We may order arrest of Aviation Minister- House of Reps by Vanguard Media Limited

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N255M CONTROVERSIAL CARS:

Jonathan may bar Oduah from Israeli BASA deal *Igbo youths protest over Aviation Minister’s ordeal BY SONI DANIEL & TONY EDIKE

s Nigeria and Is rael get set to sign a Bilateral Air Services

Agreement (BASA), there were indications, last night, that President Goodluck Jonathan may not allow the embattled Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, to take part in the symbolic event slated for Tel Aviv tomorrow. Presidency sources hinted that although Oduah left Nigeria to prepare the ground for the event, Jonathan was uncomfortable with her presence in Israel and might bar her from the spot. Competent Presidency sources said the president was uncomfortable with the public outrage arising from the N25 million armoured vehicles said to have been bought for Oduah by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and would not want to be seen as condoning corruption with the embattled minister on his side. One source said, “The president is mindful of the fact that he has to project Nigeria as a country which does not condone any form of graft and will not bring a tainted official of his administration to Tel Aviv for a serious event as the BASA signing ceremony. “Before leaving for the holy land, Jonathan had made it clear that the circumstances surrounding the purchase of the two armoured cars for the minister be thoroughly investigated and a detailed report made for him to assure Nigerians and the international community that he does not tolerate any form of financial impropriety.” The alleged scandal has reportedly split the Federal

Executive Council given the prime position of the minister in the administration. The FEC is said to be divided on whether Jonathan should offload her from the administration or allow her to remain with the image triggered by the alleged car deal. Sources said many ministers were pushing for her removal from the cabinet while those in her support think otherwise, blaming political enemies for her ordeal. Meanwhile, business activities were, yesterday, paralyzed at the Akanu-Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, although temporarily, as hundreds of Igbo youths, under the aegis of Igbo Progressive Union (IPU), em-

barked on a peaceful protest against the calls for the sack of Oduah over the controversial armoured cars. The kinsmen of the embattled minister from Ogbaru local government area of Anambra State, led by High Chief George Nwabueze, also exonerated her from any wrong doing in the purchase of the cars. Nwabueze said that the target of those calling for the head of Oduah was President Goodluck Jonathan whose second term ambition in 2015 they have vowed to stop by all means. The protesting young men and women, who carried placards with different inscriptions, accused an unnamed personality of being

From left: Chief Olasunkanmi Dada, Obalesu of Ife; Chief Farotimi Faloba, Obadio of Ife; Otunba Gani Adams, Chief Promoter Olokun Festival Foundation; Chief Adeoye Adekola Saarun and Oba Abdul Ganiy Adekunle, Salau Aseyin of Iseyin, presenting award of Grand Cultural Ambassador of Yoruba Land to Chief Adeoye on behalf of Oba Okunade Sijuade, Ooni of Ife, during Olokun Festival 2013 Edition behind the calls for the removal of the minister, insisting that the intention was to stop Oduah from going ahead with her transformation agenda in the aviation sector.

The group, who spoke through their leader, Emeka Agbo, a student of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, said Igbo youths were prepared to go the

whole hog in ensuring that their daughter was protected, expressing dismay that some highly placed individuals were determined to rubbish the achievements of the minister.

PDP crisis: Atiku, G7 Govs, Baraje dare Tukur, hold caucus meeting BY HENRY UMORU & DEMOLA AKINYEMI

HE Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led group of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has shunned the warning by the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, that it should cease to hold meetings, after it concluded arrangements to hold a national caucus meeting with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the G7 Governors to attend. The G7 Governors are Sule Lamido of Jigawa State; Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara; Aliyu Babangida of Niger; Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto; Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano; Murtala Nyako of Adamawa and Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State. Sunday Vanguard gathered that also to attend the meeting are former governors in the group; senators,

SOLUTION

*Defection of more governors on agenda members of the House of Representatives and states Houses of Assembly and members of the faction’s National Working Committee, NWC, among others. The meeting, it was learnt, will have in attendance all the seven governors opposed to the PDP leadership at Sokoto State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, just as challenges confronting the PDP and how to receive more governors who plan to join the group, among others, top the agenda of the meeting. A source said, “Note that the caucus meeting of our party comprising our governors, senators, former governors, stakeholders, few of our NWC members comes up on Sunday 8pm at Sokoto Lodge to discuss the challenges of the Baraje-led PDP, strategise on how to receive more governors and map out how to move the party forward.” The national leadership of the PDP, had, on Friday, warned the Baraje-led `New PDP’ to stop making utterances, issuing press statements or hold meetings or be treated as impostors and criminals. In a statement by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the ruling party had noted that following the judgment of the Federal High which upheld the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee as the authentic one, the Tukurled PDP remains the only recognised PDP. It warned that the Barajeled, `New PDP’ must not rear its head again or do so and be crushed. Metuh said, “For the avoidance of doubt, the ruling of the court in this regard is absolutely clear, direct and unambiguous.

The PDP has only one duly elected National Executive Committee under the National Chairmanship of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. ”We wish therefore to state with all emphasis that any group of persons parading themselves as leaders of this organ of our party are impostors and must be treated as criminals by all and sundry. ”Henceforth, the leadership of the PDP will no longer tolerate or condone any meeting, utterances, press statements and/or activities whatsoever under the name, flag and colour of the PDP by any unauthorized person or group(s) under any guise. ”As a law abiding party, the PDP remained calm in the face of the unwarranted attacks of the last few months. Our leaders chose the path of caution and decorum but our reconciliatory moves and offer of olive branch were treated with the highest disdain and viewed as signs of w e a k n e s s . ”The National Working Committee has therefore directed that the name, co-

lour, flag and the provisions of constitution of our party must be held sacrosanct by our members. The PDP has adequate internal mechanism for resolution of disagreements and members are advised to express their grievances through such. ”We thank all members who kept faith and remained loyal to the constitution of the party through this trying time. Our party remains one big family and the preeminent party, commanding true and genuine followership among Nigerians across the country. ”The challenges of the last few months instead of detracting us have indeed better positioned our party to continue to win elections at all levels in our country.” In a related development, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje has said that more than five governors will soon join his group in the struggle against the Tukur leadership even as he said that the lingering crisis in the PDP will end when arbitrariness and impunity in the party are stopped.

Baraje said this, yesterday, in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, after his accreditation at Magaji Ngeri Baboko Central Ward in the local government elections that took place in the state .He said that end to the protracted crisis in the PDP will be decided by the powers-that-be when impunity, lawlessness, arbitrariness and the like are stopped. ”The end to the crisis will be decided by the powersthat-be when there is no more impunity, lawlessness and arbitrariness”, he said. Baraje disclosed that more than five governors will soon join them in this struggle adding that the crisis in the party should be a concern to anyone who means well for Nigeria. On their rumoured plan to join All Progressive Congress, APC, he said Nigerians should wait for that time, stressing that he could not say anything on that now. He also reiterated that the local government election was long approved and even screened by the national headquarters of the PDP before the current crisis started.

‘We may order arrest of Aviation Minister’ Continued from page 1 two controversial armoured BMW cars said to have been bought for her by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Oduah was, as at last night, in Israel to sign a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA), alongside President Goodluck Jonathan, with Israeli officials. “If she fails to show up (for the House Committee hearing), we will issue a bench warrant to get her arrested”, the House of

Representatives, spokesman, Hon. Zakari Lafia Mohammed, said. Mohammed, who spoke in an interview with Sunday Vanguard, went on: “This is a national issue that must be properly thrashed out with the zeal of a wounded lion. If need be, we will ask the Speaker to issue a bench warrant immediately she fails to show up and she will be arrested. We’ve given her enough grace as the committee will sit on Friday, Monday and Tuesday. All those excuses given on her

behalf will not hold by the time we conclude our findings.” Meanwhile, NCAA has said it followed due process in procuring the two armoured vehicles. In its presentation to the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, the agency said: “Procurement of operational vehicles is provided for in NCAA 2013 Budget on line 6, page 10 and is in line with NCAA Condition of Service”. ...Stories at pages 13-14

PAGE 6 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 27, 2013

Samsung excites with Galaxy Note 3 and Gear BY ADEOLA ADENUGA

A M S U N G Electronics has unveiled the latest addition to its Galaxy Note family, the Galaxy Note 3, in Nigeria. The highly-anticipated product

was unveiled alongside an innovative complement, the Galaxy Gear, a wristworn device that connects to the Note 3 for what the company describes as ‘an even more outstanding mobile experience.’ The devices, which have been available for

purchase at Samsung stores and accredited dealers in Nigeria since October 1, 2013, were formally unveiled to the public at an elaborate ceremony at

Intercontinental Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos on Thursday. The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is Samsung’s thinnest and lightest device in the Note category yet. It

features a screen larger than that of its predecessor, the Galaxy Note II while maintaining the same width as the previous Galaxy Note version and delivering on a larger,

From left: Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim; Consul-General, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nigeria, Mr. Gyuyoung Kim; Head of Sales, Mr. Olumide Ojo and Director of Hand Held Products, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas, both of Samsung Electronics West Africa, at the launch of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3 and Gear at Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos.

better viewing and multitasking experience. To complement the Galaxy Note 3’s unparalleled features, Samsung also unveiled the Galaxy Gear, a voicecontrolled, wrist-mounted device that connects to premium Samsung smartphones. The Galaxy Gear can make phone calls, take pictures as well as record videos and conversations. According to the Managing Director of Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim, the Galaxy Note 3 is positioned to meet the demands of consumers desirous of larger screens and more user-friendly display. Kim reiterated Samsung’s commitment to fulfilling its brand promise of inspiring the world and creating the future through its commitment to bringing new and meaningful innovations to the doorstep of consumers.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 27, 2013, PAGE 7

Edo council polls: PDP alleges plot to tamper with result sheets By ADEOLA ADENUGA

HERE appeared to be no let up in the T aftermath of the chair-

manship and councillorship elections into Esan North East Local Government Council of Edo State as the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) raised the alarm that the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) have launched a plan to tamper with the result sheets and other documents used in the polls. The alarm came on the heels of claims by the APC leadership in the state and Governor Adams Oshiomhole that their candidates for the chairmanship and councillorship elections won the October 22 rescheduled polls. But the PDP said it won the elections into all the council’s positions contested for, without losing any to the APC. Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, said that except its Chairmanship candidate, Hon. John Yakubu, “ who defeated the APC candidate, Mr. Sam Oboh, the EDSIEC had given certificates of return to PDP’s eleven councillorship candidates who won their elections”. He said Yakubu scored 11,212 votes to defeat Oboh who scored 6,143 votes, explaining that while the Local Government Returning Officer, who had the responsibility of announcing the collated results disappeared, the councilors-elect were already given their certificate of return by their respective EDSIEC Ward Returning Officers. Orbih said: “The certificates of return are part of the documents we will tender in court. They (APC) know that they did not win the elections. They find it difficult to come to terms with that reality. That is why their leaders

became desperate and went to the extreme of causing the EDSIEC Chairman, Mr Solomon Ogoh, to announce fictitious results (Oboh-12,672 and Yakubu-3,314) in Benin while collation of chairmanship election results was yet to be concluded in Uromi. But in a fresh twist to the lingering dispute on the elections outcome, after Governor Adams Oshiomhole swore in Oboh as chairman of the council, the PDP leadership, which has served notice that it would go to court to “ reclaim its stolen chairmanship mandate,” alleged, yesterday, in Benin that the APC and EDSIEC officials have been holding nocturnal

meetings to perfect plans to tamper with the election documents and other evidence of irregularities against them ahead of the litigation in court. In a statement by its State Publicity Secretary, Mathew Uroghide, titled: “APC NOCTURNAL MEETING WITH EDSIEC OFFICIALS IS ILLEGAL AND CRIMINAL,” the PDP alleged: “To this end, several meetings have been held at the residence of a staunch member of the APC and attended by APC members and Presiding and Returning Officers at the election. “Edo PDP condemns this wicked plan which involves threatening the officers with sanctions in the event that any of them refuses to cooperate.”

Tears as Vanguard Arts Editor, Mcphilips Nwachukwu, is buried BY BENJAMIN NJOKU, WAHAB ABDULLAH & JAPHAT ALAKAM

EMOTIONS ran high, yesterday, as the remains of former Arts Editor of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Mcphilips Nwachukwu, were laid to rest at his home town, Umuhu Okwuato, Aboh Mbaise in Imo State. Nwachukwu died on – 29, September, after suffering from a choking cough. His remains, received with a 21 gun salute, arrived his family house at exactly 10 am. The body laid in state for about 30 minutes before it was taken to the St Gregory Catholic Church, Umuhu, where a church service was held in his honour. Speaking at the church service, the officiating minister, Rev. Father Chisom Odilanma, admonished Nigerians to learn to live a worthy life, saying death is an inevitable end. According to him, death is not something money can be used to avert, otherwise Mcphilips would have been saved by Vanguard and

his colleagues. He , however, regretted that Mcphilips died at a time when his community needed his service. The Catholic priest took solace in that God will raise another Mcphilips for the community. ”Mcphilips died at a time he would have been useful to community by exposing to the world how their community has been neglected by the state government,” he said

Mrs Augustina Nwachukwu, widow (m), and daughter, Adaeze Nwachukwu, flanked by relatives during the funeral mass for the late MCPHILLIPS NWACHUKWU, Vanguard Arts Editor, at the St Gregory"s Catholic Church, Umuhu Okwuato, Ahiara Diocese in Imo State yesterday.

Dokubo-Asari denies call for Kuku’s removal as amnesty boss BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

EADER of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF) and former President of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari has dissociated himself from the calls by some ex-militants to sack the Special Adviser to the President on the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, Mr. Kingsley Kuku. Asari, who made the denial from Saudi Arabia where he went to perform this year’s hajj, warned that his name should not

Policeman, six others dead in Kaduna gun attack, tanker explosion BY LUKA BINNIYAT

WO separate inci dents in Kaduna, at the weekend, saw the roasting of six persons in an oil tanker explosion and a policeman dead in a gun attack. The petrol tanker explosion took place at Mararaban, Jos, a community along Kaduna Zaria road, at the outskirt of the metropolis, while the attack on the policeman was said to have occurred at about 10pm on Friday when some gunmen stormed a checkpoint and opened fire. The tanker exploded

when an articulated vehicle ran into it as it reversed into the busy Kaduna – Zaria Expressway. Eyewitnesses said as soon as the truck hit the tanker, they both went up in flames while the drivers and their passengers were burnt beyond recognition. Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olufemi Adenaike, who confirmed the incident in which the policeman was shot dead, said a suspect had been arrested and detained while the body of the slain officer was deposited at the St. Gerard Catholic Hospital Kakuri, Kaduna.

Minister clears air on Immigration jobs HE Minister of In terior, Comrade T Patrick Abba Moro, said, yesterday, that he had no reason whatsoever to disagree with the decision of the House of Representatives Committee on Interior on the methodology to be used in recruiting Nigerians into the Nigerian Immigration Service. The minister explained that the collection of N1,000 per candidate for online regis-

tration for recruitment into the NIS was optional and not compulsory as reported by some newspapers. Abba Moro, who spoke through his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Ubong George Udoh, explained that candidates were free to apply online and pay the N1,000 processing fee to the bank or submit their applications in person to the NIS without paying the fee.

dragged into issues that do not concern him for peoples selfish interests. Speaking in a telephone conference call with some journalists in Abuja yesterday, the Ijaw Warlord said that he had no reason to call for the removal of Kuku since he did not believe or partake in the federal government amnesty programme for the ex- militants in the oil-rich Niger Delta region. He said: “It has come to my notice that some people are dragging me name into publication were some

persons called for the removal of Special Adviser to the President in the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, Mr. Kingsley Kuku. ”I have no business whatsoever with who is paid as a militant or not. I cannot criticize Kingsley Kuku base on payment of militants since my position on amnesty for militants is very clear. I don’t believe that a set of people should be singled out to be paid when the struggle is for the collective interest of the people of Niger Delta”.

Suspected cultists kill 25-yr-old female graduate Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-South

RS. Rose Dolore Ironsi, a housewife, has been howling frenziedly since October 10 when M news came to her that her daughter, 25 –year-old

Miss Radah Emuobosan Elise Agbaje, a microbiology graduate of Delta State University, Abraka, was killed by suspected cultists in Agbor. Radah was allegedly murdered by her assailants, suspected to be from the College of Education, Agbor, in the house of the younger sister of her mother, at about 2.00 am, while she was on the same bed sleeping with another girl. According to the grieving mother, “Radah, who made second class upper, collected her result, penultimate Friday, and went to show her father the result on Monday and she was here (Agbor) to show my younger brother.” Mrs. Ironsi, who is not satisfied with the story that her daughter was killed by armed robbers, said, “I accosted the girl and she said incident started at about 2am of Thursday. She said they were two gun men. She said they were beating them. I asked her if they were beating them with gun, she said no, that they were flogging them.” She alleged that the girl collaborated with the two gunmen, suspected to be cultists, of killing her daughter.

Jonathan, Mark, others for book launch

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan will lead other eminent Nigerians to the official presentation and launch of book, entitled, ‘The Nigerian Book of Names and Meanings’. Also expected at the event, scheduled for October 31, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, are Senate President David Mark, former Minister of Defence, General Theophilous Yakubu Danjuma as Chief Launcher; Governors Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State.

Obele Old Students Association OBELE Community High School Old Students Association hold it’s monthly meeting today in the school premises. Issues to be discussed include fashioning out ways of moving the association forward and the coming end of the year re-union get together slated for the second Sunday in December in the school auditorium.

PAGE 8— SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013

S S A R G S ’ Y K N BA Y R O T S E C A TO GR

l l e s o t d e g g ‘I be s n o l a s S U n CDs i v e ’ i v r u s to

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

any see the glamour but are ignorant of the hard work and pains that preceded the fame of Nigeria’s rhythm and blues, R&B, superstar, Banky W. From an undergraduate begging for audience at salons in the United States, US, where his musical career started, 32-year-old Banky has built a musical empire that has produced internationally acclaimed artistes like Skales and Wizkid. Christened Olubankole Wellington, the Empire Mates Entertainment –EME- boss was born in the US to Nigerian parents who later relocated to Nigeria when he was five. It was after studying at the Home Science Association Secondary School, Lagos that he moved to New York to study industrial engineering on scholarship. With several albums to his credit, the manifold award-winner shares his story. considered pay for studio recording time. I was reStarting small them is appearance bellies his per cording with a close friend at that time. 9 9 Begging at saloons sonality and generally gives the w a y s “After making that music, we printed illusion of a young man with a history that it a thousand CDs though we didn’t have devoid of sweat. But no, Banky did not only pay his due but also mastered any fan. I had one battered car that broke d i d n ’ t certain principles which he wouldn’t down virtually everywhere, so, we would work!’ W e print black and white posters, stick them forget in haste. went about selling CDs and, on the on the sides of the car, sell from the car’s “One of such is to think big but start days we couldn’t sell much, we trunk and drive to salons to do marketsmall”, he said. would sit down and be broke toing. We would walk to the owners of the “Everybody knows me to be the gether. I remember my friend was a Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of salons, greet politely, and ask them to member of a church that usually let us entertain their customers. SomeEME, but what people do not know is served food after service. So, on the that EME started when I was in my times, some would kick us out and somedays we didn’t sell CDs and were too times some would say yes. If told yes, third year in university in New York. broke to buy food, we would attend You see, we all dream dreams, but it is after singing for a minute or two, we important to think very big and start would sell our CDs to the customers! service in that church so we could pack rice and store in the fridge. where you are because God never That was the beginning! Work, school, music “A lot of people see you on stage and gives you everything but gives you “At a point, being a student of inenough to start. At that time, I knew I see the success but do not know what dustrial engineering, I was working you had to go through! I never had one wanted to do music, but of course I understood nobody starts by selling a really big break; it was always two steps million CDs or the big screen!”, Banky forward and a couple backwards. But I just decided that I was going to make stated. music work for me. That was why I Menial jobs Indeed his tale solidifies his empha- moved on to a new salon each time any sis on little beginning because to salon rejected me! I just kept going beachieve his dream of becoming a mu- cause I believe failure is when you give sic superstar, Banky had to take up to up. Albert Einstein said he tried a hundred times to make the light bulb. When three jobs while also in university! He said: “I worked in fast foods out- he was asked what kept him going durlets, clothing stores and as a knife ing the 99 times, he said: ‘I didn’t consalesman, selling knives from door to sider those 99 times as failure; rather, I for an engineering company and was door. That way, I gathered money to recording as well. I would go to work from 7am till about 2pm and then go to school till about 8pm, and then drive two and a half hours to New York City where the studio that would let us record for less was, and record until about 2am. I would then drive two and a half hours back home to be back at work at 7am the following day. One day, I was driving home from work and was so tired that I fell asleep while on a bridge. I would have driven off from the top of the bridge to God knows where, if not for an on-going construction work. God really saved me!” After a while, Banky’s hard work began to pay off and, even while in school, he began winning awards, beBanky (1st right) with his EME crew ginning with the ‘Albany Idol’ com-

petition. Other international awards soon followed. Returning to Nigeria In 2008 when he decided to move to his home country Nigeria after the completion of one of his albums, Mr CaBanky W pable, Banky was consistently told his genre of music ‘ would never appeal to Nigerians and therefore wouldn’t ‘sell’. As he turned down pressure mounted on him and his manager to change their genre of music, Banky strongly held on to another long-standing principle which had taught him to stand out by being unique rather than trying to imitate anyone’s skill. He therefore insisted on sticking to R&B, and this paid-off as he soon became a household name in the Nigerian entertainment industry!

I worked in fast foods outlets, clothing stores and as a salesman, selling knives from door to door. That way, I gathered money to pay for studio recording time Lessons He advised: “You cannot say enough about the grace of God and I therefore do not want to claim any form of glory. Falling down is inevitable but getting back up is optional! Frankly, you can’t appreciate sunshine if you’ve never been through a heavy rain. Yes, life is tough, but what do you do in those tough moments? Do you learn the lesson, stand up again, consider yourself stronger and keep going? Or do you sit down and feel sorry for yourself? The graveyard, they say, is the richest place in the world because therein lies so many who died with their dreams. So, my advice is, do not give up! If Banky can be where he is today, you can be where you want to be if you put to mind to it.”

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013, PAGE 9

News: Oduagate scandal at ministry of Aviation

" A toast to Jonathan for his endurance to overcome his troubles!" All letters bearing writers' names and full addresses should be typed and forwarded to: The Editor, Sunday Vanguard, Kirikiri Canal, P. M. B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. E-mail: sunvanguardmail@yahoo.com

ASUU strike: Effects on the students Dear Sir,

HE strike action embarked upon by Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to draw the attention of government to the deplorable state of our education system and to take proper care of university lectures is taking so long to resolve. It is no longer news that once ASUU goes on strike, the direct impact is on the students. We are immediately plunged into itching to all sorts of news with hopes of hearing when the strike will be suspended or called off. The implication is enormous, while some students engage in meaningful activities, others might resort to some social vices with the excuse of an idle brain is the devil’s workshop. Be that as it may, who is to blame and what are the implications? Once the strike is called off, students are hurriedly told to take their examinations whether prepared or not. Lecturers engage the students in marathon lectures from morning to evening, extra classes on Saturdays and Sundays in order to meet up or cover their scheme of work. Then the question is, how do students cope with this stress and rush? How do we realize our vision 2020 with this kind of approach to education? How do we end examination malpractice with this long strike after which we are forced to sit for examinations whether we understand or not, that is none of the lecturers business.

No student will like to fail, with such stress a lot of them give in to sexual demands, while some even offer themselves freely to some of the lecturers for them pass examination and in extreme cases money is added, with the phrase, “at least let me graduate with my set”. How can federal government compensate us for the about four months we have lost? How and why should they enter into agreement they are not ready to honour. Is it not a thing of shame that one hundred and thirty billion (N130 billion) was released during the period of this strike. Why should they delay it till the strike? On the reverse side, assuming ASUU

did not go on strike the N130 billion will not be released and our education system will still be suffering. Or are they happy seeing us studying in a deplorable condition while their children are either in private or foreign universities. If I may ask, assuming the president is a student how will he describe this government? Why can’t we have a decade of academic session that is not interrupted with strike? What are the plans government has at the moment to end the strike once and for all? Must government wait for ASUU and other organizations in the country to go on strike before they will respond to their requests? Is it not shameful that strike action is the only language that our

government understands? A biannual assessment of education sector is a veritable means to end strike once and for all. At least every two years we look at what we are doing and where we want to be. A bottom-up approach policy on education should be evolved/ devised by FG/ASUU if they have the interest of Nigerian students at heart. America, England, and China did not attend the level of development they have today with epileptic education system. Who will compensate us for the time we have lost? Odum C-J. 08039473427 Department of Geography University of Calabar.

An appeal to Gov Oshiomhole on Ajoki Secondary School Dear Sir,

OULD you please kindly give me a space in your widely read newspaper to air our community’s concerns about the only secondary school in the community, Ajoki Secondary School. I hereby draw your attention to the pathetic situation prevailing in the above named school at Ajoki in Ikpoba

Ohai Local Government Area of Edo State, an oil bearing community that contributes to the Federation account. The school was founded in 2007, but since its inception, it has been only the principal that the Edo State Government has officially posted to the school, without other teaching staff and non-academic staff. Our predicament is that only the principal is the one supervising as well as teaching in the whole school.

This is not what we think our governor, Adams Oshiomhole wants for the educational system in the state. We therefore call on the Ministry of Education of Edo State to urgently put Ajoki Secondary School in its agenda by posting qualified teaching staff to the school. God bless you Jonbull Ebiareneyin, President, Ajoki Trust,Ajoki. Edo State

PAGE 10 —SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013

Institute. B.U.A Attah had on one occasion told an uppity Yoruba Professor of Medicine, at Ibadan, who asked if he wanted to be like the Joneses,: “Where I come from, we are the Joneses”. Young Victor, in Leeds in 1967, was one of the Joneses, and, he was very sure of himself. The lady he had been trying to catch was Alison, whose father, Julian Coleman, was a sugar plantation owner and wealthy. Alison, born on June 15, 1938, like Attah, was the third child, and third girl, in a house that was later to be filled with

State. Unlike most first ladies, she was not prepared just for the glamour of office but also for the service required of those who are fortunate to be called to lead. Her focus was on the really down-trodden in the State – the women and the children. For what follows, my witnesses are the women who worked with her in the eight years she was the First Lady of Akwa Ibom. Hostile politics in the state will not allow me to name them; but they will certainly be named in the near future. She initiated many programmes; and paid for

many from her own pocket. (Don’t forget, her father was one of the ‘Joneses’ in Barbados). She and Governor Attah had barely settled down to work at Uyo when Nigeria adopted the eight (8) Millennium Development Goals, MDGs. Like the practical person she had always been, she focused on three objectives – listed below: 3. Promote gender equality and empower women. 5. Improve maternal health 8. Develop a global partnership But she added a fourth on her own taking care of the kids. The fourth was particularly relevant to Akwa Ibom because Attah, as Governor, had bitterly decried a situation in which “Akwa Ibom had become the nation’s largest supplier of house maids and cooks”. To undertake this mammoth project she created the CHILD DEVELOPMENT TRUST FUND with her own money. Children trafficking was rife; most so-called “Orphanages and Motherless Children Homes were actually fronts for children trafficking by vicious men and women. She was determined to put a stop to this. But, even children who were living at home were mostly malnourished. Hunger and real learning are like two parallel lines which do not meet. So she had to tackle under-nourishment as well. This she did by creating ALI MEALS. These were vitamin and mineral supplements, produced in a factory she established to provide essential food supplements for the kids in primary schools. Forgive me if I cannot list all the interventions and elaborate on them. But included among her notable achievements was the do-

the door, it has no place in modern Lagos nor in Nigeria. The archaic way that politics is being practiced has not served us well in the past and definitely will not make us progress. If the Christian conscience group feel they are being pragmatic and progressive, they are not. The whole business of "having a turn" is what got us in this mess

Alhaji Jafojo respectively. They were elected for the two terms and would have ruled for eight years - if the military had not terminated civilian rule after four years and four months". And it goes on ; "Muslim occupation of the Governor's Mansion in Lagos State grant four/eight more years to Muslim candidates, bringing the totals to 292 or 340 months to 14 months, is the greatest sort of injustice anybody or group can ask another group to endure". The winning gambit is this and in their infinite wisdom that come 2015, come what may no other Muslim will be in governor house! Have they really asked what Lagosians want? They will know that all people want is to have safe future, good jobs, a decent standard of living, sustainable and safe roads and transportation. That is what ordinary people want and it means nothing to them if the man on the top is Muslim or Christian. Would they be decreeing that Christians should vote for Christians and Muslims should vote Christians? Or that no Muslim candidate be forwarded for the post? We want honest, transparent and hardworking cadre of leaders who is there to serve everyone and not one part of the people or religion. Is that too not much to ask? And on and on it goes that "We will not accept it and we shall or-

ganize ourselves to fight this creeping institutionalization of inequity. This is not an anti-Muslim struggle; we appreciate the achievements credited to Governor Fashola". Whatever the mathematics, it is so divisive and trouble rousing that they would go through the lengths of counting the days and months to ensure that they get a Christian-led administration come 2015. How absurd that we think so little of ourselves and the electorates. Whatever the number of Christian/ Muslim ratio in Nigeria does that equate to a good administration or providing good governance for the people in Lagos? Does it mean that more young people will be at work, education, good health care, basic amenities and safe transport and good roads? So much needs to be done in Nigeria and being tolerant of one another should be at the top of the list. We should be leading our children to learn how to get along regardless of what tribe or religion you are, that we owe ourselves and our nation some respect, compassion and understanding. If we profess we love Nigeria, then it is about time we did away with our suspicions, selfishness, pettiness, dishonesty, greed, corruption and meanness. Nigerians need to grow and dividing us on religious and tribal lines is not

From Barbados with love for Nigerians

a lot of people who are still to come to terms that their long term benefactor had gone – never to return. Last year, on these pages, I had made the observation that “At every funeral there is a star of the show; who will not go home when the function is over”. One thing about memorial services is that the star of the show can never be there. As we gather together, at the Catholic Church on Tuesday, to honour, to me, the first of all First Ladies, it is always a pity that she will never be there again to see how much she is loved. I have half a page to write what should ordinarily require a small book about Nenyin Alison Attah. Where does one begin and where does it end? So forgive me if there are gaps in the story you are about to read. There is more where that came from. I had the advantage of being frequently at her bedside in the hospital during the last two courageous years of her life and we talked. Not once did she mention her concern for Barbados, her land of birth. Not once did she express the wish to be back on that island nation where there is far greater tranquility than in Nigeria. She always talked about Nigeria and how things could be done better. She did not marry Victor Attah because she was

Religion, politics and sectarian double dealing This is my simple religion. No need for temples. No need for complicated philosophy. Your own mind, your own heart is the temple. Your philosophy is simple kindness." -- Dalai Lama XIV HEY say that an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. In Nigeria, it seems that the blind is leading the blind and they do so willingly and that is more the pity. They seem to go towards the precipice without questioning the true intentions of the leader. The piped piper plays on and like the mice of Hamlin they follow doggedly leaping from one disaster to the next without a flicker of reflection or conscience. A response-"Religious fools, under the facade of Nigerian politics, are scheming their latest retardancy to posterity of the nation. As if quota system served any good, a new divisive tactics or denominationalism is ushered into a failing government already laden in corruptions of all sorts! Rather than find ways

forward, the wasted generation wanted to enshrine their culture lacking in civic mindedness further. A sad case of spiritual frustration or of cultural attitude toward madness should anyone take this Alex Bamgbala seriously-Naheem Adio Kujenya The Christian Conscience seminar held on September 26, 2013 and what a seminar it was too. There is so much stoking going on. I cannot believe that "eminent" people gathered to hear a prominent journalist polemically recall political history and reduce Lagos State to religious camps. Lagos State does not operate on religious lines, Lagosians are very tolerant, secular and that is why Lagos is the way it is and its people are the way they are: more open, more egalitarian and cosmopolitan. These are the qualities that attract people to Lagos. Sectarian politics does not start well and neither does it end well. These quota systems and conspiracy theorists should be shown

searching for “gold”. Attah, as some people know was the third son of a father, B.U.A, Attah, OON, the second Nigerian to obtain a degree in Agriculture and the first to bag a Masters Degree in the discipline and he was responsible for the establishment and development of Palm Oil Research

“Perhaps, one day, this too will be pleasant to remember”, Virgil, 70-19 B.C (VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 215). “When we finally reached Nigeria, I was certain that I had reached my resting place on earth. There would be no return to Barbados or UK”. Mrs Alison Attah, April, 2012, in an interview in Lagos. UESDAY October 29, 2013 will mark exactly one year since Mrs Nenyin Alison Attah, the former First Lady of Akwa Ibom State departed this world for eternal life. For the two children, Felicia and Christopher, and for His Excellency, Obong Victor Attah, the Father of Akwa Ibom State, it has been a long year; made longer by the absence of the centre-piece of every home – a loving wife and mother. Life had ceased to be the same for them; but life must go on. But it was not only the husband and kids who will miss her. Eno, the house help of over three decades, who through the generousity of the former First Lady, had sent two kids to university and is the proud owner of three bedroom bungalow, with boys quarters attached, had refused to go. Like the Biblical Ruth she had decided that even in death “Your people shall be my people”. She represents

successful kids – boys and girls. She not only traveled to Britain for her education, she bagged an undergraduate and a Masters Degree as well. When the meeting with young Victor Attah, which occured at a Student’s Dance, blossomed into marriage, it was a union of the ‘Joneses’. She read voraciously, not because she was trained in Library Science but because she loves reading. She could recall whole poems even as she was struggling with death for her life. She was the first person I ever met who could almost match me quote for quote. Simply remarkable. Her big chance to really demonstrate her love for Nigerians came in 1999 when Attah was elected Governor of Akwa Ibom

Unlike most first ladies, she was not prepared just for the glamour of office but also for the service required of those who are fortunate to be called to lead

We want honest, transparent and hardworking cadre of leaders who is there to serve everyone and not one part of the people or religion

and it is about time people with their conscience place people on merit and not religious and tribal affiliations. Have we sunk very low that we are reduced to how many Muslims led and Christian led administrations? In the summit, it was said that; "Muslim/Muslim ticket for Governor and Deputy Governor - Alhaji Jakande and

nation of one million books by an American donor to the state. DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS were brought in to treat women and children with congenital defects and to train local health officials to enable them provide better quality primary health care. She was also active in providing support for widows who were often deprived when their husbands died and she provided start up capital to women starting their own businesses. And, when the refugees came trooping in from Bakassi, she was there to welcome and help rehabilitate as many as her personal finances could allow. To me, however, her greatest accomplishment was turning the children trafficking orphanages to real support centres for children without parents. And, she did this without incurring the violent backlash of the men and women trafficking in kids from the state. She simply got them registered and thereafter their activities were regularly monitored and suddenly child trafficking from the state was reduced significantly. There is more where those came from….. May her soul rest in perfect peace. FOCUS ON UNIVERSITIES CONTINUES I was in Delta State on Sallah Day and the day after. I briefly and unofficially visited Western Delta University; then I proceeded to Michael and Cecilia Ibru University at AgbharaOttor – both in Delta State. Both of them can be regarded as “Work in Process”. But, already some common problems are emerging….. Read more about universities in VANGUARD on Thursdays.

growth or progress. "Any fool can know. The point is to understand." -- Albert Einstein

V i s i t : www.delesobowale.com

No Awards for African leaders in Leadership in 2013. For the fourth time in a row, no African leader has qualified to win 2013 prize. The Ibrahim prize for achievement in African leadership is the largest in the world and it is worth a yearly US$5 million and over 10 years and US$ 200,000 annually for life. In order to win the prize, the nominees must fulfil certain criteria: to be a democratically elected former African head of state or government who has left office in previous years. This also depends whether they have served the mandated term and have demonstrated excellence in office, have they helped and lifted their people out of poverty and paved way for sustainability and prosperity. It is not that hard is it? Or is it too much to ask, is it? It is self-evident that very few African leaders have willingly and gracefully left office at their respective mandated time. No, they have simply and tenaciously refused to leave office, over stayed their mandated term, in fact, they resolutely increase poverty and corruption and actively participated and collude to have their political opponents disappear, maimed or killed.

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013, PAGE 11

With whom is ASUU in conflict? to be implemented, government’s body language is harping on negotiations and dialogue as if that never happened earlier.

he truth however is that there was a form of agreement. From the records, we know that as from December 2006, ASUU was involved in bitter conflict with the Obasanjo Administration which led to strike action in March 2007. The strike was called off after 3

T is no longer news that academic activi ties in public universities in Nigeria have been paralysed in the last 4 months as a result of the industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). With the adverse impact the strike has had on the nation, emotions have taken over and many people are now pleading with the Union to have pity on their suffering students and suspend the strike. Of course, we are all free to favour peace in our campuses but there are a few immediate issues to be noted. First, can the appeals to ASUU resolve the basis of the crisis? If not, should anyone be surprised to see the issues reopen not far away with another round of strikes? If so, will it be fair for society to blame the teachers for incessant strikes? In other words, anyone that is genuinely interested in the matter ought to first seek to understand the issue at stake now. Whereas ASUU is talking about the non-implementation of a 2009 agreement it reached with government that is yet

ful agreements capable of facilitating the uplift of the nation’s university system. At the completion of the task in December 2008, certain persons in the corridors of power successfully dissuaded government from signing the agreement until ASUU went on strike in 2009.

hereafter, implementa tion became a problem as the same set of government advisers came up with a new argument that it

To go on strike on the other hand, in the belief that it is the only language the government understands will bruise innocent stakeholders as is currently happening in Nigeria

months because the then in-coming President Yar’Adua promised to resolve the issues at stake. On assumption of office, the Yar ’ Adua Government faithfully instituted a technical committee headed by Deacon Gamaliel Onosode to enter into negotiations with ASUU to produce use-

was not the present administration that signed the 2009 agreement. This was followed by letters, threats and warning strikes by ASUU. In 2011, a truce was called following renewed talks between both parties. According to the chairman of the Niger Delta University Chapter of ASUU, Dr.

PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos,

08116759758

Nigerian history and the morbid obsession with national unity (6) time, and January 12, 1970, when Maj. Gen. Philip Effiong who took over from Gen. Ojukwu, announced that secession of South-eastern Nigeria has failed. Numerous works, both fiction and non-fiction, have been written about the war. We are concerned here with non-fictional accounts. Clearly, it is impossible to capture with one hundred percent accuracy some of the defining episodes of the Nigerian civil war. But one thing is beyond dispute: like every war which necessarily must have both proximate and remote causes the Nigerian civil war was not inevitable. In addition, it occasioned heart-rending destruction and avoidable suffering. Of course, one of the remote causes of the war in which South-easterners lost almost everything is the amalgamation policy of Lord Lugard. For, has the amalgamation not taken place, there would not have been a Nigeria for Northerners to use as a pretext to fight the East. Second, the belligerent speeches of some prominent members of the Northern ruling elite, particularly Ahmadu Bello, the Sadauna of Sokoto, provided the major fertilizer that nourished inter-ethnic rivalry and suspicion between Ndigbo and large sections of the North. Ac-

cording to the Sadauna, Southern Nigeria must be regarded as a conquered territory which Northerners should ruthlessly subjugate perpetually. We have already alluded to the obses-

URTHERMORE, why would stop page of the country's drift towards "utter destruction" be something that would cause great disappointment and heartbreak to sincere lovers of the country? The truth is clear in this sordid episode, notwithstanding the afterthought Gowon inserted at the end of his speech. Lt. Col. Gowon and his co-conspirators from the North backed away from their original secession plan because it would be economically disastrous for the North without revenues derived from Southern Nigeria. According to a competent historian, even before 1914 when the Northern and Southern Protectorates of were amalgamated, "the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria was so impoverished that it had to be run with a subsidy by the Government and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria, which amounted to £300,000 per year. It is on record that Sir Francis Cumming-Bruce, British High Commissioner in Lagos and the United States Ambassador to Nigeria played a crucial role in persuading Gowon to drop secession. From all angles, by far the greatest threat to Nigerian unity was the civil war which lasted from July 7, 1967, when the Nigerian armed forces invaded Biafra for the first

Beke Sese, ASUU “as a noble and patriotic union, decided at its emergency meeting of its National Executive Council held on October 15, 2011 at the University of Abuja, to reconsider its resolve to declare a nationwide strike action, and give government the benefit of doubt, believing fervently that government would fully abide by our signed memorandum of understanding”. The nation was in earnest relieved to learn about the expansion of the Implementation Monitoring Committee to include Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Labour & Productivity, and the Budget Office, to fast track the implementation of the contentious issues in the 2009 Agreement before 22nd November, 2011. This was the premise of the now often quoted memorandum of understanding (MoU).

he purpose of the above historical outlook is to place well-meaning Nigerians in a good position to know the way forward. It is important, for instance, to direct the attention of the Senate to it in view of the interest it has shown in the matter in the last few days so that it does not get tired of appealing to ASUU. Indeed, a statement like if ASUU does not end the strike now, it would lose public sympathy is obviously inappropriate at this point. Another wrong communication at this point is to say that governthe ridiculous egotistical rivalry between Gowon and Ojukwu which prevented both men from making genuine compromises to avert military confrontation; Gowon's cynical repudiation of the Aburi Accord of January 4-5, 1967; secession of former Eastern Nigeria and Gowon's determination to use military force to compel the region to remain part of Nigeria for the benefit of Northern Nigeria and the economic interests of World Powers, especially Britain, the defunct Soviet Union, and the United States. There is another angle to the war, subtle but nonetheless very important

"Nigerian unity" and "One Nigeria" were slogans used by members of the ruling Northern elite, backed by collaborators from the South, to maintain its stranglehold on political power together with the economic benefits that accrue therefrom

sive-compulsive fear of Igbo domination by the North that generated tension between the two groups, and to the real possibility that Nidigbo living in the North might have angered suffering Northerners and their leaders with noisy and arrogant exhibitionism. Even so, there is a recorded speech in which Ahmadu Bello, blinded by pure jihadist fervour, described Ndigbo as always preoccupied with plans to dominate others and take over. The proximate causes of the war include the following: premeditated massacre of Ndigbo living in Northern Nigerian particularly in May and September 1966; the revenge coup of July 1966 that exacerbated the animosity between Ndigbo and Northerners;

for complete understanding. Most writers on the war are pusillanimous about it and tend to avoid it altogether. Yet it is foolish to suppress truth, because by boldly facing reality no matter how unpalatable we learn from our mistakes and move forward. Domkat Bali, a retired general of the Nigerian army, adumbrated the aspect we are referring to in a newspaper interview last year. According to him, when Ojukwu joined the army with an M.A. in Modern History from Oxford University, his Northern peers, none of whom had university education, let alone from a world class university like Oxford, were intimidated. As Bali boldly acknowledged, school dropouts dominated the army at that

ment negotiators did not know their right from their left. If so, why were they selected to negotiate on behalf of government? Who in government selected them? Could it be that government itself was incapable of knowing those who knew their right from their left.

esides, why did gov ernment not disown the negotiators at the point of signing the agreement when it sensed that the negotiations were a Greek gift? Could it be that ASUU hypnotized government as well as its negotiators? It would obviously have been more palatable to hear that the issue at stake is that government has been unable to reach an agreement with ASUU because it finds the demands of the union unbearable. To sign an agreement before disagreeing with its terms, does not speak well of the ‘ wisdom after event’ posture of government. Again, it would be useful for us all, particularly posterity, to know the negotiators so that future governments can distance themselves from such people. In any case, the argument of Peter Esele; President General of Trade Union Congress (TUC) that strike is the only language the government understands is instructive because the first attempt to evolve an agreement was achieved by strike. But for another set of strikes, the agreement would not have been signed. Why won’t ASUU time, and he and his colleagues were jealous of Ojukwu's pedigree and academic accomplishments. It is extremely hard not to suspect, considering the human proneness to hatred nurtured by envy, that Gowon and some of his Northern colleagues in the army disliked Ojukwu for his wealthy family background and academic qualifications and secretly longed for an opportunity to "cut him down to size," so to speak. That may be one of the reasons why Gowon and his cohorts blatantly breached military protocol by preventing Brig. Babafemi Ogundipe, who was the most senior officer in the army after Ironsi, from becoming head of state, knowing full well that Ojukwu would insist that seniority must be followed. According to Forsyth, when indeed Ojukwu protested Gowon's takeover of government after it became clear that the supreme commander had been assassinated, the latter replied, "Well that's what my boys want and they're going to get it." Forsyth reports that those who knew Gowon well and served with him describe him as "a man with a strong streak of vanity and a strain of spite behind the instant charm which endeared him to so many foreigners since he came to power." I believe that Gowon's desire to humiliate Ojukwu and Ojukwu's blunt rejection of Gowon as leader given his superior educational qualifications played a significant role in triggering the conflict in the first instance, and prolonging it unnecessarily. The civil war brought out the worst in some respected Nigerian leaders, and proved conclusively that "Nigerian unity" and "One Nigeria" were slogans used by members of

employ strike to induce implementation? Notwithstanding this reality and the provocative way the police has been stopping proASUU rallies while protecting pro-government ones, the teachers ought to listen to well-intentioned Nigerians who have been making appeals to the union. In particular, the powerful speech by Speaker Tambuwal last Thursday that the legislature would consider making further appropriation to resolve the crisis is no doubt quite helpful. In the circumstance, the university teachers should for the sake of society especially their students design a new way of showing their disdain for any government that does not, in their opinion, place priority on education.

or instance, ASUU can adopt the practice in other parts of the world where interest groups make their interests an election issue. If all university teachers and their students campaign and vote against any government that does not devote over 25% of the national budget to education, no one would toy with them. To go on strike on the other hand, in the belief that it is the only language the government understands will bruise innocent stakeholders as is currently happening in Nigeria. ASUU should neither lose sight of its real adversary nor engage in transferred malice. the ruling Northern elite, backed by collaborators from the South, to maintain its stranglehold on political power together with the economic benefits that accrue therefrom. Consider the case of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, one of the most respected politicians in Nigerian history. His impressive contributions to the development of former Western region are legion. However, he displayed a poor sense of judgment bothering on spite against Ndigbo during the civil war. In his detailed and compelling documentation of international press reports of the war entitled The Untold Story of the Nigeria-Biafra War: A chronological reconstruction of the events and circumstances of the Nigerian civil war, Dr. Luke Nnaemeka Aneke highlighted some activities of Chief Awolowo which cast a slur on his reputation as a sage and statesman, despite the hot air and putrid insipidities from Awoists and ethnic irredentists like Femi Fani-Kayode, Ayo Adebanjo and Ordia Ofeimun in defence of Awolowo when Achebe accused him of genocide during the war. To begin with, at a peace conference in Lagos for regional delegates convened by Lt. Col. Gowon in September 1966, Awolowo fully endorsed the Eastern delegates' position that Nigeria should be a confederation of semi-autonomous regions. Again, when the tension between the federal government and Eastern region was getting to its omega point, Awolowo boasted, on May 1, 1967, that if the Eastern region secedes the West, with the federal capital Lagos, would secede as well. TO BE CONTINUED.

PAGE 12—SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013

The scandal in Aviation The whistleblower, “Nicholas Edwards,” who broke the lead off the massive procurement rip-off at the National Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA), one of the key agencies under the ministry of Aviation has thrown light on a most embarrassing level of corruption in government. Allegedly sanctioned by the minister and top officials of this agency, it has since come to light that the NCAA spent a whopping N255 million (US 1.6 million) in extra budgetary funds to procure just two armoured BMW cars for the use of the Aviation

To pay N255 million of public funds for just two armoured BMW cars is pure thievery, and there is no pussy-footing around the fact. It reflects the profoundest example of how government officials and institutions operate, sanction, and legitimize scamming in the procurement process.

minister. It is a mindboggling story. But suppose we must excuse such luxury in the midst of crushing national poverty, when millions of Nigerian school children cannot afford breakfasts before coming to school, the universities and research facilities have closed down in a nation-wide strike because government says it cannot afford to fully fund the demands of the Lecturers; in the face of vast municipal infrastructural decay across the nation, and triple digit unemployment that makes the lives of regular Nigerians brutish and short, and a Nigerian minister still wishes to indulge in open gratuitous luxury; the details of the purchase would still irk. Fellow Nigerians, consider the follow-

Sealed with a loving kiss

kiss is a loving seal on affec tion, a bodily statement that speaks love when words become redundant; a physical expression of love. A kiss is intimate; it connotes familiarity, affection, an emotional currency of a love shared. I don’t refer to the casual cheek to cheek kiss that’s a meaningless greeting between strangers and mere acquaintances; that is very common, very continental and signifies nothing. I write about the kiss that’s deliberate, that says and means something. A few years ago I picked up something that puts a kiss in its place in the order of importance of intimacy. It was a scene in a film that was very successful in the early nineties. The film was “Pretty Woman” and it starred a much younger Julia Roberts and an extremely attractive Richard Gere. The plot was simple enough. A young prostitute is picked up by an attractive and very successful man for intimate relations for a week and, as can only happen in movies, they fall in love and after some embarrassing and even heart-breaking events they end up together. Everyone loves a story of redemption and it was a blockbuster success but the most profound part of it for me was the conversation between Vivian (Julia Roberts) and Kit (a fellow pros-

titute). During the course of the week long liaison, Vivian had been totally upgraded and was looking suspiciously too happy for a woman on the job and her friend Kit wanted to know if she had broken the honour code. It turns out the oldest profession, despised and shameful has an honour code! Kit’s question is the answer to the code. “Did you kiss him on the mouth? You never kiss a john (client) on the mouth; did you kiss him on the mouth?” Vivian shamefacedly confesses she had and Kit realises her friend had lost her heart! Kit goes on to explain that a prostitute needs to be devoid of feelings so she doesn’t get hurt and as such never kisses on the mouth as that signifies a love and intimacy she can’t afford. I don’t know for a fact that this is true for all ladies of the night but I agree with the sentiment. To kiss someone, you have to want them close; you have to embrace them, look into their eyes and to allow the kiss they also have to feel same. Bottom line is that a kiss happens when there is a relationship and the nature or depth of the kiss depends on how intimate the relationship is. To the pedestrian and the shallow, a kiss is a prelude to sex, but to the deeply cerebral, a kiss is a gesture that sur-

take decisions in pure disdain of the public. Actions no longer seem to have consequence in Nigeria. Corruption occurs in the public space where there is the absence of critical or legitimate oversight and sanction against those whose conducts undermine the public trust. This is exactly what seems to have happened at the Ministry of Aviation. Did a powerful minister go to the extent of gouging public funds, with the collusion of certain key officers of a critical Federal Government Agency through over-invoicing and sundry procurement fraud? This is the question before the public, and it is a question that will not go away soon. The most scandalous aspect of this story is that the Head of the NCAA, Mr. Akinkotu first came to the public to passes sex, a statement on its own, an affirmation that is undoubtedly and unequivocally intimate and all love. A baby’s innocent and very wet kiss on his mother’s face, a lover’s gentle hello or goodbye, a friends gentle peck on the cheek and a father’s love on the forehead. I am a student in the RCCG School of Disciples and I just suddenly got a new understanding of a kiss. It was the final lecture, year 10 and we were all to watch a pre-recorded lecture given by Pastor E. Adeboye. Truth

like Stella Oduah. Her fierce fe line eyes – those bold saucers by which we enter into her soul – leaves one in no doubt that she is a force of nature. It is not for nothing that she is considered one of the most powerful ministers in the Jonathan administration. As minister for Aviation, she has certainly taken very bold steps; made tough and demanding decisions, and accomplished quite some visible milestones. Evidence of her work and accomplishment in office can be seen in the new developments in the various Airports across the country. Under Oduah in Aviation, these Airports have been given bold face-lifts, and things seem to be in real motion. Perhaps one of her greatest achievements has been to instrumentalise the take-off of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, and pursue with vigour, the vast rehabilitation of the Port-Harcourt International Airport, which opens up the opportunities for International air travelers from the East and parts of the Nigerian Mid-belt. She had shaken up Aviation; cancelled obnoxious treaties and contracts; revised deleterious agreements, and stepped on very powerful toes. She even recently became the object of a certain Mr. Fani-Kayode’s eyes and lust for the ethnic “other.” Whispered hints suggested that it all had to do with Oduah raining on FK’s BiCourtney parade or some unfinished business involving certain personal interests at Aviation. In all these, Ms. Oduah managed to shrug off her adversaries, and seemed rather coy about it. Note: when she recently laughedoff Fani-Kayode and told him to get off whatever he must be smoking! However, Ms. Stella Oduah is not sleeping easily these days. She shouldn’t.

ing facts: the most expensive car in the market, the top of the line 2013 model Rolls Royce Phantom costs US 398, 970 fully delivered. To pay N255 million of public funds for just two armoured BMW cars is pure thievery, and there is no pussy-footing around the fact. It reflects the profoundest example of how government officials and institutions operate, sanction, and legitimize scamming in the procurement process. The depth of miasma has been described by various commentators since the scandal broke at the NCAA as not just a matter of corruption but corruption of such scale and dimension that could not be described in any way other than plain impunity. It is impunity so bold and vast that it comes from that impulse of power where public officials inoculate themselves with the serum of invincibility. They grow too powerful. They become derisive of the intelligence and interest of the public so much that they

The world is full of many Judases and many Peters; those who would sell us and send us to damnation, who would violate the sanctity of friendship, of love, who would deny us in times of need and even have the guts to look into our eyes and seal our fate with an anything but loving kiss

be told, I didn’t think a video would have me captivated but it did. It began with a kiss and its significance. Most of us are conversant with the story of Christ’s crucifixion, the events before and after but I truly got a new understanding and judging by how many people shed tears as they listened, I wasn’t alone. He began by describing the abandonment that Jesus must have felt when his closest friends couldn’t even pray with him at the hour of his greatest need. How alone He would have felt to find He didn’t matter enough to them to spend just a few

condemn the whistleblower as a “criminal.” It seems rather ironic because the real crime was in procurement gouging, in unauthorized spending of public funds; in the lack of procedural transparency in the tenders process; and in the attempt at a cover-up. As at the moment of writing this piece, the minister of Aviation Ms. Stella Oduah was on a junket to Israel with the President, but through her office she released a statement absolving herself of wrong-doing. The House of Representatives has instituted a probe on the Oduah Affair, and has called former Head of the Agency, Mr. Joyce Nkemakolam, and its current Head, Mr. Akinkotu, and from all indications, each has made contradictory statements regarding this procurement scandal. The point to be made seriously here is that both men must be made to come clean on the facts of this purchase by the EFCC. The House of Representatives and the Nigerian Press must dig in deeper, and we say, may the real Nicholas Edwards in every ministry and parastatal of government stand up to be counted! The procurement scandal in Aviation is but a tip of iceberg. It is a mere door into a vast labyrinth of official corruption in every segment of the Nigerian government, and this fact is an open secret. It is an open secret that there is collusion at a vast, mind-bending scale within the institutions of government; within the bureaucracy, and inside the administration that bleeds the government and bilks public funds through extraordinary forms of rendition by which government contracts; procurements; pay-offs, are over-invoiced, over-bloated, stanched, and leveraged into the private pockets of top political and bureaucratic officials at the detriment of the public. I like Ms. Oduah, but I’m afraid she may have handed her enemies the ropes with which to hang her. The president must demand her resignation. But the president must also expand the probe to examine the procurement process in other sectors of his administration because Stella Oduah and the Ministry of Aviation are not the only culprits here. The entire place stinks.

hours to support and pray with Him even in the face of impending death. All these were mini betrayals but the major one was the kiss; His fate was sealed with the loving kiss of a friend. As a young girl I remember the 5 letters that used to dot the envelopes of all the adolescent love letters I ever saw. It took quite a while for me to figure out what the letters stood for but for some reason those letters flashed intermittently in my memory during that lecture. S.W.A.L.K to most teenagers was a declaration of love; it meant that the letter was Sealed With A Loving Kiss. The Bible records that those who came to arrest Jesus did not know him; he was always surrounded by His friends; to get him they used one of them. One of his closest friends; a man who kept all his money, ate with him, who shared everything with him sold him out for 30 pieces of Sliver. Betrayers are many and history has recorded many a tale of betrayal but none more brazen than that of Judas. He sold out his friend for money, and then led soldiers to identify and arrest Hm. He embraced Jesus, looked into his eyes and sealed the deed with a pretentious loving kiss. My eyes filled with tears as I put myself in the Saviour’s shoes, wondering what he felt, being dragged away to certain death after a kiss. Let’s not forget that he heard Peter, one of His best friends, deny ever even knowing him not once, not twice but thrice; Peter swore, even cursed himself just to distance himself. The Bible actually tells us Jesus turned around and looked at Peter; what a friend! I am sure the world is full of many Judases and many Peters; those who would sell us and send us to damnation, who would violate the sanctity of friendship, of love, who would deny us in times of need and even have the guts to look into our eyes and seal our fate with an anything but loving kiss.

SUND AY SUNDA

ast week, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authori ty, NCAA, announced plans to embark on yet another round of safety audit of all domestic airlines operating in the country. This is coming as an aftermath of the crash of Associated Airlinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; plane in Lagos which claimed the lives of at least 15 people. The plan to audit the airlines will be one in a series of airlinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; audit which had trailed the aviation industry since aircraft started falling off the skies since 2005. After the crash of Bellview Airlines in October 2005; Sosoliso in December 2005 and ADC in October 2008, each accident had come with safety audit of airlines, yet planes keep dropping off the skies. What this means is that there appears to be a fundamental problem in the system that has not been addressed, and that has to do with policies enunciated for the industry by government. There is a suggestion that no matter the volume of safety audit conducted on airlines, safety would remain elusive as long as the operating environment created for airlines remained harsh. Neither would re-modelling of airports reverse this trend. The mortality rate of airlines in Nigeria isnhigh due to what observers describe as a very harsh operating environment. Bellview, ADC, Sosoliso, Spaceworld, EAS, Harka, Okada, Oriental, Concord, Flash, Air Nigeria are some of the airlines that have exited the airspace in the last 10 years. This is frightening. Some others may yet follow. Firstly, the tax regime introduced by government for airlines in the country creates a near asphyxiating ambience for operators. Airlines pay all sorts of charges which stifle them. Consequently, this is the reason most airlines find it

Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013, PAGE 13

FRIGHTENING REVELATIONS

Why planes may keep dropping Safety audit without off the skies fail-safe procedures By KENNETH EHIGIATOR difficult to meet their financial obligations to suppliers, service providers and staff. Even the payment of salaries and aircraft maintenance, when due, becomes a Herculean task. Airlines in Nigeria pay some of the most outrageous charges in the world. These come in form of ground rent, landing and take off, day and overnight parking charges as well as navigational fees; and these are exclusive of other multiple taxes imposed by government. Overnight parking charges range from between N25,000 and N30, 000 per aircraft. Airlines in Nigeria also pay government taxes as high as 18 per cent of sales, including Value Added Tax, VAT, Passenger Service Charge, PSC and NCAAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s TSC. These taxes and charges, to say the least, are stringent for the airlines to operate safely and profitably. And an airline that cannot operate safely and profitably is an accident waiting to happen. Another reason air safety would remain a challenge in Nigeria, no matter the frequency of audit, is the cutthroat price of aviation fuel, otherwise known as JET-A1. At present, this product sells for between N170 and N200 litre, depending on which part of the country it is being sourced. And because up to 40-45 per cent operational cost of airlines revolves around aviation fuel, the

There is a suggestion that no matter the volume of safety audit conducted on airlines, safety would remain elusive as long as the operating environment created for airlines remained harsh. Neither would re-modelling of airports reverse this trend product is a huge cost component of their operations in the country. Over time, fuel suppliers have insisted on dispensing their products on a cash and carry basis because of the inability of airlines to settle accumulated debts arising from previous purchases. This has largely been responsible for some of the delays and flight cancellations experienced by passengers at airports across the country. Currently, there is no sign to indicate that government is addressing the problem. Most foreign airlines do their re-fuelling in neighbouring countries because of the high cost of aviation fuel in Nigeria but the local airlines have nowhere to go. When it comes to the issue of aircraft maintenance, the situation is even more dire for the airlines. Aside from a few of the airlines which have capacity for A and B checks in the country, all airlines

operating in Nigeria take their aircraft to other countries for their C-check, which comes up between nine and 18 months, depending, however, on the number of cycles an aircraft had clocked within the period. This costs airlines as much as $1 million per aircraft.

he situation is so because there is no standard hanger anywhere in the country where such a check can be conducted on aircraft. Consequently, airlines in Nigeria take their planes to such countries as Ethiopia, Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, France and even tiny Mauritius for their C and D checks. At the last Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul, MRO, conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in February, experts were unanimous on the leverage and cost-cutting advantage an MRO centre has on airline operations and safety. They also attributed the

absence of it in Nigeria to most of the safety issues that had arisen in the country this decade, particularly in the last couple of years. Over time, stakeholders in the industry have clamoured for the establishment of a national hangar by the Federal Government as no one airline could shoulder the cost of establishing it. Though successive aviation ministers bought into the idea, nothing was ever done to bring it to fruition. Had government set up an MRO centre, the issue of taking planes out of Nigeria and paying exorbitantly an hard currency would have since Stopped and Nigeria would have become the hub of maintenance in West Africa. At the moment, there is no such centre in the region. To be able to cope with multiple taxes and crippling charges imposed by government, airlines have had to increase fares on frequent basis, thus reducing the number of people that can afford air travel. This is not good enough for a country angling to be the hub of aviation business in West Africa. With regards to loans, stakeholders have also canvassed the creation of an Aviation Development Fund, ADF, where operators could secure facilities at single digit interest rate, and not the current rate of interest in commercial banks that has helped to further strangulate airlines in the country.

Continues on page 14

PAGE 14 — SUND AY SUNDA

Continued from page 13

Unfortunately, the tokenism that passed for an intervention fund suffered greatly from corrupt practices. One other area government has stifled the ability of airlines to earn sufficient revenue to operate safely and profitably is the continuous granting of multiple entries and frequencies to foreign airlines who,at the moment, do aviation business in Nigeria. What other governments do to grow their aviation sector with a view to driving economic growth and create jobs is to discourage granting such leverages to foreign airlines operating into their territories. This is done to protect local airlines which would assist foreign airlines distribute their passengers domestically and make money. Today, virtually all the foreign airlines in the country, including British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya

Airways, enjoy multiple entries and frequencies in the country, with some even operating two frequencies from one airport per day. This situation does not only engender capital flight but also sounds the death knell for domestic airlines in Nigeria. Nigeria currently has Bilateral Air Services Agreement, BASA, with several countries, whose airlines do business here, without an enforcement of the doctrine of reciprocity. It does appear that the Aviation Ministry is content with earning royalties from the host governments of foreign airlines than work to ensure that Nigerian carriers are strong enough to reciprocate BASAs. Such royalties are just a fraction of what would come to Nigeria, if the local airlines reciprocate the BASAs. Now, talking about the ability of the regulatory agency to really ensure

Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013

safety, against the backdrop of Associated Airlines’ crash, the issue to ponder is whether the NCAA has the capacity, in terms of personnel, for effective oversight of airlines in Nigeria? Observers insist this is doubtful and may explain the reason why planes keep falling off the skies, in spite of constant audit. Sunday Vanguard was told that NCAA lacks the requisite personnel to properly carry out its oversight function on airlines, particularly with regards to safety inspectors who should check aircraft before take-off safety inspectors are very experienced aviators. Based on the preliminary report of the Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, on the crashed Associated Airlines’ plane, there are suggestions that the aircraft may not have enjoyed the benefit of thorough inspection by any NCAA inspector before take-off. Unconfirmed reports have it that the agency current-

ly does not have more than 10 time-tested safety inspectors for the whole country, with greater percentage of the personnel concentrated in Lagos and Abuja. Meanwhile, the Federal Government has control over 22 airports in the country, which are exclusive of those owned by states and planes fly passengers into these airports. During the time of the immediate past directorgeneral of the agency, Dr. Harold Demuren, he always admitted that NCAA lacked adequate number of safety inspectors and that the few available were aging. The umbrella body of cabin crew in Nigeria, the National Cabin Crew Association, NACCA, expressed concern over this development when the Dana airliner crashed in June last year and wrote to the Aviation Minister to address the issue. The letter, dated Febru-

ary 7, 2013, highlighted the paucity of safety inspectors on the part of the NCAA, and called for the agency to be fortified with more inspectors. The group’s concern stemmed from the number of its members that had died in plane crashes since 2005. It also called for the reversal of the system where airlines bear the cost of NCAA oversight personnel who travel overseas to inspect foreign training centres and aircraft airworthiness, noting that aside from putting more burden on airlines, the practice also could lead to compromises on the part of the personnel. Besides, the agency lacks the necessary autonomy to do its work without overbearing influences from the supervising ministry. Although the new Civil Aviation Act of 2006 gave the NCAA autonomy, as part of the requirement for Nigeria to attain U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Category 1 certifi-

cation, which the country achieved in 2010, it does appear now that that autonomy is only on paper. This is because the director-general of the agency cannot take very critical decisions that may even affect lives, without first seeking the approval of the minister. Unless the statusquo is reversed, Nigeria stands the risk of losing the certification, which the Federal Government fought so hard to get. From the foregoing, it is obvious that it would be difficult to ensure air safety as long as the operating environment for local airlines in the country remain harsh. Government needs to start addressing issues raised here rather than see aviation as one sector it must make money from to make up for shortfall in oil revenue. Until these are done, planes may keep dropping off the skies, despite safety audits but God forbid

ODUAHGATE

We may order arrest of Aviation Minister – House of Reps By EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

on Zakari Lafia Mohammed is the spokesman of the House of Representatives and a member of the House Committee on Aviation. In this chat, he speaks on how the committee will ensure that all necessary avenues are explored to deliver justice to Nigerians on reckless spending in government. The Minister of Aviation is said to have gone abroad despite the N255m cars scandal involving her. Do you think her action is appropriate? That is another serious act of impunity on the part of the minister. It is also a clear case of not taking the parliament seriously, it is rather unfortunate. All she ought to have done is to delegate her Permanent Secretary or a Director in her ministry to carry out the rituals of signing the BASA agreement and face squarely what is on ground for her. The heavens will not fall if another person signs on behalf of Nigeria. We will not stop until we get to the bottom of why such a huge sum of money was spent for vehicles. What exactly did the National Assembly approve for the NCAA? Take a peep at page six of their budget, we approved 5 Toyota Pickup Hilux, 16 Toyota Corolla, 5 Toyota Landcruiser Jeeps, 3 Toyota Hiace buses all at a cost of N240 million but they eventually bought 54 vehicles through the bank lease for the sum of N643 million which was financed by the bank. There was no time we discussed the issue of a lease with them during the budget defence. I do not want to preclude this investi-

Hon. Zakari Lafia Mohammed gative hearing but we will dis-passionately seek justice for all Nigerians through this investigation. Never again in the history of Nigeria will public servants take Nigerians for a ride. But, from all indications, it appears as if the minister may not meet your deadline for the hearing as you are expected to close shop on Tuesday? If she fails to show up we will issue a bench warrant to get her arrested. Arrest! Has it come to that? This is a national issue that must be properly thrashed out with the zeal of a wounded lion. If need be, we will ask the Speaker to issue a bench warrant immediately she fails to show up and she will be arrested. We’ve given her enough grace as the committee will sit on Friday, Monday and Tuesday. All

those excuses given on her behalf will not hold by the time we conclude our findings. You mentioned that NCAA officials used two budgets. What do you mean? Yes! They are using both the approved budget and the unapproved one. In the approved one, we clearly deleted the purchase of armoured cars and, in the approved budget, armoured cars were not captured. This is a clear case of ineptitude and negligence of duty which can never be accepted by Nigerians that we represent here in the National Assembly. But why would….? The simple instruction we gave is that they should delete the armoured cars. We argued then that they do not need such cars to inspect perimetre fence. It is embarrassing to us and the entire country.

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013, PAGE 15

*Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah

ARMOURED BMW CARS

Our Story, by NCAA PRESENTATION BY THE NIGERIAN CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY (NCAA) TO THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AVIATION AT A PUBLIC HEARING INTO THE PROCUREMENT OF OPERATIONAL SECURITY AND SAFETY VEHICLES HELD AT HEARING ROOM 028 ON THURSDAY, 24TH OCTOBER, 2013. INTRODUCTION The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is the statutory regulator of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Industry. Consequently, the NCAA is charged with oversight responsibilities over all civil aviation operations in the country, including safety, security and strict compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARS). Towards the effective implementation of its statutory regulatory responsibilities, therefore, it is imperative that the NCAA is fully equipped with highly specialized tools and facilities, including adequate operational vehicles to cover all 22 national airports and over 400 airstrips. In keeping with standard practice, provision is therefore made annually for the replacement of obsolete, inadequate and unreliable monitoring equipment. As a result of the inadequacy and unreliability of NCAA existing operational vehicle due to old age and depreciation it became necessary to acquire additional ones. Furthermore, the appointment of a new Director

General, Directors, General Managers and other Management Staff, there was the need for additional vehicles. Moreover, the fact that NCAA,, as the regulator of the Industry, often plays host to dignitaries from ICAO, IATA, US, FAA, AFRAA, AFCAC, BAG, CANSO, ACI and a host of others made it imperative to have various specifications of operational vehicles. To acquire the vehicles, lease financing was adopted. Lease financing is one of the ways of acquiring fixed assets in both public and private sector organisations. NCAA embarked on lease financing in line with prudential cash flow management. Leasing improves cash flow and enables an organisation enjoy an asset before fully paying for it. This approach minimizes the effect of initial capital outlay that occurs if outright cash purchase is embarked upon. PROCUREMENT PROCESS With regard to the procurement of additional operational vehicles including 2 nos. BMW Security Vehicles, the following due process was followed: i.On the 5th of April, 2013, the need for additional operational vehicles was identified. ii.On the 15th of April, 2013, an official letter was written to Federal Ministry of Aviation requesting for approval to procure the vehicles. Iii.On the 25th of April, 2013, Federal Ministry of Aviation conveyed approval for the acquisition of the operational vehicles through lease fi-

nancing. iv.On the strength of the above letter of approval from Federal Ministry of Aviation, the list of all Banks in Nigeria was obtained on 7th May, 2013 and were circulated with a Request for Expression of Interest on the financing of the lease. EOI was adopted because the procurement is two sided. First, the financier would have to be selected before the supplier is determined. This is in line with procurement best practices. v.On 24th May, 2013, the Request for Expression of Interest (EOI) was publicly opened and minutes of the opening exercise was documented. During the opening exercise NCAA got commendation from one of the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) approved by BPP who were invited for the opening exercise. vi.The Evaluation of the Expression of Interest was held on 31st May 2013 during which First Bank Plc., Union Bank Plc and Stanbic IBTC emerged responsive. Vii.On the 10th of June, 2013, the above three banks were invited to submit financial proposals. Thereafter, First Bank emerged the highest rated responsive bidder. Viii.Between 20 th and 25 th June, 2013 invoices were received from various accredited motor vehicle dealers during which only Coscharis Motors Limited quoted for BMW armoured vehicles. ix. On 28th June 2013, NCAA Parastatal Tenders Board approved

the selection of First Bank Limited for the Lease Financing as well as Metropolitan Motor Vehicles and Coscharis for the supply of the vehicles. This approval is predicated on the due process documentations so far done. x.Between 8th June, 2013, to 12th August, 2013 various meetings were held with First Bank Limited, contract agreement was signed and necessary documentations were carried out. xi.On 13th August, 2013, the suppliers of the vehicles were contacted on the instance of First Bank Nigeria. CONCLUSION In conclusion, we wish to point out to the Honourable members that: *Payment for the vehicles is in 36 equal monthly installment out which only two has been paid as at 31 st October, 2013. The payment per month is N23,249,181,00 (the Toyota and Armoured Vehicles inclusive) which will amount to N116,245,905.00 by the end of year 2013. This total is below the appropriation for the year.. *The procurement is tripartite transaction between NCAA, First Bank Nigeria and the suppliers. *Furthermore, procurement of operational vehicles is provided for in NCAA 2013 Budget on line 6, page 10 and is line with NCAA Condition of Service. *As at date, ownership title documents and spare keys of the vehicles are with First Bank of Nigeria and would only be transferred to NCAA after final payment.

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Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013

By EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

on Nkeuruka Onyeojocha is the House of Representa tives’ Committee Chairperson on Aviation. In this chat, she speaks on the investigative hearing on the alleged purchase of bullet proof cars by the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, and other aviation-related issues. Nigerians generally believe that your Committee actually approved the purchase of the BMW armoured cars? The record speak for itself. I can give you copies of the budget. They asked for two BMW armoured cars in their proposal. All members of the Committee rejected it outrightly without amendment. We knew that nobody needs armoured cars as far as NCAA and the law establishing NCAA is concerned. There was no way we would have allowed it in the budget. So we asked them to take their proposal back and remove it entirely. So the budget that we approved did not have armoured cars . We wonder how they got the approval to buy the cars. And for God’s sake, if N240 million was approved for 25 vehicles for the 22 airports across the federation, we did so because we didn’t want them to blackmail us that they needed cars, they were renovating airports and doing a lot of things and we didn’t give them money to buy vehicles to ensure movement of persons. The vehicles we approved were clearly spelt out and, on the last two vehicles, they said they wanted them for the inspection of perimeter fencing. Would anybody use armoured cars to inspect perimeter fencing? I don’t want to join issues here because we are still investigating? Many people think the decision by the President Goodluck Jonathan to constitute a three-man Committee to probe the procurement of the armoured cars could jeopardize your own investigations. Do you agree? The point is that Nigerians forget too soon; even on the DANA plane crash, we stood our grounds because a regulator cannot be an operator. In this case, if an accounting officer has done something that is not correct, we would pinpoint it and make the person pay for it. One thing that is very clear is that we have three arms of government. There are rules, there are procedures and because we are investigating, I don’t think it is wrong for the executive to investigate themselves. We should commend the President for setting up the Committee because we need to get to the bottom of the matter. The most important thing is to let the international community see us as serious and credible people. My view is that we are working for one Nigeria and we want to move the aviation sector to the next level. So if setting up of 20

Why we deleted armoured cars from budget —Onyeojocha,

House

Aviation

Hon Nkeuruka Onyeojocha

Committee

Chairperson

knowledged that their responsibility revolves around safety of our planes. Taking money to buy cars might not be the issue because equipment were provided for NAMA, NIMET and other agencies in the aviation sector. So I don’t want Nigerians to lose hope that, due to one case of misapplication of funds, it is going to affect the sector. Is there remarkable improvement in the aviation sector? Of course, that we are investigating the Aviation Ministry does not mean that all is not well with the sector. The aviation sector has improved tremendously even from where it was one week ago to where we are now. What is happening is a healthy development. It would put us in check. People would know that it is not just coming to meet us at the National Assembly for us to appropriate, but we need to scrutinize the budget that we

They asked for two BMW armoured cars in their proposal. All members of the Committee rejected it outrightly without amendment. We knew that nobody needs armoured cars as far as NCAA and the law establishing NCAA is concerned Committees would take our aviation sector to the next level, it is a welcome idea. I don’t like this idea of people saying the president wants to shield somebody and so that is why he set up the ad-hoc Committee. And then, two heads are better than one. Maybe in the course of our investigations, we may not even discover any serious thing; maybe they would be the one that would discover something worthwhile. So, the bottom-line is that, let Nigeria get the best. Stakeholders say misapplication of funds would impact negatively on the aviation sector. Are they right? Misapplication of funds is an issue entirely on its own. It’s a problem everywhere but we do exercise our oversight functions over the ministry to correct the anomaly. But I appreciate the fact that we are in a new phase under the transformation agenda and so it would take time for people to adjust, but it has little or nothing to do with safety issues because NCAA ac-

approve. It is getting better and so the future is bright for the aviation sector and for all the other sectors. Before now, somebody would see this kind of thing and gloss over it. The controversy over the procurement of the BMW armored cars is a healthy one. It would help us to get our acts right. The issue is about people knowing that this country belongs to all of us; it does not matter whether I am involved or somebody else is involved. Under the transformation agenda, we would experience challenges. When you fight corruption, corruption would fight back. For the Aviation Minister, I pity her. When she came with the transformation agenda in the aviation sector, she should have known that there would be all sorts of challenges. When she started, I said for the fact that she was changing the roofs, to superior electric bulbs, those benefiting from the bulbs by going to buy them in Wuse market would not have any reason going to

buy them on daily basis. So they would get angry. The same applies to the person making money by supplying diesel to provide electricity in the airports. You don’t expect him to be happy if the minister ensures the repair of all the cables that paved the way for uninterrupted power supply in the airports. So for stepping into a place and even doing certain things, anything you do that is out of place, you are in trouble. How do you assess the performance of this year’s budget in the aviation sector? This year, we have not done that yet. We wanted to go on oversight when the House adjourned. When we contacted the ministry at that point, they said they were going to Canada for ICAO conference and so we postponed it till the time they would return, and when they came back, there was the Associated Airlines plane crash and then came the Sallah break and, as we were resuming, we were inundated with the issue of the BMW armoured cars. But the NCAA is arguing that the armoured cars were desirable in view of the security challenges in the polity? You brought a proposal, because, as far as I’m concerned, the budget of the executive is from the National Assembly; and, in our wisdom because we are all Nigerians, northerners are in our Committee, people from Niger Delta etcetera, we said, yes, we have peculiarities but not for armoured cars. Put the security of lives and property in place. How many people will two armoured cars carry? Some international best practice does not suit us. I am from one village in Nigeria and there are certain things you would come and introduce to my people that would be a total mess. The most important thing is that the NCAA has so many other things they could have been talking about. We are talking about a sector that most of its workforce is ageing. It needs to intensify its training and retraining. What is your take on the persistent calsl on the Aviation Minister to resign? She is entitled to fair hearing and, until we finish our investigations; until you indict somebody, you don’t go into that. This is why I refused to talk before these investigations are completed. I chose to speak based on what we heard yesterday. You allow fair hearing and, of course, you have to get to a bridge before you cross it. It is too early to call for somebody’s resignation because one of the questions that we asked was, were the cars appropriated for under any law? When the investigations are concluded, then we know who should be asked to resign. It is too early to say Oduah should resign.

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013, PAGE 17

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

on . Adeola Solomon Olamile kan is the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts. In this interview, the lawmaker, who represents Alimosho Federal Constituency of Lagos State, x-rays the activities of his Committee, saying that many federal ministries and agencies stink. How has it been chairing the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts? It has been wonderful two years chairing the Committee on Public Accounts of the Federal House of Representatives. On assumption of office as the chairman of the Committee in September 2011, part of the challenges this committee was confronted with was the backlog of unattended Auditor-General’s (AG) report over the years either by omission, error or lack of human capacity. When I came on board, I went as far back as 2003 Auditor- General of the Federation (AGF) report which was left unattended to. I have 2003/2010. As a chartered accountant, I cannot just set aside the unattended report and say I want to start on a clean slate. What will become of the unattended report? So, I took it upon myself to start the work from 2003, consolidate altogether and ensure that each time the ministries appear before us, we start from 2003 to 2011. And we succeeded in attending to over 150 out of 601 Federal Government agencies. It took some time to lay the report before the House. And since we have been able to reduce the backlog, the Committee decided to streamline it to 2010/2011 which we are currently working on. But, even at that, there are still challenges. Many of these government agencies have one reason or the other to dodge their appearance before the Committee. You have been indicted by the office of the Auditor-General for financial impropriety and it is expected that you appear and defend your position. But the next thing is to see letter of excuses that today, we are in Malaysia , tomorrow, we are in London , next tomorrow, we are in the US and so on. So, working under that disguise, the Committee has no choice than to keep rescheduling. And don’t forget, if we have scheduled an agency for this week and it is not appearing and we have scheduled other agencies for the next six months, there is no space to accommodate it. Bringing it back will be after another six months. But we have decided that any agency that we send letter to and it refuses not to appear hiding under the disguise that it is leaving the country; you have to give documented evidence to show that you are not within the country at the time of the exercise. If you are on sick bed, you have to show us letter to show that you are unavoidably absent at the time as a result of this and that. Any agency that fails to go in that direction, the Committee will not hesitate to issue warrant of arrest to forcefully bring it to appear before the Committee. So, this is a new idea we have brought to it and we are working round the clock to ensure that that becomes effective. Because I continue to wonder; this is spent money. And the AGF has found you wanting. Before this query arrives the House, there are processes. There is what we called an exit meeting, a meeting between the agency and the office of AGF. At exit meeting, all the findings of the AGF will be given to that agency to respond to within a specified p e r i o d of time and failure on the part of the agency to respond leads to query. That same agency that cannot clear itself at the exit meeting with the AGF Office now believes that when it appears before the House, it is the prerogative of the House

C M Y

Hon. Adeola Solomon Olamilekan

FINANCIAL RECKLESSNESS

NCAA, FAAN, many other govt agencies have case to answer —Rep Olamilekan You see ministries trampling on the agencies under them collecting funds that are not budgeted for; like what you have just seen in the case of Aviation Minister that went to into NCAA accounts; money which had been set aside to monitor airplanes; money paid by airline operators to NCAA to work with, money that has not been provided for in the budget to clear it with documents they have refused to give to the Office of AG at the exit meeting. And that it why we as a Committee go a step further. That is why our reports don’t come out on time. We go a step further by asking for the original of the documents, asking for the working papers of the Office of the AGF and

compare and come out with a position. We still carry out what we call status enquiry on the financial activities of that particular agency. Now, if you any agency one, two, three times and it refuses to appear, we issue warrant of arrest. I think that will put the agencies on their toes. In Ghana, the Committee on Public Accounts sits on live telecast. It is not shrouded in secrecy or done in the Committee hearing room. If that opportunity is given to us, we will ensure that ours is also televised live. I think with that, the perception, the thinking and the workings of government will change faster. Can you tell us some of your findings so far? There are a lot of findings. The Auditor General’s Report is a public document. The media should have access to it. Once the document is laid before the House, it becomes a public document. You have the right to know what is contained in that report. And it is expected of the Office of the AGF to invite the media and tell them the content of the report. Last week, we invited the Office of AGF for the 2011 report. All it could give to us was a summary of the report. It is not supposed to be. What are the high points? What are the low points and what are those things that we discovered which we believe you want the House to look into? So, the committee mandated the Office to go back, worknd report accordingly.

There are flaws, anomalies fraud that have been discovered by this Committee. We had missing files. Ministry of Science and Technology appeared before the Committee and could not account for a contract file of over N200million. They could not account for documentation of expenditure for over one hundred and something million Naira. That is just one out of the lot. You see ministries trampling on the agencies under them collecting funds that are not budgeted for; like what you have just seen in the case of Aviation Minister that went to into NCAA accounts; money which had been set aside to monitor airplanes; money paid by airline operators to NCAA to work with, money that has not been provided for in the budget, the Minister believes NCAA is under her purview and she could go into the account, withdraw money from that account and spend the way she likes. And we have written to NCAA now to appear before the Committee, ‘Give us the statement of your accounts in the last 5 years’. Because we are not just looking at NCAA with the purchase of the bullet proof cars. There are transactions that must have gone on behind the scene. And we are not only going to deal with NCAA, we are also looking in the direction of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) relating to the issue of Bilateral Agreement Special Accounts (BASA) ; what is in that account is several billions of dollars and Naira? We need that account from these two agencies for the last five years, inflows and outflows. We will marry the two with relevant documentary evidence such as the vouchers that have been used and the approvals that have been sought to access those funds. When you come to the ministry, for instance, of education, they will go as far asTETFUND, UBEC and all other agencies under its purview asking for funds to be moved to the ministry; money that has been made in accordance with the law setting up that particular agency to be diverted for the usage of the ministry. And don’t forget those agencies funds are charged against consolidated revenue. If I don’t know any, I know that of UBEC. In a year, as part of its first line charge from government, UBEC receives a minimum ofN100 to N200 billion. How have we applied these fund for the betterment of our education? And if you compare such funds released to those agencies with what is happening in our education system, you find out that there is nothing on ground. So, we are looking at these issues holistically. When you look at the funds going down the drain unknown to many Nigerians and if you start counting on the tips of our fingers, you start seeing agencies like the Ecological Funds Office, Ministry of Education, Water Resources and the worst of them is the Ministry of Environment. So, I am of the firm belief that these errors, anomalies that we noticed in all these accounts will give room for change. We will be laying before the House, very soon, the service wide vote account. The vote constitutes 40% of the overall budget in 2013 specifically. And that particular vote is spent at the discretion of the President. These are not funds to be accessed by any ministry or agency of government. If any ministry or an agency wants to access that fund, you apply to the Director – General of the Budget Office who will seek approval of Mr President through the Minister of Finance before any agency can access. We have tried to analyze our recurrent expenditure for the year; the capital expenditure and how much was the provision for the special expenditure service wide vote head for the year and what has been the performances of each of the heads, performance of the capital vote head, and the performance of the recurrent vote head; performance of the service wide vote heads. But I am glad that Continues on page 18

C M Y K

PAGE 18 SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013

‘House probe on Oduah, exercise in futility’ BY LUCKY OJI

Barrister Abubakar Yesufu, the former President; Student Union, University of Benin, Chairman (Emeritus), Nigerian University Students Union (NUSU), Current Chairman, League of Patriotic Lawyers. He was one of the 22 lawyers Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi led in the famous case of Supreme Court Judges versus Concord and led Nigerians in Diaspora to demonstrate at the White House lawn, for the re-validation of June 12 (Abiola Mandate). The seasoned political analyst in this interview opens up on some topical issues: Excerpts.

HAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ABOUT THE PRESENT AVIATION PROBE SET UP BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES? The primary duty of the parliament is to make laws for the good governance of the country. This is in tandem with constitutional provisions of Section 88 & 89 of the 1999 constitution. Since this democracy started in 1999, the House of Representatives in addition to its legislative function has conducted probes on the activities of some public and even private establishments, that have remote involvement in the management of the nation’s economy. Most of the probe panels are often trashed, understandably. This is so because before an investigation is concluded, the probe committee is involved in one form of scandal or another, the most visible or prominent being bribery scandal. If we are to go down memory lane, Dimeji Bankole as speaker of the House of Representatives set up an investigation panel or committee to probe the National Integrated Power Projects (NIP.P) under Hon. Ndudi Elumelu. The committee was so mired in corruption and corrupt practices that the hunter became the hunted. Nigerians became disillusioned when the E.F.C.C under Nuhu Ribadu decided to charge Mr. Elumelu to court for his involvement in N5bn contract scam. Also, indicted were Elumelu’s deputy, Alhaji Mohammed Jibo and then chairman, House committee on Rural Development, Mr. Igwe Paulinus Nwagu Under the current 7th assembly, the House has not fared better. We saw one

Abubakar Yesufu

Honourable Hembe (PDP – Benue) exhibited legislative rascality and childish arrogance by his visible attack on Ms. Oteh of the Security and Exchange Commission. Hembe fell flat when it was revealed in the public domain that Hembe and his deputy, Hon. Emeka Azubogu collected N39m for a trip they never made. The duo of Hembe and Azubogu are still facing corruption charges with EFCC. The most recent is the subsidy probe that attracted commendation from Nigerians at home and the Diaspora which ended up in scandal when Farouk was alleged to have collected the sum of $620, 000 bribe from the oil firm (Zenoil) Otedola. Farouk earlier on denied and later admitted when he was informed that the transactions were recorded. A fig tree that is barren cannot bear good fruit, according to biblical saying. ON THE PRESENT NIGERIA CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY (NCAA) HEADED BY CAPTAIN FOLA AKINKUOTU? The League is not a megaphone for any agent, individual or parastatal. Captain Fola Akinkuotu remains one fellow whose appointment was the most meritorious ever made by President Jonathan Goodluck. The league, without prejudice to the ongoing probe of the committee, will be shocked if this egg-head that has been a paragon of virtue would be a party

I think the president is still too fixated about 2015. The euphoria, to me is distracting. We should see the concrete dividends of democracy. We should give poverty a safe berth before the next election otherwise; the bid would be meaningless and unrealistic to non-compliance to due process in matter of contracts or purchases. Suffice to say that Fola has not resumed duties when this contract was awarded. He can therefore not be culpable. Even in his stint with I.R.S., Bellview or Nigeria Airways, Captain Akinkuotu has exhibited such brilliancy, such dedication; such commitment that only a witch-hunting exercise can take this reputation away. This is perhaps the most visible Nigerian who combines the skill of a pilot with that of an Engineer. Appointed straight from the aviation school, Ilorin where he was seconded to train Nigerian Pilots. Indeed, he has the rare gift of a genius which defiles analysis. We would not stand by and allow a good guy to be stampeded into disreputable pit. When other pilots choose to fly for Saudi and Quarter Air, the patriotic captain Akinkuotu elected to be in our Aviation school as the provost to help mentor young pilots from where he was appointed by President Jonathan. Because we refused to speak for Odimegwu a first class brain was stampeded out of the population commission. His offence was simply because he refused compromise and

demanded justice. We will not allow this to happen again. NEVER!! How do you see the candidates for the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election? The most independent candidate in Anambra State governorship election is Ifeanyi Uba, his ideology is issue-based. He appears a framework to lead Anambra out of the wood. The League of Patriotic Lawyers does not support parties but candidates. We are therefore urging Anambra voters to spark this young politician that has no god father nor has support from financial institution. ON PRESIDENT JONATHAN’S RIGHT TO SEEK RE- ELECTION The league is yet to arrive at a consensus. But I think the president is still too fixated about 2015. The euphoria, to me is distracting. We should see the concrete dividends of democracy. We should give poverty a safe berth before the next election otherwise; the bid would be meaningless and unrealistic. ON THE PROPOSED CONFAB This is a welcome idea. We must discuss the basis of our continuous existence as a corporate entity. This would lead to a robust peoples’ constitution not the imposed military documents. ON GANI ADAMS It is unfortunate that the true hero of democracy remains unsung and uncelebrated. This worthy ambassador of the struggle put his life on the line for the seed of democracy to be planted not only in the South West but in the whole country. His principled struggle midwifed 2 presidential candidate from the South West. Today, the “New ” hero of democracy has forgotten Otunba Gani. They have taken the asset of democracy and left the liability for poor Gani. Before the emergence of OPC, the Yorubas were seen as cowards that would soon been conquered. Some traditional rulers sold out but the young man kept the flag of democracy flying. Surely, history will be kind to this young ambassador of the black race. ON FEMI FALANA A look at his antecedents shows that Gani Fawehimin did not die in vain He has midwifed a worthy successor and his utterances; legal practice/scholarship remains adequately pro-people.

‘We are after agencies over financial queries’ Continued from page 17 while other votes head of the Federal Government such as the special capital will perform as low as 30 %, the recurrent will perform as high as 70 to 80%, the service wide vote will perform as high as 90 to 95 %. And it is the aggregate of these two that we call budget performance for the year. But we have been able to analyze that and I believe it will go a long way to throw more light to what is non- performance of our budget. Does it mean that the Committee did not have prior knowledge of the financial reports of these agencies because you are asking for reports that span 2003 to 2012? I want you to understand the workings of this committee. The Committee is empowered by the Constitution to do two things. One: to work on the report laid before the House from the Office of the AuditorGeneral of the Federation. Two: to carry out investigation into the accounts of the agencies of the Federal Governments. Now, what we have before us is the query raised by the Office of the AGF on the financial activities of NCAA. Looking in that direction, the Committee now went a

step further by trying to ask, prior to the scandal, for the details of accounts of NCAA and FAAN. The new managing Director of FAAN has been avoiding the Committee. He has been dodging. If you listened to his comment, he said the issue of procurement of bullet-proof cars is politics. I continue to wonder when somebody who ought to be a technocrat, somebody who ought to be working to ensure safety of industry, is saying that the purchase of bullet proof cars, which is before the public, is all politics. We have invited him and the NCAA DG for more than three times. All they do is send letters to the Committee that they are not chanced. But the Committee is going fully out with them. They have queries to answer. It is not that we don’t have foreknowledge of what is happening. But the Committee goes a step further to look into the activities of the agencies. You raised the issue of service wide vote account earlier and said that you looked at the activities covering more than five years. Can you tell us you findings? I want to be a little bit careful in discussing the contents of this report. But I will just give you an idea of what the report is all about.

The Federal Government budget that you see every year is majorly divided into capital and expenditure revenue. When you come to the area of expenditure, you have the recurrent and capital. And the capital is divided into overhead and personnel. Now, as a result of safeties, at the state level, we normally refer to service wide vote as expenditure vote head. What the vote head tends to achieve is that should there be any emergency and the governor needs to access the funds relating to any agency, he can always go into the special expenditure vote head and draw that fund from there. But for you to incur expenditure in that head, you need what we call Authority to Incur Expenditure, AIE. But, if you look at the ministries and agencies, go into their budget, you will find out that there is nothing to write home about. For instance, year in year out, the structure of Nigeria ’s budget has been 72 percent. The last one; 72% of it was for recurrent while just a paltry sum of 28 percent was for capital. Now looking at that, the remaining difference of that particularly budget is further divided into three. The 60 percent of the overall budget is for recurrent and capital expenditure of all the ministries and parastatals. That is what the minister, the permanent secretary can write

on concerning any agency or so that is contained in his or her own budget. For instance, it is the idea of the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to reconstruct Gwagwalada/Abuja, Lokaja road this year. And the cost of that particular road is N40 billion. It is expected that if we have a budget that will spread over four years, you say every year, the ministry will budget N10 billion for this particular road. So, once the N10biilion has been exhausted, we have to wait till next year’s budget. But along the line, we know that, in the next four years, that road will be ready. But this is not the case. The ministry approaches the Budget Office that they need N30billion to build this road, the Office will say they don’t have N30 billion; go and plan on N5 billion Naira to start the road. The remaining N25 billion will be taken to the service wide vote. So, by the time the ministry tells the Budget Department that this is our budget this year, what the ministry is told is, ‘you need N5 billion for this year, go and plan on N2 billion’. The remaining N3 billion is set aside. By the time they collect all the funds from these agencies, they put into service wide vote account which constitutes over 40 per cent of the overall budget size of the Federal Government.

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013, PAGE 19

NO RETREAT NO SURRENDER

FG is deceiving Nigerians — ASUU leader z‘We wrote 53 letters to govt in 16months’ zSays N100b mere propaganda, funds not released Clement Chup is the zonal coordinator of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Abuja. Chup, in this interview, hints that there is no end in sight to the four months old strike by the university teachers which has kept students at home. By Laide Akinboade

he Minister of Education recently said ASUU strike would be over in a few months. What is the position of ASUU? I may not be in a position to give you the official position of ASUU, it is the National President that would give you the official position, but I want to tell you that there is a lot of insincerity on the part of government and, because government has the machinery of propaganda at their disposal, they disseminate a lot of falsehood to the general public. We are not talking about what government wants to do; what we are talking about is the implementation of an agreement which was signed by government and our union. So what government should be explaining is the modality for the implementation; so far, government has not come out to say this is what we will do. Rather, what government is trying to do is to run away from the agreement and we cannot accept that because the agreement is binding. Government must be honorable and responsible and implement the agreement. To buttress their insincerity, government would claim, and they have been telling the general public, that they released N100 billion two months ago. Up till now that we are talking, one kobo has not been released to any university, that is to tell you how insincere government is. So when they say we would as from next year make budgetary provision for so so and so amount, the question we should be asking ourselves is , what was spelt out in the agreement, which we are insisting they should implement? They cannot even give you an answer. In as much as we painfully went into this strike and, in as much as we are painfully pursuing this strike, in as much as we want this strike to end, we cannot just end it without achieving the purpose for which we went on the strike. So, as long as government does not show any sincerity to implement the agreement, the strike continues. Can you react to government’s allegation that ASUU is politicizing the strike? Well, a thief always thinks that every other person is a thief;

C M Y K

Chup...where was government when we issued warnings?

We wrote 53 letters since February 2012 and each of the letters was made public. There is none of our National Executive meetings we would not publish advertorial in newspapers and warnings constantly because they believe politics is all about falsehood, they think others are reasoning like them. But the question they should be asking is, does ASUU have basis for going on this strike? Let anyone of them come out and say no. Does the agreement exist and did the Federal Government sign the agreement? The answer is yes. Why are they refusing to implement it? Like I said earlier, they have the machinery for propaganda at their disposal they can disseminate whatever false information they want and they think everybody is like them. We are a union of intellectuals we don’t just come out to say anything or do anything, we subject it to scrutiny. We cannot become like them; it was said even by government at the highest

quarters, but you would recall they have not told us how, what manner of politics has come in and let Nigerians know. They said ASUU has been politicized. How? and it has been influenced by the opposition. The question we should ask is by which opposition. We look at them as politicians and all this claim is a tool by the Federal Government to blackmail us cheaply and we know they cannot succeed. How many meetings have you had so far with the Federal Government and are the meetings on-going? I prefer when you talk about meetings and discussions because there have been no negotiations going on but there are discussions, because you already have something to work with because when you have an agreement, it is a product of negotiation and it took us three years and I want to emphasise, three years, to arrive at that document called the 2009 agreement and, for you to arrive at an agreement, you must have made concessions. We have the document, it is for government to honour it. We would not refuse any invitation by anybody. The Federal Government has been calling us for discussions and we have been going. So, as long as they call us we will go, probably they want to tell us how they are going to implement the agreement. It was reported that the Federal Government has increased the N30 billion it released for earned allowance to N40 billion. Is this true? The Federal Government didn’t consult us before they released the N30 billion. You see the

insincerity? We were discussing how to implement the 2009 agreement and they simply went and released money to the universities, without any template, to cause further problems in the universities. So, if they have decided to add, and it was not part of the agreement, if they want to give universities award, they should go ahead. If somebody wants to give you award, you won’t reject it, but we know that we have an agreement and you should implement the agreement and when you want to implement the agreement, you are supposed to carry us along. Government is using this to blackmail us cheaply, and the next thing they would say is they have ‘released money, why won’t you call off the strike?’ We are not part of it and we have refused to participate in it and, in all the universities, you can ask, our members are not participating in the sharing of that money because it was not part of the agreement. Public sympathy on the strike, what is ASUU doing about this? We are taking that into consideration. You know one thing about public sympathy, it can easily change depending on circumstances, but what we are looking at is the fact of the matter and the truth on ground. Now if you look at it, people that are heroes historically were called rebels, even in the Bible, Jesus Christ was called a rebel, the people he was dying for were the ones shouting ‘crucify him’. ASUU stands for the truth to advance the cause of education in Nigeria. And also the cause of this country because by the time government becomes responsible, it will benefit not only education but also everybody. It is will be a stepping stone, then people will realize that government carries some responsibilities. For now, we are appealing to the public but we know we are fighting a just cause and we will continue. There are people who feel ASUU should call off the strike and then come back for negotiation? There are no negotiations going on; so which negotiation are we going to allow or are we saying we should allow implementation? Where was government when we were giving warnings? This is part of the insincerity by government we are talking about. How many times did ASUU warn the Federal Government? We wrote 53 letters since February 2012 and each of the letters was made public. There is none of our National Executive meetings we would not publish advertorial in newspapers and warnings constantly. We even visited some eminent

Nigerians and urged them to talk to the Federal Government to honour the 2009 agreement. We told them then we would eventually go on strike and it would not be good for anybody but they kept quiet; it is now they realize that there should be truce, truce for what? All we want from the Federal Government is to tell ASUU how they are going to implement the 2009 agreement, that is all. Government cannot run away from the agreement; we must work based on the agreement. But the Federal Government said it cannot implement some of the things in the agreement? It said the idea of releasing N400 billion per annum is not realistic? Who signed it? Ask them. Looking at the kind of government we have in this country, only last week, the government said it was getting ready to bail out the aviation sector for the second time. They feel this sector is important because they fly; But they have forgotten about most Nigerians that travel by road. Is it not Government money they are going to use? Where did they get the trillions they are going to use? Nigeria is supposed to commence the operation of national carrier before the end of this year - that is more of a priority to them. Education is not. You see the outrageous expenditure for those in government. Does that give the impression that the nation doesn’t have money? A few days ago, the Central Bank came out to tell us that in nine months, the nation made over N6 trillion and our budget is just over N4 trillion. They shouldn’t come out with the falsehood that the nation cannot afford to implement some parts of the 2009 agreement. Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation mid-wifed the memorandum of understanding that they are saying they cannot release, that is the insincerity we are talking about. Is there end in sight to the four months old ASUU strike? We don’t know, it is not for us to end it. When government is ready, we are ready. What specifically does ASUU want the Federal Government to do? We don’t want a fresh negotiation. When we wanted to go on strike, there was referendum in all our branches and they said until there is substantial evidence of implementation the 2009 agreement, we shall not suspend the strike. All we are saying is that the agreement should be implemented. There is nothing new about it, it is what we have been saying since the strike started and even before we went on strike. So let the Federal Government go on and implement the 2009 agreement. We cannot abrogate our agreement - on it we stand. We are doing our best to give updates but you will agree with me that we are handicapped and we don’t have the quantum of resources that Federal Government has for propaganda. You will agree with me that is a challenge on its own. That is not to say that we are not doing our best trying to explain to Nigerians our situation.

PAGE 20—SUND AY V ANGU ARD, OCTOBER 27, 2013 20—SUNDA VANGU ANGUARD,

Email: vanguardwoman@gmail.com (08054650907- SMS only)

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

AVE you ever tried to weigh the possibility of your being caught by the much feared breast cancer? Did a woman just say ‘God forbid’ to that? Believe it or not, the mere fact that you are a woman and have got breasts, puts you at risk! Living a healthy lifestyle could, however, help reduce your risks and as such reduce the rate of breast cancer-related deaths.As the international Breast Cancer Awareness month draws to an end, find out healthy tips recommended by experts to help reduce your risks of developing breast cancer. *Reduce alcohol Perhaps because of its ability to increase oestrogen, alcohol has been identified by researchers as a breast cancer instigator. But because researchers still do not agree on exactly how much of alcohol could put you at risk, your best bet is to embrace moderation. Doctors however claim that drinking more than 14 glasses of alcohol a week can damage your health. *Be mindful of your weight Researchers found that women who gained 44 to 55 pounds after the age of 18 had 40 per cent higher risk of getting breast cancer than women who fluctuated by

*Avoid toxins Avoiding common toxins such as parabens, mercury, phthalates, and atrazine already linked to breast cancer, can help to reduce your risk. Cut down on excessive exposure to pesticides and radiation. *Feed on less fat he more you patronise diets high in fat, the more you increase your risk of breast cancer. Scientists found that although Japanese women have a much lower risk of

Ways to reduce your risk of breast cancer

...research has also shown that most women turn up with advance stage breast cancer because they were hesitant about seeing their doctors when they first discovered tumours in their breasts.

only four or five pounds throughout their adult life. Animal studies too have shown that reducing calorie intake by 30 per cent can lead to an 80 - 90 per cent reduction in the risk of breast tumours. *Exercise The less you exercise, the higher your oestrogen level. Researchers say half an hour of exercise three times a week is good for all round health, may decrease your risk of breast cancer and will also help you maintain your weight.

C M Y K

•Master your breasts!

developing breast cancer, as soon as they moved to the West, their risk was almost equal within two generations. Try to eat no more than 70g of fat a day. *Check for changes Master your breasts! Statistics have shown that more than 90 per cent of breast tumours are detected by women themselves. Therefore, watch out for changes in your breasts from time to time. As scientists say, become ‘breast aware’. However, go for regular clinical breast examination if you're over age 45.

*Please see your doctor Remember, more than 90% of breast tumours are detected by women themselves! For various reasons however, research has also shown that most women turn up with advance stage breast cancer because they were hesitant about seeing their doctors when they first discovered tumours in their breasts. Early intervention is the key to surviving breast cancer, so, do not procrastinate going to see a doctor once you discover a strange lump! Besides, not all lumps are cancerous. The clearer you are about the nature of lump in your breast, the safer you are. *Know your family history Genetic breast cancer accounts for at least ten per cent of all cases of breast cancer. Find out if you carry a gene that makes you susceptible to breast cancer and try to know if you had any relative diagnosed with the ailment. This however does not guarantee your developing breast cancer.

SUND AY V ANGU ARD, OCTOBER 27, 2013, SUNDA VANGU ANGUARD,

P AGE 21 PA

Email: vanguardwoman@gmail.com (08054650907- SMS only)

ECILE Megie is the Vice-President of Radio France InternationalRFI, a network which has just branched out into Hausa to reach out effectively to its teaming Hausa listeners through the launch of RFI Hausa. In this interview, she discloses that the project was borne out of the need to reach out to the Hausa community in a way and perspective different from the BBC and Aljazeera. Read on!

HY would Nigerians who are basically English-speaking listen to a French-speaking radio station? They do so because of the way we deal with news and information- the way we give perspective to issues and analysis, and also our ability to speak from Paris or from Lagos which is different from CNN or Aljazeera. Did you consider the fact that Nigeria is multilingual before deciding to broadcast in Hausa as well? Seriously, Hausa is the most spoken language in Africa and because it is a crossborder language, Hausaspeaking people are not only in Nigeria but across the African continent and beyond. We therefore have to deliver to them all. For us, this is really key; to speak to people even if they are not in one country. We have to deal with them this way and with the new media offering us a great platform for this. Nigeria is definitely a very challenging and fascinating place to work, especially because the country has its own differences, but that makes it more interesting. How will this project Nigeria in the eyes of the international community? Like we do all over the world with our team of professionals who are Nigerians stationed in different parts of the country, we will tell the Nigerian story in a different and better way. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll tell them the way Nigeria is developing economically and otherwise, what is new in the cultural life of Nigerians as well as in music, to mention but few. C M Y K

Because Nigeria is a huge and dynamic nation, we have to tell the world what is happening here in Hausa and other languages. We want to be a reflection of what life here in Nigeria is. Because we have a Nigerian team based in Nigeria, we believe we are a reflection of what Nigeria is each day and what Nigeria thinks. Technically speaking, we broadcast in FM in Niger Republic and Cameroon and short waves all over WestAfrica, so, this spreads across to all Hausa speakers in the region. Already, in Nigeria, we have about five million weekly listeners of RFI Hausa. We however want to be more interactive in our content to

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

give listeners the keys to understanding their world and also through our new media platforms like website, mobile applications, we attract millions of visits weekly and this makes us stand out from what is already available in the country. We are a modern station for all generation and give listeners a voice.

In all these, what do you intend to achieve? We are a French international public station and we speak French and 12 other different languages including Hausa. We know that to increase our listenership we have to be

Like we do all over the world with our team of professionals who are Nigerians stationed in different parts of the country, we will tell the Nigerian story in a different and better way

include: culture, technology and modernity in all our programmes. By 2014, we hope to have developed the airtime and have more hours of Hausa programmes.

What makes this station different from what we already have in the country? We have a benchmark international current affair for Africans, and our thought provoking programmes are in a wide range of fields that foster interaction with listeners. In providing news bulletins and features which

closer to our listeners by communicating in local languages that will enable them understand us better. We do have values, in the way we treat information and in the way we broadcast varieties of programmes and features or news. But we want to be like other international broadcast station present in Africa. 75 per cent of our listeners are here in Africa and there is need to be closer to these listeners. Hence the need to speak languages other than English and French.

What are the challenges and how have you been able cope? It is a big challenge to enter into a big country like Nigeria which is the most populous country in Africa, and still be respected as an international broadcast station. Also the need to deliver excellence and develop new media program applications for smart phones like androids is another challenge. However, we have done well in all these areas. Tell us about your personal background... I started with RFI as a journalist in 1995 and have successfully worked in its European service, taking

responsible for European issues and national news of Anglophone and Scandinavian countries and then as a news presenter of its morning and mid-day programmes. Subsequently, I was appointed AssistantEditor-in-Chief in 2001, Head of the economy service in 2006 and Editor-in-Chief of news in 2008. I am a graduate of the Cycle des Hautes Etudes Europeennes de Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ENA et edu CHEDE and Cycle des Hautes Etudes du Development Economique. I also hold a degree from the Institute of Journalism, a Masters in Modern Literature and another degree in German.

PAGE 22—SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 27, 2013

FAQ on Motor Insurance with Mijinyawa I

Lawal Mijinyawa, E.D (Operations), Unity Kapital Assurance, Plc.

place is grossly imperfect, especially in developing markets such as we have. Consequent upon innate selfish interest, most brand offers are veiled in deceit, compromises and lies. The ultimate loser is the consumer. The consequence of all such unwholesome practices is even more annoying, if we hold firm, the fact that brandconsumer relationship is based on TRUST. The unsuspecting consumer takes as a fact, the brand’s offer. Believing such promises as true, he/she commits to the given brand’s offer, and engages the brand. MC&A DIGEST is about the consumer, consumer satisfaction, wholesome practice, sincerity of brands’ purpose and intent, commitment, uprightness, perfection and professionalism. Our essence is bringing into focus and play, the ideals for propriety and good conduct, in BrandConsumer relationship. Therefore, we are quick to identify and celebrate that brand, corporate person and individual player who demonstrates those qualities that enables and supports globally acceptable quality standards for TOTAL CONSUMER SATISFACTION in our market; hence, Lawal Mijinyawa. Lawal, as a character, represents suave debonair in simplicity. He looks and acts kindly; bellying the excessive pressure he subjects himself to, for uprightness and service.

His soft-spoken disposition tends to shield his depth of professionalism in INSURANCE. He believes in the concept of TCS - Total Consumer (customer) Satisfaction. He acts INSURANCE, to the extent that he assures. He simplifies otherwise complex issues by sincerity. So as a rule, his

NDIVIDUALITY is the operating word in character definition and therefore, other people’s perception of us. To the extent that we owe ourselves the duty of proper conduct, personal development, discipline, respect, and such many other character traits that define the extent of our civility, the way we are perceived is entirely our responsibility. We at MC&A DIGEST have taken our time to celebrate a certain character, for his commitment to professionalism. In the manner of a debonair gentleman, L AWAL MIJINYAWA, submitted himself to proper education. If it were strictly about personal gains, conventional education through the various stages of conventional school would have done it for him. But to ensure he is properly prepared to serve humanity and positively impact on those space and time will permit him to cross path with, he chose to further drill himself for perfection in the chosen profession: INSURANCE. In line with the tradition of MC&A DIGEST, let us put in perspective the reason for MIJINYAWA; MC&A DIGEST is about up-holding the right values for proper conduct and celebration of those that have committed themselves to plausible cause for the good of society, from the perspective of professionalism - and in particular, BRANDS MANAGEMENT. Brands management is about service to mankind. If we know infor mation is Power, Knowledge and Security and that information, then we are better positioned to appreciate the duty/function of MAKING-KNOWN. Brands management from the perspective offer is open to selfish considerations. That explains why most brands will be economical with the truth about their offering. Consequently such selfish decisions, lead to dissatisfaction on the part of the consumers. Given that the relationship between any brand (offering) and the consumer is a contract based on trust/belief/perception, it takes some degree of sacrifice to be wholly truthful when offering for consumer engagement in this world of fundamentally imperfect market. So, brands are not ordinarily given to telling all-the-truth. They exist for competitive advantages. Unfortunately, competition at the market

We took a bit from him, for our readers’ enlightenment, focusing on the frequently asked questions about car insurance. He gave answers to the questions we asked, as follows. As a professional, Lawal submits that car insurance can be likened to a healthy body that naturally consists of a number of working parts, pulling together in harmony. The individual parts of a policy spread from coverage(s) through deductibles, to limits…all working together to settle a claim and protect finances. We asked: what is the right amount of car insurance coverage. In other words, what is that threshold point where a car insurance policy holder should be considered adequately covered? The options open to a prospective car insurance policy holder are many. To attempt what you referred to as the threshold will amount to limiting a very wide spectrum. However, a prospect can make what I should refer to as safe choice, given adequate information or ample awareness. To answer your question, however, let us eliminate some of the guesswork by giving answers to some crucial questions. (1) Financial picture: Basically, the components parts in the process of determining claims in an event of damage or loss under a car

Consequent upon innate selfish interest, most brand offers are veiled in deceit, compromises and lies. The ultimate loser is the consumer

brand-offers are true and sincere. From his desk, as the Executive Director in charge of Operations, UnityKapital Assurance Plc., he builds enduring relationships with clients across the market. He plays true and fair, up-holding ethics of Insurance practice. As a Chattered practitioner, his focus is on the simplification of the seemingly complex Insurance offer, for the buyer ’s interest. He believes in profitability, but also commits to mutually beneficial business engagement.

insurance policy are: I. Type of cover whether comprehensive or third party. II. Sum insured i.e the value of the car. III. Type of ownership (lease or outright purchase). IV. Usage of the car (whether commercial or private). (2) S e l f - a s s e s s m e n t : Driving ability & habits, Type of Car to be insured (3) Place of residence: The notable thing about where the prospect stays - densely populated or otherwise,

parking position for the car to be insured; you must clearly ascertain the extent of vulnerability your car is open to, given the nature of where you park it. For instance, cars parked in home garage are better protected than those parked on crowded street, where they are open to vandalism and theft. Each of the elements listed above, contribute to the decision making process, for any prospective car insurance policy holder. Under financial picture, for instance, a prospect whose car is on leaseownership has few coverage elements to consider. The options for such prospect are limited, because, to begin (and most importantly) the loan or finance company is likely to require comprehensive cover. On the other hand, out-right ownership will permit greater flexibility. Car Insurance policy is basically covered against loss and the correspondent extent of cover. It is, therefore, important that the extent of coverage limits and deductibles are carefully considered. To note, the higher coverage limits are set, the lower the deductibles the less the insured out-of-pocket payment after an accident or claim.

oing by selfassessment, if a prospect considers his or herself a cautious driver, for instance, the person might opt for a higher deductible and a lower rate cover. But such decision must be carefully and sincerely taken, because if it turns out otherwise and the propensity of damage increases beyond the anticipated, the projected gains will amount to huge loss on the part of the insured. Insurance policy requires careful calculations, no doubt and we need people that are given to careful application of knowledge, skills, experience and demonstrable depth of professionalism to guide us. That is what Lawal Mijinyawa does, daily, at Unity Kapital Assurance Plc. At MC&A DIGEST we shall continue to salute and celebrate professionalism, service and diligence, among brands, corporate persons and individuals. We believe such gestures will encourage attitude change among players at the market place and ultimately influence consumer satisfaction. Lawal Mijinyawa is an iconic representation of all such diligent professionals in the insurance industry. We salute you all.

SUND AY Vanguard , OCTOBER 27 , 2013, P AGE 23 SUNDA

Are women’s sexual needs driving young men to Viagra?

OR a man who just turned 30, Joel should be at his most virile. Tall, handsome with a well-paid job, he admits he’s never had any difficulty attracting the opposite sex. His problem is that when he wants to have sex with a woman, he needs up to two Viagra pills to perform. The blue tablets have long been viewed as essential medication for men in their 50s, 60s and beyond. But Joel is one of a growing number of young men turning to the drug due to what experts believe to be performance anxiety, triggered by a host of psychological issues from the proliferation of porn on the internet making ‘normal’ sex seem boring, to financial pressures. Joel, an entertainment promoter, was just 25 and on a ‘shagging’ weekend with friends in one of the neighbouring countries when he took his first pill . It was supplied to him by a friend after he had got lucky picking up a girl for the night. Even though he’d never had erectile problems, he was so impressed by the extra stamina it gave him he continued to take the drug with subsequent girlfriends. Now Joel says he always has a stockpile of the drug - on which he spends a fortune - simply by picking them up at any reputable chemist. Now he says he’s in despair over his reliance on the drug. “I diet, I exercise at the gym regu-

see she was worried and upset it was her fault, so I decided I had to be candid and told her everything. Thank God I did. I now have a normal sexual relationship with her. It took six months of counselling, but thanks to her, I found the courage to look at the underlying issues.”

larly and I’m almost as fit as I was when I was a teenager. I love the company of women and always have. But now I’m in my 30s, I’ve been exposed to so much sex, I sometimes find it hard to do without Viagra. No matter how I’m feeling, what’s going through my head, or how attracted to the woman I’m with, it makes no difference. Now, if I know I’m due to see a woman, I discreetly take two pills before hand.

iagra contains sildenafil citrate and works by improving blood flow in the penis. Joel confesses he sometimes experiences ringing in the ears, but despite the dangers, he feels as a single man, he has no choice. “I know it’s bad for my health,” he says. “I can hear my heart palpitating when I take the tablets, and I come out in cold sweats. Sometimes, the beating is so loud, I think I’m going to have a heart attack. I need some help to stop .”

o why is a drug, once linked to greying, paunchy men past their prime, now taking over the sex lives of the young and seemingly virile? Raymond Francis, a psychosexual counsellor says he sees about 15 men a month who feel dependent on Viagra. The average age is 32 - his youngest client is just 27. He says: “I think this is just a small sample of the prob-

lem. These men don’t have any physical problems that would cause erectile difficulties. Instead they feel they need it because they are putting too many expectations on themselves based on what they believe women want in the bedroom.” In many cases, Raymond says his male patients have been influenced by seeing internet pornography from a young age. “Sometimes these men will have deeply embedded and unrealistic expectations of the women they want to have sex with ? on what they should be able to do.” One of such patient is James, 32, who was dependent on the drug throughout much of his 20s before he sought help two years ago. He places the root of his

problem on internet porn, which he says he started viewing when he was 15 long before he lost his virginity. “Seeing all these studs going for hours on end seemed to underline what I couldn’t do:’ he says. “I felt so ashamed, I resorted to Viagra. When I had a girlfriend, I’d take the pill first thing in the morning, so I’d get the sex over and done with under controlled conditions.” Sam says it was when he fell in love with his current partner that he realised he needed help.

e says: "The first time we slept together, I took the pill secretly, but the expectations were high because she was so special to me. So that time, even Viagra didn’t work. I could

aymond Francis, the pyschosexual counsellor says another common thing is men reporting they feel intimidated by the sexual confidence and demands of modern young women. “Women are now so empowered,” he says. “They feel they have as much right as men to dictate the pace sexually. We are not just talking about girls who would once have been seen as promiscuous. These days a professional career woman who has been brought up in a culture of success wants to exercise that freedom and strength in her sex life, too. In just one or two generations, there has been a turn around. Before, it was always the expectation that the man was the predator. Now ladette culture has turned that on its head. Faced with this pressure, young~men bring performance fears to the bedroom long before any sex takes place.” .,

iyike, an attractive fi nance worker in her late 20s admits it was partly:the sexual demands she put on her partner which

helped trigger the anxieties that contributed to his impotence. “When the sex wasn’t great, I was honest about how frustrated I was from the outset, which made the problem worse,” she says. “We tried Viagra, but it felt like a planned event. So now I don’t want him to tell me if he’s taken it or not. I just want to think the sex was naturally great.” According to her, attitude to sex is typical of her generation, and many of her girlfriends are reporting similar problems in the bedroom.

he says: “Women our age probably do have more sexual past. I’ve had 15 partners, while my partner’s only had five, so that’s another layer of pressure on him. Because I’m quite skilled sexually, he probably wonders where I learned it from and how he compares.” The taboo around Viagra use among young men is so great that despite the embarrassment factor, Joel says he’s speaking up because he feels it’s time the issue was more openly discussed. “I’m not ashamed of my dependence - I know so many men my age with the same issues who started off using it recreationally and now find it hard to stop. I think many of us wish we’d never taken it that first time. I, for one, would love to be free of it.”

08052201867(Text Only)

Firming up Buttocks and thighs I had something else on my mind, but receiving this letter I taught I had to reply immediately. Now, here we go. The lady whom I’d describe as I.O from Edo State, stated in her letter that she is not so comfortable with the state of her buttocks and thighs. She figures she has fat bums and thighs. She wants to have them reduced. Well, my answer to her problem are these. Practise the following exercises. Single Leg Raise TECHNIQUE: Lie flat on your belly. Place your hands beneath you and raise your right leg for a slow count to ten. Drop the leg and repeat with the other leg. Rest for a while and go all over again. This is good for C M Y K

firming up their buttocks and legs. Trunk up Number two: Lie flat

down on your stomach. Now, keep your toes inverted and with your hands stretched out be-

hind you as illustrated, and lift up your trunk. Stay in this posture for a slow count to five.

Drop down and repeat. A great chest expander. The spread eagle TECHNIQUE: Sit with legs widely spread apart. Now, grasp your big toes with your forefinger and thumb around your big toes. Stay in this position

for another slow count to ten. Release the pose, rest a while and repeat. This is another firmer of the bulttocks and legs. These postures should see you through your problems as it has done for some students.

* The Spread Eagle

* Single Leg Raise

Yoga classes at 32 Adetokunbo Ademola, Yoga classes 32 Adetokunbo Victoria Island,at Lagos, 9.10am onAdemola, Saturdays Yoga classes 32 Ademola Adetokunbo Victoria Island,atLagos, 9.10am on Saturdays Victoria Island, Lagos, 9.10am on Saturdays

PAGE 24—SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 27, 2013

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

08056180152,

SMS only

How do you cope when your parent suffers from senile dementia? W HAT do you do when your par ents start showing signs they’re becoming senile? “The signs that my mother was odd were there for as long as I can remember;’ confessed Kate, now over 50 and a grandmother. “She has never been an easy woman to live with always strong-willed and cantankerous - and I had a problem with her even as a child. I am her only child the younger one, a boy, died when he was 11 years old. My mother and I had a very strong love-hate relationship. I was aware from an early age of the urge to get away from her, but in spite of our differences, I really love her. “When I got married and had to leave home, I was anxious she shouldn’t be left alone in the big family house, but she assured me she would be fine - that over her dead body would she leave the house she’d spent most of her adult life. ‘’The pattern of my mother’s life goes a long way towards explaining her instability.

he came to Lagos as S help to one of her relatives who got married into

an influential family. She was treated as one of the family - not the poor village girl she was. And she learnt quickly she did well at school and qualified as a teacher. Being extremely beautiful, she quickly caught the eye of the son of the proprietor of the private secondary school she taught in. At that time, the idea of an heir to a family business marrying some village girl was unacceptable - to the man’s parents at least. What she simply did was get pregnant so they had to get married. My father loved her to bits and my mother had no qualms about virtually cutting off all contact with her past. “I was in the secondary when my father died. My

poor mum - she went to pieces. In spite of the school they ran together dad had managed all their financial affairs and when he died, she just leaned on staff members to do it for her. The school went down-hill fast until my dad’s siblings took over. Her behaviour at this time was completely erratic and eccentric. She blamed everybody if anything went wrong and I counted the days I could leave home and get married. So, when I met my husband, I was only 22 years old and still an undergraduate. But when I got pregnant I insisted on marriage. He was too happy to oblige as he was in his early 30s and eager to settle down. had my children I straight away - partly to build up my own emo-

tional resources against my mother. Over the years, she gradually became crankier. She was a terrible snob and was very fastidious. When I took the children to spend some time with her, I would find provisions I’d bought her in layer of tissue paper. She complained the helps were always pinching her stuffs. My husband tried to handle her bills for her as she was losing a lot of her income, but she would fly into rages, accusing us of trying to steal her money and sell her house. Her sense of paranoia grew daily. She was in a hopeless muddle and the house was in a state of disrepair. “Unfortunately, she had no neighbours calling on her as she was always snooty. I toyed briefly with the idea of either moving into the house to look after her, or bringing her into our house, but I quickly discarded the idea. If we’d lived under the same roof, her dominance would have destroyed my family - and me - for sure. She lived alone most of the time as any help quickly took flight

after one of her rages. One morning, a neighbour I had given my number to, so she could tell me if she suspected anything unusual in the house, called to tell me my mother was sweeping the front of her house at 6.30 in the morning and hurling obscenities at the neighbours. I quickly went to the doctor treating her and brought him with me to access her mental state. He’d already told me mum was suffering from senile dementia and that the attacks of rage would gradually get worse but that her condition was not severe enough to warrant any drastic action. He reiterated his early opinion that she was not really any danger to anyone, so who was I to take away what mattered most to her her fierce independence? I know that if I did, I would win the battle, but I would destroy her personality. e however urged us to H have someone constantly with her when she

started wandering off and giving away her expensive clothes and jewellery to total strangers! Then I got a call from her neighbour to tell me my mother was in a hospital down her street. No one .knew

what really happened except she’d suffered some sort of fall. The cleaner discovered her prostrate figure when she came that morning. She was all right when I got to the hospital and was her old bossy self. When the nurse handed me a parcel of the clothes she brought with her, I was nauseous - ragged blouses and filthy petticoats held together with safety pins - and I remembered all the photographs of her in the house looking so glamorous as a young woman and my heart sank. efore now, we’d per B suaded one of her relatives to move into her boys’ quarters to look after my mother. Now we re-decorated the place to accommodate both of them. Even under heavy sedation, she was suspicious of where she was and she gave the poor woman hell. She kept screaming she wanted to get back to the main house. But gradually, she grew used to being looked after by someone she fairly knew and is now under the impression she

vourite song. Love you till the sun grows cold .... Moses O. jeffreyodje@yahoo.com 07032936851

The wedding ring

OUR column to express your loving thoughts in words to your sweetheart. Don’t be shy. Let it flow and let him or her know how dearly you feel. Write now in not more than 75 words to: The Editor, Sunday Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. E.mail: sunlovenotes@yahoo.com Please mark your envelope: “LOVE NOTES"

Can't stop thinking of you!

Though you are far away, I can't forget you. Forgetting you is like forgetting the words to my fa-

The wedding ring is the smallest handcuff ever made.So think deeply,choose your prison mate carefully and faithfuly sentence yourself wisely,to avoid prison break. Chris Onunaku dekris4real@gmail.com 08032988826/08184844015.

No one like you!

You are the sample of beauty to the world around me. And there will never be someone like you for you are special and unique. And if there is anybody

lives in a palace. She’s completely mentally incapacitated. . “I was lucky With the help we got her, and of course make sure the help wants for nothing. But that doesn’t make it any easier for me. I see her once a week, and each time, I feel as though I’ve consigned her to some kind of hell. Yet what else could I have done? When I went to see her a few days ago, she told me that her daughter hasn’t been to see her for years. ‘What do you mean mama,’ 1 told her. ‘I’m her. I am Kate, your daughter.’ She looked at me blankly. (No, you’re not the real Kate, not my daughter;’ she replied. ‘You’re the other one who pretends to be like her ... “ A word sufficient for the wise? (Humour) “Forgive me Father for I have sinned,” said the man in the confessional. “What is it my son?’” came the reply. “Well, last week I went round to my girlfriend’s flat but she wasn’t in. The only person there was her flat mate and we ended up having sex”. “Oh dear”, replied the priest. “And then a couple of days later, I

popped round to my mate’s house but he’d gone down the pub. The only person there was his wife and we ended up having sex.’” “Oh dear,” remarked the priest again. The man continued: “So then last night, I went into the local pub and it was empty. Everyone had gone to watch the darfs team playing away. There was only Mandy serving behind the bar so we ended up having sex. What shall I do?” But there was no answer from the other side of the screen. “Father, are you there?” demanded the man. No answer came, so he began looking for the priest and eventually found him hiding in the pews. “What are you doing there?’” he exclaimed. “Well, I, suddenly realised that you and I were alone together,” replied the priest. ., Penny Wise Pound Foolish? (Humour) ave and Pete were lined up at the urinals and Dave couldn’t help but notice how well endowed his mate was. “Wow!” he exclaimed, “that’s a remarkable piece of equipment you have there.” “Yeah” replied Pete,” “it wasn’t always like that. I wasn’t happy with the one I had, so I went to this exclusive private clinic and had a transplant. It costs N400,000 but it was worth it.” Now Dave couldn”t stop thinking about this, so a few weeks later, he got the address from Pete and booked into the same clinic. The next time they met, he smiled at his mate and said: “I think you were had, my new todger only cost N200,000.” “What!” exclaimed Pete. “Same place, same doctor? let’s have a look.” Dave showed off his new possession and Pete creased up with laughter. “Oh, that’s alright,” he said, “no wonder it didn’t cost so much, it’s my old one.”

i will give out my heart for safe keeping and still find the heart solid and undivided,it is you. If love indeed exist,you are the love. Akachukwu Ferdinand . 08063819314

Because you are my friend!

Because you are my friend, my life is enriched in a myriad of ways. Like a cool breeze on a sweltering day, like a ray of sunshine parting glowering clouds, you lift me up! In good times, we soar, like weightless balloons over neon rainbows. In bad times, you are soothing balm for my pummeled soul!

Cent Obama centobama@gmail.com +234806137900

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013, PAGE 25

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

N the military or para-military parlance, espirit d’corps is used to reflect the harmony or spirit of togetherness amongst officers working towards achieving a common goal and it is in most cases observed and respected. But that was not the case for Mr. Effa Okim, a detective and staffer of the Economic and Finance Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abuja office. Okim is battling to save his life as he is nearly blind after being thoroughly beaten by policemen under alleged instructions from an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, in charge of operations in Ebonyi State Police Command, Stephen Esimaje. Already, the EFCC detective has written to the Chairman, Police Service Commission, the Inspector-General of Police, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 6, the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission and the House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Public Petitions, while the family has also written to the AIG Zone 6, Calabar, alleging assault, battery, molestation, abuse of office and attempted murder orchestrated attack and official misconduct. Okim nearly died on 28 February, 2013, when he went on an official assignment at Enugu. After the assignment, he decided to travel to nearby Abakaliki Ebonyi state capital to see a relation. It was gathered that whenever Okim travelled to Abakiliki, he always lodged at one Adig Suites and, on that fateful day, he led contact one of his friends, Austine, who placed a call for hotel reservation at the Suites. Because he was said not to have finished his assignment in Enugu early enough, he got to the hotel in Abakiliki in the evening in company of Austine. While Austine was helping to sort out the accommodation, Okim decided to go to the swimming pool as the weather was hot. Then, about 10 fierce looking men in mufti with a uniformed police officer approached him at the swimming pool and ordered him out. The petition to the Chairman, Police Service Commission, dated March 1, 2013, sent through Okim’s lawyer, U.C. Igba, stated: Our client informed us that in obedience, he felt that the presence of the uniformed police officer would provide a protection for him lest the persons were to be assailants. To the utter chagrin of our client, when he climbed up to the pool side, the said persons alongside the uniformed police officer descended on him and gave him the beating of his life.” Okim alleged that as he was still trying to come to terms with the onslaught, “the said assailants dragged him like a common criminal to a person who introduced himself as the Assistant Commissioner (Operations), State Command Headquarters, Abakiliki.” The victim further alleged that the attempt he made to introduce himself to the ACP that he was an EFCC staffer attracted a resounding slap on his face and that, if not the presence of Austine, his friend, he would have been a dead person. It was also reported that the timely intervention of good Samaritans who smuggled him out of the vicinity to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakiliki for immediate medical treatment saved him. He claimed that the attack almost made him blind eyes have been blinded and covered with blood. The petition said, “Our client lost vision and consciousness owing to the attack but got revived at the said hospital. We are taken aback at the level of terror and unprovoked attack

C M Y K

*Effa Okim ... Nearly blind from assault

PO WER SHO W AATT SWIMMING POOL POWER SHOW

Top police officer ordered attack that nearly killed me

— EFCC official •Family petitions IGP unleashed on the person of our client without a just cause. The surprise is most alarming as it came from a high ranking officer of the Nigeria Police of the Ebonyi State Command. One would ponder to ask if the police is an instrument of terrorism.” Meanwhile, the Okim family has also petitioned the AIG Zone 6, Calabar over the alleged attack. In a petition signed by Mr. Raymond Obaji, the family is calling on the AIG to expedite investigation into the assault on their son, under the alleged instructions of ACP Esimaje. The petition wondered how a citizen assault could be brutalized by the police who are supposed to protect lives without cause and called for justice to be done. In a related development, the victim has applied to the Federal High Court, Abakiliki for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights. The application made by Okim’s counsel, Patrick Ekuri Esq, accused ACP Esimaje with the other policemen, nine of whom were in mufti of attacking and battering him in a swimming pool at Adig Suites, Abakiliki. In an affidavit he deposed to, he said he had resisted the order from the men in mufti ordering him out of the pool because of the “menacing manner” they approached him fearing they were kidnappers, adding that he obliged them when the uniformed policeman joined them to ask him to climb out of the pool.

Okim alleged that as he was still trying to come to terms with the onslaught, the said assailants dragged him like a common criminal to a person who introduced himself as the Assistant Commissioner (Operations), State Command Headquarters, Abakiliki “Honestly, I feared that I may be kidnapped,” he stated and that he demanded an explanation for the obtrusive order to leave the pool for which the policemen descended on him beating him to a pulp, first with blows and kicks to the face and legs, and continued the beating as he fell to the floor with the butt of the gun, boots and other weapons on the forehead, eyes and chest. He further said that while the beating was going on, the assailants were shouting, “Oga say we should deal with you, we will kill you today.’ The petition went on: “In a state of

near coma, he was helplessly dragged to a man sitting in the midst of girls drinking, who introduced himself as “AC Ops” Ebonyi Police Command and that the men who had brutally manhandled him were the “AC Ops boys.” He said the AC demanded to know his identity and was informed that he was a staffer of the EFCC. “This appeared to annoy the ACP all the more, he personally slapped and beat me, screaming, ‘You are stupid and lucky that they didn’t kill you” after which the beating resumed until they left me half dead. Okim claimed that he was smuggled by sympathetic guests at the hotel after the police had prevented an initial attempt to take him to hospital for treatment and that at the teaching hospital, he was treated for multiple injuries and impaired vision and that he reported the mater to Ebonyi State Police Commissioner. Since the alleged brutality, Okim has been taken to many hospitals on admission including the Abuja Clinic and the Imperial College Health Care, Western Eye Clinic, Western Eye Hospital 171 Marylebone Road, London Northwest. ISQH I, to see if he could regain his vision. The beatings had affected him physically such that he cannot use a laptop, phone or watch television or any bright screen or object. It was gathered that the AIG of Police Zone 6 under which the Ebonyi Command operates, Mr. Samuel Johnson, told a reporter on inquiry that the matter was being investigated and that he hoped Okim would have confidence in his ability and that of the Inspector-General of Police to handle the matter.

PAGE 26— SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013

08116759757 remains. “The propaganda against family is vigorous, powerful and well funded; they have strong influence in the United Nations, UN agencies and other international agencies, as well as in many western nations, nations where they have removed God from their public things.” The cleric, at the seminar, urged people to oppose a redefinition of marriage that includes same-sex partners.

BY CALEB AYANSINA

uman existence is guaranteed by the coming together of a man and a woman to form a union known as ‘marriage’, the basic unit of the society. The family is God’s building block in the Church, the mosque and the world at large. If there will be fullness and fulfillment in our individual lives, it will depend on the love, peace and togetherness in our families. A healthy relationship in the family is not only beneficial to the immediate members of the family, but also to those directly associated with that family and, by extension, to the society in general. Obviously, the mutual understanding between parents and their siblings is capable of leading their children and their contemporaries into a lasting relationship with God and enduring progress in life. In recent times, family, as ordained by God, has been facing serious threats, owing to human activities. Marriage is under attack from strange doctrines, emanating from the various faiths and beliefs, especially human rights fundamentalists across the world. The agitation by the activists gave birth to a law to redefine marriage in some countries, including the U.S., as “the lawful union of two persons”, instead of between man and woman. This development compelled the Catholic Family to take a firm stand that “marriage must be sacred”, saying, “The process of bringing to life is not just a physical thing, it is spiritual”. The Church warned that “the importance of marriage for children and for society” is under attack in U.S. courts and legislatures and in popular culture and entertainment media, which “often undermine or ignore the essential role of marriage and promote equivalence between marriage and homosexual relationships.” In 2000, the Dutch Parliament voted to recognize same-sex unions as marriages; the passage forced Pope John Paul II to break his silence and denounced the decision. The pope said, “No other form of relationship between persons can be considered as an equivalent to this natural relationship between a man and a woman out of whose love children are born.” Also, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, in an interview with Sunday Vanguard shortly after a seminar on issues relating to family rights organised by the C M Y K

*CATHOLIC CARDINAL ONAIYEKAN

CATHOLIC C ARDIN AL CARDIN ARDINAL ONAIYEKAN ON HOMOSEXUALS:

We are monitoring gay marriage activists in our midst Holy Family Society, Abuja, explained that “the expression of the same sex marriage is meaningless, because marriage is a union between a man and a woman, and where there is no man and a woman, there is no marriage, call it whatever you like, but don’t call it marriage.” Onaiyekan went on:“That is my own position all along, and I have told my friends in the National Assembly that marriage; marriage is between a man and a woman, that is our law. “So, any two persons who decide to mess around themselves, be it two men or two women, they are messing around, they are not married and let them not ask to be

respected as married people. “Even this democracy, which is based upon the dictatorship of the majority, but we know that the majority can be wrong, because we have seen how the laws are passed in the countries abroad, on the basis of majority, and they passed laws that are clearly against human interest. “It was taken for granted that marriage is between a man and a woman. Therefore, there is this anti-family propaganda out there, there are people we don’t know their intention and what definitely they are going to gain by destroy family? “We, in the Catholic Church, believe in the principle of God; human being may change, environment may change, but God

Our people and our country have good view about marriage, never mind the question of polygamy or others The man of God said people thought that Nigeria is backward, because the country values its culture that recognises marriage and the virtue of good family, irrespective of religions or backgrounds, saying, it is not so. He urged that people should forget that things were going on well in the nations or countries that had thrown away the principle of God, adding that they had ruined their society but try to patch it up to deceive some people. “Our people and our country have good view about marriage, never mind the question of polygamy or others, but, as far as the family is concerned, our family must be strong, we want to take care of our family, we want to marry properly, and for those who are supposed to marry, but they have not, their families will be asking them question, what is happening? “And we ought not to think that we are backward, rather we should thank God, because it’s value in our culture that we ought not to throw away, because those who have thrown it away have already destroyed their society; never mind the fact that they have government policy to look after children who have no family, but the more the society throws children out into the street,

even though you are giving them assistance, the more the society will become difficult to manage.” Onaiyekan decried love of materialism that made people unable to reason on those things that made them display insanity all in the name of fashion. Speaking on the misconception of Pope Francis’s message on homosexualism, Onaiyekan said, “As for the pope, there is no way people can take whatever the pope said to mean that is changing the position of the Church on this matter ”. He explained that the Catholic Church opposes gay marriage and the social acceptance of homosexuality and same-sex relationships, but teaches that homosexual persons deserve respect, justice and pastoral care. According to him, “I can imagine that the pope did not want to get involved in this discussion, which often take over the attention of the press, and therefore diverts the attention of the press from other things. “Pope didn’t want anything to distract him from other important issues like corruption, about good governance, peace in the world, and focus attention on same sex marriage which actually affects a minority people. Going by statistics how many people or Nigerians want same sex marriage? We have other problems which need to be addressed.” Onaiyekan maintained that the Church in Nigeria had already formed a group to see from what part of the country, where anti-family legislations are being proposed, with a view to nipping them in the bud. “We have already on ground and they have also mentioned it that a group should emerge, but there is a monitoring group on ground that is monitoring what is happening at the National Assembly,” he said. Earlier, a member of the Pontifical Council for the Family, Mr David Osunde, proposed that the body will “act as think-tank that would provide legislative support to the drafting of laws that will protect family rights and promote family values in our country.” He made it clear that “for us to make such body active, recognisable, and useful to the Church and the society will depend on what level of sacrifices the members of such group will put in individually.”

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013, PAGE 27

Esan North-East LG Election:

How Oshiomhole abandoned ‘one-man-one-vote’ mantra BY JOHNSON MOMODU

ince stepping in the sad dle in November 2008 as governor of Edo State through the Court of Appeal judgment, which terminated the tenancy of Professor Oserhiemen Osunbor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomhole has tried to ensconce himself in the consciousness of Edo people as an electoral puritan, one who is committed to the sanctity of the electoral box. He has smartly come across to the vast majority of the people of the state as a politician with capacity to deliver free, fair and transparent election. The labour unionist-turned politician began a process of strategically demonizing the PDP and stigmatizing its leaders as duplicitous manipulators and election riggers who should not be trusted with the mandate of the people. In his exertion to supplant and render them as electoral liabilities, he preoccupied himself with propagating the ‘oneman-one-vote’ mantra. He rationalized it as being a potent force to stop ballot box stuffing and snatching as well as other forms of election rigging. But it turned out that it was a mantra of deception carefully orchestrated and choreographed to conceal his political guile. He was able to, in most of the series of elections that preceded the 2012 governorship election in the state, deploy subterfuge to ensure the defeat of the PDP. The PDP was programmed to collapse in the Edo North and Edo South Senatorial zones through the instrumentality of shadiness at the polls. The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) turned All Progressive Congress (APC) has continued to win in all levels of elections in the two zones. It was only in Edo Central Senatorial Zone (populated by the Ishans) that Oshiomhole has not had a smooth ride. The agenda to take over the zone has met with strong resistance from the Iyasele of Esanland and current Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Anthony Anenih. Anenih’s political machinery had ensured that the PDP won the only Senate seat, the two House of Representatives seats and five out of the six state House of Assembly seats in the 2011. That was in spite of Oshiomhole’s deployment of government machinery to dismantle Anenih’s structure in the

votes. The chairmanship election results from the wards were said to be ready for collation by the Local Government Returning Officer who fled on discovering that the PDP candidate had won. The EDSIEC Chairman, Solomon Ogoh, apparently acting under instruction, announced, far away in Benin, the APC candidate winner, who, according to him, polled 12,672 votes to defeat PDP candidate who polled 3,314. But the EDSIEC, at the time of writing this piece, had not given ward-by-ward breakdown of how the APC garnered that figure; whereas the PDP, in a paid advertorial, two days after the election, displayed the results of the councillorship and chairmanship elections. The APC is yet to contradict the figures published by the PDP. Indeed, what was of utmost significance and urgency to Oshiomhole, in the circumstance of the exercise, was the swearingin of Oboh, who was said to have been roundly defeated by Yakubu.

Impurity

*Chief Tony Anenih zone. Having failed, attention had shifted to the 2012 governorship election, in which internal and external forces conspired to massively manipulate the election against the PDP such that the party, according to the results announced by the electoral body, lost in Uromi, the home town of Anenih.

Same pattern

The local government elections were to follow on the heels of the governorship election in April, this year. Oshiomhole and his party men, acting in cahoots with the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC), devised strategies to return their candidates as winners of the eighteen local government councils. The outcomes of the polls aligned with their predetermination. The EDSIEC returned ACN (now APC) as winner of the polls in seventeen local government areas. Citing alleged violence, the Solomon Ogoh-led EDSIEC had cancelled the election in Esan North-East Local Government, which is Anenih’s base. The Works Minister, Architect Mike Onolememen, is also from the area. The cancellation was understandable: election results from the eleven wards in the local government had shown that they were all won by the PDP including the chairmanship election which was won by a former Chairman of the Local

*Gov Adams Oshiomhole to EDSIEC to conduct a rerun election in the local government area. In fact, the same scenario that happened in the Thursday, April 25, 2013 cancelled election was re-enacted in the rescheduled election on Tuesday, October 22, 2013. Both parties had mobilized for the election in which four parties, namely, Accord, APC, Labour Party and PDP, fully participated. But this time round, the ward returning officers announced the councillorship

Government, Hon. John Yakubu, whose performance while in office is still adjudged as the best in the annals of the council area. The people decided to, once more, entrust their mandate in Yakubu with 11,543 to defeat ACN’s candidate, Sam Oboh, who scored 6, 173 votes. The same pattern was reflected in the council elections where PDP candidates won all the eleven wards with a cumulative total of 11,333 to ACN’s

But the EDSIEC, at the time of writing this piece, had not given ward-by-ward breakdown of how the APC garnered that figure; whereas the PDP, in a paid advertorial, two days after the election, displayed the results of the councillorship and chairmanship elections 7,977. But the ACN administration which was determined to “score,” in its own words, “eighteen over eighteen local government areas,” decided to short-circuit Yakubu from taking custody of his mandate. The eleven PDP councilors were also frustrated from assuming office on the strength of the election outcomes. Officials of EDSIEC, who were supposed to announce the results, abandoned their duty posts and fled when it became apparent that the PDP candidates had won. After tarrying for six months, the state government gave the go-ahead

election results all of which were won by the PDP candidates in the eleven wards and were issued certificates of return. Neither the APC nor the other two parties that contested against the PDP have disputed the report that all PDP councilors won the elections in the eleven wards. The sore point of the election was the chairmanship slot. In the chairmanship election, the result sheet available to all electoral officers showed that PDP’s Yakubu scored 11,332 votes while APC’s Oboh scored 6,143 votes. Accord candidate scored 10 votes while the Labour Party candidate scored 12

Electoral impunity has no name other than this. The ‘oneman-one-vote’ mantra chanting comrade governor surpassed himself in the brazen electoral manipulation for which he has, over the years, accused the PDP. This is also chicanery. But Oshiomhole would appear not to care that he has, by his odious conduct, exposed his hypocrisy. In any case, it is not that he was a real puritan before now. The point is that he had all the while succeeded in disguising as a patron saint in matters of transparent electoral process; he seizes every opportunity to sing and dance to the mantra of credible election; whereas, he had been the drum major of electoral manipulation of the subtle and deceptive kind. A question that propped up, as an aside, is: why was he desperate to wrest Esan North East Local Government Council Chairmanship from the PDP, which won it fair and square, beyond the rhetoric of 18 over 18 Local Government Council Areas? The governor has abridged people’s right to free choice and alternatives; otherwise he should not have foisted on them a candidate that they did not give their majority votes to. Unfortunately, the governor has not shown any remorse at the electoral perfidy that he blatantly committed in Esan NorthEast Local Government Chairmanship election. Rather, he has been justifying and defending the lurid and the ridiculous. Oshiomhole has obviously redefined, nay abandoned his mantra and dropped his garb of pretence of being a democrat and electoral reformer. He has now turned full cycle in election manipulation. How shameful! This is, indeed, tragic! · Momodu contributed this piece from Benin City via johnsonmomodu@yahoo.com C M Y K

PAGE 28â&#x20AC;&#x201D;SUNDAY, Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013

Fola Ajidagba dazzles @ 80

ne of the pioneers of advertising photography in Nigeria, Fola Ajidagba turned 80 recently and as it was expected, it was celebration galore, that took his friends from their various quarters within the country to his country home in Ijebu Ode. But before the merriment took to flight, the celebrant, family and some friends went before the Lord at Simon Adeyemi Anglican Memorial Church, also in Ijebu Ode for a thanksgiving service. Photos by Lamidi Bamidele

R-L: Mr Mike Diagbare and Professor and Mrs John Amoda

Bosun Oladele bags chief taincy title hieftaincy

L-R: Mr Femi Ajidagba, Yeside, Mr Fola Ajidagba, celebrant, his wife, Abiodun, Folake Akinola; Biola Akinola and Nike Becky.

L-R:Otunba Wahab Osinusi, Otunba Gbuyi Osibogun and Otunba Jacob Adenuga

he Kwara State traditional community came alight in pomp and pageantry, Saturday, October 19th when the monarch, Oba James Buremo, Ajagungbade I, rolled out the drums seizing the maiden edition of Idera Day to show appreciation to former Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Bosun Oladele and three others for their immense contributions to the development of the town. Governor Abdul Fattah Ahmed of Kwara State, represented by his commissioner for Agriculture, and 12 traditional rulers including the Oladeleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s monarch, Oba Emmanuel Oyebisi, Afasegbejo II, the Onigbeti of Igbeti, Olorunsogo, amongst others graced the occasion.

L-R: Otunba Alex Adebiyi, Prince Bode Osinusi and Colonel Tunde Awote (rtd).

Mr. Bosun Oladele and wife, being conferred with the chieftaincy title by HRM Oba James Oladipo Arokoola Buremoh Ajagungbade 1, Onidera of Idera.

L-R:Chief Jide Adeniyi, Dr Olu Falomo and Prince Bode Osinusi.

L-R: Chief Ademola Odunsi; Chief Paul Agboola and Chief Jide Adeniyi.

Mr & Mrs Oluwagbenga Olowookere Judith Onyekachukwu and Samuel Oluwagbenga Olowookere recently wedded at Living Faith Church, Abuja

The couple C M Y K

Oba James Oladipo Arokoola Buremoh Ajagungbade 1, Onidera of Idera flanked by Chief and Chief (Mrs) Bosun Oladele

The newly wedded couple with their parents, Prince and Deaconess Samuel Olowookere including Elder and Mrs. Andrew Okoh.

Other Traditional Chiefs

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013, PAGE 29

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SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013, PAGE 31

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PAGE 32—SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013

ELECTION INTO UN SECURITY COUNCIL

Nigeria should be among 10 world’s powers – Ambassador Dahiru *Says Britain, France don’t deserve to be permanent members BY: VICTORIA OJEME Ambassador Sulaiman Dahiru is a retired diplomat who served Nigeria in many capacities, including being the Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Consul General in Karachi, Pakistan, and the Ambassador to the Republic of Sudan. He speaks on the significance of Nigeria’s election into the United Nations Security Council.

OW do you react to Nigeria’s election into non-permanent membership of the U.N Security Council? It is true that Nigeria was recently elected by the U.N General Assembly to be a member of the U.N Security Council on a two-year rotational non-permanent membership. Nigeria scored 186 votes from the 193 voting members of the General Assembly. This is certainly an overwhelming victory for Nigeria in spite of the futile attempt by the Gambia and Senegal to go against the endorsement of Nigeria by ECOWAS and the African Union (AU). The implication of the futile attempt by these two countries to challenge Nigeria is that even in our sub-regional organisation Nigeria cannot be sure of getting support of members. To me, this is plain mischievous and embarrassing. Yet, Nigeria bears the brunt of maintaining the ECOWAS secretariat in Abuja and also was to all flash points to settle any problem at great costfinancially, materially. However, I am inclined to look at the issue of Nigeria’s membership of the U.N Security Council from two angles. First, that Nigeria got elected is an eloquent testimony of the capacity of Nigerian diplomats who mounted a relentless campaign to get the support of the rest of the world. This supports my long-held view that professional job should be left to the professionals. Second, that the Gambia and Senegal fruitlessly tried to challenge Nigeria’s endorsement goes to show that Nigeria is no longer the undisputed leader which it used to be. It is a mark of dwindling political profile of Nigeria even within the subregion. It is also a warning to Nigeria that it will face unexpected fierce competition when the bigger issue of permanent membership of the Security Council eventually comes up. The good thing about Nigeria’s non-permanent membership of the Security Council is that it has a competent and indefatigable permanent representative in New York, Professor Joy Ogwu, who will do Nigeria and Africa proud. She is vastly experienced in international affairs. What

C M Y K

Ambassador Sulaiman Dahiru Nigeria should do in order to lighten the heavy burden of Professor Joy Ogwu is to tackle the chaotic and uninspiring domestic situation. Let there be no illusion about it, Nigeria is an elephant with clay feet and a big disappointment to the black race. People talk about democratisation of the UNSC. How does this happenn? United Nations was formed at the end of the Second World War in 1945 with the mandate to ensure peace and security of the world. The forces that defeated Germany formed the Security Council and added China to make the P5. The others are U.S.A, France, Great Britain and Russia. These P5 countries decide what happens around the world. Each one of them can veto the decisions of not only the General Assembly but even fellow members of the Security Council. Africa, Latin America and the Far East are not permanent members of the Security Council and this means that their voices can only be heard during the U.N General Assembly or if they happen to be part of the U.N Security Council where the positions of their countries or regions are voiced out. There are ten-member nonpermanent members. Nigeria’s voice can be heard globally on any issue before the U.N Security but that voice may not influence or change anything if the P5 are adamant on going ahead with their wish, no matter how wrongly viewed by the rest of the world. Therefore, Nigeria along with the rest of the world should not only mount a vigorous campaign for the democratisation of the Security Council but to change its composition as a result of the realities the world faces now. The United States should, in the foreseeable future, remain the leader it has been because of the

massive size of its economy, undisputed military and technological strengths. China, an emerging giant and with its huge economy which is billed to overtake that of the United States of America within a decade and with its 1.3 billion population, it should naturally represent its own interest in the Security Council. Russia, with its third world economy remains in the Security Council, with the added responsibility of representing the interests of the former members of the U.S.S.R, Eastern Europe and the Caucasian. France and Great Britain have no business being in the Security Council as part of the P5. They have since lost their glory and aura, clinging

come P10 with the following countries as members and with veto power. The U.S.A, representing the Americas and the Caribbean Islands, Germany, representing Western Europe, Russia, representing the former U.S.S.R and Eastern Europe, China, Japan, representing Asia, Brazil, representing Latin America, Nigeria and South Africa, representing Africa and Egypt, representing the Middle East and the Arab world. These ten countries should constitute the new P10. Therefore, Argentina should stop its opposition to Brazil and Pakistan to India. India with 1.1 billion population and a booming economy and stable democracy is more than qualified with this set up. Saudi Arabia was elected to non-permanent membership of the Security Council but a day later it withdrew its membership citing some reasons for doing. Is it that Saudi Arabia felt that position was too small to it? I found Saudi Arabia’s posture funny. First, it accepted its nomination by the regional group. Second, it contested the election and won. When it accepted the nomination and contested and won the election, was it not aware of the issue it raised? On the surface, the reason adduced by Saudi Arabia may appear unassailable. But a closer look will reveal a diabolical mischief. Everybody, who is not religiously or politically biased, knows that the Palestinian quagmire has lasted for so long because of the Western world, especially the United States of America which has become a tool in the hands of Israel. The Arabs themselves,

Nigeria’s voice can be heard globally on any issue before the U.N Security but that voice may not influence or change anything if the P5 are adamant on going ahead with their wish, no matter how wrongly viewed by the rest of the world only to the claim of being dominant colonial powers before. Both of them should be replaced by Germany currently the undisputed leader of Europe. Does it make sense that France and Great Britain are members of the P5 but rich and powerful countries like Germany, Japan, Brazil and India are not? Brazil’s economy is larger than that of France or Great Britain and has a land mass that in huge. Nigerians may not know that Brazil is almost ten times the size of Nigeria. It is my view that after democratisation and change of membership, the P5 should be-

who cannot speak with one voice, have failed the Palestinians. Israel, under arrogant Netanyahu, has spurned all efforts to find solution to the problem, even spurning Security Council resolutions. Israel has become law into itself and is contemptuous of the world opinion. Saudi Arabia also raised the issue of the failure by the Security Council to solve Syria political imbroglio. The position of Saudi Arabia is hypocritical. All that it is after is regime

change in Syria because it loathes the minority Alewite Shiite clique ruling over the majority Sunni population. But it is the same Saudi Arabia which sent its troops to crush the demonstration by the majority Shiite population of Bahrain against the minority Sunni ruling monarchy. Saudi Arabia wants to see the back of Bashar Al Assad in Syria but it is propping the tottering minority Sunni ruling family in Bahrain. However, I agree with Saudi Arabi that the Security Council has become an ineffective body, pursuing their narrow selfish interest or looking the other way when some parts of the world are burning. The Security Council failed the Muslims of old Bosnia when they were being exterminated and it also failed the people of Rwanda during the genocide in that country. The Central Africa Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been on fire for so long but the will to frontally confront the problem is lacking. One can also talk about the recalcitrant attitude of Morocco towards the people of Sahrawi Democratic Arab Republic, with the connivance of France, an ineligible member of the P5 in the present world. Therefore, Saudi Arabia is lambasting the attitude of the P5 in tackling the problems facing the world. What is your position regarding the proliferation of light weapons and small arms, especially in the ECOWAS subregion? It is nearly worrying that there appears to be unhindered proliferation of arms and ammunition around ECOWAS or what you call light weapons and small arms. Concerned, the United Nations passed a resolution, condemning it. Member-states were enjoined to institute effective measures to control it. Regrettably, the ECOWAS is awash with these weapons which are daily smuggled in. The civil war in Libya must have greatly contributed. Even before the civil war in Libya, Colonel Gaddafi had trained and armed dissidents to take up against their countries. It happened in Chad, Niger, Liberia and SierraLeone. The issue is that these weapons are manufactured mostly outside Africa. These arms manufacturers are only interested in getting markets for their weapons and not concerned about the issue of morality. For example, how did Nigeria receive a disproportionate share of these weapons? It is through smuggling through our porous borders and by sea, despite the best efforts of the Nigerian Navy. Every country that wants to live in freedom and stability must make concerted efforts to control the smuggling of weapons whether light or heavy.

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013, PAGE 33

South-west speaks with one voice on sovereignty DAYO JOHNSON Akure

HE attendance was impressive. Notable politicians across political parties, civil societies, various groups and traditional rulers from the South-west were not left out. It was the gathering of people who were not only enthusiastic for a change but wanted it as fast as possible to correct perceived anomalies in the Nigerian structure. They arrived the Babafunke Ajasin, venue of the maiden nation-wide consultation, coordinated by the Advisory Committee on National Dialogue/Conference which was kick-started in Akure, the Ondo state capital. Other stakeholders in attendance included women societies, student bodies and ethnic nationalities. The meeting was attended by stakeholders from the states across the South-west to discuss the future of Nigeria. To show the seriousness attached to the meeting by the people of the region, they stayed glued to their seats despite the fact that the programmee commenced behind scheduled. Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who waited all through the meeting which lasted over five hours, set the ball rolling when he said that the choice of Ondo State to kickstart the “ long overdue National Conference” was divine and strategic as” the state was the bastion of progressive politics in Yoruba land”. Mimiko continued that the ancient town of Owo, the home town of the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin, was the birth place of Action Group, headed by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. According to him, Owo was the secretariat of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) during the struggle for the enthronement of democracy. The governor, who was elated that the maiden meeting was held in Ondo State, commended President Goodluck Jonathan for taking the bold step and listening to the yearning of Nigerians. He promised that the state C M Y K

*Governor Olusegun Mimiko...Ondo to participate fully

We are not anarchists to ask that the existing government structures be dissolved for the peoples of Nigeria to be able to sit down and talk even when our stand is that sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom the existing government derives all its authority

will participate fully and partner with the Federal Government on the way forward for the country. Groups that attended the event was the Yoruba Unity Forum, led by the retired Bishop of Akure Diocese of Anglican Church, Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, ProNational Conference Organisation (PRONACO,) led by the late Baba Oluwide Omojola, Movement for National

*Ayo Adebanjo...Govt has no business writing constitution

Reformation(MNR),the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, led by Chief Ayo Adebanjo , the Afenifere Renewal Group(ARG), Arogbo Ijaw Community, led by F.J Williams, Akoko Patriots and National Association of Ondo State Students. Discussants at the meeting were however on the same page that the outcome of the National Conference needed not to be forwarded to the National Assembly for ratification. Infact, the Arogbo Ijaw community, in its submission, kicked against the idea of forwarding the decisions to be reached to the National Assembly. ”The decisions may be subjected to a national refrendum. The National Assembly as presently constituted is part Of the Nigerian fraud,” the group said. ”It is part of the key issues to be addressed by the conference. The decisions of the conference cannot go to it for ratification sovereinghty belongs to the Nigerian people.” Addressing the hall which was full to the brim, Afenifere leader, Adebanjo,

proposed a not less than 700 people as delegates to the dialogue and should not have input from political parties or government in order to guarantee the neutrality and sovereignty of the decision. Supported by other notable leaders of the group, Adebanjo said: “There has been a lot of debate on whether the conference should be called a National Conference or Sovereign National Conference. Some have argued that we cannot have a Sovereign National Conference because there is a government in place.” The stakeholders were unanimous in their submission on the outcome of the proposed conference. They rejected the president’s proposal to subject the outcome of the conference to the National Assembly for ratification. Rather, the stakeholders and various interest groups unequivocally maintained that sovereignty reside in the people, stating that the outcome of the conference should be subjected to a referendum that will be composed of the voting populace. The memorandum

presented by each of the stakeholders recommended that representation at conference should be of all ethnic nationalities in the main but with accommodation for civil societies, religious leaders, labour, students and other interests. Another feature common to the stakeholders in their memoranda was that the conference should address all the unanswered questions about the Nigerian nation. Adebanjo said: “We insist on National Conference with sovereign powers as far as decisions it reached are concerned. The role of the existing government on the decisions of the conference would be only implementation. “The only process that would be able to alter any of the decisions reached at the conference is a referendum of the Nigerian peoples. “Afenifere right from under the direct leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo being consistent in asking that the nationalities in Nigeria must sit down and discuss their union and agree on a Federal Constitution to guarantee stability, justice ,peace ,real unity and development borne out of autonomy for the constituent units” ”We are not anarchists to ask that the existing government structures be dissolved for the peoples of Nigeria to be able to sit down and talk even when our stand is that sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom the existing government derives all its authority.” ” It is not the business of government to write a constitution but the people. Democracy does not necessarily produce a government that represents the majority.” “Be that as it may, we insist on National Conference with sovereign powers as far as decisions it reached are concerned. ”The role of the existing government on the decisions of the conference would be only implementation. “The only process that would be able to alter any of the decisions reached at the

Continues on page 36

PAGE 34— SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013

North Central seeks protection of minority groups By MARIE-THERESE NANLONG

rom Akure, the Advisory Committee on National Conference moved to the North Central Zone on Monday where it held its sitting in Jos, the capital of Plateau State. On arrival in Jos, the Committee members paid courtesy calls on Governor Jonah Jang and the Gbong Gwong Jos, Da Jacob Buba, before addressing the stakeholders at an event which saw the Chairman, Senator Femi Okurunmu, stating that they were in the zone to “consult widely with the people on the manner the conference would be convened”; and urged citizens to participate fully in the discussions. Responding, Jang said Plateau people are the minority in the North hence the need to give everyone the opportunity to air his/her views and the yearning of the people honoured in the implementation of the outcome of the conference. He said, “This conference is a good idea though some critics are condemning it. We Nigerians are good at this but we should take advantage of this opportunity for national reconciliation and present our grievances. ”Plateau is a minority area of the North. We have had conferences where the outcome would not be implemented. The outcome of the Committee set by the Obasanjo government should be revisited and implemented and the outcome of this Committee should also be implemented for the benefit of the citizens”. Jang further stated, “Nigeria is not a nation but a country, three quarter of Nigeria’s problems would have been solved if we see ourselves as a nation. ”There is discrimination and this has made the federation not to be balanced. Tin Ore from Plateau and groundnut from Kano built the country, now oil money is shared in a lopsided manner which makes some states richer than others.’Godgiven resources should be shared equally but because there is too much power at the centre, some federal parastatals get more money than a state, this is unfair and must be addressed”. The governor decried the poor transportation system in the country which makes private

*Jang...there is discrimination in Nigeria transport and haulage exploitative and appealed to saboteurs to allow the rail system to function even as he called on the National Assembly to be true representatives of the people by ensuring the yearnings of the people are enshrined in the Constitution. Jang also urged people who steal government money to dump in foreign accounts to have a rethink and invest the money in businesses which will create employment opportunities for the teeming youths. Plateau will put a Committee to look into what the state should take to the conference for discussion, he concluded. However, stakeholders from various ethnic groups in the zone like the Middle Belt Forum, represented by its Chairman, Prof. Jerry Gana, the Beroms from Plateau, represented by the former deputy Senate President, Wash Pam, and Ngwang Ishi O’ Tarok, the umbrella body of the Tarok nation in Plateau, represented by Prof. Nanven Gambo, made presentations at the meeting.Other tribes like Jarawa in Plateau and the representatives of Benue tribes presented their memoranda and all of them echoed the views expressed by the Middle Belt Forum. Gana said the Middle Belt, comprising of minority groups found in Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, part of

*Gbong-Gwom

Yobe, Adamawa, Borno, Southern Kaduna, Kebbi, Bauchi, Kogi, have paid a great price for Nigeria to stay as one but the area is under threat by incursions which turned the area into tension zone. “We thank President Jonathan for giving Nigerians this opportunity to make fundamental resolutions to live

This conference is a good idea though some critics are condemning it. We Nigerians are good at this but we should take advantage of this opportunity for national reconciliation and present our grievances in peace as one nation under God”, he said. ”After a thorough review of key issues affecting the wellbeing of our federation, we have resolved that serious attention be paid at the conference to the following issues. “Structure of the Nigerian federation, devolution of powers, fiscal federalism, revenue allocation and resource control, citizenship rights, protection of minority rights, recognition of indigenes,

resolution of the land question, the population question, national security for life and property, resolution of community conflicts. “National infrastructure for national development, governance institutions, creation of States, the fight against corruption, structure and funding of local government, management of the national economy, foreign policy, education, science and technology as well as health and social policy issues should be addressed”. Gana further proposed that the conference should have the structure of a people’s parliament with a chairman and deputy who would moderate proceedings and a secretariat to service the conference while delegates should come from each ethnic nationality, senatorial district, professional associations, labour unions, student unions, youth organisations, women groups, civil society organizations to give everyone equal representation. He opined the time frame should be between six months and a year and a decision taken by consensus to give it a sovereign status. He appealed to the Committee to ensure that the National Conference is truly representative, credible and patriotic. One of the prominent issues discussed there was

indigeneship and settlership and this coming at a time when a member of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, said such issue should be expunged from the Constitution as it is a limiting factor which causes friction in the nation. Ahmed, at a round-table organized by Care-fronting Nigeria, in collaboration with Freedom House, also stated that the politicization of faith and tribal affiliations are major threats to national security and the survival of the Nigerian nation maintaining that the insurgency of the Jamaatu Ahlili Sunnah Lid’daawati Wal Jihad (aka Boko Haram) represents the clearest example of the convergence of faith as the struggle for political power. He argued that faith-based politics has become a major issue in competition between fragments of political elites and faith is becoming increasingly a vital demographic index in the struggle for power and resources among the elite. He faulted the usage of religion and indigenization as bases for dealing with citizens as according to him, every citizen should stand to defend his/her right of being a Nigerian and rise against indigene/settler issue, insist on being treated as a Nigerian citizen instead of being treated based on the basis of State of origin as this threaten integration. His words, “We need to overhaul the political system, religion and tribalism have been exploited by selfish politicians. Corruption impoverishes Muslims and Christians alike and their leaders who share the same faith do not reflect their faith in the manner they govern. “There is need for a radical overhaul of the current ruling regime in Nigeria and improvements in the manner core religious values such as selfless service, honesty and compassion becoming guiding values of all leaders”. However, the senior pastor of EBOMI Ministry, Prophet Isa El-Buba, noted there is need for dialogue because for Nigeria to have a viable blueprint which will ensure true unity and progress in the country, citizens need to give constructive contribution on how to move the country forward and give the next generation of Nigerians a nation which the founding fathers could not build. According to him, “No nation can move forward without a viable blueprint which helps in charting the course of governance and nation”.

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013, PAGE 35

Confab not for consenting views only — Igini BY DAPO AKINREFON

MR Mike Igini is the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Cross River State. In this interview, he speaks on the Confab Advisory Committee inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan and urges the Nigerian people to hijack the process and make the best out of it, among other sundry issues. What is your take on the National Dialogue Advisory Committee set up by the President? First as a public officer one of my statutory duties is to educate Nigerians on what the law calls ‘sound knowledge of good democratic practices’. That is why it would be appropriate to be guided by facts of our chequered history as a people and as a nation rather than glib and uncritical opinion, before expressing my value judgment on the issue. If after 53 years of independence and almost 100 years of the happenstance of 1914, we are still grappling with the intricacies of nation hood and still at each other’s neck instead of focusing on development, don’t you think that something is wrong and there is need to recognize and collectively resolve those matters so that Nigeria can truly be a country of pride to every Nigerian irrespective of our diverse backgrounds? A successful national conference/dialogue would reinforce, extend and expand the frontiers or radius of affinity of the Nigerian people. Look for how long are we going to sustain the vacuum of dialogue in Nigeria and the limitation for invited and organized participation that has burgeoned several forms of autonomous

them openly and frankly if we truly crave development. The opposition political parties have faulted the timing of the dialogue pointing to the forthcoming general election. What is your opinion on this?

participation including the birth of nationalities based militants, religious militancy and other anarchic and dystopic tendencies that have tended to place much tension on the polity, so much so that even kidnappers and psychopathic mass murderers some of whom now parade themselves as freedom and liberation fighters to justify their reprehensible activities. Given such a background and the facts that not quite long ago, I had pointed out that the absence of dialogue has often allowed those with extreme positions to mainstream their extremism and to polarize the nation, one can only say it is significant that the president established this advisory team to develop a framework for a proper national conference. Nigerians should make it their own and determine how well it turns out. Why is it that the call for national conference has been persistent even in a democratic dispensation? The call for a national dialogue to examine the various maladies ailing the Nigerian state has been frequent and consistent for over three decades, many have requested several authorities to institute a proper platform to facilitate invited participation, but while some attempts had been made, most of these attempts have been perfunctory. For me, its about the over-all development of Nigeria, its about asking the question why the abandoned framework of federalism given to us by Ahmadu Bello, Awolowo and Zik that accelerated so much development that made the first Republic a golden era of development and not so at the moment? The fact that the small bureaucracies used by these great leaders to administer these Regions now replicated in every state

*MR Mike Igini ...Extremists take advantage of status quo

A national dialogue is not a forum for only consenting views. It embodies consensus and dissensus, there will be, ought to be, the ebbing and cresting of disparate views because it is an arena for the engagement of interests with its associated huge recurrent cost of governance at the expense of capital development not warrant a thorough re-examination? Will it not better for the sake of more resources for development to make the 6 geopolitical zones the federating units and the states therein LGAs such that in the whole of south South, for example, we have only one governor and one Assembly and channel huge resources for development ? You see, the broad outline of the 21st century is clear, it offers so much opportunities for people who embrace

change, who can live together, work together ,engage themselves and genuinely through dialogue develop new ties that can bind them together. Rather than allow extreme groups with polarizing positions to take this country to dystopia, committed stakeholders should engage. We must encourage the Nigerian people to seize the hour and make it their own, too many issues have been taken for granted as moot when they are not, this is an opportunity to shine the disinfecting effect of sunlight on such issues by discussing

I consider it part of the dialogue. A national dialogue is not a forum for only consenting views. It embodies consensus and dissensus, there will be, ought to be, the ebbing and cresting of disparate views because it is an arena for the engagement of interests. Where interests are coterminal there will be consensus, where they are not expect discord and sometimes even acrimony. This is where I see the wisdom in setting up a committee to institute a framework for discussions, for obtaining perceptions and experiences, because the phenomenology of Nigerian-ness varies with how different groups perceive and experience Nigeria. How these views and experiences are collected, organized and collated to generate useful recommendations for reform is crucial. As to the timing, this is a relative conceptualization because dialogue and discussions are a continuing part of decision-making in groups which is what democracy is all about in the final analysis. No time is too early especially given the scale and exigency that may attend future politicking within and between political groups of our country. To create room for discussion between stakeholders of a nation is, therefore, equal to the uncapping of the national cauldron of social and political differences that has become too effervescent. On that level it cannot be said to be ill-timed because time itself in the absence of a will and commitment of a people could be an ally of the forces that undermined their collective hope and aspirations. It is a balm that everyone will need in one dimension or the other.

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BY RASHEED KOLA OJIKUTU

nless Nigerians are propelled by selfish self-denial, there is no reason for the current anti-dialogue stance taken by some politicians in the country. We have, for many years demanded for a national conference and many of us have refused to accord legitimacy to the present political structure of our nation on the premise that Nigerians have never been partakers in its political design. It is in this regard that those who adduced veiled and extraofficial motives to the intention of President Goodluck Ebele Jonthan on the National Conference are either not conversant with history, naïve or have failed to recognize the importance of a dialogue as the last hope for a nation that is seriously on the precipice. Afterall, Lord Frederick John Dealtry Lugard, the man who as the Governor General was invited in 1912 by Lord Harcourt to undertake the fusion of the North and Southern protectorates into one country, confessed on page 100 of his book titled “The Dual Mandate in British Tropical Africa” that Nigeria is too large a country to be administered as a unit. According to him, “To administer such enormous territories as East Africa or Nigeria as a single unit, decentralization is more than ever necessary…”. To buttress this position, he further said on page 103 that “in the sphere of administration, there are obviously many subjects – education, taxation, slavery and labor, native courts, land-tenure and so on- in which uniformity and continuity of policy is impossible in so large a country…”. He concluded by saying that “In a country so vast ,which included

It is time to talk

•Ironsi communities in all stages of developments, and differing from each other profoundly in their customs and traditions, it was the declared policy of government that each unit should develop on its own lines…..” These statements coming from the man who designed the structure of our country and supervised its amalgamation no doubt point to the reason for the choice of the system of government which was inadvertently dismantled in 1967 by General Aguiyi Ironsi led administration and replaced with a unitary form of government. The consequence is a near collapse nation where nothing works. One can infer from the aforementioned that the need to devolve power to the federating units of Nigeria was recognized by the colonial masters at inception

•Lugard

over a century ago as the anti-dote for maladministration and systemic inefficiencies. If we are magnanimous enough to acknowledge that the current structure of the Nigerian nation breeds injustices, extravagance, corruption and ineptitude at all levels of governments and that the wound inflicted on the psyche of the nation is so deep that war is becoming imminent, then it would be simply naïve to argue that the status quo ante should remain unadjusted. If we must reorder the nation, there is no time too inauspicious to do it. Therefore, we must do so now. However, the Yoruba adage says “ai kuku je oye, o san ju enu mi o ka ilu lo”, literally meaning “it is better not to be a leader at all, than to be a voiceless,effeminate weakling”. This is one

lesson that the Senator Okunronmu’s panel has to learn fast in its quest to give a workable constitution to the people of Nigeria. Media reports seem to indicate that politicians are already battering the idea of a national dialogue left, right and center, all for the purpose of hijacking the process and if, only to protect the names for which the members of the committee have worked so hard to attain, it should understand that eternal vigilance here is required to avoid everlasting blunder. With the caliber of Professor Anya. O. Anya, Professor Funke Adeboye and Senator Okunronmu in the panel, Nigerians can be rest assured that light is glowing at the end of the dark tunnel into which the nation had been plunged since 1967. Everybody who has something to say must be allowed to talk at the

conference, lest we conduct an exercise in futility. All ethno-religious groups and other interest groups who have presentations to make at the conference should be invited to do so without hindrance. We cannot abandon the destiny of the Nigerian nation into the hands of the political class, the same group that has handcuffed the country for decades. For the first time in its history, the masses of Nigeria should be allowed free hand to register their voices and fashion for themselves an enduring national goal. self centered and too dogmatic to do this for the people. Therefore, Governors should not be the one to nominate delegates to the conference as many important information that could be lost in the process. Who told us that the battle for the soul of the Nigerian nation is only between the ethnic nationalities ?. If we allow a level play-field, we may be amazed to discover that the poor have grievances against the rich (Economic divide), Women have Complains against men (Gender issue), the Youths are displeased with their elders (Generation issues) and so on. The final outcome of the national discourse may be subjected to a referendum but certainly, not to the dictates of the National Assembly, a tier of government that also derived its power from the people. It would be sheer fraud to begin a constitution with the phrase, “ We, the people of the Federal republic of Nigeria…………..Do hereby make and give to ourselves the following constitution.”, when indeed the people do not have input in its construction. *Professor Ojikutu is of the Faculty of Business Administration, University of Lagos, Akoka.

South-west speaks with one voic e on sover eignty voice sovereignty Continued from page 33 conference is a referendum of the Nigerian peoples. ” The Yoruba nations remains the only leg of the “big three” that has never questioned the corporate existence of Nigeria either in form of “Aburi” or “ARABA “ in spite of the many provocations of the events of 1962 and 1993. ”It is in that spirit that we still ask our compatriots to let us come together at the table

of brotherhood to discuss our situation.” On its part, the Yoruba Unity Forum, in its submission read by Gbonigi, said that the composition of the dialogue is critical to the resolution of the underlying crisis plaguing the country. Gbonigi said: “If Nigerians are to discuss and agree to live together on the basis of term of the conference, the delegates to the conference must truly represent the

stakeholders. We cannot afford to subject this important event to the hegemony of partisan politics. “Political parties should not play any role in selecting, appointing or electing delegates. For the dialogue to receive national acceptance and rest many of the contentious issues, the composition of the conference must be the true representatives of the ethnic

nationalities from each geopolitical zone. The representation from each geo-political zone must be fair and equitable”. In its submission, the PRONACO, whose statement was read by the late Omojola who died 24 hours later, proposed 600 delegates drawn from all the ethnic nationalities and the delegates should not have any inhibitions in their discussion.

He added that the issue of fiscal federalism should top the agenda in the conference. This position of Arogbo Ijaw was similar to that of the Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG which warned “against anything that would turn the conference to another jamboree,” warning that there should be no ‘no-go area’ at the conference. The Chairman of the Advisory Committee, Senator

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013, PAGE 37

A former United States ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Walter Carrington, speaks on the challenges of corruption in Nigeria and the mismatch between growth and poverty as it relates to the much touted VISION 202020. He admonishes Nigerians to rise and harness the plethora of potentials in the country for the common good while not leaving behind the womenfolk. EARLY ASSOCIATION WITH AFRICA/NIGERIA I am transported to a time some sixty years ago, when I too, was an eager student about to graduate into an uncertain world. The Second World War had recently ended and the Cold War, pitting the United States and Western Europe against international communism, had even more recently begun. There was genuine fear that, with both sides possessing nuclear bombs, a deliberate or accidental launching of one of these weapons might start an unbreakable chain of retaliatory actions which would result in the annihilation of most of the world’s population. That was the world that I left university to enter. But there was a more optimistic world yearning to be born. The First World War had led to the break up of defeated Germany’s African empire. There were many here on the Continent and in the Diaspora who believed that the Second World War had so weakened the victorious allies and emboldened their colonial subjects that the time for African liberation could not be far off. How fortunate I was that, when I was just a fortnight further along my life’s journey than most of you are on this day, I made my first visit to the continent of my ancestors. Two weeks after receiving my first university degree in 1952, at a convocation such as this, I was on my way to Senegal as one of eight American delegates to an international youth and student conference which was to be held in its capitol, Dakar. There I met many young people who in less than a decade would join with older freedom fighters to haul down the British Union Jack and the French Tri-coleur from their government buildings and replace them with the flags of their newly independent countries. Some of you may have noticed that I did not mention another major colonial power - Belgium. The delegation from their largest colony, the Congo, included but one African. Congolese until 1954 were allowed to receive no more than a basic primary education unless they were studying for the priesthood. As a result, at independence in 1960, there were only 17 university graduates in a country with a population of 13 million. That’s fewer than the number of you sitting in any one of the rows before me today. *AFRICA SHAPED MY DESTINY That first trip to Africa was to change the direction of my life.

C M Y K

NIGERIA THE UNDERPERFORMER

The dangerous mix of corruption and poverty, By Walter Carrington

That first trip to Africa was to change the direction of my life. Before I was 30 years old, I had traveled twice to Africa at a time when few members of my generation in America had been here even once Before I was 30 years old I had traveled twice to Africa at a time when few members of my generation in America had been here even once. My second trip was to Nigeria leading a group of students on a program called the Experiment in International Living. It occurred the year before Nigeria’s Independence. We traveled throughout the country living with Nigerian families in

Lagos and Ibadan in the West; Enugu and Port Harcourt in the East; and Kano and Kaduna in the North. Regrettably, Ilorin was not a part of our itinerary. That trip tightened the hold Africa had on me which I had first felt at that youth conference in Dakar. I embraced the opportunity offered to me by administration of John F. Kennedy to help set up the Peace Corps in Africa. I

would spend the next six years living in Sierra Leone, Tunisia and Senegal and then most of the following four years traveling from Washington to towns and villages throughout the continent overseeing the work of development being carried out by a dedicated group of young Americans. 1960, when Nigeria and most of West Africa became independent from British and French rule, was the beginning of a decade of great expectations. I remember coming back to Africa in 1961 to establish the first Peace Corps program in Sierra Leone. What great hopes there were that West Africa would become the model for the rest of the continent. East and Southern Africa had been held back by their white settler populations from achieving independence peacefully. I remember that I used to jest that every country in West

Africa should have an image of a mosquito emblazoned on their new flags. For it was that malaria bearing insect which had caused this region to be christened as the “White Man’s Grave” driving Europeans to search for greener, healthier pastures on the other side of the continent in which to settle down with their families. Much has changed in Africa from those days of my youth more than half a century ago, but so much more needs to be done. The end of colonialism brought about governments of the people; each country’s first elections brought about government by the people, although in too many cases not for long, as authoritarian presidents for life and military dictators took over. The return of democracy once again gave Africans the right to decide by whom they would be

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unmatched pool of human resources. No country on this continent has historically had such a richness of human capital. Unfortunately, during the days of military dictatorships so many of your best and brightest fled abroad. Students overstayed their visas and professionals remained abroad, so reluctant were they to return home. As a result over 3 million Nigerians live and work in the United States and Canada to say nothing of the large numbers in the United Kingdom. They everywhere excel in their contributions to all sectors of our society. I have said many times to American audiences that I regard Nigerians as the most accomplished immigrant group in the United States. What made Nigeria the country that I looked up to for so long was the fact that it produced some of the most educated, most talented black people to be found anywhere on earth. My country and others around the world profit from Nigeria’s greatest export - her accomplished people. I often ask Nigerians who are legally in the U.S. why they remain.

Continued from page 38 governed and for how long. But elections, even when free and fair, rarely brought about governments that were for the people. Rather they tended to be for the elites; for the rich and those who hoped to become rich through government contacts and contracts. *RENAISSANCE: BETWEEN DESIRE AND DELIVERY Throughout Africa we hear slogans such as “African Renaissance” and “Africa Rising.” On this day of celebration for you graduates and your families I suppose that I should be upbeat and commemorate a bright new Africa into which you are about to emerge. But to do this would, I fear, only contribute to a sense of complacency about the condition of the overwhelming majority, not only of your fellow country men, but also of all who live on this continent. No, I would rather instill in you a sense of urgency. For this is not just a day of celebration but also of preparation. In order for you to do your part in making this world a better place you must understand the world that awaits you. POVERTY AND THE CURSE OF ABUNDANT RESOURCES First of all I ask you to ponder a perplexing paradox. Africa is the world’s richest continent in terms of natural resources and yet by all measurements developed by the United Nations its peoples are the poorest. In terms of education, health, and most standards of living they lag behind the rest of mankind. Why, oh why, should this be so? A few Africans may indeed be rising but too many others are falling. The old maxim that the rich get rich and the poor get poorer seems all too true as the gap between Africa and the rest of the world grows ever wider. The latest Human Development Index of the United Nation Development Program better known as the UNDP was released in March of this year and lists the world’s 46 lowest ranked countries. 37 of them are in sub Saharan Africa. All of the bottom 26 are African with the single exception of Afghanistan. All rate lower even than Haiti. Out of 187 countries surveyed, oil producing Nigeria is ranked 153, the lowest, by far, of any non African member of OPEC. Indeed, with the exception of Angola (which ranks 5 places higher than Nigeria) all other members, including war ravished Iraq (107), are included in the ranks of the more developed. Your neighbor, Niger, at 187 has the dubious distinction of coming in last. The UNDP’s Index, in arriving at its rankings, surveys life expectancy, mean and expected years of schooling, gross national income per capita, standards of living, quality of life, and child welfare. What it does not disaggregate is the status of women about which I will have more to say later. An earlier UN report in 2007 predicted that in little more than a year from now, in the year

C M Y K

* Carrington ... Nigeria suffers from `Dutch disease’

‘Nigeria can be in w orld’s ttop op world’s 20 economies’ 2015, nearly a third of the world’s impoverished will be black Africans. This would be a significant increase from one fifth fraction which was the case in 1990. MISMATCH BETWEEN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT The proponents of the Africa Rising thesis point to the significant economic growth experienced by some countries on the continent during a time of economic retraction in much of the developed world. Growth indeed there was although often from a rather low base. Nigeria’s was impressively a little above 6 and a half percent. But how much was this a case of growth without concomitant development? According to the latest IMF estimates Nigeria has the second largest economy on the sub continent with a GDP or gross domestic product of 270 billion US dollars behind only South Africa whose GDP is 375 billion. Thus Nigeria, the 7th largest country in the world by population, has only the 40th largest economy by GDP. It is overly dependent on an oil and gas sector which provides 70% of its federal revenue, but is the source of a much smaller percentage of jobs than agriculture which employs 70% of the country’s labor force. But Nigeria suffers, as do so many other highly endowed extractive natural resource countries, from what economists label as the “Dutch disease” whereby other sectors of the economy such as

agriculture and manufacturing are relatively ignored. At Independence in 1960 Nigeria’s annual agricultural crop yields were higher than those of Indonesia and Malaysia. Today they have dwindled to half as much. The fact that Nigeria’s current yield per hectare is less than 50

The return of democracy once again gave Africans the right to decide by whom they would be governed and for how long percent of that of comparable developing countries dramatically demonstrates how much Nigeria has abandoned its once promising agricultural sector. Until Nigeria is able to rely less on capital intensive sectors of the economy and more on labor intensive ones it will be difficult to see how it will meet its ambitious goals to make the country one of the

world’s twenty most important economies. Diversification is urgently needed to make the economy less vulnerable to downswings in petroleum prices. Even when oil prices were historically high the national unemployment rate, instead of falling, rose from 21percent in 2010 to 24 percent in 2011. As the African Development Bank report pointed out, Nigeria’s recent economic growth has been mainly driven by the non oil sector because of high consumer demand. The cruel irony is that whatever Nigeria and others in Africa might do to improve their economies their efforts in the short run could be undone by a renewed global financial crisis. As I was writing this there was still much uncertainty over the consequences that might ensue if the United States failed to meet its international debt obligations. Thus this continent remains at the mercy of a world financial order over which it has little or no influence. FLIGHT OF HUMAN RESOURCE Those of you who will be earning a university degree this week are among the most privileged of your generation. Over twenty million young people between the ages of 15 to 35 are unemployed. An overwhelming number of them do not have the education you have received. They are part of a burgeoning army of unemployed even as the economy is growing. You however will become a valued part of Nigeria’s

CORRUPTION AS AN ALBATROSS The two major impediments to going back which they cite are their fears of the omni presence of corruption and the growing absence of security. They cringe whenever they hear Nigeria belittled on television comedies because of 4 1 9 schemes. They have so much to contribute to their homeland and ways must be found to create the environment which will invite them to return and reverse the brain drain which does so much damage to the body politic. A cure must be found for the corrosive cancer of corruption. I congratulate you, ViceChancellor Ambali, for the University’s Anti-Corruption and Monitoring Unit. Your address on the Occasion of the Public Presentation of the ACTU Handbook two months ago is one of the best that I have read. With your indulgence I would like to repeat a few of your words which cannot be heard too often. As we all know, corruption is the most terrible monster that confronts Nigeria but we must all work hard to tame this monster. In other words, I am certain that virtually all the problems associated with governance would be removed if we can all summon the courage to tackle corruption and banish it from our activities. Development doesn’t have a bigger enemy than corruption and the development of Nigeria is hinged on ridding our polity and politics from corruption and corrupt practices. I salute this university’s motto of character and learning – probitas doctrina. It is an axiom fit for a whole nation to adopt. But I regret to say that I have seen too many good people of high character yield after putting up a good fight. Which is why efforts must be redoubled to create an

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SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013, PAGE 39

rights to dignity and opportunity. No nation can prosper utilizing manpower alone. The freeing up of women’s power is essential to progress.

*Carrington ... Nigeria ceded her place to South Africa

CARRING TON: ARRINGT Nigeria’s bright est brightest are abroad Continued from page 38 environment in which character and virtue are rewarded and not scorned. Now, I know from my Sunday School days that being faced with temptation can be good, for if you can resist it you will be that much stronger. But let us not put too much temptation in their path. All of you, old and young alike, have a duty to do all you can to make the society in which these students and those who come after them matriculate is a society in which getting rich quickly is no longer a cherished goal; in which corruption is to be shunned and not envied; a society in which freedom and democracy flourish. THE ROLE OF WOMEN Earlier I mentioned the role of women. They are estimated to carry on about 70% of economic activity in Africa but they own but a paltry two percent of the land and are woefully under employed in the formal work force. And they are, in so many other ways, continually discriminated against. They remain victims of ancient patriarchal customs.

C M Y K

Half of your generation are women as, of course, are 50 percent of all Nigerians. Yet their participation in the workforce is extremely low. Only 33 percent of Nigerians who are employed in the formal sector are women. No nation can long endure and prosper which wastes the talents of so many of their citizens. President Jonathan has done better than any of his predecessors in bringing women into the top ranks of his government. A third of the members of his cabinet are women and he has appointed the first female Chief Justice. Yet, too much of the old sexist culture remains in the country. It is an anchor holding back its progress. Women’s family inheritance rights in too many states remain subordinate to those of their brothers even if the boys are younger than them. Too often they are sexually harassed on the job. No task will define the moral fiber of your generation more than your willingness to be committed to do as young people around the world are doing - rejecting sexism and seeing that women in law and custom enjoy equal

NIGERIA THE UNDERPERFORMER Nigeria has been too long an underperformer on the world stage. It has ceded to South Africa the pride of place as Africa’s leading spokesman. When the G-8 or other gatherings of the world’s most powerful nations occur it is more often to Johannesburg that they call than to Abuja on those all too rare times when they seek an African perspective. In its second century as more than a geographic entity, Nigeria, must at last realize its full potential. Even now, as woefully neglected as it has been, its manufacturing sector produces a large proportion of West Africa’s goods and services. What it has done for the region it can certainly in the years ahead do for the entire continent. You are indeed the giant of Africa. Your population of close to 170 million dwarfs all

I often ask Nigerians who are legally in the U.S. why they remain others. You are, by far, the continent’s largest and most appealing market. Surely Nigeria can raise the future amount of its exports to members of the African Union beyond its current level of 11 percent. Africa’s success is crucial to Nigeria’s own. Even if it accomplishes all of its 2020 goals by 2050 it will find it difficult to long prosper as an oasis in a desert of impoverished countries. It will become the attraction for massive illegal immigration as has the United States to its poorer neighbors to the South or has Europe to the peoples of the poorer countries of Africa,

India, Pakistan, and the Caribbean. That is why it is in Nigeria’s enlightened self interest to be concerned as much about the plight of its neighbors as it is of its own. Those are the responsibilities that the members of the club of the world’s most powerful nations which Nigeria wishes to join must shoulder. Nigeria has the potential to be in fact the giant of Africa which it has always thought itself to be. Its agricultural output is already second to none on the continent and 25th in the world. By making it more of a priority Nigeria could become a major player on the world’s commodities market. It must refine at home more of its 37 billion proven barrels of oil which is the world’s sixth largest reserve of crude oil. Its 187 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas is the eighth largest gas deposit in the world. Its flaring must be stopped and the gas harnessed to meet the country’s mounting energy needs. The pipelines carrying oil and liquefied natural gas must be better protected for both ecological and economic reasons LOOKING AHEAD The second century must be dedicated to diversifying this economy away from its overdependence on oil and to adding value to Nigeria’s treasure trove of the other natural resources lying beneath its soil. This can be done by sending not raw materials abroad but rather enhancing their value at home through a revitalized manufacturing sector, which refines and finishes the more than thirty different minerals lying beneath the nation’s soil. The question must now be asked, why is Africa’s most endowed country, which earns $57 billion dollars a year in oil revenues not yet able to solve its persistent problems of electric power and infrastructure? The African Development Bank report has summed it up thusly: “After decades of neglect, infrastructure in Nigeria is in a dilapidated state. The ranking of overall infrastructure is very close to the worst rank in Africa. Power supply is erratic, roads are in a state of disrepair, and the railway infrastructure is in a poor state. The erratic supply of electricity has continued to plague every aspect of the economy and it is viewed by the Federal Government of Nigeria as the bedrock of the country’s future growth, if addressed. Billions of dollars have been spent on the power sector by various administrations but without success because of mismanagement and implementation problems. However, with the political will to tackle mismanagement in the infrastructure sector and the desire to find a solution to the infrastructure problem in the country, there have been some improvements in the state of infrastructure in the country.” Let me turn now to the great moral shame of our time – the persistence of poverty. Towards its elimination the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank

promulgated in 1999 a Poverty Reduction Strategy Program (PRSP). Those two agencies have over the years ruffled nationalist feathers in a number of developing countries because of the austerity and conditionality requirements which they have imposed. Nigeria has not filed a PSRP progress report since 2007. It has enacted instead its Transformation Agenda 20112015 It is imperative that poverty reduction be a major goal of the agenda and not a marginalized one as it appears to have been so often in the past in too many countries. If not, then progress will be limited and the plight of the poor will become even more hopeless. One of the most important challenges your generation faces is to find ways to address continuing inequality so that all Nigerians are able to benefit from economic growth. One hundred years before I first came to Nigeria in 1959, on the eve of your Independence, one of my heroes, the father of Black Nationalism, Martin Delany, in 1859 on the eve of the American Civil War came to these shores in search of a homeland for the enslaved sons and daughters of Africa held in captivity in America. He wished to see a great state built in Africa. As he put it: “a nation, to whom all the world must pay commercial tribute.” Sailing aboard a ship owned by three African merchants he arrived in Abeokuta. His oneyear stay resulted in the signing of treaties with western Egba Chiefs giving American blacks the right to settle in their areas. The agreements were never followed up because the Civil War broke out just as Delany returned to America. He served as a medical doctor in Abraham Lincoln’s army which ended slavery and resulted in blacks becoming citizens of the United States. I speak to you now, on the eve of Nigeria’s second century and in the twilight of my years, as more than an in-law who first came to Africa as a student in search of my heritage and returned four decades later to find my destiny in my lovely wife – Arese. I speak to you young people as an octogenarian optimistic enough to believe that I will still be around to see Nigeria become the fulfillment of Delany’s dream of a great African state to whom the world must pay tribute. Yours is the pivot generation. One that can and must turn Nigeria around as mine and the one that followed changed America forever. Nigeria is calling you. Heed her call so that in the words of your National Anthem ‘The labors of your heroes past shall not have been in vain.” Being extracts from the UNILORIN Convocation Lecture, ON THE DAWN OF NIGERIA’S SECOND CENTURY: CHALLENGES TO A NEW GENERATION, by WALTER C. CARRINGTON, O.F.R., former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, delivered last Monday

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Cash for Jobs : Banking sector job scam BY FUNMI KOMOLAFE

HIS report is the culmination of weeks of investigation into the scam that is disguised as tests for unsuspecting job seekers in the banking sub-sector of the Nigerian economy. The findings are shocking as much as they are bound to affect your sensibilities of decency and morality. Because of the sensitive nature of this matter, more so the broad scope of our on-going investigations, particularly the need not to jeopardize this work, we have deliberately decided not to reveal the identities of the job-seekers and the bank in question – mind you, some other banks are involved in this scam. However, as we gather more facts and by the time the investigation runs its full course, we may then be able to disclose the identities of all the parties concerned. Sometime in 1986, the then minister for labour and productivity, then Rear Admiral Patrick Sebo Koshoni, during his ministerial press briefing announced that about one million Nigerians were unemployed. Even at that time, the figure he gave was regarded as an under estimation of the problem of unemployment which became visible in many Nigerian homes about three years earlier. Indeed, during the last days of the civilian presidency of President Aliyu Usman Shehu Shagari the problem grew fangs, but it was the government of military president Ibrahim Babagida that officially took steps to address the issue of unemployment especially among the youths. The Babagida administration through his ministers of labour sought and got the assistance of the International Labour Organisation to create jobs in the informal sector. The consequence of which was the

Nigeria did not stem the tide of unemployment either. Rather, it was the era in which Nigerians were subjected to the worst working conditions in the name of attracting foreign investors. Many of these so-called investors have subjected Nigerians to dehumanizing working conditions. The Ikorodu factory fire of 2002 in which workers were roasted comes to mind. That wasn’t an isolated case. A particular company owned by the Chinese located in Ogba Lagos, had its machine chop off hands and fingers of employees and the organization has not been sanctioned in any form. It was also an era in which the so-called “ New Generation Banks” came into business. Banks pretending to be doing business in a manner unknown to the older banks. These ‘ new generation banks’ barred their employees from trade union activities. They also do not belong to the Nigeria Bankers Employers Group or even the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association ( NECA). It was and still is a culture of impunity. Even with the pretensions to new ways of banking, they are not known to have created jobs that have been of any significant impact on the economy. However, a current development in a bank prompted an investigation which culminated in this report. Ms. Josephine ( actual name withheld) a graduate of the University of Lagos some two years ago, while desperately searching for a job, she got on line to a company “ U Connect” . The company on its web site listed its services as “ Recruitment, Outsourcing, Placement, Training , Quality and M a n a g e m e n t ” . This graduate was then invited along with others to come and

We were also told that we would have to sign a bond that we would not quit the services of the bank for any reason within two years. If we do, then the Guarantor forfeit his deposit

setting up of the National Directorate of Employment to create jobs in the informal sector. Apart from this, another minister of labour in the Babagida administration, then BrigadierGeneral Ike Nwachukwu, during a ministerial briefing called on banks to use part of the huge profits to engage a number of young graduates. All of these efforts didn’t do much to tackle the unemployment problem as it got compounded with the high number of graduates turned out by the universities. The influx of foreign investors into

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write tests for a job. “We were not told what type of job it is” she said. “After we had about three tests, some of us were shortlisted and then invited for another round of tests when the recruiting officer told us we were being engaged on behalf of a bank”. After the first round of tests, Josephine and others were told that U Connect has concluded its own side of the recruitment and that the Bank (name withheld) though quite accessible would take over. The bank did. After another round of tests, the

applicants were congratulated for scaling through. If they thought their problems of joblessness were over, and a new life was ahead, they were dead wrong. The applicants, young graduates (men and women), were told to go and find for the bank 10 customers who must open new accounts with the bank and deposit at least N100,000 ( One hundred thousand Naira). In other words, they were to source for the bank One Million Naira. Simple, No money, no job. Ngozi, (real name withheld) was

of the letter issued to the would be employees. It states “ Thank you for honoring our interview invitation; please be informed that you are required to do the following: ”Option 1: Open 10 accounts with a total cumulative balance of N1million (Minimum of N100,000 in each of the accounts) OR ”Option 2. : Open a fixed deposit of N5million for 180 days. For whichever option you choose, please go to any Bank branch closest to you to obtain account opening forms for this

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GRADUATE TRAINEE LEVEL 1) on Thursday 27/06/13 by 12 noon at U-Connnect, 5, Ogbunike str, behind Avalon House, off admiralty way, Lekki 1, Lagos. Come with photocopies of all credentials , CV and passport. Sunday Vanguard called Uconnect to ask if it is registered with the ministry of labour and productivity. A female voice responsed, “ yes we are” but she seemed not sure and said, “I will connect you to the Human Resource Dept. I’m only a front desk officer”. At the back ground, a male voice instructed her to tell the caller to “call back”. She got back on the phone and asked that we call back in 30 minutes. The call was made to Uconnect on October 10, 2013. Since then, it had not been possible to reach the company on the phone again. Because of the nature and

*Any army of job seekers at a recruitment exercise able to find new customers who deposited about N850,000 . With that, she thought she would be commended. Rather, she was booted out. She was disqualified from the training programme, the next phase of her tests because she failed to find customers who could deposit One million Naira. Another applicant who was able to raise a million Naira from four depositors was knocked off the next state. Why? She was told that she had not met the requirement of securing for the bank 10 depositors. Another applicant, Akintoye (real identity protected) was able to source for 10 Customers who met the deposit target of One million but his aches had just started. The young graduate, was told that to be allowed to participate in the training programme to be conducted somewhere in Ikeja, he must source for the bank, a Guarantor who must deposit with the bank N2,000,000 (Two million Naira). Why? ”We were told that the training programme is quite expensive and that it would be conducted by Havard Business School. We were also told that we would have to sign a bond that we would not quit the services of the bank for any reason within two years. If we do, then the Guarantor forfeits his d e p o s i t ” . Sunday Vanguard obtained a copy

exercise. This exercise A minimum of 10 account opening forms for Option 1 a minimum of 1 account opening form for Option 2 ”All accounts must be tagged for reference and easy tracking. Also, find below the format for which the details of the account opening exercise should be sent to the underlisted email addresses.............. (A list of the bank’s staff email addresses are provided for the applicants but because of the scope of this investigation we are not at this moment going to reveal some details about the bank as this may jeopardize on-going investigations into this scam).Deadline for the exercise is : 18th October 2013 by 12 noon The format to send the details of account shows: S/N, Name, Account Number and Amount ( N). However, the letter was not signed. All efforts to speak with Corporate Affairs Manager of the bank were unsuccessful as the line was not available. Having gone through Nigeria’s labour laws, one cannot find a single sentence that supports these conditions given to applicants by the bank. Further investigations showed that U-Connect, the company where this started sent this SMS to the affected applicants “You are invited for an interview (

sensitivity of this development, the outcome of further investigations suggested that UCONNECT may not be a registered member of the Human Capital Providers Association of Nigeria (HuCaPan) which is affiliated to the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association. HuCaPan has a Code of Coduct which was launched early this year by the permanent secretary, federal ministry of employment, labour and productivity, Dr. Clement Illoh. Objectives of the Code of Conduct - “ This Code of Conduct sets out the principles that shall guide the Private Employment Industry. The standards in this Code of Conduct shall be observed by all those involved in Private Employment industry in Nigeria. This principle based approach is intended to maintain and enhance consistency, fairness, transparency, accountability and diversity in recruitment practices. This Code provides Private Employment Agencies with a clear and concise guide to the approach it must take to ensure a fair, open and transparent process that produces a quality outcome and commands public confidence. It is intended to contribute to the development of best practice in the field of recruitment and

Continues on page 45

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BY JIDE AJANI

ow do you assess your operations in Nigeria? We have been operating in Nigeria for the last 20 years and our philosophy is partnership. This has worked very well. In terms of employment, we have a further philosophy of employing local management and staff to get a proper understanding of what happens in the country. It is wrong for us to stand back and assume that the entire continent is the same. This is because each country has its own peculiarities. From the investment perspective, we have done a lot in 20 years. We have set up multiple offices and we have been running the satellite business. The satellite business creates employment opportunities, both direct and indirect. You have installers, the informal retailers and sellers as well as the super dealers. Running an operation like MultiChoice in Nigeria creates a lot of opportunities in the country. Over and above that, we have also developed the industry quite significantly. Let’s take content development, for instance. We have set up studios in the country. The setting up of studios has provided a springboard for new content development. This has helped Nollywood and assisted the export of its products to the other parts of the continent. We have invested in studios like the M-Net Studio and the Supersport Studio. We also have plans to expand the studios to ensure the set-up is much bigger. In technology, we are very proud of what we have done. We started way back in the 90s with digital satellite TV. That was a springboard for digital migration. It was our foundation to bring in digital content to Nigeria. It is important for us to be leaders on this technology. That is why we bring the best technology to any country where our services are offered. We invest heavily in new technology.

e have adopted DVB-T2 standard, which has proved to be the leading technology. We have also brought products like the PVR, which allows our consumers to record content. We have similarly invested heavily in networks. We have launched our mobile services in Nigeria and we continue to set up terrestrial sites all over the country to bring in new technology and make things easier for the consumers to consume content. There are a lot of things we have done over the last 20 years and we continue to improve in terms of our service delivery. We have continued to expand our call centres as well as introduce improved payment methods. We appreciate that it is sometimes very difficult for somebody to get to a particular C M Y K

ico Meyer is the chief executive officer of MultiChoice Africa. In this interview, he speaks on the company’s activities in Nigeria. pay point to pay for our service. One thing that is true about Nigeria is the propensity of people to use mobile devices. I am not just talking about smartphone devices, but also audio devices. So, we have been working hard to make payment easier for consumers. This, we are doing along with InterSwitch so that people can make mobile payments. Our drive has always been to make things easier for the consumer and I think we have been relatively successful in achieving that. It is believed that the cost of subscription is higher in Nigeria than in other parts of the continent. Why? This is not true. I want to use a very good example. Let’s take

way of digital migration, consider also exempting us from import duty. Our business is not the sale of hardware. In fact, we oftentimes subsidize hardware going into various countries because our business is really about content. So, using that example, you can understand that I have a challenge with what is particular to a country. Now, there are many other taxes. But it is important to bring the price to a level that is attractive to the consumer. As such, we don’t have a single price across the continent. We look at all these

Nigeria is a very big market for us, so we focus on the country. A lot of our investments actually goes to Nigeria. That is why, in terms of studios, it is where our biggest investment lies a decoder which we import into Nigeria. I want to contrast that, for instance, with East Africa. In East Africa, we want to promote the digital migration. For that, we were exempted from paying import duties on decoders. For the decoders that we bring into Nigeria, we pay 20 per cent import duty. So, you can see the difference. On one product, I pay 20 per cent in one country. On that same product in another country, I pay nothing. We have always been keen to work with government. We say to them, for instance, if we are going the

different dynamics in determining the price. But the price in Nigeria, talking about subscription, is not the highest In Africa. Even then, we continually have been working to keep the price low. One thing I think is very important is content. I buy local content and I also buy international content. International content obviously comes with a price. All these are brought into the offering that we bring to the consumer. Shouldn’t the price of your subscription be lower in Nigeria, given its huge

population of subscribers? It does not exactly work that way. Let’s take CNN for example. I pay per subscriber. If I have a hundred subscribers on this side, I will pay for the hundred subscribers at the same rate that I will pay for, let’s say, 10 subscribers elsewhere. So the fact that we have a much bigger size somewhere does not necessarily mean much. It is not the case that Nigeria will attract a much higher fee per subscriber. Those fees are still the same. The import of a product is almost like a one on one relationship. If I bring decoders into Nigeria, a much bigger market, I will bring many more decoders into the market.

ut each decoder still

attracts import duty. I think the benefit we have in Nigeria is that when you have a large subscriber base, some of the overhead costs incurred in the country get reduced. The cost per subscriber is comparatively less in Nigeria than in smaller countries. In what country do you have the largest number of subscribers? We have completely separated the South African business from the African business. We have completely separated the CEOs. We have a separate CEO for the African business and another for the South African business. We even use different satellites to service the two different businesses. So, the two core

structures are completely separated. There are some commonalities like the billing system, but it is quite limited in terms of common cost that we have for the two businesses. The content in Africa is also different from the content we broadcast in South Africa. So we look at the African business as a separate leg from the South African business. Though they have common shareholders, they are completely separate. Now, in terms of which of the 50 countries that we operate is our largest market, it is simply determined by the number of consumers that we have in each country. Nigeria is a very big market for us, so we focus on the country. A lot of our investments actually goes to Nigeria. That is why, in terms of studios, it is where our biggest investment lies. In term of network roll-out, that is where we put the most money. I think the fact that we have been in Nigeria for the past 20 years shows that we believe in Nigeria and that is why we continue to invest in the country. For a long time, you had the field all to yourself. Now the Chinese are here with StarTimes. What do you make of their arrival? We have always welcomed competition and it is a crazy statement to make. What it does is that it makes the industry grow and that is what we are Continues on page 47

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013, PAGE 45

Economic pitfalls at 53, by Kalu Idika Kalu (2) BY UDEME CLEMENT

The concluding part of the interview with a former finance minister, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, on the economy in the last 53 years of Nigeria’s independence.

ECENTLY, Nigeria and China signed a bilateral trade agreement for China to invest in major sectors of our economy. What is your opinion about this type of agreement? To start with, this is a very important economic issue, which the media as well as other professional groups do not seem to have fully understood. Ideally, in the course of development of our relationship with such large economies as India and China, to mention only those two, given our large labour resources endowment, given our extensive capacity that was even proven in time past, Nigeria’s economy should be latching on such high growth economies as India and China as heavy primary and intermediate goods supplier to these countries. Also, Nigeria should latch on these advanced economies as final consumer goods supplier to these economies, given the size of the import of these two nations of such commodities. A large group of Nigeria’s exports of those commodities, though high in nominal terms, should still remain relatively small percentage of such commodities imports to these countries as agriculture, semiprocessed and finished goods as

well as non-agric exports such as wood products, leather, plastic and other labour intensive manufactured commodities. This should be the gain as those economies lose their relative competitive edge in the production of such goods to an economy such as Nigeria that has enormous resources, skilled and un-skilled labour to manufacture these exports at relatively competitive prices. It is sad that reverse seems to have been the case where we are gallivanting all over these countries importing cheap and not so cheap labour intensive materials and even gifts we share at wedding events and other ceremonies, when, in fact, we should be exporting these goods to China and India in large quantities. In fact, Nigeria ought to be a major outsourcing people by Chinese investors in seeking to extend their manufacturing capacity to lower labour and what should be relatively cheaper labour source production centres overseas in Nigeria in particular. That we depend on supplying of crude oil and gas almost exclusively is in effect an indictment of our past industrial policies, particularly over the past 25 years. What do you mean by an indictment of our past industrial policies particularly in the last 25 years? This implies that a large group of Nigeria’s exports of those commodities that are high in nominal terms such as semiprocessed and finished goods as well as non-agric exports like

That we depend on supplying of crude oil and gas almost exclusively is in effect an indictment of our past industrial policies, particularly over the past 25 years

Strategy (NEEDS), which we did not only totally misunderstand but did not strictly adhere to, in the course of implementation; even the current transformation agenda, which are all different names for the same objective of changing the structure of Nigeria’s economy. The sectoral rate of growth, the overall size of agriculture, though expanding in absolute term is declining in relative terms both in its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the size of labour force employed at the secondary, industrial and

manufacturing sectors. This should have been the essence of structural transformation by whatever name it is called by respective administrations. By these measures, it is easy to see if the economy is undergoing structural transformation in bringing about better living standards, improved infrastructure, expanded quality and affordable education, standard and affordable education, a healthy population, a healthy labour force, reduced infant mortality, improved maternal health and a significantly higher life expectancy rate than what we have seen in recent years.

government’s party and p r o g r a m m e s ” . He recalled that during the administration of President Umar Musa Yar ’Adua, representatives of labour were included in the Economic Management Team but the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan excluded labour’s representatives. Contact with Government Sunday Vanguard contacted the minister of labour and productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu via an sms and he replied that the ministry had noted it. It is expected that action would be taken. NLC condemns employers’ tactics in banks . Rising from its national executive council meeting in Kaduna, The Nigeria Labour Congress, in a communiqué signed by its President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar and Ag. General secretary, Chris Uyot in its observation on casualisation condemned the cash for jobs policy in the banks. It stated: NEC-In-Session observes that there is a resurgence of casualisation of workers in the public and private sectors across the country. This unholy practice induces slave labour, prostitution, psychological trauma and the violation of the rights of these workers and does not in any way

stimulate productivity . What employers of Labour are trying to do is take undue advantage of hapless applicants or workers. Exploiting the weak defences of this category of people is not only morally reprehensible but defies logic. Even if the private sector, out of corporate greed, indulges in this unwholesome practice what justification does government have in doing so? Some banks have gone to the extent of compelling their employees to meet a target of 6million a month and securing of bonds that make a mockery of plantation slave labour. Congress does not see how this terrible practice stimulates productivity. NEC resolves that the Nigeria Labour Congress shall henceforth lead its affiliate unions against any employer identified to be engaged in these unwholesome practices by employing all known trade union actions until such employer retraces its steps”. For hundreds of thousands of youths hoping to make a career in banking, their dreams may never be realised. It is clear now that possession of the requisite qualification isn’t enough, he or she has to be connected to those who are able to save millions of Naira otherwise, no job. It’s simply an era of Cash for Jobs.

Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu wood products, leather, plastic and other labour intensive manufactured commodities should be exported to these big economies to generate more revenue for our economy, instead of depending on the import of almost every commodity we need in the country including cheap labour intensive materials and even gifts we share with friends. This should have been the object of our structural transformation from Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) to the National Economic Empowerment and Development

Banking sector job scam Continued from page 43 general human capital d e v e l o p m e n t . ”This Code of Conduct shall provide a framework based on the global best practice employment principles. It recognizes that Private Employment Agencies require flexibility to deal efficiently and effectively with the diverse range of services they provide. Accordingly, the Code shall enable Private Employment Agencies to adopt strategies and develop processes to implement the principles effectively. All agreements signed under this Code must also comply with relevant employment and equality legislation in Nigeria”. Code of Conduct- Principle 3 Respect for Transparency of Terms of Engagement states “PEAs shall ensure that workers are given details of their working conditions, the nature of the work to be undertaken, rates to pay and pay arrangements and working hours. This principle obligates Private Employment Agencies to inform employees of the conditions applicable to the contract or employment r e l a t i o n s h i p ” . Principle 4 Respect for free-ofcharge provision of services to jobseekers “PEAs shall not

charge directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, any fees or costs to prospective employees and workers, for the services directly related to temporary assignment or permanent placement”. All that is required is registration with the federal ministry of labour and productivity. Trade Unions kick, call for CBN sanction The acting general secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Chris Uyot said, “ Labour is concerned but government should be interested too. This is a serious matter. The situation in the country should not be an excuse for multinationals and banks to exploit our youths. We’ll hold the Central Bank of Nigeria r e s p o n s i b l e . ” Comrade Uyot vowed that NLC will support whatever action the unions in the banking sector take. He emphasized, “This act is a form of corruption. They are making prostitutes of youths. It is simply Corporate Prostitution. It is not enough for the government to claim to be tackling corruption without addressing issues like this. We condemn it in totality. The banks should not be allowed to turn Nigerians to slaves”. The President of the Association

of Banks, Insurance and Allied Institutions, Comrade Olusoji Salako also condemned the conditions given by this accessible bank in totality. He told Sunday Vanguard, “We are against such things. It is alien to our sector. By the time you make money a condition for employment, why are we talking about money laundering. So, even armed robbers, and 419 people can make deposit with such a bank”. Salako condemned in strong terms the conditions attached to the training of new employees. “ Placing value on training is improper. The duty of the organization is to train people. We are against this. If it is true, it is uncalled for . It is against the standard in the industry. The Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN) should call the bank to order ”. So, why do these banks get away with non-compliance with labour laws, what can ministry of labour do? Comrade Salako said, “the federal government should develop the political will to enforce our law ”. He said, unfortunately, those who run these businesses where unions are not allowed , where labour laws are violated with impunity make up the government’s National Economic Management Team. “They are the big donors to the

PAGE 46—SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 27, 2013

Mandela on Nigeria’s crisis VIEWPOINT BY EDO UKPONG

Nelson Mandela people seem to have gone to sleep and the politicians even supervise their own elections – so why are we surprised? But, if democracy is driven by politicians and they cannot be entrusted with governance, are we going to have an arrangement whereby governance is run by unelected people? That is confusing? No my son, be patient! Do not be like my good friend, Obasanjo! Listen to me. The bane of Nigeria’s problems is that it’s brand of democracy is driven by politicians. Democracy must be driven by the

HERE is no denying the fact that our dear country, Nigeria, is in a helpless, crisis ridden state. Ordinarily and in my more natural elements, I would have pronounced Nigeria to be a failed state with the vultures who have pushed us to this sorry state fighting over the carcass. However, using the revered name of the great Madiba, Dr Nelson Mandela, former South African president, has had a cooling effect on the boiled ink even in the fiery pen of a seriously disgusted patriot. The name also serves as a fillip which tempers the anguish of disillusionment and puts a brake on the slide into a state of comatose resignation. It is on account of refusing to give up on the possibility of Nigeria as a prosperous democratic nation for the benefit of all Nigerians that I approached the Madiba sometime ago for advice. The following represents our conversation via skype. Thank you for agreeing to this chat. I was almost giving up when nothing was heard from my emissary for over one month. I am really grateful because I appreciate the demands on your time and moreover you are not getting younger. My friend, you can say that again. I am not getting younger and it saddened me when I was informed of your reasons for wanting to have a chat with me. If I am still being consulted in this state, it means we have not done well for Africa because the topic should have changed. I understand your feelings, but believe me, the topic has not changed. My country Nigeria is in dire straits, we are fast receding from any prospects of national harmony which is essential for progress and development. There is so much corruption and crude power mongering, which appears to have degenerated into a bizarre competition for who can steal the most, display the worst impunity, be the most outlandish and these politicians will say they are playing politics. Worst of all, to get ahead in their ‘playing politics’ they are succeeding in dividing the people along tribal, sectional and religious lines through various sinister propaganda and deceit. These are dangerous times for my dear country. I do not need a lecture on the Nigerian situation which unfortunately is symptomatic of the situation in most of our continent. I am very knowledgeable about the Nigerian situation and I am very fond of Nigerians and I have been intervening in Nigerian matters since I came out of prison. What can I possibly do in my condition? Honestly, Nigeria is too important not only to Nigerians but to Africa and the world to sit by and watch it degenerate into a failed state, but what can one old man do? Since you know Nigeria well and with the situation on ground, what advice can you offer for reversing my dear country’s slide into self-immolation? Okay, I do not lay claim to monopoly of wisdom but since you have asked, here are my thoughts – politicians play politics and, as has been said, the business of governance and nation-building is too important to be left to politicians. So, for any progress to be made, you must bring in some patriots and the people have to be mobilised to empower these patriots. These patriots must be the ones who represent the psyche of the nation and give it direction. Of course, you cannot have democracy without politicians but the problem with Nigeria is that the politicians have been given carte blanche over everything and of course politicians will play politics with everything under their control especially as in your case where the

who did not want you? You are interrupting again and why are you Nigerians so interested in asides and intrigues, like my good friend Babangida? Of course, there are many politicians who were asking in private whether I was the only person who fought for freedom or the only one who was imprisoned – that’s a typical politician for you, they have a different calculus, usually selfish! So, getting back to my point, at this time in Nigeria’s history, a national mood needs to be given gravitas to envelope the

The country needs to heal and determine to move forward as one nation before any progress can be made. A few good men cannot do it, what you need is the people getting solidly behind a few good men

people themselves. The people decide what direction and the politicians follow. Let me use myself as an example, you will be surprised that left to politicians, it is unlikely I would have become president of South Africa, not that I particularly wanted it myself, but the people drove that process. The people set the national mood and had decided that at that point in our history, the best course was for me to serve as president. You mean they are black politicians

whole system. The country needs to heal and determine to move forward as one nation before any progress can be made. A few good men cannot do it, what you need is the people getting solidly behind a few good men. These men must be people who the people either already regard or can be persuaded to regard as not prone to corruption, who are nationalistic in outlook and with a vision of utilizing your enormous resources for a better society for all. In a nutshell, people that

can be trusted to pursue the people’s agenda. Identify such people and sell them to the people, once the people set a national mood, let me assure you, that train will be unstoppable. Winning the people’s support is not going to be easy but it is absolutely essential for success. It is even a good thing that you have many political parties, so there is no shortage of possible platforms. The politicians cannot overwhelm the people, rather it is the other way round and, believe me, politicians will fall in line, they will still play their politics, but they will not set the national agenda and that is the difference. It seems so theoretical – I am not even sure we have the good men or few good men you are talking about. Everybody seems to have joined or waiting to join the band of characters running our country. My son! (as Babangida taught me to say, this is not the time for pessimism, you are in a crisis, so think out of the box. Expand your search. Have you heard of that young colonel Abubakar Umar? I got close to him during the June 12, 1993 crisis. Whereas politicians had reduced it into a sectional thing, this was a Hausa Fulani blue blood, I understand, in the army, who risked everything including his life to courageously fight for truth and justice. That is the young man who, as a military governor, resigned and declared that he was doing so because government had deviated from the agreed course when they took over. That young man is not so young anymore, he is now in his sixties! And moreover the politicians will rather die … Let me interrupt you, they will not die and you were not listening … it is not left to them! Sell him to the people! That is the king of person you need to build the national momentum for a different kind of way of governance. What will any section have against him? Or will they say that he is a greedy kind of and will be corrupt? No way! Not with those antecedents! I had a chat with my friend Babangida, the last time he came to see me and do you know that, inspite of Umar’s opposition and even allegedly plotting to topple him, he is one of the few people Babangida respects genuinely! That is what you get for being consistently straight forward and objective. You say he is no longer a young man, have his views or attitude to life changed? No Sir, he still airs his views regularly and he is like the conscience of the nation. So what are you waiting for? That is your man! I am not saying he is the only good man or woman but the others are not as well known and as demonstrably ideal as the colonel. This young lady, the due process lady, I can’t remember her name, but she has been courageously vocal lately and from my sources she is honest and trustworthy. You mean Oby Ezekwesili? Yes, that is the young lady. These two people I have mentioned, is a team not already emerging? You people should go to work and forget pessimism, nothing will be achieved by that. And if they are reluctant, tell them that, as Aristotle said, ‘It is not always the same thing to be a good man and a good citizen’. They are good people, let them now be good citizens and fight for their country! I have only a short time left on earth. If I am looking at Nigeria from heaven, I want a smile on my face not consternation. Thank you. You are a real father of humanity. God bless you always. Postscript: All my ‘trigger happy ’ learned friends should note that the above conversation occurred in my dream. I do not have money to defend multiple law suits please! *Ukpong is a Lagos-based legal practitioner.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 27, 2013, PAGE 47

A quintessential gentleman and patriot TRIBUTE BY DARLINGTON EHONDOR & OSAZUWA OSAGIE

ROMWELL Osamaronag bonroro Ibie is unforget table for many things. He was the son that became the father of all. He was the quintessential gentleman with a compassionate spirit. He was a patriot who loved and served his fatherland with the consuming passion of a zealot, a first-class economist who, for many years, invested his genius in the service of his beloved country, meandering his way through the federal civil service. Even death cannot blemish his sparkling profile or erase his glittering memory. So he will be remembered always with a fondness and an unquenchable nostalgia. He will be remembered for his wits, his sharpness of mind. He will be remembered for his amiable persona and his jocular disposition. Even his domestic staff will remember him for his congeniality. To them he exhibited his humorous temperament, his gracious friendliness. His driver he called “John Trouble,” and his electrician was “Latrick.” Such was Cromwell’s humorousness that, like the warm, unpretentious person he was, he regularly punctuated his instructions to his staff with his favourite vernacular refrain, “You sabiokotimowi?” – his unique Yoruba coinage meaning, “You understand what I am saying?” It was the only Yoruba anyone heard him speak with any semblance of fluency, perhaps the only Yoruba he ever spoke. The staff couldn’t hold back their amusement, of course. So, by his humility and humour, he dispensed with the master-servant dichotomy and the climate of fear and trembling that characterizes the typical work environment. Never mind. Those who knew Cromwell Ibie were infinitely fortunate to know him. Those who understood him came away with venerating impressions of him. His personality was formidable, his demeanour infectious – in a desirable way, of

course. You had to be blown away by the overwhelming aura of his presence. With it came a motherload of generosity and compassion and a magnetically altruistic disposition that drew many to him. Many longed to be like him, but none else could be him, for he alone was equipped with the unique genetic markers that made him who he was. So Cromwell Ibie was uniquely made. He was a modern-day “Jesus” sent by God, on September 29, 1934, to set the captive free from the myriad oppressions life threw their way. With primordial tutoring from his parents – a compassionate mother and a strict-disciplinarian father – he was propelled by a burning need to ease the pains and burdens of those who sought his help. He deployed his vast resource of wealth and influence in maintaining that commendable profile till the day he died. Cromwell Ibie was, thus – and he remains – the quintessential mighty man of valour who confronted his own life’s barricades and uncertainties and triumphed over them all and, with it, touched many more lives near and far. Early in life, he showed great promise and, determined to dismantle the socioeconomic barriers that rendered many poor and immobile, he became the ultimate personification of hard-earned success. It was a success that combined compassion and altruism to, in a remarkably positive way, affect lives far beyond his immediate personal and familial vicinities. Wading through the oceans and mountains and valleys and gullies of life’s vicious path, Cromwell emerged victorious and became the klieg light that illuminated the darkened way for those who had the privilege and good fortune to make his acquaintance. His success became contagious, and, because of his generosity, lives were transformed; because of his honesty and good nature, he resisted and conquered the moral temptations that conquered the moral etiquettes of his peers, most of them society’s leadership elites. In fact, he himself once said that he retired prematurely from public service

•Mr. Cromwell Ibie as permanent secretary in the Federal Ministry of Transport in 1980 – at the tender age of 45 – because he had become unbearably nauseated by the runaway corruption that had colonized Nigeria’s public sector to the point of suffocation. He so desperately wished for his peers to change their ways, in order to change Nigeria’s increasingly sagging, progressively dwindling, socioeconomic and political fortunes. Of course, it was easier to walk through the proverbial eye of a needle than to fight corruption in a decadent public structure. Because he wanted to “beat” them but could not touch them, he refused to join them. His exit from public service did not quench his passion for his country, however. He found new ways to invest his economic genius in furthering the interests of Nigeria, when, in the ‘80s through the ‘90s, he became a columnist for Business Concord, regularly writing incisive articles in which he proposed a way out of Nigeria’s economic quagmire. That he did on the side. Leaving the public service opened to him new vistas of opportunity in the private sector. An astute and shrewd economist with the intellect of a genius, with degrees in economics from Strathclyde University, in Glasgow, United Kingdom, where the late Bashorun M.K.O Abiola was a fellow student, and the London School of Economics, Cromwell Ibie channelled his tremendous knowledge and experience into pursuing his own private

The dazzling light of the Ibie family has been extinguished, quenched by the vicious hand of death, but his reflective bequest remains bright enough to keep our paths illumined forever business thereafter.His resourcefulness saw the emergence of several companies under his burgeoning business stable, including Aco Edo Motors and Odin Motors, which, in the 1980s, distributed Peugeot and Volkswagen cars, respectively, across Nigeria. This ingenious economist also established Efehi Promotions Limited in Lagos, as well as Odin Biscuits Manufacturing Company in Benin. Besides, his formidable business acumen inspired several companies to appoint him as chairman or director on their boards, including the Lagos-based Gulf Agency and Shipping Limited, the largest shipping company in Nigeria, as well as Nigerian Fishing Nets Limited, Africa’s largest fishing company, and Continental Iron and Steel Limited. He was also on the board of Eureka Metal Limited. Cromwell was a major shareholder in several of Nigeria’s blue chip companies, including Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, probably Africa’s largest construction company, and PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, a consumer products and home appliances manufacturing and marketing company. Several academic and business awards and accolades, including an honorary Doctor of Jurisprudence of Marlborough University, Hawaii, USA, as well as an appointment to the governing board of the University of Benin, Nigeria, complemented a profile so prosperous and pure. In 1992, he was awarded a fellowship

of the Institute of Administrative Management of Nigeria (FIAMN) and recognized as a Certified and Distinguished Administrator (CDA). He was also a writer of immeasurable talent. Through his books and articles on the categorical and hypothetical imperatives of societal economic management, as well as on traditional African religious and cultural mores and beliefs, Cromwell Ibie left his indelible imprint in the sands of time. A tough fighter, not even the cruel onset of a stroke, in the early 1980s, could diminish, let alone extinguish, his fighting spirit. His staying power and survival instinct made the critical difference. At the ripe old age of 78, Cromwell, a child born into poverty but braced formidable odds to defeat it, was the epitome of untainted moral and material success. Few could aspire to, let alone match, the power of his legend. Yet, despite the dizzy heights he had reached in life, his humility was at once palpable, being readily accessible to anyone who sought his audience. Then, one cruel, cold morning, on August 22, 2013, death crept in on little cat feet and, like a thief in the night, snatched away a life so pure and exemplary, a heart so abundant with compassion, a soul so precious and irreplaceable. The Ibie family was, thus, thrown into yet another sombre mood of mourning. Having lost an adorable younger sister four months previously, Cromwell’s demise suddenly reopened the tortuous agony of bereavement in a way never before experienced in the family. The dazzling light of the Ibie family has been extinguished, quenched by the vicious hand of death, but his reflective bequest remains bright enough to keep our paths illumined forever. So let us cherish it. Let us revel in it. Cromwell’s death is a pain that is impossible to describe, however. We could never fully express the shock of our loss. We could never fully comprehend the magnitude of our pain. We could never adequately mourn a death so vile and vicious.

Multichoice has invested heavily In Nigeria — CEO, Nico Meyer Continued from page 44 interested in. The more the players, the more the market and the more opportunity it is for growth in the country. Competition makes the quality of content grow. That is hugely beneficial to us. If you have a very small industry, it is very little content that comes out of it. Competition actually helps the industry to grow and that is exactly what is happening in Nigeria. Nollywood content is growing, so we started AfricanMagic. As it grew, you saw other operators coming on stream and even content providers. It started in Nigeria and now we’ve taken it to the continent. The vision we have is to take, around the globe. The stronger the content, the better the industry. We have the PVR technology which allows you to record content. We are also going to bring Box Office to Nigeria. Box Office is not only going be international content; I also want to take the best of

Nollywood and also put that into the offering. This, again, gives content producers the opportunity to continue to expand. This is what helps the industry to become stronger. Many are of the view that you launched GOTv as a response to StarTimes. Let me talk a bit about our strategy. If you look back, when we launched our satellite service, it was perceived to be catering for the higher end of the market, with the price ranging from $70 to roughly $100. But there is big component of the market which we still want to address and that component is the low end of the market. It desires a more affordable product, a product much easier to install. I think our plan around GOtv is to make available much affordable product and one that is easier to install. This product will address a much bigger slice of the population. How is your organisation coping with the piracy of its

content? Piracy is something that has been there for a very long time and we are aggressively fighting it. Piracy has evolved overtime from the approach of simply connecting a cable to the highly sophisticated system used to distribute pirated signals. It is quite prevalent in the market. The distribution of pirated signals has also evolved overtime. Now, it has started on mobile devices. But as the pirate has evolved, so have we and we are aggressively attacking what the pirates bring to the market. I think the important thing to understand is that piracy is really bad. It is bad for the industry because if you have piracy in a particular market, it will completely destroy the broadcasting of content in the market. This is because producers will produce content, but will never be able to monitor the content because that content will easily find its way unto a

pirate network. And if all the content is for free, it will completely destroy the industry that we actually want to grow. It is fundamental for us to conquer piracy. Piracy is almost like a game. It flares up, we bring a counter-measure and it dies down. But again, it flares up and it dies down. What is important is the counter- measures we adopt. In Nigeria, movie producers have had cause to complain that they do not get what is due to them from the screening of their films. How are you handling this? I think the fact that you have seen how AfricaMagic has grown shows you how this has been addressed. We continue to get more and more content from producers. I think producers are very comfortable with working with us in terms of producing content and making it available on our platforms. We have many platforms and, as such, they have more opportunities to bring

content. What has your company done in terms of Corporate Social Responsibility? MultiChoice Nigeria is a strong supporter of the Sickle Cell Foundation - Nigeria. We have done many things in terms of giving back to the society. The biggest one is the Multichoice Resource Centre (MRC) project, which we have built in schools and have trained teachers to use them. We have built over 300 of such in 21 states. We also provide content, instructional materials, television sets and TV recorders to ensure that the children learn. Channels like Discovery Channel and History Channel are provided within a framework to enable the training of teachers as well as to get the children educated. We have also been part of the adopt a school program in Lagos State and we continually support several causes around the country.

PAGE 48 — SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013 08180774412

Re-enacting memories in My Kind of Music

BY PRISC A SAM DURU

STORIES BY JAPHET ALAKAM MUSIC

TRIBUTE

A scene from My kind of music that opened the Muson festival were mostly fond memories as a young woman in love and youthful exuberance. A typical example she gave was her husband’s favourite song to

he 2013 Muson festival kicked off on a high note last Thursday evening with its ‘ my kind of music’ event. It was an evening that featured outstanding personalities who shared their favorite music with the audience in a reminiscing m a n n e r . The event was well attended by music gurus and the elite whose presence made an impeccable statement on the reputation of the music society of Nigeria since its 30 years of existence. On the spotlight were Mrs Femi Akinkugbe, who chairs the artistes and programme committee of Muson, AMB. (DR.) Patrick Dele Cole, former Nigeria’s ambassador to Brazil, Ms Evelyn Oputu, Managing Director Bank of Industry, and Stefano De Leo, Consul general of Italy to Lagos. The acting chairman of Muson, Arch Kitoyi IbariAkinsan engaged the guests for almost two hours as they spinned back and forth of their most favourite songs in all genres, from classical to jazz, reggae and afro pop. Delightfully, they shared memories of what attracted them to the songs with the audience, evoking a melange of feelings from the audience. Mrs Akinkugbe’s choice of music

song by Hank Ballard. For Dr Cole, his plethora of music was a variety of sort and he explored themes from antiwar songs to sensational hit of

The event was attended by music lovers and elites of the society whose presence made an impeccable statement on the reputation of MUSON

her back then Barry White’s ‘love you just the way you are’. “and I hung on to every word he said on that song’ she told the audience dramatically which elicited laughter from the audience. Her list of favourite songs also included Sammie Davies Jnr and the popular twist

Psquare ‘chop my money’ which got the audience dancing to the beat. An unexpected spin from the ambassador. While choosing ‘Blowing in the wind’ as his anti-war song, he spoke about the ongoing crisis in the northern region, stating that the terrorist group can-

not say Islam is against education because it was the religion that taught us mathematics, algorithms and other core subjects in education. The only foreigner in the midst chose mostly Italian ballads accompanied by nostalgic love stories. Ms. Oputu’s songs were also reminiscent of her growing years as well especially her doting love for Louis Armstrong as a young adult. There were also side attractions from some of the students of the Muson music school who were indulged by Mrs Femi Akinkugbe for one or two songs. It was a wonderful evening and the guests were also presented with gifts as a honorarium from the organisers.

Tourism, entertainment industry to redefine Nigeria’s image by saying, ‘there is work to intelligently to make these ‘Why is everyone trouping CULTURE

he Chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji, has said that Nigeria can be an irresistible tourist destination if only the tourism industry in Nigeria can work closely with the nation’s effervescent entertainment industry to redefine the image of the nation. Speaking as a Guest Speaker at the Annual Dinner and Award Night of the Hotel Owners Forum Abuja held at Ladi Kwali Hall of Abuja Sheraton Hotel and Towers last weekend, Chief Okoroji said, ‘As a nation, we cannot but notice that hundreds of millions of people around the world love Nigerian music and Nigerian movies. There is probably another hundreds of millions that like Nigerian fashion and maybe cuisine. We must take this to heart and work

Tribut e tto o ribute McPhillips Nwachukwu

the elements that define our nation as we reduce the image of a people overwhelmed by rabid kidnapping, corruption and insurgent terrorism’ Insisting that Nigerians have the ability to change the image of the country, Chief Okoroji said, ‘I recognize the many challenges we have in Nigeria: NEPA, corruption, insecurity, poor leadership, tribalism, etc. There is no question that they are daunting but let me say that they are not enough excuse to sap our drive to leave a better tomorrow for our children. ‘The real difference between the countries less endowed than ours that have turned themselves into tourists’ paradise is that they properly package and market what they have. A lot of them have learnt how to use the instruments of showbiz and advertising to project what they have to the world. We can do that too.’

to Brazil for leisure? He asked. Brazil has great music, great entertainment, the samba and enchanting beaches and interesting rain forest. Nigeria also has great music, limitless dance styles, intriguing history, very colourful entertainment, very enchanting beaches, the savannah and the rain forests too. Very few of us may have known the little country called Jamaica if not for reggae music.” Okoroji who paid tribute to Chief S.A. Alabi, President, Hotel & Personal Services Employers’ Association of Nigeria (HOPESEA), Engineer Onofiok Ekong, President, Hotel Owners Forum Abuja (HOFA) and the immediate past Director-General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Otunba Segun Rusenwe, whom he said share his passion for making Nigeria a top tourist destination concluded

Like rushing sounds of brimstone, upon Sodom, the news of your demise assaulted me! Not in the least aware of the gravity, of ravenous ravaging cankerworms that buffeted your being like leftovers of anemic leaves devoured by an army of locust. Then I read “Singing My Own Dirge”. Then I wept! How that calamity seem lying wait for some. And ambushed your youthood. It beasts imaginations. that you ignored your status and stood for Art. What? But how that Nigerians’ve been pauperised! Though we worked initially especially, as cats n dogs. That drew hot tears from my already troubled eyes. But I soon learnt shakespeare tamed the shrew. And discovered you easily erase squabbles from your burdened heart. You made promises only when amused which you never will keep. And just when thought I succeeded, My dilapidated Nokia cried. And Japhet announced your passing. What more, rest on. Cos I prayed you’d be in God’s bossom. So to end your garment as doctor’s guinea pig. La ruo n’udo!

do and working together, we can make a difference.

Inspiro’s floating jazz hits 1004 By IYABO AINA MUSIC

N line with his vision of en tertaining people with jazz, Inspiro Productions treated the residents of the popular prestigious 1004 Estate located in Victoria Island Lagos with high class jazz last week. The event which was organised for the celebration of Ileya festival was tagged Play@1004. It featured Jazz, Hip-hop, Soul, Afrobeat, poetry, spoken word, comedy, dance and lots more. And as expected, the artistes gave a very good account of themselves as they treated the audience with scintillating jazz music that added colour to their celebrations. Apart from jazz, other artistes put up different performances that added flavour to the day ,they include Ego, Agboola Sadare,

Dapo Dina, Ebisan, Adepiper and the jungle bois, Lekkihood’s Finest, M-Gabriel, Obadice. DJs Lami and Ray Browne were also on hand to dish out contemporary and classic songs. According to Agboola Sadare, CEO of Inspiro Productions, “The whole idea behind the Play@1004 is to have jazz floating in the air, out in the park; something to cool the residents down a little. And nothing short of this was witnessed, with a sophisticated list of Jazz musicians, Hiphop , Afro beat, Poetry ,comedy and many more to perform to an excited and interactive audience.” Sharing his experiences, one of the performing artists, Adeh said, “The event has been fantastic; it’s a beautiful initiative . And to my understanding, it is the first time this is happening here in Lagos and Nigeria. So I’m grateful for being a part of this new and exciting initiative”.

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013, PAGE 49

SUNDAY REMINISCENCES were the two young men who came from Oxford. We had wonderful time, playing with dictionaries and education on modern English usage; learning all the essays and stuffs like that and so on. There was Bisi Onabanjo at Apongbon Street, Lai Mabinori; and I must not forget my friend, Bola Adewunmi, wonderful child. He was studying law and, at the same time, practising journalism. There was Njogwu Ani, He was also wonderful. We also had Herbert Unegbu (Unu Habib). He had a wonderful pen. Peter Osugo, PECOS, sports editor. Later on, Mr Jaja joined us as a reporter. There were Nuhu Bamali as we then called him, Willie Nwokedi, before Alex Nwokedi and Mike Ikenze joined us. There was Emmanuel Abaide. Later, Babatunde Jose came back as regional correspondent after going to Mecca. Of course, I cannot forget to mention Abiodun Aloba (Ebenenzer Williams),

Sonny Chu Okongwu

A Yoruba man gave me life-changing job to my mother’s disbelief —Chu Okongwu e had a w onder ful tteam eam at Daily Times ‘We wonder onderful Times’ * ‘W BY EMEKA MAMAH Sonny Chu Okongwu, an economist, was minister of national planning, 1985-1986; and minister of finance, 19861990; under the Babangida administration. At 79, he takes us through the journey of his life, from the colonial period when he was a journalist at Daily Times. HOW DO YOU FEEL AT 79? celebrated my 79th birthday on September 23. At 79 plus, one is in old age and contemplating retirement from consulting for those who wish to be consulted for and ruminating about Nigeria; the past, and the present, how the future should be for our children and our children’s children, and reading. HOW ABOUT YOUR HEALTH? Well, my health is as good as it can be at my age. I still manage to do three miles of walk every day; that is four days a week and, from head to toe, there are usual old age problems, but I think I am happy to be around. I have no plans of wasting my time on chonyi, chonyi, chonyi… every minute of my God’s given time on earth. I have been usefully engaged in

something productive. YOU WERE A JOURNALST. I DON’T KNOW IF YOU ARE STILL ONE. HOW WAS IT PRACTISING THEN AND WHO WERE YOUR CONTEMPORARIES? That is a wonderful reflection for me. Yes, I was a journalist but, before then, I was in broadcasting. I had my own programmes, Jaz Club, and then I moved into journalism. It will be unfair to omit any names and it will be impossible to mention all, so I must be forgiven if I omit some. But I can tell you about the external influence in journalism at that time. There was Godfrey Afolabi Lardner, for example. He was a deputy permanent secretary, and Mr Ugo, a deputy permanent secretary in the Nigerian Office, which later became the Ministry of Economic Development. It was wonderful chatting with him (Ugo) and even being educated by him off chat. Then there was Ingris Coker; wonderful pen. He left the West African Pilot to go to the Ministry of Information. He had the most beautiful pen; wonderful pen. A.Y.S Tinubu, another wonderful pen, he was editor of The Pilot then. Then, in the Daily Times

Peter Enahoro and I were selected and we started work same day. So, I started work as sub editor in Daily Times without reportorial experience like court reporting, etc. where I started as a sub editor. There was an experiment that P. Robertson, general manager, and Cecil King, wanted to try; to take people without reportorial experience to sub desk and groom them from there. Peter Enahoro and I were selected and we started work same day. So, I started work as sub editor in Daily Times without reportorial experience like court reporting, etc. We then had Ebun Adeseye; Gab Idigo; editor, Lema Name, news editor; Adora Ulasi was there as woman editor. Oliver Jack-man came down from Cambridge to join the team. He was in Sunday Times. We also had Cornell Aircraft, Gilbert Barker; they

who later became editor of Sunday Times. It was a wonderful team; a collegiate. It was there I learnt about team work, doing the work on the desk and in the case room. You don’t have case room these days. But in those days, we had manual type operators, case rooms, printers and the lead thing being melted on the slugs and then put on to cast, and then you went down to the case room or box room to copy it upstairs to proof. You could read backwards, proof read and correct. They were wonderfully skilled people. One night, the stone sub editor passed away and the post became vacant. The general stone sub then asked me to take the job. The salary

was 20 pounds a month. So, I took the job and went into the case room for the production of the paper. It was a wonderful experience. The stone sub gave final approval for the paper, that means there should be no mistakes, no spelling or grammatical errors, etc. Of course, I had mentioned to you that Mr Robertson was the general manager and Mr James (an expatriate), who later became our in-law after marrying Adaora Ulasi before Theresa Ogunbiyi came in as the woman editor, was the editor. It was really a wonderful learning period. So, my experience as a stone sub, learning the stone work and final production processes has remained incredibly useful till today. So, I consider myself still a journalist, with due respect. SO YOU WERE MORE OR LESS LIKE THE EDITOR OF THE PAPER? Yes, the Nicodemus (man behind the mask) editor because I didn’t have the experience and my decision was always upheld by Preston Robert. It was a wonderful experience. Rapid work, intelligent work and sound work; correct use of English Language, so it was enjoyable time. Of course, we were in touch with politicians, academicians, civil servants all the time. Do not forget that this was during the time of colonial rule; twilight of colonial rule and we had ex-Zikists who joined us like Marshal Kebby. HOW DID YOU SWITCH OVER AS ECONOMIST? That came step by step. With the contact I was making, ideological contacts, political contacts, recharging your intellect was there. It was clear that I wanted to improve my technical and academic background. So I opted for economics, economic history... I passed my six subjects, ALevel. We then heard that one Samuel Aluko had distinction in his bachelor ’s degree in economics. Waoh, how can we do that? We also heard about Pius Okigbo and P.K Nwokedi. Then one Chuks from AwkaEtiti had a book store and we became his customers and debtors, purchasing books for the B.Sc Part One; B.Sc Part 11 studying at home. So, we didn’t go abroad, you understand? In that process, I got government scholarship but I still didn’t go abroad. I mentioned Bola Adewunmi, he was in Daily Express in Apongbon Street. Bola also studied law. That was a wonderful time in Nigeria. Bola was a Yoruba chap and I was Igbo but we were wonderful friends. We would meet at Ambassador Hotel; dancing places in Sabo

Continues on page 50

PAGE 50 —SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013

SUNDAY REMINISCENCES ‘AYorubamangavemelife-changing job to my mother’s disbelief’ Continued from page 49 opposite the Zik’s Press by Commercial Avenue. I don’t know whether the place is still there. That was where we retired to after working as journalists to drink. Anyway, Bola asked me to meet him one day at 6pm and, by the time I went, he was there. Bola said, ‘What are you drinking?’... I had one pound in my pocket and one pound in those days could buy maximally eight bottles of beer. So, he bought me a tin of cigarettes; they used to come in 50s those days. I don’t think it is still like that these days and, when I protested, he said, ‘Don’t worry, this is from my imprest account’. I said, ‘What do you mean Bola? He said ‘ you yeye man. You came to my party’; we had one party at his house at Idi-Oro. He said he was going to England to complete his law degree. He said he came with one lovely young lady; I said yeah. He said ‘but you didn’t ask me about my going away and about my job?’ I said ‘ yeah, that is right but the job is for other people’. He said no and I said ‘e eh what do you mean?’ He said ‘ Sunny, you are going to get the job’. I said ‘ what do you mean’ and he said, ‘Sunny, you are the best journalist around, you need the money and I know you are still interested in studying’. I said ‘oti o!’ He said ‘yes, I have told the director that you are the one for the job. That is why I called you’. I couldn’t believe it because you know in those days, people looked at journalists as just public relations officers, PROs, to oil companies. And here I was being told to be the PRO for Mobil Oil. So, I said, ‘ what am I getting as salary?’, and he said he was getting 60 pounds a month and additional 10 pounds as car allowance making it 70 pounds but that I would get 50 pounds as salary a month and 10 pounds as car allowance bringing it to 60 pounds a month. I said ‘ what?’ He repeated what he said earlier. I said I was earning 20 pounds a month and now going to earn three times that figure and I didn’t apply for any job? I said ‘Bola, but why are you making a joke?’ but he said, ‘no!’ He said, ‘ you are coming on Monday and we see how it works. Come and see how the place is and we go and see Apapa Depot and we will go in an aircraft’. I said ‘ really?’ I didn’t know when I got home. So, I told my mother at home and she said, ‘did you apply or any job?’ and I said no. She then said, ‘how can you get a new job when you have not applied for any?’ I said it is true, my friend called me and offered me the job. She said ‘ your friend offered you the job?’ I said yes. She said ‘what is the name?’I said Bola Adewunmi and she said ‘no, it was not possible’. That a Yoruba man, it is not possible. I said ‘mama it is true’. When she realised I was serious, she became convinced. You know Bola said he had one thing to beg me for and that was that I should look for someone as good as I was to

take the job when leaving for further studies; which I did of course, Nwankwo, a beautiful fellow, good journalist at that time. This was a year later. Can you imagine what happened those days, someone who is from a different tribe offering you such opportunity? It can’t happen these days. You won’t get it. We had Bisi Onabanjo, well talented, Oliver Jack-man. We can go on and on. Students in those days studied and worked hard. If you study, when you are not working on the paper, then you play with the dictionary; look up words, give them to each other, share the words, the origin, ethnology, pronunciation, etc. Then as the words or phrases are used in modern English. We had to do thatwhich, shall, should-all those words. For me, my experience as a stone sub, not just in the layout which I perfected upstairs, but also in as the final authority on the paper has remained indelible in my mind. WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE ECONOMY? Well, things are very dire. Certainly, things have been down but it is still going down and down. Employment, infrastructure, transportation, education system, education infrastructure, health infrastructure are all in complete

Chu Okongwu...disarray in society magnified or distribution is rent, that is unearned income; as man-know – man or lay man’s term, corruption, but you are like in large income you have not worked for or you have not earned, then nobody or the majority of the workforce will really engage in productive endeavour. The education to earn more is not there. This is the type of

We have come to a stage where gangsters have been brought to the centre-stage of the political and social arena and mediocrity and all sorts of things are enthroned rather than excellence, hard work and productive endeavour disarray. In any case, the economy is not distinct. It is only conceptually distinct from society. The economy is everywhere in society. We have economy here …the society itself is in very bad shape to say the least. The society is extremely disorderly. It is hyper-praetorian disorderliness. That is, everything is entirely disorganized. There is no concept at all. You think you have economic progress, economic growth, investment, foreign or local, but you are not going to have because of this disorderliness. That makes it hard for the so-called economic managers because they cannot, they have to reclassify the society; re-arrange, the society has to be re-arranged to be peaceful, orderly and oriented towards production. Where society is peaceful, orderly and where the main means of recompense

situation that we are in now. The disarray in society has been magnified and so, in simple terms, we have come to a stage where gangsters have been brought to the centre-stage of the political and social arena and mediocrity and all sorts of things are enthroned rather than excellence, hard work and productive endeavour. Let me give you another example. There is no power (electricity) currently here. If you leave here and you go to Cross River State, you may find out that power outage has been calculated to 80 or 90 per cent all the time and that is for a good state or Lagos area it is 50 something to 60 per cent. If you are in iron smelting or metal production where you need continuous natural power, you cannot do that and the cost of power would be very high or prohibitive. So, it is not surprising that we do not produce anything essentially except maybe crude petroleum. We cannot even produce

refined one because we discriminate against ourselves and favour foreign goods. I am not talking of ban this or ban that. There are policies that you use to encourage domestic production. We have to look inwards to do things that are good for the economic or social body but we do the wrong things for our socio-economic value. If you have to travel from Port Harcourt to Enugu or Enugu to Lagos for two days because of diversions (due to the poor condition of the roads), you cannot really be a producer or compete in your own environment, talk less of global environment. So, in trying to re-arrange like this, you have to have a sound social frame, peaceful, just and people will feel that they are part of the society, they can produce and they are secure. There is security, orderliness and compensating mechanisms for those who want to engage in economic activities so that it pays them to so do. But if it pays them to engage in kidnapping, politicking or political entrepreneurs that is renting; that is good for you. And if it pays them to engage in education, so that they can enhance their income, they would do that. So, it is a very serious matter. We require sound policies to focus on production, fix ideas. Let us take this current issue of re-arranging the social framework of Nigeria; let us have a focus, so that we can be oriented towards that focus. If the focus is not towards productive endeavour, then we have not begun. NEXT WEEK, CHU OKONGWU SPEAKS ON THE BABANGIDA REGIME’S ECONOMIC POLICIES WHICH, ACCORDING TO HIM, WERE MISUNDERSTOOD; THE DECAY OF THE LAST 14 YEARS; AND HOW TO RE-ARRANGE THE SOCIAL FRAMEWORK OF NIGERIA.

SUND AY SUNDA

C M Y K

Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013, PAGE 51

PAGE 52 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 27, 2013

WAS a baby Chris tian, basking in newborn fellowship of the Holy Spirit. I woke up one morning only to discover I was singing a new song. I had never sung this song before, but it was clear I had been singing it while asleep and continued singing it now awake. How do you sing a song you never knew before? How do you come to know the words? That is kingdom dynamics. The anointing One of the friends of Job says God gives us songs in the night. But this was not about a bible character, this was about me. I decided to consult a Pentecostal hymnbook. I checked the index and found the song there: When the Spirit of the Lord is Upon My Soul. I opened the book to the page of the song and discovered that I had been singing the song wordfor-word. The song says: When the Spirit of the Lord is upon my soul, I will dance like David danced. The refrain is quite straightforward. It simply says: I will d-a-nc-e; I will d-a-n-c-e. I was perplexed. So God can teach a man a song he does not know word-for-word, and he just sings it supernaturally? I spent the entire morning singing the song, dancing all over the house. From the shower, to my dressingroom, to my breakfast: I sang and hummed and danced. I was a complete nuisance. My wife and Femi Kevin stared at me and looked at one another

GOD IS TALKING TO YOU (6) knowingly. It was a Sunday morning, so we were going to church. At the time, our preferred church was some 30 minutes from our house. So I continued singing in the car at the top of my voice. I left no one in doubt that the Spirit of the Lord was indeed upon my soul. Confirmation When we got to the church, something strange happened. Young Femi Kevin was the first to get out of the car and go into the church. What he saw was so amazing to him that he immediately rushed out to tell us. “Daddy, Daddy,” he shouted, his eyes getting bigger, and a smile of incredulity on his lips. “They are singing the same song.” We walked into the church to find it in something of a Holy Ghost uproar. People were jumping up and down. Some were clapping their hands with great fervor. Others were dancing aggressively. Everyone was singing the same song that the Lord had just taught me: When the Spirit of the Lord is upon my soul, I will dance like David danced. David says of the Lord: “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our

Have you discovered yet that there is another person living in your body? God.” That glorious Sunday morning, God put a new song in my mouth. The atonement Have you discovered yet that there is another person living in your body? Have you noticed that there is somebody seeing through your eyes and listening through your ears? Are you aware of the fact that even your thoughts are bugged? Have you ever overheard someone singing a praise song within you? Have you ever found yourself suddenly crying without understanding why? This consciousness comes when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. The Holy Spirit has been, without a doubt, the most dramatic and overwhelming part of my Christian life. He has completely radicalised my life. Today, I cannot imagine life without him. I cannot even recall what my life must have been like all those years without him. But the fellowship of the Holy Spirit

has been as devastating as it has been wonderful. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is as life-shattering as it is life-affirming. Put succinctly, in the process of giving me a new life, the Holy Spirit has completely destroyed my life. Jesus says: “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” (Luke 9:24). The fact that we have the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is one of those privileges that separate Christianity from every other faith. Therefore, I am amazed when I meet Christians who say they have never heard from God. God wants to communicate with us. If he didn’t, he would not have come down in human form as Jesus Christ. If he didn’t, he would not have given us the Holy Spirit. The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is a firm assurance that God loves us. It is through the Holy Spirit that the love of God is poured out into our hearts. Intimacy with God

The Holy Spirit also provides the believer with infallible proofs that God is not a figment of our imagination. Day-in dayout, he demonstrates that God is a living God. Your experience may be different from mine. Sometimes, the Lord even wraps himself completely around me. It started with him just holding on to my legs. Gradually, it developed to him enclosing me all over with some kind of warm blanket. On those occasions, he would say nothing at all. I would have to be completely still. If I moved, he would immediately withdraw. But before I wax lyrical about my intimacies with God, it is important to point out that the atonement is also a killer. It spells death. Death to self: death to personal agenda. The process can be exacting. The Holy Spirit is a different kind of companion. He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24). He never leaves you alone. He goes with you to the toilet. He reads all your mail and letters. He even eavesdrops on all your thoughts. There is no hiding place from him, and there is no escape from him. The Holy Spirit is like

a jealous wife who wants our total attention. You better not be caught looking at another woman. Very early in the relationship, I rebelled. I felt that it was becoming insufferable. I felt it was becoming too claustrophobic. He wanted all of me, but I wanted to retain some of me for myself. I wanted my life back. So I jumped down from the cross. The result was disastrous. I went into a deep inexplicable depression. I couldn’t put a finger on it. Nobody offended me. No calamity occurred. But a dark cloud descended on me and I knew that I had grieved the Holy Spirit. I had to seek the intercession of my wife to pray for my forgiveness. Don’t give up In the film, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Randle McMurphy had a native American friend called Chief who was deaf and dumb. Nevertheless, he spent a lot of time talking to him. Others told him he was wasting his time. “The man can’t hear you,” they said. McMurphy told them to mind their business and continued talking to Chief. One day, he gave Chief a chewinggum and he said: “Thank you.” Astonished, he gave him another one and Chief read aloud the label: “Juicy Fruit.” Suddenly McMurphy discovered that Chief was not deaf and dumb at all. Keep speaking to the Holy Spirit. You will be surprised one day when he suddenly answers you. To be Continued.

MFM faults demolition of its church by Enugu Govt

ORSHIPPERS at the Enugu circuit of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry (MFM), had a shock of

their life three weeks ago when their 5,000-seater auditorium, which serves as the regional headquarters of the church few metres from the Zik Avenue Bridge, Uwani, was demolished on the orders of the Enugu State Ministry of Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA). The state Commissioner for ECTDA, Engr. Iyke Ugwegede justified the action, saying the structure was illegal and without any valid approval as the church's application for approval were turned in March 2012. He further argued that the building was standing on waterways, institing that the structure was defective and would not be allowed to stand. He said the structure was demolish-ed because it was about 2,100 square metres plan erected on two plots of land, with a total area of approx-

imately 2,000 square metres. Responding, the chairman, Publicity Committee of MFM, Pastor Oladele BankOlemoh, described the demolition as “the height of democratic oppression that should be utterly condemned by all well meaning and discerning minds.” According to him, church demands an unreserved apology from the Enugu State Government for demolishing its South East Regional Headquarters One, Enugu, as it looks forward to a court’s decision on the government action, which it described as political oppression of the people’s right to worship. "What makes the demolition illegal is that, despite a sub-sisting high court order, the Enugu State Government, through its ECTDA, demolish-ed the magnificent structure, housing the 15-year old MFM regional headquarters," the church stated, adding "what surprised the MFM leadership most is the blatant dis-regard of the

*Gov. Chime state govern-ment to a court order that actions be held, pending its decision on the matter." He maintained that the structure was not in any way obstructing the flow of a river and it was not encroaching on government land as alleged by the commissioner. The church asserted that several other buildings on the same stretch of road where its regional headquarters was demolished are still standing, insisting: “This leaves much to be desired of the motive behind the exercise.” Moreover, MFM stated that with the relevant documents such as Certificate of Occupan-cy (CofO) and approvals by

*Pastor Olukoya the government in place, the state government has shown how callous it is, by demolishing the church illegally, he explained. In this vein, MFM wants adequate compensation from the government, denying insinuations of having been given some monetary compen-sation by the government. Addressing newsmen at the Lagos international headquart-ers, the regional pastor of MFM, Kennedy Udogaranye, displayed copies of all legal documents on the land and approvals of the building structure by the state government, alleging there was more to the exercise than meets the eye. Udogaranye said: “I

believe there was an ulterior motive for the action,” asserting that the church obtained approvals for the building in 1998, 2002 and 2010 for expansion after secur-ing a CofO on the land as far back as 1998." He wondered why Gov. Chime visited the church in August 2012 and ordered vacation of the structure within four days for allegedly obstructing water channels, despite legal documents to show that the building was not illegally built. The pastor said the governor’s order was why the church went to the Enugu High Court to obtain an injunction for stay of action in September 2012, to properly seek justice. When the court offered that the case should be settled out-of-court, the church approached the government and it agreed to provide ano-ther portion of land for the church. Unfortunately, according to Udogaranye, unfortunately, Ngwo and Amaechi communities have been in contention over the 20 plots of land provided by the govern-

ment for the church at Emeka Ebile Road in the state, adding that a portion of the land was already occupied by a branch of another church, which later agreed to vacate the land on Sept-ember 30. "Hence, the unexpect-ed demolition of the aforesaid structure by the government while the church was making efforts to move to the new site is seen as a callous act," he added. It was this note, Udogaranye said, “It is very clear they were unne-cessarily desperate to demolish our church. Why didn’t they give us ample time to relocate to the new site? We were given only three days to vacate before the govern-ment agents came with their caterpillars and worked on the church building from 8.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. They even, after the demolition, used

diggers to destroy the grounds, as if digging for only-God-knows what.”

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 27, 2013—53

John Egbokhan’s Dubai Diary

Train ride in Dubai G

OVERNOR Baba tunde Fashola is attempting to build a train rail in the Badagry to Mile 11 axis of Lagos. The federal government is also attempting to revive the moribund train network in the country. But all these attempts are still works in the pipeline and Nigerians are skeptical that they will come to reality before their administrations run out of their

time. In a densely populated city like Lagos, where traffic snarls can make someone to miss a job appointment or business deal, the importance of train cannot be overstated. Here in Dubai, they have gone a step ahead of the usual train plan that Nigeria is still planning to get. They use what they call underground metro, which is an unmanned

train that spins around the bustling city that does not sleep. The other day when we were trying to rush up to watch the Eaglets games against Iraq at the Rashid Stadium, we had to use the metro because taxis were hard to find. The return ticket cost 7 dirans per person. Once inside the metro, my friend from Sporting Life, Tunde, who resides in Owerri, was awestruck with the wonder of the ride, that he shouted aloud if we had

reached our stop. You would not blame him because it was his first time riding in a train, no metro and when he asked an Indian, where the driver of the train was, he was told it was unmanned, making him to stay speechless, wondering why his dear country was yet to take a cue from Dubai.

Cold in the desert

E are in the desert. The United Arab Emirates is in the Arabian desert, which is naturally hot all day. But surprisingly, only the outside is hot. Once you are in-

side a mall, hotel or anywhere that has a roof, you would not know that you are in the desert. It is so cold in the rooms or cabs. A lot of noise is being made about Qatar, a neighboring country to UAE over the suitability of the weather conditions to host the 2022 World Cup. Our Group Sports Editor and my oga at the top, Onochie Anibeze, who has traveled to different parts of the world, insists that those raising hell over Qatar’s weather are not being sincere but merely playing the hate game after losing the hosting bid and after making a stopover in Doha, since I took Qatar Airways here, I can’t help but agree totally with the coach. At the airport in Doha, I was amazed with what I saw. In short, we are yet to start. Due to what I read online, I was expecting to be greeted with an inclement hot weather in Doha, but when I got there, everywhere was cold. Even though we are in the desert, these people have perfected their acts to ensure that the air -conditioning system,

which is not visible, was working perfectly, sending cold into the system. Qatar say they will make the stadium to be cool for footballers and fans and I bet you they will fulfill their pledge And in Dubai, the same is the situation. From the taxis to the malls to the hotels to anywhere with a roof, cold is the game. The other day in our Al Massa Hotel abode, we were so taken aback with the cold conditions in the corridor that we all had to run for our dear lives into our rooms. Once in, we were further confronted with freezing cold conditions, which ordinarily in Nigeria, should be celebrated because of our hot weather but Aniette of the Pilot, was so shaken that he quickly put off the airconditioning switch. I did not blame him because at that time, I had taken refuge under the blanket and when Aniette later told me to follow him downstairs, I bluntly refused, telling him that the cold in the corridors was ten times much that the one in the room. He had to stay back.

Eguaveon commends Eaglets coaches

X-INTERNATIONAL, Austin Eguavoen, on Saturday expressed contentment at the progress made by the Golden Eaglets at the ongoing 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Eguavoen, a member of the 1994 Nations Cup winning squad, told NAN in Lagos that the team’s handlers had also done a commendable job. Nigeria had qualified after topping Group F with seven points from three matches, following 6-1 and 5-0 wins over Mexico and Iraq, respectively, and a 3-3 draw with Sweden. The Golden Eaglets will on Oct. 29 face Iran in one of the second round matches of the competition. The match will hold at Al Ain City at 4 p.m., Nigerian time. According to Equavoen, the Eaglets’ spectacular

performance in the first round showed that they prepared adequately for the tournament. “Manu Garba, Nduka Ugbade and Emmanuel Amunike have been fantastic. They have done a good job, I’m impressed. These boys have wowed us. “Their matches are entertaining, they are former champions and they could not have performed below expectation. “The tournament is meant for football development, which is what we should be particular about. “But I must say that this tournament has brought out the best in these boys,” Eguavoen said. Eguavoen, a former Super Eagles coach, added that his expectation was to see members of the country ’s U-17 team progress into the Super Eagles.

FIFA anti-racism team meets Toure

HE head of FIFA’s anti-racism task force will meet Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure on Sunday to discuss the abuse he faced in Moscow this week. FIFA vice president Jeffrey Webb has asked to meet the Ivory Coast midfielder when he attends City’s match at Chelsea. CSKA Moscow is facing

disciplinary action after UEFA accused its fans of chanting racial abuse at Toure, who is black, during a Champions League match on Wednesday. Webb said: “I have asked to meet Yaya Toure. For me it’s about how he felt and I would like to speak to him first to find out what his experience was.”

PAGE 54— SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013

Commonwealth Games: Lagos revokes promise to house athletes

Borno gears up for Youth Games despite security fears

BY BEN EFE

AGOS State sports officials have reneged on a promise to help the Athletics Federation of Nigeria accommodate its athletes for the conditioning camp ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. The camping exercise is expected to start today in Abuja with 74 athletes and 24 coaches. The AFN had planned to have two camps; one in Lagos and the other in the Federal Capital Territory, but that of Lagos it was gathered will not hold as the AFN has been asked to cough out N2m for its athletes to be kept at the Teslim Balogun Stadium Hostels. AFN president Solomon Ogba had met with Lagos State sports council officials at the Rowe Park in Yaba Lagos, where they got assurances that Lagos will help with accommodate, but on long run the AFN was told to pay for the services. Top athletes like OgheneEgwero and Obinna Metu are among 74 athletes that will undergo what was described as “Physiological and biomechanic assessment” by the technical director of the AFN Omatseye Nesiama. A release signed Navy Commodore Nesiama directed the athletes and coaches to report at the NSCDC training academy along Umar Musa Yar ‘Adua Road (Airport Road) Abuja today. Names of athletes invited to camp are as follows (Women) Abike Egbeniyi, Abiye David Joy, Abugan Folasade , Ada Benjamin, Adekoya Oluwakemi, Amadi Chinazom, Asedo Queensly, Bridget Ekongolo,, Brume Ese , Daramola Feyisayo, Deborah Adewale, Efe Favour, Goodness Thomas, Ibrahim Blessing Ibukun, Josephine Ehigie, Miriam Bassey. Nwaogu Ann, Odeyemi Deborah, Omotosho Omolara, Ossai Rita Vivian, Patience Okon, Queen Henshew, Queen Obisesan, Rebecca Temidayo Osinbajo, Sanni Ruth Awute, Sarah Malagu, Sule Justina, Uko Peace, Uwakwe Nkiruka, Chime Nkechi, Aniefuna Judith Anulika, Folake Balogun, Philimena Ihekandu, Magaret Boluwafi. For men, Adams Samuel, Adeyemi Kazeem, Agboola Daniel, Agu Justine C.Akerele Omeiza, Akinniyi Nicholas, Anthony Egode.

PUSHING ON... Obinna Metu struggles with Asafa Powell of Jamaica and Churandy Martina of Netherlands in the Men’s 100m Round 1 Heats of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium. Can the AFN knock Metu back to shape for the Commonwealth Games?

SPDC Rivers Gov’s Cup enters quarter final stage T

HE Rivers State Governor’s Cup sponsored by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria is in full flight in the Rivers state capital, Port Harcourt. The 2013 edition, the 4th in the series, characteristically has been showcasing football artistry from the talented youngsters from the 23-local government areas of the state. Cup holders, Okrika have booked their passage in the last eight where they are expected to test their might against Degema on Monday, October 28 at the Mainbowl of the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt. Last year ’s beaten quarter finalists, Oyigbo also made it to the last eight and they will face Bonny at the Liberation Stadium training pitch. Equally through to the quarterfinals stage is another last year ’s losing quarterfinalists, Opobo/Nkoro who square up against Eleme while beaten finalists, Ahoada West will try Khana for size in the race for a place in the semifinals. The semifinals clashes will hold on Wednesday, October 30 while the grand finale comes up on Friday, November 01 at the lush pitch of the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt. The winners of this year ’s game will pocket the sum of N1million while the first and second runners-up will go home with the sum of N500, 000 and N350, 000 respectively. The 2012 SPDC/ Rivers State Governor ’s Cup top scorer, Christian Pyagbara from the winning side, Okrika was eventually invited to the Flying Eagles camp based on his flawless performances.

Champions League moments...Former Super Eagles striker, Victor Ikpeba, the Heineken brand manager, Mrs. Kehinde Kadiri, sharing the UEFA Champions League excitement with one of the sign-in ball for one of the Heineken consumers on match day three at the Dreams Recreational Active park in Abuja The sponsor, SPDC through game will not only live up to its General Manager Sustain- its theme: “Niger Delta: Our able Development and Com- Enviro-nment, Our Future”, munity Relations, Nedo but goes further to consolidate Osayande said this year ’s the gains of the past.

OHAMMED Bashir, the Director, Borno State Sports Council, on Friday said that the state would top the medals table at National Youth Games (NYG) scheduled for December 5 -15 in Abuja. Bashir said the technical officials were working roundthe-clock to put the athletes in good shape for the competition. “I am very optimistic that our team will top the medals table at the Games. This is owing to the fact that we are working hard to achieve our dream.” He said that efforts had been put in place to make the preparation ahead of the Games a success, in spite of the security challenges in some parts of the state. “The camping of athletes is being held in a central area, accessible to the athletes, because of the security challenges in some parts of the state. “Another problem we are having is the road leading to Maiduguri, but the security agents have taken care of that now,” he said. The director said that the final selection of athletes to represent the state at the Games would be based on merit. “We are going to be very strict with our selection process, no sentiments. We have to protect the integrity of our state.” According to him, the Games would be used to identify athletes that would represent the state at the 2014 National Sports Festival (NSF) in Calabar. “The Games is coming handy; I see it also as a build up to the NSF. Athletes that stand out will have the opportunity to represent the state at the Festival, next year,” Bashir said. He applauded Gov. Kashim Shettima for his immense support toward their preparation for the Games. Bashir said that the final selection of athletes for the Games would hold after the conclusion of the ongoing Governor ’s Cup at the zones.

NSC DG salutes Golden Eaglets N

ATIONAL Sports Commis sion (NSC) director-general, Gbenga Elegebelye has showered praises on the Golden Eaglets for their exploits so far at the ongoing FIFA U- 17 World Cup decided at the Rashid Stadium, Dubai. The DG of the NSC who has never hidden his love and trust in the abilities of the Eaglets and their coaches was happy that the team bounced back from the initial scare in the competition when they came back from two goals down to end the second match of Group F in 3-3 score draw against Sweden in Al Ain, UAE on Tuesday, to hammer Iraq 5-0 in their last group game.

“The Golden Eaglets have been wonderful from the African qualifiers up till this World Cup in United Arab Emirates and I am very proud of the team. They had initial scare in Tuesday’s second group (F) match but I still had confidence in them despite the 3-3 score draw. “The Coaches of the team led by Manu Garba has also proved their worth by lifting the morale and psychology of this team which reflected in the way they torn Iraq to shreds most especially in the first half of the game. It also show that the team has strong character by bouncing back from the initial scare against Sweden in just three days. “The leadership of the National

Sports Commission is happy with the team and their coaches and we are encouraging them to go all the way to win this Trophy for Nigeria a record fourth time. I am also using this medium to commend the Nigeria Football Federation for preparing this team well through their pre-tournament camping in Calabar and later in Dubai. “The National Sports Commission is also full of thanks to His Excellency Liyel Imoke for sponsoring the camping of the team prior to the African Championship until their departure for the World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. The team will be adequately appreciated if they eventually win this competition”, Elegbeleye assured.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 27, 2013—55

FIFA U-17 World Cup: Go for it, Mark urges Eaglets N

IGERIA Senate President, David Mark, has told the Eaglets to win the FIFA Under17 World Cup in the UAE as it will a wonderful to use the victory to mark Nigeria’s Centenary celebration. In 2014 Nigeria will mark its 100 years of existence as a nation. The British colonialists welded the Northern and Southern Protectorates in 1914 to become Nigeria. Mark, while reacting to Nigeria’s 5-0 spanking of Iraq on Friday, said it would be a double honour for the country if the centenary celebration would be crowned with the World Cup title. The Senate President then urged the team not to lose focus, especially now that the competition had reached the knockout stage. He however urged all Nigerians to continue to support the team. “Now that our national under-17 male team is doing well in the UAE, it is proper that we also at every opportunity continue to encourage them because they belong to the group we want to encourage.” Mark also praised the Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, saying the players’ performance was to his good name. “As such, it will be nice if they bring back the cup for the fourth time. “The way I have seen them play, there is no doubt in my mind that they will bring back the trophy. But, we must not take other teams for granted,” he however warned. Also reacting, Joe Erico, a former goalkeeper of the then Green Eagles, said he was at ease with the result of the game

as it was a good performance from the team. “It’s good for us. I was scared initially, but I’m happy at the outcome. It has put us into the knockout stage and I hope they will go all the way,” he said. Austin Eguavoen, a former Super Eagles head coach, said the game was an exciting match. “I was not surprised

with the outcome. However, the players should not relax. “I predicted 5-0 but I did not know they will score four goals in the first half. “It’s a quite decent team that Manu Garba has put together, I must say. But I’ve always been positive about the team and I wish them good luck in subsequent matches,” he said.

Clash... John Obi Mikel and Samir Nasri in a midfield tussle during a match. Mikel is expected to play against Man City today.

RSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that some of his star players left the club in recent years because ‘they did not believe they could win the Premier League’ under his command, hinting Robin van Persie grew ‘impatient’ at The Emirates. The Frenchman has responded to suggestions from former midfielder Cesc Fabregas that a lack of belief was one of the reasons for the Gunners’ trophy drought in recent years. Fabregas believed that Arsenal fell short in their trophy pursuits during his time at the club due to a lack of self-confidence in Wenger’s dressing room, while the Barcelona star also hinted that he would relish the chance to start his coaching career at Arsenal. Wenger welcomed both of those sentiments, as he accepted the likes of Van Persie left the club as they feared Arsenal were not equipped to compete for the major honours in the game. “Some players [who left], sometimes were impatient,” conceded Wenger. “When they reach near 30, if they feel they cannot win the Premier League, they go somewhere where they feel they can win it. “If we added all the players who have left, I would have a selection problem, but I still have one because I have plenty of good players now. “Cesc was a different situation because he left Barcelona when he was 16, he is a Barcelona boy and Barcelona had the best team in the world. It was a little a little bit different.

Champions League: Doumbia disowns comments on Toure racism claims

Successful Run... Eaglets striker Isaac Success can he and his teammates be successful in UAE and make David Mark Happy?

Mourinho not taking City clash seriously C

HELSEA manager Jose Mourinho feels Sunday’s clash against Manchester City is not “crucial” given the

Why stars leave Arsenal — Wenger

unpredictability of the Premier League this season. The game at Stamford Bridge pits secondplaced Chelsea against fourthplaced City, and the Blues could even climb to the top of the league with a win if Arsenal slip up against Crystal Palace. However, while Mourinho is desperate to secure a positive result, he concedes that it will not be the end of the world for either team should they succumb to defeat. “We want to win,” Mourinho said. “A win is good. Losing is not good. At this moment, with the way the Premier League is going week after week, I think no result will put a team in a great situation. No result will put a team in a difficult situation. “Every weekend, somebody loses points. Some weekend, more than one of the top teams loses points. The league is hard. At this stage, mid-October, I don’t think one game is going to be crucial. “We have tests every week, every week. It’s a big team, yes. A very good team. But every

match is a test and three points. It doesn’t make a difference.” Mourinho, who confirmed Ashley Cole will return from injury on Sunday, stated that City are capable of winning the title under Manuel Pellegrini. “Yes, I think so,” he said. “And he has the most important thing which is an unbelievable squad of players.” Mourinho also believes Manchester United are still in the hunt, despite lying eight points off leaders Arsenal. “Very much. Very much,” he said. “They had lots of difficult matches, and other teams didn’t. They played already against Chelsea, against Liverpool, against City. “There will come a time and a period of fixtures where they will win consecutive matches and other teams will lose points, and they will close the gap and put themselves in a position to fight for the title.” Vincent Kompany has been ruled out of Manchester City’s Premier League clash at Chelsea on Sunday.

SKA Moscow striker, Seydou Doumbia has denied comments attributed to him by his own club regarding the racist abuse suffered by Manchester City’s Yaya Toure. UEFA has announced an investigation into the behaviour of CSKA fans in Wednesday night’s Champions League tie after a furious Toure informed match officials he was being subjected to monkey chants from the stands. In a fresh development, UEFA is also investigating why referee Ovidiu Hategan did not follow anti-racism protocol and ask for an appeal to be made over the stadium’s loud speaker. In an attempt to defuse the growing controversy, on Thursday morning CSKA released a statement claiming the club had failed to detect any racist abuse when studying video of the match. The club’s official website also carried a quote from Toure’s international team-mate, Doumbia, which read: “I’ve heard nothing of this from our fans. Yes, they are noisy and try to put maximum pressure on the opponent, but they make no racist chants. So my fellow Ivory Coast international has obviously overreacted a little bit.” Doumbia has now taken to his official Facebook page to deny ever making the comments which appeared on CSKA’s website. “Dear Friends and Fans,” he wrote. “Following our 1-2 defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday, I want to clarify my position after my Ivory Coast team mate and friend Yaya Toure accused CSKA fans of racism. “I want to insist that I did not talk to any journalist about these facts so none of the quotes you read in the press came from me. Thanks to all for your continued and faithful support.”

It was hard letting Ozil go, Real coach reveals

EAL Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has admitted it was difficult decision to sell Mesut Ozil at the end of the summer transfer window. Ozil left for Arsenal in a deal worth around £42 million, to the dissatisfaction of some of the Real supporters as he was considered a key member of the squad. But, with Gareth Bale arriving, Angel Di Maria’s hard work had been more necessary for the team than Ozil’s quality, according to Ancelotti. “Yes, that was a football decision,” Ancelotti said. “For the balance of the team I preferred to have Di Maria. He has less quality than Ozil but I wanted him for his character and his help for the team. With Bale’s arrival I believe it is more important to have Di Maria than Ozil, looking at the balance of the team.” Ancelotti also said it is up to Iker Casillas to decide if he wants to stay at Real, but the current policy of ‘rotating’ his goalkeepers is not going to change. Club captain Casillas is currently only seeing action in Madrid’s Champions League games, with Diego Lopez preferred in La Liga - and expected to start Saturday’s Clasic at Barcelona’s Camp Nou. Casillas has hinted he might leave the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in January should he spend much more time on the bench, as he is concerned about his Spain place ahead of next summer’s finals in Brazil.

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 27, 2013

Garba searches for Success’ replacement OACH Manu Gar- nament. They will also The team Doctor conC ba and his team will train on Monday at the firmed to the NFF that Sucreturn to training today at same stadium. cess will have no part to

FIFA Under-17 World Cup:

the Al Ain stadium in readiness for Tuesday’s round of 16match with Iran at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. The training will give the coach the opportunity to know the options to use in the absence of striker Success Isaac, who has been ruled out of the tour-

After their 5-0 demolition job of Iraq at the Rashid Stadium in Dubai on Friday, the Nigerians are in buoyant mood to continue their winning tradition against another Arabian side and coach Manu Garba will fancy his side’s chances of beating the Iranians.

play in the tournament after tearing his hamstring in Tuesday’s 3-3 draw against Sweden. “He is out and that is not good for us but this team have quality players and I believe that the other players like Awoniyi, who came in for him, would live up to expectations”, said NFF technical department official Emmanuel Ikpeme. He tipped the Eaglets to reach the final of the tournament.

Iran no match for Eaglets, NFF officials boast

RESULTS

•Coach promises Nigerians more goals N

IGERIA Football Federation (NFF) officials have tipped the Golden Eaglets for victory in Tuesday’s round of 16 match against Iran at the Kalifa Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain City. NFF assistant secretary in charge technical department, Emmanuel Ikpeme told reporters here that the Iranians were not strong enough to contend with the superior play of the Nigerians, who he said were getting better with each game. “I see our boys getting to the final. Iran cannot withstand our boys. We are as good as already in the quarterfinal and I am sure that our boys will give a very good account of themselves on Tuesday”, said Ikpeme. Coach Manu Garba said that Nigerians can expect more goals and improved performance from the Golden Eaglets. The team, finished the group stage with a 5-0 spanking of Iraq at the Rashin Stadium in Dubai, to win Group F with seven points. They scored an amazing 14

goals while conceding four. With such impressive record, the Eaglets are already one of the favourites for the title. “We are very happy to be here so far. We thank Allah for this and think that we are on course to doing better.” We will play better in our subsequent matches. As the competition progresses the team would always get better”, added Garba. He also admitted that the players made some mistakes in the second half in the game against Iraq because of the high intensity with which they started the match with. “We made some mistakes even though we scored four goals in the first half. But it was so because the boys played the first 20 minutes with a lot of intensity. But we would address these issues before our next game”, Garba said. All four African teams qualified for the Round of 16. Africa’s other representatives are African champions Cote d’Ivoire, Tunisia and Morocco.

Crystal Palace Aston Villa Liverpool Man. Utd Barcelona Bayern Munich Schalke 04

0 0 4 3 2 3 1

Arsenal Everton West Brom Stoke City Real Madrid Hertha Berlin B’ Dortmund

2 2 1 2 1 2 3

CRACKING.... Eaglets striker Chidiebere Nwakali outwits Iraq’s Mustafa Mohammed (R) during their FIFA U-17 World Cup in UAE 2013 Nigeria won 5-0. Photo AFP

CROSS WORD PUZZLE

TODAY’S MATCHES ENGLAND Sunderland Chelsea Swansea Tottenham ITALY Napoli Bologna Juventus Parma Udinese

v v v v

Newcastle Man City West Ham Hull

1.30pm 4.00pm 4.00pm 4.00pm

v v v v v

Torino Livorno Genoa AC Milan AS Roma

12.30 pm 3.00pm 3.00pm 3.00pm 3.00pm

ACROSS 1. House of Reps Speaker (8) 5. Assistant (4) 7. Praise (5) 8. Upright (4) 9. Lantern (4) 11. Tradition (6) 13. Lagos masquerade (3) 15. Exclamation (2) 16. Pig’s nose (5) 18. Agent (3) 20. Glitters (6) 24. Forward (5) 25. Nigerian state (6) 27. Boring tool (3) 29. Ghanaian fabric (5) 31. Perform (2) 32. Oshiomhole’s state (3) 34. U.S. currency (6) 36. Vow (4) 38. Musical quality (4) 39. Inclination (5) 40. Eager (4) 41. Damages (8)

DOWN 1. Sample (5) 2. Niger state town (4) 3. Observe (5) 4. Lecture (6) 5. Everyone (3) 6. Use (6) 10. Inquires (4) 12. Carpet (3) 14. Colour (6) 15. Resistance unit (3) 17. Coax (4) 19. Rollicked (6) 21. Hatchet (3) 22. Satisfied (4) 23. Nigerian state (3) 26. Cry of derision (3) 27 . African country (6) 28. Endure (4) 29. Child (3) 30. Spoke (6) 31. Adorn (5) 33. Baking chambers (5) 35. Asterisk (4) 37. Possessed (3)

7 8

9 11

15 16

24 25 27

30 31

34 36

32 35

39 40

SOLUTION on page 55

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