Sun News - September 14, 2012 by The Sun News

Obi weeps as flood devastates Anambra FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012 VOL. 7 NO. 2456

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Don’t toy with Jonathan’s Minister’s convoy journalist patience, minister warns •Nkills o, it is our shuttle bus –NNPC Cruel fate

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...Seeks FG’s intervention

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Man loses 4 kids to midnight fire Page 5

L-R: Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, chairman at the occasion, Chief Segun Osoba, Senate President David Mark and Gov. Godswill Akpabio of AkwaIbom, at the opening of the All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) in Uyo, yesterday. More pictures on Page 44

Robbers raid Nkem Owoh’s Enugu home

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Obi weeps as flood devastates Anambra N150

•7 killed in Bauchi as Kaduna govt issues alert FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012 VOL. 7 NO. 2456

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Minister’s convoy kills journalist

Benin horse baby:

We have strange birth •No, it is our shuttle bus –NNPC on tape – Church Cruel fate Page 6

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Man loses 4 kids to midnight fire Page 5

L-R: Omamofe Boyo, Deputy Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc, Wale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive and Amb. Charles Onianwa, Nigeria’s Deputy High Commissioner to Canada, with Oando’s Certificate of Listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange, Canada, Wednesday.

N18.38bn loan

Aregbesola, Oyinlola disagree at probe panel •My actions were in the interest of Osun –Ex-gov ’

• Obtaining the loan was in bad faith’

Don’t toy with Jonathan’s patience, minister warns

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N18,38bn loan

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•My actions were in the interest of Osun –Ex-gov FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012 VOL. 7 NO. 2456

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Aregbesola, Oyinlola disagree at probe panel •’Obtaining the loan was in bad faith’

Minister’s convoy kills journalist

Benin horse baby:

We have strange birth •No, it is our shuttle bus –NNPC on tape – Church Cruel fate Page 6

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Man loses 4 kids to midnight fire Page 5

Don’t toy with Jonathan’s patience, minister warns

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Ekiti State Gov Kayode Fayemi addressing demonstrators in support of his administration’s policies, in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday.

DAILY SUN Friday, September 14, 2012

Friday, September 14, 2012, DAILY SUN

SUNG GIRL

Minister’s warning Don’t toy with Jonathan’s patience From JOE EFFIONG, Uyo

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Name: Blessing A Phone: 08131993662

he Minister for Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, has advised Nigerians not to take President Goodluck Jonathan’s patience for weakness. Maku stated this in his goodwill message yesterday at the opening of the eighth Nigerian Guild of Editors conference, holding in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. He said it was erroneous to assume that because the president has displayed the capacity to tolerate many things, including criticisms and media attacks, then he was weak and incapable of taking decisions. The minister said the president’s patience stemmed from his respect for the media and the fact that Nigeria is a very complex country. While paying tributes to the past heroes of journalism, who fought hard to first achieve independence and later democracy for the country, Maku appealed to the editors to try and define national interest, which should not be guided by the business side of journalism. “If there is any sector that has stood firm to fight for this nation, it is the media, from independence till now; the media in Nigeria have continued in the forefront of working for Nigeria and nobody has been able to cow it.’’ On the theme of the conference; “Editors and National Security”, Maku said in the last 100 years, nothing has destroyed the economy of the North like Boko Haram. However, he appealed to the editors not to report the issues of terrorism like a football match or theatre; rather editors should continue to remain as nationalists and be confident that the current security challenges, facing the nation would be overcome. Declaring the conference open, Senate President, David Mark, challenged the editors, as gatekeepers, who decide what goes to the public, to strike a balance between national security and their commercial interest. He lamented the lack of standard list of national security to which the editors could readily make reference in deciding what to publish and what to leave out. He said the Freedom of Information Act should, however, give the press an opportunity to verify their information and define what constitutes national security. The Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, who represented the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, charged the editors to make recommendations to the National Assembly on how to improve on security, adding that nation-building, as a difficult exercise, required the contributions of everyone. Ihedioha said since the National Assembly would not impose its views on Nigerians, concerning the amendment of the 1999 constitution, editors should use the conference to contribute their ideas so that when the affected committee in the House begins consultations and a study of more than130 memoranda so far received, the media would have a role to play. Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, told the editors that they were meeting at the most critical time in Nigeria’s history where democracy they fought for was on trial but to which their meeting could help to restore hope. “You constitute the conscience of the nation,” he said. The governor advised the editors to be circumspect in their editorial judgment so that they would not edit and kill the democracy they all fought for. “You will not be doing honour to your heroes if you edit and kill the democracy they fought for,” he advised. While appealing to the editors to begin to clothe the nation in beautiful robes so that others would see virtues in the nation, Akpabio also asked Nigerians to stop living for themselves, their ethnic groups, their families and their religions alone but to extend their love to the entire nation. The governor also called for the establishment of cyber crime department in the Nigeria Police Force where the best of police personnel are equipped. He also charged the editors: “Please, use your media to expose activities of cyber criminals and Internet scammers.” The NGE President, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, had in his welcome address, said Nigeria had, in recent times, been in the limelight for wrong reasons, which are insecurity, kidnapping, bombing and other violent crimes. He lamented that insurgents had wrongly attacked some media houses, claiming that their reports were against them but warned that such attack was ill-advised because they (the insurgents) would one day need the media to tell their stories.

DAILY SUN Friday, September 14, 2012

Friday, September 14, 2012

DAILY SUN

L-R: Attorney-General of the Federation/Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Okechukwu Wali (SAN) and former NBA president, Thompson Okpoko at the valedictory court session in honour of Justice Francis Tabai in Abuja, Thursday.

L-R: Former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ram Moshe, discussing during the visit of the former to the embassy in Abuja, Thursday. Photo: BAYO OBISESAN

L-R: Messers Harve Chomel, Vice President, Africa MoneyGram and Kingsley Aigbokhaevbo, Executive Director, Domestic Bank, Ecobank Nigeria at the partnership agreement signing ceremony in Lagos, Thursday.

COVER Obi weeps as flood devastates Anambra •Seeks FG’s intervention

From EMMANUEL UZOR, Onitsha

n emotional Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State could not control his tears yesterday when he visited communities that were ravaged by flood. He was overwhelmed by the enormity of the devastation whose cost runs into billions of Naira. Officials of Federal and State Emergency Management Agencies accompanied him. The communities are Ossomala, Ochuche, Umuodu, Akili-Ogidi, Akili-Ozizor and Atani in Ogbaru Local Governemnt Area and Oroma Etiti, Ezi-Anam, (Umuikwu and Umudora), Umuenwelum, Umueze-Anam, UmuobaAnam, Nmiata, Innoma, Ukwalla, Owelle, Igbedor, Odekpe, Odemagu, Nzam and Igbokenyi in Anambra West. At both council areas, Governor Obi consoled the affected communities and assured them that the state would stand by them at a period he described as “hopeless for them”. After visiting the areas, the governor, in a broadcast to the state, expressed shock at the devastation. His words: “The level of devastation suffered by these communities is much more than what we were even told. Numerous farms were destroyed and washed ashore, while houses were submerged in the flood. Closer to the banks of the River Niger on Ogbaru area, the over-flowing river has also caused a dangerous coastal erosion that has made the relocation of those living within the affected axis a necessity.” Though he said that the state government had taken immediate measures, Gov. Obi pleaded with the Federal Government to intervene by declaring the affected local governments flood disaster areas. He also urged the Presidency to embark on measures to manage the situation to save lives and property of the communities from further devastation. In another broadcast, he expressed shock at the claims by some groups and states to the oil field discovered in Anambra. He wondered

…Insists Orient oil field belongs to Anambra why the claims started after the successful commissioning of Orient Petroleum facilities by President, Goodluck Jonathan when he visited Anambra on August 30 this year. Tracing the formation of Orient to Anambra, he said: “It is pertinent to recall that Orient Petroleum Resources Plc was formed during the Government of Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju in 2001 and allocated oil fields domiciled in Anambra State. The board is peopled by prominent Nigerians of Anambra extraction such as Chief Emeka Anyaoku (Chairman), Dr. Alex Ekwueme (Vice-Chairman) and Chief Arthur Mbanefo, among others. Its management is led by Emeka Nwawka.” According to him, “though Dr. Mbadinuju did not make any direct monetary contribution, under Dr. Chris Ngige (2003-2006), the Anambra State Government invested N100 million in the project. “Under our government (between 20062009), Anambra State, with the vision and belief

in the positive impact of the project on the economy of the state and country, invested, directly and indirectly, four billion, four hundred million naira (N4.4 billion), which bolstered the confidence of other investors to invest in the venture that made its commissioning a reality. “Whilst my predecessors never visited the site, I personally laid the foundation of the refinery. I have also visited the site severally since 2006, without any group or state interfering in its ownership as is now the case following the announcement of drilling of oil there. “It is also pertinent to note that till date, neither the groups nor the states laying claim to the oil field have, directly or indirectly, invested a kobo in the project, while Anambra State and her people have invested several billions. “Let me at this juncture state that Anambra State believes in good neighbourliness and will, in conformity with our nature, always admire and celebrate other states which may become producers of oil or any other mineral resource in

•Gov Obi the future. However, we believe that people’s hardwork, sacrifices and investment should be allowed to match their opportunities. “Anambra State will remain a good neighbour and will continue to pray for oil to be discovered in other states, so that Nigeria will emerge an economic giant in the Comity of Nations,” Obi said.

Cruel fate: Family loses 4 children to midnight fire From VAL OKARA, Owerri

ragedy struck the family of Aggery at Obokohia, Ohaji/Egbami Local Government Area of Imo State yesterday when it lost four children to a midnight fire. The four children, aged between 6 and 12, were burnt to death while asleep. The victims, Mercy, Ify, Chioma and Onyinyechi, reportedly came back from their maternal home by 7pm on the same day, where they had spent the long vacation.

The source of the fire which could not be ascertained as at Press time, lasted for hours after reducing the family property to rubbles. A combined effort of neighbours and relations, who were awakened by the wailings from the parents of the kids, later brought the fire under control. The father, Mr. Charles Aggery, told reporters that it was an irony of fate that his kids could finish their long holidays with their maternal relations only to come back home and met their untimely death. He appealed to Governor Rochas Okorocha, public-spirited individuals and

organisations to assist him. A neighbour to the Aggreys, Mrs. Amarachi Otiriga, expressed shock that the fire defied efforts to be controlled but expressed gratitude to God for sparing the life of the mother of the kids, Rosemary, who is now lying critically injured in an undisclosed hospital. Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Vitalis Onogu, said that investigation had commenced to ascertain the immediate cause of the midnight inferno.

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NEWS Court remands father over alleged murder of 41-day-old son

n Ebute Meta Magistrates Court, Lagos, yestersay remanded in Ikoyi Prison a 34-year-old bricklayer, Abiodun Otaoroju, charged with the murder of his 41-day-old son. The defendant is facing a two-count charge of murder and administering obnoxious substance. His plea was, however, not taken, as the court had no jurisdiction to try a case of such high calibre. “I hereby remand the defendant at the Ikoyi Prisons, pending the outcome of the legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP),” Magistrate Helen Omisore said. The prosecutor, Sgt. Idowu Onime, had told the court that the defendant, on August 30, unlawfully killed his son, Kazeem. He alleged: “The defendant used an obnoxious substance known as ‘Bint El Sudan Perfume’ to kill the deceased. “The defendant, who lives at No. 16, Aiyegbami Street, Ibeju Lekki in Lagos, was arrested by the police after the mother of the baby cried out to the neighbourhood for help.” According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the alleged incident, which took place in Epe, in Lagos State, contravened Sections 221 and 241 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

NBA wants retired judges back in law practice From GODWIN TSA, Abuja

igerian Bar Association (NBA) has said the regulatory restrictions imposed on the retired judges from appearing as advocates in the courts and tribunals should be voided and set aside in the best interest of development in the judicial system. National President of the association, Mr. Okechukwu Wali (SAN), made the position public in Abuja yesterday. The newly elected NBA president who spoke on the occasion of valedictory session in honour of retired Supreme Court Justice Francis Fedode Tabai said the regulatory bar also contained in the rules of professional conduct should also be set aside. He regretted that the institutional restrictions had the odious odour of covenants in restraint of trade and also constituted denials of former judges fundamental rights to freedom of private enterprise. Wali canvassed that there was no basis to prevent retired judges from practicing law in courts and tribunals as long as sound health, urge and deep knowledge were at their disposal. The NBA president said the much touted fear that former judges would overwhelm their serving colleagues if allowed to practice was no longer fashionable and had no place in the modern day development. He further argued that the present day judges were bold in spirit and not easily swayed by the status of lawyers appearing before them. Wali stated that since spouses at the bar were allowed to appear before their spouses on the bench it had put to rest the fear of influence to shut out the retired judges from practicing their profession.

2012 budget: Court rules on Jonathan’s impeachment today From GODWIN TSA, Abuja

Federal High Court will today rule on whether or not to stop the House of Representatives from going ahead with the impeachment proceedings against President Goodluck Jonathan over budget implementation. Justice Gabriel Kolawole reserved ruling for today after listening to an ex-parte application brought by the National Chairman of African Liberation Party (ALP), Dr. Emmanuel Osita Okereke. Counsel to the plaintiff/applicant, Alex Williams had, while moving the application, prayed the court to grant an interim order restraining the leadership of the House from proceeding with the impeachment as it was capable of distracting the president from discharging his duties. However, Justice Kolawole said he needed time to study the processes to enable him deliver his ruling. Listed as defendants in the suit were the speaker of the House of Representatives; National Assembly; the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice and President Goodluck Jonathan. In his affidavit in support of the originating summons, the plaintiff said the move to impeach the president for non-implementation of 100 per cent of the 2012 budget in July 2012 was heating up the polity.

•L–R: Jacques Mulder, General Manager, Next International, Sunny Ukpaka, National Sales Manager, Next International/Leith Whithesman, Marketing Manager, Africa Distell Limited, Lizzy Iroha, Brand/Marketing Manager, Next International, Dennis Lahouratate, Celler Master, Misquit and Lechat Alexandre, Brand Ambassador International for Bisquit at the launch of Bisquit drink in Lagos yesterday. Photo: CHUDDY ODUENYI

Minister’s convoy kills reporter •No, it is our shuttle bus –NNPC From IKENNA EMEWU, of our member, James Momoh who I knew too Abuja

ontroversy yesterday trailed the killing of Pilot Newspaper reporter in the alleged convoy of the Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke in Abuja. But the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), an agency under the minister’s supervision, denied its boss convoy was involved. The Daily Pilot reporter, James Momoh was allegedly knocked down by the speeding convoy of the minister late Wednesday. Daily Sun sources said the reporter was taken to the hospital where he was confirmed dead and his body deposited in a mortuary in Maitama. When Daily Sun contacted the Pilot Newspaper office at Zone 3, Wuse, the Director of Administration, Dr. Ken Ogidi confirmed the incident, which he described as painful and sad. He said the office got wind of the incident but on getting to the NNPC Medical Centre, they were told that Momoh was already dead and there was nothing left to be done than take his remains to the mortuary. The FCT police would, however, not confirm the incident. The Abuja Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Chairman, Mr. Chuks Ehirim told Daily Sun that the information his office got was that Momoh was allegedly crushed by the minister’s convoy. “The death is true. In fact, I was woken today’s (yesterday) morning by a text message alerting me to the death

closely when we worked together before he joined The Pilot. “The story we have is that the minister’s convoy was involved. But the persons who came here argued that it wasn’t the convoy that killed James and they came to get information about the victim from us. I had to call someone I knew that worked with James to get more information on how to contact his family,” Ehirim said But reacting to the incident yesterday, the Acting Group General Manager, Group

Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Mr. Fidel Pepple, has described as untrue reports that the convoy of the Minister of Petroleum Resources and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the NNPC, Mrs. AlisonMadueke was involved in a fatal crash. Pepple, however, confirmed that a shuttle vehicle belonging to the corporation was involved in an accident, which eventually led to the death of the reporter. “I want to state categorically that the unfortunate event of last night has nothing to do with the convoy of the minister as speculated. The accident involved one of our shut-

tle buses, which regrettably knocked down a pedestrian in the Mabushi area of Abuja and was immediately rushed to the NNPC Medical Centre for attention. But sadly the young man gave up the ghost,’’ he said. The NNPC spokesman stated that the minister’s convoy was not involved in the crash in any way noting that the vehicle in question was not part of the minister’s pilot vehicles. He said the management of the corporation had taken steps to meet with the family of the deceased as well as the management of Pilot Newspapers.

Benin horse baby: We’ve strange birth on tape –Church From OLALEKAN BADMOS, Benin

etermined to prove the genuineness of the story of the delivery of a horse-like creature in the church, The World Liberation Ministry, Benin City has vowed to make the video recording of the incident available for members of the public. The decision followed general disbelief and controversy that had trailed the alleged delivery of the horse-like creature in the Pentecostal church. The Compact Disc (CD) would however cost each curious member of the public 500 Euro (N80, 000). Members of the church, who had continued to express anger over the expression of disbelief by members of the general public, said details of the incident were already documented in a CD. Personal Assistant to the General Overseer of the

church, John Ogbovoh, said whomever does not believe in the miracle should come forward and purchase the CD of the delivery at the church at the said amount. He alleged that the woman was a first comer to the

church and as such they would not be able to tell anybody her residence, adding that God had used the overseer of the church to wrought many miracles in the lives of several persons in the society.

2015 polls: Yuguda urges INEC to be unbiased umpire From PAUL ORUDE, Bauchi

overnor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain an unbiased umpire in the conduct of the 2015 general elections. He called on the electoral body to evolve credible electoral processes that would make democracy thrive in country. He said it was only by doing so that the electorate would have faith in the outcome of elections, saying it would reduce the issues of litigations after the elections. In a press statement issued yesterday from the office of the Chief Press Secretary, Ishola Michael Adeyemi, the governor while receiving the newly appointed REC for Bauchi State, Samuel Madaki Usman, who was on a courtesy call to the governor at the Government House, commended INEC for the smooth conduct of the 2011 general election in spite of the challenges faced.

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NEWS Reps deny shift of Sept 18 resumption date From IHEANACHO AKUNNA, Abuja

NWOSU

and

CHUKS

he House of Representatives yesterday denied the rumour that it has postponed its resumption from a two-month annual recess to a later date, describing the rumour as unfounded and mischievous. Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Victor Afam Ogene , in a statement said the September 18, 2012 resumption date remains unchanged. He expressed dismay that some people had been spreading falsehood that the House was planning to shift its resumption date, urging members to discountenence the rumour . Although the recess was a long one, Ogene disclosed that the lawmakers used the break to engage in several other official assignments. For instance, he explained that the various standing committees were busy with their oversight functions to ensure appropriate and timely implementation of the budget. The deputy spokesman of the House also stressed that the lawmakers used the opportunity to engage in constituency outreach programmes, interface with their constituents on the proposed constitution review process and the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). He further pointed out that the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal had mandated the Committees to thoroughly supervise the implementation of the 2012 Appropriation Act. His words: “The annual vocation of the House of Representatives ends this weekend, as members begin plenary on Tuesday, September 18, 2012.” “This clarification comes against the backdrop of inquires suggesting a likely shift in the resumption date of the House.” “Even while on recess, committees and individual members had been usefully engaged, through constituency outreach programmes, interface with constituents on the proposed constitution review process and the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), as well as oversight on the 2012 budget.” “Already, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has instructed all standing committees of the House to, on or before resumption, undertake a through appraisal of the status of implementation of the 2012 Appropriation Act.” “This directive is in tandem with the unyielding desire of the 7th House of Representatives to ensure appropriate and timely implementation of the budget, so as to, not only fasttrack infrastructural development in the country, but also to reflate the national economy currently bogged down by official lethargy.”

ALGON decries failure to conduct council polls …Tasks Okorocha on sacked Chairmen From IHEANACHO NWOSU,Abuja

ssociation of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), yesterday expressed its displeasure over the failure of some governors to conduct council elections, describing the situation as a negation of the nation’s constitution.

Rising from its national executive meeting in Abuja, the body also declared that the autonomy of local government was non negotiable. National President of ALGON, Chief Ozor Nwabueze Okafor, who read a three-page communique called on Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha to respect the ruling of the Court and reinstate the chairmen he sacked, to their positions. Lamenting that some governors have continued to use caretaker chairmen instead of conducting council elections, the body said the development was a clear abuse of the constitution. “We call on governors who are yet to conduct local government election to respect the constitution and organise the election,” the association said. It commended some governors for strenghtening their councils, urging others to emulate them. On the refusal of Imo State Governor to reinstate the sacked council chairmen despite court’s ruling, ALGON noted that the prevailing atmosphere in Imo State was not good for democracy. It called on Okorocha to allow the embattled chairmen access to the funds of their local government in the interest of democracy and the constitution. “We plead with Governor Okorocha to allow the chairmen access to their funds so that they will use that for their people. The Constitution has to be respected by the governor,” the body declared.

L-R: Kemi Onabanjo, Country Head, Human Resources, Ecobank Nigeria; Harve Chomel, Vice President Africa, MoneyGram; Kingsley Aigbokhaevbo, Executive Director Domestic Bank, Ecobank Nigeria and Adenike Laoye, Chief Legal Counsel\Company Secretary, Ecobank Nigeria at the partnershp agreement signing ceremony between Ecobank and MoneyGram in Lagos yesterday

Honour for Adenuga to balance North, South equation –David West From GBENGA trying to buy the North and money, I will respect him the employed about 20,000 the South, why is it that more if there is good evi- Nigerians, Dangote has ADESUYI, Ibadan

ormer minister of petroleum, Professor Tam David West has insisted that national award conferred on Chief Mike Adenuga was meant to balance the political equation between the North and South. West wondered why Adenuga was left out last year but only Dangote was given the award. “ I don’t know the criteria that left Adenuga out of the award last year and the same criteria that gave it to Dangote. If they are using the right criteria, both are successful businessmen in the country and they deserve the award but because of political balancing only Dangote was considered last year and this year it’s the turn of Adenuga.” The former minister maintained in an interview with Daily Sun that he was not misqoted by a national daily that the award was political. ” “I stand by my words that the award is political, they are

Adenuga was not given an award last year, between last year and this year what has he done to warrant the award,? why did they forget him last year?” “Adenuga and Dangote are prominent businessmen in the country. Dangote is a big businessman, I respect a big business man not because of how much he makes but because of how well the common man benefits from his

dence that people are benefitting from his money. The award is for political balancing. Mike Adenuga had refused to be used by politicians. Obasanjo drove him out of this country because he was not playing ball. Adenuga and Dangote are successful businessmen, Nigeria and Africa should be proud of them. They have employed a lot of people. I know Adenuga

Lagos, Ogun teachers begin strike September 24 ...NUT, Lagos govt meeting deadlocked By GABRIEL DIKE

eachers in Lagos and Ogun State have announced their intentions to embark on strike on September 24 to protest the failure of their state governments to implement the 27.5 per cent Teacher Peculiar Allowance (TPA) approved

four years ago. Public schools nationwide are expected to resume for the 2012/2013 academic session after the long holiday. However, the impending industrial action would threaten their resumption unless the 18 state governors act fast to break the deadlock. Chairmen of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT),

2015 presidency: I’ve no candidate –Tukur to falter in the development of From TAIWO AMODU, party manifestoes. He enunciated the promo- the critical sectors of the Abuja

ational Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has declared that he has no anointed candidate for the 2015 presidential election. He made the declaration on Wednesday night at a dinner organised in his honour. He told the gathering of party chieftains that he would only be interested in aspirants who could deliver on the

employed a lot of people too but Adenuga stands out because he does not have any political query on him. People can say Babangida is behind him, I don’t care. The fact he has done well for Nigeria and refused to be used by politicians, he ran away on exile because Obasanjo drove him out. Adenuga is a business man with a difference.

tion of the agriculture, the energy and health sectors as critical to the growth of the country’s economy. He admonished party gladiators interested in seeking elective offices in 2015, to put their campaigns on hold, so as not to distract the present occupants of the offices from delivering democracy dividends to the people. He further urged President Goodluck Jonathan and his Deputy, Namadi Sambo, not

economy. “PDP has been in government for 13 years because the party is consistent. We are not talking of 2015 but infrastructural development, energy, health, agriculture, among others. We are talking of performance and not 2015. Give us energy.” Tukur further emphasised his agenda of reconstruction and reconciliation aimed at transforming the party and the nation.

Lagos and Ogun State wings, Comrade Samson Idowu and Mr. Sam Idowu, respectively, disclosed this on Thursday at the launch of customized Laptops on e-teaching/learning process by the NUT Lagos wing. When approached, the Adviser on Education to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Fatai Olukoga, after the launch, declined to comment on the NUT demand and the strike threat. The NUT boss said “if there’s any reason for the Lagos State Government to renege on our 27.5 per cent teachers’ special job related allowances, I think it should be over by now. Considering the quality of our teachers and their contributions to educational development of the state. “We are looking forward with passion to resumption of the new academic session as scheduled unless we are barred by the inaction of the government on the full payment of the 27.5 per cent to our teachers.

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NEWS Nigeria loses millions of naira to overseas stem cell transplant By ONYEKACHI JET

he Nigerian Society of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NSHBT) has revealed that Nigeria spends millions of dollars on overseas trip for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant. Making the disclosure on Wednesday in Lagos during a media briefing to announce the society’s 39th annual conference coming up later in September, the association called on the government to establish hematopoietic stem cell centres across the country. Speaking at the event, the Chairman, Local Organizing Committee, Professor Sulaiman Akanmu who disclosed that there were Nigerian professionals all over the world, who were skilled in HSCT, held that lack of facilities was responsible for the brain drain the country was currently experiencing in this aspect of medical practice. Akanmu explained that unlike in other forms of transplant such as kidney, liver or heart transplant, “stem cell transplant is a unique kind of transplantation, adding that it is a medical intervention that gives absolute possibility for cancer patients to live normal lives after surgery.” He explained that the objective of this year’s conference was to seek answers to why hematologists locally do not function optimally in HSCT, adding that the outcome would focus on ways of stimulating policymakers on the need to put facilities in place for HSCT to be carried out locally. He gave reasons why hematopoietic stem cell transplant should be done locally. “It will reduce the economic drain from Nigeria, which presently costs between N14 to N15 million outside the country.”

Cleric urges Nigerian leaders to have fear of God By SEYE OJO

eneral Superintendent of the Christ Redemption Bible Church, Ketu, Lagos State, Pastor John Ogundare, has urged Nigerian leaders to always have the fear of God in their policy formulations and governance. The cleric made the disclosure during a news conference and official introduction of the church’s football team at the headquarters of the church in Ketu on the 15th annual convention of the church tagged: Fresh Fire. The convention started yesterday and will end on September 23. Ogundare, who unveiled the G.S Cup and launched the sports wears for the soccer team, stated that it was imperative for government to listen to the voice of the people who voted them into power whenever any policy that would have direct bearing on them was about to be made. He enjoined leaders in every capacity to make policies that would make life easier for the masses. His words: “I use this opportunity to call on all our leaders to do what is right by acting and walking in the fear of God as He is the only one that has solution to our problems. I pray according to the word of God in Isaiah 62:7 and with the help of God that Nigeria will change and become the praise of all nations on earth in Jesus’ name.” Dignitaries expected during the convention included General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Revd. Felix Meduoye, presiding bishop of the Christ Life Church, Wale Oke, wife of General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye, Pastor Joseph Adelakun and his Ayewa International Gospel Singers, Pastor Aanu Ojo and Pastor Samson Bamigbayan.

MTN links entrepreneurs in Ibadan

ll is set for budding entrepreneurs and professionals in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, to connect to their passion as they engage and interact with accomplished entrepreneurs in the MTN Link Forum billed to debut in the ancient city today. The MTN Link Forum, which had also made its appearance in Calabar, Port Harcourt and Benin would see successful business icons mentor participants at the forum on issues bordering on entrepreneurship and capacity building. Speaking on the objective of the forum, Kola Oyeyemi, General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN said that the forum would help advance the aspirations of participants and provide them with opportunity to interact with accomplished entrepreneurs and role models and gain from them, insightful knowledge on making a success of their businesses. “MTN is committed to empowering the Nigerian Young Professionals through life enriching platforms. We are excited that so many of our young professionals have embraced Entrepreneurship and are making fantastic efforts to make a success of their endeavours. MTN as a brand recognizes the Can-Do-It spirit in them and would go all the way to support their dreams. This is why we are bringing to them successful business Icons to motivate them and teach them the art of success,” he stated.

•President/Chairman of Council, Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM), Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole addressing a conference on activities planned for the 50th anniversary of the institute in Lagos. With him are the Registrar and Chief Executive, Mr. Maurice Lakanu (left) and Director, Membership Services, Mohammed Sulaiman. Photo: MOSHOOD RAJI

Onshore, offshore debate: AGF warns politicians not to overheat polity …Says S’Court has settled the matter From GODWIN TSA, Abuja

he Attorney-General of the Federation and Ministers for Justice (AGF), Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) has called on the politicians and legal practitioners to avoid overheating the polity through the ongoing debate on abrogation of the onshore and offshore dichotomy in the allocation of derivation revenue. He made the call yesterday at the valedictory session held in honour of retired Justice Francis Fedode Tabai at the Supreme Court. The AGF said the Supreme Court had settled the issue of onshore/offshore dichotomy in the allocation of derivation proceeds in the national economy, which had now been resurrected into a national debate. Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State and his Niger State counterpart, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu kick-started the debate on the issue.

Speaking on the matter, the AGF warned the new agitators, on the rested economic matter, not to overheat the polity country beyond the present level. He drew the attention of the agitators to the Supreme Court judgment of 2005 on the dichotomy matter which he said, amicably resolved the issue. The minister disclosed that the current agitation on the desirability or otherwise of

reopening the issue of abrogation of the dichotomy in the national economy was not only an affront to the apex court verdict, but a wasteful venture. Adoke noted with great concern the deliberate attempt to resurrect debate on the dichotomy issue and elevate it to the level of an urgent national issue with potential to generate acrimonious wrangling, adding that dichotomy matter was already a dead and buried issue. Adamawa State and 21

Orji Kalu, Rochas, for ABU golden jubilee anniversary By BIMBOLA OYESOLA

he Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha and former Abia State Governor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, are among top dignitaries billed for the 50th anniversary celebration of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, slated for November 23 and 24. The duo have acknowledged their invitations to be

part of the historic event and expressed their commitment to attending the programme. Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, who confirmed this in a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Malam Waziri Isa Gwantu, said the two prominent politicians’ acceptance of the invitations was an indication of their commitment to the development of education. He also noted that the ges-

Expert blames flooding on poor urban planning From FRED ITUA, Abuja

ack of adequate planning on the part of state and Federal Government has been blamed for the devastating flood in major cities and villages across the country. The position was made known yesterday when the Chairman of the National Organising Committee of the 2012 Nigeria Urban Summit, Mr. Onibokun Abimbola addressed journalists in Abuja. He also identified corruption at all levels of government as another factor responsible for inadequate utilisation of eco-

other states had in 2005 dragged the Federal Government to the Supreme Court on the constitutionality or otherwise of the allocation of revenue on the basic of the Principle of Derivation Act, 2004. The states, however, lost the suit as the apex court in a unanimous judgment held that the Derivation Act 2004 was not in any way in conflict with the 1999 Constitution as it was properly made by the National Assembly.

logical funds. “The need for urban submit in Nigeria at this moment cannot be over-emphasised. There have been incidences of ravaging flood, collapsed and security challenges in many quarters. “Our towns and cities are not performing efficiently like their counterparts in most other countries due to attendant infrastructure and service deficiencies, poor urban mobility, increasing unemployment, chaotic housing shortages, among others,” Abimbola stated. He maintained that the summit, which is spearheaded by

the House of Representatives Committee on urban and Regional Planning would engage stakeholders in the urban scene to dialogue and reach a consensus on the road map for promoting sustainable urbanisation and integrate Nigeria cities into national development. He stated further that the first challenge of the summit would be cultivating the culture of planning among the three tiers of government which he regarded as a veritable tool needed to stem the tide of flooding across many cities and villages in Nigeria.

ture was in appreciation of the role Ahmadu Bello University has been playing in training students in the country and the entire world. The Vice-Chancellor who commended the two leaders from the South-East for honouring the invitation stated: “We are expecting all governors in the country to attend the event in a show of solidarity and support for the true and all-Nigerians - university.” The Governors, according to the statement, have equally indicated their interest to speak with the staff and students of the university on the State of the nation, should there be any such forum, during the occasion. “They expressed conviction that the Ahmadu Bello University is no doubt a symbol of national unity which must be encouraged to continue with its policy of national integration and educational development,” the statement added. Professor Mustapha explained further that invitations and courtesy calls on other governors and stakeholders are ongoing to sensitize and educate them on the level of preparations for the 50th Anniversary.

DAILY SUN Friday, September 14, 2012, 9

NEWS Senator Adeyemi, American NGOs distribute N100m ambulances to Kogi hospitals From ADETUTU FOLASADE-KOYI, Abuja

ingstone Charity Foundation, a non-profit organization, operated by Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Smart Adeyemi is collaborating with American non-governmental organisations to procure and distribute ambulances and medical equipment to hospitals in Kogi State. The medical equipment is worth over N100 million. Senator Adeyemi, who disclosed this in a chat with newsmen in Abuja yesterday, said the initiative became imperative in view of untimely deaths being recorded across the state during emergencies. He also added that on a recent visit to America, he was able to convince two American NGO’s, the Medical International, in Georgia and Ambulance Medical Foundation, New Jersey, to collaborate with the Kingstone Charity Organisation to provide some succor first to the people of Kogi West Senatorial District and also extend the services to the entire state in the long run. “Kingstone will defray about 70 per cent of the cost of the equipment, while the American NGOs will bear the cost up to about 30 per cent.” He also said the ambulances were different from medical equipment imported by his NGO in July which were being shared in Kogi hospitals. “This will go a long way in improving the lots of the people of my senatorial district, Kogi West and to a large extent my people in Kogi Central and Kogi East Senatorial districts,” the Senator said.

Airtel wins triple at industry wards

eading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria last Saturday night clinched three industry awards at the 8th edition of the prestigious Nigerian Telecoms Awards. The telecoms operator beat other competitors to emerge the industry’s Most Innovative Telecom Company, Telecom Brand and Customer Friendly Operator of the year at a wellattended event marked by a huge presence of dignitaries from both the private and public sectors. According to awards’citations, Airtel emerged overall best in the three categories following its enviable strides in charting new paths in meeting the demands and needs of its esteemed stakeholders through superior brand experience, a rich portfolio of innovative products and services ranging from exciting voice solutions to inventive data packages and mobile broadband. On the Customer Friendly Operator Award, the organizers said: “This is the third time Airtel Nigeria is coming tops in the Customer Service category in the history of the Nigerian Telecoms Awards, and this clearly demonstrates the commitment of the management to treat their customers as more than just a connection.” Also emphasizing the reasons Airtel emerged the Telecoms Brand of the Year and the Most Innovative Network, the citation said: “Right from when the Airtel brand was launched in Nigeria in November 2010, the company has maintained a singular focus of exciting and delighting telecommunications consumers across the country with relevant solutions to enable them fulfill their dreams and realize their full potentials. “Aside rolling out exciting telecoms offerings such as 2Good Time, Quick Talk, 3.75G, Airtel 5X and Special RCVs for Data/Internet consumers, among several others, the company has also ensured that customers get the very best experience on its network.”

Okesanjo passes on

he death has been announced of a prominent Egba Chief, Alhaji Sabiu Aremu Okesanjo at the age of 81 years. The deceased, a former area manager of the defunct African Continental Bank (ACB) died on Wednesday, September 12, and buried yesterday in Lagos, according to the Muslims rites Okesanjo, who was until his death, Sagua of Itoko, Abeokuta is survived by his wife, Alhaja Muibat, children and grand children, including Mrs Tawakalitu Owoeye, Kayode Sabur Okesanjo, Mrs Ebunoluwa Adeniyi nee

Okesanjo, Bisola Agoro, Olagoke Okesanjo, Babatunde Okesanjo, Bukola Arowolo, nee Okesanjo and Asabi Okesanjo.

•The late Okesanjo

•Families of victims of Dana plane crash at a closed-door meeting with the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) at the Lagos House, Alausa Ikeja yesterday. Photo: FESTUS ODOFIN

DANA crash: Fashola, relatives demand reform in aviation sector •Deploy 300 health volunteers to healthcare centres By OLUWOLE FAROTIMI

agos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and relatives of those who died in the ill-fated Dana plane yesterday demanded a comprehensive reform in the aviation sector to avert air disasters in the future. Fashola and the relatives of the deceased, who made their position known after a twohour meeting in Ikeja, called on authorities concerned to seize the opportunity to reform the aviation sector. The demand came on the heels of the deployment of no fewer than 300 healthcare volunteers by the Lagos State Government to all primary healthcare centres in the state. According to Fashola, “there is need to meaningfully engage actors in the sector to avoid future air disaster.” Some of the relatives who spoke expressed disappointment at the sudden restoration of operating licence to the management of Dana Airline. One of the relatives, Mr. Seke Somolu challenged the Ministry of Aviation to publish complete report of an investigation into the June 3 incident of a Dana plane that crashed into a two-storey building in Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos, killing 153 passengers and 10 residents of the building. He queried the rationale for hurriedly restoring the operating licence of the plane, adding that what they wanted was for a firm and decisive action to be taken by the regulatory authority of the aviation sector. “There should not be conspiracy in the report of the investigation conducted. All findings should be made pub-

lic,” he said. Speaking with newsmen after the meeting, another relative, Mr. Akinola Cole lamented poor response of the insurance company, which he said, was supposed to compensate families of all the victims involved in the plane crash. According to him, the insurance industry was in a mess. “Insurance companies do not normally want to pay compensation. Till date, I do not know any person who has been paid compensation. It is sad,” he said. On the healthcare workers, the state government said they were deployed as interface to facilitate the job of doctors and other healthcare

providers during emergencies. Fashola, who said over 1, 000 applications were received prior to their training, explained that their present preoccupation could elicit their interest in healthcare services spurring them to further their training in relevant areas. He warned that the state government would not hesitate to de-list anybody who acted in breach of the oath. He described the healthcare volunteer scheme as part of a fulfillment of his campaign promises to focus on health delivery at the primary level, noting that the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) was at

the forefront of tertiary healthcare services in the state. He, however, said it was virtually impossible for any country to provide all the healthcare professionals needed hence the need for the healthcare volunteer scheme. He said the scheme would strengthen and reinvigorate primary healthcare delivery system in Nigeria and advised the beneficiary to always maintain a human face and be courteous in their service delivery since they were to serve as intermediary between the clients and the healthcare providers. The beneficiaries were graduates in their various trades but have to go through a three-month training to qualify as volunteers.

Akpabio urges NGE to sanitise journalism

overnor Godswill Akpabio has challenged participants at a four-day workshop by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) holding in Uyo to discuss ways of sanitizing journalism profession in the country. Governor Akpabio, who gave the charge on Wednesday when the executive members of the Guild, led by its President, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Uyo, further urged the body to seek ways of reducing quacks from the profession. He described journalism as a noble profession, reasoning that what journalists publish daily could promote or rubbish the image of the country. Akpabio said: “In law, there are few quacks that can easily be identified, but jour-

nalism has more quacks. I want you to seek ways of reducing the quacks in your profession. Embark on training and re-training of journalists.” The governor also wanted the body to discuss ways of helping the government to create more job opportunities for the people and what government ought to do to inculcate reading culture among students in secondary schools and tertiary institutions. Akpabio, who applauded the Guild on the theme of its workshop, ‘Editors and National Development’, said development was part of national security. He further called on the body to ensure proper editing of stories to remove libelous materials from letters to the editor used by unsuspecting people to dent the reputation of others. Adefaye commended

Governor Akpabio for hosting the workshop, which the opening ceremony had in attendance, the Senate president and national security adviser, among others. He said the support had helped to maintain the status of the Guild. He pointed out that Nigeria had for sometime been in the news for bad reason, noting that the workshop would afford journalists opportunity of doing introspection on the various security challenges the country had gone through over the years. While commending the governor for the speedy development of the state, the Guild president called on Akwa Ibom people to sustain the development projects for posterity, assuring him of the Guild’s readiness to partner the government in this direction.

10 DAILY SUN Friday, September 14, 2012

SOUTH SOUTH Oshiomhole sets agenda for 2nd term

overnor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has set the agenda for his second term in office, saying his administration would concentrate on expanding the economy of the state by increasing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and creating wealth. Speaking during the visit of the management team of the Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), led by its Executive Director, Dr. Omoefe Asemota, to him in his office, yesterday, the governor said this would be done in addition to the ongoing infrastructural development and urban renewal programme in the state. He said: “In this second term, it is clear to me that we have to sustain what we are already doing but also focus on expanding the economy of the state, increasing the GDP and creating wealth.” According to him, “to get full value of the rural roads we have constructed, agriculture must be taken seriously and I have directed the commissioner for agriculture that we have to be more active.” While noting that the state government was ready to collaborate with NIFOR, Oshiomhole disclosed that every institution in the state was part of the corporate citizen in the state. “We are happy to oblige farmers land to farm. The Dangote Group has indicated interest to invest about a billion naira in oil palm in the state when land is provided and we are working to keep the people busy by planting cassava not only for domestic consumption but also for export,” he noted. The Executive Director of NIFOR, Asemota, commended the efforts of the state governor at repositioning the state within the last four years, especially in the area of agriculture and promised to collaborate with the state government in the sector.

Travellers stranded on East-West Road, group lambasts minister From FEMI FOLARANMI, Yenagoa

housands of travelers on the East-West Road were left stranded for hours on Wednesday and yesterday as the deplorable condition of the road bites harder. According to investigations, a bad section of the road just after the Mbiama Bridge was the initial cause of the traffic gridlock before two trucks fell and blocked the small section vehicles were passing leading to the complete blockade of the road. Many Bayelsans travelling to catch the morning flight to Abuja from the Port Harcourt Airport and got to Mbiama at about 6.30am could not leave Mbiama until 2pm thereby missing their flights. Those who could not reschedule their flights retuned to Yenagoa. It was worse for travellers going to Lagos from Port Harcourt as they could not cross the Mbiama Bridge for more than five hours. Many of the passengers who were frustrated blamed the contractors handling the dualisation of the road for its deplorable condition. The situation was not different for travellers coming from Benin, Warri and Ughelli as they were left stranded. A banker with a new generation bank who simply identified himself as Edward said the condition of the road was very frustrating for travellers. “I got here at about 7am on Wednesday on my way to Port Harcourt for a meeting. I spent five hours to cross the bad spot and eventually I missed the meeting.

Akpabio advocates institution of cyber crime dept

kwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, has advocated the institution of a Cyber Crime Department in the Nigeria Police Force to fight internet crime. Akpabio, who made the call yesterday at the opening of a three-day annual conference of Nigerian Guild of Editors at Government Banquet Hall, Uyo, said the department should be composed of men highly trained in internet and information and communication technology to trace scammers and fraudsters, and take preemptive measures against them. “This should be composed of men highly trained to use the internet and ICT to trace scammers and fraudsters and respond to complaints by people defrauded by scammers on the internet. You should also use your media houses to alert Nigerians of the activities of these internet and social media scam artists,” he stated. According to him, “already, the activities of internet fraudsters have drilled a hole in our reputation as a nation and if we do not stop them, they would stop us. Let us come together and say no to these artists.” The governor cited as bad news the gruesome murder of Cynthia Osokogu in Lagos by some evil men operating from the comfort of their homes using computers to lure her and perpetrate the dastardly act.

• L-R: Deputy Governor of Delta State, Prof Amos Utuama; Gov Emmanuel Uduaghan; and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Alfa Belgore, at a book presentation in honour of Justice Francis Tabi, in Abuja yesterday.

Bakassi: Group mounts pressure on FG to appeal ICJ judgment From FEMI FOLARANMI, gy and limited attitude of the had been unoccupied, unalloYenagoa authorities concerned towards cated and deteriorating. the full implementation of the The statement reads in group, the National GTA concerning the provision part: “The government of Association of Seadogs of accommodation and allied Cameroon, on the other hand, (NAS) has challenged needs to the displaced people has repeatedly violated the the Federal Government to of Bakassi. terms of the GTA, especially lodge an appeal at the NAS, which pointed out in the forced change of names International Court of Justice that it was worrisome that out of Nigerian communities such (ICJ) over the Bakassi of the 3,000 buildings earlier as Usaghaedeh which has Peninsula ceded to Cameroon planned, only 208 had been been renamed Isangele; in October 2002. constructed for the over Abana is now Jabana and NAS, in a statement, “Save 150,000 Bakassi returnees, Archibong is now called the Indigenous People of added that several two-bed- Akwa 1– to mention a few. Bakassi,” signed by Cap, Ide room apartments built by the “Besides, heavy levies and Owodiong, said the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta taxation of Nigerians within Government should explore Affairs within that same area the ceded territories, molestathe window of appeal which gives an opportunity for affected countries to appeal ICJ judgment within 10 years if there were fresh facts which were not available as of the time the judgment was deliv•Markets to be closed for 5 days in protest ered. While describing as unac- From JUDEX OKORO, as sanitation and environceptable the decision of the Calabar mental charges, the revenue administration of former agents led by state Internal President Olusegun Obasanjo ilent war is brewing in Revenue Service (IRS), are to willingly surrender the sovCross River State as alleging non-compliance by ereignty of the country to traders, under the aegis traders and corporate bodies Cameroon and entered into a of National Union of Shops thereby denying government Green Tree Agreement (GTA) and Distributive Employees substantial sources of revon June 12, 2006, to abide by (NUSDE), Calabar branch, enue. the decision of the court, NAS have vowed to resist what And determined to enforce stated that the mood of the they termed as “high policy the tax payment, the IRS people of Bakassi, eminent taxation” even as revenue agents with heavily armed Nigerians, members of Cross agents had sealed their shops. security men at the early River State in the National While the traders’ union is hours of yesterday sealed up Assembly and the Palace of protesting the introduction of all shops located at Calabar the Obong of Calabar was that multiple taxation and levies Central District along the Federal Government including payment of waste Bedwell, Goldie and Uruashould appeal the judgment. bins, business premises regis- Watt axis. According to the group, it tration, local government and In protest against this harsh was disappointed at the lethar- DOPT parking permit as well economic policy, Daily Sun

tion and regular assault of Nigerian fishermen on the waterways of the peninsular were regularly recorded. Part of the terms of the GTA provides that Nigerian towns and communities would maintain their identities despite the ceding. “We demand full provision of accommodation to the displaced people of Bakassi in the New Bakassi and adjoining areas and communities. Funds should immediately be released and duly monitored by all relevant stakeholders.”

C’River traders, revenue agents at war over high taxation

MTN partners DTSG to fight crime in Delta From EMMANUEL the Regional Sales manager OGOIGBE, Warri of MTN, Mrs. Ifeanyi Udom explained that the Security etermined to assit in Support Project was aimed at flushing out hoodlums supporting the efforts of the from the state, MTN state government in curbing Nigeria Limited has donated criminal activities. five patrol vehicles equipped She said the project being with security gadgets to State carried out under the MTN Government . Foundation was also aimed at Speaking while handing improving the lives of the over the vehicles yesterday in people they work for through

corporate social responsibility in the areas of education, health, entertainment among others. Speaking further she noted that MTN was already in partnership with the Delta State Government and would continue to improve the living standard of the people through the partnership.

investigations revealed that traders within Calabar metropolis had concluded arrangements to lock up their shops for five days running beginning from tomorrow. This development, it was learnt, had caused panic buying among residents as people were seen at popular Watt Market buying food items and confectionaries in the event of traders carrying out their threats. Speaking to newsmen on the matter during their emergency meeting at Goldie Street, Calabar, the ViceChairman of NUSDE, Calabar chapter, Mr. Ben Emele, said the new tax assessment by the IRSwa doubled compared to what they paid last year as they would now pay N65,000 as against N5,000 paid in 2011. Emele said the new assessment was frightening, adding that at the time negotiations were still ongoing, with a view to finding a middle course, the IRS and its agents unilaterally closed the shops. He said, “we only woke up this morning and discovered that our shops have been closed by the IRS people and its agents in the state.”

DAILY SUN Friday, September 14, 2012, 11

SOUTH EAST Enugu Assembly to boost operations of Tax Appeal Court From CHIDI NNADI, Enugu

nugu State House of Assembly has promised to give the Tax Appeal Tribunal (TAT), South-East zone, sitting in the state, the necessary assistance required to boost its operations. The Speaker of the House, Mr Eugene Odoh made the pledge yesterday when the Chairman of TAT, Prof Chukwudi J. Amasike led commissioners and other members of staff of the tribunal to the House in the ongoing sensitization campaign across the South-East region. Odoh who after listening to the visitors said he would like them to repeat their visit to enable other lawmakers benefit from their message, however, promised to pass the message across to the legislators for them to disseminate the same to the people of their constituencies. Speaking with Daily Sun after the visit, the Chairman of TAT, Prof Amasike said that the visit to the Speaker was the beginning of the sensitization programme of TAT that would take them round the five states of the South-East. “Going to the Speaker first is strategic as members of the House make up the local governments and we believe in talking with the Speaker the members will carry the message back to their constituencies,” he said, adding that after the visit to the House they would now move to seek audience with Governor Sullivan Chime before going to other states of the region. Amasike told Daily Sun that since TAT fully commenced operations in 2011, it had risen to meet its set target even as it is now adjudged to be the best in the geo-political zones.

Anambra NULGE gives Obi 21-day ultimatum to reverse punitive transfer From EMMANUEL UZOR, Onitsha

he National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE ) has given Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State 21-day ultimatum to reverse the punitive transfer of its six executive members in Idemili Local Government Area of the state. In a six-point communiqué jointly signed by NULGE president, Comrade Jerry Nnubia and state Secretary, Edwin Iwuji and issued to Daily Sun after the union’s state executive meeting at their headquarters in Awka yesterday, NULGE warned Anambra State Government to reverse the transfer and treat other union issues within 21 days, ‘to avoid industrial disharmony within the local government system.’ Part of the communiqué reads: “NULGE is concerned over the partial implementation of the Approved Scheme of Service for Local Government Employees in Nigeria (2006 edition), in respect of Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGA) to grade level 17, as is the case in other states. “The union rejects the hasty, punitive and black-market transfer of six branch executives of NULGE, Idemili North Local Government (a night before the rescheduled election of the branch) and calls for its reversal. Also, we request for the computerization of payroll units and other essential departments in the local governments, as well as train personnel to man them.

Court orders police to produce suspects over theft of 20,000 litres of kerosene From EMMANUEL UZOR, Onitsha

High Court sitting in Onitsha presided over by Justice A.O Okuma has ordered the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Fegge Division, Mr. Roland Omatoje to produce the case file for immediate prosecution of seven suspects in connection with theft and threat to life. Seven persons are standing trial for allegedly stealing and diverting 20, 000 litres of kerosene belonging to Mrs. Chinyere Okudo and her group, Kerosene Surface Tank Dealers’Association, in the commercial city of Onitsha . Counsel to the Kerosene Surface Tank Dealers’ Association, Mrs. Rose Ifeukwu had sought application of motion exparte in pursuant to Order 7, rule (1) demanding that the police should produce the case file to the court to enable the suspects face proper charge of threat and stealing and diversion of 30, 000 litres of kerosene belonging to her clients. She told the court that the suspects had in the month of August diverted 20, 000 litres of kerosene belonging to Mrs. Chinyere Okudo and her group which she said they sold somewhere in Asaba, Delta State capital. She further disclosed that the suspects upon interrogation at the Fegge Police Division, confessed to have diverted the products, adding that instead of the 20, 000 litres , the suspects agreed they diverted only 5000 litres . “We want to use this medium to inform you about the serious official corruption that is prevailing at the said police station as criminal justice is now for sale for the highest bidder.

• Governor Peter Obi (middle), flanked by the state SSG, Oseloka Obaze (right) and the Chairman, Ogbaru Local Government, Mr Steve Chukwuma, during the inspection of flooded areas of Ossamala in Ogbaru Local Government, Anambra State.

Woman sets 85-year-old stepmother ablaze By MATTHEW DIKE

woman has thrown caution to the winds in Imo State as she set her 85-year-old stepmother ablaze, after splashing her two grandchildren with hot water. The natives of Ndiokwu Lorji, Aboh Mbaise area of the state, would not forget the fateful day in a hurry as the devil metaphorically took control of one of them and she caused tragedy within her own family. People wept uncontrollably at the sight of the old woman and the two kids who were writhing in pains following the alleged action of the suspect. Gladys, 48, mother of many children, was said to have splashed hot water on Emeka Ukaegbu, 4, and Nzube Ukaegbu, 6. Daily Sun gathered that the children were viewing a film in the family parlour when Gladys appeared with the hot water and before anybody could realise what she was up to, she had poured the hot water on the two kids. Their uncle, Chukwuma Ukaegbu, 32, told Daily Sun in Lagos that the kids screamed as they were running out from the parlour in agony. Chukwuma said his mother, 85-year-old Mary Ukaegbu staggered as she ran to inquire what had happened. The woman was shocked to see her grandchildren with their body peeled . The children kept shouting

the name Gladys to their enraged grandmother who moved in haste to see Gladys. Upon sighting the old woman, Gladys allegedly poured a substance suspected to be fuel on her and immediately set her ablaze. Mary, Emeka and Nzube were rushed to the hospital but only the two kids were admitted while hospitals rejected the old woman. Chukwuma said the incident began at about 1.30pm, adding that his mother (Mary) gave up the ghost at 11 pm same day, August 20. Chukwuma said the kids were still in hospital receiving treatment as at the time of filing this report. He explained that Emeka sustained injury from his head to the back. He said Nzube was the worst hit as his body peeled completely from head to toe. He said it

took some days before the eyes of Nzube could open. Chukwuma could not fathom what could have been the cause of Gladys’ anger. According to him, there used to be minor quarrel over sundry issues like “your goat ate my leaves or yam.” He alleged that there was nothing very serious that would have warranted such wicked act. He further alleged that his elder brother, Nnabuihe, told him that Gladys had several times threatened that she would kill his (Nnabuihe’s) children, kill him (Nnabuihe) and their mother, Mary. He said Nnabuihe waved her threat off as one of those empty ones. They never knew evil thought was brewing in the heart of the suspect until the fateful day. Policemen from Aboh Mbaise Division arrested

Gladys the following day and later transferred the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Owerri, Imo State. While Chukwuma insisted that the name of his half sister is Gladys, the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Vitalis Onugu, a deputy superintendent, while confirming the story to Daily Sun said the name police recorded in the file was Clarene. Onugu said the suspect had an altercation with the two children and as she wanted to pour petrol on them, she allegedly poured it on the old woman, Mary, and she went up in flames. Onugu also said the suspect later poured hot water on the children. The police spokesman said the suspect would soon be arraigned in court.

Robbers raid Nkem Owoh’s Enugu home …Cart away Montero SUV, valuables From PETRUS OBI, Enugu

he Enugu residence of star actor, Nkem Owoh has been raided by yet to be identified hoodlums who carted away his Black Mitsubishi Montero SUV with Reg. No BU 64 FST alongside other valuables. Owoh, who is popular for his role as Osuofia, in the movie, ’Osuofia in London’ who was in Abuja when the robbery incident occurred confirmed the report to our

Enugu correspondent on telephone yesterday morning. Owoh, also lost his Toshiba laptop and camcorder to the intruders who broke into his house at Phase 6, Tran’s Ekulu, Enugu. The actor, who spoke to our reporter on phone said; “I was in Abuja last Saturday when my neighbours called that it was like my place was burgled that my gate appeared to be open. I asked them to check and they reported back that out of the

three vehicles parked in the compound, the SUV was no longer there. “I called my driver and asked him to make a report to the police immediately which he did.” Osuofia, who had since returned to Enugu as a result of the incident, further revealed that the robbers removed the burglary roof in his window through which they were able to remove the laptop. He said there were no suspects for now but noted that the police had been alerted of the incident.

12 DAILY SUN Friday, September 14, 2012

SOUTH WEST

Tokyo, Auxiliary still wanted –Oyo CP From GBENGA ADESUYI, Ibadan

he new Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu yesterday said the former chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Alhaji Lateef Akinsola (a.k.a Tokyo) and his rival, Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi (a.k.a Auxiliary) are still being wanted by the state police command.

Both Tokyo and Auxiliary had been declared wanted by the former state police commissioner, Mr. Baba Adisa Bolanta for their involvement in the killing of innocent people, including a final year medical student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria at Iwo Road Interchange in 2011. Efforts to arrest them proved abortive, as they had been evading arrest until Mr Bolanta was transferred out of the state. Mr. Mbu, while addressing journalists yesterday, said the case was still ongoing, adding that they should report at the police headquarters to clear themselves of the allegation, saying if they were not found guilty they would be released. He added that report had reached him that Tokyo sneaked in to attend a burial party in the state about two weeks ago. “They can run but we will catch up with them,” he said. On the court judgment, Mbu said: “There is no order restraining the police from arresting Tokyo. The two factional leaders have spearheaded many crises; they must explain their involvement in Iwo-Road incident where many innocent lives were wasted. “They must come to answer their query and if they are not found wanting, we will release them.”

Lagos LGs contributed N500m for Ondo guber polls, group alleges

n alarm has been raised over the decision of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) leadership to compel local governments in Lagos State to donate a whopping N7 million each to enable it capture Ondo State in the October 20 governorship election. Lagos State has 57 local councils. The Eko Citizens Forum, an assemblage of Lagos natives raised the alarm yesterday in a statement signed by its President, Fisayo Frantos, declaring that it made the move to enable the public know how the resources of Lagos were being plundered. Describing the ACN’s ambition to capture Ondo State as an impossible mission, the group alleged that all the 57 local councils in Lagos State were compelled to donate N7 million each “to the Operation Capture Ondo State purse, using a camouflage dustbin purchase as a decoy at the end of which about N.5 billion was realised because some councils considered very buoyant were made to pay more than N7 million. According to the group, “all the councils were instructed to make the said amount available under the guise of supplying them with dustbins with the Bariga Local Government Area boss, Sulaiman Omoyele Hakeem, a.k.a Oris, as the coordinator. Declaring the move as “illegal and a systematic way of robbing Lagosians of their resources,” the group said “we believe the money will eventually end up in some people’s personal account because we all know it is impossible for the Labour Party (LP) government to be defeated in Ondo State, so why using decoy to siphon our own money,” the forum queried.

Cultists threaten WAEC exams in Ogun By MOSHOOD ADEBAYO, Abeokuta

proposed curfew by traditional worshippers, members of ‘’Oro’’ sect in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State, may affect the ongoing West African Examinations Council (WAEC) examinations, for private candidates in the state. The annual WAEC, November/December examinations, which began nationwide last week was reportedly disrupted in some parts of the council area due to the alleged activities of the Oro cultists. The Chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Ogun Province IV Ipokia, Pastor Samuel Gbesemaovo, who spoke in Abeokuta, the state capital yesterday, urged the state government through relevant security agencies to avert what he described as looming religious crisis. Gbesemaovo alleged that the traditionalists prevented the WAEC candidates from writing their English Language paper last Saturday. While expressing the fears that similar disruption might happen tomorrow when candidates were scheduled to sit for Mathematics examination, he also claimed that traditionalists had previously attacked mosques and churches in the area, leaving several people wounded and property destroyed.

• Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (right), and National President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr Adedoyin Owolabi, during a courtesy call by the institute body to the Governor’s Office in Abeokuta, yesterday.

N18.38bn loan: Oyinlola, Aregbesola disagree at Osun probe panel • I took the loan in the interest of the state –Ex-gov

• It was taken in bad faith From BAMIGBOLA GBOLAGUNTE, Osogbo

sun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola and his predecessor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola yesterday appeared before the commission of inquiry set up by the state government to probe the circumstances that led to the procurement of N18.38 billion by the Oyinlola’s administration, with both parties disagreeing on the rationale behind the loan. The Prof. Femi Odekunleled commission was set up by Aregbesola-led government to probe all major financial transactions and contracts awarded by the immediate past administration under the leadership of Oyinlola. Oyinlola, who is the current national secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was accompanied to the Osogbo High Court, venue of the commission sitting by the former National Chairman (South West) of the party, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo and the state Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa, among other top members of the party from the South-West. Oyinlola in his remarks before the panel, said he appeared before the commission in the interest of the future of the state, as his appearance before the commission was for generations yet unborn to enjoy good governance, adding that he took the N18.38 billion loan in the interest of the state and not for any personal reason. Aregbesola, who appeared

before the commission shortly after Oyinlola had left, said his predecessor took the loan in bad faith, stressing that the loan was a handicap to the effective performance of his administration. Oyinlola also informed the panel that all actions taken by his administration when he held sway as the chief executive of the state, were in the best interest of the state, just as he affirmed that he took great care in ensuring that due process was diligently followed by making sure that the state executive council and the House of Assembly approved the loan. While admitting responsibility for the procurement of the loan, Oyinlola who said the House of Assembly advised his government to take the loan, stated that he sought the approval of the state executive council before he procured the loan from the United Bank for Africa Plc. He explained that the initial resolve of his government was not to take any loan, given the experience of the state with a second republic loan taken for the unexecuted Ilesa and Ejigbo water schemes which had remained an albatross on the state, but was convinced by the House of Assembly to shift grounds to ensure that the 2010 budget succeeded. He said: “During my budget presentation in November 2009, the House of Assembly advised me against my position of not wanting to take loans to execute capital projects on the ground of budgetary low performance. We were also encouraged to seek alternative sources of funding by an assurance that refund of

excess deductions from Osun State allocation by the Federal Government which was then put at about N70 billion would be received. It was based upon the above two reasons that we agreed to obtain the loan to finance the priority projects of government. “Disbursement of the loan was done through appropriate agencies of government. It was disbursed on projects as approved by the Osun State House of Assembly to be funded from the loan that was procured also with the consent of the House of Assembly. It is necessary to state that the projects under reference were contained in the Appropriation Law for the relevant year. Prince Oyinlola said the panel should note that his government after seven years took N18.3 billion loan while his successor within its first two months in office took N25 billion loan from the First Bank, declaring that he (Oyinlola) was a major stakeholder in the affairs of Osun State as his own father was one of the four traditional rulers who won independence for Osun Division, which eventually became Osun State. He added that the upgrading of nine government technical colleges with the bulk of the loan was his idea based on his experience during a tour of Israel where he discovered that youth unemployment and dearth of skilled craftsmen could be addressed by implementing the concept. He added that the project, if the Rauf Aregbesola administration had not stopped it two months after it

took over, would have met the goal of giving unemployed graduates the opportunity to acquire vocational skills from the institutions. He, however, stated that he took full responsibility for two projects that could not be completed as conceived by his administration listing the projects as the Free Trade Zone and the state hotel project. He disclosed that his administration committed N1.5 billion to the Free Trade Zone project and N430 million to the hotel project but lamented that the private investors, who were to contribute 70 per cent of the total cost did not fulfill their own side of the agreement while efforts ‘to use the law’ to address problems that arose out of the two projects were on when he left office. Aregbesola, who was accompanied to the commission by his Deputy, Mrs Grace Tomori and members of the state executive council, alleged that there was no viable technical college in any part of the state aside that of Osogbo as claimed by Oyinlola. The governor, who noted that ‘the construction of six stadiums by the Oyinlola’s government in a state like Osun when there was no national or international sporting challenge was senseless and reckless’, said he resolved to pay off the loan with a credit facility taken from First Bank in order for his administration to execute meaningful projects. Aregbesola, who expressed worry on why the loan was taken at the tail end of Oyinlola’s government also recalled that he inherited a government that was insolvent and there was no way for his government to take care of the needs of the electorate.

DAILY SUN Friday, September14, 2012, 13

AREWA Niger to realise N1.1bn from sale of 57 govt quarters From AKIN ALOFETEKUN, Minna

iger State Government is expected to realise about N1.1 billion from the sale of 57 units of government quarters in Minna, the state capital. The state Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Dr. Peter Saleh Sarki, who disclosed this to journalists in Minna said consideration would be given to occupiers of the quarters. He said the plan by the state government to sell the quarters was in line with the 2012 budget passed into law by the state House of Assembly, adding that government planned to sink the proceeds from the sale of the houses on the three arms zone projects of the state government. Monetisation policy of government, he said, did not allow for government to maintain houses, pointing out that only the governor, his deputy, the speaker of the state House of Assembly, the chief judge and the state grand khadi were exempted from the policy and should naturally be provided official quarters. Sarki said the passage into law of the 2012 budget by the assembly was an endorsement of the plan of government to sell off the houses, pointing out that the proposal would not be the first time government houses would be sold in the state. The commissioner said another set of 45 units of quarters in the Shehu Makama Housing Estate in Bosso, Minna have also been earmarked for sale. He asserted that the present administration in the state had, since inception in 2007, constructed over 1,000 units of government quarters in the state putting it ahead of any administration since the inception of the state in 1976.

Northern leaders warned over 2015 From AIDOGHIE PAULINUS, Abuja

orthern leaders aspiring for the 2015 presidency have been warned to immediately put an end to such ambition and refrain from acts that could overheat the poli-

ty.

The warning came yesterday from the Northern Nigeria Women Peace Forum (NNWPF) in Abuja, saying it was better for northern leaders to join hands with President Goodluck Jonathan to provide dividends of democracy to the entire country. The Coordinator of the group, Hajia Binta Kuraye, while reacting to a statement credited to the former speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Umar Na’Abba, that the North would not vote for President Jonathan in 2015 because he did lots of things wrong to the region, said President Jonathan had not marginalised the North in any way. The former speaker was reported to have said there was a wide gap between Jonathan and northerners and that northerners might not vote for him again. Na’Abba said: “Right now in the North, the feeling is that Jonathan is not worth voting for. People feel that most of the people who supported him didn’t have the morals to go and canvass for votes for Jonathan in the North. “Those whose houses were burnt during the electoral violence have not been compensated. Lots of people do not have faith in him.”

Benue govt collaborates with private sector to distribute blood sugar monitoring device From ROSE EJEMBI, Makurdi

enue State Government is collaborating with a private sector partner, DeeDoo Nigeria to distribute over 2,000 free PalmLab blood glucose monitoring device to diabetic patients in the state. Flagging off the programme in Makurdi, Wife of the Benue State governor, Mrs. Dooshima Suswam described the initiative as a clear demonstration of public private partnership that is founded on selfless commitment to the wellbeing of the people. According to her, the glucose monitoring devices were distributed to the victims of the disease in the state under the auspices of the newly initiated Diabetics Support Programme of the state government and her partner. The governor’s wife said the dangers posed by the productivity level of victims of diabetes was in question, which is the more reason why the state government was determined to avail the people this programme to help them live a productive life. Speaking on behalf of the governor, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. David Salifu assured of his administration’s determination to continue to accord top priority to all issues that directly affect the wellbeing of the people.

•Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa (right) inaugurating a new abattoir in Lafia yesterday.

Flood kills 7 in Bauchi ...As Kaduna issues fresh alert From PAUL ORUDE, Bauchi

o fewer than seven people have been killed in a flood that affected seven communities in Zaki and Gamawa local government areas of Bauchi State. The Caretaker Committee Chairmen of Zaki and Gamawa Local Government Areas, Alhaji Muhammad Babaji and Alhaji Kabiru Garba disclosed this yesterday when they conducted the Deputy Governor of the state, Sagir Aminu Saleh round the affected places. The two chairmen explained that the flood, which spanned over 35 kilometres washed away farm lands, houses and cut off the road linking Sakwa to Zaki Local Government Area. The chairmen said the flood was as a result of overflow of River Katagum, explaining that many displaced persons were sheltered in some primary schools away from the flooded sites. Residents of the area told newsmen that the flood was not unconnected to a spillover of a neighboring dam in Kano and Jigawa States.

Saleh commiserated with the victims on behalf of the state government, explaining the readiness of the government to assist them. He said government had directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to immediately send relief materials to the victims, adding that government had sent report to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for quick interventions in all the affected local government areas in

the state. In a related development, the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) yesterday advised residents on Abubakar Kigo Road in Kaduna North and Nasarawa in Chikun Local Government Area of the state to vacate the areas. A statement issued by Abubakar Adamu, the public relations officer of the agency, said the evacuation was necessary because of the danger posed by the impending flood. The agency said that the

...Benue govt creates 2 camps for displaced persons EJEMBI, have continued to count their losses. Some of the newly sublmost a week after merged areas include the flood sacked some Angwan Jukun area of communities in Wurukum, and the Water Makurdi, the Benue State cap- Works section of the ital, the water level has contin- University of Agriculture ued to rise just as the state where the water has risen government has made avail- above window level. Some members of Angwan able two primary schools within the capital city as Jukun who spoke to Daily camps for displaced victims Sun at the LGEA Primary School camp, including of the flood. More communities are Zakare Mohammed, Samuel daily being submerged by the Israel, Mrs. Titi Isah and surging flood even as victims Madam Janet Okoru lamentFrom ROSE Makurdi

Gunmen launch fresh attacks on GSM masts in Adamawa

8pm,” one of the residents, four people including two students of Adamawa State University and Federal Polytechnic, Mubi during Command Public Relations the attacks on some masts Officer, DSP Mohammed near the schools. Ibrahim, confirmed the two Residents of Mubi incidents. expressed concern over posIbrahim, however, did not sible communication cut-off specify the operators with the outside world if the affected by the attacks but said there was no loss of life assault continued. “In the name of God and during the Wednesday and everything good, we are yesterday incidents. It was gathered that gun- calling for a cease fire and men had last Wednesday dialogue,” pleaded one of launched similar attacks on the residents of the embatmasts in the commercial tled town who simply idenborder town, which killed tified himself as Aliyu.

unmen have launched who preferred anonymity fresh attacks on GSM masts in Mubi town told NAN. The state Police of Adamawa.

Residents of Mubi, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the latest attacks took place tat about 4a.m. yesterday. The residents said the attack took place in SabonLayi area of the town where explosives were thrown at one of the base stations in the area, damaging part if it. “Also yesterday, another tower near the market was attacked in the night around

advice was became the Kaduna River had over flown its bank and had made the areas to be flood-prone. “We have notified the affected persons in the floodprone areas they need to take precautionary measure by relocating from such areas. “Areas such as Uguwar Rimi, Rafinguza, Kakuri, Kabala, Haiyin Danmani and other communities along the River Kaduna bank need to take this message seriously,” he said.

ed that the water had washed away all their belongings. Mrs. Isah, who broke down in tears said she did not know where else to go with her seven children after the flood swept away all she had laboured for. When Daily Sun visited the LGEA Primary School, Wurukum, one of the designated camps for displaced persons, some of the victims lamented that even though the state government asked them to come to the camp since Wednesday evening, no government official had come to address them. Mr. Tyonum Emmanuel and Mr. Tyongbea Paul both of Kutcha Utebe area of Makurdi who are also taking refuge at the LGEA Primary School said they were yet to see any relief material which the government promised it would bring and appealed to the federal and state governments as well as well-meaning Nigerians to come to their aid. Also at the NKST Primary School, Wadata, venue of the second camp, displaced persons were seen coming to verify if they could take refuge there since the school resumed earlier in the week.

14,

DAILY SUN Friday, September 14, 2012

Foreign Affairs Criminals get virus installed in new computers

• Elite Philippine police commandoes man a machine gun mounted on a truck deployed in front of the US embassy in Manila yesterday. Photo: AFP

US embassies attacked in Yemen, Egypt • Libya arrests 4 over Benghazi attack

emonstrators attacked the United States embassies in Yemen and Egypt yesterday in protest at a film they consider blasphemous to Islam. In Yemen, demonstrators briefly stormed the grounds of the US embassy in Sanaa and burnt the US flag, but were driven back by security forces. In Egypt, 224 people were injured in protests, the health ministry said. In Libya, where the US ambassador was killed during protests in Benghazi on Tuesday, officials said they had made some arrests over the attack. US officials said they are investigating whether the attack in Libya was planned, citing suspicions that a militant jihadist group may have co-ordinated the violence. Meanwhile, Libyan authorities have made four arrests in the investigation into the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi in which the U.S. ambassador and three embassy staff were killed, the deputy interior minister said yesterday. “Four men are in custody and we are interrogating them because they are suspected of helping instigate the events at the U.S. consulate,” Wanis Sharif told Reuters. He gave no more

details even as he said those arrested are all Libyans. Hundreds of Yemenis broke through the main gate of the heavily fortified compound in the capital Sanaa,

shouting “We sacrifice ourselves for you, Messenger of God”. They smashed windows of security offices outside the embassy and burned cars. “We can see a fire inside the compound and security

forces are firing in the air. The demonstrators are fleeing and then charging back,” one witness told Reuters. A security source said at least 15 people were wounded, some by gunfire, before the Yemeni government ringed the area with

Egypt not US ally, nor an enemy –Obama

nited States President Barack Obama has said the United States does not currently consider Egypt to be an ally. He was speaking with reference to violent clashes at the US embassy in Cairo, over a US-made anti-Islamic film

which has sparked anger among Muslims. His comments also came after the storming of the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, which killed the US ambassador on Tuesday. President Obama referred to US-Egypt relations as a

•••Begins hunt for killers of diplomats

he United States has deployed warships and surveillance drones in its hunt for the killers of the four U.S. diplomatic staffers in Libya. A contingent of 50 Marines has arrived the country to boost the security of Americans here.. The drones are expected to gather intelligence that will be turned over to Libyan officials for strikes, the official said. Two American destroyers also are en route to the Libyan coast, U.S. officials told CNN. Both the USS Laboon and USS McFaul are equipped with satelliteguided Tomahawk cruise missiles that can be programmed to hit specific targets. The move “will give the administration flexibility” in case it opts to take action against targets inside Libya, one senior official said. As of late Wednesday, the McFaul was making a port call on the Mediterranean island of Crete, while the Laboon was outside Gibraltar, a few days away from Libya. Obama called Libya’s Mohamed Magariaf on Wednesday, thanking the newly elected president of Libya’s parliament for his condolences on the deaths of the Americans. “The two presidents agreed to work closely over the course of this investigation,” the White House said in a statement.

“work in progress”. “I don’t think we would consider them an ally, but we don’t consider them an enemy. They are a new government that is trying to find its way,” Mr Obama said in a television interview with Spanish-language network Telemundo. He said that so far Egypt’s government has “said the right thing and taken the right steps” but it has also responded to other events in ways that “may not be aligned with our interests”. President Obama also said that he expected Egypt to protect the US embassy and its staff.”If they take actions that indicate they are not taking those responsibilities, as all other countries do where we have embassies, I think that’s going to be a problem,” Mr Obama said. President Obama’s comments serve political purposes at home and abroad. Adistancing of Washington from the new order in Egypt will not upset the country’s new president whose own political background is in the Muslim Brotherhood camp highly sceptical of US goals in the region.

troops. An embassy spokesman said its personnel were safe. In Egypt, protesters hurled stones at a police cordon around the U.S. embassy in central Cairo after climbing into the embassy compound and tearing down the American flag. The state news agency said 13 people were hurt in violence which erupted late on Wednesday, following initial protests on Tuesday.

ybercriminals have opened a new front in their battle to infect computers with malware - PC production lines. Several new computers have been found carrying malware installed in the factory, suggests a Microsoft study. One virus called Nitol found by Microsoft steals personal details to help criminals plunder online bank accounts. Microsoft won permission from a US court to tackle the network of hijacked PCs made from Nitol-infected computers. In a report detailing its work to disrupt the Nitol botnet, Microsoft said the criminals behind the malicious program had exploited insecure supply chains to get viruses installed as PCs were being built. The viruses were discovered when Microsoft digital crime investigators bought 20 PCs, 10 desktops and 10 laptops from different cities in China. Four of the computers were infected with malicious programs even though they were fresh from the factory. Microsoft set up and ran Operation b70 to investigate and found that the four viruses were included in counterfeit software some Chinese PC makers were installing on computers. Nitol was the most pernicious of the viruses Microsoft caught because, as soon as the computer was turned on, it tried to contact the command and control system set up by Nitol’s makers to steal data from infected machines. Further investigation revealed that the botnet behind Nitol was being run from a web domain that had been involved in cybercrime since 2008.

19 killed in China lift plunge

platform lift at a construction site in central China has plunged 30 floors to the ground, killing its 19 passengers, state-run media report. The accident happened on Thursday in the city of Wuhan in Hubei province, says Xinhua news agency. The lift, which officials say fell 328ft (100m), mostly carried construction workers. Officials are investigating the accident, Xinhua says. “The accident occurred at the construction site, the elevator was being used for construction purposes,” a local official was quoted by AFP news agency as saying. It happened at 01:26 local time (05:26 GMT), the official added. Thousands of people die every year in work-related accidents in China, where safety rules are often flouted, correspondents say.

DAILY SUN Friday, September 14, 2012,

Foreign Affairs Anti-Islam film protests

he controversial low budget film reportedly made by an Israeli-American which portrays Muslims as immoral and gratuitous sparked fury in Libya, where four Americans including the ambassador were killed on Tuesday when a mob attacked the US consulate in Benghazi, and has led to protests across several Arab countries. Photos: AFP

•Yemeni protesters in Sanaa yesterday.

•Activists of an Islamic party burn the US flag during a protest against a film mocking Islam in Dhaka yesterday.

•An Egyptian riot police officer fires tear gas towards protesters during clashes near the US embassy in Cairo yesterday.

•Yemeni protesters try to break through the US embassy in Sanaa during a protest over a film mocking Islam yesterday.

•Egyptian protesters help a man who inhaled tear gas during clashes near the US embassy in Cairo yesterday.

•Egyptian protesters clash with riot police in Cairo yesterday.

•Kashmiri Muslims shout slogans during a demonstration against the controversial film “Innocence of Muslims” in Srinagar yesterday.

•An Egyptian protester grabs a tear gas canister to throw it back to the riot police during clashes near the US embassy in Cairo yesterday.

DAILY SUN Friday, September 14, 2012

NewsPlus Kogi/Enugu boundary dispute

Our story, by Ette community From TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt High Court rules in Abuja, instituted by Joseph Oodo, Matthew or several years, there has Ogwuche, Emmanuel Agada, John been a boundary dispute Onuche and Abdullahi Momoh between Kogi and Enugu Sani, representing Ette community, States over the rightful owner- against the National Boundary ship of Ette, a boundary town Commission and National Human between the two states. This has Rights Commission, this year, the led to a series of determined and applicants stated that the location of pending litigations between the the disputed community was clear and straight forward as could be two states. In separate encounters with Daily seen in the existing law and instruSun, counsel to Ette community, ments published from 1914 - when Mr. Festus Ogwuche, and the para- the Northern and Southern mount ruler of the community, Dr. Protectorates of the country were Aaron Osuman Ako, the Onoda amalgamated, till date. He said the right of members of Adogo V, said available records and the people, inhabiting the commu- the community to self-determinanity have lent credence to the fact tion as a fundamental right pursuant to Article 20, and the right to a genthat Ette belonged to Kogi State. Reacting to a publication, ‘Kogi eral satisfactory environment under youths take over Enugu communi- Article 24 of the African Charter, ty,” in the Daily Sun of September were guaranteed and members of 5, this year, Ogwuche disclosed that the community were by that right it was not true that Kogi youths citizens of Kogi State. He explained took over a community, belonging that pursuant to the articles 20 and to Enugu State. He maintained that 24, it was the fundamental rights of the Ette community was in the people to determine whom they Olamaboro Local Government were and where to belong. According to him, when the Area of Kogi State. He explained that by all existing natives noticed that there was boundary delineation instruments encroachment into Ette territory by and ethnographic considerations, the Enugu State government, they the community was nowhere close reported the development to the to Enugu State and could not be in Attah of Igalaland and Kogi State government. This, according to Enugu State. According to Ogwuche, Ette them, led the Kogi State governpeople are Igalas and have no single ment to drag the Enugu State govperson of Igbo blood. The commu- ernment to the Supreme Court in a nity is said to be under the direct suit marked SC1/2005. On February 8, 2007, the apex traditional authority of the Atta of Igalaland, Alhaji(Dr.) Aliyu Obaje. court delivered its judgment on the As gathered, in the Gazette of case. It directed the National names of the Federal Republic of Boundary Commission to settle the Nigeria, Volume 1, Fourth Edition, dispute between the two states amia revision of Third Edition pub- cably. As a result of unfavourable seculished in 1973 by the Survey Department, Federal Ministry of rity reports after the judgment, the Works and Housing, Ette (Ete) vil- then Inspector-General of Police, lage was placed in the South East of Mr. Mike Okiro, in a letter dated Idah in Benue State, at 07 02 lati- October 9, 2008 addressed to the Commissioners of Police, Kogi and tude and 07 27 longitude. Ogwuche, a native of Ette and a Enugu States, and signed by CP managing solicitor with a Port Austin Obaedo, Principal Staff Harcourt-based legal firm, Officer to the IGP, he summoned all Crownfield Solicitors, contended stakeholders on the land dispute to a that existing documents did not sit- meeting on Tuesday, October 21, uate Ette community in Enugu 2008. The meeting was said to have State. The documents, he stated, been attended by the commissionincluded existing maps of the ers of police in the two states, repreof the Federal Protectorate of Northern Nigeria, sentatives Kabba Province, Northern Region, Government, representatives from the map of Nigeria, showing the the two disputing states and memthree regional structure, the map of bers of Ette community. It was learnt that the resolutions Nigeria, showing the 12 states structure, the map of Nigeria, show- from the meeting included putting ing the 19 states structure (adminis- in place a standing Mobile Police trative and political) and the cultur- Force, a police station of a divisional headquarters status to ensure al map of Nigeria. In an application for judicial peace and security in the communireview of order 34 of the Federal ty and the entire border area. It was

purportedly agreed that the Kogi State Police Command should take over the security in the community based on the wholesome presence of the Kogi State government in Ette. As gathered, the Enugu State Police Command was directed to stay away from the community. Ogwuche alleged that a former IGP ordered the withdrawal of the policemen from the community. He said, though, that there was quick intervention from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) which ordered the policemen back to the community. He raised the alarm that some armed men have invaded the community three times, adding that leaders of the community have written letters to the appropriate quarters over the invasion. Ogwuche recalled that the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Kogi State, Mr. Joe Abraham, had on August 31, 2009, petitioned the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, in response to a petition by Senator Ayogu Eze on Ette community in Enugu State. In the petition, Abrahams revealed that the National Boundary Commission was yet to resolve the inter-state boundary dispute between the two states, particularly as it affects the placement of Ette community. Despite the long-standing conception or misconception, the commissioner further said, Enugu had been on the placement of Ette community. He explained that the people of Ette community were emphatic that they were Igalas/Idomas and not Ibos, and would like to be part of their people in Kogi State, pending the decision of the National Boundary Commission. He urged the commission to expedite action on the demarcation in order to resolve the boundary dispute. Meanwhile, natives of Ette community have urged the Enugu State government to investigate the origin and pedigree of some persons who claim to be natives of Ette before taking any action(s) on the community. The paramount ruler of Ette community, Dr. Aaron Ako, the Onoda Adogo V, enjoined the Enugu State government to allow his people to go with Kogi State. He advised the Enugu State government to be careful with those parading themselves as Ette natives. He assured that there was no tension in his domain and there was no group like Pro-Kogi Youths in the community. He argued that the per-

•Gov. Wada

•Ogwuche

•Gov. Chime ceived unrest in the community was caused by some “non-indigenous natives” who have no stake in Ette community. Commenting on the incarceration of Ette youth leader, Godday Eko, in Enugu State prisons since 2007, the monarch explained that Eko was arrested by the police during a midnight raid in the community sometime in June of that year. The monarch said the man was picked up for armed robbery, following a report lodged by one Mr. Emmanuel Alachi. He condemned the alleged refusal of Enugu State government

to consider Eko’s bail applications, which had been pending till date. He said the Kogi State Government had written six letters to the Enugu State Government over the matter, demanding Eko’s release. Besides, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Kogi State, Joe Abrahams, had written to his Enugu State counterpart to release Eko, adding that the two states were to obey the agreement reached in Lokoja to remain calm and avoid anything likely to heighten tension in the disputed area, pending the demarcation of the boundary.

Friday, September 14, 2012

DAILY SUN

NewsPlus Bombshell from NAPTIP

75% of kid hawkers, child slaves from Ebonyi From GODDY OSUJI, Abakaliki

or long, Ebonyi has been infamous for several reasons. It has been described as a factory where house helps, kids, hawking on major streets of urban cities, children that labour at rice mills and quarries, and others are produced in large quatities. But right now, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other related matters (NAPTIP) is getting worried about the state where 75 per cent of the entire victims from the South-East comes from. The agency, fully committed to the prevention of all forms of human degradation and exploitation, in an effort to stamp out human trafficking, liberate the vulnerable, especially women and children from dehumanisation, exploitative employment and ensure their rehabilitation and effective reintegration into society, recently embarked on a sensitisation drive to the womenfolk to campaign against child abuse. The Enugu Zonal Head, Mrs. Nkiru Emmanuel, went round the communities in Ebonyi State, talking to the women and men alike against the ills of child abuse and exploitation and engaging the under-aged, working at rice mills and quarries. She frowned at such an abuse and warned that the agency would not spare anyone found to have abused the under-aged, engaged them in an exploitative labour, slavery and sexual exploitation, forced labour and other related matters. She reminded them that such an offender risks being sanctioned according to the law as stipulated in the statute book. According to the Zonal Head of the Agency, the agency came into existence as a response to the scourge of human trafficking, child abuse and child labour in the country. She told the reporter in an exclusive interview that the agency was in Ebonyi State, which falls under the Enugu Zone made up of Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia and Imo States, because the state was plagued with different types of trafficking and child labour. Her words: “In Ebonyi particularly, child abuse is noticed. Most of them are not sending their children to school. Instead, they send them out to beg, hawk, work in the quarries and also in the rice mills. That is why we are particular about Ebonyi. And also, this issue of house help syndrome is endemic in this state; even child labour. When I talk about child labour, it involves both sexes. And when I talk about house help, it involves both sexes. We have house girls, house boys, and the victims we are getting in this South- Eastern zone, 75 percent of them are from Ebonyi State. So, that is why we are using this meeting of women to sensitize on this issue. In Ebonyi, there are 13 local government areas and each of these local governments s its different days of meeting, and all the communities in the local government are represented at the meeting. So, we wish to sensitize them so that they will be able to carry out the message to the grassroots because our mandate this year particularly is that everybody must hear about this evil called human trafficking and

•Mrs. Emmanuel

A boy-child hawker selling eye glasses

A girl-child hawker selling fish child labour.” Asked what the core message to the women was, she replied: “The message is for every woman. We are the pillars, the foundation in every society, every state. So, when you educate a woman, you have succeeded in educating a nation and some of our mothers are the ones sending out their children. So, we want them to know what is happening. Like, if you don’t have access to the child you are sending out, you can’t call the child... And some of these women are in the rural areas. They don’t even know where Lagos is and you are sending your child there and you can’t even travel to where your child is located. So, don’t send your child where you don’t know or have access to. Don’t you see it as a result of poverty? “Yes, poverty is part of it, but there are other factors. Being uninformed is one factor because they can’t come and deceive you or I. It is only the uninformed, the uneducated ones that they can deceive. And when a woman cannot take care of the number of

children she has, she decides to give out some. Another factor is greed because they have the food, the clothing and shelter, so what are you looking for? Maybe you have a bungalow, and you are looking for a storey building. You now decide to send out your child to get the money for you. Another factor is laziness. Some parents are lazy and even when you talk to them, they become aggressive and angry about it and will ask you if they are not their children. “On the issue of those that work in rice mills and quarries, we have carried out sensitization where we invited them and sensitized them. Then, after that, if it continues we have to arrest them.” She mentioned offences that attract various sentences as procurement of any person for illicit intercourse with another person; causing or encouraging the seduction or prostitution of any person under 18 years and the procurement of any person less than 18 years to have unlawful carnal knowledge, either in Nigeria or outside Nigeria. She explained that there were two types of

trafficking; internal and external. “While internal trafficking is all about street begging, house-help syndrome, forced marriage kidnapping, ritual and unpaid labour, external trafficking is all about exploitative labour, pornography, prostitution and homosexualism, drug peddling and recruitment for war,” she said. She also spoke about the causes of human trafficking. “They include, ignorance, low level of education, unemployment, poverty, greed, increased demand for cheap labour and peer pressure, while negative effects of human trafficking include, among other things, impaired growth on children, negative impact on national image, bad health such as HIV, tuberculosis, gonorrhea and negative effect on the country’s culture,” she explained. Mrs. Emmanuel argued that women should effectively participate in curbing the trend. She urged women leaders to select trustworthy women to form a committee in charge of taking children outside their homes. “This committee should also be in charge of human trafficking activities in their area and should report back to us as a kind of follow-up,” she suggested. She also advised that women should not give out their children to unknown persons or allow their children, especially the girl child, to be taken to places where they would not have access to them. She cautioned against handing out their female children to people of questionable character who might want to use them for prostitution outside the country. The NAPTIP boss reminded the women that children are gifts from God and as such proper care should be accorded them. She also warned them to be careful of people with sugar-coated tongues who come to take away their child promising to do all sorts of goodies for the child. She said many people come with the intention to take them for prostitution and slavery outside the country where they are subjected to all kinds of forced labour. While noting that even boys are subjected to prostitution, she advised mothers to monitor the whereabouts of their children. “You should be sure of where your child is. Even some that take them as house helps also use them as slaves from one family to the other only to collect money.” She warned that those found indulging in such abominable acts as well as parents who use their children to beg for alms would equally face the consequences as prescribed by law.

DAILY SUN Friday September 14, 2012

Restoration of Dana Operating Licence

he restoration of the Operating Licence of Dana Air on September 5 has been generating ripples across the country. The lifting of the suspension of the licence came about 93 days after the airline’s Flight MD-83 992 from Abuja to Lagos crashed in Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos, killing all 153 passengers and crew on board, and ten other persons on ground. Buildings and other property worth millions of naira were also destroyed in the June 3 incident. Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah, who announced the lifting of the suspension of the Dana licence via a terse statement said the decision followed the Federal Government’s satisfaction with the airworthiness of the aircraft after a rigorous technical, operational and financial audit. Aviation authorities, however, further explained that all the MD-83 airplanes in the fleet of the airline would still undergo further recertification before it begins full operations. Further reports also said the airline may still be appropriately sanctioned after the full report of the investigation of the crash is available. The minister, however, argued that the suspension of the airline’s licence after the crash was done in error, as it is not standard international practice to suspend licences of airlines when their airplanes are involved in crashes. This explanation notwithstanding, the restoration of the operating licence of the airline before conclusion of full investigation of the crash remains controversial. The government’s position leaves some critical questions unanswered. So far, no definite explanation has been given for the mid-air loss of two engines of the airplane. There is also no definite word on the timeframe for conclusion of investigations. As a matter of fact, some newspaper reports said the engines of the aircraft were only flown abroad for investigation recently. In other reports, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed that relatives of only 62 of the 153 persons on board the ill-fated aircraft have been paid the mandatory initial 30,000 dollars compensation because of sundry issues such as getting death certificates and letters of administration, multiple claims by victims’families and

slow pace of documentation by relevant authorities. The Director General of NCAA, Dr. Harold Demurin, also promised that all that had to be done would be done before the airline resumes operations. Under these circumstances, the lifting of suspension on Dana’s licence throws up many critical questions. For example: Has the cause of the accident been determined and has it exonerated Dana? It would have been helpful, even for Dana, for government to apprise Nigerians of details of investigations that led to the clean bill of health given to the airline, to allay the fears of Nigerians. The mere lifting of suspension on Dana’s licence is not enough. The people need to be convinced that the fleet of the airline is safe. This is even more so as the horrors of the crash are still so fresh with some of the victims yet to be buried. We think the government would have done better on this matter if it had resolved all outstanding issues before restoration of Dana’s licence. This, we daresay, is without prejudice to the legality or otherwise of the suspension of the licence. Going the whole hog to convince Nigerians that the airline’s fleet is safe and restoring the confidence of the people in the carrier are more important considerations. Now that Dana’s operating licence has been restored, it is necessary for the government to facilitate speedy conclusion of investigations so that the full report of the crash can be made available. The re-certification of the airline’s fleet should also be speedily done to rest whatever fears the flying public may have concerning technical and operational quality of the carrier. All hindrances to payment of compensation due to families of victims and those who lost properties should also be cleared, and the payments made, to smoothen the frayed sensitivities of the people. We wish Dana Air well as it begins preparations for commencement of operations. It is good that the company is already preparing its workers for re-training programmes. Let the airline continue to do all it can to further ease the pains of victims of the crash as it strives to justify this fresh confidence reposed in it by the government.

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Nigeria’s weekend aircrashes and sacrificial circles LETTERS Thank you, Governor Obi

I wish to use your medium to appreciate my governor, Mr. Peter Obi, for his intervention in resolving my seemingly intractable problem with the State Civil Service. Permit me to recount my ordeal and the soothing balm from the Anambra State helmsman which brought me back to life. I suffered irregular dismissals from Anambra State Civil Service in 1981 and 1995. I tried everything I could to seek redress and secure reversal of the draconian decisions that sought to repress me. Nothing worked, and I succumbed, albeit with reservations, to the dungeon of 'Dismissed Civil Servants' with the multiple social stigmas. When it is said that God's time is the best, some mortals do not appreciate the full import. That it took the Israelites four hundred years of suffering in Egypt before the good Lord sent Moses to liberate them came real in my situation, with the emergence of Mr. Peter Obi as the Governor of my state, Anambra in 2006. Having watched Mr. Obi's approach to gov-

ernance and his unparalleled commitment to justice and equity, I told my family that it was time to seek God's intervention in my unending pains. I then forwarded my petition to the Governor; and true to my belief in his respect for fairness, my case received fair review and my dismissal was nullified. As I write this, I have not been able to reach the Governor personally to thank him for facilitating fairness in my case, just as I did not establish any personal contact with him since I put in my petition. I wish to use this medium to sincerely thank His Excellency, Governor Peter Obi, for his care for the oppressed as well as for all the good works he is doing in my state: 'Your Excellency Sir, you have offered therapy to my mental and physical strife and stress; you have pumped new life into me, my wife, my children and all who look up to me for direction in Okija and beyond. May God continue to uphold the Governor as He did King David. B.J. Umeh. Anambra State

Every single major aircrash in Nigeria in the last 10 years has taken place on a weekend. EAS Airline crashed in Kano on June 4, 2002 resulting in the loss of 77 souls. This took place on a weekend. Bellview Airlines crashed in Lisa village just outside Lagos on October 22, 2005, resulting in the loss of 117 souls. This took place on a weekend. Sosolisso Airline crashed in Port Harcourt on December 10, 2005 resulting in the loss of 108 souls. This took place on a weekend. ADC crashed in Abuja on October 29, 2006 resulting in the loss of 105 souls. This took place on a weekend. A Nigerian military plane crashed in Oko village, Benue State, on September 17, 2006 with the loss of 15, Generals of the Nigerian Army. This took place on a weekend. Wings Aviation Airline crashed on March 15, 2008 in Cross River State with the loss of three souls. This took place on a weekend. In 2009 and 2010, there were series of small light aircraft crashes, an Air Force jet crash and helicopter crashes in Kano, Lagos and Kaduna that took place each resulting in loss of lives. They mostly took place on weekend. An OAS Helicopter crashed in Ife Odan in Osun

State on July 29, 2011 resulting in the loss of three lives. This took place on a weekend. On June 2, 2012 a Nigerian cargo plane shot off the runway into the highway behind Accra's Kotoka International Airport resulting in the deaths of 10 Ghanaians that were driving past the airport in a bus. This took place on a weekend. The following day, on June 3, 2012 Dana Air crashed into a residential area in the suburbs of Lagos resulting in the loss of about 160 persons. This took place on a weekend. Curiously, the Dana crash of June 3, 2012, took place exactly 10 years and one month (less one day) after the EAS crash of May 3, 2002. This clearly represents the end of a 10-year sacrificial cycle. Another curious fact is that there had been an earlier ADC Airline plane crash on November 7, 1996 in which 142 souls had perished. Exactly 10 years (less 9 days) later, on 29th Oct 2006, another ADC Airline plane crashed again with the loss of 105 souls. This again represents the end of a tenyear sacrificial cycle. Femi Fani-Kayode Lagos. CMYK

DAILY SUN

Friday September 14, 2012

Ndigbo, Jonathan and 2015 D

espite our current existential and socioeconomic problems as the most populous Black nation in the world, Nigeria is still an interesting country to live in. In the last six weeks or so that this column did not appear due to my unannounced annual vacation, many readers called to ask why the unexplained absence. One of them, Alhaji Alhaji, my brother and friend from Sokoto State, called me on the issue after he returned from Hajj. To him and numerous others, I hereby tender my unreserved apologies. I promise that such AWOL, as I term that absence, will never occur again without prior notice. I say so because you are my audience. You are the only reason I write. In this enterprise, you are the king and I am your humble servant. Pardon me for the digression. During the recent official visit to Anambra State of President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonthan, so many issues were raised during the well-attended Town Hall meeting at the new Governor’s Lodge in Onitsha. At the occasion, Chief Arthur Eze, a well-known Anambra businessman and politician, was among those called by the governor to ask a question. Eze, in his usual best elements, did not ask the president any question. Instead, he used the platform to urge the president to run for another term of four years because, in his estimation, the first four years will not be enough for him to solve the problems he met on ground. He argued that Olusegun Obasanjo ruled for eight years before handing over power to Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. In the same manner, he wants Jonathan to rule for eight years before handing over power to the North. Eze is entitled to his opinion on 2015. It is in consonance with his freedom of thought and expression as guaranteed by Nigerian Constitution. This was and still remains the personal view of Arthur Eze. His opinion does not in any way represent the official position of the entire people of the South-East (Ndigbo) or their cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo on 2015. In fact, Chief Eze or any other Igbo chieftain or group is free to air his view on 2015. Ours is a free society in which freedom of thought and expression is allowed. And many have been doing so. Prior to Eze’s advice, which some people erroneously took as an Igbo endorsement of President Jonathan for 2015, the people of South-East had stated that Ndigbo will produce

Robert Obioha 08084951442 robobioha@yahoo.com Nigeria’s president in 2015. The people of the South-East made that statement based on the logic that it is still the only geo-political zone out of the existing six that never produced the country’s president or civilian head of federal government. Please note that the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s presidency does not reckon in this exercise having been a ceremonial one under the parliamentary system of government that was in practice during the First Republic. Therefore, the Igbo aspiration to produce the nation’s president is right and valid. But whether the Igbo will still go ahead to actualize this dream in 2015 or not is very futuristic. And most humans lack the capacity to determine what the future will be. And since politics is a game, anything is possible. I do not think that the Igbo will find it difficult to decide where their support will be come 2015. It is indeed not an issue that should pose a problem as some critics are insinuating following divergent positions on the issue by some Igbo politicians and leaders. For avoidance of doubt, the presidency is our right and we shall get it one day. It can be 2015 or whatever date. Our methodology to make it happen is best known to us. If you are going to war, you don’t disclose your tactics. Politics in Nigeria is like war, you go to it with tact. Nigerian politics is like a mask dancing, if you want to see it very well, you don’t stand at a point. You need to change positions to get what you want from Nigerian politics. There is no doubt that those behind the Igbo agenda are focused and they know where they are leading Ndigbo come 2015. Their capacity to achieve the Igbo presidency is not in doubt whatsoever. Their decision to support Jonathan in 2011 was well taken. It was not a mistake. There is no regret for that. The support was borne out of love, patriotism, equity and good conscience. The same reason can be adduced for Igbo

support for Obasanjo in 1999 and 2003 respectively. It was in the same thinking that Ndigbo supported Shehu Shagari in 1979 and 1983. The Igbo nation also supported the regime of Tafawa Balewa through the NPC/NCNC alliance. President Jonathan did not commit any crime by contesting the 2011 general elections. It is his right to seek for any political office in the land. Those saying that he disrespected his party’s zoning arrangement are hiding the truth. The truth is that death truncated Yar’Adua’s supposedly given eight years on power. Naturally and Constitutionally, Jonathan found himself in the saddle. It is not of his making either. Similar events in Malawi, Ghana, and Ethiopia have exemplified it and yet heaven did not fall and nobody fought over it. 2015 is still far. To politicians, it is already here hence Eze used the occasion of Jonathan’s visit to publicly urge him to run for the presidency in 2015. Some critics are of the view that Eze said similar thing to the late maximum ruler Gen. Sani Abacha, when the latter was contemplating transmuting himself to life president, a project most Nigerians hate and vehemently opposed. Abacha’s bid to change from military ruler to civilian president and subsequent endorsement by the then five political parties was so odious that the late Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, described the exercise as the five fingers of a leprous hand. Leprosy, in time past and now, was and is still a dreaded disease. Whether Ndigbo had gained from supporting past Nigerian presidents from other ethnic nationalities or not is still a debatable issue. Such theme is never the concern of this essay. Maybe in future, I may examine it. The position of Ndigbo in 2015 is very clear and simple. It is never complex. Those making it look complex are either misreading the situation or deliberate-

ly provoking trouble where none exists. Ndigbo will support Jonathan or another candidate they deem fit in 2015. If the other candidate happens to be Igbo, so be it. If not, life will still go on for there is time for everything. There is a time to vote and a time to be voted for. And come 2015, President Jonathan can present himself for re-election. It is his right. But if the president would take the plunge again, such a decision will depend on some crucial factors and not necessarily that an incumbent must go for a second term or that the South-South must complete eight years before power goes to the North. Jonathan’s second term bid must purely be based on performance. If Jonathan can consolidate the improvement in the power sector and make life more secure for Nigerians by providing their basic needs of water, shelter, road, education, health, jobs and food; Nigerians, including members of the opposition, will campaign for him. If Jonathan can fulfill 50% of his campaign promises, Nigerians will endorse his second term bid effortlessly and urge him to come and complete the good works he has started. Fortunately for the president, he has three more years for his first term to end. Three years is enough to achieve 50% or more of his campaign promises anchored on the transformation format and ideology. Another term for Jonathan will not be based on lofty electioneering campaign slogans tailored to whip our emotions and sentiments. Nigerians will not fall to such a bait as fresh air again or dealing with one of our own, somebody who went to school without shoes and all those emotive phraseology. Winning the 2015 elections should go beyond the current drama of endorsements here and there. Nigerians are much wiser now and have their eyes wide open. Officials of INEC should be informed that Nigerians will not tolerate rigging come 2015. If you are still in doubt of what will happen should the 2015 exercise be compromised, ask Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). Whoever will emerge as Nigeria’s president come 2015 should work and earn it. It should be based on performance or one’s track record of accomplishments and not on someone’s creed or ethnicity. Incumbency factor is not a guarantee for 2015. Only performance will ensure the reelection of an incumbent as demonstrated by Edo people recently.

Youth unemployment and restiveness BY EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO & NNEKA OKONKWO n Nigeria, democracy has been restored for over a decade ago, with so much hopes and expectations by the people. For instance, it is assumed that with democracy, people would be free to choose their leaders and representatives and hold them accountable for the overall objective of fast tracking development and improving the general living condition of the masses. This expectation is not misplaced considering that Nigeria has abundant human and natural resources in different parts of the large land mass of Nigeria that ranks as the largest black nation in the world with estimated population running to 150 million. However, the reality on ground has shown that this expectation is yet to be realized and just as the globally respected writer and novelist Professor Chinua Achebe wrote in his scholarly booklet titled "The Trouble with Nigeria", Nigeria's fundamental crisis of development lies squarely with non-visionary political leadership because there is absolutely nothing wrong with our geography or climate as a country created by God. Hence, the growing sense of despondency among the masses and especially the younger population who ought to be groomed, economically empowered to become very productive and contribute significantly to Nigeria's economic advancement. In other countries in North Africa like Tunisia, Egypt and Libya where dictators have held sway for over three decades, people made up largely of restive youths have revolted against the system and in some cases have successfully removed such dictatorship to make way for the new found democracy even though in places like Tunisia and Egypt, the expectations of the revolutionary youthful populations have not been sufficiently met because some forces are attempting to hijack the outcome of the popular revolutions to install their reactionary elements to control the political process. In Egypt for instance, the pro-Islamic brotherhood candidate, Mohammed Mursi, who emerged as the elected and inaugurated President of post Arab-spring Egypt has started imposition anti-media laws against perceived opponents? Though these countries can be rightly said to be

less democratic than Nigeria, yet the living condition of the people in real economic terms is better (Abati 2011, a; Abati; 2011b; Adejumobi, 2011). Furthermore, the unemployment rates in these countries are more or less like that of Nigeria (Ojenagbo,2011). The major concern here, therefore is, given the kind of violent agitations that pervaded the above mentioned countries with relatively better living conditions than Nigeria, what is the guarantee that the large army of unemployed youths will not engage in activities that would undermine the stability of democracy in Nigeria? The problem of chronic youth unemployment is very evident in Nigeria. Every year thousands of graduates are churned out for whom there are no jobs and the relevant government agencies like the Federal Ministry of Labour/Productivity and that of youth development have spectacularly failed to formulate and implement pro-job creation policies to sufficiently galvanize the innate talents and overwhelming energy levels of these young Nigerian graduates of Universities and other tertiary institutions. Nigerian streets are unfortunately littered literary with youth hawkers who, ordinarily, would have found gainful employment in some enterprises and the female younger street traders are consistently sexually molested by depraved adults and the Nigerian government is very weak to take proactive measures to prevent the frequent cases of violent sexual offences and bring indicted suspects to justice. The anti-rape legislations are so weak and antiquated even as the operatives of the Nigeria Police lack integrity and the necessary capacity and skills to bring sexual offenders to effetive prosecution and sanction in accordance with the provisions of the law. The large number of youths who are unemployed are capable of undermining democratic practice, as they constitute a serious threat if engaged by the political class for clandestine activities (Adepegba, 2011; Ibrahim, 2011; Lartey, 2011; Olatunji & Abioye, 2011). We need to recall the ignominious role played by restive youth in the oil rich Niger Delta region prior to the Federal Government's declaration of general amnesty and we need to also know that majority of the foot soldiers of the armed Islamic

insurgents in the North waging war of attrtion against the Nigerian State and other non-state actors like Christians and moderate muslims, are youthful persons who claimed to be unhappy with the status quo. Although in this instance of mass killings by armed Islamic fundamentalists, there is absolutely no justification for the ongoing madness. Although youth unemployment is often considered as a social problem, but it is also an industrial sociology issue especially as it relates to the supply of, and the demand for labour. For instance, no matter the relative economic benefits or gains workers may be enjoying or are reportedly making in their places of work, if the labour market is saturated thus giving rise to youth unemployment, this will make socio-economic and political environment “hostile”, “unstable”, “insecure” “unsafe” and “rancorous”, and such benefits or gains enjoyed by the workers will be eroded. These are the views of tested and trusted Scholars and knowledgeable experts. Youth unemployment, therefore, could be described as the conglomerate of youths with diverse background, willing and able to work, but cannot find any when the supply of labour outstrips the demand for labour, it causes “joblessness” and unemployment”. Given the lack of sufficient employment in the formal sector, young people may be compelled to engage in causal work and other unorthodox livelihood sources, thus leading to under-employment. (Echebiri, 2005; Gibb & George, 1990; Onah, 2001) For Awogbenle and Iwuamadi (2010), the statistics from the Manpower Board and the Federal Bureau of Statistics showed that Nigeria has a youth population of 80 million, representing 60% of the total population of the country. Also, 64 million of them are unemployed, while 1.6 million are under-employed. Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina noted that Nigeria's unemployment rate is spiraling upwards, growing at 11 percent yearly, According to him “Youth employment rate is over 50 percent. “Our unemployment rate is spiraling, driven by the wave of four million young people entering the workforce every year with only a small fraction able to find formal employment.

The rising tide of unemployment and the fear of a bleak future among the youth in Nigeria, have made them vulnerable to the manipulations of agents “provocateurs” as can be seen from the increasing cases of violent crimes such as armed kidnappings for ransomed payments, targeted/hired assassinations and other manifestation of organized crimes like drug/human trafficking that have become unprecedented in our clime. Have we ever wondered why armed kidnappings seem to have become larger than life in our modern day Nigeria? The shock however is that Governments at every levels in Nigeria pay lip service to actually providing workable panacea to these disturbing cases of youths' involvement in violent crimes. The other day as some of us participated in the first ever Presidential retreat for civil society leaders hosted by President Jonathan in the State House in Abuja on September 6th 2012, what came out from the meeting is that most Government officials are not really interested in doing the right thing for posterity but are concerned deeply about entrancing themselves and their interest in the body politics. I came to this conclusion because as we entered the Banquet hall where the event was to take place, the organizers carefully ensured that the sitting arrangement is done in such a way that the actual leaders of the organized civil society are kept far away from the high table even as members of the Federal Government ministerial cabinet dominated the front chairs thereby preventing free flow of discussion. Most of us could not get the opportunity to tell President Jonathan a piece of our mind regarding the cases of violent crimes and weakening situation of law enforcement all across Nigeria because of this skewed sitting arrangement. It is clearly evident that the absence of job opportunities in developing countries is responsible for youth restiveness with disastrous consequences and the case of Nigeria is not an exception as traces of youth involvement in highly organized violent crimes become ever more disturbing and are indeed on the rise without any feasible solution in place by Government to confront these dangerous trends frontally. Onwubiko and Okonkwo write from Lagos. CMYK

DAILY SUN Friday September 14, 2012

Jonathan-bashing: Farewell to sense and sensibility? BY NOSA JAMES-IGBINADOLOR ho is a Columnist? A Columnist is that guy who after a particularly bloody battle, comes down the hill to the battle field. He surveys the aftermath of the horrific scene of combat with anguish and distress, shakes his head in revulsion at the futility of war, then picks up a gun and shoots all the wounded in the back! Perhaps, this description aptly defines the mentality and personality of the scribbling and chattering classes that are daily thrown at our faces by the political junta who control the Newspapers and T.V stations in the country and deplore these appendages to confront those that are politically, ethnically and attitudinally different from them I have often found myself cross-examine the concept of hate especially against the background of a highly divisive social and political environment like Nigeria characterised by the ascendancy of dubious columnists, pseudo-analysts, pseudo-writers, ersatz intellectuals and lily-livered editors with access to the columns and the front and back pages which they have used to advance untruths, fallacies, discontent, anarchy and outright lies. In a country where the ownership of the media is mostly in the hands of economic buccaneers with disconcerting links and linkages with an ethically debased political system dominated by morally deficient politicians, the end product has over time been a media that has been used to settle political scores, dehumanise personal and political opponents and criminalise those who have little or no access to the media. The sordid incivility and loss of courtesy that currently pervades the nation's political landscape not only raises serious questions about the place and

role of the opposition in the democratic process but also calls for an intensive interrogation of the quality of media in the country, many of which can only validate their existence and sustenance by churning out affronts, slurs and libels coated in columns and back pages against the government of the day. I watched the President a few days ago while declaring open the Nigerian Bar Association conference lament that he was probably the most criticised leader in the world. The President might have lightly made that specific assertion, but there is no doubting the fact that the President felt that many of these criticisms and insults were unjustified if not malevolent. I am, and no doubt most Nigerians are, advocates of quantitatively unbridled but qualitatively restrained criticism of institutions and leadership of the time. Rigorous analysis of policies, programmes, actions and inactions of those our votes put in different offices is essential in promoting best values and practices that hitherto would be absent where we in an environment characterised by hero worship and a cult of personality a la North Korea. President Goodluck Jonathan's government is not a totalitarian Stalinist dictatorship with an elaborate cult of leadership around the President or his family, nor is the President a benevolent guide for the nation without whom, the transformation to a better future cannot occur. On the contrary, the President has displayed at all times meekness and a contriteness of spirit in his dealings with Nigerians and non-Nigerians. Yet the opposition and the haters never fail to paint his humility and modesty as dangerous weakness and precarious flaws that makes him unworthy to lead. When the President takes bold decisions such as the removal of subsidy on petroleum prod-

BY PAUL COLLIER ne of the key features that distinguishes an effective organisation is that it succeeds in motivating its workforce. Every Nigerian business faces this challenge, and those that fail go bankrupt. The Nigerian public sector faces the same challenge, but unlike the private sector, failure has no consequences for the organisation itself. All the consequences are suffered by those who need the service that the organisation is meant to provide. Until recently, econom¬ics reduced motivation to money: people worked hard only if their effort was linked to financial incentives. But the new work of Nobel Lau¬reate, George Akerlof, is forcing a rethink, and his ideas matter even more for Nigeria than elsewhere. Akerlof's proposition is that people work harder and better if they identify with the goals of the organisation. He poses the question: 'What makes a good plumber?' and the answer is that it isn't just skill. If you get a plumber who has properly understood what it means to be a good plumber, and who has made the leap of identity “I am a good plumber”, then he is more likely to do a good job fixing your leaking pipe. In short, a sense of iden¬tity matters for performance.

In effective organisations, the management knows this and so devotes time and resources to inculcating such a sense of identity in its workforce. Akerlof gives examples of how successful American companies go about it. For example, a technology company actually offers its new recruits a $10,000 leaving bonus if they will quit after six months. Only those who have identified with the company stay, so it weeds out the un¬committed. Why does this matter for Nigeria, and where does it matter most? Because of its oil revenue, Nigeria has a very large public sector, at federal and state levels. Throughout the world, it has proved difficult in the public sector to design financial incentives that are closely linked to effort. Even more than in the private sector, good perfor¬mance depends upon those leaps of identity: “I am a good teacher; I am a good nurse; I am a good customs officer.” But in Nigeria, those leaps of identity are all too rare. Of course, there are many good teachers in Nigeria's schools, but there are not enough of them. Average standards are low. A recent study of Nigerian teaching surveyed thousands of ten-year olds and found that a majority were not yet functionally literate. Tracing back to find out why, the study concluded that many of the teachers were themselves barely literate, sometimes despite holding teaching cer-

ucts, the haters gather with a brawny sense of iniquitous purpose and label him hard-hearted, mean and unresponsive to the public mood, never minding the fact that this “public mood” had been engendered by a devious use of the media at their control. Never before has it been so bad for a country's leader and the reason is obvious. The haters abhor President Jonathan's chutzpah especially after he had the 'audacity' to contest and win the 2011 election. After all, he was not supposed to do that. They supported him, rallied for him and put their grip of their newspapers and T.V stations at his disposal so that he could assume office in 2010 at the height of the Yar'Adua imbroglio. The powers expected him to understand and not even think of 2011! Sadly he did not understand their body language and since then, the axis of hate; whom I have often defined as a coalition of latter-day democrats, petty thieves who as Governors stole their states blind, Gani Fawehinmi wannabes, perennial but failed Presidential candidates, losers in the ever dynamic power games and columnists, in the media, have coalesced together in a pact of steel to put “the drunken fisherman” in his place. The strategy is simple but has been proved to be effective; when the President makes a mistake, criticise him as incompetent. When he takes bullish and effectual policy decisions, ignore them and call him incompetent. When he takes his time to ruminate over the varied options before him, dye him as slow and incompetent, when he responds quickly to any national or global demand, label him hasty and incompetent. After sometime, the label of incompetence sticks, the President is scarred for life and his legacies and achievements are de-historicised from the chronicles of the country. Has the President's leadership of the country

been so bad and deficient of any form of credible dividends? The obvious answer is No! The Jonathan administration has driven the successful design and implementation of the Petroleum Industry Bill, a bill of momentous impact that would revolutionise the oil and gas industry once passed by the National Assembly. The Jonathan administration continues to drive the expansion of the power sector infrastructure started by the Obasanjo government with credible dividends in terms of electricity output and with a strategic plan for unparalleled electricity output by 2015. The putting into place of the strategic framework for the implementation of the SURE programme with its attendant creation of 360,000 semi skilled and unskilled jobs, the empanelling of the management of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority to manage the excess crude funds hitherto a slush fund for ever demanding state governors are clear outcomes that cannot be wished away by the President's opponents. What about the agricultural revolution going on in the country supervised by Dr. Akinwunmi Adeshina, the Minister of Agriculture; nothing excites me as much as the drive and vision of the Minister. Never before has so much emphasis been placed on reviving the agricultural potentials of the country. It is no longer about buying and selling fertilisers; it is now all about turning agriculture into a business. Of course, the haters do not like this to be known. The success story must not be told or their mission will get derailed. James-Igbinadolor writes via nosa.igbinadolor@gmail.com

tificates. Either such teachers have not properly understood what it means to be a good teacher, or, more likely, they have not made that crucial leap of identity. I am a good teacher! That they have not made this leap is, first-and-foremost, a failure of their employers which are the state govern¬ments. This makes an initiative of Governor Obi of Anambra State particularly noteworthy. Many of the schools run by his administration had initially been founded and run by local churches. His initiative was to hand these schools back to the churches to run, while leaving their teachers on the state payroll. Thus, teachers were not threatened by the change, nor did their financial incentives alter. But if Akerlof is right, then the change of management may well make an important difference. Unsurprisingly, the school management put in place by many of the churches emphasizes commitment. Teachers are encouraged to refresh their sense of duty and stewardship towards the children for whom they are re¬sponsible. Further, the man¬agement itself is connected through the local church to community. Not only is it likely to be more motivated than many bureaucracies, it is more readily connected to parents, whose attitudes and support are also important to bring the best out of children. Governor Obi's initiative will need to

be evaluated, but it is completely in line with the latest thinking in economics. Across Nigeria's vast public sector, motivation is deficient. Sometimes, it shades into outright corruption, but probably the more important manifestation is just underperformance: people are not working at the limits of their abilities. This really matters: low productivity in the public sector condemns the society to deficient pro¬vision of services that are essential for progress. The private sector has a ball and chain around its ankles. Yet, it is very hard to reform a large, ineffective organiza¬tion from within. Inevitably, workers expect tomorrow to be much like today. If I expect other employees to continue underperforming, I would be foolish to improve my own effort. A synchronized large-scale change of man¬agement, such as Governor Obi has achieved, may be the best way of achieving a quantum improvement: ev¬eryone involved can reason¬ably expect tomorrow to be different. What is needed is a range of such experiments. Some will work better than others, but if combined with proper evaluation, Nigerians can learn what works best.

Money, motivation and the Anambra example

Collier is a Professor of Economics and Director of the Centre for the Study of African Economies at the University of Oxford

Save Anam from flood disaster

BY ROMANUS OKOYE nam people and most riverine communities in Anambra State may experience the worst period of their lives, if urgent provisions are not made by the government -state and federal, to suppress the effects of the flood that is currently ravaging and may submerge the area going by the information from the Head of Public Relations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Yushau Shuaib. This ugly situation was occasioned by the Jebba and Kainji hydroelectric power dams said to have attained their highest water levels in 29 years, which is unprecedented in the history of the dams. The water is also said to have passed the gauge for monitoring the flow of water in the river by one meter. As a result of this impending disaster, the Head of Public Relations advised the residents of the communities to move to higher grounds for safety. The States at risk of the flood are Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Kebbi, Anambra State and Delta. In Anambra State, the local governments affected include Anambra West, Awka North, Ayamelum and Ogbaru. According

to the agency, the affected States have been asked to take necessary precautionary measures by relocating people from the flood prone areas; and activated the National Contingency Plan as well as alerted all stakeholders to take necessary action in line with their various mandates. They said the states are to ensure compliance with the threat in order to avert imminent loss of lives and properties that would certainly arise in the event of flooding. Specifically in Anambra West, the flood affected most parts of the communities in Anam, Nzam and Olumbanasa. Worse still, it has cut-off the entire food producing communities from the other parts of the state making it virtually impossible to use any other means of transportation other than water transport. Once again, this situation has brought to the fore the imperative of constructing an-all-season's roads in the area, especially the very important Otuocha-Ibaji-Lokoja federal road that will connect the eastern part of the country to Abuja and also open up the food producing communities in the area. However, the Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Mike Afah, said that the compilation of

the details and the identities of the farmers that lost crops were on going for possible compensation and support from the government. The government will assist the farmers in providing free seedlings next farming season. In addition, the executive Director of Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Austin Ijezie, said the agency has started making moves to help the people now because it is now that they need help. He added that Governor Obi will tour the area with helicopter to ascertain the level of damage. The executive director also said that he had asked the House of Assembly member Hon. Victor Okoye who represents the area to follow the necessary protocols of applying for approvals from the office of the governor and he would follow up so that the governor will eventually act on the letter; meaning that Governor Obi may also have visited the area by the time this publication is out, to witness, first hand, the disaster and enlighten the people on the government's plans for them. No doubt, Anambra West people are happy with Governor Peter Obi's administration because it is the only one that made the people feel the impact of government

despite the painful fact that no indigene of Anambra West was appointed into the executive position in the state. Generally, it is believed that if other administrations had done half of what he, has done in the area, probably the local government will not be clamouring for more government's attention today. These people may not be able to help themselves. Therefore, all the agencies responsible for providing relief materials must ensure that they live up to the expectation of the people. And the representatives of the area at the federal level must join hands with the governor to see that the people are protected from natural disaster that is beyond their control. The governor may not be able do it alone. Ironically, this area under threat is the same area where the bulk of oil that made Anambra State an oil producing state will be coming from. Advisedly, the government must relate with the people who will be affected or may have suffered loss and ensure that whatever is given as compensation or relief gets to the people it is meant for. This is to avoid situations where self appointed individuals use such opportunities to enrich themselves and forget about the victims. Okoye is on the staff of The Sun

DAILY SUN Friday, September 14, 2012

Memories

Philip Nwosu 08176449110

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

Today in History

Hollywood princess dead On this day in September 1982, Princess Grace of Monaco died of the injuries she sustained in a car crash near Monte Carlo. The Hollywood actress Grace Kelly - who starred in the Alfred Hitchcock hits Dial M for Murder and Rear Window - suffered a brain haemorrhage. A statement issued by the royal palace said she died at 2130 GMT after her conditioned worsened throughout the morning and become irreversible by the afternoon. It also said the former film star’s husband, Monaco’s head of state Prince Rainier, and her three children were at her bedside when she died. The US-born princess’ youngest daughter Stephanie was in the car at the time of the accident, but suffered only light bruising. The news of her death was unexpected as previous reports from the palace had indicated that despite broken ribs, leg and collarbone she was in a stable condition. The Monaco royal family also released an account of yesterday’s accident and said the princess had lost control of the car when the brakes failed. After leaving the road her 10-year-old Rover tumbled 100 ft (30.5 m) down a ravine, turning over several times before coming to rest in a garden.

1982

Gani Fawehinmi with late Dele Giwa and Chief MKO Abiola at the Federal High Court in 1982 when Dele Giwa was charged with publishing classified documents under the Shehu Shagari regime. With them also is Ray Ekpu of Newswatch

Nigeria moves against Guinea’s coup plotters 2003

The Federal Government of Nigeria on this day in September 2003 reacted to the putsch in Guinea-Bissau describing it as “unwarranted and unconstitutional.” It also called for an immediate reversal to the status quo ante. A similar position was adopted by the Economic Community of West African States. This, observers say, may be prelude to sending soldiers to the country to restore democratic rule. President Kumba Yala of Guinea-Bissau

toppled in a military coup, which the planners described as peaceful. The country’s Chief of Staff, Gen. Verissimo Correia Seabre, has subsequently declared himself the interim president. “I am going to assume the presidency of the republic until there are elections,” Seabra declared to Portuguese State Television, (RIP) in an interview. Soldiers announced that they were setting up a transitional government to include “all national political orientations.”

All government ministers have been ordered to report to a public building in the capital of the former Portuguese colony. Radio stations have been broadcasting a message from the army, saying it had seized power because President Yala had failed to resolve the country’s problems. President Yala dissolved the government last November, promising new elections but they have been postponed four times since.

Napoleon enters Moscow One week after winning a bloody victory over the Russian army at the Battle of Borodino, Napoleon Bonaparte’s Grande Armée on this day in September 1812 entered the city of Moscow, only to find the population evacuated and the Russian army retreated again. Moscow was the goal of the invasion, but the deserted city held no czarist officials to sue for peace and no great stores of food or supplies to reward the French soldiers for their long march. Then, just after midnight, fires broke out across the city, apparently set by Russian patriots, leaving Napoleon’s massive army with no means to survive the coming Russian winter. In 1812, French Emperor Napoleon I was still at the height of his fortunes. The Peninsular War against Britain was a thorn in the side of his great European empire, but he was confident that his generals would soon triumph in Spain. All that remained to complete his “Continental System”–a unilateral European blockade designed to economically isolate Britain and force its subjugation–was the cooperation of Russia. After earlier conflict, Napoleon and Alexander I kept a tenuous peace, but the Russian czar was unwilling to submit to the Continental System, which was ruinous to the Russian economy. To intimidate Alexander, Napoleon massed his forces in Poland in the spring of 1812, but still the czar resisted.

1812

DAILY SUN

Friday, September 14, 2012

LASAA uncovers increase in structures after signage/billboard enumeration

he enumeration exercise to capture data of all paid and unpaid signage and outdoor advertising structures embarked by the Lagos State Signage & Advertisement Agency (LASAA) in March 2012 has now come to an end. The project, a key component of LASAA’s Outdoor Masterplan, was aimed at making the agency operate as effi-

ciently as possible. It involved verifying, collating and evaluating a detailed robust and structure signage/outdoor database. Speaking at the send forth ceremony organised for the enumerators, the Managing Director of the agency, Mr. George Kayode Noah, thanked the 475 temporary workers for a job well-done. He used the opportunity to inform all present about the benefits of the

exercise. “From the reports compiled by the Enumeration Project Team, we now have on our database over 300 per cent increase in signs not previously captured on our books. Similarly, we have recorded huge increase of 70 per cent in the number of billboards (third party structures). The enumeration has confirmed our earlier assumption that signs and outdoor structures on our books were enormously understated,”

he said. Mr. Noah also went down memory lane on the painstaking effort undertaken in the recruitment exercise of the enumerators. He stressed on how an initial projection of 250 adhoc staff soared to 475 due to the requirements of the project. “As part of their task, the enumerators were required to evaluate all signs and outdoor structures in the state. A dedicated

software was provided for this purpose to enable the enumerators capture and categorise data in terms of image, GPIS location, size, content and chargeable rate”. He went on further: “The outcome of this report will provide a veritable platform for regulatory efficiency and revenue optimisation without increasing our rates.” With the enumeration completed, the agency is better posi-

Dora takes the fun to Nigerian kids with National School Tour

Hard times await kidnappers, robbers – Bolanta, Imo CP From NGOZI UWUJARE, state. Ibadan He warned all the divisional police officers (DPOs) and he new Commissioner the area officers to be ready of Police, Imo State for the task ahead: “It is not Police Command, Mr up to two weeks that I came Adisa Bolanta, has that we smashed a child-trafdeclared war against kid- ficking syndicate, operating a nappers and armed rob- baby factory in Aba.” bers in the state. He said “We arrested the suspects hard times now awaited when they sold a child for them. N450,000 and police later Bolanta said the Inspector recovered a male child from General of Police, Mr. M.D. a woman in Lagos State. The Abubakar, has instructed him suspects confessed that they to chase kidnappers and had been into the illegal busiarmed robbers out of the ness for eight years. They said over 25 babies had been

sold so far.” Bolanta added that seven suspected cultists were arrested: “I am here to sanitise the state. I want to say that we arrested more hoodlums and they are still under investigation. I have told my officers and men to shun corruption. They should be ready to work and face the challenges that this period poses. We are not taking any chance.” He said vehicles of the “Operation Rescue Mission” will be patrolling the nooks and crannies of the state on 24 hours, especially the Owerri/Onitsha Expressway and Owerri/Aba Expressway. He assured the residents that all black spots would be raided from time to time: “I am operating an open-

tioned to manage its signage regulatory functions, as it has created a digital map of all signs in all locations across the state. More importantly for the agency’s stakeholders, its revenue profile is set to increase as the data captured will provide key details of all unregistered signs and structures of owners, who will be required to regularise their signs.

By BOLATITO ADEBAYO

Bolanta door policy. My door is open to the public 24 hours. We need the cooperation of residents to provide us with useful information on criminals and their hideouts.” He further urged the residents to always obey the law, saying nobody should try to live above the laws because law, according to him, is no respecter of anybody.

rom this month, Nigerian primary school kids can win a special visit to their school by children’s TV heroine Dora the Explorer, thanks to Nickelodeon. Global entertainment phenomenon, Dora and her monkey pal Boots, will visit five schools across the country in Dora’s Back To School Tour - entertaining children and teachers with fun singalongs. Dora’s Back To School Tour is part of the Access Early Savers Financial Literacy for Kids campaign, which aims at teaching children, aged 4 - 9 years, financial literacy. The tour follows the Dora Fiesta in Lagos in December last year, which was a huge, success, attended by over 4,000 adoring Dora fans. The event prompted hundreds of requests from kids and parents to have Dora the Explorer visit their schools. Schools have been advised to apply if they are interested in Dora the Explorer visit, they are to register for the Early Savers Financial Literacy for Kids campaign at www.nickelodeonafrica.com or give a brief justification of why you think Dora and Boots should come to visit their school.

DAILY SUN

Friday, September 14, 2012

ECOWAS wrong on mass execution in Gambia

ithout doubt, Gambia’s President Yaya Jameh is a wrong man excercising powers to enforce existing laws in his country. Even on that score, his colleagues in Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS) would still be wrong to fault him for being a wrong man. However, they are not querying him as such. Instead, he is being criticised for excercising powers confered on him under the constitution, the major of which is the enforcement of laws. Lately, Yaya Jameh incurred the wrath of his colleagues for executing murder convicts after due process of law. Even if the Gambian leader was wrong, (and he wasn’t), he could only be so faulted because he is occupying office with the conspiracy of his ECOWAS colleagues, who should therefore share the blame. Much as death penalty is lawful in Gambia as it is in United States, a popularly elected Gambian president (in place of YAYA Jameh) might have equally affirmed the death sentences or commute ll to long period in prison. Typical of African leaders, Yaya Jameh blatantly rigged the last presidential elections in Gambia, such that outside observers from all over the world, including Africa, condemned the polls as marked by complete irregularities. It was even a marked improvement in the conduct of elections that, quite unusually, African observers joined in writing off the elections which kept Yaya Jameh in office. Remarkably, Yaya Jameh got into power through military coup and served in that capacity almost ten years before contesting elections to retain power. In effect, ordinary nomenclature The last election in Gambia was a purported renewal of his mandate for another five or seven years. Following the universal condemnation of the elections, all other African leaders lacked the moral and courage to raise a critical voice for obvious reasons - rigging of electtions is virtually the standard practice by all African leaders.. What is more, some ECOWAS leaders are themselves beneficiaries of military coups after which, like Yaya Jameh, they perpetuated themseves in office. Therefore, no matter how illegitimate Yayah Jameh may be as Gambia’s leader, he is, at least, the de facto in charge, and there cannot be a vacuum or anarchy/civil war will prevail. Since Yayah Jameh is in charge especially with the complicity of his ECOWAS colleagues, his main duty is to enforce subsisting laws. It was in that capacity that he incurred the anger of his colleagues. In democracies where death penalty operates, once an accused is sentenced and he has excercised all his rights under the law up to highest court in the land, not only is it legitimate for any government to carry out the sentence, it is also an unjustifiable torture to keep them in death row waking up every morning expecting the hang man. Imagine such condemned convicts kept in prison for years thereby congesting jail houses. Inhuman to hang them? It is more inhuman to keep them in jail, uncertain of their lives. By its name, the execution in Gambia was decongestion of prison with full force of law as pronouced by legal courts. Noticeably, all those hanged commited murder and none was denied legal rights. Critics even seem to be unaware that the sole revenue earner in Gambia is tourism, with foreign visitors from all over the world and that over recent years, robbery, leading to increasing rate of murder of such visitors dented the image of the West African country, with sole base of the economy gradually diminishing. What was the justification for ECOWAS leaders to criticise the Gambian government for enforcing laws in its area of autthority? First, ECOWAS has no power under its

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Today treaty to compel a member state to abolish death penalty. Each country is therefore free to enforce laws as obtains in its domain. Second, Senegal acted within its power to criticise the execution of two of its citizens among those executed. But that does not mean Gambia is, in any way, wrong to hang convicts, including foreigners, duly sentenced by its law courts. The onus is on an alien domiciled in, or passing through a foreign country to comport him/herself strictly within the laws of the host country, even if, and no matter how such laws are obnoxious. No foreign-

er has the right to dictate the mode of domestic laws to a country. Where a foreigner violates such laws , he faces the punishment. That was the very point Senate President David Mark made last time when he alerted Nigerians in foreign countries to steer clear of laws on capital punishment or face the music because, according to him, Nigerian government would not plead on anybody’s behalf in such situation. Like the Senegalese who were executed in Gambia for committing offences carrying death penalty, Nigerians had strayed into such risks abroad in China, Malaysia

‘As long as and wherever death penalty exists, a dutiful government is well-placed to enforce the law. The weakness of ECOWAS leaders on the death penalty as well as other issues that should be directed towards domestic interests, is that they are pandering to the dictates of their foreign masters.’

Jameh

and Singapore and were duly executed for drug offences. There was nothing Nigerian government could do on those occasions to save its citizens. The same helplessness should apply to Senegal in its fury over the execution of its citizens in Gambia. Today, learning from such frightening lesson, non-Senegalese West Africans Nigerians, Ghanaians, Togolese, Sierra Leonians, Guineans, Ivorians, Benenoise living in or passing through Gambia will not dare violate laws in that country carrying death penalty. In fact, such Nigerians are advised to return home to commit such offences, especially murder, with the assurance that after their sentence, Nigerian government will keep them in prison feeding them fat at the expenses of suffering tax payers. The fact that Nigeria is lame or indecisive on death penalty does not mean other ECOWAS countries determined to instill discipline among their citizens should be unduly criticised. And there is nothing inhuman about death penalty. If it was not inhuman for an accused to murder fellow citizen in the first place, he should be made to face the punishment of death. Who can justify the senseless murders committed all over the place in the past ten years, especially such murders committed for political differences? ECOWAS countries should be aware of the intimidation to which they are being unduly focussed by foreign bodies. Such focus is ominous. Why Africa? In the United States, at least, more than thirty states still enforce death penalty and only last month, about the time Gambia was carrying out the executions, Texas State in America also executed a murderer. Misguided libertarians who championed the abolition of death penalty in Europe and some states in America are today regretting, as murder, for no purpose, is now virtually daily ritual even in good old England where culprits now regard murder as as a sign of prowess. Those concerned are only not bold enough to publicly concede thier shortsightedness in abolishing death penalty. Execution of nine convicts in Gambia was made to appear too many for a single excercise. Should the Gambian government have spread the executions over a period of say, three or five days without being accused by the same ECOWAS leaders of turning enforcment of law into a week-long festival? In any case, here in Nigeria in 1953, eleven sentenced for the murder of a muslim preacher, Alfa Bisiriyu Apalara, were hanged on a single morning at Broad Street prison, Lagos. That was under colonial rule. In mordern day independent Nigeria of power weilding and influence peddling, such murders would have escaped with the backing of ruling politicians. As long as and wherever death penalty exists, a dutiful government is well-placed to enforce the law. The weakness of ECOWAS leaders on the death penalty as well as other issues that should be directed towards domestic interests, is that they are pandering to the dictates of their foreign masters.

Americans hard done by

t is only natural that a good gesture should be appreciated. At least, such gesture should not be rewarded with ingratitude. Winston Churchill replaced Neville Chamberlane as British prime minister on the eve of the second world war. The main reason was the generally perceived weakness of Chamberlane in the face of the bellicose rattling of Germany’s Adolf Hitler. As expected Churchill successfuly led his country throughout the war. He should therefore have been duly appreciated by his country with an easy re-election as prime

Minister.. Even for that once, Britons massively voted out their hero in the 1945 post-war election. This is the nearest self-consolation Americans can offer themselves in their present grief. This week, American Ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens and three other diplomats were murdered in an arson attack on their consulate in Bengazhi, eastern region. Overall, United , on all fronts, aided the people’s revolt last year to remove late Colonel Muammar Gadaffy after a forty-two-

year authoritarian rule. In that effort, late Ambassador Steven was credited not only as spear-heading American support but also for excercising personal diplomatic influence on behalf of the dissidents throughout the revolt. It is therefore an irony that the same Libyans murdered their major diplomatic benefactor, Ambassador Chris Stevens. Such a crime is worse than ingratitude. That is life. In south west Nigeria, the saying is that once a king settles on the throne, the first victim is the king maker.

DAILY SUN

Friday, September 14, 2012

Osun tourism sector has triple benefits –Commissioner By RAZAQ BAMIDELE

ommissioner for Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism in the State of Osun, Sikiru Adetona Ayedun has said that tourism sector in the state

was yielding triple benefits for the people in the state, saying “tourism has effectively become part of the income generating aspect of this administration.” The Commissioner, in a chat with Daily Sun said “the fore-

sight of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administration in the state over tourism is already yielding dividends it is intended to yield,” saying the efforts have now become a tripod that benefit the government, empower the people

through generation of employment and assist in the improvement of our tourist sites. “When tourists come into this state, they sleep in hotels. If that so, it is part of what we want tourism to achieve by generating revenue for the

people. Then to generate revenue for improvement of our tourist sites through the sale of our memorabilia and condiments like kolanuts and bitter kola. These are direct revenues to the citizens which are also part of what we want to use the revenue to do. “We want a situation where the people would have enough resources to improve their trades and business. We know that anybody that comes into the state would be able to spend a minimum of a thousand dollars or a thousand and five hundred dollars. And by that, even if the government wants to tax the citizens, it will be comfortable for them to pay the tax because whatever commercial ventures they are

into, they are already getting patronage,” Ayedun explained. He attributed the success of tourism in the state to “unequalled peace and security being enjoyed in the state,” the Commissioner also asserted that “the success also can be traced to to a lot of improvement on the tourist centres and standardization of the cultural festivals that has made them attract visitors from within and from the Diaspora.” The magic, according to the youthful Commissioner, was about the participation of the private partners in the sector admitting that the state does not have the huge resources the sector will gulp to bring it to a world standard.

Eze Ohazulike raises alarm over impostors By BROWN CHIMEZIE

ze Nwabueze Ohazulike, Eze Ndigbo, Lagos State and National President of the association of Ndieze ndigbo in diaspora has raised alarm on the activities of misfits and

fraudsters parading themselves as representatives of the Ezendigbo institutions. He warned the public to ignore these people and avoid them. While alerting that these unscrupulous people are circulating an installation invitation cards carrying his names as the royal father of the day for the institution of an Ezendigbo in Ghana tomorrow Saturday, September, 15, 2012. He advised people to disregard such invitations as Ezendigbo in the person of Eze Mokwugo Nwoye has already been installed on July 23, 2012.

Mum assembled 20 girls for me to pick a wife – OKEY ISIMA Pg35

Controversy trails Omosexy’s big bum –Pg27 Michelle Obama’s understated elegance –Pg32

TSweekend SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

•Sports •Fashion •Music •Movies •Celebrities •Interviews •Events

VICTOR OLAIYA 60 years on stage, still counting…

TSweekend SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

THISWEEK

Singing through the years

here is probably no other person that can tell the story of highlife better than legendary Ghanaian artiste, E.T Mensah, who is widely acclaimed to be the pioneer of the music genre.

In his words: “Highlife is a compound word in the English language – High and life. Before 1932 when I started my music, there were some form of brass and woodwind instruments such as trumpets, horns, saxophones, clarinets and flutes. These instruments we called conventional instruments and there were ballroom dances such as waltz, quickstep, slow foxtrot, etc. Around 1933, there was in Accra, The Rodgers Club in just the same form as the Island Club of Lagos. Because of the colour bar, only Africans patronized the Rodgers. Ballroom dances were held at the club and brass bands supplied music, which were mainly conventional tunes. When the music (dance) had gone far enough, especially after midnight when most of the dancers had tasted a lot of wine and beer and were elated on high, there went the request for something like free music which everybody could just participate and dance freely... Eventually, when we wanted to fit free music in a place for indigenous music, we could not find a right name for it. Some people called it goeme, others called it osoede and some highlife. “In 1957, when Ghana had its independence, a convention was held at the Accra Community Centre under the chairmanship of Hon. E. Davidson, a Minister of State, to find a fitting (indigenous) name for highlife because its name was foreign and could not present the true meaning of our independence. At the meeting, it was overwhelmingly decided that the name osoede must replace the word highlife. The resolution was, however, not a law so, while some people were calling the music osoede, others were calling it highlife. But it was in 1952 when I came out with my tunes, Esie Nana, Nkebobaya, Tiemansem and All For You on Decca label that the name highlife became fully established…” Having established its roots as a popular musical genre in Ghana, highlife spread like wildfire to other West African countries including Nigeria. Dr. Victor Abimbola Olaiya is reputed to be the oldest and most active highlife musician in the world after the demise of Bobby Benson in 1983, E.T Mensah in 1996 and Jerry Hansen, leader of Ramblers Dance Band of Ghana, who died recently at the age of 85. In this edition of TS WEEKEND, Olaiya, the acclaimed “Evil Genius of Highlife”, who will celebrate 60 years on stage on Sunday, September 16, 2012, opens up on his sojourn in music. In the sports section, readers will find revealing the confession of Adelaide Kingson, who claimed to have bewitched her husband, Ghanaian footballer, Richard Kingson and rendered him impotent and useless. Also, sports lovers will find interesting how former Green Eagles star, Okey Isima, found a wife through his mother, In addition to these are all the regulars like Lifestyle, Film & TV and Gourmet Lounge. Have a swell weekend!

THE TEAM Tosin Ajirire

Entertainment Editor

Gbolahan Dada Sports Editor

Josfyn Uba Style Editor

Sam Olatunji

>Tosin 08056008696

Deputy Entertainment Editor

Joe Apu

Chief Correspondent

CONTENTS

Chimaobi Uchendu

Senior Correspondent

Sam Anokam, Braide Damiete, Monica Iheakam, Mercy Jacob and Kate Halim Correspondents

Tony Ogaga Ehrariefe, Demola Balogun, Christine Onwuachumba and Aderinsola Ajao Contributors

30 Mr. Ayodele Richard Aluko–Olokun clocked 50 years recently

31 4th Wole Soyinka prize for literature in Africa

Chima Jupadim

Assistant Chief Proofreader

Shina Ogunbiyi, Kayo-Sanya Kayode and Paul Nnayereago Layout & Design

TS WEEKEND is a weekly publication of THE SUN Publishing Ltd. 2 Coscharis Street, Kirikiri Industrial Layout, Apapa. PMB 21776, Ikeja, Lagos. 01-8980932, 6211239 Email: tsweekend@sunnewsonline.com Website: www.sunnewsonline.com

SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

SKOOPS

TSweekend

WITH TONY OGAGA 08127879911

Controversy trails Omosexy’s big bum H

• OMOTOLA BEFORE

as Nollywood diva, Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde, had a bum lift? That’s the question on the lips of her admirers following the release of her photos spotting a blue denim skirt and a dark top recently. The bum lift stories started flying around after the mother of five popped up at an event on Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos, looking so sexy and ‘edible’ that a fan got so excited and remarked that even a Buddhist monk would have renounced his vows just to have a roll in the hay with her. “The Omotola we used to know was shapely not as bootylicious as this. But the dimension of her bum today is just awesome! Look at how flat her tummy is. Combine that with the size of her hips and you have a sex goddess. It all suggests that she must have had a bum lift. What we are seeing today is the product of cosmetic surgery; bum enhancement. There is no way she can deny it; she’s definitely had a bum lift,” the source insisted. However, an insider close to the actress denies the story, insisting that Omotola did not do a bum lift rather, it’s just her natural physique that’s on display. “Omotola is a callipygian by nature. That is her real physique. What makes it so obvious now is that she has added a little weight. People should stop spreading rumours. Okay, if she could do a bum lift, why not breast enlargement as well because we all know she has rather small boobs. That tells you it’s all rumours,” the source remarks. Anyway, Skoops brings you the pictures of Omotola then and now. You be the judge.

• OMOTOLA NOW

Julius D’ May D may sue P-Square Genius Agwu stranded in US W e may not have heard the last of May D and his erstwhile label, Square Records as feelers indicate that the estranged singer has wrapped up plans to sue Square Records for mil-

s you read this, comedian Julius Agwu is in a quandary, as he is stranded in the United States after successfully staging his comedy show, Crack Ya Ribs in the country. And he is lamenting because the Air Nigeria that took him to America no longer exists, following billionaire owner, Jimoh Ibrahim’s shut down of the airline recently. The comedian who flew to London for his ‘Crack Ya Ribs‘ show, which was held on August 26, lamented bitterly on his tweeter page, asking if it was a crime to support Nigerian businesses. • AGWU

lions of naira. Insiders say the musician is so peeved at Square Records because of the way he was dumped and now he has sworn to fight to the finish. “It’s a fight to the finish,” a source squealed to Skoops. “May D feels he has been cheated, used and dumped and so he has decided to take the fight to the law courts. Forget all the talk that there was no binding contract. By virtue of their association, which lasted for so many years, there is a

• P-SQUARE AND MAY D WHEN THE GOING WAS GOOD

valid contract and May D is going to fight them to the finish!” The source added: “As I speak to you, May D has hired a seasoned lawyer and Square Records should start digging in for a very long court battle unless they want to settle out of court.” Though, cracks had appeared on the wall long ago, it was only a couple of weeks back when Jude Okoye issued a statement terminating May D’s contract that the shocking revelation came to light that the artiste never had a valid contract with the record company. “May D is really mad. He feels like he has been used and dumped like a guinea pig, and he has sworn to fight to the finish until his rights are enforced,” the source further said.

TSweekend SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

VICTOR OLAIYA

BY TOSIN AJIRIRE

or Dr. Victor Abimbola Olaiya, OON, the show must go on even as he celebrates six decades on stage on Sunday September 16, 2012. Olaiya is reputed to be the oldest and most active highlife musician in the world after the demise of Bobby Benson in 1983, E. T. Mensah in 1996 and Jerry Hansen, leader of Ramblers Dance Band of Ghana, who died recently at the age of 85. Born on December 31, 1930 to Pa Alfred Omolona Olaiya, a church organist and Mrs. Bathsheba Ayodele Olaiya, a folk singer in Calabar, Cross River State, Olaiya, who hails from Ijesa Isu in Ekiti State, started his career in 1946 with blowing the French horn for his school band at African College, Onitsha, Anambra State. Not a few were amazed by the young Olaiya when he suddenly advanced to the B Flat Cornet, before graduating to trumpet Bb. He took this dexterity to the Lagos City Orchestra in the early ‘50s before moving over to the late Bobby Benson’s Jazz Session and finally Sam Akpabot’s band. He later went solo in 1954 when he formed the Cool Cats Orchestra in conjunction with the late A.B.C Cole. Since then he has waxed series of popular albums and performed at major events including the “State Ball” organised in honour of the Queen of England in 1956 and Nigeria’s Independence celebration in 1960. Having performed for the Queen and at the independence celebration, another major engagement awaited Olaiya when Nigeria became a republic in 1963, as his Cool Cats Orchestra shared the stage with famous American jazz artiste, Louis Armstrong. He capped all these with his appearance at the famous Prague International Jazz Festival in Czechoslovakia, where he represented Africa and made her proud. With a fan base that extends beyond the shores of Nigeria, Olaiya’s prolific style of highlife had earned him academic awards by various universities and professional bodies, including an honorary doctorate degree in music from Czechoslovakia and an array of titles such as “The Evil Genius of Highlife” and “The Wizard of Highlife”. Olaiya’s last major performance was at the Golden Tunes Concert and Lifetime Achievement Awards organized by Evergreen Musical Company Limited and held at the Lagos City Banquet Hall in October 2010. At the show, 45 Nigerian and Ghanaian music icons were presented with various awards. THE EVENT Having clocked 60 years on stage, Evergreen Musical Company Limited led by Mr. Femi Esho and lovers of highlife music have come together to honour Victor Olaiya with a big celebration party scheduled to hold at the ultra-modern Lagos City Hall, Lagos Island, Lagos on Sunday. Already, a Board of Patrons has been constituted to make the day a success. It includes former Ogun State governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, former Cross River State governor, Mr. Donald Duke, Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola, wife of Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, and Erelu Bisi Fayemi, wife of Ekiti State governor, Mr. Kayode Fayemi. Others are Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, Senator Ben Obi, Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi, Prince Yemisi Shyllon, and Femi Esho. The highlight of the event is a formal presentation and launch of Victor Olaiya’s “Heritage Compendium” - an 80-track compilation of the legend’s works over the last 60 years. Apart from featuring Victor Olaiya’s All Stars Band, the evening of highlife music, which has the support of Lagos, Ekiti, Osun, and Ogun

State governments, will also parade some other veteran musicians and new generation artistes from across the country. Olaiya’s children will equally thrill guests. In this exclusive chat with TS WEEKEND, the highlife icon shares his experience spanning six decades of active music. It’s vintage Victor Olaiya! You are above 80 and still waxing stronger, what’s the magic? I owe everything to God, the Almighty. There is no special magic about that. I thank God and I feel on top of the world, like every happy young human being. YOU PERFORMED AT NIGERIA’S INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION IN 1960, YOU ALSO PERFORMED AT NIGERIA @ 50 CONCERT IN 2010, HOW DID YOU FEEL PERFORMING AT BOTH LANDMARK OCCASIONS? The performance was very good as usual, except that I had to modernize and improve on some of the chronological aspects of my music, trying to make sure that those songs that I recorded some 50 or 60 years ago are improved upon.At Nigeria @ 50 concert, Governor Raji Fashola was at the Banquet Hall of Eko Le Meridian and the place was jam-packed. I was very happy because as soon as I mounted the stage and played for 10 minutes, the governor and his wife came on stage and opened the floor, dancing. It was an elevated stage and many VIPs joined him and his wife in dancing. That was the highlight of the show that night. We were very happy. NIGERIAN MUSIC IS MORE THAN 50 YEARS OLD; CAN YOU SAY WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS? In my own opinion, we are actually not moving forward. I am talking about all kinds of Nigerian music that exist now; we are copying and trying to make as much noise as possibly we can. Talking about Nigerian music, we are not moving forward, we need the assistance and help of the media to be able to project this kind of Nigerian music, highlife, and help us move forward in any fair degree. WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE THE YOUNG MUSICIANS EMBRACE HIGHLIFE MUSIC? I think much depends on the media; the media seems to be tilting and paying more attention to hip-hop, reggae and other foreign music. The media should lift the tempo and project Nigerian highlife very well and all will be well by the grace of God. CAN YOU TRACE THE ORIGIN OF HIGHLIFE MUSIC? Highlife has been in existence before I was born, and even before the late King E.TMensah was born. We grew up to know about highlife and it is the popular music of the West African coast. Highlife is the peculiar music of the West African coast, although, it has been embraced by the whole of Africa and its all over the world. We grew up to know highlife, and what we did was to give it a colour or finetune it. That is why we have highlife of Nigerian origin, highlife of Ghana, and highlife of Sierra Leone origin etc but we all called the music highlife. Femi Esho

Highlife has been in existence before we were born and even now, all we try to do is fine tune and make sure that all the world knows that there is this music that is being in existence and is still in existence, and it will continue to be in existence by the grace of God. WHAT MAKES HIGHLIFE UNIQUE, IS IT THE INSTRUMENT, PERCUSSION OR VOCALS? I think the uniqueness of highlife music lies so much in the musical instruments that we employ in producing highlife. Predominant in Nigerian highlife music are the guitar, talking drum and the bass. The uniqueness is also in the musical arrangement. My arrangement is different and distinct from the late King E.T Mensah’s arrangement. In the first place, the Nigerian highlife has five beats while the Ghanaian highlife has three beats in a bar. Just like you are playing the chords. The arrangement by the artiste concerned is another major factor that makes the highlife different from any other type of music. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO MAKE TRUMPET YOUR OWN PECULIAR INSTRUMENT? The uniqueness about the trumpet lies in the sound. It pierces through the whole brand of music. If you are leading a band on the trumpet, there is the tendency for you to make sure that the instrument played dominates the music and that is why I fell in love with the trumpet before I became a musician. I went into music although from this life concept and I metamorphosed to the base track trumpet. I made sure that I make trumpet the most piercing instrument because there are other piercing instruments like the clarinet and soprano but I made sure that trumpet becomes the most piercing in my brand of highlife. DID YOU EXPERIENCE ANY DIFFICULTY IN LEARNING HOW TO PLAY THE INSTRUMENTS? I know the trumpet is a hard instrument to play and that is why a number of musicians detour from playing the trumpet and they go to all other instruments like the saxophone, and clarinet. It is not easy to play the trumpet so to say, if you want to play the trumpet, I exercise my lungs because as a professor said to me, ‘the trumpeter hardly suffers from tuberculosis because that is the part of the body that is mostly exercised’ and it is difficult for the trumpeter to have lung problem. It is true that the trumpet is a hard nut to crack and that is why a number of instrumentalists shy away from playing the trumpet. HOW DID YOU COME INTO MUSIC? My mother happened to be a member of a cultural group; in fact she was the group leader. My father was playing the organ in the church and this goes to confirm the fact that music runs in the family. With this as the background, it was easy for me to go into music, and with prayers and God’s blessing, to be able to make a success of it. So As far back as 1946, I attended the African School of music in the

SEPTEMBER 14, 2012 TSweekend

VICTOR OLAIYA East. I later joined the African Jazz Band and from there, I moved to Lagos to play in Effiong’s Dry Band, a street band, where I was earning one shilling and six pence every month. From there, I graduated having played the baritone sax and the trumpet and got promoted to the B Flat clarinet. Then, I moved to B Flat trumpet and played with Prof. Samuel Akpabot’s All Stars Orchestra. I later played in Bobby Benson’s band. I was given one of the trumpets, which I played with zeal. When I left Bobby Benson, I decided to have a band of my own called the Cool Cats Orchestra in 1954. We were just playing for the fun of it because we all loved music. As providence will have it, the band grew and stood the test of time and became an impressive and highly reputable band. On a particular Saturday night, we had several top Nigerian and Ghanaian ministers that came to dance at the West End Coliseum including the late Rotimi Williams, Fani Kayode, and S.L.A Akintola. Eventually, the Coliseum became the talk of the town and a social nightclub for the elites and this was how we went on. Cool Cats Orchestra was number one band in Lagos and we got finances and very good musicians, we provided everything and the band went on and on. I had plans to go overseas to read Law, my late brother, Ebi Olaiya was a very prominent lawyer and surveyor but as providence would have it, here am I still playing music. I have no regret playing music and not being able to read Law. WHEN DID YOU RELEASE YOUR FIRST ALBUM AND WHAT’S ITS TITLE? We released our first album in 1954/55. It’s titled Ku Si Mi Laya. It was slang loved by all the dignitaries, the elites who came to the Cool Cats Inn and everyone including the late F.R.A Williams, when they were dancing will say ‘Gba de se, Ku si mi laya’. There was a special composition called Ku Si Mi Laya 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 but we only recorded one. And each time we say Ku si mi laya, all of them will respond. The next album happened to be Konko Ji. When we left Cool Inn, we went to St Peter’s Hotel in Balogun Square, and everybody including the ministers came along with us. This was how the show continued. WOMEN FLOCK AROUND POPULAR MUSICIANS, HOW DID YOU COPE WITH YOUR FEMALE ADMIRERS? I call them ‘cherry coco’. Any man making progress will naturally find beautiful ‘cherry coco’ running after him. This was what happened in my own case. I managed to cope with them. I remember a policeman stopped me one night as I was driving and he found that the car was filled with nine beautiful ‘cherry coco’that were lapping and over lapping each other, and the only male among them was me. He wanted to know where I got all the women from and what I wanted to do with them. At that time, I had not attained much fame but when the policeman saw me and discovered that I was an artiste, he asked: ‘na you be that man wey dey play for Savour Hotel?’ and I said yes. The policeman gave me clearance to go after explaining to h i m that when w e close the show; we pick all the girls and distribute

them to their various homes. Those that were not ready to go home, we take to clubs. Nightlife then was good, we would move from Lagos Island to other parts of Lagos. We must close at 2am

every Saturday and if you wished to perform beyond that time, you must obtain special permit from the Chief Magistrate Court and it was very rare to get a permit. That’s how I coped with my various ‘cherry coco’. I managed to cope, I will play and they would come. I composed some songs in their honours. As you know, people love to be flattered. WHAT WAS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH SOME OF THE VETERAN HIGHLIFE MUSICIANS? Many highlife musicians passed through me. Rex Lawson, Fela Anikulakpo-Kuti, Crosdale Juba, Dele Ojo, Zeal Onyia, and Sir Victor Uwaifo all played in my band. Fela was in my second band. His manager then, Alhaji Ojikutu, was my vocalist in the Cool Cats Orchestra. He was number one whenever we played Ghana highlife tunes because he grew up in Ghana. Later, he became Fela’s manager. Fela just left school then, he was from a rich family, and he had his mother’s car, which he was driving all over town. Fela was in my second band as a vocalist and it was there that he started learning how to play the B Flat trumpet. WHAT DID YOU THINK OF FELA WHEN HE BECAME A RADICAL AND DUMPED HIGHLIFE FOR AFROBEAT? When Fela was in my band, I knew he was going to go places. That radical spirit or behaviour was very predominant in anything that he did. When he started learning to play the trumpet, he was very fast in playing although he started playing the piano from his family home because music also runs in the family. I said that ‘this boy’ will go places and as providence will have it, he went overseas and continued playing my music over there. It was there that he recorded his first series of Koola Lobitos. HOW MANY ALBUMS DO YOU HAVE ALTOGETHER? I have lost count but I want to limit them to 350 singles. I have Konko Ji, Owola Tin Fe, Sisi Jowo Ko Mailo, Temi Tia Mi Da, The Trumpet Highlife, Bonavictor, Victor Olaiya’s Invitation, Ilu Leo, Ewa, Tara Para, Omo Pupa, Victor’s Olaiya’s Incantation, Aiye Soro, Jemila, Tina Mate, Ba Mi Jo Oremi, Yabomisa, Labalaba, Oruku Tindi Tindi, Iye Jemila and a host of others. DID YOU COMPOSE ONE OF YOUR HIT SONGS, OMO PUPA (FAIRC O M PLEXIONED LADY) FOR A

sioned to entertain our troops. I had the singular honour of entertaining the largest number of soldiers in One Division. They had to go and clear a bush for my band to entertain all the troops that were not fighting that night. They stopped the fight so they could have enjoyment of a lifetime. That was an interesting and enjoyable moment for me because I was uniformed with the honorary rank of lieutenant colonel. I still have the photographs and the uniform is still with me. My experience in the civil war influenced my song, War in Congo, War in Liberia. It sold like nobody’s business. WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE OF ALL YOUR SONGS AND WHY DID YOU DABBLE INTO HOSPITALITY BUSINESS? My favourite song is Victor Olaiya’s Incantation because it is not only poetry, it is also philosophical, rhythmic and very educative. Stadium Hotel was commissioned on December 31, 1972. My contemporaries did not invest their money but preferred to enjoy life. But then the idea of building Stadium Hotel must have come from God, the creator. It is not of my own making but I had always planned for the rainy day. During that time, I discovered that a lot of musical accessories were difficult to come by in Nigeria. Since I abandoned the idea of going overseas to read Law or Civil Engineering, I decided to protect the music profession in a unique way, and vowed that any musician who wanted musical instruments will be able to get them without stress. Kingsway Stores was bringing in one musical accessory or the other but they were only interested in making money, they were not interested in repairing the instruments. And this was how I went into the importation and distribution of musical instruments throughout West Africa with particular reference to Nigeria and Ghana. I started saving for the rainy day and I am not sure if the rainy day has come at all. Since the inception of the ageless Stadium Hotel, musicians like Sunny Ade have benefited and played there several times. Commander Ebenezer Obey, the late Ayinde Barrister, Kollington, the late Orlando Owoh, Shina Peters, and King E.TMensah have all performed at the hotel. DID YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH ICONIC HIGHLIFE MUSICIAN, E.T MENSAH? We did a duet together entitled, The Highlife King of Africa. E.T Mensah was a great musician; I respected him a lot because his music had harmony. He conceded musical arrangements to me while I will not contest harmony with him. We were planning a tour of Africa before he fell sick in Cote d’Ivoire in the early ‘90s. That was the day a plane crashed in Sao Tome. Mensah had a journalist relation in the plane and he was crying when he was informing us about the incident.

PAR TICU L A R WOMAN? Yes, I was in love with a particular woman at that time, but the song could also be a coincidence. YOU REPORTEDLY PERFORMED FOR SOLDIERS AT THE WAR FRONT DURING THE CIVIL WAR, IS THIS TRUE? Yes. There are so many things at 80 that one must have passed through or done. For instance, I took highlife to Congo, the federal government sent me and my band to Congo during the Congo civil war to go and entertain the forces. I took the highlife of Nigerian origin to Congo and it was the headline of major newspapers at that time. The headline was ‘Victor Olaiya takes highlife music to Congo forces’. It was in Congo that I met with OK Jazz and a host of Nigerian officers who were eventually involved in the coup. I wasn’t in the army but I was uniformed because to be in their midst, you must wear uniform. And the same thing happened here during the Nigerian civil war. I was commis-

YOU ARE BLESSED WITH CHILDREN AND GRAND CHILDREN, WOULD YOU STOP ANY OF THEM FROM PLAYING MUSIC? I will not stop any of my children from playing music. Some of them perform on special occasions. They are all graduates, as they grow, they take up appointments. They can play various instruments of their choice because I own a music shop. I will just ask them, ‘go to the music shop and pick any instrument that you want to major on’and I will underwrite the cost. Kayode plays trumpet, Yejide plays clarinet, Bidemi plays piano, Biodun plays trumpet, piano and guitar, Toba plays guitar and piano, and Dupe plays guitar and piano. All of them sing. Kayode is very familiar with my songs, he tries to take over the leadership of the band and that is not to say that Biodun does not sing, they all sing. When they are all together in the band, they sing different songs. Most prominent among them nowadays is Kayode Olaiya, a banker with Masters degree. YOUR BAND PARADES AN ARRAY OF OLD MEN, OLD ENOUGH TO RETIRE FROM MUSIC, WHY CAN’T YOU REPLACE THEM WITH YOUNGER ELEMENTS? Some of the old men you are talking about started with me in the band. Most of them are over 70 but they still prefer to stick with me because old wine tastes better. YOUR SPEAK IGBO FLUENTLY; EVEN SOME OF YOUR SONGS ARE SUNG IN IGBO, PERHAPS YOU HAVE A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE IGBO? I was born in Calabar but schooled in Owerri. My mother is from Abeokua, Ogun State while my father is from Ijesa Isu in Ekiti State. My father became a prison contractor after he was discharged from the Nigerian Army in the early part of 1914. He settled in Owerri where he opened a bar, selling drinks on credit to the soldiers who were fond of drinking and paying at the end of the month. Perhaps, that was how I came into running a club or hotel of my own. My late senior brother also owned a bar. We were all born in Calabar and that was how I was able to speak Efik. Till today, some members of my family are living in Calabar and to cap it all, my ring tone is a song called, Calabar. We all went to school in Owerri. At a point, I went to stay with my mother in Onitsha, and that was where I picked the Igbo language.

TSweekend SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

EVENT/ALUKO-OLOKUN’S 50TH BIRTHDAY

Mr. Ayodele Richard Aluko–Olokun clocked 50 years recently

Photos by BIODUN ADEYEWA Sir and Lady W. I. Derikoma

Mrs. Asade Tolulope, left, and Rev. (Mrs.) Comfort Aluko–Olokun, celebrant’s mother

L-R: Mr. Yemi Olowolabi, MD, Red Carpet and Wale Olarenwaju

The Revd. Canon ‘Lolu Akinyinka, (R) and Mr. Lanre Anulopo

The celebrant and his wife, Nihin.

L-R: Chief Tayo Ayowole, Mrs. Elizabeth Alawode and Mrs. O. O. Omiyale

R-L: Kolawole Ojelabi, Tony Iyare, celebrant, Wale Olarenwaju and Kayode Komolafe

L-R: Engr. Ladi Banjoko, Segun Akinpelu and Segun Ogunye

SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

TSweekend

EVENT/4TH WOLE S0YINKA PRIZE

• L-R: GOVERNOR BABATUNDE FASHOLA WITH THE CULTURAL TROUPE FROM SOUTH AFRICA

• L-R: TRUSTEE MEMBER, LUMINA FOUNDATION AND FORMER MANAGING DIRECTOR, ZENITH BANK, MR JIM OVIA, LAGOS STATE GOVERNOR, BABATUNDE RAJI FASHOLA, NOBEL LAUREAT, PROFESSOR WOLE SOYINKA, CHAIRMAN, LUMINA FOUNDATION, MRS FRANCISCA YETUNDE EMMANUEL, OGUN STATE GOVERNOR, SENATOR IBIKUNLE AMOSUN, FORMER GHANIAN PRESIDENT, MR JOHN KUFFOR, FORMER CROSS RIVER STATE GOVERNOR, MR DONALD DUKE AND NATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR, GLOBACOM, MR DAVID MAJI AT THE PRESENTATION

4th Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa

• L-R: PROF WOLE SOYINKA (LEFT) PRESENTING A DUMMY CHEQUE OF $20,000 TO THE WINNER OF THE 4TH EDITION OF THE WOLE SOYINKA PRIZE FOR LITERATURE IN AFRICA

• L-R: NOBEL LAUREAT, PROFESSOR WOLE SOYINKA, OGUN STATE GOVERNOR, SENATOR IBIKUNLE AMOSUN, FORMER GHANIAN PRESIDENT, MR JOHN KUFFOR

• L-R: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES, GLOBACOM, MR ADEWALE SANGOWAWA WITH THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, GLO I GATEWAY, MR STEVE STRETCH

he prize presentation for the 4th Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa, held last weekend at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

• L-R: MR NICHOLAS AHOUONDIJIMOO OF U.S CONSULATE, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER, U.S CONSULATE GENERAL IN LAGOS, RHONDA J. WATSON AND BENE UCHE

• L-R: NOLLYWOOD ACTRESSES AND GLO AMBASSADORS, MONALISA CHINDA ALEPOTA AND INI EDO

Photos by Moshood Raji • L-R: EDO STATE COMMISSIONER FOR INFORMATION, MR LOIUS ODION AND MRS MODUPE LAWOLE

• L-R: MEMBERS OF THE PANEL OF JUDGES, DR DEWO ASIEDU OF GHANA AND PROF OLU OBAFEMI

TSweekend SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

Michelle O

â&#x20AC;˘An embodiment of unders

a million dollars and has single-han turned little known designers to overot only has Michelle hits in the fashion world. Four years ago, for her convention sp Obama become an icon in the fashion she wore a slenderizing teal blue dre world, she has also become a Chicago designer Maria Pinto. It was el model for many women all classic, and timeless.During the just con over the world, today. Very much like ed Democratic Convention held in the U proved yet again why designe former American First Lady, Jackie everywhere love her to Onassis, Michelle has set her own wear their style.She is the epitome of grace and clothes!Perhaps the effortless chic.Michelle gives a fabumost physically fit of lous interpretation to affordable all the first ladies, she clothes,she made them look showed off her toned arms,shoulders and fabulous figure in yet BY JOSEFYN UBA

SEPTEMBER 14, 2012 TSweekend

Obama

stated elegance

another simple an elegant sleeveless cut frock by Tracy Reese. Michelle has become America’s undispeech, puted queen of fashion -Contemporary ess by elegance is her trademark,from formal egant, gowns to casual everyday outnclud- fits.Her looks always forms US,she enduring images and ers that’s what real style is about.

ndedly -night

...Her nails too

he did not only score h i g h m a r k s only with her outfit,she did it again with her nails. With an unlikely nail color and a few dramatic hand gestures, the American First Lady catapulted a new beauty trend into the mainstream. During her impassioned speech at the Democratic National Convention, Michelle’s blue-gray nails got as much buzz as her Tracy Reese dress. The color which could be seen as an unusual choice for a political figure, no less a woman over 30 looked fabulous on Obama. But then,Michelle Obama doesn’t follow style rules, she reinvents them. The Artistic Colour Gloss color that Michelle Obama was seen wearing will certainly be the nail colour in “Vogue”.We can all bet on that.

TSweekend

SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

LIFESTYLE

Dress for your skin tone CHRISTINE ONWUACHUMBA

ave you ever had the experience of seeing someone of your same physique wearing something they look really great in, and then when you have tried something similar on, it has not looked anywhere near as good? This is probably due to the fact that the colour does not suit your skin tone. A lot of us don’t realise that it’s the wrong colour not the wrong outfit. The colours you wear, should compliment your skin tone. Jay Alexander, designer of Micrian label says “For Africans there are three major types of skin tones, the dark, fair and caramel skin colour” she also gives advice on the colours of clothes to

avoid depending on your skin tone. Dark skinned ladies should avoid having too much brown, black or orange in their outfits. Instead, trying going for lighter shades like plum, lavender or pastel colours. Soft neutrals would also go well with your dark skin. Fair skinned girls should avoid wearing colours like white, gold or pastels and go for darker colours like black, grey and red, which would compliment their skin tone better. Medium skinned ladies must avoid wearing clothes with too much golden under tones like caramel, orange and brown and go for colours like pink, red and blue tones. Always try contrasting the colour of your skin with the colour of your outfit. Dark skin colour should be contrasted with brighter, eye-catching colours. Do not wash out light skin. If you are light skinned, stand out with stronger colours. With medium skin, always avoid the middle of the road and go either bright or dark with your clothes.

Growing pains of Murray over 8 yrs –Pg38 –Pg39 – British Olympic heroes rack up £15k bar bill

sports

TSweekend

SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

By ROMANUS UGWU, Abuja

key Isima (MON). Hope you remember him? The man, who some years back built himself into a brand and became a hot cake in soccer, his chosen career that saw him play for Rangers International FC of Enugu and Green Eagles of Nigeria. He also played in the European League before he retired from active football. In his days of active soccer, Isima was everything any young prosperous footballer would have been. But today, anyone who sees the exinternational would first ask: 'Is Isima now a destitute, who needs complete and urgent rehabilitation?' But, perhaps, that would be an erroneous misapprehension of the former mercurial player because in putting the matter straight, the Anambra State-born trained Civil Engineer proudly described himself as 'Made in America'. He would not waste time in telling whoever that cared to listen that he does not derive joy anymore in flamboyant dressing and ostentatious lifestyle. Exonerating himself from those ex-footballers that are in dire need for rehabilitation, Isima disclosed that he was not only a schoolboy millionaire, but he also built his house while still in secondary school, owned a Mercedes Benz and 505 Peugeot cars in the '80s. He also drove a Lexus and other state-of the art cars in the early 1990s. To further disabuse the mind of some people who might take his looks for hunger and wretchedness, Isima revealed that his wife currently owns the third largest computer school in America, while three out of his four children have graduated as engineers and medical doctor. On why he is currently in Nigeria, the exfootballer stated that he came home to contribute his quota in bringing back the lost glory of Nigerian football. Isima took TS Weekend behind the curtain of his life and recounted how his family initial resisted his foray into football. He also spoke on his ludicrous ascetic emotional life, the way forward for Nigerian football, and why he would not be able to coach a team in a 'highly fraudulent football environment like Nigeria'.

To God be the glory I want to thank God because without Him, I would not have gone anywhere in football. Taking football as a career, for me, was a dream come true. There was a divine touch of perfection in my football career because, as you know, I came from a very wealthy family that detests one taking football as a career. We were groomed to become doctors, lawyers and engineers. And though I resisted the family's directives and went for football, I ended up studying civil engineering. I did not undertake the course while I was still playing. I retired from active football before I went to study the course and I have never regretted my decision.

How he started his football

Ghanaian footballer’s wife’s confession sends cold shivers around the world

I’m a witch. I sabotaged my husband’s career

career As a kid, I was full of talents. In my primary school days, my classmates were calling me 'International'. Obviously, they saw it coming. While I was still in primary school, people were mounting pressure on administrators to invite me to the state team. It, however, materialised when I entered secondary school. I played for the state team at a very young age.

Overcoming family pressure The war was between my mum, brothers and myself. My father died while I was still very young. But since most of my brothers live in Europe, it was my mum, who mounted most of the pressure on me to d u m p football and read a professional course like my elder brothers. What really saved me were the media reports my brothers were getting about me anytime they were in the country. They would also see me playing in the state-selected team on television. Those were part of the things that made them to persuade my mum to allow me to follow the beating of my heart. Again, they had no option than to allow me because I was not going

CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

OKEY ISIMA

Mum assembled 20 girls for me to pick a wife

TSweekend SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

Sports/OKEY ISIMA

‘I don't blame Nigerians who die for foreign clubs’ Continued from page 35 to any of them for financial assistance because Enugu Rangers was paying me very well then even though I was still in secondary school. I was a staff of the state sports council and was earning big money as a student. I was earning almost £60 then. In fact, I was a schoolboy millionaire. Rangers FC was basically an Igbo club in its early days and the scouts ensured that it was only the best players from the then East Central State that were recruited for the club. Vasco Dagama was the only team that could give Rangers a strong challenge. Greater percentage of the players in Enugu Rangers then later ended up living in the United States of America where they continued with education. Apart from my teammates putting pressure on me to join them in the US, over 20 invitations also came my way from the US from different bodies urging me to join them. At a time, many coaches came to Nigeria to beg me to get over to the US and combine my soccer with education. I resisted the pressure because the target I set for myself was to play for the national team first before leaving Nigeria for any other country. My reason did not stem from lack of money because I had a scholarship from the then Anambra State government from the time we won a trophy in 1976. Then, I was still in secondary school. I had many scholarships to study up to university level, but I didn't want to study in Nigeria considering the fact that most of my brothers were based abroad. So, I turned the offers down. As a player of Enugu Rangers, I had a house immediately after my secondary school. As a club that was fighting the Igbo course, we would get match winning bonuses 10 times more than our salaries. So, everything really worked for me while fighting the pressure from my family to quit soccer for school.

Breaking into the national team It was not easy for me to join the national team because the then coach, Father Tiko, didn't want to invite me to the team. He said that he had more than nine players from Enugu Rangers in his team. Then, national team call up was somehow based on quota system and Tiko never wanted people to complain that there were many players of the Igbo stock in the team. He, however, pleaded with me to captain the junior national team, but I refused. I turned the offer down because then, there were players in the main national team, who I kept on the bench in the Rangers' starting line. To fulfill my ambition of playing for the national team before pursuing my education, I decided to change club. I needed people to see me as a player from the northern part of the country and luckily I was born in Kano. That was how I joined Standard of Jos. The General Manager of the club, Sen. David Atta, gave me money, free house in Jos and promoted me to an unprecedented level. I went to Jos with almost five of my Rangers teammates like Arthur Egbulam. We turned out to become the thunderbolts of Nigerian soccer, beating Rangers home and away. We also beat every known club in the country. That was what forced Tiko to invite me to the national team after the Nations Cup in 1978.

Nigeria hardly adore her heroes People like me in other parts of the

sented Africa in the tournament during our time, and we could not pick the ticket because by the time they got four teams to play in the qualifiers, three of them would come from North Africa and the moment you beat Egypt, others would gang up against you. My inability to win the African Footballer of the Year should have been another unfulfilled dream, but during our days, Francophone countries dominated the voting pattern, and they would favour their players to win the award. It was a gang up. Emmanuel Okala was the first to win the award, he even went to Togo to collect it, but today, nobody included his name in the Hall of Fame.

Averse for European club

•Okey Isima’s children from left: Nonso, Nene and Okey jr world would have become sports ministers at various times. What it means is that we have a systemic problem in the country. It would not be fair for me to say that I did not get the required recognition because it is the same treatment that every sportsman and woman in the country receives. Continuity is a big problem in the system. Nigerian football needs ex-players like us, who know where the game started to move forward. If we want to build a good national team, the players must forget everything about international football. That is why I like what Coach Stephen Keshi is currently doing with the homebased players. During our time, it was players from the local clubs that made up the national team. The method of recruitment now is faulty. When I played in Portugal, Mourinho's father, who was my coach, adequately equipped me. But I cannot lobby for the job.

Made in America I started driving Lexus car as early as 1992. I drove the best of cars in the early '90s. I am not boasting; my wife owns the third largest computer school in Atlanta, Georgia. We have all things going for us and I can tell you that we have more than seven cars parked in my compound in US, which nobody is using. I am not a car freak. I can jump into Keke NAPEB or any available transport without minding anybody. If I could drive Mercedes Benz and 505 Peugeot cars in the '80, that tells you that I'm not among those that need rehabilitation. I detest living ostentatiously. I'm a low profile person. I saw ostentatious living as waste of resources, and if I had adopted that lifestyle, I would not have trained my children to become doctors and engineers in the US. The money I spent in training my children in the best universities in US would buy 20 Hummer Jeeps on conservative calculation. When I was playing professional football in Europe, the shirt others would buy for $10, I would buy the same shirt for $190. The pair of shoes others would buy for $100, I would buy it for $700. I used designer perfumes, but I forgot those things when I got married. I know that in the Nigerian mentality, announcing your presence with big cars and exotic dressings is the inthing, but I'm made in America. I can wear only knickers and still retain my identity as Okey Isima. Nobody can change what I am no matter the impression people have about me. I don't brag and I'm not a showman. I believe in assist-

ing others and that's why I'm bringing in the programme to help fellow ex-footballers so that Nigerians would stop seeing them as beggars.

I read engineering but… After my football career in Portugal, my wife had graduated from the university and had equally had my first son. I had to concentrate on taking care of my family. Again, after retirement from active football, I started working with the Georgia Football Federation. We were seriously into the development of American soccer. So, it was not possible for me to just leave football activities entirely and take up engineering profession. I have spent all my life in football including being a two-time Olympian, even though the people at the federation don't have any documented record about those achievements. The transition from football to engineering was not easy for me. However, I was involved in the engineering aspect of my profession. I undertook some engineering projects while I was still in America, because they don't have the same terrain. I have serious passion for sports and after I had lived in the US for more than 20 years, I felt that it was time to return and contribute my quota to the country in the area of sports.

I had contracts from the best German teams, but in my days in active soccer, nobody wanted to play football in Europe. If travelling abroad to play football was in vogue then, players like Segun Odegbami, Adokie Amesiamaka, Christian Chukwu, among others, would have played in Europe, but that was not in our lexicon because we got all the financial motivations we could have got in any part of the globe while playing at home. Recall that after our Nations Cup triumph in 1980, former President Shehu Shagari jerked up our salaries by times two. As far back as then, my take home was more than that of a permanent secretary. I remember demanding for $5000 monthly wage from the then governor of the old Anambra State, Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo. European clubs would see us when we travelled outside the country with the Green Eagles for matches. They wanted to hire us, but we did not just want to leave the country. I could recall that I tore the contract paper of a German club because I did not need it.

Mourinho's dad was my coach I only decided to play in Portugal because I loved their style of football. They gave me money sometime, begging me to come anytime I changed my mind. When I finally decided to switch over, during the trial under Jose Mourinho's dad, he ordered me to leave the pitch and take my bath after watching me for just about 10 minutes. I thought I did not impress him, but it was to meet the club's president for my signing of the contract papers.

Wife not my fan My wife is not the football crazy type. In fact, she is focused on her education. She just gained admission into the University of Nigeria Nsukka in 1984 when we got married. I immediately took her abroad to continue her education there. When she joined me in Portugal, I had to send her to the US after a while because of language barrier. She was not that crazy about football.

Retirement from active football

Jealous wife

Football has age limitation. We were not like the new generation of players who fake their ages. I used my right age while I was playing and that was the campaign I am leading today. I want to ensure that players use their right ages while playing football. I enjoyed my career and when my body gave me signals that it could no longer continue, I obeyed and left the stage. Football would have continued to feed me if Nigeria is a country that takes care of her own. There was no internal conflict in my taking the decision to quit soccer.

My wife hated football more when she joined me in Portugal because after every match, she would see many ladies falling on each other to touch and kiss me in line with their tradition. She saw it as a threat to our marriage and insisted on leaving for the US. It was understandable because she was just a young girl of 16 years then, who did not know much about that kind of lifestyle. I went the extra mile to introduce her into the culture of kissing. To achieve that, I force her to spend one year with me in Portugal.

Unfulfilled dream My only unfulfilled dream in football is that I missed playing in the World Cup. Though it is not a big deal because playing in the best teams in the world, for me, was like playing in the World Cup. However, I would seek comfort in the fact that I won the Nations Cup in 1980. I also made the African Best list. I could not play in the World Cup because our biggest problem was that only one team repre-

Sex, alcohol, juju were taboos We were not as lascivious as the younger generation of players we have today. Of course, girls liked us because of our career, fame and fortune, but most of us knew that they were not really in love with us. I sacrificed a lot during my playing days because I felt that was the only way I could succeed in my career. I could sacrifice anything to discipline my body for football. I had many girlfriends, but how could they be my friend when I was seen them only once in a

SEPTEMBER 14 2012 TSweekend

Sports/GOLF year during the Christmas break. I was so disciplined that I don't smoke, drink or womanise. Some teammates would go to the extent of offering women to their rivals to weaken them and take their position in the team. But it took guts for one to resist such temptations.

Meeting my Angel I knew my wife the time I was in primary school. I knew her parents and siblings also. When I came back from Portugal, I told myself that the best way to avoid distractions from European ladies was to settle down with a woman I would call my wife. I really wanted to imitate European footballers that married early to avoid distractions. I was surprised that womanising was not affecting European footballers because they were regulating themselves more than we do. While I was in Europe, I realised that there was no way I would have kept myself the way I did while in Nigeria, so I decided to look for a wife. I had a white girlfriend in Portugal then and I felt I would have more distractions if I don't marry her. I told my mum in 1983 to get a wife for me if she didn't want me to marry a Portuguese. Then, when I came to Nigeria, I noticed that they had assembled about 20 girls for me to choose one for marriage. So, since I never wanted to marry somebody I didn't know, I decided to settle for the one I knew from childhood. That is my wife today. She just finished secondary school then. She was like my sister and marrying her helped me to keep my focus.

She didn't believe the proposal My wife was not really surprised when I proposed to marry her because, before then, I was sending gifts to her without making my intention known. But she did not actually expect that I would marry her because she thought that I would settle for my former girlfriend. But I could not marry that one because we are somehow related. Going by the custom, I could not marry from her family.

Coaching? Why should I coach when all they do in Nigeria is to bribe the officials to win games? Tell me that administrator in Nigeria, who will claim that he has never bribed referees to win matches. Nobody has any regard for coaches in the country because they value the referees more since they could easily win matches for them. I don't want to operate as a coach in a corrupt setting. I had better remain as a scout, staff, and wage earner for my foreign clubs. That's why we must find a way to fix Nigerian football and sports because nobody is happy with the current situation. That is why I don't blame Nigerians when they watch foreign league matches. The current wild interest in European football was not there in our days because instead of some of them drinking beer at home, they would come to the stadium to watch our matches. Something went wrong when the politicians took over the running of football in the country.

Tall kids One of my children is a medical doctor; the other one is an engineer, while one is a computer scientist. My little daughter is into modelling. She is my carbon copy when I was in active football. She plays good football but my wife doesn't want her to go into full soccer yet because she is still tender. By God's special grace, my kids are all very tall. My first child is above six feet, the second one is above seven feet and even my little girl is above five feet tall at 17 years. They are all progressing very well in their endeavours.

WITH AYO ADEMOKOYA

Runsewe puts Nigerian golf on world list

he Professional Golf Association has agreed to include Nigerian golf on the world list for tournament, train young talents in the game as well as endorse the Golf Institute already inaugurated in Nigeria. This disclosure was made by Chief Otunba Olusegun Runsewe to Sun Golf on his arrival from the world headquarters of the Professional Golf Association(PGA) in Ponte Vedra Beach, Jacksonvile, Florida, U.S.A. whose tour is a tax-exempt membership organization of professional golfers. The mission of the PGA TOUR is to expand domestically and internationally to substantially increase player financial benefits, while maintaining its commitment to the integrity of the game while its events are also committed to generate revenue for charitable causes in their communities. It is on record that PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour events have donated more than $1 billion to help more than 2,000 charities and countless individuals around the world. And for these reasons, the indefatigable Director General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Board, whose trip to the God's own country was made possible after the huge success recorded at IT Berlin Germany in March 2012 where the performance and conduct of Nigeria delegation won the hearts of thousands of tourism buyers and sellers ,who offered to package the country for a road show which was scheduled between 30th of July to 7th of August, 2012 with the aim of getting to Jacksonvile in Florida, Los Angeles in California and Washington DC. Chief Runsewe said that he had to adopt an effective strategy of corporate packaging and in-depth information dissemination materials which highlights golf tourism assets and its potentiality in Nigeria in order to manage the image and break the jinx of hatred and bad image of Nigeria in America. “I noticed that the majority of high networth tourists and itinerant Americans, who has so much to spend on their passion are golfers, so I decided to arrange a delegation to visit the world headquarters of Professional Golf Association (PGA) in Jacksonville through my first contact, Mr. Paul Cohen, an American, who was so

said that the PGA was ready to assist in promoting and marketing golf tourism in Nigeria as well as train 10 golfers at the tour academy. “We were later invited to join the First Tee programme conceived to train youths in golf at the Tour Academy where young golfers are being trained with the latest equipment and by competent instructors. Also the Nigeria delegation was taken round the 18hole golf course where the likes of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Nick Watney, Phil Mickelson, Brandt Snedeker and other renowned golfer ply their trades and made us walked through the TPC houses. “My next step now is to fulfill the promise of making sure that I send 10 professional golfers in Nigeria to go for training as well as take his delegations itinerary to California where it would take Nigeria's case to members of African-American, the Tigers Woods Foundation, the media tour impressed with us at the IT Berlin, operators and all those who are necessary in selling Nigeria to American tourist,” he Germany, earlier this year. “We were well received by the Director concluded. and Brand Marketing, Mr. Brian Woyt, the Director Business development, Carlton Kitchens, Vice President, Buisness Development, Dan Glod and Vice- President, Communications, Mr. Tom Alter. “In my presentation to the top executive of PGA, I articulated and canvassed for three major things which is the inclusion of Nigeria on the world list of golf tourism which would direct golfers to Nigeria for tournaments, the training of young talents in the game of golf and endorsement of the Golf Institute which has been inaugurated in Nigeria,” he said. “I was shocked when the Mr. Woyt, the Director, Brand Marketing of PGA, said that he had never had any information concerning the golf courses in Nigeria! He was, however, very grateful that our visit was a major breakthrough at reaching the powerful member of the PGA in America and commended our efforts for coming over to the US to solicit support for golf tourism in Nigeria. He said our coming had convinced him that Nigeria was not only ready to receive international golfers to visit, but has many golf courses where international tournament can take place.. “My joy knew no bound when Mr. Woyt

I was shocked when the Mr. Woyt, the Director, Brand Marketing of PGA, said that he had never had any information concerning the golf courses in Nigeria! He was, however, very grateful that our visit was a major breakthrough at reaching the powerful member of the PGA in America and commended our efforts for coming over to the US to solicit support for golf tourism in Nigeria.

TSweekend SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

Sports/LIFESTYLE Ghanaian footballer’s wife’s confession sends cold shivers around the world

Super brat to s

I’m a witch. I sabotaged my husband’s career

Growing pain

•Made him impotent

ife of a Premier League goalkeeper, Adelaide Tawiah Kingson, has claimed to be a witch, who put a curse on husband to sabotage his career. Richard Kingson - the most capped player in Ghana and former star at Birmingham, Wigan and Blackpool - has not played for his country or had a club since last year. The woman went on Nigerian TV two weeks ago to say she had put a spell on her husband to wreck his form - and make him impotent too. The 34-year-old footballer, known as Olele, yesterday took to Facebook to deny that his wife was a witch and blame her comments on ‘false spirits’ that had entered her during a church service. Mrs Kingson also retracted her claim, which was made live on religious satellite channel Emmanuel TV the station of SCOAN (The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations). A report from Ghanasoccer.net quoted her as saying: ‘I myself had no foreknowledge that I had been possessed. I can’t even remember what took place in the church after I fell down... ‘I was only told what the spirit that manifested had said after I regained consciousness. I am not a witch as it has been rumoured... ‘My husband knows how inspirational I have been to him throughout his goalkeeping career.’ Olele said that people who wanted to embarrass him had spiritually manipulated the wife to make the bizarre

claims. Kingson and his wife, speaking at the church a week after the deliverance, said all was well in their matrimonial home and that peace and love were restored to their marriage. SCOAN leader, TB Joshua, prophesied to Olele that he would return to the church within a month to report a restoration of his career and encouraged him not to worry about what people said about his wife. Mrs Kingson was credited with saving Ghana’s Black Stars f r o m shame in 2 0 0 6 when s h e advised her husband not to take a $300,000 bribe to let in two goals during a match against the Czech Republic at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Kingson admitted he had been tempted because the winning bonus for the match had only been $8,000, but was persuaded not to do it after his wife ‘said that her love for me was not because of my money.’ The goalie said he had been faithful to his spouse since they got engaged in 1997.

hat a match! What a man! What a fabulous finale to this most glorious of all sporting summers! Just when we thought we had journeyed to the outermost limits of sporting drama, Andy Murray transported us to a new dimension. Those of us who stayed up to watch the denouement in the early hours were frequently left open-mouthed in awed disbelief. History will record that it was 2.04am Tuesday, British Standard Time, 9.04pm in Flushing Meadows, New York, when a forehand from Novak Djokovic sailed harmlessly beyond the baseline and the Scot became Britain’s first Grand Slam winner since Fred Perry dispatched Johnny Foreigner with Brylcreemed nonchalance, 76 years ago. Murray appeared to be overcome by nervous exhaustion at the finish. Seemingly too spent to celebrate, he staggered, wild-eyed and bare-foot, towards his beaming girlfriend, Kim Sears. The Murray team’s English contingent, including his business guru, Simon Fuller, and Home Counties girl, Kim- who lives with Murray in a £6?million Surrey mansionmight beg to differ. This wasn’t the time for such quibbling, however; it was a day to hail the brilliance of a sportsman who has - after many false dawns- finally fulfilled his enormous potentiality. More than that, a man who, in just a few months, appears to have undergone a complete personality transformation; a change so rapid and remarkable that it sounds like the theme of a popular self-help manual: From Super-brat to Superhero, perhaps. For all his God-given genius, Murray’s early promise was subsumed by the sort of self-crucifying angst and ‘why-isthe-whole-worldagainst-me?’ paranoia that tortured the prototype tennis schizo, John McEnroe. While McEnroe, away from the court, could be charming, the small-town boy from Dunblane, near Stirling, seemed socially awkward, sometimes to the point of churlishness. Perhaps so, yet with each confidence-sapping big match defeat the doubts over Murray’s character grew. There were many who feared that, at 25, he might never be any more than a brilliant but fatally-flawed, also-ran.

You’ve don

Pistorius gets £53,000 cheq

ore than a million fans rammed the streets of central London on Monday to salute Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic heroes. The South African Bladerunner, Oscar Pistorius, was all smiles as he was presented a cheque for 700,000 Rand (just over £53,000)

TSweekend SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

Sports/LIFESTYLE Ronaldo’s girl, Irina, shows off model pins in Paris

super hero

ns of Murray over 8 yrs Then, when Wimbledon began in June, we steeled ourselves for another torturous fortnight of brooding under-achievement, only to watch Andy Murray grow up before our very eyes. Yes, he lost the final again, to the imperious Roger Federer, but he not only played in a manner that befitted the occasion: He finally won our hearts by choking down his emotions and making a gracious loser’s speech. His metamorphosis continued two months later, when he defeated Federer to claim gold in the Olympics; and the gargantuan physical and mental fortitude he displayed Tuesday confirmed it is complete. The question is, of course, how has Murray’s extraordinary reinvention come about? As with so many epic journeys of self-discovery, it all began in his childhood. He has never enjoyed reminiscing, simply insisting that his early years were happy, but there are surely scars — and not only because he attended the Dunblane primary school where a crazed gunman shot dead 16 pupils, and narrowly escaped being among the victims. When he was ten and his brother, Jamie, was 11, his mother walked out of the family home, living nearby and staying in close contact with them but leaving their dayto-day care to their father, Will. ‘I had to tell them their mum was leaving home,’ Mr Murray, 57, the area manager for a chain of Scottish news agents, said recently. ‘It ripped me apart to have to hurt them?.?.?.?they were distraught.’ Since their forebears included a professional footballer and a county athletics champion, it is unsurprising that both Murray boys excelled at sport. Andy was invited for trials at Rangers FC, but to the surprise of envious friends he declined, preferring to concentrate on his tennis. But until they were in their midteens, Jamie was considered a more promising player. Andy began playing in his local men’s league at just eight (precociously advising his doubles partner, an architect in his 50s, to stand closer to the net) and at 14 he won the national junior championships. But the decision that set him on the path to greatness came in 2002, after he lost to a youthful Rafael Nadal in an international junior tournament, and the Majorcan boy later told him how he was able to practise for four and a half hours each day, often with top players, because

e us proud!

que, returns to South Africa upon his return home to Johannesburg on Tuesday. Dozens of fans turned out at the airport to greet the world’s most famous disabled athlete, who won two gold medals and one silver at the London Games. And the precious metal was on display as Pistorius accepted his financial reward for

She consistently wows whenever she’s in the spotlight, and away from the red carpet she’s no different. Taking time out of her schedule, Monday Irina Shayk was pictured in Paris while indulging in some retail therapy. And showing off her enviable long legs, the 26-year-old stepped out in a pair of burgundy distressed jeans. Having somewhat of a dressed down day, Irina hid her eyes behind a pair of aviator sunglasses as she wore her brunette hair back in one. The Russian beauty ditched her heels for a pair of wedged black trainers which she teamed with a white round neck top. A cropped black leather jacket completed her look. At the end of last month, Irina enjoyed a night out with her boyfriend, Real Madrid football player, Cristiano Ronaldo. The handsome couple were spotted as they took their seats at the draw ceremony for the UEFA Champions League at Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

he lived in a warm country with long evenings. He wanted to be enrolled in a Spanish academy, he said, ignoring the fact that his brother had terrible home-sickness at a tennis academy in Cambridge for several months. So, Andy duly left to enrol in the famed Sanchez-Casal Academy in Barcelona. It must have taken enormous singlemindedness and no little guts, for then, as now Murray was deeply attached to his family and didn’t return to live in Britain for another three years. He has always possessed the mental strength to make tough decisions in the interests of his career: a trait he has repeatedly demonstrated by hiring, and ruthlessly firing, a procession of coaches when he deemed they were no longer beneficial. After a Spaniard, there was Briton Mark Petchey, a former tour player of moderate ability who lasted 18 months.

Beckham eyes 2016 Olympics

AVID Beckham wants to play for Team GB at the 2016 Rio Olympics — even though he’ll be 41. Becks, 37, was a shock omission from the football squad in London. But he has said he will never retire from international football — and his coach at club side, LA Galaxy, says he is fit enough to keep playing until 50. A Galaxy source said yesterday: “David still sees himself as a contender for the GB team. “The London Olympics was meant to be his farewell at Wembley — but now Rio 2016 is in his sights.” Becks last played for England in October 2009, winning his 115th cap as a sub against Belarus.

British Olympic heroes rack up £15k bar bill

winning the T44 400 metres and the 4 x 100 metre relay from the country’s Minister of Sport, Fikile Mbalula. His silver came in the T44 200 metres, where he finished second behind Brazil’s Alan Oliveira amid controversy about the length of the winner’s blades. But Pistorius was beaten into fourth in his other race, the 100 metres, which was won by Great Britain’s Jonnie Peacock. However, this didn’t seem to bother him as he spotted a fetching hat in the South African national colours as he received his cheque. Before leaving London on Tuesday night, Pistorius spoke about the 2012 Paralympics in glowing terms.

ome of our Olympic and Paralympic heroes couldn’t resist the opportunity for a late night after Monday’s historic victory parade through London. Led by swimmer, Rebecca Adlington — who was one of the few who ditched her tracksuit — they ended up at West End club Mahiki, where they racked up a £15,000 bar bill. “Usually, the club is filled with celebrities from TV and music, or Premier League stars, so it was refreshing to see some sports people in there other than footballers. “They stuck out a mile in their red, white and blue tracksuits.” If Team GB fancy getting used to such celebrity haunts, it was handy they met some West End clubbing regulars. Professor Green and girlfriend, Millie Mackintosh, were out on the town too, while Towie’s former star, Mark Wright, was also knocking about — no doubt sniffing around for Jessica Ennis. Sadly for Mark, the heptathlon golden girl wasn’t in attendance. But there were still many female stars who wouldn’t look out of place on a poster on Mark’s bedroom wall. Swimmer Keri-Anne Payne was snapped with Rebecca, outside the club, while silver medallist Gemma Gibbons was mobbed by fellow judo player Joe Ingram.

TSweekend

SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

GOURMETLOUNGE

WITH DEMOLA BALOGUN

08023032724

Bartender’s Clinic

How to be a responsible host D rinking and hosting parties are basic social activities, both time honoured and fun filled, but the fact remains that people get drunk from too much alcohol. When you serve drinks to your guests you are responsible for the amount of alcohol consumed under your supervision. In Europe and some states in America, hosts are considered legally liable for whatever may occur as a result of their guests’ alcohol consumption. You owe it to your friends to make sure drinking remains a safe and enjoyable experience in your home, bar or club. Here are some basic tips to keep in mind so you and your guests can relax and have fun while drink-

ing. 1. Always keep a generous supply of non-alcoholic beverages available for guests who either are driving or choose not to drink alcohol. These can include soft drinks, mineral water, fruit and vegetable juices, tea or coffee and alcohol-free cocktails like Chapman. 2. Always serve food along with alcohol. Alcohol is absorbed into the blood stream directly from the stomach, and good food provides a balance for drinkers, slowing the rate at which they drink and absorb alcohol. Serving food also adds to the air of hospitality, allowing everyone to have an even better time. Sandwiches, dairy products, meats and fish are good bets.

3. If a guest requests a drink that is light on the booze, do oblige. You will not do him or her any favour by loading a drink with alcohol. Never pressure someone into having just one more (for the road!). 4. Mixers can affect the rate of absorption of alcohol into the system, so take them into account when serving your guests. Water dilutes alcohol and slows absorption while carbonated beverages like energy drinks tend to speed it up. 5. Don’t throw parties or gettogether whose sole purpose is drinking. If your guests have something else to do, they are less likely to get drunk. Food, conversation, music, games, videos and business ideas are possible diversions.

Pot & pan icon

Abimbola Bode-Thomas

he was the highest paid nonexpatriate senior management staff at Le Meridian Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos while holding forte as the General Manager in the early 2000s. At Eko Hotel which had been managed by Holiday Inn and Accord International hospitality chain in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Ms Abimbola Bode Thomas was highly revered as a versatile hospitality professional and consummate corporate incentives and banqueting planner. Those who worked closely with her often referred to her as a nononsense sticker to time and a disciplinarian who instilled the fear of God and virtues of diligence and efficient, personalized service delivery on the food & beverage personnel. Bode Thomas rose to the post of Deputy General Manager and had the rare privilege of attaining the peak of her career as the topmost Nigerian employee in a

5-star hotel managed by French experts. However, since her retirement six years ago, Abimbola Bode Thomas has since moved on to greater pleasures by taking up higher responsibility as the Managing Director of Palm Manor Hotel situated along Tony Anegbode Street, Victoria Island Extension, Lagos. Her chequered career and refined gourmet style have combined to provide Palmview Manor with impeccable customer service, strategic marketing and mastery of the art of dining and banqueting functions, cutting across bluechips, multinationals and multilateral organizations operating in Nigeria. She is already amassing laurels and coveted prizes at Palmview Manor having won the prize for Best Nigerian Managed Hotel in 2006. The hotel is under 100 rooms and is highly rated for fine dining and luxury accommodation.

HOT SPOT BY SAM ANOKAM

ollywood as the nation’s motion picture industry is popularly called is no doubt growing in leaps and bounds, especially in the twin areas of standard movies and production. Gradually, several movies churned out every week from various production outfits are thinning down considerably, giving the clamour for more professional inputs, in order to compete favourably with movies from developed climes. For most of the entertainers, just as their acting fees are different, so are their preferences for choice hangouts. Saturday Sun x-rays some of the popular hangouts these role interpreters prefer to spend quality time at, as well as relax when not on locations.

Winnis Hotel This is unarguably the first port of call for all up and coming actors. Located on Folawiyo Bankole Street, Surulere, it is a hotel where actors meet after auditions and productions to unwind. The hotel and its environs which boasts of smaller drinking joints, make more money from these budding actors, especially the female folks who can do ‘anything’ to get roles. Though, it is an open place where anything can happen, including porous security, but it is still home to some of the older actors. One can still see veterans like: Enebeli Elebuwa, Jim Lawson Madueke, Olu Jacobs and others who regularly hang out there.

F & B CRACKER Fill an empty glass, empty a full glass. Never leave an empty glass empty and a full glass full –Anon. We each day dig our graves with out teeth –Samuel Fruitles Duty There is no such thing as a little garlic – Arthur Baer, The Frank Muir Book

CONNOISSEUR SKILL QUEST (Strictly 18+)

in has always had a pretty bad press. The very first citation in OED, dated 1714, refers to it as “infamous liquor” and intoxicating – not just inebriating but fatally poisons. A later writer called it “liquid madness sold at ten pence the quartem” (gill or quarter –pint) in 1839. Can you say who said so? Thomas Carlyle. Which famous poet when asked where he got his inspiration from, replied, “gin and drugs, dear lady, gin and drugs?” T.S. Elliot, at a women’s luncheon club in the US in the 1950s. He may have been thinking of Bryon’s remark - “gin and water is the source of all my inspiration”, another playful allusion to gin’s disreputability. What is unusual about the flavour of gin compared with that of brandy,

• ABIMBOLA BODE–THOMAS

whisky and other spirits? The flavour comes from flavourings, substances added to a pure spirit, principally juniper but also coriander and usually cassia bark and orrisroot. In contrast, the flavour of brandy and whisky comes ultimately from the grape and grain they are made from. Where and when was gin (probably) first made and what was its first use? Gin was made in Leiden, Holland in the 17th century, and it’s used for medicinal purposes. Gin was supposed to be beneficial to the urinary system, and English gin is perhaps still taken in moderate quantities to alleviate gout. What is Pin Gin? Gin and Angostura bitters - score a quarter of a mark. For specifying Plymouth gin - half mark, for confiding the bitter to just a few drops – three quarters, and for leaving it to the drinker’s taste a full mark.

NEWS DAILY SUN Friday, September 14, 2012 41

SUN SPORTS EXTRA

NEWS

Uyo agog for Akpabio Cup ‘World Peace Cup not about wrestling alone’ By CHIMAOBI UCHENDU

yo, the Akwa Ibom State capital is in a frenzy mood for the commencement of the 6th edition of Akpabio Cup competition. Teams and clubs that have registered for the week-long event have started arriving Uyo ahead of the opening ceremony on Sunday at the Uyo Township Stadium. According to the Local Organizing Committee chairman of the championship, Uko Akpabio, about five states and 15 clubs had arrived with high hopes of lifting the coveted trophy. He said youths in Akwa Ibom origin who had waited another 365 days for the competition to come on board are excited to receive their friends from far and near. “ The excitement here is turbocharged, I must confess. We have work in our hands trying to make sure every team is accommodated and I believe before the end of tommorow, all registered teams must have arrive for screening ahead of the kick off on Monday,” he ssaid. In his response, the initiator of Akpabio Cup, Hon John Ekpeyong, said the joy of hosting this competition could not be complete without eulogizing Governor Godswill Akpabio, who has steered Akwa Ibom into glory days.

SuperSport to show 2 boxing bouts

uperSport boxing fans will be spoiled for choice this weekend with two outstanding world championship fights to choose from. On Sunday morning, undefeated WBC middleweight champion, Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr will fight two-division world champion, Sergio Martinez in Las Vegas, while at the same time, Saul Alvarez will defend his WBC super-welterweight title against Josesito Lopez, also in Las vegas. SuperSport will cross to the Martinez-Chavez tournament from 3am on SS2, with the other tournament available on SS7, also from 3am. Given the eclipse of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather’s inactivity, both bouts offer the fighters an opportunity to establish themselves in the public consciousness. Martinez is already on his way, having produced blowouts of top fighters Kelly Pavlik and Paul Williams, while Chavez has finally moved out of the shadow of his more famous father, Julio Cesar Snr., who ranks as Mexico’s greatest boxer. Such is the interest that the sellout has produced a paid gate of over $3-million, ironically on the eve of the 20th anniversary of Chavez Snr. against Hector Camacho, the Thomas and Mack Centre’s fourth highest-attended event (17 972), that Chanez Jnr will surpass in an epic fight of his own.

Keshi, Okoku, Odiye donate computer room to school By CHIMAOBI UCHENDU

agles’ Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, 1984 Nations Cup silver medalist, Paul Okuku and Godwin Odiye, yesterday donated a computer room to their Alma Mata, St Paul Primary School, Ebuta Meta, Lagos. Speaking while unveiling the computers and laptops stocked at the computer room, Keshi commended Paul Okuku for initiating the move to equip the school with modern communication equipments and promised to invest more in the development of younger minds. He said it was like a home coming after leaving the school several years back and relieved memories of old times when he sharpened his football skills at the school football pitch, but lamented that classroom blocks had taken over the playground. Okoko on his part said his mother’s death made him think of what to do for those alife to honour her, but remembered his alma mata. “ I brought in men of like minds to invest part of their resources into the development of the school that gave us hope and their response encouraged me. “I’m sure that other colleagues of ours would join us soon as we plan to execute more projects for the school. “I want to see this young boys and girls compete with their mates in all aspect of education through the information technology.” In her response, the headteacher of the school, Mrs Omowumi Jalekun, thaked them for remembering where they started from and promised to put the equipments to good use.

PWF Champions target future talents By STEVE AGBOTA

s the second edition of Paul and Wilson Foundation Champions Cup is set to take off, over 40 clubs are expected to participate in the tournament. The competition sponsored by a non-governmental organisation, PWF has been endorsed by the Lagos State Football Association, in order to take football in the country to the next level and reduce crime among youths. According to the president/founder of PWT, Innocent Ogah, who addressed the media in Lagos, the tournament would produce future talents in the country.

rganisers of the maiden edition of the World Peace Cup have stated for the uptienth time that the championship is not about wrestling alone. They said yesterday that the central focus of the championship is using the wrestling championship to preach peace in the country and the world at large. “The championship is not

about wrestling alone, it is about peace in the country. We want to leverage on the goodwill of the wrestlers to apreach peace in the country,” says the Local Organising Committee (LOC) Secretary General, Jide Salau. To achieve this said objective, organisers said that the World Peace Cup, which will hold across six towns in the country from November 2-16, 2012 will be stage in four phases.

The first phase, which has started will be for Nigerians to sign up for peace on its facebook. Nigerians can also visit its website; www.worldpeaceproject. com to express their views. Nigerians can also convey their feelings by sending messages through sms on 0091723250972. The second phase is walking for peace in some notable towns in the country. The wrestlers will

be involved in this as they will walk through the streets and talking to people and propagating peace in the process. The third phase is a seminar for peace which will involve notable Nigerians brainstorming on the way forward in the country. The last phase is the wrestling proper, which holds across six towns in the country.

Liberia draw still gives Keshi nightmares S

uper Eagles’ Coach, Stephen Keshi, is yet to come terms with what transpired between his team and Leon Stars at last Saturday’s Nations Cup which ended 2-2. In a chat with newsmen yesterday when he came to his Alma mata, St Pauls Catholic Primary School to donate a computer room for pupils, Keshi said he still could not understand why his players who shown like stars during training with a promise to devour their hosts suddenly went to sleep. He said he still thank God for salvaging a point in that game. When asked to point players that he felt proved their worth in the match, Keshi said he could not pin point any player that proved his mentle in that match. “It was so bad that no player merited to be named man of the match by my own assessments,” he began. “None of them played well I must confess. “We were just lucky to come out with a draw and I’m grateful to God for His mercies. “I still cannot understand what went wrong with the players who had showed signs of a good outing in training before we jetted out to Liberia.

… May ring changes in subsequent matches On the issue of apportioning blames to some players, he said: “I want to state here that every member of the team, including myself must share in the blame for poor performance”.

Keshi also assured Nigerians that he would wield the big stick were necessary before the next match. “I want to say here that no player is indispensable in the

team, but we must be cautious on how we go about it. “We shall bring in more players to play the return leg against Liberia in Calabar,” he concluded

Keshi (r) points finger at Enyeama

Eagles on ground zero –– Kalu E xpect so much from Super Eagles at your own peril. This declaration was made yessterday by former Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, as he cautioned compatriots against building castles in the air.

Kalu explained that the golden years of Nigerian soccer, when a Segun Odegbami could be hero worshiped in Accra or a Petit Sory would salute Emma Okalla from Conakry were gone. He said: “You cannot give

what you do not have. The present Eagles are not in anyway Super. I cannot find even the shadow of Nwankwo Kanu, or the cleats of Rashidi Yekini in the squad. It is so bad that an Austin Okocha will not make any difference. Green may have defined the Eagles of Christian

Yobo has caused Nigeria several heartaches – Shofoluwe By CHIMAOBI UCHENDU

ormer Eagles defence strongman, Yisa Shofoluwe, has advised Super Eagles’ Captain, Joseph Yobo, to be mindful of what he says as the captain of the present Eagles team because he can never influence players into the national team. Speaking in Lagos yesterday, Shofoluwe said he was surprised that Yobo could address Nigeria Premier League players the way he did, forgetting that he started his career with the local league. He said Yobo was not in the position to scold any player

because he had caused Nigeria heartache than his contemporaries. He, however, called on Keshi to be consistent with players in Eagles defence because idea of rotation in that department could be costly. When asked if he could compare the present crop of players in Eagles defence to the ones he played alongside, he said it was incomparable because they worked as a family and they did not wash their dirty linen in public. “Yobo has no moral right to question the players a coach feature in matches. “The coach has the right to

select any player of his choice because the bulk stops on his table,” he said. “He questioned the rationale behind pairing him at the back with NPL players and I wonder if Yobo dropped from the moon. “Was he not the same person that started his career in Nigeria before going abroad?, he queried. “If the younger ones had made mistakes, he should call them to order and not wash their dirty linen on public. “He should not forget that he had caused more heartaches for Nigerian in recent times that had made us miss international events and should apologize publicly,” he said.

Chukwu, Odegbami and Okalla. The present bunch cannot do better than greenhorns.” The ex-governor refused to blame Coach Stephen Keshi for the drab results so far recorded by the senior national team in the South Africa 2013 Nations’ Cup qualifiers. “Those who want to crucify Keshi are not followers of the team. Maybe, they are Liberians. Fact is, the players do not have what it takes to rule Africa. Clemens Westerhof did well here because we had boys willing to die. Jo Bonfrere’s success came through the quality of stars. When they left Nigeria, the Dutchmen never won anything,” Kalu added. Kalu advised Nigerians to shift support to the women and Special Sports instead of concentrating on the Eagles. “Eagles are on Ground Zero today. Tomorrow may bring a change. We need not worry. I can go and watch the Falconets or wine and dine with the Paralympians. Afterall, they are Nigerians. Let us switch our support until the Eagles begin to fly again,” he summed up.

NEWS NEWS

Friday, September 14, 2012 DAILY SUN

SUN SPORTS EXTRA

2013 AFCON draw: CAFchanges date

he draw for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa has been moved from October 26 to 24, according to Confederation of African Football (CAF). CAF announced the change in dates on Its website and further said the draw would take place in Durban. Fifteen teams that will emerge from final qualifiers next month will join host, South Africa, for the draw to determine the first round groups for the tournament, which kicks off on January 19 with the final on February 10. The biennial competition will be staged in five South African cities - Johannesburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Rustenburg and Nelspruit. South Africa first hosted the AFCON in 1996. The Chipolopolo of Zambia is the defending champion after beating the favourite, Cote d'Ivoire, on penalties.

Obafemi Martins moves to Levante

igerian striker, Obafemi Martins, has joined Spanish side, Levante. Martins is expected to earn an annual wage of around 600,000 per season as he agreed to have his contract at Rubin Kazan terminated. The Inter Milan’s former man was on an annual wage of €2.2 million at Rubin Kazan after joining the Russian club for €9 million from German Bundesliga side, Wolfsburg. According to reports in Spain, Martins agreed to a two-year deal with Levante on Tuesday and is expected to be unveiled as a squad member this week.

Oyo SWAN visits Nigerian Breweries

o refocus and reposition the Sports Writer Association of Nigeria, Oyo State chapter as the leading and foremost sports writing association in Nigeria as well as re-engineer sponsorship drive for various programmes of the association , the new chairman of the association led a highpowered delegation of its executive to the foremost partner of Oyo SWAN, the Nigerian Breweries PLC, Ibadan plant in a courtesy visit recently. Speaking on the purpose of their visit, The chairman, Mr Seun Ajayi-Obe, said that the purpose of their visit was to re- establish and build a stronger relationship with the company. He listed many advantages that coukd accrue to the firm through sponsorship of various programmes and partnership with Oyo SWAN “This day, sports sponsorship is no charity, we believe your company's partnership with us will give your products a very wide mileage. The relationship with us, we believe is symbiotic as we will do everything within our powers to further boost the image of your company and your products as Nigerian Breweries is reknowned for supporting sports in Nigeria.” In his response, the Public affairs Manager, West and Mid West, Mr Tayo Adelaja, promised the company's readiness to maintain its role as partner in progress with SWAN. The Brewery Manager, Ibadan Plant, Mr Goke Adeyemi, also said that Nigerian Breweries PLC was still committed to the development of sports in Nigeria and would continue to play its role in that regard. Eko 2012

Amosun charges Team Ogun By BABS OYETORO

gun State Commissioner of Sports, Gbenga Otenuga, paid a surprise visit to Team Ogun camp in Ijebu Ode to deliver Governor Ibikunle Amosun' s welfare message to the athletes and also see how they are fairing in camp. The sports commissioner, who was accompanied by one of the members of the media/ publicity committee, Dr. Oye Olubunmi, commended the officials and the athletes for the level of work done so far, in terms of preparations. “Let it be known to you that His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosu, is highly interested in your welfare and also the good people of Ogun State. Be rest assured that the governor would provide all the necessary support that will make you excel in the forthcoming National Sports Festival in Lagos. His Excellency wants you to go the festival and do the state proud. Let people know that there are great potentialities in sports in the state. There are more goodies awaiting any of you that excels in the festival”, he told the athletes. In their response, the athletes assured the governor that they would not disappoint him and the people of Ogun State, promising that they would reciprocate his kind gesture by surpassing their record. “ We are happy with the support coming from the state government. This is unprecedented in the history of the state that athletes going for the festival would be given insurance cover. We appreciate this gesture and we shall reciprocate by giving our best”, the athletes promised.

Poor facilities

Minister queries Abuja Stadium manager J

ob of the Director of maintenance of the National Stadium, Abuja, Abubakar Magaji, is on the line as he failed to carry out the minister's instructions to keep the stadium clean. The minister has ordered that he should be queried for dereliction of duty and gross insubordination. The minister was said to have been very angry that months after he gave the instruction that the grass on the field should be cut and other maintenance carried out, the stadium is still in a very deplorable state. A competent source in the ministry disclosed that the minister was so angry by the poor maintenance at the multi-billion Naira edifice that he may consider suspending Magaji who has become notorious for not carrying out simple instructions. The President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, recently constituted a highpowered committee made of the Sports Minister, Malam Bolaji Abdulahi; Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, among others, to rehabilitate the National Stadium. When contacted, the SA to the minister, Julius Ogunro, said though he was not aware of the query, he however, affirmed that the minister was keen to give the stadium a face lift.”The minister is concerned about the poor state of the stadium, so very soon many things would change for good”.

Ahmed Musa in action for Eagles

Commissioner lauds Akpabio on Olympic Stadium

y 2014, indigenes of Akwa Ibom State will be proud owners of a 35,000 all seater Olympic stadium that will be the first of its kind given its design and execution, says Akwa Ibom State Sports Commissioner, Pastor Ita Umoh Udoh. “Let me react to one of the questions raised here by assuring you that by 2014 latest, the Akpabio administration will deliver to the people of Akwa Ibom State, a facility I prefer to refer to as a Games Village, given its all inclusive nature” the commissioner said. Speaking at Uyo during the Train the Trainers Seminar organized for technical officials that will handle the 12th Akwa Ibom State, NNPC/MPN Athletics Championship, the Sports and Youth Commissioner said he was delighted to be physically present at the laudable event that will further add value to the important grassroots champi-

onship. “Though this is my first championship as Sports Commissioner, as an indigene of Akwa Ibom State, I am no stranger to this programme that has, for the past 11 years helped us to discover potential stars by going to the grassroots and fishing them out. The Akpabio government believes in this philosophy, that of laying a concrete foundation

on which our great state will develop and prosper. I believe in the concept of going to schools to discover and groom talents for the future of our sports.” He urged the sponsors to “please do a bit more, just as Government is ready to partner with you to deliver on this championship, which I have been told is the first of its kind in the whole country.”

Sports Minister endorses Nigeria Pitch Awards

inister od Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, yesterday threw his weight behind the upcoming Nigeria Pitch Awards, being organised by Matchmakers Consult International at the behest of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The Nigeria Pitch Awards, which was approved by the NFF as an annual awards programme for all areas of the pitch in Nigerian football, got rave reviews after a well-attended, exquisite Press conference in Lagos a couple of months ago. The inaugural Nigeria Pitch Awards ceremony is scheduled for December this year. Mallam Abdullahi, speaking

Chess Olympiad heroes crave recognition

he euphoria that greeted the country's brilliant performance at the recently concluded 40th World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey may have vanished into the thin air as the National Sports Commission (NSC) does not recognise the golfers’ success. The team, for the first time in the history of Nigeria's participation at the biennial event, came top in category E in the male, while its female counterparts were second behind Chinese Taipei at the 11

He challenged past stars like Deaconess Utit Ofon Nkantah, nee Ukoh, the State Athletics Officials Chairperson to produce stars that will step into their diminishing foot steps. “Given the importance of this championship, as I have tried to bring out in the limited time available to me, I enjoin all of you to treat it with the underlined importance and history will forever be grateful to you for doing so.

round Swiss-event paring with 161 countries in attendance. However, while the players are very proud to be among the few to represent the country at the global event, they are sad about the reports that the chess team had been excluded in the planned reception for the heroic Paralympians of London 2012 Games and the Female Under-20 team, Falconests, for their good performance at the World Cup in Japan early this month. “We are very proud to represent the country at the event, but it

would be too bad if we are not included in the list of those being put together for reception by the Federal Government this weekend. We went through mental stress to travel to the event and while there, most chess pundits did not give us any chance to excel, considering the fact that we came with most unrated players but they never knew we were such talented players and at the end of the event, we came top,” International Master Dapo Adu, the captain of the team disclosed yesterday.

in Abuja, said that the awards serve to reward excellence in areas of human endeavour and that the Nigeria Pitch Awards will also serve motivational purpose for Nigerian footballers in the national teams and elsewhere. “Awards are good in that they reward excellent performances by the actors and actresses of the beautiful game. The National Sports Commission (NSC) fully endorses the plan for a Nigeria Pitch Awards, as this will serve as further incentive for our players whenever they go on the field to represent the country. They will be conscious of the need to give their very best to qualify for nominations for the Pitch Awards,” said the minister. The NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu, also speaking in Abuja, lauded the minister for the endorsement and pledged that the NFF would superintend Matchmakers Consult International to come up with a credible selection process and a ceremony that the entire sports industry will be proud of.

Friday, September 14, 2012

DAILY SUN

On Thursday, August 30, 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan commissioned the Orange Drugs soap factory, Onitsha Anambra State. The event in pictures.

L-R:Former minister of information Prof. Dora Akunyili, Lady Ezenna, Minister of industries Mr Olusegun

L-R:Chief Joe Otiora, Sir Tony Ezenna, P A to Sir Tony, Mr Musa Mbitahson and Chief John Udeagbala

L-R: Mr Cosmas Maduka, Chairman Coscharis Group with Sir and Lady Tony Ezenna

L-R: Barr Olisa Metu, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Imo State Governor and Senator Osita Izunaso

L-R: Chairman Panda Event Complex Yaba, Chief Willie Obi, Chief Luke Okeke, Chairman Koil Nig Ltd, Ife and another guest

Traditional rulers felicitating with Ikenga Akokwa, Sir Tony Ezenna (left)

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan, Sir Tony Ezenna, Senator Chris Ngige and Senator Osita Izunaso Sir Tony Ezenna (L) & Dr Paul Orhil, DG of NAFDAC

Sister Louisa Ukeje and Rev Dr Obiakoizu Iloanusi

L-R: Mrs Yulia Putri Artati Hidayat of Mensa Group Indonesia presenting a gift to Sir Tony Ezenna, while Lady Ezenna looks on.

44 DAILY SUN

Friday, September 14, 2012 A cross section of members of Nigeria Guild of Editors who paid a courtesy call on Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, as part of activities marking their 8th Annual conference which is holding in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital... Mr Eric Osagie, ED, (lf), Femi Adesina, DMD and Funke Egbemode, editor Sunday, all of The Sun Publishing Ltd

Another cross section of members of Nigeria Guild of Editors during a courtesy call on Governor Akpabio. Left is Mr James Akpandem MD Daily Independent

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State presenting a souvenir to the President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, Mr Gbenga Adefaye, after a courtesy call on him by the latter, in Uyo

From left Managing Director News Agency of Nigeria, Dame Oluremi Oyo, Gov. Godwill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom and Senate President David Mark at the opening of the All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) in Uyo on Thursday

Governor Godswill Akpabio (left) welcoming Senate President, Chief David Mark, to Government House, Uyo. Senator Mark was in the state to declare open the 8th Annual Conference of the Nigeria Guild of Editors

We’ll float another big party –Kanti Bello

OJUKWU’S FAMILY REPLIES BIANCA •What late Sir Louis Ojukwu’s will said •Don’t tarnish Ikemba’s name •Property in question does not belong to ex-Biafran leader

...AND MANY OTHER STARTLING REVELATIONS

Endless bloodbath •Killings, arson in Ebonyi State

Book your copy with your vendor tomorrow

DAILY SUN Friday, September 14, 2012

DAILY SUN Friday, September 14, 2012,

Light of Islam

Abdulfatah Oladeinde 08023078685

MarryMuslim

•Special Assistant to the Director-General, Voice of Nigeria, Alhaji AbdulWarees Solanke flanked by his children from left, Aishat, AbdulRahman and Aasia during their Quranic graduation at the Institute of Quranic Memorization and Islamic Propagation, Ikotun, Lagos. Photo: MOSHOOD RAJI

Do I have to make my Will before leaving for hajj?

’m going for hajj - 1) is it necessary for me to apologise to everyone I know or with whom I had sour relations or with whom I misbehaved, or whom I caused pain? 2) What do I do before leaving for hajj with regards to my relatives and friends? 3) What do I do about my property before I go to hajj? 4) Do I have to write a will about my assets before leaving for hajj? 1,2 & 3. It is not a condition of Hajj that a person has to seek forgiveness from others, however as a Haji has all his sins forgiven except those committed against others, it would be better to get forgiveness from all those one has wronged and to put right one’s relationship with everyone before leaving. One should also join ties with any relatives he might be having sour relations with. One should also endeavour to make sure that all his debts are paid up, his zakaat has been given and that he has no Haraam (forbidden) wealth mixed up with his Halaal (permissible) wealth, as Haraam prevents one’s dua (supplication) from being answered. 4. It is necessary for every person having wealth that he should have his Will drawn up in an Islamic Manner. You should consult your local Ulama or Muslim Lawyers on how to draw up an Islamic Will. Is it permissible to give Adhan (call to prayer) before leaving the house when departing for Hajj. What is the reason/origin of this activity? The practice of giving Adhan before leaving the house when departing for Hajj

has no basis in Shariah. Is Hajj compulsory? Hajj is compulsory upon a Muslim once in his lifetime. If he has the financial ability and good health to travel and stay until the end of the pilgrimage. If you go to Hajj from a different country how do you calculate if you are a Musaafir or not, because do you look at the fact you are resident in another country or do you look to the specific towns you are resident in. I ask this because if you look at the fact you are away from your HOME, then you are away for over 15 days, but if you calculate it in terms of being resident in Makkah or in Madinah, then it is less than 15 i.e you are in Makkah for maybe 5 days so you are a Musaafir, then in Madinah for 8 days so you are a Musaafir, then maybe you are in Makkah and surrounding areas during Hajj for 20 days so you are Muqeem now. Could you please explain this as I am confused if I am considered a Musaafir throughout my stay in Saudi, or sometimes I am Musaafir or Muqeem depending on where I am staying and for how long. 2). If during any type of tawaf one breaks his wudu or needs to go the toilet, can he interrupt his tawaf and resume it from where he stopped, or does he have to start all over again or start that circuit from the beginning even if his wudu broke near the end of the circuit? 3). Can a woman enter Ihram even though she is in her

menses when at the area of meeqat for example when she is on an aeroplane and there is nothing she can do about it? Jazak Allah khair. 1. The basic ruling is as follows: If a person intends to stay at one place – town or city – for 15 days or more, he becomes a Muqeem. He has to perform the full Salaat, etc. In the case mentioned by you, the person is a Musaafir in Madinah. As for Makkah, if he intends to live 15 days or more continuously in Makkah, he ceases to become a Musaafir and becomes a Muqeem. However, if he – for instance – intends to live for 12 days in Makkah and 5 days in Mina and then 5 days in Makkah, he still remains a Musaafir. 2. He should continue from wherever he left out. 3. Yes, a woman may enter Ihraam even if she is in her menses. She would make Ghusl as normal and make intention of Ihraam. This Ghusl is not for Taharah but for Ihraam. Where did the Hajar-alaswad(black stone) come from? The prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) is reported to have said that the Hajar-alaswad descended from Jannat (paradise) whilst it was pure white, but the sins of man turned it black. (Mishkaat pg.227; Qadeemi) Is Tawaaf more virtuous than salaat in Masjid Haram? Is someone who visits grave of the Prophet(SAW) guaranteed death with Imaan? (1)Hadhrat ibn Abbaas (Radhiallaahu Anhu) relates that Nabi (Sallallahu-Alayhi-

Wasallam)said: “Allah sends down one hundred and twenty mercies on the Ka’bah every day and night. Sixty mercies for those performing Tawaaf, forty for those performing Salaat around the Ka’bah and twenty for those looking at the Ka’bah.” (BAIHAQI). Does this mean that Tawaaf is more virtuous than Salaah within the precinct of the Haram ? (2)Hadhrat ibn Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: “Whoever visits my grave, my intercession becomes obligatory for him.” (DARQUTNI). Does this mean that if a person visits the grave of Nabi(SAW) then he will definitely pass away with Imaan since Nabi(SAW) will probably not intercede for someone who passed away without Imaan? 1) Yes, according to the Hanafi Madhab, to perform optional tawaaf is more virtuous than offering optional Salaat, especially for those who do not live in the Haram. (Badaaie-sanaa’ie, Manaasik Mullah Ali Qari pg.168; Ghunyatun-Naasik pg.137138) 2) It is hoped that, Insha Allah, such a person will pass away upon Imaan. Though it is not necessarily definite. This is just like the situation of one who replies to the Adhaan and recites the Du’aa. Thereafter, Rasulullah [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam] has also mentioned that he will intercede for such a person on the day of Qiyaamat. However, this does not mean that one should become lax with regard to the other matters of Deen.

Are you a Muslim male or female searching for a suitable life partner? Or does your family want a spouse for a son or daughter of marriage age. Well, we can be of help to you. It has been observed lately that many matured female and male Muslims are getting agitated and confused due to their inability to find appropriate partners. Some of those affected, particularly the females end up marrying out of the fold of Islam, against the ruling of Sharia. With this column, MarryMuslim, we seek to redress the growing practices in which Muslim youths get abused or frustrated in the bid to have life partners.You are invited to send your profile just as Muslim families are invited to send profiles of their sons or daughters seeking life partners to the email address: fatakola@yahoo.com. The profiles are to include: name, age, height, ethnic group, town, marital status, number of children (if any), qualifications, occupation and current position, telephone number for easy contact, any other useful details, qualities desired in prospective spouses and email address. Please ensure that profiles sent for publication are written as seen published to save time wasted on re-writing. And note that names and e-mail addresses provided will be treated as confidential and will not be included when the profiles are published on this page. Owing to space constraint the profiles will be featured on this page for two weeks before being deleted to accommodate others. Prospective suitors interested in any of the published profiles are to contact the Coordinator, The Sun Light of Islam through the above email address, giving adequate information about themselves and if deemed to have satisfied the requirements will be linked up with the profiled person. Always read The Sun Light of Islam. •Those whose profiles are servant, wishes to marry published on this page now or Muslim female who is from previously are advised to South west or North, aged check their email boxes once between 22 and 27, chocolatein a while for information. complexioned, not too slim Please make the profile you are nor too fat, not too short. submitting appear in the forProfile 1736: Single mat published as much as pos- Muslim male, Yoruba from sible to reduce time spent on Ogun State, system engineer, working on wordy submis- seeking to marry a loving sions. Profiles sent in form of Muslim female. curriculum vitae will not be Profile 1737: Muslim male, treated. Requests and respons- 46, 5 feet 11 inches tall, civil es should be sent to fatako- servant, seeking to marry a la@yahoo.com. Those made Muslim female. through text messages will not Profile 1738: Muslim male, be treated. If your profile is not civil engineer, 44 years old, published yet, please bear with tall, slim and ago, seeking to us. Itís due to space constraint. marry a Muslim female who is Profile 1733: Single devoted, obedient, tolerant and Muslim female, teacher and religious. She must not be writer, 32 years old, fair in below 35 years. Education is complexion slim, average not a barrier but she must be height, wants to be married to a able to speak English and God-fearing Muslim male sin- Hausa languages and prefergle or widower, aged between ably from Northern part of 35 and 42 with no belief in Nigeria. shirk, no interest in politics, Profile 1739: 33 years old gainfully employed, good single Muslim male, 5.7 feet looking, dark or chocolate in tall, Ebira from Okene, Kogi complex, average in body and State, police officer (ASP), height and kind-hearted. He also studying, based in Delta should be willing to support State, wishing to marry a beauand assist wife in achieving her tiful Muslim female, preferdreams especially in writing ably an Ebira, Yoruba or skills. He may hail from Hausa who is God-fearing, Okene, Auchi or Kwara. working and aged between 25 Profile 1734: 27 years old and 32 years. Profile 1740: Muslim male, Muslim female, 5.2 metres tall, dark-complexioned Yoruba from Ganmah, but based in from Ogun State, holder of Ilorin, Kwara State, graduate diploma in Computer Studies and holder of professional cerand a fashion designer, desires tificates, gainfully employed, to be married to a God-fearing, married with children, seeking caring and educated Muslim to marry a God-fearing and caring Muslim female. male preferably Yoruba. Profile 1741: 24 years old Profile 1735: Muslim Muslim male, from Kishi in male,32, single, AS genotype, Oyo State, fair in complexion, 5.8 feet tall, Yoruba from six feet tall, not too fat but not Abeokuta, Ogun State, choco- slim, final year student wants late-complexioned, tall, God- to marry Muslim female who fearing, HND holder in is fair in complexion, not too Business Administration, civil fat, average height.

DAILY SUN Friday, September 14, 2012

POLITICS...&Polity One more state in S’East, is internal affair –Rep Odedo From GEOFFREY ANYANWU, Awka

he transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration will only succeed if the government takes seriously the issue of prosecuting corruption, which has been identified as the bane of the country. House of Representatives member, representing Idemili North and South Federal Constituency, Anambra State, Hon. Charles Chinwendu Odedo, in an interview with Daily Sun, said those, who have been indicted over corrupt practices should be fully prosecuted as a deterrent to others. Odedo said the judiciary should be made to stand always for justice and not to embarrass the nation as it did in the matter of the former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, who was found innocent in Nigeria only to be found guilty in Britain. The federal lawmaker spoke on several other issues, including giving full backing to the agitation for one additional state for the South-East geo-political zone; status of local government, scandals in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly and the House of Representatives issues with the Presidency. He also spoke on the Anambra 2014 governorship election, his party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and his empowerment programme for the people of his constituency. State creation n my write up, I simply said one state. I didn’t want to go into what state, it is deliberate, because we, as South-east people, are talking of being at par or, at least, being treated fairly as other zones. You can also notice that the presidential committee, led by former Chief Justice of the Federation, also recommended one additional state for South-East. The reason that is very important is that most states even as presently constituted are not viable. If the National Assembly decides to create only one state, it should be from the South-East. When it comes to what state will be created out of South-East, it will become an internal affair. But I can also tell you, because I am privileged to know, that there are stakeholders in the South-East, including the five governors, the deputy senate president, the deputy

“When it comes to what state will be created out of South-East, it will become an internal affair. But I can also tell you, because I am privileged to know, that

there are stakeholders in the South-East, including the five governors, the deputy senate president, the deputy speaker and a few others that are working on the additional state to be created.”

speaker and a few others that are working on the additional state to be created. And the advice of the stakeholders at the apex to us and to everybody in the South-East is to entrust that decision to them and so, when you speak, you simply say we need one additional state. Local Governments Initially the thinking of the National Assembly about local government is that, they are talking about concentrating too much power at the centre. The thinking is that every state would decide on the number of local governments they want. If the fiscal federalism is introduced, that means the amount of money you get from the federal is determined, and then that amount you share among your local governments, whether you have one, 10 or 20, that amount will not change so it becomes an internal arrangement. For example, Anambra State has about 177 autonomous communities. In Imo State you will be surprised they might be up to 500. But it is not an issue with anybody because whether you have 500 or you have 177, it does not take away our money, or you don’t get more because you have more local governments. That’s how the National Assembly is thinking, and if the constitution is amended along that line, then it doesn’t really matter, you can create as many local government as you want within your state, and it is not going to give you any undue advantage over anybody. It will not really, mean that all the states would get equal allocation because they will remove the issue of consideration of number of local government as part of the factors for allocation. The other factors will still remain there, like population, landmass, all those other factors but not number of local governments, so it wouldn’t matter. Impeachment threat on President Personally, you can quote me, you can even make it your headline if you want, I think there is no need for any impeachment threat to the president. However, I am also saying that as of today there is no impeachment motion before the House. Even though the majority leader mentioned it during the debate, at the end of the debate the motion that was adopted by the House was simply that the House urges the President to direct the Finance Minister to comply with Appropriation Act by releasing all monies meant for implementation of the budget of 2012 to ministries, departments and agencies. That was the motion. Furthermore, the President seems to be as concerned as the House on this budget implementation and therefore I urge the President to take action against any minister or head of parastatal that is found wanting on budget implementation. I believe that there is no need to talk about impeachment of the President at this time. The House and scandals I believe that this Seventh Assembly is on the side of the people. On January 1, 2012 when there was this fuel increase, the Executive did it, the House opposed it. We recalled members and we sat on a Sunday and said no we are not supporting this increase and in fact we started the fuel subsidy investigation. You asked if the many panels on the same issue are not a bunch of confusion, I don’t really think it is, because we started the fuel subsidy report and I believe it is comprehensive enough. But the chairman of that ad-hoc committee is now involved in a scandal, so, Farouk himself has admitted collecting money from

•Odedo Otedola. It is also a fact in the House that he came to the floor of the House and moved a motion to remove those two names. So the House has now suspended him for that reason until the investigations are completed. Why I don’t think it is confusion is this; the House by section 88 of the constitution is empowered to investigate, expose corruption. We are not empowered to enforce it. That is for the Executive. We investigate and expose. The Executive based on that will now prosecute. The House will not take anybody to court except may be on constitutional matters, but not as prescribed under section 88. So, the House has done its job, and the Executive being aware that the chairman of that committee has some scandals, also has some right in reviewing the entire subsidy investigation. It may interest you to know that there was a published list of indicted companies that were freed by the House Ad-hoc committee, some people have been taken to court, and the government is aggressively enforcing that matter. Loss of confidence in government I think the government should take the issue of prosecution of corruption more seriously like they have started prosecuting those that are indicted. They should make sure that they go all the way. Is it not a pity that Ibori, an exgovernor was found innocent in Nigeria and then found guilty in Britain ultimately. If the

government consistently refuses to do the right thing, the best thing for Nigerians to do is to say we have had it, you have had your chance, vote for opposition and then we will do better. Opposition parties As a member of ACN, I believe it is time to try something new. It is common sense that if you do something and it is not working and you continue to do that thing, the best thing for you to do is to try something else and you probably achieve a better result. I believe Nigeria will be better under an ACN government or under an opposition government. I can give you an example, probably about 20 years ago, Nigeria and Brazil were almost at par, if not, may be Nigeria could be better about say 20 or 30 years ago. But it took the will of the opposition, one man; I think it is President Lula. The entire country got fed up with probably the similar problem we have in Nigeria and said we can’t be doing the same thing and be expecting a different result. Each election, one party wins, and then the situation of the country did not improve. Almost the entire Brazilians decided that they were going to vote for the opposition and try something new. And where is Brazil today? Far, far, far ahead of Nigeria and many other countries that were at par with them at that time. So, I believe that Nigeria will be better under an ACN government or under an opposition government.

DAILY SUN Friday, September 14, 2012

POLITICS...&Polity PDP has failed in Enugu, says ACN chairman From GODDY OSUJI Abakaliki Chairman, Action Congress oFf Nigeria (ACN), Enugu State chapter, Barth Ifeanyi Ugwoke, is not only a progressive whose ambition is to make sure his party wins Enugu State, he is a new breed politician, who wants to put the platform right in the state first and make sure ACN has a home before he begins to think of which office he would contest. Ugwuoke, who is desirous to see an Igbo man, occupying the presidential seat is of the opinion that, “If we (Igbo) continue to put our house together, we will be able to get it right. But the problem is that every Igbo man believes we have no master, but we have to start from somewhere. The truth remains that if we are able to put our house together, we will be able to get it but the problem is how are we going to come together? It is possible and it depends on political calculations. We now wait and see how things are going to unfold. We are waiting for the so-called ruling party, which has wasted 13 years.” The ACN chairman told Daily Sun, among other issues, that the North had not been found guilty of using Boko Haram to champion its march for the 2015 Presidency. Excerpts: Political experience aturally as a lawyer, we believe that politics is a game you don’t need to learn. For me, if I want to talk about my experience, it started when I was a student and if you want me to generalise, I will say I have a very good experience in politics. Why did you join ACN? I joined ACN because of their principles and philosophy about politics. People never believed that I wanted to inherit my father who was a PDP member. ACN believed that those who deserve it deserve it and that is why I begin to think of joining them from AC to ACN of today, even when I was a student. So, I never liked PDP principles because they believe that since my father was there I have to be there. They don’t think about the common man. They don’t think about the common good, they only think about what will go into their private pockets. They don’t think of any other thing, and I am averse to that and I said I cannot be part of that game. I chose ACN because I know their basic principles; they believe in equity, justice and fairness. ACN vs PDP in Enugu Definitely, even the market women today are more civilized than others because for the past 15 years, we have been hearing the same story. I will see somebody from the West to say I want to help Sullivan Chime, but for me as a political activist I still believe that this is not a time where people look on where the person comes from, but somebody who will deliver, whether you are coming from the East, coming from the North. ACN as I believe, is looking for somebody that will deliver from the national level to the states. PDP are they not failures today? They are failures, insecurity, and I don’t know how many times you have food on your table. You can see how the people are suffering today. Recently in Enugu State, the local government chairmen were sworn-in. But when you go there today, you find out that there are no chairs in primary schools, and the little money I made from my practice I

had to go and put it in the primary school and cement the floor at Igboeze local government area. It is the communities that contribute money to cement the floor to make sure their children go to school. These are things I look at, and say that I must not fold my hand and see things running down. How old am I today, that I continue to fold my hands in the name of waiting for who? They don’t have conscience. I am now telling you that we should all come out, and if we are able to see 10 people like me, I can tell that PDP will not make it in the next dispensation. Peoples preference for PDP They don’t know anybody in that place. For instance, when I contested for the House of Representatives Igboeze North/Udenu federal constituency under my party ACN, what they did was to offer people a bottle of soft drink and perhaps pure water . All they do is to ensure that they reduce everybody to a level that you will be having little in your pocket, and then you may not have a choice. But I want to tell you that there was no election in my place. They went and wrote the results; but in my ward where I was standing before them, they couldn’t do that, and based on that I won. ACN won both in the House of Representatives and Senate. But in every other place they went about

“Recently in Enugu State, the local government chairmen were sworn-in. But when you go there today, you find out that there are no chairs in primary schools and the little money I made from my practice, I had to go and put it in the primary school and cement the floor at Igboeze Local Government Area.”

•Ugwoke chasing people away from the polling booths, and at the end of the day they only have 200-300 in a community that is not up to 20 persons that came to vote; that is madness.

2015 and the Igbo presidential project If we continue to put our house together, we will be able to get it right. But the problem is that every Ibo man believes we have no master. We have to start from somewhere. The truth remains that, if we are able to put our house together, we will be able to get it. But the problem is how are we going to come together? But for us as an average Enugu man, we will say we are Wawa man, and as a lawyer I am qualified to rule this country. Somebody from Abia will say I am an Abiriba man, I am supposed to rule this country. The days of Mama Lawyer; Mama doctor are gone we have all gone to school, but if we are able to get our house in order, I want to assure you that Ibos will

PDP, behind lies against Aregbesola —Osun lawmaker By TAIWO OLUWADARE A member of the Osun State House of Assembly, Abiodun Awolola has described allegation that Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State is transforming the state to a Muslim state as the handiwork of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). According to him: “It is because they can see the man is performing, that is why they are finding ways to bring his government down.” Excerpts:

ably in the state without fear of anything. The government of the people is around and doing the wish of the people. Before the end of this year, 10 km of road would be completed in each local government. Also, he is embarking on the project of urban renewal, and by the time he finishes his programs by 2014, people would be convinced that truly, Aregbesola is Godsent. He has good programs and pursuing it rigorously. So, PDP should forget about South-west and not only Osun State because we all embark on rigorous developmental projects. Rating Jonathan’s government In terms of security, I will score him zero because that is the primary objective of any government. In Nigeria now, you

Lies about Aregbesola DP is behind all manners of rumours carried about Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) men. I wonder how people would just wake up and start fabricating lies. There is no iota of truth in the rumour that Aregbesola wants to turn Osun State into an Islamic community. If at all he wants to do such thing, it would definitely pass through the House of Assembly. In his cabinet, the number of commissioners, who are Christians are more than their Muslim counterparts. In the House, we have 16 Christians and 10 Muslims. It is because they can see the man is performing, that is why they are finding ways to bring his government down. Between Aregbesola and Oyinlola Aregbesola and ex-governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola are not comparable. You can see immediately Aregbesola assumed office, he employed 20,000 youths. Efforts to boost tourist business is ongoing, new roads have been constructed and the old ones have been rehabilitated. PDP cannot rule again in Osun State PDP can’t rule Osun State again. You can see the way people are living comfort- •Awolola

cannot sleep with your eyes closed. There are calls from people that the Jonathan government should call the Boko Haram people to order by having a dialogue with them to be able to settle the crisis like what Yar’Adua did to Niger-Delta militants. Although, he has good programs but no good implementation has been seen. The way forward is for the President to call them and have a dialogue with them. The Federal Government should enquire on what they want as Yar’Adua did on Niger-Delta and he settled the whole thing amicably. I believe by so doing, the crisis would be settled if they have no hidden agenda.

•Aregbesola

Friday, September 14, 2012

DAILY SUN

South-West Report Oyo Immigration arrests 22 human traffickers, rescues 37 victims From NGOZI UWUJARE Ibadan

omptroller, Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS), Oyo State Command, Mr Joseph Olaitan, has declared war against human trafficking and child labour as the command since January arrested 22 human traffickers and rescued 37 victims and handed them over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Person (NAPTIP), for prosecution. He made this known during a sensitization programme on the evils of human trafficking and child labour NAPTIP in Ibadan. He explained that human trafficking is not a business but a crime: “It is a modern form of slavery, human trafficking is inhumanity against humanity and it is inconsistent with the tenets of both domestic and international labour law. “The message to human traffickers is ‘when there is no retreat, there is no surrender.’We shall never relent in arresting offenders. We shall stop only when they stop, even when they are tired, we will not be tired. It is an assurance. “We have started an enlightenment campaign today. We are distributing 40 flyers written in local languages of the communi-

Olaitan

Stakeholders and other security agencies at the programme ties, 140 pieces of posters written in English and local languages as well as 97 T-shirts with the inscription of the support of corporate social responsibility of Fan Milk Plc, Ibadan. We are going for collective sensitization that human trafficking is not in the interest of our country.” He said human trafficking for whatever reason should stop forthwith. He thanked the

Comptroller General of Immigration, Mrs R.C. Uzoma and the Zonal Corrdinator, Mr Bayo Akolade for their unflinching support for crusade against human trafficking and child labour. Head of NAPTIP, Lagos zone, Mr Odetunde Taofeek, said that with the collaborative effort of the stakeholders, NAPTIP has succeeded in sending168 suspects to jail

where they are serving various jail terms while it has also rescued, counseled and rehabilitated not less that 6,00 victims. Corporate Affairs Manager of Fan Milk, Mrs Olajide Bello, stated that the company is proud to associate with NIS and NAPTIP in the fight against child labour and in sensitizing the people against human trafficking: “We say no to human trafficking and with this, Fan Milk Plc is signing on the UN Global Compact as part of its 10 principles is strongly against all forms of child labour.” Officer-in–charge of Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Abuse, NIS, Mrs Abiodun Ojo, said they have been facing challenges of curtailing human traffickers, but with the support of the public they have made arrests and rescued victims from the hands of the human traffickers. Akolade said human trafficking has destroyed the human resoursces of the nation: “We should all say no to human trafficking and child labour.”

Change of guards at Ogun Customs By MOSHOOD ADEBAYO, Abeokuta

n the major shake-up of the state commands of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), last week, the Controller of the Ogun State Command, Mr. Bamidele Akande was replaced with Mr. Ademuyiwa Dosunmu. Dosunmu was from the Tariff and Trade unit of the NCS. Addressing officers of the command, Akande said the re-deployment was part of the strategic plans of the ComptrollerGeneral of Customs (CGC), Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, to put the service on a sound footing. According to him, those not affected by the re-deployment are those from the Federation Operations Unit

Dosunmu (with mic) and Akande.

...Akande out, Dosunmu in (FOU). The re-shufflement, he said was part of the preparations for the eventual take-over of the operations of the service providers by the NCS. He disclosed that the CGC has good plans for the Service, some of which he had disclosed to them. He said the Dikko-led administration was working on improving salaries in 2013: “He will do it, he has pledged and he is a man of his words and he has always kept to his words when he made such pledges. I am certain, we are going to look better again, the new year that is coming

will be instructive to us because our service providers are leaving us.” Akande who was redeployed in the Risk Management of the NCS, said he along with others be described as change agents had been nominated for a six-month course in Japan: “When we come back, the Service will no longer be jointly managed by our service providers, but it will be managed by all of us (Nigerians). He expressed gratitude to the officers and men of the command. While recalling that it was not easy when he assumed duty, Akande said: “I saw the task as a very daunting challenge. We all knew the state of affairs when I came in and collectively, we are all know what we have been able to do. “I am moving on, but my able brother has come in. I am sure he will continue to pilot the affairs of this command to a greater height, and I urge you to extend your hands of fellowship and cooperation to him. “The water may be stormy, but I dare say he is a very good captain. I am sure there is no challenge that will come on his path that he will not surmount, just as we have collectively done in thr past months. “We have been accused and labelled, but gladly enough, we have been acquitted on every accusations levelled against us. What else can we wish for? The stage is now set for some other person, very hard-

working individual to come and step in to continue to pilot the affairs of this command.” Akande urged the officers to re-dedicate themselves to the discharge of their duties: “I have come, I have served and I take it as such as I say that today marks my duty tour of Ogun State and the beginning tour of my friend, brother and colleague. “We worked together, we have received accolades in this command. When I came, with your cooperation, we were able to increase phenomenally, the duty collection in this command. The highest duty ever recorded in this command in a month was N381 million when I came. “By the dint of hardwork of all us here, we were able to move it to N524 million a month. It is all of us. We are responsible for this phenomenal increase, I pray my successor would improve upon. “When I came, vehicle rate was about 600 a month, but we now record between 1,400 to 1,600 a month. The general public as well as the hierarchy of the service were also unmindful of this.” Dosunmu promised to do his best and improve on the achievements of his predecessor. He promised to facilitate compliance and facilitation of trade as well as partner with the host communities for their own benefit and the betterment of the nation: “Those who are genuine traders will receive our cooperation and assistance. Officers who are compliant level will be accorded needed supports and be identified and rewarded. But those found wanting will be sanctioned.”

DAILY SUN

Friday, September 14, 2012

South-WestReport

(L-R) Dr. Toun Akinsolu,National Institute for Educational Planning &Admin., Mrs. Olubukola Opakunle, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, Deputy Governor/Commissioner for Education, Mr. George Igelegbai, Education Specialist, UNICEF, Abuja, Mrs. Justina Onifade, Education Specialist, UNICEF, Lagos and Alhaji Fatai Kolawole,Executive Secretary,State Universal Basic Education Board(SUBEB) at a workshop on the Development of L-R: Chief Atanda, chairman of the occassion, Chief Ebiesuwa, Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba an Investment Case for Education Sector in Osogbo on Wednesday Obateru Akinruntan, couple, Prince Bamidele and Oluwayemi Akinruntan

Senator donates solar-powered boreholes to six communities From GBENGA Ibadan

ADESUYI,

The Oluaso of Iberekodo Community of Igbo-Ora, Oba Jamiu Adedamola Badmus, drinking from the solar-powered borehole commissioned at his community

or many years, they have experienced very difficult times in getting drinking water in their various communities. Where water was available, they had to contend with many hours of long queues before they could draw water to their different homes. At times, they woke up as early as 5.00am to get water. That has been the situation in Ido, Iberekodo, near Igbo-Ora in Ibarapa Central Local Government; Oje in Ibadan North-East LG; Orita-Aperin in Ibadan South-East; Adabeji, near Moor Plantation in Ibadan South West LG and other communities in Oyo South Senatorial District, Oyo State. Realizing the need to have access to good water and the desire to help people to help the people he represented, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin constructed six solar powered boreholes for them. This was the second phase of his presentation. In the first phase, seven solar-powered boreholes were presented to communities including Kudeti, Itamaya, Igangan, Inalende and Oketunu. The Oluaso of Iberekodo, Oba Jamiu Adedamola Badmus, expressed appreciation to the lawmaker for coming to the rescue of his people: “We have seen many who will make promises but, once they are elected, we won’t see them again.” Onido of Ido, Chief Tajudeen Akinola Agura, showed his appreciation and happiness and conferred a chieftaincy title on the senator. Alhaji Muibi Yusuff, led the people of Felele, Ibadan, to welcome Lanlehin to the commissioning. Chieftains of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) were also in attendance. They urged the lawmaker to work more on how to empower youths in the community. At Oje Market, Ibadan, venue of another commissioning, the Gbonka Olubadan, Chief Delesolu, saluted the courage of

Lanlehin who he described as someone always willing to assist his people without discrimination. He urged the benefiting communities to make good use of the boreholes. Lanlehin said he would always be ready to carry the people of his constituency along, while promising that he would strive to live up to his campaign promises.?He assured residents of better things to come as long as they

L-R: National Deputy Youth Leader, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Alonge Niyi Dennis, exchanging views with Coodinator, PDP Youth Vanguard Forum, Chief Owolabi Salis, at the Joint Annual General Assembly of the Forum in Lagos, yesterday Photos: Ayodele Ojo

kept faith with the party: “Provision of ultra modern boreholes in various communities is just a token of what we plan to offer in fulfillment of our campaign promises. All we require from you, members of the public is maximum cooperation and peaceful co-existence to enable us brake more havens in terms of provision of good governance and dividends of democracy to all and sundry.”

PDP chieftain solicits support for Oke

chiftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Ilajeland, Ondo State, Mr. Benson Enikuomehin, has drummed support for the party’s governorship candidate in the state, Chief Olusola Oke. He described him as the best for the job. He maintained that Oke “is a tested and trusted candidate whose exploits and achievements in previ-

ous positions showed him as the messiah of the masses.” He said as chairman of OSOPADEC, Oke performed performed brilliantly by meeting the needs of the oil producing communities. Enikuomehin stated that a vote for the PDP flagbearer is a vote for progress. He urged INEC to conduct a free and fair poll saying the people of the state would not tolerate nonsense.

Secretary South West Zone, PDP, Mr. Jide Damazio, chatting with chief Owolabi Salis on the occasion.

Church fetes host communities

o mark its eighth years’ anniversary, King in Christ Power Ministries International feted Isolo, Oshodi and Mafoluku communities, to a two-day programme tagged “Suya Night,” at the church premises, Ajao Estate, Isolo, Lagos. It was a night set apart to fea-

ture music in the presence of God. It was punctuated with consumption of roasted meat (suya). The host, Dr. Chidi Innocent Anthony, said the idea was to show clear understanding: “The communities also had fun in the presence of God without recourse to negative influence.”

L-R: National Deputy Youth Leader, PDP Mr. Alonge Niyi Dennis, Coodinator PDP Youth Vanguard, Chief Owolabi Salis, and Mrs Olabisi Salis at the forum

Friday, September 14, 2012

DAILY SUN 51

People & Events Fidau prayer for Alhaja Edu

Oloruntumo, Apata, elects officers

ew officers have been idau prayers will be held elected to run the for Alhaja Sidikat Abeni affairs of the Edu, a prominent Muslim Oloruntumo Oke-Ola women leader on September Landlords/Landladies 22 in Lagos. Association, off Bembo Edu, who died at the age of 82 years, was a woman leader Hotel, Apata, Ibadan, Oyo at Anwar Islam and Nasfat died S t a t e . on August 8, had since been They are Mr. R. O. Awolola buried according to Muslim (chairman), Mr. Lukman rites. Oladapo (vice-chairman), Mr. Left to mourn her are chilOyegbola (secretary), Mrs. V. dren and grand children, A. Ogundare (assistant secreamong whom are Deacon tary), Elder (Mrs.) Olubowale Adeola and Mrs. Abiodun Ranti Adewoyin of Living (treasurer), Mr. G. O. Ajetunmobi. Faith Church, Ota, Tolani Awosope (financial secretary), Mr. Abideen Adebesin

Madam Alalade for burial

rs Victoria Adedoyin Alalade (a.k.a Iya Ikeja) is dead, aged 77

years. Alalade, a prominent business woman and community leader, who died in Lagos on June 29 is survived by children, grand

children, including Olusegun Alalade, Daniel O. Alalade, Olufemi Alalade, Mrs. Olubunmi Osinusi, Olusola Alalade, Mrs Toyin Lawal, Mrs Abimbola Aboderin and Mr. babasanjo Alalade. There will be a service of songs at her residence, 26, Ladipo Oluwole Avenue September 18 while both Christian wake keep and lying in state will hold at her residence on Friday, September 21, in her home town, Balogun Alalade’s Compound, Ada, Boripe Local Government Area, Osun State by 4pm. She will be buried after a church service at the First Baptist Church, Ada, while entertainment will follow immediately at her residence.

Ezinne Roseline Irechukwu dies at 97

woman leader in the Anglican Communion, Ikeduru Archdeaconry in Imo State, Ezinne Roseline Chiaka Uturu (Nee Egeruo) is dead. She died peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, September 4, 2012 at the age of 97. According to programme released by the family, funeral service will hold at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Amii,Akabo, Ikeduru LGA,Imo State on Saturday, October 6 ,2012 at 10am.

Interment follows immediately at Nathaniel Ekeji Irechukwu’s family compound. She is survived by nine children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Meetings

AGOS State branch of St. Enda’s College (Agbarho Grammar School), Agbarho, Delta State Old Students Association will hold its monthly general meeting tomorrow at 3A, Abuja

Close, Agbara Estate, Agbara, Ogun State at 3.00 p.m. Association Secretary, Mr. Sunday Orode enjoined members to attend punctually as important issues have been lined up for discussion.

* * *

ld students association of Ijaye Ojokoro High School, Ifako-Ijaye, Lagos will hold its monthly meeting at the school premises tomorrow, September 15, 2012 by 12

noon.

Ihitediji plans N5m Community Hall project

ll is now set for the proposed five million naira (N5m) launching of the Ihitediji community development hall and the maiden inauguration of their Youth Movement. According to a release issued by the Vice chairman of Ihitediji local organising committee, Nze Angus Ejenobi (Ezedioramma 1) and made available to the The Sun

Newspapers, the epoch event will take place at Ihitediji Primary School, Isseke, in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Sunday, September 16, 2012, at exactly 2.00 pm. Dignitaries expected on the occasion include the Chairman IIOC Ihite, Ichie Chukwudum Sunday Nwadiubu, Mr George Sunday Asombra and the Youth chairman, Mr Ikenna Okeke.

(chief whip) and Mr. Adegoke (social secretary). Awolola in his post-election speech commended the last executives and promised to improve on their achievements. He thanked members for given the new officers the mandate and pledged not to disappoint. He urged them to be up-todate in their financial obligations as the new executives will focus more on roads, security, light and community development. He lamented on the deplorable state of the roads in the community.

Archbishop (Professor) Magnus Adeyemi Atilade, presenting a posthumous award to the late Deacon S.O. Fadipe’s family at hte 40th conference of Gospel Baptist Conference of Nigeria and Overseas held recently at Gospel City, Awe, Oyo State

Ikeji Aro holds Sept 22

ll roads - next weekend - will lead to the historic town of Arochukwu in Abia State, specifically Amaikpe Square, as the people celebrate the annual New Yam Festival. This year’s celebration will peak on Saturday September 22 - Eke Ekpe Day - which will be marked with fanfare amid performances by sundry traditional dance groups and masquerades. Already, the count down has started with what the organisers describe as “Okpo na aza Awada”, which was

observed on September 4. The arena, where the festivities will be marked, is wearing a new look preparatory to receiving the august visitors. The Guest of Honour at this year’s Ikeji Aro is the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Godswill Akpabio. According to the SecretaryGeneral of Nzuko Arochukwu, Mazi Ernie Onwumere, a lot is at stake at this year’s New Yam Festival. He said that prizes shall be won by the performing groups at the festival.

UDUF marks golden jubilee

t. Hon Ben Uwajumogu, Speaker Imo State House of Assembly and other prominent indigenes of IhitteUboma Local Government are expected at the golden jubilee celebration of Uboma Development Union Federated, Lagos branch which holds on Saturday September 29, 2012. The celebration, under the chairmanship of Dr. Uzor Okafor, Chairman/CEO, Prime Hotels Ltd, will feature the inauguration of the newly elected cen-

tral executive council and award of certificates to distinguished members of the union at home and abroad. The event, which holds at the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Edmond Street, Opposite Presbyterian Church, Yaba, by 10 am, will also attract Hon. Jonas Okeke, former Deputy Speaker and business moguls from the state. Prof. Aloy Ejiogu, grand patron of the union said cultural entertainment would spice the day assuring that the event would be worthwhile.

Eselu Awka Etiti and President, Diamond Fitness Club of Nigeria, Chief Chigozie Nwolisa, being honoured with the chieftaincy title of Dike Di Oranma Ndi Igbo by Nbido Igbo, a forum of all igwe title holders in Igboland, on occasion of its 2012 New Yam Festival.

Ekundayo Evangelical Ministry Celebrates

ll is now set for sixth annual anniversary ceremony/thanksgiving service of Ekundayo Evangelical Ministry with seven days power packed vigil tagged “Praise Night 2012”. It began on Sunday 9th September at 12am till 3am daily and it is expected to continue on Friday 15th September and end with thanksgiving service on Sunday 16th September, 2012 at 8am. The programme is scheduled at 4, Adebakin Street, off Aladelola Ikosi – Ketu,

Amazing fireworks as IEI launches Third Party Online scratch cards

n Wednesday August 29, 2012, at the Multipurpose Hall of Ikeja Country Club, International Insurance Plc demonstrated one of its core values ‘innovation’ by launching the first Third Party Online Scratch cards in Nigeria. In her opening speech while unveiling the new product, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of IEI Mrs. Roseline Ekeng elatedly declared that “the unveiling of the new Third Party Online Scratch cards is part of our contribution towards promoting the Market Development and R e s t r u c t u r i n g Initiatives(MDRI),championed by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM). It is our little way of increasing insurance penetration in Nigeria, by reaching out to the large population of the uninsured in the country, and a platform of providing genuine Third Party Motor Insurance cover. The product is aimed at

ensuring that you can purchase third party insurance at your convenience from the comfort of your home/office through the internet. The product is very easy and simple to use, just buy the scratch card that is applicable to you (private motor, commercial, motor cycle), scratch gently to reveal the pin, then go to our web site,

enter all the information about your vehicle and send. It is that simple” International Energy Insurance Plc is Nigeria’s first energy-focused insurance company, providing first class underwriting solutions for Offshore, Onshore risks as well as General business.

Lagos. The programme which has Great and Awesome God Ps 99 vs 3 as theme. The host Prophetess, Lady Evang. Toyin Ekundayo quoting from Bible said “ if you people refused to praise me, I’ll lift up stones to glorify me saying every other thing comes after praising God adding that it opens heavens fast.

Amakor’s child dedication

kenze Romanus Amakor and his family would on Sunday, September 16 dedicate their baby boy, Emmanuel Kamsiyochukwu Amakor to the Lord at St. Margret’s Catholic Church, Osho Drive, Olodi Apapa during the 6.30 am Mass. Friends and well wishers would be treated to a lavish reception thereafter at the Amakor’s family home at Festac Town, Lagos.

Prince Dotun Oyelade (2nd right) turned 60 last Sunday, the very day his son, Oyedeji of Barclay’s Bank, London, got married. The couple flanked by the groom’s parents (right) and another couple after their wedding in Toronto, Canada

52 DAILY SUN

Friday, September 14, 2012

FG should support no cover in aviation insu By MADUKA NWEKE

Perception of average Nigerian on life insurance Well, the average Nigerian, not only in life insurance but on all types of insurance generally. There is poor perception because; one, they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really understand the workings of insurance; lack of education on what benefit insurance can be for them and because of that, they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bother to take insurance policy. Another aspect is that a lot of them think of insurance as the last thing to do because of this social welfarism that is at work in Nigeria. But that is gradually disappearing because people are beginning to take their own destiny in their hands. We believe that as time goes on, people will start to take insurance as a way of protecting themselves against unforeseen risks.

r. Olutayo Richard B o r o k i n i , M a n a g i n g Director, Royal Exchange General Insurance Company holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and a Bachelor of Law from Lagos State University. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1990. An Associate member of the Chartered Insurance Institute, London, Borokini started his insurance career in Phoenix of Nigeria Assurance Company Plc in 1990 and thereafter held management positions in various companies. He became the Deputy General Manager (Head of Technical) of Royal Exchange General Insurance Limited in October 2008 before being elevated to the position of Managing Director of Royal Exchange General Insurance Company Limited. In this interview with Daily Sun, Mr. Borokini spoke about the insurance industry in Nigeria, the role of insurance in the economy and the vexed issue of claims payment to clients. Excerpts Growth of insurance industry The growth of Nigerian insurance industry has been quite modest even though the level of insurance penetration in the country is very low. Presently, less than one per cent of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population actually has one insurance policy or the other. So the insurance penetration in Nigeria is very low even though there is a huge potential especially in the personal life policy market. As we speak, majority of the buyers of insurance products are corporate bodies and governments to some extent but not fully. That is why I can say that the growth in the industry has been about 25 to 30 per cent annually while the insurance penetration is rather very low at less than one (1%) per cent. Attainment of full compulsory insurance Well, government has made some category of insurance compulsory in order to ensure that there is sanity in the country and for public safety. But it cannot make every insurance policy compulsory. A good example is the third party insurance policy that ensures that you cannot put your vehicle on the road except you have a minimum of a policy which protects you against negligence, in case you cause injury to other road users. You have insurance of public buildings which has also been made com-

Borokini pulsory. A building is regarded as public building where members of the public come in and go out like a bank, school or hospital. Also buildings in the course of erection that are above two floors must also be insured under the law. So, compulsory insurance has been put in place to ensure public safety but definitely government cannot make every insurance policy compulsory. So we still need to do a lot of persuasions to enable people to buy other types of insurance products that have not been made compulsory. Even for the ones that have been made compulsory, the level of achievement is still very low which means that we still have to liaise with relevant agencies of government and also to do a lot of persuasive work to see that people even take the compulsory insurance. So government cannot make every insurance compulsory but the ones they have made compulsory is for public safety and it is left for us to make sure that those compulsory insurances are taken by those that are affected. Level of compliance on insuring public buildings The level of compliance is low owing to the fact that lack of awareness on the part of those that are supposed to take those policies. The number two is lack of

enforcement on part of government agencies that supposed to ensure that those affected actually take these insurances. So, we will like to do more of awareness to tell people that there are certain insurances that you have to take for the sake of public safety. Another one is to appeal to government agencies to help to enforce these compulsory insurances to especially the relevant government agencies like the Town Planning Authorities, those government agencies that are in charge of environmental issues and those in charge of health and all that. The law enforcement and regulatory agencies of government need to ensure that the areas where compulsory insurance has been prescribed that those that ought to take it actually take it for the sake of public safety. Insurance role in developing Nigerian economy Yes, insurance industry is playing its role. Of course, insurance is the key to the growth of any economy. But presently, the insurance industry is not playing the role it is supposed to play because of a lot of factors. One; there is general low awareness of insurance in Nigeria. Even for the corporate bodies that are taking insurance,

not all of them are fully insured. So insurance industry is supposed to contribute to the general gross domestic product (GDP) but the contribution has been low because of low insurance awareness and low insurance penetration. The contribution of insurance to GDP is very low. It is less than one per cent. Micro-insurance development in Nigeria Micro-insurance is where you have very large potential because you are talking of the individual persons not the corporate bodies. You are talking about the individual; personal live market majorly and that is where the potential growth of the insurance industry is. Nigeria has large population of over 150 million people and you can image if out of that 150 million people, about half of them have one form of insurance or the other? We have seen that when you have large population, it is a large potential to sell anything you want to sell and insurance is no exception. So micro-insurance is a way forward to actually tap into the potentials that exist in the economy. If one out of every ten Nigerians takes insurance, then of course, there will be a boom in the insurance premium.

Local content policy and financial capacity to meet requirements The local content policy of the government is that at least 80 per cent of insurance transaction being done in Nigerian should be domiciled in Nigeria. It is a very good policy because it will help to grow the local insurance companies. But at the same time, you find out that some mega risks like the property, oil and gas risks whose value runs into billions of naira, these local insurers do not have the capacity to underwrite them. Implication of this is that a lot is still going abroad because of lack of both technical capacity and financial capacity. Menace of fake insurers Solution to fake insurers is awareness. It is all awareness. For instance, I expect that the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) will publish every year to the general members of the public the insurance companies that are legalized to transact insurance businesses in Nigeria. If they do that every year and let the members of the public know that if you deal with any insurance company outside this list, then it is fake. Let us create that necessary awareness. The regulatory authority has a role to play in it to ensure that the public is informed of the licensed insurance companies that can do insurance business in Nigeria every year. Let this list be published every year for the members of the public to know so that if they carry any insurance certificate and the name of the insurance company is not on the approved list published by the authority, they can always discontinue the cover.

Friday, September 14, 2012

DAILY SUN

premium no rance â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Borokini Operations of Royal Exchange Insurance Well, Royal Exchange is a financial services company. The Royal Exchange is a group and under the Royal Exchange Group, we have the General Insurance Company, the Life Insurance Company, the Health Insurance Company, you have Royal Exchange Finance and we have the micro-finance bank. All these companies are under the name Royal Exchange. But the traditional business of Royal Exchange will still remain insurance. Insuring flood, earthquake, kidnapping and drought Yes, they can be insured except that for you to insure any event, you must have adequate statistics data of their occurrence, the likelihood of their occurrence because insurance is based on the law of probability. So you must be able to estimate the likelihood of their occurrence. So they can be insured. Such disasters as natural as that can be insured. It is just that the premium you are going to pay could be high but they are insurable. Though for kidnapping which is a social menace, for now in Nigeria, most insurance companies do not have cover for kidnaps. But I think in other climes, they do insure that risk but in Nigeria, that cover is not popular. Underwriters/Brokers conflict over premium and commission I believe underwriters and brokers need to work together as partners in progress. The reason is because collection of premiums will assist the financial growth of the industry. Where premiums were not collected it will be very difficult for insurance companies to meet their financial obligations. It is what was collected that will serve as income either through the brokers or from the insurance companies. So there is need for us to work together to ensure that our clients do pay their premiums and when they pay their premiums, the brokers do remit so that insurance companies will be able to fulfill their financial obligations under the various contracts. No premium, no cover in insurance business Well, it is difficult to enforce the no premium no cover policy. It is quite difficult but we do encourage our clients to pay and, of course, where they did not pay and there is a claim, we will not be liable. Controversy in premium payment between local and foreign underwriter as in Dana Airline Well, that is something that should

not be encouraged. It will not be in the interest of an underwriter to underwrite a risk where premium has not been taken. The law prescribes that we should give them 30 days grace to pay. So where they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pay within 30 days, then what it means is that there is no cover in place. So for the issue of Dana, it is unfortunate that the airline which is making money on a daily basis will not pay its premiums. It is not some thing that should be encouraged. The airline business is a very risky business that the operators should not owe on insurance at all. Insurance should be the number one thing. In fact the regulatory authorities should ensure that not only that they have adequate insurance in place, but that the premiums have been paid because where the premiums have not been paid, then the insurance they have in place is not effective. In this way, I am calling on the regulatory authorities to ensure that for every insurance policy that has been taken by an airline, that they pay. They must ask for evidence of payment to ensure that those insurances are effective so as to avoid this kind of thing that has happened in Dana as regards to insurance practitioners in Nigeria. Completeness of insurance laws as regards aviation It is not that it is not complete. The aviation laws enjoin the airlines to take insurance. But what we are saying is that you can have a policy but the policy may not be effective for obvious reasons. Either that you did not pay premium or certain conditions have not been fulfilled. The regulatory authorities should ensure that nothing render ineffective the policy that have been take by the airline. Operators acceptability of the NIID Operators are not obliged to accept Nigeria Insurance Database created by the Nigeria Insurance Association (NIA). They are not obliged but it is beneficial for them because one of the problems we have, to check fraud in the industry, is lack of data (information). So if you have a central body that could help us to collect data where we could verify, it is a good thing. But of course, they are not obliged to. MDRI achieving its set objectives Yes to some extent, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has been able to create some levels of awareness for the insurance industry through the Market Development and Restructuring Initiatives (MDRI) programme. I think it is a good

initiative which should be encouraged and allowed to continue. Insurance industry in two years time In two years to come, in terms of penetration, Nigerian insurance industry will be able to attain at least one per cent penetration all things being equal. Dwindling performance of insurance stocks in the capital market Performance of stocks has to do with performance of the company itself. Unfortunately, when the stock market crashed, about three years ago, the insurance companies were hardest hit because most of our monies were in stocks. Borokini A lot of our monies are in stocks. So we lost investments and and then a lot of people started withbecause we lost investments, that drawing for one reason or the other. affected our investment income The problem is not simply that of which is a major contribution to banks and insurance because there our profits. Because of that, most was a lot of over trading really. of the profits of insurance compaTakaful as playing Islamic sennies dwindled. In fact, we have to make provision for diminution of timents Well, there is a misnomer about income as a result of lost in come Takaful insurance and it is a fact from the falling price of insurance stocks. So our profits were affect- that because of its Islamic nature, ed because the profits of insurance a lot of people believe that it is companies went down and of supposed to promote Islamic course, the investors reacted by tenets, Sharia and all that. But if not buying insurance stocks you look at Takaful very well, you can see that it is beneficial to both because of dwindling profits. Moslems and non-Moslems. This is because Takaful insurance is to Remedying the situation The solution actually is for the ensure the benefit of sharing in the stock market to pick up. Once the underwriting profits at the end of stock market picks up, we will not the year which the conventional record a loss of income as we have insurance does not proffer. So for now in investment. Usually, Takaful in the real sense of it is investments are supposed to help egalitarian in nature and confers to cushion underwriting losses. benefits to both parties to the But when you are also having insurance contracts. investment losses, then it cannot Following on the heels of help to cushion the underwriting losses. So we just pray that things Islamic banking Everywhere Takaful has develwill improve in the capital market oped, for example, Sudan, the and also in the money market because the premiums that are growth of Takaful insurance came given to insurance companies are as a result of growth of Islamic supposed to be invested to pay banking. So anywhere you have claims when the need arises. But if the advent of Islamic banking, you are having low returns on automatically you will have a investments, then, of course, it growth of Takaful insurance will affect your profitability at the because those Islamic banks will end of the day. So our prayer is not want to take conventional that both the capital market and insurance. They will rather want the money market will pick up. to take insurance that is Sharia When it picks, then it will lead to compliant. So, wherever you have increase in investment income and the growth of Islamic banking, you will also have the growth of thereby increasing profitability. Takaful because conventional Banks and insurance as major insurance will not be taken by those Islamic banks. problems of capital market Not 100 per cent but I think what Nigeria taking Sudan model happened in the collapse of the capSudan is the first place Takaful ital market was a lot of over trading by stockbrokers who borrowed developed in Africa. I mean the money substantially to buy stocks home of Takaful in Africa and we

have a lot to gain from them because Takaful is well developed in Sudan. Majority of insurance companies in Sudan actually are offering Takaful. Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s effort at growing insurance in Nigeria Yes, government of recent is trying especially with the introduction of compulsory insurances but there are still lots to do. Government itself needs to insure its assets. They need to lay good examples in this regards by ensuring that its assets are insured. Recently, I was in Abuja and the Police bought a lot of vehicles especially for its security operations, but I am sure those vehicles are not insured ditto with other government vehicles. They are not insured. Most Government buildings are not insured. So government should show a good example by ensuring that all its assets are insured. However, government is trying at least by introducing some compulsory insurance in life and property insurances. On introducing without supporting it, I am not saying that government does not support it but what we are saying is the support could be more. At least from zero level it can go to 10 per cent support. It means a lot of support. Again, government should support insurance by paying the premiums as and when due. That is when they insure, they should pay. Most of the budgets passed by government parastatals do not take insurance into consideration because insurance is not included. So, government should encourage insurance by ensuring that most of their parastatal departments should include insurance when they pass their budgets. In that way, the government should be seen to be aiding the growth of the insurance industry in Nigeria.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Moses Akaigwe mosesaki@hotmail.com 08072100049

hough the Range Rover is acknowledged worldwide as the king of SUVs, model year after another one, there seems to be no letup in Land Rover’s efforts to keep the vehicle on the fast lane, and ahead of the pack – with innovations that define the standards for its class. The current (2012) Range Rover has not changed this tradition, which was why prior to a test-drive for select motoring journalists from across Africa early in the week in South Africa, Nigel Clarke, a top Jaguar Land Rover official, gleefully deployed flowery expressions to describe the product, assuring that it retains its position as the clear leader in the world of SUVs. “The 2012 Range Rover retains its position as one of the world’s most complete luxury vehicles. Its combination of reduced CO2 emissions and superior engine performance continue to make it a clear industry benchmark. And with the introduction of our all‘super diesel’, we see the Range Rover delivering over 30mpg for the first time,” the Operations Director of Jaguar Land Rover Sub Sahara Africa, said. He apparently had in mind the class-leading V8 diesel engine, 8speed transmission, two significant Terrain Response upgrades and subtle external styling, all of which combine to ensure the 2012 Range Rover retains its crown as king of the luxury SUV segment. The LR-TDV8 4.4-litre with parallel sequential turbocharging replaces the outstanding LR-TDV8 3.6-litre and is unique to the Range Rover. A ‘super-diesel’, the LR-TDV8 combines superior power and massive torque with unparalleled levels of refinement. Despite the extra performance, this sublime V8 engine is cleaner too, delivering even lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions than its predecessor and meeting the stringent EU5 emissions standards.

DAILY SUN

Motoring

2012 Range Rover: More power to the king However, the major point here is the fact that the combined cycle fuel consumption of the LR-TDV8 4.4litre is just 30.1mpg, making this the first Range Rover ever to better 30mpg. With remarkable improvement in torque (313PS and 700Nm), the Range Rover’s powertrain matches power with conscience, reducing CO2 emissions by an impressive 14 percent. The diesel engine is helped in this respect by its marriage to an impressive, electronically controlled, ZF 8HP70, 8-speed automatic gearbox tuned by Land Rover engineers to combine silky smooth shifting with exceptionally rapid response and outstanding fuel economy. This daunting combination is enough to catapult the Range Rover from rest to 60mph in a mere 7.5 seconds and complete the 50mph-75mph dash in just 5.1 seconds. Available only on 4.4-litre LRTDV8 models, this ‘smart’ transmission integrates with the diesel engine to deliver the most efficient operating regime in all conditions. The 2012 Range Rover retains the same class-leading 5.0-litre LR-V8, supercharged petrol engine married to the ZF HP28 6-speed automatic transmission introduced in 2010. Developing 510PS and 625Nm torque the Supercharged LR-V8 will take the Range Rover from 0-60mph in a breath-taking 5.9 seconds. The current Range Rove’s performance is further enhanced by improvements to the Terrain Response system in the form of Hill Start Assist and Gradient Acceleration Control. Inside the cabin there are optional illuminated tread plates for the front doors,

•2012 Range Rover

•2012 Range Rover during off road driving in Johannesburg, South Africa

transmission controls for the diesel model, and improvements to the entertainment system. Detail improvement to the exterior include ‘Jupiter’ grilles and side vents for the diesel models. Beneficial to the Range Rover are the e_Terrain Technologies, specifically designed to target emissions and improve efficiency of Land Rover vehicles, without compromising luxu-

ry, refinement or all-terrain capabilities. Still on transmission, the first 8speed tsystem ever fitted to a Land Rover vehicle, the ZF 8HP70, delivers unrivalled response for driving pleasure while driving fuel consumption and CO2 emissions down to an all time low. Few, if any, automatic gearboxes, including the ZF 6HP28, are

capable of handling the 700Nm maximum torque that the LR-TDV8 produces. Perhaps most exciting of all the features of the current Range Rover as demonstrated during a test-drive at Land Rover’s exclusive off-road ground (Land Rover experience Kyalami in Johannesburg) were the Hill Start Assist and Gradient Acceleration Control. While Hill Start Assist retains the initial driver-generated brake pressure, long enough for the foot to move from brake pedal to throttle without the car rolling backwards, Gradient Acceleration Control is designed to provide safety cover on severe gradients when the driver does not have Hill Descent Control engaged.. In the former, the brake is released after a sufficient time has elapsed or when the engine is supplying enough torque to move the car up the hill. Hill Start Assist is always available, not selectable and neither is its operation indicated to the driver. By pressurising the brake system, Gradient Acceleration Control slows the Range Rover to a limit determined by the throttle position when the car is descending the slope in the driver’s intended direction of travel. This includes descending the slope forwards in drive, or rearwards in reverse. Otherwise (such as descending while facing up the gradient with Drive selected) GAC restricts speed to 5km/h (3.1mph) for up to 20 seconds, allowing the driver to regain proper control. Challenging the (2012) Range Rover on Jo’burg highways and at the special off-road was as memorable as the vehicle itself proved to be an icon that has remained a consistent classbeater. Interestingly, the SUV is among the ranges of Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles for which the exclusive importer in Nigeria, Coscharis Motors Limited, recently opened a a state-ofthe-art showroom in the Lekki area of Lagos.

ABC Transport assures shareholders of return on investment

BC Transport Plc, recently held its 19th Annual General Meeting in Owerri, during which the company re-affirmed its commitment to ensuring substantial investment returns for the shareholders. Speaking at he meeting, Mr. Olumide Abayomi, who acted as Chairman, also acknowledged the “enduring support” which the company enjoys from its shareholders and customers. A statement issued at the end of the meeting showed that the company recorded a growth of 26.82 percent in turnover in 2011 over the 2010 result. Turnover increased from N4.61b in 2010 to N5.85b in 2011 representing an increase of 26.89 percent, while operating profit indicating increased operational efficiency grew from N392.94m in 2010 to N459.71m in 2011, representing an increase of 16.99 percent. Profit before tax, however, decreased by 57.63 percent, from N172.25m in 2010 to N72.97m in 2011which the Chairman said was as a result of increase in financing costs, that rose from N220.68m in 2010 to N386.in 2011, representing an increase of 75.24 percent. According to the report, this sharp increase was occasioned by new

financing obtained for investment in haulage services at Lafarge WAPCO cement plant at Ewekoro, Ogun state, which only began to stabilize towards the end of 2011. In his speech, the Managing Director, Mr Frank Nneji,OON, explained that the company has made more incursion into the haulage business to diversify its portfolio as a result of the prevailing challenges in the passenger transport business resulting from heightened insecurity and the poor nature of many federal highways. The investment is further made imper-

ative by the need to position the company as a total logistics company. Last year, the name of the company was changed from Associated Bus Company Plc to ABC Transport Plc by the Board of Directors due to its diversified business interest in haulage and third party warehousing. ABC Transport Plc now runs an Urban Mass Transit Scheme, aimed at offering subsidized fare for public commuters in Lagos. ABC Transport Plc, the only publicly-quoted road transport company in Nigeria, is a major haulage transporter with

Lafarge-WAPCO, Nestle, Beta Glass, and United Cement Company. ABC Transport Plc also runs City Transit Inn, a budget hotel accommodation in Abuja, tours and petty cash service. At the 2012 Annual General Meeting, the Board of Directors were represented by Mr Frank Nneji,OON, Mr Jude Nneji, Mr Olumide Obayomi and Alhaji Aliu Akoshile as members. The Company Secretary, Barr. Vivian Okpe was also in attendance.

•Nnaji

Honda marks 30 years of US manufacturing with all-new Accord his year marks the 30th anniversary of well—including flexibility, efficiency and quality Honda’s first U.S. manufacturing plant, for the customer,” said Hide Iwata, president and located in Marysville, Ohio, and the CEO of Honda of America Mfg. “For 30 years, the automaker recently celebrated in ideal fashion. Accord has been the signature vehicle from Honda, Late in August, the much-revised Marysville and it remains the industry benchmark in a very facility built the very first all-new 2013 Honda competitive segment.” Slated to go on sale in September, the ninth-genAccord for this country’s retail customers, with eration Accord also will be the first with Honda’s millions likely to follow. After all, the Ohio plant new “Earth Dreams” powertrain technology. The already has assembled more than 9 million latest Honda Accords since it first effort to raise went online in 1982, the bar in terms with continued success of automotive likely in the cards. efficiency will “This new Accord provide the excels in all areas, and Accord with it’s being built in a plant two new that excels in all areas as engines (I4 and •Honda Accord

V6) and two new transmissions (a CVT and a sixspeed automatic). Both versions should provide an exceptionally dynamic driving experience combined with equally exceptional fuel economy, as well as a host of cutting-edge technologies like Lane Departure Warning, Front Collision Warning, a blind-spot alert system, and standard Bluetooth and Pandora interfaces. It’s a combination that certainly appeals to Jeff Tomko, the plant manager at Marysville, who said that: “The styling is outstanding, the features are impressive and the technology is unlike any other vehicle in this segment. But what really makes this vehicle great is the hands-on craftsmanship that each of our associates have put into building this new Accord.” Honda is imported in Nigeria by The Honda Place, a subsidiary of Stallion Motors.

DAILY SUN

Friday, September 14, 2012

Motoring

Coscharis wins Ford dealers’ award, promotes Ranger •All-new Ford Ranger T6

he showrooms of Coscharis Motors Limited, one of the two Ford marketers in Nigeria, went agog with celebrations recently when the news filtered in that the leading auto company had won the 2012 edition of the award for Ford dealers in the Sub-Sahara Africa region. A source at the Coscharis Motors’ new complex in Lekki, Lagos, said that a number of factors inter-played to earn the award for the company, including sales and huge investments in after-sales. In 2001, Coscharis Motors expanded its automobile range by diversifying into the sales of Ford vehicles The Ford range today includes Figo, Focus, Fusion and Taurus (all sedans). The 4x4 vehicles on offer are Escape, Everest, Edge, Explorer and Expedition which is currently the flagship of the Ford brand. The company also sells the Ford Transit (with an ambulance variant). It was also learnt that though all the vehicles in the Ford line-up give a good account of themselves within the Coscharis stable, the 2012 Ford Ranger T6 which has been taking advantage of its impressive qualities to give Toyota’s Hilux a tough challenge in the local market, chalked up a lot of points for the dealer. Whether in Nigeria or other markets in Africa (including Zimbabwe and South Africa), the 2012 Ford Ranger T6 has been a big hit; the darling of many industry analysts with bias for the light truck segment. At the official launch of the vehicle recently in Victoria Island, Lagos, the President of Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka, predicted a bright future for multi-award-winning pick-up describing it as the truck that could stand up to the toughest conditions. In a chat with Daily Sun Motoring, Maduka also paid tribute to its innovative technologies that enable it do things other pick-ups find difficult, if not impossible, to do, especially when

it comes to going up or descending a steep incline with the vehicle’s motion under complete control. The Coscharis President remarked that the new Ranger’s quality of materials, care of assembly and extensive global durability-testing give new meaning to its ‘Built Ford Tough’ reputation. “If you are looking for a pick-up that sets new standards for styling, technology and advanced engines as well as driver and passenger comfort and convenience, you are looking at the right product at the right place. The AllNew, All-Terrain Ford Ranger is a game-changer; meticulously engineered in every aspect of its design to make your working day easier and your leisure time more fun. When the going gets tough, the tough Ranger gets going,” he disclosed. The 2012 Ranger has under its bonnet a new 2.5 litre petrol engine or a choice of new 2.2 and 3.2 litre diesel engines. Each of the high-tech engines, guests were informed, combines power and efficiency. Depending on which model and engine you prefer, Ranger’s new

engines come with either a 5- or 6-speed manual transmission or a smooth 6-speed automatic which features a manual sequential-shift

Countdown begins for Skoda Rapid T he countdown has begun for commercial production of the new Skoda Rapid compact sedan in Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic. In two week’s time, the car will celebrate its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show. The newest model series is of central importance for the ?koda Growth Strategy and will be introduced in European markets beginning in October of this year. The small sedan bridges the gap between the Fabia and the Octavia, and is expected to be launched in Nigeria by Skoda World, a division of Stallion Motors, as soon production begins for the Sub-Sahara market.

GM prepares Ohio plants for next generation Chevrolet Cruze eneral Motors will invest $220 million for tooling and equipment to build the next-generation Chevrolet Cruze in two northeast Ohio plants, retaining more than 5,000 jobs at facilities in Lordstown and Parma. The Lordstown Complex, with support from the metal centre in the Cleveland suburb of Parma, has built more than 500,000 of Chevrolet’s top-selling compact passenger sedan since production began in September 2010. More than 1.6 million Cruzes have been built globally since 2009 – a good number of which were sold in the Nigerian market, through the official importer, CFAO’s Intermotors “Thanks to northeast Ohio’s supportive business climate, we’re able to build on a great

•The Regional Manager heading the SubSahara Africa Aftersales Operations Department, Mr John Earp, presenting the award to the Group Managing Director, Coscharis Group, Mr Josiah Samuel in his office in Lekki, Lagos, recently.

capability. “And what more? The All-New Ford Ranger looks after you while you’re looking after your business. It incorporates available ABS system to help you avoid accidents. However, even ABS is no guarantee, therefore, the Ranger also includes a strengthened body shell and active restraint systems – including multiple airbags – to help minimize the potential consequences if a collision is unavoidable”, Maduka stressed.. According to him, Coscharis Motors has diversified into auto sales and service, with state-of-the-art showrooms and workshops nationwide, noting that such facilities are the best in the auto industry in Nigeria and SubSahara-Africa, with a well trained and efficient staff. He also informed his guests that driven by a vision to build an institution that would be timeless in its relevance, Coscharis Group embarked on a mission to deliver excellent products and services to its customers, giving them the highest value for their money. He disclosed that as part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility, it ploughs back some of its resources into the immediate and larger society, while ensuring that the employees have a sense of pride and fulfillment.

foundation and steer the Chevrolet Cruze into the next generation.” GM Manufacturing Manager Arvin Jones said. “A special thanks goes to Governor John Kasich and his team at Jobs Ohio for their strong leadership and advocacy for GM and our employees.” GM has invested more than $7.3 billion in its U.S. facilities since 2009. Production timing of the next-generation Cruze will be announced later. But Jones said the new model will offer new exterior and interior styling, improved fuel economy and an improved interior compartment and more storage space. Preliminary work to clear space in the body shop at Lordstown has begun. The 2012 Cruze is among the best-selling compacts in the United States and was named “America’s Best Compact Car for the Money” by U.S. News and World Report.

•Chevrolet Cruze

“The launch of the series production of the Skoda Rapid is a special moment for us,” emphasized Chairman of the Skoda’s board, Prof. Dr. H.C. Winfried Vahland. “Today, we give the green light for the series production of the new class of Skoda. The car sets new standards in the compact class and is an important pillar of our Growth Strategy 2018. The entire ?koda team has worked with great commitment toward this day – starting today, the new Rapid will roll off the assembly line. This car will highly appeal to our customers and strengthen the position of SKODA in the international markets even further,” according to Vahland. Presently, Skoda is modernising and expanding essential production areas in its main plant for the production of the Rapid and the future new Octavia. Thus, the production capacity of Assembly Line I in Mladá Boleslav will be increased successively from 800 to 1,200 vehicles per day in the future. “This expansion, while production continues simultaneously on both lines, is a logistical and engineering masterstroke of our production, plan-

•Skoda Rapid

ning and logistical teams,” says Michael Oeljeklaus, the Skoda board member for Production and Logistics. Beginning in October 2012, the Skoda Rapid will successively make its debut in the European markets. In 2013, this will be followed by a special version for customers in China to be produced locally there. Also, the production of the Rapid for the Russian market at the Volkswagen plant in Kaluga is planned for beginning of 2014. With the Skoda Rapid, the Czech manufacturer wants to primarily attract families who are looking for a spacious main car at an affordable price with the usual Skoda quality.

FRSC: Beware of requests for recharge card, money for accident victims

he Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has advised the public against granting requests from fraudsters for recharge cards under the guise of assisting victims of road crashes. A statement from the Corps Public Education Officer, Corps Commander Jonas Agwu, said the advice was necessitated by complaints from people who had fallen prey to the antics of the fraudsters. The statement said the criminals, disguising as FRSC staff, inundate their targets with requests for recharge cards on phone, under the pretext of helping accident victims who are related to them. Agwu said the faceless callers who have

been operating under different identities and from various locations, usually claim they want to facilitate medical treatment for their victim’s relations who were involved in a road crash. “This criminal act has been perfected by these disgruntled elements who being aware of the FRSC status as lead agency in traffic administration and safety management, can easily leverage on the corps’corporate image to defraud other Nigerians”, the statement added. According to him, the corps’operational procedure has no provision for any form of request from members of the public to send recharge cards or money under the guise of attending to road crash victims before discharging its statutory functions.

DAILY SUN Friday, September 14, 2012

TRANSPORT Aviation, Maritime

• L–R: Dr Harold Demuren, DG/CEO, NCAA; Ibrahim Auwalu, Nigerian Ambassador to the UAE; Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer; Rashed Naser Musabbah Al Dhaheri, the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, and a cabin crew member, at the airline’s ceremonial launch of Lagos-Abu Dhabi service, on Monday.

4 new terminals: FG signs MoU with Chinese investors

lans of the Aviation Ministry to build four brand new airport terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano received a boost at the weekend, as the government has concluded the deal with Chinese investors by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). A source, who informed Daily Sun of the development, said a government delegation has travelled to China, stressing that the deal was sealed strictly as a contractorfinanced project. Before tidying up the deal, several delegations of Chinese investors have paid business visits to the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to work out needed modalities before the project kicks off. The multi-billion dollar new terminals, once started, are expected to take a maximum of three years to complete. The source further said the terminals would also form the bedrock of the Aviation Ministry’s Aerotropolis project. The Aerotropolis is an airport city with well laid out layout infrastructure; outlaying corridors and clusters of aviation-linked businesses, which also comes with commercial and residential infrastructure. When completed, the business clusters within the Aerotropolis will include: Free Trade Zone (FTZ) Business Park Terminals, Cargo Village, Fixed Base Operators, Technical Services, Social Services etc.

Virgin Atlantic warms up for short haul flights to Manchester

nited Kingdom flag carrier, Virgin Atlantic Airways, says it would commence short haul services from London Heathrow to Manchester Airport, from March 2013. This service is expected to provide competition to BA’s short haul service. The new route, according to the airline’s management, is the airline’s first foray into domestic flying; signalling the start of a new network, which will provide regional feed to its long haul service, as well as providing choice for important point-to-point passengers. The airline, owned by Sir Richard Branson’s, is going to apply for all of the remedy slots being awarded by the European Commission, following the IAG takeover of bmi, but is using some of its existing slots to service the Manchester to London route. The airline believes competition on this route has been neglected in the remedy process and aims to provide choice for the 650,000 passengers, who travel between the two cities. Virgin Atlantic Chief Executive, Steve Ridgway, said: “Flying between Heathrow and Manchester is just the start for Virgin Atlantic’s new short haul operation. We have the means to connect thousands of passengers to our long haul network as well as to destinations served by other carriers. Our new service will provide strong competition to omnipresent BA; keep fares low and give consumers a genuine choice of airline to fly to Heathrow and beyond.”

Domestic airlines: Flying on broken wings Stories by UCHE USIM

he shocking ‘demise’ of Air Nigeria sent tongues wagging as to the bad state of domestic aviation in Nigeria.

Air Nigeria, the incomplete metamorphosis of Virgin Nigeria, was seen as one of the best things to have happened to local air travel in Nigeria. The carrier was armed with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Operational

Safety Audit (IOSA), a highly revered international safety rating that airlines must have before they dream of interlining or codesharing or launching some international routes independently. Surprisingly, the airline, according to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority was insolvent for months, forcing it to ground its domestic and regional operations. The carrier limped with its LagosLondon Gatwick operations for some weeks before bowing out on

September 10, in a most untidy manner, as many Nigerians claim to have been left stranded in London. At the same time, 800 staff were laid off by the airline’s management which sparked off protests within the aviation community. With ‘almighty’Air Nigeria vacating the scene, Nigerians feel the winding up of others is a matter of time. That the airlines are facing huge operational and managerial challenges is not new to industry stake-

Hope dims on recovery of N20bn airlines’ debt

s more and more domestic operators bow out, aviation parastatals, especially the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), are in a dilemma as to how they can recover their monies, about N20 billion, trapped in the coffers of the ‘dead’ and ailing airlines in the country.

Their case grew worse with the sudden ‘demise’ of Air Nigeria, one of the major local operators in the country. Also hit by the sharp reduction in the number of operators in the country is the Nigerian Civil Aviation

Authority (NCAA) that relies mainly from the 5 per cent ticket sales and cargo charges from airlines. In the last 12 months, four domestic airlines have stopped operations either temporarily or permanently. They include Dana Air, FirstNation, Chanchangi and most recently, Air Nigeria. By this development, the revenue the NCAA ought to have raked in via their operations is lost, further putting the regulator under tremendous pressure to meet its obligations. According to the NCAA Director General, Dr Harold Demuren, it is always the authority’s desire to assist the airlines survive within the

safety envelope as their demise is not only felt in people’s homes, but in the economy as well. Unfortunately for the industry, statistics from the NCAA shows that the surviving airlines are not in a healthy financial as they are also over-burdened by debt. A top Ministry source who spoke with Daily Sun on phone said the airlines are no so bothered about the debt locally because they are more embroiled in deeper offshore loan mess. However, the Managing Director of FAAN, George Uriesi, in a recent interview with journalists, said strategic debt recovery programme has been put in place to ensure that airlines pay their debt.

28,000 aircraft will be needed in 2032 – Airbus

irbus’ latest Global Market Forecast (GMF) identifies a need for some 28,200 passenger and freighter aircraft (of 100 seats or more) between 2012 and 2031, worth nearly US$4.0 trillion, reconfirming an upward trend in the pace of new aircraft deliveries. Of these, over 27,350 will be passenger aircraft valued at US$ 3.7 trillion. Passenger traffic will grow at an average annual rate of 4.7 per cent in the next 20 years, during which some 10,350 aircraft will be replaced by new efficient models. By 2031 the world’s passenger fleet will have expanded by 110 percent from slightly over 15,550 today to over 32,550. In the same period, the world’s freighter fleet will almost double from 1,600 to 3,000 aircraft.

Emerging economic regions will represent more than half of all traffic growth in the next 20 years. Increasing urbanisation and the doubling of the world’s middle classes to five billion people is also driving growth. By 2031 mega cities will more than double to 92 and over 90 per cent of the world’s traffic will be between or through these points. “Aside from growth in international traffic, by 2031 four of the world’s biggest traffic flows will all be domestic - US, China, Intra Western Europe and India – and these account for a third of world traffic,” says John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers. “In 20 years from now, China’s domestic passenger traffic will overtake the US domestic traffic to become the number one traffic flow in our forecast. Aviation is not just essen-

tial for international commerce, but also for domestic economies too.” Asia Pacific will account for 35 percent of all new aircraft deliveries, followed by Europe and North America with 21 percent each. In value terms, the single biggest market is China followed by the US, UAE and India. Over 1,700 Very Large Aircraft (VLA - 400 seats and above) like the A380 will have been delivered by 2031, valued at US$600 billion. Of these over 1,330 are passenger aircraft valued at some US$500 billion (13 percent by value of passenger deliveries, 5 percent of units). Asia Pacific leads demand (46 percent) for these high capacity aircraft, followed by the Middle East (23 percent) and Europe (19 per cent).

holders, but what has robbed them of sleep is the flamboyant arrival and sudden vanishing of most of them. The questions on the lips of many are: What is the virus killing the carriers? Why is it that only very few airlines in Nigeria have survived more than 10 years? What are the assurances that the remaining carriers like Aero, Arik, IRS and Overland Airways will be around for another decade? In the last 12 months, carriers on the domestic scene have reduced. Chanchangi, Dana Air, Air Nigeria and FirstNation are not flying as at today. This has left travellers at the mercy of the remaining airlines who are groping to meet the high demand. A school of thought believes the airlines have been perennially plagued by huge debt, high maintenance cost, expensive aviation fuel, poor managerial capabilities and bad business plan, route/equipment mismatch, high charges/tariffs, among others; and that surviving in an environment where the aforementioned are the rule was an impossibility. On the other hand, some industry experts feel the domestic market in Nigeria is about the juiciest in the world and wonder why airlines cannot put their house in order and make the best of it. Their argument is that with very bad roads, unavailable rail network and no commercial water transport in place, air travel becomes a natural choice. A Chief Executive Officer of one of the surviving domestic airlines who craved anonymity had this to say: “Operating in Nigeria is challenging, no doubt, but nowhere is easy either. However, Nigeria has a unique advantage, no other favourable means of transport. Roads are bad. No rail, no water transport. Doesn’t that tell you that airlines should evolve a sound business plan to reap from it? If you call international airlines to do domestic, they’ll smile to the banks but we should not allow them,” he said.

DAILY SUN Friday, September 14, 2012

Maritime TRANSPORT Container traffic: Expert canvasses intermodal transportation

ational Executive Director of Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Nigeria, Chief Francus Ehiguese, has said there is no way proper logistic of transport, cargo or passenger movement will be effected in the country, when there is no linkage between the different modes of transportation. He said the civilized nations of the world have made success of transportation, because of intermodalism, which they have combined effectively to gain man-hours and improve their economy. Contributing to the call by stakeholders for intermodal system of transportation, especially as it has become problematic moving containers by road, the CILT Director said that intermodal transport is the way out, whether for container movement or movement of persons. “In other parts of the world that I have visited, we use one ticket to travel by road, rail and sea. It is actually more of road-rail, you can buy a ticket for one month or so depending on your frequency of use; in Nigeria, it is once; I see the Lagos Transport Management Authority, that is the LAG Bus people trying to practice this duration ticket system but it is still limited to the bus only. It could be applied to connect other means of transportation,” he suggested.

‘24hr port operation may be difficult’

anaging Director of GoldLink Investments Limited, Tony Anakebe, has said that the 24hour port operations, as canvassed by the Federal Government, may be difficult to implement in Nigeria, until there is proper cohesion among all the strategic agencies involved with cargo clearing at the ports. Anakebe said the present clearing arrangement is fraught with a lot of tardiness that things, which needed to be treated with dispatch, are handled with levity, especially by agencies like shipping companies and terminal operations that gain money with every delay. He said because of this, most stakeholders are discouraged and have refused to show enough commitment. Anakabe, a Maritime Analyst said that although the processes have begun, the operation is not 100percent effective because some of the things he outlined and other encumbrances. He however gave kudos to the Nigeria Customs Service for recording a lot of improvement on its own side. “For the 24 hours thing to work, the Customs must collaborate with the Shipping companies, the destination inspectors, terminal operators and so on to facilitate the operations. The Finance Minister recently set up a committee to implement the process and I believe, they are working assiduously to get it off but the supporting structures must play their proper roles to make this thing work. “Security is a problem; Lagos state government has come up with a law which requires containers to leave at night but I think it might hamper movements. I don’t think it is in the best interest of the project. The only way out is proper cohesion between the agencies like I said. Right now it takes you two to three days to drop containers for scanning, it takes days to position for examination and days before it leaves the Customs and there are several delays on the side of shipping coys,” he added.

Lagos traffic law: 48hr cargo clearance not threatened – FG Stories by FOSTER OBI

he Federal Government has said that the goal of the Lagos traffic law is ultimately to achieve free flow of traffic and not to disrupt the 48-hour cargo clearance programme, which the Federal

Government has been championing. Leke Oyewole, senior special adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Maritime Services, said the Babatunde Fashola-led government did not come up with this law to frustrate the 48hour cargo clearance vision, but to ease

traffic in the state. He added that in all the plans to achieve stress free port operations in Lagos, the government has carried the state government along. “We have not left Lagos State Government out of whatever thing we are doing and I know that whenever there is need to shift grounds either on

• Zakari Jibrin, Customs Area Comptroller, PTML Command, briefing newsmen over the 40ft container of fake drugs intercepted recently by the command. Behind him is Steve Okonmo, the PRO.

Lagos, ISAN chief on collision course over ship By ALEX AKAO

he Lagos State Government, and the Chairman of Indigenous Ship-owners Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Chief Isaac Jolapamo, are heading on a collision course over allegations by the latter that agents of government ‘stole’ one of his vessels and subsequently scrapped her. The ISAN boss, who is also chairman of Morlap Shipping Company, is alleging that officials of the Lagos State government illegally removed from the Atlantic Ocean, his ship called MT Bethel and, thereafter, chopped her into pieces by a company known as Accurist Marine & Dredging Limited, purportedly on the orders of the state government. Trouble started a few days ago when Morlap discovered that the grounded MT Bethel had disappeared from its position on the high sea. The company then commissioned a search only to discover the vessel at Ilase Beach, Lagos State where it was being chopped into pieces. According to Chief Jolapamo: “The Lagos State government denied handing the vessel over to Accusrist Marine, but Accurist claimed that it was handed over to them by representatives of the Lagos State Government.” A staff of Morlap, who was part of the team that traced the vessel to Ilase village, said: “Indeed there are ample reasons to suspect Lagos State Government in the illegal removal of the ship. On 18th August 2011, the Lagos State Ministry of Waterfront and Infrastructure Development (MWFID) wrote a letter to the Managing Director of Morlap Shipping Limited, giving the company seven days to remove the grounded MT Bethel or risk forceful evacuation.” The MWFID letter titled Beached Vessel named MT Bettel at Ilase with

reference No. MWFID/ENG.329/119 dated 18th August 2009 and signed by one Engr. S. S. David for the commissioner, MWFID, read in part: “I am directed to inform you that we observed that one of your vessels named MT BETTEL has been beached on the waterfront of Ilase beach since July 2011 and is endangering the environment. “Consequently, I am further directed to inform you that this Ministry is giving your firm a deadline of seven days to remove the vessel otherwise step shall be taken to evacuate it by the State Government at a cost that will be borne by your organization,” he said. Daily Sun gathered that consequently, Morlap Shipping replied the MWFID letter on September 29, 2011 referring the Ministry to Law Union & Rock Insurance which insured the vessel. The reply from Morlap to the Lagos

state government also read in part: “We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 18, 2011 but received in our office on September 5, 2011 on the above subject and regret to inform you that the vessel which we have outstanding of about $5 million of Islamic Bank Loan had broken into two and we have accordingly abandoned the wreck to the insurance company (Law Union & Rock). You may, therefore, contact the insurance company for the evacuation of the wreck. “We are also copying this letter to Skye Bank Plc who guaranteed the Islamic Bank Loan, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) under whose flag the ship is registered, and Law Union & Rock, who has the Hull and Machinery (H & M) insurance responsibility of the vessel,” he revealed.

the side of the Federal Government or the Lagos State, we will do so. The ultimate goal is the betterment of the Nigerian nation. You will also agree with me that the state government is not comfortable with the kind of road traffic gridlocks that happen in the state and so they will support the Federal Government in order to achieve a free flow of traffic,” he said. Oyewole said that the work of the presidential committee on port reforms headed by Professor Monye, of which he is also a member, is moving progressively. “The work of the committee is going on well and as you may also have noticed, the port approaches have been cleared substantially,” he noted. “The inside committee is working on the single window stuff to ensure that we achieve the 48-hour clearance of goods from the seaports; that one too is coming but we are waiting so as to harmonise that with the position of the Nigeria Customs Service. What we did was to carry the people along so that there will not be areas of conflict and the last part of it, which is the Customs, we found out that they have gone ahead also in the same direction. So, what we are doing now primarily is to harmonise the entire positions, parley with what Customs has on ground or what they are contemplating and that is where we are. “As soon as all these are sorted out, the 48-hour clearance of cargo is achievable if we work well. But concerning the government agencies at the ports, most of them are no longer there and for the ones that returned, we are putting intelligence in place to ensure that we stop their activities so that they do not interfere with the clearance of goods within the ports or delay documentation in anyway,” Oyewole declared. On the seeming return of illegally parked trucks on the Oshodi-Apapa Express Way, few months after evacuation, the Special Adviser explained the reason for the relaxation of night movement of trucks which to some extent may have been miscontrued. “We relaxed the night movement thing so that we can achieve some movement of goods from the ports because terminal operators were already complaining and that is how the trucks came back but in between all these, there is a working group trying to look at the effect so that we will not stop the operations of the terminal operators,” he added.

PTML Customs intercept container loaded with expired drugs

he Port and Terminal MultiServices Limited (PTML) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted a 40ft container loaded with expired drugs. The Customs Area Comptroller of the Command (CAC), Zakari Jibrin, said the internal strategies put in place by the command led to the tracking down of the poisonous container. Briefing newsmen in what looks like his first baptism of fire, the CAC said: “I remember on the 3rd of September, my handover date that I promised that all leakages will be plugged, that nothing harmful will ever be allowed to pass through this Command. “I also remember informing you that my Comptroller General has zero tolerance for anything unwholesome. Our internal strategies put in place have started yielding result,” he said.

He said that 100percent re-examination conducted by the eagle-eyed officers of the command led to the discovery of expired drugs in two 4oft containers number: GCNU 4680871 and 4623001 concealed at the front side with hospital equipments. The comptroller vowed that “Nothing. I repeat, nothing will deter me and my officers from ensuring that the right things are done at the right time,” adding, “nobody will be spared and for those nursing the hope of using PTML to carry out their nefarious activities, had better think twice as we are monitoring you.” He told journalists that consignment originated from the United States and full investigation has commenced while the culprits no matter their status will be summarily dealt with. When media men inspected the container, it was discovered that expiry date of the drugs varied

between six months and 12 years. Some of the drugs include molicare which expired in 2000, dextrose injection, 25grams, March 2012; Betadine Solution, July 2010 among others. The comptroller said that the clearing agent to the importer has been arrested while they are on the trail of the Importer. He advised Nigerians to be careful before they buy any drug as there are obviously fake drugs of this ilk in the market. The drugs were officially handed over by the Command to the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigations. Stakeholders who spoke to Daily Sun said that it was an act of wickedness for anybody to import expired drugs at this day and age, knowing the implications on humanity. They called on the government to deal decisively with such wicked men.

DAILY SUN

Friday, September 14, 2012

BUSINESS NEWS Daily Domestic Flight Schedule

ARIK AIR Lag-Abj: 07.15, 09.15, 10.20, 15.20, 16.20, 16.50, 18.45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun). Abj-Lag: 07:15, 09.40,10.20, 12.15, 15.15, 16.15, 17:10, (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun); 12.15, 15.15, 16.15 (Sun) Lag-PH: 07:15, 11.40, 14.00, 16.10, 17.15 (Mon-Fri) 07.30, 11.40, 15.50 (Sat) 11.50, 3.50, 17.05 (Sun) Abj-PH: 07.15, 11.20, 15.30 (Mon-Fri) 07.15, 16.00 (Sat) 13.10, 16.00 (Sun) PH-Abj: 08.45, 12.50, 17.00 (Mon-Fri) 08.45, 17.30 (Sat) 14.40, 17.30 (Sun) Abv-Beni:08.00, 12.10 (Mon-Fri/Sat) 08.56, 12.10(Sun) Benin-Abj:09.55,13.30, (Mon-Fri/Sat) 10.50, 13.30(Sun)

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (PMA)

PZ Cussions post N2bn profit, declares N1m dividends

TENOR

AMOUNT

RATES% ISSUE DATE

From ISAAC ANUMIHE, Abuja

91 Day

30,647.81

14.00

23 Aug. 2012

182 Day 20,000.00

15.08

23 Aug. 2012

1 Year

15.38

08 Aug. 2012

90,000.00

MAJOR EXCHANGE RATES – PARALLEL MKT (AIRPORT AS AT 05/09/12) CURRENCY

BUYING (N)

USD 158 POUND ST. 250 EURO 206 Source: FMDA

SELLING(N) 161 259 212

Z Cussons yesterday posted a profit after taxation of N2,410,498, from which 43 kobo per share dividend was proposed for the shareholders, which amounts to N1,707 million. The profit, which is the lowest since 1998, was attributed to the insecurity in the country and, particularly, in the northern parts. This is because company’s products could not be distributed widely in the north following restrictions in movements. Speaking during the 64th Annual General Meeting of the company, in Abuja, the chairman of PZ Cussions Nigeria Plc., Professor Emmanuel Edozien, acknowledged that the past financial year was very challenging with raw material cost increases coupled with instability characterized by the civil society earlier in the year and the unabated insecurity in the northern parts of the country which impacted on the sales

and profits. “The focus during the year was to drive top line growth and leverage investments into supply chain which has enabled us to further enhance the quality of our key products while optimizing the overall cost structure. This resulted in a 10 per cent overall top line growth and a recovery in the last quarter to profitability levels in line with the prior year. We are, therefore, confident that the decisions and choices made during last year have positioned our company well for future profitable growth, even if the overall annual results for last year, which we will present, are challenging,” he said. Also, the world economy was affected by the Euro crisis, which resulted in Greece requiring further rescue packages and question marks arising about Spain and Italy , with the Spanish banks eventually needing support. The impact on the overall world economy if these countries were to come under severe financial distress, cannot be underestimated.

Los-Abv: 09.55, 13.30(Mon-Fri/Sat) 10.50, 13.30(Sun) Lag-Enugu: 07.10, 13.45, 18.30(Mon-Fri) 07.10, 14.00(Sat) 10.20, 13.45, 18.30(Sun) Enugu-Lag: 08.30, 12.00, 18.25 (Mon-Fri) 08.30, 12.00, 15.40(Sat) 12,00, 18.25(Sun) Abj-Enugu: 08.30, 12.00, 18.25, (Mon-Fri) 08.30, 12.00, 15.40 (Sat)12.00, 18.25 (Sun) Abj-Enugu: 10.30, 17.05(Mon-Fri) 10.30(Sat) 17.05(Sun) Enugu-Abj: 08.50, 15.25 (Mon-Fri) 08.50 (Sat) 15.25(Sun) AERO CONTRACTORS Lag-Abj: 06.50, 13.30, 16.30, 19.45 (MonFri/Sat/Sun), 12.30(Sun) 16.45(Sat) Abj-Los: 07.30, 13.00, 19.00 (Mon-Fri/-Sat, 10.30, 14.30, 19.30 (Sun, 18.30 Sat) Lag-Benin: 07.45, 11.00, 15.30 (MonFri/Sat/Sun) 12.30 (Sun 15.30 (Sat) Ben-Lag: 09.15, 12.30, 17.00 (MonFri/Sat/Sun) 17.00 (Sat) 14.00 (Sun)

•∫L–R: Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam; General Manager, Strategic Planning and Corporate Communication, Bank of Industry, Mr Waheed Olagunju; MD/CEO, Bank of Industry, Ms Evelyn Oputu; Executive Director, Operations, BoI, Alhaji Mohammed Alkali, and Rep Agidani, at the signing of MoU on N1 billion Counterpart Funding for MSME Development between BoI and Benue State government, at Government House, Makurdi, recently.

CHANCHANGI AIRLINES Los-Abj: 7.15, 10.00, 13.30, 15.30, 17.30

Performance Contract: We’re committed to vigorous domestic gas utilization – NNPC

Abj-Lag: 08.00, 11.45, 13.40, 15.30, 17.30 Lag-Kad: 10.45 (on Fri), 17.00 (MonFri/Sat/Sun) Kad-Lag: 7.30 (Mon-Fri), 08.00 (Sat/Sun IRS AIRLINES Lag-Abj: 9.45, 11.45, 2.45 (Mon-Fri), 9.30, 12.45 (Sat & Sun) Lag-Kano: 6.15 (Mon-Fri), 16.30 Sat&Sun Kano-Lag: 07.30 (Mon-Fri), 10.30 (Sat & Sun) OVERLAND AIRWAYS LAGOS LOS - ILR Mon - Fri 0715hrs LOS - MNA Mon, Wed & Fri 0715hrs LOS - IBA Mon - Fri 0715hrs

IBADAN IBA - ABV Mon - Fri IBA - LOS Mon - Fri

0800hrs 1700hrs

ILORIN ILR - ABV Mon - Fri 0900hrs ILR - LOS Mon - Fri 1630hrs ILR - MNA Mon, Wed & Fri 0900hrs MINNA MNA - ABV Mon, Wed & Fri MNA - ILR Mon, Wed & Fri MNA - LOS Mon, Wed & Fri ABUJA ABV - ILR Mon - Fri ABV - IBA Mon - Fri

0920hrs 1520hrs 1520hrs

1500hrs 1500hrs

equel to the Federal Government transformation agenda and the recent Performance Contract signed by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, with Mr. President, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it is already pursuing a greater domestic gas utilization programme to rapidly drive the national economic growth. The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Engr. Andrew Yakubu, made this disclosure during a dinner banquet in his honour and Dr. Peter Nmadu, the Group Executive Director, Corporate Services of the Corporation in Abuja. Engr. Yakubu said the NNPC was committed to increasing gas utilization in order to stimulate industrialisation in the country. “In line with Mr. President’s transformation

agenda and the recent performance contract signed by the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, the NNPC is already pursuing greater domestic gas utilisation to support the Federal Government’s drive for stable and sustainable power supply and national economic growth,” Engr. Yakubu submitted. According to him, Nigeria’s abundant gas resources can realise and sustain the nation’s dream of stable national power supply while gas supply to light industries and plants such as cement, fertilizer, petrochemical plants and domestic users is expected to increase gas utilization and support economic growth. He opined that in the Corporation’s drive to achieve the strategic economic objectives, the NNPC is committed to the core values of

transparency and accountability at all levels. The NNPC helmsman said the Corporation under his watch was pursuing a new agenda to reposition the company for more efficient performance. “NNPC must be commercially focused and aligned with the Nigerian economic growth aspirations. We must therefore raise our operational and financial standards to enable us operate competitively in the entire oil and gas value chain within and outside Nigeria,” Engr. Yakubu pledged. The Vice President Namadi Sambo who was represented by Mallam Aminu Dabo implored the GMD to run the NNPC transparently and described the Corporation as the most strategic agency of the federal government.

Oando lists on Toronto Stock Exchange By BLAISE UDUNZE

ando Plc. has completed its reverse takeover of Oando Energy Resources (OER) Inc., previously known as Exile Resources Inc., with the listing of the company’s shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). Oando Energy Resources obtained the approval from the TSX to list its common shares and warrants on the TSX under the symbol ‘OER’. However, a statement from the oil firm stated that the common shares of OER would be delisted on the TSX Venture Exchange prior to the commencement of trading of the shares. The executives of Oando Plc. as well as directors and management of Oando Energy Resources, led by Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Wale Tinubu and Omamofe Boyo, on Wednesday rang the bell to open trading on the TSX to mark the formal listing of the company.

…Takes over Exile Resources As consideration for the acquisition, OER issued 100,339,052 post-Consolidated Common Shares to Oando, of which 75,254,289 of the shares representing 75 per cent were issued to Oando, which were in escrow. Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc., Mr wale Tinubu said they are excited that the reverse takeover is complete and that the TSX has given OER its approval for the listing of OER. “This platform is expected to enable capital raises to meet OER’s immediate strategic objectives of growth in the upstream sector. Although Oando Plc will initially own a 94.6per cent interest in OER, the listing opens up the opportunity to present OER to a new world of investors with the distinct appetite for E&P investments,” he explained. Meanwhile, the RTO was preceded by the

acquisition by OER of equity interests in certain entities in the upstream exploration and production division of Oando Plc. As previously announced, the restructuring was completed pursuant to a plan of arrangement, which involved, among other matters: “The consolidation of all of the outstanding common shares of OER on the basis of one new Common Share for every approximate 16.28 old Common Shares then outstanding. “The issuance to the shareholders of OER of record as of the close of business on July 23, 2012 of two share purchase warrants of OER for every approximate 16.28 Common Shares of OER held immediately prior to the Arrangement: one share purchase warrant exercisable to acquire one post Consolidated Common Share of OER at an exercise price of Cdn$1.50 per share for a period of 12 months.

59 Monday, BUSINESS August 1, 2011 49 NEWS

DAILY SUN Friday September 14, 2012 DAILY SUN NAME OF CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL US DOLLAR 154.78 155.28 POUNDS STERLING 247.973 248.7741 EURO 197.7364 198.3702 SWISS FRANC 163.7364 164.2653 YEN 1.9851 1.9915 CFA 0.2824 0.2924 WAUA 236.4915 237.2554 YUAN/RENMINBI 24.4305 24.5098 RIYAL 41.2703 41.4036 DANISH KRONER 26.5293 26.615 SDR 237.4944 238.2616 Official exchange rates as at 11/09/2012

SELLING 155.78 249.5751 199.009 164.7943 1.9979 0.3024 238.0194 24.5892 41.5369 26.7007 239.0288

NIBOR TENOR RATE Call 14.5000 7 Day 14.7500 30 Day 15.1250 60 Day 15.4583 90 Day 15.7917 Source: FMDA

CHANGE 0.33 0.12 -.08 -0.17 -0.04

DATE 11 Sept., 2012 11 Sept., 2012 11 Sept., 2012 11 Sept., 2012 11 Sept., 2012

Customs impounds 2 containers of ... Arrests 1 person expired drugs By ALEX AKAO

he Port and Terminal MultiServices Limited (PTML) Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has impounded two 40-foot container load of expired drugs and arrested a suspect in connection with the seizure. The containers with registration number GCNU 4680871 and GCNU 4623001 were said to have been imported into the country from the United States of America (USA). Briefing journalists Wednesday, Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the command, Comptroller Zakari Jibrin, said that the seized expired drugs were concealed among hospital equipment and

were discovered by his officers while conducting physical examination. “These expired drugs are dangerous to the health of Nigerians. This is what they are doing and they are killing us. Some Nigerians would have bought these things, take it and, at the end of it, they will die. That is why we are not taking it lightly, and we would ensure the offenders are prosecuted,” he said. While sounding a note of warning to unscrupulous importers and agents who always want to make quick money, Controller Jibrin reaffirmed the commitment of the service towards checkmating the importation of unwholesome products. “Nothing will deter me and my officers from ensuring that the right thing is done at the right time.

International Flight Schedule

CROSS RATES

Ethiopian Airlines Lagos-Addis Ababa (daily) Departure time: 12:15 pm, Arrival time: 1:15 pm Contact no: 014611869/029

AFRIQIYAH AIRWAYS Lagos-Tripoli Tue, Wed, Thur and Sat Departure time: 01:30am, Arrival time: 22:25 pm Contact no: 012711506 BRITISH AIRWAYS Lagos-London Heathrow (daily) Departure time: 11 pm, Arrival time: 5: 50 pm Contact no: 012792690 0r 014615870-5 TURKISH AIRLINES Lagos-Istanbul Mon, Tue, Thur Sat Departure time: 10: 10 pm, Arrival time: 8: 10 pm Customer care no: Not available DELTA AIR Lagos-Atlanta (daily) Departure time: Btw 3pm and 5pm, Arrival time: 10:30 am Contact no: 014483111 EMIRATES Lagos-Dubai Daily (2 flights) Departure time: 3pm, 8.50pm, Arrival time:1pm, 6pm Contact no :01-2717600 LUFTHANSA Lagos-Frankfurt (daily) Departure time: 10:05 pm, Arrival time: 19:08 Contact no: 014612222, 0414480963 AIR FRANCE Lagos-Paris (daily) Departure time: 11 pm, Arrival time: 14:14 pm Customer care no: 01-4610777, 012617959 SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS Lagos-Johannesburg (daily) Departure time: 10:30 pm, Arrival time: 8 or 9 am Customer care no: 2702681-5

• L–R: President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Chief Kola Jamodu; Vice President, Small/Medium Industries Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Dr Stella Okoli, and Director-General, MAN, Mr Olayinka Kande, at the Media presentation of Blueprint for Accelerated Development of Manufacturing in Nigeria, in Lagos, on Wednesday.

Our licence not under threat – Jaiz Bank MD By CHIMA TITUS NWOKOJI

anaging Director/CEO, Jaiz Bank, Mohammed Mustapher Bintube, has dismissed insinuations that the bank’s license was under threat. He stressed that such rumours were the handiwork of detractors who are out to de-market us. Bintube, who was reacting to information going round through SMS and the social network suggesting that Jaiz bank’s license has been withdrawn, urged customers to disregard it “because Jaiz Bank is growing in leaps and bounds.” He revealed the bank’s plans to upgrade its license to national bank status and to open up branches in all capital cities of Nigeria by the end of the year. The bank’s boss further explained that though Jaiz bank started operation with N5 bil-

lion minimum capital requirements, it will soon raise N10 billion capital requirements that will upgrade it to national bank status. “We started with N5 billion minimum capitals but now it has gone up to N7 billion. We have had our Annual General Meeting where the shareholders have given us approval to raise N12 billion. The minimum amount required to go national under this specialized scheme is N10 billion but we are going above the minimum to give us a cushion,” Bintube said in a Channels TV ‘Business Morning’ programme on Thursday. The Jaiz Bank MD stated that the bank will expects to meet the Central Bank of Nigeria’s minimum requirement for a national bank before the second quarter of 2013. “So anytime from the middle of next year, you will see us in Lagos and other commercial centers of Nigeria,” he said. At the moment, the regional status of the bank limits the bank to two geopolitical zones

of the country; the North West and the north east. The bank which started on private bases with its head office in the Federal Capital Territory, Kano and Kaduna has just unleashed its branding and corporate identity publicity campaign; adding that customer traffic is increasing every day in the bank. The bank’s boss said Jaiz bank’s offices will be increased to 10 before the end of the year. He stressed that the bank strives to be an Information Technology (IT) savvy bank, because IT will reduce the cost of doing business. He explained that Jaiz Bank as is structured is different from the conventional bank. “The main distinction between us and conventional banking is that we are an alternative financing resort. The commercial banks are based on interest transactions. Ours is based on non-interest banking transactions. We are mainly concerned with partnership financing for profit sharing and risk sharing,” Bintube maintained.

N5,000 note to enhance cash portability – LCCI By LILIAN ONEDIBE

he president of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr Goodie Ibru, has stated that the introduction of the N5,000 note will enhance portability and facilitate business activities in some segments of the economy, especially where large amount of cash is required. LCCI said in a statement made available to the Daily Sun by the chamber that this higher denomination of our currency will reduce risk and reduce risk and vulnerability of cash carriers. Besides, the chamber explained that higher value of cash can now be easily moved about with less visibility. “It will enhance the capacity of ATM

Machines to store more money, reduce ATM stock out time, and serve bank customers better.For instance, a N1 million transaction would normally require 2000 pieces of N500 notes or 1000 pieces of 1000. “But with the introduction of N500 notes, only 200 pieces would be needed. This is a significance reduction in the volume which offers tremendous convenience for those who have cause to handle large amounts of cash,” he said. The chamber argued that higher currency denomination, inflation, devaluation, from the monetary stand point, by induced by increasing money supply or the stock of money in an economy, adding that a new currency structure has no link with monetary expansion or contraction. “For instance, a N1 million transaction

would normally require 2000 pieces of N500 notes or 1000 pieces of 1000.But with the introduction of N500 notes, only 200 pieces would be needed. “This is a significance reduction in the volume which offers tremendous convenience for those who have cause to handle large amounts of cash,” he said. However, LCCI said that they are convinced that the new currency restructuring initiative of the CBN should be given a chance, because the policy should be seen as a response to current economics dynamics. “What is paramount at this time is for CBN to relax its tight monetary policy and risk management guidelines, in order to improve access to credit and reduce the cost of fund in the economy. It is time to focus on efforts that will stimulate the economy and promote growth” LCCI stated.

QATAR AIRWAYS Lagos-Doha Daily Departure time: 9:45 am, Arrival time: 7:55am Contact: 012798888/014633333 KENYA AIRWAYS Lagos-Nairobi (daily) Departure time: 11:05 am, Arrival time: 10:42am Contact: 012719433 CHINA SOUTHERN Lagos-Beijing via Dubai Tuesdays, Thursdays Departure time: 12:15pm, Arrival time: 10:30 am Tuesdays, Thursdays. Contact: 01-4610777 or 01-2617959 EGYPT AIR Lagos-Cairo Mon, Wed, Thur, Fri & Sun Departure time: 2pm, Arrival time: 1pm KLM Lagos-Amsterdam (daily) Departure time: 11pm, Arrival time: 8:30pm Contact: 01-4610777, 01-2617959 VIRGIN ATLANTIC Lagos-London Heathrow (daily) Departure time: 10:20 am daily, Arrival time: 5:30 am Contact: 01-4612750, 01-4612747 ARIK AIR Lagos-London Heathrow (daily) Departure time: 10:05pm Arrival 7.00pm Lagos-New York Tuesdays and Thursdays Departure time: 11:20pm Arrival 6pm Lagos-Johannesburg (daily) Departure 11.15pm Arrival 4.15pm Lagos-West Coast (Freetown, Banjul & Dakar) Mon, Wed & Fri Departure 8:00am Arrival 6.45pm Lagos-Accra (daily) Departure 8.00am, 5pm 8.45pm, 5.45pm Contact: 01-2799999.

DAILY SUN

Friday, September 14, 2012

BUSINESS NEWS Ccustoms rakes in N100m From WALTER UKAEGBU, Abuja

he reinforcement team deployed to beef-up the anti-smuggling activities in Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service have raked in assorted seized goods, including fake drugs and cannabis worth over N100 million. The Comptroller in charge of Federal Operation Unit Zone A, Lagos, Dan Ugo, commended the ComptrollerGeneral of Customs, Dikko Inde Abdullahi CFR, for his wisdom in setting up the team whose activities have helped in policing the borders and illegal routes resulting in more interception of smugglers. On allegation of illegal importation of rice through land borders, Comptroller Ugo, said though some of these allegations borders more on business interest and not necessarily on ground, his men have continued to tighten security, patrolling along identified illegal routes result-

ing in seizures of items including some few bags of rice. The comptroller, who issued a memo to all patrol leaders reminding them that the ban on importation of rice through the land borders is still extant, warned that patrol leaders will be held personally accountable for any established case of rice smuggling through their area of jurisdiction. While the leader of the CGC team covering Seme axis, Chief Superintendent of Customs Abdullahi Kirawa showed the results of their activities to include seizure of 59 wraps of cannabis sativa (Indian Hemp), 105 cartons of fake drugs, 25 jumbo bags of used clothes, Used shoes and bags, 204 bags of rice, CSC Adamu Usman who covers Idiroko axis also reported the seizures of 58 assorted vehicles in their four months of operations. Twenty-six persons have been arrested, detained and granted bail and will be From WALTER UKAEGBU, charged to court soon. Abuja

Don’t leave agriculture for aged – NDE DG

Unity Bank customers to get 2 cars in ‘Save and Win’ promo

wo customers of Unity Bank are to receive one brand new car each, as reward for participating in the bank’s savings promotion. Winners will emerge from the second national draw of the savings promotion holding on Saturday, in Lagos. The event is scheduled to take place at Planet One Entertainment Centre, Maryland, Lagos and will be witnessed by customers of the bank, officials of the National Lottery Commission, Consumer Protection Council of Nigeria (CPC) and other members of the public. The first national draw was held at the Yar dua Centre in Abuja in July at which a customer of the bank in Maiduguri, Borno state won the star prize of Hyundai Verna car. The customer has since taken possession of the car. According to the Media and External Communications

anaging Director of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), Alhaji Idris Mohammed, has stated that the company’s effort to ensure regular and effective cash collections was yet to be complimented, as it is being owed N16 billion by the Nigerian public. Alhaji Idris Mohammed made this known at a Customer Consultative Council (CCC) meeting in Kaduna that the debt profile is uncertain to the company’s survival because customers are not paying their bills. According to him: “If we are not able to cover this outstanding debt, the company will be in serious disarray because we will not be able to

irector General, National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Mallam Abubakar Mohammed, has re-stated Federal Government’s transformation of Agriculture in the country to create employment for Nigerian youths. Mohammed, who spoke when he hosted the National President Society of Youths in Agriculture warned that agriculture should not be left in the hands of the aged, stressing the youths must fight hunger. He explained that NDE had earlier identified the importance of agriculture and designed the rural agricultural scheme, the integrated agricultural scheme and marketing of

Manager of the bank, Sani Mohammed Zaria, consolation prizes of fridges and generators will also be given to other qualifying participants at the draw. He disclosed that 3,750 savers qualified for the national draw from all the operational areas of the bank nationwide. He also intimated that Unity bank has three more cars and other consolation prizes to give out in the course of the savings promo scheduled to end later in the month. The three cars will be given out to winning customers at the grand finale of the six month long promotion popularly known as Aim, Save and Win. The bank has also held zonal draws in the five zones of the bank namely, Lagos & West, Central, North West, North East and South-South in By BISI OLALEYE its bid to bring the reward pro- and SAM ANOKAM gramme down to the grasshe popular Information roots. Many customers won and Communication motorcycles, fridges, LCD telTechnology (ICT) market, evision sets, phones and bicypopularly known as cles among others. Computer Village, lost N1.7 million, owing to a five-hour closure yesterday. Speaking to Daily Sun, John meet the demands of our customers; and I want to urge Oboro, Secretary of the customers to pay their elec- Computer and Allied Products tricity bills so that the compa- Dealers Association of Nigeria ny can continue to ensure (CAPDAN), explained that the closure was due to the dealgood service delivery.” Speaking on the cases of ers clash with showcase vandalism of PHCN installa- traders. He noted that the closure did tions and equipment, he said the issues are on the increase not only make the traders lose across the country, saying the N1.7m but it sent a signal that ugly incident continued to affect the negatively on service delivery capabilities and the socio-economic life of the people. He further urged customers to always report problems associated with power supply including bills and bill distribution, adding that before the end of the year, the company intends to create an additional business units to achieve more mileage and customer satisfaction.

PHCN owed N16bn debts by Nigerian public By STEVE AGBOTA

• President, Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Dr Solomon Nyagba (left) and DirectorGeneral, Mr Joe Wenegieme, at pre-trade fair News Conference, in Abuja, on Wednesday.

agriculture among others. “From what you have explained that you do or intend to do, you are preparing for the arrival and partnership with the NDE. You can always bring fresh views or ideas as we parade the professionals that would be ready to work with you. “Your objections are laudable, but remember that the federal government is bent on transforming agriculture with a view to creating employment for our teeming youths. They were here to inquire from us on how to involve the youths in agriculture. You should assist us in the area of sensitization,” he stated. Earlier, in an opening remark National President Society of Youths comrade Bakare Oladimeji, while commending the management of

NDE for training and in empowerment youths disclosed that as Nigerians who understand the problems of youths, they have commenced arrangement to insure that the youth understand the importance of coming back to agriculture. He disclosed that there was a serious disconnect between the youths and agriculture which has informed the society to embark on sensitization, especially the youths who are uneducated and residing in the rural settings. “We have come to familiarize ourselves with the agency with a view to knowing how we could be useful and be of assistance to the NDE and how the Agency can also assist us,” he said. Oladimeji stated that the society has four major progr-

Computer village loses N1.7m to closure

hoodlums were no longer wanted in the market. The market, according to him has become an ICT hub and gateway for other West African countries. The main gate of the entrance of the village was under lock and key but skeletal trading was ongoing around the area. Sounds of gunshots were also heard intermittently in the market. A trader who did not want his name in print said that trouble started when owners of rented shops protested that showcase traders who allegedly pay N700 to street urchins to block their business premises. Miffed by this situation, the

shop owners reported the matter to the police which responded while the showcase traders also reported to the touts who came and insisted that the an unnamed traditional ruler ordered that the showcase traders be allowed to sell their wares leading to the clash. As at going to press, the Oba’s spokesman was not available for comment.

mmes which include back to school programme, where the youths in primary schools and secondary schools are told of the importance or agriculture instead of every one wanting to be doctors, engineers etc while non would want to go into agriculture. Other programmes according to him are those in cultural activities to dissuade every one from wanting to come to the cities while he can engage himself or her self in the villages. Also he explained that there in a programme designed to enable children of the rich to cue into their programme and make money available for the unprivileged youths instead of leaving such money in the bank. The Farmers president presented a blue print of their programme to the management of NDE. He also explained that youths needed motivation to go into agriculture by solving their problem of funds, land acquisition among others. “The youths want some sense of belonging, people should come up and tell them that they feel their pain,” he explained. Oladimeji said the society which is less than nine months old has membership of 256 able men and women and presently has its presence at the Federal Capital Territory.

DAILY SUN Friday, September 14, 2012

BUSINESS NEWS

NSE index outpaces emerging market peers By KELECHI MGBOJI

p from previous day’s 24,839.87 points, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index appreciated by 124 basis points or 1.24 percent yesterday to 25,148.48 points with the year-to-date market performance standing at 21.31 percent. At year-to-date growth of 21.31 per cent, this is the highest level market has recorded in three years. With this performace analysts’

believes that the market has outpaced other emerging markets apart from Egypt. In the same vein, market capitalization appreciated by N98.24 billion to close at N8.005 trillion as against appreciation by N86.36 billion recorded in previous session to close at N7.90 trillion.?Stockbrokers and market analysts linked the market impressive run to strong earnings and improvements of companies on corporate governance and disclosures.

According to analysts, with a record 789.86 points appreciation in eight trading days, the 21.31 percent growth in the benchmark index has outperformed its most other emerging market peers. Except for Egypt index with year-to-date increase of 56.31 per cent, the NSE index outpaces Kenya index with 28.25 per cent gains and Germany index with 24.07 per cent growth. The NSE All Share index rose by 789.86 points or 3.24 per cent to close at 25,148.48 points, up from 24,012.57 points on

September 4, 2012. Market capitalisation gained N363bn to close at N8.006trn, from N7.643trn on September 4. Analyst also attributed the rally to relatively low prices of some companies and the positive performance of companies in 2012. According to Meristem Securities Limited, a research firm, macroeconomic and exchange rate stability have also rubbed off on the market as declining yields on fixed income diverts funds to the equities market.

THE DAILY STOCK SUMMARY AS AT 13/09/2012 1st Tier Securities Sector Company name

1st Tier Securities No of Deals

ASeM OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CAPITAL OIL PLC 2 Sub Sector Totals 2 Sector Totals 2 Type Totals 2 Sector Company name No of Deals Main Board AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. 27 PRESCO PLC 15 Sub Sector Totals 42 Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. 28 Sub Sector Totals 28 Sector Totals 70 CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. 6 TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC 19 U A C N PLC. 59 Sub Sector Totals 84 Sector Totals 84 CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. 18 ROADS NIG PLC. 1 Sub Sector Totals 19 Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED 23 Sub Sector Totals 23 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC 1 Sub Sector Totals 1 Sector Totals 43 CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC 1 Sub Sector Totals 1 Beverages--Brewers/Distillers GUINNESS NIG PLC 83 INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. 74 JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. 1 NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. 177 Main Board CONSUMER GOODS Sub Sector Totals 335 Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. 5 Sub Sector Totals 5 Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC 76 DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC 177 FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. 48 HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC 24 N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. 1 NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC 32 U T C NIG. PLC. 7 Sub Sector Totals 365 Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. 91 NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. 105 Sub Sector Totals 196 Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. 22 Sub Sector Totals 22 Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. 66 UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. 65 Sub Sector Totals 131 Sector Totals 1,055 FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. 400 DIAMOND BANK PLC 123 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED 45 FIDELITY BANK PLC 126 FIRST BANK OF NIG. PLC 569 FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC. 70 GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. 334 SKYE BANK PLC 151 STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC 46 STERLING BANK PLC. 67 U B A PLC 307 UNION BANK NIG.PLC. 46 UNITY BANK PLC 3 ZENITH BANK PLC 347 Sub Sector Totals 2,634 Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. 8 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC 17 CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. 1 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC 30 GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC 2 Main Board FINANCIAL SERVICES Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INSURANCE PLC 9 MANSARD INSURANCE PLC 6 N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. 1 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. 1 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. 4 STACO INSURANCE PLC 1 STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. 4 UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 1 Sub Sector Totals 85

Quotation(N)

0.50

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded Value of Shares(N)

1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 Quantity Trade

500,000.00 500,000 500,000.00 500,000.00 Value of Shares(N)

35.00 14.80

375,849 263,180 639,029

13,153,220.04 3,910,172.42 17,063,000

1.45

3,266,470 3,266,470 3,905,499

4,590,241.50 4,590,000 21,653,633.96

1.34 0.85 37.18

650,000 1,528,000 771,780 2,949,780 2,949,780

888,500.00 1,298,800.00 28,376,380.90 30,564,000 30,563,680.90

28.80 9.28

241,320 50,000 291,320

6,960,372.55 464,000.00 7,424,000

10.00

1,413,790 1,413,790

14,246,699.10 14,247,000

100.00

33 33 1,705,143

3,300.00 3,000 21,674,371.65

0.50

1,250 1,250

625.00 1,000

260.00 12.96 1.53 131.99

172,615 9,588,616 2,000 818,110

45,176,220.16 124,136,518.69 2,920.00 106,113,661.64

10,581,341

275,429,000

39.00

3,990 3,990

154,132.50 154,000

7.08 4.91 60.20 1.90 21.48 5.05 0.55

7,289,476 11,711,755 341,151 514,700 2,999 563,762 77,467 20,501,310

50,801,088.76 57,771,903.77 20,598,639.33 987,649.39 61,209.59 2,903,077.74 42,266.51 133,166,000

20.98 577.50

1,155,097 143,661 1,298,758

23,966,726.18 86,729,071.39 110,696,000

3.00

823,100 823,100

2,469,010.00 2,469,000

24.60 37.50

394,873 1,023,390 1,418,263 34,628,012

9,625,248.46 38,751,746.76 48,377,000 570,291,715.87

9.55 3.12 11.20 1.71 14.49 3.00 19.20 2.90 7.10 1.32 4.60 6.84 0.50 16.40

38,957,332 14,388,968 920,106 22,228,321 12,938,303 4,038,397 10,655,514 29,507,760 1,828,866 19,946,299 39,220,190 2,370,452 492,795 59,913,356 257,406,659

369,978,355.76 44,843,160.98 10,278,721.93 37,970,396.41 186,776,025.76 12,104,960.37 203,835,336.07 85,708,859.82 12,984,322.55 26,281,573.61 181,462,720.49 16,166,387.34 246,397.50 966,097,908.06 2,154,735,000

0.50 0.64 0.50 1.13 0.50

400,000 2,145,750 100,000 5,585,000 6,004,000

200,000.00 1,373,280.00 50,000.00 6,165,050.00 3,002,000.00

0.59 1.76 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

390,099 188,200 381,434 25,000 747,000 44,000 2,476,765 80,000 18,567,248

231,562.39 331,232.00 190,717.00 12,500.00 373,500.00 22,000.00 1,238,382.50 40,000.00 13,230,000

Sector Company name

No of Deals Quotation(N) Quantity Traded

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC 2 Sub Sector Totals 2 Other Financial Institutions CRUSADER ( NIG) PLC. 1 ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. 5 Sub Sector Totals 6 Sector Totals 2,727 HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL SERVICES PLC 1 Sub Sector Totals 1 Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. 4 FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC 29 GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. 19 MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. 10 NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC 4 PHARMA-DEKO PLC. 2 Sub Sector Totals 68 Sector Totals 69 ICT Computers and Peripherals OMATEK VENTURES PLC 1 Sub Sector Totals 1 IT Services NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. 7 Sub Sector Totals 7 Processing Systems CHAMS PLC 1 Sub Sector Totals 1 Sector Totals 9 INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC 75 BERGER PAINTS PLC 2 CAP PLC 26 CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC 16 Main Board INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials DANGOTE CEMENT PLC 9 LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. 26 PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC 1 PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC 6 Sub Sector Totals 161 Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. 1 Sub Sector Totals 1 Packaging/Containers NIGERIAN BAGS MANUFACTURING COMPANY PL C 258 Sub Sector Totals 258 Sector Totals 420 NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. 2 Sub Sector Totals 2 Non-Metallic Mineral Mining MULTIVERSE PLC 1 Sub Sector Totals 1 Sector Totals 3 OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC 67 Sub Sector Totals 67 Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC 216 Sub Sector Totals 216 Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC 14 ETERNA PLC. 21 FORTE OIL PLC. 14 MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. 19 MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. 3 TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. 14 Sub Sector Totals 85 Sector Totals 368 SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. 16 Sub Sector Totals 16 Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC 14 Sub Sector Totals 14 Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC 4 Sub Sector Totals 4 Media/Entertainment Main Board SERVICES Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC 8 Sub Sector Totals 8 Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC 1 UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. 7 Sub Sector Totals 8 Road Transportation ABC TRANSPORT PLC 4 Sub Sector Totals 4 Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC 5 NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC 51 Sub Sector Totals 56 Sector Totals 110 Type Totals 4,958 Grand Totals 4,960

Value of Shares(N)

0.50

50,200,000 50,200,000

25,100,000.00 25,100,000

0.50 0.58

80,000 60,000 140,000 326,313,907

40,000.00 34,400.00 74,000 2,193,139,750.54

0.50

3,830,000 3,830,000

1,915,000.00 1,915,000

1.05 1.00 33.54 1.65 0.75 3.02

17,605 1,428,500 847,955 512,780 36,120 700 2,843,660 6,673,660

17,644.20 1,422,410.00 27,762,509.78 851,843.00 27,291.40 2,009.00 30,084,000 31,998,707.38

0.50

1,998,164 1,998,164

999,082.00 999,000

13.77

15,500 15,500

223,499.00 223,000

0.50

10,000,000 10,000,000 12,013,664

5,000,000.00 5,000,000 6,222,581.00

12.30 8.01 29.15 4.79

3,591,720 3,000 256,102 454,984

44,003,886.52 24,650.00 7,423,086.35 2,123,665.22

115.00 50.73 1.81 3.31

94,427 293,672 150,000 200,000 5,043,905

10,870,760.90 14,856,937.98 271,500.00 662,000.00 80,236,000

1.44

14,000 14,000

20,860.00 21,000

1.98

40,253,120 40,253,120 45,311,025

83,212,468.36 83,212,000 163,469,815.33

5.98

10,000 10,000

56,900.00 57,000

0.50

5,000 5,000 15,000

2,500.00 3,000 59,400.00

0.58

6,638,221 6,638,221

3,940,035.02 3,940,000

13.46

6,928,595 6,928,595

94,293,673.33 94,294,000

19.70 2.24 10.35 115.00 32.29 130.00

42,230 907,360 80,529 151,982 480 509,150 1,691,731 15,258,547

843,414.90 2,012,971.00 833,988.45 17,477,360.00 14,726.40 65,479,205.00 86,662,000 184,895,374.10

1.78

211,944 211,944

389,055.44 389,000

2.78

240,000 240,000

665,373.00 665,000

1.15

184,100 184,100

213,653.00 214,000

0.50

33,000 33,000

16,500.00 17,000

2.22 4.58

50,000 53,260 103,260

111,000.00 233,093.60 344,000

0.50

60,300 60,300

30,157.00 30,000

1.99 5.99

359,306 387,728 747,034 1,579,638 450,353,875 451,353,875

713,484.98 2,323,902.69 3,037,000 4,696,219.71 3,228,665,250.44 3,229,165,250.44

62 DAILY SUN Friday, September 14, 2012 Continued from Back page

Re: 2015: Igbo nation at crossroads

solace in men like Chris Ngige, Rochas Okorocha, Ebitu Ukiwe, Prof. Nwabueze, shenanigans is unleashed on the country by our Ndubuisi Kanu and many more. Unfortunately, AGIP and other prostitute politicians. Nigerian rulers prefer to patronize the charlatans Ibrahim Bala, Lagos in place of true Igbo leaders. Umaru Yusuf, yusufua1967@gmail.com I don’t give a damn Though it is a necessity for Nigeria to have an My advice Igbo as president, the Igbo really have nothing What I will advice is that opposition parties directly to gain, as the person remains the presishould closely watch the obvious charade the rul- dent of Nigeria. Almost all the persons that coning party will come up with, then provide credi- tributed significantly to my being comfortable ble and viable alternative for us to vote into Aso today are non-Igbos. Jonathan is clearly more Rock. Because just as you postulated, the next Igbo then the Igbos. president must be worth his salt, and must strugAnthony Williams Offor, Lagos gle for it. Prof K A Abubakar, Yola, donks2005@yahoo.com Not at crossroads Igbo nation is not at crossroads. Azikiwe British machination Jonathan is a son in whom we are well pleased. I am happy that you initiated this discourse. Let him do a second term. The Igbo question and how to contain them startJohn Mgbe, Owerri, johnmgbe@yahoo.com ed under colonialism, with the British - armed with the French experience in Igbo dominated What makes Jonathan an Igbo? Haiti- using the demographic tool of census to I still fail to see what makes Jonathan more reduce and/or contain their political strength. brotherly to the Igbos than any other man from It was amazing to the British colonialists that any other part of Nigeria, if not that governance the puritanical republicanism/democracy some in Nigeria has translated to chop I chop. Ijaw is of their philosophers theorized, and to some, Ijaw, Hausa-Fulani is Hausa-Fulani, Igbo is Igbo. utopian, was actually extant in Africa, nay Arthur Eze has nothing to offer, but with the Ben Igboland. The West still baffled and embarrassed Obis, we are afraid that the Igbos are removing by the ability of Haiti to free herself from themselves from the equation. For me as Igbo, Caucasian domination in a way that debunked even a Hausa-Fulani who can fix Nigeria and their superiority theory, strategized to snuff this give more meaning to my life is my brother. spirit out from its root. Barrister F.O.A. Nwanosike, Nnewi The political disunity and lack of one voice amongst the Ndigbo is a fallout of British machiCorrect model nation, through warrant chief system, that introArthur Eze’s AGIP political operation is the duced unnecessary rivalry and competition correct model in Nigerian politics. Zoning is amongst the people-having experienced the new fraught with flaws such as having unqualified system with the power and status that it con- person as president, with his retinue of incompeferred. Ogbuagu, O. C, 08083751183 tent assistants and tribal interests. So it should die. Lai Ashadele, Lagos People like Arthur Eze… Ndigbo will speak when the time comes to Who can we trust? become. Arthur Eze is good for the nuisance he Power belongs to God, and He gives it to creates once a while and we have them in all the whosoever He wants, as chosen by the people. geopolitical zones of the country. The political game is becoming more complex, celeuwa@yahoo.com but who among the Igbo elite can the Nigerian masses trust with power? Well, as times unfold, Not ready by their performance (the governors) we shall It is good that you are calling on the Igbo know them. nation to run for the presidency of the country but Rev Monye J. Gold, President, Mass the truth is that they are not ready. Forget the zon- Movement for Responsible Leadership. ing formula since it is dead and buried. Auwalu Ali Garko, auwaligarko@gmail.com God feeds the birds… We the masses should wake up and fight for Voice in the wilderness our rights. The people we call our leaders have You are the consistent voice of the Igbo nation sold us. God gives every bird its food, but He crying in the wilderness: “Remember, power will does not throw it into their nests. never be handed out in Nigeria again, it will have Alhaji Danladi Yaro, Sabo, Ibadan to be contested, wooed, courted and struggled for. If the Ibos want power (Presidency), they Why not? have to stick together to get it” Politics was what divided the old eastern How often has Mr Adesina wanted to gather blocks, so if politics unites them, why not? Most the Ibo nation together as a hen gathers her chicks importantly, we should find a way to make polibeneath her wings, but Igbos wouldn’t let him tics less important if we must succeed as a nation. (apologies to John the Baptist). Clearly, the AGIP men and women (Any Izuegbu, Lagos Government in Power) among the Ibo nation are I support Eze, Obi like the agama lizard that ruins his mother’s No genuine Igbo is earnestly desirous of funeral rites. Hear Vincent Van Gogh:” What would life be if we had no courage to attempt Nigerian presidency in 2015 because we know anything”. Ben Obika, 08033749167, obik- that such Igbo would not last his tenure due to the avalanche of intrigues from the North and Southaben@yahoo.com west. Igbos should be allowed time to sort themselves out, so I endorse the comment of Arthur No political value Your piece on the above subject matter was Eze and Ben Obi. Jonathan should hang in there simply wholesome! And truthful! As you rightly till 2019, because what is good for the goose is said, I was not surprised to see such trash coming good for the gander. Seer Apollos from a character like Arthur Eze. In Igboland, his type has no political and economic value. He is to us what the likes of Jerry Gana is to his people! Ugochukwu Steve Anarado, Abakpa-Nike Continued from Back page Enugu, ugooanarado@yahoo.com father’s name. Open cheque Nigeria Police, yes. State police? I have my In 2011, Jonathan was of Igbo extraction, with doubts. What do you mean, it works in other his name as Azikiwe. Now it is Igbo for 2015, countries. Yes. But this is Nigeria. With state with Arthur Eze also calling on Jonathan to run. police, we are all done for. The Peoples Igbo nation played a major role in aborting the Democratic Party (PDP) man is in trouble in a zoning agreement, and what do they now take state governed by the Action Congress of others for? If Jesus has not returned, 2015 is an open cheque, and Igbos, like others, will have to Nigeria (ACN), and vice-versa. Same with contest, woo, court and struggle for power. whichever party is in power in other states. The governor will load the police with his parZoning is dead. tymen, and they become his standing army. Dr Omebu, Onitsha True, one day, state police may become inevitable. But now? I fear. Already, the matOn Ben Obi and Arthur Eze You wrote that “something happens to good ter has polarized the governors right down the people when they get into government.” This middle, with majority in the South opting for boils down to courage and truthfulness that state police, and those in the North kicking. The term element. One term of six or seven you’ve always championed. The likes of Ben Obi and Arthur Eze lack the traits, and a lot of years for executive offices as espoused by

•Ben Obi None can succeed There is nothing on ground to show there is any Igbo gunning for the presidency in 2015. This is highly lamentable. No group can succeed at the presidency through an ethnic party. Zik tried severally, and failed. Awolowo too failed. I am Igbo, but unfortunately my brothers and sisters love boy-boy work for politicians from other zones. If the PDP zoning policy was not abruptly killed, it would have favoured the Igbos. I wish us well. Pastor Livy Onyenegecha, Observers of Good Governance and Performance Initiative, Mbaise I believe him Hon Obinna Uche says Igbo politics is of the stomach. Yes, I believe him. When a political giant sees what benefits him and his immediate family, he becomes a woman. Imagine Senator Ben Obi coming with such declaration. Even in 2027, don’t be surprised if Igbo are still beating about the bush. Sunny P, Kano

Okoronkwo, Ondo State Leadership vacuum You are indeed a Yoruba man with a very sincere heart, full of interest in the affairs of Igbos. You seem to be more acquainted with the political leadership needs and vacuum in Igboland. We must borrow a leaf from our Yoruba brothers on how to read, understand and use political barometers to chart a new course. Dike Chikodinaka Living in bondage The Igbo nation is not only at crossroads, but rather living in self-put-bondage, and perhaps delusion, especially when people like Arthur Eze are highly regarded and placed among top Igbo decision makers. How can the Igbo be taken serious on such a key national issue of our time for president, when clowns boldly speak for them unchallenged? Igbos frittered away our opportunity in 2011, and seem to be at it again, working ‘selfishly’ to sell another chance and fritter away 2015. For me, really, let Nigeria go now the way of the former USSR under Gorbachev. Sir Abuchi Anuenyiagu, Enugu, 08033205799, 08080242128, buchisbushis@yahoo.com Whether enemies like it or not… 2015 presidency is for Ndigbo, whether our enemies like it or not. It is our turn to rule Nigeria come 2015. Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State Why we won’t get it Igbos will not get 2015 presidency for three reasons. 1. Delegates determine who wins party ticket, and South-east doesn’t have the number. And zoning does not exist in PDP again. 2. PDP leaders have shown dim vision and lack conviction, and can’t assert the 2011 pact they struck with Jonathan. 3. Food-for-stomach politics of most South-eastern politicians. Pity, many Igbos do not give deep thought to their plight, and may not give PDP the boot in 2015. Nze G. O. Ohaka (Okparanochie) Ogberuru Orlu LGA

Neo-colonial state It is not true that Igbo or any nation exists in Nigeria. We are a neo-colonial state with a social You love the Igbos system that has divided the people into rich and Thanks for your truthfulness and love for the poor. The truth is that the PDP is for the rich, and Igbos. As for who rules this country, I do not give they are enemies of the poor. a damn, as long s the person governs well. God Amos Ejimonye, Isikwuato, Abia State keep and bless you. John Ogbonnah, Abuja His cup will run over What my people need The AGIP man trades off the future of human As a thoroughbred Igbo, I don’t believe that an beings. His cup will run over soon. Igbo president would amount to much. Nigeria Egbim B.C, Enugu has a way of destroying creativity. What my people need now is internal mobilization that will May God help us unleash that unstoppable energy of theirs to conPersonally, I don’t believe in Jonathan again, front Nigeria’s skewed federalism and deal with having sacked a round peg in a round hole, Prof quislings like Arthur Eze. George Ibecheozor, Nnaji. May God help Igbo nation, because even Owerri Jonathan is not afraid of us again. Felix Oraedu, Port Harcourt Our greatest problem Truly, the Igbo nation is at crossroads. The Don’t mind us greatest problem we have is not money, not wisDon’t mind our people with their political caldom, not education. The greatest problem is that culations. Once they know that they can’t make we are not united. That was why the late Ojukwu it personally, they will be against another person always disagreed with most of our politicians. who will like to try, forgetting that politics is a Lucky Umeneri teamwork. Engr Enn Anolue, Aguata Aguluezechukwu Learn from the South-west If the Igbos are serious about the presidency, We need a purge they should learn from the South-west how to I believe those men spoke for their pockets, unite when it comes to national issues. That is the and I’m perturbed that APGA leadership is yet to only way the Igbo man can re-orient his ideolo- counter such maniacal position. Ohanaeze must gy of ‘no one else can do it better than me.’ All purge itself of these traitors come 2015. we need is an Igbo man to be there. The state he Charles Otu, Abakaliki, 07038104883 comes from in the east does not matter. Sam To be continued

Removing the con in our constitution Jonathan? So, when we have a no-gooder in power, we are stuck with him for that length of time? Oh blimey! I’d rather opt for the extant model of maximum two terms of four years each. We can be patient for four years, and then vote out a poor performer at the end of his first term. Give him the left leg of fellowship, and let him land with a thud in his backyard. All these areas, and more, deserve to be ingrained in our constitution. Should local government areas be listed as we have with the 774 structure we currently run? No. It is too constraining, too rigid, as no state can then create new local governments without a further amendment of the constitution. It bears repeating that the constitution that will emerge at the end of June next year must be one that meets the desires and expectations of the people. They must therefore have an

input. Let’s remind Ekweremadu of his promise in Asaba in July: “We will be driven by the force of superior argument and public will. What we owe people is leadership, legislative due process, transparency, inclusivity, and popular participation. We want to ensure that the generality of Nigerians own and drive the process to be able to take full responsibility of the eventual outcome.” Well said. And so let there be no attempt to smuggle anything into the constitution as was done with Olusegun Obasanjo’s third term bid. Let us not suddenly find elongated term for executive office holders, or any other noxious provision, unless the people themselves ask for such, which they’ve not done and are not likely to do. “What we owe our people is… transparency, inclusivity and popular participation,” said Ekweremadu. We hold him to that promise.

DAILY SUN

Friday, September 14, 2012

PUBLIC SPHERE

ONUOHA UKEH

ooukeh@yahoo.com

08056180077

Subsidy trial and the untouchables in NNPC, civil service L

ast January, during the argument and counter-argument between the Federal Government and the rest of Nigerians, over the removal of fuel subsidy, one position the former did put up was that the total removal of subsidy on petroleum products would arrest the corruption bedeviling the sector. It was an argument many Nigerians saw as exposing the failure of government in the fight against corruption and which gave impetus to the thinking that the government’s anti-corruption programme had a fault. Some of us had argued then and still hold the view that corruption in the petroleum sector cannot be fought by increasing the suffering of the majority of Nigerians, which the removal of subsidy entailed. To be sure, if the only way those in government think they would tackle corruption relating to subsidy were to make Nigerians pay more for fuel, it shows that they prefer cosmetic solution to issues of concern. The removal of subsidy, as a panacea for corruption, is too cheap a theory. Government could as well fire all those occupying offices in the Executive, including the president, as a way of ending corruption in that arm of government. Corruption cannot be fought that way. And corruption relating to subsidy awards cannot be solved by the removal of what government wants us to believe is subsidy. It can only be solved when government formulates good policies on subsidy payment and implements them to the letter, with a firm commitment that there will be no scared cow. The diligence and honesty of those who supervise the implementation of such policies are what would make or mar it. To achieve success, these people must be above board. Therein lies the problem of subsidy awards and payments. Those who say that the findings of the investigative panel on subsidy allocation, which revealed that some businessmen and companies collected money for fuel they did import, was a vindication of the government’s position on corruption in the sector, should not celebrate. Nobody doubts that there’s corruption on subsidy disbursement. What is in doubt is government’s ability and determination to not only fight this corruption but also bring its officials, who connive with importers to swindle the nation, to book. Government’s action of removing subsidy, instead of taking measures to block leakages in the system and also ensure that its corrupt officials are kicked out, is, at best, an indirect punishment for Nigerians. This, I dare say, was the main reason Nigerians protested against this. The promise, therefore, to investigate the petroleum sector and also to work on the vexed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) was welcomed. It must be said that the setting up of the Aigboje Aig-Imokhuede Presidential Verification Panel (VAP), on the heels of the House of Representatives’report on subsidy payments, was a step in the right direction. The fact that it came after the government had also raised a 21-member Special Task Force headed by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to streamline revenue sources in the oil and gas sector, made it more interesting. These were what Nigerians expected the Federal Government to have done first, before the removal of subsidy. These moves gave Nigerians hope that the government had seen the need to clean the Augean stable and save the country the huge amount of money stolen through the subsidy awards and others. Despite the fact that there was controversy caused by the fact that some of the companies listed by the Aig-Imokhuede’s panel contested the report and provided evidence to show that they acted within the rules spelt out

Jonathan by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the panel gave government something to work with. Today, some businessmen are standing trial over what they did or did not do well in the subsidy awards. However, while the prosecution of these people is something to cheer, the question agitating the minds of some Nigerians is: How well was the investigation on subsidy payments? Also, would the findings and evidence so provided stand the test of time in the court of law? I ask these questions because Nigerians are living witnesses to the shoddy investigation by such an agency, as the EFCC, in past, which saw the prosecution of people without evidence that they

committed the offences they were being charged to court for and the subsequent dismissal of such cases. In the subsidy trial, it would make no sense if people are put in the dock and they get discharged, as soon as the case starts, because of lack of evidence. Such outcome would be a disaster. No doubt, Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for example, wants suspects of subsidy scam punished, to show that government means business, which she had made obvious in her August 16, 2012 press conference in Abuja, but there appears to be an element of hastiness in the approach. One just hopes that investigation was thorough and that evidence was obtained, so that the case would not suffer set back in court because of what was left undone. Besides, I am at a loss on the role of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) in the whole process. If the Minister of Finance was the person talking about prosecution, when there’s an AGF, this gives the impression of either a vote of no confidence or usurpation of duty or both. In any case, I think the trial of only businessmen, over the subsidy scam, leaves much to be desired. What happened to civil servants, government appointees and others, who verified, approved and signed the papers with which those who collected subsidy awards did? The suspects of today could not have acted alone. In the chain, there are officials of the NNPC, Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency

(PPPRA), Ministry of Finance, Nigerian Navy, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Customs Services, among others, who played one role or another in the saga. We know that when fuel is imported, the customs clears the ship, as it does other goods. In clearing the ship, the customs certifies that what the bill of landing says is the content of the ship. The Navy would also check the ship. NNPC and PPPRA would crosscheck the claim. The Ministry of Finance processes payment and CBN pays. If people who collected money not due them are on trial, justice demands that those who processed the papers leading to such payments or played whatever role in the process should also answer questions. If the Federal Government, by omission or commission, is selective in prosecuting culprits in the subsidy payments there’s no point taking it seriously. Justice must not only be done but also seen to have been done. And for Nigerians to see that justice has been done, all those who in the syndicate must be punished. The activities of NNPC and others, as they relate to subsidy, must be investigated and transparently too. If the NNPC/PPMC is responsible for over 60 percent of total petrol import it’s not asking too much that it should be subjected to scrutiny. This is even moreso since the agencies also account for about 100 per cent kerosene import and distribution. Is government saying that all these transactions were clean when some people outside them are standing trial for wrongdoing, in such transactions? Why is NNPC left out of this investigation when it’s the major beneficiary of import?

FEEDBACK Truth of the matter The truth is that all the signs are clear in the neo-colonial Nigeria bequeathed to us by the founding fathers. The problem is that the beneficiaries of the existing order do not want it to be changed. Yes, the founding fathers were on the side of the imperialists. Amos Ejimonye. Abia State. 08037727512. Why North is afraid Why the North fears of state police is the possibility of them becoming a standing army. They are afraid of the riches of South-South and the intelligence of the South West. Also, they fear the ingenuity of the South East. Don’t forget they don’t trust the Igbo. 08033424343. True federalism is the answer Nigeria is a product of falsehood and anything founded on falsehood will never thrive. Awolowo was right when he described Nigeria as mere geographical expression. Where, in the whole wide world, do you have this type of monstrous federation where resources taken from one region is deployed to another region for massive development, while the producing region is in doldrums? Those clamouring for one Nigeria are the people benefiting from the fraudulent and skewed arrangement. True federalism or absolute break up is the answer to all this mess. Sunny, Isuochi, 08123447538. Religion to blame The signs are really there, but all over the world, religious bigotry has never done any nation any good. There is an Igbo proverb, which says that he who brings home an antinfested firewood should not complain when lizards start paying him visits. For a very lone time, the North busied itself brainwashing their children with Islam, originally a religion of the Arabs. Today, the result is out: suicide attacks, blood, shed and destructions. All such other

Re: Ominous signs of Nigeria’s division countries all over the world, where the citizens put religion in the front burner instead of treating its as secondary, are always perpetually in turmoil. Take a closer look at all other countries where religion is not treated as a do-or-die matter: Brazil, US, Europe, Caribbean Island, even here in Africa (Cameroon, South Africa, Zimbabwe) among others, have you ever heard of any religious riots/attacks over there? It is time to have a rethink on these two imported religions. Anthony Williams 08038327168. You left out religion You left a major point out: The North and South are divided along religion. The North wants Islam for the South, while the South prays for Christianity for the North. Colin. 08033689593. It’s matter of time for separation Has anyone tried joining two heavy pieces of metal with the aid of a super glue and succeeds? It’s just a matter of time before that North and South, will give way. Ugo Ezenwaka, Abia State. Old politicians are the cause My take on this whole thing is that all the enemies of this nation are men of 70-years and above. Until they are dead, Nigeria won’t have peace. Our prayers for God to take away these people for Nigeria to have peace and unity. Chief J.J Ibeka, Lagos. 08089704697. Nigeria’s foundation was faulty Nigeria has never been one. It was created by Lugard in 1914 without considering the gamut of irreconcilable differences between its components. Anything built on such a structure must fall, no matter the efforts made to make it

stand. South Sudan had to pull out when a scenario of inferiority to the North prevailed, just like northern leaders regard the southern protectorate in Nigeria, based on the false notion passed to them by their progenitors. Such a scenario cannot prevail forever. A look at your article shows how northern leaders have been reneging on agreements to create a better understanding between the two sides. Even within the North, the depraved poor want a break, but their leaders know that if such happens, the poor people who they cheated would take their pound of flesh on them. Must southerners die for their leaders’ sins against talakawas? Lai Ashadele. Lagos. 08053007531. Nigeria has never been one When did Nigeria become one? Every Nigeria knows his origin. People love Nigeria more than others when they grab powers. Jonathan should forget 2015. His government is the worst and most corrupt. It has no vision and direction. He should set ego and selfishness aside and convene a national conference. Selfdetermination started from his zone, through Adaka Boro, who has been immortalised by the zone for his ideals. Dr. Mike, Delta State. 08034282719. The country on verge of division The ugly security trend currently crippling the unity and peace in Nigeria is an indication that our country Nigeria is not only on the verge of division but also heading for civil war. The events of 1966, which snowball into civil war, started as a joke, just as Boko Haram activities started. He who makes peaceful move impossible will also make violent move inevitable. Sunday Chuna, Rivers State, 08037027585.

ONUOHA UKEH

N150

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012 VOL.6 NO. 2456

Removing the con in our constitution

he process of reviewing and amending the 1999 Constitution is in full throttle. Last week, we got a timeline on when we are likely to have a fully amended document, which would better meet the yearnings of the people. According to Hon Emeka Ihedioha, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, deadline for the work to be completed is June 2013, so that partisan and electioneering politics of 2015 would not get in the way of the exercise. Also speaking last week at a session with labour leaders, ethnic nationality chiefs, and civil society groups, President Goodluck Jonathan vowed that the reviewed constitution would bear the clear imprint of the people. He added that proposed bills would soon be forwarded to the National Assembly, which would include the recommendations of the Justice Alfa Belgore panel, and the review panel headed by Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. The 1999 Constitution was fashioned by the military, and stuffed down our throats, willy-nilly, though they pretended that ‘we the people’ were part of the document. We were not. Like a lamb led to slaughter, dumb before its sharers, we did not utter a word as the constitution was foisted on us. Under democratic rule, we’ve since found our voices, and this is the second time amendments are being made to the document. The first set had to do with our electoral laws, and the changes were done before the 2011 general elections. The constitution is truly the ligament that holds us together as a country, and though most things have been sorely bastardised by our politicians, mercifully, the constitution remains sacrosanct to a large extent. A constitution is the grand norm, and not something you should tamper with too frequently. But our situation is peculiar since it was a document handed down to us by the military, an institution that had no patience for participatory or collective effort. It just drew up the document, and imposed it on us by fiat, with so many loopholes and unsatisfying areas. This effort at review must therefore be seen as an attempt to remove the con in our constitution. Yes, the 1999 constitution has many grey areas, much humbug and bilk, hence the need for review and amendment. Hon Ihedioha disclosed last week that over 124 memoranda had been received from the public, and eight critical areas listed for zonal and central public hearings scheduled for October. On his own part, Deputy Senate President, who is also chairman of Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Ike Ekweremadu, listed 16 critical issues for deliberation at the opening of a retreat of the committee in Asaba, Delta State, recently. What are the 16 items? Devolution of power, creation of more states, recognition of the six geo-political zones, role for traditional rulers in the constitution, local government creation, extracting the NYSC and Code of Conduct Acts from the constitution, fiscal federalism, amendment of provi-

FEMI ADESINA 08055001928 kulikulii@yahoo.com

sions on state creation and boundary adjustment, immunity clause, Nigerian Police vis-àvis state and local government police, judiciary reforms, term element of our executive offices and system of government, rotation of power/offices, genders and special groups, mayoral status for the Federal Capital Territory, residency and indigene provisions. Truly, the areas listed above are some of those that constitute aches and pains to the beleaguered federation called Nigeria. What

•Ekweremadu then do we do about them? That is why zonal and central hearings are quite crucial, so that the people can make their views known, across all level and strata of society. That was what the President meant when he said “a constitution worthy of our efforts must originate from the people themselves and bear clear imprint of their contributions.” We pray it won’t be mere rhetorics. Devolution of powers. This Leviathan central government we run needs to be looked at again. The centre is too powerful, has too much resources concentrated in it, and that is why the issue of who becomes president of Nigeria is a matter of life and death. Why don’t we have a weak centre, and devolve more powers to the states, or even regions. I’ll vote for that any day. When you have an incapable president at the centre, under the structure we currently run, he simply holds the entire country captive. We are forced to move at his heavy, ponderous pace. When he is stuck, we remain immobile. When he sneezes, we catch cold. For how long are we to remain in that time wasting mode? I hope those amending the constitution will have the spunk, the courage to do the right thing. Creation of more states? Maybe yes, to correct the inequity in the South-east, which has only five states, while other geo-political zones have six, and one even has seven. But creating states just for the mere fun of it? No.

How many of the ones we have now are even viable? Without federal allocation, a good number of our states would collapse, though I equally align with Ekweremadu when he said no state should really be poor in the country, if they properly harness the resources in their domains. More states yes, but not state creation at the drop of a hat. Local government creation and their place in our federal arrangement is a matter that needs critical appraisal. Do we have local government system now? Maybe at the end of the month, when they need to share financial allocations. But for the rest of the month, the third tier of government is comatose. Local governments are not functioning now because most governors don’t allow them. They dip hands in their allocations at will, and the chairmen hold their offices at the pleasure of the governors. The local government chairman that wants to be independent minded gets removed faster than he can blink. We need to look at the constitution, and remove local governments from the apron strings of the governors, who are no better than emperors in most states. Closely linked to devolution of powers is the issue of fiscal federalism. Why must the Federal Government, for instance, get about 55% of revenue, while states and local governments share less than 50%? Where should development be concentrated more, is it not at the local government level, then to states, and then to the federal? It should be bottom up, rather than the other way round. And why shouldn’t the local government or state that produces any resource have the larger part of it, rather than the centre taking it over, and giving back pittance? Let every area control its resources, and contribute a certain percentage to the common pool. Nobody should have a problem with that arrangement. It would only spur the regions that are laid back to be up and doing. There is no area of the country that is not endowed enough to take care of itself. A lot of people want the immunity clause to go. I don’t. I want it to stay, so that our president, his deputy, our governors and their deputies, can face the work they’ve been elected to do. Without the immunity clause, litigation will not allow them to achieve anything. If they break any rule they can face the music when they leave office. At least the Supreme Court had ruled during the Bola Tinubu certificate saga that a sitting governor can be investigated, but can only be prosecuted when he leaves office. So, let the immunity clause stay, but let any of those who enjoy it be scrupulously investigated when they err. When immunity is over, they answer their

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Observes: “Subsidy trial and the untouchables in NNPC, civil service ” Page 63 Re: 2015: Igbo nation at crossroads Hard work and bridge building Thank you Femi for your forthright and timely write up. It’s so sad that the issues needed restating in the first place. It’s only fair to underscore your bold theme: the Igbo will not be “entitled” to assume the Presidency... but ONLY through unity... hard work and bridge building across the political landscape. It is only right to admit the obvious: that bridge was not started in 2011 as would have seemed an initial prerequisite! But no regrets are called for! Femi, you are generous enough to put a positive spin on this watershed event: the death of zoning, and the resultant implication for a clean, hopefully wholesome, struggle for the Presidency of a new political order which the broad mandate of President Jonathan dramatically ushered into Nigeria’s democratic space! Are Ndigbo in full cognition of the reality? Are we ready to consciously and deliberately institute the much-delayed rebuilding of the IGBO HEARTH as a backdrop to fully rejoining the mainstream of this nation’s cultural evolution? Ndigbo must, in the nation’s interest, meet the great challenge: not a mere groping around a comical “Igbo extraction Plata”! From across the expanse of the Igbo nation, from the Rivers to the Delta… from outside Igboland, in the nation and in Diaspora, our people must reconstruct the political vanguard that will be compelling enough to get the support of the majority of all Nigerians to hoist forth candidates that would rebuild Nigeria and move it inexorably towards its manifest destiny! Ndigbo would fail their race, but even more, the entire Nigerian nation if it shirks this onerous responsibility! Again, I say thanks to our brother, Femi. Dr Kalu Idika Kalu OFR EbemOhafia, Abia, kikalu805@yahoo.com Very worrisome It is worrisome that the Igbo nation has not clinched the apex job of president so far. When Ndigbo is ready, other nations will give support. However the likes of Arthur Eze should be realistic, as mere apportioning of the presidency to certain regions is funny. Senator Obi, however, is now more enlightened. Having been in the corridors of power, he has tasted the aroma of power, and as the saying goes, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely Dr Olayinka Oladosu, yinkalola85@yahoo.com Jonathan should obey God Goodluck Jonathan has refused to follow the instructions given to him by God. Rather than using God’s advice, he is relying on human advice. If he feels the Ben Obis, the Arthur Ezes, the Arthur Nzeribes, the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwus and Ikedi Ohakims will make him president in 2015, he is making a very big mistake. He should do what God wants him to do, period. I have said it times without number. Solomon U. C. Okozie Disgusting politics It is very sad and unexplainable the nauseous politics of some Igbo people. I know many Igbo people who stand for what is just and right, but some of them can sell their conscience for a pot of porridge. But we can take

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