Sun News - October 6 - Cover

MASSOB SPLITS

–PAGE 3

N200

October 6, 2012 **Vol.9 No.510

•1,000

desert pro-Biafra group

Flood sacks more Anambra, Bayelsa villages Rivers recertifies teachers –PAGE 12

–PAGES 10-12, 63-64

• Victims quartered in Yenagoa camps •Anambra worst hit – Presidential team • River Niger should be dredged now –APGA EFCC DOCKS 13 OIL MARKETERS OVER SUBSIDY SCAM –PAGES 12 Obi of Onitsha, Agbogidi Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, enters the Ime-Obi arena yesterday for the 2012 Ofala festival sponsored

by Globacom.

MASSOB SPLITS

–PAGE 3

N200

October 6, 2012 **Vol.9 No.510

•1,000

desert pro-Biafra group

Flood sacks more Anambra, Bayelsa villages Obas face removal over public fight –PAGE 3

–PAGES 10-12, 63-64

• Victims quartered in Yenagoa camps •Anambra worst hit – Presidential team • River Niger should be dredged now –APGA

EFCC DOCKS 13 OIL MARKETERS OVER SUBSIDY SCAM –PAGES 12

Building submerged by flood in one of the communities

Ekiti teachers dare gov N200

October 6, 2012 **Vol.9 No.510

•Ignore order against World –PAGE 10 Teachers Day

Obas face removal over public fight

–PAGE 3

• May appear before govt panel next week

MASSOB SPLITS •1,000 desert proBiafra group L-R: Omoba Segun Adewale, Vice Chairman; Chief Kayode Odunaro, Chairman and Comrade Ogundele Oluwole Olusegun, Secretary of Oronna Ilaro Central Planning Committee at the press conference on this year festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State

Fuel subsidy scam

–PAGE 3

–PAGE 12

ARISEKOLA’S SON, 12 OTHERS FACE TRIAL

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SATURDAY SUN October 6, 2012

SUNG GIRL

SATURDAY SUN

October 6, 2012

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Two Obas risk removal for fighting in public • May face govt panel next week

By MOSHOOD ADEBAYO, Abeokuta

I

ndications emerged yesterday that the two suspended traditional rulers in Ogun State, Oba Fatai Akamo, the Olu of Itori and his counterpart, Oba Adisa Akinremi, the village head of Lapeleke, may next week face a panel of enquiry for engaging in public fight.

Saturday Sun investigations revealed that this will be a prelude to the dethronement of the Obas, whose conducts have been described as shameful by the state government.

Oba Akamo allegedly slapped Oba Akinremi over a disagreement on traditional matters, at Divisional Office of Nigeria Police Station in Itori, Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state.

The latest development coincided with a protest by indigenes of Onigbedu village yesterday, who stormed the governor’s office, at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, calling for the removal of Oba Akamo.

During the protest, the angry villagers displayed placards calling the Olu of Itori names.

The village head of Onigbedu, Oba Sikiru Jinadu, blamed Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo for the crisis.

The protesters, who presented a protest letter to the state governor accused the embattled Oba of sitting on the salaries of some lesser Obas in the area.

The protest letter reads in part: “That chieftaincy fraud was perpetuated in the year 2010 by some traditional rulers specifically in appointing Chief Matthew Ajibulu, an Imeko indigene, as Olu of Onigbedu without any iota of consultation and inputs of the various ruling houses in Onigbedu.

“That more importantly, there is an existing Oba Yinusa Akinwande appointed by His Royal Majesty, Oba Dosunmu, the Olowu of Owu kingdom in the year 2006 and the said appointment was supported by all ruling houses in Onigbedu town.”

Banks shut out customers over fear of robbery attack From VAL OKARA, Owerri

C

ommercial banks operating in Owerri, the Imo State capital, and its environs yesterday hurriedly shut down, following the news of possible armed robbery attacks.

Saturday Sun gathered that the banks opened for the normal business in the morning but later shut their doors to customers at 12 noon over what a bank source described as “security alert on banks.”

Dare-devil armed robbers on Wednesday raided two new generation banks and Orlu International Market, carting away millions of naira.

During the robbery operations, the robbers killed a young man identified as Chijioke, injured one and destroyed the security doors of the affected banks with propelled grenade.

When Saturday Sun visited some commercial banks in the state capital, none of their staff was willing to volunteer information on the sudden closure, even as customers were seen around lamenting their plights.

A staff of one of the banks, who pleaded anonymity, revealed that they received security alert that armed robbers would storm some banks. He said that they were therefore instructed by the bank’s headquarters to close for the day’s business.

Meanwhile, soldiers have been deployed to the streets of Orlu town and its environs to fish out criminals that recently attacked Orlu International Market and two banks.

MASSOB splits •1,000 members defect to another group From DOM. EKPUNOBI, Onitsha

M EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you consider yourself stunning enough to grace our Page 3?

If yes, sign our consent/release form, send your pix/bio-data to 2, Coscharis Street, Kirikiri Industrial Estate, Apapa, Lagos.

Name: Celly Phone: 08168742665

ore than 1,000 Igbo youths who were members of Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) have deserted the association and joined the Association of Igbo Youths (AIYO).

A statement signed by the AIYO Director of Publicity, Comrade Charles Chikelu, attributed the development to the attitude of MASSOB leadership to the plight of several youths who have suffered and even lost their lives in course of working in MASSOB. He noted with dismay that several youths who were operating on the platform of MASSOB were presently languishing in various prisons without trail, while several others who lost their lives in course of carrying out MASSOB functions remain in several mortuaries and abandoned by MASSOB leadership.

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SATURDAY SUN October 6, 2012

SATURDAY SUN

October 6, 2012

Everyday Living

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•Romance •Society •Life more

Scuffle over land tears kindred apart From DOM EKPUNOBI, Onitsha

F

or the once peaceful Umueri kindred of Nkwelle-Ezunaka in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, peace and tranquility are now strange experiences. This is following what some family members say are the activities of land speculators within its fold. The family, with about 250 adult members, has been living in fear since January this year, when of some them started selling the family land, without the consent of other members.

The family is said to have a large portion of land that spans up to three and half kilometers. Land, as in most parts of the country, is a priced asset in Igboland. The eldest member of Uwueri kindred, Pa Ezepue Achede Onwuanyi who narrated their ordeal to Saturday Sun at Nkwelle- Ezunaka said that their vast area of land which their forefathers bequeathed to them has turned into a curse, rather than a blessing. He specifically pointed to one Mr. Chigozie Onwuanyi and some other members of the kindred as the source of their trouble.

Pa Onwuanyi said that trouble started with Chigozie Onwuanyi, plotting to unseat one Ambrose Onwuanyi as the chairman of the kindred’s meetings. According to him, Chigozie had insisted that Ambrose must be removed as chairman if peace was to reign.

The 84-year-old Pa Onwuanyi said that when Ambrose Onwuanyi could no longer stand the heat from Chigozie and his cohorts, he resigned as Chairman and the baton of leadership fell on Augustine Nwofia to the disappointment of Chigozie who thought he would have been the next chiarman. He said that when Chigozie failed to achieve his ambition, he transferred his animosity to Mr. Nwofia, the new chairman, to the embarrassment of Umueri kindred.

According to him, matters came to a head when the beacons used in demarcating the plotted family land were removed and nobody owned up to the act. He said that when persuasions and appeals to own up failed, some non-Christian members of the family decided to bring in traditional medicine men, who placed a curse on whoever that removed the beacons. That action, he said, angered Chigozie, who consequently threatened that unless the curse was revoked, he was going to deal with all members of the family.

He said that Chigozie, who boasted that he has the support of the police and even the army in the area, operates with some other persons. These, include, Mr. Paul Okechukwu, Mr. Ifeanyi Okegbo, Tochukwu Onwuanyi, Okoye Boniface Onwuanyi and Ifeanyi Okafor.

Pa Achebe Onwuanyi said that Chigozie and his group had sold a portion of the vast area of the family land to Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Onitsha, for N100 million and had already collected N10 million before the organization realized that it was not dealing with the rightful owners of the property.

Having realized their mistake, he said, the organization then approached the family and apologized. “But our stand is that they should collect their money from Chigozie and his group, because Umueri kindred was not part of the transaction and should therefore not be bound by any terms of agreement reached therein.”

The octogenarian took this reporter round various houses of family members, which he alleged were vandalized by Chigozie and his group. A vehicle, which was also allegedly set ablaze by the group, was shown to substantiate, according to him, “the extent of

… Members run to neighbouring communities for safety

One of the glass widows damaged by the warring kindred

Pa Onwuanyi

willful damage done to property by the group.”

Pa Onwuanyi said that the most embarrassing aspect of the episode was that several reports made by the family over the activities of Chigozie and his group to the DPO at 33 Police Stations, were neither investigated nor was any arrest made. His words: “Up till now, Chigozie is boasting and saying that he would stage war against the entire kindred and burn down all the houses in the community. Since Chigozie does not make threats without seeing them accomplished, everybody at home has now gone into hiding outside the town for fear.

He alleged that Chigozie is not a member of the executive of the family meeting but has been using the money he realized from the illegal sale of family land to buy his way and form an empire around himself with thugs and killer squad. He said Chigozie has also been laying false allegations against members of the family and with the help of the police, he detains them at police stations.

In a letter they addressed to the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, dated February 7, 2012, copy of, which was made available to Saturday Sun, the Umueri Family wrote among other things: “Sir, we therefore humbly appeal that you use your

good offices to intervene in this matter and save the peaceful community before Chigozie and his cohorts would put the entire village on fire”.

The save-our-soul letter was duly signed

by Augustine Nwofia – Chairman; Augustine Okakpu – Secretary, Ibe Okegbo - Treasurer; Nnamdi, Onwuanyi – Financial Secretary, Eugene Obiozor – Provost and Achebe Onwuanyi – Elder.

When Saturday Sun contacted the Chairman of the kindred, Mr. Augustine Nwofia, he narrated his ordeal in the hands of Chigozie and his group. According to him, the five-member group had beaten him up severally. Mr. Nwofia said that the problem of Umueri Development Union was compounded by the fact that the President General of the Town Union was lending helping hands to Chigozie because of Chigozie’s relationship with his family.

Chigozie, he said, was the Personal Assistant to Hon. Chinedu Eluemuno, younger brother to the President General (PG).

He said that the PG even went to the extent of giving recommendation to Chigozie and his group to register an association that could have run parallel to the already registered Umueri Development Union, but for the intervention of some Local Government Staff who knew the history of their kindred.

Mr. Nwofia said that the kindred had gone to the extent of staging a protest march to Oyi Local Government Headquarters over their plight.

Reacting to allegations made against him by his kinsmen, Chigozie Onwuanyi said that trouble in the family started in May 2011 when some members of the family decided to bring three deadly medicine men against those who were not in support of the leadership of Mr. Ambrose Onwuanyi. He said they recited incantations, placed curses on those opposed to Ambrose’s leadership and asked the juju to kill every one of them.

Chigozie said that his kindred members performed rituals with one Arinze Onwuanyi whom he said was being sought by the police for an alleged kidnapping and murder.

Arinze, he said, has been on the run in the last four years, but was often harboured by Augustine Nwofia and two others.

He said that when he came back from Abuja and got information about what happened, he wrote a petition to Commissioner of Police, Anambra State and they were

arrested by the Command Monitoring Unit, Awka. According to him, as the police were making arrangement to prosecute the suspects, a Permanent Secretary in Anambra State Government from the kindred intervened and used government influence to effect their release on bail without further investigation. He said that after that incident, the Permanent Secretary began to use the police to attack and witch hunt him and his group.

He told Saturday Sun that he wrote another petition to the Inspector General of Police, who sent a team of policemen, led by DSP Ado, from Federal SARS, Abuja to came to Nkwelle-Ezunnaka and made some arrest.

He said that even as peace process in the family was going on, Mr. Ambrose Onwuanyi was impeached because he failed to account for the N45 million realized from sale of family land and Mr. Chike Udeonu was elected as Chairman. According to him, Mr. Ambrose Onwuanyi refused to step down and Mr. Udeonu challenged him in Otuocha High Court.

Chigozie told Saturday Sun that there had been parallel executive of the kindred meeting and that the Local Government was brokering peace to harmonize the two factions.

He admitted that the Udeonu group sold an area of the kindred land for N100 million and had collected N10 million, adding however, that the other party had admitted selling a portion of land and collected N48 million.

He said that the N10 million collected by the Udeonu executive was shared among all adult members of the kindred.

When Saturday Sun visited the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) 33 Mr. Owan Ekang over the issue, he said that matters over the debacle in the Umueri kindred had been reported to his office severally. He confirmed that there have been accusations and counteraccusations by the two warring groups and that Oyi Local Government Area is handling the matter on the directives of Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi. He confirmed that houses were damaged and some cars burnt, adding however that the two groups in dispute suffered the damages.

From all indications, the fact is that whatever anybody is doing to restore normalcy in the kindred, it should be done fast before more damages are done and human lives lost.

As it is, there is still acute tension in the area and members of the kindred are living in serious fear.

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SATURDAY SUN

October 6 , 2012

EverydayLiving

Devastated by breast cancer, Mercy pleads: ‘Don’t let me die’

By CHUKS EZE fazec1@yahoo.com

A

t 32, Mercy Kanu is supposed to be full of life. Single and productively engaged, she used to take care of herself financially. However, this young girl is now in pains. She’s penniless and her family is broke owing to huge expenses on hospital bills. She’s suffering from cancer of the breast.

Revealing how life has been, Mercy said: “It has not been easy. This is not easy o!

Sometimes, my body would be heating up, like an oven. Even when the weather is cold and people are complaining, I would be feeling hot, as if they have thrown me into the fire.

I do not sleep at might. Sometimes, I would remain awake for two days.”

Mercy, an indigene of Obiene-Ututu, in Arochukwu Local Government of Abia State, was diagnosed with ‘advanced metastatic breast cancer’ three years ago. Since then, this National Certificate of Education (NCE) holder from the Federal College of Special Education in Oyo State, lives in agony and sorrow.

Telling her pathetic story, Mercy said she experienced wrong diagnosis before cancer was eventually diagnosed. By then, the ailment had eaten deep into her system.

According to her, she had noticed a lump in her left breast and visited a clinic to find out what the problem was. After examining her breast, she revealed, the doctor told her there was no cause for alarm.

inform my elder brother about my predicament,” she stated.

In Lagos, Mercy was taken to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, (LASUTH), where she was examined and later referred to Mecure Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Oshodi. The result of the test also confirmed that Mercy has malignant breast tumour.

How Mercy has been coping.

Since the diagnosis, Mercy’s brother has been paying her hospital bills, while the young lady experiences excruciating pains.

And the treatment is expensive.

Saturday Sun gathered that N48, 000. 00 is spent for a round of Chemotherapy treatment, which should be done every three weeks.

Apart from chemotherapy, Mercy also receives blood transfusions regularly. The ailKanu ment has taking a toll on Mercy and she has not only lost much weight but also looking “The doctor later administered drip on me older than her age. and gave me some drugs, which he said Appeal would melt the lump,” she said.

For Mercy to get proper treatment in India, Mercy said instead of the lump decreasing, it increased in size, prompting her to seek she needs about N5 million. Incidentally, her medical attention in another hospital. It was at family cannot afford this amount, prompting the General Hospital, Ibadan that cancer was her to ask for help.

“What is standing between me and death is properly diagnosed.

“My life crashed that day. I was full of money. We were told that about N5 million is questions. Why me, Lord? I know what I needed to treat me in India, but my brother passed through to get NCE. I was said, but I does not have that kind of money. I am did not lose hope. I rushed down to Lagos to appealing to Nigerians to help me raise the

money. They have been doing it for others and I believe they will do it for me too. Nothing is too small,” she pleaded.

“Look at me, I am looking 60, but I am only 32. God gave me a set of breasts for me to feed my children, not for cancer to devour; my children will suck my breasts like other women; I will not continue to remain a liability to my family for the rest of my life; no, I reject it,” she lamented.

Meanwhile, Mercy’s brother, Daniel Kanu, while appealing to well-meaning Nigerians to help him raise N5 million for her sister’s treatment abroad, thanked all those who have been supporting him financially and otherwise, such as Barrister Chijioke Isiolu, Emeka Duru, Yinka Sokunbi and the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, whom he said learnt about his sister’s condition from a friend and immediately sent him some money.

Asked if he has contacted the Abia State Governor, Chief T.O Orji on the matter, Kanu said that he had reached his Chief Press Secretary, Ugochukwu Emezue, who requested that he wrote officially to the state government.

“I am also using this medium to reach out to Governor Babatunde Fashola, who I also wrote for assistance,” he said.

Help could come to Marcy through: Daniel Kanu: 08023035107 or UBA account, 1005975546, with name, Daniel Kanu.

SATURDAY SUN,

October 6, 2012

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SATURDAY SUN October 6, 2012

Sale of electricity generation companies EDITORIAL

F

ederal Government’s efforts to improve power supply in the country received a boost following the recent announcement of bid winners for five electricity generation stations across the country. The stations were hitherto under the control of the behemoth, Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). They consist of three thermal stations and two hydro stations.

The bid winners in the sale supervised by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) are Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc, Amperion Consortium, CMEC/Eurafric Energy Consortium, Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd, and North-South Power Company Ltd. The five preferred bidders are expected to pay N107 billion for the five electricity generation companies. Transcorp Plc won the bid for Ughelli Thermal Power Plant with an offer of $300 million, Geregu Power Plant went to Amperion Consortium for $132 million, while Sapele Thermal Plant went to CMEC/Eurafric for $201 million.

The preferred bidders for Kainji Hydro Plant and Shiroro Hydro Power Plant are Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd and North-South Power Company Ltd., for $507.76m and $23.602 million, respectively.

However, the investors’ bids can only be deemed consummated after they have fully paid up the sums within a specified period and the transactions are ratified by the National Council on Privatisation (NCP).

We heartily welcome the sale and concession of the five power generation stations. It is a step in the right direction. This is so because, for years, declining power supply has undermined economic development and quality of life of Nigerians. The problem has proved a hard nut to crack for successive governments in the country. Despite billions of dollars invested in the power sector since 1999, government has never come close to generating the needed megawatts it prom-

MISSION ‘To practise journalism in the classical newspaper tradition of presenting the news and features in an exciting style, with impact, objectivity and appeal that generate returns to all stakeholders: the society, the investors and the practitioners’

ised. Every glimmer of hope raised has fizzled out shortly after the promise was made.

Undoubtedly, the power sector has become the Achilles heel, and “sick baby” of government for many years now. This has forced many industries to close shop and relocate outside Nigerian shores.

However, although the successful bidders reportedly have links with some prominent Nigerians, this concession should not be seen as political patronage. Electricity supply to the nation is too important to be trifled with.

We believe that with the successful privatisation of PHCN and the emergence of new investors, the nation will witness a new dawn in the power sector. There will, hopefully, be light at the end of the dark tunnel of inefficient power generation and distribution in the country. But, before this can become a reality, the preferred bidders must match their promise with the ability to pay the bidded sums. That is the first hurdle towards showing that their bidding is not a fluke. A similar exercise to unbundle PHCN in the past was stalled, and eventually failed, because the preferred winners suddenly developed cold feet and pulled out. That should not be allowed to happen in the present exercise as we believe that jinx has finally been broken. The successful bidders should demonstrate commitment to ensuring that the reform in the power sector pays off.

It is fair to think that the investors have done their homework and it would be a national embarrassment if they fail to deliver after the fanfare that attended their successful biddings. They need reminding that the power sector holds the key to Nigeria’s economic growth. It is a catalyst for development in other sectors of the economy.

In that regard, the successful bidders should be serious. Let them avoid extortionist tendencies in their operations. They should demonstrate zeal and efficiency in service delivery. Arbitrary increase in tariffs should be avoided. They should work handin-gloves with Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to ensure that the cost of electricity to consumers is affordable, and based on the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO).

The preferred bidders must realise that to whom much is given, much is expected. They should rise to the challenge of generating sufficient electricity to ensure stable power supply in the country.

T H E D I R E C T O R AT E TONY ONYIMA Managing Director /Editor-in-Chief FEMI ADESINA ETHEL NMEZI

Deputy MD/Deputy Editor-in-Chief Executive Director, Finance/Admin

ALAN JONES

Executive Director, Technical

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SATURDAY SUN

October 6, 2012

9

Opinion/Comments

Yobe as a microcosm of Africa’s development paradigm

By YUSUF MUSTAFA

M

y title for this article might seem like a wild exaggeration. How can a little state tucked in the north eastern fringes of Nigeria be the microcosm of Africa? Well, it is not what you think. Read on to find out why I think Yobe State is a miniature model of Africa of which it is a part.

My thoughts are inspired by an interesting book I just finished reading about Africa. It is entitled Africa Works: Disorder as Political Instrument and written in 1999 by Professors Patrick Chabal and Jean-Pascal Daloz, two European authors who looked inside Africa from outside. The basic thesis of their highly influential and, some would say, controversial book is that in spite of the appearance of perpetual chaos and crisis in Africa, the continent works in more ways than people (read: Westerners) expect it to.

In spite of what the West says about Africa’s wars, famine, dictatorships, etc —factors that can halt the functioning of western societies — Africa still trudges along, they say. They point out that the predictions of many Western analysts that Africa would sooner or later implode and explode as a result of its chaos have not come to pass. Instead, Africa now has the world’s fastest growing middle class, and its economic growth has outrivaled that of Europe in the past two years.

To give just one example, a World Bank report in the 1990s pointed out that Africa faced “dire” consequences because it was bedeviled by “income levels (that) are lower than in the late 1960s.” Its future was also said by the 1990s World Bank report to be bleak because it was “racked by war, disease and corruption; and its share of global trade has been shrinking; and it contributes only 2% of the world trade.”

Reading the report, you would be reminded of the kinds of scary reports you

sometimes read in Nigerian newspapers about Yobe State — Boko Haram violence, people fleeing the state as a result of the violence, etc. Anyway, years after the World Bank’s predictions about Africa using Western standards, the continent still stands and has developed in ways that have confounded Western observers and theorists.

The authors’ conclusion is that the appearance of disorder can be deceptive.

That is, there may be order in what seems like disorder sometimes. You may argue that the authors are intellectualising and making light of Africa’s developmental challenges and that many people still aren’t doing well in Africa despite all the growth our economies are said to have recorded. That may be true. But you can’t deny the fact that if countries in the West faced half the problems that African countries faced, they would be extinct by now. You also can’t deny the fact that Africa has come a long way from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Or that the middle class in many African countries is growing at a time it is shrinking in other parts of the world. The scholars called this contradictory development in Africa the “instrumentalisation of disorder.”

In more ways than one, Yobe State mirrors Africa’s contradictions. Here is a young state that is beset by Boko Haram insurgency; a state that, because of Boko Haram violence it has had to contend with in the last one year, you would expect to be comatose—the same way Westerners expected that Africa would be stagnant because of its perennial chaos. Yet Yobe State, by the accounts of many non-partisan development analysts, is one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing states, although popular media reports hardly portray this fact.

Having lived in Yobe State for some time myself, I can attest to the fact that the state is making more progress in its march to development than most states I know.

In the areas of infrastructure, healthcare delivery, agriculture, education, rural

transformation, employment generation, etc, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam’s record has no parallel in the northeast sub-region and is certainly at par with such celebrated governors as Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos State. Unfortunately, Governor Gaidam’s modesty and humility, according to people who know him, have made his achievements not as widely known as some other governors who are doing far less but talking more.

Let’s consider a few examples to make my point. Before Gaidam became governor, Yobe State perennially appeared on the list of Nigerian states with the highest maternal and infant mortality rates. This was, of course, caused by inadequacy (and in some cases total absence of) basic medical facilities. And wherever medical facilities existed, people had no access to them because they couldn’t afford them. That has changed now. Every pregnant woman in Yobe State is now entitled to free medical care. All Yobe State children under the age of 5 are also entitled to free medical care.

It doesn’t stop there. The governor also mandates government hospitals to give free medical treatment to all accident victims within 72 hours of admission to hospitals. My heart melted when I first learned of this gracious humanitarian gesture. This is probably the only state in the whole country that extends this kind of benefit to its citizens.

To make its free healthcare delivery policy even more meaningful, the state is building and upgrading health centers and hospitals all around the state. The latest of such efforts are the construction of a 44bed maternity ward at the Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital and the completion of a new 200-bed capacity hospital both in Damaturu.

Agriculture, the mainstay of Yobe’s economy, has also received a massive boost in the past few years. Every farming season, the Gaidam government spends hundreds of millions of naira to assist farmers in cultivation, irrigation and get-

ting access to fertilizer and chemicals. The government has also made available N20 million naira recently to assist the Chad Basin Development Authority (CBDA) to dredge the Kumadugu-Yobe River “so as to de-silt the River and clear it of Typha grass which often inhibit fishing especially around the Nguru-Gashua area,” as one writer put it recently.

But it isn’t only in the areas of health, agriculture, roads, infrastructure, etc that the Gaidam administration is blazing a trail; it is also on record as one of the most people-centered administrations in Nigeria. Governor Gaidam personally symbolises this with his open-door approach to issues, his tenacious insistence that government officials answer to the needs of the people at all times, and his humble, philosophical take that as leader, he is personally accountable to the people and God Almighty. Few people are aware, for instance, that Yobe State is the first state in the nation to implement the N18, 000 Minimum Wage. Not even Edo State that is ruled by a former NLC president or Ondo State that is ruled by a Labour Party governor beat Governor Gaidam in that respect.

For a state that is wracked by Boko Haram chaos, Yobe’s progress is nothing short of remarkable. One is tempted to ask: If Yobe can be this functional and competitive in spite of its security challenges, what could it be in peace times?

Or has Governor Gaidam ‘instrumentalised disorder,’ to paraphrase the authors of “Africa Works: Disorder as Political Instrument”? Maybe. Maybe not. But what is certain is that researchers interested in the paradoxes of chaos and development in Africa will find Yobe State a compelling case study.

•Mustafa, a social and political affairs commentator, lives in Wuse II, Abuja

Obioma Imoke and making of education envoy

By GODWIN EFFIONG

T

he saying that government is about serving those who need it the most is a very popular anthem associated with the Liyel Imoke administration. These words were again uttered by Obioma Liyel-Imoke, wife of Cross River State governor, in Calabar recently, on her return from New York, having attended the United Nations General Assembly.

Obioma was at a cocktail and business breakfast meeting to mark the launch of Education for all Initiative. This landmark event was hosted by the United Nations (UN), with the support of UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. The wife of the governor said she is enthusiastic about taking things to the next level.

The Education for All initiative was founded by Sarah Brown, wife of the former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. This initiative is a global campaign aimed at realising a place in school for every child, in order to meet the millennium development goal by 2015. It will bring together every organisation or individual and every global initiative or small country, under one giant push to achieve this goal. Alarmingly today, 67 million children of school age are out of school.

This is more than the primary school population in the United States and Western Europe combined. Interestingly, 42 percent of these are in post war/conflict zones.

Millions more are receiving poor quality education in classrooms unfit for this purpose. Girls are at the sharp end of this crisis. In 47 out of 54 African countries, girls have less than a 50 percent chance of starting secondary school.

The wife of the former British Prime Minister, who visited Calabar in May, had discussions with Obioma on her being an ambassador of Education for All, in recognition of the significant contributions she had made in child development.

“I am pleased to be here. I know that in Cross River State, education is free, but this is not the same in everywhere in Nigeria, and it is not true all over the world. This is why Her Excellency and I are working together with many other people to ensure that every child in the world has a chance to get an education. A place in school is often also the gateway to a nutritious meal for school lunch, vaccinations and health education as much as it opens up learning and improved future earnings,” Brown noted during that trip.

Obioma formally accepted this offer in June. “In Cross River State, primary school education is free and compulsory; we have invested a lot of time advocating that children must be in school and not on farms,” she said.

With its commitment to Universal Basic Education, Nigeria has made explicit its commitment to two ideals. First, in the modern Nigeria, all children have a right to be educated. This right is irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, religion, location or

other factors distinguishing them from the mainstream. Second, education is the means through which Nigeria can reduce the poverty of the vast majority of its people and create an efficient and competitive economy.

Schools were first set up by European missionaries as far back as the 18th Century, some of which still stand today.

Nigeria boasted of a very sound education system thereafter. Unfortunately, the 1967 civil war, which lasted three years, had a debilitating effect on education in the country, especially in the Eastern Region of which Cross River State was part.

Much later, in 1978 the Nigerian government, during the era of Nigeria’s Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo, introduced the Universal Primary Education (UPE), which ensured that primary school pupils across the country, irrespective of tribe or social status, enjoyed free education. However the late 80s saw yet another decline in the educational sector in the country largely due to cultural reasons, economic reasons, corruption and a brutal military regime.

Over the years, the private sector has made giant strides in developing schools, which could compete globally, but there still is a huge disparity between government owned and private schools.

According to experts in the education sector, enrolment, completion and progression rates at all levels of education are low and quality learning outcomes is poor. The education sector displays serious

inequities in terms of gender (females are under – represented in the number of pupils, adults, and non – formal learners and teachers), geopolitical zones, states, local governments and schools. There is a sharp divide between rural and urban areas and between the northern and southern states.

Capacity building and staff development are inadequate. Large number of teachers are either unqualified or under qualified. Government structures are often too bureaucratic, too centralised and lead to duplication, ineffectiveness and lack of decisive action.

However, there is a ray of hope. Some schools have been handed back to the missionaries and there are policies that encourage private schools to adopt public schools. There also seems to be a concerted effort on the part of the Federal Government to rehabilitate schools especially in the grassroots. In Cross River State alone, up to 150 schools have been overhauled under the Imoke administration.

Still, this disparity is such that cannot be ignored, but with fresh strategies and a proper action plan, the vacuum that exists can and will be a thing of the past, says Obioma. As an Ambassador of the Education for all Initiative, she will also be invited to attend Nigerian Business Delegations later on in the year.

• Effiong wrote from Calabar

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SATURDAY SUN

October 6, 2012

National news Item police station for commissioning today

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bia State governor, Chief Theodore Orji, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ambrose O. Aisabor are among dignitaries expected today at the commissioning of Item Police Station.

A statement by the Item Union, Lagos branch said the new police station, built and equipped by Item community, in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, commenced full operation about a month ago and would be formally handed over to the Nigeria Police at a ceremony, which will start at 12pm. It is •From Right: Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, his wife. Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke, out going state located at Amaeke Item.

The statement said that the Chief Judge, Justice Dorothy Iyamba-Idem, Arch Bishop Joseph Ukpo, Speaker, Hon Larry Odey and Dep. Item Police Station project was Governor, Mr. Efiok Cobham, after a valedictory service in honour of the retiring judge in Calabar, yesterday. conceived by Item Union

Sultan, others condemn Mubi killings

From ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE, Kaduna

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ama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), the apex Islamic body in the northern part of the country, has condemned the killings of 43 students of Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Adamawa State University and University of Maiduguri, Borno State. It

said these killing were aimed at destroying the future of Nigeria.

In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, for JNI President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the JNI urged government to dig deep into the roots of the massacre and

bring the culprits to book.

The statement said: “Jolted by the senseless massacre of students of three higher institutions: the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi; Adamawa State University and the University of Maiduguri, Borno State, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), under the leadership of His Eminence, the Sultan of

Sokoto and PresidentGeneral, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, wishes to express strong condemnation of such a barbaric act, urging the government to quickly dig deep into the roots of the perpetration and bring the culprits to book.

“We believe that the aim of the perpetrators of such a dastardly act is to kill the

Anambra worst hit by flood –Presidential team

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he Federal Government has sent a team to Anambra State to assess the extent of damage caused by flood was declared the state as the worst hit among the 14 states affected.

Speaking through Minister of Environment, Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafa, while touring affected local government areas in the state, the team, which also has Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, Minister of State for Works, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA,) and the Minister of Environment as members, said that Anambra was situated at the lowest point of the River Niger and therefore greatly affected by the flood.

The team commended state Governor, Mr. Peter Obi for his efforts to assist the victims.

The Minister of Aviation, whose house alongside that of a former Minister, Prince John Emeka; former Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Prince Chinedu Emeka; Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Princess Chinwe Nwebili; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Oselloka Obaze, among others were submerged by the flood, said that the situation was clearly beyond human comprehen-

sion.

She thanked Governor Obi for his relentless efforts to offer assistance and support to the affected communities and assured that the Federal Government would come to the state’s aid.

The minister said that while in other communities,

houses and farmlands were destroyed, multi-billion naira industries, including the three industries President Goodluck Jonathan commissioned on August 30, when he visited the state, are currently under water.

Conducting the team round the flooded areas, some of

which they visited in a helicopter, Governor Obi said that four local government areas of Anambra West, Ayamelum, Anambra East and Ogbaru were completely submerged in water. He said that four others, Awka North, Ihiala, Onitsha North and Onitsha South suffered various degrees of destruction.

future of Nigeria by killing the young men and women that represent the country’s future. It is rather unfortunate that we have to condole with the families of the victims of that massacre once again after many of similar satanic acts in recent times. ”Thus, while commiserating with all concerned people and quarters, we call on all the three tiers of government in the country to further beef up security with the cooperation of the local people, with a view to preventing a reoccurrence of such unfortunate incident in future.”

JNI however, urged parents in the country to pay more attention to the moral and ideological orientation of their wards, especially those in the tertiary Institutions, with a view to guiding them towards the right path now and in future.

Ekiti teachers ignore gov’s order, hold World Teachers Day From CHARLES ADEGBITE, Ado-Ekiti

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eachers in Ekiti State yesterday celebrated the 2012 World Teachers Day in Ado-Ekiti, contrary to the state government’s directive that the annual celebration should be cancelled.

The teachers, under the aegis of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), gathered at their state secretariat, where they raised series of sarcastic songs to deride the Governor Kayode Fayemi administration, who they perceived as anti-teachers.

Their anger against the government began to manifest on Thursday, when the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Mrs. Eniola Ajayi, held a stakeholders meeting with some selected teachers at Olaoluwa Muslim Grammar School, Ado Ekiti, who were called to ruminate on woeful performances of students in internal and external examinations in recent times.

The Ministry of Education later announced on state radio and television that the event had been cancelled. This announcement irked the entire teachers populace and forced them to start getting set for war.

While addressing journalists on this development, the NUT Chairman in the state, Com Kayode Akosile, described the government’s directive as embarrassing, shocking and a declaration of war on Ekiti teachers.

He said Ekiti teachers had been having a robust relationship with the government until they refused to write the test prescribed by the state government tagged Teachers Development Needs Assessment (TDNA), meant to examine the competency of his members.

He said the teachers met the first unexpected shocker of their lives under Fayemi government, when it cancelled 27 percent peculiar allowance to teachers on the premise that it

was about to implement relativity allowance and minimum wage to Ekiti workers.

The NUT chairman said that government’s step could only be counter-productive rather than producing the needed remedial step to wipe out decadence in the educational sector.

He said no efforts will be spared to ensure that no teacher

is sanctioned for not appearing at his duty post yesterday, insisting: “October 5 had been adopted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to be Teachers Day. So, I don’t think it should be taken to be an offence if our people decided to hold the celebration.”

Down Syndrome Foundation celebrates

By JIMOH RASAKI

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he Down Syndrome Foundation in Nigeria will tomorrow join the rest of the world to mark its day.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos, on activities lined up for the day, the National President, Mrs. Rose Mordi, urged the government to support people with Down syndrome, as they are also important to the society.

The President, who poured out her heart while unveiling this year’s theme: “Unique

with a Difference,” urged government and the society not to turn away from them.

Mordi also called on the media to create awareness about Down syndrome and encourage people with the disorder to enable them contribute their quota to the society and bring out their talent in order to develop the economic development and also increase on how to build a better place in the future.

Mrs. Mordi also said awards will be given to four governors for their immense contributions to the foundation.

Lagos, a socio-cultural organisation of Item people resident in Lagos and environs, in 2008, as a response to the alarming rate of insecurity in the community.

According to it, the security challenges in the community climaxed in December 2007 with the brutal murder of a very prominent son of Item at home by yet to be identified assailants.

The sad incident, it said, scared several indigenes of the community away from home as they feared that their lives were no longer secured.

The union said: “It was at this point that Item Union, Lagos seized the initiative to bring in police presence in the community by making a formal request to the police authorities for an approval to build and equip a structure in the community for manning.

This was graciously approved and construction work began in earnest in August 2009.

“Through hard work and determination, coupled with huge financial sacrifices made by members of the community, particularly Item Union, Lagos the project was completed in July 2012 and is due for official commissioning.

South East govs’ wives lament state of roads From PETRUS OBI

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ives of South East governors yesterday lamented the poor state of federal highways in the zone and appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to take measures to reconstruct the roads.

The women, who expressed concern over the sufferings of road users, said the intervention of the Federal Government would save the carnage on the roads.

Rising from their meeting held at the presidential lodge, Enugu, the women, who decried the state of federal roads in the zone, however, commended the president for his disposition towards the construction of the second Niger Bridge as well as provision of funds for the reconstruction of the Onitsha-Enugu-UmuahiaAba-Port Harcourt highways.

The meeting, which held under the auspices of Conference of Wives of South East Governors, was attended

by Mrs. Margaret Obi (Anambra), Mrs. Odochi Orji (Abia), who was represented by wife of the Deputy Governor of Abia; Mrs. Josephine Elechi (Ebonyi) and Mrs. Clara Chime (Enugu).

In a statement issued at the end of the meeting and signed

by Mrs. Chime, they also conveyed their sympathy to states now being ravaged by flood.

They called on fellow mothers in the country to appeal to their children to eschew violence, kidnapping and unwarranted wanton destruction of lives and property as well as imbibe virtues that could promote unity and peace in the country.

SATURDAY SUN

October 6, 2012

11

National news

Sorrow, tears as Cynthia is buried From PAUL OSUYI, Asaba

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he remains of the 24year-old Cynthia Valerie Udoka Osokogu were yesterday committed to mother earth at the family’s compound on OwaEkei Road, Boji-Boji Owa, in Ika North East Local

it low. But her elder siblings, confronting it. It is a difficult cially the police since the occurred and Kenneth and Williams, vacuum to fill if you can even incident played prominent roles. fill a vacuum, but life goes thanked the press generally for the role they played while Rev. Fr. Leonard Biachi of on.” the St. Dominic Catholic General Osokogu the mourning lasted, solicitChurch, Boji-Boji Owa, per- expressed confidence that ing that the tempo should be formed the graveside prayers justice would be served by sustained.

“We are just half way; after before the corpse was low- the judiciary on the murder ered to the waiting arms of case, saying that the case was the burial, the court case conmother earth. between “somebody and the tinues, hence I hope the In an emotion-laden tune, state and not somebody media will not relent to seeMajor General Frank against somebody; it is not a ing to the finality of this Osokogu (retd), Cynthia’s civil case. I believe that jus- case,” he appealed.

Cynthia was murdered in dad, remarked that though it tice would be done.” a hotel in FESTAC Town, es, four rings, three pairs of was a sad development for He said the family was earrings, one pendant, one the entire family, “what you impressed with the reaction Lagos by some friends she necklace, hand chain (bangle) cannot help, you endure, you of the security forces, espe- met on the social media, faceHe contended that there and a single earring. book. ought to have been a legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lagos by now. Therefore, prosecution promised to go to the DPP to know why.

However, counsel to the seventh defendant prayed to court to let the earlier bail granted by the court to the sixth and seventh defendant to subsist in the new charge, especially as his client had perfected his bail conditions already. The prosecution opposed this application on the grounds that he may jump bail.

The trial magistrate stated that this was a new matter, with a new charge and that under the law, there was presumption of theft if the defendant receives stolen property. Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, Chairman of Opobo-Ndoni LGA Maclean Oranta, Deputy Speaker Consequently, all the House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha and the convener of Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro economic summit, Dakuku defendants, including those Peterside, at the opening ceremony of the summit in Port Harcourt. earlier granted bail, were remanded in prison custody, while awaiting the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)’s legal advice on their case. The According to him, the relief materials is not enough. life of this administration we matter was adjourned till From FEMI FOLARANMI, state has a serious problem on Everyday, even as I speak, the took pro-active steps to preYenagoa November 5, 2012. his hands and assured the water Level is rising. Places I vent flood in Yenagoa; if not In the charge with suit anic has gripped affected communities that visited on Thursday have flood would have taken over number TA/52/2012 preferred Bayelsan residents in government was on top of the now been submerged. We and we would have no place against them by the prosecucoastal areas, as the rav- situation to ensure that the really have disaster in our to go. I have just directed that tion, 1st-5th defendants aging flood in the state people are adequately taken hands. I want to assure the communities that have been allegedly unlawfully injected people of Bayelsa State that submerged should be evacuan obnoxious substance spreads to more communi- care off. their government is on top of ated. I have designated the He said: “The flood disasties. known as Rohypnol Sports Complex as our main This is coming at a time ter is very serious in Bayelsa it.

Flunitrazepam, tablets, into a “This is a natural disaster refugee camp. It is because Ribena fruit juice drink and Governor Henry Seriake State and I have set up a speforcefully administered it to Dickson has ordered the cial committee to tackle the in which no human being has we are water people and we Cynthia, thereby causing bod- immediate evacuation of peo- issue. It is very clear that the control. The only saving are no strangers to water, if ple living in nine communi- authorisation I gave, in terms grace is that very early in the not, so many people would ily harm to the deceased. have died.” of immediate provision of The drug was alleged to ties submerged by flood.

In a statement signed by have been purchased at Oxpharm Pharmacy, 32 the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Danile Road, Festac Town, Lagos.

The defendants were Iworiso- Markson, Dickson the House of ivers State Governor, summit would create invest- of alleged to have, between 8pm approved the evacuation of Chibuike Rotimi ment opportunities; improve Representatives, Hon. Emeka seven communities, in of July 21, 2012 and 12pm of Amaechi, has challenged the economy of the area and Ihedioha, said as a way of July 22, 2012, conspired to Biseni, Yenagoa Local stakeholders in public and the State and fast-track devel- shoring up the expected gains Government Area and Odi opment in the area. of the summit, the National murder the deceased after and Isampou, in private sectors to initiate a The governor, who is also Assembly will integrate the unlawfully drugging her, paradigm shift in the transforKolokuma/Opokuma Local binding her hands with chain, Government Area. Those mation of rural communities Chairman of the Nigerian needs of host communities Governors’ Forum (NGF), into the Petroleum Industry padlock and binding her legs, from Biseni are to be camped in the country. neck and mouth with cello- at the Samson Siasia Sports Amaechi gave the chal- called on political office hold- Bill, expressing the hope that tape, giving her fist blows all Complex, which has been lenge yesterday while declar- ers, both at the national and the summit would evolve an over her body, giving her sev- designated as a refugee camp, ing open the first Andoni- state levels, to emulate the economic development plan eral human bites, torturing while those from Odi and Opobo-Nkoro Economic transformative spirit, exhibit- for the area. He commended ed by the convener of the Governor Amaechi for proand strangling her to death.

Isampou are to be camped at Zone Development Summit summit, who is also a mem- jecting the state positively, They were also alleged to Kaiama, headquarters of with the theme, “Shared representing commending the organizers have conspired to commit Kolokuma/ Opokuma.

Responsibility, Shared ber A n d o n i / O p o b o / N k o r o for putting together the event. armed robbery and robbing Prosperity”, in Port Harcourt.

The statement quoted In his remarks, convener Cynthia of her personal Dickson, while speaking furRepresented by his Federal Constituency in the belongings. The items stolen ther on the issue during deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru, House of Representatives, of the summit, Hon. Dakuku Peterside, urging Peterside, said the summit included one Blackberry Bold September Transparency Governor Amaechi said the 5; an international passport briefing, as saying that he had summit was in line with his them to churn out pro- was aimed at showcasing the marked: A012493997, dated set up a special committee, administration’s policy thrust grammes that would trans- diverse economic potentials July 3, 2009; pairs of shoes; with the Deputy- Governor, on economic empowerment, form the economic fortune of of Andoni, Opobo and Nkoro communities, with the aim of hand bag; an artificial sex toy Rear Admiral John Jonah, as infrastructural development their constituencies.

Speaking, Chairman of the attracting investors to the (vibrator); and a jewelry pack chairman to tackle the issue. and employment generation, containing three wristwatchexpressing optimism that the occasion and Deputy Speaker area.

Government Area of Delta State.

Her interment came about one month after a funeral service was held in her honour and the suspension of her burial rites following nonrelease of her body by the police.

The corpse, which was released to the family on

Thursday, had arrived the final resting place yesterday at 3pm, in a Toyota ambulance car with registration number Lagos LY 616 EKY. The sombre ceremony, which lasted about 25 minutes, was witnessed by a few of her loved ones, following the family’s decision to keep

…Police re-arraign 7 suspects ...Magistrate returns bailed suspects to prison

By FAITH OMORUYI

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he Police, yesterday rearraigned before a Lagos Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Yaba all seven suspects involved in the Cynthia Osokogu murder case, in a fresh charge.

Osokogu was drugged, robbed and raped in Room C1, Cosmilla Hotel, Lakeview Estate, Amuwo Odofin, FESTAC Town, Lagos.

The two suspects that allegedly killed her were arraigned along with two pharmacists, who sold the drug they used to murder the victim. The cab driver that allegedly drove the two main suspects to scene of crime was also arraigned as well as the last two defendants that allegedly collected stolen property from the second defendant.

The defendants were Okwumo Echezona Nwabufo (33), Ejike Ilechukwu Olisaeloka (23), Orji Osita (32), Maduakor Chukwunonso (25), Gideon Okechukwu (39), Nonso Ezike (22), who is the younger brother to Olisaeloka and Ezeaka Chinonso (27).

They were all arraigned in a consolidated charge. This was after the police prosecutor, SP Chukwu Agwu, prayed the trial magistrate, Magistrate Olalekan Aka-Balogun, to allow him withdraw all the former separate three charges and substitute them with a fresh one with number TA/52A/2012. The defence did not object to this substitution.

According to the 11-count charge preferred against the suspects, the first to fifth defendants, in counts one to nine, allegedly conspired with others now at large to drug, rape, rob, torture and kill the deceased.

The last two defendants were arraigned on the last two counts for conspiracy and receiving stolen property. But the court declined to take their pleas.

Counsel to the second defendant urged the court to compel the prosecution to show good cause why his client should not be released after being remanded for more than 30 days, in line with Section 264 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State.

Flood: Bayelsa evacuates 9 communities

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Amaechi urges paradigm shift for rural transformation

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SATURDAY SUN

October 6, 2012

National news

Oil subsidy scam: EFCC docks 13 more marketers

By AKEEB ALARAPE

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he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned 13 more oil marketers indicted in the abuse of oil subsidy programme of the Federal Government.

Those arraigned yesterday and their companies were alleged to have collected about N4billion aggregately, using forged documents. They appeared before Justices Habeeb Abiru and Lateefa Okunnu in three groups and on separate charges bordering on conspiracy, making false

•Bamidele

...Arisekola’s son charged again claims and using forged documents in collecting various sums of money from the Federal Government’s Petroleum Support Fund programme.

Abdullah Alao, son of multi-millionaire businessman and Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola Alao, was, for the third time, charge to court alongside his company and business associates.

In the charge sheet of the six-count fresh case, Abdullah, his company,

•Bankole

Axenergy Limited, Opeyemi Ajuyah, Majope Investment Limited and one Olanrewaju Olalusi were alleged to have conspired and used forged documents to collect N1, 110, 049, 444. 35 for alleged importation of 15, 206, 733 metric tons of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

The case could, however not be heard yesterday, like others, as a reliable EFCC source told Saturday Sun that one of the suspects was still on the wanted list of the anti-graft agency.

•Emeka

Among those arraigned yesterday were two companies; Anosyke Group of Companies Ltd, Dell Energy Ltd and their directors; Ifeanyi Anosike, Emeka Chukwu and Ngozi Ekeoma. They were alleged to have conspired and used forged documents, like bill of lading and other shipping documents to obtain the sum of over N1.4 billion from the subsidy programme of the Federal Government.

The EFCC alleged that the defendants claimed to have imported 15, 000 metric tons

•Emmanuel

of premium motor spirit and collected payment for goods not delivered.

When the eight-count charge was read to the defendant before Justice Abiru, they all pleaded not guilty.

The judge, therefore, remanded them in EFCC custody and adjourned till October 9, 2012 for argument on their bail application.

The second set of oil companies and their directors arraigned before Justice Abiru on eight-count charge included; Downstream Energy Sources Ltd, Adamu Aliyu Maula, Rocky Energy Ltd, George Ogbonna and Emmanuel Morani. They were alleged to have collected the sum of N789, 648, 329. 25 from the Federal Government for importing over 14, 000 litres of fuel, which they never did, but alleged to have used false and forged documents.

They also pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

The trial judge remanded

Ondo voters urged to be vigilant ndo State voters have been enjoined to be vigilant and ensure that no room was given to any political party to rig the October 20 governorship election.

Speaking against the backdrop of Thursday’s verdict of the Local Government Election Tribunal, which pronounced Ibrahim Obanikoro of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the Ikoyi/Obalende Local Council Development Area election, following a petition challenging the earlier result which gave victory to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), a group, Forum for Democratic Transparency, said, the tribunal’s verdict was a clear indication that the ACN was using intimidation to win elections.

In a statement in Akure yesterday and signed by its Publicity Secretary, Adebari Mayaki, the Forum said: “It

O •Ifeoma

•Anosike

•George

APGA calls for dredging of River Niger From PETRUS OBI, Enugu

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ll Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has urged the Federal Government to commence the proposed dredging of the River Niger, pointing out that the Anambra flood disaster could have been avoided if the river had been dredged.

National chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh, who addressed newsmen in Enugu

yesterday, also urged the Federal Government to urgently come to the aid of the flood victims by sending relief materials to alleviate their suffering, arguing that the disaster was too much for Anambra State government alone to handle Umeh noted that the incident has clearly shown the urgent need for the Federal Government to dredge the River Niger.

Said he: “The over-flooding

Ondo guber: I’m prepared to make sacrifice in leadership –Oke

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he candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the October 20 governorship Ondo governorship election, Barrister Olusola Oke, has said that he was ready to make the necessary sacrifice in leadership that would transform the economy of the state and its people.

Speaking at the local government rally of the PDP at Ore, in Odigbo Local Government Area, Oke said Ondo is blessed with human and needed natural resources that could be used to drive its development. He said that leadership with defined focus was required to deliver good governance that would translate to direct impact on the people While receiving new entrants into the PDP at Ore, Oke said

his government would bring primary school facilities closer to the masses. He promised to do this in line with the schoolfor-all-campaign of the United Nations.

“Our administration will employ more teachers and bring closer to the electorate primary schools. This I will do in line with the United Nation’s education-for-all-campaign.

Our children will only walk five minutes into their respective schools if we are voted into power” he said.

Also at Bolorunduro, Ondo East Local Government Area, Oke said it would be difficult for the state to grow economically under its present state of encumbrance, adding that the cost of financing the state debt has stalled economic growth of all the local government areas in the state.

of the banks of the River Niger, starting from Lokoja down the coast of the River Niger, happened because of the huge silt that has accumulated along the coast of River Niger, making the river no longer able to carry the volume of water occasioned by heavy rain.”

“If the River Niger had been de-silted through dredging, this flood disaster would have been averted.”

Umeh recalled that the issue of dredging the River Niger had been recurring, lamenting that the contracts earlier awarded by the Federal Government had not been properly executed.

The APGA chairman said: “A long term solution to this over-flowing of the banks of the River Niger will be the government awarding contracts for the dredging of the River Niger, from Niger State down to the Atlantic Ocean.

“The dredging of the River Niger will achieve two purposes – One is that it will now make it possible for vessels to come from the Atlantic Ocean into the River Niger inland waterways and in fact, making the Onitsha Port facility be put into use as large vessels can now berth at the Onitsha seaport. Secondly, the dredging will now make the River Niger capable of containing the water flowing through it, thereby averting the type of over-flooding experienced right from Lokoja in Kogi State down to Anambra State.”

Umeh said that APGA was

highly dismayed by the type of flood disaster experienced in four local government areas of Anambra State, namely Ayamelum, Anambra East, Anambra West and Ogbaru local government areas. He added that the people were shocked by the level of destruction and displacement suffered by the people from these four local governments and expressed sympathy with the victims.

“We wish to call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to urgently come to the aid of these people who have been completely displaced from their homes. Most of the homes have been submerged in the flood.

The scale of the disaster is too much for the state government to handle, so we are calling on the Federal Government to complement the good efforts of the Anambra State Government, which has been doing so much to alleviate the sufferings of people of these local governments.

“As expected, the degree of this disaster is beyond what Anambra State government can handle alone. So we passionately appeal to the Federal Government to urgently complement the effort of Anambra State government by sending relief material to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to Anambra State government to enable the government cope with the challenges.”

the defendants in EFCC custody and fixed October 9 for hearing of their bail application.

The third set of indicted oil company and its directors were arraigned before Justice Lateefa Okunnu on 18-count charge bordering on conspiracy, making false claims and using forged documents to obtain money to the sum of N1,265,204,348.20 from the fuel subsidy fund.

The defendants; A.B.S Investment Company Ltd, Aro Bamidele and Abiodun Bankole, however pleaded not guilty to all the charges and were ordered to be remanded in the custody of EFCC pending the hearing of their bail applications on October 9.

While stating that the defendants’ case was yet to be ripe for hearing, Justice Okunnu fixed October 22 and 28 for the commencement of trial of the defendants.

has become obvious that the ACN does not have the popularity they claimed to have.

The tribunal’s judgment has shown clearly that the People of Lagos State voted out the party in the last local government election.

“It is apparent that the party has been exposed. They are not as popular as they claim.

The Edo State election was won by the popularity of the incumbent governor, Adams Oshiomhole, not the platform on which he contested.

“The Local Government Tribunal verdict has exposed the party in no small measure and it is apparent that they are banking on the same strategy of rigging to win the October 20 election in Ondo State; that is why they have been claiming they will win the gubernatorial election of a state, where they do not even have a single councillor.”

We’ll recertify teachers –Amaechi

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ivers State Governor, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has said that the policy of his administration to recertify teachers in government owned schools will continue.

Speaking at the 2012 World Teachers’ Day Celebration yesterday in Port Harcourt, Amaechi said the initiative was part of the reform process of his administration to boost quality education to students across the state.

The governor said it was shocking to observe that most teachers in government-owned schools could not spell words correctly, wondering the quality of knowledge they would instil in their students.

He said: “I visited Community Secondary School, Rumuokwurusi, where I met some teachers who could not spell words correctly. The policy

of my administration is that all teachers must be re-certified of their qualifications”.

“What you studied in 1979 is what you are teaching students in 2012. Are you being fair? That is why we said go and write the qualification examination, with this new method, we will be able to assess you if the NCE is still current, so that while the students are reading, the teachers are also reading.”

Governor Amaechi also stated that his administration would scrutinise teachers through the Quality Assurance Agency, which, he said, would be saddled with the responsibility of fishing out indolent and unserious teachers in the profession.

He also promised that in 2013, incentives would be given to teachers to encourage teachers and the teaching profession in the state, while urging the teachers to be ICT compliant.

Cover Story SATURDAY SUN

October 6, 2012, PAGE 13

Stories from DAVID MOLOMO, Yola

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he slogan of Mubi is: Mubi Sabon Dale. That is Hausa, and in English it means a land known for peace, prosperity, progress and highly promising.

However, Mubi can represent different things, depending on what one is looking for in the land. To cattle dealers, Mubi houses one of the international markets in Africa; to those inclined to appreciating the beauty of nature, it is regarded as an embodiment of beauty and peace and to writers, it is a land of muses. To tourists, Mubi, is a land packed full of attractions. There are yet so many appeals.

The hitherto inviting town has now become the shadow of its former self. The socio-economic activities been hampered, occasioned by the handwork of gunmen, who have put the residents in apparent state of fear, tension and apprehension. The town is no longer as it used to be; its bustling and hustling self has virtually gone.

The Mubi International Cattle Market, which ordinarily attracts customers from the southern flank of the country, has been deserted. One Mr. Kardus from Central African Republic, who told this reporter, that he and his family members have been in the business for upward of 40 years, said the present phenomenon of insecurity in the town, is a sad commentary. He admitted that his business has been paralysed as a result.

Mr. Okeke from Umuahia who also has been in the business of buying and selling of cattle has been counting his losses. “Prior to the ugly development in the recent times, I have enjoyed business relationship with our brothers from the North. This relationship has been hampered by these security breaches”, Okeke said.

“As you can remember, early last year, this international cattle market was torched by men of the underworld, whereby a number of traders’ hard-earned money was carted away.

We have never experienced such since I started this business in this market,” he further said.

The pathetic picture Kardus and Okeke painted, is the same for others in the business of buying the selling of cattle.

On the social circle, major hoteliers in Mubi, also expressed their woes. Sequel to the 24 hours curfew imposed by the Adamawa State government resulting in the restriction of movement from and into Mubi, they have been experiencing low patronage.

According to some of them that pleaded anonymity, the category of those that patronise them include traders, tourists, parents who often paid visits to Mubi, to see their children and wards in the higher institutions in the area.

These were those attacked by suspected Boko Haram assailants, vandals and men of the underworld.

Still on the social circles, most lively joints and rendezvous, being patronised by civil servants, businessmen and students for relaxation and socialisation, have also been affected by these frequent attacks. They also said that people now hardly trust their neighbours, not to talk of complete strangers.

One of them said: “Mr. Journalist, if not because you identified yourself, I would not have talked to you or interact with you.

Everyone in this town is now suspicious of the other person because of present happenings in Mubi, which is known as a land of peace and hospitality. We know, you journalists, will carry our cries to the authorities, that there is urgent need for them to intervene,” said one of the indigenes.

“Even a groundnut seller, or akara seller will be afraid to talk to you, my dear brother, because the centre cannot hold in the town because of the fears and apprehension we now experience. The usual socialisation in Mubi has changed. We are only praying that normalcy will be restored so that our petty businesses can boom as before. Although it will take time for us to recover from this unprecedented ugly development.”

•Polytechnic gate

Day after Mubi massacre

•Despair, fear, anger take over For students that this reporter interacted with, they regretted that they had lost many of their colleagues, more so that they were to start their exams last Tuesday. Some female students, within Marraraba, in Hong Local Government, which is about 15 kilometres to Mubi, narrated the ugly incident of that fateful Monday night.

One of the students, who pleaded anonymity, said: “Daddy, the attackers who were about seven, asked us the females to submit our cell phones to them after which we were asked to lay prostrate on the ground, and we should not talk as they were not after the female students but the male students. They shot sporadically into the air, after which our male colleagues were chased to their rooms and were asked to come out. The assailants later shot them to death.”

Another female student, who was shaking said that she was in one of the hostels in Patiju area, when the attackers came. “They said, ‘all the female students should be on this side.’

Right before us our male colleagues were killed and we screamed but were told to shut up. They were pointing the guns at us, that we dared not talk nor cry. We were rendered incommunicado in the process, because they collected our telephones,” she said.

A male student, who said, he was in the main campus around 10pm on the fateful Monday, said: “I was perplexed seeing my study mates dead. I asked many questions that

there were no answers for. No one could give a vivid account of what really happened to them. Were they killed by armed robbers?

Were they killed by Boko Haram people? No one could answer my question.”

As at the time this reporter visited the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, main campus,

most offices were under lock and key. Even a few persons around were not ready to respond to any press interview or a brief of what happened.

However, students were seen leaving the campus in large numbers, looking perplexed, dumbfounded. A number of them were even stranded, as they had no transport fare to even take them to the car park. Among these stranded ones are those travelling as far as Lagos and other southern states

•People fleeing Mubi

Bad elements come in through police barracks fence –Rector

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s the dust raised by the killing of students at Adamawa State Polytechnic, Mubi, families of victims are making arrangements for the burial.

This is coming at a time the Adamawa State Police Command spokesman, DSP, Ibrahim Mohammed, revealed that a number of arrests have been made in connection with last Monday’s massacre of students.

Saturday Sun gathered that the police are working on the possibilities that the killings could be linked to cult activities among the students, as it happened barely three days after an acrimonious student union government elections in the school.

While investigation is going on, the police have told victims’ families go ahead for the burial. In effect, some of the victims’families have slated their burial for this weekend.

Meanwhile, Rector of the institution,

Professor Abdullahi Bobboi, has cried out for protection of students and staffers of the polytechnic. He said that if adequate security measures were not taken, more tragedies may happen Prof. Bobboi said that the assailants had invaded the school through the Jimeta police barracks. He revealed that security in the school is porous, causing hoodlums, drug peddlers and miscreants, free access through the breached fence the institution shares with the police barrack.

He said: “We have complained again and again, time without number, to the police authorities in Yola, to intervene, as the security breach reaches alarming rate.”

Saturday Sun observed that tight security is still in place in Mubi, as a measure to ensure peace. There is are visible security checkpoints across the town. Also at the entry points into the town, heavily armed soldiers stand guard.

Also security has been beefed up in some institutions in the state. At Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, vehicles and pedestrians are subjected to thorough security screening.

It’s the same measure at Adamawa State School of Legal Studies, Yola. Staffers and other visitors are given body searches before they are allowed in.

In a related development, Adamawa State University, Mubi has shifted the resumption date for first semester 2012/2013 to October 31, 2012.

A press releases signed by the information and protocol officer, Alhaji Ahmed Sajoh, said the postponement of the resumption date was in respect of all undergraduate students and those in the School of Remedial and Basic Studies.

Sajoh said the decision was taken at a special meting of the Senate of the university.

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cocktailcircuit

with Omoniyi Ayedun 08027537357

The investiture of Lion Lauretta Onyima as the 9th president of Simon Lions Club, Anthony Village, Lagos and fundraising ceremony took place recently at the Banquet Hall, Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

Former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, Chief Sam Nkire, National Chairman, Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) and Lion Olumuyiwa Coker, District Treasurer, District 404A

The newly elected president, Lion Lauretta Onyima performing her first duty in office. With her are Mr. Tony Onyima, MD, The Sun Publishing Limited and the immediate past President, Lion Nneka Obiamalu Mrs. Clementina Doregos, founder, St. Bernadette Schools, Mrs. Vicky Bello, the celebrant, Lion Lauretta Onyima, Lion Felicia Obilo and Lion Ngozi ChuksOkeke

The mother of the day, Prof. Dora Akunyili, former Minister of Information, Lion E. Hazel Nwankwesi, Charter President and the chairman of the occasion, Dr. Obinna Uzoh

L-R: Lion Akinrogun Odanye, Lion Joe Idudu and Chief Chijioke Obilo

A cross-section of officials of Simon Lions Club

Lion Samuel O.H. Ekpuk, District Governor, Lions District 404A presenting an award to Lion E. Hazel Nwakwesi

A cross-section of members of Simon Lions Club, Anthony Village, with Prof. Dora Akunyili

SATURDAY SUN

cocktailcircuit

October 6, 2012

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Photos by Dele Onatade

L-R: Ms Toyosi Akerele, Lion Samuel O.H. Ekpuk, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, Prof. Akunyili, Lion Lauretta Onyima, Mr. Tony Onyima and Chief Sam Nkire

Mr and Mrs Onuoha Ukeh L-R: Lion Samuel Ekpuk, Lion Tope Tycus and Lion Lauretta Onyima

Mr Andy Azike and Engr. Remi Oguamanam

Mrs Toyin Nwosu (left) with Mr and Mrs Sola Oshunkeye

Hon and Mrs Chika Onyemenem

L-R: Mr Jude Obasi, Mr Tony Onyima, Engr. Law Offodile and Mr Jude Gbenga Adeyinka and Ms Toyosi Akerele, guest speaker Obiakor

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North, Jonathan should forget 2015 Presidency great statesContrary to the man. His northern position, decision not President to run will et me begin by admitting that both the Jonathan did not help North and President Goodluck Ebele violate the PDP Nigeria’s Jonathan (GEJ), like the South East zoning arrangesocial recovand South West, have the constitution- ment. In 2010, ery from vioal right to contest for the seat of presi- the constitution lence that has dency in 2015. The temptation to contest allowed him to characterised weigh more on the side of Jonathan, given succeed his administhe lure and pressure of his incumbency Yar’Adua and the tration. Like position and also on the North for her will of the people Johnson, he drum beats of war and unwavering insispropelled him to should, on tence that 2003, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2015 a massive victory retirement, were and is her turn, but then 2015 is neiin 2011, and devote his ther for the North nor for Jonathan and it nobody could full effort does not matter how much both want to be have stopped

By CLEM AGUIYI unimpeded comforted with lies. him. Zoning was by politics to The North had consistently claimed that already dead.

SMS Only: 08034747898 the quest for GEJ violated the PDP zoning arrangement in Obasanjo killed Email: totalpolitics@ymail.com peace.

2010 and 2011. But the truth is the North’s zoning in 2003 The North position in 2010 when former President with the cooperashould also forget the presidency in 2015 Yar’Adua was incapacitated and after he died tion of Atiku and co. That was it. because it had effectively held on to power for in office were all based on power mongering Now with three years in the kitty as vice 40 or more years of Nigerian 52 years with no and political blackmail as whatever arrangepresident and five years of interrupted presigood account of it neither to its people nor to ment that was in place in PDP never took into dency I have every strong indication that the rest of Nigeria and cannot, in good conconsideration the death in office of a sitting President Jonathan will go by 2015. He will president. not run for re-election, as anything to the con- science, claim it has been cheated or politically marginalised in comparable to the South If late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua trary will amount to him stretching his good East. Nigeria is structured on six geopolitical were to be alive in 2010, he would have luck too far and at the expense of a peaceful zone of North West, North East, North completed his four-year term and may have Nigeria. He should learn a lesson or two Central, South East, South South and South renegotiated himself back to power like forfrom Lyndon Baines Johnson, the 36th West. All of the regions already took turns to mer President Obasanjo did in 2003. President President of the United States of America. produce the president, except for the South Obasanjo’s second term in office was not Faced with similar circumstance in 1968, East. predicated on any zoning arrangement. The President Johnson, who took office after the In the face of the above, the North, in the like of Chief James Ibori and Dr. Orji Uzor assassination of President JF Kennedy on Kalu told him point blank to accept the November 22 1963, took a patriotic and hon- interest of justice, must chew up her power greed and born to rule mentality and allow the Nelson Mandela option. His deputy Atiku orable decision not to run for a second term, South East to take a fair turn in producing a Abubakar who had majority of the governors so as to avoid a constitutional crisis of being Nigerian president for a single term of four on his side indicated interest to contest against sworn in as president for a third time and to him. He (Atiku) would have won if he had help America find peace from the Vietnamese years. The North will lose nothing under this arrangement. A South easterner, as president, contested in 2003 but he made his judgment, war. will, in the usual characteristic of the Igbo, which from hindsight was a wrong judgment.

Recall that Johnson as Vice President and cause good governance, spread prosperity The popular story was that Obasanjo knelt then President served out approximately one and cause development across the country, down for Atiku and the recalcitrant governors year of Kennedy’s presidency, just like to plead for a second term opportunity. This Jonathan as Vice President and then President which is what the far North, in particular, needs now, not power, at all cost. scenario wouldn’t have happened if there served out the remaining of Yar’Adua’s one For more than 40 years since after the civil were sacred and sacrosanct zoning agreeyear. In 1964, Johnson won the presidency war, in which the South easterners lost over ments in place at that point. Not very sure with 61 percent of the vote and had the one million people, many lies had been told that the bargain with Atiku and the governors widest popular margin in American history against the Igbo in particular. They are brandwere real, Obasanjo played the ethnic card, more than 15, 000, 000 votes, just like which enabled him secure the support of the Jonathan won in 2011 with the widest popular ed as warmongers, secessionists and rebels, just to put them down and denied of their then South West governors of Alliance for margin in Nigeria’s political history.

Democracy (AD), who, under a blind arrange- Jonathan is currently faced precisely with sim- rights untrammeled.

Despite being targeted with state sponsored ment, decided not to field a presidential candi- ilar political and constitutional situation, like hostilities and organised resentment the Igbo date for the election but to vote for Obasanjo. Lyndon Johnson and I will urge him to emuThe rest is now history. late Johnson and retire by 2015 and become a still believe in a prosperous indivisible Truth is hate for those that hate the truth – Anonymous

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TOTAL Politics

Nigeria, where every man is as good as the other. Whatever is our fault, I believe individually and collectively Igbo people have paid their dues and have given enough of our blood for the unity of this country. The North, in particular, have hunted, slaughtered and massacred the Igbo people, both in war and peacetime with ferocious lust. They have extracted enough of their pound of flesh and must not continue to assault her with injustice while the rest of Nigeria, particularly the South-West, pretend to remain neutral.

Forty years is long enough time for the North to bring a closure to the civil war, a closure to the pains, killings, sufferings and unjustified resentment of South Easterners.

By holding down the Igbo race, stopping her growth, resisting her participation in political leadership due to unfounded fear and conspiracy the North is unwittingly impeding on her own survival and Nigeria’s progress for no nation achieves greatness when it refuses to reckon with the indomitable spirit, enterprise and resilience of one of her largest population.

2015 is therefore, neither for the North nor for Jonathan. However, in the event that the North and Jonathan insists on running, due to some tall ego and unbridled ambition, the South West must rise up to intervene on the side of justice and to remind the North, in particular, that the rest of Nigeria is not a feudal colony. The South West holds the key to Igbo presidency and I expect her to un-luck it now to put an end to the reign of the oppressor.

Finally, for the Igbo nation to gain the trust, confidence and support of the highly sophisticated South West political elite, it must brace up for the leadership challenge by producing a viable candidate that will command the confidence of the people, a leader with wisdom, sagacity, the time, energy and resources required to manage this delicate process. Such a leader must be highly qualified and must have enough political experience and not just business experience. He must have the outside reach to the West, to the North to some extent and to the international communities. He must, by his own preparation, be qualified to accomplish desirable social objectives within a short time. He must be someone who understands the complexity of Nigeria and must be a leader who is prepared to work under pressure and in comparable produce good governance for the common good of all Nigerians.

He must be someone prepared for leadership not a pretender.

•Follow me on twitter @MyClemo

Nsima Ekere’s exemplary conduct in Akwa Ibom

By ANDREW EKPEYONG WILSON

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o say that Akwa Ibom is one of the very few states in Nigeria blessed with abundant material and human recources, given the historic economic and socio-political developments and empowerment of the people in that entity since Governor Godswill Akpabio took over the reins of power in 2007, is stating the obvious. Without any equivocation, most patriotic Akwa-Ibomites have come to the consensus that the coming of Akpabio, as their political leader in the state, is God’s uncommon intervention in the internal affairs of The Land of Promise.

Thus, in spite of constant anti-Akpabio media campaigns by the opposition, majority of citizens of the state whose lives and living conditions have been positively touched in many astounding ways by the actualisation of the great vision of Governor Akpabio, vis-à-vis the mission of his administration, will remain indebted in appreciation for generations yet unborn.

However, in all public discourse about the uncommon transformation in Akwa Ibom, a fact usually overlooked is the choice of Obong Nsima Udoh Ekere as deputy by Akpabio, as well as the man’s golden place in the history of the once-in-lifetime social experience being enjoyed by the people of the

state. And, quite frankly, this seeming general oversight is nothing very serious to the majority of Akwa Ibomites, especially those of us who know and appreciate the humane background of the Deputy Governor, his legendary humility and large-heartedness; his unalloyed support for all that Governor Akpabio stands for in the state and in the national firmament.

A cursory look at the 15-year-old political career of the Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor shows he is an embodiment of patience, perseverance, assiduity, selfrestraint, steadfastness, loyalty and doggedness, which are timeless attributes of a great leader. Suffice to say here that the dearth of these qualities has continued to be the bane of politics in Nigeria.

As it is common in Nigeria, not many politicians would remain patient and steadfast when their interests are being threatened by political expediency. In the political sphere in Nigeria, events have proved beyond reasonable doubts that the spirit of sacrifice for the common good has been buried in the rubble of political merchandising. This explains the constant defection of politicians from one party to the other. These politicians often have a defense: in politics, there are no permanent friends and permanent enemies but permanent interests: But Ekere is an exemption of all this!

Nsima Ekere has been active in Akwa Ibom

politics since December 1997 when he won election to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly during the Sani Abacha transition programme. Ten years later, specifically in 2007, he has become a force to be reckoned with in the state’s political calculus and was nominated for the same position he’s currently occupying but was dropped in less than two weeks. Two speculated federal appointments also failed to come his way. But he remained patient and steadfast.

He was also tipped to become a Minister and later a Special Adviser to the President: Of course, none of these exalted political positions came his way. Many observers of the unfolding political horizon in the country will agree that there have been very few politicians who lost out this way and did not revolt or join the opposition, which always look for politicians cross-carpeting from other parties. He stoically stood by Governor Akpabio. Thus, after he conceded the post of the deputy governor in order to avoid internal crisis that was capable of undermining the electoral prospects of his party, PDP, he accepted the appointment of Board Chairman of both the Akwa Ibom Industrial and Investment Promotion Council (AKIIPOC) and the Ibom Power Plant and worked assiduously towards the success of the two parastatals.

Since he assumed office as the deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State, the Ikot Abasi born

politician has proved, on all occasions, that he’s a dependable ally and deputy to Governor Akpabio’s vision of the uncommon transformation of Akwa Ibom State. The symbiotic relationship between the two leaders is legendary. This can be deduced from the admirable manner he has continued to represent the governor in events both home and abroad. As a matter of fact, it is a thing of joy and our pride in Akwa Ibom that this inimitable symbiotic relationship has become an object of national discourse. On can only further advance this relationship by urging all politicians in the country to key into this perfect working relationship, which has greatly catalyzed the uncommon infrastructural cum socio-political transformation of Akwa Ibom State.

Indeed, one is proud to allude to the now popular view that it is the uncommon symbiotic relationship between the governor and his deputy vis-a-viz the untainted two-way sincerity of purpose between them, which has made party politics, especially within the rank and file of the PDP in the state, to be devoid of the acrimonious, and sometimes, fratricidal bickering, found in many other states of the federation.

Dr. Wilson is a Chicago, United States-based medical practitioner and public commentator

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SpecialReport From DOM EKPUNOBI, Onitsha

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o say the least, the devastation is so much. Most residents of various communities in Ogbaru, Anambra East and West Local Government Areas of Anambra State have remained homeless and in anguish. Those who still manage to stay in their houses keep awake all nights, waiting for the next havoc the flood will wreak. Whether they are homes or with homes, sorrow, agony and pain are their lot.

The situation is so bad that there is hardly any difference between the villages’ main rivers and flooded areas. The communities are submerged and the flood daily claims more land.

As the flood surges daily, it goes on its trail with devastation to houses, farmland, and roads. In fact, educational and economic activities of the communities have been grounded.

In the communities making up the three local government areas, hunger and starvation have set in, as farmlands have either been washed away or taken over by flood. And with the road covered by flood, food items cannot be brought into the villages.

Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, had visited the Ogbaru Local Government Area, which has 15 autonomous communities as well as Okpoko. What he saw overwhelmed him. The communities are figuratively under water.

Of all the communities in Ogbaru Local Government Area, Okpoko is the only place where residents still sleep with a measure of comfort and confidence. The flood is yet to wreak devastating havoc. In Odekpe, Atani, Ogwu-Ikpele, Ochuche, Osamala, AkiliOzizor, Akili- Ogidi Obeagwe and OgwuAniocha, the story is that of agony and sorrow.

In these communities, the story is no longer that flood has submerged houses. Now, the news is that the houses so submerged are caving in.

When Saturday Sun visited Ogbaru Local

House submerged by flood

Ogbaru, Anambra East, West LGAs flood persists •Tales of agony in communities Government Area, Hon. Victor Ogene, a member of House of Representatives representing Ogabaru Federal Constituency, was involved in the rescue mission. He lamented the devastation of the flood. He revealed that he had

contacted the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies to come to the aid of the flood victims and the communities.

Also, a former member of House of

My dad’s Yoruba, mum’s Igbo and I grew up in the North

N200 OCTOBER 7, 2012 •VOL. 6 NO. 487

–Desmond Elliot

11th hour miracle

Woman, 52, delivers quintuplets ...12 yrs after death of only son

Rogues and rebels •PDP’s a party of rogues, ACN party of rebels –Olaniwun Ajayi

State creation: South-East has genuine case –Ndoma-Egba ‘On basis of equity, it seems straightforward but constitutional amendment isn’t just about equity.

I don’t know to what level the S/East has engaged other zones’

ANOTHER SPICY PACKAGE

Representatives from the area, Hon. Okwudili Uzoka, expressed dismay over havoc wreaked by the flood. He advised the people whose houses were overtaken by the flood, not to rush back, even when the flood recedes, pointing out such affected buildings stand the risk of collapsing without proper repairs and reinforcement.

The situation in Anambra East and West Local Government areas is even worse. In communities in these council areas, there’s hardly any dry land, as flood has overrun the place.

The worst hit in Anambra West is Mmiata Anam, where the flood level is above bungalows. In the community, canoe has become the only sources of moving around. Also, seriously affected are Umunze Anam, Umuoba Asegbu and Iyiora.

The former transition committee Chairman of Anambra West Local Government, Dr. Tony Obierike, told Saturday Sun that this year’s flood disaster was the worst ever witnessed. He said that apart from being chased out of their houses by the flood, affected people stand the high risk of epidemic. According to him, Anambra River was the only drinking water to most of the people.

Now that everywhere is flooded, the river may have been contaminated.

He appealed to the state and federal governments to save the community from extinction.

He also called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to hasten action in providing food and drinking water to save the people from starvation and epidemic.

President General of Ogonikpele Community, Mr. Frank Akaka, who commended Hon. Ogene for rushing back to the constituency on hearing about the flooding, said the people have lost everything they ever owned.

President General of Mmiata Anam, Chief Emmanuel Agbata, expressed shock at the devastation caused by the flood and appealed for assistance from all and sundry.

Also commenting on the flood disaster, the member representing the Anambra East, Hon. Obinna Emeneka, described the flood hazard as unprecedented. He said that all communities in the constituency were affected.

According to him, the flood was beyond the Anambra State government to handle, while calling on the Federal Government to declare the area a disaster area.

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SpecialReport

Flood of relief materials •As Obinna Uzoh gives Anambra flood victims succour From EMMANUEL UZOR, Onitsha

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s flood continues to ravage Anambra West and Anambra East Local Government areas as well as Ogbaru area of the state, succour came the way of the victims last eek when a philanthropist and business mogul donated relief materials.

In a move that gave the flood victims hope, Barrister Dr. Obinna Uzoh, chairman/chief executive officer of GOCUZ Group Limited, under the auspices of Obinna Uzoh Foundation, breezed into town not only to sympathise with the flood victims but also to provide them relief.

In the last two weeks, flood has sacked many communities in Anambra West, Anambra East and the Ogbaru areas of the state. Homes, farmland, schools, churches, police stations, hospitals and other things have been submerged. People have been displaced and without homes and food, they have been at the mercy of the elements. The devastation caused by the flood is so enormous that Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, has asked for help from the Federal Government and other public spirited Nigerians.

Apparently answering the call, and in line with his humanitarian services, Uzoh bought food items, made up of bags of rice, vegetable oil, salt, tin tomatoes and other edibles worth more than N5 million and headed for the affected areas. When he beheld the devastation of the area and the condition of the affected people, his compassion increase, as he promised to assist in other ways possible.

At the Anambra East, the first port of call, Uzoh sympathised with the traditional ruler, Igwe Idigo, at his palace. Also present were

cabinet chiefs, a large crowd of villagers, who had gathered to hear the soothing address of Uzoh and also get food items. They were happy that Uzoh left his businesses and family to identify with them in time of sorrow.

Addressing the people, Uzoh said he was moved by their plight and, therefore, decided to make his own contribution to alleviate their sufferings. He told them to be steadfast in the things of God, as the Almighty would soon give them cause to smile again soon.

Uzoh said: “When I heard about the flood, I decided that it was better I come here and see things for myself. What I have seen today makes my heart to bleed. I have seen how our people have been displaced, how farmland have been submerged and how roads have been covered by water. This is unprecedented.

This is why I have come to tell you to take heart, be strong and have faith in God. We Anambra people are known to be strong. We withstand and overcome tragedies. I know we will overcome this one.

“Please, accept this token I have come with.

This is my humble contribution in the effort to ameliorate the suffering of flood victims.

Keep hope alive. This problem will also pass and we will live our normal lives again.”

The philanthropist called on public-spirited individuals to assist Anambra State take care of the flood victims, at this time of agony.

Expressing the community’s gratitude, Igwe Idigo thanked Uzoh for his benevolence and kind-heartedness. He prayed that God would reward him abundantly.

One of the flood victims and beneficiary of Uzoh’s gesture, Mrs. Ngozi Ejiofor, said they were overwhelmed by the philanthropist’s kindness. She said that Uzoh was the first individual to come personally to sympathise

Atani Police Station submerged with the flood victims as well as give them relief materials. She led other women and children to cheer Uzoh, amid dancing.

Uzoh’s train moved to Anambra West Local Government Area, where royal fathers from the affected communities, including HRH Igwe P.N Okolo of Nzam, Igwe (Sir) Tony Onyekwere of Owelle and Igwe J.C. Ajodo of Ukwalla were on hand to receive him. Also present were the council transition committee Chairman, Hon Chinedu Obidigwe and others.

Uzoh told the villagers to cheer up, even in the midst of the flood, telling them that God would take control of everything. While donating the relief materials, he said that his coming was to let them know that he cared and felt their sufferings.

While receiving the materials, the royal fathers prayed for God’s abundant blessings for Uzoh. They prayed that as the philanthropist remembered their communities, in their

Uzoh arriving at Ogbaru

Uzoh and others at Anambra East

Flood victims sharing the relief materials

time of need, God would uplift and increase him in great measures.

In his thank-you message over Uzoh’s donation, a member of the state House of Assembly representing Anambra West, Hon Victor Jideofor Okoye, said: “Thanks for the donation. We highly appreciate your timely intervention. Givers never lack. You and yours will never lack, in Jesus’ name.”

At Atani, in Ogbaru Local Government Area, the last port of call for the day, Uzoh was moved to tears when he saw the condition under which the victims were at a waterlogged primary school, where they were camped. He told the people to be strong, as their misfortune was temporary.

On hand to receive him were community leaders, who took custody of the relief materials and cash donated by Uzoh.

President General of Atani Town Union, Chief (Sir) Frank Mesiobi, while thanking Uzoh, said he has demonstrated great magnanimity. He prayed that God would reward him.

Others who expressed gratitude to Uzoh include Hon. Simbad Chukwuma, Chief Benson Nwadukwe and Hon. Obidi Nwabueze.

Uzoh has been involved in philanthropic activities in Anambra and other states.

Recently, he donated textbooks and other educational materials to schools in Anambra. He is currently building a hostel at the Catholic Youth Village in Awka, which would be commissioned in March next year. He has also reconstructed classroom blocks. He erected a three-story Faculty building for the Law Department of Madonna University, Okija, Anambra State.

The philanthropist recently sponsored a health programme, where doctors went to rural communities in the state and provided health care to villagers. Last February the church, which he single-handed built at Ihiala was dedicated by Papal Nuncio.

Uzoh recently partnered the Barracks Community Action for Progress, a non-governmental organisation on the ‘Back to Book’ project.

According to Mr. Patrick Akobo, leader of the NGO, ‘Back to school’ project was restoring reading culture among children. He said that through reading, kids would be engaged and, therefore, stay away from corrupting foreign movies, the Internet, cyber crimes and other vices.

Uzoh had commended the NGO for organising such event, while stressing the need for individuals and organisations to come together and support such laudable programmes.

He pledged partnership with the group to attain listed objectives. He, therefore, donated learning materials to students and pupils of the Army Day Schools.

SATURDAY SUN

October 6, 2012

65

SpecialReport

•Yakubu

•Alison-Madueke

NNPC oil earning, fuel allocation secrets • Document reveals N13tr revenue in 2011 • South East gets least fuel allocation among 6 zones From IKENNA EMEW, Abuja

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mid fuel scarcity in some parts of the country, an official document of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has revealed that the South West, South South and North Central received large allocations of refined petroleum products in the country. Also, the document revealed that the corporation made a total earning of N13, 879, 607, 856, 000 last year, based on the market price of US$100 per barrel of oil and at an exchange rate of US$1 to N160. This gross earning accrued to the corporation from a total of 867, 475, 616 it sold.

The 73-page document, which emanated from the Corporate Planning and Strategy Division of the NNPC, indicate that 127, 426, 508 barrels of oil accrued to the Federal Government last year, as quota for the federation account. Of the total income NNP made, the Federal Government, got N2, 038, 824, 128, 000.

The document showed that Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) had a lion’s share in crude production, among the seven operating companies of the NNPC/JVC deal.

Next to Shell, in gross crude production in the year, was Mobil Producing Unlimited, with a total of 107, 577, 069 barrels, while Shell had 175, 995, 442 barrels.

Distribution of fuel nationwide Analysis of the document showed that the South East region suffered, in the area of distribution of petroleum products by the NNPC. A table of the quota of product allocation to the geopolitical zones and Abuja indicates that the five states of the South East put together received the least allocation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), House Hold Kerosene (HHK), Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK), Auto Gas Oil (AGO) (diesel), Low Fuel Poor Oil (LFPO), lubrication oil, greases and brake fluids. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja got more allocation than the zone.

The document showed that the South South zone, made up of Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, received 28 percent of petrol distributed locally in April, 26.43 percent in May and 33.14 percent in June this year. This is against the South East, comprising of Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia states, which received only two per-

cent of petrol supplies in April, 3.21 percent in May and 2.74 percent in June.

During the same period, the North East zone of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states got four percent, in April, 5.69 percent, in May and 4.23 percent, in June.

The South West zone, with Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo states, received 34 percent of total supplies in April, which jumped up to 35.53 percent in May. The supply however, dropped to 30.68 percent in June. The North West region of Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara, received only four percent of total supplies in April, 6.31 percent in May and 5.87 percent in June.

North Central, which comprises of Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau states, received 24 percent of total local supplies from NNPC in April, 17.49 percent in May and 20.22 percent in June.

Meanwhile, Abuja, the hub of government activities, with a lower population than any of the geopolitical zones, received four percent of petroleum products distributed in April. This rose to 5.33 percent in May but dropped to 3.13 percent in June.

The document also showed that 12.97 million litres of petrol was sold daily in the country in April. This figure dropped to 10.76 million litres in May and 9.99 million litres in June. This represents a total distribution, by both NNPC and Independent marketers, of 389.06 million litres of petrol for the month of 2011 Zonal distribution North West

555.67 mltrs

North Central

1,391.42 mltrs

North East

397.13 mltrs

Abuja

414.13 mltrs

South West

3,240.12mltrs

South-South

1,973.90 mltrs

South East

226.66 mltrs

April, 333.53 million litres in May and 299.83 million litres in June this year.

Sales data Similarly, the document showed that 2.55 million litres of diesel was sold everyday in April, averaging a total of 76.68 million litres, while 1.12 million litres of same product was sold daily in May. This grossed 34.78 million litres of diesel for the month. It also stated that 66.56 million litres of diesel was sold in June, representing 2.23 million litres average daily sales for the month.

Despite high-level scarcity of kerosene, the NNPC document revealed that 57.33 million litres was sold in April, at an average of 1.91 million litres daily. This figure however, dropped in May, as only 26.59 million liters got dispensed in the course of the month at 0.86 million litres daily. No reason was given for the shortfall in kerosene distribution.

The documents indicate that a total of 867, 475, 616 barrels, representing 2.38 million barrels per day of crude oil and condensate was lifted for domestic and export purposes in 2011.

According to the NNPC, the figure showed a decrease of four percent against total amount lifted in 2010.

“Of the total quantity, NNPC lifted 386, 504, 028 barrels, or 45 percent of the total, averaging 1.05 million barrels per day for domestic utilization and export,” the document said.

A breakdown of the sales indicate that only 127, 426, 508 barrels was paid into the federation account, while the balance were paid to other sources. Despite stating that a total of 867, 475, 616 barrels of crude oil and condensate was lifted for domestic and export purposes, the NNPC document stated: “Total crude oil and condensate production for the year was 866, 245, 232 barrels, giving a daily average of 2.37mmb/pd.”

The shortfall of 1, 230, 384 mmb/pd is unaccounted for, as the document did not state how the disparity came.

2011 oil lifting chart Federation Account 127,426,508 Supply to Refineries 45,393,392 PPMC Crude Oil Exchange & Offshore Processing 79,720,285 Export as Unprocessed PPMC Crude 39,340,577 FIRS 73,628,369 DPR 5,348,524 Repayment of Qua-Iboe (MCA) Funding Agreement to MPNU 11,980,574 Repayment of Qua-Iboe Satellite Project to MPNU 3,665,799

2011 Joint Venture Companies total crude production Company

Total crude

SPDC

175,995,442

Mobil

107,577,069

Chevron

96,242,059

ELF

48,110,422

NAOC

38,016,541

Texaco

3,793,747

Pan-Ocean

2,690,089

66

SATURDAY SUN

October 6, 2012

SpecialReport

Ugly tale of abandoned NNPC depots • Aba depot back after 4 years, with threat to close down again •Enugu depot grounded for 5 years From OKEY SAMPSON, Aba and PETRUS OBI, Enugu

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he fuel supply situation in the South East may not be unconnected with the handling of the depots in Aba, in Abia State and Enugu, in Enugu State. While the Aba depot had been shut for four years and reopened three months ago, there’s a fresh threat for its closure. The Enugu depot, on its part, has been shut for five years.

Checks revealed that the Aba depot of Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), was built and commissioned by the government of the military head of state, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, in 1979, to originally supply petroleum products to the Transport Distribution Zone (TDZ) of Abia, Imo, and parts of Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Akwa Ibom states. The depot gets its petroleum products through a 54 kilometre and twelve-inch (12”) products’ pipelines system from Port Harcourt refinery.

In 1995, the storage capacity of the depot was increased to 57, 994, 000 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS), 26, 054, 000 litres of dual purpose kerosene (DPK) and 29, 206, 000 of automotive gas oil (AGO). Due to persistent pipelines vandalisation, on March 3, 2007, PPMC stopped pumping petroleum products to the depot.

Saturday Sun investigation revealed that after much pressure and persuasion from IPMAN, PTD and other stakeholders, in April 2008, 16, 000, 000 litres of AGO and 6, 000, 000 litres of DPK was pumped to the depot.

After this, Aba depot did not get supplies again until July 9, 2012.

Prior to the re-commissioning of the depot in July IPMAN and PTD had made several

attempts to see to the re-opening of the depot and this included an open letter by the two bodies to President Goodluck Jonathan on the need to re-open the depot. The letter signed by Simple Nwankpa, chairman of the Aba depot rehabilitation committee and three others, said: “We have made several appeals and representations to the PPMC management both at their Port Harcourt area and Abuja head offices, which culminated in series of promises from them, which, till date, remain unfulfilled. Sometime in 2011, after our meetings with PPMC top management team, led by the Executive Director Operations, Engr.

Emmanuel Wowo, they agreed to pump products to Aba depot if we can assure them of the integrity of the pipelines.

“Together with the assistance of the Governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji, we engaged and equipped the youths of the pipeline host communities to guide the pipelines. Through town hall meetings, we started sensitising the traditional rulers, youth and women leaders, village heads and notable individuals in the areas the pipelines traversed on the dangers inherent in pipeline vandalism. The Abia State government even threatened to withdraw the staff of office of any traditional ruler that pipeline is vandalised in his community.

These steps yielded fruits, as PPMC was able to repair vandalised points without molestation or harassment from the so-called vandals.

“We even went further to donate a new Ford Ranger truck to PPMC to assist in monitoring the pipelines. All these we did with the hope that Aba depot will be reactivated so that petroleum marketers and their staff, the petroleum tanker drivers (PTD), and many auxiliary hands whose means of livelihood have been cut off by the moribund state of the depot will be revived.”

After much horse-trading, the marketers and other stakeholders’ prayers were answered on July 9 when the depot was re-commissioned.

During the re-commissioning,

the managing director of PPMC, Haruna Momoh, while apologising for the closure of the depot, however, said it was inevitable, as the company lost products worth N7.6 billion to pipeline vandals on its pipelines from Port Harcourt to Aba since 2007.

Momoh further disclosed that before the depot was shut in 2006, about 1053 vandalised points had to be repaired on the 54 kilometres pipeline from Aba to Enugu alone during the period. He said the marketers and consumers from the South East zone and some parts of Akwa Ibom suffered real hardship because of the vandalised pipelines, which forced the company to shut the depot.

Momoh commended the efforts of the Minister for Petroleum, Diezani AllisonMadueke; Abia Governor, Chief Orji; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika; National Assembly members from Abia and other stakeholders for the reactivation of the 33 years old depot.

“The depot was commissioned about 33 years ago with the capacity of over 133 million litres of petroleum products, including petrol, kerosene and diesel to serve Imo, Abia, Anambra and some of parts of Akwa Ibom State. It serves as a link for product evacuation from Port Harcourt refinery through pipeline of about 54 kilometres to honour transmission to Enugu, Makurdi and Yola. Aba depot is very important, since its inception, as it serves as the products distributorship to South East and North East part of Nigeria,” he said.

He equally stated that over 30 million litres of PMS (petrol) had been pumped to the depot now, while assuring that the trend would be maintained so long as the pipelines were not vandalised.

That assurance however, appeared now to be standing on a shaky ground, as PPMC has threatened, once again, to close the Aba depot it re-opened about two months ago, giving pipelines vandalism as reason.

In a letter dated August 6, signed by Dr. A. Fagbure, PPMC alerted the Abia State government that between July 5 and 19, the company noticed that it had lost over 2, 656, 077 litres of petrol valued at N232, 831, 709, “because of the activities of vandals which was carried out undetected.”

The letter said if the vandalisation on the pipelines continued, the company maybe forced to, once again, shut down the line, “if successful pumping of petroleum products through the lines cannot be guaranteed.”

The government, however, denied the allegation of pipeline vandalisation at the Osisioma depot. It said some marketers were behind the rumour in order to ensure the closure of the depot.

Commissioner for Information, Don Ubani,

insisted that the pipelines have been effectively monitored by soldiers and other security agencies since it was reopened.

Whatever happens, petroleum products consumers within the Aba depot area are yet to enjoy the benefit of the re-opening, as, since July, pump price of fuel has hovered between N100 and N110 in those areas.

In a related development, the Enugu depot, which hitherto kept Emene, a suburb of the Enugu capital, alive, has, for sometime, become a dead zone. Before now, travellers along the Enugu/Abakaliki road had troubles contending with the ever presence of heavy trucks, which sometimes caused hold up on the road. The business activities and nightlife, which accompanied the then busy depot, has also disappeared over the years, as petroleum products gradually dried from the tanks of the depot.

When it was alive, the depot served Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi. It also covered other affiliate states; Abia, Benue and Cross River.

The large car park located just after the second gate, as one drives into the depot that appeared too small for the heavy traffic that greeted the depot on daily basis, had just one car, which, on closer examination, must have been abandoned by the owner. Lamenting the state of the depot, former chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (IPMAN), Enugu depot, Chief Chukwudi Ezinwa, blamed the government for ignoring the cry by petroleum dealers and the people of the South East over the closing down of the depot.

He recalled that the depot, which was loading about 3, 000, 000 to 4, 000, 000 liters of PMS daily and about 1.8 to two million DPK daily, has remained shut for over five years, making life difficult for the people.

Ezinwa, who described the situation as disastrous, noted that it has almost grounded most marketers that depended on it for business.

Said he: “All our marketers have been knocked out because of what I may call insensitivity on the part of the government. Most of us have been relegated to the background, to the level that some can no longer feed nor pay school fees for their families.

“A lot of them have died because they could no longer service their bank loans; it is a pity situation. It has also affected the economy of the state and has thrown thousands of persons who depended on the depot to feed their families.

“The woman, who sold food while the depot was on, those who sold sachet water as well as labourers have been thrown out of jobs.

In-fact, the effect is so disastrous and so many have found it extremely difficult to cope.”

SATURDAY SUN October 6, 2012

Sports

67

SATURDAY SUN

CAF Champions League

Sunshine Stars plan Al-Ahly gift for Mimiko • Idoko banks on history to cross the 'Red Sea'

By EMMA NJOKU

N

Former Eagles' defender, Pastor Taribo West, reveals…

I made myself a brand with my unique hairstyle

By EMMA NJOKU

M

any years after he hung his soccer boots, former Super Eagles' defence ace, Pastor Taribo West, has revealed that his unique trademark hairstyle was a concept that made him a brand in his active days in the round leather game.

The new-look West, who currently wears a near-clean shaved hairstyle, however, said that the familiar dreadlocks now belong to the past, just like his professional football career.

“Everything has its season. The dreadlocks have gone with my football career,” the rock-solid defender stated in an exclusive interview with Saturday Sunsports recently.

He went on: “I'm in another phase of my life now. I've retired from football satisfactorily and I'm having a happy time with my family. I'm now a simple man, living a normal life outside the football pitch.”

He explained the difference between Taribo West, the footballer, and Pastor Taribo West outside the football pitch.

“Taribo West the footballer is different from Taribo West outside the football pitch. As Taribo West the footballer, I made a brand of myself with my unique dreadlocked hairstyle. I was able to sell myself to the football world. Now that I've retired from football, I'm trying to live a normal life like every other person. People thought that my dreadlocked hairdo was fetish, but there was no such thing.

“I had the quality and ability as a defender. It was difficult to beat me on a 50-50 situation. I was very fast with the ball and whenever I moved upfront, I was usually dangerous. So, in order to play myself into global prominence, I had to create a brand of myself. I was unique. Somehow, that brand was my

concept and it paid off. Besides, the hairstyle was also a strategy to scare the opponents,” he further revealed.

Pastor West, who was at the recently concluded Lagos Soccerex, spoke on the event and other issues bordering on Nigerian football.

Likely benefits from Lagos Soccerex Events like that could bring sponsors, branding and put in place the necessary structures that would make Nigerian football attract investments from the western world. So, it's a good thing. I've been out there and have seen how people contribute ideas and visions to the football world. So, I'm happy to be part of it.

Kudos to Keshi on new-look Super Eagles Keshi has bridged the gap between home and foreign-based players. In the last two years, it was difficult for any home-based player to break into the Super Eagles' squad. But today, no matter where you play, whether you play for Jigawa Stars or Kano Pillars, as long as you are playing well, you would be invited to the national team and if you prove yourself, you pick a shirt in the team. That is something of which we should give credit to Keshi. He is a leader who can carry a team to the next level. If the players can work harder with dedication and the kind of commitment Nigerians want to see in them, I believe we will get there.

Coaching Eagles, most difficult job I think coaching the Nigeria national team is the most difficult job any coach can handle. Everybody is entitled to his own opinion. But for me, Keshi has so far done well. And if we can give him the support, with time, his team will make Nigerians proud again.

I don't have discipline for coaching job Every ex-international cannot go into

coaching. I love coaching job, but I don't have the discipline for the job. I believe that I can fit better into the administrative aspect of football where I can bring my wealth of knowledge in the game to bear in the development of Nigerian football. I'm ready to contribute my quota in that aspect.

How ex-internationals can develop younger players Nigeria should learn to celebrate her ex-internationals by inviting them to the round table to meet minds and see where we can come in and develop our football. By the time we bring our experiences and knowledge together, I believe that at the end of the day, positive results would come out of it.

Why Nigerian players don't retire in domestic league The Nigerian system does not allow players to return to the domestic league when they finish their career abroad. In Brazil, for instance, those that run football have quality leadership ideas. They know how to celebrate their football heroes. They make sure that the knowledge they acquire while playing abroad does not waste. They encourage the players to bring such ideas home so that the up and coming players can benefit from them and subsequently transfer the ideas to the next generation. So, it is all about ideas and vision. I think we should learn from countries like Brazil.

May be we can start with players like Joseph Yobo that are approaching the twilight of their football career. We need to ensure that all the experience of such players is transferred to the younger generation. We really need to look into that matter and see how we can build the structure. That is what was missing in our time, but we still have the opportunity to correct it now. If we were able to do that, it would help in building a strong domestic league and national team in the future.

igeria's only surviving club in continental competition, Sunshine Stars Football Club, will have full hands against six times champion, Al-Ahly of Egypt this afternoon when both sides clash inside the Dipo Dina International Stadium in Ijebu-Ode in the first leg of the semifinals of this year's CAF Champions League.

Sunshine debuted in the competition this year, but the Executive Director of Ondo State Football Agency, (OSFA), Mike Idoko, says the pedigree of the Egyptian side won't count in today's match, as the Akure-based Nigerian team is determined to put an icing on the cake for Governor Olusegun Mimiko's 58th birthday anniversary.

“We are aware that Al-Ahly is a well experienced side in the competition while we are rookies, but they will not intimidate us with their pedigree. The pressure would be on them because if they defeat us, it wouldn't be news, but if Sunshine beats Al-Ahly, it would be celebrated widely,” Idoko reasoned.

“However, we know the responsibility on our shoulders, being the last Nigerian team standing in continental competition this year. Most importantly, we want to use the victory as a birthday present to His Excellency, Governor Olusegun

Mimiko, who clocked 58 years this week,” he revealed.

Idoko banks on history to overcome the Egyptian foes.

“Al-Ahly is not new to me. I recall that their current chief coach was the assistant coach of the team in 2000 when, as team manager of Lobi Stars, we eliminated them in the Champions League that year.

They won the first leg in Egypt by 3-1 and we defeated them 4-0 in the return leg in Makurdi. By the grace of God, we shall stop them again this time round,” Idoko predicted.

“The players have been motivated with the recent payment of 50 per cent of their sign-on fees. Therefore, the spirit in camp is very high and they're rearing to go,” he added.

Meanwhile, captain Godfrey Oboabona, Izu Azuka and Solomon Kwambe have, since rejoined their teammates in Ijebu Ode from the Super Eagles' camp in Calabar for today's crucial clash. Other players expected to battle the Egyptian giants include gangling forward, Ukeyima Akombo, diminutive striker, Ibrahim Ajani and goalkeeper, Moses Ocheje.

Today's match is expected to kick off by 3.00pm. The winner of the two-legged encounter will meet the winner of the second semi-final fixture between holder, Esperance of Tunisia and TP Mazembe of Congo DR.

Nigeria/Liberia AFCON 2013 qualifier

Imoke slashes gate fees to mobilise support for Eagles

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Sports Commissioner, Hon. Patrick Ugbe, yesterday, said the popular side at the stadium complex would go for N300 instead of N500, covered seats would attract N1000 as against N3000, while the State Box Extension would go for N3000 instead of the usual N5000.

Fans, he said, were expected to don their green and white attire to the stadium, even as he quoted the governor as saying: ‘Calabar is now the original home of the Super Eagles, that is why we are anxious to welcome back the players. The hospitality of our people will, as usual, be extended to the team,’ the governor had promised.

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup

s the countdown for the October 13 Nations Cup qualifying decider between the Lone Star of Liberia and Nigeria’s Super Eagles intensifies, host state, Cross River, says it’s leaving no stone unturned to ensure that victory swings the way of the national team.

Already, Governor Liyel Imoke has ordered that prices of gate fees for the match be slashed to ensure that the U.J. Esuene Stadium, venue of the encounter, is jam-packed for maximum support for the senior national team.

Senator Imoke, who spoke through his

Ghana beats Japan …Zooms into semi-final Ghana stunned tournament favourite, Japan with a 1–0 win in Baku, as Sherifatu Sumaila’s goal, following a huge goalkeeping mistake, saw the African side upset the odds.

Japan had come into the game without conceding a goal throughout Azerbaijan 2012 and as the competition’s top scorers, but Black Maidens’ Coach, Mas-Ud Dramani, was confident his side could beat the Asian pass-masters.

It took 15 minutes before the first meaningful effort on target, with Ghana’s resident goal-getter, Jane Ayieyam, testing Chika Hirao as the African side matched Japan well.

Priscilla Okyere really gave the Japanese stopper a scare 10 minutes later,

firing a dipping, swerving strike that the 15-year-old had to watch keenly before tipping over.

It took Japan over half an hour to get her first clear chance, as Ghana defended solidly when Ruka Norimatsu volleyed wide after meeting a corner well. The Japanese then tested Victoria Agyei in goal for Ghana for fully five minutes from the break, Rika Masuya striking low and hard after good work by Ayaka Inoue.

Poor goalkeeping at the other half sent the Japanese reeling soon after half time though. Sumaila was allowed to run a long way down the right wing, but she wouldn’t have expected Hirao to let her tame cross come shot through her legs.

It was the first goal Japan had conceded in 364 minutes, a new tournament record, though unlikely a feat the Japanese could celebrate in that circumstance.

68

October 6, 2012 SATURDAY SUN

LEAGUEUNLIMITED ...with EMMA NJOKU 08059423225

Cooreman returns, set for fresh challenges

M

aurice Cooreman is looking forward to a successful outing in the 2012/13 Nigeria Premier League season after an unimpressive season with Warri Wolves Football Club.

The Belgian tactician, just back to the country after a brief holiday in his home country, banks on history to wipe away the disappointment of the immediate past season.

“I'm ready for fresh challenges in the coming season after a deserved rest with my family in Belgium. I have cleared my head of the bitter experience of last season after seeing my granddaughter that I had not seen since she was born almost two years ago.

“Now, I'm ready to win another title in Nigeria, but I don't know the team that I would win the trophy with this time round.

“Anytime I have a bad season as a result of people working against me within the club, I always come back the next season to a new team to win trophies. After my experience at Bendel Insurance, I came back with Ocean Boys, a team that came from the second division to the Premier League for the first time and we won the league that season.

“Again, after winning the double with Enyimba, I went to Ghana where I had another bad

•Banks on history to win title in 2012/13 season experience in my brief stay at Accra Hearts of Oak. But I returned to Nigeria to win the Federation Cup with a modest Kaduna United against all odds.

It was the team's first and only major title ever.

“I've found myself in the same situation again and I can tell you that I shall win a title in the com-

ing season with whichever team I end up working with,” Cooreman maintained.

Meanwhile, no fewer than four Premier League clubs are jostling to sign him for the new season.

Nembe City dares Warriors …As NNL Champion of Champions Cup begins Oct 21

T

eam Manager of Nembe City FC, Tonbra Naingba, has declared that his side would not show any respect to other teams at the Nigeria National League (NNL) 2011/12 season's Champions Cup tournament billed for Abuja as from October 21.

Nembe City has been drawn against El-Kanemi Warriors in the first match, while Nasarawa United faces Bayelsa United in the second match of the opening day. Although all the four clubs are Premier League bound in the coming Nigeria Premier League (NPL) season, only Nembe City has never played in the elite cadre before.

“We're happy going to the Champions Cup Play-offs as the underdogs, but I can assure you that we shall end up as champions at the end of the day,” the team manager, popularly known as Tom B, predicted.

“Nembe City is used to victory and we hope to maintain the tra-

dition at the Super Four Play-offs in Abuja. We will not be intimidated by the pedigree of our opponents all, who have Premier League experience,” he stated.

The NNL 2011/12 abridged league season, which ended in July, produced four champions from the various groups. The group champions will converge in Abuja for the Super League

Play-offs to determine the overall champion of the season.

Meanwhile, all the four clubs have already gained promotion to campaign in the NPL in the 2012/13 Nigerian League season.

According to the Secretary of NNL, Ayo Rahman, the board would also present awards to deserving clubs and players in recognition of their various feats in the recently concluded season.

SPDC - Gov Cup: We fear no foes – Oleh

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nelga's handler, Sunday Oleh is emphatic his wards will emerge champions of the 2012 SPDC/Rivers State Governor's Cup competition.

The Oleh-tutored side rounded-up its group matches on Thursday with 3-2 defeat of hard fighting Andoni at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt.

The victory guaranteed quarter-finals passage for the lads from Onelga. The quarter-finals will hold on October 15.

Oleh said having come this far in the annual football fiesta; nothing will stop his wards from clinching the coveted trophy when the curtain falls on the competition on October 19.

"Our eyes are focused on winning the trophy now that we've made it to the quarter-finals.

"We came very close to winning the title in the last edition but this time around, we're wiser and have perfected strategies.

Sunshine Stars forward, Ukeyima Akombo, breaks away from an opponent during a match.

El-Kanemi's doctor murdered in Maiduguri

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gang suspected to be members of the notorious religious sect, Boko Haram, on Tuesday night, murdered the team doctor of ElKanemi Warriors of Maiduguri, Daniel Lafa in cold blood.

League Unlimited gathered that the assailants stormed the late Lafa's Maiduguri residence on the fateful night and attacked him and his family, killing him and leaving his children with several degrees of injuries.

According to our source, the late doctor's wife was sparred, but the children were said to be receiving treatment at the Maiduguri General Hospital as at the time of going to press.

The late team doctor, a

Christian from the southern part of Borno State, our source further disclosed, was the one who was taking care of the family of his late younger brother, who was killed in a similar circumstance in January this year.

Meanwhile, League Unlimited gathered that only few players have reported to camp for ElKanemi's pre-season training, with majority of the first team players yet to resume. It was gathered that the situation might not be unconnected with the players' demand for their unpaid sign-on fees and other allowances.

Our source further hinted that the increasing security concerns in Borno State could force some of the players to dump the club in the new season.

SATURDAY SUN,

October 6 2012

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October 6, 2012

SATURDAY SUN,

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OrjiUzorKalu

THE KALU LEADERSHIP SERIES

Former governor of Abia State e-mail: okalu@orjikalu.com

Random thoughts on constitution review

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y mind has been at work since the idea to review the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria by the National Assembly was first mooted. In fact, I made a public presentation in Owerri in 2009 on the critical areas of the constitution that should be amended to give our democracy the much-needed vibrancy.

Regrettably, the Joint Committee of the National Assembly charged with the responsibility of handling the review did not incorporate the key areas in my memorandum in the final draft it made on the electoral laws. I had thought that the committee would have demonstrated a large heart in the collation and sorting of the memoranda. That is by the way.

Let me quickly point out that I have nothing particularly against the committee. This explanation is important, because of the activities of bad-bellied people that make a mountain out of a molehill. The committee has performed fairly, considering the circumstances under which it has had to work. But I think it can do better if it goes an extra mile in ensuring that the review is holistically handled. What I am saying, in effect, is that the constitution, as the ground norm of all laws in the country, should take the centre-stage, because what the country becomes tomorrow is determined by how effective its constitution is.

The 1999 Constitution, as I had said on several occasions, is not a terribly bad document, even though it was produced by the military. After all, it is the same constitution we have operated since 1999 when democratic rule returned. It is only a few critical areas that need to be addressed - to bring them to sync with global realities. Unfortunately, these key areas are not receiving the desired attention in the ongoing debates.

I wish to state emphatically that it would amount to a serious flaw if at the end of the review we still have grey areas in the constitution. The whole essence of a periodic review of the constitution is to afford the people an opportunity to air their views on issues they feel strongly about and which have direct impact on their lives. When these issues have been robustly discussed and agreed upon, then they are incorporated into the constitution to guide behaviour and actions of people in that society. Where the review is haphazardly done, what results from it is confusion and chaos.

The United States of America and other developed economies did not have near-perfect constitutions over night.

They evolved from a systematic, meticulous and conscious effort targeted at ensuring the emergence of egalitarian and progressive societies built on justice, equity and fairness. So, they have continued to innovate with the highest degree of empathy, patriotism, and dutifulness.

There is a clear contrast in what we do, the way we do it, and what obtains in the other climes. Ours is determined primarily by clannishness, ethnic loyalty and selfishness. This retrogressive attitude has contributed generously to the backwardness we experience in our national life as a people. Should we be talking about such issues as equalization of states in the federation when the injustice is glaring? How did the lopsidedness evolve in the first place? Did those that fashioned the 1999 Constitution not see the lack of equilibrium in the distribution of states and local government councils? What criteria did those that created the current state-structure use to allocate seven states to the North West, six to the North East, six to the North Central, six to the South West, five to the South East and six to the South-South? From the distribution, it is not arguable that a big injustice has been done to the South East with only five states.

Let me state at this juncture that if objectivity is brought into the matter the South East, because of its population, contribution to national development and indomitability, should have more states than the others. As an advocate of fair-play, I believe we should balance it out for each geopolitical zone to have the same number of states. The best thing to do is to ensure that each geo-political zone has seven states. Those that currently do not have seven states should have seven states.

Those that have seven states already should stop at that. The South East should get additional two states. This should be so given that the current geopolitical zones are made a part of the new constitution to give them some legality and legitimacy.

I do not see any reason for the present agitation to break up the country. If we are reasonable, why cause any dislocation of the unity the country enjoys at the moment? We fought a civil war, and this should teach us some lesson on the need to live in peace and harmony.

I find it unreasonable for anybody to advocate the return of the country to the regional system. As far as I am concerned, it will be very difficult for us to achieve this after people had tested autonomy. The only identifiable problem is that the institutions that make up our current democratic dispensation are very weak. We need to make them strong, if we are to achieve maximum returns. We need to strengthen such institutions, as the police, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and even the states to make them deliver on their mandate. It is preposterous for the constitution to give

Mark the President the unilateral powers to appoint the Inspector General of Police and Chief of Army Staff and the Service Chiefs. To whom should such appointees owe their allegiance?

Naturally, they should dance to the bidding of the President that appointed them; after all, he that pays the piper calls the tune.

The proper thing to do should be for succession to be automatic, allowing the most senior officer to step in once his predecessor is due for retirement, with the National Assembly invested with the power to confirm. Once this is done, then these officers will owe no allegiance to the president. Their allegiance will be to the people of Nigeria. As it stands, the President can wake up one morning and remove the IGP or any of the Service Chiefs. The danger in this kind of arrangement is that it makes the officers jittery and uncomfortable and, therefore, inefficient. It also exposes them to manipulation by the executive. This flaw came to the fore in the 2011 general elections where security agents were used to rig elections.

Another controversial area in the present constitution has to do with the tenure of elective officers. For instance, it is being debated whether the executive should have a single term of five or seven years, or retain the current four years of two terms arrangement. I must confess that I advocated a single term of five years for the executive during the time of President Olusegun Obasanjo, but it was not bought into. I had reasoned that a single term of five years would reduce tension in the polity and save money wasted in organising elections.

Look at the amount of money we waste in conducting elections in this country. It is not worth it. If Senegal, Ghana, Benin Republic and, even, Sierra Leone could conduct acceptable elections; why not Nigeria? I find it detestable that Nigeria, 52 years after independence, could still not organise free and fair elections.

It is sad that the key areas I expect the National Assembly to amend are not being considered. Why should we not amend the constitution to make sitting by National Assembly members part-time? Why not peg the sitting allowance for every member of the National Assembly at N250, 000? What our national legislators earn at present is scandalous. In fact, it is unreasonable to earmark 25 per cent of recurrent expenditure of our annual budget for the payment of the emoluments of members of the National Assembly, while a majority of Nigerians suffer from poverty, sickness and disease. Which country can survive under such an unjust environment?

This brings us to the issue of state police. There is nothing wrong with having state police. Other developed countries have it. The United States of America from where we borrowed our presidential system of government practises it. For instance, there is the New York Police Department (NYPD), which handles security issues in the State of New York. The same thing is obtainable in other states. My only grouse about state police is the weakness and vulnerability of the institutions that govern it. There is a possibility of state governors manipulating it to suit their personal, inordinate desires. It is the same problem that we have at the local government councils, which are being used by some state governors as an extension of their personal estates. Is it not on record that some states have not conducted local government elections for as many as six years

– contrary to the constitution? To circumvent the constitution, they have kept recycling their stooges every three months. So, there is the fear of abusing state police where the constitution allows it.

The National Assembly should, therefore, work out measures that will deal with the fear of manipulating state police whenever it is incorporated into the constitution. There is the need to study how the system works in other climes and see how we can copy such. It has to be emphasised at this point that the state police proposal can only work if the governors allow it. This is true, because, as it is now, many state executives are at loggerheads with the police hierarchy about the control of the police commands in their states. While some of the governors want the commissioners of police in their states to report directly to them, others want their own police that will report to them and carry out their orders without any question or procrastination. There is also the problem of funding.

Those opposed to state police argue that some states do not have the capacity to shoulder such an additional responsibility due to paucity of funds.

In any case, the fear of the meddlesomeness of the governors should not make us throw away the benefits of state police. Indeed, the establishment of state police will eliminate the time needed for a state police commissioner to contact the IG to seek his approval before enforcing security in the case of an emergency. Such orders will now come from the governor, as the chief security officer of his state. It will also reduce difficulty encountered by policemen in dealing with criminals as state police personnel will have better knowledge of their operating environment. Before now, policemen posted to a particular state face the problem of getting to know their areas of operation.

There is a compelling need to include in the new constitution a provision that will make it compulsory for states and Federal Government to construct a specific number of roads every year across the country. This provision will reduce the number of dilapidated and abandoned roads. The state of roads in Nigeria, particularly in the South East geopolitical zone, is embarrassing. A trip around the country will reveal a heart-rendering fact about the state of roads. I know the amount of money appropriated for roads in the federal budget between 1999 and 2012, yet there is nothing concrete to show for it.

Roads remain a very important factor in growth and development. How can a nation be said to be aspiring to be a continental superpower without good roads?

It may not be out of pace to suggest that a provision be made that will cut down the size of government. Is it not callous for any government to spend 25 per cent of its recurrent expenditure on salaries and allowances of staff of the National Assembly? There have been efforts by some state governments, including the Federal Government, to downsize or right-size. Whatever that means! But what cannot be disputed is that a few of them groan under the weight of over-bloated staff. The beauty of this provision is that whatever is saved from recurrent expenditure is ploughed back into the provision of infrastructure for the benefit of the suffering masses.

Devolution of more powers to the states and local governments should be considered for incorporation into the new constitution. The centre as it is currently composed wields too much power, forcing the states to often kow-tow to it whenever they want a special favour. This is not supposed to be the case in a democratic government. The beauty of democracy is when the three arms of government – executive, legislature and judiciary - work autonomously and harmoniously. This is why it has been advocated that the judiciary be made more autonomous to enable it to deliver untainted judgments. A democracy without unfettered judiciary is no democracy, as individual’s rights will always be abridged.

The recent hullabaloo over the new N5,000 note should not have arisen in the first place if the executive was not given too much latitude to operate. Good that the President listened and cancelled the proposal. If he had stuck to his guns, since the law grants him the powers to give approval to Central bank to print new currencies, what would have happened? The proper thing to do would be to involve the National Assembly (as representatives of the people) in such critical national matters. In fact, to avert a recurrence of such excesses there is need to ensure that delicate, critical matters are removed from the purview of the executive and placed under the National Assembly with the President granted only powers to propose and assent, where necessary.

I believe that there are numerous other issues that the amendment can address. We should not allow this opportunity to produce a functional and generally acceptable constitution slip away. The best way to achieve that is to involve the people. It is unthinkable for any person or group of persons to dream of producing a people’s constitution without involving the people. The new constitution should be a conglomeration of all the views collated from the people, not the jaundiced views of a few power-drunk individuals who are bent on lording it over all of us.

KALU LEADERSHIP SERIES

RANDOM THOUGHTS ON CONSTITUTION REVIEW October 6, 2012 Vol.9 No.510

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Tears of our fathers PressClips

BY MIKE AWOYINFA mikeawoyinfa@gmail.com 08051271177 (SMS only)

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eloved, our sermon today is about bad boys who make their fathers cry. The Bible is filled with stories of such bad boys.

Remember the parable of the Prodigal Son? And remember the story of Absalom, the son of David, who made his father cry after he staged a rebellion against him, slept with his women and he died in the Woods of Ephraim, with the father crying, “Oh, Absalom, my son, Absalom, my son.”

Nigeria is such a bad boy who has stayed in school for 52 years, not passing his exams and not being promoted to the next class, thereby making his fathers shed tears.

Let me start by saying that life is a school in which all of us are enrolled. We are all perpetual students in the primary school, secondary school and the University College of Life. Every day, we are at school learning, sitting for exams. Some are passing. Some are failing. In Nigeria, only 20 per cent pass. The remaining 80 per cent are failures. Remember the Parento Principle? It says that only 20 per cent will do well and the rest are doomed to failure.

In Nigeria, the ratio of those doing well in Nigeria is far less than 20 per cent. Here it is the case of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer and poorer. Here, there is no middle class. The middle class has vanished like a Harry Porter movie. Here, you are either super rich or super poor. It’s such a sad story.

Our academic calendar year starts and ends by October 1. Every October 1, the student by name Nigeria is given his report card. And each time it is filled with lamentations. It is a bad report littered with F9s.

Nigeria is certainly not an A-student, not a B-student, not a C-student, but an F-student.

F simply means failure.

Every October 1, Nigeria breaks the heart of his parents because he is an olodo student.

An academically poor performing student, who makes his parents cry and cry tears that have created floods this year in the River Niger, causing destruction and lamentation everywhere.

Every October 1, “Student Nigeria” comes home with his report card amidst tears. He is not the only one crying. His mother is crying. His father is crying. His brothers are crying. His sisters are crying.

Everybody is crying for Nigeria because Nigeria has not performed well. Every year, Nigeria underperforms at school. After 52 years, Nigeria cannot still graduate.

The fathers and mothers of Nigeria have recruited all kinds of “lesson teachers” to come and coach Nigeria. From the bulabula whip-wielding soldier-teachers to the pot-bellied civilian teacher in agbada, they have all come and gone; yet Nigeria is still scoring poor grades. Oh, Nigeria, when will you stop disappointing and breaking your parents’ hearts? When will you stop making your parents cry? When will you stop bringing bad news every time to your family?

Presently, Nigeria’s teacher is a PhD holder. So, we are told. And we are told he is trying his best, but his best is far from good.

He is trying to improve Nigeria’s knowledge of physics. Of late, the light seems to be improving, but then you cannot fully bank on it. Everybody knows that by the time the rains stop and Kainji Dam goes dry, we would be back to square one, back to our low megawatts in physics, in electricity, in light and sound.

Every October 1, the fathers and mothers of Nigeria sit down to assess their wayward child. They go on pages of newspapers, on radio, on television, and now on Facebook and Twitter to rebuke the Prodigal Son. They call him wayward; they call him corrupt; they call him unserious; they call him all kinds of names. Oga Teacher would wear his hat and come on television early in the morning to read the report card and predictably tell the world that in spite of everything, Nigeria is still doing well, that Nigeria is improving, that it is only the “enemies and the witches” who can’t see the “giant strides” Nigeria is making in all areas of life—health, economy, job creation, education, infrastructure, security and good governance.

But the fathers of Nigeria are not convinced. They know the truth. They wear the shoes. They feel the pains of their son’s academic failure. They have seen it all.

They cannot be fooled.

Now, let’s hear it from Nigeria’s many fathers. Here is what the former Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Samuel Ilori, a father of Nigeria, says: “In Nigeria, the average worker is asking for N18, 000 a month, now we have been told that an average Senator takes away N200 million every year.

Can a man with N200 million a year make a constitution for a man with N15, 000 a month? It is not possible…

“Nigeria has too much blessings from God, blessed with mineral resources, but the constitution is wrong, the mode of government is wrong, the mode of government is such that makes us repeat the same sort of mistake every time.”

Repeat indeed! Nigeria is ever repeating the same class. A layabout student, who doesn’t take his studies seriously. Instead, he is involved in cultism, in kidnapping, in Boko Haram, in campus shooting and killings, in everything anti-social. Who will deliver us from this Prodigal Son? Dr. Christopher Kolade, the former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and one of the crying fathers of Nigeria, says after 52 years of independence, “we still have a long way to go. We do not have a reliable infrastructure arrangement; we cannot be sure of power; we cannot be sure of motorable roads all around the country; the railway system that we have needs a lot of work in order to make it functional for today. The institutions we have created, whether you talk of schools, universities or whatever, these appeared to be suffering because the resources for running them, managing them properly, do not appear to be in sufficient quantity and quality. And then if you look at the issue of safety and security, things are worse now than they used to be.

So, the totality tells us that we do not appear as a nation to have used the 52 years of independence positively.”

He continues: “If I look around as a person, who has been here for some time, I can say with confidence that there is no institution, national institution that we had at independence that had maintained its quality up till now. Most of our national institutions, if not all, have declined in quality. That means that we have not been good managing our institutions.”

Chief Philip Asiodu, a retired Federal Permanent Secretary, is another Nigerian

father who has served as a civil servant and worked hard in the past to coach and put Nigeria into good shape.

But at the end of his life’s work, he is still filled with lamentations for the F-student who cannot even pass physics, a subject that is critical and basic, if we must industrialise. In his days in government, Nigeria was generating more electricity than Taiwan, but today, “Taiwan is generating 30 to 40 thousand megawatts and we are singing about 4, 000,” he laments. “Since the consumption of electricity per capita is almost synonymous to the level of industrialisation and economic diversification, by consequence, standard of living and the welfare of the people, you can see how far we have gone. But for the fact that there are private generators in homes, hospitals, hotels and industries, which may account for about 12 thousand megawatts, but for that, Nigeria would be an impossible place to live.”

He continues: “I am ashamed when Nigerian leaders, especially government leaders, open their mouths and say we are aiming for four thousand megawatts.”

For Nigeria, to even pass and industrialise, it needs at least 40, 000 megawatts of electricity, Asiodu says. But that looks like a Herculean task. It is a distant dream unrealizable for now.

“It is really terrible if you think about the lost opportunities and the time wasted,” Pa Asiodu, says as he weeps like King David.

He is echoing the thoughts and the minds of all the other fathers of Nigeria whose hearts have been broken and will continue to be broken until they are rested in their unquiet graves.

Let me end this sermon with the thoughts and feelings of one more Nigerian father, a northern godfather, Alhaji Abubakar Danmusa, the former Speaker of the old Kaduna State House of Assembly, who spearheaded the impeachment of Governor Balarabe Musa. Hear his song of lamentation: “In the present day (Nigeria), the leadership just want to be millionaires and billionaires in one day. They want to own the best houses, the best cars, the best wives and the best of everything. They want to travel all over the world aimlessly. To make matters worse, they don’t care to come spend this ill-gotten wealth in their communities…What is happening in the North is a reaction to unfair distribution of wealth and injustice. And as long as the status quo remains, there will still be problem.”

That is the end of our sermon, the sermon of bad boy Nigeria and our crying fathers.

May your son not make you cry in your old age! Amen.

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