enough education.

In fact they don’t want education. They have always said they want one thing: Sharia as the constitution of Nigeria period. So, Boko Haram is not fuelled by poverty; Boko Haram is fuelled by a religious fundamentalist ideology.

“

•Oritsejafor

they are saying is that you may not be able to, at the same time, pastor a church and hold a high profile political position. Pastor Bakare is someone I know and I don’t want to talk much about him. But I think he needs to connect more. There are so many things that I want to say that I don’t think it is proper for me to saying it in public. I’d rather say them to him one on one.

This year’s Independence anniversary is being celebrated against the backdrop of the unprecedented Boko Haram insurgency. In a recent interview you were quoted as saying it was political...

I have never said it was political. You journalists, sometimes, you think up a caption that will attract attention.

You never said it was political?

No, that was not what I said. I will tell you exactly what I said. Now, listen to me. I am going to say into your tape so that you will get it. In fact, I am going to be repeating what I am saying now at on Sunday in Abuja – at a public forum at the National Christian Center. Boko Haram is being fuelled not by poverty. Let me explain that a little bit further. Bin Laden did not come from a poor family. He was from an extremely rich family in Saudi Arabia. He wasn’t into what he was doing because he was poor. That young man, Muttallab (Farouk Abdulmuttalab) that wanted to blow up a plane on Christmas Day over Detroit in the US, did not attempt to do what he did because he was poor. He comes from a very wealthy family. Now, when you listen to Boko Haram themselves, they have never said once, ‘our problem is poverty’. They have never said once, ‘our problem is marginalisation’. They have never said, our problem is that we don’t have enough education. In fact they don’t want education. They have always said they want one thing: Sharia as the constitution of Nigeria - period. So, Boko Haram is not fuelled by poverty; Boko Haram is fuelled by a religious fundamentalist ideology. It is an Islamist ideology. Not all Muslims are Islamists. Some are, but not all. And

Department Homeland Security. The only people who are against this stand are the State Department. All the actual security agencies are saying designate them as FTO. Why is the State Department doing this? You are journalists investigate! Look at Johnnie Carson (US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs) – who are his friends in Nigeria? Go and find out: don’t hear it from me. What kind of connections do they have with Nigeria; who are those that they are connected to? These are the people that advise the State Department and create policies that Obama has to follow. Obama doesn’t know all the details: they are the ones that advise him, and I have a feeling that they are protecting the interests of certain persons. The moment Boko Haram is declared an FTO that gives a legal framework for all the security agencies to go after the money that Boko Haram receives. They will investigate and bring out the truth: all the financial connections would be exposed because they are not like us. They will bring out the truth about where Boko Haram is getting money from, and it will be told to the whole world.

There are also those who are also afraid of this drone thing because it can target certain persons. So, I see a lot of protecting of interests. I’m just amazed to see high level hypocrisy. Everyone knows that Boko Haram is connected with every single terrorist organisation in the world.

So, it is not designating them that is now going to make them popular. They are already connected with all these organisations. Where do they get their training from? Some of them go to Sudan, some to Somalia, some Tunisia, some from Morroco. Is that not international? When a German man was kidnapped and kept somewhere in Kano, are you aware that the Al-qaeda group in North Africa said to the German government, ‘if you release so and so of our people in your jail in Germany, we would release your man in Kano, Nigeria’. Is that not international enough for us? What are we talking about? I can

•Continued on Page 50

26

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

INSIGHT

52ND INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY: SPECIAL SECTION

Civil War as literary tonic One of Nigeria’s most traumatic periods was the civil war years. However, it has also become one of its most fecund period in terms of intellect. It produced lots of literature that have become world class, Edozie Udeze reflects on this.

•Saro-wiwa

•Obasanjo

•Achebe

“

•Chimamanda

•Akachi

Some of the works Fiction: •Survive the Peace - Cyprian Ekwensi •Sunset at Dawn- Chukwuemeka Ike •Girls at war, There was a country - Chinua Achebe •Sozaboy, On a Darkling Plain - Ken Saro-Wiwa, •Half of a Yellow sun, For love of Biafra (Drama) - Chimamanda Adichie •Biafran Testament - Kalu Opi •Roses and Bullets - Akachi Ezeigbo •Dogs of war -Fredrick Forsyth.

Non-fiction: •My Command, Nzeogwu - Olusegun Obasanjo •The Biafran Revolution - Alex Madiebo •The five Majors - Ben Gbulie •My Account of the war - Joe Garba ther stated.

Although many Literature Departments in tertiary institutions now offer the civil war literature as a course, Chijioke Uwasomba, a Literature teacher at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Osun State, insists that more needs to be done to elevate it to the level of attention given to European and other aspects of literature.

“We should do it in such a way that it permeates the society and penetrate the inner being of everybody. In fact, the way we are going no one seems to have learnt anything from the war. Seriously speaking the experiences of the war ought to make us sober and reflective and serious about a reoccurrence; about the cohesion and unity of this country,” Uwasomba said.

Udoka is equally not comfortable with the way the federal government is

handling the aftermath of the war. He said: “I am not even sure if it is being studied at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) as a subject or at the War College, Kaduna. These are the issues we need to address so that people will get to know the whys and why not of the civil war. Those who handle peace and war courses need to understand this in order to know what to teach the students.”

War literatures, both fictions and non-fictions, should be studied regularly to know the kind of political and economic situations being addressed by these works. They will help the country to know what to avoid in order not to fight again. What the war has done is that it did not only spill a lot of blood, it has generated bundles of literature and academic works that help for the social and economic development of the coun-

Nigerians, he said should study and read the works

by Olusegun Obasanjo, Ben Gbulie, Alex Madiebo, Mamman Vatsa (the doyen of military poetry) Joe Garba and such other military personnel, to learn first hand what war does to the psyche of a society.”

“

A

T the end of the World War II in 1945, the then British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, was asked by a journalist how he felt about the war. He retorted: “Oh, the war? It was a beautiful war, a wonderful war.”

And an obviously flabbergasted reporter then thundered back at him; “But why? Why do you say so?” Churchill, who led the British forces to victory over the intransigent forces of Adolf Hitler and his allies, threw back his head and laughed, “Because we will write about the war ourselves.”

A few years after, Churchill did not only produce so many memoirs on the war, and how it was fought and won, he ended up winning the Nobel Prize in Literature. Today the experience of World War II still ranks as one of the most single event in world affairs that has produced the largest number of literature and literary documents. Mostly in literature, what shapes a writer’s world-view is what he has experienced or encountered or seen others suffer or wade through in life.

In the Nigerian literary firmament, the Civil War of 1967 – 1970 has come to dominate the literary zeal and attention of most writers. Since the war ended, over 200 materials in different genres of literature by Nigerians and foreigners have been produced. As it is now, even the younger generation of writers is still writing on the history of the war, exploring new styles and themes and approaches.

According to Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo who teaches literature at the University of Lagos, writings on the Civil War will not cease. “Historical experiences will always continue to inspire writers, even future writers who have not been born today. Writers can always approach the issue from different angles; somebody could approach it from the perspective of children in the war, soldiers in the war or the civilians.” Ezeigbo’s Roses and Bullets which is on the war, equally made the shortlist of Wole Soyinka Literature Prize this year. A number of tertiary institutions offer it both at the graduate and post graduate levels. So also is Chimamanda Adichie’s Half of a Yellow sun and For the love of Biafra (a play) which are making waves presently.

The lesson in the documentation of the civil war experiences is that it threw up a lot of writers especially among the military. In the words of Arnold Udoka, a playwright and poet, the war was not just the explosion of guns and bombs and air raids, it was also an internal raid and explosion of intelligence. It has contributed a lot of criticism to Nigeria’s literary sphere. Authors have basically explored and are still exploring the four genres of literature - prose, poetry, drama and children’s literature.

It produced a fantastic drama entitled The Biafran Road by late Dr. Ogonna Agu. A lot of other plays are underway”.

Udoka who has written several poems on his personal experiences about the war, opined that the greatest beauty of it all is that most lettered soldiers who participated in the war were able to pen down something for posterity. “Yes,” he said, “most of the soldiers who we thought were unlettered, we later learnt were not. The military were made up of highly intelligent people, who while in the thick of the war were gathering materials to write books. This is one of the beauties of the war. But unfortunately a lot of Nigerians still see and regard the war as basically a Biafran palaver.”

The lesson Nigerians, he said should study and read the works by Olusegun Obasanjo, Ben Gbulie, Alex Madiebo, Mamman Vatsa (the doyen of military poetry) Joe Garba and such other military personnel, to learn first hand what war does to the psyche of a society. “These writers showed their outburst in literary firmament of the country. Their works led to the development of literature and literary affairs. Beyond that, we need to address the areas of peace and war studies in relation to the war and literature generally in the country,” Udoka fur-

try. Nigerians need to look deep into all these.

Ezeigbo’s account of how she experienced the war should also serve as a lesson in this regard. “Yes,” she said, grinning, “I was a special constable. We were given military training, actually. I was in secondary school when the war started and some of us were trained as Red Cross personnel. But we did not go to the war front. What I did was take part in security and then train other constables. I also worked in a refugee camp when I finished my work as a special constable. Well, I used part of my experience to explore some of the issues in the novel. I had relations who went to war and told us the story… The activities of the youths who were organizing entertainments and dramas to help raise some money for the army were also explored in the novel,” she said.

Part of what she and others presented in their works have further exposed and explored the futility of war and what both the leaders and the led should continuously do to oil the wheel of progress of a society like Nigeria where ethnicity and narrow interests continue to occupy the psyche of the people.

Yet like Uwasomba rightly observed: Forty-two years after the war, what lessons have we learnt; what new cultural values have we imbibed to make Nigeria a better and conducive place for all irrespective of a person’s place of birth, ethnic group, faith or persuasion in life?

This is what people should be pondering over as the nation marks its 52 years anniversary and looks forward to renewed efforts at unifying the people based on equity, love and progress.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Rukky Sanda I’m a risk taker

– Page 34

28

Glamour

Kehinde Falode Tel: 08023689894 (sms)

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

E-mail: kehinde.falode@thenationonlineng.net

•Jecintha Powell

•Ibiere Agwu

•Rita Dominic •Abike Dabiri-Erewa

•Barong Taiwo

Elegantly waisted or belted

L

AST season’s flamboyant waist belts of all kinds were worn by an elite few, but since the beginning of the year, it has been the reigning fashion accessory for skirt, trousers and gown attires.

The waist belt is one the season's big accessories, whether cinching a sleek pencil dress like Adaure Achumba, a long ball gown like Rita Domnic, a free gown like Abike DabiriErewa, a jumpsuit like Ibiere Agwu or just a skirt like Barong Taiwo.

It is the fashion piece of the moment, sometimes dazzling with gems that those who know their onions or fashionistas cannot do without.

Glamour

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Back-to-school

fashion tips

29

H

ERE, we are going to give the 'freshers' or 'jambites' some tips on how to make a very good impression in their first year in school. It is common knowledge that there will be a lot of activities for you and here are some fashion ideas for your wardrobe. Your clothes for school should be funky and fresh, just like your style.

Wumi Oguntuase

N

EXT up is your jewellery.

Though you might have the outfit, you still need the accessories. Bangle bracelets, cuffs and chunky silver; either slim or textured, you need them. Big brooches add shine to your outfit.

You can add a smaller one to a black sweater or jacket as long as they are concentrated in one area of your outfit. Woven handbags are also trending now; large roomy bags and brightly coloured clutches are also popular.

S

HOW the girlie side.

Puffy shoulders and peplums on jackets and shirts are some examples of feminine flair that you can wear. This look goes great with a skirt, pair of skinny jeans or your favourite leggings. Pair a lace dress with tights and boots or a brightly coloured lace top with black pants, and you'll be set to hang out.

Embrace your feminine sides with silhouette and hourglass-shaped dresses and blouses. Rather than covering up your curves, you should flaunt them.

F

IRST of all, you need to jazz things up with colour.

Tangerine, bright blues, pink and purple are colours that will serve you well in school and you will also make a statement in them.

The colours can be in your belt, scarf or shoes. Colourise your ensemble by putting a bright orange sweater with your black pants or a purple oversized top with your gray leggings.

Brightly coloured pants (including denim) are another big fashion trend, so pair a neutral top with your eye-popping pants.

M

AKE jeans your best friend. You cannot discuss fashion without talking about denim. Skinny jeans are very popular now and you do not have to be skinny to wear them.

Skinny jeans can work with almost any figure type because they flatten and smooth out your bottom half.

Besides, skinnies are versatile; you can pair them with long cardigans, blazers, hoodies, standard buttondown shirts or just tops. Another item for you is your 'Jeggings'. They are stylish and comfortable because they are soft and stretchy. Like leggings, they go with almost anything; big sweaters, oversized blouses, jackets and hoodies.

P

RINTS are also trending now so you might want to have different Ankara jackets and tops or just trousers too. These would work for either casual or corporate. Plaids, patchwork, stripes and polka dots are also appearing on everything from T-shirts and flannel button downs to ballet flats, so get these too. The great advantage of prints is that you can go all out or simply add a few separates to spice up your wardrobe. An Ankara sleeveless top with your skinny jeans, a plaid jacket with solid-coloured pants, or a striped T with Capris are great ensembles, or just choose a printed handbag or shoe

F

INALLY, for your shoes, you can choose sandals, high tops, ballet flats, etc. Pair neon green or yellow high tops with your favourite pair of jeans and a casual cotton or hoodie. Try bright ballet flats, patent leather in a bold red or blue to add excitement to a casual outfit or extra flare to a dressier look, or go jungle fever with an animal print on your primal ballerina flats. It is a s t y l i s h b u t understated way to embrace the prints craze. If you want to bare a little more, colourful sandals will make a splash. Trendy pastels like pale aqua, light yellow and rose are in style. Sandals with metallic, gold and silver sheens would also look cool.

32

Glamour

KIM KARDASHIAN

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Life is a

reality show

Watching Kim Kardashian live the lavish life in Los Angeles has become an international pastime. Just when it seemed like her bubble had burst, she bounced back with a new boyfriend (Kanye West) and a sleek new style, having learned a little privacy goes a long way. Patrik Sandberg writes. “

H

ELLO.”The voice that purrs on the other end of the line belongs to Kim Kardashian, though it could easily be mistaken for that of a Disney princess. The reality, as is often the case when it comes to Kim, is more surreal than fiction: over the past five years and through seven seasons of her hit cable reality show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians - along with several spin-offs and an over-the-top wedding specialthe doe-eyed, supernaturally beautiful girl from Calabasas, California, has blossomedno, balloonedinto a megawatt celebrity, TV star, branding impresario, retail CEO, and ubiquitous media fixation whose every move is documented by either paparazzi or her own camera crew, everywhere from Dublin to Dubai. Today, she's back in Los Angeles following a whirlwind trip to Europe (and a stop in Atlantic City) with her new boyfriend, Kanye West.

“I had to make sure I was here for when Kourtney was going to give birth,” she says, referring to the arrival of her older sister's new child, a baby girl named Penelope. Conversing with Kim feels laid-back and familiar; when discussing her relatives she offers first names only and no additional explanationbut who would need it?

Episodes of the family's serial docudrama rake in upward of three million viewers a night (not to mention both legal and illicit online downloads), and the story lines are supplemented by a never-ending chronicle of their activity across social media platforms and in the tabloids. In other words, even if you haven't been keeping up with them, they've probably somehow found their way to you. “We're all so exhausted by the end of a season, especially this one,” she says. “So it feels good to just chill out and not really do much. I finished filming the day I went to Paris, it was the perfect little trip to get away. Paris is one of my favorite cities and it's always been a dream of mine to be out there during fashion week, so I was just kind of soaking it all in.”

Not long ago, the thought of Kim in the front row of the Paris couture shows seemed a bit of a stretch.

Fashion hasn't been quick to embrace reality TV stars, many of whom vanish into obsolescence as swiftly as they arrived.

On top of this, the recent controversy surrounding Kim's larger-than-life 2011 wedding and subsequent 72day marriage to NBA player Kris Humphries had many writing her off as an attention-seeking stunt queen…not the type of press the famously insular fashion world is interested in courting. But her connection to budding fashion designer/megaproducer/hiphop impresario West has her back in the meme cycle the public has spoken: they are “Kimye”and many noticed a subtle transformation when Kim debuted a sleek, sophisticated new look at the Cannes Film Festival and around town in London. Gone were the hair extensions, false eyelashes,

and skintight ensembles, replaced by a straight, shoulderlength haircut, natural makeup, and simple yet stunning pieces by Lanvin, Céline, and Givenchy. Photographer Nick Knight was one of the first to take notice, and the story seen here is the result.

“I met Nick in London,” Kim recalls. “He came to one of my boyfriend's concerts, the Watch the Throne tour. He took out his iPhone and snapped a picture of Kanye and me, and even on a little iPhone camera he captured the moment so perfectly.

We hit it off and we were like, “We need to do a real shoot and not just a shoot on an iPhone!”

While the media has speculated that the evolution of Kim's look can be attributed to the influence of her new beau, she explains that its roots run deeper than that. “It came from me taking time away at the end of last year and the beginning of this year and really simplifying my life,” she says. “I went and stayed at my mom's house for like four months, and I didn't bring any makeup, high heels, or anything. I just brought sweats, workout clothes, and pajamas. It was so refreshing to me!

Spending more time in Paris and traveling has broadened my fashion horizon and my palette of what I want to wear. I love makeup. I love the glitz and the glam, but I think there are just different ways to go about it now.” Still, she admits, there is a 'Ye factor.

“Obviously having a stylish boyfriend who has helped introduce me to things and opened up my vision has been an inspiration and has helped me change it up a little bit and become more sophisticated. Being with him, designing and doing things, t h a t ' s b e e n motivating to me and has taught me a lot.

I'm just thankful.”

Another aspect of K i m ' s n e w relationship is the m u t u a l appreciation for respite from the public glare.

“Before, I wouldn't have valued privacy as much as I do now,” she says, alluding to her turbulent year. “I think anyone I'm in a relationship with c a n r e a l l y appreciate the things I've gone through to bring me here, because I probably wouldn't have fought for that privacy before. Being with someone who's more private but who understands

public life, we have an understanding. It's a good balance.”

Believe it or not, fashion is where Kim's career started out.

“I think that some people think we opened our store, D-A-SH, on the show, but when we got the show offer we were thinking of it as a way to promote our store. Styling and fashion have always been my number one job, or obviously my first passion. Our goal had always been to promote the store by doing the show, and then we realized our dream life would be to have our own clothing line. Never in a million years did we think that we could go way more mass with it and have a Kardashian collection at Sears and a QVC clothing line. We weren't even thinking that big.” She doesn't bother to mention her five fragrances or the cosmetics line that she and her sisters are launching for the impending holiday season.

Kim and kompany are so big, in fact, they've inspired an impressive pop-cultural iconography, the pageantry and specificity of which is normally reserved for the most monumental of stars. When it comes to encountering renderings of herself and her family, whether in spoofery, drag, or professional impersonation, Kim says, “I find it super flattering. My friends and I joke, we're like 'Oh, that's so 2007 Kim K.' The tight dress, the curls, the wavy hair parted in the middle with the nude lip and the smoky eyethey tend to go with that look. I get it and I'm flattered by it, but I don't think that it's accurate. I look at my wax figure and I'm like, Oh my God, I would never dress like that. But it's kind of cool.

Immortalized as a waxed figure? It's definitely an honor to have that.” Indeed, anything from a dress to a pair of earrings to a hair flip can be labeled “very Kardashian” by the popsavvy public; the family name and brand has become its own adjective. The user-generated slang website UrbanDictionary.com includes “a beautiful nobody” among other offensive and more vulgar definitions.

“It's always funny to me when people say that I'm famous for being famous,” Kim says, frankly. “I think it's fascinating, because it's still entertainment, you know? It's fun to see the progression of that idea. I don't take offense to it at all. I'm not naïve to the fact that I'm not a singer or an actress or anything like that. I've never claimed to be anything that I'm not. I think [reality] is still a new form of entertainment that was kind of an unexpected thing.” Perhaps this sensibility, too, reflects the influence of Kanye. She offers a curious analogy: “It reminds me of rap music.”

“When rap music first came out, people were like, We don't understand this, what is this, it's just a fad. But rap music is definitely here to stay, and I think reality shows have proven they are as well. But when something is newer, people don't really understand it.” As more television genres go the way of the analog tube, why shouldn't there be room to explore the potential of a new family dynamic? “You can see that soap operas aren't on the air as much anymore. I think reality shows are taking over that genre, but I think the draw to our show is that we are relatable. I get it all the time, people saying, 'I don't have any sisters, but you make me feel like I'm part of the family,' or, 'I have four sisters and it reminds me of you guys!' I think it's just a new world with social media. The interaction I have with my fans and the access is so much fun to me. I love that connection.”

When asked if she can see herself earning enough respect to one day be revered like television greats such as Lucille Ball or Susan Lucci, Kim grows impassioned. “I think there was a quote where somebody said that reality stars will never get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. So, of course I'm so competitive that I think that it would be a huge achievement and a goal that anyone would want. I would love to break that mold.”

Whether or not Hollywood comes around, Kim is, apparently, coming to Hollywood. For her next feat, she'll tackle a featured role in the upcoming Tyler Perry movie, The Marriage Counselor. Will acting for the screen really prove to be that different from simply living on it? “It's a departure,” she says of her role as a therapist. “In real life, I'm definitely not a marriage counselor. I shouldn't be giving marriage advice to anyone! It was pretty ironic, especially at the time that I was filming it, but it was therapeutic. It's sort of my motto in life that I'll try anything once that is outside my comfort zone, and if I don't like it I won't do it again. But acting, I liked.”

With her show renewed for three more seasons, there will be plenty of time to catch more of Kim, though this may be the last time the family signs on the dotted line. “To have more episodes than were shot of I Love Lucy and more seasons than The Andy Griffith Show will be such an accomplishment. But we'll reevaluate after ten seasons, and if it's not fun anymore or if we're just ready, we'll let it go,” she says. “I don't think any of us would have a problem with that. We'd all probably enjoy a little bit of privacy.” That's so 2012 Kim K.

t

THEATRE

BIGSCREEN

With VICTOR AKANDE

Tunde Kelani notches another award F

ILMMAKER, Tunde Kelani, was recently named as the recipient of the prestigious 2012 Africa Reel Award at the Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF), California, USA. The Africa Reel Award is presented to a filmmaker of African origin whose body of works represents excellence in the art of film, but more importantly a filmmaker who has through such body of works shown a dogged commitment to uplifting the spirit of Africa.

In a congratulatory letter sent to the multiple award winning filmmaker, signed by the Festival Director, Chike C. Nwoffiah, Kelani was recognised for his unrivalled commitment to promoting his cultural heritage in his works.

“I am delighted that this year's award will be given to you in recognition of your many years of commitment to lifting up our people through your films. As is our practice, we have submitted your name to the California State House of Assembly where the Assembly member for our district (Assembly member Paul Fong) will secure a Certificate of Recognition for you from the California State Legislature.”

animation films from 16 African countries will be showcased. The festival also enriches cultural landscape by providing a forum for a better understanding and appreciation of Africa and Africans through moving images.

In celebration of Kelani, his latest effort, Maami, starring award-winning actress, Funke Akindele, will be shown as the centre piece film of the festival on Saturday, October, 13, 2012, followed by a post-screening conversation.

The Silicon Valley African Film Festival was established by the proclamation of the City of Mountain View and has the seal of the city's Mayor Jac Siegel.

The festival seeks to showcase seasoned and emerging filmmakers from the African continent whose works reflect authentic African voice. Not less than 36 featurelength, shortlength and

J

Akon makes season finale of MTV Meets... with MTN

SOUND TRACK

GISTS

33

plus

Tel: 07029013958

WARD-winning rappers, M.I and Naeto C, made their very first Hennessy Artistry club appearance at Deuces Nightclub last Friday.

It was the first time both rappers will perform the Hennessy Artistry theme song to an exclusive audience since the release of the track and video in August.

The event was a classic experience for music fans and lovers of the Hennessy brand. The event saw Hennessy Artistry supporting acts, DammyKrane and Burna Boy, perform alongside M.I and Naeto C.

“Me and my brother, Naeto C, gave our fans and Hennessy lovers a really good time at Deuces,” M.I said. Naeto C says, “We delivered a world class Hennessy party last Friday and fans were blown away!”

M.I and Naeto C were announced as headliners for the annual music initiative, Hennessy Artistry, on July 20, 2012. Both rappers then went ahead to release the historic Hennessy Artistry collaboration track, “Bartender”. The video for the hit track directed by Clarence Peters has gone on to dominate playlists on TV platforms in Nigeria and beyond.

E-mail:

victor_akande@yahoo.com

A

M.I, Naeto C perform ‘Bartender’ live

S

ENEGALESEAMERICAN recording artiste and business mogul, Akon, will be screened in a gripping interview as MTV Base and MTN are to round off a fascinating second season of youth empowerment series MTV Base Meets… with MTN. MTV Base Meets Akon with MTN will premiere on terrestrial TV stations across Africa including: TV2 (Cameroon), Wednesday 26 September at 21:00; (Ghana), Thursday 27 September at 21:00; NTV (Uganda), Friday 28 September at 18:00; Muvi TV (Zambia), Friday 28 September at 17:00; STV (Nigeria), Sunday 30 September at 17:00. The episode will premiere on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) on

Wednesday 3 September 2012 at 20:30 CAT. Akon met with MTV VJ Vanessa Mdee and five passionate young Africans from all over the continent on Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles, California in September 2012.

Among those lining up to meet with Akon were Zambian computer science student, Catherine Nkonjera (20), Rwandan commerce student, Marc Gwamaka (24), 20-yearold computer science student, Xolani Kunene from Swaziland, Ugandan economics student and music promoter, Kenneth Tamali (22) and South African designer, Annah Mabasa (26).

Among the topics discussed

by Akon and the group are fame, ambition, education, how to find and develop your talent, cultural cross-over and the importance of fighting for what you believe in.

Ebenezer Obey headlines Independence Jam UJU music legend, Ebenezer ObeyFabiyi, is set to treat A-list lovers of his music at a show tagged: Independence Eve Party on Sunday September 30, 2012.

The show is being put together by Picasso Lounge, an upscale hospitality outfit on Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island, in conjunction with Hennessy.

The organisers of the show in a statement said the choice of Obey was borne out of the need to

PAGE

Kunle Akinrinade

satisfy lovers of the Juju music crooner who had been tirelessly longing to have a taste of his brand of Juju music.

The statement reads:” The show is in direct response to the request by our teeming customers and friends for Obey's music. Basically, many music buffs of the 60s who graduated from Nigerian universities and sojourned in foreign lands have been returning to Nigeria in droves.

“And they've not stopped from asking us to bring Obey on stage to entertain them on the eve of Nigeria's Independence anniversary.

“Besides, Obey remains one of the most remarkable artistes of his generation, whose music still draws a lot of patronage from old and young revelers. We believe that a lot of people are so stressed out as a result of coping with the rigours of work and we also believe that Obey's music offers soothing balm for this set of people.”

The high-octane show, which will be anchored by ace comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka, the 1st, is strictly by invitation, and cost of tickets for couples and tables for high profile revelers shuttles between thousands and one million naira.

34

Entertainment

Light-skinned actress, Rukky Sanda, is certainly a thespian that knows her onions, judging by the way she interprets her roles. The fun-loving actress opened up on a range of issues in this interview with AHMED BOULOR.

W

HAT really influenced you to go

into acting?

Watching stars on TV basically influenced my decision to become an actress. It sounds weird, but watching TV while I was growing up, I just knew I wanted to be in it.

The rest, as they say, is history, as I am enjoying every moment of being an actress at the moment.

Have you achieved your vision as an actress yet?

Yes, I am definitely achieving my vision gradually. I haven't achieved it yet, but I definitely will, because God told me so. I'm headed in the right direction in my career and I am in charge of my future.

As one who has been on the scene for quite a while, what plans do you have for Nollywood which has brought you relative fame and fortune?

I am basically carving my own niche, and telling my own stories.

Stories I can relate with. I am also giving my audience something different; telling it exactly how I want it to be told. As different individuals from different places, we all have different stories to tell and different things going on around us.

We all also have different views and that means we all offer something different. I would like to use this opportunity to commend the efforts of my fellow colleagues like Uche Jombo, Emem Isong, Tonto Dikeh, Ini Edo and others who have distinguished themselves while also contributing their quotas to the development of Nollywood.

Are you mentoring any upcoming actress at the moment?

Yes, I have quite a few new talents that I mentor while also giving them the opportunity to show their talents. I'm a risk taker, I can basically convince you to be an actor if you suit a character I want or would like to create. But not just actresses, I have more of actors. I made it a priority to always use one or two new faces in every production I do.

What has kept you going thus far as an actress?

My career has been on the move

E

NCOMIUM Weekly and Primetime Entertainment are rolling out the green carpet for the annual Green and White Groove as Nigeria clocks 52 tomorrow, October 1.

The famous independence party, put together to celebrate Nigeria and Nigerians has become one of the most important events on October 1.

Organisers say it promises to

Bethany releases single

I would love to be extremely rich in every way but even the richest people want more money.

It's nothing like that, we never even intended for it to be public, I don't know how it got out. She needed the money more than we did because she's battling cancer and I'm glad we were able to help

G

OSPEL artiste, Bola Thani, otherwise known as Bethany, is out with a new single she calls Iyanu. The singer who is presently on tour of the United Kingdom says the track is specially released for the listening pleasure of her UK fans.

A member of the Mass Choir of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Bethany, earlier released a single titled Halleluyah in Nigeria. The single which featured popular gospel saxophonist, Pastor Kunle Ajayi has been enjoying appreciable air play on Nigerian radio stations. The artiste is expected to put finishing touches to her new 10-track album upon her return to Nigeria soon.

—Rukky Sanda

• Mike Ezuruonye with Rukky Sanda

all this while - thanks to God. There really has been no secret but for Him guiding my path and directing my steps and showing me what to do. It also has to do with being patient, disciplined, knowing exactly what you want and working towards achieving it and mostly being optimistic. You also have to believe in what you do and love it. I have overtime developed a passion for moviemaking and there's so much I want to learn.

Do you have any words of advice for upstarts?

My advice will be; it may sound trite, but you have to be confident and not arrogant. You have to be willing to work hard, pray hard and make the best of every opportunity and give your best performance if

Entertainment

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

you're lucky to get an audition. And never take anyone for granted because you never know who can help you. Most importantly, never let anyone take advantage of you.

Don't be desperate and don't make wrong decisions you'll have to live with for the rest of your life. If God has said that's your ordained career, it will happen, you just need to pray, be wise and patient.

Would you say being beautiful is a blessing or a curse?

I'm blessed to be beautiful. God surely took his time in creating me, so it's definitely a blessing and a super blessing at that.

Has life taught you any lesson?

Life has taught me to always stay true to myself, put God first and follow my instincts. Life has also

taught me to be patient while also teaching me to put myself and family as my main priority.

Why did you give N500, 000 to Funmi Lawal? Is it that you have too much money?

It sounds like a cliché when you put it like that. I don't know how a good deed will be perceived as an issue of having too much money or showing off. I'm comfortable, I thank God, and I don't think there's such a thing as having too much money. I would love to be extremely rich in every way but even the richest people want more money.

It's nothing like that, we never even intended for it to be public, I don't know how it got out. She needed the money more than we did because she's battling cancer and I'm glad we

were able to help. So that being said, keep her in your prayers and let's hope she recovers fully and gets back to normal health.

Did you and Tonto take that decision together?

Tonto actually initiated it; so most of the credit should go to her. I knew absolutely nothing about the story or the lady. Tonto had heard about it and she was really worried and concerned. She has such an amazing heart; that crazy girl. She actually called me at 6am on Tuesday because it bothered her and she could not sleep. But I didn't really get what she was saying because I was sleeping, I told her I'd call when I woke up. When I finally did at 2pm, we spoke and she

expressed her sympathy and said she wanted us to do something. So we decided to make the donation and contributed equally.

How close are you and Tonto?

Yes, she's one of my best friends, she's fun, naughty and amazing, and she's my baby.

How have you been able to manage the fame?

It has not been an easy thing but then, I apply the principle of being humble in all things that I do and whatever I achieve in life.

What would make you reject a movie script?

If the storyline of the script is not good or attractive enough, I will reject it. If the director is someone I feel I cannot work with, I will also reject it.

39

A-list entertainers for Nigeria’s Independence groove

get even better this year with more star performances, higher celeb attendance, a new, improved venue, and thousands of patriotic Nigerians coming out to celebrate their country. ''It's the biggest, most exciting party celebrating Africa’s most populous nation's independence anniversary” says Encomium publisher, Kunle Bakare. “There are challenges, but every year, we move forward. This year, we're celebrating our nation, and the positive-minded citizens who are determined to make Nigeria great, in spite of the many hurdles on the way.”

Already confirmed for the Monday October 1 event are superstar DJs Jimmy JATT and Vinnie, as well as the Kennis Music All Stars.

“We're having a dance and a party.” says Primetime's Keke Ogungbe, who adds that the event will be broadcast live on

•Keke with D1 the Kennis Channel on Startimes.

The Green and White Groove will hold between 4 and 10pm on Monday October 1, at Anchor Event Place, Agidingbi, in Ikeja, Lagos. “The Centre for Excellence will rock for six hours uninterrupted on Monday,” adds Keke's partner Dayo Adeneye.

Modupe lowo Jesu berths

T

ALENTED Kogi-based gospel singer, Sister Nihi Modupe-Ade is shaking the music scene with the video work of her new album entitled, 'Modupe Lowo Jesu' (I thank Jesus).

A civil servant and fashion designer of repute, Modupe-Ade is not alone in the work that features her children. Her husband, also a senior civil servant and fashion expert, Nihi Charles-Ade, plays a leading role in some of the tracks.

Besides the hit-track, 'Mo dupe lowo Jesu', the works features tracks like 'Wa Gbemi Leke', 'Oni L'ojo Igbala', 'Kini Mafi San Ore' and 'Iwo L'ogo Ye'.

Shot at various locations in the state, the video work parades sonorous lyrics, enthralling dance steps that respond perfectly to pulsating drumbeats, especially by the couple, as well as modest costume befitting of a Christian ensemble.

Apart from preaching salvation, the work extols the sterling

Dada Aladelokun

virtues or Jesus Christ, God's goodness to the couple and their family and particularly, His infinite love for Nigeria and Nigerians.

“We just felt it was time we contributed our quota through our God-given endowment to re-making our sliding system where morality has been thrown to the dogs. Look at the rate at which crimes soar in our land.

We had to call on God to heal the land and lead our people out of the woods,” Modupe-Ade said.

•Mr & Mrs Nihi

Mushin agog for Oxygen

T

•Oxygen

HIS seems to be cheering news for lovers of entertainment in Lagos, as one of Nigeria's soft sell magazines, High Society, in conjunction with Green & Bliss management, will unveil to the public the debut comedy CD album of Prince Kelechi Ulu Torti, a.k.a Oxygen.

The event will take place at Clean John Event Place in Mushin, Lagos and comedians

such as Koffi, Tee Gee, Dauda Melody, T.Laff, Crazy Leas, Aje Baba, Akpororo and others will deliver doses of comedy while musicians that will thrill invited guests include Goldie, Ollie Gee, Dan Clef and Aladin.

Meanwhile, the president General of Ladipo Auto Central Market Association, Mr Iyke Animanu, alongside the market executives and the management and staffs of Zematech Nigeria limited have all indicated their interest to grace the launch.

Sport&Style THE NATION

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

JAMES

Defoe's ex

I'm crazy about PlayStation

parties all night!

THE DON'S DEAL

Obiefule reveals fondness for

Kangol

hat

By Morakinyo Abodunrin

P

AUL Obiefule is known for two things: philanthropy and Kangol hat!

While the former is like second nature, the, erstwhile Super Eagles' midfielder has sensationally told The Nation Sport & Style that his dressing is not complete without the latter.

“My dressing is not complete if I don't wear Kangol,” said Obiefule, who is fondly referred to as The Don for his philanthropic gestures that have helped many Nigerians settle down comfortably in the Scandinavian country. “I prefer to buy expensive Kangol than staying too long at bar. “It's not a question about an Igbo boy liking Kangol, it's about fashion and

Contd. on page 38

PAGE 35

ACP Gideon Akinsola speaks out

Keeping fit gives me inner peace

36

37

NATION SPORT & STYLE SUNDAY, September 30, 2012

NATION SPORT & STYLE

Defoe's ex parties all night!

NATION SPORT & STYLE

S

HE'S just got a brand spanking new personalised white Range Rover but Alexandra Burke, former girlfriend of Jermaine Defoe, had to let someone else drive her home in the early hours after a night of partying.

The 24-year-old X Factor winner left Novikov restaurant 3am after a night on the tiles, looking a little worse for wear.

Although the singer, who's been showing off her new monster car, drove her prized possession earlier in the evening, she had to be helped into the backseat by a bouncer after agreeing to let someone else drive her home.

The well-groomed star had been at the launch party for new video game Just Dance 4 earlier in the evening and seemed completely together as she posed for photographs with fans.

The London-born star clearly wasn't ready to end her evening after the party, and headed to the plush Mayfair restaurant to meet friends for a slap up meal.

The Bad Boys singer finished off the look with black patent heels and added a flash of red lipstick and gold hoop earrings to break up the colour.

She might have had a heavy night, but the star seemed in good spirits as she laughed and joked with the restaurant's security.

The singer, who's been embracing the single life after breaking up with cheating boyfriend Jermain Defoe a few months ago, is set on cracking the US charts, after success in the UK. Alexandra Burke posted a video on YouTube about her struggle to get where she is, called Alexandra Burke on Bouncing Back.

ONALDO has voiced his 'I don't like the word failure,' unhappiness with his current team she says in the video.

Real Madrid recently, but he 'When one door closes, certainly seems a lot happier off the pitch. another ten open up and you're The 27-year-old striker was seen being going to find the door that suits cheered up by his stunning girlfriend Irina you best.’ Shayk, as the pair enjoyed a passionate

GOAL-DEN TOUCH A

Michael Phelps finally meets his idol

T

HAT bar has to be set pretty high for the all-time leader in Olympic medals.

And so, sitting with David Feherty during a special Ryder Cup edition of Feherty Live, the Golf Channel's version of a latenight talk show, Phelps talked about the man who inspires him most.

Feherty's show had come to the grand old Tivoli Theater in suburban Chicago, where it was only fitting that No. 23 would come up in conversation.

For it was only 20 miles to the east where Jordan led the Bulls to s i x N B A championships . Feherty joked that his lowbudget show couldn't afford the real Michael Jordan, only a blowup one, and with that out stepped the fivetime MVP, drawing the capacity crowd inside the Tivoli Theat er to its feet and an adoring smile across Phelps' face.

Of all the famous people Phelps has rubbed elbows with

over the years, Jordan hasn't been one of them.Already shy whenever a camera is shoved in his face, Phelps could barely muster a sentence sitting next to MJ. Feherty wondered why a kid from Baltimore would grow up idolizing a guy playing in Chicago.

"He's the greatest," Phelps muttered as he stared at his shoes.

A n d then, in a moment as refreshing as an earlymorning swim, Phelps let everyone know just how he felt: "I'm at a loss for words."

Phelps said he has been in the pool since announcing his official r e t i r e m e n t following the London Olympics, but only for a little exercise. He insisted on more than one occasion that he's "not coming back."

Golf, it appears, is where at least some of his focus is now, though he says he's not very good at it.

(His swing, which Feherty broke down on video, showed otherwise.)

ACP Gideon Akinsola speaks out T what point did you decide to take keeping fit very serious?

Cristiano Ronaldo looks more interested Irina Shayk than the football match in Madrid!

R

PDA in the stands while Real in action in Madrid. Ronaldo and Irina failed to keep their hands off each other, and looked more interested in cuddling up to each other rather than watching Real take on an invited team in memory of the team's late president Santiago BernabĂŠu.

Gary Lineker gets intra-venus drip

Y

CELEB FITNESS

OU'D think that a relaxing break and some sunshine would be enough for Gary Lineker to feel good, but it seems it's not.

The 51-year-old was spotted out and about in Los Angeles wearing a plaster on his arm after tweeting that he had had 'an intra-venus drip.'

He was joined by his wife, Danielle, who may have been sporting the same plaster but could have been hiding hers underneath her long-sleeved top.

The former footballer tweeted that he had had 'an intra-venus drip pumping in vitamins' The former footballer tweeted that he had had 'an intra-venus drip pumping in vitamins' The former footballer was seen on his mobile phone as he waited for Danielle outside the spa not sporting a plaster.

However, a while later he emerged with the pretty brunette having had the vitamin drip.

The grey-haired star had certainly dressed for the hot weather wearing light-coloured shorts, a grey Tshirt and brown sandals.

Danielle was also showing off her legs in a pair of light blue denim shorts which she teamed with a loose striped top and heeled sandals.

The former footballer confirmed what he's had done via his Twitter.The former footballer confirmed what he's had done via his Twitter page on Thursday She completed her look with large aviator sunglasses and carried a black handbag as she kept a rather serious look on her face.The happy couple were heading to their black Mercedes convertible, which they drove off in to carry on exploring the city.

And even when the pair weren't indulging in some PDA, they kept themselves busy by looking at their mobile phones.

Earlier this year, Ronaldo sparked speculation about his future with the Spanish football champions after he told reporters in January: 'I'm sad - when I don't celebrate goals it's because I'm not happy. It's a professional thing. Real Madrid know why I'm not happy.'

Ronaldo may have missed some of the game, but it was a night to remember for the Real Madrid fans as they watched their team crush Millonarios 8-0, thanks largely to Brazilian forward Kaka, who scored a hat-trick and was named man of the match.

Despite his apparent unhappiness, Ronaldo has still been banging in the goals, and Arsenal manger Arsene Wenger has suggested his recent comments have been made because he's not in the limelight as much. Eyes not on the game: Even when they weren't indulging in some PDA they kept their minds off the match by looking at their phones He wrote in his Eurosport column: 'When you talk about Ronaldo, no matter where he goes, he wins things and at the end of the season scores 50 goals. Cristiano is a super player and these type of players often have great aspirations and strong egos, because they are not satisfied with being just average.

Well, the issue of fitness started for me when l was growing up. My father told when l was very young that as a young man you have to keep yourself very fit for many reasons. One, to keep away sickness, second, when you do regular exercises you burn away things that could become veritable ground to breed unwanted things in your body. And l took that advice very seriously.

Keeping fit also makes you mentally sound and physically too, you would be ready to go at all times. You can do so many things when you are fit. So when l was young, l engaged in many activities that would make me fit. I was in the Boys Scout, at Church l was in the Boys Brigade and in school, l was a long distance runner, l played volleyball, played football and when l became a Police Officer, there was no sporting engagement l did not take part in. l played volleyball, I did track events and participated actively in parade to keep myself fit. When it comes to parade, you have to be physically fit because you can be on your feet for hours. So l am devoted to whatever that can burn excess fat in my system. I am a man of many parts as far as sport is concerned. As l talk to you l am a world taekwondo certify referee with international recognition. I have a book on sport to my credit too.

What is your typical day like in terms of keeping fit?

My Mondays are always busy, so l try to wake up early between 4AM and 4.30AM and l do light workout. I usually start with press up, ride the bicycle, which l have at home and jog. After that l take my bath and l am ready to go. My morning prayer comes before work-out because l am a very religious person and l have to thank God for keeping me first thing every morning.

At night before l sleep l also do light exercise.

What are the benefits of keeping fit as it applies to you?

By the special grace of God l am extremely fit. I have passed the Golden age (50 years) and l do not have any iota of fat in me. I am still rearing to go. There is no assignment that l am given that l cannot do no matter how strenuous. I can walk a long distance without stress and sometimes when l take younger people for my usual round, they would give excuses because they know l don't tire easily. As security coordinator for all national sports engagements, l would be the first to arrive the stadium an 5AM and the last to leave, at 11PM and l would be on my feet all day long. That is fitness. When l was in Police College as a cadet officer, l was nicknamed 'mechanical' because l do not get tired, and all thanks to my fitness routine.

Fitness gives you mental alertness and that inner peace that even when things are not working out, you are just satisfied. And if you look at my IG (Inspector General of Police), you can see that he is very fit. A good policeman must not neglect fitness as it keeps him or her in shape and fit.

Also if you engage yourself in physical fitness, you will not fall sick easily.

How do you complement your diet with

Keeping fit gives me inner peace Whenever the national teams are playing, one face that is conspicuous in the stadium is that of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Gideon Akinsola, who is the Security Coordinator. Recently appointed by the Inspector of Police (IG) as Secretary (Technical) of the Restructured Police Sports, ACP Akinsola is an embodiment of sports and keeping fit, and he shares valuable fitness tips and experience in this revealing interview with TAIWO ALIMI. Excerpts...

Gideon Akinsola PHOTOS: Bola Omilabu fitness?

I do not maintain any strict diet, l eat every food when l want to, except in the morning. I take only tea in the morning but eat well in the afternoon.

At night l eat cereal. I eat plenty of fish and if l want to eat chicken, l peel away the fatty back.

I also fast a lot and fasting assists in that aspect of fitness.

How do you encourage your family in keeping fit?

My wife was a basketball player in her younger days and played for her state. l am blessed with four children; two boys and two girls and they are interested in sport but not in physical aspect but in theoretical aspect. In the house we have fitness machines and they use it well.

Obiefule reveals fondness for Kangol hat Contd. from page 38 made the deal happen so fast in the first instance. So, when I signed on Tuesday he told me that I would be starting the game on Wednesday. I was not surprised, I was just happy that he had so much confidence in my ability by putting me straight into the starting line up without even one training session at the club. I barely knew my team mates when we marched out to face Tromso that day but football is in my blood so I got down to work and had a very nice game. However, we went down 2-0 in the game and everything seemed to be going bad but fortunately, we were able to equalise and on to win the game 3-2 to mark a very memorable debut for me.

There were reports that Lillestrom fans were against your signing.

Not exactly that. They were not against my signing

because they knew my quality and what I could bring to the team. However, there was a misunderstanding last season that made them have reservations about joining them.

When they met Honefoss last season at home, I scored against them but my goal celebration was misunderstood by a section of the fans, so when they learnt I would be joining them on loan they were not too happy. But after my performance in the 3-2 win against Tromso on my debut, many of them came to hug me and tell me I was welcome in their club.

Lillestrom had a strong Nigerian presence, did that help you in settling down then?

To a large extent, Lillestrom has a strong Nigerian contingent. Anthony Ujah was there last season before he left for Germany. Nosa Igiebor was

there when I joined them but he left soon after. Edwin Eziyodawe is there but has been injured for some time now and Effiom Otu Bassey just joined a few days after me. Ohi Omoijuanfo is of mixed Nigerian and Norwegian parenthood and he is coming up strong in the team and also in touch with his Nigerian roots too. The presence of all these guys made life a lot easier for me in the beginning at Lillestrom.

Your deal with Lillestrom lasted for about six months...

Yes. I'm now with KuPS in the Finnish Veikkausliiga and I'm settling down well.

Most players likes Porsche cars, do you also go for it?

I love Volkswagen, that is what I'm driving now-the latest Volkswagen jeep and Golf cars. It's a convenient wonder-onwheel for every sports guy. I do tell my friends to go for it.

Most players go for Volkswagen because it gives you everything you want and it's easy to drive.

How do you relax off the pitch?

I spend time with family and friends, watch movies and like to have some quite time for myself and also hang out with friends.

What is favourite food?

I can eat rice and plantain three times daily. I just like it.

Sport&Style SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

PAGE 38

From page 35

fitness. But you can always see it with most fashionable people because it's not meant for just anybody.”

According to newsscotman.com, the Kangol hat is a traditional British accessory that has become a style staple drifting in and out of fashion, but often defining the aesthetic of a musical genre or youth movement. Favoured by everyone from Royals to rappers, it is one of the most famous headwear brands in the world.

Kangol hats were the height of fashion in the 1960s and the products graced the heads of the rich and famous, including the Beatles and Arnold Palmer, and later Princess Diana. In the 1980s Kangol berets entered a new phase of fashion history with their adoption by members of the hip-hop community, such as Grandmaster Flash, RunDMC, LL Cool J, Slick Rick, Kangol Kid of UTFO, and The Notorious B.I.G. “I like them particularly when designed by top labels. I do like other designers but Dolce & Gabbana is my favourite. I spend my money wisely on clothing because I like to be smart. It makes me stylish and people often say that 'I look pretty well 'due to my good stature.”

Being nice looking with a successful career as a footballer, according to Obiefule, comes with a lot of responsibilities especially in dealing with the opposite sex. “I agree with you that I'm a fine boy, but that does not give me the liberty to mess around,” stated the former Lyn Oslo star.

“I am a very reserved guy and I treat my female fans with respect. That one is handsome does not give you the priority to be sleeping around with every babe you meet,” he noted, as he speaks on sundry issues.

How long did you intend to carry on playing football?

I don't want play for so long but would stop when I feel I don't have any motivation to play again because the game is all about motivation and passion. I will stop if those criteria are not there again regardless of my age.

What do you plan to do after football?

I have not decided yet because I am still in the game until I am getting closer to retirement, though I have lots in my book, I have not done the feasibility study and that is the ultimate one.

Let us talk about your club career. When did you move to Norway?

Obiefule reveals fondness for

Kangol

hat I moved to Norway in 2007 after I joined Lyn Oslo from my former Danish club, Viborg. I played with Lyn till 2010 when I joined Honefoss also in the Norwegian Premier Division. Unfortunately, Honefoss were relegated to the Norwegian first division that season. I received many offers from many clubs, including Lillestrom, Aberdeen and Leicester in England but Honefoss are a very ambitious club and refused to release me and some other big players in the team because they wanted a quick return to the Premier League.

However, Lillestrom persisted and I was finally released on loan to them as soon as this transfer window opened on August 1st.

The transfer window opened on August 1, 2011 and they called me that day and we discussed terms and then the following day they agreed terms with my club and I travelled to Lillestrom to sign the loan deal.

Within three days the deal was done.

And you played for them in a league game the very next day?

Yes. What happened was that the manager, Herning Berg, was my former manager at Lyn Oslo, so he knew me very well. Also the Sporting Director there was my former Sporting Director at Lyn so that even what

Contd. on page 37

Paul Obiefule

MONDAY JAMES DECLARES

‘I'm crazy about PlayStation’

By Taiwo Alimi

T

HAT night clubbing has become a fad among professional footballers is a fact with stories of top players in club brawl abounding. But, Sweden based Nigerian international, Monday James, says he would rather stay indoor on PlayStation than night clubbing.

The member of the silver-winning Nigeria Olympic football squad to the 2008 games says his love for PlayStation keeps him indoor and he could be on it for hours without getting bored.

Hear him: “I love my privacy, hence don't like staying out late. Night clubbing is a no go area for me. I don't like clubbing. Sincerely speaking, I don't like night clubbing. I see it as a waste of energy and money. It is also my opinion because I know many footballers enjoy night clubbing, but for me I don't club, I hate it.”

Rather, he added, PlayStation takes most of his spare time away from the football pitch. “Instead of indulging in night clubbing, I fancy Play Station and l can spend hours playing it.

Sometimes, l don't remember to eat when l am playing. It's better than going to club.”

James speaks further on life in the Scandinavian country and sundry issues. Excerpts:

Monday James

How will you describe life in Sweden?

Sweden is a cool and peaceful place to be, you get everything you want in the city and it's a well respected country among the Scandinavian countries. Sweden is a nice and quiet place and their football is great too.

How do you spend your spare time outside the pitch?

I spend most of my time with my family leaving with me here. I don't like roaming around, I like privacy. But at times I call my friends in Nigeria to gist and tell me about the latest happenings in the Nigeria. I also like to spend some times on the social network sites.

How much do you like being on social network?

Ahaaa! I am a busy person, l don't spend too much time on Facebook or Twitter. I see the social network as distractions and some people can take it for granted by posting unpleasant things on your wall. So I don't fancy it too much.

Which of the social network did you prefer and the one you sometimes log into?

It's Facebook. I think that is the most entertaining network that people love, though I have others but I don't make use of them like Facebook.

What are your favourite drinks?

That l don't go to club, however, does not mean that l should not make myself comfortable. Of course, I do take wine, but it has to be restricted wine. I mean wines that will not affect my fitness on the pitch. I like Ponche, Garvey and Barclays.

How long does it take you to dress up for an event?

I'm a player, I have to look simple and be very fast with my dressing. I like to dress moderately but tastefully.

I don't go for any particular brand or designer, I go for what is comfortable and nice. I am a stylish person but like to appear simple.

40

Entertainment

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Marriage will come at the right time

Born Bukola Afolayan, known professionally as Bouqui, she was recently on tour.

Back home, she is working on her third album and also as a judge for a new gospel reality TV show set to hit the airwaves soon. In this interview with DUPE AYINLAOLASUKANMI, she talked about her plans to settle down soon and her passion for Christ through her songs.

Enjoy

W

HAT interested you about this project?

You see, what we are doing here is about passion for the next generation. I am a Christian, an unrepentant, uncompromising, and unapologetic Christaholic, Jesus-freak, and people know me for that.

It reflects in my way of life, music and what I say and the way I think. So when a project like this happens, it is a beautiful opportunity for us to jump on board. You know I am passionate about the next generation, and that is why I have a project called the Campus Storm, where we go round campuses. Recently, we had in attendance 15,000 people in OAU, 8,000 in Babcock, 7,000 in University of Lagos. We keep doing it because we understand the power of music. And now that this is happening on a very large scale, I am very happy to be a part of it. It is really a privilege.

What brought about the idea of Campus Storm?

It is a way of reaching out to the next generation. Like they say, it takes a higher law to defy an existing law. And we have realised that youths love music, they listen to it and it is the language they seem to understand. They spend their money on music. So, what we did was to do something to pass a message across through the means they understand and love. So, what we do is to infuse the message in the music to pass it into their subconscious mind.

There is no better way to reach out to them, knowing that the subconscious is more powerful than the conscious.

How long has this been going on?

We started last year, and we have been doing it every quarter. Last year, we went to a female prison, because it is an institution too. It is like giving back to the society. You know, they loved it, and they were happy.

What are you working on now?

I am working on my third album. I just got back from my world tour of 15 states in America, 32 cities in the UK and five cities in Canada. So I am back home now, and like they say, charity begins at home. We are recording the third album entitled, Mask of the General.

We are just doing what we have to do, to make sure that we reach out to as many people as we possibly can.

What stage are you now with the album?

I'm done. I am mixing a master tape and it will be released in October.

How was your tour?

It was awesome, it was amazing. It impressed upon my heart that I cannot stop doing what I do. Because when you sing about a higher power, people that connect on that level listen to you.

Let me show you the pictures. Here, I had white people on the tour. Imagine if I was just singing about myself, my swag, they would have said what is wrong with this one. But I was singing about Christ, and when I used scriptures to back it up, it didn't matter the language I was using, they embraced it and still sang my song. I did Mo ri le and Mo le jo lo ri Agolo and they danced to it, because I was singing about Christ. The autograph session was off the chain too.

How were you able to pull out the all-white session, did you plan it?

No, it was just God. You see there are three major things; intimacy, assignment, and provision. When you place your strength on intimacy with God, he provides all that you need.

Because He sees your life and sees that this people need to listen to what you have to say. So, He opens the door. It just happened; I did not plan to have an all-white gathering.

Did you have other gospel artistes with you?

No, it was just me.

You performed in over 40 different states, how did you do this all alone?

It was grace. When your grace is in place, you can do things.

Having maintained this identity for long, any plan to change your looks?

It is all about consistency. Like they say, consistency is the virtue of a wise man. You know that over time if you continue, it becomes what you are known with. My mum will say if you pee on one spot, it will bubble. But when you spread it, you cannot get that result. So it is about values too. There

i u q u o B —

are people who think that it is boring, that you can just maintain a particular hair style. But it is all about what you set out to achieve.

How long have you been doing this?

I started right from childhood. My father registered me in a music school, so I will say music has always been a friendly thing for us in the family. At that time, they loved it because it was a hobby. But when I wanted to take it up professionally in 1994, my dad didn't like it. My first single came out in 1999.

That is over 15 years.

So, how have you been able to stand out?

It is consistency like I said earlier. I am a Christian, and by God's grace I am living it. And when I take up my piece of paper to write songs, I write about the things that matter to me. And because of that, I can stay consistent. I am not trying to be a hip-hop artiste or a shining star. If I were doing that, then I would be looking at what is in vogue and base my music on what is in trend at a particular time. But those things are temporary.

But I talk about things that they call evergreen. And such things stay forever.

A lot of people say are you a Christian? And I am like I am a gospel artiste, and more than that I am a Christian doing gospel music. I am not a musician doing Christian song. So whatever I feel like talking about, I say from the spirit.

The bible says, “there is a spirit in man and the breathe of the Almighty gives him spirit”.

So I have the understanding that what I do is of the higher power and is reaching out to

these people that are looking up to us as models.

Would you say your busy schedule is what is holding you from settling down?

I am going to settle down very soon.

But there is a time to everything and a season too. And if you say because of the pressure around and you do what is not in alignment with your destiny, you are going to get hurt. So, I understand that there is a time for everything, and at the right time it will happen.

You said very soon, is there a man already?

(Smiles) I am not going to answer your question. Just keep your fingers crossed and come and eat rice at the right time.

When you are not busy, what do you do?

I pray, I listen to the word, read books and watch movies.

You talk about Christ with so much passion…(cuts in) It is the essence of my being. It is my life; it is the only thing that works for me. It is the only thing, that if they strip me off everything I own, from family to friends, that is the only thing that I know I can trust in. He has never let me down. When I need Him, He is always there. Sometimes, when I need Him to do something for me and I don't get answers, I understand that, He does not want me to do that. So if those doors don't open, and I am hurt, I still understand that this God loves me and will give me what is best for me.

•Bouqui

Entertainment

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Make-up artists reveal magic behind the movie, The Meeting

T

HE special effects and make-up of the stars, especially that of Rita Dominic who played the role of Clara Ikemba, a woman in her 50s was one of the talking points of the movie titled The Meeting.

However, the makeup artiste behind the makeup, Jennifer Joe-Alegieuno, has opened up on how she was able to achieve the spectacular feat. According to the South Africa - trained artiste, “Turning a diva into Clara was really exciting because unlike most make-up artistes in Nigeria, who love all the beauty part of the job, I really love creating weird! The process of aging Rita involved a lot; backaches, early wake up calls, and above all, a detailed understanding of the character which I related to my matron from secondary school.”

G

•Godfrey

W

OSPEL music artiste, Tim Godfrey, has dropped a new single titled 'Ekelebe'. It is a thanks giving party song produced by Master Kraft.

Already, the song has assumed a life of its own, among social media website fans as the song has been receiving appreciable downloads on the internet. Tim Godfrey has also just been signed by a South

•Wole Ojo and colleague on set

U

•Rita dominic with the makeup

Tim Godfrey out with Ekelebe

C

kidnappers at Lekki, Lagos in February.

Many people were killed in that sad experience.”

Unlike other gospel musicians, Tim Godfrey's music is also enjoyed in nite clubs and other secular social events.

This he attributed to his deliberate efforts in taking the music out of the box, as he focused on winning more souls.

Elesho out with Ero Mi

OMIC actor cum producer in the Yoruba genre of movie, Adewale Adeoye Elesho, will today, 29th September, launch his new film titled Ero Mi. Set to take place at the LTV Complex, the event will also serve as an opportunity to raise funds for the procurement of equipment for his Ultramodern Editing Suite The two-part event is expected to be

Tales of Eve enters second season

ITH a drama series titled A Step Too Far, television drama Tales of Eve enters its second season.

A Step Too Far tells the story of a young and successful lady, Junnai, (Kelechi Ejenolu). In search of love after several falied relationships, she meets an unassuming and charming gentleman, Charles (Wole Ojo).

Junnai's experience with Charles captures her struggles, triumphs, failures, victories, mistakes, the breadth of her love and the depth of hatred she gets in return as she quickly realises that her alliance with Charles may cost her all she has, even her life.

Olatubosun Olaegbe, producer of the drama series, says that it will commence airing from the first weekend of October, 2012 on terrestrial stations

Cyndy O takes music to Lagos

Speaking on the challenges, Jennifer said, ''due to the humid atmosphere here in Nigeria, I had to deal with heat causing the skin to sweat and lifting the products used off her face. Also, I had to deal with the fact that special effect supplies are unavailable for purchase here, so we were a bit limited and couldn't really do the build up of character we really wanted.”

The Meeting will be premiered at an elaborate event on Friday, October 19, 2012 with a cross section of celebrities in attendance and will be in cinemas the same day.

The movie is based on the premise of corporate espionage interwoven with political patronage, bureaucratic red tape, and Cupid's arrow while in hot pursuit of a 'meeting' to secure a government contract.

African record label, FO-LYFE Entertainment.

The song 'Ekelebe' is a follow up to the track 'Champion' and in a chat with the artiste during the week, he said 'Ekelebe' means respect and it is a new word that may find its way into the new dictionary.

“It's a thanks giving song, which came to mind after I was abducted by

across the nation.

Olaegbe described the drama as an insightful recollection of the stories that may otherwise have remained untold. “Each story exhaustively explores to understand every thought and emotion, scripted into drama and brought to life for all to experience,” he said. Tales of Eve is a Genesis Studios Production written and directed by Tubosun Olasimbo. The television drama which commenced airing in October 2011 is a collection of moving stories which accurately portray the life and experiences of African women as they live through the trials and triumphs of womanhood. The show which was recently nominated at the TAVA award for the Most Outstanding Television Drama category has grown to have great appeal because of the audience's ability to relate with the stories.

A Step Too Far stars actors like Paul Adams, Carol King, Yemi Solade, Fred Aseroma, AMBO4 winning Wole Ojo, and Nollywood new kid on the block, Kelechi 'KC' Ejenolu, is the lead roles.

41

chaired by Hon. Kehinde Odeneye, a member of House Representative representing Ijebu North West. Speaking on the event, Elesho said that though the film is not his first effort as a producer, it will rank among his best. “I can say this is my best, but I will definitely rank it among my best.”

Directed by Aro Tambo, Ero Mi stars popular acts like Babatunde Omidina (Baba Suwe), Bolaji Amusan (Baba Latin), Lola Idije, Tayo Odueke (Sikiratu Sindodo), Mama Rainbow, Shita Bay, Alhaji Dele Aderenle and Serifat Ilerika.

P and coming singer, Cyndy O has just stormed Lagos with a passion she describes as unbeatable. Real name, Uche Cynthia Onouha, the young artiste, apart from being armed with a few singles which she believes would add freshness to the scores of music being played around, finds a unique selling point in the dearth of female singers in the country.

Already, she has just dropped a single titled 'Adamaramma', which she is certain would serve as a springboard. The new single features Stormrex.

The Imo State graduate of Mass Communication has been doing music professionally for five years but only recently stormed the Lagos music scene. Giving her reasons for relocating, Cyndy O said, “I believe Lagos is the core of the music industry so I needed to be here to make a mark.”

Cyndy whose first single has continued to raise eyebrows, revealed the story behind the song. “My first single 'Aristo Babes' is about young girls who go after rich men for money; more like prostituting themselves. The song is meant to advise them to try and look for other decent means to earn a living, rather than going about with old rich men.

•Cyndy O

Orezi, Tillaman rock St. Remy Gbedu Jam

I

•Orezi

F the city of Surulere, Lagos, thought it had seen all there was to see from the pure, unbridled excitement that is the trademark of the popular monthly St.Remy gig, then it was in for a pleasant shock.

Tagged St.Remy Gbedu Slam Jam, the top brandy's monthly fun galore went down live at Club Amnezia, Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Lagos on Friday September, 21, 2012 with an enviable list of top class acts and a fine blend of some of Nigeria's rising stars.

The event's media partners, Trace Urban TV and Naija FM 102.7, brought a huge presence to the night as they were on hand to capture proceedings.

Leading in performance were rising stars Cool One and Spruce, who gave a good account of themselves. Then it was the turn of the big guns to wow

•Tillaman

the crowd as they partied on into the early hours of Saturday morning.

Orezi held sway with Booty Bounce and Emoti; Y.Q doled out fresh and old hits like 'Sandalili' and 'I like Girls' to which the crowd rocked wildly, Miz Gold of the Azonto fame also did her thing before Tillaman stole the show on the night with his performance and tribute to the late Dagrin which the Surulere crowd applauded.

All night, the atmosphere was turbocharged as DJ Atte of Naija 102.7 FM churned out hit after hit on the wheels of steel as the crowd gyrated and partied all night.

St.Remy Brand & Markets Manager, Antoine Couvreur, disclosed that the next St.Remy Gbedu Slam Jam is scheduled for October 19, 2012 at Upstream Nite Club, Lekki-Ajah, Lagos.

42

Entertainment

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

CINEMA GUIDE

BIG

LAGOS

PICTURE

Supported by: SILVERBIRD CINEMAS

Heroine:

Kareena’s dirty picture

H

EROINE tells the story of a shining actress Mahi Arora (Kareena Kapoor) who seems to be slowly losing her sheen, courtesy of her personal life and erratic mood swings.

Even though Mahi is considered the best in the industry and is the reigning queen of Bollywood who everyone wants to compete with, Mahi seems to be more interested in getting married to her boyfriend, superstar Aryan Khanna (Arjun Rampal). Aryan, meanwhile, is going through a divorce and remains noncommittal towards Mahi, which leads to her downfall.

Wronged by the people whom she is most close to, Mahi seeks psychiatric treatment and plans to resurrect her career and her life.

While she manages to re build her

image, get a new boyfriend (Randeep Hooda), sign some fabulous endorsements and also some films, Mahi realises that to be at the top of the game, she needs to compromise her own morals and ethics and leave behind people who probably care for her the most.

Beautiful and glamorous, Kareena gives a superb performance. The actress in this film gets a meaty role and gives it

her best shot. Indeed, from doing the raunchy act in 'Halkat Jawaani' to the scenes where she is battling depression and popping pills, to the I-don't-careattitude of a confident actress, Kareena makes Mahi memorable and lovable.

Heroine could be described as Kareena's dirty picture. The actress has shown ample cleavage and partaken in some really intimate bedroom scenes.

Ice Age 4 Featured Actors: Ray Romano, Denis Leary and John Leguizamo Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time: 94 min Ice Age 4 (3D) Featured Actors: Ray Romano, Denis Leary and John Leguizamo Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time: 94 min Madagascar 3D Featured Featured: Actors Ray Romano, Denis Leary and John Leguizamo Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time: 94 min Snow White Featured Actors: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron Genre Action/Adventure Running Time 127 min Bol Bachchan (Indian) Featured Actors: Ajay Devgan,Abhishek Bachchan,Asin Thottumkal Genre: Comedy Running Time: 150mins The Amazing Spider-Man 3D Featured Actors: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and Rhys Ifans Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time: 136 Mins The Amazing Spider-Man (Rating: 15) Featured Actors: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and Rhys Ifans

ABUJA

The Amazing Spider-Man Featured Actors: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and Rhys Ifans Genre: Action/Adventure Married but Living Single Featured Actors: Funke Akindele, Joke Silva, Joseph

D

IRECTED by Seth MacFarlane and starring Giovanni Ribisi, Joel McHale, Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Patrick Warburton, Seth MacFarlane, Seth Rogen, and Sir Patrick Stewart, TED is a stoner fantasy comedy about a grown man's relationship with a nonimaginary animal.

Mark Wahlberg plays John Bennett, who as a lonely and unhappy child growing up in 1980s Massachusetts made a poignant Christmas wish on a falling star. He yearned for his teddy bear, named Teddy, to come to life ‌ and so it did. We see the process of Teddy becoming a national sensation with TV appearances on Johnny Carson, but before you know it, they are both grown up, and Teddy has

TED: Infantilism of western males become curtly abbreviated to Ted (voiced by MacFarlane). He becomes an ex-celebrity, depressed and foul-mouthed, addicted to casual and demeaning sex, smoking weed with his feckless buddy John on the couch at nine in the morning, or in the park, and complaining that he feels like one of the cast members of Diff'rent Strokes.

Ted is a satirical commentary on the infantilised state of western male culture. Ted could be seen as a wish-fulfillment tale of males somehow finding a way to let their emotion speak out, loud and proud. It is probably another example of the nostalgia to which screen comics are prone: the nostalgia for the student or exstudent days of messing around, talking about stupid TV shows

and pop culture and having fun the playful atmosphere from which their deadly serious vocation of comedy originally sprang.

Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time: 136 Mins The Past Came Calling Featured Actors Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha, John Dumelo, Marie Gomez, Oliver Jolliffer, Penelope Bouchot Humbart Genre Drama Running Time 110mins Think Like A Man Featured Actors: Chris Brown, Gabrielle Union and Kevin Hart Genre :Romance Running Time: 122 min Madagascar 3D Featured Actors: Ben Stiller, Jada Pinkett Smith and Chris Rock Genre Action/Adventure Running Time 93 min Men In Black Featured Actors Will Smith, Benjamin, Tina Mba, Femi Brainard, Kiki Omeili, Yemi Remi Genre: Action/Adventure Men in Black III Featured Featured Actors: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin Genre: Action/Adventure Dark Shadows Featured Featured Actors: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer and Eva Green Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time: 113 min The Avengers Featured Featured Actors: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson Genre Action/Adventure Running Time 142 min The Hunger Games Featured Featured Actors: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time: 142Mins

PORT HARCOURT Ice Age: Continental Drift Featured Actors: Ray Romano, Denis Leary and John Leguizamo Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time: 94 Mins Snow White and the Huntsman (Rating: 15) Featured Actors: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time: 127 Mins Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted Featured Actors: Ben Stiller, Jada Pinkett Smith and Chris Rock Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time: 93 Mins The past came calling (Rating: 18) Featured Actors: Chioma Chukwuka-Akpota, John Dumelo, Nigerian actors, Nigerian actresses, nigerian movie directors, Nigerian movie producers, Nigerian movies, Ruke Amata Genre: Drama Running Time: 110 Mins The Amazing Spider-Man (Rating: 15 )

Featured Actors: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and Rhys Ifans Genre: Action/Adventure Running Time: 136 Mins Think Like a Man (Rating: 18) Featured Actors: Chris Brown, Gabrielle Union and Kevin Hart Genre Comedy Running Time122 Mins Ties That Binds (Rating: 18) Genre: Drama Running Time: 92 Mins

Glamour

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

43

d l i h c y l n o n a Being e f i l y m d e p a h s i s u l e d A a r a l o m –O

Omolara Adelusi is in her 40s. She became popular churning out creative pieces for carnivals. The graduate of University of Benin not wanting to rest on her oars, and in the quest for new challenges and love for entertainment, recently launched her event centre. She tells ADETUTU AUDU what it meant losing her mom early in life and how being an only child shaped her life.

Y

OU studied Microbiology, but you are tilted towards the arts. What inspired you into fashion business?

I like to describe myself as a creative person, which led me to fashion business in 2003 when I launched my label, Nektar Creations. I have always loved fashion because my late mom was fashion conscious. She taught me how to fix things together. I worked for a while in an I.T firm and an NGO. But all the while I was working, I knew that I had a passion for entrepreneurship. By the time I had my first child, I knew it was time to do my own thing.

One question I asked myself then was what those abilities were. I knew that fashion is one and then I loved entertainment which we used to call logistics then. I loved having people around and in the course of my work, I realised that I was always in charge of organising events.

But the challenge is that I had to take decision between fashion and logistics. Fashion is my first love and I ventured into it. I started in 2003 by first making clothes for children. My first outing was my children's school, they were having cultural day and they didn't have costume. I read a book, Guerrilla Marketing, and one of the things I learnt there was to offer your services free and from there people will know about

you. I offered to design the school's costume free. I got my first client from there, a parent liked what I did and requested I make clothes for her children and that was how it started.

Your type of designing is not the regular type, how did you arrive at this?

All this while, I had wanted to carve a niche for myself, doing things differently from the way other people are doing it. I knew a lot of advertising agencies do a lot of costume for ushers during event, so I decided to focus on that and got involved in a lot of advertising agencies' deal . I designed outfits for some TV shows and commercials like UNTL Ankara, Domino soap opera, Baba blue, among others.

Along the line, the opportunity for Lagos Carnival came, I saw the advert and we were asked to put up designs. Two weeks to the carnival, I was given about 426 costumes to produce and we were able to do it.

And they were impressed. And every year, we are called in to work with them.

I also got involved with the Abuja Carnival too; they were looking for designer to design the costume for Nassarawa State contingent. I got the offer and the state got the award for the best costume in 2005. For me that was what I needed. I went all out, did a lot of research and went for Nottinghill Carnival twice to see what carnival

thing is like in the UK. I also went to London College of Fashion to learn more about fashion. I felt comfortable with the carnival thing and it looks as if I am a carnival costume specialist.

Last year, we had Ogun State Street Party, and I did the costumes for some members of Ogun State executive. I did the costume for the first lady of Bayelsa State for the Bayelsa State carnival last December. We also did for Oyo and Ondo States.

At what point did you decide to delve into events?

Designing for carnival has been exciting, but after a while, you ask yourself what else can I do? For me I felt I have seen it all, but I felt I could do more. In 2010, I visited the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, and one of the reasons was that I wanted to know how things are evolving in terms of fashion and what I saw blew my mind and I asked myself when we will get there in Nigeria.

Thank God we are moving towards that, but we still need to put a lot of infrastructure in place.

I know a lot of event comp a n i e s inside out apart from making costume for them. I made a lot of research. The joyful thing is that I can do all whatever I wanted to do in one place, I can still run my fashion business, I can still entertain people, I can still show them a lot of things that entail creativity, and that is how the journey into the world of event business began. But starting the business, it was a bit challenging because we had to do the registration of the business and the land space that we had to stay on, also the kind of space we needed, was very large. We imported the marquees, furniture and the rest, but we thank God that during the process we were able to overcome those challenges and here we are today - we really thank God. So how do you want to combine this with designing?

I want to complete Sheba centre and take it to where I want it to be and later on I can focus on the aspect of fashion, but I am not sure I will leave my carnival thing. I enjoy it so much. Even a friend of mine has gone all the way to Jamaica because of this carnival thing, somehow I am still involved, may be somehow or on a bigger level but I love doing carnival outfits a lot.

With event centres all over, what new thing(s) are you bringing in?

We insure every event. It is not so common around here, but globally that is the norm in case anything happens. I think our location is also one of the most important key factors. We want to be a global brand,

what do I mean by that? Everybody believes that it is just a place you come to party and then you go, I want to assure you that when you come in here, it is a place you come and you will be very organised; you know when Nigerians travel out and because of the kind of environment they find themselves, they conform themselves to the culture of the environment, that is exactly the kind of order we are trying to create here. Secondly, we have rooms where mothers with babies change their babies' dresses, an exclusive room for babies. We have children playing section.

The ideology is that when adults go for event, they prefer to abandon their kids at home and they don't partake of the event and sometimes you as a parent might be considering taking your kids along for event but the ideal thing is that while the adults are enjoying themselves at the party, at the same time the children will also be enjoying themselves at the playground. We have a changing room, a VIP lodge; we also have rooms for special people. It is a beautiful place where you can seat and relax, we also want you to feel very safe and secure because that is one of the challenges people face when they go out for event. One of those things we have is the CCTV camera, and that will serve as a watch tower where someone will be having an overall view of what is happening in the environment, we have a reputable security outfit, we have a cordial relationship with the police too.

No doubt the business is capital intensive. What are your challenges?

The challenge here is financing the project because it is capital intensive. But we have been able to overcome this obstacle.

Power is also one of the major issues because we have to run on diesel, but we are working on getting our own transformer as soon as possible. Asides that, I think I have very good people that I work with and for you to achieve this, it's all about creating your own culture so that other folks will be able to fit into it.

Many still find it difficult to take the plunge as an entrepreneur, but it seems easy for you. What stands you out?

I think the fact that I lost my mother early in life and being an only child shaped my life. I will also say because I knew God quite early in life. I started exhibiting my entrepreneurial skill by selling T-shirts as a student in UNIBEN. At a point I set up a business centre under the Marina Bridge, Lagos with a friend that was during the period of 0-9-0. Before I knew it, I have a friend who knew someone in UNILEVER, we approached them and we were supplying chemicals to them and they would raise LPO for us. I believe in having a good self esteem, I have self confidence. For me, whoever you are, you are still a human being. I tried to put myself together very well, be polite and nice. I can't be intimidated.

How do you juggle between your roles as a mother, wife and your business?

Thank God, I have hands to help me and the fact that my children have all grown now. My first child is in secondary school now. It's knowing how to organise yourself. I do my shopping once a month. The fact is that I don't build the work around myself. To me, it is God first, my family and my work.

44

Glamour

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Social

ADETUTU AUDU (E-mail: crownkool@yahoo.com, Tel: 08023849036)

Between Dapo Olumide and Jimoh Ibrahim

Lola Adefowope bereaved

T

HAT Dapo Olumide, the erstwhile managing director of Virgin Nigeria Airways came to the scene with a lot of energy, zeal and ideas, and that he had an unambiguous idea of how to turn around the fortunes of the airline, is stating the obvious.

But no sooner had billionaire businessman Jimoh Ibrahim acquired the airline that people went to town predicting that the alliance of Olumide and Jimoh was one union waiting to fall flat on its face as both of them are too independent-minded. Not a few people believed that the handsome aeronautical engineer would not jell well with the group managing director of the NICON Group and Global Fleet, who is fond of buying debt-ridden businesses with a view to turning them into profitable conglomerates.

Two years after, the fair-skinned dude disappeared into thin air, he has lend credence to the prediction that his resignation is not unconnected with the shrewd businessman's acquisition of the airline. Especially with the crisis that is engulfing the airline now.

Ever since he threw in the towel without even informing the tycoon of his exit, nothing has been heard of or from him. The gist making the rounds is that he is re-strategising to make a big come back.

S

OCIALITE and politician, Lola Adefowope, is bereaved. The former Ogun State liaison officer lost her mother. The family, we gathered, was on vacation abroad when the deceased succumbed to death at age 72.

The former House of Representatives aspirant, we also learnt, is making arrangement to bring the corpse back home and also make preparations for the burial.

Akinfenwa Akinsola moves on A KINFENWA Akinsola was one of the bank MDs affected by the sweeping reforms embarked on by the Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. He has since moved on. Apart from his consultancy for various banks across the country and beyond, the bespectacled banker has now ventured into the hotel and hospitality business. The former bank chief, we learnt, is exploring new frontiers in Ondo State, where he has unveiled a multimillion naira hotel.

Deji Doherty shines again

I

T is obvious that Deji Doherty is really doing well with his 10 Degrees event centre located in Oregun. The centre has become the toast of many Grades-A social events since its opening and has continued to enjoy patronage from the crème de la crème. That the bulky dude is smiling to the banks is also an DITH Jibunoh can be described as a modern day u n d e r s t a t e m e n t . super successful woman who has come clean and This business has good from playing hard and square on the field helped and is helping populated by men. the Lagosian find his The daughter of Dr. Newton Jibunoh, the popular adventurer and explorer has worked in the MDG Office feet again having lost of the Nigerian Presidency and the World Bank, where quite a huge fortune to she worked on East Asian countries and External Affairs his futile attempt at becoming governor of at the Bank's UN office.

Since her short-lived marriage to Stan Rerri was Lagos State in the last dissolved, Edith has been on her own. Beautiful, lively political dispensation. and very attractive, the woman who has written Sources said those close to severally on African development and governance him are thanking God for this seems to prefer her single status. economic revival.

For Edith Jibunoh, it is work and more work

E

Glamour 45 About Quincy Ayodele’s investment in music

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Yomi Edu's exwife, Fatimah Wali, savours marital bliss

I

T is no longer news that Fatimah Wali, the exwife of Chief Yomi Edu, former Minister for Special Duties and close associate of Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has remarried.

An architect of repute, who got married to her childhood love, Suraj Abdulrahman, in Kano, has been telling who ever cares to listen that she thanks God for the new man in her life. Not only that, her friends could not hide their joy for her as they claim her beauty now radiates even more.

Fatimah who used to be married to Epe, Lagos State-born politician could not but be fulfilled having battled marital instability for a long time.

C

ELEBRATED herbal slimmer expert, Quincy Ayodele, now has an investment in the Nigerian music industry. The socialite's son, Temiloluwa Ayodele, aka Johnny Fresh, has hit the music scene.

The Ayodeles insisted that the United States of America returnee get a first degree before music, which he got in computer engineering from the University of Maryland in the United States.

Johnny Fresh whose brand of music is 'Afro Hip Pop' is all out to pursue his dreams having satisfied his parents.

Why Funke Adedoyin is off social radar

T

WO-TIME federal minister in the Olusegun Obasanjo's administration, Funke Adedoyin, used to be a recurring decimal on the social scene. The second daughter of the Agbamu, Kwara State-born billionaire-industrialist, Prince Samuel Adedoyin , has, however, maintained a low profile since her exit from government.

A single mother of one, though never married, her love life has been shrouded in secrecy. But she had once been amorously linked with Segun Fowora, estranged hubby of Senator Gbemisola Saraki, who has since remarried to an American. Sources close to her said her world now revolves around her 16-year-old son, whom she never stops telling whoever cares to listen that he is the reason she wakes up in the morning and goes to bed at night.

O'tega Emerhor coughs out $250,000 for anniversary gift

T

HE 25th wedding anniversary of former bank Chief, Olorogun O'tega Emerhor and his wife, Rita may have come and gone . But the displayed of love and affection showed by the Group Chairman of Standard Alliance to his wife has continued to sent tongues wagging.

The Delta State born businessman, we gathered gave his wife brand new Rolls Royce Phantom said to have cost the princely sum of $250,000. The couple no doubt proved to the all and sundry at the octane soiree that they are soul mates for life.

Trendy, nothing in her trim physique suggests that she is a grandmother. Rita who is also the chief executive officer of Standard Alliance group, and a big player on the party scene in the days of yore until she limits her attendance of social functions after the birth of her twins some years ago after the lost their eldest son in an armed robbery incident in Lagos.

46

Glamour

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

&

OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL (08033572821) raphseg2003@yahoo.com

L-R: Mrs Adejoke Adefulire and Mrs Oluremi Tinubu

Olorogun O’tega & Rita Emerhor celebrate love

D

IGNITARIES across the country gathered to celebrate with Olorogun O'tega Emerhor and wife Rita as they renewed their love and marriage vows Saturday, September 23 at Ikoyi Baptist Church, after which there was a grand reception at Harbour Point victoria Island.

L-R: Mrs Nike Akande, Gemaliel Onasode

L-R: Maiden Ibru and Princes Sarah Sosan

L-R: Oba Otudeko and Chief Pius Akinyelure

By Olusegun Rapheal

Great Ogboru and wife, Ebi

Couple: O'tega and Rita Emerhor

L-R: Chief Johnson Barovbe and Olorogun Felix Ibru

Served by Joe Agbro Jr. berths at Lagos Country Club

L

AST Wednesday, The Nation reporter, Joe Agbro Jr., presented his first book, Served; memoir of a youth corps member, to the public at the Lagos Country Club, GRA, Ikeja. The book details his experience while serving in the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) between September 2004 and August 2005. “I hope as Nigerians, we can concentrate on the unifying factors amongst us rather than the differences,” Agbro said, at the well-attended event.

By Muyiwa Hassan

•Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Adewale Osomo, launching the Book

•L-R: Father of the author, Mr. Joe Agbro, Editor Online, The Nation, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, and the Deputy Editor of The Nation on Sunday, Mr. Yinka Oyegbile.

•The author of the book, Served, Joe Agbro Jr., during the book presentation in Lagos on Wednesday

•L-R: Nollywood actor, Justus Esiri and ex-member, Federal House of Representatives, Mr. Solomon Edojah.

•L-R: Mr. S. F. Agbro and Chairman EFEX Transport Services, Engr. Isaac Uhunwagho

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

47

L

et us begin by digressing relatively, considering an interesting observation in our local auto market segment.

Within 6/8 year-period my team dwelt on auto brand management in this market, our experience was that not even one practitioner or brand owner successfully achieved brand differentiation. At best, what was nearly achieved was (and still is) user category appreciation. It became worse with the entry of those auto brands from Korea and all such related Asian countries. Brands like KIA, Hyundai, Mahindra and those China via Dubai versions of Japanese offerings to include Toyota, Mitsubishi and even Honda rushed into Nigerian market without distinguishing value-offer. So we have all manner of auto brands promising same offer without any one of them swaying anything different.

So, KIA range took a lead in the new executive sedan segment by pushing affordability. The offer connected immediately with the Nigerian market, anchoring on corporate users primarily, to assist its market entry/penetration.

The mushroom marketing method characteristic of our local auto market goes a long way to describe our value pattern as a market and our level of sophistication as a broad consumer-group. Global players are quick to know that the average Nigerian will rationalize his/her choice of auto product on emotional rather than rational consideration, so the brand owner's focus as far as Nigerian market is concerned, to play up the emotional benefits, to support sales. To a large extent, individual and corporate Nigerians purchased vehicles that are not designed for tropic region like ours, fresh from auto shops, feeling cool. Some of these dealers even went as far selling cars that were brought into this market with fabric seats, fraudulently covered with leather here in Nigeria as leather-seat option straight from factory, at premium price. Yes, all such happened and is still happening today.

Like we indicated earlier, this is a slight digression from the topic of today, though related. To the extent that these global marketers identified Nigerian market as one where any auto product sells, amounts to effective and efficient MARKET SEGMENTATION. Perhaps this analysis will help us in treating the concept of market segmentation much easier or faster in this episode.

The concept of market segmentation was first proposed as an alternative market development technique in a situation of nearimperfect market, where offerings were near identical showing no real differentiation.

Subsequently, development, consumer awareness and growth in consumers' disposable income necessitated taste variants, leading up to marketers having to design product and service offerings around consumer demand. It became imperative for marketers to be customer-centric in focus as a way of growing their market. Let us quickly mention at this point, the relationship between market segmentation and product differentiation since they will both interplay in the consideration of the over-riding application of the concept of MARKET SEGMENTATION. “Market segmentation is the division of a market into different groups of customers with distinctive similar needs and product/service requirements”. Or “…the division of a mass market into identifiable and distinct groups or segments, each of which have common characteristics and needs and display similar responses to marketing actions” (Principles of Marketing

segment by adapting different variants (to satisfy the different segments).

So while the one is about the consumer, the other is about the brand, even though both are driven by market segmentation as a marketing concept. Over time, marketers in modern societies have sought to design product and service offerings around consumer demand (market segmentation) more than around their own production needs (product differentiation), with the aid of proper market research. If this was to apply in this market, auto product marketing in this market would have been more customer-satisfactory.

But as we have always stated the extent of consumer sophistication, enlightenment and education contribute a lot towards trade practice. The common knowledge of the rule generally referred to as “American Spec” will always guide the quality of products/service offering intended for American market from any where in the world. The American standard is a quality benchmark for all global players.

But with undeveloped and unregulated market such as ours, the compromises are legion.

However, if nothing else, MC&A Digest considers the concept of market segmentation and brand positioning for purposes of academic exercise and professional learning, as against standard implementation in our local market. To that extent, let us point out that the concept of market segmentation is more in the interest of the marketer than the consumer. Primarily, it assumes the state of scarce resources in guiding the marketer towards investing same in the most effective and cost-efficient way that will help return on investment. Market segmentation is an intricate subject, appreciable through a careful consideration of all the elements involved, including the socio-psychological considerations.

However, it all leads to profitable marketing, riding on the next stage which is brand positioning. Whether the concept is actualized through market segmentation or product differentiation, it helps in brand positioning. Brand positioning is about the target consumer's reason to buy a particular brand over the competing brands. It is a deliberate effort at establishing the reasonfor, for any given product/service offering, by expressly capturing the given brand's unique offer, value-essence, competitive advantage and promise. It derives from a distinct personality that separates a given brand from the lot.

Now, brand positioning can only own from proper market segmentation. You will agree that a properly positioned brand will more likely achieve market growth versus that which is not properly guided in the market place. A particular brand of cocoa beverage is presently struggling to make a come-back into our local market it withdrew from many years ago after a long period of market leadership, by going the way of many others who run on assumption. The story is not pleasant right now, and they know it. The principles of marketing will always come to play at critical times. We agree that so many brands have successfully taken this market for granted in the past (and some still do), but change is on the way.

Many of the auto brands are redefining the market in line with present development accessioned by the global financial difficulties, yet change is evolving.

weekly Management, an Online resource center). Essentially, market segmentation is about effective and efficient allocation of finite resources for optimal return on marketing investment (ROMI). It is to that extent that market segmentation itself is approachable from either (a) market segmentation or (b) product differentiation.

Market segmentation, as separated above, is when the concept of segmentation is approached from the angle of starting with the customers' needs, focusing on designing, developing and delivering the customer experience. In this case, the marketer approaches the concept of market segmentation, starting with the customers' needs. It is difficult to find an ideal case in this

MARKETSEGMENTATIONandBRANDPOSITIONING market, so we will draw a case insight from a brand of bus service in UK the Stagecoach UK Bus service. It is one of the largest bus operators in UK, a huge success, operating both express and local bus services across the country. In spite of its success, the challenge of meeting the needs of identified non-users of its services led to a major research.

The major objective was to consider those issues that bother on the target market perception of Stagecoach Bus service and those barriers that should be taken care of, to attract those present non-users. The operative action

standard was the deliberate efforts at attracting identified present non-users by designing service offers primarily concerned with the needs of the identified market segment. Here, segmentation is all about the consumer.

On the other hand, market segmentation through product differentiation is more about adapting new product variants, primarily as a market growth initiative based on identified market opportunities. Unlike the case of market segmentation that is customer needs-focused, product differentiation aims at taking advantage of market growth opportunities, as they are identified. It is about the brand not essentially about the consumer. For instance, a given brand could aim at different market

Last line This page is open for sponsorship and advert placement.

48

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

For some years, Jumoke Odunsi practiced as a medical doctor in some reputable hospitals in the country. Midway into her career, she decided to do something new, caring for the elderly and chronically ill. Along the line, she became one of the ten Nigerians to win the Diamond Bank bright idea grant.

She spoke with Yetunde Oladeinde recently.

J

Jumoke Odunsi

Caring for the elderly and chronically ill

UMOKE Odunsi is the chief executive officer of Wellcare Medicals. It's a Monday morning, and you are with her in her Surulere, Lagos office. On the wall, the mission and vision of the organisation are written out boldly. Her mission is to care for the elderly and chronically ill in a unique environment. For a few minutes you look around and as the staff move in and out, you find dedication and passion vividly etched on their faces.

Like the Wellcare crew, Odunsi is indeed a woman determined to succeed despite the initial odds she experienced. She takes you down memory lane talking about her humble beginning.

“It has been seven years of God's goodness. It's been really awesome.

When we started seven years ago, it was an idea that was new.

A lot of people were skeptical t h a t i t w o u l d work. A lot of people said go and sit down.

But the vision was too strong a n d propellin g. At that p o i n t there was no going back.''

She adds: “I just believed that things would fall in place. When we started the

service, people thought it could never be done. That we couldn't achieve the standard outside the country. Those who needed the service were not even sure, so we had to do a lot of convincing.''

“I cleared the store and started from the house. All I needed then was a nurse, receptionist and an accountant.

After about a year, I realised that I needed to rebrand and that was a challenge. Some banks said it was a beautiful idea but it was tough getting support for start ups. Then someone gave me a N6 million naira loan to be repaid in 6 months. I rejected the offer because it did not make sense. Someone was also willing to give me collateral to support the project. Our work also started speaking for us.''

The turning point, however, came when she got support from the Diamond bank's Bright Idea project.

“At that time I saw this advert, 'Bright ideas, anyone?' So I went to their office on Adeola Hopewell and they asked if I had a bright idea. In four lines, I w r o t e what the idea was and left.

At that point w e didn't h a v e any clue about what t h e project w a s all

about.”

About a year down the line, Odunsi got a call that she had been shortlisted as one of the first fifty from applications from thousands of people from across the nation. “I eventually made the last ten and it was something I did casually. We got funds and moved to this office and got a structure. Leveraging was important and it helped to position the organisation.

From that point onward, it's been better.”

She talks about some of her antecedents as a clinician. “I started at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, then I went to the Baptist Medical Centre, Ogbomosho and the Ladoke Akintola Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH) where I spent five years. I came to Lagos and worked with some private hospitals like Gold Cross, First Consultant and Mount Sinai.”

You want to know if the business is lucrative, and Odunsi replies this way: “Not quite. People are saying that others are coming into the business. We just wanted to blaze the trail. It is tough for individuals to cough out money to take care of the aged and chronically ill people.''

Odunsi who has branches of the organisation in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan and Ogun State informs that: “It is a process that is expensive, without any support from anyone. So we cannot charge the way we should.

Abroad, there is social security; something comes from government to augment what you have. I think it is a matter of time, if you have genuine passion.”

Young people, she advices, need to look inwards and turn their hobbies into ideas and a life, term project. “They need to know who they are and have mentors.

Unfortunately, a lot of our young people are not patient. They think they know but they don't know. They don't attend seminars and in this work, knowledge is power. There is no short cut to hard work, nothing like overnight miracle. Many are not preparing for success and when opportunity comes they don't know how to handle it. In addition, this generation of parents is destroying the future of their children. They pamper and indulge their children in the wrong way.”

New WOMAN

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30 , 2012

A

LL is fair in love a n d war, at least that is what we choose to believe.

For centuries women have been labeled the weaker sex. Most women's effort at competing with men physically have not ended in their favour but with time and experience, women have come to learn that there are far more effective, intelligent and less stressful ways of winning the game.

As Bisola Oniwinde, a wife, mother and fine artist puts it, “If we cannot beat them in the boxing ring, we will catch them in the bedroom. After all, it is the same wrapper we use to carry them as babies that we use to cover their faces when they sleep.”

Others stress that it's all just a matter of realizing that evolution didn't work with so much vengeance against the female species.

These techniques which women are trained to master are far subtler, not to mention easier, ways to cajole men.

They are skills passed down through generations from the beginning of time.

If you have never thought about it, constantly argue with your spouse over issues or would simply like more insight in order to play the game better, there are ways to 'relate' with men in the easiest possible manner.

This reporter went about town gathering knowledge from highly experienced women and here are a few tips they gave; 10. Play dumb or helpless Women know that men love to be knights in shining armour for their lady. It's a role that lets men feel like capable providers or even heroes. Even if we are perfectly capable of figuring out or doing something for ourselves, we know playing dumb or helpless will signal our knight to come riding in to save the day whenever we want or need something.

Plus, it's hard for him to get angry or frustrated with us when we are letting him feel superior and relied upon.

9. Bore him to submission Keep on talking and don't stop. Go all out when you try and explain yourself when you want to manipulate men. This works very well, especially at times when you've picked up something really expensive, and your man doesn't approve of it.

Tell him about how the crystal lamps were just what you needed at home. “I could have always picked up that cheap thing, with a manual attachment, and some ugly screws that would just disfigure the walls. But I actually picked up this beautiful one that comes with two thousand cute crystals that illuminate the room so much better.

“And it also has five different places to fit the bulb, which is just so perfect becaus e I can n o w arrange the room just the way I've a l w a y s want ed. There was also the bigger type that was great, but you know, I

Who wears the trousers? Ten ways women manipulate men

By Rita Ohai thought it would be better to pick the one I just picked… it was a bit cheaper…”

And you go on and on and on! He'll give up, for peace sake, but use this trick sparingly.

8. Jealousy Repeat after me, never stop flirting. If he thinks other men are after you he will just want you more, like a shiny, glamorous trophy he's trying to win.

As soon as he catches a whiff of competition he'll be bending over backwards to make you happy.

If there's no one in vicinity to flirt with simply talking about other men will send him into a jealous rage. Tell him about 'Emeka' who's a 'great guy' that you 'always hang out with.

Remember he has also got a few tricks up his sleeves.

7. Flattery Let's face it, men have epic egos. It's in-built. So, rather than complain about it, use flattery to your advantage while trying to get what you want.

Egos are fascinating things and often respond to even the most insincere flattery and generic praise. A woman heaping on the praise will no doubt put them in a good mood and perhaps a little more leniency or appreciation than usual.

Tell your man how badly you wanted to show him off in front of your family and friends. If he is upset, say how lucky you are, to have a guy like him. And then see if he still sulks.

Before you know it, he'll be taking out the trash can and changing your tyres for you.

6 .

Emotional blackmail Guys can't stand it, but they also can't do anything about it.

So the next time he says he won't c o m e shopping with you,

don't f l y o f f into a fit of fumi n g rage.

Just s a y somethin g like, “Fine, I'll go alone, because none of my other friends are free. If they were free, I wouldn't have asked you anyway. It may be a little late in the evening, but then, that's okay. It's not like the Lagos is not safe for girls to travel alone.”

Oh, and don't forget to wear your best 'baby' expression.

5. Get his mom on your side Now, all the monster-in-law theories apart, the pluses of getting his mom on your side are just way too many to be ignored, especially when it comes to women manipulating men.

When the two most important women in his life are in it together, there is little that a guy can offer in terms of resistance.

Most guys, even the ones who are not mama's boys, still think twice before messing with their mum. So, go ahead, be real nice to the in-laws.

4. Food weapon They were not kidding when they said that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. If there is something you really want him to do, but you know he'll refuse straight away, cook him a nice fancy dinner, light a few candles, and then ask when he's in gastronomic heaven. It will be one tough thing for him to say no, and he won't.

Not unless his life depends on it!

3. Blame it on biology!

Now, one of the best things about being a woman is that you can yell at him, act all pricey, irritated, and peevish, and blame it all on Post Menstrual Syndrome when you get caught trying to manipulate men. Guys can't contradict it, because they don't understand it. And you thought nature was being unfair! Sometimes, it is unfair in your favour!

2. Shed a tear or more All women know that the easiest way to make a man uncomfortable is to cry. We've all witnessed men that automatically give in to even the most unreasonable requests just to make the tears stop. Girls learn this female manipulation trick early.

Most guys don't really know what to do with a crying woman, especially if she's crying because of something that they've said. Even if they still think they are right, they will shut up. And they will be careful the next time they broach the topic.

It is the age old, time-tested weapon, a girl's best friend in all messy situations.

He's yelling at you at the top of his voice. And you know, this time it really is your fault. But you also know that saying sorry won't shut him up. So, wring out a tear or two and most guys will stop, unless he is a monster.”

1. Seduce him!

Why waste time talking about his depleting bank! Just tell him you want him, and you want him right now! Men are far more agreeable after a good day together.

So go ahead! Give it a shot. But remember, moderation, as always, is the trick is never to let him realise what you really are up to. So if you keep wearing that hurt expression every time he refuses to come shopping with you, one day, he might just call your bluff and know that he's just being manipulated into doing things for you.

At the end of the day, always remember that women manipulate men all the time.

49

with

YETUNDE OLADEINDE

molaralife@yahoo.com

Boxed into an emotional corner

T

O be or not to be. That obviously is the question you ask yourself when you want to go into a new venture, a relationship or a career path. First you need the conviction to go on because that would be the foundation on which so many other things would be laid.

Once you are sure that you are on the right path, then it would be smooth sail. But if for some reasons you just cannot find a good answer to your question or questions, then you may be at the crossroads.

This scenario also plays itself out in our relationships.

Most times, a lot of lovebirds are at affection's crossroads.

Yes, you admire someone very well but there are some unanswered questions.

This is exactly the stage in which Lauretta is at the moment. She has a crush for this guy but there are so many odds against the survival of that relationship. Should she forget this dream or pursue her heart's desire and damn all the other consequences. Somehow she decided to be a dreamer and the dream came with memories of gains and pains.

Scroll down memory lane and you find her recalling some of the happy moments.

It started on a bright afternoon at a Lagos registry with some friends. Wedding bells were certainly ringing in style here, and in a couple of minutes the lucky hearts were tied together and admonished to live happily together forever.

They were happy for a while but it was not forever.

Riveting in your mind are questions about the real status of lovebirds. Are they truly in love? Would they be ready to make the necessary sacrifices required to make it to the end?

Or could this just be a public show of affection, a show that would likely come to an abrupt end?

Well, the truth of the matter is that it takes only two hearts to determine how far they are going to go in a particular relationship. It can be a continuous marathon love race if they are both sincere, determined and have the same emotional dreams about the future.

Even though you just couldn't take a look at the different hearts to know exactly what they are thinking or imagining, you realise that the lucky fellows have finally scaled the first hurdle.

Also at another registry recently, you find Kate and Henry hanging onto each other so passionately. They walk out of the registry smiling and smiling. The photographer clicks on and on, trying to keep the memories for posterity. Images they could turn to and remember the very beginning.

Images children from the union are likely to laugh about, pass the usual comments and compare notes.

Apart from the smiles there was nothing really interesting about the new couple, they looked so different in outlook and you wonder if they were really meant for each other. Or was it one of those arrangements? All this may not really count; the most important thing is if the hearts are united.

United in love forever. They are not alone. It's D-day and 12 marriages have been fixed, and everyone is eager to sign the dotted lines. Take a deep look into the crystal ball and you find gaps in different areas of their lives. These include age disparity, height, weight, class and dress code.

Any way what has age got to do with love? It is just a number and it does not guarantee whether a relationship is going to work or not. If you have two people who are both in the same age bracket, you would expect them to share certain things in common. Interestingly, this does not guarantee the success of their relationship; there are some other cogent reasons to hold on to each other in love.

Also when we talk about the height of the couple, you can also imagine what people dream or desire. Women naturally would want a guy who is taller than they are, whilst the prince charming would prefer same height or slighter shorter than he is. But the truth of the matter is that all these grand rules of affection have been broken and replaced with other reasons based on the expectations of the lovebirds. It is always important to weigh the options and select what would be best for you. It is not about sympathy, you must make sure that you are going to fit in and enjoy this new beginning.

When you finally make up your mind then you are in charge. If this is not the case, then we can say that you have been boxed into an emotional corner. It is not the best because you are going to be complaining and grumbling all the time.

So it is better to cross check and be sure that you have played the right game, you need to be sure that you heart beat is chanting the right love anthem and this would help to reconcile your love account.

But if the love pendulum is not balanced, then the lovebirds need make use of the positive love currents to get back on track. It is a very pertinent stage and you must be sure that it is what you really want.

For all you know it may just be mere infatuation, something that would only carry on for months or a few years. When it lapses you may just want to run away. However, the truth of the matter is that you would have created a big vacuum, a vacuum nothing or nobody can ever fill again.

50

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

THE SUNDAY INTERVIEW

52ND INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY: SPECIAL SECTION

No country can survive religious war

They were six this month – third of September. That was another high point right there.

Two other high points was when I became president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). I didn’t solicit for it; I was in a meeting...I had always been a member of the National Advisory Council of PFN all these years. I went to a meeting and that was how I was made president of PFN. That was another high point, and when I became president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) – the first Pentecostal to get to that position. Another was when we complete our building which can seat over 35,000 people in Warri – to His glory. So there are many high points; I don’t have too many low points. But I give God the glory that everything in my life God has been good to me.

One major criticism of church leadership in Nigeria is that they are veering off into ostentation. The critics point the rising number of high profile pastors who own jets. Do you accept this as valid criticism and what is the rationale for owning these aircraft?

Unfortunately, when you become a top church leader you become a public figure. You become bread and meat for people to eat. I don’t think that is a correct assessment of the situation.

What people don’t realise is that for some of the men of God who own jets, owning a jet is not a luxury but a necessity. If I tell you my own What exactly do schedule it will shock you. you want to But the critics negotiate? At point to someone like the Pope who least, you sometimes travels should tell us as by commercial Nigerians so we flight...

Thank you for know exactly using that word ‘sometimes’ – not what you are every time. Much of negotiating on the time he has his own plane. But I our behalf. don’t want to talk There is no about the Pope. I want to talk of some basis for the of the men of God negotiation. The that you are probthinking of militants in the ably right now. Like I Niger-Delta... said, it depends on schedule. Are when Yar’Adua the you trying to tell wanted to bring me that these men of God don’t go by the amnesty, commercial transwhat he said to port at all? They do. many times them was, ‘drop But they can’t help it your arms first.’ because of the kind of schedule they And that was have. For example, the first step. about a week and a half ago I went to Indonesia. It took me two days to get there. That includes the layovers at the airports. I flew with the Emirates and had to stop in Dubai for hours. I stayed at the airport and then flew to Jakarta. It was not in Jakarta that I was actually going to be preaching – it was somewhere else, so I had to stay at the airport again for another five hours before I finally got a plane to take me to where I was going. I got there and was so fagged out; I was supposed to go church – I couldn’t go. I had to plead to be allowed to go and rest. The day after that I preached and afterwards started coming back home. It took me another two days to get here. I arrived here on Saturday and had to wait again at the local airport to get a flight to Warri – which I couldn’t get – and had to wait for four, five hours again to fly to Benin and then to fly to Warri. And then I had to preach two services on Sunday morning, and then by Monday morning I left to go to Italy. I just came from Italy this last Saturday, preached on Sunday and five A.M. this last Monday I had to drive from Warri to Calabar – which was another seven hours. Yesterday, I drove here. I had some meetings this morning. When I finish with you now I am going into another meeting. Tomorrow, I have meetings all day. On Friday, I head for Abuja.

My schedule goes on and on: I won’t see my family for about two weeks. My whole life is in a suitcase going from place to place. I may go from there and continue to Malawi. What I am trying to tell you is that many times it is the schedule, the workload. It is not a luxury. For some of these men owning a jet is like owning a car.

“

•Oritsejafor

suicide bomber. Over 50 were hospitalised, and some in critical condition and we’re praying. We don’t know how many of them will survive.

In the face of these attacks Christian leaders at some point, are quoted as telling their followers to ‘defend’ themselves. Now, you find yourself in a dilemma because you have to contend the Scripture that says turn the other cheek. How do you handle the frustrations of your followers?

I am so glad you’re bringing up this issue because the frustrations of my followers make me also frustrated - because I feel for them. When you say, contend with Scripture that says turn the other cheek, the same Bible also says if you don’t have a sword, sell you coat and buy a sword. I just want to make you understand that all these are the same New Testament. But that is not the issue. The issue is that the government must legitimately permit people – if that must ever happen... it has to be a legal, legitimate, proper thing for anybody to carry arms. I will never support anybody to legally acquire arms and start running around the place – no! That is wrong. But I will always say defend yourself; protect yourself. It’s in the Koran, it’s in the Bible, it’s in the constitution of Nigeria – self preservation is part of the human instinct. It is the first thing that comes even to animals. When you attack somebody the first thing is he wants to protect himself. He would do something and try to defend himself. That is what we’re saying. Whatever means you have to protect yourself, protect yourself. It is madness for anybody to get angry with me for telling my people that are innocently being killed, and we say to them protect yourself!

Whatever you have use it and do whatever you have to do to protect yourself. We’re not saying go and retaliate. We’re not saying attack anybody, but protect yourself. For God’s sake, what is wrong with telling people to protect themselves? Now, having said that, I also still believe in divine intervention. I believe that where we are in Nigeria today we need God’s divine intervention. That would mean that certain things will happen that would overturn, and turn this whole situation in such a way that those who are killing people today can come and say ‘Look, we regret what we have done.’ The Spirit of God can enter into them. The Spirit of God can also expose them in such a way that they are captured. It can happen in so many ways. I think it is important for us never to lose sight of that; to continue to go that way, and to pray and trust God. That is why we are doing the fasting we’re doing – beginning tomorrow (last Thursday, September 27) and through the weekend, and one-year prayer that we’re going to be doing. My prayer everyday is

for quick divine intervention that will also probably enable our security agencies to quickly also find ways to end this thing - because no country can survive a religious war. It is so dangerous and deadly. What is happening to Christians, that is going on everyday... how long can I stop those people? If you know how many of them call me on the phone; some send delegations to me to say ‘Allow us,’ and I plead and say ‘No, you can’t do that. We’re Christians.’ We were not taught that way: what we were taught is to love our enemies. We preach all that and some walk out on me angry. But I pray and trust God that it will never get to the point where some of them – on their own – will just go and get whatever and start doing something. The problem is the moment it starts, you can’t stop it. I pray to God that we’ll never get to that point.

You recently marked 40 years in ministry.

What would you consider the high and low points?

The very first high point I will mention is the day I gave my life to Christ, because that made all the difference. It was like a bright light came upon me. I used to be someone who had moods: I could be a little bit happy now and extremely sad the next minute. But the day I gave my life to Christ my life changed. I would mention one very low point in my 40 years in ministry. It’s not something I mention with joy: it was when my first wife died. This is the woman I married, lived with and slept on the same bed with for 20 years.

She died in my arms. Actually she collapsed. I prayed and revived her. We both thought everything was okay, and I said ‘What happened?’ She just laughed. We thought everything was fine.

She was in the shower and I walked into the bedroom; when I turned around again and she had collapsed. That was a very low point in my ministry. I don’t pray for anyone to have that experience; it was very, very painful. Thank God that almost two years later, God gave me a wife that I would say He used to wipe away my tears, to restore and complete me again. Mama Helen Oritsejafor is an incredible woman that God brought into my life to lift up my spirit. She has become another very high point in my life. Another very high point was when God blessed us with triplets. I didn’t have children all these years, and now we have two boys and a girl.

The triplets are your only children?

Yes. All these years...

That’s it.

That’s a fantastic testimony.

Incredible! They are bundles of joy for us.

How old are they now?

“

•Continued from Page 24 go on and on. They attacked United Nations building. What are they trying to tell you? They are telling you that this organisation is international. They are connected everywhere. How do they get their funding like we were just saying now? We know Gaddafi’s connection with some of these things before he passed away. And we know where a lot of these arms have come from into Nigeria. So, they’re already connected. Then, some of our government officials who are making a ridicule of themselves or whatever way you want to look at it, telling us that if they designate Boko Haram as a terrorist group, it will affect Nigerians when they are travelling. Is it that that is affecting Nigeria? We’ve had problems for a long time because we have been targeted for drugs, we have been targeted for money laundering. So, what are you telling me?

The moment they see your green passport today, without Boko Haram, they will still take you aside. So, what else are they going to do that is new? There are other countries where they have designated some group as terrorists, but did that now mean that that everybody from that country was a terrorist? No! And they know.

It is not as if they don’t know. But, all this is a cover-up. There are all kinds of things going on, that are happening within our own Nigeria and other places. But, there is a conspiracy and God would expose it at the due time.

How do you respond to those who will criticise you for making this FTO thing into a magic bullet that would the crisis miraculously?

In fact, if you had followed my speech at the Congress in America, you would have seen that I said categorically that I know designating Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation is not going to just end Boko Haram. It is not going to just end all of our problems in Nigeria, but it is a right step in the right direction. It is an indication that there is some seriousness. It sends a message to our own government, it sends a message to the international community, it sends a message to Boko Haram themselves. That’s the point. There are some things that are symbolic but very powerful. So, it’s important.

Some people don’t understand why you are not enthusiastic about the decision of the Federal Government to negotiate with Boko Haram.

What is wrong with negotiation when the authorities have not been able to resolve the problem militarily?

Well, I wonder why they would say they don’t understand. Again, that is another part of our hypocrisy in Nigeria. Even when they understand, they pretend as if they don’t understand. Now, how do you negotiate with a terrorist group? We all know that Boko Haram is a terrorist group. How do we negotiate with a terrorist group? Especially when you know that this terrorist group is based on a religious ideology, and they know have never hidden their intention. You and I know that at a point, they can out to say, ‘Jonathan, either you resign or you convert to Islam’. Then, they said if Christians want peace in Nigeria they should all convert to Islam. It is the same agenda, the same old agenda. It is nothing different. It is nothing new.

Now, when you have that, what is the basis for this negotiation? These are the questions we are asking. How do you go into a negotiation without knowing what you want to negotiate? What are we going to be negotiating about when a people have told you what they want? They have told you that they want to Islamise the nation.

So, you want to speak with them and say, ‘please don’t Islamise the nation?’ Or you want to tell them, ‘all right, can we do it 40-60? Can you take 40% of the nation?’ What exactly do you want to negotiate? At least, you should tell us as Nigerians so we know exactly what you are negotiating on our behalf. There is no basis for the negotiation. The militants in the Niger-Delta... when Yar’Adua wanted to bring the amnesty, what he said to them was, ‘drop your arms first.’ And that was the first step. He gave them a deadline.

He said, ‘from this time to this time, you must drop your arms. If you don’t, we see you all as criminals’ and we will do whatever we want to do. But, if you drop your arms, we would sit with you and discuss.’ Now, why was it possible to discuss with those boys? There was no iota of religion involved. It was purely economical. It was about marginalisation. It was about pollution. It was about deprivation. It was about the situation there in the Niger Delta. When they said drop your arms, most of them said there is a way out and they dropped their arms. Please, help me convey this to Nigerians just in case there is still anybody who doesn’t really know what we are saying and why we are saying government should not negotiate with them.

Last week, there was an attack in Bauchi in which two or three people were killed...

No, four people were killed. One was the

THE ARTS

51

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Culture as stamp of identity Recently, African culture eggheads met in Ethiopia at the instance of the African Union (AU) to remind Africans both home and abroad that culture is necessary for human and physical developments. Edozie Udeze writes on the imperativeness of this timely intervention

P

AN-AFRICANISTS, African scholars and culture technocrats have always maintained that African peoples wherever they are should not discard their norms and traditional values. All those positive cultural elements that bind the people together and give them leverage over other continents of the world should be kept and projected in order to make the continent of Africa and it crop of leaders excel and perform better.

These and more were the issues raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, recently when a crop of African culture eggheads and technocrats met to discuss ways to use peoples’ cultural values and heritage to turn the continent towards meaningful development and advancement. The conference, termed the 3rd Pan-African Cultural Congress (PACC3), was organised by the African Union (AU) and held in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.

The central concern of those at the helm of cultural affairs in Africa is that globalisation should not be allowed to distract the people from those positive issues that have been good for the welfare of the African peoples. “Globalisation ofers great opportunities, but its benefits at present are unevenly shared…

And of course, persistent inequalities and struggles over scarce resources are among the key determinants of situation of conflicts, hunger, insecurity and violence which in turn are key factors that hold back human development and efforts to achieve sustainable development,” one of the official sources said.

Using culture as a predicate, the youths in particular, should be taught the culture of respect, honesty, handwork, diligence, love for their own dressing and traditions, and the need to be proud of what is their own. This was why in his paper titled Cultural Pan-Africanism as pillar for sustainable development in Africa, Professor Tunde Babawale of the Centre For Black and African Arts and Civilisation, (CBAAC) made it abundantly clear that if culture is the totality of the way of life of a people, that same culture must be used by the people to maintain distinct identity and behaviour.

“This same culture,” as

Babawale pointed out, “ought to be dynamic and should give order and meaning to the social, political, economic, aesthetic and religious practices of the people. Culture, therefore, gives people distinct image different from others. In other words, culture manifests in people’s ideals and ideas, beliefs and values, folklore, environment, science and technology and in the forms of their political, social and economic institutions. Equally, it is usually revealed in the aesthetic quality and humanistic dimensions of literature, music, drama, architecture, carvings, paintings and other artistic forms.”

Babawale’s contention is that since the primary essence of culture shares almost some semblances, there is also a common agreement that culture is a preserve of human beings alone. Therefore, other creatures, though with their peculiar behaviour, are incapable of exuding culture. And if people can learn and share culture from one another, there is the urgent need to discard what is bad and incorporate what is needful to move forward. “Consequently, culture is as important to man as his existence. But for culture and its transfer, the contemporary world would not have been able to connect with its past and would have lost all vital knowledge that remain useful to the basic means of human survival,” he said further.

The general understanding is that the peoples of Africa should at all times stick to those beliefs and norms that are not opposed to human development in order to make their existence meaningful. The conference re-echoed UNESCO’s submission that no cultural values should be lost, or neglected or discarded.

For, according to

•First storey building in Badagry (1845)

UNESCO, “culture is a source of identity, innovation and creativity, a set of distinctive spiritual and material, intellectual and emotional features of a society which encompasses complex web of meanings, relationships, values and so on that frame people’s relationship to the world.” Without culture, people have no focus, no bearing and meaning.

In order to make all these work in a globalised world, PanAfricanists and those who have chosen to champion the cause of the continent and its diverse peoples have to wake up this spirit of cultural renaissance.

This is so, because •Slave route in Badagry Pan-Africanism is a movement of velopment and Pan-Africanism to a group of people that seeks to unify work harmoniously well to usher African peoples or peoples living in a new Africa, there has to be a in Africa into a one African com- synergy of purpose among these elements. Over the years, Pan-Afmunity.

Indeed, the AU charter defines rican cultural heads of departit “as a political and cultural phe- ments and directors in their many nomenon which regards Africa, international and local conferAfrican and African descendants ences have called for leaders to abroad as a unit, and aims at the emulate the Asian Tigers in their regeneration and unification of Af- attitude towards Asian values. rica and the promotion of a feeling UNESCO has always made it clear of solidarity among the people of that no continent or a set of people the African world.” And so for this can develop meaningfully well if perspective to take its proper they do not resort to and concenshape, it behoves on these cham- trate on what is their own by napions of the people to boldly ture. Asians have come to commount the necessary campaigns to mand the respect and attention of free the people from cultural impe- the world simply because they rialism that has drowned most Af- have consistently stuck to the baricans and made them alien to their sic elements of their beliefs and norms. beliefs.

In a similar conference held in For there to be a sustainable development driven by the people’s Brazil (20 – 23 August, 2012), and cultural values, every African must titled Heritage, identity, education first of all see his identity as being and culture: management of historiof the best quality. For culture, de- cal sites related to the slave trade and slavery in Nigeria, the argument was that no cultural or historical heritage should be allowed to suffer the fate of neglect or abandonment.

The Brazilian conference held in the historic city of Rio de Janeiro where slave trade had one of its strongest taproots canvassed the view that all the slave route sites in Nigeria have to be preserved for the sake of posterity. Holding brief for the nation and its efforts to keep

“Consequently, culture is as important to man as his existence. But for culture and its transfer, the contemporary world would not have been able to connect with its past and would have lost all vital knowledge that remain useful to the basic means of human survival”

the sites in place, Babawale had argued that people should be educated more on the whole essences of these sites in the lives of the society. “They are all important in all facets,” he noted.

Beyond identifying the numerous sites in Nigeria, he directed attention to the efforts of government in preserving those of Badagry and Calabar which, he said, have made the two towns important historical centres. “Yes, Badagry town has a unique history. Apart from being a slave route and port, it was reputed to be the first place where Christianity was preached in Nigeria. The first storey building in Nigeria was also built there in 1845 and still stands on its original site. On the other hand, Calabar is reputed to be Nigeria’s first capital city. It boasts of the first secondary school in Eastern Nigeria; Hope Waddell Training Institution (1895) and had been recognised as an international sea port as far back as the 16th century,” he stated.

In all, like the myriad of other fora, conferences and workshops held on the place of history, culture and people’s attitude to what is their own, it was generally agreed that renewed efforts have to be put in place to make Africans come to terms with their various historical heritage, traditions and norms. African development must be strong on cultural values.

52

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Arts/Reviews

Books

Africa unchained

An intellectual look at the Holy Book T

A

T last, the long-awaited Professor Chinua Achebe’s treatise and personal testimony about the Nigerian civil war of 1967 - 1970 is out. In this review George Ayitteyhighlights the essential ingredients that make the book vintage Achebe There Was A Country, that is the title.

The defining experience of Chinua Achebe’s life was the Nigerian civil war, also known as the Biafran War, of 1967– 1970.

The conflict was infamous for its savage impact on the Biafran people, Chinua Achebe’s people, many of whom were starved to death after the Nigerian government blockaded their borders.

By then, Chinua Achebe was already a world-renowned novelist, with a young family to protect.

He took the Biafran side in the conflict and served his government as a roving cultural ambassador, from which vantage he absorbed the war’s full horror.

Immediately after, Achebe took refuge in an academic post in the United States, and for more than forty years he has maintained a considered silence on the events of those terrible years, addressing them only obliquely through his poetry. Now, decades in the making, comes a towering reckoning with one of modern Africa’s most fateful events, from a writer whose words and courage have left an enduring stamp on world literature.

By George Ayittey

Achebe masterfully relates his experience, both as he lived it and how he has come to understand it.

He begins his story with Nigeria’s birth pangs and the story of his own upbringing as a man and as a writer so that we might come to understand the country’s promise, which turned to horror when the hot winds of hatred began to stir.

To read There Was A Country is to be powerfully reminded that artists have a particular obligation, especially during a time of war.

All writers, Achebe argues, should be committed writers—they should speak for their history, their beliefs, and their people.

Marrying history and memoir, poetry and prose, There Was A Country is a distillation of vivid firsthand observation and 40 years of research and reflection. Wise, humane, and authoritative, it will stand as definitive and reinforce Achebe’s place as one of the most vital literary and moral voices of our age.

A global rise in eBook sales is turning many to take a second look at reading on screens. Joe Agbro Jr., writes

HERE are so many controversial issues in Christianity that many authors and scholars all together avoid. Their argument is it is better to let the sleeping dog lie than raise unnecessary dusts. This is where Apostle Israel Akinadewo stands out. He is bold and fearless to delve into any matter in the Bible, even if controversial.

The book, Sanctuary Message, attests to this. In it, Akinadewo, a Cherubim and Seraphim church leader, gives us rare insights into scriptural issues. The book is a collection of his weekly columns in newspapers over a period of one year. He addresses vital issues in the body of Christ such as restitution, living in bondage, Lenten period, Kingdom and the nation of Israel, among

T

HE seven secrets of a true champion authored by Uchendu Kingsley, is an exposition on how you can conquer whatever that will deter you from becoming what God had destined you to be.

The book gives a chronological sequence of logical approaches to confronting and surmounting unavailable and yet threatening life challenges.

There is no human under the heaven without challenges to face or battles to fight, but what matters is whether you want to be a victim or a champion. It has been said that “life does not give you what you deserve, but what you fight for.” Even from the bible days,

where to deposit tithes.

The 51-chapter book treats more of Old Testament issues.

Over ten of the chapters dwell on the divided Kingdom of Israel and Judah where the author extensively concentrates on why the Kingdom is divided and sundry issues.

Four of the chapters consider the exploits of the 12 disciples of Christ. Akinadewo looks into their contributions and what they bought differently to the faith and ministry of Christ. His summary is that

Unusual secrets

By Esther Mohammed great men and women encountered various challenges and most of them were able to overcome these challenges with mind-blowing strategies and principles. This is why the author decided to reveal the seven secrets to becoming a true champion.

The first secret titled: “The foundation of a true champion is God” makes one to understand that life is a spiritual battle that you cannot win outside the strength of God. A lot of people fail to understand that without God, man is nothing. They rely on the human strength neglecting

God. The God-factor is necessary in every human life who truly wants to win in the race of life. The reader is to understand that our faith in Christ Jesus who overcame the world for us, gives us the victory over life challenges when we make him our foundation in everything we do.

In this chapter, the story of David and Goliath in the bible was cited to make us understand how we always need God to win. As the foundation of every human life, God, matters most to the entire existence of that individual.

“A true champion knows his giants” is the second se-

God can use anyone from any background provided he or she is willing and amenable.

In all, this compendium is a welcome addition to the world of Christian literary works. In it, readers will learn easily forgettable lessons from the Bible and deepen their knowledge of the faith. The language is simple and breezy.

The author comes across as a consummate scholar determined to pass on simple, every day lessons. He is intellectual yet spiritual. There are also prayer points after each chapter that readers will find useful. Except for few typographical errors, the book makes an interesting reading. It is highly recommended to Bible students, scholars, seminarians and Christians desirous of deepening their biblical knowledge. cret according to the book.

The writer narrates how giants are the problems, c h a l lenges, opposition, that every human being has to face. He makes us to understand that we have to recognise our life giants before we can deal with them. The story of David will never cease to amaze. As a young child, David was able to recognize goliath as a problem and a challenge, to the children of God.

The rise and rise of eBooks

P

EOPLE have always loved books.

Whether academic, historical, fictional, non-fictional, fantasy, horror, comedy, or for leisure, books have always been a marvel.

With the advent of the computer, modern man evolved to reading on electronic devices. Electronic books, referred to as eBooks, are a now a global rave. While Nigeria represents a minuscule in these figures, some Nigerian authors and publishers are beginning to take the eroute.

When Olusegun Adeniyi, spokesperson to former president Umaru Yar’Adua, released his memoir, Politics, Power, and Death, presented at the launch was the hard copy as well as the eBook which was in a CD. And when Eghosa Imasuen released his second novel, Fine Boys, in 2011, it was first released as an eBook. At the moment, with a proliferation of digital tools enhancing reading, eBooks are generating a buzz in the literary circle and Nigerian authors and publishers are embracing the concept..

AJ Daggar Tolar, Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Lagos State Chapter, believes it’s not a Nigerian thing.

“Don’t get me wrong,” he said. “For Nigerian authors in the Diaspora, the question of eBooks has become an automatic thing because for people who already have standard international publishers, getting a book published automatically gets an eBook.”

“We’re far away from any eBook readership in Nigeria,” he said, “except we just want to pretend we are part of a global phenomenon. Electricity continues to remain a disaster for all of us in the Nigerian economy.”

He adds: “Certainly, for a lot of people, eBooks might be another way to overcome the entire crisis of enormous backlog of manuscripts. The publisher would have to ask you to cough out a lot of money which a lot of authors cannot afford. It’s cheap but that market (eBook) is not a Nigerian market.”

By Sunday Oguntola

others.

He writes in a simple, engaging way, ensuring readers gain access into the recess of his enlightened mind. He takes principled stand on each of the subject matters, attempting to lead Christians to take positions on fundamental issues. On restitution, for example, he writes “we must endeavour to return more than what we forcefully gained or stole.” This is a very debatable stance among Christians.

On tithes, he traces the origin of the largely controversial issue, stating that it is an ordinance from God that must be obeyed. He also supports first fruit, sharing his personal experience on receipt of his first salary. He addresses issues like who should receive tithes, how much should be paid and

•Onukaba

•Eghosa

Ironically, many Nigerians find accessing content of local authors of the internet a daunting process. Imasuen thinks this odd and said: “Ask anyone (Nigerian) who has tried to pay for content on Amazon. Hence, when we publish e-books, tragically, we do not aim for the local market, because of a lack of infrastructure.”

Indeed, the commercial aspect of selling e-books in Nigeria is still a little bit cumbersome. “If your work gets critical acclaim and is seen above the din of voices in the eBook market, you stand to really make money,” Imasuen said. “But for me, looking at my primary audience, Nigerians, we are not ready for the eBook thing yet. Not until we can sell dedicated eBook readers, and streamline our electronic payment systems.”

According to Ibiso Graham-Douglas, managing director of Paperworth Books, a bookshop and publishing firm, eBooks in Africa is still an “abstract.” Her outfit published Tomorrow Died Yesterday by Chimeka Garricks, which is on iBooks and on Kindle. She, however, says, “In a lot of cases, you find that the people who can have access to eBooks can also have access to the same books. So, it’s not like it’s breaking new barriers or it is a new frontier. Of course, it is a wonderful opportunity

we can leverage for mass education.”

She believes the cost of reading eBooks is higher compared to paperbacks. “It’s not that you close your eyes and you read eBooks with your mind,” she said. “You still need a device. It is more expensive to read than a normal book.

And eBooks are costing almost the same as printed (books). For us in Africa where books are already a cost, you have to do opportunity cost to get it or you generally cannot afford it. It doesn’t make sense to have to buy a device first before you now get an eBook.”

As far as sales of Tomorrow Died Yesterday are concerned, she said, “I’ve sold more print copies than the eBook.”

Drawing on data provided by 250 publishers, the Publishers Association’s Statistics Yearbook put the value of consumer eBook sales at £92m in 2011, representing a 366% increase from 2010. In the first quarter of this year, according to the Bookseller, physical book sales in the first three months of 2012 were down 11%, or £39m, compared with the same period in 2011.

Dr. Adinoyi Ojo-Onukaba, a Media Arts lecturer at the University of Abuja, describes eBooks as fantastic and the future of reading.

He says; “The sheer number of publications available to readers is unimaginable. It is unfortunate that most of the books published in Africa are not available electronically. African publishers should embrace e-publishing.

Through it, they can reach millions of younger gadgets-savvy book buyers and readers.”

Any device that can display text on a screen may act as an e-book reader, but specialised ebook reader designs optimise portability, readability (especially in bright sun) and battery life. Some popular eBook readers include the Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, Kobo eReader, Sony Reader, and the Apple iPad. Many e-book readers can connect to the internet, allowing the user a seamless interaction with eBook sellers across the globe. According to a study, sales for all e-book readers worldwide rose to 12.8 million in 2010; 48% of them were Kindle models, followed by Barnes & Noble Nook devices, Pandigital, Hanvon and Sony Readers (about 800,000 units for 2010).

According to Onukaba, “Libraries as we used to know them are fast disappearing.

EBooks are convenient, easier to carry around and come in various forms, such as audio, audio-visual and read only. I have close to 5, 000 books in my iPad and iPhone which I carry around everywhere. These are quality books, the major western canons – including the complete plays and poems of Shakespeare.”

While not all eBook titles are in all the formats, a survey of the number of contemporary and popular titles available from ebook stores revealed that Amazon.com has the largest collection, over twice as large as that of Barnes and Noble, Sony Reader Store, Apple iBookstore and OverDrive, the public libraries lending system.

As this technology improves, Onukaba contends the academic community now relies more on electronic means to “access” learning. He also said, “Pastors now conduct services with iPads that are loaded with various versions of the Bible. Imams are learning to do same in mosques. Very soon, the entire Corpus of Ifa will be available electronically and diviners will no longer have to throw cowries on the floor.”

53

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

SALMAN RUSHDIE

Safe houses, secret lovers and the assassin's bullet I

T had never occurred to him before the attack to stop writing, to be something else, to become not a writer. To have become a writer to discover that he was able to do the thing he had most wanted to do had been one of his greatest joys.

The reception of The Satanic Verses had, for the moment at least, robbed him of that joy. If one spent five years of one's life struggling with a large and complex project and if, when it came out, it was received in this distorted, ugly way, then maybe the effort wasn't worth it.

It was Zafar who finally brought him back to himself, Zafar whom he worked constantly to see the police drove back and forth, 'dry-cleaning' (the counter surveillance to avoid being followed) father and son, making these intermittent meetings possible in London at friends' houses and once, wonderfully, for a weekend in Cornwall.

They played soccer he showed promise as a goalie, diving eagerly this way and that and computer games.

They put together model train sets and model cars. They did ordinary, everyday, father-and-son things and it felt like a miracle. And it was Zafar who reminded him of his promise: 'Dad, what about my book?' He had told Zafar stories while the boy took his evening bath, bathtime stories instead of bedtime ones.

At first the book was called Zafar And The Sea Of Stories, but he soon felt the need to place a little fictive distance between the boy in the book and the one in the bath.

Haroun was Zafar's middle name. The change felt like an improvement as soon as it was made.

At first Zafar was disappointed. It was his book, he said, so it should be about him.

But he, too, changed his mind. He understood that Haroun both was and was not him, and that was better.

'I am gagged and imprisoned,' he wrote in his journal. 'I can't even speak. I want to kick a football in a park with my son.

Ordinary, banal life: my impossible dream.'

In a very short time he had grown extremely fond of his (police) protectors.

On February 14, 1989, Salman Rushdie was sentenced to death by Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini, who issued a fatwa, accusing his novel 'The Satanic Verses' of being 'against Islam, the Prophet and the Qur'an'. Rushdie then adopted the alias Joseph Anton - merging forenames of authors Conrad and Chekhov. Here, in a gripping extract from his memoir, Rushdie writes in the third person as 'Joseph Anton'.

Many of them said that this was the wrong way to run a prot (protection team). 'What we have to do on Malachite (the codename for Rushdie's protection operation) isn't proper protection,' they told him. 'We weren't trained to hide people. This isn't our job.' It was cheaper to hide the principal and pay the prot teams overtime to stay with him around the clock. There was a view among the senior officers, he was learning, that the Malachite principal didn't 'deserve' the full protection services of the British police. He quickly learned that there was a wide gulf between the officers in the field and the higher-ups at the Yard.

They broke the rules to help him. At a time when they had been forbidden to take him into any public spaces they took him to the cinema, going in after the lights went down, taking him out before they went up again, no problem. And they did what they could to assist his work as a father.

They took him and Zafar to police sports grounds and formed impromptu rugby teams so that he could run with them and pass the ball. On bank holidays they sometimes took him and Zafar to amusement parks.

One day at such a park Zafar saw a soft toy being offered as a prize at a shooting gallery and decided he wanted it. One of the protection officers, known as Fat Jack, went up to the booth and put down his money. He began to shoot. Boom boom boom boom, the targets fell one by one.

'Yes, that should do nicely,' said Fat Jack, putting down the weapon and pointing at the soft toy. We'll have that, thanks.'

He was told they could arrange for him to be given shooting lessons. He would be taught by the best instructors and maybe it was a skill he should learn. He thought about it long and hard and said no, he wouldn't do that, thanks all the same.

He knew that if he owned a gun and the bad guys were to attack, it would be taken from him and turned against him. Better to live without it and hope the bad guys wouldn't get that close. He was offered Kevlar bulletproof vests to wear. He refused them.

He slowly came to understand that the protection looked glamorous. Men arrived in advance of his own coming, everything was made ready, a sleek Jaguar stopped at the door, there was the moment of maximum risk between car door and front door, then he was whisked inside. It looked like VIP treatment.

The longer it lasted, the longer he went without being killed, the easier it was for people to believe that nobody was trying to kill him, and that he wanted the protection around him to satisfy his vanity, his insufferable self-importance. It was hard to convince people that from where he was standing the protection didn't feel like movie-stardom. It felt like jail.

His wisdom teeth exploded. He was driven away into the night. They had chosen a hospital near Bristol and made all

the arrangements. He was smuggled in for examinations and X-rays and had to spend the night before the operation in the morning. Both lower wisdom teeth were impacted and a general anaesthetic would be required.

The police were concerned that if news of his presence there got out, a hostile crowd could gather outside the hospital. They had a plan to cover that eventuality. They had a hearse standing by and would drive it into a hospital bay and bring him out anaesthetised, zipped up in a body bag. This proved to be an unnecessary stratagem.

HOW COULD SHE LET ZAFAR SEE THE PROTESTS ON TV? There were 20,000-30,000 Muslims assembling in Hyde Park to demand whatever they were demanding, but the morphine made it OK. They had threatened the biggest-ever rally in Britain, 500,000 people, so 20,000 felt piffling.

Later he had a row with Clarissa (his first wife and Zafar's mother) because she had allowed Zafar to watch the demonstration on TV. 'How could you have done that?' he demanded. 'It just happened,' she said.

Zafar came on the phone and said that he had seen an effigy with an arrow through its head. He had seen 20,000 men and boys marching through the streets, not of Tehran, but his own hometown, demanding his father's death. He told Zafar: 'People show off for the TV, they think it looks smart.'

'But it doesn't,' Zafar said. 'It looks stupid.'

He could be an astonishing boy.

The mobile phone arrived not long afterwards and his excitement knew no bounds. He called people and gave them the number and they kept calling him back.

It was June 1989 and a rental cottage had been found for him by the police, in Brecon, in a place called Talybont. His American wife Marianne Wiggins was not coming; she was leaving for America. Her daughter was graduating from Dartmouth.

Her departure would be a relief for them both. He could see that she was at the end of her tolerance. She needed at least a break, probably a way out. He could understand

Contd. on page 54

54

Miscellany

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Safe houses, secret lovers and the assassin's bullet Contd. from page 53 that. She had not bargained for this, and it wasn't her fight.

The cottage was tiny and the weather dreadful. There was no privacy to be had here. Even worse, the mobile phone didn't work. He would have to be driven several miles once a day to a telephone box in the remote countryside to make calls. Claustrophobia hit him hard.

He called Marianne, in Boston, and things got much worse. She had been approached by a CIA agent calling himself Stanley Howard. 'They know where we were,' she said in a heightened voice. 'You can't trust the people you have with you now. You need to leave at once. You need to come to America.'

His protectors Bob Major and Fat Jack listened gravely when he told them what she had said. Finally Bob said: 'I'm afraid you can't stay here. We have to act as if the operation is blown. We have to change everything.'

'I have to go to London,' he said. 'It's my son's tenth birthday in a few days.'

'You'll have to come up with a place,' Fat Jack said.

A friend offered him a top-floor apartment in Notting Hill. Bill Greenup (senior Special Branch officer) came to see him and suggested that Marianne had made the whole story up. Mr Greenup also said that the mobile phone was now considered a security risk and could not be used for the time being at least.

He wasn't allowed to stay in the city any longer. The police had found a place: a bed-and-breakfast in the village of Gladestry, in Powys. The senior men from the Branch and British intelligence, came to visit him. They told him that her report had been taken very seriously.

The matter had reached the desks of the British Prime Minister and the President of the United States, and that after extensive investigation the investigating officers were satisfied that there was no truth in her allegations whatsoever. He was being asked to believe that his wife had invented a CIA plot against him. Why might she have done such a thing? Was her desire to extricate herself from this underground British life so great that she had felt the need to shake his faith in his protectors, so that he would leave England for America, allowing her to do the same?

His head whirled. This was insane.

She spoke for a long time to convince him the police were the liars and not she.

But he had made up his mind. He couldn't trust her any more. It would be better to be alone than to allow her to remain. He asked her to leave.

MARIANNE LEAVES AND I AM HOMELESS AGAIN Now that she was considered a security risk he could no longer use any property she knew about. So the reality was that he, not she, had been rendered homeless again by their separation.

His relationship with Viking Penguin was also deteriorating rapidly. The question of paperback publication had arisen and it looked as if Peter Mayer, the head of the company, was looking for a way not to issue a soft-cover edition. He had asked that the paperback be published by the end of 1989, because until publication was complete the tumult about the publication could not die down. Peace could not begin to return until the publication cycle had been completed.

Andrew and Gillon (his agents) had told him that Haroun And The Sea Of Stories was being worked on. Mayer responded that his company was not prepared to consider publishing any new book by Rushdie until a finished text had been examined by them, in case it, too, sparked controversy.

Nobody at his company, Mayer said, had known much about the 'Koran' when they acquired The Satanic Verses.

They could not acquire any more work by the author of that novel and then,

Rushdie and son, Luka

Rushdie with ex-girlfriend, Pia Glenn when the trouble began, admit that they had not read a full manuscript. The relationship between author and publisher was essentially at an end.

Bill (a friend) had nailed down the house in Essex. It was in a village called Little Bardfield. It was expensive, but then everywhere had been expensive. After all the cramped cottages and cooped-up boarding houses it looked positively palatial.

It would be easier to see Zafar; though the police still refused to bring Zafar to his 'location'. He was ten years old and they didn't trust him not to blurt it out at school.

They underestimated him. He was a boy with remarkable gifts of self-control, and he understood that his father's safety was at issue. In all the years of the protection he was never guilty of an incautious remark.

A comfortable prison was still a prison. He did not have in his pocket the key to the house filled with reproduction antique furniture that he was paying a small fortune to rent, and could not walk out the front gate into the village street. He had to write shopping lists that a police officer would take to a supermarket many miles away so as not to arouse suspicion.

He had to hide in a locked bathroom each time the cleaner came to the house, or be smuggled off the premises in advance. The tide of shame rose in him each time such things had to be done.

He had arranged with his former publisher Liz Calder to borrow her London apartment while she was on holiday. A colleague of hers, an editor at Bloomsbury called Elizabeth West, would be visiting the apartment from time to time to feed the parrot, Juju.

BROUGHT TOGETHER BY A THIRSTY PARROT Love never came at you from the direction you were looking in. It crept up on you and whacked you behind the ear. In the months

since Marianne's exit there had been some flirtatious telephone calls and, very occasionally, meetings with women, most of whom, he was fairly certain, were moved more by pity than attraction. Zafar's latest au pair, an attractive Norwegian girl, said you can call me if you like.

Most unexpected of all was a clear demonstration of sexual interest from a liberal Muslim journalist. These were the straws he had been grasping at to save himself from drowning. Then he met Elizabeth West and the thing happened that could never be foreseen: the connection, the spark.

Life was not ruled by fate, but by chance. If it had not been for a thirsty parrot, he might never have met the future mother of his second son.

By the end of their first evening he knew he wanted to see her again as soon as possible.

She was 14 years younger than he but there was a seriousness beneath the freewheeling exterior that spoke of experience, hinting at the kind of knowledge that comes only from pain. It would have been absurd not to be smitten by her. Elizabeth received no police protection but, to ensure her safety, it was important to keep her out of the public eye.

His friends never mentioned her name, or even her existence, outside the 'charmed circle'.

In May, rumours that a 'hit squad' had entered the country to hunt Mr Rushdie down had begun to be reported in the press but Mr Hurd (then Foreign Secretary) was grimly determined to be helpful by keeping his mouth shut. One month later the failure of this kind of quietism became clear.

Ettore Capriolo, the translator of the Italian edition of The Satanic Verses, was visited at his home by an 'Iranian' man who demanded to be given 'Salman Rushdie's address' and when he didn't get it he attacked the translator violently, kicking and stabbing him

repeatedly, then running away. By great good fortune, the translator survived.

He was unable to avoid the feeling that the attack was his fault. He wrote to Mr Capriolo to express his sorrow and his hope that the translator's recovery would be full and quick.

He never received a reply. Afterwards he heard Capriolo refused to work on any of his future books.

This was as close as the fatwa had come to its mark. Eight days later, at the University of Tsukuba to the north-east of Tokyo, the Japanese translator of The Satanic Verses, Hitoshi Igarashi, was found murdered in a lift near his office. Professor Igarashi was a convert to Islam, but that did not save him.

He mourned Hitoshi Igarashi and asked every day for news of Capriolo's health and hoped that if his turn came he did not take anyone with him because they were standing too close.

The British hostage John McCarthy was released in Lebanon. The 'A' Squad chiefs decided it was time to allow Zafar to visit his father at a new house in Hampstead Lane. Mr Greenup at first suggested that the boy should be blindfolded so that the location was not compromised but that was out of the question and Greenup did not press the point. That afternoon Zafar was brought to the house and his happiness lit up its ugly interior and made it beautiful.

Haroun And The Sea Of Stories had won a Writers' Guild Award for the best children's book of the year. He would very much like to be at The Dorchester on September 15.

'I'm sorry, Joe,' said Mr Greenup. 'I can't allow that. For security reasons, it's most unwise. It is my view that you are endangering the citizenry of London by reason of your desire for selfaggrandisement.'

Helen Hammington (another senior officer) joined the conversation and told him: 'I think we can probably handle this.'

'It has been decided,' Hammington went on, 'that we should probably allow you to go out a bit more.'

Two days later he was at The Dorchester in the bosom of the book world and received his award. He thanked the people in the room for their solidarity and apologised for materialising and dematerialising in the middle of dinner.

'In this free country,' he said, 'I am not a free man.' The standing ovation actually brought tears to his eyes, and he was not a man who cried easily. He waved at the audience and as he left the room he heard John Cleese at the mic saying: 'Oh, great. I'm supposed to follow that.'

He received an invitation to speak at an event at Columbia University, (in New York) in the Low Memorial Library, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Bill of Rights. How would he travel? No commercial airline was willing to have him as a passenger.

Finally, on Tuesday, December 10, International Human Rights Day, and the day before his speech at Columbia, he boarded the RAF transport and, with his back to the direction of travel, left British soil for the first time in three years.

Once the speech was over America unceremoniously threw him out. He boarded the RAF transport along with all the military personnel and then he was back in his cage.

But he had travelled, and he had spoken.

There might not be light at the end of the tunnel yet, but at least he was in the tunnel now.

EXCERPTS FROM SALMAN RUSHDIE'S 'JOSEPH ANTON' CONTINUE NEXT WEEK. Courtesy: The Mail on Sunday

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

55

The reign of pirates —PAGE 56 - 57

Behold, a festival of love!

PHOTOS: TAIWO ABIODUN

•Olowo of Owo in his Royal Regalia at the festival of love in Owo town

I

T is like the carcass of an elephant.

It means different things to different people. Some call it a festival of love, others the Queen’s festival, while a few others call it festival of unity. But whatever it is called one thing that is certain is that it is a festival. This is because it is the only unifying festival that brings men and women together irrespective of their differences and political affiliations. It is called Igogo Festival and it is over 500 years old.

Welcome to Owo, Ondo State. In celebration of the festival last week, the town was ‘painted red’. It was agog as all the citizens, old and young, male and females, set aside their political differences to dance round the town exchanging greetings and showering gifts on one another. Children, youths and elders were all ‘armed’ with long sticks painted in different colours. The sticks were used to replace leather drums as they were hitting them on the ground to produce sound in replacement of drums (drumming is forbidden during this period) and singing all kinds of songs.

The male chiefs who were also participants could erroneously be mistaken for women when seen from afar off, seeing their protruding buttocks and false breasts padded with foams

The annual Igogo festival which showcases the culture and tradition of the ancient town of Owo was held last week, Taiwo Abiodun was there and the earrings dangling from their ears. As part of the festival, they are compelled to dress like women, wearing blouses, skirts, earrings, necklaces and brassieres. Not only that, they either plait their hair or braid them or wear wigs on their bald heads!

Irrespective of their age and gender, they all danced along, and wriggled their waists while the beads on their necks, legs and wrists dangled along producing melodious sounds. It is held every year and full of fun. “Imagine my look, am I not a woman?”, one of the celebrators asked as he ran forward, backward and sideways, then wriggled his waist while showing the spectators his earrings and other materials adorning his body in his woman apparel.

This festival is held every year no matter the condition. It must not be missed except on a rare occasion such as if there is no monarch.

Royal strides The Olowo of Owo, Oba David Victor Folagbade Olateru- Olagbegi, the chief celebrator stepped out, shielded by his chiefs as he walked regally under

a beautiful large umbrella to protect him from the scorching sun. Dressed in his traditional ewu okun beads regalia, a traditional sword called uda omalore was dangling beneath his big ‘skirt’. The monarch’s head was decorated with a beautiful feather called urere okin. His two outstretched hands and ankles were wrapped with special coral beads specially meant for his status as a king. The golden ring on his finger shone as he danced toward the King’s market (Oja Oba). With the palace praise singers screaming at top of their voices saluting him in royal way saying ‘ Oologho, Baba O,!!!, Wa a rehin odi (Our monarch, may you conquer your enemies) while the deafening ‘Aaaaase’ followed, as they sang his praises. Men and women who are friends, supporters, well wishers and all accompanied by the monarch’s family members were not left behind coupled with the retinue of his chiefs who were all in white apparels as they too had their hair plaited as they clanged on their iron gongs, singing songs of love and joy. As the monarch rendered a soul searching philosophi-

cal and thought provoking traditional songs in Owo dialect singing “Gbaragada alagemo e me i seran obe, e fo un Ogho d’oluwa tu wa se o” (Chameleon is not edible, warn ‘them’ to behave), he the song others joined the chorus, rendered singings and dancing along with him. In all, he rendered seven songs in the market place as is the custom. Later, he prayed for the progress of the town while the people, both the old and the young, went into frenzy, hailing and praising him to high heavens. In response, he smiled and waved to them in appreciation of their presence.

Those who could not see him climbed to the tree top to have a limpse of him! It was indeed the radiance of a king.

The festival which started over 500 years ago during the reign of Oba Rengenjen, who unknowingly married a beautiful woman, Oronsen, who was not an ordinary woman; she possessed a supernatural power. According to history, the monarch fell in love with this strange woman and kept her in the •Continue on Page 57

56

O

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

Life

N the land they appear as harmless as they are innocent. Though these young Nigerians control a big pocket, which they exuberantly empty on wine and women of easy virtues at night clubs and joints, they put up unassuming look that portrays them only as fun-lovers.

However, their lives while on water share a close affinity with that of a shark, a ruthless carnivorous fish which feed, fat on other fishes for its survival in the aquatic world.

While these groups are not, in the real sense, living in the water, they are making a living on water by hijacking Nigeria-bound vessels loaded with fuel, and killing the crew according to their mood defined by the reaction of their victims to their onslaught.

They use an EJENAVI vessel to hijack after which they move to a hired vessel named MT GRACE into which they siphon the fuel. The process then proceeds to the transferring of the fuel into the three storage facilities two of which are allegedly owned by a former minister and a traditional ruler.

This operation is carried out some nautical miles offshore where they are sure of maximum security guaranteed by the state-of-the-art weapons in their arsenal.

It was gathered that it is from the storage sites that oil marketers load their fuel tankers for onward distribution to filling stations across the country.

The syndicate operates from an inconspicuous hideout located in the riverine community of Igbokoda in Ondo State where nationals from Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana and Cameroun are trained on the art of hijacking vessels on the high sea.

The camp uncovered by a combined team of Nigeria Navy, Army, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Global West Vessel Specialists Limited (GWVSL) is strategically located in the jungle with a view to shielding the syndicate from suspicion from whichever quarters.

This explains why the preponderance of the people of the serene Igbokoda community is oblivious of the existence of the strangers on their land.

A discreet world “That is why locating the hideout posed some challenges which only our determination confronted and broke. The syndicate lived in a world of their own with the camp supplied with all necessary items to make them comfortable,” a source disclosed.

Among other facilities in the camp, another source said, include a shooting range and martial art ground. Members are also taken through swimming training taking the advantage of the Atlantic Ocean while a weapon manufacturing factory is also cited there.

Three flying boats are also available in the camp.

As an organised gang with specific area of specialisation, the syndicate, it was further learnt, enjoys regular patronage of oil cabals with pronounced influence on the policy makers.

The cabals engage the services of the syndicate who also exploit their contact in maritime industry to know when to strike. It is alleged that their operations are determined by insider information, revealing movement of vessels carrying fuel into the country.

“Their informants regularly feed them with information needed to guide their movement. These informants have been responsible for the low success recorded in the past. The syndicate must have got wind of counteractive action plan even before we set out. This is the

The reign of pirates The war waged by the anti-piracy forces on Nigeria’s territorial waters seems to be yielding fruit, with the recent breakthrough over an organised syndicate arrested in Ondo State. Tunde Busari reports

•Suspected pirates in detention

•Some of the ammunition recovered from the pirates kind of frustration we have faced ther dissipating energy on any in the past but we are progressing prank against the team that had now with the breakthrough,” a wholly occupied the entire ‘territory’. source also disclosed.

“It was an interesting encounHowever, the exploit was not achieved on a platter of gold. It went ter to put it that way. The leader of with some sweat even though the the syndicate knew quite well that result eventually justified the effort. we were there for a serious business.

The syndicate initially proved im- He knew his time was up but prepregnable with a fierce counter-of- tended to be what he is not. You fensive led by the leader of the syn- know those people will still want to take some risk. dicate known as Wazobia.

“By the time we overran him, The hostility was said to have lasted about 35 minutes after which he became something else. It is a Wazobia capitulated and conse- breakthrough that will definitely quently led his captors to another impact in the activities of these camp where about 13 members of criminals on the high sea where ilthe syndicate were also rounded legal activities that sabotage the nation’s economy take place with up.

They were pleading for mercy, impunity and also denting the imhaving realised the futility in fur- age of the country in international

community,” a source disclosed.

At the time of the raid, it was learnt that the syndicate was on a standby for another attack on a vessel on the high sea. An operational map recovered from them revealed this.

Other items recovered in the camp comprise 16 sophisticated weapons, including explosive devices, long range high calibre weapons, 10, 000 ammunition of various types; among other dangerous items. Three flying boats were later recovered at bay. They are now in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

A powerful clique The leader of the syndicate was said to have not only confessed

about how his syndicate had successfully hijacked about 20 fully loaded vessels in the last 10 months, he also made what a source called a stunning revelation.

He bluntly mentioned some oil cabals, top government officials, NNPC top shots, top oil marketers, including some traditional rulers as engaging in massive economic sabotage behind the scenes.

A particular traditional ruler is regularly mentioned as not only a sponsor, his son is also alleged to be the supplier of arms and also directly engaged in the sales of the stolen oil to marketers.

Three weeks ago the storage facilities of Integrated Oil and Gas Ltd. located in Apapa, Lagos, and owned by a former minister Emmanuel Iheanacho had been identified and locked by the security agents after some of staff were arrested. However, the former minister was released a few days after, while security agents are currently mounting surveillance on the others.

The prime suspect, according to a source, added that his syndicate had killed about 24 innocent persons including three foreigners and security operatives. He also stated that the last operation in which he hijacked a vessel occurred in August when he his gang killed a foreigner on board and also carted away undisclosed amount of foreign currencies.

Before filing the report, the suspects were still undergoing series of interrogation details of which are being kept secret. There, however, is an indication that they would help the security operatives to dig more on the right measure to finally combat security risk they have constituted on Nigeria’s territorial waters.

But the security agents are managing the information with utmost caution not to jeopardise their plan “This is not a regular crime and I think it is appropriate not to be carried away with this breakthrough. This is because of the fact that we have a long way to go. When you fight crime, experience has shown that, crime also has a way of fighting back. But I can say that with this arrest we are on course,” the source said.

The strong determination so far shown by the security agencies have unsettled the alleged sponsors of the syndicate. Sources revealed a high-level pressure already being mounted on them to manipulate investigation and safe the faces of the alleged sponsors.

To achieve this as it was allegedly in practice in the past, N1 billion is said to have been dangled at the security agencies, but the offer that has been rejected.

Given this reason, the authorities have since moved the suspects to one of the Brigade Commands in the North to keep them away from the lobbyists. Security agents have also mounted surveillance on those names the suspects mentioned as accomplice in the crime.

Notable among these people is the Managing Director of an oil company whose office is based in Lagos. It was learnt that the man of Yoruba extraction has on many occasions facilitated the movement of the stolen fuel from vessel to the storage sites.

A report claimed that the man had to jump over a fence when security agents visited him. Also the son of the indicted monarch is said to have escaped to Benin Republic.

According to a report from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) on Global Piracy released in July,32 piracy incidents were recorded off the coasts of Benin, Nigeria and Togo in the first half of •Continued on Page 57

Life

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012 •Continued from Page 56

2012. In the first two months alone, 11 reports were received from Nigeria, equalling the number reported in the whole of the area in 2011.

The attention of the international maritime community was first drawn to Nigeria when in February the IMB raised an alarm listing Nigeria next to Somalia as the most troubled territorial waters. The report claimed that Nigeria’s water had turned a haven for pirates who killed and maimed innocent travellers.

Although Nigerian authorities frowned at the report which they described as calling a dog a bad name in order to hang it, the July report seemed to have supported the IMB allegation.

Meanwhile, the current breakthrough that nailed the detained suspects has received commendation from maritime affairs analysts.

Lekan Williams particularly hailed the ingenuity of the NIMASA in contracting the Global West Vessel Specialist Limited (GWVSL) to be part of anti-piracy security team on Nigeria’s waters.

57

The reign of pirates

•Wazobia

“With due respect to other security agencies who achieved this success, the involvement of GWVSL

is a creative idea by NIMASA I have seen in the recent time and I am sure that more results will be recorded in a due course. The problem in Nigeria is to put a round peg in a square hole because we want to play politics or in the name of nepotism.

“This cannot take us to anywhere. Again I am assuring you that more success will soon be recorded in checkmating the activities of the pirates,” Williams said.

Following the engagement of GWVSL to join the security agents in policing of Nigeria maritime domain in January 2012, critics went to town with a claim the decision was ill-thought.

But Director-General of NIMASA, Ziadeke Akpobolokemi stood his ground and instead fired a salvo at the critics. “The illegal activities they are conducting in the maritime domain are all going to be exposed, including illegal bunkering, illegal ship-to-ship transfer and mystery discharges that are not authorized. These are the things they are afraid of,” he said.

•Pirate’s vessel

Festival of love!

•Some of the male chiefs during the Igogo festival in women attires.

•Continued from Page 55

palace. He was so much in love with her that other wives became jealous of their love. However, Oronsen was said to have made the monarch wealthy by using her supernatural power to defecate expensive coral beads, but this, was only to the knowledge of her husband!

Due to this the town became highly prosperous and popular.

Later, out of envy, other wives, however, became more jealous and were in search of how to cause disaffection between the two lovebirds. Her taboo was that okra should never be mixed in her in her presence, nor firewood be thrown, and above all no water should be splashed before her! All these taboos were kept under wraps by the monarch while he warned his household never to try any of these.

The story went on that, until one day when one of the wives got the husband drunk and was

made to divulge the secret. One day, the monarch went out on an for hunting expedition while the other wives conspired against the wife and broke the taboos: they splashed water on the ground, threw firewood and mixed okra in her presence. The woman, sensing danger, and having discovered their conspiracy, fled the palace and ran for cover in a thick forest!

But when her husband, the monarch returned and was briefed about what had transpired in his absence, he was annoyed. He, however, made frantic effort to bring her back and therefore, instructed the palace guards known as the Iloros, ayoyos to trace her out. Alas, it was only her scarf that was discovered along the Ulaja groove. This material was brought back home with long canes to discipline the other wives who perpetrated this ignoble act.

Several efforts were made to locate her but all to no avail. But

her voice was always heard weeping for losing such a lovely husband. Her crying was heard but she was not seen. In return for her love, she instructed the monarch to be celebrating her every year to get the town to progress.

During the Igogo Festival, there should be no booming of guns, men and women must not wear caps and headgears, while no drums should be beaten.

Wooden sticks and iron metal gongs are used in place of drums, while different songs are sung during this occasion.

High Chief Ola Osenenpen, who was also dressed in woman’s clothes while speaking about the festival said “Nobody should miss the festival, it is a sign of showing love and honouring the king who is the chief celebrator at the festival. I am about 69years and since I became a chief 25 years ago, I have never missed the festival”. On the costs implication, Osenenpen said it cost him much, “I buy drinks and food for

•Chief Osenepen and Chief (Mrs) Famulagun during the festival. my visitors. In fact, I spend about N500,000.This is our own festival.”

Chief Christianah Famulagun,91, the Obanuwa of Owo kingdom described the festival as a huge success despite the fact that she had become old and cannot go out again. She as a result of old age could not go out to join the dance but she observed it from her home. The septuagenarian in spite of her inability to walk, dressed in her own regalia decorated with beads and sang songs. According to her, she has never missed the festival since her enthronement adding that whoever does not celebrate the festival is assumed to be the monarch’s enemy.

The Olowo of Owo said the festival is part of the town’s culture and tradition. “Though I am a staunch Christian and traditional royal title holder but we have the chief priest, Chief

Adelanke who is the custodian of the town’s rites and rituals” He, however, denied that he has a plan to abolish or abandon the festival. “This is culture and there is a difference between culture and religion,” he said.

Mrs. Akinola Grace Olajumoke, Assistant Chief Museum Education Officer, Owo, described the festival as a good one that can boost the economic power of the town. This is because “during this festival a lot of things are sold like ornamental beads, wigs, socks, and women attires. It is one of the richest festivals in Yorubaland.”

Tunde Onibode appealed to both the state and federal government to come to the support of the festival, saying this is another tourist attraction Festival.

Owo is well- known in Yorubaland.

58

Your HEALTH THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

We walk on them every day and generally take them for granted but this vital organ called the feet raises red flags anytime something in our body goes wrong. Rita Ohai writes.

W

ANT to make a simple, ten-second check on the state of your health?

Sneak a peek at your feet.

Very few of us see our toes as anything other than parts of the body we use to walk with. However, actually they may point out diseases and how you will do in life!

When it comes to your health you can tell a lot about a person by checking out the nails and feet. Pretty feet are always an eyecatcher but it means much more than what you can see on the outside.

Our feet contain one quarter of the body's bones, and each foot also has 33 joints with over 100 tendons, muscles, ligaments and countless nerves and blood vessels that link all the way to the heart, spine, and brain.

"Many herbal healers and people who are involved in physio-medical health say that we can detect everything from diabetes to nutritional deficiencies just by examining the feet. I think this is essentially true because of the nature of that part of the body and how often it is ignored." says Dr Charity Onabolu.

Unresolved foot problems can have unexpected consequences. Untreated pain often leads a person to move less and gain weight, for example, or to shift balance in unnatural ways, increasing the chance of falling and breaking a bone.

So when the feet send one of these warning messages, experts urge patients to pay careful attention and act fast.

Toenails with slightly sunken, spoonshaped indentations Anaemia or iron deficiency often shows up as an unnatural, concave or spoon-like shape to the toes' nail beds, especially in moderate-to-severe cases. It's caused by not having enough haemoglobin, an iron-rich protein in the blood cells that transports oxygen. Internal bleeding such as an ulcer or heavy menstrual periods can trigger anaemia.

In addition, on fingers as well as toes, the skin and nail beds both appear pale. The nails may also be brittle, and feet may feel cold. Fatigue is the number-one sign of anaemia, as are shortness of breath, dizziness when standing, and headache.

Hairless feet or toes Poor circulation, usually caused by vascular disease, can make hair disappear from the feet. When the heart loses the ability to pump enough blood to the extreme parts of the body because of a condition known as arteriosclerosis, hardening of the arteries, the body has to prioritise its use. Hairy toes are low on the list of things the heart wants to worry about, therefore, it is a huge sign that your heart needs help.

Your health status lies in your feet

The reduced blood supply also makes it hard to feel a pulse in the feet. When you stand, your feet may be bright red or dusky and when elevated, they immediately pale.

The skin is shiny. People with poor circulation tend to already know they have a heart disease yet may not realise they have circulation trouble.

Frequent foot cramping The sudden stab of a foot cramp which basically is the hard contraction of a muscle can be triggered by fleeting circumstances such as exercise or dehydration. But if it happens often, your diet may lack sufficient calcium, potassium, or magnesium.

Pregnant women in the third trimester are especially vulnerable thanks to increased blood volume and reduced circulation to the feet.

Cramps tend to rear up out of nowhere, often while you're just lying there. They can be a single sharp muscle spasm or come in waves. Either way, soreness can linger long afterward.

A sore that won't heal on the bottom of the foot This is a major clue to diabetes. Elevated blood glucose levels lead to nerve damage in the feet -- which means that minor scrapes, cuts, or irritations caused by pressure or friction often go unnoticed, especially by someone who's unaware he has the disease.

Untreated, these ulcers can lead to infection, even amputation.

Oozing, foul-smelling cuts are especially suspect because they've probably been there awhile. Other symptoms of diabetes include persistent thirst, frequent urination,

increased fatigue, blurry vision, extreme hunger, and weight loss.

Cold feet Women, especially, report cold.

Sometimes, it may be nothing, a reaction to cold weather or it may indicate a thyroid issue. Women over 40 who have cold feet often have an under-functioning thyroid, the gland that regulates temperature and metabolism. Poor circulation is another possible cause.

Hypothyroidism's symptoms are pretty subtle and appear in many disorders such as fatigue, depression, weight gain, dry skin.

Thick, yellow, downright ugly toenails This means a fungal infection is running rampant below the surface of the nail. The infection can persist painlessly for years and by the time it's visibly unattractive, the infection is advanced and can spread to all toenails and even fingernails.

Also the nails may also smell bad and turn dark. People most vulnerable: those with diabetes, circulatory trouble, or immunedeficiency disorders (like rheumatoid arthritis). If an older person has trouble walking, sometimes the problem can be traced to the simple fact that as infected nails grow thicker, they're harder to cut and simply go ignored to the point of pain.

A suddenly enlarged, scary-looking big toe A big toe is a sure sign for gout. Anyone can develop gout, though men in their 40s and 50s are especially prone while women with gout tend to be postmenopausal.

It is a form of arthritis that's usually caused by too much uric acid, a natural substance. The built-up uric acid forms needle-like crystals, especially at low body temperatures. And the coolest part of the body, farthest from the heart, happens to be the big toe.

If you want more clues, swelling and shiny red or purplish skin -- along with a sensation of heat and pain can also occur.

Numbness in both feet Being unable to "feel" your feet or having a heavy pins-and-needles sensation, is a hallmark of peripheral neuropathy or damage to the peripheral nervous system.

That's the body's way of transmitting information from the brain and spinal cord to the entire rest of the body.

The tingling or burning can also appear in hands and may gradually spread up to arms and legs. The reduced sensation may make it feel like you're constantly wearing heavy socks or gloves.

Ways to care for the feet M

ANY people may not think about their feet that often but they're an essential part of almost everything

they do.

Your feet take the weight of your whole body, so foot problems can quickly lead to discomfort and affect the way you walk. This can in turn cause knee, hip and back pain.

The good news is that looking after your feet can prevent most of these problems; Investing a bit of time and thought into caring for your feet now can prevent them causing you pain later.

Whether walking, running, exercising, or just standing, having feet that are comfortable and well-cared for rather than aching or in pain makes the experience must more pleasant. Therefore, knowing how to care for your feet is key.

1. Don't go to bed without washing your feet. If you leave dirt on the skin's surface, it can become irritated and infected. Wash your feet every evening with soap and water.

2. Dry your feet thoroughly after washing them and apply a moisturising foot cream (not body lotion).

3. Gently remove hard skin and calluses with a pumice stone or foot file regularly.

4. Always trim your toenails straight across, never at an angle or down the edges.

This can cause ingrown toenails.

5. Shop for shoes in the afternoon. Feet swell as the day goes on and if shoes fit in the afternoon when your feet are at their largest, you can be assured they will always be

comfortable.

6. If you have to wear heels at work, wear comfortable shoes to and from the office and only wear your smart shoes in the office.

Also, try to vary the heel height, between low, medium and high.

7. Be shoe savvy. Wear high heels and pointed shoes for special occasions only, and always wear the right shoes for the job (so no

sandals for mountain climbing).

8. Change your socks daily.

9. Wear flip-flops to avoid catching athlete's foot and verrucas when you use public areas such as gym showers, swimming pools or hotel bathrooms.

10. But don't wear flip-flops all the time.

They don't provide support for your feet and can give you arch and heel pain if you wear

BUSINESS

59

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

T

HE aggregate banking system credit to the domestic economy stood at N13.09 trillion in July 31, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Economic Report, obtained by The Nation, has shown.

The data depicted a decline of 1.6 per cent, on month-onmonth basis, in contrast to the increase of 0.5 per cent at the end of the preceding month.

Also, banking system’s credit to the Federal Government, on month-on-month basis, fell by 26.5 per cent to negative N1.7 trillion, compared with the decline of 13.1 per cent at the end of the preceding month.

The development was attributed, largely, to the decline in banking system’s holding of Federal Government securities.

Banking sector credit slides to N13 trillion Stories by Bukola Afolabi

As at December 2011, aggregate banking system’s claims on the Federal Government fell significantly by 251.5 per cent.

The Federal Government, however, remained a net lender to the banking system at the end of the review month.The report said banking system’s credit to the private sector rose by 1.0 per cent to N14.8 trillion, compared with 1.5 per cent recorded at the end

of the preceding month, but in contrast with a decline of 0.2 in the corresponding period of 2011.

The report said the banking system’s claims on the core private sector rose by one per cent to N14.2 trillion, above the level in the preceding month, compared with the growth of 1.5 per cent at the end of the preceding month.

The development reflected, a 1.9 per cent rise in DMBs’ claims on the sector.

Relative to the level at the end to December 2011, banking system’s credit to the private sector rose by 4.7 per cent.

At N7.8 trillion, foreign assets of the banking system rose by 3.9 per cent at end to July 2012, in contrast to the decline of 5.8 per cent at the end of the preceding month.

The development was attributed to the 4.5 and 1.1 per cent increase in the CBN and banks’ holdings, respectively.

The value of money market assets outstanding at end–July 2012 was N5,950.25 billion, showing an increase of 4.5 per cent, over the level at end-June 2012. The development was attributed to the increase of 9.4 and 2.0 per cent in the value of NTBs and FGN Bonds outstanding, respectively.

Activities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in July 2012 were mixed.The report said gross federally-

collected revenue in July 2012 was estimated at N985.80 billion, showing an increase of 28.6 and 22.1 per cent above the receipts in the preceding month and the 2012 provisional monthly budget estimate, respectively.

At N632.58 billion, gross oil receipts exceeded both the receipts in the preceding month and the provisional monthly budget estimate.

This was attributed largely to the rise in receipts from royalties.Also, non-oil receipts, at N353.22 billion (35.8 per cent of the gross federally collected revenue), was 89.2 and 38.7 per cent higher than the receipts in the preceding month and the provisional monthly budget estimates, respectively.

Investment in ICT key to development T HE Commissioner for Science and Technology in Lagos State, Mr Adebiyi Mabadeje, has advocated the need to accelerate measures in the country towards providing access to Information and Communication Technology services to millions of Nigerians.

Speaking at the 2012 edition of the annual Nigerian Telecoms Development Lec-

ture organised by Logica Media Group in Lagos recently, Mabadeje said though telecoms sector in Nigeria has witnessed progress in more than a decade, much still needed to be done to increase ICT penetration.

According to him, “We are today the fastest growing telecoms market in Africa, but while celebrating the growth and substantial

achievements of the telecoms sector in Nigeria, it is important for us to be conscious of the digital divide that still exists in our country.”Mabadeje contended that there were still millions of Nigerians with limited or no access to ICT services. ”It is therefore my opinion that stakeholders in the country will fashion out a

plan that will assist in bridging the gap between the urban and rural Nigerians,” he said.

While explaining ICT initiatives being undertaken in Lagos State, the commissioner said the State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, had been supportive in ensuring that “we leverage on ICT as a tool for economic development and social change in

delivering good government.”

He said: “We have put in place, well-structured ICT services in virtually every sector of the economy including land documentation and processing, Electronic document management, automated Electronic Tax Clearance Certificate (e-tcc) and the success of our autoreg platform cannot be over-empha-

Public Private Partnership, the future of housing development

T

HE Director, Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Mrs Nike Animashaun, has said the future of housing development is in the partnership of the private sector and the government.

She said for government to be able to provide affordable housing for the citizens of the country and Lagos State in particular, in order to meet the projection that the state will be among the most populated in the world by 2020, more contributions is needed from the private sector.

Animashaun said this at the Real Estate Unite Conference,

held in Lagos where she spoke on the theme ‘Jump-Starting Nigeria Real Estate for Global investments’, organised and sponsored by Growth and Employment in States Programme (GEMS).

She said “the Lagos Housing Public Private Partnership framework is designed to engender significant private sector interest, particularly that of strong and well-capacitated contractors and home developers and will promote joint investments between government and private sector, where government provides land and counterpart funding where nec-

essary and private sector provides capital, construction and project management competence”.

GEMS2 Intervention Leader, Afolabi Imoukhuede,who moderated the panel on the topic, ‘Affordable Residential Estate Development’, said, “enormous opportunities and economic prosperity of affordable housing development is available for discerning investors and government, seeking to create employment and create wealth”.

GEMS2 is a DFID-funded technical assistance programme which facilitates

•L-R: Tunde Kaiteli of Marketing Communications, Mrs. Titilayo Ebinisi, Head of GloWorld, and Mr. Niyi Olukoya, Ag. Head of Made 4 Life promo, which offers subscribers the opportunity to own a fleet of 52-seater luxury buses and other opportunties, held at Mike Adenuga’s Tower, Victoria Island, Lagos.

PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

Growth and Employment in the Construction and Real Estate sector sponsored Other panel discussants included Mr. Olujide Ojo of Mutual Benefits Homes & Properties, who explored a case study of Mutual’s housing development strategies targeted at the lower and middle market primarily “housing for the working class.”

Ojo said property developers should have a change of mindset for a reduction in developers’ profit in order to achieve long term economic returns over a larger market share. He also canvassed that

developers and housing finance practitioners look to pushing “rent-to-own” financing schemes and that home buyers be oriented towards owning flats/apartments over the traditional single family homes Project Director, Centre for Microenterprise Development, Mr. Magnus Adiele, shed light on the role of extensive market research and demand survey, importance of data in property planning (particularly at the project design stage) and pricing developments within the affordability limits of the target market.

sised.”

According to him, transaction businesses with agencies of government in Lagos State were gradually becoming less paper-dependent. ”Our accounting and treasury units have been computerised, paying your taxes, levies and dues are now, to a large extent, done electronically.

Because we believe that our citizens are our clients and the more efficient and transparent our services are, the more we enjoy their support and patronage. ”To this end, therefore, our reforms are on-going to ensure that our businesses are done in a manner that honesty and integrity become the watchword,” he said.

The commissioner has described investment in ICT as key in the country’s planning for future economic and social development.

Ajiboye added that ICT has far-reaching positive effect on any economy that pays priority to its deployment to drive activities both in the private and public sectors.

•L-R: Stephen Opayemi, Logistics Director, Miss Yinka Megbope, Manager, ICT, both of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, receiving Best CSR Award on Education from Mr. Jide Ologun, Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Lagos State, while Mr. Kachi Onubogu, Marketing Director of Promasidor looks on at the SERA Awards in Lagos

60

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

INSIDE BUSINESS

‘Dana crash still a nightmare for me’ W

HAT’S your reaction to media report that the Arik Air management allegedly has a list of some Nigerians who have been blacklisted and barred from boarding any of its aircraft including the allegations that those on the list were tagged as security risk to other passengers?

I don’t want to answer that question. I found it, first of all, difficult to believe and I don’t want to believe that Arik did that. I also don’t want to believe that Arik will be that irresponsible to have said that the Chief Executive of an Aviation Agency has been declared persona-non-grata. I don’t believe it. I am still waiting to see it in black and white from them. I’m still waiting to see the chief executive or the public being restricted from travelling on board Arik. I don’t want to say much on that.

The jury is still out on whether it was right for your ministry to clear Dana to fly when investigations into the June 3 crash are inconclusive. You have been quoted as saying that Dana must meet certain requirements before they can fly, how far have they met those said obligations?

We are still working on it. We are not fully ready for them and they are not fully ready to commence work. Again everything Aviation has standard, processes and procedure and you can’t jump either. Everything must go in sequence so we are working on it.

Whenever they are ready and certified okay they will fly.

Could you tell us some of those requirements that must be met by Dana?

It’s quite rigorous but there aircraft must be airworthy which means we have to certify the engines and, of course, you know that some of those aircraft have not flown for quite some time. So, we need to recertify their readiness to fly, check their manual and their personnel. So many things will have to be rechecked and certified.

It’s a process that, again, you can’t jump. It’s very rigorous but we are on track. As soon as we are done, they would fly. It is not a primitive action; it’s a safety process and a global practice.

The crash of Dana was unfortunate and tragic. In moving forward, what lessons should the nation take away from the incident?

One of the major lessons is that we recognise we are on track in enhancing the regulatory agencies’ performance; in reviewing policies on the regulatory agency; in ensuring that we have in place recertification process that is of global standard. But, most importantly, the checks and balances within the system have been re-enhanced to the extent that we do not leave any loophole. You know in aviation, safety is not a destination it is a process. So wherever you have aviation, everything you do will dovetail towards accomplishing that maximum safety. The lesson we learnt is not complete because the full report is not yet out but the fact is safety must remain priority to us and we are on track like I said.

Do you think we have technical personnel to handle some of these issues?

We do have even if we do have lapses to some extent. But we need to have more than what we have now and that is why we are prioritising our capacity building.

Not just that but we must have capable hands in excess. It is about human being so you must have not

In the last few months, unfolding events in the Nigerian aviation sector have come under public scrutiny following the tragic Dana Air plane crash of June 3, 2012 and the controversies surrounding how over 160 lives were lost that dark Sunday. In this interview with our Abuja Bureau Chief, Yomi Odunuga, State House Correspondent, Vincent Ikuomola and Reporter, Olugbenga Adanikin, the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, speaks on the efforts being made to reposition the sector, improve on safety and other sundry matters. Excerpts:

• Oduah

INTERVIEW just those who have the capacity to do the job but should one not be in position to work, you have something to fall back on. But we are going further, we are working with international organisations like the manufacturers of the aircraft so that they can lend us their expertise and also work with us on aircraft re-certification which is an annual thing for us. We are also working with them to make sure we domesticate the maintenance of these aircraft in Nigeria and collaborate with them in training our men because the thing in aviation is that, unlike in vehicle whereby can drive a car regardless of the brand, in aviation, that you can fly Boeing 727 doesn’t mean you can fly the others. You must be aircraftcertified and so we keep in line with that and we must keep on recertifying our engineers, our pilots so they can be aircraft-rated.

It’s a very tedious work but again capacity building is a continuous

process.

What’s your take on the issue of Aviation Intervention Fund because, from the way airlines continue to fold up in Nigeria, it is as if the fund is not functional?

To start with, we met the fund when we came into office. But when we reviewed the fund, it wasn’t yielding dividend. We believe the impact wasn’t felt and we went back to Central Bank of Nigeria that we need to have a review of the intervention fund. Essentially, what we are asking is: let’s use it to the extent that we will have positive impact within the sector and they agreed with us. We are working out the criteria for airlines that will qualify and benefit from it. One of those is we should use it to professionalise the operations to ensure that airline operators are professionals. We don’t want to do father and son operation. You can invest but we must have professionals to manage it. Secondly, we want to make sure they have capacity building. That is a priority because it’s a professional industry for continuous training and re-

“

They are lying and they don’t know what they are saying. They are being mischievous. There is no way that can be done. It can’t be lopsided.

It’s not possible. When we came in, the first airport we chose was Kano. We did Hajj. I’m not a Muslim. I’m a Christian but the first terminals we did were hajj terminals, Kano terminal and Kaduna terminal

”

training. It is not a favour but it’s something that must be done. But, most importantly, the access we should have for utilising the fund should be such that, knowing what we have, it should be paid directly to the manufacturers and the manufacturer should release the aircraft. It is either the operator or the ministry or those that are able to meet up the criteria will now have access to the aircraft as opposed to what we met here. Money was given and there was no aircraft. I don’t see any. So all these are what we are asking that we change the utilisation modality. So we can feel the impact and meet the purpose the money was given in the first place. We need to have new aircrafts in the system—fuelefficient aircraft to manage and professionally for that matter. At the end, it will be a win, win for all the government, public and the banks that are lending the money.

One would have thought that the funds were meant to help the private sector to run airlines professionally and in line with international practice since governments all over the world are not known to run businesses well. But with the way things have turned out, don’t you think government intervention would be counter-productive especially if the aircraft are put under its care?

No, no, it’s not coming to the ministry to manage. It’s private sector that will manage it. We are going back to the operations table to manage. However, the operation will not be as you know them because the company themselves need change. We need to change their operational modality and the

concepts. Aviation airline operators and operating company is not a hubby, it’s not a part time thing.

It’s a full time business. It’s a professional business which must be efficiently managed so that passengers can enjoy and you get proper return on investment. In a nutshell, we want to have airline operators that are professionalised. That is really the keyword for us. If it’s not, it makes nonsense of the whole exercise. It means government that is giving the intervention fund will not get that money back. Don’t forget, it’s actually a loan really but a very concessionary loan. So that money must be repaid. Therefore, if you are not being managed efficiently, you won’t get that money back. It means the public whose government has responsibility to take care of will not have any benefit of that intervention. I won’t want that to happen again. We have a tripartite agreement where the money goes straight to the manufacturing company. It could be Bombardier, it could be Boeing. As long as the manufacturer manufactures fuelefficient aircraft, give us the maintenance, we will train our people to fly this aircraft, then we are fine.

They will now deliver the aircraft to Nigeria. On our side in Nigeria, we would have catalogues of those operators that would have met the criteria. That would qualify them to access these aircraft. So, money doesn’t change hand. What changes hand is the aircraft which is the equipment we need to impact positively on aviation. These are the tools we need to grow the Continued on page 61

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

INSIDE BUSINESS

You can’t politicise aviation

• Oduah

• Oduah

Continued from page 60

sector, the tools operations need to return this concessionary money given to them by government. That is, for us, the way it can work. At the end, you will have efficient, professional and effective airlines that are local and working for you, me and owners of the businesses.

So does that mean those that mismanaged the funds won’t be tried or that the money will not be retrieved from them?

I wasn’t part of that. I’m leaving that to the Central Bank and other authorities to do what they need to do. Where my beat start is where I can speak authoritatively of. I don’t want to have anything to do with that because it hasn’t impacted positively in the sector I’m asked to manage. For me to have a positive impact, this is what I need to do otherwise it won’t work. So I’m not in a position to answer what will happen to those who failed to use their intervention fund. But don’t also forget that the intervention fund was not set up for aviation really. It was set up for a different purpose. I won’t go into that because Central Bank exhaustively discussed it during the Dana crash incident.

Buying aircraft is key but people will also be interested in infrastructures and facilities to run the airline. Is that part of your responsibility?

It is. We are doing very well in that regard. We started with a master plan and it has been very progressive taking into cognisance the fund constraint we have. So, we started with the gateway i.e. terminal rehabilitation and from there, we are going into infrastructural development upgrade to make sure that the airports are properly certified and in line with international rules and regulations. As you know, aviation is global. You don’t have aviation standard. It is a global standard. We believe that, by the end of next year, our infrastructural upgrade will be equal to none in Africa. We strongly believe that.

Again, as we are doing that, we are also doing policy review, procedural upgrade again to make sure that it all goes together towards what we call our vision for Nigeria aviation.

We want to become the regional hub for commercial, not just for the region but for Africa. We also want to be regional for training. Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) is being repositioned as I

speak and the essence is to have not a world class institution but an institution that can accommodate and produce sufficient, technical people to the extent that we are able to do, one out of every five aviation technician to be of Nigerian origin.

Again, our time frame is that, in the next 24 months, we should be able to accomplish that. It’s a rigorous exercise. It takes a lot of time but we are truly blessed that we have wonderful men and women who put in countless hours just to make sure that we are able to achieve this goal and I pray that God will bless them for giving out their time for a country that we all love very much. Aviation is economic driver for the nation. It is the nucleus for economic activity for every nation. So it is very crucial for national growth.

Do we have the capacity or airport that can make Nigeria a hub as you earlier mentioned?

What we inherited is nothing to be proud of when you talk about airport terminal but we are not that bad. It’s bad because it does not represent who we are as a people. It doesn’t represent our aspiration as people so we have done the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the existing ones. Clearly there won’t be any airport in Africa that has better facility than us. The second stage is the construction of 5 new international airports and that will be truly a representation of us as hardworking, entrepreneurial people. It’s going to be true representation of Nigerians in all ramifications because the airport is the gateway and the first impression anybody gets of you is the airport and one out of every three visitors translates to investor. So what they see on their arrival is determinant of if they will remain or leave. It is just like someone comes to your house and opens your living room. If your house is unkempt and is dirty and smelly, it doesn’t matter the gold you have inside, the impression of you is al-

ready engraved.

With the way the so-called influential airlines in Nigeria shut out passengers or refuse to fly for the flimsiest of excuses, don’t you think it’s high time we thought of having our national carrier?

I agree with you. Don’t forget we started singing this song from the beginning that we must have our own national carrier—a national carrier that will be owned by all of us. We should have a carrier that will go to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and look for investors like you and I and every one of us to be investors. Core investors will have maximum of 15 per cent investment. Every other thing will be paid for by you and I. Government will not be part of this.

Government has done their own part by giving approval for national carrier and by having the enabling environment. Other than that, it’s between you and I to make it work.

I think we cannot as nation but have a truly national carrier. Not only that, we will also have a national flag in addition to that. It’s a matter of time but it will happen.

How soon? Is it being worked on?

Yes. We are waiting for the final approval then we will go to the market and everybody will buy in.

One of the stories that really made headlines in recent time was the road trip. People will like to know whether it was necessary.

Couldn’t we have invited those people? What have we gained anyway?

My question is: how many investors have you seen? They haven’t been coming so we decided to take it to their home front and showcase to them our potentials.

We eventually said to them, this is what we have available for you for your investment. See, if you want accelerated growth and you lack capacity, the only way you can get that capacity increase is when you have a merger. So you merge it and

“

I cried, I cried and I cried. Why? Because losing what you can’t give back is a horrible experience. And losing those innocent wonderful people was just too traumatic for me as a person. It’s still a nightmare. And I believe for all of us that witnessed it, the incident is something we will have to live with for the rest of our lives

”

it’s an automatic growth. That’s what we want. We want accelerated growth so we went to seek for help, we went to seek for potential investors and we got a lot of quality responses. The question is why did it take us so long before we came seeking for investors? And our response was we just started, we don’t know what may have happened in the past but here we are. This is the fastest opportunity available for investors and it has worked but it hasn’t ended and we intend to do more. We want to bring in more investors because we have clusters of opportunities.

Whether its infrastructures, real estate development, retail, entertainment all those. Like I said, airport is not just a garage where people go and they fly. It’s an economic centre. It’s an economic driver. It’s a place where you have economic activity. That is what we want to realise for Nigeria and reposition aviation to the extent that we will have full gains of this potential we are losing. Any potential not gained is a loss and we don’t want that.

The Aerotropolis is one of the vision of the ministry, what is the present status and what do Nigerians stand to gain from it?

Aerotropolis is huge. I’m sure you know it is a mega economic city, aviation city and you have the aerotropolis. It is the bigger one, the larger city. For us, our aerotropolis has larger city that is centered around the airport that is commercial. We have industrial, manufacturing then you have the value chain, the perishable. For us, it is the key to rural development. In you village, you can plant vegetable and sell it in New York which is the initiative of farm to super market. A real farmer will have access to international market and the earning will automatically change to Naira to Dollar and that itself will increase the value chain along the line where people like yourself can become entrepreneurs in different ways. It’s either in logistics, packaging, manufacturing or different things; the value-chain is huge. Apart from the fact that the farming itself will no longer be what men and women are doing, it will be what any young person can do as an entrepreneur. So you have emergence of entrepreneurs and people taking advantage of the opportunity. All these are what the aerotropolis encapsulates and its potentials. The economy of Ethio-

61

pia is based on perishables, so is Kenya, Cameroun. All of them are doing that. What are we doing?

Zero. This means we are losing that potential. If we assemble phone in Nigeria and exports it to any African country or anywhere in the world, we will dominate the market because we have the skill, manpower and the market. So the essence is what we were known before as the commercial centre of Africa, aerotropolis will bring it back. On the construction of the airport, we have gotten an approval to get the loan. What we are waiting for is the final approval and get approval from the Chinese government to release the money. In all its ramifications, we closed transactions because we have agreed that they will lend us concessionary loan of 22 years with seven years’ moratorium and a 2.5 per cent. That’s free money!

Free money, but will it be properly managed?

Yes, why not? The construction company is not going to be Gbolade and Company Construction Limited. It will be a world class Chinese company transacted by the NEXIM bank. They will construct it within 24 months and we believe they could do it in 18 months. We will give ourselves a longer period should they finish it on time. So now, we will have a world class airport.

On the remodelling and rehabilitation of airports, it has been alleged that you appeared to be focused on a particular region of the country. How will you respond to that?

They are lying and they don’t know what they are saying. They are being mischievous. There is no way that can be done. It can’t be lopsided. It’s not possible. When we came in, the first airport we chose was Kano. We did Hajj. I’m not a Muslim. I’m a Christian but the first terminals we did were hajj terminals, Kano terminal and Kaduna terminal. After that the next one we finished first was Kano terminal. Since the day the Kano international airport was built till we worked on it, nobody touched it. These are not perishable. They are there, anybody, everybody can see them. So I really don’t understand where the story was coming from. It’s sad that it is everything we like to politicize. In aviation, you can’t politicize because it’s just too global. So it’s not true at all.

How did you get the news of the Dana Crash?

I cried, I cried and I cried. Why? Because losing what you can’t give back is a horrible experience.

And losing those innocent wonderful people was just too traumatic for me as a person. It’s still a nightmare. And I believe for all of us that witnessed it, the incident is something we will have to live with for the rest of our lives. I don’t know how we can get over that and my prayer is that God will not allow us to experience such a horrible time ever again. But other than that, it was a black day, very very black day.

Recently, you said the Sosoliso and Bellview report will be made ready. When should we expect it?

Very soon, I think the process it’s at the last stage now. We will follow it up rigorously to bring out the report.

In the next three years, where do you see the aviation sector?

Where it is supposed to be. It ought to be at the centre, repositioned efficient professional and effective. Take its rightful position of the nucleus of the nation’s economy but, most importantly, the regional hub for training, maintenance and the first and best aerotropolis within the region.

62

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

63

64

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

65

Orelope –Adefulire: Serving with compassion

EBERE WABARA

WORDSWORTH S 08055001948

ewabara@yahoo.com

University of Ibadan, others…

N

ATIONAL MIRROR of September 27 offered its readers four kindergarten flaws: “Nigeria’s nuclear energy drive: An historical milestone” This is old school! New order: a historical milestone.

“National Assembly passes confidence vote on (in) Gov Aliyu” “NIJ Alumni holds (hold) national convention in Abeokuta” “Yakowa commended over (on/upon) N3bn monthly IGR target” DAILY SUN of September 26 circulated many faults: “Excess crude suit: Again, FG opts for out of court settlement” Any medium that does not know the importance of hyphenation remains a professional toddler: out-of-court settlement “The line up from Anambra North” As 2015 approaches: line-up “A night of Caribean and Latino Groove dance at MTN PFWA Season 5” Spell-check: Caribbean “Police contractors debt: Its dangers to Nigerian economy” Policing grammar: contractors’ debt “Banks get guidelines for agriculture lending, banking priciples (sic)” Banking—a euphemism for fraud in Nigeria: agricultural lending Lastly from DAILY SUN: “The DG of SEC Arunma Oteh and her workers have, for the third time since her second coming (return) as the chief executive, gone for each others jugular.”

Delectable and brilliant lady: each other’s jugular. Beyond the faux pas pointed out, I am uncomfortable with the entire collocation!

The Guardian Editorial of September 25 blundered: “In contemporary history, acquisition of these rights bestows crude oil royalties into (on/upon) the public purse and fuels prebendal politics…..” Furthermore, the context of ‘bestow’ here is suspect.

“The University of Ibadan, Ibadan, wishes you all many more years of greater accomplishments and service to humanity. May your stars never deem (sic!).” (Fullpage advert in The PUNCH of September 21 by the university and signed by the Registrar, Olujimi Olukoya, MNIM, FPA) For the sake of Council, Senate, Congregation, Staff and Students of this foremost citadel, replace

‘deem’ with ‘dim’.

Yet another faulty congratulatory advert: “A well deserved (welldeserved) honour: This is a great testimony of (to) your great achievements….” (Copy by Lagos University Teaching Hospital) And these extracts from Lead City University, Ibadan: “Knowledge for self reliance.

Post UTME screening for…being an ICT driven institution….”

(Full-page advert signed by the Registrar, Dr. (Mrs.) Oyebola O. Ayeni, MNIM, MIMC) Three things: self-reliance, Post-UTME screening and ICT-driven institution. What is going on in our tertiary centres of learning?

Lastly from The PUNCH under review: “This also confirms your position as one of the most accomplished entrepreneur (sic) both locally and on the international scene.” (Final fullpage congratulatory advert by 11 senior bankers for Dr. Mike Adenuga, GCON) Consolidated award to a trailblazer: one of the most accomplished entrepreneurs. It’s only deposits (and false lifestyles) bankers know!

National Mirror of September 20 mixed grammar with politics: “CAN asks NJC to intervene on (in) Adamawa poll petition” “There are many areas on (in) which lawmaking may be employed as tool (a tool) for development.”

“Besides, the level of neglect the region has suffered in the anal (sic) of Nigerian history is phenomenal.” The quest for Igbo presidency: annals. I have been ‘coerced’ by Messrs Bayo Oguntuase and Sunny Agbontaen into grudgingly accepting the cooccurrence of ‘annals’ and ‘history’ in the same lexical environment!

Lastly from National Mirror: “…is one of the leading media planning and strategist in Nigeria.” Brands and marketing: one of the leading media planners and strategists in Nigeria.

“Universities and polytechnics, which are still struggling to consolidate the programmes at (on) the main campus, have no business setting up study centres elsewhere.”

“Are we not betraying Zik’s message of being our brothers’ keepers when we....” Our hero: brother’s keeper (irrespective of plural-

ity—because of its fixed/ stock form).

“In spite of the AIDS disaster in (on) the continent.…”

“As a young man in his 20s, the late Enahoro moved the historic motion demanding for Nigeria’s independence in 1956.” A consensus: delete ‘for’ in the interest of orderliness. “…the physical, material and psychological damages have to be addressed.” ‘Damage’ is uncountable except in legalese.

“If he had at that time kept mute and outrightly conceded victory….”

This way: and conceded victory outright.

“In the final analysis, how far the products of refineries conform to stipulated standards with regards to quality will largely determine their marketability.” No poverty of expression: with regard to or as regards.

“But I stuck to my gun….” Get it right: stick (stuck) to one’s (my) guns.

“What jobs have we provided for those roaming about the streets....?”

Remove ‘about’ in the interest of word economy.

“Provide burglary proof in your house and business premises.” As Christmas draws near, a security hint: burglar (not burglary) proof.

“The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been in the news lately for two reasons, all of them uncomplimentary.” ‘Rite it right: two reasons, both (not all) of them uncomplimentary.

“Agencies, Media Independents poise for the future” Campaign: poised for the future.

“They wicked has done his worst” Wanted: a Failed English Panel that would function like the Justice Oputa Panel.

Before then, the wicked (wicked persons) have done their worst. “…both our future and that of our offsprings are in jeopardy.” Lest we jeopardize the language: ‘offspring’ is uncountable.

“It is important for all the designated banks to understand from the onset that.…” To foreclose Sanusi’s autocracy: outset, not onset (going by the context of the extract).

“For one, it is usually a universally accepted truth that when certain events and incidences, which do concern us directly.…” An incontrovertible fact: events and incidents.

HE may not necessarily be in the shoes of legendary Funmilayo Ransome –Kuti, Queen Amina or Margaret Ekpo- women of substance who have during their time paid their dues and made their mark in the history of the nation .They are women who have etched their name in history and taking position alongside men of valour and fame of their time. It is on record they fought for women’s rights and emancipation of the citizenry at the different stages of the nation’s history.

You may also not call her a freedom fighter in spite of her numerous campaign for women’s education, child development, home rehabilitation and the correction of social vices like child abuse, street trading and hawking which have continued to destroy our value systems. This serious social issues which have cropped up in the nations march to modernity have invariably made women to be more at the receiving end of the societal ills and often the underdog to be used and discarded.

But suffice it to say that Princess Victoria Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire, the deputy governor of Lagos state who clocks 53 today, has in her own humble way re-written women’s role in contemporary history and change the perceived role of women often used as, ushers, backbenchers and professional praise singers at political events and in some cases seen as tool to satisfy men of easy virtues.

In the last two decades of her active participation in politics, she has in no small way contributed to bringing the women folk up in the nations journey to nationhood.

According to the amiable mother and grassroots politician, ‘I have used the opportunity given me to serve in a responsible way because opportunity often comes with responsibility’. That she had indeed served remarkably well in various positions and has been noted is an understatement.

Princess Orelope – Adefulire, has in the past two decades served in various capacities she has found herself either as electoral commissioner, member of the Lagos state house of assembly, commissioner of women affairs and poverty alleviation in the state for eight years (first to hold such a position in the state for the length of time) and now as the deputy to Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) the governor of the centre of excellence.

She has indeed imparted more than any of her ilk in contemporary women leadership.

What is more, Adejoke has made use of what she herself described as opportunity which has come her way in the past years of her sojourn in service and politics. ’ I have used the opportunity which came my way to serve with responsibility’. This, she has done in her various callings which no doubt made her to be noticed and fetch her the enviable position many of her ilk struggle in vain to get but which never came .

In the fight against child abuse, the Amazon fought hard and got the Lagos state government to enact a law in the form of the Child Rights Act which will go a long way in enforcing the rights of the child and protect the girl child from the constant molestation and deprivation both from parents, teachers and the citizenry. On this score, the state has taken a lead among 36 other states in the en-

•Adefulire

By Tunde Abatan

actment and enforcement of the child rights law.

To drive home the seriousness of the government to fight child abuse she declared, ‘I want to sound a warning to everybody including religious leaders that the rate of domestic violence and abuse of our children is now alarming and the government would not close its eyes and allow the future of our children to be destroyed’. Dedicated phone lines for children and wives who are subjects of various stages of abuse have been made public to drive home the seriousness of the government and give the citizenry the opportunity to defend their right.

To complement the fight against child abuse, she recently launched the programme of provision of suggestion boxes in public schools in secondary schools in the state. This measure according to her is to give a voice to the oppressed students in an era of increasing child abuse and deprivation in the country.

Today, it is to her credit that 17 vocational centres are in active operation in all parts of the state providing short and longterm vocation, skill acquisition and technical education to housewives, students and the unemployed graduates in the state in her effort to reduce unemployment and poverty which she said has been the bane of development and cause of the various societal ills. At the last count, more than 200,000 beneficiaries have graduated from these centres, with the training at no cost to the students.

As part of her efforts to eradicate poverty and turn hitherto idle housewives in Lagos into reliable partners for their husbands and helping hands at home, the ministry for women affairs and poverty alleviation under her direct supervision last July organised a six weeks shortterm training programme in eight centres in the states to train them in vocation like soap and detergent making, fashion design and decoration, tie and dye, bead making, hairdressing, rat poison production, stove wicks making, catering and hat making.

The essence of the training, Princess Adefulire said, is to make the housewives and interested young school leavers gainfully employed through the short term vocation they have received adding, ‘gone are days when we had women as full housewives. We believe that because of the economic recession, with insufficient job opportunity is in the country,

our women should be given opportunity to learn one trade or another so as to be able to contribute to the development of the home, assist their husbands and support their children’.

While encouraging the women to take the programme seriously, she challenged them further saying, ’their is no limit to what you can do with your hands. we have 17 centres that are running for the youths, young school leavers, drop-outs and graduates and we have close to 10,000 students there’.

To borrow a leaf from her initiatives in Lagos, at least two state governments in the south west parts of the country namely Osun and Ekiti have paid inspection tours and visits to the state to study its various poverty alleviation programmes initiated by Princess Orelope with the aim of adopting same in their various states.

A woman of compassion and utmost dedication to the cause of the family, Adefulire enjoined traders especially women who are in the habit of sending children to hawk in the streets to discontinue such acts adding that this will in no small ways reduce the incidence of accidents on the highway most of which victims are women . This, she said should be avoided by complying with the recent traffic law which she believes would go a long way to help the women folk and prevent avoidable deaths.

‘Women must ensure that business activities and other forms of trading should be done in designated places. We don’t want to continue to see useful lives wasting on the highway as a result of street trading’ she empathised.

Indeed the minister for women affairs, Hajia Zainab Maina, who came with her team of about twenty federal civil servants to Lagos state last July, was surprised at the level of efforts being made to reduce poverty and empower women in the state such that she recommended the programme for adoption in many states of the country.

Her visit to Lagos was preceded by the teams from Osun and Ekiti states who also toured the various facilities and vocational centres at Mushin, Ikorodu, Ojodu and see for themselves the various training and vocational centres which had turned many idle housewives and women into employers of labour.

In her comment after the visit to several of the vocation training centres, the commissioner of women affairs and social development in Osun state, Mrs Mofoluke Adegboyega declared, Lagos state is doing a lot • Continued from Page 67

66 CHANGE OF NAME DURU

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Duru, Catherine Oluchi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Agabi Catherine Inyaka. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

OKONKWO

I,formerly known and addressed as Maureen Uju Okonkwo, now wish to be known and addressed as Idemili Uju Maureen. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

DOKUNMU I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Tomilola Olabisi Dokunmu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Tomilola Olabisi Obute. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AJAYI

I,formerly known and addressed as Ajayi Oluwaseyi A., now wish to be known and addressed as Ajayi Oluwaseyi Oluwaseun Margret.

All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

ITA

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Judith William Ita, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Judith Essien Asuqwo Butt. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

AWE

CHANGE OF NAME ADEBAJO

CHANGE OF NAME EMMANUEL

I,formerly known and addressed as Emmanuel Okeugu, now wish to be known and addressed as Emmanuel Okegwu. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OGUNTOLA

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Taiwo Modupe Oluwatosin, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omosebi Taiwo Modupe. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as Kingsley Okwara, now wish to be known and addressed as Kingsley Celestin. All former documents remain valid. Federal Polytechnic, Nekede and general public should please take note.

ILESANMI

OGUNLEYE

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Adebimpe Aishat Oguntola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adebimpe Aishat Adeleye. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

TAIWO

I,formerly known and addressed as Ajibola Titilayo Janet, now wish to be known and addressed as Johnson Oluwatobi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Ilesanmi Omolola Folashade, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adeoti Omolola Folashade. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

YAKUBU

ORENAOGU

AJIBOLA

DAVID

NWANNA

EKPE

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Ise Eucharia David, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Dennis Ise Eucharia. All former documents remain valid. Abia State Ministry of Education and general public should please take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Ijeoma Juliana Nwanna, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ijeoma Juliana Nweke. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

FATOKUN

INEMEH

AGBOIKALE

ALOKA

EMMANUEL

AYODELE

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Ayodele Evelin Damilola, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Aiyewumi Evelin Damilola. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

JIMOH

I,formerly known and addressed as Jimoh Adedeji Azeez, now wish to be known and addressed as Alele Sunday Ogbemudia. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OHA

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Oha, Lynda Ngozi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ndubuisi Lynda Ngozi. All former documents remain valid.

Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri and general public should please take note.

HUMPHREY

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Humphrey Eberechi Jennifer, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Duru Eberechi Jennifer. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OJO

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Ojo Oluwakemi Folasade, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Alabi Oluwakemi Folasade. All former documents remain valid. Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State and general public should please take note.

DAJI

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Daji Yetunde Esther, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adeleye Daji Yetunde. All former documents remain valid. Nigerian Immigration and general public should please take note.

MBURSA

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Juliana Ishaku Mbursa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Juliana Ishaku Adewa. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

DURU

I,formerly known and addressed as now Miss Duru Jacinta Chika, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ibeh Jacinta Chika. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

FAMUSUDO

I,formerly known and addressed as Emmanuel Rebecca Toyin, now wish to be known and addressed as Olowu Rebecca Toyin. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as now Miss Ogunleye Oluwaseun Funmilayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Olaosegba Oluwaseyi Funmilayo. All former documents remain valid. Rufus Giwa Polytechnic and general public should please take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as Ogbueri Orenaogu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Ogbueri Chidiebere Gift. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Mfon Okon Inemeh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Faith Ibukun Busari. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

ADEFISAN

OKWARA

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Rukayat Yakubu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Rukayat Shadare. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as Bisilola Motunrayo Fatokun, now wish to be known and addressed as Bisilola Motunrayo Asenuga. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as Abigael Oluwafunke Adefisan, now wish to be known and addressed as Abigael Oluwafunke Akeni. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

MAWANU

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Mawanu Bukola Aanu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omogbemi Bukola Aanu. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Adebajo Dolapo Mary, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Esawe Dolapo Mary. All former documents remain valid.

Global Express and Logistics and general public should please take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as Awe Modupe Alimat, now wish to be known and addressed as Ogundeko Modupe Alimat. All former documents remain valid.

FIRS, YABATECH and general public should please take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Agboighale Mercy Tosin, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Henry-Onwudike Mercy Tosin. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc. and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Famusudo Olawunmi Mary, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Awodeyi Olawunmi Mary. All former documents remain valid. Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, NYSC and general public should please take note.

LASISI

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Lasisi Adijat Temitope, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogunfowora Adijat Temitope. All former documents remain valid. Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, NYSC and general public should please take note.

KUMTUR I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Selya Kumtur, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Selya Fadam Miri. All former documents remain valid. Plateau State Local government Service Commission and general public should please take note.

UFOMBA

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Ufomba, Stella Ifeyinwa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Amanze, Stella Ifeyinwa. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AMOS

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Amos Linda, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ezeh Linda Ejighato. All former documents remain valid. Abia State Polytechnic, NYSC and general public should please take note.

ANYANWU

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Anyanwu Ugochi Linda, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okpechi Alfred Ugochi. All former documents remain valid.

National Cereals Research Institute Badege, Umuahia Offices and general public should please take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Florence Ukamaka C. Aloka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Faith Ibukun Busari. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ALOKA

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Florence Ukamaka C. Aloka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Florence Amaka C. Uche-Nkuma. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

BUZUGBE I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Onyeka Buzugbe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onyeka Otoworo Perelayefa. All former documents remain valid.

College of Education, Agbor, Delta State general public should please take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Eziuche Okezie, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Maduako Eziuche. All former documents remain valid. Obingwa Isiala Ngwa Local govt. Area Education Authority, ASUBEB and general public should please take note.

IGBOKWE

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Chidinma Igbokwe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chidinma Chima. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

NJAKA

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Njaka Grace, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Grace Okeke. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

FASIKU

I,formerly known and addressed as now Miss Fasiku Olaitan Adeyanju, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olaitan A. Adeoye. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank Plc. and general public should please take note.

ONABAJO

I,formerly known and addressed as now Miss Onabajo Titilayo Adebimpe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Kamaru Titilayo Adebimpe. All former documents remain valid. AOCOED and general public should please take note.

AGBAJE

I,formerly known and addressed as now Miss Agbaje Rasidat Temitope, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Kasali Rasidat Temitope. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

UKENNAYA

I,formerly known and addressed as now Miss Ukennaya Ejimofor Ezinne Suzzy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Awaka Suzzy Ezinne. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

BOLANLE

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Bolanle Olusola Kudirat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Akinmade Olusola Kudirat.

All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

EBIRILEM

TAIWO

I,formerly known and addressed as now Miss Chinyere Lilian Ebirilem, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Opurum Chinyere Lilian. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

UTIBE

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. AMAH OGADINMA CHIDINMA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ECHEWODO OGADINMA CHIDINMA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AKINYEMI

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. BRIDGET AYIYI now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. BRIDGET E. OBUMSE. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Taiwo Adeola Foworade, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Akogun Adeola Foworade. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as Utibe Akpan Frank, now wish to be known and addressed as Marvellous Utibe Frank. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Akinyemi Modupe Patricia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Busari Patricia Modupe. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OLADEJO

OKEZIE

I,formerly known and addressed as now Miss Agnes Polycarp Ekpe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Agnes Samuel Etokakpan. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Oladejo Odunayo Magret, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Daramola Odunayo Margret. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I,Adepoju Folake Iyabode and Adepoju Elizabeth Folake is the same and one person. Now wish to be known and addressed as Adepoju Elizabeth Oluwalofolakemi. All former documents remain valid. Federal University of Technology (FUTA), Akure and general public should please take note.

OLORUNYOMI

I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Olorunyomi Olayinka Modinat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs.Olaniyi Olayinka Modinat. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AMAH

AYIYI

OGUNKA

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. CHINOMSO QUEEN OGUNKA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ROMANUS CHINOMSO QUEEN. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Open University and general public please take note.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012 CHANGE OF NAME CHANGE OF NAME ALAGBE

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OLUSEYI AYODEJI ALAGBE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLUSEYI AYODEJI ALADE. All former documents remain valid.

INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF NIGERIA and the general public should please take note.

INIESE

I, formerly known and addressed as MARY MONDAY INIESE, now wish to be known and addressed as SUCCESS MONDAY INIESE. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

UZOAMAKA

We, formerly known as ANGELINA UZOAMAKA, VIVIAN NNEOMA, EASTER UCHECHUKWU, MATTHIAS EBERECHUKWU, KENETH IFEANYINCHUKWU, ELIZABETH CHISOM, with former surname as AKWUKWAEGBU, now wish to be known as IROKAH. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

SAMUEL

OLADIPO

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Onipede Olajumoke Abisola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs adewumi Olajumoke Abisola. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AKU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss. Peace Michael Edet, now wish to be known as Mrs. Peace Churchill Etuk. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Udeh Henrrietha Oluchukwu now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ngene Henrrietha Oluchukwu. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Aku Emmanuel Ngozi now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ozulumba Emmanuel Ngozi.

All former documents remain valid.

General public note.

ADESINA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adesina Adenike Elizabeth now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Simon-Peraboh Adenike Elizabeth. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Agboeze Celetina Chioma is the same person Odo Celetina Chioma and Odo Chioma Celestina. All documents bearing the above names remain valid. General public please take note.

SAMSON

I, formerly known and addressed as Umejuru Stanley Samson now wish to be known and addressed as Nlemedime Chukwu Chukwubunna. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

KASUMU

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Kasumu Bola Semiat now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Arogunre Bola Semiat. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

OKEOWO

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okeowo Bukola Funmilola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Joshua Bukola Funmilola. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

SHAKIRUDEEN

I, formerly known and addressed as Shakirudeen Oluwadamilare Salaudeen now wish to be known and addressed as Shakirullahi senami Oluwadamilare Adebiyi.

All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

OGUNNUBI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Obanla Jokotola Ayinke now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Onikoro Jokotola Ayinke. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IJI

AREMU

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oyeladun Aremu now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oyeladun Joraiah. All former documents remain valid. PHCN, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin and General public please take note.

UDEH

UGOCHUKWU

I formerly known and addressed as MISS POLINA IJI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS SAMUEL POLINA OGBINJI . All former document remain valid.

LM2 local Airport and general public should take note.

OWOEYE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Owoeye Ibukun Omowumi now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Abioye Ibukun Omowumi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs Oladipo Adedayo Oluwafunke now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Olowoyo Adedayo Oluwafunke. All former documents remain valid.General public please take note.

I, MR. UGOCHUKWU CHUKWU and MR. MOSES UGOCHUKWU AMADI are one and the same person, now wish to be known and addressed as MR. UGOCHUKWU CHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

NATHANIEL

AJAYI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ajayi Christianah Iyabo Funmilayo now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oladeebo Christianah Iyabo Funmilayo. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS VICTORIA OLUWASEUN SAMUEL, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS VICTORIA OLUWASEUN HENRY-OKOSUN. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Ogunnubi Olayiwola Stephen now wish to be known and addressed as Kolawole Olayiwola Stephen. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS AYOMBO NATHANIEL now wish to be known and addressed as MRS MAJEOBAJE AYOMBO NATHANIEL. All former document remain valid . General hospital ondo state and general public should please take note.

MORAKINYO

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Morakinyo Adenike Funlola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adetoye Adenike Funlola. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OBANLA

SALAKO

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Salako Esther Olatundun now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Johnson Esther Olatundun. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

TUNJI-IJIDOLIRE

I, formerly known and addressed as Tunji-Ijidolire Adunke Omowonuola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olatunji Adunke Omowonuola. All former documents remain valid.

Corona Schools Trust Council and general public please take note.

ONIPEDE

EDET

TARIAH

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Lolia Ajubogobia Tariah, now wish to be known as Mrs. Lolia Tams. Atuboyedia. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AARONS

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Uzoamaka Faith Aarons, now wish to be known as Mrs. Uzoamaka Victor Bassey. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

AKPANTA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss. Akpanta Blessing, now wish to be known as Mrs. Ejiaku Blessing Amarachi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

SEMILU

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Semilu Adeyanju Fatimo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Semiu Fatima Fadekemi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adenola Atinuke Olubunmi, now wish to be known as Mrs. Osilaja-Adenola Atinuke Olubunmi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

HAMMED

I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Hammed Samuel Olugbenga, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Osilaja Samuel Olugbenga Praiseworthy.

All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

OMONOKHUA

I formerly known and addressed as MISS. MAGDALINE OMONOKHUA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. MAGDALINE INABOYA. All former documents remain valid. NIGERIAN INSTITUTION OF ESTATE SURVEYORS AND VALUERS (NIESV) and the general public please take note.

ADVERT: Simply produce your marriage certificate or sworn affidavit for a change of name publication, with just (N4,500. NEW RATE effective from 20th March) The payment can be made through FIRST BANK of Nigeria Plc. Account number 2017220392 Account Name VINTAGE PRESS LIMITED Scan the details of your advert and teller to -gbengaodejide@yahoo.com or thenation_advert@yahoo.com For enquiry please contact: Gbenga on 08052720421, 08161675390, Email- gbengaodejide @yahoo.com or our offices nationwide.

Note this! Change of name is now published every Sundays, all materials should reach us two days before publication.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

NEWS

67

Lagos Water Regulatory Commission to fight exploitation

T

HE Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission has pledged to protect residents against exploitation and ensure alternative water supply that will curb proliferation of boreholes.

The commission was unveiled at a stakeholders’ sensitisation exercise that had the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello and others in attendance.

While lauding the initiative, Ochekpe said: “It is the first of its kind in Nigeria and that is what motivated me to come personally instead of sending a representative.”

She advised other states to “learn from what Lagos State is doing to improve access to water.”

The Executive Secretary of the commission, Mrs. Tanwa Koya, said: “We are more disposed to transparency and accountability and I can assure Lagosians that they will be protected and served properly.”

She also promised to guard against the tendency of service providers to ignore the poor and render premium service to the rich by “providing subsidy that will be justifiable.”

Justifying the need for

By Segun Balogun

the commission, the Managing Director of the Lagos Water Corporation, Shayo Holloway, said the state is working towards meeting

the projected daily water need of 733million gallons by 2020.

By then, he said, about 586million gallons of waste water will be generated daily.

‘Why our leaders fail’

P

OLITICAl leaders are failing the nation because they were never trained and prepared for their positions, the Vice Chairman of the Christian Association of

Group prays for Nigeria

N

IGERIAN Intercessors for Good Governance will tomorrow hold a prayer summit to intercede for the nation.A statement by its coordinator, Chuks Udo Okonta, said the summit will hold at Gbemisola House, Omole, Lagos. He noted that the solution to the nation’s problems solely lies with God.According to him: “There is the need for all of us to pray for our nation, which is presently clogged by corruption, terrorism, underdevelopment and much more.” He said prayers will be offered specifically for political office holders and security operatives.

By Sunday Oguntola

Nigeria(CAN) South West region, Archbishop Magnus Atilade, has declared.

He said only certified administrators should be saddled with the responsibility of leading public institutions and private organisation in Nigeria.

The cleric spoke last Friday at the induction ceremony of the Certified Board of Administrators of Nigeria (CBAN) in Lagos.

According to him: “This nation is underdeveloped and lagging behind because we don’t have trained managers and administrators.

“Our leaders lack the skills, the capacities and the knowledge to manage humans and resources, which is why we have to train them or bring only trained hands on board”.

He solicited for the establishment of a special process, training and institutions to breed good leaders.

Atilade noted that the majority of leaders in the United Kingdom and United States of America attended certain designated institutions where they were specially groomed.

Orelope –Adefulire: Serving with compassion Continued from page 65

ommended the programme for adoption in many states of the country.

Her visit to Lagos was preceded by the teams from Osun and Ekiti states who also toured the various facilities and vocational centres at Mushin, Ikorodu, Ojodu and see for themselves the various training and vocational centres which had turned many idle housewives and women into employers of labour.

In her comment after the visit to several of the vocation training centres, the commissioner of women affairs and social development in Osun state, Mrs Mofoluke Adegboyega declared, Lagos state is doing a lot of work not just because of the population. In Osun state we do things like this but not as good as what we have seen in Lagos. This is a lot of work and I know it will take time to get to this stage. Our intention is to go back and replicate what we have seen in senatorial and constituency districts of our state’.

But since the increased participation of women in politics has the level of participation in conformity with the 25 ratio anticipated?

For her, the present level is commendable and a signal that one day women will attain the target adding ‘if today we have seven women as members of the Lagos state

house of assembly and seven as members of the state executive council, I think we are not faring badly. We have done well and I am sure we will get there one day.’’

But in spite of this modest accomplishment, she still believes that the environment is not conducive enough for women to win elections in the country given the tensions and violence that accompanies elections hence canvassed that women should be giving incentive like collecting free forms for elections from political parties.

This incentive, she argued would go a long way to encourage women to come out and participate in politics adding that such encouragement would compensate women folk as a result of fears of the violence prone environment, and the volatile nature of politics.

In her own opinion, such incentives would give integrity to the game of politics and create the much needed level playing field for the womenfolk whose roles and participation she argued further, ‘’are necessary if we must liberate our country and move forward as a nation’.

But then of what significance is the anniversary or the nation’s independence?

To her, the 52 years of the nationhood should be spent to consolidate on the modest achievements and a charge for all to take the Nigerian project more seri-

ously. ‘’We have to take the Nigerian project as a serious project.’ This attitude, she said, is needed as the country is confronted with serious infrastructural deficits, high rate of corruption, credible election and sound education system without which the vision20-20-20 would be a mirage.

But having spent close to two decades in politics and still going what legacy would she like to be remembered for?

Service to humanity, hard work and mentoring lot of people has been her focus and would probably remains so as she continues her journey in the murky waters of politics threading where other women and indeed men fear to venture and raising hopes for a better future for the indigent youths, rural dwellers and putting smiles on the face of grassroots women, which had been her constituency this past years. ‘’Focus, hard work, efficiency and the urge to do better has been my driving force and I give all the glory to God for this’ she declared.

For Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, glory indeed has been her portion for somebody who has opportunity thrown on her laps in this past two decades of her participation in politics crowned with the position of deputy governor.

Abatan is S.A (media) to the Deputy Governor of Lagos State.

Is Nigeria a toilet of a country?

Continued from page 13

similar to the ‘’Arab spring’’ that we witnessed in Libya, Tunisia, Yemen, Bahrain and Egypt last year and that we are witnessing in Syria today) which will sweep away the old order, convene a Sovereign National Conference, restructure the country drastically and devolve power from the centre. If you are looking for fundamental change in Nigeria these are the only two courses of action that can produce it.

The line up in our country is therefore clear-on the one hand you have the ordinary people, who have nothing and little hope for a brighter future, and on the other you have the ruling elite, who have everything. Those that are waiting for such a change to evolve under the present system and structure will wait forever. This is because under the present system there is no hope for a peaceful, purposeful and meaningful change because justice, equity and fairness has no place. Worse still the most courageous people with the best minds, that are prepared to speak the truth no matter how bitter that truth is and that have an element of vision are always destroyed, discredited or set aside. If anyone doubts this they should consider the fate of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Moshood Abiola.

Those that have a clear vision about the way that Nigeria needs to go have no say and those that have a say have no

vision. Our country is in the hands and grip of mediocres that just don’t care.

Unfortunately the Nigerian people do not seem to have the resilience or strength to effect either of the two options for true change anytime soon. They seem to have been so traumatised, demoralised and subjugated in the last 50 years that they have lost their will to resist inequity, tyranny and injustice, to insist on determining their own fate and to fight for their own future.

And who can blame them because the state itself is extreemly violent and ruthless in the way and manner in which it fights and resists change and those that advocate it. Very few good leaders can emerge at the federal level in such a system because it was not designed to produce truly progressive leaders. There are a few exceptions to the rule but generally speaking the type of leaders that the Nigerian system is designed to throw up are leaders that are not minded to bring any benefit or hope to the ordinary people but rather that are there to protect the archaic system and to maintain the nebulous and dysfunctional status quo. The relevance of the British today is that they are not only the architects of this monuemental monstrosity but they are also the ones that have continued to encourage and support the ruling elite that runs and sustains it.

If they were being fair to us they would have been amongst those that have been encouraging the idea of restructuring our country, devolving power from the centre and effecting a fundamental and radical change in our attitudes and affairs. That is precisely what they are doing in the United Kingdom itself today where power is being systematically and gradually devolved from the centre at Westminster in England to the hitherto supressed and occupied regions of Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. This is good enough for them yet our erstwhile colonial masters have never supported a similar course of action for us. Instead they have done all they can to support those that believe that power should continue to be centralised and concentrated in Abuja, to maintain the “ancien regime” and to preserve the chronically conservative system and the status quo.

The idea of a properly-led, prosperous, peaceful and truly united Nigeria has never been something that the British ever sought to establish. It is for this reason that we can blame Lord Apsley’s forefathers almost as much as we can blame ourselves for the mess that our country is in up until today. May God deliver Nigeria.

•Fani-Kayode is a former Minister of Aviation.

68

THE NATION ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

WORSHIP

69

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

52ND INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY: SPECIAL SECTION

Nigeria @ 52: The changing faces of Christianity H

ENRY Townsend must be smiling down on indigenous churches in Nigeria from his grave.

When he established the first mission base in Badagry in 1842, Townsend certainly had no idea Christianity was going to take strong roots in the nation. 170 years after, Nigeria now boasts of the highest Christian community in Africa. Townsend’s pioneering efforts have become phenomenal, thanks to the irrepressible impacts of indigenous churches.

If missionaries like Townsend did so much to bring Christianity, indigenous churches have done much more to sustain and deepen the faith. They are redefining the scope and face of Christianity, bringing to bear raw fervour and spiritual aggression. They broke strongholds difficult for missionary churches to penetrate and gave Christianity an African identity. Many locals disenchanted with western values promoted by missionary churches felt welcome by indigenous churches.

The beginning of indigenous churches It all started in 1918 in Ijebu-Ode when the first Aladura movement was founded. A school teacher, Sophia Odunlami, and a goldsmith, Joseph Sadare, were behind it. The duo, members of St. Saviour’s Anglican Church, rejected infant baptism and all forms of western and traditional medicine.

They initiated the “Prayer Band” popularly called Egbe Aladura. Sadare was compelled to give up his post in the Synod and others were forced to resign their jobs and withdraw their children from the Anglican School. The Aladura began as a renewal movement in search of true spirituality.

When the influenza epidemic broke out the same year, the group saved many affected with prayers. This consolidated the formation of the prayer group, which was named Precious Stone and later the “Diamond Society”. By 1920, the Diamond Society had grown tremendously with branches around the Western Region of Nigeria. It emphasised divine healing, holiness and complete dependence on God. The Oke Ooye, Ilesha revival sparked off Pentecostalism in Nigeria. The late Apostle Ayo Babalola performed several miracles that culminated in the formation of the Christ Apostolic Church.

Meanwhile, many mainline churches such as

Christianity began in 1842 with missionary churches in Nigeria. But independent, indigenous churches have become the cornerstone, bringing fresh innovations and spreading the faith in remarkable, amazing ways, writes Sunday Oguntola

•Idahosa

•Babalola

Anglican Communion, Methodist Church, Baptist Convention and others were witnessing similar internal dissensions. Many Africans were denied Holy Communion and disallowed from church workforce on allegations of being polygamous. Pushed to the wall, many of them pulled out and formed their own churches.

Other indigenous churches sprang up such as the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) founded by the late Prophet Samuel Oschoffa and the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement led by the late Prophet Moses Orimolade.

Both spiritual churches, however, witnessed different schisms that led to different factions based on personal and doctrinal crises.

In 1931, a certain Josiah Akindayomi joined the Cherubim and Seraphim Church. By 1947, he started to become concerned that the church was departing from the true word of God in some of its practices. By 1952, he felt totally persuaded to leave the church. He started a house fellowship at Willoughby Street, Ebute-

Metta, christened the Glory of God Fellowship.

Initially there were nine members, but before long the fellowship rapidly grew as the news of the miracles that occurred in their midst spread.

In a vision, he saw The Redeemed Christian Church of God written on a blackboard.

Thus began the RCCG, the world’s largest growing Pentecostal church in 1952.

Somewhere in Benin City, a sickly child was born and christened Benson Idahosa.

He was converted to Christianity and began conducting outreaches from village to village. Renowned for his vibrant faith and power ministration, Idahosa rose to be-

come the first Pentecostal Archbishop in Africa.

He broke new grounds, aggressively converting many from animism. The founder of the Church of God Mission International is acknowledged as the father of Pentecostalism in Africa, raising such prominent preachers like Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Bishop David Oyedepo, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and Bishop Fred Addo, among several others.

Through him, charismatic Pentecostalism became a force to reckon with in Nigeria. Today, there are thousands of independent charismatic churches across the length and breadth of the

Major indigenous churches •The African Church •Gospel Baptist Conference of Nigeria and Overseas •The Redeemed Christian Church of God(RCCG) •Christ Apostolic Church(CAC) •Mountain of Fire and

Miracles Ministries(MFM) •Christ Embassy •The Redeemed Evangelical Mission(TREM) •Celestial Church of Christ(CCC) •Cherubim and Seraphim Movement and others

nation.

Strengths and impacts According to the President of International Church Growth Ministries, Dr Francis Akin-John, indigenous churches have aggressive evangelical zeal going for them. “They are fearless and fiercely committed to taking the gospel to hitherto unreached parts of the world.

That is why you find out Nigerian churches are spearheading missionary efforts everywhere in the world,’’ he explained.

He said this evangelical zeal is why it is so easy for indigenous churches to start branches anywhere in the world, regardless of the most stringent conditions. “They bear this never-say-die Nigerian spirit to mission and that is something really amazing,” he added. The RCCG, at the last count, has over 4,000 branches in different parts of the world.

Indigenous churches also helped break the stronghold of traditional religion across the nation. Several former traditionalists accepted Christ and burnt their charms, a develop-

ment that repelled spiritual darkness. The fire brand Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) is reputed for deliverance and breakthrough sessions. This has delivered millions from spiritual strongholds and generational curses.

Until their rise to prominence, Christianity remained largely a despised, conservative religion, attracting only the dregs and outcasts of the society. Through the influence of charismatic Pentecostal churches founded in Nigeria, Christianity now has a new face, attracting upwardly mobile executives and business owners like never before.

“The people never wanted to have anything to do with the Lord. They felt they had wealth and comfort and wondered what else can Christ offer them.

But Pentecostals have proven that they need much more than that. We have shown how they can bring the faith to bear in business decisions and policies.

Market place evangelism and Christianity have become the fad,” Vice Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, South West Region, Bishop Wale Oke, said.

Much as people have issues with crass materialism in the independent churches, the fact is the church owes it current buoyant financial status to them. Gone are the days church rats were sarcastically said to be poor. These days, rats are competing to gain access to churches. They want a taste of the many crumbs in churches.

The founder of Inri Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos, Primate Elijah Babatunde, said indigenous churches also contribute to poverty alleviation in no small way. He noted his church has been supporting over 300 indigent students and 200 widows over the years.

“That is the least we can do to help the disadvantaged. That is what God called us to do and we are relentlessly passionate about this,” he stated.

Beyond poverty alleviation, many of them have also started business ventures that are empowering members financially. They run churches, printing presses, banks, crèches and several business outfits that are providing employment and sources of livelihood for members. These ventures also provide alternative incomes for members and the churches.

Indeed, Townsend, if it were possible, would be grinning in his grave, giving a well-deserved commendation for how much better indigenous churches have redefined his work that started like a child’s play.

70

THE NATION SPORT SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

SPORT EXTRA

Chibuike inspires Rosenborg to victory

R

OSENBORG utility player John Chibuike has inspired his Norwegian club back to the top league table after coming from the bench to score in the emphatic home victory against Haugesund on Friday.

The Nigeria born whom Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi has advised not to play for Sweden and wait for his Super Eagles call soon, took just 10 minutes after coming from the bench to net the 83th minute's goal on Friday increased his goal tally to seven goals.

"When you came from the bench to score, it gives coaches more confidence that you can do better on the starting line-up in the next game," said Chibuike.

"I was rested for the Bayern Leverkusen match but the coach needs to see if I am ready that is why I came in to show my fitness rate and I thank God that it was a sweet sub."

"I feel happy not only for the goal but for the victory and staying at the top of the table but I think we are on course even if Molde win their game on Sunday, we still believe that the title race is still wide open for us to clinch it."

"I want to keep the fitness and score more goals to help my team both in the league and in Europa Cup because we are aiming to move to the next round of the game.�

Mikel solid, Moses shines

...As Chelsea wins at Emirates

Super sub Dzeko saves City

Mikel Obi in action yesterday

Historic win for AVB at Old Trafford

RESULTS

Caroll

Crouch bags double to sink Swansea

Jelavic inspires Everton revival

Suarez hat-trick rout Norwich

71

THE NATION SPORT SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

SPORT EXTRA

EKO 2012: LOC gets royal blessings

By Innocent Amomoh

T

HE Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 18th National Sports Festival (NSF) at the weekend paid a courtesy call on the Lagos Monarch, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, seeking his blessings ahead of the sporting fiesta.

The NSF is to commence from November 27 to December 9 this year, and Lagos State will be playing host to the 36 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Led by the Deputy Governor of the State, who also doubles as the Chairperson of the LOC, Adejoke Orelope Adefulire, the team arrived to a warm welcome by the council of chiefs and staff of the palace.

Speaking at the occasion, Adefulire said with over 10, 000 guests expected during the festival, it is necessary to seek support from all and sundry, including getting the blessing of the royal fathers in the state.

She assured that the LOC is working round the clock and that in one month to the festival every facility needed to stage a successful NFS would have been delivered. ''All the states will enjoy the best of time when they come here. Mind you we are not building the facilities, but we are mainly doing renovation works of the already existing ones. We have a time table we have a schedule with the contractors working. It is the renovation of the various facilities so that they wear a new look. Thirty days to the festival everything should be ready,'' she assured While receiving the team, the Oba Akiolu commended the effort of the LOC to sensitize residence of the state on the festival, as he expressed hope that the sporting event will yield the needed dividends that will engender further development in the state.

AFRICAN U-17 QUALIFIERS

NFF commends CAF over MRI test

T

HE Confederation of African Football (CAF) has been commended for the usage of the Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) test for the eligibility of players partaking in the qualifiers for the 2013 Under-17 African Youth Championship.

For the first time, CAF ensured that all countries participating in the qualifying tournament subjected their players to the MRI test in order to curb the incidence of age cheating.

Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme, the Director, Technical of the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) said the continental soccer governing body, deserved praises for ensuring that players with genuine credentials are featured in the qualifiers.

Speaking recently in Calabar, Ikpeme said the National Under-17 team missed out of the opportunity to qualify for the last edition of the tournament hosted by Rwanda for obvious reasons.

By Morakinyo Abodunrin

“The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has done well with the use of the MRI test because it would help the development of the game across the continent on the long run,” Ikpeme said. “The MRI test was mandatory and we embraced it because we know it would help our game.”

It would be recalled the Golden Eaglets were subjected to the MRI Test as a prerequisite before 30 players were eventually invited ahead of their recent First Round qualifier against Niger which they won on a comprehensive 10-1 aggregate.

“We are happy that we have young boys in the present teams U-17 Women's and all of them passed the MRI Test,” he explained. “Of course, it means these players would have long playing years ahead of them ALIMATU Ayinde's and we would ensure that they are second brace of the FIFA Umonitored and kept because they 17 Women's World Cup are the future players for the senior was enough to send Nigeria into national team.” the quarter-finals and Colombia out in a 3-0 victory.

Chinwendu Ihezuo went close early on, her bullet header going HE Copa Lagos fan base is set birth place of Beach Soccer, and just wide as she aimed to improve to rise to new heights this many well-known players of the on her tally of six at Azerbaijan year. This comes after the traditional game owe some of 2012. However they had to wait skill to Beach Soccer. The r e c e n t a n n o u n c e m e n t t h a t their likes of Lionel Messi, Diego until the 32nd minute to open the Argentina will compete in this Maradona and Ariel Ortega have scoring, Ihezuo feeding Ayinde to year's Copa Lagos 2012. The all experimented with Beach slot beneath Lissa Cardozo.

It was a scrappy game, but one tournament itself is not due to get Soccer at some point in their that was favouring the African side. underway until the 14th December careers.

Copa Lagos presence in South Nigeria were being limited to few this year, but already it is evident America will be unrivalled this chances despite dominating that the 2nd edition of Copa Lagos year with the tournament being possession, but last-ditch tackles will be a big hit in South America. broadcast to 250 million homes. and blocks were keeping Colombia Argentina will become the 2nd Sports will be broadcasting in it.

South American team to compete at Fox tournament to North and Maldonado almost swung things Copa Lagos in two years. It is no the America, Fox Sports has back on level terms though, with surprise that there is always a South the potential to reach an audience strong South American presence at of over 300 million people in her looping free-kick from 40 yards Copa Lagos. South America is the South America. crashing off the crossbar on 50

2012 COPA LAGOS: Argentine team joins the fray

T

Golden Eaglets' Alhassan Ibrahim (8) duels with his Nigerien shadow in the 6-0 white wash of Junior Menas in Calabar last weekend.

World Cup

Ayinde brace sends Nigeria into quarter-finals

H

minutes, only for Gift Andy to recover and prevent Marcela Restrepo tapping in.

Moments later Tessy Biahwo then struck a decent free-kick of her own, but Cardozo was equal to it. Nigeria then had the ball in the net 15 minutes into the second period, but it was ruled out for a foul after Cardozo spilled a cross.

Captain Dayana Castillo almost drew Colombia level after breaking clear, only for Andy to deny her and seconds later, they were two down. Substitute Yetunde Adeboyejo combining well with Ayinde before the latter stroked the ball in off the bar.

When Diana Duarte put into her own net with a miscued header, Colombia's last hopes were dashed, while France await the victo

QUOTABLE “What is missing today is the lack of participation by Nigerians because they have lost confidence in both the system and leadership, what we have now is limited to the civil servants who, even when they participate, do so half-heartedly.”

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 7, NO. 2264

—Babarabe Musa, Chairman of Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, on what Independence Day celebration has become.

T

OMORROW, Nigeria will be 52. It will be time to ask who she is and what she stands for. Except those who rule the country, who think that by simply declaring that she has an identity and cannot therefore fragment, most of us know she is afflicted by midlife crisis. British colonialists superintended the marriage between Northern and Southern Nigeria. But they were unable to give her an identity before she became independent in 1960. For reasons we will not go into here today, it is not surprising that France was more successful than Britain in imbuing her former colonies with a more tangible sense of national identity. If Nigeria appears to be undone today, wracked by religious, ethnic and social conflicts, the problem is more likely located in the absence of an identity than simply because it experiences economic difficulties, hypocritical attachment to religion, selfish and unintelligent leadership, and uninspiring and short-sighted constitution.

I was fortunate to grow up under a father whose mind was often made up, and made up in the right direction. He never really sat me down to teach me in the fashion Alexander the Great was tutored by Aristotle, but both through his writings – he was an editor and columnist – and his progressive worldview, I learnt the virtues of altruism, patriotism and strength of character. He had a strong moral sense that was not attenuated by worldly pleasures. He was not averse to philandering, and had even tried more than once to inculcate in me a healthy suspicion of the opposite sex bordering on the misogynistic, which pearl he said he polished in his years of turbulent relationship with women. He also drank, perhaps a little more than could be described as the social drinker, but he was seldom so far gone as not to recall what he did or said. He ruefully did away with the bottle only when his creaking pancreas, which never stopped working, protested vigorously.

But this piece today is neither about my dad nor about me. I only offer myself as a practical example to illustrate how and why it is crucial for a nation to acquire an identity necessary to abjure the hedonism that weakens national resolve. I distilled my worldview eclectically from my dad’s lifestyle and unsystematic philosophy, and honed this worldview after introducing myself to the lives of great statesmen. It enabled me to discover myself when I was barely out of my teens. That self-discovery has not only helped me to keep my head in the Kiplingian sense, it also helped me to endure life’s vicissitudes, shape my reluctance to be beholden to unprincipled interests while sometimes being a supporter of enlightened absolutism, and give me a strength of character that makes me ready to sacrifice anything, anybody, including my life, for the

Forging a national identity

• Azikiwe

• Balewa

principles and values that I have dedicated my life to.

A few weeks ago, I tried to communicate to my readers the herculean task I took upon myself to inculcate in my children the noble principles I thought anyone able to call his soul his own should embrace. I could not initiate that effort if I did not believe in something or if my principles were so fluid they could be bought or influenced by degrading considerations. I think the same thing goes for a nation. Nigeria could never hope to make something of its children if it does not believe in or stand for anything. Nigeria is passing through middle age and transiting to old age without the redeeming benefit of standing up for anything truly noble. Worse, it is making that transition without having had a leader who could personify that noble longing for greatness.

Forgive my pessimism, but I often look at Nigeria and wonder whether it will ever amount to anything. What does it stand for?

What great thing does it hope to bequeath the world? Without a national ambition which comes out of knowing who we are, what great things could we hope to accomplish? It took approximately 10 years for Al-

exander the Great to forge a great name for Greece and for himself, names that have endured and still stupefy the world both for the accomplishment of the young Alexander himself and the inability of the rump empire to live up to the glories of its incandescent past. We are familiar with the popular British patriotic song “Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves,” and its stirring refrain “Britons never shall be slaves.” No historian would underestimate the inspiration and fillip which this patriotic song gave to Britain’s naval strength, its colonial adventures, and its prosecution of World War I and II. Who could also belittle the nationalistic passion Frederick the Great and Otto von Bismarck imbued Germany (Prussia) in the 18th and 19th centuries? Who could ignore the sense of national pride brought to France by both St Joan of Arc, through her independence wars, and Napoleon Bonaparte, through his ground-breaking war tactics and the Napoleonic Code? And who could imagine the Roman Empire, its character, justice system and administrative legacy, without the two Caesars, Julius and Augustus?

Nigerian rulers may denounce the pessimism of their countrymen and even live in

Between the right of readers and the freedom of writers

A

S far as rejoinders go, yesterday’s right of reply (This Day back page) to Dele Momodu’s piece of September 22 on the Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, was as unsparing as any I have read in a long time.

Momodu’s original piece was equally vigorous. I enjoyed both gentlemen, even if I disagree with some of their conclusions. I have myself been at the receiving end of merciless lampoon from angry readers – from extremists masquerading as academicians and administrators at the University of Ilorin, to pro-Jonathan analysts, lobbyists and theorists, and from freelance critics in search of a cause celebre, to critics who simply love to excoriate pontificators, whatever the issue and not minding the logic.

If I know columnists well, especially considering their outsized egos, they usually don’t appreciate readers having the last word.

Momodu may take the opportunity of his column to give his traducer a parting shot, and then brusquely close the debate. If he does, he will be exercising his freedom as gutsily as his critic had exercised his right.

Columnists, like authors, are not unaffected by the trenchancy of their critics. It therefore takes an indomitable spirit to keep writing

from day to day, and from year to year. There are critics who look out for spelling errors, grammatical blunders, and factual inaccuracies. When they hit upon one, they drive the knife in so deeply into the back of the writer he would need special remedies to recover.

And there are critics who, with measured grace and logic, tear the writer’s assumptions to pieces, and delight in doing so. To them it is a blood sport.

For as long as a writer exercises his freedom to tyrannise his readers with weekly pontificates, he should expect his critics to also skewer him in venomous language. It goes with the territory. I illustrate with the case of John Keats, the 18th/19th century Romantic poet whose poem Endymion was severely criticised by a certain Mr Wilson Croker of the Quarterly Review in 1818. Here is an example from Croker: “It is not that Mr Keats, (if that be his real name, for we almost doubt that any man in his sense would put his real name to such a rhapsody,) it is not, we say, that the author has not powers of language, rays of fancy, and gleams of genius - he has all these; but he is unhappily a disciple of the new school of what has been somewhere called Cockney poetry; which may be defined to consist of the most incongruous ideas in the most uncouth language....

[Mr Keats] is a copyist of Mr Hunt; but he is more unintelligible, almost as rugged, twice as diffuse, and ten times more tiresome and absurd than his prototype, who, though he impudently presumed to seat himself in the chair of criticism, and to measure his own poetry by his own standard, yet generally had a meaning. But Mr Keats had advanced no dogmas which he was bound to support by examples: his nonsense therefore is quite gratuitous; he writes it for its own sake, and, being bitten by Mr Leigh Hunt’s insane criticism, more than rivals the insanity of his poetry....”

Keats died at 25, and his friends attributed his passing to the unpleasant reviews he received when Endymion was published in 1818, a line of thought also canvassed by Lord Byron. Keats of course died of tuberculosis, and not of adverse criticisms. Contemporary writers may not be as endowed as those of the classical era, but either because they are not as gifted in appreciating lampoon or because they are made of sturdier stuff, they tend to shrug off all criticisms.

But why is Palladium not scalded by vitriolic reviews? Why, ask his editor who has refused to publish the rejoinders. Surely, this columnist couldn’t be expected to brood over what he does not know.

denial of the looming apocalypse. They may continue to affirm the indissolubility of the country and whoop that the country’s unity is non-negotiable. They may even hold out plenty of hope in institutions as ramparts upon which to build a “strong and virile” nation, whatever that means. And they may believe that by and by, the constitution, if tinkered with, may deliver the utopia we crave, in spite of the indiscipline we are noted for. The fact, however, is that the fabric that holds the country together is straining badly, and will sooner or later give way, for it cannot be held together by words but by action, action which we have refused to summon.

What actions are required to weld the country together and make it flourish? Two options present themselves: either the people join hands together to lift the country; or a leader emerges to lead the charge. Most people have given up on the possibility of a visionary leader emerging, and have therefore reposed faith in the ability of followers to do the job. I entertain no such nonsense.

Followers are never capable of creating and sustaining a vision for national identity and greatness. They could never summon the consensus that would bring it about. In the late 1930s, for instance, Britain was amenable to appeasing Hitler’s irredentism. It took Winston Churchill’s bitter challenge to galvanise his country in the opposite direction.

France was, after defeat in that same war, resigned to fate; it took the singlemindedness of Charles de Gaulle to convince them otherwise.

Anywhere, anytime, change is delivered only by the few for the many. Most analysts and south-westerners, for instance, cannot see why it is necessary to fight and defeat Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State in the October governorship polls. They cannot understand why the region must place premium on leadership character and principles; they cannot understand the urgency of forging a regional identity as a tool for social, political and economic mobilisation in a country lacking a sense of purpose; and they cannot understand the highly intricate and elevated visioning necessary to engender a mini utopia in a national sea of mediocrity. It is given to only a few to understand these issues; they must not fail to try fight the electoral battle because they fear to fail.

I do not know a great nation with a discernible national identity which did not have visionary leaders at one point or the other in its history. Imagine if the United States had had Chief Olusegun Obasanjo or Robert Mugabe instead of George Washington to lead the war of independence. Could it sustain the tradition of two terms? Would the two African leaders not act as if the country owed them its very life? Imagine also Turkey without Mustafa Kemal Ataturk at the end of World War I. Could the secularism that has underpinned its stability and projected its influence in world and Eurasian/Southeastern European politics have been devised, let alone nurtured for so long?

How could the Soviet Union and China have played significantly in the 20th century without Lenin/Stalin and Mao Zedong respectively? What would 20th Century Egypt be without Gamal Abdel Nasser, Israel without David, son of Jesse, and Ghana without Kwame Nkrumah?

For 52 years, and after about 12 heads of state/presidents, we still don’t know who we are, what we want, and where we should be. The leaders themselves never had a sense of mission or a sense of history. But we won’t know who we are, no matter the hundreds of brilliant individuals we produce annually, until a leader comes along, a deus ex machina to help us forge a common identity either by force of his character, force of arms, or force of ideas. Western Nigeria continues to embrace the progressivism fostered by Chief Obafemi Awolowo; Northern Nigeria still makes the conservatism moulded by Sir Ahmadu Bello its reference point; and Eastern Nigeria oscillates between the liberalism of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and the radicalism of Dim Emeka Ojukwu. If no one builds a foundation for Nigeria, the country will not have an identity because it cannot stand on nothing.

Published by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025, Oshodi, Lagos. Telephone: Switch Board: 01-8168361.

Marketing: 4520939, Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Telephone: 07028105302 Website: www.thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 E-mail: sunday@thenationonlineng.net Editor: FESTUS ERIYE