Nigeria's problems surmountable— Leaders

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...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61982

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013

Jonathan hands over PHCN to new owners P.9

•Workers protest nationwide

2015: No surprise Jonathan denied single term pact — G7 Govs P.9

NASS moves to reduce govs' powers

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53RD INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY:

Nigeria's problems surmountable— Leaders •Mark, Tambuwal, Ekweremadu, Mbazulike, others speak PROTESTS OVER SALE OF PHCN

ABUJA

HANDOVER

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, EMMAN OVUAKPORIE, DAYO JOHNSON, JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, JOSEPH ERUNKE & LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

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AGOS—FIFTY three years after independence, Nigerian leaders were unanimous, yesterday, that the challenges facing the country are resolveable and there is need to cement the country’s unity.

They also agreed that there is need for a naContinues on Page 7

COLUMNIST:

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Mr & Mrs GOMBE

LAGOS

PROTESTS—Workers protest handover of PHCN to new core owners, yesterday, in Abuja, Gombe and Lagos, as President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Sambo ( Top right) pose with new owners in a group photographs. NAN PHOTOS.

Outrage greets Yobe massacre •Canada, APC, Arewa youths, others condemn attack •Relations wail, identify bodies of victims 8

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POCKET CARTOON

LOCKED—PHCN office under locks in Bauchi, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Nigeria's problems surmountable — Leaders Continues from Page 1

tional conference for the people to dialogue and agree on the terms to boost the country ’s unity and address her plethora of problems.

We've made progress –Mark Senate President David Mark assessed the progress of Nigeria since the journey of its independence in 1960 and concluded that the country had fared well

enough to deserve commendation. In a goodwill message by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, the Senate President said: “We are yet to get to the level of our dreams, nobody can deny the fact that we have recorded some landmark achievements since the colonial masters left our shores. ”Besides the infrastructural developments across the country, we now have skilled

LIFEWORDS

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BY PASTOR ITUAH

LAMING creates enemies. The person you are blaming will ignore you, compile numerous proofs of their innocence, and resent you. And their friends will defend them and become your enemies.

Even your own friends will get fed up with your complaining and distance you.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Feelings are everywhere and the world is harsh enough. Just be gentle — J. Masai

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HIS is an interesting story about being con siderate with the feelings of other people whose lifestyles and customs are different from ours. During a diplomatic reception for a visiting Chieftain from another continent, an etiquette rule was breached unknowingly by the guest of honour at the dinner party. All went well during the meal until, at the end, finger bowls were served. The guest of honour had never seen a British finger bowl, and no one had thought to brief him beforehand about its purpose. So not knowing what else to do, he took the bowl in his two hands, lifted it to his mouth and drank its contents down.

For an instant, there was breathless silence among the privileged guests, and then they began to whisper to one another about the breach of etiquette.

But the queen herself saved the moment when she likewise lifted her bowl to her lips and drank. The diners caught on and a moment later 500 surprised ladies and gentlemen simultaneously drank the contents of their own finger bowls. It was the queen’s tact and consideration that guarded her guest from certain embarrassment. When we are dealing with people different from us. Remember different does not mean better or superior, it is just what it is – different. And it is in our differences and diversity that we all share a common bond in tuned with our humanity.

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and qualified manpower in virtually all fields of human endeavour.”

He therefore, implored Nigerians to renew hope and faith in the “capacity and capabilities of our people to rise to a level where citizens could enjoy an internationally acceptable standard of living, thus earning the status of a developed nation.”

Our challenges are surmountable —Tambuwal House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, said though Nigeria was passing through tough times, the challenges confronting the nation were surmountable.

He said as the country celebrates its 53rd independence anniversary, all hands must be on deck to foster unity, peace and reconciliation. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal said all Nigerians must work tirelessly to promote the tenets of democracy, good governance and responsible citizenry.

He appealed to the political elite to moderate their utterances and be mindful of their responsibility to the country.

We’re yet to have Nigeria of our dream — Mbazulike Pre-Independence and First Republic politician and elder statesman, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, who also fought for Nigeria’s independence, lamented that we are yet to have

Nigeria of his dream.

Asked how he sees Nigeria 53 years after independence, he said: “Of all the nationalists and ministers from Southern Nigeria, East or West, I’m the last person left. I’m the only one alive. What I have to say is that this is not the Nigeria we fought for, it’s not the Nigeria that many of us died for, it’s not the Nigeria many of our youths want to be with, it’s not the Nigeria that our founding fathers like Azikwe, Awolowo, Okotie-Eboh and others dreamt of. No, you see the military damaged everything. They stayed too long. For 38 years the military ruled this country. They disrupted everything. Even the people who are leaders in this so-called democratic dispensation are working in the footsteps of the military. ” He canvassed a national conference for the people of Nigeria to give themselves an acceptable constitution.

We can make Nigeria great—Amosun Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, congratulating Nigerians on the celebration called on citizens to keep hope alive and live in peace with one another so that the country could overcome its challenges.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Funmi Wakama, Senator Amosun said: “The nation has reasons to appreciate God in spite of the current challenges.”

Nigeria’s overcoming her challenges

—Ekweremadu Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu said that though the country had missed some opportunities and is faced with many challenges, it is also overcoming the challenges.

He said: “I call on all Nigerians to join the present crusade to reinvent and transform Nigeria; and in this wise, I urge hope, courage, perseverance, prayers, reconciliation, peaceful-coexistence, and patriotic fervour to build the Nigeria of our dreams as no one else would do that for us.”

Nothing to celebrate –Ankio Briggs Rights activist, Ms Ankio Briggs, said there is nothing to celebrate at 53. She, however, said there was basis for Nigeria’s unity if the people could be allowed to dialogue.

“We have basis for Nigeria’s unity in the sense that it's our choice.

It should be our choice and it will be our choice because that’s why we have these discussions going on now. I believe Nigeria can be a great country and that Nigerians can live together.

Nobody is saying we shouldn’t live together.

We are saying how? Who brings what? Who owns what? Who controls what? How much should I bring? How much should you bring? How much of your own should you keep? What if we keep everything and pay something to the centre? These are the things we need to look at together,” she said.

Military not the cause of our woes –Dan Suleiman Former member of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and former ambassador to Russia, Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (rtd) said

there is no alternative to unity and urged those blaming the military for stunting Nigeria’s growth to have a rethink.

He said a national conference will help Nigerians discover their mistakes and correct them.

Commenting on claims that the military destroyed the foundation of Nigeria’s democracy, he said: “Does it mean that democracy is the answer to our many problems? If so, why are we having these ills today? Are we having a military regime? Are we having military governance? But yet, we are still having these ills.

So, it will be wrong to put the blames only on the military. The people who are looking for scapegoats are putting the blames only on the military. The military did their best. Most of the infrastructure standing in this country today were put in place during the military days. What the government of today should do is to improve on them.”

To cement Nigeria’s unity, he said a national conference is necessary because it is an avenue “ where Nigerians from all sectors of life can come out to work out how we should live together.

If we are saying that the amalgamation was a mistake, then, only a conference can spot out these mistakes and correct it to produce a Nigeria that will favour all of us.”

We need true democracy, national cohesion –Gov Amaechi In like manner, Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, urged national cohesion and true democracy.

Amaechi in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. David Iyofor, said: “No democracy can grow in the face of unending conflicts and in the midst of impunity. Nigeria is one country in spite of our varying cultures, religion and ethnic nationalities"

8—Vanguard , TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013

3 would-be stowaways nabbed

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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HREE would-be stowaway teenage boys, arrested on September 24 and 25, were, yesterday, handed over to their parents by the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Police Command.

The Commissioner in charge of the command, Waheed Salau, handed over the teenagers, Joshua Amadi, 14, from Ebonyi State; Onyedikachi Ukpabio 14, Abia, and Lateef Popoola 13, Ogun, to their relatives.

One of the teenagers, Onyedicachi Ukpabio, an SS1 student, said they had not decided where to travel to before they were arrested.

He added that they were just at the departure hall when they saw a man, who approached them and asked them if they had a BlackBerry charger to enable him charge his phone.

Ukpabio said they told the man that they didn’t have a one, but that his friend, Amadi, asked the man if he knew the plane going to Malaysia.

He said the question made the man to alert the airport police and got them arrested.

Popoola, a primary three pupil from Ogun State, was caught Wednesday, a day after Ukpabio and Amadi were arrested.

WOULD-BE STOWAWAYS: From left— Onyedikachi Ukpabio 14; Lateef Popoola 13, and Joshua Amadi, 14.

OUTRAGE: Tambuwal, Canada, APC, AYF condemn Yobe massacre

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North; EMMAN OVUAKPORIE, VICTORIA OJEME & UDUMA KALU, with agency report

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UTRAGE, yesterday, greeted the Sunday massacre of more than 70 students of Yobe State College of Agriculture by members of Boko Haram sect as Canada, Speaker of the House of Representatives, All Progressives Congress, APC, joined others in condemning the incident.

This is just as relatives of the victims identified and collected the bodies for burial amidst wailing.

In its reaction, APC called on Boko Haram to immediately cease all attacks and embrace dialogue in the interest of national peace and security, following the resurgence of deadly attacks by the sect, especially the massacre of scores of students of the College last Sunday night.

This came as Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, described the killing of the students as ignoble, wicked and horrendous.

Similarly, the Canadian government condemned the killing of the students by the sect, while Arewa youths called on President Goodluck Jonathan to urgently disband the committee he raised to dialogue with the sect on how to bring about peace.

Meanwhile, a presidency source told Reuters that President Goodluck Jonathan met senior security aides late on Sunday to discuss how to respond to the latest deadly shift in tactics by the insurgents.

Enough's enough—APC APC, in a statement issued in Warri, yesterday, by interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, condemned the killing of the students, calling it dastardly, senseless and indefensible.

It called on traditional, religious, political and opinion leaders in the affected areas to intervene urgently to end the cycle of violence being perpetrated by the sect.

APC said:“It is clear that this Boko C M Y K

Haram menace cannot be resolved by the government alone, hence all stakeholders must urgently intervene to complement government’s efforts to end the insurgency and get those behind it to embrace dialogue.

“There can be no justification for Boko Haram to continue to kill and maim innocent citizens, especially because the victims are not just fellow Nigerians like them, but most are actually their kith and kin.

“They must, therefore, put an immediate end to their cycle of violence and opt for dialogue.

The longer this violence continues, the more difficult it becomes to resolve. Enough is enough!”

Survivor’s story One of the students that survived the attack, Ibrahim Mohammed, said: “The extremists rode into the college in two double-cabin pickup all-terrain vehicles and on motorcycles. Some were dressed in Nigerian military camouflage.

“They appeared to know the layout of the college, attacking the four male hostels, but avoiding the one hostel reserved for women. We ran into the bush.

Nobody is left in the school now”

Tambuwal reacts Tambuwal said the latest act, coming barely two months after a similar incidence at Government Secondary School, Mamudo, also in Yobe State, had gone beyond the realm of humanity as no reason could justify such dreadful acts.

The Speaker, in a statement issued in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, tasked security agencies to redouble their efforts and change their tactics, especially now that those engaged in the killings had increased their attacks on softer targets.

He said the only way to console the families of the victims and Nigerians was by fishing out

perpetrators of the dastardly act and bringing them to justice.

He said: “We in the House of Representatives feel the grief and pain of the families of the victims. In this their hour of need, we will stand with them hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder. ”We want to assure them that as brothers, we will continue to confront the threats of terror confronting our nation, and we know we will come out stronger, and victorious.”

While expressing sympathy with the families of the victims, Tambuwal urged Nigerians to be more vigilant and help security agencies with useful information that will help to secure their areas.

massive deployment of troops to the trouble spots.

National President of AYF, Alhaji Gambo Gunjugu, told Vanguard that they were saddened by the continuous loss of lives and property to the sect despite the presence of the panel.

It said: “As the umbrella organisation of all youths in the North, we condemn the dastardly and barbaric act of killing of about 50 students of College of Agriculture, Gujba, Yobe State.

“We want to say that this recent onslaught by insurgents in the North-East has clearly shown that the security operatives deplored to the zone have failed in their assignment.

Canada's stand

‘Disband amnesty c'ttee'

In its reaction, the Canadian government condemned the attack on the students, and called on the Federal Government to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister, John Baird, whose statement was made available to journalists by the Canadian High Commission in Abuja, said: “Canada strongly condemns the terrorist attack on a college in northeastern Nigeria.

“The perpetrators of this abhorrent act targeted innocent students, while they were sleeping.

“On behalf of all Canadians, I extend my deepest sympathies to those injured in the attack and to the families and friends of those who lost their lives. We sincerely hope that the perpetrators of this despicable act will be brought to justice.”

Northern leaders have failed us — Arewa youths

Meanwhile, Arewa youths, under the aegis of Arewa Youths Forum, AYF, said in Abuja, yesterday, that they were upset that the spate of killings and destruction had continued unabated in the north, despite the formation of the Boko Haram amnesty committee and the

“Consequently, we are asking the Federal Government to sack the Amnesty committee, as all their work and the so-called progress they have been talking about have not yielded any positive and physical result.

“It is unfortunate that instead of peace and development, the spate of killings and destruction had continued to be on the increase even with the setting up of the amnesty panel by the President.

“The current spate of killings and unresolved security challenges in the north has clearly shown that the present security chiefs in the country have run out of ideas on how to tackle the rising wave of attacks.

“It is time for them to go home and allow new ones with fresh ideas to tackle the current problem because they seem to be at a loss as to what to do next in the face of brazen attack and brigandage by these nefarious elements.

“We are afraid that if the security situation continues unabated there would be no country left for the future generations of Nigerians to call their own.”

The youths also asked the

government to explain to the people of the north if the state of emergency declared in the three states of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa was still in force or whether it had lost the battle to the insurgents.

It said: “But the unfortunate thing is that instead of the Northern governors in whose domain the fire is raging to concentrate on tackling the menace, our leaders are busy fighting for the forthcoming elections in 2015.

“They are busy discussing who will get the Presidency or Vice President in 2015, when the North is on fire. We make bold to say that these present crop of leaders have failed the region.”

It will be recalled that armed terrorists had on Sunday stormed the College of Agriculture in Gujba in Yobe State and slaughtered no fewer than 78 students, who were sleeping in their dormitories.

Relatives identify bodies Provost of the college Molima Idi Mato told newsmen, yesterday, that there were no security forces protecting the college.

Amidst wailing, the relatives were seen collecting the bodies, while some were carried into vehicles for burial. A BBC video showed the victims being conveyed in ambulances to hospitals, where the wounded were being treated.

Soldiers recovered 42 bodies and transported 18 wounded students to Damaturu Specialist Hospital, 40 kilometers (25 miles) north, said a military intelligence official.

Two of the wounded later died, said Adamu Usman, a survivor from Gujba, who was helping at the hospital.

At least 18 students were being treated for injuries at a hospital in Damaturu.

Wailing relatives gathered outside the hospital morgue, where rescue workers laid out bloodied bodies on the lawn for family members to identify.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013—9

Jonathan hands over PHCN to new owners amidst workers' protest

ANNIVERSARY:

Obama, Putin hail Nigeria

BY VICTORIA OJEME

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BY EMMA UJAH, ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF, BEN AGANDE, WOLE MOSADONI, VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG, VICTORIA OJEME, KUNLE KALEJAYE & GABRIEL EWEPU

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BUJA—AFTER months of planning, President Gooduck Jonathan, yesterday, formally handed over the unbundled Power Holdings Company of Nigeria, PHCN, to private organisations that bought it, with a pledge that they would take over the companies without any liabilities.

The president handed over the power companies amidst protest nationwide by PHCN workers over unresolved labour issues The president who personally gave out the licenses and share certificates to the investors at the Aso Rock Villa told the new owners that liabilities of PHCN had been pooled together to be managed by Nigerian Electricity Liability Company, NELMCO. His words, “arrangements are also on-going to ensure that NELMCO is adequately funded, to assume liabilities associated with the privatisation of the PHCN successor companies, as well as other related liabilities. Various options are being explored for funding the TCN, so that it is able to implement projects that are key to stabilising and expanding the transmission grid.”

Five generating companies and 10 distribution companies received share certificates from President Goodluck Jonathan who also promised that the physical hand over of the assets would be undertaken at the end of this month.

President Jonathan said the successful hand-over of the companies underscored the transparent manner the process was conducted as acknowledged by both local and foreign investors.

He added: “Going forward, this administration is committed to providing all elements are necessary for our private sector partners to succeed in providing Nigerians with uninterrupted power supply. To start with, the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company, NBET, the off-taker, has been provided with a capitalisation of over $750 million, positioning it to carry out its mandate without financial constraints.”

PHCN workers 'll get full entitlements President Jonathan promised Nigerians that “ things can only get better, from this point onwards”, as he assured PHCN workers they will be paid their full

HAND OVER OF PHCN TO NEW OWNERS—President Goodluck Jonathan (right) presenting certificates of ownership to Mr Obinna Ufudo, President/CEO, Transcorp Plc, core owner of Ugheli Power Plant, during hand over ceremony of PHCN’s generation and distribution companies to new owners, at State House, Abuja, yesterday, while Vice–President Namadi Sambo watches.

severance packages His words: “Carefully worked out measures are also being taken to address all other issues, particularly the resolution of labour-related issues. In partnership with the labour unions, we have been able to come up with an outcome that is beneficial for all stakeholders. As earlier pointed out by the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, the payment of all labour related benefits commenced in August this year, and is almost concluded as a condition precedent to today’s event.

“It is important to say to our labour partners, who we know to be patriotic Nigerians that they should not nurse a feeling of displacement, but dwell on the tremendous possibilities partnering with the government through the reform process and urge them to continue in this spirit for the greater good of all Nigerians."

PHCN workers protest nationwide Meanwhile, all business units and cash offices of PHCN nationwide were shut down yesterday by aggrieved workers protesting Federal Government hand over of share certificate and licenses to 15 new owners of PHCN assets without payment of workers’ terminal benefits.

The workers have threatened to down tools and shut down the power sector from tomorrow (Wednesday).

In Lagos, business units and cash offices in Ikeja, Mushin, Marina, Egbin, Festac, Agbara, AbuleEgba, Akowonjo, Ikorodu, Ikotun, Ogba, Oshodi and Ojodu were shut down.

They vowed that the new investors would not practically take over of assets until their benefits and other labour issues were fully settled “All we are asking is for the Federal Government to do the needful. Pay us and we are ready to go."

In Abuja, the protest was led by the union’s chairman, Comrade James Ademola Ayeni, who told newsmen that the government had failed to meet demands of his members and had gone ahead to hand over share certificates and licenses to some investors undermining earlier agreements reached.

In Minna, Niger State, all the

gates of the PHCN offices were locked against numerous customers that besieged their various offices to transact business either by paying bills or to lodge complaints.

At the gate of the office headquarters in Minna was a placard conspicuously pasted which read, “Federal Government, pay us our money or no sales.”

It was also gathered that activities at the three hydro electricity dams in Shiroro, Kainji and Jebba all in Niger State were grounded as staff were turned back from entering their various offices with all the gates leading to the premises locked.

BUJA—PRESIDENT Barack Obama of the United States and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, were among world leaders who congratulated Nigeria on her 53rd independence anniversary today.

Obama, in a statement signed by the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, yesterday, and released by US embassy in Abuja, said: “On behalf of the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Nigeria as you celebrate your Independence Day on October 1.”

According to the statement, “a warm friendship connects the Nigerian and American people, reflecting our shared values of democracy, economic growth, security, and respect for human rights and the rule of law.”

Mr Putin, in a message released by the Russian Embassy, Abuja, yesterday said: “Distinguished Mr. President, please accept my sincere congratulation on the occasion of the National Day of your country — Independence Day. “I am confident that the relations between Russia and Nigeria, based on the principles of friendship and mutual respect, will keep on developing actively in all main directions for the benefit of our peoples and will contribute to stability and security in the African continent.”

No surprise Jonathan denied single term pact, say G-7 govs

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—BARELY 24 hours after President Goodluck Jonathan denied signing a oneterm agreement either officially or unofficially with any individual or group in 2011, seven PDP governors now in another faction led by Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, said yesterday they were not surprised over the president’s denial.

Jonathan spoke during an interview with newsmen on Sunday, saying, “I didn’t sign any agreement with anybody.

If I did, they would have shown you the agreement. It was in Addis Ababa, where I said it

would be more productive if a president serves for a single term. I did not say Jonathan is not going to contest for another term.”

Governor of a North-West state and member of the Group of Seven Governors opposed to Jonathan who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that the governors were not surprised that Jonathan made a U-turn by openly denying that he signed such an agreement.

“We are not surprised that the President denied that there was agreement. We are not surprised because after all, he denied that there was no zoning arrangement in the PDP.

“We are not surprised at all, after all, he signed a communiqué that there was zoning in the party when he represented his governor D.S. P. Alameyesigha in 2001. He was number 35 in the list, but he later denied the content of the documents that he signed. So, we are not surprised at all. This is politics.”

Meanwhile, one of the G7 governors challenged the media to publish in full what the President said to Nigerians resident in Ethiopia when he addressed them in Addis Ababa, saying, “The task is on the media to publish word for word, what President Jonathan said to them in 2011 or it is taken that the media lied”.

10—Vanguard TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013

Afenifere insists on convocation of Sovereign National Conference

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE — YORUBA socio-political group, Afenifere has reviewed various problems threatening the corporate existence of the country and reiterated its call for the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference, SNC. Rising from a meeting at the residence of its National Leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti in Akure, the group called on President Goodluck Jonathan to as a matter of urgency put machinery in place to convoke the SNC. Reading the communiqué

after the meeting, its Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, said so many unfortunate incidents were over-heating the polity.

Afenifere said the rampaging activities of Boko Haram and the drum-beat of war by ethnic groups demanded urgent attention via the convocation of the SNC. The group dismissed fears that all political structures would be dismantled by the convocation of the SNC, contending rather that the voices of Nigerians would matter in the running of the affairs of the country.

Afenifere, which lauded both President Jonathan and the

Senate President David Mark for not objecting to the idea of convoking the SNC, however appealed to others expressing fears that they would lose out to consider the interest of the country and not their selfish interest.

The group said: “To preven the ship of this country from capsizing, we have no other option than to convoke SNC. The tension in this country is heightened; the polity is overheated and the warning signal is too glaring.”

On the plan by President Jonathan to re-contest in 2015, Afenifere said the nation’s constitution allowed him to re-contest if he so

wished.

According to the group, “Our group is not against anyone contesting or not contesting.

“Let the electorate decide the fate of any politician seeking political office. Nigerians should stop over-heating the polity, causing divisions.

“If care is not taken a politician would not be allowed to campaign in one area of the country while another will be allowed.

“Let Nigerians decide who they want through their votes.

Afenifere is not against anybody contesting or not contesting. The Nigerian constitution guarantees any Nigerian to seek for any political office.”

Political opponents unite to eulogise Agagu

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN — POLITICIANS across the country, yesterday, put their political differences aside and paid tributes to the former governor of Ondo State, late Olusegun Agagu.

Among those gathered at the International Conference of the University of Ibadan, the alma mater of the deceased politician, were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, incum-

bent South West governors, former governors, captains of industries, academics, royal fathers and other eminent Nigerians.

Governors of Oyo, Osun and Ekiti states, Abiola Ajimobi, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Dr. Kayode Fayemi respectively were in attendance.

Others included former Governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Ayo Fayose, Gbenga Daniel and Segun Oni of Osun, Ekiti, Ogun and Ekiti states respectively, while Gover-

nor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State was represented by his Special Adviser on Media.

Chief Obasanjo, who was represented by his wife, Mrs. Bola Obasanjo, described the late politician as a detribalised Nigerian and a committed politician.

He said: “We shall all miss Olusegun Agagu. The family will miss a very loving and responsible father; friends will miss a reliable friend who is loyal, frank and unpretentious; Nigeria will miss another great son who is a selfless and committed nation builder... Sun un re o” - meaning “may he rest in peace.”

Ajimobi said: “Today is a very solemn day in the lives of the people of Oyo State. We have lost a friend, a patriot and a brother.

“Dr. Agagu represented the best of us, indeed one of the trail-blazers of professionals in the murky waters of politics.”

In his own words, Ogbeni Aregbesola said: “We saw in him a responsible intellectual who always enjoyed adding value to people’s lives until he breathed his last.”

Dr. Fayemi simply said: “He lit the candle and showed the pathway to some of us.”

NMA advises FG to halt medical tourism, save $800m

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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S NIGERIA celebrates her 53 rd Inde pendence anniversary today, Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, has said called political leaders at all levels to utilize public healthcare facilities in the country to save the nation over $800 million spent annually for medical tourism.

NMA President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele Osahon in a message, listed 22 recommendations that could trigger effective healthcare delivery system comparable with other developed countries.

He lamented: “It is troubling that after 53 years of independence, Nigeria’s health system is still struggling to deliver dividends of democracy to her long-suffering people.

“Nigerians had expected that following the Walter-Harkness 10 Year Development Plan as well as the enunciation of the first National Health Development Plan in 1960, Nigeria before half a century of her independence would have achieved Universal Health Coverage with all her citizens.

“This would have given them access to quality and affordable healthcare. Sadly, many factors have continually conspired against this.”

‘Oghiadomhe is Edo North PDP leader’

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GROUP of political stakeholders in Edo North senatorial district, has dismissed, as inconsequential, a purported vote of no confidence passed on President Goodluck Jonathan’s Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, by some Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, members in the area and a publication to that effect.

The group, “Edo North PDP Stakeholders,” in a statement by Michael Abekhe, said: “We are utterly surprised by the purported publication and socalled Edo North senatorial members, leaders and stakeholders’ meeting in Afeshio, Etsako West Local Government Area, chaired

by Johnson Agbolaba on passing a vote of no confidence and calling for the sack of Chief Oghiadomhe.

“What is the rationale behind such an resolution?

What is his crime? To be working for the No. 1 citizen of our great country, Chief Oghiadomhe has literally mortgaged his own life for the greater good of our nation. Oghiadomhe remains our leader in Edo North PDP.”

MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENT:

Lagos politicians back Salvador

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

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COALITION of politicians in Lagos, the Coalition of Politicians Across Political Parties, CPAPP, has thrown its weight behind Hon. Moshood Salavador for ministerial appointment.

Salvador, who is the Treasurer, Yoruba Unity Form, YUF, and a chieftain of the Southern Nigerian Peoples Assembly, SNPA, was alongside Capt. Tunji Shelle and Mrs. Aduke Maina nominated recently by the Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the federal job.

In a congratulatory letter to the former House of Representatives member, weekend, by the President, Mr. Oluwole Akanbi and Secretary, Michael Briggs, the CPAPP said Salvador deserves the nomination because he commands tremendous respect across political parties in the country and has been a major factor within Lagos PDP.

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12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013

Compel Okonjo-Iweala to pay allocations to states, Rep tells Jonathan

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—THE Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Mr. Samson Osagie, has urged the Presidency to direct the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, to urgently pay state governments their withheld three months statutory allocations or face the wrath of the National Assembly.

Noting that the National Assembly will not fold its arms and allow the Federal Government destroy the economies of states perceived to be antiPeoples Democratic Party, PDP, policies, he admonished state governors to head to court and obtain an order of mandamus, to compel the Finance Minister to release the withheld funds.

Osagie, who represents Uhumnwonde/Orhionmwon federal constituency, expressed fears that the prevailing situation could destroy the economies of states, which according to him would pitch the people against their governors, and stressed the need for the Federal Government to be compelled to pay allocations due to state governments immediately.

He said: “The Presidency should urgently direct the

Minister of Finance to stop playing politics with the statutory allocations of state governments to avert a collapse of the economies of the states over non-remittance of statutory allocations to them for almost three months. Members of the National Assembly are worried that the states have not received statutory allocations from the Federation Account even in the face of im-

proved revenue from both oil and non-oil sources.

“We don’t want to accept any argument of paucity of funds as field reports from our oversight functions show that revenue targets have been met and surpassed. We will not fold our hands and allow the Federal Government to deny states of their entitlements from the Federation Account in order to

make state governors pliable to the PDP government’s ambition to hold on to power beyond 2015.”

He called on the governors, to “seek an order of mandamus to compel the Finance Minister to release the funds.

We will defend our states and local governments because they are the units of development and delivery of democratic dividends.”

COMMISSIONING: From left; Deputy Governor of Delta State, Prof. Amos Utuama; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; Chairman, House Committee on Health, Mr. Ndudi Elumelu and the Ovie of Uvwie, during the commissioning of the Enerhen Road Junction Improvement Works, in Warri, weekend.

East-West Road: Shift completion date to Dec 2015, NASS tells N-Delta Ministry 2014 still realistic, Orubebe reassures

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

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YO—TO ensure that a durable and quality road was delivered to the people, the Joint Committee of the National Assembly, on Niger Delta Affairs, has advised the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to shift the December 2014 completion dateline for the East-West Road project to December, 2015.

The committee said that there was no need to rush the project described as “massive,” noting that the earlier date may not be realistic because of inadequate funding and environmental challenges confronting the project.

The committee also challenged the Federal Government to take the issue of sourcing for alternative funds for the project very serious, so as to complement the efforts of the ministry to deliver the over N332 billion project on time.

However, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, insisted that the project would be ready for commissioning by December 2014, following frantic moves by the ministry

to secure over N141 billion being the balance of the contract sum.

The minister, who reiterated that the deadline was attainable, said that the ministry had secured a credit facility of N50 billion from the African Development Bank, ADB, to complete the project.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator James Manager and his counterpart at the House

of Representatives, Warman Ogoriba, who led other members of the committee on oversight function to the project site, described the dualisation project as massive and warned that there was no reason to rush same.

Senator Manager, who commended the Niger Delta Ministry for the work done so far on the East-West Road, while addressing journalists in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, short-

ly after the inspecting the road stretching from Warri in Delta State to Oron in Akwa Ibom, said both committees had realised that the project still required enormous work to be done.

Senator Manager, who said that the committees did not blame anyone over the fate of the project, said anything worth doing was worth doing well, and that there was no reason to rush the work.

Rep, NANS fault Police clampdown on Rivers youths

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— MEMBER representing Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Dakuku Peterside, has faulted the Police in Rivers State for aborting a programme organised by members of Rivers Young Professionals and Ex-student Leaders, RIVLEAF, in Bonny island, weekend.

The group had gathered for an inaugural programme, when the Police stormed the venue, dispersing the gather-

ing. Effort by the group to reconvene at another venue was futile as the Police also chased them away.

The lawmaker, in his statement in Port Harcourt, accused the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mbu, of turning Rivers State into a Police state.

He said: “In every democracy, individual freedom and liberty is respected because power ultimately comes from the people. These strange occurrences in Rivers State are condemnable because they are antithetical to those fine principles of democracy,

which are held high all over the world. Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere.

Therefore, it is time Nigerians condemned in one voice, this brigandage and rape on peoples’ rights and liberties.”

In a related development, the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has condemned the Police for dispersing a gathering of newly recruited teachers in the state.

The students, at the end of their meeting in Port Harcourt, weekend, described the action of the Police as an abuse of power.

Strike: ASUU begs stakeholders to prevail on FG

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—THE Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Delta State University, Abraka, Chapter, yesterday, called on stakeholders, including civil society organisations, traditional rulers, church leaders and other well-meaning Nigerians, to prevail on the Federal Government to fully implement the 2009 ASUU/FGN Agreement; 2012 Memorandum of Understanding, MoU; the Needs of Assessment Report, and stop playing politics with the future of the country’s children.

The chapter, in a statement issued by its chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Mordi, said that the Federal Government should be held responsible for the delay in calling off the nationwide strike embarked upon by the union.

Anxiety in Delta community over alleged plan to install parallel monarch

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—THERE was tension in Agbarha-Otor Kingdom, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday, following an alleged plan by Owevwe community in the kingdom to install a parallel monarch today, to Ovie of Agbarha-Otor, HRM Okorefe I. It was gathered that banners and posters, purportedly announcing the installation of HRH Osegbe Joseph Arhiakpore as the 14th Ovie of Owevwe Kingdom, were placed at strategic corners in the community, weekend.

Vanguard learnt that Owevwe is a quarter in Agbarha-Otor Kingdom, and its head (Itsaborovie) is a representative of the Agbarha-Otor monarch, who is the paramount ruler in the community.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013—13

Biya frustrated Obasanjo’s effort to resolve Bakassi dispute —Duke

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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ORMER governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke, yesterday, hinted that President Paul Biya of Cameroon, frustrated every effort made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to resolve the dispute over the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula.

Speaking at the 60th birthday lecture in honour of Justice Charles Archibong (rtd), in Lagos, Duke said that Obasanjo and his entourage were, on one occasion, kept waiting for about three hours before they were attended to by the Cameroonian president.

According to him, several meetings were held behind the scene to avoid going before the International Court of Justice, but the Cameroonian leader frustrated the efforts.

He said it was later discovered that the reason Obasanjo was snubbed was due to an earlier confrontation between President Biya and former Military Head of State, late General Sani Abacha, over the issue.

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He said: “No one questions the ancestral ownership of Bakassi. Behind the scene, there were lots of works and meetings that went on. The problem of Bakassi did not start with the civilian administration. The case actually went to court in 1996, even before we were sworn into office in 1999.

“There was this famous world tour by President Obasanjo.

One of the places we visited was Cameroon. We arrived at

the airport, met with President Biya, who was seeing-off another leader, but he snubbed us. He left us at the airport for over three hours. We were there and the embassy staff did not know what to do. Grudgingly, he met with us, and lectured us on Bakassi. Later on, we found out that he was reacting to an earlier confrontation he had with late General Abacha.

“We thought we could settle

the matter out of court, because we knew we should never have gone to court in the first place, we didn’t stand a chance but Cameroon was adamant. We took the matter to the African Union and the Union tried to facilitate peaceful resolution of the matter, but it couldn’t work.”

He said that after the judgment of ICJ, the then President Obasanjo tried to remedy the situation by seeking protection from Britain and United State but they were not ready to assist.

Delta Central by-election: Aguariavwodo best senatorial candidate —Akpowowo

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—DELTA State youth leader of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Arthur Akpowowo, yesterday, said that Chief Emmanuel Aguariavwodo was the best man to represent Delta Central senatorial district in the Senate.

Speaking with newsmen in his Eku country home, Akpowowo said that Chief

Aguariavwodo has the experience to give the district better representation, having served as a member of the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2003.

He said: “Aguariavwodo is the best candidate among those vying for the Senatorial seat in the forth coming by-election. He is a former parliamentarian and administrator who has acquired experience over the years in

service to the people of Nigeria. He has brought democracy dividends to his constituency and has also brought his people and the entire Delta State to political limelight both at the state and federal levels.

“Aguariavwodo made us proud with his performance as Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission and as a member of the House of Representatives.”

Justice Okungbowa’s abduction: Activities paralysed in Edo courts

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—ACTIVITIES at the various courts in Edo State, were, yesterday, paralysed following the resolution of judicial workers in the state to boycott court sittings until Justice Daniel Okungbowa, who was abducted last week on his way to Ekpoma to resume sitting at the high court in the town, was released.

At press time, the family was yet to be contacted by his abductors and no ransom demand had been made.

Meanwhile there are indications that the Benin branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, may go back to its earlier decision not to defend cases involving kidnappers.

14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013

Abia SSG cheats death

NASS moves to reduce govs’ powers They are holding Nigeria hostage —Ugbesia

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA—PRO FESSOR Mkpa Agu Mkpa, the Secretary Government of Abia State, weekend, survived a ghastly auto crash along Abiriba road, leading to his home town.

Mkpa was said to be traveling home for a funeral ceremony of a relation when the accident occurred.

However, details of the accident are still sketchy but it was confirmed that the SSG was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, where he is receiving treatment.

The driver of the vehicle that collided with Mkpa’s was said to have died but Mkpa and his driver survived.

Mr. Ugochukwu Emezue, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Theodore Orji, confirmed the incident and explained that the SSG and his driver “are stable and responding to treatment.”

Visibly shaken by the incident, Governor Theodore Orji, who rushed to the hospital, assured the SSG that the state government would not abandon him.

Communal clash: 86 Ezzas still in prison, says lawmaker

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI—THE Minority Leader of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Enyi C. Enyi, disclosed yesterday that about 86 indigenes of Ezza extraction were still being held in Abakaliki Federal Prisons over their alleged involvement in the last Ezza-Ezilo crisis that took place in the area.

It should be recalled that the incident, which occurred on December 31, 2011, came as a big shock to the entire state as over 66 members of the community, including pregnant women, men and children, were allegedly killed by hoodlums numbering about 20.

The sad event did not only lead to loss of lives, but also destruction of properties worth millions of naira and blockade of Enugu-Abakaliki expressway for two days, which forced commuters to ply Afikpo-Abakaliki expressway, despite its deplorable state.

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BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAK-

WURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

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BUJA—WORRIED by the alleged overbearing influence of governors in the country, the National Assembly may commence the process of revisiting the constitution to whittle down the influence of state chief executives.

Indication to this emerged yesterday when the Chairman, Senate Committee on Trade and Investment, Senator Odion Ugbesia, in an exclusive interview with Vanguard in Abuja, revealed that the crises in the country, especially in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was as a result of the powerful influence of the 36 governors of the federation who, he accused of holding the nation hostage.

Senator Ugbesia, who represents Edo Central senatorial district, said the situation was bad because those who drafted the constitution of the country did not envisage that governors could hold the nation hostage as a result of the enormous power they had.

He said: “Long, long ago, I said it that the governors, the Nigerian governors have become too powerful. Those who drafted this constitution did not envisage a situation where 36 state governors can hold this country hostage because of the power they exercise.

“The Nigerian Governors Forum is not known to the Nigerian constitution, yet they determine the direction of Nigerian politics, they determine the colour of the Nigerian political process.

“Yes, that is where we are.

These G-6 or G-7 Governors, if they were ordinary people, then, we can dismiss what they say. But you cannot dismiss what any gov-

ernor says in this country because they have become too powerful.

“How have they become too powerful? It is because they are in control of too many resources.

They can determine the colour and shape of the political process in their various states. That is where we are.

“If you are coming to a national convention, those who are coming to a national convention are

delegates that are determined by governors.

“Political parties are functioning in different states according to the whims and caprices of governors, because they pay the piper to dictate the tone of political process in their respective states.”

Senator Ugbesia said something should be done to check the excessive powers of governors by looking at the constitu-

BRIEFING: From left: Mr. Soji Adebowale, Executive Secretary, Osborne Foreshore Estate, Ikoyi, Mr. Ifeanyi Amah, Group Executive Director, IPNX Nigeria Ltd, and Mr. Mitchel Elegbe, MD /CEO, Interwitcht Limited, during the briefing by IPNX Ltd on the strategic intent on current development of fibre-optic services, in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

Demolition: Radio station sues Imo Govt, 4 others

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—EMBATTLED owners of HOT 99.5 FM radio station, Owerri, have dragged the governor of Imo State, State Attorney General and three others to an Owerri High Court, challenging the impending demolition of the outfit by the state government.

Registered as suit number HOW/684/2013, the claimants are seeking a declaration that “the defendants have no right to demolish, destroy, damage and/or tamper with the mast, other communication infrastructure and/or structures” in the premises.

The claimants equally sought a declaration that they were not only “entitled to peaceable and undisturbed possession of the developed land known as and situate at Plot P12 within Public Building Layout, New Owerri,” but also that the defendants had no right to enter into the land in whatsoever manner.

Owners of the radio station are equally praying the court to restrain the defendants, their servants, agents and/or officers, from whatsoever manner, committing any act of trespass on the land.

The claimants prayed for “an injunction restraining the defendants, their servants, agents and/ or officers from in whatsoever

manner demolishing, destroying, damaging and/or tampering with the mast, other communication infrastructure and/or structures on the aforesaid land.”

When the matter was called up, the Senior State Counsel, Mr. J.

C. Ojiaka, who represented the defendants, asked for adjournment to enable him study and file their response, adding that they were only served the previous day.

Responding, the claimants’

counsel, Prince Ken C. O. Njemanze, SAN, took time to inform the court of the palpable threat of demolition, which the radio station was facing if nothing was done to avert it immediately.

Strike: Oritsejafor urges ASUU, FG to shift ground

BY TONY EDIKE &CALEB

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AYANSINA

BUJA—THE President, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has urged the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to shift ground to resolve the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by the union.

This came as lecturers at Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, reaffirmed their support for the ongoing nationwide indefinite strike.

Oritsejafor, who spoke yesterday in Abuja at the celebration to mark the country’s 53rd independence anniversary, said to resolve the strike that would be 90 days old today would not be a ‘ win-win’ situation, adding that the two parties must give and take, in the interest of Nigerian stu-

dents.

“Government must shift ground and ASUU also must shift ground. If they will allow us, we can resolve it, we

are prepared to provide solution, if they will allow us, it is possible,” he said.

5 govs to grace Igbo Day festival

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BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

AGOS—FOUR South East governors and their Bayelsa State counterpart, Seriake Dickson, have indicated interest to participate in this year’s Igbo Day celebration which comes up in Lagos, October 5.

President, Lagos State chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Oliver Akubueze, who disclosed this in Lagos last weekend, also commended Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State for the apology he rendered over the deportation of some Igbo indigenes to Bridge Head, Onitsha, recently.

He said the group had concluded plans to use the opportu-

nity of the celebration, themed, “Kwadoo Asusu Igbo (support Igbo language) to raise N200 million for the construction of an Igbo Language Support Centre for promotion of Igbo language, culture and values.

“The celebration will also be used to showcase our rich cultural heritage, values, fashion and food. It will also serve as a point of interaction amongst Igbos and non-Igbos in Lagos State,” he said.

Akubueze, who noted that Governor Fashola did well in offering the apology, said the apology served as an assurance that he would not repeat the action in future.

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16 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013 SENATORS shifted their attention to blaming the woes of Nigeria in the past 53 years on leaders – obviously they did know they were part of the leadership that has stalled Nigeria’s development, if only in the 14 years that they have worn democracy as a mantra, without inclination to thedevelopment of the country.

“Congratulations to Nigerians on her 53rd Independence Anniversary,” a motion Victor Ndoma-Egba and 11 others sponsored was platform for senators to express their regrets about Nigeria lagging behind Malaysia and Brazil, which they called its “contemporaries”.

The bases for the comparisons were mainly emotional contraptions about the promises Nigeria held at independence. Without an understanding of issues marring Nigeria’s development – among them an intractable federalism, jumbo-sized corruption, and legislators who think only about their welfare – the solutions they proposed were not surprising at all.

Some thought regionalism was the answer to the nation’s challenges. Others spoke of post-independence leadership of Sir Ahmadu Bello, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi

@ 53: Leaders Blame Leaders Awolowo, and blamed subsequent leaders for destroying the foundations the trio laid.

Ethnicity, as some said, was not as responsible for Nigeria’s state, as the absence of competitiveness. A country that believes in sharing, rather than producing, a country that would not use its best human resources because of their origins, a country that admits students to its federal schools to complete numbers, not based on intellectual grounding would get worse, when products of these “new beginnings” mature.

Comparisons with Malaysia, Brazil and Singapore often fail to recognise the place of competitiveness and provision of basic infrastructure in improving the standards of living. These in turn generate demands for

more goods and services, promote conducive environments for businesses, and create the jobs.

Senators are probably unaware that they are among the leadership that ruined the country in the past 14 years. Did they discuss their role in 53 years of Nigeria? The Senate is not the first attempt, for many of them, in leading Nigeria. What is their record of service?

Whether as local government officials, security officers, governors, ministers or commissioners in the States and various federal agencies, the Senate is populated with many who have made generous contributions to Nigeria’s parlous state. Are they unaware of their contributions to Nigeria, some dating more than 40 years? How could senators, in good conscience, join the lamentations?

These headline-tailored regrets would do Nigeria more harm. Which laws since 1999 did the National Assembly make to ensure Section 14 2b, “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government,” was actionable?

Nigerians expect the Senate to admit its poor care for Nigeria, followed with a plan for its atonement.

OPINION

BY GODWIN ETAKIBUEBU

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HE passage of Pius Akpo Ewherido into the great beyond, has created opportunity for the making of another Senator to represent the Delta State Central Senatorial seat in the Senate Chamber at Abuja.

That is life. A generation comes, a generation goes and it is only the earth that remains forever. Goodbye to “Gogorogo”; the amiable Ewherido! Welcome to another person! But who would this person be?

As the October 5, 2013 date of the byelection into the vacant seat comes closer, we need to be reminded that it is going to be purely Urhobo people affairs. Yes, the Delta Central Senatorial Zone is purely occupied by the Urhobo people, the fifth largest tribe in Nigeria. Expectedly therefore, lots of dynamics are already playing out on who, amongst many sons and daughters of the Urhobo Nation, emerges to occupy the seat.

The bitter truth that needs to be pointed out here and now is the fact that too many external influences [outside the Urhobo Nation and her people] will play diversified roles, much so that the right person might not emerge. Permit me to draw our attention to the national broadcast made by General Olusegun Obasanjo in his capacity as Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces on the eve of the

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Delta Central by-election: Urhobo people decide their destiny 1979 general election that ushered in the second republic.

“As Nigerians go to the poll tomorrow to elect their President, they should bear in mind that the most qualified candidate might not necessarily win”.

What that [the broadcast] meant became interpretation of various schools of thought until the interpretation was crowned by the twelve-two-third judgement, delivered by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The reference being drawn by this writer here is that, like the case above, other factors than those in the control of the Urhobo people of Delta State can play a “stranger” up as senator representing this dynamic people in the Senate. A look at few of such likely factors will suffice here – just for posterity and for historical records.

The Governor of the State is keenly interested in who succeeds Ewherido for strategic reason for his personal political survival and that of his tribe. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan grew up an Urhobo, in Urhobo land with ability to navigate tough and rough waters of Urhobo to safety in Urhobo shore.

Yes, he became the Governor of this vibrant State of Delta by the “finger” of Urhobo man – James Onanefe Ibori. Yet, the truth holds that Emmanuel Uduaghan is not an Urhobo man. Given his ancestral

background [forget about the place where he grew up which is accidental], will he be a “broad way” of paving the road for emergence of purposeful leader to represent and organise the Urhobo people for a position of stronger nationality within its nationality contemporaries? I doubt if the generosity of Uduaghan can go that far.

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nother factor is the financial background of contending candidates in the race. How many of them are financially viable outside government before now? Yes, l am aware of O’tega Emorhor who has been a financial institution from inception [which may not translate into political heavy weight of course] and Ede Dafinone [who tapped into his father ’s wealth], most of them are financially made by governments. It means therefore that those that are in control of power of today can throw-up the very worst of Urhobo man to become the next senator.

Will Ighoyota Amori make it? Huh! Did l hear that Ovie Omo Agege is in the race to represent the good people of Urhobo? Fred Majemite, my own personal bosom friend is coming up mightily with the backing of the Deputy Governor. Let us see how far he can go. Festus Keyamo, the firebrand lawyer from Lagos, no doubt has fought many battles in his career. I think he has

decided his case with his “own” party (APC) already without taking into heart the place of the Lord of the Political Jungle in Lagos, Ahmed Bola Tinubu. How could my brother Festus have done that?

I may not be able to mention all the contenders [both serious and pretenders] here for lack of space – forgive me please.

Permit me to end this piece by asking the most authoritative question.

Where is Professor Samson Oyovbaire in this race to the Senate? If only he had shown interest he would have been the best the Urhobo would have produced for the glorious chamber of the Senate. My God! The “Ebora Owu” - the legendary Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, said it all: “The best might not necessarily emerge”. And if Professor Oyovbaira cannot emerge due to oppressive factor, there is no way he could have won in a contest he never contested – meaning he would never be in the Senate to represent the Delta Central Senatorial Zone.

Yet, it is him l salute greatly as we shall miss him seriously in the Senate of the Federal Republic. Such is life! *Mr Etakibuebu, a political analyst, wrote from Warri

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EVERAL years ago, at a conference on Coastal Piracy in Nigeria’s Territorial Waters, I admonished a senior member of the Nigeria Customs and Immigrations Department that the Customs was the most corrupt sector of the Nigerian public service. As a result, the Customs receive by far the largest number of job-applicants in the entire service. The reason, I maintained, was because it is widely understood that Customs officials are Nigeria’s richest public-servants, given the fact that they are wellpositioned to extort and receive bribes.

Big-man lawlessness: The unfortunate Customs official at whom my reprimand was directed was not particularly offended. Rather, he observed solemnly that the Customs receive mixed signals from Nigerian officialdom. These indicate that laws are to be honoured more in the breach than in the observance.

Therefore, Customs officials have few qualms about being corrupt when, daily, they observe first-hand the corrupt practices of the powers-that-be.

He noted that, on the one hand, the government issues a directive stating that a certain item is banned, or is to attract a certain amount of duty. However, on the other hand, some “big-man” in the same government contradicts that very directive by giving instructions to Customs officials that Mr. Soand-So should be allowed in with 53 suitcases of the same banned item, or is to be exempted from duty payment.

Inevitably, Customs officials recognise that even members of the government are not interested in promoting their own

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Bigmanism in Nigeria ety are paraded as higher breeds beyond the pale of the law. These big-men flout all conventions and they break all the rules. In Nigeria, bigmanism is the key that opens all doors. You are either a big man or you are not. If you are, the world is your oyster. If you are not, you are the scum of the earth. In order to protect your rights, you will need to secure the good offices of a big-man.

The influence of the big-man in Nigerian society is without all bounds. To date, we have yet to define any areas of merit or excellence immune to the nepotistic influence of our bigmen. If, for example, a man obtains a first-class honours degree in Economics and a Masters in Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and subsequently secures employment at First Bank in Lagos, people would still want to know how he got the job.

Yes, he obtained a first-class degree in the relevant field alright but, tell me: is the Managing Director of First Bank his

,

Nigeria is not only the country with the largest Black population in the world; it is also, in all probability, the country with the largest number of big-men

laws. So why should they, as lowly officials, be expected to be more Catholic than the Pope?

The same logic can be applied to the high propensity towards armed robbery in Nigeria. Why should lowly paupers not resort to grand larceny for the sake of enjoying the “high life” when, day-in day-out, big-men steal millions and billions of public money with strokes of the pen and go unpunished?

Indeed, why should a Lawrence Anini be arrested and prosecuted for robbing an Agbor Bank of N50,000, when Chief Big-man, in the form of an Inspector-General of Police, is allowed to go virtually scotfree despite stealing a whopping N17 billion of public funds?

Nation of big-men: Bigmanism is a chronic national malaise in Nigeria. It is a disease whereby members of a highly visible segment of soci-

thereafter in their office as an untouchable big-man.

Former-big-men: Nigeria is not only the country with the largest Black population in the world, it is also, in all probability, the country with the largest number of big-men.

This number is swelled by the large retinue of ex-public functionaries, fondly referred to in some circles as “ex-this: exthat.”

The high turnover of government in Nigeria has brought many Nigerians into high public office, only to turn them out soon afterwards. High government turnover itself is compounded by administrative devolution. There are now 36 states, with people still clamoring for more. And then there is township bigmanism, represented by the obas, the emirs and the plethora of chiefs.

There are so many big men in Nigeria that the British government was constrained to send to Nigeria a list of the few public functionaries they recognise as big-men. Those big-men not on the list should not expect diplomatic protocols when visiting Britain.

uncle? Did one Chief Big-man push the right buttons for him?

Cheating the small-man: Bigmanism is also invaluable in Nigeria as a means of protecting your rights. Some years back, Yinka, a friend of mine, was arrested for obstructing traffic, when all he did was move out of the way for an ambulance with blaring sirens.

He was fined N7,500 and also charged N1,500 for car radio license. When he asked the arresting officer if he could see any radio in his car, he just smiled at him then put a sticker on his windscreen stating that he had paid for his non-existent car-radio.

When Yinka got home, he felt so cheated. He knew what happened to him was nothing but daylight robbery. On reflection, he concluded that the reason he was robbed so blatantly was because he was a “Nobody.” He was driving an old ramshackle

car which did not even have a radio. He was scruffilydressed and was subdued throughout his ordeal. So he decided to fight back. He understood that, in order to do this effectively, he had to become “Somebody.”

Big-man’s redemption: So the next day, he went back to the offending office. But this time, he went as a big-man. He put on a pompous suit-and-tie. He went in a posh saloon car. He did not drive himself; he went chauffeur-driven. Immediately he got out of his car, a gentleman accosted him and greeted him lavishly. “I seem to know you from somewhere,” he said. He stared at him for a moment then asked: “Did you use to own a business at Ikoyi Hotel?” “Yes,” he replied. “That’s right,” he said, “my office was at Glover.

What can I do for you, Sir? My name is Onikoyi and I am in charge here.”

“You are the man I have come to see,” Yinka replied. “Yesterday, one of your men arrested and fined me N7,500 for making way for an ambulance.

On top of that, he charged me N1,500 for car radio license.

When I protested that I did not have a car radio, he simply laughed at me.”

Arrogant oppressor Mr. Onikoyi asked: “Can you recognise the man involved if you see him again?” “Yes, I can,” he replied. At which point, he directed that all his subordinates should line up for Yinka’s inspection. But before they could do that, his nemesis of the day before walked in. “This is the man,” Yinka declared.

Mr. Onikoyi did not waste any time with him. “That is the end of your job here,” he said.

This man, who had been Yinka’s arrogant oppressor the day before, now started rolling on

Former public functionaries

the ground at his feet, begging for his job. Mr. Onikoyi said to him: “Look at you, useless man.” Then he turned to Yinka: “The man has two wives!”

Yinka’s N7,500 fine was refunded to him. Unfortunately, his radio license fee could not be refunded for administrative reasons.

Yinka could not confirm if the man was actually sacked in the end. All he knows is that he prevailed on that occasion by becoming a “big man.” That is how the system works in Nigeria. If you are not a bigman, you are likely to be cheated with impunity.

A few weeks later, Yinka was arrested yet again, in the same vicinity. This time, the traffic warden stopped him, and then told him to proceed. But when he did, he arrested him, insisting he only told the car in front of him to go. When he refused to play ball by offering a quick bribe, he jumped into the front-seat with him and took him to the same office.

As Yinka got out of the car on reaching there, he was immediately surrounded by a number of the arresting officer’s colleagues. “What are you doing here, Sir,” they enquired anxiously. Before he could answer, they insisted he must leave at once. “There’s no problem, Sir, no problem at all,” they chorused, determined that he should not, under any circumstances, see Mr. Onikoyi. That was apparently the last of his problems with them. I believe he must have been classified

Part of the problem here is that Nigeria’s former public functionaries continue to act as bigmen, and expect to continue to be treated as big-men, even after they are out of office. What this means, in effect, is that the more the turnover of government, the more the bigmen there are to flout the law.

The more states we have; the more public officers we have, the more our streets, offices, banks and airports are littered with big-men, former big-men and “acting” big men, always at the ready to ask: “Do you know who I am?”

And then there is yet that other category: those Nigerians who are big-men by extension.

They are the brothers and sisters and uncles and aunties of the big-men. These people are likely to ask the bureaucrat or the law-enforcement agent whether he knows that so-andso is their relative. This approach works, for the simple reason that superior authorities are not inclined to back up their subordinates who deny special privileges either to big-men or their relations. In fact, denial of those privileges is one of the surest ways of losing your job.

Future big-men: So, after listening to the simple rationalisations of the Customs official, I came to the conclusion that, while most young graduates may wish to become Customs officials, most Nigerians have one burning ambition: to become big-men. Very soon, if you were to ask a Nigerian boy of five years old what he would like to be when he grows up, don’t be surprised if he replies: “I want to be a big-man.”

82—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013

I

T is 12 noon this sunny afternoon in Umuahia, capital city of Abia State. The tricycle (popularly called keke) in which I am riding has suddenly screeched to a halt. I have struggled to shuffle my body out of the compacted shelter of the automobile and I am now standing at the popular “gate” of Umuahia. I have looked around but I cannot see any wall, no sentry, no gatemen and actually no gate. What I see is commotion on the prowl.

Umuahia is not the ancient medieval city of walls and mighty gates, with gun-toting soldiers at the ready. But, here, where I stand, is designated as the “gate”. To every resident of Umuahia, this central point of the city is the ‘gate”.

Quite significantly, the gate identifies the main market at the centre of the metropolis and the many loading points of several inter-state transport companies.

The place is a melting pot that captures the heartbeat of the city.

It is the Lagos version of the old Oshodi or the old Marina where man and mermaids compete for the available space within a 100 square metre radius of land. There is an overhead flyover that has been ignored and hordes of street traders with a stream of men moving in all direction. There are

noise and commotion.

As I meander around the “gate” this afternoon, admiring a live movie of urban pressure, with all its tension and conflicts, the word “gate” comes to me as a euphemism for chaos. There is a conscious effort, I suppose, to be sarcastic about the real life situation at this place with the word “gate”. Are there historical resemblances with activities at the old gates with the commotion and environmental pollution that are the hallmarks of this central place of Umuahia? Could the indigenes have been alluding to a historical place notorious for rowdiness in their choice of the word “gate”?

Thank God, a Daniel has come to judgment! Governor Theodore Orji is set to cure the menace of the “gate” of Umuahia. Orji is set to bring order and decency to this perimeter of land that has taken a bold identity for rowdiness. He is set to arrest the environmental challenges occasioned by this boiling point of Umuahia. Early in his first tenure, the Governor identified that the main issue with this place was the main market which ought not to have been located at such a central place of the metropolis. He immediately set out to relocate the market to a more conducive place away from the hub of the city.

Today, the 4000 units of malls at the Ubani-Ibeku Ultra Modern

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Market at the outskirts of Umuahia have been completed and the Governor is set to execute his vision. The stalls and other facilities, including water, electricity, security posts, clinic, fire station and access roads have all been completed. The Governor has, therefore, put a deadline to the final evacuation of traders to the new market and has gone ahead to inaugurate a Relocation Committee headed by Chief Ebenezer Offor.

B

ut, there are murmurings in the land. As would be expected, some traders who would surely be affected by this movement are expressing some form of apprehension. This is quite understandable. People always resist change. People always prefer to remain in their comfort zones no matter how cold or hot the zones might be. But, the world is changing fast. Innovation is the

@ 53, Nigeria on the road to Yugoslavia

BY BOBSON GBINIJE "Soon enlightened nations will put on Trial those who had hitherto ruled over them.

Kings shall flee into the deserts, into the company of the wild Beast whom they resemble. And nature shall resume her rights.” --The prophesy of St. Jaust, just before the French Revolution}.

W

E need no eschatological clairvoyance to know that politicalsocio-economic vicissitudinary turgescency are inextricably intertwined with developmental strides in the life and times of any individual, state or nation. Hence, the essayist William Blake (1757-1827) posited in his Proverbs of hell that, “the man or nation which never alters his / its opinion / state is like standing water and breeds reptiles of the mind”. This was corroborated

by Schiller (1759-1805) in his Maid of Orleans that “that nation is worthless which does not joyfully stake everything in defense of her honour".

Whither goeth Nigeria after 53 years of independence? I daresay say, it has been 53 years of hellishly scorching pains and horrendous spasms of agony. Fifty-three years of a tale told by an idiot packed full of political, socio-economic sounds and furies signifying a superfluity of nothingness. Fiftythree years of the leadership graft and corruption- no light, no roads, no schools, no education, no water, no fear of God, no jobs, no transportation, no joy and no happiness for 99 percent of Nigerians, except for politicians and their cohorts.

In Homer's Illiad, he did an encyclopedic and kaleidoscopic encapsulation of Nigerians and Nigeria after 53 years of independence. He said: “The gods(Nigerian leaders) have so spun the thread for wretched mortals (Nigerians) that they must live in pains. “ Nigeria has earned over one quintillion pounds from its multidimensional revenue base since independence, but very little to show for it.

C M Y K

The leaders (executives and legislators) at states and national levels have allocated psychotic jumbo salaries and allowances to themselves, whilst the vast majority of Nigerians wallow in abject and scorching poverty.

It is a hackneyed truism that when the choreographer loses his wits and the conductor his dexterity, the dancers and the members of the philharmonic orchestra become cocooned in contretemps. This scenario has been the bane of the Nigerian nation since 1960 till date.

The multi-faceted political, socioeconomic engineering processes conceptualised and implemented without sincerity of purpose by the military junta and so-called democratically elected government has left Nigeria cascading down the slope of crass socio-economic underdevelopment and the schismatic road to Yugoslavia.

The kingdoms and geographical expressions of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes were renamed Yugoslavia in 1929- and was run as a highly centralized “Greater Serbia” The country was befuddled and bedraggled by political and nationalist schisms and Croats separatists murdered king Alexander in 1934. It was attacked and dismembered by Hitler in 1941 and also bemused and submerged in intra and interpolitical wars against the Nazis and itself.

The communist-led partisans of Josep Broz Tito (1892 - 1980) emerged victorious in 1945, and reformed Yugoslavia along Soviet lines. It was expelled by Stalin from the Soviet bloc in 1948 on account of political and ideological indiscipline. The Yugoslavia communists rejected Soviet model and pursued policies of decentralization, worker ’s selfmanagement and non – alignment.

However, after Tito’s death in 1980, the Yugoslavia Federation/Confederation, unity and ideological experiment failed and became sunken in the quagmire of political and nationalist crises.

The wealthier northern republics of

order of the day. Therefore, the gate of Umuahia cannot continue to remain the sully spot and the nuisance that it is to the capital city.

Umuahia must be part of the modern world metropolis where order and decency reign. This, precisely, is the vision of Ochendo in the planned relocation of the market.

All over the world where such social transformation vision has been executed successfully, the experience has always been the same. But, my humble advice to the Umuahia traders is that one cannot make omelet without breaking eggs. If Abia State must be part of the new emerging society of orderliness and decency, we must endure the necessary sacrifices towards infrastructural renewal and the building of the new society of our dreams.

Indeed, the beauty of the relocation exercise is that traders and all interest groups in Abia State have been duly carried along since the beginning of the project.

A notice to this effect has been publicly announced since a year.

To also cushion the effects, Governor Orji has procured buses to assist in moving people’s goods to the new market. The Governor also made concession to the traders, including slashing the price of the shops and extending the payment period to four years Earlier, the Governor has also relocated the timber market which adjoined the World Bank and Low Cost residential areas of Umuahia.

Like the main market, the timber

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BY GODWIN ADINDU

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The ‘Gate' of Umuahia

The gate of Umuahia cannot continue to remain the nuisance that it is; Umuahia must be part of the modern world metropolis where order and decency reign

The leadership must be patriotic and altruistic and must be prepared to see the Nigerian nation as their unprejudiced and unbiased single constituency

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Slovenia and Croatia edged and opted for democracy and Western European political models while Serbia forcefully resisted the separatist aspirations of Albanian nationalists in Kosovo Province in 1990.

The communist conceded principle of free elections and every nation went their way with pockets of resistance in some areas till today.

The vertical and horizontal integration of the history of Yugoslavia has become necessary in the light of what Nigeria has been passing through as a nation since 1960 till date. The inability of the leadership to fight corruption and engender cohesion has given rise to parochial irredentism, tribalism, religions wars and militancy.

We have ethnic nationalities and geopolitical zones being represented by militant groups and others like Arewa, Afenifere, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Urhobo Progress Union,UPU, and political / religious militant groups like Boko Haram, Egbesu Cult, Liberation Movement of Urhobo people, MASSOB, OPC, etc, shows that Nigeria is on the road to Yugoslavia.

T

o salvage Nigeria from this labyrinth, we have to call our politicians to order in the light of 2015. The way and manner they are going about trying to actualise their political ambitions snacks of the truism that the Nigerian nation will be “Antediluvian History” on, before or after 2015. The demon of political rascality and

market was also located in a wrong area of town. It brought about untold hardship to the residents, causing heavy traffic gridlock, pollution and general environmental problems to the area. Today, the traders have adjusted to their new location at Ahiaeke, on the Umahia-Ikot Ekpene Road.

With the relocation of these markets, there will be ample room for the redesigning and rebeautification of the city to bring it to its pride of place as the capital of a progressive state. Already, a new housing estate is springing up at the former location of the timber market. By the time the main market is fully evacuated and the shanty stalls demolished, government will also redesign the area. This, no doubt, will change the face of Umuahia.

These efforts fall within Ochendo’s programme of restoration of the lost glory of Abia. From Aba, the commercial hub of the state through Umuahia to the communities, it has been a concerted effort at building the state afresh. At 22 years of Abia, it is now that the solid foundations for the state are being laid.

Today, the “gate” of Umuahia might be the satirical metaphor for urban commotion. But, by the time Ochendo is done with it, it will surely be a lucid narrative about the rebirth of a city and of a state. *Mr Adindu, President-General of Abia Renaissance Movement, ARM, wrote from Umuahia.

horrendous leadership impunity must be deracinated from our body-politick hook, line and sinker. Let our leaders redefine the contours of politics from “strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage” (The Devils Dictionary) and “politicians are like the bones of a horse’s for shoulder - not a straight one in it” (Wendell Phillips) to “politics is the doctrine of the possible, the attainable” (Otto Von Bismarck).

The political parties, especially the PDP, must put their houses in order and stop heating the polity. President Goodluck Jonathan must give a patriotic, sagacious and perspicuous, consideration on whether to drop his political ambition to contest the 2015 presidential election or not to contest in the interest of peace, unity and continuous existence of Nigeria as a nation.

We must convene a national conference of ethnic nationalities and not a sovereign national conference. There must be serious economic strategy to ameliorate poverty in Nigeria and the enhancement of service delivery of all welfare and social agencies to the citizenry.

The continuous existence of Nigeria as a nation remains a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma superimposed in a conundrum. Are Nigerians and Nigeria prepared to remain as one sovereign, united, indissoluble and progress-oriented country?

The leadership must be prepared to take the bull of true unity, progress and development by the horns. The leadership must be patriotic and altruistic and must be prepared to see the Nigerian nation as their unprejudiced and unbiased single constituency.

The vast majority of poverty-stricken and oppressed Nigerians are already asking in words of Williams Shakespeare that, "Nigeria: To be or not to be: that is the question: whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing, end them.”

Chief Gbinije, convener of Mandate Against Poverty, wrote from Warri

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013—83

, In search of a new beginning PROLOGUE

BY OCHEREOME NNANNA

F

IGHTERS for Nigeria’s independence must be baffled over what we, today’s generation, have made of our National Day. Among our founding fathers, there were those who fought selflessly for Nigeria’s freedom and there were others who were part of it only when their region’s interests were sufficiently assured.

One of these selfless fighters, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, once told this writer that he and some of his colleagues in the Zikist Movement decided not to marry until Nigeria was granted independence.

According to him, they did not want to leave young widows and orphans behind in case the struggle claimed their lives.

Today, no one even bothers to remember the sacrifices of the founding fathers, at least with a view to attaching due value to our independence, which is marked every October 1.

The euphoria of Black people C M Y K

being freed from colonial bondage and able to pursue their destiny in the comity of nations took the citizenry by storm.

For about 20 years after independence, the anniversary celebration was a day to look forward to, especially by children and youths.

It was a day to go out and salute the National Flag in the stadia and central sports arenas.

It was a day for schools to compete for the best in the march pasts.

Voluntary agencies It was a day to watch the pageantry of the military and uniformed voluntary agencies show their skills on the parade ground. To cap it all off, it was a day for the best footballing schools in the city to slug it out, amid cultural displays.

Before long, the dark cloud of the political environment descended on the tradition of October 1 revelries.

The political crises in Western Nigeria during the First Republic triggered a bloody coup and counter coup, which

eventually plunged the nation into a civil war.

They called it “the war to keep Nigeria one”.

When the secession bid of Biafra was successfully prevented, the nation came back together, but clearly, the leaders of the country had other things on their minds than building “a nation where no man is oppressed”.

The nation was divided and treated on a scale of privilege and the goodies of Nigeria shared according to people’s ranking on this ignoble scale.

Discontent arising from lack of equity and justice in the system prompted numerous military coups and attempted coups, some of which were ruthlessly put down with attendant bloodshed.

The fear of coups and assassinations forced the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida to, for the first time in our history; introduce the culture of celebrating our independence in a “low key”.

The president or head of state no longer came out to the parade ground to salute the flag. Celebrations took the form

of lectures and art exhibitions as well as visits to charity homes by the wife of the head of state.

The new threat of terrorism in recent years even confined the president of the country to the secure grounds of Aso Villa.

Today, not much importance is attached to the day of our independence. Most people only know about it because of the compulsory public holidays.

Weak civics Nigeria, everybody has admitted, is a country but not a nation. The people of the country do not have a single notion of what their country stands for.

They do not have a shared vision of where to go and how to proceed there.

They are not standing together. They are stinging one another like hostile insects forced into a basket.

They are ganging up to oppress one group after the other due to envy, covetousness and ethno-phobia, quest for ethnic or regional dominance, Continues on page 84

Perhaps, the third option of a new constitutional beginning is the only viable way forward.

The argument behind this is simple. Nigeria, on this October 1, 2013, will be celebrating her final independence in her first one hundred years, Nigeria can use this opportunity to start a peaceful new beginning by empanelling a constitutional conference with full constituent powers

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84—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013

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One of these selfless fighters, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, once told this writer that he and some of his colleagues in the Zikist Movement decided not to marry until Nigeria was granted independence, According to him, they did not want to leave young widows and orphans behind in case the struggle claimed their lives

,

•Founding fathers: Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Tafawa Balewa and Chief Obafemi Awolowo

In search of a new beginning Continues from page 83 political opportunism or religious supremacy.

Every group has had its own taste of the mob action. Nigeria is a country where not a single group can claim to be happy or contented.

From the beginning, the British colonial rulers administered separate Southern and Northern Protectorates.

The amalgamation of the two divides in 1914 and the integration of the Colony of Lagos into the arrangement were meant for administrative convenience.

Little effort was made to encourage the elements of the entity to see one another as common citizens of a future united nation.

The introduction of the federal Constitution and the Eastern, Western and Northern Regions in 1948 seemed to pour fuel into the cauldron of the country’s disunity, as each region, dominated by the three ethnic majorities – Hausa/ Fulani, Igbo and Yoruba – fought for supremacy.

Vehement struggles Inside the regions, even more vehement struggles for supremacy and survival in an independent Nigeria were raging between the regional C M Y K

Majorities and their respective ethnic Minorities.

While the Majorities fought all attempts to create separate states for their Minorities, they allied with groups in other regions to force the splitting of rival regions. That was how the Mid West Region was created.

It was this ugly rivalry that defined the creation of the first 12 states by General Yakubu Gowon in 1967, which became the final straw that pushed the former Eastern Region to declare their secession.

After the war, sectional domination and imbalances in the system became heightened.

In addition, the rise of oil as the major resource for the nation led to mass poverty and stoked the fire of corruption in the system.

Perpetual heat in the polity It brought about a few super rich people connected to government, the major source of wealth, while the great majority of the populace was left to wallow in poverty.

Out of this grew the bogey of wicked, violent crimes, such as robberies, kidnapping, terrorism and human trafficking.

The perpetual heat in the polity owes to the fact that the oil-fed wealth of the nation only gets to the people through

governments at federal, state and local council levels.

The fight for political offices and top governmental posts has become a do-or-die affair, and politicians have demonstrated their willingness to form temporary private armies to fight their ways into government.

Going forward There are three major perspectives often touted as the way to move Nigeria forward.

The conservatives, especially those who have for long been entrenched in privilege, insist the best way is to put good leaders in power at all levels.

But this argument is defeated by the fact that the system controllers (godfathers) only like to put people who will do their bidding in power. The search for “good leaders” thus becomes elusive.

There are those who advocate for “revolutions”. They call for the “Rawlings Option”, whereby past leaders who have played roles in plunging the nation into the abyss would be polished off in a bloody “stable cleansing”.

That may no longer work. The Nzeogwu coup of 1966, had it worked according to the planning of those behind it, would have been the precedent the Ghana and other people would have learnt from.

But since it was ethnicised and regionalised, and it led to a civil war, revolutions do not seem to offer much hope. Any attempt would suffer the same fate.

Perhaps, the third option of a new constitutional beginning is the only viable way forward.

The argument behind this is simple. Nigeria, on this October 1, 2013, will be celebrating her final independence in her first one hundred years. Nigeria can use this opportunity to start a peaceful new beginning by empanelling a constitutional conference with full constituent powers.

Nigerians can, for the first time ever, discuss the acceptable way forward into a new Century without the authoritarian colonial or military forces manipulating its outcome.

We can then write a constitution that we all believe in.

We can then remove all the falsehoods, artificialities and pretences that made the First Century Nigeria a hot, unhappy and unstable place for all.

A new beginning of this nature will be an opportune, peaceful means of preventing disintegration, which many had predicted will be the lot of Nigeria by 2015.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013—85

Fiscal federalism 'll make Nigeria great again this period there was no serious investment in power and other critical infrastructure, the ones available were not maintained and infrastructural decay set in making many to feel that Nigeria is a failed state.

This is far from the truth.

Nigeria is a land of ample opportunity and immense possibility. In a fast changing and evolving world, where weaklings of yester years have become economic giants and the strong of yesterday are fading in economic glory and becoming weaklings. Nigeria has a chance to make a difference. Twenty years ago, no development economist would have accepted any theory that postulated the emergence of China, India and Brazil as economic power houses.

N

IGERIA after Independence was on the right path of economic growth and development. It had visionary leaders who were interested in the welfare of the people.

Industries were springing up in every region of the country. In the North, Ahmedu Bello who held sway was occupied by setting up farm settlements, textile industries.

It was the same story in the East where Michael Opera set up farm settlements and a number of manufacturing companies. In the West, Chief Awolowo, apart from the popular free education, set up a number of industrial estates which attracted several companies from abroad. It is this simple reason that the West is the most industrialized part of the country.

At this time, the Nigeria economy was in top shape and at take off stage in economic development. The Nigerian economy was rated along the same indices with Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia and the rest of the now talked about BRICKS countries. Then Nigeria had development plans that guided the nation.

•Shagari

Economic power house

Autonomous entities In the North pyramids of groundnuts and cotton were part of foreign exchange earning commodities. In the West, cocoa was found in abundance.

It brought pride to the nation.

The various regions were autonomous entities and there was competition among the regions on internally generated revenue. The military intervention and the discovery of crude oil in commercial quantity seemed to have radically altered the course of Nigeria's economic development. While the military discarded the fiscal federalism structure of the country and made the states to become federal allocation collector, the discovery of oil made Nigerian leaders to sleep walk and refuse to plan believing that the money flowing from the ground will solve all the nation's problems.

As the military leaders were sleep walking and basking in the euphoria of petro dollar earnings, Nigeria’s population was

•Obasanjo growing faster than the resources Peter Drucker, the management expert, in his book the practice of management wrote that “Innovation is the specific instrument of entrepreneurship, the act that endows resources with a new capacity to create wealth.

Nigeria military leaders did not yield to the management advice that management must always, in every decision and action, put economic performance first. It can only justify its existence and its authority by the economic results

it produces.

There may be great noneconomic results: the happiness of the members of the enterprise, the contribution to the welfare or culture of the community, etc.

Yet management has failed if it fails to produce economic results.

It has failed if it does not supply goods and services desired by the consumer at a price the consumer is willing to pay. It has failed if it does not improve or at least maintain the wealth-producing capacity of the economic resources entrusted to it. During

Today, China is almost the largest economy in the world beating United Kingdom, Japan, France, Germany and Italy.

According to a United Nations economic data, the global economy's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as at 2010 was $62.6 trillion. Of this, the United States of America accounted for $14.447 trillion as the largest economy in the world. It is followed by China with a GDP of $5.739 trillion making it the second largest economy.

Japan the third largest has $5.458 trillion GDP. Germany which is fourth has a GDP of $3.280 trillion while France the fifth has $2.559 trillion GDP. Britain which dominated the world for decade as the economy to beat is now a distant sixth economy in the comity of nations. Nigeria is occupying 47th position with a GDP of $238.920 billion.

This shows that from the peak there is only one easy way to go: downwards. It always requires twice as much effort and skill to stay up as it did to climb up.

In other words, there is real danger today that in retrospect the United States of 1950 may come to look like the Great Britain of 1880—doomed to decline for lack of vision and lack of effort. Going by the current trend and projection by 2020 there will be a major shift in the global balance of economic power compared to 2010.

Continues on page 86

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BY OMOH GABRIEL, BUSINESS EDITOR

Looking at the Nigerian economy in the last few years from global perspective, foreign investors are now looking to Africa, Nigeria and Kenya in particular

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86—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013

Fiscal federalism 'll make Nigeria great again Continues from page 85 Emerging economies will rise in importance and China would have overtaken the USA to lead the list of the world’s top 10 largest economies by GDP measured in PPP terms.

Looking at the Nigerian economy in the last few years since the return to democratic governance, from global perspective, foreign investors are now looking to Africa, Nigeria and Kenya in particular.

There seems to be a tide, the type Shakespeare spoke about, in the economic affairs of Nigeria if only policymakers can see beyond their noses and take the tide at its high to give Nigeria an economic take-off to recover from the missed opportunities of the late and early 1980s.

•Mohammed

•Gowon

Epileptic power supply

But many out there are seeing the Nigeria experiment as a land of great opportunity, the United States of America recently described Nigeria as the next economic success story

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Investors are seeing what most Nigerians are not seeing. The complaint of lack of infrastructure, epileptic power supply, low industrial base etc., are fast becoming opportunities to foreign investors.

At the Reuters Africa investors’ forum in Johannesburg early this year, foreign investors who have businesses in Nigeria and other African countries were quoted as saying; “If you want to ride Africa’s business boom, choose your country well and be ready for bumps on the road.

But the momentum is upward and you will be rewarded if you stay the course.” African policymakers and chief executives of companies operating in Africa are spreading this upbeat message, as interest in what was once dubbed the “hopeless continent” blossoms along with growth rates.

During the year, Global X Funds listed the first Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) on the New York Stock Exchange to track Nigerian stocks. The head of the Fund said this is a move which will enable U.S. investors to buy high growth Nigerian shares at home.

Nigeria, in the eyes of funds managers and economists today, is growing in popularity as an investment destination, offering the promise of seven per cent economic growth and a consumer market of around 170 million people. The Nigerian stock market index rose 35 percent in 2012 but dropped to 29 per cent this year, making it the second best performer in Africa and one of the best in the world. The index is up 29 per cent so far this year and analysts expect gains to continue as strong corporate

•Buhari

•Babangida

•Abacha

•Abdulsalami

earnings trickle in.

There are a massive amount of U.S. investors looking to get exposure to Nigeria.

Nigeria’s stock exchange disclosed that it is reviewing applications from some leading global investment banks to join its trading floor, as reforms aimed at improving liquidity and transparency bear fruit. Mr. Oscar Onyema, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, told the Reuters Africa Investment Summit in Lagos that some foreign investment banks have applied to trade on the floor of the exchange. “We cannot announce which ones yet but

they are in the top 10 in the world,” Onyema said.

Rencap and Standard Bank already have traders operating on the floor of the exchange.

Before the stock market bubble burst in 2008, wiping nearly two thirds off its value in a year.

Domestic investors own 85 percent of the shares, with foreigners owning the rest. The investment tide is afoot; will Nigerian public servants, government functionaries and elected officials stop stealing and ride on the tide of development?

Come January 2014, the geographical expression called Nigeria will be 100 years old.

The Northern and Southern protectorates were amalgamated

by Lord Lugard in 1914. The land mass in which Nigeria is located is a land flowing with milk and honey. Many have looked at the progress made in desperation and have written off the country. But many out there are seeing the Nigeria experiment as a land of great opportunity.

The United States of America recently described Nigeria as the next economic success story.

Apart from its natural resources, Nigeria has a young and dynamic population made up of upwardly mobile middle class. It is this middle class that current serve as attraction to the international business community because of the huge market it represents. The experience of the telecom operators in Nigeria bears this out clearly. It is for Nigeria to put its act together and get it right.

Nigeria’s economy has been growing at 6-7 per cent in the last few years without regular supply of power, when eventually the country gets the power equation right, the economy will frog leap.

Economic success President Barack Obama himself declared Nigeria as the world’s next economic success story, stressing that this was one of the major reason his government was committed to helping the country build strong democratic institutions and remove constraints to trade and investment through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

Making this declaration at the US-Nigeria Trade and Investment Forum, an event organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDOA) in Washington DC, during the year, Obama who was represented by Ambassador Eunice Reddick, said that his country expanded opportunities for Nigeria to effectively access markets and diversify its economy beyond a narrow reliance on natural resources. “As we support these efforts, the Diaspora can play an important role in contributing to a strong, vibrant and economically prosperous Nigeria” he noted.

It is not only the US government that is seeing the great possibilities in Nigeria. In 2004, Goldman Sach said that Nigeria will emerge one of the 20 largest economies of the world in 2025. This was the basis of Continues on page 88

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VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013—87

It’s time to pause and decide Nigeria's future — Iwuanyanwu This is very important because every part of this country needs to have a sense of belonging.

If we don’t have a Federal Character and it is left to the whims and caprices of some people that don’t have the efficiency or capability, then it means that the weak will continue to be weak and the poor will continue to be poor and that will not be good for this country.

For example, everyday, you see people from the South East clamouring for Igbo Presidency and I feel that they are right because they know that their forebears like Zik played a frontline role in securing the Nigerian independence. South East also knows that their men and women are all over this country playing major roles in shaping the country’s destiny, socially, economically and otherwise.

So, they think that they deserve to be given the power but without zoning, it may probably be very difficult for people in their type of structure to achieve that. That is why, I think we must be bold enough to put this in the constitution.

Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, politician, industrialist and publisher of Champion Newspapers, is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

W

HAT is your thought on Nigeria as a nation?

Frankly speaking, I don’t believe that when Lord Luggard amalgamated the North and South he had the intention of establishing a nation based on unity, love and prosperity.

I think Luggard only did that for the convenience of the British Trading Company that employed him. He was just a staff of the company and of course he made every effort to maximize profit and the bigger the profit he made, the more he pleased his masters.

In the history of mankind, God at times takes a very simple action which he turns into a very serious situation. That action, which was very simply taken by Luggard has been able to transform into one of the strongest countries of the world. I think Nigeria, as it is today, is one of the strongest countries in the world. Nigeria is endowed enormously with potentials.

Our diversity means that Nigeria has got everything that God can give to a people in this world. And if Nigerians have a government, if Nigerians decide to harness these resources, we will be able to build a country, which no nation in the world can overtake in any situation.

What is your take on calls for national conference?

President Goodluck Jonathan has been very kind and generous to Nigerians and by next year, we will be 100 years as a nation.

In the life of a people, there comes a time, when the people pause for a while, to reflect on the past, examine the present situation and then decide the future. I think for Nigeria, the time is now.

Over the years, the history is clear and we know how we fought for our independence and got it in 1960. Soon, after that, we went into an unfortunate civil war. And of course, that civil war was a major set-back to Nigeria but in spite of the civil war, we still remain strong. Very few countries will come out of a very serious civil war and still stand to day as a very strong nation, respected all over the world.

Do you have faith in this

•Iwuanyanwu nation?

I have faith in this country; I believe that Nigerians should do everything humanly possible to preserve the entity. There is not part of Nigeria that has not got tremendous natural potentials.

Some of them are being tapped today; some of them will be tapped in future. There is no part of Nigeria that has not got human resources that are needed for the development of the people, but what I want in Nigeria is actually honesty of purpose.

Now, I will start off from the political angle: in any country like Nigeria or republic, Nigeria is not obviously a nation, it comprises nation states. That Lord Luggard by force amalgamated Nigeria does not necessarily mean that Nigerians have essentially agreed to be together but we have learnt over the years to live together and we are ready to live together. I think one thing that makes the country survive more than anything is for the people to be fair to one another.

Federal Character is very important. One issue that creates problem in this country is the

office of the President of this country.

Nigerians over the years, throughout our experimentation on how to govern ourselves, started with three regions, we came to four regions. We had 12 states and today we have 36 states and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Now, in our constitution, there is a clear policy of Federal Character. This is very important.

This is being applied in many areas. Nigerians must make sure that the Presidency of this country reflects Federal character. Nigeria is not the first country to do that. Switzerland, America and many other countries do it. We have now six geo-political zones. Every geopolitical zone can produce a president.

I don’t see why Nigerians can’t be bold enough to put rotation of the presidency in the constitution among the six geo-political zones.

That will reduce acrimony and rancour that characterise the polity. Nigerians must work it out.

In clear terms, does that mean you support Sovereign National Conference?

At first, I was not supporting it, but now, I support. I support it because I have seen that the National Assembly that is supposed to do this job is not able to do it.

Why do you think it is very important?

It is very important because we must examine the structure of this country now to ensure we have a country we can manage with our resources. For example, we have to look at the legislative structure in this country. The Central Bank Governor has always said that the National Assembly is very large and spends so much money. This country spends so much on overhead and this is not good for any country. We are living in a country where most school leavers, instead of going to look for jobs in productive areas, are seeking to be political aids. This is so because we are spending a lot of money on overheads.

Are you saying it is good for us to practice a unicameral legislature?

No, I am not saying that.

Nigerians should sit back and reflect whether we need a fulltime Senate and a full-time House of Representatives.

,

BY EMMA UJAH, ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF

I don’t see why Nigerians can’t be bold enough to put rotation of the presidency in the constitution among the six geopolitical zones

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88—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013

•Jonathan

•Yar'Adua

Fiscal federalism 'll make Nigeria great again Continues from page 86

Nigeria needs to return to its roots, plan, strategise and push to become relevant in the eyes of other nations.

This will require greater sacrifices

,

Nigeria’s vision 20-2020 by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

In a presentation on Nigeria’s Debt Capital Markets, Richard Fox, Fitch Rating’s Head of Africa/Middle East sovereigns, had compared Nigeria’s current sovereign debt metrics to those of Emerging Markets (EMs) that have recently made the transition to investment grade (IG) and came to the conclusion that Nigeria is on the path of success.

He said: “Since 2004, seven EMs have moved up the rating scale from Nigeria’s current ‘BB’ level to the lowest investment grade ‘BBB-’ rating. The most recent was Indonesia in 2011; the others are Azerbaijan (2010), Brazil (2008) and Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Romania and Russia (2004).

Of the seven, four are oil producers to varying degrees.

The three notch upward movement has typically taken between six and eight years, which makes it a plausible ambition for Nigeria in the context of its Vision 2020.

“Among the key indicators that Fitch uses to assess sovereign creditworthiness, three stand out as being well outside the range of experience of recent newly IG EMs: per capita GDP, reserve cover and governance (the latter measured by the World Bank’s governance indicators). These areas represent Nigeria’s biggest challenge to improving its “Nigeria’s stable and robust GDP growth of more than 7 per cent since 2009 and it compares well with the record of newly IG

sovereigns and is even more creditable given its reliance on the non-oil sector.

However, structural reforms planned in the electricity, oil and agriculture sectors, will be crucial if growth is to be diversified and sustained closer to double digits, in order to close the large gap in per capita income.

Even with a likely substantial increase in nominal GDP this year due to the rebasing of the national accounts, Nigeria’s per capita GDP will still be outside the range enjoyed by the new IG countries when they became IG. “Nigeria’s inflation rate is now on the low side – in single digits.

If the goals of this administration’s transformation agenda are to have strong, inclusive non-inflationary growth, to generate employment and alleviate poverty and to achieve value reorientation, Nigeria must begin to take advantage of this positive disposition.

Positive disposition The World Bank’s Doing Business Index of 2012 ranked Nigeria as 133rd out of 183 countries on the basis of the constraints encountered in starting a business, dealing with construction permits and registration of property and enforcement of contracts.

It also identified differences in state regulations and in the enforcement of national regulations that can enhance or constrain local business activity.

Nigeria was on the path of greatness at independence.

It evolved development plans

which saw major development in the country at the early stages of the nation’s development.

The first, second and third plans were executed but the fourth was abandoned and since then Nigeria has had no development plan. Nigeria needs to return very quickly to development planning if it is to tap into the vision many are seeing for it.

If the fourth development plan that was jettisoned was religiously implemented, Nigeria would be singing songs of freedom today. In that plan, the framers said “Since the fourth national development plan is only one in the series of medium term plans intended to transform the Nigeria economy and society over time, its basic objectives are naturally and broadly similar to those of its immediate predecessors.

What ever changes there are would be no more than a reflection of the lessons of experience derived in the implementation of the preceding plans”.

The over riding aim of any development is an improvement in the living conditions of the people using the resources, human and material, with which the country is endowed. It is around this principal goal that the specific objectives of Nigeria’s development efforts were woven.

The nations set objectives in the 3rd National development were what the country is clamouring for today.

It envisaged increase in real income of the average Nigerian; more even distribution of income among individuals and social economic groups in the country;

reduction in the level of unemployment; increase in the supply of high level man power; reduction of the dependence of the economy on a narrow range of activities; balanced development – the achievement of better balance in the development of the different sectors of the economy and various geographical areas of the country; increased participation

by Nigerians in the ownership and management of the productive enterprises; greater self reliance that is increased dependence on internal resources in seeking to achieve the various objective of society.

This implies increased efforts to achieve optimum utilization of Nigeria’s human and material resources; development of technology; reduction in rural urban migration; the promotion of a new national orientation conducive to greater discipline, better attitude to work and cleaner environment.

The main trust of Nigeria’s strategy during this period was in the direction of increased self reliance and considerable reduction of its dependence on the external sector in general and the petroleum sector in particular.

If these objectives were rigorously pursued Nigeria would not be playing a catch up game in the global economy.

Global economy Nigeria needs to return to its roots, plan, strategise and push to become relevant in the eyes of other nations. This will require greater sacrifices especially in terms of established consumptions habits if resources are to be freed for pressing development needs. There will be no room for subsidy. It must free resources for development.

This strategy will demand a greater spirit of innovations, hard work, and greater utilization of domestic resources and in particular, the involvement of the masses especially at the local level in the development process.

A conscious effort must be made to mobilize the Nigeria masses — the entire Nigeria population for the implementation of the new Nigeria vision.

If China could successfully mobilise its populace to achieve the second largest economy position out of obscurity, yes Nigeria can.

Nigeria and China have certain things in common, a growing population, an emerging middle class that constitute a huge market for industrial products, a huge land mass. Yes, Nigeria can move into the league of top economies of the world. All that Nigeria needs is an effective leadership.

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Vanguard , TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013 —89

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90— Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013

Independence Day triplets face bleak future •Unnemployed parents struggling to cater for their needs

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

A

S the drums roll out to markNigeria’s 53rd Independence Day anniversary, millions of Nigerians are heaving a sigh of relief and giving thanks for surmounting the travails of the past year, even as they look forward with greater expectation to another year of life as citizens of Africa’s most populous nation.

However, amidst the “low key” activities earmarked simultaneously for Abuja and major cities and State capitals nationwide, there is one distinctly special family that has reason, more than most, to be especially thankful for today.

Kelly and Mabel Ighedosa , are particularly elated because their set of triplet, two boys and one girl, are marking their 2nd birthday on Nigeria’s most special day.

Kelly and Mabel are special parents because their triplet Jakes, Treasure and Jason - were born just minutes apart in the wee hours of October 1, 2011, at the Island Maternity Hospital, Lagos. The proud parents hail from the Ishan tribe in Edo State.

Kelly, who holds a National Diploma in Business Administration and a Degree in Accounting from the Lagos State University, is presently unemployed. He just does menial jobs while Mabel who studied Anthropology & Sociology from University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, is engaged full time with the triplets.

First reaction: The first time he learned Mabel was expecting multiples, Kelly was shocked. “To

registered at the Island Maternity Hospital, Lagos, and Golden Cross Hospital, Festac. did a pregnacy test and ultrasound scan, the result indicated twins in her womb.

“But at six months gestation,

• Three is company. Jakes Isaac (left); Treasure Itohan (centre) and Jason Samuel.

• Nigeria’s 1st Independence Day triplets family. Clockwise from left : Mabel, Kelly, Jason, Treasure and Jakes after their dedication in December 2012. we went to Golden Cross,Festac, and it was there they detected the triplets. Our doctor, one Dr. Dele said come and see o. There is a third one o, and I was thinking it was a joke. Here was I who was still crying about the twins not even knowing there were actually three. I went to look and lo and behold, there were

It took me a whole year to fully realise the fact that I am actually the father of a set of triplets be frank I was dazed. I received the message with mixed feelings.

I kept wondering how I was going to take care of triplets at my young age. I didn’t have a comfortable apartment, where was I going to put these children?

I wasn’t earning much from the job I was doing at that time. As much as I was trusting God and hoping that when my wife was delivered she would soon get employed and we would be able to make ends meet, but hearing this news was really disturbing.

I was very, very surprised..

Initially, when Mabel, who was

carve out time to be with her.

According to Kelly, it was not until after the delivery, that I confirmed there were twins in my family. “My mother was a twin, and my wife told me that her great grandmother once gave

three. I was speechless, and didn't know what to say, what to do. Even Mabel was astounded.

“I was surprised and shocked at this wonderful gift,” she confirmed.

Said Kelly, “I was expecting one, and three came; one is a challenge, two is big challenge, three a very big challenge. That was how it was playing back in me, I was not even earning enough to take care of myself and wife. I had taken a N100,000 loan just to make sure my wife was okay. I was then working at a cinema at Lekki, but I had to

birth to triplets. Nobody in my family wanted twins but my mother used to tell me that I would be the one to give birth to twins. I love children but I knew having twins would be a great responsibility.

Day of birth: The day they were born, Kelly was on night duty at Lekki. “My mother-in-law called me around midnight that she had taken my wife to the Island Maternity Hospital. My manager then directed the driver to drive down.

“It was raining heavily. When I checked the ime, it was a little after midnight on October 1, 2011. It didn't even occur to me that it was Independence Day. I got in to the hospital we went upstairs stood at the theartre doors. My mother in law was praying. My mind was blank, but was just able to talk to God. All I was concerned about was my wife. It took me a whole year to fully realise the fact that I am actually the father of a set of triplets.

I was at the theatre door, when one nurse came out and asked for pampers, I asked her about

my wife, and she said, Oga, you have triplets, a bunch of multiples; they are okay and your wife is okay.

“Somebody now wished me happy independence and then it hit me that these are actually independence children!

Jakes was born at 1.36 am. he weighed 1.8 kg. Next was Treasure at 1.37am, 1.6 kg, and finally Jason at 1.38am, weighing 1.15kg.

At home: At a point in time Mabel was no longer in charge.

To feed the babies was challenge.

We were expressing breast milk mixing wioth pre-NAN, each tin cost N1,800 and lasted just a day.

We used a syringe and fed them as we had been taught at th hospital”.Kelly went from pillar to post looking for the special milk and the children announced thy were hungry by crying very loudly.

It was Mbel’s first pregnancy.

“There were no unusual symptoms of pregnacy except that I was spitting for three months. It was very challenging and it got to a point I just wanted to offload and have these

babies.Funny thing was that my tummy wasn’t all that big. You wouldn't event suspect I was carrying twins talk less of triplets.

It was just like a normal pregnancy.”

Plans: Before the triplets came, Kelly was planning to get a new accommodation. “Now more than ever, I require a bigger place and to prepare for their education. I planned that they ought to have started school, but what is coming in now cannot sustain that. One dream I have is to give these children sound education in a very conducive environment. I see them as peculiar children.

Challenges: I am trusting God for a schorlarship for their education; accommodation and a good job. Where we are currently staying is inadequate.

They need space to move around. They have started climbing. If one is crying others are crying. We have never stopped needing money. Before I've finished buying one thing, another has finished.

Struggling to go to school Because they are three, I have never stopped requiring finances.

On the average I require up to N100,000 every month to cater for them comfortably. There was a time I had to sell off my DSTV decoder, to raise funds to feed them. And I keep asking God to meet me at my point of need.

I cannot steal. It is the last thing I would do, God had better take my life rather than allow anything happen to these children. All my life has been struggling, I struggled to go to school, I do not want them to suffer, I cannot even respond to family needs.

My wife and I are barely making ends meet and need something substantive to survive on. I would like a job offer or a realistic plan to become an entrepreneur. However, I still need money to carry out this vision while carrying my family along.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013 —91

Octogenarian crowns teenager ‘Miss Genotype 2013’

BY KOSISI UDEMBA & MODINAT AMINAT

BY WILLIAM JIMOH & KOSISO UDEMBA

A

E

IGHTY eight-yearold Aduke OnikoyiLaguda, the oldest known person living with sickle cell disease in Nigeria, recently crowned 16-year-old Ifeyemi Morenikeji Banjo-Aina as Miss Genotype 2013, during the annual programme of the Genotype Foundation in Lagos.

The event, held to mark the birthday of the Executive Director/Founder of the Foundation, Duchess Doris Gbemiloye, on September 15, was to specially recognize and acknowledge the first of its kind has now risen into a very special day for sickle cell patients all over Nigeria as it gives them a sense of recognition in the society.” On her ordeal as a person living with sickle cell disease, 88-year-old Onikoyi-Laguda noted that “For me, growing up as a child was terrible. It was so terrible that I used to wish I was not born.

But when I attained 40 years of age, I overcame the challenge and ever since, I do tell people that I no longer suffer from the disorder.”

In a chat, Morenikeji

MSA: Movement disorder clinic opens at LUTH

• Madam Aduke Laguda, the oldest woman living with sickle cell disorder in Nigeria decorating the new queen, Miss Banjo-Aina Yemi Morenikeji. said the event marked a turning point in the history of the Foundation.

She urged other sickle cell patients across the country to expect the best from her, and pledged to put in her best, in the interest of her kind.

Executive Director/ Founder, Genotype Foundation, Duchess Doris Gbemiloye, noted that the annual programme has become a very special day for persons living with sickle cell disorder all over Nigeria as it gives them a sense of recognition in the society.

“The Miss Genotype

Beauty Contest is the first of in the history of this Foundation and the aim is to produce a winner that will represent everyone living with the disorder in Nigeria, and also influence policies and promote the cause of those living with the disorder.

“What informed our Miss Genotype Contest was that we saw that most of them are so withdrawn; they feel they are still being stigmatized, so they don’t really come out and live. This contest will help create a sense

of recognition, and form a common front to promote their interests.

These are gifted children and God so they need to be heard in the society,” she said.

She also stressed that “It is very important for one to know his genotype because it help when selecting a life partner in order to avoid the risk of giving birth children with the disorder. It is also a plus for you because if two persons at risk of giving birth to children with the disease eventually get married they will serve as in-house doctors.

S Nigeria mark sWorld Multiple System Atrophy Day, MSA, come October 3 2013, a Nigerian based foundation, Fashina Funmilayo, FF, Foundation has opened the first-ever Nigerian Movement Disorder Clinic at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH. Speaking in Lagos, Mr. Ajibade Fashina, a Trustee member of the FF, said in addition to her help desk, the Foundation is currently partaking in series of ongoing research on atrophy as more professionals are getting involved.

Fashina explained that MSA which is associated with the degeneration of nerve cells in specific areas of the brain regretted that the cause of MSA is unknown and no specific risk factors have been identified. He explained that the cell degeneration causes problems with movement, balance, and other autonomic functions of the body such as bladder control or blood-pressure regulation.

Fashina explained that the clinic will provide the much needed information, treatment and care for Nigerians with movement disorders. Continuing, he said: “We have recorded a huge development in its quest to improve awareness and support research into the treatment, causes of hormonal and nerve disorder in the country.

“We are already making head way, recording strides in the right direction with on-going researches around the world and more medical professionals getting involved. The key is to get more people aware and interested. This is the reason why we organise seminars, engage in walks, distribute pamphlets, and continually reach out to the media.

“There will be special candle light as a symbol of respect and support for everyone that may be affected

by MSA worldwide and for all those loved ones who have lost their battle in the past. It is also another opportunity to spread the word on MSA,till we defeat this rare condition.

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92—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013

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Vanguard , TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013 —93

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94 —

Vanguard, TUESDAY OCTOBER 1, 2013

Nigerian sports: Same

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

A

S Nigeria rolls out the red carpet today to celebrate 53 years of independence, no other sector can boast of putting the west African state in the limelight as sports has done since she attained independence from Britain on October 1, 1960..

But ironically and sadly too, no other industry has been more neglected and maligned as sports, leaving many people to ask whether Nigerian sports has gained more from this independence. Given that with independence comes the twin gains of self existence and determination to progress, can one truly say that Nigerian athletes have enjoyed these in their pursuit of excellence in the last 53 years.

Even some years before independence, only few Nigerians had taken the international sports field by storm..

The likes of Emmanuel lfejuna who won a gold medal in high jump during the Commonwealth Games in 1954, Hogan Kid Bassey who became the

•Keshi

world featherweight boxing champion in 1957 and Dick Tiger, who won the middleweight crown and later the world light heavyweight crown, readily come to mind.

It is for this reason, that despite the lofty heights reached by athletes, celebrations are muted on the sports scene because people are beginning to realize that something is not okay with the country as far as this industry is concerned.

Yes, Nigeria won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, after a 19-year wait, yes we are on course to qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil; yes we won the African Athletics Championships in both the senior and junior categories; yes Blessing Okagbare won two medals, a silver and a bronze, at the 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow; yes we have won other notable continental sports tournaments but despite these giant strides, we still honestly know that we have fallen short of the world benchmark and even our own potential.

A brief glance at

happenings in our industry makes the picture clearer.

Only last year at the Olympics in London, Nigeria returned emptyhanded from the biggest sporting spectacle in the world. It was so bad that President Goodluck Jonathan had to organise a sports retreat to address the problems, so as to forestall a repeat at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

For the President, the retreat was important because after 53 years of independence, the story is supposed to be different.

Sports began to take serious roots in the country in 1963 when the National Sports Commission (NSC) began to function under Abraham Ordia as secretary. The 60s was a period of laying foundations and the only visible achievement was the qualification of Nigeria’s Green Eagles for the Olympic Games held in Mexico in 1968.

In 1973, Nigeria hosted the 2nd All-Africa Games in Lagos and also introduced the national sports festival as a way of discovering athletes to represent the country in continental and international meets. The first meeting in Lagos attracted about 6,000 athletes.

The 1970’s also witnessed some achievements. Nigeria’s senior football team won a gold medal in the 2nd All-Africa games while the country’s contingent to the Games came second on the medals table. 1976 and 1977 saw the country earning victories in continental championships through IICC Shooting Stars and Rangers International of Enugu in the Cup Winners Cup Competition.

The country’s record of achievements continued in the 1980s with series of feats especially in football. The bronze medals won in 1976 and 1978 in the African Cup of Nations were improved upon in 1980.

The Christian Chukwu led Green Eagles won the Cup for the first time

old song •Chukwu at the National Stadium in Lagos. In 1984 and 1988, Nigeria again got to the finals of the tournament but lost to Cameroon on both occasions.

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles qualified for the first time to represent Africa in the FIFA U-20 World Cup, Mexico 1983. They did not go beyond the first round, having lost 3-0 to Brazil, but they defeated USSR 1-0 and held Holland to a barren draw.

Nigeria’s heroics continued to soar through the 80s and 90s with numerous accomplishments, especially in football.

The Golden Eaglet, made up of players below the age of 17, won the Kodak U-17 World Cup, now known as FIFA U-17 World Cup, in China in 1985 and the Flying Eagles, almost did the same at the Saudi ‘89 U-20 World Cup, losing in the final to Portugal.

Nigeria also won silver and bronze medals in the male and female categories of 4 x100m at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.

The heroics of Nigeria’s U-23 Dream Team at the Atlanta ‘96 Olympics, where they won gold medal in the football event cum Chioma Ajunwa’s glorious feat by winning a gold medal in long jump, put an icing on the cake for Nigerian sport at the world’s stage.

Other landmarks recorded by Nigeria in international sports, such as Eaglets’ triumph in Japan ‘93 and Eagles’ qualification for the World Cup for the first time in USA ‘94 cannot be overlooked.

Above all, Nigeria’s top position at the 2003

•Ajunwa

•Okagbare

•Kanu All Africa Games, stands the country out as a land that is blessed.

The nation has also produced great sports

stars like Hakeem Olajuwon in Basketball, Nduka Odizor in lawn tennis, Mike Okpara, a Continues tomorrow

Vanguard , TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013 —95

C M Y K

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1 , 2013

UEFA Matches today

Minister bids Golden Eaglets bye saying...

You must win U-17 World Cup M

ALLAM Bolaji Abdullahi, Honourable Sports Minister has challenged the Golden Eaglets to win the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the UAE and justify the huge expectations of Nigerians.

The Minister who doubles as the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC) met the Golden Eaglets by coincidence at the local wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on Monday when they flew in from Calabar on their way to a training camp in Dubai, told the players and officials that Nigerians and indeed the Federal Government

of Nigeria would be backing them all the way.

“There is no doubt that this is a divine meeting because we did not arrange to meet here and I want to use this opportunity to thank the coaches for the job well done so far because I have been following all your activities,”said Abdullahi. “I want to remind you of the call by President Goodluck Jonathan to go and win the World Cup when you came back from the CAN Under-17 Championship in Morocco with the Silver medal and we believe you can do it.”

He told the contingent to be good ambassadors of the country at the World Cup, enjoining them to make discipline their watchword: “As young athletes you need discipline to excel and I want you to be

disciplined in your conduct at the World Cup.” Responding on behalf of the team, Head Coach Manu Garba (MFR), thanked the Honourable Minister for his unwavering support to the G o l d e n Eaglets through the Nigeria F o o t b a l l Federation (NFF), pledging that the players would as usual, do everything humanly possible to bring honour to the country.

A team of 25

players and 10 officials departed the Murtala M u h a m m e d International Airport on Monday aboard Emirates Airline for Dubai on a two-week training camp

Zenit

v

Autria Vienna

7.45pm

Ajax

v

AC Milan

7.45pm

Arsenal

v

Napoli

7.45pm

Basel

v

Shalke

7.45pm

B/Dortmund

v

Marseille

7.47pm

Celtic

v

Barcelona

7.45pm

FC Porto

v

Atletico Madrid

7.45pm

S/Bucuresti

v

Chelsea

7.45pm

ahead of the October 17 kick off of the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup. The Golden Eaglets are drawn against the defending champions,

Mexico, Iraq and Sweden and are ready to follow on the works of their illustrious predecessors that won the trophy in 1985, 1993 and 2007.

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Agitate (4) 4 Finish (3) 6 Scrutinise (4) 9 Equality (3) 10 Whole (8) 11 Soon (4) 14 Rodent (3) 16 Royal (5) 19 Exalted (8) 21 Giver (5) 23 Memento (8) 24 Subject (5) 27 Gratuity (3) 31 Asterisk (4) 33 Custom (8) 34 Ovum (3) 35 Mirth (4) 36 Golf-peg (3) 37 Nobleman (4)

DOWN 2 Implement (4) 3 Mature (4) 4 Lift (8) 5 Sketched (4) 6 Room (5) 7 Tin (3) 8 Fragrance (5) 12 Fun (5) 13 Fashion (5) 14 Wand (3) 15 Principle (5) 17 Clearing (5) 18 Memorise (5) 20 Rule (8) 22 Tear (3) 25 Inn (5) 26 Blend (5) 28 Dot (4) 29 Cease (4) 30 Pain (4) 32 Era (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Belief 5, Gamble 8, Relegate 9, Away 10, Ate 12, Crime 15, Set All 18, Nip 19, Err 20, Elect 21, Ewe 22, Tea 23, Run 24, Ash 26, Relay 29, Dud 33, Snub 34, Solitude 35, Recede 36, Tawdry.

How to Play Sudoku

DOWN: 2, Event 3, Item 4, Flair 5, Gleam 6, Mean 7, Leave 10, Arena 11, Earth 12, Clear 13, Ideal 14, Entry 15, Spend 16, Trend 25, Snige 27, Ensue 28, Allot 30, Under 31, Able 32, Stow.

TWO WEEKS TO LIVE

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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