Sun News August 18 2012

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Prayer warrior goes berserk in Onitsha N150

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012 VOL. 7 NO. 2436

•Bathes girl, 15, with Holy Ghost hot water

Police defuse bomb in Rivers banana farm

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Anxiety over Nnamani Page 3

•Ex-gov abroad for medical treatment –Aide

Imo moves to stop exorbitant bride price Community G 2001: Speaker Imo House of Assembly, Hon Ben Uwajimogu presenting the Community Govt Council Law to Gov Rochas Okorocha at the inauguration ceremony in Owerri recently.

...As Okorocha inaugurates community govt

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Cult war: Councillor, 3 others killed

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Anxiety over Nnamani N150

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012 VOL. 7 NO. 2436

•Ex-gov abroad for medical treatment –Aide Page 3

Strike: Govt pleads with fuel marketers

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Prayer warrior goes berserk ...Bathes girl,15, with Holy Ghost hot water Robbers routed in Ekiti, abandon 3 vehicles, run into bush Page 12

IBB backs state Page 3 police ...Says at 71, ‘I’m aging gracefully’

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu presenting the National Productivity Order of Merit Award to a lady mechanic, Mrs. Ekperuoh-Aguebor Sandra, at the 12th National Productivity Day celebration in Abuja, yesterday.

Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), decorating Mr. Ezekiel Oyemomi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, with the National Productivity Order of Merit Award in Abuja, yesterday

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Prayer warrior goes berserk N150

...Says at 71, ‘I’m aging gracefully’ Page 3

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Robbers routed in Ekiti ...Abandon 3 vehicles, run into bush

Revealed: Aregbesola’s Cuban deal

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IBB backs state police

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012 VOL. 7 NO. 2436

•Bathes girl, 15, with Holy Ghost hot water

Oyo State Government yesterday embarked on demolition of some structures blocking waterways and river channels in Ibadan metropolis. One of the structures being pulled down at Agbowo Area. Inset: Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Miss Kafayat Adeojo, addressing newsmen during the exercise.

STRIKE:

Govt pleads with fuel marketers Page 5

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Anxiety over ex-Gov Nnamani’s health From CHIDI NNADI, Enugu

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here was intense anxiety over the health condition of former governor of Enugu State, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani in Enugu yesterday.

The tension arose from a source in the United States who called home to say that the health of Nnamani had taken a plunge.

The ex-governor was said to have taken ill and flown to the United States about two months ago where he had an open heart surgery.

However, a close confidant of Nnamani, who spoke to Daily Sun in Enugu yesterday, said the surgery on the leader of the Ebeano group in Enugu was successful though he might not be 100 per cent fit now.

The source, however, told Daily Sun that he spoke with him in the morning yesterday, assuring that Nnamani who held sway as Enugu governor for eight years before handing over to Governor Sullivan Chime in 2007, would pull through his sickness.

He assured that there was no cause for any alarm.

IBB backs state police •Says ‘I’m aging gracefully at 71’ From AKIN ALOFETEKUN, Minna

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ormer military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), yesterday threw his weight behind the calls for state police, saying the fears against it should be jettisioned.

Fielding questions from journalists on the eve of his 71st birthday at his Uphill Mansion in Minna, Niger State, yesterday, he admitted that the fears of state police manifested themselves in the 50s but warned that such anxiety should not haunt us, almost 70 years on.

“Left to me, the whole essence of governance is to provide adequate security for the people and in whatever way this is achieved is acceptable. I don’t believe the fear of what happened in the 50s should continue to haunt us. We should try to move on.

“When we were there, we established the National Guard that was so crucified and was later dropped. Why should we think that what happened in the 50s where the regional police were used to intimidate the opposition, will continue to happen under the present dispensation?

“I don’t think governors now can use state police to intimidate anybody. Honestly, the fear is unfounded.”

On Boko Haram, the General, said the security challenges were what any developing country must have to go through.

“But the fact is that you press people have not done enough study, enough investigation to find the real cause of Boko Haram and other violent communal clashes.”

Babangida also urged the media to stop giving prominence to those, suggesting the break up of Nigeria and described the call on President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to resign as laughable.

Recalling the bitter exchange of words between him and former President Olusegun Obasanjo last year, Babangida, who described the two-time head of state as a strong believer in Nigerian unity, said no matter the level of their disagreement, they both will continue to unite for Nigeria.

“We have something bigger than all these tantrums in your papers. Some of these problems were heightened by you people in the media: the print, the electronics.”

...Northern govs pay tribute to ex-military leader

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ormer military president, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) turns 71 today. He was in power between 1985 and 1993.

Celebrating the birthday, the Northern Governors’Forum (NGF), while paying tributes to Gen. Babangida, said the occasion was a testimony to his leadership style and purposeful lifestyle.

Chairman of the forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, described Babangida as the symbol of statesmanship, patriotism, vision and courage, which are some of the excellent leadership virtues that have guided him through his years of active public service life.

The forum’s message, which was contained in a statement signed by Governor Aliyu’s Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, said the former military leader excelled in his chosen profession and presided over Africa’s most influential country when he showed rare vision, courage and exemplary leadership.

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L-R: Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Jibril Aku, Chairman, Government Employment Pension Fund (GEPF) of South Africa, Mr. Moloto, Dr Sonny Kuku, Chairman, Ecobank Nigeria and Arnold Ekpe, CEO, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), when the GEPF team visited the bank in Lagos, Wednesday. Public Investment Corporation (PIC) of South Africa, managers of the GEPF, had invested $250m pension fund in Ecobank.

R-L: Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar, Director, Media Information Support Team, United States Embassy, Ian Edgerly and Assistant Regional Security Officer at the embassy, Thaddaeus Hoft at a workshop on capacity building for police PRO and staff of PPRO, Force Headquaters, Abuja, Thursday.

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, unveiling the Community Government Law while inaugurating the Community Government Council in Owerri, recently.

Photo:NAN

COVER From JULIANA TAIWO-OBALONYE, MOLLY KILETE & DENNIS MERNYI, Abuja

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he Federal Government yesterday appealed to petroleum marketers not to hold consumers to ransom as the fuel scarcity bites harder in Abuja.

Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs Deziani Allison-Madueke said that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) through the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) had enough stockfor the next 40 days.

She expressed regret at the fuel queues, which Alison-Madueke said was not necessary even as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) attributed the scarcity to the strike embarked upon by the National Union of Petroleum and Gas (NUPENG).

But the Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala sees the current fuel scarcity as arm-twisting by petroleum marketers.

A statement issued on Wednesday by her Senior Special Assistant, Mr. Paul Nwabiukwu, accused those indicted by the Aig-Imoukhuede Committee that investigated fuel subsidy payments of hoarding fuel so as to pile pressure on the government to withdraw the charges against them.

According to the statement, “it is clear that the strike was instigated mainly by marketers who were indicted by the AigImoukhuede Committee which investigated fuel subsidy payments. Their obvious intention is to blackmail the Federal Government in order to escape sanctions for the crimes they have committed.”

Government also clarified that its recent withdrawal of charges against four of the subsidy fraud suspects did not amount to discharge and acquittal. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said that it withdrew the cases, based on fresh evidence, with a view to consolidating and preferring new charges against the affected firms.

The marketers had earlier issued a sevenday ultimatum to the government to pay all outstanding claims on petroleum subsidy

Fuel scarcity: Govt pleads with marketers •We have enough to last 40 days –Allison-Madueke or they would shut down filling stations nationwide.

But in a telephone interview yesterday, the presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the Federal Government was working to ensure the matter was quickly resolved but would not say exactly if government was already in talks with the marketers.

“I can assure you that government is not folding its arms, it is trying to meet with the marketers and reach an amicable solution to this crisis. But it is also important to appeal to the marketers not to punish Nigerians by hoarding petroleum products.

They have nothing to do with whatever is the cause of this latest crisis. It can be resolved and government is trying to ensure that is done as soon as possible”.

Okonjo-Iweala, while responding to the claim by some marketers that they embarked on strike because the Federal Government failed to pay them for fuel imports, said: “The true position is that the Federal Government had been meeting its obligations to oil marketers in respect of all legitimate claims.”

According to her, “between April and May, 2012, Batches D/12 and E/12 involving 14 oil marketers with a claim of N17 billion were fully settled through the issuance of Sovereign Debt Notes and other relevant documentation.”

She stated that since her directive to continue payments of all verified claims, N25.6 billion worth of claims have been fully settled with the issuance of Sovereign

Debt Notes.

“In all, between April and August this year, in respect of 2012 PMS claims, Sovereign Debt Notes amounting to N42.666 billion have been issued to 31 oil marketers,” she said.

The minister noted that the claims by marketers who have been recommended for further investigation by the AigImoukhuede Presidential Committee have not been paid disclosing that payments or sanctions to this category of marketers would be determined by the outcome of the investigations.

According to her, “such tactics will not succeed because the Federal Government is determined to ensure that persons and organisations which did the wrong things do not get away with wrong actions and wrong behaviour.

“As we have communicated severally in the last few months, payment of marketers whose claims have been verified will continue to go on in a consistent and structured way which protects the best interests of the country.

“All marketers who have genuine issues to raise regarding their claims are encouraged to come forward for discussions or clarifications.”

Meanwhile, all the filling stations in Asokoro and Maitama areas of Abuja were not selling fuel but the black marketers right in front of their stations were having a field-day selling 10 litres of petrol for between N3,000 and N3,500.

Regretting the present fuel scarcity, Mrs

Allison-Madueke said in Abuja yesterday that government, particularly her ministry, was saddened over the reappearance of queues in the filling stations in Abuja and other parts of the country.

“It with a very deep sense of concern that the Ministry of Petroleum Resources has noticed the increasing queues at our filling stations particularly here in Abuja.

“We want to assure the Nigerian public that the NNPC and the PPMC have enough petroleum products. We have 40 to 45 days stock of consumption in our reserves.

“Having said that, it is also very clear that the Ministry of Finance is working hard to restore normalcy to the situation,” she said.

Allison-Madueke said government was appealing to petroleum marketers to cooperate with the Federal Government because of the coming Sallah celebration.

Meanwhile, the NLC said the indefinite strike embarked upon by NUPENG Wednesday, was as a result of the inability and failure of the Federal Government to settle some outstanding issues and agreement reached with the union some time ago.

NLCs, Head of administration, Emmanuel Ogbuaja, who disclosed this to Daily Sun, said even though Labour was surprised at the sudden appearance of long fuel queues in Abuja, it later gathered from NUPENG that they were as a result of an indefinite strike.

He said the industrial action would continue until government fulfills its promises in the agreement.

6 DAILY SUN Friday, August 17, 2012

NEWS Ibidapo-Obe, Okebukola, ASUU condemn abduction of ESUT VC …Demand for his immediate release

By GABREIL DIKE

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ormer vice chancellors of University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe and Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Peter Okebukola and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday condemned the abduction of the Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT) Vice Chancellor, Prof. Cyprian Onyeji.

The stakeholders of the university system used the opportunity to demand for his immediate release by the kidnappers and also requested that security be beefed up in various institutions nationwide.

Onyeji was on Wednesday abducted by gunmen in front of the main gate of ESUT, Agbani campus, while heading to his office. Three policemen were injured in the process throwing the university into a state of confusion.

In response to Daily Sun text message on the incident, Okebukola described his abduction as “a shameful act and scary one too. It is shameful on account of the gravity of the security situation in the country and scary in the sense that if the VC can be kidnapped, no member of the university community is safe.”

The former executive secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC) said the incident would have a long term negative effect on international linkages as staff and students from universities outside Nigeria would be scared to come to “our universities on exchange programmes. We are all praying for the speedy release of the VC and a stop to the spate of security challenges in the country,” Okebukola stressed.

Reacting to the incident, Ibidapo-Obe said the abduction was a reflection of the security situation in the country noting that, “it is a shame for the university system and Nigeria as a whole,” urging the federal and state governments to tackle the security challenges confronting the country.

According to him, the abduction of the ESUT VC portends danger for the university system and the country and would send the wrong signals to foreign partners even as he insisted that government must find solutions to the security challenges facing the country.

He added: “We pray they release him without any harm. I appeal to the abductors to leave him, he has no money, he is a poor teacher.”

A national officer of ASUU, Dr. Ademola Aremu, described Onyeji’s abduction as alarming and a threat to the security of the nation but noted that his abduction raised question because of the presence of three policemen during the incident.

Army distributes suicide bombers vehicle stoppers to churches, mosques From ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE, Kaduna

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ne Mechanised Division, Nigerian Army Headquarters, Kaduna yesterday distributed what it called ‘Suicide Bombers Vehicle Stoppers’ to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) in Kaduna for onward distribution to churches and mosques.

Presenting the items to the Christian and Muslim umbrella bodies at the 1 Divisional Headquarters, Kaduna, General Officer Commanding (GOC), Major General Garba A. Wahab, said the presentation was part of the Nigerian Army’s commitment to fighting all forms of terrorism across the country.

Wahab said the Army would not relent or fail in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities of protecting lives and property of the Nigerian citizens.

He, however, called on the general public to help with relevant and useful information that would further help the Army in carrying out their assignment effectively and efficiently.

The GOC noted that the ‘Suicide Bomber Vehicle Stoppers’ were used in Pakistan and was effective in checking the activities of the terrorists group, just as he assured that the Army was on top of the security situation in the country.

At the presentation ceremony, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor of Kaduna State on Bureau for Religious Affairs (Christian Matters), Philip Arage, commended the Nigerian Army, describing their gesture as a demonstration of high sense of collaboration with the communities towards fighting terrorism in the country.

Receiving the items on behalf of CAN, the Public Relations Officer, Ben Churchill and Ibrahim Kufena, Secretary of JNI, applauded the magnanimity of the Nigerian Army for the security apparatus distributed to them for onward distribution to churches and mosques across the state.

The representatives of the two bodies both agreed that the items would go a long way in the protection of lives and destruction of property.

•Chairman Lagos State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Deji Elumoye leading journalists on a peaceful protest against harassment of journalists in Ikeja yesterday.

Councillor, 3 others killed in Enugu cult war ...As police launch manhunt for kidnappers of VC From PETRUS OBI, Enugu

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ollowing fresh security concerns in Enugu, four persons, including a councillor were reportedly shot dead yesterday in renewed cult related killings.

The victims were killed at different points. Two were killed in the morning hours at Adelabu and Peter Okoye Streets, in Uwani Area of Enugu while another was killed at Onu-Asata in the afternoon.

The fourth, a councilor in one of the local government areas of the state was killed in the evening at One Day Road, Awkunanaw.

The assailants were said to have operated in cars instead of motorcycles.

The killings were coming just as the police said they were intensifying efforts in the hunt for the kidnappers of the vice-chancellor of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Prof. Cyprian Onyeji.

Onyeji was abducted by unknown gunmen who

ambushed him at the gate of the Agbani campus of the institution, Wednesday.

Although, the police did not confirm a N200m ransom said to have been demanded by the kidnappers, they confirmed that the vice chancellor’s vehicle in which he was whisked away was recovered intact.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Enugu State Command, Ebere Amaraizu said the police were on top of the situation, saying, they have spread their dragnets in hunt of the abductors.

He said the police were yet to determine if the kidnap was a fallout of the ongoing cult war or one perpetrated by an established kidnap syndicate.

The police spokesperson however refused to give details of its findings so far, insisting that such disclosures could jeopardise investigation.

Amaraizu also confirmed the killings in cult-related violence, saying that the police were investigating the killings.

Said he; “The command is

Why we introduced traffic laws –Fashola

By OLUWOLE FAROTIMI

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agos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola has said the new traffic law signed into law by the state government is meant to assist residents and business owners in the state spend less time on the roads and by that reduce loss of man hours in traffic.

Fashola, who spoke while declaring open the 2012

National Convention of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship, at the Police College Grounds, Ikeja, on yesterday noted that the criticisms trailing the new law were unnecessary. He added that they were distractions from the good intention of government to ensure that businesses and the economy of the state enjoy rapid growth.

The Governor, represented

Kidnapping: Obi seals off 2 more buildings From GEOFFREY ANYANWU, Awka

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etermined to rid Anambra State of kidnappers, the state Governor, Mr. Peter Obi yesterday sealed off two more buildings suspected to be the den of kidnappers.

The buildings all in Agukwu-Nri in Anaocha Local Government Area of the state were a multi storey structure under construction at Uruoji village and a bungalow at Obeagu village.

Governor Obi who led the sealing off operation, told

currently investigating a case of murder at Asata involving one Nwaokolo Nnamdi as well as that of Uwani, but we are yet to establish as to whether it has cult involvement.

The killings by rival cult groups in Enugu, which appeared to have died down after several people were killed about two months ago, resumed at the weekend in the Abakpa Nike area of the capital.

The killings were part of the reasons for the ban on the use of motorcycle in the state capital.

newsmen that security report confirmed that the two buildings were linked to heinous crime of kidnapping.

He announced that the two buildings would henceforth remained sealed off in line with the policy of the state on the use of any building for kidnapping purpose, adding that such property would be sealed off and confiscated by the state government.

Obi also said the government would determine the owners of the building, their sources of livelihood and degree of involvement in the crime, stressing that at the end

of investigation, government would either demolish the buildings or put them to government use.

He, however, enjoined property owners to take full ownership of their buildings and to be security conscious to ensure that their facilities were not compromised.

On arrival at the compound of the building at Uruoji, the governor and his entourage met a middle-aged man who identified himself as Mr. Banabas from Adamawa and who claimed to be a security man in-charge of the compound since January this year.

by his deputy, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire added that to assist in making the law less cumbersome, government had put in place, a ‘traffic radio’the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa, with a view to help commuters plan their journey and sensitize road users throughout their travel time.

Fashola pointed out that traffic radio, as it is available in developed cities of the world, provides citizens, the avenue to express their feelings on the traffic situation, activities of enforcement agents and the state of the roads. These, according to the governor, was to ensure that there was an enabling environment for business to flourish and people to live well.

According to him, “We are visitors to other developed countries and we see how things are done and we deemed it fit to replicate such in our state, even as we dream of our mega city status. Also, as a government, we are responsible for all those who choose to live or do business in our State and we remain committed to this”, the governor declared”.

DAILY SUN Friday, August 17, 2012, 7

NEWS Journalists besiege Fashola’s office

By PHILIP NWOSU

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here was a mild drama yesterday at the Lagos State Governor’s office, Alausa as journalists from different media outfits in Lagos barricaded the main entrance to the governor’s office protesting incessant harassment of media men in the state.

The Journalists, who started their protest from the office of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Iyalla Street also in Alausa demanded an end to incessant harassment and physical assault on media men in Lagos.

The protest, according to the Chairman of the Lagos State Council of the NUJ, Mr. Deji Elumoye and the Zone B Vice Chairman of the union, Mr. Dele Atunbi, became necessary following separate attacks on three photo journalists.

The Leadership Newspaper photo journalists, Benedict Uwalaka, last week,was attacked by mortuary attendants at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) while Mr. Tunde Ogundeji, Photo Editor, The NEWS/P.M.NEWS, Mr. Idowu Ogunleye were similarly brutalised by hoodlums at the Ikeja railway terminus on Monday.

The protest took the journalists from Iyalla Street through Awolowo way to the seat of government where armed policemen prevented the journalists from gaining access to the Lagos House.

An Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) attached to the governor’s office came to speak with the NUJ chairman, explaining that the governor had traveled and that there would be nobody to receive the journalists.

Bunkering: EFCC takes possession of illegal oil vessel From FRED ITUA, Abuja

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he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday took possession of an illegal oilbunkering vessel suspected to be carrying 300 metric tones of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil also known as diesel.

The vessel, MT Ocean Treasure, alongside eight crew and three staffers of Vital Shipping Limited, Apapa, owners of the vessel, were handed over to officials of the commission.

Duniya David, principal maritime safety officer of NIMASA, who handed over the vessel and crew on behalf of the Director General of NIMASA, Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro, urged the commission to carry out further investigation on the source of the petroleum product and the operations of the vessel.

Receiving the document transferring the vessel and crew, Head of Media, EFCC, Usman Ladan Baki assured that the commission would do its best in investigating the case.

Operatives of the commission took a sample of the product for analysis.

Reports showed that the vessel was first sighted on August 5 by NIMASA enforcement team on routine patrol off Escravos. Attention was drawn to the vessel because it wasn’t carrying a registered flag and they gave it a chase.

In the encounter and ensuing gun fight, the vessel and its crew escaped. The boat conveying the patrol team ran out of

Dana crash :Coroner re-summons pathologist, NAMA

By AKEEB ALARAPE

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agos State coroner court, presided over by Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, has again summoned Lagos pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to testify before it.

The coroner was making inquest into the death of 153 passengers and crew on board of a Dana plane MD 83, which crashed at Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos State on June 3. Ten other people on ground were killed in the incident.

At the resumed sitting of the coroner yesterday, Komolafe announced before adjourning sitting that the pathologist and NAMA were needed for re-examination by the court.

Earlier at the sitting, Head of Zone 29 of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Adeoye Oluyemi, testified before the coroner and disclosed how a commercial motorcyclist told him about the crash at about 3:45 pm on the fateful day.

Oluyemi said immediately he got the information, he quickly moved to the site of the crash but could not get to the scene on time as traffic on Toyin Street, which was the nearest major road leading to the crash site, was in serious confusion.

He said he had to deploy his men to direct the traffic to pave way for emergency and rescue agencies vehicles.

He described the traffic as overwhelming and very difficult to control by his men until police personnel provided necessary support by blocking the traffic from Ishaga Roundabout and the one coming from the Agbado axis of the road.

• Mpape Market in Abuja reduced to rubble after demolition yesterday. Photo: MUDASHIRU ATANDA

Okorocha inaugurates community govt … Targets to revamp Igbo Language

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t was an ovation galore in Imo State as the state Governor, Rochas Okorocha inaugurated the first ever Community Government Council otherwise known as the FourthTier Government.

The governor also declared open the Traditional Parliament structure to give voice to the masses and to promote cultural values of the Igbos.

Okorocha, in his speech said it was time for the Igbos to stand up and re-introduce their culture, which had been eroded by Western imperialism.

He said the concept of Community Government was to decentralise power to bring governance to the doorsteps of the rural dwellers and to unlock the hidden potentials in the rural communities.

Okorocha said: “It is regrettable that we, the Igbos, depend largely on other tribes for food. This is because we have forsaken agriculture.

“But today, I am glad that we are going back to agriculture for food security and economic development of our state. This is what the Community Government stands for. Let me announce that we have perfected arrangements to establish a

Songhai Farm in all the communities and that is why our brother, who owns the Songhai Farm in Benin Republic is here today with us. We must definitely go back to agriculture because it remains the key to development.”

The governor formally presented the 49-page Community Government Council Law that captured all the communities in the state and the operational framework of the Community Government recently passed by the State House of Assembly.

According to the law, the traditional ruler would serve as the chairman of the council

while those formerly addressed, as president general would serve as secretary.

The community liaison officer, woman leader, youth leader would serve as members. Already, some civil servants had been posted to the various communities to constitute the administrative wing of the council.

Okorocha said under the law, communities could initiate projects according to their needs while government would play its part by providing funds to actualize the projects.

While urging the traditional rulers to embrace the challenges and make good use of the opportunity provided by the Community Government, Okorocha said his administration remained committed

Abuja mass demolition: 100 shops destroyed by bulldozers From FRED ITUA, Abuja

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ontrary to August 31 earlier scheduled date for the commencement of demolition of alleged illegal buildings in 19 villages by authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), more than 100 shops, yesterday, faced the wrath of the bulldozers at the popular New Mpape Market in Abuja.

Accompanied to the demolition site by a combined team of armed policemen, officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigerian Army, the task force swooped on the traders, which caused pandemonium. The traders alleged that they were taken unaware.

When Daily Sun visited the site of the demolished shops, traders and sympathisers

3 crushed, 5 injured in Lagos accident

By CHRISTOPHER OJI

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o fewer than three persons were crushed to death yesterday at Dopemu area of Lagos State when the driver of a private vehicle lost control.

Five other persons, who were also standing at the bus stop, were injured.

The incident occurred around Aluminium Village, opposite Tower Aluminium, along Lagos-Abeokuta

to programmes and policies that would impact positively on the lives of the ordinary people.

Speaking further on the traditional parliament, Governor Okorocha urged the traditional rulers to only make laws that would promote Igbo tradition and cultural values, including language and uniform bride price.

“History is made today with the inauguration of the traditional parliament. This parliament, which has all the traditional rulers in Imo State as members, will provide the window of opportunity for us to promote our culture. This is where laws related to marriage, kola-nut and other cultures that are common to the people would be made.”

Expressway.

Eyewitnesses said the driver of the red Peugeot 406 car marked BM214EKY, who was driving towards IyanaIpaja was moving at top speed.

According to them, the driver suddenly lost control and rammed into the victims, who were on their way from a nearby timber market where they had gone to buy plywood.

Three people were said to

have died on the spot while the other five people who sustained injuries were rushed to an undisclosed hospital.

The vehicle also plunged into the gutter after it had crushed its victims.

It was gathered that the driver, who was rescued from being lynched by Area Boys by policemen from the nearby Dopemu Police Station, was arrested and taken to the station where he was detained.

were seen gathering remnants of their belongings.

Although the planned demolition of Mpape District is being challenged in a high court by affected residents of the area coupled with several appeals from civil organisations, authorities of FCTA appeared undaunted by the public outcry.

Mrs. Agnes Okoye, one of the affected shop owners, told Daily Sun that prior to the unannounced demolition, authorities of FCTA did not mark any of the shops in the market for demolition. She further stated that no prior notice was given either to shop owners to evacuate their belongings before the arrival of members of the demolition task force.

“More than 100 shops were destroyed by members of the task force,” Mrs. Okoye stated, adding that, “members of Bwari Area Council told us that this market will not be destroyed by task force. No shop here was marked for demolition.

8 DAILY SUN Friday, August 17, 2012

NEWS New Catholic Archbishop condemns attack on journalists

By THERESA ONWUGHALU

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he Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace, Most Revd Alfred Adewale Martins, has sympathized with journalists on the recent assault on one of them.

Martins, who thanked journalists yesterday for their positive coverage of his inauguration and the Catholic Church, condemned the act, saying it was sad.

His words: “I was greatly shocked when I read about the brutalization of Mr. Ben Uwalaka, a photo journalist with the Leadership Newspaper by men alleged to be mortuary attendants at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. This is very shocking and condemnable. There is no way to justify such attack on a man who was going about his constitutional responsibility. It is the role of the media to educate, inform and entertain the public. In doing so, they are allowed to have access to any legitimate information that is of public relevance. The recent signed Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill is very clear about this.”

The cleric further said: “It is very sad that our media practitioners are frequently attacked and brutalized in the course of performing their duty. I am happy that the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and other well meaning Nigerians have been speaking out unequivocally against this negative trend. While calling on government, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to rise to the challenge of safe guarding our journalists against any form of molestation in the course of carrying out their legitimate business, I equally urge the Nigerian Union of Journalists not to relent in its effort to ensure that

Bayelsa, Ogoni get backing on flag, self rule From GODWIN TSA Abuja

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civil society group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has thrown its weight behind the decision of the Bayelsa State Government to introduce a state anthem including the declaration of self-government by a faction of the Ogoni People of Rivers State.

In a statement in Abuja by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Officer, Zainab Yusuf, the group said the decision by the Bayelsa State Government to introduce the state symbols and songs had only fulfilled the social and cultural objectives embodied in Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and had in no way breached any extant provisions of the law or had it committed treasonable felony as wildly alleged by some critics.

Rather, HURIWA added that the Bayelsa State decision should be applauded as one of the lawful ways to consolidate the correct and appropriate application of the principle of true federalism as encompassed in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 (as amended).

Group advocates capital punishment for corrupt leaders

By CHINYERE ANYANWU

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he Youth Development and Empowerment Foundation (YODEF) has repeated its call on the legislature for the enactment of laws that will halt the rising rate of corruption in the country.

National President of YODEF, Uche Udungwor, made the call in Lagos while briefing newsmen on the commemoration of the United Nations International Youth Day (IYD) celebrated worldwide every August 12.

He said the legislature should place capital punishment on looting of public funds to discourage public officers and politicians from engaging in corrupt practices as was the practice in some countries of the world such as China.

Udungwor, in his statement equally called for a switch to a less expensive system of government such as federalism, saying the centre should be saddled with less power that it was controlling presently. The youth leader also advocated for a reduction in prevailing human rights abuses in the country.

Speaking on the IYD celebration, the YODEF national president noted that this year’s theme, “Building a Better World: Partnering with Youth,” would “underscore the importance of youths in making a better world and in the overall development of societies.”

He said, “IYD gives the world the opportunity to recognize and appreciate the potentials of youths, to celebrate their achievements and to further plan ways to better engage these young minds to successfully take action for development.”

•L-R: President, Ndi Ezeji Mbaise, Dr Eze Ihuoma and Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha at the 2012 Iriji Mbaise Cultural Festival (Yam festival) held at Itu, Ezinihitte Mbaise, Imo State, recently.

APGA crisis: Court says restraining order on Massalla, Okwenna subsists From GODWIN TSA, Abuja hearing an ex-parte application moved by counsel to the n Abuja High Court party, its National Chairman, yesterday declared that Chief Victor Umeh and its earlier order National Secretary, Alhaji Shinkafi Patrick restraining Sadiq Massalla Sani and Ifedi Okwenna from Ikwueto (SAN).

Umeh and Shinkafi had in parading themselves as the acting national chairman and a motion ex-parte asked the acting national secretary of court to restrain the duo from the All Progressives Grand interfering in the affairs of the Alliance (APGA) respective- party as they had been susly still subsists pending the pended from the party since hearing and determination of June 21.

In a 37-paragraph affidavit the motion on notice.

Justice Husseni Baba- deposed to by Shinkafi, he Yusuf had, while adjourning averred that the 1st, 3rd and proceedings in the matter to 4th defendants were memSeptember 13 for hearing of bers of the National Working the motion on notice, directed Committee (NWC) of the that counsel to the defen- party until June 19 when they dants, James Ikenyi be served began a dissident campaign in court following his earlier against the national leadercomplaint that his client were ship of the party.

He further averred that “as not properly served and that they only saw the order of the required by the 1999 court on the pages of newspa- Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act (as pers.

The court had on August 7 amended) the 1st plaintiff given the interim order after APGA held a national con-

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vention on February 10, 2011. Prior to the February 10, 2011 convention we held a national convention on December 2, 2006.

“The national conventions of our party, APGA, held on December 2, 2006 and February 10, 2011 were duly monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that thereafter published reports of the convention.

“As the national secretary of APGA, I am aware that the party has 29 national NWC members, I am also aware that under the constitution of the party, only the national chairman (or I on the directive of the national chairman) can validly convene or summon the meeting of the NWC of APGA. “I am also aware that under the constitution of APGA, the defendants have no authority to convene any legitimate

FCTA, Standard Chartered Bank open world-class eye centre From FRED ITUA, Abuja

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elief has finally come to residents of Kubwa District of Abuja as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Health and Human Services Secretariat (HHSS) in collaboration with the Standard Chartered Bank have established an eye centre at the Kubwa General Hospital in Kubwa.

Speaking at the commissioning of the facility in Kubwa, the Secretary of HHSS, Dr Demola Onakomaiya said the project was in line with the International Agency for

Prevention of Blindness and the World Health Organisation to eliminate avoidable blindness by 2020 through its “Vision 2020- The Right to Sight.”

The secretary affirmed that the target population of the programme were the urban slums in the FCT and its objectives include capacity building and upgrading of eye care centre infrastructure in its project areas, Bwari, Kuje and Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

“Technicians of health workers in Bwari, Kuje and AMAC benefited from training of trainers, while 50 community health extension

workers and secondary school teachers were equally trained on how to measure visual acuity and identify simple eye diseases in their various clinics, communities and schools respectively,” Dr Onakomaiya added.

According to him, this is to ensure early detection and prompt referral of eye problems identified for further management and treatment.

Revealing, he said: “About 5000 adults, children and secondary school children were screened for blindness and given free reading glasses and eye medications by the trained health workers in the various communities.”

meeting of the NWC of national executive committee of APGA. “I am aware that a simple majority of votes of members of a national convention or national congress is required to remove any other officer of APGA. “I am aware that the national chairman of APGA cannot validly be removed from office, except by at least two-thirds majority of votes at a national convention convened solely for that purpose.

“That on July 3, all the 36 states and FCT chairmen of APGA met in Abuja with the leadership of the party to consider, among other issues, the dissident activities of the defendants herein. After the said meeting, all the 36 states and FCT chairmen of APGA endorsed the disciplinary and legal proceedings that the party resolved to take against the defendants herein.

“That the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had in a letter dated July 26 with Ref. N o .

INEC/LEG/APGA222/11/31 3 through the secretary of the commission, INEC wrote to the 2nd plaintiff (Umeh) as the national chairman of the 1st plaintiff (APGA).

“That notwithstanding the said letter dated July 26 written by INEC as the statutory regulator of political parties and copied to the defendants they have persisted in their unlawful project aimed at creating confusion and disaffection in our party and thereby ensure that our party is branded as enmeshed in squabbles/crisis.”

Also cited as defendants, in the suit, are Morgan Anyalechi and Bala Bako as 3rd and 4th defendants respectively.

DAILY SUN Friday, August 17, 2012, 9

NEWS ITF, SMEDAN to train 1.2m youths annually -Minister From NAFISAT BELLO, Kaduna

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ndustrial Training Fund (ITF) is to train 1.2 million Nigerians, particularly youths on skills acquisition annually, in collaboration with its sister organization, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Chief Samuel Ortom made this disclosure in Kaduna yesterday in his remarks shortly after commissioning the Kaduna Area Office building of ITF. He said, the plan was in recognition of capacity building as a critical requirement for economic growth and development, even as he said that, acquisition of skills in all sectors would fast track the diversification and competitiveness of the Nigeria economy.

Ortom expressed optimism that the Kaduna Area office building of ITF would be a veritable outlet for the much needed skills acquisition services of the ITF and urged all employers of labour, entrepreneurs, and the youths in particular to take advantage of the funds, training experience and expertise that the Kaduna area office would provide, for the benefit and advancement of Kaduna State and towards the growth of the Nigeria economy.

He therefore called on all and sundry to support the mandate of ITF, just as he implored all stakeholders to immediately perform their statutory obligation by paying their training contributions to the ITF as provided for, in the ITF recently amended Act. He further charged the entire staff of the ITF to also take advantage provided by ITF amended Act to redouble their efforts to meet set targets, both in training and revenue generation.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Director General (DG), and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the ITF, Professor Longmas Sambo Wapmuk, disclosed that the building, which was awarded in 2008 and the cost of executing the building runs into millions of naira.

Group urges youths to shun terrorism From ZION ZADOK

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he National Chairman of a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Unity in Diversity Initiative (UIDI), Rev. Benneth Mozie has appealed to Nigerian youths to shun all forms of terrorism and embrace peace and unity.

Mozie said the most assured way to take the youths out of terrorism was to get them gainfully employed and economically empowered.

As a step to realizing the goal, the cleric said his NGO would embark on serious economic empowerment for the youths through loans and training in skills acquisition.

He condemned in its entirety, the rampant bomb blasts in some parts of the country, just as he appealed to the perpetrators to retrace their steps.

Mozie, therefore, urged the youths to take advantage of every programmes of the government of President Goodluck Jonathan, which he said would contribute to real national development.

In the same vein, Rev. Mozie enjoined all Nigerians to embrace nationalism and patriotism, urging them not to be deceived by others who for selfish reasons would like to take undue advantage of the security situation in the country to sow ill-feelings in their hearts against any ethnic or religious groups.

“It has become more evident that hostilities of the terrorists’ groups operating mostly in the North are neither ethnic, nor religious, but a complexity of political and other considerations which the Federal Government (FG) is tackling,” he said.

Samuel Imuzeze passes on

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he Imuzeze family of Ozalla in Owan West, Edo State has announced the death of their father, Mr. Samuel Imuzeze, on Tuesday, June 26 during a brief illness. He was 66 years old.

Until his transition, Imuzeze was a retired civil servant and worked in different local government areas in Edo State.

A devout Christian, the late patriarch of the Imuzeze’s is survived by children, sons and daughters-in-law, and grandchildren, among who is Mr. Charles Imuzeze, Executive Director, Great Measures Media Network (A subsidiary of Verdant Zeal Limited), Lagos.

The funeral rites commenced yesterday at his residence in Eguada Ehor, by Eguada Primary School, Eguada Ehor Uhunwode Local Government Area, Edo State while the final internment would hold on Saturday, August 18 at his residence.

•L–R: The immediate past President, Rotary Club of Egbeda, Rotn. ‘Lekan Bakare, the new President, Rotn. Chuks Okonkwo, and the Charter President, Rotn. Lawal Abdullahi, during Okonkwo’s installation as the 10th President in Lagos recently.

Oyerinde: Court orders IGP to release Ugolor From TONY OSAUZO, Benin

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ustice Esther Edigin of a Benin High Court yesterday ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, to release Rev. David Ugolor, the Executive Director of African Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), who has been detained by the police since July 27.

Ugolor was arrested and detained by security operatives in connection with the murder of Olaitan Oyerinde, the principal private secretary to Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole on May 4.

Ruling on an exparte motion brought by counsel to the applicant, Mr. Olayiwola Afolabi, Justice Edigin said the continued detention without trial of Ugolor was a violation of Section 37 (5) of the 1999 Constitution.

She expressed dismay that the respondents (police and the Attorney General of the Federation) had not responded to the motion on notice

that was served on them.

“Since the applicant is not in court, I cannot grant him bail, but rather, order the respondents to release him forthwith, pending the determination of the substantive suit filed against them,” she said.

Olayiwola, in suit No. R/496/2012, had prayed the

court to grant him bail pursuant to Order 111 Rules 3 and 4 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 Section 34, 35,39,41 and 45 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Articles 1,2,3,4,5,6 and 7 of the African Charter of Human

Ahmed dispels rumoured feud with Saraki over 2015

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he Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has dispelled rumours of a feud with his predecessor, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, as a lie propagated by the opposition in a futile attempt to cause disaffection between the two ahead of the 2015 elections in the state.

Ahmed, in a statement issued in Ilorin by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Dr. Muideen Akorede, said the relationship between him and Saraki, rather than waned, remained cordial and strong

based on their long association and a shared vision of a prosperous Kwara State, dismissing the speculated dispute as a figment of the opposition’s imagination.

“Ours is a unique partnership based on mutual respect, which grows stronger daily due to our long history and standing commitment to making Kwara a model for other states in terms of economic growth and prosperity for the people. We are like a tag-team in which we are pulling our strengths together in a determined effort to build a greater Kwara for the benefit of prosperity. Senator

Kidnappers free Delta judge From PAUL OSUYI, Asaba

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he kidnapped Justice Marcel Okoh of the Delta State High Court has been freed after spending about 10 days in the den of his abductors. He was seen around Abraka Area of the state on Wednesday night.

It could not be established if ransom was paid to secure his release, although the hoodlums had on Sunday demanded for N40 million.

Spokesman of the Delta State Police Command, DSP Charles Muka, confirmed the release of the High Court judge, who was kidnapped by gunmen on August 7, while

and Peoples Rights and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

The counsel argued that the respondents had continued to violate the fundamental human rights of the applicant, even when operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) had paraded the alleged killers of the slain secretary.

on his way to Warri, but did not give further details of how he was released.

Muka, however, stated that before Justice Okoh was released, several efforts were made by the command to rescue him and track down the evasive armed gang.

The police spokesman informed that the command had the driver of the High Court judge in its custody, adding that efforts had been intensified to get the fleeing hoodlums.

He said the command appreciated various agencies, vigilance groups and stakeholders for their collaboration and synergy and solicited its sustenance, adding that the

command had put stringent measures in place to stem the wave of kidnapping.

Meanwhile, the body of a community leader in Delta State identified as Chief Mogbolu, who drowned in River Ezute in Abala-Uno, Ndokwa East Local Government Area of the state was yet to be recovered, Daily Sun learnt yesterday.

Mogbolu, said to be about 85 years old, reportedly fell into the river while on his way to his farm last Thursday.

Following his disappearance and the alarm raised by those who saw him when he fell into the river, a search party was immediately organised to comb the river for his body.

Saraki is a man for whom I retain the highest regard and I am happy to state that the feeling is reciprocal,” said Ahmed who served as commissioner for seven years during Saraki’s tenure as governor.

Describing his administration as a government of continuity, the governor said the situation in Kwara State was unique due to the peaceful transition from the previous administration to the current one, adding that his decision to up scale the laudable programmes initiated by his predecessor was an eloquent testimony to the benefits of continuity. This continuity, he said, continued to elude other states in the country and remained the bane of sustained development in Nigeria.

Stressing that 2015 was still far off, Governor Ahmed said he remained focused on economically empowering Kwarans and growing the state’s economy through his administration’s robust Shared Prosperity Programme.

He restated his determination not to be distracted by the antics of the feeble opposition and called on the people of Kwara State, at home and abroad, to ignore the opposition’s’ antics, which he said were designed to sow seeds of discord between him and his predecessor.

10 DAILY SUN Friday, August 17, 2012

SOUTH SOUTH Senate bemoans flood in Plateau, oil spill in A’Ibom From LAYI OLANREWAJU, Ilorin

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he Senate Committee on Environment has received with sadness, reports in the media of two environmental disasters, which have rocked the country in the past few days.

The committee said, “first was the reported oil spill along the coastline of Ibeno in Akwa Ibom State and then in quick succession a destructive flood, which swept through six local government areas of Plateau State leaving in its wake not less than 33 people dead, thousands homeless and the entire South of Plateau inaccessible. This is indeed too much to bear in the light of what has been a trying time for our country in terms of security and the challenge of everyday live in the country.”

The Chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on behalf of himself and the committee commiserated with the families of those who had lost their loved ones in the disaster and urged National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to work hand in hand with the state and the affected local governments to provide living support and temporary shelter as may be needed.

The committee also reiterated its commitment to work with the National Assembly and the Federal Government to improve environmental governance system through laws and regulations that could help stem the devastation. “We call on our government agencies from the federal to the local governments to ensure better compliance to environmental standards and regulations in the country. We should, as a matter of urgency, begin implementing proper evacuation of blocked drains, stop indiscriminate erection of structures along canals and drainage ways,” the committee said.

The committee promised to do all within its powers to instigate proper and effective response of government agencies to ensure that the impact of the devastations were mitigated and closely monitored, with a view to bringing care to people who needed support as a result of the incidences.

Olu of Warri commends Airtel From EMMANUELOGOIGBE, Warri

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leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has assured Nigerians resident in Delta State of exceptional network quality and coverage, saying it has deployed the largest and widest 3.75G internet network in the state.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, yesterday in Warri, the Chief Sales Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Inusa Bello, said Airtel recognized the important role Delta State had played in the development of the Nigerian economy and was passionate about taking the state to a leadership position in terms of telecommunications network coverage, quality of service and exceptional customer experience.

“Airtel Nigeria is committed to empowering the people of Delta State with affordable, quality and innovative telecommunications services. Airtel has deployed its superior 3.75G network across the state and has upgraded its network with the latest telecommunications technology so that everyone can enjoy the best services.

“Airtel also has innovative and competitive product and services, offering such as Club 10, 2 Good times, quick talk, big family, steady and many other opportunities for Deltans to enjoy very low call rates, also enabling them to connect with everyone they love and do business with,” he said.

In his response, the Olu of Warri commended Airtel for partnering with the Itsekiri people to host the Itsekiri Cultural day just as he urged the telcom operator to continue to provide quality telecommunications services in the state.

Ex-lawmaker harps on creation of Bori state From TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt

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second republic senator, Dr. Cyrus Nunieh, has urged members of the National Assembly to see state creation, particularly Bori State, as desirable and ripe.

Senator Nunieh made the call yesterday in an interview with journalists in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Nunieh, who was the chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs in the second republic, said state creation would bring unity among the people and advised government to look into what would bring social harmony than crisis.

He maintained that the agitation for Bori State (though Ogoni State before) was overdue, adding that the struggle, which started in 1995, began before some states such as Bayelsa, were created.

Nunieh argued that it was wrong for anyone to conclude that only military regime could create states.

Commending members of the National Assembly for their concern to amend the 1999 Constitution, said where a given constitution did not favour state creation, but people’s interest overwhelmed it, such position could be amended.

•Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (left) with Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo of Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) during the Pastor’s visit to the Asaba branch of the church yesterday.

Police defuse bomb in Rivers banana farm •No bomb explosion at the farm –Govt

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he police in Rivers said they have defused an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the stateowned banana farm at Ueken in Tai Local Government Area of the state.

Mr. Ben Ugwuegbulam, the spokesman for the police command, stated this in Port Harcourt yesterday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said the command had swept and secured the banana farm, adding that unknown persons might have planted the IED to scare workers from the plantation.

Ugwuegbulam said the Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) of the command had swung into action on receiving the information and defused the IED successfully.

He said there was no casualty and that the incident occurred on Wednesday, August 15.

NAN learnt that the state government had acquired the land to establish a banana farm in collaboration with a Mexican firm last year.

The acquisition of the land

had been causing misunderstanding in the community, as some persons alleged that government did not pay compensation after taking over their land.

Meanwhile, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor of Rivers State, David Iyofor has said that there was no bomb explosion in Banana Plantation

in Tai Rivers State.

He said: “Our attention has been drawn to reports of a purported bomb explosion at the Banana Plantation in Tai, Rivers State.

“We must state categorically that there was no bomb explosion at or within the perimeters of the banana farm plantation.

“We are aware that some sort of device went off but this was some reasonable distance

SSS nabs car-snatching syndicate in Edo

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he Edo State Command of the State Security Service (SSS) has arrested a native doctor, a medical laboratory science student of the University of Calabar and six others for snatching a Toyota Camry car and a Hyundai Jeep.

They were also accused of kidnapping and extortion.

The suspects, who were paraded before newsmen and the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole by the State Director of the SSS, Mr. Bello Bakori, were arrested in different locations in Edo, Delta and Cross River states.

The native doctor from

Oweh-Logbo in Isoko North Local Government Area in Delta State, Ovie, narrated how he bought a new Toyota Camry for N140, 000 from the other suspects.

According to him, “Henry called me on March 1 to inform me that they have a Hyundai Jeep to sell for N800, 000 and that the owner was from abroad. I told people and my friend, Lucky who decided to buy it for N630, 000. In June, Henry called me again that they have another vehicle, a Toyota Camry and I gave them N140, 000.”

He further disclosed how

Delta to partner NNPC on gas production From EMMANUEL OGOIGBE –Warri

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elta State Government is to partner with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in the establishment of gas, petrochemical and fertilizer plants in the state.

The state Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who announced this yesterday when the Group Executive Director, Refinery and Petrochemical of NNPC, Mr. Tony Ogbuigwe, paid him a courtesy call said the gas sector was lucrative and would

away from our plantation and certainly not within the perimeters of the farm.

“Journalists should please always crosscheck and doublecheck whatever information they have before going to press.

“Again, we want to reassure all and sundry that Rivers State remains safe, conducive and open for business,” David Iyofor said.

therefore work closely with NNPC to establish the plants.

Uduaghan said NNPC should tap the potentials in the gas sector explaining that there was a hidden gold mine in the sector begging to be tapped.

He also explained that his administration was interested in increasing its internal revenue profile and said investments in the gas sector was an opportunity to diversify the economy which the state government would take advantage of. He said, “we are building a state that would look beyond oil for suste-

nance and since investment in the gas sector was viable, we shall partner with NNPC to ensure the successful take-off of the gas, petrochemical and fertilizer plants in our state.”

The governor said the state would use the resources from oil production to invest in other sectors of the economy to increase the internal revenue resources of the state.

Uduaghan, however, enjoined NNPC to work closely with oil producing states to ensure that there were no frictions in some sections of the state.

the police stopped him on his way from Ughelli and discovered that the documents of the car were forged and the colour of the car had been changed, but they allowed him to go, because he was a popular native doctor in the area.

The mastermind of the car snatching syndicate, who simply identified himself as Ikechukwu disclosed how they snatched the Ash Toyota Camry at New Benin and got Steven, Kingsley, a welder and Solomon, a mechanic, involved to take the vehicle to Oweh-logbo where it was sold.

The 500-level student, Eniola, was alleged to be involved in Internet fraud and threat to life.

Governor Oshiomhole commended the SSS for their consistent achievements in solving cases of crime and assured of government’s commitment to the directorate to protect the lives and property of the people in the state.

Earlier, the SSS Director, Bello Bakori, thanked the state governor for the adequate moral support, which, he said, had been a source of encouragement to the officers of the command and he commended him for his victory at the just-concluded election.

DAILY SUN Friday, August 17, 2012, 11

SOUTH EAST Council boss begins free fueling for Okada riders From EMMANUEL UZOR, Onitsha

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he Transition Committee Chairman of Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chinedu Obidigwe, has commenced a one-week free fueling exercise for all the commercial motorcycle operators popularly known as Okada within the council area.

Speaking yesterday in Otuocha, the headquarters of Anambra East during the flag off of the exercise, Obidigwe said it was an initiative targeted towards reducing the hardship faced by commercial motorcycle operators in the council area.

He also said the exercise was to make them benefit from the democratic dividends which he said the administration of Governor Peter Obi was bringing to the hinterlands especially the rural areas that had not benefited from any government.

“We are here today to give you free fuel in all your motorcycles because I believe that if I give you free fuel, you will use it to make profit and still reserve the money you should have used to buy it, thus, there will be food on your tables. It is also targeted at mobilising the Okada riders to be part of security in the council area,” he said.

He also urged the commercial motorcycle operators to always report any suspicious movement of persons and objects to security agents, saying, “since you are the most mobile people, you move into the interior parts of the council area. I therefore, urge you to report any suspicious movement in any place.”

The council boss also charged Okada riders to be part of advocacy for a lasting peace in the volatile council area, noting, “I also want to make you stakeholders in the moves and advocacies for a lasting peace in the council

Imo natives in Diaspora to get ID card

By UCHE USIM

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mo State Government has said it will soon begin the issuance of Imo Citizen Identification Card (ICIC) to its natives living outside the state to have an accurate database of its people.

Special Assistant to the governor, Lagos Liaison office, Lisa Chinwe Asugha, who disclosed this to newsmen in Lagos, yesterday, said the plan to have an identification card for natives of the state was born out of the need to properly cater for those living outside the state and to make them feel the impact of the tremendous work being executed by Governor Rochas Okorocha.

She said the identification card would also enable the state keep a tab on natives to properly identify the good and bad eggs among them, while also bringing the government closer to the people.

“Let me tell you what our plans are for natives of Imo in Lagos State. We are doing something that we call the Imo Citizen Identification Card (ICIC), which is going to be electronic. What it means is that we are going to create a database of all Imo natives in Lagos State. Imo natives have one of the highest population in Lagos State. And we also realise that in one year, Imo natives spend 11 months in Lagos and one month back home.

“The ID card would cover everybody and the database is going to be linked up with the server back home. Because every community is supposed to have a population of 5,000 people and we are supposed to have a head count of every-

Igbo youths call on Jonathan, IGP to address insecurity in S’East From GODDY OSUJI, Abakaliki

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ssociation of Igbo Youths Initiative Movement (AIYIM), Ebonyi State chapter, has condemned the recent assassination attempt on the life of Chief Jimmy Okonkwo, Chairman, Board of Trustees of Motorcycle Transport Union of Nigeria/Auto Bike Owners Association of Nigeria by gunmen at Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.

A release issued by the Secretary of the state chapter of the AIYIM, Kingsley Madugadi said the assassination attempt on the life of their patron had further exposed the height of insecurity in Nigeria mostly in sub-urban areas especially in South-east zone.

He argued that the level of insecurity, kidnapping, armed robbery and other forms of criminalities in the South-east geopolitical zone was unbearable and called for more vigilance and equipment for security agents.

There had been reported cases of kidnapping and armed robbery in the zone of recent which prompted the youth movement to call on President Jonathan and the inspector general of police to intervene to arrest the situation.

•Governor Peter Obi sealing more buildings used to keep kidnapped victims at Uruorji Village, Nri, yesterday

Prayer warrior goes berserk •Bathes girl, 15, with Holy Ghost hot water

pains.

Meanwhile, the suspect who was immediately disarmed by the youths in the neighbourhood was taken to the Central Police Station, Onitsha, where she is currently being detained but could not make any coherent explanation about her act.

When asked why she attacked the victim, she could not give any useful answer but said, “I am a powerful woman. I command men and

From EMMANUEL UZOR, because she was spattered the hot water from behind, burnOnitsha ing her back and her neck.”

Mrs. Anyegbu further dis25-year-old prayer warrior with a pente- closed that after the first costal church went attack, the suspect went in to berserk yesterday and bathed boil water. She then came out a 15-year-old girl with Holy of the house with a knife, Ghost hot water in the com- chasing everybody in the compound before passersby mercial city of Onitsha.

The suspect, who is cur- were alerted and the youths rently cooling her heels in the wrestled with and disarmed police cell at the Central her.

“When she was not satisPolice Station, Onitsha, went on the rampage in the early fied with the first attack, she hours of yesterday at No 3, went inside and put another Idoko Street, Onitsha, where kettle and started boiling hot she poured hot water on the water. She came out with unsuspecting girl, Chimmeri knife and started pursuing me around the compound and my Onuegbu.

Onuegbu received the bap- son that went to confront her tism of hot water when she was hit with a heavy stone in was doing some laundering the back and he fell down alongside other children in before people came to our the compound where the sus- rescue,” she said.

Anyaegbu also said when pect resided. The girl was immediately rushed to a pri- the suspect carried out the vate hospital along Modebe first attack, she was shouting Road, Onitsha, where doctors Holy Ghost fire! Holy Ghost are currently battling to save fire!! which made them believe she was praying as her life.

Speaking with Daily Sun, usual. She never suspected the victim’s aunt, Mrs. possible hot water attack until • Chimmeri Onuegbu Josephine Anyaegbu, said she saw her niece writhing in Onuegbu just came on holidays and was attacked by the prayer warrior who lived with her younger sister in the secu… For stealing belongings of driver killed rity house in the compound.

“Nobody knows her name. From OKEY SAMPSON, bers were reported to have fled without collecting anyShe came and lived with her Aba thing from them. younger sister called Charity However, after the robbers lorry conductor has in the security gate at the gone, Ndubuisi been arrested by the were entrance of the compound. police in Aba, Abia searched his driver, collected Everyday she will lock herself inside the house and be State for stealing money and N12, 000 he found on him shouting ‘Holy Ghost fire.’ other valuables belonging to and left his boss’s corpse at One day I went to find out if his driver who was shot dead the scene of the incident and returned home. she was okay, she came out by armed robbers.

On getting to Aba, the conDaily Sun gathered that the and was speaking a strange conductor, 30, whose name ductor made straight to the language.

“Then yesterday, my chil- was given as Ndubuisi and house of his late driver at No. dren and my niece were out- who hailed from Item in 21 Enyiukwu Street off side washing clothes because Bende Local Government Agulanna Road along the we are living in the flat on the Area of the state had travelled Ngwa Road axis of the comground floor. Suddenly she to Bayelsa State with his driv- mercial city where he broke into, ransacked the house and tip-toed and splashed hot er to deliver some goods.

A source said on their way made away with cash and water on the children but Chimmeri was bending back to Abia State, armed other valuables said to worth down, backing her. That was robbers attacked them and millions of naira.

Luck, however, ran out on perhaps her saving grace shot his boss dead. The rob-

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women and my name is Christ and Glory.”

When contacted, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Ralph Uzoigwe, said he had not received full details about the incident but a senior police officer who pleaded anonymity said the police would take the suspect to a psychiatric hospital to determine the state of her health before further action would be taken.

Police arrest conductor

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by armed robbers

Ndubuisi when the relations of the driver who had been informed about his death came to his house to take inventory and perhaps secure his property. To their surprise, on their arrival, the house had been burgled.

The relations promptly reported the matter to the police at Ndiegoro station where the DPO, Usman Abdulrahman was said to have swiftly mobilized his men into action.

During police investigations, Ndubuisi, who had worked with his boss for the past nine years, was linked with the house breaking and theft and he was immediately arrested.

12 DAILY SUN Friday, August 17, 2012

SOUTH WEST Osun condoles with Omigboduns over death of elder statesman From BAMIGBOLA GBOLAGUNTE, Osogbo

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cores of sympathizers have continued to visit the residence of the late Pa Julius Omigbodun, an elder statesman and one of the founding fathers of Osun State who died on Wednesday in Osogbo.

Some o f the early callers at the Omigbodun’s residence included the state’s Deputy Governor, Mrs Grace Tomori and representatives of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun.

The late Omigbodun, a frontline educationist was the first university graduate in Osun State and the first Principal of Osogbo Grammar School, one of the first sets of secondary schools in the western part of the country.

Omigbodun who died at the ripe age of 100 years was also instrumental to the creation of Osun State, having served in various committees during the struggle for the creation of the state which later became a reality in August 1991 through a proclamation by former Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida.

Since the news of Omigbodun’s death filtered into the capital city, his residence has become a Mecca of sort for all categories of people including politicians, traditional chiefs, political office holders, among others.

In his reaction to Omigbodun’s death, Osun State Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola said the state had lost a rare gem, describing as crucial, Pa Omigbodun’s role in the creation of the state.

Aregbesola in a statement signed by his spokeman, Mr Semiu Okanlawon said Pa Omigbodun lived for functional and productive education in his lifetime, adding that “those who passed through his trainings could testify to the disciplinarian that he was, the source of inspiration that he was and the role of a model that he played.”

Ondo workers get N168m housing loan

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ndo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, on Thursday said about 1, 082 civil servants had benefitted from the N168m loan packaged by his administration to ensure that the workers build their own homes.

Mimiko stated this while inaugurating a housing estate, Sunshine Gardens, in Oba-Ile, a suburb of Akure.

He also said that his administration had since inception spent N1.5bn to renovate the various government quarters being inhabitted by the public workers in the state.

He said the whole essence of the renovation was to preserve the buildings and make civil servants live in comfortable environment.

He said this would make them happy and put them in the right frame of mind to contribute productively to growth and development of the state.

He said his administration decided to partner with the private sector in order to provide affordable housing units in the state.

He said the Oba-Ile Estate covering about 26 hectares of land, has 225 housing units, most of which are already being inhabitted because of the convenent payment terms.

Mimiko said the state government spent N734m to provide the land, roads, electricity, water, security and the fencing of the estate.

He regretted that the state had not been able to implement the housing project for the people after the one done in 1976 by the administration of Wing Commander Ita Ikepeme in Ala and Alagbaka.

• L-R: Paul Cohen of Partner Concept US, Vice President Arik Air International, Robert Brumer, Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, William Maloney of Partner Concepts and Public Affair Advocate, National Tourism Association, Stephen Richer, after a meeting to increase tourist traffic from US to Nigeria in Washington DC, recently.

Robbers routed in Ekiti ...Abandon 3 vehicles, run into bush A

gang of armed robbers yesterday stormed Ifaki-Ekiti, a town in Ido-Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State and robbed a first generation bank.

The State Police Commissioner, Mr. Sotonye Wakama, who confirmed the incident disclosed that after a gun duel, the police recovered three vehicles from the armed bandits who came in large number.

It was gathered that none of the robbers was arrested after the exchange of gunshots with his men at Aramoko Ekiti. They were said to have fled into the bush and abandoned three of their vehicles. This, according to the police boss was possible after the men of the underworld had been overwhelmed by the police.

The police commissioner revealed that the robbers, who drove in convoy of four vehicles, invaded Ifaki Ekiti

at about 12.30pm and headed straight to the police station in the town and fired sporadically at his men.

He said they immediately proceeded to the bank, situated very close to the police station,where they gained entry and carted away undisclosed amount.

DailySun gathered that nobody was killed during the

attack on the police station and the robbery operation at the bank, Wakama said after the robbers succeeded in robbing the bank , they headed towards Aramoko Ekiti, where they ran into his men, who had barricaded the road based on his order that all the exit and entry routes in the state should be blocked.

He said the police were already trailing the bandits

Police officer jailed three years for impersonation

From BAMIGBOLA GBO- Olusola Aluko who chided the convict for parading himLAGUNTE, Osogbo self as a policeman, however, or allegedly introducing granted him an option of fine himself as a Sergeant in in the sum of N20,000.

Ezenwa was said to have the Nigerian Police Force to secure bail for his visited the Dugbe Police wife who allegedly stole a Division in Osogbo, to bail BlackBerry mobile phone, a his wife who was allegedly 42-yearold man, Lawrence arrested for stealing a Ezenwa has been sentenced BlackBerry phone when the on duty to three years imprisonment policemen with hard labour by an approached him and demanded for his mission, Ezenwa Osogbo Magistrate’s court.

The presiding Magistrate, informed them that he was a

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Group slams Okupe over call for Lagos Speaker’s resignation

Court orders Akeredolu to pay N4.3m on campaign billboards

group, Congress of South-West Youths (COWSY) has berated the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Doyin Okupe, over his recent call for the resignation of the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji.

Okupe recently called for Ikuforiji’s resignation following his pending trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a trumped up charge of money laundering.

The group at a press conference yesterday described the call as misguided and uncouth, adding that it was yet to fathom why Okupe, “an old man in his mid 60s could descend so low as to take the offer to be an attack dog to President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

“We wonder why he would be an attack dog to Jonathan’s administration to the extent that every well meaning individual or group having opposing views to that of the Federal Government has become a potential target for mudslinging and malignant attack in the media.

“What penchant for public relevance could have prompted Okupe to make unfounded and prejudicial vituperations about a case that is already undergoing trial in court?” the group queried.

n Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure, on Thursday, ordered the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), in the October 20, governorship election, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, to pay the sum of N4.3million to the Registrar of the court for his billboards across the state.

Akeredolu had filed a suit challenging, amongst other things, the constitutionality or otherwise of the Ondo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OSSAA) Law, 2011.

He also filed a Motion for Interlocutory Injunction restraining OSSAA from carrying out its duties as empowered by the law, pending the

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from Ifaki-Ekiti before they ran into his men at Aramoko Ekiti.

His words; “They came in convoy of four cars this afternoon and invaded a police station at Ifaki-Ekiti before they robbed a nearby bank.

None of my men was wounded during the attack and we could not find out how much they stole at the bank during the operation.

determination of the substantive suit.

Prior to the hearing date, Akeredolu had erected billboards for his electioneering campaign, a development which made OSSAA to issue, Demand Notice, for the payment of N4.3million on the said billboards.

On Thursday however, counsel to the defendants, Adebayo Ogunsuyi informed the court that plaintiff’s counsel had just served him with a court process on which weighty allegations were made against the defendants, which would warrant a response.

He then applied for an adjournment stressing that since the Ondo State Signage and Advertisement Law, 2011

was an existing Law, the Court was empowered by the Rule to order that the plaintiff to pay the sum of N4.3 million being the amount on the Demand Notice to the Registrar of the Court.

In his response, counsel to the defendant, Adekola Olawoye had objected to the defendants’ application that the money be paid to the court, stressing that if OSSAA impounds any of their billboards or branded vehicles, they would meet fire for fire.

But Justice Olusegun Odusola, having listened to submission of both counsels ordered that Akeredolu, the plaintiff, pays the sum of N4.3million to the Registrar of the Court

police sergeant attached to Area Commander’s Office in Osogbo.

But Ezenwa landed in trouble when he could not present his identity card when asked.

According to the police prosecutor, Inspector Isiaka Ajadi, the convict later confessed that he was never a police sergeant.

The charge sheet reads in part: “That you Lawrence Ezenwa, on the 13th of August, 2012 at about 10:30am at Dugbe Police Station in Osogbo with intent that you may be taken as a member of Nigeria Police Force, did introduce yourself as a police sergeant serving at Area Commander’s office, Osogbo, knowing same to be false.”

Ajadi therefore, informed the court that Ezenwa has committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 109 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, vol. II, Laws of Osun State 2003.”

Ezenwa pleaded guilty to the charges leveled against him and Magistrate Olusola stated that a good citizen of Nigeria should not be impersonating, adding that Ezenwa’s case was pathetic because he went as far as impersonating at the police station.

DAILY SUN Friday, August 17, 2012, 13

AREWA Sallah celebration: JNI urges Muslims to pray for peace From NOAH EBIJE, Kaduna

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he Islamic umbrella for northern Muslims, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) under the leadership of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has tasked Muslims to pray for peace in the country.

The JNI in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, also urged Muslims to help the poor by giving them alms to enable them to celebrate the Sallah.

In addition, the northern Muslims body commiserated with the people of Borno, Yobe and Gombe states over various attacks unleashed on the areas in recent times.

“Muslims are once more called upon to continue supplicating fervently for the peaceful co-existence of Nigeria. In the same vein, JNI commiserates with the good people of Borno, Yobe and Gombe states over various attacks unleashed on them and equally, the JNI condemns the act.

Again, we reiterate that security of the state is the business of all and sundry.

“Therefore, Muslims are called upon to give Zakatul-fitr (ordained alms giving at the end of Ramadan fast) preferably, two days before the eid-el-fitr, but not later than morning of the eid day. This, if done, will assist the down-trodden, to also celebrate Sallah with Muslim Ummah.

“Jama’atu Nasril Islam under the leadership of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General, JNI, Alhaji (Dr) Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, wishes to felicitate with the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria over the coming to end of the Ramadan fast.”

...Vatican cleric sues for peace

By THERESA ONWUGHALU

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resident, Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue, Vatican City, Jean-Louis Cardinal Tauran, has called for peace among young Christians and Muslims.

In a release tagged, Message for the End of Ramadan ‘Id al-Fitr 1433H. /2012 A.D. by the Secretary, Archbishop Pier Luigi Celata, the Cardinal said: “The celebration of Id al-Fitr, which concludes the month of Ramadan, accords us at the Pontifical Council for Inter religious Dialogue, the joy of presenting to you warm greetings.

“We rejoice with you for this privileged time which gives you the opportunity to deepen obedience to God, by fasting and other pious practices, a value equally dear to us. That is why this year, it seemed opportune to us to focus our common reflection on the education of young Christians and Muslims for justice and peace, that are inseparable from truth and freedom.”

Speaking on the theme, Educating Young Christians and Muslims for Justice and Peace, Tauran said: “We wish to encourage young Muslims and Christians to cultivate truth and freedom in order to be genuine heralds of justice and peace as well as builders of a culture which respects the dignity and rights of every citizen.

CPC kicks against Yuguda’s constant absence from Bauchi From PAUL ORUDE, Bauchi

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he main opposition party in Bauchi State, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has kicked against the constant absence of Governor Isa Yuguda from the state, accusing the governor of using state funds for such frequent trips.

The Chairman Caretaker Committee of the party in the state, Aliyu Saidu, made the accusation in a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat, Bauchi yesterday.

Saidu, who was flanked by the former deputy governor of the state, who was impeached in controversial circumstances by the state assembly, Alhaji Garba Gadi, a one-time commissioner for Higher Education in the Yuguda administration, Alhaji Bala Jibril, said the governor’s action had caused serious setbacks to the progress of the state.

He said: “He (Governor Yuguda) has been conducting government business in Abuja, including executive council meeting and the swearing-into office of top government functionaries.

“It is the norm, for Mallam Isa Yuguda to absent himself from Bauchi for a length of 50 days or longer. Yet, he will tell us cock and bull story of travelling to China, UK, Dubai and USA, among others for our common good. No Your Excellency. It is a lie. You are running away from responsibility. Your trips are state funded and are for the furtherance of your personal business creating private wealth for you.”

The CPC lamented that while the governor was always out of the state, scores of people were murdered in extra-judicial killings while activities of Sarasuka, local thugs, had been on the increase.

• Participants in a farmers’ training programme on Best Agronomic practice at a cotton farm in Mairuwa Village for 40 rural farmers in Katsina communities yesterday. Photo:NAN

Insecurity: Sultan calls for proactive measures

... Blames media for giving prominence to insurgence acts From TUNDE OMOLEHIN, current security challenges but noted that intelligence Sokoto gathering was very important ultan of Sokoto, His at this moment, saying all Eminence Muhammad hands must be on deck.

Sultan, who is the chairSa’ad Abubukar III has assured that traditional insti- man of the Nigeria Supreme tution in the North was mak- Council for Islamic Affairs ing frantic efforts to bring (NSCIA), also cautioned on lasting peace and stability to statements that were capable of igniting the tensed polity the region.

He said, in spite of non- and on the frequent attacks on constitutional role accorded government institutions and to the traditional rulers, they citizens of the country by evil were working harmoniously perpetrators rather than solvwith the Federal Government ing them. He said as a tradito ensure that the crises in the tional ruler and leader, his North were tackled within comments and contributions possible period of time.

Sultan made this known on Wednesday during his annual Ramadan interactive session with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Sokoto State. The royal From PAUL ORUDE, father, however, called on the Bauchi Federal Government and other relevant stakeholders in wo people have been the country to be more proacconfirmed dead and over tive in addressing the current 1,000 houses destroyed security challenges con- in Bauchi by flood, which fronting the nation. ravaged 12 local government Though he noted that, a lot areas in the state. of efforts were being made by Six local government all stakeholders to tackle the worst affected by the flood

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on the present issues at stake were very clear as an advocate of peace and unity of the country.

His words: “As a traditional ruler and leader, my positions are very clear on issues that affect the present day Nigeria, and I am happy and satisfied that Mr. President has high regard for Islamic religion.”

Sultan declined to comment on the measures being taken to address the Boko Haram insurgence, but simply said there were different Boko Haram in many places,

which he identified as political Boko Haram, terrorism nad kidnapping, among others that must be addressed with holistic approach.

He explained that the crimes being perpetrated by the evil ones were not to Islamise the country as being speculated from different quarters, saying that, “Islam was a peaceful religion that preaches love, unity and togetherness that harboured all manners of evil inflictions.” The monarch noted with dismay that such reports were capable in ridicule the image of the region and that of the Islam.

Flood kills two in Bauchi, 1,000 houses submerged –SEMA

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are Jamare, Shira, Itas Gadau, Kirfi, Gamawa and Zaki.

Others are: Darazo, Misau, Dabam, Ningi, Toro and Dass LG. Speaking to newsmen in his office yesterday, the Permanent Secretary of the State Emergency Managemnet Agency (SEMA), Mahmud Garba,

How distress call causes bomb scare in Kaduna From NOAH Kaduna

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EBIJE,

aduna metropolis was yesterday thrown into confusion following a bomb scare at the Nagwamatse House, one of the tallest buildings in the state capital, housing African Independent Television (AIT) along the ever, busy Ali Akilu Road.

This was coming less than 72-hours after two suicide bombers blew up themselves while carrying an explosive device to the northern parts of the city.

According to eyewitnesses, a man drove a Toyota Camry car (ash colour) to the premises as early as 8am, parked the car, hurriedly dashed to the road and picked a commercial motorcycle to an unknown destination.

Eyewitnesses added that Police were immediately alerted to take away the ‘abandoned vehicle’ but it took the police some hours to arrive the place.

“It took the police three hours before they arrived the scene. They scanned the car and discovered there was nothing like explosive inside

the car. However, they (police) still kept watch over the car to see who will come and remove the car from where it was parked.”

However, Daily Sun gathered that hours later, the owner of the car surfaced and was promptly apprehended by the police while trying to start the car.

It was also learnt that upon interrogation by the police, the owner of the car told the police that as he was approaching the premises, he got a distressed call from his wife that his child had convulsion and had been taken to the hospital.

also disclosed that the damages were terrible, adding that some farmlands were completely submerged by the flood.

His words: “Our staff are on the field and we are still conducting our assessment.

Also local government staffers are assisting us to carry out more assessments because they are the people that are directly affected.

“We are having some challenges but the major problem is operational problem which is shortage of personnel, vehicles and shortage of funding because we need money to function, need money to fuel the vehicles and pay allowances to volunteers as well as procure relief materials for the people affected.”

He said NEMA staffers were already in the state to access the situation in order to come up with their assistance.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has been called upon to come to the aid of the state Government to enable it resettle thousands of its citizens who were affected by the flooding.

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DAILY SUN Friday, August 17, 2012

Foreign Affairs Ecuador snubs West, grants asylum to Wikileaks’ founder •No safe passage out of UK - Hague •Sweeden furious, summons Ecuador’s envoy

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cuador has granted political asylum to WikiLeaks’ founder Julian Assange, Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said yesterday, a day after the British government threatened to storm the Ecuadorean embassy in London to arrest the former hacker.

Britain has said it is determined to extradite him to Sweden, where he is accused of rape and sexual assault, but Assange fears he will ultimately be sent to the United States which is furious that his WikiLeaks website has leaked hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic and military cables.

Ecuador’s decision is likely to deepen a political dispute over Assange’s extradition with Britain, which said it was “disappointed” with the ruling, and sets the stage for possible further confrontation between the two countries.

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has insisted that the Government would not allow Julian Assange safe passage out of the UK. Hague told a news conference: “We will not allow Mr Assange safe passage out of the UK, nor is there any legal basis for us to do so. “The UK does not accept the principle of diplomatic asylum.”

Patino said Ecuador feared for the safety of the Australian, who had lodged an asylum request with President Rafael Correa, a self-declared enemy of “corrupt” media and United States “imperialism”.

“Ecuador has decided to grant political asylum to Julian Assange following the request sent to the President,” Patino told a news conference in Quito. Patino said Assange’s extradition to a third country without proper guarantees was probable, and that legal evidence showed he would not get a fair trial if eventually transferred to the United States.

“This is a sovereign decision protected by international law. It makes no sense to surmise that this implies a breaking of relations (with Britain),” Patino added.

Assange has been holed up inside Ecuador’s embassy in central London for eight weeks since he lost a legal battle to avoid extradition to Sweden.

Even after yesterday’s decision his fate is still far from clear: Britain has promised to extradite him and the removal of the Ecuadorean embassy’s diplomatic status would expose him to immediate arrest by the British authorities. “We are disappointed,” a Foreign Office spokesman said.

“Under UK law, with Mr

Assange having exhausted all options of appeal, the British authorities are under a binding obligation to extradite him to Sweden. We shall carry out that obligation.” Ecuador had been in negotiations with the UK, Sweden and the US, but these soured on Wednesday after its government received a letter from British officials.

The letter warned there was a legal basis to arrest Mr Assange at the embassy, if it continued to shield him, and spoke of “serious implications” for diplomatic relations.

Under international law, diplomatic posts are considered the territory of the foreign nation but the Foreign Office

is allowed to revoke this status if it is being abused. It would take seven days to implement the legal process allowing for an arrest inside the building because the Government would have to give notice.

A furious Mr Patino made clear on Wednesday that his country regarded this as an “explicit threat” by Britain which would be a flagrant breach of international law if carried out. WikiLeaks added: “A threat of this nature is a hostile and extreme act which is not proportionate to the circumstances and an unprecedented assault on the rights of asylum seekers worldwide.”

But a British Government

source told Sky News: “It’s not a threat, it’s British law.

Outside the Ecuadorean embassy near London’s famed Harrods department store, supporters relayed the announcement about his asylum request over a loudspeaker to cheers and clapping from protesters who had gathered outside the building.

Supporters shouted: “The people united will never be defeated!”, waving Ecuadorian flags and holding posters showing Assange’s head, reading “no extradition”.

A Reuters reporter saw at least three protesters being dragged away by police before the decision was announced after tussles with police.

Sweden has rejected Ecuador’s claim that

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will not get a fair trial as a reason for granting him political asylum, and summoned the South American country’s envoy to explain.

‘Our firm legal and constitutional system guarantees the rights of each and everyone.

We firmly reject any accusations to the contrary,’ Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said on his Twitter account.

As at press time, Swedish foreign ministry spokesman Anders Joerle said: ‘The Ecuadorian ambassador is expected at the ministry as soon as possible. ‘The accusations that (the Ecuadorian foreign ministry) has formulated are serious and it is unacceptable that Ecuador would want to halt the Swedish judicial

process and European judicial co-operation.’

It was unclear how long Assange could stay in the small embassy housed on the ground floor of an apartment block which is under 24-hour surveillance by British police.

After the announcement, the BBC reported that Assange had thanked the staff in the London embassy for their support and had said to them: “things will get more stressful now”.

Britain has said it could use a little-known piece of legislation from 1987, introduced in the wake of the shooting of a British police officer outside the Libyan embassy in London, to strip Ecuador’s embassy of its diplomatic status.

•A supporter of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is arrested outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London yesterday. Photo: AFP •Assange

UK court denies paralyzed man right-to-die

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British man left paralyzed by a catastrophic stroke seven years ago lost his High Court battle Thursday to gain a legal right to end his life when he chooses.

Tony Nicklinson’s condition means it is impossible for him to take his own life and he wants the legal right to have a doctor take his life without fear of prosecution. But while expressing sympathy for his situation, the High Court ruled that such a significant change to the law nvolving overturning the ban on voluntary euthanasia would have to be decided by lawmakers.

The judges also rejected a similar challenge to the law brought by a second man suffering locked-in syndrome, named only as Martin. “The Court recognised that the cases raise profoundly difficult ethical, social and legal issues, but it judged that any change to the law must be a matter for Parliament to decide,” a statement from the court said.

The ruling upset Nicklinson, who cried as his wife, Jane, told the waiting

media that the family was “bitterly disappointed” and would file an appeal. In the meantime, her husband will have to continue living as he is, or starve himself to death, she said.

In a statement given via his computer, Tony Nicklinson said: “It’s not the result I was hoping for but it isn’t entirely unexpected. Judges, like politicians, are happiest when they can avoid confronting the real issues and this judgement is not an exception to the rule.

“I believe the legal team acting on my behalf is prepared to go all the way with this but unfortunately for me it means yet another period of physical discomfort, misery and mental anguish while we find out who controls my life, me or the state.”

Jane Nicklinson said the family did not intend to go to Switzerland, which has an assisted suicide law, because it was expensive and her husband did not think he should have to go overseas to die.

Since Tony Nicklinson suffered the stroke in 2005, the former rugby player has had to endure what is known as

locked-in syndrome.

“This means that most of my body is paralyzed but my mind is as it was before the stroke. All I can move is my head, and the stroke took away my power of speech. Now I talk to people with a perspex spelling board or a computer operated by my eye blinks,” he told CNN in an interview in June.

Nicklinson, 58, has the support of his wife and two daughters in his court battle. Jane Nicklinson described her husband before the stroke as a man who was the “life and soul of the party,” making his current severely restricted existence even harder to bear. “He was a big bloke, ex-rugby player, he worked hard but he played hard. He was full of life, great sense of humor, loved the sound of his own voice,” she said.

Ahead of the ruling, she told CNN she wanted the judges to understand “the injustice of it all,” as they reached their decision. “You or I could go out and take our lives at any time we want, whereas Tony, being the one who really needs that right, can’t do this and he’s

only asking for what everyone else has got really, his right to take his own life, he wants that given back to him,” she said.

Before his stroke at age 51, the couple lived a comfortable life in the United Arab Emirates and traveled extensively. Tony Nicklinson was a senior manager with a Greek civil engineering contractor, a job he enjoyed, and was chairman of the local sports club.

Although he does not necessarily want to end his life straight away, he is frustrated by the indignity and tedium of

•Tony Nicklinson

his current condition, which hasn’t changed for seven years and which doctors say could continue for years.

“Some people have in the past spoken to me in the loud, slow and deliberate tones normally reserved for the deaf or daft. I am neither,” he said.

“All too often, well-meaning able-bodied people just assume that if a person is so severely disabled that he needs assistance to commit suicide, he must automatically be unable to deal with such choice.

DAILY SUN Friday, August 17, 2012,

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Foreign Affairs Syria crisis: Gulf states order citizens to leave Lebanon • Observer mission over –UN

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audi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have ordered their citizens to leave Lebanon after a series of kidnappings linked to neighbouring Syria, where the conflict has intensified.

The Gulf states urged their citizens to leave Lebanon amid reports that gunmen from a Lebanese Shi’ite clan had kidnapped more than 20 people, including a Turk, a Saudi and several Syrians, in retaliation for the capture of one of their kinsmen in Syria’s capital Damascus.

The incident, in an area of Lebanon controlled by Hizbollah Shi’ite militants, raised the risk that the sectarian violence driving the conflict in Syria will spread to its neighbour. Saudi Arabia, which is opposed to Syrian President Bashar al Assad’s regime, told its citizens to leave immediately after “clear threats against them,” Lebanon’s National News Agency said.

The United Arab Emirates issued a similar warning, with foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahayan tweeting: “Unfortunately, the situation is very dangerous.” In Qatar, the state news agency said: “Due to unstable security situation, Qatar’s embassy in Beirut has urged Qatari nationals to leave Lebanon immediately.”

In another development, the United Nations has called an end to its military observer mission in Syria, days before its mandate expired.

Earlier, Russia’s foreign ministry had said that if the United Nations were to pull out of Syria, it would have “serious negative consequences” for the region.

Michael Jackson’s dad drops wrongful death lawsuit

M

ichael Jackson’s father has dropped a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the former doctor who was convicted of causing the singer’s death.

Court records show Joe Jackson’s request for a dismissal was granted Monday.

The filings do not elaborate on a reason for dropping pursuit of the case, but two attorneys handling the case were recently ruled ineligible to practice law in California.

The Jackson family patriarch initially filed the lawsuit against Conrad Murray in June 2010, on the anniversary of his son’s death. A federal judge refused to hear it and it had to be re-filed in state court in Los Angeles.

“It’s good finally that this case is dismissed and gone,” Murray’s attorney Charles Peckham said Wednesday.

“It’s pretty clear that Joe Jackson intelligently and smartly dismissed this case so he, his wife and children can focus on Michael Jackson’s life instead of the circumstances of his death.”

He said Murray, who remains jailed and is appealing his involuntary manslaughter conviction, remains pained by Jackson’s

death and feels sorry for his family. “His heart goes out to them,” Peckham said.

Jackson’s mother, Katherine, continues to pursue a case against concert company AEG Live alleging it negligently hired and supervised Murray, who was giving Jackson nightly doses of the powerful anesthetic propofol as a sleep aid. Murray’s treatments were conducted while Jackson was preparing for a series of comeback concerts.

Her case is scheduled for trial in April. Joe Jackson’s case claimed Murray repeatedly lied to paramedics and doctors about giving Jackson propofol and that he did not keep adequate medical records, all issues that prosecutors raised against Murray during his trial last year.

• Police surround miners lying on the floor who went on an illegal strike at a mountain close to the mine near Rustenburg yesterday. Photo:AFP

South Africa police fire on striking miners • 18 dead

S

outh African riot police opened fire on striking miners armed with machetes and sticks at Lonmin’s Marikana platinum mine yesterday, killing several men in the deadliest episode of a week of union violence.

A Reuters cameraman said he saw at least seven bodies on the ground at the scene, while the country’s Sapa news agency has said “at least” 18 people have been killed.

Video footage shows a group of strikers moving towards police. At the point where the footage freezes, a volley of gunshots lasting for some 10 seconds rings out before shouts of “ceasefire” halt the shooting. When the footage resumes, a number of motionless bodies can be seen where the strikers were.

Heavily armed officers backed by armoured vehicles were laying out barbed wire barricades when they were outflanked by some of the t least 60 miners were estimated 3,000 miners killed when a shaft massed on a rocky outcrop collapsed in a remote near the mine, 100 km (60 part of northeastern miles) northwest of Democratic Republic of Johannesburg.

Congo, where local armed groups complicated rescue efforts, officials said yesterday. of the matter.

The local miners were digThe plane landed at Iceland’s Keflavik ging for gold in shafts up to International Airport with 253 100 metres (109 yards) people on board, including underground when the accithe crew. Donald said the air- dent occurred on Monday in territory in craft was being swept for Mambasa explosives after landing safe- Orientale Province, said ly. Emergency officials in Simon Pierre Bolombo, the Iceland were at the scene and provincial head of mines. He they activated a security plan said the collapse had been at the airport. The passengers caused by a landslide.

“It was deep in the forest, were safety evacuated, offithere was a landslide, at least cials in Iceland said.

A

ple, including two policemen, had died in nearly a week of fighting between rival worker factions at the mine, the latest platinum plant to be hit by an eight-month union turf war in the world’s main producer of the precious metal.

On Wednesday, up to 3,000 police officers, including members of an elite, camouflage-wearing riot control unit backed by helicopters and horses, confronted the striking rock-drill operators, but there were no clashes.

Before the police advance, Joseph Mathunjwa, president of AMCU, which has been on a big recruitment push in South Africa’s platinum mines, said there would be bloodshed if police moved in.

“We’re going nowhere,” he shouted through a loudhailer, to cheers from the crowd. “If need be, we’re prepared to die here.” The unrest has forced Marikana’s London-headquartered owner

to halt production at all its South African operations, which account for 12 percent of global platinum output.

World platinum prices leapt as much as $30 an ounce more than two percent to a six-day high as the extent of the violence became apparent.

Lonmin said it had lost the equivalent of 15,000 ounces of platinum from the six-day disruption, and was unlikely to meet its full-year production target of 750,000 ounces.

Its London-listed shares were down more than 6 percent on Thursday, bringing total losses since the violence began to more than 13 percent.

The Marikana strikers have not made their demands explicit, although much of the bad blood stems from a turf war between AMCU and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the dominant union for the last two decades.

…Another 60 killed in Congo shaft collapse

A

• Joe Jackson

Plane to Moscow diverted after bomb scare uthorities are investigating a bomb threat made to a Moscowbound Aeroflot flight that took off from New York Wednesday night and was diverted to Iceland, New York FBI spokesman Peter Donald said.

Authorities informed the airline that the person making the threat said there were “five suitcases on board the

Police opened fire with automatic weapons on a group of men who burst out from behind a vehicle. The volley of bullets threw up clouds of dust, which cleared to reveal at least seven bodies lying on the ground, Reuters television footage showed.

South Africa’s SAPA news agency said one of its reporters had counted 18 bodies. It was not clear whether the police were fired on.

Reuters photographs showed spears and clubs lying near the bodies. Police said several days of talks with leaders of the radical Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), which was representing most of the strikers, had broken down, leaving no option but to disperse them by force.

“Today is unfortunately Dday,” police spokesman Dennis Adriao said. Before Thursday’s clashes, 10 peo-

plane containing explosives,” said Irina Dannenberg, a spokeswoman for the Russian airline.

Flight 103 left the gate at the John F. Kennedy International Airport at 8:05 p.m, but didn’t take off until 9:30 p.m., and the threat came about 20 minutes later, according to a law enforcement source with knowledge

60 people have been killed,” Bolombo told Reuters by telephone from the town of Bunia in northeast Congo.

Congo’s minister of mines, Martin Kabwelulu, told Reuters the workers were there illegally and that their shafts were deeper than the 30-metre (32-yard) limit required by the mining code for small-scale mining.

Hundreds of thousands of people in eastern Congo make a living in non-industrial mines, where safety precautions are almost nonexistent and accidents are common.

The area where the mine is situated is currently in the hands of a local rebel group

known as Mai Mai Morgan which will likely hamper any rescue efforts, Bolombo said. “(The mine) is controlled by the rebels . There’s almost total insecurity, it’s difficult for us (to reach),” he added.

Mining companies AngloGold Ashanti and Randgold operate in the region, which is known to be rich in tin and gold, although the accident did not take place on either company’s concession, officials said.

Armed groups across eastern Congo use illegal and small-scale mining to help fund their activities, despite international attempts to stamp out so-called “conflict minerals”.

16

DAILY SUN Friday, August 17, 2012

NewsPlus From EMMANUEL ADEYEMI, Lokoja

I

t was a dark Monday. On August 6, Kogi State was thrown into mourning when gunmen opened fire on worshippers attending a Bible study programme at the Deeper Life Church, Eika Daku, in the outskirts of Okene.

The 10 gunmen were said to have gone to the church in a Toyota Hiace bus where they announced to the bewildered worshippers that their mission was to finish all of them. To ensure that their mission succeeded, the bandits were said to have disconnected the generating set and blocked all access roads to the church before they opened fire on the worshippers. By the time they finished their dastardly mission, no fewer than 16 persons lay dead, sprawled out in the pool of their own blood while about 13 people were seriously injured. The death toll later rose to 20.

The national dailies were awash the following day with screaming headlines that Boko Haram had again struck in the Confluence State. Residents in the state were gripped with fear and all major towns, especially Lokoja, the state capital and Kabba in the western flank, were deserted as people scampered to safety. Business and commercial activities were also paralysed as commercial banks, markets, beer parlour and others hurriedly closed shop.

The state governor, Captain Idris Wada abandoned all he was doing and paid a condolence visit to the families of the deceased to douse the tension. He also visited the Okene General Hospital and the Dosan Clinic where the injured were receiving treatment. The governor, while expressing sadness over the wanton waste of lives, was conspicuously angry with the Ohinoyi and Paramount Ruler of Ebiraland, Dr Ado Ibrahim for the recurring crises in his domain when he visited the palace of the monarch.

The monarch who looked sombre and sad, told the governor that he tried all he could to caution his subjects to shun acts of violence.

He noted, however, that politicians in the area always had other agenda. He denounced the rumour making the rounds that the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, was responsible for the attack. Later that evening, the governor imposed a dusk to dawn curfew on all the five local government areas in Ebiraland. He also donated some new vehicles to the police and other security agencies in the area.

Hardly had the dust of the killing settled when some gunmen dressed in white kaftans went to the Central Mosque, Okene and killed two soldiers on guard. One of the soldiers, it was gathered, managed to kill one of the assailants before they sped off from the scene.

Daily Sun learnt that immediately after the Monday killings, the Inspector General of Police gave a marching order to the state commissioner of police to produce the killers within 48 hours or face his wrath. A detachment of mobile policemen was immediately drafted to Okene, alongside over 200 plainclothes detectives to aid the arrest of the killers and to enforce law and order in the area. The Army also drafted some soldiers from the Maigumeri Army Barracks, Lokoja to enhance the dusk to dawn curfew imposed on the area.

According to the state police commissioner, Mr. Mohammed Katsina, the police, acting on a tip-off, swooped on the hideout of the militants and smoked them out. The police boss said the militants engaged the police in a ferocious gunfire, noting, however, that the militants fled with serious injuries when they could not withstand the superior fire power of the police. Three suspects were later arrested at Ibilo, in Edo State where one of them was receiving treatment from a local bullet extractor in a traditional hospital.

The police boss, while parading the suspects before newsmen, said the woman in their midst was the one that arranged vehicles for the militants to Edo State where they were receiving treatment. The other two, he said,

A victim of the attack in the hospital as Gov. Wada consoles another vic-

Day Satan visited Okene Deeper Life Church • It’s political haram, not Boko Haram, says paramount ruler actually participated in the Deeper Life killings. One of the suspects was almost lifeless, while the other was said to be one of those that sponsored the killings.

The police boss, who admitted that a top politician in the area was arrested in connection with the killing, later displayed some firearms recovered from the hoodlums. As at the time of filing this report, no fewer than 17 people were in the custody of the police.

Daily Sun investigations, however, revealed that the Deeper Life killings and the subsequent killings of the two soldiers were not carried out by Boko Haram, after all. Two former council chairmen, who have just been appointed special advisers to Governor Wada Idris, are at the centre of the controversy and are now being detained by the police as alleged masterminds of the killings.

A source said the gunmen actually targeted the wife of a senior officer in Okene Local Government area who is a member of the church. The gunmen were said to have trailed the woman to the church on the fateful day, but unknown to them, the woman made a detour to attend to a phone call she had just received. The source said the gunmen who were heavily drunk did not know that they had missed their target before they opened fire on the worshippers. When they realised they had missed their target, the source said they made an attempt to kill the husband of the council official.

“It was when all these attempts failed that they despatched some members to the Central Mosque so as to make the incidents look like Boko Haram attacks. You know Boko Haram has, up till now, not claimed responsibility for

Dr. the killings. So it is clear that these were thugs trained and equipped by some desperate politicians who want to cling to power forever that are behind the killings,” said the source.

The paramount ruler of Ebiraland, Dr. Ado

Ibrahim also confirmed this when he spoke with Daily Sun. “What we have in Ebiraland is not Boko Haram but political Haram,” the top monarch said. “Inordinate ambition and lawlessness are part of the problems of politicians and their foot soldiers in this area, and what they do is evil. My official reaction is that I condemn the killing of the uniformed people and other innocent people. These killings have made me bitter and angry.”

The Ebira People’s Association, while addressing newsmen over the issue, also said the killing was not by Boko Haram but politically motivated. The president of the group, Dr. Adeiza Musa Abdulrahman, said the acts of violence were caused by endemic clannish differences fanned by political interests.

He urged the federal government to go into the roots of the crisis even as he blamed the Ado Ibrahim immediate past administration in the state for appointing thugs and people of questionable character into positions of authority.

The commissioner of police said interrogation was ongoing to ascertain the level of involvement of the suspects. He said they would be charged to court soon.

Friday, August 17, 2012

DAILY SUN

17

NewsPlus

Aregbesola’s Cuban deal revealed ... As Osun youths showcase callisthenic skills

By TOPE ADEBOBOYE

O

n Monday, August 27, Osun State would wear a bubbly mien. The streets would be clad in colourful costumes, as cheering residents dance round the towns and villages in carnival-like processions. Across Osogbo, the capital, Ilesa, Ede, Ikirun, Ila, Ile-Ife and hundreds of other towns and villages, assorted drums would boom, horns would sound, and traditional songs would pour forth from the mouths of exhilarated citizens.

Thousands of secondary school boys and girls would ‘invade’ the Osogbo City Stadium, treating the delighted crowds to some aesthetic callisthenic displays. And the wide-eyed spectators would look on, with mouths agape, captivated by the prowess of their young children doing astounding manoeuvring with their bodies.

Indeed, the entire state would be upbeat, as the government and people of Osun celebrate the 21st anniversary of the State of the Virtuous People.

But that would not be all, of course.

It would also be the day the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s connection with the Cubans would be revealed to the whole world.

In truth, on that memorable Monday, the 8, 000 young students that have for months been receiving vigorous training under the tutelage of Cuban callisthenic experts would come out to showcase their artistry to the world. It is the day many hitherto doubting men and women would see the result of the governor’s mission in Cuba.

Yet, when the idea was initially mooted by Governor Aregbesola, it generated considerable controversy within and outside the state. Many were those that swore that the governor’s Cuban venture was nothing other than an avenue to train political thugs that would subsequently be unleashed on the unsuspecting populace. The governor explained that his intentions were quite noble, informing that the calisthenics programme was designed to build the young participants physically, mentally and psychologically.

But many remained sceptical, convinced that nothing worthwhile would come out of the programme.

In spite of such cynicism, however, Aregbesola forged ahead with his intentions. On Monday, April 23, the premises of the Local Government Service Commission, Osogbo was filled with students, teachers, government officials and thousands of others from all parts of the state, as the gover-

Gov. Aregbesola He insisted that the programme was even more advantageous to the state and its people, saying it would provide an alternative avenue for social interaction among youngsters who could otherwise be lured into unwholesome and violent activities by some heartless politicians. “By providing a platform for fraternisation and positive integration and engagement in a worthwhile L-R: Cuban callisthenic expert, Mr. Francis Rodriquez; Hon. Mudashir Toogun and endeavour, it makes the students Secretary, Osun Callisthenic Implementation Committee, Comrade Wale Balogun unavailable for potentially harmful out-of-school activities such as political thuggery and other criminal and self-defeating activities,” he informed.

Aregbesola admitted that he wasn’t the pioneer of the exercise, recalling that such programmes were instituted by the regime of the late Chief Bola Ige in the old Oyo State and in the recent past by the Bisi Akande administration in Osun State.

He said the current efforts would be sustained, pledging that the programme was not designed to have a terminal Thousands of participating students at Osogbo City Stadium date. nor flagged-off the Osun School He recalled that the ancient Greeks Two Cuban specialists - Francis Callisthenics Programme, otherwise saw the human body as a temple that José Vásquez Rodríguez and Raiza known as O’ Calisthenics. offered both the human mind and soul Aljoe Guerra - were brought into the At the ceremony, Aregbesola a sacred abode. The people, he noted, country by the state government to explained that the programme was believed that gymnastics and callis- train the students as well as local traindesigned by his government to address thenics were necessary to keep this ers that would eventually take over the the state of physical education in the abode healthy and functional. training of others. state which he noted had fallen into According to the governor, these Under the first phase of the prodecline and was no longer in reckoning ancient structured physical exercises, gramme, 8, 000 students and 60 local in the academic institutions. He assert- gymnastics and callisthenics have now trainers received training under the ed that the callisthenics programme been replaced by organised sporting Cuban coaches. Out of that number, 5, would also be used to, in his words, activities.

000 were trained in the state capital, “re-examine the place of physical He explained further: “The impor- while the remaining 3, 000 were spread activities in our lives.” tance of physical exercise to the devel- through the other eight federal con“The Osun School Callisthenics opment of a healthy human person stituencies in the state. He said the stuProgramme is well conceived as part cannot be over-emphasised. dents would be picked from JSS 1 and of the overall restructuring of educa- Calisthenics, for example, has been JSS 2 classes. The governor tion in the State of Osun. Because our known to have the substance of unity, announced that his intention was to administration places high premium on harmony, balance and team work and make callisthenics a permanent feature physical education and we regard for- thus presents one of the best engage- in the state. mal education as incomplete without ments for teaching young pupils the The participating students were its physical development component, cooperative spirit in a simple, delight- selected from 48 schools across the we have therefore accorded it the ful and interesting way. This perhaps state, while four training centres were required priority in the reorganisation explains why, in the advanced coun- picked within Osogbo community. of education. tries of the world like the United States, They included St. Charles Grammar “The callisthenics programme is not physical education is generally taught School, Unity School, Baptist Girls only an out-of-school sports activity to school pupils right from kinder- High School and the Township but a lifestyle change project for build- garten all the way up to the university Stadium. Outside the capital, the future ing a new generation of students who level. It covers a whole range of organ- callisthenic experts were coached in are physically robust, mentally sound ised physical activities such as sports, Iwo, Ilesa, Ikire, Ede, Ikirun, Ile-Ife, and socially well-adjusted,” the gover- calisthenics, gymnastics, dance and so Ila, Ilobu and Ijebu-Jesa. nor stated. on.”

Aregbesola also stated that besides

callisthenics, his government would work hard to bring back other extracurricular activities, including photography, chess, karate and quiz, and capacity development programmes like the Boys Scout, Boys Brigade and Girls Guide.

“The physical aspects of the broad extracurricular activities to be introduced are consistent with our Walk-toLive and promotion of Healthy Living Action Plan, while the social and guidance aspects are true to our philosophy and progressive ideals for social development,” he informed.

Aregbesola regretted that some people had accused him of using the programme as a cover for giving military training to the youths. Wondering how teaching some young persons to hold flags and bend their bodies would amount to military training, the governor vowed that such cynicism would never dissuade him from pursuing his reform programmes in Osun schools.

Aregbesola also stated at another forum that the programme, which he described as a lifestyle-changing project for building a new generation of physically robust, mentally sound and socially well-adjusted students, would promote unity, harmony and team spirit among the youngsters.

He also informed that JSS students were the first beneficiaries since they had longer years to spend in school.

The trained students would thereafter train others, the governor explained.

He said Cuban specialists were chosen to train the students because of that country’s proximity to Nigeria as well as the Cubans’ contribution towards the development of Africa and Nigeria.

Assistant Chief of Staff to the Governor and Coordinating Director of the programme, Hon. Oguntola Toogun said the state government did not just pick the participating students.

He informed that the government sought the consent of the parents before engaging the pupils even as he noted that adequate medical arrangements were in place to take care of the health challenges of participants.

So on that Monday, thousands of young students that have been receiving training in callisthenics would step out to showcase their art. And the world would stare with awestruck attention at the sheer artistry of these Nigerian youngsters who might yet wow the world at some future Olympics someday soon.

18

DAILY SUN Friday August 17, 2012

Customs and Port reforms

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ecently, the Presidential committee on port reforms submitted its report to the Presidency. The highpoint of its recommendation centred on steps that can be taken to ensure that goods are cleared from the nation’s ports 24 hours after their arrival.

According to a member of the committee, Olayiwola Shittu, the recommendations, if accepted and adopted by government, will bring an end to port congestion which is responsible for delays in clearing goods and diversion of some to other neighbouring ports in West Africa.

We note the recommendations of the committee. We are, however, not enthusiastic about it because the problem has not been with the lack of measures or steps that should be taken to bring our ports up to acceptable standards but with the system and processes that should bring about the desired change.

Over the years, we have been regaled with fine details about port reforms. We have been told that goods arriving our ports would be cleared within 48 hours. But this has remained largely on paper.

In the same vein, we have been told that systems and processes that will discourage smuggling will be put in place. But hope in this regard looks dim. The latest recommendations from the presidential committee will only add to the long list of theoretical methods that we have been toying with.

However, given the avowed commitment of the present government to port reforms, we can only hope that the presidency will give the report the attention it deserves and ensure that we move away from aspiration to actuality.

While we wait for the new day in this matter, we must note that part of the problem with our ports lies in the way we do things as a people.

Systems that work elsewhere in the world fail in Nigeria because of the personnel who should drive the change. Delays in clearance of goods at our ports could be avoided if those in charge are committed to efficiency. We therefore urge that the processes should be strengthened so

that those in charge at the ports do not continue to shirk their responsibilities.

It is utterly regrettable that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) which underwent reforms under the regime of former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has slipped back into disrepute. The ports are not working partly because officers and men of the NCS have abandoned the ports in favour of our highways.

Today, officers and men of the NCS who ought to be at the ports and border posts to strengthen operations are posted on highways to intercept goods and vehicles that have already left the ports.

We do not see the sense in Customs officers stopping vehicles and goods on highways, asking for customs papers when those same goods or vehicles passed through the ports or the borders in the first place.

It is unprofessional and does not help the image of the NCS. Today, the joke around the country is that Customs men have taken over from where the police stopped. This is especially since cases of extortion and bribery abound on these highways.

The Comptroller General of NCS should take interest in this matter. He should withdraw his officers and men from our highways and redeploy them to the ports and border posts. That is where they should function. Keeping them on highways to embarrass unsuspecting travellers is unethical, and even provocative.

The situation is not helped by the fact that these customs men and officers are in the habit of disowning their own documents. They end up making people who have paid their customs duties look stupid on the highways. This is most unhealthy.

We urge the NCS to return to the path of rectitude and avoid acts that will make members of the public to begin to antagonize them. They should return to their proper duty posts in order to strengthen our ports and borders.

Nigeria can become the regional hub in ports services if those in charge do the right thing.

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Send your short and crisp letters to: letters@sunnewsonline. com.

LETTER Okorocha, please intervene I am impressed by the Owelle Rochas Okorocha’s sincerity of purpose and significant achievements in the last one year of his leadership in Imo State. I am not part of his government, neither his relative or from his local government area. But as a citizen of Imo State, I have a moral obligation to evaluate and report the facts objectively. All manners of people have come into the government of Imo State and some were very myopic, self-centered and selfish. Late Chief Sam .O. Mbakwe remained the best governor that Imo State has ever had. He remains the standard. Will Owelle surpass him?

Only the future will tell.

Owelle has proved, excellently, that government could be made to perform effectively; if only the right people occupy the seat of power. Even when numerous special interests were out to torpedo his efforts, he remained focused and ever more determined to excel on his performances rather than wallowing in lamentations. Previously, the rate of killing, kidnapping and insecurity was quite high in

Imo State, but today, his government has looked at the issue and ensured proper security arrangement.

The indigenes and non- indigenes resident in the state are now sleeping with both eyes closed with the level of security provided all over the state.

Education sector, which remains the major industry that Imo State has been associated with in the time past, had gone down, if not getting to extinction; but to God be the glory for Owelle Rochas Okorocha has come with a divine programme that has created a new education policy which has now made education in the state free and compulsory but qualitative from primary to university level. Owelle has succeeded in placing Imo State among the fast developing states in the global world. Recently, his administration introduced afourth tier of government. This effort is aimed at bringing dividend of democracy to the doorstep of every community.

His administration is spending funds to ensure that the roads in the state are of high quality standard, durable and stand the test of time after con-

struction. It is not news any longer that Governor Okorocha has approved construction of a 15-kilometre road in each of the 27 LGAs in Imo State, especially those ones that link other local government councils as priority projects that must be handled with dispatch within the shortest time. I also note with keen interest that road projects are one of the top priorities His Excellency has selected for execution due to it’s prime importance to the state and it’s economy.

But, I’m sorry to observe that the feasibility of the project may end up in doubt as all the efforts by His Excellency to construct those roads may still remain a pipedream in some areas, particularly, in Awo- Idemili the headquarters of Orsu LG if urgent steps are not taken to compel those handling the projects to be accountable as nothing serious has been done by the contractors. The structure on ground does not justify the intention and urgency specified by the government. When the governor flagged off the project, it was jubilation, and praises in Awo- Idemili clan which became a council headquarters in 1991 and yet, remains the only council headquarters in Nigeria today that has never had tarred roads within her vicinity after 21 years of establishment. Now, it appears as if that joy may have turned to sorrow.

It was in this regard that I wrote a petition to our listening governor, Rochas Okorocha, published in Daily Sun newspaper of March 28, 2012 edition,

with the caption “What manner of man is Okorocha?”. Yet, all the wrongs and ills I wrote therein are still prevalent in Awo-Idemili. A reflection of the fact that Awo-Idemili has been neglected, marginalized and forgotten by the past governments in Imo State.

Therefore, let me ask this question; is the contractor handling the road project in Awo-Idemili clan incapacitated or on a short break and would soon continue with the work he has started? We should remember that the efficiency of a contractor rests significantly on the adequacy of sincerity of purpose. So, if he is incapacitated, won’t he be substituted with another contractor, competent enough to handle the project? But ,if he is in a short break, let me humbly, appeal to Okorocha.

Let me hasten to add that Awo-Idemili clan is now ever determined, and would not afford to be ostracized from reaping the dividends of democracy but eager to witness a milestone in the history of governance via Okorocha’s administration. The people of Awo- Idemili are well known farmers and traders who have no roads to convey their products and goods from their hamlets and farms. This case needs the urgent intervention of our action governor, Owelle Gburu-Gburu.

IG Ngodi (Anaetinyu-Oku) Lagos.

CMYK

DAILY SUN

Friday August 17, 2012

19

Letter to Jonathan on Nigeria’s Olympics massacre T

BY EMMA OKOCHA he United States’ late upsurge at the London Olympics confirmed her Super Power status. The Super Power epithet was extended to America following her victory over the Axis Powers at the end of the Second World War. In a week the US landed a robot on Mars, she consolidated her international esteem when, on the final day, she upset the early Chinese Olympic gold haul. This latest Asian Super Power would not be allowed to replicate her Beijing triumph on Western soil.

Your Excellency, that is the power of modern sports. Understandably, England, Russia, Germany, Italy by their performances retain their international badges as first rate powers courted by friends and ignored by none. Therefore, the London Olympics was a signature success for the host and a memory of national pride for the six million Jamaicans and her other little Commonwealth neighbours, incubating on the Caribbean islands of the Pacific.

For Nigeria, the massacre in London is a logical reflection of the Nigerian state, the apathy and the increasing despair of its famished people. A nation that is forever on the reverse gear, piloted to Green land by an exhausted one percent ; made up of contractor Senators, who were Governors, Ministers who were board Chairmen and legislators who are pensioned Generals.

These ‘winners’ of the Nigerian system in the first place never played on the Olympian turf of immaculate sportsmanship. These Excellencies and their Aides landed London and set to sell the Nigerian brand. They told the Press that Nigeria was also in the Olympic contention for gold and silver! Used to the Nigerian crude instrumentation of winning by all means, the Olympic principles of fair competition, the supremacy of rules, were foreign observations to our friends. Mr. President, on occasions, you have, in fairness, distanced yourself from these pretenders.

Sir, the first signal to failure was recorded when Nigeria failed to qualify for the Football Olympics. A Team Nigeria to the Olympics, without Football, at this stage of

our national sports development is an incomplete squad, and those choices demonstrated that the Olympic Committee did not understand their mission. We were astonished that Team Nigeria was excited to include ill conditioned athletes and poorlyfed boxers; Table Tennis, Basketball moon walkers when it is clear to the initiated that the far East nations were heading to London and they were taking no prisoners in the ping pong arena. Nigeria saw the fixtures, yet they were excited and looked forward to the clash with the Dream team.

Why would they risk to tarnish the national reputation by going against the world’s best before billions of world television viewers?

Look at the scores of that clinic between the Dream team and the Nigerian team. That result will remain an indelible Olympic record which for many years would rub mud on the Nigerian Brand, from Japan to Alaska.

Explaining away his woeful outing, the Minister of Sports, blamed petty quarrels in the camp and also, he pointed out that Nigeria was losing money and opportunities featuring in most of the sports. In other words, he was advocating for a more specialized program where the country would develop some selected sports and concentrate competition on those select few.

Mr. President, those and more are the landmark findings of our research before we wrote our 136-page Paper on a New Sports Policy for Delta in 1977. As the Director of Sports of that state, we sought a break from the delaying bureaucracy of the Ministry of Sports. We thought the immediacy and the passion of sports activities cannot wait for the slow processing and file movement of the ministries. Once the Council won its independence, we, in the third month, advised a memo to the Governor banning from travel with our contingents, top government officials, Commissioners, The First Lady or for that matter, the Permanent Secretaries!

For our winning philosophy, Delta adopted the slogan, ‘‘WIN DELTA WIN”.

That philosophy espouses that the state would no longer spend resources engaging in competitions which it was not sure of winning. We researched on our peoples’

sports history, our peculiar environment, our physical advantages, and the psychological and geophysical dimensions of the select sports and cultivated the oil companies to support the government shoe lace appropriations for the Council. We studied the cultural agreements between Nigeria and the leading sports nations and decided to send our coaches to Cuba for boxing, the Scandinavian countries for handball and to the Balkans for the strength sports.

Cuba was ideal for the low costs of training so also was the enticing offers from China for our Table Tennis and Gymnastics. But Tennis as a whole was not in our priority listing Those sports cultivated over the years, attracting so many native advantages and which we were excelling at, we grouped as Priority Sports.

As an agent of social responsibility, we used the Council to push the Local Governments to contribute for once for the sublime. We presented this third tier the opportunity to sponsor the State first ever Sports Festival. For the first time, the whole peoples of Delta besieged the Asaba Sports Stadium in the Russian spirit of the Spatacadia to participate and enjoy the orgasm of a sports festival.

Your Excellency, the whole place was electrified. Delta developed a winning philosophy, moving from the 14th to the top , and all its stars were indigenous upstarts.

Our peoples were mobilized. Asaba, Ogwashi Ukwu, Warri, Abraka, Sapele and Oleh were designated Centres of Excellence. In six months, the American Junior Baseball African championship came to Delta. Our Football teams, the Delta Force, male and female, were building up to slaughter the Super Eagles, having destroyed the Rangers, and Bendel Insurance in secret friendlies. We were monitoring our athletes, coaches so we sent our administrative staff on IT courses before their counterparts in the Ministry.

As of now, there is no discernable program or policy, stating how to run our local and national sports to support our international competitions. Some of the states like Anambra with an overwhelming sports history, contributions and resources to the

nation have neglected their sports industry.

It is sad that a state that produced Chuba Ikpeazu, Emmanuel Ifeajuna, the first Nigerian star International, Nigeria’s tennis pioneer champions of Patrick Obi and octogenarian Oranye, the home of the titans; Okala and our CKC world Cup schemer, Sylvanus Okpala, world wresting champion Power Mike, and above the home state of Zik, the long distance runner, the boxer and the tennis guru; has no sports program.

Anambra sponsors no sport in any of the National Leagues. While the Western States invariably submerge their sports Councils under the supervision of the slow and corrupt ministries, the North was a natural base for producing some long distance runners.

Plateau was the hope but for the current turmoil. However, Sokoto [where the PDP zoned the Minister of Sports Portfolio] has never produced any world ranking athlete or has any grassroot sports competition.

Therefore, it cannot continue to produce our Ministers of Sports. That the South South states despite their advantages have failed to break out in swimming and wrestling has always been issues of concern.

Mr. President , our sad outing in the last Olympics constitutes a serious damage and disgrace to you and to the nation. On behalf of Nigeria’s former Internationals, we call on you to relieve the Minister of his brief as the supervisor of our sports in this hour of odium for failing to recognise that our hard -earned sports reputation has been irretrievably ridiculed. Sir, apart from that drubbing by the US Dream team, we did not win anything! Your prompt sack of the Minister would instantly shield your administration from the obvious contamination of this London putrid mess.

Sir, the Nigerian Waterloo is another downer now too many recorded in your lacklustre tenure. The firing of the Minister would clear the table for the Presidential Technical Committee to investigate the massacre in London and restore credibility and merit as we prepare for Rio in 2016.

Okocha writes from Lagos.

South East and infrastructure deficit T

BY EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO he South East geopolitical zone made up of about five States namely Imo, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi and Abia States is the heartland of the Igbo speaking nationality. This zone can boast of producing some of the finest intellectuals and top flight technocrats spread all over the world who are vastly respected in their diverse fields of calling.

The zone produces arguably the highest percentage of undergraduate university applicants yearly which goes to show the elevated scale which learning/intellectualism has reached among the people of these vast geopolitical area.

But one thing the South East geopolitical area lacks is the needed and necessary federal presence and the strategic infrastructure that would enable the people to harness their natural and human resources to achieve collective economic growth and advancement of the area. This accounts for the presence of a lot of youths that are jobless and therefore restive. Even Aba that used to be the industrial hub of Southern Nigeria is in a sorry state due largely to the criminal neglect of basic social infrstructure by the Abia State Government.

Onitsha, in Anambra State, that used to boast of having the largets market in West Africa is bereft of the basic infrastructure of even facilities as common as drainage system which the state and local government councils can afford without waiting endlessly for the inept federal administration to do these basic things for the people who are constantly harassed by the state government to pay tax.

Last week, I embarked on a two-day scientific study of the current state of infrastructure in the South East with visits to Enugu, Onitsha, Okigwe and Aba with whistle stops at Owerri and Umuahia and, without mincing words, I can state categorically that South Eastern Nigeria suffers from monumental deficit of infrastructure far worse than what obtains in the other geopolitical zones which I have had the privilege to have lived in and worked for years.

Apart from poor road infrastructure affecting virtually the entire federal, state and local government-owned and maintained roads, there is the more serious problem of erosion which poses greater environmental threats to several communities including the hom town of Nigeria’s second

Republic vice president, Dr. Alex Ekwueme (Oko, Orumba North Local government in old Aguata, Anambra State).

Deadly gullies of huge proportions have enveloped other communities such as Uturu and Isukwuato all in Abia State. The question on the lips of most people interviewed is why the infrastructure in the South East have been allowed to deteriorate to this sorry state and people are asking whether the South East has political leadership that is charismatic, patriotic, selfless, nationalistic and corruption-free that can speak the mind of the South East and attract equitable federal development to the zone.

Interacting with people in the rural communities visited last week, I came out with the impression that the people of the South East are totally disappointed with the political leaders from the zone who have consistently betrayed the collective aspirations of the people for their selfish pecuniary goals.

The people, for instance, questioned the rationale in voting massively for the current president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, in the 2011 election on the promise that the second Niger Bridge and other serious infrastructural deficits suffered by the zone would be addressed only to discover that these vital infrastructure are deteriorating further due to neglect by the Federal Government.

To, therefore, read in one of the national dailies that the ministry of works has claimed to have executed 98 percent of its capital projects in the 2012 Appropriation Act is one of the biggest fraudulent claims because in the entire South East, there is virtually no proof of any completed and well maintained federal road.

On the aspect of erosion, the people wonder why successive ministers of Environment since 1999 promised to address the situation only to end up not doing anything but engage in political rhetoric while the political office holders of the South East at the federal level are only good at shedding crocodile tears over the state of erosion in the South East but refuse to use their influence to collectively ensure that South East gets better deal from the aspects of the Federal budgets that are eventually implemented.

Only on Monday, media reports claimed that the House of Representatives’ committee chair-

man on Environment and member representing Anaocha/Dunukofia/Njikoka Federal constituency, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, wept at the site of very serious erosion disaster in a part of Anambra state.

Oh! what crocodile tears!

Speaking at Nanka erosion site in Aguata Council Area of Anambra State when she paid unscheduled visit to the site at the weekend, Ekwunife, the politician, expressed fears that the rate at which the erosion was escalating and encroaching into other communities was alarming and a threat to the entire state.

Mrs. Ekwunife further disclosed that most worrisome was the fact that the erosion had grown beyond the control of the contractor currently handling it, adding that it should be declared a special erosion site by the Federal Government.

“The Nanka erosion site should be made available to control it because as you have seen, it is encroaching into other nearby communities and if care is not taken, it will sack the entire Anambra State. The project demands special funding from the Ministry of Environment and a more competent contractor should be given the project because as it stands now, it has gone beyond the control of the contractor handling it”, she reportedly stated.

Media report said that she also disclosed that lack of prompt intervention in the control of the erosion site and other ecological disasters was responsible for the escalation of the erosion in the state, noting that the control of the erosion site could have been done about three years ago when the disaster had not escalated.

Mrs. Ekwunife said that the Nanka erosion site and other serious active erosion sites within the state and South East in general should be declared special projects to forestall further natural disasters.

“We are going to make sure that Nanka project is considered a special project and special funding mapped out for it because if it is not tackled, it will wipe off the entire Anambra State because it is encroaching into other communities and it is only a company like Julius Berger that can handle it,” she said.

The House Committee Chairman also urged the state government to have good waste management scheme so as to control the disaster that, according to her, were often man-made and called on companies operating in the state to have proper ways of

channeling their waste products.

Mrs. Ekwunife, Nigeria’s latest crying madam, please note that the people are watching you and your other partners in the National Assembly to see if you would attract Federal attention to the serious environmental threat in the South East.

Still on infrastructure deficit of South East, Emeka Nwosu, who is a very senior media practitioner and is currently working in the media office of the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives has strong opinion about it. He happened to have travelled to parts of the South East about the same period under review in this piece and his observation is as relevant as it is factual.

His words: “I just returned from a one-week trip to the South East which saw me traversing Enugu, Abia, Imo and River State. The Enugu – Port Harcourt Highway has become an unqualified disaster; a national embarrassment. To move form Lokpanta at the Enugu–Abia border through Okigwe to Umuahia, Aba and Port Harcourt has become a huge problem”.

Emeka Nwosu who is also an Author and a columnist with Thisday Newspaper suggested the following solution: “A concerted action is needed from our political and traditional leaders to get President Jonathan to fix the roads”.

Unfortunately, the political and traditional institutions have collectively betrayed the people of South East because majority of the political and traditional elite from the South East only visit President Jonathan to solicit for contracts and other personal benefits and do little or nothing to speak for the people.

The Youth and other professionals untainted by the lucre of political contracts should unite to fight for the interest of the South East geopolitical zone so that a scientific and comprehensive economic rescue/marshal plan for the region should be worked out and implemented. The so-called political contraption called Ohaneze group is largely populated by old contractors who have no interest of the South East at heart. They are therefore unreliable and are only seen shouting Igbo presidency while the South East zone remains backward.

Onwubiko writes via @www.huriwa.blogspot.com.

CMYK

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DAILY SUN Friday August 17, 2012

Lessons from Edo poll

BY EBOMHIANA MUSA

T

he July 14,2012 governorship election in Edo State, described by political analysts as a watershed in the political history of the state will continue to attract comments, at least ,until the winner, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, is sworn in for his four-year second term in office. This will definitely take place November 12 this year and it’s only God that can alter this. And I believe that He will neither alter nor stop it because He is the God who rewards hard work, the God of equity and fairness, the God who says that the labourer deserves his wage and that a lazy man must not eat.

By all standards, Oshiomhole deserves that victory because he faithfully and diligently worked for it. While others were snoring, he was busy burning the proverbial midnight candle, strategizing and racking his brain on how to improve the lot of his people and make Edo a model in the comity of states in Nigeria. The result of all these was the Tsunami of July 14 which is unprecedented in the history of party politics and electioneering in Nigeria. Even at the peak of its rigging, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, never captured all the wards and all the local governments in any of the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. But, here is a miracle worker in Edo State, Oshiomhole, who, against all odds, laced with threats achieved the feat in Edo State. With all the miracle results emerging from the South -South states of Rivers and Akwa Ibom in virtually all the past polls, they were still light years away.

BY JOSEPH AKANIMOH

But this total victory comes with its huge challenge, the challenge of managing the huge success and the challenge of accommodating all the positive forces that wreaked havoc on the opposition parties at the poll. The man behind the wheels needs plenty of patience, wisdom and wide consultations to successfully take the vehicle of state to a safe destination. This will be a topic for another day. However, the outcome of that election has taught us a number of lessons which must not be lost in the euphoria of the celebration.

Unfortunately, most Nigerian politicians will not see any lesson in it simply because they have ears, yet will not hear and have eyes, yet blind to political realities in their environs. They choose to listen to themselves only and, perhaps, political sycophants who tell them what they want to hear.

Some of us used to believe that there is a bad spirit hovering around political offices in the land which deafens and blinds our leaders on assumption of office, whereby they behave like a dog destined to get lost. The scales suddenly fall off their eyes the moment they vacate office. They are full of regrets, With tails between their legs, they begin to crawl back to old friends with apologies and lousy excuses for their stubbornness while in office. But the case of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in Edo State has changed my perception of a typical Nigeria political office holder.

This is a man who sees political office purely as a call to service and a bond between him and the people, a leader par excellence and not a boss, a man full of passion for his people and his state, a man who has redefined leadership in Edo State.

At the end of his stay in Osadeby Avenue, he would have successfully made Edo State a model for other states and above all, serve as a stepping

stone to greater pedestal for service to humanity across political and socio-cultural divide. He prefers to relate more with the masses (the hoi polloi) than the rich who oppress others with their wealth. A man who works round the clock with little or no time for leisure, God willing, he will be 60 April 4,2013, yet, he is bubbling with energy as if he is in his 30s. He works as if there is no tomorrow, he is in a hurry to do so much within the limited time available to him in office, given the fact that our dear state was pillaged and raped by some heartless leaders for close to a decade and left prostrate. He has proved to his fellow politicians that with hard work, the people will always stand by you and thirst for more. Work for the people and they will compensate you with their votes at the polls. More especially, do not detach your self from them. This is a governor who will visit the market woman, eat and drink with her and share her problems. It was therefore not surprising that the average Edo person was very passionate about the man they fondly called Oshio Baba and they were ready to lay down their lives to defend their votes that guaranteed his second term in office. The bike riders, market women, commercial bus operators, artisans, farmers and various professional groups queued behind the man they have given a number of sobriquets to reflect how much he had touched their lives within a very short period in office.

This is a people who had lost all hopes that anything good can come out of Osadeby Avenue, given their bitter experience with bad leadership in the last decade. Oshiomhole came and gave them hope, an enduring hope they will ever leave to cherish. As a leader, be satisfied with what you have, never be carried away with the lucre of

office and start eating with both hands. If you do, it will smear your mouth, the people will shout foul and at the end of the day, you become an unwilling guest of anti-graft agencies.

A leader who conscientiously, diligently and selflessly works for the good of his people and humanity does not have to dip his hands into the commonwealth for his personal benefit. The goodwill that comes with the office is more than enough. In fact, good name, the elders say, is better than silver and gold. All these, Oshiomhole has brought to bear on governance in Edo State. If he has been a political glutton, Edo state would have still remained in the woods.

Today, Edo State is a success story, a classical case of dry bones walking again. Oshiomhole is a study in political craftsmanship, this is Oshioism.

I sincerely believe that students of political economy should be interested in the magical turnaround of Edo state within the short period of three and a half years by a man who was written off at inception by cynics as an ordinary union man, only good at organizing rallies and protests against constituted authorities. To fellow Nigerians who have lost hope in the present crop of leaders in our country, I dare say that Oshiomhole, Fashola and Mimiko are the hope of this generation, our authentic brand. They are Awolowo, Sardauna and Azikiwe reincarnate who have come to quench our thirst. Focused, selfless, determined and very clear as to why they are in government and what governance means.

Again, permit me to prophesy into the political future of these generational leaders: They will surely lead us to the Promised Land.

Musa writes from Benin

Umanah at 53

U

manah Okon Umanah, the Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government (SSG), will turn 53 on August 20, 2012. Beyond the largely private personal compliments and salutes from his circle of close friends, I can bet with everything dear to me that this our smooth-operating technocrat cum politician will prefer to keep the mood of his birthday in tune with a tradition that he is well known for: solemn quietude as he remains at his ever busy desk providing the backup for Akpabio’s governance orchestra.

More on his persona, Umanah always prefers his actions to speak for him rather than his mouth or appearance. No matter what feat he has accomplished, he will always go for a polite and measured appreciation of the outcome rather than a standing ovation, however, flattering.

Whether as a senior middle cadre civil servant through the leadership of the budget directorate to his time as the State Finance Commissioner up until now that he is the Secretary to the State government, Umanah has quietly but effectively demonstrated that he is a cat with nine lives. In the last thirteen years, he has remained a recurrent dec-

imal and a near permanent fixture in the state power equation.

Arguably the most experienced public servant of this epoch in Akwa Ibom after Governor Akpabio, he has robustly combined some of the rarest qualities in both private and public life to provide both intellectual and structural underpinnings that facilitate ease in the art of governance.

After all, as the Secretary to the State Government, he remains the big “spider” in the web of the State’s executive policy and programmes’ implementation. Some of these qualities include; humility, focus, strong intellect, experience, hard work, generosity and liberal mindedness. Others are; promise-keeping, honesty, detribalization and intense patriotism. With his strong intellect, it is needless to add that this man from Ndiya, Nsit clan in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area is perpetually wedded to excellence in everything he does.

With the foregoing, it is, therefore, not surprising that there is no discussion about the coming 2015 succession that Umanah’s name does not get generous mention as the man to beat. Yes, he remains the man to beat because even his strongest rivals and even detractors attest to his credentials as an excellent material that is just good for the immediate post-Akpabio era for the state.

For one, the SSG has been a prime insider in the hugely successful Akpabio administration which has been receiving generous performance endorsements from virtually all including some of the most unlikely quarters. In fact, these endorsements have proved that if there was a provision in our constitution for a third term, Akpabio would probably have been obliged by the people of Akwa Ibom.

It is on the crest of this Akpabio-mania arising from the incumbent’s sweet orchestra with the SSG as the main back-up singer that his (SSG’s) issue in the succession equation firmly perches.

This is why his rivals and detractors with little or no credible and convincing mantra to stop this moving force have rather tritely latched on, intensified and amplified the warcry of zoning even with all the crass insincerities and cant deliberately or inadvertently displayed by many of them. Even some of them appear so pathetic especially those of them of Ibibio extraction who, more often than not always appear or choose to forget whether the agitation for the zoning under which they are seeking refuge in Akwa Ibom has always been on the basis of ethnic group or senatorial district. To these lots, once you zone to them, immaterial of whether

it will solve the problem that they claimed zoning would solve in the first place or not, it does not matter. But those who are sincere know that since Akwa Ibom State’s creation, the agitation for zoning has always been along ethnic lines. Therefore, if you are an Ibibio by tribe and you oppose Umanah another Ibibio man from Uyo Senatorial District simply because you are Ibibio in say, Eket Senatorial District, calculating that if the Governorship is eventually zoned to Eket District, you will snatch it as Ibibio man or woman, then you are a ranked hypocrite.

However, let it be said here that in the face of this rat race, one salutary point to note has been the calm disposition of the SSG. He has remained his confident and detached self. He refuses to be drawn into any debate on any issue, zoning or no zoning. He continues to be immersed in the belief that at the end of the day, as at his previous junctures, God’s counsel is what will ultimately stand.

To our beloved Umanah, it is our prayer that God Almighty continues to protect you and imbue you with more wisdom even as you remain committed to the path of good governance and service to our people. Happy birthday, Sir Akanimoh writes from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Reflection on Igbo–Yoruba political angst A

BY ORI MARTINS major problem facing the Nigerian federation has been the failure of the Igbo and Yoruba leaders of thoughts to work together. Both nations have always worked at cross purposes. It has been a matter of suspicion and fear all the way. Each opposes what the other supports and supports what the other opposes and vice – versa. In fact, these two heavily endowed two regions play the cat and mice game. The inability of this major bloc in the South of Nigeria to unite especially in political matters has really dealt a devastating blow to Nigeria’s walk to greatness in all ramifications. The Igbo, Yoruba political romance will certainly attract the support of the South-South zone and the much touted Northern oligarchy would have been demolished long time ago before its partial collapse last year.

So, when did the Igbo, Yoruba political angst start and how did it come into being? Historically, the first visible crack that eventually tore the fabric and political accord of the Igbo and Yoruba nations took place in 1941 in the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM). It was a power struggle between Zik (representing the Igbo interest) and Awo (representing the Yoruba interest) to gain control of the soul of the NYM which was then the most dominant socio political association in Nigeria. As Okwudiba Nnoli captured it in his well illustrated book, Ethnic Politics in Nigeria, ‘A split occurred within the NYM which ushered in ethnic politics in Nigeria. This conflict helped to set the stage for events which propelled the country irretrievably into the politicisation of ethnicity. In February 1941, Dr K. A. Abayomi, a former President of the NYM, resigned his seat on the Governor’s Executive Council. A struggle for succession ensued within the movement between Ernest Ikoli, the then President, and Samuel Akinsanya, the Vice President. Both were founding members of that organisation. Ikoli emerged successful and his business enemy, Nnamdi Azikiwe, was not happy, and neither was the defeated Akinsanya. Ikoli was

Ijaw and was supported by Obafemi Awolowo, a Yoruba, while Zik, an Igbo, supported Akinsanya, a Yoruba.’The Igbo nation later interpreted that Awo abandoned his fellow Yoruba, Akinsanya, simply because his archrival, Zik stood by him (Akinsanya). Zik also interpreted Awo’s support for Ikoli as a partner with his business enemy (both Zik and Ikoli were publishers). This was the origin of the Igbo, Yoruba political misunderstanding that has lingered till date.

The next time the Igbo and the Yoruba had a political log jam was on September 24, 1951 when the Zik-led NCNC was reported to have won the election into the Western House of Assembly but the party was denied victory as the NCNC members were said to have been cross carpeted to Action Group. The constitution of the time stipulated that the party leader with the majority in the Regional House of Assembly would produce the Premier. The fact that NCNC emerged victorious at the polls meant that its leader, Zik was poised to become the Premier of Western Nigeria, but it was not to be. The late Senator Mathew Mbu, an Ambassador in the First Republic and an NCNC member put it this way in a newspaper interview: ‘Zik won all, the majority, in the Western region. It was when he won that this notorious carpet-crossing, for the first time in our history, was enacted on the floor of the Western House of Assembly.

Before then, we never knew about carpet-crossing.

Those who won on the platform of the NCNC were suddenly bought over by the Action Group. The AG introduced, for the first time in our history, carpet crossing; I didn’t know about it. That was crude tribalism on display.

That’s all. What else could it be that somebody of Eastern origin should come and control a region that belongs to the Westerners? That was a clear display of tribalism, crude and that was when Nigeria lost it, the true sense of nationalism. .

A third point to ponder in the East/ West political disagreement is on the outcome of the 1966 crisis and subsequent developments in Nigeria. After the assassination

of Aguiyi Ironsi on July 29, 1966, Eastern Nigeria Military Governor, Col Odumegwu Ojukwu insisted that the right person to assume duty in the absence of the Supreme Commander was Brigadier Ogundipe, a Yoruba. But as the crisis metamorphosed into conflagration, it was surprising that Awo, who until 1966 was, perhaps, the only voice calling for the recognition of nations in the Nigerian state, failed to support Ojukwu’s Biafra but rather identified with General Yakubu Gowon and also went on to advise the Federal Government on economic measures that expired the ill fated Republic.

From 1970 till now, it can rightly be said that the South – East has continually been played out in the power sharing formula. The first move that threw the Igbo nation overboard after the civil war was the creation of states in 1976 by the Murtala / Obasanjo regime of 1975/79. It was quite incomprehensible that Obasanjo, a Yoruba, could be a party to the wrongs done to Ndigbo as he never opposed the allocation of only two states of Anambra and Imo to the present South –East zone but worked hard for the creation of four states in his South West zone namely Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Ondo even as Kwara was more or less a Yoruba state. Obasanjo did the worst on ascension to power as Head of State following the death of Murtala Mohammed in the abortive coup of 1976. First, before he handed over to the Alhaji Shehu Shagari administration in 1979, Obasonjo did the unexpected. The Igbo were about going to court to secure injunctions against the obnoxious Abandoned Property saga. Second, it was Obasanjo who sold out Nigeria to the exclusion of the Igbo in 1978 under the Indigenization Decree and that pauperised the Igbo nation for a long time.

On the other hand, the Yoruba point fingers at the South East for political sabotage. Here, the South West posits that an Igbo ward, Arthur Nzeribe, was the black sheep of the June 12 1993 Presidential Election that denied MKO Abiola the presidency of Nigeria, insisting that all the notable agents used in truncating the June 12

Election were of Igbo stock. They anti-June 12 agents, according Yoruba pundits, were Justice Apkamgbo, Senator G. Ikoku, Comrade Chukwumerije, Nzeribe himself and even Humphrey Nwosu, the NEC boss who failed to declare Abiola winner( though he was held captive by military forces). The Awoists also tell anybody that cares to listen that their patriarch offered Zik a golden opportunity of becoming the Prime Minister in 1959 by urging him to ally with the AG but Zik rather preferred to toe the line of Tafawa Balewa’s Northern People’s Congress (NPC) that presented him with the questionable ceremonial president.

It is also pertinent to note that the NCNC and the AG worked together in the First Republic to float an alliance known as UPGA but it failed to make any meaningful impact. In the Second Republic also, the NPP/ UPN tried to work together to see if it could produce a single presidential candidate for the 1983 Election but it did not work out fine. The alliance was known as PPP. Today again, we hear that the ACN and some elements in the APGA are sitting down to see how both parties can move in one line in preparation for the 2015 Elections. So, what are the forces against Igbo/ Yoruba political understanding?

It is simple. Arthur Nwankwo answered this question clearly in his book, The Igbo Nation and the Nigerian State, noted that the Igbo is quite distinct from the other Nigerian nations because, unlike the Hausa –Fulani in the North, the Igbo does not favour imperial religion that makes one a religious victim whereupon one is perpetually dependent on what nature or one’s fate provides for one. Again, unlike the Yoruba in the South – West, the Igbo is not encumbered with traditional influences that force one to rely on cultural and societal institutions for survival. The Igbo is simply republican, democratic and capitalist, hence, he does not rely on religion or traditional institutions for his survival and this is why his world view with the other nations of Nigeria have failed to overlap.

Martins is on the staff of The Sun

DAILY SUN Friday, August 17, 2012

Memories

Philip Nwosu 08176449110

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Today in History Serial rapist strikes in England 1984

On August 17, 1984, the serial burglar and rapist known as “the Fox” broke into a house and physically assaulted a girl, her boyfriend and the girl’s brother near the village of Brampton, England. After raping the woman, the attacker proceeded to remove any traces of evidence from both his victim’s body and the surrounding area. The attack turned out to be a part of a crime spree had begun in the spring of 1984 when a hooded burglar broke into several houses in an area north of London.

A few months later, the thief turned to rape.

Despite the attacker’s efforts, detectives called to the scene near Brampton found fresh tire tracks in a

field next to the victim’s home and a tiny flake of yellow paint on a nearby tree. A shotgun that the Fox had stolen from a previous victim was also found, hidden under some leaves.

Police staked out the site, hoping that the Fox might return for the gun, but he never did. Fortunately, the paint flake turned out to be Chief Bode Thomas of the popular Bode Thomas Street in Surulere, Lagos (left) the founder of the Action Group (AG) Chief an essential clue; apparent- Obafemi Awolowo and the Premier of the Western Region Chief Ladoke Akintola in the 50s ly, the color had been used only on a single model of a particular car manufacturer, Leyland, and that the car was produced in 1973 and 1974.

The victims also reported that the Fox had a northern accent. When investigators IN what appeared to be a motorists at checkpoints and parade 34 men of the Mopol 39 unit celebrated the 2003 desperate checked their records, they move to redeem others dismissed in Lagos for the same exit of their former boss while welcomfound more than 3,000 its soul, authorities of the offence. ing the new C.O with cheers and promknown burglars who were Nigerian Police on this day in August The force also declared at the weekising him all their support. from northern England but 2003 replaced the head of MOPOL 39 end that henceforth, dismissal will be One of the policemen said: “First, we had moved south. unit, accused by his men of forcing the penalty for extortion and culprits should thank The Guardian newspapers them will subsequently be charged for robfor helping the world to know what we to bery. passed through during the tenure of our extort A new man, Agans Irabor has been last C.O. money transferred to head the Mopol 39 unit, And second, we need to also apprecifrom The Guardian learnt at the weekend. ate the way the case was handled by our Irabor, from Delta State and IG (Inspector General of Police). The Superintendent of Police (SP) replaced new man is a born again child of God. the indicted officer from Cross River On his arrival, we drank and rejoice State and has since last week reported because we know it is really a new for duty. dawn for us at MOPOL 39,” he added.

The Guardian gathered that police-

Police remove senior officer, parade others over extortion

Clinton admits Lewinsky affair On August 17, 1998, President of the United States Bill Clinton admitted having an inappropriate relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

In a televised address Mr. Clinton told the American people that he took full responsibility for his actions.

He said: “Indeed I did have a relationship with Ms Lewinsky that was not appropriate.

In fact, it was wrong.”

Aides close to the president now hope the confession will bring an end to the investigation into Mr Clinton’s affairs, brought by independent prosecutor Kenneth Starr.

Mr Starr’s four-year inquiry began as an investigation into land deals by Hillary and Bill Clinton when he was governor of Arkansas.

It moved onto his personal life when Mr Starr began to investigate allegations that Mr Clinton had had sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky and then lied about it under oath in a sexual harassment case brought by Paula Jones in 1994.

1998

The president’s confession follows months of denial. On 26 January this year, Mr Clinton categorically denied having sexual relations with Miss Lewinsky.

Appearing serious and contrite, Mr Clinton told the American people: “I misled people, including my wife. I deeply regret that.

He concluded: “This matter is between me, the two people I love most - my wife and my daughter - and our God.”

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Friday, August 17, 2012

By LAWRENCE ENYOGHASU

I

n order to promote the welfare and rights of Nigerian women and children in all aspects of life such as political, social and economic, the minister for women affairs and social development, Mrs. Zainab Maina has advocated for implementation and review of the National Gender Policy.

She made the call while paying an advocacy visit to the Deputy Governor of Lagos state, Mrs. Adejoke Adefolure and Civil society organizations in Lagos state.

The Minister also canvassed for effective and efficient implementation of Child Rights’Law as a way of ensuring the survival, protection, well being and development of Nigerian children.

Maina disclosed that the Federal Executive Council approved a National Gender policy for Nigeria in 2006 which year 2011 marks the end of the five year cycle of the Policy document and the first three years of the five-year implementation period of the Strategic implementation framework.

While pointing out that tremendous progress has been made in various forms since its approval, she noted that lots of

DAILY SUN

Day Maina took gender equality war to Lagos vacuum still exist, hence calling for review of the policy so as to incorporate new issues and challenges as well as needs and aspirations.

The minister stated that the ministry deems it necessary to solicit for Lagos state support and cooperation to the team of experts that be visiting the state to gather data in this regard.

As part of her ministry’s effort for the upliftment and raise the standard of living of women and children across the country, Maina disclosed that food processing machines had been constitently supplied to states for distribution to women’s cooperatives at the grass root.

Also through Women Fund for Economic Empowerment (WOFEE), the ministry in collaboration with Nigeria Agricultural Cooperative and Rural Development Bank (NACRDB) now Bank of Agriculture had disbursed Two hundred and sixty one million, five hundred thousand naira (N261, 500, 000. 00) to Three

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire (left)presenting a plaque to the Minister of Women Affairs., Hajia Zainab Maina during the visit thousand, two hundred and eighty one (3, 281) beneficiaries in 28 states of the Federation including Lagos state.

While disclosing that Lagos state is one of 24 states in the country that have passed the Child Rights’ law, Maina expressed displeasure on its implementation and enforcement.

According to her, “Lagos state is one of the 24 states in the Federation that have passed the Child Rights’ law, its implementation and enforcement has been very slow.

“This law, if well implemented will be of immense benefit to the state and ensure the survival, protection, well being and development of our children into well adjusted individuals contributing meaningfully to nationhood. “we believe that the life sentence penalty as contained in the Law for Child Rapists will go a long way in reducing the high rate of child and teenage rape cases in Nigeria”, she added.

She then calls on Justice System in the country to take the Provisions of Child Rights’ Law seriously in addressing

that the issue of emotional and social challenges militating against proper development of children including Orphans and Vulnerable children.

Maina lamented that the nation has one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the world with one woman dying every ten minutes during delivery. “That is 545 deaths per every 100,000 successful deliveries; nearly 50 percent of all Nigerian women are mothers before they turn 20.” Nat She attributed this to the weak economic base of the women and their inability to access quality health care services. “Decisions to seek treatment may be influenced by a woman’s social position in the

household, and her economic status, age, and education.

Mothers in the poorest quintile are 6.5 times more likely to die than those in the wealthiest quintile. Almost nine in ten women who have higher education and two thirds of women with secondary education give birth in a health facility while one in ten uneducated women do so.”

Other reasons for high mortality were poor access to safe childbirth services, and lack of adequate and affordable emergency obstetric care (EmOC).

“Only 36 percent of women deliver in a health facility or in the presence of a qualified birth attendant in which most of the cost is borne

by households. EmOC in particular represents a catastrophic expense for a poor household.

Among girls aged 10 to 14, certain groups are both particularly vulnerable and unlikely to access services, they include girls who marry at an early age, girls who are out of school, and girls who live apart from their parents.”

In recognition of these, the minister through the ministry’s Manual Vacuum Aspirator (MVA) intervention Project donated 200 MVA kits to the first Maternal and Child Care Centre at Ikorodu General Hospital, one of the centre designated for Midwives Service Scheme.

Also in an effort to encourage skilled births attendance by indigent women, Maina donated 200 mothers’ delivery kits to the same centre.

The minister also visited The Home/Clinic for physically challenged children, Owode Orile, Mile 12, Skills Acquisition Centre which is still under construction under the constituency project of Hon. Abike Dabiri hope to be commissioned before the end of this year.

Maina disclosed the Skills Acquisition Centre is ongoing project in about 77 sites across the country which only few can be completed and equipped due to poor budgetary allocation.

She pointed out that the idea behind these Centres is to generate jobs and curb the current high rate of rural-urban drift.

She also visited Nigeria Farm Craft Centre for the blind in Isheri-Olofin and pledged to secure back the land of the centre already encroached by the land speculators in Lagos state.

Magic lens pictures to honour three governors and vice Air Marshal

By DANIEL ANOKWURU

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agic Lens pictures limited will on Saturday, August 25, honour three governors, and an Air vice Marshal with its Magic Lens Film Academy Award of excellence. The event will take place at the Nigeria Union of Journalist Press Centre, opposite presi-

dential Hotel, Independence Lay out Enugu. The Governors to bag the award are Enugu sate governor, His Excellency Barister Sullivan Chime, Imo state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, and the Abia State governor, Theodore Orji. Also in the same category is Air Vice Marshal Christian Ndubuisi Chukwu, and many other illustrious sons from different sectors.

In a telephone chat with Magic Lens managing Director, comedian actor and musician Charles Awurum, he disclosed that Magic Lens Biannual Award of Excellency is for deserving personalities, who have excelled in their var-

ious fields of endeavor. The Award ceremony is expected to be the gathering of who is who both in Nollywood, political, business, and social circles. It will be an evening of total entertainment. Before the ward, there will be a Nollywood Bigest Talent Hunt Show, which comes up from the 20th to the 24th of August 2012. at Mavis Hotel and Suites, this talent hunt is designed to select talented artistes and make them what they are supposed to be, nollywood movie stars. Magic Lens will help to reduce the problem of unemployment in Nigeria.

With this we call our youths to move away from crime and use their God given talent legally.

Peter Obi sets up caretaker committee for Enugwu Ukwu

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he Anambra State Governor has established a 7-man caretaker committee for Enugwu Ukwu Community in Njikoka Local Government Area.

A statement signed by Sir G.N. Muokolu, Special Adviser to the State Governor on Town Union and Chieftaincy Matters named Sir Pat Nwosu as Chairman and Barr. Dozie Ekpe as Secretary. Other members are Engr. Fide Nwangwu, Dr. Mike Nwafor, Mr. Isnatius Okafor, Mr. Gab Okoye and Barr. Sebastine Assimonye.

The term of reference of the

committee include: To reconcile differences among various divides in the community, put in place structures that shall ensure continues peaceful co-existence in the country and prepare the enabling environment and format for the conduct of a successful town union election before the end of December 2012.

The Committee has since been inaugurated and assumed duty.

It will be recalled that the tenure of the last Central Executive in the town ended on August 6 2012.

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Friday, August 17, 2012

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Original James Ibori and other ‘James Iboris’

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hen it all began a few years ago, nobody bargained for the magnitude, ramifications and the emerging seeming timelessness of the matter of James Ibori and the others. A judge at one of those peculiar Nigerian courts (customary, native, magistrate’s, state high court, federal high court, appeal court or supreme court) was asked to determine the person James Ibori as known to Nigerians from the date of his (James Ibori’s) birth till the time he was serving as Governor of Delta State. Typically Nigerian, the judge created a certain “James Ibori” unknown to Nigerians and completely different from the serving state governor.

Expectedly, that judge irritated Nigerians perhaps, as it is now turning out, only because he did not identify, in quotes, the other ‘’James Ibori’’ he had in mind. What, in fact, is turning out is that there are indeed many ‘’James Iboris,’’ the others being the hypocrites and accomplices grandstanding all over the place in Nigeria and Great Britain.

For the avoidance of doubt, the authentic James Ibori deserves no sympathy. He had the luck to serve his people but ended up being accused of disappointing them in matters of accounting for the judicious use of their money. That is merely scratching the issue on the surface.

The real problem is that without the system, as comprised by the other ‘’James Iboris,’’ the authentic James Ibori could not have thrived.

That is why it is always disgusting when the other ‘’James Iboris’’ shamelessly flaunt their hypocrisy at any opportunity. So much have been written by observers about selectivity as the main instrument of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in discharging its functions since its first day as such an agency. We can add to that, minimum effort. Why for example has the EFCC on its own, in the pursuit of highly placed criminals, rarely gone to the Supreme Court?

What we have been witnessing are financial criminals, desperate to exploit loopholes in the law, dragging the EFCC to Supreme Court. In such situations, both the EFCC and the criminals concerned, are playing the other ‘’James Iboris,’’ tactics that encourage the continued emergence of financial criminals, in the knowledge that trials will be long-drawn and eventually frustrated, such that the public will lose interest and forget The latest hypocrisy is by both the EFCC and Delta State government. The first went to court demanding the recovery from Central Bank of the sum of fifteen million dollars, latest September 17, or the amount would be forfeited as illegal tender. The amount was said to have been given as gratification to EFCC by the authentic James Ibori over five years ago, to avoid trial. How, where, when and by whom specifically the money was given are issues to be determined by the court to know the genuineness of the controversy. Rather curiously, why has it just suited the EFCC to head to court only now?

The second, that is Delta State government, in an unconscious display of hypocrisy and embarrassment, also appeared in court, claiming ownership of the fifteen million dollars.

Until the EFCC filed its case, Delta State government never complained that authentic James Ibori stole one kobo from its treasury.

Or, put in another way, post-authentic James Ibori Delta State government never complained that on assumption of office, it found the sum of fifteen million dollars missing from the treasury. Does the Delta State government realize the implication(s) of its appearance in court laying claim to ownership or entitlement to the sum of fifteen million dollars allegedly offered to EFCC as bribe by the authentic James Ibori?

The Nigerian judiciary also accommodates its own share of the ‘’other James Iboris.’’

Why for example has it never been possible for any Nigerian judge trying a case involving any ‘’other James Ibori’’ to find him guilty? In fact, throughout his series of trials in Nigeria, the authentic James Ibori was found not guilty, discharged and acquitted.

If the London trial where the authentic James Ibori was convicted had been handled by a Nigerian judge within our jurisdiction, the accused would have been found not guilty.

duroonabule@gmail.com

DURO 07059484642 ONABULE

Today

death of the late President Umar Yar’Adua but also at the 2011 presidential elections, authentic James Ibori would be enjoying his freedom in Nigeria today instead of being pursued to Dubai to be extradited to London, after escaping EFCC’s arrest through the Atlantic Ocean.

Otherwise, who is that single member of authentic James Ibori’s generation of governors or even the next generation, originally listed as corrupt by the EFCC and he is not enjoying his freedom in Nigeria today? Their self-assurance? Their PDP will never, on their financial misconduct, be discredited. They are correct.

Despite the fact that authentic James Ibori was eventually convicted in a London court, the fact cannot be overlooked that another segment of the British system is one of the other James Iboris. Otherwise, where was the British system when the authentic James Ibori, all along was piling up his millions of pounds? Authentic James Ibori became a cheap shot for the British system only because he ran into problem(s) with his Nigerian yesterday’s friends. Was the authentic James Ibori the only governor of his generation who piled up millions of pounds in British banks?

London courts have gone some way to help recover stolen Nigerian funds and this is appreciated. The British system should follow suit instead of waiting for the ‘’other James Iboris’’ to fall out with Nigerian authorities before being pounced upon.

Such judges are the ‘’other James Iboris’’ ren- ters. Without being aware of it, we have dering futile the compelling need to ensure unconsciously commenced the outsourcing good conduct of state governors and minis- of the prosecution of financial criminals.

Apart from his conviction at a Dubai court, the authentic James Ibori is the second Nigerian to forfeit huge sums of money at a London court. The other Nigerian, Erastus Akingbola, is appealing his forfeiture, although he needs all his luck in life to reverse that ruling. Equally imperfect human beings, British judges are not Nigerian judges.

Nigerian judges are mostly another batch of the ‘’other James Iboris,’’ not in any way better than the authentic James Ibori. Hence they all fit in as collaborators, making the environment fertile for themselves as paddy- paddies.

President Goodluck Jonathan is an authentic but ‘’another James Ibori” in the sense that if the authentic James Ibori had not *Memories of Senator Nathaniel Ana been openly known to have bitterly opposed (Onitsha) for specifying ‘’authentic’’ entities James Ibori Jonathan’s ascension to office, not only on the in Nigerian public discourse.

When Hilary Clinton came calling

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merican Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton was in Nigeria lately on one of her now regular trips to give instruction on how to run Nigeria, to which Goodluck Jonathan would not object. She touched two issues, corruption in Nigeria and the showdown with the irrepressible Boko Haram, which has created a threatening ‘’no win’’ situation Hilary Clinton was reported to have scheduled a meeting with those she considered to be anti-corruption groups. Very amusing. In Nigeria? Did Mrs. Clinton discuss these groups with President Jonathan before or even after meeting them? No matter the disagreement, it must be conceded when Jonathan is correct. In an interview with Nigerian TELL magazine (February 27, 2012 edition), President Jonathan

most appropriately assessed the self-styled corruption crusaders in Nigeria. According to him, when he looks at those mouthing against corruption, he laughs. These are the same people Hilary Clinton was talking to? She should have certified them.

On the second issue, the insecurity created by Boko Haram, Hilary Clinton was correct in her observation that excessive force would not work. Coming from Mrs. Clinton and frontally to President Jonathan himself, one feels vindicated. The suggestion for dialogue was first made in this column, at least on the ground that the dissidents should not be treated as nonNigerians. Even the Americans, at that time regarded the suggestion of dialogue as a kind of support for terrorists and therefore continued ‘’processing’’ my application for visa to attend my daughter’s graduation from university. If in a

full-scale war, even against another country, the United Nations compels taking and safety of prisoners of war, why must I support anything near ethnic cleansing or scotched earth policy in internal conflict?

Despite deadlines by Commander-in-Chief Goodluck Jonathan, innocently relying on his service chiefs, on when the Boko Haram crisis would end, the fact today is that Boko Haram is not on the defensive if not on the offensive.

Naive elements or publicity seekers are either threatening retaliation or fruitlessly demanding Jonathan to take ‘’tough action’’ against Boko Haram. Jolly good. So, all the action against Boko Haram so far is less than tough? So, Jonathan enjoys being bogged down by Boko Haram crisis? The self-assuming hawks threatening retaliation against Boko Haram need not try their luck to realize the risk involved.

Re: Bamanga Tukur by a hair’s breadth

I

hereby refer to your issue in your column of Friday, August 3, 2012, with the above caption. To start with, I’ve been a regular reader and follower of your educative and objective column since inception.

In fact, I have had cause to adopt you as my mentor, whose issue based columns usually form the basis of my arguments among colleagues in both socio-economic and political matters arising, such that on most occasions, I personally call you for information and clarification on certain issues. It is interesting to note that in most cases, I win the arguments with reference to your ideology. And that is the reason why I refer to you as my mental colonial master.

Having acknowledged that, I however, humbly wish to run a contrary(partial) opinion regarding your position on Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, current National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, whose son, Mahmud is standing trial for alleged involvement in the oil subsidy scam.

It is also worthy of note that the son of a former National Chairman of the same party, Ahmadu Ali, is equally standing trial for the same offence. Agreed that these two personalities are quite different and distinct from their sons who are adults and old enough to be held responsible and answer for their alleged crimes, and in this case are still deemed to be innocent until the court proves otherwise.

Inasmuch as one agrees with you that any public figure, in fairness, cannot be held criminally responsible for the action of his or her offspring, I strongly believe that such should not apply to moral responsibility especially in this

case going by their (Tukur and Ali) political standing and nature of the alleged offence. We are here talking of a sitting chairman of a ruling party that formulates the policies and programs of a state and a son allegedly involved in what could pass for economic sabotage that nearly wrecked the whole country early this year.

Legally right, but morally? What lessons are we then learning from the developed nations where personalities resign their exalted government/public positions for alleged offences (no matter how slight) even when not yet indicted, all for integrity sake. Only recently, a team of investigators from the United States and the United Kingdom made some startling discoveries in the records of the 322 year-old Barclays Bank, Britain’s third largest bank bordering on routine manipulation of the world’s most important interest rate-London inter bank offered ratelibor, in order to influence its bottom line.

The point here is that in spite of the fact that even though not directly indicted, the Bank’s Chairman, Marcus Agius and the CEO, Bob Diamond, both accepted responsibility and resigned. Besides, is anyone in doubt of what has become of the “Nigerian factor” of today?

What are the chances and possibilities of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur’s and Ahmadu Ali’s sons railroading their ways into the oil subsidy booty without riding at the back of their fathers. One thing for sure, is clear with you –you detest double standard and believe strongly in the rule of law leaving moral to individuals. On that note, therefore, I submit that rights are of the law, while moral is the individual’s.

The call by Action Congress of Nigeria for Tukur’s resignation of his position if and while

not legally, is morally binding on him, that is if integrity has a place in this country.

C. Don, Aba 08033208074.ceedon_chem@yahoo.com Duro Onabule writes: You are, in effect, conceding that PDP is also right that Speaker Ikuforiji of ACN-controlled Lagos House of Assembly on trial for alleged fraud of almost one billion naira, should resign.

Why is ACN keeping quiet on that demand? Did Olusegun Obasanjo resign as Chairman Board of Trustees of PDP when his daughter, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo Bello, was arraigned for alleged theft of millions of naira when she claimed to have attended a retreat in Ghana as Chairman of Senate Committee on Health? Did Iyabo herself resign as a senator?

By the way, your analogy of the chairman of the London-based Barclays Bank you mentioned is not tenable. Barclays Bank was faulted for the financial misconduct during his tenure as chairman. If only to prevent being tried in a court of law, the chairman of Barclays Bank was selfserving in quitting. On the other hand, the PDP was not, as an entity like Barclays Bank, faulted in the fuel subsidy fraud, to warrant the resignation of Bamanga Tukur. Instead, individuals, even if the children of past and present Chairmen of PDP, were accused, more so as adults. Their parents cannot therefore be punished or even queried for offences they did not commit.

That was also the argument Olusegun Obasanjo put up when queried on BBC television in the matter of his daughter’s alleged corrupt tendencies.

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Friday, August 17, 2012 DAILY SUN 43 NEWS

SUN SPORTS EXTRA Ghana FA, China agree on football development

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he Ghana Football Association has reached a cooperation deal with its Chinese counterpart to develop football in both countries.

The Ghanaian governing body will help China to develop its youth football.

In return the Asians, who are giants in women's football, will assist Ghana boost her female game.

Coaches, referees and administrators will also be involved in the agreement as both countries will exchange their experiences for mutual benefit.

The deal was reached on Wednesday when the Chinese Football Association leaders met GFA officials, led by its president, Kwesi Nyantakyi, in Xi'an.

"A team of officials from the Chinese FA led by the vice-president, Mr Lin, and the GFA held a meeting yesterday and we looked at various areas of cooperation," Nyantakyi said.

"Apart from engagement between the two senior national teams, we agreed that we should look at exchange of ideas in areas of women's football and youth football.

NPL: Rangers vow to fight till end

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angers have insisted they will not give up on their NPL title bid despite a massive 3-0 setback suffered at Lobi Stars on Wednesday.

The Enugu club has slipped to third on the table with 61 points after the loss at Katsina-Ala with a game to spare till the end of the season.

However, 'The Flying Antelopes' remain very confident that they could still win their final game at home to Sharks and still be champions ahead of leaders, Kano Pillars and Lobi Stars.

Skipper James Okwuosa said Rangers remain upbeat despite going down at Lobi.

“We are still positive we will win the league,” the big central defender said.

“Against Lobi, it was a very bad day for us and the sub-standard pitch did not allow us to play well.

But that does not mean that Lobi did not deserve their victory. It took its chances and we did not.”

“We are still very much in the title race,” added Rangers assistant coach, Monday Odigie.

“We believe that Rangers will still be crowned champions on the final day of the season.”

However, Lobi Stars top official, Dominic Iorfa, said that Rangers should forget the league crown as his team will annex its second championship.

“This is our year to be champion again,” declared Iorfa.

“Rangers were no match to us, we simply ran them down.”

He countered claims of biased officiating and the poor KatsinaAla pitch.

“By any standard, the referee did his best and nobody can fault any of the goals we scored and this is one of the best grass pitches in the entire country,” he argued.

Lobi will be away to relegationthreatened Kaduna United on the final day of the campaign, while Rangers are home to Sharks.

Leaders, Pillars, face a daunting task at Sunshine Stars.

NEWS

With Van Persie, we'll be deadliest in Europe – Fergie

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ir Alex Ferguson has claimed Manchester United will possess arguably Europe's most fearsome strikeforce when Robin van Persie arrives.

Van Persie arrived at London St Pancras train station yesterday before setting off to Manchester to complete his medical.

He should be ready to make his Manchester United debut at Everton on Monday.

Ferguson has spoken about the newlook attacking options of Van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez, and the comparisons with the 1999 set of Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Ferguson, speaking at a Press conference, said: 'They (Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie) are two fantastic players and it will be great to have both of them. It gives us more strength and more combinations up front.

'In 1999, I had Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the four best strikers in Europe. 'We are going towards that now with Javier Hernandez, Wayne Rooney, Robin, Danny Welbeck and Shinji Kagawa.

It is a fantastic collection of players and hopefully, I pick the right combinations.

It is great to have a player of Robin van Persie's qualities to come into the squad.

I am very pleased.'

United sealed the signing of the summer when Arsenal agreed to sell Van Persie to its Barclays Premier League rivals for £24million.

After weeks of negotiating with

After Olympics: Nigeria, Angola climb in FIBA ranking

By JOE APU

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igeria's D' Tigers may have won just one game at the just concluded London 2012 Games against African champion, Tunisia, but the basketball tournament has had a significant impact on the FIBA rankings for Nigerian men and women with a number of teams making big leaps towards the top.

Leading African teams, Nigeria moved up to 17th position from her former 21st, while Tunisia jumped 10 spots, moving from 32nd to 22nd.

The men's top five - USA, Spain, Argentina, Greece and Lithuania remains unchanged, while Russia has moved up five places from 11th to sixth, following her bronze medal run in London.

Defeated quarter-finalist, France, who fell to eventual finalists Spain, and Brazil, who lost to neighbour, Argentina, moved up four places each to stand eighth and ninth respectively.

Olympics host, Great Britain, made the biggest leap of all, going from 43rd to 23rd, a 20-place improvement.

Meanwhile, for the women, the USA cemented their place as number one in the world with a fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal. For the first time since 1996, Australia failed to reach the Olympic final, but her bronze medal finish enabled her to stay second in the ranking. The Opals shared the position with Russia but beat her for the third and final place on the podium in London and the Russians dropped to third in the world as a result.

France, fresh off of her first-ever Olympic final appearance, gained three places to climb up to fifth, while Canada moved from just outside the top 10 to just inside it (11th to 9th).

Arsenal and the Holland striker, United have beaten Manchester City and Juventus to Van Persie's signature and the 29-year-old was expected to have a medical at Old Trafford yesterday.

Ferguson, speaking at a Press conference yesterday, said: 'He is on his way up from London for a medical. We hope that goes according to plan.

'His agent is in discussions with (United chief executive), David Gill, right about now. We hope all the things will be tied up, although sometimes medicals do take a bit longer. I am sure he will be available for Monday's game.' Arsene Wenger has admitted that Arsenal was powerless to stop Robin van Persie signing for Manchester United.

Wenger has the best part of two weeks to spend some of the money before the transfer window is closed. He said on French TV on Wednesday night: 'It's sad to lose a player of his quality. He had only one year left on his contract, so we didn't have the choice.'

Asked who he would recruit, Wenger said: 'We already signed Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud.'

Van Persie is the first Arsenal player to join United since Viv Anderson in 1987 and the move has riled Gunners fans, who took to Twitter to abuse him.

United is understood to have agreed Ferguson to a £15m downpayment for last season's Footballer of the Year and Players' Player - who scored 30 Premier League goals for last season.

That will rise to £24m depending on appearances. Van Persie is expected to sign a four-year contract worth over £200,000 a week.

Van Persie

Barca storms London for Song

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rsenal may be losing two of its top players for the second consecutive season after Barcelona made its move to sign Alex Song.

Nou Camp officials flew into London on Wednesday intent on

tabling a £12million offer for the allaction midfielder.

And Sportsmail learnt that despite Song's major influence and the fact he still has three years left to run on his current deal, the Gunners will give serious consideration to selling the Cameroon international if it receives an offer

Winning EPL crown our target - Mikel

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igerian star, Mikel Obi, has revealed that winning the English Premier League title this season will be the top target of his club, Chelsea.

'The Blues' lost 3-2 to league king, Manchester City, in last weekend's Community Shield to usher in the new English Premier League campaign.

He said being league champion again would be top of the London club's wishlist in the new season after it clinched a first-ever UEFA Champions League and an FA Cup winners' medal.

Last season, Mikel's Chelsea finished a disappointing sixth on the EPL table, well outside the Top Four they have been used to.

"I would have loved to win the Community Shield, but it was not to be.

We played well against City and we showed that we are ready to challenge for titles this season,” said Mikel.

“We want to have a better campaign this season by adding the Premier League crown to what we won last season.”

He added: “We are looking forward to start the season on a sound footing on Sunday when we face Wigan Athletic.

We have a good team that is capable of winning things again."

Mikel enjoyed a fine run at Stamford

Bridge and said he was looking forward to improving on it even as competition for first-team places will intensify with the arrival of new signings.

"I am always happy when I am appreciated, it makes me to work harder, to do more and now I hope to do better than what I did last season."

between £15-20m.

Arsene Wenger will be reluctant to lose Song, who together with Robin van Persie, was one the Gunners top performers last season.

Song, who currently earns in the region of £55,000-per-week, has been keen to discuss a new contract to put him among the club's top earners. And the Gunners could yet decide to offer Song an improved deal amid Barca's interest.

Together with Van Persie's switch to Manchester United, Song's proposed move to La Liga will leave two gaping holes in Wenger's first-team plans.

Wenger was left with a similar problem last season after losing Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri - as well as Gael Clichy - ahead of the summer transfer window.

I won't waste fund scouting for players in Europe -Keshi

By ROMANUS UGWU, Abuja

S

uper Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, has said that he would not waste resources scouting Europe for Nigerian players to build his team.

The Eagles’ gaffer, who dropped the hint, while making special appeal to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to give him money for scouting for players in Europe, to build his young largely home-based team, assuring that he won't imitate his predecessor in the wasteful expenditure.

Asked whether he scouted Europe for players during his last holiday outside the country, he argued, while fielding questions, from the media in Abuja recently, that having noticed that it was

easier to make money at home, he did not bother himself looking for any player.

“It is easy to make money in Nigeria.

I can decide I want to go scouting for three months, enjoying the money for no reason even when I know most of the players are not based in Europe.

“I need to start here and I want the federation to give me the money they previously used to spend on scouting for players in Europe, so that I can put my team together. Let them give me all I want because I'm not ready for scouting now.

“It is not yet time to embark on European trip to scout for Nigerian players. When the time comes, I will let Nigerians know, so that we do it together,” the former Super Eagles skipper said.

44

Friday, August 17, 2012

NEWS

DAILY SUN

SUN SPORTS EXTRA

NEWS

Falconets eat Eba with Ogbono soup in Japan Manu, Amuneke thumb-up

P

layers and officials of the Nigeria's Under-20 women national team now in Japan for the FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup yesterday ate Nigerian meal for dinner.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had arranged with the Nigerian Embassy in Tokyo, for provision of home meals.

The welcome package saw the players being treated to Eba

and Ogbono soup with several assorted beef to garnish it.

"It is nice to feel at home in another country," an excited Chief Coach, Edwin Okon, said after devouring his meal.

Interestingly, no food was wasted by the team to the delight of the caterer, who prayed for its success.

It showed that everyone ate to his/her fill.

The occasion coincided with the birthday celebrations of those born in the month of August.

Physiotherapist, Victoria

Maduagwu, defender, Chidinma Okoro and Co-ordinator, Andrew Abah were presented with a surprise cake by the Team Secretary and Leader of delegation, Faith Ben-Anuge (Mrs.)

Meanwhile, the team had its first training session yesterday afternoon on the lush green Saitama Stadium which is a 45minute drive from its Royal Pines Hotel.

Saha joins Black Cats

S

underland has signed free agent, Louis Saha, on a one-year deal to boost its striking options on the eve of the new season. The 34-year-old, who

left Tottenham at the end of last season, could make his debut in the Black Cats' trip to Arsenal to open the new Barclays Premier League season tomorrow.

Draw with Niger impresses Nwosu N

igerian ex-international, Henry Nwosu, has said that he was satisfied with the outcome of the friendly game between the Super Eagles and the Menas of Niger Republic.

The two sides game ended goalless at the Stade General Seyni Kountche in Niamey on Wednesday.

“In my opinion, I don't think it is a bad result, especially as it was a friendly match.

“Yes, some people might say 'how can we draw against Niger Republic?' But that's football, so I will say it's okay and a good exposure for the team."

Playing against Niger Republic was also good for the team since it is preparing to face another African team (Liberia) in the Nations Cup qualifier. In friendly games, you don't expect to always win because they are only meant to see untested or new players," Nwosu said.

Nwosu also made a case for Stephen Keshi's team.

He believes that Keshi and his team need time to become a "formidable squad."Great teams are never built in a short period, no matter how good the players are.

“The coach needs time to look at those who can fit into his plan and those who are committed to what the coach wants," Nwosu said.

The former Under17 men's coach asserted that the Super Eagles would qualify for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations at the expense of Liberia's Lone Stars.

"Of course, they will qualify,"

S

G

olden Eaglets will today play their 10th practice match at St. Patrick College against Akamkpa United, an Under-18 team from Akamkpa Local Government area of Cross River State, even as Coach Manu Garba (MFR) and Emmanuel Amuneke (MON) have commended the organisers of the annual Calabar Mock Premiership.

Garba said picking and grooming talents from the grassroots would boost the credibility of Nigerian football, hence the need for corporate bodies to support tournaments that could serve as nursery for national teams.

“The future of our football is in the grassroots, therefore, we need to encourage those who are involved with the grooming of talents from the scratch,” explained Manu, a member of the Flying Eagles to the 1983 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Mexico.

Now in its seventh edition, the Mock Premiership is bankrolled

by Mr.Oku Ita and Mr. Onyeka Onyekaoyekwlu, owner of Diamond Stars Academy who doubles as the Local Organizing Committee chairman of the annual popular tournament in Calabar and its environs.

Omokaro charges Eagles to beat Liberia

By MERCY JACOB

N Dr. Larry Izamoje, Chairman, Sports Radio, Brila Fm (M), with Moz Dee talkSPORT Programme Director (l) and Scott Tauton UTV Chief Executive (r) at the signing ceremony of EPL broadcast in London.

Menas’ skipper, coach rate Eagles high …FENIFOOT’s boss craves fresh start

S

kipper of Menas of Niger, Nousse Naazou, has declared admiration for the playing pattern of the Super Eagles that took on his side on Wednesday in Niamey, Niger Republic. e was not, however, alone as his coach, Frederic Acosta joined him to confess that the Eagles forced his side to play defensive for the better part of the match.

Naazou, who plays for Etoile Du Sahel of Tunisia, said the standard of the Nigerian team

H

Eagles’ first timers excite Keshi uper Eagles will return to Abuja, the Federal Capital today, after a gritty goalless draw against Niger Republic national side on Wednesday in Niamey.

The team will be returning to the city aboard an Asky Airliner that is expected to touch down in Abuja by 9a.m. Head Coach Stephen Keshi has also clarified news making the rounds that the team will be going on break, declaring that such a decision has not been taken even as he praised players who had their first international experience and still did so well in the encounter against the Menas of Niger.

Among the players who had their first cap for the national team on Wednesday are: Sunshine Stars’ Kwambe Solomon, Benjamin Francis of Heartland of Owerri, Solomon Jabason of Akwa United, Niger

Calabar Mock Premiership

Tornadoes’ Sibi Gwar, Sani Sanusi of Gombe United, Umar Zango of Kano Pillars and midfield showman, Philip Asuquo of Shooting Stars of Ibadan. “I must say the entire team did well though we did not win the match, because of wasted opportunities but those that impressed me the more are the players who have never played for the national team before and turned out very well against Niger in an away game. That is why I wonder when some people say the Nigerian league lacks talents, there are many of them hidden there, waiting to be discovered, but I must congratulate those who have so far proved themselves against a tough side like Niger”, he said.

Keshi said he would continue to groom his home-based side even as he spreads his tentacles for fresh talents.

was so high that it was difficult to believe that there was no foreign-based players in the team.

“Your team was very good and quicker on the ball and it gave us what to expect when we play Guinea in the Nations Cup qualifier in September”, he said.

On his part, Acosta, who was playing his last game as caretaker coach of the Menas before Ivorien Francoise Zahoui takes over the Niger side, agreed that his side had its back to the wall for the better part of the game. He, however, noted that it had to be so because the team was preparing for a qualifier and was playing against a very experienced side such as Nigeria. ”It's a good preparation match for us and we could not have had a better one. Kudos to the Nigerians they gave us much to chew over and when we play Guinea in the Nations Cup qualifier, it will show”, he declared.

Also speaking on the match, Niger Football Federation President (FENIFOOT), Col Jubrila Isa (rtd), agreed with the coach that his side's high rating was brought down to earth by the Eagles, adding that much work needed be done by the coaching crew of the Menas for the team to reach the standard expected of a team that wants to make the Nations Cup finals.

“Nigeria was very quick and good on the ball, we have much work to do on our team, but Nigeria has so many players and have little work to do for the Nations Cup”, he said.

igerian former International, Bright Omakaro, has called on Super Eagles to beat Liberia in the Nations Cup qualifying match next month to end Nigerians lamentation over the Olympic disgrace.

The former Abiola Babes player said that the match against Liberia would not be an easy one for Keshi-led team, judging by their performance in the previous matches.

He, however, advised his former teammate, Keshi, to inculcate more confidence in the home-based Eagles to ensure a better performance even as he hailed the team for picking a draw against Niger in their home.

“For me, I am always blunt and straight forward, football is more of science now and has been moving from one stage to another.

Sincerely speaking, the friendly match they had against Niger was not a bad one. It can be compared with the disgrace we got from the Olympics. That is why I want to encourage the Eagles to go all out against Liberian team and beat it, at least, to wipe our tears on the Olympics disgrace and equally prove their critics wrong. For me, that is the only way to warm their ways into Nigerians’hearts again.

DAILY SUN Friday, August 17, 2012,

45

Abdulfatah Oladeinde

Light of Islam

08023078685

What to do on eid-el-fitri day T he Sunnahs that the Muslim should observe on the day of Eid are as follows: 1 – Doing ghusl before going out to the prayer.

It was narrated in a saheeh hadeeth in alMuwatta’ and elsewhere that ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar used to do ghusl on the day of al-Fitr before going out to the prayer-place in the morning. Al-Muwatta’ 428.

Al- Nawawi (May Allah have mercy on him) said that the Muslims were unanimously agreed that it is mustahabb to do ghusl for Eid prayer.

The reason why it is mustahabb is the same reason as that for doing ghusl before Jumu’ah and other public gatherings. Rather on Eid the reason is even stronger.

2 – Takbeer on the day of Eid This is one of the greatest Sunnahs on the day of Eid because Allah says: “(He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah [i.e. to say Takbeer (Allaahu Akbar: Allah is the Most Great)] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him”[al-Baqarah 2:185] Al-Daaraqutni and others narrated that on the morning of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, Bin ‘Umar would strive hard in reciting takbeer until he came to the prayer place, then he would recite takbeer until the imam came out.

Bin Abi Shaybah narrated with a saheeh isnaad that al-Zuhri said: The people used to recite Takbeer on Eid when they came out of their houses until they came to the prayer place, and until the imam came out. When the imam came out they fell silent, and when he said takbeer they said takbeer. See Irwa’ alGhaleel, 1/121 Saying takbeer when coming out of one’s house to the prayer place and until the imam came out was something that was well known among the salaf (early generations). This has been narrated by a number of scholars such as Bin Abi Shaybah, ‘Abd a lRazzaaq and al-Firyaabi in Ahkaam al-Eidayn from a group of the salaf. For example, Naafi’ bin Jubayr used to recite takbeer and was astonished that the people did not do so, and he said, “Why do you not recite takbeer?”

Bin Shihaab al-Zuhri (may Allah have mercy on him) used to say, “The people used to recite takbeer from the time they came out of their houses until the imam came in.”

In the case of Eid alAdha, the takbeer begins on the first day of Dhu’l-Hijjah and lasts until sunset on the last of the days of tashreeq.

Description of the takbeer: It was narrated in the Musannaf of Bin Abi Shaybah with a saheeh isnaad from Bin Mas’ood (May Allah be pleased with him) that he used to recite takbeer during the days of tashreeq: Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allah, wa Allaahu akbar, Allah akbar, wa Lillaah il-hamd (Allah is Most Great, Allah is most Great, there is no god but Allah, Allah is Most great, Allah is most great, and to Allah be praise).

It was also narrated elsewhere by Bin Abi Shaybah with the same isnaad, but with the phrase “Allaahu akbar” repeated three times.

3 – Offering congratulations The etiquette of Eid also includes the congratulations and good wishes exchanged by people, no matter what the wording, such as saying to one another Taqabbala Allah minna wa minkum (May Allah accept (good deeds) from us and from you” or “Eid mubaarak” and other permissible expressions of congratulations.

It was narrated that Jubayr bin Nufayr said: When the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) met one another on the day of Eid, they would say to one another, “May Allah accept (good deeds) from us and from you.” Bin Hajar said, its isnaad is hasan. Al-Fath, 2/446.

Offering congratulations was something that was well known among the Sahaabah, and scholars such as Imam Ahmad and others allowed it. There is evidence which suggests that it is prescribed to offer congratulations and good wishes on special occasions, and that the Sahaabah congratulated one another when good things happened, such as when Allah accepted the repentance of a man, they went and congratulated him for that, and so on.

•The 2012 annual tafsir lecture of Adebayo Jimoh was held at Premier Hotel Ibadan on Sunday. Picture shows from left, Alhaji M.G. Lawal; Chief K.O Latunji and Mr. Adebayo Jimoh, Group Managing Director O’dua Investment. Photo: DADA OSASONA

Undoubtedly these congratulations are among the noble characteristics among the Muslims.

4– Adorning oneself on the occasion of Eid. It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said that ‘Umar took a brocade cloak that was for sale in the market and brought it to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and said, “O Messenger of Allah, buy this and adorn yourself with it for Eid and for receiving the delegations.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to him, “Rather this is the dress of one who has no share (of piety or of reward in the Hereafter)…”

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 948.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) agreed with ‘Umar on the idea of adorning oneself for Eid, but he denounced him for choosing this cloak because it was made of silk.

It was narrated that Jaabir (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had a cloak which he would wear on the two Eids and on Fridays.

Saheeh Bin Khuzaymah, 1756, Al-Bayhaqi narrated with a saheeh isnaad that Bin ‘Umar used to wear his best clothes on Eid. So a man should wear the best clothes that he has when going out for Eid.

With regard to women, they should avoid adorning themselves when they go out for Eid, because they are forbidden to show off their adornments to nonmahram men. It is also haraam for a woman who wants to go out to put on perfume or to expose men to temptation, because they are only going out for the purpose of worship.

5 – Going to the prayer by one route and returning by another.

It was narrated that Jaabir bin ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: On the day of Eid, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to vary his route.

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 986.

It was said that the reason for that was so that the two routes would testify for him on the Day of Resurrection, for the earth will speak on the Day of Resurrection and say what was done on it, both good and bad.

And it was said that it was in order to manifest the symbols of Islam on both routes, or to manifest the remembrance of Allah (dhikr), or to annoy the hypocrites and Jews, and to scare them with the large number of people who were with him. And it was said that it was in order to attend to the people’s needs, to answer their questions, teach them, set an example and give charity to the needy, or to visit his relatives and uphold the ties of kinship.

MarryMuslim •Those whose profiles are published on this page now or previously are advised to check their email boxes once in a while for information.

Please make the profile you are submitting appear in the format published as much as possible to reduce time spent on working on wordy submissions. Profiles sent in form of curriculum vitae will not be treated. Requests and responses made through text messages will not be treated. If your profile is not published yet, please bear with us. Itís due to space constraint. Send request to: fatakola@yahoo.com Profile 1725: Muslim female, 26, 1.4metres tall, chocolate-complexioned, Yoruba from Iseyin LGA, single, polytechnic undergraduate studying for HND Accounting, wishes to be married to a Godfearing, loving Muslim male, who has knowledge of AlQuran and western education, gainfully employed, responsible and caring person.

Profile 1726: Single Muslim male, 5.7 feet tall, Yoruba from Ibadan, Oyo State, HND holder, self employed, desires prospective Muslim wife who must be God-fearing, religious, educated, intelligent, average height, beautiful, good mind and good character, aged between 20 and 28.

Profile 1727: Muslim female, 27 years old, graduate from Kwara State, chocolatecomplexioned, wants to be married to a Muslim male who is gainfully employed, hardworking and caring.

Profile 1728: Muslim male, 29 years old, Muslim, single,

5.9 feet, Yoruba, Lagosian based in Lagos, B.Sc in Accounting, director in a construction company, AS genotype, speaks Yoruba, English & Arabic, humble, gentle & intelligent, dark & tall, seeking to marry a humble, beautiful (preferably fair-complexioned), well-behaved, religious, Muslim female, aged between 18 and 26.

Profile 1729: 33-year-old Muslim male, Yoruba from Lagos State, graduate, gainfully employed, desires to marry a female who is God-fearing, good-looking and a practicing Muslim. She should be between the ages of 20 and 25 years. At least, she should be a graduate or NCE holder. If she is a hijab sister, it’s okay.

Profile 1730: 30-year-old Muslim male, from Ogun State, residing in Lagos, graduate, 5.4 feet tall, AA genotype, self employed, desires for a wife, single Muslim female who is ready to settle down soonest. She must be honest and God-fearing.

Profile 1731: 33-year-old single Muslim male, 6 feet tall, Yoruba from Osun State, graduate, gainfully employed, seeking to marry a Muslim female, aged between 25 and 28 years old, dark in complexion, God-fearing,loving and caring.

Profile 1732: Muslim male, 35 years old, Igala from Kogi State, single, 1.76m tall, graduate, gainfully employed, blood group O+, genotype AA, seeking to marry a muslim female, graduate, God-fearing, honest, trustworthy, age not a barrier.

She should be ready to settle down soon.

46

DAILY SUN

The State of Our States

Friday, August 17, 2012

Special Report

The Mbanefo Report at a glance Yesterday, we served you the first part of what the States Creation,Local Government and Boundary Adjustment Committee set up by the late General Sani Abacha in 1996 recommended on creation of more local government areas in Ondo State.Today,we continue with that aspect of the committee’s assignment.

Continued from yesterday ONDO STATE POPULATION: 3,884,485

EXISTING LGAs: 26

RECOMMENDED LGAs: 54

REQUESTED: 87 S/N

PRESENT LGA

PRESENT HQ

S/N

PROPOSED LGA

PROPOSED HQ

COMPOSITION

6.

IFEDORE

IGBARA·OKE

12

IFEDORE SOUTH

ILARA·MOKIN

ILARA MOKIN, IJARE, IPOGUN, IPINSA, !BUTO, ALA, KAJOLA, AGO, PANU, AGO ADU, AJEWOLE CAMP, AGO OLISA ORISUNBARE.

13

IFEDORE

IGBARA·OKE

IGBARA OKE TOWN, !BU, ISARUN AND OTHER VILLAGES UNDER THEM.

14

AIYEDIRE

ODE-EKITI

ODE, EGBE-EKITI, ISINBODE, EKITE, IRO-EKITI, ARAROMIOKE-EKITI AND ALL OTHER TOWNS UNDER THEM.

15

EKITI-EAST

OMUO

OMUO TOWN, LISA, ISINBODE, OMUOKOTA AND EGBE.

16

EFON

EFON

EFON ALAAYE, ABETA, ITAAWE, IDO-AIYEGUNLE, IWAJI, SUBOUN, OBA AYETORO, OKEADAGBA, ITA-IDO, IRUNSIN, IGBO-ABA, OLOMOWEWE, OJEJELIU, ALAWAYE, EFISUN, ARAROMI, ORISUNBARE, ABA BARUWA, OLOROGBO, ORO, OLADURA.

7.

8.

EKITI EAST

EKITI WEST

OMUO

ARAMOKO

.

9.

ISE/EMURE/ ORUN

ISE-EKITI

17

IFEDAYO

OKE·MESI

OKEMESI, IDO AJINARI, KEREKAN,OBADA, LOGBORODO, GOLU, AROJO, BABA OWA, ITA-ERIO, AJINDO, ODOFIN, ITAOSUN, SAODE, AKEGUN, OGIDI, LATUNDE, AGBEJA, ODOFIN, AKIO, SALORO, OLABISI, ABOOKI, AROJO, ELEGBEWA, ONITOKIN, EPINRIN, ANIYE, POPOOLA, BAMIDELE, ALAKA, IGBOSUN, ODUNMARUN, OKE KAN

18

EKITI WEST

ARAMOKO

ARAMOKO, ERIJIY AN, IPOLEILORO, AJELE, OMILE, IGBOOKUKU, WILLY, KAJOLA, OROKUTA,ODO-AJAYE, IKOGOSI, ELERIJA, SAMONU, OLUKORA, OGBURU, ARUSA, SURULERE, IJOKO, ERIO, IGUNSIN, APAMU, ENURIN, ALAFE, OKE-AGASA, OSOMO, EGEDE, ILARE, OKE·OPA, SURULERE, ILE·ONA, OKE AJYE, ASA-OLODE.

19

EMURE

EMURE

EMURE, EPORO, IHIMA, IBEJI, OWODE, OGE, AMUROKO, ONIJA, AORO, ABASASERE, OKESERI, ONIBUJA, ABA EGIN, AJEBOMIDELE, AMI, ABEGUNDE, AJIBOYE, GBOYE, ESAN, IYALODE, ANAYE, ALALE ODOBA CAMP. AKEYE

20

ISE/ORUN

ISE

ISE-EKITI TOWN, ORUN TOWN. SA WO, OGBESSE ISE, IBA AND OTHER VILLAGES UNDER THEM.

10.

IJERO

IJERO

21

IJERO

IJERO

EXISTING LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA. NO CHANGE.

11.

IKOLE

IKOLE

22

AJONI

AIYEDUN

AYEBODE, 000 A YEDUN, OKE· AYEDUN, ARAROMI, ESUN, IPAO, OKE AKO, ITAPAJI, EKITI, IYEMERO.

DAILY SUN

47

Friday, August 17, 2012

The State of Our States 12.

13.

IREPODUN/ IFELODUN

IDO OSI

IGEDE-EKITI

IDO

Special Report

23

IKOLE

IKOLE

IKOLE, EKITI TOWN, IJESHA ISU, ARAROMI, ARA.

24

ARAROMI

IYIN

IYIN, ESORE, ODO IRO, TUNGBA, IKINGBINSIN, ELEMUDU, AROTA, ERIO, ELEMI, IJIKO, IGBON, ANU, OKE-MEJE, OGBESE, OKEAGBE, OFIN, IJAMORO, OLOGBARA, ERIN.

25

IREPODUNI IFELODUN

IGEDE EKITI

IGEDE EKITI, EYIO EKITI, IROPORA ESURE.

26

OSI

OSI

OSI, IGBOLE, AAYE, ORA, ORIN, IFAKI, EPE, ARAROMI

27

IDO

IDO

IDO-EKITI, USI AIYETORO, ILOGBO.

14.

IKERE

IKERE

28

IKERE

IKERE

EXISTING LGA. NO CHANGE.

15.

MOB A

OTUN

29

ILEJEMEJE

EDA-ONIYO

ILUDUN-EKITI, EDA-ONIYO, ERU, IJESHAMODU, IPERE, IJARO, OBADA, AGAMO, ODO OKO, AMURE, AYO, AJOKE, AGBOGIDI, AJEBAMIDELE, AKUNRIN, EHIN ERAN.

30

MOBA

OTUN

OTUN, OSAN, AA YE·OJA, IKOSU, ISAOYE, ERO AND ALL OTHER VILLAGES OF THE RESIDUAL.

16.

IDANRE

OWENA

31

IDANRE

OWENA

EXISTING LGA.

17.

ILAJE-ESEODO

IGBOKODA

32

ILAJE CENTRAL

ODE-UGBO

ZION, ABETEBO, OKE ERI, IDOGUN-EHINMORE, IDOGUN NLA, IDOGUA, YABI, OGBOTI, WOMITENREN, LEPE, YAYE ERUN ONA, IKORIGHO, OLOTU NIYE, OLOTU·YARA, KOKO, UGBO, UGBONLA, OTUMARA, ODOFADO, AWOYE, UBALA, NLA, ODUNRALE, UGBA EYEN AYETORO, ILEPETE, AWOYE, OBE APATA, ODOFADU, OPUAMA, UBALE, OPOAKABA, EKE, EBIWON OGHOYE.

33

AROGBO/ UKPARAMA

AROGBO

AROGBO. NEW JERUSALEM, AGADAGBA·GBON. AMAPERE. IGALIGA UGBO. JERIBENI. FIYIBIRSINTEI, ELIJAH GBINNI, OMUGHELE, PELEBOSON. PANKUMO, LALEMI GBINNI. KITII-GBINNI, UGOJOGBINNI. OPUBAULEBU. TAPATUBU. AMITA-ITA, KOROTORO, ISREAL KIN ZION. ITOWEI ZION. FIFIA ZION. JEJEU KUBU. LALATIYE, OGIDIGBA I & II

34

ILAJE WEST

IGBOKODA

RESIDUAL REMAINS. MAHINI, AHERI, ETIKAN, SELUWA. OJA, ASISA, MAGBEHIN WA, AYONTUGA, GBABIJO, OLOJA, OGUN, MATIMINO, SUA ODO. SEJA OKE. KUGBONRE, MARAN, MATORO, IGBUBURO, AGBERE, OLOPO, OGOGORO, ELUMA, MAHINTEDO, IGBOBO, IDIGHO, IDIROKO, AB HOLLO, EKUNMANA,OKE-TOGHO, ELUJU, GEDEBE, OLISOSA, ABA OGUN, ULORO, OKOGA, AAPAGI.

35

OKEIGBO/ OLOROKE

OKE-IGBO

ITA-AARE, ADEGBITE, AARE AYO, PARAKOYI. SOWO I AND II, AWOLOJO, FALAYAJO. AWOLOLA, AGBE, FASELU. ADENIGBA. ADEYEMI, IBAGBOLADE. IJIBAJO, APO KETE, FAGBE, FALANSA, SECONDI, KAJOLA·SANNI, ADEBAMIDELE·DAODU, AROWOLO, KOKOU OGUN, ADEDOYIN, BALAGBEDE, KOLONGBO, OMOJOLA, AYANSOLA, ITA AGBON, ODO· YENOJA, AJIBIKE, AKINTOBI, DEETI, OLUWAYEMI, OYEBADE

36

ILE-OLUJI

ILE-OLUJI

AWAYE, ILE OLUJI, BAMIKEMO, USAMA, L1PANU, LEEGUN, SOKOTO KOLAWOLE, LABOSIPO, AKINTEWE, AKINYE, MADEIN, AIYEDE, OLUWASOLA,OLORUNSOGO.

18.

ILE-OLUJI/OKE IGBO

ILE-OLUJI

NO CHANGE.

To be continued tomorrow

48

Friday, August 17, 2012

DAILY SUN

POLITICS...&Polity

By LUKMAN OLABIYI

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ebbi State is currently getting media attention. The politicians and stakeholders in the state are at loggerheads.

This time around, it is neither power zoning in the state, face-off between the executive and legislative arm of government, impeachment threat of the governor, probe of past administration, implementation of minimum wage, threat by the Labour/Trade union, leadership tussle within the ruling political party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defection of political gladiators from one political party to the others, hand over note, amendment of local government chairmens’ tenure, nor on the issue of who is going to succeed the current governor of the state, Alhaji Saidu Usman Dakingari, at the end of his tenure in office.

It is the issue of the vacant defence ministerial portfolio, which was zoned to the state.

The position was formerly occupied by the former acting national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bello Halliru Muhammed, who is also from the state.

It would be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan recently sacked Muhammed as defence minister along with former National Security Adviser (NSA), General Andrew Azazi, as part of efforts to deal with the ever challenging security situation in the country.

After the removal of Mohammed as Defence Minister, several names of potential replacements have been mentioned. They include former National Security Adviser, retired General Aliyu Gusau, former Action Congress of Nigeria ACN governorship candidate Barrister Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, who returned to PDP just before last March’s rerun governorship election in the state, former Water Resources Minister and defunct United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) national chairman Alhaji Isa Mohammed, retired Federal permanent secretary Alhaji Bello Usman Maitambari, and a former military governor, retired Col. Dangiwa Umar Kebbi State, has no representative in the federal cabinet.

Currently, reactions and counter reactions have continued to trail the choice of Kadunabased Brigadier General Bitrus Boka Ushe (rtd.), who is alleged to have been favoured by the president and allegedly nominated by Senator Mohamed Magoro, a retired Major General, who represents Kebbi South district in the Senate.

Since his name was mentioned as the likely candidate to replace Muhammed against other names that were reported to have been submitted by the state leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] in the state for the consideration of the President, decorum have lost it innocence both within and outside Kebbi’s politic. Accusations and counter-accusations have continued to rent the air on the issue, and this is between some kinsmen of the retired general, stakeholders who held the opinion that he is well qualified for the job, and the leadership of the state chapter of the PDP. The party had maintained its stand that the ministerial nominee is not known in the political circles, and has not contributed to its development of the party in the state.

With this scenario, the PDP leadership in Kebbi State has stated clearly their intention to stop the appointment of the ministerial nominee. The party had argued that his choice was not in the interest of the entire supporters of the party because it was not done by the stakeholders of the party in the state.

The intention of the party was made known to newsmen recently by the State Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Mansur Shehu Dangaladiman Waziri. According to him: “As the state PDP chairman, I do not or hear of others in political circles who know the ministerial nominee. The state PDP played a great role in the election of the present federal administration, hence we deserve fair recog-

Ministerial nomination: The raging flame in Kebbi

•Dakingari •Mohammed “Currently, reactions and counter reactions have continued to trail the choice of Kaduna-based, Brigadier General Bitrus Boka Ushe (rtd.),who is alleged to have been favoured by the president and allegedly nominated by Senator Mohamed Magoro, a retired Major General, who represents Kebbi South district in the Senate.”

nition and we should be allowed to present nominees for the ministerial appointment. He said the party is in a position to nominate credible, experienced and popular persons who have contributed to the success of the PDP at the national level.

“We follow due process, and PDP guidelines to reject the nomination of Ushe as a ministerial nominee from the state. His name is yet to be forwarded to the Senate. The party would ensure he is rejected by the National Assembly, and replaced by the choice of the party. As a politician, who solicited and reaped from our support during his election, we expect President Jonathan to uphold the wish of the people and party over the nomination of a popular choice,” the Kebbi State PDP chairman noted.

•Ushe In its own countereaction, the Zuru Emirate Development Society [ZEDS], in an advertorial signed by its National President, Col. D. M Komo, condemned the position of PDP leadership. The group said that it read with disbelief the press conference given by the PDP chairman in the state, Dangaladiman Waziri rejecting the ministerial nomination of

the retired General and his claim that he is not known in the state, and has not contributed to the development of the state, and as such would use all means to block him from being cleared by the National Assembly.

It stated that the ministerial nominee had a distinguished career in the Nigerian Army, rising to the position of a Brigadier-General and during his service years contributed to the overall security of the country which Kebbi state is part of.

Another group that that added its voice to the counter reaction on the issue over the Ibakkana Association and Kebbi Unity Forum one of them called for the removal of the state chairman of PDP, Dangaladiman Wazir over his position on the choice of General Ushe’s nomination as minister of Defence. According to the Ibakkana Association in their press statement, signed by its chairman, Alhaji Alhassan Garba Mikkailu, it accused the leadership of the party of working against the interest of the people of Zuru Emirate.

“We want to say here that it’s not true that General Ushe is not known by Zuru people.

In fact, he is well-known and respected by the entire Kebbi people, and it’s for this reason that the people of Zuru are solidly behind him as nominee for the ministerial appointment,” the group noted.

Also the Kebbi Unity Forum criticised the rejection of General Ushe as a ministerial nominee by the state leadership of PDP describing the position of the party as unwarranted, sentimental and hypocritical. The forum also described as untrue the allegation that Ushe was single handedly nominated by Senator Muhammad Magoro.

This issue has spread beyond the shores of the state, and some of the eminent personalities that live outside are already adding their voices to the position of PDP in the state.

Among these personalities are the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Maiduguri, Rt Rev Emmanuel Kana Mani who threw his weight behind the General. The bishop, who is the grand patron of Ibakkana Association, an umbrella body for the people of Zuru Emirate where the nominee hailed from, faulted the position of Kebbi chapter of the PDP. The Bishop stated that as a retired General, Ushe was qualified for the position and, based on his experience, he is capable of handling the post, if appointed. The bishop said the people of Kebbi South have been marginalized for too long, even though they voted for the PDP. However, a group under the umbrella of the Concerned Elite of Zuru Emirate rejected the nomination of their kinsman and the support given to him by their fellow kinsmen.

In a release signed on behalf of the group

by Usman Dangana Zuru it said: “we the elites in Zuru disown the write up credited to Col. Komo that Zuru People have been marginalized. Komo and General Ushe should stop interfering in the affairs of Zuru Emirate.

We the elites of Zuru know that Ushe and Komo have never participated in Zuru politics, not to talk of knowing developmental trend in the emirate, because they do not reside in Zuru. In the case of General Ushe we at home don’t even know him, because he stays in Kaduna and he hardly knows what is in and out of Zuru politics” The group urged President Jonathan to immediately nominate an appropriate candidate who has direct relevance in the political development in the country and his community. “They should stop miss- representing the Zuru emirate and Ibakkana Association of the emirate” it said Due to this, different stakeholders and political gladiators in the state have continued to use their influence to strategize on efforts to actualize their dream because, where the pendulum swings to will be an indication of what to expect in the nearest future, in terms of politics.

DAILY SUN Friday, August 17, 2012

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POLITICS...&Polity Lagos LG polls: We’ll retrieve our victory - PDP chairman As Lagosains await the conclusion of the cases before the State Local Government Election Tribunal, Captain Olatunji Shelle, Chairman, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), tells NDUBUIS ORJI in this interview that his party will continue the fight to address the alleged wrong done it by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) in the last council polls in the state.

Badagry case t started very badly. Elections were conducted. We won in Badagry, convincingly. And the election results were declared as it were at the collation centre. That was the appropriate place to declare the results. The results were declared and the PDP was declared the winner. Unfortunately, few days after, the LASIEC chairman in the person of Justice Fatai Adeyinka, went to his own office to announce a different result without figures.

He said if the PDP was not happy with the result, they could go to the Tribunal. Then we went to the Tribunal because we had confidence, we had trust and we had what it takes to challenge the position of Justice Fatai Adeyinka. I believe it was Justice Adeyinka that we are facing and not the ACN because the results were declared properly that day, and he did his own thereafter.

When we got to the tribunal, three additional councillorship seats were even awarded in our favor, further justifying our winning the election in the first instance. So, the tribunal continued and we were very hopeful. At the end of the day, it took some time before the final ruling was given. When they eventually gave the ruling, the chairman of the Tribunal himself was in favor of the PDP that we won the election. Another member of the Tribunal supported that we won the election. But I realised that the civil servants among the tribunal members, two of them said no. We didn’t win. And one of them was referring to an earlier argument that we didn’t file in our paper on time, which is overtaken by event.

The ruling then was four to one on whether we filed in the papers at the appropriate time or not. Now the same person is referring to that issue, that because he disagreed then, he would not come now to say we won. But that he is on the side of the Tribunal chairman. So, it is a very unfortunate thing to happen. PDP is not taking it rightly. And we shall not allow our mandate to be stolen by anybody. That didn’t give a clear-cut position on the case.

We have filed in our Appeal, and our team of lawyers are working on the case.

Our other cases It has dampened our spirit to a reasonable extent. But it doesn’t stop us from forging ahead to continue to pursue our actions in fighting to get back our mandate. We shall continue. The same with Obalende/Ikoyi, where we also won. That one is pending.

Similarly in Agbado, Oke-odo, where we also convincingly won. All these things are recorded. There will be a day, when we shall call a press conference and do a presentation of the outcome of various elections as they were on the election day, and where and how election results were announced. And where they didn’t even announce them at all like in the case of Obalende Ikoyi, where all the results were lying on the floor and nobody attended to them until the LASIEC Chairman went on air in his own office to declare an illegal result. We shall continue to fight and I am sure at the end of the day we shall get to the promised land.

Repositioning the party We have tried as much as possible to put our house in order. We have a very brilliant and vibrant executive (exco) in place.

Everybody is willing to work. We have identified those people who are really in the party.

We have identified those people who are in and out of the party. We have identified those

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“It has dampened our spirit to a reasonable extent but it doesn’t stop us from forging ahead to continue

to pursue our actions in fighting to get back our mandate. We shall continue.” people who are even completely outside the party. And we are taking necessary steps to address these issues, one by one. Those ones who are moles in the party, we have seen them all. A comprehensive report is being prepared to be forwarded to our national headquarters, so that necessary steps will be taken.

Some people even decamped to our party recently from ACN and they did it out of their own free will; nobody influenced them. They were happy. That is the beginning of the success story we hope to record between now and 2015.

Elders’ council We have a new constitution now, which enables us to bring up a new set of elders council from all the local government. And this one will be done very soon. It will be done

•Shelle very soon. It will be all encompassing.

Everybody will be carried along, and I am sure it will meet the yearning of the people

and members of the party at the end of the day, but the old elders council, I believe is no longer in place. A new one will be constituted soon.

Dosunmu, Obanikoro not fighting over 2015 2015 is still three years away. I am hearing this from you for the first time. How can the supporters of Ade Dosunmu and Obanikoro be fighting? Over what? This is the clearing house. And nobody is talking about the candidate for the party at this point in time. I am sure these personalities that you have mentioned, what you have said will be strange to them by the time they hear it.

PDP was united in 2011 We had a very united house in electing Ade Dosunmu as our governorship candidate during the last lection. If a group of people didn’t like him , that is their kettle of fish, not ours.

We did the best primaries, anybody could expect. Ade Dosunmu emerged. He tried his best. Only that we didn’t win the election. But it doesn’t mean we cannot do better in the next general election. We shall go through the same process, the same way we did in the time of Ade Dosunmu. And who ever is the best among them will be chosen on merit. And the party as it were too, will sit down and ensure that the best candidate is elected to carry the flag of the party in the 2015 governorship election.

Noise about Jonathan’s impeachment unnecessary –Salvador A major player in the maritime and real estate sector, Moshood Adegoke Salvador, represented Mushin II Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003.

In this interview with REMI ADEFULU, he declares that the coming of technocrats to governance in Nigeria has been of no effect.

Salvador, a PDP chieftain, hinges this on the fact that these professionals have failed to add value to the system, pointing to recent developments over the non-implementation of the 2012 budget as sample.

The National Assembly he present National Assembly has tried its best to get the best for the nation.

However, as a House, some of the members have reduced their rating. They stood firm to check the executive, which is their responsibility. But unfortunately, greed and high level of corruption, impunity and lawlessness hav reduced their rating. It has even made them unpopular. Nobody can take the current House of Representatives serious any more; I can confidently tell you that. They can try because they still have more than two years in office. We are watching. We shall see what they can do. But for now, their rating is low.

Changing perception Simple. It’s simple. Call your members to order. Discipline publicly any member that misbehaves. Don’t cover up. Within the House, ensure fairness, irrespective of who is concerned. Not double standard. These are part of what we are talking about. If they can stand up and put sentiments aside, and face the work ahead of them, they will achieve results.

In carrying out probes, they should close their eyes to unnecessary inducement. By so doing, they will move forward and people will take them seriously.

Impeachment It (Non-implementation of the budget) is an impeachable offence. But the whole thing is happening because they have lost respect and that is why a minister can stand up before the House and be talking of 52 percent implementation. She is not qualified to be a Minister of Finance. I am saying this with all emphasis.

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But Mr President has carried this woman as if there is no other person like her in the whole world, not to talk of Nigeria. For her to come out and talk of 52 percent implementation… is that a passmark? It shows we are not serious.

That tells you the level of commitment to this nation. When I was in the university, I appealed to and begged a lecturer to let me retake a paper in which I scored 54 percent.

Indirectly, the Finance Minister is telling us she doesn’t want us to leave the level of a third world nation. You cannot become an industrialized nation with 52 percent budget implementation. Investors, are moving out now and hearing the statement of the Minister is enough to make them leave the country.

Senate angle We should not be carried away or be interested in sanctions. We should be interested in the progress and success of the nation. Let us talk about the effect of non-implementation of the budget, so that even without calling the president to order, he will call himself to order.

Nothing stops him from getting better hands to handle our economy.

PDP role For the first time in the history of PDP as a party, the National chairman now has a special assistant on monitoring. The man monitored up to the level of Okonjo-Iweala’s statement.

He was even making it up to put the party in a fantastic shape, but no matter what, he can only

“Let us talk about the effect of non-implementation of the budget, so that even without calling the president to order, he will call himself to order.”

•Salvador

try. I was hearing him defending some of these issues, and his defence sounded logical.

He is not an economist. He is not a professional in that area. As a matter of fact, do you realize the president’s statement is a policy?

When a minister now talks of 52 percent, what does it sound like? Do you now come and put your money in an economy that is 52 percent pass mark, when there are economies with 75 percent, 85 percent, 90 percent. There are classes where 50 percent is a failure. Maybe she has forgotten. The reason why this is so is to encourage seriousness. We should not be talking 52 percent at our level at all, if we really want to grow.

Budget and constituency projects Its not (non-implementation of budget) affecting only basic things of life. If your economic policies is not attractive to foreign investors, MTN, Econet etc will not come to this country and because the policies are attractive, they was why they rushed down to this country. They created millions of employment. Constituency projects are even small.

You have to look at it encompassingly. In my estate, I have corporate tenants. Two Indian companies, have packed up. Some of them (Indians) are even asking me what will happen in this country next year.

Impeachment moves Well, they are right in their decision. It is to get the president to wake up from his slumber.

They were all the while engaged in probes, and they were getting unpopular. They have to go in another direction which is more drastic than probe. That is what they mean. I will advise Mr President to sit down very well and re-engineer the finance sector. I think the National Assembly is working in the right direction for the president to sit tight.

Technocrats and governance I blame the party, I blame Mr President, I blame the advisers, because they were the ones shouting that we need technocrats. What result have we gotten from these technocrats?

That is what they will be getting.

Budget and transformation That was why I said Mr. President should look back and restructure the finance and economic sector. He has to do it, because there is no transformation you can do under the current arrangement that will work. Take for instance, electricity, they increased the tariff so that there will hope for that industry. I agree with them because the cost of generating electricity is higher.

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DAILY SUN

Friday, August 17, 2012

South-West Report From BAMIGBOLA GBOLAGUNTE, Osogbo

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sogbo, caopital of Osun State, is again agog, as tourists, culture enthusiasts and indigenes converged to celebrate the Osun Osogbo festival. The annual festival remains a unique traditional event, which every year unites the indigenes of Osogbo from all over the world.

In preparations for this year’s edition, the state government promised to make it a world-class traditional event with the grand finale billed for August 24.

Special Adviser to the state governor on Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture, Mr Oladipo Soyode, said government has made provision for free rail transport service during the festival, apart from tarring the roads that lead to the Osun grove: “The state government has made the environment conducive for social and economic activities which will translate to economic transformation of the state. There will be easy flow of traffic, and we appeal to all the tourists from across the world who will participate in the festival to conduct themselves well.?

“The state government has embarked on massive reconstruction of the pavilion at the groove to meet the UNESCO standard.

The old pavilion has been pulled down. Workers and engineers are now working day and night to ensure that the first phase of the project is completed.”

Since the 14th century, its celebration has grown in status. It remains the most famous of all traditional festivals in the South Western part of the country. The festival which started in 1370, has popularized the Osogbo community. With the enlistment of the Osun grove as a world her-

People celebrating at the bank of the river. Inset: The Arugba

Osun Osogbo: Again, the world prepares to celebrate a river goddess itage site by the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in 2005, the annual Osun-Osogbo festival which is celebrated in the last week of August of every year, has received a boost from not only indigenes of the town, but also the international community.

The of Ataoja Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, who is the direct custodian of Osun grove, described the festival as a remembrance of the founding fathers of

the town and an avenue for people to get blessed, as the goddess of the river is believed to be a giver of children, while the water that flows from the river is curative, healing all forms of diseases.

According to the monarch, the festival is also an occasion to appreciate the goddess of the river for peace which reigns in the town. It is an occasion to solicit for peace to reign in the town, while foreigners use the

opportunity of the festival to fetch the curative water that flows eastward of River Osun for deliverance from all forms of ailments.

A traditional chief of Osogbo and historian, who is also the second in command to the Ataoja, Chief Gabriel Oparanti, while explaining the mystery behind the festival, said the goddess of the river was a living being, and the annual festival was to adore and appreciate it for its covenant which it never breaks since it was

made centuries ago.

He said the festival would continue to attract multitudes, due to the covenant between the goddess and the founding fathers of the town: “Little wonder Osun Festival has turned into an international festival now celebrated not only in Osogbo or Nigeria, but in some other foreign countries of the world such as Brazil and France.”

The festival always lasts two weeks with various traditional and cultural activities lined up for each day. The festival begins with clearing of traditional paths call atmosphere of crisis with an assurance Nigerians. While wishing Nigerians, “Iwo popo”.

During the grand finale, the that the President Goodluck Jonathan particularly Muslims, a happy celebravotary maid (Arugba Osun) is irrevocably committed to the pro- tion, Odebunmi called on them to conmotion of the living standard of the tinue praying for the continue corpo- leaves Osun shrine with the Osun calabash, which contains some populace. rate existence of the country: The lawmaker noted that the “My candid advice to all and sundry antiquities to worship the goddess National Assembly would work in is to allow peace and orderliness to of the river. The votary maid with close concert with the executive to reign supreme in the country so that the calabash goes for royal blessensure that Nigerians derived maxi- we would all contribute to the growth ing from the traditional ruler and mum democratic dividends for of our dear country.” later leads the processession to the shrine at the groove.

The votary maid, who is a young virgin from the family of the incumbent Ataoja must not stumble while going or coming from the grove. A number of young men and, particularly members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) clear the way for the votary maid.

The same calabash that was used when the festival started in 1370 AD is still being used to worship Osun till date. Elebuibon, a visiting professor of Ifa Mythology at the (L-R) CSP Kayode Egbetokun, Area Commander, Osogbo, Secretary to the State University of Chicago, Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi said many lives from both Laoye- Tomori, Commissioner of Police, (Mrs)Kalafite Adeyemi (psc),ACP Gbola within and outside the Adeyemi and ACP Nwadei Henry during a courtesy visit by the Commissioner of country had

Rep urges muslims on peaceful coexistence

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ember House of Representatives for Ogo Oluwa/Surulere Federal Constituency, Oyo State, Chief Segun Oyedokun Odebunmi, has urged Muslims, and ideed, all Nigerians to embrace peaceful coexistence and afford acts capable of causing crisis in the country in the spirit of Ramadan.

He posited that the Ramadanm fast was not only observed by Muslims but by other Nigerians which portrayed the the fact that the populace believe in divine intervention in the affairs of country. The lawmaker

maintained that by avoiding untowards acts, Nigerians should allow the teaching and lessons of the season to reflect in their daily living.

He stated that the citizenry should ensure that the security threat confronting the nation should be put to check by giving necessary tips to security agencies. Odebunmi averred that the cooperation and unity among security agencies would afford them the opportunity to track down criminals while appealing to Boko Harram sect to allow peace to reign.

Odebunmi insisted that no true development could take place in an

Community sends SOS to LG boss

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he Ifesowapo Landlords and Landladies Community Development Association (ILLCDA) has appealed to the caretaker committee chairman of Oluyole Local Government, Prince Abass Ayodeji Alesinloye, to spread the dividends of democracy to their community.

The community in a statement signed by its chairman, Alhaji Sikiru Gbade Rabiu, lamented that the people in the area have been living with poor infrastructure over the years.

According to them, the roads remain

unmotorable while there is no clinic and maternity centre in the area: “We want your administration to help us construct the Foworogun bridge which has collapsed due to negligence by successive administrations.” They, therefore, called on the chairman to come to their aid by providing them with basic infrastructure: “We are a community of law abiding citizens and we do fulfilled our obligations to both the local and state governments. All we want is an improvement in the social infrastructure in our community.”

Police to the State Executive Council in Osogbo on Wednesday.

Friday, August 17, 2012 DAILY SUN

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South-West Report There must be discipline, zero corruption in This boy needs N.5m Police –AIG Orubebe within 2 wks to survive From NGOZI UWUJARE, Ibadan

From GBENGA ADESUYI, Ibadan

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he Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone X1, Osogbo, Osun State, Mr Ghandi Ekikewe Orubebe, last week visited the Oyo State Police Command and said that he is determined to redeem the soiled image of the police. He urged his men to be up and doing: “I have come here to warn you to shun corruption and adhere to the directives of the Inspector General of Police, Mr M.D. Abubakar, who is currently transforming the police. He has vowed that issue of corruption would be a thing of the past in the Police.

“My own agenda is on the need for police officers to be well disciplined and respect their ranks. What the Police Force need is discipline. Some of our men are not disciplined and I am given them the orientation that the ultimate of the force is discipline. I know that all the three commissioners of Police under my zone are aware that the Police is a disciplined Force.

“I am here to compliment your effort that you should do better. I am encouraging you to be hardworking and be ready to tackle criminals in the state.

At the Governor’s Office, Agodi, Ibadan, Orubebe appreciated the effort of Governor Abiola Ajimobi and urged him to do more especially by assisting the police to enable them to tackle criminals in the state.

Ajimobi responded: “The government is going to give operation vehicles to the state command very soon.

This will be distributed to every police division to enable them have effective patrol of every nook and cranny of the state.”

Orubebe later visited the Alaafin of

T L-R: AIG Orubebe, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and AIG Tambari Mohammed

Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi at his palace. He said the police needed the support and assistance of traditional rulers in the state to stem the rate of crime.

Oba Adeyemi said there is a good relationship between the Oyo community and the police: “If we hear any strange thing we quickly inform the police and we make sure that anybody involved in crime cannot go unpunished.”

At the palace of the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade, the AIG told the monarch that the police would discharge its duty to the public without bias. Oba Oyewumi said: “This is the time that the community needs the police. We have educated our people that when they see any strange face they should be ready to inform the police. Also we told them that they should not take the law into their hands.”

Meanwhile, the zonal Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abayomi Shogunle (SP), said: “What the command needs to achieve its aim of maintaining peace is the provision of

vital information and support of the people.”

He commended the efforts of the people of Oyo State and their assistance to the state command: “It was through the assistance of the public who provided vital information that enabled the police to have a breakthrough in Ondo State.”

He said the Osun State Police Command also arrested some kidnappers with the cooperation of a vigilante group who provided the police with information leading to the crackdown on the criminals.

Shogunle said his office is wide open to the public: “If any police officer is victimizing you, the IG Monitoring Unit is there to handle such situation. We are here to serve the public and enlighten them on the need to maintain friendship with the men of the police force.

“We need the cooperation of the Obas, landlord associations, Imams, Christian leaders and local government chairmen. We need your cooperation to achieve our goal of reducing if not totally eliminate crimes from this zone.”

61,000 kg of marijuana seized, destroyed in Ondo From TUNDE RAHEEM, Akure

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he war against Indian hemp cultivation in Ondo State seems to be a Herculean task for the men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), to tackle. Every passing year, the seizure made by the agency has always been alarming even with the measures adopted by the agency.

In the last three years, the state has continuously led other states in terms of Indian hemp seizures. In spite of the agency spirited efforts to rid the state of the illicit drug cultivation, the heaps of cannabis seized have continually increased yearly.?

This was evident in the figure rolled out by the chairman of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, on June 16, 2012, at the public burning of 61,000 kilogrammes of Indian hemp seized in the state from April 2010 till date.

Giade said the figure placed Ondo State on top of NDLEA drug seizure list:

Burning the seized Marijuana

“We will frustrate every move to undermine the lofty agricultural programmes of the state government. We will not fold our hands and watch drug barons divert arable land for the cultivation of cannabis instead of growing legitimate food and cash crops.

“In the past two years, Ondo State has led other states in the agency’s annual drug seizures with 123,452.76 kilogrammes of cannabis and destruction of 514 hectares of cannabis farmland. The command seized 67,979.80 kilogrammes of cannabis and traced 367 hectares of farmland in 2010. Also, 55,472.96 kilogrammes of cannabis were seized and 147 hectares of cannabis farmland destroyed in 2011 “The NDLEA will vigorously pursue its drug prevention programmes in the state. Agriculture is one area of strength that must be maximised both for foreign exchange earnings and rapid development of the state.

“Statistics from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) states that about 230 million people or five per cent of the world’s adult population are estimated to have used an illicit drug at

he joy a couple, Isiaka and Rashidat Yusuf, knew when blessed with a set of male twins in 2011 has literally turned into ashes in their mouths. Nine months after the naming of the kids, Kehinde developed a strange illness, which has defied solution up till now.

The boy had earlier been rushed to Ado-Awaye General Hospital in Iseyin Local Government area of Oyo?State, where his mother was staying with her parents when the illness struck. He was diagnosed as having fever and was admitted at the hospital. He was discharged after his condition apparently normalized.

The ailment, however, Kehinde recurred two weeks later with very strange symptoms. He could neither sit on his own, while his head began to swell. “When his head started?swelling, we realized we have a serious problem on our hand,” the father, who resides in Ijegun, told Daily Sun.?

About 10 different hospitals and herbal homes in and around Ibarapa?and Oke-Ogun were visited in a bid to cure the illness, but there was no solution. Among the places visited are: Holyland Hospital, Peller Road, Iseyin, Awojobi Hospital, Eruwa.

Dr Awojobi, Chief Medical Director, Awojobi Hospital, later referred the patient to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, where Kehinde was diagnosed as an hydrocephalic ( born with swollen head). He was recommended for?immediate surgery to correct the abnormality.

The parents were told to make a payment of N200, 000 for the operation. But, having spent so much on the ailment already, raising the money became a serious challenge. Despite that, Yusuf had to withdraw all the money in his bank account and even took loans, using his Toyota?Corona old model car as collateral: “The man I borrowed the money from has been threatening to sell my car if I do not pay in time. We had an agreement that I will?pay within six months. I borrowed N78,000 from the man.” He eventually?raised the money for the surgery and Kehinde underwent a successful?operation.?However after the surgery, the boy still found it extremely difficult?to sit and place his head unless assisted: “The only?difference we observed is that the head stopped swollen and he was?gradually responding when we call him and made attempt at answering. His other two siblings and even his twin brother, Taiwo, are avoiding?him. They cannot play with him because of his head.”

Doctors at UCH had recommended a second surgery, which, according to a letter signed by Mrs G.F Logun on behalf of the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee for the Chief Medical Director of UCH, is to cost N175, 850.

least once in 2010. Problem drug users were also put at 27 million people or 0.6 per cent of the world adult population.

“In Nigeria, young people between ages of 13 and 39 years are among cannabis users. This development, experts believe, contributes to school dropout, truancy and violence to mention a few. Some identified predisposing factors to drug trafficking and abuse include peer influence, inordinate desire to get rich quick, ignorance and the desire to experi- By MOSHOOD ADEBAYO, Abeokuta ment with drugs. overnor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, recently launched the state “Let me assure the general public version of the United Nations Decade of Action on Road Safety. The that any information provided shall event witnessed the donation of four new advanced life support be speedily and professionally treat- ambulances and 10 refurbished ambulances by the state government. ed. l also commend the NDLEA offiAmosun said his government was committed to the safety of both human and cers who work tirelessly even at night material resources. Represented by his deputy, Prince Segun Adesegun, the towards making the State drug-free. governor lamented the wave of accidents on the Nigerian roads, stressing that Efforts at improving the welfare Ogun?had recorded the highest number within the last two?years. package are ongoing.”

He said the state accounted for 37 per cent and 41.5 per cent road crashes The representative of Governor recorded in the nation in 2010 and 2011 respectively due to “the two busiest Olusegun Mimiko, Sola Ebiseni, who highways in Nigeria: Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Sagamu-Ore-Benin is the state Commissioner for Expressway which traverse our state.” 42 life support ambulances.

Environment, tasked traditional rulers and community leaders to sensitize their people on the need to shun Indian hemp cultivation and consumption: “Ondo State is known for the production of food and cash crops. We must not allow few criminally minded persons to give us a bad name.

Those who cultivate these drugs are living among us and we have a duty to expose them. I must commend the NDLEA officers Some of the ambulances

Amosun fights road accidents with 10 ambulances

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Friday, August 17 , 2012

People & Events Agwu for burial August 25 Candid CDA gets new executives

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uneral ceremony of Mrs. Jane Kalu Agwu (Nee Nnate Ebi) holds on Saturday, August 25.

According to funeral programme released by her first son, Pastor Kalu K. Agwu, service of songs and wakekeep holds on Friday, August 24, from 7pm at her residence, Uku Amoba, beside Imo Gardens, Amaekpu Ohafia, Abia State.

Her corpse will leave Ohafia General Hospital, Amaekpu, for church service at Presbyterian Church of

M Nigeria, Ugwu Parish, thereafter interment at 10am, the following day.

She was aged 75 and survived by children and grand children.

Grace Odi goes home

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adam Grace Osim Odi (nee Akpa), who died on April 13 at the ripe age of 96 will be committed to mother earth on Saturday, August 25 in her husband’s compound in Amata-Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. Christian

wake keep will be held in her honour on August 24 from 8.00pm.

Ma Grace was one of the widows of late Chief Odi Nsiri.

Many children, grand children, great grand children and great great grand children survived her.

••Elder Onuchukwu too today

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he late Superior Police Officer, Mr Alexander Onuchukwu, would be laid to rest on Friday, August 17, 2012 in his hometown, Ubulu, Ohaozara Local Government Area, Ebonyi State. He died on May 17 after a brief illness at the age of 70.

The late Onuchukwukwu left behind an endless throng of mourners, including his beloved wife, Hannah, six children and the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Mr Obini Onuchukwu. His 16 grand children and a host of other

relations are among those mourning his demise.

The late Onuchukwu would be remembered specially for his strict disciplinarian and exemplary neatness during his days in the Nigerian Police.

According to the bereaved family, the late Onuchukwu distinguished himself as an officer in various duty posts before his retirement. He was reported to have won the admiration of the former Inspector General of Police, Etim Inyang, who recognized him as the best- dressed and neatest police officer amongst his mates.

Ogunmodede for burial

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he remains of Elder Isaac Opeyemi Ogunmodede will be buried on Friday, the family has announced.

Elder Ogunmodede took the

final bow on August 9 during a protracted illness.

According to a statement by the family, the burial, slated for his house in Magboro, will be preceded by a Christian wake keep on Thursday at 2, Olayemi Adegoke, Off Miracle Avenue, Magboro.

The statement, signed by Mr. Bunmi Ogunmodede, said a Christian outing service is scheduled for the Magboro Assembly of The Apostolic Church, opposite Eleja, on Magboro Road, immediately after the interment.

•••Njoku too

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uneral rites for Engr. (Sir) Richard Alozie Njoku, KSGG, KSM, who died on July 28, 2012, aged 80, will begin on Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at St. Mary’s Catholic Parish, Eziala Obiangwu, near the Imo Airport, by 11am.

This was contained in a statement released by Engr. Charles Njoku, a son of the deceased, who announced that the Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. Anthony J.V. Obinna, had gladly approved the burial rites for the slated date.

Njoku, a retired civil servant worked as a civil/structural engineer with the Ministry of

Works and Housing, Enugu where he rose to the position of Area Engineer and later moved to Imo State Ministry of Works and Housing where he retired as Director, Civil Projects in 1987. He was responsible for many landmark civil projects in the course of his illustrious career.

Engr. Richard Njoku was a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), a great community leader and indeed a pillar among his people. He was a philanthropist who introduced a scholarship scheme and made countless donations to encourage education in his community.

embers of Candid C o m m u n i t y Development Association in Olorunda Local Council Development Area of Lagos State have elected new set of executives to run the affairs of the community for two years.

After the election, which was conducted by CDA officials from Olorunda council, Engr Tony Edi emerged chairman, Godwin Okpeta (1st vice Chairman), Moses Ofor (2nd vice chairman), Olabode Whesu (Secretary), Lawal Aremu (Asst Secretary), Alhaji Mamodu (Treasurer), Yakubu Zacheus (Financial Secretary), Mr. Kabiru Isiaka (PRO), Mr. Odhegba Monday (Welfare).

Others are Pastor Kingsly Okah (Auditor), Mrs Cecilia Edaferebo (Social), Godson Nwagbogwu (ex-officio), Mrs. Prince Abang (ex- officio) and Femi Afolayan (exofficio).

Old students meet

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t. Enda’s College (Agbarho Grammar School), Agbarho, Delta State, (Lagos branch) holds its monthly general meeting on Saturday at 12A, Abuja Close, Agbara Estate, Agbara, Ogun State at 3.00 p.m. prompt. A statement by its secretary, Mr. Sunday Orode urges members to be punctual as critical issues have been lined up for discussion.

Gov. Fashola with some of the pupils

St Saviour’s School ends session

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t. Saviour’s School, Ebute Metta, ended this academic session with its annual Prize-Giving and the Valedictory Service, led by the school’s chaplain, Venerable Ezediaro, at which Board Members, invited guests and parents were also present.

The school’s annual prizegiving acknowledged the diligence and efforts of all pupils, with additional awards for outstanding achievement. Those present were entertained by delightful renditions of popular songs, sung with gusto and enthusiasm by the pupils.

The valedictory service was the final event in a very busy year, for all the Primary 6 pupils. Following the service, the children were entertained with a wonderful party, organised by the PTA Class Representative, Mrs. Frances Iwo-Brown. The children looked very grown-up in their lilac and silver themed outfits and will certainly be a credit to their new high schools. St Saviour’s pupils are accepted at all the top high schools and this year the school is very proud of one of these pupils, Chidera Chima, who was

awarded a full scholarship at Loyola Jesuit, as the top boy applicant.

The pupils and teachers of St Saviour’s School have benefitted from the commitment of the Board of Management, which has not only installed Interactive Whiteboards in every classroom but undertaken the construction of a new block of eight state of the art classrooms. This, together with the overseas training provided for staff, linking St. Saviour’s with a good school in the UK, will ensure that the pupils enjoy a broad and balanced education that is provided in an environment that is

stimulating and conducive to high qualitative teaching and learning.

St. Saviour’s School, Ebute Metta, takes pride in the Christian values that underpin all that is done in the school.

Religious Education and Moral Instruction are taught as core subjects, alongside English, Maths. and the sciences.

School assemblies are looked upon as times of gathering together as a school community for prayer and to give God thanks for His goodness. St. Saviour’s School looks back with great pride to its achievements and a future that will continue to uphold itsvalues and standards.

Fashola’s deputy for church anniversary

Mr. & Mrs. Chuks Uchenna with a guest (r) during the dedication of their son, master Somtochukwu Favour Uchenna, in Lagos recently. church, hold members ordinahe Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Joke tion and thanksgiving service.

The cleric disclosed that Orelope-Adefulire, will lead the cream of society to the activities, including a press grand finale of the 50th conference, mini general conanniversary of the Gospel ference, seminar, home visit, Cherubim and Seraphim health programmes, revival re-disn a bid to promote igbo cul- c o v e r y Church, Orile Iganmu, Lagos service and evangelism, would ture among ndigbo in Nigeria for us all. this Sunday August 19, 2012. herald the Sunday event.

Basorun, a former secretary and the Diaspora, the ancient There is a According to the church’s the Lagos State town of Igbo-Ukwu in g r e a t spiritual leader, His Eminence, to Reuben Olorunfunmi Basorun, Government, under the Anambra State would on 20 need to the occasion would also be Jakande administration, dis- August host thousands of peo- evaluate used to launch the book, “Our closed that the Sunday event ple as the community cele- o u r Steady March to Glory,” which also holds at the church, 69/71 brates Iwaji ndigbo . The event s o c i a l , Street, Orile Iganmu, would last for five days chronicles the history of the Bale moral Lagos from 9.am.

According to Idu of Igbo and culUkwu , Igwe Martins Eze, the tural levDominion Gate Ministry promise to bring out the els of developments for the launches books tomorrow event best in Igbo culture. He said common good of all and for hree books authored by Ojo Road, Abule Ado, Satellite “What we have today is the ultimate good of higher self.” celebration of Igbo culture in renowned charismatic pas- T o w n , Further Igwe Martins its original form. We shall explained that the festival tor and General Overseer by 10 am. observe the annual national would help reposition Igbo of Dominion Gate Ministries new yam festival, which marks cultural heritage and values International, Satellite Town, Apostle the beginning of an era of har- which is fast being eroded by Lagos, will be presented to the U t u l u also said vest in every Igbo culture. We western culture and values. public tomorrow. have repositioned the celebraThe books: Understanding life; t h e The royal father call on all tion of this festival not just to and sundry to return home so Breaking the powers of aver- b o o k s presencelebrate the harvest of yam as as to add value and colour to age and Enforcing your manthe head crop; but harvest with- the festival. date are on the stable of t a t i o n in the levels of production in all Kingdom life series and pub- was part He also call on the Federal human endeavours. We have a government to harmonize the lished by Wisdom Gate of activities of the 12th anniversary magnificently rich culture, festival through annual budgetPublications.

According to the author, the and 2012 annual international which has survived the suffo- ary allocation, promote it event will hold at the church’s convention of the church, start- cating influence of foreign cul- through corporate sponsorship auditorium, DGMI 389, Old ing on August 26 through tures. The occasion is going to and award of scholarship to September 2. serve as a medium of cultural indigent talented youths.

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Igbo Ukwu celebrates Iwaji Ndigbo 2012

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DAILY SUN Friday, August 17, 2012 Continued from Back page era, and things can never be same. Even if the next president comes from the core North, revenge will raise its ugly head.. Let us go apart, very sad to say, because I had always believed in one nation. I asked myself of what use is our corporate existence with this ugly picture, which is quite real. Dr Olayinka Oladosu, yinkalola85@yahoo.com

Re: This ugly picture rate ways, heavens will not fall. Revd S. A. Adetayo, St. John’s Anglican Church, Ikotun, Lagos

What a bloody map!

I have a sneaky feeling that security matters are being treated with kid gloves. If not so, how do we track down bomb-laden vehicles and explosives / incendiary-carrying human •Map of Nigeria beings when the IG has banned intra-state and inter-state police check points? I see that direcPastor Livy Onyenegecha, Observers of tive as a blank cheque for these mindless terrorists to continue inflicting more and more Good Governance Initiative, Mbaise injuries on hapless Nigerians. Amaechi I was scared Ogwuru, amaechiogwuru@yahoo.co.uk I studied the picture, and was scared. It is danger everywhere, with the blood waiting to Always divided Did Nigeria really manage its unity in diver- spill over to the unpainted areas. The question sity tolerably well before 2011? Please remem- of Somaliasation could be a sure destination, ber that millions of Igbos perished between and no longer a journey. C. Don, Aba 1966-1970 in the hands of other Nigerians.

In a mess Also remember that the north using military This ugly picture. Oh, brother, Nigeria is in might and power ruled this country for decades, and eventually annulled the 1993 a mess, and you can say that again. What else elections won by a southerner. Nigeria has is there to say? Ibrahim Bala, Lagos always been a divided country. This has been Time for unity made worse by perverse corruption, extreme A beautiful one. You said it all. The only wickedness and end time events. I am full of expectation that a new Nigeria –a better solution is for both Christians and Muslims to What a pity!

Nigeria- will soon emerge. It will be the doing unite and pray hard. of the Lord. Col R.N Oputa (rtd), Owerri, Government must be firm and tackle this issue before it’s too late. Aisha, Kaduna regoputa@yahoo.com.

Solution in sight I move for a total adoption of your script by the police, army, state security service, CAN, JNI, other relevant agencies of government and the president. Believe me, if all these look at ‘this ugly picture’ from the same perspectives, solution will definitely be in sight. K. A. Abubakar, donks2005@yahoo.com

Please, relax Our able president is working on Boko Haram. He knows them, and has identified them. Even those in his cabinet are known.

He can straighten the bent tail of the dog, how soon and the volume of damage before he does , is the matter. Mafe A. J. The solution Let the entire southern part of Nigeria pull out, just like Southern Sudan did. I can’t understand how a people surviving at the mercy of the South will have the temerity and arrogance to lord it over us, and want to annihilate us. Enough is enough. Onosike, Lagos Ray of hope I read the piece with passion. At the end, you offered a ray of hope. Only God is our help.

He knows how to overturn evil plans, and will not allow His creatures to be annihilated by the wicked. God’s intervention is non-negotiable, and quite soon. Nwachukwu C. M a d u a k o n a m , megafaithforlife@yahoo.co.uk

Roundly correct This is another great message. Your definition of Boko Haram is roundly correct.

However, you forgot Buhari’s post-election speech that energised the youths into mindless killings, and the actual sponsors of Boko Haram. God bless Nigeria. Dr Goddy Okeke, Meaning of Boko Haram Religion is the name, politics is the agenda, Lagos Road to Golgotha while economy is the motive. That is Boko The Americans said it, we called them Haram. Izuegbu, Lagos names. We are on the road to Golgotha. Mr Godwin German Miles apart God in His mercies divided Nigeria before Real nations the amalgamation by Lord Lugard for selfish May the death of Nigeria bring about the reasons. The day we stop deceiving ourselves, we will move forward. We are miles apart, birth of real nations. Victor Chigor, Congress and I am of the opinion that if we go our sepa- for Igbo Agenda

Wages of injustice Injustice in politics causes trouble not for the people alone but for the rulers as well. The earlier the ruling class comes together and solve this problem the better, otherwise we are surely going to pay badly for what most of us No man’s land did not sow. Auwalu Ali Garko, auwaliNigeria is no man’s land. It’s Golgotha, but garko@gmail.com I’m sure there’ll be an eruption that will sweep a lot of people away. That’s when What we need now Is this not that same Nigeria for whom Dr Nigeria will be a true republic and a nation.

Nnamdi Azikiwe sowed a beautiful garment of Imaji Jio Ufumaka, Calabar unity? Is this not that same beautiful ‘woman’ Solution lies with us whose palm-oil filled ‘breasts’ were once harI agree with you to some extent, but moniously sucked by the Hausas, the Ibos and the Yorubas? Is this not that same beautiful President Jonathan is not the cause of the Nigeria through whom nature epitomizes the problems, and the solution lies with us. Victor beauty of unity in the establishment of an ever- Chigor, Congress for Igbo Agenda lasting camaraderie between River Niger and Enough bloodshed River Benue? So, how come that our Queen’s We don’t need President Jonathan to tell us recent picture looks so unwholesome? What we need to see now is not a ‘ blood-stained’ to love ourselves and respect the rights of othmap’s circumference like the one you showed ers. Violence has never solved any problem, last week in that horrible picture. We prefer a and the mindless killings of innocent National Conference to a bloodstained map. Nigerians will never take us anywhere. We May God help us. Ndubuisi Ejikeme, have spilled enough blood in this land. God have mercy on us. Okpoko Uchenna, Abuja 08161367997, nduejisco@yahoo.com

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Abandoned to our fate This country is doomed. The leadership has abandoned us to our fate. The president does not care a whit. Their body language suggests they want the division of this country. By the way, who told you that this contraption is God’s will? The mill of the gods grinds slowly. Where you have nothing to gain, you equally have nothing to lose. Pastor Frank Oputa Beautiful picture But the picture looks beautiful. After all, that was the PDP wanted when they suspended zoning. They still need to paint the whole country in red. Bola Jimoh Chasing rat He whose house is on fire does not chase rats. Northern leaders must put heads together to stop this menace, else it will bring an end to the economic life of the region. Rev Monye J. Gold, President, Mass Movement for Responsible Leadership Hope they read it I pray that our president and police I.G will read your piece, and acknowledge their ineptitude. Pastor Stanley Eze Okorie Many ways to kill a rat That the PDP zoning was not followed should not be the reason for us all to perish.

Boko Haram has killed enough. They should explore other ways to address whatever is bothering them. There are many ways to kill a rat. Emeka Umunnakwe We will do You ink will never dry. As for me and my household, we will look up to the hills. Hon Reloaded, Kano Jonathan, the target You painted the correct situation, succinct with facts and correct in prediction. From the handling of the situation by northern elders, even a fool can add one to one to get the correct answer. The situation was created to paint Jonathan an inept president, impeach him, so that Sambo can take over. Must the North rule by hook or crook? We can return to base without war, can’t we? Lai Ashadele, Lagos To be continued

Re: This country doesn’t give a damn (4) Blood will speak the knee is crowned. Until the Berom-Fulani I agree with you, this country doesn’t give a imbroglio is settled, Plateau will continue to damn indeed. The blood of babies, of pensionthirst for blood. Sixtus Chibueze Ezennaya ers, of road accident victims, of jobless youths Enough is enough etc will surely rise against our leaders, unless I think that the problem with Nigeria is they retrace their ugly steps.

Nigerians themselves. We just have to find a Johnny Abia, way to send the right message to the govern- royalhighchief@yahoo.com ment that enough is enough. Otherwise they will continue to commit their crime of stealing The panacea our resources and get away with it. But let it Confederation is a panacea to move Nigeria be clear that the PDP-led looters will do any- forward because it encourages healthy comthing to remain in office. They will not give a petition among the various units or regions. damn what the neglected Nigerian populace Nigeria can be rescued if she applies wisdom. think about them. Olukunle Akinwande, Arotimi Lanre, Calabar felakinwande@yahoo.com

Not a nation This is a country without being a nation; its leaders are either outrightly incompetent, or sentimentally parochial or both. Even the leaders live in mutual suspicion of each other.

Thirst for blood Let’s beautify it The problem in Plateau State has turned Anyway, even the president doesn’t give a Let me beautify the ugly picture. The sovereign Lord does something wonderful every ethno-religious, but it was previously an eth- damn! What do you expect?

K. A. Abubakar, donks2005@yahoo.com 2,000 years to prove that He is the creator of nic problem. The head cannot be there, and Heaven and Earth. Jonathan should be allowed to complete his divine mandate by 2019, Middle Belt by 2027, while the Igbo vowed never to allow him. I will always supbrings up the rear by 2035. If the world does I feel like crying not end by then, the cycle could be repeated.

Whenever I read your articles on Buhari, I feel port him because he has the qualities to free us Seer Apollos like crying for Nigeria and her ignorant ones, from the hands of the vultures. Blind False unity who have refused to appreciate the man. They Nigerians call him names, but I call him the 7A forced unity is a false unity. The marriage cry over bad leadership, when they have the star General. Jeff Anayo, Lagos of 1914 seems a mirage. If people can’t live real leader here with them. The man Buhari is together peacefully, they should leave one my leader. Ikeh Ejidike He should be godfather another peacefully. The ugly picture gets ugliI advice Buhari should play the role of goder on per second billing. Sammie Boat, Ondo father than contesting elections in 2015. We Extra-terrestrial forces State.

Buhari is a great man, just like some great still love him, anyway. Ofodile, FUTO but unknown Nigerians. Our democracy has Not just ugly Can’t survive become technical project where a great man The picture is not only ugly but hateful, can be humbled into a grass eater by forces that If you are truthful, you can’t survive in annoying and despicable. It is totally unac- are extra-terrestrial but propelled by humans. Nigeria. That is the truth in Nigeria. C. ceptable. I saw it coming. The blood flowing Rev Monye J. Gold Azuazu, Port Harcourt in the country is crying for vengeance before Ubangiji, Onyame, Chukwu, Olodumare. Mr We are no fools The 7-star General President should wake up, so that we may live Nigerians are no fools. Buhari remains a The truth is crystal clear. Buhari has always in peace. been the best candidate, but evil men have tribal and religious fanatic. The PTF he head-

We need new identity How can a country coined together by British lords give a damn about a perishing black race? Did they give a damn when they arrived our shores and dismantled the ancient landmarks? No damn can be given until we return to the status quo and give ourselves a new identity. Ogene Eze, Umuida

Re: Buhari and 2015 (3) ed did only good work in Muslim dominated areas of the North. Wilson Joseph, Gboko He needs good advisers My uncle who was a journalist during Buhari’s regime told me that the man is disciplined, and I have confirmed it. He only needs good advisers that will help him in his campaign. I’m not interested in any region producing the next president, but if we are really sure that we want sanity to return to our country, Buhari is the only choice, at least, for now.

Dr John Okorie Honest submission Your piece on Buhari and 2015 is a wellwritten, honest submission.

James, Ikeja

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Friday, August 17, 2012

DAILY SUN

Nigeria-U.S. ties: An appraisal

By CHIDINELU OKERAFOR

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t’s just a matter of days since the United States secretary of state, or foreign minister, Mrs. Hilary Rodham Clinton, made two brief visits to Nigeria as part of a ten-nation tour of Africa and a few other countries around the world. It’s unfair to insinuate, as is being done in some circles, that Nigeria’s inclusion in Mrs. Clinton’s tour list was mainly incidental, if only to try to assuage misgivings in Abuja over several previous world tours by the chief American diplomat, which seemed to snub the Nigerian authorities.

At one point, it appeared that the Obama administration, after coming into being in January 2009, wanted to downgrade, somewhat, the resuscitated relationship which the Obasanjo administration had taken two four-year terms to bring about. By the time Chief Obasanjo assumed office on May 29, 1999, the administration of Bill Clinton, a Democratic Party government, was already on its last legs.

By the time the late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua took power in 2007, the Bush administration, a Republican Party government, was already being bogged down, not just by domestic disaffection, but, more so by serious political and military challenges in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Middle East.

Under Mr. Yar”Adua, there seemed to have been a lull, an interruption of sorts, in the close personal ties between the president of the world’s only surviving super-power, which was Bush Junior and later Barak Obama, and the ailing leader of Africa’s most populous country. The reasons for that are not far-fetched.

However, Mr. Obama, America’s first ever president of African descent, did cause a stir in many circles in Nigeria, when he conspicuously omitted to visit the country, during a high-profile visit to the continent within the very first few months of his administration. Ghana, among others, happened to have been on the U.S. leader’s tour list, and several ministers of the Yar’Adua administration back then are known to have privately expressed their embarrassment over Abuja’s “mistreatment”.

From the inception of Mr. Yar’Adua’s government in 2007

to just under a fortnight ago, several U.S. top politicians and diplomats, including President Obama and Mrs. Clinton, have visited Africa, but, seemed inclined to bye-pass the shores of the continent’s second largest economy.

So, what did Mrs. Clinton come here to do? In other words, where have the “impediments” that caused the country to be overlooked for some time, gone? Clinton didn’t only visit Nigeria. But, she had also been to Ghana, Algeria and Uganda, among others. What may, however, be instructive here is what the outspoken secretary of state told her hosts. She said she impressed on them to do more to check corruption, which, according to the former American First Lady, has been the greatest obstacle to Nigeria’s socio-economic development. Inevitably, the question of insecurity, or Boko Haram terrorism, came up too. Some have argued that Clinton’s visit to the country, though a very brief one, may just be a precursor to a “planned”, if only yet unannounced, tour by the American commander-in-chief himself, in the wake of a possible victory in his race for re-election come this November.

If that is the case, then, Mrs. Clinton and her boss would have been buoyed up by the relative success of the April, 2011, national elections in Nigeria. It’s widely believed, after all, that the heavily flawed polls of 2007 had been a principal factor in President Obama’s decision to shun the country, during previous visits to Africa. In the same vein, there is a new-look administration at Aso Rock, under the presidency of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, whose arrival on the scene since May, last year, had come on the heels of one of the fairest elections in the history of Africa’s largest democracy.

Another key factor is the present security situation in Nigeria. It’s hard, not least in American political circles, not to want to link the flaming Boko Haram insurgency to the to the Abdumutallab Affair, which triggered a serious diplomatic row between the two countries. Whatever anyone in government in Nigeria, or outside of it, might say, Faruq Abdumutallab’s botched bombing of a Chicago-bound flight in December, 2009, did attract the appropriate response from the U.S. authorities, when Nigeria, for the first time, was placed on an American [terrorism] watch-list. No doubt, the

advent of the Jonathan Administration has in some way or fashion provided a cooling effect to the otherwise heightened tensions in relations, following the Abdumutallab Affair.

The United States is not just the world’s most important country, but, it’s a nation keen to project its image, culture, power and influence abroad. American foreign policy, even if successive political leaders in Washington don’t admit it in public, is premised, almost exclusively, on a perpetuation of its national interests overseas, be they security or economic interests. Of course, these interests vary from degree to degree, and the relevance of one foreign country or region of the world to the pursuit of America’s national interests also varies in degrees. For instance, while a country like Israel, the largest recipient of U.S. economic and military assistance, or Egypt, which ranks as number-two, or Columbia, which is number-three, may easily fit into the category of the first twenty countries worldwide that are of strategic interest to Washington, Nigeria cannot be far off, too. There are so many similarities between both countries. While the U.S. is the biggest nation in the Americas, Nigeria occupies a similar position, especially in population, in Africa. Furthermore, both countries are presidential democracies. This is added to the fact that, while America ranks as the country with the largest number of English-speakers the world-over; Nigeria ranks a close third, behind the United Kingdom.

Nigeria-U.S. relations do indeed date a long way back, even to the very early years of post-independence Africa. It’s a relationship that has grown significantly over the decades, sometimes, irrespective of many years of military rule. So important are these ties to both countries that the Americans had refused to orchestrate a total international boycott and isolation of Nigeria, during the obnoxious rule of the Sani Abacha junta. Throughout the five years the Abacha dictatorship lasted, and despite its characterization as one of the world’s leading pariah regimes, Washington still kept means of communication open between the two capitals. While crude oil from Nigeria continued to flow into the United States in huge quantities, America would not give up on its stiff competition with the British as the largest investors in the Nigerian economy

[to be continued]. 07036776571.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Moses Akaigwe mosesaki@hotmail.com 08072100049

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reat Wall has been really hot in the global auto market since last year, setting sales records nine months in a row. In the Nigerian where the brand is represented by CFAO-CICA, it has already made tremendous marks on the pick-up segment with various versions of its Wingle. It has also penetrated the passenger cars segment with Florid and the Voleex C30.

The GW Florid is now widely seen on Lagos roads, thanks mainly to the new generation taxi operators in the city, who have lately been patronising this model, taking advantage of its affordability, appealing design and stability on roads.

Testimonies have also been coming from other parts of the country, that Great Wall vehicles are as well gaining ground in places like the Federal Capital Territory, the eastern cities and southwest flank. This, it was learnt, is due mainly to the vibrant marketing and after-sales network of the Great Wall brand.

In China, the mother country of Great Wall, according to data released by the car maker, from January to May 2012, GWM’s vehicle sales rose 19 percent to 230,000 units. The company aims to sell 600,000 vehicles this year, with exports totaling 100,000 units. It exported 37,931 vehicles in the first five months of this year, which is a big 42 percent jump compared to the same period last year.

Exports accounted for 17 percent of the company’s vehicle sales during the period. Last year, Great Wall sold 487,000 units, of which 83,000 units were exported and thus became China’s biggest maker of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and pick –ups, as well as the first Chinese auto-

Great Wall dares competitors with Wingle, Voleex C30 motive brand to enter the British market with the Wingle, rebranded the Steed. It is being sold in Britain by International Motors, whose Great Wall UK director, Paul Hegarty, said the Steed’s key selling point is value for money.

To hit its goal in Nigeria, the management of CFAO CICA is targeting annual sales of 2,000 units by 2013 and this is being made possible by the team’s spirit on after sales services. Mr Regis Tromeur, who is in charge at CFAO CICA, said recently that his company was mindful of how technology is changing the way business is being conducted.”Our goal in the After-Sales service department is to constantly look for ways to improve our level of service and maintain the personal touch of a family operated business. Our belief is that long term customer loyalty is a direct result of quality service. Our workshop trained technicians are skilled in the use of diagnostic tools which have been developed for the Great Wall line of vehicles and constantly go through Training to improve both the quality of the product of our services”.

He added, “With our over $500,000 back-up stock of spare parts, we provide guaranteed availability and affordability of genuine spare parts sourced directly from our manufacturer

Greatwall’s ultra-modern showroom in Ikeja, Lagos and then distribute to network covering nearly the entire states of Nigeria.”

Asides this, on the Corporate Social Responsibility aspect (CRS), Great Wall and CFAO CICA has been in the forefront of protecting children from hazards and look out for a

Chief Michael Ade.Ojo (wearing white native attire) cutting the Elizade 40+1 Anniversary cake with the help of his children, board and executive members of the company.

song he prompted all to join him in rendering in Yoruba. He was also grateful to the numerous guests who filled the Civic Centre venue in Victoria Island, for attending and wishing him and Elizade Nigeria (founded together with his late wife 41 years ago) well.

The dinner hit a climax with a long list of corporate organisations called out receive various prizes, ranging from modern information technology gadgets to deep freezers. The top gift of a Toyota Avensis was presented to the United Bank of Africa.

Other companies presented with awards are: Skye, First, Stanbic IBTC, Mainstreet, Keystone, Guarranty, Urban Development and Access Banks, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Shell Petroleum Development Company, State House, Abuja, and the Lagos State Government.

Others are Young Shall Grow Motors Limited, Ifesinachi Industries Limited (both leading luxury bus transporters), Peace Mass Transit Limited (mainly mini bus operator), National Assembly, Nigeria Customs, Aitel, MTN, Nigeria Breweries Limited and C & I Leasing, among many others.

It was gathered at the event that the companies were rewarded according to the volume of their patronage of the Toyota vehicles sold by Elizade over the years.

secured future for them by supporting the FRSC Children Accident Prevention Initiative (CAPI) designed with the aim of protecting children within the ages of 5-14 years in the country from road crash incidence and to promote the safety of this category of the population.

Fortuner, Camry, Avanza hit fast lane •As Toyota records 10% growth

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Motoring

Banks, The Young, Ifesinachi, Peace rewarded at Elizade’s 40+1 Anniversary

he recent dinner held in Lagos to celebrate Elizade Nigeria Limited’s 40+1 Anniversary could basically be summarised as an event hosted by the foremost Toyota marketer in Nigeria, to give gratitude to God and appreciate the loyal customers of the company.

This is because all those, who made comments, from the founder himself, Chief (Dr.) Michael Ade.Ojo KJW, OON; to the Managing Director, Mr. Demola Ade-Ojo; the Marketing Director, Mr. Olu Tikolo and the guests, were very generous in attributing achievements of the company to God and the sustained patronage of customers.

For instance, the managing director, while paying tribute to his father for the virtues exemplified in founding and building the company, said: “As I look around this hall, seeing auto playmakers, business tycoons, established individuals, top class professionals and outstanding media men and women, who have come to rejoice with the Elizade brand on this auspicious occasion, I feel very grateful...Tonight, Elizade Nigeria Limited will reward loyalty, patronage and also appreciate the grace of God over the business.”

But gratitude to God could not have been more effusive than the way Sir Michael Ade.Ojo expressed it so effusively in a worship

DAILY SUN

oyota Nigeria Limited (TNL), the sole and exclusive importer and distributor of Toyota in Nigeria, has declared that though the market has remained generally dull since the beginning of 2012, the brand has so far recorded a 10 per cent growth in sales in the first half of the year.

It was also learnt that new generation products, like Fortuner, Camry and Avanza, unveiled in the local market between the last quarter of 2011 and now, have been doing well, even though Corolla, Hilux pick and Hiace mini bus remain the front-runners..

These hints were dropped by recently by the Managing Director of TNL, Mr. CK Thampy, and the Marketing Manager, Mr Andrew Ajuyah, at the company’s quarterly meeting held at their corporate office in Lekki, Lagos.

Thampy, who said the year 2012 is better than that of last year in terms of marketing and unit sales, said there is also a corresponding 15 per cent increase in imports of vehicle units.

He noted that banks are not particularly giving loans for the auto businesses, explaining that though, leasing has been on-going but has not been fully developed, saying that 95 per cent of the leasing transactions are always directed on drilling and oil equipment.

Speaking on the tsunami which rocked Japan about two years ago, and impacted on Toyota’s production worldwide, Thampy said though it was felt at TNL in terms of shortage of spare parts up till October last year, it no longer has any effect on the brand’s business in Nigeria. “I don’t think there is any effect of that on us,” Thampy assured, noting that Toyota’ flagship – Corolla is doing well in Nigeria as usual.

He also said that TNL is quite happy with its dealers

but would have to increase the number of its dealerships as time goes by. “I think they meet the norms and they meet our satisfaction. We have plans to increase dealers as it is an ongoing process. We have not added any more dealers in the recent past,” he said.

Also, he said though TNL will not sell preowned vehicles but would support Elizade Nigeria Limited, a major Toyota distributor, who had announced recently that it would go into the sales of certified pre-owned Toyota vehicles before the end of this year.

The TNL managing director, however, warned car buyers not to patronise cars that are not made for the Nigerian market saying that the disadvantages far outweigh the advantages, explaining that when dealers bring in unauthorised vehicles into the country, buyers would suffer from after sales services. “The after sales services have two legs and that include spare parts and technical know-how,” Thampy said.

Marketing Manager of TNL, Mr. Andrew Azuyah, said all the products recently launched by TNL are all doing well in the market, saying that the Avanza is not doing badly at all. “When we judge these new entrants, we should look at the environment. The economy is not buoyant enough as in the past years. We may not introduce new models into the Nigerian market before the end of the year,” he said.

Also with the duo at the briefing were the Executive Director, Mr Kunle Ade-Ojo and the Head, Advert & PR, Mrs Bukky Ogunnusi.

•Toyota Fortuner

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DAILY SUN

Friday, August 17, 2012

Motoring

Honda Odyssey returns, woos families W

hen Honda Motor Company recently went back to the drawing board to modify the Odyssey for the 2012 model year, it was almost certain that the automaker, more than anything else, would make the mini van a rallying point of sorts for families, friends and holidaymakers, who wished there was a mini van that could offer unbeatable satisfaction.

True to this postulation, Honda did come up with a mini van it described as a “greater way to share good times.”

Also adding that Odyssey was purposefully crafted to enhance family ties, the automaker said the vehicle’s spirited performance, luxurious comfort and effortlessly reconfigurable seating for eight, make the van a pleasurable experience for every occupant.”

So, whether enjoying an uptown evening or taking friends to the beach, the new Odyssey makes her occupants feel right at home in a somewhat sleek, smooth and distinctive way.

Recently in Lagos, Mr. Deepak Daryanani, Director, Sales and Marketing, The Honda Place (exclusive distributors of Honda automobiles in Nigeria), amplified this view while presenting the new Odyssey to the local automobile media. He said Odyssey was completely redesigned to reassert its status as an exceptional minivan with undoubtedly luxury sensation.

And that is the impression the Odyssey conveys. A power tailgate and doors coupled with convenient opening and closing via power or remote key distinguish the Odyssey from competitions.

What’s more, Odyssey’s sporty aluminum wheels with precision detailing radiate Honda’s quality. This is in addition to the multi-information display, fuel economy, outside temperature, control switches on steering wheel, hands free phone as well as audio and cruise controls. The rearview three-mode monitor that enhances simpler parking with guide assistance is inconceivably amazing.

Renowned test drivers say the new Odyssey remains a class-leading minivan for fuel economy and safety ratings, while continuing to offer the refinement, space and engaging driving experience that people have come to expect from this highly acclaimed family vehicle.

Some of its class-leading achievements include the highest EPA highway fuel economy rating for an eight-passenger minivan, 28 mpg and best possible safety ratings of 5-star from both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Overall Vehicle Score and Top Safety pick of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) - an achievement no other minivan has surpassed yet.

Mr. Daryanani said the Odyssey though

•2012 Honda Odyssey comes in five models, only the Elite version is available in the Nigerian market. All the models he reiterated provide a unique combination of features, value and luxury with in-vehicle entertainment technology.

However, changes for 2012 include the addition of select features like Bluetooth HandsFreeLink, intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID) with an 8-inch TFT screen, a 2-GB CD Library and a USB Audio Interface.

The Honda Odyssey body uses a tapered cabin design with a signature “lightning bolt” character line to create a dynamic and distinctive appearance. Its styling cue creates a relatively large third-row window that enhances the outward perspective for third-row passengers.

Engineered for a quiet interior, the Odyssey’s highly-rigid body with 59 percent high-strength steel (an exceptional amount by industry standards) helps enhance the effectiveness of the vehicle’s sound-deadening material to isolate road noise. The high-strength steel also helps to reduce body weight for better fuel

Weststar celebrates awards for Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Actros

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he jolly good folks at Weststar Associates Limited, the authorised sole distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Nigeria, are in a celebratory mood; and for good reason too. This is following the cheery news from the manufacturer’s head office in Stuttgart, Germany, that its three-pointed star-badged commercial vehicles recently won two prestigious awards in that country.

Mercedes-Benz excelled at the ceremony, which focused on the The new Mercedes–Benz Sprinter The new Mercedes–Benz Actros Best Commercial Vehicles and The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter was Best Brands of 2012. The exercise, based on the voted winner in the category Vans Up To 3.5 t heavy-duty truck worldwide. votes of more than 8000 readers of magazines for the 17th consecutive time. The Sprinter Both Actros and Atego trucks are among the published by ETM Publishing Company, which has been highly successful in its segment wide spectrum of Mercedes-Benz commercial bestowed victories on five Mercedes-Benz com- for many years is the first van to be optionally and passenger vehicles Weststar markets in mercial vehicles and two Mercedes-Benz serv- equipped with the “7G-Tronic” seven-speed Nigeria. ice solutions.

The reader poll is conducted annually by automatic transmission, while the new Reacting to the development, the Chief Mercedes-Benz Actros on the hand won the ETM publishing company and its trade magaExecutive Officer of Weststar Associates, Mr Long-haul Truck category. zines ‘Fernfahrer’, ‘Lastauto Omnibus’ and Mirko Plath, said the sole authorised distributor The new flagship of the Mercedes-Benz com- ‘Tans Aktuell’. “The Best Commercial Vehicles of Mercedes-Benz in Nigeria is delighted by the mercial vehicles division is economical, safe 2012” and “the Best Brands 2012” are deterhonour of the brand receiving no fewer than and very eco-friendly, the Actros also won in the mined in cooperation with engineers from seven awards, which, according to him, proves category Dump Trucks Up To 32 t. More than Dekra. This year, the 8000 readers were able to that the Benz “product line-up puts us in a per- 700,000 vehicles sold since its market launch in choose the winners in 22 categories from more fect position above the competition”.

1996, make the Actros the most successful than 180 model series.

economy and optimize body rigidity for agile handling.

Odyssey interior offers multiple modes for accommodating child seats, adult passengers and cargo, along with off a comprehensive range of in-vehicle entertainment technology.

To fulfill its design goal of being an ultimate family vehicle, the interior provides three rows of comfort-oriented seating with generous sedan-like legroom in each row; along with up to five Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) positions for child seats.

The passenger volume measures 172.6 cu-ft.

(Odyssey LX and EX) and the cargo volume ranges between 38.4 cu-ft. cargo volume (all seats up) to 148.5 cu-ft. depending on the seating configurations.

To help enhance driver comfort, especially on long trips, the driver’s seat features 10-way power adjustable seating (8-way power adjustable on Odyssey LX). A “3-mode” second-row seat design provides the ability to attach up to three child seats across the second row (Odyssey EX and above) by relocating the outboard seats to alternate positions closer to the doors.

The one-motion, 60/40 split third-row Magic Seat, one of the Odyssey’s original concepts and most versatile features, affords legroom for average size adults and is easy to open and close with one hand.

Highlights of standard features on all models include air conditioning with manual front and rear controls, power driver’s seat, power windows with auto-up/down driver’s and frontpassenger’s windows, tilt and telescopic steering column, a maintenance minder system and more.

Honda Odyssey Elite model come standard with power sliding rear doors, an “intelligent” Multi-Information Display (i-MID) with customizable wallpaper, center console storage, a flip-up trash bag ring, conversation mirror and more.

An advanced 3.5-liter, 24-valve, SOHC, iVTEC V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) provides a balanced combination of performance, fuel economy and low emissions.

For instance, when cruising at steady speeds, two or three cylinders run dormant to save fuel without sacrificing performance.

An extensive list of safety equipment includes the Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, a Hondaexclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal collisions.

‘With 4 years free service offer, Ford is aiming at the hearts of customers’

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o reinforce the exciting momentum gathered by the extended service promo launched recently by Ford in Nigeria, representatives of the brand’s two dealers, as well as the media consultants, hosted a cross section of the motoring press in Lagos, where the purpose of the exercise was further clarified.

From the remarks by Mr Raju Salwani Executive Director, Sales and After-sales, Coscharis Motors Limited; to Mr Krishna Kulkani, the newly appointed GM of BriscoeFord; and Mrs Bisi Afolabi Executive Director, Business Development LTC JWT Advertising, it was not difficult to distil that the Ford family is aiming at an unprecedented level of customer satisfaction in after-sales delivery, and therefore the hearts of the buyers.

The offer covering free service for four

years or 120,000km, was described as the first of its kind in the market and intended to make vehicle ownership hitch-free for Ford lovers.

According to Sawlani, it is part of activities lined up by Both Coscharis and BriscoeFord to endear Ford to the Nigerian market as a very serious and caring brand.

Earlier in a statement, Ford Regional Sales and Marketing Manager Ezio Tuniz., had said: “Customer satisfaction is what the Ford brand is noted for globally and we will not relent in providing that unequalled service. The programme is a Ford brand initiative that we want all our customers in the Nigerian market to take advantage of.”

He also noted that the incentive of free service is part of the Ford brand promise to meet customer expectations in the Nigerian market.

The free service is available on new Focus,

Fusion, Taurus, Edge, Escape, Explorer or ment of brake pads, and linings when worn, Expedition, F-Series trucks, and E-Series shock absorber replacements among others. vans. The offer includes tyre rotations, engine The offer which started last month, will end oil and filter changes, spark plugs, clutch discs, on October 2. engine belts and hoses, wiper blades, replaceL-R: Mr. Abiodun Olaiya,, Marketing Manager, BriscoeFord; Mr. Krishna Kulkani, GM, BriscoeFORD; Mrs Bisi Afolabi, Executive Director, Business Development, LTC JWT Advertising; and Mr. Raju Salwani, Executive Director Sales, Coscharis Motors, exchanging views during FORD 4 Year /120,000km Free Service Forum, held recently in Lagos.

DAILY SUN Friday, August 17, 2012

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TRANSPORT Aviation, Maritime

RwandAir launches a fly & drive promotion

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wandAir, one of the fastest growing airlines in Africa, launched its operations in the Nigerian market in December 2011.

“Today, we are launching an exciting promotion that will see our clients, who purchase tickets on RwandAir, win fabulous prizes in a grand draw that will be held in the first week of December 2012 to coincide with the first anniversary of the airline in the Nigerian market,” said Mrs. Alice Katiti, director, Sales & Distribution.

For every ticket purchased from Lagos to Johannesburg, the client will qualify to enter into the grand draw, where he or she stands a chance to win one of the prizes on offer.

The 1st prize is a brand new Kia Rio saloon car, 2nd prize is a family holiday for four in business class and three nights’ hotel accommodation in Johannesburg, and the 3rd prize is Economy class ticket for 2, with 2 nights’accommodation in Johannesburg.

In addition to the grand prizes, the clients will be entitled to enter the weekly draws where they will win prizes of tickets to RwandAir’s entire network that include Kigali, Entebbe, Nairobi, Mombasa, Dubai, Dar Es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Mwanza, Kamembe and Gisenyi on Lake Kivu. 3 clients will certainly hit a double jackpot in December at the grand draw!

Why airports remodelling must continue – FG ...Project to be completed in Q4 Stories by UCHE USIM

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s caustic criticisms trail the way and manner the government is remodelling the nation’s 22 airports, the General Manager, Public Affairs, of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Akin Olukunle, has said that the obsolete nature of the airports were lamenta-

ble, as it robbed the country of the economic boost, which a vibrant aviation sector should stimulates.

Olukunle, who stated this on Wednesday in Lagos, said facilities at the airports need urgent upgrading for the terminals to be in consonance with the transformation agenda of the President Goodluck Jonathan Administration.

He also revealed that all the remodelling works will be wrapped up and commissioned before the end of the fourth quarter of the year.

Explaining the phased development of the airports, the FAAN Spokesman said: “The Phase 1 of the airports’ remodelling further initiates emergency measures for the airports, with overall upgrade in security control and cargo management equipment.

The measures are required to improve

Cargolux Airlines launches Boeing 747-800F in Nigeria

By PHILIP NWOSU

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istory was made on August 10, as Cargolux Airlines marks the commencement of Boeing 747800F daily flight operations in Nigeria.

The aircraft, with a capacity of 140,000kgs, is said to be among one of the biggest cargo freighters in the world.

Cargolux Airlines started operations in Nigeria almost a decade ago, with a Boeing 747-400F operating into New York, Luxembourg, Johannesburg, Lagos and the rest of the world.

The General Sales Agent (GSA) of the airline, Merchant Express Cargo Airlines Ltd., hinted that, the coming of Boeing 747-800F into the Nigerian market was timely, saying that Importers, Exporters and Cargo agents stands the opportunity to benefit more from their services.

“Cargolux Airlines started operations almost a decade ago in Nigeria and since that time has operated a daily flight with a Boeing 747-400F. The introduction of Boeing 747-800F is to attend to the yearnings of the Importers, Exporters and Cargo Consolidators who are the primary consumers of the airlines services,” the agency said.

BA unveils promo

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ritish Airways has announced special price discounts for Nigerian customers travelling to the United Kingdom and New York in its award-winning Club World and newly refurbished First Class cabins.

Fares to London start from $2,160 in Club World and $6,610 in First. Flights to New York are priced from $2,960 in Club World and $6,720 in First.

The specials which are available from both Abuja and Lagos went on sale on August 1 and lasts until August 15 for outbound travel before September 1.

• L–R: Executive Director, GHI Assets Ltd., Mrs. Bola Adefope; Director Sales & Distribution, RwandAir, Mrs. Alice Katiti, and Rwandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Joseph Habineza, during the RwandAir LagosJohannesburg promotional launch, held at Best Western Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, recently.

Safety: FG, Boeing team-up to audit domestic operators

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o avoid a re-occurrence of the unfortunate Dana crash of June 3 this year, the Federal Government is collaborating with world aircraft manufacturing giant, Boeing, to carry out an extensive safety and airworthiness audit of domestic operators.

This was part of the discussions held in Seattle with Boeing at the on-going foreign investment trip to China, USA and Canada.

The arrangement, which is being applauded in the aviation community, hopes to reveal operationally weak airlines and weed them out.

Pilots and other aviation experts have accused the airlines of being financially weak to carry out safe and secure operations.

They also say the airlines owe pilots, engineers and cabin crews salaries running into several months and yet expect them to fly with a balanced state of mind.

“It’s a welcome development. Like I said before, airline owners who owe staff salaries should be charged for criminal negligence. It’s either you’re ready for business and do it well, or you go. You cannot make money at the expense of people’s lives,” says Capt Araba, a pilot, instructor and former Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria.

Speaking in the same vein, the Chairman of Nigerian Aviation Safety Initiative (NASI), Capt Dung Pam, said

a transparent economic audit of the airlines should be done so immediately weed out the very weak ones before another air disaster occurs.

“This area of economic audit is where the NCAA has failed.

Condoning their misdemeanours, NCAA is helping smear their reputation internationally. In fact, no airline in Nigeria has shown it’s making profit.

They’re all limping. Once an airline cannot do regular maintenance, it constantly asks for extension on maintenance, it owes pilots and engineers’ salaries for 6-8 weeks, then something is seriously wrong.

“Such an airline should not operate because safety is definitely compro-

mised. So the government should evolve a merger programme and give them a time frame. The rule is consolidate or you die. This owner management syndrome must stop,” he stated.

Capt Pam regretted that accountability, probity and transparency which ought to be the hallmark of the aviation sector is seriously lacking and the yet the government seems unconcerned about it.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government delegation held an investors forum with the business communities in Beijing, China last Thursday and another one in Ottawa , Canada on August 16, 2012 .

It earlier held other business meetings in Shenzhen and in Washington.

passenger comfort, safety and security in our airports, particularly the international ones in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt, to prevent any disaster.

The Phase 2 of the Transformation Agenda centres on Terminal Development. This accommodates the upgrade of the remaining 11 airports managed by FAAN and the construction of new international terminals for the Lagos and Abuja airports.

The Phase 3 of the Transformation Agenda focuses on Infrastructure, Safety, Security (Long Term Intervention). The Phase 4 of the project focuses on long term development of operational and financial sustainability measures,” he revealed.

Olukunle also said it is worrisome that successive administrations have paid lip service to the problems of aviation infrastructure, leaving all the nation’s airports without any meaningful upgrade over 35 years of their existence.

“For instance, the four international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt had, hitherto, suffered decades of neglect, resulting in decaying facilities and congestion. Many Nigerians have had cause to condemn these airports, and of course their managers and the Federal Government, when they compare them with other airports they have visited around the globe, even in Africa,” he stated.

The problems, he noted, had adversely impacted on safety, security, passenger comfort and revenue generation.

“The airports were, therefore, in dire need of expansion and capacity development. The Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah, a visionary leader, is leading the remodelling effort as part of the transformation of the industry.

“All the efforts of the minister and her team are geared towards ensuring that the nation never again experiences any national embarrassment through the airports, facilities and personnel. That is why Oduah and her lieutenants on the remodelling projects are committed to ensuring that best practices are applied in terms of the ongoing work at the airports,” he added.

On the allegation that the minister did not follow approved paths to accessing the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) funds, he noted that the allegation was false.

“They accordingly sought all the required approvals from the concerned statutory bodies, including the National Assembly, for the funds drawn from the Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) Account for the projects.”

Namibian President to open A&A conference in Windhoek

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viation & Allied Business has announced that the President of Namibia, His Excellency Hifikepunye Pohamba, will officially open the 18th Aviation & Allied Business Leadership Conference holding at the Windhoek Country Club Resort & Casino in Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city, on September 2–4, 2012 .

Several government and private sector dignitaries have confirmed participation at this major event including high-level representatives of African governments, the US government through the Department of Transport (DoT) and the US Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), private sector and multilateral organizations like the International Civil Aviation Orgnanization (ICAO), International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC).

Others include major aircraft manufacturers like Airbus, Bombardier, ATR, etc., as well as Africa’s best aviation experts and their counterparts from Europe , North America and the Middle East.

This year, the Conference will focus on the theme Air Transport Development: Rethinking Africa’s Strategy, while over 250 delegates will

be attending the conference, making the Conference a hot-spot for investors seeking new opportunities in Africa and providing a huge opportunity for industry partners to interact.

This year’s Conference, with a modified format, would feature a special policy discourse on the Conference theme, Re-thinking Africa’s Aviation Development Strategy, and a Panel on Infrastructure and Public-Private Partnership under the same theme.

The conference will re-assess the state of air transport growth and development in Africa under the prevailing economic trend in Africa and other economies with strong bearing on the continent.

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DAILY SUN Friday, August 17, 2012

Maritime TRANSPORT Apapa Customs posts N146bn revenue in 6 months

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he Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Command, at the end of the first six months, this year, posted a total of N139.2 billion revenue into the Federation Account, while also collecting other levies and fees for the Federal Government and its agencies.

The command was, at the beginning of the 2012 fiscal year, given a revenue target of N324 billion out of the N1 trillion general target given to the Nigerian Customs Service by the Federal Government.

This target given to Apapa Customs, amounts to N27 billion per month when broken down. Customs Area Controller in charge of Apapa, Alhaji Adamu Garko, while briefing newsmen on the activities of the command for the half year period, said the command generated a total of N139.2 billion between January and June, 2012.

According to him, this represents a growth rate of 33 per cent compared with the N104.7 billion generated in the comparative period of last year.

After a not too favourable performance in the first three months of the year, which he attributed to the uncertainties like the fuel subsidy removal crisis, the revenue collection went up on a monthly basis.

The breakdown showed that command collected a total of N19.7 billion in April, N24.6 billion in May and N36.7 billion in June. The revenue between January to March is as follows: January N15.4 billion, February N21.1 billion and in March it collected 21.2 billion, bringing to a total of N57.9 billion for the first quarter as against the targeted N81 billion on the basis of N27 billion monthly revenue.

Container throughput increases at Ports

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he Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in its monthly report of June 2012, has witnessed increased container and vehicle imports, as against the same period in 2011.

Available statistics show the laden container throughput stood at 73,865 TEUs, which showed a 24.6 per cent increase over the same period of June 2011 figure of 59,264 TEUs. Empty containers throughput stood at 52,709 TEUs showing a rise of 13.5 percent over the June 2011 figure of 41,831 TEUs. Also vehicle imports in the month under review stood at 22,329 units representing a growth of 80.6 per cent over the June 2011 figure of 12,361 units.

The Managing Director, NPA, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, has said that with the tremendous support of the Federal Government, the NPA has engaged in massive infrastructural development, which has resulted in increase container traffic.

He further assured that the Authority would continue to encourage the cooperation and collaboration amongst major maritime stakeholders in order to achieve the vision to make Nigerian Ports the hub of the West and Central African region.

Meanwhile, the authority has assured that it would continue to encourage the cooperation collaboration amongst the nation’s maritime agencies in order to achieve a seamless synergy in interagency maritime operation.

Abdullahi gave the assurance while receiving a delegation of the Federal Government Committee on InterAgency Maritime Coordinating Committee (IMOCC) in his office in Lagos.

He explained that the synergy would ensure a cordial relationship between all the agencies, and will enable them service the nation for common goal.

Nigeria ports and arms smuggling Stories by FOSTER OBI

A

recent alarm by the DirectorGeneral of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety (NIMASA), Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi, over the importation of arms and ammunition through the nation’s coastal waters, is bringing the matter to the fore again. This is instructive, especially as the security situation is getting tense daily.

According to Akpobolokemi, NIMASA would not fold its hands, but would work very hard to unravel

those behind the importation of such arms.

The DG, who was at Stakeholders’ Breakfast Meeting in Lagos recently, said: “The number of arms and ammunition coming into the country through our waters is alarming and there is need for NIMASA to know who and who is responsible for their importation. We want to sanitise the Nigerian waters to ensure that the nation is safe from proliferation of arms and ammunition,” he said.

Other stakeholders also spoke vehemently on the issue.

For some time, stakeholders are

worried that arms and ammunition pass through the ports every other day into the country with the collaboration of highly placed persons. Before he was transferred to the Murtala Mohammed Airport recently, Customs Controller of Tincan Island Port, Charles Eporwei Edike condemned illegal importation of arms into the country.

This was sequel to the interception of arms and ammunition during physical examination of imported goods by the Command.

Edike said the ammunition was

• Specialised trucks for waste evacuation in the ports, imported by Africa Circle Pollution Management Limited, before their unveiling at TinCan Ports, recently.

IFFA tasks FG on regulating concessionaires

T

he International Freight Forwarders Association (IFFA) has said that port concessioning will never achieve its objectives if the Federal Government does not put in place a system for proper regulation of terminal operators and shipping companies in the country.

Public Relations Officer of the group, Osy Ezenweinyinya, said for gains of the concessioning to be properly harnessed, the government should get an independent regulator to monitor the activities of concessionaires. “It doesn’t make sense that you got foreigners to invest in our ports and then take the people for granted.

He said most of the terminal operators and shipping companies in Nigeria behave unseemly and treat Nigerian importers and freight forwarders with disrespect, adding that it is time they should be called to order.

He added that if this is allowed to continue, most importers will leave Nigeria for neighbouring ports.

“Most of the goods you see passing through neighboring countries like Cotonu in Benin Republic, have no business going through there. We never had any transit agreement with them. Nigeria is a maritime country and it can never have any transit agreement with Benin Republic .But we see many cargoes for Nigeria coming through Contonu; the border we have at Seme is for our West African land trade not for trade from outside West Africa.

“You discover that most of our Nigerian importers now import through Cotonu. Eighty per cent of imports in Cotonou are Nigerian cargoes because we don’t have good port operations and our charges are very high. The reason of having this port is to see that the cost of doing business is cheap and efficient.

“But that is not the case, so if you are bringing in your cargo here, somebody

will determine for you when you are going to carry your cargo and when you are going to position for examination-physical inspection and he is still charging you for all these days that are not your fault. So, many things are going wrong,” he revealed.

Pointing out some of the flaws of the system he said: “Look at CEMA Section 30–31 that is talking about 28 days dwelling term in the ports.

Immediately cargo comes into the

port, it is the duty of the terminal operators to tally the cargo within the 28 days and submit same to the Customs tally officer at the Customs Processing Centre that this cargo now is 28 days in my terminal uncleared.

“From there, the customs cargo tally officer will write to him [terminal operator] mandating him, within two days or one week, to transfer the cargo that has stayed for 28 days with him, to government warehouse,” he added.

impounded in Ports and Cargo Harbour Terminals, by a team of officers during physical examination of cargo.

He said: “That is the reason we always insist on 100 per cent physical examination, notwithstanding the fact that some goods pass through the scanning machines.”

The CAC, who frowned at the illegal business of arms importation, explained that the ammunition were concealed in Range Rover and Explorer jeeps in a 40 foot container, which was not declared, because the culprits wanted to escape security checks. “We are warning those behind the importation of offensive goods into our economic environment to desist from it and allow sanity to reign in our business environment.

“All seizures are beyond ordinary and we must not wait until a container load of arms is seen before we make seizure. Only one gun is enough to cause harm to many people in the society,” he stated.

Barely four months after the Service intercepted cartons of explosives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, and one week after impounding loads of arms, all from South Africa, the Command again intercepted air-rifles from the United States of America.

The Customs Area Controller at MMIA, while showing the rifles to the media said they were concealed as golf cartons and sent through UPS Courier.

Edike said the items were highly concealed but for the alertness of the eagle eyed officers of the Command who were able to sniff it out and then attracted the attention of the supervisors that the items in the cartons bothered on security.

The Controller said it was the third time in four months that some people have tried to import arms through the International Airport.

“The first time they tried to bring in 96kilogramms of explosives through NAHCO Shed, it did not work; the second time they went through the International Airport Terminal and even tried to bribe the officers but failed, this time around they came through the Courier Unit and have also failed,” he added.

Pollution: African Circle unveils 12 specialised trucks

M

anagement of African Circle Pollution Management Limited (ACPML) has taken delivery of 12 specialised trucks from overseas.

The trucks, which have specialised components to ease the evacuation of solid wastes, were formally unveiled at Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Control Tower, Tin Can Island Port (TCIP), Apapa, Lagos.

The delivery of the 12 trucks was sequel to its earlier acquisition of another set of vehicles equipped with facilities to compress waste loaded into the rear compartments.

Port Manager, TCIP, Apapa, Lagos, Mr. Efioita Okon Ephraim, who formally unveiled the trucks, lauded the management of ACPML for acquiring additional trucks and other equipment to enhance its work in the port.

According to Ephraim, the acquisition of the vehicles would go a long way in meeting the terms of the agreement it signed with the Federal Government through NPA. He noted that the new trucks were improvements over the previous ones in view of the nature of the work they are expected to do in the port environments.

The Port manager expressed delight

that the strides ACPML have recorded over the years had helped Nigeria to meet the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) conventions and guidelines on safety and environment.

Ephraim who was flanked by other top officials of the authority at the occasion said NPA would do everything possible to meet its obligations in the agreement it signed with the Government.

He commended ACPML for its capacity building over the years; especially in the training of NPA staff so that they can be in a position to effectively carries out waste collection and evacuation in the nation’s seaports.

Also speaking, the Acting Regional Manager, West, ACPML, Miss Oyenike Okeowo, said the new truck would help the firm to discharge its roles and responsibilities in the nation’s seaports satisfactorily.

She explained what the firm is doing is in line with international standards and practices.

The Acting Regional Manager, West pointed out that its activities is not localised one as the firm is in touch with other firms doing similar things in the developed world, especially Europe.

“We are members of Euroshore, which comprises companies that are

involved in port reception facilities in Europe and beyond. We are in that organisation and many members are happy with what we are doing.

“In fact, some of them have indicated interest to come and see what we have put on ground here in Nigeria and very soon they would do so. In a nutshell, we are not working in isolation,” she said.

ACPML General Manager, Corporate Services, Mr. Ahmadu Fidi Ahmadu, in his remarks, said the trucks were imported from Netherlands with some specifications to suit its operations in the nation’s seaports.

He did not, however, disclose the exact cost of the trucks, pointing out that the company Account Department is still computing the figures and would make it public as soon as it computation is concluded.

Daily Sun recalls that due to the public attention paid to marine debris, an international agreement, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution (MARPOL) Garbage from Ships; Annex V was reached by many of the world's governments to prohibit or limit the quantity of garbage that can be discharged at sea or in waterways that lead to the sea.

DAILY SUN

BUSINESS NEWS

We are offering a facelift to Nigerian haulage industry – Zhongbo

By BLAISE UDUNZE

I

f there is any sector in dire need of government support and attention, that sector is the transport industry. The sector, which remains a critical area to the development of the economy, is currently confronted with a lot of challenges that have continuously affected its fortunes.

Most essentially, the movement of goods and services, cash crops, oil and gas and construction materials depend heavily on the transportation sector.

The sector is currently grappling with the influx of aged heavy duty trucks and moribund roads, which have led to the loss of lives and properties across the country, as a result of the activities of unscrupulous businessmen, who are bent on maximizing profit by importing dilapidated trucks.

In this interview with Daily Sun, Mr. Yuan Zhongbo, president of North Africa area, Sinotruk, Hong Kong, disclosed that Sinotruk has manufactured world heavyduty trucks and products suitable for Nigerian roads, which have better performance on power, economic efficiently, and reliability, so as to overcome such challenges in Nigeria.

He also noted that Sinotruk has been designed to meet the requirements of Nigerian markets, even as the firm, through its sole dealer, Richbon Nigeria Limited, has stationed its networks in services, prices and spare parts, to satisfy the needs of the end users.

Excerpts: Our products Sinotruk is a heavy-duty truck manufactured in China and is amongst the top three in the world. We manufacture heavy duty truck, the most advanced and most superior new generation of heavy duty truck in China.

Our heavy duty truck adopts the advanced key assemblies which are reasonably connected by advanced technology. The arrangement 0of the complete vehicle is perfect; the main assemblies are harmonious, unified and reliable, which makes the complete vehicle have better performance on power, efficiency, reliability and environmental protection.

Our products come with luxury and great appearance; it is a combination of fortitude, sturdiness and elegance. It aims at world heavy-duty truck level with design like comfortability, safety and accessibility.

Sinotruk embodied the enterprise operation philosophy of CNHTC of pursuing the optimized customer value

• Zhongbo constantly. It will make the customer be proud of his correct option by its strong working ability, pleasurable interior and exterior trimmings, and better safety, comfortability, easy to operate, low fuel consumption and easy to maintain.

Our philosophy is to give our customers best service, after sale service and genuine spare parts in partnership with our sole dealer Richbon Nigeria Limited. We want our end users to trust us for we are out to give them second to none in the future.

Our sole dealer, Richbon Nigeria Limited tested the vehicle, when they started with Sinotruk, they nominated some end users to give us their opinion about the truck; not just that we dabble into it just to sale trucks, we understand the business very well.

Having said that, the result we got from the end users was very impressive. One thing I love about Sinotruk is that it is wonderful, built according to Nigerian specifications, mechanical. If you can drive a car, you can drive Sinotruk. If you can drive Sinotruk you can service it.

I’m very technical in operation, I can pieces the truck and re-couple it. Those qualities in outstanding trucks, Sinotruk have them.

Competition Our trucks have been designed to meet the requirement for Nigerian market.

The quality is acceptable with competitive price and it is cost effective in all ramifications. Sinotruks can survive Nigeria roads.

Raising the service bar in automobile Our price when compared with European trucks is lower while our service and spare parts network in Nigeria has been positioned to meet the needs of the end users through our expertise engineers and trained technicians who are sent to China and those who come from

China also to train Nigerians on maintenance. The quality is better also when compared with other trucks. Anywhere our truck is our network is there, we also have mobile network workshop.

Pricing Why our prices are lower is because in China labour cost, materials and other necessary inputs are lower; this is the reason why our trucks prices are subsidized.

The coming of Sinotruk into the country has given the users of haulage companies’ 30 per cent reduction on cost.

Depending on the products, some are 50 per cent as this has saved the users of Sinotruk great amount of money. The products are giving them value for their money, the trucks are on excellent products.

Projecting the future of Sinotruk on Nigerian roads in 5 years time If five trucks will be on Nigeria roads, Sinotruk will be three. For this reason, we are working on to keep Sinotruk in the next five years if there are five trucks it will all be Sinotruks.

The warranty period is 12months or 100,000km and we are trying to re-cooperate uptime in warranty. Uptime means quick response to customers wherever the location is within 24hours, we are available to service you. If you buy Sinotruk and there is a part you are dissatisfied with or not functioning properly, we respond to you within the uptime 24hours service.

When you buy the truck from us, we have what we call 12-days intensive training for the drivers to understand the products. After that 12-days, you will be a perfect engineer, while driving you can respond to mechanical issues. We also work with major filling stations all over the federation, to be able to station Sino spare parts in them.

Friday, August 17, 2012

59

60

DAILY SUN

Friday, August 17, 2012

BUSINESS NEWS Daily Domestic Flight Schedule

ARIK AIR Lag-Abj: 07.15, 09.15, 10.20, 15.20, 16.20, 16.50, 18.45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun).

Abj-Lag: 07:15, 09.40,10.20, 12.15, 15.15, 16.15, 17:10, (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun); 12.15, 15.15, 16.15 (Sun) Lag-PH: 07:15, 11.40, 14.00, 16.10, 17.15 (Mon-Fri) 07.30, 11.40, 15.50 (Sat) 11.50, 3.50, 17.05 (Sun) Abj-PH: 07.15, 11.20, 15.30 (Mon-Fri) 07.15, 16.00 (Sat) 13.10, 16.00 (Sun) PH-Abj: 08.45, 12.50, 17.00 (Mon-Fri) 08.45, 17.30 (Sat) 14.40, 17.30 (Sun) Abv-Beni:08.00, 12.10 (Mon-Fri/Sat) 08.56, 12.10(Sun) Benin-Abj:09.55,13.30, (Mon-Fri/Sat) 10.50, 13.30(Sun)

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (PMA) FGN bond auctions yield N75bn – DMO

TENOR

AMOUNT

RATES% ISSUE DATE

91 Day

32,057.31

14.50

08 Aug. 2012

182 Day 50,000.00

15.30

08 Aug. 2012

1 Year

15.38

08 Aug. 2012

90,000.00

By OMODELE ADIGUN

T

he Debt Management Office (DMO) auctioned N75 billion worth of the Federal Government (FGN) bonds with maturities in the range of five to 10 years.

The debt office said it sold N25 billion of 5-year, 7-year and 10-year MAJOR EXCHANGE RATES – PARALLEL MKT bonds, which are re-openings of old (AIRPORT AS AT 13/08/12) debt at a regular auction on Wednesday.

CURRENCY BUYING (N) SELLING(N) USD 156.50 EURO 197 POUND ST. 252 Source: FMDA

160 203.50 256

The DMO issued the 5-year bond at a yield of 16.32 per cent, higher than the 16.19 per cent at last month’s auction; the 7-year note at 16.14 per cent, lower than the 16.59 per cent previously, while

the 10-year paper was issued at a yield of 15.90 per cent, compared with 16.30 per cent at the last auction.

The original coupon rates of 15.10 per cent, 16 per cent and 16.39 per cent for the April 2017, June 2019 and January 2022 respectively will be maintained, the debt office said in a statement.

Total subscriptions stood at N249.11 billion compared with N121.60 billion at the June auction. Bond dealers said the increased participation of offshore investors at the auction accounted for the surge in demand.

The Federal Government issues sovereign bonds monthly to support the local bond market, create a benchmark for corporate issuance and fund its budget deficit.

Los-Abv: 09.55, 13.30(Mon-Fri/Sat) 10.50, 13.30(Sun) Lag-Enugu: 07.10, 13.45, 18.30(Mon-Fri) 07.10, 14.00(Sat) 10.20, 13.45, 18.30(Sun) Enugu-Lag: 08.30, 12.00, 18.25 (Mon-Fri) 08.30, 12.00, 15.40(Sat) 12,00, 18.25(Sun) Abj-Enugu: 08.30, 12.00, 18.25, (Mon-Fri) 08.30, 12.00, 15.40 (Sat)12.00, 18.25 (Sun) Abj-Enugu: 10.30, 17.05(Mon-Fri) 10.30(Sat) 17.05(Sun) Enugu-Abj: 08.50, 15.25 (Mon-Fri) 08.50 (Sat) 15.25(Sun) AERO CONTRACTORS Lag-Abj: 06.50, 13.30, 16.30, 19.45 (MonFri/Sat/Sun), 12.30(Sun) 16.45(Sat) Abj-Los: 07.30, 13.00, 19.00 (Mon-Fri/-Sat, 10.30, 14.30, 19.30 (Sun, 18.30 Sat) Lag-Benin: 07.45, 11.00, 15.30 (MonFri/Sat/Sun) 12.30 (Sun 15.30 (Sat)

• Managing Director, Infrastructure Bank Plc., Mr Adekunle Oyinloye (left), with Managing Director, Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM), Mr Roberts Orya, during the later’s visit to Infrastructure Bank’s headquarters in Abuja, yesterday.

Ben-Lag: 09.15, 12.30, 17.00 (MonFri/Sat/Sun) 17.00 (Sat) 14.00 (Sun)

Fuel scarcity: FG dialogues with oil marketers

CHANCHANGI AIRLINES Los-Abj: 7.15, 10.00, 13.30, 15.30, 17.30 Abj-Lag: 08.00, 11.45, 13.40, 15.30, 17.30 Lag-Kad: 10.45 (on Fri), 17.00 (MonFri/Sat/Sun) Kad-Lag: 7.30 (Mon-Fri), 08.00 (Sat/Sun IRS AIRLINES Lag-Abj: 9.45, 11.45, 2.45 (Mon-Fri), 9.30, 12.45 (Sat & Sun) Lag-Kano: 6.15 (Mon-Fri), 16.30 Sat&Sun Kano-Lag: 07.30 (Mon-Fri), 10.30 (Sat & Sun) OVERLAND AIRWAYS LAGOS LOS - ILR Mon - Fri 0715hrs LOS - MNA Mon, Wed & Fri 0715hrs LOS - IBA Mon - Fri 0715hrs

IBADAN IBA - ABV Mon - Fri IBA - LOS Mon - Fri

A

s the fuel scarcity bites harder in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the Federal Government, yesterday, entered into dialogue with oil marketers indicted by the AigImoukhuede panel set-up to investigate fuel subsidy claims by the marketers.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who made this known in Abuja, said the aim of the dialogue was to allow those of them who feel injured by the probe report to bring them to the table for consideration, with a view to resolving them.

The minister, who held discussions with some of the marketers, along with members of the Presidential panel, headed by the Managing Director of Access Bank, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said, at the end of the discussions, that those who are able to settle the issues against them and are actually being owed would be paid, and if they owe government,

0800hrs 1700hrs

MINNA MNA - ABV Mon, Wed & Fri MNA - ILR Mon, Wed & Fri MNA - LOS Mon, Wed & Fri

0920hrs 1520hrs 1520hrs

1500hrs 1500hrs

they would repay.

According to her, government plans to net off what the marketers owe against what they are owed by government.

“It would be a case that we ’ll net off what they are owing against what we owe them and whatever the net is if it is positive on their side, we will pay them. If at the end of the netting off they owe us more, they would repay us.

“These are some of the things we are discussing with the marketers. We have to learn lessons from what happened in 2011, because if we don’t settle these, later on down the line it is you the same newspapers that would have headlines condenming the government. We have acted in a very constructive fashion.

“If we had said we are not paying anybody that would have been big issue, but we have set up a panel to investigate their claims and as we said yesterday, we have paid 31 marketers N42.666 billion between April and July and as we verify

claims of genuine marketers who have no egregious case to answer we will continue to pay,” she said. She said the strike was happening because the government was doing the right thing by not paying the claims just like that as was the case in the past.

“This is happening now because we are not ready to pay the claims just like that. We have said if you have a case to answer come forward and lets us sort it out and for those who have no case we have already paid,” she said.

She insisted that government was open to dialogue any of the marketers with the view to resolving the differences. “This is what Nigerians actually want. Nigerians say that government is not taking actions on the issue of subsidy scam.

“Now, the President took action by asking the committee to still re-verify and from that re-verification with forensic officers and examiners we were able to sort out people who were clear and we paid them,” she added.

Nigeria, Canadian firm seal pact on MRO, aircraft acquisition

By UCHE USIM

ILORIN ILR - ABV Mon - Fri 0900hrs ILR - LOS Mon - Fri 1630hrs ILR - MNA Mon, Wed & Fri 0900hrs

ABUJA ABV - ILR Mon - Fri ABV - IBA Mon - Fri

From ISAAC ANUMIHE, Abuja

T

he Aviation Ministry has sealed a business deal with Bombardier, the Canadian-based aircraft manufacturers, for the establishment of a Repair, Maintenance and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Nigeria.

The deal also entails partnering with the Nigerian Aviation authorities to facilitate the acquisition of new aircraft by domestic airline operators.

Vice President, Public Affairs, Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility of the company, Helene V. Gagnon, revealed this on yesterday in Montreal, Canada, when top management team of the company received a delegation of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, led by the Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah, at the company’s facility in Canada.

Gagnon said Bombardier was very pleased with the visit of the delegation and the willingness of the

Nigerian government to work with the company in the development of the aviation sector in Nigeria, adding that establishing an MRO facility in Nigeria holds huge potential for the aircraft manufacturer in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.

On aircraft acquisition, she said Bombardier was equally ready to play a major role in replenishing a newer fleet for domestic airline operators and expressed hope that both parties would come to a compromise on the modalities as soon as possible.

Earlier in her presentation, Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, said Nigeria was desirous of having an MRO facility in the country to cushion the adverse effect on domestic operators who have had to fly their fleet overseas always for maintenance. She said the absence of Bombardier in Nigeria in spite of its presence in Africa means the company is not harnessing insignificant seg-

ment of its market on the continent, assuring it of good returns on investment if Nigeria is made a maintenance hub in Africa.

The minister also expressed her desire to have domestic operators acquire new aircrafts that are very efficient, stressing that this would be the only way they can operate optimally.

She called on the aircraft manufacturer to partner with her ministry to facilitate the acquisition of aircrafts by domestic operators through access to cheap funds.

“We are in need of your aircrafts, no doubt but what concerns us really is to agree on a business model that will work for both of us. Now, for us to optimise the utilisation of your aircrafts, we must be able to service and maintain them properly in Nigeria.

“What this means is that our people have to be trained, and the training and maintenance facility has to be established in Nigeria. The MRO facility has to be established in Nigeria,” the minister emphasised.

61 Monday, BUSINESS August 1, 2011 49 NEWS

DAILY SUN Friday, August 17, 2012 DAILY SUN NAME OF CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL CFA 0.2707 0.2807 DANISH KRONER 25.6941 25.7771 EURO 191.2615 191.8791 POUNDS STERLING 243.0831 243.8681 RIYAL 41.2836 41.4169 SDR 232.3374 233.0877 SWISS FRANC 159.241 159.7552 US DOLLAR 154.83 155.33 WAUA 232.5246 233.2755 YEN 1.9688 1.9752 YUAN/RENMINBI 24.3477 24.4267 Official exchange rates as at 14/08/2012

SELLING 0.2902 25.86 192.4968 244.6531 41.5502 233.8379 160.2695 155.83 234.0264 1.9816 24.5058

NIBOR TENOR RATE Call 18.2500 7 Day 18.7083 30 Day 20.3333 60 Day 21.3750 90 Day 22.1667 Source: FMDA

CHANGE 0.08 0.08 1.21 1.83 2.25

DATE 14 Aug, 14 Aug, 14 Aug, 14 Aug, 14 Aug,

2012 2012 2012 2012 2012

FG releases N300bn for Q3 …Says 55% of capital budget now released been released so far,” she said.

From ISAAC ANUMIHE, Abuja

F

ederal Government, yesterday, said it has released another N300 billion of capital budget allocation for the third quarter of 2012.

Making the disclosure in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, remarked that government was willing to encourage patriotic investors interested in building refineries, saying that the third quarter allocation was a demonstration of government’s commitment to recording significant levels of budget implementation.

This N300 billion third quarter release brings total releases by the Federal Government this year to N704 billion for capital allocation. “This also means that about 53 per cent of total annual budget has

The minister disclosed that as at the end of July 2012, the utilization of the earlier N404 billion released is now 65.4 per cent. She reiterated that as at the end of June 2012, the N404 billion released witnessed 56 per cent utilization.

“This government is releasing the additional N300 billion as an indication of its commitment to full implementation of the 2012 Budget and to make sure that the finances are available to the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to execute their projects,” she asserted.

According to her, MDAs have stepped up their pace of utilization of funds.

Okonjo-Iweala also used the occasion to announce that President Goodluck Jonathan has authorised the expedited payment of August 2012 salary for all federal civil servants to enjoy next week’s Sallah holidays.

International Flight Schedule

CROSS RATES

Ethiopian Airlines Lagos-Addis Ababa (daily) Departure time: 12:15 pm, Arrival time: 1:15 pm Contact no: 014611869/029

AFRIQIYAH AIRWAYS Lagos-Tripoli Tue, Wed, Thur and Sat Departure time: 01:30am, Arrival time: 22:25 pm Contact no: 012711506 BRITISH AIRWAYS Lagos-London Heathrow (daily) Departure time: 11 pm, Arrival time: 5: 50 pm Contact no: 012792690 0r 014615870-5 TURKISH AIRLINES Lagos-Istanbul Mon, Tue, Thur Sat Departure time: 10: 10 pm, Arrival time: 8: 10 pm Customer care no: Not available DELTA AIR Lagos-Atlanta (daily) Departure time: Btw 3pm and 5pm, Arrival time: 10:30 am Contact no: 014483111 EMIRATES Lagos-Dubai Daily (2 flights) Departure time: 3pm, 8.50pm, Arrival time:1pm, 6pm Contact no :01-2717600 LUFTHANSA Lagos-Frankfurt (daily) Departure time: 10:05 pm, Arrival time: 19:08 Contact no: 014612222, 0414480963 AIR FRANCE Lagos-Paris (daily) Departure time: 11 pm, Arrival time: 14:14 pm Customer care no: 01-4610777, 012617959 SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS Lagos-Johannesburg (daily) Departure time: 10:30 pm, Arrival time: 8 or 9 am Customer care no: 2702681-5

• L–R: Acting Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works, Mr Bala Dan-Shehu; Chairman, Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (CMAN), Mr Joseph Makoju, and Executive Secretary, Mr James Salako, during the visit of the association to the minister of Works, in Abuja, yesterday.

Petroleum minister tasks new NNPC Board on oil sector transformation From DENNIS MERNYI, Abuja

T

he Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, has charged the newly inaugurated Board of Directors of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to work hard for total reformation of the oil and gas industry.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the NNPC Board in Abuja, Mrs. Alison-Madueke, who is also the chairman of the board, congratulated members and urged them to join hands and work towards making the corpora-

tion a world class oil and gas company.

“Your appointment to the board is a call to duty which also requires the support of NNPC top management in steering the corporation in the desired direction,” she told the board members.

She said the corporation has made some strides in the areas of increasing crude production, unprecedented increase in gas supply to meet power demand, aggressive revamp of refineries and introduction of measures to ensure safety and security of pipelines she however called on them to ensure that the gains are sustained and built upon.

Board members present at the meeting include, NNPC GMD, Engr. Andrew Yakubu; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, the Group Executive Director Corporate Services, NNPC, Dr. Peter S. Nmadu and the Group Executive Director GED Finance & Accounts, NNPC, Mr. Bernard O. N. Otti.

Other members of the newly inaugurated board present at the meeting were Mr. Steven Oronsaye, former Head of Civil Service; Prof.

Olusegun Okunnu; Alhaji Abdullahi Bukar; Mr. Daniel Wadzani and the Company Secretary/ Legal Adviser, Mr. Anthony C. Madichie.

Poor database may hamper e-Transactions – NIMC

By LOUIS IBA he absence of a reliable identity database and its adoption in the financial services sector could hamper the smooth implementation of a cashless banking and mobile payments system in Nigeria, says Chris Onyemenam, directorgeneral of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

Lagos State is currently being used as a pilot scheme to test-run the nation’s cashless policy in which cash transactions have been pegged at N150,000 daily in banks.

Onyemenam, however, said a good identity database would be imperative to the success of the policy.

Speaking in a presentation at the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS)’s 24th Annual Conference, held in Le Meridien Ibom Hotel, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the NIMC boss stated that for success of the Central Bank of Nigeria

T

(CBN)’s Cashless Policy, “there must be a reliable Identity Management system in place.

“The National Identity Management System (NIMS) is central to the success of a cashless economy project,” he said, adding a Universal Identification Infrastructure (UIDI) is unique, secure, accessible and reliable, recommended for identity authentication (Identification/Verification) and tying individuals to transactions (non-repudiation and with a history) as the current methods rely on twofactor identity authentication are still challenged with effectively managing identities.

“A secure UIDI is a precondition for financial inclusion. The NIMS will tie captured biometrics and unique National Identification Numbers (NIN) of Nigerians to bank accounts, voter registers, immigration, and law enforcement agencies among others,” he said.

According to him, existing databases have not met international standards like (ISO/IEC,

NIST, IEEE, ICAO, as they have been non-centralized, unreliable and incomplete. He also pointed out that regular update have not been possible and there have not been centralized way of tying individuals to transactions until now.

He said if his recommendations are followed, the nation will reap better opportunity in consumer credit experienced all around the world, while reduce fraud, fight terrorism, improve GDP. NIMS project is an essential transformation tool for fostering socioeconomic development, maintenance of law and order and security of lives and properties.

Onyemenam said the congruence of plans and deployment of the NIMS project is inevitable and a complementary CBN policy is essential.

“Annual debt finance is less than 65per cent of total loss due to identity-related fraud in banks.

There is need for a deployment strategy focused on scalable database and secure identity authentication,” he said, adding that the live pilot of the project commenced February 23, 2012 in FCT.

QATAR AIRWAYS Lagos-Doha Daily Departure time: 9:45 am, Arrival time: 7:55am Contact: 012798888/014633333 KENYA AIRWAYS Lagos-Nairobi (daily) Departure time: 11:05 am, Arrival time: 10:42am Contact: 012719433 CHINA SOUTHERN Lagos-Beijing via Dubai Tuesdays, Thursdays Departure time: 12:15pm, Arrival time: 10:30 am Tuesdays, Thursdays.

Contact: 01-4610777 or 01-2617959 EGYPT AIR Lagos-Cairo Mon, Wed, Thur, Fri & Sun Departure time: 2pm, Arrival time: 1pm KLM Lagos-Amsterdam (daily) Departure time: 11pm, Arrival time: 8:30pm Contact: 01-4610777, 01-2617959 VIRGIN ATLANTIC Lagos-London Heathrow (daily) Departure time: 10:20 am daily, Arrival time: 5:30 am Contact: 01-4612750, 01-4612747 ARIK AIR Lagos-London Heathrow (daily) Departure time: 10:05pm Arrival 7.00pm Lagos-New York Tuesdays and Thursdays Departure time: 11:20pm Arrival 6pm Lagos-Johannesburg (daily) Departure 11.15pm Arrival 4.15pm Lagos-West Coast (Freetown, Banjul & Dakar) Mon, Wed & Fri Departure 8:00am Arrival 6.45pm Lagos-Accra (daily) Departure 8.00am, 5pm 8.45pm, 5.45pm Contact: 01-2799999.

62

DAILY SUN Friday, August 17, 2012

BUSINESS NEWS

By KELECHI MGBOJI

Index plunges further as insurance stocks, others relinquish gains

T

he NSE benchmark All-Share Index plummeted further, yesterday, after losses recorded on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Also, the Insurance sub-sector of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) represented by the NSE Insurance Index, Thursday, plunged to a negative territory after stocks traded in the sector emptied up gains they had recorded in the week.

The NSE Insurance Index which opened the week at 124.69 had appreciated 2.19 basis points or 1.8 percent to 126.88 as of Wednesday to

emerge as second best behind Consumer Goods sub-sector.

But despite the fact that investors turned to penny stocks during the week, all gains recorded by insurance sub-sector were relinquished in Thursday’s trading session as the sector’s performance index closed with 0.02 basis points deficit to 124.67.

The Consumer Goods sub-sector defied the bearish trend in the week to post the highest

the remaining 36 percent represents deals on other stocks traded on the Exchange.

However, there was no indication that the increased volume turnover impacted on share price value of majority of the penny stocks as the NSE benchmark All-Share Index plummeted significantly yesterday.

At the close of trading, the Index dipped 0.17 percent to 23,066.74 as against a decline by 0.09 percent in the previous session to 23,105.05.

gains rising from its week opening level of 1,945.53 to 1,966.35 as at Thursday, representing 1.07 percent rise.

Meanwhile, a data compiled by Proshare Nigeria, an online medium, showed that investors are increasingly switching patronage to penny stocks as transactions during the week showed high turnover volume of penny stocks.

The data suggest that 64 percent of turnover volume comprised deals on penny stocks, while

THE DAILY STOCK SUMMARY AS AT 16/08/2012 1st Tier Securities

1st Tier Securities Sector Company name

No of Deals

ASeM INDUSTRIAL GOODS Electronic and Electrical Products ADSWITCH PLC. Sub Sector Totals Sector Totals OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CAPITAL OIL PLC Sub Sector Totals Sector Totals Type Totals 2 2,150 1,232.50

Sector Company name

1 1 1

1.63

1 1 1

0.50

No of Deals

Main Board AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. 12 PRESCO PLC 8 Sub Sector Totals 20 Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. 14 Sub Sector Totals 14 Sector Totals 34 CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. 21 CHELLARAMS PLC. 3 TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC 46 U A C N PLC. 33 Sub Sector Totals 103 Sector Totals 103 CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Construction ARBICO PLC. 2 Sub Sector Totals 2 Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. 18 Sub Sector Totals 18 115,066 2,880,000 Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED 11 Sub Sector Totals 11 Sector Totals 31 CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC 1 Sub Sector Totals 1

Sector Company name

CONSUMER GOODS Beverages—Brewers/Distillers GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Sub Sector Totals Beverages—Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Sub Sector Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC U T C NIG. PLC. Sub Sector Totals Food Products—Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Sub Sector Totals Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Sub Sector Totals Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Sub Sector Totals Sector Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIG. PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC. GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. U B A PLC UNION BANK NIG. PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH BANK PLC Sub Sector Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC.

Sector Company name

No of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares(N)

150 150 150

232.50 0 232.50

2,000 2,000 2,000

1,000.00 1,000 1,000.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares(N)

29.60 14.89

40,670 121,545 162,215

1,234,894.90 1,809,382.45 3,044,000

1.37

1,052,136 1,052,136 1,214,351

1,441,203.52 1,441,000 4,485,480.87

1.26 5.81 0.98 33.86

860,967 218 2,474,535 557,374 3,893,094 3,893,094

1,075,772.35 1,203.36 2,410,391.48 18,905,188.20 22,393,000 22,392,555.39

14.83

2,100 2,100

29,589.00 30,000

26.25

115,066

2,880,392.54

9.70

57,255 57,255 174,421

577,364.05 577,000 3,487,345.59

0.50

100,000 100,000

50,000.00 50,000

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares(N)

58 21 158 237

242.20 6.94 122.00

130,343 561,811 1,701,837 2,393,991

32,705,041.21 3,898,968.34 205,395,737.22 242,000,000

10 10

40.12

9,847 9,847

375,388.34 375,000

55 53 35 23 1 39 9 215

6.13 4.50 52.00 2.00 21.48 4.77 0.88

1,259,972 697,460 526,142 378,377 90 441,030 302,361 3,605,432

7,829,721.39 3,155,515.35 26,060,089.29 754,364.21 1,836.90 2,092,654.48 268,197.68 40,162,000

65 49 114

15.95 500.00

1,071,523 54,211 1,125,734

17,078,507.99 27,710,551.79 44,789,000

4 4

3.01

9,210 9,210

27,701.00 28,000

43 29 72 653

24.44 35.00

149,666 250,424 400,090 7,644,304

3,588,622.82 8,766,770.70 12,355,000 339,759,668.71

136 91 56 68 440 69 334 92 35 57 165 87 1 48 189 1,868 24 No of Deals

FINANCIAL SERVICES Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INSURANCE PLC INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. MANSARD INSURANCE PLC N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. OASIS INSURANCE PLC PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC STACO INSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC Sub Sector Totals Micro-Finance Banks FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC

Quotation(N)

7.60 2.60 10.20 1.31 12.40 3.00 17.80 2.67 6.30 1.03 4.30 4.82 0.50 0.50 15.02 0.50 Quotation(N)

3,631,276 19,136,494 2,010,369 6,746,294 10,362,825 1,887,523 8,893,122 4,957,483 10,520,486 5,751,038 6,750,804 1,245,873 10,500 6,664,320 4,806,885 93,375,292

27,400,798.48 50,346,493.59 20,546,598.00 8,893,585.79 127,902,077.33 5,627,338.22 155,811,475.12 13,276,238.33 65,862,541.90 6,052,958.13 29,039,368.81 6,043,964.67 5,250.00 3,332,160.00 72,517,768.24 592,659,000

1,149,360

574,680.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares(N)

2 41 19 1 3 21 1 1 3 10 8 1 1 9 2 1 2 2 1 153

0.50 0.60 1.31 0.50 0.50 0.55 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.67 0.50 0.51 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

10,676 4,840,130 382,400 500 289,950 782,450 500 460 230,244 1,509,470 10,411,000 2,000 500 15,500 2,100 2,000 3,700 30,000 1,000 19,663,940

5,338.00 2,939,073.30 478,417.50 250.00 144,975.00 429,951.50 250.00 230.00 115,122.00 2,534,442.80 5,205,500.00 1,000.00 250.00 7,750.00 1,050.00 1,000.00 1,850.00 15,000.00 500.00 12,457,000

2

5.75

150

862.50

Sector Company name

No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded

NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC 3 Sub Sector Totals 5 Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC 1 Sub Sector Totals 1 Other Financial Institutions DEAP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT & TRUST PLC 1 ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. 2 Sub Sector Totals 3 Sector Totals 2,030 HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers EKOCORP PLC. 4 Sub Sector Totals 4 Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. 4 FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC 23 GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. 22 MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. 5 NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC 5 Sub Sector Totals 59 Sector Totals 63 ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC 1

Sector Company name

No of Deals

ICT Sub Sector Totals Computers and Peripherals OMATEK VENTURES PLC Sub Sector Totals Processing Systems CHAMS PLC E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC Sub Sector Totals Telecommunications Carriers STARCOMMS PLC Sub Sector Totals Telecommunications Services IHS PLC Sub Sector Totals Sector Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. Sub Sector Totals Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Sub Sector Totals Packaging/Containers NIGERIAN BAGS MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC Sub Sector Totals Tools and Machinery NIGERIAN ROPES PLC Sub Sector Totals Sector Totals NATURAL RESOURCES Non-Metallic Mineral Mining MULTIVERSE PLC Sub Sector Totals Paper/Forest Products THOMAS WYATT NIG. PLC. Sub Sector Totals Sector Totals OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC

Sector Company name

OIL AND GAS Sub Sector Totals Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Sub Sector Totals Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Sub Sector Totals Sector Totals SERVICES Advertising AFROMEDIA PLC Sub Sector Totals Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Sub Sector Totals Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sub Sector Totals Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Sub Sector Totals Hospitality TANTALIZERS PLC Sub Sector Totals Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Sub Sector Totals Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Sub Sector Totals Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Sub Sector Totals Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sub Sector Totals Sector Totals Type Totals Grand Totals

Value of Shares(N)

1.05

60,000 60,150

60,000.00 61,000

0.50

200,000 200,000

100,000.00 100,000

2.02 0.53

200 110,000 110,200 113,409,582

404.00 58,300.00 59,000 605,334,813.21

5.05

1,175 1,175

5,640.00 6,000

1.15 0.84 30.50 1.75 0.83

6,000 979,545 804,898 27,689 35,450 1,853,582 1,854,757

7,050.00 846,902.10 24,076,598.36 46,254.43 28,781.40 25,006,000 25,011,226.29

400

200.00

0.50 Quotation(N)

1

Quantity Traded Value of Shares(N)

400

0

1 1

0.50

100 100

50.00 0

2 1 3

0.50 3.84

1,284 100 1,384

642.00 365.00 1,000

1 1

0.50

70,000 70,000

35,000.00 35,000

1 1 7

2.23

500 500 72,384

1,060.00 1,000 37,317.00

46 6 11 4 63 3 2 26 161

9.50 7.27 25.32 4.30 110.00 0.58 0.50 43.00

900,017 351,150 100,701 27,138 1,684,951 56,588 106,000 70,276 3,296,821

8,524,414.22 2,539,929.00 2,548,145.34 115,193.60 186,170,753.57 32,821.04 53,000.00 3,016,731.08 203,001,000

4 1 5

1.58 0.50

16,200 120,000 136,200

24,920.00 57,600.00 83,000

34 34

1.63

961,344 961,344

1,525,039.25 1,525,000

1 1 201

8.26

250 250 4,394,615

1,962.50 2,000 204,610,509.60

2 2

0.50

600 600

300.00 0

1 1 3

1.32

15 15 615

18.90 0 318.90

3,338,440

1,979,916.00

50

No of Deals

0.61 Quotation(N)

50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares(N)

3,338,440

1,980,000

111 111

13.61

1,690,078 1,690,078

23,559,053.51 23,559,000

17 12 17 20 7 73 234

23.00 2.46 10.42 111.51 128.01

17,272 338,800 31,830 143,009 16,345 547,256 5,575,774

377,393.20 824,062.30 342,737.46 15,381,048.37 2,076,092.00 19,001,000 44,540,302.84

1 1

0.50

500 500

250.00 0

8 8

1.65

10,482 10,482

16,474.74 16,000

21

2.75

425,410 21 425,410

1,135,282.39 1,135,000

2 2

0.50

20,400 20,400

10,200.00 10,000

1 0.50

1,800 1,800

900.00 1,000

8 8

1.17

254,597 254,597

284,871.70 285,000

1 1

0.50

50,000 50,000

25,000.00 25,000

2 6 16 24

1.64 1.94 4.30

25,200 22,160 189,710 237,070

41,328.00 43,118.40 778,262.20 863,000

3 44 47 113 3,472 3,474

1.64 5.70

68,000 800,930 868,930 1,869,189 140,103,086 140,105,236

111,520.00 4,601,554.55 4,713,000 7,048,761.98 1,256,708,300.38 1,256,709,532.88

1

DAILY SUN

Friday August 17, 2012

63

Ramadan Talk Prophet Muhammad said:

N150

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012 VOL.6 NO. 2436

We went to London to see the Queen S

ilver and gold have I none. Not even bronze or anything worthwhile. All I went to do in London was to admire the city. That was the message brought back home by our contingent to the Olympics, which ended in London last Sunday.

Nigeria’s 116-strong contingent to the Olympics Games was the largest in the world. Yes, it’s typical of a prodigal, profligate country. Athletes were about 55, coaches 12, and we participated in only eight events. What were the scores of others doing then at the Games on Nigeria’s ticket?

They were on a frolic, on a jamboree, squandering N2.2 billion. Imagine what that money could do to the health sector. To education. Or to our death-trap roads. Now we frittered the funds. Dissipated and wasted it.

But apart from the funds, we were also spendthrift of hope. What gave us the idea that we were ever going to win medals in London? Why did we go on a hope binge?

Is it not Nigeria, a country that “palter with us in double sense; that keep the word of promise to our ear, and break it to our hope.

(Shakespeare).” We were all guilty of overhope, if there’s ever anything like that.

Those who are serious about winning anything at the Olympics usually prepare eight clear years ahead. Serious countries are already grooming and getting their athletes set for the 2020 Games, not even the 2016 edition in Rio de Janeiro. But Nigeria? Two or three months to 2016, we will start searching for the competitors. We will release funds two weeks to the event, half or more of the funds will end up in the pockets of the officials, and we will still expect medals. Medals my foot!

I like the text message Rev ThankGod C. Nwokedi, a reader of this column sent to me on Wednesday. It goes thus: “The Nigerian Olympics team was made of spectators without competitors. So it is wrong to expect medals from the team.”

True.

Thank you Reverend. Flesh and blood has not revealed this wonderful truth to you.

When you parade a 116-strong contingent, with far less than half of them being athletes, you were mere spectators, not competitors.

But our outing at the London Olympics is a mere allegory for the state of our country.

Much hope was built round Blessing Okagbare for women’s 100 metres and Long Jump, she did not even scale through the heat.

Again, we felt Chika Chukwumerije, our taekwondo star and captain of Team Nigeria will get into the arena, throw a few puny kicks, and be emblazoned with the gold medal. He saw stars instead, and crashed out. What a country of people that hope against hope. Is the way we prepared indicative of a country that would win medals? Yet, we kept hoping. Nigeria is a cemetery for hope, a land that defers your hope endlessly, “and make the heart sick.”

What then am I saying? Give up hope completely? No. “Hope beats eternally in the human breast (Alexander Pope).” The Good Book urges us to be hopeful, as it is good medicine for the soul. While there’s life, there is always hope. But a 17th centu-

“No body has ever eaten any food better than eating from the labour of his hand. Even David, the prophet of God, used to eat from the labour of his hand.”

Re: This ugly picture

Horrible picture Boko Haram, as you rightly pointed out, has turned from religious movement to a political weapon of mass destruction against the government of the day and Nigerians.

Why, because the North lost power. To me the north lost power because Nigerians for the first time rejected the claim of right of 08055001928 inheritance to power by the northern estabkulikulii@yahoo.com lishment, and decided to liberalize power for the general good. Boko Haram is fighting against that liberation. Nigeria must arise against this injustice and survive it. Kenn ry saying equally tells us “hope is a good Minister? How can you win an Olympics gold Amaechi Jr, popeheart@yahoo.com breakfast but a bad supper.” It is supper time when corruption festers and the entire land Hope we’ll survive in Nigeria, and we’re still hoping. Won’t we stinks with greed and rapacity? Nigeria is a I really agree with you, it’s only God that joke, one huge joke, but instead of laughing, then die as fools? Former oil minister and will help us out of this mess. I hope Nigeria Professor of Virology, Tam David-West often we should be crying. We have laughed tells me: “Nigerians would always say there is enough. Instead of saying I dey laugh o, our will cross the 2015 deadline that U.S.A gave light at the end of the tunnel. But do they leaders should be saying, I dey cry. But do us to break up! Ezike Kensimon, know how long the tunnel is?” We need to they cry here? Never. Like Max Romeo sang, princekenezike@gmail.com strike the proper balance between hope, and “Uptown babies don’t cry, they don’t know Way forward hoping against hope. Thinking we were going what hunger is like.” But the babies downtown These fellows (Boko Haram and its proto win medals in London, with the rickety state can weep forever. They don’t even have of everything in our country, amounted to truly wooden spoons to eat with. Yet the leadership moters) are ever ready to spill more blood does not give a damn. That is Nigeria for you. without any remorse. Calling for dialogue hoping against hope.

See African countries that appeared on the and looking for mediators will just amount Nigeria began to take part in the Olympics Games in 1952, and we won out first medal, a medals table. South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, to buying more time for them to take their bronze, through the boxer, Nojeem Mayegun, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Algeria, Gabon. But where bloodletting crusade to a new level. This in 1964 in Tokyo, Japan. We made good was the Giant of Africa? Grovelling in the type (Boko Haram) does not go but by showing again at Los Angeles in 1984, win- dust. Shame. And see what Usain Bolt and National Conference. Kaduru Uche, ning silver in boxing through Peter Yohan Blake did for Jamaica. Were you not thereighingking@yahoo.com Konyegwachie. At Seoul, in 1988, we got proud of them? But what resources does Faulty foundation nothing. Not even a wooden bowl. In Jamaica have compared with Nigeria? How The experiment by Lugard called Nigeria Barcelona ’92, we resurged, winning three sil- many Blakes and Bolts rot away in Nigeria? ver medals, and one bronze. But Atlanta 1996 They are “born to blush unseen and waste their has failed and there is nothing that can be was the best outing. Chioma Ajunwa won fragrance in the desert air,” simply because of done about it. The call for Sovereign gold in Long Jump, and our soccer team won incompetent leadership. Cry the once beloved National Conference seems to be one of our many options, but truly even when we are the king of all gold medals. But where are we motherland. eventually divided and go our separate ways today? Back to 1952, when we won no My colleague, Eric Osagie, lamented on i.e. Northern Nigeria, Southern, Eastern and medals.

The opposition Congress for Monday, while commenting on the Olympics Progressive Change (CPC) captured the sce- flop. He wrote: “God, what is happening to Western, it will only be for a while before the nario well in a press statement: “Indeed, the our country? Why is the giant so troubled and same problems we are experiencing comes below par showing is a fitting metaphor of the afflicted by many troubles? Where are the up again. Truly the truth must be told, incompetence evidenced in the political gover- leaders who will lead us out of our wilderness? Nigeria was built on a faulty foundation and therefore whatever is put on it can never nance of the nation in the last 30 months.”

How much trouble can a nation take before it stand. Even if Jonathan steps aside, another Truly, how can a country do well in sports snaps? This is not raising the alarm. This is group will emerge with its own agitation and when every other sphere of her national life is demand. We will continue to look up to the about facing the reality: our country is wobin a shambles? How can sports be robust hills from where cometh our help. Emma bling.

Things are getting to a dangerous bend. when leadership is cadaverous and emaciated?

Agbakona, noel4christ@yahoo.com How can sports be virile when the economy is We have to admit it.”

Eric said he was not raising the alarm.

But sickly, in the doldrums, and “the country is not Gloomy and disturbing broke but has cash flow problems,” according me, I am raising it, right from the rooftops. He The map presented and the picture painted to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Finance says the country is wobbling, I say it is worse.

To wobble gives an idea in your article is real, that of blood flowing of movement of some from the North and covering the entire landsort. I say Nigeria is scape. Very gloomy and disturbing. Could it stuck, cabined, cribbed, be that our sovereignty surrendered during marooned, stranded. We the last election to the ruling party is a misare not only at a danger- take since lives and properties are no longersecure?

Johnny–Abia, ous bend, we have fallen royalhighchief@yahoo.com off the cliff. We are broken, battered, in dire Gruesome picture need of urgent medical Your sermon is frightening, but the points attention. raised are quite true and have been with us Meanwhile, pussycat since the insurgency started. However the was right in that nursery packaging, the analysis all make it appear rhyme. When asked, gruesome. I wonder what will come out of ‘Pussycat, pussycat, the dismemberment of Nigeria? Soviet where have you been?’ Union divided and life continues, what gives Pussycat replied: “I’ve been to London to see an impression that the splinter nations from divided Nigeria will not survive? I think we the Queen.”

That was what Nigeria should come to terms that we are in another did at the Olympics.

•Continued on Page 53

FEMI ADESINA

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