The Nation may 12 2011

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

Senate approves N150b for Fund

NEWS

Page 15

•Probes N2.5b bribery allegation

Kwara tribunal okays forensic experts NEWS – Page 12

•ACN to inspect electoral materials http://www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 6, NO. 1757 THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

Uproar in House over cash

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

TANKER FIRE ON LAGOS-IBADAN EXPRESSWAY

From Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

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HE House of Representatives returned to its wayward way yesterday as members went into a row over unpaid allowances.

Speaker Dimeji Bankole, whose leadership was accused of mismanaging the resources of the House and incurring a huge debt, was absent again. Some members attempted to get him suspended.

But, Bankole, who lost his bid to return to the House in the general elections, got the ultimatum to come for plenary today. He is to explain why members’ remunerations were not paid.

Sources at the banks within the National Assembly said the House was owing too much. The inability of the banks to pay members their allowances and other entitlements is believed to be connected with the alleged huge debts being owed by the House.

Continued on page 2

•Scene of a multiple accident involving petrol tankers and an articulated vehicle at Ibafo on Lagos-Ibadan expressway... yesterday. Story on page 3.

PHOTO: AFP

Elections violence panel chair: I’ve nothing to fear 22-member committee asks Jonathan for free hand, security

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EMBERS of the 22-man committee, which will investigate the violence that almost marred last month’s elections, got set for the six-week job yesterday.

They made two demands – a free hand to work and security – as the President inaugurated the committee at the Aso Villa, Abuja.

Many Nigerians, including 10 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), were killed in the violence that followed the announcement of Dr Goodluck Jonathan as winner of the April 16

‘

Some of us, like myself, have already collected their respective boarding passes. At the age of 82, I’m sitting in the departure lounge, awaiting the call to board the plane with the hope of destination to be at yonder Insha Allah.

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

election. Many others were maimed, even before the April elections began.

Properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.

The President described members of the Sheikh Ahmed Lemu panel, who were appointed after “a careful consideration of all relevant factors”, as “distinguished Nigerians with unquestionable antecedents of integrity, resourcefulness, patriotism, probity and commit-

’

ment to equity and justice”.

Lemu, a respected Islamic scholar, said at 82, he had nothing to fear. He has collected the “boarding pass” to his last destination, he said, promising that the job would be done responsibly.

The panel is to:

•investigate the immediate and remote cause(s) of the pre-election violence in Akwa Ibom State and the tide of unrest in some states, following the presidential election; •ascertain the number of persons who died or injured during the violence; •identify the spread and extent of loss and damage to means of livelihood; •assess the cost of damage to personal and public properties and places of worship; Continued on page 2

•BUSINESS P15•INDUSTRY P17•SPORTS P23•EDUCATION P25•N/HEALTH P47

2

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

NEWS

•President Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo with members of the committee after the inauguration ... yesterday.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

Elections violence panel chair: I’ve nothing to fear Continued from page 1

•investigate the sources of weapons used in the unrest and recommend how to stem the tide of illegal flow of such weapons into the country; and •examine any other matter incidental or relevant to the unrest and advise Government as appropriate.

They are to submit their recommendations after six weeks.

Lemu described as “saddening” the unrest which led to the death of 10 Youth Corps members.

“I have two substantive requests to make on behalf of the members, in view of the skepticism of some political parties and assumption of witch-hunting.

“I request Mr. President again for effective measures to forestall interference by anybody from any quarter.

For every member has integrity in the eyes of God and man to protect. Some of us, like myself, have already collected their respective boarding passes. At the age of 82, I’m sitting in the departure lounge awaiting the call to board the plane with the hope of destination to be at yonder Insha Allah,” he said, adding: “We also request personal security for members.”

Lemu expressed dismay at the wanton killing and destruction of properties by fellow Nigerians, which he said was not good enough, especially when the said election

Why Police couldn’t prevent violence

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NSPECTOR-General of Police Hafiz Ringim yesterday defended the failure of the police to nip the post election violence in the bud.

He said violence erupted spontaneously.

Ringim spoke at the post-election meeting with Police Commissioners posted on election duties at the Force headquarters in Abuja.

According to him, the speed of response by the security agencies is what matters under such circumstance. He said incidents like that could occur in any part of the world.

The IGP assured Nigerians that the Police were ready to forestall the menace of Islamic fundamentalist group Boko Haram and other criminal gangs in the country.

He said security had been beefed up in six states - Bauchi, Plateau, Kaduna, Bornu, Kano and Niger – to checkmate the activities of criminals. was accepted by many as free and fair.

“Once again, the Nigerian nation is confronted with the series of tragic and traumatic events occasioning great distress to many families in different parts of the country.

“These acts of violence, wanton carnage and mindless destruction of property are all the more disheartening because they were acts inflicted upon the nation by none other than Nigerians.

“One is further saddened by the fact that the acts of electoral violence, which this panel is constituted to inves-

From Sanni Ologun, Abuja

The police boss rated police performance during the general elections as exceptional.

“The Nigeria Police is continually vilified and this must change. Positive achievements of the force should be emphasised even as constructive criticism would be welcome.

“Never before in the history of the country has it occurred that the police performed so credibly. We lived up to the promise of being impartial. We proved ourselves right and others wrong.

“No police officer was arrested for election malpractice in the last poll. No police officer was arrested for any form of malpractice, ballot box snatching, stealing or tampering with electoral material. This has never been achieved before,” Ringim said.

While assuring Nigerians of a new Police made up of men of honour and dis-

tigate, ironically, occurred around general elections widely acclaimed by local and international electoral observers and monitors of being the freest and most transparent in the annals of our national history,” he said.

Lemu said: “We shall apply ourselves to the task at hand with all the forthrightness, equity and fairness it deserves.

Inaugurating the panel, the President said: “It is with mixed feelings that I address you today. It is sadly ironical that at a time one should be celebrating the landmark

tinction, the IGP said the conference was called to applaud the police hierarchy on its performance as well as charge them to rededicate themselves to duty.

Ringim who lamented that most of the police chiefs might not be in service during the next general elections in 2015, said elections then would be guided by the record set in the 2011 polls.

He also hailed the other security agencies for their collaboration which led to the success recorded so far.

He called for the sustenance of the synergy among the agencies. He said unhealthy rivalry, competition and acrimony must be discouraged by security agencies in order to collectively meet their constitutional responsibilities.

The IGP also commended the federal government for its commitment to the reform programmes of the Police as well as providing them with required resources for the elections.

democratic achievement of the nationally and internationally acclaimed 2011 elections, we are faced with the task of confronting the challenge posed by the unprecedented violence which flared up in parts of the country.

“Starting with cases of preelection violence in some states, these reprehensible acts later escalated to a conflagration in some other parts of the country shortly after the announcement of the results of the presidential elections.

“Ladies and gentlemen,

you are all aware of the unwavering commitment of this administration to ensuring the conduct of free, fair, transparent and credible elections.

“We took practical steps to ensure the attainment of this goal. The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) was reconstituted with credible and non-partisan people to the acclaim of Nigerians and international community.

“The 2007 Electoral Act was expeditiously amended.

Funds requested by INEC were speedily released. We

Uproar in House of Reps over unpaid salaries Continued from page 1

Yesterday’s drama began when members who came for plenary met the doors to the Chamber firmly locked. For over 40 minutes, they could not enter the facility.

At about 3.45pm, Mr. Emmanuel Okere, head of the Sergeants-at-Arm, opened the doors and stood guard with a contingent of over 20 policemen, sergeants –at–arm and other security operatives.

As members trickled into the chambers, Hon. Dino Melaye, one of the members whose suspension has just been lifted and outstanding allowances ordered to be paid, appeared. “Wetin happen wey security plenty like this,” he jokingly asked in pidgin English, adding: “Has the Speaker been promoted to

President?”

“Have you been paid?” a reporter asked him.

“My money has been stolen,” Melaye replied. “I have been vindicated. No sinner shall go unpunished,” he added.

Hon. Igo Aguma, House Committee Chairman on Gas Resources, condemned the lock-out of members.

He said: “For the Chamber to be locked at this time when we should be sitting without prior notice to members’ is unheard of. This House has fallen.”

No sooner did the House convene than Melaye brought up an Order of Privileges.

He said the House had seriously breached its rules by not properly adjourning last

week Tuesday when Hon. Ita Enang, the Committee Chairman on Rules and Business, announced a week’s recess because of the absence of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker Bayero Usman Nafada.

Melaye also described the shutdown of the chambers as “another serious breach”.

He said the House through, a resolution the penultimate week, ordered that the suspended members be re-admitted and all their entitlements paid. “Up till today, we have not been paid a dime.”

Melaye said cheques were raised in the names of the suspended members who were re-instated through court orders, but that “somehow, the cheques started disappearing”.

He said they were told by

the bank where the salaries of members were domiciled that the money for Reps allowances had been paid by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), but because the House was indebted to the bank, it refused to pay the members’ entitlements.

The lawmaker said his findings showed that some principal officers of the House collected the loans without the consent of members.

He said the Speaker should be made to account for the House’s financial dealings.

He urged the House to write the banks that salaries and allowances of members be paid and that a committee should be set up to investigate the Speaker.

Continued on page 4

•Bankole

encouraged the accreditation of internationally recognised election observer groups. In essence, our administration left no one in doubt as we were resolved to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections, which will be a watershed for the conduct of future elections.

“It is gratifying to note that the conduct and the outcome of the elections, which commenced with that of the National Assembly, was adjudged to be credible by both local and foreign observers as well as the generality of Nigerians.

“The Presidential elections recorded a substantial improvement as attested to by all the stakeholders, consequently, there was clearly a renewed hope in the capability of our democratic process to midwife generally free and credible elections devoid of rancour and recriminations for the first time.

“Given this backdrop, it is difficult to comprehend the unprecedented violence that gripped some parts of the federation just after the announcement of the results of the presidential election. This unfortunate development was no doubt meant to mar what ought to have been a celebration of the progressive march of our democratic experience.

“The unimaginable orgy of violence that followed resulted in the deaths of scores of Nigerians while personal and public properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.

“Ladies and gentleman, cognisance of my obligation as President to defend the constitution and protect the right of all citizens to freely express their democratic choice anywhere in this country, I took the requisite steps to check the unacceptable situation to authorise the security services to use all lawful means, including justifiable force, to bring to an immediate end acts of violence against innocent citizens.

“Thankfully, calm has returned to all the trouble spots.

It is my hope that the outcome of your work will signal the end of the culture of impunity in any part of this country.”

CORRECTION The May 2, 2011 story “Osun ACN seeks LAUTECH’s repositioning” in which the Vice-Chancellor (VC) was alleged to have, among other allegations, donated N10 million during Oyo State Governor Adebayo AlaoAkala’s birthday, is not meant to impugn on the character of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Nasir, who we hold in high esteem. Any wrong impression conveyed by the story is regretted. – Editor

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

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12 , 2011

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NEWS

•END OF THE ROAD Motorists at a standstill.... yesterday

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Two dead in Lagos-Ibadan expressway tanker fire

T was hectic yesterday for motorists on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway - No thanks to a dawn accident - involving four tankers laden with petroleum products and a trailer carrying iron rods At least two people died in the accidents, which occured at Ibafo. A seriously injured person was rushed to the hospital.

The accident caused a bedlam on the road. Motorists drove against the traffic as they attempted to circumvent the crisis, thereby bringing the traffic to a standstill on both sides of the dualcarriageway.

It was learnt that the accident, which occurred at about 6.30am, was caused by two broken-down trailers that were parked indiscriminately on the Ibadan-bound lane, opposite the Mountain Top University (MTU).

One of the trailers involved in the accident was said to have collided with a stationary articulated vehicle, while trying to avoid a collision with an 18-seater commercial bus.

The collission triggerd a spark and all the three vehicles were immediately enveloped in flames.

Another truck, laden with iron rods, rammed into the burning vehicles.

The ravaging fire caught up with the fifth tanker where it was parked at Kara, near Ibafo.

A combined team of the Police, fire fighters, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)

By Jude Isiguzo, Miriam Ndikanwu, Ernest Nwokolo and Titilayo Banjoko

and the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement (TRACE) unit, battled for hours to instil sanity in motorists, who became impatient after waiting endlessly in the gridlock.

One of the deceased, identified as Alhaji Abubakar Garuba, 55, who drove one of the trucks, was said to have lost control before his vehicle rammd into the stationary tankers from the rear.

According to his brother, Alhaji Suraju, a manager in an oil firm, Garuba drove the ill-fated truck from No 3b Ijora Causeway with 40,000 litres of Premium Motor Sprit (PMS). He left at about 5:15am.

An eye witness, Mr. Sodik Raheem, a school bus driver, told The Nation that the accident occurred at about 6.15am, when one of the tankers rammed into a stationary tanker, parked on the expressway.

He said: “I was going to the estate to pick one of our pupils, when suddenly, I heard a big bang and before I could fathom what the situation was, there was fire and other road users were running for safety.”

Raheem, who said he immediately returned to the accident scene after parking his bus a safe distance away, said two of the three passengers in the tanker died on the spot, while one escaped with serious injury.

At about 11am, officials of the Mowe unit of the FRSC, the federal and Ogun State Fire Service teams and officials of Bi-Courtney Highway Services Limited, were seen making frantic efforts to tow the tankers away from the Expressway.

The unit commander of the Mowe Unit Command, Mr. Olalekan Morakinyo, who confirmed that two people died, said his unit was contacted at about 6.45 am and his men arrived the scene by 7.10am.

Morakinyo gave the registration numbers of the two trucks as XV 525 APP and XK 583 KJA. He said: “Immediately we got the call that there was a fire incident in the early hours of today (yesterday), we immediately moved our men to the scene. And when we got here, we saw four tankers and one trailer in flames.

“Upon investigation, we learnt that two tankers wer4e involved in a acccident the previous night and they were left on the highway over night, thus narrowing the carriageway to just one lane for the traffic to move.

“So, this other one (pointing at one of the trailers) was coming early in the morning and it rammed into one of the tankers, because according to an eye witness, a bus wanted to overtake it and in an attempt not to run over the bus, it swerved and rammed into that tanker, sparking fire.

“The four tankers were carrying petroleum products but the truck

•Mr. Morakinyo speaking with reporters at the scene of the accident PHOTOS: BUNMI OGUNMODEDE

was carrying iron rods. There were two casualties and one person was injured. The person injured has been taken to the hospital by his relatives.

The incident happened between 6:30 and 6:45am.

The Area Commander of the Federal Fire Service, Mr. Patrick Ogbuoku, said his men assisted to put out the fire, even as he confirmed that the charred remains of the dead were handed over to the police.

“We discovered two corpses. We handed them over to officers from the Ibafo Police Station led by Sergeant Kadiri”, he said.

Most commuters, especially passengers, trekked long distances after waiting for several hours in the standstill. .

By noon, vehicle owners and drivers were still trapped in the grid lock, while some passengers

travelling from Lagos to the Eastern, Western and Northern parts of the country, lamented their plight.

Ogun State Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said one of the trucks involved in the crash was carrying ethanol (chemical) and that only two persons died.

Sector Commander of the FRSC in Ogun State Mr Alfred Oyeniyi Adegboye blamed the accident on what “rough and dangerous driving.”

Mr Wole Sokunbi, a director of public education and enlightenment in TRACE, said the indiscriminate packing of vehicles on the expressway contributed to the accident.

He urged the Federal Government to speed up the efforts towards revamping rail transportation system so as to reduce the pressure on the roads.

75 senators-elect back Mark for Senate President

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HE race for Senate President got more exciting yesterday, with 75 senators-elect endorsing incumbent David Mark.

Perhaps to smoothen the road for Mark, it was learnt, the Senate may reemphasise Order 97(f), which empowers only high-ranking senators to be made principal officers of the Senate.

The 75 senators-elect, including about 30 returnees, met behind closed doors at the residence of Senator Zaynab Kure (Niger State).

Although the list of the attendees was kept under wraps, the meeting was attended by senators-elect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Grand Allaince (APGA) and Labour Party (LP).

Some of those at the meeting are Smart Adeyemi, Abatemi Usman, Phillips Aduda and Solomon Suleiman Adoke.

A source said: “Senators-elect from the North-Central were so passion-

• Motion to recognise seniority From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

ate at the meeting that they were almost on their knees to seek support for Mark.

“Their fears bordered on alleged determination of those from the Northeast to push ahead for Senate presidency.

“After about three hours, most of us bought the arguments of the old senators that Mark is a team player.”

Adeyemi said: “It is true that about 75 Senators-elect met and decided to give unconditional support to Mark.

“What informed our decision was basically Mark’s rich experience not only as a fourth-time Senator, but as a lawmaker who piloted the affairs of the Senate for four years without any crisis. We believe we need such a man to stabilize our democracy.

“We have looked at the situation

and discovered that Mark is the most suitable for the job. We have all signified to work with him.

“Although he is not a perfect man, Mark is a leader that even if you have cause to disagree with him, he does not fight you to the finish. I think his maturity also counts for him.”

But as at press time, old senators, who are pro-Mark, again met with some senators-elect last night on Order 97(f).

It was gathered that they decided to re-emphasise Order 97(f) through a motion to checkmate some forces mobilizing fresh senators-elect against Mark.

The Order says: nomination of senators to serve as principal officers and chairmen of committees ... shall be in accordance with the ranking of Senators in which members previously elected into the Senate are granted precedence.”

A top source in the National Assembly said: “If the motion sails through before the end of this Sixth National Assembly, then, no new senator can lead the Upper Chamber.

“We have discovered that some forces, including a few governors, are trying to dictate for the incoming National Assembly who should lead it for selfish interests.”

Mark’s Chief Press Secretary Paul Mumeh issued a statement yesterday, says the senators forum was baking his boss. He said a delegation of the Forum, led by its Chairman, Senator Khairat Abdul-Razaq Gwadabe, in a solidarity visit to in Abuja said, “the Forum fully supports stability and continuity in the Senate as a means of consolidating our democratic institutions”.

Gwadabe stated that the alarming turnover of legislators at last parliamentary election where over 70 per

cent of the senators could not get return tickets does not augur well for the growth of the legislature.

According to her, with an experienced parliamentarian like Mark at the helm of affairs, she hoped that the seventh Senate will also experience stability.

Her words: “The Senators Forum wants to enhance the uniqueness of the leadership in the Senate, we want continuity and we are ready to support and identify with the unique opportunity for a stable Senate under Senator David Mark.”

Replying, Mark said the Nigerian project is a collective obligation, which all and sundry must associate with. “The stability in the Senate depend on the level of experience and exposure to legislative process.

Whatever we build today, tomorrow generation will build upon, he said.”

The Senate has initiated a pre-emptive move aimed at shutting first time senators out of the leadership contest in the incoming session.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

NEWS Fayemi sacks VCs of UNAD, USTI, TUNEDIK, Acting Provost From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

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RESUMABLY, in a bid to reposition the state education sector as recommended in the recently held Ekiti Education Summit, Governor Kayode Fayemi, yesterday approved the immediate sack of the Vice Chancellors of the three state-owned universities and the Provost of the College of Education.

The governor, who is the Visitor to all the institutions, approved the removal of the Vice Chancellors of the University of Ado-Ekiti (UNAD), Ado-Ekiti; the University of Science and Technology (USTI), Ifaki-Ekiti; the University of Education (TUNEDIK), Ikere-Ekiti and the Acting Provost of the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti.

In a statement signed by the Special Adviser (Media) to the governor, Mr. Mojeed Jamiu, the governor directed that the vice-chancellor of the University of Ado-Ekiti, Professor Dipo Kolawole, immediately hand over to the most senior professor in the university.

Govt to complete airport projects

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INISTER of Aviation Mrs. Fidelia Njeze yesterday restated the committed of the Federal Government to the completion of on- going rehabilitation projects at the nation’s airports. She described the commitment as part of efforts by the Jonathan administration to give the aviation sector a new lease of life.

The projects, according to Njeze, are located in Akure, Ibadan, Sokoto, Ilorin, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, Abuja and Enugu.

The minister, who spoke at the inauguration of the perimeter fence and road as well as the expanded apron of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, explained that with the completion of the perimeter of the Abuja Airport, raised the hope that country could now pass the

By Kelvin Osa- Okunbor

safety audit being planned by the International Civil Aviation Organisation ( ICAO), this month.

Mrs. Njeze explained that before the completion of the perimeter fence of the Abuja Airport, scores of visiting heads of state and governments, who flew into the Federal Capital City (FCT), had to park their aircraft in either Lagos or in neighbouring West Africa countries, because of security at the airports.

She explained that with the completion of the airport fence, cases of incursion into the runway and apron will become a thing of the past, as the safety and security of the airport has been upgraded enough that the Nigerian aviation now ranks among the safest in the world.

Police arrest suspected thieves

By Banjoko Titilayo

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OUR suspected motorcycle snatchers were yesterday apprehended by men of the Lagos State Police Command.

The suspects, identified as Seyi John, 20, Wasiu Adeyemi, 19, Ibrahim Buhari, 20 and Micheal Gbadamosi 20, were apprehended in a Mosque located at No 6, Onalaoluwapo Street, in Alapere area of the state.

It was gathered that the police had been on the trail of the suspects for a while, as they were said to have been terrorising motorcycle owners living within the neigbouirhood, before luck ran out on them yesterday. Unknown to them, a vigilance group in the area, had been keeping a tab on their operations and laid a siege on them before they latter attacked them at about 2:00pm, living them with deep cuts.

The Division Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the Alapere Police Division, Okosun Anthony Dion, a Superintend of Police (SP), was latter alerted and went to the area to arrest the suspects.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Samuel Jinadu, said the suspects have been in the business for the past five years adding that have been selling the stolen motorcycles to one Jaiyesimi, who resides in Ogun State.

Pharmaceutical giants parley

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HE Association of Nigerian Representatives of Overseas Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (NIROPHARMS), will hold a Business Networking evening on May 17, at Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja Lagos.

In a press statement signed by the association’s President, Mr. Ade Popoola and Mr. Clifford Emenike, chairman, strategic committee, the event will eneable stakeholders to rub minds on how to tackle the dearth of desirable market data, which has made planning and forecasting in the sector a matter of the rule of the thumb.

The NIROPHARM event with the theme; Pharma Market Data: A Key to Professional Marketing Prac-

tice will attract top professional pharmacists and marketers and some internationally acclaimed marketing research companies such AC Nielsen of Nigeria and Sanisphere of France.

It is believed that the outcome of this meeting will usher in a new era of objective planning based on available and accessible market data in the pharmaceutical industry.

Mr. Bunmi Olaopa, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD\CEO), Cipla Evans Plc will chair the event, while Mr. Lere Baale will give a key note address and Dr. Joe Odumodu, the Director-General, of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), is Special Guest of Honour.

• Inspector General of Police Hafiz Ringim(left) addressing senior police officers during their meeting in Abuja yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN With him are DIG Azubuko Udah and DIGAbubakar Abubakar.

Murder of Lagos doctor: Court faults actress’ appeal T

HE Court of Appeal in Lagos yesterday expressed dissatisfaction with the appeal by convicted actress, Ibinabo Fiberesima.

The court said it lacked necessary ingredients.

The court ordered her to modify the appeal which she filed against her conviction.

Ibinabo, currently on bail, is equally seeking a stay of the execution of the judgment.

She was convicted by Justice Deborah Oluwayemi of the Lagos High Court on February 20, 2009, for manslaughter in relation to the death in a vehicle accident, of

By Eric Ikhilae

a medical doctor, Dr. Suraj Giwa. She was sentenced to five years imprisonment without an option of fine.

Yesterday, the appellate court queried the non-inclusion of all the exhibits tendered at the lower court as part of the record of appeal transmitted from the lower court. The court observed that the record of appeal transmitted was not comprehensive enough.

The court held, in a short ruling, that all the exhibits tendered at the lower court should be part of the record.

It also observed that some pages of the record of appeal were not legible, hence nothing can be done on the appeal as it is filled with errors.

It held that in view of the development, no progress could be made in the case in view of the exclusion of the necessary ingredients. It elected to allow Ibinabo some time to regularise the appeal.

Fiberesima was earlier tried and convicted by a magistrates’ court. The court awarded a N100, 000 fine against her.

Dissatisfied, the state government appealed to the High Court, where Justice Oluwayemi conducted a fresh trial and gave the latest judgment, against which Ibinabo lodged the appeal.

The judge had held among others, that it was unreasonable for a magistrate to give an option of N100, 000 fine to someone, who has taken the life of another person through dangerous driving.

Food security possible in five years, says Saraki

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IGERIA can become self-sufficient in food production within five years and save the $4 billion (about N600 billion) spent annually on food importation, if it modernises farming and embraces commercial agriculture, Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki has said.

The governor spoke in London on Monday when he addressed a gathering of academics; investment analysts; foreign policy experts, development partners and Nigerians.

He said: “Nigeria doesn’t have any business importing food items, given our huge agricultural potentials.

By Olamilekan Andu and Sunday Dare, Kwara

“But to move from mere potential to the desired result, we need to modernise farming; scale up; add value and see agriculture as business, not just a means of survival.”

His presentation on the experience of Zimbabwean farmers in Kwara State at Chatham House, London, drew attention to how Nigeria could turn its agricultural potentials to real investment for huge foreign earning and abundant food production.

Saraki said: “We have seen dramatic increase in farm

yields. Also, new jobs have been created, modern agricultural skills are being transferred to local farmers, and economic activities are picking up in the host community.”

He noted that the real impact of the partnership with the Zimbabwean farmers was its demonstration effect.

Saraki said: “It has shown what is possible. We do not expect 13 farmers to feed the whole of Nigeria. But we expect that they can serve as catalysts. Imagine what will happen when you have hundreds of such projects all over Nigeria. That is our hope.”

The governor said the ag-

ricultural sector offered Nigeria the opportunity for growth and development, adding: “No other sector, not even the oil sector, holds as much prospect in terms of job creation, poverty reduction, productivity increase, economic diversification, national growth and sustainable development. But business as usual will not do it.

“Subsistence agriculture will not deliver all these prospects.

Commercial farming, while integrating the local farmers, is the way to go. With commercial agriculture, we can save the $1 billion we spend annually to import milk and create at least three million jobs.

Uproar in House of Reps over unpaid salaries Continued from page 2 He subsequently moved a motion that in the interim, the Speaker should be suspended, pending the conclusion of the investigations.

A row broke out, with some members shouting: “Yes! Yes!”.

Others screamed: “No! No!” Some members suggested an Executive Session as the plenary got tense.

Nafada, who was presiding, refused the suggestion.

He also refused to speak on the motion for the Speaker’s suspension. He calmed

frayed nerves by directly apologising for the lapses.

Nafada asked the Clerk, Mr. Sani Omolori, why the salaries of Melaye and the other re-instated members were yet to be paid.

Omolori said the salaries were still being processed.

Nafada promised that the salaries of all members of the House would soon be paid.

This elicited a chorus of “when? when?”

Chairman, House Committee on Police Affairs, Hon. Abdul Ningi, saved the Speaker with his argument.

He said: “Indeed, it’s a trying time for the House. Dino

(Melaye) has raised weighty matters and it is fundamental for the House to discuss them.

It’s beyond the issue of suspended members. It has extended to everybody. No principal officer has been able to provide answers and the Speaker is not here to provide answers. We should, therefore, ask the Deputy Speaker to invite the Speaker to appear tomorrow as a matter of urgency to answer the allegations. He will be able to give us the story and history behind the loans.”

“We should summon him,” some members chorused.

The Deputy Speaker re-

sponded: “He is a member; so we don’t have to summon him.”

Hon. Friday Itulah said: “You cannot shave a man’s head in his absence. We should hear the Speaker’s side of the story after which we will put the question on the motion on his suspension.”

Melaye, after consultations with the Deputy Speaker, agreed to stand down the motion till today.

However, Hon. Independence Ogunewe insisted that the Clerk should answer questions because he is the Chief Accounting Officer.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

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NEWS

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•Ekiti State Deputy Governor Mrs. Funmi Olayinka (2nd left) inaugurating the Oke Ila Health Centre built by Ado Local Government . With her his Caretaker Chairman of the local government Mr. Sunday Ibitoye (2nd right) ...yesterday

Corps members demand N42m unpaid allowances from INEC

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ATCHES B and C members of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) in Ogun State, who served as ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the April elections, are demanding their unpaid allowances.

The arrears is about N42 million. Each corps member

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

was entitled to N28,000 and no fewer than 1,600 of them were hired.

Some Corps members, who spoke on anonymity, told our reporter that they felt used and abandoned by INEC. One of them said: “Two weeks after the elections, we

have not been paid our entitlements in Ogun. Some of us went through pain and discomfort in remote areas to conduct elections.

“Unfortunately, INEC did not take note of that. Why is the commission holding on to our money, when other categories of ad-hoc staff used for the exercise have all been paid?”

INEC Administrative Secretary in the state Elder Ebenezer Fakorede said those yet to be paid probably gave wrong data about their code, bank account numbers and other necessary information for payment.

He said the matter would be resolved as soon as the mistakes are corrected.

Gardener demands N10m damages from Alaba Lawson’s son for HIV/AIDS campaign

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HE son of Iyalode of Yoruba land, Chief Mrs. Alaba Lawson, Babalola, has been asked to pay N10,000,000 million damages by his former gardener, Mr. Samuel Abiodun, for allegedly ruining his marriage.

Abiodun was a gardener at Lawson Group of Schools, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, where Babalola is the Director.

Abiodun alleged that Babalola “deceitfully and fraudulently” obtained his photograph and used it for a billboard campaign on HIV/AIDS awareness without his consent.

He said sometimes in October last year, Babalola called him to his office and asked him to pose for a photograph.

Abiodun, who has resigned his employment, said he complied without knowing it would be used for such a campaign.

He said when his wife saw

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

the billboard; she deserted him, thinking he had contracted the virus.

Abiodun said: “Sometimes last year October, a chorister in my church, who schools in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, saw a billboard bearing my picture and that of a lady promoting HIV

awareness.

“He took a picture of the billboard with his phone and brought it to Abeokuta to show my wife.”

Abiodun, through his counsel, Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), is demanding a public apology and N10,000,000 million damages.

He threatened to sue Babalola if his demands are not met in two weeks.

Babalola insisted that

Abiodun voluntarily posed for the photograph.

He said: “I’m a complete gentleman; he voluntarily posed for the photograph.

Before God and man, Abiodun volunteered in the presence of my people.

“This thing has to do with sensitising people. It is a United Nation’s project. Nobody is saying he has AIDS. He took part willingly.”

ACN alleges sale of Ogun House, others

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has accused the administration of Governor Gbenga Daniel of selling the Ogun State Liaison Office building on Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.

In a statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr. Sola Lawal, ACN alleged that the House was sold last Thursday, but the government is keeping it secret.

The party also alleged that the government has sold the official quarters of the Chief Justice of the State on Oba Ademola Street, Ibara GRA, Abeokuta, and that of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to senior

government officials.

It accused Daniel of selling several hectares of land at the eight farm settlements established by the Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Western Region government in 1954 to his acolytes at paltry sums.

ACN criticised over 2000 appointments made by the government in the last two weeks.

It alleged that the promotion of 17 school principals to grade level 17 did not follow due process, stressing that the law does not permit the promotion of principals beyond level 16 .

The party warned beneficiaries to be wary, saying they may suffer the consequences in future.

Akoko PDP leaders disown council chair’s statement on minister’s suspension

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OME Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in Akoko Northwest Local Government Area of Ondo State yesterday supported the suspension of Minister of Defence Tokunbo Kayode by the party’s state leadership.

Kayode, who hails from

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

the local government, was suspended for alleged involvement in anti-party activities.

The leaders were reacting to a statement by the council’s Acting Chairman, Mr. Arohunmolase, that PDP members in the area were not

in support of the suspension.

In a statement, former Council Chairman Lawrence Adu and nine others said they were not surprised that Arohunmolase was supporting Kayode, adding that he was a Personal Assistant to Kayode before he was picked to act as chairman.

•Kayode

•The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe at the event...yesterday

Work selflessly, Mimiko urges lawmakers-elect

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HE 36 members-elect into the Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State have been urged to add value to the lives of the people who elected them.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko spoke yesterday in his office in Akure, the state capital, while hosting them.

Mimiko said: “The only way to thank the people is to work for them. I congratulate all of you; you are part of the revolutionary historical phenomenon.

“I don’t want to sound immodest, but by the time we are through, we want to prove to the world that you are capable of transforming people’s lives.

I beg you in the name of God Almighty, not to let me down.

“We have three senators and each time I imagine what difference they will make in the lives of the people, I feel excited.

There will be a great transformation in the lives of our people.”

LP State Chairman Dr. Olaiya Oni attributed the success of the party in the last election to collective bargaining and unity among members.

He urged the legislators-elect to be focused.

On behalf of his colleagues, senator-elect in Ondo South, Boluwaji Kunlere, assured Mimiko and the people that they would work selflessly to improve the state.

I’m best Oyo governor, says Akala O V E R N O R Adebayo AlaoAkala yesterday said his administration remains the best in Oyo State since 1984.

He said it has trained more civil servants both at the national and international level than any government between 1984 and 2006.

Alao-Akala said his administration holds workers in high esteem and pays salaries and allowances promptly.

He spoke yesterday at the swearing in of the new Head of Service, Tajudeen Olasunkanmi Aremu.

Alao-Akala said: “The present administration, in the

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From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

last four years, has impacted positively on the lives of the good people of Oyo State. We have constructed roads in all the nooks and crannies.

“We have laid the necessary infrastructure that will enhance economic growth and social development. Whenever the history of Oyo State is written, this administration will be given a pride of place as a progressive and people oriented government.”

Aremu joined the civil service in 1980 and has served in several offices, including the governor’s office.

Aregbesola mourns Southwark Mayor OVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola has said the death of the Mayor of Southwark Borough in London, United Kingdom, Mayor Tayo Situ, is a big loss to Osun State.

Aregbesola, in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said: “It is a sad thing for us in Osun State that Mayor Situ is no more. He was a source of pride to Nigeria and the state.

It is much more painful that his death came at a time when the experience of Nigerians like him in the Diaspora is needed to accelerate develop-

G

ment at home.

“Osun State just signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Borough of Southwark last week as part of efforts to boost development at the grassroots.

“The late Situ was in Nigeria for the World Summit of Black Mayors, which we hosted in Osun State between February 28 and March 3, this year. He was full of life and made very robust contributions.

“He was also a major participant at the Global Conference of Black Nationalities, which held in Osun State last year August. His death is a big loss for us.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

6

NEWS Kwakwanso to complete stuck projects From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

THE Kano State Governorelect Rabiu Kwankwaso has promised to complete projects abandoned by the outgoing Governor Ibrahim Shekarau.

He also said he was not on a vengeance mission.

Speaking with The Nation in Kano yesterday, Kwankwanso said a transition committee had been inaugurated to handle cases of abandoned projects and ensure completing them for the socio-economic development of the state.

He said governance was a continuous process, adding that his administration would complete abandoned projects by another party if they have direct bearing on the people.

According to him, when he first assumed office in 1999, his administration completed all abandoned projects, adding that it would do so again and initiate new ones.

Kwankwanso asid: “Among the 23 transition committees we recently inaugurated, we have Abandoned Projects Committee, headed by the same person who did a good job in 1999. Whatever project the government feels should be completed would be completed because governance should be a continuous enterprise.

JUTH CMD’s mother dead From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

MRS. Elizabeth Pam, mother of the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Jos Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Dr. Ishaya Pam, is dead.

She was 75.

Her first son and former Plateau State AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice in Plateau State, Mr. Yakubu Pam, confirmed the death yesterday.

She died on Tuesday at Peterborough Hospital, in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.

Mrs. Pam was the wife of Col. James Pam, the first artillery officer in the Nigerian Army, who was killed in the military coup of January 15, 1966.

She was a member of the Justice Oputa Panel, which probed the human rights abuses by the military.

Mrs Pam was also Chairman of the Plateau Peace Conference, in 2004, during the state of emergency government.

She is survived by six children.

•From left: Dignitaries at the Nigerian launch of the United Nations (UN) Decade of Action on Road Safety in Abuja ...yesterday

Unknown gunmen kill union leader, son in Maiduguri U

NKNOWN gunmen on Tuesday night killed the chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Bama Road Motor Park, Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, Alhaji Ibrahim Dudu Gwoza, and his son.

It was gathered that the killers drove to his home in an unmarked black Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV); wait-

From Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri

ed for him to enter his compound and shot him several times as he entered.

His son, Mohammed, who opened the gate, was reportedly killed by the gunmen.

Another son of the slain union leader told reporters that

the incident happened around 8pm, adding that the gunmen killed his father in the compound after trailing him home.

Gwoza reportedly died on the spot; Mohammed passed away on the way to the hospital.

It was gathered that there

had been many unsuccessful attempts on the life of the late union leader.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Lawal Abdullahi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), confirmed the killing.

He said the commissioner had directed the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to probe the kiling to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Sambo leads Fed Govt team to CJN

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ICE-President Namandi Sambo yesterday led a Federal Government delegation to condole with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Katsina-Alu on the death of his wife, Mimi.

Accompanied by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Alhaji Yayale Ahmed and other top government officials, Sambo presented a letter of condolence from President Goodluck Jonathan to Justice KatsinaAlu. He described the death of his wife as unfortunate, praying God to console him.

Sambo described the late Mrs Katsina-Alu as a courageous woman.

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•Orji condoles with Katsina-Alu From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi and Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

He regretted that she pass away when her husband was serving his father land.

Katsina-Alu said he was consoled by the visit of the Federal Government delegation.

Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko said God knew best why she died at this time and prayed God to grant her eternal rest.

His Kogi State counterpart, Alhaji Idris Abubarka, prayed God to give Justice KatsinaAlu the fortitude to bear the loss.

Alhaji Aliko Dangote also

sent a condolence message.

Mrs Katsina-Alu will be buried on Saturday in Tse Alu, Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue state.

Abia State Governor Theodore Orji has condoled with Justice Katsina Alu over the death of his wife.

In a statement by his Adviser on Electronic Media Ugochukwu Emezue, Orji said Mrs. Katsina-Alu’s death had created a vacuum in the CJN’s family.

He noted that she was a source of strength to her husband at home and at his place of work.

Orji said she stabilised the family as the CJN discharged

•The late Mrs Katsina-Alu his duties to the nation.

The governor said though Mrs Katsina-Alu’s death was painful, he urged the family and the CJN to be consoled by his wife’s fulfilled life.

Orji prayed God to give Justice Katsina-Alu, his children and the country to bear the irreparable loss.

Police kill ‘notorious robber’ in Niger

HE Police in Niger have killed a “notorious robber” operating in the state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Command said yesterday.

The robber was reportedly killed during a gun battle between members of his gang and the Police.

Six members of the gang are said to have escaped.

The robbers reportedly snatched a Toyota Camry car, with registration number EY 633 ABJ and the case was reported at the Divisional Police

From Justina Asishana, Minna

Station in Tafa, Niger State.

The robbers were said to be heading to Garam Village in Tafa local government.

Following a tip-off, the Police mounted a road block and the robbers, driving a RAV 4 Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with registration number BL 22 KWL and the snatched Camry car, ran into the Police at the road block.

On sighting the Police, they started shooting. The Police

shot back and overpowered the hoodlums, who abandoned the vehicles and fled into the bush.

But the Police shot one of the fleeing robbers who died on the spot.

Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Richard Oguche, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said the Police were searching for other members of the gang, adding that the two vehicles had been recovered.

He also said an AK 47 rifle

and 12 magazines loaded with 195 rounds of live ammunition were found in the vehicles.

Other items recovered were a pistol, three locally made bulletproof vest and four pairs of vehicle registration numbers.

Oguche said the Police identified the owner of the recovered SUV, adding that the owners of the Camry was yet to be identified.

He said investigation was ongoing to arrest the other fleeing robbers.

PHOTO: NAN

Taraba poll winners get certificates From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday issued certificates of return to winners of the National Assembly, governorship and House of Assembly elections.

The ceremony took place at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Sabon-Gari, Jalingo, the state capital.

INEC Supervising National Commissioner for Taraba State Dr. Nura Yakubu said there were 117 contestants for the 24 House of Assembly seats; 27 for the six House of Representatives seats; 18 for the three senatorial seats; and 11 for the governorship seat.

He said: “The electorate also showed keen interest in the elections, with an average voter turnout of about 50 per cent for the polls.”

Yakubu congratulated the winners, urging the losers to be gallant in defeat.

There was no winner for the House of Assembly seat in Ibi state constituency.

INEC said the election in the area was inconclusive and the Returning Officer coerced to declare a winner under duress.

Suntai, the three senators-elect, Speaker Haruna Gbana and other elected officers were absent at the ceremony.

INEC said they must report to its office in person to collect the certificates.

Yakowa seeks opposition’s cooperation for development

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ADUNA Governor Patrick Yakowa yesterday received his certificate of return with a call on opposition to join him to build the state.

The governor dedicated his victory to those who died during the post-election violence, urging other winners to follow suit.

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

Security operatives cordoned off the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office, venue of the presentation, and there were checkpoints on all the roads to the place.

Journalists were screened before they were allowed

into the venue and business offices near the venue were forced to close. Armed soldiers and the men of the state anti-crime security outfit, Operation Yaki, patrolled adjoining streets to forestall likely crisis.

Yakowa, who received his certificate of return from the INEC National Commission-

er in charge of Kaduna, Kwara, Niger states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Chris Iyimogha, urged the Ose elected to work for the people.

He said: “The elections have been conducted peacefully, fairly and transparently all across Nigeria. I want all of us to dedicate the cer-

tificates we have received today to the memory of our brothers and sisters who lost their lives in the recent postelection violence.

“I want to assure their relations that their sacrifices would not go in vain. All of us elected, including President Goodluck Jonathan, are all committed to working to-

gether to transform Nigeria and our state and I believe we can count on your support.

“I want to congratulate our Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) brothers and as I’ve said, we should all work together to transform the people of Kaduna State.

That is what they have elected us for and we must not let them down.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

7

NEWS Two robbery suspects killed From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

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WO robbery suspects, including a woman, have been killed by the men of the Rivers State Police Command in Port Harcourt, the capital.

The robbers engaged a patrol team from Diobu in an exchange of fire on Elechi Beach, Mile One. The suspects were killed; others escaped with wounds in the Tuesday incident.

Police spokesman Ben Ugwuegbulam confirmed the incident.

He said two AK-47 rifles; 83 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition and eight AK47 magazines were recovered.

A giant iron cutter, face mask, sack and a Nissan Almera car, with registration number FU 197 LSR, used by the hoodlums, were also recovered.

Ugwuegbulam said the patrol team’s commander sustained “minor” injury.

JTF, John Togo men clash in Delta

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HE prevailing peace in the creeks of the Niger Delta was disrupted yesterday evening when troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF) clashed with armed youths suspected to be members of the Niger Delta Liberation Force, led by renegade warlord, ‘General’ John Togo, in Ayakoromor, Burutu Local Government of Delta State.

Although the circumstances surrounding the incident as well as the casualty figure could not be independently confirmed at press time, both sides gave different accounts of events that lead to the clash.

From Shola O’Neil, Warri

Sources said the clash occurred when troops of the Task Force stormed a camp close to the Ijaw community which was razed down last December during the search for Togo.

JTF’s Media Coordinator Lt. Col. Tim Antigha, who confirmed the report, in a text message, said the skirmishes were sparked off by an attack on its troops on routine patrol in the area.

He, however, did not give further details.

His words: “At about 1353 hrs today in Ayakoromor Community, there was a skirmish between troops of

the JTF who were on routine patrol and renegade militants, suspected to be associates of the wanted John Togo.

“Further details will be provided later.”

Antigha, however, hinted that the attack might be connected to threat by a militant group to attack oil facilities in the region to protest the result of the April 26 governorship election.

“You will recall that just two days ago, the JTF in a press release warned that some politicians, who lost in the election, were colluding with some discredited elements to threaten security in

the state and region,” he said.

Although NDLF spokesperson, ‘Colonel’ Mark Anthony, could not be reached for comment, a source close to John Togo, gave a different account of the clash and dissociated the group from the threat.

The source said contrary to the JTF claims, it was the Task Force that attacked their camp.

“But we gave a very good account of ourselves and they were repelled without any scratch on our assets or personnel.”

He said the group was still uploading its unilateral ceasefire.

Corps members buried in Bayelsa From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

T was a sad day in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, yesterday as the remains of two National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, who drowned when their boat capsized, were buried.

Four corps members were in the commercial speedboat plying Nembe to Ogbia waterfront.

Two of them wore life jackets; the others didn’t.

The deceased are: Aremu Oluwasegun Steven, a geology graduate of the University of Ilorin and Adamu Isah Barau, a native of Bauchi State.

Barau’s remains were interred in accordance with Islamic rites by the Muslim community.

For Aremu, a lying in state was held at the Yenagoa Local Government Council Hall before his remains were buried in the Yenagoa River.

NYSC spokesman Pius Iyamah warned corps members not to travel on water without life jackets.

Governor Timipre Sylva, represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Corps Members Affairs, Lawrence Ikati, appealed to corps members to always get permission before travelling.

I

Edo decries delay

E

DO State Government has decried the delay in the disbursement of the N1billion Agric loan to 720 cooperative farmers by a first generation bank.

At the end of the State Executive Council meeting yesterday, Deputy Governor Pius Odubu lamented that the delay has negatively affected the overall intention of the government to assist farmers, especially as the farming season sets in.

The Commissioner for Finance, John Inegbedion, said the “Council hereby directs the bank to release the entire N1 billion to all the 720 cooperatives within one week.”

•Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi (middle) inspecting traffic on Aba Road, Port Harcourt…yesterday

RMAFC has no reason not to pay us, says Amaechi R IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi yesterday deplored the stand of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) on the disputed 86 oil wells between the state and Akwa Ibom.

RMAFC, he said, had no reason not to pay the revenue from the wells.

He described as uncalled for, the establishment of a committee to look into the March 18 Supreme Court judgment over the issue.

Amaechi spoke on his arrival from Abuja yesterday.

He said: “What happened is that last month, we asked them to put it in an escrow account, but they refused, saying that they had not gotten a copy of the judgment.

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

“Then the Federal Government got a copy of the judgment and served it on them.

“They have no reason, therefore, this month to still pay Akwa Ibom.

“They have to put it in an escrow account. We are waiting for them, I hope that by next month, we will be able to receive this month’s fund, and that of June, and then, deductions will start from there.”

Last Tuesday, RMAFC said revenue accruing from the exploration of crude oil from the wells would be saved in a special account,

pending the resolution of the issues by the Inter-Agency Technical Committee on the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment.

The commission said the decision to create the escrow account was part of steps taken to ensure equity, fairness and justice in the implementation of the judgment.

The Supreme Court on March 18 ordered Akwa Ibom to transfer to Rivers, the oil wells, with accruing revenue beginning from April 2009.

Akwa Ibom is expected to refund about N350 billion to Rivers, based on the judgment by a panel led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria

(CJN), Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu. The court held that in a bid to settle a rift between both states, the Olusegun Obasanjo administration convinced ex-Governors Victor Attah (Akwa Ibom) and Peter Odili (Rivers), to sign an agreement which conferred ownership of the wells to Rivers.

The deal went awry when Attah’s successor, Godswill Akpabio, kicked against the arrangement in 2007, insisting that the National Boundary Commission (NBC) must return the ceded wells to his state.

Following Akpabio’s contention, Amaechi approached the High Court to challenge the move, but lost.

He later proceeded to the Supreme Court, where he won.

DPP urges probe into allegation of plot to destabilise Delta

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HE Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) in Delta State has urged the Federal Government to probe the allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that it is inciting exmilitants against Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

The party accused the ruling party of plans to destabilise the state and blame it on the opposition.

The government accused DPP of instigating ex-militants against the Uduaghan administration.

DPP’s reaction is coming on the heels of a 21-day ul-

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

timatum given to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reverse its verdict on the governorship poll won by Uduaghan.

Denying DPP is dealing with ex-militants, the party chairman, Tony Ezeagwu, said PDP has started instigating the security agencies against his party, which is in court to quash the outcome of the January 6 rerun.

His words: “We wanted to stage a protest but the po-

lice said we needed a permit and we have applied for one, as I talk to you, we are yet to get one from them.

“These allegations of inciting militants against the government are false.

“PDP wants to wreak havoc and then blame it on us.

“PDP plays this game each time it rigs the elections because its members know they are not popular.

“This is how they instigate the police against us every time.

“There were protests in Imo during the elections, but nobody was arrested.

“If it had been in Delta, our supporters will be shot.

They brutalised our women and locked them up just because we wanted to protest the injustice meted out to us. That is the kind of society we live in here.”

The party appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan and Inspector General of Police Hafiz Ringim to call PDP to order to avoid chaos.

Ezeagwu said DPP would soon formally file its petition against Uduaghan’s reelection, adding that the party was confident it would win.

Depot fire: Motorists embark on panic buying From Shola O’Neil, Warri

RESIDENTS of Warri and its environs in Delta State yesterday embarked on panic buying of petroleum products, following Monday’s fire at the Warri Depot of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company.

The fire, which cause is yet to be ascertained, led to the shutdown of the loading platform of the PPMC Depot, provoking fear of scarcity of petroleum products.

The management has set up committees to investigate the fire, ostensibly to pave the way for the reopening of the facility.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who deployed the Commissioner for Petroleum Resources in the scene on Tuesday, was assured by the depot manager, Sunday Edegbo, that the incident would not affect regular supply of products.

Uduaghan advised motorists and other users against panic buying.

But checks in Warri and Effurun yesterday revealed that the advice was not heeded as there were long queues in filling stations.

Some of the motorists said they were being cautious because of past experience with dealers, who use such incidents to make quick money.

A taxi driver, who pleaded anonymity, said: “We heard government’s advice and we also know that the depot has enough petrol to last for weeks or may be months but more importantly we know the ways of these marketers.

“They will soon start hoarding petrol with the excuse that the refinery is not working.”

Anioma Festival for Saturday THE eighth edition of Anioma Cultural Festival will now hold on Saturday at the Arcade Ground, Asaba, the Delta State capital.

A statement by the spokesman for the Oganisation for the Advancement of Anioma Culture (OFAAC), Godfrey Osakwe, said the postponement from April 24 to Saturday was informed by the adjustment of the election timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The theme for this year’s festival is “Spirit of unity in Anioma”, in line with Anioma’s historical values of togetherness and selfless service to one another and communities.

OFAAC Vice President Paddy Ugboh called for an active participation from more organisations and groups, including smaller community-based ones, with the goal of synergising efforts aimed at the preservation of Nigeria’s cultural heritage, ensure peace and harmony.

8

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

NEWS

Southeast loses as PDP Caucus upholds zoning

Why we succeeded, by Jega

By Adeola Fayehun, New York

I

•Mark, Ekweremadu, national chairman survive round one HE National Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)on Tuesday night decided to retain the current zoning formula for the sharing of offices.

With the development, the coast appears clear for the President of the Senate, Chief David Mark and the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu to seek second term in office if they are nominated by their geopolitical zones.

It is left to Mark and others to play their games well to earn their second term tickets in the leadership positions in the Senate Also a likely beneficiary of the decision might be the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Mohammed Haliru Bello, whose North-East zone may retain the post.

But the upholding of the existing formula saw the South-East losing out its battle for the Office of the Speaker to the South-West.

According to findings, the National Caucus which met late on Tuesday opted for the retention of the zoning formula based on five factors: The need to ensure continu-

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•President— Southsouth •Vice-President— Northwest •Senate President—Northcentral •Speaker—Southwest •Deputy Senate President—Southeast • Deputy Speaker —Northeast •National Chairman—Northeast •SGF—South —East •Senate Leader—Southwest •House Leader—South-South •Senate Chief Whip-Northwest •House Chief Whip—Southeast From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

ity and settle down for work.

Stability of the nation’s democracy by saving time being spent to vie for offices.

To avoid crisis for the new administration of President Goodluck Jonathan in the National Assembly.

Ethnic balancing Sustaining pre-election pledges/ commitments which assisted PDP to earn a well-deserved victory.

A source at the meeting gave the breakdown of the formula as follows: President (South-South); Vice-President (North-West); Senate President (North Central); Speaker (South-West); Deputy Senate President

(South-East); Deputy Speaker (North-East); National Chairman (North East); SGF (SouthEast); Senate Leader (SouthWest); House Leader (SouthSouth); Senate Chief Whip (North-West); and the House Chief Whip (South-East).

He said: “The issue of power sharing formula was the easiest matter that was discussed at the meeting as most members were not happy with the tension being generated by the debate.

“Even the South-East delegation caught everyone by their silence when the matter came up at the meeting. Not even a finger was raised from the geopolitical zone to demand for the Office of the Speaker.”

NDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission (INEC) chair Prof Attahiru Jega has explained the reasons behind the success achieved by the electoral body in the conduct of last month’s general elections.

Jega said prior to the election, INEC examined past exercises, identified their shortcomings which it factored into its preparations.

He said:“We identified what undermined the credibility of past elections and tried to address them. We tried to creatively and pragmatically introduce new measures and procedures to bring additional transparency and credibility to the process,” he said.

Jega said although the country’s political environment was not conducive when his commission set out for the task, its success was also informed by the determination of INEC leadership and supports from stakeholders and foreign development partners.

The INEC boss spoke on Tuesday at a forum on “Nigeria: The April 2011 elections and beyond” at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced Studies and International Studies, the John Hopkins University, Washington D C. He said the commission would introduce various reforms as part of measures to eliminate identified lapses and prepare INEC for future elections.

Jega, who said INEC was now in a better position to improve on its last performance, assured Nigerians of more credible and fairer elections in the future.

He said with the deployment of the Direct Data Capturing (DDC) Machines for voters’ registration, INEC now has a huge national asset of databases in all the states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, accompanied with secured disaster recovery centers.

“Conducting elections that are free, fair, peaceful and credible in a country such as Nigeria, given its size, large population, terrain and ethno-religious diversity, is a very difficult assignment even under normal circumstances.

•Mark

“I can tell you that the matter has been amicably resolved and we are hopeful that the National Assembly will take off on a peaceful note.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “It is left to any political office holder like Mark to return to their zones to seek mandate to remain in such posts.”

As at press time, there were indications that the SouthEast Caucus in the National Assembly may meet next week on the fate of Ekweremadu.

A reliable Senator, who spoke in confidence, said: “Most of us want him back but we will still meet next week to take a decision. And you know in politics, it is all about lobbying.”

Senate confirms Odili, Ariwoola, Ngwuta as Supreme Court Justices From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja HE Senate yesterday confirmed the nominations of Justices N.S. Ngwuta, Mary Odili and O. Ariwoola as Justices of the Supreme Court.

The three jurists were nominated from the Court of Appeal

by President Goodluck Jonathan for elevation to the apex court.

Justices Ngwuta and Odili are to fill the vacancies at the apex court for Southeast geo-political zone. Ariwoola is for the Southeast.

In a letter to the Senate dated April 19, 2011, President Jonathan said the appointments were necessitated by the recent retirement from the Supreme Court bench of three Justices; G. A Oguntade, J.O Ogebe and Niki Tobi.

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Fuel: NUPENG gives Fed Govt 14-day ultimatum From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

A

NOTHER crisis looms in the Petroleum sector as the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG) yesterday gave the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to address the crisis in the sector.

NUPENG wants the Federal Government to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) it entered into with the management of MRS which grants the company 15 years to pay up its loan.

Besides, the union is seeking a guarantee from the Federal Government that it would ensure that its policy in the downstream sector would create enabling empowerment for stakeholders in the industry.

NUPENG’s, Chairman Comrade Benneth Korie, announced the ultimatum in Abuja.

He said the ultimatum would take effect from May 9.

Gbonigi advises graduates to reject NYSC posting to the North From Bisi Oladele and Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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HE retired Bishop of the Anglican Church, Akure, Ondo State, Rev. Bolanle Gbonigi, yesterday called on graduates of Yoruba origin and other parts in the South to reject posting to the North by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Gbonigi gave the advice in Ibadan yesterday. It was at a press conference he addressed under the auspices of a Pan-Yoruba group, the Action Committee for Restoration of Oodua Sovereignty. The cleric is the group’s president.

His advice, according to him, was based on the killing of corps members during the post-election violence that broke out in some parts of the North. At least, 10 young graduates, observing the compulsory one year national youth service in the North were killed in the violent attacks.

He also called on the authorities to urgently review its posting arrangement and patterns to ensure that corps members are posted to states within their geopolitical zones of origin.

Should the NYSC refuse to heed the advice, Rev Gbonigi said members of the Corps management might be accused of premeditated genocide against Yoruba and other Southerners. He threatened to personally lead a revolution if public office holders refused to practise politics progressively.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

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NEWS

•Dean, College of Art, Social and Management Sciences, Caleb University, Prof Kunle Iyanda (left), Registrar, Mrs Bamidele Awere (second left), Vice Chancellor, Mrs Abiodun Shobowale Prof Ayodeji Olukoju, Prof Idowu Shobowale, and Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Prince Niyi Oyemade...on the occasion

Mr Bonuola (left) and Prof Akinfeleye...yesterday

•Prof Williams (left) and Malam Haruna

Experts rate media high despite challenges T

HEY came from far and near to honour a man who bestrides two worlds-Prof. Idowu Sobowale.

They came from the academia and the media, the two institutions where Sobowale distinguished himself. The purpose of their gathering was to do an appraisal of jourvalism in the last 150 years.

It was at the Idowu Sobowale Biennial Conference organised by the Department of Mass Communication of Caleb University , Lagos Sobowale< who turned 70 recently, is of the Department of Mass Communication,Covenant University.

He started as a Journalist before veering into the Academia The gathering dissected the achievements and challenges while proferring the way forward.

The theme was 150 Years of Journalism: Telling The Nigerian Story.”

At the event, Mr Lade Bonuola, former Deputy Managing Director, Daily Times of Nigeria Pa Laban Namme and his wife; renowned essayist Prof Adebayo Williams; Former New Nigerian Managing Director, Mallam Mohammed Haruna; Head of Department, Mass Communication, University of Lagos (UNILAG) Prof Ralph Akinfeleye; and Editor The Nation on Sunday, Mr Lekan Otufodunrin.

Others are the Vice-Chancellor, Caleb University, Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju; First African Professor of Mass Communication and former HOD of Mass Communication UNILAG, Alfred Opubor; the first female professor of Mass Communication in Nigeria Onuora Nwuneli.

Also in attendance were former Minister of Information Tony Momoh represented by Mr leke Taiwo and the Lagos State

By Adegunle Olugbamila

Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Prince Niyi Oyemade, who stood in for Governor Babatunde Fashola, among others.

Issues such as corruption, government regulation of press, press freedom; welfare of journalists and Freedom of Information Bill, and other related issues, came under the spotlight.

Experts in attendance agreed journalism practice has tremendously improved since the pre-independence era to date. They however projected a sharp departure in journalism in the next 150 years because of improved technology. They urged owners of media organisations to improve on the welfare packages of their workers and advised journalists to improve themselves with the available state-of-the-art facilities in order to catch up with events.

Setting the tone for the day’s business, prof.Williams lauded the Nigerian press for laying the foundation for modern journalism practice.

Delivering his keynote lecture tagged: “The nature of national narratives: The press and the evolution of modern Nigeria’, Prof Williams described the gathering as imperative because of the just concluded general elections so as to ascertain the extent of Nigeria’s perennial regional politics vis-a-vis the contributions of the media.

Prof Willims said: “Although we seem to have conducted pasasable elections, the elections themselves seemed to have opened the old fault lines of regional ethnic and religious divisions. The demons of electoralism are here with us yet without a nation, we cannot even begin to talk about democracy. Elections themselves don’t resolve na-

‘Experts in attendance agreed journalism practice has tremendously improved since the preindependence era to date. They projected a sharp departure in journalism in the next 150 years because of improved technology.’ tional contradictions, they merely provide an enabling platform that throws up those who will solve national problems provided the nation is not hobbled by disfiguring disabilities.”

The erudite scholar/columnist said the press and the nation have played symbiotic roles whereby the rot in the nation seeps into the press and vice versa. He however commended journalists who will still stick to the ethics of the profession and report their conscience despite repeated threats or financial inducements.

He pinpointed corruption, poverty, economic and democratic recession, and repeated battering of economy over the years as the reason for the disappearance of the middle class, a situation Prof Williams said resulted into sharp drop on the sales of newspapers “The nation herself has been terri-

bly battered in recent years through economic recession, and democratic regression. So we are just emerging from the tunnels. This is bound to attract the psyche of the people. In 1975, Daily Times was selling about 5000.000 copies in this country so where is that middle class that encouraged that sales now, they have disappeared,” he lamented Suggesting that there is needless establishment of more media organisations, Prof Williams canvassed for the strengthening of the existing media. He said though today’s media is breaking up from its old tradition, he suggested what according to him, is called a ‘cult of memory’ adding “when you remember what the people had done in those days, todays practitioners will thrive to achieve more” “I believe what we have today is excess quantity without quality.

There is a lot of underfunding for some of the existing media. Many of them are still struggling. If you have money why don’t you use logistic facilities by taking over ailing magazines and news papers and turning them around rather than re-inventing the new?” Prof Williams asked.

Mr Bonuola observed that technology has led to journalists acting slow these days.

“The changes are sharp and distinct. Modern equipment has led to journalists slumbering. In the past, you, needed to read and do practically everything yourself. But the technology has aided people that are meant to facilitate the work and added its complications. It is us practitioners who have to go back and deepen our world and apply technology to facilitate it,.” Bonuola said.

The veteran journalist throws his weight behind corporate acquisition of the media

“As long as the practice of journalism is business I support its corporate acquisition and and free market in the industry. Since practitioners don’t have money, their product will go into ruins if not supported financially. If media owners hands off and allow the papers to run from the business perspective the paper will survive and people will respect readers.”

Prof Ralph Akinfeleye and Prof Nwuneli, called on the National Assembly to pass the FOI bill before the handover date which is 29 of May. Akinfeleye advocated a synergy between the classroom and news room adding that the latter should be ahead of the former which according to him is the reverse as at now.

“The National Assembly should signed the FOI Bill before 29 of May otherwise we are going to start afresh, and this will be a national shame. They still have a lot of time to do this so they can still write their names in gold.”

Prof Nwuneli who is currently the Commissioner for Planning and Strategy in Imo State, urged President Jonathan to appoint a credible person into that office anytime he chooses his cabinet.

“It’s a core ministry. Everything revolves around the planning, allocation of money spending and accounting for it. President must chose a genuine person who truly loves the country.”

The event also featured awards for distinguished practitioners in two categories-the practitioners awards and the scholarly awards, as well as the laying of the sod of the Department of Mass Communication named after Professor Shobowale on the Caleb University campus.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

NEWS Mothers protest for ‘NYSC 10’ From Osagie Otabor, Benin

A NON-GOVERNMENTAL Organsition (NGO) the Concerned Mothers of Nigeria, yesterday stated a peaceful protest to the Edo State House of Assembly, where it called for a review of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

Its National Coordinator, Mrs. Olayide Toyinbo, alleged that the safety of the corps members was taken with levity by government officials.

Mrs. Toyinbo said: “The parents have laboured to get the children to the stage where they could have been helping their parents.

Enough is enough.”

Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Bright Omokhodion, who received the protesters, said: “This agony must stop. And if this country is going to be one, everybody must respect the fact that Nigeria belongs to all of us.”

Court lashes EFCC for holding ex-BankPHB boss’s wife

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FEDERAL High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday upbraided the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for flouting its order that Elizabeth, the wife of the sacked Managing Director of the Platinum Habib Bank (BankPHB), Francis Atuche, be either released or produced in court.

Justice Fatimat Nyako gave the order on Monday.

Besides, she directed that the EFCC and the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation (AGF) be served with an application by Mr. Atuche, seeking, among others, to restrain them and their agents from arresting him.

The judge was particularly irked by the Commis-

•Restrains EFCC, AGF from arresting husband

By Eric Ikhilae

sion’s disregard for her orders.

Counsel to the Atuches, Mr. Abubakar Shansudeen, who expressed frustration over the commission’s attitude, drew the court’s attention to the EFCC’s refusal to comply with the court’s orders. He also told the court about the commission’s alleged refusal to accept service of court processes.

Upon Shamsudeen’s complaints, the judge said the EFCC and the AGF (who were reportedly plotting to re-arrest Atuche) should desist from doing so because Atuche is on bail.

The judge ignored an attempt by the EFCC’s lawyer, Adebowale Kamoru, to justify the Commission’s actions and observed that the EFCC had acted unruly.

She said: “The respondents have no business picking up the applicant who had been granted bail by this court. If they have any reason to pick him up, they should first come before the court to seek leave.

“They are not above the law. Nobody is above the law, including the EFCC. They can not rubbish the court. It is not part of their law.”

Justice Nyako restated her order for a conditional release of Mrs. Atuche, whose international passport and other travelling documents were being withheld by the Commission and that she be produced in court on the next adjourned date.

The court also ordered the de-freezing of Mrs. Atuche’s personal accounts frozen by the EFCC. The judge said she was not convinced the EFCC proved that the said accounts were used for the offences of financial crimes for which her husband was standing trial.

She refused to defreeze the accounts of Mrs.

Court remands six for burning police, FRSC posts From Justina Asishana, Minna

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UBEC got N120b, says Sec From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

THE Federal Government released over N120 billion to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) from 2005 to 2009, the Commission’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Ahamed Modibbo Mohammed, said yesterday.

Speaking in Abuja while presenting the Community Accountability and Transparency Initiative (CATI) booklet for states cross the country, Mohammed said: “The Federal Government, because of its commitment and based on the constitution, is providing two per cent of its consolidated revenue fund to support states in the implementation of the basic education and this is shared on equality basis to all states of the federation.”

He said that every year from the period in question, UBEC distributed over N4 billion to communities. He said that N1 million was recently given per community for the renovation of schools, adding that in the last six months, over N20 billion have been released to the states.

Osile’s wife’s mum dies at 78 THE death Mrs Olasumbo Amoke Badejo-Okusanya (nee Omololu), was yesterday announced.

Mrs. Badejo Okusanya, mother of Oba Adedapo Tejuosho’s wife passed on May 2. She was 78.

She is survived by children and grand-children and great-grand-children, including Olori Olabisi Tejuosho, the wife of the Osile of Oke Ona and Mr Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, the Managing Director of CMC Connect .

Atuche’s companies on the ground that it was premature.

The EFCC alleged, in the charge against Atuche, that the companies served as conduits through which he purportedly siphoned about N24 billion depositors’ funds from his former bank.

The judge also restrained the EFCC and the AGF from arresting Atuche, who was earlier granted bail by the court in respect of a pending charge against him. She ordered the parties to maintain the status quo, pending the hearing and determination of the ex-BankPHB boss’ application.

Further hearing resumes on May 26.

• Director Social Mobilasation, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Ibrahim Suleman (left), Executive Secretary (UBEC) Dr. Ahmed Mohammed and Deputy Executive Secretary, Technical Prof. Charles Onocha at the presentation of the PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE compendium on the disbursement of grants for the states to schools in Abuja... yesterday.

Don’t fail Nigerians, YCE urges Jonathan

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HE Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) had a piece of advice to President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday.

It urged the President to maximise the confidence reposed in him by the electorate, who generously cast their votes for him at the last general election, by beginning the rebuilding of Nigeria.

While reading the communiqué of its meeting held last weekend in Ibadan, the YCE President, Major-General Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd.), advised the President not to disappoint the people, but to exploit the opportunity of his election to make the country the envy of other nations.

“We urge him not to dis-

By Emmanuel Oladesu

appoint the teeming masses who demonstrated their faith in his ability by voting him in. We hope that by the end of your tenure Nigeria would have risen from its slumber and be the envy of other nations,” he said.

The group tasked Jonathan to address, as a matter of urgency, the lingering problems of power, infrastructural development, health, security, the Niger Delta, education and unemployment.

While commending the President and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, for living up to their promises to conduct free

and fair elections, the group condemned the post-election violence in the North, which led to the loss of many lives and destruction of properties in the region.

Describing the killings as misplaced, the group said it was condemnable that certain individuals would resort to destroying innocent lives over an election which had been adjudged to be credible by both local and foreign observers. It added that the recent violence has made the convocation of Sovereign National Conference (SNC), more urgent.

While arguing that it was wrong for some individuals to resort to killing of innocent lives as a “means of agitation to address real or

perceived injustice or grievances,” the YCE commiserated with the bereaved families and tasked the Federal Government to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly acts, as the only mark of honour for the corps members, who were killed in the incident.

The communique reads: “The government as a mark of honour to these dead gallant corpers, should fish out the perpetrators of this dastardly act. This is the least the government can do. It is important the government is decisive in making it known to the perpetrators that the post election violence is antithetical to the nation’s wellbeing.

We pray that the loss of these lives should not be in vain.”

CHIEF Magistrate Court sitting in Minna, Niger State, yesterday ordered the remand of six people in prison custodyfor their involvement in burning a police station and a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) post in Tafa Local Government area of the Northcentral state.

The accused persons were also accused of destroying the patrol vehicles of the security agencies as well as seven motorcycles belonging to policemen serving in the area about three weeks ago.

Akasin Abdullahi, 32, Ibrahim Abdullahi, 20, Abdullahi Aminu, 27, Nason Abdullahi, 32, Ibrahim Adamu, 27, and Nagir Abubakar, all from Tafa area of the state, were charged to court on April 12. They faced a threecount charge of criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance and arson, contrary to sections 97, 114 of the Penal Code and Section 4 (a) of Special Miscellaneous Offences of Cap 410 Law of the Federation 1990.

All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, Inspector Vihishima Aya, urged Chief Magistrate Hamza Mu’azu not to grant them bail as their offences were not bailable, arguing that the accused persons may jump bail, if granted.

FRSC targets 50% reduction in road accidents by 2020

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HE Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) is working toward reducing road accidents and causalities to between 50 and 20 per cent by 2020.

The commission has advised stakeholders, including passengers, private car owners, commercial transport owners, drivers and the public, to increase road safety activities.

From Chris Oji, Enugu

The FRSC Zonal Commander in the Southeast, Mr. Abimbola Lawal, dropped the hint in Enugu, yesterday, during the inauguartion of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety Administrative instruction.

Lawal said that the global call for action on the increasing devastation of road crashes, culminated in the first glo-

bal ministerial conference of road safety held in Moscow, Russia, in November 2009, which brought about a declaration by the UN General Assembly in 2010 of a Decade of Action on Road Safety 20112020.

Among the activities initiated by the FRSC to sensitise the people about the decade of action, included road shows, enlightenments at motor

parks and other places where the corps and special marshals educate members of the public on what to do and what not to do to achieve the targeted 50 per cent reduction in road causalities.

Leading the Enugu State Sector Commander, Hyginus Fuomsuk and other FRSC officials, Lawal sensitised road users on the need to obey traffic rules, the dangers of over

loading, the use of genuine motor spare parts, as well as manufacturers role in the production of genuine crash helmets, tyres and spare parts.

The FRSC boss disclosed that the public has achieved about 90 per cent compliance in the use of seat belts, but that the use of crash helmets by motorcyclists has been difficult for users to comply.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

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12

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Season of skeletal electoral litigations Aggrieved governorship and parliamentary candidates in last month’s general elections have headed to the tribunals to challenge the victory of their opponents, who were declared winners by the electoral commission, C o r r e s p o n d e n t s ADEKUNLE JIMOH (Ilorin), DUKU JOEL (Damaturu) and KASIM IBRAHIM (Uyo) report.

U

NLIKE 2007, there is no floodgate of electoral petitions arising from the conduct of last month’s general elections. This may be attributed to the credibility of the exercise as attested to by foreign and domestic monitors.

However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been inundated with complaints by aggrieved governorship and parliamentary candidates, who have maintained that the polls were not free and fair.

The State Governorship and Assembly Election Petitions Tribunals have been set up.

Whether they would be able to dispense with the cases before them before the May 29 handover date is the main puzzle.

Yobe Yesterday, t he State and National Assembly Eection Tribunals for Yobe State held its inaugural sitting in Damaturu, the state capital.

The tribunal comprises three judges. Justice Pat Onajite-Kuejubola is chairman. Other members are Hon. Justices Udu Eze and Mukhtar Yashu’a.

She also acknowledged the task beffore the panel, saying: “We shall discharge these duties judicially and judiciously, fairly and expeditiously, without fear or favour, affection or ill will, guided by our good conscience, predicated upon the oath we have sworn to uphold in carrying out this national assignment”.

The jurist described a free and fair election as a litmus test of democratic governace in the country, stressing that the wishes of the electorate must not only be respected, but must be shown to have been upheld”.

The tribunal chairman warned lawyers to avoid wasting the time of the panel by being punctual, orderly and prepared to handle their matters so that the tribunal work within its appointed time.

She warned politicians against any attempt to compromise the panel members, thereby perverting the cause of justice. The judge also admonoshed the press to be objective in their coverage of the proceedings.

Already, the tribunal has received two petitions. They were filled by the Peoples Democratic Party challenging the election of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan and Hon. Hassan Kaku Elbadewi.

Alhaji Hassan Kafayos of the PDP, in petition No EPT/YB/NASS/SEN/002/11, is contesting the election of Lawan as senator representing Yobe North Senatorial District on the grounds that the poll was not conducted in accordance with the Electoral Act. He claimed that he scored the highest lawful votes.

Also in his petition; EPT/YB/NASS/001/11, Zakariya Yau Galadima alleged that ANPP agents were involved in illegal thumb-printing of ballot papers at Bade/Jakusko Federal Constituency.

Both candidates urged the tribunal to declare them as winners of the disputed polls.are calling for their declaration as winners of the elec-

• Etok

tions.

Akwa Ibom

The Election Petitions Tribunal in Akwa Ibom State commenced sitting yesterday with a vow to discharge its duties without undue influence from litigants.

Speaking during the inauguration of the threeman panel in Uyo, the state capital, the Chairman, Justice Abdullahi Yusuf, said that the tribunal would not allow unnecessary delays and adjournments from the litigants.

Apart from Yusuf who is a Justice of the Katsina State High Court, other members are Justice Olusanya Olumuyiwa from Ogun State High Court, M. S. Ayemeiye fromBayelsa State High Court, Mr. Alaba Ariyo, who is the Secretary to the tribunal.

Yusuf explained that the tribunal would work within the stipulated time frame as stipulated by the 2010 Electoral Act. He said: “Section 134 of the 2010 Electoral Act gave the tribunal 180 days (six months) within which to complete each of the petitions filed by the political parties.

“We will not allow unnecessary delays and adjournments from the litigants. We will also discharge our duties without undue influence, not minding the position and status of those involved.”

Yusuf sought the cooperation of the litigants, maintaining that the tribunal would be guarded by the provision of the Electoral Act on the deadline for the submission of petitions.

Ariyo disclosed that the tribunal had received eight petitions from different political parties for both the legislative seats and the governorship election.

Ariyo said that five out of the eight election petitions received were for the House of Representatives; two for the Senate and one for the governorship election.

The governorship petition came from the candidate of the Progressive Action Congress (PAC), Mr. Steve Ibanga.

For the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial seat, the Secretary said that Dr. Anny Asikpo of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and Mr. Joseph Ukpong of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) were challenging the election of Senator Aloysious Etok of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ariyo added that, for the Uyo Federal Constituency, Dr. Micheal Enyong and Mr. Ekere Afia, both of the PDP, had filed their petitions against Mr. Emmanuel Ekpenyong of the ACN He said: “Mr. Uduak Okpo of the Action Congress of Nigeria is challenging the election of Mr. Emmanuel Ekon of the Peoples Democratic

•Lawan

Party for the Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency.

“While Dr. Christopher Enoch of the Action Congress of Nigeria is challenging the election of Mr. Daniel Akpan of the Peoples Democratic Party for the Etinan/Nist Ibom/Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency.

“For Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency, Mr. Idongesit Udoukpo, of the Action Congress of Nigeria has filed a petition against the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Mr. Kenneth Archibong”.

Kwara The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, has permitted forensic experts to inspect forms EC8 and other materials used during the last month governorship elections in the state.

The tribunal also granted the applicants and forensic experts to inspect all ballot papers and other electoral materials used in the elections.

The governorship candidate of the ACN, Mohammed Dele Belgore, is challenging the declaration of the PDP candidate, Alhaji AbdulFatah Ahmed, by the INEC as winner of the said election.

Mr. Osaro Eghobamien (SAN) who led a team of lawyers for the ACN candidate, had in a motion exparte supported by an affidavit and written address, prayed the tribunal to grant him two consequential reliefs.

He sought for “an order granting leave to the applicants to apply for inspection of documents before the prehearing session; leave and order of the tribunal permitting the applicants, their counsel or agents to inspect and make copies of all polling documents or packets relating or pertaining to the 26th April, 2011 Kwara state governorship elections; an order compelling INEC and the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), that 4th and 5th respondent to make available to the applicants or their counsel or agents certified true copies of all such polling documents or packets in the prescribed form used and/ or purportedly used for the election and an order of the tribunal permitting applicants’ forensic experts to inspect, by way of machine/electronic scanning, all ballot papers and other electoral materials which were used for the conduct of the governorship election in the elections.”

Other reliefs sought by Eghobamien are “permission by handwriting and forensic expert(s) to conduct an inspection of forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, EC8E and all other forms, ballot papers and materials used and/or purportedly used for the conduct of the governorship election in the state; an order directing the 4th and

‘Unlike 2007, there is no floodgate of electoral petitions arising from the conduct of last month’s general elections. This may be attributed to the credibility of the exercise as attested to by foreign and domestic monitors.

The State Governorship and Assembly Election Petitions Tribunals have been set up. Whether they would be able to dispense with the cases before them before the May 29 handover date is the main puzzle’

• Belgore

5th respondents to confirm in writing the availability and the reason for the unavailability of any such electoral forms or other polling documents relating or pertaining to the election which by law are in the custody of INEC directly through the REC or any other agent of the INEC and for any other order or orders as the tribunal may deem fit and just in the circumstances.”

The counsel also suggested a neutral ground, preferably a room at the State High Court, for the inspection of the materials.

In a her ruling, the Chairperson of the panel, Justice Ngozi Emehelu, said: “There is no gainsaying that the application is aimed at gathering information for the maintenance of election petition. Therefore, the prayers sought for in reliefs one to six are hereby granted.”

Justice Emehelu however, refused the second consequential relief which sought for the inspection of the materials in a room at the State High Court, adding that the materials could be too bulky to contain the room.

Other members of the panel are Justices Kadi D.A Ningi and Mohammed S. Sifawa.

Justice Emehulu said: “All that is needed for the court to exercise its discretion is to be satisfied that the inspection is required to maintain an election petition. Consequently, leave and order permitting the applicants to inspect and make copies of documents relating to the governorship election is granted.”

“The governorship election petitions tribunal will do justice to all parties appearing before it without fear or favour”.

Other members of the panel are Justices Kadi D.A Ningi and Mohammed S. Sifawa. The Secretary is Mrs. Franscisca Mesiobi-Emeto.

The jurist said: “with the track record of integrity and hard work of the judges of this tribunal, we shall be firm and focused and discharge our duties creditably.”

“The provision in the Electoral Act for front loading of list of witnesses, written statements on oath of witnesses; copies or list of every document to be relied on and the pre-hearing session and scheduling wherein inter alia the number of witnesses are streamlined and time for cross examination of witnesses are allotted are aimed at achieving a just, efficient and speedy adjudication of the petitions.

“The lawyers we must believe have gotten copies of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended and the Election Tribunal and Court Practice Directions 2011 which we implore you to get familiar with their provisions to avoid hiccups during the pre-hearing sessions and the hearing of the substantive petitions.

“As officers in the temple of justice we expect the cooperation of all learned counsel who will appear before us in ensuring that matters are prosecuted diligently and expeditiously.”

The chairman of the Ilorin chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Alhaji Salman Jawondo, urged politicians not to do anything that would rustrate the panel.

He said: “The tribunal is coming at a time the country’s judiciary is undergoing a lot of scrutiny.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2011

13

POLITICS

Which way for fledgling local governments?

Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on attempts by the federal and state governments to undermine the performance of the local government system as the third tier of government.

T

HEY are the closest to the grassroots. Yet, their impacts are seldom felt by the people.

For over 60 years, they have been created as either grassroots, rural or urban governments under such names as local authorities, district councils, town councils, local governments, municipal councils and local council development areas.

But they have never acquired lives of their own.

As the federal and state governments flex muscles over the right of control over them, they become victims of the lopsided federal arrangement.

It is stipulated in the 1999 Constitution that democratically elected local governments are fully guaranteed. However, nearly half of the 774 local governments sharing allocations from the federal treasury are administered by caretaker bodies set up by governors, who perceive them as the extension of state ministries and departments.

As it is currently constituted, the modern local government system in Nigeria is a creation of the military government. Thus, it mirrors its centrist approach to administration. Councils are set up to, in the words of Prof.Peter Ekeh, a sociology teacher at the State University of New York, Buffalo, United States, “serve as receptacles of the military’s allotted share of the largesse from petroleum oil revenues distributed from the Federation Account”.

In some instances, they were also created as compensation for certain influential elite and aggrieved communities clamouring for state creation.

But, what is worrisome to Ekeh is the shrinkage of councils’ official responsibilities. He is also bothered by their inability to create a buoyant local economy and service-delivery culture, unlike the earlier era.

“Most of these local governments would collapse, if they did not receive regular allocations from the central government”, Ekeh added.

Many agree that local governments are beset by problems. They range from under-funding to identity and role crises, constitutional crisis, poor administration, lack of economic viability, inept council bureaucracy, and corruption. However, none of these challenges invalidate the justification for grassroots government.

“The federal and state governments are distant levels of administration, aptly insensitive to local concerns and expectations. It is the council government the people can call their own because it is expected that they should have more access to it”, remarked another university teacher, Boniface Ayodele, who frowned at the penchant for hijacking council roles by the federal and state governments, especially responsibilities for markets, refuse disposal and primary education.

Ayodele, who teaches Political Science at the University of Ado-Ekiti, chided the federal and state government for the under-development of the councils. He said the local areas are worst for it.

Following the introduction of presidential system at council level, local politics assumed a new dimension. The 1999 Constitution, which also made provisions for a democratically elected council, gives executive power to the chairmen, who after the election, is expected to set up a cabinet of Supervisory Councillors. In turn, the legislative arm, headed by a Leader, acts as checks and balances.

Explanations put forth by local

government scholars portray the councils in three dimensions; as local responsibility zones, democratic school for training future politicians and prudent managerial centers.

As a structure very close to the locality, local councils should serve as essential instrument for the performance of basic services, which could be best administered locally, based on the intimate knowledge of the needs, conditions and peculiarities of the areas concerned.

Among these are chieftaincy, marriage, local schools, primary health care and refuse disposal.

However, Ekeh attested to other specialised functions of the councils.

These include sanitary inspection, town planning, water supply and market management by Town Councils, and local security, which is now prohibited by the constitution. “The personnel of such high profile town governments as Lagos Town Council rivaled that of the Central Government in the quality of employees whom they attracted.

Thus, such giants in the history of Nigerian public service as Dr Ladipo Oluwole and Chief Adogbeji Salubi were employees of Lagos Town Council in the 1930s and 1940s”, recalled the university don.

Councils of today are wide departure. Apart from being bastion of corruption, they have often disappointed the people. Council chairmen are usually overwhelmed by the resources at their disposal, although the funds are not enough, if they are development-conscious. To buttress this, a report by the Jide jimoh House of Assembly Committee on Local Government Appropriation in Lagos State had harsh words for many council chairmen, who demonstrated lack of competence, to the detriment of the people they were elected to serve.

While on tour of the Lagos councils, Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), was confronted by the rot in many council areas. Frowing at the ineptitude, he suggested some targets, which he said the chairmen should aspire to meet so that they could deliver dividends of democracy to the people.

Yet, local government is viewed as a training ground for political leaders. This is the democratic perspective. A career politician is expected to use the lowest tier, or the third tier, as a lever for acquiring political training and leadership qualities by first contesting as councillors.

Indisputably, Lagos councils have served as training grounds for future leaders at regional, state and federal levels. They include Chief Rotimi Williams, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, the late Chief Mumuni Adio Badmus, Chief Ganiyu Dawodu, Chief Enoch Ajiboso, Chief Lanre Rasaq, dr Tola Kasali, Hon. Toyin Hamzat, Hon. Sesan Olanrewaju, Senator Adekunle Muse and Senator Ganiyu Solomon. That was the bright side of the earlier councils.

But there were dark sides too. In the First and Second Republics, many councils suffered as tiny administrative units because positions in those councils were reserved as

• Jonathan

compensation for political dregs, dwarfs and failures who, could not make it to the state and federal parliaments in general elections.

With the practice of presidential system at the grassroots, many believe that there is a wider scope of political apprenticeship in local politics. For example, the councillors acquire the skill of law making, which can be useful, if they are elevated in the future to the positions of state lawmakers.

Putting this into perspective, a British politician, Lord James Bryle, remarked that local government is the best school of democracy and the best guarantee for its success is the practice of local self-government.

Ayodele, who elaborated on this view, stressed that, as elected agencies of the people, councils must be accountable to the people, who must continue to wield control over their functionaries. This accountability and control perspective is important in Nigeria, where councils have portrayed themselves as the most corrupt tier of government. It has implications for the polity. If corrupt men and women are not elected as chairmen and councillors, many corrupt politicians would be prevented from climbing the hierarchy of government at state and federal levels.

Ayodele, who supported this view, said: “Whether elected councillors would return to office or not will be decided by local voters. They can be their watchdogs and use the votes to check them”.

However, judging by the contemporary local government history of Nigeria, election at the council level is negotiable. Thus, there are time lags and lost grounds because the hands of the state governors have

been heavy on the councils.

Many governors have deliberately responded strategically to the compelling need for democratic council polls, with utter insensitivity to timing. The Chief Executives often try to avoid a situation whereby loyal council chairmen are in the saddle during their re-election for a second term, because as custodians of local treasury, they are powerful mobilisers of the grassroots to the advantage of an incumbent governor.

A Lagos lawyer, who spoke on condition of annonymity, castigated the governors for postponing local government elections, saying: “Since the law says there should be elected councils, it is illegal to postpone it or refuse to hold it on time”.

Also, since it is the governor that will constitute the local government electoral commission, council elections are seldom held with minimal electoral reforms, making the opposition parties to be edged out of the local electoral process.

More often than not, crisis between state and local governments permeate the inter-governmental relationship. Across the federation, between 2007 and 2006, council chairmen and governors were at loggerheads over illegal deduction of council funds by the states, with governors threatening to sack chairmen who raised serious objection.

Furthermore, chairmen whose name have appeared in the black book of the governors forfeited their offices through the dissolution of the councils, in active connivance with the state Houses of Assembly.

However, these atrocities paled into insignificance in the face of the oppression of the councils by the federal government. This suppression preceded the current demo-

‘The 1999 Constitution, which is the legacy of Abdulsalami Administration, created friction between the federal and state governments over the control of the local governments. The federal government insisted that states lacked the power to create more councils, claiming that all the councils have already been listed in the constitution’

cratic dispensation. In consonance with its centrist approach, the Abacha Administration appointed a minister of local government.

The 1999 Constitution, which is the legacy of Abdulsalami Administration, created friction between the federal and state governments over the control of the local governments. The federal government insisted that states lacked the power to create more councils, claiming that all the councils have already been listed in the constitution.

In Lagos State, while additional 37 local councils were created by legitimate state authorities, the federal government disagreed. The allocations due to the pre-existing 20 local governments were seized by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Also, the Senate refused to list the new councils in the constitution, despite the referendum that gave their creation the nod.

In fact, in a memo to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, the Ministry of Justice advised him to terminate the newly created councils, saying that they were undermining the judiciary and challenging the authority of the federal government.

House of Representatives member-elect, James Faleke, the out-going chairman of one of the councils not listed; Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), is irked by this harassment. He said: “The victimisation of Lagos councils by the federal government undermines the right of Lagosians to development”.

But how many councils have justified the people’s confidence nationwide? In Lagos, former Information and Strategy Commissioner Opeyemi Bamidele once acknowledged that the councils have worked at a slow speed because elections had not taken place.

After the council elections in 2008, the tempo of activities increased, although House of Assembly members were inundated with complaints during the town hall meetings that many chairmen showcased cosmetic achievements.

The bane of the councils, observers contend, is the bloated bureaucracy. “Council chairmen maintain extensive political structures. They appoint too numerous supervisory councillors, special advisers, special assistants, and personal assistants like the President and governors, making the recurrent expenditure to soar”, Ayodele lamented, stressing that “this is at the expense of capital expenditure”.

Others cautioned the state government against dabbling into their functions and responsibilities. Human rights activist and politician, Dr Tunji Abayomi, berated state governments financing market projects, pointing out that they have hijacked the local government’s roles.

Ayodele urged the Houses of Assembly to monitor the activities of the councils for better function performance and general efficiency. He added: “The legislative arm of the council should also act as checks and balance, instead of going after money doled out by council chairmen.”

The Chairman of Yaba LCDA, Jide Jimoh, said local governments should be well funded so that they can be alive to their responsibilities.

He added: “If councils are well funded, they will serve society better. But the baseline also is that local government helmsmen should be prudent and shun misuse of council funds. This is what we are doing in Lagos State”. .

2, 2011

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

14

POLITICS

‘Why PDP lost Borno governorship’ The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) parades many big names in Borno politics, but it has never won governorship election, since 1999. Commissioner for Information, Home Affairs and Culture Inuwa Bwala explained to Correspondent TONY AKOWE in Kaduna how the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) dislodged the PDP, despite its initial success at the National Assembly elections. Excerpts:

A

FTER the National Assembly elections, it appeared the PDP would take over Borno State from the ANPP. During the presidential election, CPC won in the state PDP won the governorship. What were the factors responsible for this?

During the National Assembly elections, the stakes were very high.

Even at that, certain political alignments tended to affect the fortunes of the ANPP in the state.

But, those alignments did not completely determine the outcome of the election. We had three stages of our plans for election. First, we knew that the PDP probably had candidates who were more sellable than others, given their experience in politics. But we also knew that if our plans had gone as envisaged, many of the things that eventually happened would not have happened. We never knew that the election would be that flawed. Our people were intimidated, bombs were coming up here and there and people attributed it to Boko Haram, though we knew it was beyond that.

The security situation in the state greatly affected the election, especially at the centre. Again, there were the personalities involved in that election. There was a grand design against Senator Ali Modu Sherriff orchestrated mainly by the top members of the PDP. So, in trying to undo Sherriff, they forgot about other plans and that was what we cashed in on to win all other elections except that of Sherriff and the one won by Ndume in the south which we lost by a very slim margin. With the total votes cast for all the parties during that election, the ANPP would still have won the governorship because we had more votes cast than any of the political parties. The PDP in Borno State has been playing to the gallery and that is why they have not won elections in the state since 1999. And that was why some of us left them. They failed to realize that, yes they have the big names, the connection, the money and the experience; but they lacked the tactics. They are paper tigers.

While they were making noise, we were busy preparing for the

elections. Unfortunately, most of them reside in Abuja and don’t have base at home. We knew the terrain better than them because we have been on ground. Whether we like it or not, Buhari is a factor in Nigerian politics, especially in the north and so, you cannot abuse him and get away with it. In their presidential campaign, they told the people of Borno not to vote for Buhari. They also cast aspersions on the person of Gen. Buhari and the sympathy of the ANPP automatically swayed to CPC. Mind you, majority of CPC supporters were drawn from the ANPP. We x-rayed the strength of our own candidate in the ANPP and said, Buhari may not win, but he will create an impact and for us to gain advantage, why not join forces with the CPC? So, those in the CPC were our friends and we worked together during the presidential election.

When it came to the governorship, we knew Goni had already lost popularity by that blunder and also lost touch with modern governance and politics. They were just pushing him against his will and beyond his understanding of modern politics and he was becoming more confused as we counted down to the elections.

Besides that, the man doesn’t have money. These are the things that you need to win elections. With the realities on ground, he was confused.

You said that you had an alliance with the CPC for the presidential election, even when you had a candidate. Was it foreclosed before the elections because when the ANPP presidential candidate came to the state, your governor refused to see him and disallowed him from using the Ramat Square?

• Bwala

The working agreement that I am talking about was not officially endorsed and was never discussed.

It was not as if there was an official working agreement with the CPC. Secondly, we never denied Shekarau the use of the Ramat Square. I am the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture under whose purview the approval for the use of that Square lies. When the PDP applied, it did not spend two minutes on my table. So, why should I deny him when he is from my party? So, it is not true that we refused him the use of the place.

Again, in my capacity as Commissioner for Information, I should have been involved in the arrangement for his visit, but I was never contacted. His Press Secretary called me when I was already in my village launching our own local campaign to say that they were in Maiduguri for the zonal campaign rally and I told him, Sule, why didn’t you call me before now and there was no explanation. I swear to God, I am not playing politics with this. I

heard about Shekarau’s visit when I was already in my village. So, people are just orchestrating smear campaign to make it look as if there was something against our presidential aspirant. However, every Nigerian knew that the campaign machinery of our presidential aspirant was somehow very weak. Not many people were involved. As state, we were not involved because we were never invited and I have never seen any letter inviting us to any function by our presidential aspirant. We would have loved the ANPP to capture the whole of Nigeria, but you cannot also close your eyes to certain realities on ground to the extent that a candidate that was capable of winning was conspicuously absent.

The PDP is crying foul that the governorship election was massively rigged in favour of the ANPP in the state. What is your reaction?

They are just being bad losers because PDP in Borno are habitual losers. We knew they could not have

‘Buhari is a factor in Nigerian politics, especially in the north and so, you cannot abuse him and get away with it. In their presidential campaign, they told the people of Borno not to vote for Buhari. They also cast aspersions on the person of Gen. Buhari and the sympathy of the ANPP automatically swayed to CPC. Mind you, majority of CPC supporters were drawn from the ANPP. We x-rayed the strength of our own candidate in the ANPP and said, Buhari may not win, but he will create an impact and for us to gain advantage, why not join forces with the CPC’

won that election no matter the circumstance because they knew they did not work to win. Rather, they worked to lose. They were busy playing to the gallery, moving around shouting slogans, pulling down people’s flags, killing our people and telling us we were the ones killing ourselves; causing mischief here and there. They forgot that politics is about appealing to the senses and sentiments of people and not about shouting and playing to the gallery. They were completely strategically flawed. In the past, I was part of those planning for the PDP. Greater number of their time is spent meeting or going about in convoy, abusing people. With that type of politics, you cannot expect to win in Borno state.

What role did the Kashim Imam Camp of the PDP play in the ANPP victory in the state? We learnt that his former running mate became a running mate to Kashim Shettima.

It is an open secret that at a stage, Kashim Imam found a working relationship with Senator Modu Sherriff, just like many of who shifted our loyalty to the ANPP. At a point, we realized that there was no way PDP could win in Borno State because it was the same old people who had been planning to fail. So, Kashim’s coming was a blessing to us because he collapsed his entire structure into the ANPP. But without that, we had the capacity to win.

However, it was made more overwhelming because it was the two strongest camps in Borno politics that have come together. So, who could face them? They are just making noise because they knew they could not have won. If we conduct election 100 times, we will floor them 100 times and they knew it. What is hunting them is the shame of how to explain to their mentors why they failed.

What are the plans on ground to ensure that Borno people reap the fruits of the mandate they gave to you?

The Governor-elect, Kashim Shettima has given some insight into some of the plans he has for the state, one of which is adopting a lesscombative approach to the issue of Boko Haram. His own approach is adopting what I want to call diplomatic approach, by trying to reach out to stakeholders and people who may have connection with these people. In terms of development, it has been his promise to the effect that in the first 100 days, he will pay attention to water which has been a major problem in the state. He is going to sink 100 boreholes in the first 100 days in office and they will be commissioned to celebrate the first 100 days in office.

‘People’s belief in progressive ideals rescued Southwest’

By Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

• Buraimoh

P

EOPLE’S unflinching belief in the progressive vision and ideals of leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) rescued the Southwest from the grip of the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) in the April polls.

This is the view yesterday expressed by an ACN chieftain in Lagos State, Mr Tunde Buraimoh, who spoke with The Nation on why his party recorded monumental victory in the Southwest in last month’s elections among sundry issues, including the growth of democracy in the country.

Buraimoh, a reviewing the elections, said: “The gainers in the elections conducted last month, to me, are the people of the Southwest who had for eight years, groaned helplessly under the misrule of the PDP-led administrations across the zone.

“It was a victory well-deserved by the people whose rights to im-

proved welfare through good governance had for such a long period, put in abeyance by their civilian overlords who pretended to be serving them. The patience of the people eventually paid off at the polls because they decided with their votes that enough was enough of the rape they had suffered.”

He was effusive in praises for ACN leadership especially Asiwaju Bola Tinubu whom he described as a “dogged and implacable” fighter for developmental democracy which, he maintained, could only be ensured by ACN manifestoes and programmes.

“Even the blind and the deaf would appreciate the legendary roles of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and others, including Chief Bisi Akande in the struggle to send PDP parking from the lives of

our people who had been hungry for positive change, even long before the polls. They fought a good war with people’s support and today, we are smiling,” Buraimoh said.

He however added that the overwhelming victory would probably not have been possible if not for the exemplary performance put up so far by the ACN-controlled administrations already on ground for people to see and judge.

“The electoral conclusions and eventual decisions people made with their votes at the just-concluded elections were not in vacuum. They were helped to a very large extent by what they saw on ground in all the states already being governed by ACN-led government. In Lagos, what Governor Babatunde Fashola has been doing is glo-

bally adjudged as a model in people-oriented good governance.

Go and check out what has been happening to people’s mandate in Osun, Ekiti and Edo, you won’t but agree that they had been doing things that consolidated people’s trust and confidence in our party. So, all that with the resolve of our leaders did the magic at the polls,” he further emphasized.

He expressed assurance that the Southwest people with in a few weeks from now, enjoy more, the benefits of democratic governance that the PDP administrations starved them of while their reign lasted in the regions. “This is a new day. A new order is here.

So, our people in the Southwest should rejoice. Our people’s tears are over as the real ambassadors of democracy are here in charge,” Buraimoh enthused.

15

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Strong dollar demand weakens naira to two-month low

By Collins Nweze

T

HE naira eased to its weakest in two months against the United States dollar on the interbank market yesterday as strong demand for the greenback persisted, traders said.

The naira slipped to 157.10 to the dollar, its weakest since March 18, from 156.30 at Tuesday’s close even as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sold dollars at a higher rate at yesterday’s auction on Wednesday than at its previous offer two days earlier.

It sold $300 million at N153.39, below demand of $333 million, having sold $300 million at N153.18 on Monday.

“The rate at the Interbank market moves higher each time the CBN rate moves up,” one trader said.

Dealers said the naira would continue to weaken on the interbank market if the CBN kept selling at a higher rate. “Most banks are going long on dollars now because of the uncertainty around the central bank position on the naira and the fact that most of the energy companies are done with their month end dollar sales,”another dealer said.

CBN Governor Lamido Sanusi told Reuters last week that dollar demand was easing back to “normal”after elections last month and that dollar sale of $250-300 million at its bi-weekly auctions should be enough to satisfy the market.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$125.2/barrel Cocoa - $2,856/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢78.07.pound Gold -$1,161/troy ounce Rubber - ¢146.37/pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N8.1 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion

RATES Inflation -12.8% Treasury Bills -2.64% Normal lending -24% Prime lending -18% Savings rate -3% 91-day NTB -6.99% Time Deposit - 6% MPR -7.50% Foreign Reserve -$33.5bn FOREX CFA 0.281 • 222.92 £ 252.9 $ 152.76 ¥ 1.5652 SDR 245.85 RIYAL 39.3

I like that combination between creativity and the creative process and the organisation needed to make a business like this successful worldwide.

- Bernard Arnault

Senate set to pass PIB Bill •probes N2.5 billion bribery allegation

T

HE Senate plans to pass a bill to regulate the Nigeria oil industry next week, after addressing concerns about taxes and royalties raised by international energy companies, Lee Maeba, chairman of the Joint Senate Committee on Petroleum, said yesterday in Abuja.

It also yesterday ordered its committee on Ethics and Privileges to investigate the allegation that members of relevant committees handling the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) got bribes of N2.5 billion to facilitate the passage of the bill.

The lawmakers have decided to make a legislation that won’t “scare the multinationals,” said Maeba. “They’re the people producing the oil, hence there should be a bal-

Stories from Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

ance between the government’s take and their take.”

The Senate will start final deliberations on the bill on May 17, subsequently passing it, he told Bloomberg.

A newspaper publication had last Tuesday claimed that the committees demanded an estimated sum of N2.5billion from certain undisclosed bodies to fast-track the passage of bill.

The Senate President, Senator David Mark while referring the matter to Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges yesterday directed it to carry out a live coverage of the investigation of the allegation to afford Nigerians the opportunity of knowing the

truth behind the newspaper’s bribery allegation.

Condemning the allegation as blackmail capable of inciting the Nigerian Public against the Senate, Mark charged the committee to ensure that the investigation on the matter is concluded before the close of the sixth Senate.

Senator Awesu Kuta had brought the matter before his colleagues yesterday through Order 18 of the Senate Rule bordering on members’ privileges. He laid a copy of the newspaper captioned “Legislators demand N2.5billion Bribes to pass PIB,” on Senate table.

Stressing that he was not involved in such scandal, he insisted that the publication negates his privileges as a mem-

ber of the Senate.

Commenting on the matter yesterday, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Senators Lee Maeba expressed surprise over the bribery allegation and denied receiving money from anybody for the purpose of influencing the passage of the PIB. He wondered how anybody or group of persons could be accusing the Senate of demanding bribes to pass the PIB when the bill had reached advance stage in the process of being passed into law.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance , Senator Ahmed Makarfi also denied receiving money from anybody for the purpose of passing the FIB.

•From left: Director-General, Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), Frank Nweke (Jr); Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Arunma Oteh; members of NESG, Foluso Phillip and Keith Richard, during a courtesy visit to the SEC headquarters in Abuja.

Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill passed

T

HE Senate yesterday read for the third time and passed the Sovereign Investment Authority Bill with a seed capital of N150 billion for the take off of the Sovereign Wealth Fund.

The legislation creates the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, which will be split into the Nigeria Infrastructure Fund, the Future Generations Fund and the Stabilisation Fund, according to a draft of the bill. Each component will represent at least 20 per cent of the total.

Sovereign wealth funds are pools of money derived from a country’s reserves, which are set aside for investment that will benefit the country’s economy and citizens.

The types of acceptable investments included in each sovereign wealth fund vary

from country to country; countries with liquidity concerns limit investments to only very liquid public debt instruments.

Nigeria relies on crude exports for about 95 per, cent of its foreign currency earnings.

It’s the only member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries without a sovereign fund, according to the Information Ministry.

The sovereign fund, to be based in the capital, Abuja, will have a governing board headed by the president.

Other members include governors of the 36 states, the ministers of finance, justice and planning, the governor of the Central Bank and the chief economic adviser.

The National Economic Council (NEC) had in April last year approved the creation of a National Sovereign

Wealth Fund to replace the current Excess Crude Account (ECA). The current ECA, which has no legal backing, was a creation of the Olusegun Obasanjo administration aimed at saving some of the funds accruing to the nation as a result of the rise in the price of crude oil.

After passage of the bill, the Senate President, Senator David Mark, yesterday was optimistic that the Fund will enable Nigerians of future generations to benefit from the nation’s oil and other natural resources.

The bill seeks to establish an agency with the authority to invest a portion of the excess profit made from crude oil sales in the Sovereign Wealth Fund to be held and managed by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment authority.

The authority is expected to invest the funds in a diversified portfolio of medium and long term investments “for the benefit of future generation of Nigerian citizens.”

Some senators, who spoke on the bill, warned that appointments to manage the fund should be devoid of politics.

Senator Umar Hambagda, ANPP, Borno said: “We are not looking for all inclusiveness, but we are looking for an organisation that will be properly managed with good decision.”

“It is not a political organisation, but it is an investment organisation that pertains to the whole country and people are already scouting members. But I think they should steer clear of the portfolios of our investment for the future of Nigeria,” he added.

MTN gets $1.35b loan

A

FRICA’S largest mo bile-phone company, obtained a $1.35 billion credit line to replace loans used for its 2006 acquisition of Investcom LLC. The three-year revolving credit was increased from $1 billion after lenders offered more than the company sought, according to a statement from Barclays Capital, which co-ordinated the financing. The deal was joined by 14 banks in syndication.

Johannesburg-based MTN bought Lebanese phone group Investcom for $5.5 billion, using $3.5 billion of debt.

S&P cuts Greece’s rating

S

TANDARD & Poor’s (S&P) has cut Greece’s credit rating by two notches, warning that any voluntary debt restructuring

by Athens would amount to a default.

The United States rating agency said that any demands from the eurozone’s biggest countries for Athens to extend the debt payment maturities on its bail-out loans from a year ago would probably lead to similar demands on private creditors.

“Such private sector burden sharing would likely constitute a distressed exchange ... for which we assign a rating of selective default,” S&P said.

The downgrade to B, six notches into junk territory, comes after European politicians acknowledged publicly that Greece’s 110billion euro rescue package was insufficient and more help would be needed.

The European Central Bank became the latest institution to throw its weight behind a revampedassistance programme for Greece.

HSBC shares fall by 5.4%

H

SBC, Europe’s biggest bank by market value, has recorded a fall in its shares by 5.4 per cent to 672.8 pence in London trading, their steepest decline in almost two years.

The stock has dropped by 6.6 per cent in the past year, the worst-performer in the fivemember FTSE 350 Banks Index, according to a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) report.

The bank’s Chief Executive, Stuart Gulliver, said the bank was closely watching events unfolding in the Middle East and North Africa but that its financial performance had not been materially affected so far.

HSBC has been seeking to increase revenue in Asia and emerging markets to compensate for slowing income in the US. The Bank halted lending at its US subprime unit in 2009 after it racked up more than $58 billion in provisions from bad debts.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

BUSINESS NEWS Flight Schedule MONDAY - FRIDAY LAGOS – ABUJA Departure Arrival 1. Aero 06.50 08.10 2. Associated 07.00 09.30 3. Air Nigeria 07.00 08.20 4. IRS 07.00 08.20 5. Dana 07.02 08.22 6. Arik 07.15 08.15 7. Chanchangi 07.15 8. Air Nigeria 08.15 09.35 9. Dana 08.10 09.20 10. Aero 08.45 10.05 11. Arik 09.15 10.15 12. Chanchangi 10.00 11.00 13. IRS 11.15 12.35 14. Dana 12.06 12.26 15. Aero 12.20 13.30 16. Air Nigeria 13.25 14.45 17. Chanchangi 13.30 14.30 18. Arik 13.45 14.45 19. IRS 14.00 15.20 20. Aero 14.10 15.30 21. Air Nigeria 14.50 16.10 22. Dana 15.30 16.50 23. Chanchangi 15.30 16.30 24. Arik 15.50 16.50 25. Aero 16.00 17.20 26. IRS 16.30 17.50 27. Arik 16.50 17.50 28. Dana 17.10 18.30 29. Chanchangi 17.30 18.30 30. Air Nigeria 17.35 18.55 31. Air Nigeria (T/TH) 18.30 19.50 32. Arik 18.45 19.45 33. Aero 19.20 20.40 1.

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LAGOS – BENIN Arik 07.30 Associated 08.30 Aero 10.50 Arik 11.45 Associated 13.00 Aero 14.25 Arik 15.30 Associated 16.00

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LAGOS – CALABAR 07.30 11.20 12.50 16.00 LAGOS – JOS 10.55 11.15

LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

09.10 11.00 11.10 16.20

08.40 08.40 14.55 15.10 17.40

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LAGOS – WARRI 08.15 11.50 11.55 14.55

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LAGOS – KANO Air Nigeria 07.10 IRS 08.00 Dana 08.10 Arik 12.20 IRS 14.00 IRS 18.15

08.50 09.45 09.40 14.00 15.45 19.55

LAGOS – OWERRI 07.20 14.00 16.30

08.30 15.10 17.40

LAGOS – UYO 10.35

11.35

LAGOS – MAIDUGURI 11.15 13.15 15.50 18.00

LAGOS – ILORIN 1. Overland 07.15 2. Arik (M/T/TH/F) 17.30

country for as long as the high prices of crude oil in the international market persists.

“If there is scarcity, it means NNPC is not importing enough. It would have been easier for marketers to import if kerosine business was deregulated.Marketers will only dispense what they have and what sense does it make for us to have kerosine in our tanks and not dispense it? one marketer asked.

The product has become a scarce commodity nationwide.

The price of kerosine has shot up in states such as Rivers, Kaduna, Bauchi, Lagos, among others. The price has risen by about 150 per cent.

A survey of some major filling stations showed that a litre of kerosine sells for between N150 and N180, against the official price of N50.

12.15 12.45

LAGOS – OWERRI Aero 07.30 Arik 07.30 Air Nigeria 13.40 Arik 14.00 Arik 16.30

1. IRS 2. Arik

taken from NNPC depot to the end users to end the scarcity of the Kerosine.

“Marketers are the ones causing artificial scarcity to hike the price of the product.”

However, the independent marketers countered, saying they do not have enough kerosine in stock. Six marketers, who preferred anonymity, said the allegation that marketers were hoarding the product is not correct.

They said marketers would not deliberately hoard kerosine nationwide.

One of them said marketers would not want to join issues with NNPC, adding that the truth of the matter is that the cost of kerosine is high at the international market.

He said it is only the NNPC that can import sufficient kerosine to meet nationwide demand.

“Kerosine scarcity will persist in the

08.50 12.40 14.10 17.20

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HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said there is enough kerosine in circulation.

NNPC Group General Manager (Public Affairs Division), Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, said the current scarcity is artificial.

Ajuonuma, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) over the telephone that marketers are responsible for the scarcity, because in his defence, NNPC has enough kerosine in stock and wondered what was the cause of the scarcity.

He said: “NNPC has enough kerosine in stock and we are appealing to major and independent marketers to ensure effective distribution to end users.

“We have told them several times to ensure that petroleum products are

08.30 09.10 11.50 12.45 13.40 15.20 16.30 16.40

LAGOS – PORT HARCOURT (CIVIL) 1. Aero 07.15 08.35 2. Arik 07.15 08.35 3. Arik 09.00 10.20 4. Dana 09.27 10.40 5. Aero 10.50 12.30 6. Arik 11.40 13.00 7. Air Nigeria 12.00 13.10 8. IRS 13.30 15.00 9. Arik 14.00 15.20 10. Dana 15.03 16.20 11. Air Nigeria 16.00 17.10 12. Arik 16.10 17.30 13. Aero 16.15 17.30 14. Arik 17.10 18.30

1. Arik 2. Arik 3. Arik

NNPC, marketers trade blame over kerosine scarcity

08.00 18.00

LAGOS – ABUJA SAT/SUN Arik 7.15; 10.20; 2.20; 5.20pm – 7.30; 9.15; 10.20; 2.20; 4.50; 6.45 Aero 07.30; 09.35; 13.10; 14.50; 20.20 – 07.30; 09.35; 13.10; 14.50; 20.20 Air Nigeria 08.15; 14.30; 17.15; 18.30 – 08.15; 13.30; 14.30; 17.15; 18.30

•From left: Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe; Unilever Company Secretary, Mrs Adenike Ogunbanjo and Chairman, Unilever Company, Apostle Hayford Alile, during the 86th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company in PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN Lagos.

Expert urges Fed Govt to sanction violators of Local Content Act

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ANAGING Director of Bell Oil and Gas Limited, Kayode Thomas, has urged the Federal Government to impose stringent sanctions on violators of the Nigerian Local Content Act. Thomas told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lagos that some firms might make nonsense of the Act if the government failed to impose such sanctions.

He advised the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board to ensure that all contracts followed the principle of the local content policy. ``The government should not award any contract to any international or local oil company which violates the policy,’’ he said.

Thomas urged the government to ensure that multinationals that got contract from it engaged indigenous companies in areas of pipes fittings, fabrications and drilling, among others.

The oil executive commended the government on the Act, saying that it would check unpatriotic activities of international companies operating or willing to operate in Nigeria.

“Clearly the Act is a positive development not only for the Nigerian oil industry but for the entire economy,” he said.

The Nigerian Content Act was enacted on April 22, 2010 when the bill was signed into law by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

The Act seeks to increase indigenous participation in the oil and gas industry and boost industry’s contributions to the growth of Gross Domestic Product.

The signing of the Bill into law established the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board.

The Board has its headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Group assures of corporate debt recovery, restructuring

Oil prices fall as focus shifts from robust demand to China T

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IL prices fell turning nega tive after earlier highs as the focus shifted from robust demand from China to signs that the world’s second-largest economy might be cooling.

ICE Brent crude futures were 39 cents lower at 117.24 dollars a barrel by 1058 GMT, having earlier risen to as high as 118.43 dollars.

US crude dropped by 63 cents to $103.25.

China’s implied oil demand, a combination of crude oil throughput and net imports of refined oil products, was at 9.32 million barrels per day (bpd) in April, Reuters

calculations showed, up 8.8 per cent from a year earlier and the third highest ever.

But China’s inflation eased in April to 5.3 per cent, and other data including industrial output and loans suggested the world’s secondbiggest economy might be cooling, with less need for further aggressive monetary tightening.

“Inflation has cooled slightly,” Thorbjorn Bak Jensen with Global Risk Management in Denmark said.

“But there is still heavy growth in retail sales and production.”

Some analysts said the dip was driven by short-term profit-taking

and technical indications to sell.

Mike Witter with Societe Generale expected volatility would remain in the oil market.

“Macro data from the U.S., Europe and China has been decidedly mixed in the last two weeks, helping to trigger fear and extreme volatility,” he said in a research note.

With the summer US driving season soon to start, investors are focusing on the flood along the Mississippi River, which threatened to disrupt oil refineries amid falling inventories of gasoline in the world’s top gas market.

Allow importation to reduce cement price, union HE National Union of Civil is not good for the tells Fed Govt affected.This Engineering, Construction, economy,’’ he said.

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Furniture and Wood Workers, yesterday urged the Federal Government to allow the importation of cement, to force down its price.

Its Secretary, Mr Babatunde Liadi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the high cost of cement was negatively affecting construction workers.

A bag of cement currently sells for N2,300, up from the N1,500 it was sold in December 2010, representing an increase of about 44

per cent.

Liadi said the major cement manufacturers had blamed the situation on the rising cost diesel.

He said the price of cement might not reduce unless measures were taken to address it.

“We have been crying out over the high cost of building materials, especially cement and it is affecting the activities of developers.

“We are calling on the government to intervene because developers are abandoning projects and many workers are being

The union scribe said if construction workers were not being used, it would further compound the level of poverty in the country.

He noted that the industry was already groaning over the nonpayment of about N60 billion owed construction companies by government agencies.

He said it was regrettable that the few construction workers, who managed to secure jobs, were being negatively affected by the increasing cost of cement.

By Ambrose Nnaji

HE Business Recovery and In solvency Practitioners Asso ciation of Nigeria (BRIPAN) has said adequate measures are being worked out to re-engineer under-performing companies and organisations in the country to bring them to the level they can perform better The measures, it was gathered, included corporate debt recovery, turnaround of businesses as well as restructuring of debts and facilities.

The First Vice President and Chairman of the Training Committee of the Association, Dele Odunowo, disclosed this at a seminar in Lagos.

The insolvency practitioners organise monthly seminars for old and new members to equip them professionally with the best practices in debt recovery.

Odunowo said his members would also focus on a whole new vehicle that will specialise in managing bad accounts.

He explained that merely being unable to pay debts does not mean insolvent. He said: “It is a kind of crisis. It is not insolvency crisis. We say cash flow crisis and not insolvency crisis”.

According to him, there are some that are based on the documents they signed and once they are not able to meet the obligations then the issue of insolvency arises.

“But there are others which have no documentations committing them but they are by circumstances not able to meet the obligations, those are not insolvency cases, they are not issues”, he further explained.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

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INDUSTRY

OPS faults CBN’s N150,000 cash withdrawal limit •Chides National Assembly over budget •Endorses N18,000 minimum wage T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has incurred the ire of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) over its proposal to peg cash withdrawals at N150,000 for individuals and N1 million for corporate bodies.

The OPS, under the aegis of the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), at a conference in Lagos, said the policy may not work in isolation but may require other macro-economic policy support including infrastructure before implimentation.

NACCIMA President, Dr Ademola Ajayi said: “ For instance, the informal sector accounts for about 60 per cent of Nigeria’s economic activities and cash is heavily used in the sector. With our large illiterate society and poor ICT access by majority of the citizens, the CBN would need to introduce other policies to complement this one to make paper transactions cheaper and attractive with some education of the masses.”

Ademola said bank charges on non cash transaction could be reviewed downwards for customers, as incentive.

He said though the policy will reduced cash handling cost and less risk from attack by robbers, the time is not yet ripe for Nigeria to have such limits because of the technology that is involved.

He said the new rule would lead to apathy on the part of many Nigerians to transact business with financial institutions because the N150,000 limit is too small.

“What I can see happening now is that many bank customers will prefer holding their cash back at home because the N150,000 limit is too small. Besides, the technology involved will be too cumbersome for low level businessmen who do not have knowledge of such before.

“I think it is borne out of the desire to move Nigeria to the next level of a cashless economy. It is also meant to assist in tracing transactions and spending. More so, it is

Stories by Toba Agboola

to assist in ensuring that the substantial portion of money in circulation is within the banking system unlike now when about 80 per cent of the money in circulation is outside the banking system.”

He said the nation does not have the technological capacity to compete.

“In my view, the CBN has taken this initiative in order to position the Nigerian financial environment to accommodate increase in the flow of funds, ease of business transactions. In doing this, our local payment pattern must prove to reflect efficient processes as we currently do not have a secured environment to accommodate the huge twist in cash handling that the CBN has mandated.”

2011 Federal Government budget The OPS chide the National Assemby over the delayed in the passing of 2011 Federal Government budget. They expressed their disagreement over the increase in the National Assembly allocation from N111.24billion to N232.74 billion, representing 109.2 per cent increase “We are concerned that in spite of public outcry and repeated reminders, the issue of national budget is yet to be satisfactorily resolved.

This issue has once again resurfaced with the 2011 Federal Budget, which was recently passed by our Law makers.

“You will recall that there was a public reaction to the 2010 Federal Budget as regards the huge allocation to the National Assembly. As a result, Mr. President did promise to address certain grey areas in the 2011 proposal. We wish to express our disappointment that while we understand that Mr. President did actually review the estimates downward

•From left: Exco member (NACCIMA), Otunba Femi Deru; NACCIMA Director-General Mr John Isemede and PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAM Ajayi, during the briefing.

for the National Assembly in certain grey areas, the National Assembly appear to have gone ahead to increase its allocation by over 100% in the 2011 Federal budget.

“We believe the public is generally concerned about this apparent increase in the National Assembly allocation from N111.24billion to N232.74 billion representing 109.2 per cent increase “We, therefore, wish to counsel that Mr. President should insist and return the NASS approved 2011 Budget to the National Assembly

for a review. We are here to repeat once again that the present high cost of governance has been responsible for the lopsided pattern of expenditure, with recurrent expenditure taking about 70% of total Budget.”

The new minimum wage The industrialists support the new national minimum wage of N18,000 recently signed to law for workers in the public sector and private companies that have up to 50 staffers.

They thanked Mr. President for

keeping faith with Nigerian workers.

According to Ajayi, the National Wage Commission should also ensure that the new salary structure is implemented in such a way to narrow the present wide income gap between the lowest and highest paid workers.

“There is also the need to appeal to Nigerian public against undue increases in prices of products, services and Rents etc that would wipe out the benefits to workers from the new national minimum wage,” he said.

MAN proposes policy on made-in-Nigeria products HE Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN), has proposed that contractors utilise made in Nigeria Products instead of imported ones to executive government projects.

The proposal came up recently in Kaduna during a campaign for the support and promotion of made in Nigeria products organised for the Northwestern region.

A council member, Alhaji Ali Madugu, who represented the National President of MAN, Chief Kola Jamodu, noted that once the campaign for the support and promotion of Nigerian commodities is completely assimilated and adopted, industries would undergo expansion in capacity utilisation to enhance the quality of made in Nigeria Products.

He noted that this would then lower excessive reliance on foreign products and boost the overall growth and development in the manufacturing industry.

Madugu appealed to the government to balance the campaign with facilities for sufficient power supply, the supply of LFPO, AGO, as well as natural gas.

He also advocated the provision of soft loans to the industry and requested the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to ascertain the immediate ending of the discussion that is still ongoing with stakeholders on the notice that has removed the ban on several prohibited products.

In a related event, the Federal Government has reiterated its

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readiness to transform the economy as it seeks partnership with the private sector on economic development.

Chief Economic Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Prof.

Kassey Garba, stated this In a speech delivered at the fourth International Conference of the Nigerian Association for Energy Economics which took place in Abuja, Garba, disclosed that President Jonathan’s main agenda was to transform the Nigerian economy.

He stated that central to the plans were the transformation of systems such as power, transport, education and health and value chains which included oil and gas, agriculture and solid minerals.

She said the government was already pursuing a number of strategies to increase the benefits accruable to Nigeria from oil and gas which included the development of local content capacity in the industry, establishment of mini refineries, increased emphasis on value addition activities, among others.

Disclosing that all of this would be strengthened by the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, the Chief Economic Adviser, said the task of transforming the economy was not that of the government alone.

In this regard, she said associations must engage the government productively and contribute to providing sound evidence-based advice.

She said the Office of the Chief

Economic Adviser to the President was ready to engage with the Nigerian Association of Energy Economics in its mandate to promote innovative, transformative projects across the critical sectors of our economy.

“We have already started building strong public-private partner-

ships with manufacturers in the Southeast zone and it has become clear that efficient power system is indispensable to unlocking the vast potentials of our manufacturers.”

She said the government had located 11 industrial clusters in the geo-political zones, all of which require an efficient power system to

develop and compete globally.

The Chief Economic Adviser urged discussants at the conference to give greater weight in presenting research papers that provide sound policy advice which can be of great value to the government, and to take more steps to make such policy briefs available to the government.

•Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the comprehensive review of the EEG Dr. Abubakar Mohammad (left), presenting the report to the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye in his office in Abuja.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

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INDUSTRY

ECOWAS Trade: Exporters DHL Nigeria appoints new MD seek Fed Govt’s assistance R E XPORTERS of non-oil items have appealed to the Federal Government to provide them with cargo vessels to boost transportation of goods within the ECOWAS sub-region.

They made the call at a workshop organised by the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) in Lagos.

They said efforts to boost trade, especially non-oil products, would not yield desired results except there were vessels to move goods within the sub-region.

President of Nigeria-Ghana Chamber of Commerce, Mr Otunba Ajayi, said other challenges facing the sector included bureaucracy, haulage and taxes outside those recommended under the ECOWAS Trade Liberialisation Scheme.

Ajayi said ordinarily ships should take two days to move goods from Nigeria to Liberia, but ships had to go to Europe or Asia

Stories by Toba Agboola

before heading for Liberia due to bureaucracy.

He said goods shipped from Nigeria often took about a month to get to Liberia.

“We are disappointed that after about 10 years, the same problems have continued to be the discussion within the sector.

“What it means is that the government is not committed to solving the problems,” Ajayi said.

He said Nigeria, as the largest exporter of goods in Africa, should pay attention to the sector to reduce the delay in export of goods.

“The Federal Government should streamline activities of agencies and form synergy to move the sector forward.

“Commerce and Industry, Foreign Affairs and Agriculture and Water Resources ministries have to work together to get the maximum benefits from the sector,” he said.

Ajayi said 80 per cent of Nigerian

export to ECOWAS countries were done at the informal level.

Another exporter, Mr Roman Ode, Chief Executive of Afri Product Ltd., corroborated Ajayi’s views.

He said challenges facing businesses in the sub-region were enormous.

Ode said the goods of some Nigerians, who attended the Ghana Trade Fair in March, 2010, were still at the Republic of Benin border.

“I attended a trade fair in Ghana and after the exhibition I was returning to Nigeria, but at Seme border I was asked to pay export duties for the goods.

“I was surprised because I did not export any good and up till now my goods are still at Benin border.

“I have written letters to the Nigeria Customs Service Comptroller General, the Chairman of the ETLS and Nigeria High Commission in Ghana, all to no avail,” he said.

ANDY Buday has been ap pointed the Managing Di rector of DHL International (Nigeria) Limited.

According to the statement, Randy; who has since assumed duty joined DHL Express 29 years ago in the US in a sales-based position in Southern California and worked his way into general management.

In 1985, Randy relocated to the Express African Region and has since held numerous general management positions in Southern, Central and Eastern Africa”.

Until his appointment, Randy was the Managing Director of DHL in the Indian Ocean Islands based in Mauritius.

The statement further described Randy as a strong commercial and customer-orientated leader with an excellent track record. Randy has been instrumental in growing DHL’s market share in very competitive markets throughout the sub-Sahara Africa region.

He brings tremendous value and leadership to the dynamic growth market in Nigeria with his extensive exposure and wealth of experience.

Fashola commends Indomie for sponsoring carnival

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OVERNOR of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola has commended Dufil Prima Foods Plc,makers of Nigeria’s No.1 Noodle brand, Indomie instant noodles for sponsoring the Lagos Carnival 2011.

Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola gave this commendation while addressing 10,000 of Lagosians and Nigerians as well as foreign tourists present at the 2011 edition of the Lagos Carnival held at Tafawa Balewa

Square (TBS) Lagos on April 30, which is the event to mark the end of this year Black Heritage Week.

The Lagos carnival is a beautiful recreation of the age-long carnival, which was started by the Brazilian returnees and was known as the Emacipados after the abolishment of slave trade and settled in the Lagos Island.

This year’s celebration was an extra momentum through a colourful display of music, dance and procession by the various groups.

Cadbury Q1 turnover up by 18%

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ADBURY Nigeria has an nounced the filing of its first quarter results for 2011 with the regulatory authorities.

For the three months ending March 31, 2011, the unaudited results show a turnover of N7.59b indicating an 18 per cent growth against the corresponding period in 2010.

The company also reported a Gross Profit of N2.4b in the same period (a 55 per cent growth on the Q1, 2010 figure of N1.5b).

In a statement to announce the filing, Mr Kufre Ekanem, Cadbury Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Manager said: “We are pleased with the

‘Textile fund cannot solve industry’s problems’

• Outlet Manager, Sweet Sensation, Mrs Ogunye (middle), presenting a gift to the winner of the Sweet Sensation’s Spatter celebration, at its Ifako, Gbagada outlet, Lagos.

Nigeria-India trade hits $12b

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IGERIA’S Foreign Affairs Minister, Odien Ajumogobia said the value of trade between Nigeria and India is now $12 billion, with both nations seeking to grow the tally.

He disclosed this during a visit by the Indian envoy to his office, in Abuja.

The minister said: “Nigeria’s relationship with India is good and is improving because it is the second largest trading partner of Nigeria and their economy is a shining one which developing countries can learn from.

“I believe we have a lot of lessons to learn from India with trade volume of $12 billion and still believe we can improve because the dominant part of the trade is in oil because Nigeria has much more than oil and hope that by working together. we could attain that.”

On the air service bilateral agreement between the two countries, the minister said it takes a longer time to get to India from Nigeria explaining that “we have to go through third would countries because there is no direct flight for business people to move freely between the countries.”

He further stated that Nigeria, during his visit to India, signed an

agreement with the ministry responsible for pharmaceuticals to ensure the quality of drugs being imported to Nigeria and also hoped to sign the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) and the double tax treaties, investment and promotion agreements which have already been drafted and hoped it will also be signed into agreement in the next few months.

Ajumogobia explained that there are legal frame works underway to protect investment and ensure that Indian businessmen invest in Nigeria and to handle the issue of double taxation which he hoped will be solved before their next meeting in 2012.

He assured the envoy of becoming the largest economy in the world by the year 2020 saying it has much more than oil as it is also a grarian economy adding that the vision can be achieved by developing manufacturing industries and services which, he believed collaborating with India will help in achieving the targets.

Earlier, the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Mahesh Sachdev had explained that the purpose of the visit is to deliver certain official messages with regards to the Indian African forum summit sched-

uled to take place this year at Addis Ababa and as an off shot of the trust they have in the ministry by presenting journalists from India to the country and the continent to familiarise them with the countries and to focus on the development with a view to creating greater awareness.

performance in the first quarter of 2011, especially the sustained growth in our gross sales numbers.

However, as a result of a higher phasing of marketing expenditure to Q1 this year, we had a drop in operating profit compared to last year coupled with a one-off exceptional charge taken in the reporting period.”

In a related development, Ekanem also confirmed that the 46th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Agidingbi-based company will hold today at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

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HIKA Onuegbu, Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Rivers State, said the N200 billion textile fund released by the Federal Government to revive textile industries will not solve the sector’s problems.

Onuegbu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that there were many problems confronting the industry that had not been resolved.

According to him, revival of the sector needs holistic view of many issues, including the country’s porous borders. “What is needed to reactivate the textile industry is a holistic review of all factors responsible for their closure,” he said.

The labour leader said the country’s borders were porous with all kinds of foreign-made clothes entering the country unchecked.

Winners emerge in Panasonic YUME promo

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HE Panasonic dream promo tion has drawn to a close with six customers emerging as the last winners in the model consumer promotion.

The YUME, which means dream in Japanese, was launched on December 15, 2010 and ran through April 25, 2011. The promotion was a n opportunity for consumer to realize the dream of owning a Panasonic brand and thus enrich lives. This, according to a senior management staff of Panasonic Japan, is a manifestation of the company’s corporate philosophy of ‘idea for life.’

Having rewarded four winners in the first draw of the promotion on February 25, 2011, the brand made good its promise by rewarding the last six in the concluding

draw which took place last week Wednesday in Lagos.

They are Mr Babalola Ismail, Lagos, Mr Peter Audu, Lagos, Mr Yusuf Kassim, Lagos, Kingley Ekwe, Abuja, Mrs. Jumai Usman, Kano and Mr Samuel Umah from Uyo. The six winners, just like the previous four go home with 13 Panasonic products each.

These include 3D Plasma TV, 3D Blue Ray Player, split air conditioner, home theatre, digital camcorder, digital still camera, standing fan, rice cooker, vacuum cleaner, steam/dry iron, blender, microwave oven and refrigerator The promo was in two categories, which are scratch and win instant offer and mega offer.

The former was the instant re-

ward for 1,000 winners and the latter a mechanism put in place to reward 10 through draws.

Explaining the mechanics of the YUME promo, Mr Kota Mochizuki of Panasonic Corporation Japan, stated that for a consumer to enter the just concluded promotion, he or she needed to purchase a Panasonic air conditioner or flat TV of these categories-LCD/LED/ Plasma.

“The customer was expected to scratch the foil on the entry coupon for an instant prize of LCD TV, home theatre, microwave oven, DVD player and iron.

Along with the instant acratch and win card, the customer fills the entry coupon by writing his name, mobile phone number and point of purchase.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION Comments

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

Yuguda’s recant •The governor’s defence was more verbal manoeuvre than penitence

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UST as well Isa Yuguda, the governor of Bauchi State, is recanting on his rather insensitive outburst on the nine National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members slain in Bauchi State, in the aftermath of the presidential election.

In the heat of that tragic event, Mallam Yuguda had said the doomed youths were destined to die that way.

To underscore his utter insensitivity, the governor had added that he too, as a serving corps member, was attacked in Ibadan in 1979 (though he gave no detail of what spurred the attack), thus suggesting it was game for Nigerian locals to attack fellow Nigerians from other parts of the country. That further inflamed the media and other stakeholders against the governor.

But in an emotional briefing in Abuja, a tear-faced Governor Yuguda pleaded for understanding, saying he spoke in the context of his Islamic

‘Besides, in the spirit of learning from other faiths, the governor would have benefited from the Biblical teaching that what harms a man is not what he eats but what he spews out. If the governor had been more circumspect in his speech, he would have escaped all the flak’

faith. “I am not heartless, I am not a demon”, the governor remonstrated, adding that as a parent and as a responsible, sensitive and responsive governor, he gave the corps members in Bauchi State a deal all of them were happy about.

The governor’s explanation has not healed the emotional gash his comments had opened. But it has at least explained his own side of the story.

Beyond that, the governor has also, in a way, shown remorse, though, in doing so, he swung to the other extreme of the melodramatic: suggesting that if the law allowed him and the arrested suspects were convicted, he would have loved to shoot them himself!

That would not be necessary, for with all its failings, Nigeria is still no medieval feudal redoubt where an enraged potentate would usurp the institutionalised crime-and-punishment function of the state, just to show his holy rage. Still, that emotive overplay underscored the penitence of the governor. He should earn the forgiveness of all – after all, as the cliché goes, to err is human; to forgive is divine.

But even in forgiving, the governor – and indeed other Nigerian leaders who progressively seem to develop the penchant to blab first and think later – must swallow, like bitter pills, some home truths.

Governor Yuguda might be a Muslim. But Nigeria is home to many faiths. Even if many oppose it being called a secular state, there is no doubt that it is a multi-faith country. With

that, every leader must learn to be extremely sensitive to the feelings of other faiths, particularly when commenting on tragedies, a good number of them, if not most, man-made, and therefore avoidable.

The mindless post-presidential election mayhem was a classic example of such; and the governor did his part of the country no favour by trying to rationalise wilful and mindless killing by Islamic fatalism.

Though his immediate Islamic environment could key into that, others, particularly the victims, are likely to dismiss it as pious rationalisation of mindless impunity which breeds further murderous impunity.

Besides, in the spirit of learning from other faiths, the governor would have benefited from the Biblical teaching that what harms a man is not what he eats but what he spews out. If the governor had been more circumspect in his speech, he would have escaped all the flak.

Still, he should be encouraged to bring to closure his own outburst by visiting the families of the slain corps members. He has started very well, by dedicating his own election win to the corps member victims.

But more importantly, closure must be brought to Nigeria’s crisis of nationhood. The NYSC was set up to achieve national unity and cohesion. Yet, that vehicle became the untimely end of innocent youths – so long for plastic approaches to cherished Nigerian “unity”! If Nigeria must become a true nation, radical federal restructuring is the key.

Reforming INEC •With the elections now over, this is the next thing to do

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ITH the April 2011 elections concluded, the Attahiru Jega-led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is reported as proceeding with plans to restructure the electoral body. This is not unexpected.

In April, the nation went into the polls based on a blind faith in the personal integrity of Prof Jega to deliver. It helped that this found a good match in the citizens’ unparalleled determination to make the best out of a near impossible situation.

The two factors – more than anything that the electoral institution did, combined to deliver what is now adjudged as by far the most credible process in our electoral history, particularly from 2003 to date.

It is therefore stating the obvious that Nigerians didn’t think much of the structure of INEC bequeathed by its former chairman, Maurice Iwu. This explains why the demand for electoral reforms, which saw to the ouster of the former chairman, found equal match in strident demands for the complete overhaul of the commission. Indeed, not a few Nigerians believe that leaving the inherited INEC – seen not only as structurally deficient but also morally delinquent – would imperil whatever good job Jega and his team would do at the commission.

Nigerians settled on the old INEC structure to do the job, not because they

thought something good could come out of the body with such poor reputation, but mainly because of limitations imposed by the tight electoral calendar.

It was a case of getting the job done anyhow, rather than pursuing any ideals in the circumstance. Focusing on the practical meant the execution of the programme of wholesale review of the voter register on whose neck the fate of the entire exercise was hung – and ultimately the elections proper.

With the job now done, it seems only necessary that INEC management will focus on the unfinished business – which is the restructuring of INEC itself.

The move at this time, both on grounds of timing and objectives, is certainly not without great merits. With the next election cycle just four years away, there can hardly be a better time to put in place the necesary structures than now, when INEC’s hands are less full. Moreover, an early start will afford the commission adequate time to reposition itself well ahead of time; indeed, the gubernatorial elections scheduled for next year may well serve to provide an avenue to testrun some of the changes it plans to put in place.

Needless to state that the planned restructuring underscores the imperative to make the body a truly professional one capable of holding its own. Besides, given the ignoble legacy left by Iwu at INEC, the need to deal with the perception of

the body as a corrupt and malleable umpire – one available to the highest bidder – is as urgent. Reports from a number of states during the last elections would seem to bear testimony to the fact that a good number of INEC functionaries are yet to imbibe the imperatives of change – for some, it may well be business as usual.

Painful as it may seem, it has become necesary to weed out such officials while injecting new blood into the commission. In doing this, the commission must be guided by the need for fairness, openness and transparency. The nation has invested too much in its electoral future; it therefore expects very high standards from functionaries involved in administering the electoral process.

‘Painful as it may seem, it has become necesary to weed out such officials while injecting new blood into the commission. In doing this, the commission must be guided by the need for fairness, openness and transparency. The nation has invested too much in its electoral future; it therefore expects very high standards from functionaries involved in administering the electoral process’

The tracking of bin Laden is no vindication of torture

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N RECENT DAYS, former Bush administration officials have said that information gleaned from the use of enhanced interrogation techniques helped intelligence officers begin the lengthy and intricate work of tracking down Osama bin Laden.

They may well be right. We have never been among those claiming that torture never works. But they are wrong on their larger point. Even if waterboarding or extreme sleep deprivation produced some pieces of the bin Laden intelligence puzzle, the program wasn’t justified — and it still did America far more harm than good.

Most interrogation experts say that the only way to extract reliable information is through noncoercive means, including building rapport with suspects over time. Torture may sometimes elicit true statements, but it often elicits falsehoods — and there are suggestions in this case that coercive techniques led to inaccurate information, including attempts by detainees to throw interrogators off the track of a valued bin Laden courier. Moreover, it is quite possible, though not certain, that reliance on more traditional methods would have produced the same results had interrogators stuck to them.

What is clear is that the country paid dearly for employing methods that are not only wrongheaded but wrong. Its reputation was scarred and its moral authority diminished around the world.

So President Obama was right to dismantle the CIA’s enhanced interrogation program.

But a rejection of torture should not mean a reluctance to capture and interrogate terrorism suspects. Yet the country has no clear legal framework to handle captives who may be dangerous but cannot be charged with a crime in U.S. courts.

Those captured in Afghanistan can be taken to the Bagram Air Base prison, where they would be subject to the protections and obligations of the Geneva Conventions. But what of those apprehended far from the conventional battlefield? Should they also end up at Bagram? Should they be flown to the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba? That seems unlikely, considering the president’s pledge to close the island prison.

Rather than apprehend suspects, this administration has outpaced its predecessor in the use of drone strikes. Just this week, the administration confirmed that it struck two suspected al-Qaeda operatives in Yemen. Such strikes are a lawful means of national selfdefense, but by relying on them potentially important intelligence information is lost.

The president should work with Congress to erect a detention framework that is overseen by the federal courts, provides legal protections to detainees and lets the United States lawfully and humanely gather information that could help thwart the next attack.

• Washington Post

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

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12 2011

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

IR: Reading Professor Sagay’s appraisal of the decisions of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal in the tenure elongation suit published on page 22 of the Nation, Monday, May 2, we are compelled to join issues with the learned author.

On a general note, courts do not decide petitions based on jurisprudence (analysis of legal concepts).

Courts decide cases base on relevant statutory provisions or judicial precedents. In the absence of any decision of the apex court to the contrary, the Court of Appeal was bound to decide the tenure elongation suit in accordance with the provisions of S.180 of the 1999 Constitution to the effect that the tenure of an elected governor commences from the day of his oath taking.

The likely revulsion over the judgment in the tenure elongation suit is that the affected governors stand to benefit from their illegal assumption of office. This is regrettable but the courts must apply the law, especially that the provisions of S.180 of

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IR: As a current serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), I have been doing my utmost best to love Nigeria -to be patriotic. For a split second during the heat of the just concluded and laudable general elections, it was the easiest thing in the world to be a patriotic Nigerian.

I felt proud to have been an umpire in an electoral process that international and local obsevers adjudgrd to be the freest and fairest ever held in this country. Yet that joy was short-lived as within 24 hours, stories of cold blooded massacre of Corps members in the North made it the most difficult thing in the world to be a patriotic Nigerian. There certainly is more to these killings than meets the eye.

A little trip down the memory lane shows that southerners have always been massacred in the North for all kinds of flimsy excuses. Things like a Reinhard Bonnke crusade in 1990; a demented cartoon in far away Europe about Prophet Mohahmed; a careless reference to the Prophet by an insensitive newspaper columnist

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

Sagay got it wrong on tenure elongation the 1999 Constitution are very clear and unambiguous.

At any rate, it is not in all cases that a wrongdoer is prohibited from benefiting from his wrongful acts.

For example S.2 (a) of the Public Officers Protection Act, CAP P-41, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 provides as follows: The action, prosecution shall not lie or be instituted unless it is commenced within three months next after the act, neglect or default complained of or in case of a continuance of damage or injury, within three months next after the ceasing thereof: Provided that if the action, prosecu-

tion or proceeding be at the instance of any for cause arising while such person was a convict prisoner, it may be commenced within three months after the discharge of such person from prison.

A prisoner under the above limitation law is allowed to benefit from his wrongdoing by the exception created in the proviso. While such benefit enures to the prisoner as a result of deliberate policy of the law, that on tenure elongation arises from the lacuna in the law.

The learned author summed up his grievances against the judgment thus: To uphold the validity of their

acts in office and reject the period they spent in office during which those acts were performed, is not only illogical, it is inconsistent and constitutes sheer selfcontradiction…The period spent in office and the acts performed during that period constitute one package. They stand or fall together.

With greatest respect to the learned author, the issue of upholding the validity of the acts performed by the governors did not and could not have arisen in the tenure elongation suit to warrant the invocation of the principle that courts cannot pick and choose which

consequences of the invalid election to accept and which to reject, for at least three reasons. One, the appellant in the case, INEC, is not competent to raise the issue of the validity of the acts performed by the governors before the court. INEC has no locus standi to challenge the validity of the laws made which do not affect it as a body corporate as against the issue of tenure elongation. Two, in the absence of specific challenge of any of the acts of the governors by a competent party before the court, the court is entitled to ignore any call to treat the consequences of the invalid election as one package and to decide the issue of tenure alone. Three, it is even worse illogicality to tie the issue of tenure to the myriad of acts of the affected governors, which acts have not been challenged in the court by any competent party as in this case. Four, courts decide cases properly before them and do not engage in speculations.

• Dr. M.E. Ediru, Lafia, Nasarawa State.

Nigeria’s real enemies during a Miss World contest to mention but a few have all led to killing sprees!

Between 1999 to 2009 ten thousand Nigerians were killed in ethno-religious riots with little or no punishment meted out to the culprits thus encouraging the culture of impunity. This leaves one with the uneasy feeling that the problem is one that a 22-man Presidential Probe panel can not solve. It is a problem older than Nigeria itself and it has caused a civil war already. Forgettable and unfortunate as that part of our history is, we have to learn to

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call a spade a spade. The name Nigeria may have found its place in our Geography textbooks, but in reality it does not exist. Yea we have Igbos, Hausas, Yorubas, Fulanis and the likes but the matter of Nigeria is only secondary to the majority of us as tribe and religion comes first.

How does this line up with popular American slogans like ‘Think not what your country will do for you but what you will do for your country’? Martin Luther King Jnr said” I have a dream. My three little children will grow up in an America where they will be judged not by

the colour of their skin but by the strength of their character” But see the flood of blood flowing in the altar of tribalism and sectarian interests in Nigeria!

Who has divided us? Who is bewitching us? All these zoning madness and ‘turn by turn’ formular are only temporary fixes and it is high time we grew up as they will do us no good in the long run. If a father and son have ruled America in the space of 12 years in the persons of George Bush Senior and Junior and no riots greeted their streets, then we must tell ourselves the truth. If a

Kenyan is currently ruling America, why the hulaballoo about tribes in Nigeria? The truth is that the day Nigeria starts voting for competence will spell the compulsory retirement of some current political players. All hope is not lost though.

At least we had an election in which votes counted and that is a foundation we must build on. Our common enemies are bad leadership, tribalism and rigging of elections.

The sooner we fix them, the haappier we will be.

• Eric Arinze Katchy Corps Member, WAEC Yaba, Lagos.

For Governor-elect Rochas Okorocha

IR: Please allow me to use your respected newspaper to welcome and appreciate our God-given Governor-elect of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.

The good people of Akpulu community in Ide-Ato North L.G.A of Imo State prayed, fasted, conducted vigils and said masses for God to give the people of Imo State Owelle Rochas. Indeed, God has answered

our prayers. Akpulu people voted massively for Rochas Okorocha because of our believe in his quest to better the lives of the people especially the poor.

However, having voted massively for our in-coming governor, I appeal to him to bring government presence to our community.

There is no single government presence in Akpulu community today

because of the total neglect by the previous government in Imo State.

Akpulu people need good road network, standard hospital or health centre, pipe-borne water and rehabilitation of our schools and chairs for our children. It will be cheaper for the governor to prevent water borne diseases through provision of portable water for the people than to spend money on

curative drugs.

I also want to inform him that the community has a pool of qualified professors, doctors, engineers, lawyers and other professionals that Imo State government can benefit from their wealth of experience if appointed into government.

• Bennett M.F.Okpara, Ogunlana Drive, Lagos.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

21

EDITORIAL/OPINION

Colonial and Post-colonial culture of Nigeria-(3)

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SLAM did not penetrate the forests of Benin and the Southeast generally. But contact with European slave traders radically transformed the south too. Participation in the odious trade destabilized the polities and brought insecurity to the lives of the people thus retarding the physical progress of the area affected by it. The importation of guns through the coast particularly the Niger-Delta area brought lethal efficacy to military campaigns unseen before. Contact with Europeans also brought new taste in ‘trade gin’ and western ways of dressing and naming of individuals. This was most noticeable among the Ijo (Izon) and the Itshekiri who adopted western names in preference to their African names.

Even the much larger Benin Empire adopted Christian symbols of the cross in the accoutrement of their Oba. The coming of Christian missionaries in the 19th century led to a radical revival of Christian influence on Nigerian culture. Christianity came with a cultural baggage of monogamy unlike the African religions which allowed men to marry many wives. Naming ceremonies was invariably affected by the Bible. Burials also became increasingly influenced by Christian mode of burials. Marriage, childbirth and burial are the most important landmarks in any person’s life and were also one of the social manifestations of one’s culture. These were radically transformed at least among the elite class. Since the elite were copied by the unlettered classes of people our culture in this regard became diluted.

Christianity also led a different worldview from the then existing one. It promotes individuality and self help and enterprise unlike the previous emphasis on predestination common among our people. Just like Islam, Christianity led to covering of the nakedness of some of our people and the development of new forms of trades and expansion of previous ones such as weaving and dyeing. Western education and the use of English spread first along the coast and gradually to the interior parts of the country especially along the towns on the railway lines. The development of a new language Pidgin English began in the same way to the extent that by the beginning of the 20th century Pidgin English had become some kind of lingua franca in the Niger-Delta and among small ethnic groups in the south. Language of course is a very important aspect of culture and this new medium of expression was later to spread to many parts of the country especially to the Igbo-speaking areas.

The vast majority of Nigerians after the amalgamation in 1914 continued to live their lives as before without notice-

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OVERNOR Isa Yuguda cut a pitiable picture on air last Friday as he tried to explain, without success, the circumstances under which he made that his insulting remark. But all he said cut no ice with me and probably with many other Nigerians. Yuguda from his countenance was not remorseful. He was doing all he did to fulfil all righteousness. He was merely responding to the umbrage caused by his uncouth and expensive statement. What did he say? To me, he said nothing to ameliorate the damage done by his utterance; he only spoke to grab the headlines.

If he was really sorry, he would have apologised. But he didn’t. He just said he would want the government to honour the slain corps members and their parents. That is putting the cart before the horse, your excellency. Seek ye first the forgiveness of the bereaved families and every other thing will follow. Until then, no amount of crocodile tears shed by the Bauchi State governor can wash him clean of the disease of running his mouth without knowing when to apply the brakes.

Last week’s column drew reactions from readers, who felt he abused his executive privilege by his indecent remark. Their reactions are reproduced so that we can all learn one or two lessons from this unfortunate incident.

RE: Yuguda’s faux pas I think the governor is a psycopath.

From: Baroka, 08054105455, Ikeja

able change traceable to the imposition of colonial rule. The most noticeable outcome of amalgamation was the gradual extension of the Beit-el mal (native treasuries) first introduced to the North by Sir Fredrick Lugard to the rest of the country, beginning in Yorubaland and Benin. The attempt to extend this to the acephalous Igbo societies by creating ‘Warrant’ chiefs where there were no traditional rulers met with failure. The economic implication of this system was the levying of taxes in the names of native rulers who were now made to enjoy political and economic power out of tune with pre-colonial tradition and culture. Resistance to this imposition did not succeed in the face of superior physical force in the hands of the colonial administration. Rebellion and revolts were shot down by the use of soldiers and Nigerians were cowed down and made to face the responsibilities imposed by modern mode of governance which involved payment of taxes as a passage of citizenships rite.

The colonial phase of Nigerian history witnessed rapid economic changes, building of railways roads and ports and even aerodromes. Gradually our people were sucked into the western economic, political and social vortex. With this came increasing contact between our people and the outside world. Nigerian soldiers fought in two World Wars first between 1914 and 1918 in theatres in Togo, the Cameroons and East Africa. Some naval ratings were even sent all the way to Palestine. The Second World War saw more extensive use of our soldiers in the Ethiopian campaigns against the Italians and in Burma against the Japanese. The involvement of our troops in these global cataclysms had serious political consequences. The weakening of the British in a changed world hastened the process of decolonization. This process was hastened by the rise of African nationalism and the emergence of political parties each of which in different ways fought for the political emancipation of our country.

The growing political awareness led to cultural nationalism and the cry to “boycott all boycottables” that is to say Africans should go back to their cultural roots by jettisoning imported names and taking on native names.

This was particularly the case among the descendants of Nigerian repatriates from Sierra Leone resident in Lagos.

They cast away their European and Hebrew names thus David Brown Vincent took an African names of Mojola Agbebi; Edmund Macaulay became Kitoyi Ajasa; Joseph Pythagoras Haastrup became Ademuyiwa Haastrup; Jacob Henry Samuel became Adegboyega Edun. Their examples were later to

resonate with Azikiwe and Awolowo when they dropped their biblical names of Benjamin and Jeremiah respectively. The wearing of African clothes became fashionable.

Lugard would in his grave have approved this development unlike what he condemned in 1914 when Jide he described educated Osuntokun natives as the “trousered Negros of the coast dressed in bond street attire, who send their laundry abroad every other week for dry cleaning”.

In this changed cultural preference, the cultural gap between southerners and northerners in Nigeria began to close.

Northerners never abandoned their babanriga for western suits and in most cases stuck to their languages especially the Hausa language rather than taking to English. This was to be their undoing in a world in which English was the lingua franca. This cultural recrudescence also led to greater interest in the study of Nigerian languages literature and history. The vanguard in this regard was provided by the University of Ibadan, which by the eve of independence in 1960 began to develop new curricula for students in liberal arts and the social-sciences as well as adapting the physical and biomedical sciences for the African environment.

‘In this changed cultural preference, the cultural gap between southerners and northerners in Nigeria began to close. Northerners never abandoned their babanriga for western suits and in most cases stuck to their languages especially the Hausa language rather than taking to English’

Parable of the wind and whirlwind Governor Yuguda’s statement is really pathetic. It goes to show the kind of leaders we have in our country. Does Isa Yuguda know his duties as a governor? I hear he went to the university, are we sure he was not busy chasing cows there? His statement is uncouth and insensitive. How will he feel if Bauchi indigenes are cut down in their prime and a fellow governor gloats over it? From: Victor Chuks, 07063349697.

Forget about Yuguda , I believe he is saying all those things so that those almajiris will vote for him. That is their do-or-die politics.

From: Aji, 08096048242.

Yuguda himself is an almajiri whether educated or not. From: 08023089652.

If it is true Yuguda said such a thing those who called for Buhari’s arrest have made a mistake. Mr President must be wary of his party men from the North. From: 08188008111.

Yuguda is a human being. He will apologise but please remove self interest and don’t cause tension by pouring fuel in the flame. From: Fatima, 08035922669, Bauchi.

How can a governor open his mouth so wide to make such a statement? He doesn’t have conscience and shame. Assuming those corps members were his children will he be happy losing them like them?

From: Mildred, 08062220338, Aba. This has shown that the Hausa/ Fulani don’t value human lives.

‘If he was really sorry, he would have apologised. But he didn’t. He just said he would want the government to honour the slain corps members and their parents. That is putting the cart before the horse, your excellency. Seek ye first the forgiveness of the bereaved families and every other thing will follow’

Corps members should not be posted to the North. From: Semande, 08084992554, Badagry.

Should any public figure talk as if he is the supreme deity? Yuguda should apologise to the bereaved families or he will be remembered as an enemy of the Southwest.

From: Lawal Olalekan, 08063445253, Ileogbo.

Yuguda is an educated illiterate...Wait and see whether the perpetrators of this mayhem will be punished.

From: 07038796246.

Yuguda is egocentric. He should apologise to corps members in particular and Nigerians in general.

From: Sunny, 08060721049, Edo. Inasmuch as we condemn the unfortunate incident, I wish to correct the impression that any atrocity committed in the North is by the almajiri. Those kids are too young to do that. Those kids are too innocent to do that. Such unfortunate incidents are always perpetrated by able-bodied men in their 20s and above. If those kids are guilty of anything, it is not more than the nuisance they constitute themselves into, while they beg in the tradition that is centuries old. From: M.M. Adamu, 0805536615, Bauchi.

I am disappointed in Yuguda, who should bow down his head in shame because of the lack of development that is bedevilling his state that has made the almajiri to flourish like mushroom, but instead he is making inflammatory statement. It is very unfortunate. From: 07053467318.

Some of these our northern brothers do not know how to talk.

Are you therefore, surprised about Yuguda’s gaffe? From: Julius Onos, 08056058885.

Yuguda’s statement changes nothing because no non-indigene corps member should have agreed to be a staff of INEC in a country fraught with insecurity and those

who are power drunk. From: 08133500244.

If Yuguda said that then it means he is not fit to rule. He may have even sponsored the mayhem.

It is a big shame to this country that such a man is a governor. The press must make him to apologise.

From: 08033336588 Yuguda is an opportunistic governor. He is responsible for all ethnic clashes in the North. From: Dr Anthony, 08063919595 .

Governor Yuguda is no better than the almajiri he governs. I used to think he is educated; I never knew he is such a person. He should apologise; otherwise he should be held responsible for the corps members death. From: Folabi Fayeun, 08034345858, Akure.

Yuguda is shameless. Corps members should remain in their geo-political zones because most northerners are illiterates. From: 08139655430.

Yuguda should not apologise.

He has told us in simple words what majority of northern leaders think of southerners. These leaders deliberately breed and impoverish almajiris so that their humanity is taken away from them and only the beast in them remains. Then on days of infamy as we saw recently, they unleash them on people. When the carnage is completed, they attribute the wickedness of man as an act of God...One thing though: evil will not thrive forever. From: Segun BeloOsagie, 08029157252, Lagos.

Yuguda has not shown leadership and resposibility. From: Dare Festus, 07056247292, Kogi.

I am not so surprised at his comment because it shows who he is.

From: 080760000764.

Yuguda should be charged with treason and felony. He went to the university, but is he educated? Imagine the quality of leadership we have. From: 08062347985.

It is regrettable and ludicrous that such an offensive statement

Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net

came from a governor when his ‘’fellow country man’’ on national duty in his domain was hacked down in a gruesome manner where he ought to be the chief security officer. Prince Ntah, 08182220960, Portharcourt.

Yuguda’s comment is not surprising to me because he belongs to the deified region of the nation.

People are afraid to tell the truth that the NYSC should be regionalised. From: 08051275657.

Yuguda has revealed who and what he is. He is a saboteur to the unity of this country. All corps members in Bauchi should be withdrawn before they all meet their ’’destiny’’ as would be celebrated by his ‘axis’ of evil. From: Ariri, 08136361871, Lafia.

You will be waiting for God if you think ‘Imperial Majesty’ Yuguda will ever make a volte face on an issue like the killing of corps members. From: Tunde Salman, 08066551187, Ilorin.

I have not read of an outright condemnation of the senseless killing of corps members by anyone from the North...Yuguda, the number one security officer of his state made a full justification. I will be surprised if any corps member from the South accepts posting to the North. From: Rev Fasakin, 08032201211, Ado Ekiti.

SMS ONLY: 08056504763

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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LL political parties practice democratic oligarchy. They are controlled at the top by a handful of people. In our own circumstances, our political parties like all other weak social institutions, were up to the collapse of the second republic, owned by ethnic groups for the protection of sectional interests. Today, they can at best be described as private properties of individuals. It is no more news that Pastor Okotie owns the Fresh Party or Buhari, the CPC and APGA, the ailing Odumegwu Ojukwu. It is also a public knowledge that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is the moving force behind ACN. It will take an angel to shy away from exhibiting human greed for power and control over personal property. Unfortunately political parties are not run by angels but by rational men who expect dividends in terms of electoral trophies from their investments. It is therefore natural for them to take interest in the emergence of electable materials while weeding off those with perceived electoral disabilities. If therefore General Buhari believes Mohammed Abacha will bring him victory in Kano or Tinubu believes his personality will guarantee the victory of his wife as a Senator in the Lagos Central senatorial district, these are gambles that are better resolved by the electorate. It is not a decision by disgruntled party members that lost out in the intra party struggle for elective positions.

Members of all the political parties remain faithful to this unwritten rule as long as their ambitions are not threatened. In Lagos State, the telephone handsets were suffused with hate and mischievous messages by losers at the primary level. This at the end became counterproductive as discerning voters in Lagos wondered what PDP and Labour parties that Governor Fashola claimed were behind these subliminal battle over our minds, have done dif-

‘The dominant parties have often tried to exploit the internal strife of other parties with ultimate aim of turning the country into a one party state, an unhealthy prospect for a multi-ethnic and heterogeneous society like Nigeria.’

Much ado about imposition of candidates ferently in the affairs of their own parties.

President Jonathan himself outwitted his opponents by buying the nomination of his party through hard haggling with PDP governors while Mimiko put his personal stamp on all that emerged as Labour candidates in Ondo State. Yet we were all assailed with such hate text messages as, ‘Vote Labour to free Babatunde Fashola from Tinubu’s ‘juju ‘oath swearing’ ‘Vote Labour for Senate and House of Assembly but Fashola for Governor’.

The problem has not always been with our political parties or their private owners. It has always been those who do not have equity in private concerns but want to dictate to investors on how to share dividends. They want to eat their cakes and have it. Unlike Dr.Olusola Saraki who went ahead to float ACPN following disagreement with his son over the proprietorship of PDP in Kwara State, or outgoing governor Daniel of Ogun state who by proxy established PPN after a bitter struggle with his god father, ex President Obasanjo, those who lose out in the internal struggle rather than go peacefully would strive to destroy the existing parties.

In Ekiti State in 2007, those who have always praised Bola Tinubu for his purposeful leadership, such as recently humbled Senator Arise, Prince Adeyeye, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade, former administrator of Balyelsa state and current minister in Jonathan presidency along with other bad losers in the intra party governorship election, turned the state to a battle ground as Oni and Arise were elected as governor and Senator through flawed elections later overturned by the courts.

In societies with long years of political socialisation and strong political parties, candidates don’t emerge by accident. It is almost unheard of for a Democrat to become a front runner for any office in the Republican Party, weeks to election as the case is in Nigeria. Candidates are groomed and parties have in built mechanism to abort ambitions of unelectable candidates or influence the emergence of a preferred candidate at the primary levels.

Thereafter, the electorate determines the fate of the preferred candidates or the folly of the sponsoring political parties. The outcome of the recently concluded election especially in Lagos and South West states has underscored this point.

Alhaji Jakande was the governor of Lagos state (1979-1984). Any resourceful party will strive to exploit the good will of Jakande years especially among the voting age of 50 and above who were beneficiaries or witnesses to Jakande’s expansion of educational facilities and the massive construction of low income houses for Lagosians.

ACN gamble paid off as Deji, Jakande’s son won handsomely in Somolu federal constituency; Olumide Osoba’s victory in Abeokuta North/Owode federal constituency was a vote of confidence on his father Aremo Segun Osoba who left lasting legacies as governor of Ogun state. (1999-2003). Sultan Adeniji Adele, son of the former chairman of Lagos Island (LG) won the Amuwo Odofin Lagos Assembly slot. Oluremi Tinubu won the Lagos Central senatorial seat because of Tinubu’s goodwill among Lagos electorate despite the hate campaign of his political opponents.

On the other hand, Wale Jafojo, son of former deputy governor of Lagos, Rafiu Jafojo lost his bid for an assembly seat.

Babajide Obanikoro, son of Musiliu Obanikoro, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana, lost in the Ikeja federal constituency race. Adedapo Adesina, son of former governor of Oyo, Lam Adesina lost his bid for Ibadan South East in the House of Representatives. Gboyega Adefarati son of the former governor of Ondo State also lost in Akoko South West/ South East federal constituency.

Similarly, Jumoke Akinjide daughter of Richard Akinjide lost in Ibadan just as Gbemi Saraki lost her governorship bid in Kwara.

Both Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of ex President Obasanjo and Lola Abiola Edewor daughter of MKO Abiola lost out. In free and fair elections, the electorate decides.

There is nothing immoral about attempting to build or create a political dynasty. In the US, the Kennedys in spite of the tragedies that dotted their ways, built an enduring political dynasty; George W Bush exploited his father’s achievements to seduce American voters albeit to their eternal regret. The Clinton presidency rubbed off on the presidential ambition of his wife, Senator Hillary Clinton. The oldest India political party, the India National Congress founded in 1885 has continued to survive on Nehru-Gandhi name. The surviving wife of assassinated Rajiv Gandhi, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi became the rallying point for the party to win the 2004 India General Elections.

The problem in our own situation is the tacit support the dominant party gives ambitious bad losers out of short sightedness. The dominant parties have often tried to exploit the internal strife of other parties with ultimate aim of turning the country into a one party state, an unhealthy prospect for a multi-ethnic and heterogeneous society like Nigeria. It was this folly that led to the collapse of the first and second republics.

Just as Balewa and NPC supported undisciplined members of AG in the First Republic, PDP and Obasanjo had at the onset of the Fourth Republic shamelessly exploited the intra party struggle within AD and AC. Added to their game of deceit was the rehabilitation of impeached former deputy governor of Osun State Iyiola Omisore, who was rewarded with a Senate seat through a flawed election. Perhaps, with Jonathan eyes on history, the Fourth Republic might still be saved.

• joluwajuyitan@gmail.com 08087852000 (sms only)

VIEW FROM THE FOREIGN PRESS

“

I

AM not much an advocate for traveling, and I observe that men run away to other countries because they are not good in their own, and run back to their own because they pass for nothing in the new places.

For the most part, only the light characters travel. Who are you that have no task to keep you at home?” - Ralph Waldo Emerson(1803-1882) U.S. poet, essayist and lecturer.

There is a need to expand the mind, no doubt traveling to new and exciting places help to challenge and intrigue the mind.

But like they say “ East, West, North or South… Home is best.” It is very important to know the various locations, sites and excitement that we can boast of to visitors whose need for mind expansion turns their interests our way. But most important is our need to know the true potentials such places have the major positive impact on our community, nation and ourselves. By this knowledge we have opened up a door to new opportunities and pathways that will eventually help to lead us to image building, psychological balance, economic growth and continuous work on improvement.

The Obudu Ranch Resort, a haven resort located in the heart of Cross River state, has been a place of curiosity to both locals and foreigners. Its unique blend of excitement, intrigue, calm, nature and challenges keep visitors occupied from the minute they are carried to the ranch from the pick up point, till they leave. A wonder indeed.

The natives of Cross River State, and the people in general are known to be peaceful, warm and receptive. So much so Calabar, the state’s capital is jokingly said to mean: Come And Live And Be At Rest! It is this rest that the state has succeeded in selling to the world, and Obudu ranch has become a haven for honey mooners, holi-

Obudu ranch: When two Presidents visited

By Helen Sosu day makers, personal and organizational retreats and tourists. This national pride is directly over seen by the Governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, the state government, the people of the state; with adequate support from the federal government, the potentials of Obudu ranch can be greatly unveiled.

Tourism. That fun making industry that many nations survive on. Although it sounds as a single industry, tourism however can be seen as the hydra-headed industry, because of the many offshoots it springs up: location, venue, culture, food, artifacts, antiques, music, fashion, sightseeing, the list goes on. Each offshoot has an independence to be largely appreciated for its representation. Need I say that these all leads to one thing – money. Tourism is a money producing industry for the nation, business, individuals and communities. It is one of the very few industries that benefits from the grassroot to the upper most levels. Everybody is involved and everyone benefits.

We see all these potentials in Obudu ranch, so much so that our President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan found no better place to retreat to after the rigours of the just concluded elections than to the ranch. It sends a silent but extremely strong message of what we have as a potential money-spinner for our economy. It also balances his new focus on tourism and revenue to the nation. Pleasantly, when the ranch was visited by the President of Sierra Leone

His Excellency Ernest Bai Koroma, nothing can be more than a confirmation that it is indeed a place of national pride, and indeed a place to showcase to the world a place where presidents go on vacation.

By Governor Liyel Imoke’s assessment, the ranch was ideal because its facilities are alright and of international standard to host a retreat of any magnitude, thus stressing the reason for the President’s choice of holding the retreat at the ranch.

Staying at the ranch would also afford the President the opportunity to address some of the challenges the ranch faces; such as some major facilities which are in dire need of repairs, as well as a vital aspect to the success of tourism – access. If the federal government would attend to the access road to the ranch, by making properly built roads, it would attract a greater number of patronage from home and abroad, as the utilization of the ranch will also go a long way to boost patronage once some of the facilities are completed because themountain ranch with its facilities is one of the most beautiful places in the world.

How many Nigerians have taken time to go Obudu ranch? Oh many have read about it, heard about it, and even know the location, but really how many have been there? Perhaps more awareness need to be made, perhaps more funds need to be released by the government, perhaps new structures and activities of interest need to be added. Perhaps… perhaps…

perhaps The potential future demand for healthy tourism services is promising and if well placed is set to reap the benefits of this growing market which has four indisputable strengths in the context of health and well-being tourism: a significant proportion of high value, protected landscape; close proximity to a substantial potential market; strong transport links and a wide range of things to see and do.Tourism provides a substantial proportion of the money that supports our heritage and culture, and is one of the main focuses for economic regeneration in many areas. It makes an important contribution to the quality of life, supporting facilities and services that benefit the whole community.

• Sosu, an author, lives in Abuja

‘The potential future demand for healthy tourism services is promising and if well placed is set to reap the benefits of this growing market which has four indisputable strengths in the context of health and well-being tourism: a significant proportion of high value, protected landscape; close proximity to a substantial potential market; strong transport links and a wide range of things to see and do’

NIGERIA/ARGENTINA FRIENDLY

Organisers happy with NFF’s plan

Resign now, APFON tells Maigari, others

Pg. 24

Pg. 41

Nation Thursday, May 12, 2011

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Jonathan to re-organise NSC

•Aminu Maigari

Issa Hayatou denies I corruption accusations Pg. 41

FIFA seeks evidence in fresh bribery scandal

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F NationSport’s investigation at the Presidency is any to go by, there may be a major re-organisation in the National Sports Commission (NSC) immediately after President Goodluck Jonathan takes the oath of office in the next few days.

According to our source, the President is contemplating returning the NSC to old order of a full-fledged Ministry with two ministers. Quoting the source, he said "it is true, the President may revert the Sports Commission to its old order, joining it with Youth Development Department. This is due to the rigours the Act establishing the NSC is going through at the National

From Andrew Abah and Patrick Ngwaogu, Abuja Assembly, which the President is not ready to tolerate this time around. Also the President is disenchanted by an independent report on the activities of the Commission which was very revealing, coupled with the current investigations by EFCC on some of the chieftains of the Commission which the President is not comfortable with".

Also we gathered that the Nigeria Football Federation may be separated from the new Ministry of Sports and put directly under the Presidency to be supervised by a Junior Minister in the Presidency.

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

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NATION SPORT

Resign now, APFON Real Madrid backs Ronaldo for more goals tells Maigari, others WITH the La Liga title effectively in Barcelona's hands, Real Madrid are doing their best to help Cristiano Ronaldo set new goal-scoring records as their campaign draws to a close.

The Portugal forward bagged his second hat-trick in as many matches in the 4-0 demolition of Getafe at the Bernabeu on Tuesday, making it seven scored in the last four days and taking his league tally to 36.

•Ronaldo

He set a new club record of 49 goals scored in all competitions for a season, passing the previous best of 47 set by Ferenc Puskas in 1959/60.

Ronaldo is also just two short of matching the league record of 38 achieved by Real's Hugo Sanchez in the 1989/90 campaign, and Athletic Bilbao's Telmo Zarra in 1950/51.

"Our objective now is to help Cristiano to be league top scorer," Real striker Gonzalo Higuain told reporters.

Ronaldo moved five ahead of his great rival Lionel Messi of Barcelona, who has 31 league goals so far, but he is still three short of the World Player of the Year's season tally in all competitions of 52.

Real's players were clearly looking to set up Ronaldo at every opportunity against Getafe as the 26-year-old scored with a header and a goal off each foot.

"We still have one objective which is to ensure Ronaldo finishes as league top scorer," Real assistant coach Aitor Karanka said. "It's logical that some of his team mates look for him.

"The goals record is down to the unity of the team and the enormous potential that he has. We don't know where Cristiano's limits are."

MANCINI TO PLAYERS

Don't mess up silverware ROBERTO MANCINI has warned Champions League-bound Manchester City not to take the gloss off their European success by messing up in Saturday's FA Cup final.

Mancini immediately set his sights on securing the club major silverware for the first time in 35 years after overcoming Tottenham 1-0 to seal a topfour finish.

It means City will compete in the Champions League play-offs next season although they could still secure an automatic passage to the group stages should they win their last two league games and finish above thirdplaced Arsenal.

Mancini said he was thrilled for City's supporters after making it into the Champions League.

But the Italian has told his players not to undo all the hard work by losing to Stoke in the FA Cup final at Wembley.

"I am happy because qualifying for the Champions League was our first target," said the former Inter Milan manager.

"We deserve the Champions League because we have been in the top four for most of the season.

"I'm very proud because City supporters are very happy. This is for them. I'm happy personally. It's important to have a target and we have achieved that target."

Juve holds talks with van Gaal JUVENTUS have held preliminary discussions with Louis van Gaal in regards to the Dutch tactician taking over as the club's head coach in the summer, according to Corriere dello Sport.

The club have endured another tough campaign with Tuesday night's 2-2 draw against Chievo all but extinguishing their hopes of Champions League football next season.

Current coach Luigi Del Neri looks likely to be shown the door in the summer with a number of high-profile coaches being linked with the club.

However, the Rome-based publication are reporting that Fabio Paratici, an assistant to Juventus general director Giuseppe Marotta has held initial talks with Van Gaal's representative.

The 59-year-old coach was sacked by Bayern Munich last month after a poor campaign although Juventus are likely to be attracted by the success the Dutchman has achieved during 20 years of management.

Van Gaal has won domestic titles in his native Netherlands, Spain and Germany while also adding a Champions League trophy to his collection with Ajax in 1995.

Roberto Mancini and Luciano Spalletti have both been linked with the vacancy although both are said to be unwilling to leave their current clubs, Manchester City and Zenit St Petersburg respectively.

Napoli boss Walter Mazzarri has also been linked with the position.

Juventus have two Serie A games left this season with victories over Parma and Napoli still unlikely to be enough to see Del Neri hang on to his job.

the end of the current league season, does not only offend the provisions of the law and statutes of the NFF, it also portrays the leadership of the federation as anti players welfare and lack the will to tackle the development of our football.

“Interestingly, the manifestation of the shabby treatment melted to players who have made major contributions to the development of the game. How can one explain the level of humiliation experienced by Sylvanus Okpala (MON) a former captain of the national team, in the hands of football authorities in the pursuit of his entitlements from Rangers football club? APFON believes that this ugly development should draw a lot lessons to other footballers, including those in the national teams,” it said.

Meanwhile, as an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUCN), TUCN has taken over the issue, and has written to all the state Governors sponsoring the affected clubs to respond to the issue of their clubs indebtedness to the players and coaches in the interest of industrial harmony and peace.

•van Gaal

Beat Blackburn, win league title up the title.

Now the Serbia international has called on his team to beat Blackburn Rovers at the weekend to secure a record 19th league triumph for the club.

"Mathematically it's not [certain] but I think it's a big advantage," Vidic said, according to the Daily Mail.

Okoro replaces Ighalo as Elumelu leads delegation •Ehiosun, Oduamadi, Osen, Aluko also in •Rufai is Team Coordinator •Departs May 26

N

IGERIA Football Federation (NFF)Technical committee member Austel Elumelu will lead the national U-23 team delegation for the International friendly game between Nigeria’s Dream team V and Costa Rica.

Meanwhile, Coach Austin Eguavoen has replaced Spain based striker Odion Igalo with Heartland of Owerri Midfielder Osadebamwen Okoro.

Igalo was dropped from the Coasta Rica game due to club engagement.

Other players that would make the trip to the Central America

country includes: Super Eagles striker , Ekigho Ehiosun, Nosa Igiebor, Edet Ibok, Orelesi Nurudeen, Emmanuel Anyanwu, Terna Suswan, Obiora Nwankwo, Saka Ayo, Udoh Kingsley, Solomon Okpako, Oduamadi Nnamdi, Harmony Ikande, Oseni Ganiyu, Uchechi Daniel, Soni Aluko, Thomas Femi and Ajiboye Muniru.

The game will now hold on May 29th instead of the 30th May as earlier expected.

The Change is to allow the dream team ample time to prepare for its

June 5th Olympic game qualifier against Tanzania in Dares Salaam.

The Number of technical crew for the game has also increased from seven to eight following the inclusion of Peter Rufai (Team Coordinator).

Other officials are, Austin Eguavoen, Stanley Eguma, Ben Iroha, Alloy Agu, Ogbondeminu Samuel(team doctor) Abdulsalam Shuaibu (team Physio) Shola Ogunnowo (secretary) According to the team spokesman Arafat Aliu, they will be expected to depart the country on the May 26th and return to the country on May31st before departing for Tanzania on June 2nd for the first leg second round Olympic game qualifier.

ORWAY based professional female footballer, Maureen Mmadu has thrown her weight behind Nigeria’s Women national team, the Super Falcons as they get set to confront the Black Queens of Ghana this weekend for the All African Games qualification ticket.

Both teams had ended their last meeting penultimate weekend in the Abuja National Stadium in a stalemate. Ghana has the advantage with a 1-1 draw as they will be laying ambush for the African Champions in Accra, Ghana.

Mmadu, who retired from international football emerging as the highest capped female player for the Falcons with 102 caps, said for the Nigerian girls to triumph against the Black Queens, they must approach the game like every other match.

“Falcons must understand that the Ghanaians play the same pattern as Nigeria. You don’t allow a typical Ghanaian team space to play. With determination and

F

IFA on Wednesday asked England's Football Association and The Sunday Times to provide evidence of fresh allegations of corruption at world football's governing body, saying they were of "extreme concern".

The move follows widespread media reports in Britain on Wednesday which brandished officials "sleazeballs" and "rotten to the core."

FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke sent a letter to the FA asking for a report from former England 2018 chairman Lord David Triesman.

In testimony to a parliamentary hearing in London on Tuesday, Triesman named four FIFA executive committee members who had requested cash and a knighthood in exchange for their votes in the 2018 World Cup ballot.

"In his letter to The FA, the FIFA Secretary General expresses the extreme concern of Fifa and the Fifa President (Sepp Blatter) at the latest allegations questioning the integrity of some FIFA Executive Committee members in connection with the bidding procedure for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups," a FIFA statement said.

Valcke asked the FA for a report from Triesman and any documentary evidence "to be in a position to examine the situation thoroughly and with clear-

sightedness."

He also asked the Sunday Times newspaper "to submit as soon as possible any other piece of evidence that it may be in possession of and which has not yet been sent to FIFA," especially on "a whistleblower who had worked with the Qatar bid."

Reports in the newspaper sparked the

ROBERTO MANCINI is set to spark a bidding war between Manchester City and Barcelona for Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.

Francesc Fabregas, Arsenal. Mancini's man: Arsenal braced for a Man City bid for Cesc Fabregas.

The Italian boss has identified the Gunners star as the key to guiding City to a trophy haul next season, after clinching Champions League qualification with a 1-0 victory over Spurs last night.

When asked which player would make his side Premier League champions, Mancini replied: 'Cesc Fabregas'.

The declaration of interest from the City boss in the Spaniard will be greeted with mixed feelings in north London.

On the one hand Arsene Wenger will be desperate to hold on to his influential skipper, who’s scored nine goals and made 17 assists in an injury plagued season.

But on the other, the Frenchman will be wary that he's fighting a losing battle to keep Fabregas at the Emirates, and the 24-year-old’s exit is inevitable this summer.

initial bribery allegations during the controversial bidding race for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups last year.

They prompted a FIFA inquiry which led to the suspension of two decisionmakers, executive committee members Reynald Temarii, Oceania's then football chief, and Nigeria's Amos Adamu.

NIGERIA/ARGENTINA FRIENDLY

Organisers happy with NFF’s plan

O

RGANISERS of the highprofile international friendly match between Nigeria and Argentina’s ‘A’ team have expressed delight with the planning of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in all aspects of the build-up.

After a meeting with NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari in his office in Abuja, sponsors Guinness and Consultant, Jairo Pachon expressed satisfaction with the plan to stage a truly epic game between two teams that have memorable encounters between.

The Argentina Football Association was represented at the meeting by Hernan Tofoni.

Also on Wednesday, the NFF and Guinness announced that the much-

Barcelona would obviously lead the chase, and although they’re the midfielder’s preferred destination, the Spanish side is only prepared to offer up to £35million for the Arsenal idol.

This falls significantly below the Gunners’ valuation of £50million, and while Wenger would be loathe to lose Fabregas to City, he may welcome the competition in the transfer market.

•Fabregas

anticipated fireworks between the two teams will kick off at the National Stadium, Abuja at 7pm on Wednesday, 1st June.

A pre-match conference will take place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja – abode of the two teams – on Tuesday, 31st May with the Coach and captain of each team, and an elaborate post-match press conference at the end of the match will see the Coach and two players from each of the two teams.

Also planned is an unveiling ceremony of a beautiful trophy to be handed to the winner of the match. The trophy, of exquisite design, will be unveiled at the Media Centre of the National Stadium, Abuja on Thursday, 26th May.

Saha begins rehabilitation HIS season may have ended in March but Louis Saha has returned to Finch Farm this week to start his rehabilitation.

The 32-year-old Frenchman suffered an ankle injury against Fulham in March which ended his season prematurely.

"I can`t join in with training but I'm happy to start my rehabilitation, I`ve been on crutches for quite a while now, but I`m pleased to be around the boys again and I`ve seen that they`ve been doing very well.

"I think the squad here have done pretty well without me, so we need to make sure that we make a better start (next season) with everyone fit and well."

Despite seemingly breaking down with one injury after another, Saha bagged 10 goals this season in 27 appearances - Not a bad ratio at all and while our recent run of results have been good despite missing Saha, our lack of any other regular scorer really shone through this year.

By Innocent Amomoh

confidence added, Nigeria will triumph at the end,” she said.

She, however, cautioned that the Falcons should be ready to play against the football fans in Ghana, which envisage will be routing for the Queens through out the duration.

Mmmadu called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to support the team in its quest for a place in the African sports festival, adding that it will give the girls the needed fillip to demolish their Ghanaian counterparts.

Top European clubs after Enyeama

•Enyeama

Hayatou denies Haye: Wladimir has killed corruption accusations heavyweight boxing Other Sports...Other Sports...Other Sports...Other Sports

HAYE, the World Boxing Association heavyweight champion, said: "He has killed fans’ interest in the heavyweight division; he has a boring style of fighting and a boring personality.

"This was once one of the great prizes in sport, Klitschko has killed that. I

•Haye

hold him responsible for the huge fall off in interest in the heavyweight division. He has bored us for years. I even hate his voice, which is like Borat."

Haye was speaking in London on the second day of a media tour to announce his world heavyweight unification fight with the giant Ukrainian, which will take place at the Imtech Arena in Hamburg on July 2.

Klitschko, who clearly enjoyed the verbal and intellectual tussle, claimed that British rival Haye was an egotist, mocking the fighter for his magazine 'Hayemaker' insisting that the entire magazine was about nothing but himself.

He said: "It should be renamed with a G not an H, it's all me, me, me.

You've been doing a good job if you want to be an actor in Hollywood, David Haye, this is a business and it's actually about fighting. There is a beautiful history in boxing and it started here in England. In boxing gentlemen behave themselves like gentlemen and there is a respect."

T

HE president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Issa Hayatou has categorically denied allegations of corruption brought against him before Parliament in Britain on 10 of May 2011. The evidence is expected to be published later, claims the Sunday Times.

This kind of reporting to create and propagate false information to destroy his reputation; leadership and integrity, will not succeed. The president of CAF said all these accusations brought against him are pure invention and an attempt

•Hayatou

FORMER BRAZIL international Ronaldo ended his football career a few months ago due to his ongoing injury problems, but the 34-year-old is now looking to broaden his horizons - by taking up acting.

The former Barcelona, Inter, Real Madrid and AC Milan goalscorer has confirmed on his official Twitter account that he will feature in the next film from director Marcio Garcia.

"I will study the art of film as I'm determined to do a good job," he stated.

Ronaldo will play a role as a bank robber in the movie entitled 'Open Road', which will begin shooting in Los Angeles next month. Juliette Lewis will play the leading female role, while Andy Garcia and Juliana Paes will also feature.

The legendary figure follows in the footsteps of Eric Cantona and Vinnie Jones, who also moved into acting after hanging up their boots.

N

IGERIA’s number one goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, has reportedly received offers to join clubs in the top divisions of England, France and Spain.

In France, it is believed that Lille OSC are in pole position to seal a deal with the Nigerian keeper, who will be a free agent in the summer transfer window after refusing to extend his stay at Israeli side, Hapoel Tel Aviv.

But the 28-year-old Nigerian shot-stopper has said he is not in a hurry to make a decision until next month when the league seasons in the three countries would have been concluded.

It is apparent that Enyeama is keen to move to a side that will offer him the chance to play in the UEFA Champions League next term.

SuperSport.com has also learnt that with Lille leading the charts of French Ligue 1, Enyeama favours a move to the northern part of France in the summer over offers from England and Spain.

Enyeama could be a straight replacement for Lille OSC number one, Mickael Landreau, who has been linked with Arsenal for a summer deal.

FIFA seeks evidence in fresh bribery scandal

Man City eyes Fabregas

VIDIC TO TEAMMATES MANCHESTER UNITED captain Nemanja Vidic has warned his teammates not to lose focus and be fooled into believing that the title race is over.

The Red Devils beat Chelsea 2-1 on Sunday to move six points clear at the top of the table with two games to go, needing only a draw from either one of their last two league games to wrap

T

HE Association of professional footballers of Nigeria (APFON) have called for the resignation of the president of the board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), if the second half of the leagues commences this weekend without the enforcement of the decisions of the NFF, players status and arbitration committee on the payments of clubs indebtedness to their players and coaches.

APFON is of the opinion, that the president of the NFF has no business being in office, if he cannot defend and implement the decision of a Committee set up by the provision of the NFF statutes. APFON position is informed by the helplessness of the NFF to enforce sanctions on clubs who have violated their obligations to their players and coaches and ignore decisions passed by its body.

In a release made available to NationSport, the body said the recent suggestion and decision taken by the NFF to shift the implementation of the players arbitration committee decisions for clubs to pay their debts to the affected players and coaches to

DREAM TEAM V/ COSTA RICA FRIENDLY

NATION SPORT FALCONS / BLACK QUEENS CLASH Ronaldo de Maureen Mmadu tips Nigeria lima to star in for triumph Hollywood N movie

to discredit him. He is anxiously waiting for the so called proof as the Sunday Times says « they are accusations still to be proven ».

Meanwhile, CAF recalls the procedure to select hosting countries for 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup: In an attempt to drum up support for their bid, the Qatar Bid Committee offered CAF 1.8 Million US dollars, sponsoring fee for CAF General Assembly. In return, Qatar 2022 Bid committee was given the exclusive rights to address the general assembly and make presentations to members.

This sponsorship was approved by the Executive Committee of CAF during its meeting of January 8, 2010 in Luanda, Angola; an agreement was signed between the two parties.

On the other hand, CAF president would also like to point out that Amadou Diallo is not a « chargé de mission » for Mr Hayatou, contrary to what was mentioned by Sunday Times.

CAF president is ready to co operate with whosoever would like to investigate the accusations and reserves the right to seek legal redress against those propagating this campaign of denigration.

•Ronaldo De lima

Bayern Munich offer Neuer 21m euros BAYERN MUNICH have increased their offer for Schalke's Manuel Neuer to 21m euros, according to Bild.

The reported deal would include 18m euros upfront with a further 3m euros to be paid in the future. If the Gelsenkirchen outfit and Neuer agreed to the deal, the club could earn a further 7m euros from performance-related bonuses.

The latest offer comes after Bild reported on April 27 that Bayern had an offer totalling 18m euros rejected

by Schalke.

It is not yet known whether the latest offer will be accepted by the Champions League semi-finalist's board but the club's sporting director Horst Heldt found Bayern's previous offer unacceptable.

"The offer from Bayern was not worth mentioning, not acceptable. It is seriously worth considering keeping the world's best goalkeeper for another year," the sporting director told German media last month.

•Manuel Neuer

25

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

email:- education@thenationonlineng.com

Twenty months after his appointment, Vice-Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, Prof Sam Uniaammikogbo,has lost his job. His sack is believed to have political undertone, reports OSAGIE OTABOR

•Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma

H

Controversy trails Ambrose Alli Varsity VC’s sack

IS dream was to build a world-class university with state-of-the-art facilities.

The university will also be Information and Communication Technology (ICT) compliant. But before he could realise his dream, Prof Sam Uniaammikogbo, Vice-Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, was sacked. His sack, which followed the outcome of a visitation panel, has set tongues wagging. Many are asking why?

Uniamikogbo was upbeat about where he wanted to take the university to when he was appointed 20 months ago.

Answering a question on his legacy, he said: “I want to leave behind a university whose resources would have been diversified. A university whereby we would have developed to the extent that we will be ranked among the best in Nigeria, if not in West Africa; a university that has the necessary facilities and is ICT compliant.

Uniamikogbo’s tenure was characterised by crises. He was appointed in August 2009 when mem-

bers of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) were on a nationwide strike.

Six months after his appointment, students of the institution took to the streets, protesting increase in tuition fees from N26,000 to N76,000 for full-time students and N30,000 to N100,000 for part-time students.

Few days after the destructive protest, Uniamikogbo, with the approval of the Governing Council, announced a reduction in the fees.

Part-time students asked to pay N60, 000 while regular students were to pay between N49, 500 and N62, 000.

In February, last year, the state government raised a visitation panel headed by Prof. Thomas Audu to ascertain the position of things in the university.

The report of the panel was said to have been one of the causes for

The panel also indicted the management of inappropriate financial approvals and un-coordinated admission of students.

“It was a difficult task to get the actual students population of the school as conflicting figures were received. We requested for original broadsheets and computer sheets which were not submitted. Many of the school’s department submitted photocopies and the few original copies submitted were mutilated.

•Prof. Uniamikogbo

•Mr Sunday Ighalo

Uniamikogbo’s sack.

Submitting the report to the visitor, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Audu said conflicting figures of the

student population were presented to the panel, making it difficult to know the exact number of students enrolled.

“The collection and disbursement of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), should also be monitored,” he said.

Oshiomhole said the panel was not set-up to witch-hunt anybody but to ensure openness and accountability in the institution.

“AAU is a public institution, maintained by tax payers’ money; hence they should know what goes on there. Visitation to any tertiary institution of learning is a normal and periodic exercise, undertaken at the prerogative of the visitor. As •Continued on page 26

•HOW EXAM CHEATS WILL BE DETECTED, BY JAMB - Page 37 •WE HAVE DONE WELL, SAYS SOSAN - Page 39

RUN FILE THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

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EDUCATION UNILORIN FILE

Alumnus shines at Harvard A GRADUATE of the College of Health Sciences of the University of Ilorin, (UNILORIN), Dr. Michael Olugbile, has excelled at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) where he is an MPH (Masters in Public Health) candidate.

Apart from serving as the President of the Harvard School of Public Health Nigerian Students and Scholars Society, Olugbile’s brilliance and leadership qualities made him to be elected as the President of the HSPH class of 2011 on April 29.

Olugbile, who is also the Public Relations Officer of the HSPC African Health Forum, has been nominated for the Student Recognition Award.

He has served on the panel that selected the Student Commence Speaker of the University. All these are within his first year in Harvard.

In a letter to the Provost of the University of Ilorin College of Health Sciences, Prof. Ayodele Omotosho, Olugbile thanked the University for the training that has stood him out.

“I just want to say thank you for the training you gave us that did not only prepare us for clinical practice but also equipped us to assume leadership positions both nationally and internationally. I hope our current students will make the best use of their time under your tutelage,” he wrote.

WAUG committees submit reports THE Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the forthcoming West Africa University Games (WAUG), to be hosted

by UNILORIN in September, this year, has expressed satisfaction with the reports of the Central Working Committee submitted last Thursday.

Speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of the Committee and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), Prof Albert Olayemi, noted that with the reports which indicated the meticulous planning by the various sub-committees, the coast is clear to accelerate the level of physical development and structural renovation in preparation for the games.

The Director-General of WAUG Secretariat, UNILORIN, and President of WAUG, Prof Lasun Emiola, tasked the various committees to work hard to guarantee the success of the games, noting that the implementation stage is crucial.

The 13th edition of WAUG comes up at UNILORIN between September 28 and October 9, 2011 with several universities from the West African sub-region expected.

Pension Managers meet workers STANBIC IBTC Pension Managers will be holding an interactive forum with their clients at the University of Ilorin tomorrow.

The forum will hold at the University Auditorium.

•Members of the National Youth Service Corps Red Cross Community Development Service group, Abuja pose with pupils of Olumawu Primary School, Wuse 11, Abuja during a visit to mark the World Red Cross Day

Controversy trails Ambrose Alli Varsity VC’s sack •Continued from page 25

such, there is nothing unusual or sinister about it. The goal is to ensure that the visitor has a window on the institution by way of knowing how the institution has fared, what has been done well, and what needs to be corrected.

“It is apparent that AAU has not met the vision and mission of its founding fathers. This cannot be blamed on the institution per se, because it is well known that in the past 20 years there has been crisis in the education sector.

“My goal is to create a world-class university out of AAU. This implies providing the best manpower training for staff, state-of the-art-laboratories and libraries, well-motivated staff, quality teaching, research and commitment to community service.

The key challenge today is how to make AAU a university that is able to compete in the 21st Century. This will entail a new modus operandi, streamlining programmes/courses and quality assurance at all levels”.

Two months to the just-concluded elections, another protest rocked the institution following the suspension of the executive arm of the Students Union Government (SUG).

The protest began when the SUG learnt that the management had directed the Speaker of the students’ parliament to serve as acting SUG president after the suspension of the President, Comrade Itote Damisa and seven others for addressing a press conference over the tuition fees.

Damisa led the protest during which the students gave Oshiomhole two weeks ultimatum to reverse the hike.

The management said the union leaders were suspended for violating their matriculation oath, adding that they usurped the functions of the Governing Council by urging other students not to pay the tuition fees which he said was already being paid.

During the protest which followed the suspension, students’ set-up bonfires on the Benin-Auchi-Abuja express road and locked up the gate leading to the school premises.

A faculty building was torched, prompting the management to order the indefinite closure of the institution.

The closure of the university was said to have cost the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Bright Omokhodion who hails from the constituency, his re-election.

Omokhodion who contested under the Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN), lost to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Monday Orhue.

Omokhodion was told by callers during a pre-election debate that the university in his constituency must be re-opened if he wanted their votes. Two days later, Oshiomhole ordered the re-opening of the university.

Before the university was reopened, members of the House of Assembly were stunned when told that the university was running a deficit of millions of naira despite its over N4.5 billion revenue.

When he appeared before the House to explain why the institution was closed, Uniamikogbo said N2.33 billion was subvention from the government; N1.78billon, tuition fees and N216milion as revenue from other sources.

He explained that AAU included N3.792billion on salaries; N713million for expenditure and N221million as other overhead cost last year.

The institution is also owing N873million as outstanding pensions and benefits and N350million as loans from banks, he said.

More revealing was that students and staff of the institution were not having identity cards because the company handling the printing was asked to stop work because of some petitions.

Uniamikogbo told the lawmakers that the university has a population of 27,444 students and a workforce of 2, 075 but could not give the number of those that paid tuition fees.

He said: “The problem is that the students saw me as the person that increased tuition fees. It has made me unpopular. No cabal is running the university. We had no problem but for the increase in tuition fees.”

On May 2, Uniamikogbo was in the office when he was sacked.

Special Adviser (Education) to Governor Oshiomhole, Mallam Ali Suleiman in a statement said his removal was to pave the way for farreaching financial, academic, administrative and overall institu-

tional re-organisation of the university as recommended by the visitation panel report and the Forensic Audit report.

Suleiman said the Governor in his capacity as the visitor has directed Prof Cordelia Agbebaku, Dean of the Faculty of Law, to act, pending the appointment of a VC. The statement reads: “Having consulted with the Council as required by law and in the best interest of the University, the Governor relieved Prof Uniamikogbo of his appointment in line with the First Schedule Section 3 (3) of the Ambrose Alli University Law 1999 (as amended).

“The section states: ‘If it appears to the visitor after consultation with the Council that the Vice Chancellor should be removed from office on grounds of inability to perform the functions of the office, the Visitor may remove the Vice Chancellor from office and notice thereof shall also be published in the state gazette.’”

The AAU, Ekpoma chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has kicked against Uniamikogbo’s removal, saying that due process was not followed.

A communiqué issued at the end

of an emergency meeting and signed by its Chairman, Mr Sunday Ighalo, gave the government seven days to recall the sacked VC. In a chat with The Nation, Ighalo said the VC’s removal was illegal and unprocedural. “In a union like ours, everybody cannot agree on a position. We talk of a majority vote when we take decision in congress. We rely on a majority rule. The view of the majority was what was expressed in our resolution. A few dissidents or minority view cannot say they will not agree with the decision in congress.

“We are against the process through which he was removed.

Allegations should have been levelled against him, Council will investigate and report to government. If he is found guilty, then he should be removed. He was not given a fair hearing. He was not given the opportunity to defend himself. The VC is not a c asual worker that you can send away. There are conditions for appointing him. There are also conditions for removing. Those conditions were not followed. Due process should be followed. It is not for government to remove the VC by fiat.”

“What’s going on? ... today we are UNDERAGE VOTERS, tomorrow, OVERAGE FOOTBALLERS!”

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

27

EDUCATION

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CU students get non-academic exposure

CALL has gone to educational institutions, governments, parents, and guardians not to limit their children’s learning to formal education, but further expose them beyond their immediate environment if the students must rub shoulders with their counterparts in other countries.

The Chief Executive officer, Zenith Travel Ventures, Ayo Owoniloya disclosed this in Lagos.

Owoniloya, who has just returned from a tour of the United States with some undergraduates of Covenant University (CU), Ota, Ogun State, advocates more foreign trips for Nigerian students to expose them and also encourage team building among participants.

He said: “This is what we are trying to let other educational institutions know even right from nursery up to PhD level that they need to go out and apply what they were taught in the classrooms in reality. Education has left the four walls of the conventional classroom, and students need to also experience first hand those things they were taught in the classrooms. For us to be proactive and move ahead in Nigeria, we need to expose these students as these trips help bring out those latent qualities in them.”

Reflecting on the trip, Owoniloya said the students, a mix of various disciplines in CU, visited the United Nation’s headquarters in New-York, White House Garden in Washington DC, Kennedy Space Centre at Merit Island, Orlando, and several other fascinating places.

He said: “The students who went with us saw the reality of those things they were taught in the classroom and were greatly influenced by the programme judging from their responses and feedback.

Two of their lecture who also travelled with them realise most of the activities they went through there were part of their curriculum here, which meant the tour has helped the students. And because the

•Some of students during their trip in the US

By Adegunle Olugbamila

programme also has to do with team building, they have started putting a lot of things in place.”

Owoniloya said Zenith Travel Ventures which started seven years ago, has made landmark achievement of being only the largest students travel organisation in Nigeria today – with more than 250 students embarking on tours across the world every month.

Aside customising their programmes to meet the requirement of their clientele, Owoniloya added that the outfit also provides insurance coverage integrates the trip to learning.

He said: “What makes our programme unique is that unlike some organisations which just take

students out on sightseeing, we integrate and interface the classroom work with reality of life. For instance, some of those that went on this trip who study Physics or Aeronautic Engineering, we took them to Kennedy space Centre in Merit Island, Florida. They are taken through the rudimentary of space engineering and industrial physics and were given series of assignments to get them to know whether they understood the programme. They even had a ride in the spaceship. They had a lot of spacecraft engineering management programmes.”

He stressed that before arrival, the outfit earlier conduct a security check to know how safe or unsafe their proposed location before finally staying there for their trip.

One of the participants,

Chidinma Esinalo, an undergraduate of English, shared her experience.

“I see the English Days programme as one that exposes youths to so many things they don’t know. It was fun going around Disney Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, NASA and also riding roller coaster.”

Another student, Nkor John Koko, said the trip was an eye opener.

“The programme was awesome and I saw things that I never imagined and it opened my mind to things that would help me develop or add to the development of my country. Thank God I came for the programme. My country, school and parents will be proud of what will come out of me in the nearest future. “

Nigerian wins African research fund award NIGERIAN academic and member of Faculty at Lagos Business School, Henrietta Onwuegbuzie, has won the 2010 Emerald/ALCS African Management Research Fund Award for her research on “Achieving Sustainable Development Using Indigenous Knowledge and Entrepreneurship”.

Her research brings to the fore the potentials for delivering sustainable development, by building on indigenous knowledge which indigenous entrepreneurs use in generating grassroots innovations.

It received the award as the best African research project in the field of management. The award is offered by Emerald and the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society, (ALCS) in association with the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) and the International Academy of African Business and Development (IAABD).

In a statement signed by Joan Egwuterai, Communications and External Relations, LBS, Onwuegbuzie, who heads the Department of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at LBS, said:“Homegrown solutions tend to be more readily acceptable and sustainable as they incorporate the cultural values and interests of the people”.

She advocates substituting topdown development strategies for more collaborative bottom-up engagements towards achieving sustainable development.

She presented this topic at the United States Association for Small

A

Business and Entrepreneurship Conference, in South Carolina, in January, and will be presenting it at the International Academy of African American Business and Development conference, in Edmonton, Canada, this month,

and at a workshop on socio-economic development in Africa at INSEAD’s Abu Dhabi campus next month.

Emerald is a leading independent publisher of global research with impact in business, society, public

policy and education. In addition to the winner, three highly commended awards will be bestowed to researchers from the University of Botswana, Gaborone, Concordia University, Canada, and the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

FUTA FILE 18 PG students matriculate THE Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) and the Regional Centre for Training in Aerospace Surveys (RECTAS) has matriculated 18 Postgraduate students for Master in Geo-information Technology.

Speaking at Ile-Ife, Osun State, where the event took place, the FUTA Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adebisi Balogun, expressed his satisfaction with the collaboration that led to the maiden matriculation.

Balogun, represented by his Deputy(Academics), Prof Debo Adeyewa, said the idea of the collaboration was conceived last year.

He enjoined the matriculants to imbibe the spirit of academic excellence which the university is known for as he promised the support of the Senate.

Earlier, the Executive Director, Regional Centre for Training in Aerospace Surveys (RECTAS), Prof Isi Ikhuoria, had commended the support of the university to the Centre.

He stated that the number of students for the first matriculation reflected the success the programme will enjoy in the long run.

In his goodwill message, the Vice-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof Michael Faborode, lauded FUTA for propagating knowledge across the zone.

Prof Faborode, who was represented by the Dean, School of Sciences and Chairman, Committee of Deans, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Olanrewaju revealed that the University will take a cue from FUTA and join the collaboration.

Staff school gets bus THE FUTA Management has presented an 18-seater bus to the FUTA Staff Primary School.

Presenting the bus, the ViceChancellor of the University, Prof Balogun, said the Management is determined to add values to the lives of the pupils.

Balogun, who described the pupils as God’s gifts, maintained that the management will always boost the moral development of the children.

He revealed that plan is ongoing to provide the staff secondary school with a bus as well.

The Vice-Chancellor expressed the hope that the school will use the bus well and called on parents whose children are in the schools to contribute meaningfully to the development of the schools.

While receiving the keys to the bus, the Chairperson of the Board of FUTA Primary School, Prof Ola appreciated the gesture and promised that the school will make very good use of the bus.

She described the pupils as presidents, governors and the university’s professors of tomorrow, who should be given quality education.

CERAN relocates

•Consul-General of the Chinese Consulate, Mr. Guo Kun; Administrator of Grace Schools, Gbagada, Mrs Tokunbo Edun and Principal, Mr Ronald Cilliers, during Grace Chinese/Nigeria Culture Day, at the school premises, on Tuesday PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

THE Ceramic Association of Nigeria (CERAN) has moved its Secretariat from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria to FUTA for the next two years.

Prof T.L. Akinbogun of the Department of Industrial Design has been appointed President of the Association, while Mr Segun Fatuyi and Mr A.A. Omaraka, also of the Department of Industrial Design are the General Secretary and Treasurer for the period.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

EDUCATION

ACE FILE

UNAAB FILE Ban on Students Unionism lifted

Workers learn about pensions

THE Management of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB), has lifted the partial ban on Students Union activities.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Oluwafemi Balogun, broke the news, at a Management meeting of the Directorate of Public Relations attended by some students’ representatives.

He directed the Dean of Studens Affairs, Prof Samuel Oluwalana, to meet with the representatives to map out proposal for credible elections of union leaders.

Balogun, who commended the good conduct of the students assured of Management’s logistic support, to ensure that the leaders are elected, at least two weeks before the Second Semester examinations begin.

STAFF of Adeyemi College of Education (ACE), Ondo State, who had Retirements Saving Account with Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers have held an interactive meeting with the pension administrator.

The meeting, which held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Auditorium of the institution, gave the staff opportunity to ask questions relating to their Retirement Saving Account.

The officers from the Pension firm also explained some of the problems encountered by staff such as nonremittance of their fund, pension fund statement of account and other related matters.

The officers also explained to the staff how they can plan their retirement with easy.

New buses boost transportation THE UNAAB Management has purchased six Ashok-Leyland buses to ease transportation hassles students face commuting to and from school.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Balogun, made this during a management meeting last week.

He said the that new female students’ hostels would be ready for use by the start of the new session in September.

Balogun said funding for the buses and hostel projects were sourced from the Acceptance Fee, paid by freshmen on admission into the university.

He said: “How can they (UNAAB students) say they want to riot? All money generated through the Acceptance Fee, had been deployed to provision of buses and hostels. N21 million was added by Management to what they (students) paid in 2008/2009 and that’s why we have more buses and hostels.”

•AEISEC participants during one of the sessions

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Students seek solutions to national problems

OR members of Association Internationale des Étudiants en Sciences Économiques et Commerciales (AIESEC), nothing will gladden their hearts more than finding solutions to natural problems.

When they gathered in Lagos, their thoughts were on how to solve such problems.

The event, was attended by delegates, mostly undergraduates from the 17-member universities spread across the six-geo political zones.

Speaking at a business forum held for the participants, AIESEC Vice President (Communication) Aderemi Dadepo, said the aim of the event was to equip the young to come up with solutions to societal problems.

“Youth to Business provides opportunity for young people to actually meet with the corporate world

Librarian bows out AFTER 10 years in office, Mr Abayomi Agboola will complete his tenure as the University Librarian on May 24.

Agboola took over from the pioneer Librarian, Dr. Taofiq Salisu, currently the Director of the Institute for Human Resources Development (INHURD) on May 25, 2001 and was re-appointed for another five-year tenure on May 25, 2006.

As he quits, he is happy that he was giving are opportunity to serve.

He lauded the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Balogun, for given him a free hand to discharge his responsibilities.

The out-going University Librarian noted with nostalgia, the tremendous progress in the Library in the last four years, particularly the establishment of three college libraries, construction of the modern Library building for INHURD and the massive recruitment of Librarians, which he said has trippled since 2007.

Mr. Agboola also commended the initiative for the expansion of the Work Study Programme in the Library, which had afforded many financially-challenged students, the opportunity of part-time employment.

In reminiscent, Mr. Agboola enthused, “this exhilarating experience and opportunity will be etched in my memory for the remaining part of my life”.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwafemi Balogun had on behalf of the entire University appreciated the invaluable contributions of the out-going University Librarian to the development of the institution, wishing him well in his future endeavours.

Students hold cultural day

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By Adegunle Olugbamila

of Nigeria. According to Nigeria’s census, 70 per cent of her population is under 30 and we believe that this is huge enough to actually make an impact. So, this is providing for young people the platform to actually come, discuss, and arrive at solutions,” he said.

The event also included break-up session where participants were expected to provide answers key challenges in Nigeria.

Dadepo said at the end of the day, their suggestions would be published like a report. ‘’It will just be like saying this is the voice of the youth,”’ he added.

He said the participants would deliberate on key issues such as un-

employment, economic development, technology and innovation, social trends, business evolutions, as well as explore new area such as social media.

He said the AEISEC would also take stock of its activities in the country, identify its shortfalls and strategise on how to move forward.

AIESEC Nigeria is the national affiliate of AIESEC, the world’s largest youth-run organisation, present in over 110 countries and with 50,000 members worldwide.

The national chapter of the organisation with a vision anchored on peace, fulfillment of humankinds’ potential, has championed the cause of offering Nigerian youths the opportunity of becoming leaders with global mindset emotionally alert and socially responsible and entrepreneurialdriven among others.

STUDENTS of the college has held a cultural day under the auspices of Destiny Builders Club.

All students wore traditional outfits peculiar to their states to lectures and other activities.

After lectures, they converged on the College Gym for a cultural rally and display round the campus.

After the rally, the cultural group moved to the front of Olunloyo Hall under a tree called “Labe Odan” where they shared folklores, played local games like Opon Ayo and ate local delicacies such as Eko and Akara.

The local dishes were prepared by the students as a way of reawakening cultural rebirth in the students.

According to the founder and immediate past President of the Club, Mr Adeniran Oluyemi, awards were also presented to well-dressed students.

Auchi Poly Rector presents his scorecard

N 2009, Dr Philipa Idogho put an end to mass graduation at Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State, by organising a convocation students who graduated of the between 2003 and 2008. She promised that the ceremony would become an annual affair.

Not only did she keep her word last year, she also ensured that the 2009/2010 set of National Diploma and Higher National Diploma graduates got their certificates after the ceremony.

This set had the distinction of being the first to enjoy a graduation for a single set in 15 years.

She said certificates for graduates not signed since 2003 have been printed and would all be signed by June.

These were a few of the achievements she laid before the congregation of the institution while presenting her score card since assuming duty in 2008 penultimate week.

The assembly of the congregation itself was the first in 15 years. And, no address in recent times delivered in the Polytechnic auditorium received as much applause and approval as the one she presented on that day.

All she told the community were visible, verifiable and the impact felt by staff and students.

The projects she has implemented at the main campus and Campus II included provision of infrastructural facilities such as classrooms, lecture theatres, introduction of new programmes, revival of overseas training for staff, payment of outstanding arrears to academic and non-academic staff, provision of bakery building for the Department of

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

Food Technology and a kitchenette for the Department of Hospitality Management.

Others are: completion of the Library expansion project, construction of plant services workshop for Agricultural Engineering Technology Department, extensive construction and extension of block wall perimeter fence round the polytechnic, construction of chain link fence in the Administrative Block, School of Information and Communication

Technology, School of Art and Design, and completion of a water factory which produces 3,000 satchets and 200 crates of satchet water daily.

The Rector said the major infrastructural growths have enabled the Polytechnic to effectively move the School of Business Studies to Campus II and resulted in the expansion of academic programmes.

She said: “The movement of the School of Business Studies had the significance of appreciably decongesting the central academic area in Campus thus creating a friendlier

•The infrastructure building. Inset:Dr Idogho

academic environment. This development also enabled the founding of the School of Information and Communication Technology, which immediately had adequate classrooms and office facilities to occupy.”

The development of infrastructure has enabled expansion in programmes available in the Polytechnic. Today, 62 programmes run in the institution of which 58 enjoy full accreditation status. The other four programmes are in various stages of resource inspection or are at the verge of initial accreditation.”

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The Coke experience, 125years after

‘Ambassadors are always focused’

Page 34

Page 30

*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE

0805-450-3104 email: ladycampus@yahoo.com

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

Its proximity to the University of Benin (UNIBEN) makes Ekosodin the place of first choice for many students seeking accommodation off-campus. Despite this comparative advantage, students tell GILBERT ALASA (200-Level Foreign Languages) that life is “hell” there.

•A major street at Ekosodin depicts life for students who live there: rough and nasty.

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ARELY a kilometre away from the Faculty of Arts, University of Benin (UNIBEN), Ekosodin prides itself as having the highest concentration of off-campus students than BDPA Quarters or Osasogie.

This, many believe, is because of its proximity to the university.

At daybreak, the sky is bright, promising warmth. Birds chirp endlessly. But this serenity has failed to shield residents from the evils of the neighbourhood. As students trudge through the popular Edo Street, men walk with their shoulders swung apart, exuding confidence in a manner that suggests they are afraid of no one. Yet you cannot afford to ignore the female students as they “flex” their swagger.

But these displays have been found to be mere camouflage; an attempt to dissuade anyone from taking them as “jew” students (a parlance used to describe new entrants). In reality, their heart is a time capsule filled with

Life at Ekosodin images of fear. If anyone is found running from an opposite direction, everybody would follow suit without ascertaining the cause of his action.

Recounting his experience, a 200-Level student of Foreign Languages, Chidi Igboji, told CAMPUSLIFE that his days as a fresher staying in Ekosodin were traumatic.

He said:“One day, I was returning from a class that extended into the evening. Two guys accosted me, demanding to know my identity. I told them I was for Jesus and that got them further infuriated. Before I could say Jack Robinson, one of them had landed a heavy blow on my head, collecting my phone and money.”

For off-campus residents in universities,

such as DELSU, FUTO, UNILAG and UNIPORT, this harassment by notorious students often takes place at night. A student who stays outside longer than necessary usually has himself to blame as he becomes a victim of such attacks. But in Ekosodin, a student is bound to meet these foul elements anytime of the day.

The worst is that nobody offers to help. Rather, everybody takes the opposite direction at the sight of such drama.

This is the concern of a final year student of English and Literature. “I was walking through Edo Street when a rascally young man bell hopped with a menacing voice ‘Bros, show for here…’ I wanted to keep moving, but I considered the implication. Right under full public glare, I was dispossessed of my valu-

ables as everybody looked the other way.”

However, while many students confessed that these assaults occur on the road, others said the “bad boys” have started stalking them in their hostels. A resident of Jesus Is Lord hostel said he was relaxing outside the house, following power outage when two young men calmly collected his phones and left.

A 200-Level student of Chemical Engineering blamed it all on the landlords, who he said, “are only interested in collecting their rent at the expense of the occupants’ welfare and safety.” In her view, landlords, through their community associations, can work together to strengthen security.

The identity of these scoundrels remains a mystery. In some quarters, it is claimed that they are school drop-outs, who could not cope with the rigours of a university. Others say they are not students, but “area boys” and cultists of Ekosodin and its environs who see no •Continued on page 30

• Corps members want INEC employment - Pg32 •OAU students seek return of union- Pg33

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

30

CAMPUS LIFE

A mission Pushing with a vision Out

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N a tribute to our major sponsor, permit me to share today, the amazing story of CocaCola, which clocked 125years last Sunday.

It’s a story of how simple curiosity led to the birth of what is today the world’s most valuable brand. It’s also a story of a dream, process, willingness to pay a price and success.

It was May 8, 1886, and Dr. John Stith Pemberton, a local pharmacist in Atlanta, Georgia (United States), had just produced the syrup for Coca-Cola. He wanted something that would help reduce the incidence of stomach upset in his patients. He carried a jug of the new product down the street to Jacobs’ Pharmacy where it was sampled, pronounced excellent and placed on sale for five cents a glass as a soda fountain drink.

When carbonated water was added to the new syrup, it produced a drink that was at once “delicious and refreshing”, a theme that continues to echo today in Coca-Cola.

With a brass kettle, a percolator, measuring cups, ladles, apothecary scales and the means for heating mixtures, the tools of his trade, Pemberton – inspired by simple curiosity – stirred up the fragrant, caramel liquid. His partner and bookkeeper, Frank Robinson, named the mixture Coca-Cola, an alliteration of the names of two ingredients in Dr. Pemberton’s formula. Robinson also wrote the name out in the form of penmanship characteristic of that time - the Spencerian Script. To this day, Coca-Cola is written the same way and has become the distinct and unique trademark identification for the product.

Although customers were interested in the

with

Ngozi Nwozor 08054503104 (SMS only)

•campuslife@thenationonlineng.net •ladycampus@yahoo.com new product, there was no general public acceptance of the drink as months went by. The record of sales was quite unimpressive and it looked like Coca-Cola was headed for oblivion.

Despite the problems, Dr. Pemberton and his associates strove to see a turnaround. However, Pemberton was unwell and he considered it necessary to get away from business entirely in an effort to improve his health. From that point on, the goodwill, the formula and the trademark changed hands several times between 1887 and 1891, at which time Asa G. Candler, an Atlanta wholesale druggist, became the sole owner of the infant product. In 1888, John Pemberton died without realising the success of the beverage he had created.

In 1891, Candler completed his purchase of the formula and all rights to Coca-Cola at a total cost of $2,300. By 1892, his flair for merchandising had boosted sales of the syrup nearly tenfold. With his brother, John S. Candler, John Pemberton’s former partner Frank Robinson and two other associates, Mr. Candler formed a Georgia corporation named The Coca-Cola Company. Initial capitalisation was $100,000.

All this while, Coca-Cola continued to be served

from fountains.

In 1919, a group of investors headed

by Ernest Woodruff and W.C. Bradley purchased The Coca-Cola Company for $25 million. In 1923, Robert Woodruff, Ernest’s son, was elected president of the Company, beginning more than six decades of active leadership in the business. The new president put an uncommon emphasis on product quality and saw vast potential for the bottle business, so advertising and marketing support was substantially increased.

During Robert Woodruff’s leadership, the Coca-Cola business took to unrivaled heights of commercial success. Merchandising concepts considered

common place today were revolutionary when Woodruff introduced them. His decree that “CocaCola should always be within an arm’s reach of desire”, set a principle that remains central to the Company’s distribution strategy today. Mr. Woodruff’s greatest contribution was his vision of Coca-Cola as an international product.

In 1894, Jospeh A. Biedenharn of Vicksburg, Mississippi, was so impressed by the growing demand for Coca-Cola at his soda fountain that he installed bottling machinery at the rear end of his store and began to sell cases to farmers and lumber camps up and down the Mississippi River. He was the first bottler of Coca-Cola.

To ward off imitation, the Company created a distinctive bottle shape to assure people they were actually getting the real Coca-Cola. In 1916, the contour bottle was introduced and has remained the signature shape of Coca-Cola today. The bottle was chosen for its attractive appearance, original design and the fact that even in the dark, you could still identify the genuine article.

Large scale bottling was made possible in 1899 when Benjamin F. Thomas and Joseph B Whitehead of Tennessee, secured the exclusive rights

to bottle and sell Coca-Cola in practically the entire United States.

With contract in hand, they joined John T. Lupton and began to develop what is today the worldwide Coca-Cola bottling system. Under this system, the Coca-Cola Company identifies local businesspeople to whom it grants the right to produce, bottle and distribute CocaCola within the standards set by the Company.

In 1951, the company granted A.P. Leventis Limited the franchise to bottle Coca-Cola in Nigeria. This development led to the incorporation of the Nigerian Bottling Company in the same year and the commencement of the construction of the first Coca-Cola bottling plant at the present premises of the Mainland Hotel at Oyinbo in Lagos. Following the completion of this plant, the first locally bottled Coca-Cola rolled out of the plant in November 1953. This year is thus the 60th (Diamond Jubilee) of CocaCola in Nigeria.

In 1990, the company set up in Lagos a concentrate plant to produce and supply the main ingredient to NBC. It also set up a wholly owned subsidiary (Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited - CCNL) to provide technical and marketing support to NBC. It is this unique system that enables the CocaCola business to adapt itself to suit the different social and economic needs of each country.

The Company’s success is attributed to a simple formula successfully applied on a global scale: provide a moment of refreshment for a very small amount of money - a billion times a day. In addition, Coca-Cola is helping to build a better future for everyone, by being good stewards of the environment and true partners with communities (like Nigerian students through CAMPUSLIFE).

I sign out with this fun fact: did you know that Coca-Cola is the second most recognised word in the world? The most recognised word is “Okay”. Be sure to drink a Coke today!

Ciao

‘Ambassadors are always focused’ Ene-Ita Joann is a 200-Level student of Human Physiology at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT). Her emergence as Miss University Nigeria last November brought her into the limelight. She shared her experience with CHRIS OKAFOR (400-L Microbiology).

W

HAT was your inspiration and what gave you the edge over other contes-

tants?

I saw it as a stepping stone to achieving greater heights and an avenue to learn and discover fresh things about myself and other girls in Nigeria. The basis for the pageant was beauty and brains; that also motivated me. And what gave me the edge I will say it is God and nothing else.

How did it feel when you were declared the winner?

I was so happy and surprised for emerging the best among the beauties I saw that day. It was a memorable day for me and it will remain green in my heart.

Who is Miss University Nigeria?

Miss Nigeria is an ambassador to all the universities in Nigeria and her duty is to preach against indecent dressings, cultism, violence and other vices among our students.

What is your pet project?

My project is to create a home for street children and make them have

a sense of belonging. This is because they are also the future of this country, whether we like it or not. So, we must prepare them. It may not necessarily mean erecting an edifice for them but by the time you sponsor a child to school you build a home for that child.

How have you been coping with your studies?

My studies are my primary assignment. The demands of the office are incorporated into my extra curricula activities so it does not affect my studies in any way. As a matter of fact, as an ambassador you are not expected to fail in anyway.

What is the difference between the Joann of today and the Joann of yesterday?

The Joann of yesterday was hesitant but willing to learn. The Joann of today is more confident in herself, dedicated to God than ever before, very friendly and caring too and she’s eventually heading towards the Joann of tomorrow.

Does your victory mean a bridge

•Joann (middle) flanked by the first and second runners-up at the pageant.

between your former friends and how have you been handling your male fans?

No it does not! My friends will always remain my friends whether in victory or in failure. I love my friends; they are never “former” to me. And for my male fans I will say I have been handling them with wisdom and my earnest prayer is never to disappoint them.

What do you think is the future of Nigerian students?

Nigerian students have a bright future and this is evidenced in the crop of undergraduates and graduates we have today.

Finally, what is your message to fellow undergraduates?

They should understand that they are the ambassadors of this nation and as an ambassador you are not expected to derail in your duties. They should study hard and drop every distraction that will hinder them from achieving their goals. They should also explore the internet to discover new things.

•Residents of Ekosodin on Edo Street.

Life at Ekosodin •Continued from page 29

point burying their heads in books like their counterparts. The fear of these “bad boys” has led to many night-time curfews imposed on the community.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that in the wake of community clashes in September, last year that claimed many lives, these miscreants were readily available for use.

The Youth Secretariat was torched, and a key community figure was killed leading to the imposition of curfew.

CAMPUSLIFE also sought to know the cause of these recurrent skirmishes. An Ekosodin youth, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “When a landed property owner has an axe to grind with another, he employs the services of these boys to cause trouble. Like two elephants fighting, innocent residents bear the brunt of the brawl, at the end.”

Students who live in UNIBEN hostels enjoy steady power supply.

When there is power outage, the school’s giant plant is switched on and it works till till 8:00am. But students residing in Ekosodin are often denied this essential service as power outage seems to be the norm. This explains why many of them come to pass the night in the school, and use the opportunity to charge their dead phones.

A week ago, CAMPUSLIFE ran into some students at the Faculty

of Engineering. They had finished their association’s meetings and the fear of harassment made them to sleep over till the next morning.

A female student, who simply identified herself as KC, spoke of her frustration in Ekosodin.

She said: “I really want to relocate as soon as my money expires.

We live in a so-called student community where you are not sure of your safety as you might end up as a target harassment sexually and otherwise. And to make things worse, there is a poor power system such that one hardly reads at home as power is never stable if you are lucky to have one. During the second semester exams, it was hell for me as I took ill a number of times due to the unnecessary stress I was made to go through.”

A 300-Level student of Animal and Environmental Biology, Jefferson Ogenekaro, told our correspondent that staying in the school hostels saves one a whole lot of headache. In his view, the occasional setback in the hostel teaches one life-long lessons such as tolerance and team-work.

“I never liked staying off-campus because there are so many benefits one enjoys staying in the hostels.

You are sure of adequate security, regular power supply, water and nearness to your venues of lectures and exams. You also learn to tolerate others by living with people of various ethnic, religious and sococultural backgrounds.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

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CAMPUS LIFE

Girl survives fall from three-storey building She was reading The long arm of the frog.

She felt like playing the frog, but Ubi Sunday Ibiong’s hands slipped off the rail on the third floor of the Main Library building of the University of Calabar (UNICAL).

EMMANUEL SHEBBS (400-L Political Science, UNICAL) reports.

A

T the University of Calabar (UNICAL), April 13, started like any other, and would have ended so. But about 4pm, piercing screams came from the direction of the Main Library. Everyone ran towards the direction. On the ground, at the back of the building, lay the cause of the hoopla. A girl had fallen from the third floor of the three-storey building and there she lay, prostrate, close to the drainage.

Her face smeared with blood and blisters, she soon began to writhe in pains, eyes closed and too shocked to cry out loud. As fast as they could, some students and library staff who came around, rushed her in the car of one of them, to the UNICAL Medical Centre for immediate first aid treatment.

The girl, who was later identified as Ubi Sunday Ibiang, is a 100-Level student of Marine Chemistry. What really happened to her? Was she pushed down? Was it a suicide attempt? Was she sleeping? These and more questions troubled the library staff and students who were at the scene. One of the stunned staff told CAMPUSLIFE rather gruffly: “My duty is to account for what happens in the library room and not on the corridors. The girl fell down outside the corridor. I don’t know anything about that.”

Samuel Umesi, a 500-L Law stu-

•Ubi, in a sling.

•The building from which Ubi fell.

dent and two-time Director of Information of the Students Union Government (SUG), was around when the incident took place. He narrated what he saw: “I remember very well seeing the girl sitting on the paved balcony. No one pushed her; no one was even that close to her to have pushed her.”

Students are used to sitting on the balcony – to read as well as to chat, especially the latter as it is not allowed inside. Anyone, either sitting or lying down, would be conscious of the danger of falling off the balcony. Ordinarily, except for a freak accident, it is difficult for anyone to just fall off the balcony. The balcony has also come to serve as a place where students drop their bags as they go into the library to read.

CAMPUSLIFE decided to wait for the victim to recover considerably to narrate what really happened.

Ubi said she had gone to the library to read.

“I sat outside, on the balcony of the third floor, because the book I was reading is not a library material (non-library books are not allowed inside, to check stealing). I was reading The Long Arm of the Frog on which was an assignment in Use of English course. As I read, I was tempted to practise the frog style.

It was then that my hand slipped

and that was how I fell down. I didn’t know when I was falling but all I can remember was that I was shouting ‘Jesus! Jesus!’ When I landed on the ground, I was unconscious. My whole body was full of pains. I didn’t recognise myself or where I was, until they took me to the Medical Centre where I recovered.”

On arrival at the Medical Centre, “immediate medical attention was given to the patient, considering the emergency involved”, a nurse told CAMPUSLIFE. Ubi’s family was also promptly notified.

After the initial medical attention, she was referred to the orthopaedic hospital. There, three x-ray tests were carried out – the heart, the skull and the cervix. “There was no problem with any of them apart from a fracture that was discovered at the right cervix,” she added.

Her father, Mr. Fidelis Ibiang, told our correspondent that he was shaken when he received news of his daughter’s fall, “but in the first place, we thank God for saving her life.”

Ubi expressed gratitude to the management and her classmates for their concern.

“My classmates and my friends came in groups. I want to thank

them and in a special way the school management especially the UNICAL Medical Centre for their concern and care. They did not collect any money from me; the only place I paid little money was at the orthopaedic hospital where the scanning was done. The drugs and treatment by the Medical Centre were free.”

After she was discharged, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof James Epoke, was the first to visit her at home. He expressed sadness over the incident and said the university was eagerly waiting for her to come back fully recovered.

“I thank the VC for visiting me.

It was a surprise when he came to my house. It shows that a 100-Level student like me is recognised by the school,” she stated happily.

Next to visit her was the SUG Director of Information, Comrade Chukwuemeka Aluu. He admitted that her survival and without a major injury was a miracle. “Looking at her, one will hardly believe that she fell from such a height. It is really a miracle.” He promised that proper plans will be made to ensure that Ubi will be well taken care of until she recovers.

Shortly after the incident, there were rumours on campus that Ubi had died. While reacting to this she

•Vitus, narrating his experience.

•A typical ‘tapping’ point at Hostel E.

said: “I leant that students are saying the rumour that I am dead. I am not dead. It is the grace of God. Very soon, they will see me in school”.

SUbi debunked certain speculations carried about that she was pushed down by someone who ran away as soon as she fell. Others said she was drunk while others said she was sleeping while reading on the balcony. “All these are not true.

Nobody pushed me down. My hand slipped off while I was sitting on the balcony. It was an accident.”

A security official in the library, who did not want to be named advised the students to be careful when sitting on the balcony. “This is because some accidents are avoidable. But all the same, we thank God that she is alive. We at the venue who saw the whole thing before she was taken away understand what happeend.”

Meanwhile, some students stressed the need for the university’s insurance companies to pay some costs to the family for the accident. Regina Edidiong, one of them, said: “The insurance company should pay some compensation to the family of the girl. We are looking to see if the SUG will do something about this girl’s case.”

Reacting, Chukwuemeka said: “We are working at it. We are not sleeping.”

Lights out in FUTO In the past three months students of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Imo State, have been experiencing erratic electricity supply. CHISOM OJUKWU (400-L Chemical Engineering) captures their experience.

T

HERE are certain basic amenities students do not just require, but demand. The inability of the authorities, government or whoever is involved to provide them, creates depression and subsequently, rebellion. Electricity is one of these basic amenities and students of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) cannot say they have had the best of it. Apart from the erratic power supply from the PHCN on campus and elsewhere, the student hostels present yet another problem.

FUTO has six hostels on its grounds – A, B, C, D, E and the Post-Graduate hostel.

While hostels A, B and E are for men; hostels, hostels C and D are exclusively female hostels and the post-graduate (PG) hostel for all PG students. While the female

hostels C, D, the male hostel A and the PG hostel cannot really complain of malfeasances in the electrical sector, the story is different in hostels B and E. The most pressing need for electrical restoration lies in hostel E. Responding to enquiries made by CAMPUSLIFE, Amadi Bede, a 400Level student of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, who has been living in the hostel since his freshman days, said: “There has never been a time when all the (electrical) sockets in my room have functioned.”

Necessity being the mother of invention, the students went ahead to provide for themselves with the invented technology of “tapping.”

This is a FUTO-refined technology which entails light-deprived rooms taking electrical power from “lucky” rooms via long rolls of

wire. The light situation has always been unsteady in hostel E as ‘tapping’ provided an answer to prayers for light until about six weeks ago.

According to Bede, rooms tapped light along and across floors until “some desperate boys decided to tap from the electrical power distribution box itself.”

Needless to say that the plan didn’t work so well as the distribution box blew up throwing the entire hostel into darkness. So, it has stayed since. The residents have had plenty to say. Ekiokokeme Ndorokeme, in 300-Level Soil Science Technology, complained of having to walk all the way to neighbouring to charge his

phone or iron his clothes. Amadi, said that on several occasions when he had needed to iron a single shirt for school the next day or use his laptop, he had walked over to a friend’s room in hostel B with his electrical iron and extension box. He had done this so much that all the members of the friend’s room in hostel B became very familiar with him and created space for him to ‘tap’ whenever he visited.

“That is what hostel E has done to me,” he lamented.

In the FUTO way of naming hostels according to their letters of identification, hostel E is called the hostel of “Elite gents” but the members see nothing elite in the darkness they had

lived for a long time now. As one of them who pleaded anonymity asked, “what is elite about not having light?!”

The governor of the hostel, Comrade Vincent Eke, while empathizing with his hostel mates, urged them all to stay calm as work was going on to re-wire the hostel so as to correct the errors of the original constructors. The SUG Director of Welfare, Comrade Chidi Ariko, told CAMPUSLIFE at press time that the ground floor had been re-wired “but the job cannot be done halfway.

•Continued on page 34

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

32

CAMPUS LIFE

T

HEY gained admission into the Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki, with the notion that hard work and diligence will make them to become nurses after five years. But this dream was shattered when EBSU could not get accreditation for the course within the time frame.

So, they had to wait till the university got accreditation last year, by which time members of the first set had spent nine years for the programme.

But a sense of déjà vu was radiated by the students after they were finally inducted as nurses by the Nursing Council of Nigeria a fortnight ago. The ceremony was for the investiture of 2003 and 2004 sets.

The day started with a lecture entitled:University nursing education: Past, present and future sustainability delivered by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the Faculty of Health Science Complex. In the evening, a dinner and award night organised by the Nursing Students, in honour of the two graduating sets, was held.

Awards were presented to individuals including the Vice-Chancellor, Prof F. I. Idike, who was honoured as father of nursing.

The following day witnessed the graduation ceremony. Speech after speech, the VC who was represented by his deputy, Prof Egwu Egwu, announced the plan of the manage-

For a five-year course, they spent nine years

From Daniel Lawrence EBSU •The graduating nurses after their induction.

ment to retain the four best students of the two sets. The VC expressed joy that the dream of the university to be the foremost breeding ground of professionals in the health sector for the Southeast region was been realised.

Thereafter, the oath of induction was administered on the graduates by the Registrar of the Nursing Council of Nigeria, Mrs. A. O Olanipekun, represented by Deputy Registrar in charge of the Lagos zone.

Uguoma Osiobe and Timothy Aghogho emerged the best graduating students for the two sets with CGPA of 3.82 and 3.84 respectively.

One of the graduating students,

Corps members want INEC employment

F

OR their role in the just-concluded elections, corps members have called on the Federal Government to employ them. The corps members, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, said they served the country well and deserved employment as a testimony of the appreciation for their service.

Anthony Akor said: “The whole exercise would not have been successful without the corps members.”

Musa Ibrahim believed that the corps members have laid a wonderful legacy for others to emulate. “We

•Dr. Onyia, answering a question posed by one of the students, as others watch.

Varsity holds seminar on leadership

I

N a bid to enlighten aspiring student-leaders on the non-violence, virtues of the management of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has organised a training seminar for all those are interested in leadership and politics.

Held at the Princess Alexandra Memorial Hall with the theme, “Students as active collaborators in the journey towards 21st century University”, the orientation was a combined programme for Enugu and Nsukka campuses.

The seminar was facilitated by Prof Osita Ogbu, of the Department

From Oladele Oge UNN

of Economics, and Dr. Chidi Onyia, an education consultant from the United States.

Prof Ogbu told the students to utilise the experiences gained from the seminar and noted that “there are many students that graduated with First Class but they may not be successful candidates in the labour market.”

Dr. Onyia said the objective of the seminar was to infuse students with leadership traits that were devoid of hooliganism. He also charged

parents and guardians to ensure that good counsel was offered to their children.

Over 45 students attended the programme; there were also corps members and some staff. However, a 300-Level student of Philosophy, Kelechi Asogwa, upbraided the university governing council for “its refusal to restore social gathering on campus.”

It will be recalled that the students union and social activities were suspended following a violent protest by students against alleged school fees’ hike in January last year.

Medics hold community service

T

HE 2011 graduating class of Medical and Dental students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has in conjunction with doctors of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC) organised a community service project.

The programme, with the theme: “Medicine on the street” was seen as a parting gift. It took place in Yakoyo, Ife North local government in Osun State.

Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, Akeem Amuda, the secretary of Final Year Community Service, said the programme was aimed at delocalising the practice of medicine, taking it away from the hospital.

His words: “Our common goal is to contribute positively to the devel-

From Samson Ademola and Joseph Akinyanmi OAU

opment of our immediate community. Local health talks, check-ups, medical and dental procedures, and free distribution of drugs are the activities we took to the residents of Yakoyo.”

Tolulope Adebayo, who spoke on malaria prevention, said: “One out of every five sick persons is a patient of malaria; three people die every 30 minutes of malaria; N135billion is spent annually to treat malaria”.

Mojisola Fakiyesi, another member of the graduating class, pointed out that annual medical checkup of the breast is very important. She said: “Every mature girl should visit the

Nneka Ikeh, recounted her experience. “At a point,” she said, “people began to say I was rusticated and was telling them lies. I thank God for today which has vindicated me.”

hospital every year for breast check up, and report any irregularity, be it lump in the breast or some strange conditions.”

A doctor, Funmi Alabi, said: “The programme will go a long way in saving the residents from sudden death because not everybody has the opportunity to come to the hospital.

Some of the things we test here, like blood sugar level, are things that people overlook, yet they are lethal conditions.”

Mrs. Bola Oyejide, one of the patients who benefited from the programme, expressed appreciation: “We are happy that drugs were prescribed and given to us free of charge. We hope that the government will encourage programmes like this.”

From Precious Ona NYSC ABUJA

have proved to the world that Nigeria can conduct a free and fair poll.

So, it is right for the government to employ us so that we can display such acts of excellence in every strata of our government.”

Other corps members, who expressed their views, agreed that employing the corps members would be a good motivational gesture for more participation in subsequent national assignments.

Students’ leaders inaugurated

T

HE National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS) has inaugurated a new executive that will pilot its affairs for one year. The inauguration, which took place at Adegbemile Cultural Centre, Akure, on April 29, was attended by former NAOSS national president, his deputy and a host of other students’ leaders including President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ini Ememobong.

The NAOSS President, Abiola Obanoyen, a student of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, was sworn in with other members of his executive.

In his inaugural speech, Abiola congratulated the Ondo State governor on the victory of the Labour Party in the just concluded elections.

He, however, expressed worry over the delay in the payment of the students’ scholarship and bursary.

He said: “While we commend the government on its commitment to

•Abiola From Kolade Lawal RUGIPO

adequate funding of the stateowned tertiary institutions, we equally charge all the students of Ondo origin to shun vices that will affect their academic pursuits.”

Agric students defend IT

T

HE 400-Level students of School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology (SAAT), Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Imo-State, have concluded the Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES). The 500Level students have also defended their SIWES reports written when they were on industrial training break.

From Queenette Ekomaru FUTO

It was gathered that many of the students encountered many challenges during the SIWES period in the farm, which affected their expectation. Angela Uzoma, one of the students, suggested that SIWES students should be provided with farm allowances to take care of farm expenses.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

33

CAMPUS LIFE Bishop condoles with families of slain corps members

A

N Anglican Bishop, Rt. Rev. Tunde Adeleye, has sent his condolences to the parents of corps members that were killed in the post-election violence in Bauchi State. He equally condoled with the nation and the management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Bishop Adeleye, while addressing corps members at the afterelection rededication service at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Anglican Diocese, Calabar, Cross River State, urged Nigerians to work together to build a safer na-

•The main junction at the AAU, Ekpoma campus.

Mixed reactions trail AAU VC’s sack

T

HE sack of the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Ambrose Ali University (AAU), Ekpoma, Prof Sam Uniamikogbo, by Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, is attracting comments from the university community. Some staff and students are excited over his sack, but a group in the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is calling for his reinstatement.

A cross section of students who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE described the sack as “long over-due.” Meanwhile, when the embattled Students Union President of the institution was contacted last week, he declined comment. In a text message to our correspondent, he said:“No comment on

From Nosakhare Uwadiae AAU

VC’s removal.”

The VC’s removal was announced last week through a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Education to the Government, Mallam Ali Suleiman.

It stated:“The removal of Prof Uniamikogbo is to pave way for farreaching financial, academic, administrative and overall institutional reorganisation of the Ambrose Alli University as established by the visitation panel report as well as the forensic audit report. “ The statement directed that Prof Cordilia Agbebaku, Dean of the Fac-

ulty of Law, take over from Prof Uniamikogbo.

The sacked VC’s allies have seen no reason why he should be removed.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) led by Jude Imagwe had called for his sack when the VC allegedly dissolved the SUG, an act Jude described as “illegal and unjustifiable.”

This followed a sustained protest by the students over the astronomical hike in their school and hostel fees.

The students’ defense was that they had been peaceful and there was no reason for the dissolution of the union and subsequent closure of the institution. They were recalled just two weeks ago after over two months at home.

OAU students seek return of union HE Concerned Students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, have demanded the restoration of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), which was suspended in February.

The suspension came with a twomonth closure of the institution. Students were called back about two weeks ago.

In a statement entitled:“As we resume”, which was distributed to students and members of the university community, the group also proffered solutions to the action over the fee increment. It reads in part: “As we welcome all OAU students back to campus, we wish to inform that the struggle has not ended. Aside that the management has failed to reverse the hike, the Students’ Union has also been proscribed while some union leaders and activists such as Fredrick Joel, Nelson Benjamin, Adediran Adeyemi, Seyi Adegoke, former SUG President Saburi Akinola and former Speaker Segun Ogumah have all been invited to an investigative panel for playing leading roles in the struggle

T

From Sikiru Akinola and Opeoluwa Sonuga OAU

against fee hike.”

The group called on students not to allow the two months closure to dampen their mood and make them to accept the “unjust” increment.

It also called on the SUG leadership to rededicate itself to the struggle for the restoration of the union. “The Students’ Union leadership must convene an immediate congress of all OAU students within the second week of resumption to give students the opportunity to debate and agree on the ways to continue the struggle”, the statement said.

Meanwhile, it has been alleged that there are increasing cases of theft and rape at Ajose Lecture Theatre. Okada riders and traders were reported to have hiked up their prices. This, the group, claimed, was because there was no one to push students’ interest.

CAMPUSLIFE met Awanat Raji, the General Secretary of Mozambique

Storm removes roofs

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ESPITE their anticipation for rain, the rain that fell on May 1 did not bring joy for students of Gombe State University (GSU).

The heavy storm that accompanied the rain blew the roogs of their hostels away.

Annex 14A, with its kitchen, bathroom and toilet was blown open by the stormy wind. Other affected blocks are Algon B where the roofing of the six rooms that make up the hall was removed. As

Students decry registration crisis

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HAT the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Ondo State, has resumed academic activities for second semester is not news. However, students are still unable to log on to their registration portal.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the course registration portal for 500Level students has not been upgraded. But the portal segments •Awanat

Hall, who confirmed to our correspondent that there had been reported cases of stealing in the hall since resumption which have gone unchecked due to the SUG suspension. She said: “There is a reported case of gang rape and other sorts of rape, which has made 100-Level girls to be very careful about their movement, especially at night.”

A 300-L student of Agriculture said the absence of the union would “pave way for cultism thrive”.

•Members of the Rotaract Club of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), during a visit to the handicapped home in PHOTO: CHINENYE OKONKWO Calabar.

From Tayo Adedapo NYSC CALABAR

tion.

He charged Batch A 2011 corps members deployed to the state to abide by the laws of the land and quickly settle down for the task they were sent to do in the state.

In another development, the State Ccoordinator of the NYSC, Mr. Joshua Olowookere, has thanked Governor Liyel Imoke for providing adequate security for corps members during the general elections.

From Aliyu Yusuf GSU

the rains pelted down, dealt untold havoc to students’ valuables including books, foodstuffs and project theses.

The affected students are now squatting with their colleagues.

The university management was not available to brief the students on their plans and efforts to repair the affected structures. The incidence also threw the university community in darkness for two days as two electric poles were uprooted.

Equally affected was a female hostel which started leaking after the wind that accompanied the heavy downpour.

From Gbenga Adesina FUTA

for lower level students have been functioning smoothly and serving its purpose.

At first, the final year students were unperturbed, saying the registration page would come up sooner. But when it dawned on them that the portal may not be accessed as thought, the students immediately called on the school authorities to quickly proffer a solution as the registration deadline draws near.

Efforts to reach the school computer resource centre, the operator of the website, proved abortive as at press time.

Science students enjoy good governance

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HE Joint Association of Science Students (JASS), the umbrella body of students of the Faculty of Biological and Physical Sciences, has never had it so good. Right from inception in 1997, the association has strongly awaited a leadership that will build upon the framework on which it was founded.

When the Ikenna Okwuolise-led executive assumed office on April 30, 2010, few students gave them the chance to build on the efforts of their predecessors. Two months into the administration, the Southeast chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked on a prolonged strike that lasted for almost six months.

According to the Vice-President, Amanda Oruh: “Our administration has already signaled our intention never to settle for less in the face of the huge challenges”. Academically, the ad-

From Iheanyi Igboko ABSU

ministration recorded a big feat by ensuring that students have their continuous assessment scores duly added to their results.

The administration became the first to have purchased a bus for the activities of the association and produced identity cards for members. It went the extra mile to purchase a public address system that aids students during lectures.”

With less than four weeks to its expiration, the administration is producing the fourth edition of the JASS Trumpet Magazine.

Ikenna said: “I want to leave a legacy that will serve as a model to my successor: service delivery, fulfillment of campaign promises, corporate governance, inventions and innovations in government, credible elections, and many more”.

‘I want to leave a legacy that will serve as a model to my successor: service delivery, fulfillment of campaign promises, corporate governance, inventions and innovations in government, credible elections and many more’

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

34

CAMPUS LIFE Some 125 years after it hit the market, Coca-Cola is still riding high. Almost everybody has taken Coke at one time or the other and the brand remains, for many, the first choice. Final year Mass Communication students, NGOZI EMMANUEL (Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State) and HOPE OFOBIKE (University of Jos, Plateau State) spoke with some students about their “Coke experience”.

It’s a Coke experience

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OCA-COLA is sold in over 200 countries of the world. It has become so synonymous with quality and class and to borrow students’ word it is “very formidable”. As observed among students of the Namdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, there’s something about Coke that will propel one to want more.

Coca Cola, a true definition of a super brand, has for a long time permeated the hearts of all peoples, quenching thirsts and serving as a general name for all beverages across the counter. For most students, it’s always a complete academic day with a bottle of chilled Coke or any of the other variants such as Fanta and Sprite.

Patrick Achukwu is a 500-Level student of Production Engineering at UNIZIK. He has this to say: “I don’t know but I believe there is something about Coke that is irresistible. It makes you reach for one anytime you are thirsty and you have to stop yourself from taking an extra bottle, and then another extra.”

Damilola Ayinde, a recent graduate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), has a similar experience.

“There is always a particular kind of sensation when I take a chilled bottle of Coke. It’s a tingling feeling down your throat making you want more.

Amazingly, it goes with any kind of food. Now, that’s Coke for you!”

Students love the Coca Cola drink for various reasons. For Ifeyinwa Aronu, “I just love the shape of the Coca-Cola bottle. It makes me feel I’m holding something substantial

2010 •Different designs of the Coke bottle since 1899. The contour shape was introduced in 1915.

and great. The bottle is just very unique.”

Bukky Akinyemi is in 400-Level Mass Communication at the University of Jos (UNIJOS). She says: “After a stressful day I do stay cool with Coke because it refreshes and nourishes the body. The fact is, Coke stands out among equals. It is first to all and second to none. My only problem is it contains sugar and gas which if taken as the desire pulls, could increase one’s chances of getting diabetes. I cannot do with Coke, so I want the sugar and gas content drastically reduced so I can enjoy my Coke without a guilty feeling.”

What many students do not know is that the Coca-Cola Company owns $14 billion brands. In addition to Coca-Cola and its variants - Diet Coke/Coke Light and Coke Zero other billion-dollar brands include Fanta, Sprite, Vitaminwater, Aquarius, Minute Maid, Simply, Powerade, Georgia, Sokenbicha and Minute Maid Pulpy.

Fanta (Orange) was introduced in

•Bukky

•Florence

Milan, Italy in 1955 and reached the United States in 1960. Fanta became the fourth soft drink brand to achieve two billion unit cases in annual sales.

Then, in 1961, Sprite was introduced as the world’s leading lemon-lime flavoured soft drink. It quickly be-

came a key brand in many emerging markets. In China, it’s the number one sparkling beverage; in India, it’s the number two. While China is the world’s most populous nation with 1.3billion people, India follows closely with 1.2billion. Sprite is also

Writing has been described as the most structured communication method for humans.

However, students’ attitude towards it leaves much to be desired. WALE BAKARE (100-Level Zoology University of Ilorin) writes on the attitude.

Why students must learn to write well

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N campuses, the General Courses Unit (also called GNS for short) is compulsory for undergraduates. Irrespective of one’s course, the GNS, especially the Use of English Department, cannot be bypassed. Thus, it’s no surprise that the same is where regular gaffes made by students occur.

To participate – whether proactively or reactively – in the emerging tools of communication these days, one needs to be proficient in writing. Sadly, that cannot be said for many students. At the GNS classes, it has been proven beyond doubt that students’ attitude to writing is mostly that of helplessness.

Recently at the GNS 112 class at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), the lecturer had asked the students to write an application letter. Everyone went to work; soon, it was over and scripts were submitted. But not all submitted; only few who were sure they wrote well braved the submission. Clearly, many others who didn’t, developed cold feet when the lecturer announced that it was just a test to determine their writing skills.

He also said those submitted would be read out for all to hear.

After going through a few, it became clear that there was “fire on the mountain.” In a somber tone, he told

the class: “We should not assume that because we are studying Zoology, Plant Biology and Microbiology, we should not work at being good writers. Writing well is a must for all.”

“It is very bad for a student who has written the senior secondary school certificate and passed his or her English to not be able to write the heading of a formal letter.”

Thereafter, he went ahead to read all the letters and made corrections as he saw fit. Many students commended him for this, because it was clear that they did not have a clue on how to write the letter. Some of them told CAMPUSLIFE their challenges.

Sodiq Aro is in 100-Level Zoology: “I didn’t take writing serious because I had always dismissed it as something that is more for students in Arts and related courses. I didn’t know I was shortchanging myself.”

Lanre Ishola, in 100-Level Plant Biology, said: “To write is not an easy task. If I should start disturbing my brain and start writing daily, it will help me in the near future.”

Olajide Isiaka, a 200-Level Chemistry Education student, said: “Writing is a process that expresses the writer’s thoughts and feelings in an imaginative, often unique or poetic

Kano NYSC mourns slain corps members •‘No corps member died in Kano’

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•Jamiu

way. It is the most difficult skill to accomplish due to the rigorous ways of its actualisation.

Its importance cannot be overemphasized in the profession of journalism; it presents thoughts in a logical way, using the power of imagination.

The more you write the more you became aware of your environment.

Writing is made possible by adopting a healthy reading culture”.

But Sikiru Sanjo, in 100-Level Home Economics, expressed a somewhat different opinion. “Writing is a process that requires daily practice. I don’t think it will be easy for students in the Faculty of Science to combine our schedule with an activity like writing”.

the 61st most valuable brand in the world, according to Interbrand, the world’s leading brand consultants.

Another student of UNIZIK, Godson Ngene, in Business Administration, remembers his first Coke experience with nostalgia. “I cannot remember for sure if it was the first time I took a Coke, but I can’t forget it because it was the first deep experience of Coke for me. This was actually from a TV commercial when I was very young, maybe six or seven.

The advert went something like ‘The stars will always shine, the birds will always sing. As long as there’s fun, there’s always the real thing. CocaCola classic is always the one. Whenever there’s fun, there’s always ColaCola’. And from that day on, I demanded a bottle of Coke from my parents for any chore they wanted me to do in the house.”

At the Awka campus, just as there is in a lot more campuses in the country, there’s a Coke Centre. According to one of the operators who simply identified himself as Mike, they sell an average of 15 bottles of Coke or other flavours every hour.

“Even lecturers always enjoy taking a bottle of Coke in-between lectures or while supervising students during examinations. For many guys on campus, Coke is a mandatory part of their dates with girls,” he added.

Evelyn Nnanna, another final year student in UNIJOS, shares her experience thus: “Right from when I was a child, the only drink I grew up to know is Coke. It is richly nourishing when taken in a cool atmosphere. For me, it’s inspiring. Coke is good for all people and for all occasions.”

Perhaps that was Andy Warhol, legendary American painter and filmmaker, described Coca Cola’s widespread availability, appeal and quality thus: “A Coke is a Coke, and no amount of money can get you a better Coke than the one the bum on the corner is drinking. All the Cokes are the same and all the Cokes are good.

Liz Taylor knows it, the President knows it, the bum knows it, and you know it.”

HE National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kano State has held a one-week mourning for corps members, who were murdered in the wake of the post presidential election violence across some states in the north.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the directive to observe the mourning came from the Director-General, BrigGen. Ismaila Tsiga. It lasted between May 3 and 10. During the mourning staff wore black clothes, caps and flags at the NYSC secretariat were at half mast in honour of the departed.

While regretting the killing of the corps members, the Kano State

From Nosakhare Uwadiae NYSC KANO

Coordinator, Mallam Zariya Lawal, described as “shocking” the killing of the patriotic Nigerians who were serving their fatherland.

He prayed God to grant them eternal rest and their families the strength to bear the loss.

He further debunked rumours that corps members died in Kano during the mayhem. He called on the general public to disregard the rumour as “no corps member died in Kano State. Sincerely, when the incident happened, I went round all major hospitals in Kano to find out if such occurred, but graciously, nothing like that. Security agents also confirmed it,” he posited.

Lights out in FUTO •Continued from page 31

Students need to be patient until all three floors have been finished so that the light can come on at once for the whole hostel.”

In hostel B, the issue of “light cheating” is more common. Tapping or what the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Remy Uche, once referred to as “illegal connections” is the order of the day.

The notorious practice was, therefore, blamed when recently there was a fire-scare in Room 104.

A roommate, Vitus Nwoke (200Level Project Management Technology) told the story. He and

a few others were sitting around, charging their phones when the electric socket began to emit smoke and the wire emanating from it started giving off sparks. Alarmed, he quickly switched off the socket but the smoke persisted.

When Emmanuel Nwoko (100Level Industrial Physics), from the next room, reported the same problem from his corner, Vitus realised that scales had gone up. He said: “The smoke was so bad that we couldn’t see very well so we ran out and started screaming for whoever knew where the distribution box was to cut off our power supply.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011 CHANGE OF NAME RAJI

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Raji Aolat Omolara,now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs Adebisi Aolat Omolara.All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

FAGBENRO I formerly known and addressed as Miss Fagbenro Sarah Abeni,now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs Akinlade Femi Akanji Ebenezer Sarah Abeni.All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

BABALOLA I formerly known and addressed as Babalola Fausat Temitope,now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs Dere Fausat Temitope.All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

GABRIEL

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Gabriel Iserime Love, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs Alagba-James Iserime Love.All former documents remain valid. Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board and general public should take note.

OBIORA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Amaka Sylvia Obiora, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs Amaka Sylvia Oyinloye. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

AFOLABI

I formerly known and addressed as Afolabi Oluwaponmile Hannah, now wiss to be known and addressed as Olaniyan Oluwaponmile Hannah. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OMOYEMI

I formerly known and addressed as Oduyale Olakitan Omoyemi,now wiss to be known and addressed as Oduyale Olakitan Eniola.All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

NWANBA

I formerly known and addressed as Nwanba Joseph Ugochukwu, now wiss to be known and addressed as Nwankwo Joseph Ugochukwu. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

OJELEKE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ojeleke Mojisola Olawumi, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs Ogunlade Mojisola Olawumi. All former documents remain valid. Osun State University, Osogbo and general public should take note.

CHIGA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Jennifer Terkuma Chiga, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs Jennifer Terkuma Tarhemba. All former documents remain valid. Benue State University, Makurdi and general public should take note.

MBONU

I formerly known and addressed as Mbonu Ngozi Emmanuela, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs Eriken Ngozi Emmanuela. All former documents remain valid.

DIFF Hospital and general public should take note.

NWAIGWE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwaigwe Lilian Ukamaka, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs Okonkwo Lilian Ukamaka. All former documents remain valid. IMT, NYSC and general public should take note.

IGNATIUS

I formerly known and addressed as Ignatius Tidora Ann, now wiss to be known and addressed as Ezea Ann Onyi. All former documents remain valid. IMT and general public should take note.

DUROSARO I formerly known and addressed as Durosaro, Gabriel, Owolabi, Ogunmola, Ayinla, Ogundipe, now wiss to be known and addressed as Gabriel Owolabi Olumola Ayinla Durotoluwa. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

DADA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Kafilat Olabisi Dada, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs Kafilat Olabisi Bello. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OLAGUNJU

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Ishia Kingsley Benneth and Onyiriuka Kingsley is the same and one person. All former documents remain valid. Imo SUBEB, Imo State government and general public should take note.

Olagunju Baetrice Moji is the same person as Olagunju Beatrice Mojisola.All former documents remain valid. University of Nigeria, Nsukka, College of Education, Ikere Ekiti and deneral public should take note.

IGWE

I formerly known and addressed as Mr. Igwe Ofem Lawrence, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mr. Okomisor Ofem Lawrence. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

CHRISTOPHER I formerly known and addressed as Mr. Christopher Barinadaa Zabbey, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mr. Patrick Kilsi Zabbey. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

NWABUNIKE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ijeoma Phyllis Chieme Nwaunike, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ijeoma Phyllis Chieme Egbuna. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OSUJI I formerly known and addressed as Miss Osuji Vivian Chimezirim, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs Ocheho Vivian Chimezirim.All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ADEYEMI

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adeyemi, Olubisi Olubukola Adebisi Oluwatoyin, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Oyewole Adebisi Oluwatoyin. All former documents remain valid.

Kaduna Polytechnic, NYSC, FRSC and general public take note.

ANDREW

I formerly known and addressed as Andrew Shokare Omotoyin, now wiss to be known and addressed as Andrew Robin Shokare Wealth. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

35 CHANGE OF NAME

AYEOLA I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ayeola Olajumoke Naheemat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs AjibadeOlatokunbo Olajumoke Naheemat. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, and general public take note.

EZEH

I formerly known and addressed as Frank Ndubisi Ezeh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Aaah-SirFrank Ndubisi Ezeh. All former documents remain valid.

Passport Office and general public take note.

ADEKUNLE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adekunle Atinuke Adebukola Haulat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adeniji Atinuke Adebukola Haulat. All former documents remain valid. Ogun State Teaching Service Commission and general public take note.

HUSEN

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluranti Latifat Husen, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oluranti Latifat Mufutau.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADEWALE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adewale Oluwaseun Susan, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ogunjimi Oluwaseun Susan. All former documents remain valid. Ogun State Teaching Service Commission and general public take note.

AJE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Aje Olakitan Agnes, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Olaitan Olakitan Agnes. All former documents remain valid.

Ondo (TESCOM) and general public take note.

AKOMOLAFE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Akomolafe Mary Iretiola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adeoya Mary Iretiola. All former documents remain valid. Ondo State Hospital Management Board and general public take note.

OGUNDELE I formerly known and addressed as Mr. Ogundele Kehinde Rotimi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Olisa Kehinde Rotimi. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Immigration and general public take note.

ABAYOMI

I, Abayomi Ayodeji Busayomi, is the same person as Abayomi Ayodele. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and general public take note.

ONIMOWO I formerly known and addressed as Hannah Ometere Ifeoluwa Onimowo, now wiss to be known and addressed as Hannah Ometere Ifeoluwa Ojomo. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

ADAMOLEKUN

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adamolekun Taiawo Tosin, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omoruyi Taiwo Tosin. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should take note.

OGBU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluchi Ogbu Inyang, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluchi Arua Okorie. All former documents remain valid.

Nigerian Prison Service and general public should take note.

ONYEMA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Onyema Happiness Nkechi, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ihezie Happiness Nkechi. All former documents remain valid. IMT, Enugu, NYSC and general public should take note.

JOLAOSO I formerly known and addressed as Miss Jolaoso Olawunmi Abiodun, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs. Liyele Olawunmi Abiodun. All former documents remain valid. St. Peters Angilican Primary School, Agoro Ijoko, Ogun SUBEB and general public should take note.

OYEWUMI

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Oyewumi Oluwatosin Olasumbo, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omozokpea Oluwatosin Olasumbo. All former documents remain valid.General public should take note.

FETUGA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Fetuga Rashidat Abimbola, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogunfowora Rashidat Abimbola. All former documents remain valid. Ogun SUBEB, Ijebu East, LGEA, Ogbere and general public should take note.

ADEYEMI

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adeyemi Kafayat Moyoade, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adenle Kafayat Moyoade. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ESSIEN I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ekaete Ikpe Essien, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ekaete Etim Edet. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ENAIBE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Stella Ochuko Enaibe, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs. Stella Ochuko Fegor Atamako. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OLAJIRE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Olajire Veronica Bolanle, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogunsola Veronica Bolanle. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

AKINSANYA I formerly known and addressed as Miss Akinsanya Omotola Mojisola, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ekhaguere Omotola Mojisola. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

EZEADILI I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ezeadili Chinenye Victoria, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogbuagu Chinenye Victoria. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

LAMIDI

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Lamidi Fatima Doyinsola, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs. Tijani Fatima Doyinsola. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ADEGOKE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adegoke Omobolanle Saidat, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adeola Omobolanle Saidat. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should take note.

OCHUEHI

OSINOWO

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ochuehi Chizoba Cynthia, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ezeibe Chizoba. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

FASANYA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Aikhena Helen Funmilayo, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs. Cardoso Helen.

All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Osinowo Dotun Temitope, now wiss to be known and addressed as Miss Osinowo Adedotun Temitope. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Fasanya Busayo Olabisi, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs Ogungbesan Busayo Olabisi.

All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

JIMOH

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Jimoh Memunat Omotunde, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs Ismail Maymunah Jumah. All former documents remain valid. Ogun SUBEB, Bank PHB and and general public should take note.

AJIDAGBA

I formerly known and addressed as Mrs Ajidagba Adebusola Roseline, now wiss to be known and addressed as MrsPopoola Adebusola Roseline. All former documents remain valid. Teaching Service Commission, Abeokuta and and general public should take note.

OLANIRAN

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Olaniran Olanrewaju Felicia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Owonikoko Olanrewaju Felicia. All former documents remain valid. Osun State College of Technology, EsaOke, Osun State and general public take note.

AUDU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Lucy Hajara Stella Audu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Lucy Hajara Okokobi. All former documents remain valid. Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria and general public take note.

AIKHENA

MUHAMMED I formerly known and addressed as Miss Nofisat Oziohu Muhammed, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adeola Oziohu Obaika. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ABDULKADIR

I formerly known and addressed as Mrs Habibat A. Abdulkadir, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs. Habeebah Abdulkadir Abdulrahman. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OLOGUNDE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Omolayo Olubunmi Ologunde, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omolayo Olubunmi Kupoluyi. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OLOGUNDE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Feyikola Ikeolapo Ologunde, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs. Feyikola Ikeolapo Olasimbo. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ADEROKAYE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Aderokaye Idayat Bukola, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olagunju Idayat Bukola. All former documents remain valid. Ife South Local government, Ifetedo and general public should take note.Y

CHANGE OF NAME ADETOKUN I formerly known and addressed as Adetokun Ibrahim Adewale, now wiss to be known and addressed as Adetokun Adewole Philip Adewale. All former documents remain valid. TESCOM, Osun State and general public should take note.

OMISORE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Omisore Modupeola Omolara, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs Ibosiola Modupeola Omolara. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should take note.

ABERE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Abere Victoria Kehinde, now wiss to be known and addressed as Mrs Ogunkadejo Victoria Kehinde. All former documents remain valid. Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, Law Enforcent Aguces Parastatal and general public should take note.

AGBEDE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Agbede Abisola Omolara, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Obajolowo Abisola Omolara. all former documents remain valid. Nigerian Prisons Service and general public take note.

BABALOLA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Victoria Babalola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Victoria Oyetoki. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

TAJANI

CHANGE OF NAME DAVID

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS JANET GRACE DAVID, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS GRACE J.EKUNODE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

TERZUNGWE

I,formerly known and addressed as TYOZENDA TERZUNGWE, now wish to be known and addressed as UGEMA TYOZENDA TERZUNGWE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

SALAMI

I, formerly known and addressed as SALAMI MODINAT OLAJIRE, now wish to be known and addressed as YUSUF MODINAT OLAJIRE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

CHIDI I, formerly known and addressed as MISS FLORA NWANBUZOR CHIDI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS FLORA NWANBUZOR ALOFOJE. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

OKORO

I, formerly known and addressed as OKORO AMARACHI O (ORJI) , now wish to be known and addressed as ORJI AMARACHI CHIUGO. All former documents remain valid.University of Abuja and the general public should please take note.

AGU

OLANIPEKUN

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS AGU CYNTHIA CHINWENDU , now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OKOLIE CYNTHIA CHINWENDU. All former documents remain valid. The office of the auditor general of the federation and the general public should please take note.

ADEGBOKUN

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EKE UKACHI , now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UDE BLESSING UKACHI AGWU. All former documents remain valid. Nkporo junior secondary school Elughu,ASUBEB Umuahia and the general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Tijani Lekan Yunus, now wish to be known and addressed as Adediran Lekan Yunus. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adegbokun Oriade Olubunmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adedun Oriade Olubunmi. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission and general public take note.

ADELEKE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Dorcas Omolayo Adeleke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Dorcas Omolayo Oyewole. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OMOYOSI

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Omoyosi Taiwo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ocheni Taiwo. All former documents remain valid Nigeria Police Osun State Command Oke â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Fia,Osogbo and general public take note.

OYEWOLA

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KARIWEI

I formerly known and addressed as MISS KARIWEI IYOROMIENSEIGHE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. E B I M O B O W E I IYOROMIENSEIGHE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC General public take note.

AJAYI I,formerly known and addressed as Miss Ajayi Fisayo Oluyemi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adurosakin Fisayo Oluyemi. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission and general public take note.

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EKE

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

36

CAMPUS LIFE

C

Tips on business ideas

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OME readers who reacted to last week’s topic on how to raise capital for small campus businesses wanted to know how to develop the business idea in the first place. I didn’t dwell on that because I always said: “The business idea is your baby. You do the conceiving; anyone else can only come in as the midwife who helps you deliver and advises you through until the baby is on her feet.”

But then, as I went through one of the mails forwarded to me, it struck me that these days, many midwives and doctors also help couples to conceive! So, that settled today’s topic. But this does not take away certain firsts which include: • The woman who wants to conceive is consumed about it • She follows through on the doctor’s instructions • She does the actual conceiving, carrying through to full term and delivery.

• She nurtures directly.

Thus, the following will only remain words until you have a burning desire to do something about them and actually follow through. Here we go.

The starting point for developing new business ideas lies inside the prospective entrepreneur rather than in the marketplace, business plan, etc. You are the critical component - it is your strengths and weaknesses which should dictate the areas in which to seek ideas and the likely scale and scope of your business. At the end of the day, support for your business by financiers, suppliers, customers will also be a vote of confidence in your abilities to make it successful.

You should build on your strengths and surmount or work around your weaknesses, and possibly cut your cloth to meet your main limitations. For example, there is little point in searching for capital-intensive or knowledgebased ideas if you have slim or no prospects of raising the necessary capital or if your educational background (read knowledge) is unsuitable. It’s true there are startups by school drops-out which eventually became megabusinesses, but we don’t hear so much about the huge numbers of failures.

Areas where you should make honest assessments of your strengths and weaknesses include the knowledge background, financial strengths, commitment, interests and personal qualities (like what kind of person you are resourceful, energetic, self-motivated, realistic, etc). Never be afraid to ask other people to help assess you.

Ideas come from knowledge. If I wanted to learn to swim, would I go out to the pool and grab the first person I see and ask them to teach me? No. I would locate the “swimming pro” and take some lessons. The pro has the expertise to make my swimming education go quicker

and smoother. Each pro has developed the knowledge of the game and procedures necessary for the game. They are students of their industry. This is just like large companies which call on “consultants” when they need ideas and assistance. These consultants have become students of the industry. They have amassed the knowledge necessary to assist the company with new product development or problem solving.

For an aspiring small business owner like you, find a need, or create one and fill it. Many successful money making ideas are born out of a need by people around you. Most of us had no idea we needed “pure water”, for instance; or pressed powder (for most ladies) until we were told and shown that we did.

Then, the development of viable business ideas is as much an art, or matter of luck, as the use of the stated methods. This is because the reality is that having the right background, being in the right place at the right time, and working hard to create lucky breaks (being a keen observer of your campus environment and trends) are likely to be just as important in coming up with sound business ideas. Probably, the one issue which everyone searching for new business ideas should review systematically is their own strengths and weaknesses and to use this as their key building block and jumping off point.

However, be sure that you don’t spend all the time planning. There is something called “paralysis by analysis”; just like procrastination, it is a killer of great intentions!

Then, for those with existing businesses on or off campus who are looking for ways to expand.

Never forget that there are thousands of other student-entrepreneurs on campuses across the country and around the world. They are all trying to come up with money making ideas for their businesses just like you are. When one of them comes up with a good idea, it usually makes news. You will find articles about their ideas in the local papers and in the industry magazines.

Thus, you must ensure that you read; that way you can steal...uhh...acquire these ideas for your own business.

I don’t care what sacrifices you must make, but you must read something about your business or industry at least 30 minutes every day. Within one year you will know more about your business or industry than 75per cent of the people in it.

Then, always ask questions. Ask friends, ask customers: “If there was one thing you would add or change about my business, what would that be?” Meditate on their answers.

By Tessa Okongwu (ladycampus@yahoo.com) Additional information from Tom Egelhoff (smalltownmarketing.com)

•A view of the renovated Awo Hall at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. It’s one of the pleasnat surprises students met as they resumed two weeks ago. PHOTO: OPEOLUWA SONUGA

A I

BIG shout out to Aanuoluwapo Elizabeth Bakare, 400-Level English and Literary Studies (Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko), who will climb another ladder of life on May 17. I pray God to increase you and make you celebrate many years in prosperity and comfy.

From Seyi Oluwalade. Just graduated from the department, AAUA

CONGRATULATE all my fellow corps members who participated in the election exercise. We have laid a wonderful foundation for credible elections in our country, this is our victory. We are all heroes. - From Precious Ona (NYSC Abuja)

ONFIDENCE is an absolutely necessary tool in securing a job. Some people may have the right skills but lose out on a job because of fear, lack of confidence and nervousness. Passing an interview and being offered a posi- By Atinuke Badejo tion means that you have e-mail:atinuke@badejo.com done better than the other candidates. It also means that the interviewer believes in you and is willing to take the chance and offer you the opportunity.

This is what should be ringing in the mind of anyone who is attending a job interview. It is never a game of chance or luck. As much as I believe in “divine intervention,” it is easier make the effort to think of how to convince the when you have put in the hardwork, confidence interviewer that they possess and excel in those and excellent presentation skills. Those who do skills. not have the relevant skills and preparation see The responsibility is thus placed on a candiinterviews as a game of luck. This is however a date to understand a job advert and let the sure way to get frustrated when the right interviewer see in them the kind of person he is opportunity does not seem to come along seeking to fill the position. This is easily done quickly enough. when you have the right skills and you have the Let us imagine the following scenario: a confidence to pass across your abilities. This may hospital places an advert for junior medical sound like you are being boastful but it is often doctor positions. On the day of the interview, the only way to show your past achievements. eight people presented themselves for inter- What is of uttermost importance is that you are view, amongst whom is a gentleman called not arrogant and you are not lying to the Tony. Tony is a very interesting young man interviewer. My advice is to put yourself in the and deeply prayerful. He has prayed and fasted interviewer’s shoes in order to fully comprehend for two weeks to get ready for his interview. this concept. Think of yourself as the Managing This candidate is very confident and has good Director of your own company. Imagine you interpersonal skills. The only snag is that he is have struggled to build this business in the last not a qualified doctor; he has not been to medical 20 years and you are now seeking to employ school anywhere in the world. Tony chose to junior managers who would take care of various attend this interview because he has prayed and aspects of the business. If you understand the believes he will get the job. burden of getting the right persons for the tasks I’m sure that the above scenario will be in the above company, it may help to see what considered a joke and somewhat impossible by you as a candidate would need to do when many people who read this piece. It is an example seeking employment. to try to show how important skills are for Skills, confidence in what you know and faith anyone seeking employment. in your ability to do the work are important to For those seeking PA, administrative or office secure a job. Anyone lacking the above would assistant positions, it is easy to assume that there need to find a way of developing the skills and is no serious qualification required. Some people gaining the confidence to do the work properly. think they only need to present themselves and They therefore require a competitive edge to be hope for the best. This is not a safe way to think able to stand out in the midst of other candidates. for anyone who wants to be taken seriously.

This may mean professional qualifications but This is not limited to the above mentioned it may also mean gaining confidence to articulate jobs only; it includes any position especially for yourself effectively at an interview. those who have bagged a university degree.

Here are few pointers to what needs to be done: First, it is required that a candidate strives to Ensure you have the skills that are relevant to be the very best that is present at the interview. the position. If you don’t then seek to gain them This means that an interviewer would take a fast. Develop the confidence to present what you look at you, your skills, your confidence and know. Remember; no one can make you feel presentation and would not be able to let you inferior unless you agree. An interviewer can walk away. sense a person who is not sure of themselves Being good is not only about what you know and may not want you as a staff. Practice public but has a lot to do with what the interviewer speaking and develop skills to present your thinks you know. It is not just what you are but ideas and knowledge effectively. what the employer sees. Candidates often make We all benefit when we do things right! the mistake of thinking of their skills but do not

Confidence and skills to get the job

On and Off Campus

By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

37

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

EDUCATION

How exam cheats will be detected, by JAMB

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UPERVISORS and other cadre of ad-hoc staff that will man examination centres during next month’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) have been trained to use the biometrics machine to identify candidates.

Abdulazeez Saleeman, Deputy Director, Zonal Co-ordinator FCT, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, (JAMB), said at a workshop at Government Secondary School, Abuja, that the introduction of the biometric system (in which the fingerprints of the candidates were documented at the registration

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

stage) would reduce irregularities and examination malpractice.

The training of co-ordinators, supervisors, centre coordinators, assistant centre coordinators, invigilators and attendants by the board was done not only in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) but replicated across the 36 states, he said.

Saleeman said the examination managers would not only identify fraudsters, they would also help candidates who may have problems.

A demonstration of how the biometric machine will be used day was displayed for the trainees.

He said: “Our co-ordinators are moving nationwide to replicate this kind of training for our exam officials. Our experience that a situation where some candidates do not have results is as a result of certain shortcomings often discovered either on the part of students or on the part of other stakeholders right from the stage of registration of candidates to the conduct of the examination.We are training them because they are closest to the candidates. If they

are able to understand the problems of the candidates during the exams, they will be able to assist them. We hope the exercise doesn’t fail because we have done everything right.”

He assured that there would be lots of improvement in the upcoming UTME examination.

Contained in the training manual given the trainees, included the schedule for the examination, invigilation chart and duties of invigilators, among others.

For the examination, blind candidates will be given five and a half hours using either the Braille or typewriter to file their answers.

College celebrates stable calendar

THE Principal, Federal Polytechnic Offa Staff Secondary School, Mr O.A. Robert, was full of joy as he spoke of the awards received by his pupils in some competitions.

Of particular interest was the quiz and essay competitions organised by Offa Students Union National Headquarters at Ludlow Hall, Offa Grammar School, Offa.

The principal said his pupils came first in both quiz and essay competitions and second in the Mathematics competition.

The pupils have made the school proud in many other competitions organised for private and public secondary schools in Offa Local Government, he said.

•From left: Folorunsho speaking with Filani. With them is Prof Junaid

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

perimeter fence, installation of closed circuit TV for security, among others.

Academics have also received a boost in the past four years. Filani said more academics now have their PhDs, while the institution would soon begin running degree programmes in affiliation with the University of Ibadan.

There has also been the introduction of new programmes such as Early Childhood Education and Adult and Non-Formal Education,

as well as provision of ICT and elibrary facilities to facilitate research work for both staff and students.

Four thousand, five hundred and seventy-seven students across four sets (2006/2007 to 2009/2010 sessions) who underwent full-time, sandwich and part-time programme graduated during the ceremony.

In an interview, the overall best graduate, 22-year-old, Saheed Olatunde Akinsanya who graduated with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.74 from the

‘To be in the teaching profession, you have to be dedicated.You should be a role model so why are you fighting? There is no violence whatsoever in this college’

Business Education (Accounting option), said the stability in the college is down to the training of the students to comport themselves in all situations as future school managers.

“To be in the teaching profession, you have to be dedicated.

You should be a role model so why are you fighting? There is no violence whatsoever in this college. Once the examination timetable is out, exams start. We are trained to manage schools,” he said.

During the ceremony, three persons who have contributed to the development of education in the country were conferred with fellowship awards of the institution.

They are Chief Kesington Adebutu, chairman, Premier Lotto Nigeria Ltd; Dr Emmanuel Olumuyiwa Odegbami, Chairman, Inter-Fekco Nigeria Ltd, and Mrs Oluyemi Lemo, Proprietor Leadforte Gate Nursery and Primary School, Ogudu, Lagos.

In his speech after the award, Odegbami pledged to build a lecture theatre for the college.

UNAAB gets 20,000 textbooks from Reuters, Books for Africa

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HE University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB) has received about 20,000 textbooks donated by two agencies, Thomas Reuters and Books for Africa.

The books, contained in 589 boxes, were received by Mr Abayomi Agboola, the University Librarian, on behalf of the institution.

Speaking on the endowment, Agboola, accompanied by Mrs Adeola George, facilitator of the books and Principal Librarian, said the consignment would serve three categories of students in the elementary, post-elementary and tertiary

New appointments THE Management of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (FEDPOFFA), Kwara State, has approved some new appointments.

According to sources, Mr Leo Adeyemi, Head of Department of Science Laboratory Technology (SLT) is the Director of Student Affairs; Mr B. O. Saliu of Mathematics and Statistic department is the new Chief Examinations Officer.

Dr. Moshood Fowola, who was Pre-ND Co-ordinator replaces Adeyemi as SLT Head; Mr Nurudeen Olanipekun is the PreND Science Co-ordinator.

Mr J.B. Babalola, the erstwhile Director of Centre for Continuing Education is Head, Mathematics and Statistics Department; Mr Larongbe Afolabi, former Director of School of General Studies is the new Director of Special Duties.

Staff School wins awards

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HE Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta Ogun State has a record to beat. In its more than two decades of existence, it has not lost an academic session.

Provost of the College, Dr Emmanuel Olakunle Filani, made this known while delivering an address during the school’s 22nd convocation.

He said neither strike nor students’ unrest had forced the institution to suspend academic activities.

Education Minister Prof Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, represented by the Executive Secretary National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Prof Mohammad Ibn Junaid, also congratulated the college for keeping the peace and urged others to emulate it. She commended the Governing Council, chaired by Yunusa Folorunsho for guiding the institution aright.

Filani expressed joy that he was able to keep this tradition of the college since he assumed duty in 2004 and thanked the Governing Council and members of staff and students for their support.

“I wish to acknowledge with thanks, the unalloyed co-operation I have received from the staff and students of this college over the years. I make bold to say that the principal officers and Management; members of the Academic Board, Heads of Units, members of staff, as well as the leadership of the staff unions have been extremely co-operative,” he said.

He said he also contributed to infrastructural development by providing needed facilities and maintaining the ones he met.

Filani said projects implemented since the last convocation held in 2007 included a 1,800-seater lecture theatre named after the former Governing Council Chairman of the college, Chief Aduke Maina, new complexes for Schools of Social Sciences and Education, 8km

FEDPOFFA FILE

levels.

Agboola said the books will be distributed to libraries across universities, particularly the University Staff School, International School, Institute for Human Resources Development (INHURD) and ‘Nimbe Adedipe Library.

The university Librarian expressed joy over the donation, adding that the books will add value to the Nimbe Adedipe Library and others during the visit of accreditation panels from the National Universities Commission (NUC), as well as enhance the preparation for the diversification

of the university.

Agboola, who is the Chairman of Committee of Universities Librarians (CULNU), described the donation as a valedictory gift, as his tenure of office expires this month.

Baring her mind on why she facilitated the donation, Mrs George said, it was borne out of the challenge of an apparent shortage of books at the INHURD Library.

She said over 70 per cent of the textbooks are tertiary books covering Medicine, Engineering, Biology, Mathematics, English Language and leisure.

Mrs George thanked the Vice-

Chancellor, Prof Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun and Agboola, for evolving a congenial atmosphere that encourages staff to use their initiatives and contribute their quota to the development of the university.

Meanwhile, Agboola has allayed fears that the ‘Nimbe Adedipe Library will soon be congested, especially with the delivery of the large consignment of books.

He said university has invested in subsidiary libraries in its various colleges and institutes such that the Nimbe Adedipe Library “now serves as the parent and Clearing House for others”.

Students/Youth body honours Afe Babalola DISTINGUISHED Lawyer and Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, has been named the Africa Man of the Year 2011 by the All African Students’ Union (AASU).

The duo of Comrades Olufemi Lawson, Secretary-General of the students’body, and Mr Yinka Dallas, Nigeria Representatives in AASU, who spoke during the declaration at ABUAD Campus in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State on Saturday, said Aare Babalola clinched the award because of his “genuine commitment to the development of education in Africa.”

The youth/students body said Aare Babalola defeated 51 other contestants to clinch the prestigious honour.

“Our choice of Afe Babalola for this honour is to promote our values in education and defences of African culture of leadership and Integrity in the minds of men. ‘’While so many other leaders are preoccupied with inordinate ambitions, quest to acquire billions private jets and building of sky-scrapers and mansions, Chief Afe Babalola dedicate his time and hard earned resources to human capacity development and the welfare of the downtrodden,” they said.

In his acceptance speech, Aare Babalola, while acknowledging receipt of the letter of the award, dedicated it to ABUAD and its entire staff.

“I fell delighted and consider it (award) as encouragement that young people like these students could decide on their own that I am the person that qualifies for this award. It shows that the younger generation as well is watching our efforts and the ripple will certainly go far,” Babalola said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

38

EDUCATION UNAD FILE NASU elects leaders THE University of Ado-Ekiti (UNAD) branch of the NonAcademic Staff Union of Educational and Associated institutions (NASU) has elected new leaders.

A statement from the union signed by its Secretary, Mr Aderemi Adebolu, said the election was peaceful, free and fair.

Mr Tope Akanmu, a former secretary of the union, emerged chairman; Mr Sunday Olajutemu was elected Treasurer.

Akanmu, who succeeded Mr J.A. Adegbola, in his acceptance speech, promised to unite all members adding that welfare would be given utmost priority.

Six candidates showed interest the position of the NASU Chairman out of which three of them contested while three others stepped down.

The election was supervised by both national and state officers headed by Mr Tunji Karol.

Cooperative Society to get secretariat THE UNAD General Multipurpose Cooperative Society, the oldest cooperative society in the institution, has mapped out plans to build a befitting secretariat.

A building committee has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Dr. S.O. Adeusi of the Faculty of Management Sciences.

The edifice shall contain a secretariat, shopping halls, warehouse, and conference halls among others.

The multimillion naira project is to be executed in a year.

The President of the Society, Mr Olaofe Ajayi, said the modern secretariat would be located behind the society’s old shopping arcade on the campus.

Fencing near completion THE fencing of the entrance of UNAD has reached an advanced stage. The landscaping of the front of the main gate has also begun in earnest.

It is expected that the two projects when completed will further enhance the aesthetic value of the frontage of the institution.

Nigeria Chess contingent arrive DELEGATES to the 2011 second African School Chess competition which wrapped up in Accra, Ghana last Friday returned to Nigeria on Tuesday aboard Aero Airline, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

Nigeria won in the junior category having played five rounds. The senior category which was more of individual than group event, produced two Ghanians and one Nigerian that emerged with outstanding results.

Corps members help patients, clean hospital

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O make the World Red Cross Day, youth corps members at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) visited the Wuse General Hospital to render humanitarian service.

The corps members, who belong to the Red Cross Community Development Service (CDS) spent hours scrubbing, mopping, washing, laying the beds, among other activities.

Everyone, including officials of the group assisted the patients. All hands were on deck as corps members were assigned in twos to different wards by the FCT branch secretary of the Red Cross Society, Mr. Simeon Nwaubani.

As the corps members arrived at the hospital, an emergency patient was brought in. They quickly rushed to the scene and assisted in conveying the casualty to the ward.

Some of the doctors and nurses welcomed the group warmly, urging members to be cautious of the hospital wastes.

Patients commended the corps members’ efforts.

Mrs Ada Okwuenu, one of the patients, said: “I only see this kind of gesture on the television. I have never experienced it. I don’t believe it can really happen until I saw two of the corpers in my ward mopping the floor while the other cleaned the louvers.”

Another patient, Mayowa Sodehinde said: “Though Red Cross is a humanitarian group, I appreciate them for sacrificing their time to tidy the hospital environment. As you can see most of the patients are happy with the gesture but I think it is commendable.”

Of the initiative, the Red Cross FCT Commandant, Prince Okafor Benedict, said: “Basically what we

•The corps members From Olugbenga Adanikin

did today is to help sanitise the hospital environment where people who are sick are brought into. It is very important to us as “crossites” to make sure the hospital environment is made very clean”.

The FCT branch Health Adviser of the Red Cross Society, Dr. Mattew Ashikeni, commended the corps members for their humanitarian sacrifice towards community development even as they prepare to commence the sanitary exercise. He encouraged them to utilise their skills, time and energy to further

foster national growth.

“It is a very good practice to give voluntary service to our communities and I am sure it will help you to become proper leaders of Nigeria. If you have the spirit to give and donate your time including your skill and energy into voluntary community work, it will help you and surely give you a starting point in life.”

Other activities to mark the World Red Cross Day included donation of items to the inmates of Kuje Prison in the territory, provision of first aid boxes to select primary and secondary schools, visitation to religious houses, the Central Mosque Abuja

and three other Churches to celebrate and pray for continuity of the humanitarian society.

The Red Cross Day is annual event.

This year’s theme is Volunteerism.

The Red Cross was established in 1863 by Sir Henry Dunant to assist the less-privileged under the principles of humanity, impartiality and neutrality. It also includes independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. These, are meant to commemorate the birth of the founder of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society.

Lagos science teachers get training

N

O fewer than 50 Biology teachers employed by the Lagos State Government will today, complete a training in ecology and related areas, to deepen their knowledge of the topic.

The training, which started on Monday at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education Otto/Ijanikin (AOCOED), was organised under the Lagos State EKO Project, an education programe of the Lagos State Ministry of Education.

The trainees drawn from Education District VI, comprising Amuwo-Odofin, Ojo, Iba and Badagry axis, had their training facilitated by Applied Scholastics and AOCOED APS-AOCOED is a training centre registered by AOCOED as Applied Scholastics of AOCOED Ltd in 2006.

The centre applies a pedagogy that employs Study Technology.

Speaking with The Nation ahead of the training, the centre Director, Dr Benjamin Ayinde, who lamented teachers’ apathy in the topic and its attendant effect on the performance of their pupils, recommended APS as the best method in tackling the challenge.

He said: “APS is all about learning how to learn to also help the pupils learn better. In APS, we believe learning has not taken place until learners are able to demonstrate convincingly what they had learned. So, we are going to expose the trainees to the modern strategies of learning such as interactive

•Dr Ayinde giving instructions to some of the participants on Monday

By Adegunle Olugbamila

learning styles, collaborative learning styles and cooperative learning styles.

Dr Benjamin added: “Findings over time show that teachers are unable to make pupils develop interest in studying Ecology, while pupils themselves show lack of interest. We also realise there is a disconnect between the subject they teach and the environment. This is the trend we intend to reverse. We are going to expose them (trainees)to the fact that Ecology as a science relates to the environment. That is, when the pupils see, feel, and touch, they will naturally develop interest.”

He said aside that the trainees

would also have the opportunity of being shown video clips as well undertake an excursion round the college premises to experience some of the materials that are key to the topic, they would also be given the study materials to take home free to use in their various classes after the training.

The study materials, which, according to him, have been tested in Europe, Asia and America and some countries in Africa, have been found to be 100 per cent excellent and result-oriented.

Unlike other conventional frontal teaching methods, Dr Benjamin stressed that APS uses a one-on-one approach which enables the instructors to usually move around during class sessions inspecting how each trainee is able to apply study

materials given to them. He also added that the APS is an antidote to the nation’s overcrowded classrooms because it can effectively handle large classes.

“With this kind of one-on-one approach, you can see each trainee would get enough attention and will be effectively guided through his work. The trainees are not just coming here to experience all these things, but we will after the training, ask them to go back to class and replicate same to their pupils. Besides, we also have our feedback mechanism where we want to see how far our trainees are able to readapt what they had acquired, while we immediately move in in the event of few lapses.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

39

EDUCATION Old students lament poor facilities

We have done well, says Lagos deputy governor A

S the first term of Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola ends in 17 days, his Deputy, Princess Sarah Sosan, who oversees education has scored the administration high.

At a briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, Mrs Sosan said the government’s investment in the past four years yielded modest returns. She counselled successor to consolidate on the gains of democracy.

“I pray that whoever will be lucky enough to be commissioner for education will be passionate to sustain the reforms and be committed. I want to say with all modesty that we have done well. There is still room for improvement and with increased funding,” she said.

The achievements of the administration include massive improvement of physical infrastructure that resulted in the addition of 2,876 classrooms to address overpopulation in public primary and secondary

•’Performance in SSCE improved from 10.56% to 28.10%’

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

schools, provision of 33,456 and 295,492 units of teachers and pupils’ furniture, refurbishment and equipping of science laboratories, distribution of free textbooks in core subjects, provision of toilet facilities, rehabilitation of schools, as well as provision of ICT facilities.

Mrs Sosan said in the period under review, the government also paid attention to input that would ensure quality education – including organising regular capacity building workshops to improve pedagogical skills of teachers, and training to help school administrators monitor quality assurance.

The biggest of such initiative, she

‘I want to say with all modesty that we have done well. There is still room for improvement and with increased funding’

UNICEF advocates women, girl-child education

T

HE United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is worried about the plight of woman and the girl-child.

It made a case for their education, saying ensuring that they get no equal access to quality education is key to sustainable economic development, UNICEF has said as the world celebrates Global Action Week on Education.

A statement from UNICEF’s Nigeria office said this year’s Global Action Week focuses on Education for Women and Girls, as 53 per cent of all children out of school remain girls. Poverty, exploitation and armed conflict magnify the risk girls face even as they go to school, forcing many to stay home or drop out in fear of their safety. In countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, sexual violence and mass rape - a clear violation of their rights - continues to terrify and severely harm women and girls, ultimately denying them access to education.

“If the Millennium Development Goals are to be achieved by the 2015 deadline, we must step up efforts to ensure that more girls and women have the opportunity to learn,” says Susan Durston, UNICEF’s Associate Director of Education. “We have ample evidence that investing in girls’ education yields high returns.”

Girls with access to education not

only improve their lives ,but also bring change to their families, economies, and societies. Providing girls and women with a quality education is a highly effective tool to address poverty and fight disease.

A woman is more likely to get a job and earn a higher wage if she has a basic education. One percentage point increase in female education raises the average level of GDP by 0.37 percentage points. Every additional year of primary school boosts girls’ eventual wages by 10 - 20 per cent, and an extra year of secondary school by 15 - 25 per cent.

Access to education has increased over the last two decades. Today, more children, and girls in particular are in school than ever before.

The number of out-of-school children has decreased from 115 million to 67 million between 1999 and 2008, with notable increases in enrolment in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

UNICEF and its partners are working to overcome barriers preventing access to education through Back to School campaigns, school fee abolition, child-friendly schools, and early childhood education. The Back on Track programme works to bring educational opportunities during and after crises, including by establishing child-friendly spaces, which create an environment where children are protected from sexual exploitation and other kinds of abuse.

said was the Lagos Eko Secondary Education Project – through which the World Bank provided $90 million directly to secondary schools.

The project, launched in March last year, would run for four years – with secondary schools getting between N2 million and N3.5 million directly to provide facilities or training peculiar to the needs of the school.

Apart from the secondary schools, the five government-owned technical colleges also benefited from the fund – through the establishment of partnerships with countries such as Singapore, United Kingdom and Germany, and multinational firms advanced in the provision of quality technical education – to provide training, review curricula and advice on equipment procurement.

With the Eko Project, the government is seeking to improve performance of products of its public schools, especially in external examinations. Already, Mrs Sosan said the administration’s efforts is yielding encouraging results as performance in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

“Let me inform you that there has been a gradual, but steady rise in students’pass rate in terminal examinations.Following our various initiatives, the percentage of students that obtained five credits including English and Mathematics has risen steadily. While only

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

T •Mrs Sosan

10.56 per cent of candidates obtained five credits in 2007, the figure rose to 13.01 per cent in 2008, 22.84 per cent in 2009 and 28.10 per cent in 2010,” she said.

Apart from academics, Sosan said extra-curricular activities aimed at developing soft skills and values in the pupils got a boost during her tenure. These include the Principals’ Cup football competition, spelling bee competition, Schools Debate, BRF Quiz competition, Schools’Debate, career talks, conferences for prefects and the re-introduction of uniformed clubs.

The outgoing Deputy Governor, assured that the fortunes of the education sector improve as Fashola would continue to support reforms.

“Though we are yet to reach our destination in this very critical sector, we are, happy that our various policies and programmes are on the right track. As regularly promised, we will not rest on our oars to continue to give education priority attention,” she said.

HE Old Students’ Association of Ladigbolu Grammar School, Oyo, has expressed concern over the deplorable state of education, and urged the in-coming administration to revamp the system.

In a communiqué issued at the end of its Second Annual National Congress, the association expressed worry about poor infrastructure in their former school.

“We are very displeased with existing facilities and infrastructure in our alma mater, which is one of the oldest in Oyo zone. The students in take, to start with, is not commensurate with the facilities on ground. Beside, the academic performance of the students in public examinations such as West African Examination Council (WAEC), National Examination Council (NECO) is so appalling that it calls for urgent attention.

“Ladigbolu Grammar School was reputed, in those old days to be excellent in the academic performance. Teachers too are not properly motivated, while the government’s attitude towards encouraging parents, who are vital stakeholders, has not been impressive,” it read.

The communiqué also decried that libraries in public schools are not furnished with textbooks in core subjects such as English, and Mathematics, adding this seriously imperil on the performance of pupils.

PHOTO SPEAK

•The block of six classrooms built by NBC Plc for Koro ll Primary School, Idu Koro, Abuja for inauguration.

‘Maths pivotal to success’

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NON governmental organisation (NGO), Brainy Educare Service, has trained over 30 primary and secondary school pupils on the techniques and rudiments of Mathematics as a foundation for excellence in their future endeavours.

Speaking on the importance of Mathematics, the Director of Brainy Educare, Dr Abdul Fatah Olajobi said no student would perform, well in any field without a sound knowledge of Mathematics.

“Whether you want to be a lawyer, journalist or any field of endeavour you must be good in Mathematics, so we have taken this bold step to ensure that the children have a solid foundation on it,” Olajobi said during the one-week extensive Mathematics coaching classes.

By Amidu Arije

“The brain behind it is to help children generally to achieve their future goals. They can be the best in Mathematics, because we made the teaching simpler,” he added.

Pupils who took part in the training expressed appreciation for the well packaged programme.

One of them, Abdul Rahman Alli said he now knows more about the subject thanks to the Mathematics clinic.

“It has enabled me to know what I don’t know before. They thought us how to calculate without using the calculator,” he said.

One of the teachers Toyeeb Ogunsanya, said the essence of the Mathematics clinic was to help build confidence in the pupils.

•The Emir of Jiwa Kingdom, Abuja, Alhaji Idris Musa (second left); Director, NBC, Plc, Alhaji Ahmed Mantey; (second right), Headmistress, Koro ll Primary School, Idu Koro, Mrs. Beatrice Nwachukwu (left), and Special Adviser, Education to FCT Minister, Hon. Boloubo Orufa (right), the inaugrating a block of six classrooms for Koro ll Primary School, Idu Koro, Abuja.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

40

EDUCATION EDUTALK

Animal Science graduates to get loans

T

HE Nigeria Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) will assist graduates of Animal Science to get low-interest loans from banks to set up small scale business.

President of the institute, Prof Placid Njoku, made this known at the induction of 156 animal science graduates of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

Njoku, represented by Dr. Adesewa, said the institute is working closely with some reputable commercial banks, for the disbursement of working capitals with single digit interest rates for graduates in animal science.

From Bode Durojaiye, Ogbomoso

This, he pointed out, would enable the graduates to be employers of labour, rather than seekers white collar jobs.

In addition, Njoku said, NIAS is also evolving a blue print for training curriculum of the scientist and a document that would compel livestock and animal feed industries in the country to employ animal science graduates.

Speaking on the occasion, the LAUTECH Vice-Chancellor, Prof Lanre Nassar, urged the inductees to eschew acts that could ridicule their profession, but be good ambassadors of the unity.

In his address, Head of the De-

partment of Animal Health Production, Dr. Akin Akingbade, said LAUTECH is the first university in Nigeria to have her Animal Science graduates inducted by NIAS. Akingbade said the tradition of the department ensures students compulsorily go through three seminar presentations (Pre-data, Post-data and Final presentation) during their undergraduate project.

He said the academic staff also present seminars on their current scientific findings for students to learn and imbibe the art of scientific presentation.

He added that it is also the custom of the department to invite a well seasoned professional in lectures, for students.

•Participants at the training

Mentoring training for Niger Delta youths

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HE Centre for Educational Management and Administration, Abuja is planning a youth mentoring programme for secondary school pupils in the Niger Deltas.

The Co-ordinator of the initiative, Mr Afolabi Omoruyi, said in an interview with The Nation that the pupils would learn skills and values not included in the secondary school curriculum.

“A close look at the secondary school curriculum of our country shows that certain vital areas that should be incorporated are the primary focus of the programme. It will expose secondary school students to leadership and citizenship ideals, public speaking and communication tips, entrepreneurial skills, creative thinking, goal setting, time management, effective studying methodologies and personal safety and security tips,” he said.

Omoruyi said the organisation is focusing on the Niger Delta first because of its history of youth restiveness and deprivation.

A

“Until recently, the Niger Delta region was the most restive and violence prone part of the country.

The region has also suffered untold deprivation. It is only fair and natural that students in this area should be the initial beneficiaries of such a laudable initiative. Schools in other parts of the country will still benefit in the near future,” he said.

Omoruyi said participating schools would be selected on the basis of their commitment to academic excellence, while their senior pupils would be trained by people certified by the organisation.

He said: “We intend sending Certified Trainers to carefully selected secondary schools in different states of the Niger Delta (private and public schools) to organise training and capacity building workshops for the senior students, SS1-SS3. “The workshops will hold after school hours or Saturdays. At the end of the training, pupils will receive certificates of participation as well as course materials- folders, handouts, CDs, memo pads. Even after secondary school, we will still keep in touch and mentor them, until they are in positions to mentor others.”

‘Until recently, the Niger Delta region was the most restive and violence prone part of the country. The region has also suffered untold deprivation’

UNIBEN launches skills centre

SKILL acquisition centre for the manufacturing of internal combustion engine has opened at the University of Benin (UNIBEN). It will provide skills in the areas of manufacturing automobile engines.

It is part of the initiative by the World Bank and Federal Ministry of Education (FME) at setting up the Science and Technology PostBasic (STEP-B) project for the university.

UNIBEN Vice-Chancellor, Prof Osayuki Oshodin, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof Emmanuel Oheivbere, said the STEP-B project,

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

which is devoted to skills acquisition in engine parts manufacture, represents a vital component of the nation’s quest to address the problem of transportation and power generation.

Oshodin noted that the centre apart from providing skills in the manufacturing combustion engines, it will also be engaged in producing small petrol and diesel engines.

“I am told that when fully operational, the centre will be equipped with state-of-the art research and production facilities to provide a

veritable ground for research for staff and students. In as much as the centre will be a limited liability company whereby the university will be a majority shareholder, it will encourage industrial entrepreneurs both within the public and private sector to buy into the STEPB project initiative of the university”, he said.

The STEP-B Project Manager of the university, Prof. Akii Ibhadode remarked that the centre will afford the nations a leap into the automobile industry through the manufacturing of internal combustion engine through skills that will be acquired from the centre.

with

Reviewing campus friendships

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EMINISCENCES of school days with some colleagues during a road trip this week brought to mind the value of relationships while in school.

The education we gain in school Kofoworola is not limited to academic knowledge but intangible skills of how to relate with people and deal with issues of life.

Kofosagie@yahoo.com Who we are, to some extent, is a 08054503077 (SMS only) product of our relationships. Relationships can make or mar; which is why it is imperative that students pay attention to the friends they keep.

I believe there are two categories of students who gain admission into school. We have a few who start out focused and determined to excel in their academics, and begin to work right from the onset. Their determination helps shield them from peer pressure and saves them from noticing they are missing out of fleeting campus pleasures.

The second category, where majority fall, is made up of students who enjoy life, take every day as it comes, and only realise in their second, third or even final year that they should have been more serious with their studies all the while. The distractions of campus life, strengthened by relationships they keep, have a stronger pull on them.

For all students, especially those in the second category, this may be a good time to re-evaluate all friendships and decide whether they are worth the time and effort or not.

If as a student you find you have a lot of time on your hands to chat with friends about who snatched whose boyfriend or who is chasing the richest lecturer, or the hottest show in town, then it means you are not using your time well and may need to change company. The same goes for if you find that you are the one doing all the dirty jobs for others.

Good friends influence you positively and vice-versa. Students, who move with serious-minded friends, will find that they become more serious. Back in school, I was not a serious student in the first two years. However, I can remember clearly that the only time I completed an assignment on time was when I was paired with an Efiko in my class on a project. She pushed me and ensured I completed all the required tasks in record time.

Before then, I had a close friend I did most things with – and we were not of good use to each other as far as our academics were concerned.

Our assignments and preparation for examinations were done at the last minute. We spent far more time outside lectures chatting, cooking, going on dates (with me usually serving as an escort) or lazing around.

The result of how we spent our time showed badly in our mediocre results (mine worse than hers). The next semester/session, I joined a reading group and improved.

But the real turn around for me came when I reduced my dead time chatting with friends or engaging in frivolous activities. I still kept my friends but they knew my stand, and soon emulated me because while I was away studying, I missed unpleasant scenes such as fights, as much as I missed juicy gossips. It was not long before my grades shot up.

When assessing your friendship, ask yourself whether you learn more being with that person. It is not just about enjoying somebody’s company but about the value it adds to your life so you turn out a better person.

However, true friendship is not one-sided. The worth of a relationship should not just be what you gain from it but what you give as well. And you cannot expect to just receive without adding value as well. So, if you find that you have been selfish with your resources, time and views, you also need to change. At the end of the day, the value we add in life is measured by how much we impact others because we cannot exist for ourselves alone.

Belo-Osagie

From my Inbox Re: NYSC scheme needs adjustments (2) (Thursday, May 05, 2011) Your NYSC write up was okay. No punishment can bring those slain corpers back. We parents should form pressure groups to resist sending our wards to the North. 08091460—.

Kofo, I’m always fascinated by your Edutalk but you got it wrong this week. The correct meaning of Yuguda’s statement is that the corpers got just punishment for the 1979 wickedness of their kin. Of course, it was a stupid utterance. 08053940—.

Kofo, thanks. But do you realise that 90 per cent of Hausa students serve in their home states? You hardly see them in the east or southwestern regions. Let our graduates serve within our region. Grace, Offa.

Sister Kofo, keep up the good work you are doing in The Nation. About Governor Yuguda’s comment: Well, the rulers in the north believe in destiny. That is why they are not educating their youths. So it is their destiny to be Almajiris and until they change their belief, the Northern youth will remain uneducated and always ready to be used for protests like these. Kuponiyi Sola, Ilorin.

I think the Governor has his own opinion. That is the type of leader we have. How can destiny call for nine corps members at the same time?

He should be thinking of how to get the killers. This is not the first time they will kill corps members in Bauchi. NYSC should start regional posting. Franklin Ogbu, Lagos.

SLIDING TACKLE

Thursday, May 12, 2011

42

NIGERIA PREMIER LEAGUE...NIGERIA PREMIER LEAGUE...

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ONTROVERSIAL striker Gbolahan Salami has told MTNFootball.com that he will back the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) Shooting Stars, after he was persuaded to drop his threat to quit for Sunshine Stars.

Salami had asked the ‘Oluyole warriors’ to release him to return to his former club Sunshine Stars, but he has now said all talks of his departure are behind him.

"It was the coach (Fatai Amoo)who asked me to drop my intention to quit, if not I would have found my way out. The coach brought me to 3SC and he told me to stay put and that is why I staying," he

"It was the coach (Fatai Amoo)who asked me to drop my intention to quit, if not I would have found my way out. The coach brought me to 3SC and he told me to stay put and that is why I staying. I must tell you that the management does not appreciate my coach despite his contributions and that does not make me happy,"

Shooting Stars FC striker, Gbolahan Salami revealing he would rescind his decision to leave the club.

Salami rescinds Ibrahim Ajaniafterreturns trials N quit threat told MTNFootball.com.

Salami, who has scored four goals for Shooting Stars so far, said he has been very unsettled by the lack of support coach Amoo has received from the management of the club.

"I must tell you that the

management does not appreciate my coach despite his contributions and that does not make me happy," he revealed.

Top club officials led by former international Felix Owolabi have vowed to pick

•Salami

the team for Amoo in the second half of the season as pressure continues to mount on the former First Bank FC of Lagos handler.

The striker said he is now committed to help improve the fortunes of the Ibadan club as the second half of the NPL season resumes on Wednesday.

"I want to show the fans that my heart is still with the club and this I will show through an improved performance in this new stanza of the league.

The fans should also look to this stanza with new hope and trust that we will deliver this time around with the full support of the management," Salami said.

"They should note that we are broke and need money and so team morale is down. All the same, I will make sure that I justify the confidence reposed in me."

3SC, who languish in 14th position on the table with 22 points from 19 matches, host fellow strugglers Ocean Boys Wednesday in a late kick-off game at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta.

IGERIAN Premier League top scorer Ibrahim Ajani is back to the country after trials with Israeli giants Maccabi Haifa.

Ajani who has netted ten goals for Sunshine Stars was in Israel for a week and will be in his team’s squad to face 3SC this weekend.

Kingsley Chukwuemeka, his agent, told SuperSport.com Wednesday, “Ajani is back in Nigeria.

He had a good trials and Maccabi see him as a good prospect but released him to go and help his club in the Nigerian league.

“They promised to keep on monitoring him and hopefully they will bring him back at a later date.”

“It was a good experience for me and it is my hope they will reach out to me again,” the player added.

Inah aims for double with Sunshine

S

UNSHINE Stars defender Ofem Inah is confident his team can win the double this season.

The right wing back told SuperSport.com that the team has enough quality to win the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) and the CAF Confederation Cup this year.

"We can win the league and the Confederation Cup because we have a very strong team this year. It will not be easy to win these cups but I believe we are doing everything and have the ability to go all the way’”

said Inah.

The former Enyimba defender said a number of his colleagues at Sunshine Stars have won the league title in the past and have brought that mentality to the Premier League side.

"There are some players in our team that have won the league before and have a lot of experience in playing in African club competitions.

Last season, myself and Cletus Itodo won the league with Enyimba and now we want to do same with Sunshine Stars," Inah said.

Kwara keeper, Yekeen targets clean sheet

K

Heartland signs seven players

H

EARTLAND has signed seven players in a move to shore up the fortunes of club for the remainder of the season.

The Owerri based side finished the first term of the league in 12th position on 27 points, 16 adrift of runaway leaders Dolphins of Port Harcourt.

Team spokesman, Cajetan Nkwopara said that the players signed includeBukola Babes’ Kingsley Salami, Enyimba’s duo of Suleiman Ahmed and Charles Ikenna as well as Sharks’ Chinedu Ezimora.

Ocean Boys duo of Ndubuisi Nkoro and Onyekachi Akakem in addition to Enugu Rangers’ Kenechukwu Okoh complete the list.

“Most of the players are strikers and midfielders since we want to sharpen our attack and ensure we have a better outing in the second half of the league,” Nkwopara told •Heartland's Bello Kofarmata against an Enyimba player in a League duel

SuperSport.com.

Towards the close of the first leg the club that are yet to record an away win recruited Dutchman, Lodewijk de Kruif as it technical adviser aimed.

WARA United goalkeeper Kazeem Yekeen has set a target of keeping 13 clean sheets in the second round of the season which kicked off on Wednesday.

Yekeen told SuperSport.com that he has been working hard in training as well as individually to improve his goalkeeping skills ahead of the season.

"I want to make sure that I keep 13 clean sheets in goal for Kwara United in the second round of the league.

I just hope that I will be considered for most of the league matches and at the same time I hope I won't suffer injuries.

I have worked hard on my own to improve my skills and I will put them to use when the league starts again," said Yekeen.

In the first half of the season, Kwara United kept 10 clean sheets and Yekeen believes that he and his colleagues can improve on that stats.

The goalkeeper added that improving on their defensive duties could be key in finishing as high as possible in the league standings at the end of the season.

"We can improve on the clean sheets. I'm targeting 13 more because I believe it is possible and I hope we will keep our shape defensively when the league resumes. I

believe that if we defend so well in the second round we might find ourselves competing with the leading teams."

Kwara United will restart their league campaign at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in

•Yekeen

Minna away to Niger Tornadoes.

Kadiri Ikhana's team defeated Tornadoes by 2-0 in the first meeting of the season at the Gateway International Stadium in Sagamu on March 12.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

43

INDUSTRY

Has revival fund impacted on the real sector?

T AKING a critical look into the real sector in the last 10 years, one may conclude the Federal Government has not shown enough keenness in the survival of the sector that holds the key to the actualisation of Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020.

Funds from financial institutions to manufacturers were almost non-existent.

In cases where funds were available, the interest rates were astronomical ranging between 30 and 40 per cent.

Municipal power was near absent, infrastructure deplorable, while taxes and levies were on a high side.

Several promises were made by the government, most especially on the provisions of incentives to help the failing industries.

There was the textile bailout funds, which was never released during the period; the rice processors funds that could not be accessed and export expansion grants that were never paid.

However, in the past four years, there seems to have been a great turn around in the real sector.

With the various efforts of Finance Minister Dr Olusegun Aganga and his counterpart at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Senator Jubril Martins Kuye , things seem to be on the right path.

They seemed to have synergised the operation of their ministries in a way that turned things around for real sector operators.

With Aganga and Kuye working together, the revitalisation of the real sector seems to be on board. Some positive steps taken in the last few months include: N200 billion SME fund Investigation on ground revealed that the N200 billion for the re-financing of manufacturing companies was disbursed by the Bank of Industry and has now been fully allotted.

The fund, which was limited to N1 billion per organisation, attracts six per cent interest rate, instead of about 20 per cent and above charged by commercial banks and other sources of fund.

Stories by Toba Agboola

CBN guidelines issued for industry revival fund states: “Loan amount is a maximum of N1 billion for a single obligor in respect of refinancing/restructuring. The Fund shall be administered at an all-in Interest rate/charge of seven per cent per annum payable on quarterly basis. Specifically, the managing agent, Bank of Industry, shall be entitled to a 1per cent management fee and the banks, a six per cent spread.’

Eligibility To be eligible to access the fund, the CBN says: “A borrower shall be any entity falling within the definition of a small to medium enterprise and/or manufacturer; an entity wholly-owned and managed Nigerian private limited company registered under the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.”

The guidelines specify that ‘any entity as defined above with an existing facility on the books of the participating banks can access the facility but emphasis will be on facilities that are indicating weakness arising from tenor, structure as well as facing cash flow difficulties.”

Objectives of bail-out funds Objectives of the funds are; to fast-track the development of the manufacturing sector of the economy by improving access to credit, improving the financial position of banks in the country, and increasing output.

Other objectives include generation of employment, diversification of the revenue base, increasing foreign exchange earnings and provision of input for the industrial sector on a sustainable basis.

The loans shall have a maximum tenor of 15 years and working capital facility of one year with provision for roll over. The fund also allows for moratorium in the loan repayment schedule.

All applications for refinancing/ restructuring facilities can be made directly or by way of syndication, club arrangement or any other means involving two or more banks on the books of a bank.

Within seven days of the receipt of the banks’ requests, BOI is expected to inform the banks of the status of their applications and also advise each bank on the amount of its facility that shall be refinanced under the Fund.

N10 billion rice processing fund The N10 billion funds targeted at local rice processing factories, which is also managed by BOI has been disbursed fully and the impact is expected to be felt with a reduction in the importation of processed rice.

The Federal Government has approved 10 major rice processing companies for the N10 billion rice intervention fund.

It would be recalled that the government had inaugurated the fund in 2008 to boost local production and processing, following the unprecedented increase in the prices of imported rice in the heat of the global food shortage.

Investigation showed that some of the successful processing companies include Isiyaku Rabiu and Sons

•Aganga

•Martins-Kuye

Ltd, OLAM Nig Ltd, Stine industry Nig Ltd, OFADA VTEE Nig Ltd, among others.

It was learnt that the companies had started picking up their letters of approval from the Bank of Industry (BOI), the sector regulator and administrator of the fund.

cial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) is targeted at the agricultural sector.

Beneficiaries of this fund have described it as the best initiative that has been introduced by the Federal Government in the past two decades.

The fund, which is managed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, has been received by serious large scale farms and it is on-going.

N100 billion Textile Fund On the N100 billion , stakeholders confirmed that they are beginning to access the fund. Last week, the Vice President, Alhaji Sambo was in Kaduna to celebrate the re-opening of United Nigerian Textiles Plc. More than 2000 workers are expected to be employed.

It will be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan, announced the resuscitation fund for the cotton, textile and germent industry.

He said about N100billion revival fund will be set up by the Federal Government.

As a result textile industries previously shut down for lack of capital are being reopened.

Also, the N200 billion Commer-

‘A borrower shall be any entity falling within the definition of a small to medium enterprise and/or manufacturer; an entity wholly-owned and managed Nigerian private limited company registered under the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990’

OPS hail efforts The organised private sector has hailed the efforts of the Federal Government, through the two ministries.

The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) hailed the consultative approach of the two ministers.

NACCIMA believes if the real sector in Nigeria is ever to rise to a position of prominence in Africa, the current work style of the ministries, which emphasises broad base consultation and Synergy for the greater good of the nation’s economy, must be studied and sustained.

As for the manufacturers, they attest to the fact that in the last decade, they have never had it so good.

They said for the first time, they have seen a government that does not only listen to the plight of manufacturers, but actually goes ahead to fine tune and implement suggestions, which manufacturers themselves have made.

Unilever declares N1.10 dividend

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OLLOWING an improved performance in its business operation, shareholders of Unilever Nigeria Plc, have approved for payment, N1.10 per share as dividend for 2010 as against last year's N1.08.

This was disclosed by the company’s Chairman, Apostle Hayford Alile, at the 86th Annual General Meeting (AGM), held in Lagos.

He said the conglomerate recorded a 5.2 per cent increase in its turnover from N44.5 billion in 2009 to N46.8b in 2010, and an operating profit before exceptional item, of 14.8 per cent,which was driven by increase in spending on brand support, capacity expansion and plant modernisation.

Its profit after tax and exceptional items was N4.2b as against last year's N4.1b.

Alile,who stepped down as Chairman, during the event, said despite the fact that 2010 was a difficult year for most businesses, Unilever was still able to stand. He said although the company was not spared from the adverse impact of the economic enviroment, the com-

By Ajose Sehindemi

pany's fundamentals held strong in the face of continued difficult business operating enviroment.

He said their 2010 performance is proof that only forward looking,agile and cost competitive companies are sustainable in the face of harsh economic realities that confront businesses daily as even with increased growth.

His words: “Unilever Nigeria will continue to leverage on improved capability, global scale and continuously looking for cost saving opportunities to establish a lean and agile organisation, fit to compete and to adapt to a changing operating environment.”

He said their pricing strategy throughout 2010 was deliberately intended to cushion their customers from the effects of declining purchasing power, especially from the impact of fuel deregulation, which meant their customers had to dig deeper into their pockets to sustain consumption of basic neccesities.

Alile said their continous

•Mr Kota Mochizuki , Panasonic Corporation Japan, presenting Panasonic home appliances to a winner of YUME Promo, Dr. Kingsley Ekwe of National General Hospital, Abuja, during the concluding part of the promo in Lagos.

search for internal efficiency improvements and cost cutting measures have helped cushion the bottom line despite adverse enviromental factors, such as decline in export sales by 39 per cent,higher commodity input

prices in 2010 compared to 2009 and an unforseen disruption to their service delivery to customers in the fourth quarter of 2010.

He related their profit to the level of investments made last

year, where he said they invested in staying close to their customers as well as increasing the capacity to ensure a sustainable future for the business and consequently the investment of their shareholders.

44

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

Billions in losses at stake in Bank of America A

T Bank of America Corp.

(BAC), where the compa-

ny’s home-price forecasts have proved too good to be true, billions of dollars of new losses are at stake along with the credibility of Chief Executive Officer Brian T. Moynihan.

The 51-year-old Moynihan, who succeeded Kenneth D. Lewis last year after the worst housing market since the Depression, has tied his firm’s performance to a recovery in home prices this year — a prediction more optimistic than one made by the bank’s own economist. Underestimating the slump in U.S. real estate led to $3 billion of expenses in the past two quarters, and Bank of America said it may suffer $1.5 billion in losses for every four percentage points that declines exceed forecasts.

Home prices may begin a “gradual improvement over the second half,” Neil Cotty, the company’s chief accounting officer, said last month. Michelle Meyer,

the bank’s senior U.S. economist, predicts the market won’t hit bottom until 2012. Rival lenders and analysts say the drop could exceed 10 percent.

“If you put on a pair of rosecolored glasses with respect to the housing market, then you can defer the recognition of provision costs and buy time to earn your way out of the hole,” said Tony Plath, a professor of finance at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte who follows Bank of America. “It’s wrong, but that’s what’s going on.”

Meyer, whose arrival in August from Barclays Plc was accompanied by a news release praising her expertise in housing markets, sees foreclosure sales as a drag in the months ahead.

“There’s a long and painful path before the housing market looks normal,” Meyer said in an April 20 interview on Bloomberg Television’s “Bottom Line” with Mark Crumpton. “Our view is that we’ll see a 5 percent drop in national

home prices this year; it could be larger. The increased share of distressed sales will continue to exert downward pressure on home prices.”

The forecast made by Cotty, 56, on an April 15 conference call with analysts is “directionally” consistent with Meyer’s, said Jerry Dubrowski, a Bank of America spokesman. Management’s projection, which uses a combination of standard indexes and the company’s own analysis, is “close” to the average 1.4 per cent decline of 111 economists surveyed by MacroMarkets LLC, he said.

Home values fell three per cent in the first quarter, according to real estate website Zillow Inc. Prices will drop as much as nine per cent this year and won’t find a floor until 2012 as foreclosures spread and unemployment remains high, said Stan Humphries, the firm’s chief economist.

“Reasonable people will come to different views when looking at economic forecasts,” Bank of

America’s Dubrowski said. “I don’t think we’re overly optimistic in our expectations for housing prices. It is difficult to predict what housing prices will do, and we make a good faith effort to do so.” Meyer’s research department is independent from management, he said.

Bank of America, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, holds $408 billion of mortgages and home-equity lines. Its home-loan division has lost more than $15 billion since the 2008 acquisition of Countrywide Financial Corp., the biggest mortgage lender during the housing bubble.

Regulators later found its growth was fueled by lax lending standards, with loans marred by false or missing data about borrowers and properties. That entitled mortgage buyers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and bond insurers including Assured Guaranty Ltd. to demand refunds.

The takeover also saddled Bank of America with $41.7 billion in troubled Countrywide loans.

Concern that those costs will

swell has hurt shares of Bank of America, the largest US lender by assets and the biggest servicer of mortgages. The stock’s drop of about 25 per cent in the past year is the worst in the 24-company KBW Bank Index. (BKX) Falling home prices often lead to more defaults, which in turn causes claims from mortgage investors and insurers. The company acknowledged in January and again in April that it had underestimated the severity of home-price declines.

In January, it disclosed a $3 billion settlement with the two government-sponsored enterprises, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Assuming stable housing prices, the deal “largely addressed” those liabilities, the bank said, and Moynihan told investors management was “pleased to put the GSEs behind us.”

Three months later, unresolved demands for loan refunds surged $2.9 billion to a record $13.6 billion, fueled mostly by claims from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

UBS aims for top-five rank on US deals

U

BS AG (UBSN), which has lost at least 50 dealmakers from its United States investment bank since 2009, remains committed to the unit and aims to reach a top-five rank, said Matthew Grounds, global co-head of investment banking.

“I’m only interested in getting our market position in the Americas to where it needs to be,” Grounds, 41, said in an interview yesterday at the firm’s New York office. The bank has dedicated capital for hiring, he said, declining to elaborate. Given the company’s global size, “I want to be top five.”

UBS, Switzerland’s largest lender, has struggled with defections since cutting its bonus pool about 80 percent during the 2008 credit crisis.

They included Richard Leaman, 48, the investment banking chairman, and leaders of teams for health care, energy, and telecommunications, media and technology. UBS slipped to 11th advising North American mergers-and-acquisitions this year, from sixth in 2005, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

“The question is whether the ship is sinking, so those bankers who can find another job are leaving,” said Roy Smith, a finance professor at New York University.

Chief Executive Officer Oswald Gruebel, 67, said in February that earnings at the global investment bank must improve “significantly” in 2011. Gruebel, a former bond trader, has hired more than 1,700 bankers in the past two years to rebuild the division after more

than $57 billion in credit- crisis writedowns at UBS. Last year, the Zurich-based firm’s revenue from managing stock and bond sales and advising clients on deals fell 16 percent to 2.84 billion Swiss francs ($3.3 billion).

Grounds, the Sydney-based CEO of UBS Australasia, was appointed in March with Simon Warshaw to jointly lead global investment banking alongside Jimmy Neissa.

UBS’s challenges also include the fixed-income business. The bank had the lowest revenue from sales and trading of fixed- income securities, currencies and commodities last year among the nine biggest investment banks, according to Bloomberg data. The US fixed-income trading unit should be scaled down to boost profitability in remaining operations, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) analysts led by Kian Abouhossein wrote in a note last month.

UBS advanced 9.6 per cent in Swiss trading this year, compared with a 1.6 per cent gain in the 48company Bloomberg Europe Banks and Financial Services Index. The stock rose 12 centimes, or 0.7 per cent, to 16.82 francs.

Four bankers who left UBS said cuts to cash bonuses prompted them to do so. Torie von Alt, a UBS spokeswoman in the U.S., declined to comment.

Some bankers also said they were concerned the firm would continue to let the US unit shrink. They spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing confidentiality agreements.

Wells Fargo shuffles management

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ELLS Fargo & Co. (WFC), the fourth-largest United States bank by assets, shuffled regional managers and broadened oversight as part of an effort to streamline the wealth- management unit.

Wells Fargo cut the number of regional managers from 12 to seven, Vince Scanlon, a bank spokesman, said in a May 6 e-mailed statement. John Dowd will add oversight of Pennsylvania and Delaware to his role managing the Northeast region, while John Duchala, who had overseen the two states, becomes the leader of the Southwest region, Scanlon said.

Jeff Hartman adds Washington, Virginia and Maryland to his man-

agement of the Carolinas, as Greg Bronstein moves to head the Southeast region, Scanlon said.

The bank, based in San Francisco, is fine-tuning businesses that Chief Executive Officer John Stumpf called “sub- optimised” in December.

Wealth management is one of three units, along with brokerage and retirement, bolstered by the purchase of Wachovia Corp. and overseen by David Carroll. The segment represents a “big opportunity,” finance chief Timothy J. Sloan said in May. “As many companies do from time to time, Wells Fargo wealth management has recently made a number of changes to its internal structure,” Scanlon said in a statement.

• US House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner at the Economic Club of New York in New York.

Google defends use of location data in congress

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OOGLE Inc. (GOOG), fielding lawmakers’ questions over how it protects consumers’ privacy, said its mobile software doesn’t gather location data from a handset without a user’s permission.

“Google recognises the particular privacy concerns that come with the collection and storage of location information,” Alan Davidson, the company’s director of public policy, said in testimony prepared for a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing today in Washington. “That’s why we don’t collect any location information — any at all — through our location services on Android devices unless the user specifically chooses to share this information with Google.”

Representatives of Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Google, makers of software used in millions of smartphones, are scheduled to appear in Congress today as lawmakers consider new online privacy rules that could alter how they operate.

The companies are at the center of a debate over whether use of locationbased data violates consumers’ privacy. The concerns were heightened after an April report that Apple’s iPhone was logging certain location information.

Apple, Google and other companies use location data to deliver targeted advertising and help customers users

find nearby businesses. The US market for location-based services, including applications and advertising, is expected to increase to $4.7 billion by 2015 from $1.6 billion in 2010, according to ABI Research, an Oyster Bay, New York-based research firm.

Apple, the world’s largest technology company by market value, was called to testify following revelations about its data-collection practices.

An April 20 report by two computer programmers said that the operating system used in iPhones and iPad tablet computers logs users’ coordinates along with the time that a location is visited.

Apple responded on April 27, saying that it doesn’t track iPhone users’ locations, while acknowledging that it collects data on Wi-Fi hot spots and wireless towers near the device. The Cupertino, California-based company issued a software update to limit how much location information was being logged or let users turn off the feature.

Concerns raised by the programmers’ report have led to investigations by regulators in Germany, France, Italy and South Korea. The attorneys general of Illinois and Connecticut also have sought explanations from Apple and Google on how the companies collect and store location information.

Witnesses include Guy “Bud” Tribble, Apple’s vice president of software technology, along with officials from the US Federal Trade Commission and Justice Department, according to Franken’s office.

Google’s Android operating system accounted for 35 per cent of global smartphone shipments in the first quarter of this year, followed by Apple with 19 per cent, according to a report this month from technology research firm Canalys. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., HTC Corp. (2498), Motorola Mobility Holdings Corp. are among the device makers that install Android on their products.

Google, based in Mountain View, California, gives away Android software to boost revenue from services such as mobile advertising and expand the market for its search engine.

In the prepared testimony, Davidson explained how Google gathers location data from phones while emphasising the information is not traceable to any specific user.

A small amount of “location information” is kept on the devices regarding nearby Wi-Fi access points and cell towers to ensure that the device can keep providing location services when there’s no connection to Google servers,” Davidson said. The information is not tied to a specific user, he said.

45

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

Microsoft to buy Skype Technologies SA for $8.5b M ICROSOFT Corporation (MSFT) has agreed to buy Skype Technologies SA for $8.5 billion, using its cash pile to gain the world’s most popular Web-calling service and expand its Internet presence after past failures.

Microsoft will acquire Luxembourg-based Skype, with 170 million active users, from an investor group led by Silver Lake, the companies said in a statement today.

The agreement was approved by the boards of directors of both companies.

The takeover may help Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer attract Web users and narrow Google Inc. (GOOG)’s lead in Web advertising. Microsoft will connect Skype to its Outlook email, Xbox game console, Windows mobile phones and corporatephone software. The acquisition is

Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft’s largest, surpassing the purchase of AQuantive Inc. for about $6 billion in 2007.

“This could give Microsoft a much-needed kick-start” in telecommunications, said Paolo Pescatore, an analyst at CCS Insight in London. In voice services, “Skype has certainly set the benchmark and gained a lot of traction.”

Skype will become a Microsoft business unit, the companies said.

Skype CEO Tony Bates will be president of the Microsoft Skype Division, reporting to Ballmer.

A purchase by Microsoft would divert Skype from a plan, announced in August, to sell $100 million of shares in an initial public offering. The company has struggled to convert users of its free PCto-PC phone services into paying customers, according to a March

regulatory filing. The company has 663 million total users, most of whom aren’t active callers.

Microsoft, the world’s largest software maker, slid 44 cents, or 1.7 percent, to $25.39 in Nasdaq Stock Market trading at 9:37 a.m. New York time. The stock had lost 7.5 percent this year before today.

The price includes debt, Microsoft said. Skype reported about $775 million in debt, along with a revolving credit line of $30 million, in a filing in April. Microsoft had cash and short-term investments of about $50 billion at the end of March.

“It looks like an intelligent move.

They have the motherload of cash sitting there,” said Mike Holland, chairman of Holland & Co. in New York where he oversees assets in excess of $4 billion, including Microsoft shares. “They’ve been

smart in not going crazy” with the price.

Ballmer is aiming to revive Microsoft’s online services division, which had an operating loss of more than $700 million in the three months that ended in March. The company lags behind Google in Web search and related advertising.

“Microsoft has a lot of areas in its overall Internet business that it could be working on, and whether the acquisition of Skype is the key silver bullet that fixes all of that remains to be seen,” said Kunal Bajaj, head of telecommunications consulting firm Analysys Mason India Pvt. in New Delhi. “People go to Skype to make phone calls, and there isn’t much else in social networking, instant-messaging and status updates and things like that.”

Microsoft offers corporate telephony services through its Lync

product, as well as consumer videochat products as part of its instant messaging software and Xbox online service. The company said last year that Lync has the potential generate more than $1 billion a year in sales. Sales from the product rose 30 percent last quarter, the company said last month without disclosing specific numbers.

Tightly integrated Skype services could be an added selling point for Windows Phone, the mobile operating system Microsoft is promoting as a competitor to Google’s Android and Apple Inc.’s iOS, said Colin Gillis, an analyst at BGC Partners LP. Skype’s services include voice and video calling.

“Apple’s got their Face Time video chat. Android has video chat,” said Gillis, who is based in New York and rates Microsoft “buy.” “Now Microsoft is in the game.”

‘Debt restructuring will devastate economy’

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REECE’s money managers are warning of damage to an already crippled economy should European leaders move to restructure the country’s debt.

Greek 10-year bond yields and the cost of insuring the country’s debt against default rose to all-time highs at the end of April amid speculation about a debt write-off or an extension of repayment timelines. Standard & Poor’s cut Greece’s long-term sovereign credit rating by two levels yesterday to B, five notches below investment grade. The rating may be lowered further, S&P said.

“Right now a restructuring shouldn’t and can’t happen,” Aris Xenofos, president of the Hellenic Fund & Asset Management Association representing 36 firms, said in an interview before the downgrade. “It would be devastating for the Greek economy, and detrimental for the rest of the European Union and the euro.”

Greece is relying on its 110 billioneuro ($157 billion) bailout last year from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, as well as Treasury bill sales, to meet its funding needs through 2011. As part of the package, Greece is supposed to regain access to markets next year and refinance at least 75 per cent of its maturing medium- and long-term debt.

Greece sold 26-week bills today to yield 4.88 per cent, up from 4.8 percent at the previous auction on April 12, and investors requested 3.58 times the securities on sale compared with 3.81 times previously.

The government is eliminating state jobs and reducing debt at nationally owned enterprises as well as overhauling the country’s tax and pension system to boost revenue.

“The key issue is not a restructuring, but the extent to which the economy and Greek society will manage to produce and deliver results following the structural re-

forms,” said Xenofos, who also is managing director of EFG Eurobank Mutual Fund Management Co., part of Greece’s second-largest bank.

European Central Bank Executive Board member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi said allowing a euro-area member state to default on or restructure its debt would create more problems than it solves.

“Default or debt restructuring is a dramatic economic and social event for the country which experiences it — I would call it political ‘suicide’ — which leads many into poverty, as experience has shown,” Bini Smaghi said in a speech in Florence today. While at first sight it might seem reasonable and fair to ask investors to bear the consequences of their decisions, “it is wrong not only in theory but also in practice,” he said.

Bini Smaghi said large investors who have bought insurance against sovereign default “stand to benefit greatly from the default and lobby in favor of it.”

Fellow ECB Executive Board member Juergen Stark said today Greece is “not insolvent” and added the current fiscal program is aimed at regaining market access. “At the end of the day, a restructuring wouldn’t be a solution to the problems that Greece needs to overcome. There are structural problems and the budget needs to be brought under control,” he said.

“The ECB is fighting to keep politicians away from the restructuring debate,” said Nick Kounis, head of macro research at AMN Amro in Amsterdam. “They are worried that people are starting to consider it in important capitals.”

Euro-region officials said that Greece needs “a further adjustment program” after an unscheduled May 6 meeting with Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, chairman of the group of finance ministers.

• US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner (3rd L) and China’s Vice Premier Wang Qishan in hands shake after participating in a signing ceremony for a “U.S.-China Comprehensive Framework for Promoting Strong, Sustainable and Balanced Growth and Economic Cooperation”, during the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, at the Treasury Department in Washington May 10, 2011. Geithner and Wang on Tuesday signed a broad pact setting out a framework for future cooperation on trade and investment.

Bernanke’s QE2 averts deflation, spurs rally, credit

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EN S. Bernanke’s $600 billion strike against deflation is paying off, as stock and debt markets rise, bank lending grows and economists forecast faster growth.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index has gained 13.5 per cent since the Federal Reserve chairman announced on November 3 the plan to buy Treasuries through its so-called quantitative easing policy. Government bond yields show investors expect consumer prices to rise in line with historical averages.

The riskiest companies are obtaining credit at the cheapest borrow-

Goldman sees commodity recovery as slump HE commodities rout that to data compiled by Bloomberg on erases $99b ing knocked off $99 billion of marthe number of outstanding contracts

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ket value last week is driving out speculators and leading Goldman Sachs Group Inc., which forecast the plunge, to predict a possible recovery.

The combination of slower growth in United States service industries and fewer German manufacturing orders helped drive the Standard & Poor’s GSCI Index of 24 commodities down 11 per cent in five days, the most since December 2008, and erased all the gains since mid-March. Wheat, zinc and gold rebounded at the end of the week as US payrolls exceeded economists’ forecasts, reducing concern that demand will weaken.

“Given the magnitude of the pullback, it does create an opportunity for more upside potential, particularly in the second half of this year, when fundamentals are expected to tighten,” Jeffrey Currie, the London-based head of commodity research at Goldman, said in a May 6 interview. A month ago, Currie told investors they should be “underweight” in commodities. “In the very near-term, we’d be a little cautious,” he says now.

The value of all 24 commodities tracked by the S&P GSCI index was about $805 billion on May 6, compared with $891 billion on April 29, accord-

and prices of futures closest to delivery. Combined holdings of exchangetraded products backed by precious metals fell to $119 billion from $132 billion, the data show.

Speculators retreated after investment funds had made near- record bets on price gains last month and the S&P GSCI reached the highest since August 2008.

Commodities beat stocks, bonds and the dollar for five consecutive months through the end of April, the longest in at least 14 years, on forecasts for demand exceeding output in everything from oil to copper to corn.

ing costs ever and Fed data show that commercial and industrial loans outstanding are rising for the first time since 2008.

“Looking at market indicators, you have to be convinced it’s been a success,” said Bradley Tank, chief investment officer for fixed-income in Chicago at Neuberger Berman Fixed Income LLC, which oversees about $83 billion. “When you get into periods of aggressive central bank easing, and we’re clearly in the most aggressive period of easing that we’ve ever seen, the markets tend to lead the real economy.”

The Fed said last month it won’t need to extend the $600 billion buying program beyond its scheduled end next month. Payrolls expanded by 244,000 in April, the biggest gain since May 2010, after a revised 221,000 increase the prior month, the Labor Department said May 6.

The jobless rate climbed to 9 per cent, the first increase since November, a separate survey of households showed.

“We are starting to see the impact, albeit slowly,” said Jim Sarni, managing principal in Los Angeles at Payden & Rygel, which oversees more than $55 billion in fixed-income assets. “The unemployment rate has slowly started to come down. We have a long way to go, but at least it stopped the hemorrhaging.”

Bernanke’s quantitative easing program, dubbed QE2 by analysts and

investors because it followed an earlier round of $1.7 trillion in bond purchases in 2009 and the first quarter of 2010, was criticized by officials around the world.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said that the policy would foster financial instability and asset bubbles. Six days after the Fed suggested at its September 21 meeting that it was ready to start buying Treasuries, Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega said governments were engaging in a “currency war.” German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble called the asset- purchase program “clueless” on November 5 and suggested it was designed to erode the value of the US. dollar.

Back in November, the biggest concern for the Fed was preventing a general decline in prices, which can paralyse an economy by hindering investment, as the jobless rate held at 9.5 per cent or higher for 14 months.

Core consumer prices rose 0.6 per cent in October from a year earlier, the smallest gain since records began in 1958, government data at the time showed.

“Measures of underlying inflation are somewhat low, relative to levels that the Committee judges to be consistent, over the longer run, with its dual mandate” of promoting full employment and containing consumer prices gains, the central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee said in a November 3 statement.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

46

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Integrity: Restoring the character ethic (Continuing with the series: “How can Intelligence enforce Integrity?”)

“The children of this generation stand at the summit of the ages. They also stand at the crossroads of two great paths: one is the broad welltravelled path that leads to mediocrity of mind and character and to social decline. The other, a less travelled, narrower, uphill path that leads to limitless human possibilities and progress...”- Steven Covey

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HE sprout of Integrity In other words, we establish (from Minow’s hypothesis) that there is a natural pre-disposition of man to fraud crime.

And that whether by black or white, Nigerian or American, the inclination is equal in all beings. Actually in the mid-1800s, a humanist and educationist, Dr Maria Montessori, confirmed by some of her researches that such is a preter-natural habit with babies, and which in grooming them will have to be reconformed, to achieve what is the desired template of ideal conceived by the governing class at any time. Indeed that was the root form of her Methodology of Education that is called the Montessori today. That only went back in history to confirm or to re-invent as it were what was originally thought by Plato, in his medieval ruminations about how to build the ideal society that is led by men of integrity, beginning from a sifted kind of education for a child that is able to eliminate all those negative pre-dispositions.

“Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind. A freeman ought not to be a slave in the acquisition of knowledge of any kind. Let early education be a sort of amusement; you will then be able to find out the natural bent.” (Plato, 4-5th Century B.C.) Furthermore, the discipline of Sociology has dealt extensively with the subject of nature and nurture. Integrity falls somewhere in-between all these and it has to be located.

Admitted, that corporate governance is presently working backwards from the perspective of crime back into innocence, to regain the lost paradise, but afterwards there would be a re-invention to foment the new original methodology with which the children will learn to live upright, to coincide with the end of the age and beginning of a new one. Perhaps this is where contemporary scholars of corporate governance have jumbled things up, wanting to join a two-part assignment into one in a hurry. CG for adults is a curriculum to repair the broken down dam of integrity and interior wars, while the tutelage of children is the sustainable program of development. The experience of the A. B. Combs magnet school (North Carolina) USA across the century is significant in this respect.

It’s a trail for Leadership According to Steve R. Covey, author of the popular book, “7 Effective Habits of Highly Successful People” and now sponsor of a new revolution that is transforming children practically to leaders in America, through “The Leader in me”-scheme, he explained: ‘the children of this generation stand at the summit of the ages; they also stand at the crossroads of two great paths:- one is the broad well-travelled path that leads to mediocrity of mind and character, and to social decline; the other, a less travelled, narrower, uphill path that leads to limitless human possibilities and progress...; while every child can be made to travel this latter path (as the A. B. Combs experiments have shown), but who will show them if not the present adults, and what better time than NOW?’ Hence the two halves of this development cycle meet at the ground-floor of a good knowledge of corporate governance, as a wholesome Leadership product. The sub-topic for his book is Restoring the character ethic.

Now we know (back to Minow) that due to societal advancement the propensity for fraud (of the high corporate type being referred) is more in the macro environment than in micro. Minow duly acknowledged this point when he referred to the fatuity of people who are likely to get hoodwinked in certain climes when he said, ‘there will always be people who are naive or avaricious enough to fall for it. Scam artists used to use faxes to entice suckers into Ponzi schemes and Nigerian fortune’. The term ‘scam artist’ is only American, while the Nigerian local parlance simply calls it ‘419’, after the order of the Economic and Financial Crimes anticorruption law enacted by the Olusegun Obasanjo regime in 2003. Therefore, Nigeria’s fabled taste for the corrupt is only a timebound sociological condition, and which can be addressed, not necessarily as something that sets her apart as a distinct (evil) human species; a trend which had been the erroneous assumptions that aggregate to the neocolonial myth called “The Nigerian factor”.

Rather than that the dimension of her propensity in this universal phenomenon (of fraud proclivity) is a result of a conflation of socio economic forces, all of which can be treated by simply applying the right combination of certain Corporate Governance facts

and factors, marshalled at a certain tempo and sustained at the needful consistency while obeying the imperatives of the new (evolving) definition of Change.

Minow’s apocalypse Wherefore Minow’s journey to his theoretical deduction (as referred above) lacks only one ingredient: the absence of a normative framework against which his supposed finding can be compared; to wit, that there is a negative human tendency observed in man whenever he has a chance to make a choice.

Even though this were largely true, yet an alternative view-point (and a shorter, tried, tested route for instance) would be to go by the model of certain established human character known to possess those traits, that arguably, would guarantee that deliverable: integrity. A virtual-reality as it is but definitely not a typology, as many samples of both historical and contemporary relevance will prove. As a matter of fact, Minow’s dismal view on the window of life was not only short of validation by a positive obtainable sample, but actually reinforced by the endproducts of already degenerate cultures of the moment, which he focussed on exclusively and invariably made Minow to lose his confidence in humanity. Therefore he ended up promoting samples of that negative culture, almost to the point of deifying Negativism as a notion and selling it to the world (as the direction of his arguments would indicate in the popular book, CORPORATE GOVERNANCE). However, he ended up by confessing the ultimate limitation of his inquiries: “Therefore, keep in mind throughout this book that corporate governance is about making sure that the right questions get asked and the right checks and balances are in place, and not about some superficial or theoretical construct”. Minow was travelling on ‘a padded one-way’ in an obviously multi-disciplinary arena, concentrating exclusively on contemporary things, against the unexpended query of for instance sociologists such as A. Z. Mizruchi (Berle Revisited, Michigan University,2002).

However for our purpose, by presenting at least a specimen (in a recent edition of this column) such as the person of Nigeria’s Dr. Chistopner Kolade as a modelling sample, such is meant to put down Minow’s utopian picture about man’s utter conditioning to flaws in corporate governance, making people to imagine that compliance is not achievable, hence integrity a mirage (!). No, such would be knell for mankind even before he got started, and reducing the whole essence of corporate governance to a needless drudgery. Surely this cannot be an ‘egg and

GBENGA OGUNSAKIN chicken’ round of debate on whether man is capable of practising integrity or not. Integrity exists in a virtual reality and it is obtainable.

Recomposing CG curriculum: Instructively, above is given also to demonstrate via a lucid academic schema what Corporate Governance may have been missing in the universal effort to merchandise it for Business Schools, and to compose its curriculum into modules which upcoming students can reach up to, especially as against the present speculative and non-assuring (if not delicately misleading) cues. And there are a number of reasons Minow has no excuse, after all he is not starting from a virgin grounds. Man and (certain of) his neurosis is the centre of Corporate Governance. He (Minow) in interrogating such a subject ought to have been ready to supply a control, less than to leave some issues bare and obtuse, even as he himself goes forward with the assertiveness that indicates that perhaps he has a lid on that aspect of enquiry into human behaviour; a field that is vast in terms of the landmarks and discoveries that other scholars have made already. Corporate Governance is ‘the end of discussion’ in Leadership education. CG is a subject of millennial discussion. Modelling, role-playing, heroism, even myth or religion all seem to find their way into its schema and have to be profoundly explored, why? Because its deliverable is a seamless decision-making process which affects the well-being or destiny of too many people.

• To be continued

• Gbenga Ogunsakin Email:greenhavenfoundation@gmail.com tel: 08037250343

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

US imported goods cost rises more than forecast

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RICES of goods imported into the United States rose more than forecast in April, driven by gains in fuel and food that may put pressure on some companies to raise prices.

The 2.2 per cent increase in the import-price index followed a revised 2.6 per cent gain in March, Labour Department figures showed in Washington. Economists projected a 1.8 per cent increase, according to the median estimate in a Bloomberg News survey. Prices excluding fuel advanced 0.6 per cent.

Growing demand from economies in Asia and Latin America, paired with a weaker dollar, may keep pushing up the cost of goods from overseas. While businesses like Whole Foods Market Inc. (WFMI) are trying to decide whether to pass increased prices onto consumers, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said he expects elevated commodity costs to moderate.

“What’s important is that the non-fuel component is accelerating on the back of the weaker dollar, which adds modestly to inflation pressure in the US,” said Joshua Shapiro, chief US economist at Maria Fiorini Ramirez Inc. in New York, who correctly forecast the gain. “There’s going to be a lot of pushback at the consumer level to higher prices.”

Projections ranged from increases of one

per cent to 2.5 per cent, according to the median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey of 51 economists.

Compared with a year earlier, import prices increased 11 per cent, exceeding the 10 per cent increase projected by economists surveyed and the biggest 12-month gain in a year.

The cost of imported petroleum increased 7.2 per cent from the prior month and was up 37 per cent from a year earlier.

Stock-index futures rose after the report.

The contract on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index maturing in June increased 0.5 per cent to 1,349.60 in New York. Treasury securities fell, sending the yield on the benchmark 10year note up to 3.17 per cent from 3.16 per cent late yesterday.

Excluding all fuels, import prices climbed 4.3 per cent from April 2010, matching the prior month’s 12-month increase as the biggest since October 2008.

Imported food was 1.8 per cent costlier last month and was up 20 per cent from a year earlier, the biggest 12-month increase since records began in 1977.

Whole Foods, the largest US natural-goods grocer, says prices may continue to climb later this year, according to A.C. Gallo, president and chief operating officer of the Austin, Texas-based company. Beef, dairy, corn

and soy are major among commodities experiencing inflation, he said.

“We have been able to pass some of them through,” Gallo said in a May 4 earnings call with analysts, referring to cost increases.

“There is some uncertainty based on not quite understanding what kind of inflation we’ll be seeing in our costs and what will be able to pass through.”

Costs of imported automobiles rose 0.4 per cent from the prior month, today’s report showed. Consumer goods excluding vehicles showed a 0.4 per cent increase after falling 0.2 per cent in March.

Imported capital goods prices were increased 0.1 per cent.

Following a two-day meeting in Washington, Federal Reserve officials forecast that a measure of prices tied to consumer spending will increase between 2.1 per cent and 2.8 per cent this year before moderating.

“Increases in commodity prices are in turn boosting overall consumer inflation,” Bernanke said at a press conference following the meeting. “However, measures of underlying inflation, though having increased modestly in recent months, remain subdued, and longer-term inflation expectations have remained stable.”

The central bank’s preferred price gauge, which excludes food and fuel, rose 0.9 per

cent in March from a year earlier. Fed policy makers aim for long-run overall inflation of 1.7 per cent to two per cent.

The officials also lowered their forecasts for US growth, saying the economy is recovering at a “moderate pace,” and agreed to finish $600 billion of bond purchases on schedule in June, according to an April 27 statement from the Federal Open Market Committee.

A weakening US currency has also made imported goods more expensive. The dollar fell 7.7 per cent against a basket of major currencies from the beginning of the year to the end of April.

The dollar has since strengthened, gaining 2.4 per cent from April 29 as commodity prices have fallen.

Today’s report showed the cost of goods from China rose 0.4 per cent, while those from Japan were increased 0.3 per cent. Goods from Latin America climbed 3.5 per cent and those from the European Union increased 0.8 per cent. Prices of Canadian imports rose 2.4 per cent, and goods from Mexico advanced 2.5 per cent.

US export prices increased 1.1 per cent after rising 1.5 per cent the previous month, today’s figures showed. Prices of farm exports climbed 0.6 per cent, while those of non-farm goods advanced one per cent.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Combat that arthritis with diet Diet can make a difference in the treatment of arthritis writes OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA.

A

RTHRITIS is the swelling of one or more joints. It may affect the knees, wrists or part of the spinal column. Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are the two main types of arthritis. The other types are septic arthritis, gout, pseudogout, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, still’s disease and ankylosing spondylitis The main symptoms of arthritis are pain and stiffness of joints.

Redness and decrease in range of motion are other symptoms. If other parts of the body are arthritis, then the symptoms are fatigue, fever, weight loss, rashes, night sweat, dry eyes, dry mouth and breathing problems.

Reports show that people suffering from arthritis benefit greatly from drinking the juice extracted from green leafy vegetables. For an extra edge, a little beetroot and/or carrot juice might also be added. Several studies show that an alkaline reaction is triggered in the body owing to the intake of such raw juices, which eliminates the negative deposits around the joints.

Fruit juice is yet another highly recommended food input for arthritis patients, with special emphasis on pineapple. This is because pineapple consists of a unique ingredient called bromelain, which directly impacts the inflammation caused by arthritis. Other fruits that control arthritis are melons, bananas, citrus fruits, apples and apricots.

According to a practitioner, Dr Segun Fahuwa (Mister Guarantee), garlic, which is also a very effective anti-inflammatory agent, may be incorporated into

the day-to-day diet either in raw form or as capsules for the arthritis patients to control both infection and inflammation, “a little known fact is that garlic has some great analgesic properties as well and hence, it is an added benefit against this crippling disease.”

Fahuwa said arthritis patients should consume regular doses of juice extracted from potatoes diluted with water in a fifty-fifty ratio, “in order for this remedy to be effective, it is important that the potatoes be organically grown and unpeeled when used for this purpose. The juice should be taken in small measures (say one cup) every morning on an empty stomach.

“Since alkaline foods are highly beneficial in the effort to combat the worst symptoms and manifestations of this disease, the arthritis patient would also profit from consuming alfalfa seeds tea. The recommended dosage would be approximately six to seven cups spread over 24 hours, for best results. In a very

short while, this diet would show visible results, much to the delight of the afflicted person and their dear ones.”

The photographer-turned traditional medicinepractitioner said it is important to know that Vitamins A and D are vital for the body to cleanse it from infection.

“In this context, the arthritis patients would do well if they concentrate on the fact that their body might be starved of these two vitamins. Vitamin D can be obtained through exposure to the sun, since a chemical reaction would release Vitamin D when the skin is exposed to direct sunlight.”

He warned that there are some foods that must be avoided to eliminate the pains of arthritis: “Several studies have pointed to the fact that certain foods aggravate the condition of the arthritis patient. Hence, it is important to avoid consuming all preserved meats, all kinds of cheese, meat stock, coffee, salad dressing, chocolate and candy, among

many others. With a little care and the right diet, the arthritis patient would be able to keep a tight check on this disease and, in the process, live a normal life like any non-afflicted person.”

Still wondering on what other food to avoid? The trado-medical practitioner offered: “red meat (i.e. beef, lamb, pork). You can substitute with white meat such as turkey, chicken (remove the skin) and oily fish. Consume more of the members of the nightshade family such as tomatoes and white potatoes; wax covered fruit and citrus fruit. These days much of our fruit is wax covered to improve shelf life but organic fruit should not be taken.

“One should avoid dairy products such as cow milk, cheese, yoghurt, sugar and foods containing sugar such as chocolate; sweets; soft drinks; syrup; honey and treacle; also flour and bran made from white wheat.

“Avoid foods which ingredients include cereal binders, cereal fillers or cereal protein, wheat

‘Foods to avoid? . . . Red meat (i.e. beef, lamb, pork). You can substitute with white meat like turkey, chicken (remove the flesh) and oily fish. Consume more of the members of the nightshade family such as tomatoes and white potatoes; wax covered fruit and citrus fruit. These days much of our fruit is wax covered to improve shelf life but organic fruit should not be’

•Fahuwa

starch or edible starch. Instead go for dry roasted nuts/raw nuts such as almonds, walnuts (Asala or awusa) and Brazil nuts may be beneficial.”

Remember, liquids form an integral part of diet. So for an arthritis patient, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mister Guarantee Trado-Medical said drinks (beverages) to steer clear of include alcohol, tea, coffee (including decaffeinated), cocoa, fizzy drinks and foods containing caffeine. Restrict the use of butter and margarine.

“Likewise, salt, pepper and vinegar. Remember to experiment with your arthritis pain diet to see what works best for you. You may find that you do not need to eliminate all these foods but only some or you might get arthritis pain relief by restricting your intake of some foods. A good arthritis diet does not need to be boring. Use your imagination in preparing foods to get variety in flavours and taste”.

The importance of fruits in diet

F

RUITS are one of the oldest forms of food known to man.

In fact, Adam, the first man ate an apple, the ‘forbidden fruit’ of heaven. There are many references to fruits in ancient literature.

Vedas state that the fruits form the base of the Food of Gods. According to the Quran, the fruits like grape, date, fig, olive and pomegranate are gifts and heavenly fruits of God. The people in ancient times regarded fruits to be endowed with magic or divine properties. They gave them due reverence and dedicated them to their gods and goddesses. They also used their designs in decorating temples, vestments or ceremonial garments and sacred vessels.

Fresh and dry fruits are the natural staple food of man. They contain substantial quantities of essential nutrients in a rational proportion. They are excellent sources of minerals, vitamins and enzymes. They are easily digested and exercise a cleansing effect on the blood and the digestive tract.

Persons subsisting on this natural diet will always enjoy good health. Moreover, the ailments caused by the intake of unnatural foods can be successfully treated by fruits. Fresh and dry fruits are thus not only a good food but also

‘Persons subsisting on this natural diet will always enjoy good health. Moreover, the ailments caused by the intake of unnatural foods can be successfully treated by fruits . . . all fruits promote intestinal elimination. This keeps the body free from toxic wastes which creep into the blood from an overloaded, sluggish intestinal tract’

•Fruits

a good medicine.

Fruits have highly beneficial natural effect on the human system. The main physiological actions of fruits are as follows: Hydrating Effect - Taking of fruits or fruit juice is the most pleasant way of hydrating the organism. The water absorbed by sick persons in this manner has an

added advantage of supplying sugar and minerals at the same time.

Diuretic Effect - Clinical observations have shown that potassium, magnesium and sodium contents of the fruit act as a diuretic and dieresis - frequency of urination is considerably increased when fruits and fruit juices

are taken. They lower the urine density and thereby accelerate the elimination of nitrogenous waste and chlorides. As, however, fruits contain a very low level of sodium, they make a valuable contribution to a salt-free diet.

Alkalinizing Effect - The organic acids of the salts in fruits produce alkaline carbonates,

when transformed within the organism, which alkalize the fluids.

All fruits promote intestinal elimination. This keeps the body free from toxic wastes which creep into the blood from an overloaded, sluggish intestinal tract.

The carbohydrates of fruits are chiefly in the form of sugar, dextrin and acids which are easily digestible and are completely absorbed. Hence, they are very useful for sick and invalids for quick energy and heat.

Mineralising Effect - Fruits furnish minerals to the body. Dried fruits such as apricots, raisins and dates are rich in calcium and iron.

These minerals are essential for strong bones and good blood respectively. Some fruits, like custard apple, furnish calcium to the extent of 800 mg. per fruit, which is sufficient to meet our daily requirement of this mineral.

Laxative Effect - The fibrous matter in fruits, cellulose, aids in the smooth passage of the food in the digestive tract and easy bowel action. The sugars and organic acids contained in fruits also increase their laxative effect. Hence, regular use of fruits prevents and cures constipation.

• Culled from www.asianonlinerecipes.com

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

NATURAL HEALTH

Oxygenation: Stand-by medicine of tomorrow?

O

XYGEN is warming up as medicine of the future. And from the way it is bowling many doctors over, it may very well become a Mother of All Medicines. When I reviewed Dr. Robert Young’s “pH Miracle” about eight years ago, the thought of swallowing an oxygen pill for any kind of ailment frightened me. We need oxygen to live, no doubt. But this all-important fraction of the air we breathe to live is a double-edged sword. For unstable oxygen is a free radical, and free radicals have been implicated in practically all degenerative diseases, ranging from asthma and arthritis to diabetes and cancer. Nevertheless, many doctors who take oxygen as medicine say it is the most wonderful medicine on earth. This claim is dogged with controversy, though, as mainstream medicine, always too slow to adapt to change, is yet to agree, and has either masterminded the jailing of rebellious doctors, closed down their practice, withdrawn their licences or sent them out of town.

DR ROBERT YOUNG’S pH Miracle introduced me to oxygen as medicine on a much bigger scale than Dr. Robert Atkins’ VITA NUTRIENT SOLUTION. Dr. Young was doing what many trail-blazing doctors and medical researchers do today. At school, medical students are taught bits and pieces of medicine which should unite into one whole picture. But, under work pressure in the clinic, this whole picture hardly presents when a patient appears. Thankfully now, the picture is emerging like a figsaw puzzle falling into place in the bits and pieces taught at school. Thus, Dr. F. Batonanghelidj would take the floor and say dehydration at cellular level is the cause of all ailments. Medical students learned about the solute and solvent, but in their practice as doctors ignored the solvent, water. We now know that we may fall ill if we do not drink at least eight glasses of water every day. But, even then, the matter has gone beyond just drinking water. The water which heals is alkaline water, oxygenated water, not chlorinated water, which is acidic and stresses cells of the body. Beyond water, Dr. Udo Erasmus, one of the world’s leading authorities on fats and oils, has enabled us realise deficiency of essential fatty acids and lack of enough minerals, enzymes, vitamins and hormones, to metabolise fats are the leading causes of fatty degeneration and the high cholesterol scourge. Fatty degeneration is the damage free radicals inflict upon fatty organs of the body, such as the brain, the eyes, the breasts, the ovaries, and the testes, among others. Dr. Robert Young came upon us with THE NEW BIOLOGY OF HEALTH. This new biology took over from the last confessions of PASTEUR, the great French chemist and microbiologist who theorized that germs are the causes of diseases, and gave the world THE GERM THEORY of DISEASE. By this theory, every germ is the cause of a specific disease.

Pharmaceutical companies spend billions of dollars to research which poisonous drugs will poison and kill these germs with minimal damage to the human body. But the theory did not explain why two persons from the same backgrounds exposed to the same germs react differently, one infected while the other is not. And it was to be on his deathbed that Pasteur would recant his germ theory of disease when he said: “The microbe is nothing. The terrain is everything”.

The terrain, of course, is the internal environment which the microbe finds suitable enough to make its home. A dehydrated cell, says Dr. Batmanghelidj, being a weak cell, is unable to efficiently carry out its living processes and, half-living and half-dead, is unable to protect itself against the microbe which makes dead or dying tissue its habitat. Dr Young says every living cell, man, beast or plant, has living in its microforms called microzymas. When the environment is alkaline, microzymas are inactive. In acidic situations, they devolve into bacteria, fungi or mold, which work to disintegrate the cell, as in a human corpse or over ripened fruit, thereby giving credence to the expression “walking corpses”, a description of people dying ‘instalmentally” from an overload of microforms.

Pharmaceutical drugs kill the microforms only to make the blood and tissue more acidic and set the stage for more aggressive, more drug-resistant microforms to emerge.

Now, all these bits and pieces of medicine seeking unification into a whole picture are like the tales of six blind men who touché and felt an elephant in different parts of its body, each one describing the elephant from his peculiar experience and assuming the other definitions to be incorrect.

In the drive towards the whole picture, the oxygen hypothesis is now irrepressible. In Europe, it is now common to find cancer patients placed in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber (check on the internet) which oxygenates their bodies. Ozone (O3) is also given intravenously or orally, as is food grade Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2). The green drink therapy is also a variant of this oxygenation therapy. The green in the drink, chlorophyll, is a storehouse of the energy of the sun and of oxygen. Its structure is Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen make up the hemoglobin of the human blood, that red oxygen-carrient pigment, held together in this case by iron. So, in taking a green drink, one merely recharges the structure of one’s blood, energising it. Dr Young went beyond green drink therapy to recommend that, before taking a green drink, one take a lime or lemon drink into which between three and five pH drops are added. The pH drops are nothing but Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Carbonate and Potassium hydroxide, which has an oxygenating impact.

THIS is where we are coming. HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, many of us know about Hydrogen Peroxide. As children, our mothers gave it to us as mouth wash. It kills germs devastatingly. Now, it is advocated that it be used as medicine.

But the type advocated is FOOD GRADE Hydrogen Peroxide Not the mouth wash grade. The arguments supporting its use are as robust as those against. I used to think of hydrogen peroxide only as a dangerous by-product of metabolism the body always wishes to expel or neutralise.

So, why advocate it as medicine, I reasoned seven years ago, unable to go along with the canvassers. But now, Madison Cavanaugh’s, THE ONE-MINUTE CURE, subtitled THE SECRET TO HEALING VIRTUALLY ALL DISEASES, has made for me a distinction between food grade Hydrogen Peroxide and other grades of hydrogen Peroxide.

Cavanaugh begins his proposition by reminding us that (1). oxygen keeps us alive (2). Deprived of oxygen for between five and nine minutes, we would die (3). water makes up tween 70 and 80 per cent of the human body, and oxygen between 62 and 71 per cent of it.

(4). 89 per cent of water is oxygen (5). Thus, oxygen is the most essential element in the human body (6). 90 per cent of the body’s metabological energy comes from water (7). In 1931, Dr Otto Warbury won the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine for proving that germs, especially viruses, cannot live in ano x y g e n - r i c h environment, and, so, resort to anaerobic (life without oxygen) existence (8). This is the secret of the limited success of some pharmaceutical anti- cancer drugs which try to improve oxygen generation in the tumour, and, thereby, kill microforms in the growth which caused the tissue to degenerate (9). Food-grade hydrogen peroxide in the body so oxygenates it that, in the surfeit of oxygen, all germs die rapidly and disease is cured (10). Dr Waburg once said: “Deprive a cell 35% of its oxygen for 48 hours and it may become cancerous” MADISON CAVANAUGH cites, also, examples of many doctors and researchers who believed that germs seek out oxygen-deprived tissue to dwell in, and not the cause of tissue misfortune, although their residency in the tissue has its own implications. One such example is the mosquito. Does it seek out stagnant pools of water for its activities, or does it cause the pool to be stagnant? The answer is clear.!

Deoxygenation If oxygenation of blood and tissue is crucial to health, increasing depletion of atmospheric oxygen should frighten everyone. We learned in high school that oxygen makes up about 21 percent of the air we breathe. Yet, a few years ago, researchers investigating Antarctic ice discovered that air bubbles trapped in it contained about 30 per cent oxygen traction. This suggested that atmospheric oxygen fraction, at some time, must have been much higher than in recorded history. Could this be why the human body is more succephble to disease today than, say, 100 years ago despite advances in medical technology and medicine? If, indeed, about 80 per cent of the body is water, if oxygen accounts for about 80 per cent of this water content and provides about 92 per cent of metabolic energy, but we drink chlorinated water which is oxygen-deficient, wouldn’t the tissue be weakened and inadvertently provide residential accommodation for germs of all descriptions? Isn’t the situation frightening with the pollution of the Nigerian environment by firewood burning for fuel, electricity generator fumes and automobile fumes, among other air pollutants? Food grade Hydrogen Peroxide isn’t selling yet in Nigeria, to the best of knowledge. But the natural medicine community has been getting by with oxygenation therapy through the use of fruit and vegetable juicing, use of certain herbs, Chlorophyll (remember there is oxygen in the structure) and lately, Shark liver oil and Squalene. Squalene comes from shark which lives in Dead Sea where oxygen is low. It is also found in olive oil and may account for its beneficial effect on the heart: say scientists. Some squalene is present in the human skin, perhaps to improve its protection against harmful rays of the sun which may cause skin cancer, if absorbed.

Mother’s milk, especially the collustrum, is rich in squalene.

If the doctors abroad leading the way to oxygen medicine succeed, food grade Hydrogen Peroxide would soon find its way to Nigeria. Then, HIV and cancer-challenged people in particular, showed have a new lease of life One of these doctors was Dr Christian Bernard of blessed memory, who carried out

e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com

the first human heart transplant. In 1986 he began to prescribe food-grade Hydrogen Peroxide to his patients and used it personally. But he backed out of making claims when establishment doctors began to ridicule him.

Madison Cavanaugh explains how stress makes the cells of many people become oxygen deficient and proposes water oxygenation options to Hydrogen peroxide in the face of massive medical opposition to its use. To make himself understood, he leads the way to how the body’s nervous system functions. There are two broad systems (1). Central Nervous System, and (2). Autonomic Nervous System.

The Central Nervous System responds to the human will. If I wish to lift a leg or close my eyes, I do so through its support.

The Autonomic System is behind involuntary actions such as breathing and the heart beat. It is sub-divided into (1). Sympathetic Nervous System, and (2). Parasympathetic Nervous System.

The Sympathetic Nervous System enables us cope with stressful situations such as emergencies. When we hear the sound of a gun shot, we are all nervous, and may flee or want to fight if it is inauspicious to escape. This is the “fight or flight” template. The sympathetic Nervous System supports in shunting blood away from the intestines and stomach. For example, to the muscles where it is needed urgently, and gets the liver to release glucose in the form of glycogen for the emergency situation. When the emergency is over, the parasympathetic autonomic nervous system returns bodily functions to status quo ante. i.e. the closed cells open up to receive blood, oxygen, nutrition and eliminate their wastes better than they were under the sympathetic nervous system.

That partly explains why people who lead stressful lives have digestive problems, lose appetitile, suffer from sleep disorders, do not get enough oxygen in the cells which are closed up, making these cells breeding grounds for oxygen-hating germs, infections and diseases. Cavanaugh explains this through Dr Bruce Lipton, Ph.D., “renowned cellular biologist from Stanford University, author of The Biology of Belief, and an authority.On bringing science with the spirit, saying: “The difference between the closed cell and a cell that is open (i.e. in growth mode”) is that the cell that’s in growth mode is impervious to disease.

When a cell goes into lock down or, fight-or-flight mode, that cell is not getting oxygen, not absorbing nutrients, not properly eliminating waste products, and not functioning the way it normally should. If the cell remains in that state for a short period of time, the effects are inconsequential.. That’s why a small amount of stress in life rarely leads to health problems.

But if the cell stays in the closed, fight or flight mode for an extended period of time, it becomes a sick cell. The main reason for this is because of the lack of oxygen. When you close to remain in a stressful situation or stressed out state of mind, that’s equivalent to suffocating your body and depriving it of the element that it needs most to survive.

WELL, today is not the day to talk about stress. Stressors can be occupational, environmental, nutritional, atmospheric, emotional, psychological, even spiritual. A bound spirit or soul cannot animate the body well enough to produce cells that are open. This should be of interest to people challenged with the sickle cell. Let’s leave the rest of this matter for now to Cavanaugh in ... www.OneMinuteCure.com/order.htm The book, OneMinuteCure, offers many recipes for three per cent home grade hydrogen peroxide which Cavanaugh says can be used straight from the bottle as mouthwash and to make teeth whitener and to protect teeth and gums. It can be used also for douching. He says: “It will kill anaerobic bacteria in the rectum and colon and bacterial infections and yeast in the vagina. Hydrogen peroxide can be used at 3% straight or diluted with warm water as a foot soak for athlete’s food and diabetes related ailments” It would appear from Cavanaugh’s dissertation that Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) is everywhere in Nature to kill germs ... in the human blood and cell, in all living organisms, in “swiftly moving streams”, which may explain why “spring water tastes fresher and cleaner,” and why “stagnant water is a breeding ground for various kinds of bacteria because it contains little oxygen, in rain water “which is why plants and grass seem greener in the rains”.

Why the controversy?

If hydrogen peroxide is so good with proven cases of cures for feline leukemia, for example, why does the medical establishment reject it as medicine? Cavanaugh provides some clues. He says Hydrogen Peroxide in high concentrations can be so oxidative and corrosive as to damage the cells and even cause death. But in concentrations found in Nature, that is home grade,” it doesn’t.

“What most people don’t know,” however,” he explains, “is that an enzyme coating surrounds every human cell which makes it resistant to oxidation. Bacteria, viruses and disease microorganisms, on the other hand, have no such enzyme coating and, therefore, oxidized on contact with ozone or hydrogen peroxide.

Nevertheless, the use of Hydrogen Peroxide in medicine is trapped in the politics of medicine. Thousands of scientific papers have been written about its amazing effects on health at next to no cost… at the same time as many clinics which offer it to patients have been closed; adventurous doctors hounded into jail or made to flee. Germany, Russia, Cuba, Austria, Italy and Mexico, which are more accommodating, hold the hope of oxygen becoming a medicine of the future, Cavanaugh prodicts. At the cud of the day, he adds, the world way learn that the pharmaceutical carter, afraid of financial collapse, in confrontation with cheap and effective medicine, is behind all the hounding and bad press.

Tel: 08034004247, 07025077303

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

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EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 11-05-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name CAPITAL OIL PLC JULI PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 2

Quotation(N) 0.50 2.90

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 100 50.00 61,000 176,900.00 61,100 176,950.00

AGRICULTURE/AGRO-ALLIED Company Name FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 7 29 37

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50 7.72

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 50,000 25,000.00 212,400 106,200.00 1,079,800 8,208,914.36 1,342,200 8,340,114.36

Quotation(N) 2.11 9.15

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 256,182 541,473.02 580,943 5,346,504.10 837,125 5,887,977.12

Quotation(N) 0.50 2.53

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 515,036 257,518.00 556,065 1,419,431.59 1,071,101 1,676,949.59

Quotation(N) 8.60 1.86 7.07 4.09 7.85 2.78 14.00 0.84 16.25 10.00 1.45 2.00 1.42 8.91 1.14 2.21 7.01 3.04 1.10 1.20 15.53

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 12,059,749 103,702,411.82 2,868,454 5,141,661.65 1,701,901 12,068,642.01 765,220 3,127,226.97 16,049,330 125,769,993.71 5,209,649 14,543,808.77 21,963,378 308,185,971.55 10,713,819 8,832,660.22 14,004,120 227,413,913.80 723,600 7,153,969.00 4,180,787 5,898,477.32 6,544,224 13,446,842.10 2,900,029 4,118,041.18 5,273,924 46,811,815.19 2,024,482 2,307,909.48 1,459,533 3,262,650.03 8,415,980 59,141,935.84 1,753,167 5,285,239.52 1,637,722 1,815,719.20 3,655,056 4,387,577.51 44,908,181 697,767,413.12 168,812,305 1,660,183,879.99

Quotation(N) 205.00 6.04 87.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 70,651 15,207,627.75 1,080,610 6,526,044.40 471,061 41,206,057.23 1,622,322 62,939,729.38

Quotation(N) 26.80 12.87 121.26 42.00

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 692,360 18,363,664.47 326,469 4,149,047.42 39,565 4,981,505.00 2,105,921 88,591,647.80 3,164,315 116,085,864.69

Quotation(N) 12.48 20.99 1.94

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 25,602 312,402.69 13,147 289,628.41 400 740.00 39,149 602,771.10

Quotation(N) 0.50 1.28 2.99 5.78

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 2,000 1,000.00 3,000 3,660.00 16,700 49,033.00 629 3,459.50 22,329 57,152.50

AIR SERVICES Company Name AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 8 106 114 AUTOMOBILE & TYRE

Company Name DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 8 23 31

Company Name ACCESS BANK PLC AFRIBANK NIGERIA PLC DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC FINBANK PLC GTBANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC. OCEANIC BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC BANK PHB PLC SKYE BANK PLC. SPRING BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC UNITYBANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC ZENITH BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 221 63 42 21 78 118 698 322 463 52 145 114 18 126 3 34 330 110 28 62 393 3,441

Company Name GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 50 26 125 201

BANKING

BREWERIES

BUILDING MATERIALS Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 71 22 20 75 188 CHEMICAL & PAINTS

Company Name BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC DN MEYER PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 18 10 2 30

Brokers to NSE: We’re ready to work with you

D

EALING members of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) have expressed readiness to cooperate with the new management of the Exchange to reposition the market and restore its lost glory.

The assurance was given yesterday when the newly appointed Executive Director, Market Operations and Information Technology, Mr. Adeolu Bajomo was introduced to the stockbrokers on the trading floor of the Exchange by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema.

The Chairman of the Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Alhaji Rashed Yussuff, who

No of Deals 1 2 4 1 8

COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT Company Name TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 3

Quotation(N) 3.42

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 2,551 8,290.75 2,551 8,290.75

Quotation(N) 2.06 7.21 32.95 1.20 41.51 27.00

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 113,355 233,511.30 270 1,849.50 257,293 8,391,353.42 13,355,687 15,077,026.19 1,287,323 53,389,918.39 513,049 13,864,836.90 15,526,977 90,958,495.70

CONGLOMERATES Company Name A. G. LEVENTIS (NIGERIA) PLC JOHN HOLT PLC PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 6 1 37 156 79 61 340 CONSTRUCTION

Company Name ARBICO PLC COSTAIN (WA) PLC JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC MULTIVERSE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 41 17 4 63

Quotation(N) 26.00 5.49 52.00 0.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 100 2,470.00 423,382 2,161,067.54 39,088 2,036,488.40 451,415 225,707.50 913,985 4,425,733.44

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name CUTIX PLC NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 5 5 10

Quotation(N) 2.09 0.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 59,000 119,550.00 87,550 43,775.00 146,550 163,325.00

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO No of Deals 21 56 160 87 53 38 1 20 26 82 2 4 8 558

Company Name 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NIGERIAN BOTTLING COMPANY PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC NORTHERN NIGERIA FLOUR MILLS PLC TANTALIZERS PLC UTC NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

Quotation(N) 45.50 22.00 19.00 13.65 87.00 4.40 1.96 5.49 36.99 395.00 30.73 0.53 0.61

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 26,474 1,200,276.00 830,807 18,273,261.47 2,433,126 45,910,937.33 1,529,049 21,100,590.62 207,777 18,305,018.54 773,000 3,365,290.00 1,000 1,870.00 522,541 2,837,115.60 102,275 3,817,892.60 156,944 62,279,548.63 51,200 1,573,376.00 115,755 61,335.15 60,300 36,634.50 6,810,248 178,763,146.44

HEALTHCARE Company Name EVANS MEDICALPLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 9 6 19 17 1 55

Quotation(N) 1.28 2.12 24.70 4.29 1.87 0.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 16,000 20,160.00 132,717 290,246.97 10,150 249,890.00 151,272 645,245.38 333,257 589,184.61 3,000 1,500.00 646,396 1,796,226.96

Quotation(N) 3.12 1.44

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 4,032 12,684.64 534,000 771,960.00 538,032 784,644.64

HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name CAPITAL HOTEL PLC IKEJA HOTEL PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 5 17 22

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION INDUSTRIES PLC ALUMACO PLC B. O. C. GASES NIGERIA PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 1 9 15 27

Quotation(N) 11.20 7.75 8.40 5.70

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 2,100 22,344.00 100 775.00 229,614 1,933,210.92 35,370 195,485.70 267,184 2,151,815.62

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name CHAMS PLC STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 23 25

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.76

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 3,100 1,550.00 1,888,832 1,423,166.72 1,891,932 1,424,716.72

INSURANCE Company Name AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE CO. PLC. CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC

No of Deals 49 10 2 5 3 5 1

Quotation(N) 0.90 1.02 0.50 3.10 0.50 1.55 0.50

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 1,403,665 1,187,848.80 395,000 402,350.00 30,500 15,250.00 76,450 237,135.00 111,200 55,600.00 77,715 118,991.80 1,240 620.00

spoke on behalf of the dealing members, said the body was delighted to have the new addition to the formidable team of the new management of The Exchange.

He expressed the satisfaction of the dealing members at the quality of the people now at the helm of affairs at The Exchange and said: “We are ready to work with you to turn around the fortune of this market for better”.

“There should be a cross fertilization of ideas between you and us. You should combine your rich foreign experience which you have gathered for years with our local experience to

move the market forward.

Both are vital for the market”.

They urged the new management team to evolve policies that will benefit the market stakeholders.

Bajomo thanked them for receiving him, saying the new Executive team will work closely with brokers and the wider market participants to build a sustainable wealth generating exchange and achieve regional market leadership with integrity.

Onyema promised that the new management will work closely with the dealing members in its repositioning agenda which he said would be unfolded soon.

Key indicators appreciate further

T

RANSACTION on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, yesterday continued to close in the green following price gains recorded by most bluechip stocks.

The All-Share Index rose by 45.23 basis points or 0.1per cent from 25,432.93 recorded on Tuesday to 25,478.17, while market capitalisation increased by N14 billion or 0.1 per cent from

N8,126 trillion to N8,140 trillion.

At the close of the transactions, 36 stocks recorded price appreciation compared to 22 others that constituted the losers chart.

Costain WA led others on the gainers chart with 4.97 per cent to close at N5.49. Presco followed with a gain of 4.89 to close at N7.72. International Breweries, Japual Oil and AIICO recorded a gain of

4.86 per cent, 4.76 per cent and 4.65 per cent to close at N6.04, N1.32 and 90 kobo respectively.

On the losers table, Northern Nigeria Floor Mill and BOC Gases topped the losers chart with 4.98 per cent each to close at N30.73 and N8.40 per share respectively. Juli Pharmacy followed with 4.92 per cent to close at N2.90 per cent. RT Briscoe trailed with 4.89 per cent to close at N2.53.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name COURTVILLE INVESTMENTS PLC Secure Electronic Technology PLC RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

By Tonia Osundolire

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 11-05-11 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 3 LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. 2 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC 1 N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. 22 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. 24 OASIS INSURANCE PLC 10 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. 5 SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC 4 STACO INSURANCE PLC 1 STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC 2 UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 2 INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INSURANCE PLC 6 Sector Totals 157

0.50 0.53 0.50 0.53 0.71 0.50 2.24 0.51 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.53

39,944 6,272 5,000 11,639,170 1,098,320 100,000 16,623 385,000 13,750 380,400 120,000 104,062 16,004,311

19,972.00 3,324.16 2,500.00 6,177,692.17 731,054.00 50,000.00 35,406.99 194,500.00 6,875.00 190,200.00 60,000.00 54,885.62 9,544,205.54

Quotation(N) 1.23

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 362,300 445,635.00 362,300 445,635.00

Quotation(N) 1.32

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 6,502,923 8,225,923.50 6,502,923 8,225,923.50

Quotation(N) 0.51 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 100 53.00 1,500 750.00 1,600 803.00

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.68

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 40,100 20,050.00 1,463,092 997,392.56 1,503,192 1,017,442.56

LEASING Company Name C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 8 8

Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 147 147

Company Name AFROMEDIA PLC DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 2

MARITIME

MEDIA

MORTGAGE COMPANIES Company Name ASO SAVINGS AND LOAND PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 23 26

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Company Name DEAP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT AND TRUST PLC ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 5 6

Company Name NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC BETA GLASS CO. PLC NAMPAK NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 167 1 1 169

Quotation(N) 2.02 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 50,000 101,000.00 17,574 8,787.00 67,574 109,787.00

Quotation(N) 2.43 14.07 3.60

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,160,233 2,818,430.53 220 2,941.40 9,800 33,810.00 1,170,253 2,855,181.93

PACKAGING

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) Company Name AFRICAN PETROLEUM PLC. BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 56 9 25 25 11 21 184 17 348

Quotation(N) 20.02 0.50 72.00 34.30 5.12 148.20 55.00 195.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 163,188 3,343,208.28 1,118,767 559,383.50 103,949 7,770,926.28 54,304 1,777,705.39 51,500 260,045.00 12,887 1,987,257.44 6,189,944 336,560,915.20 20,218 4,014,680.51 7,714,757 356,274,121.60

PRINTING & PUBLISHING Company Name LONGMAN NIGERIA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 8 6 14

Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 17 17

Quotation(N) 6.84 4.91

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 25,200 163,800.00 7,802 38,514.98 33,002 202,314.98

Quotation(N) 17.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 183,200 3,206,177.25 183,200 3,206,177.25

REAL ESTATE

ROAD TRANSPORTATION Company Name ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 4

Company Name UNITED NIGERIA TEXTILES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1

Quotation(N) 0.58

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 74,000 42,870.00 74,000 42,870.00

Quotation(N) 0.65

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 15,966 10,377.90 15,966 10,377.90

Quotation(N) 15.60

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 4,984,313 79,602,166.08 4,984,313 79,602,166.08

6,089

242,333,192

TEXTILES

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals Overall Totals

No of Deals 35 35

2,597,964,790.34

54

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

NEWS NYSC 10: Forum hails Jonathan’s gestures

F

ROM a civil society group, The Forum for Purposeful Governance and Democratic Ethos came yesterday praises for President Goodluck Jonathan for compensating families of members of the National Youth Service Corps who were killed during the post-election violence in some parts of the North.

In a statement signed by its Director of Communications, Doyin Ilawole, the Forum noted that the N5 million monetary compensation to families of each of the affected corps members came early enough, in contrast to the long delays which usually characterised such gestures by the government in the past.

The group, however, said enough was yet to be done for these heroes and heroines of democracy.

“We, therefore, call on all corporate organisations, state governments and individuals to stand up and be counted in this noble enterprise of allowing our dead heroes and heroines rest peacefully with the knowledge that their involuntary sacrifice is appreciated by all,” the Forum added.

The Forum said it will, next week Tuesday, unfold plans which, in addition to providing financial succor to the 10 families, will also immortalise these heroes and heroines of our democracy as well as others that have made similar sacrifices for the sustenance of our democracy those that providence will still call upon for similar noble roles.

PUBLIC NOTICE GBENGA ASHAFA FOUNDATION This is to notify the general public that the above mentioned organization is in the process of applying to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr. Basheer Ashafa 2. Mrs. Toyosi Banjoko 3. Mr. Akinwale Irokosu 4. Mr. Olufemi Olumide AIMS & OBJECTIVES 1. To develop youth empowerment.

2. Creating charitable programmes that would enlighten and sensitize the public on the plight of disadvantaged and uneducated children.

3. Promoting and encouraging social, cultural and educational activities of Nigerian youths.

4. The prevention or relief of poverty by providing: grants, items and services to individuals in need and/or charities, or other organisations working to prevent or relieve poverty.

5. To provide basic amenities towards the development and empowerment of women in Nigeria.

Any objection to the proposed registration must be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Medinat O. Muhammed Probitas Partners & Co., 70, Queens Street, Off Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba, Lagos.

PUBLIC NOTICE DOMINION GRACE LIBERATION MINISTRY The general public is hereby informed that above named association has applied to the Corporate affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies Allied Matters Acts, Cap. 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

Evang. John-Mary Okenna Nkemjika 2.

Sist. Christiana Nneka Nkemjika 3.

Bro. Kingsley Chika Akunyili 4.

Bro. Anthony Okwy Ezeani AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1.

To proclaim the gospel of God’s grace and salvation 2 To bring the message of deliverance and healing to all 3. To bring up converts in the path of truth and righteousness through Bible studies and sound Bible Teaching.

Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Register General, Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi – Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

BEN UMEILECHUKWU SOLICITOR 08023118601

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

56

NEWS PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES OF RETURN TO ELECTED OFFICIALS

•Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu (right) •Enugu State Governor displaying his certificate receiving his Certificate from Dame Nnenwafor

Sullivan

•Chairman, Senate Committee on Information/Media, Senator Ayogu Eze (right) receiving his certificate from INEC National Commissioner in charge Chime of Enugu/Anambra states, Dame Gladys Nnenwafor, in Enugu...yesterday

•Senator-elect for Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Mr Babafemi Ojudu •Kaduna State INEC National Commissioner, Dr.Chris Oyimuga (left) (left) receiving his certificate from INEC National Secretary, Alhaji Abdullahi Kaugama in Ado-Ekiti presenting Governor Patrick Yakowa with his certificate

•Plateau State INEC National Commissioner, Dr. Abdulkadir Oniyangi (left),presenting Senator-elect, Plateau Central, Chief Joshua Dariye with his certificate

•House of Representatives member-elect, representing Ado-Ekiti/IrepodunIfelodun Federal Constituency, Mr Opeyemi Bamidele displaying his certificate

•Senator Babajide Omoworare representing Osun East District (left) •Anambra South Senator-elect, Dr Andy Uba, and his counterpart representing Osun West, Senator Mudasiru Hussain, signing their certificates, after the presentation at Brymor displaying his certificate Hotel, IIobu road, Osogbo, Osun State...yesterday

•Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko flanked by all the elected officials during a courtesy call on the governor in Akure...yesterday

PHOTOS: TOYIN ANISULOWO, NAN

57

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

NEWS Another NAF plane crashes in Benue

Court remands ex-minister of Works

•CAS sets up probe panel

•CPC: It’s PDP-motivated trial

A

FEDERAL High Court, Abuja, yesterday remanded former Minister of Works, Dr. Hassan Lawal, and Aderogba Godwin Ademola in Kuje Prison, Abuja, pending the determination of their their bail application.

They were arraigned with six companies before Justice Bilikisu Aliyu on a 23-count charge of criminal conspiracy, fraudulent award of contracts, money laundering and embezzlement amounting to N75.7billion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The companies are Digital Toll Company Limited; Swede Control Interlink Limited; Proman Vital Ventures Limited; Nairda Limited; Siraj Nigeria Limited and Wise Health Services Limited.

The prosecution counsel Wahab Shittu told the court that four other accused were at large. They are Okala Phillip Yakubu; Thahal Paul; Hillel Gilboa; and Dave Enejoh.

Four companies also billed for arraignment were not represented in court.

They are PEB 04 Nigeria Limited; Lassa Limited; Odomac Nigeria Limited; and Geographical Information System.

Their names were struck out by the judge following an oral application by Shittu, who said there was need to avoid infringing on the right to liberty of the accused.

The EFCC alleged that Lawal connived with the other accused to defraud the Federal Government of about

T

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

N75.7billion, adding they attempted to conceal the origin of the monies traced to their individual accounts.

Their offence was said to contravene Section 17 (1) (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2004 and punishable under Section 14 (1) of the same Act. EFCC said it discovered curious lodgments of various funds into Lawal’s personal accounts through his cronies and agents.

It said a property valued at N600,350,000 in Asokoro, Abuja, was traced to the former minister.

The EFCC said Lawal was interrogated on how he raised the money to buy the property but said he paid through a bank facility from sources which the anti-graft agency said it found to be illicit.

He was also accused of awarding contracts to nonexisting companies; contracts to companies without financial and infrastructural muscles to deliver; contract splitting, contracts duplication to same companies and fraudulent crediting of his personal account with government money.

The charge was read after the counsel to first accused, M.A. Magarji, withdrew his objection to a plea.

The accused pleaded not guilty.

Shittu urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody pending the commencement of trial and opposed a bail application.

Justice Aliyu rejected an

•Lawal...yesterday

oral bail application moved by the defence counsel.

The judge held that the charges against the accused were too weighty and required sufficient materials to be placed before the court.

She ordered that the accused be remanded in Kuje Prison till a formal bail application is filed and detrmined.

She adjourned the case till June 6 and 7 for hearing.

The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has described the trial as a being politically motivated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, said: “We do not support corruption, neither do we support witch-hunting or unnecessary vendetta. We

Dariye urges poll losers to go to court From Marie-Therese Peter, Jos

•Dariye

F

ORMER Plateau State Governor and Senatorelect for Plateau Central, Chief Joshua Dariye, yesterday urged losers in last month’s elections to seek redress in court.

He said he was not afraid of anyone challenging his

M

victory.

Dariye addressed reporters in Jos, the state capital, after collecting his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He said it was not true that he was at Kanam local government a day before the election, as being speculated by his opponents who alleged that he rigged.

Dariye said he got 9,000 votes from his Mushere ward where there were 17,000 registered voters, adding that his opponents were emphasising that he rigged the poll in his home town.

He said: “How can the opposition rig the election when they do not have

enough money to manipulate? It is only those in government that can rig because they have the power and the money to do that.”

Dariye said he had never been a coward in his political career, adding that it was a waste of time for anyone to attempt to distract those in power.

He said: “I will die a man, I cannot die a coward. I once told Governor Jonah Jang that I would never antagonise him because I have been on that seat before”.

He urged Jang to carry everybody along, irrespective of religion or ethnic group.

Dariye said: “Those in powers that want to rule alone are causing problems for themselves. But if you carry everybody along, it saves you a lot of things. If not, all eyes are you.”

JUTH CMD’s mum dead

RS. Elizabeth Pam, mother of the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Jos Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Dr. Ishaya Pam, is dead.

She was 75.

Her first son and former Plateau State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Plateau State, Mr. Yakubu Pam, confirmed the death

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

yesterday.

She died on Tuesday at Peterborough Hospital in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.

Mrs. Pam was the wife of Col. James Pam, the first artillery officer in the Nigerian Army, who was killed in the

military coup of January 15, 1966.

She was a member of the Justice Oputa Panel, which probed the human rights abuses by the military.

Mrs Pam was also Chairman of the Plateau Peace Conference, in 2004, during the emergency rule.

She is survived by six children.

know the role the first accused played in the enthronement of CPC in Nasarawa State and the fact that the incumbent governor was enraged over it and vowed to get at him by all means.

“Though this trial was earlier slated for May 17, he was hurriedly arrested and brought to court today (yesterday). We are not perturbed as we know that eventually justice will prevail.

However, we want to tell our supporters to be ready for more tribulations.

“Our resolve to subject all the ballot papers used in the presidential election to an intense scrutiny at the election tribunal is making some persons jittery. Consequently, we are expecting more persecution and unprovoked tribulations ahead.”

HERE was panic yesterday in Mbazaam village, near Yandev town, Gboko Local Government of Benue State following the crash of a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jet near a community school.

No lives were lost as the pilots reportedly ejected to safety before the crash.

Farmers in the area ran helter-skelter as the plane exploded, making a deafening noise.

An eyewitness said the residents noticed the aircraft hovering at very low altitude, arousing their suspicion that something was wrong with it.

He said few minutes later, two men parachuted out of the aircraft, adding that the residents were attractedto where the plane was suspected to have landed.

Contacted, NAF Tactical Air Command’s Public Relations Officer, Wing Commander Adedayo Makun confirmed the crash.

He said: “An F-7Ni aircraft of NAF crashed this morning at Yandev Mbaniongu Mbazaam, near Yandev Community Secondary School, Kilometre 4, Buruku Road. The two pilots on board successfully ejected from the aircraft.

A NAF search and rescue helicopter from 305 Flying Training School, Enugu, has sighted and recovered the pilots to NAF Medical Hospital, Makurdi.”

He decline further comments.

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Mohammed Umar has set up an investigative panel to look into the circumstances lead-

‘A preliminary investigation into the crash has been ordered by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal MD Umar, to ascertain the cause of the accident.’

From Dele Anofi, Abuja Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

ing to the crash.

A statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Air Commodore Yusuf Anas, reads: “A Nigerian Air Force F7-Ni aircraft, on a routine training exercise, crashed this morning (yesterday) at Mbaniongu Mbazaam, near Yandev Community Secondary School, Kilometre 4, Buruku Road, Yandev, Benue State.

“The two pilots on board the aircraft successfully ejected from the aircraft. A Nigerian Air Force Search and Rescue helicopter from 305 Flying Training School, Enugu, has already sighted and flown the pilots to the Nigerian Air Force Medical Hospital, Makurdi, for medical assessment.

“A preliminary investigation into the crash has been ordered by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal MD Umar, to ascertain the cause of the accident.”

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

FOREIGN NEWS

France sets 2012 presidential election

T

HE two rounds of the 2012 French presidential election will be held on 22 April and 5 May, the government has announced in Paris.

A two-round parliamentary election will follow on 10 and 17 June, said government spokesman Francois Baroin.

Opinion polls suggest sitting President Nicolas Sarkozy would struggle against a strong Socialist contender.

The popularity of far right leader Marine Le Pen has alarmed other parties across the political spectrum.

Since Mr Sarkozy won the 2007 election by a convincing margin, the centre-right leader has had to grapple with public anger over his austerity policies.

While the Socialists have yet to pick their candidate, opinion polls suggest IMF chief Dominique StraussKahn would be their strongest choice.

UN peacekeepers attacked in Sudan’s oil region

F

OUR United Nations peacekeepers in Sudan have been wounded after their patrol was attacked in the disputed Abyei region along the north-south border.

The UN mission said the attack on its patrol in Goli village, 25km (15 miles) north of Abyei town, was unprovoked.

The BBC’s James Copnall says the incident comes at a surprising time.

On Sunday the north and south agreed to remove any unauthorised troops from Abyei, claimed by both sides, which was seen as a positive development.

The UN mission in Sudan, which brokered the withdrawal deal, said the peacekeepers attacked in Goli were from Zambia, and that one of them was in a critical condition.

Abyei is disputed by the Dinka Ngok, a southern ethnic group who are the permanent residents of the region, and the Misseriya, northern nomads who spend part of every year there seeking pastures for their cattle.

Since January there have been a series of bloody clashes between the groups.

They accuse each other using their security forces in the fighting, and of a build-up of troops near Abyei.

Our correspondent in the northern capital, Khartoum, says the fear is that if a solution is not found, Abyei could ignite a new north-south civil war.

South Sudan is preparing to secede from Africa’s biggest country in July, after 99% of voters backed independence in January’s referendum.

Bin Laden sons protest to US over ‘arbitrary killing’ T

HE sons of Osama Bin Laden have criticised the US authorities for carrying out his “arbitrary killing”.

A statement given to the New York Times newspaper said the family wanted to know why the al-Qaeda leader had not been captured alive.

Relatives who survived the May 2 raid in Pakistan should be freed, it said.

Another statement appeared on a jihadist website saying the burial of Bin Laden at sea “demeans and humiliates his family”.

Osama Bin Laden was shot dead by US special forces during a raid on his home in the Pakistani town of Abbottabad.

US officials have said that while Bin Laden was unarmed he had given no indication to the US troops that he wanted to surrender.

Attorney General Eric Holder has said that the killing was lawful and “an act of national self-defence”.

The statement printed by the New York Times was attributed to Bin Laden’s fourth son, Omar Bin Laden, who has

Hand-written journal seized in raid

U

NITED States officials say that Osama bin Laden kept a hand-written journal filled with planning ideas and details of operations. The journal was seized in the dramatic US raid.

The journal was part of a huge cache of intelligence that included about 100 flash drives and five computers taken

by U.S. Navy SEALs after they swept through the compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk publicly about what was found in bin Laden’s hideout.

Bin Laden has long been known to record his thoughts and had been thought to keep a diary. Bin Laden’s son, in a memoir, has described his father as recording his thoughts and plans when the family lived in Sudan and Afghanistan. repeatedly distanced himself from his father’s ideology.

It said that in absence of a body or photographic evidence, the family were not convinced he was dead.

But if he was dead, it said, they were questioning “why an unarmed man was not arrested and tried in a court of law so that truth is revealed to the people of the world”.

They argue Bin Laden’s kill-

ing had broken international law and that figures such as former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic had been given the chance to stand trial.

“We maintain that arbitrary killing is not a solution to political problems and crime’s adjudication as justice must be seen to be done.”

The family said they were

demanding an inquiry into why Bin Laden was “summarily executed without a court of law” and demanded the release of his three wives and several children, who are believed to be in Pakistani custody.

The statement also said the US decision to bury Bin Laden’s corpse at sea had deprived the family of performing religious rites.

A slightly different version of the report was published on a jihadist websites, said the SITE Intelligence Group.

It said US President Barack Obama was “legally responsible” for clarifying “the fate of our father” and that the sea burial “demeans and humiliates his family and his supporters”.

US President Barack Obama has urged Pakistan to investigate how the al-Qaeda leader could live in the garrison city of Abbottabad undetected and to find out if any officials knew of his whereabouts.

Pakistan’s PM Yousuf Raza Gilani has insisted that allegations of Pakistani complicity and incompetence are “absurd”.

Obama calls for immigration system reform

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RESIDENT Barack Obama has called for broad reform of the US immigration system, while highlighting steps he has taken to strengthen border security.

In Texas, Mr Obama backed a path to legal status for illegal immigrants, as well as crackdowns on employers who hire illegal workers.

He called on Congress to reject “the usual Washington games” and enact a comprehensive overhaul.

An estimated 11million illegal immigrants, most of them Hispanic, live in the US. In El Paso, a Texas border city, Mr Obama said he had satisfied calls from conservatives to tighten security at the border and to increase deportations of illegal immigrants.

He called on Congress to

reform the immigration system in a manner that would encourage skilled and motivated immigrants to participate in American society while ending what he called an underground economy that preys on low-wage illegal immigrants.

Once again, the president is making the case for reform of a system he calls broken. At a time when everyone is focused on the economy, Mr Obama said immigration reform was an economic imperative.

When it came to reform might look like, Mr Obama didn’t appear to have anything new to say, but he said there was a growing coalition of politicians, police chiefs, businessmen and religious leaders across the country who now agree on the need for change.

Earthquake rocks southern Spain, kills seven MAGNITUDE 5.3 earthquake has toppled several buildings in southern Spain, near the town of Lorca, killing at least seven people, officials say.

The quake struck at a depth of just 1km (0.6 miles), some 120km south-west of Alicante, at 1850 (1650 GMT), the US Geological Survey reported.

TV shots showed rescue workers rushing through debrislittered streets.

Old buildings were badly damaged by the quake, which followed a smaller 4.4-magnitude one about two hours earlier.

Spanish TV captured dramatic images of a church bell tower crashing to the ground, landing just metres from the cameraman.

Shocked residents and workers rushed out of buildings and have gathered in squares, parks and open spaces.

The earthquakes were felt over a wide area.

Spain’s Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has deployed emergency military units to the scene, the Spanish EFE news agency reported.

Mr Zapatero was in a meeting with Spanish King Juan Carlos when he was informed of the quake, the premier’s office said in a statement.

Earthquakes are common in southern Spain, but they rarely result in casualties.

A

•Yemeni anti-government protesters rush a fellow demonstrator to a makeshift hospital…yesterday

PHOTO: AFP

UK govt suffers defeat over police reforms

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HE government has suffered a surprise defeat in the House of Lords over its plans for directly-elected police commissioners in England and Wales.

Peers backed a Lib Dem amendment, by 188 votes to 176, blocking the idea.

Critics had warned the plans could do “irreparable damage” to the police service by putting too much power in the hands of one person.

Before the defeat, ministers had said the plans would go ahead but with adequate “checks and balances”.

The plan for directly-elected police and crime commissioners, which would replace elected police authorities in England and Wales, is one of the government’s flagship crime and policing policies.

Peers concerned about the plan had been expected to push for the idea to be piloted in a handful of areas rather than being introduced around the country at the same time.

But the Lords went further

during Wednesday’s debate, as Labour and Lib Dem rebels joined forces to remove clauses from the Police Reform Bill giving the go-ahead to the elected commissioners.

They argued that commissioners should be chosen by a police and crime panel from among its members and not elected - a position supported by a majority of 12 in a vote at the end of the debate.

Lib Dem peer Baroness Harris, who lead the opposition to the plans, said they posed “great risks to policing” and raised doubts about who would have the power to hire and fire chief constables.

The BBC’s Political Correspondent Sean Curran said the vote was a surprise and the government will now face a battle with the Lords as it seeks to reintroduce the clauses into the legislation, potentially having to make further concessions to do this.

However, it may wait until the legislation returns to the Commons before seeking to re-insert the proposals.

The policy, although en-

dorsed by the Conservatives and Lib Dems in their coalition agreement a year ago, has been a source of growing tension between the two parties in recent weeks.

Earlier yesterday, Lib Dem

leader Nick Clegg called for his party to be “more muscular” in standing up for his party’s values in government and more assertive in key policy areas.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

62

FOREIGN NEWS

Uganda opposition leader Kizza Besigye returns home tomorrow

Libya rebels seize Misrata airport

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IBYAN rebels say they have captured Misrata airport, driving back troops loyal to Col Muammar Gaddafi.

Hundreds of rebels were celebrating in the streets after pro-Gaddafi forces fled, leaving behind tanks that were set on fire, witnesses said.

Government forces have been pounding the western city, which remains largely under rebel control, for weeks.

Its port has become a lifeline for supplying civilians and for evacuating wounded people fleeing the fighting.

Meanwhile, explosions were reported in the capital Tripoli yesterday, after Nato said its planes had carried out 6,000 missions over Libya since it assumed command of military operations there at the end of March.

The air strikes have helped secure rebels in their strongholds in eastern Libya, but observers say it remains unclear to what extent they have loosened Col Gaddafi’s grip on on the west of the country.

Witnesses said Misrata airport fell after hours of fighting between rebels and proGaddafi forces overnight.

Misrata’s airport has been an important base for Col Gaddafi’s forces and heavy weapons during the long siege of the city and the heavy bombardments that have accompanied it.

During the past few days, rebels have been making a big push to break the siege, and heavy fighting has been reported around the airport south of the city. A French reporter at the airport said it had been captured, along with a number of government tanks, but that couldn’t be confirmed by the rebel’s chief military spokesman - a fact that may underline the poor communications that have plagued Libya’s fragmented revolutionaries.

It is probably too soon to consider whether the airport can be used to bring supplies - civilian or military - into Misrata. Col Gaddafi’s forces have managed, despite intensified Nato air raids, to keep hold of long-range weapons

with a range of more than 30km (20 miles).

The broader question is whether the rebels can now hold onto both the airport, and a larger swathe of territory recently captured on the western side of the city. The next few days should offer some insights into the resilience of pro-Gaddafi forces in the area, and their determination to recapture the only fully “liberated” chunk of western Libya.

The bodies of pro-government forces could be seen lying in the street as the rebels celebrated their victory, correspondents said. A dozen rebels were said to have been wounded in the fighting.

Col Ahmed Bani, a spokesmen for the rebel leadership in Benghazi, told the BBC that as well as taking the airport, “revolutionary forces” now controlled Misrata.

As well as burning government tanks, the rebels had captured other weaponry from the regime troops, he said.

Libya’s third-largest city,

U

•Gaddafi

Misrata is the only significant western rebel holdout, and is strategically important because of its deep-sea port.

Though the rebels are said to be better organised than those in eastern Libya, and have, for example, set up a network of makeshift arms factories, their campaign is still an improvised affair.

Government forces have sown anti-shipping mines off the harbour, used Russianmade Grad rockets to scatter anti-vehicle mines in the port, and set fuel storage tanks ablaze with missile strikes, according to rebels and human rights groups.

GANDAN opposition leader Kizza Besigye will not return from Kenya until Friday, the day after President Yoweri Museveni is sworn in, his party says.

Yesterday morning, Dr Besigye said he was prevented from boarding a flight from Nairobi to Uganda, but then later told the BBC he had been allowed to return home on Wednesday evening.

Now, a party official says the 55-year-old will not return until Friday.

The Ugandan government has denied taking any action to block his return.

Museveni, who defeated Dr Besigye in February’s election, is to be sworn in on Thursday.

Dr Besigye, who says the election was rigged, was violently arrested during a protest in Uganda two weeks ago and his eyesight was damaged by pepper spray.

He travelled to Kenya to receive medical treatment.

The opposition leader told the BBC from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta international airport: “The Ugandan government had told the Kenya Airways chief executive that if they board us the aircraft will not be allowed to land in Uganda and that we were not welcome and that therefore they had absolutely nothing to do if they wanted to fly to Uganda but offload us.”

Later, he told the BBC that he had been given permission

to return but could not say why the authorities had reversed their decision.

He said his wife had been negotiating with staff at the Kenya Airways office in Nairobi.

Dr Besigye told reporters at Nairobi airport that he would fly home on Wednesday evening.

The BBC’s Anne Mawathe, in Nairobi, said Dr Besigye was booked on a flight leaving at 1800 (1500 GMT).

But now, an official in his political party, Anne Mugisha, says the opposition leader has opted to remain in Kenya until Friday, the day after the inauguration.

Uganda’s information minister, Kabakumba Matsiko, told the BBC the government had not told Kenya Airways to stop Dr Besigye from boarding its flight from Nairobi to Entebbe, outside Kampala.

“We were surprised when the FDC (Forum for Democratic Change - Dr Besigye’s party) started spreading this rumour that the government had blocked Besigye from coming back,” she told the BBC’s Newshour programme.

“The government has nothing to do with Besigye not coming to Uganda. We’re waiting for Besigye to come back and all the preparations have been made.”

She said all airlines had been told Dr Besigye was free to travel.

South Africa’s ANC youth leader angry over open-air toilet

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OUTH Africa’s firebrand youth leader Julius Malema has hit out at officials for building openair toilets.

He was in a township run by the ANC in Free State province where there are some 1,600 toilets with cisterns and pipes but no surrounding wall.

“Heads must roll,” said Mr Malema, head of the ANC Youth League. The league had taken an opposition party to court over a similar issue.

The matter is proving embarrassing for all parties ahead of local elections.

The toilets can often be seen from several houses in a neighbourhood and are a delicate issue ahead of the elections on 18 May. The African National Congress (ANC) Youth League had taken the opposition Democratic Alliance to court

over the issue in the Western Cape.

Last month, a high court ruled that the DA-run municipality should provide shelters for about 1,300 open-air toilets in an area of Khayelitsha, outside Cape Town.

Top ANC officials, including Mr Malema and Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula, toured Rammulotsi township in the central Free State province where residents showed them the toilets.

The township toilets are visible for many to see The residents said the ANC-led council had told them they could not afford to erect enclosures, South Africa’s Mercury newspaper reports.

“We condemn open toilets.

It’s inhumane,” South Africa’s Times paper quotes Mr Mbalula as saying.

“There’s no privacy, no humanity and no dignity.”

US Southern states brace for flood

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OMMUNITIES along the southern stretch of the Mississippi River are bracing for major floods as the crest of the swollen river moves downstream.

In poverty stricken areas of the Mississippi delta, the river and its tributaries have washed away crops and forced people to leave their homes.

The state of Mississippi’s riverfront gambling industry has also been hit, with all 19 casinos to shut this week.

The flooding has badly affected Memphis and other cities further upstream.

The flood crest has passed Memphis and is expected to move downstream toward New Orleans within the next three weeks, the National Weather Service said.

The Mississippi’s tributar-

ies have also flooded. In Arkansas, on the river’s west bank, flooding along the White River forced officials to close Interstate 40, one of the busiest highways in the state.

Yesterday, the river was expected to crest in Helena, Arkansas, at 56.5ft (17.2m), 12.5ft above flood stage.

In the delta states of Mississippi and Louisiana, workers were shoring up levees to strengthen them against the coming high water.

Louisiana’s St Martin Parish gave jail inmates the task of filling sandbags to protect homes on ground that could be flooded if the authorities open a floodway to take pressure off the levees over the cities of Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

63

NATION SPORT

FALLOUT OF SUWON INVITATIONAL

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‘Why we lost to New Zealand’

HE loss by the Nigeria U-20 team to New Zealand at the just concluded Suwon Invitational in South Korea has been traced to injury problems in the team NationSport can reveal.

Flying Eagles had lost 3-4 to New Zealand to emerge second at the tourney after defeating host South Korea and drew 2-2 with eventual winners Uruguaya.

A reliable source close to the team told NationSport exclusively that before the match against the Junior Kiwis, the John Obuh- led team had suffered several injury blows, occasioned by the inability of the team to play the African Youth Championship (AYC) with the allotted number of player. He said the development had its toll on the Flying Eagles in Korea.

He further revealed that most key players struggled in pains, but were urged on by their willingness to serve fatherland, and in order not to repose the confidence of the Coach, John Obuh whom they regard as a father figure.

The situation according to the source, became worse ahead of the last match against New Zealand with only three players on the substitute bench after the

N

NIGERIA Premier league leaders, Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt suffered their biggest loss of the season in Aba yesterday after losing to Enyimba with three unreplied goals.

Enyimba who lost by a 2-1 margin to Dolphins during the last encounter in Port Harcourt spared no mercy in dealing with club at Aba as they hammered the league big name.

The match went without scores until the 32nd minute when Uche Kalu opened the

From Florence Nkem Israel, Port Harcourt. scoreline for the People's Elephant.

With much expectations for a come from Dolphins came the second goal at the first minute of the second half resumption from Enyimba striker, Victor Barnabas.

Josiah Maduabuchi sealed the scores in the 85th minute of play to ensure a convincing victory for the Aba millionaires.

Ousmane's brace sinks Heartland

• Terry Envoh

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri starting eleven, adding that at a point, team's goalkeeper Dami Paul Danjuma was told to man the right- full back position.

The source said: “ We lost but the circumstances with

which we lost is what people don’t really know. We left the AYC with players that have injury complaints but had to travel with the team. Throughout the matches we played we had players who were playing with the injury barriers but

because of their love for the country they endured. We only had three people on the substitute bench in the match against New Zealand and our first choice goal keeper, Dami Paul Danjuma played from the right full back position.

Ajetunmobi, Hassan win Victory T/Tennis tourney IGERIA'S international table tennis player, Seun Ajetunmobi and Funke Hassan, have emerged the winners in the Men's and Women's Singles of the Victory Table Table Tennis Championship organised by the Lagos State Table Tennis Association.

The one day tournament which came to a close on Tuesday at the Mobolaji Johnson Sportshall, Rowe Park, Yaba, saw Ajetunmobi, who plays professional table tennis in Portugal, beating a home based ping ponger, Olabisi Yussuf, from Ogun State.

Ajetunmobi, who defeated Adeyinka Ahmed-Taiwo in the Men's Singles semi clash by 11- 7, 12- 10, 11 - 6, humilated Olabisi Yusuf who crushed Dotun Aiyelumo, to reach the final by three sets to, 11- 7, 11 - 6,6 - 11, 11 -7.

Funke Hassan, who outplayed Sidikat Yakubu by three set to one to book a date with Bose Odusanya whom she beat by three straight set of 11 - 7, 11- 7, 11 -8, in the semi final before she square up with Yetunde Thompson in the final.

Thompson, who also beat Yusuf Modinat and Aminat Fashola in semi final by three set to one, 9 - 11, 11 - 7, 11 - 2, 12 - 10, to confront Funka Hassan who whipped her by threeset to one, 9 - 11, 11 - 8, 11 - 8, 11 - 4.

To their efforts, Ajetunmobi and Hassan were honoured with a cash prize of

Dolphins suffers season's biggest defeat

By Innocent Amomoh fifteen thousand naira each coupled with table tennis kits as the second placed winners smiled home with Eight thousand naira each, while joint third placed ping pongers got two thousand naira each.

As part of efforts to encourage the state's ping pongers to work hard to win majr tournaments, the association rewarded all the ping pongers that were eliminated in the quarter final statge in the Men's and Women's Singles events.

Chairman of the Association,Olumuyiwa Noah, said the tournament which was in honour of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola and his Deputy, Adejoke Orelope Adefulure, stressing that the tournament has enabled the asso-

• Seun Ajetunmobi

ciation to discover two young female ping pongers who would be groomed to represent the state in future tournaments.

While speaking, the former Gunsa Table Tennis player in Portugal, who commended the Associa-

t i o n ' s Chairman,OLumuyiwa Noah, for deeming it fit to sponsor the event, urged corporate bodies and sports philantrophists to support the association's quest to add value to the sport through regular tournaments.

SHARKS football club of Port Harcourt resumed the second round of the Nigeria Premier league with luck smiling their way as extra time back heeling from defender, Ousmane Sane ensured that they grabbed tha three maximum points at stake.

An interesting encounter which had the visiting Heartland almost escaping with a point as both teams fought it out in the pitch.

With no spectatcular displays, both teams played to win and the match could have gone either way as the pressure mounted from both sides.

With the ninety minutes ending goaless, an added injury time of four minutes was enough to give Sharks the much desired victory as the club's ace Senegalese import,

From Florence Nkem Israel, Port Harcourt.

Ousmane Sane back heeled a corner kick in the second minute of the injury time to the surprise of goalie Ambrose to snatch the three points for Sharks.

Coach Emma Osuigwe of Heartland, despite the loss said it was a very good encounter but blamed the loss on last minutes loss of concentration.

"Heartland lost due to their lack of concentration in the game within the last three minutes and that was the reason for the goal. It was a nice game and it was well contended. Heartland played well and Sharks too and apart from that loss of concentration, it could have gone another way", said the coach.

We didn’t take our chances, HEARTLAND'S foreign imDe kryuf port and Dutch Technical adviser, Louis De Kryuf has blamed their Port Harcourt loss on the failure of his players to take their chances during the game.

While speaking to NationSport after the encounter, De Kryuf said that when a team fails to convert the chances they create, the would always end up drawing or losing and that was the main rea-

From Florence Nkem Isreal, Port Harcourt. son why they lost.

"We spoilt the game because we lost. We had our chances and we could not take our chances and we could'nt score anyone of our chances and we know how difficult it is and everybody knows that when you don't score your chances, you will either lose or draw", he lamented.

Tomorrow in THE NATION

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 6, NO.1,757

‘Will these gallant youthful soldiers be forgotten like several others before them by the nation? We should further ask ourselves; what is the essence of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme that rather than unify the country is despoiling it? Has the scheme outlived its usefulness?’

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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HE following article by me first appeared in my column in The Nation on 27, May, 2010. It is being published again at the request of some of my readers to remind our politicians of the general futility of political careers. Only those motivated by public service, and not personal selfish interest, can achieve any success and fame in their political career.

“Are all political careers bound to end in failure? Or, is it possible to achieve personal success and self-fulfillment in politics? When the defeated former British Labour Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, tendered his resignation to the Queen recently, and announced that he was quitting as the Leader of the Labour Party in the Commons as well, there was a tinge of regret in his voice, leading one British commentator to observe ruefully that all political careers end in failure. In a distinguished political career, Gordon Brown had served for ten years as a widely respected Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Prime Minister for three years. He had made an immense contribution to the easing of the global economic crisis and was widely admired abroad. Yet, he suffered a humiliating defeat in the elections. His political career ended on a note of regret.

Labour had been in power for 13 years, and the British electorate thought it was time for change, though it did not hand the Conservatives outright victory in the polls. British involvement in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan was a major factor in the defeat of the Labour government. The British electorate was simply tired of a war into which Tony Blair, who preceded Gordon Brown as Prime Minister, had dragged Britain. In retrospect, many consider the war unnecessary and costly. It is the main source of the huge budget deficit of some 156 billion pounds with which Britain is now faced, and the Labour government paid dearly for it at the polls. It prematurely ended Gordon Brown’s otherwise brilliant political career. He was a victim of circumstances he could not help.

But Gordon Brown was not the first British political leader to have suffered a humiliating electoral defeat, despite his impressive record and achievement in office. In 1945, the outstanding British wartime hero, Winston Churchill, was turned out of office at the polls after he had led Britain to victory in World War II. The British electorate was simply fed up with the huge sacrifice and deprivations in Britain during the war. Clement Atlee, the Labour Party leader, succeeded Churchill as Prime Minister, and proceeded immediately to introduce sweeping reforms, including a full scale programme of nationalisation of key sectors of the British economy. Churchill had sworn that he would not preside over the liquidation of the Britain Empire. But Atlee, his successor paved the way for the independence of India in 1947 after a bloody colonial war. The nationalisation programme was initially hailed as a success, but in 1951 the Atlee Labour government was turned out of office. Atlee never returned to power again as the Conservatives won the next two general elections that kept them in power for the next 13 years.

Hugh Gaitskell, the brilliant Economist, replaced Clement Atlee as the leader of the Labour Party, but soon died in harness, suspected of being poisoned by the Soviet Union’s KGB. The Labour Party faced internal

DAPO FAFOWORA

FROM THE SUMMIT dapo.fafowora@thenationonlineng.net

Is failure inevitable in a political career?

•Obasanjo

division, dropped the programme of nationalisation, and began moving to the centre of British politics.

Winston Churchill returned to office in 1951, but was too tired and too old. Anthony Eden, the brilliant wartime Foreign Secretary who had established a reputation for himself as a strong critic of Neville Chamberlain’s appeasement policy in the years leading to World War II, succeeded Churchill in 1953 in very auspicious circumstances.

But three years later, he made the fatal mistake of invading Egypt, in collaboration with France and Israel. It was an unjust war. The United States pulled the rug from under Eden’s feet, forcing him to withdraw his troops from the Suez Canal, the bone of contention. Ailing and broken in spirit, Eden resigned as Prime Minister soon after, in very humiliating circumstances, quitting politics for good. His otherwise brilliant political career was in ruins. He never returned to office again and died soon after.

He was succeeded as Prime Minister by Harold Macmillan who remained in office until 1963. It was he who granted most of the former British colonies in Africa, including Nigeria, their independence. He won two general elections on the catchy slogan that the Brits had ‘never had it so good’. But in 1963 he was forced to resign as Prime Minister by a series of major scandals in the Conservative Party, and his failing health. He was simply too tired to continue leading a fractured Party and country. Lord Home succeeded him as Prime Minister but made little impact on British politics. He had been a good Foreign Secretary, but proved to be a poor Prime Minister. In 1964, he lost the elec-

RIPPLES IMOKE EMPOWERS CIVIL SERVANTS WITH CARS–News

CARS?...don’t forget FUEL too sir

tion and was succeeded as Prime Minister of a new Labour government by Harold Wilson, the former Oxford don. The Socialists had been in the political wilderness for 13 years and had moved gradually to the centre of British politics discarding their Socialist pretensions.

In 1970, Harold Wilson lost the general elections to the Conservatives, and was succeeded as Prime Minister by Ted Heath, who could only hold office for a mere three years before he was turned out of office by a labour strike. Harold Wilson returned to power but, vilified by the M16 as a possible Soviet spy, he too proved too tired and shabby to continue. He was happy to turn over the Labour government to Jim Callaghan and quit politics altogether.

In 1974, Margaret Thatcher, the ‘milk snatcher’ defeated the Labour Party, and became the first woman Prime Minister in Britain. She sought to change the face of Britain politics by pursuing a rigid monetarist economic policy that involved massive cuts in the expansive fiscal policy of the Labour government. She went to war over the Falklands and became an instant British hero. But a few years later her colleagues in the front bench of the Conservative government turned against her, removing her as Prime Minister. She left office and politics in tears.

Similar examples of ultimate failure in politics abound in many other countries.

With the Bay of Pigs fiasco in 1960, America’s role in Vietnam, and the Cuban missiles crisis in 1962, when the world teetered on the brink of a nuclear war, can it truly be said that John Kennedy’s political career ended in success? True, he and his brother, Robert Kennedy, stood in support of the emancipation of the blacks in America, but their success in this area was limited. Lyndon Johnson, the architect of the so-called Great Society in the US, was destroyed by America’s involvement in the Vietnam War, a tragedy without mitigation, in which the US suffered a humiliating defeat in the hands of the Vietcong. He decided not to seek another term in office as President and died, broken, a few years later. Vietnam had destroyed what he stood for and his considerable accomplishment in office.

But for ‘Watergate’, Richard Nixon, much vilified by the American media, would have been a great American President. It was he who ended the war in Vietnam, but only escaped going to jail later by plea-bargain-

HARDBALL

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OW that the country appears to have brought down the curtain on the 2011 general elections festival, attention will for the next few weeks be focused on election tribunals. Like the elections in some states and constituencies, some of the tribunals, and in particular some of the judges, will also become controversial and even despised. Though the scale of litigation this year will not resemble anything like that of 2007, when, it could be argued, we had no election properly so called, some of the cases will still be keenly contested. Of course, there will be allegations of surreptitious phone calls, which riddled the election petitions in the Southwest after the 2007 polls, and accusations of financial inducements to buy justice and undermine judges.

Inducements and the judges To forestall what promises to be a rollicking politico-judicial exchange that threatens the body politic, some of the tribunals have attempted to set ground rules for cases that would be brought before them.

The Edo election tribunal, for instance, has come out pointedly to warn those who might want to subvert justice through the offer of gifts, both in cash and in kind, to the tribunal judges to beware. As Justice Paul Ohi Elechi, chairman of the Edo election tribunal, put it in a tone dripping with

MOBOLAJI SANUSI

ing over the ‘Watergate’ scandal. He too left office in tears and in disgrace. In France, General de Gaulle, the great French wartime leader, resigned as President angrily after he lost a referendum on which he had staked his entire political career. Very few people now remember Lenin or Stalin, the two great architects of communist rule in the Soviet Union. Stalinism was strongly denounced in Russia by Khruschev, Stalin’s successor. The former Soviet Union collapsed. Russia has fully embraced capitalism. And the great Chinese communist leader, Mao Tse Tung, once complained, in his twilight years, that no one listened to him anymore. Even his wife led a rebellion against him. China, still under communist rule, has become increasingly capitalist.

In Africa, the great Kwame Nkrumah died in exile, Nyerere’s great ‘Ujamaa’ philosophy, once hailed as the key to Africa’s development, has been abandoned in Tanzania by his successors. Here at home, one can see the same phenomenon of failure in politics at play. I must emphasize that by success, l do not mean material success. Rather, I am thinking of success in term of public service, with the aim of transforming the society. None of Nigeria’s four great pre-independence leaders, the Sardauna, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa, can be said to have left office on a positive note.

Two of them, the Sardauna and Prime Minister Balewa, were brutally assassinated in the 1966 military coup, without fulfilling their real potentials. Awolowo was wrongly convicted and jailed on trumped up charges of treasonable felony. He never became Prime Minister and quit politics in disgust and frustration after the massive rigging of the 1983 elections, warning that the next generation of Nigerians will never know what a democracy is all about. In the case of the great Zik, he first supported Biafra during the civil war, but soon defected to the federal side for reasons of political expediency. True, he became the first Nigerian Governor General and, later, President of the Republic, in a non-executive capacity.

But this was not really what he wanted, or what he deserved. The entire era of military rule can be written off completely. Only General Gowon deserves some commendation for successfully prosecuting the Nigerian civil war, and preventing Nigeria from breaking up. But he too was forced into exile for many years.

Obasanjo has been in power twice. But even he must feel some remorse that he could, and should, have done better when he was in office. Today, he is one of the most vilified political figures in Nigeria.

Of course, we must avoid falling into the trap of regarding politics as a cynical game, played largely by people with unworthy motives. There are still a few Nigerian politicians imbued with a sense of public service.

Politics can be an honourable, even noble, profession, concerned with great issue of fundamental importance to the people of this country. The problem is how to make our politicians peoples of genuine convictions, who really believe that they are capable of acting in the interest of the public, and not simply to line their own pockets”.

• For comments, send SMS to 08054503031

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above sarcasm, “The Court of Appeal has sent us and it is taking good care of us. We don’t want any form of inducement. If you have such money, you can use it to do some other things or give it to charity.”

Justice Elechi and his colleagues in the Edo tribunal and other tribunals can be sure no amount of campaign would dissuade those who specialise in selling and buying of justice from trying to subvert justice with inducements. Just like some are determined to buy justice, others are bent on selling it.

Justice Elechi has given a sound admonition to those who may be interested in buying justice; he should give the greater attention to those in the numerous election tribunals all over the country who might be interested in selling.

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