Sun News - August 21, 2012

Ex-IGP Gambo hits IBB

N150

TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012 VOL. 7 NO. 2438

•Says ex-president has no moral justification to call for state police Page 5

Pages 9 & 6

MASSOB smashes robbery gang •Robber survives 20 bullets, recounts escapade

Four policemen still missing in Cross River ...3 months after communal clash Page 9

Nursing mother elopes with lover, six-day-old child

Page 17

Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (right), Senator James Manager (left) and Mr. Afahokor Duncan, Administrator, Umeh Need Road Forum (right), during the forum’s 1st year anniversary thanksgiving service at St Michael Anglican Church, Emevor in Isoko North Local Government, Delta State

Ex-IGP Gambo hits IBB

N150

TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012 VOL. 7 NO. 2438

•Says ex-president has no moral justification to call for state police Page 5

Robber survives 20 bullets Page 6

•Police, vigilance group stunned as bandit survives gunshots, recounts escapade

MASSOB smashes robbery gang in Onitsha Page 9

General’s only daughter killed in Lagos hotel Durbar procession during Sallah homage to Gov. Isa Yuguda in Bauchi, yesterday

PHOTO: NAN

Page 6

Ex-IGP Gambo hits IBB

N150

TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012 VOL. 7 NO. 2438

•Says ex-president has no moral justification to call for state police Page 5

Robber survives 20 bullets in Osun •Police, vigilance group stunned as bandit survives gunshots, recounts escapade Page 6

Nursing mother elopes with lover, six days old child in Ogun Durbar procession during Sallah homage to Gov. Isa Yuguda in Bauchi, yesterday PHOTO: NAN

Page 17

Battle against Igbinedion not over – EFCC

Page 8

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DAILY SUN Tuesday August 21, 2012

SUNG GIRL

Tuesday, August 21, 2012, DAILY SUN

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FG ‘ll resolve fuel, power crises soon –Okupe From JULIANA TAIWO-OBALONYE, Abuja

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he Federal Government yesterday said its negotiators were making serious efforts at ending the fuel scarcity that has crippled Abuja since last week.

The government is also working to resolve the prolonged labour crisis with the staff of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) this week.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said government was at the verge of averting what may seem to be looming industrial crises, involving NUPENG, oil marketers, PHCN staff and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

On the oil subsidy payment, he said the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had temporarily moved to Lagos despite the holidays to engage intensively the aggrieved marketers, union members and other stakeholders in the downstream sector to resolve the matter urgently.

While the Minister of Labour, Emeka Wogu, and his Power counterpart, Prof. Bart Nnnaji, alongside other high-level officers of government have continued meeting with aggrieved PHCN workers with the government virtually agreeing to all the demands that have been made with exception of the issue of severance benefits of workers.

“While the workers insist on their terms of employment, government’s proposition is based on the Pension Act of 2004. However, this matter will most probably be resolved favourably within the coming week by the Presidency.

“All indications are to the effect that favourable resolutions are being reached and all matters are likely to be resolved within this week, as all these efforts are being made to ensure that the crisis that has caused a lot of hardships to commuters and motorists is not unduly prolonged and does not also extend beyond the city of Abuja in the case of the fuel scarcity.

“The Federal Government therefore, urges Nigerians to be calm, as all hands are on deck to ensure that normalcy returns •Jonathan soonest,” he said.

Sallah takes toll on airlines

By UCHE USIM

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he volume of passengers during the two-day Sallah holiday has forced domestic airlines to reduce their capacities. The Federal Government declared yesterday and today public holidays for the Eid-el-Fitri celebration.

The airlines that dared to operate had low number of passengers and expectedly, the development has taken off a chunk of their revenue.

Destinations mostly affected were the Northern airports in the country.

When Daily Sun visited the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, and the General Aviation Terminal, Lagos, yesterday, the complexes were like a ghost town.

The usual traffic snarl had vanished while the check-in kiosks were almost empty due to a sharp reduction in the number of the flying public.

The scenario at the MMA 2 showed that Aero and IRS airlines (who are the remaining airlines at the terminal) intentionally delayed their flights to Abuja and other destinations as a result of inadequate passengers. Abuja flights were also combined with other flights by the airlines.

As at press time, only three flights on Aero had departed from Lagos to Port-Harcourt for 10:30am , Lagos to Abuja for 11:00am and Lagos to Uyo for 11:00am while passengers were boarding for the 1:45pm Lagos-Abuja flight.

However, at the international wing of the Lagos Airport , the situation was different as foreign airlines’ check-in counters had its traditional long queues.

Departing and arrival international flights had a good number of passengers.

4 DAILY SUN

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

From MUIBAT MUSTAPHA, AdoEkiti

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he Oore of Mobaland, Oba (Dr.) James Adedapo Popoola JP, CON, Odundun I Adimula, is a first class traditional ruler and former Chairman of the Ekiti State Traditional Council of Obas and Chiefs. He recently celebrated the New Yam Festival, a popular annual cultural fiesta linked with the ancestry of the people and in which sons and daughters of the kingdom within and in the Diaspora converged on the town to participate.

In this interview, the monarch talks about the historical significance of the festival. He traces the origin of his people to the Atlantic Ocean and Ile Ife, the ancestral home of the Yoruba. He also explains why the town is crucial to the Ooni stool in Ile-Ife. Excerpts: Origin of Moba and Otun-Ekiti The origin started with the emergence of Omolokun from OkunMoba, the present coastal area of Lagos with all the paraphemalia of royalty- a big crown, beads, kolanut and a calabash containing cool water. He also emerged with Ogbo-Ifa Ide, that is a silver container where all Ifa divination materials were kept. Omolokun emerged from Okun-Moba where he was referred to as Okun Eleke.

Okun Moba was the origin of Moba people. Moba does not connote a geographical location, but a group of people.

Otun people are also Moba people. Omolokun migrated like other Yoruba and came to Ife during the time of Oduduwa, where he settled. In Otun-Ekiti, we have a settlement called Ife Oore, like that of Ife Ooni at Ile-Ife. That is why we used to say, A kii duro ki won ni Ife Ooni, a kii bere ki won ni Ife Oore.

When Omolokun was at Ile-Ife, Oduduwa went blind and all efforts to restore his sight proved abortive. It was Omolokun who was a very strong Ifa diviner that consulted the Ifa oracle which instructed that Oduduwa would only regain his sight by using water from the sea. When Oduduwa summoned his children only his grand child called Ajibogun agreed to go.

Ajibogun did not return from the expedition in time and he was presumed dead, while the children of Oduduwa settled with their father, shared his property and went away.

However, because the oracle predicted that Ajibogun would return from his journey with the water, Omolokun decided to wait and he brought the seawater.

Oduduwa referred to the water bearer as Obokun, meaning the one that fetched water from the sea. Ajibogun became the ruler of Ijesa called Owa Obokun of Ijesaland. Oore used the seawater to prepare a concoction which he used to wash Oduduwa’s eyes and he regained his sight. Since then people started calling Oore as Olore Oduduwa.

Although Oduduwa did not change the name of Omolokun but people named him Olore Oduduwa. That was how he became Olore which was shortened to Oore.

Oore requested to leave Ile-Ife and Oduduwa reluctantly released him that he would always pay him a visit whenever he needed his service. Immediately Oore left IleIfe, Oduduwa passed on. But because Oore was with Oduduwa throughout his stay, he knew the in-and-out of the palace and where his children settled. Oore went back to Ile-Ife to prepare the rites of passage and installation of one of the children of Oduduwa to take

Oore dancing with his Oloris

Oore dancing Ketekete with Olusoga

Oore coming out from the gate to dance Otapo with his community

Cross section of the High Chief

Why Oore Moba is the livewire of Ile-Ife throne – Oba Popoola over his throne.

Any time an Ooni passes on in Ile-Ife, the first ruler to be informed is the Oore, who will later inform other Yoruba Obas that the house has changed. Oore’s spirit must be invoked at the installation of a new Ooni because in ancient time, he was present when the Arole was put on the throne of Oduduwa.

This fact was confirmed by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse II, the Arole of Oduduwa when I paid him a royall visit in 2000. He said that at the installation of a new Ooni, the spirits of four Obas must be invoked and that Oore is one of them.

Oore settled in many places when he came out from Okun. He settled at Mushin, Igbobe, Ebe, Oke-Olodun and Ipole. It was at Ipole that an organised community was first established with various quarters, palace and a traditional festival. They spent over 200 years at Ipole. Because of scarcity of water, they left Ipole to their present settlement, which was founded by two hunters sent out by Oore Owaforan who was the last Oba at Ipole.

The two hunters, Babasikin and Babalitin, were instructed to look for a perennial stream. They found one each which were named after them as Omiabasikin and O m i a b a l e t i n .

Omiabasikin is the water drawn for annual Ogun festival at Era, while water from Omiabaletin is used to prepare Oore’s food and poured as libation to the gods daily at the palace.

There are more than 201 deities in the palace and the Oore makes sacrifices to them daily. The water is the one the Oore takes to Ife any time he is on visit to the Ooni. He

always gives the water to Alaafin also to pour libation to the gods in his palace. Moba people settled at the present site over 600 years ago.

Ogun festival Our own Ogun festival is referred to as Ijesu-new yam festival which comprises series of activities. We left all the materials used for Ogun festival at Ipole as instructed by the Ifa oracle, to ensure the defence of the southern part of the community during war.

Every time we are celebrating Ogun festival, we usually go to the Ogun shrine at Odo-Are, Ipole, to bring its relics.

It is usually a ceremonial festival, a red dog is sacrificed at the shrine along with other rituals. The dog is beheaded and its blood sprinkled on the relics before they are brought home. The relics are kept until after Otun and Moba pay homage to the Oore, that is when the festival is concluded. The first of the Ogun festival is when the Oore eats new yam called Ojo Aye. The Oore consults the Ifa oracle twice during the new yam festival and Ifa festival. Every five days, Ifa priests come to the palace to consult Ifa for him. The Oore sits in the palace during both festivals to make renditions to the Ifa of sacrifice -a very big he-goat or big pig to the oracle.

In those days, human being was usually sacrificed to Ogun at night.

Right in the shrine there was elaborate ceremony climaxed by the beheading of human being. When the white men came and led Oore and other Obas in 1866 to sign the treaties that they would not make human sacrifice again, the practice stopped. The second day is Awo market. It is the first day new yam appears in the market and anything not sold is left behind for human

beings and animals to eat.

The Oba appears to the people on the third day. From the second day of the festival, people pay homage to him from 12noon to 7pm. At the end of the day, the Oore addresses his subjects and reels out laws that would guide them for the next one year.

Significance of the public dance by the Oore Yes, I will dance two types of dance called Otapo and Ketekete.

Otapo, in those days, was danced with a very big horse which at the end of the day would be beaten to death. This practice was stopped

by the white men who came to watch the festival and ever since we looked for something that looked like a horse to dance with.

After Otapo, it is Ketekete dance, when the Oore will dance with wrapper to the admiration of the people. That is when the people would see that their Oba is well fed over the year.

The festival It is to thank the gods and ancestors that they have kept us for another year. That war has not ravaged the community and the kingdom is increasing in strength.

Oore coming out to dance Ketekete

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

DAILY SUN

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Anambra State Governor Peter Obi in a handshake with Alhaji Adudulraham Suberu 111, the Chairman of Anambra Muslim Council, accompanied by other members at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, Monday.

Photos: NAN

L-R: Acting Governor of Niger State, Ahmed Musa Ibeto, former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Faruk Bahago and former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, during the Eid-el fitr prayer at the Minna Central Mosque, Sunday.

L-R: Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Sunusi and Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State during the emir’s Sallah homage to the governor in Dutse, Monday.

COVER From MOLLY KILETE, Abuja

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or backing the call for the controversial state police, former Ministry President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) has attracted some condemnation.

Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Muhammadu Gambo Jimeta, yesterday lambasted Babangida.

The ex-military president threw his weight behind state police when he addressed reporters in Minna, Niger State last Thursday to mark his 71st birthday.

“He said the likes of Babangida and his cohorts, who are calling for the creation of state police were doing so because they want raw power to deal ruthlessly with situations, without regards and respect for the laws of the land.”

In an interview with journalists in Abuja, yesterday, Gambo took a swipe at his former boss, describing him as a “mafia” that is seeking for relevance, but advised him to give President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who was duly elected by the people, the chance to flourish and correct what he referred to as some of the “alien interferences” he along his other predecessors left unresolved that the entire nation is now paying for.

Gambo called on all Nigerians to unite and fight the “mafia”, who he said, is responsible for woes of the nation today.

“We better all unite ourselves those who can, to fight the mafia in this country. They have destroyed all systems in this country and the only thing they want to happen is for them to be exposed. So, anybody who loves this country has a tremendous job to do”.

The former IGP, who maintained IBB’s call for the creation of state police was purely on selfish ground, said, “there is this propensity for African leaders to want to have raw power, they don’t want to follow laws of the country, they want to deal with them anyway and anyhow, resulting in loss of lives and property and all of that.”

Gambo, while sympathizing with his former boss, who he said failed to realise that we are no longer in a military regime where laws are made overnight, but in a democracy where due process are followed to make laws, educated the former military leader, saying, “we are no longer in the era where government would wake up in the morning and by afternoon, they think of an idea and by six o’clock in the evening, there is a decree”.

State police: Ex-IGP Gambo tackles IBB over support •Says ex-military president seeking ‘raw power’ According to him, “in a democracy unlike military regime, the process of making laws in a democracy is such that it gives a lot of interactions and discussions by various levels of people because at the end, the law that will be produced will be people’s law, not an individual’s law or some idealists law. It has to have a direct relevance to the needs of the people”.

Gambo, said that under the Babangida’s regime, where he served as IGP for a long time, they had serious issues bordering on law and order that called for the creation of state police, noted that his boss tactfully ignored it for fear of the unknown.

The former IGP, said going by the number of tribes, religions and other peculiarities of our great country, our founding fathers thought it wise to opt for a single police force for the country that will be insulated from all political influences, properly funded and coordinated to attract public confidence trust.”

For this reason, he said neither Babangida, nor his allies that are calling for the creation of state police, have the credibility to do so. He warned them to stop seeking for public notice and bury their heads in shame.

The former police boss who said he had taken time to read details of Babangida’s interview on the call for the creation of state police as reported in the media, said his reaction was an opportunity for him to clarify himself on the issue.

According to him, “the former military president, who is in fact my boss, whom I served for a considerable time and I also happened to have read in details what he had said because it was reported in the dallies and all I would say is that there is, with due respect, a wide margin of differences of opinion between us, the operators and professionals in police administration and people like my former boss.

“I must say that while we were in office, while

Gambo I was serving with him, we had serious differences on a lot of law and order issues on the differences on our position as operators and commanders of the system at that time.

“It was very clear to me that there was and as it is today, a lot of misunderstanding and total ignorance of the establishment of a law and order agency in a democracy.

“And as you could remember, the first republic only lasted for about four or five years under a democracy when the military struck. And since then we have not been a normal nation.

“That is why today, we have chasm of misunderstanding and outright ignorance because the generation of today, thank God, since we came back to democracy, could not understand how a government would wake up in the morning and by afternoon, they think of an idea and by six o’clock in the evening, there is a decree”.

The former IGP said rather than calling for the creation of state police, critics should put pressure on government to properly fund the police to enable it carry out its duties effectively and scrap the Ministry of Police Affairs which, he said, is only duplicating the day to day activities of the Inspector-General of Police.

He lamented that apart being poorly paid and

equipped, policemen do not have better accommodation to put their heads unlike in the past when they were provided everything they wanted and even received 20 per cent more than any civil servant and members of the Armed Forces, because of the peculiar nature of their duty, unlike today, where the reverse was the case.

Gambo, who traced the woes of the police to the days of military regime when he said the budgetary system was completely destroyed, said nothing had been done since then to reform the police. Rather, he said more responsibilities were created for the police overnight to add to their problems.

“The police are poorly paid and terribly organized and the budget of the police has continued to dwindle and when they now saw that the police cannot be compromise on issues of funding and things like that, they now transferred the accountability of the police funding to the ministry of Police Affairs”.

He said the establishment of the ministry further worsened the already bad situation of the police who now depend sole on politicians to run the affairs of the office.

Gambo, who said he was not opposed to the amendment of the Constitution since a lot of damages had been done especially in the area of security, said people who have training in the aspect of policing democracy as well as those who have written books on democracy, should be allowed to participate in the amendment of the constitution.

He, however, noted that “before we embark on the amendment of the constitution, we have to ask ourselves, where have we gone wrong. We have gone wrong in the maintenance of law and order in this country when we tampered with original founding fathers idea of having a single police force for this country”.

Continued on page 6

6 DAILY SUN Tuesday, August 21, 2012

NEWS

Gambo tackles IBB over state police Continued from page 5 He said he was opposed to the creation of state police because of people in authority would use them to crush their political opponents and oppress the poor and voiceless in the society if eventually created”.

He, however, noted that the agitation for the creation of state police was high because “people are becoming despondent because with the strength of the police put at about 500,000, they are poorly paid and terribly organized so they cannot really see why a state cannot provide for these things to take off. If a state is really able to maintain and fund these people properly, there is no need for any complain.

On the controversy surrounding the killing of Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, the Principal Secretary to Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomole, where both the police and the State Security Service (SSS), have claimed to have arrested the perpetrators of the murder, the former IGP attributed the confusion to the proliferation of the law enforcement agencies in the country.

“I have told you that the proliferation of the law enforcement agencies and the muddling up of their duties and the lack of clear cut division of labour and responsibilities seems to complicate not only the police issue, but the entire national security institutions.

“If there is a situation where you cannot rely on any information, where you cannot really get one such story about what had happened, then something is seriously wrong.

“Let me add also that what is happening today in Nigeria, is indicative of the fact that thare is again an under current plan by the same people who planted us where we are today, to propose a regime change, to propose this and that and so on so that we go back to square one again.

“Because we are all living when a through elected government was pulled down and then after some years of governance, some people say they wont go again, they will put up an interim government and all sorts of characters came.

“So you the press have the responsibility to inform the people of this country not to be... we are doomed. If anybody can be lobbied to truncate truth and to be on the side of lawlessness, then the country is doomed and we are all going to pay for it dearly,” the former IGP said.”

General’s only daughter killed in Lagos hotel

By MATTHEW DIKE

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ynthia, the daughter of Major General Osokogu (retd) who was declared missing has been found dead in Lagos.

Cynthia, 24, who was declared missing since July 22, 2012 was allegedly killed in a hotel at FESTAC, Lagos.

Lagos State Police Command has commenced investigations into the death of Cynthia said to be the only daughter of the retired Army General who resides in Nasarawa State.

The young lady allegedly visited a friend in Abuja before heading to Lagos where she was to purchase some items for her boutique.

She was allegedly received at the airport in Lagos by some unknown persons and moved to FESTAC where she lodged in a hotel (name withheld).

All attempts by her family to ascertain her whereabouts proved abortive. Concerned friends, sympathisers and relatives sent messages through social media, alerting to her disappearance, but no one could give vital information regarding her whereabouts until police allegedly confirmed that she was brought out dead from a hotel.

The Area ‘E’ FESTAC Commander, Mr. Dammian Okoro, an Assistant Commissioner of Police told Daily Sun that the police were still investigating the circumstances of her death.

The family was later to be informed that Cynthia’s corpse had been found in a mortuary. A source alleged that there were indications that the post-graduate student of Nasarawa State University was murdered at the hotel and her corpse was transferred to the mortuary.

Cynthia was believed to have been lured into the hotel and robbed before being killed.

Policemen had interrogated some employees of the hotel and allegedly arrested some men after the hotel management presented CCTV footage of the culprits in her room.

Police sources said the culprits belonged to a syndicate that specialised in luring young women to Lagos only to dispossess them of their belongings.

The matter had been transferred to Area E Command, Festac since July but the family of the deceased only got information about the incident last Saturday.

Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide confirmed the incident, but declined to give details.

However, a reliable source at the station told Daily Sun correspondent that six people had been arrested and were being interrogated by the police.

“Six people were arrested on Sunday over the incident and investigations are ongoing,” the source said.

•A Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) marked (Lagos HL 05 EKY) crashed into the horticulture garden along Ikoyi Park View Estate Gate, killing the only occupant in the early hours of yesterday.

Robber survives 20 bullets •Policemen, vigilance group stunned as bandit survived gunshot “We robbed a 14-seater bus in the night and in the process •Recounts escapade along Akure Expressway they would rob the passengers.

From NGOZI UWUJARE, Ibadan

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robbery suspect has in Osun State stunned a combined team of police officers and members of a vigilance group when he survived 20 bullets.

Adedeji Ojo, who is in his early 30s, was a member of a four-man robbery gang who operated on Ibadan/Akure Expressway and Osu/Ilesha Road in Osun State for months before their arrest recently.

Ojo lived in Lagos before joining the daredevil gang, which terrorized residents. The bandits’ mode of operation involved littering the road with iron and nails.

Any unsuspecting motorist that steps on them would have his tyres deflated. As the driver attempts to fix the tyres, the gang would emerge from their hideout usually in the bush and attack the victims.

They often robbed and raped their victims.

The state’s Deputy Commissioner of Police, Baba Tijjani, said the command had received several complaints from vigilance groups in Osu, some kilometers to Ilesha that it was as a result of the gang’s seeming “invincibility” that the local securitymen sought for police reinforcement.

The suspect, who received 20 dane-gun bullets from vigilante, confessed that he belonged to the four-man gang.

The combined team of policemen and the vigilance group laid an ambush for the robbers at a popular spot they attacked motorists.

“We are four members in our gang. We robbed and raped passengers along Ibadan/Akure Expressway. We came from Lagos State to rob passengers on the expressway.

around 10.00pm. The victims were old women and ladies.

We told them to lie down in the bush and robbed the old women and collected N43,000. My gang raped some ladies among them.

“After the operation, my own share was just N9,000. It was the gang leader, Uche, who promised me that after each robbery operation, I would be receiving N1million.

That was why I followed them from Lagos State to Ibadan/Akure Expressway and robbed passengers.

“It was when we wanted to rob another bus that we used our car deliberately to hit a trailer lorry which prompted some buses to stop. We started to rob passengers, we chased them into the bush. It was when we were coming out of the bush that we saw another 14-seater bus. We attempted to rob the passengers, but they opened fire on us. I received 20 bullets from dane guns and I called my other gang members on phone to rescue me. As they were coming, the local securitymen and the police again opened fire on them and one of them died, while two others escaped with bullet wounds.”

Asked whether his family knew he was a robber, he said: “I didn’t tell my wife that I am an armed robber. I lied to my wife that I wanted to go for night vigil. My wife always thought I was in the church at night,” Ojo said.

Investigation confirmed that during the exchange of fire between the gang and the combined team of vigilance group and police, one of the robbers was killed, two escaped with bullet wounds, while Ojo survived the gunshots.

The novelty in the operation of the gang was that the members also used their car to hit oncoming vehicles or trailers

Usually, it was gathered that their targets were mainly women who usually go to sell their farm produce at the Owena Market a boundary town between Osun and Ondo states, along Akure Road.

The Osu community had complained severally over the activities of this gang as they usually robbed motorists between 9.00p.m and 10.00p.m daily.

The police and vigilance group laid an ambush for the robbers at the usual operation time.

A member of the vigilance group, Rasaki Lamidi, said the robbers had tormented the community for so long. “Our market women were robbed and raped whenever they ply Ibadan/Akure Road and we have lodged several complaints to the men of the Nigerian police in Osu. “We received the message that they always come to the Akure Expressway. We reinforced and teamed up with the policemen from Osu Division.

We used a public bus. When we got there, we pretended as if our bus had a fault and when

•Adedeji

they saw us, they wanted to rob us and we opened fire on them.

“What surprised us was that we shot one of the suspects with two rounds of dane gun bullets in his back but he didn’t die. We were able to kill one of the armed robbers and two escaped with bullet wounds,” he said.

Lamidi said that they are currently enjoying peace in Osu community, noting that there are no hoodlums on the Akure/Ibadan Expressway again.”

Daily Sun reporter visited Osu where the residents were all rejoicing, while some victims came out to identify the suspect.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Kalafiate Helen Adeyemi, confirmed the report. Mrs. Adeyemi said she had received several complaints and petitions over the spate of robberies on the Ibadan/Akure and Osu/Ilesa roads. She ordered the policemen to join forces with the vigilance group on the expressway by patrolling the highway.

Adeyemi said that it was the combined effort of the group and the policemen from the Osu Police Division that led to the bursting of the gang.

DAILY SUN Tuesday, August 21, 2012, 7

NEWS Court stops disbursement of N32m land compensation money From GEOFFREY ANYANWU, Awka

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n Anambra State High Court presided over by Justice J.C. Iguh has restrained a group of people from Awka, the state capital from further sharing of N32 million land compensation paid to the Ezinano Community, Awka by the state government pending the determination of the suit before it.

The court also restrained the group of three from sharing the remaining plots of land also given to the community by government as compensation for their land acquired for public good.

The N32 million worth 102 plots of land compensation from government had torn the community apart following the allegation of fraud in the manner the money and land were shared.

Following the disagreement, five natives, Emmanuel Mbogu, Chukwujekwu Ekwunife, Kanayo Obidigbo, Comrade Obi Ochije, Godwin N. Ndife and Maduka Oti dragged three other persons, Gilbert Nwanna who holds the attorney for Awka on the issues of lands acquired by government from Awka, B.C Morah and Arinze Ekelem to court over the compensation issue.

Making the order in suit number A/47/2012 after hearing and considering application made by plaintiffs’ counsel, A.O. Odum and Counsel to 1st and 2nd defendants, M.C Udechukwu on the matter, Justice Iguh held that sharing of the outstanding N9 million and land must be put on hold until the matter was heard.

The order reads in part: “ Upon hearing and considering oral application made by A.O. Odum, counsel for the plaintiffs on July 30, 2012, praying for an interim injunction in respect of the outstanding unshared N9 million not to be paid out to anybody by the defendants.

Dana crash: Air Traffic Controllers, ex-Air Force officer in war of words

By UCHE USIM

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ir Traffic Controllers (ATCs) and a former Air Force officer, Group Captain John Ojikutu (retd) are at loggerheads over the latter’s “caustic testimony” at the ongoing coroner’s inquest into the Dana plane crash of June 3rd.

The retired Air Force officer had said the unprofessional handling of the ill-fated MD 83 jet by ATCs on duty might have contributed to the crash.

He capped his testimony with the submission that they (controllers), had not been trained for over a decade.

Reacting to Ojikutu’s position, the ATCs, through the President of their umbrella body, the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), Haske Jibrin said the officers on duty complied with the provisions of the ICAO Docs.

4444 (PANS-ATM), Annex 11 (Air Traffic Services), Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (2009) and other approved Local Air Traffic Control Instructions in force in the airspace and aerodrome concerned.

He added that the emergency response procedures approved and published for use by Duty Air Traffic Controllers in Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos in the event of aircraft accidents were adhered to.

He said the submission of the retired Air Force officer showed he did not hold any valid Air Traffic Controller License as claimed.

“The onus therefore, lies on him to furnish his listeners with his license number, ratings held and aerodromes of validation during his historic twenty-six years sojourn as an air traffic controller as he has posted before the public. His phraseologies as reported by the media houses do not in any way define him as an Air Traffic Controller that he claims to be. For example, his call for the tape transcript of conversations held between the Pilot and Lagos and Kano Control Towers shows that he does not understand the architecture, division of responsibilities, and transfer of control procedures within the Nigerian airspace. Neither did he demonstrate any knowledge of Accident Investigation Standards and Recommended Practices (ICAO Annex 13), as manifested in his call for unrelated Air Traffic Control/Pilot conversations tape transcript, for a time frame that will neither aid investigation nor give any further clue as to the potential role of Air Traffic Control in such an accident.”, Haske said.

He debunked the claim that there were gaps in the tape transcript, stressing that modern Air Traffic Controller/Pilot Conversation tape-recording which NAMA employed was digitalized and tamper–proof.

He added that recording times were captured during each active transmission, while the idle periods were also captured.

The ATC President further explained that investigation procedures was the active transmission times be listened to, while the idle periods bearing no messages be ignored.

•Fun seekers at National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos yesterday

Subsidy payment: NUPENG to embark on nationwide strike tomorrow A

By PETER ANOSIKE

gainst the backdrop of the claim by the Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala that Federal Government has made some subsidy payments, the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has disclosed its intention to embark on a nationwide strike tomorrow if all outstanding subsidy payments to the NNPC the private depot owners are not made.

Speaking during a press conference in Lagos yesterday, NUPENG president, Comrade Igwe Achese said even if subsidy payment had been made, it was only to portfolio carriers but not investors in the oil sector.

He said the failure of the Finance Minister to meet the Nigeria National Petroleum Corperation (NNPC) and other marketers payment obligation was a ploy to create hardship on Nigerians, adding that the plan was for government to put up the refineries for privatization to their cronies at ridiculous rates.

According to him, that was why they were asking the minister to explain the rationale behind the selective pay-

ments of the subsidy claims.

On the ongoing strike in Abuja, he said: “We have cried out on several occasions on the untold hardship and the unfair labour practices meted out to our workers in the two giant multi –nationals, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Chevron Nigeria Limited. The modern day slavery practiced by these two oil multi-nationals had turned our members into penury. They have continued to employ casuals that they hire and fire at will, without any conditions of service, including converting labour contracts to service contracts

and casuals. We are open to dialogue but if by Wednesday, the issue of subsidy is not resolved, we will embark on a nationwide strike .We will not fold our hands and watch Nigerians lose their jobs.”

On the allegation that the oil marketers were blackmailing government, he said: “You will recall that our last strike action was suspended based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed with all the stakeholders and the Finance Minister that payments would commence on the subsidy owed the marketers. Prior to this,

9-yr-old boy electrocuted in Abuja From FRED ITUA, Abuja

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ragedy struck yesterday in Abuja as a nine-year-old boy, Hassan Sani Abubakar was electrocuted Recounting the incident, the father of the deceased, Alhaji Sani Abubakar stated that his son who loved pets, left the family house in Jukwei area for the State Security Service (SSS) quarters also in Jukwei to feed his pigeon. It was there he met his sudden death.

According to an eyewit-

ness, late Hassan climbed an overhead water tank platform to feed the pigeon but he slipped. It was also gathered that in an attempt to regain balance, he held unto a naked electricity cable belonging to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and was electrocuted.

The eyewitness also recounted that residents of the SSS quarters, who were familiar with the parents of late Hassan, on sighting the electrocuted body, rushed to

Alaafin urges Boko Haram to end killings From YINKA FABOWALE, make Nigeria habitable and conducive for investors.

Ibadan The monarch made the plea rontline monarch and in a statement signed on his Permanent Chairman of behalf by his Media Assistant, the Oyo State Council of Alhaji Azeez Fehintola, in Obas and Chiefs, the Alaafin Ibadan to felicitate with of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Muslims on the Eid-el Fitri Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has celebration.

Oba Adeyemi implored asked the Boko Haram sect to bury the hatchet and let go the religious fundamentalists to grouse it might have with the stop the killing of innocent Nigerian State along with the people and their terrorist acts, just concluded Ramadan, to particularly in the northern

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we had had cause to sign MoU of some of our actions on turn-around maintenance of refineries, bad roads, etc which were never implemented. Let me categorically state that NUPENG cannot and will never be used by the Federal Government, institutions, companies because we are stakeholders in the industry. The fight and struggle for the enthronement of democracy in the country during the June 12, 1993 cannot be in vain.

The struggle for the emancipation of Nigerians from the hands of the military cannot be rubbished or swept under the carpet.

region of the country, saying that Islam forbade such.

Reminding the group that the country needed peace to thrive, the Alaafin said it was time to unite and work towards making it a habitable place where investors would be attracted to boost the nation’s economy.

Adeyemi advised Nigerians not to allow the lessons of the fasting period to pass by, without enshrining them in their daily lives.

inform his father, Alhaji Abubakar, who mobilised able bodied men to bring down the body.

Abubakar, who is the Abuja Bureau Chief of Nigerian Newsday Newspaper and Vice Chairman of the FCTA Press Corps, while expressing his ordeal said his late son was a lover of pets particularly pigeons. He said his love for pigeons took so much of his attention from other curricular activities including household.

“Because of his addiction to the pigeons,” Abubakar stated, “I had instructed my late child to remove them from the compound so that he could concentrate. But unknown to me, he kept the pigeons at the SSS quarters which is not far from my house.”

He spoke further: “Late Hassan woke up early this morning and went straight to look after his pets.

Unfortunately I was woken up from sleep to be informed of the sad event and rushed to the scene.”

The late Hassan has since been buried according to Islamic injunction.

8 DAILY SUN Tuesday, August 21, 2012

NEWS HID Awolowo convenes Yoruba Forum meeting at Ikenne

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eye Oodua and wife of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Mrs. HID Awolowo has convened a meeting with the umbrella association for the Yoruba race, Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF) over the development of the tribe and the result of a meeting with the South-South.

In a statement signed by YUF’s Secretary-General, Senator Anthony Adefuye, the group said the meeting was organized at the instance of the matriarch.

At the meeting which would hold at 11 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012 at the Efunyela residence of the late sage in Ikenne, Ogun State, other matters such as way forward in governance in the nation, as well as the effective repositioning and recognized relevance of the Yoruba ethnic group in Nigeria would be discussed.

Community goes spiritual over kidnapped ESUT VC From ROMANUS UGWU, Abuja

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he entire Aku indigenes, a community in Enugu State have called for fervent prayers and appealed to the federal, state governments and the security agents to secure the release of Professor Cyprian Onyeji.

The community made the appeal, in Abuja yesterday to express its worries over the non-release of the Vice Chancellor of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), by his captors after about a week.

The Aku Welfare Association Federated (AWAF), the umbrella body for the entire Aku indigenes, which called for the prayers, also appealed to President Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the Inspector-General of Police, MD Abubarkar, the Director of SSS, the Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime and all the security agencies in Nigeria to act quickly before the captors would inflict any harm on him.

In the prayer request tagged: ‘Call for prayers for the release of Prof Onyeji, the VC of ESUT’, made available to Daily Sun, AWAF, noted: “The Aku Welfare Association Federated calls on all Aku men and women to join their voices in prayers for an unconditional release of our son and brother, Prof Cyprain Onyeji who was kidnapped at the gate of the main campus of the university.”

“Prof Onyeji is our illustrious son and erudite scholar per excellence whose academic records stand out tall among his contemporaries in Nigeria. AWAF unequivocally condemns in strong terms, the kidnapping of this valuable Nigerian whose likes are most needed in this age to pursue Vision 20: 20: 20 of our country. “We therefore call on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director of SSS, the Enugu State Governor, Mr Sullivan Chime and all the security agencies in Nigeria to deploy all security machinery and ensure that this excellent scholar is urgently rescued from the hands of his kidnappers without any harm,” AWAF appealed.

Meanwhile, the entire members of the League of Friends Club Lagos have expressed great shock over the abduction of Prof Onyeji, calling for the deployment of all the necessary security machinery and networking to speedy up his immediate rescue.

Flood kills one in Dass From PAUL ORUDE, Bauchi

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he flood ravaging Bauchi State has again claimed one life in Dass Local Government Area of the state. The Caretaker Chairman of Dass Local Government Council in Bauchi State, Alhaji Mohammed Alhassan Sadiq, disclosed this to newsmen in his office.

Sadiq pointed out that about 50 houses and 20 farmlands were destroyed in the recent flood in Dass, which also washed away some feeder roads and bridges. He appealed to the state government to evolve measures towards forestalling flood disaster in Dass.

The chairman explained that flood was threatening some areas in Dass towns, hence the need for proactive measure to forestall eventual disaster.

He said the local government had written to the state government seeking its assistance for the flood problem, expressing optimism that the state government would come up with the needed assistance to address the problem of flood in the area.

Sadiq disclosed that the council had within its limited resources assisted victims of the recent flood in Dass. He called for more assistance from individuals and organisations to cushion their sufferings.

The recent flood disaster in Bauchi State had affected 12 other local governments where houses and farmlands were destroyed. The local governments included Katagum, Misau, Jama’are, Ningi, Itas/Gadau, Zaki, Shira, Giade, Darazo, Alkaleri, Kirfi and Toro where two persons lost their lives in the disaster.

• Sesan Sobowale, Director, Corporate Relations, Ngozi-Ife-Anene, Corporate Communications Manager, and Mike Onuoha, Head, Public Policy, all of Guinness Nigeria Plc at DRINKIQ Media Workshop, organised by the company at its Corporate Headquarters in Lagos yesterday.

Battle against Igbinedion not over –EFCC From FRED ITUA, Abuja

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he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has declared that new facts have emerged to try former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion.

Rotimi stated. “So the case is still pending there. That is one step taken. The second step is that we charged him again at the Federal High Court sitting in Benin.

“The court sitting in Benin said we could charge his company involved and not Lucky Igbinedion personally.

The EFCC announced this new development, more than one year after a Federal High Court sitting in Benin, discharged the ex-governor uling Peoples of a 66-court charge of Democratic Party money laundering and cor(PDP) has hailed the ruption brought against him appointment of Dr. Doyin by the commission.

There is an appeal against that order again in Benin. So we are continuing with the trial of his company in Benin. We have started trial of that.

“We are seriously working on the second appeal to allow our case sail through. We have called two witnesses in the Federal High Court in

Benin. It’s the third witness we want to call now.”

Justice Adamu Hobon who handed down the controversial judgment had ruled that it would amount to double jeopardy and abuse of court process to try the former governor again as he had in 2008 entered into a plea bargain with the EFCC.

PDP backs Okupe, castigates critics

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In an interview with Daily Sun, counsel to EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) hinted that two appeals had been filed regarding the case; one at the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu and another at the Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State.

Rotimi stated that contrary to public perception, the legal battles against the former governor were not over. “We have filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Enugu,”

Okupe as senior special assistant (Public Affairs) by President Goodluck Jonathan, saying it would “deepen the channels of communication between the Presidency and the citizenry.”

In a statement by its Deputy National Secretary, Binta Masi Garba, the PDP said President Jonathan, by the appointment, “has taken the right decision to engage members of the public on salient issues of national

importance.” It described Okupe as “capable of efficiently handling the assignment given unto him” and the president as constitutionally empowered to give appointments to “deserving Nigerians under the presidential system we operate in the country.”

The PDP decried the campaign of calumny against the person of Okupe, especially by the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

It also condemned calls on the president to relieve Okupe of his appointment, describing it as sheer blackmail that

...ACN tasks PDP on alleged contract fraud call for his resignation is an

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he Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) has challenged the Federal Government to respond to its allegation against Dr. Doyin Okupe, the President’s aide on Public Affairs.

The party accused Dr. Okupe of not executing a phantom project.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) gave Dr. Okupe a clean bill of health.

But ACN spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said rather than respond to the party’s allegation, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP) drew its attention to the suit against the Lagos State Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, whom, the anti-graft agency, had charged before a Lagos High Court for alleged fraud.

The ACN said: “This is nothing, but a deliberate attempt to obfuscate issues and a case of comparing apples with orange.”

For the avoidance of doubt, the Lagos State Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji had been charged before a court of law.

He has pleaded not guilty. The law presumes him innocent until proven guilty. The case is still on ongoing, therefore any

attempt to stampede justice.

However, the case of Doyin Okupe is completely different.”

The Peoples Democratic Party has in the last 13-years infected Nigeria so massively with the most dangerous virus of corruption.”

“It therefore does not lie in the mouth of a morally challenged party like the PDP to accuse the ACN of being morally bankrupt. In the department of probity and morality the Action Congress of Nigeria is miles ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party,” Mohammed said.

President Jonathan would not fall for.

It said, “we have noted the copious references by the ACN through its spokesman, Mr. Lai Mohammed, to the purported unwholesome acts in the execution of some projects in Benue and Imo states several years ago. It is our considered opinion that issues of contracts are basically civil issues between contracting parties and certainly most contract documents contain clauses for dispute resolutions.”

It added that since the anticorruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had said that Okupe was not currently under any criminal investigation by the commission as claimed by the ACN nor had he been indicted by any court of competent jurisdiction or any panel of investigative committee, “it stands to reason under our laws that he should be deemed innocent until otherwise proven.

“The call for Okupe’s removal is therefore not only baseless and unwarranted but equally malicious. The president will therefore not be blackmailed into following any agenda based on trumped-up charges, outright lies and misinformation,” it added.

DAILY SUN Tuesday, August 21, 2012, 9

NEWS FRSC drags 76 to court for traffic offences in Ekiti From CHARLES ADEGBITE, Ado-Ekiti

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he Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ekiti Sector Command, has again dragged 72 persons before a mobile court in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital for traffic offences.

The Sector Commander, Mr. Rindom Kumven, disclosed this yesterday in an interview with Daily Sun. Out of the 76 persons (who were mainly motorists and commercial motorcycle riders), seven were discharged and acquitted by the mobile court.

Kumven told Daily Sun that 33 of them were found guilty of riding motorcycles without helmet (RMH) while 32 were found guilty of seat belt violation (SBV).

“Six of them were guilty of light sign/caution violation (LCV), two were guilty of number plate violation (NPV), one was guilty of using phone while driving (UPD) and the last person was convicted for driver’s license violation (DLV).”

He said The FRSC in Ekiti decided to use mobile court to enable it enforce traffic laws effectively in the state.

Six-nine people were arrested by the FRSC and prosecuted for different traffic offences last month by a mobile court set up by the Ekiti Sector Command in Ado-Ekiti before it set up another one in Ido-Ekiti two weeks ago during which 32 persons were arraigned.

None of the people dragged to the court has been jailed since the mobile court was introduced because all those found guilty were given option of fine.

Kumven noted that the FRSC was empowered by the law through the Establishment Act of 2007 to time conduct a mobile court.

Ogun PDP: NWC didn’t recognize congress

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he Chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Adebayo Dayo, has faulted claims that the National Working Committee (NWC) has recognised the congresses purportedly held by a faction loyal to former president Olusegun Obasanjo.

In a statement issued yesterday in Abeokuta, Dayo said it was laughable that the National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, could constitute himself into the NWC. “This is one of Oyinlola’s several desperate attempts to hijack the structure of the Ogun State PDP for his master to achieve a plot ahead of the 2015 general elections. “It is laughable, to say the least, for one single individual to constitute himself into the NWC and claim that it has endorsed the congresses when the body has not met since the contemptuous exercises were purportedly held.

“It is common knowledge that the NWC meets every Wednesday, yet Oyinlola wrote a letter on Tuesday, August 14 to the police and SSS where he claimed that a new state executive committee of the PDP has just been inaugurated in spite of the subsistence of my executive. Besides, it is public knowledge that the two congress monitoring committees that were sent by the NWC had in their reports said there were no congresses in Ogun State on August 4. Then, the questions begging for answers are: When were they elected? Who elected them?

Can you build something on nothing?” Dayo queried.

He urged the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar and the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), Ita Ekpeyong, to ignore Oyinlola’s claims and avail themselves of the various correspondences and court judgments that he had sent to them, affirming his (Dayo’s) executive as the only authentic management body for the party in the state.

Niger to sell govt quarters From AKIN ALOFETEKUN, Minna

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ommissioner of Lands and Housing in Niger State, Dr. Peter Saleh Sarki, has said the state government has concluded arrangements for the sale of its 57 housing units of ‘Type A’ Commissioners and Legislative Quarters.

The move, according to him, was aimed at using the proceeds for the construction of the proposed Three Arms Zone in Minna, the state capital.

Sarki made the statement yesterday while exchanging views with newsmen in Minna, saying the Type A Quarters located at Government Reserved Area (GRA) in the state capital comprised 28 detached duplex and boys’ quarters.

“The general public is hereby invited to bid for the landed properties of Niger State Government identified as Type A Quarters, GRA with fence wall erected along the boundary lines of each duplex with mounted double leaf steel vehicular gates.”

According to him, the state House of Assembly quarters was a proposed design made up of 28 No three-bedrooms detached bungalows, Eastern Bye-pass Minna, saying, “the entire estate has fence wall along its boundary lines mounted with ‘2 nos ingress and egress’ double leaf steel vehicular gates and each property has its own boundary fence.”

•Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson (left) presenting a cheque to the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Wolfgang Goetsch (right) for the construction of some major roads in the state at the Government House in Yenagoa.

Photo: BAYELSA GOVERNMENT HOUSE

MASSOB smashes robbery gang in Onitsha From EMMANUEL UZOR, Onitsha

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embers of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), yesterday smashed a five-man armed robbery gang in the commercial city of Onitsha.

The gang was alleged to be responsible for violent crimes along the ever-busy Onitsha Owerri Road before luck ran against them.

Parading one of the suspects, Chibuzor, a native of Ebonyi State, who named the fleeing members of the gang, MASSOB Director of Security in charge of Region 4, Mr. Chukwuneke Agoha, said his men were on patrol when they ran into a roadblock mounted by the robbers after they had robbed a trailer driver and several others.

“Our security men were on patrol along Onitsha-Owerri Road around midnight when suddenly they ran into a gang of armed robbers who barricaded the expressway with a spoilt vehicle. Our men who were riding on motorcycles ran into the parked car and fell down and the hoodlums rushed out from their hideout and attacked them and stabbed some of them with bottles and machetes before they called for reinforcement and one of them was arrested while four others escaped.”

In his statement, the suspect confessed that he joined the gang about a month ago and had participated in many operations within Onitsha and environs, stating that he met the gang at a motor park where they were sleeping every night.

He said the leader of the gang simply identified as Otu was released from prison about three months ago, say-

ing he initiated him into armed robbery when they met at a joint where they were smoking Indian hemp.

Commending the security men for their gallantry, the MASSOB Administrator in charge of Region 4, Chief Arinze Igbani, said the Movement was committed to the task of stamping out criminal elements from the SouthEast especially armed robbers and kidnappers.

He said MASSOB would

continue to hunt down criminals and hand them over to the police in line with the directives of their leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, lamenting that the constant clampdown on the members of the group by the army and police, had slowed down their pace and zeal in tackling insecurity in the zone.

“We are appealing to Anambra State Government and security agencies to allow MASSOB members a free

hand to operate and flush out the criminals in the overall interest of the people.”

They should stop seeing us as hoodlums while actually we are helping them to tackle the security challenges which appear to be surmounting the security agencies,” he said.

Meanwhile, the suspect had been handed over to the police at Okpoko Police Station for proper investigations.

3 months after communal clash: 4 policemen still missing in C’River From JUDEX OKORO, Calabar

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arely three months after the communal clash between Ntan Obu Ukpe community in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State and its neighbouring Ikpanya in Ibiono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, four mobile policemen deployed in the area to maitain peace are still missing, Daily Sun can authoritatively reveal.

Daily Sun investigations revealed that police authorities were worried about the development and had set up a high-powered security network to find out the whereabouts of the officers.

The two coastal communities of Ntan Obu Ukpe and Ikpanya had been engaged in a perennial communal clash over ownership of a piece of land and collection of royalties from the Fulani herdsmen, led by one Alhaji Bature so that his cows could graze along the Eniong Creeks and on the farmlands of the Ntan Obu community.

The clash, however, got to

a climaxed on May 23 when the Ikpanya people allegedly attacked the Ntan Obu Ukpe community destroying houses, domestic animals and farms and beheaded the village head, Chief Mfom Asanya.

When Daily Sun contacted the Cross River State Police Command on the position of the missing police officers who were from MOPOL 11 in Calabar, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Osita Ezechukwu, said the case file of the matter had been transferred to the Akwa Ibom State Police Command including the suspects arrested.

Ezechukwu said: “I can tell you that for now, we have not found our officers sent to Ntan Obu Ukpe to keep peace; but we are not resting on our oars as we have mounted serious surveillance and we must get to the root of the matter. Investigations of their whereabouts were still goingon as at the time the matter was transferred to Akwa Ibom command.

“As for the number of people killed, I can say authouritatively that our investigations have revealed that only

one person, Chief Mfon Asanya, the Village head was beheaded and his corpse was identified by the son. The case file and a few suspects arrested have been transferred to Akwa Ibom,” the police boss said.

Also speaking, Akwa Ibom State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Etim Dickson, said the case had been referred to the Zone 6 Police Headquarters in Calabar.

Dickson, a deputy superintendent of police, said: “Investigations were ongoing over the fate of the police officers who he said came from MOPOL 11,” adding that the police would come out with a statement when investigations had been concluded.

At the Zone 6 headquarters, a senior police officer confided in Daily Sun that police authorities were afraid that the officers might had been killed by the Ikanya people, saying that the community would not have peace for daring to kill security operatives sent there to protect the Ntan Obu Ukpe village.

10 DAILY SUN Tuesday, August 21, 2012

NEWS IGP, 2 others dragged to court over rights violation

By OLA AGBAJE

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former group managing director of Quintessential Nigeria Limited, Okon Iyanam has dragged the Inspector General of Police and two others to court over alleged infringement on his rights.

Joined as respondents in the application for the enforcement of fundamental rights brought before a Lagos State High Court are the chairman of Quintessential Nigeria Limited and chairman of National Population Commission (NPC), third respondent Chief Eze Okoro, a chief Superintendent of Police.

According to the application filed through his counsel, Olakunle Olarewaju of Adeniji Kareem & Co, the applicant’s rights were rudely infringed on by the respondents through an alleged illegal arrest on August 6, 2012 in Lagos from where he was immediately moved to Abuja.

The application was brought pursuant to order 11 Rules 1,2,3, 4 and 5 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedures) Rules 2009, section 34, 35 and 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

The applicants, among others is praying the court to declare illegal and gross violation of his rights as enshrined under sections 34, 35 and 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria his arrest by the police at the instance of Odumegwu.

In addition, the applicant is seeking for an order of injunction to restrain the police from further arresting, harassing or detaining him.

Further, the applicant is praying for an order compelling Odimegwu to tender public apology to him for alleged wrongful use of the police to arrest him and also to award a N50 million damages payable by the third respondent to the applicant.

Monarch lauds IGP, Lagos CP for restoring peace to Mushin

By CHRISTOPHER OJI

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ba of Odi Olowo, Mushin Lagos, His Royal Highness (HRH) Fatai Irawo Ogunsi has thanked the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Abubakar and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP), Umar Manko for bringing about peace in Mushin.

Oba Ogunsi, who spoke to journalists in his palace said since the resumption of the IGP and deployment of Manko to Lagos, Mushin and its environs had been peaceful.

The royal father, in his Eid-el-Fitri message said before now, Mushin and its environs used to be very hot but that there had been absolute peace in the areas now.

He said the Force had lived up to expectation in the area of crime patrol and that the Police had been working hand-inhand with the natives to maintain peace and order.

“It may interest you to know that during this festive period, nobody has been reported missing and there has been no report of two fighting.”

On the reported demonstration by some youths about the increasing crime rate in the area, Oba Ogunsi said, it “is false alarm. I have no such records in my domain. If there was protest, I am the Oba, I should know. Mushin is calm and peaceful. There is no problem.”

He thanked the IG, the Commissioner of Police and their subordinates for restoring peace in Mushin.

Hotel staff union tasks FG on Boko Haram, power

By BIMBOLA OYESOLA

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orkers in the hospitality and hotel businesses have charged the Federal Government to urgently address the problem of insecurity in the country as well as power issue, stressing that the two have impacted negatively on the industry.

Addressing journalists at its national secretariat in Lagos yesterday, the workers under the aegis of Hotel and Personal Services Senior Staff Association (HAPSSA) lamented that many of the hotels in the northern parts of the country had closed down due to the upsurge of the activities of the Boko Haram.

The National President of the union, Comrade Micah Isaiah stated that the union had lost thousands of its members who were retrenched prematurely by their organisations due to Boko Haram attacks.

“There is no doubt that the greatest challenge to our national development and unity is security. The issue of Boko Haram should be given serious thought. No business can flourish without security,” he said.

He noted that the hotels in Abuja and in the northern part of the country had different tales of woes to tell in terms of low patronage and threat to lives and property since the Boko Haram group began their agitation.

• L-R: Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Zulu Gambari (CFR), Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Elder Peter Kisra and Deputy Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Prof. Mohammed Gana Yisa, during the Emir’s traditional Sallah homage to Government House, Ilorin yesterday

Benin jailbreak: Police, Prisons give conflicting accounts From TONY OSAUZO, untrue, misleading and Benin unfounded that there was bomb blast at Oko prisons or olice and Prison author- that gunmen came from outities, yesterday in Benin, side to invade the prisons as gave conflicting reported in some newspapers. accounts of the reported jail“The Command wishes to break at Oko prisons in the reaffirm that there was no state capital on Sunday. invasion of any kind and Reacting to media reports there was no bomb blast. The yesterday, the state escape bid was purely the Commissioner of Police, handy work of prison Olayinka Balogun, said it was inmates,” Mr. Balogun said in

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a statement yesterday.

According to him, on August 20, at 01:05 hours, there was a distress call from Oko prisons, following which, police patrol teams from the Airport Division and operatives from B Ops were immediately dispatched to the scene by the Commissioner of Police.

He said he also followed up by being physically pres-

S’East monarchs disassociate selves from Okorocha’s new title From VAL OKARA, Owerri

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outh-East Council of Traditional Rulers has disassociated itself from the title of Traditional Prime Minister of Ndigbo recently bestowed on the Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha by the Imo State traditional parliament.

The first vice chairman of the council who is also the Chairman of Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Eze John Akaliro, who made the position of the monarchs known in a telephone interview warned that no single state in the South -East reserved the right to confer such a prestigious title on anybody without the consent and approval of the royal fathers in the zone.

Eze Akaliro, who discribed the conferment as a nullity and a jamboree said the council would deliberate extensively on the issue during its next executive council meeting and decide on the line of action.

The traditional ruler, who claimed ignorance of any existing law authorizing or

legalizing the conferment warned that it was wrong and illegal for any duly recognized traditional ruler to dabble into partisan politics at the detriment of his responsibilities as the chief custodian of his peoples’ culture and tradition.

“Can you imagine myself, the chairman of the Abia State Council Traditional Rulers conferring this title on my Governor, Chief Theodore Orji without the knowledge, approval and participation of my colleagues from the South East. It does

not work that way.”

In his reaction, the Executive Secretary of Legislative Watch, Ngozika Ihuoma said: “Could you imagine a day old parliament making Okorocha the Prime Minister of Igboland, had they not veered into politics which the governor banned them from? It is even more unfortunate that Okorocha has just initiated the politics of Igbo leadership succession without allowing Ndigbo to observe the mandatory one year mourning period for Ikemba Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.”

ent at the scene and the situation was immediately brought under control. The cop disclosed that the two prisoners who had earlier escaped through holes bored from within were re-arrested.

“The Commissioner of Police was shown the two holes bored into the cell walls and one through the fence. All made by the inmates probably over time without the knowledge of the prison warders and security operatives within the premises.”

Mr. Balogun explained that the situation had been put under control, while security had been intensified in and around the prison environment. He added that the police were still awaiting prison authorities for more details on the incident.

But the state Comptroller of Prisons, Mr. Jimoh Ewulo insisted yesterday that a big opening was created on the wall, saying12 inmates came out of the prison out of which eight escaped while four were re-arrested.

He said he believed that a device must have been used to create the hole, adding that investigation was on to determine the type of device used.

NLC, ex-militant leaders laud Dickson From FEMI FOLARANMI, was disclosed that N12.6 billion was received as gross Yenagoa income for the month of July he Nigeria, labour 2012 from the Federation Allocation Congress (NLC) and ex- Accounts militant leaders have Committee (FAAC).

The ex-militant leaders in commended Governor Henry Seriake Dickson for the state led by Comrade Eris improved security in the state Paul popularly a.k.a General and transparency in gover- Ogunboss described the improved security situation in nance.

Dickson held the position the state as welcomed and during the 5th Bayelsa State needed relief from the past Transparency Initiative era of violence, cultism, kidmonthly press briefing napping and robbery. The recently in Yenagoa where it State Chairman of the NLC,

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Comrade Ebiuwou KokuObiyan also said the decision of the present administration to hold monthly briefing on finances and expenditure of the state fund was commendable and a step in the right direction.

The duo, in separate interviews advocated that the ongoing development strides and new policies of the present administration should be supported by people and the political class in the state.

DAILY SUN Tuesday, August 21, 2012, 11

NEWS Kwara govt engages additional 2,000 youths From LAYI OLANREWAJU, Ilorin

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s part of its celebration of the first anniversary of the Kwara State Bridge Empowerment Scheme (KWABES) and to ease unemployment challenges in the state, the state government is poised to boost the scheme by creating an additional 2000 jobs.

The state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, gave the hint in Ilorin yesterday when the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, paid him the traditional sallah homage at the Government House.

According to the governor, the state government was also partnering the Federal Government for the provision of additional 10,000 jobs for youths in the state in consonance with its youth empowerment programme.

Ahmed said his administration had also energised entrepreneurship in the state with the disbursement of N500 million micro credit intervention scheme to over 300 small business entrepreneurs.

He added that, “another set of entrepreneurs would be empowered and thousands of youth jobs created when the second tranche of the micro credit fund is disbursed to qualified small business owners before the end of the year.”

On healthcare, Ahmed said when the ongoing comprehensive rehabilitation work in Ilorin, Omu-Aran, Offa, Share and Kaiama General Hospitals were completed, another five would be overhauled next year under its administration’s access to healthcare within 500 metres policy.

The governor said the state government remained committed to the provision of additional primary healthcare centres in every ward in the state to boost healthcare delivery.

• The chaitman of Igbo Unted Political Coalition of Ndigbo in Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Lagos State Chief Chris Ekwilo third (left) his wife Mrs Regina Ngoo Ekwilo second (right) Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife (third left) his children Onyingechi (left) Daniel Chris Chinedu and Ozioma, cutting the cake to mark his 50th birthday celebration at Surulere L.G.A Secretariat. Photo: OLUFEMI KAYODE

Exam malpractice: Imo backs JAMB on strategy

Stay off Okorocha, APGA tells PDP

By GABRIEL DIKE

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he Registrar and Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB), Prof. Dibu Ojerinde and the management team paid a courtesy call on Imo State Government House as part of the board’s activities during the recent tour of duty in the South-east Region.

In an address at the Imo Government House, the JAMB registrar, Ojerinde, presented the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, with the statistics detailing performance of candidates to confirm the prime position of Imo State among the top 10 in terms of performance in JAMB’s Unified Tertiary Examination (UTE) from 2007 to 2011.

From the statistics rolled out by the registrar, Imo State consistently maintained the lead in the performance on “state for all candidates” basis from 2007-2011, so also other parameters like “performance by state for 180 and above scores” and also gender parity between male and female candidates.

Speaking further on the vexed issue of examination malpractice, the registrar said “as a responsible examination body, the sanctity and integrity of our examination is underscored by the board’s continuous resolve with help of the government of Imo State to checkmate all tricks of these examination cheats.”

While acknowledging Okorocha’s unrelenting efforts at uplifting education, especially his free education policy from primary to tertiary institutions, the registrar said the people of the state were lucky to have a man with vision and energy to drive education as it would take the state to the promised land in no distant future.

Lam backs ACN, CPC alliance From YINKA FABOWALE, Ibadan

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ormer governor of Oyo State and leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state, Alhaji Lam Adesina, has thrown his weight behind the proposed alliance between his party and the General Muhammadu Buhari-led Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), saying the move was necessary to liberate Nigerians from the misrule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Adesina, who spoke with reporters in Ibadan said ACN was committed to driving the ruling party out of power in 2015 and would, therefore, work with a viable party, because with PDP in power, the country would not make any meaningful progress.

The ACN leader declared that, “the PDP has continued to fail Nigerians for over 12 years and we in the opposition cannot continue to fold our arms. We must take pragmatic actions to drive the political party out of power.”

Also, a leader of the ACN in Ibadan South-west Local Government, Ayoola Olawale Joseph, yesterday, called for the immediate sack of all members of the Accord Party (AP) in the Governor Abiola Ajimobli-led ACN government.

Reacting to a statement credited to former governor Rashidi Ladoja and leader of the AP in the state that there was no working agreement between his party and the ACN.

...Says APGA’ll resist attempt by PDP to reclaim Imo through the back door From PETRUS OBI, Enugu

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he All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has raised the alarm over an alleged plan by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to unleash mayhem in Imo State using the lingering feud between Governor Rochas Okorocha and chairmen of the 27 council areas of the state as a smokescreen.

The party has also accused the PDP of seeking ways to cause chaos and anarchy in the state to achieve its desire of getting the president to declare a state of emergency in the state.

National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, who briefed newsmen in Enugu yesterday alleged that the PDP in Imo State, working in collaboration with its national leadership, was yet to accept the “heavy defeat” it suffered during the 2011 governorship election in the state and was, therefore, determined to ensure that the APGA government did not have peace.

However, the PDP through its South-east Publicity Secretary, Ali Odefa, has denied the allegations but insisted that the elected council chairmen ought to remain in office.

Umeh alleged that reports available showed that there would be a heavy mass action in the state from tomorrow, which would be engineered by the PDP to restore the 27 council chairmen and their councillors whose tenure had since expired on August 8, having been sworn in on August 9, 2010.

He added that the second reason for the alleged attack

would be to stampede the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Ben Uwajumogu, to swear in the candidate of the PDP in the purported re-run election conducted by the INEC in Oguta State Constituency a fortnight ago even when there was still a subsisting court order restraining the Speaker from doing so.

The APGA chairman recalled that council chairmen in the state had approached the court challenging their dissolution by Okorocha shortly after he was sworn in as governor, explaining that while the state high court said the governor lacked the powers to dissolve elected council chairmen it could not order that they be reinstated.

The order, he said, was, however, issued by the Court of Appeal after a long legal battle on July 5, 2012.

Said he: “The relief they sought for was for the appellate court to order that they have two-year tenure of office certain and for the court to declare that it began to run from August 9, 2010 when they were sworn in.

Fortunately, the Appeal Court granted their prayers but there was no prayer asking the court to order that they must recover the 13 months they lost as a result of the dissolution. “Now, the PDP has resorted to self-help using the police action to reinstate the chairmen whose tenure already elapsed on August 8, 2012. It’s now clear that PDP is resorting to underhand tactics to extend the tenure of their chairmen. Let it also be noted that the 27 council chairmen had gone to Owerri High Court in suit number HOW/499/2012 asking the court that the 13 months they lost should be added back to

them,” he stated.

Umeh said the latest suit by the chairmen had been adjourned for ruling on September 3 but instead of waiting for the date, the PDP was trying to seek extra-judicial means of restoring the council chairmen and their councillors back to office.

On the Oguta State Assembly seat, Umeh said there were still subsisting court cases pending at the Supreme Court and the Imo State High Court, which the PDP had equally subjected itself to, noting that the party’s resort to unleashing mayhem would only cause anarchy in the state.

“PDP has boasted of having Abuja backing in its attempt to cause chaos in Imo State. The party intends to stampede the Speaker to swear in his candidate. It’s obvious that in both matters, the courts have taken charge.

Removal of patient’s kidney: Bauchi govt seals off clinic From PAUL Bauchi

ORUDE, removed by personnel of the clinic during a surgery operation performed on him.

A press release from the auchi State Ministry of Health has sealed off the office of the Chief Press premises of Aminchi Secretary to the Governor, Clinic and suspended the Ishola Michael Adeyemi, operating licence of the clinic contained that the clinic pending the outcome of which is situated on Yakubu investigations into allegation Wanka Street within Bauchi of professional misconduct metropolis was sealed off on Sunday to enable the inveslevelled against its owners.

While sealing off the clin- tigative panel set up by govic, state Commissioner of ernment over the allegation Health, Dr. Sani Abubakar perform its duties and submit Malami declared that the report for action.

The health commissioner action followed a complaint from one Abubakar Buba who led other officials of the against the clinic that two of ministry advised patients his kidneys were allegedly presently receiving treatment

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at the clinic to vacate the premises in line with the relevant laws governing medical practice in the country, explaining that it was in their own interest to do so.

He, however, assured that each of the persons complained against would be given a fair hearing during the sitting of the panel after which he said, anyone indicted would be prosecuted in accordance with the laws regulating medical practice in the country. He added that if at the end the allegation was not proven against them the premises would be unsealed.

12 DAILY SUN Tuesday, August 21, 2012

NEWS Plateau flood disaster: FG warns high-risk areas to relocate From ISAAC ANUMIHE, Abuja

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ederal Government has warned communities living in the high-risk flood areas to relocate temporarily to safer locations to avoid loss of lives and property during the rainy season.

The warning was given when the Federal Government distributed relief materials to about 10,000 persons who were displaced by flooding in six local government areas of Plateau State.

The six local governments include, Shendam, Wase, Mikang, Kanam, Langtang North and Langtang South.

In a statement, the Federal Government said there was an early warning flood in such areas prone to disaster such as Plateau State. This was also as the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET) had equally alerted of likely high rain that could result in floods in some states including Lagos, Ogun, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa.

Director of Relief and Rehabilitation of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Edward Maigida, who led a team on behalf of the director general to the affected areas, also conveyed the sympathy of the Federal Government to the affected persons. He said the items were delivered to provide quick relief based on the rapid assessment of the situations while further assistance may be considered after the assessment.

He said NEMA had immediately responded to the situation in line with its commitment to promote and ensure effective disaster management in the country.

Chairman of Shendam Local Government Area, Mr Nicholas Kemi, who received the items on behalf of the affected persons, said about 65 communities were affected. He thanked the Federal Government for the kind gesture. Also speaking, the Emir of Wase, Alhaji Muhammadu Haruna, who received the NEMAteam in his palace, commended the agency for the timely response in the delivery of the relief materials.

Niger to position ministry for sustenance of peace From AKIN ALOFETEKUN, Minna

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iger State Government has said it will strengthen the Ministry of Religious Affairs to the extent that it will be in a position to sustain the prevailing peace in the

state.

Similarly, the government said it would continue to collaborate with traditional rulers, community and religious leaders, and teachers in public and private schools to ensure that Niger State remained the most peaceful state in the country.

The Acting Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Musa Ibeto, who made this known when he received the Emir of Minna Dr Umar Farouq Bahago who paid him the traditional Sallah visit at the Government House in Minna on yesterday, said for the state to have peace and economic development all hands must be on deck.

While noting the positive roles traditional rulers had played in the sustenance of peace Ibeto, he said government would continue to rely on them, as there could be no development in an atmosphere of chaos.

The acting governor observed that the security challenges facing the country required all Nigerians to purge themselves of their sins and return to God for its intervention, adding that Nigerians no matter their religious and ethnic background should have the interest of the country at the back of their minds all the time.

Ibeto said the Vision 3:20:2:0 of the state government was not only to achieve socio-economic development but to also bring about first class natives of the state that everyone would be proud of no matter where they found themselves.

•Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun (left), taking his turn to register at the ongoing Ogun State biometric data capturing exercise for civil servants at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta recently.

Sallah day attack in Kano: Detectives arrest suspect From DESMOND MGBOH, Kano

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ne of the suspected insurgents that participated in the Sallah day offensive against the members of the Joint Security Task Force in Kano State has been arrested by police detectives.

The suspect, who was arrested with gunshot wound, had been taken into custody, Daily Sun was told.

Briefing journalists at the palace of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, yesterday, Kano State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris disclosed that security agents had spread their dragnet across the entire state to apprehend the remaining suspects.

He revealed that some of the suspects had fled with the gunshot wounds, which they sustained in the confrontation and urged members of public to be on the lookout for them.

“My men have arrested one of the suspects, with bullet injury, while the search for others has been intensified” he stated, while appealing to,” members of the public, especially medical personnel

to immediately report the presence of any patient with bullet wound to the police.”

Mr. Idris said he was at the Emir’s palace to express his gratitude to the monarch for his support to the Nigeria Police Force in the light of the security challenges, adding that he and his men were also at the monarch’s palace to

felicitate with the Emir on the occasion of the Sallah celebration.

The spokesman of the Joint Security Task Force, Lt Ikedichi Iweha, told Daily Sun by phone that the state was peaceful, adding that security operatives were on the trail of the insurgents.

APGA: Party chieftain attributes crisis to Okorocha From GEOFFREY ANYANWU, Awka

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he crisis rocking the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has been attributed to alleged influence being wielded by the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.

An APGA chieftain and Anambra State Commissioner for Special Duties, Chief Vincent Ezenwajiaku, who made the allegation yesterday while briefing newsmen in Awka, absolved Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi of any complicity in the party’s present problem.

Ezenwajiaku, who ran for Anambra South Senatorial election in 2003 under APGA

and House of Representatives in 2007 general election for Aguata Federal Constituency described the tate Eze Igbo Gburugburu, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu as the face of APGA, adding that he would remain so even as he was dead.

The commissioner therefore said Obi being the ‘first son’ of Ojukwu would mount the leadership of the party and not Okorocha.

He said: “The first son of the family heads the family in the absence of the father, so, Obi not Okorocha, is the leader of the party in the absence of Ojukwu.

“Okorocha may have a hand in the crisis in APGA, going by certain statements credited to him recently, but I

UI VC felicitates with Muslims End suicide bombing, embrace peace, Naibi tells Boko Haram

By GABRIEL DIKE

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he Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI), Professor Isaac Adewole, has congratulated all Muslims and urged them not to lose sight of lessons of the Ramadan fast, which is in fulfillment of Allah’s injunction.

In a statement by UI’s Director of Public Communication, Mr. Olatunji Oladejo, the Vice Chancellor commended the Muslims in the university for their continuous contributions to the development of the institution and peaceful co-existence with their neighbours as well as people of other religious persuasions.

“Let me plead with Muslims and Nigerians of other faiths to use this period for sober reflection and rededicate ourselves to values that will assist in moving Nigeria forward,” Professor Adewole said.

By TAJUDEEN ADIGUN

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eaders of Boko Haram have been urged to use the opportunity of their meeting with the National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd) to table all their grievances and pursue the negotiation to a peaceful conclusion.

The President General of Aborigine Ogboni Worldwide, Oba Bolaji Naibi, gave the advice in a press release issued in London to mark this year’s

It could be recalled that the suspects, who came on a motorbike, had attacked a security post along Kundila

by Zaria Road before they were repelled. A mobile police officer and some of the suspects sustained gunshot wounds in the cause of the confrontation.

Isese Day, he said an end should be put to suicide bombing. He said no religion whatever its colour advocated violence as a means of resolving conflict or disagreement on any issue because of its attendant destruction, waste and devastation of lives and property.

He said religion should be between an individual and God. If any other factor such as economic or political consideration was given a religious interpretation, according to

him, it was a disparagement and a means to feather the nest of the advocates. Oba Naibi advised members of his fraternity to be law-abiding and ensure respect for all constituted authorities.

He told Boko Haram members to sheathe their sword, adding that there could not be progress and development without peace. In the spirit of Ramadan and Eid el Fitr suicide bombers should stop selfimmolation and destruction of innocent members of the public.

do not pray he has a hand in it.

“Obi does not have any intention of destroying APGA for anything, he will be on the wrong side of history, if he spearheads such a thing, I disagree with anybody with such notion.’’

APGA, he said, won election in Anambra and recently in Imo State because of Ojukwu and the performance of Obi in Anambra State, stressing, “Obi is working selflessly for the interest of the people of Anambra State and Ndigbo in general. The crux of the matter is that we want restructuring of APGA which has not been done for years.

“The major problem in the party is the insistence of the stakeholders to restructure the party from the wards, local government and state and not the issue of local government election as being speculated.

This has not gone down well with some eggheads in the party, but I want to let you know that no single person can destroy APGA, as the party will flourish, the party will stay.”

The Anambra State commissioner however said APGA members would ensure that the party was restructured, disclosing that they were ready to make it happen by going through legal processes and other means.

DAILY SUN Tuesday, August 21, 2012, 13

NEWS Delta monarch, Ovie of Agbarha-otor kingdom passes on From KOFA KINGS, Ughelli

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he traditional Ruler of Agbarha Otor Kingdom, John Amrohworiemur Okorefe, Ebelle 11, Ughelli North Council Area of Delta State has passed on.

The late monarch ascended the throne on February 2, 1981 as the Ebelle 11, the Ovie of Agbarha-Otor Kingdom.

The Otota R’ovie, Chief Alfred A. Akpobome while announcing the death of the monarch during press briefing at Agbarha -Otor Community yesterday, described the monarch as a man of peace and justice who had brought unprecedented development to the land.

Akpobome said the late monarch was born on April 19, 1944 to the royal family of (HRM) Okorefe Ojokovo 11 by Queen Ovueraye Idjebo of Onah quarters in Agbarha-Otor kingdom. He was the first of the 12 children of HRM Okorofe Ojakwovo 11.

He attended Agbarha Primary School, which was formerly known as Church Missionary Society (CMS), he later proceeded to Saint Francis Secondary Modern School, Agbarha.

He ended his secondary education at Atamakolomi Technical School, Enerhen in Uwvie Council Area of Delta State where he obtained his City and Guilds (C&G) certificate.

Akpobome said the late monarch worked as a workshop supervisor at Rutam Motors Ltd.

Edo NMA in crisis as 2 parallel executives emerge From TONY OSAUZO, Benin

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wo parallel executives have been inaugurated to run the affairs of the Edo State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), following crisis that has torn the association apart.

The former executive of the association, led by Dr. Philip Ugbodaga had last Saturday conducted election where Dr. James Kpolugbo reportedly emerged as chairman along with other members of the executive.

Surprisingly, another election of the association supervised by the national body of the association held yesterday at the Central Hospital, Benin where another executive, led by Dr. Emmanuel Ighodaro emerged.

Commenting on the state of the Edo NMA yesterday, the national President of the NMA, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, said the Dr. Ighodaro-led executive was the authentic executive recognized by the national body, describing Dr. Kpolugboled executive as ‘fraudulent’.

He said the election that was conducted by Ugbodaga was “a kangaroo election not attended by more than 30 medical doctors.”

In contrast, Dr. Enabulele said yesterday’s election that produced Ighodaro as state chairman, was attended by over 100 medical doctors, including former NMA president, Dr. Dominic Osaghae, Prof. Linus Ajabor and the Edo State Director, Medical Services, Dr. Eboreime.

He said the out-gone executive of the Edo NMA was not qualified to conduct election to produce new set of executive, saying the executive, along with NMA executives for Jigawa and Niger states had earlier been suspended from the national body for breaching the constitution of the NMA by overstaying their tenures.

Some Lagos council bosses want to frustrate us, Okada riders cry out

By MATTHEW DIKE

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ommercial motorcycle operators in Lagos, have raised the alarm that some local government chairmen in the metropolis were out to paralyse their business by ordering them to vacate some roads within their localities.

The state chairman of Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), Fatai Adewole, while giving account of his stewardship at Oba of Egbeda Palace Hall, Egbeda, Lagos alleged that some local government chairmen in the state had for over three months, banned motorcycle operators from operating within some roads.

Adewole who addressed hundreds of the commercial motorcycle operators, alleged that the association had seen that anarchy would befall the sector.

Adewole said there would be upsurge in crime in the days ahead if caution was not applied. He noted that the commercial motorcycle operators were human beings who chose to stay away from crime.

He said the work of motorcycle operators was not an easy task and as such, demanded support and encouragement from government.

The association said that a genuine motorcycle operator would not leave his residence in the morning to foment trouble because at the end of the month, no salary was waiting for him.

• Alhaji Ahmed Shehu, riding into the Government House during sallah homage to Governor Isa Yuguda in Bauchi yesterday. Photo: NAN

Kuramo ocean surge: Six more bodies recovered

...As fun seekers besiege beach By VINCENT KALU, CHRISTOPHER OJI and GILBERT EKEZIE

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ix more bodies of victims of last Saturday’s Atlantic Ocean surge at Kuramo Bar Beach, Victoria Island, were recovered yesterday by officials of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).

The swollen bodies with parts of their skins peeled, were swept to the bank of the ocean.

The police gave the names of the recovered bodies as, Joseph Oke, Olumide, Mary, Daniel Ajose, Olorunwa Babatunde and Alhaji Babatunde Benson (aka KC).

Lagos State police spokesman, Ngozi Braide, said more dead bodies might be recovered before the end of the day.

According to a LASEMA official, men of the agency had been on ground since the day of the incident to see if more bodies could be recovered.

The LASEMA official, who craved anonymity, said though there were no divers to get the remaining bodies, they relied on the ocean current to sweep out the remaining to the shore, noting that it was possible that some of the bodies would be carried to shores far away from the scene of the accident.

“We recovered four yesterday. The ocean current brought them out to the bank of the beach. In fact, this can be described as luck because many of the bodies cannot be found since we don’t have divers, so any victim’s body that the water brings out is lucky and that is why we are always here to see if there are going to be more bodies.”

The recovered bodies were taken to the Lagos State Hospital Mortuary, Marina.

An official of the EKO Atlantic Construction Company responsible for the sand filling of the Bar Beach described the incident as a disaster that needed urgent attention.

He pointed out that his organisation was presently working towards ensuring that the surge did not extend to Eko Hotels and surrounding streets. “This is really an emergency situation. What happened here is a disaster and that is why we are tackling it without delay because any delay could be more dangerous as the water can get to Eko Hotel, Ajose Adeogun

and surrounding streets.”

Even as the workers of Eko Atlantic are busy sand filling the affected area and LASEMA officials on standby to recover more bodies, fun seekers were having swell time catching fun and swimming. Some of them told Daily Sun that the ocean surge incident could not stop them from going or doing businesses at the beach.

One of them, Jumoke, described the incident as an accident that could occur anywhere, any day. “Well, the incident has happened and God knows why it happened.

However, it will not stop people from coming to the beach.

This is where many people

come to ease off stress, so it will continue no matter what happened.”

Another visitor at the beach, Jack, pointed out that as long as tourism was concerned, people would continue to visit or do businesses at the beach. “Here is a tourism centre. So people will continue to come here. Yes, we learnt that about 16 people were swept off by the ocean here last Saturday but that does not mean people should not come here to catch fun anymore.

“After all, motor accidents happen and many people die, yet others board vehicles to their destinations. So, it is one of those things.”

Boko Haram has been politicized, says Martins Elechi From GODDY Abakaliki

OSUJI and that of the Niger Delta militants. The proclamation of neglect of the region was overnor Martin made as far as 1958 by the Elechi of Ebonyi Lord Willins Commission set by the British State has alleged that up Boko Haram activities in the Government”.

He argued, “In 1960, oil country were politically motivated and had nothing to do was discovered in the area with religion, hunger and and in the process to tap oil, unemployment as being their environment was polluted, and this affected their insinuated by some people.

The activities of the sect agricultural, environmental have caused the untimely and general wellbeing. The deaths of many innocent issue came up again during Nigerians and the destruction the Constituent Assembly of of properties of Christians 1977/78 when the people cried out against their continand Moslems.

Gov. Elechi, while receiv- ued degradation”.

“At that time, Abuja was ing the Moslems community in the state who paid him a still beginning as the Niger sallah homage at the Delta people complained that Government House, the oil money from their area Abakaliki, yesterday was being used to develop a expressed his displeasure that virgin land such as Abuja. the Federal Government had Though the youths from the succumbed to pressure to area might have overreacted, negotiate with the sect. He their actions were still justisaid that the sect was not sin- fied than that of the Boko Haram, which have no case to cere in their demands.

His words: “The negotia- make”, he said.

Elechi regretted that politition is not sincere because there is no basis for compari- cians have hijacked the sect’s son between their agitation activities for their selfish pur-

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poses after the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan as the PDP candidate for 2011 presidential elections.

Immediately he was announced as the winner of the primaries at the Eagle Square, Abuja, northern governors started receiving text messages from their people accusing them of being antiIslam.

According to the governor “So many of them were either tagged Bishops, Cardinal, Pope and Reverend Fathers, right there at the Eagle Square, the Chairman even as Jonathan’s campaign Committee, Alhaji Dalhatu Tafida was described as Pope in text massages sent by some Muslim faithful in the north.

Elechi however, commended the Muslim community in the state for condemning the continuous bombings and killings of Christians in the North, promising, that the state government would continue to ensure the security of lives and properties of its citizenry.

14,

DAILY SUN Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Foreign Affairs Odd World

• Pants protest: Activists on Adelaide beach. Photo:Brightcove

Australian beachgoers drop pants for toilet protest

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welve people, dressed in bowler hats and smart black suits, carried their own toilets down to the beach, placing them in a line on the beach front before dropping their trousers and sitting.

The men who staged a sit in on toilets at Adelaide beach were protesting the puiblic facilities in the area.The protesters said they were demanding public toilet facilities, of which there are currently none, in the local area.

A local photographer Andrew Baines came up with the idea of the protest, and will paint the scene for an exhibition in January 2013, after taking photographs at the event on Sunday.

He said though that creat-

ing this sort of work was about more than just the aesthetics.

“I think this is the job of an artist to take these issues

to the wider community and let people talk about it,” he said. Beachgoers often have to ask local cafe owners to use their toilets, disturbing

customers and inconveniencing the owners.

But Kym Hewitt, a local business owner, said he sympathised with those beach-

Low on fuel: Air France asks passengers to check wallets for cash A

n emergency layover in Syria’s capital was bad enough.

Then passengers on Air France Flight 562 were asked to open their wallets to check if they had enough cash to pay for more fuel.

The plane, heading from Paris to Lebanon’s capital, diverted amid tensions near the Beirut airport on Wednesday (last week).

Low on fuel, it instead land-

They resolved the problems with the Damascus airport,” said a passenger speaking on France-Info radio identified as May Bsat.

The Boeing 777, carrying 185 people, took off for an overnight layover in Cyprus then landed safely in Beirut on Thursday.

Lebanon is a volatile mix of pro- and anti-Syrian factions, and a series of hostagetakings has raised worries about Lebanon being dragged deeper into Syria’s unrest.

Mobs supporting Syrian President Bashar Assad to find him suffering no seri- a bit. We are going to have a blocked the main airport ous effects from the bite. full investigation but it was highway in Beirut on O’Shea, best known as the just an accident. I’m hoping Wednesday, before Lebanese presenter of the Discovery to be out of hospital soon.” military units moved in.

Channel series ‘O’Shea’s Big Adventure’ and Channel 4’s ‘O’Shea’s Dangerous Reptiles’ was airlifted to Worcester Royal Hospital where his condition was yesterday described as “stable”.

The former Kennedale He was expected to be disformer North Texas High School English teacher charged from hospital this high school teacher had sex with the students at afternoon. Speaking from his was convicted Friday hospital bed yesterday, and sentenced to five years in her home over two months in O’Shea played down the bite prison for having sex with 2011, authorities said. from the king cobra, the five 18-year-old students at Colleps is married and has three children. She turned world’s longest venomous her home. herself in after a cellphone snake and described it as “just The Tarrant County jury video of one encounter that a nick.” He said: “It was an decided on the sentence for accident. It was just a nick Brittni Nicole Colleps, 28, of involved multiple students emerged. That video was really.

Arlington after nearly three “Sometimes there are acci- hours of deliberation. It took shown a trial.

Three former students who dents at work but it’s just jurors less than an hour to testified Thursday said that these sort of ones are a lot find her guilty earlier in the more interesting to people. It day of 16 counts of having an they did not consider themselves victims and did not was a lucky escape. inappropriate relationship want to see their former “I would class any snake between a student and bite that doesn’t cause a seri- teacher. The second-degree English teacher prosecuted. ous injury to be a lucky felony is punishable by two to The three were football and escape. I won’t lie, it did hurt 20 years in prison per count. track athletes. Arlington police Detective Jason

ed in Damascus, the capital of neighboring Syria, where a civil war is raging. An Air France spokesman explained Friday that the crew inquired about passenger cash only as a “precautionary measure” because of the “very unusual circumstances.” Sanctions against Syria complicated payment for extra fuel.

He said Air France found a way to pay for the fill-up without tapping customer

pockets, and apologized for the inconvenience. He wouldn’t say how the airline paid, or how much. One woman aboard said the passengers had rounded up 17,000 euros.

“The pilot asked the passengers in first class to get their cash together. Everyone started to collect money, and they managed to collect 17,000, but the pilot in the end didn’t take anything.

TV reptile expert bitten by deadly cobra

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orld-renowned reptile expert and TV wildlife personality Mark O’Shea had to be airlifted to hospital after being bitten by a killer King Cobra.

Snake enthusiast O’Shea, 56, had a lucky escape after the massive 10ft (3m) reptile clamped its jaws around his leg at West Midlands Safari Park on Sunday afternoon.

goes faced with little choice.

“The public toilets are not up to scratch at all and quiet often we have a lot of people coming through to the cafe,

sort of not really dressed for the cafe,” he said.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the local council is currently consulting the community about the best place to build the toilets

The deadly cobra whose venom is strong enough to kill an elephant dug its fangs into the reptile curator’s leg during a routine feed.

First aid staff armed with life-saving anti-venom rushed to O’Shea’s aid due to fears that the deadly poison had entered his bloodstream.

But thanks to their quick thinking paramedics arrived

• Mark O’Shea with the King Cobra which later bit him

The layover was awkward for Air France, the flagship carrier for a country whose government toes a hard line against Syrian President Bashar Assad and warns all its citizens to avoid or leave Syrian soil.

France, which once ruled Syria and Lebanon, championed European Union-wide economic sanctions on Syria, including its national airline, Syria Air. Air France operated regular flights to Damascus until suspending them amid violence earlier this year.

While it was the first time Air France said it had resorted to a request for passenger cash, it wasn’t the first airline to do so.

US female teacher found guilty after group sex with 5 students

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Houston testified that charges were filed because “18 or not, it’s a crime” for a teacher to have sex with her students.

Two former students told jurors their relationships with Colleps began with the exchange of text messages that quickly turned sexual.

• Brittni Nicole Colleps

DAILY SUN Tuesday, August 21, 2012,

15

Foreign Affairs

Rescuers and relatives (right) try to stop a woman (left) from jumping off a building in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, China on Tuesday, last week. The woman was rescued as she tried to commit suicide after killing her nephew following a family dispute, local media reported. Photo: China Daily / Reuters

South African miners trickle back to work after 44 killed

• Most sensational trial in 3 decades

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bout a third of the workforce returned yesterday to South Africa’s Marikana platinum mine, resuming operations at the site where police shot dead 34 striking miners in clashes that evoked memories of apartheid-era violence.

Mine owner Lonmin has threatened about 3,000 striking workers with dismissal if they do not show up at Marikana, 100 kilometers (60 miles) northwest of Johannesburg, where miners armed with spears, machetes and handguns died on Thursday in a hail of police fire.

Ten people were also killed prior to the police shooting, including a shop steward from the country’s biggest union.

China: Politburo member’s wife gets suspended death sentence

hina sentenced the wife of fallen Politburo member Bo Xilai to death yesterday but suspended her execution, setting the stage for a possible final purge of Bo himself in a scandal that has shaken Beijing ahead of a leadership transition.

The sentence means Gu Kailai is likely to face life in jail for murdering British businessman Neil Heywood last year.

It also brings a curtain down on China’s most sensational trial in three decades, yet opens a new and more politically dangerous act for the ruling Communist Party how to deal with Bo, an ambitious and well-connected provincial leader whose downfall

exposed rifts in the party.

“I feel the verdict is just and fully reflects the court’s special respect for the law, its special respect for reality and, in particular, its special respect for life,” Gu said of the sentence in official television footage of the hearing.

Gu, 53, wore a white shirt and black suit and stood expressionless, hands folded in front of her, as she spoke, pausing at one point to find the right words.

At her trial on August 9, Gu admitted to poisoning Heywood last November, and alleged that a business dispute between them led him to threaten her son, Bo Guagua, according to official accounts published by state media. A court official, Tang Yigan, said the court had concluded

that Heywood used threatening words against Bo Guagua, but had never acted on them. The court also found Gu’s actions reflected a “psychological impairment” but did not elaborate.

Gu could still face execution if she commits a new offence over the next two years. Almost invariably in China, however, such suspended sentences are commuted to long prison terms.

The court, in the eastern city of Hefei, also said Zhang Xiaojun, an aide to the Bo family, was sentenced to nine years in jail for acting as an accomplice to the poisoning of Heywood.

“With both of the defendants declining to appeal, this marks the end of things,” Zhang’s lawyer, Li Renting, told Reuters. Four policemen were also convicted on

Monday of having sought to protect Gu from investigation, receiving jail sentences of between five and 11 years a development that could prove damaging for Bo because it establishes formally that there was an attempted cover-up.

Police sources in Chongqing, the southwestern municipality ruled by Bo

• Neil Heywood

until he was ousted as its party chief in March, have said that Bo tried to shut down the investigation into his wife after being told she was a suspect early this year.

Some Chinese political experts doubt the party will look to prosecute Bo, and note that his name was not cited at either the trial of his wife or the four policemen.

• Gu Kailai

Wikileaks: South American nations back Ecuador Bloody Eid in Syria …As UK insists on extradition

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he United Kingdom has insisted it will not grant Julian Assange “safe passage” to Ecuador as it seeks a diplomatic solution to him being given asylum.

Downing Street said the government was obliged to extradite Mr Assange to Sweden where he faces questioning over sex assault claims, which he denies. The Wikileaks founder has been staying at Ecuador’s London Embassy since June.

South American nations have pledged support for Ecuador after the UK said it could legally enter the building.

The Supreme Court in May dismissed Mr Assange’s bid to reopen his appeal against extradition and gave him a two-week grace period before extradition proceedings could start.

“We hope that we can reach a diplomatic solution and we are doing what we

can to achieve that,” Prime Minister David Cameron’s official spokesman said.

“Under our law, having exhausted all the options of appeal, we are obliged to extradite him to Sweden. It

is our intention to carry out that obligation. “We will continue talking to the Ecuadorean government and others to try to find a diplomatic solution.”

Last week Ecuador described as a “threat” a UK letter that drew attention to

the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987, which • 84 killed could allow it to potentially lift the embassy’s diplomatic s Muslims in Syria status to allow police to enter celebrated the second the building to arrest Mr of three days of feastAssange for breaching his ing to honor the end of the bail terms. holy month of Ramadan, the holiday’s message of amity and tolerance contrasted sharply with the reality on the ground.

Transitional Federal At least 84 people were Government structure it seeks killed yesterday morning, to replace, “with unprece- including two children and dented levels of political their mother in Daraa, the interference, corruption and Local Coordination intimidation.”

Committees of Syria opposiSomali elders were tasked with naming a parliament, tion group said. Daraa since no election could be province, where the conflict held given the state of securi- began in March 2011 as ty around the country. A tech- peaceful anti-government nical committee disqualified demonstrations, has suffered several nominees. “Some eld- heightened violence in recent ers allegedly nominated une- days.

It is also the home province ducated and objectionable individuals, some sold seats of Vice President Farouq alto highest bidders, and others Sharaa, who rebels say has even nominated their own defected from the regime.

On Sunday, the charred family members,” the International Crisis Group bodies of 20 people were discovered in the Daraa city of said.

Somalia gets new parliament without presidential vote

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omalia’s chief justice yesterday swore in 211 new members of parliament, an accomplishment but one that fell far short of United Nations hopes that the Horn of Africa nation would seat a full 275-member parliament that would vote in a new president.

Monday (yesterday), the last day of eight years of Somalia’s U.N.-backed Transitional Federal Government was the day by which the U.N. repeatedly said a new president would be in place. But political bickering, violent threats and seat-buying schemes

delayed progress, guaranteeing the day would come and go with no new leader in place.

Somalia has seen much progress over the last year.

Al-Shabab militants were forced out of Mogadishu in August 2011, allowing businesses to thrive and the arts and sports to return.

However, Mogadishu politics remains an ugly business, as it did in 1991, when the country’s last legitimate president was ousted and the country spiraled into bloody chaos. The International Crisis Group said the current political process has been as undemocratic as the

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Hirak, and 31 other people were killed in the province, the LCC said. Government forces executed 14 people in Daraa hours after they were detained, the opposition network said.

Hirak took another beating Monday, when mortars and rockets rained down on the city, the LCC said. And in the Damascus suburb of Qaboun, 10 bodies were found bearing “obvious torture marks,” the group said.

The reports came a day after the mandate of the U.N. observer mission in Syria ended, with the country no closer to a viable cease-fire than it was when monitors arrived four months ago.

The U.N. monitoring mission arrived in Syria in April, on the heels of a cease-fire that never took hold. Over the past month, opposition activists have reported an average of more than 100 deaths per day in the fighting, which has become a civil war.

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DAILY SUN Tuesday, August 21, 2012

NewsPlus Will Alhaji Gawat ever walk back home?

•Fear heightens over broadcaster’s mysterious disappearance

By RAZAQ BAMIDELE

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hen, on July 6, this year, an ace broadcaster and prolific independent television producer, Alhaji Razaq Aremu Gawat, was declared missing, the impression was that he was kidnapped for ransom.

However, six weeks down the line, nothing yet has been heard of the popular broadcaster and master of ceremonies. Right now, the initial anxiety has turned into genuine fears over his life, not only for his family and the Muslim community but for the entire Lagos State residents.

Gawat, 50, is Chief Executive Officer of Gawat Communications and anchor of the NTA Channel 10 popular Ramadan Programme, E dide, E Ji Saari.”

During the Ramadan dawn programme, expensive gifts are distributed to callers, irrespective of religion. He was seen last while leaving Ikeja where he was said to have attended a meeting about 5pm on that fateful Tuesday. The unfortunate incident occurred about 11pm on Eko Bridge on his way to his Adeniji Adele home. Efforts to find his whereabouts have since remained unsuccessful.

His black Toyota SUV, with Lagos registration number RE 77 AAA, was discovered on the Eko Bridge inward Apongbon about 11:45pm on the fateful day by LASTMA officials, led by the zonal head, Mr. Akinpelu Ayuba. The LASTMA officials were conducting safety checks on the bridge.

The various speculations, surrounding the issue have only helped in adding more tension to the dilemma of his family and wellwishers.

Three days after his mysterious disappear-

•Gawat (right) with a friend

ance, the broadcaster’s corpse was reportedly found under Apogbon Bridge where his SUV was initially discovered. The following day, a national television and radio station announced that he had been found in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State. But Lagos State Police Command’s spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, dismissed the speculations. Braide said Gawat was yet to be found.

Since then, various media and spiritual activities have been embarked upon by various Islamic groups and other social organisations. Notable among them are the Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO), Ahmadiyyah Muslim Mission, Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), among others.

CIO, during its prayer sessions, said the search for the missing broadcaster should be a collective effort. The organisations’s Lagos Chapter Coordinator, Imam Shuaib Abdullahi called on “all Muslims and nonMuslims, the good people of this great country to join us in the search for Alhaji Aremu Gawat. An evil unto one is an evil onto all if truly we are all Nigerians. And so, the search for this illustrious man must be by all, irrespective of creed and tribe.”

However, as the search continues, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), has raised the hope that the missing journalist would be found.

The governor appealed to Lagosians that have useful information regarding the whereabouts of the television presenter to come forward with such information to facilitate the current efforts by the police and the state government to find him.

Speaking to newsmen in an interview,

•Alh. Gawat Governor Fashola said the success of any investigation by the police is based on information by the people adding that anyone who brought any useful information that could lead to the discovery of the missing person would be substantially rewarded.

“I am optimistic that we will find him. I urge everybody to remain hopeful that we will find him. I know the police are working.

They have some useful information that they are sharing with me. We are pursuing the leads, though it might take time. We are checking every information. So, anybody who has any information that may lead us to him should let us know. My number is 08034301122”, the governor said.

Reiterating his call for useful information, Fashola, who also urged the people to remain calm, further assured: “I know that the police are working hard at the leads that we have picked up. Everybody who has a reason to believe that he (Gawat) could be here or there must help us. Call 767 or 112 emergency toll free numbers to inform the security agents.”

Also hopeful is Gawat’s wife, Alhaja Fatimat who also expressed optimism that her husband would walk back home alive just as she appealed for his release by whoever was holding him.

The visibly troubled woman, however, at their Adeniji Adele residence, lamented the agony the family was passing through over his disappearance.

The presenter’s son, Jubril, also reaffirmed hope that his father was not dead. “I believe my dad is still alive,” he said, just as he described the incident as “very unfortunate and unimaginable.”

Jubril spoke further: “I still cannot believe this is happening to him. If I was to predict 1000 things that could happen to him this year, this would never have made the list.”

Meanwhile, the Ahamadiyyah Muslim Jama’at of Nigeria has joined other clerics and the Nigeria union of Journalists (NUJ), in intensifying prayers for the safe return of the missing presenter.

The Lagos Missioner of the society, Sheikh Qasim Oyekola told journalists in Lagos that “the search for our missing brother is our collective responsibility.

Also, the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), which had expressed shock at the development, is hopeful that the husband of one of them would walk back home alive.

A statement signed by its General Secretary, Lagos State Chapter, Mrs Rahmatallahi Olaniyan made a passionate appeal to everyone who knows anything about his whereabouts to please inform his family or the nearest police station. She equally appeal to the Lagos State government and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to please intervene immediately to ensure his safe release.

However, as the waiting game continues, some are of the opinion that if he was abducted as a result of his popular Ramadan programme, he might soon be released now that Ramadan is over.

But even now, the questions agitating the minds of the people are, “who actually kidnapped Alhaji Gawat? Why was he kidnapped? And why did the kidnappers choose this period?’

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

DAILY SUN

17

NewsPlus Drama in Ogun community

Nursing mother elopes with lover, six-day-old child •Mother of three flees matrimonial home two days to baby’s christening

By WOLE BALOGUN

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t was a bizarre incident. And since the event, the entire community has been thrown into confusion.

A sin allegedly committed by Mrs. Oladejo, a housewife popularly known as Iya Lati, who recently bolted with her six-dayold baby and her lover, two days before the baby’s christening ceremony, has continued to brew confusion and sadness in Abule Lemode, a community in Ijoko area of Ogun State.

The reporter learnt that on Thursday, August 9, Mr. Jimoh Oladejo’s neighbours alerted him that his wife and mother of his three children had packed her belongings and taken their sixday-old baby to her alleged lover (names withheld), a meat vendor in Ijoko market.

Maddened at the development, Oladejo swung into action and commisioned his friends to conduct a frantic search for his wife and the said meat vendor. He also reported the matter to the police and in a couple of days, the lover was found somewhere in the market. He was promptly dragged before the police.

Mrs. Oladejo had, however, disappeared into thin air with the baby. When she was contacted on phone, she allegedly confessed that Oladejo was not the father of her new baby and that she had taken the baby to its real father. She was also said to have allegedly made the same confession in her statement at the police station.

As the saying goes, bad news travels fast. The news

•Oladejo

had gone round that Oladejo’s wife had abandoned him for her boyfriend, a ‘common’ meat vendor. Tongues wagged as many versions of the story held sway in the community. Some said the runaway wife must have been under a spell while others said she had always been a promiscuous woman. Yet, others rumoured that she must have made up her mind to leave her husband because she wasn’t enjoying her marriage.

To probably bring back his dignity as a man, Oladejo ensured that his ‘rival’ was detained in the police station after which he agreed to facilitate his release after much persuasion.

Checks by this reporter about the whereabouts of Oladejo’s wife revealed that she went into hiding in some place chosen by the alleged lover. Efforts were made to meet with her in her hideout through the help of some residents.

This reporter was around when villagers asked her why she behaved the way she did and who actually fathered her new baby.

She kept mum on the second question but said she didn’t know what came over her when she packed her belongings and left her husband’s house. According to her, she just had a sudden urge to leave the place, adding that she had no peace in her mind until she had vacated the place. She, however, called on the people to plead with her husband to forgive her.

H e r words: “I am very sorry. I w a n t m y d e a r husband to forgive me. I know I’ve wronged him. I cannot say who owns the baby for now.

I don’t know what came over me when I packed my belongings

and left my husband’s house. I just want him to forgive me.”

When this reporter met with Mr. Oladejo and asked for his comments on the development, the jilted husband looked quite gentle.

The man, who spoke in a very soft tone, was initially very reluctant, saying his father did not want him to comment publicly on the issue.

But when reminded that it was no longer an issue between his family and that of his wife and that the whole community was already aware of what happened, Oladejo opened up.

Said he: “I am really sad about the development. I never expected it from my wife. She already had three children before this messy development. Probably, she got exposed to infidelity through the bad company she had been keeping at the place where I rented a shop for her to do her hair dressing business. She wasn’t like this before I got her that shop. It is really a sad development.”

“However, she has begun to make efforts to come back to me. The night I facilitated the release of the meat vendor from the police custody, she was found sleeping at the backyard of my rented apartment. I found that out at about 12 midnight that she slept there with the baby. When I knew about it, I felt like beating the hell out of her but then I restrained myself, knowing that she was too weak for such assault.

Then I asked a friend to allow her sleep in his place. My neighbours advised that I find a way of sending her to her parents before she did something harmful to herself and I took her and the baby to her mother at Dalemo. The old woman did not want to accept her at first.

She said my wife was no longer her child after committing such atrocity. She said my wife had disgraced their family. I pleaded with my mother-in-law to accept her because of the baby and she did.

Before I left her place, the old woman swore to me that she was not privy to the alleged affair between my wife and the meat vendor. To convince me, she even swore by Ogun, the god of iron.

•Oladejo She got a hoe and a cutlass and put them inside some water. She then drank the water, claiming that she had never even set her eyes on the meat vendor, let alone knowing that he was messing around with my wife.

“After I took her to stay with her mother, she went to Ibadan where my parents reside to meet with my father. That was when my father called to restrain me from taking further rash actions on the matter.

“Probably in order to persuade me, she changed the statement she had written at the police station and sent a slip to me in which she begged for forgiveness, saying she didn’t know what made her pack her load from my place. My friends asked me to tear the slip and I did so instantly.”

Asked if he was convinced that he actually fathered the woman’s three other children, the man kept

silent but when asked if he wasn’t thinking that his life could be in danger now that he obviously had a rival that was also sleeping with his wife, Oladejo boasted: “My father is a strong herbalist. There is nothing anybody can do to harm me; I’m sure of that. I just don’t want to take any more action on the matter.”

The reporter also wanted to know if Oladejo would accept his wife back after the messy development but the 32-year-old man merely smiled, electing to ignore the question.

Efforts to get the response of the meat vendor were unsuccessful as he could not be reached. Residents of the village said he had probably gone into hiding to save his life as angry villagers were still itching for an oppurtunity to teach him some lesson.

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DAILY SUN Tuesday August 21, 2012

Clinton’s visit: Matters arising

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he recent brief visit to Nigeria by the United States’ Secretary of State, Mrs Hillary Clinton, fell far short of the expectations of most Nigerians. Apart from the fact that her August 9 visit touched on few known issues on the bi-national cooperation between the two countries, everything else she discussed with President Jonathan was merely tangential to the real problems confronting the country at moment.

The world was also not surprised that she expressed the readiness of the American government to be supportive of Nigerian government’s anti-corruption and other reform efforts. That, of course, was promptly and generously acknowledged by her chief host, President Goodluck Jonathan.

Outside borderline issues such as diversification of the economy, education, health and agriculture, Mrs Clinton was quiet or rather stonewalled on the biggest issue facing Nigeria at the moment, the security challenge posed by the radical Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

We then ask: was this deliberate? Did it suggest a division in the American intelligence apparatchik? Or is the Obama administration abandoning president Jonathan to his own fate? No doubt, these are some of the legitimate questions that Mrs Clinton’s silence on terrorist attacks in Nigeria has thrown up. For close to two years now, Boko Haram has been giving the Jonathan administration a bloody nose. The expectation therefore ahead of Clinton’s visit was that the danger posed by the sect would top other issues slated for discussion with president Jonathan. It was not to be, at least from what was gleaned from her meeting with our president. Even in her terse speech, Mrs Clinton was evasive. She mentioned “security” just once, and no reference at all to Boko Haram and the danger it poses to security in Nigeria.

We find it strange that Mrs Clinton’s visit to Nigeria, for whatever it was worth, ended without any notable footprints. No wonder her departure immediately raised alarm bells and huge question marks among concerned Nigerians in and outside the country.

Her studied silence may have confirmed the dilemma which the American government is facing over whether Boko Haram should be designated a Foreign Terrorist Organisation or not.

We hold that America’s vacillation on the security challenge in Nigeria gives the impression that the world’s watch dog may have left Jonathan to sort out the matter by himself. That could well be the deduction from Mrs Clinton’s assurance when she told President Jonathan … “we will be by your side as you make the reforms and take tough decisions that are necessary.”

That, in effect, means that America is throwing the Boko Haram puzzle back to Jonathan to resolve. It could also imply a direct challenge to Jonathan to find a homegrown solution to the spate of attacks by the sect.

However, in spite of America’s seeming indifference to terrorism in Nigeria, President Jonathan should be acutely aware that the mantle is on his shoulders to confront terrorism and its sponsors in Nigeria.

As the search for a permanent solution to the security challenge continues, especially in the northern part of the country, pretending that Boko Haram does not represent a present danger to the country will amount to living in denial.

Now that it is clear that America may not help Nigeria in this matter, President Jonathan needs to roll up his sleeves and deal decisively with this menace posed by terrorism. The destiny of this country lies with Nigerians, not with foreign sympathizers.

COMMENT

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

LETTER Obasanjo’s prescription on insecurity ments and debates within the PDP and across IT amazes me that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is prescribing a road map to the insecurity problem rocking Nigeria. I assert that Obasanjo and PDP sowed the seed of insecurity which has sent many innocent Nigerians to their underserved graves so early in their life. The Peoples Democratic Party which Obasanjo was before now the Board of Trustees Chairman promotes deceit and double speak.

In the build up to the 2011 Presidential election, the ruling party led by Prince Vincent Ogbulafor declared that the zoning principle of the party was still in place and he was kicked out as the Chairman of the party and even charged to court by the Jonathan government over an alleged fraud committed when he was a Minister three to four years before for which nobody mentioned earlier. Then, came a certain Okwesilieze Nwodo who favoured the ascendancy of Goodluck Jonathan. The argu-

Nigeria was the desirability or otherwise of Mr. Goodluck Jonathan as the President to contest the presidential election knowing very well that there is a formula which the party adopted at its formation. The zoning arrangement which we knew then was that power will rotate between the North and South and because President Yar’adua died in office not completing his four year tenure in office, it was incumbent on the North to produce another President in replacement for Yar’adua who represented them. And a lot of Nigerians argued that the north had ruled for a good number of years and should not be allowed to take another shot at the presidency.

They also argued that the constitution of Nigeria does not support zoning. Yes, I agree that the North had ruled for more than enough to the detriment of the south but my argument then and

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even now is that at the time the north was always at the helm of affairs in Nigeria, it was by survival of the fittest and the North was stronger than the South and that was why they always emerged President whether by civilian or military dictatorships. On the second argument that the constitution of the PDPis not superior to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria , I also agree, but I have always held the view that Mr. Jonathan is a member of the party and should adhere to the rules, norms, practices, principles and conventions of the party or look for an alternative platform to achieve his Presidential aspiration if he felt that he was admired by Nigerians.

So, the debate continued and preparation for the election was in top gear. I am not arguing for Buhari or Atiku or anybody else but just any northerner that would meet the requirements that Nigerians want. In April 2011, the presidential election was held and Jonathan won according to the Independent National Electoral Commission not minding the monumental rigging in the South- east and South- south. And we agreed because the court declared that he Jonathan won. But the north felt cheated and since then Nigeria has not known peace. The silence or connivance of Obasanjo as the BOT

chairman on the subject of zoning is mostly what led us to where we are now.

So, he has no moral right to decry insecurity because he sowed the seed. A lot of people even argue that he drafted Umaru Yar’Adua for the rigorous job of President knowing very well that he was not fit for the rigours of the office so that when he dies his deputy Jonathan would take over and those who hold this position are not far from the truth knowing the kind of person Obasanjo is. A man with an unforgiving spirit.

Under Obasanjo’s watch in 2003, Dr Chris Ngige, former Governor of Anambra state was kidnapped from his office by hoodlums led by late Assistant Inspector General of police zone 9, Raphael Ige . The hoodlums emboldened by the fact that they were not prosecuted, declared war on the Institutions and monuments build by the government and set them ablaze in commando fashion and the federal government under Obasanjo looked on.

Today, this same man is coming out to give a lecture on insecurity which sad enough he sowed and nutured to fruition.

Ejikeme Nnaji Lagos.

DAILY SUN

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

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Boko Haram:U.S leaves Jonathan to his luck

H

er visit to Nigeria, August 9, was a short stop. It was less than four hours on the ground. It left no lasting impressions, no visible footprints. she left her host with no succour to his present despair. Apart from a few assuring words that made the visit of the U.S secretary of State something to remember, Clinton left Nigeria making the President look like someone who was bounced from a garden party but placated with a drink on her way out. At last, Nigeria got what might be a farewell visit of Clinton’ who is widely speculated to step down from that coveted post very soon. On the side of the Nigerian government, it helped to squash earlier speculations that she had snubbed Nigeria, and indeed President Goodluck Jonathan, in her ten-day diplomatic shuttle to seven African nations which began August 5, with Kenya as her first stop.

The fact that Nigeria was not originally listed in her itinerary was something government the opposition feasted on for a few days. That she adjusted her schedule to accommodate Nigeria did much more than sooth frayed nerves. Right from the time her plane touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where she was gracefully greeted by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Viola Onuwuliri, and straight to the Presidential Villa, where she was ushered into the warm embrace of President Jonathan by the Minister of Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, expectations were high on what she would discuss with President Jonathan. Security concerns, many had thought, would dominate other issues. A long, distressing sequence of events had taken place in Nigeria before Mrs Clinton arrived. For close to two years, the sect has been giving government a bloody

Tuesday with Dan Onwukwe

08023022170 dan_onwukwe@yahoo.com nose. And yet no solution in sight on how to tame the sect. But it wasn’t to be. She was completely silent on Boko Haram. She only mentioned the word security once in her terse statement, and no definitive stand of the Obama administration on the spate of terrorist attacks in Nigeria. Expectedly, her departure from Nigeria immediately set off alarm bells. Quite a few questions were asked: was her silence deliberate, or the result of a division within the intelligence/information apparatchik in America? Or better still, was Clinton apparent indifferent a sheer diplomatic stratagem a clear case of lack of courage to designate Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), a move reportedly favoured by the US State Department but opposed by the American Central Intelligence Agency(CIA)and the Homeland Security?

These are legitimate questions that many Nigerians wanted answers not in secret but in public. Many Nigerians were delighted to see Mrs Clinton talk about the “limitless” future of Nigeria and that reminder to government all the citizens’ better opportunities, regardless of gender or ethnicity. The way she responded unhesitatingly to other matters, in her words, “ the extremely kind and generous words” by President Jonathan, and the promise of the intention of the U.S government to “remain very supportive” of gov-

July 7, 2012, and catalogued a series of attacks on Christians and their places of worship. Sources in Washington say Mrs Clinton decline to make a definite pronouncement on Boko Haram was deliberate. For an outspoken personality like Mrs Clinton, described by her biographer, Carl Berasten as “a woman in charge” to pander over terrorism in Nigeria, is indeed surprising.

In an election year, politicians in Washington maintain that the Obama administration is rather dodgy and diplomatic on the “clear and present danger” posed by other extremist groups in the Arab nations that may be sympathetic to the cause the Boko Haram in Nigeria. Therefore, become her visit throws the puzzle back to Jonathan.

Having proved over time that it has grown from a small religious sect, and now, to a flexible dynamic organization capable of changing tactics and targets, if Jonathan must overcome, this he must do: take control over his strongholds. These are personal inhibiting factors that limit one’s effectiveness and render him helpless. There are deep-seated doubts, even doubts on the part of the President some forces so formidable are behind Boko Haram that taking them on could imperil his presidency. Such thoughts can only keep a president in bondage, because the things one often dreads is what befalls him. That, of course would not reassure many Nigerians, especially now that the sect has employed an urban guerilla tactics that sometimes defy military might.

That is the conundrum, which perhaps was the reason why Mrs Clinton reportedly advised the Federal Government before she left, to look beyond military option.

ernment reform efforts, including the government’s anti-corruption efforts of Jonathan’s administration, gave her away as deliberately stonewalling on the crucial matter of security which the U.S government has been championing in other hemispheres.

Her assurance to President Jonathan that the American government will be “by your side as you make the reforms and take the tough decisions that are necessary.” Has the connotative meaning of telling Jonathan ‘you have to work out your own salvation’ by looking for home-grown solution to the menace of Boko Haram. That, perhaps was what Mrs Clinton meant when she said that one of the ways forward is for Jonathan to “create an intelligence fusion cell” from difference intelligence agencies.

These are by all means kind and generous words that needs political will to carry out.

But does the President have the audacity to take those tough decisions that Clinton talked about? Is that why he (Jonathan) has been left to his own fate, with an ally like America watching from a distance? This is also in spite of the letter written to her by President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), in which it expressed strong reservations the way Boko Haram has been unleashing attacks after attacks on Christians in Nigeria.

CAN president had, in his letter dated * You can reach me on twitter@ebukadan

When Strange Bedfellows Unite (2)

BY GODWIN NZEAKAH

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gainst the backdrop of injustice meted out to him by the Abacha administration as well as that meted out to the Yoruba race through the annulment of Abiola’s electoral victory, Obasanjo promised to uphold justice, knowing how it feels to be subjected to injustice. His words: “Whether you are Yoruba, Efik, Ijaw or whatever, when justice is not done, you must cry out against injustice.

You must be angry against injustice. But in your anger, as the Bible says, do not sin… do not let us create more injustice while we are trying to correct injustice.”

But did OBJ keep his word? Did he not commit more injustice? Did he not rig election for himself and for Ngige on behalf of his crony Chris Ubah, for example? If it may be argued that the retreating military junta was behind the iniquities that characterized the 1999 polls, what about 2003?

What of 2007? When it suited him or rather when stubborn Ngige refused to play ball, did OBJ not spill the beans after the man had enjoyed the loot for about two years?

Then leaving in 2007, did he not bequeath to us the mother of all instability in the name of do-or-die politics which ushered in his ailing crony Yar’Adua into the presidency. Is this the character of a leader that had listened to God; read the Bible and the Quran inside out while in prison - a man who should equate himself with the great Mandela? Like the gentleman he was, did Yar’Adua not admit later publicly that the election that brought him into the Villa “was not quite free and fair.” Then you say Nigerians should listen today when OBJ and IBB begin to pontificate on or shout “patriotism”, “unity” and all that trash.

They should tell that to the lagoon. At this age and time I refuse to be a unity fanatic, believing H.G. Wells… who said in The Shape of Things to Come that “what man

has done is but a prelude to what man is yet to do.” Unity fanatics, as Frederick Engels would warn “are either people of limited intelligence who want to stir everything into one non-descript brew, which the moment it is left to settle, throws up the differences again but in much sharper contrast because they will all be in one pot.” For the same reason, Engels concludes that “the biggest sectarians and the biggest brawlers and rogues at times shout loudest for “unity” and nobody — Oh yes, nobody — in our lifetime has given us more trouble and been more treacherous than the shouters for unity” (parenthesis mine). Did Engels have Nigeria in mind when he penned these words, no one can tell. But certainly, he wrote for Europe, precisely for Germany, from a base not far from Westminster where the legendary British parliament once legislated for England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. But today, through long but honest negotiations that gave birth to devolution, all four former components of Great Britain are now autonomous entities with separate parliaments.

Yet, today, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Island can unanimously repeat after Booker T. Washington that “in all things that are social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress.” No misgivings. No recrimination. No grudges.

Make no mistake about it, the greatest enemy of today’s Nigeria is not to be found among those who insist that a stable which for 98 years has been saddled with grit, dirt and stain should be scrubbed neat for a fresh beginning, but those who in their myopism insist that it should continue in that unkempt and dilapidated state.

The views of those in the National Assembly opposed to formal dialogue on the national question certainly do not represent those of the majority of Nigerians. A

National Assembly which has proved more of a burden than asset should be told not to overestimate its value. In every democracy, especially in a federation like Nigeria, even though legal sovereignty may reside in the elected government or precisely in the legislative arm, de facto or political sovereignty, which is supreme resides only in the people as the electorate, armed as they are, with franchise even to be exercised to recall elected officials.

Professor Dicey, using the British system as an example, made a clear distinction between the legal sovereign (the Queen in parliament) and the political sovereign (the electorate). Perhaps, we seem to be in an unnecessary dilemma in Nigeria regarding the issue of national conference simply because the original three regions, with all the instruments of power which they received directly from the colonial authority and which conferred semi-autonomous status on each one of them, have been atrophied and reduced to economic mendicants and hapless entities always helplessly looking up to Abuja for survival. David Mark and others who think that no sovereign conference can take place in the presence of an elected and “functional” National Assembly should think twice and either come up with a functional and acceptable alternative or back down because Nigeria is in a desperate situation needing a desperate attention if civilization must be saved in these confines.

Commenting on global violence, Wall Street Journal has aptly observed that “historians like to give various names to eras; ours can only be called the age of terrorism, for we are no longer dealing with the isolated acts of bandits or deranged killers; those we have always had. What we are living through today is a revolt against all ordered society, or war on civilization.” Nigeria is facing a war on civilization and the international community which cannot be expect-

ed to fold arms and watch forever is probably only trying to see to what extent we can cope.

Judging from what has happened in places like Sudan, Iraq and others, even if ours is a revolution with neither a name nor soul, the international community, I am afraid, may not sit down and watch indefinitely in deference to the notion of national sovereignty. The dynamics of international politics have changed for good. The existence of the United Nations and a whole body of instruments and laws signed willingly by nations, including Nigeria, certainly place limitation on the exercise of National Sovereignty. Thus, in view of the delicate nature of the Nigerian crisis, we must be careful to avoid the wrath of external intervention in the long run. We must take measures and guard against those things that made it mandatory for external powers to wield the Red Card in those countries where they have done so.

The arrogance of our National Assembly, even when they have not been able to live up to the people’s expectation, is nauseating. It was perhaps a similar obscurantism in the United States those days that prompted President William Taft (1857-1930), America’s 27th President to point out that “we live at a stage of politics where legislators seem to regard the passage of laws as much more important than the result of their enforcement.” Taft went on to caution that “the value of legislation is not in the good of its operation but in its vote-getting quality as molasses for the catching of political flies.” Based on this, Taft lamented that “the world is not going to be saved by legislation and may really benefit from an occasional two years of respite from the panacea and magic that many modern schools of politics seem to think are to be found in the words, “Be it enacted.”

• Concluded Nzeakah writes from Lagos.

CMYK

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DAILY SUN Tuesday August 21, 2012

London 2012 Olympics: Nigeria's nightmare

BY CHRIS ANYOKWU ew years ago, a foreign magazine declared that Nigerians were the happiest people on earth; and when this interesting observation was made, many went to town trying to ferret out the reason behind that declaration. Was this keen-eyed judge of human conduct speaking tongue-in-cheek or was he being, as they say, brutally frank? The jury, however, is still out on the real motivations behind that blanket characterization of the most populous black nation on earth as blithe fully happy people.

Life on earth as it is constituted makes happiness as Thomas Hardy tells us, “the occasional episode in general drama of pain”.

And, if happiness is of a celestial seed, as Alexander Pope argues, then what our famous observer read as “happiness” is a put-on, a collective mask worn by a people for whom decades of internal colonization, official betrayal and millennial miseries have turned living into a hellish ordeal. Nigerians “wear the mask” like Paul Laurence Dunbar's African-American slaves, only that this time it is slavery of corruption facilitated mainly by political non-leadership. One of the tear-jerking spin-offs is the woeful outing of Nigeria's representatives at the just-concluded London 2012 Summer Olympics. As we all know, the Olympics is held every four years like the FIFA-organised World Cup, and this time around, it was held in London. For a period of two weeks, the world's attention was riveted on the breath-taking, eye-catching and adrenalin pumping sport activities and games in which the best of the best from over two hundred nations participated. And Nigeria - boasting over one hundred and sixty million citizens - was there. After the opening ceremonies dubbed by most television viewers as the most spectacular show on TV ever, the athletes got down to brass tack.

One of the country's brightest hopes, the Nigerian Basketball Team known as “The Tigers” was literally mauled and devoured by the U.S.A Basketball Team practically dominated by NBA superstars. Reporting this global humiliation of “The Tigers”, CNN cap-

F

tioned its report, “Nigeria's Nightmare”, obliquely re-awakening the Neo-Tarzanist images of Conradian “Heart of Darkness” rife with life-denying fantasia. Nightmare! How apposite! Feelings of injured patriotic pride aside, all the Nigerian athletes failed big time. It was not enough that they could only participate in few track and field activities such as 100, 200, 4 x 100 metre sprint, and others like weight-lifting, boxing, wrestling, Taekwondo, Judo, and High Jump, they failed to challenge or “aim for gold” as they say, in other exciting sporting activities such as 1500, 1800, 5000 metre races or the marathon which was dominated by Ethiopian and Kenyan athletes.

Not for them games like diving, car racing, mountain cycling, discus, shot put, and javelin, hammer, swimming, Tennis, vaulting, aerobics, volleyball, hockey and even football! Nigeria's sprint Queen, Blessing Okagbare, on whose pretty but frail shoulders the nation hung her hope, crumbled when push came to shove. So did the other Nigerian pseudo-athletes. Nigeria's Nightmare indeed. At a point, during the London Games, as soon as you saw anything clad in green, or, more directly, any human form clad in green, you panicked as though by reflex action as an inner voice hushed the timorous “Go for It!” rhetoric, foretelling certain defeat as the nation's comeuppance. The colour “green”, in better circumstances, symbolizing fertility, freshness, vegetal plenitude, fecundity and abundance, became at the Olympiad an emblem of inexperience, idiocy and incompetence. The Nigerian contingent over the period of the games became in the Global Imagination a rudely atavistic throwback of pre-historic innocence and ontologic tabula rasa. The jokers and clowns from Nigeria (with their hedonistic officials “backstage”) were fundamentally primed against the London Olympics' ideal of “inspiring a generation” as their woeful non-performance plunged Nigerians, home and abroad, into mourning. Indeed, mourning becomes Nigerians!

Before the athletes jetted off to London, they had undergone several pre-Olympics trials, including the Calabar and the Port Novo

Trials. Also, they were camped some place abroad, the location of which was shrouded in cultic secrecy. After the Initial Gra-Gra (braggadocio) in which our athletes traduced small fry mostly in Africa, the Nigerian bounders and dilettantes started bragging like the overfed bird throwing down the gauntlet to its chi. “Bring on USA, and Team Great Britain and China and the rest of the world. Of course, it goes without saying, that buck-passing and mutual recrimination must have begun as the officials saw the hand writing on the wall.

What's more, some of them, true Nigerians that they are, would even go to the extent of congratulating themselves on “participating” in the Olympiad, since, it is argued, participating is the essence of the fiesta, not winning, or victory or making it to the Medals Table! For the Nigerian officials (and to a lesser degree, athletes) the Olympics furnishes a perfect pretext to fleece the commonwealth; to bleed their country white and further pauperize their desperately dirt-poor compatriots. Who cares? What is crucial is securing visas and an allexpense paid trip to overseas for themselves, their wives, girlfriends, children, well-wishers and other hangers-on. For these privileged few, Olympics is a much-needed getaway, an all-important escape from the post-colonial hell-hole called Nigeria to more civilized and decent climes made heavenly by those who can still blush; civilized humans whose sense of shame makes them continuously widen the buffer between them and the feral brethren. It is, indeed, high and burning shame that the sole motivation for going to the Olympics for our athletes and their handlers is just to satisfy their base appetites to embark on shopping sprees and splurges in capital cities of the civilized world. For them, so long as the Nigerian people merely remonstrate over the athletes' lackluster performance and return to their lifelong drudgeries, and government continues to play the Ostrich, no problems!

Anyokwu writes from Lagos.

Jonathan, Boko Haram and Islam W

BY GABRIEL AGBO hat do you make out of the recent condition given to President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria by the Boko Haram to either resign as the president of the country or convert to Islam, if he wants peace to return to the country? The presidency through the spokesman has since described the demand as laughable. Fine! At last, this terror group that has murdered thousands Nigerians and foreigners has laid their demands on the table. It is political as well as religious. They and their sponsors want to take over government and also Islamize Nigeria. Before now, the federal government has been admonished virtually by every known voice to dialogue with the group to see how this mindless daily slaughtering of innocent Nigerians could end.

Now, I hope these proponents of dialogue will have something to cheer about?

President Goodluck to convert to Islam or hand over to Boko Haram terrorists and their backers. And this will precede the wish to totally Islamize the country! Beautiful wishes!

But this is not the first this sect would be making such demand. In January, the group through its leader Imam Abubakar Shekau,

while rejecting the suggestion by President Jonathan for dialogue, asked the president to convert to Islam. He also threatened to continue killing security agents, government officials and Christians. Shekau said that negotiations suggested by President Goodluck Jonathan between the sect and the government will not happen.

Is it 'Allah' that has asked Boko Haram to attempt to kill the Emirs of Borno and Fika and hundreds of fellow Muslims in the North; even in the Islamic holiest month of Ramadan? What of the Muslim soldiers, policemen and government officials that his group is slaughtering everyday? Does he know how many Muslim families he has thrown into perpetual sorrow, pain and tears?

The Deeper Life Bible Church in Okene, Kogi State was attacked recently.

Twenty worshippers were killed and the death toll is still rising. Ironically, the head of this church Pastor Kumuyi has constantly preached forgiveness for these terrorists.

The other day, about six soldiers and two civilians, were killed by a suicide bomber in Borno State.

These people who claim to be fighting for Islam could not even respect the holy month

of Ramadan. This daily destruction has continued for about two years now. From the Police Headquarters to the United Nations building, police stations, churches, schools, etc. Christians, Muslims and even foreigners have been killed in these attacks.

Now the scope of these destructions and the current demand of the sect make nonsense of the opinion of those who suggest dialogue and others who have maintained that high-level of poverty, unemployment, lack of education and infrastructures in the North are at the root of this terrorism acts. I believe the likes of the United States Assistant Secretary for African Affairs and other officials should stop canvassing such opinions and call the Boko Haram terror group its right name. The group should immediately be listed and treated by the US and other nations as foreign terrorist organisation (FTO). This is exactly what they are.

After all, it has been established that they have links with other international terror groups. Nigeria must immediately be helped by everybody to track down these terrorists and their sponsors, so they can face charges for all these crimes against humanity. And who knows their next targets and goal since their name mean abhorrence of western edu-

cation and lifestyle? They sure will soon go global.

Or, what does the conversion to Islam and resignation of a president who has stayed barely one and half years in office have to do with the development or no development of that region? This violence escalated immediately Jonathan; a Christian from the southern minority won the presidential election; which the whole world adjudged to be open, free and fair. In fact, the freest ever conducted in the country. If it is really about development, where were this sect when their kits and kin who lead the country for most her independent years were looting and dumping the country's wealth in Swiss and other foreign banks? The former military and civilian rulers from that part of the country and the associates are known to be among the richest people in the world.

Why didn't they revolt or were they better off then? Are they not the same people that stole the country blind and left our hospitals, schools, roads, youths, industries and other infrastructure unattended to?

Agbo writes via E-mail:doublehonour2006@yahoo.com

Tackling security challenge in Borno

BY VICTOR IZEKOR hen Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State recently visited his Kano State counterpart, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso in Kano, he told him in an unequivocal tone, “I will come back again to learn more about your wonderful youth empowerment programme”. This is despite the fact that Kashim similar programme in Borno State is not only laudable, but making remarkable impact involving already about 10, 000 youths. An aspect of the policy thrust of Kashim’s Administration is indicative of a governor that has come to “learn, consult and administer”. In consequent of this disposition one observes in most of the appointments in the state either on permanent or ad hoc basis a sea of technocrats, acclaimed professionals and seasoned administrators in the concerned disciplines that have a premium in Kassim’s heart. He not only said this but demonstrated the same leaving no one in doubt.

In a press interview Kashim declared, “I am drawn to intelligent people than to power people.

And in this country, I am tapping the potentials of all these geniuses that have remained unutilized.

And in the next two years, by the grace of God, you will see a lot of changes in Borno”. For example, he sets up various committees almost in every sector of the state and the membership consist of experts in various callings. Take for instance, the committee on Health headed by Professor Emeritus Umaru Shehu of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and that of Education chaired by Professor Nur Alkali a former Director General of Nigeria Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies and Former Vice

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Chancellor University of Maiduguri. Kassim a banker, agriculturist and a one time University Lecturer is no doubt well informed of the innumerable and immeasurable benefits of the services of well groomed resource persons and would go for the same setting aside primordial sentiments and politics. If Machiavellian in this disposition, the overall interest of Borno was and is the compelling force. In his words, “I will get the best hands and advice careless where they come from provided Borno is better off.”

Recently, the governor led a high powered delegation of fact finding, collaboration and economic tour of Egypt, Thailand, Benin Republic, China, Pakistan and India. Apart from the state officials other members of the delegation included Chief Audu Ogbeh, former Presidential adviser on Agriculture, former Minister of Communication and as well former National Chairman of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Engr. Ibrahim Ali who was Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate in 2011, a rival to governor Kassim in the same election and Engr Garba Iliya, the Managing Director of Chad Basin Development Authority, Maiduguri. Explaining the inclusion of Chief Audu Ogbeh and Engr. Ibrahim Ali in the state economic delegation Governor Kashim said, “….these are some of the geniuses we have in the system whose potentials have been relatively untapped.”

Kashim went on, Audu Ogbeh is pregnant with lots of development ideas and initiatives.

Ibrahim Ali is about the most intelligent person in Borno with all sense of humility. He was my opponent in the last election, he contested for the governorship seat under the platform of ACN, but what

is important is how to move the state forward irrespective of our political affiliation, religious persuasion, sectional or tribal backgrounds. After all Audu Ogbeh is a chieftain of the ACN, but he is somebody who is passionate about the country, he is somebody who wants to uplift the poor state of affairs in this country and believe me, I am to harness his potentials, his intellect, his knowledge and that of everybody because I am more enamored of intellect than power”. Though still a staunch member of the ACN in Borno State, Governor Kassim has appointed Engr. Ibrahim Ali as his honorary adviser on Agriculture and Chairman of State Agricultural Transformation team.

In his own comment on the happenings in Borno, Chief Audu Ogbeh pointed out that Governor Kashim has adopted stratified measures to build Borno economy and create jobs in the state through agriculture. Chief Ogbeh was unequivocal that the measures would in the long run paid off as youths would be massively engaged thereby reducing to the minimum youth restiveness and violence. In his words, “…. I can speak for Borno, that perhaps there is more hope there than many other states because of what the governor is doing and I am seriously involved: creating wealth, through agriculture and agro processing. And I think that programme of his, if pursued faithfully for the next two years, will bring changes that will amaze Nigerians. Here is a governor who is starting a programme to cultivate 100,000 hectares of rice in partnership with farmers in the state. Here is a governor who is starting a massive groundnut and groundnut oil production in the state,” adding, “I was in Borno on many occasions and know what the government is working on”.

It is however not surprising that Kassim an intellectual from Borno will always be thirsty for knowledge as Borno from time immemorial was reservoir or an inexhaustible siphon of knowledge.

After all, right from the emergence of Birni to the present day Yerwa, Borno’s position had been very outstanding in the field of Quranic or Islamic learning. Besides, the whole of Geidan once represented the massive structure of a University. In one part of the city the great Imams read and discussed the Quaran, the Tafsir while in another part of the city, the scholars were engaged in scholastic debate in Figh Hadith and philosophy. Inspite of the coming of Western Education, Geidan maintained this position of prestige and honour to the extent that the names of some of the great Ulamas of this city have become very well known to people in other cities of the central Bilad Al-Sudan and the Nile Valley.

Knowledge should be sought for or acquired even for its own sake let alone for the numerous advantages it brings about. Did the Kanuri not say, “KARA YAYE RIMIYA DUO WANE” – meaning “learn, even it is witchcraft, not minding whether you will practice it or not”. In this wise governor Kassim from Borno is behaving to type tapping the potentials of the geniuses and applying the knowledge for the betterment of the people.

Amongst others, the generous collaborative efforts of the state government coupled with sound advice from well groomed resource persons has set the desert state of Borno on gradual path to oasis in various sectors as more successes than failures are being recorded, though the best is yet to happen.

Izekor writes from Maiduguri.

DAILY SUN Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Memories

Philip Nwosu 08176449110

21

R YOU S U SEND HOTOS P OLD wosu@yahoo.co.uk phillipn e-mail:

Today in History

Coup attempt against Gorbachev collapses On this day in August 1991, just three days after it began, the coup against Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev collapsed. Despite his success in avoiding removal from office, Gorbachev’s days in power were numbered. The Soviet Union would soon cease to exist as a nation and as a Cold War threat to the United States.

The coup against Gorbachev began on August 18, led by hard-line communist elements of the Soviet government and military. The attempt was poorly planned and disorganized, however. The leaders of the coup seemed to spend as much time bickering among themselves—and, according to some reports, drinking heavily—as they did on trying to win popular support for their action. Nevertheless, they did manage to put Gorbachev under house arrest and demand that he resign from leadership of the Soviet Union. Many commentators in the West believed that the administration of President George Bush would come to the rescue, but were somewhat surprised at the restrained response of the U.S. government.

1991

These commentators did not know that at the time a serious debate was going on among Bush officials as to w h e t h e r Gorbachev’s days were numbered and whether the United States should shift its support to Russian President Boris Yeltsin.

Yeltsin’s stock rose sharply as he publicly denounced the coup and organized strikes and street protests by the • Queen of England, Elizabeth II admires a bird while inspecting a guard mounted by the Nigerian Russian people.

Army in 1956.

Robbers attack Gov Kure’s convoy, kill ADC A gang of armed robbers on this day in August 2003 attacked Gov. Abdulkadir Kure of Niger State’s convoy on the Minna-Lambata-Suleja

2003

road, killing his deputy ADC, Inspector Momoh Shagabe. The governor and other members of his entourage narrowly escaped death in the attack.

The governor was on his way back to Minna from Abuja after an official assignment when his convoy ran into a roadblock mounted by bandits between Maje and Suleja.

It was gathered that the robbers numbering about 20 hid in the bush at Maje junction, and on sighting the convoy started shooting into the long line of cars.

This forced the convoy to make a u-turn to Suleja for re-enforcement. The governor’s

security outfit led by the Deputy ADC, Inspector Shagabe returned to the scene to look for the robbers. A gun-battle soon ensued during which the police inspector was gunned down.

However, one of the robbers was caught alive and is now helping the police in their investigation. The incident happened at about 5.00 p.m and it lasted for about one hour with the Minna-Suleja road deserted by motorists as the news spread. The governor and his convoy later arrived Minna with the corpse of the inspector.

Filipino opposition leader shot dead The Philippines opposition wards witnesses on the plane said a volley leader, Benigno Aquino, was on of shots rang out and they saw him lying in this day in August 1983 assassi- a pool of blood on the runway tarmac. nated just minutes after returning home The body of the man said to have been from exile. the assassin was nearby.

Mr. Aquino, 50, had spent three years in Mr Aquino’s long-time rival, Philippines the US but was returning home to contest dictator Ferdinand Marcos, has said the elections. assassin was a “professional killer”.

Speaking aboard the plane returning him to Manila, Mr Aquino told reporters he was well aware of the risk he was taking.

“I suppose there’s a physical danger because you know assassination’s part of public service,” he said.

“My feeling is we all have to die sometime and if it’s my fate to die by an assassin’s bullet, so be it.”

When his plane landed at Manila airport Mr Aquino was taken into custody by soldiers and escorted off the plane.

Shortly after-

1983

22 DAILY SUN

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

By RAZAQ BAMIDELE

Effective mortgage system’ll A reduce corruption –Jeje

By RAZAQ BAMIDELE

I

ntroduction of mortgage system into property acquisition and long term payment for goods and services requiring huge capital outlay is one of the most potent tools in the fight against corruption.

This was the position of the Lagos State Commissioner of Housing, Mr. Bosun Jeje who submitted that “having to pay cost of land acquisition, property purchase, vehicle or even production plants at once is partly responsible for the quest to acquire fund through whatever means to satisfy personal needs.”

The Commissioner made this submission while receiving the Executive members of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers in his office where he noted that, “apart from the fact that shelter is the second basic necessity of man, our culture makes all men inclined towards home ownership.”

Against this backdrop, Jeje said, “there is the need to make acquisition of same less stressful in order to reduce temptation,” explaining that “it is in realisation of this fact and the pursuit of this laudable objective that the Lagos State Government is introducing the Home Ownership Mortgage System (LAGOSHOMS) predicated on mortgage system.”

He disclosed that quite a lot of reforms have been introduced to the property sector of the system to make life easier for the people, saying “the reforms include the Electronic Certificate of Occupancy to make land documentation easier, faster, eliminate fake ones and add more economic value to the land.”

The Commissioner emphasized that a parcel of land without proper title was a dead asset because it would not have economic value that would be useful in business transaction such as using it

for collateral to raising fund to grow ones business.

It was to underscore this importance, Jeje informed, “that the State Government handed title documents to 1000 home owners in the State recently.”

Jeje promised that members of the Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers would be engaged in the sale of the mortgage homes and the maintenance of the various estates in the State, just as he therefore implored qualified and interested members to apply assuring that they would be considered.

Earlier the President, Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Mr. Emeka. D. Eleh had praised the Lagos State Government for its giant strides in the provision of housing and the land reforms which he said has made obtaining of C of O and Governor’s Consent easier.

n ex- member of the US army anti-bomb squad, Major Chris Moghalu has said that if the country wanted to get rid of the Boko Haram siege in the country, the security agencies needed urgent re-training in preventive and explosive tactics to combat the scourge.

Moghalu, who came to the country few days ago told newsmen in Lagos that, as a Nigerian, he felt the impact of the bomb blasting virtually in public places in the country adding that he was ready to work with relevant agencies in the area of training which he said he has been doing for many years in the US in order to curb the menace.

The ex-US military intelligence specialist, who hails from Anambra state, said with the critical situation the country is facing on the issue of the dreaded Islamic sect, the security agencies can turn the heat on them and fish out the sponsors and collaborators within a reasonable time if giving the opportunity to assist in this direction.

“One of the major reasons I left the SU where I run a consultancy outfit is to see how l can assist the government in the area of my expertise and make sure that the issue of Boko Haram become a thing of the past. I did a similar assignment when l was in the US army where l performed covert operations in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Germany,” he explained.

Boko Haram: Nigerian US trained bomb expert proffers solution According to him, the country needed a fusion centre that will be spread across the six geo-political zones to serve as a collecting centre where information could be collated, analyse and dispatched to the necessary security agency with a speed of a thunder.

He pointed out that while in Iraq; he directed, supervised and coordinated the planning,

collection, evaluation, analyzing and dissemination of all sources of intelligence and counter intelligence for the US Army. Moghalu assured that he was available to assist the country to unravel the mystery behind the Boko Haram syndicate which was getting their support not only from the country but outside the country.

Exam malpractice: Imo backs

JAMB on strategy

By GABRIEL DIKE

T

he Registrar and Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB), Prof.

Dibu Ojerinde and the management team paid a courtesy call to Imo state Government House as part of the Board’s activities during the recent concluded tour of duty in the South East Region.

In an address at the Imo Government House, the Registrar of JAMB, Prof Ojerinde presented the governor of Imo state, Governor Rochas Okorocha with the statistics detailing performance of candidates to confirm the prime position of Imo State among the top ten in terms of performance in JAMB’s Unified Tertiary Examination from 2007 to 2011.

From the statistics rolled out by the Registrar, Imo-State consistently maintained the lead in the performance on “state for all candidates” basis from 2007-2011, so also other parameters like “performance by state for 180 and above scores” and also gender parity between male and female candidates.

Speaking further on the vexed issue of examination malpractice, the Registrar said that as a responsible examination body, the sanctity and integrity of our examination is underscored by the board’s continuous resolve with help of the government of Imo State to

checkmate all tricks of these examination cheats.

While acknowledging Governor Okorocha’s unrelenting efforts at upliftment of education, especially his free education policy from primary to tertiary institutions in Imo state, the Registrar said that the people of the state are lucky to have a man with vision and energy to drive education as it will take the state to the promised land in no distant future.

The Public Relations Officer of JAMB, Mr. Timothy Oyedeji that Prof Ojerinde solicited for support of the state government for its proposed eexamination scheduled for 2013, insisting it will help to checkmate the menace of examination malpractice.

The Registrar thus commended Governor Rochas Okorocha, for placing education at the door step of the Imo people on the platter of gold.

He “as a beneficiary of free education in the old West is a living proof of the efficacy of free education as I might not have been here today”. “The people of Imo State will someday have cause to be grateful to you in the future for this laudable achievement.

While placing on record past assistance to the board’s zonal office in Imo state, Prof.

Ojerinde pleaded with the governor to make the present temporary JAMB office in Owerri a permanent one by assisting with the upgrade of its facilities.

NACCA, agencies to hold conference

N

ational Conference on Contract Administation [NACCA] in conjunction with federal, state ,local governments, construction firms, professional associations and tertiary institutions will hold a conference at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja with the theme’Capacity for infrastructural development’ from 27 -31 August 2012.

A statement signed by Chairman Organising Committee of the conference,Professor Abednego Ekoko said the conference programme content covers guidelines, templates, strategies and contemporary global best practices for drafting and interpretation of contracts, costing, funding, supervision, variations, modifications, claims, disputes, arbitration and payments

for payments for road, airports, railway, seaport, water, electricity, education, healthcare and other infrastructural projects.

Ekoko said one of the core objectives of NACCA was to drastically reduce incidents of abandoned projects. He said elimination of abandoned projects was necessary towards realization of transformation agenda of government. ’Over 12,000 federal projects worth over N72million are currently abandoned across the country.When projects abandoned at state and local governments levels are added,the magnitude becomes staggering indeed.

He said Nigeria needed competent contract administrators to deliver the country on the projected infrastructural development the United Nations estimated that by 2050, Nigeria will need .

DAILY SUN

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

23

WOMANoftheSUN

By CHRISTINE ONWUACHUMBA

O

gochukwu Promise is a complete artist.The multi-talented cerebral psychologist is a novelist, poet, playwright, motivational speaker, career advisor and visual abstract artist. She is also the brain behind the coveted Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa.

Ogochukwu Promise focuses on using information, communications, and networking to empower and encourage people to be the best they can be, discovering people's dynamic potential for productivity, fulfillment and development.

In a recent chat with Daily Sun, Ogochukwu revealed that she is driven by the passion to see things done effectively, professionally and ethically.

You are a multi-tasking individual, kindly enlighten us on how you juggle all these: The Ogochukwu Promise children's home, Wole Soyinka prize for literature, the Lumina residency programme, your humanitarian foundation amongst others. How do you do it all?

I am grateful to God for the energy.

When you love what you do, it’s almost as if it is not a challenge. It gives one a feeling of ease even when that is not the case. In any case, these projects are somewhat inter-related. They are driven by the same passion to see that things are done effectively, professionally and ethically. I love reading. I gained a lot by reading and I thought it’s good to let people know the treasures tucked away in books. So, I set up the mobile library scheme with buses that take books to indigent children in schools and homes.

We started collecting African tales for children and distributing them to as many children as are keen on having them.

Their parents began to show interest, so we expanded and began to establish libraries in homes and offices, reaching out also to adults. We began to solicit stories by Africans to entertain, enlighten readers and preserve our good values. We called these books African-Easy-ToRead-Books. We have authors from twenty-seven African countries. It gives one a beautiful feeling to see that people are continually developing the culture of reading and quite essentially, that they are truly enjoying it.

So quite naturally, the idea of setting up the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa was born, to discover and celebrate the talents that abound in Africa.

The Children’s home is an offshoot of my humanitarian interest in loving and nurturing children, especially the abandoned, to give them a chance for better life.

Which component of your projects has been the most effective to the society and what significant impacts have they achieved?

It is my hope that these projects impact our society positively even though it is hard to measure. I feel fulfilled when I see new writers emerge, grow, win awards, are encouraged not only by the monetary prize and recognition, but the nurturing, support and exposure they get.

Quite importantly, the fact that they keep developing, re-inventing themselves and being fulfilled as writers is another achievement. With regard to our caregiving initiatives, working with and for children, nothing gives me greater joy than to see the glow in the faces of children, watch them fall in line in excitement to receive the books we brought them. It’s pleasing to note also that they take care of these books, using the bookmarks as they are instructed to. These days, we add food and clothing as extra motivation in our bid to also take care of

Reclaiming society through knowledge

•Promise their other needs.

Can you briefly discuss knowledge as a sustainable development tool?

Knowledge is definitely a sustainable development tool. Without knowledge a society’s growth is stunted. With knowledge, there is a better understanding of every aspect of a human life. It does not end there. It goes further to make life better by the minute, by the day. This is also reflected in new inventions, new discoveries, individual and collective growth, breakthrough in the Sciences, in Medicine for example where cures are discovered for some terminal illnesses. It goes without saying that knowledge is vital to the development and sustainability of any society.

Is Qualitative education, educational materials such as good books a privilege only the rich can acquire, how can the poor ever meet up?

I disagree, especially if you take into cognizance the fact that it is not every rich person that has qualitative education.

Qualitative education and educational material such as good books are not a preserve of the rich. If you imply that because the rich have money to access formal education, all manner of books that are not within the reach of the poor man, you are right. However, qualitative education and educational material are not restricted to books only. Our ancestors were educated not necessarily in the Western sense, but

they depended on cultural tenets of learning. For instance, oral tradition, moonlight tales, dances, music, clothing, artisan skills etc. are also forms of education. So, the poor cannot be left out in knowledge acquisition unless they choose to be. In spite of the pressure of modern life, parents who are not well to do can initiate their own kind of qualitative education by creating time for their children, to tell them mind-enriching stories, open up their minds. They also have methods to inculcate positive values in them, take them to the world of imagination, encourage them to dream dreams, to reach for their dreams, expose them to free, even if recycled reading material donated by well meaning organizations. I have always believed that anyone who truly wishes to achieve great things should seek and seize opportunities that abound rather than waste their energy complaining. Some people walk miles to get a book to read, to listen to a sage. They bend backwards to be self-trained, enlightened, successful.

How has your organization fared and what are the loopholes or pitfalls your organization have faced or is still facing?

We are doing fairly well. We have developed some products and services that sustain us. In addition to that, we have great institutions that partner with us.

We have always hoped that The WS Prize would be supported by the best brands in

Africa, that the Lumina Foundation and these excellent brands would have ownership of this very prestigious Pan-African Prize and grow it to be nothing less in stature than the African version of the Nobel. From the onset, we have enjoyed the sponsorship of great institutions.

So, instead of waiting until they are recognized abroad to celebrate them, we discover and rediscover them here, hold them up to the world and very proudly support, encourage and celebrate them in every way we could. I am eternally grateful to the Board of Trustees of the Prize, and the brilliant workforce who work tirelessly to ensure that all our Projects are duly executed. The initial problem we had was how to get people to read effectively, to read for leisure, not necessarily for utilitarian purpose. You know how high the cost of living has risen.

People will rather spend their money on food items than books. The capacity for sustained reading is lacking as people would rather read soft-sell magazines, fashion journals than buy and read books.

We had to deal with the issue of misplaced priorities as the wealthy would rather buy gold and silver, cars for their children to mark their birthdays than give them the gift of a well-stocked library.

These are not the kind of things you can give a quick fix. It takes courage, persuasion, persistence and motivation. We’ve been at it and God has helped us a great deal to help in re-ordering priorities and getting people to see and benefit from the gains of reading. It is our wish that more corporate organizations from other African countries besides Nigeria will partner with us in the near future.

With the attractive distraction of satellite TV channels, internet. You will have to agree that reading(anything educational) is a least attractive option, what is then the more effective route of knowledge dissemination for our youths today?

It is true indeed that satellite TV channels can be distracting, even though they are also sources of knowledge.

Nevertheless, the place of books and texts cannot be obliterated. Additionally, a lot of people still crave a private space with the good-old-book tucked between their hands especially as it has ease of access, handling, for reference purposes and for its sheer durability. You may also find that even the media, the internet still uses and needs the text and reading to enhance its quality. Don’t forget, of course, that reading is more mentally tasking and a more disciplined mode for intellectual growth when it comes to training the mind. So, it is always a plus. A good reader can appreciate a broad variety of subjects, be it in television or internet, and so is better armed to face life realistically, compared to those who depend on just the TV and internet. I still think that books are quite relevant and remain the most effective method of knowledge dissemination for our youths today. You see, the TV may be switched off, the internet might be inaccessible, but the book will always be with you. You can always tuck a book under your pillow, to resume reading at the slightest opportunity.

24

DAILY SUN

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

WOMAN OF THE SUN

By JOSFYN UBA

H

er name is Mrs Nkem Odiaka.

She manages Solsil Fashion World at the LSDPC, Oke-Afa, Isolo. She has been in the fashion business for about seven years.She told Daily Sun that she didn't just jump into the business by chance.

She has always had the flair for creating stuff with her hands. Therefore, fashion design comes natural to her, coupled with her love for colours and trends.

Solsil Fashion World has two operational outlets. They are Solsil Boutique and Solsil Creations.

“At Solsil creations, we make native wears for both sexes while Solsil boutique stocks mainly English wears for men, women, and children.

Accessories, shoes, and everything for ladies' glamour are also available at Solsil Boutique.”

Here excerpts of her interview Do you create your stuff by yourself?

Yes, I certainly do. As you well know, fashion designing involves using your creative instinct and for you to come out with excellent result, you need to consider a lot of factors. First, I take cognizance of the fabric as well as the costumer's shape. This is very important because just as our figures vary so also, we can't all wear the same dress style. What suits Mrs A may not necessarily look good on Mrs B. But most people do not understand this. All they care for is that they want to wear the particular dress worn by their friend forgetting that they have different shapes.

So, what happens here?

This is where the designer's advice and sense of professionalism come handy. You make them to understand that the fact that your friend wore the dress and suit her figure does not mean that it will look as good on you. It is your duty to make dresses to look good on your costumers. that is why you are a designer. You look at a particular costumer's shape, size and height and figure out whether or not certain dress styles will go well on them.

One has to also understand how well a particular fabric will fall in to achieve the best result because your ultimate satisfaction as a designer only comes when your creation sits well on your costumer. Do not forget that not all costumers know exactly what they want, where they even know at all, they cannot make out whether or not such styles or the fabric is suitable for what they want or will suit their figures As a designer, what can you say about some people dressing wrongly to different occasions?

The occasion also determines the designs you come out with. Obviously, one can't use an outfit meant for a traditional affair for a dinner. What we do is try to help you get a suitable dress meant for the particular event. We actually like to consult for fashion conscious people who, for whatever reason, may not be able to choose what to wear for specific occasions. This might sound funny but it is true. Do you know that some people do wear dinner dresses to strictly traditional affairs and visvisa. So, for me, it is not what you really want but what is suitable for your event that counts. How would you appear and how would people see your sense of dressing? All these matter A good fashion designer not only create and put dresses together, she also serves as adviser/consultant to her costumers. If your job stops at just creating and designing outfits, then, you are not a professional. In fact, you go the extra mile to determine what skin colour will

•Odiaka

be best for a particular fabric. Although, we may not choose style for you but it is our duty to give you tips and guide you on how your choice can come out best on you Tell me about the likely difficulties of running a fashion design shop in Nigeria today?

The only challenge comes from Solsil creations with tailors whom I had employed. However, I would quickly say that this problem is not peculiar to me. It is major headache with tailors. Things do not work well when the owner of the business is not around. For me, this is a regular issue. Whenever I am not around to monitor the workers' operation, work pace is slow and in some cases, work completely comes to a halt. Even, when work is duly assigned to individual tailors with suc Competition sure comes with the job, how do you handle it?

Competition is as old as mankind. Any business that has no competition is dead. It naturally brings out the best in an individual. Don't forget that competition is all about giving your best with the sole aim of edging out the other person. As such, any-

one in business puts in her best to to achieve this. I like competition because it is the soul of business. I am not afraid because it can only help to push out the ingenuity in us with a view to making a difference. I would say that because designing is inborn for me, and as long as I can appreciate things around me from where I draw inspiration, I will not run out of ideas. It is about constantly going on with trends. I would also like to add that apart from your ability to create good designs, it involves price variation and quality. If you look at your competitors and the prevailing rate, and strike a balance, you will do well in terms of competition because your costumer base will increase with affordable ranges I have come to realize that we are operating on a harsh and weak economy.

People want to go to where prices are affordable. Yes, they like to make and wear good clothes but because fashion falls into luxury items, they can only squeeze themselves. Affordability is one of the factors that drive competition in a dwindling economy and at Solsil Fashion World, we put that into consideration our

customers' comfort I want to give quality to my costumers and strive daily to improve on what I do with each passing day. That is what drives me.

How did you start off?

I started initially in a very small scale in the boys' quarters of my apartment. I recall that there were times I would just sketch down some designs on pieces of paper. One day, I decided that instead of wasting these ideas, I could actually transform them into real designs on fabrics. That was how it began.

Apart from that, my husband has been quite supportive from the very beginning. He knew that I am in love with fashion so when he noticed my sense of seriousness and zeal to start up something, no matter how small, he literally threw his weight behind me.

Did you have any form of formal training in fashion design?

Not exactly, but I got someone who coached me privately and I took off from there. Like I said before that I started off in a boys' quarter and operated there for about a year and half, I had

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

DAILY SUN 25

In Edo, ACN has come to stay

By EPIEDUOMOH AUGUSTINE

T

he Edo State-born Chief Attahiru Adams is a chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). In this exclusive chat with Daily Sun, he speaks on the recent electoral victory of Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, the strategic plan of ACN to win more states and probably the presidential election in 2015, amongst other national issues. Excerpts…

Tell me how long you have been in Lagos and your exploits in Lagos?

I came to Lagos at very tender age, when I was about 17 years old. I worked with Seven Up Bottling Company, Eleganza and then joined politics. I joined Unity party of Nigeria (UPN) in 1979. I joined the Action Congress (AC), which later became Action congress of Nigeria. (ACN).

As soon as I joined (AC) I was made deputy chairman of Action Congress (AC) Oriade Local

Development Council Authority (LCDA), a position I have occupied till date. However, I took over as chairman of the Oriade branch of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) when the former chairman resigned to contest an elective position. I have led the party to victory twice.

‘Mr. Fix am’ lost in his ward and the PDP governorship aspirant, who was the major opponent, also lost in his ward.

Do you go home during election to mobilize support for Adams Oshiomhole?

No, we sent about 27 people and gave them vehicle to go and assist them in campaign. Let How do you analyse Edo politics?

Edo politics, I will say ACN has come to stay me tell you as I am here in Lagos I know whatin Edo State. Those who hijacked the state had soever happened at home. been laid to rest, politically. Adams Oshiomhole, Ikabigbo, your hometown, are all the indithe Comrade governor, has laid the foundation, which will keep ACN going from strength to genes members ACN? The majority of Ikabigbo people are ACN strength in the state. My advice to all PDP memmembers. We register about 600 people. bers in Edo is that they should join ACN. Independent National Electoral Commission How do you feel about the news of Adams (INEC) disenfranchised so many people. On the Oshiomhole, winning the gubernatorial elec- day of election INEC brought the list 238 eligible tion? voters. They all cast their votes. Comrade I received the news with a great joy but I knew Governor Adams Oshiomhole got 234 votes before the day of the election that Adams must while PDP got 4 votes. win the race, based on his performance. What If you were asked to dedicate this victory, impressed me most about the election was that whom would you dedicate the victory to?

•Oshiomhole I would dedicate the victory to Almighty God, all the people of Edo State and the 3500 soldiers.

The soldiers had again proved to Nigeria that nobody can buy them over. They maintained peace and order. They ensured the election was free and fair.

Looking ahead into 2015, do you think ACN will capture more states or win presidential election?

If you look at what is going now in the ACN camp, you will see that there is development and improvement. We started with one state but now we have five states. Very soon, we will have the sixth state. Look at some states where we had nobody in 2003; today we have council chairmen, House of Representatives members and Senators. If you work this mathematically, you will find out that in 2015 more states will come to ACN. Specifically, if we work strictly on one-man one vote and election is not rigged, the result of ACN will be great. On the presidential election, it is going to be a dice game. It is not going to be an easy game for both parties; going by the merger plan ACN and other parties have in place.

What strategy will ACN adopt or use to win more states and presidential election in 2015.

We don’t have more strategies in place than the once we had displayed so far. Serve the people; let them have good taste of dividends of democracy. This is evidence of what led to Adams Oshiomhole’s landmark victory on his reelection. And the merger plan. These two strategies, if properly managed, ACN will win the favour of the Nigerians and eventually lead to her landmark victory in 2015.

If you are to give pass mark to ACN governors based their performances, what will be your score?

I give them excellent, 75 per cent. ACN governors, in terms of performance, have done something in their respective states that generations to come, will call imperishable. In case of Edo State, the president, Goodluck Jonathan, in his congratulation to message to Adams Oshiomhole acknowledged that the governor was working by saying, ‘you are given this mandate to improve more’, which means, before you improve more, you would have done something.

Are you saying ACN come to save Nigeria from bad governance?

Yes, the name Action Congress of Nigeria is synonymous to good governance. In ACN-controlled states, the governors have developed the states meagre resources at their disposal. They are working strictly on the manifesto of party.

Therefore, Action congress of Nigeria is made up of men and women, who are ready to serve Nigeria and do whatever it will take to develop Nigeria.

26

DAILY SUN

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

SUNSummit

amodu200910@yahoo.com Tel: 08059306448

TAIWO AMODU

Jonathan should not contest 2015 election —- Tsav From DESMOND MGBOH

F

ormer police commissioner, Abubakar Tsav, is not impressed with the performance of the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan administration, particularly its handling of the security challenge, facing the country.

In this interview with Daily Sun, he dismisses the call for President Jonathan’s resignation from office, coming from certain quarters, but warns that he should not seek for fresh mandate in 2015, to avoid embarrassment.

“Well, to me, he should not resign.

I don’t think that it is the solution to the problem. Rather than resign, when the time for the next elections comes, he should quietly allow a more suitable and a more capable hand to take over the affairs of the country.’’

As a very informed security voice, we’ll like your appraisal of the security situation in the light of the various killings and bomb blasts across the country, largely perpetrated by the Boko Haram Sect?

The situation is very scary, the killings and blasts are continuing.

Sometimes, just when we think the killings are beginning to be controlled, that it is subsiding, you wake up to realise that the situation is getting worse and worse.

However, I think honestly that it should be the responsibility of every Nigerian to think of a way out: let us not start blaming ourselves.

Let us not start blaming Northern leaders. Rather, let us come together and forge a way forward and make sure we sustain peace in this country.

The other day I read in the papers where this man, Chief Edwin Clark was blaming the former President, General Ibrahim Banbangida and I felt very bad because a person who truly wants peace should not say a thing like that. He should rather be thinking of finding ways to ending the problem.

And they (people who talk like Clark) are making a mistake. The current security problem is not a Northern problem. It is a national problem. It rubs on everybody and every part of the country. Even if there is no bomb blasts in the South, that does not mean the challenge does not affect the South. What is happening here in the North, ideally, should affect every part of the country.

I also heard this Asari Dokubo threatening that there will be war. I, for one, I am very disappointed to hear that from a person like that.

This is because this issue, tragically, affects everybody in the country and not a case of one man or a group against the other. Nobody is safe.

People no longer go to Churches; people no longer go to Mosque. They

•Says corruption fuelling insecurity are all afraid. Everybody is afraid to go to public places. Must we continue like this? How are we going to sustain our economy if we continued like this? So, I want to appeal to all Nigerians, regardless of political, ethnic and religious affiliation to come together for us to find solutions to this problem. These people, who are causing these problems, they are Nigerians: They live with us, they dine with us and they are within the society and therefore, let us come out together and find a way out.

During the administration of the former president, late Alhaji Umaru Yar ‘Adua, he brokered peace with the militants from Nigeria Delta, and the peace is working today. Some of them have been trained at home and abroad. The Asari Dokubo that is talking is a beneficiary of that peace arrangement because he was remanded in prison custody over acts of terrorism and through that peace, they got him out of the prison and unfortunately today, he is threatening war in this country. Why can’t we extend the same thing to this Boko Haram people if that would end the violence?

But I must add that when situation like this presents itself, there are a lot of people who are benefiting from it, including the uniformed services because when there is insecurity, they get allowances and some of them want to keep on getting these allowances.

They want the problem to continue so that their allowances would continue. I think we should all come together and solve this problem regardless of our affiliations. The government must do more to end the spate of killings. Jonathan must remember that when he took his oath of office, he promised that he was going to ensure the wellbeing and security of Nigerians!

Taking it from here, there have been growing concerns that President Jonathan should resign if he could no longer guarantee the security of Nigerians. Do you share the same view?

Well to me, he should not resign. I don’t think that it is the solution to the problem. Rather than resign, when the time for the next elections comes, he should quietly allow a more suitable and a more capable hand to take

Tsav over the affairs of the country. This is because if he resigns now, somebody else is going to take over and maybe, such a person may not be any better ….

But I do believe that Jonathan is being controlled, he is like a puppet.

Someone else is running the government for him. He allows people like Chief Edwin Clark may be one of those running the government for him.

I must add that the whole security problem in Nigeria is not being helped by the level of corruption and injustice in the land.

Corruption is what is causing insecurity in this country. The President keeps saying that he is going to fight corruption, he going to fight corruption, but if you look very deeply as to what is happening in that Aso Rock, it all amounts to corruption.

Look at his wife, who was appointed to the rank of a permanent secretary! She has not worked for a very long time, yet she was appointed a permanent secretary. She has not worked as a civil servant for a very long time, but they selected and promoted her above other people and made her a permanent secretary. It amounts to corruption!

But the President has taken steps to tackle the security challenges.

He has sacked many heads of security agencies, including his NSA, Minister of Defence and his Inspector General of Police. Are these not sufficient policy actions?

You see there are many issues.

What is causing the problem in this country is corruption. Why can’t they do anything about corruption?

There are, as you know, a lot of people who have charges of corrup-

tion on them and they are roaming the streets unchecked. Why can’t the government do anything about these corruption cases? We are not hearing anything about it: the police pension scam, corruption in the National Assembly and so on. The moment they start sentencing highly placed people, everything will go on well again.

Secondly, the police and the security agencies in the country are under staffed. There are several youth roaming about and the question is, why can’t this government recruit and train them? I think that the removal of the heads of the security agenciespolice and NSA that you just mentioned is scratching the surface. There are basic things that have not been done and which ought to have been done. The issue of the oil subsidy threw up very many negative things about the Minister of Petroleum. The Minister was indicted. Did Jonathan replace her? No! She is still there.

The Aviation issue came up and the Minister of Aviation was indicted.

Did he change her? No! she is still there. If he is sincere, why must he allow his wife to take a rank of a permanent secretary when she is not qualified to be so appointed?

Still on security, has the appointment of the new National Security Adviser, Alhaji Sambo Dasuki resulted in any significant improvement in tackling the security challenge?

Of course, the bombings and the killings of Nigerians have not stopped, but the new Security Adviser has been taking positive steps to change the situation. This is because he has been able to visit Yobe, Maiduguri, Kano States and I think a

number of states in the North and has been able to talk to some of the leaders in these states.

This is a good step in the right direction. He has seen them, he has spoken to them-he happens to come from this area- they have listened to him and I think the next step would be to talk to the Boko Haram people involved directly. But the former National Security Adviser did not visit all these places. He sat there and was just talking. He made a statement which was very bad when he went and started blaming the government, and started blaming the Peoples Democratic Party’s political system.

A National Security Officer should not have said such a thing in public.

This is because a security officer who knows his job should be felt and not heard. He was supposed to have reduced everything in writing and communicated same to the President and if the President refused to act on it, he can now say okay, I resign.

But to go for a meeting of the South-South to say something like that is unfortunate. To go the South South-people who are very troublesome, people who are fighting for their right over their oil….

You are indirectly trying to incite them. And we, if we have the crop of soldiers that we had previously, maybe that would have led to a coup.

It was a very careless statement.

Recently, the leadership of MOSOP in Ogoni land declared their autonomy and nothing has happened. People said that government should have reacted.

What is your take on this?

That is what the security system should have done. They should have cautioned them immediately. Going to declare this thing autonomy, they are trying to incite another round of insurrection in that area. Our security system should have foiled that statement, invite them and deal with them.

But to allow them to do what they did and nobody was arrested and nobody was cautioned is very bad.

So, if tomorrow comes and another group decides to join them and declare their own self- autonomy, then we are already gradually breaking this country into pieces. It is unfortunate. Let me come back to the issue of Dokubo…… Dokubo threatened in the papers that there would be war. I expected the SSS to invite him and interrogate him because the statement is very inflammatory. If they had invited him over his comment, maybe that would send the signal to others not to make such statement.

But nobody called him.

Several groups and individuals in different parts of the country are making the same statements or are acting out the fact that they are tired of the Nigeria state as it is

Turn to page 27

Tuesday, August 21, 2012 DAILY SUN

27

SUNSummit It’s wicked to call for Jonathan’s resignation – Imagwe From AIDOGHIE PAULINUS, Abuja he newly appointed Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youths and Student Affairs, Jude Imagwe, has described the call for President Goodluck Jonathan’s resignation as not only a big distraction but wicked.

The former president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) declared that rather than demand for the president’s resignation, there should be concerted efforts to address the onerous challenges, facing the country.

“What every Nigerian should be looking at now is how we can contribute to guard, redirect and refocus the country.”

Excerpts: How do you see your appointment as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youths and Student Affairs?

Well, it is a call to service, a challenge to one’s integrity and above all, an invitation to contribute to governance.

Nigerians are wondering why this appointment. So, what is the relevance of this office?

My schedules have been given to me already. They are clearly stated.

From where I am coming from, my background, antecedents and what the government is expecting me to carry out, there are several youths that are agitating for several things from government. Generally, from the schedules that I have been given, the President’s commitments to reaching out directly to the youth sector, vis. a vis. the education and the unemployment sectors, to tackle some of the crises that are presently militating against the teaming Nigerian youths are some of my tasks.

My background is a clear record of where I am standing. I was the immediate past President of the NANS and soon after I left, I was given a national honour, as MON. I went ahead,

T

Continued from page 26 presently composed. Where would all these lead us to?

It would lead to greater problems for all of us and if care is not taken it would dismember us. The thing is that everybody is crying of injustice and corruption. Let there be justice in the country. Let there be less corruption in the country and let the security agencies put a stop to all these people who are making all these negative noises, otherwise every section of these country would start agitating for its own autonomy and one day, we would wake up and find that we have several countries in one country.

Some critics have blamed the judiciary for the failure to punish corrupt persons arguing that their pace and alleged lack of honesty are not favorable to the dispensation of justice in the land. What is your take on this ?

As a matter of fact, the Nigeria judiciary has not done well at all.

But I will want you take note that the new Chief Justice of the Federation has promised to deal with corrupt judges. So, we are now waiting to see what she can do.

But having said this, I agree that the judiciary has contributed to our problems in fighting corruption in the society. If they are honest and they handled their cases the way they are supposed to handle them, in line with their oath of office, things would have

presently representing Nigeria in the Pan African Youth Union, which is the apex youth movement in Africa. Being Nigeria’s representative makes me the first Nigerian youth. So, the President bringing me on board is another challenge again, challenge in the sense that I must not forget where I am coming from and again, I must try to see how people can have governance felt among them. The relevance of government and the dividends of governance will be carried to the Nigerian people and the President is committed to this.

Yes, you cannot have the president attending to all issues at the same time. So, certain persons will be saddled with responsibilities. I am a young man and by the grace of God, it will be out of place having an elderly person going to talk among youths, share ideas with my peer mates. So, I go freely to discuss with my peer mates and carry out surveillance search.

Must somebody occupy this position before the President impact on youths?

No! It is not that somebody must occupy the position before the president embarks on youths’ and students’ development. But the truth remains that even in the kingdom of God, there are intermediates. When Jesus came, it was not that Jesus alone could not have carried out his assignment but he still chose 12 as his apostles.

If you go to the church and mosque, you will find religious leaders and clergymen. It is not that they cannot carry out the assignment entrusted to them but they choose people who can assist them to drive their vision.

So, the president feels that in getting across to the targeted sector of the major, majority of the Nigerian population, which are the youths, he needs a youth, a youth with strong character, a youth he has strong confidence in that will not fail his sector. If it were to

Imagwe be a political appointment he wanted to make, there were several other persons they could have favored because I am not close to one of those persons that are closed to the corridors of power. But I feel that he went through my records as President of NANS, he went through my involvement in the Pan African Youths Union and felt that I am capable and I will not disappoint my constituency.

So, what difference, or impact do you intend to make for the good of the youths? Or should we just expect the usual old story?

Well, I have said it times without number that I am not going to be changed by government but that I am going to change government. I desire to bring on board, what had not been seen. And the joy is that there are two ways things can be done. One, are you working in an environment that will create an opportunity for you to carry out what you want to achieve? Two, do you have the necessary assistance to get this thing done?

Now, commitment comes into it!

The first thing is that the president is committed. He is committed to ensuring that we have peace.

Secondly, I am willing to ensure that I drive the process. Presently,

there are several projects that we are working on and I have already started walking around most of the ministries, requesting to know from them where they have engaged the youths in their budgetary program, what role do they want the youths to play and what are their youths developmental programs.

Similarly, we are also going to engage the private sector. I told Mr. President that he should allow the private sector to come up with ideas that will expand their capacity level, expand their employment level and from our own side, let us protect them by ensuring their security, creating an enabling environment for them to expand and it becomes a balanced thing: government providing an enabling environment for them to perform, while the companies on their own engage a larger number of our youths.

Again, we are looking at the youths coming together. There are several programs we are currently working on but I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag yet. But we are designing these programs, programs that are not political in nature, programs that will directly impact on the lives of Nigerian youths and students. We are going to start from entrepreneurship, we shall go into our unity, we shall go into our economic independence.

Economic independence in the sense that every youth must not wait to be engaged by the government before they get something doing.

There is a slogan that I am coming up with which is ‘there can be no certificate without a skill.’ We would make it something that will almost be like a mandatory thing that as you are graduating to acquire a degree, while you are waiting to use your degree to work, what you know you are gifted in, you would have known how to do it. That is, a certificate with a skill. So, once you are coming out, you will have something that will keep you engaged.

Do you have the support of the

‘Corruption, fuelling insecurity’ been very well. That is why the people keep crying of injustice and corruption.

But how do think that the judiciary has failed Nigerians? Is it the speed in which they dispatch the cases or is it that the rulings of the courts are not just or is it in terms of the fact that the highly rich fellows are never convicted? How? The way I look at it is that if we are blaming the judiciary about the speed, we should also blame the lawyers. It is the lawyers that prolong justice in court because they come with arguments. They try to find ways of frustrating the cases. All they want is for their clients to be free and therefore, employ all means to delay the trials.

Sometimes, they file a motion, motions that would take years to be argued in court. So, if we are blaming the judiciary for this challenge, we must also blame the lawyers and we must also blame the police, because all of them contribute to delaying the dispensation of justice in this country!

What about these other institutions that are mandated to get corrupt people and interests to courtEFCC, ICPC and so on. Have they performed well?

No! I wouldn’t say that they have

discharged their own parts creditably well and the reason is that right from inception of the EFCC, we were told, for instance, that all the state governors then had pending criminal cases of corruption. But up till this time, most of these governors have not been taken to court. The only one of them who was charged and convicted was the case of the former Edo governor, Mr. Lucky Igbinedion. But that was a deceit, the plea bargain thing.

There are many of these former governors that they told us had committed offences that are working as free men on the streets.

Recently, there are some of those who were indicted on account of the power probe, nothing has happened.

You see, it is the failure of these anti corruption agencies that have made the country to go on the way it is going. If the EFCC and the ICPC were doing their jobs very well, I am very sure that everybody will take a cue from them. So, it appears that the laws of this country are in favour of the rich. The rich person never gets convicted, but the poor does. The ordinary person who steals gets his hand cut or you send him to prison for a year or so, but people who steal huge sums of money are roaming the streets.

In the last few days, a number of names that were dragged to courts for their involvement in the fuel subsidy scam are being dropped.

What is your take?

That is what I am saying. There is discrimination in the handling of cases in this country. Somebody who is highly placed and somebody who is rich enough to buy justice would always escape justice. That is what is happening. If today I, Abubakar Tsav, should commit an offence, I know nobody will spare me. They would remand me in custody perhaps until I die there. But people who are rich, you will never see anything happening to them when they commit an offence.

The wife of the former president, Hajia Turai Yar Adua and the wife of the president, Patience Jonathan, are fighting dirty over land allocation. How do you see the whole drama?

It is very sad! It is tragic!! It is very sad because during the reign of Turai Yar Adua , Mrs. Patience Jonathan was her right hand person . She was loyal to her. She showed every loyalty to her. And this land in question was acquired during that period. And now that God Almighty has taken away the husband of Turai and

President in all these?

Yes. His directive is ‘go and see how you can get your sector well involved in governance and policy making.’

What is your take on the growing state of insecurity in the nation?

I have spoken on this issue over and over again but I feel strongly that the approach by several sectors of the Nigerian people has not been helpful.

If we have challenges as a country, it is the joint responsibility of Nigerians that love the unity of this country to come together irrespective of our political background, irrespective of our religious and ethnic backgrounds.

We should keep all these behind us and know that what is being threatened, is the name ‘Nigeria’ which is the emblem of our unity.

What role are you going to play in resolving the crisis?

Our own major focal point is, if you watch very well, those persons that are usually used are the youths.

Those persons that are greatly affected by the destructions are youths. Our own is to see how we can synergize and get our youths engaged.

What is your reaction to calls for the president’s resignation?

I commented on this earlier today that it is something that shouldn’t even have come out from the heart of any man. If you have a country where things are going wrong, your criticisms should not be in the negative direction because the polity is already being over heated.

What every Nigerian should be looking at now, is how we can contribute to guard, redirect and refocus the country. To every vision God gives to any nation, He always gives one man the authority to drive that vision. President Jonathan has been given the mandate to drive the vision of the Nigerian dream. And it is only out of wickedness to the Nigerian people that people can wake up and call for his resignation.

Patience’s husband is now the president, she has gone on to take over this land.

This is not good at all. We had expected that she should have encouraged and supported Mrs. Yar’ Adua to complete her project, so that we would have continuity in this project. She has started her own project and maybe by the time she leaves office, her own project would become moribund. It is, indeed, a shameful thing for them to start quarreling over land.

But I also blame the Minister of the Federal Capital. If Mrs. Yar ‘Adua had acquired this land and you issued a C of O to her and she made payments and she is not owing anything…. Then suddenly because a new president has come, and the new president has made you a minister, and you want to curry favour from him, then you went to revoke the land. That is not good enough. That is why we don’t have leaders in the North. We have office seekers in the North! A person who has conscience would not have done a thing like that.

He would have given her another land, elsewhere. Or if it was very important to use the same land, you should meet with the two ladies and told them the situation. This is because the projects they want to do are important. That of Yar Adua is important, the one Patience wanted to set up is maybe it is a money spinning

28

DAILY SUN

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

SUNSummit From PAUL ORUDE, Bauchi Illiyasu Ibrahim Zwall is a member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, representing Lere/Bura constituency in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of the state.

In this interview, Zwall, who is the Chairman of the Committee on Security in the Bauchi State House of Assembly, expresses concern over the scary, endless blood-letting in Tafawa Balewa. Zwall, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Bauchi State chapter, alleges that the Joint Task Force set up to maintain peace is engaging in extra-judicial killings in the area and submits that lack of confidence in the security operatives has contributed to worsening insecurity in the state .

Excerpts.

Sir, how has the journey been so far for you, since you were elected into the state assembly?

Thank you. It has been very tasking. In fact, I find it quite challenging. Apart from the exigencies of your duty in office you have to deal with demands of people from your constituency here and there and how you are going to tackle them.

So, it is very, very tasking. In fact, coming to the assembly opened my eyes. It makes me to understand what democracy entails; it makes me to understand that democracy lies within the house to a greater extent.

If the house will be a good place, then obviously democracy will be very good because it brings a kind of checks and balances on the various arms of government and that gives you opportunity to understand what democracy is all about. By making laws, you try to see things that will bring about some meaningful development and then prevent certain things that may be of negative effect on the people generally.

So, I look at areas like appropriation and then the issue of public account where you will have to look at other activities of the government and then essentially on oversight functions, which allow you to go into some other areas to check performance of the government and that is interesting.

But I equally discovered that the Bauchi State law by itself, about five volumes, are more than the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which is an uphill task for someone to go through them and compare them with the constitution.

So, the legislature is a place where democracy, I can say without fear of any contradiction, that 60 per cent of democracy lies within the legislature.

How has being a former labour leader helped you in the process of legislating?

Being the chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state gave me opportunity to actually assess some of the boiling issues generally affecting the country; not only my state but the country as a whole and I felt that being a legislator affords me the leverage to address some of the problems.

In my life I never thought of being a local government chairman or a governor. I always wanted to be in the legislature because it has some semblance with the labour congress because there, there are

various industrial unions you come together and discuss issues, affecting the unions and then you come out with solutions. So also is the legislature where people from different constituencies come together and they raise issues, problems and they resolve them accordingly. So, I think it has helped me a great deal.

What have you been doing, I mean the responsibilities you have been given since coming into the house?

When we came in I was made the Chairman, Committee on Agriculture and this is because of my professional calling. So I was made chairman of Committee on Agriculture but after one year, there was need in the house for it to change the various committees.

So, I was moved to chairman house committee on security.

As you know without being biased, agriculture is the mainstay of the economy and over 70 per cent of Nigerians are dependent on agriculture for their means of livelihood and that is what makes it an important aspect. We were able to make certain appropriations that have direct bearing on the farmers of the state and by implication that is by 70 per cent of the populace.

Along the same vein, I was able to bring a motion for the merger of School of Agriculture which was formally merged with the state Tatari Ali Polytechnic.

You find out that in Agriculture 80 per cent of the services are extension services and if there is no proper extension services then obviously agriculture will suffer and the School of Agriculture is very important to agriculture in producing the extension workers that will help the farmers in trying to produce food for the state and the country at large.

Coming to the committee on security these are issues that are of greater extent confidential and not generally for public consumption but generally we were able to address some of the problems as chairman security like border clashes between Ganjuwa and Darazo local Governments , we were able to address that of Misau and the same Darazo Local Government.

We are trying equally to address some border clashes between Kirfi and Ganjuwa local government.

Your local government, Tafawa Balewa, has been enmeshed in bloody crisis between the Sayawa and Fulanis since time immemorial. As a lawmaker, , how do you feel about the situation?

It is a terrible situation actually and I feel very bad about it and I am not quite happy about what is happening. We grew up there and we grew up continuously having this problem. The major problem as at the time we were growing up is the issue of Tafawa Balewa and the issue of chiefdom. That has adequately been addressed by the state government.

Zwall

How to address security challenge in Bauchi

–Lawmaker However, it culminated into another wanton destruction of lives and property and that is the more reason why the state assembly felt it is important to relocate the local government headquarters from Tafawa Balewa where the trouble is and we were able to do that within the assembly and the local government headquarter of my local government, Tafawa Balewa is now in Bununu.

Over the last one year since we relocated the local government headquarters the level of carnage and killings is now low compared to what happened before the relocation of the local government and a lot of measures had to be taken. Really I am not happy with what is happening but we cannot do anything other than to contain it and try to see how things are going to work out for the

local government.

There are complaints by the people of the area of extra-judicial killings. Are you aware of these allegations? If you are aware, what measures are being taken to stop it?

I am quite aware of it. In Lere road block, the JTF people killed one Fulani man simply because somebody reported to them that he stole their cow. You can imagine this impunity without necessarily doing thorough investigation.

Surprisingly it is not the duty of the JTF to address issues like stealing and so on. The police are there. The police are supposed to be the ones to handle that. So they are supposed to do their duties on these things.

Really there have been a lot of extra-judicial killings happening in

“Even if you make the whole of the people of Tafawa Balewa to become soldiers or policemen, it will not bring peace in Tafawa Balewa. The only way is for us to have a very good relationship, to establish a relationship between the various com-

munities so that they open up for discussions and see how people are going to address some of these problems.”

Tafawa Balewa and particularly carried out the by the JTF people.

Right now we have one at hand and we want to see a situation whereby the issue would be addressed squarely. The people concerned has written severally to the government and the General Officer Commanding at Jos because the JTF are not actually answerable to the state command of the Nigerian Army. They are answerable to the GOC in Jos. So that is where the problem is and unfortunately nothing is being done about that and they just go on rampage anytime they want and they just kill people anytime they want and obviously there is need for the government to look into this thing.

You know virtually the state Assembly cannot take any measure against the JTF except the national headquarters or the office of the GOC does that.

Reprisal attacks between Fulanis and the Sayawa has occurred number of times. There are recent reports of silent killings going on in Tafawa Balewa. Are you aware of these killings?

Really, there have been silent killings as you called them. Some of them are snipers that will just hang in the bush when you are passing by they just shoot at you and just kill you. There is this thing happening on both sides. These are reprisal attacks. Somebody’s brother or his parents are being killed and he feels unhappy about it he goes on his own to try to revenge. Even if you make the whole of the people of Tafawa Balewa to become soldiers or policemen, it will not bring peace in Tafawa Balewa. The only way is for us to have a very good relationship, to establish a relationship between the various communities so that they open up for discussions and see how people are going to address some of these problems.

Are calling for a truth commission?

Well, I think some people have the fear that other people might not be fair to them but the first thing is to have the confidence in the security agencies within the same place that they are resident; they are there to protect them not to kill them. If they have the confidence in the security agents that are there, then obviously there is going to be some semblance of peace because people will have the confidence that there will be an unbiased umpire, somebody that will now have to address the problem accordingly.

But right now as it is, people have the fear that the security agencies are lopsided, they are not addressing the issue squarely.

Look at, for instance now, in the whole of Tafawa Balewa town, Moslems find it difficult to pass through Tafawa Balewa town despite the presence of security personnel that are there not to talk of even staying. So, Moslems pass through the road from Zwall; you cannot cross to go to Tafawa Balewa and go to either Abgar in Plateau State or Bogoro.

No Moslem dares cross to those places. How could you imagine a whole society that is carved out without any other people apart from a single tribe that are staying there?

Even at that, even if it is a Muslim Sayawa man that goes to Tafawa Balewa, he risks being killed. That is a very terrible situation.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

DAILY SUN 29

SPECIAL REPORT

•Stuffed to bursting, a vehicle loaded with sacks of cashew nuts, en-route to Benin Republic

Oke-Ogun: Rustic border towns now haven for smugglers

By WOLE BALOGUN

T

he local routes leading to the border of Benin Republic from Oke-ogun communities in Oyo north, Nigeria, brought to mind the gruffy, rough, and meandering roads of remote clans and hamlets aptly described in Chinua Achebe’s classic, Things Fall Apart.

But they are no fictitious rustic roads to be imagined through narratives crafted in beautiful adjectives and idioms. They are real routes daily exploited by mindless, unrepentant Nigerians and non-Nigerians who have chosen the path of dishonour and disrepute by engaging in smuggling goods across the borders.

Daring and desperate, they smuggle just any good in and out of the country through the local border routes. They stuff all kinds of automobiles with petrol, cashew nuts, flour bags, clothing materials, farm produce and building materials among others, and ferry them in large quantities to other countries. Some of them also drive all sorts of vehicles into the country speeding in a manner that leave the roads cloudy hours after their escape into the heart of Nigeria.

Oke-Ogun is a group name given to all communities in the Oyo north, South-west Nigeria. Such communities include Lanlate, Iwere, Ado Awaye, Ipapo, Iseyin, Oke-Iho, Sabe, Saki, Igbo-ho, and Kishi among others. Accessing the border communities is not difficult even for a new comer. All you need do is go to a local garage in any of the towns and ask for where you could board commercial vehicles to the near-

est border community.

One week of checks by Daily Sun revealed shocking and shouting smuggling activities, well organized and daringly executed by Nigerians and non-Nigerians whose major objective is to earn good money by any means. Concealing his true identity and using as advantage his native tongue as a Yoruba, this reporter got close to some of the culprits and those who knew their antics with the aim of finding how they operate Fuel smuggling Fuel smuggling across these border communities is thriving. Many neighbouring countries such as Republic of Benin sell their locally made fuel in higher price to their citizens, thus making fuel brought from Nigeria more attractive to them, so said my driver, an old, weird looking man and a native of Odo Okerete who claimed to know much about the smuggling business in the village. Like a raconteur who delights in entertaining his listener with tales he feels at ease telling, my driver, who took me through the tortuous, hellish trip to Odo Okerete, one of the border villages in the outskirts of Saki and Benin, said: “Fuel smuggling is the most lucrative of all other goods on this route. That is why you are seeing many of them on the road. They store the fuel inside jerry cans and drums and stuff them in trucks, vehicles, motorbikes and even bicycles. It all depends on how much you put into the business. If you have enough money, you use trucks to ferry the fuel to Benin. If not, you make do with a vehicle or motorbike.

The law enforcement agents would only collect money and look the other way. But in some occasions, the officials may prove to be very difficult and stubborn, then you have got to be prepared for that, it could mean that you would have to use charms to hypnotize them and have them dance to your whims and caprices or you use force. There is the story of a smuggler who once forced his way when faced with a stubborn officer, and in the attempt he crushed a vehicle belonging to one of the law enforcement agents on the Iwerele route.

His people were worried thinking that his action would cause a serious trouble. But it was a big surprise and relief when days after, the smuggler came back from his trip and bought another vehicle for the officer and that was the end of the issue. They later ‘washed’ the new vehicle with lots of drinks and bowls of pepper soup in a popular local inn.”

However, investing in fuel smuggling requires some cautionary and preparatory steps. It also requires some tutorials: “But before you embark on the business, you have to find your buyer or buyers from Benin. You have to be sure that you have people who would buy your fuel immediately you smuggle it in. That is why you don’t just wake up one day and dabble into the business. You need to start with people who are already into it. Even if you have your money, you must get experienced hands for proper guidance on smooth operations. This is because there are many things you must take care of while you are planning on it. You must factor in the

Continued on Page 37

Page 30 DAILY SUN Tuesday, August 21, 2012

SPECIAL REPORT Continued from Page 29 money for special drivers that would convey the fuel to its final destination in Benin, the various bribes for the uniformed men on the road, and fortifying yourself against physical and spiritual attacks among other things” He did not mince words in his explanation as he even reeled out the names of the villages on the way to Odo Okerete, where many of the other goods could be found and where loads of fuel en-route Benin, could be kept in the event of delays usually caused by vehicles that develop fault on the way or un-cooperating disposition of the police or custom officers. Some of the villages mentioned include Orita, Idera, Idera Oja, and Orisunbare among others and are peopled with folks of diverse ethnic groups and nationalities, some of whom include northern, western Nigerians, Beninoise, and Niger Republic among others. onvinced that the reporter was truly interested in doing the business, my guardian assured that he would show me the rudiments. He took me to one of his houses in Saki.

It is an old but elaborate storey building by the road side and not far from the Odo Okerete garage. Boasting that he single-handedly built the house from the proceeds of driving along the route, he said that many of the young men and ladies in the town own houses and exotic cars from proceeds of smuggling and added: “I can assist you whenever you are ready for the business. You can start in a small way with N100,000[one hundred thousand Naira] And you must befriend the law enforcement agents on the road. In your first trip, you have to start with giving them big money until you become regular on the road after which you would have become much close to them. By that time, they would accept smaller tips from N1000 to a paltry N200.

Another important aspect is for you to get reliable drivers who will help convey the goods to the desired destination. This is no joke at all because you must employ the service of trusted and tested hands. The goods are not even packed into the vehicles at any other time than mid-night. That is the safest time for doing it.

And there are people who have become experts in it. When you are ready, I will link you up with the petrol attendants and dealers who will sell the fuel in bulk to you.” He promised.

At the Odo Okerete village, yours sincerely befriended another tourist guide. This time, it was a young man who was ready to furnish me with details behind the obvious backwardness of the town in spite of its potentials for rapid development, its smuggling spree being perpetuated by indigenes among other things. He also gave me accommodation at a token.

I got to the village late in the evening, at about 7: 30 pm. This was even considered an early arrival by the folks because we had left Saki metropolis at about 12 noon. At the time of my arrival, thick darkness hid a cluster of ramshackle huts across the wide expanse of land nature had bestowed on Odo Okerete. This was not because there was a blackout but because there was no electricity in the village at all.

Strange enough, the weather of the village at that time was hot and one would have considered it odd but for the explanation offered by the folks that the community had baked under a blazing afternoon sun, calmed nerves.

However, when mid-night approached, a cuddling, cold breeze blew ‘lullaby’ for everyone to sleep like a baby.

Cockcrow woke me up the following morning and it reminded me that I was indeed in a remote part of the world. I wanted to see the much talked about Odo Opara (Opara river) whose fairy tale I had been regaled by several folks in the earlier villages we had stopped for refreshment. Opara River was said to be the only river that cuts across the communities in Oke-Ogun. “The river surrounds all the communities and there is no where you would go in all the border communities that you would not find the river. In fact, it is the ‘bridge’ that demarcates Oyo north in Nigerian and the Benin Republic. “Once, a smuggler crosses the river, he is relieved, because he is in a foreign land, outside the shores of Nigeria.” Audu, my new guide, disclosed.

And off to the river we went. We climbed down through the hilly terrain of the village

Oke-Ogun: Border towns

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•Old school Jeep being used to convey fuel and othersmuggled goods to Benin

•A vehicle stuffed to bursting with jericans containg fuel, en-route to Benin

•Cashew nuts on display in a border community.

Smugglers buy at such point and ferry to Benin

towards the river. A few yards to its bank is a wide concrete road, apparently built as a bridge across the water. It stretched generously into the foreign territory of Benin Republic. And of course, it serves as a thoroughfare for automobiles bringing goods to and fro Nigeria. There are two of such long bridge at Odo Okerete, according to Audu, the links lead to Kilibo on the left and Tuyi on the right, both cities in the heart of Benin Republic, are among the destinations of smugglers from Oke-Ogun part of Nigeria. From either of these towns in Benin Republic, you could find buyers for the fuel.

As for the cashew nuts, they are shipped to the white man’s land from Benin Republic. People who use them in their companies preferred to ship them to their shores from Benin port because they pay very cheaper demurrage in comparison to Nigeria.”

In the village of Odo Okerete and other clans in its environs, the earlier mentioned automobiles are not the only ones used for smuggling.

It was amazing to find an antiquity: an old school jeep, which belonged to the first series of vehicles made when automobiles were invented in the early 18th century. Mistaking

•Truck filled Cashew nuts, en-route to Benin

•Opera river, that runs through the border communities Smuggled goods are ferried in boats on this river sometimes

the contraption for one of the relics of colonization, I inquired from my guide if he was ever told that white colonial masters ever used his village as one of their seats of power. And the young man was amused with the misconception. He had to clarify that the old jeep was not abandoned but that it was indeed, still functioning. It was even a veritable tool for smuggling activities in the outskirts. Audu disclosed further that the old jeep is highly desirable for the business because it is a very reliable, rugged vehicle for conveying heavy goods through the hilly terrain of the local routes. eferring to the jeep, he said: “We call them jeep. They are our own jeep in the village.

They are very reliable and rugged. You know, this village is like the garage for the trucks that bring goods across the river.

Sometimes, when the trucks develop fault on their way, these old jeeps come to the rescue.

This is because they are very strong and can withstand the roughness of the road.”

Curiosity drove me to cross Opara River into Benin shores. And in any case there were no officers to ask for my lassie passé. The major buildings on this side were huts built by the

R

Owe (pronounced as the Yoruba word of same spelling which means job), who are the local builders or estate developers as the case may be. The Owe are so called because anyone who contracts them to build has given them a job. Getting a place to settle here is no big deal according to my guide. In fact, you could informally approach the Owe and ask for a place to put your head. And because you have been familiar with them, they just clear a piece of land for you and collect some money with which they would mould muddy blocks and your building would be standing erect in a couple of days. In any case, the huts do not require much human energy and stress, they are low, small spaced and roofed mostly with thatch, palm fronts and trees fetched from nearby bush. Only richer folks by the standard of the village could afford to cement their huts.

Apart from rich local food of pounded yam and Egusi soup with bush meat, Burukutu, a locally brewed drink of giddy intoxication peculiar to the northern Nigeria also hold sway in the villages around Odo Okerete.

Cashew smuggling

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

DAILY SUN

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SPCIAL REPORT

now haven for smugglers

•Human/goods/material cargo; A vehicle loaded heavily, en-route to Benin

•A smuggler’s vehicle stopover at one of the border communities, Orisunmibare

The remote villages leading to each of the border communities are beautified with a stretch of arable crops such as cashew, mangoes, groundnuts, cocoa yam and tall, thick palm trees among others, across the virgin landscape. You see the plantations almost everywhere and in all huts and it was obvious that the inhabitants of such huts plant them for business purposes. The reason for this peculiarity was promptly explained by the driver: “a long time ago, some Beninese who came to the shores were amazed at the intimidating cashew plantation all over the villages and put them in the know that the fruits’ nuts are sought like gold in European countries. The visitors added that the locals were more fortunate than their neighbours in farther climes because their villages are nearer to Benin Republic, which the white men in need of the nuts preferred as the point from where they ship the goods in bulky quantities to their land. Armed with the valuable information, the locals had taken to planting cashew, tending it carefully and keeping its nuts in special sacks until they were bulky enough for ‘export’.

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he two days this reporter spent in Odo Okerete opened his eyes to salient issues that call for serious concern. Chief among such issues is the widespread hope daily nursed by the folks that their village’s local market would soon become Oja Agbaye (a global market) where foreigners and Nigerian nationals alike would transact business . This is based on a promise speculated to have been made by the Federal Government in 2010.

“I can recall that on three occasion government people who said they were from the Federal government visited this village. They took their time to examine our local market and told us that they would upgrade it to a global stature. They said that the Federal government wanted to stop the smuggling business that has brought this village into disrepute and the ways it would do so is to turn the market into a legitimate international one.

“They also said that since the rough, dirty road that leads to this place from Saki metropolis is a Federal road, They would ensure that it was tarred and have street lights. We were all very excited about the promise and our Baale,

‘Joining a smugglers’ gang is no child’s play. It is like being initiated into a secret cult. First and foremost, you have to be introduced by an insider and I am not one. We only know them and their activities in the communities. They will force you to swear to an oath of secrecy.

This will prevent you from divulging their secrets if eventually the long hands of the law caught up with you. And also it will prevent you from dissociating yourself from them after your initiation’ the village paramount ruler, Baale Okerete was so overwhelmed with joy that he instructed everyone to bring our farm produce as gifts for the government representatives. And so before they leave on each occasion, the government people had the boots of their cars stuffed to bursting with yam tubers, cashew, cocoa yam, cassava flour and plenty of bush meat” a disillusioned villager told this reporter as we were ‘dismantling’ a bowl of sticky pounded yam, and local Egusi soup garnished with bush meat.

But the villagers of Odo Okerete still have hope and they are waiting for the Federal government to fulfill its promise. Already, they have changed the name of the local market from Oja Odo (the market of Odo Okerete) to Oja Agbaye and everyone including those in their neighbouring communities now identify the local market fondly as Oja Agbaye.

Incidentally, the same story of huge optimism and disillusionment is told by folks of other clans from Iwerele to Sabe, Oke-Iho to IbudoOfa and Igboho to Kisi among others. It was either the story of a state, local or federal government that had pledged electricity, road construction and upgrading of the local markets that filled the mouths of the folks. Such promise or manifestoes as it were could have been made about 10 years ago. The villagers still hope and pray for its fulfilment.

“We all know that time without number so many of these projects of these amenities have been awarded but those in charge in government and even paid for but those who are to execute them decided it was more patriotic to use the money to enrich themselves” a villager who identified himself as old Soldier told this reporter during a critical talk about the fate of the rural communities in a local bar of Burukutu beer.

At Iwerele, I sought the assistance of a native I had got used to for days. I wanted him to introduce me to a smugglers’ gang and feigned interest in joining them but I was shocked to the marrows with his prompt response, sounding worried and concerned for me, he said: “Ah! Why don’t you face your school project that

you have come for. You don’t look like a diehard to me. I have studied your gentle and reserved disposition and I want to believe you are a Christian. Joining a smugglers’gang is no child’s play. It is like being initiated into a secret cult. First and foremost, you have to be introduced by an insider and I am not one. We only know them and their activities in the communities. They will force you to swear to an oath of secrecy. This will prevent you from divulging their secrets if eventually the long hands of the law caught up with you. And also it will prevent you from dissociating yourself from them after your initiation. It is no child’s play my brother but if you are prepared for it I will take you to them.”

“As for me, I am contended with riding Okada and doing my mechanic job. Even as you are now in this community you have to be careful with the way you look at them or move near them so that they don’t suspect that you have been sent by the government to spy on them. You have to be very careful.” When my concerned native was through with his warning, I gave the idea a second thought. here is also another kind of smuggling that takes place on the routes on daily basis.

You could call it human smuggling. Many Nigerians and Beninoises smuggle themselves in and out of the country through these routes.

While some prefer taking motorbikes from the garage in Saki others would take vehicles from Saki to the nearest Benin border and take a motorbike from there. Many of the passengers in the vehicle I boarded from the garage fall into this category. Passing through the routes without their lassie passé pose no threat since it was the usual practice to bribe the law enforcement agents at the borders. “ if you are a foreigner and are going from Nigeria without your lassie passé, you will just have to pay N200.

The same thing applies when you are coming in. But if you look rich, the officers could increase your passage fine to N1,000 or N500 as the case may be.” Said my driver.

Smuggling Vehicles Just the same way fuel is being smuggled into Benin, vehicles of different make are daily driven into Nigeria by daredevil smugglers.

While some of the vehicles carry foreign plate numbers, many others do not have it. The drivers of these vehicles drive on top speed in spite of the deplorable condition of the roads. And the reason for that is not far-fetched, they want to beat the time given for delivery and also beat some security blocks on the way. Vehicle smuggling starts from the point when a potential buyer, who prefer cheaper products contracts a smuggler for a vehicle of his choice.

Such a buyer usually pays a larger part of the money for the deal as advance payment after which he balances when the good has arrived successfully. This arrangement is very risky because there could be serious palaver in the event that the smuggler fails to deliver probably because he lost the vehicle to robbers or to stubborn custom officers. This scenario explains why the smugglers are always very desperate to get the vehicle to its buyer. As a result of this dilemma and to avoid failing in their duty, they arm themselves with all kinds of leather weapons, cutlasses, clubs, gun, and charms among others. The contract giver would not want to lose and he could use any thing to get back his money. The vehicles are cheaper in Benin because of the cheaper demurrage the dealers who bring them from overseas pay.

Daily Sun contacted a security operatives on phone and was assured that the smuggling activities would soon be a thing of the past.

Noting that the law enforcement agents attached to the area are working very hard to stem the tide of smuggling there, the source said:’we appreciate your effort. It is our job and we are indeed on top of it. Our men attached to the area have been doing their best as you have observed. We will ensure that we tighten the noose on the criminals. ‘ perhaps the days of smugglers in the place are numbered.

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DAILY SUN Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Good Health Registrar laments high rate of quackery in dental practice

By AZOMA CHIKWE and JOB OSAZUWA

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resident of Egba community in Lagos, Mr. Akinsola Oluwaseun, has to live the rest of his life with a deformed face that was inflicted on him by a dentist in the course of treating his aching tooth.

The 34-year-old man said it was through God’s intervention that he is alive today, having spent two days in coma during tooth surgery in an undisclosed dental clinic in Lagos.

This young man’s case is one out of many blunders being committed by unqualified dentists across Nigeria.

Perturbed by such unhealthy development, the Registrar of Dental Therapy Board of Nigeria, Mrs. Aramide Keshinro during a media chat recently in Lagos decried high rate of unprofessionalism in the field.

The Board, which came into existence on August 25, 1993 through Decree 81, but now an Act of the parliament, is responsible for standardising the training of dental therapists, dental health technicians, dental nurses and dental surgery assistants in Nigeria.

The board has the mandate to regularise the training and standard of the profession, to organise continuous development workshops, conferences and more pertinent, to register and license qualified professionals.

According to the registrar, the board is also empowered to accredit all schools in training of the above mentioned cadres.

Mrs. Kenshinro disclosed that most dental professionals have not complied with the

By AZOMA CHIKWE

A

Lagos based Dental Surgeon, Dr Bosede Akiba has stressed the need to promote the importance of solid educational foundation among students towards accomplishing their goal in all endeavours, including Dentistry.

She made the call recently at the 9th valedictory and graduating ceremony of Radiance High School, Festac Lagos.

The dentist admonished the graduating students to mirror into the future through the reality of the presence. She stated that success is not by chance, neither is failure by accident.

Dr Akiba explained that whatever discipline the students choose to pursue as a career, “the journey begins today. You don’t wake up one morning to become a doctor, rather, it is a planned systematic approach that leads you there,” she said.

Meanwhile, at age16, Mere Emmanuela emerged the best out of 96 graduating students of 2011/2012 academic session of the school.

As the feat was made known, Miss Emmanuela, expressed gratitude to God for making her most outstanding among other graduating students.

She said amidst ecstasy, “I am so happy to emerge the overall best student of the 2011/2012 academic session of Radiance High School. I must confess it is God that made it possible. Though I put in my own effort but that wouldn’t have seen me through if not God”, she admitted.

The 16- year- old Emmanuela noted that she does not have any peculiar secret of preparing for examinations. According to her, “nothing special about my preparation. I read always and gather as much educational infor-

• Aramide Keshinro directives and requirements of the Board over the years.

“Even if you (dentist) are qualified, as a graduate but without taking the National Board examination, registration and licensing, you are simply a quack,” she noted.

Until recent proliferation of dental schools, there exist only Dental School of Technology and Therapy, Enugu, serving the whole of West Africa Region. The need for easier accessibility arose as dental health became part of primary health care in Nigeria.

The Board therefore engages in monitoring schools across the federation that offer health care technology courses by ensuring that standard is not compromised.

On this note, the Registrar lamented the poor facilities and equipment in some of the schools. She said, “Some of the schools don’t have hostel, no dental unit, some students don’t meet up with entry requirement, no qualified teachers, non-adherence to ethics of the profession. Then what kinds of skills are impacted on those students? Obviously they are training quacks.”

The Registrar bemoaned the nauseating level of incompetency displayed by some graduates of dental course. “It would amaze you to know that some of these graduates cannot express themselves in simple English. We ask them question, they respond in Yoruba language. It is appalling and embarrassing,” she lamented.

She however noted that some schools which have existed for years but vehemently refused to register their students under the Board. This she described as an aberration in the profession.

“Parents are therefore warned not to send their children to schools that have not been accredited by the Board. Theirs children will not acquire the requisite skills to practice effectively,” the Registrar said.

“Most of them don’t know these schools are not accredited, and when they graduate, to secure job becomes difficult because the Board will neither register nor license them, prospective undergraduate should beware,” she warned.

Dental surgeon emphasizes diligence as Radiance Schools turn out graduands mation as possible. You know there is power in information. May be that is my secret”, she said.

Young Emmanuela advised that students should place their priority right, maintaining that there is time for everything.

Other outstanding students were Amadi Chinenye, best in Mathematics and English, Ezeihuaku Ebuka, best in Science, Bassey Annie, best in Arts, Okorohi Ogaga and Ozovehe Umi carted away the best behaved boy and girl prizes respectatively.

On his farewell message, the proprietor of the school, Bishop Fred Menkiti congratulated and urged the outgoing students to be courageous in facing the challenges ahead of their various prospective careers.

The Proprietor further counseled the students to imbibe the good principles which the school has inculcated in them. He stressed that they must not forget the moral standards which the school has set for them.

Bishop Menkiti also commended the teachers for mentoring the students in the way of the Lord and giving them sound academic training. “My wife and l sincerely express our deep gratitude to the teachers of this great school for their loyalty, dedication and cooperation, without which Radiance High School shouldn’t have been what it is today.

“For you to have not only adapted to the standard of the school but to also ensured that our students go by them is highly commendable. It is heartwarming to see your efforts in

of you have turned out to be the hope and treasure of tomorrow”, she remarked.

Emphasizing the importance of education in shaping every nation, Akiba said that education frees man and the society from slavery.

She noted that education is an element of superiority.

The dentist declared that education is an essential concomitant of all human society, stating that what sculpture is to a block of marble is likened to what education is to the soul.“Education cultivates an integral life and gives significance to it”, she submitted.

It was gathered that Radiance Schools,Festac Town, which has nursery,primary and secondary arms has consistently maintained high academic standards as has been expressed in the record breaking results of their students in both internal and external examinations like the West Africa School Certificate Examination [WASC] and Joint Matriculation Examination [JME].

The observers say is largely due to the uncompromising vision of the founders to pursue a standard of academic training that will make a difference •Bishop and Mrs Fred Menkiti in the country.

making the children reputable leaders of tomorrow”, he commended.

Similarly, the Principal of the school, Mrs. Edith Okonkwo applauded the graduating students for reaching a milestone in their academic pursuit. She noted that they were leaving the school as accomplished teenagers with their boots full of pride.

“It is a thing of immeasurable pride to see these graduating students radiating with confidence and maturity. The memory of the rigorous effort to shapen your life and destiny as little children six years ago, still lingers with us.

“But today, the difference is clear. You have run the course and finished meritoriously. All

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

DAILY SUN

33

Good Health

By AZOMA CHIKWE

N

eimeth International pharmaceutical company has reaffirmed its readiness to always deliver superior products and services to its esteemed customers across Nigeria.

The stride towards continuous transformation initiative was revealed by the company’s acting Managing Director, Emmanuel Ekunno, during the commissioning of a reception outlet at its head office, recently in Lagos.

The acting director noted that the move was important in reminding its customers on how they are venerated by the company.

In his words: “Today, we are celebrating one aspect of our new initiative which is the commissioning of our head office new reception.

The reception has been given an ambience that will provide a relaxed atmosphere for our customers while waiting to transact their various businesses.”

He further stressed that the new look of the reception was in line with actualising one of the company’s corporate core values and strategy, which are centred on customer focus and satisfaction.

Ekunno highlighted that the company’s jour-

Neimeth reassures customers of qualitative products , services ney of transformation began with the introduction of customer oriented package which was sustained through accelerated innovations.

“With God at the centre of everything, any vision and aspiration such as our new focus can be achieved. Our transformation process also saw us doing things differently in terms of staff motivation. We believe that our new strategic heading will see us quadrupling our sales and thereby achieving tremendous growth,” he said.

Ekunno however noted that the transformation process and efforts of the company facilitated the repackaging of Pancemol, a brand of paracetamol 500mg which he said has a unique feature that makes it to work faster.

Restating the company’s focus on innovation, he said, “We would continually innovate and transform because we believe that by

doing things differently and building on a foundation of new and proven ideas, we can change any market situation.”

Pharm.

Ekunno maintained that customers are held in high esteem by the company, and that he said necessitated the erection of the reception that would further give customers a sense of L-R: MD/CEO, Mr. Emmanuel Ekunno , with Finance Director, ownership of Mr. Chris Mmeje , on the occasion Neimeth.

Also, Neimeth has given out 15 brand new nation to help facilitate their work and increase Toyota Corolla cars to 15 managers across the their output.

Reckitt Benkiser takes awareness campaign on malaria to grassroots

By AZOMA CHIKWE

F

ollowing the continued diverse perceptions of Nigerians about malaria,

experts have always clamoured for more awareness campaign on malaria, particularly in the rural areas, with a view to reducing the scourge of malaria in the country.

To this end, Reckitt Benkiser, makers of Mortein Insecticide, embarked on an eightweek anti-malaria campaign in 75 primary healthcare and maternal centres in Lagos State.

Making the call during a two-day training workshop organised by Reckitt Benckiser for Lagos State Government Roll Back Malaria officers and health educators, the Brand Manager of Mortein Insecticide, Mrs. Toyin Yusuf, explained that the campaign is targeting the vulnerable group, which were pregnant women, nursing mothers and children.

She said the programme was aimed at educating the women on how to keep their environment free from mosquito, the importance of mosquito-treated nets, among others Yusuf added that it was, therefore, necessary to train the health instructors on ‘roll back malaria’ partners so that they could pass on the training at their various primary healthcare centres.

“Reports from the National Demographic Health Survey have shown that 30, 0000 Nigerian children die of malaria infection annually. Therefore, the importance of ade-

Toyin Yusuf (R), brand manager, , Mortein ,with colleagues quate awareness about the danger of malaria especially at the grassroots cannot be over emphasised.

“We are training not less than 90 people throughout the eight week period of the campaign in Lagos, after which we would take the campaign to other states of the country,” she

added She further disclosed that no fewer than 32,000 new mothers would be given free mortein insecticides to help keep their homes mosquito free and prevent malaria.

In his views, the company’s Scientific Service group Coordinator, Research for

MWAN takes anti-hepatitis campaign to UNILAG

By ONYEKACHI JET

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larmed by the increasing cases of hepatitis, health professionals have emphasised need for enhanced personal and environmental hygiene.

According to them, vaccine against the disease remained key for prevention.

With the disease, contributing well over 600,000 deaths globally and 200,000 deaths in Nigeria annually, physicians also suggest that to check the growing incidence of the disease, concerted efforts should be made in the area of education and advocacy.

With focus on Hepatitis B, the Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) Lagos State chapter, recently organised a workshop and free screening and counseling for students of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences of the University of Lagos (UNILAG). The

programme, which coincided with the faculty’s Students’ Week, was part of activities, marking the World Hepatitis Day (WHD).

In a lecture he delivered during the seminar, Dr. Gabriel Ogunyemi explained that hepatitis B is a serious life-threatening liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus, disclosing that about two billion people worldwide have been infected with the virus.

The disease he said can put people at a very high risk of death resulting from cirrhosis of the liver and cancer. “Hepatitis B virus can cause an acute illness with symptoms that last several weeks, including yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. “ Speaking on the mode of transmission and treatment, he stated that it is transmitted by direct blood-to-blood contact or semen, vaginal and body fluid of an infected person. Some

people with chronic case can be treated with drugs like interferon, antiviral agents, boosted with adequate nutritional balance, including replacement of fluids that are lost from vomiting and diarrhea.

Addressing the students, the Chairman of WMAN,Lagos state chapter, Dr. Dumebi Owa, who warned against unhealthy lifestyle that could weaken their immune system and expose an individual to undue risk, advised them to be wary of the dangers of smoking and excessive alcohol intake.

She disclosed that the disease is more than 50 times more infectious than the much dreaded Human Immune Virus (HIV), stating that an affected person could live with the virus for close to 25 years without detecting it; hence it is referred to as silent killer.

Speaking further, Owa warned against unsafe eating habits like frequent patronage of

Development, Mr. Uchenna Nwakanma noted that the women would also be educated on the proper way to use insecticide.

Nwakanma explained that insecticides often contain toxic ingredients which were harmful to anyone who inhaled them. He said in view of this, they had made Mortein in such a way that it met World Health Organisation standard devoid of these toxic substances.

His words, “”Toxic Insecticide exposure can cause a variety of adverse health effects which include irritation of the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. Gastric symptoms such as stomach cramp, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, loss of appetite, muscle weakness, slowed heart rate and even cancer.

“What we have therefore done with mortein is to stay away from those hazardous substances because we do not want the insecticides to harm anybody. These women therefore need to know how important it is to use the right insecticide and know how to spray to keep from harm,” he said.

Also speaking at the workshop, Deputy Director, Health Education, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Mrs Omowunmi George who reiterated government’s determination to make the State malaria free stated that the government was taking the fight against malaria very seriously.

She pledged that the state would continue to collaborate with credible organisations to reduce the incidence of malaria to its barest minimum. bukateria, explaining that because Hepatitis B virus can be transmitted through the blood and body fluid of affected persons, the chances of contracting the virus through an affected food vendor is high. “Often, you wouldn’t know who is a carrier of the virus because there are no symptoms and a good number of people only become aware of their infection when they are chronically ill, she explained.

She called on governments to ensure the anti-Hepatitis vaccine is made available to all, increase education by taking the advocacy even to grassroots and provide free screening. She also urged government to subsidize the cost of treatment for affected persons.

Owa gave some advice on personal hygiene and safety cautions to avert contacting the disease. “People can protect themselves by washing their hands, embrace food safety practices, practicing safe sex and avoid injecting drugs with infected needles,which is one of the most common ways of getting infected in some countries,”she said.

34 DAILY SUN

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

By SOLA BALOGUN and JIMOH RASAKI

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very large number of Nigeria’s priceless antiquities left Nigeria’s shores long before the country came into being as an independent nation. The high point was the infamous assault on Benin in 1897. Nigerians were denied their heritage as the works fell victim of colonial domination and more recently looting of heritage archaeological sites and museums continued unabated.

The National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria, the agency charged with the responsibility of preserving Nigeria’s antiquities considers the return of all these objects an issue of paramount importance that is why it is paying quality attention to it including setting up of a special unit to handle it.

It must be stated however, that since 1996 thefts of antiquities have not been recorded from National Museums collections. So the claim that the recently intercepted terracotta pieces in US were stolen from National Museum Lagos is absolutely false.

No object has been stolen from any Nigeria museum since the last series of burglaries in the early 1990s. Even then, Lagos museum was not involved and all the stolen pieces were put on ICOM red list. Indeed many of them have since been recovered and returned to the museums.

The looting of heritage archaeological sites and Museums has been an age-long and worldwide problem. In Nigeria the problem reached epidemic proportions in the 1990s when Nok and North-western Nigeria’s (Kwatarkwoshi) archaeological sites were massively raped and ripped of their priceless objects. These objects were spread throughout Western Europe and the USA illustrating the devastating scale of the problem.

While the problem abated in the beginning of the new millennium, recent field studies indicate that it has not fully stopped.

At the onset of the present Management of the NCMM in 2009 under the leadership of Yusuf Abdallah Usman, the issue of looting of archaeological sites by illegal diggers reduced due to the use of a multi-pronged approach.

Within the last three years the Commission has embarked on several sensitization programmes involving law enforcement agencies, media, local community and traditional rulers at Abuja and Kaduna and also in the rural areas especially at Nok and Janjala. In the meantime , approval to employ six hundred security and crafts men to police our heritage site is awaiting cash backing from the budget office.

From the legal perspective, the Commission has made substantial progress in her bid to review her laws with a view to tightening the loose ends against the smuggling of antiquities.This review will give the Commission the power to the unequivocal proclamation that all antiquities buried under the ground are the properties of the Federal Government of Nigeria.It will also make it possible for the Commission’s Antiquities Inspectors to search and arrest, with or without warrant, malefactors. The Commission will equally be endowed through provisions in the reviewed law with the power of prosecuting offenders.

The Commission has some registered antiquity vendors who bring objects to it for acquisition. Through them, the Commission has acquired very good and invaluable objects.

However, in recent times due to dwindling financial resources the Commission has been unable to pay as at when due.

When the vendors bring in these antiquities the Commission is obliged by its Act to collect them even when it does not readily have funds to pay compensation, for the simple reason that these are the heritage of the nation and so cannot be allowed to remain outside the protection of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments.

We are currently dialoguing with the vendors with a view to finding means of compensating them. Thus we are seeking intervention funds from the Federal Government to enable us defray the debt owed them in order to prevent the objects from being sold to foreigners and private collectors. It is important to note that the issue of purchase of Antiquities is of prime importance to the nation. Meanwhile, we appreciate the understanding and patience of the vendors who are helping us to continually increase the number of our collections besides other means of acquisition such as: field collection, donations, seizures and restitution. It is pertinent to note that objects taken out of their archaeological context have little significance

Why we want our antiquities back –DG, National Museum to social and historical reconstruction.

Accordingly we try to regulate the activities of these vendors in order to balance curatorial needs with scientific archaeological considerations.

In the meantime the Commission is pursuing restitution and return, has adopted approaches that are firmly anchored within the framework of the foreign policy direction of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which is principally dialogue rather than undue combativeness. These efforts at dialoguing have brought us into discussions with nations, particularly our West African neighbours through the auspices of ECOWAS. This is necessary because most smuggled artefacts are taken out through the borders we share with these nations.

The Commission in its effort at getting our objects back to Nigeria has also been operating •Amdala through the ICOM/UNESCO framework and has also been dialoguing with professionals in the foreign Museums. We indeed believe that dialogue is more productive than confronta-

tion. This however must not be misunderstood as weakness on our part. We do believe that our professional colleagues abroad and the law enforcement agencies will continue to cooperate with us in our legitimate pursuit for the return of our antiquities.

Nigeria’s effort at restitution was recently rewarded when Terra-cotta effigies of more than a thousand years old were returned from Canada on the 24th of February, 2009. Before this, the L’Office central de repression du vol des oeuvres et des objets d’art (O.C.R.V.O.O.A.) had also returned three Ife bronze heads stolen and found in France. Benin bronze artefacts sold to Galerie Walu in Zurich were also returned to Nigeria.

In September this year, the Commission shall be receiving from the Embassy of France five Nok Sculptures which were intercepted in August 2010 by the French Customs from shipments originating from Togo.

Day music healed the sick at Apostolic Faith

By THERESA ONWUGHALU

S

houts of Hallelujah rented the air as the choir and orchestra of the Apostolic Faith Church held its yearly concert recently. Widely known for featuring the highest number of choristers in a single outing, this year, over 2000 choristers sang praises to God inside the expansive church.

The concert was one of the high points of this year’s three-week camp meeting convention tagged: The Goodness and Glory of Godliness, at Faith City, Igbesa, Ogun State.

About 20 royal fathers (Kings) graced the event, which featured extracts from Handel’s Sacred Oratorio Israel in Egypt, Mozart’s symphony, Serenade as well as local airs in different languages. Also faithful across the globe including United States of America, Europe, Gambia, South Africa and Congo were in attendance.

The choristers both old and young sang and played musical instruments with vigour to the admiration of the congregation and guests.

Rev. John Aina, who served as Music Director for 40 years but now retired, directed the song Kumbayah as arranged by him to the joy of everyone.

District Superintendent, West and Central Africa, Rev. Emmanuel Adebayo Adeniran, said the camp meeting, which is the culmination of the annual spiritual calendar also marks the commencement of a new spiritual year for the church.

Commenting on the concert, the cleric said: “Every minister at the Apostolic Faith is given a musical training. Music is part and parcel of our tradition and part of our growth. The choristers are members of our church who have given their lives to God and have gone through the rudiments of music. They are the senior singers and about 2000 of them were on stage. They are ordinary men, who have been transformed by Christ and want to serve their God in a commitment to music.”

Adeniran added, “One of the things we enjoy in the worship of God is music. We are so sure that one of these days, we shall see God face to face and we will sing around His throne.”

The cleric pointed out that when one is singing praises to God, the sick could be healed.

“Little David sang for King Saul and he received healing. The same thing in the church, when we are singing, there is a state of consciousness, which you enter the realm of glory where God speaks to you. What comes out of this would be purification. Singing about the blood of Jesus alone can be a source of healing, purification and edification. Music is a potent spiritual instrument for healing.”

On the state of the nation, Adeniran said, Nigeria is not only about leadership but partnership between leadership and followership. “It is righteousness that brings glory and not one’s branding. It is about God rebranding one’s life as one moves closer to Him. Let the leadership and followership look unto God for intervention” he stated.

According to him, “What we are experiencing in our country today including pervasive criminal tendencies, increased moral decadence,

and blazing acts of impunity are hallmarks of ungodliness. The consequences constitute the myriads of challenges we had to grapple with as a nation and a people. Without mincing words, the seemingly elusive peace can be restored if only we humble ourselves, genuinely seek the face of God in prayer for mercy and turn from our evil ways.”

Adeniran explained that what informed the theme of the Camp Meeting is that both God and man hate corruption. “Nobody likes corruption and God has perfected a way in which corruption in our lives could be purged through repentance from our sins and letting Him work through us to change us so that we can experience His peace and glory.

•Apostolic Faith choir

Ajene Isegbe eyes SNA presidency

By JIMOH RASAKI

Assistant Chief Visual Officer at the National Gallery of Art, NGA from where he rose to s artists gather later this month in Uyo, become the Head, National Gallery of Modern Akwa-Ibom State, under the umbrella Art, NGMA, National Theatre, Lagos.

He was later posted to Akwa-Ibom State to of the Society of Nigerian Artists, SNA, one of the highlights of the occasion would be establish and head the NGMA office. In year the election of new officials to run its affairs for 2000, Ajene resigned voluntarily to face full time the next four years. And gearing up for the top studio practice at his ABARTS office, Makurdi, Benue State. In 2009, he was appointed a consultjob is Mr. Ajene Abraham Isegbe.

Ajene, as he is fondly called comes into the ant to NGA where he completed his tour of duty race with a solid background traversing studio in 2011. He is at present practising at his newly practice, art administration and core politics. He opened Abuja Studios in Newdark Garden, would thus be an astute bridge builder between Maitama, Abuja. Ajene who hails from Benue studio artists, academic artists, gallery owners, art State was also one time Personal Assistant to the administrators as well as the political and business Deputy Governor of the State and Honourable Supervisory Councillor, Obi Local Government class.

With a degree in Sculpture from Ahmadu Area, Benue State.

He has taken part in several exhibitions among Bello University, ABU, in 1983, Ajene apprenticed under the master sculptor, Felix Idubor in which are: Triennial India Exhibition, New Delhi, 1984/1985 after his Youth Service. Thereafter, he India, 1997; Nigeria-China Friendship moved to Kano where he set up Studio practice Exhibition, Lagos, 1996; Art Expo Nigeria called ABARTS Gallery and Studios in partner- Exhibition, National Museum, Onikan, Lagos, ship with Architect Ella, the principal partner of 2009; ARESUVA Exhibition, International Ella & Waziri Associates. In 1987, he opened the Conference Centre, Abuja, 2010; Nigeria @ 50 Markudi branch of ABARTS Gallery and AGAN Exhibition, Abuja, 2011 etc. His commisStudios. Five years later in 1993, he veered into sions include: Sculpture of Ogbu-iloko, the arts administration with his appointment as Warrior, at the entrance of the Och’Idoma’s palace, Otukpo, Benue State; Statute of the “Farmer” in front of Oju Local Government Secretariat, Oju, Benue State; Mosaic logo at the Senate building of the University of Agriculture, Markudi etc.

Agjene’s burning desire for leading the SNA is anchored on his firm belief that Nigerian artists should move to higher heights and benefit from all the available programmes of art institutions within and outside the country without let or hindrance.

He will unfold his full agenda next •Chief Okonta and Ajene week.

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DAILY SUN

Tuesday, August 21 , 2012

EDUCATION

EDITED BY CHIKA ABANOBI

email: abanobichika@yahoo.co.uk

35

Tel: 08034041645

•Winners, in a group photograph, with officials of Mobil, STAN and Federal Ministry of Education

By CHIKA ABANOBI

I

n Mathematics, 17 is a prime number but at this year’s 17th national science quiz contest organized by Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) and sponsored by the oil giant, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, and held in Abuja, it became an even number as prizes were evenly distributed to winners in various categories: primary, secondary and special projects. This notwithstanding, there were prime winners in each category.

The emergence of the winners at the grand finale of the event which was held at the National Merit Award House, Abuja, on Friday, August 10, followed the elimination contest among contending schools from various states across Nigeria, which started on Monday, August 6 and ended on Thursday, August 9. It was the finalists produced in various categories that eventually met on Friday, August 10, to lock intellectual horns, in the grand finale.

At the end of it all, Benue and Delta States emerged the winners in the secondary and primary categories respectively. While Odang Omoha and Akuhwa Fater, from Benue, defeated other contestants with a total of 112.50 per cent to win in the competition, Ufuoma Morgan and Omohwovo Uyota of Delta State won the first position with a grand total of 128 points.

Benue State won a trophy and cash prize of N200, 000 for coming first while Delta also got a trophy and cash prize of N100, 000 for the same feat in the primary category. Rivers State, with a score of 118.25 per cent and Imo State with 116 per cent came second and third respectively. They also got trophies and cash prizes of N100,000 each.

In the primary category, Ondo State, with 117.25 per cent and Imo State with 116.75 took the second and third positions, respectively and went home with trophies and cash prizes of N50,000 each. This year’s science quiz competition was somewhat different in that whereas in the past, the questions drawn mainly from Mathematics, Basic Sciences and Vocational subjects used to be dominated by multiplechoice questions in which contestants were expected to choose their answers from the given options, in the 17th national science quiz contest, they were given questions which tasked their intelligence and brilliance, without options and many of the contestants did extremely well to the surprise and delight of the audience.

On the average however, they all performed

17 turns into an even number …As Benue, Delta, Rivers, Imo, Ondo states win in the 17th Mobil/STAN national science quiz contest poorly in Mathematics questions requiring them to solve given questions within one minute. Many of the guests and participants spoken to by the Daily Sun, complained about time limit and pleaded with the organizers to look into the possibility of increasing the time allocation while preparing for the next year’s contest. They advised that more time, say two minutes, should be given to contestants while the usual one minute grace should still be maintained for non-Mathematical questions.

But apart from the quiz competition, winners also emerged in other categories of the competitions like Primary and Secondary School Projects, Teachers Project, National Theme Project and Free Choice Projects that required contestants to come up with scientific/technological bright ideas that can better the lot of human condition and help to move the nation forward in its drive for technological independence and self-reliance. Trophies and prizes were also awarded to deserving winners. In all, a total of N1.7 million was won by students and teachers in various categories.

Talking about the Teachers’ Project Cateory, Mr. Seun Olufolaji, a Physics teacher from Calvary Arrows College, Gboko, Benue State, won the first prize with his project entitled:

“Integrated System for Educational Aid of Physically Challenged Children.” Some software in which he developed a device that can enable the physically challenged user to use the computer without using his or her hands or legs but the heads or eyes movement to move the mouse and type in letters, the project was to win Olufolaji a trophy, a laptop and a cash prize of N200,000.

Mr. Olanipekun Eweje, a chemistry teacher from Government Science College, Ayede Ekiti, emerged second for his work: “Recycling Non-Bio Degradable materials to Laboratory Kits” in which he developed 16 laboratory kits such as burette, pipette, voltameter, beaker, test tube, etc and got a trophy and N100,000 for his efforts while Emeafor Roland Chigozie, a Chemistry teacher from Government Science Secondary School, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, won the third place for his project on “Extraction of indicators in Zobo leaf and red cabbage.”

The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the host of this year’s competition, won the Prof. Eunice Okeke’s Award for the state with the highest number of registered delegates while Anambra won the State Branch of the Year Award. Enugu State came first in the Free Choice Projects while Ondo and Kwara came second and third respectively. Iziyon Osayin emerged the winner in the Life Sciences category. Mbanefo MaryRose won a prize for the “Best Article Conference Paper.”

For the 56 pupils who won at this year’s the Mobil/STAN competition, the winning may have just started as they are to represent Nigeria at •Some of the winners, with Ms Eshett

various competitions this year. This was the fact made known by Minister of Education, Prof.

Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, at a special dinner party organized by Mobil/STAN, on Saturday, August 11, at the prestigious Transcorp Hotel, to reward and celebrate the winners.

The Minister who was represented by Prof.

Aderemi Adedibu, announced that the pupils will be selected in various categories to represent Nigeria at the International Science Fair Competition scheduled to hold in Ukraine from September 25 to October 3, 2012, at the 19th International Mathematics and Science Olympiad, Primary School category, coming up from October 26 – November 3 in India and at the 5th International Mathematics Olympiad coming up between November 17 and December 3 also in India.

Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, the General Manager, Public and Government Affairs, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mr. Paul Arinze who was represented by Manager, Public and Government Affairs, Ms Susan Eshett congratulated the contestants for emerging winners in the contest. Affirming the company’s commitment to the development of science and technology education, Arinze observed that science remains the only pathway to technological advancement and promised that the company will work in partnership with STAN to foster “cooperation among science teachers in Nigeria so that the country could be properly aligned along the path, to join the league of technologically advanced nations.”

Prof. Peter Okebukola, former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC) and Chairman of the Quiz Bureau, had earlier noted at the start of the grand finale of the competition that, “nobody had made the Nobel Prize in Science from Nigeria but I believe in years to come, one of these young scientists will make it.”

Ufuoma Morgan who gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the winners of the primary schools category thanked Mobil for its robust support for the science quiz competition over the years and urged it to continue while Kamaradeen Adekola of Sapati International School, Ilorin, did the same on behalf of winners for the secondary schools category.

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DAILY SUN

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

EDUCATION

By GABRIEL DIKE

I

n Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, there exists a school that is sought after by parents and it has carved out a niche for itself. Established in 1998, the Bloombreed Montessori School, according to the Proprietress of the school, Mrs. Funke Sunmonu, has grown from a burgeoning nursery and primary school into a vibrant co-educational, boarding secondary school.

Attesting to the track record of the school, some of the parents who spoke to Daily Sun revealed that the school was one of the best in the state based on the conducive environment, facilities, teachers and the personal touch of the proprietress in running the affairs of the place, including the quality service it offers to the pupils making them to even recommend the school to other parents.

Opening up to education correspondent for the first time, the trained educationist who is passionate about providing quality education to her pupils and also meeting the taste of parents that have long yawn for the type of education they received as kids, she revealed that “our successful evolution has placed us in a distinct position to offer your children a smooth and stable transition in education as well as assuage every parent’s search for quality education”.

Eight years after running one of the best primary schools in the state, the Proprietress, Mrs. Sumonu, said based on demand from parents and the need to bridge the gap or continue with what it started at the primary level, a secondary arm called Bloombreed High School was established in 2006 to provide quality education that would excel by both national and international standards.

On why the school was established, Mrs. Sunmonu, disclosed that it was to correct the wrong values in school kids such as examination malpractice stressing “we give the students confidence to face their examinations and also inculcate moral discipline”.

The educationist revealed that the vision of the school was to teach the pupils how to achieve self development through the use of modern technology aided by the qualified teachers. She said: “We expose the kids to the use of computers, laboratory facilities, competitions, allow them express themselves and the results are there to show within the short period of existence while parents troop in to register their wards”.

Track record, our selling point to parents – Bloombreed School Proprietress

Mrs. Sunmonu She narrated that three of her former school pupils went to an American School in Saudi Arabia between the ages of six and four years and because of their performance and discipline, the owner of the school sought to know from their parents which school they attended in Nigeria. The Proprietress revealed that she rolled on the floor when the news reached her.

S he added: “I have been receiving good news about my kids, some are on scholarship abroad”.

Mrs. Sunmonu noted that the school ran both Nigerian and British curriculum stressing that when the kids have choice, they can study anywhere in the world and revealed that in May, one her pupils represented the country at the model contest at the United Nations and when the organizers visited the school, they lauded his participation and that made us proud.

The Abeokuta born teacher and graduate of Guidance and Counselling from the University of Port Harcourt disclosed that she set up the school to fill the gaps noticed in the education sector in the country and especially the state. Acknowledging the contributions of private schools in nation building, the educationist further explained that she did not establish the school to make profit and warned that any proprietor/proprietress that did not have the passion for education must not venture into school business for the sake of it or the profit motive. “Education is a social service and investment; and schools must impart good quality education to the kids without compromising standards and government must monitor their operation.

Since we started, our students have been doing well in examinations”, she enthused.

On examination malpractice, she stressed

that if a child had no sound morale value, he would become prey to exam fraud. “Once a child is involved, it goes on. That is why some companies don’t look at certificate presented by applicants during interview but on what bearer has to offer”, Sunmonu proffered, adding: “This is a Christian school, I don’t tolerate any parent coming here to ask the school to assist his child during examination.

We try to prepare our students for public examinations. Parents are involved in everything about the school. We counsel our students on evil of exam malpractice”.

To fight the scourge, she disclosed that the Rotimi Amachi administration introduced standards by insisting schools register their students thus they cannot present candidates for public examinations without the knowledge of the Ministry of Education.

She commended the Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amachi for giving public schools in the state a face lift explaining that the helmsman brought experts to run the schools acknowledging the education commissioner is working with stakeholders to reposition them as well as retraining teachers.

Corroborating the assertion of the Proprietress, a parent, Mr. Dai Anyanruoh, told our Correspondent that he saw sincerity in the operators of the school describing the school as home away from home where a child is given balanced education by the qualified teachers. Adding his voice to the quality of education pupils receive at Bloombreed High School, Rev Clement Enekene who was introduced to the school by a family friend who have four kids, said he had also recommended the place to friends insisting: “I am satisfied with the entire set up of the place. It is a school that gives children total education embellished with morale and discipline standards”.

During the tour of the school, our Correspondent was taken round the state-ofthe art facilities by the founder of the school, Mrs. Sunmonu who disclosed that with experienced teachers, the students were prepared for WASSCE, SSCE, UME including foreign examinations such as IGCSE, TOEFL and SATS.

UNIBEN students shine as Amstel Malta Showtime thrills audience in Edo

S

tudents in tertiary institutions in Edo State recently had an unforgettable experience as the second edition of Amstel Malta Showtime train hit Benin City with several artistes and comedians, entertaining them.

The students from both within and outside the state trooped to the Best Western Hotel, venue of the event, to be a part of the captivating event, which featured breathtaking performances from two of Nigerian’s hottest music acts, Naeto C and Davido.

The event was anchored by Darey ‘Art’Alade, who also showed his dancing skills as he kicked off the event with his exciting dance routine. The Kogi State-born entertainer was simply at his best as he had the audience, screaming for more.

Daily Sun gathered that the major act of the night was Davido whose dramatic entry and impressive performance delighted the audience.

He took them through some of his hit songs, including Dami Duro, Ekuro and Afurum gi nanya.

Next on stage was Naeto C, who did not drop the tempo as he performed hit songs like Five And Six, Ten Over Ten and Share My Blessing.

After him came the hilarious comedian, Buchi, sent the audience reeling with laughter at his rib cracking jokes. There was also electrifying dance routine put up by the scintillating dance group, Corporate Dance Group to spice up the night.

Aside the performances from the main acts of the night, Naeto C and Davido, the show also had talent hunt competitions with students from

Winners at the show various universities going head to head. It was a night when students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) shone like a million stars in the talent hunt competition.

Like the previous editions, winners in each category were determined via voice votes from the audience and as the competition featured singing, dancing and comedy competitions, saw the three winners emerging from the UNIBEN. For the singing competition, Victor Chidi Ebere with the stage name, Vichy, emerged as the winner while Petite dancer Emuoborsan

Orogun or Emi, as she is fondly called, became only the second female to win in Amstel Malta Showtime after the 400 level Science/Lab Tech student was adjudged the best dancer category since the activation’s inception.

Funny man Victor Chidiebere Ijeoma, a 300 level medical student with the stage name MC Medical completed the lineup of winners as he emerged the winner in the comedy category.

The three winners went home with cash prize of N500, 000, a band new iPad as well as an allexpense paid trip for two to Lagos.

In addition to their exciting prizes, the winners also had the unique opportunity of performing alongside the established acts on the night.

Speaking on the event, the Brand Manager, Amstel Malta-Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mrs. Owotomo, expressed satisfaction with the event adding that the response of the audience was a confirmation of the brand’s acceptance by youths and students as Nigeria’s number one premium malt brand.

She added: “What we have seen today is a confirmation that we are truly Nigeria’s one and true premium malt brand. It has been an exciting night for everyone and we are satisfied at the conclusion of the event,” she stated.

Also speaking after performing at the event, Naeto C described Amstel Malta Showtime as the most exciting variety show in recent times. ”One thing that I can say about Amstel Malta Showtime is that the organizers really put a lot of efforts into making it an unforgettable experience. After performing today, I think I can boldly say that t is one of the most exciting variety shows in recent times,” he said.

He disclosed that the amount of creativity put into Amstel Malta Showtime gives it the edge over other variety shows in the country adding “What is clear is that the people that put the show together spend a lot of time coming out with creative ways to thrill their crowd. That is something that we don’t really see in most shows and events. I should know because I have been involved in a number of other events so I know what I am talking about.”

While the rave of the moment, Davido, described Amstel Malta Showtime as the biggest platform for youths to showcase their talent noting “I really feel that Amstel Malta Showtime is the biggest platform for youths to display their talents. We have had exciting talents perform today who would otherwise not have had the opportunity to show what they have got so Amstel Malta deserves a lot of commendation for that”.

The next edition of Amstel Malta Showtime will be held in the ancient city of Ibadan on August 31, and it will feature 9ice and Tiwa Sawage while the final leg of the show will hold in Lagos on October 5, with Tuface and WizKid performing at the event.

DAILY SUN

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

37

EDUCATION 16-yr-old girl emerges best student in Radiance Schools

By SAM OTTI

T

opical issues on global security would be discussed at this year’s international conference organised by the Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON). The annual event, holding at the International Conference Centre, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, between August 27 and 31, would feature several state governors, distinguished scholars and foreign dignitaries.

The National Public Relations Officer of the association, Dr Celine Njoku, who disclosed this to Daily Sun, said the association chose the theme of the conference, The Imperatives of Professional Counselling Frameworks for Addressing Sustainable Global Security Concerns, as a wake-up call to the worrisome security challenges troubling the country.

Other sub-themes for the four-day event include: Counselling Strategies for Addressing Militancy and Social Restiveness, Counselling Interventions for Family Security, Imperatives of Counselling Frameworks for Addressing International and National Security Challenges, Counselling Interventions for Economic Security, among others.

“Most of these themes are drawn from contemporary issues that are facing the society.

The AIG in charge of the zone will be addressing the conference on security. The members are going to deliberate on strategies and counselling interventions that would address the security challenges facing our country today. We have so many security questions and this conference will bring up some of these salient issues. A communiqué would be issued at the end of the conference, which would be passed on to the appropriate authorities for their consideration,” she said.

Dr Njoku noted that the association would, as part of the annual event, bestow a posthomous honourary awards on eminent traditional ruler, the late Oba Oladele Olasore, Aloko of Iloko-Ijesa and four state governors in recognition of their meritorious service to humanity. Those to be honoured as CASSON Icons include the Governor of Niger State, who is also the Chairman of Northern Governors Forum, Aliyu Babangida, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) of Lagos State.

Other guests expected at the four-day conference include the wives of South-West governors, as well as delegates from the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). According to her, the father of the association, Professor Olu Makinde, would attend the event, which would be declared open by the Osun governor, Aregbesola, who is also the guest of honour at the event.

Dr Njoku said the President of the association and Vice Chancellor of Ibrahim

By AZOMA CHIKWE and JOB OSAZUWA

A

Dr. Njoku

CASSON seeks end to global insecurity …Holds conference at OAU Babangida University, Professor Ibrahim Kolo, would also feature prominently at the event, as well as the Vice Chancellor of OAU, Professor I.B Omole, who is also the chief host.

“We have made commendable impact both socially and academically. Most of our counsellors are in schools - secondary and tertiary levels of education and they are doing well.

Our members are Vice Chancellors of universities, provosts of colleges of education and so on. We now have a paradigm shift. It is no longer what it used to be. Our members are now in industries, psychiatric hospitals and other facets of life. If they can employ some of our members at the National Assembly and involve us during elections, that would be highly beneficial to the system,” The CASSON spokesman said the conference would deepen discussions on key secu-

rity issues bothering the society and offer requisite counsel to checkmate the trend. She said the feedback from participants that attended previous conferences organised by the association had been overwhelming.

She further explained the need for counselling in the society, especially marriage counselling that has become needful with the high rate of celebrity marriage failures.

“Even in political institutions, counsellors are there. We have been advising some of our elected citizens. In economic institutions, our members are there as well. We have pastoral counsellors in religious institutions. This year, some of our members who meet up with certain criteria would be licensed. These organisations that engage our services are better off because they have seen the benefitting impact of counselling in the system”, she said.

Exam Ethics set for 2012 national conference

By OLUWASEUN ADEWORAN

T

he Exam Ethics Marshals International, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) launched in 1996 to stem examination malpractices and promote discipline, integrity and decency in the country’s educational is set to organise the 2012 National Conference of Exam Ethics Marshal. The event, according to the chairman, Exam Ethics Marshals International, Ike Onyechere, MFR, would hold between September 3 and 7 and it would be open to all educational stakeholders. He pointed out that non marshals and marshals designate who successfully participate in the conference qualify for inauguration as exam ethics marshals.

In furtherance of its pursuit of dignity and excellence, the anti corruption education body will stage the year’s Exam Ethics Marshals International Conference and Award at Hotel Wangara, Accra, Ghana

from December 10 through 14. ‘The aim of this conference is to enable marshals from the world over to exchange experiences, brainstorm on latest global best practices as well as recognize and reward stakeholders for outstanding performance in promoting best practices in education. The beauty of it all is that successful participation qualifies non marshals for inauguration as marshals while certified marshals qualify for inauguration as master marshals.

It was also gathered that plans have been concluded to host a series of consultative roundtables with parents and school proprietors in collaboration with Consumer Protection and Public Complaints Commission. The roundtables scheduled to hold in all state capitals in Nigeria are aimed at providing parents with information on how to identify and choose good schools for their children.

The Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, at the national launch of exam ethics marshals project at

16-year-old student of Radiance High School, Miss Mere Emmanuela, has emerged the best overall student during the 2011/2012 academic session, beating 18 others.

Her feat was celebrated at the 9th valedictory and graduation ceremony held recently at the school premises, Festac, Lagos.

Other outstanding students were Amadi Chinenye, best in Mathematics and English, Ezeihuaku Ebuka, best in Science, Bassey Annie, best in Art, while Okorohi Ogaga and Ozovehe Umi clinched the best behaved boy and girl prizes respectively.

The 16-year-old Emmanuela, in an interview with Daily Sun, expressed gratitude to God for making her the most astounding young scholar of the school.

She added: “l am so happy to emerge the overall best student of the 2011/2012 academic session of Radiance High School. I must confess it is God that made it possible. Though l put in my own effort but that wouldn’t have seen me through if not God”, she admitted.

She explained that she does not have any peculiar secret of preparing for examinations rather than extensive reading. Hear her: “There’s nothing special about my preparation.

I read always and gather as much educational information as possible. You know there is power in information. May be that is my secret”, she said.

In his address, the proprietor of the school, Bishop Fred Menkiti, congratulated the outgoing students on their successful completion of studies and urged them to be courageous in facing the challenges ahead of their various careers. Bishop Menkiti also commended the teachers for mentoring the students in the way of the Lord and giving them sound academic training.

“My wife and l sincerely express our deep gratitude to the teachers of this great school for their loyalty, dedication and cooperation, without which Radiance High School shouldn’t have been what it is today.

“For you to have not only adapted to the standard of the school but to also ensured that our students go by them is highly commendable. It is heartwarming to see your efforts in making the children reputable leaders of tomorrow”, he commended.

Similarly, the Principal of the school, Mrs. Edith Okonkwo applauded the graduating students for reaching a milestone in their academic pursuit. She noted that they were leaving the school as accomplished teenagers.

“It is a thing of immeasurable pride to see these graduating students radiating with confidence and maturity. The memory of the rigorous effort to sharpen your life and destiny as little children six years ago, still lingers with us.

But today, the difference is clear. You have run the course and finished meritoriously. All of you have turned out to be the hope and treasure of tomorrow”, she remarked.

The guest speaker at the event, Dr. Bosede Akiba, a dental surgeon, advised the students to hold tenaciously to their academic dream.

The dentist noted that education was an essential element of human society, stating that what sculpture was to a block of marble is likened to what education is to the soul.

TRANSCORP Hotel on November, 17 2011 lauded the launch of the Non Governmental Organisation and prayed that it would realize all its aims and objectives. He said: ‘ The launching of Nigeria marshals centenary project by Exam Ethics Marshals International could not have come at a better time. Striving for a legacy of culture of examination ethics, best practices and zero malpractice in education before the country’s first centenary anniversary celebrations in 2014 is fundamental to the long term development of the country’.

On the other hand, the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has agreed to partner with the Exam Ethics Marshals Internationals on the purposes of acquainting and enlightening consumers as well as protecting them against abuse and exploitation in the education sector. In likewise manner, the Public Complaints Commission and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development have all worked out modalities on how to be partners in progress with Ethic Exam Bishop and Mrs. Menkiti Marshal International.

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DAILY SUN

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

EDUCATION Educationist raises hope T for quality graduates

By GABRIEL DIKE

he Director of Good Shepherd Schools, Meiran, Lagos, Dr. Bayo Oyeyemi, has acknowledged that there was hope for the nation based on the quality of graduates being produced to take over the leadership of the country in the future.

Oyeyemi who spoke at the 14th valedictory service and prize-giving day of his school, however, warned that if government and parents do not take serious the priority of investing in children’s education, there would be no hope for the country.

The ceremony which attracted stakeholders including the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Meiran and Nigeria’s first individual Olympic gold medalist, Chioma Ajunwa, Professor E.A. Akinade of Lagos State University (LASU), representative of Commissioner of Education, Lagos, Barrister Tope Lawal, ex-student of the school, three traditional rulers, parents and several old students.

Addressing the gathering, the director of the school, Dr. Oyeyemi, said students nationwide would soon take over the leadership of the country stating “with this type of graduates we are producing, there is hope for Nigeria. By the time we raise this kids through the quality of education we are giving them, we will have doctors, lawyers, politicians and even governors who know their onions and who are poised to chart a new course for Nigeria.” “Our distinctive guiding principle is qualitative education without corruption. Our parents are the true Nigerians. It is my prayer that our children will restore the glory of this country which keeps dimming through atrocious and corrupt practices”, he added.

On curriculum, he stressed that the school made use of a well adapted one which surpassed the standards set by WAEC and NECO as it introduced students to SAT and Cambridge syllabuses to enable them write international examinations.

He acknowledged the worthy contributions of

the staff who gave effect to the school noble ideals while laboratory facilities to make science education a worthwhile activity. According to him, “Our ICT-based education is expanding by the day”.

The nation’s first individual Olympic gold medalist and also a Chief Superindent of Police

(CSP), Chioma Ajunwa, who was a guest at the prize-giving event, told Daily Sun that from what she saw at the ceremony, the school is a wonderful place for parents to send their wards because of the quality of education it provided.

Ajunwa admonished the graduating students that the sky was their ‘stepping stone,’ charging

Principal tasks parents to invest in wards’ education

By NKIRU EVONGWA

T Dr. Oyeyemi presenting award to the best pupil, Miss Oluwabunmi Adeyeye as her mum, Mrs. Adeyeye looks on with interest

College head protests NUC, EFCC’s blacklist of school

By SIMEON MPAMUGOH

A

n educationist and director of Concepts College London Dr. Marcel Ezenwoye has called on National Universities Commission (NUC) to immediately renounce its position that the school is related to Concept Colleges and Universities, Ilorin, - Kwara State, which has been blacklisted by the commission.

In a statement made available to the Daily Sun, Ezenwoye also enjoined the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to retract the publication it issued to the effect that the school is one of the assets of Sani Habila Zira who is involved in the Police Pension Fraud, threatening that the management of the school plans to seek legal means to redress the matter.

He claimed that the publication had caused an incalculable damage on his person and the college in general. According to him, “To put the records straight, Concepts College London does not have any connection with the Concept Colleges and Universities in Ilorin, Kwara State. In fact, we don’t have a branch in the Kwara State.”

On the inclusion of the school in some national dailies as one of the assets of Sani Habila Zira by EFCC, Ezenwoye further explained that the school only rented the apartment as a liaison office.

“Concepts College London is a registered organization with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Zira does not own it.

We have a clear mandate of providing primary, secondary and tertiary education in Nigeria. What we have in the property in Abuja is a vocational and skills acquisition center, a separate building which houses our `liaison office for students’ recruitment.

“I decided to come home and contribute to the development of my fatherland, after spending 22 years in Diaspora. We have established Concepts College London in Anambra State. We have strategic working relationships with some Federal Polytechnics, National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), and Federal College of

them to be worthy ambassadors of the school while acknowledging the contributions of the teachers that baked them as well as the support of the management of the school that provided the policy guideline.

The Lagos state education commissioner, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, tasked the graduating students not to be distracted in their academic pursuit and stressed that if they work hard, they would do well in the universities.

The commissioner who was represented by a deputy director in the ministry, Alhaja Akinlade, reminded the graduating students that they could achieve success in life if they work hard.

At the event, several students got prizes for their academic performance while many staffers received the long service awards including over 50 parents that also went home long patronage awards.

Education, Zuba, among others”.

Ezenwoye disclosed that the action of NUC and EFCC had adversely threatened the survival and speedy development of the organization as the vocational and skill acquisition centre of the school in Gwarinpa, Abuja has been rocked by poor turnout of students.

He said, “ Although this is attributed to closure of schools for summer holidays but there is apprehension that there might be a decline in the number of returning students due to the action by the government agencies”.

Ezenwoye said that Concepts College

London through its Solicitors has written a letter to the Chairman of EFCC at Tunde Idiaghon House Wuse 11, Abuja, protesting the listing of the school as properties of Sani Habila Zira.

However, in a letter, which cited document from the court suit number FCT/He/CV, Motion: M/11005/12, Item 381 in reference of EFCC mail to the College, and made available to Daily Sun, his attorney described the claim as erroneous documentation, adding that Concepts College London was neither owned nor affiliated to the said Sani Habila Zira other than “we are just tenants in the said property.”

NECO Staff School graduates 194 students From AKIN ALOFETEKUN, Minna

T

he NECO Staff School in Minna, Niger State graduated a total of 194 students in its nursery, primary and junior secondary sections with a charge for them to be good ambassadors of the institution. Assistant Director of the National Examinations Council (NECO) and head teacher of the school, Mrs. Zainab Danjuma Matthew gave this admonition at the school’s annual graduation speech and prize-giving ceremony.

The head teacher attributed the successes recorded by the school to the unwavering support for the school by the Registrar of the council, Professor Nwachukwu Okpala.

“What Okpala has accomplished in this school within this short time is beyond our widest imagination. The pupils, students and staff of the school are very appreciative and we say bravo,” The Assistant Director, noted. She was also full of commendations for the directors of the council, chairman of the school board as well as the ParentsTeachers Association (PTA) of the school.

The Guest speaker at the occasion, Major A.A .Abubakar listed lack of good leadership/governance, injustice and godfatherism as causes of insecurity. Abubakar who is Education Officer of the 31 Artillery

Brigade of the Nigerian Army, also attributed the causes of insecurity to corruption, anarchy, slow development and abuse of the rule of law. According to him, “Insecurity had strong impact on security and its educational system for a period of the interval many people lost their lives and many ran away from their homes to live as refugees in other areas and places”.

On academic performance, Mathew said: “This School has not relented in working towards achieving the goals of compulsory nine-year basic education. All core subjects, vocational, electives, and non-vocational electives are taught in school. Series of class works, assignments, projects and tests are administered regularly to make students work hard. “I am confident to say that the academic curricular and co-curricular activities of the school were successfully accomplished in the academic year under review.

“The school is blessed with hardworking and dedicated teaching staff. The school ensures that teaching and learning is accorded utmost priority and is determined to maintaining her high academic standard.

“The result of the 2011 National Entrance Examination For Unity Senior Secondary Colleges (NEEFUSSC) showed that 12 out 38 of our J.S3 students passed by merit while 15 passed based on catchment area were admitted into various Federal Government Colleges nationwide’.

he Principal of Kingstep School Festac Town, Lagos, Mr. Camilus Igwe, has tasked parents to continue to invest in their wards’ education to guarantee their future.

Igwe who gave the advice at the school graduation ceremony/maiden inter-house sports, described the pupils as the future leaders of the nation and the need for parents to invest in providing quality education for their children.

“Kingstep School does not treat education of children with kids’ grove. They are the country’s future leaders and there is the need to put more effort to make them sound and stable, whether cognitive, affirmative and psycho motive domain”, he added.

The Director of Studies, Mrs. Ngozi Okonkwo, told the gathering that the inter-house sports was meant to stir up the children to a career path and independence, which would led to their stardom in the near future.

According to her, “If we train them in the sporting activities today, then, we are equipping them for tomorrow. They are the future generations, who will be part of our national players that will represent the country in the Olympic Games. “We don’t only teach education and theory alone, this is a practical school and we teach them how to be self-reliant and how to cope with the outside world.

“I must confess that I have been blessed with very creative students. One of my students, Daniel Eneh was the best student at the Lagos Inland Revenue Service Essay Competition”. She added, “We our graduates are on the verge of gaining admission into the universities. We are proud of these children, they stand out everywhere they go and I believe that they will be good ambassadors of Nigeria anywhere they go”.

In his remark, the chairman of the event, Mr. Benson Idonijie, encouraged parents to give their wards quality education, while stressing that sporting activities and academic exercises were things every parent and guardian should ensure that their children get involved in.

The out gone Head Boy of the school, Master Daniel Eneh, urged the younger pupils to keep the flag flying, noting “we are the writhers of our destiny. We can’t wait for anybody. We have to make hard work our cornerstone if we must succeed in life.”

Appreciating his teachers and the school management for the knowledge they imparted on him, he said, “Kingstep has made me what I am today.

With their help, I came out as the best students in the previous examination in Lagos state. I’m grateful to you all.” A JSS II pupil, Master Devine Chukwujekwu, a medalist from Yellow House said he had been going through training for the past three weeks in the preparation for the inter-house. “I was trained by my sisters, who gave me tough time doing that. Also, my academic exercise is not also left out.”

DAILY SUN

39

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

The State of Our States

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 Osun State.Today,we continue with that aspect of the committee’s assignment.

Continued from yesterday OYO STATE POPULATION: 3,488,789

EXISTING LGAs: 25

RECOMMENDED LGAs: 36

REQUESTED: 66 S/N

PRESENT LGA

PRESENT HQ

S/N

PROPOSED LGA

PROPOSED HQ

COMPOSITION

I.

AFIJIO

JOBELE

I.

AFIJIO

JOBELE

EXISTING LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA.

2.

AKINYELE

MONIYA

2.

AKINYELE

MONIYA

NO CHANGE EXISTING LGA.

3.

EGBEDA

EGBEDA

3.

IFELERE

ERUNMU

OWOBALEIKASUMU DISTRICT WITH 38 VILLAGES. OLODO DISTRICTS WITH 25 VILLAGES. AYEDEIALUGBO DISTRICTS WITH 29 VILLAGES.

4.

EGBEDA

EGBEDA

EGBEDA, NEW GBAGI MARKET, NEW AIRPORT, OGBERE, OLORISAOKEO, ONILOWO, TANINO, OLUWO. ARABA, BIOKU, ODI OSAN, ASEJIRE, IDI OMO, ISALE APATA, KUSELA. ISETO, OLUBADAN, IDIROKO, OLODE

4.

IBADAN NORTH WEST

ONIREKE

5.

IBADAN NORTH WEST

ONIREKE

EXISTING LGA. NO CHANGE.

5.

IBADAN SOUTH EAST

MAPO HILL

6.

IBADAN S. EAST

MAPO HILL

NO CHANGE EXISTING LGA.

6.

IBADAN SOUTH WEST

RING ROAD, OLUYOLE ESTATE

7.

IBADAN S.W

RING ROAD OLUYOLE ESTATE

NO CHANGE EXISTING LGA.

7.

IBADAN NORTH

AGODIGATE

8.

IBADAN NORTH

AGODIGATE

NO CHANGE EXISTING LGA

8.

IBADAN NORTH EAST

IWO ROAD

9.

IBADAN N.EAST

IWO ROAD

NO CHANGE EXISTING LGA.

9.

IBARAPA

ERUWA

10.

IBARAPA

ERUWA

NO CHANGE LGA.

10.

IFELOJU

IGBO·ORA

11.

IBARAPA NORTH

AYETE

AYETE,LANLATE,MAYA ABIDIOKI, BABASANGO, ASUNNORA, OKEDEBO, ADEDEJI, OJEDIRAN, ADEGBOLA, IGANGAN TAPA, ELEWURO, ABULE APATA, ALAGBADO, ABULE ABORISADE AND ALL OTHER VILLAGES UNDER THEM.

12.

IFELOJU

IGBO-ORA

IGBO ORA, OKE-OLOLA, ADETO, APARA, EBO, APATA. IDERE, ADEAGBO, ARENIJOHAN, ADEGBOLA, ADEGBITE AND ALL OTHER VILLAGES UNDER THEM.

11.

IDO

IDO

13.

IDO

IDO

EXISTING LGA. NO CHANGE.

12.

IFEDAPO

SAKI

14.

ATISBO

TEDE

TEDE, AHA, AGO ARE, SABE, AGUNREGE, CORNER CWO, BASI AND ALL THE OTHER VILLAGES UNDER THEM.

15.

SAKI EAST

AGO AMODU

AGO AMODU, SEPETERI, AHORO, AGBOORO, IDI-APA, BUDO IGE, TENLEKE MEJO, WASANGARI, OWODE, SEKONA, AGBONLE AND OTHER VILLAGES UNDER THEM.

16.

IFEDAPO

SAKI

SAKI, ILUA, ABELE, OLOGUN, IRA WO ILE, IRAWO OWODE, OFIKI, CWO AND ALL OTHER VILLAGES UNDER THEM.

17.

ITESIWAJU

OTU

OTU, OKE IGBAGBO, IPAPO, AGO WARD OKAKA WARD

13.

ISEYIN

ISEYIN

40

DAILY SUN

The State of Our States

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Special Report OUT/KOMIA WARD IGBO-IJAYE BABABODE WARD THE WARDS HAVE A TOTAL OF 98 VILLAGES.

14.

15.

IREPO

KAJOLA

KISI

OKE-IHO

18.

AJAYI CROWTHER

ADO AWAYE

ADO AWAYE, OSOOGUN, WASINMI, AGELU-JERUSALEM, ABA-NLA, SAMSON, A WOLESE, ALAGBEDE, IGBODUDU.

19.

ISEYIN

ISEYIN

ISEYIN TOWNSHIP, AROJE, IDIIGBA, ODOTO, OLUDE.

20.

IYAMAPO/ OLORUNSOGO

IGBETI

IGBETI, JABIALAWO, TESI APATA, APATA, PANKOKO, KARAMA, OGUNIYI, OLOBE, APATA, IJAYE KONDORO, DOGO, JEUNKANU, TESI GARUBA, A YEKALE, AND ALL OTHER VILLAGES UNDER THEM.

21.

IREPO

KISI

KISI, TESI APATA, BUDOIBARIBA, ASE, AGUNLA OJELELE, APOLU, OYO-ILE, OKO-OBA, ABULE SORO, ODOIGBO, NEW WOLE WOLE, ADIO, KOLAFO, KOMI, SORO.

22.

ILUPEJU

IGANNA

IGANNA, ALAGBAGOA, ADEBOMI, OLUKUNOLA, ISATA, ONIGBONGBO, SANGBOBIYI AND ALL OTHER VILLAGES UNDER THEM.

23.

IWAJOWA

IWERE-ILE

IWERE-ILE, IDIKO-ILE, ILAJI, IJIO, IDIKOAGO, WASINMI, ITASA, IMIA, ILUA, JOLOKO, IDI-IGBA AJANA ADEKUNLE.

24.

KAJOLA

OKE·IHO

OKE·IHO, AIYETORO, ILERO, ADEKIDO, LAJI OKE,.OLUGBON ILLUA, AKINYIDE.

16.

LAGELU

IYANA-OFFA

25.

LAGELU

IYANA-OFFA

EXISTING LGA. NO CHANGE.

17.

OGO-OLUWA

AJAWA

26.

OGO·OLUWA

AJAWA

EXISTING LGA. NO CHANGE.

18.

OLUYOLE

IDI·AYUNRE

27.

OLUYOLE

IDI-AYUNRE

EXISTING LGA. NO CHANGE.

19.

ONA-ARA

AKANRAN

28.

ONA-ARA

AKANRAN

EXISTING LGA. NO CHANGE.

20.

ORIRE

IKOYIILE

29.

ORILE

IKOYIILE

EXISTING LGA. NO CHANGE.

21.

ORELOPE

IGBOHO

30.

ORELOPE

IGBOHO

EXISTING LGA. NO CHANGE.

22.

OGBOMOSHO NORTH

OGBOMOSHO

31.

OGBOMOSHO NORTH

OGBOMOSHO

EXISTING LGA. NO CHANGE.

23.

OGBOMOSHO SOUTH

AROWOMOLE

32.

OGBOMOSHO SOUTH

AROWOMOLE

EXISTING LGA. NO CHANGE.

24.

OYO

KOSOBOOYO TOWN

33.

ATIBA

OFA·META

OFAMETA, OKE·ISUNWIN, IDI OSE, ASHIPA MOSQUE, OTEFON, AKINPELU OROKI. ISALE OYE COMMUNITY GRAMMAR SCHOOL, IGBO NLA L.A. SCHOOL, SABO,OJA, KOSO, IDIAGBON, BODE THOMAS GRAMMAR SCHOOL, AJEGUNLE MARKET, OLD SECRETARIAT, AAFIN, IY ALAMU·ST. MARY’S SCHOOL I AND II, AGAAKIN VILLAGE, OLOKONLA HOSPITAL.

34.

OYO WEST

OJONGBODU

OJONGBODU, STATE HOUSING ESTATE, ST. ANDREWS COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, OPAPA, A.U.D. GRAMMAR SCHOOL,BABAIBADAN,OKE AAFIN, GENERAL POST OFFICE, KOLOBO, ISOKUN BAPTIST CHURCH, IYA IBEJI OSADEP, TESTING GROUND, AYETORO HOUSING SCHEME, OLD OYO NATIONAL PARK, CELESTIAL CHURCH OF CHRIST ISOKUN, AGO FULANI, OLOYA.

35

OYO EAST

KOSOBO OYO TOWN

KOSOBO, G.R.A. HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE, FEDERAL SCHOOL OF SURVEYING, KANGA MEFA, MINISTRY OF WORKS, FEDERAL HOUSING ESTATE, YAKOYO ILE-OBA, TECHNICAL COLLEGE OYO, ABIODUN.

36

SURULERE

IRESAADU

EXISTING LOCAL GOVERNMENT. NO CHANGE.

25.

SURULERE

IRESAADU

To be continued tomorrow

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

SUN Tech

DAILY SUN

41

Bisi Olaleye

IT News Weekly

08094000013 b.olaleye@sunnewsonline

Best ICT Reporter of The Year

What stunts can the Multi-Links, MTS, Starcomms, merger portend?

T

he merger between Multi-Links, MTS, and Starcomms, the three Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) last week further indicates formidable and favourable competition with other GSM operators in terms of data.

According to the merged companies, the alliance has given birth to CAPCOM. Prior to the merger, CDMA operators had been stiffled by competition from their GSM counterparts. Although, many critics had attributed this to lack of foresights on their parts.

CDMA operators had complained bitterly about inadequate funding that thwarted their expansion capabilities even with the Unified Licence granted them by the regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

They had also complained of subscribers’

preference for GSM telephony, poor promotion of CDMA technology, low capitalisation and corporate governance issues, which didn’t allow CDMAs to survive over time.

A recent statistics posted on the website of the NCC have shown that about 868,786 active lines were lost by Multilinks, Starcomms, Visafone and ZoomMobile between January and June 2012 alone.

At the begining of the year, the operators combined had 4,410, 355. The figure declined to 4,013,820 in February and stood at 4,013, 698 in March. The figure fell drastically in April to 3,904,846 and in May it was 3,718, 153 and

by June, it reduced further to 3,541, 355.

The incumbent Communication Minister,Mrs. Omobola Johnson had also hinted that “When you look at the market, you look

at dominance and size. In the US, the CDMA is the dominant technology but in Nigeria, the GSM is. It is true that the CDMAs are gasping in Nigerian market, but what we are doing is to encourage them to come together.

“With that, there is room for much more space for them to compete with the GSM operators, primarily on data, not on voice. They can’t compete with GSM companies anymore on voice. For me, consolidation is the way forward to go for them to succeed because I see a future for them. To achieve this, they must have finance capacity, focus and planning,” she added.

Meanwhile,the Nigerian Stock Exchange had placed the shares of Starcomms on full suspension following the potential capital reconstructing exercise by the company as a result of

L– R: Bolanle Ogundogba, Head, Sales, Main One Cable Company; flanked by students of Ogombo Community Primary School, Mr .Safara Iyowun, Head Teacher and Bimbola OluMartins, Head, Support Services, Main One Cable Company ,during donation of educational items to the school recently.

Etisalat leverages on EasyAdz for target audience tisalat Nigeria has introduced a permission-based mobile advertising platform, using Alcatel-Lucent’s Optism to meet specific audience.

This service, which was launched in Lagos recently, allows customers to “opt-in” to receive advertising messages and marketing offers from their most valued brands.

Etisalat Nigeria deployed Alcatel-Lucent’s Optism, a mobile marketing platform, which allows customers to share their interests and preferences with their mobile operator and subscribe to receive personalised, relevant advertising and special offers on their mobile phones from their favourite brands.

According to Chief Commercial Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Wael Ammar, “Optism is empowering us to achieve a number of exciting and important objectives. First, we are bringing the power of permission-based mobile advertising to the Nigerian market with our EasyAdz service. “ For our subscribers this is a service that is respectful of their choices as well as being enjoyable and engaging. For brands and advertisers, we are providing a large and highly profiled audience base as well as creating an avenue to connect with our most important asset, – our growing base of over thirteen million subscribers,”he said.

Etisalat Mobile advertising ecosystem is made up of key players in the advertising industry such as brands, advertisers, media buying agencies, Alcatel-Lucent as the technology partner and Etisalat Nigeria as the enabler. The solution seeks to establish a mutually beneficial relationship between the brands and its customers/potential customers by facilitating the communication of only relevant and important

E

product and services information from a brand to the customer based on his/her areas of interest.

Also speaking, Head of Alcatel-Lucent’s business in the Middle East and Africa, Mr. Amr ElLeithy,stated that “We are very enthusiastic to again be working with the Etisalat group to bring a more personalized and compelling experience to their customers. After a successful launch of Optism in the UAE it is extremely gratifying to have another member of the group choose our solution for permission based mobile marketing.

We see this as a solid endorsement of the way we are meeting expectations.”

The Alcatel-Lucent’s enabled mobile advertising platform has been commended by stakeholders who participated in the limited initial trial launch held at the beginning of 2012 with over 1 million subscribers opting in to the over 30 campaigns that ran. British Council, CocaCola and Nigerian Breweries are some of the brands who ran campaigns, they received different rates of response among particular demographic groups, the results however showed impressive response rates compared to the typical 1 percent response rate for other digital media advertising.

its merger between Multilinks and MTS. With the suspension, Starcomms shares, which is the only telecoms firm listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), will not be traded until the conclusion of the deal.

The new company, CAPCOM ,resulting from the merger will enjoy a capital injection of $200 million by the core investors.

In the merger deal,it says,“to invest $50 million in the equity of CAPCOM, transferable into the ordinary shares of Starcomms PLC—a 10-year established Nigerian telecoms mobile CDMA operator, with spectrum in the 1900MHz range—alongside $150 million of equity derived from CAPCOM’s existing shareholders.

“To simultaneously consolidate Starcomms with two other Nigeria CDMA Multi-Links and Cyancom, formerly MTS creating a single national Long Term Evolution (LTE) Broadband operator with 20Mhz of bandwidth in the 1900Mhz frequency range, to build from an existing combined 2012 base of 160,000 data consumers each paying $24- $32 per month to a base of 2, 500, 000 data customers by 2016.

Capcon has shareholders MBC, 53 percent shares; Middle East Capital Group, 25 percent shares while Helios Investment Partners holds 11 percent shares.

Others include Oldonyo Laro Estate 5 percent; Bridgehouse Capital Limited 3 percent; Asset Management Company of Nigeria 2 percent and Private Equity Investors 1 percent.

With N941,which is the current Average Revenue Per User,ARPU in the country, by Business Monitor International, a UK based research firm, the CDMA operators including Visafone, Starcomms, Multilinks and ZoomMobile must have lost about N817 million within the last six months of operations in the country in 2012.

An anonymous source from one of the merged companies revealed to Daily Sun that Starcomms had been downsizing since the beginning of 2011 and that every thing may normalize by end of September.

The source also claimed that the merger is coming at a good time because Starcomms did not look before leaping,while expressing fears that many more may still lose their jobs.

However,industry watchers have said that Capcom should forget about voice but start thinking of means to leverage on data,which is the global trend now.

They hinted that the alliance should make the companies more fomidable to achieve a superlative result in the sector,this they included ,will entice their previous subscribers going forward.

Panabiz debuts Canon image Prograf

P

anabiz International Limited, a digital imaging solutions provider, has introduced the Canon image ‘Prograf’, a large format printer range with optional MFP capabilities, which will deliver more efficient printing and scanning of large format technical documents for design and engineering professionals.

The new, versatile Canon image Prograf printers are optimised for use by professionals in a variety of different markets, including Computer-Aided Design (CAD); architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC); geographical information system (GIS) and other technical document. The software utilities that are included are highly valuable to users in the retail signage industry as well as general office environments.

The ability to quickly print technical documents up to 2400 x 1200 dots-per-inch (dpi) with precise lines can provide a tremendous professional advantage for organizations that rely on this speed and accuracy to stay relevant in a

competitive market.

General Manager, Panabiz International Limited, Diwakar Yadavalli, stressed that, “The introduction the Canon image Prograf models further solidifies our position to providing highquality equipments that are easy to use and available at an affordable price.

On availability of consumables support and customer Service, Yadavalli added “Customer Service along with consistent supply of consumables is a very important consideration for professional organizations.

“At Panabiz understand the needs of our customers. We invest in stocking of adequate quantities of consumables and spare parts for all the products supplied to our Customers. We offer on-site services through our team of professional engineers. All our engineers are periodically trained on the latest technology and product solutions.”

Offering outstanding print quality Canon Lucia EX pigment ink, professionals can

achieve high quality and performance in such printing applications as color or monochrome photography, industrial design and high-quality poster production. The 12-color, 8-colour & 5colour systems, utilized by various models, cover a reproducible color gamut. With its new pigment materials and structure, Canon’s Lucia EX inks set achieve greater shadow details, deeper black density and overall scratch resistance. This ink system works in conjunction with the high-density print head featuring Canon’s Fine (Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering) technology with 2,560 nozzles for each color: cyan, magenta, yellow, black, matte black, photo cyan, photo magenta and gray. An additional notable feature in the new image Prograf models is a built-in color calibration function which compensates for color variations caused by factors such as age and environmental affects, enabling consistent color representation across multiple large-format printers or when printing multiple copies.

42

DAILY SUN

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

SUN Tech

Cisco unveils extra ways to collaborate in Nigeria C

isco WebEx study has shown that small business owners will spend up to four weeks, working remotely during the July/August holiday months and use online tools and web collaboration to stay in touch.

The new survey, conducted by Cisco, has indicated that online tools and web collaboration are the tools needed to stay in touch.

According to the new Cisco WebEx survey of small business owners, July and August may be for taking time out from the busy day-to-day work agenda but small business owners in Nigeria can’t afford to be away from the office for long.

Cisco WebEx study highlights 15 per cent of those surveyed intended to work remotely 36 days or more. Almost half of small busi-

ness owners plan to work remotely for, at least, two weeks before the summer is out, the survey showed.

“Summer or not, nearly one-quarter (23 per cent) of the respondents said their companies rely on telecommuting and more than one in 10 (13 per cent) reimburse employees when they buy laptops, mobile phones or tablets.

“It appears many respondents prefer working remotely to avoid hassles and inconveniences often associated with traditional office meetings.

“In addition, respondents claim their biggest pet peeves about in-person meetings are that they run longer than planned (29 per cent) and are hard to organise because of conflicting schedules (25 per cent).”

The survey,which was conducted for Cisco

by Wakefield Research between June 6 and

June 14 2012, involving the owners of businesses with 100 or fewer employees,disclosed that the poll has a margin of error of 4.4percent.

“The survey results demonstrate the extent to which telephone and video conferencing have become ingrained in the work habits of small business owners, since nearly half of the survey respondents say traditional, in-person meetings are becoming less relevant, said”.

Cisco Business Development Manager, Emerging Africa, Bola Adegbonmire “It’s clear small business owners need to stay “connected” to the office , even during the summer vacation season, and so we are giving our customers in Nigeria the tools to not only meet, but also easily and efficiently manage content relevant for those meetings wherever they happen to be.”

L-R: Mr. Pang Xin Xing (Chairman, StarTimes Group), Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, Mr. Labaran Maku, Minister of Information, Sen. David Mark, Senate President, Mr. Musa B. Mayaki, Ag. Director General, NTA , at the 2nd anniversary ceremony of Mobile TV launch of NTA Star TV Network Ltd., StarTimes in Abuja..

NTA StarTimes invests N157bn in economy T

he management of the premier digital terrestial TV, NTA StarTimes, has disclosed that the company invested N157 billion ($100 million) in the project, developing about 800,000 subscribers and hiring 700 local staff.

Speaking at the second anniversary of the company held recently in Abuja, Chairman of StarTimes Group, Mr. Pang Xin Xing, noted that the company had created more than N1.3 billion tax revenue for the country and made due contributions to the popularing digital TV and economic development in Nigeria.

“I would like to take this opportunity to announce that in order to enable African people watch and afford the popular football matches, StarTimes made a huge investment and won the bid for the next three seasons FTA UEFA rights in sub-Sahara area. Very soon these breath-taking matches will be available on NTA ONE and NTA sports.

“At the same time when NTA-STAR is expanding the business scope, we are also improving our after-sales system, providing 24-hour call centre service and free door-todoor service. A diversified billing system has

...Celebrates 2nd anniversary already been set up. Our subscribers can pay Jonathan, we will complete the great mission the monthly subscription fee through our of realising digitalisation in Nigeria,” he business shops, on the internet and in the said. bank. Very soon it will also be possible to pay through mobile phone,” he said, stressing that the government had already released the white paper on digital migration in Nigeria.

Digital migration is the inevitable stage in the broadcasting and television industry. ndications emerged last week that the NTA-STAR is the joint venture company Nigerian Telecoms Awards is set to honbetween StarTimes Group and NTA, which our Lagos State Government under the shoulders the mission of popularising digital TV and providing Nigerian people with state governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, good digital TV service. Unlike the other for its new efforts and initiative. companies driven only by interest, NTAAccording to organisers of the award, the STAR pays more attention and respect to Lagos Traffic Radio may be getting some people’s right of watching TV. recognition awards in the forthcoming pres“By the end of this year, we are going to tigious Nigerian Telecom Awards. cover altogether 17 cities in Nigeria. By the The awards have been known to be repend of next year, we plan to cover all the utable and consistent; it has hosted about state capitals, and by the end of 2014, we will cover the whole country. NTA-STAR is seven African president.

The Secretary General, Otunba Biodun confident that under the leadership of the Ajiboye, hinted that the organisers believed Nigerian Government, led by President

Bisi Olaleye

08057104995 b.olaleye@sunnewsonline Best ICT reporter of the year

Lagos links Samsung Academy completion to budget implementation

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he Lagos State Government has described completion of the Samsung Engineering Academy project as a manifestation of the 75 per cent implementation of its 2012 budget. According to the state governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, who spoke at commissioning of the project, the state had a budget performance of 65 per cent in first quarter of the year, 84 per cent in second quarter and a cumulative half-year budget implementation of 75 per cent despite the hardship condition under which the government operates.

The governor noted that Nigeria ran infrastructures of over 40 years old and a new edifice like this is needed to revitalise the country.

He said the Samsung Engineering Academy will be a model for electrical engineering in Nigeria as its first of its kind in West Africa and third in the whole Africa with one in South Africa and another one in Kenya.

Fashola explained that his administration has used the peoples’taxes to attract a partnership with Samsung electronics which brought about the project.

“This is one of the projects initiated by the team of commissioners in the state and completed in real time, it is not just a paper performance but a real time results.”

Also speaking at the event, Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Nicholas Shin said the engineering academy will provide opportunity for students skills required to take up available jobs in Samsung and its partners.

He disclosed that the company has the desire to train great engineers which could be achieved through the academy.

Shin said, “Samsung is an innovative company and we realised the need to sustain quality and this part of our commitment to develop skills in providing innovative and quality products.”

Special Adviser to the Governor on Lagos Eko Project, Ms Ronke Azeez said the project was aimed at developing skills to match technology as its evolves adding that education is the transformation of civilisation to the future leaders of tomorrow.

“The project was a partnership between the Lagos State Government and Samsung Electronics West Africa (SEWA) and the commitment of both parties were driven by excellence and time for quality training for the academy so as to boost capacity in electrical engineering.”

Nigerian Telecom Awards to honour Lagos State

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that the Lagos Traffic Radio deserved an award.

Justifying the awards, he went on to state that, there was nothing that had been done beyond telecommunications, describing it as the most innovative way to apply telecommunications service availability. All that make that traffic radio is the fact that there is on- the- spot assessment of traffic situation all around the nooks and cranny of the state, which has helped the society in so much areas.

“The Lagos traffic, in all honesty, that move is a society cleanser,” Ajiboye said.

DAILY SUN Tuesday, August 21, 2012

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Banking Mass withdrawal at ATMs as Muslims celebrate Eidel Fitri

How Zenith Bank, Diamond Bank, 3 others fared in Q2

By CHIMA TITUS NWOKOJI

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housands of Nigerian depositors yesterday besieged Automated Teller Machines (ATM) sites within the Lagos metropolis to withdraw cash in order to make urgent purchases as Muslims observed Eidel Fitri celebration across the country.

This is as prices of various food items rose sharply in various markets in Lagos State.

Though bank workers were not at work, customers were spotted in various banking premises making withdrawals from the machines; an indication that cashless banking programme is gradually gaining grounds within the Nigerian banking environment.

Meanwhile naira weakened against the dollar, paring its second weekly gain, after oil sales declined and the central bank sold the least amount of the U.S. currency in more than three months The local currency declined 0.6 percent to N157.80 per dollar at the close of trading last Friday.

The Central Bank of Nigeria sold $274 million at its twice- weekly foreign-currency auctions last week, the lowest since the five days to May 11, according to data on its website. Dollar sales by the oil industry, the secondlargest supplier after the central bank, didn’t meet expectations dealers said.

Yields on the nation’s 16.39 percent bonds due 2022 declined 50 basis points to 15.53 percent, according to data compiled

by Bloomberg, after a report last week that showed inflation slowed.

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• Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, secretary to the Government of the Federation, presenting Certificate of Merit to the CEO of Landover Airways Ltd., Capt. Edward Boyo, during the 12th National Productivity Day Celebration and Conferment of National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) award held in Abuja.

Nigerian Ex-Im Bank backs shipping line with $60m

By AMECHI OGBONNA

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he Nigerian ExportImport Bank is providing funding and support to set up a shipping company to boost intraAfrican movement of goods, an official said.

Vessels from the West Africa Sealink Co, as the company will be known, will call on ports on the Atlantic coast from Dakar, Senegal, in the north to Libreville, Gabon in the south, Chinedu Moghalu, a spokesman for the Abuja-based bank, said last weekend. ``Total investment for the new company is estimated at $60 million for a start,’’ Moghalu said. Prospective investors will meet in Accra, the capital of Ghana, before the end of September to work out ``’the allocation of shares and conclusion of key appointments and partnerships’’ ahead of the company’s start by the first quarter of next year, he said.

Trade among members of

the Economic Community of West African States accounts for about 11 percent of the group’s trade, while business with Europe represents 45 percent, according to the Nigerian lender also known as Nexim. Factors slowing regional trade include current

trans-shipment arrangements through Europe that result in an average of 60 days delivery from the port of Lagos to that of Accra, it said.

The Sealink project is intended to increase trade flows, reduce time and costs’’ while ``improving duty

Staff jittery over planned sale of Enterprise Bank subsidiary

By CHIMA TITUS …As mgt assures of job security NWOKOJI

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taff of First Spring Franchise Services (FSFS) Limited, a subsidiary of Enterprise Bank have expressed fears over planned sale of the company to a new owner in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directive.

The development led to a brief demonstration over the weekend by the staff of FSFS who expressed their concern over the hand over to prospective outsource company owners, preferring to be paid off.

But in a swift reaction, the

management of Enterprise Bank in a statement signed by the Head, Corporate Communications department of the bank, Olusola LongeOkenimkpe, assured employees of FSFS that the planned sale of the company does not in any way portend any problem for the staff.

According to the statement, “Enterprise Bank has ensured that no staff will suffer as a result of the transfer of service to a new owner. As a matter of fact, the bank has put in place a number of positive measures to protect the interest of every staff.

CBN to recertify PoS terminal merchants at NIBSS

By AMECHI OGBONNA

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s part of measures to raise the confidence rating of the banking community under the cashless banking project, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has indicated its interest to further recertify all Point of Sales Terminal merchants across the country.

Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria in charge of Operations, Mr Tunde Lemo, who disclosed this in Lagos recently said the objective of the policy was to increase the confidence the public has in the system.

Lemo explained that the initiative became necessary, to strengthen public confidence in the banking sector.

According to him, the only thing that can erode the cashless policy was credibility loss which the apex bank cannot condone. The CBN boss stated that the recertification was part of the proactive measures adopted by the bank to ensure that the project was effectively sustained throughout the period, in the face of rising level of fraudulent activities involving people opposed to the policy.

He noted “ we need to build a secure network in order to protect data in transit and at rest”,

receipts by national governments and port authorities,’’ Moghalu said.

At inception, the shipping company will ply routes between west and central Africa before expanding its services to southern Africa and South America, he said.

stressing that the CBN and all stakeholders in the project would need to act proactively to protect card holders’ data.

Lemo revealed that at the moment only a few operators have attempted to secure the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCIDSS) certification, which he said required a rigorous process to achieve.

Commenting on the benefits of the PCIDSS, Lemo said it creates confidence in customers that the data with the merchants are secure, and creates trust and improve operators’ reputation among acquirers.

According to him, an efficient and modern payments system is positively correlated with economic development, being a key enabler for economic growth, capable of adding up to 2 per cent to the GDP annually.

He also assured that the successful implementation of the experiment would reduce the cost of banking services (including cost of credit) and drive financial inclusion, by providing more efficient transaction options and greater reach while improving the effectiveness of monetary policy in managing inflation and driving economic growth.

“Some of these measures include instituting measuring and monitoring parameters to evaluate the service providers and ensure there is no destruction of value in all its ramifications. The continuance of payment of existing remuneration and future career development structure,” the bank stated.

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) directive to banks to divest from all nonbanking subsidiaries which took effect on November 15, 2011 requires banks to exit their universal banking license in exchange for commercial banking, investment banking or specialised banking license. Banks were given a 90-day time limit to select an option and have up to May 2012 to divest from all non-banking subsidiaries in line with the new regulation. But till date some are still putting finishing touches to the divestment move.

Banks that are unwilling to divest from their non-banking subsidiaries are required to form a Holding Company.

The Holding Company, which will have a separate board, will own the bank and its subsidiaries as separate and independent entities, reporting directly to the board of the Holding Company.

s remaining financial institutions put finishing touches to second quarter results to be presented to the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), investigations carried out on the profit margin of available 5 top and middle tier banks reveal an industry still struggling for resilience.

Though banks acknowledged challenging and competitive environment, Fidelity, UBA, Diamond, Zenith, and Skye Bank reported impressive Year- on-Year (YoY) as well as Quarter on Quarter (QoQ) increases in Gross Earnings.

But Daily Sun analysis of their profit margin, a measure of how much of the gross earnings was retained as net profit reveal that their impressive growth in gross earnings did not rub off on real profit figures as they only managed to stir their ships out of murky waters in the second quarter (Q2) of the year.

Breakdown of results show that despite topping the list with about 79 per cent growth in gross earnings when compared with the same period last year (from N28.932bn 2011 to N51.899bn 2012), Fidelity Bank’s profit margin recorded slight increase from 10 per cent last year to 14.7 per cent this year. This means that as against 10kobo retained as net profit from every N1.00 earned as gross earnings the previous year, the margin increased to 14kobo for every N1.00 earned this year.

Diamond Bank Plc recorded an impressive 48.5 per cent growth in gross earnings but its profit margin remained at 15 per cent, though far above June last year’s 4.5 per cent profit margin.

Though Zenith Bank with its 23 Per cent gross earnings growth among the universe of 5 banks came third, the bank tops the list in profit margin.

The bank’s 25 per cent profit margin represents an increase from 18 per cent recorded last year. It means that as against 18kobo retained as net profit from every N1.00 earned as gross earnings the previous year, the margin increased to 25kobo for every N1.00 earned this year.

Similarly, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc reported a 21.6 per cent YoY increase in gross earnings (N91.3bn 2011to N111bn 2012) and approximately 24 per cent profit margin. Checks reveal that as against 11kobo retained as net profit from every N1.00 earned as gross earnings same period last year, the margin increased to 24kobo for every N1.00 earned this year.

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DAILY SUN Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Banking Stanbic IBTC shareholders approve holding company structure

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hareholders of Stanbic IBTC Bank, a member of Standard Bank Group, have approved the creation of a holding company – Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc – for the bank and its other non-banking businesses. The resolution was unanimously endorsed by 99.06 percent of its shareholders at the court-ordered ExtraOrdinary General Meeting held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja recently.

The new structure, according to the Chairman of the Stanbic IBTC Group, Mr. Atedo Peterside, is in compliance with the revised regulatory framework by the Central Bank of Nigeria which requires banks to divest from non-core banking businesses or adopt a holding structure.

The new structure comes into effect in September 2012.

He emphasized that the holding company structure will consolidate on the strengths and expertise of each business unit to enhance the entire group’s ability to drive growth into the future, adding that the new structure will accrue significant benefits to shareholders from the entire business, while Stanbic IBTC Bank’s customers will not be exposed to the risks associated with the non-banking activities of the other businesses of the group.

“A major reason for adopting the new structure is to consolidate on our goal of building Nigeria’s leading end-to-end financial services organization, leveraging on our competitive advantages in the various business segments, supported by the financial resources and global network of Standard Bank Group, to which Stanbic IBTC belongs,” Peterside said.

Among other resolutions passed at the Extra-Ordinary Meeting was the reduction of the bank’s share capital by a total of N7.5 billion as a result of cancellation of 15 billion out of the 18.75 billion ordinary shares. The holding company will have 10 billion issued and fully paid up shares of 50 kobo each. Following the share reduction, the number of shares held by a shareholder will accordingly change as four out of every five shares will be cancelled. The excess capital from the share cancellation will be returned to shareholders as cash, with each shareholder being paid 50 kobo for each share cancelled and the remaining shares converted to shares in the holding company at a ratio of one to 2.67. Consequently, shareholders of the bank will become shareholders of Stanbic IBTC Holdings with the same proportionate ownership, save for adjustments for fractional shares. Stanbic IBTC Bank will therefore become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC.

Trading on the shares of Stanbic IBTC Bank will be suspended and its shares delisted from the daily official list of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, while the entire issued and fully paid share capital of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC will be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange The operating subsidiaries of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC are Stanbic IBTC Bank (including Stanbic Nominees Nigeria Limited), Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited, Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Limited, Stanbic IBTC Trustees Limited, Stanbic IBTC Ventures Limited, Stanbic IBTC Capital Limited and Stanbic IBTC Investments Limited. Stanbic IBTC Capital Limited and Stanbic IBTC Investments Limited are newly incorporated companies.

The shareholders also approved the financial report of the group for the year ended December 31, 2011 at the 23rd Annual General Meeting which also held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on Thursday August 9, 2012.

The result showed that gross earnings increased by 19 percent to N67.43 billion, from N56.7 billion recorded in December 2010. Total assets went up 44 percent to N554.2 billion last year as against the prior year’s N384.5 billion, while total operating income increased by 17 percent to N56.5 billion, from N48.4 billion in December 2010. Total loans and advances to customers rose 42 percent to N266.6 billion, as against N187.1 billion in December 2010, while Pre-tax profit stood at N11.2 billion, from N13.5 billion in 2010, while profit after tax was N7.4 billion, from N9.5 billion in December 2010.

Shareholders’ funds closed at N82.81 billion.

• The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc., Mrs. Funke Osibodu, in a warm handshake with Mr. Oscar Onyema, CEO, NSE flanked by Mr. Philip Ikeazor (right) and Alhaji Ibrahim Kwargana (left) both Executive Directors of Union Bank during a business visit to the Nigerian Stock Exchange over the weekend.

JP Morgan rating of FGN bonds to bring $1bn into market

By AMECHI OGBONNA

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igeria’s fledgling bond market is expected to attract an estimated $1billion over the next few months with the impending listing of the FGN bonds in the JP Morgan index. The rating is coming as experts attribute the development to the Central Bank’s lifting of restrictions on foreign investors’ participation in the bond market in July 2011.

The FGN bonds are likely to be included in JP Morgan’s emerging markets government bond index from the fourth

quarter of 2012 with the potential expected to bring in US$1 billion into the Nigerian bond market. Investment experts who commented on the development last week said the CBN intervention has actually helped to reposition the bonds for international competitiveness.

Commenting on the development, Tola Odukoya of Dunn Loren Merryfield, noted that the Central Bank’s lifting of restrictions on foreign investors’ participation in the bond market in July 2011 may have helped to facilitate the inclusion of the government

CBN worried about safety of internet banking transactions

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he Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has expressed worry over the rising spate of cybercrimes, and has called on banks to ensure the safety of transactions, especially in the light of the cashless policy regime.

The apex bank hopes that

with supportive reforms in the banking sector, such as the move to a shared services platform among banks, which is already underway, the adoption of new technologies in fighting internet crime will become both affordable and possible.

Speaking during the official presentation of ISO

FirstContact to promote confidential banking

By CHIMA TITUS NWOKOJI

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ith the upgrade of its contact center called FirstContact, customers of First Bank of Nigeria Plc, will henceforth enjoy higher level of confidential banking. The service involves Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system, which the bank aims to provide for customers by phone.

This according to the bank enables the customer carry out several transactions by simply following a set of voice prompts and making selections on phones keypad.

The service which is likened to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Consumer Complaint webenabled portal where consumers of financial services submit petitions/complaints to

bonds in the JP Morgan index Nigeria meets the minimum requirements to qualifying for the index which includes, but not limited to, being classified as a low/upper-middle income country by the World Bank for at least two successive years, the availability of two-way daily pricing on the bonds and a sufficiently liquid bond market among others.

Meanwhile, the over-thecounter (OTC) market witnessed intraday volatility as reflected by the choppy movements in yields in reaction to the liquidity status of the market and the announcement by

the CBN on-line also ensures easy access to information on customer care initiatives in Pidgin, Yoruba, Ibo, and Hausa.

The bank’s head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Folake AniMumuney, said FirstContact was designed to provide world class customer service via phone and e-mail interactions. ?Ani-Mumuney said the product serves as the first point of contact between the bank and its customers and also acts as an intermediary between customers and other subsidiaries within the group.

“The upgrade of the contact center is another demonstration of our passion for constantly seeking innovative ways of giving our existing and prospective customers the best service possible. The new features will

ensure our customers across the globe enjoy quicker access to banking services and speedy resolution of their enquiries,” she said.

She said the bank is committed to making banking services convenient, while creating opportunities for the under banked and unbanked to become part of the financial system.

“The FirstContact platform is secure, efficient, convenient and very user-friendly. We encourage our customers to avail themselves of the services the contact center provides even as the Bank continues to seek ways of enhancing its service across all touch points.”

The interactive, multilingual and 24/7 customer service center which is in line with global best practices will help the quest

27001:2005 certificate to Access Bank Plc. in Lagos recently, Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, Director, Banking Supervision Department, represented by Mr. Sola Ogunmoroti, emphasized the need for banks to ensure the deployment of an effective control mechanism for their information technology infrastructure to checkmate cybercrimes and ensure the safety of electronic transactions.

Commenting on the certification, Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Aigbojie Aig-Imoukhuede, represented

by Mr. Victor Etuokwu, Executive Director, Access Bank, said the certification is not an end in itself, that it is just a noted that the banks has complied with certain regulatory requirements.

He said the certification has put fresh responsibilities on the bank, adding that it will continue to develop processes that will see it deliver cutting edge, high quality and safe banking services to its customers.

Martins said information technology is a major driver of banks’ activities; hence the need for regulatory focus on control built about around information technology infrastructures.

JP Morgan. He also noted the high volatility at the shorter end of the curve and the 7year & 10year bonds, stressing that this may not be unconnected with the current high interbank rates whose effect is been felt on the shorter ended curve and the JP Morgan’s decision to include the 10year benchmark bond and others (2014 and 2017 maturities) to their government bond index.

A review of last week show that secondary market activities for FGN bonds were influenced by the FGN bonds monthly auction and the announcement of JP Morgan’s intention to include Nigerian FGN bonds in its emerging markets government bond index. At the monthly FGN bonds auction, N25.00 billion worth of each of the three bonds on offer were sold including the 15.10 April 27, 2017; 16.00 June 29, 2019 and 16.39 January 27, 2022, at marginal rates of 16.33per cent, 16.14per cent and 15.90per cent respectively against 16.20per cent, 16.59per cent and 16.30per cent respectively during the previous auction. All the securities were reopened. In addition, subscription levels for the instruments stood at 176.00per cent, 283.88per cent and 536.12per cent respectively, while total subscriptions stood at N249.11billion against N121.60 billion at the July auction.

The range of bids for the auction was 14.98per cent18.25per cent against 15.00 per cent-18.00 per cent during the last one. However, it was observed that the subscription level recorded by the 16.39 January 27, 2022 resulted in its low marginal rate when compared to other reopened bonds, considering its term to maturity (TTM) of 9.45years. Analysts expect traders to continue taking position in respect to this in the days ahead as treasury bills auction worth.N70.65 billion coupled with treasury bills and OMO bills maturity and worth.N50.65billion N116.15 billion respectively.

DAILY SUN Tuesday, August 21, 2012

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Banking...Insurance NNDC lauds coy’s prompt claims settlement

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Local content: Nigerian firms to provide 80% cover

he prompt settlement of claims adopted by SA ance companies and at the find out that some mega risks cent implementation.

Life Insurance Plc as a Stories by same time grow the local like the, property, oil and gas MADUKA NWEKE In an exclusive interview way of sustaining customers’ with the Daily Sun, Borokini economy. He however, regret- risks whose value runs into bilconfidence has attracted the he Managing Director, said the local content policy of ted that the local underwriters’ lions of naira, the local insurers commendation of the Niger General Insurance the government is the assur- inability to meet the huge do not have the capacity to Delta Development Business of the Royal ance that at least 80 per cent of financial requirements to underwrite them. Implication Commission (NNDC) which Exchange Group, Mr. insurance transaction being cover selected risks in aviation, of this is that a lot is still going recently benefited from the oil and gas and in the maritime abroad because of lack of both underwriter’s settlement style. Richards Olutayo Borokini done in Nigerian should be has stalled the full implemen- technical capacity and finanhas said that for the local domiciled in the country.

The NNDC Management in According to him, it is a very tation of the dictates of the pol- cial capacity. But government its appreciation commended content policy of the Federal has to increase its support in Government to be effective, good policy because it will icy.

Standard Alliance Life “But at the same time you the compulsory insurances,” it must have at least 80 per help to grow the local insurAssurance Ltd, one of the nation’s frontline life underwriting companies, for living up to its responsibility in claims settlement to the beneficiaries of its deceased staff.

Mr. Kenboye Lambert, the Commission’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration, expressed the Commission’s appreciation when the underwriter’s Managing Director, Mr. Austin Enajemo-Isire, was at the Commission’s office in Port Harcourt to present the claims’ cheques to the commission on behalf of its dead staff.

Mr. Kenboye who represented his Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Christian Oboh, at the presentation ceremony said he was excited at the timely payment of the claims as it would go a long way in helping the families of the affected deceased staff meet their respective needs.

According to him, “we feel • R–L: Mrs Omobola Johnson, minister for Commications, presenting Web Jurist Award to Ejike Osisioma, head, IT Royal satisfied by the company’s con- Exchange, with Managing Director, Phillips Consulting, Mr Folusho Phillips, at the award ceremony recently. tinued prompt claims response each time we experienced staff loss,” stating that “we do not have any single regret for obeying the dictates of the Pension he Minister of products and services are and personal accident insur- tomers can access Royal Reform Act 2004 which makes Exchange products and servicCommunications, Mrs. offered to customers, how and ance policies. it compulsory for all employers when they want it.

These policies can now be es. The objective here is to Omobola Johnson, has to provide group life assurance The Royal Exchange Plc, acquired in a faster, more reli- ensure that every point of said that government’s scheme for their staff.

Nigeria’s pioneer insurance able and convenient manner interaction is laden with supe“I must tell you that we feel efforts to develop insurance group, recently won the ‘Best than conventional methods rior value, no matter the type challenged by your stable development in the country Web Transaction Processing’ because of the virtual process of transaction being done. claims integrity and will want will not be successful without website award in the insurance that the Royal Exchange “We want to continue to to assure you that on our part, professionalism and trans- category of the 2012 Web scratch card payment system deploy the best technology to parency entrenched in the we will continue to fulfill our Jurist Award conducted by offers. deliver value to our customers, own obligation by paying the industry.

Phillips Consulting, Nigeria.

“Royal Exchange has working through the best, Speaking at the presentation premium as at when due,” Royal Exchange had pio- invested heavily in technology well-trained and motivated of award to Royal Exchange Kenboye noted. representative, Mr. Ejike neered in 2010 the introduc- to create seamless and secure people to deliver value and we Earlier, Mr. Enajemo-Isire Plc’s Osisioma, Group Head, tion of its scratch card payment platforms through which our are happy with the progress we who thanked the commission’s Information Technology, the solution to cover motor vehicle existing and potential cus- have made so far,” it said. authority for the warm recep- Minister who was accompation told the management that nied by the Managing Director they were there to fulfill the of Phillips Consulting, Mr. provisions of Section 9 subsec- Folusho Phillips, extolled the tion 3 of the 2004 Act on settle- virtues of Royal Exchange for he Chairman of Pension PFAs focus more on pro- withdrawal,” he said. ment of claims.

Uduanu stated that there is winning the best Web Funds Operators gramme withdrawal that in “It is quite sad to lose the Transaction (PenOP), Mr. Dave annuity, Uduanu said both are difficulty getting contributor’s Processing breadwinner and the bread Website.

Emenike Uduanu, has said retirement exit plans adding money because no body can itself,” noting further that “with Mrs. Johnson stated that that contributors of pension that it is only natural to sell collect his or her benefit until the payment of claims to the insurance is a key sector that funds have 2.25 per cent of what one would benefit from. time of retirement. This he said beneficiaries, the necessary should add to the growth of the the profits accruing from the “What happens practically is is because the scheme is succour is provided for them to Nigerian economy adding that investment of pension funds that when someone retires, Retirement Saving Account he/she is given an option and (RSA) and not a bank account. carry on with the rest of their with the increase in penetra- as their gains.

“What the regulator said is lives,” he said.

Speaking with the press told the features of annuity and tion as championed by the withdrawal. A lot that if an employee losses his Mr. Isire saluted the National Insurance recently in Lagos, Uduanu programme Commission for complying Commission (NAICOM), the said every profit made from of people chose programme or her job if you are sacked but with the act, saying that it will expected contribution of insur- fund investments belongs to withdrawal because the money not when you voluntarily not only serve as a motivator ance to the Gross Domestic the contributors only that there is with the pension system, resigned before age 50. Six but will reflect in increased pro- Product (GDP) will be is always a management fee which is regulated by months after the employee PenCom, and they feel their losses the job and do not find collected by the Fund. ductivity of the personnel. achieved. money is secured. Insurers still another job, he or she can According to him, there is While thanking the She said that the winning of a lot to do in building the apply to collect 25 per cent of Commission’s management this award is a major endorse- need to distinguish between have capital and the funds confidence of the public. As the balance on his or her for making Standard Alliance ment of Royal Exchange’s E- the because the fund belongs to the confidence improves over account. But the PFA has to Life Assurance Ltd their pre- business platform and the the contributors while the time, people would begin to go prove that the person was disferred choice, he urged them to management’s investment in company raises capital to grow for annuity. In fact, insurers missed and that his or her comsustain the laudable pro- the upgrade of its website and the funds. market more aggressively than pany has remitted all the congramme for the long foresee- information technology tools While fielding questions the pension operators, but a lot tributions, otherwise, the able future. and processes to ensure that from the press on why the of people still chose service employee has to wait until he

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Insurance only grows on transparency – Minister

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he said.

He noted that government has made some insurance compulsory in order to ensure sanity in the country and to ensure public safety. He maintained that government cannot make every insurance policy compulsory so decided to make some compulsory for the purpose of ensuring public safety.

He gave the third party insurance policy which makes sure that you cannot put your vehicle on the road except you have a minimum of an Act policy which protects you against negligence, in case you cause injury to other road users as example. “You have insurance of public buildings which has also been made compulsory. A building is regarded as public building when members of the public come in and go out like a bank, school, hospital then it is essential it is ensured under the law. Also buildings in the course of erection that are above two floors must also be insured under the law. So, compulsory insurance has been put in place to ensure public safety but definitely government cannot make every insurance policy compulsory, so we still need to do a lot of persuasions to enable people to buy other type of insurance products that have not been made compulsory,” he opined.

He continued, “Even for the ones that have been made compulsory, the level of compliance is still very low which means that we still have to liaise with relevant agencies of government and also do a lot of persuasive work to see that people even take the compulsory insurance. So government cannot make every insurance compulsory but the ones they have made compulsory are for public safety and they are left for us to make sure that those compulsory insurances are taken by those that are affected,” he concluded.

‘Operators share pension profits with contributors’

T

or she is 50 years,” he noted.

Mr. Uduanu however noted that there are challenges as regards paying contributors’ benefits. According to him, people that have died but their next-of-kin have not shown up for their benefits. “We want the next-of- kin of those that died to come and claim their benefits. Next-of-kin are normally the spouse, but some people use their children. If a child is below 18, he/she needs a legal guidance to get the benefits. People should also prepare their Will, so that when they die the benefits would be disposed according to the Will,” He stated that the PFA also have people that have retired and relocated from where they used to live to places where their PFA cannot reach them.

46

DAILY SUN Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Banking

Odds against sale of bridge banks

By CHIMA TITUS NWOKOJI

D

espite the recent appointment of financial advisers to advice the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) on the sale of bridge banks, strong indications have emerged that the corporation still has a lot of huddles to scale, on this critical assignment.

AMCON purchased a total of N4.2 trillion (equivalent of Nigeria’s 2012 budget of N4.8trn and N4.929trn 2013 budget) Eligible Bank Assets (EBA) at a cost of N1.7 trillion.

Though the proportion of this transaction is estimated to be about 44 kobo to a naira, there are still doubts as to whether the corporation’s 12,000 loans will be recovered halfway.

At an interactive session with stakeholders in Abuja some months ago, the corporation told stakeholders that the sale of its equity in the 3 banks would be incumbent on the stability of the Nigerian capital market. This it said was to guarantee returns on AMCON’s investment in the banks that were done below that line. Also, not too long ago, Chike-Obi revealed the corporation’s plans to list AMCON bonds in the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE). Stakeholders are worried that if the sale of bridge banks depends on the recovery of the market, the sale of bridge banks may not be soon realized.

The stakeholders’ fear is premised on the apparent weak recovery of the capital market after its 2008 crash. In its weekly analysis of the stock market, Afrinvest (West) Africa limited, a research and investment company observed with the same concern that stock markets in some countries in Africa gained on average except Nigeria.

“The NSE 30, NSE Oil & Gas, NSE Lotus II and NSE Consumer Goods Index lost 1.24 per cent, 2.54 per cent, 1.41 per cent and 1.73 per cent respectively; while the NSE Banking Index and NSE Insurance gained only 0.08 per cent and 0.39 per cent respectively. The BA-30 index also lost 0.81 per cent, occasioned by losses from Stanbic-IBTC, Mobil and UBA,” stated Afrinvest.

Also, the NSE All-Share Index (ASI) last week continued its downward trend by 38.31

points to close at 23,066.74 on the August 16.

The market was quiet last week, trading an average daily value of about N1.5 billion and dropping 42 bps at the close of the week.

Therefore, analysts are concerned that the fundamental tools that will propel recovery of the market are far from being fixed. “Under the circumstance, it means AMCON will wait for recovery till a date that may not be determined soon,” said an analyst.

Also, it is true that within the AMCON law, it has extra powers to go after these obligors to

• Mustafa Chike-Obi

ensure that these loans are fully recovered, some debt recovery agents say recovering some debts may be a Herculean task.

In an interview with Daily Sun, Alhaji Fatai Oluwanisola Busari, the President /Chief Executive Officer, Fabus and Sons Nig. Limited, a government licensed Auctioneer, Estate and Credit Management Consultant said “We spend more these days to recover debts. In the past, when you meet someone about his debt, he became afraid. Today, nobody is afraid. They will tell you, if you want to kill me because I owe, kill me. People are not afraid of their creditors because there is no money. Incomes are not sufficient to meet basic needs.

Some people ordinarily do not want to owe but situations force them into it.” This means extra work had to be done by AMCON. In an exclusive interview with Daily Sun, the former minister of finance, Chief Anthony Ani, did not believe AMCON will succeed in recovering the debts.

He challenged the corporation to recover even half of the bad debts it bought from the banks if it can. His reason was that the owners of those banks were those who actually incurred the bulk of those debts and could not pay themselves.

“If you have businesses that have doubtful debts, you have to go and investigate those debts to be sure they are really bad or still viable. But you just

2012 budget: Another time-bomb?

From ISAAC ANUMIHE, Abuja

R

ecently, the Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala engaged herself in an altercation with legislators over the poor implementation of the 2012 Budget.

The budget which received President Goodluck Jonathan’s accent early in the year was made up capital budget of N1.3 trillion of which, according to Okonjo-Iweala, about N404 billion has been released. But out of that amount, about N324 billion was cashed-backed.

The Minister of Finance also said that the administration was more interested on the capital projects as against wastages in the recurrent budget. To this effect, she said, the government has saved billions of naira by introducing a system of payment where the staffers’ biodata is captured.

Besides, the government has equally cut down on the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) unnecessary expenditures.

Before now, these monies were used by the public officer to make unnecessary travels, provision of refreshments and other frivolous spending. This, of course, has taken a toll on the MDAs where key activities are at their lowest ebb. The development recently prompted agitations within government circle and the reason being to instigate the minister to back down on her resolve to “starve”

the MDAs of funds.

However, the intervention of the National Assembly in the matter gave a new twist to the budget story as they invited her to explain why the budget was performing below expectation. By their own investigation, the performance of the budget was below 14 per cent whereas the minister claimed it reached 56 per cent.

It was against this backdrop, that they invited the minister to give detailed information on the matter while threatening to impeach President Goodluck Jonathan if the performance of the budget continued at the rate it is.

Earlier, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Dr Doyin Okupe had given reasons why there is slow release of funds for capital projects. According to him, the presidency was being methodical in the implementation of the budget, saying that the delay in the release of funds to the MDAs was aimed at following due process.

Also, there is a paucity of funds as more than N1 trillion of the budget was expected to be borrowed.

He argued that if the release does not follow due process, the government would be violating the laws passed by the National Assembly.

Similarly, the Special Assistant on media to the Co-ordinating Minister, Mr Paul Nwabuikwu, in a statement, reassured Nigerians that the 2012 budget was being managed in a way that protects and enhances

the best interests of the country.

“Our objective is to achieve both higher budget implementation and better management of the country’s resources. We will not toy with public resources because they belong to all Nigerians” she said, insisting that the percentage of cash-backed portion that has been utilized is still 56 per cent.

For the minister, transparency and prudence remain the key priorities of the federal government in the management of the 2012 budget.

She said that the improvement in the implementation ratio from 39.2 per cent by the end of May to 56 per cent utilisation of cash backed resources by June 20 was made possible by the direct leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan who is personally leading the drive for better budget performance.

Corroborating the excuse Okupe gave, the minister said that the ministry was careful and methodical in releasing funds to MDAs, but stressed that given the rate of utilisation, there was still room for more implementation.

She, however, expressed confidence that the there will be further improvement in the level of implementation before the end of the year.

However, the appearance of the minister before the National Assembly recently threw up more figures on the performance of the budget in the newspapers. While some reported 14 per cent, others gave 41 per cent and 13.7 per cent.

transferred both viable and unviable ones to AMCON without investigation. Quote me today. I may not be there to see the end result of those debts. You will never recover the debts. The owners of those banks were those who actually incurred those debts and could not pay. So you are only bailing the owners of those dead banks out. You are not bailing anybody out.

“Some banks were dead already. You bailed and merged them. I discover certain things when I read their balance sheets. When you merge a bank that is almost dead with a dead bank that must have used a new nomenclature to paint its balance sheet, you end up having all of them dead. If you are not careful, they will die in the nearest future,” the former minister submitted.

Another headache facing the corporation at the moment is the incisive recommendations of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc committee on the investigation into the near collapse of the Nigerian capital market. Though Chike-Obi described the report as a bunch of nonsense threatening to drag the committee to court should they discard their legislative immunity over the report, reports had it that AMCON only engaged the services of advisers as a follow up to the report. The committee recommended that the management of AMCON and SEC, including their respective CEO’s (Mustafa Chike-Obi and Ms Arunma Oteh), should be investigated by the EFCC considering their roles in attempting to conceal the fraudulent diversion and missing N8 Billion arising from the Union Bank Plc public offer of 2005.

They also raised alarm “That the Nationalization of AfriBank Plc, Bank PHB, and Spring Bank, and their subsequent change of names to Mainstreet Bank, Keystone Bank, and Enterprise Bank respectively, is a Violation of the AMCON Act, NDIC Act and Section 44 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the processes of transfer were fraught with potential forgery, unethical practices, abuse of office, and various unacceptable bad corporate governance precedents.” They therefore called for review and investigation into the transactions by the EFCC and other Security Agencies.

The committee termed AMCON’s activities “a time bomb and potential disaster in waiting in that there is doubtful process of NonPerforming loans. (NPLS) valuation, inadequate liquidity and capital base, AMCON’s involvement of one of its regulators, SEC, in its Board contrary to Section 10, AMCON Act, non-accountability of AMCON to any authority.”

Shortly after nationalizing the defunct Afribank, Spring Bank, and Bank PHB and replacing them with the bridge banks, the Managing Director of the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mustafa Chike-Obi told Daily Sun that 15 investors had expressed buying interest.

“For the past three days, AMCON has received a barrage of applications involving five local and ten foreign investors expressing interest to buy the three nationalized banks in Nigeria,” he said.

Chike-Obi was also quoted in a national newspaper on September 20 2011, as saying that the number of firms that wanted to acquire stake in the bridge banks had increased to 21; adding that AMCON will exit its stake in the three acquired banks in two years’ time. This was after the AMCON boss told Daily Sun AMCON has already given its response to some of the interested parties including a South African Bank.

However, analysts are concerned that over 7 months after, none of the 21 investors have been found worthy to buy any of the bridge banks. This raises questions as to the sincerity of the bad bank in exiting the rescued banks.

“Does it mean that none of them have met CBN’s criteria?” asked a reliable industry source.

DAILY SUN Tuesday, August 21, 2012

47

Use of family names is killing estate surveying practice – Eleh ...Says plans are on to sponsor a bill to regulate estate agents practice

T

• New Government House, Osogbo

FG sets aside N30bn for second Niger Bridge Stories by PETER ANOSIKE

T

he desire of the people of the South East and South South for a second bridge across the River Niger which is now like a disaster waiting to happen may soon be realized if the Federal Government matches its words with action.

According to the Minister of Works, Arch.

Mike Onolememen, the days of playing politics with the second bridge is over as federal government has set aside 30 percent of the total cost of the second bridge.

He said that the remaining 70 percent would be sourced by the concession company.

According to him, many international consortiums have shown expressed interest for the concession.

According to him, the ground breaking of the project would be during the third quarter of next year.

His words “On the question of whether federal government now means business with the second Niger Bridge, I want to make it clear that government intention is for real and there are things to show that government means

• Onolememen

business. First and foremost when the subsidy re-investment and empowerment programme was being put together, second Niger bridge featured prominently and one of the decisions that was reached at the time was that the counterpart funding of the second Niger bridge will come from subsidy re-investment and empowerment programme and that was why N30 billion was devoted to the second Niger bridge that represents the federal government’s counterpart funding of this particular project. The balance of 70 percent is expected to be raised by the private investors who would be handling the project...

He also said that the Federal Executive Council has approved the transaction advisory consultancy services that would drive the project to completion.

“And for you to also know that this time it is for real, we are determined to do the ground breaking for second Niger bridge by the third quarter of next year and we have our programme clearly mapped out and we know we will certainly do that. As we speak, many international\

consortiums have expressed interest for concession of the second Niger Bridge and many of them are big names from Germany, Australia, France, Italy.Many European countries have expressed interest because you may recall that the procurement of the second Niger Bridge and indeed the Murtala Mohammed International Airport road commenced some years back. But we are bind by law to follow certain processes. We have realized that the bane of our failures in the past is that due processes were not being followed and this time around we are following international procurement standard so it has come a long way from September

2007 when advertisement was placed in both local and international newspapers for expression of interest .In fact that last week the federal executive council approved the consultancy for the transaction advisory council services, about seven months after the project was kick started showed that government this time is fully ready and I want to assure that for the Murtala Mohammed Airport road, we are upbeat that by the first quarter of next year the ground breaking of the project would be done and I am sure that will convince Nigerians that federal government is fully determined to change the face of road infrastructure in this country for the better.

he President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Mr. Emeka Eleh has lamented the negative effect the use of family names is having on the profession.

According to him, the trend in the world today is small firms coming together to form bigger ones so they could compete globally, adding that the use of family names in Nigeria is making it difficult for Nigerian Estate Surveyors and Valuers to join the trend.

According to him, this set back was caused by the founding fathers of the profession who insisted that members must practice with their family names.

However, he said, there is hope as they are now working towards changing the order.

His words: “Our founding fathers decided when we begin to practice that we should practice under our family names, that is why you see Ubosi Eleh and Co ,Bode Adediji Partnership,Jide Taiwo and Co .Dele Fatilehim and others. But recently we have realized that we cannot continue to have small, small firms all over the place. We realized that it is better to have bigger practices, bigger firms that have collective competences.

Estate Surveying and valuing has different competences, facility management, asset valuation, taxation rating and all that. You see if you have a firm where you have different competences, the firm is large, and it can deal with diverse issues at the same time because you have the competences that can deal with the issues. We discussed that mergers are key, estab-

lishing bigger partnerships are very key. We also realized that the use of family names is a bit of impediment in big practices because the younger ones don’t like to stay long in firms that have family names because everybody wants to answer his family name”.

The NIESV President said that the institution has actually gone ahead to say that it would allow members to practice with pseudo names.

According to him, the idea is to ensure that larger firms are created and for that to be possible, you must have at least three partners.

“We don’t want to have small firms all over the place.

We want large firms that can compete with any practice in the world. We have approved it in our AGM level .Firms can practice under non-family names as long as it has more than three partners .The rules have been streamlined and they are very clear with regard to what is required but we still require approval from our regulatory board, and I am sure we will get it because it is in line with what is happening all over the world.

Accountants don’t answer their family names any more.

Lawyers don’t answer their family names anymore. Land Surveyors don’t, Quantity Surveyors don’t, Architects don’t, Engineers don’t .They all started the way we started but now they have all moved on .We are also moving on now.”

He said that they are making effort to regularize the practice of estate agency in the country.

According to him, estate agency is now an all-comersaffair that is why it is stinking fraudulent activities.

Building collapse: Construction professionals to assist govt curb menace

A

s cases of building collapse reach epic proportions, with its attendant consequences of loss of lives and properties, construction professionals have resolved to take practical approach towards solving this often times man-made problem.

In a paper delivered at a stakeholders meeting of the seven professional bodies and artisans held in Lagos State recently, they resolved among other things to complement government’s efforts at curbing the incidences of collapsed building in Nigeria.

The professionals who under the umbrella of Building Collapse Prevention Guild(BCPG),said that it is obvious that government does not have the staff strength to adequately monitor building construction sites ,while construction professionals are in thousands and are found in nooks and crannies of the state,

hence the resolve to complement government’s efforts.

They said government on its part should recognize the advantage of construction professionals’ knowledge and ubiquity and provide the necessary supports that can enable them to achieve results in the voluntary and non-money making exercise.

They said that if a building is primarily constructed to protect man and his belongings, it is ironical when it turns 180 degrees to endanger same.

However, they were of the view that if they remain focused and with sincerity of purpose, what a Herculean task would become achievable.

“Today, it has dawned on us that problems of these nature and magnititude are not solved by rhetoric and mere promulgation of laws alone.Now, we have evolved a practical approach to solve a man-made problem that has so much cast

aspersions on the professionals in the construction industry.

When a problem has reached epic proportions, it is subjected to serious research. Data remain a fundamental stimulus to research of this dimension .Records reveal that no structural engineer or professional builder was involved in any known building collapse cases here in Nigeria. That ample proof of one advantage derived when prospective clients patronize authentic construction professionals”. The paper read in part.

The construction professionals reiterated that is prudent to have somebody that should be held responsible for the failure of a project, adding that is the more reason a building owner should play safe by committing a construction professional to sign the professional attestation form that would make him culpable if he or she did a shoddy job.

They said that once there is

an iota of doubt on such a person’s professional competence, the client should immediately report to the construction professional bodies or the Building Collapse Prevention Guild.

On what led to the formation of the guild, the chairman of the association, Kunle Awobodu said,” Building Collapse Prevention Guild is a child of necessity in the quest for normalcy in Nigeria’s construction sphere. The need to lay emphasis on mitigation of loses, and promotion of preemptive measures that will avert collapse of building aroused this initiative. The superiority of prevention to nursing effects of calamity, in economic sense, is obvious.

Professionals in the built environment have chosen to embark on a voluntary, humanitarian and free service under the umbrella of Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG).

48

DAILY SUN

Tuesday, August 21, 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)

Access credit in group, LCCI urges SMEs

TENOR

AMOUNT

RATES% ISSUE DATE

By ADEWALE SANYAOLU

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

MAJOR EXCHANGE RATES – PARALLEL MKT (AIRPORT AS AT 13/08/12) CURRENCY

BUYING (N)

USD 156.50 EURO 197 POUND ST. 252 Source: FMDA

SELLING(N) 160 203.50 256

T

he Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has again urged entrepreneurs to access credit in group, in order to get over the credit crunch militating against the growth of their businesses.

The chamber regretted the inability of many Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to package bankable credit, saying the development poses grave danger for the continued existence of the sector.

The poor appraisal of the sector was contained in a document recently released by LCCI titled “2012 Second Quarter Business Environment Report” made available to Daily Sun. The business environment report according to LCCI is the outcome of an evidenced-based account of experiences of members of the Lagos chamber and the larger business community on investment climate issues, maintaining that the business environment was generally adjudged

harsh during the quarter, an indication of the adverse performance of the variables that drive the enterprise productivity and profitability.

Specifically, LCCI explained that the reason for the inability of SMEs to package bankable credit requests remained the fact that most of them are too small to access credit individually; hence, many entrepreneurs cannot meet the banks’credit requirement, especially collateral.

The chamber argued that investors across sectors have expressed concern over the increasing difficulty in accessing credit from the banks, adding that the problem is more profound for investors in the real sector of the economy.

Besides, the chamber noted that the experience of banks with loan quality of manufacturing and other real sector investors would not dispose them to give further loans, adding that the monetary policy tightening of the CBN has further pushed up cost of fund as a result of the risk asset provisioning requirements of the CBN, which, it said is a disincentive to lending.

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) Ben-Lag: 09.15, 12.30, 17.00 (MonFri/Sat/Sun) 17.00 (Sat) 14.00 (Sun) 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

0800hrs 1700hrs

ILORIN ILR - ABV Mon - Fri 0900hrs ILR - LOS Mon - Fri 1630hrs ILR - MNA Mon, Wed & Fri 0900hrs MINNA MNA - ABV Mon, Wed & Fri MNA - ILR Mon, Wed & Fri MNA - LOS Mon, Wed & Fri ABUJA ABV - ILR Mon - Fri ABV - IBA Mon - Fri

0920hrs 1520hrs 1520hrs

1500hrs 1500hrs

• Gov Emmanuel Uduaghan (middle) flanked by Barr. Chike Ogeah, commissioner of Information (right) and Mr. Kenneth Okpara, commissioner of Economic Planning, during the reviewing of 2012 Budget by the MInistry of Economic Planning, in Asaba, yesterday.

Photo: GODDY UMUOKORO

Firm floats N500m bulb manufacturing plant

By LOUIS IBA

I

ndigenous firm, Gloryland Limited, is planning to float an energy saving bulb manufacturing plant in Nigeria, according to its Chairman, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa.

Ohuabunwa, a former CEO of Neimeth Pharmaceuticals and one of the promoters of the bulb plant, said at a press briefing in Lagos on Monday that the company which is a direct response to government’s vision to cut down on energy wastage in the country would gulp an estimated N500million on completion.

The plant, he said, will be cited somewhere between Lagos and Ogun state and will employ an estimated 5,000 Nigerians when it comes fully on stream. It hopes to achieve a 548megawatts energy saving target via the replacement of 10million of the 60 watts incan-

descent bulbs currently in use by Nigerians.

“You know I retired from Neimeth and we have worked on this project for the past two years. It is a Nigerian content thing. We will be investing about N500million into the project, and that is the first phase of it and it will be cited somewhere between Lagos and Ogun state,” Ohuabunwa said.

“Energy remains a critical problem in our drive to build the economy of our country; and one of the problems is that we waste even the little we generate.

“This company is designed by Nigerians in the diaspora and the products known as ‘wonddalite’ specially designed to meet the unique needs of Nigerians; they have developed the patent and we want to save energy with LED bulbs which will replace the incandescent lamp. We will start the construction of

the factory by 2013 and by 2015 it should be completed. By the time it comes on stream we are looking at creating about 5,000 direct jobs for Nigerians. ,” he added.

He said the quest by the company to invest in the energy saving lamps would, besides creating jobs, boost tax income for government and foreign exchange earnings through export to other countries, as well as stimulation of linkages to other industries.

He however urged the government so step up the campaign for the usage of energy efficient bulbs in the country.

“The government should start the public enlightenment and promotion of the LEDtechnology energy efficient bulbs and also legislate the phasing out of incandescent bulbs,” he concluded.

Ondo govt to boost food production ...Disburses N290m under Fadama 111

By STEVE AGBOTA

O

ndo State government has restated its commitment to the development of agriculture, as part of its efforts to boost food production in the state.

According to the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ademola Olorunfemi, the state government had disbursed about N290 million to farmers under the Fadama 111 programme.

Olorunfemi who spoke at a stakeholders meeting on Fadama 111, said that the State Government was poised to boost food produc-

tion through the development of agriculture.

He highlighted projects executed under Fadama 111 programme as boreholes, construction of access roads and markets, among others.

The commissioner hinted that the state had been paying its counterpart funds to ensure that farmers got needed farm inputs.

According to the state’s Project Coordinator, Beatrice Adefulire, over 40 households benefited from the programme.

Adefulire exhorted farmers to move away from subsistence farming to commercial agri-

culture.

She explained that this would only be possible if they embraced various opportunities offered by the Fadama 111 programme.

The Third National Fadama Development Project (Fadama-III) is a follow-up on the Second phase. The objective of Fadama III is to increase the incomes of users of rural land and water resources on a sustainable basis.

The project relies on the facilitation for demand–driven investments and empowerment of local community groups, and to improve productivity and land quality.

49 Monday, BUSINESS August 1, 2011 49 NEWS

DAILY SUN Tuesday, August 21, 2012 DAILY SUN NAME OF CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL US DOLLAR 154.8 155.3 POUNDS STERLING 242.9586 243.7434 EURO 191.0387 191.6557 SWISS FRANC 158.9975 159.5111 YEN 1.9494 1.9557 CFA 0.2704 0.2804 WAUA 232.4657 233.2165 YUAN/RENMINBI 24.3441 24.4232 RIYAL 41.2778 41.4111 DANISH KRONER 25.6508 25.7336 SDR 233.6706 234.4254 Official exchange rates as at 17/08/2012

SELLING 155.8 244.5281 192.2728 160.0247 1.962 0.2904 233.9674 24.5022 41.5445 25.8165 235.1801

NIBOR TENOR RATE Call 20.8333 7 Day 21.2500 30 Day 21.9583 60 Day 22.2917 90 Day 22.7500 Source: FMDA

CHANGE 0.75 1.04 1.54 1.58 1.71

DATE 17 Aug, 2012 17 Aug, 2012 17 Aug, 2012 17 Aug, 2012 17 Aug, 2012

54% of MDAs lack on-line presence, says minister

By BISI OLALEYE

O

ut of 810 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) at the federal level, only about 54 per cent of them have on-line facilities, the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, has said.

Johnson disclosed this during a presentation at the 2012 Web Jurist, an annual programme organised by Philips Consulting to assess the status of the website of Nigerian businesses using certain key criteria.

The minister who decried the poor presence of MDAs on the web, though acknowledged that her ministry was putting measures in place to ensure that the MDAs, whose presence was yet to be felt online, get digital presence with interactive features going forward.

Said she: “Federal Government of Nigeria’s institutional presence on the web

is inadequate in breadth and functionality”.

Assessing the online web presence of the MDAs in the country, Johnson said 440 or 54 per cent MDAs did not have online presence while only 370 or 46 per cent of them have online presence.

Explaining further on the 370 MDAs with online presence, the minister said, “255 or 31.48 per cent are MDAs with information only services; 23 or 2.84 per cent are MDAs with information and interactive services only; another 28 or 3.46 per cent MDAs are with information and transactional services only, while 64 or 7.9 per cent MDAs are with interactive and transactional services only.”

On the assessment of the 36 ministries in the country, Johnson revealed that there were only 21 ministries, representing 57.5 per cent, with online presence while the rest 15, equivalent 41.6 per cent, lack web presence.

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: Etisalat CSR Centre Manager, Lagos Business School, Sir Chris Ogbechie; Head, Africa Corporate Governance Programme, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Mrs. Almova Chinyere; Director, Sustainable Business Initiative, University of Edinburgh, Prof. Kenneth Amaechi, and Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Ismail Omamegbe, during an Etisalat-sponored seminar on implemeting sustainable business principles, which held at the Lagos Business School, Lekki.

Delta targets annual IGR of N100bn From PAUL OSUYI, Asaba

D

elta State Government has said that it was strategising its internal revenue collection mechanism in order to hit an internally generated revenue target of N100 billion annually.

According to the state Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Kenneth Okpara, who made this known, the state monthly IGR was hovering between N40 million and N50 million.

Okpara, who spoke at the 2013 Pre-budget Seminar for commissioners, permanent

secretaries and directors held in Asaba, the state capital, expressed dissatisfaction with the current IGR profile of the state, saying “with those revenue earning entities, do we think that we are doing enough? I don’t think we are. We need to task ourselves and that is the message I am putting forward before everybody. If we must move ahead, we must enhance IGR.” Reviewing the 2012 budget performance, Okpara said the government had executed 25 percent of the budget in terms of actual payment as at May this year.

“The reason why the payment came down this period is due to the decrease in the fed-

eral allocation which we are trying to guide against because if we continue to depend on what comes in from federal allocation, we will have volatility and illiquidity.

“We cannot continue to rely on what is coming from the Federal Government to drive our economy. If we do that, we will be having this kind of fluctuations we are having at present,” he stated.

He commended the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for their commitment and dedication towards ensuring a robust economy for the state, explaining that under the state quarterly review mechanism, the MDAs submitted their reports when due.

FAAN to sack illegal truck operators from Lagos Airport

By UCHE USIM

T

he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is set to sack illegal cab and fuel truck operators, as a way of bringing sanity to the Lagos Airport and its environs.

Also to be flushed out of the terminals are illegal food vendors who have blatantly refused to register with the authority.

A top aviation official who disclosed the development to Daily Sun in a telephone interview said the indiscriminate parking of fuel tankers who supply aviation fuel is a safety threat as they now park very close to the road thus causing long traffic snarl around the airport.

Daily Sun learnt that the Managing Director of FAAN, George Uriesi, recently set up a committee to work out modalities on how to sanitize the airport, especially as it concerns commercial bus drivers, truck and tanker operators.

Daily Sun's source further said traffic gridlock currently experienced around the Lagos Airport will soon be history once the recommendations of the committee are implemented.

Already, aviation stakeholders have frowned at the current chaotic situation at the cargo and hajj camp sections of the Lagos airport describing as an eyesore.

"The management would ensure that those who have no business to do at the airport are

completely restricted from gaining access to the complex.

We will collaborate with the Lagos State government especially on the menace of the yellow buses who ply the airport road indiscriminately.

The issue of congestion especially of the fuel tankers is a concern to us, we are working on that. I can tell you that FAAN is working seriously on the congestion at the airport most especially the yellow buses that are not supposed to be there and have turned that place to their abode. We have discussed it even at the management level that whatever they are doing right now is illegal. A committee was set up to look into the matter and find a lasting solution to the problems we are having in that area", the source explained.

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.

50

DAILY SUN Tuesday, August 21, 2012

BUSINESS NEWS Invest in water sector to achieve MDGs, FG urged

By OMODELE ADIGUN

I

f the nation is to attain the Millennium Development Goals, the Federal and state governments should consider investment in the water sector as top priority, a non- governmental organization, FKO Foundation,has warned.

Expressing worry over the low level of investments in the sector, its founder, Mr. Folawiyo Hassan-Olajoku, lamented that water deficiency in the country has become a major setback to effective hygiene, while militating against any serious commitments by governments at all levels to combat water-borne diseases like diarrhea, dehydration and skin diseases.

It will be recalled that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight international development goals that all 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015. The goals include reducing child mortality rates; improving maternal health and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases Explaining that more than 70

per cent of Nigerians do not have access to safe drinkable water in spite of the prevalence of heavy rainfall and abundance of water in the country, FKO promoter, Mr. Folawiyo Hassan-Olajoku, stated that South-South, NorthWest and North-Eastern parts of the country are worst hit by water shortage and poor investments in the sector.

“Studies have shown that water pollution in the SouthSouth due to the activities of oil companies like Shell Petroleum Development Corporation has drastically reduced the quantum of safe water available to the people of the area,” he added.

Hassan-Olajoku explained in a statement that his organization would soon embark on campaigns across the country to sensitize Nigerians particularly the youths and government agencies to the importance of safe drinkable water.

He warned that water-borne diseases are major killers of children and other vulnerable groups in Nigeria. “We have discovered the water -related deaths in the country are by far more that those caused by the dreaded HIV/AIDS,” he said.

Lagos ports deserted

BY FOSTER OBI

A

ctivities at Lagos ports were at its lowest yesterday following the Ramadan holidays. Unlike before when certain movements of trucks exiting the ports are noticed during public holidays, this time around no single truck was seen suggesting no activity.

When Daily Sun visited Apapa, Tincan and PTML ports, it was like a ghost town as the place looked completely deserted. In all the ports beggars held sway, as they were more of them than the regular workers at the port. In front of

Ports and Cargo Terminal at Tincan two beggars besieged the reported when he stepped in.

When the reporter jokingly asked the beggars why they rushed at him, one of them said, “Oga we are hungry.

There is nobody at all to give us anything, you can see nobody.”

The comment obviously spoke volumes, the reporter reasoned.

The Custom formations were also deserted but Wale Adeniyi, Customs Spokesman told Daily Sun that although not all his men are on duty because of the holidays, those in sensitive positions are at work.

Adenusi & Co rebrands, now Primeglobal

A

denusi & Co., an accounting firm recently unveiled its new name PrimeGlobal to give the firm a unique and exceptional platform on which to meet global needs.

By this decision, its patrons are informed of the change of name of its accounting association, IGAF Polaris.

The change to the new name PrimeGlobal according to its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kevin Mead, was done against the backdrop of distinguishing the firm from others in the competitive market space.

“Underlying the new look are all the core values our association stands for: international reach, strong personal connections, technical depth, experience, elite quality and service.

The PrimeGlobal name and image clearly express how we are viewed as an association

both by our membership and by the clients that they serve”.

Speaking, the firm partner’s Chief Operating Officer, COO, Ahmed Tunde Adenusi, who is also a member of Europe Middle East and Africa board of PrimeGlobal, expressed optimism over the innovation.

In his words; “this expanded resources will continue to support our firm in providing excellent premium quality services with passion and vibrancy that drives clients’ business to the path of growth”.

PrimeGlobal is considered to be the third largest association of independent accounting firms in the world, with over 300 highly successful independent public accounting firms with a combined annual revenue of more than $2.0 billion.

• L–R: Malam Ahmed Kuru, managing director/chief executive officer, Enterprise Bank Ltd.; Mr. Ayotunde Ogunsakin, commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit, and Mr. Chuks Ekpunobi, Enterprise Bank Chief Inspector, when the Police commissioner paid a courtesy visit to the MD/CEO recently.

Presidency moves to resolve industrial crisis in energy sector

By LOUIS IBA The Presidency has waded into the crisis between its energy ministries (Power and Petroleum) and various labour groups in the sector, says Doyin Okupe, spokesperson for the President on Public Affairs.

“This matter will most probably be resolved favourably within the coming week by the Presidency,” Okupe said in a release on Monday.

According to him, the inter-

vention had become necessary to “avert what may seem to be a looming industrial crisis involving oil marketers, staff of PHCN, NUPENG, and the Nigerian Labour Congress.”

All has not been well in Nigeria’s energy sector as electricity workers and petroleum products marketers have threatened to shut down services in protest to wrong government policies, among them the failure to settle about N200billion debt owed some

marketers under the fuel subsidy scheme, and for electricity workers the crisis bothers on terms of severance packages and pension for staff affected by the privatization of the firm.

Okupe described the government approach to the crisis as multi-faceted and multi dimensional noting that “ the Coordinating Minister of the economy and Finance minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo – Iweala has shifted her base

Forex, FGN bond squeeze over N246bn from money market

By OMODELE ADIGUN

T

he withdrawal of over N246 billion from the system caused a tight liquidity in the money market last week just as the lending rates cruised northwards towards the end of the week.

The relative tightness in the system was blamed on the withdrawal of aboutN246.02billion from the system through FGN Bond auction and foreign exchange sales by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The Debt Management Office (DMO) auctioned N75 billion worth of the Federal Government (FGN) bonds with maturities in the range of five to 10 years during the week while the apex bank sold $274.14million out of the $380million offered at the forex market.Also the market recorded a net outflow of about N64.47billion from the system.

As a result of the tight liquidity, the lending rates , which slowed down on Monday and Tuesday due to CBN’s intervention via the REPO market, picked up on Wednesday through Friday and closed higher to end the week.

However, comparing weekon-week change, NIBOR closed lower. The 7-day NIBOR closed the week at 20.83 per cent, a 416 basis point decrease from the previous week’s figure

of 25 per cent, while the 90-day NIBOR closed the week at 22.75 per cent, a 495 points decrease from the previous week’s figure of 22.71 per cent.

At the re-opening of the fiveyear FGN Bond auction with a maturity date of April 27, 2017, the CBN offered and sold a total of N25billion, while it was 176.44 per cent subscribed at N44.11billion. The Bond carried a marginal rate of 16.33 per cent.

Also, at the re-opening of the seven-year FGN Bond auction with a maturity date of June 29, 2019, the CBN offered and sold a total of N25billion, while it was 283.88 per cent subscribed

at N70.97billion. The Bond carried a marginal rate of 16.14 per cent.

At the re-opening of the 10year FGN Bond auction with a maturity date of January 27, 2022, the CBN offered and sold a total of N25billion, while it was 536.12 per cent subscribed at N134.03billion. The Bond carried a marginal rate of 15.90 per cent.

At the Open Market Operations (OMOs) and Repurchase (REPOs) transactions held during the week, there was a total inflow of about N181.55billion into the system.

temporarily to Lagos inspite of the holidays and has been engaged intensively also with the aggrieved marketers , union members and other stakeholders in the downstream oil sector.”

Okupe said the Ministers of Labour, Power, and other high level officers of government have met for several hours with the aggrieved PHCN workers and virtually all their demands have been agreed upon except for the issue severance benefits of workers.

“While the workers insist on their terms of employment, government’s proposition is based on the Pension Act of 2004. However, this matter will most probably be resolved favourably within the coming week by the Presidency,” Okupe said.

“All indications are to the effect that favourable resolutions are being reached and all matters are likely to be resolved within this week, as all these efforts are being made to ensure that the crisis that has caused a lot of hardships to commuters and motorists is not unduly prolonged and does not also extend beyond the city of Abuja in the case of the fuel scarcity,” he added.

Bank, customer on war path over ATM fraud

By KELECHI MGBOJI and Chukwuma’s lawyers from the legal chambers of Ikechukwu CHIMA TITUS NWOKOJI Onodi & Co are to be taken any uspected fraudulent with- seriously.

In a letter by the principal drawal on the savings account of a customer of partner of the chamber which First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr. was addressed to the bank, Ugwu Chukwuma, is threat- Ikechukwu Onodi, narrated ening to cast indelible slur on how suspected fraudsters empthe hard earned image of the tied the customer’s account first generation bank as the using the automated teller customer has moved to insti- machine (ATM).

According to the letter, the tute a legal action against the bank after series of moves to savings account was opened resolve the matter amicably early 2009 at the Adeyemo Alakija Street, Victoria Island failed to yield result.

The withdrawal made in sev- branch and by October that eral tranches amounting to same year, it had been emptied N474, 300 may soon be an within two days in six tranches.

Close examination of issue for litigation if

S

Ugwu’s account statement made available to Daily Sun showed that a total sum of N210, 000 was withdrawn on October 19th, 2009 from the account in six different tranches using ATM card. The following day, the credit balance of N264,694 was further reduced to only N36,794.76.

“Upon discovery of this fraud, our client immediately reported it to the NIJ House, Adeyemo Alakija Street, Victoria Island Branch Manager. But till date nothing concrete, not even placating has come out of that report”, the lawyers wrote about First Bank.

DAILY SUN Tuesday, August 21, 2012

51

DAILY SUN

Sports We must revolutionise Nigerian sports now

By GBOLAHAN DADA and JOE APU

F

or those who have had encounter with Chief Alex Akinyele, there is no dull moment staying with the former minister of Information. He would always throw jokes and banters that could leave one gasping for breath. But last Thursday, Akinyele, who served under the General Ibrahim Babangida administration was not in the mood for banters, neither was he ready for any form of jokes.

As a former chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), one was not taken aback by his mood given the dismal performance of the Nigerian contingent to the recent Olympic Games in London, from where Team Nigeria returned without winning even a single medal of any colour.

In fact, for Chief Akinyele, if it were possible for a man of 74 years to shed tears easily, he would simply have filled a bucket. Like he said: “My heart bleeds for Nigerian sports,” which according to him, has remained in comatose for quite a long while. “And with the way things are, there's every need for the system to be overhauled before it crumbles completely.”

He continued: “The dismal performance of our athletes at the recent Olympics in London was embarrassing.”

With a ting of regret in his voice, Chief Akinyele admitted that he saw the failure coming and had wanted to raise an alarm.

“I saw the poor showing coming, but at that time, I did not want to join the gang of prophets of doom, nor be called an alarmist. I knew that the result of our outing in London was not going to be good, but I never imagined that it would be that bad. To pump in so much of the taxpayers' money into the Olympics and see it go down the drain is terrible.

“The only thing we could celebrate from London 2012 was that none of our athletes was caught in drug offence.”

The Lobosin of Ondoland noted that Nigerian athletes to the London Games were not prepared for the event. “The National Sports Commission (NSC) officials only depended on prayers from Nigeria to win medals in London. They forgot that the wise instruction has it that one should 'work and pray'. They spent more of their time praying without doing any work. No matter the length of fasting and prayers, as long as we fail to do what we are supposed to do, no magic can turn things in our favour.”

The root of Nigeria's failure in London 2012, according to Chief Akinyele, was corruption.

“The government released enough money for the Olympics, but what was it used for? Aside from the over N2billion that was released to the NSC for the Olympics, we should also ask the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) to account for the sum of $100million it received from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

“There're great men with experience in the Sports Ministry, but funds were not released on time for them to train the athletes properly for the Olympics. But it's unfortunate that Nigeria has a man with great wealth of experience at the helm of affair at the NSC, who seems to be using his experience to the disadvantage of the country, and I mean what I'm saying.

“There's need for the head of NSC to tell Nigerians how the funds that were made available to the commission for the Olympics were disbursed.

“I know that we have well experienced people that can help our sports out of the doldrums, but greed and selfishness would not allow those who only go for what enters their pockets to help us out.”

He recalled that in 1992, when he was the executive chairman of NSC, he led the Nigerian contingent to the Barcelona Olympics, where the country won three silver and two bronze medals, as well as four gold medals at the Paralympic Games.

“Our keys to that performance were hard work, discipline, devotion and patriotism, because Nigeria was too important to us.

“As a matter of policy, I was very close to the athletes, I knew their needs, which I provided for them from the little that was made available by government. I knew their heartbeats.

“The truth about our sports today is that everybody wants money in his pocket and the moment the big man up there is taking money at will, the man below would be doing the same, thereby patriotism would be thrown to the dustbin.

“The budget for the London Games was deliberately submitted late so that there won't be too many questions, whereas it would have been done earlier,” he explained.

To come out of the present logjam, Chief Akinyele, who spent less than two years as the NSC boss, said that President Goodluck Jonathan must not stop at simply overhauling the NSC as he has charged, but also, should do well and sack all the officers in the commission, who are in Level 14 and above. He, however, advised that an administrator like Al Hassan Yakmut should be left in the system to assist in drilling new intakes in the commission.

“There's no discipline in the system because our judicial has failed us. Today, people do whatever they like and get away with it,” he added.

Chief Akinyele suggested that President Jonathan should do well by streamlining the job of the Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.

According to him, there's no rationale for the minister to also be the chairman of the NSC. “The NSC is the technical arm of the Sports Ministry and it takes a technocrat to run it, while the ministry should be under the minister,” he advised.

The Ondo chief further queried the experience of NOC president, who he

– Akinyele

described as a neophyte in the politics of the Olympics, noting that the system Nigeria operates has the NOC placed under the NSC. “The truth of the matter is that the NOC is not answerable to the NSC, but to the IOC. While the DG is the overall head, the NSC and the various federations are under him.”

Chief Akinyele suggested that what he did after the Barcelona '92 Games should be adopted now for the country to move forward in sports.

“As soon as we returned from the Games in 1992, I set up a technical committee to start work ahead of the Atlanta '96 Olympics. The first step we took was to open the Gambu training facility in the Mambila region. Our intention then was to keep training our athletes until the 1996 Olympic Games starts, that way, the athletes would be in good shape for the Games. But, unfortunately, I was kick out of office and my plans were also kicked out.”

He said that a national sports policy would go a long way in helping to shape sports programme in the country.

“If the government must foot the bills of every sport federation in the country, how would it take care of agriculture, housing and other areas of the national economy? But even as sport does not give the government any direct economic gain so to say, multinational companies should partner the government in sports development in the country.

“I recall that the Super Eagles in my time, went to play a friendly match

against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa. The match took place at the FNB Stadium, a facility that was built by a bank and handed over to the South African sports federation.

“The truth is that the banks in Nigeria and other multi-national companies are returning trillions of naira as profit, but can they embark on such projects for the benefit of the country? I don't understand why such a thing cannot happen in Nigeria. Why can't these companies give

back to the country a little from all that they are making from here? It's a pity.

“If Nigeria Breweries Plc for instance, from all the profit it makes every year, builds a standard stadium in the country, I don't think it would be out of place. The same goes for Guinness and other big organisations in the country.

“For me, we must all take the Nigeria project as our first priority if we expect the country to truly move forward,” Chief Akinyele opined.

Edith Ogoke (r)

NEWS

52 Tuesday, August 21, 2012 DAILY SUN

SUN SPORTS Agbim, Sanusi arrive early for Liberia …Okosun assures on team's mind set

A

fter a heart-warming goalless draw against the Menas of Niger Republic last Wednesday in Niamey, the Nigerian national side; Super Eagles, returned to camp yesterday with home-based team skipper, Chigozie Agbim, being the first to arrive camp.

Obviously, leading by example, Agbim strolled into camp unnoticed about 1p.m and was received by Team Coordinator, Emmanuel Atta, who quickly sorted out his accommodation arrangement that was supposed to be non-existent after only two days off the Bolton White Apartment abode of the team.

After Agbim, came Kano Pillars’striker, Sani Sanusi, the one his teammates like to call Ronaldinho, who came an hour after Agbim. It was after the two that there was a deluge of players from all the clubs, with Sunshine Stars and Kano Pillars with four players each still topping the list of clubs with the highest number of invited players.

And following several queries about the psychological readiness of the team, despite the huge pep-talk that Head Coach Stephen Keshi delivers daily, Team Psychologist, Dr Robinson Okosun, says there is no cause for alarm as the team is in the best frame of mind for the game against Liberia. “We have players, who are exposed and have been in constant touch with my office. Luckily for me, I also have a Head Coach, who doubles as a super psychologist and motivator, which has made my job easier. I don't think there should be any fears about the state of mind of our players whether foreign or local based because what we are going for now is to qualify for the Nations Cup and the World Cup and do very well at both tournaments”, he declared.

NEWS

Warri Wolves may pull out of Nigeria Premier League

T

here are indications that Delta State Government may stop funding Warri Wolves, which could lead to the club pulling out of the Nigeria Premier League.

Like most state governments with clubs in the country's elite domestic league, Delta State's resolve is precipitated by the fact that there little or nothing to show for its huge investment in the club over the years.

The State may have been jolted into the decision by the recent

multi-million naira fine clamped on the outfit by the Nigerian Football Federation for various offences bothering on crowd troubles during matches in the outgoing season.

According to Chairman, Delta State Sports Commission, Amanju Pinnik, the situation is being x-rayed by the state and will soon come up with decisions that may not be quite palatable.

Speaking on Sports Tonite on Channels Television Thursday, Amanju said the club shouldn't be battling relegation with some of

the best legs on the local scene in their rank, 90% of this season's sign-on fees paid and up-to-date payment of salaries and match bonus.

He argued that it was time government played little or no part in club ownership, adding that the league can only be free of rancour with private ownership of clubs.

He said: “Over 80% of clubs in the Premier League are owned by states that have other things to take care of. These states invest heavily, but they get nothing in return.

There are other salient aspects of

Federation Cup semi-final clash

Pillars ’ll crumble in 90 minutes – Lobi Stars

By EMMA NJOKU

P

Keshi: Don’t distract my attention

F

ollowing an uproar last weekend that higher authorities in sports in the country are making moves to monitor every activity of the national team, the Super Eagles, ahead of their crucial Nations Cup qualifier against Liberia, Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, says it's a normal development, but pleads that he should be given peace of mind to do his job.

Keshi, who has midwife a near perfect blend of home-based players and their foreign counterparts since he took over the national team, says he would rather not comment on the interest of top sports officials at all levels in the national team, since every Nigerian has a right to ask and make input into the team. “But what I will plead and ask for is to be left alone to concentrate on my job as the national coach. I will take advice from every well-meaning Nigerian, but I will not take insults and distractions”, he declared.

The Big Boss, as Keshi is fondly called, said his team was on course to qualify for both the Nations Cup in South Africa and the World Cup in Brazil, but is aware that certain people will still want to cause disaffection in the national team. Asking such individuals to leave the team alone and join in the task of building a national team that Nigerians will be proud of.

He acknowledged the huge support he has received from the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation, led by Aminu Maigari and all other stakeholders and said with such support the team was united in its quest to return to the pinnacle of African and, indeed, global football.

Mourinho reiterates Premier League desire

J

ose Mourinho has challenged Barclays Premier League clubs to show they really want him after reiterating his desire to come back to England.

The self-styled 'Special One', who took the Premier League by storm during his three years as Chelsea boss, is constantly being linked with a return.

Mourinho is the favourite to succeed both Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini as manager of Manchester United and Manchester City, respectively.

The Real Madrid’s boss is also always among the leading candidates whenever the Chelsea job becomes vacant, despite the acrimonious nature of his sacking.

Asked if a return to Stamford Bridge was possible, Mourinho told BBC Radio Five Live: "I will go where people really want me and, when that moment arrives, they show me they really want me.

"But I have to always repeat this: I am at Real Madrid. I like very much to be there."

He added: "I want one day to be back in English football, yes. I always said that."

Mourinho, widely regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time, also revealed his success was partly down to his ability to immerse himself in a club in the same manner as a supporter.

"When I go to a club, I wear the shirt, I feel the shirt like it's my first one or my last one," he said.

"I feel the fans as part of myself. I create eternal links with fans.

"I go to play against Chelsea and I feel (it), I go to Italy and I feel (it). "I work for the clubs, I work for the people that trust me, and, of course, the owners and the directors, but the clubs are the fans.

"For me, it's one of my qualities. I become immediately one of them and I feel that I am one of them with a privileged position to fight for the club and to try to bring to all of them happiness."

governance like infrastructure, education, healthcare to take care of by state these governments now thinking they cannot continue to sink money into where they are not gaining.

“Some of these states are beginning to reconsider their huge investment in clubs. We are still studying the recent punitive measures by the NFF and would come up with a decision shortly.

But I must say that some reports were doctored before those decisions were made.

USA team celebrates

FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup

USA beats Ghana's Princesses

G

hana's Under-20 team was hammered 4-0 by USA in its FIFA U20 Women's World Cup finals Group D opener yesterday.

The Black Princesses were undone by an own goal through Linda Addai before a hat-trick from striker, Maya Haye, sealed the win.

Ghana could have shot ahead but striker Florence Dadson was pushed off her stride by a desperate last-gasp challenge from Julie Johnston.

US needed luck to register the first goal when Morgan Brian's powerful header from a cornerkick which had hit the crossbar ricocheted off Addai.

In the second half, Hayes blos-

somed and she profited from an inch-perfect Kealia Ohai cross to head home.

The Penn State University student doubled her tally midway

Heartland: Imo FA boss begs Okorocha

By GEORGE ALUO

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mo State Football Association’s Chairman, Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam, has expressed fears that the low morale in the camp of Heartland FC of Owerri may stop the club from making history through winning the Federation Cup back

Leon hits treble as Canada thrashes Argentina

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n Adriana Leon hat-trick inspired Canada to a 6-0 win over Argentina in their Group C opener at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. The South Americans actually began the game impressively in Kobe, with Betina Soriano rattling the crossbar, but the pendulum swung heavily in the North Americans' favour on seven minutes. Agustina Barroso was shown a red card for a foul inside the box, and Shelina Zadorsky made no mistake with the resulting penalty.

Jaclyn Sawicki doubled the advantage on 20 minutes, before her superb passes enabled Leon to net twice as Canada raced into a 40 lead. Leon then completed her

through the second half and then again in the second minute of injury time.

Ghana will play defending champion, Germany, on Thursday.

treble on the stroke of half-time and, with her team cruising, was given an early rest.

With the result all but settled, the second half was largely uneventful, with Jade Kovacevic's cross allowing Catherine Charron Delage to head home its only goal.

It completed a 6-0 victory that added hype to Canada's forthcoming meeting with Korea DPR, who beat Norway 4-2 earlier on Monday.

“Now, I have to work on the mental side with my players more than on the tactics,” said Argentina’s Coach, Jose Carlos Borrello. “I always tell them that the head is the most important. It's the head that decides if the legs play well or not.”

to back.

Uchegbulam, who spoke yesterday in Lagos ahead of the club's Federation Cup semi-final clash against Prime of Oshogbo tomorrow in Ilorin, urged Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, to release funds to the club.

He noted that the only factor that could stop Heartland from getting into the final and retaining the trophy it won last year is poor funding.

“The morale in Heartland camp is very low because the team is poorly funded. My appeal to the Governor of Imo State is to throw his weight behind the club.

The players need to be motivated to do well on field and do the state proud. I see them making history by winning the Federation Cup back to back if the governor comes out to identify with the team and release money the club.

The players can’t play on empty stomach,” Uchegbulam remarked.

Uchegbulam stressed that Heartland, which last year broke its 18 year trophy jinx and gave the governor something to celebrate in his first 100 days in office, deserve to be given more attention.

layers of Lobi Stars have vowed to put their flesh on the grill inside the main bowl of the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar tomorrow when they take on Kano Pillars in the most exciting semi-final fixture of this year's Federation Cup championship.

“We're throwing everything we have into the fray against Kano Pillars in the semi-final of the Federation Cup, knowing that they are the greatest threat to our title ambition this season both in the league and in the Federation Cup”, Captain David Tyavkase disclosed in a telephone chat with Daily Sunsports.

“We expect a very tough match from Pillars but we intend to wrap up the game within 90 minutes. We would not want it to drag into extra time or penalty shoot out. This is Lobi Stars' year” the seasoned domestic league and Federation Cup campaigner enthused.

Vice Chairman and Technical Adviser of the club, Dominic Iorfa, who corroborated his captain in a separate chat, emphasized that his side was determined to prove that it was the best team in the domestic football scene at the moment.

“Virtually all the big teams in Nigeria have bowed to Lobi Stars lately. We have dealt with Dolphins, Enyimba, Sharks and Rangers. It is now the turn of Kano Pillars to bite the dust.

If they think that they are the best team in Nigeria, let them come and show us what they can do in Calabar” the Super Eagles former fast forward said.

Interestingly, both sides are favourites for this season's Nigeria Premier League title with Pillars occupying the top spot on the log with 64 points, while Lobi follows closely in the second spot with 63 points.

There's only one game to go in the season.

Gov. Okorocha

NEWS DAILY SUN Tuesday, August 21, 2012 53 NEWS

SUN SPORTS

Cameron wishes Team GB good luck Raises flag in Downing Street

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avid Cameron predicted that the dedication and persistence of Britain's Paralympians was about to pay off as the official flag of the 2012 Games was raised in Downing Street.

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, wished Team UK and other competitors luck and vowed to cheer them on at the biggest Paralympics to date, which opens on August 29.

Officially called the Agitos, the Paralympic symbol replaces the Olympic rings that have been flying over Number 10.

Mr Cameron said: "I would like to congratulate all of Britain's athletes selected for ParalympicsGB. "This is a huge achievement and the result of years of training and hard work, but all that dedication and persistence are about to pay off.

"The Paralympic Games began in Britain and our continued commitment to them is clear as we approach the start of the biggest Paralympic Games yet - with more countries, more athletes and more spectators than ever before.

Games Park

Games Park changes look ahead of Paralympics

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orkers alter a sign on the Olympic Park.

Just five days after the last Olympic athletes departed, the first Paralympic Games officials are arriving at the Athletes' Village on the Olympic Park in east London.

There are 16 days between the Olympic Games closing ceremony and the opening of the Paralympic Games and workers have been busy making changes to the Park.

Banners and signage are being changed, buses are being converted and new volunteers are being trained as only a third of those who helped to run the Olympics are moving on to the Paralympics.

London 2012 architects Populous integrated Paralympic thinking into their plans from the start of the London 2012 project. The Athletes' Village and the stadia were all designed with the Olympics and Paralympics in mind.

The Park was built with accessible toilets, ramps and wheelchair spaces in the main venues.

The Athletes' Village housed 11,000 competitors during the Olympics and its lower floors will be used by 4,200 Paralympians from 165 nations, with rooms fitted out to cater for wheelchair access for wheelchair-using athletes.

Athletes begin arriving there tomorrow .

"All of the venues were designed to be inclusive and accessible, which has meant a minimal transition in the two weeks between the Olympic and Paralympic Games, other than the changes to fields of play," Chris Jopson, associate

principal at London 2012 architects Populous, told the BBC. Some changes have been made, however, for example about 300 buses have been converted to allow space for five or six wheelchairs.

Venues have increased their wheelchair seating capacity.

The Olympic Stadium will have 568 spaces compared with 394 during the Olympics.

The Paralympics mascot may look different, but organisers are hoping they will feel as electric as the Olympics’ Sixteen venues - including the BMX circuit, the Water Polo Arena, Horse Guards

Parade, Lee Valley, Hadleigh Farm, Wembley and six football stadia - will not be used during the Paralympics.

Others will play host to different sports. The Copper Box, which staged handball and some modern pentathlon events at the Olympics, will be the venue for goalball.

South Africans eye gold medals

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s thousands came out last week to welcome home the Olympics heroes, the South Africa Paralympics Team was preparing to make the trip to London.

The 2012 Paralympics gets under way in London on August 29 and ends on September 9.

The 62-strong Team South Africa Paralympics squad got together for dinner last night and were addressed by Chef de Mission, Pieter Badenhorst. The team's farewell banquet will also be held yesterday before they leave for London today.

South Africa has a proud tradition in the Paralympics Games, having won 30 medals at the Beijing Games - 21 of them gold.

Sascoc CEO Tubby Reddy said: “Everything is set for Team SA. They've had great support in their preparations and we hope they will overall improve from their 2008 fifth finish to hopefully top the medal standings.”

Among this year's squad is the Soweto-born sprint sensation, Samkelo Radebe, who will compete in the 100m sprint and the 4x400m relay. The 23-year-old University of Johannesburg (UJ) student says it hasn't been easy for him to juggle his studies with the Paralympics preparations.

“For me, it has been quite hectic in the past four weeks because of my studies. I'm writing exams while at the same time preparing for the Games. I've never been under so much pressure before,” said the UJ law student.

“I wrote my last exam yesterday, so you can imagine how hectic my schedule had been.

“I'm just hoping to win a medal at the Games. It's always nice to

win something for your country but to win gold would be an achievement that I would cherish for a long time.

“Nobody can take away the medal from you, it's a lifetime achievement and I would be glad to have it.”

Team SA will contest athletics, cycling, rowing, swimming, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis and equestrian.

Ghana’s minister visits team

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eputy Minister for Youth and Sports, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, has advocated stella performance among members of the National Paralympic team currently in camp in London He gave the advice during a visit to motivate them ahead of their participation in the 2012 London Para-Olympic Games scheduled to run from 29th August to September 9.

Dr Boamah visited the team at its camp and admonished the athletes to make Ghana proud by putting up a performance worthy pf praise.

He pledged government's full support in all their trials ahead of the Games and personally moti-

vated the team with an undisclosed amount of money as accountable imprest to enhance their preparations.

Ghana will be engaging the likes of England, Germany, China, and the United States in events such as powerlifting, wheelchair athletics and cyclingroad.

Shaaban Mohammed, head coach of Team Ghana on behalf of the contingent was full of praise for the visit and assurance of support and promised that they will do their best to raise the flag of Ghana high.

Two-time Paralympian and team captain, Botsyo Nkegbe also assured the Minister of their commitment and zeal to win medals for the nation.

Giant Agitos launched at Cardiff City Hall

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ith just under two weeks to start of the Paralympic Games, a giant set of Agitos, the symbol for the Paralympic Games, has been launched outside Cardiff City Hall. This is the first of five sets of giant Paralympic Agitos to launch in the UK before the Paralympic Games begin on the 29th August.

The launch was attended by London 2012 Director of Paralympic Integration and nine-time gold medallist, Chris Holmes, Executive Director of Disability Sport Wales, Jon Morgan and athletes from the Australian Paralympic team and Papua New Guinea Paralympic team who are currently staying at a pre-Games Training Camp in Cardiff.

Members of Wheelchair Basketball Club, Cardiff Celts, including Caroline Matthews, who was part of the GB Wheelchair Basketball Team in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, also attended the event and participated in a sporting demonstration.

The 13m long, 8m high Agitos will provide a stunning backdrop for Cardiff's celebrations on 22 August for the Paralympic Torch Relay. The Agitos weigh one tonne and are made entirely of aluminium with a powder coat finish, with the recognisable red, blue and green colours. In total, 3 weeks were spent designing, engineering and fabricating the Agitos.

London 2012 also recently revealed how the Welsh Flame will be created at the summit of Snowdon/ Yr Wyddfa as part of the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay. A group of young disabled and non-disabled scouts from communities near to Snowdon / Yr Wyddfa will ascend the mountain and use a ferrocerium rod to create the sparks that will light the flame for Wales.

The Flame will then be placed in a miner's lantern and transferred to Cardiff where it will be the focus for a day of Paralympic celebrations.

Wales will continue to host some spectacular events up to the end of the Paralympic Games as part of the London 2012 Festival, the 12-week UK-wide celebration bringing together leading artists from across the world with the very best from the UK. These include the free Paralympic Flame Festival celebration for the lighting of the National Flame at Cardiff's Roald Dahl Plass (27 August); award-winning Argentinean choreographer and director, Constanza Macras' Branches: The Nature of Crisis, a new site-specific show inspired by the ancient Welsh stories of the Mabinogion taking place in the forests of Wepre Park in North Wales (5-15 September) and bandstands and outdoor performance spaces in eleven communities around Wales joining more than 500 others across the UK in coming alive with music for the Bandstand Marathon celebrating the last day of the Games (9 September). Thousands of people right across Wales have already joined in the London 2012 Festival since it began on 21 June.

Disability Sport Wales is committed to the development of disability sport, delivering more than 1million grassroot opportunities in 2011/12, with over 300 community clubs and a volunteer workforce in excess of over 5000. In addition, its academy programme continually delivers talented athletes who go on to attain a highest level in sport.

54

DAILY SUN Tuesday August 21, 2012

DAILY SUN

OFFSIDE Musing with

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

55

Okey Ndibe kndibe@yahoo.com; okeyndibe@gmail.com

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oo many Nigerians are notorious for seeking to outsource their most important tasks to foreign entities, often divinities. We delight in shipping off our jobs to God. We abide rigged elections – on the woolly excuse that the polity should not be overheated, or the equally spurious contention that all power (including the fraudulently obtained) is assigned by God. Many of our expectations, it seems, are counter-intuitive. Too many of us forget the costly struggle we waged to dislodge the military’s hold over our political lives. We ignore the fact that hundreds of fellow citizens perished, and many had their businesses bankrupted, in the fight. Why invest so much energy to enthrone a system that empowers us to vote if we’re to look the other way when our votes are routinely discarded or stolen? Why did our fellows sacrifice so much to realize the right to vote, if we’re content to let a few among us to operate as if we were serfs without a voice, as if we were the cowed subjects of an allpowerful potentate?

Let me illustrate with two examples.

Many know that Iyiola Omisore’s name was mentioned as a suspect in the assassination of Bola Ige, Nigeria’s former Attorney General and Minister of Justice. Yet, whilst in detention, Mr. Omisore was somehow able to sign papers that enabled him to be a senatorial candidate in Osun State. And he not only took the seat in the election, he “performed” superlatively in Mr. Ige’s hometown. Many enlightened citizens were outraged, but many resigned to helplessness. It was said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo badly wanted the

Should God and foreigners fight Nigeria’s war?

man in the Senate, and that was that.

The other example is, for me, closer to home. In the build-up to the 2007 general elections, it became clear to many in Anambra State that then presidential aide, Andy Uba, was rollercoasting to Government House, Awka. Many people in Anambra would say in private conversations that the man’s qualifications for the governorship were highly questionable, to put it mildly. Yet, the same people would say there was nothing they, or anybody else, could do. The conventional wisdom was that Mr. Obasanjo had decided to “reward” his trusted aide with the governorship of Anambra, and there was supposedly nothing the people of Anambra could do about it.

Such pliant, submissive attitude galled me. I wrote a series of articles pointing to pertinent questions about the candidate. My efforts earned a call from a longtime friend who, like me, is from Anambra.

“Ol’boy,” he said, “why waste your time writing articles to oppose a man who can only be stopped by God? Do you have enough power to stop President Obasanjo?”

“I don’t, but the voters of Anambra can,” I said. Then I reminded him that Mr. Obasanjo could not vote in Jonathan Anambra.

He guffawed in reaction, called me “politically naïve,” and then advised me to abandon a lost cause. “It’s only God that can stop Andy,” he concluded. I thanked him, made clear that I rejected his counsel, and affirmed that I would continue to speak, write and act like a proud, free citizen, not Mr. Obasanjo’s slave.

Encounters like the foregoing point to two profound deformities.

One is in the idea of Nigeria itself, a polity polluted by toxic values and run by or for contemptible interests.

Nigeria’s problem does not lie merely in the fact that most elections are massively rigged even in the Attahiru Jega era.

Nor is the crisis primarily about the pervasive culture of corruption.

The space called Nigeria is not animated by any lofty values; it is not driven by any clearly defined, widely embraced set of noble aspirations. As a cultural phenomenon, Nigeria is very much a vacuous space – with the vacuum invaded by such virulent maladies as corruption, power

bizarre choice of accepting rigged elections, we begin to whine as soon as it becomes evident that the bandits we permitted – or even encouraged – to hijack electoral offices have settled down to the business of fattening themselves at the expense of the rest of us. We forget that our monsters grow from the soil we fertilize; that we conceive and nurture them; that they represent our deepest, most misshapen values.

Unable or unwilling to take on these monsters we help create, we telegraph prayers to heaven to, a, change the hearts of these monsters that have hijacked power or, b, remove them for us. The collective wisdom of Nigerian anti-corruption agents, prosecutors and judges could not establish that former Governor James Ibori of Delta State pinched one naira from the public treasury. Yet, British law enforcement and prosecutors worked so assiduously and gathered such overwhelming evidence of Mr. Ibori’s money laundering that their quarry opted to plead guilty rather than risk being unmasked in court.

How did many Nigerians react?

Instead of wondering why their system would let the likes of Mr. Ibori walk free, they began to entreat the UK to please, please arrest and prosecute other corrupt Nigerians. It’s again that syndrome of outsourcing work we should learn to do for ourselves – a job that is far from rocket science, but we fail at it because we have accepted a space animated by awful values.

Many Nigerians are excited about a recent announcement that the US government wants to hold American banks to a higher standard of scrupulousness in disclosing information about their foreign customers. The measure is meant to curtail the practice of shady characters, including Nigerian public figures, laundering looted funds through US banks. As the [Nigerian] Guardian reported on Sunday, the Asset Recovery Program of the US Justice Department recently “seized some of the stolen loot and assets of former governors D.S.P Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa State and James Ibori of Delta State, and is planning to go after more of their assets in the U.S.” The report added: “On the strength of its ability to seize some of the loot, the Justice and Commerce Departments are now trying to enforce stricter banking rules that will for instance make the use of shell companies less useful to looters of public funds in places like Nigeria.”

Anything that will make it harder for Nigerian officials to stow away their loot in foreign countries is welcome news. The best antidote to corruption and other crises bedeviling Nigeria is one that’s home-grown and home-nurtured. It’s ultimately counterproductive to farm out the fighting of our battles to the US, the UK, or God. If Nigeria is not to remain a hollow idea, then its enlightened people better commence the task of founding it, defining its values, and negotiating the terms of its existence.

abuse, electoral fraud, an undiscriminating worship of wealth, and a cult of banditry.

The second deformity is the absence of any articulate idea of what it means to be a citizen. The so-called Nigerian citizen is, in reality, a fiction. All the instruments of the state are arrayed against her/him. The police can arrest and detain any Nigerian at will, especially when the said citizen has committed no crime. The courts are, at best, indifferent to the plight of the savaged “citizen.” The Nigerian military would be willing to storm a community with tanks, gunboats and fighter jets and massacre innocents at the president’s say-so. Officials of the State Security Service (SSS) would not question the legality of a president’s order before executing it. Auniversity lecturer might decide to fail a female student who refused him sexual favors, and the student would have no recourse – save God. When a state governor steals public funds, the residents and taxpayers of his state – in other words, his dispossessed victims – know that the Nigerian constitution protects the thief with an odious clause that offers “immunity from prosecution.” They know that the state commissioner of police, who dines with the governor and receives a healthy monthly handout, would never, ever entertain the “crazy” idea of questioning the thieving governor. They know that the justices who receive illicit gifts of cars and cash from the governor would not lift their gavel to order a refund of stolen funds.

Nigeria, then, is caught in a bind. An incongruous space has produced uncertain values and questionable citizens that reinforce and reproduce a diseased space. It all translates into a country that is messier and more beat •Please follow me on twitter @ than many of its citizens realize.

That explains why, after making the okeyndib.

Okey Ndibe

N150 TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012 *VOL.7 NO. 2438

Asks : “Should God and foreigners fight Nigeria’s war?” Page 55

Here we go again....

DIMGBA IGWE

SIDEVIEW

08055001932 dimgbaigwe2011@gmail.com

I

used to meet him in a tiny office along Ojuelegba Road. He was a small man, but as they say, dynamite comes in small packages. He was certainly a giant stacked in a small body—far below five feet tall, a fact which makes his average body look stocky.

But when he spoke, his voice boomed, oozing erudition. He was a great man of letters. He would inform me that he went to the famous Government College, Umuahia, where many of Nigeria’s great men of letters passed through—Chinua Achebe, Chris Okigbo, Chukwuemeka Ike and perhaps Elechi Amadi.

They were taught by mostly Oxfordeducated English tutors who created great library in the school from where many of Nigeria’s great literary minds were cultivated through extra-curricular reading.

From there, he went to the University of Ibadan, where again, literary giants like Achebe and Okigbo passed through. Then, he would make a point of emphasizing to me that he “missed” first class by merely a point, a fact he never seemed to get over with.

The fact was that my friend, Ken SaroWiwa, was an unapologetic intellectual snob. He didn’t suffer fools gladly at all and obviously had no use for those who spoke—or wrote—bad English. It’s probably no accident that he was no fan of some of the military rulers, especially General Sani Abacha. I got to become his friend in the first place because—luckily for me— he had been impressed by a couple of my writings, including a literary pullout I had done on one of Africa’s famous writers, Ayi Kwei Amah in the early 80s.

Saro-Wiwa loved satire as much as he loved a great laugh. He would erupt in uproarious volcano of laughter at his own jokes and at the nation’s foibles. He laughed and laughed, drowning his tiny office in the volume of his voice, throwing his head backwards, his famous pipe stuck in his mouth.

He ran a gas business in partnership with some Italian suppliers, had other retail businesses and owned commercial properties, including the Saros Plaza, located in Port Harcourt, which he was eminently proud of. I never got to see this famous Plaza which he often touted as a great piece of work, his favourite building in the whole world! I hope it is as beautiful and great as he used to make it out to me. We usually had friendly chats any time I visit-

ed—me, the starry-eyed, poor reporter hungry for news, hungry for intellectual kicks here and there, he the ebullient, comfortable intellectual who wore adire top every other day.

When in 1986/7, Mike Awoyinfa and I decided to write a journalism text book, The Art of Feature Writing, it was to him I first turned to for literary counsel, even though he was no journalist, but a writer who believed in the infinite possibilities of the pen. At first, he tried to fight his battles with his literary works. I became endlessly enamoured of his television series, Basi and Company, a hit television series which lampooned the getrich-quick mentality pervading the nation.

Not only did I follow the TV comedy series which at its peak reportedly commanded 30 million viewership and got syndicated, I read and re-read the book versions.

As at then, the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, (MOSOP) was more of an idea incubating in his mind than a reality.

But, no encounter with Saro-Wiwa passed without his reminding you to draw attention to the environmental degradation of Ogoni land by the oil giants led by Shell. He was an intellectual, a poet, dramatist, novelist and above all else, an environmental activist.

Even then, when he formed MOSOP in 1990, I was no longer so close to him. We’d drifted as I moved up the ladder in my career.

With MOSOP, I thought it was a political platform which usually come in useful for those aspiring for political position. After all, Saro-Wiwa was a Rivers State

“Fatally misreading the signs on the wall, Abacha felt that hanging Saro-Wiwa, as he did to the horror and consternation of the world, was the final solution that would put a stop to the Niger Delta insurgency and agitations, and send a strong message to any one nursing idea of ethnic agitation and selfdeterminism.

But he was wrong. Instead, Saro-Wiwa’s blood became one of the critical factors that sounded the death knell of the military junta.”

•Saro-Wiwa Commissioner for Education at 26 and was enormously proud of his achievements then.

I wasn’t expecting him to plunge into the trenches. I thought he was too much of a capitalist to move into the trenches real-time at the expense of his thriving enterprises. But I was wrong. Events took dramatic turns and MOSOP took a life of its own, generating a momentum which neither Saro-Wiwa nor the draconian military regimes could control.

It was like setting a fire with a tiny match and watching it grow into a consuming conflagration.

In time, MOSOP’s activities attracted global attention and support. Saro-Wiwa’s literary shock therapy had resonated around the world. Abacha felt so threatened by the diminutive Saro-Wiwa and his MOSOP. Fatally misreading the signs on the wall, Abacha felt that hanging Saro-Wiwa, as he did to the horror and consternation of the world, was the final solution that would put a stop to the Niger Delta insurgency and agitations, and send a strong message to any one nursing idea of ethnic agitation and selfdeterminism. But he was wrong. Instead, Saro-Wiwa’s blood became one of the critical factors that sounded the death knell of the military junta.

The advent of democratic dispensation in 1999 had only doused the flame of sundry agitations for a while, but never quenched the embers. Historically, the quest for selfdeterminism festers and grows rampant in an atmosphere of acute injustice, neglect, under-development or no development, political and economic marginalisation, unemployment, rampant corruption with the wealthy few flaunting obscene lifestyles amidst endemic poverty, etc.

Where these forces exist, the centre can only hold for a while if there is strong leadership. But where there is weak leadership, such agitations turn viral, fissiparous, with every group seeking to assert their rights in diverse forms. In the past few months, we’ve have seen a rash of self-deterministic groups manifesting in various groups and states developing their own coat of arms, flags and hopefully state anthems. At the last count, nearly a dozen states have launched their own state’s flags—as distinct from the Nigerian flag.

In the past, the leader of the Movement for

the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazurike who launched Biafran anthem, flags and currency, was subjected to long detention with many of his followers shot for alleged treasonable activities. OPC of course has its own Oduduwa flag and anthem. Now, MOSOP factional leader has announced the sovereign autonomy of Ogoni land and set up a radio station, Voice of Ogoni, to enforce its agitation for self determination.

Meanwhile, Bakassi Self-Determination Front, (BSDF) led by one CommanderGeneral Ekpe Ekpenyong Oku, has not only declared the autonomy of Bakassi which Nigeria foolishly battered to Cameroun in very shameful circumstances, but is set for war to defend its independence from both Nigeria and Cameroun. They too have a radio station, Dayspring Radio, to back their agitation.

Of course, the Boko Haram had never hidden their determination to turn Nigeria—or at least Northern Nigeria— into an Islamic state, with a demand that even President Goodluck Jonathan must convert to Islam! In the midst of these confused state of affairs, several states suddenly discovered that the greatest problem confronting them is the lack of state flags, coat of arms and anthems! So you now have a rash of states developing their own “sovereign” symbols. Pray, are these symbols magic wands that will solve their people’s problems or new fangled distractions by crafty executives too lazy to do their jobs?

The confusion was compounded when President Jonathan’s political protégé, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson signed a bill creating the state’s flag and anthem into law, fueling speculation of his intention! This guy who was touted as a man to recover the state from the debauchery of the past, is fast establishing himself rather as a controversialist jumping from one controversy to another—from the controversial and obscene appointment of the First Lady Patience Jonathan as Permanent Secretary in the state and now this!

His defence is even more interesting: First, Bayelsa is the heart of Ijaw nation, so it is only appropriate that it has its own symbols of identity. Second, that virtually all the other Southwest states and some South-South states have theirs, so why not Bayelsa? Couriouser and couriouser. Is this a case of agitation for self-determinism of Ijaw nation too under an Ijaw man’s (Jonathan’s) watch? Is there some kind of Ijaw agenda between Jonathan and his protégé that is not so apparent to us all? We are watching with keen interest!

Interestingly, in all these, the federal government maintained a studied silence, reminding you of the days of anti-Igbo pogrom in the North when General Yakubu Gowon’s federal government watched in studied silence until it became too late.

Here we go again! Even if the President can’t bite, can’t he at least bark? Na wao!

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