Friday, april 4, 2014(new2)3

PDP berates APC for boycotting confab

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Nigeria, an exploding time-bomb –Delegates

OBIORA IFOH, OMEIZA AJAYI AND WOLE OLADIMEJI Mu’azu

Vol. 4 N0. 823

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he Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday berated opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, for refusing

to participate in the ongoing national conference, saying it was proof of double standard by the party.

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Friday, April 4, 2014

N150

Pregnant women, kids rescued from ritualists’ den Police uncover another horror chamber in Abeokuta Blood, coffin, charms, others recovered

FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

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arely 24 hours after a ritualists’ den was uncovered in

Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, residents of Adigbe community in Abeokuta metropolis yesterday discovCONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

The building where pregnant women and children were rescued burnt by angry youths at Adigbe in Abeokuta. TOP RIGHT: Ritual items recovered at the scene. BELOW RIGHT: Some garments that littered the scene.

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Senate seeks law to compel INEC to defend free, fair poll It’s against provisions of Evidence Act –Opposition

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Troops rout armed gangs in Benue, Plateau, others

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Death toll in Lagos boat mishap rises

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Politics

Friday, April 4, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NCP’ll perform well in 2015 – Edhebru What are your party’s plans towards Ekiti and Osun governorship elections?

The National Conscience Party, NCP, as a political party has plans to field credible candidates in Ekiti and Osun states at the appropriate time.

Okiogbero Jonathan Edhebru, is the National Legal Adviser of the National Conscience Party, NCP. In this interview with EBERE NDUKWU, he speaks on different issues bordering on politics and national matters. Excerpts: tions, he is going to implement them.

What time is appropriate when the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC have already gotten candidates for the election?

We are in the process of selecting a credible candidate in Ekiti that can match the incumbent APC governor. We want a candidate that can compete favourably but unfortunately, we haven’t got that for now, but we are hopeful to get a credible candidate soon.

If your party eventually gets a credible candidate, would you say it will be vying to win or to make up the number?

We are going to contest to win; we won in Ekiti State House of Assembly in 2003.

Femi Falana contested then and I also contested in my state, Delta. Then, the late Gani Fawehinmi was still alive. We are hopeful and that’s why we are very careful in the selection of our candidate. We have told our campaign team that the selection has to be on individual credibility.

How would you rate the performance of President Goodluck Jonathan so far?

The President with his transformation agenda, I will say has performed above average. Among others before him, he had performed better, I must be frank. This is my own opinion which I’m entitled to constitutionally. This is because he has this country at heart. He really wants to transform the country. Forget about the things that are happening at the moment; even in the Bible, things like this did happen and was predicted will happen in latter days.

The situation in Nigeria is not a peculiar case. My happiness is that the President has faith, he’s humble and Godfearing. And because he has faith, the country is going to experience unity. I so much credit him for his faith. Even when some of his ministers are sabotaging his efforts, he remains undaunted.

Do you see him coming back should he go for a re-election in 2015?

I see him coming back, that’s my personal opinion. When you put everything together he has a favourable chance to be re-elected. For me, I have assessed other political parties and their leaders who are parading themselves; when you check their performances and activities in the past, you will see that Jonathan is a credible leader and should be given another chance.

Do you mean to say your party will not run for the office of the President in 2015?

My party will run for the office of the President.

But you have already conceded victory to Jonathan?

We are not conceding victory to PDP, but looking at the surroundings and the weight of my party, we cannot 100 per cent guarantee a victory, that’s very cer-

Edhebru

THE NATIONAL

CONFERENCE IS LONG AWAITED AND WHEN PEOPLE SAY THAT

JONATHAN IS NOT GOING TO WORK WITH

THE RESOLUTIONS, IT’S LAUGHABLE

tain.

How would you rate your party’s performance in 2011 and do you see them doing better in 2015?

That’s why parties are asking for funds from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. In previous years, INEC normally sponsor parties financially. The inability of some party to raise money only on their own is the reason some parties cannot do enough campaign. This is one of the hindrances of NCP as a party. As per 2015, it will not be so, we are re-strategising and repositioning. We are very hopeful NCP will win so many seats in 2015.

Looking at the political scenario, what can you foresee in 2015 elections?

Jonathan coming back to me is very certain. This is because he is a humble president. Even if you don’t address him as Mr. President and call him Jonathan, he doesn’t care. He was a God-sent in 2011 to take the country to an enviable height.

Nobody ever expected that a minority will rule this country one day. Now, people are predicting doom in 2015 but nothing will

happen. Many of them who are against Jonathan, just like some PDP who joined the APC made u-turn, so will all of them come back to embrace him.

The 2015 election will be very peaceful with respect to INEC Chairman who said the commission is putting everything on ground to make sure there will be free and fair election. Definitely you cannot erase human factors completely but to a very great extent, it is going to be peaceful.

Do you see the APC losing Lagos in 2015?

Because of what Babatunde Fashola has done in the state, I think it will be difficult for another party to win Lagos.

What about PDP reclaiming any of the South West states?

They are saying that they want to do everything possible to win back the states the lost, but if governors were performing very well, it will be difficult for the electorates to vote for another party. So, I think in Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi is trying and so is Rauf Aregbesola in Osun State.

From what I read in the papers they are doing well, therefore, it will be difficult.

What’s your opinion about the National Conference?

The National Conference is long awaited and when people say that Jonathan is not going to work with the resolutions, it’s laughable. I think President Jonathan is not a rubberstamp president. When he says something he does it.

I believe the President will work with whatever is the outcome because billions of naira is being sunk into it. I don’t see him allowing all the money that will be spent on the conference wasted. This conference will determine where we are going and the President has always maintained that he will work with whatever the outcome will be. So, if the National Conference comes up with recommenda-

Would you say the Federal Government has done well in the fight against Boko Haram?

I can say the Federal Government is winning the fight. Some are expecting the President to use extreme measures, but if he does that, the international human rights community will come in to ask why he must go to the extreme. So, he has been very careful in the fight and I expected that the traditional rulers from the affected areas, the emirs, should contribute with vigilante groups and all that. These people, they live around us, so, leaving the whole fight to Federal Government is not the right thing to do. I heard, I don’t know whether it is true, that they have financiers, they should get them apprehended and prosecuted in the law court.

In my own assessment, the Federal Government has done well. I listened to the new Chief of Staff on television not long ago reacting on the statement by Borno State governor that Boko Haram are better equipped than the Nigerian military. He was very hot at that statement. He said they are very capable and are re-strategising and wouldn’t want to disclose their plans. I believe in what he said and I know they will conquer at last.

What’s your take on the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB bill?

We talk of unemployment in this country when we are the real cause of it. Unemployment and many other problems we are facing as a nation are all man-made problems. The PIB bill is one that ought to have been passed many years ago, but some of these international oil companies are behind the non-passage of the bill because of what they are gaining. This is a bill that when passed will generate a lot of employment and help ameliorate poverty in this country. It will be like NITEL’s case; since GSM came into this country during Olusegun Obasanjo leadership, do we still have the problems that existed in the telecom industry? Today, there is a lot of employment both direct and indirect in our telecom industry; it will be the same thing if PIB bill is passed.

People who have money will begin to import fuel; there will be no scarcity of fuel anymore and demand and supply will determine the price.

Can you expatiate on how it can eradicate poverty and create jobs?

People will use their money to import on their own; it will open up the market.

The clearing agents will employ more labour, drivers will increase and there will be enough petrol so much that the petrol stations that don’t usually have fuel will begin to have fuel. Many people will come into the industry and there will be private refineries and many other activities that will create jobs.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Friday, April 4, 2014

EBERE NDUKWU examines the chances of the incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi in the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State against the backdrop of the chances of his major opponents in the race.

Ekiti governorship election and Fayemi chances

A

s June 21 approaches, the real question regardless of the electoral intrigues playing out in Ekiti State remains whether Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the All Progressive Congress, APC, candidate stands any chance of coming back and breaking the jinx of second term in the state.

The battle for Ekiti State Government House is on and the candidates and their campaigners now go about with promises to ensure they win the electorates to their side.

In Ekiti at the moment, every candidate is humble, harmless, caring, selfless and wearing innocence and saintly appearances while the electorates are seen as alluring damsels that must be wooed with mouthed promises.

Dotun Oke, an indigene of Ekiti State while responding to the politicking in his state recently told National Mirror: “What we need is not promises; we need action and we are sticking with the incumbent who has not failed since his emergence as the state governor.”

Dr. Fayemi, only last week flagged off his campaign for a second term in office with a charge to the people of the state to protect their votes from being stolen by election riggers and vote robbers.

Fayemi, at a rally held at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, also pledged to work harder to better the lives of Ekiti people and ensure a better transformation of the state if re-elected in the June 21 governorship election, saying that he has faithfully implemented his eight-point agenda and fulfilled all the promises contained in his inaugural address when he was sworn into office on October 16, 2010.

Explaining that he has brought transparency and accountability to governance as no official of his administration has been summoned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, unlike what it used to be in the past, he added that he was ahead of his rivals in other parties on the strength of his track record and performance in office.

Fayemi said that all his opponents can offer for now are only promises. He said: “The advantage I am having is that I am running on record and there are people who will promise heaven and earth but I can tell you what I have done in education and how I have banished poverty among our elderly.

“I can tell you what I have done in infrastructure, how we have transformed Ikogosi Warm Spring to an international tourist centre, how we have empowered our women, how we have revived our industries. Those who looted our resources in the past are threatening that they are coming back. We know where we are coming from and you know our history. It is not only Fayemi’s election; we don’t want to return to the dark days of one week, one trouble. In the APC, we are not arraigned in court over fraud because we are using our money to serve Ekiti people.”

Fayemi also used the forum to dispel rumours being peddled by the opposition that he would deal with some sections of workers in the state if he wins re-election, adding that it was untrue that he would ban Okada if he wins re-election He said that rather than ban Okada, he would empower riders to contribute more to the economy of the state and ensure safety for them and their passengers. He also revealed that his administration pays 20 percent to teachers teaching core subjects in addition to their normal salaries which he has not defaulted in paying.

As elections are won on the basis of many factors, among which is the strength of a political party, there is no doubt that the APC is a big party and is holding sway in the South West, but the strength of the PDP as a party and its unhidden desire to reclaim Ekiti State is something to consider.

Political analysts have however opined that the strength of the PDP would have been a strong factor, but for the crisis rocking the party since its primary that saw the emergence of the former governor, Ayo Fayose.

It therefore won’t be a surprise to see Fayemi back in the Government House for a second term, since a house

15

Fayemi

AS ELECTIONS ARE WON ON THE BASIS OF MANY FACTORS, AMONG WHICH IS THE STRENGTH OF A

POLITICAL PARTY, THERE IS NO

DOUBT THAT THE APC IS A BIG PARTY AND IS HOLDING SWAY IN THE SOUTH WEST

divided against itself; it is said, will not stand.

Fayose was governor of Ekiti State from May29, 2003 to October 16, 2006, when he was impeached. He rode to power on the back of a PDP South-West takeover masterminded by then president, Olusegun Obasanjo.

Speaking on Fayose’s candidature, Tunde Adams, a political analyst said:, “He was one of the most popular governors of his time, but some of the controversies his administration recorded may work in favour of Dr Fayemi.”

The Labour Party, LP, candidate and member of the House of Representatives, Opeyemi Bamidele, is also a factor to consider when examining Fayemi’s second term chances. Since the duo were formerly from the same party, all the party members who are loyal to Bamidele will move over with him to the LP. More so, Bamidele needs no-

OMEIZA AJAYI AND WOLE OLADIMEJI

A

delegate to the National Conference, Alhaji Musa Isewele has called for the execution of former and present governors who strangulated the local government councils in their states.

According to him, such governors never conducted elections into the local councils even as he accused them of stealing council funds through the States and Local Governments Joint Account.

He also said some people should be executed for refusing to leave the civil

body to tell him the campaign strategy his, former party employed to vote Fayemi in.

A stakeholder, Jegede Akano, while looking at this factor recently, said that people always look at imprints, the lasting things that somebody has achieved, which will warrant people to support him.

His words: “The devil you know is better than the angel you do not know. For the Ekiti people in general, the governor has the opportunity to say this is what I have done in the state, which the others do not have. This goes to say Fayemi has better chances.”

At the last registration exercise of the APC in Ekiti State, over 200,000 members were said to have been registered.

Meanwhile, the total number of registered voters in Ekiti is 649,000. The result of the last election in the state put the total numbers of votes polled by the two leading candidates in excess of 200,000. If the APC membership registration figure is anything to go by, it will not be arithmetically wrong, to place the chances of the incumbent governor high.

In a media chat recently, the Director-General of the Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Bimbo Daramola, said the governor in his three and half years has brought dramatic changes in the state.

He enumerated these developments to include construction of roads and other infrastructure, building of industries, the Ikogosi tourism centre, N5,000 monthly payment to 25,000 senior citizens, provision of 30,000, free laptops to students as well as 18,000 laptops to teachers and over 24 months salary payment of teachers among others.

He said: “We are not coming into this election with promissory note, every other person is saying this is what I will do but my candidate is coming into this election saying this is what I have done. I will expect that those people who are direct beneficiaries of the impact of this government in Ekiti in the past three and half years will not fold their hands and on trust their future and fortunes into shaky and unsteady hands, they will rather stake their future into steady hand that can consolidate on the steady works of the past three and half years.”

He said that elections are not won on the pages of newspapers and since all candidates have access to the media, they can say anything to better their chances, but the real winner is determined at the poll.

He added: “This is about who are you, what have you done before and what can you do.”

Like Daramola said, the chances of Dr Fayemi emergence is in the hands of the electorates, and that will be determined on what he has been able to do in the last three years. It’s left for him to give accountability of his first tenure and convince Ekiti people on his credibility to continue to steer the ship of the state in the next four years.

LG: Delegate wants former governors executed service even after reaching retirement age.

Other delegates have also called on the Federal Government to stop its continued fixation on crude oil and work towards harnessing the various natural resources in the six geo-political zones.

Immediate past Minister of Education, Prof.

Ruqqayatu Ahmed Rufai who described the presidential speech as a very rich framework for the confab, also called for genuine

harnessing of the natural resources in the various regions rather than quarrelling about crude oil.

She also urged the conference to spare some thoughts for “our youths and girl child education.”

She added: “Somebody mentioned that we may have to lock some corrupt people up. I support that too.

Lock them up for a while and let us see if they can have a change of mind.”

Another delegate, Mohammed Umoru Hadeja

said the South must stop intimidating other regions with its crude oil, adding: “In the north today, there is oil, agriculture and all the minerals. One day, the country will turn back there. It has happened before and it will happen again.”

On his part, Abubakar Sadiq lamented that Nigeria is today a generatordriven economy, saying that no nation has attained industrialisation with generators, especially with all its attendant consequences.

16

Editorial

Friday, April 4, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

All the Facts, All the Sides A PUBLICATION OF GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LTD BARRISTER JIMOH IBRAHIM, OFR PUBLISHER

KAFILAT OGBARA

MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO

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SEYI FASUGBA

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REGIONAL DIRECTOR, S/SOUTH

KING ODODORU

HEAD, GRAPHICS

Governments must decide the fate of polytechnics

W

hen the Academic Staff Union of Universities took on the federal might to go on strike, it took the Federal Government five months to come to terms with the reality that the resolve of the lecturers could not be softened with mere intimidation and harassment. And so, the dialogue option became expedient. That way, the feud was resolved. The polytechnic lecturers have been on strike for close to seven months with no end in sight, a development that has more to do with ego tripping by government negotiators. Now, the pertinent question to ask is what is the place of polytechnic education in the nation’s scheme of things?

It is embarrassing that we have leaders given more to grandstanding than delicately balancing the nuanced dispositions of non-state actors to imperatives of governance and existential needs of the nation. Our polytechnics and colleges of education have exemplified the hideous impunity in the corridors of power. We find it unconscionable that the political leaderships would lay claim to being the elected of the people in a democratic setting yet they could not deploy dialogue to resolve the intricate fundamentals of conflicts arising from relationships among the different

actors in the polity. If government officials have really been meeting with the leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) why has this crisis defied solution? It is easy to fathom out. Nothing meaningful would be accomplished in a contrived atmosphere of super ordinatesubordinate relationship. This is why we feel the first step to breaking the strike ice is for both parties on the two sides of the negotiating table to accept each other’s stakeholders’ status.

The issues leading to the impasse are known and clear. Like the case with the university lecturers, the Federal Government refused to keep faith with an agreement it reached with these lecturers in 2001 and renegotiated in 2009 with a caveat that both parties would have to come to the negotiation table for another review in 2012. The agreement borders on welfare and infrastructure provisioning in the system; it also borders on the perceived discrimination against and marginalization of the polytechnic sector and its graduates in the public and private sectors of the economy. The ASUP and COEASU embarked on the trade action because the FG dithered on the implementation of the agreement; it dithered because it thinks it had both the yam and the

THE POLYTECHNICS, COLLEGES OF EDUCATION AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE COUNTRY HAVE THEIR PECULIAR FUNCTIONS IN THE TEMPLATE FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT knife. We do not think is the way of serious leaders.

Yes, we agree that socioeconomic equation of a government as it concerns funds’ availability could be compromised by certain contending variables beyond its control, but the hallmark of good leadership is to carry all the stakeholders along. This, unfortunately, is not the case in this raging crisis.

It would be the nation’s greatest tragedy if the critical constituents of the education sector are being subjected to invidious politics. The polytechnics, colleges of education and universities in the country have their peculiar functions in the template for national development. So, each must be accorded its full rights and privileges. Funds spent on them are funds well spent and the multiplier effects are visible for all to see, a sharp contrast to the

ON THIS DAY April 4, 1960 Senegal wins her independence from France with Léopold Sedar Senghor, a poet, politician and statesman a leader of the country. She had been part of the Mali Federation formed in January 1959, and comprising Senegal and the French Sudan (Mali).

Internal political difficulties militated against the Federation and it thus broke up on 20 August 1960. After the breakup of the Mali Federation, President Senghor and Prime Minister Mamadou Dia governed together under a parliamentary system.

Letters tothe theEditor Editor Letters to

April 4, 2011 Chinese Scientists have created genetically modified cows that produce “human” milk as an alternative to human breast milk and formula milk for babies. This is made possible by successfully introducing human genes into 300 dairy cattle to produce milk with the same properties as human breast milk.

The research is led by Professor Ning Li, director of the State Key Laboratories for AgroBiotechnology at the China Agricultural University.

billions of naira wasted on the parasitic members of the ruling political class of the country.

President Goodluck Jonathan must appreciate the fact that all the chicaneries playing out in the education sector are associated with him. As the President and Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria, the buck stops on his table. If he found time to meet with the university lecturers, he should call without delay the leaders of ASUP and COEASU to the negotiating table, deploy his vast experience as an academic to resolve the current impasse, and thus save the nation from this self inflicted trauma.

However, the growing culture of strike has created the impression that it is the only option to resolve industrial crisis in the country.

Strike should be a weapon of last resort, which must be sparingly used in the interest of the country, and in this case the interest of the hapless students that are always at the receiving end. Dialogue should exhaustively be used in most cases, and to make it functionally effective, the FG must at all times create the enabling environment.

The Federal Government must climb down from its high horse and meet with ASUP and COEASU leaders for a holistic resolution of all the issues involved. One way to douse the present tension is for the Presidency to fulfill the pledged N20.8 billion to the polytechnics.

x April 4, 2013 NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, Supernova UDS10Wil, nicknamed SN Wilson, after the 28th U.S. President, Woodrow Wilson, has broken the record in the quest to find the farthest supernova of the type used to measure cosmic distances. SN Wilson belongs to a special class called Type Ia supernovae.

These bright beacons are prized by astronomers because they provide a consistent level of brightness that can be used as a cosmic yardstick for measuring the expansion of space.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Views

Friday, April 4, 2014

17

Curbing the Fulani herdsmen menace ALEX O. ATAWA AKPODIETE

W

hile growing up in the then Midwestern Nigeria, it was uncommon to see a mallam with a stick on his shoulder while leading a herd of cows. However, it became an increasingly common site as the 1980s drew to a close.

Today, if you are on the highways, bi-ways and even local roads inside town, you are bound to meet the scantily clad men, sometimes in their teens to early twenties, following or being followed by some cows and bulls. Stereotypically, we assume that they are usually Fulani, or at very least, Hausa, and definitely Muslim.

There are very few communities that have not had issues with these roaming cattle rearers. From Jos to Maiduguri to Kaduna to Yenagoa to Umuekwunne Irete to Oghara, there seems to be a common theme to the problem: The herdsmen are raping women and attacking farmers, plundering villages. This is not minding the fact that the cows destroy crops in the farms of these helpless villagers. Now the herdsmen are known to be armed. Recently, the Fulani herdsmen not only attacked villagers in Oghara, Delta State but also killed a vigilante member when they tried

to resolve a bad situation involving the villagers. Why can’t the government do anything about these herdsmen? Now that they have been implicated in the attack on Benue State’s Governor Gabriel Suswam’s convoy, do we have to wait for them to attack a political convoy again before doing something about it?

In these days of Boko Haram, these herdsmen make easy recruits for terrorists. Why are we not proactive in our security situations? Yes, the cattle are used for ‘nama meat’ and maybe will become exorbitant if these herdsmen are not around, but what price are we willing to pay for the safety of lives and properties? Is the sacrilegious violation of our women not enough to enrage government and security forces to action? What more is needed to galvanize our leaders?

The first solution is to ban all cattle rearers from the streets and villages. Civilized societies like America have cattle ranches.

These are places where people interested in raising cattle do their business and people go there to buy and slaughter. It is not only an eye sore, but extremely dangerous situation for these cows to be roaming around. They have also caused countless accidents on the road and have even been used for armed robbery. Last year, I almost

THE TIME HAS COME TO BAN FULANI HERDSMEN FROM THE STREETS AND PUT THEM WITH THEIR CATTLE IN CATTLE REARING FARMS

(RANCHES)

had a fatal accident on the expressway in Koko when a runaway cow entered the road. Yes, God came to my rescue through my dexterity, but do we have to pray to God for things that are easily solvable?

The impunity with which these Fulani herdsmen carry out their activity is very worrisome. In most of these communities, they are foreigners (non-indigenes), yet they behave with so much alacrity and temerity in foisting their calamity on the land owners and their gracious host communities.

The time has come to ban Fulani herdsmen from the streets and put them with their cattle in cattle rearing farms (ranches). This will curb the menace and incessant criminal attacks from them. Yes, we are cognizant of Section 41 (1)of the 1999

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which states in pertinent part that “Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof.“ However, this will not be an abrogation of it since Section 14(2) (b) of that same constitution states that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government” and the same Section 41(2)(a) is unequivocal in stating that “Nothing in subsection (1) of this section shall invalidate any law that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society - (a) imposing restrictions on the residence or movement of any person who has committed or is reasonably suspected to have committed a criminal offence.”

Cattle farming (breeding) for dairy milk or meat sales is a lucrative occupation similar to fish farming, pig farming, snail farming that has become popular in recent time. There are various publications online and in print to guide individuals and governments.

This is the time for leadership with guts. We must put an end to the Fulani cattle herdsmen menace now.

Akpodiete, Profatawa@gmail.com, is an author, computer scientist, lawyer and social commentator.

Amosun’s creative realization of a vision K AYODE ODUNARO

O

n August 22, 2013, I had a momentous journey to London.

It was a trip that was planned in advance that circumstances nearly aborted. I was scheduled to attend the first ever Yewa Day in the United Kingdom and Ireland, an inspiration of Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland in Ogun State. With my British Airways ticket okayed for August 20, 2013, I had arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport only to discover at the check-in-counter that my international passport had expired! Trip aborted.

I managed to get a new passport and a seat on BA to London for Friday at a huge cost, using my entire shopping budget for the trip. But that flight was indeed divinely arranged for me to be with some VIPs at the point of disembarkation at Heathrow Airport, London. For unknown to me on that flight were my former boss and former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba; the incumbent governor of the state Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and Minister of Agriculture Dr. Adesina Adewunmi, another Ogun State indigene.

On arrival at the break of dawn, I suddenly found myself in the same train coach with these VIPs for the trip from the aircraft to the immigration entry point. I exchanged courtesies with them and we proceeded together for the immigration formalities. Incidentally, Senator Amosun, Dr. Adewunmi and I

NOBODY DENIES THE FORESEEN AND UNFORESEEN FALLOUTS OF DEVELOPMENTAL

POLICIES.

SUCH DENIAL

WILL NOT ONLY BE UNEDUCATED BUT SELF SERVING were cleared before Aremo Osoba, and in deference to the elder statesman from our state, the three of us waited for him. In the course of our waiting and small talk, Senator Amosun made a profound statement that struck a resonating note with me. While we waited surveying the smoothness of the procedure and infrastructure at Heathrow, Amosun commented that it is amazing how everything works seamlessly here with solid infrastructure and facilities.

He expressed the optimism that Nigeria as a nation would get it right one day to have such a system, to which Dr. Adesina nodding, readily agreed.

My input was to say that Senator Amosun’s urban renewal projects was laying a foundation for a future that may one day match the facilities we be held in London. At this point Aremo Osoba joined us and we all went together to the arrival hall of Terminal 5, where we all went our different ways into the city of London.

Later that Saturday afternoon, Senator Amosun, who came to London as special guest for the Yewa Day in Lon-

don, further espoused the theme at the airport in the course of his speech to the effect that his vision and motivation for his activities in government was to provide infrastructure in all parts of the state to rival what we see in cities such as London or elsewhere.

He said that in London for instance, you could hardly differentiate various neighborhoods or sections of the city as there is a seeming sameness in term of infrastructure and facilities.

One cannot but agree with such a vision and the ongoing attempts to bring it to live by Senator Amosun administration in Ogun State. I had written in the past of Amosun’s road infrastructure that signposted his attempt at realizing his “Mission to Rebuild” vision.

Since the publication of that report, I have received a mixed review from various individuals across the world online and in face to face encounters.

Most, including rabid political opponents, readily agree on the merit of the urban renewal programme that is not only necessary but geared toward future generations. Others agree that for once we have a governor spending “our money” usefully for what we can see and appreciate. For there is this argument that the governor is doing the job he was elected to do in the first place.

This line of thought often forgets that the governor could as well just run a business as usual system of patching a road here and there or engaged in some projects without any multiplier effects or futuristic investment attractions potentials.

However one finds it curious that even some supposedly enlighten folks

mouth the ignorant position that the current urban renewal effort is “a misplaced priority”! The line of argument has it that the massive roads, flyovers and giant culvert for drainage are not really needed NOW. Such myopic thinking fails to take into consideration the dynamics of development and ceaseless population explosion as well as the mega city status of Lagos State, the closest neighbor to Ogun State. It is certain that the spill over to the state is an ongoing process that will task infrastructure to no end.

Nobody denies the foreseen and unforeseen fallouts of developmental policies.

Such denial will not only be uneducated but self serving. All development comes at a cost in economic terms and otherwise.

The holistic view of the process is for the benefits presently and in future to be far above the cost in terms of human impact and multiplier effect on the economy.

One sees the dogged pursuit of the “Mission to Rebuild” vision as taking the bitter pill for a healthy body. Somebody have to take the bull by the horn, think out of the box and in the now popular jingo “do the needful” for the state to move out and away from its rustic status to a modern developing enclave.

Chief Kayode Odunaro, public affairs analyst, wrote from Abeokuta via kayodunaro@hotmail.com

Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs.

Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

Your

FRIDAY

16 PAGES OF ARTS, REVIEWS, LIFESTYLE AND BUZZ TO START YOUR WEEKEND

World Fashion University coming to Nigeria

Minister of Culture with the World Fashion Organisation members

WEEKEND STARTERS Monalisa, Waje for EMAC in Abuja

Generations: 5th National Women’s Prayer Summit holds at Onikan

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rayer for a better Nigeria where peace and justice reigns will be held at the 5th National Women’s Prayer Summit of Awesome Treasures Foundation themed: Gnereations on Saturday,5th April 2014 at 9 am prompt. It will hold at the Shell Hall, MUSON Centre Onikan, Lagos.

Awesome Treasures Foundation National Women’s Prayer Summit is an interdenominational meeting of prophetic prayer for all Nigerians for the release of Nigeria and our future generations. The prayer summit which is free will be hosted by Olajumoke Adenowo, the Principal Partner of AD Consulting, a renowned Nigerian Architect, who has been described as Nigeria’s most prolific female architect and founder and Coordinator Awesome Treasures Foundation.

Week was to show case the country as leader of African fashion in the continent, adding that it could contribute to education and economic empowerment for the people.

According to him, “We would explore all opportunities to bring the World Fashion University to Nigeria to promote self-reliance among the populace.

Having seen how hardworking Nigerians are, I am sure this would make a lot of impact in the country” On the forthcoming show, the Founder, Nigerian Fashion Week, Lexy Mojo Eyes explained that the show that started 18 years ago has now become a force that compelled the international community to reckon with country.

He maintained that the week that comes up in July this year would host not less than 40 designers from about 40 different countries in Africa.

In a related development, Mexico has agreed to partner with the Nigeria

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Chinda

Wale

nother edition of the Exquisite Magazine Against Cancer Walk – EMAC will be held on Saturday 5th April 2014. This time it will hold in Abuja.

Celebrities including Monalisa Chinda, Waje and Chigul will be present at the event. EMAC is held to increase the awareness for cervical, breast and prostate cancer, as well as provide free screening for intending citizens. Every year, Exquisite Magazine with the support of its partners has been able to screen a number of people free of charge at the Exquisite Magazine Against Cancer Walk. In 2014, a number of walks will be held one of them being the EMAC Walk in Abuja in April and the annual EMAC Walk in Lagos in September. Intending participants should register by sending an e mail.

Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC as regards domestic tourism.

Mexico’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Marco Blanco said this recently at a meeting with Director General of Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation NTDC, Sally Mbanefo in Abuja assured that Mexico would help Nigeria to take advantage of the fact that it is an emerging tourism destination in the world.

He said: “We seek to collaborate with Nigeria, this would better reposition tourism in both countries and expand the market frontier in the industry” The ambassador said that tourism is the best way to push the country forward. “Tourism is the best way to create and strengthen the relationship between Nigeria and Mexico” “Mexico has continued to be a destination of choice for many people around the world and currently ranked 10th globally in the international visitor arrivals”.

WeReady programme holds at Alausa, Ikeja

W

eReady is a developmental programme designed to provide job seekers, job changers, final year students and youth corpers with the insights, skills and tools needed to enter and excel in today’s ever competitive workplace which will be on for five Saturdays in a row. It opens S a t u r d a y, April 5 at Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry Building (LCCI) in Alausa, Ikeja from 5pm to 8 pm. Folake Adeneye, an Oracle executive will be there.

Folake Adeneye

P. 26

that it would bring a lot of changes in the lives of our people”.

The Minister however made it clear that the government intends to focus on professionalism, competence and putting right policy in place to ensure that exploring fashion potentials in the country would not rub off negatively on the culture of the Nigerian people.

“There is power in creative industry, many African countries depend on Nigeria to grow their economic sector, the creativity, the splendour all reflected in Nigeria are resounding. And I see great potentials in the institution we are trying to develop”.

The Minister also promised to promote the ideal among other agencies of government, while urging designers in the country to creatively design style that would promote the diverse cultures in the country.

The President of WFO, Paco De Jaimes said the aim of the World Fashion

Critics P. 22-23

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he fashion business in Nigeria will soon get a boost with the establishment of a scholarly centre to harness the potentials in the fashion industry. This came to the fore recently as the Federal Government expressed its readiness to collaborate with the World Fashion Organisation (WFO) to fast track the commencement of the proposed World Fashion University in Nigeria.

To this effect, Friday Flavour gathered that, the two bodies have agreed to establish a garment manufacturing plant in Nigeria in addition to the proposed World Fashion University for wealth creation and women and youth empowerment, especially within the fashion industry.

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation Agency, Edem Duke expressed confidence that the partnership would go a long way in addressing youth unemployment in view of the enormous potentials that were in the country’s fashion industry.

Duke while speaking when he played host to the delegation of the World Fashion Organisation (WFO) led by its President, Francis Rodrigo in Abuja explained that the desire of government to promote culture and fashion was borne out of its struggle to take the country beyond oil.

He said: “The desire of the Nigeria government is to build an economy beyond oil is unflinching; and we have come to realise that for too long, we have been depending on mono product, which is oil; which indeed has produced wealth for a few people, but failed to employ the larger majority of Nigerians.

The fashion value chain which you have proposed today will find a fertile ground in Nigeria. The innate creativity and talent in the Nigeria fashion industry are inexplicable. I am also convinced

Inside FCT P. 24-25

Arty News

JOEL AJAYI

P. 32, 33

Friday, April 4, 2014

Flavour

Mirror Mongers

VOL. 4 No. 828

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20

Artman In The House

Flashy and handsome TeeMac Omatsola Iseli, is one of the five highest paid flutists in the world, who comfortably maintains homes and offices in New York, Bangkok, London and Lagos. The philharmonic composer is a world renowned artiste whose journey the world of entertainment began over three decades ago. In this no-hold-barred interview with AGOZINO AGOZINO, he talks about his accomplished music background, love for philharmonic, jazz music and deep interest in mining business.

Jazz music has been relegated to the background, how would you describe individual efforts of well-meaning Nigerians like yourself to rejuvenating the genre, considering the fact that hip-hop is enjoying huge patronage?

Jazz has never been very commercial, but more and more people, especially the educated ones appreciate jazz. Hip hop only makes five percent of the world turn-over.

The problem we have in Nigeria is that hip hop is copy- cat music. There is no much originality in it and I personally think there must be effort for the young people to make Afro hip hop something which can be marketed and sold in the world. At this moment, I would say hip-hop is on a level which is not commercial internationally. We have a professional pool of good and traditional Jazz musicians and it’s my aim together with some well wishing people to re-launch and refinance Jazz music in Nigeria.

Jazz is perceived as music for the intelligent elitist?

Jazz music is for the intelligent people.

Thereare poor people who love jazz, they are also intelligent. In Jazz and classical music, you need to listen. You need to listen to the beauty of improvisation and harmonies. In hip-hop you don’t need to sing, you need to just move the body and move the head. That’s the difference.

Based on the premise that Jazz has a lot of improvisation, rhythm and groove; how do you manage to put up your sound that gives it your desired effect?

I am not a Jazz musician per-say, although I love and play Jazz. I am a classical trained. My main music is Afro-salsa.

African music, but am using the chord structure because I studied Music. But in jazz music, youmust be able to execute what you hear in your head. Jazz music can be bebop, Dixielandjazz, modern jazz, pop jazz, acidjazz, afrojazz. It is a combination of music. What we call instrumental music with intelligent lyrics.

What influences your compositions and characterises your performances?

My compositions and performances are divided into philharmonic music for films and orchestra. Sitting down to write a symphony is my greatest pleasure. I uses oftware called Sibelius, then I write commercial songs for films and documentary which makes me the money. It all started with disco, now during my gold convention time, it is now Afro-pop, Afro-salsa. I t is very commercial, very danceable. Wherever I go, get people stand up at the first bars of the music, they get the rhythm, I use the Kongas, the talking drum, the drums, a horns

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, April 4, 2014

I got my first flute as

Tee Mac performing at a function

ALBUMS INCLUDE

Tee Mac’s Gold Convention

section and of course, my girls that do the main singing, the flute and my young son singing with me and doing couple of little Rap parts in the songs.

Considering the perceived accolades trailing Nigerian musicians, how would you describe the present phase of the Nigerian music Industry compared to the world stage?

Nigerian music has a long way to go.

The World Bank stated recently that the only industry in the entertainment industry which has shown growth is Nollywood.

But if you compare the so-called Nigerian music to international music quality, you would know that there is a long way to go.

You cannot compete with the world when you are operating on a N20, 000 fruity loop produced CD, compared to a CD like mine which has cost me N20 million or a Michael Jackson CD which costs between 300 to 500 thousand dollars, so it’s a long way to go. Our Producers have to wake up and learn how to mix songs. They don’t mix yet, they just give you a rough flat mix. And so I would say they have a long way to go, and we have to tell our young people ‘‘watch the lyric content’’. The lyrics mean nothing.

It’s outdated to write… baby, baby, baby and put up all these rubbish songs in a CD. Lyrics are very important, as 50 percent of the

song depends on it.

Then the song structure is usually in a re-cycled arrangement. All they do is go to the studio, tell the sound engineers to put down some chords and they recycle some base line. Any music that is music should not fall short of melody, harmony and rhythm.The quality of music they churn out these days lack these three qualities.Every music has a beginning, the middle and the end. And that’s a song. The very few of the modern hip-hop songs could be classified as real songs.

Of all wind instruments, you seem to be in love with the flute, what is so spectacular about it?

At age six, I started to read about Mozart’s life. Mozart was already a great performer at the age of five. Now I was six and I always wanted to play the flute. I asked my uncle who took care of me in Switzerland if I could have a flute. So at Christmas I got my first flute as a present. I love my flute so much I wouldn’t even sleep without it.

The flute will be in the case under my pillow. But at that time, to learn how to play the flute there was no other way than to go through the classical training. It’s not like today where you can go to Trinity College or the Barcley School of Jazz in America.

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United (1973)

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Save Me (1974)

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Party Fever (1977)

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Mixed Grill (1979)

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Night Illusion (1983)

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Blind Date (1985)

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The Lesser known Flute Composers (classical, 1989)

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The Quanz Flute Concertos (1991)

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Slightly Sinful (pop, 1999)

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Just Like a Dream (2007)

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The City of Mer Kailash (ballet, 2009)

You have to go to the classical education because that’s the basic for music education.

And I have since loved it and it’s my favorite music - classical music.

The peculiarity of the flute is this, the wind instrument is the first instrument in history and the flute am playing is called the Boehm flute .It is the most difficult instrument to learn German flute virtuoso and flute maker, who designed the modern orchestral flute. Born in Munich, he was trained as a goldsmith, but in 1818 became flutist to the royal court in Munich.

In 1832, for the then common conical-bore flute, he introduced a new system of key work and fingering, based on acoustically repositioned tone holes. In 1847 he applied his system to a new flute design having a cylindrical bore and parabolic head joint.

Almost universally adopted, the Boehm cylindrical flute persists today almost unchanged. Boehm also invented a widely used iron-smelting process.

The complexity of the Bheom flute takes you 10 to 12 years to study it and up to twenty years to master it. I play alto and tenor sax, and I think saxophone is easy com-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, April 4, 2014

Artman In The House

21

a present at 6 –Tee Mac I like African clothes. I am more comfortable in them than those Oyinbo ties. I find them very dangerous, as someone can just grab you and strangle you. Moreover, we have diverse culture, that’s why I am proud of our culture. I like agbada and asooke. Even internationally, you can mostly see me in Africanclothes. I hardly wear oyinbo clothes.

What kind of food do you like best?

I like banga soup with fresh fish. I haven’t eaten meat in 35 years and will not start it.

It’s not good. It kills you and makes you old quick. I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. I walk out, I exercise. I have ten dogs; I walk and run with them. I live a happy life.

An avid lover of dogs

What is your Ideal day like?

Getting up, walking out, reading emails and letters from my three offices and then I dress up and run out to my appointments. I try to keep my appointments, so that I don’t get late, because I have too many. Then when I finish my meeting, I get back home to play with my dogs for half an hour, talk to each one, they all come to tell me with their problems. I love my dogs. I love animals very much; I have two monkeys and ten dogs.

Reheasal time...his son Joseph perfoming

playing the flute, and will continue playing it every day. I am still working on it every day. There is no limit. My teacher played till he was 92 years old. When you are dedicated to your instrument, you become good. But you have to realise that, there is no short cut. The better I became, the better I enjoyed rehearsing. And even now, when I stand in front of an audience of 100,000 people, with TV cameras focusing on me, the inner energy gives me power and I perform better.

Receiving the MFR from late President Yara’dua

pared to the flute. But, I have a feeling that I have played the flute before, and when I was a small child, the only wish and dream I had was to play the flute. I am one the few classical artistes who double with jazz and modern entertainment. And I feel that my classification ranges on the top five in the world.

Watching you play at Victoria Crown Plaza, you seem to have some of the best musicians on your team, what do you owe to this?

I can only play with professionals and I spend time in searching for them. My band has the best horns section in Africa, believe me! When we played in South Africa during the World Cup, all the other bands from over 30 countries of Africa were astonished to hear the tightness of my band.

But since I am ‘philharmonically’ trained, everything I do has to be pianoforte. There must be dynamics. I use the classical concept of perfection when am on stage and rehearse countless hours with my band even before show, because am a Professional. I can’t work with a musician who is not on the same level. I can’t work with a musician who can’t read and write music, which I think is the basic to work with me.

What sets you apart as a flutist?

What sets me apart is that I love my insrtrument, that I have spent the last 64 years

How do you joggle music and mining business?

That’s why I hardly have time. I am the Chairman of Allied Minerals. I invested in solid Minerals since 1988. I own the largest mining company in Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi and Zamfara. I am the Chairman of Cass-Cotan Mining and Processing Limited with a factory in Warri. I am the chairman of Fame Corporation, an initiative that oversees with sixty stars from Nollywood.

I am the chairman of Tee-Mac Production.

I am a Director in Hemla- Oil and Gas cooperation in Norway, Daewoo (Korea). I am a Director in Hemla-Ogoni Resources. I am the African representative of Devu and Hemla Gas Solutions. So you can see I have a busy schedule. I simply cope in having many P.A’s, running from one meeting to the other and sleeping very little.

Who would you the role model that has shaped your musical life?

My greatest hero was always a gentleman called Jean Pierre Rampal. He died at the age of 82; and when I was growing up I listened to every recording he ever did and I was so proud.

When I finished my music education I went for a master’s class. And in the Academy there was Jean Pierre Rampal, He was my teacher for the master’s class. And I think he is the greatest flute player that has ever lived. He has recorded over 200 records. He has made himself a fortune of over 100 million dollars.

What influences your dress sense?

What would you call your most memorable moment?

I would say every big show sticks in my memory. I can go back to Silo Convention, to my successful concerts in Japan. I have played everywhere across the world, apart from Sudan and a few backward places.

And I enjoy it and look forward to more. I am presently working and talking with my foreign technical partners, so I can have more time for my music. I miss the time I had in the 80’s where I could sit seven hours a day and write my symphony. I presently have about more than 10 hours of un-published philharmonic music in my bedroom namely 2 ballets, 3 symphonies and 4-flute concertos. I have ideas at any time of the day. I can sit down in my car and a melody comes into my head and I quickly note it down. My laptop (Personal Computer) has very sophisticated composition softwarecalled Sibelius. Wherever I am I can just take my laptop out and compose philharmonically on my laptop. I have the complete system in my bedroom in Nigeria, in Bangkok and in New York. So anywhere I am I can always sit down and compose.

So would you be recording them anytime soon?

I have one on my laptop. I have finished one for the Synagogue of all Nations and I dedicated it to Prophet T.B Joshua. No I wouldn’t. Too busy for now, but will find time soon.

Let’s talk about your newly released album Just like a dream?

My album, Just like a dream is simply chronicling my life. My life has passed so quickly. It is just like a dream. I was very blessed at the age of 24, I picked up a cheque of more than $20 million, and life became a little easier. I came home, I invested, and my investments have grown. I went back again and didn’t come back till the civilians came back. I returned back on the Christmas eve of the day civilians came back, after being out of this country for a long time. But afterwards, I have lived in Nigeria and I love my country.

I have had a lucky life. I had three beautiful women. One died, two are divorced. I have two sons and they are all doing fine.

FACT FILE

• Combined his first degree in Economics from the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland, with a specialisation in classical music concert performance and philharmonic composition of the University of Lausanne.

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Recorded his first LP, United, with Polydor International in Germany with his European band Tee Mac United, in the late seventies; hit the global music charts with two songs: “Fly Robin Fly”, and “Get Up & Boogie” (owns 50% of the copy right) and toured extensively with his third band, Silver Convention, in the mid seventies.

• Elected President of the Musician Union of Nigeria PMAN in 2007; In 2009 he was appointed the Nigerian director of the Motherland Group, (initiated

by Michael Jackson’s brother, Marlon, of The Jackson 5) which is getting support from the Lagos State Government to build a Historical Slave Museum in Badagry. In 2011 he was elected Chairman of FAMECorp, owned by top Nigerian Musicians and Nollywood stars, to build Cinema houses and concert halls all over Nigeria.

• Awarded the Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) by Nigeria’s former President Yar’adua in 2009 for his vital role in brokering peace with the Niger Delta militants and fighting for their rehabilitation.

• In 2011 he received honourary doctorate degree in Arts from Bradley University in Illinois, where he serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and teaches philharmonic composition as visiting Associate Professor.

The youngest is in my band.

Are you looking at re-marrying sometime soon?

I don’t think so. I have had enough. I enjoy living on my own, as that gives me more freedom to do what I want.

Finally, can you tell us about your love for dogs?

When I was 14 years old my uncle in Switzerland asked me if I wanted a dog and we went to Vaduz where I chose a young, wonderful Bull Terrier puppy, which I named Bully. Until I left for the university, he was my best friend; I trained him, walked him every day and prepared his food. Leaving our house to St. Gallend were I studied, Bully became angry and started to attack people so my Uncle put him to sleep. I did not forgive my Uncle for many years. Since then I had many dogs, in Nigeria and when I lived in the USA. At the moment I have 11 alsatian dogs. I honour them. I feed them in the morning with Jojo tin food and in the evening, my cook prepares a pot of stew with meat and fish, one day with rice, next day with Jojo crunchy or Indomie.

Critics

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Book

Friday, April 4, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Inside Aroma of a Burning Bush

Samuel Osaze in Aroma of a Burning Bush establishes that free verse can be superb poetry Reginald Ofodile

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roma of a Burning Bush roused, and then doused, a certain suspicion of mine. It is my distrust of free verse! I bow to the masters: in the last two centuries, such luminaries as Walt Whitman, D.H. Lawrence, T.S. Eliot and Langston Hughes profusely produced free verse, which of course are global classics.

However, that form, or ‘formlessness,’ has grievously degraded poetry. A certain obnoxious notion has obviously taken root. It is that, if words were set out in short lines, however uninspired, or bland or clumsy, the presentation merited the designation ‘poetry’ and all objectors deserved denunciation as stultifying arch-traditionalists. The global spawn of this concept is work that is sometimes baser than doggerel, instantly assimilable, pedestrian, posing no intellectual challenges. Insightful, a veritable wordsmith, he proves that free verse need not be facile or flimsy. He invests the form with profundity and lush lyricalness.

The topics in the collection are many and varied. The work embraces the public and the private, the romantic and the elegiac, gratitude to benign mentors and clash of elements, verses ‘Soyinkaian’ and some ‘Okigbotic.’

The poem ‘Say Yes I do’ recalled the secondary school love-letter of a generation ago, and also Shakespeare’s 18th Sonnet, ‘Shall I compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?’... The eulogies in Osaze’s collection prompt the reflection that poets are famously introspective, retrospective, melancholic, preoccupied with bereavement.

The sneer of John Donne’s 17th century classic, ‘Death

Be Not Proud’, is echoed in Dylan Thomas’s 20th century declaration, ‘And Death Shall Have no Dominion’.

Alfred Lord Tennyson’s renowned ‘In Memoriam’, his eulogy of his idolised friend Hallam is like a widow’s grieving for her husband. Isn’t Thomas Gray immortalised by his morbid musing on death, ‘Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard?’ .Felicitous phrases and delightful alliterations abound in ‘Aroma of a Burnish Bush’.

From the beginning of the collection comes: A lonely leaf protests in vain awaiting fume of full flame

Film

How to steal two million Missy Tilli

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ately I have been watching a lot of non Nollywood and Ghana movies, because as you can imagine like many others have been feeling, the mediocrity in script writing (always predictable) and worse of all actors is becoming so redundant. I need to stimulate my mind with better movies, so until Ghana and Nigerians up their game, with great releases, I will be watching other movies from other African countries worth my time. The mediocrity and recycling has got to stop, and so far as you keep praising it, watching it and buying it; It won’t.!!! .In the tradition of the heist movie, ‘How to Steal 2 Million’ has an intricate plot woven around the characters’ attempts to formulate a plan, carry it out, and escape with the goods.

The film tells the story of Jack (Menzi Ngubane), who has

The film tells the story of Jack (Menzi Ngubane), who has spent

five long years in jail after being arrested for robbery.

spent five long years in jail after being arrested for robbery. His partner in crime and best friend Twala (Rapulana Seiphemo) never got caught and Jack never talked. When he is released, Jack decides to go straight.

He wants to start a construction business, but after being rejected for a loan he must find another way to get money. An opportunity presents itself when Twala suggests they rob a home where the take is worth R2 million. The film also stars Terry Pheto, Hlubi Mboya and John Kani.

Watch out for this movie, the trailer looks super exciting and interesting, and it was also selected and screened at Fantastic Fest, the largest genre film festi-

val in the US and it was also featured in the African Film Festival in New York. These are the kind of movies I support, ones that are worthy to make it to international film festival, and to give Africa some respect in a positive light (not runs, razz babes, or campus movies).

In terms of gaining recognitions, the movie is also there: At African Action Drama it received 11 nominations and won 4 awards at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2012, including the awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress in a Supporting Role and Best Achievement in Editing.

•Missy Tilii, runs a blog on African movies

awe of helpless veils the arsonists’ face for the mild fire is gone wild.

In the poem, ‘To the Slave Driver’, under (viii) is the phrase ‘throes of trauma.’ Under (xi) comes ‘a flourishing flag of freedom.’ In ‘Bird of Sorrow’ comes ‘mad on mud bed..’ In ‘A Gaze from an Angelic Face is’: ‘... excavate me.

To the surface, in picnic of fresh breath...’

In ‘Fire and Water’ comes, ‘Your fiend, your friend,’ and in ‘Dear Retribution’ ‘As Python pounces on its prey.’ ‘Take me to my Destiny’ asserts the importance of

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Critics

Friday, April 4, 2014

23

The collection is audacious

and combative, neither quailing at unpleasantness nor shrinking from the unpalatable.

The poet’s

forthrightness embraces even the anal.

the spirit, its potential to remain unshaken by crushing obstacles. It echoes the classic Victorian paean to valour, William Erenest Henley’s ‘Invictus’.

Out of the Night that covers me Black as the pit from pole to pole I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul...

It matters not how strait the gate How charged with punishments the scroll I am the master of my fate I am the captain of my soul.

This is echoed in a 20th century disavowal of timidity, Maya Angelou’s ‘Life Doesn’t Frighten me’.

Shadows on the wall Noises down the hall Life doesn’t frighten me at all...

Maya Angelou, that world-acclaimed phenomenon, in her autobiography ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’, made an assertion that is apposite to Osaze’s collection: ‘We live in direct relation to the dedication of our poets.’ Poetry can efface fear, restore wrecked and wretched souls, illumine, direct, inspire, inspirit. Mahatma Ghandi, ploughing his excruciating furrow, was sustained by certain words of India’s great poet, Rabindranath Tagore’s: ‘If they answer not to thy call, walk alone.’ The accomplished Nigerian writer, Elechi Amadi, despairing in detention during the Nigerian civil war, was upheld by James Elroy Flecker’s verse ‘...But surely we are brave, Who make the Golden Journey to Sarmarkand.’

Some suppose that poetry is invariably civil, beguiling, and unobtrusive. ‘Aroma of a Burning Bush’, whilst manifesting considerable charm, features other elements.

The collection is audacious and combative, neither quailing at unpleasantness nor shrinking from the unpalatable. The poet’s forthrightness embraces even the anal: ‘The one whose anus Sits upon my head, warmly afflicting my Soul with early baldness.’

I like to think that Samuel Osaze’s work is organic. I hope he continually explores and experiments with form and other poetic elements in the lifelong studentship of the serious artist. His poetic debut, ‘Aroma of a Burning Bush’, will scandalise and tranquillise, entertain and educate, baffle and tickle. None is likely to fault it as bland or hollow.

•Ofodile is an award-winning creative writer, whose works have been published in many anthologies.

Music

Phyno: No Guts; No Glory

Here’s an in-depth analysis of the new gift in town: Phyno’s ‘No Guts, No Glory’ album.

Joey Akan

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fter a long wait which bordered on eternity, indigenous Nigerian rapper, Phyno, has put together what will be a testament to his efforts in revolutionizing the Nigerian rap culture, and creating a trend for our pop culture. Phyno has always been one to make us all salivate to his music.

His first major release, ‘Ghost Mode’ which featured another indigenous rap creative, Olamide, threw us all into the 9 heaven. Till date, ‘Ghost Mode’ still rocks on. It’s a song for all seasons.

The title, “No Guts, No Glory”, brings to mind the ageless art of risk taking.

Phyno, edgy and urban, aptly named his LP to reflect what he has been up to since he broke even. For Phyno, music isn’t a business to approach all mellow and meek. It’s requires a hand-on approach of innovation and steel.

“If music were a bull charging towards Phyno, to wreck murderous rage on him, he wouldn’t cower. He’ll grab it by the horns (or balls), and wrestle it to the ground.”

Phyno took major risks on this album.

Let’s see if they all paid off. Remember, it’s “No Guts, No Glory”.

The opening track to an album has to have all it takes to set give the listener a sense of worth. Get it wrong, and you rub off the wrong way on the listener.

Phyno deeply understands this and he brings on Stormrex to aid him in a hilarious narrative of his life story on “Chibuzo”.

Alobam goes the way of the conscious music. Phyno drops an ode to his people who’ve been instrumental to his success. Every album contains this song of ‘gratitude. It usually pops up in the second half of most Nigerian LPs, but

Phyno brings it on early. It’s a solo effort, but not lacking in any ingredient. You get the feeling that Drake’s Worst Behavior offered up some inspiration for this.

Introduction just gets better. Guts!

P-Square gets things warm in “O Set”. It’s a catchy tune, designed to feed the clubs, and all of Nigeria’s groovy citizens. The piece de resistance in this track, is right in the chief phrase. I could see my eastern brothers make that a punch line to every short joke. Perhaps, a mindless exclamation.

‘Nme Nme’ goes down the same road.

It’s a feel good song about life and enjoyment. ‘Authe’ which features Flavour also provides similar lines of merriment, linking it to the trendy objectification of women. Enter the familiar songs to make you hit the climax, while maintaining a safe feeling of warmth and joy. “Man Of The Year”, Ghost Mode, Multiply, and Parcel are all songs that gave Phyno the premature but deserved title of “King Of Eastern Hip hop”. Past kings have been toppled in the east., Mc Loph fell to death, and Mr. Raw’s powers have waned considerably. These songs are Phyno’s trump cards. Crown jewels to his efforts.

‘Chukwu Na Enye’ (featuring Omawumi) and ‘Good Die Young’ (a tribute to

Nigerian artistes are wont to always include the filler songs, and

Phyno

fell right into

that trap. Holiday,

Paper Chase, ‘Shey U Know, and Ojigi are downright bland, if not

underwhelming

his late friends) bring us down to reality, showing a human side of the maverick that Phyno is.

Nigerian artistes are wont to always include the filler songs, and Phyno fell right into that trap. Holiday, Paper Chase, Shey U Know, and Ojigi are downright bland, if not underwhelming.

Icholiya has good features, and Aju (with Olamide and Efa) brought on the indigenous diversity of which Nigeria is proud of.

The inclusion of the 3-year old “Multiply” was a stroke at throwback. Phyno really has come a long way from the English rapper that he was.

Phyno has already demonstrated that he possesses the dynamism and talent to make songs alone – production, chorus, verses, bridge and even adlibs.

On NGNG, he features his peers only on songs where they’ll add value, like Omawumi’s celestial performance on Chukwu na enye which elevates it from a good hi-life tune to a great candidate for ‘Prayer and Worship’ sessions in church.

Three artistes appear more than once on NGNG, they do so for understandable reasons. Phyno’s label mate Runtown is in need of all the ppublicty that Holiday and the Anamachi Versace will bring to him. The album is too lengthy. I8 songs just about nearly kills the listeners will to continue, but the good tracks which were evenly spread, attempts to make up for this.

NGNG album sure works. For a debut effort at compilation, Phyno has for the most part pressed all the right buttons.

This album is way more than a compilation of songs. It’s importance far outweighs the personal benefits for Phyno.

It is a testament to the emerging trend (that indigenous rappers are the cool kids on the block), in Nigerian music.

Phyno has earned our respect. Let’s wait and see if he’ll be the Man of The Year. *Joey Akan is a writer, presenter, poet and music critic based in Lagos, Nigeria.

24

Inside FCT

Friday, April 4, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Abuja residents lament harsh weather conditions ROTIMI FADEYI

R

esidents of Abuja are now earnestly praying for rainfall in the city as the present dry season which is yet to completely give way, has brought about hot weather especially in the night.

The epileptic power supply has not also helped matters as there is no stable electricity to power air conditioners and fans and other cooling systems to reduce the effect of the heat.

Except for the few times that the city witnessed a drizzle, there has not been heavy rainfall in the city. The hot weather could be attributed to the effect of global warming because of human activities which generate heat and affect the atmosphere.

Considering the number of vehicles in Abuja, there is a lot of carbon dioxide and heat emitted from the exhaust pipes, which has contributed to the situation.

The heat coming from generating sets which are turned on in the night as an alternative to the epileptic power supply is also a contributory factor. Some of the residents of the city said that they were expecting the rain to start falling in April so they could have relief from the hot weather.

Adeleke Kayode who lives in the Kubwa area of Abuja said that he had been finding it difficult to cope with the hot weather.

According to him, members of his family including his wife and children sleep outside their building because of the heat inside the house which makes it difficult to get pleasant sleep.

He said the effect of the heat is felt late in the evenings when the sun must have gone down and in the night.

Kayode said, “I am just praying for the rain to start falling soon, the heat is too much because of the hot weather, we are not enjoying it at all”

Kubua area in Abuja

Another resident who simply identified himself as Mohammed told ‘Inside FCT’ that sometimes he had to wake up in the middle of the night to take a cold bath because of the heat.

Mohammed said: “I am a person who sweat a lot and the heat has made me to sweat even more, sometimes I will wake up in the middle of the night for a cold bath before going back to bed” “I have made up my mind to bear the heat caused by the hot weather since the raining season is approaching and all the weather situation will change”, he added A businessman on a short visit to Abuja who stayed with one of his friends in Lugbe, Engr Akin, told ‘Inside FCT’ that it was “regrettable that even when gov-

THE HOT WEATHER COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE EFFECT OF GLOBAL WARMING BECAUSE OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES ernment continues to tell stories about power sector reform, it is difficult to have light for two hours a day in this place and several satellite towns in the FCT. “I visited one of my friends early today; the story is the same even where

he stays in town. He told me that for two days there is no light, forcing members of the family to be staying for several hours late into the night in the balcony just to avoid the very hot heat in the rooms. If this kind of hardship is being experienced in Abuja, then you can only imagine what is happening in places like Maiduguri in this season of the year.

Government should be held accountable for the deteriorating health conditions of people here in Abuja because if there is light, then the situation could have been better. As I speak with you now, I don’t know when I will go to sleep. Apart from the heat, the nuisance of generators also remains bad”, Akin lamented.

Garden entertainment business booms ROTIMI FADEYI

E

ntertainers at recreational parks, beer and food gardens are growing fast, as the economy bites harder in the country in general and Federal Capital Territory and its environs in particular.

Every park or garden in Abuja plays host to at least three entertainers a day. Music entertainers of genres from highlife to hip hop, include unabashed mimic versions of top American music stars like the Late Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston.

Night Clubs host live bands, sample songs of famous artistes and perform

mimes to go with them for voluntary fees from their audience.

Depending on the quality of your performance, you could earn as much as N5,000 or as little as N200 from an average of 10 clusters at a garden.

It’s reminiscent of the United States in the 30s up to the 40s under the Depression.

That crunch period when Jazz and other artistes sprung up and splashed everywhere in pubs, bars and in the streets.

The difference is: while that gloomy era produced Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, Billy Ocean and Sam Cooke. The Nigeria street and garden entertainers appear comfortable with the streets and the gardens.

The first and biggest of their kind in

THE FIRST AND BIGGEST OF THEIR KIND IN ABUJA IS BABA 2010, AN ECCENTRIC LIVE PERFORMER WITH A BLOWN OUT ‘WHITE’ AFRO

Abuja is Baba 2010, an eccentric live performer with a blown out ‘white’ afro. As a performance artiste, he draws lyrical inspiration from the Late afrobeat maestro, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

Baba 2010 has his disciples and a clientele as diverse as an Arabian tapestry.

But surprisingly, he is not on tape nor is he on CD. The onslaught against garden keepers since 2004, has made the park and bar performers a nomadic lot, moving from place

to place.

“It’s not quite a job, but man must wack(eat)”, a reggae garden artiste tells the reporter. He sees his source of income as uncertain and too shifty to ensure a sustained stream of income.

These entertainers include Mowaka (travelling singers in Hausa), who make a living singing praise songs to garden visitors.

With crude and locally made sitars, flutes and sticks, the Mowaka variant of

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Friday, April 4, 2014

5

Senate seeks law to compel INEC to defend free, fair poll GEORGE OJI ABUJA

A

new bill which will place the burden of proof as to whether an election is free and fair before an Election Petition Tribunal or court on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, passed the second reading in the Senate yesterday.

Although the bill, sponsored by Senator Hadi Sirika (Katsina North), was opposed by many senators during the debate, it passed the second reading and was committed to the Senate Committee on Constitution Review and the committee on INEC for public hearing.

Senators, who opposed the bill, argued that it was against the established provisions of the Evidence Act, which rests the burden of proof on parties levelling allegations.

Sirika, in his lead presentation, argued that the current process of proving the regularity or otherwise of the conduct of an election by a litigant was high-

ly burdensome and ought to be placed or vested on the electoral umpire, which conducted the poll.

According to the lawmaker, “The onus of proving the regularity of an election ought to be a burden to be discharged by the body or organisation that prepared and arranged for the conduct and thereafter went ahead to conduct the said election.

“It is settled under the law of evidence the he who asserts must prove, however, this bill seeks otherwise.

That is, that the burden of proof of the regularity of the conduct of an election must first of all shift to the body that conducted the election.

“The burden of first proof, having been discharged by INEC, will then shift to the petitioner who alleged that the election was not properly conducted.”

Sirika, expressed confidence that if the bill became a law, it would shorten litigation time, make INEC to live up to its re-

PDP berates APC for boycotting confab CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

not have any form of education or training”, he said.

He added that the solution to terrorism lay in creating jobs and urged the Federal Government to establish a reconstruction fund of N300bn.

Imam added that the N2bn earmarked for the purpose this year was not enough, faulting the government for approving “about N400bn to Nollywood.”

Also, President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Yinka Gbadebo, recalled how he prevented a national embarrassment during the formal inauguration of the conference last month.

He said Nigerian students who had been at home for about eight months due to strike had mobilised to storm the venue of the conference except for the timely intervention of student union leaders and some stakeholders.

“In building a truly great nation, our utmost priority should be education,” he said, adding that since the conference began, nobody had discussed issues touch-

ing on the welfare of Nigerian students.

A delegate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olabode George, noted that some comments had been good, while some are halftruths and some, blatant lies.

He, however, accused civilians of being responsible for most of the military coups in the country.

According to him, the military did not just wake up one day and decided to usurp governance.

For most of the time, he said, the military was invited by civilians who were disgruntled with the particular government of the day.

One of the delegates from the Civil Society Organisations, Kyauta Giwa, also stated that the incessant killings in the North was becoming worrisome, charging the government to urgently “do something about it.”

“We have so much budgetary allocation to defence and we are also neglecting other sectors that can meet the yearnings of the people and address some of these security challenges,” she added.

sponsibilities and promote transparency.

Senators Heineken Lopobiri, James Manager, Joshua Lidani, Victor Lar, Barnabas Gemade, and Gyan Pajok opposed the bill.

Lokpobiri described the bill as unmeritorious, adding that since it was a party that asserted that must prove, stressing that

there was no basis for the bill as it contradicted the Evidence Act, “which is a global practice”.

Manager also maintained that “It is the law that if you assert, you should prove. It is the litigant that is dragging INEC to court that should prove that the commission did not do its job well and not the other way round.”

Lar, Lidani and Pajok in various contributions, said the bill would strip candidates in elections the rights and powers to defend themselves with proofs while those who did not take part in the exercise would instigate litigation.

But Senators Attai Ali, Abdul Ningi, Abubakar Bagudu and Alkali Ahmed supported the bill and en-

EXPENSIVE NAP: Delegates at the National Conference in Abuja, yesterday.

couraged their colleagues to vote for its passage because the Evidence Act was an old law that had outlived its relevance.

They also argued that many litigants usually encountered serious problems in accessing relevant documents necessary to prove their cases in court because they were in the custody of INEC.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Pregnant women, kids rescued from ritualists’ den CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ered another operational base of ritualists’ syndicate.

Consequently, a police team invited to the scene rescued three pregnant women and three young children, aged between two and four years, from the den.

The police also arrested the wife of the suspected operator in a duplex building being used as base and baby making factory.

Angered by the discovery, hundreds of youths trooped to the building and set it ablaze.

Neighbours told National Mirror that one of the victims, a pregnant lady, had on Wednesday night escaped from the den.

They said the victim ran into a house located about 200 meters away from the den and pleaded with the occupants to save her from her assailants.

The pregnant lady, who reportedly claimed to have hailed from Abia State, told the occupants of the residence that her elder sister sold her and her unborn baby to the ritualists for N100,000.

It was also gathered that the lady, who had just spent three days in the den, said that the ritualists told her that she would not leave until she was delivered of her baby for whom her aunty had been paid.

The shocking revelation, however, compelled the occupants to inform the police, who eventually raided the premises around 11p.m.

As the news broke, angry youths, suspected to be students from the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, MAPOLY, Ojere, Abeokuta, invaded the building and searched some of the rooms, which were already padlocked by security agencies.

The youths were said to be looking for a cooler and a 20-litre jerry can allegedly filled with fresh human blood.

After a thorough search of the building, the youths emerged with ritual items, including an ivory plate containing fresh blood, coffin, effigy, scorpion, charms and others.

Also discovered are international e-passport, identity cards of junior and senior secondary school

students of Sacred Heart Catholic College, Oke -Ilewo, Abeokuta, who some people said might have been kidnapped and killed by the suspected ritualists.

Several male and female white garments of worshippers suspected to have fallen victims while going or returning from vigil were also recovered.

The youths, however, set the building and two vehicles parked within the premises - a Toyota Camry car marked (Lagos) EKY 942 AJ and a Mitsubushi car marked (Lagos) AGL 971 BH ablaze.

It, however, took the intervention of the Ogun State Fire Service personnel who raced to the scene in two vehicles marked OG 124 A 09 and OG 122 A 09 to put out the fire.

Scores of fierce-looking policemen who had been watching the angry youths, however, summoned courage and started firing life ammunition and canisters at the youths to disperse them.

Some of the youths were also arrested and whisked away to the police headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta.

The Police Deputy Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident, adding that two victims were rescued from the den.

He said two others were also arrested in connection with the operation of the house of horror.

Oyeyemi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, gave the names of the rescued victims as Jennifer Goodluck, who is still nursing a two-month-old baby, while the heavily pregnant victim was simply identified as Oluchi, both indigenes of Abia State.

The police spokesman also explained that one Muibat Yusuf and her brother, both indigenes of Kwara State, were arrested.

He said the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Eleweran, for thorough investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikemefuna Okoye, who later visited the scene, however, urged members of the public to be watchful of happenings around them, particularly their neighbours.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Inside FCT

Friday, April 4, 2014

25

NEMA donates Effects of poor electricity supply in Abuja drugs to NYSC Camp, Kubwa

Gloria Usman ABUJA

I

n order to mitigate the ailment that Corps members are exposed to in camp, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has donated stress-relief drugs to NYSC Orientation Camp Kubwa to help curb with situation in camp when the need arises.

Director-General of the Agency, Alhaji Muhammed Sani Sidi represented by the Zonal Coordinator of the Abuja Operations Office, Ishaya Chonoko,said the donation was part of its emergency assistance and response mitigation measure.

According to Chonoko, “Now that corpers are in camp and some of them when exposed to some physical activities tend to fall sick. So as an agency, during the period of camp like this, we usually assist NYSC with drugs and other items. We have a MOU with the NYSC, because we are using their corpers as partners- The National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) Emergency Management Vanguard “.

Responding, NYSC State Coordinator, Anthony Enweonwu, on behalf of DG, NYSC, thanked the management of NEMA for their kind gesture and promise that the drugs will be utilised for the benefit of the Corp members that are in camp.

Anthony, noted that the relationship between NYSC and NEMA have been very effective. NEMA has been a consistent backer with the National Corp Service, especially during orientation period. park entertainers, can be downright vulgar, but funny.

Their ability to improvise on spot and hum a song to suit your looks is a delight that would move the most miserly of garden patronisers to philanthropy.

“I avoid going to gardens these days, because of them (the Mowaka)”, a civil servant in Abuja said in between laughter, adding that “they can empty your pockets with praises”.

But these entertainers, because of the cost of living in FCT, are mostly residents of makeshift houses or shanties where they retire after a performance that starts usually at 4pm and ends by 11pm.

A performance can stretch through the night in a secluded bar and the entertainer might end up with a nap in a settee or a sofa. This life of uncertainty and unwillingness to break out to mainstream continues on and on with each day.

PHCN instatllation

Seyi Anjorin ABUJA

F

or about two weeks and some days now in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, there had been torrential rainfall across the FCT, which have resulted in serious damages to telecommunication and water infrastructure, amongst other hazards in fast growing city For instance, a particular heavy downpour in the territory which terrifying impact was much felt in the Musa Yar’Adua Expressway through the various satellite towns between the Abuja metropolis and Nnamdi Azikiwe International AirportGwagwalada axis that caused major investment losses to telecom operators and damages to water supply pipes ‘Inside FCT’ authoritatively gathered that (MTN and Airtel), base stations along the Lugbe area were affected that for several days residents in satellite towns along the Airport Road are yet to enjoy smooth services ever since, despite spirited efforts by the telecom operators to fix the damaged facilities.

Investigations by ‘Inside FCT’ showed major customers of the telcos have not been enjoying good services over the week even as others continue to lament the poor electricity supply to many locations in the

Entertainers at a night club

Look at this estate for example, there are just about six pumps serving

450 flats while only three are functional, the other ones got faulty about

because we tried running them with generator FCT. Sunny Agbo a resident of AMAC Estate, Abuja told our reporter that arbitrary connection of electricity was not desirable for businesses and lives, adding that “if the authorities want to restore electric power, it is for our good but not for them to disorganise things. As you can see, the water that we have been able to manage by ourselves is even become inadequate, there is no electricity to run the pump, even mai ruwa now sell two for N50 which shouldn’t have been so.”

Agbo said: “I wish the government could always put the masses at heart in whatever they do because if the light is not there, and we have generators we can use, they should at least make the resources (petrol) available for us. To buy in a jerry can for your generator, they will charge you N100 and that’s if they will even sell for you”.

Reports indicate that the unavailabil-

ity and inadequacies of electricity supply were adversely causing water scarcity in the FCT as most water sellers who own public boreholes do not get electricity or petrol to power their pumps.

Ugo Okorie, a civil servant and resident at Penthouse III Estate noted that the government owed it a duty to provide, protect and maintain infrastructure for basic needs of the citizenry, pointing out that the people also it a duty to ensure their protection.

“Look at this estate for example, there are just about six pumps serving about 450 flats while only three are functional, the other ones got faulty because we tried running them with generator, I don’t think it will be too much for the citizens of this country, if the government could do things the right way; digging boreholes in every street shouldn’t be too big for our government”, he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, April 4, 2014 Jumada Al-Thani 4 1435 A.H.

27

Call to Worship On the authority of Anas bin Malik, the servant of the Messenger of All, the prophet said: “None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”

RELATED BY BUKHARI AND MUSLIM

‘Secure your happiness through your children’ AISHA TITILAYO

P

arents have been told to secure their future happiness by giving the best and paying proper attention to their children because a bad child gives a bad image to the parents.

Noting that the worst and most saddening experience at old age is bad children because there would be nothing that the aged could do again and no child could be borne by then, Mr. Sulaiman Ogunmuyiwa, who spoke on ‘My Child, My Future, My Happiness: The Synergy’ at the Parents’ Seminar organised by the Parents Teachers Association, PTA, of

Fadlullah Nursery & Primary School, Oke-Koto, Agege, Lagos. He urged parents to put in their best toward the proper training and upbringing of their children.

Mr. Sulaiman added that parents need to stand by their children, chat with them to enable the parents know the child’s hope, aspirations, fear and challenges and to also help the children by putting them through choosing a befitting career rather than dictating a career choice to them.

“Discuss with your children, ask them their favourite subjects, etc. Tell them you love them; show them you love them and that you are proud of them.”

He related a hadith where the Prophet (SAW) went to the house of Qasim’s foster mother, as far as the place was to his house, just to give Qasim a kiss because he (Prophet) missed him.

Mr. Sulaiman said; “When you see something bad going on in the society or around you, call your children’s attention to it, tell them those things are bad and the punishment involved when a person engages in doing them. This will prevent them from looking at those things as normal and good. As Muslims, we know we are the best of mankind because we encourage good and forbid evil.”

He reminded the parents that they are responsible for their children. “Re-

member that you will be questioned as regards how you raised them.”

Also, the Headmaster of the school, Yusuf Ibrahim stated that the Parents’ Seminar was organised in order to sensitize parents on the role the home (Parents), school (both formal and informal education), the peers (their age group) religion (Islam) and the environment (Neighbours) play in building/raising a child to whom they would all be proud of in the nearest future.

He therefore urged parents to give hope, self belief and to create a platform on which they will reap the fruit of their hard labour. “Let us join hands to inspire our future leaders to aspire.”

My Child, My Future, My Happiness: The Synergy The moral imperative… though challenging, it is the future • How do I secure my future happiness through my child • The worst and most saddening experience at old age is bad children.

How? Be involved in your child’s education and career planning.

Why parent involvement?

• • • •

Research shows that you have the greatest influence on your child’s career choice.

As a parent, you have the best knowledge of your child’s interests and abilities.

You have more interest than anyone else in your child’s well-being and success Your child’s future is too important to be left to luck or chance.

When parents are involved, children have • • • • •

Higher grades and test scores Higher graduation rates Better attendance at school and get more homework done Fewer placements in special education and are more likely to enroll in postsecondary education Show more positive attitudes and behaviour Help your child identify interests and explore careers Discuss your child’s interests

Ask your child: • • • • • • • •

What are your favourite school subjects?

What activities outside of school do you enjoy most?

What hobbies do you have or would you like to have?

What do you like to do with your friends?

What special skills or abilities do you think you possess?

What have you done that you are most proud of ?

What do you like to do with your free time?

What types of books interest you the most?

L-R: Chairman, Governing Council, Alhaji Dhulkifli Dhulkifli; Headmaster, Fadlullah Nursery & Primary School, Mr. Yusuf Ibrahim; Chairman, Management Board, AbdurRasheed Animashaun at the Parents’ Seminar organised by the Parents Teachers Association, of Fadlullah Nursery & Primary School, Oke Koto, Agege, Lagos.

Hadith of the Day Narrated Anas: The Prophet was asked about the great sins He said, “They are:-- (1 ) To join others in worship with Allah, (2) To be undutiful

TO BE CONTINUED

to one’s parents. (3) To kill a person (which Allah has forbidden to kill) (i.e. to commit the crime of

Mr. Sulaiman Ogunmuyiwa

That you may end well 28

murder). (4) And to give a false witness.”

Let’s fear Allah 28

Hajj Mabrur set for family Umrah Trip 29

28

Call to Worship

Jumada Al-Thani 4 1435 A.H. Friday, April 4, 2014

That you may end well

O

you who believe!

Save yourselves and your families from a fire whose fuel is men and stones, over which stern and severe angels are appointed, who do not flinch from executing the commands they receive from Allah, but do precisely what they are commanded [Q66: 6] A society is an amalgam of communities and a community is a conglomerate of families.

Every member of the society belongs to a family.

Each family unit begins with the husband and wife or father and mother or a parent. Children belong to where they are born.

Nobody can claim that he is born without a father and a mother. In other words, all that are born belong to a unit of the family. Drawing from all these backgrounds

AL-FATIH-ULQUAREEB

MESSAGE with

SHEIKH

ADANGBA

e-mail: ustazadangbe@yahoo.com

L

astly, the institution of Hajj. This is the annual pilgrimage visit to the sanctuary of Allah. The importance is great and its blessing is inestimable. It should be done at least once in a lifetime.

Looking at the institution of Hajj, the moral lessons derivable there from is as well as its religion importance. Allah Subhanahu Watahala said, in Suratul Baqarah (Q2: 197…) He whoever is minded to perform pilgrimage therein there should be no lewdness, nor abuse, nor angry conversation on the pilgrimage.

The verse is self explanatory. It forbids some category of evil deeds, which cultivates into immorality and thus build a morally upright Muslim.

The simplicity of pilgrims is of moral importance.

In a nutshell, any pilgrim who partakes in any of the forbidden acts during Hajj will have his Hajj nullified and rejected by Allah. The good virtues learnt during Hajj are expected to be extended beyond the shores of Makah. In other words,

is the fact that, if living in the world is peaceful and secure, the credits go back to all or some of the families and thus, they are commendable. But, if otherwise, the rebuke goes back to all or some of the families, and thus they are condemnable. The thieves, armed-robbers, touts, urchins, tyrants, embezzlers, murderers, assassins, drunkards, fornicators, adulterers, bastards, liars, lesbians, homosexuals, idolaters, etc., have their different families. It logically follows, then, that the families from which these people of negative tendencies emerged have woefully failed to properly bring them up. Consequently, such families should be held liable for all the evils in the society.

The family institution

should be given a full attention.

The family of a true believer is the only model for emulation, guidance and peace. As a believer is required to take care of his soul, so is he also strictly enjoined to take cognizance and responsibility of guiding and reforming his family for virtues. In the parlance of Islam, it is very obvious that it is among many others, a religion of social responsibility, especially in the area of family obligations. Sayyid Qutb submitted that the Muslim home is the nucleous of the Islamic Ummah. By that submission, it means the Muslim home is the mirror through which we can assess the moral level of our society. It, therefore, means that if the real Muslim home is absent, there can hardly be any

Paradise lies at the feet of mothers (2) it is expected to be everyday affairs of Muslims.

One day, the Prophet was on his way when he met an aged woman who had a heavy load and was tired and she was looking for one to carry the load on her head. The Holy Prophet was called to assist her.

But instead of carrying it on her head, the Holy Prophet bore the burden for her up till her door step.

The woman prayed for him before he went away and warned him against Prophet Muhammad and the new religion. The Prophet replied that he is that Prophet Muhammad.

The woman was shocked to the marrow and accepted Islam on the spot.

Lastly, despite the perfect way of the Prophet in observing the five pillars of Al-Islam, Allah Tahala did not mention it, but rather Allah Tabarakah Watahala extolled the beautiful morals of the Holy Prophet and commands every Muslim to copy and observe the good virtues of the Holy Prophet of Allah.

To this end, my brothers and sisters in the deen of Allah, we should not think that psychic, moral, and spiritual vices are not curable; this is an erroneous notion that

has been inspired in you

by Satan and your canal self, who want to keep you treading the path of the hereafter, and to frustrate your efforts at rectifying yourself. As long as man exists in this realm of transition and change it is possible for him to transform all his attributes and moral characteristics.

However strong his Habits may be, as long as he is living in this world, he can quit them. The only thing is that the effort required to throw them off varies with the degree of their strength and intensity.

A bad habit in the early phrase of its formation, of course requires only a self discipline and effort to eradicate it. It is like uprooting a young plant that has not run its root deeply into the ground. But when a quality becomes firmly rooted in one’s nature, becoming a part of one’s spiritual make-up, it is not easily uprooted, but requires effort, like the tree that becomes old in age, having sent down its roots down into the earth; it cannot be easily extirpated.

The amore you delay the decision to eradicate the iniquities of the heart, the more time and effort it will require.

living Islamic Ummah.

Hence, Allah, in the quoted verse above, directs that the believers should safeguard not only themselves, but also that of their family from the fire of the next world. That is to show the seriousness of the family responsibility. One of the major problems in the Islamic Ummah today is the failure of the various families to bring up their children in the Islamic lines.

Perhaps, it may not be out of place to mention some of the happenings in the Muslim homes today.

Starting from the daily Salawat, many parents do not observe them not to talk of teaching their children how to observe them, those who observe them (if they are the husbands) do it alone without necessarily being bothered whether their wives or children observe

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IN HIS LIGHT with

USTAZ

A. ZAFARAN e-mail: zatabumuneeb@yahoo.com them or not. During the fast of Ramadn, the husband or father does not see anything dangerous in the wife or the matured children eating intentionally during its days.

The parents will not send the children to Arabic or Islamic schools, at least to acquire Islamic knowledge, but they can spend thousands of naira on them to acquire the socalled secular knowledge.

The mothers have no time for the children, even to prepare their food, she has to go to work (dawn to dusk), even the care of little babies is committed to the hands of non-Muslim Nannies. The wife and the daughters are free to do attachments to their hair

Let’s fear Allah E very fear include being afraid, but to be afraid does not necessarily include fear. So, fear is more special than being afraid.

Those who fear Allah the due fear He deserves, and exalt Allah the due exaltation He deserves, and glorify Allah the due glorification He deserves, are the believers.

One can be afraid of Allah but know that the real fear for which Allah revives his heart is the fear that prevents you from disobeying Allah. It also stands as an obstacle between you and committing a sin thereby obeying Him. We can find out whether we fear Allah or are oblivious of Him through some simple tests. Here are some of them thus: The tongue informs us: if we talk evil, backbite and engage in frivolous gossip, it shows that there is very little concern. We should engage our tongues in the remembrance of Allah, in the recitation of the holy Qur’an.

In the heart we should expel hatred, enmity and jealousy and replace them with well-wishing and care for Muslims. We should be careful of what we put in our stomachs. Our eyes should not wander off to look at haram objects. Our feet should not walk towards haram

places. We should not extend our hands for haram purposes. We should be concerned in our good deeds that we don’t perform them for anyone else except Allah.

Fear of Almighty should be absolute in all our dealings and whosoever refuses to imbibe this culture can be likened to those that are living fake lives. The holy prophet Muhammed (SAW) admonishes his followers that fear of Almighty Allah is a must that supersedes every other things. Chapter 33, verses 70 – 71 of the glorious Qur’an enjoins believers to fear Allah and watch their utterances. There are many verses in the Qur’an that state the importance of this subject matter. Those that readily come to mind can be found in the holy Qur’an, chapter 2, verses 194, 203 & 281 and chapter 65, verse 2.

O servants of Allah, there are many reasons why we should fear. The following is a list of a number of them: the fear of death before repenting; the fear of

and they are also free to uncover their hair while going into the public, there is nothing wrong in their wearing tight and transparent dresses!

Even some married Muslim women or ladies (in some cases have been to Hajj) go out in shirts and trousers! The father trains the children on how to watch unIslamic films one after the other. The children are hardly called their Muslim names, that some of them do not even know it when they attain adolescent; even some of them who can perchance recall these Muslim names are never at ease being addressed with them.

not being able to fulfil Allah s obligations; the fear of losing one’s softness in the heart and its hardening; the fear of allowing temptations to dominate; the fear of becoming arrogant due to the abundance of bounties and the fear of being distracted from Allah by other creation.

Others are the fear of being led to an evil ending through excessive bounties; the fear of being disgraced at the time of death; the fear of Allah revealing one’s secret in one’s state of oblivion; the fear of being stamped with a bad death at the time of death; the fear of the questions of Munkar and Nakeer in the grave; the fear of the punishment of the grave; the fear of being questioned about every little thing in life; the fear of the bridge (over Hell) and its sharpness and the fear of the fire, the fear of being deprived of Paradise. Finally, exhibition of fear in all our dealings will turn us into the righteous individuals who are expected to be assets and not liabilities to the society, to which we belong, and to humanity as a whole.

Sheikh Abdul Ganiyy Umar Arikunkewu is the Founder/National Chief Missioner of Jubulatu Rohfatu Llahi Islamic Society of Nigeria (JUBFAT)

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Be ready to serve humanity’ AISHA TITILAYO

T

he newly inaugurated Amirah of the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria, FOMWAN, Lagos State Chapter, Dr. Sariyu Ashiru has urged all members of the association to see their membership as a service to humanity.

Dr. Ashiru made this known while giving her acceptance speech after her inauguration as the Amirah of the association at the Community Central

Call to Worship

Friday, April 4, 2014 Jumada Al-Thani 4 1435 A.H.

Mosque, Gowon-Estate, Lagos. She commended the contributions and efforts of her founding mothers and sisters which have come a long way to helping the association at a most trying moment.

Also, she expressed her appreciation to the outgoing executive under the leadership of Alhaja Fatima Gawat for steering the ship of FOMWAN (Lagos State) creditably in the last four years. “I cannot but acknowledge your dedication, diligence and doggedness. May Al-

lah (SAW) reward you and your loved ones abundantly here and the Hereafter.”

She added than in a time like this when women and girls are victims of vices such as terrorism, female trafficking, pornography, rape, discrimination and denial of rights, these vices pose a challenge to FOMWAN and her women/ children advocacy efforts. Therefore, there is still a lot to do.

Meanwhile, Imam Qasim Olowotutu while addressing members of the executive on the quali-

ties of a leader in Islam charged them to be patient, noting that there are bound to be misunderstandings, a leader must however be patient in dealing with everyone at different occasions. He added that a leader must be just, even if it is an elderly person that is at fault, the leader must be just and truthful in judgement. The outgoing Amirah, Alhaja Fatima Gawat also admonished the new executive members to have the fear of Allah and work together in unity.

The newly-inaugurated executive members of the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria, FOMWAN, Lagos, at the Community Central Mosque, Gowon-Estate, Lagos recently.

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Hajj Mabrur set for family Umrah Trip

H

ajj Mabrur, HMVL, is set to provide a great opportunity for families to spend the Easter/second term holiday together at the Holy land.

Speaking with National Mirror, the General Manager, HMVL, Alhaji AbdulHameed Solate assured Muslim parents and their families of varying great opportunities of spiritual rejuvenation.

According to him, the trip promises to treat the families on special arrangements right from arrival at Muhammed bin Abdul-Azeez airport, with visits to Mount Hud, Masjid Nabawi (Prophet’s Mosque), transfer to Makkah to perform Umrah, Masjid Quba, Qur’an manufacturing company, visit to Jabal Nur (Mount of Light) & Jabal Thaor (Mount of Thaor), continuous private worship will follow by individual family.

Also speaking further on the motives behind the family Umrah trip, the Operations Manager, HMVL, Alhaji Zulkifli Adewunmi made it known that research has shown that many Muslims would also love to go on holidays

with their families not only to Europe and other familiar countries but would like to be in countries where they can have fun with their families while also serving Allah.

“At HMVL, we have a lot to offer them in terms of visitation to holy lands where the whole family will really appreciate and enjoy. We are giving them the opportunity to learn, meet other Muslims and have fun while worshipping Allah. The departure date is April 16th while return date will likely be 29th of April, 2014.”

Though this particular trip is the debut, Alhaji Adewunmi revealed that it will be done twice in a year and implored parents to also arrange their annual holidays to tally with that of the children in order to enjoy the great opportunity.

“It is a rare opportunity for parents to be together with their children 24hours; dine, play and worship together. The next one will likely be in December.” He urged parents to prepare ahead of for this in order to have the chance of being with their family in a good environment where they will benefit physically and spiritually.

Imams to get salary JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

I Alhaja Lateefat Shorunmu Bello (5th left) flanked by Chief Mrs. Dorothy Akinkunmi (6th left) and some of her children, family members and grandchildren during her turbaning as Saraki Adinni Ajumoni Central Mosque, Orile –Alagbado, Lagos last Sunday.

Ansar-ud-Deen women organise health walk

W

omen of the Ansar ud Deen , Lagos State recently held its annual Health walk. According to Alhaja Risikat Olayide Oke, the state chairperson, AnsarUd Deen Lagos State Council, there is clear evidence that physical activity, including walking, has substantial benefits for health. “At different forums we try to inform

our women that walking and health, is very important.”

Tined Bambe, Vice Chairperson , one of the coordinators of the event said that women need to take good care of their health. “I must say that the turn out this year is very encouraging. We have participation from all the 37 branches spread across the state. I think

we need to do this more often and give priority to our health and well being as women. This is also an avenue for the women to network and socialize.”

Princes Ramat Adeyinka Ola, the chairperson 2014 Health Walk Committee informed that the walk is part of the organizations activities to develop the total woman. “Health is wealth and on a continu-

ous basis we have brought this awareness to our women. Walking is a simple health behavior that can reduce rates of chronic disease and ameliorate rising health care costs not just for the woman but everyone in the family.”

The state chairman of the society, Alhaji Nurudeen Okuleye who participated in the walk describes the outing as fantastic.”

mams overseeing Mosques where Friday prayers are held in Katsina State are to be paid salaries by the state government. Already, a committee that was established to look into possibility of the issue has submitted its report to Governor Ibrahim Shema.

Speaking shortly after receiving the committee’s report, Governor Shema said the payment of the allowances would be done

by both state and council areas.

He said efforts had been made by state government in promoting Islam through the construction of 100 Model Schools and scholarship to indigenes to study Arabic-related courses in foreign countries. He also said that government had been providing adequate support on annual Hajj exercise and that other commitments have been made in religious-based projects.

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30

Call to Worship

Jumada Al-Thani 4 1435 A.H. Friday, April 4, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Every Friday with

Khalifatul

Ahmadiyya

Ahmadiyya celebrates 125years

N

igerian from all walks of life gathered at the main auditorium of the University of Lagos, Nigeria to celebrate 125 years of true Islam as propagated by the founder of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at worldwide.

Two lectures on the prophecies of second advent of son of Mary, the promised messiah and their fulfillment were delivered by Barrister Muhammad Rabiu Uthman and the second lecture on moral ,ethical and spiritual reformation of Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the promised messiah by Dr Saeed Timehin. Ahmadiyya Muslim community celebrates 125th anniversary of their foundation Thousands of Muslims also gathered at the UK’s largest mosque to celebrate the 125th anniversary over the weekend. At a service in the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Morden on Friday, March 21, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, international leader of the Ahmadiyya community, delivered a sermon broadcast to millions of followers in 204 countries around the world.

In his sermon, attended by 4,000 people and delivered in Urdu, he spoke about the signs foretold by the prophet Muhammad about the coming of the Messiah which members believe verify the authenticity of their founder and asked members to pray for peace in wartorn countries like Syria and Ukraine.

In his welcome address, Lagos State Missionary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Alhaji Muhammad Qasim Oyekola at the Main Auditorium, University of Lagos, Akoka, revealed that they shall be celebrating the centenary Jubilee of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at in Nigeria. Insha Allah in 2016. Within the last 98 years, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria has championed the cause of linking Nigerians with God through the Holy Prophet’s (sa) true teachings that have been reinvigorated

by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as).

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a dynamic, fast growing inter-

national revival movement within Islam. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the only Islamic organization who believed that the long-awaited Messiah has come in the person of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) (1835-1908) of Qadian.

Ahmad(as) claimed to be the metaphorical second coming of Jesus(as) of Nazareth and the divine guide, whose advent was foretold by the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad(sa) and founders of other great religions of the world.

“Over a century ago, Ahmad (as) taught his followers to protect the sanctity of both religion and government by becoming righteous souls as well as loyal citizens. He cautioned against irrational interpretations of Quranic pronouncements and misapplications of Islamic law. He continually voiced his concerns over protecting the rights of God’s creatures. Today, it continues to be an advocate for universal human rights and protections for religious and other minorities. It champions the empowerment and education of women.

Its members are among the most lawabiding, educated, and engaged Muslims in the world.”

He made it known that plans are on for the establishment of an Islamic university of technology.

In Benin, the Chief Host, Bro Tajudeen Onabanjo who is Benin Circuit President commended members for their sacrifices while Maulvi Rana Akram in his lecture- Sketch of the life of the Promised Messiah- stated that in the case of fake claimants, almost immediate destruction awaits them and their progenies, they are never exalted and Muallim Nuhu spoke on; Truthfulness of the Promised Messiah (AS) according to the Holy Quran & Hadith-described Jesus (AS) as the 1st Messiah, as distinct from Imam Mahdi. Jesus (AS) was specifically sent to the lost sheep of Israel. He made copious references to the Holy Quran and Hadith to prove the truthfulness of the advent of Imam Mahdi.

Cross section of Ahmadiyya members at the 125th Anniversary celebration at the University of Lagos Main Auditorium last Sunday.

L-R: Amir, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Dr. Mash-hud Adenrele Fashola; Naib Amir, Northern Region, Dr. Yaqeen Habeeb and Naib Amir, Special Duties, Engr. Alhasan Ahmeed, during the Annual National Workshop of Majlis Ansarullah Nigeria in Lagos.

L-R: General Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Alhaji Abbas Iromini; Maulvi Mahmudu Ahmed; Tabliq Secretary, Dr. Saeed Timehin and Missionary-in-Charge, Maulvi AbdulKhalique Nayyar, during the retreat for the Missionaries at Jamia IIaro, Ogun State.

L-R: Jalsa Officer, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’t Nigeria, Alhaji Mufalilu Bankole (left) and Sadr Majlis Ansarullah,Nigeria,Alh.Mikail Odukoya, at the Jasal Taribiyyah in Abuja.

L-R: Acting Chief Medical Director, Olabisi Onabanjo University Shagamu Ogun State, Dr. Haroun Ajibode; Dr. Nurudeen Akindele and Naib Amir, South West, Alhajt Azeez Alatoye, at the workshop.

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Arty News

Friday, April 4, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Why I’m passionate about The Hero –Onyeabor Ngozi Emedolibe

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enowned film director, Ifeanyi Onyeabor who has been penciled down for the technical directorial brief of reality TV show, The Hero has explained that he would infuse his decades of experience in television production to ensure that ‘The Hero’ comes out as one of the best television shows ever.

Speaking at the camp of the reality TV show in Lekki, Lagos, Onyeabor, said: “A people without culture are like a people without a past, a foundation. Culture is a veritable medium for galvanising a people predicated on attitudinal behaviours, dress sense, foods, ways of life, heroics and visionary latitudes. This reality show therefore is an expository presentation to the front burner that will drive cultural content until sustenance and to largely put an end to the alarming drift to the doldrums, as many youth are alien to their culture and resultantly, roots. A disproportionate but

shocking percentage of the youth, do not know how to cook, speak their native languages, be identified through dressing, distances from their roots and foundational past as a people linked with the apron strings of culture. It is disastrous to imagine that the release on the British Broadcasting Corporation a few years ago, on the imminent extinction of most Nigeria Languages could hold sway, if concerted efforts were not made, to halt the drift. Furthermore, most youths do not understand or know their cultural dances, traditional farming implements and methods, engage in commodity trade in their ethnic Languages just as the French do. A resurgence of our culture will bring in its wake the showcasing of

the tourism potentials inherent in our various geo – political zones and therefore promote tourism in our nation-state Nigeria, proudly present our rich cultural heritage and tell our story, as a people and precipitate unity and homogeneity in diversity.

Such tourism sites could be found in Jos, Plateau State with the water falls (Kura and Asop falls), the beautiful and rocky terrain with its clement weather conditions; Minna, Niger State with the Guara falls and Kainji Dam, to mention a few. Therefore, as a people, there is the need for identifying with this reality show, which is geared towards achieving the issues and instill bonding”.

Ifeanyi Onyeabor

Producer Bruno carpets impersonators

I

AMG unveils new act, Esqui

A

MG Music, one of Nigeria’s rising record labels, recently unveiled its new act, Salami Quadri with stage name, Esqui.

Esqui, a native of Osun State who has spent most of his years in Lagos is also known as ‘’AMG BOY’’ by his fans. The name ‘’Esqui ‘’ came from his initials S.Q while AMG boy, represents his record label AMG Music Group.

He’s been a music lover from his teenage age, at a time, he had mastered the art of lyrics recitations of songs done by popular artistes in that era.

Esqui, whose talent cuts across singing and rapping was inspired to join the music industry after listening to the likes of 2Pac, Obie Trice, Eminem, Missy Elliot. He however started writing his own lyrics back in 2005 and found his love for Afro hip-hop.

The new act who just got signed on to AMG Music Group in 2013 has recorded a couple of songs under his new label with his major song, titled ‘Komole’.

Prior to this time, he had featured in songs with artistes like with Jo’Kaynie in a song titled “Naija LA”, K solo, Hcode, Ex-O cash in, Jaysleek, EmmyAce and Ekelly among others.

Esqui said his songs will be on a rotation play on some popular radio stations in the country anytime soon.

Esqui

Osmosis launches LSPD comic series Osmosis launches LSPD comic series

Olayiwola Awakan

S

ampson Afolabi-Johnson fondly called Osmosis, has launched the first issue of his comic series, titled: LSPD. The event which took place at Ozone Lounge, Yaba witnessed the presence of some top and budding celebrities who graced the event.

Unlike the days when comics was a popular thing in the country, one would rarely view a gathering without noticing at least one of the ‘Bloodlines Outbreaks Series’ (Batman), ‘Panic in the Skies Series’ (Superman), ‘Super Striker’, ‘XMEN’, ‘Ikebe Super’, ‘Spiderman’, ‘Captain America’ and others. It was an interesting ‘culture’ at that time until a few years back when fashion and technology came and swept the noble idea away. Osmosis, a technical director with Tinsel MNET Series and a lover of comics had the vision, years back to rekindle the culture. The vision has therefore culminated in Lloyd’s Securities; Private Detectives (LSPD) Comic, a timely idea,

intelligently crafted to treat the complexities in security issues.

The celebrities that came to grace the occasion are Gideon Okeke, Linda Ejiofor, Chris Okagbue and Matilda Obaseki.

LSPD according to Osmosis does not only treat security intelligence alone, it also has columns like Oro, which is motivational; Heartitude (affairs of the heart); The Entrepreneur; Star Gazers (celebrity close-up); Birthday column and other interesting pages created to fascinate readers.

LSPD is a monthly publication by Clockwise Entertainment with exciting, action packed and suspenseful stories that define what policing and incorruptible investigation truly means in the world of our heroes. ‘Table of Seven (A conspiracy to kill)’ is the title of the first Issue and the story-line is filled with action. Characters in LSPD that will excite the readers are Joshua Olusanmi Oswald a.k.a JOO, Bassey Okon Stanley a.k.a BOS, Obere Omamode, Kweve Esohe Omono a.k.a KWEV, Dr. Lloyd Akintola and Maxi-Mum.

f the current news pervading the air happens to be anything to go by, then Imo State’s born highlife/Bongo music producer, Bruno Chigozie Iroanya is right at the edge of getting cross with people pretending to be him.

In his words: “I got a report that a guy is parading himself as Bruno; and that’s not me. And that is sad. I am putting measures in place to check this menace.”

Also Known as Magic Finger in the highlife music circle, he just returned from United States of America where he reportedly sealed some deals. “It is actually my first trip there, and I must tell you that the experience was awesome for me.

I felt humbled seeing people appreciating our craft and music. Because of the high level of acceptance we got from them, I was able to startup some consultation, recording and production deal with the blacks and whites there. Not only that, I also got good endorsements from recording labels which I will be going back to finalise. Last year, I released a Bongo jazz, and soon I will unveil its second.

For me being a musician, it will mean me venturing into gospel; for now I’m just a producer”.

Bruno

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Arty News

Friday, April 4, 2014

27 33

Ayo Bankole Centre for Arts and Culture berths

CCQ Nancy Aisagboni with manager of Drill Rannch

Reigning CCQ visits historical sites Richard Ndoma CALABAR

T

he current Carnival Calabar Queen, CCQ, Nancy Olive-Aisagbonhi has described Cross River State as a land of historical relics.

Aisagbonhi made the assertion in Calabar recently when she embarked on a familiarisation tour of tourism sites in Cross River state.

The queen who is the Face of Tourism and current Ambassador of Mothers’ Against Child Abandonment (MACA), an initiative of Mrs. Obioma LiyelImoke, said the tour has afforded her the opportunity to acquaint herself with all the tourism attractions of the state which will make her prepared to relay the message accurately while carrying out her functions.

The Queen was taken on a guided tour of Duke Town by Mr. Charles Etim Bassey, a tour guide from the state’s Tourism Bureau. She visited some historical and interesting tourist sites at Duke town also known as Old Calabar amongst which were Mary Slessor Tomb, Ekpe Shrine, Duke Town Presbyterian Primary School built in 1904 and the Duke Town Headmaster’s quarters where the Jamaican, Samuel Mordacca Heart, the most famous and longest-serving headmaster lived. The queen also went to the Palace of Eyamba the 5th built in 1836; Egbo Egbo Bassey House built in 1886 and according to the tour guide, the first Catholic mass was served at the house.

Aisagbonhi also visited the most important shrine in Calabar “the Mermaid House” where the kings (Obongs) of Calabar are crowned. The queen was eventually taken around the first privatelyowned printing press, which opened in 1920. The structure also houses the abandoned Biafra Bunker. She also called at the home of His Royal Highness Elder Etubom Inyang G.D Henshaw to see a brass chair that is 200 years old. According to the tour guide, the chair was a gift from the then Mayor of Liverpool, Sir John Tobin to his friend Great Duke, the King of Old Calabar at that time. The CCQ was taken to Johnstone Street also in Duke Town to see the first water reservoir built in 1905.

For many fun seekers tired of the usual loud, rowdy hangouts in Lagos, there is good news for you as there is what is described as ‘entertainment treasure’ right in the heart of Surulere, The Ayo Bankole Centre for Arts and Cultural Expression (the ABC).

The proprietor, Ayo Bankole jnr in a statement signed by his media company, said the ABC “was established primarily as an arts centre with the aim of promoting music in particular and the arts in general and to be a vehicle for influencing youths and the society positively.”

The centre he said is named after his dad, the late Ayo Bankole (1935 -1976) who during his lifetime achieved national and international recognition as a composer, organist, and ethnomusicologist. In Nigeria Ayo Bankole was active as a broadcaster on radio and TV, he was a lecturer at the University of Lagos, and championed the cause of music in many schools and

churches. “He was a key figure in the 2nd all Africa Games (1973) and FESTAC 77. He was also involved in research on Yoruba music and the music of people of the then Rivers State.

The ABC accordingly aims at promoting the various aspects of musical endeavour that the late Ayo Bankole excelled in during his lifetime.”

Ayo Bankole Jnr also revealed why the ABC is not the usual lounge dotting Lagos.

“In order to be able to run various ABC programmes with minimal recourse to external venues, we invested in a multi-purpose hall with the necessary infrastructure to make it suitable for a range of performances, workshops and exhibitions. Largely as a result of the flexibility of the hall, both the British Council and the Goethe Institute have run programmes in the ABC within the past year. The ABC runs a mid-week Jazz event which currently features saxophonist Olu Jazz.”

XSCAPE: Jackson’s new

album drops May

I Bankole Jnr.

Transerve launches anti-piracy app

I

t was a gathering of stakeholders from the Nigerian movie industry otherwise known as Nollywood when Transerve Disc Technologies Limited launched an anti-piracy alert application in Lagos penultimate Friday in Lagos. Among those at the event were directors general of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, NCC, Mr. Afam Ezekude and the National Film and Video Censor’s Board, NFVCB. Mrs. Patricia Bala. Also present was actor and Chairman, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Studies, Kanayo O. Kanayo, KOK.

KOK and Transerve boss, Orakpo

KOK, during his speech, called for the establishment of an Intellectual Property Police just like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to help fight piracy in the country.

“Piracy constitutes intellectual terrorism; it is more deadly than HIV and AIDS,” he said.

The actor also decried the lack of quality in recent Nigerian home movies, putting blame on the activities of pirates, who he said have taken over the show from producers, starving them of remuneration.

Transerve Disc Technologies Limited, a company which specialises in the replication of discs, also displayed three products – DVD 5 and DVD 9 Replication, Glass Mastering (Stamper) and Job Alert Management System (JAMS), designed to curb piracy to a barest minimum.

“The Job Alert can help curb piracy in the sense that if you are a content owner and you bring your job to Transerve and we register it with your data, and have a record that this is the owner of this work; you are alerted on every order placed on that job,” The chairman of the company, Cyprian Orakpo, said.

He explained that this gives the owner of the works the opportunity to checkmate pirates from the source.

t has been announced that on May 13th, Epic Records, in conjunction with the Estate of Michael Jackson, will release XSCAPE, an album of new music by the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. XSCAPE is executive produced by Epic Records Chairman and CEO L.A. Reid. After mining by the Estate of Jackson’s archives, Reid was granted unlimited access to the treasures spanning four decades of material on which Jackson had completed his vocals. Reid then teamed up top producers to “contemporize” the songs while retaining Jackson’s essence and integrity, creating the best music you’ve never heard.

The list of producers includes global hit makers Timbaland, Rodney Jerkins, Stargate and John McClain.

The new album will feature eight brand new recordings. A Deluxe Edition of XSCAPE will include a selection of the recordings in their original form.

Both the standard and Deluxe Editions were available April 1st for pre-order on iTunes and elsewhere.

The title of this album honours Michael’s album naming process. He always chose a song from the album to name his projects and, beginning with Thriller, used only one word titles, each with an edgy quality to them. This is true of the new project.

John Branca and John McClain, co-executors of the Estate of Michael Jackson said, “Michael was always on the cutting edge and was constantly reaching out to new producers, looking for new sounds.

He was always relevant and current.

These tracks, in many ways, capture that spirit. We thank L.A. Reid for his vision.”

6

National News

Friday April 4, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sanusi’s arrest: Court awards N50m against FG …orders public apology, bans his arrest K ayode Ketefe

A

Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday upheld a fundamental human rights enforcement suit filed by the suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Lamido Sanusi Lamido and found the Federal Government liable for having violated his fundamental human rights.

Sanusi was suspended by the Federal Govern-

ment on February 19, 2014, on allegation of mismanagement, financial recklessness and impropriety.

He then brought a suit praying the court for an order restraining the security agencies from arresting and prosecuting him.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, the Department of State Security, DSS, the Federal Government and Inspector-General of Police were co-respondents in the suit.

Sanusi had also sought

a number of declarations to the effect that his brief arrest by the officers of the DSS and subsequent forceful seizure and retention of his passports by the law enforcement agents were violations of his fundamental rights as enshrined in Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution and African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights.

At yesterday’s judgement delivered by Justice Ibrahim Buba, which lasted more than two hours,

the court granted most of the reliefs sought by the former CBN boss.

Justice Buba declared the arrest, detention for one hour and seizure of Sanusi’s international passport by the DSS on the orders of the Federal Government as unlawful, unconstitutional and a gross violation of his rights.

The judge ordered the immediate release of Sanusi’s passport to him and directed the Federal Government to issue a public

apology for the unlawful arrest, harassment and intimidation.

The judge further granted the prayer of Sanusi for N50m damages and accordingly held the four respondents in the suit liable “jointly and severally” to pay Sanusi the claimed sum of N50m as exemplary damages.

Justice Buba further restrained the Federal Government, the Inspector General of Police, the DSS and other law enforcement agencies of the government, acting through themselves, agents, privies or representatives from further interfering or violating Sanusi’s rights to

personal liberty, freedom of movement and personal dignity without following the due process of law.

However, the judge did not grant Sanusi’s request for perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from further arresting him on the grounds that Sanusi could always approach the court when his rights were being infringed upon.

The court described the Federal Government’s allegation that Sanusi was financing terrorism as “an afterthought,” adding that the government did not place any evidence before the court to substantiate the allegation.

FAA audit: No cause for alarm –NCAA DG Olusegun Koiki

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L–R: Vice President Namadi Sambo; his Deputy Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abubakar Kachalla and Director-General, Debt Management Office, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, during DMO’s board meeting in Abuja, yesterday.

N271bn FCT budget scales Senate’s second reading • As lawmakers seek regulation of estate developers George Oji ABUJA

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he Senate yesterday passed the N271.1bn 2014 Appropriation Bill for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, for second reading.

According to the bill, the sum of N49.2bn would be spent on personnel cost, N62.8bn as overhead cost and N159bn estimated for capital projects.

This was as the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided at yesterday’s plenary, called for the regulation of the activities of private estate developers in the city in order to ensure that their construction complied with the master plan of the city.

Ekweremadu also expressed worry over the open drains on the major

roads leading into Abuja and the ring roads, asking the relevant authorities to address the planning defects.

Commenting on the distortion of the master plans by estate developers in the FCT, Ekweremadu statedt, “The second one is the issue of private estate developers and the Federal Housing Authority, FHA. They have been helping in developing the FCT, but it appears that they are not being well regulated.”

According to him, “Most of the properties they have developed are lacking in infrastructure. If it is part of the contract for them to develop, then it should be enforced that those properties were accompanied with adequate facilities.

“But if it is the business of the FCDA to bring about facilities and infrastruc-

ture within those places, you have to make sure that happens, so that any part of the FCT we develop, let us be sure it is well developed.

“So it is not in our interest that you come to an estate, they don’t have roads, they don’t have electricity and they don’t have water.

That is completely unacceptable.”

The Deputy Senate President also faulted the construction of open drains on the multi-billion naira Abuja-Abaji highway and the modern ring roads within the FCT, describing the development as not being in line with modern global practice.

Ekweremadu asked the relevant authorities to address the architectural defects.

He said, “I am not an architect or engineer, but

I am sure many of you will understand what I am saying. I don’t believe that that is a modern design to have those open drainages.

Once it rains, you find that vehicles end up in those drains.

The Deputy Senate President also noted that the FCT was not doing enough to regulate the activities of private estate developers and the FHA. He said that though the developers have been helping in developing the FCT, it appeared that they were not being well regulated, adding that most of the properties they had developed were lacking in infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the Senate has asked its Committee on the FCT to treat the budget document and submit its report within one week.

irector-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA), Mr. Benedict Adeyileka, has urged Nigerians not to be jittery over the conclusion of the American Federal Civil Aviation (FAA) Audit Category One Status which ended yesterday in Lagos.

Adeyileka said FAA auditors observed some non-compliance in the administration of the agency, but assured that those aspects would be looked into by the regulatory authority.

Addressing journalists yesterday at the Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA) in Lagos, he assured that some of the gaps observed by the auditors would be closed very soon.

Adeyileka said the outcome of the audit would be presented to higher authorities in the next 10 days.

Category One Status allows both Nigerian and United States carriers to operate non-stop between the two countries, a situation which gives the flying public more respite.

The reassessment is done every three to four years by the FAA to ensure that the country with the status still retain the expected international standards. Nigerian attained the status in September 2010.

Adeyileka also commended the Federal Government, the minister of aviation, stakeholders and the media for their support in ensuring a smooth sail operations.

He said: “We are expecting good results. Nigerians should be expecting good results and I will like to use this opportunity to thank everybody like the media, presidency, ministry and all the stakeholders that have made this possible. The audit is good, it raises our standards, we have prepared for the audit and we are going to do better and better.

“These auditors are to come here to audit us and then go away, give their report within the next 10 days and they will hand it over to higher authorities.

What we have done here is that we have worked on debrief, the areas of non compliances have been complied with and we are going to have the final debrief now. This is where the work is going to start.

Now, we know which area we are going to work on and be in compliance.

“Our regulations need to be fine-tuned, we have a regulation committee with a chairman, which is an ongoing process, so, we need to make sure our regulations are in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations.

Training has been looked into and we are aware of that.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

National News

Friday April 4, 2014

Malaria responsible for increase in child mortality –Experts FRANKA O SAKWE

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hildren under five years have been identified as the most vulnerable to severe malaria attacks in Nigeria, with complications often progressing to cerebral malaria and death.

A recent study identified cerebral malaria (CM) as a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children in Nigeria.

The study, in Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, a medical journal, gave an analysis of children admitted in Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, AdoEkiti, Nigeria.

The result showed that out of 1,202 children admitted during the study period, 66 had CM, 40 boys and 26 girls.

Ages ranged from two to three years. Fever, coma and convul-

sion were the commonest symptoms, while unsteady gait, speech, auditory and visual impairment were the commonest neurological deficits at time of discharge.

Out of these cases, 57 patients survived while nine died. Of the 57 survivors, 35 recovered completely, while 22 had neurological deficits at discharge.

However, preventive methods, early diagnosis and treatment were recommended as solution to prevent child mortality from severe malaria cases.

This was highlighted during a workshop on malaria organised in Lagos recently by a nongovernment organisation, Malaria No More.

The group’s spokesperson, Mr. Dayo Oluwole, noted with concern that in every minute, a child dies from malaria in Nigeria,

saying: “This needless death is preventable and avoidable if adequate awareness about malaria is carried out.

Oluwole said it is in attempt to reduce this burden that Malaria No More launched a Nightwatch campaign.

“Night watch is a 30 second broadcast message aimed at reminding people to sleep under mosquito net and protect themselves from mosquito,” Oluwole said.

According to her, the aim is to get some respected celebrities such as chief Chika Opara, alias Zebrudaya, to speak a reminder message on the need to protect oneself against malaria. “Nightwatch is partnering with popular musicians and celebrities in the fight against malaria and a lot of celebrities have already signed up with us,” she said.

Nollywood spat

Tchidi Chikere, Nuella Njubigbo, Sophia Chikere love triangle gets messer ... You used juju to hold me –Tchidi ... If I did, God will judge me –Sophia

Another celebrity kidney failure

Controversy trails Zara Gretti’s sad death ‘Why was her family giving her ‘agbo?’ Multiple sclerosis is not an agbo matter’

Judith Audu

Chris Nkulor Nkulor before

Nkulor now

seeks public help

Living

I want to be a pilot –Tope Adebayo, 10-yearbattles domestic old newspaper violence vendor x This column is x-rated STealk 20 scandalous sex facts

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South West

Friday, April 4, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Corruption: Court admits 26 exhibits against Daniel FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

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n Abeokuta High Court presided over by Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje yesterday admitted 26 documents against former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel.

Daniel is facing a 38-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) related to theft, criminal conversion of public fund as well as diversion of public land to personal use when he the governor.

The former governor had failed in his bid to

get counts 1 to 13 quashed out of the 38 charged preferred against him on the grounds that they were part of the issues treated by the panel of enquiry set up by his successor, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, upon assumption of office.

Daniel challenged the judge’s decision at the Appeal Court in Ibadan where the position of the lower court was upheld that an administrative panel of enquiry was different from a judicial panel as the former lacks the power to pronounce sentence.

At the resumed trial yesterday, EFCC presented two officials of the

state’s Bureau of Lands and Survey as witnesses who were cross examined by the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs and the defense counsel, Taiwo Osipitan, respectively.

In her evidence, the first witness, who is also the bureau’s Chief Registrar, Mariam Bolanle Ademoye, confirmed that all the exhibits were certified true copies of title documents produced by her office upon request by the anti-graft agency.

The exhibits were related to property that were allegedly acquired illegally by the former governor while same were allocated to himself, his wife, Olufunke, and other compa-

nies where he (Daniel) has interest.

The second witness, a Deputy Director in the bureau, Isaac Akogun, faulted the process by which the plots of land were acquired, stressing that due process was not followed.

Akogun, who was at the time of the acquisition, an Assistant Director in charge of Land Services, explained that he, as the scheduled officer, was not carried along in the process of acquiring the land.

He specifically gave evidence on plots of land where Daniel built his house (Asoludero Court), his church, Regeneration Church of God, and other property in Abeokuta.

In Sagamu, the witness said four plots of land were merged together, including ones with subsisting interest to form a bigger plot on which the church was built.

He said: “Four plots were merged together to form the bigger plot that was allocated to the church and in further examination, two of the plots have subsisting interests while the remaining two were revoked.

“Some public roads were blocked and fenced, the setback to Oba-Erinwole Expressway was also fenced along with the church land while three other plots

Ondo by-election: Obanikoro, Kuku sure of PDP victory HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

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L-R: Wife of Lagos State Governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola; Governor Babatunde Fashola; Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; wife of Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmi Adesegun and Mrs. Lara Fashola, during the International Women’s Day 2014 rally in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Osotimehin decries high rate of underage marriage FRANCIS SUBERU

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n d e r- S e c r e t a r y General of the United Nations, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, yesterday decried the increasing rate at which underage girls give births in the developing countries.

He noted that over 20, 000 girls below 18 years old give births daily in developing countries.

Osotimehin, who was represented by Dr. Omolasho Omosehin during the celebration of the International Women’s Day 2014, held at Police College Ground, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, said millions of girls around the world still stand the risk

of genital mutilation despite a century long efforts at stopping it.

He said: “Women and girls continue to face human rights violation, including violence and armful practices. Women rights, where they exist, are often not enforced.

Millions of girls around the world still face the risk of genital mutilation despite a century old effort to put an end to it.

“Every day, about 20, 000 girls below 18 years give birth in developing countries. Nine in 10 of these births occur within marriage or union which reflects the fact of the percentage of girls who are married off before they turn 18 is increasing in recent years.”

Osotimehin, who is

the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Funds, said the celebration reminded every one of the promise to pursue gender equality and woman empowerment, saying progress for women is progress for all.

He said: “Today is a day to recommit ourselves to delivering once and for all on the promises of gender equality, women empowerment and sexual and reproductive health rights for every woman and girl everywhere.

“Great progress has been achieved in a number of areas. We have reduced maternal mortality at birth by 50 per cent. Women access to family planning has

equally improved. More women now have access to education and greater political participation.

More girls are now going to school with primary enrolment rate approaching 30 percent.”

Chairperson of the Federation of Women Lawyers FIDA, Lagos State chapter, Mrs. Martin Eliana, urged women to always acknowledge their achievements and potentiality.

Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said the state government had, through its various policies, done a lot to bring about gender equality and improved healthcare delivery for mothers and children.

were also fenced with the church land.”

He said he was not involved in the process of the land registration, adding that most of the process began with the then director general of the bureau and ended in the Governor’s Office.

Daniel’s counsel, Taiwo Osipital, however sought adjournment of the case, claiming that he needed some documents with which to confront the witness which were not contained in the proof of evidence.

The case was, however, adjoined till April 29 and May 30.

inister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, yesterday expressed hope that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would win tomorrow’s Ilaje/ Ese-Odo Federal Constituency by-election in Ondo State.

Obanikoro and Kuku told journalists at the Akure Airport that the PDP candidate would win the election.

The two PDP chieftains, who were on their way to the Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency for the final rally of the party, expressed hope that the election would be free and fair.

Noting that the people of the constituency had always been supporting PDP, Obanikoro said the people would speak with their votes for the party.

According to former high commissioner to Ghana, many developmental projects had been executed by the PDP-led government in the constituency in the past.

He assured that PDP would execute more projects for the people of the constituency if supported.

Obanikoro, however, said the current Labour Party government would not be a hindrance to

PDP in the election, adding that the romance of the LP with the government at the center would not make PDP to concede the seat to LP. He said: “It is right that the government in this state is a friendly one, but we are PDP and we have a candidate for the election, so we are determined to win.

“This is election is not just a by-election, a representative at the national level is a serious position and don’t forget that the general election is less than a year away. So, any election that comes now, we have to take it serious because there is need to ensure that the President in re-elected.

“The empowerment programme of PDP is sufficient enough for the people of Ilaje and EseOdo to know that ours is a government that has the interest of the people at heart, we have demonstrated that so many areas through the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) that the President has put in place to ensure that most of our teeming youths who are unemployed now get a mean of livelihood”.

Obanikoro, however, commended Kuku for educating and empowering many youths of the constituency, adding that the impact of the gesture would soon be felt on the people’s economy.

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South East

Friday, April 4, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Orji assents to N115.3bn budget GEORGE OPARA UMUAHIA

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Medical Director/Chief Executive of Medical Corporation, US, Dr. Julius Kpaduwa (r) and wife Dr. (Mrs.) Stella Kpaduwa, who are leading a delegation of experts to conduct free medical services in Nigeria later in the month.

Man nabbed in Ebonyi for beheading father ALIUNA GODWIN EBONYI

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he Ebonyi State Police Command yesterday paraded a suspect, Nwode Chukwudi Awam, 30, for beheading his father, Michael Awam, 56, and eating the neck at Egwudinagu Obegu village in Ebonyi Local Government Area of the state.

Addressing journalists at the command’s headquarters, the State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Chris Anyanwu, said the motive behind the dastardly act was yet to be ascertained, adding that the suspect would be arraigned in court today for murder.

“The Ebonyi State Com-

mand has arrested Nwode Chukwudi, 30, who hails from Egwudinagu Obegu village in Ebonyi LGA for beheading his biological father, Michael Awam, 56, of same address.

“The motive behind this dastardly act has not been ascertained yet as the suspect is still undergoing interrogation as to why he murdered his father in cool blood.

“However, the machete and was recovered from the scene and the headless (body) and severed head of the victim were deposited at the Federal Medical Centre mortuary for autopsy.

“Nwode Chukwudi Awam would be arraigned for murder on 3rd April, 2014, that is this morning

in a court of competent jurisdiction.”

According to the police spokesman, “when the police went for him, he was waving the machete with which he used to cut his father’s head and threatened to kill anybody that gets close to him; all the same, he was overpowered and then arrested.

“But he was seen eating part of the severed head; eating up the entire stub of the neck. So, when you look at the exhibit, the head doesn’t have the neck, even though he did the beheading from the base of the shoulder, you won’t see the part of the body that is supposed to be the neck; he ate it up.

“Well, we can say that it is not unconnected with

ritual, because it does appear that he may have been asked to do such a thing, but as I said, he is still undergoing investigation and if the suspect yields, we will discover the real reason behind the dastardly act. So far, he has not able to give a clear reason behind the act.”

Reacting, the suspect, Awam stated that he carried out the act after he heard a voice which told him to go to his village and kill his father.

Also, Mr. Joseph Nwite, an uncle of the victim who could not affirm the reason behind the murder, stated that the suspect had been away from home for over six years.

Okorocha sacks contractors over abandoned road projects CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

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mo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has expressed shock over the non-completion of some road projects, three years after the award of contracts.

The roads were discovered to have been abandoned by contractors who absconded after collecting over 80 per cent of their contract fees.

Yesterday, the governor wielded the big stick: he stopped all the road contracts awarded in the state in the past three and half

years and opted for direct labour to complete the projects.

Okorocha decried the attitude of many of the contractors handling the rural road projects in the state for absconding from site after collecting huge mobilisation fees.

At an interaction with members of his cabinet, transition committee chairmen, monarchs and ministerial heads at the new banquet hall, Government House, Owerri, the governor said that “it is criminal to collect money for a contract and abandon the

work.”

The governor, who expressed shock at his findings during his tour of the 27 local government areas, said only very few contractors did good jobs on the roads and completed their work as agreed, while the rest either did a skeletal work, or totally left the roads undone.

He said he had resolved to take over the rehabilitation and supervision of the rural roads, while every committee previously in charge remained dissolved.

“I don’t want to leave any of my projects uncompleted

before December this year.

No more awards of contracts, we shall now do the roads through direct labour in order to get the works done so that new road projects can be embarked upon.

I am in a hurry to make all roads in the State motorable,” he stated.

Okorocha called on well meaning citizens of the state to work in synergy with government to discourage and discipline people of dubious character who squander public funds meant for developmental projects while the masses suffer.

bia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, yesterday signed the 2014 budget of N115.3 billion into law.

He gave his assent to the budget at the Executive Chamber of Government House, Umuahia.

On December 13, 2013, the governor presented a budget outlay of N149.6 billion, followed by a breakdown by the Commissioner for Finance, Nto Felix, in January during plenary on the floor of the state House of Assembly.

The House scaled down the estimates to N115.3 billion; made up of a recurrent expenditure of N72,960,635,160 and capital expenditure of N42,393,911,830.

The Speaker of the

House, Hon. Ude Okochukwu, said the adjustment on the outlay became necessary following the harmonisation of the policy thrust of Millennium Development Agencies, MDAs, with actual appropriations submitted to the Assembly.

He said that it was the hope of the legislature that the 2014 budget would, among other things, enhance and consolidate the achievements so far recorded in all the key sectors of the state’s economy.

The governor, after signing the budget, commended the House for painstakingly passing it into law, saying he had no doubts that it would be fully implemented.

He said he had authorised the harmonisation of all revenues, and for all taxes and revenues to be paid directly through banks.

Medical Corporation to provide free health programme in Imo CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

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bi-annual medical intervention initiated 12 years ago to bring the best brains from all over the world to Nigeria is billed again to provide free medical services in the country.

The one-week programme, initiated by a United States-based medical practitioner and the Medical Director/Chief Executive of Medical Corporation, Dr. Julius Kpaduwa, will hold from April 7 to 11, 2014 at Mbano, Imo State.

It will feature top-rated medical professionals who will deliver state-ofthe-art medical care to hundreds of poor patients in several communities in the country.

Kpaduwa, a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, said that he was moved by the deplorable medical conditions in the country, particularly Imo State, to embark on the annual medical mission.

He said: “The deplorable medical conditions that still exist today are emotionally moving. I thought that I could use that executive position to positively impact on the lives of the people.

“We in the Diaspora have a lot to give. We are fortunate to live in the most advanced society in the world, and we have the opportunity of being successful in that society.

There is so much we can take back home.”

Kpaduwa added: “My passion for my people never diminished; as a medical practitioner and a co-founder of the Association of Nigerian Physicians in America, ANPA, we started a medical mission in Nigeria, specifically in Mbano, a kind of medical care outreach meant for everybody in Nigeria.

“This free medicare is done annually in order to maintain the good health of Imo people, as well as their socio-economic progress, which has been on for over 12 years.”

He promised to set up specialist referral centres where various ailments can be treated locally, freely for poor patients.

Kpaduwa’s words: “As a medical expert, I know that it does not cost much to begin to get quality medical facilities in place.

What it takes is the will.

And that’s what every Nigerian who wants to serve the people should do.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South South

Thursday, April 4, 2014

FG moves to ban foreign medical trips for public servants DENNIS NAKU

PORT HARCOURT

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orried by the increasing number of public servants seeking medical treatment abroad, the Federal Government has said it is determined to reverse the trend.

President Goodluck Jonathan dropped the hint while speaking at the 36th Annual General Meeting and International Scientific Conference of the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, AGPMPN, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, yesterday.

The president, who said medical tourism is one of the inevitable fallouts

of globalisation that has transformed the world into a global village, however, lamented that it is being misconstrued by many Nigerians.

Represented by the Minister of Health, Prof. Chukwu Onyebuchi, Jonathan identified lack of information about locations of where services might be accessed as one of the reasons for the misconception.

He said a directive had been given to the Minister of Health to ask the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to come up with new guidelines for publication of ethically acceptable information about public and private health facilities across the country.

While commending the

association for the courage so far exhibited in health entrepreneurship, he charged participants at the conference to exploit “the numerous incentives on offer by government and adopt new business methods that would upgrade and reposition your practices for high-end diagnosis and therapeutic services.”

He stated that the relevant agencies of government, including the federal ministries of health and trade and investment, the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council, Tony-Elumelu-led Ministerial Committee on Private Health Sector Engagement would provide guidance for the association.

Earlier, Rivers State

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker, said the Niger Delta was at the centre of environmental problems, calling on the participants at the conference to come up with ideas that would better the lots of people in the region.

Lamenting the environmental issues in the region, he said the state government had put in place measures to mitigate the effect of oil and gas exploration on the people of the state.

“The Rivers State government is paying emphasis on primary health care.

That is why the governor, Chibuike Amaechi, has insisted on free healthcare programme, malaria elimination and the HIV/AIDS programme,” he said.

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2015: Rivers PDP elders call for restraint DENNIS NAKU

PORT HARCOURT

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isturbed by the number of ethnic groups jostling for the governorship position in Rivers State, the Elders Forum of the state Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, have advised members interested in occupying the government house to ensure that their campaigns do not affect the party’s chances in 2015.

Also, the Forum called on members of the party to rally maximum support for the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan as the PDP presidential candidate, ahead of next year’ s general election.

In a release signed by Chief Ferdinand Ngogo Alabraba and Chief Maxwell Tasie Amadi on behalf of the Forum, the elders frowned at the situation

where some people were making remarks capable of causing ethnic crisis while jostling for the gubernatorial seat in the state.

The statement explained that such development could fan the embers of discord, even as it was detrimental to the unity of the party.

The Forum pointed out that although the PDP remained the preferred party in the state, the threat to the party’s unity as a result of ‘parochial sentiments’ arising from ethnic groups’ campaigns and endorsements for the governorship was worrisome.

The elder statesmen also warned ethnic groups to guard against ‘clandestine’ infiltration by the opposition into their rank and file, under the pretext of supporting their quest for the gubernatorial slot in the PDP.

Electricity tariff: Why I intervened -Oshiomhole

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L-R: Governor Godswill Akpabio; his wife, Unoma and others, during the unveiling of the plaque to inaugurate Geodetic Control Network in Akwa Ibom State, yesterday.

No contact yet with kidnappers of Edwin Clark’s son -Police • IYC condemns abduction

EMMA GBEMUDU AND THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHEN

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he Delta State Police Command yesterday said it was yet to make any contact with the abductors of Mr. Ebikeme Clark, son of Ijaw national leader and SouthSouth representative at the ongoing National Conference, Chief Edwin Kiag-

bodo Clark.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Celestina Kalu, told National Mirror that the police had swung into action since the incident happened, saying one suspect and the kidnappers’ operational vehicle had been recovered by the police.

Ebikeme, the second son of Clark, was on Wednesday kidnapped by heavily armed gunmen at the site of the proposed Chief E. K.

Clark University of Technology, Kiagbodo, in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

Kalu said the police were already hunting for the hoodlums responsible for the incident, adding that they were combing everywhere to ensure the freedom of the victim.

“We are yet to make any contact with the abductors, but one person has been arrested in connection with the incident as at now. I want to assure you that the

police are on top of the situation. We will apprehend the culprits soon,” she said.

The spokesperson added that: “Police are doing something and we are working, trying to rescue the boy. We know they must have kept him in the bush or in a house. So, if there’s any suspicious movement, they should report to security operatives. As for hunters who operate in the bush, in case they see anything, they should come and tell us.”

overnor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has said he had to intervene in the disagreement between civil society organisations in the state and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, in the interest of justice and public good, as well as stem the breakdown of law and order.

Speaking during a meeting at the Government House with executives of BEDC in Benin City yesterday, Oshiomhole recalled that what led to what is now globally referred to as the ‘Arab Spring’ was a solo protest by a man who committed suicide.

According to him, “I

called this meeting for us to talk through some of the issues raised by the leaders of the civil society groups that organised some protests specifically against some of the actions of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

“I thought our role here as a state government is basically to facilitate a dialogue between the consumers of electricity, who happen to be my employers, and have complained about the policies with regards to some charges by BEDC. “I thought that we can talk through the issues and hopefully get results and resolve it in an amicable manner so that it does not result into a major crisis.”

Security beefed up in Bayelsa for Jonathan’s daughter’s wedding EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

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head of President Goodluck Jonathan’s adopted daughter’s traditional marriage on Saturday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, security has been stepped up by the army, police and other security personnel.

Already, the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has arrived in the state,

while the president is expected to step in on Friday.

Dignitaries from all walks of life, including top government functionaries and politicians, have been arriving too for the society wedding.

Some roads leading to Jonathan’s private residence at Kpansia have been closed to traffic, forcing motorists to divert to other roads.

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North

Friday, April 4, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Six die, 113 hospitalised in fresh Plateau cholera outbreak JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

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L–R Chairman, Jamatul Izalatil Bid’ah Wa’ikamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) and member, Gombe State Committee on Mass Wedding, Sheik Hamza Adamu (left) addressing spouses on marriage in Gombe, yesterday.

Troops rout armed gangs in Benue, Plateau, others ROTIMI FADEYI, WOLE ADEDEJI, CHARLES OKEKE AND UBONG UKPONG

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roops in the ongoing military operation in the North Central states have destroyed militants’ camps and arrested armed gangs.

They also recovered dangerous weapons of mass destruction in Benue, Plateau, Kaduna and Niger states.

This was contained in a ststement by the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, signed by the Director of Defence Information, DDI, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, in Abuja.

The DHQ said that formation commanders of the Nigerian Army had since moved to the states to conduct the operations aimed at addressing the deteriorating security situation in parts of the North Central.

It said the troops deployed in Benue State had already cleared the camps of armed gangs in three local government areas of the state.

The DHQ also said that normalcy had been restored in Guma, Gwer West and Agatu local government areas with some arrests and recoveries made in the process.

Tagged ‘Operation Restore Peace’, it said the mission had also resulted in the destruction of militant camps, arrests and recovery of arms in Shendam area of

Plateau State.

“Two AK-47 rifles were recovered after an encounter with troops of Special Task Force and the armed gangs in their enclaves in Shimanker in Plateau State.

“In Kaduna State, militants’ camps in Ladduga, near Kachia, were destroyed while arms were equally recovered in Maigungume Hills in Niger State.

“General Officers Commanding, GOCs, are directly supervising these operations in Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Niger states as troops comb forests in the mission to apprehend members of armed gangs and destroy their enclaves,” the DHQ said.

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that the Federal Government would ensure that peace returned to areas in Benue State and other states affected by the frequent crisis between Fulani herdsmen and farmers.

Jonathan stated this at the wedding ceremony between Mr. David Ortom, son of the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, and Miss. Christy Ikwue, from Idoma area of the state.

The President, who spoke through the Interior Minister, Abba Moro, expressed delight at the level of unity between the Tiv and Idoma people of Benue State, culminating into the coming together between the two families through marriage.

Meanwhile, the Kwara

State government has stated its resolve to establish grazing reserves and stock routes in the state to prevent bloody clashes between Fulani herdsmen and local communities.

Commissioner for Information and Communications, Tunji Morounfoye, who disclosed this to journalists at a post-cabinet meeting press briefing in Ilorin, said the decision followed a bloody communal clash between herdsmen and the people of Alapa community.

Morounfoye said the grazing reserves would be established in the 16 local government areas of the state which he said the government was determined to effect with utmost zeal.

He said that the government noted that Fulani herdsmen, “during the yearly festival where they perform a traditional physical combats as rituals to get married, use dangerous weapons under the influence of heavy alcohol and drugs, constituting a menace in any community where they choose to stay for festival”.

The commissioner said government had, therefore, demanded that weapons in the possession of Fulani herdsmen in the state be surrendered immediately to the security agencies.

He indicted the police for responding sluggishly when the crisis broke out, initially waiting for it to escalate be-

fore moving in.

“The police are no more meeting up with the security challenges in the country today. There is, therefore, a need to complement their efforts with necessary supports.”

This complementary support, he said, was coming in form of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, VGN, “which has come to stay in the country’s security system” and canvassed for a solid harmony between their operations.

Meanwhile, the Igbozue Unity Association of Nigeria, yesterday warned the rampaging Fulani herdsmen and their collaborators to steer clear of the SouthEast in the overall national interest.

The group, led by Elder Pius Uchenna Okoye promised a hellish time for the herdsmen if they ventured to extend their contentious activities to the SouthEast.

It will be recalled that for some months now, there has been the report of how gunmen masquerading as Fulani herdsmen invaded communities in Benue and other states in the Middle Belt, killing innocent people and destroying properties and houses.

Okoye, who addressed journalists in Awka, stated that the Igbo would protect their own if any of the states in the region was attacked by the herdsmen.

fresh cholera outbreak in Bassa and Jos North local government areas of Plateau State have left no fewer than six persons dead and 113 others hospitalised.

National Mirror gathered yesterday that four persons died in Rukuba Bassa and two others in Jos metropolis following the outbreak of the disease in the last two days.

The Jos North case involved a 61-year-old caterer who was said to have complained of stooling and vomiting, symptoms related to diarrhea.

The woman was taken to the hospital and died on Wednesday morning.

It was further gathered that in the process of cooking food for her funeral, five other members of the family contacted the disease and were admitted to the hospital.

Deputy Director, Epidemiology in the state Ministry of Health and State Epidemiologist, Dr. Raymond Juryit, who confirmed the incidents, said that of Bassa had been confirmed but that of Jos North was still being investigated He said that the case in Bassa was professionally handled and it was responsi-

ble for the lesser number of deaths recorded in the place.

Juryit said that the situation would have been worse if the cases were not handled by professionals.

For instance, Juryit said that one of the victims died in a chemist shop, while the others arrived the hospital very late.

According to him, the case of Jos involved a family.

He said: “A woman was sick of diarrhea and was admitted in the hospital and she died the following day. In the course of preparing food for the funeral, some members of the family developed the same symptoms.

“We cannot conclude now that it is cholera because we have taken the samples and those with the symptoms have been admitted at Plateau Specialist Hospital.

“The samples were being analysed, but we cannot wait for the result before we start treating them. We are suspecting cholera and have put them on that routine, but the full confirmation will come with the results.

“That of Rukuba in Bassa has been brought under control and there is no danger in that place now.

I am happy the way it was handled because it was done professionally. If people report to hospital, this can be treated because it is a simple disease.

Katsina protest: NYSC DG meets with community leaders JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

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ffort was made yesterday to mend the broken relationship between residents of Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State with the National youth Service Corps (NYSC).

The relationship had gone sour when a corps member was alleged to have set an examination question that was believed to be offensive to members of the Muslim community in the area.

Irate youths took to the streets to protest when the question leaked as they went about burning tires and shouting anti-NYSC slogans.

They also set two churches on fire and burnt part of a private school where the

corps member was serving.

But NYSC Director-General, Brig-Gen Johnson Olawole, yesterday met with traditional leaders from the area and the state government as way of mending the broken relationship.

Olawole said NYSC would increase cultural orientation among corps members to enhance robust unity and understanding.

He spoke at the palace of the District Head of Funtua, Alhaji Sambo Idris, adding that it was routine exercise to educate corps members on religious, cultural and related issues.

The NYSC DG, however, lamented that despite the kind of investment on culture and value education on NYSC members, such an incident could still occur.

Friday, April 4, 2014

NCP’ll perform well in 2015 – Edhebru

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Politics

Ekiti governorship election and Fayemi chances 15

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C’River: Plot to remove APC chair thickens RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR

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ith the ward congress of the All progressives Congress, APC, coming up tomorrow, party faith-

ful in Cross River State are warming up to remove the incumbent state chairman of the harmonization committee, Hon. Alex Irex, accusing him of running the party as a private estate.

A member who spoke to national Mirror under the condition of anonymity accused Irek of refusing to convene any meeting for which major decisions would be taken to advance the course of the party.

Others went further to alleged that Irek for instance fixed a meeting of the committee slated for last Friday, March 28, only to postpone it at the last minute, even when some members travelled from

L-R: Kaduna State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr Garba Madami; Deputy Governor, Amb. Nuhu Bajoga; Governor.

Mukhtar Yero and Deputy Speaker, Kaduna State House of Assembly, Mr Peter Adamu, at a one-day retreat on Implementation of 2014 Approved Budget in Kaduna yesterday,

Omisore wins Osun PDP ward delegates’ election BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

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enator Iyiola Omisore yesterday won Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, delegates’ election held across the state on Wednesday.

Omisore polled 862 votes, while the other three aspirants polled 131 votes across the 30 local government areas of the state.

But one of the aspirants Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi faulted the conduct of the ward congresses, saying the exercise was marred with gross irregularities, violence and manipulation.

Senator Omisore contested with three others aspirants namely; Akinlabi, Senator Isiaka Adeleke and Hon. Wole Oke. In a statement in Osogbo by the Director Media and Strategy for Olasunkanmi’s campaign organisation, Mr. Ayo Aluko-Olokun, it was alleged that the congresses did not hold in more than

•Olasunkanmi kicks, takes case to appeal committee •Avoid PDP secretariat, APC warns members

half of the local government areas in the state.

The statement said: “In many places neither the electoral officers nor the materials arrived at the designated ward congresses’ venues as at 6 pm. The rigging of the governorship election starts with the manipulation of ward congresses. Anything that is built on the outcome from these congresses that did not hold in the state cannot be credible and is.

“More worrisome in Ayedade where Senator Olasunkanmi comes from, the Minister for Police Affairs ensured that elections were inconclusive in nine out of the ten wards. Several PDP members loyal to Senator Olasunkanmi were harassed, injured, beaten and taken to police stations.

“We have detailed all our complaints and deposited same with the Appeal Com-

mittee.”

Breakdown of the result of the delegates’ election indicated that Omisore polled 292 votes in Osun East senatorial district, while the others polled 26, 323 votes in Osun Central with other aspirants having 25 and 250 votes in Osun West with others having 80 votes.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state yesterday warned its members to avoid as much as possible any contact with the PDP state secretariat as the party picks its governorship candidate tomorrow.

The party said the warning was against the backdrop of fear of breakdown of law and order, insisting that there was a grave security fear that the exercise may be marred by violence.

The APC in a release issued by its Director of Publicity, Research and Strat-

egy, Mr Kunle Oyatomi and made available to newsmen in Osogbo yesterday, alleged that a PDP aspirant had threatened to unleash terror, if he fails to emerge candidate of the party after the congress.

It further alleged that report of fracas during the meeting the committee from the national secretariat of PDP had with the aspirants in preparation for the congress was a pointer to the bigger one waiting to happen on the day of the primary election.

This was just as the PDP, through its state chairman has also appealed to the

their various locations to Calabar, the state capital to enable the attend the meeting only to be told at the eleventh hour that the meeting had been postponed.

Another source disclosed that there are underground moves within the committee to remove Irek as the committee chairman for reason tied to his unilateral handling of the party as well as for alleged financial recklessness.

When contacted on phone, Irek, who is also the Minority Leader of the state House of Assembly, said he was aware of the plans but added that he was yet to be convinced of the strength for which the aggrieved members would muster to remove him from office.

Meanwhile, Irek has fixed another meeting of the committee for today to among other things discuss modalities for a smooth congress of the party.

It is expected that the meeting may be stormy as the aggrieved members may use the opportunity

of the meeting to decide on an ouster for Irek.

Meanwhile former chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Mr. Cletus Obun has described as ‘’elitist’’ the alleged outrageous nomination form fee for various party positions in tomorrow congress by the national echelon of the APC. Obun said: ‘’The APC in Cross River State is made up mostly of the oppressed trying to right the wrongs of the polity, so making people to pay heavily for democracy is counterproductive. It is elitist and unfair to democracy.’’

Nomination fee range from N2,000 to N100,000, depending on the office being contested for.

Tinubu

C’taker c’ttee: Bauchi files objection to APC’s suit EZEKIEL TITUS BAUCHI

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he Bauchi State government has filed a preliminary objection against the submission of the All Peoples Congress, APC, counsel challenging the appointment of 20 caretaker committees to oversee the affairs of local councils in the state by Governor Isa Yuguda.

Counsel to the APC and DPP Barr. Yakubu Bako had filed a suit before a Bauchi High Court challenging the power of the state government to appoint caretaker committee chairmen instead of conducting local government poll.

In the preliminary objection, the state government asked the court to dismiss the suit on the ground that the chairmen were appointed since September 3, 2012 and the complainant waited until July 29, 2013 before instituting the action.

Counsel to the state government, Hassan Liman said by virtue of the operation of statute of limitation, section 2 of the Public Officers Protection law, the action is statute barred, adding that the plaintiff did not file the suit within three months as stipulated by law.

The presiding judge, Justice Abdulkadir Suleiman adjourned the suit to May 2 for definite hearing.

Friday, April 4, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Maritime How government charges heighten cost of doing business at ports

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Nigerian seaports have over the years been rated the most expensive in the West African Sub-region Stakeholders are of the view that apart from cost associated with cargo handling, rent and demurrage imposed by terminal operators and shipping companies, bulk of such cost constitute in fees, charges and levies imposed by Federal Government and its agencies. FRANCIS EZEM reports.

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here seems a general consensus that Nigeria operates one of the most expensive seaport systems in the West and Central African Sub-region.

This is both in terms of import tariff structure and other associated cost of doing business including transportation, terminal handling charges, rent and demurrage charges, among several others.

Simply put, an average shipper (importer or export) believes that it costs more to ship a 40-foot container from China or any other part of Europe for instance into Nigeria than Republic of Benin and Togo.

It was probably in the light of this that immediate past Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority NPA, Mallam Omar Suleiman, once admitted that the cost of shipping in Nigeria is 10 times higher than any other port within the West African sub-region. This development is also believed to be the root cause of diversion of cargo meant for the Nigerian market to neighbouring West African seaports which is later brought in through the land borders. Many of these importers have hidden under the shadow of the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme ETLS to achieve this.

Available records show that though more than 75 per cent of imported cargo end up in Nigeria, less than 25 per cent of this volume comes through her seaports while the rest are diverted through sister seaports. Unarguably, the Federal Government has lost huge amount of money that would have accrued to it from import revenue, as these importers pay duty and other charges, which are minimal to these sister ports and later bring them into Nigeria as non-duty goods under the ETLS with no revenue accruing to the Nigerian Government.

Investigations showed that apart from the statutory charges such as import duty, fees, the Common External Tariff levy, the 0.5 per cent ETLS charge and the Value Added Tax, which are paid into the Federation Account, importers are also made to pay myriad charges under different sub-heads, classified as non-federation account charges.

They include the seven per cent port levy, one per cent Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme CISS, which is the Free On Board value of imports, from which the former service providers under the Destination Inspection Scheme were paid and the rice levy.

Others include the Cigarette Levy, National Automotive Council Levy, Port Development Levy, Sugar Levy, Port Sur-

Mallam Habib Abdul

Senator Idris Umar

THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF THIS MULTIPLICITY OF CHARGES IS THAT MOST OF THEM ARE AGGREGATED AND ADDED TO THE COST OF IMPORTING THE

CONSIGNMENT, WHICH IS ULTIMATELY PASSED TO THE FINAL CONSUMER IN TERMS OF HIGHER PRICE charge and other sundry charges paid to the government before the imported consignment would be allowed to leave the ports.

In addition to these, government agencies that take part in cargo inspection such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, among others impose one form of levy or the other.

These unjustifiable charges have made the nation’s seaports uncompetitive with their peers in the sub-region.

As if to lay credence to this, Chairman, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria, Mrs. Vicky Hastruup in a recent interview insisted that the cost of running a seaport terminal is highest in Nigeria compared to other African countries, she said adds to the high cost of doing business in the country. She also cited increasing cases of double taxation and levies by government agencies etc.

“It is more expensive to run port in Nigeria than in other neighbouring African countries. It is actually much more expensive to run a seaport terminal in Nigeria than any other place in

West Africa. The Republic of Benin for instance has electricity before now; Nigeria was supplying them with electricity before now but what happens now? They are self-sufficient. In Ghana, they rarely take the light”, she said.

“Here you have double taxation, all manners of fees and levies on port stakeholders by the government and its agencies. Ask any industrialist, the cost of production is higher in Nigeria than anywhere else that is why the prices of locally made goods are higher than the imported ones. There are also so many other things that constitute the high cost of doing business in the country,” she also said.

Hastruup, who is also doubles as executive vice chairman of ENL Consortium, also noted that the import duty regime in Nigeria is higher than what is obtained elsewhere, citing the 110 per cent duty and levy imposed on parboiled vice while the Republic of Benin and Camouroon charge seven and zero per cent respectively.

President of National of Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents NCMDLCA, Mr. Lucky Amiwero, who spoke on the development, expressed fears that if urgent steps were not taken to address certain problems associated

with Nigeria’s seaports such as multiple and excessive charges, bureaucracy and cumbersome clearing processes, the country may loose substantial volume of West African cargo traffic, which she currently controls.

Citing the examples of Ghana and Cote’d Ivoire, which are building millennium port facilities that would berth mega ships that are capable of carrying over 10, 000 TEUs of cargo, with the attendant economies of scale, argued that in the nearest future, Nigerian importers would have to use smaller ships to take their cargo from these two seaports.

“Importers and clearing agents had over the years cried out to no avail and had to resign to fate. Many of them have decided to bring in their consignments through neighbouring African seaports, which are currently siphoning Nigeria’s cargo traffic gradually”, he noted.

According to him, “The cumulative effect of this multiplicity of charges is that most of them are aggregated and added to the cost of importing the consignment, which is ultimately passed to the final consumer in terms of higher price”.

President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF, Chief Eugene Nweke, who spoke on the development, particularly picked holes in the collection of VAT on imported goods, describing it as double taxation.

According to him, most of these imported goods somehow find their way into the various markets in Nigeria where they are subjected to another round of VAT collection at the counter.

“The government should determine at what point should an importer or freight forwarder pay VAT on a consignment so that he goes ahead and pays and obtain an official receipt, which he would use for the entire clearing process for the consignment.

Nweke, who also insisted that the government should no longer allow Customs to collect the VAT, argued that collecting it at various cargo processing stage amounts to multiple billing, which is unfair.

Expectedly, one of the direct consequences of all these is the galloping inflationary trends in the country with the fluctuation it causes to the macro economy. This adverse effect on the economy calls for urgent attention of the government to address the malaise.

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Business Maritime

Friday, April 4, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

We’re willing to fund cargo ship acquisition in Nigeria –AFC STORIES: FRANCIS EZEM

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he foreign domination of shipping business in Nigeria both within the coastal, inland and the deep sea shipping arena due to the absence of a ship on the nation’s fleet may soon be over as the Africa Finance Corporation AFC says it is willing to finance ship acquisition to boost the nation’s indigenous tonnage.

The corporation, which was set up in 2007 with an initial paid up capital of $1.1bn, provides funding for infrastructural development in the continent especially in the areas of transport, oil and gas, Information Communication Technology ICT, mining and manufacturing in addition to providing debt financing facilities, among several others.

Following the demise of the Nigerian National Shipping Line NNSL, the nation’s defunct national carrier and the disappearance of over 40 sea going ships on its fleet at a point in time, foreign operators began to dominate shipping activities due to a total absence of an indigenously owned vessel on the country\s fleet, thus leaving everything about shipping to the control of the foreign liners.

Vice President, Infrastructure of the corporation, Mr. Amadou Wadda, who spoke in an exclusive interview in Lagos, disclosed that funding vessel acquisition in the country is within the corporation’s mandate, noting that as long as the terms and conditions of such contract were fulfilled, the corporation will go ahead

to fund it.

According to him, the corporation has been financing ship acquisition but mainly in the oil and gas sector of the economy for oil service companies He however disclosed that none of the indigenous shipping companies has approach the corporation for such funding, adding that as soon as the request was made, the corporation will look at it and take steps to fund it if it is viable.

He said: “We have not been approached for the funding of seagoing cargo vessels but if the opportunity comes, we will review it and if it is found acceptable, we will consider funding it”.

On the level of funding that could be provided by the corporation, the Vice President noted that depending on the choice of the shipping company, it might comprise of both equity and debt financing, but insisted that the would-be owners of the vessels must as a condition provide some equity funding to give a level of comfort to the investors.

“The ranging of the funding will depend on the project specifics, as you know, any of such funding will involve equity as well as debt financing, the owners will provide some level of equity to give a level of comfort to the lenders and I have at various for a listed other conditions that will give comfort to the investors”, he insisted.

It was also gathered that in addition to funding of ship acquisition in the oil and gas industry, the corporation played a major role in debt financing

Vessel

of the just concluded power sector reforms and other numerous projects.

Wadda, who also disclosed that over 50 per cent of all projects financed in the African continent reside in Nigeria, added that the corporation will finance more projects as soon as the opportunity comes and provided they are viable.

“We have investments in various sectors in Nigeria comprising of the power privatisation, our consortium are investors in the Ugheli Plants and Kainji as part of the power reform, we finance a lot of oil and gas companies both in the upstream and down stream as well as other projects that I cannot mention here, which are at various stages of completion”, he said.

It was further gathered that the corporation is part of the financiers of the ongoing Lekki Deep Seaport project under which it serves as providers in addition to being part of the Anchor Bank Lending Group.

The corporation has however listed conditions under which the port industry not only in Nigeria but also in the African continent, insisting that governments in the continent must develop a deliberate Public Private Partnership PPP policy framework in order to attract private sector investments both local and foreign private investments.

AFC insists that such PPP policy framework must also be passed into enabling laws so that the implementation of the framework will not be left at the whims and caprices

of the government, who from past experience have failed to keep fate with the agreements.

“There have been repeated cases of policy inconsistency due to the absence of PPP policy framework passed into enabling laws and so more often than not the implementation of the agreements are left at the whims and caprices of the government, which results in policy inconsistency and reversals, so the private sector investors need legal mandates to assure them that their investments are safe”, the corporation had argued.

Vehicle imports rose 8.9% in 2013 –NPA

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he Nigerian Ports Authority NPA has said that no fewer than 292, 000 of fully built units of vehicles were imported into the country through the nation’s seaports in 2013.

Meanwhile scores of vehicles come into the country through the various border stations even as several others are smuggled in through some unapproved routes.

Records for port activities for the year ended December 31, 2013 released by the authority shows that a total of 291,824 units of vehicles were handled at the various seaport locations spread across the country within the period under review compared to the 268, 026 units handled in the comparative period of 2012.

This represents a growth rate of 8.9 per cent.

The report also shows that apart from crude oil shipments handled at the various terminals, cargo throughput at the various ports stood at 76,9 million metric tonnes in the period under review.

This contrasts with the 76.9 million metric tonnes handled at all the port locations in 2012, which an increase of 0.042.6 per cent..

The further breakdown of

the throughput revealed that; Out of these figures, container traffic stood at 1,1 million Twenty Equivalent Units, showing a growth of 15.2 per cent over the 877,737 TEUs handled in 2012.

Also, Liquefied Natural Gas LNG shipments handled within the review period stood at 19,.4 million metric tonnes as against the 22,2 million metric handled in the previous year, indicating a 12.7 per cent decline..

Other statistics shows that refined petroleum shipments handled at the various terminals stood at 19,4 million metric tonnes, representing an increase of 9.5 per cent over the 17.7 million metric tonnes recorded in the comparative period of 2012.

The ports also handled a total of 9.5 million metric tonnes of dry bulk cargo in the outgone year as against the 10. 2 million metric tonnes handled in the previous year, which represents a growth rate of 6.5 per cent.

The volume of general cargo handled at the ports in the review year also stood at 11.96 million metric tonnes, indicating a decline of 5.8 per cent when compared to the 2012 figures of 12,7 million metric tonnes.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Friday, April 4, 2014

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‘Lekki Deep Seaport begins cargo operations in 2017’ FRANCIS EZEM

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arring any unforeseen circumstances either on the part of the Federal and Lagos State Governments or the concessionaire, the Lekki Mega Deep Seaport will commence cargo operation in the next three years,

precisely 2017.

Originally slated for completion in 2012, the Lekki Port is located within the privately owned Lagos Free Trade Zone located in Lekki, approximately 60 kilometres east of the city of Lagos even as the first phase of the development of the site covers 218 hectares while the second phase

is proposed to cover 1,275 hectares.

The port project, which is in line with Nigeria’s dream of becoming a hub port for countries in the West and Central African sub-region is being developed in conjunction with the Federal, Lagos State Governments and a Singaporean consortium of private investors.

L–R: Director General, West African Monetary Institute (WAMI), Dr. Abwaku Englama; Chief Executive Officer, BRVM, Mr. Edoh Kossi and Chief Executive Officer, The Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema at the West African Capital Markets Council meeting held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast recently.

Cashless: Visa says e-fraud on decline in Nigeria

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n its latest assessment of the Nigeria’s fledging cashless economy scheme, the Country Manager for Visa West Africa, Mr. Ade Ashaye, has declared that the security of electronic payment system has improved tremendously in Nigeria.

Reacting to enquiries on assessment of e-payment sector in Nigeria, Ashaye, who was noted that in Nigeria and even globally, fraud rates have declined by more than two-thirds in the past two decades.

Reacting to how Nigeria has successfully migrated from Magnetic-stripes to chip-based cards, when developed economies such as the United States of America are yet to migrate, Asahye said, “ It’s more a result of the technical standards that were in place when the card industries took off in the respective countries and how the banks have dealt with the plans of upgrading to newer technologies.”

According to him, “As with any technology that is introduced, one would look to implement the latest version and EMV (chip based) technology is newer, more secure and has greater functionality than mag-stripe based technology.

“We started to help our partner banks and solution providers in Nigeria, we came with the EMV chip-based technology that is the global best-practice and standard across many other countries such as the United Kingdom.”

He, however, stated that irrespective of the technology being used in a country as far as Visa cards are concerned, “what is key is that your Visa card from Nigeria will work in anywhere you see the Visa logo, anywhere in the world and likewise for your Visa card from the United States.”

When asked while only a few Nigerian banks have achieved the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards, PCIDSS, status and how did has affected the

safety of the Nigerian e-payment market, Ashaye “Visa employs multiple layers of security that work together to help us manage fraud. From anti-counterfeit features, to network-based fraud detection, to data security standards to help keep sensitive information secure.”

According to him, The PCI DSS is a critical foundation for protecting cardholder information and has proved to be a highly effective foundation of minimum security standards when fully, correctly and consistently implemented across all systems handling accountholder data.

“Most Nigerian banks employ specialist processing companies that work within the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards, to manage much of the day to day payment card related transaction processing. Visa is committed to leading the industry toward a more secure, trusted payment system,” he said.

Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer in charge of Africa region of International Container Terminal Service Inc, container terminal operators of the port, Mr. Jens Floe, who spoke in an exclusive interview in Lagos, hinted that the port will commence cargo handling operations in 2017.

According to him, preliminary aspects of the project, which comprise both offshore and onshore soil investigations as well as hydrographical surveys, among several others have all been concluded, an indication that the actual construction works will commence soon.

He said: “Early works have been completed; offshore, onshore soil investigation as well as hydrographical surveys done, so we are looking at 2017 for the commencement of port operations”.

While commenting on the perceived delay in the take off of the project, more than five years after the relevant documents were handed over to the investors, Floe noted that projects of such magnitude take a lot of time.

“Any big infrastructure project such as this takes time and the execution of such projects also takes time to ensure that the right infrastructure like roads, rails etc come in the right way. It does not help us to have a port without

NCC hinges faster broadband deployment on Open Access Model KUNLE AZEEZ

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he Nigerian Communications Commission has insisted that the introduction of Open Access Model framework by the Federal Government last year will help in accelerating the deployment of broadband infrastructure in the country.

The Open Access Model is a framework introduced by the government and approved by the Information and Communication Technology industry, with the provision that players in the ICT

BPE misinforming public on payment of terminal benefits –NUEE MESHACK IDEHEN

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he Secretary General of National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, Mr. Joe Ajaero, said the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, has been misinforming the public over alleged payment of terminal benefits of the defunct PHCN employees.

The NUEE scribe said the union is also warning the Federal Government to be aware of plans

by electricity workers to cripple all operations in the power sector, following alleged unfair labour practices by the new operators.

In a statement on Wednesday, NUEE said some of its grievances include de-unionisation and casualisation of workers in the power sector, under-payment of workers, retrenchment of union leaders and continued manipulations associated with increase in fixed tariff.

According to him, “BPE has been feeding Nigerians with

lies that they have finished paying workers in the power sector, whereas, the BPE, Ministry of Power and the Accountant General of the Federation are unable to explain the whereabouts of over N100bn meant for the payment of the workers entitlements.”

Ajaero noted that the 10 per cent equity shareholding for workers as collectively agreed had been jettisoned by government, pointing out that the issue of capturing biometric data of workers had been a broad day

the right roads coming up, so the roads are being built, we are also making sure that all authorities are aligned because this is the future of sea transport into Lagos”, he said.

While commenting on the mode of transportation of containers and other consignments from the seaports, Floe also noted that the global trend in port operation is that new and mega seaports are established outside the city centres to replace the existing obsolete ones so that the cargo coming from such seaports do not go through the city centres enroute their final destinations.

“The key for supply chain infrastructure in Nigeria like in most developing countries is operated basically on infrastructure.

If you look at the development of seaports in Europe and other developed countries, you see old ports that have become obsolete and so new ones are built out of the urban areas. Such is going to happen in Nigeria”, he argued.

He however assured that concerted efforts are being made to develop the need infrastructure that support such port operations such as rail and roads, adding that all the need infrastructure might not be built at one go, but insisted that over time everything would have been put in place.

racket as the consultant engaged for this purpose had continued to use endless biometric exercise to siphon the finances of the sector.

Lamenting that many of the disengaged workers are yet to collect their entitlement since November 2013, the NUEE general secretary said the union is constrained to inform the general public of the anti-workers stance of some of the new investors who took over the privatised units of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN.

industry should make their infrastructures ‘open’ and not ‘closed’ to other players that want to tap capacity and links from such infrastructures to take broadband services to the any part of the country.

With the Open Access Model, the NCC said the stage had been set for accelerating broadband revolution in Nigeria going by the various initiatives already put in place by the government.

Giving this assurance during the 10th anniversary of telecoms Consumer Parliament held in Lagos recently, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah said with the formulation and adoption of the National Broadband Plan; the recent auctioning of the 2.3 gigahertz spectrum and the faithful implementation of the broadband infrastructure framework as set out in the Nigerian Open Access Model, the state has been set for broadband revolution in the country.

He also restated the commitment of the Commission to enforce a regulatory framework that will facilitate the penetration and provide universal access to broadband in the country.

42

Business News

Friday, April 4, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Africa tops bio-fortified crops’ cultivation globally –Adesina TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

T

he Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, has said that of all the 1.5 million farming households now growing bio-fortified food crops globally, 1.4 million are in Africa.

Adesina, who disclosed this at the just concluded 2nd Global Conference on Bio-Fortification in Kigali, Rwanda, on Tuesday, noted that for Africa to succeed in lifting millions out of poverty and create a model of shared prosperity, it must focus on the transformation of its rural economies through agriculture.

Commending the work of scientists on the development of crops that have micro-nutrients spearheaded by HarvestPlus 15 years ago, the minister said the work had started yielding positive results across developing countries, as pro-vitamin A cassava and maize crop varieties have been released in Nigeria and Zambia, while orange flesh sweet potato continues to make

significant progress in other African countries.

A statement issued yesterday by the Director of Information and Protocol of the FMARD, Mr Tony Ohaeri, quoted the minister as assuring the global community of Nigerian government’s readiness to give a strong political support for bio-fortification in Africa, while also explaining the efforts of his ministry towards the distribution of stems of pro-vitamin A cassava to over 350,000 farmers in the year 2014, as against 100,000 reached in 2013.

According to him, his ministry is already incorporating provitamin A cassava and orange flesh sweet potato into its Growth enhancement support scheme, GES, to reach 2.5 million farm households, with a view to making Nigeria, the largest grower of bio-fortified crops in Africa.

The minister however emphasised the need to expand awareness among farmers and consumers on the benefits of bio-fortified crops, which he said must include technology development process saying “there

New Zealand tops social progress index, world’s biggest economies trail UDO ONYEKA

WITH AGENCY REPORT

N

ew Zealand came first in a global index published yesterday that ranks countries by social and environmental performance rather than economic output in a drive to make social progress a priority for politicians and businesses.

The Social Progress Index, SPI, rates 132 countries on more than 50 indicators, including health, sanitation, shelter, personal safety, access to information, sustainability, and access to education.

The SPI asks questions such as whether a country can satisfy its people’s basic needs and whether it has the infrastructure and capacity to allow its citizens to improve the quality of their lives and reach their full potential.

“The index shows that economic growth does not automatically lead to social progress,” Michael Green, executive director of the Social Progress Imperative, a non-profit organization that publishes the index, told Thomson Reuters Foundation.

“If we are to tackle problems such as poverty and inequality, it shows that measuring economic growth alone is not enough.”

New Zealand received high scores for personal rights and freedom, internet access and school enrolment. It was followed in the Top 10 by Switzerland, Iceland,

Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Finland, Denmark and Australia.

Some of the world’s largest economies did not fare so well, with Germany in 12th place, the United Kingdom in 13th, Japan 14th, the United States 16th and France 20th. All of them except Germany scored poorly on environmental sustainability.

The United States also ranked poorly on health and wellness despite being a top spender on healthcare - and on access to basic knowledge, with just 92 percent of children in school.

France lagged Slovenia, 18th and Estonia, 19th and had low scores on sustainability and opportunity, especially tolerance and inclusion. Italy was in 29th place, hurt by poor access to advanced education, sustainability and tolerance and inclusion.

The low rankings of China, 90th and India, 102nd showed that their rapid economic growth is not yet being converted into better lives for their citizens, said Green.

Chad ranked last, below Central African Republic, Burundi, Guinea, Sudan, Angola, Niger, Yemen, Pakistan and Nigeria.

Even though economic growth and social progress are correlated, especially for poorer countries, the connection is far from automatic, said Harvard Business School professor Michael Porter, one of the index’s backers.

was need to educate the public that a bio-fortified crop does not mean that it is a genetically modified crop, as this confusion continues to trail and hinder more rapid uptake of bio- fortified crops”.

While advocating the need to build a strong political will behind nutrient rich crops, using top political leaders as nutrition champions, while also focusing on improving the technology

delivery system to farmers, the minister maintained that public-private partnerships should be used to scale up nutrient-rich crops, with dedicated funding from national governments and multi-lateral and bi-lateral agencies.

He also identified the enforcement of intellectual property rights as crucial to efforts aimed at supporting the development of bio- fortified crops.

The minister frowned at the importation of high energy foods which he said are not culturally acceptable, since it does not benefit African farmers or the private sector.

He maintained the need to produce high energy foods like sorghum, soybeans and maize; all which Africa grows in abundance, saying Nigeria is the largest producer of food sorghum in the world.

L-R: Principal Manager, Training, Nigerian Ports Authority, Mrs. Patricia Aboh; Vice-President, Membership Development, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Mr. Emeka Nwakpa; Vice-President Trade Fair, Mr. Jasper Nduagwuike and representative of NPA Managing Director, Mr. Lawrence Oladele, at the NPA stand at the ongoing 25th Enugu International Trade Fair yesterday.

KUNLE AZEEZ

K

ey players and experts in the oil and gas and hospitality industries have called for a need to protect customers by frowning against fraudulent customer service operations in Nigeria.

As such, the stakeholders have joined their voice to the call to embrace the well-articulated and structured plan by the Customer Service Practitioners Association, CUSPA. Speaking at a meeting with the executives of CUSPA in Lagos, a Customer Service trainer and Chief Executive Officer, Deep Blue Energy Services Limited, Ms Anita Omoile, noted that the emergence of CUSPA has become “the solution to the hoax called

Experts frown at fraudulent customer service operations customer service in Nigeria.”

According to her, having an organisation like CUSPA with a system that monitors and regulates customer service delivery in Nigeria is a great relief both to customers and responsible firms.

“Organisations must have the mystery shopping consciousness. Working and discharging service as though they are being watched. But most importantly customer service delivery must begin from the top to the bottom.

The executives and management of organisations must lead by example.”

She further asserted that “an organisation with any form of service offering is either giving

great service or it is not, there is no half and half to delighting the customers. We are all customers, we know our rights, we demand and insist that we must be served like the kings that we are. He who has the cash is king.”

Also speaking, Chairman, Southern Sun Hotels Ikoyi, Lagos, Mr. Ernest Orji, demonstrated his deep passion for excellent customer experience when he promised to support CUSPA achieve its vision.

He also enjoined all stakeholders to embrace and be part of this great cause because the benefits are enormous to the service industry and “a win-win for all.”

ICAN president charges new fellows on good governance

T

he President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, Mr. Kabir Mohammed, yesterday urged new fellows of the institute to contribute to good governance and development in Nigeria.

Mohammed gave the advice in Lagos while speaking at the Status Ceremony and 12th Conferment of Fellowship Awards on members.

He charged the new fellows to use their expertise to contribute to the nation’s progress.

“Without sounding immodest, let me observe that the status of a fellow is the highest professional status that can be attained by any member of this prestigious accountancy profession worldwide.

“In line with our tradition of high ethical standards, I urge the 491 distinguished fellowship award recipients to continue to fly the professional flag of honesty and intelligence,” he said.

Mohammed said that the nation would continue to look up to them as they impact on good governance in the country.

“Generations yet unborn will not forgive us if we shirk the historic responsibility of helping the nation, not only to redefine its values, but to promote compliance,’’ he said.

Chairman of the event, Mr Jani Ibrahim, urged the new members to keep themselves abreast of the current trends in technology, climate change and entrepreneurship education.

According to him, those are the key issues that will determine the course of events in the global scene.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Firm unveils technology for forex traders KUNLE AZEEZ

A

company specialised in provision of intelligent information for businesses and professionals, Thomson Reuters, has unveiled an African strategy and a new fully automated foreign exchange trade platform technology, as part of its African strategy to consolidate its presence in Africa.

Tagged ‘TRFXT’, the company said the technology was part of strategic plans to offer enabling platform for Africa to actualise its huge potentials and bring to bear the Thomson Reuters global heritage across 100 countries and many decades of providing customers with platforms and technologies that give competitive edge in business, forex trading, governance, tax and accounting,

Business News

Friday, April 4, 2014

financial and risk analysis, science and intellectual property markets.

Speaking in a statement, Global Head of Thomson Reuters Foreign Exchange, Phil Weisberg, said Nigeria had become Africa’s undisputed financial powerhouse and is attracting massive global interest making the country one of the most important markets for Thomson Reuters.

He said: “Nigeria is a key frontier market in Africa with a huge potential for growth and technology platforms can aid the market to leap ahead and grow rapidly by creating and sustaining a transparent and robust system, guide regulators, increase efficiency and liquidity and generate electronic multilateral conversations among key financial players; Thomson Reuters is in the market to enable this and the African success story’’.

43

‘NLC going into mass housing’ MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

P

resident of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, yesterday said the union under his leadership was going into mass housing for the benefit of its members.

Omar stated this at the commissioning of a 22-bedroom health workers’ lodge in Abuja, yesterday.

He said: “Now unions are realising the fact that it is better to diversify; that is why they are combining social service issue to creating other means of livelihood.

“I can see a bright future because, for example, as you know, the NLC has an outfit that is called Estate Development Company. We are now trying to revitalise it so that it will also go into this venture and begin to develop estates for commercial purposes, certainly with the hope that they are go-

ing to be made affordable and they are going to be qualitative.”

Commissioning the workers’ lodge, Minister of Labour and productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, advised labour unions to be more prudent in the management of their resources, stressing that the leaders should focus on investing in mass housing for their members as a way of addressing housing deficit for the nation.

The minister commended the effort of the Comrade Ayuba Waba-led workers union, in building the complex.

He said, “This is a positive step towards keying into the transformation agenda of Mr. President. On behalf of Mr. President and the government of Nigeria, I thank you for keying into the transformation agenda in various aspects. One is physical development of properties and I believe you started with this level of development in property and I hope

that you go into housing which is one of the main thrust where your workers will buy houses, that is one central thrust of the transformation agenda.

“One thing you have done today is that you have not only created employment in assistance to the federal and state governments, you have also created wealth because the people who you are going to employ here will equally be in a position to employ other people at the end of the day.

“I want to say categorically that, we at the Federal Ministry of Labour must show solidarity to you today. You have always shown solidarity to us, each time we want to intervene in issues concerning your sector, you are always there providing leadership on the side of the union, providing good quality dialogue and you know good social dialogue is the one that connects both the employer and the employee’’.

APR shareholders approve N700m dividend

S

hareholders of Africa Prudential Registrars ,APR, yesterday approved the company’s total dividend of N700m for the financial year ended December 31, 2013.

The shareholders gave the approval at the company’s first annual general meeting in Lagos.

The dividend, which translates to 35k per share, will be paid to qualified shareholders on April 4, 2014.

National Coordinator, Shareholders United Front, Mr. Gbenga Idowu, commended the management of the company for the dividend.

Idowu said that the dividend was beyond shareholders’ expec-

tations and should be improved upon in the years ahead.

He said that the company should improve on its service delivery to become the best in the industry and increase its customer base.

President, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr. Boniface Okezie, said that the 35k dividend was very impressive compared with the prevailing rates in the sub-sector.

Okezie said that the company needed to be appreciated for making Nigerian investors proud.

He said that the company ensured proper training and retraining of its workforce for efficient service delivery.

Glo thrill youths at Enugu trade fair

G

lobacom’s pavilion at the ongoing 25th Enugu International Trade Fair has continued to attract a large number of shoppers and visitors.

According to statement by the company, old and new subscribers daily besiege the Glo stand to subscribe to the bouquet of Value Added Services on offer at the Glo stand.

Speaking with journalists after activating the Glo Games Store on her handset, Chioma Nwachuchwu of the Institute of Management Technology, Enugu, said that she decided to activate the VAS service “so as to have access to some of the interesting games on the Games Store portal.”

“I first got to know about the Glo Games Store from my roommate and I was happy when

someone told me that the service can be activated for me at the fair. So, when I came in today to see what is going on at the fair, my first point of call was the Glo stand and a Glo official has just activated the Games Store for me.

This means there is no more dull moment as I can play as many exciting games as I desire on my phone,” she said.

Another excited subscriber who shared his experience with newsmen at the Glo stand was Mr Ikenna Ogugbaja, a businessman. He said that he had been using the Glo Mobile Newspaper “for close to three weeks until my handset malfunctioned and I lost all the information on it. But coming to the Glo stand at the fair, I was able to re-activate the service and I have read today’s dailies on my phone.”

L-R: Branch Manager, Kebbi, First City Monument Bank Limited, Mr. Musa Salihu Sakaba; winner of the star prize at the North Regional draw of the FCMB 30th Anniversary Promo, Mr. Adamu Dangero; FCMB Executive Director, North, Mr. Adam Nuru and Retail Head, North, Mr. Sunday Egele, during the presentation of a sports utility vehicle to the winner in Kebbi, recently.

LCCI harps on job creation policies ABOLAJI ADEBAYO

C

oncerned about the high unemployment in the country and its consequences on the citizens, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, has urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts in job creation especially for the teeming youths.

In a communique issued at the end of its meeting on wednesday the council expressed concern over the worsening unemployment in the country with youth unemployment at 54 per cent.

It noted that the situation poses great dangers to the economic, social and political stability of the country. Pointing out the correlation between unemployment, poverty and insecurity.

It called for the adoption of appropriate policies to fix the unemployment problem especially through the creation of an enabling environment for the private sector especially the SMEs to retain existing jobs and create new ones. The productivity and competitiveness of enterprises in the economy has been trending downwards, thus affecting the capacity to create jobs. ‘‘The Council, among other things, acknowledged the various initiatives of government in this regard such as the YouWin programme but believes that given the magnitude of the problem, a more fundamental and sustainable strategy is necessary, it said.

It therefore proposed policy options such as the need for urgent support for SMEs to retain existing jobs and create new ones. Crit-

ical areas of support include funding and capacity building, it noted.

According to LCCI, government should accord higher priority to investments in infrastructure to reduce the current high infrastructure deficit and moderate the cost of doing business in the economy. Quality infrastructure would improve private sector productivity and competiveness.

This will boost the capacity to create new job.

It also called for a concentrated and sustained effort to increase the foreign reserves to enable a downward review of the tight monetary policy to boost credit availability and reduce interest rates.

It affirmed that the stimulation of economic growth is much more paramount at this time in order to create jobs.

44

Friday, April 4, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stakeholders seek renewable power for agric Experts at a workshop organised by Odu’a Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, ODUACCIMA, have pushed the need for renewable energy as catalyst for the promotion of agricultural activities. ABOLAJI ADEBAYO chronicles their submission.

“

Energy is essential for promotion of agricultural activities and food security. The gross inadequacy of supply of energy is more entrenched in the rural areas where agricultural practices take place. Access to these energy types in the rural areas is therefore very low (18 per cent for electricity as opposed to 81 per cent in the urban centers)’’, that is the prelude to the paper presented by the President, Council for Renewable Energy, Nigeria, CREN, Chief (Mrs.) Anita Okiribido on Renewable energy technology for improved agricultural productivity and food security.

Experts at the workshop were concerned about the low level of productivity and the retrogression of the sector, which was linked to insufficient power needed for processing and storage of agricultural products. Their aim was to channel other alternative source of energy, which could be produced locally and cheaply and made available to the sector.

The rot in agricultural products in the country was put at 40 per cent annually due to dearth of power to process, store, and or transport them to the appropriate destinations.

Founder/CEO, Quintas Renewable Energy Solutions Ltd, Dr. Omotayo Dairo who talked about the Use of clean Biomass Energy

ABOLAJI ADEBAYO

S

mall scale farmers have appealed to the government to make loans available for them to boost their productions at local level by establishing Bank of Agriculture, BOA, like Bank of Industry, BOI, with its branches seated at each of the 774 local government areas.

They said not less than 90 per cent of the local farmers have no access to any loan schemes.

Speaking with National Mirror, the farmers in Oyo-West local government area of Oyo state complained that the only loan agent available at the local area, fadama, has not been able to meet their challenges. They said the process of accessing the loan from the agency was very tedious and that most of the loans were given to those who were not farm-

MODERN MECHANISED LARGE SCALE FARMING CAN EFFICIENTLY RELY ON ENERGY GENERATED FROM WIND TURBINES

Adesina

for Efficient running of farm Gate Agro-Based Cluster Industries said, “Nigeria’s GDP for 2012 is put at $268.7bn; Agriculture contributed 38.2 per cent of this GDP, i.e. $102.64bn. Empirical studies show that 40 per cent of agricultural produce rot annually, due to poor processing, storage and transportation challenges. This translates to a loss of over N6.8trn nationally and over N1.13trn in the South West geo-political zone.”

He explained further that most agricultural produce are perishables, if not consumed or processed soon after harvest, the situation that puts farmers under undue pressure to sell their products, turning their trade to a buyers’ market. He noted that agricultural products sold in their primary produce states do not

have enhanced value, compared to finished or semi processed products.

This explains why imported rice is cheaper than the one produced in Nigeria.

A farmer in Efon Alaaye, Ekiti State, Mr. Oluwaseun Adeyemi was reported to have attributed the high cost of locally produced rice over the imported one to low productivity caused by lack of facilities which included power.

Okiribido equally ascribed low productivity in the sector to scarcity and price of petroleum products, especially kerosene, diesel and petrol which he said further hindered agricultural productivity in the rural areas.

Explaining the workability of renewable energy for the sector, the CREN boss said, “Renewable energy resources, such as solar, wind, hydropower, and biomass are available in the rural areas,

Small scale farmers clamour for Bank of Agriculture ers.

Taiwo and Kehinde Oladele, the owners of T&K Poultry Farm recounted the agony they face in the business due to lack of loan access from the government.

They said they dabbed into poultry farming in 2013 when they could not secure government job.

“We face a lot of challenges in the business due to lack of required capital to boost our production. We have tried many times to get loan but we couldn’t,” they nagged.

The Oladeles, both graduates of Mechanical and Civil Engineering from the Polytechnic, Ibadan, advised unemployed youths to go into farming especially poultry farming instead of waiting on government to pro-

vide job. According to them, poultry farming is the simplest aspect of farming anybody can take up.

It doesn’t require elaborate training to start, what it needs most is the on-the-job training and seminars.

They urged the government to establish Agric bank at each local government area, which would be responsible for the loan to the local farmers and empowerment of fresh graduates.

They similarly advised that the bank should make the process of getting the loan less cumbersome and that the bank thoroughly monitors those it gives loan to, making sure they truly have farms and the loan is spent on the farm accordingly.

and have minimal or zero supply logistic problems.”

She added, “Modern mechanized large scale farming can efficiently rely on energy generated from wind turbines. Mankind has been crazy not to have bothered to harness the sun’s energy until now. From an environmental perspective, solar power is the best thing going. A 1.5 kilowatt PV system will keep more than 110,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas, out of the atmosphere over the next 25 years.

The same solar system will also prevent the need to burn 60,000 pounds of coal. With solar, there’s no acid rain, no urban smog, no pollution of any kind.”

While Biomass is simply the conversion of stored energy in plants into energy that we can

use, Biogas on is the conversion of plant, animal, refuse and even human wastes to stored energy that can be used for large scale farming, reducing the water contamination, odour pollution, and global warming emissions caused by farm waste.

Solar water pumping system is an efficient, low-maintenance and economical option for livestock and other agricultural applications.

Okiribido remarked that renewable energy which can be produced locally and stimulate local economy will result in more stable energy and low food prices.

The renewable energy industry creates jobs and will improve the standard of living of people as well as discourage deforestation and desertification.

Stakeholders stress importance of ecosystem approach to fisheries

G

iven the amount of wealth generated from shrimp fisheries and the notable contribution of the fisheries subsector to the National Gross Domestic Product, GDP, agricultural stakeholders said that there is need to adopt ecosystem approach to fisheries.

In a statement made available based on the recent regional workshop organized by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO, in Lagos, the FAO Co-coordinator, Dr. Kwame Koranteng stated that the project is particularly important to participating countries to ensure sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources for development.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, FMARD, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, who was represented by the Acting Director of Fisheries in the Ministry, noted that the fisheries sub-sector through the on-going agricultural transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration contributes immensely to the Nigerian economy.

She noted that in response to the need for a practical implementation of the Principles of Sustainable Development, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Code of Conduct for Respon-

sible Fisheries, the FAO have developed cardinal objective on the use of the Ecosystem Approach to fisheries management.

Odusote explained that the objective of the workshop was to ascertain the existence, size and practicality of the shrimp fisheries implementation plans of each participating country.

The EAF-Nansen project Co-coordinator Dr. Kwame Koranteng from Italy stated that the project was supported by the Norwegian Agency for Development Co-operation, adding that it assists quite a number of countries in Africa.

He said, “Every successful endeavour starts with planning, because if you don’t plan it means you are planning to fail.

The Programme Manager, Developing World Fisheries Program’ of the Marine Stewardship Council, United Kingdom, Mrs. Oluyemisi Oloruntuyi, said that for the goal of the workshop to be achieved, the shrimp products from these countries would have to be certified.

The President of Nigerian Trawler Owners Association, Mr. Joseph Overo, hinted that as important as both planning and certification might be, all these will only be a success if the sea is made safe by the State parties.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Friday, April 4, 2014

45

Equities gain 0.2% as bulls linger JOHNSON OKANLAWON

T

he benchmark index of equities rose further on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, as more investors took positions in companies with good earnings history.

The All Share Index appreciated 0.20 per cent to close at 38,545.88 points, compared to the gain of 0.22 per cent recorded the preceeding day to close at 37,728.50 points.

Market capitalisation added N30bn to close at N12.15trn, lower than the increase of N40bn recorded the preceding day to close at

N12.12trn.

All sectorial indices added substantial value except the Banking Index which lost 0.79 per cent to close at 373.05 points. The Alternative Securities Market remained flat at 952.39 points.

The NSE 30-Index gained 0.29 per cent to close at 1,699.24 points, while the Insurance Index added 0.28 per cent to close at 135.09 points.

The Consumer Goods Index appreciated 1.11 per cent to close at 941.03 points, while the Oil and Gas Index was up 0.54 per cent to close at 287.54 points.

The Lotus Islamic Index increased 0.66 per cent to

close at 2,692.06 points, while the Industrial Goods Index rose 0.38 per cent to close at 2,532.29 points.

Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc led the gainers’ table with 70 kobo or eight per cent to close at N9.45 per share, followed by Ashaka Cement Plc with 90 kobo or 6.04 per cent to close at N15.80 per share.

Sterling Bank Plc gained 12 kobo or 5.36 per cent to close at N2.36 per share, while International Breweries Plc added N1.15 or 4.97 per cent to close at N224.29 per share.

University Press Plc appreciated 17 kobo or 4.86 per cent to close at N3.67 per

share.

Conversely, Transnational Express Plc lost 12 kobo or 4.82 per cent to close at N2.37 per share, while Mobil Oil Plc shed N4.99 or 4.06 per cent top close at N118.01 per share.

Wema Bank Plc fell four kobo or four per cent to close at 96 kobo per share, while AIICO Plc dropped three kobo or 3.75 per cent to close at 77 kobo per share.

UTC Plc dipped two kobo or 3.57 per cent to close at 54 kobo per share.

A total of 227.7 million shares valued at N514.8bn were traded in 4, 234 deals.

Fidelity Bank earnings hit 127bn in 2013 JOHNSON OKANLAWON

F

idelity Bank has reported a gross earnings of N126.9bn for the financial year ended December 31, 2013, and increase of 6.5 per cent when compared to N119.1bn recorded in the same period of 2012.

The bank’s net interest income dipped 16.3 per to N30.8bn in 2013, from N36.81bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2012.

According to the result presented to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, noninterest income rose 4.0 per cent to N40.7bn, from N39.10bn recorded in December 31, 2012.

The bank’s operating expenses increase by 8.1 per cent to N54.8bn in

2013, from N50.7bn recorded in 2012, despite the impact from the increase in industry resolution cost from 0.3 per cent to 0.5 per cent of total assets and a one-off increased provision of N1.8bn in respect of actuarial valuation on staff pension and gratuity obligations.

Analysis of the balance sheet showed a total assets of N1.081trn in the review period, from N914.4bn recorded in 2012, while total customer deposits increased by 12.5 per cent, from N716.8bn in 2012 to N806.3bn.

The composition of low cost deposit to total deposits stood at 66.6 per cent, while net loans and leases rose 23.3 per cent to N426.1bn in 2013, from N345.5bn in 2012.

The shareholders’ funds stood at N163.5bn in

2013, while cost to income ratio rose to 85.9 per cent in 2013, from 71.1 per cent in 2012.

The bank’s capital adequacy ratio, which measures a bank’s financial strength and capacity for future expansion, was 26 per cent in 2013, above the regulatory minimum of 10 per cent.

The liquidity ratio, which measures a bank’s solvency and ability to meet maturing obligations stood at 46 per cent in 2013, above the regulatory threshold of 30 per cent.

Speaking on the result, the bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, explained that 2013 financial year was challenging as the business environment experienced increased volatility in response to the Central

Source: FMDA

Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) tightened monetary stance and its impact on overall liquidity.

“Despite this, we have continued to grow our balance sheet and income indicators including deposits, loans, total assets, gross earnings, non-interest income, etc. This improvement is attributable to the bank’s ongoing strategy to increase focus on retail and commercial opportunities particularly the Small and Mediumscale Enterprises.

“We however note the impact of a one-off N4.4bn in loan loss expenses which resulted from Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria clawback on loans earlier sold to them and the raise in AMCON resolution cost from 0.3 per cent to 0.5 per cent of total assets,” he said.

Britain’s FTSE hit by US data after touching three-week high

B

ritish blue-chip shares edged lower after testing a threeweek high yesterday, as the end of a two-week rally in mining shares offset gains

by Tullow Oil The session proved volatile, however, with gains made in the afternoon after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi affirmed an easy policy stance evaporating after below-expectations Unites States data.

The British FTSE 100 gave up a 0.2 per cent gain, which took it to its highest since March 12, to trade 0.2 per cent lower at 6,649.14 at the close, tracking Wall Street into negative terri-

tory.

The weaker data came a day ahead of the closely watched US non-farm payroll release, after new Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen reiterated an easy monetary policy stance earlier in the week.

“The FTSE has followed Wall Street down today, as the latest bad news in manufacturing data was seen bearish,” IG sales trader Will Hedden said.

“Going forward it is hard for investors to decide if this is going to remain the same, especially when you consider how dovish (Federal Reserve chair Janet) Yellen was earlier in the week.”

Growth-sensitive min-

ing stocks weighed on the market, with heavyweight copper miners such as Rio Tinto and Anglo American taking the most points off the index. The sector fell 0.8 per cent after rising 6.8 per cent over the last two weeks.

Copper prices weakened after Chinese stimulus measures fell short of expectations.

On the upside, Tullow Oil led risers with a 6.2 per cent gain. Traders said the move came after UBS upgraded its rating on Tullow to buy from neutral.

Kingfisher rose three per cent after Europe’s biggest home-improvement retailer began a 275 million euro ($378.6m) takeover bid

Source: NSE

for France’s Mr Bricolage, moving to strengthen its position in its most profitable market.

Analysts at Oriel Securities said the acquisition made strategic sense and the deal should help earnings in 2016.

The FTSE underperformed European equities, as it is less exposed to the euro zone, after Draghi said the ECB was ready to use unconventional instruments to avoid deflation.

While the FTSE had initially been supported

by Draghi’s words, it suffered from sterling’s relative strength against the weaker euro.

Market indicators All-Share Index 38,545.88 points Market capitalisation 12.40 trillion

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

NEIMETH

1.21 (1.45)

1.45

0.24

20.00

NPFMCRFBK

0.89

0.97

0.08

8.99

OANDO

15.70

16.48

0.78

4.97

TOTAL

172.95

181.45

8.50

4.91

UBN

10.00

10.49

0.49

4.90

TRANSEXPR

2.26

2.36

0.10

4.42

OASISINS

0.54

0.56

0.02

3.70

FLOURMILL

68.00

70.50

2.50

3.68

NAHCO

5.09

5.26

0.17

3.34

ROYALEX

0.60

0.62

0.02

3.33

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CADBURY

116.84

73.00

-43.84

-37.52

CONTINSURE

1.00

0.95

-0.05

-5.00

INTBREW

27.80

26.41

-1.39

-5.00

CAP

40.62

38.62

-2.00

-4.92

AVONCROWN

1.48

1.41

-0.07

-4.73

PAINTCOM

1.72

1.64

-0.08

-4.65

UBCAP

2.58

2.46

-0.12

-4.65

CUTIX

1.97

1.88

-0.09

-4.57

FIDELITYBK

2.02

1.93

-0.09

-4.46

UTC

0.53

0.51

-0.02

-3.77

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91-Day

22,057.31

11.50

07-Nov-13

182-Day

30,000.00

11.59

07-Nov-13

182-Day

47,786.39

13.05

07-Nov-13

Open Market Operations TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

178-Day

86,709.13

12.35

07-Nov-13

175-Day

95,368.69

12.35

07-Nov-13

-

-

-

-

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$350m

N/A

$343m

04-Nov-13

$400m

N/A

$399m

30-Oct-13

Friday, April 4, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

47

Community Mirror All the comments you have made here is for yourself and to convince your colleagues that your position is the correct one. None of this is going to go through without the required two-third.

SENATE PRESIDENT, DAVID MARK

Eight dies as boat capsizes in Lagos DARE AKOGUN

T

he National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, yesterday has confirmed the death of eight people following a boat mishap on Ikorodu waterway on Wednesday evening.

Among the victims were a bride-to-be and her fiancé, a pregnant woman, little girl and four men.

The boat was said to have left Ebute Ero on Lagos Island and was heading to Majidun in Ikorodu when the trag-

edy occurred. Many of the victims were said to be returning from work.

At least 28 people were said to be on the boat as at the time the incident, even when it could not be ascertained if the passengers wore life jackets.

The Southwest zone spokesperson of NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye said that 22 people had been recovered from the water while six remained unaccounted for.

Farinloye said the boat belonged to Bell Marine Services, a boat operator between Lagos Island and

Ikorodu, saying that the ill-fated boat took off from Ebute Ero to Majidun.

He said, “In the last few days, there had been boat mishaps in the same area, as suggesting bad weather conditions.

He however appealed to boat operators to ensure that the weather is stable before venturing out to sea.

Farinloye added that the agency is going to train boat operators’ on how to observe the sea condition before embarking on trips.

Meanwhile, a statement from Bell Marine Services,

said the boat hit a rock before capsizing,even as it denied that any passenger was missing.

Local divers, marine police, navy, disaster rescue team, Lagos State Emergency Management Authority,LASEMA, and National Inland Waterways Authority,NIWA, were involved in the rescue operation.

It will be recalled that three weeks ago, a boat capsized in Festac town, Amuwo Odofin Local Government , where 13 people drowned, including three siblings.

Motorcyclist crushed to death WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

A

commercial motorcycle operator has been crushed to death by an articulated vehicle in Lokoja, Kogi State capital.

An eye witness said that Enojo Alfa who was carrying a passenger along IBB way was hit by a private motorcyclist.

He explained that while the deceased was still lying on the road tanker loaded with kerosene ran over and crushed him to death immediately.

He noted that as the corpse was being taken away from the road his motorcycle was stolen by an unknown sympathiser who drove it away.

The trailer driver was said to have refused to stop, even as colleagues of dead motorcyclist gave a chase and apprehended him.

The eyewitness said the driver was nearly lynched before the police rescued him.

The Police Public Relation Officer in the state, Emeh Emeka said the tanker was carrying kerosene from Port Harcourt to Suleja.

He said the motorcyclist was hit by an unidentified taxi while the driver ran away Emeka said the deceased and injured were taken to the Specialist Hospital, Lokoja for autopsy and treatment respectively,even as the tanker was impounded and driver detained.

Rainstorm destroys property in Makurdi HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

A

Students reading National Mirror newspapers at the school assembly ground.

PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

Ebute Elefun School encourages budding journalists YINKA ADEPARUSI

S

tudents of Ebute Elefun Senior High School on Lagos Island are currently benefiting from the newly introduced curriculum that makes it mandatory to read the National Mirror newspaper every morning at the assembly ground.

The new curriculum

which has been lauded by parents as a ‘catch them young’ approach has made it possible for the students to be abreast of the world around them, even as it has enabled them to have insight into the basic rudiments of journalism.

According to one of the teachers, Ebute Elefun, the Senior High School decided to maintain the

compulsory readership of National Mirror for the students due to its encompassing news reportage, editorial quality and content including information on young people.

The school also noted that it was imperative to start inculcating in the students, the role of information and communication, and importantly, to imbibe

journalistic virtues, most especially among those with strong tendency to practice journalism in the future.

A section in the paper that has attracts the students is the Young and Media pages, which dwell on youth related activities and how they impact on the society at large.

Katsina approves N100m for attack victims JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

The sum of N100 million has been approved by the Katsina State Govern-

ment as assistance to victims of recent armed attack by suspected rustlers in Faskari, Sabuwa and Safana council areas.

It would be recalled that 117

people lost their lives, while over 1,000 people were displaced after gunmen attacked several communities areas.

President Goodluck Jonathan, who was in the

state at the time of the attack, had ordered for the combing of the Rugu forest where the suspected rustlers often launch their attacks from.

rainstorm has destroyed public utilities as well as houses valued at more than N200 million, following as heavy downpour in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, even as no lives were lost.

The rainstorm brought untold hardship as rooftops were blown away due to the strong wind which lasted for two hours, felling communication masts, uprooting trees and causing traffic gridlocks.

An investigation by Community Mirror showed a mast belonging to a major service provider collapsed near the Benue State Civil Service secretariat, while Pastor Alexander Onoja of ‘Jesus Glory Chapel International’ had his car windscreen shattered by a broken tree branch.

While at Kashim Ibrahim Road, the roof of

Benue State Gov., Suswan

Mande House was blown leaving the building a shadow of its former self.

Investigations further revealed that high tension poles of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company, JEDC, were uprooted at the mechanic village on the outskirts of Makurdi.

A businessman, Mr. John Ngulumun who resides at BNARDA settlement said his house roof was blown off, while his vehicle narrowly missed being damaged by an electrical pole.

“This situation will remain as it is, and since equipments of the electricity company were badly damaged, there is no hope light will be restored soon”. “

Friday, April 4, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

49

World News

Queen Elizabeth visits pope for the first time

I learned that a long time ago, in the prison yard on Robben Island. Loyalty to the party comes first - collective discipline, collective responsibility. That is the ANC way, and even Nelson Mandela could not challenge it.

50

–South African President, Jacob Zuma

Chad withdraws from peacekeeping force in CAR PAUL ARHEW

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

C

had announced yesterday it was withdrawing from the African peacekeeping force in Central African Republic after being accused of siding with a mainly Muslim movement that seized power last year.

Chad came under the spotlight at the weekend when at least 24 people were killed and another 100 seriously wounded by Chadian soldiers sent to repatriate their compatriots from the CAR, according to officials there.

The government in N’Djamena said it was withdrawing from the MISCA force as it denounced “a wanton and malicious campaign” against its troops, one that it said made them “bear the responsibility” for all the country’s troubles.

“Face with these repeated accusations, Chad... is deciding to withdraw the Chadian contingent from the MISCA (African force),” the government statement said.

It said the practical steps of the withdrawal will be tackled in “common agreement” between Chad and the African Union.

“In the meantime Chad will assume without fail its peace mission in the zones it is responsible for in the CAR,” according to the statement that did not give details about the areas.

The government said it has informed the president of the Central African Republic, the African Union and the UN Secretary General of its decision.

Chadian soldiers have been ac-

cused of siding with the mainly Muslim Seleka movement -which held power from March 2013 until January this year -and of showing passivity toward abuses some of them carried out against the population.

Chad has always denied the charges.

CAR’s interim president Catherine Samba Panza announced Tuesday the opening of an inves-

tigation into the killing of the 24 people by Chadian soldiers.

It was the worst-known incident involving foreign troops since French and African peacekeepers deployed in CAR late last year.

A MISCA officer said on Sunday that the soldiers had fired after they were attacked, but locals and members of the local “anti-balaka” militia said the soldiers had deliberately fired on the crowd.

W

Rebirth, renewal 20 years after Rwandan genocide April 7 marks the anniversary of a genocide that killed 800,000 people in three months.

For many Rwandans now, ‘the people who killed, today they can be friends, they are people we do business with.’

In a stadium that two decades ago was a refuge for people fleeing the foot-soldiers of genocide, a concert stage is taking shape out of a lattice of scaffolding erected on the close-cropped grass.

On April 7, 20 years to the day since the killings started, some 50,000 Rwandans will gather here at the Amahoro Stadium in the capital, Kigali, to hear President Paul Kagame launch weeks of events to mark the anniversary.

Toronto’s mayor admits mistake voting against Mandela

Central African Republic President Catherine Samba-Panza speaking with journalists at the EU headquarters in Brussels, yesterday.

S’Sudan on verge of Africa’s worst famine since 1980s - UN ar-torn South Sudan could become the scene of the worst famine catastrophe in Africa in decades without more aid and a ceasefire to let farmers reach their fields, the UN warned yesterday.

“If we miss the planting season, there will be a catastrophic

WORLD BULLETIN

decline in food security,” Toby Lanzer, the UN’s top aid official in the country, told reporters in Geneva.

“What will strike that country, and it will hit about seven million people, will be more grave than anything that continent has seen since the mid-1980s,” he warned, referring to the massive famine in

A woman holding her severely malnourished baby in the malnutrition ward of the El Sabbah Paediatric Hospital in Juba, recently.

Ethiopia that shocked the world’s conscience.

South Sudanese farmers usually plant their fields in April and May, but they have been unable to start this year amid a raging civil war.

“We’ve got 3.7 million people who are already at severe risk of starvation,” Lanzer said.

If people can’t make it to their fields in the next two months, he said, “it doesn’t take much to imagine what will happen when the harvest is due in November and December: There won’t be one”.

Making matters worse, the violence has meant UN agencies are having huge difficulty prepositioning food stocks before the onset of the rainy season, when downpours will make already challenging roads even more difficult to navigate, he said.

The violence in South Sudan erupted last December between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir

and fighters loosely allied to former vice president Riek Machar.

A ceasefire signed in January is in tatters.

More than 800,000 people are displaced inside South Sudan, while almost 255,000 have ed to the neighbouring countries of Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Sudan, the UN says.

Lanzer insisted on the need to quickly ensure enough security for people to feel it is safe to head to their fields, and to bring in far more aid in the form of seeds and tools to help get things started.

He said that donations so far had fallen far short of needs, with a UN appeal for nearly $1.3 billion for aid to the country only a quarter funded.

The world body needed $232 million to ensure only the bare minimum of humanitarian aid in South Sudan through the end of May, he said.

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is not perfect, as His Honor has freely admitted in the past, notably after confessing to smoking crack cocaine, probably while in “a drunken stupor”.

Ford demonstrated imperfection once again on Wednesday when he voted against city council motions to name a street for Nelson Mandela and congratulate Canada’s Olympic athletes, drawing incredulity even as he insisted he had accidentally pressed the wrong voting button. He was the only councillor to cast a “nay” vote on the measures.

The mayor, who is running for re-election after admitting last year to using illegal drugs, among other controversies, later asked to have the voting redone, but council refused.

Egypt to pass new anti-terrorism law Senior Egyptian ministers said they would pass legislation yesterday “connected to confronting terrorism”, in a statement released hours after three explosions killed two people in Cairo.

The statement from a high-level security committee including the prime minister and ministers of defence and interior, did not go into further details on the contents of the law. It said the bill would be presented to the cabinet for approval.

Egypt’s government already has wide-ranging security powers and has detained thousands of supporters of former President Mohamed Morsi, ousted by the army in July.

Cairo declared Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation in December.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

E

kiti State governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, , Dr. Kayode Fayemi said that his administration has been able to attract God’s blessings and approval because of its respect for the traditional institution and elders.

Speaking in Ijelu in Oye Local Government Area during day two of his re-election campaign, yesterday, Fayemi said rather than desecrate the traditional institution as was once witnessed in the state, his administration had instead elevated the

Politics

Friday, April 4, 2014

51

Respect for traditional institution, key to our success social status and the wellbeing of the obas through various perks, some of which are the health outreach to palaces and the brand new cars distributed to all of them.

He said: “We are going to win, we are a successful government. We are not chased away on account of electoral fraud or statesponsored terrorism. We don’t lock up traditional rulers in the booths of cars, and we don’t treat our elders with disrespect.

“We take care of our elders by giving them social security stipends every month. We also gave brand new cars to our traditional rulers and we are not a government of abandoned projects.”

Fayemi added that of all the requests presented to his administration by the Ijelu community, the only one yet to be granted is the Ijelu/Itapa road which has also been incorporated into the 2014 budget and would be done before December.

In Omu, the governor urged all eligible voters in the state who are yet to obtain their permanent voter’s card to do so at the INEC office in their respective local government areas.

Addressing a throng of his supporters and admirers in the town, Fayemi said the voter’s card remains the greatest weapon with which they could engender the continuation of good governance in the state.

Fayemi, who paid a courtesy call on traditional

rulers in all communities visited, noted that his government was able to bring change to all the communities in the state because it never discriminated.

He listed the projects executed by his government in Omu to include school renovation, 3.6km Omu/ Ilemeso road, Ifon/Abudo/ Temidire street road and the renovation of open market stall.

Ongoing projects in the town include construction of Owajumu’s palace, construction of 5km township road and 22.5km Omu/ Gede/Ayede road.

Other towns visited by the campaign train included Osin, Itapa, Ilupeju and Ire, where the people rolled

78 DAYS TO GO out the drums to welcome the governor with pomp.

On the governor’s campaign train were: the Deputy Governor, Prof. Dupe Adelabu, Ekiti APC chairman, Chief Jide Awe, the Director-General of the Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Hon. Bimbo Daramola, Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Dr. Ganiyue Owolabi, and members of the state executive council.

Fayemi to Presidency: You’re strengthening PDP for violence ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

T L-R: Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain, Chief Afolabi Ojuawo; PDP guber aspirant, Chief Dayo Adeyeye; PDP gubernatorial candidate, Mr Ayo Fayose and Director-General, Adeyeye’s Campaign Group, Mr Bisi Kolawole, celebrating after a reconciliatory meeting in Ado-Ekiti yesterday.

We already have our flag bearer, PDP chairman GBENGA OGUNBUFUNMI

A

s the June 21, governorship election in Ekiti State get closer, the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state, Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe said the party now has a flag bearer for the election in person of former governor, Ayodele Fayose.

Ogundipe made this known while speaking with National Mirror in a telephone interview, saying that once a party chose a candidate and Certificate of Returns officially given to that candidate, all issues

•Tasks INEC on level playing field about his nomination are considered closed.

Advising other aspirants to close ranks and ensure that the party coast to victory in the June 21, poll, Ogundipe said the PDP in Ekiti State has done its ground work for the election and that what is now left is for the electoral umpire and other agencies involved in the election to be thorough and ensure a level playing field for all, so as not to rubbish President Goodluck Jonathan transformation agenda on the issue of free and fair elections in the country.

He also called on politi-

cians in the state to give good account of themselves during the election by ensuring that violence is not given a place, while advising the youths to beware of those who might try to use them for selfish purposes.

The chairman’s statement was coming at a time the party’s ability to overcome the crisis that erupted over the nomination of its flag bearer in the election was in doubt.

The state chapter of the party has been rocked by crisis over the choice of its governorship candidate for the election as some of

the governorship aspirants have vowed not to support the candidature of Fayose in the forthcoming election.

As the crisis deepens last week, some of the aspirants elected Senator Gbenga Aluko as the party’s consensus candidate in a move aimed at having two candidates for the party in the election.

A source close to one of the aspirant told National Mirror that once Abuja has succeeded in imposing their wishes on Ekiti PDP, the party should be ready for the consequence at the poll.

he Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation has accused the Presidency of aiding the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to foment trouble ahead of the June 21 governorship election.

The Director General of the organisation, Hon Bimbo Daramola, described the deployment of large number of State Security Services, SSS, operatives around the PDP governorship candidate, Mr Ayo Fayose, on his return to the state on Wednesday as a ploy to aid perpetration of violence.

Daramola said: “If you are popular, you do not need that detachment of SSS. Anyway, we need to ask who ordered the release of the security personnel.”

He told journalists in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, yesterday that the former governor’s return to the state had been greeted with violence, alleging that

PDP knocks Fayemi over denial of access to stadium ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

E

kiti State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has lambasted the state government for denying it the use of Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado

Ekiti for the flag off of the party’s governorship campaign billed for April 8.

The PDP campaign for the June 21 election is expected to be kicked off by President Goodluck Jonathan.

State Publicity Secretary, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, said

the action of the All Progressives Congress, APC-led state government amounted to political intolerance.

He alleged in a statement yesterday that “the refusal letter dated April 2 and signed by one Mr P.O. Dada of the Ekiti State Sports Council

has shown that the APC government has displayed the highest level of political.

“We wish to inform Ekiti people that the APC government has denied the use of public schools and other recreational centres because of the same politi-

cal intolerance forgetting that these amenities were built with public fund.”

The PDP therefore called on traditional rulers in the state to call Governor Kayode Fayemi to order in the interest of peace and unity in the state.

one All Progressives Congress, APC, member in the governor’s train was shot and injured by PDP thugs.

Alleging that the bus conveying some APC members including the victim, Mr Babatunde Fatoye, who narrowly escaped death, was shot-at at Adebayo area of Ado Ekiti at about 7.28pm, he also alleged that the suspected PDP thugs had earlier attacked and vandalized an APC branded bus parked within the premises of Fayemi’s campaign office in Ajilosun area.

He said: “I want to believe that a script has been mapped out to introduce an orgy of violence if not, what did Fayose, who claimed to be popular, need such a contingent of SSS and policemen for?”

But the spokesman of Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation, Mr Idowu Adelusi, debunked the allegation, saying: “Our supporters who were being guided by the security did not have the intention to attack any person or property. ”Beside that, the supporters had been specifically instructed by Fayose not to be violent and not to react to provocation by the APC as they moved from Ikere to Ado Ekiti and they kept to the instruction. ”Therefore, what the APC is claiming is strange to us. Let them beam their search light elsewhere.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Friday April 4, 2014

53

Sport Our performance at Old Trafford wasn’t a bad one.

Certainly, it was straight to plan –Bayern Coach, Pep Guardiola

Obuh faces Rangers’ sack

54

Ideye confesses:

‘I can’t score without Emenike Emenike’’ N

igeria’s international striker, Brown Ideye, has revealed that he struggles when he does not play alongside his strike partner in the Super Eagles, Emmanuel Emenike.

Ideye was poor at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil where he was saddled with the responsibility of leading the attack for the Eagles.

But he badly fluffed his lines as Nigeria failed to advance past the preliminary stages in a group comprising Tahiti, Uruguay and Spain.

The Dynamo Kyiv attacker has now revealed that his troubles asserting himself in Brazil was down to the absence of Emenike .

“Maybe, if Emenike had played at the 2013 Confederations Cup, I would not have faced as quite as much pressure as I did. Since Emenike was not there, the other person looked upon to perform was me,” Ideye told supersport.com.

Ideye said the “pressure to perform” got to him and he failed to score a single goal in the tournament.

“When a lot of people put pressure on you to deliver and you don’t, you feel like you are the worst footballer on earth,’ he said.

Ideye has scored five times in 23 appearances for Nigeria at senior level.

Ideye

T

World Tour: Quadri, Offiong make main draw ANDREW EKEJIUBA

N

igeria’s Aruna Quadri and Edem Offiong secured their spots in the main draw of the ongoing International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)sanctioned World Tour tagged ‘Spanish Open’ which serves off today after advancing from the preliminary round of the competition.

Quadri will be playing in his first

main draw of any ITTF World Tour after the Portugal-based finished top in Group 10 of the preliminary round.

Offiong, who is also making her debut at the ITTF World Tour, finished second in Group Seven behind Russia’s Yulia Prokhorova after beating England’s Hannah Kicks 14-12, 7-11, 7-11, 11-5, 12-10, 6-11, 11-5 (4-3) in her second match of the group to make the last 64 of the championship.

Offiong will face the competition’s

Falcons play Eaglets in test match

number two seed, Japan’s Sayaka Hirano, today on table seven.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s duo of Quadri and Makanjuola will also meet Denmark’s pair of Mikkel Hindesson and Kasper Sternberg in the men’s doubles today.

Ganiat Olatunde-Aruna lost all her three matches in the preliminary round to exit the singles event, although she will partner Offiong to confront Chinese Taipei’s Hsin Huang and Hsing-Yin Liu in the women’s doubles.

he Super Falcons will square up against the U-17 boys in a test match this morning in preparation for the double header against Cameroun and Rwanda.

The friendly will be played at the FIFA Goal Project pitch Abuja, according to Falcons head coach, Edwin Okon.

“We decided to organise this friendly so that some of these girls will not think here is jamboree house. The friendly is a wake-up call that here is not where you will come relax, sleep, eat, get up and jump to training and then come back to camp” “We are not thinking of the goals, we just want to see what we will do with the boys, because as we all know the boys are faster than the girls. We want to see how they can match up with the tempo of these boys.”

54

Sports

Friday April 4, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Obuh faces Rangers’ sack R a n gers I n ter national Football Club of Enugu Coach, John Obuh, was yesterday handed an ultimatum to win the next three matches after the Enugu club lost its second game of the season to newly promoted Giwa FC on Wednesday.

Rangers had lost 2-1 to Enyimba the previous week in a game Obuh blamed the referee for the team’s loss.

Media Officer of Rangers, Foster Chime, said the management was dissatisfied with the team’s performance and was left with no choice but the ultimatum.

“It is a measure aimed at checking the team’s low productivity and it is expected that the ultimatum would work wonders

soone s t , ” Chime added.

Rangers host Sunshine Stars on Sunday in Enugu before making two difficult road trips to Port Harcourt and Warri for dates with Dolphins and Warri Wolves.

Obuh joined Rangers amid high expectations, promising to win ‘The Flying Antelopes’ a major trophy after the legendary club had gone almost three decades without a major trophy.

The Obuh-tutored side is reeling with three points in four matches.

Ademola, others shine for 3SC

T

hree new signings currently engaged by Shooting Stars Football Club of Ibadan impressed in a friendly against Oke Ado United on Wednesday in Ibadan.

Former Golden Eaglets player, Raphael Ademola, scored the opening goal before Najeem Olukokun and Segun Lana netted a brace each to complete the 5-0 rout.

Ademola last played for Athletico Beleares in Spain, but failed to earn a contract with Polish team Wisla Krakow in the last transfer window. Lana is from Union Bank FC while Najeem Olukokun is from Kwara United.

Friendly:

Flying Eagles maul Abuja team T

he Flying Eagles yesterday in Abuja defeated a local amateur side Lugbe United 12-0 in friendly game to prepare the junior national team for the forthcoming Africa Youth Championship qualifiers.

First-half braces from Taiwo Awoniyi, Alhassan Ibrahim and Ifeanyi Matthews, with a further goal from Bernard Bulbwa gave the Flying Eagles a 7-0 lead at the interval.

Further goals from Bulbwa, as well as Awoniyi and Ibrahim, who completed their hat-tricks, gave the Manu Garba-tinkered team the morale-boosting victory over the Nigeria Nationwide League side.

Garba expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, saying, however, that the players would not rest on their oars ahead of the AYC qualifying match with Morocco in Casablanca next week.

Inauguration: Primus, All Stars duel in Isolo AFOLABI GAMBARI

T

he inauguration match of the new Executive Committee of Great Primus All Stars Club, Isolo will hold tomorrow at the football field of Metro Junior College, Isolo, Lagos.

Great Primus, which has emerged as one of the most prominent recreational sporting clubs in the Okota/Isolo/ Ejigbo area of Lagos State since 2011, recently elected officials to steer its affairs until 2016.

National Mirror learnt yesterday that Great Primus All Stars club will take on the All Stars Football Association, Ejigbo in a friendly match to usher in the new executive.

Previous matches between both sides have provided excite-

ment, considering the caliber of players they parade.

Great Primus had inflicted a 2-1 defeat on All Stars right at their Ejigbo mini stadium in November in the fierce rivals’ last meeting and it is not unlikely that this encounter will be marked by revenge.

Primus’ newly elected President, Awo Iche Awo, who will marshal the team’s midfield, says the side will present a full strength with a view to starting his tenure on a winning note.

Awo, popularly known as Ekwechiri, is a Deputy Superintendent of Customs and a veteran of Customs and Paramilitary Games football competitions.

He will get the services of coach/player, Brazil Aninweke (ex Lagos Railways and NITEL Vasco, Enugu) alongside Okey

Igbo (ex Udoji United) and Chinedu Odiari (ex Lagos A.C.B and star of the Flying Eagles Saudi ’89 Damman Miracle fame.

Other members of the new Great Primus Exco set for the match are Shola Akinnukawe, (General Secretary), Emmanuel Nnadi ( Asst. General Secretary), Ifeanyi Muobike (Financial Secretary), Izuchukwu Agada (Director of Socials), Paul ‘Kolombo’ Obi (Team Manager), Iyke Iwuoba (Treasurer) and Uche Emebo (Provost).

Aninweke has assured that the yawning gap left by the rampaging Vice President of the club, Frank Frederick, who is overseas on a business trip, will be adequately filled.

The Ejigbo All Stars is coached by Gabriel Orji, who once featured for Stationery Stores and Lagos NITEL.

Hockey: Police rules 5-Aside AFOLABI GAMBARI

P

olice teams from Abuja and Lagos dominated the 2014 5-Aside Indoor Hockey Competition hosted by Lead City University Ibadan, as Police Machine Abuja and Zone 2 Police team emerged champion and second runners-up respectively.

The event, which is the only indoor hockey tourney in Nigeria, was organised by the Ibadan-based university as its contribution to the development of lesser sports in the country.

The Oyo girls won in women category after a round robin format which included another Police team named: IGP Babes, Diamond, Ogun State team and Lead City University Girls.

Head, Sports Unit of LeadCity University, Lade Aloba, who coordinated the event commended the participants’ comportment during the 4-day tournament.

Medals, trophies certificates and some promotional items were given by Unilever to support the event, even as the Governing Council of the school, Prof. Jide Owoeye, who pledged better tournament next year.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Friday, April 4, 2014

Confab: Jonathan has a hidden agenda -Buhari’s aide STORIES: OMEIZA AJAYI AND WOLE OLADIMEJI

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delegate to the National Conference and former National Campaign Secretary of the Buhari Organisation, TBO, Engr. Buba Galadima, yesterday dressed down the inaugural speech of President Goodluck Jonathan to the conference, saying, it was laced with hidden motives.

He said although many delegates had lauded the speech of the president, there is nothing special about it.

Galadima spoke just as a delegate of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Prof. Andrew Haruna, warned the Federal Government against pursuing a separatist policy.

Haruna said: “All discriminatory policies towards religion should be removed. Building places of worship in federal or state government institutions should be stopped.”

He described the Almajarai educational system as designed for the North by the Federal Government as one of such separatist policies, lamenting that an Ijaw from

Delegates throw out motion to stop lunch

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elegates yesterday unanimously threw out a motion seeking to cancel lunch at the ongoing National Conference.

Conference chairman, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi had told delegates of complaints by some of their colleagues about the quality and quantity of lunch provided for conference participants.

He said the secretariat had earlier changed a food vendor due to complaints by delegates, explaining that since it wants the best for delegates, the secretariat would be ready to listen to further complaints.

Consequently, a delegate, Barr. J.I Ebinum, a retired police commissioner, proposed the cancellation of lunch since it was proving difficult to get a good food vendor, but his motion which was proposed just

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•As Christians warn FG against “separatist policies” the Niger Delta would be the one to help to build schools for Northern street urchins, despite that the region has been in power for a long time.

He said that if the government is building schools for the almajarai children, the same gesture should be applicable to all children from other zones.

His words: “If it is not deliberate, it is unfortunate and if it is deliberate, it is dangerous. I want to appeal to the government that this idea of segregation is not good.”

He said he will change the President’s name to Mallam Jamilu Mainasara, which he said is a true meaning of “goodluck”.

On indigeneship/settler dichotomy, the professor of languages and linguistics said: “How can a Hausa man living in Ile-Ife be an indigene? How can an Igbo man leaving in Kano be an indigene? He can be a citizen but never an indigene. Let us just remove these terminologies from our documents and the forms that we fill,” he said.

Galadima begged to differ from earlier speakers

few minutes before lunch time was greeted with booing.

The secretariat had before the commencement of the exercise slated lunch for between 2pm to 4pm.

On several occasions, some delegates had rejected their meals saying they were of low quality.

Others had complained that if one did not get to the cafeteria on time, the likelihood of getting a good meal with fish or meat is slim.

The Federal Government is providing lunch for 500 people including 492 delegates and six conference officials, who of course are never seen going for lunch with the delegates.

The secretariat has also recently provided “coffee and tea points” where delegates could go and refresh for a while as the conference progresses.

saying the address of the President is just one of those speeches of leaders.

He said: “From Murtala Mohammed to Ibrahim Babangida, they have made many laudable speeches at occasions like this. I have been one of the strongest critics of this confab, maybe that was why when my state submitted my name, the Federal Government found it expedient to re-

move my name but by the grace of God we are here.”

While recalling that he has attended conferences since 1988, Galadima said that every Nigerian knows the problem of the country, adding that he was convinced that there was no need for the conference.

He added that Nigeria must work towards conducting all elections in one day.

While some of his remarks

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attracted jeers from many delegates, the public address system also “sabotaged” most parts of his speech.

He also warned the clergy to not set the country ablaze by their comments, saying:”For the clergy that are here, let them not set this country on fire be-

cause for every coin, there are two sides”, said he.

Another delegate, Sule Yahaya Hamma from Kano state also picked holes in the president’s speech, saying that “although the speech was good, it was silent on corruption and national security.”

A delegate at the National Conference reading a copy of National Mirror newspaper in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Delegates abandon confab for Jonathan’s daughter’s wedding

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lmost half of the delegates yesterday abandoned sitting to enable them prepare to travel to attend President Goodluck Jonathan daughter’s wedding coming up tomorrow, in Bayelsa State.

Most of the seats were empty and when the presiding officer, Justice Idris Kutigi, called them to contribute

to the debate on the presidential speech, some of them were nowhere to be found.

While some sought permission not to be around they begged to be called before their time to enable them contribute to the debate before leaving for the ceremony.

Former Minister of Education, Rukayat Ahmed Alkali and a retired Head

‘Jonathan, now born again’

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delegate under the retired military officers’ category, Gen. Idada Ikpomwen has described President Goodluck Jonathan as a “born again”.

He said the President had before now been aversed to suggestions about convoking a national conference, hailing him for listening to most Nigerians and having a change of mind.

He said: “I am glad that we have a President who is born again. Earlier on, some of us had approached him on the issue of a conference and he said no, that there are institutions to take care of all the yearn-

ing of Nigeria.”

The retired army officer however told his colleagues that the conference will not make any meaning if it cannot come up with a new constitution.

“We all know the meaning of referendum and plebiscite. I believe that this is a legitimate assemblage of men and women.

We do not need to say because we are not in the constitution and so we cannot conduct a referendum. If we admit that the constitution is faulty, then we need a new constitution. If this conference cannot come up with a new constitution, then we have not achieved anything,” he said.

of Service, HoS, Obele OPkeke were among delegates in this category.

Some of the delegates expressed concern over this development, saying that their colleagues failed to realise the importance of the confab because they were not expected to trivialise a state function that affect the basis of the unity of the country for a

mere wedding ceremony.

Ebuchukwu Ezike representing Civil Liberties Organisation said that Nigerians were watching, expecting good report from the confab, but it was unfortunate that delegates seemed not take the conference serious and if care was not taken it may jeopardise the success of the conference.

Muslim delegates raise issue on non-provision of mosque

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elegates in the National Conference may soon go on religious riot as most of them believed that they were being deceived by the secretariat that promised to provide mosque for Muslims to pray.

Since the commencement of the conference, Muslims were seeing praying under the trees, under the stair case, car parks, some even in protest praying in the middle of the roads.

Earlier on, shortly after inauguration of

the confab, the secretary, Dr Valerie Azinge had announced that there was provision of mosque for Muslims to pray, an announcement which generated crisis as Christian delegates too demanded for a place for them to pray, especially during this lent period.

Most delegates who spoke to National Mirror expressed concern over development but that they were not ready to heat the already charged atmosphere so that Nigerians would not be saying that delegates were asking for too much.

WORLD RECORD

Largest fashion show audience

Vol. 04 No. 823

N150

Friday, April 4, 2014

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show held at Cannes on 18 May 2000, was watched by more than two million people around the world who logged onto VictoriasSecret.com.

Taking African infrastructure to the Future O ne of the top developmental challenges in Africa, particularly subSaharan Africa, is the shortage of infrastructure. Public sources alone cannot meet the funding needs and African countries are seeking strategies to increase private sector investment in infrastructure. In a report issued in 2010, the World Bank found that the poor state of infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa reduced national economic growth by two percent yearly and cut business productivity by as much as 40 percent.

Inadequate physical infrastructure covering transportation, power and communication, is inhibiting growth and productivity, while inadequate social infrastructure including water supply, sanitation, sewage disposal, education and health are adversely affecting the quality of life.

Energy, water, transport, information technology services and other infrastructure require extensive renewal or installation in order to support the projected growth over the coming years.

Guest Elizabeth Uwaifo Columnist

The growth in infrastructure needs to be transformational in order to have an impact. African development institutions and governments have recognised that adequate infrastructure is critical to achieving the growth levels expected and required.

According to the World Bank’s Africa Infrastructure Country Diagnostic (2009), the infrastructure needs of sub-Saharan Africa exceed $93 billion annually over the next 10 years. It is reported by the African Development Bank that less than half of this amount is being provided, which leaves a financing gap of more than US $50 billion per annum to fill.

African governments are implementing initiatives that are designed to increase the participation of private sector investors in infrastructure.

Public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements have emerged as one of the major avenues for channelling the participation of private capital and expertise in delivering infrastructure projects in recent years. PPP arrangements could be used to provide funding for projects that are bankable while allowing the government to apply public funds on non-bankable but socially desirable infrastructure projects.

The framework for PPP in a country should be designed with a view to attracting private sector participation in public infrastructure projects in a manner that provides value for money. A country must adopt a PPP model that is tailored to its specific needs and environment and must in addition incorporate best practices from countries that have been highly rated for their PPP activity and delivery. The Canadian and UK PPP models provide examples of PPP frameworks that ought to be considered in devising a unique model for an African country.

The Canadian model has been much celebrat-

INVESTING IN AFRICAN INFRASTRUCTURE IS CHALLENGING AND THE CHALLENGES ARE VARIED

AFRICA IS A CONTINENT WITH 55 COUNTRIES AND SUBSAHARAN AFRICA HAS 48 COUNTRIES GIVEN THAT

ed due to the high level of standardisation in the procurement process thereby making it more efficient and cost-effective for bidders. It follows the ‘negotiated’PPPpathanddoesnothaveto,forexample, follow the “competitive dialogue” procedure which all countries in Europe have to follow in compliance withadirectiveof theEuropeanUnion.

In Canada, bidders are given a design on which to give a price. The “competitive dialogue” procedure is meant to allow a public entity which knows what outcome it wants to achieve in awarding a public contract but does not know how best to achieve it to discuss, in confidence, possible solutions in the dialogue phase of the tender process with short-listed bidders before calling for final bids.

Commentators have noted that the high volume of PPP transactions in Canada between 2008 and 2012 was due to the adoption of a “PPP first” attitude towards infrastructure procurement pursuant to which all big infrastructure projects were to be procured as PPPs unless it was proven that PPP was not the most suitable form of procurement. It is worth considering

when a similar policy by African governments would be appropriate.

Investing in African infrastructure is challenging and the challenges are varied given that Africa is a continent with 55 countries and sub-Saharan Africa has 48 countries, each with a separate legal and regulatory system and all at different stages of development. The typical risks for investors are no different from those that would be experienced in other emerging markets.

Notwithstanding the current challenges for private investment, there are investment opportunities at present for private investors in infrastructure. McKinsey reported in 2010 that African infrastructure will be worth US $200 billion in annual revenue to the private companies by 2020. “Infrastructure Investor Africa An Intelligence Report” noted that that African independent power projects have earned investors internal rates of return of up to 25 percent, compared with 15 percent in Latin America and 12 percent in Eastern Europe.

Investors wishing to take advantage of the current investment opportunities may be able to employ structured solutions to mitigate risks and ease the adoption of investment opportunities. Examples of solutions that could be employed in Africa include credit risk mitigation techniques, such as financial guarantees or partial guarantees from institutions better able to manage the credit risk; structured finance techniques used to isolate risk into more manageable forms; derivatives and other hedging techniques necessary to better manage default, currency, market and other risks; and credit derivatives techniques used to align the interests of investors with other stakeholders and mitigate credit and other risks. These techniques could be adapted to the African context to devise creative solutions that address the unique concerns of the relevant transaction.

There is no “one size fits all” solution, and the road map to sustainable infrastructure development must be unique for each African country.

Elizabeth Uwaifo, is partner, Fasken Martineau LLP and Director, Africa Agribusiness Knowledge Centers Inc.

Sport Extra

L

uis Collazo says British fighter Amir Khan is in for a shock if he goes into their May 3 duelwith Floyd Mayweather on his mind.

Khan was this

Boxing: Khan gets Collarzo warning month forced to accept second billing on the Mayweather-Marcos Maidana card after missing out on his dream fight against the unbeaten super-

star.

Instead the former light-welterweight champion will make his debut at 147lbs against Collazo, the New Yorker who took

Ricky Hatton the distance eight years ago and announced his return to the world stage with a second-round stoppage of Victor Ortiz in January.

Khan insists he is focused solely on Collazo, although he has already announced his intention to call out Mayweather at ringside in Las Vegas.

Khan

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