The Nation Feb 2, 2014

Newspaper of the Year

Four die as Ondo Deputy Gov’s convoy crashes Traditional ruler hospitalised

–Page 6

Gunmen kill 11 in fresh Adamawa attack –Page 4

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Vol.08, No. 2747

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

SUNDAY

FEBRUARY 2, 2014

N200.00

2015: War of words over PDP’s future –Page 4

Ruling party worse than slave trade –Borno Gov

Muazu: Come what may PDP will win next election

Atiku declares stand today

FREED: Three Indian sailors, who were kidnapped on Dec. 17, 2012 aboard a ship, SP Brussels, off the Equatorial Guinea coast after being rescued by the SSS yesterday

NDLEA ARRESTS MAN WITH 107 ATM CARDS

–Page 7

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

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CAPTURED

2 Italy murder saga: Sentencing Knox was tough, says judge

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HE Italian judge who sentenced Amanda Knox to 28 years in prison this week for murdering her British roommate Meredith Kercher said yesterday he struggled with the verdict, calling it a “difficult” decision to sentence Knox and her boyfriend.

Judge Alessandro Nencini said his conviction of Knox for the 2007 murder of Kercher was not an easy one to make, describing the sentencing as “emotionally tough.”

“I can say that in all these months, and in particular in the last meeting, we sensed the gravity of a sentence against young people and entire families,” Nencini said. “This is something that has affected many lives.”

Death Wish

Circuses are noted for featuring outrageous stunts. But this one involving an elephant and a performer entertaining audiences at the Award Gala of the 38th International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo recently, certainly pushes the envelope. There's no room for error or the man underneath the hoof would be squashed. But then men would go to any length just to earn a living.

Photo: Getty Images

BAROMETER

IGP Abubakar preys on our fears

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HE Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has created a hobgoblin out of the clamour for state police. Marking his second year in office, Mr Abubakar strongly declaimed upon the subject of state police without offering a single tangible opinion in support of the campaign to fundamentally restructure the country's unitary form of security. Barometer was not present when the IGP gave an interview to the police in-house magazine, Chief Detective, wherein he offered the censorious, one-sided argument that Nigeria was not mature enough for state policing. But it is safe to say that he made his points perhaps with the customary sang-froid that has become his trademark.

It is now clear that the IGP is unalterably opposed to state police. He thinks it could undermine the peace, stability and even unity of the country. But he is merely preying on our fears, absolutely unmindful of the damage unitary policing has caused such a huge, culturally variegated and religiously diverse country. He premised his opposition on this strange dubiety: “We are not yet ripe for state police. I'm not saying there shouldn't be state police; we are not yet ripe for it. I'll cite several examples. Check countries which are operating the state police. How many years of independence? Take Britain, take the United States, and take any European country that you can call. We are talking of 2,000 years in the United States. How old are we?

Do they have the challenges we have? Do they have the issue of where you come from? Do they have

the challenges of 'I was born in Lagos, but I'm not a Lagosian?' Do they have the religious crises that we have? I'm a Muslim, you're a Christian? Do they have the level of

sunday@thenationonlineng.net

tribal differences in the states that I'm Ijaw, you're Itsekiri, you're Igbo, or you're Eka-Igbo?”

This writer has been a solid supporter of Mr Abubakar. But he is appalled by the airiness with which he made his argument. The US is of course not 2000 years old, and perhaps the newspapers which quoted him made a typographical error.

However, one of the main problems with Nigeria, whether in terms of safety and security, or even politically, is our inability to take into cognisance our differences as a factor in designing structures and solutions for our peaceful and progressive cohabitation. Nigeria does not have to have similar challenges with a country or group of countries before it applies the same successful methods. We can apply different or same strategies like any other country irrespective of similarities or differences in challenges.

Mr Abubakar gives the impression, for instance, that on a hypothetical tomorrow, the country could evolve to such a level that a person's ethnic background would be irrelevant in his political calculations. State policing, he insinuated, would have to wait for that glorious morning. But any cursory ethnolog-

ical study of the countries of his example would reveal that Nigeria could never hope to be like the US in its founding, nor hope to adapt more than the principles and values that have shaped that country's existence, such as justice and fairness.

Mr Abubakar virtually gives the impression, in spite of tons of facts to the contrary, that the Nigeria Police Force is a veritable instrument of Nigerian unity. He exaggerates very profoundly, as the extrajudicial murder of Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf, shows, and as the anomie fuelled by the police in Rivers also illustrates to our collective dismay.

There are indeed many who would argue that had the leadership of the police over the years summoned the character needed to police intelligently along fair and just lines, the security problems assailing us, not to talk of the campaigns against unitary policing, would not be as strident as they have become. Mr Abubakar's views are doubtless cogent, firm and unambiguous, even beguiling, but they are not quite as informed as his remarkable conviction indicates. In fact, if anything, they are dangerously and retrogressively improper.

INEC timetable

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HERE have been some acute bellyaching and trepidations over the recently released Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) timetable for the 2015 elections. The most notable criticism comes from the bold and ebullient governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso. The leitmotif of the criticisms is of course the fear that it could engender a bandwagon effect once a president is elected, in addition to constituting a coercive effect to compel governors to support the president's re-election. Bandwagon, however, works both ways. If the APC presidential candidate is elected, and there is no reason he cannot be, should we not also expect a bandwagon?

…Police embrace unconstitutionality Just when it seemed enough juridical arguments had been mustered to defeat the undemocratic insistence of the federal government and the Nigeria Police for rally organisers to obtain permit, top officers of the police have brushed both the law and the constitution aside to insist on the old, provocative and unwise ways of policing democracy and maintaining law and order. The continuing folly of the police in Rivers State is of course the new trigger for the controversy on permits, especially with the way that state's commissioner of police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, strives to please Abuja to the detriment of the law and constitution. It is now apparent that the police cannot be persuaded by reason or by statutes to obey the law. They would rather disobey the law flagrantly or pretend to be above the law.

Early last week, the Assistant Inspector General of the Police, Zone 3, Hashimu Argungu, summoned (a relic from the military era) political leaders in Edo State to warn them on a number of matters among which was the necessity to secure a permit for rallies. He cited Public Order Act 2004 and the Electoral Act 2004. The AIG pretends not to know what the courts have decided on the permit matter, nor apparently does he care. In addition, it does not seem to matter to him the annoying incongruity of the police issuing permits for rallies, which in effect makes them the governing authority in the states, an anomaly now blended in all its horrifying aberration in the recalcitrant and vexatious Mr Mbu.

By ADEKUNLE ADE-ADELEYE

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

COLUMN

Realpolitik and the Real Polity (1) (For Pa Abdulkareem Adebisi Akande who walked the entire distance)

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EALPOLITIK is the urgent engagement with the practical and pragmatic necessities of politics as opposed to its idealistic possibilities. The world as it really is is quite different from the world as it ought to be. The real polity, with its throbbing contradictions, is totally different from the imagined and imaginary polis.

In its primal sense, realpolitik often comes across as brutal and amoral politics totally devoid of principles and ideology. Yet it may also be the case that realpolitik is based on a brilliant and visionary reconstruction of existing reality which leaves us breathless and stranded in the way it opens up new vistas and engenders a shift in the very paradigm of political engagement.

Why is it then that our current situation is so eerily reminiscent of events preceding the first coup and culminating in a civil war? For a moment, one can be forgiven for thinking that we are living in a timewarp. Yet you also know that you cannot step into the same river twice.

The solutions of fifty years ago are no longer applicable or practical.

Except as an absolute endgame, our good old military friends have also written themselves out of the script.

As it is today, the few remaining Nigerian patriots must be troubled and worried about the state of the nation. The minimal gains of independence, the long and costly struggle against military despotism, the brutal battle for the enthronement and entrenchment of the sovereignty of the electorate, are about to be frittered away. At no other point in its history has the country appeared more religiously riven, ethnically fractured ,politically divided and economically polarised. The fault lines are being daily dug up by elderly idols of the tribes.

In such circumstances, it is not surprising that we are witnessing what can only be described as the tribalisation of the nation or the rise of ethnic siege mentality. Everybody is retreating to the safety zone of their ethnic igloo in the face of pressing and real danger, and a pox on those who are perceived to be fooling around with other ethnic groups, particularly members of “enemy” tribes.

The fears are not irrational. In any multi-racial or multi-ethnic society, a siege mentality develops when hostile circumstances force a sudden and sharp accentuation of primordial consciousness and ethnic self-awareness. The fear of the other parades as the fact of human existence. Generally, this can be extended along religious lines in spiritually divided societies. Brotherhoods and fellowships abound in order to define and delineate non-brothers and no-fellows. The result is often genocide and/or concentration camps such as witnessed in early America ,South Africa and Germany or civil wars such as we have seen in many countries.

The power-equation in Nigeria is getting more interesting by the hour. With the northern power brokers ranged in a mortal political duel with their former minority collaborators, the rump of the old Igbo bloc is in tactical alliance with the minorities who hitherto regarded them as oppressors. Meanwhile, the dominant Yoruba political faction , the legal and logical inheritors of the mantle of the defenders of minority rights in Nigeria, have found themselves in tacit alliance with their former arch enemies.

It doesn’t get more mixed up. One quick lesson. We may be back to 1966, but the order of battle is not the same. The old forces have been dispersed and scattered to the winds only for them to be brought back in a new configuration. A second les-

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nooping around With

Tatalo Alamu

•Akande

son. The war for the soul of a country is a long-drawn affair with constantly changing tempi and theatre.

This obvious fact notwithstanding, it is the case that in times of renewed emergency, it is the old order of battle that veterans remember. You cannot blame them. This is why the current alliance of the dominant Yoruba political faction and the old conservative core north is viewed by many as ill-motivated and completely misbegotten.

There are many well-regarded Yoruba patriots who view this association as nothing but ideological betrayal; a political union forged in hell and brokered in opportunism, the ultimate cohabitation of strange bedfellows. Many view this alliance as an attempt to deliver the Yoruba nation bound and gagged to the same “auld enemy” they have fought off with great ferocity and tenacity for the greater part of four decades. Many old Yoruba political warriors still bear the scars.

These misgivings and apprehensions are weighty and not without their merits. But more often than not, they are also a product of superstition, ignorance and plain political mischief. To be sure, the confrontation between the Hausa/Fulani

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IBERIA, Malawi and now the war-ravaged Central African Republic. What do these African countries have in common? They are ruled by women , iron ladies if you like. We have had daughters of the east, those aristocratic women of oriental steel who seized their countries by the scruff of the neck. From India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, to the Philippines, these women of exceptional valour swept away the historic cobwebs of patriarchal oppression and male-ordered ineptitude. The result is often mixed. Most of the feudal monuments are still standing in these countries. But things will never be the same again. In Burma, the lady tiger will not be kept waiting forever.

One unique thing about these daughters of the orient is that they all seem to come from political fathers. They are daughters of former presidents as we have seen in Indian, Pakistan, Indonesia and the Philippines, or they are whelps of generals and founding fathers of the nation as we have seen in Bangladesh and Burma. Benazir Bhutto’s brothers came up to no scratch and sometimes it is left to these exceptional women to carry on with the family trade and tradition.

It is said that in traditional societies, when men foul things up they usually abandon the mess for the women to clean up. With the developments in Liberia, Malawi and now the Central African Republic, can it

power masters and the dominant Yoruba political elite looms large in the history of modern Nigeria either in its direct engagement or the wars of proxies. But there has not been a permanently fixed Yoruba political adversary. Nor have the Yoruba people been fixated on a particular path to national freedom and development to the exclusion of others.

In the run up to independence, the dominant Yoruba political elite found themselves in a deadly struggle with the emergent Igbo elite as they tried to wrestle the control of the old West from the NCNC. So entrenched was Zik in Lagos and the rest of the region that even majority of the Yoruba Lagos elite dismissed Awolowo and his group as “separatists and Pakis”. Like radical insurgents, Action Group eventually overwhelmed the Yoruba cities from the interior.

It was only after this victory that Awolowo turned his attention to the rest of the country and particularly the north in a heroic but quixotic quest to extend life more abundant to the whole of Nigeria. An attempt to secure an alliance with the east was sternly rebuffed by Zik who was still nursing old wounds. After

this, Awolowo decided to take on the feudal masters in a direct confrontation. The ensuing titanic struggle and the destruction of the First Republic, military coup and eventual civil war still frames and dominates Nigeria’s post-colonial memory.

But Awolowo and his group did not have it all to themselves. As it is usually the case with confident and self-assured political elites, a radically different perception of reality led to an open split and schism in the Action Group. As far as Samuel Ladoke Akintola and his followers were concerned, the main problem of the ascendant Yoruba power bloc was not the feudal north and its master class but the avaricious, overly ambitious and ever grasping Igbo elite.

Akintola was comfortable with northern domination and supremacy as long as the west got its due. His battle cry was the memorable antiIgbo elite slogan: “Ekiniani, Ekejiani, Eketaani”. On his last day on earth, the late master of devastating innuendo had gone up to the Sardauna for guidance about the way forward in the enveloping mayhem. Later that night, he was to succumb to Captain Nwobosi and his men, despite his putting up a stiff resistance.

Many Yoruba patriots still see this guarded collaboration with dominant power and federal authorities as a classic example of realpolitik—and they are gaining new converts from old enemy war camps in a significant play of signifiers across ancient binary divides. But the politically focused see it as a classic misreading of historical signal, an attempt to pursue old enemies long after the order of battle had changed and long after the political realities on ground had mutated to new challenges.

Pursuing the dominant Yoruba political elite in all its inevitable mutations as it picks its way through the minefields and open-ended trenches of post-colonial Nigeria is a mind-bending exercise. The political gaming requires the skills of a magi-

Mothers of Africa?

be said that the revolutionary waves are finally reaching the shores of Africa, the last bastion and redoubt of gendered and engendered feudalism? No one gives up entrenched historic privileges lightly. Snooper can already hear the bugles of war from the cultural descendants of the Ottoman emperors.

Liberia and Central African Republic have been particularly unlucky. Any human community saddled with the likes of Jean Bokassa and Samuel Kanyon Doe as leaders must be ready to reap the social pestilence. The syphilitic bandylegged Bokassa and the rotund master sergeant had one thing in common: they were both certified cannibals. When the syphilis finally reached his head, the lunatic emperor was known to regularly snack on human flesh. In the case of Doe, he had openly boasted that he helped himself to the testicles of Thomas Quiwonkpah after the poor fellow fell in a failed coup bid.

Malawi has been lucky not to have descended into open civil war.

But for a long time, the Southern African nation was under the dark spell and authoritarian hammer of Hastings Kamuzu Banda. Banda did not take hostages and once famously threatened to feed his main opponent to crocodiles if he had

the temerity to step on Malawian soil. It was rumoured that this was his favourite pastime. A rumoured centenarian, Banda was so old by the time he died that he did not even remember who he really was.

It was whispered that he was not even from Malawi.

With the advent of Joyce Banda, the country is experiencing a new lease of life. The feel good factor has been phenomenal. Banda has famously disposed of the lone aircraft in the presidential fleet on the grounds that it was surplus to requirement and had taken to the open skies like a responsible and responsive leader of a poor country. This cannot be said of certain African leaders who can boast of a presidential airline when there is no national airline.

In the historic morass that is contemporary Nigeria, it is of no use singling out women as beacons of hope and moral rectitude. Satan has no respect for gender. The cankerworm of corruption and venality is an equal opportunity agent in Nigeria. While the male species appear to be more blameworthy, there can be no doubt that the Fourth Republic has thrown up some equally vile and vicious women of low reputation and nonexistent integrity. Where are the real mothers of Nigeria?

cian and the dazzling dexterity of a trapeze artist. From guarded collaboration with the old north during the civil war, the old opposition resumed with fury as soon as Chief Awolowo quit the cabinet in 1971 right up to the military coup of 1983.

Thereafter, a hide and seek game of wary collaboration and guarded withdrawal commenced between the Yoruba elite and the military proxies of the northern feudal masterclass, culminating in the annulment of the June12, 1993 presidential election after which the tense truce broke down completely. The subsequent rise of General Abacha and the degeneration of military rule to sheer state terrorism, the murder of Abiola in prison and General Abubakar’s ambiguous restoration of parity and Yoruba honour are firmly embedded in the national consciousness as part of the folklore of the struggle against military tyranny.

In the current republic, the Yoruba have risen against the presidential ambition of one of their most famous sons only to tactically endorse his return to office four years later in 2003 when it became clear that the old adversary from the north was bent on torpedoing him. But three years later, they rose in fury against their son when it became obvious that he was bent on perpetuating himself in office. While the dominant fraction of the Yoruba political elite were generally indifferent to Umaru Yar’Adua, they were implacably opposed to the attempts by a feudal cabal to stall and stymie the process of installing his successor once it became clear that the Katsina nobleman was no longer in a position to rule.

It can be seen that the dominant Yoruba political elite —as dynamically constituted at any given point in history—- have fought many battles in the history of Nigeria. It is not always a particular or fixed adversary. The Nigerian post-colonial state is a permanent arena and theatre of unending warfare. The Yoruba culture places premium value on fairness and justice. The current battle is not about any Hausa/Fulani oligarchy but a new oligarchy of the creeks.

Three years ago, the Yoruba and Nigerian electorate voted for political justice over the equally competing and compelling claim of social justice. It was felt that no matter the social inequities that plague the nation, the question of political inequality that Jonathan represents was far more pressing and threatening to the continued existence of the country.

Three years later and five years under Jonathan’s watch social injustice has deepened in the nation and political inequality has worsened.

With his astonishing incompetence, his totalitarian crudities and the uncivilised ethnic-baiting of some of his aboriginal henchmen, Jonathan has proved a far more pressing and immediate danger to the continued existence of the country.

Ordinarily, a deep sense of shame, embarrassment and disappointment with himself ought to have precluded Jonathan from asking for our mandate again. But this is Nigeria where ethnic agenda often overrides collective national interest. If Nigeria were to survive its current adversity, the will of the Nigerian multitude must be asserted over the rising tide of ethnic hysteria.

(To be continued next week)

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NEWS

WAR of words raged last night over the fate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in next year's elections with Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State saying that apart from the slave trade, no bigger calamity has befallen Nigeria than the 14 years of PDP rule.

Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar whose majority of his supporters across the country are urging him to dump the party said the PDP is not interested in changing its way.

He is due to make a 'major announcement' today on his political future.

But the new National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, vowed yesterday that whatever happens, the party will win the 2015 elections.

Governor Shettima told supporters of the All Progressives Party (APC) at the inauguration of the party's interim executive committee in Maiduguri that the PDP has repeatedly failed to address the myriad of problems afflicting Nigerians.

Citing electricity as an example, he said it was a matter of regret that the PDP cannot find a solution all these years with power generation falling at will.

He said that the APC is out to deal with all such problems if voted into power next year.

The governor described the PDP as a dying party with many of its key members in Borno defecting to the APC. He said: "Any one that matters in this state is with us now in the APC family, whether former CPC, ANPP or even PDP. I can tell you that there is no opposition in the state now because even Mohammed Goni is in the same page with our family".

THE NATION ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2014

War of words over PDP's future

•Its rule worse comparable to slave trade, says Borno governor •Party does not want change- Atiku •Ex-Vice President to make 'major announcement' today •Whatever happens, we'll win again-PDP chair Mu'azu From: Yusuf Alli, Abuja/ Bodunrin Kayode, Maiduguri/ Austine Tsenzughul Bauchi

The Governor told party stalwarts that the coalition which gave rise to the present interim executive was a 'well thought out one' after series of painstaking consultations among the different parties that formed the APC in Borno State.

He warned party

faithful that "we are living in a very interesting period which is why there is need for maturity, diplomacy, forgiveness and tact in handling issues that touch on the people.

Former vice president Atiku Abubakar, a top member of the PDP, took to the Twitter yesterday to take a swipe at the party.

The PDP, he said, is not prepared for change.

He notified his friends

and associates of his intention to make a major announcement today.

He gave no details but it was gathered that he might be defecting to the APC. He accused the PDP of not recognising his worth.

He said: "My friends, I shall be making a major announcement tomorrow (Sunday) and I will be sharing it with you.

"Over the years, since I

returned, the PDP hasn't invited me to any party functions, even as a statutory BoT member.

"I have also been kept out of the PDP National Executive Committee meetings and locked out of its caucus.

"Even after walking out of the Special Convention to force changes, the party never contacted me. Not once.

PDP doesn't want

•Imo Deputy Gov., Eze Madumere flanked from his right, Mr. Federic Miaret Mr. Ularamu, and J. C. Uzor, in Abuja

change."

The ex-Vice President also said it was obvious that Nigeria might end up with a two-party state.

He added: "Nigeria is inevitably moving towards a two-party system. It is time to make decisions on which ideological direction we will align with.

"The interests of Nigeria override personal interests. We can only achieve personal ambitions by making Nigeria work first."

However, the new national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Ahmed Adamu Mu'azu, declared yesterday that nothing would stop the party from winning the 2015 elections.

He spoke in Bauchi at a civic reception organised in his honour by the Bauchi State government.

Mu'azu, the immediate past governor of the state promised to provide a level playing ground for every member of the party to enable it win next year's elections.

He said that the PDP is working to ensure that those who win its tickets to contest eventually win the elections.

He also paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Suleimanu Adamu during which he dismissed fears that the problems facing the party are insurmountable.

He pledged to solve the problems by reconciling all aggrieved parties, and reposition the party ahead of the challenge ahead.

Gunmen kill 11 in fresh Adamawa attack G UNMEN believed to be Boko Haram militants have killed 11 people, including a pastor at Sabon Garin Yamdula, Madagali local government area of Adamawa State.

The Friday night insurgency is the latest in

the long list of attacks in the Northeast, where soldiers are currently locked in a battle with the terrorists.

Madagali local government area is close to the boundary with Borno, the sect's principal stronghold.

Chairman of

Madagali council, Maina Ularamu, said of the Friday attack: "Yes, some gunmen we believed are the same fighters of Boko Haram unleashed a new round of violence on Sabon Gari Yamdula on Friday night and killed as at the moment - 11 people."

SSSIndianhostagesrescued, five arrested

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HE State Security Service (SSS) yesterday confirmed the rescue of three Indian hostages and arrest of five members of the kidnap gang behind the crime.

The rescue operation was carried out in collaboration with the military.

It said it has also launched manhunt for the leader of the gang and others who are on the run.

The SSS, which made the disclosures in a statement by its Deputy Director, Public Relations, Marilyn Ogar, said the hostages had been handed over to the Indian High Commission in the country.

The statement said: "On 30th January 2014, this Service in collaboration with the Military rescued three (3)

FROM: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation Indians, Kanishik Jhorar, Mhinder Singh Saini and Balwinder Singh.

"They were kidnapped on 3rd January, 2014, while on board a cargo ship, MV SAN MIGUEL belonging to Martinez Hermanos Limitada, an Equatorial Guinea Company, off the coast of Equatorial Guinea and brought to Bonny Channel, Rivers State, where they were held hostage.

"Accordingly, on 31st January, 2014, the three (3) Indians were handed over to the Indian High Commission and the country of their

employers (Equatorial Guinea Embassy) respectively.

"No ransom was paid for their release. Meanwhile, five (5) members of the kidnap gang have been arrested, while the leader of the group and others are still at large."

For sometimes some kidnap gangs had been targeting Indian and Filipino sailors operating in Niger Delta coast in return for ransom.

In a similar pattern in January 2013, five Indian sailors, who were held captive for more than a month, were later set free within the same timeframe.

The sailors were kidnapped on Dec. 17, 2012 aboard a ship, SP Brussels.

He said the militants tried to burn down the entire village but "were repelled by the youths of the area who came out with locally made guns."

Vigilante youths firing guns set them to flight and soldiers were later deployed.

Ularamu said that the

pastor was rushed to the hospital but died.

"It was while repelling them that the security agents later arrived before the terrorists retreated."

The Sabon Gari attack came days after gunmen suspected to Boko Haram insurgents killed over 50 people in an attack on a

church in the Chakawa village of Adamawa.

In a separate attack, police reported that a bus Friday set off an improved explosive device on the highway through nearby Kuthra village in Borno State, killing seven passengers.

AU urges united stand on ICC

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HE African Union urged its members to "speak with one voice" to prevent criminal proceedings at the International Criminal Court against sitting presidents, according to a statement Saturday.

The 54-nation organisation said it was disappointed that a request to the U.N. Security Council to defer the trials of Kenya's leaders "has not yielded the positive result expected." The African Union also has sought the deferral of criminal proceedings against Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, who has been charged with genocide in Darfur.

Only Botswana has opposed the stand taken by the African Union, made in a statement received Saturday after a summit in Ethiopia attended by 34 leaders.

"African states parties should comply with African Union decisions on the ICC and continue to speak with one voice," the statement said, adding "There is an imperative need for all member states to ensure that they adhere to and articulate commonly agreed positions ..."

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto face charges of crimes against humanity at the international court at The Hague for allegedly

orchestrating post-election violence that killed more than 1,000 people following a disputed presidential election in late 2007. Both men deny the charges.

The International Criminal Court has recently come under strong criticism from African leaders who accuse it of racism in indicting only Africans. Countries such as Uganda have suggested they may decide to sever ties with the court in solidarity with Kenya. Some Africans also argue that the Kenyan leaders need to concentrate on governing their countries to ensure stability as the region faces unprecedented terrorist challenges.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2014

NEWS

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PDP crisis will end soon, says Mark

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ENATE President David Mark believes that the crisis plaguing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will soon abate.

Mark, according to his Special Adviser on Media, Kola Ologbondiyan, spoke when he visited Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State in Dutse.

He pleaded with party leaders and supporters across the nation to work towards a permanent reconciliation.

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

He urged the stakeholders of the party to work together and ensure that the party survives its challenges.

He said: “When the crisis in our party started, I called my brother and friend (Governor Lamido) and asked him if what I was hearing that he was leaving the party was true. He re-

plied me that he is not a fool.

He said ‘How can I leave the house I built for somebody else?’

He spoke with courage.

“We cannot solve the problems of our party by running away from it. Governor Lamido is courageous and he speaks from his heart always. We must all work together to make sure that the PDP survives.”

The Senate President commended the zonal, states and

local government executives of the North-West geo-political zone for ensuring the continued unity of the party.

He said: “The PDP problem is winding to an end while the problems of the other party are beginning to emerge. It is our (PDP) turn to sit down, rest our back and begin to laugh now the same way they were laughing at us.”

He stated that the Senate is

united, adding that the “Senate is not partisan because we are not Senators of parties but Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

He commended Lamido for “truly providing noticeable democratic dividends for his people. Your democratic dividends are not songs that are being sung only on the pages of newspapers. The change in Jigawa is commendable be-

cause it is noticeable.”

Lamido described his guest as a nationalist who has taken up the responsibility of providing hope for Nigerians.

The Senate President commissioned a number of projects including the new Deputy Governor’s lodge, the State House of Assembly Complex and the State Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, among others.

Kano APC harmonisation committee elects officials

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From Left: National Chairman of PDP, Adamu Mu’azu; Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu and Gov. Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, at a Civic reception in Honour of the National Chairman of PDP in Bauchi on Saturday PHOTO: NAN

Kaduna killings: Bring perpetrators to book, say Northern Govs

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HE Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) yesterday challenged the security agencies to fish out the Thursday killers of the family of seven in Manyi Akuru Village, Manchok in Kaura Local Government of Kaduna State, and bring them to justice.

Jide Orintunsin, Minna

Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, who doubles as the chairman of the forum, said, in a condolence message, that bringing the perpetrators to justice would check a re-occurrence of such crime.

Expressing shock and sadness at the renewed attacks in parts of Kaduna State by unknown gunmen, Aliyu warned the brains behind the attacks to stop forthwith.

The forum commended Governor Mukhtar Ramalan

Yero of Kaduna State and security agencies in the state for their quick intervention which, he said, averted a reprisal.

The governors prayed God to grant repose to the souls of the deceased and also grant members of their families the fortitude to bear the loss.

A journalist and his typewriter

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SELDOM-HEARD noise is emanating from a small cubicle at the far end of Press Room One at the Palace of Nations, the imposing home of the United Nations in Geneva.

It’s the sound of metal keys clattering against paper, punctuated frequently by the muted ping of a small steel bell.

Gordon Martin, UN Correspondent for Vatican Radio, is writing his latest dispatch on the day’s developments at the Geneva 2 peace talks on a 40year-old Remington Performer manual typewriter.

The UN’s second largest office has been Gordon Martin’s news patch for a quarter of a century. At the age of 86, he is still reporting on proceedings in the labyrinthine complex of buildings.

In the age of social media and digital diplomacy, Gordon Martin is a resolutely analogue journalist.

“I don’t have a mobile telephone,” he tells me with a slight hint of pride. “I don’t understand a lot of modern gadgetry and I think sometimes gadgets get in the way of clear use of the English language.”

For the Holy See’s reporter in Geneva, replacing his typewriter with a laptop or an iPad would be tantamount to heresy.

After all, if it’s not broken then why fix it?

“I’ve never tried anything else,” he admits with a throaty chuckle.

Rather than a relic from a bygone age of journalism, Gordon Martin could perhaps be regarded as something of a visionary.

Suspicion of technology is back in vogue in diplomatic circles following Edward Snowden’s revelations about electronic eavesdropping by the US National Security Agency.

Russian media outlets reported last year that a Kremlin agency responsible for protecting highranking officials had bought a batch of ageing typewriters to prevent its communications from being hacked by Western powers.

Martin stumbled into journalism by accident after studying classics and modern languages at Oxford University, followed by a spell as a teacher.

In 1955, destined for a career in the wine business, he made a last-minute decision to take up a traineeship with the Reuters news agency instead. He could speak Italian and so was posted to Rome at the height of the glamorous era of La Dolce Vita.

During one early assignment, to Madagascar, he learned one of the most important lessons for any young journalist. Personal contacts can be a reporter’s most valuable commodity.

“I met a charming French lady who was a very good ballroom dancer and there was nothing the Minister of Information in Madagascar liked more than dancing the Charleston with this lady,” he recalls.

It’s up to the listener to decide whether he is getting an accurate picture or whether it’s just chatter” “She said to the minister, ‘Either you give a contract to Mr Martin from Reuters (giving him permission to set up an office on the island) or I will never dance with you again.’ The minister immediately summoned me to his office and I signed the contract.”

After 10 years with Reuters, Martin took up the post of Latin America correspondent for the BBC. He reported from every country in the region - from Bolivia after the execution of Che Guevara, to Fidel Castro’s Cuba.

After the death of President Nasser of Egypt in 1970 he moved to Cairo. Every word he wrote had to be approved by the authorities prior to broadcast.

“First of all I would go to the censor’s office and they’d read my script,” he says.

“Sometimes they would say, ‘Mr Martin you can’t say that.’ I’d say, ‘Well I saw that with my own eyes’. But that didn’t matter if they decided I couldn’t say it.

“Then I’d go to Cairo Radio, where they’d already have a copy of my script as cleared by the censors, and I’d do my broadcast to London.”

But the clattering sound of Gordon Martin’s typewriter won’t be echoing around the UN press room for much longer.

After a long and distin-

guished career as a foreign correspondent, the day is approaching when he’ll walk slowly and deliberately along the corridor from his office to the United Nations radio studio to send his final report to Rome.

“I think this year I’ll probably give up altogether because I can’t walk very well,” he says sadly. “I have trouble with my legs and I find that I don’t have as much energy as I should have.

“I think I’ll just go on working until the end of this year and then call it a day.”

Although the Geneva 2 talks have been taking place behind closed doors in Room 16 of the Palace of Nations, the two Syrian delegations have been making aggressive use of social media to get their messages across to the public and the media.

The chances of Gordon Martin becoming a late convert to Facebook and Twitter seem remote. But until he finally hangs up his UN press credentials he’ll carry on practising oldfashioned journalism in the same way he has done for almost 60 years - talking to sources, asking questions and making sense of the world on behalf of his listeners.

“It’s still up to the correspondent to decide what is relevant and what is just nonsense,” he says. “And it’s up to the listener to decide whether he is getting an accurate picture or whether it’s just chatter.”

Source: BBC

TAKEHOLDERS of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State have elected former deputy governor of the state, Abdullahi Tijjani Muhammad Gwarzo and ACN gubernatorial candidate in the 2011 election, as chairman of APC Harmonisation Committee.

To serve as secretary is Alhaji Adamu Aliyu Sumaila who, until recently, was the PDP chairman in the state.

The executive committee members were elected at a meeting in Kano, according to Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso who named other officials as Hajiya Maryam Kofar Mata, women leader; Salisu Abba, Treasurer; Murtala Sule Garo ; Organising Secretary ,and Rabiu Bako ,Youth Leader.

The rest are: Bashir Karaye, Publicity Secretary; Abbas Sani Abbas, Deputy Secretary; and Sa’ad Hassan, ex-officio member.

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

Kwankwaso said that the executive members were selected from the defunct ANPP, ACN, CPC and the nPDP that merged into the APC. He said under the merger accord, the nPDP was entitled to five members, ANPP two, and ACN and CPC one member each.

However, the governor noted that PDP decided to forfeit its two slots to ACN and CPC, as well as the chairmanship in the interest of harmony and justice in the party.

He appealed to party followers to register their names with the party as soon as the registration exercise begins.

Prominent stakeholders at the meeting included Alhaji Musa Gwadabe, a former deputy governor of the state, Magaji Abdullahi, General Jafaru Isa (rtd), Sule Yahya Hamma, Kawu Sumaila and Sheik Ibrahim Khalil.

Eight feared dead in Taraba ethnic clash

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IGHT persons are feared dead in a clash between two Tiv communities in Donga and Takum Local Government Areas of Taraba State.

A woman was reported injured in the conflict between Shitile and Ugondo.

However, the Police spokesman in the state, Joseph Kwaji, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said yesterday that only three deaths could be confirmed by the police.

In one incident last Wednesday, three persons were feared killed at Tse Tatswa Village, Donga. Some houses were set ablaze.

The name of one of the casualties was given as Tyonenge Kpuugh. He was said to have been macheted to death by his assailants.

A mad man, who was sitting under a tree close to the scene was also allegedly gunned down. Residents said that the invaders struck at about 8 o’clock in the morning.

Many of the villagers took to their heels and are now taking refuge at Peva, in Takum.

The Shitile/Ugondo skirmishes started last December and each side is said to be maintaining a standing militia for protection.

Many settlements from Ugondo and Shitile have been reduced to ashes, including Tse Gigigh, Aga, Tse Tor, Anaa, Atogbenda and Tse Tatswa, among others.

A highly disheartened Tiv man yesterday described the brother-on-brother violence as “shameful.”

“I can’t understand this kind

From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo of shameful dispute or I should I call it foolish war?” were his words when The Nation sought his reaction on the crisis.

The dispute is said to have been triggered by the arrest of an alleged armed robber in Shitile by the police.

Accomplices of the arrested suspect, sources said, then sought to take out their anger out on an alleged repentant robber at Ugondo whom they claimed acted as informant for the Police.

His mother was shot in the leg and his house was set ablaze.

The man, sources said, hit back at those he suspected of setting his house ablaze and the conflict soon degenerated into a communal strife.

Worried by the escalation of the violence, leaders of both communities last Sunday met at Wukari to seek truce but the peace meeting ended in confusion when six traditional rulers at the meeting were arrested by the police and taken to the State Command in Jalingo.

Police spokesman, Joseph Kwaji, yesterday said they are still interrogating the village heads until they (police) get “useful” information on the whereabouts of the criminals involved in the dispute.

“We are interrogating them because we learnt they are habouring armed robbers who are involved in the crisis. They are refusing to assist the police.

But we shall continue to interrogate them to wake up to their responsibility”, he said.

News

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2014

2015 poll: INEC ignores calls for shift of election T

HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is not keen on altering the dates for next year’s Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship and State Assembly elections, despite complaints from certain quarters.

Saturday, February 14 was picked for the Presidential/National Assembly election and February 28 for the Governorship/State Assembly polls.

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) kicked against the presidential election coming up first, saying it was aimed at encouraging a bandwagon effect in favour of the PDP. The ACF said it would have been better for INEC to hold all the elections on the same day to “reduce cost and avoid bandwagon effect.”

It asked the National Assembly to amend the Electoral Act to empower the Commission to hold all the elections on the same day.

Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State has also faulted the timetable along the same line.

However, an INEC top official told The Nation yesterday that the Commission has no reason to change the poll timelines.

The source, a Commissioner, said: “We are constitutionally empowered to conduct elections. Go to sections 76, 178, 116 and 132 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to view the mandate of INEC on dates of elections to be appointed.

“If you look at Section 25 of the Electoral Act, INEC is expected to organize elections 150 days or 30 days before the expiration of the tenure of office of any holder.”

FROM: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

The Section, which applies to all political offices, reads: “An election to the office of the President (as applicable to all offices) shall be held on a date to be appointed by the Independent National Electoral Commission in accordance with the constitution and this Act. “An election to the said office of the President (as applicable to all offices) shall be held on a date not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of that office.

“So, we have complied with the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act. No one can ask us to change the timetable and there is no circumstance that could warrant any alteration of our schedule.

“In 2011, a party even went to court on the timetable and the court said it is the prerogative of INEC to fix election timeline. That has laid any agitation on the 2015 poll timetable to rest.

“The fact is that there is no enough time at hand to be playing politics with poll timetable; we will not join such fray.”

Giving an insight into what informed the choice of the election dates, the Commissioner said that in 2011, INEC started with the National Assembly elections followed by the presidential poll and the governorship and State Assembly elections coming last.He said the only change this time around is holding the presidential and National Assembly elections on the same day because it is cost effective.

“Instead of Nigerians go-

ing to the polling station three times as was the case in 2011, it will now be twice in 2015,” he said.

He denied that the timetable was designed to favour any party or candidate, saying: “In any case, no candidate has even emerged from any party not to talk of favouring him or her. So, we have the National elections coming first and the state elections next in line.

“There is no way the timetable can lead to a bandwagon effect as being claimed. What bandwagon are we talking about when the National Elections would have been concluded?

“We gave a two-week gap in between the National Election and State Assembly election to make sure that all logistic challenges are properly addressed.

“We want a free and fair poll; we want to conduct elections which will be acceptable to all Nigerians.”

Jega, who spoke on INEC’s preparedness ahead of 2015 elections, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said: “When we fix dates for elections, we stick to them and do not just make changes except something bad happens.

“In 2011, we had some challenges with the National Assembly elections and had to move it forward by one week.

“But in 2015 general elections, the dates have been fixed and we do not intend to make changes. We are not prepared as a body to conduct all elections in one day, that is why we are starting with two categories for now,’’ he said He said the Commission looked at best global practices before merging the Presidential and National Assembly elections to hold on the same

day, while the Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections would hold on the same day.

He also said that the continuous voters’ registration exercise would hold from June to September this year to enable those who had attained the age of 18 to get registered.

Jega, who had earlier presented a paper at a lecture on “ The 2015 Election and INEC” at the UK Centre for Strategic and International Studies, listed logistics, attitude of the political class and delay in amendment to the legal framework, as some challenges to elections in the country.

He said that the Commission had taken into consideration some lapses from the Anambra elections, adding that it would not use the Added Voters’ Register (AVR) for the 2015 polls.

He, however, said that such names would be transferred to the electronic register before elections to avoid what happened during the Anambra governorship election.

He further said that the Commission had improved on its synergy with security agencies, while stressing the need for police protection for electoral staff especially those at the polling centres.

The INEC boss also stressed the need for more collaboration with development partners, and listed capacity building and technology as areas where assistance would be required.

“Such partnership in capacity building will address the problem of skill gaps. We also face a systematic challenge with data gathering, for example, removing names of the deceased from the voter’s register, so we need the right technology for this,” he added.

Four killed, Ondo Deputy Governor escapes death in auto crash

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HE Ondo State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, narrowly escaped death yesterday in a motor accident at Aponmu-Owena on Ondo Road, Akure.

He was unhurt.

Four other persons involved in the accident were however not that lucky: they died.

A traditional ruler, the Osunmakinde of Ife Tuntun in Osun State, Oba Obawure Taofeek Olaposi, was injured and subsequently

•Traditional ruler injured, hospitalised From Damisi Ojo, Akure

hospitalised as was a teenager in his car.

The four dead persons were all travelling in a car said to belong to an employee of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Akure.

There were divergent versions on how the accident occurred.

An eyewitness alleged that the driver of Oba

Olaposi’s Toyota Camry car rammed into the deputy governor’s convoy.

Another source attributed the accident to allege over speeding by the deputy governor’s convoy.

The traditional ruler and the teenager were rushed to a hospital in Akure for treatment while the bodies were deposited in a mortuary.

Confirming the incident, the Chief Press Secretary to

the Deputy Governor, Mr Daisi Ajayi said the Deputy Governor was on his way to Ondo for an official function when the accident occurred.

He said one of the security cars in the convoy and the Deputy Governor’s spare car were badly damaged.

Olanusi was, last night being attended to at home by doctors.

Man commits suicide over failed marriage bid

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A 24- year old man, Abubakar Ahmed, was yesterday found hanging on a tree in Ganten-Tudu in Kaoje Development Area of Kebbi State.

A resident of the area, Malam Tukur Mohammed, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi that the deceased apparently committed suicide over failed

marriage bid.

Mohammed said the deceased had been farming to earn a living.

He added that the deceased ostensibly committed suicide after failing to produce N40,000 bride price for the marriage scheduled for last Friday, Jan. 31.

The witness said that the deceased was not happy with an

arrangement to postpone the marriage to February 7 in spite of assurance from relatives that the money would be paid.

The deceased reportedly travelled to neighbouring Buya village with a friend on a motorcycle to recover a debt but was unsuccessful.

He was not seen again until his corpse was found

dangling on a tree yesterday.

The sole administrator of Kaoje Development Area, Malam Bello Abdullahi, confirmed the incident.

He said the deceased had been buried according to Islamic injunction while the Police had commenced investigation into the matter.

NEWS

THE NATION ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2014 Amosun convenes parley on APC’s registration

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GUN State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will tomorrow hold a stakeholders’ parley to provide updates on arrangements for the membership registration exercise scheduled for Wednesday.

The meeting, convened

by Governor Ibikunle Amosun, according to a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa, will commence by 1pm at the June 12 Cultural Centre Ground, Kuto, Abeokuta.

All former governors and deputy governors as well as National and State Assembly members (present and past), who are members of the APC are expected at the meeting.

Others who have been invited to the parley are all political appointees at the state level, including Commissioners, Special Advisers to the Governor, Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants, Consultants to the Governor on Local Government Affairs; Local Government Chairmen and their deputies, Councillors, all political appointees at the Local Government Level as well as all members of the Consultative and Advisory Councils.

Cleric seeks prayers for Nigeria

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HE Senior Pastor of Christ Living spring Apostolic Ministry, (CLAM), Pastor Wole Oladiyun, has advised President Goodluck Jonathan to declare every first day of the month in 2014 as a day of national prayer and fasting to avert impending turbulence in the nation.

He said God wants all Nigerians to pray for mercy for the doors of unprecedented calamities in Nigeria.

Oladiyun spoke with reporters in Lagos last week.

He said: “God loves this nation and there is every assurance that if this is done, the mercy of God will prevail over the pending darkness and there shall be great restoration of the fortunes and glory of Nigeria.”

Yola Airport to commence International flights

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NTERNATIONAL flights will soon commence this year at the Yola International Airport, Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, assured yesterday.

She stated that all necessary machineries have been put on grounds to make this happen soon.

Oduah also ordered the authorities of the airport to commence use of the newly built terminal before its inauguration.

She spoke yesterday during an official inspection tour to Yola.

The minister expressed

From Barnabas Manyam, Yola

satisfaction with the quality of work executed, saying that the airport can compete with its contemporaries in the world.

According to her: “The official commissioning of the airport project is just a matter of time; for us to officially commission the Airport, we just need to do a little touch as the work has been completed save for some little things that need to be done.

“The terminal as it is now is comparable to any terminal anywhere in the world.

A

minal annually.

He said the airport terminal is efficiently designed with state-of-the-art facilities which include two laundries, shopping malls and better accommodation for passengers.

Orisi said: “You can walk from the checking area to the arrivals area. It allows people to mingle inside the terminal, allows us to have a lot of shops and commercial offering.”

He added that the cargo terminal project has also begun just as he said the lightening of the airport will soon be finished.

NDLEA arrests man with 107 ATM cards

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FFICIALS of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted one hundred and seven (107) Citi Bank credit cards.

The automated teller machine cards were detected inside a luggage during the outward screening of Turkish Airline passengers to Istanbul, Turkey at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

A 36- year-old man with dual identity has been apprehended in connection with the discovered cards.

NDLEA’s Airport commander, Hamza Umar, said that the suspect had two international passports bearing his photographs but with different names.

“He had a Nigerian passport with the name Funsho Oladimeji Babatunde and a Turkish passport with the name Kosar Kursat both bearing his photographs.

“The cards found in his luggage are 68 Citi Interswitch Master Cards and 39 Citi Interswitch Visa cards,” Hamza stated.

The suspect, who is a native of Iwo town in Kwara State, lives in Surulere Lagos.

The Ordinary National Diploma (OND) graduate of the Kwara State Polytechnic told investigators that he was taking the cards to a friend in Turkey.

By Sunday Oguntola

conspicuously missing when the entire board was re-appointed in 2013 for another five-year term.

Oritsuwa alleged that his name was intentionally omitted and replaced with another despite the fact that Jonathan had approved him for a second term.

He further alleged that the NCPC’s Executive Secretary, Kennedy Opara, connived with some people in the office of the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF) to drop his name after being cleared by the president because of his stands on accountability in the commission.

According to him: “I think this injustice was as a result of my determination to see things done appropriately.

“I have been the only per-

Gunmen shoot Daily Newswatch assistant editor

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UNMEN yesterday shot an assistant editor of the Daily Newswatch Newspapers, Toyin Obadina, on his way home after production.

Obadina was shot in the stomach along the Itoikin-Old Ijebu-Ode Road at about 1am while driving to his residence in Parafa area of Ikorodu, Lagos.

It was gathered that the assistant Editor of the Saturday title of the paper was waylaid by armed men who doublecrossed him with two Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) in his Toyota Yaris car.

Though he reportedly cooperated with them, the armed men shot him twice after dispossessing him of valuables.

His wife, Mrs. Abiola Obadina, said: “When they stopped him, he gave them all the money that he had on him.

The thieves double-crossed him when he was coming from work.

“They were riding in two jeeps and they collected everything he had on him but one of them shot him in the belly when they were done with him. He is currently responding to treatment.”

When the Sagamu Divisional Police Officer, S.T. Bernard, was reached, he said he was unaware of the incident.

Also, the Ikorodu Area Commander, Amos Omuiyadun, said the report was yet to reach him.

Akaigwe for burial

•Babatunde... yesterday

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

“My friend in Turkey called me that I should help in sending the cards to him in Istanbul, Turkey.

“When I collected the cards in Lagos, I kept them in my bag but during search, the officer saw the cards and took

How Opara connived to drop my name, by NCPC commissioner

FEDERAL commissioner representing the South-South geopolitical zone at the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Robinson Oritsuwa, has pleaded with President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene in the wrongful removal of his name from the list of board members approved for the NCPC. He made the appeal during a press briefing in Lagos at the weekend.

Oritsuwa stated that he and seven other federal commissioners were sworn in 2008 to represent their various zones.

His zones covered Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Cross-River, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.

He, however, expressed surprise that his name was

“We are proud of what we were able to accomplished, here, we thank God for the strength to be able to do that.”

The Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN), George Orisi, said that international operations will commence immediately after the opening of the airport terminal.

He added that flight operations in Yola will grow from domestic operations to international operations which will allow up to a million passengers to use the ter-

7

son who speaks against the one- man administration being perpetuated by the Secretary of the Commission.

“He has been dropping the name of the president to threaten people and because I stood up to him and said no, he connived with others to see me out through the backdoor.

“I want Mr. President to intervene in the matter. He should set up an investigation panel on this matter as well as also look into the affairs of the Pilgrim Commission.

“He will be surprised by the deep-rooted corruption permeating the fabric of the body and the extent by which certain people are ready to go in covering up the mess.”

Efforts to reach Opara throughout the weekend failed as his mobile lines kept answering ‘not available.’

•Some of the cards

me for interrogation. I am an OND graduate of Economics at the Kwara State Polytechnic,” he explained.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, directed that the suspect be transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further in-

vestigation.

He said: “Preliminary investigation suggests that the suspect had unlawful possession of 107 credit cards.

“The financial instruments are believed to be used for fraudulent purposes since he is not an authorised agent.”

Minister orders meeting over FHA project

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UPERVISING Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Musa Sada, has directed officials of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) to hold a meeting with their counterparts in the Ministry and companies partnering with the Authority in the development of its new housing estate at Apo in the Gudu District of Abuja.

The meeting, he said, will facilitate the early completion of the project.

The Authority plans to deliver no fewer than 1,300 housing units in the estate through direct construction and Public Private Partnership (PPP) undertaking with ENL Consortium Ltd and Bahaus International Ltd. Sada, who gave the directive during a tour of the project, said there was need for strict adherence with the timelines for the delivery of the various phases of the project.

By Seyi Odewale

He said the meeting, which must hold immediately, should agree on specific milestones in the life of the project, which should be identified, agreed upon and strictly observed.

Expressing satisfaction with the quality of work done so far, the Minister said there was need to speed up the pace of delivery.

He said the project would open up that area of the FCT for further development and ameliorate the housing challenge in Abuja.

The Managing Director, FHA, Terver Gemade, who conducted the Minister round the estate, said the Authority was building 103 housing units in the estate by direct construction while ENL Consortium Ltd and Bahaus International Ltd are constructing 822 and 300 units respectively.

M

RS. Iyom Akaigwe, (nee Okechukwu) popularly known as Erico Nwanyi, has died at 67.

The deceased lived in several parts of Nigeria where her husband, the late Chief Gabriel Akaigwe, a retired Chief Superintendent of Police, served.

She was engaged in business and had a popular shop at the Abada section of Ogbete main market Enugu.

She belonged to many social and religious organisations in Enugwu Ukwu, Anambra State, her home town, and Enugu where she resided.

Her remains will be laid to rest in Enugwu Ukwu on Thursday February 6 after funeral service at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church Enugwu Ukwu.

She is survived by many children and grandchildren.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2014

Thunderbolt: Olubadan deposes Oyo chief From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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HE Balogun of Jagun community in Lagelu local government area of Oyo state, Chief Olusegun Ojetade, has been deposed for placing his wife, Rachael, with thunderbolt popularly known as Magun in local parlance.

His action reportedly led to the death of two brothers, Kunmi and Niyi Adedokun, who slumped after sleeping with Rachael.

Addressing journalists yesterday, the Baale of Jagun town, Chief Isiaka Akinpelu, stated that Ojetade was deposed based on the approval of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1.

The approval, he added, was after recommendation by the Balogun's family that Ojetade should be deposed based on the misconduct.

Akinpelu explained that the Balogun denied lacing his wife with Magun while Rachael admitted sleeping with the deceased brothers.

The Baale also stated all the villagers accused the deposed chief of the offence, saying the death of the two brothers confirmed it.

According to Akinpelu, the deposed Balogun ran away from the community to Lalupon.

He said: "The two brothers before their death confessed to sleeping with the woman and when the corpse of the second brother, Niyi was brought to Jagun for burial, there was violence by some youths who came from his mother's town and beat up the Balogun and burnt his house.

"If not for my quick intervention, he would have been killed. So to forestall future occurrence of this act, the Balogun was deposed."

He added: "I did everything humanly possible to save the life of the second Magun victim after I heard the death of the first young man called Kunmi who slumped after having an illicit affair with a woman in the village.

"I personally released N4, 000 which my Balogun demanded when he assured that he would cure the second victim of the Magun that was placed on the young woman climbed

by Niyi."

The Nation also gathered that the deposed chief was attacked by angry youths from the neighbouring village who stormed Jagun community to wreak vengeance on him.

The deposed Balogun has been replaced by Chief Joseph Ojetade following a unanimous decision by the family.

Fashola flags off issuance of electronic C of O

L

AGOS state governor Babatunde Fashola at the weekend performed the symbolic flag-off of the issuance of the new Electronic Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).

He, however, said the old document remains valid until government is ready to make the total changeover.

Speaking at the brief ceremony to hand over the new document to some randomly selected beneficiaries, Fashola expressed joy that the milestone has been achieved through a lot of hard work and sacrifice.

He said government is doing everything possible to certify land titles to ensure safety of investments that people put their life savings to acquire.

According to him: "I am happy that we are here but

By Oziegbe Okoeki

there is a lot of work ahead.

For those who already hold this document (the yellow C of O), you have no cause to worry.

"We believe that a substantial number of this document comes from us; but we don't eliminate the possibility that there may have been some undesirable conduct along the line.

"So we will invite you in a more organised process to turn in the yellow documents in order to have the e-certificate. It is not something we advise that you go into a stampede about.

"We are going to be orderly about it but we expect that you will take the opportunity so that we can gradually clean up".

Reviewing the journey to the production of the e-C

of O, the governor recalled that it started when the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu digitalised the entire land registry, taking away files from public view and scanning millions of documents in the Lands Bureau.

On the security of the new document and its advantage over the old one, the governor explained: "This document that we now have is a more secure document with security printed papers. There are all sorts of features that if you tamper with them you will actually destroy them.

"They are capable of self-destruction and only a few people have access to this paper. I don't have access to it and I don't need to see it in order to sign.

"There is also a lot of information on this paper that the naked eye cannot see; so the backward reader

is able to see all of the transactions and steps and then for registry of titles to be much more able to verify and advise people who want to buy land, who want to take mortgages, who want to lease out land and people who want to check whether there is any transaction on their land to do so."

He added: "So, many of us are now operating on a digital platform until all the processes are completed. It gets to me electronically, I verify and I sign. So this way there is a lot of checks and balances to eliminate the possibility of people having an unauthentic document".

Thanking the management and staff of the Lands Bureau, the governor noted that they had to work under intense pressure to meet the stiff demands he imposed on them to achieve result.

•: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Senior Director Microsoft, Middle East headquarters, Mr. Yesser Elaba, Microsoft Manager for Lagos, Mr. Kabelo Makwane; Coorperate Vice President of Microsoft, Mr. Alli Faramayi at the briefing in Lagos House, Marina on the progress made on the Memorandum of Understanding (M.O.U) signed between Lagos State government and Microsoft at weekend.

Philanthropist empowers elders in Ondo community

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O fewer than 100 elders in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo state at the weekend received N5, 000 each from a philanthropist, Mr. Morayo Lebi.

Lebi promised to make the gesture available on a regular basis to the elders aged 65-75.

The lawyer, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

assured elders in the remaining local governments in South Senatorial district, would soon feel his impact Speaking with reporters at Akotogbo community, Lebi expressed concerns over how the aged are treated in the society.

He said: "I was sad when I

saw some old ones at the age of 75 years still moving around the street to look for what they will eat.

"Some of these old people here today still do their fishing business and this should not be so.

"It is because the government has failed to provide for them. They should be looked after. They are our

parents and we must not neglect them".

Lebi urged members of the community to join APC by registering names when the exercise commences.

He noted that APC remains the only platform that could rescue the country from the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP], stressing that its ideologies are aimed at transforming the nation.

Traditional rulers congratulate Aregbesola

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RADITIONAL rulers in Osun state have congratulated Governor Rauf Aregbesola on his "historic address of the joint British Parliament" on the success of his administration's School Feeding programme tagged O'Meal.

They noted that he was the first governor in Africa to perform the feat.

The traditional rulers under the aegis of Osun Divisional Conference of Obas congratulated Aregbesola at the

From: Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

end of their meeting in IlaOrangun at the weekend.

This was contained in a communique by their chairman and secretary, the Oragun of Ila, Oba Abdulwahab Oyedotun and the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdulrasheed Olabomi, respectively.

The rulers said: "We note with delight that for the British Parliament to have been very keen on taking cue from the exemplary performance of

Governor Aregbesola and desiring to have him as their tutor on state of Osun School Feeding.

Programme christened O'Meal is a good testimonial of his superlative performance.

"We salute the governor for a good job and we are calling on the people of the state together with us to renew their support and prayers for Aregbesola. We consider people of the state lucky to have this rare human resource as our governor and leader."

The traditional rulers also commended the administration's efforts for providing practical solutions to security issues in the state through provision of equipment for security agencies and massive youth employment programme.

They called on the governor to facilitate giving the security operations called O'SARS regular orientation and refresh their determination and commitment to meet any security challenge.

NEWS

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Late Ondo lawmaker's associate allege neglect From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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OLITICAL associates of Raphael Nomiye aka Groovy who represented Ilaje/Ese-Odo federal constituency in Ondo state have cried out over alleged neglect by the ruling Labour Party (LP) barely two months after he slumped and died.

Nomiye, a chieftain of LP and close associate of Governor Olusegun Mimiko died in his residence in Abuja late last year.

His associates, who gathered at his Okitipupa residence under the aegis of Groovy Political Forum (GPF), berated the state government and leaders of the party for neglecting them.

The group, which comprises some members of Nomiye's family and notable politicians from the coastal area of the state, said they converged to re-strategise sustain the legacies of the late legislator.

Its chairman, Prince Olatokunbo Daniel, told reporters it was quite unfortunate the leadership of LP and government in the state felt unconcerned about sustainability of the group.

He recalled that the group played prominent roles during previous elections that brought the party to limelight in the state.

Daniel explained that the neglect was a deliberate ploy by some highly- placed chieftains in the party to destroy the political structure of the late legislator.

While appreciating Mimiko for his positive roles during the burial of the legislator, Daniel said members of the group had been sidelined in the party's activities in the area since the demise of its leader.

'Don't confirm Obanikoro as minister'

By Bukola Adewale

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chieftain of the Yoruba Consultative Forum, Comrade Oshinowo Ibrahim, has appealed to the National Assembly not to confirm the nomination of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro as a Minister.

He said Obanikoro's antecedents do not qualify him for the exalted post.

In a statement yesterday, Oshinowo said "We call on all well-meaning Lagosians, Senate President, Speaker of House of Representatives to stop his nominations as a ministerial nominee from Lagos State because of his antecedents."

He challenged the former Ambassador to Ghana to render account of his stewardship and "tell us what he has done during his mission to Ghana despite huge financial provisions on foreign missions."

He said the nominee is not the best material from Lagos, claiming that "most Ghanaians have attested to the fact that he's the least performed ambassador in the last nineteen years."

NEWS

THE NATION ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2014

Shun cultism, new students told

‘Orji has given democracy a new face in Abia’

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From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

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UNDREDS of students who gained admission into the Anambra State College of Health Technology, Obosi, Anambra State were yesterday enjoined to be disciplined and work hard for a successful completion of their programmes.

Governor Peter Obi, who gave the charge during the 10th matriculation ceremony of the college, noted that keeping to rules and regulations guiding the college should be the best thing they should do as student’s aside good behaviour and studying.

Obi commended the school management for gaining full re-accreditation in most of the courses offered in the college from the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria (CHPRBN) while the few still awaiting full accreditation should get it soonest.

The governor was represented by the Commissioner for Health , Dr Lawrence Ikeakor, whose address was read by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Austin Ndulue.

In his address , the provost of the college , Dr Robinson Mgbakogu,advised the students to shun embarking on willful destruction of the college property and reminded them that their duty at graduation is to protect human health , preserve and promote life .

Mgbakogu added, “You must always shun all forms of cultism because the college has a zero tolerance policy on cultism and anyone caught involved in cultism will be expelled and prosecuted.”

Don’t lose hope, Bishop, Ogar tell prison inmates From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

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HE chief executive officer of Masters Energy Oil and philanthropist, Uche Ogar, has urged warders in Umuahia federal prisons not to be harsh on the inmates, but to show them love at all times for them to be ready to face the society whenever they come out.

Ogar said the greatest gift one can show to another when such a person is in difficulty is love and that it takes the spirit of God in any man to show such love.

Speaking in Umuahia prisons when he accompanied the Catholic Bishop of Umuahia, Rev Luscious Ugorji, on his annual prison visit, Ogar said he has decided to give back to the society from the much God has given to him and that it has been going on for many years.

He said the visit to Umuahia prisons is not his first to some prisons across the country. “In Lagos I have been visiting prisons and giving the inmates gifts through my Uche Ogar Foundation and I am ever ready to give a helping hand to prisons inmates at all times.”

Ogar urged the inmates not to lose hope, “because God has not finished with people like you and if you read the Bible, you will find out that many people God has used to bless others come from a humble home where such expectations are least expected.”

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

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•Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia State and his wife Mercy Orji arriving the venue of the grand civic reception organised in his honour by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Abia South Senatorial District at the Abia State Polytechnic Aba. PHOTO: IBEABUCHI ABARIKWU

5,000 PDP members defect to I APC in Imo T was a massive defection of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) when over 5000 members of the PDP, led by their various leaders, joined the APC. The ceremony, which was held at the Orlu Township Stadium in Orlu Local Government Area, was witnessed by National Leaders of the APC, including the National Vice President South-East, Dr. Anyim Nyerere, National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso,

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

Imo Satate Governor, Rochas Okorocha, Senator Chris Ngige, among others.

Speaking shortly after his defection, one of the PDP chieftains, Dr. Louis Obodo, who led members of the Integrity Group, a political pressure group, to join the APC, said his decision to dump the PDP was as a result of the goodwill and success of the APC- led administration in

the state.

He said he was endeared to the APC by the ideals of the party, which he said has promoted internal democracy and raised the hope of level playing field for members, “I left the PDP because of injustice which is not in the APC.” According to Dr. Obodo, who contested the Oguta/ Ohaji-Egbema Federal Constituency under the PDP in

2011, he led members of the Integrity group to the APC because of his conviction that the party has the platform that will give Ndigbo national leadership.

Receiving the defectors, the state Interim Chairman of the party, Marshal Okafor Anyanwu, congratulated them for embracing change and progressive ideals.

He charged them to remain focused and steadfast in the APC, assuring that the party guarantees equal opportunities for all members.

“It is to encourage and support children who find themselves in children’s homes.

“Some of these homes have children between three years and 16 years which is unfortunate, but then they need to be taken care of,” Agbata said.

She charged the care-givers to always investigate the identity of children brought to their homes for proper records.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Nkiru Okeke, called on mothers to give their children proper home training.

The Director of Child Care Development in the ministry, Dr Emeka Ejide, disclosed that the ministry had inaugurated an eight-member committee to oversee the activities of all community children’s homes in the state.

Ejide said the committee would work in collaboration with the state government in the battle against child trafficking and violence against children.

Some of the items distributed included tubers of yam, bags of rice, biscuits, beverages, bags of beans, toiletries and cash donation.

Anambra bans motherless babies homes

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HE Anambra State Government yesterday inaugurated the Association of Anambra State Registered Community Children’s Homes to forestall the crime of baby-selling and child-trafficking as well as wrong adoptions.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development , Lady Nkiru Okeke, witnessed the inauguration where they were provided with succour for children and care-givers in the 19 Community Children’s Homes across the state.

The names of the mother-

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HE traditional ruler of Nnanka, Anambra State, Igwe Gilbert Ofomata, yesterday sent out a save-our-soul message to the federal government to intervene in the erosion menace ravaging his community as the rains set in again for the year.

Ofomata said though there has been an ongoing effort by the federal government to salvage the community through the awarding of the Nanka erosion site to Rhinos Maritime Construction in 2010, job at the site has been stalled as a result of refusal to give direc-

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

less babies homes were yesterday changed to community children’s homes in accordance with best practices globally and to reduce stigmatisation of children at the homes. Each community home got various items of food and beverages and cash donations worth hundreds of thousands of naira.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Henrietta Agbata, while supervising the distribution in Awka, said, “it was an empowerment for nutritional values.

FORMER Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in Abia State, Chief Okey Ogbonna, has said GovernorTheodore Orji’s administration has given democracy a new face in the state.

Ogbonna, who was speaking in an interview with our correspondent in Aba, the economic nerve centre of the state, described the governor as a miracle worker who has delivered democracy dividends in the state while operating under what he described as ‘difficult circumstances and has brought Abia State to the path of growth.

According to him, “Gov. Orji has walked the talk in delivering democracy dividends to the people; providing basic infrastructure.”

The one-time commissioner, who is also a legal practitioner, said “Only a governor of his pedigree could have driven Abia to the path of growth after such distractions.

He could have chosen to play ball with the unprogressive forces and serve out his tenure but he resisted them because of his unwavering commitment to the best interest of Abia state. This is remarkable.“

Anike Ayedun’s burial holds February 8

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HE final burial ceremony of Alhaja Rodiat Anike Ayedun is to hold on February 8, 2014 in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

According to the family, the burial was shifted from February 1 in order to avail every family member at home and abroad the opportunity of paying their last respects to Alhaja Rodiat Anike Ayedun.

The families of Opaaje Oyeyemi and Ibrahim Adetoyebi Ayedun of the Giesi Royal House have announced that the burial ceremony for their late matriarch and community leader who died last year at the age of 81 will hold at Gity Event Centre, Ibadan Road, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Alhaja Ayedun is the mother of Osun State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture, Sikiru Adetona Ayedun.

The late Madam Ayedun was a strong pillar in the community as an Islamic women’s group mentor.

Save us from erosion, community begs FG From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

tive for the company to return to site.

He informed that he has concluded arrangements with his council chiefs to write to the federal government through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, for the president’s intervention.

Several buildings are at risk of being washed away by

erosion in Nanka and environs even the building of former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, and traditional ruler brother, Igwe Laz Ekwueme, are on the line of the erosion.

Another indigene of the community, Mr Nwachukwu Uchendu, said, “The company was doing a good work here as you can see. They constructed a very good road with standard drainage system and commenced work in the gully before the job was stalled.

“As you can see, they are still at the site, but from what we gathered, they are only waiting for a directive from the federal government to continue work, but the whole thing seemed to have been politicised. We don’t know what is happening any more, but we hear that some powerful interests are bent on stopping the job. As this continues, rainy season is fast approaching and our people live in fear everyday.”

In a chat at the site with an

official of the company who pleaded anonymity, he said that the company recently received an invitation from the SGF and after a three-day meeting was ordered back to site, but ‘powerful interests’ whose motives are not defined stopped the company from continuing work.

Information available indicated that the contractor has done 2.2km of road and 2.2km standard drainage but the drainage at Oko community axis collapsed.

Aniawonwa in chain at about 8am Wednesday along Ekeakpara village in Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State near Aba. He was later taken to Osisioma Police Station where the chain was unlocked.

Information about the

man’s release as at the time of filing this report was sketchy as it was not clear whether the victim’s family paid any ransom for the man’s release.

ASP Geoffrey Ogbonna, Abia State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) when contacted, confirmed the release of

the victim, adding that there was no ransom paid. According to Ogbonna, the kidnappers abandoned their victim because of the pressure police mounted on them and further disclosed that Aniwonwa had since been reunited with members of his family.

Man regains freedom four days after abduction

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R. Ugochukwu Aniawonwa, a 42year-old Nigerian based in Spain, has regained freedom four days after he was abducted in Aba. The Nation had earlier reported that Aniawonwa on Sunday, last week, around

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

9pm, was abducted by three unidentified men while he was buying Suya (roasted meat) opposite Fr. Tansi Catholic Church, World Bank Housing Estate Abayi, Aba. The Nation gathered that the abductors abandoned

NEWS

THE NATION ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2014

Ekweremadu trains 700 youths on ICT From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

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EPUTY Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has commenced the training of 700 youths in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills through the Ikeoha Foundation.

Ikeoha Foundation is the non-profit and nongovernmental development platform founded by him.

Ekweremadu spoke during the flag-off of the project at the Ikeoha Foundation ICT Training Centre in Enugu over the weekend.

He noted that the training is part of his vision to harness the potentials of the young people to make them self-reliant and drivers of the economy.

In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media, Uche Anichukwu in Abuja, Ekweremadu noted that no nation ever developed without building adequate human capital and supporting the youths to be catalysts for transformation.

He said: "The best way for us to build a better society is to create a pool of young men and women who are self-reliant; and since the government cannot provide jobs for everybody, what we are doing is to compliment the efforts of government to ensure that there is meaningful life for everyone in the society, from the young men to the elderly.

"The philosophy behind the training is that since God has given us the opportunity and privilege to support and help others, we will neither be doing any good to ourselves nor fulfilling the ends of that opportunity if we don't avail our teeming youths the opportunity to excel and be better than what we are today."

Ekweremadu assured that the five National Youth Development Centres, which he attracted to the five local governments of the Enugu West Senatorial District, would soon take off.

The Deputy Senate President also assured that the Foundation would continue to provide free eye test and glasses for all the students of the centres to improve their vision.

The Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, described Ekweremadu as "a true representative of his people who never talks, but rather works."

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Kano discovers new polio case

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ANO state has uncovered a new polio case in Kura Local Government area.

The Director of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Dr. Muhd Mahmud, confirmed this to reporters at the key stakeholders' meeting to round off the routine immunisation exercise.

He explained that the new case was discovered during the December round immunisation exercise, attributing it to non-

• Orders arrest of foreigners compliance on the part of the affected parents' victims.

He urged the parents and guardians to always accept polio vaccine for their under five children to complement the stakeholders' efforts in eradicating polio in their domain and the nation at large before the end of this year.

In the same vein, the state has ordered the arrest

of Indian and Lebanese nationals who refused administration of the vaccine on their children.

The deputy governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, in a statement by its spokesman, Bala Kudu, gave the directive during a polio immunisation campaign at Nasarawa District of Kano City.

The statement disclosed that Ganduje, who is the

chairman of Kano State Task Force on Polio Eradication, accompanied polio vaccinators to many households in the area where most of the foreigners refused to allow their children immunised.

It added that the deputy governor was visibly worried over the attitude of the expatriates and warned that no one will be allowed to hinder government's efforts in eradicating the disease from the state.

•Ogun state governor, Ibikunle Amosun (2nd left); Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa (left); Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) registration Committee for Ogun State, Hon. Niyi Fabikun (right); Secretary of the Committee, Mr. Ope Salami (left) and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prof. Ganiyu Olatunde during a visit to the governor in his office ... at the weekend.

Rector displays original certificates

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ECTOR of the Kano State Polytechnic, Professor Yusuf AlHassan, who was accused of forging his PhD certificate yesterday, presented the original copies of his academic qualifications.

The American-trained academic displayed the

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

originals of his disputed credentials before newsmen in his office.

He expressed shock when his friends and family drew his attention of the development while away for vacation in the US.

The visitation panel, constituted by the State Government, headed by Professor E. G Abdullahi came up with the report last week, casting doubts over the rector's credentials.

Al-Hassan, who spent over 30 years in the US studying and teaching, was

appointed by Kwankwaso eight months ago as rector.

The controversy over his alleged questionable qualifications started following the submission of photocopies of his credentials to the visitation panel, which indicated in its report that the rector had forged his certificates.

Wamakko advocates transparency OKOTO State goveron a sound footfor development economy nor, Aliyu Wamakko, ing.

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has stated that strict adherence to the principles of transparency and accountability will lead to good governance and development in the nation.

He spoke yesterday in Sokoto at the opening of the 2014 Mandatory Continu-

From: Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

ing Professional workshop and induction of new certified Financial Analysts.

The governor urged Nigerians to keep demanding for the enthronement of

these principles to enjoy dividends of democracy.

Wamakko, who was represented by Chairman of the State Civil Service Commission, Mujitaba Ahmed, said the principles were required to further put the country's

President of the association, Dr Abdullahi Usman urged government to come up with realistic and popular development agendas, noting that such step would further translate into medium to long term plans and budgets.

'Confab will strengthen understanding, HE proposed Nareduce differences' vocated harsher punishments tional Confab will

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strengthen understanding and accommodate differences among Nigerians, a former Secretary to the Zamfara state Government, Alhaji Ibrahim Birnin-Tsaba, has stated.

He noted that Nigerians were a united bloc that came from diverse backgrounds of

religion, culture and ethnicity.

"Nigeria is a heteregenous collection and we should come together, understand these differences and accommodate them," he stated.

Birnin-Tsaba spoke yesterday with reporters.

He said: "The unity of Nigeria should not in any way be compromised during the conference," maintaining that the conference would make Nigeria stronger and more united.

The former SSG also ad-

Kwankwaso spoke yesterday during the World Cancer day celebration and commissioning of innovative interventions at the State House.

He noted that cancer is a

serious public health problem affecting people all over the world, lamenting that it is among the leading causes of death in developing countries, like Nigeria.

This, he said, is largely

From: Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

for corrupt practices to serve as a deterrent to others while urging the anti-corruption agencies to be more up and doing.

On agriculture, the retired technocrat advocated the allocation of more funds to the sector with a view to guarantee food security.

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Ekiti APC commences registration From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC), Ekiti State has fixed next Wednesday for the commencement of the registration of members.

The exercise is expected to last five days.

Disclosing this in an interaction with journalists in Ado-Ekiti, capital of the state, the interim Chairman of the party, Chief Jide Awe, said the exercise would hold in all 2,190 polling units across the 16 councils of the State.

Awe appealed to the Independent National Electoralxxx Commission (INEC) to ensure proper and timely updating of the voters' register to avoid hiccups, which marred the election in Anambra state.

He added that the updated voters' register must also be made available to the public "at least two weeks before the election day", noting that it would be necessary to do a delimitation of the voting units to include a list of the new areas which had just opened up in the State since the time of the last election.

The APC chair assured that no member of the party would be excluded in the registration for whatever excuse.

Insisting that APC was the most democratic in its internal democracy culture in the country, Awe maintained th a t the decision to field Governor Kayode Fayemi as its flag bearer in the July elections "is the clear pass mark he (the Governor) has scored in all that he has promised the people of the State through his 8 Point Agenda."

Awe added: "This is because we were all impressed by what the Governor has done.

The best for justice and for the party is to field Fayemi for another term as Governor.

"I want to say emphatically that a party may adopt a candidate without primary. All we need to do is to follow due process and at the appropriate time we will do the official affirmation of his candidature and sent to INEC for listing".

Kano distributes 98,000 free breast cancer kits

HE Kano State government in collaboration with the 44 local councils has distributed 98,000 breast cancer self-examination kits for early detection of the disease among women.

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

Women will be trained on the use of the kits and the advantages associated with the practice, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso disclosed.

due to lack of medical counselling, professional attention and facilities among others.

"Our administration has considered the health of its citizens as very important,"

Kwankwaso emphasised stressing this informed the decision to embrace innovative health interventions to make health readily available and affordable to all the people of the state.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2014

Uganda archbishop replies Welby on anti-gay laws

Indonesia volcano kills at least 11

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NDONESIA'S Mount Sinabung volcano erupted and killed at least 11 people on the western island of Sumatra yesterday, the first time it is known to have claimed any lives, a senior government official said.

The volcano has becoming increasingly active in recent months, regularly spewing columns of ash several kilometres into the air. The government has evacuated tens of thousands of residents near the area.

"Eleven people were killed because of the eruption this morning and the number could increase. No evacuations could be made at this stage because of the potential for more eruptions," Andi Arief, a presidential staff member, told Reuters.

Sinabung is one of nearly 130 active volcanoes in the world's most populous country, which stands along the "Ring of Fire" volcanic belt around the shores of the Pacific Ocean.

Spaniards protest tougher abortion law

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HOUSANDS of Spaniards have protested in Madrid against a draft law backed by the government that would restrict the right to abortion.

Activists carried banners saying "Allow mothers to decide" and "Deciding makes us free".

The law would limit abortion to cases of rape, and instances where the health of the mother was at serious risk.

Under current legislation, any woman can have an abortion within the first 14 weeks of becoming pregnant.

Supported by several Spanish opposition parties, protesters called on Justice Minister Alberto RuizGallardon, who drafted the law, to resign.

"I came because I think this takes our country back many years regarding women's rights, criminalising something that shouldn't be a crime," said demonstrator Ana Alonso.

"We overcame this a long time ago and we have a right to have abortion performed under proper conditions without risking women's lives and their health."

The new law says early termination is no longer a right, and would only be allowed in cases of rape or when two doctors judge the mother's health to be at serious risk.

Currently women have the right to abort up to the 14th week of pregnancy, rising to 22 weeks in case of foetal deformities.

The current law, brought in

by Spain's previous Socialist government in 2010, was opposed by the Catholic Church and conservative groups.

They say abortion law should not be based on a woman's right to decide, but the right to life of the unborn child.

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• An anti-government protester sits at a road block barricade facing riot police in Kiev yesterday. President Viktor Yanukovych on Friday accused the opposition of inflaming tensions in Ukraine's crisis but also admitted for the first time that the authorities had made mistakes. Ukrainian boxer turned protest leader Vitali Klitschko warned yesterday of "a spiral of escalation" and the threat of civil war in his country as he met top diplomats at an international security meeting.

AFP PHOTO / ARIS MESSINIS

13 killed as Syrian army advances Aleppo S

YRIAN military helicopters dropped barrels packed with explosives on rebel-held areas of the northern city of Aleppo yesterday, killing at least 13 people including a family trapped in a car, as government forces inched closer to opposition-held areas.

The barrel bombs, as the crude weapons are known, wrecked three buildings in the al-Bab area of Aleppo, Hassoun Abu Faisal of the Aleppo Media Center said via Skype. Another local activist and the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights corroborated the information.

The blasts caused a fuel tanker to explode, setting nearby vehicles alight, including one carrying a family of eight who were trying to flee the area as they heard the approaching helicopters, said Abu Faisal.

Photos uploaded by activists showed a man hurling a bucket of water into a building engulfed in flames and black smoke. A video showed men dragging a charred victim out of a smashed building.

"You want a political solution? Here is a political solution!" shouted one man as he pointed at two charred bodies in the rubble-strewn ground.

The footage reflected The Associated Press' reporting of the event.

The man was referring to last week's conference in Switzerland between government officials and opposition activists seeking to resolve Syria's war, which began as a peaceful uprising in March 2011 against President Bashar Assad.

The conference did not produce any tangible results,

but is likely to lead to backdoor negotiations that may resolve the crisis.

The barrel bombing in Aleppo comes as Syrian government forces try reassert their dominance over the city, which has been divided into governmentand opposition-held areas since mid-2012.

Over the past few weeks, government troops have inched closer to rebel-held neighbourhoods of Karam Tarrad and Karam Qaser, mostly by flattening residential buildings with barrel bombs, forcing civilians to flee and making it difficult for rebel fighters to stay, activists said.

"They are wiping buildings off the ground.

These are poor areas, and the buildings aren't constructed very well," Abu Faisal said.

Syria's conflict has killed more than 130,000 people and forcibly displaced one-third of the entire pre-war population of 23 million, including over 2 million who have flooded into neighbouring countries.

Tens of thousands more are blockaded in rebel-held areas, where Assad loyalists prevent food and aid from entering to break their resistance and to flush out fighters, including extremists linked to al-Qaida.

They include the Yarmouk area on the southern edge of Damascus, where Assad loyalists have steadily intensified a blockade over the past year, leading to the deaths of over 80 people from hungerrelated illnesses or from a lack of medical aid, activists have reported.

The area has traditionally been dominated by Palestinian residents of Syria.

Trial of Egypt's ousted leader resumes

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LAWYER for Egypt's ousted president yesterday told a Cairo court that it lacked jurisdiction to try Mohammed Morsi, saying the Islamist leader remained Egypt's legitimate president because there has been no official decree removing him from office.

The claims by Mohammed Salim el-Awah came as the trial of Morsi and 14 others on charges of inciting the killing of protesters in 2012 resumed amid tight security in a makeshift courtroom in the national police academy in an eastern Cairo suburb.

Morsi has consistently insisted that he remains president, part of his Muslim Brotherhood's broader strategy of defying the authority of Egypt's new military-backed government

at every turn. He was held in a soundproof glass cage in yesterday's hearing and could only address the court directly if the judge allowed it.

The trial is one of four that Morsi and top leaders of his Muslim Brotherhood face. The charges levelled against them mostly carry the death penalty.

Yesterday's hearing was adjourned until Tuesday to allow time for the creation of a panel of experts to examine video footage presented by the prosecution as evidence.

Morsi was ousted by a military coup on July 3 that followed millions-strong demonstrations calling on him to leave office. He is now held at a high security prison near the Mediterranean city of Alexandria.

The case stems from

violence outside the presidential palace in December 2012. Morsi's supporters attacked opposition protesters, sparking clashes that killed at least 10 people.

The defendants are charged with inciting the killing of three of those protesters.

Morsi's three other trials are on charges of escaping from prison during the 2011 uprising against Hosni Mubarak's rule; conspiracy with foreign militant groups to harm Egypt's national security; and insulting the judiciary.

El-Awah contended that if Morsi was not formally dismissed, then he remains the legitimate president to this day and thus the law governing the trial of serving presidents must be observed, according to an account of the proceedings issued by the Egyptian Middle

East News Agency.

Morsi and most of the defendants turned their backs to the court when Judge Ahmed Sabry Youssef played several video recordings of the clashes outside the palace in 2012. Morsi, however, remained mostly calm as he stood in his glass cage in contrast to his outbursts during two previous court appearances in November and last week.

Anti-Morsi protesters outside the police academy briefly surrounded el-Awah's car as it approached the police academy's gate.

Some pounded on the car while others yelled insults.

El-Awah, a former presidential candidate, was unhurt and later stepped out of the car to complain to a senior police officer.

HE head of the Anglican Church in Uganda has given a critical response to a letter from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York warning that gays and lesbians should not be victimised.

Their letter was sent to all presiding archbishops of the Anglican Communion.

It was also sent to the presidents of Uganda and Nigeria, which have recently introduced anti-gay legislation.

Archbishop Stanley Ntagali responded that "homosexual practice is incompatible with Scripture".

He said he hoped the Church of England would "step back from the path" it had set itself on "so the Church of Uganda will be able to maintain communion with our own Mother Church".

Archbishop Ntagali said the Church of Uganda had been encouraged that the country's parliament had amended the AntiHomosexuality Bill to remove the death penalty, and make other provisions of the bill less severe - all amendments which he said the Church had recommended..

"The Church is a safe place for individuals, who are confused about their sexuality or struggling with sexual brokenness, to seek help and healing," said Archbishop Ntagali.

In their letter, Archbishops Justin Welby and John Sentamu said they were responding to questions asked about the Church of England's attitude to laws penalising "people with same-sex attraction".

Homosexuals were loved and valued by God and deserved the "best pastoral care and friendship", they said.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has recently signed a law banning same-sex marriages and shows of same-sex public affection.

The Ugandan Church, along with others in Africa, has broken its ties with Anglicans in North America over the issue of gay ordinations and same-sex blessings.

Archbishop Ntagali makes it clear that he thinks Anglican leaders from the US and Canada should not be invited to the 2018 Lambeth Conference.

The Church of England does ordain gay clergy as long as they are celibate.

Archbishop Welby has said some gay couples have loving, stable and monogamous relationships of "stunning" quality.

But he says he still supports the Church of England's opposition to active homosexuality.

Archbishop Welby, who is head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, is currently on a five-day African visit.

Ropo Sekoni

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Femi Orebe Page 16

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

The ‘Suntai video’

tunjade@yahoo.co.uk 08054503906 (sms only)

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NY discerning person would have known that the purported video that made the round last week showing Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State as having acknowledged that he cannot take over the affairs of state yet, must have known that it was a phantom video. It is not that those managing the governor could not have done such, but at least not again. What is involved is more than bread and butter, and this calls for more caution after initial failed attempts to properly position their principal.

Appearing in a video recording which was posted on YouTube, Suntai, who was surrounded by some of his aides was, in the purported interview which lasted two minutes and 20 seconds so incoherent in his response to the questions posed to him. For instance, when asked whether he was fit enough to resume his job as governor of the state, Suntai in a shaking and low tone replied, “I can tell you that it is well with me to return to my office simply because I want you to support me. You know the truth; I am not well at all to return to office as I am now”, etc.

I guess those behind the video knew that their antics might be detected after all, but what they have succeeded in doing is to revive the Suntai matter and bring it back to our consciousness. They know that Nigerians have short memories and that we often move on after making storm of some issues.

So, if the aim of those behind the video was to remind us about the ailing governor, whatever the motive, they succeeded. At least, we now remember that there is one governor who was touted as being able to function when he is probably still nowhere near being well for that office.

It is really unfortunate that Nigerian politicians don’t learn. After the late Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua experience, one would have thought we would never again be treated to shenanigans, especially when public officials fall sick, for whatever reason. In Yar’Adua’s case, all kinds of tricks were played by those who were profiting from his sickness. They concocted all sorts of lies; used all forms of tricks until God himself brought the entire nonsense to a denouement.

More than three years after Yar’Adua’s death, we are back to square one with the sickness of Governor Suntai. Suntai who was involved in an air mishap in October 2012 spent about 10 months in hospitals in Germany and United States of America, where he was treated for the injuries he sustained from the crash.

After much pressure from home, he was flown back to Nigeria in August 2013, with the intent of assuming the governance of the state. However, his state of fitness soon became a contentious issue. And this became clear, with all kinds of interest groups re-

“Those who say Governor Suntai is responding to treatment (he has been doing that even before he returned from abroad in August) should bring him out again and let Nigerians see his state of health. If Governor Suntai was too weak and tired to talk on arrival in August due to the stress of his journey, what is he weak and tired of now?”

Those behind the ‘video’ have succeeded in reviving the issue

Nigeria is it, but...

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• Suntai on arrival last August

sorting to the same old tricks to sustain their personal interests at the expense of the state.

When Governor Suntai returned into the country last August, one of his associates said he was mentally alert, contrary to speculations that he had lost his memory. The proof for this, according to the associate, is that the governor recognised everyone by name. So, that was all that was required to proof that the governor was not an invalid! The same governor who was said to be ready to take over then could not even talk on arrival at the airport. Anyone with eyes knew that the picture of the returning governor in the media then was not that of someone who was ready to take over anytime soon.

Before now, we had been shown Governor Suntai when he reportedly went fishing. I had cause to ask if such a ridiculous show was necessary because, rather than enhance the governor’s case, it worsened it. The picture we saw was like a caricature; even a robot would have fared better. The question on the lips of many people then was: must people go to this extent to be in power?

As I have always said, if only Nigeria’s politicians could devote 30 per cent of the time they spend pursuing power to purposeful governance, this country would be a far better place.

But what we have are people who want power for the sake of it; and when handed the power,

they keep abusing it because they don’t know what else to do with it for the general good.

The question we need to be asking ourselves now is: for how long can an elected official - governor, president or whatever be out of office on health ground? That is a fundamental question that the constitutional amendment must answer. This is necessary not because one is callous but more due to the fact that in situations like this, it is actually not the person that is sick that is benefiting; it is the hangers-on who do not want the honeymoon to end. At a point, Alhaji Yar’Adua could not even recognise anything, yet, some people benefiting from his illness said he was performing official functions; some even argued that he could do that even from the moon.

Those who say Governor Suntai is responding to treatment (he has been doing that even before he returned from abroad in August) should bring him out again and let Nigerians see his state of health. If Governor Suntai was too weak and tired to talk on arrival in August due to the stress of his journey, what is he weak and tired of now? As governor, Suntai is no longer his private self; he is now a public figure and we need to be updated on his state of health periodically if he must remain governor in Taraba.

IBB’s phantom letter

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UT last week was not all about phantom video; it was also a week of phantom letter. Of course Nigerians are familiar with the word ‘phantom’. It was very popular during the military era, when military officers could be executed or put in life jail over phantom coup.

Interestingly, the man purported to have written the phantom letter was also an active participant in that era when ‘phantom’ became a household name in the country. I am talking about no other person than General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, better known as IBB. Some say he is a self-styled president; others yet call him ‘the evil genius’. The gap-toothed general was said to have dispatched a bombshell to President Goodluck Jonathan, on the worrisome state-ofthe-nation, last week.

Coming barely a few months after former President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote a stinker to President Jonathan, one would have started wondering what the retired generals wanted.

When Obasanjo wrote his own letter, they said he did because President Jonathan has sidelined him in the scheme of things. So, what would have been the motivation for IBB to write such a short but sharp letter to the President? Could it be that he too wants to be remembered for one favour or the other? But, just as I was wondering

why the new service chiefs could not begin their assignment by taking their retired boss to task for writing a letter he is not supposed to write (or, put in official jargon, for inciting Nigerians against the hard-working government), the general denied ever writing such a letter.

General Babangida might not have known the import of his denial; but I put it to him that it has denied the media huge revenue.

Imagine the headlines: IBB to Jonathan: do something now’; or even at simply ‘IBB writes Jonathan’, there would have been no unsold for many newspapers that day. As a matter of fact, till today, newspaper owners would still have been smiling to the banks while editors would be jubilating that they at least have a respite from sweating to get good stories to sell their papers. Honestly, this denial spoilt the day for some people. You may not get what I mean now; maybe you will when ‘the column that never was’ is eventually released.

Well, denial or no denial, the new National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Muazu met with IBB on Friday. If it was a coincidence, it must be an exceptional one indeed. Perhaps it pays to be an ‘evil genius’!

T’S not always that you get the opportunity to showcase your country to first time visitors.

I was glad to perform the task last Sunday when I had the privilege of hosting three colleagues from Ghana, Sierra Leone and Cameroun after a meeting in Lagos.

Being their first time in Lagos which they have heard a lot about, their excitement about being live in the famous city was understandable.

I did my best to show them some of the places they requested to visit and some places I thought they would love to see.

My guided tour of Lagos and Otta in Ogun State turned out to be a mix of the good, the bad and the ugly experience for my guests who were very grateful for what one of them called “my generous Nigerian hospitality” contrary to the impression his countrymen think of Nigerians.

As we drove from the hotel in Ikeja to Cannanland, Otta for Church service at the 50,000 seater Winners Chapel auditorium and later headed back to Victoria Island, my guests could not hide their admiration for our mega facilities and infrastructures.

They were mesmerized by the Winners Church and Covenant University complexes.

My Ghanian lady colleague noted that the best private university in Ghana could not boast of half of the structures she saw at Covenant University. “ You Nigerians don’t know what The Lord has done for you. You should be grateful instead of complaining,” she remarked.

The third mainland bridge was also a sight for them to behold as the Sierra Leonian wondered why the government in his home country has not thought of building a bridge like ours to link the capital city of Freetown to the airport located on an Island. To fly out of Sierra Leone, he has to travel by land, sea and air!

They were also captivated by the imposing CMS/Broadstreet landscape and insisted that I park on the bridge to take pictures.

Being widely travelled journalists, they have seen better structures, but as one of them said, it’s nice to know that Lagos is indeed a mega city.

On sighting Segun Arinze on an advertisement billboard, they recalled his various roles and that of many Nigerian actors in Nigerian films they have watched. Explaining the popularity of Nigerian films in his country, My Cameroonian colleague said, “You people have so tortured us with so many films but we always enjoy every moment of watching .”

Beyond the glitz and glamour however, they were quick to note how dirty the environment was. They wondered why refuse littered the major roads in Otta and some buildings along the roads were not painted.

While our meeting we had earlier attended lasted, they were shocked by the poor electricity supply. They were no strangers to power failure in their countries but it was not as bad as they experienced during their stay.

Perhaps lowest point of our tour was the encounter with policemen who sighted me answering a phone call while driving. One of them threatened to shoot even after I had parked as directed by another member of the team.

The Ghanian was so scared by the experience that she asked that we should return to the hotel. She just couldn’t imagine why the policeman should cork his gun in the open for the offense I committed. It won’t happen in Ghana, she swore.

The next time they return to visit Lagos, I assured them we would have fixed our electricity problem considering the on-going privatization of the sector. For a country that claims to be the giant of Africa, the state of our electricity supply is a shame and rubbishes whatever progress we claim to be making in other sectors.

The earlier we solve this problem and others the better to make Nigeria the ultimate destination economic and tourist capital of Africa.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2014

COMMENT

Is Nigeria sleepwalking into military-type rule?

Political paralysis in Rivers State portends serious problems for democracy everywhere else in Nigeria

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T is hard not to think that Nigeria is walking, half conscious of implications of her move, into a military model of governance.

Just as the military governments used to do, leaders in a post-military polity are appear inured to linking any criticism or dissent to lack of unity. Military dictators used to premise their coming to power and staying in it on fighting corruption and keeping the country united. Even now, almost sixteen years after the exit of military autocracy, political and cultural leaders have almost turned national unity into a bogey. From former President Olusegun Obasanjo to current President Jonathan, governors from various political parties, and all manners of traditional and religious leaders, the theme of every speech has become how to protect and promote national unity. Everybody thinks and talks as if Nigeria has disintegrated or is disintegrating.

This attitude, if not checked, can be dangerous to democracy in the country. Average Nigerians need to be allowed for now to believe they live in a country that is not at war. Fear mongering is capable of encouraging autocracy and diminishing democratic thinking and practice.

This obsession with the discourse of uniformity in preference to the discourse of plurality of perspective is now being imported frantically by those in leadership positions into the realm of what should be a market of ideas. Only recently, the APC directed its members in the national assembly to frustrate passing of bills and budgets proposed by the ruling party in order to get the president to respond to festering political paralysis in Rivers State. Almost without thinking about the nuances of separation of powers in both parliamentary and presidential systems of democratic governance, political and cultural leaders started to shout foul, asking the APC to disown its directive to its

members in the national legislature. In which country is separation of powers designed to ensure that the legislature is always friendly to the executive? The system by design calls for contentiousness between these two bodies, should the need arise for disputatiousness.

In the parliamentary system used until the coming of the military in 1966, it was periodic contentious relationship between members of the opposition and the party in power that sharpened debates, improved conception and implementation of policies, and even prevented the ruling party from taking decisions that could have been injurious to the sovereignty of the country. Awolowo’s Action Group government benefited immensely from overt disagreement with the NCNC opposition members from Adelabu to TOS Benson. Even the government of Tafawa Balewa was saved from signing a defence treaty that would have yielded the country’s sovereignty to former colonial overlords in the talked-to-death Anglo-Nigerian Defence Pact. The position of opposition party members saved the country at that time. Even in the days of the first experiment with presidential system, the periodically adversarial relationship between the NPN and the UPN drew attention to the signs of economic collapse that the president and his then minister of economic planning were trying to hide from the citizenry.

In what ways is the effort of the APC to ensure that democracy is not destroyed in Rivers State on the altar of winner-takes-all politics different from attempts by opposition party members to rein in ruling parties in other countries?

Even in the United States, the Republican Party has not failed to use this checking and balancing aspect of American presidential system to shut down the government under the leadership of Barack Obama, yet the country did not need to run to the gods to beg them to save America’s unity. Currently, in Ukraine, the opposition party is challenging the government’s oppres-

sive acts with the support of ordinary citizens, yet nobody is worrying about the unity of the country. Political paralysis in Rivers State portends serious problems for democracy everywhere else in Nigeria. The crisis in Rivers State may not be at the instance of President Jonathan.

There is little doubt that the molestation of the elected government of the state has the hands of those in the service of those in power. Is the commissioner of police in Rivers State responsible to the governor or the president?

Nigerians that are already calling for the heads of APC leaders for stalling the passing of the 2014 budget need to pay more attention to the risks involved in democratic rule, especially the system of separation of powers. There is even nothing wrong with PDP men and women of conscience in the legislature to disagree openly with the ruling party by joining forces with the opposition if they perceive that direct or indirect actions of the ruling party diminish democratic rule in any part of the country. People who are afraid that democracy will come to an end if opposition party members employ their legislative tools to resist the manifestation of tyranny, such as has been evident in the behaviour of the commissioner of police in Rivers State since the face-off between Governor Amaechi and President Jonathan, are crying wolves unnecessarily. Nigerians who feel uneasy and scared that democracy is being threatened because opposition legislators are invoking their constitutional powers must remember that it was even members of Obasanjo’s ruling party that shot down the tenure elongation bid. For the legislature to keep the executive on its toes and nudge him in the direction of needed compromise is part of the rule of the game of democratic rule.

The thinking that Nigeria is not fully democratic yet but only in transition to democracy should not be used to silence or demobilise the opposition party. It is only recently that the

sitting governor of Rivers State, the state that has been under siege for months, acquired membership of the APC. It must be remembered that the APC had been calling for fairness, equity, and justice in the handling of the political crisis in Rivers State, long before Amaechi crossed the carpet to the APC from the PDP or the new-PDP. Those that are around when dissidents are being hounded had better spoken up. Otherwise it could be their turn to be hounded when the lust for absolute power so demands. APC may not be a perfect party, like all other human constructions, but the party is not doing anything undemocratic by attempting to shock the presidency back into consciousness and reminding the ruling party that impunity anywhere in Nigeria is impunity everywhere in the country.

Those who were in the country in the 1960s when federal power failed to prevent avoidable political crisis in Western Nigeria cannot but remember how many opportunities Nigeria had lost because the crisis in Western region was allowed to fester by those in federal power. Citizens who were of age when federal power under General Sani Abacha was used to terrorise sections of the country would not want their parents to go back to the barricades over political disagreements that can still be brought under control.

Whichever political parties or individuals have the courage to warn of a long stick that can poke the eyes of Nigeria need not be demonised. Condoning impunity at the hands of folks in the service of those in power may be tantamount to agreeing to sacrifice the testis of the father in order to assure the survival of his sons. Such attitude includes the risk of bringing destruction to the entire family. Power in every democracy has a limit; Nigeria should not be an exception. The culture of occluding threats to stability belongs to autocratic rule.

Our leaders and political pundits need to come to terms with the dynamics of pluralism in a democracy: it requires readiness to listen to the other side, in order to keep the place safe for struggle for power by all parties.

COMMENT

THE NATION ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2014

15

Filibustering is legal APC’s directive to its members to block executive bills conforms to legislative norm

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HE directive by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to its members to block all executive bills, including the 2015 Appropriation Bill, has continued to generate controversy.

The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), its supporters and allies, have alleged that the directive was meant to promote chaos in the land and portray the Federal Government as a failure, especially if the 2014 budget is successfully blocked.

Other analysts have suggested that any attempt to stop the screening of service chiefs at a time like this is simply unpatriotic. Many are miffed that a party that has consistently criticised President Goodluck Jonathan for doing little to contain the insecurity across the land, especially in the North East where a state of emergency had to be imposed, could suggest that the security agencies be left without leadership, with the disengagement of the former heads of the army, air force and navy.

However, the APC leaders have explained that the directive is that members of the National Assembly should block the bills should President Jonathan fail to take decisive action on the crisis in Rivers State. The party said it could not understand the President’s abdication of responsibility in that state, as lives are lost and property are being destroyed. Resolutions by both Houses of the National Assembly, following investigations by relevant committees, have been disregarded and Commissioner of Police Joseph Mbu is presented as an agent of the ruling party.

We do not see anything wrong in the APC directive. As a leading opposition party, the APC chose the means to draw the attention of Nigerians to the reign of impunity in Rivers State. The people are left unprotected, activities of opposition groups are being checked by the police while groups loyal to the PDP are aided and protected by the police force. Besides, the APC has called

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COIN normally has two faces. However, in some climes and under certain circumstances, it may appear that the coin may be multifaceted. Therein lays the paradox of the faces of a coin. Or is that why we find it difficult to accept the coin as a currency denomination? Otherwise, the note too has two faces. Encounters with some members of the security forces that are the true faces of these agencies or may not be reveal that indeed we are faced with many faces of the same coin. Whether good, bad or ugly, an experience with them reveals the level of professionalism and indeed the rot that many systems in the country have had to contend with.

The purported saying that the police is your friend or not is best captured in the experience I had while travelling from Ibadan to Benue during the last yuletide. It is a well known occurrence during festive seasons that all manner of personnel dot the roads in search of prey whom they will devour or exploit, as there is always a fault to be found on the vehicle or particulars. On this fateful day, at the exit from the expressway from Ojoo into the state roads at Iwo Road we were flagged down by an armed policeman.

Our papers were okay, but one of them took me on since I was wearing my ID tag. Having as-

attention many times to the relationship between Governor Rotimi Amaechi of the state and CP Mbu. We commend the APC for taking up the task of bringing the situation to the front burner. Filibustering is a standard legislative practice. The contest for power between the executive and legislative arms of government sometimes leads to delays in considering bills. Political activism is not strange to democracy; it is a mode of getting the public sensitised to issues of public importance.

The contention that the APC lacks the majority standing to effectively block bills is immaterial. The issue has been raised. The attention of the President has been drawn to the risk the country runs if the crisis in Rivers State is left unattended to. And, the fact cannot be lost on all that the measure has achieved modest success as the Save Rivers Movement was allowed to hold its rally last week without the noxious police permit.

All hands must be on deck to grow and deepen democracy in the country. What is unacceptable is a resort to extra-legal means of seeking redress or fighting alleged injustice. The National Assembly is put in place to assess and pass or reject bills. The constitution foresees the possi-

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

•Editor Festus Eriye •Deputy Editor Olayinka Oyegbile •Associate Editors Taiwo Ogundipe Sam Egburonu

•Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye

bility of contentions in the Houses and would accept delay in the course of resolving disagreements. What Nigerians should do now is put pressure on President Jonathan to use the huge powers granted him under the constitution to rise above partisanship in addressing matters that could imperil national health.

It is unfortunate that critics of the APC directive have forgotten the primary reason for delay in consideration of the budget. Why did it take the President so long to present the Appropriation Bill? Why is the National Assembly just starting debates on the Bill if the federal executive had been alive to its responsibility? In any case, what performance percentage was recorded last year? Was the delay last year also precipitated by an APC directive? How has the government responded to concerns of Nigerians on the structure and management of the economy? What new measures have been put in place to check leakages?

These are germane questions to ask the Federal Government and the ruling party. It must be restated that the constitution does not foresee a situation whereby the Commissioner of Police would not be subordinate to the governor. The supreme law of the country mandates a Commissioner of Police to take “lawful instructions” from a governor.

In the interest of peace, again, we call on President Jonathan to do the needful by directing the Inspector-General of Police to redeploy the super cop from Rivers State. Nigeria can illafford conflagration in the Niger Delta, the region that funds the nation’s import bill. Fuelling instability is not one of the tasks handed the President when he was elected in 2011. He should speak out now and allay speculations that he is deliberately provoking and promoting the crisis to reap political capital.

LETTERS

Tinted glass dramas and police extortions serted that we were driving in a factory-fitted tinted glass vehicle, he went on to inform us that we had broken the law which was a high court offence and therefore we must follow him to the station or settle him with N10,000 cash. We pleaded to no avail. As if we were the cause of the rot in the force, he vituperated further that we lecturers fail students unjustly and massively.

I thought maybe he must have failed woefully in one of those institutions, so I told him that it was not in the character of a lecturer to fail a student and that the University of Ibadan where I come from is above board and S Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State a serious leader?

How reasonable is it for a king whose domain is at war to be preparing for an installation ceremony? This is exactly what the governor is doing by fighting for the chairmanship of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), it is like leaving leprosy to cure eczema.

Plateau State is burning every week with killing and maiming of innocent souls

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that is why we don’t even sell handouts and force students to buy our books. Not satisfied, he went on, pontificating that the chaplet in our car was attacking him spiritually and he was not himself again. But who can argue with an armed robber, certainly only one out of his/her mind would argue with someone with a gun. For many have been allegedly gunned down by these friends of the public and proclaimed as robbers or much less victims of robbery attacks for failing to accede to their demands. Previously, he had played the ethnic card by speaking with my wife in his lan-

guage so as to gauge the lever of extortion. We had no choice but to part with our hard-earned money to an armed man using the powers of his gun to preach to us on every subject that presented it directly or indirectly.

We had broken the extant rule on tinted vehicular glass long outlawed during the military era, but a product of intensive research from the developed world to protect passengers from harmful solar radiation and for purposes of right of privacy even on the road. No wonder since we have a paucity of research products, our very agencies are destroying the

Is Governor Jang serious?

unabated but what bothers Governor Jang is to be the chairman of NGF at all cost.

I feel he should be deeply touched by the plight of the people who witness this unending calamity during his tenure.

A thoughtful person who finds himself in a situation that he finds himself in his state will reject the NGF position even if it’s entrusted to him.

What should be top on his priority list is how to rescue his people from this mortal storm that decreases them in numbers daily and weekly. Will he be fighting for the position if any of his siblings was affected in the incessant bloody crisis?

He should realise that the king that rules and his people enjoy peace and stability, his name will be written in gold

products of hard-won research gotten from other lands for health benefits as factory-fitted tinted glass are meant to protect from harmful solar radiation while on the road.

Like most draconian legislations that do not consider the sensibilities and responsiveness of the hapless citizenry, vehicle owners of factory-fitted tinted glasses have been on the receiving end through police extortions and intimidations on the highways. A market has been created for the extorting police to rake in between 10-15K from their victims.

However, on the same fateand he that rules and the people suffer untold hardship and ruin will be remembered for his failure to find solution to the problem afflicting his people. Jang is wining and dining with the powers that be in Abuja while Plateau State burns. It is absurd; he is a replica of the biblical Jonah who sleeps when there was trouble in the sea Israel Oyegbile Sabo Tasha, Kaduna.

ful day, there was an exception in Ondo State at the boundary with Edo towards Okene. This particular police officer on seeing that all our papers were right with the exception of the permit on vehicular tinted glasses, having identified ourselves, cautioned us to make use of the next opportunity to obtain the permit without us begging him. This was no doubt a hard reminder that good men are still in the police having been extorted by the same force member with abusive statements on the same day in Ibadan.

It is quite possible that the sensible police man in Ondo thought about the cumbersome nature of obtaining the permit, the unnecessary cost of replacing the factory-fitted glasses, the recklessness of the resurrected extant rule and the rightness in all our other papers in deciding to wave us through without demanding a bribe. This showed how sensible the rank and file of the force can be.

Nigerians and other vehicle owners with tinted glasses need to be treated with dignity and respect. The force should stop treating everyone as a suspect and criminal. Give the citizenry the time to do the ‘’new’’ right thing on vehicle tinted glass.

By Emmanuel Tyokumbur, Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan

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COMMENT

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

For a violence -free election in Ekiti

Fayemi has more than demonstrated his preference for peace and I have heard him say on more than one occasion that any violence in the state is an embarrassment to his government

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N making public his decision to heed the yearnings of every strata of the Ekiti citizenry both at home and abroad, Dr Kayode Fayemi, the organisation’s man that he is, waited until the release of the election’s timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission to declare as follows: “Following the groundswell of support by leaders and members of our party as well as the generality of Ekiti people from all the nooks and crannies of Ekiti State and in the Diaspora, it is with a profound sense of gratitude and responsibility that I today accept the calls by our people to seek re-election for a second term in office. You have made the calls, and today I have opted to act in deference to those sacred calls by throwing my hat into the ring for a free and fair contestation for the exalted office for a second term.” And justifying his decision further, he said “Our people can faithfully testify that together the Collective Rescue Mission we promised at the outset of our first term in office has crystallised. Indeed our people can testify to how we have rescued Ekiti State from the years of locusts and returned our dear state to the path of respectability, stability and development. Our people can affirm that we have kept faith with the Roadmap to Ekiti Recovery – our 8-points agenda.

Every stratum of Ekiti State can see our footprints on those key sectors we promised to touch. My readiness to heed your calls today is therefore a demonstration of our collective commitment to continue the good work

we have begun.”

In confirmation of the above, I could not continue my: ‘FAYEMI’S QUIET REVOLUTION IN EKITI’ series beyond the governor’s second anniversary because enumerating his diverse, multi-sectoral and state-wide accomplishments – of which every city, town, village and community in the state benefited - will take nothing less than a whole book; not even a whole edition of this newspaper will be adequate.

It will be recalled that aside the endorsement by the leadership of the APC in the geo-political zone, as represented by Chief Bisi Akande, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Akinrogun Segun Osoba and Otunba Niyi Adebayo, various interest groups, including women, youth, artisans as well as leaders and members of the party in all the 16 local government areas of the state have endorsed and called on Governor Fayemi to seek re-election for a second term so as to continue the recovery and restoration work he had begun in the state.

In addition to promising a ‘focused and edifying’ campaign, and as has become the norm with him, he pleaded with his co-contestants to eschew violence and make the campaign issues-based. That it could be issuesbased, however, is hardly possible since the opposition have nothing to show; not even the PDP whose seven years in charge have been dubbed the LOCUST YEARS, not to talk of parties without a scintilla of governorship experience. Apart from guaranteeing

peace and security for all, a peaceful campaign would enable the good people of the state vote judiciously for the candidate who, in their collective wisdom, best aggregates their interests. This emphasis on security by the governor could never have come as a surprise, given that he is a security scholar and expert; one who has served severally as consultant to not only regional organisations, but also to Heads of State. He demonstrated his concern for security of life and property to an extent that for the first three years of his administration, Ekiti State ranked, indisputably, amongst the most secure and peaceful states in the country. Those three years, however, coincided with when some of our politicians have not received their Abuja briefs. The minute that happened, it became common place to have pockets of violence, especially whenever Honourable Opeyemi Bamidele came calling. The Hon member, formerly of the A C N, is now of the Labour party on whose ticket, it would appear, Abuja has pencilled him down as the candidate.

Following former President Obasanjo’s letter to the president in which the latter was excoriated for his penchant for preferring other party’s candidates, it would appear that Abuja has scaled down its scheme of wanting to see Hon Bamidele emerge governor to that of his being a mere spoiler.

This article is essentially a plea for a peaceful conduct of the campaigns and election as canvassed by Governor Fayemi. On his part, Fayemi has more than demonstrated his preference for peace and I have heard him say on more than one occasion that any violence in the state is an embarrassment to his government.

Between 2007 and 2010 when he was going from one tribunal to another,

and Ekiti people were hurting terribly from the feral rigging and the shambolic treatment Obasanjo put them through and when they were, indeed, ready to fight, this governor’s ringing plea was that victory for him was not worth the life of a single Ekiti. That was at a time he had no constitutional responsibility, sworn to at his installation, for guaranteeing the security of lives and property in the state. Viewed from that background, it is crystal clear Fayemi can neither order nor encourage violence.

One can, therefore, reasonably narrow down possible sources of insecurity to the PDP and the Labour Party.

Traditionally boisterous, in the certitude that they are above the law since Abuja will always protect them, the PDP could very well be a reasonable suspect. But truth be told, the party has been reasonably quiescent in the state as their aspirants go about their individual campaigns. This is, however, no clean bill of health for a party we know has a history of real crudity. And we do know that Labour is nothing other than PDP with a coincidence of interest.

This, unfortunately, cannot be said of the Labour Party. If morning shows the day, then the state may have to expect some considerable level of violence. In the first place, Hon Bamidele has a lot to prove to both Akure and Abuja. Presumably, Akure was driven initially more by the need to have associates in the Southwest with which to tantalise and con Abuja than to ascertain his claims of popularity.

Hon Bamidele is my House Rep, but apart from the fact that he cannot win an election in the constituency, federal or state, I do not know a singe local government area where he can boast 30 percent support. There were

obviously no due diligence checks on Hon Bamidele’s claims of state wide support and it mattered nothing to Akure and Abuja that at no time, and at no party level, did he indicate his ambition to contest before he shipped out. If this is a lie, Hon Bamidele should please publish for Nigerians to see, a facsimile copy of such communication. For any serious person to claim he left a party because he was disallowed from pursuing his legitimate ambition in the party, there should, at least, be an expression of such intent to a recognised party organ.

Given, therefore, the fact that the honourable member’s umbilical cord is domiciled in a state with contiguity to the Niger Delta, it will not be unreasonable to suggest that Ekiti State may, unwillingly, play the unhappy host to Niger-Delta militants, serving and rehabilitated, since the 2015 interests of both coincide. For the sake of the good people of Ekiti, Hon Bamidele should endeavour to prove me a lie by fighting back any enticement in this respect. There isn’t a single reason why we cannot have a peaceful election in Ekiti especially if we refuse to assist the diabolical plans of those who traditionally love to make Ekiti a hunting ground for the PDP and have, in fact, promised to make ‘an example’ of our dear motherland while protecting theirs hundreds of kilometres away from the burning inferno. Unfortunately, Ekiti PDP members will look askance since, according to ex-chairman Tukur, one of the arrowheads is the one to whom every hungry PDP leader in the Southwest runs.

In the meantime, the good people of Ekiti can only pray for a violence-free election and hope that the Abuja power mongers will fear God and let our votes count.

Death by Self: punishable with damnation or what?

Have a hobby to be excited about: it’ll help you get out of bed in the morning

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ET me pause a while to thank you all kindly for your continued reactions, by text and/ or by calls, to many issues raised on this column. I specifically want to tender my apologies for not being able to take your calls because of lack of free time to do so and also because the injunction that accompanies this column-head has categorically specified SMS ONLY. This means no calls.

Yet, many of us persist in calling. I thank you nevertheless. However, there is a call many of us should make to any listening relative or an appropriate body when the urge strikes: the call to say SOS – help me, please; I feel like killing myself. Killing oneself makes one liable before the law of God and man. Sentence: Death by Self Punishable with Damnation.

Perhaps, many people fail to make that call for the simple reason that they do not want to be dissuaded from their intention. This is why suicide is now said to be as many as tens of thousands per year in Nigeria and about a million in the world, claiming higher figures than wars and murder. The Nigerian figure is alarming. What has happened to our communal living style? That life-style used to be the cure-all for all our sociopsychological problems around here because everyone was indeed his/ her brother’s keeper. It not only made every member of the larger family a prop for every other person, it also made everyone responsible for eve-

ryone else. In that life-style, if you didn’t have anything to eat, you went to the next hut. If you didn’t have enough clothes to wear, you went to the next hut. If you didn’t even have enough words in your mouth, why, you went to the next hut.

More importantly, if you felt your father was too harsh with his words, you did not point the dagger to your stomach. You just went right up the ladder and moved in with the oldest father in the compound. He would then read between the lines and have a quiet word with your father. He would tell him with one side of his mouth not to confuse his frustrations on the farm with instilling discipline in his son/daughter. Did you hear the joke about the young man who had an argument with his father? Well the long and short of it was that the father asked him to leave the house, and the young man refused because he said that was his father’s house and his father could go and claim his own father’s house if he wished, but he was going nowhere. I tell you, there’s nothing headier than the success of sonship.

And if your mother was headstrong and would not listen to you, you did not go on a one-way swim.

You simply went shopping in the family: you picked another mother from the myriads flowing around the compound and moved in with her. I did that when I was young until I felt that my mother had sufficiently learnt her

lesson. Then I went back home; although I think it was more because I had begun to miss her cooking after a while.

I quite believe that whoever wrote the adage that proclaims ‘If all else fails, eat’ is surely a genius. My dog believes that too, going by the way he pounces on his food. Indeed, when he sees his food approaching, one could get the impression that a drought was coming the next day. His eyes would light up, his nostrils would flare, his slumped shoulders would tauten, tail flipping both ways at once like the propellers of a helicopter (he’s the only dog I know that can do that), and his tongue, that infernal, red tongue would begin to do the flap dance – flipping in and out of his mouth and stretching itself to reach the plate as you are holding it. For him, nothing fails, yet he eats. So, why can’t we for whom everything sometimes fails?

I know, I know, many people are driven to suicide for economic reasons I hear, what with poverty and unemployment an’ all, so where will they get the food to eat? According to many suicide reports, inability to provide for the family has driven many a man to suicide. Another report says that a young man did away with his own life because he could not get a job five years after graduating. Now, that is just sad. No, not the unemployment thing (that’s bad enough, I know) but the dying for it thing. I know it’s nothing to laugh at but you know me: can you imagine stepping up to St.

Peter and having to explain that unemployment killed one? That’s a bad excuse, people, bad excuse.

Worse of course is when substance abuse skews one’s senses so much one cannot see straight anymore; not to talk of relationship related problems, workplace related problems, etc. This column is not suggesting that these are not genuine problems. They are, considering they have led people to the point of suicide. However, they constitute no more than the challenges that help an individual to grow and mature. There are always solutions.

I also understand that some bad mental adjustment can drive one to take one’s life. Now, mental adjustments are funny things, aren’t they?

At the risk of being labelled unserious, I must admit there is just no universalising them. Take the mental adjustment between the government and us or between a husband and a wife. While the government thinks the people are blind and stupid, the people think the government is crooked and corrupt. While most husbands insist that a house is no more than a place to lay one’s head and dump one’s belongings that are not being used at a particular time, most wives see the house as a piece of art to show and tell others. This is why many women have taken the gun to their husband’s heads for crimes such as walking on a mopped floor with muddy shoes or seeing the furniture as no more than the floor. In one family, a husband and his two sons got together and killed the wife/mother

because she insisted that the men should be properly dressed and washed for dinner each day and strictly comply with the dinner hour. Of course, they went to jail for their skewed mental adjustments.

Truth is, mental adjustments are awkward things. They are fed by things we see, hear, think and experience. One never quite gets it right. Obviously, all husbands and all wives are quite skewed. In fact, anyone who is seeing life from the prism of the straight and narrow is very, very skewed. Conclusion? One needs a little bit of mental maladjustment to stay straight in order to have that little bit of madness necessary for sanity. Now, how is this supposed to help our suicide-inclined individual who thinks suicide is the only way out?

Everyone needs to learn that, just as there are many ways to skin a cat, there are many solutions to a problem. However, one cannot see these many other solutions without a healthy mental adjustment. In order to develop this, an individual needs to see things more positively. Having something to be excited about can help. It could be one’s job but it is preferable if it is a HOBBY. This will give the individual a good reason to get out of bed in the morning and aim for a good life. Having someone to share it with is even better but it should not be a condition, unless it’s a spiritual someone. Nevertheless, one should reach out to others if the urge to end it all comes, but please don’t choose SMS ONLY numbers. Get a close relative who cares.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

COMMENT

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(50) Talakawa in the richest country in the world: reflections on Obama’s State of the Union Speech 2014 (1) Irinajo lawa yi o, ori gbe wa dele/ Irinajo lawa yi o, ori gbe wa dele [We are journeying far from home, fate, lead us safely home/ We are in a foreign land, fate, see us safely home] A traditional Yoruba song of travellers

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AMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, U.S.A, in the grip of a winter that is one of the most severe in recent memory. It is bitterly cold. The cold is made even more bracing by the fact that I have just come back from home where I spent most of December 2013 and the first twenty-four days of January 2014. Moreover, January at home had been unseasonably warm for where one had expected the chastening but bearable cold of the harmattan, it had been day after day of too much heat, too much warmth. From that to this: from unseasonable warmth to excessive cold. As I walk to my first class of the new semester, I can feel the steely chill of the cold in my bones. But for the fact that I have to earn my keep and go and teach my class, I would have stayed indoors in my apartment ensconced within the comfort of its centrally heated warmth.

My first class of the new term goes very well. I am lucky to have students who are bright, eager and endlessly curious. The class is the first meeting of a course on the literary and cultural production of Africa’s diasporas in Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean. I tell the students that we will read the works of old and young, dead and living master novelists like Alejo Carpentier, Toni Morrison and Chimamanda Adichie and watch the films of classic filmmakers like Tomas Gutierrez Alea, Julie Dash and Euzhan Palcy. I tell them that the African presence in the world encountered through the artists and writers of the African diaspora is a field of imagination and accomplishment in the face of tragedy and trauma. I tell them through the works of these diasporic writers, artists and intellectuals, Africa is in the world and the world is in Africa. I tell them that the homeland that is Africa has extended itself into homes away from home in every continent, every region in the world. As I tell my students these things, one part of my mind is aware of the fact that the words are meant as much for me as for my young audience. You are away from home, I am telling myself, but home is not too far away.

For the two hours of the duration of the class, I completely forget the bitterness of the cold and my unquenchable longing for the home that I have just left in Nigeria with its climactic and human warmth. But as soon as the class is over and I am in my office dealing with my accumulated unanswered emails, the yearning for home comes back with the force of hurricane winds. It is only a little after 5 o’clock and it is already dark.

Soon, I shall have to walk through

•Obama

the bitter cold to get to my apartment. And when I get there, I shall be alone. I have friends in Cambridge and my children and my partner are easily reachable by phone, so I am not exactly bereft of human company. But I have just left Oke-Bola, Ibadan and the Ogunbiyis in Victoria Island; Cambridge is and feels like a world apart from these homely places I have just left. With these thoughts, the words of the song that serves as the epigraph for this essay begin to buzz and resound in my head as if my head is an echo chamber. “Irinajo lawa yi o, ori gbe wa dele”.

After an early supper, I turn on the TV to watch the live broadcast of Obama’s State of the Union Speech for 2014. It is a masterful speech. Recent polls show that public opinion of Obama as president is at its lowest since 2008 when he assumed office as the most powerful politician in the world. It is perhaps on account of this dour fact that Obama put everything he could muster in the arts of oratory and rhetoric into this speech. Time after time in the slightly more than one hour that it took to deliver the speech, his audience rose to give him loud, cheering and prolonged ovation. And quite remarkably, in some instances, the ovation was joined by Obama’s arch-enemies, Tea Party Republicans.

Two of the three loudest and most prolonged ovations came when Obama asked for equal pay for women and men and when he declared that in the face of inaction from Congress, he was raising the minimum wage for contractors for federal patronage to 10 dollars and ten cents per hour by executive order. These two declarations were based on the central theme of the speech, this being inequality as marked by the growing chasm between the rich and the poor in the richest nation on the planet. Indeed, as I listened to Obama’s speech with its unrelenting emphasis on the tragedy and shame of great and widening circles of poverty in America, it was as if I was back at home in Nigeria. With a rude awakening near the end of Obama’s speech, I realised that the talakawa and the almajaris are also here in their tens of millions in the very heartland of global capitalism. I am far away from home; but I am not that far away because beneath the impressive, indeed stunning physical, infrastructural and material development of America, the fundamental social and existential crises and dilemmas are like the ones I am all too familiar with in my homeland.

Without going into details of comparative statistical data in which there are indeed great differences between America as the

richest nation on the planet and Nigeria as one of the poorest countries in the world, I would nonetheless argue that there are indeed striking similarities in the incidence and experience of poverty in the two countries. First of all, there is the general, indeed almost universal feeling in both countries that not only is there a great gap between the haves and the have-nots but also that this gap is widening.

Secondly, there is also the fact that in spite of the widening circles of poverty, wealth exists in great quantities in both countries: Nigeria is awash with petrodollars and petronaira; and of course, America is home to the almighty dollar, the currency of choice for exchange between the currencies of all the other countries and economies of the world. Thirdly, there is the fact that the burden of rising and deepening poverty in both countries is falling too much on the young, including the highly educated young. Fourthly, there is the widespread phenomenon of the working poor as a social and economic category distinct and separable from the jobless, non-working poor. Indeed, in Nigerian parlance, I would call the former the talakawa of America and the latter the almajaris of the U.S.A. Finally, there is the fact of the great and depressing complacency of the political class, of the ruling elites in the

face of the deepening chasm between the few who are very rich and the teeming multitudes of the poor.

The Honourable Abike DabiriErewa was present on the high table when I gave a public lecture at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Lagos on July 13, 2013. On any index of ideological progressivism, Abike Dabiri-Erewa must be one of the most progressive and enlightened members of the Nigerian National Assembly.

As one of the respondents to my lecture, she gave a short commentary in which she strongly identified with most of my observations and the observations of others at the lecture calling for social justice and equality of opportunities for Nigerians of all groups and classes.

Then because in my lecture I had identified the jumbo salaries and allowances that members of our National Assembly are being paid from our national coffers as one of the leading structural causes of inequality and poverty in Nigeria, a large segment of the audience began to loudly demand that Honourable Dabiri-Erewa tell the audience exactly how much each “honourable” in Nigeria is paid. When she didn’t seem to be forthcoming, the loud demand became a chant, a din, a clamor for the truth. But to the end, she stood her ground and refused to divulge that closely guarded secret of our parliamentarians.

This whole essay is based on Obama’s 2014 State of the Union speech in which he not only spoke forcefully and eloquently on poverty and inequality in America but also identified their causes and probable remedies. This indicates a marked contrast with the scenario I have just described of the response of one of the most progressive and enlightened members of our National Assembly to the demand that she break ranks with the cult of secrecy that surrounds the legalised looting of our national coffers by our parliamentarians. In other words, Obama stands before a combined meeting of both houses of American lawmakers and speaks frankly and forcefully urging the lawmakers to join him in attacking the scourges of inequality and poverty thereby showing a stark difference with our own lawmakers in Nigeria. Given this fact, is it valid to talk of a complacency of political elites in both countries, the U.S.A. and Nigeria? Are the social and ethical landscapes surrounding the talakawa and the almajaris of America and Nigeria the same? My response to these questions is an unequivocal yes, in spite of the apparent differences. In next week’s concluding essay in the series, I shall start from this premise hoping to show that the inevitable great climactic differences should not obscure the common sources, the linkages between inequality and poverty in our world.

Biodun Jeyifo bjeyifo@fas.harvard.edu

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

COMMENT

Y dear President, the release of the election time-table by INEC must have triggered a lot of pressure on you from well-meaning Nigerians like Mama Peace and co. to hastily declare your interest in the 2015 election so that work can begin in earnest. I support the Pressure Group because the task ahead of you and your party is herculean and I doubt if this can be done in just one year. Therefore, there is no more time to waste on whether or not you should go for another term. I feel it is my responsibility as a citizen, and also as a friend, even though we have not met before, to offer you my personal advice in this crucial period of decision making.

Without any equivocation, I will tell you straight that you should go for the second term because it is your constitutional right to do so. And besides, you are more than qualified.

Are you not a doctor? The fact that you are from a village in Bayelsa called Otuoke does not make you a village doctor. You are indeed a Ph.D holder; a real doctor who knows book and also knows how to read speeches flawlessly, fluently and perfectly. Don’t mind those mischief makers in my neighbourhood who gossip about your pronunciation of some technical and difficult English words.

They are just jealous of your achievements.

They are not happy that of all the “shoeless boys” in the country, you were the only one favoured by Providence to become the President. By the way, must we all speak English like the Oyinbo people? Wetin concern Ijaw man with grammatical niceties and lexical formalities? Idea is need. Abeg let’s proceed.

Mr. President, I am seriously encouraging you to contest because of your wife, Madam ‘Damned”, nay, Dame Patience Goodluck who had invested so much resources and energy into the 2nd term project despite her health condition. Do you want all her Abuja rallies and women parleys to be in vain? Why must you deny her the opportunity of completing her two terms when others before her enjoyed such luxury. Sorry, that was a mistake. The two first Ladies before her, never completed their two terms. Fate, not Patience, prevented them from completing their terms. Stella Obasanjo died two years into her own second term (Oct. 2005) and Turai’s husband died prematurely in May, 2010. Now that your wife is called Mama Peace; she needs more years to settle the crisis she caused in Rivers State when she was “Mama Trouble”. How do you expect her to solve the problems of Rivers State in one year?

The crisis in Rivers State, if you must know, is a very big project that cannot be abandoned.

She wants to carry her load herself. Also, Mama Peace wants to take her peace message round the globe, especially to all the troubled spots of the world.

My President, remember that you have other women that you have to protect and save from shame and disgrace. You still have Stella Oduah, your Minister of Aviation, the one that her detractors want to pull down because she is very beautiful, attractive and very hardworking. Some useless boys in my neighbourhood are peddling rumour that she is “very close” to you. Sir, I don’t know what they mean but I am sure it is not what I am thinking. Because of space and time, I won’t want us to waste much time on the meaning of “very close”. But it is because of this “very closeness” that you have to consider her so that the two of you can become “very closer”.

Is it even their business to determine family ties? Why will people not mind their business? Is it not the responsibility of “Mama Peace” to determine who is “very close” to her husband? Useless boys of no fixed address (SSS please note).

As for Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, the Finance Minister, she does not need much protection.

She is well connected internationally. But you still need her to stay with you for 4 more years to resolve her waiver palaver with The Punch otherwise, she will just pack her baggage and go back to World Bank or is it “Wrong bank”; that bank where development means different things to different countries and different continents. She also has enemies and detractors that will mock her if you don’t run: the Abuja lawmakers who think she is too arrogant. Well, it is left for you Mr. President to determine whether it is not noble to seek 2nd term in order to save the face of an “arrogant woman”.

The last of the women in Jonathan’s life, as one disrespectful writer wrote recently, is Diezani Allison-Madueke, the oil chaperone whose diligence and efficiency have helped Nigeria in making a lot of money that we save in the Sovereign, or should we say, Suffering Wealth Fund (SWF). If people are say-

Decision 2015: Memo to the President

•Jonathan

By Dapo Thomas

ing there is stability in the oil sector and that Nigeria is a very rich country, I think the credit should go to this angelic woman.

Through her honesty, transparency and accountability, Nigeria is what it is today, a wealthy gaunt. Though some envious and idle women in my neighbourhood are attributing her shining body and beauty to Nigeria’s oil money, when did petrol become anointing oil that the woman will now be using it to cream her body? They should know that her beauty is a gift of nature and not oil money. Those who are complaining of missing oil money are traditional trouble makers like Rotimi Amaechi and his Nigeria Gossip Forum (NGF). And who in Nigeria is taking them serious? If a “holy Diezani” says our money is not missing, why should we say she is lying. Do beautiful women lie? The same envious jobless women in my neighbourhood are also saying: “there is something going on” between you and this respectable angelic woman, Sir, what else could be going on than “good rocking”, sorry, it was a slip of biro, good working relationship? She also will want you to go for 2nd term so that she can continue to enjoy this “good working relationship.”

I am tired of talking about Jonathan’s women as if our President is only protecting women. Before people start thinking I am being mischievious, let me show your detractors, that your second term is also in the interest of men who are “very close” to you., I can mention my good friends, Reuben Abati, Sanya Awosan, Bolaji Adigun now Bolaji Adebiyi and my big brother, Doyin Okupe. Some people (not in my neighbourhood this time around) are calling them all sorts of names “attack dogs”, “defence wolves”, “desperate hyenas”, “terrorist tigers” and “Jonathan’s pets”. With all these names that my friends are being called, I won’t be surprised if they were considered in the millions that you voted for the animals in your Zoo at Aso Rock? Don’t people have better names to call them? Why dogs, wolves, tigers, hyenas and pets. These people sef. I am intervening on behalf of my friends by asking you to run for second term.

As Bamanga Tukur begged you in his last days in office, “please save my friends from disgrace and joblessness”, and if for noth-

ing else, pity them for what people call them.

Mr. President, Rotimi Amaechi is enough reason for you to run again or you want to create the impression that you are running away from him. As far as I am concerned, that boy is too disrespectful, stubborn and disobedient. He needs to be dealt with. If you decline to run, he will now call another rally tagged “The Fall of Jonathan” where he and his militant supporters will now be dancing to celebrate your fall. By now, you must have heard how ecstatic they were when Bamanga Tukur was presidentially eased out of office to Railway Line. It was because of Amaechi and his men that Tukur was running to Madam and you to save him from disgrace.

Now that you have sacrificed Tukur, why do you need to sacrifice yourself again?

Can’t you see that Tukur’s removal has brought some calmness and peace to “the biggest political party in Africa”. Your ambition, I must remind you, is more important than the pacification of some disgruntled and inconsequential members of the Party. Their departure is good riddance to bad rubbish.

Don’t you know you are too important to Nigeria and the Nigerian project than an aggrieved Kwankwaso or a belligerent Rotimi or an ambitious Lamido. Do you know how popular you are among the people? Don’t mind those boys in my neighbourhood who were hissing when your name was mentioned during a local program at an event centre. What is important is that we still had two or three people clapping for you in a gathering of about 4000 people.

How do you want Nyesom Wike to feel if you do not run again? Wike has been very wicked to Amaechi and his supporters because of you. He has, with the support and assistance of the hypocritically efficient Joseph Mbu, fought Amaechi to a standstill in Rivers State.

Certainly, Wike will become weak morally and psychologically while Mbu will be booed by Amaechi’s men once you announce that you will not run. Please, don’t disgrace your trusted aide and an efficient police officer that is causing insecurity in Rivers State with the zeal and the passion of a hired killer.

I need to remind you of a great achievement you made during the ASUU Strike. You sat with ASUU members for 13 hours so that peace could return to our universities. Some

ungrateful and unappreciative boys in my neighbourhood were mocking you that it was because you were not busy. They said they can’t imagine Barak Obama spending 13 hours with any trade Union when the system and the relevant officers can handle them. Please, I beg you Mr. President, don’t listen to them. They are detractors possibly sponsored by the opposition to rubbish this “great achievement”!

As far as I am concerned, you can use this as an excuse to run again and even as a campaign issue. Let Nigerians know that you can even sit in a trade Union dispute meeting for 24 hours as long as there will be peace. Are our universities not calm again? Forget about LASU crisis, it is a State University and not your business. Besides, LASU has always been in crisis, will always been in crisis because both lecturers, students and the management of the institution define peace as crisis and crisis as peace.

People who don’t know the difference between peace and crisis should not blame the President for their institutional tragedy.

Mr. President, you can also use corruption as another reason for your re-election bid. Some detractors have claimed that your government is the most corrupt administration that has ever ruled Nigeria. Let them show you the statistics and the indices of evaluation and the parameters for their conclusion. Where are the comparative studies that were conducted that led them to that conclusion? Billions may be missing, Oduah may be buying cars with outrageous millions, billions may be spent on presidential fleet and millions may be voted for your Zoo, it is all part of our development. Tell them that you will spend the entire 2nd term to fight corruption. If they are accusing your government of corruption, let them know that those who steal the money spend it on their constituents. When did philanthropic become a crime?

Sir, don’t forget to also consider your achievements in the PDP. You sent Bamanga Tukur packing; PDP now have other affiliates or subsidiaries namely APGA, Labour Party and DPP; PDP lost 5 State governors and 37 House of Reps members to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and is about to lose 17 or 19 PDP Senators to the same APC. Those who say you have destroyed the Party are not being sincere. You are only trying to instill discipline in governors who talk to you as if you are their houseboy (apology to Jeremiah Useni). And if they don’t understand that, tell them PDP is only undergoing a destructive reconstruction with the objective of achieving unstable balancing.

My President, why should you feel satisfied spending only 6 years in power when you can spend 10 years? People like Ghadaffi, Mobutu Sese Seko, Hosni Mubarak, Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, Robert Mugabe and Bashar al-Assad were/are in power for more than three decades. Why should yours be different? Are you not an African leader like these people? Did Obasanjo not seek 3rd term? Don’t let them exploit your gentleness and quietness to deny you a legitimate claim to 2nd term. It does not matter whether you have something concrete to show for those years or not, at least, you have enjoyed yourself for 10 years as the President of the most populous Black African nation in the world.

For all these reasons and more, please run Mr. President. If possible, sprint like Usain Bolt towards 2015 with tactical retreat. It is your decision. It is your ambition. You should act and decide according to your volition.

As for those snippy boys and nosey women in my neighbourhood, don’t worry about them because I will soon stop hearing their nonsense talk. I assure you that I am leaving that contaminated neighbourhood very soon, probably before the next coming of Christ, before they infect me with their “gossip flu” and put me in trouble with our very friendly and civilized security agencies.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAYFEBRUARY 2, 2014

Ebonyi PDP: Battle of the blocs

Between Tinubu and Aribisala

PAGES 10

PAGE 70

PDP is waging war in Rivers —APC state chairman PAGE 22

NASS: Jonathan’s men battle defection undercurrents Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, reports that many new groups are emerging at the National Assembly with the task of countering antiJonathan sentiments

W

ORRIED by threats to President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid in the National Assembly, and the seeming inability of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators to agree on the issue, the president’s political strategists may have embarked on a move to douse growing opposition within the lawmakers.

The Nation gathered that following series of meetings between the president’s men and some federal lawmakers, it has been agreed upon that there is a crucial need for pro-Jonathan groups to be floated to counter growing opposition to the president amongst members of the National Assembly.

It was gathered that in pursuit of the resolution, some prominent party leaders and aides of the president recently held a secret meeting with the PDP leadership in the National Assembly.

Investigations showed that

the meeting, which was held last weekend in Abuja, discussed the intractable crisis in the PDP, the ongoing gale of defections of its elected officials to the APC; and the delay in presenting the 2014 budget.

According to reliable sources, those at the meeting included some leading principal officers of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Some caucus leaders in the national assembly as well as a few selected prominent lawmakers were also in attendance.

Sources, however, confirmed that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, and his deputy, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, were not at the meeting.

It was gathered that the lawmakers were told in clear terms by the conveners of the meeting that the president was concerned that with the ongoing defection saga, which started with the exit of five PDP governors, the PDP might lose its majority position in the National As-

sembly to the APC. Consequently, the lawmakers were urged to come up with urgent measures that could be adopted to halt the growing opposition to the president within the national assembly even by lawmakers elected on the platform of the ruling party.

It was gathered that among measures being considered to counter opposition lawmakers on the floors of the national assembly, promote the candidacy of the president and ensure the smooth passage of the 2014 budget and other executive bills, is the promotion of pro-Jonathan groups within the federal legislature.

“It is wrong to describe the said meeting as a secret meeting. What is secret about members of the same party meeting to discuss their common problem? We discussed the defection of some of our colleagues in the National Assembly to other parties.

“We also discussed the recent threat by the opposition to block the passage of certain bills. We touched

on the growing disrespect for the president by some overzealous lawmakers. We discussed other issues that are of interest to our party,” our source said.

Also recently, some PDP senators from the South-South geo-political zone met with some top aides of the president also of the zone’s extraction to discuss on how to handle the situation.

The meeting, according to a source, was held at the instance of a top shot in the presidency from Edo State, in collaboration with the zonal leadership of the party. The party in the zone, which also produced the president, is said to be concerned about political developments in the national assembly.

“The meeting became necessary following the report that some members of the party from the region had openly demonstrated resolve to support the House Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, to contest against Jonathan in the forth coming presidential election in 2015.

“Following the disturbing re-

port, it became necessary to arrange a forum where we can all meet to discuss what could have led to such unpatriotic display on the part of some of our colleagues.

“This is what gave rise to the scheduled meeting.

“Largely, we discussed the need for continuous unity of lawmakers from the geo-political zone and the need to support Jonathan, who is from the region, to seek a renewed term of four years in office,” a source who was at the meeting revealed.

It was also gathered that the south-south lawmakers also toyed with the need to form a pressure group among the federal legislators to promote its resolve to support the candidacy of their kinsman and party leader, President Goodluck Jonathan.

Already, a Pro-Jonathan group, National Unity Group, has emerged in the House of Representatives to suppress what the •Continued on Page 70

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POLITICS

The tenure of Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has been a time of uncommon transformation for the metropolis. As he enters the final lap of his administration, the governor spoke with selected journalists among who was FESTUS ERIYE on his targets for the time left and other national political issues of the moment.

BABATUNDE FASHOLA

THE NATION ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2014

‘I don’t want to be best

L

AGOS has been experiencing some urban renewal. Is this renewal an attempt at taking Lagos back to some forgotten development plan, or a haphazard work in progress?

If you follow our communication on policy statement closely, you will notice that I said from the beginning of my tenure that this was going to be a government of method. That we are going to be methodical in things that we will embark upon. Everything that we have done so far had been based on very rigorous examination of what the problems are, what the choices of solutions are and how to prioritise in order to make them sustainable. One of the first thing we did after assumption of office was to conduct a trip round the state; I commissioned a team based on this to go and ask the citizens and residents around the state to specifically tell the governor, ‘what do you want him to do for you?’

That was the beginning of our local government tour. The results that came showed us that there were six main items; roads, drainages, schools, health, jobs and power. But we wanted to validate that and we went for Town Hall meetings in every local government. And while those things resonated across, they resonated differently. In some local governments, they wanted their roads first. In others, they prefer schools. In some places, their drainages were their main concern. Such were the disparities in priorities. This formed the basis of our first full year budget in office (2008 budget). And we have kept faith with this approach.

Indeed, from each tour after we came back, it was to give instructions to each ministry or department. When we came back from those tours, we went straight into an executive meeting everyday, giving out assignments as required; and we have kept track.

The second point was that of regional plan. I think the last regional plan for the state was done around 1991 or so. So, we decided to plan the state into eight towns. We developed a new regional plan.

These towns are Badagry, Ikorodu, Epe, Lagos Mainland (which covers part of Oshodi, all through to Orile, to National Theater and Iddo), Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki and Ikeja; and to link them up by transport infrastructures.

Again, we did an audit of the available water supply. And we saw that we had about roughly 45 or 48 percent water supply and we developed a plan; a short, medium and long term plan to provide water for the growing population that we were anticipating. The short-term plan was to do 2million gallons per day, with facilities in 15 locations. I have commissioned about nine of them. And along with that short term plan was to get the Iju water works to run at its full capacity because it was running about 35 percent of its installed capacity because of power outages.

This led to the first IGP for Iju water works; the Akute IGP now running at about 90 percent. But it doesn’t solve the problem.

Some of these facilities have aged; Iju was built around 1900.

That’s why you will see we are laying new pipes through Eko Bridge. If you drive through there, you will notice some work going on near the bridge; that’s what is going on.

Essentially, we have almost completed the short-term plan.

The medium term plan is to build bigger water works. Instead of two million, we are going on bigger scale. Oto-Ikosi is completed now and being tested. That is four million gallons to feed part of Epe and support Ikorodu. We have Odo-mola, which is 25 million gallons. We are in negotiation with private investors who want to build, run it and supply water. If we achieve that, it means that we will cut off part of Lekki and others in the environ and feed them from that area so that what is coming from Iju, that is already serving Yaba, Lagos Island and Ikoyi gain will fuller pressure and fuller content. There is also the Adiyan phase II, which is 70 million gallons a day. We have already started constructing this from the budget. We will finish that in 2016. It is already financed and construction is going on as I speak. It will be for the new governor to merely come and switch it on. That will help us supply Alimosho and Agege, who are actually close to the water source (Iju) but who don’t benefit from it because the Europeans, who built it, didn’t not include in the benefit of that water.

In Badagry, we want to it stand alone. Ishashi is four million gallons. And we are upgrading Ishashi as I speak; it is almost completed too to 12 million gallons a day.

The same thing with water treatment and sewage. The

•Fashola

capacity was barely 10 percent. We drew up a 10-year plan. And that is why we now have a Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission, which will regulate the use of clean water and recycling of used water. These plans are in place and wherever we stop implementing them, we turn it over to the next government. It will be easier to for the new government to continue than to stop; the details are already articulated.

We went into Yaba for massive rehabilitation of what was once a prime middle class community. Three roads were commissioned for construction and we finished substantially 80 percent of the works there. We are regenerating Apapa as well. Some of old roads in Victoria Island are being constructed. The same type of construction is going on in Alimosho. We have finished LASU-Iba Road. It is about 20 kilometers and four-lane, as well as Governor’s Road and a couple of other roads. This time last year, we handed over 11 new roads in Alimosho.

You will also notice that in all this, we have consciously kept one contractor; almost like a resident contractor. Once you finished, we move you to the next phase. In Ikorodu, for example, the resident contractors are two; the Chinese and Arab Contractors. The Chinese are doing the main road and the Arab Contractors are doing the inner ones.

The Ibeshe Road, which we have just finished, the Awolowo Way, which is going on and about 10 smaller roads are going on in Ikorodu under construction by various local contractors. In Mile 12 and in Agiliti, there is a new bridge and about seven new roads that will finish in about June. In Ijegun-Isheri, you have Hi-Tec there, constructing the bridge to link the two communities together.

So, there is a conscious effort to be methodical so that, instead of demobilizing one contractor and bringing another one, we have a network of roads and we tackle them one after the other.

As you wind down your tenure are there any other development plans in the offing? How do you react to allegations that some of your projects are elitist in nature?

If it is the elite who live in Mile 12, in Agiliti, then I am happy to serve them. If it is the elite who live in Ajegunle, where we handed over a new road last week, I am happy to serve to them. Also, if it is the elites who live in Mushin, where we handed over 16 roads, then

I am happy to serve them. If it is the elite who live in Ikeja, where we just finished Kodeso and Medical Roads, it is my pleasure to serve them; they are taxpayers too.

The biggest project that we are undertaking, the transport project... if you look at from Mile 12 through the Ikorodu Road, if it is the elite who live in this 17 kilometer road expansion, I am happy to serve them. If you go from Orile right through to Alaba, Mile 2 we are doing the train station and if that also is for the elites who live there, I should be so delighted to serve them. These are places where no activity of any sustainable attention had been paid. Over the years, we have not really had this long period of government to really sit down, develop a plan and run with it. Yes, we haven’t served everybody and we can pretend we will be able to serve everybody.

But the fact that an asset is built in a community where you live doesn’t mean that it belongs to you. And the choices that we have always made, given our limited resources, is ‘where is the most impactful area of need?’

People have now forgotten what the areas around Stadium, Barracks and Alaka used to look like. There are seven kilometers of drainage submerged under that road today. Because when we started the BRT system, that is where the buses used to get trapped. It occurred to us then that instead of going to do residential roads, ‘why don’t we fix roads that road that takes people to places of their daily bread?’

Roughly about six million commuters move around there daily.

That’s one of the busiest roads. Then we went to open up Agege Motor Road and Oshodi to free traffic that used to be a daily nightmare to people. I remember that people at the Airport Tollgate were not happy with us because our effort impacted negatively on their revenue. Then, people were paying to by avoid that gridlock at Oshodi only to come back to Agege Motor Road. We succeeded in putting that money back in their pockets. Most of this people are ordinary citizens. This debate (on elitism or otherwise) will never go away. In any case, I am proud to be serving somebody. The pain on the other side is that today, we don’t have electricity, but does it really matter who first got it? If some people start to get it, the rest of us can hope it will soon get to us. I am proud to have provided a ladder of opportunity for people to step onto. Of course, you will

THE NATION ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2014

POLITICS

st governor of Lagos’

have to draw a very clear line between criticism and cynicism. And of course, we don’t need unanimity of approval, because there will never be.

Regarding the sustainability of some of your projects how concerned are you about who your successor will be? Have you now transmuted to a political godfather enough to say, for sustainability, you prefer Mr. A or Mrs. B as successor?

The answer to that is to continue to insist that a government that is run around institutions is the most sustainable form of government.

And we must look, therefore, to a time when (we may not have the desired person in office). Lagos State has been very lucky so far to have a lot of action governors. But how much we can continue to build on luck is another thing. Up to my immediate predecessor in office, they have all been very wonderful people in office. I think what we need is to move to action government, where whatever happens the system will run. That is why we are doing a lot of human capacity development, training public servants; part of the reasons behind our last retreat that had become very frequent. We have also yielded a lot of independence to parastatals so that we can hold people responsible for implementation. All too often, what we have seen over many years in the ministries is that they have taken on too much. There is a conflict of time management, resource allocation and efficiency between attempt to implement and attempt to formulate policy.

When ministries focus on policy formulation and articulation and allow parastatals to implement, you have a more efficient public service. Examples are already there. For example, the Ministry of Environment is our policy formulator in waste management, whether it is solid or liquid or polluted airwaves. Agencies like LASEMA is dealing with air and liquid waste and LAWMA is dealing with solid waste. So, if there is particular problem, the commissioner knows who to call. We are also seeing the same thing in the transportation sector; LAMATA is dealing with the public through the BRT system and coordinating the rail. The Lagos State Water Authority is running the water system, building the jetties and developing the regulations for the ferries. The same thing is in the Ministry of Works. The ministry now takes over the segmented maintenance of roads, through Public Works Corporation. Last year alone they did more than 900 roads — construction and rehabilitations. And you see them at nights patching roads after and before the rains. There is now a separate department in charge of traffic lights. You are seeing traffic lights; it is not by accident. So, if a traffic light fails, the commissioner knows who is the head of that department. We are creating specialization in an organic way that cascades to the pyramid of the organogram.

So, whoever becomes the next governor, all he needs to do is to take those people’s budget, give them the money they need; because they already know what to do.

What happens if the passion is lacking?

Well, I used to ask myself what role a leader can play. And I sued to believe that it was the leader and his team; and I still do. But I examine a situation that may not be very relevant to our situation.

I look at a football team, which won the English Premier League just last year has become a shadow of itself. It is a management and leadership case study. Beyond the 90 minutes, what went wrong?

Our management schools could look as this type of scenario. Did the coach have enough time? Did he resume on time? Was it wise to

have cleared all the staff? These are leadership and management issues for me in order to see and live in a theory that it is the leader and his team, rather than the leader alone. Challenges are the building blocks for groundbreaking development. A life without challenges cannot just hold.

There are some new FERMA-trainees seen around the state.

How much do you know about this development?

Honestly, I really don’t know a thing about it. But when contacted, the Minister for Works said it did not have his approval.

The parastatal is under the Ministry of Works, but the question to ask is what is going on? Where is the money for this particular exercise coming from? If they are recruiting, what is the purpose? If they want to police federal highways, what is now the role of the FRSC? Is it a task force such as that has contemplated within the law?

Have they appropriated funding for it? Because you can’t have agency in a constitutional democracy without having appropriation for them in the budget. Or are you funding them with slush fund?

Where is the money coming from? Is it SURE-P money, meant for the development of Lagos State that is being used to do this? These are some of the questions. And again, you ask yourself, ‘what is the need for such a task force?’ There are about 10,000 roads in the state, out of which 6000 belong to the State Government. A little over 3000 belong to the local government. Less than 120 belong to the Federal Government, so what do you need such a large army for, unless there are some ulterior motives? I hope we are not going back to the days of machetes, during 2005 and 2006.

People choose the way they end up by choosing the way they begin. If the resort is violence, they have served us notice; they have served Lagosians notice. For me, if that is the way to repay Lagosians for the votes they receive here, we will review our strategies.

Some critics of your party say its strategy appears only to revolve around defections into the All Progressives Congress. They say there’s hardly any difference between it and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Why would one want to cast his or her vote for the APC instead of the PDP? First of all, we have demonstrated very, very clearly. Even our worst critics cannot sustain any argument about the fact that in the state that we have been entrusted, we have added value; visible and demonstrable value.

Fortunately, in most of those states: Edo, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun and Oyo, the electorates have had the misfortune to have been governed by the PDP-led governments. The choice is now clearer to them. If you take Ogun State, for example, where in less than two years bridges have been built. If you take Oyo as another example, the bad stories about the eyesores have disappeared. They now even have a bridge, which is the first in about 34 years. So, the electorates have seen both sides of the coin now and they are wiser. This can only suggest to you that it is a model that is working, by peer review, by peer influence and by healthy competition among the governors to succeed; that can only be good for the states.

Now, if you look at the other sides that decided to join us, you cannot dismiss their achievement by a wave of the hand; even under PDP. But they have seen clearly that development cannot continue with sudden disappearance of revenues while they are expected to keep a conspiratorial silence and continue benefitting. In terms of public accountability, we bring that to the table.

Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, like-minds are calling

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unto each other about the need for the development of the country.

In any political arena, people are complaining that things are not moving in the country, where the national government has 52 percent of the resources. Even with the very best effort of the 36 states and over 700 local governments, if they perform at a 100 percent, in terms of risk analysis and risk allotment if they keep less than 50 percent of resources, their 100 percent is still not a pass mark. But in spite of these complaints, people still feel that nobody can defeat this behemoth. ‘So, we will either not vote or we will vote for them because we know that they will not lose.’ And if you transfer that mentality and using football as a tool of analysis: how many people do you know who support football clubs going into relegation? Everybody supports either Barcelona, Real Madrid or Manchester United because these are clubs with real chances of winning trophies. Human beings naturally have disposition for success. And that is what APC also brings to the table for Nigerians — to give them a real choice.

Ultimately, it is people of Nigeria who will get the opportunity to be in absolute control of their destiny and then whip governments into line. Because in the cases where you have thin margins between parliamentary representation, state representations, one bad choice and you are out because the other party stands a fair chance to win the election. Of course, there will be smaller parties. Parties can be more definitive when coalitions are necessary as we saw in Britain, where Liberal Democrats and the Conservative partnered to kick Labour out; and even they have started fighting. None of the disagreements that you have also seen here is peculiar to us. There are appointments Obama cannot make today. You may quarrel with the morality of it, but the legitimacy of it is unquestionable. That is what lies at the heart of the doctrine of separation of powers and checks and balances. And the position our party has taken is a contingent position. You cannot hide behind a finger and say you don’t know what is going on in Rivers State. If you don’t, it must be in your enlightened best interest to know. Security of life and property is the primary reason why government exists. And even if there is no legal duty, I think there is moral duty.

As things continue to unfold, you will see clearly that we are a party of method and of process and in the fullest of time we will unveil to you in a very clear detail what we are about. But again, you cannot have a party without people, and we are following our plan. Our plan was to register the party, against all the odds, against all the five or six APCs, we achieved what we wanted to do, against history that no merger has ever been concluded. Never!

Because, the party in power will do anything to scuttle it, they will throw cats amongst pigeons, we saw the cats amongst us and like very clever and well intentioned pigeons looking for peace to rescue Nigeria, we flew up above them and made our meeting and we emerged. It is a defining event in the political history of Nigeria. Having finished that, we went into contact and mobilization, we are now going into membership registration which entails producing the management of the party and when that is done, we will tell you Nigerians why we want to be members of the APC. I read about you defending your party’s directive to its members in the National Assembly to block executive bills. You have also done so here. In my view, I think it is pre-mature because your party doesn’t have that majority in both houses.

Another point is where is the constructive engagement?

You have rushed to judgement. I don’t think that we should be repulsed by the idea, it hasn’t happened, but we are saying, if it certain things do not happen as they relate to law and order, we will come to a conclusion that this is a pre-meditated design to use executive power and if there is no communication, we will bring you to the table and one of the ways to do so is by exercising our own powers; I have always said that the virtue of power is the restraint in exercising it, but it is sometimes important to remind people that that power exist. When the party was meeting and setting up its members to withdraw operations from the executive; they were withdrawing cooperation from the executive.

If you know the way legislative business goes, you can’t have clear lines in parliament and that is why even with extreme position of the Tea Party, there were members within the Republican party who were crossing over to the democrats to talk to them saying, ‘you now go and tell the president that he can’t say he wouldn’t negotiate, he has to come to the table. It is also for our leadership to say that lets come together and deliberate on our issues. I think that because our democracy is just about 14 years, it is going to throw up many learning curves, it needs a lot of maturity for one to realise how much power one has and to know that you can’t act on your own; for me, its learning rather than getting angry; what have they done in other jurisdictions where this happened? Therefore, we must see the glass as half full all the time, we don’t want the nation to collapse because we want to win and we expect that we will win. We are beginning to witness discontent on defection from APC, how is the party handling disagreements?

The more the Nigerian public gets involved in politics and understand politics for what it is the better; it is about interests and human beings and everybody wants something, even in your homes your children want something, there is a lot of politics in your homes and we all pretend we are not politicians. There are conflicts defined by interests that would be resolved. That is high-wire politics going on. Let’s just decompose these things and understand them, it is happening on the macro to the micro, it is local, international and global.

On taxes in Lagos… flowing from the principle of federalism which you have always preached, will it be okay if the money you get from Alimosho with the highest population is spent almost exclusively in Alimosho?

I think the first thing to do is to explain that there are different sources of revenues. Taking advertising for instance, it is income that comes to the local government under the management of LASAA, which is a company statutorily created, owned by the state and local government; because the local government has •Continued on Page 69

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Y

THE NATION ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2014

POLITICS

OU were a commissioner in the last PDP administration in Rivers State. But you left to join the APC. Why did you take such a plunge?

The major attraction in the APC for me is that I can speak my mind on issues the way I see fit. I see the APC as a party that allows freedom of speech, where one’s comments are not given a thousand meanings or misconstrued to such a dangerous proportion as to label one an enemy of the state. APC looks to me as a place of succour for aggrieved, maltreated, deprived and oppressed progressives who are sick and tired of PDP’s lifestyle of falsehood and deceit. APC is a party of like minds who are disgusted with what is happening at the centre and are, for once, putting aside such divisive tendencies of religion, party associations, tribe etc, to rescue Nigeria from the grips of dark forces threatening to push it into the abyss of oblivion. APC is party of members who are fighting everyday to stop the imminent collapse of Nigeria’s fledgling democracy.

I therefore found it attractive because it provides the perfect platform for me to actualise my dreams, for my people. And fortunately for me, my personal ideology of what a political association should be agrees with the manifesto of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

That was another major attraction for me because it contains programmes, welfarist, people-oriented programmes tailor-made for the Nigeria of today, and I have no doubts whatsoever that those programmes will surely move Nigeria forward if allowed to be practised.

When you joined the APC, were you anticipating that Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who was then still in the PDP, would later move over?

No. We had no inkling Governor ChibuikeAmaechi would join the APC. And for the records, I joined the APC far ahead of him and everybody for that matter, purely on grounds of personal conviction not knowing that even fate was going to play a hand in the whole affair. At the time I joined the APC, I was doing so as a free moral agent not induced by any other thing except a personal conviction that I would fare well in a party that allowed free expression and equal opportunities for one to actualise his political dreams and aspirations.

There was no way I could have ever envisaged that a sitting PDP governor, who ostensibly had everything going for him, would be motivated to consider an option such as the APC. I merely see it as fate at work. I see the coming of Governor of Amaechi into the APC as an act of God. To me, I see it as a pleasant re-union of old friends.

Sincerely, how would you say old APC members in the state received the coming of the governor and his men into the party?

Happily. Infact, quite elatedly. Don’t listen to PDP-sponsored stories. APC here in Rivers is happy that Governor Amaechi has decided to join us because it was a major coup and a boost for the new party both in Rivers State and in Nigeria. The fact that he came, not just alone but with four other influential governors mostly from the north, made his move especially significant. That the move has also given rise to a spate of defections in the national and state assemblies means it already has a band wagon effect. I would like to refer to what is happening as ‘Hurricane Amaechi!’

But the state hasn’t been the same since then.

Some say it is because the governor left the PDP? The state has not been the same since the PDP declared war on us, not since Amaechi joined the PDP. A lot of things were done to provoke what you are seeing now. But one of the things that got the governor angry was the consistent harassment he was receiving from Dame Patience Jonathan, the wife of the president and the president himself. You are aware of the problem that arose in Okrika where the wife of the president broke protocol by snatching the microphone from Governor Amaechi while he was still making a speech in full glare of the public over a perceived grievance. The bad blood since engendered has somewhat spiralled into more unsavoury situations which has further strained the hitherto cordial relationship between the governor and the president. Perhaps the present crisis could have been contained were the president less disposed towards taking sides with his wife. I am aware that a lot of people attempted to wade into the dispute, but had been frustrated by the attitude of the president and his wife. Side by side with this is the unsettling attitude of the police commissioner in Rivers State, Mr Mbu Joseph Mbu, who appears to be dancing to the music being played for him from very powerful quarters.

He insists the sitting governor of a state, the Chief Security Officer of a state, must obtain

‘PDP is waging war in Rivers’ Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya is the Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.

In this interview with The Nation, he took a cursory look at recent events in the state and concluded that the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is waging a vindictive war on the government and people of the state. Excerpts……

•Ikanya

permission from him to hold a function. It is quite very unfortunate, I must say. I guess these issues more than any other finally forced Amaechi to reconsider his alliance and allegiance to the PDP, a party that tries to consume its own. If you also add these injustices to the impunity with which a list of PDP delegates were manufactured on the eve of a convention in Abuja without the inputs of the governor, then you know somebody obviously was following a script written from very powerful quarters in government. If you recall, all the states that experienced what I refer to as a slight engineered the famous walk out saga at the Eagles Square sometime in 2013. If you remember also, that was the day the so-called new PDP was born.

Again, you also recall vividly what transpired at the Governor’s Forum where 16 votes for Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State became superior to Governor Amaechi’s 19. The confusion created by this obvious anomaly would later pave the way for the defection of these very five governors. And I must say this has led to massive defections everywhere else across Nigeria, a situation I guess the PDP never envisaged.

Things got so bad that a senator, Magnus Abe, was allegedly shot during a rally in the state. What really happened?

The Save Rivers Movement (SRM) had applied to the police in the state for police protection to hold their rally that fateful Sunday. And as usual, the police did not write to say they would or would not provide any form of security cover for the event. We always take it for granted that they will be there to discharge their statutory duties of providing security for the event. Let me make it clearer.

There is no law that forbids any peaceful gathering in Nigeria. There is also no law that makes it mandatory for anyone of group to first of all get police permission to hold a gathering. By writing to seek “police protection” to hold an event, you are only informing them formally so that they can be aware that such a meeting is ongoing, just in case. Just like, you wouldn’t, for instance, ask a chance to get a permit to hold a crusade, a music concert or wedding ceremony. Or let me stretch it a bit- if communities want to gather at the town square or hall to hold a gathering. I could go on and on but suffice it to say that because of the bias

or should I say the hidden agenda of the police they did not say anything. Only for them to get to the venue of the proposed rally early Sunday morning – as early 5.30am - to start demolishing structures already erected for the rally. And started tear gassing anyone and everyone they thought was related to the event one way or the other.

There was also some sporadic shooting by the police. When Senator Magnus Abe got wind of the mayhem, he decided to go see for himself. He was also tear-gassed and shot at. It was a black Sunday in Rivers. It was so sad because as far as the police command in the state is concerned, lives of the people, including that of a serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, do not matter. Now, to worsen an already bad situation, the police have a well-oiled propaganda machine adept at misinformation. These days, the police now pay money to people to stage protests against Amaechi. It’s so unfortunate.

The police have denied shooting any form of bullets, whether rubber or live. The question people are asking is who then shot the senator?

The commissioner of police cannot deny shooting any kind of bullets. It was not something done in the dark. If you watch the video, you will hear sounds of gunshots very clear and audible.

They were shooting. So, who was shooting? Was it the innocent, armless people around the place?

Do you also know that the mobile police unit of MOPOL 19 had also been mobilised to the place?

So, what were they carrying? Guns without bullets? Or were they just carrying mere batons? Or teargas as canisters alone? How many of the policemen had teargas canisters? They all carried guns!

On one occasion during the House of Assembly opening incident, I was to have been a victim as I was shot at. It was someone else, apparently standing in the line to fire who was nicked on the head with the bullet meant for me that fateful day.

And as a politician, do you think these reasons are enough for the governor to defect to another party?

Anyone, not just Amaechi, in that situation, would want to dump the PDP. Just like me, he felt unwanted, rejected, humiliated, oppressed and harassed in the PDP and so he decided to join the APC to be free. The governor has been quite pains-

taking while briefing Rivers people on his reasons for leaving the PDP. First and foremost, as governor, he felt that the impunity in the PDP was impacting negatively on his administration in Rivers State. He was not allowed to do certain things he yearned to do for Rivers people. That impunity graduated into the infamous ceding of oil wells to our neighbouring states. He also talked about the refusal of the federal government to approve the implementation of some World Bank projects due to the state. He also felt very bad that there was virtually no federal government presence in the state in terms of project, and the present administration had been very unfair to Rivers State. I think he was also quite perturbed by the attitude of the FG which was tending towards frustrating the efforts of his government to deliver the dividends of democracy to his people. The aggregate summary of what Amaechi was passing through was congruent with similar fears I had expressed, though on a less elaborate scale previously, that there was so much of impunity, that there was so much of falsehood in the PDP. Why do you think the police in the state appear to be taking side in these matters?

You know Mbu is very funny. Recently, he said the APC was hiding under the Save Rivers Movement to campaign for elections when it was not yet time for such. What will he say of GDI – Nyesom Wike’s sponsored Grassroots Democratic Initiative, which holds their rallies almost every weekend in Rivers State with police protection? They just don’t meet. The PDP is the cardinal agenda at such rallies. Which makes them a cover for PDP. But contrary to what the police think, the Save Rivers Movement is not a cover for the APC. The SRM is campaigning on its own to mobilise support for the APC. The Save Rivers Movement, just like an NGO, is free to organise rallies and talk about issues affecting the well being of Rivers people, including mobilising support for the APC, if they so wish, as freedom of speech, and association prescribed in the country’s constitution. Now, since they are not canvassing for votes, nor campaigning for a particular candidate thrown up by a primary, I don’t see why the police can say they are a cover for the APC. My answer to Mbu when he accused us of campaigning when we were not supposed to be campaigning was that we were only sensitising the public towards building a strong membership base. The law allows new parties, even old ones to continue with membership drive. Why? Because it is the membership of the party that generates the funds for the party. It’s only financial members that are the actual members of the party.

And if we do not go on rallies, if we do not go on campaign, if possible from door to door, asking people to join us, how do we get them to join us?

Now, the latest dimension to Mbu’s antics is to go as far as stopping us from inaugurating our ward executives. One of our members home had been invaded by overzealous police men while holding a meeting of party members. That’s how crazy this has become.

The police introduced a new dimension to the Bori Town rally of the Save Rivers Movement by empowering thugs to cause mayhem at the venue with the sole purpose of disrupting proceedings. How can a police command hear gunshots all over Bori so early in the morning and decide to fold its hands?

What do you think is the way to resolve this crisis?

The first thing is for President Goodluck Jonathan to separate his office from that of his wife. I tend to agree with opinions that it is the wife that is the problem. We have seen how the president’s wife’s appearance in Port Harcourt or the adjoining towns always seems to trigger off these mayhems. Of course with active collaboration of Nyesom Wike. So, if Mr President can do more to separate his office from that of his wife, I think the present tension would be doused. Secondly, let me use this medium to inform President Jonathan that Nyesom Wike is an Ikwerre man who doesn’t love him. I think he is now capitalising on the feud between Amaechi and Mr President to further his personal ambition. So, President Jonathan should not allow Wike make too many enemies for him because contrary to what he thinks, the minister is only fighting for his personal ambition while using the FG’s enormous state machinery and resources to ride to that goal. To prove my assertion, let the president do anything to suggest he won’t back Wike and see the speed with which he will abandon him! For Wike, it is all about his ambition, nothing else.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2014

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Enugu 2015: Chime’s political family battle over succession Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, who just returned from Enugu, reports that the controversy surrounding last Monday’s evacuation of the birds in the deputy governor’s executive poultry reveals the intense battle for Governor Sullivan Chime’s succession.

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S aspirants for 2015 governorship ticket of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State prepare for the primaries, the battle within Governor Sullivan Chime’s political structure is getting out of hand.

Insiders told The Nation in Enugu this week that last Monday’s evacuation of about 3000 birds from the executive poultry of the deputy governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, was much more than “an environmental exercise” as it is, “deeply rooted in the desperate struggle for the succession of the outgoing governor.”

When the invasion of the deputy governor’s poultry in his official residence at the Government House was first reported, informed observers expressed doubt over the expressed reasons for the exercise.

Officials of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA) and the Ministry of Environment, who carried out the exercise, had explained that the said poultry constituted health hazard to workers at the Government House.

Also Governor Sullivan Chime, through his Chief Press Secretary, Chukwudi Achife, provided the government’s position on the matter.

According to Achife, the facts surrounding the evacuation were as follows: “The said poultry is located in the official quarters of the deputy governor, which shares a wall with the office of the governor; In recent times, the stench from the poultry had been pervading the Government House and causing much discomfort to all workers within the Government House, including of course, the governor; He Added that the “birds” were evacuated to a safe place and would be handed over to the deputy governor whenever and wherever he chooses; It is important to also state that the deputy governor does not currently live in the premises as it is being renovated by the government.”

Reacting to the governor’s explanation, the deputy governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, described it as “a wicked act and a clear exhibition of impunity by a power-drunk official of the government.” He also said that the action was intended to humiliate him.”

Dismissing the explanation offered by the governor’s spokesman, Onyebuchi told press men that the people that the reason given to him for the exercise was an alleged violation of Certificate of Occupancy clause and so expressed surprise that the press release from the office of the governor did not mention it.

He added: “Let them also deny that I have not operated the poultry since 2008. And that is why I put in my Asset Declaration at the end of my first term in office and at the beginning of the current term that I have operated the same poultry and this was verified by the Code of Conduct Bureau. How suddenly my poultry became a health hazard when it has been in existence since 2008.

Let them also deny that I have not operated the poultry since 2008. And that is why I put in my Asset Declaration at the end of my first term in office and at the beginning of the current term that I have operated the same poultry and this was verified by the Code of Conduct Bureau. How suddenly my poultry became a health hazard when it has been in existence since 2008.

“Let them also deny that there is no bigger poultry, piggery and cattle

• Chime

ranch in the Governor’s lodge. My poultry was properly run and cleaned because it was run with the Technical support from Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture,” he said.

The succession politics The Nation investigation during the week shows that the bird evacuation incident would not have been possible if the warm relationship that has existed between the governor and the deputy governor has not been ruptured.

Although before he went abroad for medical attention, the governor has allegedly been doing everything possible to ensure his powerful Chief of Staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, succeeds him, we gathered that he has, since after his return back to the state, remained uncertain how to resolve a seeming dilemma of choosing a successor.

According to his close associate, the governor’s dilemma derived mainly from the observed loyalty of his deputy during his long absence oversees. “Since his return, the governor had therefore been finding it difficult to make a choice, but now, I think he is poised to make that choice and it seems the deputy governor is out of it.”

Asked why the deputy governor suddenly fell out of favour, the governor’s associate, who pleaded not to be named, said: “The governor has information that the deputy governor attended nocturnal meetings at Chimaroke Nnamani’s house at Agbani. It was a meeting of the Ebeano group. Ekweremadu was present in all the meetings. The deputy governor did not know he was being monitored. He disguised himself each time he attended the said meetings. And it was during these meetings they hatched the plan to suspend top government officials from Udi Local Government Area, the governor’s home town. The plan leaked through security report with video clips,” resulting in the current attitude of the governor towards his deputy,” the associate said.

But feelers from the deputy governor’s office suggest that his predicament was made possible by the governor’s Chief of Staff, who they described as a rival in the

quest to succeed the governor, rather than the governor himself.

Even the deputy governor himself made insinuation when he said, “For now I am presenting the matter to God first of all because the person behind it is so powerful that my challenging her will be like using a vehicle to collide with a moving train.

“It is unfortunate that the person who is behind this answers a Deaconess in a church I have respect for. So, let God be the judge and guide me on how to absorb the shock and the humiliation because I believe it is intended to humiliate me and show how politically impotent I am.”

There are indications that as 2015 elections draws closer, the intrigues and the blame game may deepen. The Nation investigation during the week shows that the bird evacuation incident would not have been possible if the warm relationship that has existed between the governor and the deputy governor has not been ruptured.

Although before he went abroad for medical attention, the governor has allegedly been doing everything possible to ensure his powerful Chief of Staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, succeeds him, we gathered that he has, since after his return back to the state, remained uncertain how to resolve a seeming dilemma of choosing a successor.

According to his close associate, the governor’s dilemma derived mainly from the observed loyalty of his deputy during his long absence oversees.

“Since his return, the governor had therefore been finding it difficult to make a choice, but now, I think he is poised to make that choice and it seems the deputy governor is out of it.”

Asked why the deputy governor suddenly fell out of favour, the governor’s associate, who pleaded not to be named, said: “The governor has information that the deputy governor attended nocturnal meetings at Chimaroke Nnamani’s house at Agbani. It was a meeting of the Ebeano group. Ekweremadu was present in all the meetings. The deputy governor did not know he was being monitored. He disguised himself each time he attended the said meetings. And it was during these meetings they hatched the plan to suspend top government officials from Udi Local Government Area, the governor’s home town. The plan leaked through security report with video clips,” resulting in the current attitude of the governor towards his deputy,” the associate said.

But feelers from the deputy governor’s office suggest that his predicament was made possible by the governor’s Chief of Staff, who they described as a rival in the quest to succeed the governor, rather than the governor himself.

Even the deputy governor himself made insinuation when he said, “For now I am presenting the matter to God first of all because the person behind it is so powerful that my challenging her will be like using a vehicle to collide with a moving train.

“It is unfortunate that the person who is behind this answers a Deaconess in a church I have respect for. So, let God be the judge and guide me on how to absorb the shock and the humiliation because I believe it is intended to humiliate me and show how politically impotent I am.”

There are indications that as 2015 elections draws closer, the intrigues and the blame game may deepen.

The Boko Haram police chief

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T is difficult, really, to fathom why Commissioner Joseph Mbu is yet to be deployed to the Boko Haram Kingdom. The first person to recommend him for promotion to the war theatre was Professor Wole Soyinka. The accomplished writer and academic did a survey of the Police Force and introspection over the terrorism threat and came up with the ingenious recommendation.

Mbu is a beloved cop in whom the presidency is well pleased. And, it has been proven over and over again that officers earn accelerated promotion when sent to the war front. The closest we have to a war in Nigeria today is the insurgency in the North East. Only our best should be sent to the area in order to bring the challenge under control in no time.

Mr. Mbu (not Ibu) has demonstrated that he is a tough cop. It takes guts to take on a state governor and remain in the state. He has continued to dare the governor of Rivers State, providing cover for Amaechi’s opponents, while denying the governor’s supporters the freedom to freely associate. He also took on the state House of Assembly, daring the honourable members to force their way into the chamber to conduct the legitimate business for which they were elected.

The Rivers CP is the only police commander that I know who could issue a caveat emptor to National Assembly members who sought to come over to the state to take up the task of lawmaking. He could and would not guarantee their security and, when a verdict was procured in support of the CP’s advisory, the lawmakers stayed away.

Our dear CP sure knows his onion. He saw nothing wrong with placing a full page advertisement in national newspapers to salute his boss. Hitherto, police chiefs had kept their relationships away from the public glare, but our man would have none of that. If you have it, he believes, you should flaunt it.

Once again, in the interest of peace in the land; in the process of setting up a potent anti-terrorism unit, I wish to suggest that Mr. Mbu should be considered as a commander. I know many may say the unit is being packaged by the army, not Police. But, what is wrong with locating talent in the Police and making good use of him? I believe the man is being under-utilised by the Police Force and may not find fulfillment in the job he is doing.

It is no use suggesting that the environment may be strange to him. The Police Force is a federal agency. I will be surprised if he has never served in some parts of the North East. The talent with which the super cop has been well endowed; the intelligence that he freely gathers in Port Harcourt that allows him know when the Save Rivers Movement is meeting and the lightening speed he employs in getting his men break up such gatherings should be put to a better use.

I know that the President and his men may be worried that there may be no other police chief who could handle the Rivers crisis to his satisfaction. But, that would be selfish. The President’s political interest should not override the national interest. While President Jonathan could be forgiven for sparing some thought for the man who would handle critical states like Kano, Lagos, Rivers, Kaduna and Oyo for him ahead of the February 2014, he only needs to span the gamut of the Force to locate men who would replicate Mbu’s loyalty and commitment in the states.

Better still, the President could instruct the IGP to list a number of officers of Ijaw extraction to be deployed for such duties. In that case, he would have nothing to worry about. It would be their joy to take elderly counsel from Pa Edwin Clark on how to patriotically work for their fatherland.

Those who have the ears of the President should take this message to him. Were I as greedy as some of the men and women who work for him, I would have got across to him for consultancy. This is a product of 25 years experience in the field and ought not be sold cheap, but because I appreciate the good work that the President is doing, and realising that he deserves a second term, I decided to pass the message across free.

My recommendation of Mbu stems from a realization that one sector that could stop his reelection bid is failure to tackle insecurity. If he sends our brilliant super, loyal CP there, the result would come so fast that whoever is pitched against the best performing President Nigeria has produced would be wasting his time.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2014

POLITICS

snippets APC boss seeks free polls in Ekiti, Osun

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•Jega

HE Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Cardinal James Odunbaku, has urged the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Athahiru Jega, to do everything possible at ensuring a free and fair election in Ekiti and Osun states later this year.

The APC chieftain was reacting to recent comment from Jega that Nigerians should not expect perfect election in 2015.

The party leader said Jega should be mindful of his statements ahead of elections in the two APC-controlled states.

Speaking with The Nation during a sensitisation meeting held at the party’s secretariat in Lagos, Odumbaku advised the INEC boss to tell Nigerians in clear terms if he is unable to hold credible elections

rather than throw the states into crisis by conducting unacceptable elections later in the year.

“I read what Jega told Nigerians recently that we should not expect perfect election.

Imagine that coming from the man we all expect to conduct free and fair election. Our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has already advised him to resign if he can’t do the job. Yes, let him quit. What do we pay him for? Without a perfect election, how can we have a perfect democracy?

It has to be a perfect election, especially in Osun and Ekiti states. As a party, we will not tolerate any imperfection in the elections of these two states. We saw what happened in Anambra and Ondo, so we are better prepared. And also in 2015, it has to be perfect. Nigerians want nothing short of a perfect electoral process,” he said.

Odunbaku, who is very optimistic that his party will trounce the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015, urged members of the APC nationwide to go all out and register during the party’s forthcoming registration exercise.

“Ours is a party ordained by God to liberate the good people of Nigeria. I am very sure that come 2015, the PDP will be defeated by the APC at the general election. Nigerians are tired of the misrule

by PDP. They want change and that is what we are offering them.

“My appeal is to the members of APC nationwide. They should go all out and register during the party’s registration exercise. That is one major way of ensuring that we all come together to defeat this non-performing government of the PDP all over the country,” he said.

2015: More PDP chieftains Rivers budget row: Our concern is for the people, says APC join Oyo guber race

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HEAD of the 2015 general elections, more chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State are throwing their hats into the ring to contest the gubernatorial election.

While the party is still struggling to rid itself of the intra-party crises that have weakened it tremendously since it lost to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2011, sources say not a few of its chieftains are warming up to pick its governorship ticket.

Prominent names among the new entrants included that of the immediate past governor of Oyo State, Adebayo AlaoAkala, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Jordan, Taofik Arapaja, and Asim Gbolarunmi, all of the PDP. Before now, Alao-Akala was rumored to be warming up to represent the Oyo central senatorial in the national assembly. Arapaja and Gbolarumi were both former deputy governors to Alao-Akala .

Another aspirant, who recently declared his interest in the race, is Mr. Seyi Makinde, also of the PDP. Alhaji Kamal Badru, a PDP stalwart, said the growing number of aspirants is a sign that the PDP in Oyo State is still a force to reckon with.

“It is not a bad thing. In fact, I will say it is good for the party to have as many aspirants in the race as possible. It will help to create awareness about the new form of the PDP in the state. The party is back and better. It is a sign that the PDP is still very popular in Oyo State,” he said.

He, however, cautioned the aspirants involved not to do so in a manner that will divide the party. “If they go about it

•Alao- Akala

properly, the party will benefit from their aspirations. Only one person will finally get the ticket to contest but all of them would have worked to further promote the party in the minds of the people of the state,” he said.

HE state Interim Chairman of All Peoples Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, has said the party took the larger interest of the people of the state into consideration in the process that led to the passage of the 2014 budget in court.

The APC boss was reacting to the decision of the State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to approach an Abuja High Court over the legal validity of the controversial 2014 Rivers State Appropriation Bill passed by 23 members of the State House of Assembly on January 6, this year.

The Felix Obuah-led PDP in the state wants the court to declare the budget null and void and of no consequence because its passage was “shrouded in secrecy” and was carried out outside the designated legislative chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“As a party, we knew very well that without budget, the government can’t finance most of its projects or pay salaries.

We are surprised that PDP is complaining that a budget that will benefit the people is passed into law,” he said.

While stating that all the developmental strides currently going on in the state had drawn wide applause from both far and near, he pointed out that only the leaders of the PDP, who had chosen not to see, were the ones left in their sustained criticism of the Rotimi Amaechi administration.

He enjoined the people of the state to discountenance the lies being peddled by the opposition on the passage of the 2014 Appropriation Bill, saying it followed all

•Rotimi Amaechi

By Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor

known legislative norms. Ikanya called for the continued cooperation and support of the people of the state for Governor Amaechi.

Lagos Ohaneze leaders unveil vision T

HE Ohaneze leader in Lagos, Phebian Onwughalu, and the other newly elected executive of the Lagos branch met during the week with Igbo prominent citizens in Lagos.

At the meeting, Onwughalu explains the vision and plans of the new state executive.

“We have been doing our best to reconcile the factions and carry everyone along. Our desire is to take our people to the next level so that peace is achieved. There must be decorum, respect of our tradition and warning for those going against the injunction of the court. We have had petitions from farmers and some obas in the SouthWest. The National Secretary has been trying to reach out to host communities for peaceful co-existence,”

By Yetunde Oladeinde

Onwughalu said.

He added: “The first project is to acquire a massive piece of land to build an Igbo secretariat in Lagos State. We do not have the funds for the project, but we know that there is nothing we ask in our name that we cannot get. There would also be a three star hotel inside the secretariat, where our people can relax. We also want to pay courtesy visit to all the governors in the South-East”.

Onwughalu a lawyer goes on to talk about the proposed National Conference and its importance. “Everyone has a right to associate, speak and carry out their daily obligations without offending other people. Where your right stops is actually where the other person’s rights begin. As Igbos, we are support-

ing the National Conference and we are mobilizing towards it. We want the conference because we know that it is good for the South , it is about equity and those who know that they would lose some of their privileges are those against it. For a long time , we have been on the receiving end.The basis for sharing the national cake should be the zones and not states or local government. Resource control is what would be properly discussed at the conference and we would advance from there,” he informs.

Onwuahalu adds that: “We also have problems with mobility. We need three buses for the executive, the youth wing and the women’s wing of the organisation.

On his part,the host Chief Solomon Ogbonna said the meeting would usher

in a turning point for the organisation.

“I thank the Ezes for their support and for bring me to join the group in Lagos.

I am into artwork and I am building a Museum. When they elected this new government, I knew it was from God. The preservation of art, culture and tradition of the people is a vision flowing in the bloodline of the Aguene Okorie’s family that I hail from.

The family has a vision of a society where art, culture and tradition of the people will be preserved for posterity. My grandfather, Chief Okorie Oti was a great traditionalist and he became an inspiration to his father, Chief Aguene Okorie who passed the baton to me. I am therefore ready to assist our people and be a part of the positive dreams of the organisation.”

THE NATION ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2014

POLITICS

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Delta 2015: Executive rascality taken too far T

HE intrigues of the 2015 gubernatorial election in Delta State have started with the usual claims of politicians assuming larger than life image. It is even more worrisome that those who ought to know the political intricacies in the state are already fanning the embers of tribal sentiments.

The report credited to the Secretary to Delta State Government, Ovouzourie Macaulay, on Monday, 20th January, 2014 that no power shift pact exists among the three senatorial districts of the state is the high point of executive rascality coming from the SSG. His baseless, half-truth and misinformed analysis of events in the state’s politics has exposed his ignorance and shows how intellectually bereft the SSG could be.

Looking at the issues that Macaulay raised in his analysis of the campaign slogan of ‘’fairness and equity’’ by Anioma/Delta North gubernatorial contenders, it is rather strange and mischievous that the SSG could interpret the campaign slogan to mean vendetta against other senatorial districts in the state. What an uninformed interpretation of a simple phrase!

I am surprised that the SSG accused the aspirants of negative campaign against the past leaders of the state. Agreed that the SSG is doing his job by defending the institution that puts food on his table, but if the truth must be told, both present and past leaders of the state failed woefully. I advise him to visit Akwa Ibom State and make a comparative analysis.

M r. Macaulay goofed woefully when he asserted that people from Delta North and their leaders did not vote for Uduaghan wholeheartedly during the 2011 gubernatorial election. The fact is that out of the nine local government councils in the senatorial zone, Uduaghan won five while Great Ogboru, the candidate of Democratic People’s Party, won four. Mr. Macaulay, the self-ac-

•Ovouzourie Macaulay, Delta SSG

By Charles Uju claimed member of G3 (Association of the Ijaws, Isoko and the Itsekiri’s), lost his Isoko North local government council to the opposition in the said election. What a paradox, the SSG failed to look at other elections conducted in the state since 1999. It is either

he is suffering from memory failure (amnesia) or he is a poor student of history.

Let me remind the SSG that the PDP under Governor James Ibori won all the nine local government areas in Anioma area in 1999. In the 2003 gubernatorial election, the feat was repeated across the senatorial zone.

The Aniomas voted for Uduaghan in the 2007 governorship election overwhelmingly. The incumbent governor had a landslide victory in the area. The SSG in his spurious and mischievous claims deliberately denied this obvious fact just to score a cheap political point.

I wonder why a high government functionary of the status of the SSG could result to flagrant distortion of contemporary historical facts.

He equally alleged thus: “I am afraid that people like us will not support an Anioma person for the governorship as we are afraid.’’

Someone should please ask him his political pedigree that makes him think that Aniomas need his support to produce the next governor. Even as a high ranking commissioner with all the paraphernalia of executive powers, he could not deliver his local government to the PDP in the last election in the state. The truth is that the Aniomas are not ignorant of the clandestine move that the SSG is nursing towards being imposed as the next governor of Delta State.

He may be an insider in the Uduaghanled government, but what is his political standing in the state? I do not want to describe him as a political neophyte; he is certainly a political opportunist. He came into the state’s political limelight albeit controversially when Governor James Ibori appointed him committee chairman of internally displaced persons of Ijaw/Itsekiri crisis. His abysmal failure and funds misappropriation is a story for another day.

The late literary legend, Chinua Achebe,

in his classical book, “Things Fall Apart” advised several decades ago that “those whose palm kernel were broken for them by some benevolent spirits should learn to be humble’’. In advanced climes where merit and competence are cardinal considerations for appointment in government, the likes of Macaulay Ovouzourie can never come close to the corridors of power, not to talk of being a secretary to the state government.

The SSG also said he is afraid that if anybody from Anioma is elected as governor, the person may seek for vengeance. This means the SSG is already aware that the Anioma people are not being fairly treated in their own state – Delta. And if that be the case, shouldn’t all of us be thinking of how to redress the injustice instead of one of us scheming to remain in power in perpetuity?

There is a saying that you can fool some people sometimes but you can’t fool all the people all the time.

Back to the issue at stake, the Aniomas are poised to produce the next governor of Delta State come 2015. It is clear to all rightthinking Deltans that all the aspirants from Delta North senatorial zone who have already declared their intentions to contest for the governorship election are men and women of impeccable and unblemished pedigree. The likes of serving senator Ifeanyi Okowa, erudite Professor Sylvester Monye, the Presidential Adviser on Project Monitoring, Hon Victor Ochei, Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, among other contenders, distinguished Nigerians with track records of service and requisite experience to take our dear Delta State to a higher height.

In summary, these words of the SSG can best be described (according to Chuba Okadigbo of blessed memory) as reprehensible ranting of an ant.

•Uju wrote in from Issele-Uku in Delta State

Nigeria: One hundred years on T HE year 2014 is set to be a memorable year featuring three major events. The World Cup will be staged in Brazil later in the year during which Nigerians would have the opportunity once again to rally behind the national team, the Super Eagles, in another fit of fleeting patriotism. This year also marks the centenary of the beginning of the First World War ‘’the war to end all wars’’ in 1914. Hundreds of thousands of troops from former British colonies, including Nigeria, fought and died in the name of the British Empire but their noble sacrifices have been largely airbrushed out of British imperial history.

By sheer coincidence, 1914 was also the year of amalgamation of northern and southern Nigeria into one unified administration by Sir Frederick Lugard. While the federal government has made plans to celebrate the centenary, it ought to be more an occasion for sober reflection and soul searching than celebrations.

Given our turbulent history, the key questions that should concentrate our minds wonderfully are: where do we go from here and what is to be done, especially at a time when the country is facing the biggest threat to its existence since the civil war as a result of the raging insurgency ravaging the North East?

Amalgamation was no doubt a significant milestone in colonial state formation but left us with an amalgam of disparate, divided and, sometimes, desperate ethnic groups; but that is not unique to Nigeria. Many countries in the world are in a similar position and are getting on with their lives. Of course, we should continue to find meaningful ways of narrowing our differences such as having a national dialogue, but we should not underestimate the ties that have bound us together long before colonial rule and since then.

President Obama once said: “We can choose to define ourselves by our differences and give in to suspicion and mistrust. Or we can choose to do the hard work of forging common ground and commit ourselves to the steady pursuit of progress.’’

The colonial authorities didn’t do nation building, nor should we have expected them to, since divide and rule was the stock in trade of British colonisers.

Even then the successor state, like the colonial authorities, hasn’t succeeded in forging a nation.

Governments have been immune to playing divide and rule in order to promote selfish interests

By Aderemi Oyewumi

while professing their commitment to national unity.

The third stanza of Nigeria’s first national anthem, a better reflection of Nigeria than the current one, had the following lines: “O God of all creation grant this our one request. Help us to build a nation where no one is oppressed…’’ Having outsourced the task of nation building to God, as is often the case in Nigeria, successive governments did little to promote national unity. Instead, by commission or omission, they accentuated the fault lines of ethnic and religious conflicts, resulting in instability and arrested development.

Take creation of states for instance. After the twelve states initially created by the Gowon administration in response to the exigencies of the time, subsequent decisions to create more states were self-serving; some states were even created to satisfy the whims of powerful generals. The states have had little impact on development. Instead of bringing development nearer to the people, in most states they brought federally-collected oil revenues closer to the local state elites and poverty nearer to the people.

An unintended consequence of the creation of states is to further divide Nigerians by introducing another cleavage called statism into the system. Nigeria is more divided today than it’s ever been with some ethnic groups threatening to go their separate ways, more out of frustration than conviction.

Much has been made of the notion that Nigeria is a ‘’mere geographical expression’’, but, as geographical expressions go, the country that emerged from colonial rule had relatively impressive vital statistics. For all the flaws of colonial state formation, Nigeria is perhaps lucky in a sense, to turn out the way it did with a vast expanse of territory, a sizeable and diverse population and natural resources to boot; factors that we often deploy to buttress our claims to African leadership.

We need not look further than our immediate neighbourhood to see that we didn’t do badly.

Niger and Chad, two of our immediate neighbours, are bigger than Nigeria by landmass but with much smaller populations and mostly semi-arid countries with no direct access to the sea, with all the challenges that landlocked countries face. Despite the legal fiction of sovereign

equality of all states in the international system, God is on the side of big battalions.

Those who believe that the power structure in the country is too skewed in favour of the federal government suggest that the solution to marginalisation and alienation lies in devolving power and finances to the lower tiers of government thereby cutting the federal government down to size, so to speak. But devolving more powers to the states is no guarantee, given that governance at the state level is generally nothing to write home about, with the imperious manner in which governors run their states like their personal fiefdoms.

Others argue that it is bad governance that is responsible for the country’s problems of underdevelopment and instability not the structure of the country. We can tinker as much as we want with the structure of the country as the creation of states has shown, but, unless it throws up the right people to do the right things, it will be in vain.

Since the restoration of democracy the county has over the years become more of a kleptocracy than a democracy given the incessant reports of colossal amounts of public funds squandered and embezzled with impunity reigning supreme.

Nigerians are increasingly questioning the point of the current democratic dispensation making no significant difference to their lives. The fledgling democracy we practice is what one African academic termed “choiceless democracy’’ where citizens go to the polls periodically but end up voting without choosing as a result of rigged elections.

Having muddled through many crises, including a civil war in our hundred-year history, we shouldn’t be lulled into a false sense of complacency by tempting fate.

Not even developed and well-governed countries with a much longer history of nationhood are immune to separatist tendencies. Take the UK our former colonial power for instance. After more than 300 years of union between England and Scotland, the UK is facing the danger of unravelling.

Notwithstanding devolution of powers to the Scottish parliament following decades of agitation for self-determination, the Scots are due to vote in September 18 this year on whether to remain part of the UK or not, raising the spectre of the United Kingdom becoming a Divided Kingdom.

If the Scots vote for independence it is almost certainly going to embolden and stiffen the re-

•Sir Frederick Lugard

solve of Nigerian ‘separatists’ who would seize upon it to press their case. However, unlike the British government, one thing is for sure, no government worth its salt would allow Nigerians to vote in a referendum that could lead to the dissolution of the country.

Some mischief makers even alleged that the amalgamation of 1914 was meant to be for 100 years, that it expired on January 1, 2014 and Nigeria must revert to the status quo ante like an expired product that had passed its ‘sell-by’ date.

In spite of all the challenges Nigeria is facing, the country is still considered as having the potential to become an economic power if it can overcome the obstacles hindering its progress. Nigeria has been touted as one of four countries consisting of Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey (MINT) as the next emerging economies to watch with high growth potential. However, without good governance and responsible leadership all the prognoses for a brighter future for Nigeria would not be realised.

Dr. Oyewumi lives in Abuja

THE NATION ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2014

POLITICS

26

ripples

As Okonjo-Iweala comes to equity PDP’s trade by barter W

•Muazu

T

HINGS appear to be looking up for the new Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) boss, Adamu Muazu, in his bid to re-unite his torn party. It seems he wouldn’t suffer much before regaining the support of members of the ruling party in the House of Representatives.

But the said support comes with a price, or is it a deal?

In what appears like a trade by barter arrangement, Muazu can now ‘buy’ his disgruntled party members’ loyalty by assuring them all of automatic return tickets to the hallowed chamber in 2015.

House Leader, Mulikat AkandeAdeola, who informed Muazu of the party’s promise, said ”all the members of this party in the House would want to be assured of automatic ticket in the forthcoming elections and the

opportunity to nominate membership of various committees in their constituencies as the need arises.”

Also, Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Governor Godswill Akpabio, who solicited for cooperation with the leadership of the party, said “The outcome of this meeting will determine to a large extent the return or exit of some of you, because your governors are here. Since you don’t relate much with your governors and get disconnected from state functions. But this meeting would strengthen all that out. Whatever is decided here would become the Abuja accord.”

The barter arrangement was discussed at a parley between Muazu and the lawmakers recently. Though he did not say so at the meeting, the body language of the new party boss was that of a desperate produce buyer willing to pawn anything to get what he wants.

HEN the Senate last Wednesday condemned the alleged mismanagement of N1.4bn fund for the implementation of the Graduate Internship Scheme under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme being supervised by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the distinguished Senators were probably oblivious of the effect of that singular action on the hitherto “impeccable” records of Madam Supervising Minister.

By describing the GIS as illegal and saying the scheme was a way of diverting government money, the legislators “blotted” Okonjo-Iweala’s profile with an allegation of illegality. The minister, who, a few years back, boasted that she has never been accused of any ille- •Okonjo-Iweala gality, will have to make do with being alleged to have misman- explain her involvement in the illegal expenditure. aged public funds.

Although no specific date was given In a letter addressed to the minister by the committee, the panel said the by the senators for the minister to appear ministry expended the said amount before them, they requested her to furnish between April 2012 and April 2013. them with the list of all beneficiaries of Now, the Supervising Minister is ex- the scheme, their locations and contact pected to appear before the senate to addresses, among others.

Echoes of ‘sack’ of Nasarrawa electoral officer

Imoke’s large heart

C

• Imoke

ROSS RIVER State Governor, Liyel Imoke, has once again displayed his much-talked about large heartedness by recalling 19 out of the 20 commissioners and special advisers he suspended late last year.

Imoke had, on December 2, 2013, suspended the cabinet members for failing to participate in the World’s AIDS Day celebration and other activities to mark the 2013 Calabar Festival.

Not a few had thought the suspension marked the exit of the affected officials from the administration.

But in a statement on Wednesday in Calabar, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Mike Aniah, said the state governor had lifted their suspension, hence they should return to their duty posts to continue with their official duties.

Some of those pardoned include Attah Ochinke, Etim Caifas, Patricia Endeley, Elemi Etowa, Gerald Adah, Fred Osim, Gabriel Odu Oji, John Eyikwaji, Edak Iwuchukwu, Obo Ekpenyong, Fabian Okpa etc.

Only the Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Sandy Onor, remained suspended as we speak.

Although no explanation was offered for his non-recall, many are still optimistic that the governor will still, in continuation of his large heartedness, look in his direction mercifully.

•Gov Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa

L

AST Tuesday’s ‘sack’ of Mr. Mohammed Hassan-Ibrahim, a commissioner at Nasarrawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC), by the Nasarrawa State House of Assembly, over alleged partisan conduct, is still creating ripples in the polity.

The House took the decision in Lafia after deliberating on report of the joint committee on Information, Security, special duties and committee on

NASIEC. After passing a vote of no confidence in him, the assembly recommended that he should be sacked within 24 hours and advised the governor, Umaru Al-Makura, to submit another name for confirmation in to the position.

Already, the matter is generating heat as questions are being asked by the opposition. Everybody is now waiting for new developments.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

–Page 52

IN VOGUE

By Kehinde Oluleye

Tel: 08023689894 (sms) E-mail: kehinde.oluleye@thenationonlineng.net

32 GLAMOUR

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

GLAMOUR 33

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34 GLAMOUR

&

OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL (08033572821) raphseg2003@yahoo.com

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POLITICS

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42 SUNDAY MAGAZINE

THE NATION ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2014

LIVING IN THE DARK

Inside the world of the blind Continued from Page 41

•Akano

THE NATION ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2014

LIVING IN THE DARK

SUNDAY MAGAZINE 43

44 SUNDAY MAGAZINE

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Solutions to real life

?

Princess

relationship issues

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ENTERTAINMENT

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2014

ETCETERA

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SUNNY SIDE

Cartoons

By Olubanwo Fagbemi

POLITICKLE

deewalebf@yahoo.com 08060343214 (SMS only)

Sunny Side awards

CHEEK BY JOWL

OH, LIFE!

THE GReggs

•Continued from last week MOST controversial set-up: National Conference. A once-and-for-all path to national identity or 2015 game-changer? For many, it’s ‘no’ to a confab with the general polls about a year away, thank you very much. And not many are prepared to give President Goodluck Jonathan the benefit of the doubt. Close to first-term exit, he cannot just turn supporter from long-time opposition.

Most adopted description: Clueless. The term never rang truer. Why would Nigeria’s most certificated leader struggle with routine acts of governance?

Yet, the emergence of the country’s ‘most criticised’ leader remains linked to OBJ. As if we didn’t know, Baba recently confessed to grooming Jonathan and his late predecessor Umar Musa Yar’Adua, despite the latter’s illness.

Most misused adjective: Shoeless. A term never seemed more inconsequential. Used by the president to recommend humble beginnings and great achievements to a weary nation, it falls flat in the face of underperformance and extravagance. How symbolic that under Jonathan, corruption festers, education suffers and poverty multiplies.

Most overrated official: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. The ‘madam minister from abroad’ is always at it. Some alleged she was fetched from a plum World Bank position with a dollar-denominated salary. Her denial barely satisfied critics, considering her not-so-fetching record on the job. Who championed the Paris Club debt write-off with the country’s unprecedented wealth in 2005? Who advocated fuel subsidy withdrawal? And who invested the sovereign wealth in non-sovereign hands while making baffling excuses for economic leakage and delayed salaries?

Most puzzling plan: The National Budget. Capable of a riveting performance on the floor of the National Assembly in form of a yo-yo between the upper and lower houses, the financial template for economic expenditure yearly captures the imagination. Determination of the oil benchmark, the aggregate price of a barrel of crude oil on which the budget is based, often causes friction between senators and representatives. It also moves legislators to confront the executive on items removed or inserted in the budget and value inflated or deflated in either camp’s favour.

More accountable chamber: The House of Reps. Obviously benefiting from dynamic leadership, the House of Representatives appears the better performer in legislative duties. To challenge negative perception, the Senate would first have to shake-up the ossified leadership of David Mark and company. The superior rating of the Reps is only marginal though, for the obscene remuneration both houses command scandalises the polity and stymies democracy.

Most enduring weapon: The AK-47. The creek wars of the Niger Delta that led to the sickening contrivance called Amnesty Programme drew inspiration from the versatile weapon invented during World War II. Its designer, Mikhail Kalasnikov, may have passed on in the last year, but his Avtomat Kalashnikov (Kalashnikov’s automatic) or AK-47 lives on, travelling the world on the backs of insurgents from the resource-filled Amazon Jungle to the bare Sahara Desert.

Most laughable idea: ‘Phone for Farmers’/‘Nigerian Automotive Policy’.

Both share the prize for economic absurdity and are closely followed by a worthy one. All hail the typical Nigerian home where patriotic citizens provide their own electricity, water and other infrastructure for subsistence in the knowledge that responsible governance remains a fable.

•Concludes next week

Readers’ Response Sunny Side awards You erroneously omitted the most important award, “the most criticised president”. After all, the president himself had said he’s the most criticised of all occupants of Aso Rock.

Dr J.T. Obaoye, Egbeda +2347017728*** Thanks for reading. I’m not through yet, or with GEJ, I assure you.

Kudos. To. You. On. Your. Numerous. Awards. Let. Us. See. More. Of. It. In. The. Next. Edition. Cheers.

Yomi. Adenuga. +2348061615*** Your. Wish. My. Command.

Jokes Humour Immortality BACK at his Alma Mata for his set’s tenth reunion, John met his old coach. Walking through the gym, he came upon a plaque on which he was still listed as the record holder for the longest javelin throw.

Noticing his surprise, the coach said, “That record will stand forever.”

John was about to make some modest disclaimer that records existed to be broken, when the coach interrupted him.

“We stopped holding that event years ago.”

The Hostage MARTHA was away all weekend at a business conference. During a break, she decided to call home from a public phone.

Her six-year-old son picked up the phone and heard a stranger’s voice say, “We have a Martha on the line. Will you accept the charges?”

Frantic, he dropped the receiver and came charging outside screaming, “Dad! They’ve got Mom! And they want money!”

Final Minutes BECAUSE they had no reservations at a busy restaurant, an elderly man and his

wife were told there would be a 45-minute wait for a table.

“Young man, we’re both 90 years old,” he told the waiter. “We may not have 45 minutes.”

They were seated immediately.

Great Findings MARY’S husband decided that life would be easier if he wired a new light switch in the master bedroom to save the family from fumbling in the dark for the lantern.

He cut through the wall and found a stash of bottles and small boxes inside the wall.

“Honey!” he said with a great deal of excitement. “Come see what I found!”

Mary ran in and quickly realised that her husband’s next task would be to fix the hole that now led into the back of the dining room cupboard.

QUOTE It is not in the nature of politics that the best men should be elected. The best men do not want to govern their fellowmen.

—George E. MacDonald •Adapted from the Internet

Writer ’s Fountain OW to write and According to this classification, winners of win: The same criteria upon which writing contests usually achieve over 40 students are graded in postgraduate writing marks out of 45. programs can work for short story writers You can rate your story against the criteria with the ambition to win. Imagine that stories above or have someone else do it. Beware, are awarded marks out of 45, across six however, of the main reasons why stories – publishing criteria. which might otherwise have promise – fail The highest marks go to ‘emotional to win or get published. The following are engagement with the reader’ (a maximum of some don’ts.

10) and ‘originality of concept’ (10), followed Poor structure. A tale starts slowly or by ‘the power of the first paragraph’ (8) and doesn’t start at all. It has too much ‘structure, including conflict and closure’ (8). background. It digresses into pointless ‘Apt language’ gets 6 and ‘professionalism incidents and irrelevant dialogue. The close of presentation’ is 3. is weak. Readers are left asking “What was all that about?”

Phrases that matter: Plot clichés. A famous writer once said that •In the Middle Ages, young men and he never again wanted to read a story about a women drew names from a bowl to see who cute pet or precocious child that read minds their valentines would be. They would wear and/or saved the family heroically when the these names on their sleeves for one week. house burnt down.

‘To wear your heart on your sleeve’ now Other clichés include a visit to a dying means that it is easy for other people to relative who reveals a terrible truth, the know how you are feeling. scandalous funeral (six concubines turn up, •In 1943, Navy officer Grace Hopper had each claiming to be the dead man’s wife), the no choice but to fix a computer glitch mysterious house, foreigners in the defence manually. The source of the problem? A ministry, and the writer struggling against moth. Hence the term “computer bug.” writer’s block to write a great story.

H

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Pleasures, hiccups of online shopping Page 61 Page 58, 59

What happens when you are “Polar Vortexed” (Part II)

Privatisation: BPE, NERC promise improved power supply

M

R Benjamin Dikki, the DirectorGeneral, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), has promised to work with the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to ensure improved electricity supply in the country.

Dikki said that the two organisations would ensure that the new owners of the power companies met the country's expectations of adequate power supply.

This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja over the weekend made available to newsmen by the Head, Public Communications, Mr Chigbo Aniechebe.

Dikki said that the bureau was aware of the high

expectations of Nigerians from the outcome of the power sector reform.

He said that this necessitated the BPE and NERC to put in place monitoring mechanisms to ensure that the new owners of the power companies fulfilled their obligations to improve power supply.

Dikki said that during the privatisation exercise, documents were signed to give BPE and NERC the power to monitor these companies after the sales to help them ensure that power supply improved.

He said that these agreements were the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement (SSPA), Performance Agreements (PA), BPE's Post Privatisation Monitoring

Template, NERC's Reporting Compliance Regulation and NERC's Terms and Conditions of Licensing. ``SSPA clearly spells out the terms and conditions of sale of shares to the investors, while the PA contain terms of payment and Post Acquisition Plans implementation. ``It also stipulates clear milestones the investor must achieve within a specified period. ``The NERC's Reporting Compliance Regulations clearly outlines the level of compliance to set standards by the companies. ``Also, NERC's license terms and conditions is the document that shows the mandatory requirements for

acquiring a license and the violation of the terms will lead to NERC's withdrawal of the license," he said.

Dikki said that among the documents was the Compliance Monitoring which gave BPE the right to audit, enter and monitor privatised enterprises every six months upon five days notice to the company. ``The performance obligations and liquidated damages mandates the purchaser to ensure the company achieves the minimum performance targets, failing which the purchaser shall be made liable to pay liquidated damages for performance below agreed standards.

•From left: Lagos State Lotteries Board, Head, Finance and Account, Mr Bayo Beckley, Director,(Other Revenue) Edo State Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Saylor Juwobor, Chief Executive Director, Lagos State Lotteries Board, Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila, and Executive Director Edo State Internal Revenue Service, Prince Felix Isuku, during the Study Tour on e-Lottery to Lagos State Lotteries Board at the weekend.

PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

169,500 households benefit from cash transfer scheme, says special adviser

D

R Precious Gbeneol, the Special Adviser to the President on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), at the weekend, said 169,500 households benefited from Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme between 2012 and 2013.

The figure is contained in a statement issued in Abuja

by Mr Desmond Utomwen, the Media and Communica-

tion Consultant to the office of the MDGs. CCT is a special form of social assistance scheme which provides cash to families subject to the condition that they fulfil specific behavioural requirements.

The conditions oblige individuals to satisfy some actions associated with human development goals such as parents ensuring that their

children attend school regularly.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government, on Nov. 28, 2013, approved N10 billion for the scheme, aimed at developing education, healthcare and transfer of agricultural enterprise.

In the statement, Gbeneol said ``the MDGs office is working toward consolidating poverty reduction efforts such

as strengthening CCT mechanism and scaling up the scheme to include many more households beyond the current reach.

The MDGs boss noted that ``the scheme entails the provision of grants to targeted poor households on the condition of investment in human capital development and it consists of two main components of payment.

‘I don’t suffer fools gladly’ •Obidiegwu

-- Page 53

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RTEAN supports FG's automotive policy

T

HE National Road Transport Employers' Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has expressed support for the automotive development plan of the Federal Government.

National President of the association, Chief Musa Isewele, told newsmen in Abuja on Thursday that the policy would boost employment and the manufacturing sector of the economy. ``We support the automotive policy because it will bring development and increase our revenue generation. ``If you buy a new vehicle, you don't need to buy spare parts often or visit the mechanics over little problems. ``So, it is to our own advantage as a union and we encourage the government to ensure that the policy comes to life.''

Isewele however urged government to consider some waivers to enable Nigerians to bring in vehicles with ease until the policy became effective.

Commenting on some of his achievements since assuming office, the union boss said that RTEAN had created numerous job opportunities for graduate youths since he assumed office.

He said that no fewer than 24 graduates were employed by the union at its National Secretariat. ``When we came on board, we said we are coming to make a change; we said we will work hard to put food on the table for our members.''

Isewele said the union was a peace loving group and not about ``cutlasses and machetes''. ``We embarked on an aggressive corporate image marketing of RTEAN and enforcement of discipline to give a new orientation to all our members nationwide. ``Our parks are not about thuggery and that we have been able to prove. ``Infact, any of our members who consume or even smell of alcohol will not be allowed to drive. ``If such a driver's vehicle is already being loaded with passengers, the passengers will be discharged to another vehicle and that is a very serious offence. ``We have already launched the RTEAN Mass Transit Scheme and its really effective.''

Isewele said that the union was setting up a drivers' academy to train drivers and had concluded arrangements to begin construction of a 1,000 houses for its members in Abuja.

He said that the union had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a foreign investor to provide high capacity buses nationwide.

He added that investors would, however, have to set up a vehicle assembly plant in the country in line with Federal Government's auto policy.

He also said that the union had begun data capture of all its 16 million members across the federation.

On the allegation of existing factions in the union, Isewele denied it.

The RTEAN boss said that the case was already in court.

He urged members of the union to remain law abiding and ignore any provocative statements from anyone.

IMF says emerging market turbulence raises concerns over liquidity

T

HE International Monetary Fund urged central banks at the weekend to ensure that financial market rout in the developing world does not lead to an international funding crunch.

An IMF spokesman said some emerging market countries need to take "urgent action" to improve their economies threatened by a recent sell-off in markets from India and Turkey to Brazil.

"The turbulence also underscores the need for vigilance among central banks over liquidity conditions in international capital market," the spokesman said.

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BUSINESS

Pleasures, hiccups of online s Online shopping in Nigeria has become a fad as many Nigerians not only buy and sell just products but services. But as with most sophisticated businesses that rely on hi-tech, some patrons have hard awful experiences, report Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf and Bukola Afolabi

S

HOPPING is a lot more pleasurable these days as you don't really have to broke a sweat really; it's all thanks to the internet!

To say that there has been a bourgeoning trade in online transaction and shopping by Nigerians is not in doubt and this is simply because the entrant of different online portals has rendered businesses a lot easier as top Nigeria online merchants showcase their wares using virtual technology.

Before the big bang For the select Nigerians who wished to shop online, websites like Amazon and eBAY used to be in the in-thing.

Although few people were still able to shop online at US and UK stores from Nigeria, it was one in a million. But thankfully, the situation is changing now with the growth of online stores in large numbers.

Nowadays, customers in Nigeria who want to shop online no longer need to make payments with Paypal, have a US shipping address or make use of a US credit card before their orders are executed. No, they could simply order online and even pay on delivery afterwards.

The local players Mr. Felix Okoli, a staff of KoliTech Nigeria, which has complied yellow pages for online shopping marts, has listed some of the top players in the online shopping landscape.

Some of those listed on the yellow pages include: Jumia Nigeria, Konga.com, Kaymu Nigeria, Taafoo.com, Sunglasses.com.ng, DealDey, Kara.com.ng, MyStore, Shopaholic Nigeria, Walahi, hellofood.com.ng, to mention just a few.

Investigation by The Nation shows that Jumia Nigeria is in clear lead when it comes to online shopping websites in Nigeria. They have a website located at jumia.com.ng and an office at Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria. Jumia has got a great platform that allows users to register for free, order for items they want and even pay on delivery.

Interestingly, one man who knows all about the unique challenges of the Nigerian market, as far as online marts, are concerned is Sim Shagaya, founder and CEO of online retailer Konga.com, which set up shop in July 2012.

Shagaya believes this human contact is essential in such a young e-commerce market. "You want to build a connection with people.

They still want to feel that there are human beings behind the system."

He, however, believes that as the industry develops, the need for such human contact will diminish.

Shagaya was born in Nigeria, but received most of his education in the US. After he completed his MBA at Harvard Business School in the early 2000s, he had an urge to

return to Africa. At the time Nigeria was still just finding its feet in democracy, and Shagaya opted for the more stable South Africa where he joined Rand Merchant Bank.

Following a stint at the investment bank, Shagaya moved to Nigeria where he became Google's head for Africa, developing the search giant's strategy for the entire continent, excluding South Africa. He then started a billboard advertising business, which is today one of the top players in the industry. After six years of running the billboard company, Shagaya was itching to get back into the online space.

He then convinced the board of the billboard company to invest in DealDey. Launched in March 2011, DealDey is a daily deals website, loosely based on the Groupon model that offers products at highly discounted rates. Shagaya says that DealDey provides a good platform for companies to clear their inventories.

The success of DealDey confirmed that there is a market for online shopping in Nigeria, so Shagaya started to focus all his attention on Konga.com.

(He still serves as a board member of DealDey).

Two months into Konga's existence, it received capital from Swedish investment firm Kinnevik. Barely a few months after that, South Africanbased emerging markets media giant, Naspers, also announced a major investment. According to Shagaya, Naspers CEO Koos Bekker, the man who basically introduced pay-TV in South Africa, has taken a personal interest in Konga. Interestingly, in 2011 Naspers pulled its own e-commerce offering, Kalahari, from the Nigerian market. In a statement at the time, Naspers said that "the performance of the service has been below expectation since the launch and reaching profitability was not a reasonable near-

term prospect".

Beginning with five staff members about a year ago, Jumia now has 500 people on its payroll and has swiftly risen to become the number one online retail shopping business in Nigeria.

Launched in 2013 as Jumia.com, the site kicked off with only five workers as an e-commerce startup, dreaming of organising and cashing in on the huge potentials in Nigeria's retail market.

The rapid growth of Jumia.com has seen it emerge as arguably the country's number one online shopping portal, with over 500 members of staff after just one year in operation.

With over $70 million investment funding available to its founders, Tunde Kehinde and Raphael Afaedor, Jumia is poised to maintain leadership in Nigeria's online retail market.

Advantages of online shopping Kaymu Nigeria, like Jumia, has an office address at Lekki Lagos Nigeria. Kaymu sells general items such as mobile phones, computers, home accessories, electronics, jewelry, health and beauty products and currently boast of over 24,000 pages of content indexed by Google as at this time.

Taafoo, with an office address at Oregun Lagos and a website at Taafoo.com, is into selling items relating to fashion and gadgets. Taafoo has over 280,000 pages of content indexed by Google currently.

Sunglasses has its website located at Sunglasses.com.ng. It is a niche shopping website that is focused on jus sunglasses. The website has over 1.9 million pages of content indexed by Google presently.

DealDey, with a website located at dealdey.com and office address at Ikoyi Lagos, is basically a different website from others as its focus is on selling practically any product or serv-

ice on wholesale. Since the items are offered to group buyers, one of the advantages of shopping for items at DealDey is that they offer one of the lowest prices.

Dealdey offers one of the best deals in town when it comes to pricing for various items and services in high demand.

This website offers buyers the ability to tap into the power of group buying and save on shopping costs.

Dealdey has over 15600 pages of content indexed by Google at the moment.

Kara, located at Kara.com.ng and with an office at Ikeja, Lagos, sells products and services in categories such as visa, power systems, home appliances, phones and computers. Kara has over 3400 pages of content indexed by Google as at this time.

MyStore, located at mystore.com.ng and an office at Idimu-Egbeda Road, Nigeria, this website allows people to buy products ranging from mobile phones, fashion, electronics, office supplies and home accessories. They offer deals which include free delivery within Lagos and payment options accepted include gift cards, cards and cash on delivery.

Shopaholic Nigeria, with a website address at shopaholicng.com and office address at Amuwo Odofin Lagos, offers fashion for men and women and this includes clothes, shoes, bags, beauty products and fragrances. Next time you want to go all out just to buy clothes, you should give Shopaholic Nigeria a try.

Walahi, which official website is located at walahi.com and an office address at Ikeja Lagos, is a niche shopping webiste that is devoted to book lovers.

HelloFood, with an office address at Lekki Lagos and a website at hellofood.com.ng, is also a favourite online shopping destination, which

deals on fashion but as well as food.

It's main delight is selling local delicatessen.

Whether it's for a local dish like ofe Akwu, Fufu or other dish like cakes, spaghetti and Pizza, Hellofood is one of those few local websites where you can order for food and receive it same day.

Besides, Hellofood has a wide chain of restaurants that they can link you with and all it basically takes is having a free account with them and then pay on delivery. You'll be able to choose from the local restaurants in your area, order food and have it delivered to your while it's still hot.

Hellofood doesn't really prepare the food themselves but delivery and packaging and collect the fee.

Online shopping offers patrons the ability to pay in Naira, whether in cash or pay on delivery, pay with a debit or credit card as the case may be.

Besides, it offers opportunity to get a free home delivery if living in the city.

It saves you time and energy compared to going out for your own shopping, just as you can get items delivered to your home or office within 24 hrs.

Ability to make special requests for products not yet available just as there is no need for bargaining price since prices are already listed.

Value of online shopping The value of online shopping business in Nigeria has been put at several billions of dollars. Assessing the business, David Allison, CEO of Adibba Online Shopping Limited, a new entrant into the online shopping platform, said the e-commerce is being facilitated by the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) cashless policy.

"With the new cashless policy being gradually implemented in Nigeria, things are looking up. People are getting warmer towards the idea of doing

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ne shopping

•From left: Chairman, Audit Investigation and Forensic Accounting Faculty, ICAN, Mr.Bolaji Medesson, 2nd Vice-President, ICAN, Mr. Titus Soetan and ICAN President, Alhaji Kabir Alkali Mohammed, during ICAN 2014 Forum of Firms held in Lagos…recently

Youths, professionals call on Fed Govt, BPE to protect ALSCON transactions online with several platforms springing up," he declared recently.

According to Allison, Nigeria is over 50 percent ready for e-commerce, saying though there are scepticism about e-payment solutions but the business is growing and will grow as there are over 300 registered e-commerce sites presently, "as more people get enlightened on the business, it will reduce the burden of doubts."

Allison, who recognises that the ecommerce market in Nigeria is relatively new, says Adibba.com, which is a Nigerian-owned company launched in September 2013, is a platform borne out of the desire to satisfy the ever-growing needs of shoppers.

While shedding light on the Adibba's offering, Allison said its products are categorised from electricity solutions to fashion, phones, computer and electronics, food and drinks, games, toys and kids and Africana.

"We are in the market to make everyday experience extraordinary. We go that extra steps to make the customer feel satisfied and it is working for us."

Allison assures that products purchased from Adibba are authentic; because it is in partnership with top manufacturers of different products, however, Adibba operates full money-back guarantee. If goods are delivered and the customer is not happy with it, it could be returned and the customer gets his/her money at no condition.

Total investment in Nigeria's online shopping market by both local and foreign investors is said to be worth over $15million (about N2.4bn), with analysts predicting that the figure will double in 2014, as more investors see opportunity in the new sector.

With its population of over 160 million people, Nigeria recorded an estimated 25 percent growth in online shopping in 2011, valued at N62.4 billion, which is an increase growth of additional N12.5 billion to the N49.9 billion recorded in 2010, a survey by Euromonitor International, a global market research organisation, was reported to have said.

"In the next two years, there will be active e-commerce eco-system," Abasiama Indaresit, senior consultant at Wildfusion, an internet marketing agency, said that Abasiama, who is familiar with the industry, calculates that total investment in the sector is conservatively over $15 million.

Analysts are optimistic that this upward growth trajectory in online sales will not recede. This they add is because online retailers are increasingly channeling their energies and resources towards providing locally-rel-

evant solutions to Nigerian customers.

One market research firm suggests that Nigeria, which is Africa's most populous country, will have almost tripled its online purchases in just three years to more than $1 billion by 2014.

This compares with South Africa, whose e-commerce sales were just R4 billion ($409 million) last year, according to research firm World Wide Worx estimates.

Online retailers are succeeding in luring shoppers like Olivia Oloketuyi, 26, away from brick-and-mortar stores due to its perceived convenience.

"The last time I did an e-transaction was to buy my son's football jersey," says Oloketuyi, who adds that she shops online once or twice a month while spending an average of N16, 000.

Hiccups of online shopping Online shopping has not been without its peculiar challenges.

Some patrons like Okechukwu Ubani has a axe to grind with the online mart owners.

"Their products are substandard.

Most of their items especially clothing are really of low grade from china and damn expensive. Imagine getting a top for 4500 only to realize that that same cloth can go for 1200 in the open day market."

While analyzing the situation, Mr. Oni Dehinde, argued that the main areas most of these online portals fail woefully is in the area of inventory management.

According to him, "It should be a simple matter to auto-update stock as orders are placed, so that you don't tell somebody who has paid that you are out of stock. Imagine the resources involved in resolving tens if not hundreds of such situations."

Echoing similar sentiments, Bisi Adaranijo said, lack of organisation is at the centre of the problem.

"In order processing; they promised delivery within five working days.

But five days will come and go without delivery. Worse still, you don't receive any information, even when you go out of your way to seek it either on the portal, or by calling them up. There are many other subtle ways you get the feeling that these guys can't give you reliable services."

Going down memory lane, she said: "I have had many years experience ordering stuff all over the world, including of recent, China, both personal, commercial and industrial items, so I thought if some Nigerians have mustered the courage and resources to start a mail order business right here, why not give them a try. I guess I've been too optimistic and too quick to trust Nigeria quick."

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COALITION of Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin, Eastern Obolo federal constituency youths and professionals has called on the federal government and the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE)to protect the properties of Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON).

The coalition called on UC Rusal to obey the Supreme Court judgment and vacate the plant of (ALSCON), following Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly's decision of October 22, 2013 and community outrage.

In a statement signed in Abuja by the President, Ms. Winifred Akpaka, the coalition urged UC Rusal to desist from vandalising the plant of ALSCON. The statement which reads in

•Demand UC RUSAL's exit From: Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

part stated: "ALSCON is a prime economic development infrastructure of the federal constituency, senatorial district, Akwa Ibom State, the Niger Delta Communities and the nation in general. We cannot fold our hands to see this important asset destroyed or reduced to ashes as widely reported.

"We urge the Federal Government of Nigeria to resuscitate ALSCON soon."

The group further observed that there has been no improvement in the plant since UC Rusal took over in 2007, stressing that there has been massive layoff of employees from 730 to 230, even as the firm enjoys

10% production capacity despite millions of waivers granted by the federal government.

They also accused the firm of refusal to dredge the Imo River estuary despite the $120million given to the company.

Others grouses against the firm are that it has caused the depletion of the ALSCON plant and devaluation of the company from $1.3 billion in 2006 to $90 million in 2011 per audited records of the company, just as it is being accused of disrespect for the community and its traditional leaders.

The group called on the federal government to urgently resuscitate the plant for the good of the Nigerian economy.

UBA donates incubators to Nigeria's oldest public hospital NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, in keeping with its promise of reducing infant mortality, through its corporate social responsibility arm, UBA Foundation, penultimate Monday presented a set of incubators to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar; the first public hospital in Nigeria established since 1897.

The Chief Medical Director, UCTH, Dr. Thomas U. Agan, while receiving the incubators on behalf of the management of the hospital, thanked the bank for the kind gesture, describing it as a laudable act of goodwill.

"This will go a long way in saving the lives of our infants as needless deaths will be eliminated," he said.

He encouraged other financial institutions and corporate bodies to emulate UBA Foundation by supporting the health sector in Nigeria.

UBA Plc Regional Bank Head, Cross River Bank, Uduak Afangide, in his brief remarks said that UBA has maintained a healthy business

relationship with UCTH. He described the donation of the incubators as the bank's contribution towards the development of the iconic hospital especially in the area of child care.

Also speaking at the ceremony, MD/CEO, UBA Foundation, Ijeoma Aso, stated that the incubator donation is one of the several initiatives taken by the Foundation to support health care delivery across the country.

"There are other medical equipment that could help save the lives of children. We will explore further avenues to do more," she said.

Several hospitals have already benefited from the UBA Foundation infant mortality reduction drive through its incubator donation gesture. Hospitals that have benefited include: University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu (UNTH), the Aminu Kano University Teaching Hospital, Kano (AKTH), University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin (UBTH), Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria (ABUTH),

University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt (UPTH), and College of Medicine, Ibadan.

The incubator donation to hospitals is an on-going project of the Foundation that will benefit more hospitals across the country.

The UBA Foundation has established a strong track record and commitment to support the health sector. Previous interventions by Foundation in Nigeria's health sector cuts across several areas including refurbishment of LUTH's Labour Ward exterior, re-equipping of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital's Cardiac Centre, re-equipping of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital's Cardiac Centre, donation of Dialysis Machines to LUTH, and Prostate Cancer Awareness Initiative.

As the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of the UBA Group, UBA Foundation is committed to the socioeconomic development of the society, focusing on development in the areas of environment, education, economic empowerment and special projects

G

According to the statement, the plan will see funding support to the tune of 500 million dollars made available to critical sectors of the economy like healthcare, power and transportation.

It added that these sectors would have access to financing for equipment and service contracts as well as management and technical training over a period of at least five year.

Speaking at a briefing, the Managing Director of BOI, Ms Evelyn Oputu, said that the initiative was intended to support the establishment, modernisation and expansion of high technology SMEs. She said that the initiative would also provide the companies with more competitive platform to recruit and retain highly skilled Nigerians currently with leading organisations outside the country.

U

GE,BOI sign MoU to support MSMEs with $500m

ENERAL Electrical (GE), a leading infrastructure and technology company, and Bank of Industry (BOI) have announced plans to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria in the infrastructure sector.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by the company's Corporate Communications Manager, West Africa, Mr Osagie Ogunbor.

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Agency seeks NASS approval for solar project in 109 districts T

HE National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has sought the approval of the National Assembly to install one solar panel project in each of the 109 senatorial districts in the country.

According to the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Mohammed Haruna, who disclosed this to journalists during a media tour to the NASENI Solar Panel Manufacturing Plant at Karshi, Abuja, the agency is also to design solar power kits for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for elections across

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

the country in the commission's Information Communications Technology Centres in state offices.

Haruna revealed that the agency has planned to deploy solar energy to barbers' shops in collaboration with the Bank of Industry, (BoI).

The agency, said Haruna, has also embarked on a solarpowered hospital for the Nassarawa State project.

He also claimed that the agency can produce 20Mega Watts (MW) of solar panel per annum.

According to him, the

agency's machines are rated 7.5MW per year but when the management was under pressure to deliver a project, it produced 5MW within three months.

He said: "Now, you have seen stocks that are on the ground now.

Again, this is only because they are running only one shift. If we have order, we are ready to run three shifts. In fact, if we have more, we are ready to double the number of workforce we have here.

"Although the machines are rated 7.5mw, we discovered that because of the commitment of workers because when we had challenges,

when we wanted to meet up with the deadline, we discovered that up to three months we were able to produce up to 5MW. So it means that we can produce up to nearly 20MW in year."

He noted that to double the current 7.5MW/ annum production capacity, the agency needs about $96million.

The CEO also explained that the first solar panel was produced in the plant on 10th September, 2011, and that since then production has continued with greater success.

•From left: Managing Director, FBN Insurance Brokers, Mr. Fidelis Ojeah; Managing Director, FBN Microfinance, Mrs. Pauline Nsa; Managing Director, FBN Capital Ltd, Mr. Kayode Akinkugbe, CEO FBN Holdings Plc, Mr. Bello Maccido; Group Managing Director FirstBank Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Bisi Onasanya and Managing Director FBN Life Insurance, Mr. Val Ojumah at the unveiling of the refreshed Corporate Identity of the FBN Holdings Group

Fed Govt inaugurates committee for national quality policy

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HE Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, has inaugurated the committee for national quality policy with the aim of ensuring enterprise in Nigeria in order to meet up with global challenges.

The report of the committee should be ready by June 2014, with membership drawn from all sectors, including the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, Consumer Protection Council CPC, Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, the Ministry of Petroleum, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, Manufacturing Association of Nigeria, MAN, the Ministry of Information etc.

From: Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

The committee is to coordinate the drafting of a quality policy that spells out clearly what the objectives of the NQP are. The objectives would also become the key performance indicators at the end of the specified implementation time, five years, that would tell if the policy has been successfully implemented or not.

The minister, who is the chairman of the committee, disclosed this during the inaugural meeting of the steering committee for a national quality policy NQP for Nigeria in Abuja, stating that governments of other countries are carefully

reconsidering the overall arrangement of their national quality infrastructure.

He said, "I am presenting to you the overview of the quality policy by assuring you that every resolution, commitment, determination of the administration is to join with stakeholders in inaugurating the new efficiency policy and economy anchored on a national quality policy.

"This meeting of various agencies and organisation is relevant in situation terms. We are witnesses today to important evolution in the political security and socioeconomic architectures of our nation aimed at enhancing our economic competitiveness as

well as global relevance and acceptance.

"In today's context, the strategic importance on national quality is evident. I believe we should look to establish, implement and optimise the policy potentials with a sense of great urgency.

We should endeavour to take our meeting beyond being a forum for inter-agency and organisational dialogue."

He added that the NQP committee will provide guidelines as to the elements such a policy should contain, and provide recommendation on the optimum arrangement of the quality infrastructure and the technical regulation regime.

The NQP should also meet demonstrable needs.

Aregbesola emerges National Chronicle Man of the Year

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HE Governor of Osun State Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola has won the National Chronicle Newspaper Man of the Year award for 2013.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola defeated the governors of Katsina State Alhaji Ibrahim Sheu Shema and the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina to the second and third place respectively.

To emerge as the Na-

tional Chronicle man of the year award for 2013, the Osun State helmsman polled a total of 71, 000 votes out of the over 100, 000 readers of the newspaper who participated in the poll. Governor shema came distant second with over 20, 000 votes, while the minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina came third with over 10, 000 votes.

In the letter announuing Governor Aregbesola's nomination as the National

Chronicle Man of the Year 2013 award to the Osun State Governor, the publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Timothy Okojie-Ave, described Osun State governor as a leader: "Who has reached unsurpassed level of excellence and achievement, a hero and quintessential nationalist who has become a driving power in shaping our society and who deserves a second term."

Other past winners of

award include former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, late president Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, former Edo State governor, Prof Oserheimen Osunbor and the incumbent Delta State governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan.

Governor Aregbesola has accepted the award and the date for the formal presentation will be announce later by the management of the Newspaper.

GE Africa partners Standard Bank on $350m power project •Focus on Distributed Power Across Sub-Saharan Africa

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FFORTS to increase access to power infrastructure in Africa has received a boost with a US$350million financing agreement between global infrastructure giant General Electric and one of Africa's leading financial institutions, Standard Bank. The partnership seeks to provide affordable access to power infrastructure to augment traditional large scale grid capacity development.

The partnership will target 10 priority countries: Nigeria, Angola, Tanzania, South Africa and Ghana. Others are Kenya, Mozambique, Uganda, Ethiopia and South Sudan. Financing activity will center on project finance, equipment finance, trade finance and advisory.

The program will be open to independent power producers ("IPPs") and non-recourse infrastructure projects, industrials and manufacturers, natural resource companies, food and agricultural processors, small to medium enterprises ("SMEs"), and other potential borrowers.

Speaking at a ceremony to announce the partnership, President and CEO of GE Africa Jay Ireland said the partnership comes at the right time when there are concerted efforts to boost access to energy across the continent.

He said partnerships of this nature would certainly support efforts by respective governments in finding captive power solutions to meet the growing demand for alternative fuels.

Mr Ireland said this partnership is in line with the country-to-company agreements, which GE has signed with a number of African governments aimed at generating incremental power and increasing access.

Mrs Sola David-Borha, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings (Standard Bank trades in Nigeria as Stanbic IBTC Holdings) said the bank was committed to partnerships of this nature that help energise the sector.

She said the power challenges identified in the focus countries for this partnership were opportunities for growth through sustainable investment.

Mrs Sola David-Borha also disclosed that through the partnership, financing will also be available for offgrid solutions that rely on cleaner fuels such as biomass and biogas across Sub-Saharan Africa.

GOtv extends service to Oshogbo, Ife, others

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Otv, the new digital terrestrial television (DTT) service, has expanded its reach in the western part of the country, now covering Oshogbo, Ife, Ogbomosho and Akure. This was disclosed at a media briefing held at the Leisure Spring Hotels in Oshogbo recently.

Subscribers in Oshogbo, Ife, Ogbomosho and Akure will have access to GOtv's exciting and quality digital channels for a single price offer of N5,300 which gives subscribers a GOtv decoder and one month subscription while the GOtenna (outside antenna) can be purchased at a standalone price of N1,600. "We at GOtv are constantly innovating to ensure we continue to deliver the best possible digital television to Nigeria. We come from a solid corporate background and family in which MultiChoice has a proud legacy of 20 years of providing the best digital television to Africa," said Mrs Elizabeth Amkpa, General Manager GOtv Nigeria.

Glo subscribers to enjoy free 800MB data

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LOBACOM has launched a new high-speed internet data promo that will instantly give double data bonus to subscribers on the network. Dubbed My Phone Double Promo, the offer will enable Glo subscribers on the My Phone Bolt plan to get more data volume to browse the Internet and download or upload data.

According to Globacom's Marketing Coordinator, Adeniyi Olukoya, with the promo, subscribers on the My Phone Bolt plan who would have received 800MB of data at the price of N2,000 will now get a double data volume of 1,600MB valid for 30 days at the same price of N2,000.

"This is a great promo from Globacom designed to ensure that we deliver more value to our Glo Bolt subscribers in the New Year. With double data volumes to browse the web, they will be able to do more, thereby becoming unlimited as they work towards achieving their dreams and aspirations for the future," he said.

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‘Integrity is my most cherished business principle' Taofeek Sodia, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Tasho Nigeria Ltd, is one of those entrepreneurs that started business with zero capital. After 14 years of hard work and commitment, he has become a leading distributor with Guinness Nigeria. Sodia speaks with Bukola Afolabi on how he started the business, succession plans and advice for start-ups.

H

OW did you start the business?

I have a very humble beginning. I started in a 12 by 12 shop, a lock up shop to be precise. We started in the era of white paper, allocation paper, that enables me earn income as a middle man in the supply chain. Friendship paper we got from Guinness Nigeria, which we normally took to the distributors to enable us get the brands at recommended company prices.

I was the sales boy, the accountant, the loader boy, the cleaner, as well as the security man. I used to go out and sell at my margin to make reasonable profit. I did all these for the first two to three years of my business, strictly a one man business. I was running a one man show.

My Guinness story started way back in 1989/1990. Then the business lacked capacity, we used to collect money from customers ahead before supplying them with the goods. I guess that was what groomed me to be strong on integrity.

That time 'allocations' were just being made to us because demand was higher than supply but today the story has changed tremendously.

We have a buyers' market today where you come into our warehouse and you see all brands you want without stress.

What is your assessment of the Nigerian business environment?

A host of factors militate against our business, poor infrastructure (bad roads), high interest rates, poor public power supply which occasions high cost of diesel as businesses are compelled to run on independent power supply.

All these are not helped by seemingly harsh government policies which make it difficult to do business in Nigeria. We are confronted with multiple taxation and levies by all tiers of government, whereas we ought to be encouraged to provide employment to people.

The business environment in Nigeria is

F

OR the team at Konga.com, the indigenous fast-rising online shopping mart, last Tuesday will go down in the annals of the company as a memorable day.

Reason: they played host to a 12 member team of the social media giant, Facebook.com, who paid a courtesy visit to Konga.com headquarters in Lagos.

Leading the delegation of social media gurus, Nichola Mendelsohn; Head of Facebook, Europe, Middle East and Africa, met and addressed

•Sodia challenging to say the least.

What prompted you to do business with Guinness?

I chose Guinness Nigeria because it is part of a world class and worldwide reputable company with a rich variety of quality products in her stable that make marketing very easy.

Guinness brands are well loved in Nigeria, making it not only marketable, but profitable. My experience doing business with Guinness has thought me that customers love Guinness' products.

What do you think endears Guinness to Nigerian consumers?

Quality and variety! No doubt the quality of Guinness' brands and the varieties that offer consumers freedom to choose attract consumers. I also like to highlight that Guinness' ability to blend quality and variety with the right price is second to none in the industry.

How has that affected your

lifestyle?

Greatly and in all aspects of life! From operational to managerial, to corporate social responsibility, my relationship with the company has thought me that I must be on ground and not seat in the comfort of my home and feel that all is well.

I have learnt thoroughness; from thorough supervision at all departments and sections from empties to accounts, sales through security; all these have contributed in shaping how I do business a great deal. I have learnt and grown by doing business with the company.

What is the distinguishing factor in this business?

One of the things that distinguish a company in business for all stakeholders is doing things that will benefit all. Guinness prefers that consumers of alcoholic beverages do so responsibly

without any injury to their health or endangering other people as could be the case with drunk-driving.

It is continuously campaigning for consumers to have sufficient knowledge on alcoholic beverages to ensure that they are consumed responsibly. I commend this and align with it as someone in the business.

How do you relax and what role does alcoholic beverage play in your leisure?

After a hectic day, I relax with friends at bars to cool my nerves. We merely drink and gist before I go home to rest. I also take time to go on vacation and rest. During my vacations, I brainstorm on how to achieve my goals.

Any succession plan?

Definitely, I am happily married. Thank God our marriage is blessed with children. Some of our children are still in school while some have graduated and are currently working with me as part of my succession plan.

If you have to start afresh in business, what steps would you take?

I find the evolution of the information and communications technology very interesting and would probably have done something there. I find out that technology is of great assistance from computer to internet, these tools have the capacity to aid and grow the business faster today than when I started. I would have embraced ICT more in my business operations.

What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?

I advise young entrepreneurs to be committed and contented with what they have. Every aspiring business person should get good education before venturing into business but the most important thing in business is integrity. Integrity should be the soul of business with banks and the company they are dealing with. Having said that, I have to caution young people desiring to go into business never to sell at a loss and start pursing unnecessary or unrealistic targets.

Kongo.com plays host to Facebook team the Konga leadership and Marketing team, where she highlighted the role and importance of Konga as a success story with a reputation that has gone beyond local shores but quickly gaining traction around Africa despite having only being in existence for less than 2 years.

The team was really interested in how Konga has been able to stamp its footprint in Nigeria in such a short time with plenty of

positive feedback coming from users on Facebook.

Adding further, she also emphasised their admiration and satisfaction for the successful execution of Konga's Black Friday/Cyber Friday-Fall Yakata and Konga's Christmas Campaigns while expressing their desire to further strengthen Facebook's relationship with the Konga brand with mutually beneficial partnerships that

would help the brand and over 12 million active people using Facebook in Nigeria as a whole.

COO of Konga.com, Alex Kamara on behalf of the Konga team thanked the Facebook team for taking out time to visit and talked about how Konga always goes where its users love to go. He also spoke about some of the initiatives that Konga has planned for its users in the coming year.

What happens when you are “Polar Vortexed” (Part II)

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O there I was at the airport dumbstruck and dumbfounded by the cancellation of my flight to Houston on the third of January, and at risk of missing my flight from Lagos to Dubai on the 6th of January. A challenging situation, but not hopeless. I still had a cushion of a couple of days. I would ask the airline to give me a seat on the next flight. To achieve that, however, I would have to stand in line to speak with an airline representative.

While awaiting my turn, I checked my email and saw a notification that the airline had automatically rebooked me for a tedious three day journey that would get me into Lagos at four in the afternoon, on Monday the sixth. Well, I thought, that simply won't do! I won't have time before my flight to Dubai to go home and pack. I had factored having the weekend in my plans, so I had not travelled to the US with stuff meant for Dubai.

I decided to call customer service. After all, there was nothing wrong with killing a bird with two stones. I got through to the customer service line and was kept on hold for thirty minutes. Their call volume was obviously high because of the cancellations. The agent who spoke with me said the earliest I could get to Lagos was still Monday.

At best, she could shorten the trip to two days instead of three. In the absence of a better alternative Igave my agreement and was rescheduled to leave on Sunday the fifth to get to Lagos on the sixth. The downside was that I would be routed through Chicago to get to Houston because all direct flights to Houston were fully booked.

Chicago!!!! That was smack in the middle of the chaos.

The agent proceeded to let me know it was that or get a refund. Good luck trying to book a last minute flight!! It would cost thrice as much as I paid for my existing reservation. I said "thank you" and got off the phone. I figured I could still wait at the airport to talk to an agent in person, to see if she could offer a better deal. That did not happen. After waiting another 20 minutes, I realized the agent was so engrossed in dealing with another customer with a peculiarand persistent problem that there was no telling when she would get to me. I headed home, resigned but grateful tostill have the opportunity to make the Dubai trip. This was Friday.

On Saturday, I was glad to have the opportunity get some much needed rest and to put things together for my Dubai trip, since I would not get the chance to go home.

At 9:00pm I turned on my laptop to check-in and discovered that my itinerary was cancelled again and I was rescheduled for another flight to arrive in Lagos on Tuesday the seventh, a day after my scheduled flight to Dubai. What a nightmare!!! Who are these people and why do they think it is okay to mess with people's lives?

So I called customer service again. I was told to "please hold" because all agents were busy. I waited and waited and waited. While I waited I searched for updates and information on the websites of the respective airports.I discovered that Chicago flights were being cancelled.

Once one part of a travel itinerary is cancelled the rest are automatically voided. I was going to lose my seat on the Sunday flight to Lagos simply because the flight to Chicago, which I should never have been on in the first place, was cancelled. I stayed on the phone waiting to speak to an agent. My turn never came. Eventually, after three hours of waiting, I hung up.

By this time it was past midnight on Sunday the fifth of January.I was too exhausted to be devastated. I had less than 24 hours to make this work. Whiledoing my online research I had noticed that three flights were scheduled to leave for Houston directly on Sunday but they were all full. Thank God for the concept of "standby".I decided not to give up.It was possible that someone with a reservation could fail to show up for the flight, and if that happened I could be allowed to take the vacant seat.

It was a long shot but …heck this could work! It was my last move before kissing Dubai goodbye. I had no more cards to play without paying a steep price.

The earliest flight was 5:45am and I figured that if there was a flight that someone would miss, that would be it. If I could make it to Houston, perhaps I would still get a seat on the flight to Lagos that evening. So, I went to bed at 12:30am, but not before setting my alarm for 3:00am.

I fell asleep wondering whether I could truly make a difference or if I was headed for certain disappointment.

Stay Tuned, for the final part.

62

THE NATION ON SUNDAY

BUSINESS

FEBRUARY 2, 2014

‘I don’tsuffer fools gladly

•Obidiegwu

PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

Dr Dan Obidiegwu, Chairman/Chief Executive, Sterling Books Nigeria Limited, First Books Limited and Katchy Bureau De Change Limited, have his hands in several pies: from publishing to forex trading, and lots more. In this interview with Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf, Obidiegwu who was former Managing Director, Longman Nigeria Plc, now LearnAfrica Plc, reminisces on his career trajectory, challenges of many start-ups, his guiding philosophy and management style

Ubosi and his family

63

64

THE NATION ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2014

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Cote d'Ivoire to consolidate gains in cocoa

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•Offices of Astrium, the space subsidiary of European multinational aerospace and defence giant Airbus Group, formerly EADS, in Toulouse. Astrium employees attended a general assembly on Friday at the company's offices in Toulouse regarding the prospect of nearly 400 job losses, confirmed earlier this week by the management of Airbus Group. AFP PHOTO / REMY GABALDA

Emerging markets still under pressure

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MERGING-market currencies remained under pressure Friday after their recent bruising, while a return to record-low inflation in the euro area dented the region's common currency.

The sluggish inflation data added to the gloom that has weighed on markets in recent days, pulling European shares lower. The euro sank to its weakest level in 10 days, trading at $1.3518 against the dollar, as expectations mounted that the European Central Bank will have to introduce fresh easing measures to head off the threat of falling prices.

In emerging markets, the selloff that began last week amid signs of a slowdown in Chinese manufacturing showed little sign of abating.

The U.S. Federal Reserve's

confirmation that it will further scale back its stimulus has done little to stem the tide.

The Turkish lira and the South African rand began to slide once more as a quiet start to the session faded. Both have been hit hard over the past week, and surprise rate increases did little to prop up their currencies.

The Hungarian forint fell even more sharply, close to Thursday's two-year low against the euro, as the selloff continued to spread to emerging Europe's previously-resilient currencies.

The Russian ruble and Polish zloty also weakened.

"This selloff is going through classic phases. First it was vulnerable currencies like Turkey and South Africa, and now the market is looking for the next target," said Christian Lawrence, an

emerging market currency strategist at Rabobank.

"We have been hearing that retail investors are dumping any exposure they have to emerging markets."

Hungary has found itself in the firing line following a succession of interest rate cuts.

One of the National Bank of Hungary's rate setters said Friday he didn't see need for an unscheduled meeting to address the recent emerging market turbulence and a weakening forint.

In the euro zone, data showed consumer prices rose by just 0.7% in the 12 months to January, down from an 0.8% in December, and further below the ECB's target of just under 2.0%.

European stocks fell further after the inflation number, with the Stoxx Europe 600 down 0.8% midmorning.

The DAX index lost 1.4%, as a surprise fall in German retail sales for December added to the gloom. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 was down 0.7%.

U.S. stocks were poised to open lower after Thursday's bounce, with futures contracts indicating a 0.6% opening drop for both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500.

Changes in futures don't always accurately predict market moves after the opening bell.

Overnight, Tokyo shares had fallen 0.6%, closing out their worst month since May 2012 as jittery investors had little stomach for taking risk with the advent of the Lunar New Year, which kept most other Asian markets closed.

Source: reuters.com

Microsoft may name Nadella as new CEO

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MICROSOFT Corp is likely to appoint its cloudcomputing head, Satya Nadella, as its next chief executive, a source familiar with the matter said at the weekend, as the board concludes a five-month search for a techsavvy heavy-hitter to lead the world's largest software company.

As part of the move, cofounder Bill Gates may step aside as chairman and be replaced by lead independent director John Thompson, said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity because the process is private. Gates would remain a director, the source added.

Rising star Nadella, a native of Hyderabad, India where Microsoft has its largest non-U.S. research center was promoted to run the company's fast-expanding cloud, or internet-based, computing initiatives in July last year as part of current CEO Steve Ballmer's radical re-organization of the company.

The appointment of the

22-year Microsoft veteran would make him the most powerful Indian-born tech executive in the world and put him alongside PepsiCo Inc' chief, Indra Nooyi, as the leader of a well-known, largecap U.S. corporation.

Born in 1967 and educated in India and the United States, Nadella's tech career started at internet software pioneer Sun Microsystems. He joined Microsoft in 1992 and quickly climbed the corporate ladder with leading roles in the Office and Bing search-engine teams.

He was promoted to run the company's server and tools unit in 2011. That unit now forms the backbone of Microsoft's cloud-computing platform, which Nadella runs under his official title of executive vice president, cloud and enterprise.

"He's a solid choice," offering continuity of strategy and proven execution, said Sid Parakh, an analyst at fund firm McAdams Wright Ragen.

Some investors had campaigned for an external CEO

who might be more likely to shake up the company and reward shareholders with greater dividends and share buybacks, but Parakh said that did not mean Nadella would be unpopular with Wall Street.

"Any new CEO is going to have to have the shareholders' say in mind. But it's not certain that will translate into actions," said Parakh.

If Nadella is named CEO, it is likely Thompson will help out on the crucial task of managing Microsoft's relations with its powerful Wall Street investors, the source said.

Nadella has little experience of that aspect of the job, and Ballmer and Gates did not prioritize it. Gates would likely focus on technical innovation in any new role, the source said.

There have been calls for months for Gates to step down from investors who believe Microsoft's co-founder is a block to radical change and investor-friendly moves.

Ballmer, who plans to retire as soon as a new CEO is

named, was reelected to the board in November, but it is not clear how long he will remain there after retirement, the source said.

Microsoft's CEO search has taken longer than most expected when Ballmer said last August he would retire within a year.

In a blog post on the company's website in December, Thompson emphasized the need for a CEO with "an ability to lead a highly technical organization and work with top technical talent".

Thompson, who leads the four-member CEO search committee, said at the time he expected the panel to reach a decision "in the early part of 2014".

The appointment of a company veteran like Nadella, which follows a flirtation with outsiders such as Ford Motor Co Chief Executive Alan Mulally, could disappoint some investors who want a more radical transformation at the software giant.

SOURCE: reuters.com

OTE D'IVOIRE will continue to consolidate its gains in the cocoa industry as the world's number one producer.

Madam Massandje Toure-Litse, Chief Executive Officer of the Regulation, Stabilization and Development Board of the Coffee and Cocoa sector (Le Conseil duCafé-Cacao) said the objective was to develop a sustainable coffee and cocoa economy through the re-organisation of the production and improvement of the productivity.

She said Le Conseil du Café-Cacao was to promote good governance and transparency in resource management and setting up of a strong inter-professional body built on reliable producer organization.

Madam Toure-Litse was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Abidjan by courtesy of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority on the sideline of the ongoing international forum for Investments in Côte d'Ivoire 2014.

She said her outfit continued to secure producer's income by ensuring that a minimum guaranteed price as well as the setting up of conditions for raising indoor and outdoor consumptions.

She said the country was working to improve the living and working conditions of coffee and cocoa producers, adding that, government was providing such farming communities with solar generated electricity, schools, health centres and other social amenities.

Madam Toure-Litse said the programme aimed at increasing producers' and their communities' income through the improvement of coffee and cocoa productivity and quality.

She said public-private-partnership in the coffee and cocoa sector was designed to set up a permanent joint consultation and dialogue between the actors involved in the value chain of the coffee and cocoa sector.

She said her organization met regularly with its Ghanaian counterpart, Cocoa Board to share ideas for mutual benefits.

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SOURCE: ghanabusinessnews.com

Ghanaian importers to benefit from credit facility

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HE Ghanaian-German Economic Association (GGEA) has launched a product that will provide financial assistance and credit facilities for Ghanaian importers.

The product, which offers assistance in finding supply sources in Germany and obtaining supplier's credit, is being promoted in partnership with Lenzfinance Management (LFM), a Germany-based financial institution.

Members of the GGEA and Ghanaian importers who are able to meet the specific requirements will be able to assess credit of 500,000 Euros for a short-term of one year and a longterm facility of up to 10 million Euros without having to provide any collateral.

At the launch of the product in Accra on Thursday, the President of the GGEA, Mr Stephen Antwi, said the rationale behind the introduction of the product in Ghana was to address the challenges faced by Ghanaian importers when assessing financial assistance from local banks.

"One of the major problems confronting businesses in the country is access to and cost of finance. This problem has, over the years, hindered the operations and activities of businesses and those aspiring to enter into business," he said.

Mr Antwi said the product was targeted at companies that needed financial assistance to enhance their activities, adding, "Once the criteria or the requirement is met, you need no struggle to assess credit facility."

According to him, the high interest rate, coupled with laborious banking systems, often soiled the appetite of businesses and prevented many companies from investing or expanding.

"Here, the system is open and simple to cater for any companies with the intent to import goods," he added.

Source: Daily Graphic

Honda net profit doubles to $1.56 billion in Q3

H

ONDA said over the weekend its net profit doubled to $1.56 billion in the three months to December, thanks to brisk global sales and a weaker yen.

Net profit for October-December rose to 160.7 billion yen ($1.56 billion), while revenue rose 24.5 percent to 3.02 trillion yen in the quarter.

The results were "mainly due to a rise in automobile and motorcycle net sales as well as the positive impact of foreign exchange effects," the company said.

A sharp decline in the yen this financial year has boosted profitability at major Japanese exporters including Honda rivals Toyota and Nissan.

For the nine months to December, Japan's third-largest automaker logged 403.60 billion yen in net profit, up nearly 40 percent from the same period the previous year.

Revenue for the three quarters rose 23%, with its sales in North America up 30% year-on-year thanks to healthy sales of four-wheeled vehicles, it said.

Honda also enjoyed good sales in the motorbike business in Asia, where net profit was up more than 50% from a year ago.

SOURCE: Times of India

65

My battle against abandoned vehicles - 28 year-old CEO Page 64 & 65

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

Banks reopen Monday in Offa

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•From left: Registrar/Chief Executive, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Rotimi Omotoso, Chairman, ICAN Fidelity Bank Chapter and General Manager, Lagos Branch, Emeka Obiagwu, President, ICAN, Alhaji Kabir Alkali Mohammed, Executive Director, Lagos and South West Bank, IK Mbagwu and President, Society of Women Accountants in Nigeria (SWAN) and Executive Director, Risk Management, Fidelity Bank Plc, Onome Olaolu at the Investiture of Executives and Patrons of ICAN Fidelity Bank Chapter in Lagos‌at the weekend.

Don seeks entrepreneurial development institute for graduates M R Hassan Agboola, a lecturer, Department of Business Management, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode, has called on the Federal Government to establish an entrepreneurial development institute for graduates.

This is to facilitate the teaching and study of entrepreneurial skills, to develop their business acumen in order to achieve self-reliance.

Agboola made the call while speaking with the News Agency of

Nigeria (NAN) in Ijebu-Ode over the weekend.

According to him, the establishment of such an institute will also help alleviate unemployment by helping graduates to acquire necessary skills to be selfreliant and be creative. ''Unemployment is a very sensitive issue which can be resolved through the establishment of a professional body that will manage unemployment situation in the country.

xxx

He added that such an institute would assist graduates to improve their business development skills. ''Not everybody should go to the university in the first instance like we have in other developed countries where they encourage you to develop your inborn talents. ''It is just sad that we are crazy about certificates here, disregarding the skills of individuals.''

Agboola stressed the need for government to

encourage entrepreneurship as a way of reducing unemployment as well as the provision of the environment to encourage economic boom. ''Let power be stable. Let education be well funded.

Let social amenities be available because having all these will boost employment opportunities and relieve the burden on government.''

The don also urged graduates to be creative by looking at their surroundings and inwards, on what they could do to make themselves selfreliant.

Access Bank empowers 500 women with $20m loan

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BOUT 500 female entrepreneurs have so far benefited from Access Bank women-owned business financial support scheme.

The scheme, established six years ago, has also disbursed more than 20 million dollars (N3.2 million) as soft loan to women.

According to the bank, the disbursements were supported with capacity

development programmes on sustainable business growth.

The bank said in a statement that the capacity building programme was to assist women-owned businesses overcome major challenges of growth and finance.

Mrs Ope Wemi-Jones, Group Head, Inclusive Banking, said that the bank was encouraged by the recognition of its defining role in women entrepreneurship across sub-Saharan Africa.

Wemi-Jones also said that the bank would continue to support, promote and boost women- owned businesses.

Mr Victor Etuokwu, Executive Director, Personal Banking Division, said that the bank would not relent in its strategies to ensure that women were economically stable. ``With our positioning as the national champion for women banking and with over 2.6 million female customers on our books, we have a

responsibility to innovate and evolve strategies. ``These strategies will ensure women-owned businesses receive the necessary breath of life required for success while operating at global best practices," he said.

He said that Access Bank instituted the Nigeria's Female Entrepreneur of the Year award to encourage healthy competition among female entrepreneurs, and to reward excellence in entrepreneurship.

poor power supply was the `bane' of entrepreneurs in the state. ``With constant power supply my plant can produce 2, 520 cartons of laundry soap weekly with guaranteed returns of N3.8 million at N1,500 per carton. ``But due to constant power outages, I have to rely solely on

my generator set with which I can produce only 1,260 cartons weekly, which is 50 per cent of the 2,520 cartons production capacity. ``As a result, I make only N1.8 million revenue, instead of the N3.8 million revenue I can make in one week. ``This is not good, especially when the cost of

Federal Government to improve on power supply to enable entrepreneurs make good returns on their investments and remain in business.

He said that competition and cost of inputs were other challenges affecting entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneur loses N1.8m weekly revenue to inputs is on the increase,'' he N entrepreneur, Mr said. epileptic power supply Adegoke Bamiboye, Bamiboye urged the said that he lost N1.8

A

million revenue weekly due to epileptic power supply.

Bamiboye is the Managing Director of GOKMAS Technology Ltd., producer of Axis Premium laundry soap.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Friday that the

HE Kwara Bankers Forum, Offa Branch, says all commercial banks in Offa, Kwara, will reopen for business on Monday, Feb. 3.

Mr Monday Olotewo, the Branch Controller of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin over the weekend.

NAN recalled that banks in Offa were shut on Dec. 19, 2013, when armed robbers stormed some banks in the town killing a number of people.

Besides, the robbers also raided a divisional police station in the town.

Consequently, the frequent robberies on banks in the state forced banks in Ilorin to shut doors to customers by 2p.m from 4p.m.

Olotewo told NAN that the forum also agreed to lift restriction on banking hours in Ilorin.

He said that the banks in Offa were being reopened because the community had shown commitment to collaborate with security agents to check the menace.

He said that the state government also promised to build more police posts in the area.

Meanwhile, Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed, has commended the forum for restoring normal banking operations in Ilorin and Offa.

Ahmed gave the commendation in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Dr Muhideen Akorede, on Thursday in Ilorin.

Ogun clears 250 hectares for rice cultivation

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HE Ogun State Government has started the clearing of 250 hectares in Eggua, Yewa North Local Government area for rice cultivation.

Mrs Ronke Sokefun, the Commission for Agriculture, made this known over the weekend in Abeokuta.

Sokefun said the gesture was another demonstration of the determination of the government to make the state selfsustaining in agriculture and transform it into another food basket of the nation. ``This project we are embarking on is also to fulfil our aspiration of food security, so that we can provide food for ourselves. ``We are also preparing towards 2015 when the ban on the importation of rice will commence. ``If the Federal Government can implement this policy, it will be a big plus to our state in terms of economic growth.''

The commissioner pledged that government would continue to partner with reputable international organisations, to develop agriculture and industrial capacity of the state. ``We are signing agreement with our technical partners based in Malaysia to achieve our aims. ``We have almost concluded negotiations and the agreement will be signed by the first week of February.

GE Africa partners Standard Bank on $350m power project •Focus on Distributed Power Across Sub-Saharan Africa

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FFORTS to increase access to power infrastructure in Africa has received a boost with a US$350million financing agreement between global infrastructure giant General Electric and one of Africa's leading financial institutions, Standard Bank. The partnership seeks to provide affordable access to power infrastructure to augment traditional large scale grid capacity development.

The partnership will target 10 priority countries: Nigeria, Angola, Tanzania, South Africa and Ghana. Others are Kenya, Mozambique, Uganda, Ethiopia and South Sudan. Financing activity will center on project finance, equipment finance, trade finance and advisory. The program will be open to independent power producers ("IPPs") and non-recourse infrastructure projects, industrials and manufacturers, natural resource companies, food and agricultural processors, small to medium enterprises ("SMEs"), and other potential borrowers.

Speaking at a ceremony to announce the partnership, President and CEO of GE Africa Jay Ireland said the partnership comes at the right time when there are concerted efforts to boost access to energy across the continent.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

66 BUSINESS/SME REPORT

W

HAT is the rationale behind setting up of Cosulto DIIT Limited?

Most of the pictures portrayed of Africa by the western world are of sickness, hunger, war, corruption and general backwardness. We are classified as belonging to the dark ages in the area of the environment, particularly the absurdity of abandoned vehicles that adorn our roads and communities. The painful thing is that our own people corroborate these claims through the wheels of our widely-travelled Nollywood movies, music videos and magazines.

Like goitre in the neck of a man, everywhere our media products appear, you must find one or two derelict vehicles on the background. This saddens me. When the government of Lagos State came up with the vision to upgrade Lagos State to a Mega City status by 2020 and added the political will to it with amazing results in transportation, education, infrastructure and the environment, I said to myself, "this is the time!"

That was what gave birth to the company.

How do you carry out your operations?

This depends on the laws of the land. But generally, when an abandoned vehicle is found, it is removed to the auto cemetery or the collection centre immediately if it constitutes an immediate danger to the public or marked for removal for the owner to remove immediately.

If in 24 hours the vehicle is still on the same spot untouched, it is then removed to the auto cemetery or any other designated location. If the owner comes to reclaim his/her vehicle, he pays a fine and the vehicle is marked with a chip which alerts us if the vehicle is picked as an abandoned vehicle again. In the case where the owners cannot be found, publication of such vehicle is made on the authority of the government and if after the time approved by law, the owner is still not forthcoming, the vehicle is advanced for recycling. But we do all we can to locate the owners of the vehicles for possible reclaim.

What have been your challenges since you started business?

I would say our success story is written in the ink of the challenges we have surmounted. My first proposal to a local government chairman to partner with us was torn into pieces and thrown back in my face. I cried and lost appetite for days, but I did not give up. When the government of OshodiIsolo under the leadership of the then Hon. Afeeze Ipesa Balogun gave us the nod to conduct our pilot scheme with his council, we needed N5million naira to rent a 2000sq/m warehouse for auto-

My battle against abandoned vehicles 28 year-old CEO At age 28, David Sowemimo, takes the driver’s seat as the Chief executive officer of Cosulto DITT Limited, a company that combats the menace of abandoned vehicles and associated environmental challenges in Nigeria.

In this interview with Justice Ilevbare, Assistant Editor, Online, the Oyo state born and Bowen University graduate spoke on the rationale behind the establishment of the company, mode of operations and efforts to ensure a cleaner environment.

•Sowemimo cemetery and purchase the necessary equipment.

The architecture of the business is such that it does not lay any financial burden on the government. The banks said they won't borrow us money, and thank God they said so because within three weeks we had N10million naira to execute the project without borrowing a dime! The biggest challenge came when the government of Oshodi/Isolo local government council changed. Hon IpesaBalogun left and Hon. Bolaji Ariyo came in. Our pilot was at its concluding stage and if this new man cancelled our contract, all our efforts

would have gone down the drain. Amazingly, like a God-sent, he absorbed us and gave us every support we needed to succeed. This, we never forget.

What is the extent of government involvement or collaboration in your work?

The nature of this business the world over is that it is largely done in partnership with the government. Every level of government, from the local to the federal, has its legislated dictates of how to process abandoned and derelict vehicles within their jurisdiction and that is what we follow. At the moment, we are quite popular with the third tier of government,

but their legislative rights are too weak, so we get harassed a lot by the police.

We hope to work with state and federal governments someday. Then, respite will come.

Why Oshodi for a pilot and what are your plans to spread to other parts of the country?

Knowing Oshodi for what it is, our rationale was that if our kind of business can work in Oshodi and Lagos, it can work anywhere in Africa. I remember our first lawyer saying to us then that we young men were proposing to walk where angels feared to tread. I am glad we have been able to devise a model that is replicable anywhere in the world from what we gathered from Oshodi. No longer would criminals unleash terror on innocent citizens using abandoned vehicles as work station. No longer would the public suffer malaria that is caused by the water retained on these vehicles. No longer would there be avoidable floods. No longer will these vehicles be used by ignorant citizens as alternative to landfill sites. We were amazed by the facts we got from our pilot. We saw old women dancing and singing, thanking us for removing such vehicles from their community because it was in them many of their girls were impregnated and hoodlums unleash terror.

As a young CEO, you have older people working for you. How do you manage them?

Yes, I have much older people working with me but they don't have a problem doing so. I sold the vision to all of them and they loved it.

When disciplinary actions were taken on one of them the other day and he angrily left, he came back the next day and sighting me from afar, he started laughing. He got back on his truck and continued working. In our company, nobody presses anybody down. The goal is one. So, technically, they work for the vision, not me.

We all work for the vision.

What is your background like?

I hail from Awe, Oyo State, Nigeria. I grew up in Ibadan and studied at Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State. I love to read books and to help people. I love Africa, I believe in Africa. I often say if the Africa we inherited from our parents is the Africa we leave to our children, our generation has failed. I am equally convinced that Africa's problems can best be solved by Africans and that God has given us everything we need to lead the world. I was 27 years old when I started the company and did not have N5, 000 in my bank account at the time but I believe if God gives you a vision, He will make the provision. Nothing is impossible.

What is your inspiration?

I owe a lot to God, my wife, partners and mentors.

We withstood the storms of actualising this dream together.

CBN earmarks N132bn for women entrepreneurs

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria has said that N132 billion out of the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund had been earmarked for women.

The CBN Branch Controller in Bauchi State, Malam Musa Muhammad, said this in Bauchi during a sensitisation workshop for state governments, financial institutions and the organised private sector on MSMED Fund.

Muhammad explained that the amount, which represented 60 per cent of the total fund, was earmarked for women considering the peculiar challenges women were facing in accessing financial services "The Revised Micro finance Policy, Regulatory and Supervisory Framework in section 4.2(IV), provides that women access to financial services should increase by 15 per cent annually in order to eliminate gender disparity.

"In order to achieve this, 60 per cent of the fund has been earmarked for providing financial services to women," he said.

The controller said that the MSMEDF, which was launched in August 2013, had broad objective of channeling long-term, lowinterest funds to the MSME sector of the economy through participating financial institutions.

He said that the specific objective was to reach over two million MSMEs over a 10-year period in which 60 per cent was targeted at women entrepreneurs.

"The CBN believes that developing the MSMEs is the key to economic advancement and wealth creation.

"To ensure sustainable economic development programmes, policies and guidelines must be designed such that all factors and peculiar needs and requirements of stakeholders are noted and addressed," he said.

He said that the sensitisation workshop had become necessary having recognised the importance of state governments as stakeholders in the administration of the fund due to their closeness to the grassroots.

Muhammad further explained that the fund covers social development with 10 per cent and commercial development with 90 per cent.

He said that all state governments including the FCT will access a maximum of N2 billion each for the maximum of three years per circle at 9 per cent interest rate.

According to him, the targeted groups include farmers, artisans, self help groups, cottage industries, financial cooperatives and traders.

In a remark, Gov. Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State commended the CBN for the laudable gesture, particularly with the allocation of 60 per cent of the fund to women entrepreneurs.

He said that the state government had already funded and equipped 10 micro finance banks in the state through which the fund could be accessed.

Yuguda advised that the conditions for accessing the fund should be made flexible such that the aim would be achieved.

He was represented at the occasion by Alhaji Isa Wafu, the State Commissioner for Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation Meat sellers get N50m interest-free loan in Oyo state.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has approved the sum of N50 million as interest-free loans to butchers in the state.

He disclosed this while speaking at the inauguration of the state secretariat of the Butchers' Union located at Moniya in Ibadan.

The governor, who said the loan would boost business activities of the butchers, urged them to make good use of the money and ensure it was repaid on time for others to benefit.

It would be recalled that a grant of N20 million had last week been given to traders at the Scout Camp Business Complex at Challenge, Ibadan by the governor as part of the empowerment programme of his administration for small and medium scale entrepreneurs.

The state government had set aside the sum of N1 billion as interest-free grant to traders in the state.

Ajimobi stressed his administration's belief in small and medium entrepreneurs as the bedrock of any economy, adding that supporting the butchers would also contribute more to the economic growth of the state.

He enjoined members of the union to maintain clean environment while carrying on their business activities, in line with the urban renewal programme of the state government.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the state chapter of the union, Alhaji Adekunle Alagunfon, lauded Governor Ajimobi's administration for providing a conducive environment for members of the union to operate.

He described the provision of loan to members of the union as highly commendable, pledging that his members would ensure judicious use of the money.

The National President of the union, Dr. John Isemede, in his address, presented by his Media Assistant, Mr. Festus Alekeh, commended the unprecedented achievements of Governor Ajimobi, stressing that he had recorded great successes in the area of infrastructural development.

He pledged the unflinching support of members of the union towards the re-election bid of the governor for a second term in office.

"Let me quickly place on record the laudable achievements of the governor. Your record and successes in areas of infrastructural development will forever remain indelible in the history of Oyo State.

"The governor has touched on virtually every sector of the economy. I can feel the pulse of the people of Oyo State and the joy in their hearts. This is why the national leadership of the union has unanimously passed a vote of confidence on Governor. We wish to publicly endorse the governor for a second term in office.

"I hereby call on all butchers and other like-minded people in the state to support Senator Ajimobi in realizing his second term bid,'' he said.

THE NATIO N ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

BUSINESS/SME REPORT

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CBN Gov laments non-accessability of IFC to boost financial N220b intervention fund for SMEs in Edo service to underserved SMEs T

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NTERNATIONAL Finance Corporation (IFC), the private-sector lending arm of the World Bank, has expressed willingness to capitalise Nigerian banks to mobilise microfinance banks (MFB) and boost financial service to underserved SMEs in the country.

Non-performing loans and high interest loans provided by Nigerian financial institutions have created credit scarcity in the economy which is strongly impeding the growth of small businesses, the largest employer of labour in oil-rich country.

The development unit is "going to finance market leaders and those who can set the right standard and have other microfinance institutions understand what it means to operate well," IFC Nigeria Africa department Country Manager, Solomon Adegbie-Quaynor said.

The IFC hopes through its plan to lead an exemplary credit system with innovative products and catalyse SME lending.

According to report, the IFC, focused on MFB innovations, issued a naira bond February last year to raise funds locally and to lend to clients, and has invested up to $25 million up five microfinance institutions."

IFC also has interests in 26 MFBs in 12 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, reaching over 3 million micro-enterprises and low-income households

HE Governor of Central Bank, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has lamented the failure of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Edo to access the N220 billion intervention fund floated by government.

Sanusi expressed his concern at the Government House in Benin at the weekend when he paid a condolence visit on Edo Government on the death of wife of Oba of Benin, Esther

Erediauwa.

He said that the high interest rate on the loan prevented enterprises from accessing the loans, noting that high interest loan was not a way of alleviating poverty.

He said that there were 30 microfinance banks across the country mandated to grant the loans to the SMEs at low interest rates.

The CBN governor said that the fund was targeted at the most excluded segment of

the society, adding that 60 per cent of it was dedicated to women.

Sanusi, who also condoled with Gov. Adam Oshiomhole on the death of his wife, said that he had a close relationship with the palace and treasured the memories of the queen mother.

Responding, Oshiomhole thanked the CBN governor for the visit, adding that the death of the queen mother was painful.

The governor described the late queen as a mother who showed interest in the development of the state.

He also commended the CBN boss for repositioning banks in the country in the interest of the masses.

Oshiomhole said that poverty in the country was as a result of wrong policies, adding that there was the need for deliberate laws to address the menace.

CBN gives finance houses 18 months to recapitalise • How policy will affect SMEs/MSMEs

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has given finance houses 18 months to raise their capitals to a yet-to-be disclosed amount. This is contained in a guideline released by the bank, which was obtained by The Nation at the weekend.

TheWilliams CBN and operators have been bickering over the •Mrs issue. An insider at the Finance Houses Association of Nigeria (FHAN), who asked not to be named, said operators want the capital base raised from N20 million to N100 million, but the CBN prefers N200 million.

The source said investors were interested in knowing the capital base before putting in money.

In 2012, CBN reviewed finance houses' operations, resulting in the closure of 47 "inactive" firms. 55 were found to be active and four undergoing restructuring.

The CBN, in statement, said it recognised only the 59 finance companies with CBN licenses.

The affected Finance Houses included Asset Management Group; Cal Finance Investment Limited, Capri Martins Finance Limited; Corporate Finance Group Limited; Equator Capital Assets Management Limited; Eston Funds Limited; First Bond Finance Limited; First Spring Finance and Investment Limited; Grand Bond Finance & Securities Limited; Intel Trust Limited and Leo Investment Limited, among others.

The CBN, therefore, commenced comprehensive reforms of the Finance Houses subsector. The regulator said the sector, still wallowing in neglect and lacking clearly defined operational structure, has been relegated to the background in recent years.

It said it now wants to see Finance Houses that are strong, efficient and able to perform their constitutional roles in the economy.

Achieving this requires comprehensive reforms of the subsector that would enable it carve a niche for itself in the financial services sector.

Meanwhile, analysts have argued that this policy may rub off negatively on the fortunes of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as well as Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as finance companies provide services to consumers, industrial, commercial and agricultural enterprises in terms of credit and loans. They also manage funds for customers/clients on agreed tenor and rate.

According to the guidelines, finance companies can access SME funds subject to compliance with minimum prudential norms, as defined by the CBN and may assist clients access SME funds. This can be done through vehicles such as the SME Credit Guarantee Scheme, MSME Development Fund and the Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) funds for clients in the Agric value-chain business.

It also said that in addition to the specific requirements defined for the SME funds, these funds may only be accessed for asset finance, working capital and export finance transactions.

•Facebook team in a group photograph with staff of Konga.com, when the former paid a courtesy visit to Konga's corporate headquarters in Lagos…recently

BOI to begin disbursement of AfDB $500 million fund soon

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HE Bank of Industry (BOI) at the weekend announced that it would soon commence the disbursement of the African Development Bank's 500 million dollars fund to industrialists in Nigeria.

The Chairman of the bank's Shareholders Committee, Mr Muhammed Dikwa, announced the plan at the 53rd Annual General Meeting of the bank in Abuja.

Dikwa said that the Federal Government facilitated the acquisition of the fund in order to deepen the bank's credit delivery process and funding of the industrial sector at concessionary rates.

"As soon as BOI complies with the disbursement process which has reached an ad-

vanced stage, the Nigeria industrialists will start benefiting from the incentivebacked facility," he said.

Aside from the AfDB's funds, he said that there were other existing development fund initiatives under the bank's management, including the five billion naira BOI/ Dangote Small-Scale Businesses Development Fund.

Other available funds are N100 billion Cotton, Textile and Garment (CTG) Fund, National Automotive Council (NAC) Fund, NFRA Rice Processing Intervention Fund, Cement Fund, Dikwa said.

He added that Cottage Industries Fund and Small-Scale

Processing Fund and National Sugar Development Fund were also available.

Dikwa also stated that the bank recorded increment in fund disbursement by five per cent from N218.8 billion in 2011 to N229.18 billion in 2012 and that the number of beneficiaries also increased from 498 in 2011 to 534 in 2012.

According to him, BOI's schemes have generated indirect employment with the cumulative turnover of the obligators increasing from N503.17 billion per annum before intervention, to N659.15 billion after.

"Direct employment by beneficiaries increased from an average of 62,097 before inter-

vention to 76, 581 after intervention, representing an increase of 23 per cent," he said.

The chairman also said that total fund disbursed under the N300-billion Power and Aviation Fund (PAIF) increased by 23 per cent from N147 billion in 2011 to N181 billion in 2012.

He claimed that the beneficiaries under the PAIF scheme had been able to increase their investments in assets and revenue base as a result of lower obligations that they were given on the loan.

"The PAIF scheme has helped in promoting the development of long-term bank credits for infrastructure financing and institutional capacity building for financing power projects within the banking sector," he said.

NCAPMA besieged by applicants for cassava bread fund loan

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HE National Cassava Processors and Marketers Association (NCAPMA) at the weekend said that its secretariat had been besieged with applications for funds by members who wanted to benefit from the Cassava Bread Fund.

NCAPMA Administrative Secretary Dr Wahab Asiru told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that compilation of the applications had begun ahead of submission to the Bank of Industry (BoI).

NAN reports that the Cassava Bread Intervention Fund is a N9.9 billion Federal Government initiative to be disbursed by the BoI and Bank of Agriculture (BOA).

The BoI is to disburse N4.3 billion of the fund to support Small and Medium Scale En-

terprises (SMEs) who are involved in cassava processing.

Similarly, the BOA will manage N2.4 billion of the fund in collaboration with 13 key private stakeholders.

The government, represented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BoI to manage the N4.3 billion cassava bread fund.

The Fund will support SMEs master bakers and large industrial cassava flour mills. ``We have received a sizeable number of applications from our members and we are compiling them to submit to the BoI. ``We just check through the applications to ensure that they comply with the BoI checklist.

``The BoI is to be commended as the conditions to benefit from the Fund is not too stringent. ``The first batch of 35 SMEs will hopefully scale through the BoI verification exercise,'' Asiru said.

In a meeting earlier, the Chairman of the NCAPMA Board of Trustees, Mr Adebayo Ajayi, urged the BoI to do the work assigned to it judiciously for the success of agriculture and the whole nation. ``We cannot tolerate corruption and greed as they have caused the failure of past government initiatives. We are happy the money was given to BoI, which is a bank for you and I. ``It is time for farmers and processors to enjoy the fruit

of our labour now that President Goodluck Jonathan has initiated the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA). ``It is a right step in the right direction; the cassava sector will soon reduce poverty drastically in the country,'' Ajayi said.

He said that 50 per cent of the disbursed funds would be given as a grant to the processors and marketers.

The remaining 50 per cent, he added, would be a loan to be repaid back to the bank by the beneficiaries.

A BoI representative, Mr Oluwa Idris, said that if the NCAPMA members could fulfill the bank's requirements, they would receive their disbursement two weeks after their application.

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

Gboyega Alaka and Seun Osemota beam their searchlights on the rising menace of junk tabloids, their opportunistic tendencies, total disregard for journalistic ethics and readers' sensibility, and the attraction to readers.

The rise of 'junk' tabloids

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hey come in different name tags and titles. Jet, Galaxy Express, Sage Express etc. They also seemingly dominate the news-stands, with screaming, often derogatory, offensive and libellous headlines, streamed on substandard glossies.

Usually, the colours are also as bright as they come, with the graphic artists paying little or no attention to aesthetics or simple design etiquette. Somehow, the vendors also avail them vantage positioning on the stands, to the detriment of more seriousminded newspapers and journals; giving them what Peter Oduwole, a media entrepreneur, once described as undue advantage. Most horrifying is the fact that they also thrive on subtle pornography, splashing scandalous nude photos of rape victims, adulterous couples who've been victims of jungle justice and stripped naked in the process; images of nude and semi-nude prostitutes and gory images of ritual and accident victims, without the slightest recourse to readers' sensibility.

To many, especially those who once witnessed the initial coming of junk journalism in Nigeria, with the Prime People and Vintage People of the late 1980s to early 1990s, what is currently playing out is journalism taken to the gutters. For 35-year old James Nwakama, it is unfortunate that these magazines also thrive on falsehood, wondering if the people behind them have any conscience at all. He recalls a particular edition that relayed an exclusive photo of a woman purportedly with six breasts, “whereas anyone with the slightest knowledge of graphics would immediately know that it was graphic-generated.”

Another irritating trait of these junk tabloids is their seeming opportunistic nature.

It will be recalled that virtually all of them went gaga, splashing the pictures of the late Nollywood actress, Bisi Komolafe, on their front pages, as if they were event albums.

Same was the case with the passing on of Goldie, and several other top celebrities.

One would also remember vividly how they went gaga with pictures of the slain students of University of Port Harcourt, now widely known as the Aluu four, giving little or no considerations to the feelings of the parents, colleagues and a stupefied nation still struggling with the horrible killing.

“Often, you just know that the people behind these publications are taking advantage of a largely semi-literate population,” said James, a banker who lives in Egbeda.

He continued: “But it seems it's a free terrain and anybody can just do what they like.”

James also believes the reason they remain in business, despite all the junk they serve, is because people buy them. Already, he does not see any corporate organisation worth it onions advertising in them. But, he says, they will continue publishing, so long as people are buying and giving them enough power to go back to press. He laments the paradox, seeing that it is in this same country that more quality and educative magazines and newspapers have died prematurely.

A journey to the newsstands also confirmed that the magazines are selling. Mrs Bello Adeyemi, a newspaper and magazine vendor at Oshodi, Lagos, said they are amongst the fastest-moving on the stands.

She disclosed that she sells between 10 and 15 on the average per day. She also revealed that the buyers cut across the broad spectrum of the public.

“Different kinds of people buy them.

Sometimes we have the very educated,

including lawyers and doctors buying; and sometimes it is the artisans; mechanics, bricklayers and even bus drivers and conductors. Even housewives buy and the attraction is mainly the pictures.”

Chukwuma, an apprentice vendor in Mile 2, disclosed that they usually make huge sales when a celebrity dies or when there have been some scandalous occurrences, as the images are spread all over the pages. “Our highest sales were the editions that had the images of the late Goldie and actress Bisi Komolafe. It was as if everyone wanted to catch a final glimpse of the artistes.”

He disclosed that the demands got so high that some of the publishers had to do several reprints.

Another vendor in Oshodi, Mrs Olajumoke Lawal, also disclosed that she sells more of the magazines than the regular newspapers and magazines. As if corroborating Mrs. Adeyemi, she said all categories of people buy the magazines, whether literate or illiterate, stressing that these are the only magazines you find illiterates and artisans buying.

John Anthony, who plies his trade in Ikorodu, however, differs, saying he sells more newspapers than the magazines. He disclosed that unlike the general belief, people don't really by the junk magazines, preferring only to stare at the pictures or have a quick go at quick-reading.

James is also worried that they thrive on falsehood. He recalls an edition where the image of a woman with four breasts was pasted on the cover. “Clearly, you would know that it was a computer-generated image; and yet they went gaga with the picture and story, literally playing on the largely illiterate public's mentality.” He added that these magazines serve these stuffs week in week out, without people asking questions.

David Salami, a student of the Lagos State Polytechnic Ikorodu, said he buys this kind of magazines, but not all the time. He prefers the serious papers like The Nation and Thisday, and said his attraction to the junk magazines is the prophecies and predictions.

Richard Oluwafemi Emmanuel, however, said he buys the magazines because of his curiosity to know what is going on in his immediate environment and the world in general. He also disclosed that he is not a newspaper fan, save for The Nation, which he prefers because of its news stories.

Egyptian court denies Aljazeera journalists' request for freedom

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l Jazeera correspondent, Peter Greste, who has been held without charge for one month, midweek had his appeal and request for release rejected by an Egyptian court in Cairo.

Greste and four other Al Jazeera Media Network employees remain in detention in the Egyptian capital, even as no formal charges have been brought against them.

Media reports on Wednesday, citing a statement from the prosecutor's office, said 16 Egyptians would face trial for membership of "a terrrorist organisation" and that four foreigners, identified as Al Jazeera journalists, would be charged with aiding their activities.

Al Jazeera said it had no knowledge of other people reportedly being pursued by the authorities and that the network currently has no journalist reporting from the country.

It also said that it had no official notification of any developments in their cases.

Said a spokesman of the media network: "The world knows these allegations against our journalists are absurd, baseless and false.”

"This is a challenge to free speech, to

the right of journalists to report on all aspects of events, and to the right of people to know what is going on," he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, Al Jazeera English, for whom Greste is a correspondent, held a news conference in London, calling on Egyptian authorities to immediately release the five journalists.

The London news conference was held exactly one month after Greste and producers Mohamed Fahmy and Bahar Mohammed were detained in Cairo while on assignment for Al Jazeera English on December 29, 2013.

The three journalists are accused of spreading lies harmful to state security and joining a terrorist organisation.

The other two are from its sister channels Al Jazeera Arabic and Al Jazeera Mubasher Misr - Abdullah Al Shami and Mohamed Bader - who have been in detention for five months.

Al Jazeera denies the accusations against its team and has expressed outrage at the continued detention of its journalists without charge.

"We were doing nothing more than our jobs there that any one of our col-

•Peter Greste leagues would be doing in Egypt at the moment," Heather Allan, head of newsgathering at Al Jazeera English, told reporters.

Sam Kiley of Sky News, Jonathan Baker of the BBC College of Journalism, and Peter Oborne from the Daily Telegraph also sat on the panel to support the journalists.

Said Peter Oborne, who is chief political commentator, The Daily Telegraph, UK, "We're here to say to the Egyptian government that we're never going to forget they're there. We're always going to be campaigning to get them out."

Greste's parents, Lois and Jurius, also joined the campaign via video conference from their home in Brisbane, Australia.

POLITTICS

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2014 •Continued from Page 20 responsibility for advertising which takes place on land managed by the state, so there is a joint business. When the income is distributed at the end of the year, there is a derivation principle that goes to the local government. In terms of how resources are allocated, the needs across the state are not the same; in some places all you need to do is patch a road while in others you have to start from the beginning. Every time you construct a road, people take positions, capital appreciation follows road construction and the way to go is to ask where the taxes for roads like the LASU- Iba and Ijegun come from. There was a time when the kind of development and construction in Alimosho didn’t go on and so at the end of the day, it’s not easy to isolate and say this is what came from here, the only way we do that kind of isolation is if we collect capital development levies for land sold in any estate, we use the money from that estate to build its roads, drainages and infrastructure as far as it can go, it doesn’t go a lot but it helps.

That is why we have scheme accounts; Lekki phase one has a scheme account. When the residents pay, they money goes back to them, after UACPDC bought 1004 estate and paid their capital development levy, we used it to start phase two of Adetokunbo Ademola and after that, where were they going to pass? But that did not fund the road to completion of the Lekki -Epe expressway.

The point is that all the revenues go to the consolidated revenues of the state and what we do is a budget based on input and on development plan.

Many of us are worried about the place of the local governments in your development plans. Where I live there is absolutely no impact from that level of government at all...

No, they may not have served your personal needs at the moment and that will not be good to generalise, because you don’t feel the impact, those who could see appreciate it. Local governments are driving primary healthcare and primary education, which are the foundation of development of the most important resources, the human resources-making him or her health and giving him or her skills.

If we do not develop human beings, where would the next generation of engineers come from? You can see that we are yet to develop certain parts of Lagos.

People are building at the pace higher than we are able to respond and that is not our fault or yours.

Now, it’s the understanding that we seek because how fast can we get across to you is function of time. Even if we have all the funds available, you have a certain number of blocks you could lay in a certain day and there is no science that could change that.

You have certain hours to allow the cement to set. The only thing you can do to increase it is to work three shifts but you can’t run away from that length of hours.

What will be the rule is the planning.

We are not planning 100 rooms now but we are planning 400 rooms at once across all the local government. So, at incremental level, the work is progressing.

For instance, in 2007, how many streets did you see with streetlight at night? But we started with first road, Awolowo road.

There were streetlights but it wasn’t working. What happened? It was one vulcanizer at TBS, who was heating tyre and melted the cable in one of the poles and that affected light. We fixed it and switched on.

We started putting diesel and we drove on that road and it looked like our small London. We continued like that and last year alone, we had over 50 roads with streetlights because there is an incremental capacity.

We are making poles in Lagos and this year we are looking at doing another 100 roads.

Alimosho had about 11 roads lit up last year. And around Agege motor road, we lit up the road and traders can now sell till night and that means, doubling their income. These are the elites that I’m serving.

In Shomolu, they used to stop selling their akara and dodo by 6pm because of fear of insecurity. We gave them light and today, they sell into the night. Obalende is back.

Your Commissioner for Budget and Planning gave the debt profile at N120 billion, but I’m aware that Lagos is the only state that pays

'I don't want to be best governor of Lagos'

•Fashola salary from IGR. How sustainable is this system?

Simple, there are few things to understand.

There are upper limits of debt profiles by global standards, in relation to a certain percentage of the GDP. We are not near that threshold anywhere. Secondly, what types of debt profile is it, is it for recurrent expenditure or capital? It is for capital. If in less than two years to go, I went to the stock market to raise N85billion and it was fully subscribed and you know bankers do not want to lose money.

They know what is coming from that and they keyed in. with these projects people earn income and because they earn income, they pay taxes.

We are simply moving the money round. In 1999, when my predecessor took over we were working with N14 billion IGR and we are now having a budget of almost half a trillion naira and how do you want us to finance that? Is it the money under the pillow? You can’t build a city like that. We want rail and all that, you don’t do it waiting for people to bring kobo kobo. For instance, the track Europeans built are still there.

It is a 100-year asset. You have to finance it by debt and it will pay off. During Tinubu’s time, when he drew that N15 billion out of N25 billion bond they said he had mortgaged Lagos. All the press where reporting and saying that we are going to pay that for 50 years but do you know what? I paid that debt in my first year in the office. The first bond that we took is maturing this year. It is a N50 billion bond. We have N90 billion in trustees account to pay off N50billion.

If we keep waiting until the money gathers together, you can’t begin to tell me that there is no road to your house. Where am I supposed to build them? The road that Asiwaju built with N15 billion, I can’t touch again with the same amount of money. The dollar was trading at less than one to a naira, but it is almost doubled.

When I assumed office, the dollar was at $1 to N112 and we were borrowing at 10 per cent.

Now you are lucky to get at 17 per cent. Dollar is now $1 to over N170. Those are the realities and we must salute our economic team for the investment they have been able to achieve.

If not for that, would you have LASU-Iba road, that rail, or make Ikorodu road motorable today; Badagry expressway and others? The money we are spending on Ikorodu road is a loan. It’s a long-term loan. Take the money now and pay back later as long as the people continue

to pay their taxes and financial capacity continues.

We are saying that America is a very good place with skyscrapers, the best hospitals in the world and best streets. Why do you think they owe everywhere? $16 trillion debt that is what they use to pay for it. They are financing their prosperity. They have over 350 million population, owing the world $16 trillion. We are about 20 million and we are talking about N400 billion. That is our budget for one year, so if we close our eyes, we will pay that debt.

Was your visit to Edo State solely to endorse the presidential ambition of Governor Adams Oshiomhole?

Really, our country needs development and knowing Edo well, with the things I saw there, I think it’s a development that should come on board every state if that experience is brought to a larger theater of expression. I’m in support of everybody, who has worked so that we will not come up to say we will not have any electricity because we do not have gas. That gas is not gotten from one alien country, it’s seated underneath us. It baffles me each time thing I hear we have money, but we are looking for the whereabouts of 12bn dollars. Let us even say for the sake of argument, why couldn’t that money be spent on pipelines to pump fuel over the country or even repair the pipelines?

The issue is, after many years that the country has been extracting crude oil, are the pipes not due for change? I’m changing water pipes on the bridge. So we spent huge sums on power project yet there is no solution. And I begin to wonder what the United Arab Emirate spent in their total power energy? They powered the desert. How much more can it cost? So it was in that contest that I said that I will support any one who is doing well and who has done well, so that such development will come across on board.

With the strong push for power shift, will northerners in your party support him?

I can’t speak for a group. That is your fear.

I have a stake. At the end, you can’t speak for a group. They decide on what to be done. For now we are still early in our party programme discuss issues of candidates. Until we empanel the organs of party and officers, that question will be addressed in the course of time.

There is an issue with the Ajao Estate Bridge which now empties traffic into Ajao Estate;

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this implies heavy traffic from busy roads pouring into residential areas without creating another channel for it…

One thing I have learnt from this job is the difficulty with implementing change.

And when people resist change, it’s not because they don’t like what you offer, but sometimes, they do not appreciate it. And more importantly, they have secured a vested interest in the existing order. And you need to convince them that what is on the other side is better than what they have on the other side. Now what does Ajao Estate do for those of you who live there? You are cutoff from the town. It didn’t evolve with plan, like other areas, but we are re-planning all of them now. It was built, as you like. You lock yourself up with gates for security. We are re-planning them within the big master plan. We were to build one bridge, but we decided to do two bridges in order to avoid demolitions and we are spending more. And by that, the bridges have reduced journey for commuters by 75 per cent, the stress, cost, life style, tears and wears of the vehicles by 75 per cent. Every problem solved is not a destination; it is a milestone to move to another level. There are streets that we have in our procurement plan for this year. The same way we created Okota bridge and it created another problem because it was a single lane, but nobody told us that the work had not ended. We decided to open Ago road and demolished some houses, shops and walls, but that met with litigation and we stopped. What we need is patience. If this work will finish, Alhaji Jakande would have finished it. We have a plan and if you want to know how many roads more are left and the ones done, we will show you. It’s all about sustainability.

Information Minister, Labaran Maku, recently said that at all levels no government has done what the Jonathan administration had done. But here you are reeling out achievements. How does that make you feel, compared to the assertion that they have done the best?

All I can say is that I hope the best of Nigeria is really further ahead. I don’t want to be the best governor of Lagos. I want better governors to come after me. I think that it’s a leadership problem. When these kinds of statements are made, you must contextualize them into whether or not we really have prepared ourselves for the kind of responsibilities that we have. Would there have been a Nigeria if those who fought the war didn’t sacrifice? So, for somebody to come after that to say, we are the best. That was governance. Keeping the peace and unity of this country, people lost their lives.

They served. How do you dishonour their memory and service by saying nobody has done what you have done? I have never had any government that wants to progress say those kinds of things. There must be a place for your predecessors. It’s ladder and a house built on so many blocks of blood, sweat and tears. And whether you like it or not, you will hand over the baton. How would you feel after that, when somebody says you haven’t done anything? Let’s look at power.

Did they pass the legislation? They are concluding the process. There is pension reform today. Did they pass the legislation?

It’s a process of thinking and doing sometimes. As I told people, Thabo Mbeki hosted the World Cup, was he the one who bid for it? What is the value they have added to the GSM today? There are more drop calls now than when the system started. Were they the ones who did it? It was a government that licensed private TV otherwise all of us would be locked on to NTA today and you won’t be here because there would only have been Daily Times. That’s the incremental contributions of your predecessors. So, how are they supposed to feel? And you want to build a nation? You’re provoking everybody? I think there can be better tactics to underscore your development. We can’t show that we are good by showing that everybody is bad. Unfortunately, it’s a strategy that has also worked in some states, but I have always said, look, you must acknowledge what your predecessors have done. They may not have done as much as you have done. They may have operated at a more difficult time than you are operating, but they added value. I don’t believe that anybody is absolutely useless. Everything operates in a time and space. It’s a leardership problem. Democracy is growing. We are building a nation undoubtedly, but we must recognize everybody’s contributions.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2014

POLITICS

Between Tinubu and Aribisala

Courage is the first of human virtues because it makes all others possible —Aristotle

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SIWAJU Bola Ahmed Tinubu is an enduring brand, occupying a pride of place in Nigeria’s political space.

Love to hate his pervasive persona or hate to love his courage in the face of daunting odds, you cannot take away the long-held concepts of democracy etched deeply in the minds of his people or the principles he stands for. A political strategist of no mean measure, his towering political stature belies his lean frame and sends some shock waves down the spine of crass political opportunists, especially those who love to reap where they never sowed.

Mention his name, not only in Nigeria but the world over and the image that comes to mind is that of an indefatigable defender of the doctrines of democracy, passionately propelled by the principles of equity, fairness, and justice all in the search for the common good. For that he has made a lot of sacrifice; of energy, time, resources and even his cherished freedom.

He was there during the dare-devil days of military dictatorship and exhibited that uncommon courage to stand on the side of his people when it mattered most. And he is still here now witnessing that same democracy he fought tooth and nail for in the throes of annihilation. Nigeria is being besotted by storms of political ineptitude, cluelessness, crass corruption riding on the wave crests of opportunism and he is saying “no” to it all. Only a patriot would do that.

Yet, he is being misconstrued as a self-serving politician.

But this cannot be true. Were it so, he would have been contented with being the chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN now defunct) now in firm control of five out of the six states in the South-West geo-political zone. Even in Ondo State where the Labour Party now holds sway, he it was who used his political clout to assist incumbent Governor Olusegun Mimiko to send the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) packing just as he had done in Ekiti and Osun states. Notably, it would be recalled that when the PDP rigging machinery bulldozed its way through the South-West, the legendary Asiwaju as the governor of Lagos State, the Centre of Excellence became the ‘last man standing’ in that ultimate battle for political survival.

From this unbiased perspective one would want to respond to Femi Aribisala’s recent self-serving, myopic and jaundiced opinion entitled: What does Bola Tinubu want? In his words: “Over the past few years, Bola Tinubu has made himself something of a colossus of South-Western politics in Nigeria. Against the onslaught of vociferous PDP electoral manipulations in 2003, Tinubu drew the line in the sand and held on to the biggest prize: Lagos. He became, in effect, the lone survivor of his party in the South-West. By 2007, using just Lagos State as his stronghold, he fought back to wrest ACN control back in all but one of the South-western states. By 2011, he had consolidated his hold in the region. With 2015 looming, it would appear to be high time for Tinubu to unfold a national, as opposed to a merely regional agenda.

“Accordingly, Tinubu has now become the grandfather of the All Progressives Congress (APC); a coalition forged between his ACN party, Buhari’s CPC, the ANPP and Rochas Okorocha’s wing of APGA. But the question needs to be asked: what is in this new-fangled APC for Bola Tinubu?”

To call the merger as ‘Politics without principles’ is a clear miss of the point more like a boxer’s blow below the opponent’s belt. Said he: “Tinubu’s midwifery of the APC is conclusive proof he is anything but a progressive politician. The APC is an all-comers alliance of strange bedfellows without any defined policy objectives. No one can tell what is progressive about this new cocktail. Former arch-enemies of the ruling PDP, hitherto derided as corrupt and incompetent by Tinubu, are now courted and welcomed in APC with open arms.”

Reading between the lines, it is patently obvious that that singular epochal mid wifing of the opposition against the PDP behemoth has left not a few politicians of the PDP sleepless. Will the fear of Tinubu become the wisdom of PDP? Not likely, as events unfold. And going by Aribisala’s hypocritical and foul-mouthed vituperations.

Rather than seeing the merger in the light of true patriots coming together to salvage and bale a water-filled canoe from capsizing into the deep sea of political incompetence, he is throwing point-missing jabs. He should be true to his spirit and conscience. Is he truly happy and satisfied with the polity drifting to the realms of great incompetence where corruption has been crowned as king, where past thieves of state are

•Tinubu

By Idowu Ajanaku

being pardoned in questionable manners? What about a serving Minster of Aviation with a weighty allegation of deliberate inflation of the cost price of two armoured cars at astronomical price of N255million,still occupying her seat as if nothing happened?

In a similar vein, Aribisala ought to have moved away from the cocoon of a blind defender of the might is right authoritarian rule within the PDP, when Tukur at the bidding of President Goodluck Jonathan wielded the big stick. The PDP and by extension the nation-state was drifting precariously to a state of anarchy. What Tinubu and the top hierarchy of the APC did by visiting OBJ was an act of patriotism. As rightly noted by a political philosopher, in politics there is no permanent enmity but interest. This time, that interest is to save Nigeria from total collapse. But Aribisala says otherwise.

Said he, “Tinubu was part of a delegation of APC leaders who visited Obasanjo at his residence in Ota, pleading with him to decamp (should be defect) from the PDP to the APC. The nation watched with incredulity as Tinubu was quoted as saying to arch-enemy Obasanjo: “We’re resolved and determined to rescue Nigeria. We want you as navigator.”

“Such duplicity is par for the course with Tinubu. He cut his political teeth as a NADECO politician in the heydays of the annulled June 1993 elections. In consonance with his NADECO colleagues, Tinubu is on record in insisting repeatedly that:

“Because of the multiple issues surrounding our skewed federalism and constitutional flaws, the Nigerian nation is weak…

We must convoke a national conference.” Fast-forward to 2013, after President Jonathan decided to convene the requested national conference, Tinubu started singing a different tune. He declared: “The national conference is by whom, for whom, and at what stage? How many levels of deception? I see a contradiction. I see diversion. I see deception, lack of honesty and integrity.”

Unknown to Aribisala, even President Jonathan was averse to the very idea of a National Conference. So, why did he change his mind? Tinubu raised alarm because of the suddenness in the other’s decision to support it now. Besides, the timing, being so close to the 2015 general elections is seen by many as being used for the president’s political gains.

On the querulous issue of Tinubu controlling the SouthWest politics “not because he is popular in the region, but because he has been allowed to get away with anti-democratic tendencies” Aribisala should understand that in politics whether in Nigeria or elsewhere in the world loyalty to the party hierarchy is imperative. There are laid down rules and regulations to be followed.

Candidates who refuse to follow due process are the very ones who would go out there to demonise a party chieftain as if Asiwaju is the be all and the end all to the party he belongs to.

Such a line of reasoning is an insult to the other members of the party decision-making body. To those who may not know it Tinubu, as a strategist has an open mind, is good at wide consultations and has a listening ear. He is far from the toga of dictatorship that his political detractors try to ascribe to him.

It is to Tinubu’s credit that the candidates he chose “undemocratically” have tended to do better than others. Justifying himself, Tinubu said: “I play god-fatherism in the SouthWest for the good of our people. My god-fatherism is for progress.”And you ask yourself is that not a mark of rare vision to be applauded by all and sundry?

Aribisala’s argument on the influence of Tinubu towards Tambuwal’s emergence only lends credence to his mastery at political strategy. He said, “In 2011, President Jonathan supported Mulikat Akande of Oyo State for the position of Speaker of House of Representatives. But Tinubu corralled ACN representatives to defeat his candidature in favour of Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto. He did this so he can play a South-West marginalization card against Jonathan’s PDP government in subsequent elections. He was also mindful that a Yoruba Speaker should not provide a rallying point for the PDP in the struggle for supremacy with his ACN in the South-West.”

For him to say that “the South-west is still the only region in Nigeria that votes ethnically” is a tissue of lies and absolute balderdash. Did the former elected presidents such as Shehu Shagari, the late Umar Yar’Adua and incumbent President Jonathan not benefit from the massive votes of the South-West?

The answer is obvious.

On support for Northern APC president, Aribisala went beyond the boundary of common reasoning. What an insult to say that if “Therefore, if Tinubu has ears, he should use them.”

The Northern politicians clamouring for power after being starved of it for 16 years are not dying to do any favours for the South-West, given the eight years of Obasanjo’s presidency.

They are dying to do favours for themselves. Once a Northern president is firmly installed in Aso Rock, they are going to stop returning Tinubu’s phone-calls.”

Many are shocked by Aribiosala’s submission that “The APC adventure marks the end of the road politically for Tinubu.

It is downhill all the way for him from now on. The very things that made Tinubu successful in the South-West are bound to shipwreck him in the APC.” All said, it has become crystal clear that Aribisala’s sponsored opinion essay on Tinubu is that of a man on a mission to twist the facts of history, from the narrow prism of hatred, mischief making, political grandstanding all for self-serving purposes.

As Nigeria moves towards another landmark election we need politicians of Asiwaju’s all-encompassing vision, charisma, character, clout and connections to get the right people to steer the ship of state in the right direction. Nigerians must return to the once-cherished values of putting the state before the self unlike Aribisala who would want to denigrate and destroy the noble and worthy legacies of a patriot in the mould of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Moving to counter opposition in National Assembly •Continued from Page 19 president handlers described as the worrisome growing number and influence of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the chamber of the lower house.

The Nation gathered that the emergence of the group last Monday was an impromptu response from the political camp of President Jonathan to an alleged threat issued by the leadership of the APC to block the 2014 budget and the confirmation of the Service Chiefs and ministerial nominees.

Led by Hon. Bitrus Kaze, a PDP federal legislator from Plateau State, the newly formed group draws its membership from amongst the Labour Party (LP), Accord Party (AP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as well as PDP legislators in the House.

The group, which is not hiding its pro-Jonathan stance,

said it is out to protect the Transformation Agenda of the Jonathan administration. It also frowned at what it called moves by the APC to impose itself as the majority party with a view to changing the leadership of the house.

“These latest directives are a provocation and, as far as legislative maneuvers go, they will once again fail. Hence, everything must be done to arrest the APC attempt to turn Nigeria into a laughingstock.

“We the National Unity Group in the House of Representatives, made up of the PDP, Labour, Accord and APGA members, wish to aver that any attempt to tamper with the 2014 budget, and hence the Transformation Agenda of the Jonathan administration, would be met with robust resistance.” Kaze vowed last Monday, while announcing the birth of the group.

The Nation also learnt that aside Kaze’s National Unity Group, two more groups of pro-Jonathan legislators are being expected to be formed in the lower house soon.

“One of these groups is being co-ordinated by a member of the House from Katsina State. It is also a pro-Jonathan group with the sole assignment of countering the positions of defecting northern legislators.

“It is most likely that the group will address a press conference to denounce all the earlier defections while urging the people of the northern region to press for the recall of all federal PDP legislators who had defected.

“The group met in one of the hearing rooms last Thursday. They have members from states in the three zones of the northern region. They are merely waiting for the right time to unveil their group,” our source said.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

‘Some pastors are more corrupt than politicians’ The minister-in-charge of the fast growing Episcopal Church of Zion Abuja, Rev. Babatunde Oguntimehin, is also a personal assistant to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe. He spoke with Sunday Oguntola on the church and national issues

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HAT is the origin of the Episcopal Church?

Episcopal Church is a group of Christian faithful, not just a mere gathering of people but saints – those who have genuinely given their lives, times, sanctified and consecrated to do the works of God. It originated from the Cherubim and Seraphim founded by Apostle Moses Orimolade, led by Most Reverend Mafo in 1951.

Most Rev. Mafo was second-in-command to Apostle Orimolade when God called him out and led him to found the Episcopal Church at IlePepe, a riverine town in Ilaje Local Government of Ondo State.

So, how did you find yourself in the church?

First of all, I was born into the Episcopal Church Okitipupa branch 48 years ago. My parents were devoted members. My father was the head of the first branch of the church at Okitipupa. We now have eight branches at Okitipupa. They used to tell me those days that I would be a big prophet and a leader of the church but I would never put a thought to it until some years now when I started see-

ing Jesus in my dreams.

Sometimes, he would decorate me with big garments and always presented me with the Bible. But I was frightened one night when he said if I don’t hearken unto his voice, he would throw me into the dust bin of history. I woke up and wept. I knew what he was saying but I felt timid to be a servant of God because of issues like consecration, perseverance and commitment which I didn’t want to shoulder.

Considering the frightening statement ‘I will throw you into the dustbin of history”, I decided to visit our headquarters church at IlePepe in Ondo State. After explaining the unusual dreams to our spiritual leader and the father-in-the-Lord, he urged me to start the work of God as a branch head immediately, not just a member of the church anymore. He warned that any procrastination on it would lead me into doom.

He asked me to stay with him for three weeks which I did and after the end of the training, he poured upon me anointing and commissioned me to go and work for Jesus.

Since then, I have never been

Cleric warns Jonathan against cabals

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HE General Overseer of God’s Mercy Revival Ministries Lagos, Pastor James Akanbi, has warned President Goodluck Jonathan to shun unhealthy advice from politicians that could work against the overall interest of Nigerians.

Akanbi made this appeal in an interview with The Nation at the first anointing service of the church.

The service with the theme I shall weep no more attracted thousands of worshippers and featured song rendition, bible teaching, prayers and prophetic ministration.

He urged Jonathan to work in the best interest of Nigerians in every situation and stop being a puppet of some cabals whose interest could throw back the nation from the annals of history.

These cabals, he said, have

the same again.

How was it like starting the church?

We faced a lot of challenges which I cannot explain here. Four years ago, we secured a place at Danlandi area of Maraba after paying a huge amount of money. But as we were building, there came a serious controversy. But with prayers and fasting, God led us to the present place at Nyanyan where we are now putting up a beautiful and befitting edifice for the service and the glory of God. Unlike in the southern Nigeria, to build a church in Abuja requires big money, commitment, perseverance and real prayers. One thing is sure when God commissions you for His work and service; no one or forces can stop you.

How do you react to developments as the nation edges towards 2015?

Firstly, let me tell you this: Nigeria will not break up, as some people have predicted, come 2015. There will be some violence but there will be no civil war. I want to warn the politicians who are planning chaos and to win elections at all costs, to stop it otherwise the repercussions will be very severe upon them, their busi-

xxx

•Oguntimehin

nesses and their families.

God has revealed to me the president of Nigeria in 2015 but I won’t reveal it now until during our convention later in the year. But let me say this here categorically that the next Governor of Delta State is Elder Godsday Orubebe.

Anyone or group of people who are challenging him are just wasting their times and resources because God has ordained him as the next governor, not man.

Is the government winning the war against corruption?

Yes, I agree with you, cor-

NEWS

•L-R: Minister Wesley Cathedral Olowogbowo Lagos, the Revd.

Olatunde Oniyide with the guest preacher, Evangelist Sanya Adepoju and his colleague, the Revd. Magnus Obokhowo, at the maiden Breakfast Fellowship with Jesus sponsored by the Ladies Friendly of the church... recently

bers of his church is a corrupt person. Imagine, directors or even assistant directors are donating millions of naira to these churches and nobody is asking them where they’ve got such money. The rogue politicians are attending these churches weekly, nobody is preaching to them to stop stealing and killing people.

These so-called men of God are spiritually empty.

They only preach inspirational messages that encourage them to continue to steal and give them their own shares. But hell is real and Heaven is real, unfortunately.

Baptist churches for summit

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By Adeola Ogunlade

been in control of the leadership of the country for decades and always want to protect their own interest by every means.

He opined that the development of Nigeria lies solely on firm, honest, forthright and committed leadership.

Such leadership, he added, must strive to provide essential services directed at making life suitable for the rural poor.

God, he claimed, told him that the president will be a spokesman to the few cabals, if he gives in to the pressure from them.

Should this happen, Akanbi stated that the masses will be in for trouble as they won’t be able to access quality health care, potable water and other essential services.

ruption is the number one problem in Nigeria. Fight corruption and other things will follow. In fact, anyone who cannot fight corruption has no business in the governance of Nigeria. Governments at all levels, especially at the federal level, have no option than to fight corruption not by merely saying it, but by doing it.

I always pinpoint the church, especially these socalled mega churches and big pastors and Bishops to be more corrupt than the governments. Any pastor who fails to expose corrupt mem-

HE New Estate Baptist Church Surulere Lagos has concluded arrangements to host the annual Kingdom Life Summit, which brings together all that churches and individuals which had roots in the mission-minded assembly.

The summit holds with theme wonders of the word from February 13-15.

The gathering, according to the convener, Rev. Julius Omomola, is for edification, education, empowerment, fellowship and ministerial networking.

Omomola, who addressed newsmen in Lagos, noted that the choice of the theme for this year was chosen to challenge and remind Christians that their existence is charged out of the need

By Nneka Nwaneri

to living out the word of God before professing it.

He said the summit is geared towards bringing Christians back to the basic of faith through wonders of the word.

According to him: “Changing the society and the country require changing the individual life and the family unit.

“The areas of focus during the summit will be to rejuvenate the love for the bible, build a loving family, help the young ones be focused and directional as well as an opportunity to raising ambassadors for Christ in all areas of life.”

Speakers at the summit include: Bro Gbile Akanni; Rev Chika OssaiUgbah; Rev Mike Babatunde and Rev Samson Adedokun.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

WORSHIP NEWS

COLUMN

CAN decries persecution of Christians in the north

C

HAIRMAN of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), South West Zone, Archbishop Magnus Atilade, has decried the growing threat to lives and property of Christians in the northern parts of the country.

He spoke at a media conference by the body in conjunction with Christian Welfare Initiative (CWI) in Lagos.

According to him: “The brutality, cruelty and inhuman manner in which Christians in the north are being systematically and consistently slaughtered by Islamic fundamentalists has reached an alarming proportion that we are compelled to speak out. This is inhuman.”

He cited the 2013 World Watch List report, which states

By Adeola Ogunlade

that 66% of Christians killed globally were Nigerians.

Atilade said: “We are, however, disturbed and very alarmed at the rate and consistency with which Christians are being slaughtered in northern Nigeria, in a manner similar to the genocide in Rwanda.

“As a result of these crises, thousands of Christian men, women and children have been murdered, children have become orphans, women are widowed, children are fatherless, while innumerable Christian men and women have been maimed and mutilated.

“It is unbelievable that in this age and period, human beings could descend to such level of inhuman barbarity and cruelty while claiming a divine

mandate.”

Atilade continued: “Nigeria belongs to every Nigerian and we advocate peaceful coexistence of all the various groups in the nation.

“Whoever wishes to be a Muslim should remain a Muslim and whoever wishes to remain a Christian should remain a Christian.

“Each man should live according to the convictions of his heart without intimidation or oppression from any other group.”

The cleric noted that it is equally disheartening that even moderate Muslims that do not seem to support these agents of death and destruction are also targeted and killed by members of the Boko Haram group.

Be bold to declare God’s mind, says prophetess

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HE founder of Christ Glory Breakthrough Covenant Mission Akure, Ondo State, Prophetess Dupe Oluwayemi, aka (Ayaba Jesu), has challenged preachers not to be afraid to declare the mind of God on national issues.

She said most of the tragedies and disasters in the nation would have been averted had servants of God quickly revealed them to Nigerians.

Oluwayemi ,however, urged them to be sure they declare nothing but the mind of God every time.

The popular prophetess spoke with newsmen last week in Lagos.

She said: “We must be bold and courageous to speak whatever God shows us.

“We should not be afraid or mind if they come to pass or not. Ours is to declare and it is up to God to bring them to pass.”

The preacher, who was called in 1984 but started the ministry in 1997 with only seven people, said those who avoid politicians in the name of being careful are doing the nation a great disservice.

According to her: “We should be approachable and

•Oluwayemisi

By Sunday Oguntola

accessible to people irrespective of their various professions and careers.

“Our doors should always be open to anyone who needs prophetic and spiritual counselling, so politicians are no exception.

“We should seize the opportunity to tell them the mind of God and show them God’s way forward.”

On the forthcoming Ekiti State governorship election, Oluwayemi said: “There will be problems to the point of killing one another through hired killers. This is the result of the election says the Lord: “Fayemi will win the coming election but if prayer is not thoroughly observed, the election will be run twice.

“The government should

ask for the hand of God for help.”

In Osun State, she said: “This is how the result of the election will be: Someone will rise up as a new aspirant that will shake Aregbesola’s administration and there will be election manipulation but at last Aregbesola’s will emerge winner.”

He solicited prayers for Ekiti, saying “the government should invite various ministers of the gospel from diverse denominations to be part of the prayers and all ambitious politicians should be warned to be careful and stop planning evil against each other.”

On how she came across the name Ayaba Jesu, she said: “The name is not just a formulated one, neither is it a product of emulation and appellation but it has a divine backing.

“This came into existence when I was taken into seven heavens in a revelation during the inception of my calling in 1987.

“I received a very befitting reception and send forth and the Almighty God named me Jesus Queen which is translated as Ayaba Jesu in Yoruba.”

Living Faith

By Dr. David Oyedepo

Engaging the power of praise for turnaround!

P

RAISE is a proven spiritual weapon for a turnaround. It gets God triggered to unleash signs and wonders. Through praise, our battles are transferred to God. We saw a graphic picture of praise at work in 2 Chronicles 20: 1- 23, when three kings came against Judah to utterly destroy it; but Judah had no power or might against that great army. Then in 2 Chronicles 20:17, God said, ‘Set yourself’ and Jehoshaphat understood the meaning. ‘Set yourself’ meant, ‘Create the platform for Me to step in.’ He lifted up his hands with all of Judah, and worshipped God. As they began to sing praises to God, God stirred up a turnaround. Though the three kings were each mightier than Judah, they faced themselves and levelled themselves out. That is the turnaround mystery of praise in action (2 Chronicles 20:1923).

Paul and Silas also applied this spiritual weapon.

They sang praises aloud and immediately, the foundation of the prison was shaken, every man’s band was loosed and all the gates opened on their own accord (Acts 16:25-26).

What Is In Praise That Provokes Supernatural Turnaround?

•God is in praise: God naturally inhabits the praise of His people. Praise is one invitation God cannot turn down. So, when you get to a crossroads and you don’t know what to do, praise God. But thou art holy, O thou

that inhabitest the praises of Israel (Psalm 22:3).

When we pray, the angels attend to our prayers, but when we praise, God Himself attends to our praise (Exodus 15:11).

•Revelation: Praise facilitates revelation. In 2 Kings 3:15-20, a minstrel was brought at the request of Elisha. As the minstrel played, the hand of God came upon Elisha, revelation began to flow and there was a turnaround (2 Kings 3:15).

That is the connection between praise and revelation.

Undoubtedly, every striking revelation provokes a turnaround (Isaiah 30:29-30).

David the great ‘praiser’ was a man of strange insight; he praised God seven times a day. Concerning him it was said: I have more understanding than all my teachers… (Psalm 119:99). Also, he had the revelation of the messianic ministry of Christ (Acts 2:30). Furthermore, he was as smart as an angel of God (2 Samuel 14:20).

So, revelation is in praise, and when you lay hold on the right Word, every uprising must surrender. Therefore, in this great month, you will access the striking light that will put you in command of all uprising of the powers of darkness in your life!

•The Anointing of the Holy Ghost (Psalm 92:1-3, 10): This is why the devil wants us depressed, so as to rob us of the oil on our heads. Men and women of praise don’t lack oil on their heads. Fresh oil is the entitlement of addicted ‘praisers.’

•Signs and Wonders (Exo-

dus 15:11): Praise is the spiritual platform for the fearful acts of God in our lives. The Israelites shouted and God came down and levelled the walls of Jericho (Joshua 6:20).

Don’t join the company of those who murmur, because the devil is using such people to break our joy and oppress us with the spirit of heaviness.

Also, when we do not know what else to do, praise is the sure recourse. Put differently, when we have prayed, fasted and have reached a point where we don’t know what else to do, praise is what else to do (2 Chronicles 20:10-12, 17). This is because by praise, we bring God in, and God can never be stranded, for He always knows what to do.

Friend, the praise power for a turnaround, is the preserve of those who are children of God. You become a child of God, by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.

You can be God’s child now, if you haven’t been, by saying this prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. I cannot help myself. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan, to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You, for saving me!

Now, I know I am born again! I will continue with this teaching next week. Exceeding Grace and the Unspeakable Gifts of God are your portion this year!

Every exploit in life is a product of knowledge. For further reading, please get my books: Understanding The Power Of Praise and Wonders Of Praise.

I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:35 a.m., 9:10 a.m. and 10.45 a.m. respectively.

I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

RCCG, Joy of Nations Parish, MMIA Ikeja, celebrates The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Joy of Nations Parish, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, marked its first anniversary with a celebration service on Sunday, January 26, •Pastor Lucky Onyemeosi, 2014.

Pastor-in-charge, Sunshine PHOTOS:OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL Zone, RCCG LP10, ministering at the service

•Ministers and pastors cutting the anniversary cake •Pastor Nosa Ehigiator, Pastor-incharge, Victory Arena Area, RCCG LP10 presenting a gift to Pastor Okunola of RCCG LP42

•Joy of Nations choir backing guest artiste, Bro. Ituen Johnson?

•Pastor Ehigiator presenting a gift to Pastor Sunny Osakwe, Pastor-incharge, Mighty God Palace Zone, RCCG LP42

73

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

H

E’S used to asking the questions, picking people’s brains, and deducing opinions.

But penultimate Saturday, the tables turned around, and Sam Omatseye, veteran journalist and chairman editorial board The Nation newspapers, had the tables turned against him.

The occasion was the maiden edition of Vintage Wine and Fresh Blends, an initiative of the Lagos Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) that seeks to engage established writers (Vintage Wine) and emerging writers (Fresh Blends) respectively to a forum of literature lovers.

Amongst those present at the event were former ANA Lagos Chairman, Dr. Tolu Ajayi, author Modupe Adenubi, as well as students from National College Gbagada, Lagos City College, and Ikosi Senior High School, who also presented Omatseye’s ‘This is our land’, a poem which is part of Mandela’s Bone and Other Poems Collection.

Of course, after garnering journalism experience in excess of 20 years and publishing over five books, Omatseye was honoured as vintage. His books include three poetry collections: Dear Baby Ramatu, Mandela’s Bones and Other Poems, Lion Wind and Other Poems, a novel, The Crocodile Girl, and a collection of his journalism, In Touch.

It is known that most journalists would rather focus the search light on others rather than themselves. But in the hot seat of the Rotunda Hall of the National Library, Yaba, Lagos, Omatseye could not escape probing questions from arts journalist Evelyn Osagie. And he opened on up to a plethora of issues concerning his writing – both journalism and creative writing.

“It is very difficult talking about myself,” Omatseye began, thanking the students from the three secondary schools in Lagos that came to perform his poetry.

“I want to say thank you to them,” he said.

As if the opening was the needed fillip, Omatseye delved into the story of his life. He traced his writing career to early childhood. And he talked of how his father played a crucial role in forming him.

Omatseye was born on June 15, 1961 on the outskirts of Warri, in present day Delta State, to an Itsekiri father and Urhobo mother. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Lagos and he started primary school there. However, due to his father’s transfers, Omatseye continued in Warri before eventually completing his primary education in Ibadan. After that, he attended Government College Ughelli before proceeding to the University of Ife (Now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)) to study History. He then started work at Newswatch magazine as a rookie reporter.

“The things that really formed my life,” Omatseye said, “can be categorised as my parental upbringing, especially that of my father, in terms of my literary aspirations. He was always Title of Book : Nigeria Shall Rise Again Author : Fatoki Oluwatosin Emmanuel Publishers : Seed of Grace Bookworks Year of Publication : 2013 Reviewer : Busola Odusola

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‘Cutting one’s teeth never happens to someone who wants to improve’

• Evelyn Osagie interviewing Sam Omatseye

By Joe Agbro Jr.

concerned about books. We were always surrounded by books. And I still have some of his books in my library today. I remember when I finished secondary school before I went to the university, he saw that I always read Time magazine.

I always took money out of my pocket money to buy Time magazine and it affected my capacity to fund other things. When he noticed this, he made it a point of duty (that) all through that period till I left the university, there was ‘special’ money to buy Time magazine.”

Another influence he acknowledged was his environment. “I was always concerned about sufferings around.” This suffering would stare at the young Omatseye as his family went from being almost well-heeled to one “that had to think about where the next meal would come from.” This development, he said, gave him an idea of “the temporariness of prosperity and the possibility of injustice.”

Later on when his interest with Time burgeoned, his father again was at hand to ensure a copy of the magazine was always at his behest. And it was through reading Time he met Roger Rosenblatt, his journalism role-model, during his second year

at Ife. “I loved the way he wrote essays, the way he combined ideas. He had a capacity to show that everything that happens has a dimension in philosophy, literature, the arts. He was such a great writer.”

Other influences on his writing, Omatseye also admits, include William Shakespeare because “he re-energised and re-invented the English language,” Winston Churchill because of “his oratory” and “because he had the power of language to stand up against tyranny,” and St. Paul “for his ability to relate the spirituality of existence.”

Omatseye’s incisive journalism which borders on the Nigeria’s socio-political milieu is often flowerily presented, using quotes and comparisons from literature, via his weekly Monday column, In Touch. Through the column which enjoys a wide love/hate relationship, one glimpses Omatseye’s creative side. And responding to a question of how he combined journalism and creative writing, Omatseye himself was at a loss.

“It’s a question I find difficult to answer because I also wonder how I did it,” he said. “I think it was achieved by passion. It’s just like somebody who loves to sing. You find time to

A bone of life

HE book “Nigeria Shall Rise Again” emphasises the values of Nigeria and the importance of being patriotic citizens. This book is a call to Nigerians to be disciplined, patriotic and self-reliant.

It is a call to Nigerians to repent of their evil ways and return to God who is the Master Builder.

“Nigeria shall rise again”, which is the author’s first book, identifies the problems of Nigeria, indicating corruption as the greatest. The author, however, indicates that God is the solution to our problems.

Fatoki recommends that for Nigeria to rise again and be great, every Nigerian must direct himself to a positive change in his attitude towards Nigeria.

This book identifies the fact that the Nigerian revolution begins with each person. It beckons on all Nigerians to regain their identity, imbibe good character and identify their purpose. It also highlights the importance of the Nigerian youths as the change we desire rests on some of them. It, however, reminds all Nigerians that they are responsible for the transformation of Nigeria.

“Nigeria Shall Rise Again” notes that there is hope for a better Nigeria. It erases all doubts that Nigeria can stand again. It identifies all the areas where Nigerians need to improve on and

the attitudes, habits and character they need to imbibe and the ones they should disengage from in order to transform Nigeria. It also emphasises the need for unity among all tribes which, according to Fatoki, is the only way for remarkable progress in Nigeria.

Though, there are a few typographical and sentence errors, “Nigeria shall Rise Again” is a book that every Nigerian must read in order to correct the negative mindset he has about Nigeria.

In this book, the author buttresses his points with some biblical quotes and wise sayings of renowned individuals. Some of the individuals are Chinua Achebe, Mother Theresa, John Wesley, Henry Ford, William Shakespeare, among others.

The last chapter of the book is about Sokoto State in Nigeria where the author had his national youth service, NYSC. In the chapter, Fatoki highlights the great attributes of Sokoto State and suggests ways of improving the educational system in the state.

The language of the book is simple to understand. The book which comes in a hard cover encourages all Nigerians to be proud of their country as there is a purpose for being Nigerians.

Towards the end of the book, the author posed a question to his readers thus: “What would Nigeria remember you for?”

sing. If it means I have to spend some nights in sleeplessness, I would do it. I would stay late and do it. I would wake early in the morning and do it.”

When asked why he only recently became a published author, Omatseye responded that he had written two earlier works; a novel and a poetry collection titled Fangs which was judged second in the 1989 poetry category of the ANA prize.

Though, both works are lost now, because of the political crisis in the early 1990s which made him “live a scattered and unsettled life.” He quipped: “Maybe ANA can find it.”

Attributing his life to the mercies and grace of God, Omatseye shared some of the upheavals he had faced, especially while practising as a journalist with the now rested National Concord. He recalled being one of the first callers at the site of the plane crash at Ejigbo, Lagos, on September 26, 1992, in which some senior military officers died. Omatseye was one of the journalists that arrived the scene early but not content with just waiting on the sidelines, he sought another route through the help of those in the neighbourhood to help evacuate the corpses of the army officers. After doing the rounds, the journalist in him was looking forward to the scoop when his cover was blown by a State Security Service (SSS) who later discovered he was a reporter.

He suffered beatings from soldiers. And he said it was only the arrival of the late Gen. Sani Abacha that gave him an opening to escape as the soldiers drilling him went to meet their boss.

That incident, coupled with his other writings, made him a marked man by the military. Even when he was offered a fellowship in the US, he was only able to fly out because the security detail, who liked his writing, decided to look the other way. And while in the US, he received a letter saying he was still hounded. This necessitated him to stay in the US for 10 years, where he worked as a journalist and also a lecturer. He returned to Nigeria in 2006.

To round off the event, Omatseye donated copies of his books to schools present.

Despite being a consummate journalist and author, Omatseye still believes he is cutting his teeth. “I still ask myself if I have ever cut my teeth,” he said. “I don’t think that cutting one’s teeth ever happens to someone who wants to improve. Even when I write, I only like it the time when I’ve written it. When I go back to it, it’s almost as if I have a lot of work to do.”

More than a blessing Title of book: 121 Days of Blessings Type of book: Devotional Author: Taiwo Odukoya Reviewer: Yeside Garrick

O

NE hundred and twenty one Days of Blessings is a Christian devotional, written by Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, the Senior Pastor of The Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju, Lagos. It was published by Grace Springs Africa Publishers in April 2013.

The first of this series is 120 Days of Victory which was published in October 2012. The latest of the series, 125th December, 2013. The three books together counts 366 days, making it cover a whole year.

Taiwo Odukoya is known for writing inspirational books and also making motivational speeches. He has authored over 300 publications.

Some of his books are: The Proof, Limitless, Unleash Your God-Given Potentials, Created for Blessing, Created for Influence, Empowered Living, The Portrait of a Champion. 100 Nuggets of Wisdom for the Man of Significance, vol 1 and 2, among others.

The book is written in a way that is helps readers to see themselves in a different and better way, helping them change their mind set and making them see themselves the way God sees them.

It also makes one realize that every individual carries something that is greater than any obstacle inside of them.

The author presented true life cases as illustrations for the readers, for them to learn from and realize that irrespective of their imperfections

and past mistakes, God can still use them to make a change. He also included Bible passages to support his arguments.

The goal of the book is ‘to inspire a consciousness of what we have, who we are in Christ, and how to walk in its fullness.’

This is a must read book for everyone to correct and change the mind-set of people who have given up on themselves. It helps in building selfconfidence.

The book contains 16 chapters, each having Bible passages for reference and meditation, and prayer points or confession at the end of each day.

The book costs 700 hundred naira, which is how much most of Taiwo Odukoya’s books sell for. His books are marketed and distributed in various book stores.

Taiwo Odukoya is the founder of The Fountain of Life Church. He was born on June 15th, 1956. He had his primary school education at Baptist Primary School, Kaduna; his secondary education at St. Paul’s College, Zaria; and his university education at the University of Ibadan, where he obtained a degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1981.

He voluntarily retired in 1994 after working with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for 12 years, to concentrate on God’s call into the ministry.

He is a firm believer of the potential of Nigeria, which is why he established and has invested in various initiatives to enhance the nation. He is also a man of great compassion and his heart beats constantly for the underprivileged. His love for these people made him establish various projects.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

ARTS

Ogun aged people pray for their first family

•Wife of Ogun State Governor , Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, giving a pillow to one of the beneficiaries, Baale of Lumogede Oladele, Pa O. A. Oladele during the UPLIFTing the Aged programme organised for over 2,000 senior citizens by the governor’s wife to commemorate her husband’s 56th birthday in Abeokuta

I

T was an impressive weekend at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, in Abeokuta, Ogun State. On January, 25th 2014, over 2,000 aged people from the 20 local government areas of the state took turns to offer prayers for the first family. It was part of the activities to commemorate the 56th birthday anniversary of the state Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

One by one, the senior citizens expressed themselves as they interacted with the first family. They prayed for the leaders in the state as well as continued reign of peace in Ogun State.

Elder Tayo Obadina, 82, from Isara-Remo, Remo North LG, prayed for God’s continuous guidance and protection upon the Amosuns, wisdom to govern the state aright, long life and prosperity to be their portion as well as for good health and prosperity so they would eat the fruits of their labour. He thanked the governor and his wife for prioritising their welfare and for always having them in mind, expressing satisfaction over the monumental achievements of the governor in Ogun state.

Another elderly woman, Mrs. Wosilat Malogun, 95, from Abeokuta prayed for God’s blessings for the Amosun family, adding that aged people have not had it so good since the creation of the state or received any gift or care of such magnitude from any government.

“Governor Amosun and his wife have been very kind to us. May God continue to bless and prosper your family. As you are putting smiles on our faces, you and your wife and children will always have cause to smile,” she said.

Alhaji A. Akilapo, 82, from Odeda LG, expressed gratitude to the wife of the governor for recognising the aged and for keeping her promise to sustain the ‘UPLIFTing the Aged’ programme, saying the initiative has brought relief and strength to them as well as improved their standard of living.

“We are grateful to Mrs. Amosun for extending a hand of love to us on monthly bases.

In fact, she has been faithful to

By Idowu Sowunmi

her words since she started the programme. This edition mkes it the third one. I pray that the Almighty God will continue to grant you the grace to do more for us and bless all your children,” he said.

Also Mr. Emmanuel Obasan, 82, from Yewa, also prayed for the governor and his wife, saying: “You will not die young. Your wife and children shall not be cut short in their prime age. As you have uplifted our lives, God will always uplift you and your family. Sorrow and pain shall be far from your home.”

He commended the governor for his wonderful works in the state, particularly the infrastructural work on-going in all the three senatorial districts, praying that God will continue to be the governor’s shield and refuge and enable him to complete all the projects he has embarked upon.

Pa G. O .Ogundipe, 90, also prayed for the first family, asking that the grace of God will never depart from the Amosun family. “You have done well for us and we appreciate you and your wife.

You will not beg for bread in your life. May God continue to increase you,” he prayed.

Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, under the initiative, UPLIFTing the Aged, has uplifted and cared for over 5,000 senior citizens from the state’s 20 LG areas in the last three years with the aim of reducing poverty and hunger among the frail, elderly and vulnerable citizens of the state.

The project was inaugurated January, 25th 2012, to mark the 54th birthday of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, with over 1,000 elderly people in attendance. At the event, the aged people were given health tips, free medical screening, bags of essential commodities and small cash gifts. On January, 25th 2013, about 2,000 senior citizens benefitted from the programme when they received free medical checks, food items and small cash gifts.

The third edition of the programme took place on the January, 25th 2014 cultural centre with over 2,000 elderly people felicitating with the governor on his 56th birthday.

This brings the total number of senior citizens that had benefitted to over 5,000 from 20 LG areas of the state. More than 500 of these aged people are also on monthly plan by the governor’s wife, receiving stipends through their UPLIFTing the Aged ATM Cards for their respective welfare.

The wife of the Governor noted that the ATM cards would hasten and reduce the rigour and other challenges often encountered in the course of distributing food and commodities to the aged across the state.

She also explained that the Welfare Card, donated by Ecobank Plc, was a continuation of the welfare package, saying the enlisted aged people could now access their monthly stipends to purchase their food and other commodities without having to travel hundreds of kilometres to Abeokuta or workers of Uplift Development Foundation to get those items.

She said the Welfare Cards is in line with the proposed cashless policy of the state government to reduce handling of cash in the society. “This would go a long way in uplifting the lives of our revered citizens and contribute positively to the development of our economy.”

Mrs Amosun also said she has compassion and love for the cause of vulnerable senior citizens in the state, noting that they had contributed their quota to the development of our society and they should be supported and cared for by the younger ones to enable them age with dignity.

She expressed appreciation to the people of the state, most especially the women, for their continued support for the present administration, pledging her humanitarian services for the upliftment of the citizenry, particularly the aged whom she described as valuable assets who do not have a source of income or anyone to cater for them.

The wife of the governor added that more programmes would be organised for senior citizens in order for her to regularly extend a hand of love and care to them as part of her service to humanity.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2014

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EBERE WABARA

WORDSWORTH 08055001948

ewabara@yahoo.com

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

President Abraham Lincoln - 1850-1862

LASU VC smuggled? T

D

AILY Sun Front Page of January 29 goofed in one of its sub-headlines: “Senators serve defection notice…write (write to) Mark on intention to leave PDP, 8 back out” “Averting another health workers (workers’) strike” (DAILY Sun EDITORIAL Headline, January 29) THE GUARDIAN Homes & Property of January 27 goofed: “Planners flag-off (sic) OAU master plan (masterplan) review project” I still do not understand this sub-editors’ obsession with ‘flag off’! Except in international motor racing competitions where officials actually flag off the events, it is utterly absurd to apply it in other environments. For the extract in question, ‘begin’ should have been elegantly appropriate.

“With the recapitalization that took place in 2007, the paid-up capital of insurance companies in this market is the highest in (on) the continent.” (Source: as above) “Morocco (Moroccan) coach blames defeat on late substitution” Also from DAILY SUN Sports of January 27 comes this: “Morocco (Moroccan) captain salutes Eagles’ resilience” Finally from THE GUARDIAN under review is this full-page advertisement headline blunder: “The irrepairable loss & painful exit” Spellcheck: irreparable!

Next is The PUNCH Politics Today of January 27: “The invitation extended to former VicePresident Atiku Abubakar, (needless comma) by the All Progressives Congress and the appointment of Adamu Mu’azu as national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (another useless punctuation) appears (appear) to have put the famed political strategist in a fix….”

“Lets (Let’s) go to God in thanksgiving” (Fullpage advertisement by Nka Nkaiso Akwa Ibom) DAILY SUN of January 27 committed a few blunders; “Fashola commends LG boss over (for) fire station” “Civil Defence Corps reads riot act (the riot act) to black marketers in Niger” “…doles out millions of naira as start up (startup) grant” “C & I Leasing’s 9 months (months’) profit hit (hits) N219.7m” “Your appointment is proof beyond reasonable doubt that hard work,

perseverance, loyalty and service ultimately pays (pay).”

(Full-page advertisement signed by HE Rt. Hon. Bala James Nggilari, Deputy Governor, Adamawa State) THE NATION ON SUNDAY of January 26 clashed with grammatical principles in its news review: “…writes on the incessant clash (clashes) between two ethnic groups in the state” “You served with distinction and impacted (impacted on/upon) lives.”

(Full-page advertisement) “Bukky Osunkeye shift (shifts) focus” “Last week Saturday….”

(Last Saturday or Saturday, last week) “…he explains factors that inspires (why?) him to write.”

The Guardian Editorial of January 23 nurtured falsehoods: “…the onus is on Nigeria to define its own interest and protect same (the same).”

“Dufry signs 10-year airport duty free (dutyfree) concession pact with FAAN” “I do not react to rumour (rumours).” “I do not belief (believe) that….”

DAILY Sun front and inside page headlines of January 23 fumbled: “Igbo, North spoil for battle over Ihejirika” Some expressions are fixed (stock) and cannot be changed in any formal writing: be spoiling (spoil) for a fight/ argument—not battle!

Still on ‘arrest’ and its continual diseased usage by the media: “Police arrest man, 36, over (for) theft of 9-month-old baby” “…the pilot projects were flagged off (begun).”

“Today…the lights went out soon after the fanfare of commissioning (inauguration)….”

(DAILY Sun EDITORIAL, January 23) “New Customs Comptroller takes over in Ogun…reads riot act (the riot act) to smugglers” “Edo police rescue 70year (70-year-old) man from kidnappers (kidnappers’) den” Next is DAILY SUN of January 24 which also disseminated a few headline infractions: “Turbanning ceremony” Spell-check: turbaning “Akpabio commends PDP over (for) peaceful transition” “PDP faithful pass vote of confidence on (in) Jonathan, Dickson” “Court remands pastor in prison” Get it right: remand in custody

(not prison)! ‘Remand in custody’ is when a court sends someone to prison pending further trial or investigation. So, a suspect is remanded in custody—not in prison.

“Mayhem in LASU…VC smuggled out of campus” Haba DAILY SUN! The VC was ferreted out and not smuggled out of campus! Please, my dear reader, once again check out the meaning of ‘smuggle’.

“Police arrest 15 over (for or in connection with) attempt on Akunyili’s life” The PUNCH doublepage headline of January 24 equally contained the same impropriety: “Police arrest landlord over (sic) death of youth (youth’s death)” The PUNCH Editorial of January 24 abused the English language: “…which are routinely diverted for purposes other than what they are legally meant.” What is the essence of ‘diversion’?

The sentence should have ended at ‘diverted’! Is this padding or illiteracy? “…but what percentage of the component is owned by Nigerians with regards (regard or as regards software) to software and hardware?”

“Brazil (Brazil’s or Brazilian) president assures on stadiums” Who did the woman assure?

“Don’t forget the present governor was the deputy to late (the late) Yakowa and we have already made plan (a plan or plans) from 2011 to 2015.”

Lastly from DAILY SUN of January 24: “Nigeria’s economy has huge potentials (potential or potentialities) to grow like China’s—Pro. Pat Utomi” From THE GUARDIAN, January 24, comes the last set of errors: “Bamidele officially decamps (defects) to LP” “Jonathan to commission (inaugurate) new ethanol plant in Ogun” The president wouldn’t have inaugurated an old plant.

Let’s think before collocation!

“Police smash cement stealing (cement-stealing) cartel in Rivers” Was the cement stealing the cartel?

“Even with the emergence of the APC in recent time (times)….”

“There is no viable opposition in Nigeria (Nigerian) politics.”

“Best of luxury SUV cars on parade” Auto wheels: Sport-Utility Vehicle cars? Choose between ‘vehicles’ and ‘cars’!

HE 16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln is regarded as one of America’s greatest heroes due to both his incredible impact on the nation and his unique appeal.

His is a remarkable story of the rise from humble beginnings to achieve the highest office in the land.

The Emancipation Proclamation that he signed freed American blacks from bondage.

The Emancipation Proclamation January 1, 1863, By the President of the United States of America: Whereas, on the twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit: That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.

That the Executive will, on the first day of January aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in which the people thereof, respectively, shall then be in rebellion against the United States; and the fact that any State, or the people thereof, shall on that day be, in good faith, represented in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such State shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State, and the people thereof, are not then in rebellion against the United States.”

Now, therefore I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested as Commanderin-Chief, of the Army and Navy of the United States

•Abraham Lincoln

in time of actual armed rebellion against the authority and government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion, do, on this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and in accordance with my purpose so to do publicly proclaimed for the full period of one hundred days, from the day first above mentioned, order and designate as the States and parts of States wherein the people thereof respectively, are this day in rebellion against the United States, the following, to wit: Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, (except the Parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. John, St. Charles, St. James Ascension, Assumption, Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Martin, and Orleans, including the City of New Orleans) Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, (except the forty-eight counties designated as West Virginia, and also the counties of Berkley, Accomac, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Ann, and Norfolk, including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth[)], and which excepted parts, are for the present, left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued.

And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and

parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.

And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defence; and I recommend to them that, in all cases when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages.

And I further declare and make known, that such persons of suitable condition, will be received into the armed service of the United States to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service.

And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the eighty-seventh.

By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2014

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When will our shackles be broken?

O

N the 20th April 1653 Oliver Cromwell, who was the Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland and the greatest statesman and revolutionary that England ever knew, stormed the English ‘’Rump Parliament’’ at Westminster and courageously pronounced the following words after which he sacked Parliament and boldly took power. He said‘’It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice; ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money. Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess?

Ye have no more religion than my horse; gold is your God; which of you have not barter’d your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Republic? Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defil’d this sacred place, and turn’d the democracy temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices? Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress’d, are yourselves gone!

So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors. In the name of God, go!’’

-OLIVER CROMWELL (15991658).

Cromwell was undoubtedly one of the greatest and most courageous men that ever lived and he is certainly one of my heroes. Not only was he moved by a compelling and irresistable zeal and thirst for righteousness in high places and by the power of the Holy Spirit but he, like the biblical Jehu, was ready to pay the supreme price and sacrifice his life in order to effect it and bring lasting change to England. He abhorred corruption and injustice and his puritan roots and christian fundamentalist background and upbringing caused him to oppose the

excesses of the Catholic church in his day and the awesome power and influence of the Catholic Bishops and their Pope.

Quite apart from saving her her from the excesses of catholicism and the sheer brutality of the Jesuit Order and the Spanish Inquisition, Cromwell literally and single-handedly also saved England from the tyranny of absolutist monarchs and the evil of corrupt Parliamentarians. He was indeed the father of modern-day parliamentry and participatory democracy in Great Britain and it was he alone that shattered the myth and demonic philosophy of the ‘’divine right of kings’’ to rule with ‘’absolute power’’.

Let us carefully consider the words that he spoke and read them once again. Let us imbibe their spirit and feel their power and passion. These are sacred and divinely-inspired words that were spoken 361 years ago to a sitting all-powerful Parliament that had just triumphed in a civil war against the King of England and had chopped off his head. Cromwell, who was a Member of Parliament himself, had led the armies of that Parliament into the field of battle on numerous ocassions. He was indeed the Commander of it’s army and the main inspiration and motivator for the revolution and rebellion against the King.

Not only did hedefeat the Royal Army of King Charles 1st in various battles and win the civil war but he also apprehended the King, arrested him, brought him to justice beforethe courts of law and had him executed. This was the first time that a King was brought to justice before a Court of Law and executed in the history of England. All seemed well and the House of Commons ruled until Cromwell noticed how the new-found power of this new Parliament had utterly corrupted it’s members. They were drunk with power and they wielded it with impunity and no sense of decency and restraint.

Worse still they were hopelessly corrupt. In time he knew that they would have to go as well.

He knew that a new order, which truly imbibed the spirit of justice, accountability, good governance, decency, christian sobriety, restraint and democracy, had to be put in place. He knew that only he could effect that change and that is precisely what

•Jonathan From: Femi Fani-Kayode

he did by furiously storming Parliament, courageously confronting it’s members, speaking those chilling yet insightful words and forcefully taking power from them 361 years ago.

He risked everything, including life, liberty and limb. Yet, without hesitation, he did it all for his beloved England. He was moved and driven by his deeply religious convictions and his puritanical faith. Nothing could stop him and, for him, failure was not an option because He knew that God was with him. He not only succeeded beyond his wildest imagination but he also laid a glorious foundation for the future of England and he was probably the greatest reformer that ever ruled that great and sturdy island nation.

I look at Nigeria today and the behaviour of our collective overlords reminds me very much of the behaviour of the pre-Cromwellian ‘’Rump Parliament’’ in England. Can anyone be in any doubt that it is time for us to speak those same words that Oliver Cromwell spoke to the English Pariament on April 20th, 1653 to our own leaders here in Nigeria. Are those words not more appropiate for our leaders today than at any other time in

•Muslim students during a rally on 2014 World Hijab Day, along Ikorodu Road, Ojota Lagos.

PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI.

our history? Yet who will utter them? Who will go forth courageously and speak truth to tyranny in the power of the Lord. When will our God raise our own deliverer? Where is our own Oliver Cromwell or our own biblical Jehu? Where is our Elijah? When will the Jezebels that rule our land be thrown down from the balcony and when will the dogs eat their flesh and drink their blood? When will our Ahab be slaughtered in battle? When will the Nigerian people say ‘’enough is enough’’ and demand the change that they so desperately crave and yearn?

When will they wake up from their accursed slumber and wipe away the faecel mess with which they have been stained, smothered, blinded, deafened and silenced? When will the luciferian spell that has been placed upon them be finally broken? When will they be free of this unwholesome bondage and be rid of their godless fears? When will their shackles be finally broken and when will they see, feel, hear and live again? When, O when, will our people be free and when will they become the pride of Africa that they were destined to be?

Why has fate been so cruel to us and why has our star

dimmed and refused to shine brightly? Why do we always take 10 steps forward and 20 steps backwards? Why is our case and example one of constant failure, ineptitude, defeat, shame, lack and incompetence?

What is wrong with the Federal Republic of Nigeria and what plagues and afflicts the Nigerian people? Since 1960 every single one of our potential deliverers have failed.

They have not been allowed to emerge and even when they do emerge they have not been allowed to succeed. They have either been killed, jailed, villified, belittled or destroyed by the system and the neo-colonial conservative forces that have sworn to resist change.

Worse still, the sheer naivety, nauseating timidity and simple lack of insight and foresight of the ordinary people, who seem to have cultivated an extraordinary capacity to tolerate injustice, incompetence, wickedness and evil in their land, does not help. As a matter of fact, it is that attitude and that cowardly and weak mindset that has sustained the disastarous system that has held Nigeria captive since 1960.

The average Nigerian would rather go to the church or to the mosque to bear his or her mind to the priest or imam and pray about his or her numer-

ous challenges rather than march in the streets and demand a change for the better from their Government and President. Yet it is only in our country that men and women suffer from such a lack of firm resolve and such a sorry and tepid affliction. Karl Marx’s view that ‘’religion is the opium of the masses’’ has no greater meaning or significance anywhere in the world than in Nigeria where we all, in a most cowardly manner, hide behind the cleric and imam’s ornate robes and refuse to insist on our God-given rights from the government and the state. What a tragedy we have become. We deserve nothing but pity.

Other nations have been blessed with many Oliver Cromwell’s over the centuries and years yet sadly it is not so with us. Ill-fortune is our portion and we are cursed because we enjoy killing and villifying all of our heroes and deliverers whilst others recognise and reverre theirs and grant them the right and opportunity to do that which they were born to do- that is to take their respective nations by the scruff of the neck, to take them from strength to strength and to lead them to glory.

These were great and noble men and women who made their mark and created a great legacy for their respective nations and peoples even though some of them were murdered, jailed and cut short whilst doing so. Yet in the end each and every one of them triumphed because they made a difference to their generation and to those that came after them from generation to generation. In the Nigerian context the question is this- when will our great stars emerge and when will Nigeria’s time to shine on the world stage come?

When will the words of Oliver Cromwell find relevance in our space and when will the Lord answer our prayer and deliver us from the evil that plagues our land. May God bless and redeeme our beloved homeland. May He have mercy upon her, may He defend her, may He deliver her and may He cause His face to shine brightly upon her. One day our time will come. One day Nigeria shall shine.

•Road walk to mark the begining of first Kwara Civil Service Games in Ilorin on Saturday PHOTO: NAN

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

SPORTS THE NATION ON SUNDAY

Obinna revels in Chievo Verona reunion

EXTRA

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FEBRUARY 2, 2014

CHAN: Mark lauds Super Eagles

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ENATE President, David Mark, yesterday commended the Super Eagles for the superlative performance at the CHAN 2014 competition in South Africa.

Mark in a statement after the Nigerian representatives beat their Zimbabwean counterparts by a lone goal to win bronze, said "although Nigeria did not win the prized trophy , the good outings of the Super Eagles cannot be wished away.

"All that the Stephen Keshi-led coaching crew needs to do is to work on the identified shortcomings and improve on them before the next competition.

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HIEVO Verona loan signing Victor Obinna has revealed he did not have to think twice about re-joining the club, five years after he left.

The 26-year-old Nigeria international forward has moved to Chievo for the rest of the season from Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow.

"My European journey started here, so I can't wait to play for the club again," Obinna told BBC Sport."When I heard of their interest I didn't have to think about it twice.

“You want to be at your best, help your club and do enough to earn a chance to play at the World Cup” "My mind was already made up that I wanted to come back here.

"My football education began during my arrival here in 2005, so definitely it is like a family reunion."

Chievo are currently 16th in Serie A and are battling to avoid relegation from the Italian top flight.

"I love this club and I want to work hard to ensure we stay in Serie A," he said.

"I've played with Chievo in [Italy's second tier] Serie B and this is something that should never happen again."

Obinna started his European career in Italy, playing three seasons at the northern Italian club, scoring 20 goals in 86 appearances, before joining Inter Milan in the summer of 2008.

Omeruo debuts for Middlesbrough Milton Ncube of Zimbabwe and Chinonso Obiozor of Nigeria battle for possession

Super Eagles claim CHAN bronze

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I G E R I A h a v e early blow when midfielder claimed the bronze Masimba Mambare was medal at the 2014 shown a deserved red card African Nations Champion- for a high boot into the shoulship after a hard-fought 1-0 der of Nigeria goalkeeper win over 10-man Zimbabwe Chigozie Agbim and the Warin Cape Town on Saturday. riors had to play 72 minutes Chinonso Obiozor scored with 10 men.

Qatari club slam It was not a game that the only goal of the thirdOne-million Euros place playoff in the final five reached any great heights as minutes as the Super Eagles a spectacle, both coaches on Kalu Uche laboured past their stubborn gave a run to some fringe atari club Al-Jaish opponents. players in this final game of are demanding a Zimbabwe were dealt an the tournament. transfer fee of a million Euros on Kalu Uche, who is said to be unhappy and wishes to quit.

"We will sell one million Euros,” an Al-Jaish top official said when asked about the Nigeria forward.

Al-Jaish hierarchy has given authority to the club to find suitors for Uche.

The Nigeria forward, who has scored four goals in eight league games in Qatar, could well return to Turkey where was he was a cult hero for Kasimpasa, REMIER League leadaccording to fanatic.com. ers Manchester City Trabzonspor have shown play host to Chelsea interest in having the ser- tomorrow in a clash between vices of the proven goal the division's most potent scorer before the winter attack and its meanest Mourinho transfer window in Turkey defence. closes on February 5.

A trip to the Etihad Stadium White Hart Lane.

The Trabzonspor coach has become the most daunt- That result took City's total will have to decide on ing prospect in English foot- Premier League goal tally to whom to sign as they are ball, with City having won 17 68 in 23 matches, and a run of also interested in Senegal of their 18 games there in all eight consecutive top-flight strikers Demba Ba and Pape competitions this season - victories has lifted them a Cisse. scoring an incredible 72 goals point above Arsenal at the top The fact that Uche is in the process. of the table. acquainted with Turkey Manuel Pellegrini's men Chelsea, though, sit only gives him an edge over the have won all 11 of their Pre- three points adrift of City in r e s t o f t h e p l a y e r s mier League fixtures on home third on the back of just one Trabzonspor are trailing. soil this term, finding the net defeat in their last 13 Premier He scored 19 goals in 34 42 times, and their scoring League outings - and much of league games last season in exploits continued on the their success this term has the Turkey Super League road in midweek as they ham- been built on their resilient for Kasimpasa. mered Tottenham 5-1 at defence.

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SUPER MONDAY

Man City, Chelsea rumble at Etihad

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Goal-scoring chances were few and far between, but the better ones fell to Nigeria with Simba Sithole's shot straight at Agbim the only effort on target for Zimbabwe in the game.

Obiozor, playing his first match of the competition, looked a constant threat with his pace and power and having come close on a number of occasions, finally got his

reward on 85 minutes.

Ejike Uzoenyi's centre from the right-hand side was beautifully headed home by Obiozor.

Nigeria's advantage was never seriously threatened after that and they were able to hold on for the bronze medal to go with the gold they won at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa a year ago.

Libya beat Ghana to lift CHAN 2014

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ibya have been crowned 2014 Orange African Nations Champions after beating favorites Ghana by 4-3 on penalties after the match had ended 0-0 after extra time in the final played on Saturday at Cape Town Stadium. Libya got their own back after losing (7-6 on penalties) to Ghana 32 years ago in the AFCON final.

Ghanaian goalkeeper Stephen Adams saved two spot kicks from, Mohamed Elgadi and Abdelsalam Omar to tie the first five kicks at 3-3 and trigger sudden death penalties.

Ahmed El Trbi scored the sixth penalty for Libya before Joshua Tijani missed his for Ghana to spark celebrations from the Mediterranean Knights of Libya.

The final match of CHAN, South Africa 2014 was played before an

appreciative crowd of just under 17 000 that included CAF President Issa Hayatou and his invited guest FIFA President Sepp Blatter. It was a lively and competitive match from first whistle with both sides eager to open the scoring but clear cut scoring opportunities were few and far between.

In the second half Libya pushed more bodies upfront but it was Ghanaian substitute Yahaya Mohamed who came closest to breaking the deadlock with an attempted back kick.

He didn't quite connect and Ahmed Almaghasi cleared the danger. The goal remained elusive and into extra time it went.

Abushnaf's header from Elmehdi Elhouni sailed centimeters over the cross bar.

Sulley Mohamed saw his effort trickle past the post as Ghana came agonizingly close.

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i g e r i a i n t e r n ational Kenneth Omeruo has finally made his longawaited debut for English Championship side Middlesbrough.

Omeruo, 20, who is on loan from Chelsea, started for 'Boro against Doncaster Rovers at right fullback and not in his usual central defence position.

The game at Doncaster finished in a goalless draw with Omeruo posting a decent shift for the entire duration.

Their next game is at home against Blackburn Rovers next week Saturday.

Brazil 2014: FIFA confirm Campina for Super Eagles

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ORLD governing body FIFA Saturday released the list of base camps for the World Cup in Brazil with 21 of the 32 teams choosing to base themselves in or around the cities of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte.

FIFA also confirmed Nigeria to camp in the dainty city of Campinas.

The Nigeria Football Federation had informed about its choice of Campinas some weeks ago with head coach Stephen Keshi backing them.

According to Keshi: “ I love this place. It is good for our team and we will be able to achieve full concentration,” Keshi said as he looked over the hotel and afterwards, checked out the training site on Saturday, December 7.”

Premiership Results Newcastle 0 - 3 Sunderland West Ham 2 - 0 Swansea Cardiff 2 - 1 Norwich Everton 2 - 1 Aston Villa Fulham 0 - 3 Southampton Hull City 1 - 1 Tottenham Stoke 2 - 1 Man United Sunday Matches WestBromv Liverpool Arsenal v Crystal Palace

QUOTABLE

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 8, NO. 2747

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) boasts an incredibly lofty political and social ethos it wants to midwife for the country. But if care is not taken, it could find itself entangled in pitfalls and traps of its own doing. The problem, it will be discovered, is not that the party has set goals too high to be accomplished. No, the problem is that it has so far been unable to structure its operations and ideas in such a way that the gap between its ideals and its identity is narrowed substantially for the electorate to embrace the party overwhelmingly. Unfortunately for the party, it has very little time to do the almost impossible; very little time to, as it were, shuffle the galaxies, tweak the earth’s magnetic force, and prevent any of the planets from spiralling out of orbit.

If Nigeria is to be saved, if the black race is to be redeemed – forgive the hyperbole – the APC must do the impossible in the next few months to save itself and the country.

For if it fails, not only will the mega coalition it has cobbled together so gingerly be endangered, even the very notion of country which we have struggled over the years to sustain will itself be gravely imperilled.

As for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its leaders, particularly those in power in Abuja today, I have long written them off as a total disaster, notwithstanding what jobholders and sycophants worming their ways around in Abuja say.

A good place to start in admonishing the APC – they should forgive my imperiousness – is the recent order they gave to their legislators in Abuja to stall President Goodluck Jonathan’s policies, bills, budget, and confirmation of service chiefs. Is the party justified in linking its cooperation to the president’s attitude and presumptions? I think it is, for if some pressure is not brought to bear on a president and party that have actually and irreverently spun out of control, that political lassitude could unwittingly encourage the ruling party and the president to entrench themselves in their antidemocratic misconduct. But is the APC wise to condition its legislative cooperation upon the president’s good behaviour? I seriously doubt it.

The first problem is that the party obvi-

“We’re the pillars of PDP whether they like it or not. It is now that they will begin to see the facts of the matter. The new chairman of the PDP, I’m sure, can do nothing.

There’s absolutely nothing he can do. But I know he really loves the job like Tukur, who actually wanted the job. He may want to be saying things; some from the bottom of his heart; many of them just from the mouth. The fact of the matter is that they know, even themselves right in their hearts, that Nigeria deserves a better leadership in 2015.”

—Rabiu Kwankwaso, Governor of Kano State, speaking during on why Jonathan should not seek reelection in 2015.

APC and 2015

•Buhari

•Tambuwal

ously misjudges the Nigerian voter to be highly enlightened and even somewhat idealistic. If he were enlightened, he would effortlessly appreciate that something drastic ought to be done about the creeping disaster and recklessness manifesting in Rivers State, a disaster given fillip by the president’s own lack of private and public scruples, and by the opportunistic alliances of Dame Patience, the meddlesome first lady, Nyesom Wike, the superficial and ingratiating Minister of State for Education, and Mbu Joseph Mbu, the conniving and servile police commissioner for Rivers. And if the voter were idealistic, he would understand that it was imperative to sacrifice a few legislative bills relating to our existential comfort in order to achieve the pristine and much higher goals of sustaining and nurturing the country’s infant democ-

racy.

The APC must not forget that even in the United States, a point many commentators alluded to in newspapers in the past few days, the fairly well-educated voters in that developed democracy still spurned any attempt to play politics with their meal tickets. I wager that in any society, no matter what lofty principle is imperilled, issues of meal ticket will always predominate. The APC should, therefore, stop insisting on its legislators’ defiance in the National Assembly. It should also stop rationalising the orders it gave its lawmakers.

The voter will not buy it, period. Nor does the party even need that tactics.

It is not certain that the party can even enforce its directive to its national lawmakers.

But if it can, it will have to look for ways of

National conference and perennial half measures

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F anything can be said for the national conference the Goodluck Jonathan government is organising, it is that the vacillation over what to call it – national conference, national dialogue or national conversation – has finally ended after many months of waffling. What have not ended are the debates over its relevance, whether to subject it to a referendum or not (which nuisance the government has passed on to the conferees themselves), uncertainties over the nomination process, and legal and constitutional issues surrounding its convocation and adoption. There are probably a few more uncertainties, but these will manifest as the conference gets underway.

The opposition to the conference is quite sizeable and vigorous, encompassing many interest groups and the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Their opposition is hinged on the nearness of the conference – clearly an afterthought to the Jonathan presidency – to the elections of 2014 and 2015. Too many political events will be taking place this year for a weighty conference designed supposedly to end all conferences to receive adequate attention.

In addition, reports of past conferences, which had received copious attention and active involvement of pressure groups, have been ignored without explanation. Moreover, the National Assembly is itself undertaking major constitutional amendments; so, why another exercise?

But all these arguments have not swayed President Jonathan. He is determined to push through his effort to organise a fresh national conference. He is not interested in a new constitution and, alas, he has set the customary no-go areas for his own conference, but Nigeria’s unduly opti-

mistic pressure groups are willing to give it a shot. More critically, the president has refused to be decisive on key issues capable of undermining the conference. He says conference decisions will be by consensus, but failing that, by 75 percent majority. What if neither general consensus nor 75 percent majority can be reached? And rather than determine the legal and legislative underpinnings for the conference’s decisions, the president has pushed that difficult, if not impossible, responsibility to the conference itself.

However, the booby trap is that, as he acknowledged before now, the conference decisions will be incorporated into the existing constitution. But there is already a modality for constitutional amendment, which no external force other than the legislature can tamper with. The president, however, knowingly and deceptively tries to take advantage of the ongoing constitutional amendment process expected to end by June.

He obviously hopes that some of the conference decisions will find their way into the final work of the legislature. Failing that, but without saying so, he expects the conference delegates and the rest of Nigeria to put pressure on the legislature to do what some of Jonathan’s ministers sarcastically describe as the needful.

If the perverted nomination process enunciated by the government does not convince proponents of national conference that President Jonathan is playing ducks and drakes with

the feelings of the country, and the unresolved and contentious issues surrounding the actual conference itself do not raise suspicion as to the president’s motives, then Nigerians must be indescribably inured to danger and to common sense. For instance, anticipating the fact that opposition states would decline nominating delegates, the president has accumulated the obscene power to carry out that responsibility on their behalf. If past conferences undertaken in fairly congenial atmospheres failed to see the light of day, what do we expect from a conference being hastily, if not feverishly, undertaken in an atmosphere of doubts, confusion, suspicion and sheer political chicanery and malevolence?

By every indication, President Jonathan is both unreflective on the conference and mischievous in his politics. The desire to restructure the country has unfortunately lured many Nigerians into embracing the president’s half measures and into ignoring the many booby traps he and his cynical aides have strewn all over the path. Since he assumed office, Dr Jonathan has not been able to fix anything tangible. Yet, he does not think it presumptuous that he is attempting to fix a weighty and elegantly nuanced matter as the restructuring of the country, when he has been unable to fix the plainest and most elementary of Nigeria’s problems, say roads or electricity.

surmounting a distressing backlash certain to follow the order. Does the party not appreciate that Dr Jonathan has thoroughly misruled the country, and his budgets, even when they seem to make some sense, have become worthless pieces of documents that fail every objective test of practicability, consistency and coherence? Dr Jonathan’s budgets have impoverished the country, and they do not work. Why would the APC want to be blamed for a budget designed to fail anyway? The party should publicly rescind its directives and let the lawmakers do their jobs dispassionately and professionally. Had the APC not intervened with its hasty directive, the budget would have naturally suffered searing and merciless reviews from the lawmakers. Now the legislators will have to be more accommodating so as not to be seen to be implementing APC’s order.

More crucially, it is now more urgent than ever for the APC to set up think tanks for the 2015 elections if the humongous goodwill it has accumulated with the electorate is not to be frittered away. I do not have the impression, for instance, that the party thoroughly debated its visit to former president Olusegun Obasanjo, let alone the decision to flatter the imperturbable aurochs. The ex-president is the most reviled politician in the country, hated by his enemies and friends alike, and in equal measure. It was completely needless visiting and coaxing someone so incorrigible and so absolutely unessential to the wellbeing of the country and its fledgling democracy. The party must resist the temptation to play emotive politics. It must encourage debate, seek out devil’s advocates when a position appears unanimous, and sleep over its decisions before making them public.

But perhaps the most difficult issue the APC will grapple with in the coming months is its presidential standard-bearer.

If it gets it wrong, the campaign will at best be a huge struggle, and at worst be completely doomed. In electing its candidates, no matter what methods it prefers, whether open primaries or caucuses or a combination, it must not pretend to be ignorant of what and how the voters are thinking. Nigeria has changed, and with it, its politics too, perhaps in ways so frightening and threatening that it sometimes seems pointless for any principled man to offer himself for the thankless job of leadership. One of those changes concerns religion. The PDP, it is clear, has seized on religion as a campaign tool, and Dr Jonathan has already embarked on that dangerous journey with incomparable carefreeness and adroitness. The APC must not just condemn that dangerous folly, it must counter it, not defy it.

Without being told, the APC knows its aspirants who have been rightly or wrongly stigmatised as either fairly or completely bigoted. No matter how valiantly those stigmatised have worked for the mega coalition, no matter how popular they are, and no matter how electable they are in certain parts of the country, the party must resist the temptation to elect them as standardbearers, not even on point of honour. There are younger, fairly accomplished and more connected politicians in the party, perhaps some of them not yet fully APC. The party must be flexible enough and ready to accommodate them. For, in the end, what matters most is not how honourably the APC has structured its politics, or how principled it has kept faith with its political and ideological views. Indeed, what matters most is winning the elections, regardless of the suspicions about the order of elections and the horrifying chicaneries of the ruling party.

The APC is on the threshold of a great and uplifting experience. It cannot afford to be careless, and its leaders must not allow themselves to be distracted by abuse, envious politicians mouthing strange historical heresies and inaccuracies, and political foes luring the party to commit blunders. They should go out there and make history, for history beckons to them.

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