March 05, 2015

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...85 D AYS TO GO DA

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•Court orders INEC to register new party ON PAGES 2,3,5&7 •Asiodu, Alele-Williams, others: don’t remove Jega •’Support for Jonathan in Southwest self-serving’ •INEC set to test run Card Readers in Ekiti Saturday

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3144 THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

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APC accuses PDP of plot to blackmail Jega, Tinubu ‘How they plan to scuttle elections’ PDP: it’s falsehood

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HUGE amount of money is to be stuffed into the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Attahiru Jega’s bank account.

Former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will be accused of making the payment, the All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged yesterday.

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Group Political Editor

The party said the plan was being hatched to justify the on-going campaign for Prof.

Jega’s removal and prevent him from conducting the rescheduled elections.

APC also alleged that “there is an on-going effort to compromise the card reader, which the Jonathan Adminis-

SOME OF THE ALLEGATIONS •Transfer of huge cash into Jega’s bank account •Use of some political parties to push for postponement •Use of security agencies to intimidate opposition leaders •Illegal recruitment of over 500 cadets into a security outfit •Nocturnal meetings between PDP and security agencies •Hiring of Israelis and Belgian to hack into INEC computers •Efforts to compromise Card Reader •Buying up of PVCs •Arrest of opposition leaders days to the elections •Planting of illegal substances in opposition leaders’ luggage tration sees as inimical to its rigging plans”.

But the PDP denied it all, saying it has no plans to rig elections.

APC National Publicity Secretary Lai Mohammed told reporters in Lagos that plans were also underway to credit the bank accounts of certain

key institutions with huge sums purportedly from the main opposition party to compromise these institutions.

Acknowledging the tension

in the polity, he spoke of a plan to instigate smaller political parties to agitate for the postponement of the March 28 and April 11 elections.

Mohammed said the intention was to ensure that the elections do not take place, until Jega’s tenure expires.

However, Mohammed said the grand design to manipulate the general elections and implicate APC leaders will fail, stressing that Nigerians are now wiser and more vigilant.

Mohammed, who was accompanied by the spokesman of the APC PresidenContinued from page 4

Govt to pay oil marketers N30b for forex losses From Nduka Chiejina, Abuja

O

IL marketers are to get N30 billion compensation for the losses they recorded as a result of naira devalua-

tion.

This payment is in addition to the N185 billion debts owed the marketers, which the government has also agreed to offset with the issuance of the Sovereign Debt Note (SDN) by the Debt Management Office (DMO).

Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala broke the news yesterday after a meeting in Abuja with the oil marketers on the petrol scarcity that seemed to be easing yesterday in major cities.

Apart from the marketers and depot owners, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) joined the ministry at the Continued from page 4

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WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15, LAST YEAR EVER RETURN?

•SOCCER FOR ELDERS: Former President Olusegun Obasanjo (second right), Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and Mr K. Durodola during a novelty match to mark Obasanjo’s 78th birthday in Abeokuta...yesterday. •Gen. Obasanjo...yesterday

We know where Shekau is, says Chadian President Deby ‘He should surrender or...’ DHQ: the battle continues

•SEE PAGE 4

•E-BUSINESS P14 •EDUCATION P25 •SPORTS P23 •POLITICS P45 •N/HEALTH P43

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

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MAY 29 ...85 DAYS TO GO

NEWS

Support for Activist lawyer Femi Falana, who was at the 2014 National Conference as a delegate says the core Yoruba Agenda was mostly defeated at the Confab. In this interview, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) expresses doubt if the recommendations will not be left on the shelf to gather dusts.

•Chairman, Initiative for Moral Rectitude in Society (IMRS), Chief Philip Asiodu (left) at a news conference on national issues by the IMRS in Lagos...yesterday. With him are: ex- Vice Chancellor, University of Benin, Prof. Grace Alele-Williams and Real Admiral Andrew Omaola Okoja (rtd).

•Press Attache/ spokersman for the United States (U.S.) Embassy, Abuja, Mr. Sean Mcintosh, presenting some gifts to the General Manager, Taining & Development, The Nation, Mr. Soji Omotunde when the U.S. official visited The Nation Lagos headoffice...yesterday.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

•Works Minister Mike Onolememen (left) speaking at the kick-off of the reconstruction of the Aba-Port Harcourt portion of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway in Aba...yesterday. With him are stakeholders.

•From left: Director, Play House Nataifire, Uche Nwokedi; Director, Hamlet, Mathew Romain, Director, Hamlet, Ladi Emerowa and Amada Wilkin during the Shakespare’s Globe to Globe Tour of Hamlet at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos Island...

PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

S

OME Yoruba leaders have been hinging their support for President Jonathan on the Confab report implementation. As a member of the Confab, what is your view?

I recognise the fundamental right of political leaders, including the Afenifere members to support President Jonathan. But they have no right to base their partisan support on historical inaccuracies. With respect, President Jonathan has demonstrated disdain for the Confab report. The report of the Confab containing about 600 recommendations was submitted to President Jonathan in July last year.

Upon the receipt of the report seven months ago, the President set up a seven-member Committee, headed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, SAN, to study the report and recommend the implementation of the recommendations.

The Committee is yet to submit its report.

Not only that, some of the recommendations are being pooh-poohed by the government. For instance, the members of the Confab unanimously voted for the separation of the State from religious affairs. In particular, it was recommended that the State should withdraw from the sponsorship of pilgrimages to Mecca, Jerusalem and other holy c ites.

The other day, President Jonathan led thousands of Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem. Even in the on-going campaign, President Jonathan has been worshipping in different churches where he is usually given the microphone to address the congregation. Do you know the serious implications of the manipulation of religion if the candidates of other political parties take their campaigns to the mosques or the shrines to woo voters? President Olusegun Obasanjo started the dangerous game of grabbing the microphone to join issues with priests who had the temerity to criticise his regime. Churches have since been converted to campaign centres. Unfortunately, our religious leaders have not plucked up the courage to stop the commercialisation and politicisation of religion.

Can you be more specific on the Yoruba Agenda at the national conference?

Frankly speaking, the Yoruba agenda was anchored on regional autonomy, restructuring, parliamentary system or Westminster model, fiscal federalism or resource control, unicameral legislature, a ceremonial president and a prime minister with full executive powers, a special status for Lagos State, state police and deletion of the Land Use Act from the Constitution. Those were the items which constituted the core Yoruba Agenda. The items were defeated in to-to at the confab. Of course, the establishment of State Police scaled through on the basis of the role of the civilian joint task force in the fight against insurgency in the Northeast region. I challenge the authors of the Yoruba Agenda to point to other items that were adopted by the Confab. That is not to say that the confab was a failure.

However, while representatives of

ethnic nationalities lost at the Confab, the Nigerian people won a number of concessions. For instance, the justiciability of Chapter II of the Constitution was unanimously agreed upon by the delegates. The secularity of the State was affirmed. Instead of the Federal Character Commission, we recommended the establishment of Equal Opportunities Commission. National minimum wage and labour matters are to remain in the exclusive legislative list. No doubt, some matters were taken from exclusive legislative list to allow for minimal devolution of powers.

The 2014 National Confab made three types of recommendations on policy direction, statutory amendments and constitutional review. The recommendations required the promulgation of over 50 new laws and amendment of about 80 existing legislations. Some of the bills were prepared and submitted to the government. President Jonathan did not call a Yoruba Confab but a National Conference.

There is therefore no basis for the Afenifere to claim the success of the Confab. Contrary to the desperate moves to claim any credit for originality of the confab, the Afenifere members embraced the idea of the Sovereign National Conference (SNC) for the first time in 1994 after the annulment of the June 12 presidential election. The human rights community had began the campaign in 1989 under the leadership of the late Comrade Alao AkaBashorun, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). We had a pan-Nigerian mandate. That was the agenda that the civil society and the labour movement took to the confab.

Jonathan has been trying to woo the Southwest. How far can he go?

The President is entitled to woo the Southwest like other regions. But the battle on ground transcends ethnic jingoism. In a region where people are largely conscious of their democratic rights on account of education and exposure, you cannot get substantial votes by wooing a motley crowd of traditional rulers and ethnic champions.

As far as elections are concerned, most of the voters are young. They have no nexus whatsoever with these ethnic or faith-based organisations. For the first time in 16 years, the ruling party is running from pillar to post. The PDP became so arrogant that its leaders boasted that they would rule the country for 60 years. It is indubitably clear that it is no longer business as usual in the political terrain. Apart from the general enlightenment of the voters, media organisations are largely concentrated in Lagos. The critical segment of the press has since dismissed President Jonathan for unprecedented incompetence, grand corruption and official impunity. This is the reason why the President was in Lagos to extend largesse to some selected leaders of interest groups.

Jonathan met with Afenifere? How influential in the Southwest are the members in these times?

The Afenifere was popular because it influenced the progressive policies of the Action Group (AG) and Unity Party of Nigeria (UPC) led by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the first and second republics. At that time the support or endorsement of Afenifere for any politician was anchored on the welfare programmes of the dominant

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

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MAY 29 ...85 DAYS TO GO

Jonathan in Southwest self-serving

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But these days, endorsements by some ethnic groups are based on opportunism. Hence, the ongoing endorsements have excluded youths, women, workers and other disadvantaged people in the region.

•Falana

Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Western Nigeria. But these days, endorsements by some ethnic groups are based on opportunism. Hence, the ongoing endorsements have excluded youths, women, workers and other disadvantaged people in the region.

The Afenifere has continued to lose its relevance because it is not addressing the problems of youth unemployment, infrastructural decay and official corruption among others. Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos publicly accused President Jonathan of distributing dollars when he visited Lagos last week. In those days, the Afenifere

would have sued the governor for libel over that statement.

The Gani Adams’ faction of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) bandied a six million figure of members who support Jonathan. Your view.

Some private bodies now play with figures like the Jonathan administration. The other day, we were told that 17 million had supported the President. With the additional endorsement of six million voters, the ruling party should not be afraid of the general election. But why have you not asked for the register of the 17 or six million voters? By the way, both factions of the

‘

OPC are united in endorsing the President Jonathan Administration. If the President is re-elected, it is hoped that the OPC will win the multi-million naira contracts for the monitoring of pipeline contracts in the Southwest.

Like the leaders of the militant groups in the Niger Delta region, the OPC has made a strong case for the juicy contract. Let those who want to protect their economic interests stop fooling the people.

Have you endorsed the APC?.

I have not endorsed the APC or any political party for that matter. I am currently leading a campaign under

the platform of Nigerians Unite for Democracy (NUD) against the antidemocratic forces who are bent on truncating the fragile political transition. In other words, I am working with other colleagues in the progressive extraction of the civil society to ensure that the fundamental right of Nigerians to exercise their franchise is recognised and respected.

We fought the Gen Ibrahim Babangida junta for annulling the June 12, 1993 presidential election, we fought the late Sani Abacha junta for the subversion of democracy, we fought President Olusegun Obasanjo’s third term agenda. We fought the Yar’adua cabal for preventing Vice President Jonathan from assuming the presidency when the President was ill and was unable to discharge the functions of his office. With the on-going desperate moves to derail the political transition, the struggle transcends the endorsement of any political party for now. We are back to the trenches.

We want you to comment on the Ekiti audio…

The audio recording by Captain Koli has confirmed that the 2014 Ekiti State governorship election was manipulated and rigged by the ruling party.

Contrary to the statement credited to President Jonathan that the recording was fabricated, not less than three of the characters, who took part in the pre-election rehearsal of rigging have made confessional statements. In view of the confessional statements of Governor Ayo Fayose, Police Affairs Minister, Jelili Adesiyan and Senator Iyiola Omisore, the investigation cannot be frustrated on the ground that the army Captain who recorded the conversation is not around. The President who does not give a damn about corruption has requested the Senate to confirm the nomination of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro as a Minister. The minister-designate has also admitted that he took part in the controversial conversation on tape but that Sahara Reporters doctored the recording.

Since he is alleged to have filed a libel suit, I would not want to comment any further on the matter. In view of the

confessional statement of the dramatis personae, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) should therefore not hesitate to conduct an inquiry into the violations of the Electoral Act by those who took part in the plot to manipulate the election. Having betrayed his oath of office, General Momoh should be interdicted to pave way for a full investigation and prosecution of the indicted criminal suspects. Meanwhile, all those who were arrested on the election day should seek redress in court since their arrest was premeditated.

Similarly, the governors who were disallowed from travelling to Ekiti by a platoon of soldiers at Iju, Ondo State should sue the Nigerian Army. It was discriminatory to have stopped them while PDP leaders were allowed to have a field day in the state.

And the adverts of Fayose, especially the latest in the newspapers.

I have read the adverts and several others. Some of them offend the provisions of the Electoral Act but no one is calling the suspects to order as we operate in an atmosphere of impunity. The newspapers and TV stations which publish or broadcast the adverts are equally liable to be prosecuted.

Governor Ayo Fayose desperately wants the status quo of official impunity to continue unabated. For it is in an atmosphere of executive lawlessness that the on-going legislative rascality in Ekiti State can be permitted.

A few months ago, the authorities in Abuja directed the police to provide maximum security in the House of Assembly complex at Ado Ekiti to facilitate the sack of 19 legislators by a gang of seven.

Furthermore, the adverts on General Muhammadu Buhari are also necessary to divert attention from the Ekitigate which has questioned the legitimacy of the governor’s electoral mandate. If there is a change of government in Abuja, the Shenanigans in Ekiti State may be consigned to the dustbin of history. This is my understanding of the reckless advertorials oozing out of the Ekiti Governor’s Office.

• Culled from The News

Why Jonathan can’t implement Conference Report, by Fasanmi Some Yoruba elders believe their endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid will spur him to implement the report of the 2014 National Conference and earn their kinsmen plum positions in the next administration. But second Republic Senator Ayo Fasanmi says it is delusional to expect the President to unilaterally implement the report without Constitutional amendment by the National and States’ Assemblies.

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OME Nigerian newspapers have reported the endorsements of President Goodluck Jonathan by some groups in Southwest geo-political zone. A variety of reasons, including a desire to promote Yoruba interests, were given for the endorsements .

Yet, when critically analysed, these reasons are spurious. Indeed, the arguments for the endorsements mask the selfish interests of the endorsers.

No doubt that the South-West geopolitical zone has several interests. Among these interests are the desire for security; genuine federation with greater autonomy for the federating units; rule of law; effective governance under a democratic and accountable government; drastic reduction of corruption and economic and social development including infrastructural development. These interests are shared with some other geopolitical zones who want a Nigeria that is truly federal and where government will put the interests of the citizens first. Majority of the people in the South-West and indeed the whole of Nigeria want to live in a functioning and strong state not a state that is fragile and on the brink of failure under a kleptocratic Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration. Above all, majority of people in the South-West want a progressive government.

Those who endorsed President Jonathan base their decision among other reasons on his commitment to implement the outcome of the National Conference. However, the outcome

Elders in the Afenifere faction that endorsed Jonathan · · · · ·

Chief Reuben Fasoranti Chief Olaniwun Ajayi Chief Duro Duyile Prof Akin Onigbinde Otunba Gbenga Daniel

· · · · ·

Senator Femi Okurounmu Chief Oluyemisi Falae Senator Iyiola Omisore Mr. Yinka Odumakin Mr. Jimi Agbaje

of the Conference will require a constitutional amendment hence it is the National Assembly and states of the federation that have the power to implement the conclusions of the Conference (Chapter II Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution).

The President has minimal not pivotal role.

Going by recent political trends in which APC is ascendant, PDP may lose control of the National Assembly. Indeed, it may become a minority party with fewer state governors and legislatures. Consequently, it is delusional to think that Dr. Jonathan can implement a conference when he might be out office and when PDP becomes a minority party. This, of course, assumes that the re-scheduled election is held and that PDP does not engage in electoral shenanigans and manipulations.

Further, President Jonathan has a gaping credibility gap. In 2011, he promised to provide electricity, ensure security, create jobs, transform the economy and combat corruption.

None of these promises have been fulfilled to the satisfaction of Nigerians. That is why Nigerians want change.

A second reason given by those who endorsed Dr. Jonathan is his promise to end

· · · ·

Chief Ayo Adebanjo Basorun Seinde Arogbofa Dr. Olusegun Mimiko Mr. Segun Ojo

Yoruba marginalisation. He has, we are told, agreed to appoint Yorubas to important positions. The 1999 Constitution in Chapter VI Section 147(3) states that each state of the federation is entitled to one Ministerial position. However, portfolio assignment is the prerogative of the president. Despite the fact that Dr. Jonathan won five South-West states in 2011 with a vote tally of 2.7 million, people of the South-West play minimal role in his administration except of course in rigging elections and participating in the plunder of Nigeria. It should not be forgotten that it was a Yoruba man who paired him as vice-presidential candidate to late President Yar’adua. He has fallen out with his mentor who has been trenchantly critical of his mismanagement of Nigerian affairs.

Even when President Jonathan appoints South-Westerners into ministerial positions, his choice do not reflect the best Yoruba can offer.

Indeed, some of the people from the South-West serving in the Jonathan administration have questionable integrity. Several of them face accusations of corruption while others have used their positions to suborn security forces to commit electoral crimes in favour of the PDP. The

•Chief Fasanmi

revelation of the rigging of the June 2014 gubernatorial contest in Ekiti State is an eyeopener to the misconduct and abuse of office of Jonathan appointees. Certainly they cannot be considered as “Omoluabi.”

Appointments to political post in Nigeria benefit mainly the appointee, his/her relations and a few followers. South-Westerners have not benefitted from these appointments. It is therefore forlorn hope to think that there will be improvement.

My appeal is for people of the South-West to ignore the self-serving endorsements by a few in the region. The people of the South-West should, consistent with their progressive tradition, vote for Buhari who will adopt and implement policies that will benefit SouthWesterners and all Nigerians.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

NEWS Govt to pay oil marketers N30b for forex losses Continued from page 1

meeting.

The minister, who raised the hope that the fuel shortage will end by the weekend, said the Federal Government had addressed all contentious issues with the marketers, such as foreign exchange rate differentials for which the N30billion will be paid to mitigate their losses.

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said the Federal Government had been in talks with the marketers in the last 10 days, adding: “President Goodluck Jonathan wants Nigerians to know that he is working on the situation to resolve the issue in the shortest possible time. At the Federal Executive Council meeting

•Victims of Boko Haram atrocities displaying their injuries to Adamawa All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Sen Bindo Jibrilla (left), during his visit to Michika…yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

No retreat, no surrender against Boko Haram, says DHQ

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HE Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, yesterday said the war against Boko Haram is not yet over and the military will not slow down.

He also said current turn of the tide against the terrorists is an initiative conceived and being driven by the Nigerian military and not troops from Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic.

He said the Nigerian mili-

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

tary is, however, enjoying the backing of the reinvigorated Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which has troops from Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

He, however, cautioned Nigerians and the media against acts that could dampen the troops’ morale of troops.

Olukolade made the clarifications at a briefing in Abu-

ja on the ongoing battle against Boko Haram insurgents.

He said: “Be that as it may, we are conscious that the fight is not over and the Nigerian military will, therefore, not relent. Nothing will be taken for granted. All Nigerians are equally enjoined to maintain this posture.

“Indeed, there is no going back or slowing down anywhere. The air campaigns are continuing with a view to dis-

lodging all the identified terrorist cells, enclaves or hideouts anywhere in the designated mission area.

“The mandate of working towards ensuring the restoration of normalcy for socioeconomic, political and other activities to resume as quickly as possible is being given all it takes toward having the mission accomplished. ”So far, so good, things are working out in line with the Continued on page 61

Jonathan’s campaign insists on soldiers

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HE presidential campaign organisation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as a pack of lies, the string of allegations of impropriety levelled against President Goodluck Jonathan and the party by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP presidential campaign organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, described the allegations as absurd and

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

ludicrous.

Accusing the opposition of being paranoid, Fani-Kayode said the APC has mastered the art of peddling falsehood.

“The truth is that we are not strategising to shift the election dates. We are not trying to frame up Jega. We have no plans to plant any illegal substance in the bags of any of the leaders of the APC whenever they travel.

“We are not trying to com-

promise the telephone numbers of any of the INEC officials. President Jonathan is not planning to arrest opposition leaders before the elections.

“The Presidency has not retained the services of any foreigner to corrupt or compromise INEC computers on election day and we are not planning to do any of the other reprehensible things that they have alleged.

“The truth is that if they were in our position, these are

the sort of sordid things that they would do. Such dirty things and filthy tactics are a way of life and an art with them. But for us, such things are alien, perverse and unacceptable”.

The PDP campaign said it was not surprised that the APC resorted to peddling falsehood in order to gain public sympathy, stressing that the opposition has been displaying its expertise in cheap propaganda.

today (yesterday), the issue was discussed in terms of pushing forward and making sure things get back to normal.”

She urged the marketers to be patriotic in their dealings with the government as the issue affects all and sundry, praising Nigerians for their patience and promising that the crisis would be over in the next couple of days.

CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele said the apex bank had met with banks and oil marketers to resolve all the contending issues associated with credit facilities, adding that in the last one week, over $500 million worth of Letters Continued on page 61

We know where Shekau is, says Chadian President Deby

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HADIAN President Idriss Deby yesterday told Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau to surrender or be killed.

Speaking at a news conference in N’djamena, Deby said he knew the whereabouts of the terrorist leader.

“Abubakar Shekau must surrender. We know where he is. If he doesn’t give himself up, he will suffer the same fate as his compatriots.

“He was in Dikwa two days ago. He managed to get away, but we know where he is. It’s in his interest to surrender,”

Deby said, referring to a town in Borno State held by Boko Haram that fell to Chad’s army earlier this week.

A video showing Shekau, sitting with four hooded members of the group, was released last the weekend.

The Chadian army has killed many members of the sect, fighting alongside the Nigerian, Cameroonian and Niger military, to battle the sect which has taken terrorism beyond Nigeria’s northeast states where they were operating.

Shekau is wanted by the FedContinued on page 61

Obanikoro: Senate in shouting match

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TTEMPT to enlist the support of opposition senators for the screening and confirmation of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro as a minister met a brickwall yesterday, it was learnt.

The Senate started its plenary with a lengthy closed session presided over by Senate President David Mark.

Sources at the session told our correspondents that top on the agenda was an appeal

by Mark that the Senate should maintain its tradition of “bow and go” usually accorded former members of

Continued on page 60

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

the National Assembly.

“Bow and go” is the tradition of simply asking a ministerial nominee to bow before senators, who would refrain from asking him questions.

Mark, it was learnt, told his colleagues that Obanikoro should be given the privilege.

Opposition Senators and a few Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators were said to have insisted that they Continued on page 61

APC accuses PDP of plot to blackmail Jega, Tinubu Continued from page 1

tial Campaign Council, Mallam Shehu Garba, disclosed that APC leaders were being targeted for liquidation through harassment, intimidation and repression.

He reminded the Federal Government and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the world’s attention is on Nigeria, adding that lack of free, fair and violencefree elections will affect the country’s leadership position in Africa.

Mohammed said the agitation for the dumping of card readers and permanent voter cards, Jega’s sack and troops deployment will undermine the electoral process and subject the ballot box to abuses.

Adducing reasons for these agitations, he said President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP knew they cannot win the election because the government has not lived up to expectations.

Mohammed alleged plots to implicate APC leaders in crimes, create panic in the polity and shift the elections.

He said: “There is a plot to

‘APC’s false alarm, a reflection of its inner thoughts’

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said yesterday “the string of false alarms and outright lies that characterised the news conference addressed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) had clearly justified its profiling of APC as a party of ‘one week, one lie.”

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh in a statement said Nigerians were not surprised that the APC has officially adopted the use of fabrications having exhausted its fake campaign promises which were not able to upstage the verifiable achievements of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led PDP administration. transfer a humongous amount of money into the bank account of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, and then claim that the money came from Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC in order to justify the ongoing plan to sack Prof.

Jega so he won’t organise the elections.

“Beyond Jega, there is also a plan to credit the bank accounts of some key national institutions with huge

“Indeed, Nigerians are not surprised at the contents of the recent false alarms by the APC as they are undoubtedly a reflection of the character, inner thoughts and ideology of its leaders. These ignoble ideas are clearly incompatible with the ideology of the PDP and President Jonathan who has overtime demonstrated the qualities of a true democrat and not a reformed one”, the party said.

The PDP noted that the opposition to realize that under the current financial system, it is practically impossible to transfer the so called humongous amount of money into any bank account without the source being traced by relevant independent financial monitoring bodies

amounts of money purportedly from our party, the APC, ostensibly to compromise those institutions.

“There is plan to use some political parties that are satellites of the PDP to push for the postponement of the elections again. The plot is to get the parties to address a press conference to say the elections should not hold in the Northeast, until September 2015 because of the ongoing counterinsurgency battle there. The

like the EFCC. “In any case, we note that the allegation by APC is suspect and betrays an attempt to cover up. We ask, is it that the APC has already been paying monies into accounts of INEC officials and some institutions of government with a view to compromising them and is now using the allegation as a subterfuge to distract the financial monitoring agencies and cover its tracks?

“We have also noted the hues and cries of the opposition regarding the issue of PVCs and Card readers for the elections but Nigerians are not short in their mem-

intention is to make sure Jega’s tenure expires before the polls, so that they can appoint a malleable card-carrying member of the PDP as INEC Chair to conduct the polls.

“There are plans to use the security agencies to intimidate key opposition leaders as well as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and telecommunications service providers to disrupt voice and data transmission, especially in APC strongholds, on elec-

Continued on page 60

tion day.

“The telephones of our leaders have been bugged and their movements are being daily monitored. Top on the list of the security agencies to be used against the opposition is the Department of State Security (DSS), which will be used to compel all Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to hand over the names and telephone numbers of all INEC’s

•Mohammed

regular and adhoc staff who will conduct the elections, as part of the Jonathan administration’s rigging plans.

It is no longer news that a signal has been sent to all state commands of the DSS to get the list of all INEC Returning Officers and Adhoc Staff before March 10th.

“There is also the ongoing illegal recruitment of over 500 new cadets into one of the country’s security outfits, 50 Continued on page 60

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

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NEWS Kukah: no alternative to peace From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

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ISHOP of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese Most Reverend Mathew, Hassan Kukah, said yesterday that there is no alternative and dependable instrument of development than peace.

He maintained that peace itself was development, pointing out that “there can be no success in the absence of peace.”

Rev. Kukah urged the citizenry to sustain peace for the country’s rapid growth and development.

The Catholic cleric spoke when officials of a non-governmental organisation, Arewa Citizens Action for Change, visited him.

He noted that the youth have crucial roles to play for Nigeria’s continued existence as a united, peaceful and tolerant nation for its citizens.

Rev. Kukah added that the youth could do that through the establishment of pressure groups that would be all-encompassing to facilitate peaceful co-existence.

•Some members of National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) protesting Senator Musiliu Obanikoro’s nomination as a minister in Lagos...yesterday.

Buhari campaign accuses Jonathan of using religion for polls

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of using religion to gain sympathy and remain in office at all costs.

The organisation asked the people of the Southwest to ignore the promises of the president to implement the report of the National Conference, saying it was incapable of protecting their interests.

Its Director of Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said it was surprising that the President had turned worship centres into platforms for making official statements or announcing government policies.

Shehu said the strategy defied the norms of government practices, stressing that the president was deliberately doing so “in the belief that the manipulation of religious sentiments would cover up the multitudes of his epic failures.”

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

According to him, using worship centres as platforms for making major official statements could create precedents that the country could not handle in future.

The campaign spokesperson added that if predecessor presidents did not use the mosques or churches to make official statements of public importance, it was wrong for Jonathan to start something that was already sending the wrong message.

He noted that with the exploitation of religion for political gains, the president and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government have lost any basis to accuse its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, of being a religious “bigot” or “fanatic”.

The APC presidential campaign said it was scandalised by reports of money being allegedly shared to religious lead-

ers by President Jonathan “to buy their conscience”.

He said it was incredibly embarrassed as to why a government would allegedly seek to bribe religious leaders to cover up its misdeeds and win re-election, despite its “incompetence and non-performance”.

It regretted that bribing religious leaders would not only bring them into disrepute, but also make nonsense of Jonathan’s claim to fight corruption.

Asking the Southwest to ignore the promise by the President to implement the report of the National Conference, Shehu said while they were not averse to any group supporting any candidate for the rescheduled general elections, it was important to state that the purported endorsement of Jonathan by former Confab conferees from the Southwest was predicated on spurious and utterly dishonest reason.

Shehu said: “It is necessary to state that all points of the Yoruba agenda that could have favoured the Southwest, in-cluding regional autonomy, restructuring, devolution of power and parliamentary system, could not sail through at the conference.

“These people knew that though they deceived Nigerians, particularly the Yoruba people, with the ostensible reason, but the real reason for the endorsement was because of their personal economy. Some of them have had their personal finances transformed by way of juicy, but dubious security contracts and handsome cash largesse by the government of Dr. Jonathan at the expense of Nigerian people.

“We consider it asinine that any group can predicate its support for Dr. Jonathan on his promise to respect any agreement. The antecedents of Dr. Jonathan speak eloquently of a serial promise-break-

Controversy trails bill on pensions for Assemblies’ Speakers, deputies

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ONTROVERSY is trailing a proposed bill for life pensions for Speakers and Deputy Speakers of State Houses of Assembly.

The bill, which has only scaled the first reading at the Lagos State House of Assembly, when passed into law, entitles the Speaker and Deputy Speakers of the nation’s Houses of Assembly to life pensions.

The bill, according to the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Ajibayo Adeyeye, was not an initiative of the Lagos Assembly alone.

Adeyeye said: “It is not an initiative of the Lagos Assembly. It is a follow up to the provisions of the constitution amendment that provided

that Speakers and their deputies should be entitled to life pensions. We are only trying to domesticate the bill like other state Houses of Assembly.”

He added that since the bill has only being read the first time, he could not speak on the reactions of other members to the proposed law.

His words: “It is only when the bill gets to the stage for debate and detailed discussion - that is the second reading that you can really get the reactions of members to the bill.”

Querying the outcry over the issue, the spokesman of the Assembly, Segun Olulade, confirmed that the bill was not peculiar to Lagos Assem-

bly.

According to him, it was a constitutional issue.

“Moreover, the National Assembly has done it; other state Houses of Assembly are doing so. Why the outcry in Lagos since that is what is required by the constitution?”

Olulade said.

He also expressed surprise at the reactions of some people to the development.

“There are three arms of government. The head of the judiciary and executive are already enjoying the right and it was the legislature that passed the law making it possible. Now, the third arm of government that passed the law for the other two arms, shouldn’t it be given the same entitlement? It is not for all the

elected by the people. A comparison of this arrangement with that of the Constituent Assembly of 1977 revealed a conference that had most of the members elected by the people and which naturally brought on the 1979 Constitution.

“We are appalled that despite the pretences of members of this group to democracy, they thought it fit to attempt to stampede a nation to giving assent to a piece of document that bore the imprimatur of a negligible minority. Truth be told, the conferees of the confab were not representatives of the people.

“It is on the basis of the foregoing that we believe that the purported endorsement of Dr. Jonathan by members of this group was infernal, jejune, and meaningless. We urge the people of the Southwest to discountenance this as another distraction from the stable of the utterly despicable, but desperate regime of Dr. Jonathan”.

Dangote Foundation donates N20m for scholarship

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•It is constitutional, lawmakers insist

By Oziegbe Okoeki

er, unreliable keeper of gentlemanly agreement and unabashed turncoat.

“It would be recalled that the first real show of Dr. Jonathan’s immense capacity for not keeping to pacts was when he, in 2010, conveniently walked away from his party’s North/South zoning arrangement, of which he was signatory to, with indescribable villainy.

“There is virtually a litany of reports from committees, which he empanelled, that have remained unimplemented in his four-year presidency thus far. Dr. Jonathan, as President, who refused to assent to the Bill that will empower Nigerians with disabilities, is doubtful would ever contemplate supporting better life for Nigerians without disabilities.

“It is a known fact that of all the four hundred and ninety two (492) members of the National confab, none was

•Ikuforiji

lawmakers; it is just for the speakers and their deputies.

“Or are you saying that after serving their states in that capacity, they should go aborrowing to pay their house rents and take care of other essentials. Moreover, this is a national and constitutional thing. So, why the hue and cry?” Olulade stressed.

HE Dangote Foundation has donated N20 million for scholarship at James Hope College Agbor, Delta State.

The scholarship will cover selected indigent students’ school fees through their secondary school years.

Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Zouera Youssoufou, who presented the donation at the school premises in Agbor, said the foundation was focussing on education because “it is central to the development of the society”.

She explained that the body would continue to do all within its resources to help in uplifting education and healthcare standard – two areas she said the foundation had invested in.

“Education is key for future development of our youths and the society. Most countries of the world referred to as developed achieved the height because they placed premium on education,” she noted.

According to her, the Dangote Foundation would continue to partner with groups and appropriate institutions to identify potentials among the disadvantage students in secondary schools and help them develop their potentials through offer of scholarships.

The foundation chairman, Aliko Dangote, visited the school last year, promising that the charity organisation would spread its intervention to the school through offer of scholarships.

Receiving the cheque on behalf of the school, its principal, Mr. Abraham Swart, thanked the foundation for the gesture, saying it demonstrated the love Dangote have for the lessprivileged in the society.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

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NEWS Court throws out suit on PIB passage

By Joseph Jibueze

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Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (middle); his deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori (third left); Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (left); Chief of Staff to the Governor (COS) Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola (third right); member representing Iwo Constituency, Osun House of Assembly, Adeyemo Adedibu (second right); former Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Elder Adelowo Adebiyi (right) and others, at the swearing-in of COS and SSG at the Governor’s Office in Osogbo...yesterday.

Asiodu, Alele-Williams, others warn against Jega’s removal S OME eminent Nigerians have kicked against any move to remove the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega.

They stated that removing Jega barely three weeks to the general elections would derail the electoral process, appealing to politicians to focus on issues in their campaigns.

The eminent Nigerians under the aegis, Initiative for Moral Rectitude in Society (IMRS), at a news conference in Lagos, decried the high level of moral decadence among politicians, urging the media to evaluate the political class with a view to help the masses make informed decisions when casting their votes.

At the gathering were former presidential adviser, Chief Philip Asiodu; first female vice chancellor, Prof.

Grace Alele-Williams; Rear Admiral Andrew Okoja (rtd); Dr. Gabriel Soyoye and Mrs.

By Precious Igbonwelundu

Kate Iketubosin.

Speaking on behalf of the group, its chairman, Asiodu, flayed the political parties and candidates for indulging in mudslinging rather than telling the masses their plans to ensure good governance.

He stated the need for the winner of the rescheduled election to hold an active dialogue and mobilisation on how to preserve the nation and fiscal policy restructuring.

Asiodu reiterated the call for the slashing of the emoluments of legislators, describing the current package as unacceptable and a burden on the nation’s resources.

According to him, legislative business should be on part time basis, while state legislators should be increased to

between 100 to 120 to stop the practice where governors control the legislature.

He said: “It is very disappointing so far to observe the degree of violence occurring during the election campaigns despite the non-violence pact signed by the leaders of the major political parties on January 17.

“We earnestly appeal to party leaders, politicians, their agents and supporters to respect the terms of the accord and avoid acts, which may lead to violent clashes and needless deaths and injuries.

“Political parties should discuss issues in their campaigns and propose practicable programmes that address the severe challenges confronting the nation in security and stability; effectively combating corruption; cost

effective spending of nation’s resources to accelerate development and improve living standards of the masses; as well as give priority in the utilisation of national revenues to education, power, transportation, communications, water supply and public health.”

He added: “The political parties must in their campaigns begin to propose ways of achieving the critically necessary national reorientation to drastically reduce the pursuit of greed and self-enrichment as the primary purpose of seeking political office.

They must begin to look beyond the elections to promote national consensus on the measures required to drastically reduce the costs of seeking political office and of governance.”

HE Federal High Court in Lagos struck out yesterday an ex parte application seeking an order of mandamus compelling the National Assembly to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) that has been pending for years.

Justice Ibrahim Buba said the application by a lawyer and right activist, Mr. Okiogbero Edhebru, lacked merit because the lawmakers could not be compelled by court to pass any law.

The applicant had asked the court for an order of mandamus compelling the National Assembly, their agents and privies to pass the PIB without delay.

End fuel scarcity now, president tells agencies From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has directed government agencies to take immediate steps to end fuel scarcity.

The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, spoke to State House correspondents at the end of Federal Executive Council’s (FEC) meeting presided over by the president.

She was accompanied to the news briefing by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Olusegun Aganga; Supervising Minister of Information Edem Duke and Minister of Environment Laraba Malam.

The Finance Minister, who stressed that the scarcity would soon disappear, said the financial aspect of the issues with the marketers had been settled and that the physical aspect of loading the fuel to states of the federation was being taken care of.

The minister added that FEC approved N326,095,875 contract for the procurement of temporary office building located at Plot 1072 Cadastral Zone b10, Dakibiyu District, Airport Road, Abuja for the Investments and Securities Tribunal (IST).

Her words: “The tribunal has over the years been grappling with the challenge of regular payment of rent on its office accommodation as well as threats of eviction from the rented office accommodation, which has become an annual occurrence with the attendant embarrassment.”

Court orders INEC to register new party From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

Call your wife to order, APC tells Jonathan

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HE All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to call his wife, Dame Patience, to order.

The APC presidential campaign, however, hailed Nigerians for putting up with her, saying it was insulting for Mrs. Jonathan to describe the presidential candidate of APC, General Muhammadu Buhari as “brain-dead” and also demeaning of her status as the first lady.

APCPCO’s Director of Media and Publicity Mallam Garba Shehu said it was discourte-

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

ous and inexcusable for a wife of any president with a modicum of decency to make such a false pronouncement about the health status of another man on account of politics.

He noted that in recent time, Mrs. Jonathan had made statements invoking violence like she did in Calabar over the weekend when she urged PDP supporters to “stone” all those canvassing for change.

According to him, it was below the standard of a wife of a president to call for violent attacks against members of the opposition, stressing that

while a good number of Nigerians were not taken by surprise by the first lady’s pronouncements, it was important for her husband to put her in bridles in the spirit of the Abuja Peace Accord.

The APC campaign observed that much as indecent the outbursts of Mrs. Jonathan was “in attempting to pull the wool over the eyes of Nigerians about her husband’s incompetence to lead the country”, it was “typical of the PDP’s modus operandi to confuse Nigerians with mundane issues instead of the issues of corruption; her husband’s appalling

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•Mrs. Jonathan

lack of capacity to secure life and property of citizens and a glaring incompetence in dealing with the challenges facing the economy”.

INEC creates 35,000 polling points

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has created additional 35,000 polling points ahead of the rescheduled general elections, it was learnt yesterday.

There are 120,000 polling units in the country. Attempt by the commission to increase it to 150,000 was received with mixed reactions, forcing it to drop the idea.

The Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Dr. Chris Iyimoga, who broke the news of additional poll-

•Says PVCs collection to end March 8 From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

ing points, argued that the essence was to allow for ease of voting process.

Iyimoga, in a chat with reporters on the state of the commission’s preparedness for the elections, said the idea was unanimously agreed upon.

He noted that the exercise was meant to break down polling units with high numbers of voters in excess of one

thousand.

Reacting to questions, he explained that the polling points were created within the polling units, stressing that the exercise was done only in areas with high number of registered voters in excess of one thousand and above.

Dr. Iyimoga also announced that the commission would be meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) and political parties next week to re-

view activities towards the elections.

He added that about 55,232,875 have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

He noted that officially, the collection of the PVCs would end on Sunday, March 8.

He, however, did not rule out an extension, especially for those whose PVCs were among the last batch expected this week.

The commission, he said, would make a statement on that.

FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register and recognise a new political party, Young Democratic Party (YDP).

Justice Ahmed Mohammed, in a judgment yesterday, held INEC was wrong not to have communicated its decision not to register the then association as a party, within 30 days, when it applied for registration.

He held that INEC having failed to comply with the requirement as stipulated in Section 78 (4) of the Electoral Act, YDP was deemed registered as a political party by the virtue of the failure of INEC to communicate its decision not to register the then political association as a political party within 30 days of receiving its application.

The judgment was on the suit filed by the YDM against INEC over its refusal to register the plaintiff as a party.

‘We ’re against polls’ militarisation’

By Toba Agboola

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has affirmed its opposition to militarisation of election, stressing that “it is not warfare”.

Speaking with The Nation at a sensitisation programme for workers in Lagos, the Director -General, Electoral Institute of INEC, Prof. Abubakar Momoh, however, said because of the insecurity in some parts of the country, INEC would allow military men to be station at the outside layer of where election is taking place, while policemen would be station inside.

“INEC does not support militarisation of election because we are in a civilised world. But on the order hand, we cannot rule it out because of the insecurity in some part of the country.

“In order parts of the civilised world, you don’t see military because election is not warfare. However, we may allow military to be station at the outside layer of the election, while the police stays within,” he said.

Abubakar said there was no going back on the use of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), adding that anybody opposing PVCs’ use has intention to rig.

He said anybody that steal or sell PVC was wasting his or her time, adding that “it is only the owner of the card that can use it”.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

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NEWS

Stop endless war against Buhari, APC tells Fayose

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has called on Governor Ayo Fayose to stop what it called his “endless war drums” against the party’s presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

APC deplored Fayose’s frequent trips outside the state, which, it said, were without economic benefits and had no value to Ekiti people.

The party’s Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, said in a statement yesterday that there was a lull in government’s activities and the governor had allegedly failed to fulfill his cam-

•PDP: we’re tired of your lies From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

paign promises.

Olatubosun advised Fayose to sit down and face the serious business of governance, noting that the governor’s tirades against Buhari and endless trips out of the state were signs that he was not prepared for the demanding assignment of a state chief executive.

“After five months, the stories of the debt profile still dominate the public space instead of unveiling his development programmes.

“What we have is frequent shuttling between Nigeria and the Middle East and a reversal of development efforts of the administration of former Governor Kayode Fayemi.”

Olatubosun said the governor should let the people know that the bond repayment was suspended for six months to enable him receive full federal allocations without deductions to support his development projects.

“What is the governor doing with full monthly federal allocation to the state when the bond repayment

has been suspended for six months?”

Olatubosun criticised the governor for “diverting” the money for Ado-IkereAkure dualisation road construction to a lesser project, saying it was an unconscionable abuse of power to dash the people’s hope after campaign promises.

“The question to be asked is; how is the governor with a three-man cabinet spending the money saved from these cancellations and cuts in running grants and allowances?

“What is the governor doing with contract variation cost arising from the AdoIkere-Akure road contract

that he changed to another project with variations in specification, quality and quantity?” he queried.

He urged the governor to be transparent in the management of state funds, including workers’ salaries.

Responding, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretary Tope Aluko said Ekiti people were tired of what he called “the endless lies of the APC”.

Aluko said all the allegations of the APC were borne out of malice and frustration.

He said Fayose would not be distracted by the falsehood being peddled by the opposition.

Court to hear Kashamu suit March 12 From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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USTICE Folashade Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, has adjourned till March 12, hearing in a suit seeking to disqualify the Ogun East senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Buruji Kashamu.

Two PDP members-Dele Ajayi and Adeniji Wasiusought an injunction to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising Kashamu as the PDP candidate in Ogun East.

The applicants urged the court to disqualify Kashamu from participating in the March 28 National Assembly polls and in any other future elections to be conducted by INEC. When the matter came up yesterday, Kashamu, who chairs the PDP Southwest Committee on Mobilisation and Organisation, asked the court through his counsel, Ufoma Eze, to first deal with the preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the suit.

Eze argued that the issue of jurisdiction should be resolved before considering the applicants’ originating summons and motion on notice.

However, plaintiffs’ counsel Yemi Oke urged the court to hear the issues raised in the originating summons, the motion on notice and the notice of preliminary objection at the same time.

‘No strike for us’ From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

POLICEMEN in Ekiti State have pledged not to embark on the planned strike for March 28.

According to a statement yesterday by the Ekiti State Police Command, the policemen made the resolution at a meeting with the Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu.

They said the law establishing the police institution frowned on industrial action.

Pledging their loyalty to the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, the policemen hailedhim for giving them enhanced welfare package since he came.

•All Progressives Congress (APC) vice-presidential candidate (middle) at his campaign tour in Ijebu waterside, Ogun State.

Allow Jega to conduct polls, Ondo APC urges Jonathan

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, to conduct the elections.

At a briefing in Akure, APC’s Publicity Secretary Abayomi Adesanya said the President and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should perish the thought about removing the INEC chairman.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Warning that this action would cause turmoil in the country, Abayomi said asking Jega to proceed on a terminal leave would amount to a “rape” on the expectation of the people.

He said if the INEC boss was prevented from conducting the poll, the credibility and participation of the people would be minimal.

The APC said any attempt to sack or relieve Jega of his duties before the expiration

of his tenure would be resisted by Nigerians.

Abayomi said: “Election is a process and not the mere act of voting on election day.

Jega started the process in 2011 and should be allowed to complete it, as he did notcommit any “sin”.

“Whether terminal leave or politically-motivated leave, if Prof. Jega is not allowed to do his job by President Jonathan, who is an interested party in the election by virtue of his candidacy, it would mean that

‘Stop lying against Tinubu’

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CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon Toyin Balogun, has berated sponsors of the documentary on African Independent Television (AIT) titled ‘The Lion of Bourdillion’, which disparaged the party’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

The documentary, Balogun stated, was the latest of the series of desperate lies against Tinubu, who he said has become the nemesis of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He dismissed all the issues raised in the documentary, which has received prime time airing on the station, as “tissues of lies that no discerning Nigerian will believe.”

Balogun wondered how

INEC to test-run card readers in Ekiti

By Sunday Oguntola

Tinubu could have owned most of the properties at the Lekki parts of Lagos as alleged by promoters of the documentary, saying such extreme lies no longer strike a chord with Nigerians.

Balogun, in a statement yesterday, said: “This again shows how debasing and desperate PDP has become in the run-off to the elections.

“To raise such frivolous lies without substance and evidence against a notable Nigerian like Asiwaju Tinubu is to say the least, condescending.

“The promoters and sponsors of the documentary should not just make allegations, they should substantiate them with credible facts to convince Nigerians.”

President Jonathan has concluded plans to sabotage the elections.

“It will also confirm the rumour that President Jonathan is not interested in the elections. The PDP supporters, who have been campaigning for Prof. Jega’s removal before the rescheduled elections, should be reminded that Jega’s predecessor, Prof Maurice Iwu, whose tenure ended on June 21, 2010, didn’t embark on leave until April 28, 2010. That was 54 days to the end of his tenure.’’

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ekiti State has concluded arrangements to test-run the smart card reader on Saturday.

Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Sam Olumekun said the test-run would convince the electorate that the device was suitable for the polls.

Olumekun said the exercise would also identify challenges that could be encountered and the need to solve them ahead of the elections.

The electoral chief said Ekiti was one of the 12 states selected to conduct the field test.

According to him, Dallimore Ward 09 in Ado-Ekiti, with 21,631 registered voters, was selected for the exercise.

He said 14,461 had collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

“Let me emphasise that no voting will take place at all. Adequate security will be provided and the mock accreditation of March 7 does not interfere with the real election day activities of March 28 and April 11.

“Ekiti State is lucky to be one of the 12 states where this project is being test-run just as it is on record that Ekiti State was the first place where the Permanent Voter Card was used to conduct election in Nigeria last June.”

Faleke: APC ready for polls

By Musa Odoshimokhe

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HE Lagos State coordinator of the Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Organisation, James Faleke, has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) is ready for the March 28 and April 11 polls.

He said the party would not tolerate any further postponement of the elections, noting that the party would embark on a “walk show” on Saturday to demonstrate that Lagos residents are ready for the elections.

Addressing a briefing, Faleke said the reports emanating from the on-going war against insurgents in the Northeast show that the military is winning the war.

“The walk which will be declared open by our National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, will also have other APC leaders including Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the Lagos governorship candidate Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and Governor Babatunde Fashola.

“The walk will commence from Maryland through Ikorodu Road and will end at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere. The walk will begin by 7 am and we are hoping that before noon, it would have been rounded off.

“The Federal Government is afraid of conducting elections. We will win the polls, and Mr. President knows this. He came to the Southwest distributing dollars, unknown to him the people have made up their mind to collect his money and vote against him.”

Sonaiya to address OAU alumni

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HE presidential candidate of KOWA Party, Mrs. Remi Sonaiya, is to deliver a speech at a dinner organised by the alumni of Evangelical Christian Union (ECU) of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Osun State.

The dinner, according to a statement by the National President of the ECU Alumni, Ayo Adedeji, is to raise funds for an ultramodern empowerment centre.

Sonaiya, an alumnus of the fellowship, will speak on issues bordering on the nation’s development.

The event, which holds on March 14 at Diplomat Hotel, Maryland, Lagos, will attract notable alumni of the fellowship.

Adedeji said: “In view of the crass cultural decadence rampant in our society today, it has become mandatory for Christians to stand up and provide direction, especially to our youths and the future generations.

“Through this project, ECU Alumni is building on our heritage of over 50 years to produce leaders of character.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

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NEWS Obasanjo thrills fans at 78th birthday match

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ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo was the cynosure of all eyes yesterday as he turned 78.

Decked in yellow jersey and shorts, he took to the football pitch to celebrate his birthday.

His team, OBJ Team, played against the Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led Ogun State Executive Team at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.

The OBJ Team was made up of players from the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).

In the team were 88-yearold Prof. Akin Mabogunje, who served as the goal keeper, Dr. Femi Olopade and an aide of Obasanjo.

Manning the defence position for the Executive Team were the Secretary to the State Government, Adeoluwa Taiwo and the Chief of Staff, Prof. Ganiu Olatunde.

Obasanjo scored two goals for his team, defeating

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

the Amosun-led team, which recorded one goal at full time.

Notwithstanding his age, the former president demonstrated some smattering of agility and dexterity in ball control, which would have earned him more goals but he lost at least four scoring chances.

The governor was awarded the Most Valuable Player; Obasanjo won the Golden Boot award and Mabogunje received the Golden Gloves award.

Speaking to reporters after the match, the former President, who was the captain of the team, expressed satisfaction at the game.

He said sports is a necessary exercise for both the old and the young.

“I am satisfied and fulfilled, even at my age I cherish sports, because it is relevant to health and we should all endeavour to engage in sporting activities.”

Aregbesola reappoints SSG, CoS

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SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday swore in Moshood Adeoti and Gboyega Oyetola as the secretary to the state government and chief of staff.

Aregbesola admonished the two officials to uphold the sanctity of their oaths and perform their duties without fear or favour.

Adeoti and Oyetola served in the same capacities in the governor’s first term, which ended last November 27.

The ceremony was witnessed by Deputy Governor Mrs. Grace Titi Laoye Tomori; Head of Service Sunday Owoeye; former All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman Lowo Adebiyi and other government officials.

Adeoti said light would always triumph.

“This is the only governor who has brought inclusive governance to the table. He brought enemies of yesterday to the racket of relevant friendship and state of Osun is peaceful for that.”

•From left: President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Chidi Ajaegbu; Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and ICAN’s Vice President Olufemi Deru at ICAN’s ninth Western Zonal Accountants Conference in Oyo... yesterday.

APC alleges plot to cause mayhem in Ibadan

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has alerted to an alleged plot by the leadership of the opposition parties to sponsor mayhem in parts of Ibadan, the state capital.

In a statement by its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, the party said it had information that some leaders of the opposition have been meeting to cause disaffection for political reasons.

“Apparently, opposition elements in the state are not

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question, provided laid down rules are followed.

“By his actions and utterances, Jega has demonstrated his bias in support of the APC. For instance, how can Jega explain the 80 per cent distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) in Boko Haram ravaged Borno and Yobe states while less than 40 per cent was distributed in Lagos as of February 7 when the election was postponed?

“It is on record that Prof Maurice Iwu was asked to proceed on terminal leave two months to the end of his tenure? Is Jega not a beneficiary of Iwu’s removal?

“So, if Iwu was asked to go on terminal leave before the expiration of his tenure for Jega to assume office, what difference does it make if Jega too is asked to proceed on terminal leave before the expiration of his tenure?

“It is the President who can determine whether or not Jega will go on the mandatory three months terminal leave, which should begin on March 8.

“Let me say it categorically that the noise being made by the APC and its agents will amount to nothing because if the President removes Jega today, heavens will not fall.”

manipulate the polls. Part of the plans being nursed is the recruitment of some urchins who would be asked to put on APC branded T-shirts and instigate mayhem in parts of Ibadan.

“As the world is aware of the fact that the PDP is a leper’s hand, which has its leprous fingers in Accord, Labour Party, Social Democratic Party and others, the plan to reintroduce political unrest and chaos into the state is a conspiracy among them all and it has the strong backing of the Presidency since

all of them have been compromised to work for the reelection bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“And in addition to this, arrangements have been put in place by these opposition elements to attack APC members and supporters as our party’s campaign train resumes across the state.

“However, we urge the public, including APC faithful and supporters, to be vigilant and endeavour to report activities of disgruntled elements in the society to law enforcement agencies.”

Pro, anti-Obanikoro protests in Lagos

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Fayose talks tough on Jega’s sack KITI State Governor Ayodele Fayose yesterday described the fuss about the purported plan to sack the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, as unnecessary.

He said the heavens would not fall if President Goodluck Jonathan, who hired the INEC chief, decided to fire him.

He said the All Progressives Congress (APC) should stop acting as if Nigeria belonged to it.

The governor described the “outbursts of the APC” as “mere comedy.”

“President Goodluck Jonathan can sack Jega if he wishes, and if he does, heavens will not fall,” the governor said in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka.

The statement reads: “By turning themselves to advocates and defenders of the INEC chairman, the APC and its agents have shown that they have a deal with Jega to manipulate the elections and that the deal will be frustrated if he is asked to leave office.

“The removal of Jega or any other appointees of the Federal Government is a prerogative of the President, which no one can

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

comfortable with the celebrated peaceful atmosphere since it earns the current APC administration the confidence of the electorate as well as soaring popularity among the people, who were victims of insecurity, lawlessness and impunity perpetrated by the previous administrations.

“And since any general election is a do-or-die affair for the PDP, their leaders in Oyo State are bent on employing all crude means to

•Obanikoro

HE ambition of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, to return to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has divided the Lagos State chapter of the party.

There were protests for and against the screening of the ministerial nominee by the Senate in Lagos yesterday. A group of protesters urged the Senate to approve his nomination; another group said he was unfit to return to the federal cabinet.

Obanikoro was the minister of state for Defence. He

resigned to contest for the governorship, but he was defeated by Mr. Jimi Agbaje.

After the shadow poll, he was re-nominated for a ministerial position by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Some of the protesters said Obanikoro had given the PDP a bad name as shown in the rigging audio tape on the Ekiti State governorship election.

But, two PDP chieftains Willy Akinlude and Demola Olanrewaju - rejected the claim of the protesters, saying Obanikoro was a committed party leader.

‘No APC member joined PDP in Ondo South’

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HE Chairman of the All Progressives Con-

gress (APC) in Ondo State, Isaac Kekemeke, has debunked the report that 1,500 APC members joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Okitipupa Local Government on Monday.

Kekemeke urged PDP leaders in the area to produce the list of the defectors.

He said by March 29, people would be in a position to know the PDP’s tissue of lies.

The former secretary to the state government (SSG) spoke at the party secretariat where about 2,000 PDP members from Odigbo Local Government joined the APC. The defectors were led by Lanre Moyero and a former member of the House of Representatives, Dr.O. Wil-

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

‘From now on, we are moving forward. We are focusing our strength on how to strategise and win massively in Odigbo Local Government’ son.

Moyero said the PDP administration had been creating chaos in Odigbo by inciting indigenes and non-indigenes against one another.

Odigbo Local Government is the only cosmopolitan community in the state

with various ethnic groups, including the Oyo, Ebira, Igbo, Hausa, Edo living peacefully with the indigenes.

Moyero said the people resolved to consolidate and refused any manoeuvering from the PDP’s government.

He said: “From now on, we are moving forward. We are focusing our strength on how to strategise and win massively in Odigbo Local Government.”

Moyero said no one forced him to join APC, noting that he joined the party willingly having been convinced of the party manifesto.

Other party members and leaders in Odigbo debunked the defection report.

They said no APC member in Odigbo joined the PDP at any level.

Akinlude, who is the media and publicity director of the Goodluck/Sambo Campaign organisation, said Obanikoro was a stabilising factor in Lagos PDP. He said despite the injustice meted out to him in the primaries, he continued to campaign for the governorship candidate.

Olanrewaju said: “Obanikoro is a rallying point in the Lagos PDP. He is fit to become a minister again. He is popular in the party and his name makes a difference in Lagos PDP.”

Ibadan Poly matriculates 6000 From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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HE Rector of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Prof.

Olatunde Fawole, has warned new students to abstain from anti-social activities.

Fawole said this during the matriculation of 6,000 students yesterday.

“I admonish you to keep away from associations that will tarnish your image and that of your family, as well as destroy your academic career.

He said the institution would not compromise its image for any misconduct by students.

“Diploma certificates here are earned through rigorous academic work and sound moral attitude.

“Female students are not allowed to wear skimpy dresses that expose their thigh or blouses that expose their bodies. Male students are forbidden from wearing earrings and weaving hair.”

THE NATION THURSDAY MARCH 5, 2015

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CITYBEATS T RADERS, who suffered losses in the fire that ravaged a three-storey shopping complex in Ereko, Lagos Island, are still bemoaning their fate – three days after the incident.

The traders are planning how to return to business.

It was learnt that the first, second and third floors are managed by Rembak Textiles, a fabrics company.

The remains of some of the burnt goods littered the building.

Some traders were yesterday trying to pick pieces of the destroyed items. The shops were locked. None of the traders including those not affected opened shop.

Lagos State Ministry of Urban and Regional Planning has invited the caretaker, Kamorudeen Ajagbe-Balogun, for explanation.

Ajagbe-Balogun said the ministry’s officials came to empathise with the victims and invited him for talks.

“Although the owner is aware of the incident, after meeting with officials of Urban and Regional Planning Ministry, we shall know what next to do,” he said.

The owner of Rembak Textiles, Hajia Tawakalitu Oshodi, said she and other occupiers of the building suffered “great loss.”

According to her, the second and third floors are used as warehouses while the first floor is for shops.

“We just offloaded one container of different textile materials last Saturday. We couldn’t save any of our goods from the warehouse.

Even the little we saved from the shops are wet. We may end up selling it at a lesser

Lagos fire: ‘We couldn’t save any of our goods’ •The remains of the burnt complex... yesterday

By Basirat Braimah

price. As I speak, sales are so low. Everything is dull because all the new designs I purchased went with the fire. I thank God no life was lost and it happened at day time because other buildings would have been affected if it happened at night,” Hajia Oshodi said.

The ever-busy complex

Ejigbo torture: Suspect slumps in court •Trial begins March 20

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RIAL of 10 persons alleged to have tortured three women at Ejigbo, Lagos two years ago was stalled yesterday when one of them slumped in court.

Ahmed Adisa slumped and was rushed to the hospital about an hour before their case Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye subsequently fixed the case for March 20.

Other defendants are Isiaka Waidi, Saheed Adisa, Lateef Tijani, Oloruntoyin Dauda, Adekunle Adenuga, Azeez Akinosun, Jimoh Busari, Buhari Yusuf, and Abdullahi Harun.

They were charged to court by the Lagos State government for their involvement in the torture and molestation of the women.

They are accused of conspiracy, attempted murder, sexual assault, malicious administering of poison, obtaining money by false pretences and deprivation of liberty.

When the case was called, a defence counsel, D.I Chukwuma, told the court that Adisa, the fourth defendant, slumped and has been taken to the hospital.

“My Lord, the fourth defendant slumped about an hour ago and has been tak-

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

By Adebisi Onanuga

en to general hospital.”

Earlier, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs Idowu Alakija told the court that the defence counsel had been served with the processes as directed

by Justice Ipaye at the last sitting.

But Chukwuma and another defence counsel, Kayode Adewuyi protested that Tijani, Dauda, Adenuga and Harun, were charged with same offence for which they are standing trial at the Magistrate’s court.

They argued that it would be an abuse of process if they are arraigned again for the same charges at the high court.

“The defendants are already facing similar charges before a competent court of law, at the Magistrate’s court. The next sitting in the matter is coming up on March 18. It will be an abuse of court if the same matter is brought before another court,” he said.

But Mrs Alakija said she was not aware of the proceeding in the Magistrate’s court having withdrawn the charges.

“We don’t have any proof of what he said. I don’t want to presume that it is the charge I withdrew

looked desolate. Traders on the ground floor were still in shock.

Oscar Osadebe, one of those on the ground floor, doesn’t know what the future holds for them, especially those not affected.

“I have been selling cotton materials for over six years and I realised that when situations such as this happens, we don’t know from the magistrate’s court which our Legal advice ceased. So, I really don’t know what he is talking about”.

Justice Ipaye adjourned the matter till March 20, for prosecution to withdraw the other matter in the Magistrate’s court properly.

According to the charge, the defendants were alleged to have taken part in a trial by ordeal of their victims, Nike Salami, Ajoke Agomo and Juliana Agomo, causing them grievous harm.

They were said to have detained their victims against their will.

The charge said the defendants beat up their victims, stripped them naked and rubbed pepper on their bodies. They also allegedly supervised the insertion of sticks and noxious substances into their private parts on the purported claim that the women stole pepper.

The prosecution alledged that the defendants attempted to kill their victims.

They were said to have obtained N50, 000 from one Fima Agomo, a relative of the victims, for the supposed payment of traders whose pepper were purportedly stolen.

The offences are contrary to and punishable under Sections 44, 171, 127(1), 128(b), 241, 243, 270, 228(2), 259, 312(1)(a), 405 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

PHOTO: BASIRAT BRAIMAH

what is next. Since Tuesday, we have not made sales,” Osadebe said.

Another occupant, Yinka Twins who also trades in textile materials said: “I have been trading in this complex

for over 10 years. I am confused. I don’t know if they will demolish the building because I have no place to go and if I should eventually get another place, it may not be a favoured spot. I plead

with Officials of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to dispose the charred remains of the fire in front of our complex so we can start business again.”

Synagogue foundation was faulty, says Lagos govt

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HE foundation of the last September 12 Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) collapsed building was faulty, the Lagos State government told a Coroner yesterday.

Saheed Ariyori, a consultant to Lagos State Material Testing Agency, told the Coroner, Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, that the “building failed because the base that was supposed to take the load was grossly inadequate”.

He was testifying at the resumed hearing of the coroner inquest into the incident in which 115 persons mostly South Africans died.

His evidence varies to that of his fellow engineer, Oladele Ogundeji, who said last Friday that the foundation met approved standard.

By Adebisi Onanuga

Ogundeji, who supervised the construction for the contractor, Hardrock Construction and Engineering Limited, ruled out foundational defect as a possible cause of the collapse.

Yesterday, Ariyori, led in evidence by counsel to the government, Akingbolahan Adeniran, said he was part of the team of structural and geo-technical engineers that carried out Structural Integrity Test on the building after its collapse.

He said the team took samples of the materials for testing and also took measurements of the foundation bases.

Welder ‘rapes’ expectant mother

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WELDER, Monday Maule has been arraigned before a Tinubu Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly raping an expectant mother. The woman was said to be eight months pregnant when the incident occurred.

The 25-year old defendant, who resides at Friends’ Colony in Agungi, Lekki, said to have committed the offence punishable under Section 259 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011, on February 23, about 4:30am.

Prosecuting police Sergeant Daniel Ighodalo told Magistrate Olaitan Ajayi that the defendant committed the crime while the victim, his neighbour, was asleep.

He said the defendant unlawfully had carnal knowledge of the 23-year old mother of four while her husband was away.

By Precious Igbonwelundu

According to the prosecutor, the victim slept without locking her door and woke up when she felt pains on her face and private part.

He said she was dizzy and unable to fight the defendant due to her condition, but raised the alarm which led to the defendant’s arrest.

The defendant pleaded not guilty.

Ighodalo urged the court to remand the defendant in prison because of the seriousness of the offence.

Magistrate Ajayi granted him N250, 000 bail with two responsible sureties in the like sum.

He adjourned the matter to March 23.

The magistrate ordered that the case file be sent to the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.

The team, he said, simulated the building to arrive at its conclusions because the church did not provide the designs.

Ariyori demonstrated the defects of foundation before the court with calculations on a board using a marker after being provided with a copy of the structural design.

He said based on all the tests and the calculations, “we discovered that from inception, the building failed because the base that was supposed to take the load was grossly inadequate “The minimum base that will be required should have been 4.5 metres by 4.5 metres but what we had there was 2.2 metres by 2.2 metres.

“It was a wrong choice of foundation base. The foundation should have been continuous base and not a pad as was used in the construction.”

He said the load on the foundation was far more than it could bear, hence the collapse.

SCOAN’s counsel Olalekan Ojo urged the court to adjourn his cross-examination of the witness to enable him consult with his client’s engineers.

According to him, there are some discrepancies in the building design which must be examined before the witness is cross-examined.

He recalled that Ogundeji last Friday testified that a raft foundation was not ideal for the structure.

Chief Magistrate Komolafe will visit the site tomorrow. Ariyori’s cross-examination will also come up tomorrow.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

What does corporate governance do? It ensures that you have set up a structure and a culture within the institution that can drive the business in line with given rules. That’s what corporate governance does.

-Seplat Petroleum Managing Director Mr Austin Avuru

CBN inaugurates N300b real sector support facility

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in a bid to unlock the potential of the real sector to engender output growth, value added productivity and job creation, has established a N300 billion Real Sector Support Facility (RSSF).

The facility, the CBN said in circular issued yesterday, will be used to support large enterprises for startups and expansion financing needs of N500 million up to a maxi-

By Collins Nweze

mum of N10 billion. It said the real sector activities targeted by the facility are manufacturing, agricultural value chain and selected service sub-sectors.

The fund, it added, is expected to improve access to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to fast-track the development of the manufacturing, agricultural value chain and services sub-sec-

tors of the Nigerian economy.

It will also increase output, generate employment, diversify the revenue base, increase foreign exchange earnings and provide inputs for the industrial sector on a sustainable basis.

It said the Development Finance Department of the CBN will be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the facility while the activities to be covered un-

der the facility are new, startups and or expansion projects in the following sub-sectors are manufacturing where the company is involved in the production and processing of tangible goods.

It is also involved in manufacturing where the company fabricates, deploys plants, machinery or equipment to deliver goods or provide infrastructure to facilitate economic activity in the

real sector; and such entity must not be involved in the financial services industry.

It said the manufacturers include Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (SMEs) defined as an entities with an asset base (excluding land) of between N5 million and N500 million and with labour force of between 11 and 300.

“Any entity falling within the definition of an SME and/or manufacturer; an

entity wholly-owned and managed by Nigerian private limited company registered under the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990; a legal business operated as a sole proprietorship and be a member of the relevant Organised Private Sector Associations such as Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, National Association of Small Scale Industrialists,” it said.

MTN revenue up by 4% • Mobile giant spends N30.5b on diesel

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• Dangote Foundation yesterday, presented scholarship award to the tune of N20 million to some students of James Hope College, Agbor, Delta State. At the presentation is the CEO of The Foundation, Mrs. Zouera Youssoufou in the middle and some students of the College, displaying the cheque.

FEC approves 11m euros for testing equipment T HE Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved eleven million euros contract for the procurement of Auto Testing Laboratories equipment and tools.

This was made known to State House correspondents by the Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, at the end of the FEC meeting.

He said the equipment would ensure that Nigeria is not a dumping ground for outdated vehicles.

The Minister said that laboratories will be based in Lagos, Enugu and Zaria.

He said: “The overall objective is to ensure vehicle safety and environmental protection as well as the quality of automative products in Ni-

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

geria.”

“There is a financial provision of N3,011,138,664.00 in the approved 2014 internally generated revenue (IGR) budget of the council out of which the sum of N2,384,260,928.05 was earmarked for the auto-testing laboratories equipment and tools.”

“Council approved the award of contract for the procurement, installation and training on auto-testing laboratories equipment and tools in the sum of 11,574,082.18 Euros with a delivery period of 36 weeks.” he said Breaking down the contract,

he said: “Lot 1; Supply, installation and training on AutoTesting Laboratory Equipment for emission laboratory, Lagos in favour of Messers AVL List GMBH, Austria in the sum of 4,801,939.79 euros.”

“Lot II: Supply, installation and training on Auto-Testing Laboratory Equipment for Auto component laboratory, Enugu, in favour of Messers Mustang Advanced Engineering (USA) Afram Nigeria Ltd in the sum of 4,626,531.00 million euros.”

“Lot III: Supply, installation and training on Auto-Testing Laboratory Equipment for Auto testing laboratory equipment, Zaria in favour of Messers AVS Nigeria / Artec Testnology, Netherlands, in the sum of 1,202,783.40 million euros.”

Oando upstream earns $234m revenue

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RASHING oil prices notwithstanding, Oando Energy Resources (OER), the upstream arm of Oando Plc, has generated a revenue of $234 million for 2014, a feat the company attributed to fiscal measures put in place before the slump.

The funds according to the company will be applied to a $238 million loan pre-payment, thereby substantially reducing the company’s total debt from $900 million in August 2014 to $615 million.

Effectively, the company has managed to reduce its debt by 30 per cent in the space of seven months post the acquisition of ConocoPhillips as-

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

sets in Nigeria.

OER successfully realised $234 million by resetting its crude oil hedge floor price from an average of $95.35 per barrel to $65.00 per barrel on 10,615 barrels per day for the next 18 months and another 1,553 barrels per day for a further 18 months until January 2019. The company will pay an additional $4 million from its cash reserves.

The company’s $1.5 billion landmark acquisition of ConcoPhillips Nigeria was funded with a 50/50 debt-equity mix. A repayment of $238 million on the debt portion used to close the acquisition

implies that the company has effectively reduced the net purchase price to $1.2 billion.

OER, which has a current market capitalisation of $1 billion and a daily output of about 53,100 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), had initially adopted hedging tools on its future crude production in anticipation of ongoing oil price volatility.

OER Chief Executive Officer, Pade Durotoye said: “The decline in global crude oil prices led to a substantial gain for our company and we have 10,832 barrels per day average production hedged for the balance of 2015 and 8,000 barrels per day for 2016.

TN Nigeria said it recorded revenue growth of four per cent in 2014, representing a drop of one per cent when compared to growth recorded in the preceding year.

MTN Nigeria CEO, Michael Ikpoki made this known yesterday at a media briefing held in Lagos.

Ikpoki, who was represented by the Chief Marketing Officer Bayo Adekanbi, said the revenue position was lower than the inflation and Gross Domestic Product growth of eight per cent and six per cent.

He said the cost of diesel remained the biggest singular expense in MTN Nigeria’s cost profile, which accounted for N30.5 billion in the year.

The company also recorded 22 per cent increase in total cost of operations, mainly attributable to some unused accrual reversals in 2013.

Adekanbi explained that data revenue went up by

By Simeon Ebulu

over 25 per cent, with data volume increasing by 50 per cent; data revenue contributed 18 per cent in 2014 from 15 per cent in 2013 to the firm’s total revenue.

He said there was a 29 per cent growth in site rental expense due to astronomical rent increases by landlords.

He explained that voice calls accounted for the lion’s share of revenue, though with minimal growth, while data and digital revenues continue to experience a healthy growth.

MTN Nigeria remains focused on growing its data and digital revenue. Some of the data and digital products launched have continued to aid penetration in some other industries, such as music, insurance and health,” he said.

The MTN helmsman said that over 30 per cent of the sector’s revenues were paid directly to government as tax/regulatory fees.

The General Manager,

• Ikpoki

Corporate Affairs, Funmi Onajide, said that other networks were indebted to the company to the tune of over N13 billion on interconnectivity charges.

She said MTN is reaching out to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), to intervene and prevail on the debtors to pay up.

The MTN Group posted an 8.7 per cent rise in fullyear earnings after a revenue boost from Nigeria, but warned of possible headwinds ahead. weaker oil prices bring economic doubts to its key market.

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THE NATION THURSDAY MARCH 5, 2015

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THE NATION

BUSINESS e-Business

e-mail: lukajanaku02@gmail.com

2.3GHz spectrum: Bitflux blames delayed roll-out on insecurity, policies

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HE Chief Executive Officer of VDT Communications, Mr Biodun Omoniyi, has blamed investment challenge occasioned by insecurity and government policies for the delays in rolling out service through the 2.3gigghertz (GHz) spectrum licence it won from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) last year.

VDT is the driver of Bitflux, a consortium of VDT Communications, Bitcom Systems Limited and Superflux. The firm had defeated second national carrier, Globacom, to clinch the wholesale licence during an international auction in Abuja.

Omoniyi, who spoke in Lagos on the sideline during the unveiling of the International Standards Organisation Certification, (ISO) 20000-1:2011 the firm got from the British Standards Institute (BSI), said the business operating environment has no incentives for foreign direct investments, lamenting that the firm had to postpone its initial plan to roll out in the first quarter of this year.

He said: “Bitflux won the 2.3GHz spectrum licence that was auctioned by the NCC last year, and VDT Communications is the major driver of Bitflux, which is a consortium of VDT Communications, Bitcom Systems Limited and Superflux.

“The truth of the matter is that we are eager and ready to roll-out the service across Nigeria, and we would have

Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

done that earlier, but for the investment challenges in the country. We are, however, ready to roll-out, having signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an international vendor to supply equipment that will facilitate service rollout.

“Initially, we wanted to rollout in the first quarter of the year, but that plan has been shifted by two weeks, which means we have a new date to commence service by April, this year.”

He said in the past one decade when the firm began operation in the country, it has invested a lot of money in building a world-class technology firm that has become a pride, not only to the country but the international community.

According to him, the continuous growth in technology solution has kept the firm at par with foreign service providers, adding that because the firm competes favourably with foreign firms, its customers are proud to do business with it. “We are not losing customers in anyway; instead, our customer base is increasing by the year,” Omoniyi said.

“We have invested so much in this business to grow it to the level in which it is today. In 2001, when we started, we had only three branches, but today we have 46 operating branches in all the 36 states of the fed-

eration, including Abuja.

“A company we promoted paid $25 million, which is more than N5 billion in the dispensation of our naira value just to acquire operating licence.

The company needs at least, four times of that amount, which is about N20 billion to roll out services and that is a lot of money, and that is the kind of industry we are into. It is quite capital intensive,” he added.

On the certification, he said: “The struggle to earn international certification is an unending one. About three years ago, we earned the certification for ISO 9001, which is a certification for quality management service. But today we are celebrating our ISO 20000 certification, which we recently earned, and which is an advanced certification to ISO 9001.

“What this means is that as the business grows and expands, we will be getting more certifications and also consolidating on the ones we already have. The ISO 20000 is not a destination, but a journey because we are still eyeing more certifications like ISO 27000, ISO 28300 and many more that will still come up.

“The truth is that we must continually improve on previous certifications because the British Standard Institute, which offers the certifications, will continually carry out audit surveillance on previous certifications to find out if the holders of such certifications are operating in conformity with the standards of the certifications.”

Partnership with UNAIDS touching lives, says Airtel’s CEO

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HE partnership betwwen the telco and the Joint United Na tions Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) will further open new vista of opportunities to deepen its commitment to touching the lives of Nigerians positively, especially in the area of quality healthcare services delivery, the Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, has said.

He spoke in Lagos during the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between UNAIDS and Airtel to eliminate Mother-to-Child transmission of HIV in Nigeria.

He said Airtel has a track record of supporting and empowering young people, who are the future leaders of our country.

He said Airtel has adopted and built schools for children; provided several interventions in the area of healthcare for hundreds of kids, adding that the Touching Lives programme has even offered the company a more elaborate platform to reach and connect with underprivileged children.

“Indeed, Airtel is intensely interested in impacting society positively as this underscores our corporate philosophy of becoming the most loved brand in the daily lives of Nigerians.”

UNAIDS Country Director for Nigeria and the UNAIDS Focal Point for the Economic Community for West Africa (ECOWAS), Dr. Bilali Camara, said: “Eliminating mother to child transmission of HIV and keeping their mother alive do not only improve the wellbeing of children and their mothers. They impact positively on the general maternal and child survival.”

Director-General, National Agency for Control of Aids (NACA), Prof John Idoko, praised telco for its leading role in providing practical, relevant and continuous assistance in the fight against the dreaded HIV/AIDS. Idoko described Airtel as a trusted, reliable and committed partner that has stood behind NACA since 2005

when the agency first launched a call centre to assist people living with HIV/AIDS. Explaining why Airtel was supporting NACA, Idoko who was represented by the Director, Resource Mobilisation, NACA, Dr. Emmanuel Alhassan, said: “It was in 2005 when we first partnered with Airtel to activate hotlines (interactive telecommunications platform) with the sole intention of providing both guidance and counseling to Nigerians vis-à-vis HIV/AIDS and other related health issues.

“Back then, we rolled out what could be termed a pilot National Call Contact Centre. And the experiment was extremely successful: the public literally went agog as feedback/responses poured in on the pilot project.

“In 2012, Airtel also provided the network backbone for our ultra-modern call centre, which was inaugurated by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. The facility, which is fitted with toll free lines and has capacity, to process calls from about 30 callers simultaneously is offering Nigerians irrespective of their location access to accurate information and benefit from public enlightenment on HIV&AIDS and other diseases such as Tuberculosis and Malaria.”

Idoko recalled how Airtel ‘painted the town red’ during the 2005 edition of the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), saying that the telco did not just add immense value to the international conference but made it colourful and classy.

The NACA boss noted that it wasn’t a surprise when Airtel indicated its interest to partner with UNAIDS to eliminate Mother-to-Child transmission of HIV. The deal will allow the telco’s subscribers to benefit from information on prevention of HIV services. This shall be disseminated through text messages.

Firm wins award

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• From left: Director, BOLY, Mr Ayoola Osunnaike; Business Development Director Mr Yinka Sorinwa and Director Mr Kehinde Kassim at a briefing on BOLFYNG e-procurement solution in Lagos.

OMPUTER Warehouse Group Plc (CWG) has been recognised as the Solution Provider of the Year and Renewals Partner for the Year in the West East and Central Africa (WECA) at the yearly VMware Channels awards held in

ICT skills vital for better opportunities, says New Horizons CEO

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ANAGING Director New Horizons Nigeria Mr. Tim Akano has stressed the need for the acquisition of information communication technology (ICT) skills, arguing that such skills brightens the chances of a better future for the youths in the country.

Akano, who spoke during the inauguration of a N50 million ICT Centre for the students of Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, said the world started with agricultural revolution, then followed by industrial revolution, adding that in the 21st century, it is ICT that is ruling the world.

He said: “For any person to make great impact, he/she must have ICT skills. Whether you are studying nursing, business administration, accounting, medicine, biology, law and others, you need ICT skills.”

He said the company has extended globally recognised IT certifications which are sought after

by employers across all sectors to almost all the private universities in the last 10 years training over 50,000 students nationwide. He urged the students to avail themselves of the opportunity presented by the resource centre by taking serious their coursework and strive to get the certification.

“We felt that Adeleke University should not be left behind because the internet has turned the world to a global village. You will compete for employment with people from China, India, USA, etc even as the job market is looking for people with the requisite skills irrespective of where they come from. You owe it a duty to put Nigeria on the global stage. With your IT and e-business certification you can be a millionaire as well as an employer,” he said.

Akano informed the students that world economy is being ruled by the IT industry. He said: “60 per cent of the richest people in the

world and USA in particular are in the ICT industry such as the founder of Facebook, Microsoft, Apple, Google, Twitter, and others who are billionaires. In the next 20 years, Nigeria’s crude oil will no longer become the major revenue earner. The services industry will depend on ICT for revenue and it is here you come in.”

Its Vice Chancellor, Prof Oluwole Gideon Amusan, said it would enable every student irrespective of his or her discipline have minimum of four international skills certifications at 90 per cent subsidised rate, before graduation from the university. It will position them in global software development industry, e-banking, e-medical/telemedicine, e- government, e-legal administration, oil and gas as well as telecoms sector with attendant employment and self employment opportunities.

He said:“It will provide skills

that make our students more marketable and relevant to the demands of the job market. Today, ICT has made scholars to redefine literacy. Man will return to the Stone Age if ICT is removed from learning. Adeleke University deems it fit that all our students should have certifications in CCNA, Oracle, Java, Microsoft and other globally acclaimed IT and e-business professionals courses.”

The school’s ICT Director/Head, Department of Computer Science Dr. Longe Olumide, thanked the governing council and management of the university as well as New Horizons, for the gesture. He said the ICT certifications will make the students digital natives, place the school at the top among the likes of Harvard University.

He urged the students to make use of the opportunity and entrench the young university among Nigeria’s leading institutions.

Johannesburg, South Africa.

Organised by VMware, CWG’s Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) partner, it is meant to recognise the dedication of her partners, acknowledged for outstanding achievements in sales, performance and customer satisfaction every year.

In a statement, the company said: “The VMware Channels Award is to celebrate outstanding partners and the continual investment they make in developing their skills and capacity in order to better support VMware customers.”

Head, Partner and General Business Lead, VMware, Mark Reynolds, said the awards portrays that “VMware appreciates the critical role partners play in helping its customers move to the cloud, embrace the softwaredefined Data centre and plot their path to the hybrid cloud”.

CWG received the recognition alongside 16 other prominent firms across Africa. They include foremost global technology outfits IBM, Royalty OEM Partner of the Year (WECA); HP, as Royalty OEM Partner of the Year (South Africa), Dell as the highest Revenue contributor of the year (South Africa), Ubuntu as the outstanding OEM reseller (South Africa) amongst others.

CWG, however, is the only IT firm from Nigeria that was recognised.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS LABOUR

47,913 PHCN workers cry for payment A BOUT 47, 913 bona fide staff of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) are yet to receive their severance package after the privatisation of the electricity sector.

The workers protested the nonpayment of their housing allowance, totalling about N400million by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).

They said the money was deducted from their salaries in 2013 before their disengagement.

The workers carried placards bearing various inscriptions, such as “President Jonathan, please help us locate where our money is hanging”; “There is God o o o”; and “Why delay payment of our housing allowances since 2013?”

The protest took place at the secretariat of Oyo State Correspondents at Mokola, Ibadan.

Addressing reportesr, their spokespersons, Oyedele Edna Owesiri, Julius Adeleke Taiwo, Adesina Olayinka, described as unusual the delay in the payment of the allowances.

They said some of their colleagues have been paid while their own payment was being unduly delayed.

The aggrieved workers claimed that the money has been paid to batches one to 10, but for reasons best known to those concerned, they have refused to pay batches 11 and 12.

Stories by Toba Agboola

While pleading with President Goodluck Jonathan to look into their plight, the visibly angry exworkers lamented that some of them have died waiting for the money.

They explained that the affected workers are spread across Ogun, Kwara and parts of Kogi, Osun and Oyo states.

Specifically, they asked the National Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO), a body set up by the Federal Government to see to all liabilities incurred by the government during the privatisation, to intervene.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and other relevant government agencies have embarked on the last round of verification to sort things out.

Director-General of the BPE,

‘For over 16 years as a public monopoly, PHCN neither employed nor brought in new investments into the sector’

Benjamin Dikki made this known when he featured at a radio programme in Lagos.

He said: “This is the last verification exercise. After this exercise, all staff that did not come for verification will be declared ghost workers.”

Dikki appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the evolving electric market in the country as the ains in the sector would not manifest overnight.

He explained that unlike reforms in other sectors, which brought immediate results, the power sector reform requires time as investment in the sector is capital intensive.

Dikki said over N300 billion worth of investments has been injected into the power sector since the take over, one-and-half years ago.

He pointed out that the investment was for the upgrade of power infrastructure, adding that they become obsolete over the decades, saying that new technologies are evolving.

He said because of the infrastructural development by the power investors, power interruptions in the country have reduced to the barest minimum, while over 2,000 engineers and technicians have been employed since the takeover.

Dikki noted regretted that for over 16 years as a public monopoly, PHCN neither employed nor brought in new investments into the sector.

Judiciary workers threaten legal action

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HE Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has vowed to institute a legal action against state governments that have not implemented the Federal High Court, Abuja verdict that granted financial autonomy to the judicial sector.

JUSUN President, Comrade Marwan Mustapha Adamu, made the threat after an emergency meeting of its national officers, saying the union has notified its lawyers to approach the court to freeze the accounts of defaulting states.

Speaking on the union’s ongoing strike in some states in the country, Adamu said the strike will continue alongside the intended court action, stating that the suspension of the strike in Enugu, Niger, Kogi, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Delta and Bayelsa followed compliance of union’s demands by the governments.

JUSUN suspended its nationwide strike recently following a memorandum of understanding reached with the Federal Government, but directed state chapters not to do so until an understanding is reached on the implementation of the court judgment.

Adamu lamented the decision by

the Jigawa State Government to withhold the January salary of its members, saying that the union would use all legal channels available to challenge intimidation of its members and ensure that Nigeria’s labour laws are respected.

“States facing various threats and intimidation from their state governments, including non-payment of salaries, are to continue with the struggle as the union, among other opinion is considering taking appropriate legal action to address each case on its merit.

“State branches are not to submit the struggle to the whims and caprices of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) chairmen, such as in Abia which has arrogated to themselves the power to determine conditions for suspending the strike. Any strike suspended without due process shall be nullified by the national headquarters of JUSUN. “The union remains focused and will take all appropriate legal steps to enforce its resolutions on the strike for the implementation of the constitutional provision of judiciary autonomy confirmed by the court judgment of 13th January, 2014,” he said.

21m in forced labour, says ILO

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BOUT 21 million women, men and children are forced to work under inhuman conditions on farms, in sweatshops, on board fishing vessels, in the sex industry or in private homes, with their sweat generating $150 billion in illegal profits annually, Director General, International Labour Organisation, Guy Ryder, has said.

Ryder, who gave the startling statistics in a statement marking this year’s World Day of Social Justice, insisted that there should be no excuse, that forced labour can be stopped.

“World Day of Social Justice should galvanise action against poverty and social exclusion.

Work done in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity – decent work - is a key to inclusion and it is a conduit of social justice.

“Yet the global situation gives cause for grave concern. The economic gap continues to widen, with the richest 10 per cent earning 30 to

40 per cent of total income while the poorest 10 per cent earn between two and seven per cent.

“In 2013, 939 million workers – 26.7 per cent of total employment, were still coping on $2 a day or less.

Millions of young people facing a future of unemployment or working poverty are losing hope in promises of economic and social progress,” Ryder said.

He lamented that women and children are particularly at risk of being abducted and sold into slavery in times of violent conflict, stressing that in some instances, forced labour keeps entire families and communities in abject poverty for generations.

“Ending forced labour calls for integrated approaches. Governments, employers and their organisations, trade unions and civil society organisations, each have a role to play in protecting, defending and empowering those who are vulnerable, as well as creating opportunities for decent work for all,” he said.

TUC urges COAS to redeem pledge • •From left: Chairman, NLC, Lagos chapter, Comrade Idowu Adelakun; Executive Director, Centre for Labour Studies and Advocates (CLASA), Mr John Odeh and Director-General, Electoral Institute, INEC, Prof Abubakar Momoh, during a sensitisation workshop on the forthcoming general election for workers in Lagos.

Don’t sell your PVCs, workers urged

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TAKEHOLDERS in the labour sector have cautioned workers to resist the temptation of exchanging their permanent voters’ cards (PVCs) for money from unscrupulous politicians in the country.

They made the call in Lagos at a one day-interactive session organised by the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) with the Voters Education and Publicity Department of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

A communiqué signed by the union’s President, Comrade Dele Hunsu, urged workers and other electorates to make sacrifice and ensure that they comply with the schedule and directive of the electoral officers.

“Nigerian workers must ensure that they arrive the election venue early as accreditation is expected to commence at 8.00am and close at 1:00pm whilst voting commences at 1:30pm,” he said.

He said workers should embrace the use of PVC and the card reader and join forces with INEC

in forestalling electoral fraud.

He commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the observed improvement in the PVC distribution leading to over 52 million voters having received their cards.

On the botched elections of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which held in Abuja last month, Hunsu urged Nigerian workers to put the ugly development behind them and elect progressive leaders that will work to defend the rights of workers.

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Union pleads for condemned soldiers

HE Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria has commended and urged the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), LieutenantGeneral Kenneth Minimah, to go all out to reward soldiers as promised during his visit to Baga town in Kukawa Local Government Area, Bornu State.

TUC in a statement signed by its President, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, also urged the leadership of other security operatives who are participating in the fight to follow suit.

“We read in the dailies that COAS had boosted the morale of the troops at the scene of the fight when he commended their courage and patriotism in the fight to save our dear country. He told them that every soldier who participated in the Baga operation, whether dead or alive has been promoted to the

next rank. While we commend the COAS for the confidence-building trip, we wish to passionately appeal to him to ensure that the promise is fulfilled straight away as it will go a long way in motivating and encouraging the soldiers,” Kaigama said.

The Congress appealed to the Federal Government and the military authority to temper justice with mercy on the soldiers who were condemned some months ago.

“Justice, they say serves a better societal purpose when tempered with mercy. And indeed the quality of mercy is not strained. It is twice blessed. It blesses he that gives and he that takes.

“We can say that when functions are carried out systematically and meticulously, and to the best of ability, the result is success and joy for all,” he said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

16

THE NATION

BUSINESS INDUSTRY

industry@thenationaonlineng.net

Getting gas to fire the power plants has been a Herculean task. Unreliable supply infrastructure and pipeline vandals have continued to compromise its distribution to various plants. The authorities are, however, looking at renewable energy as an alternative. Will the diversifying of sources of power supply improve electricity supply? Assistant Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA asks.

Can renewable energy ignite consumers’ hopes?

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T’S an idea whose time has come.

The rethink in favour of diversify ing sources of power supply to guarantee improved electricity supply to Nigerians and operators in the industrial sector is coming at an auspicious time. The strategy, which seeks to explore alternative power sources such as renewable energy such as coal, solar, wind, and biomass, is coming at a time the excitement and optimism that greeted the unbundling of the sector.

However, the handover of the sector to private investors has brought agony and frustration to consumers as there has not been any visible improvement in electricity supply more than a year after the sector was privatised. Rather, electricity supply has worsened and tariff gone as high as 100 per cent in Africa’s most populous and largest economy.

Although the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, has continued to plead with the consumers to be patient, saying that it takes a long time to build power plants. According to him, issues of pipeline vandalism and getting gas to power the plants have been tasking.

The Minister, who spoke with reporters in Lagos, said: “Vandalism is taking a toll on us. A situation where our own compatriots vandalise the oil and gas pipelines, especially the gas pipelines that supply gas to the power stations, since 70 per cent of all of our power generation is from gas-fired turbines and 30 per cent is from hydro. We have not been doing coal, we have not been doing renewable; we have not been doing biomass, so we really are hamstrung. So, the government is now working on diversifying to make sure that we have a good, robust fuel mix.”

Noting the need to think out of the box, Nebo disclosed that licences had been issued to investors interested in generating electricity through coal and solar power. According to him, the government was working towards generating 10 per cent of the country’s electricity from coal.

The Nation learnt that under the plan, government would build coal-fired plants in Enugu, Benue, Kogi and Gombe states. The plan, it was learnt, kicked off about a fortnight ago when the Federal Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with One Nation Energy Platform Ltd. for the production of 500 megawatts (MWs) coal-fired power plant in Enugu.

Nebo signed for the the government, while the Chairman of the company, Dr. Uzoma Obiyo, signed on behalf of the company. A statement by the Ministry described the agreement as a welcome development for the government’s quest for a robust energy mix that would support the nation’s aspiration for development of the power sector.

The statement noted that the coalpower project will also provide stable power devoid of challenges of sabotage from vandals. It said citing the coal powered plant in the Enugu area was a welcome development as Ugwuaji, a settlement in Enugu State, houses one of the biggest transmission sub-stations in the country.

It also described the coal deposit in Nigeria as very clean, and that the processing of the mineral resource for energy delivery would not be a cumbersome process. It further said the Southeast zone alone had enough coal deposits to deliver 5,000 Mw of coal fired power to Nigeria.

•Prof. Nebo

Earlier, the government through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) granted an operating licence to Trombay Power Generation Limited for a 500 MWs power plant to be located at Wajari village on Dadinkowa Road, Yamaltu Local Government Area of Gombe State.

Chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, who handed over the licence to the company in Abuja, noted that coal power plant “is becoming important in the effort to diversify our fuel source.”

Dangote Group is also investing a whopping $250million in three coal-fired power plants in its cement plants in Obajana, Kogi State, Ibeshe in Ogun State and Gboko, in Benue State. The company, last year, imported its first consignment of coal from South Africa. Dangote Cement Managing Director, Devacumar Edwin, explained that the decision to look towards coal fired power plants was informed by the worsening situation of power supply caused by continuous drop in gas supply to power generating stations.

Edwin said: “As you know, the gas and the fuel oil supply situation is going from bad to worse every day and all the manufacturing industries and all the power plants are affected.”

He added that because of the difficulties the companies that bought the power plants are experiencing as a result of inadequate gas supply, there are fears that they might not be able to settle their obligations to the banks. He said to continue hoping without taking action will amount to watching one’s investments go down the drain.

“We are trying to be proactive because if we keep slacking, nobody will come to our aid. So as much as we are going to appeal to the government for help, we have made investment so that our business will continue to thrive,” he said, adding that the Group’s investment in coal has created opportunities for the

• Chairman of NERC, Dr Sam • Alhaji Aliko Dangote Amadi

sector and that the move will reduce the company’s cost of production.

He, however, said the group was looking at exploring the opportunity in the local coal industry as supplies from within the country would be cheaper in the long run. For the group and other investors in coalpowered electricity generation, the local coal industry holds lots of promises. For instance, Nigeria has about 22 coalfields spread over 14 states, including Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Cross River, Edo, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Kogi, Kwara, Nassarawa, Ondo and Plateau states.

Available geological data suggest that Nigeria’s coal reserves, which can be described as proven and capable of being exploited in commercial quantities are about 639 million tonnes.

Also, the inferred reserves – resources present, but with a less assured reliability of commercial recoverability - are about 2.75 billion tonnes. Interestingly, Nigeria’s coal, according to experts, is unique because of its low sulphur and ash content. It also has low thermoplastic properties, making it very attractive for power generation.

The imperative of renewable energy At various fora, Nebo said pipeline vandalisation is the major reason for the challenges of power supply in the country. He explained that about 2,300MW was lost in the past few months due to the vandalism of five gas pipelines that supply power to the national grid.

According to him, the affected pipelines include the Escravos-Lagos Gas Pipeline System (ELPS) with a generation capacity of 800MW and the Trans-Forcados pipeline with capacity of 800MW. Others are Trans-Niger pipeline with capacity of 500MW, the AlakiriOnne gas pipeline and Chevron gas plant with capacity of 2,672 MW, which were also affected.

At the last count, about 20 ruptured pipelines have been identified, all due to sabotage, according to the Ni-

gerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The corpoation reported that saboteurs were responsible for the destruction of Escravos gas pipeline in 2013. It also said the EscravosWarri stretch of the ELPS and the Trans Forcados crude pipeline were also destroyed, adding that investigations by the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) shown the pipelines were punctured. “The cumulative effect of the above interruptions is a real degradation of power supply to Nigerians,” NNPC said.

However, pipeline vandals are not the only ones wrecking havoc on the nation’s electricity supply. Persistent low water level has also compromised the hydro-power dams. The Minister, however, assured that rehabilitation was ongoing at the Kainji and Shiroro dams to upgrade them.

Nebo, during a visit to The Nation as part of his tour of media houses, also said the government was thinking of picko-hydro that can be powered by the smallest stream to generate power at least for a little community of people.

The government has also begun the building of the 700 MW Zungeru dam and will soon begin work on the 3,050 MW Mambilla power plants, both of which have been on the drawing board for decades. At least 17 small and medium hydro power plants are being developed across the country.

It is expected that when the Kashimbilla power plant is fully functional, it will generate an additional 40 MW, while the Dadinkowa dam will rake in 34 MW.

Solar, biomass to the rescue Although the Federal Government, The Nation learnt, is planning to add 2,483 MW of electricity to the national grid this year through renewable energy sources, part of it would come from solar. As Nebo pointed out, one of the celebrated milestones in the power sector is the flag-off and commissioning of Operation Light-up

‘While large and small hydropower would contribute 2,121 Mw and 140 MW to the renewable energy generation this year, it is also expected that solar accounts for 117 Mw, with biomass electricity at 12.3 per cent.’

Rural Nigeria projects in three rural communities of Abuja, namely Durumi, Shappe and Waru. He said residents in those villages, who hitherto had never seen electricity, marked uninterrupted solar power supply for one year.

Already, plans have reportedly reached advanced stages to replicate the projects in hundreds of communities across the country, while also encouraging the private sector to key into it for wider spread.

Similarly, biomass is increasingly becoming attractive as an alternative energy source. According to Nebo, the option would ride on the huge waste generated in major cities across the country such as Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kaduna and Ibadan, among others.

“We can aggregate these and put more power plants here and there, and feed them directly to the distribution network of the country and that is embedded generation and distributed power,” the Minister explained.

Another alternative energy source that holds promise is wind energy.

For instance, Nigeria has wind plant in Katsina State. However, the project, which is over 97 per cent completed, ran into a hitch following the kidnapping of the French national in charge of the project. But the Minister expressed hope that the project would be inaugurated soon. He said there was no reason some parts of Nigeria would not benefit from wind energy.

According to him, Jos in Plateau State and Katsina in Katsina State have a lot of wind velocity to support wind-powered electricity.

Renewable energy policy For electricity consumers, the renewed hope in renewable energy received more impetus from the National Policy on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. The Minister said Nigeria, which hitherto did not have a renewable energy policy, now boasts a draft policy. The Minister said the policy has been taken to the National Executive Council (NEC) for approval.

Presenting the Draft National Policy on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at a stakeholders’ workshop in Abuja, Director of the Electrical Inspectorate Services (EIS) in the Federal Ministry of Power, Abayomi Adebisi, said that under the policy, 8,188MW will be achieved with Renewable Energy (RE) by 2020 on a medium term, while the long-term target is on the realisation of 23,134 MW by year 2030.

Adebisi said RE would contribute by 1.3 percent in the year to the national grid with a corresponding increase of 8 per cent and 16 per cent, between 2020 and 2030. “While large and small hydropower would contribute 2,121 MW and 140 MW to the renewable energy generation this year, it is also expected that solar accounts for 117 MW, with biomass electricity at 12.3 per cent,” he said.

He also added that the policy development was being facilitated by some partners with a grant from GIZ, a German agency. “We sourced for grants from GIZ, then we pooled over 30 documents from people who had once done something on renewable energy. We got a committee of experts to develop the policy, and the draft was approved by the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREE) in May 2013,” Adebisi explained.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

17

COMMENTARY LETTER

EDITORIALS

The fire this time •The Ebonyi crisis and impeachment frenzy should not be allowed to burn down the state

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BONYI State is on the verge of crisis, unless the political actors apply the brake. To stop the descent into anarchy, we urge the security agencies to rein in those responsible for the recent fire incident in the state House of Assembly, believed to be arson. The selective pattern of the fire incident lends credence to the fear that the political actors may now be resorting to impunity, just to have their way at all costs. The contending forces for political supremacy in the state are led by Governor Martin Elechi and former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, respectively.

According to reports, the biggest prize at stake is the state governorship, which has pitted Governor Elechi who is allegedly sponsoring a candidate under the

‘In the interest of democracy, we urge the political actors in the state, to remember that the impeachment of a state governor is a constitutional matter. To avoid making a mockery of democracy, due process, as laid down by law and upheld by the courts, must be followed. We also urge the PDP-led Federal Government not to always resort to arm-twisting tactics, to gain advantage over others’

Labour Party (LP), against Senator Anyim, who is allegedly sponsoring the deputy governor, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). For the governor’s camp, the Abuja power brokers, led by Senator Anyim, allegedly orchestrated the rigging of the party primaries in favour of the deputy governor. According to them, it was in protest that the governor’s group moved their candidates to the Labour Party.

For us, while political ambition is legitimate for all the actors, the resort to illegitimate process and wilful destruction of public property is anathema to democratic ethos. Also reprehensible are the intrigues and rigging which allegedly trailed the PDP party primary, through which the deputy governor emerged.

With the parties’ primaries settled, albeit unconscionably, as claimed by some, the voters should have been left to determine their preferences at the next general election. But instead, it appears the Abuja group is determined to foist its preferred candidate on the state, by impeaching the incumbent governor.

It is widely feared that it is the determination of those loyal to Senator Anyim to impeach the governor that is precipitating the crisis in the legislature. The fire incident which affected the offices of those loyal to the governor and the subsequent suspension of some of them, lend support to this view. As many believe, President Goodluck Jonathan has his sympathy for those pushing to oust the governor, considering that Senator Anyim is close to him. While those sym-

pathetic to the governor are calling for restraint, those loyal to the former Senate President are pressing hard on the throttle.

With resort to brinkmanship and criminality, Ebonyi State may pay heavily, just like Anambra State, when hoodlums, in connivance with the presidency went after Senator Chris Ngige, then the state governor. Even more fearful is the burning down of the financial records of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, probably to cover up some illicit deals or to gain an upper hand in the crisis.

To show that the fire incident may not be a mere accident, the two groups are already pushing for different reaction to the incident. While the governor’s group has asked that the assembly be closed down, the opposing camp is pressing ahead with the impeachment plans. Unfortunately, the president and his party, like in Anambra, behaved like the ostrich until Tuesday when he summoned the parties to a meeting.

In the interest of democracy, we urge the political actors in the state, to remember that the impeachment of a state governor is a constitutional matter. To avoid making a mockery of democracy, due process, as laid down by law and upheld by the courts, must be followed.

We also urge the PDP-led Federal Government not to always resort to armtwisting tactics, to gain advantage over others, just because the Federal Government which it controls is in charge of the instrument of coercion in the country. Law, we urge, should save Ebonyi from anarchy.

Great people, good nation •A vulnerable Nigerian receives abundant assistance

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N spite of the spreading moral decay into which Nigeria appears to have fallen, it is heartwarming to see unambiguous demonstrations of love, empathy and generosity by distinguished corporate bodies and ordinary people to fellow-citizens in desperate need.

This was the case of Owolabi Oladunjoye, a 17-year-old bus conductor who was one of 14 victims involved in an accident on the Third Mainland Bridge on January 23, 2015. Having fallen unconscious, he and another victim of the crash were taken to St. Nicholas Hospital on Lagos Island by a Good Samaritan, where he was admitted and treated until he regained consciousness several days later.

After identifying himself and admitting that he did not have a fixed address, Mr. Razak Yusuf, a housekeeper in the hospital, undertook to locate Owolabi’s relations in Lagos. After a great deal of effort, they were traced and his mother in Ede, Osun State, was contacted. The management of St. Nicholas Hospital presented the convalescing Owolabi with a monetary gift to aid him in paying for his West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE), which had caused him to abscond from home.

This tale is significant for the way in which it reveals a happy convergence of corporate social responsibility and a strong sense of moral obligation. St. Nicholas must be commended for the manner in which it chose to live up to its ideals by admitting two accident victims and treating them without demanding any money from the person who brought them in. Both were given comprehensive

treatment free of charge, including intensive care for Owolabi, who was also given financial assistance and a commitment to further medical checks. The hospital found a suitable confederate in Mr. Yusuf, who went above and beyond the call of duty in tracing Owolabi’s relations across two states and the nooks and crannies of inner-city Lagos.

When corporate organisations and individuals act with such selflessness, with no other thought than that of the wellbeing of their compatriots, it becomes evident that there is some hope for the prospect of Nigeria becoming a true home for all its citizens. St. Nicholas did not behave with the notorious indifference of many Nigerian healthcare institutions which usually demand the payment of hefty admission fees before treatment, even in emergency cases. It did not seek to simply stabilise the patients and then get rid of them. Mr. Yusuf was not tasked with the assignment of locating Owolabi’s relations, but he did it as if he had a personal interest in the outcome.

These are the institutions and people of whom Nigeria can justly be proud.

Unlike the greed, corruption and selfishness with which the nation is only too familiar, they reveal an admirable capacity to rise above the predatory instincts that abound in contemporary society.

Owolabi’s predicament throws up several issues whose resolution could help to mitigate the occurrence of similar situations in future. His inability to pay his WASSCE fees would not have arisen if they had been covered by government.

It would not have been so easy for a mi-

nor to get employment as a bus-conductor if there had been a proper process of training and registration in place. He might not have remained unidentified for so long if the interminably-delayed national identification system had been set up. The actions of St. Nicholas would not have been so unusual if the federal and state governments had ensured that hospitals obeyed laid-down regulations regarding the mandatory admission of all emergency cases.

It is clear that Nigeria is full of organisations and individuals who are willing and able to make sacrifices for the progress of their nation. Such sacrifices must become the rule rather than the exception if the country is to attain its true potential for greatness.

‘St. Nicholas did not behave with the notorious indifference of many Nigerian healthcare institutions which usually demand the payment of hefty admission fees before treatment, even in emergency cases. It did not seek to simply stabilise the patients and then get rid of them. Mr. Yusuf was not tasked with the assignment of locating Owolabi’s relations, but he did it as if he had a personal interest in the outcome’

Fear and hate at the time of Lent

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IR: The media helmsman of the Goodluck Jonathan\Sambo team, Femi Fani- Kayode has clearly defined his job in a way that will haunt our politics as well as the very concept of societal cohesion and indeed of social solidarity upon which as of necessity a republic should be constructed upon, for a very long time to come.

The unhealthy template he has set bears a disconcerting, striking resemblance to the modus operandi of Hitler‘s propaganda minister the perfidious Franz Josef Goebells.Columnist Femi Aribisala has also joined in on the same band-wagon.

We all know that electoral contests are by their very nature divisive. Nevertheless, an election should not be positioned in such a way as to destroy the very basis of democracy as well as by cynical manipulation whose end result will be to tear apart the fabric of society. Elections ought to be conducted within the context of a preexisting national democratic arrangement.

In the true manner of the template set by Goebells, all the fault lines are being ruthlessly exploited. Ethnicity, religion, regional differences, no holds are barred and there is obviously no intention to take prisoners.

For a democracy though there is, has to be, a critical issue: What happens after the elections?

Much of the big lie on offer is not just offensive to the sensibilities, it is meant to create a permanent rupture undermining the very sustainability of the democratic ethos and of constitutionalism. This way the republic is imperiled.

The hate speeches coming during lent provides food for thought. The hate maestros do not just resemble Goebells which is bad enough, they also bear a sickening resemblance to the ultimate bogeyman Pontius Pilate. Through the ages, every Sunday school pupil has been taught to regard Pilate as a‘ bad man‘. Pilate was more than just your run of the mill ‘bad man‘, his place in eternal infamy was earned because of the way he abdicated his responsibility.

Pilate was in actual fact a ‘chancer‘, his eyes firmly fixed on self-preservation. Fixated on his impending comfortable retirement and the prospect of a quick exit from a perennially problematic Roman colony\outpost in Judea he simply cut and run, washing his hands off the matter.

His successors today demonstrate the same trait.

Those who use hate speeches and divisive politics based on exploiting divisions based on religion and tribe follow in the footsteps of Pontius Pilate.

As Bob Marley said ‘when the rain falls it won’t fall on one man`s house.`Like Pilate Femi Fani-Kayode obviously believes that his house will be exempted.

This is not going to happen of course but the deluded always have this erroneous belief.

Now that we are in lent, might we ask in all of this what is the light that surprises the Christian as he prays?It cannot be about enveloping the polity in the politics of hate.That is not withing the context, meaning as well as the interpretation of this seminal season.

The light that should guide the Christian at this time is clearly foretold by St Francis of Assisi. The words of St Francis were recollected by Mrs Margret Thatcher on her first day in office as Prime Minister: ‘Where there is discord, may we bring harmony.

Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope‘.

It is obvious that those jumping from pulpit to pulpit while at the same time promoting hate have never really thought about the import of St Francis‘ prayer. Quite honestly they should.

• Ayo Badmus, Osogbo

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

18

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: When in one of his last political outings, Chief Obafemi Awolowo predicted that the time would soon come in Nigeria when people of hitherto different political persuasions would come together to fight their common cause, no one could have imagined that it would materialize in the form it is taking at the moment. Imagine the alliance of the likes of Ayo Adebanjo with Richard Akinjide, Robert Adeyinka Adebayo, Iyiola Omisore including such political mavericks like Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, Femi Fani-Kayode and the likes of Frederick Faseun and Gani Adams.

They have suddenly found a common ground in the so-called recommendation of the National Conference. They hide on the guise of political restructuring and power devolutions which Jonathan had promised to implement in his second term in office.

One would have found it difficult to believe that any core Awoist would have effortlessly fallen into

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Confab of deception this trap, because even under the military government of Murtala/ Obasanjo, Awolowo refused to take the bait. That was what gave birth to the famous 49 wise men instead of the intended 50 wise men in the Constitution Drafting Committee.

Awolowo would not have been carried away by a mere political propaganda document like the Jonathan’s National Conference and this for a number of reasons. First, for four years, it did not occur to President Jonathan to set up a confab until the last lap of his tenure.

This is the first time in the political history of the country that an incumbent would tie his political reform to re-election.

Secondly, this so-called restructuring in which the Yorubas are being deceived by Jonathan apologists is not a national campaign issue of Jonathan or the PDP. That would serve to explain why they latched to geo-political selective sentiments. To the South-west, the trap is implementation of confab. To the South-east, it is creation of an additional state to catch up with other geographical zones. For the North, it is the building of Almajiri schools.

That takes me to the one story about Chief Awolowo again. One day, Chief Awolowo narrated a story of why he would ever remain a proud Yoruba man. He drew the

Still on the plot to remove Jega IR: The clandestine plan to remove Professor Attahiru Jega as chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission is rife in spite of the denial by the Presidency. But why is this government full of guile? There is no doubt that the tenure of Jega ends on June 30 and the rescheduled general elections are less than four weeks now.

Are they not inviting anarchy if Jega is illegally removed through the civil service rule? Can a retired civil servant be reappointed? No. But an INEC Chairman can.

Also, whoever takes over may want more time to do the daggerman’s job which they would want him to execute. However, any further change in the dates of elections will violate the constitution and the electoral law. Covert or overt

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action taken to tinker with the rescheduled dates is not only criminal but dangerous. The handwriting is conspicuous; the ruling party is fighting tooth and nail to retain power. Man’s greatest battle is the one he fights against himself. Jega’s INEC was the cherubic chum of the Presidency and PDP in Anambra, Ondo and Ekiti states’ gubernatorial elections; its electoral dish has now become stale. Jega has suddenly become a xenophobic umpire!

It is now imperative for the President to banish the pseudopolitical analysts to purgatory of psychosis. A man’s friends are innumerable when his hands are dripping with honey but they all disappear the moment such hands begin to bleed. Nigeria is greater than all of us and the selfish ambi-

tions of the few among us.

Today, what Chief Simeon O. Adebo said in July, 1969 summarizes our “modus vivendi”: “We live in troublous times. Look where you will, there is hardly a spot where there is stable peace, where there is not actual fighting there are grave tensions, where the tensions are not international they are local”.

It is only President Goodluck Jonathan that can douse the looming conflagration by allowing Jega to complete the job he started four years ago shortly after the 2011 general elections. No political chicanery can change May 29, handover date.

• Adelani Olawuyi Odooba – Ogbomoso, Oyo State

example from one of his contemporaries who was also the leader of his own nationality. He said jokingly that if that colleague of his went to a commercial centre of his region at 4 pm, but told the people that it was 6 pm, the people would quickly adjust their wrist watches as directed by the leader because he cannot ‘lie’.

He said if he, Awolowo tried that in the most remote village in Yoruba land, the villagers would

advise him to check his watch to see if something was not wrong with it. His emphasis is that Yoruba people are not gullible but critically minded.

But paradoxically, what do we have today? Pseudo-Yoruba leaders, confab advocates telling the Yoruba at six O’clock that it is eight O’clock by their time. The average Yoruba man knows that rather than being bound by their overall interest, these people are bound by the political confraternity of taking their own shares from the national loot.

No wonder the two factions of the OPC that had been on each other’s neck for a long time found the need for truce if only because of the now famous stomach infrastructure.

• Agboola Sanni Ibadan, Oyo State

Where are the Chibok girls?

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IR: It gladdens our hearts that the Nigerian military have bombarded locations and liberated some parts of the north-east including the Sambisa forest formerly in the hands of the dreaded Boko Haram. This is going by the information from the Defence Headquarters spokesperson, Major General Chris Olukolade. We have seen the Commander-in-Chief, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, pose with our gallant military men when he visited one of the liberated towns. We have even seen pictures of bodies of some dead Boko Haram members and also recovered arms and ammunitions.

But painfully, what we have not been able to see and which would have gladdened our hearts the more, are any of the Chibok girls who are probably still in the enclave of the Boko Haram. With the nearly 300 girls believed to be in ‘Sambisa’ forest, we can only hope that they have not been caught in the crossfire. One wished that President Jonathan made out time to meet with some of the parents of

the abducted girls when he visited our gallant solders to reassure them. Sadly, he did not.

One remembers that it took local and international outcries for the presidency to accept the fact that Boko Haram actually abducted the girls in the first place. When finally it came to terms with the reality, President Goodluck Jonathan repeatedly promised to bring back the girls alive. At a point he gave a time limit and ordered the military to get into action but the order did nothing to change the situation. And now, most probably to secure a political point in view of the pending elections, the President seems poised to accomplish within six weeks what he couldn’t do all these while.

Why the mad rush after things have gone awry? The current situation is best described in local parlance as medicine after death.

Henceforth, the chant should be – Bring Back Our Girls Alive!

• Dr. Cyril Kachi Madueke, Awka Road, Wuse II, Abuja.

, 2015

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

19

COMMENTS

The African condition – 2

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ERCIFULLY, Lesotho is a more civilised place of slightly over a million people, perhaps too civilised, because there are about 10 political parties there creating a sense of instability. Politics seems to be the only profitable business in Lesotho, therefore creating a feeling of hopelessness in the citizenry. I was in this country in the late 1980s as part of Commonwealth electoral monitoring group. I was amazed at the level of drunkenness, unemployment, sexual licence and prevalence of AIDS infection and consequent high mortality.

Zambia, Malawi and particularly Zimbabwe are studies in political and economic regression. The story of Zimbabwe is one of the saddest on the continent. Here is a country whose people fought gallantly for their freedom and liberation from white settler regime. The regime of Ian Smith who had boasted “not in a thousand years” will there be majority rule in the then South Rhodesia was happily pushed aside by the fighting cadres of the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) and the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU) under the leaderships of Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo respectively.

Hardly had victory been won when the two parties took on each other in a death grip with Robert Mugabe winning. This was the licence he needed to stay in power from the time of independence in the 1980s till now at the ripe age of 90. More galling is the fact that he has perpetuated himself in power and he is busy grooming his wife, who is half his age, as his successor and future president of the country. While engaged in this travesty of rule, he has watched the country’s economy collapse into Stone Age primitivity of people merely surviving and not living.

When one moves to the Horn of Africa, the picture is the same. In Ethiopia the previous revolutionaries now in government have become reactionaries killing protesting students after rigged election. Somalia has disappeared, at least politically from the map and the country is a free for all for Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab and other terrorists high on khat and marijuana. Somalia has the distinction of being the first state to disappear as a political entity in the world. Eritrea that seceded from Ethiopia is locked in mortal struggle against its bigger neighbour over a tract of forbidden frontier. The Sudan is now divided into North and South along racial lines, and if Darfur in the South West of the country succeeds in its war of secession, it

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HEN five years ago, President Goodluck Jonathan was planning to appoint Prof Attahiru Jega as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, he spoke glowingly about the activist academic. It was an appointment he kept close to his chest as the media kept speculating about who will get the job after the disastrous tenure of Prof Maurice Iwu. Having seen what happened under Iwu, who conducted the sham election which brought him and the late President Umaru Yar'Adua to office, the president knew that he had to pick a man of integrity for the job.

So, as he kept the public guessing on who his choice would be, Jonathan did not allow any opportunity go by without making it known that his man for the job is someone that cannot be pushed around. ''I have found the man for the job; we have contacted him and he is ready to take up the job. He is a man of integrity and Nigerians will be happy with our choice when we announce his name''. The president was virtually over the moon when he picked Jega for the INEC job. He knew very well that to continue to endear himself to Nigerians whoever he picked as electoral umpire must be above board.

325 DAYS AFTER

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WHERE ARE THE ABDUCTED CHIBOK GIRLS?

may add another division to a complex map. Yet the work of governance is left in abeyance while the Janjaweed and the Sudanese government with support from oil consuming India and China slaughters its own people. The chaos has spread into Chad, where Idris Derby, the typical African ruler refuses to give up power.

West Africa is not better. Central Africa is even worse.

The central Africa Republic and Congo Brazzaville have alternated between one brutal leader and the other. The Ivory Coast, the economic jewel of French speaking West Africa is coming out of the division arising from struggle for political power between Laurant Gbagbo and AlHassan Watara, between a Christian and a Muslim manifesting a malady afflicting the whole of West Africa.

Guinea is afflicted by ethnic struggle between the Fulah and the Mandinka because of the problem of political succession. Nigeria the crown jewel of the continent is struggling against the tide of political instability because of problem of political succession.

Yet Africa announced a few years ago, NEPAD- New Partnership for African Development. There has been neither partnership nor development. The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) that was supposed to ensure leaders abide by constitutional rules has been ignored.

North Africa to complete the picture is not different.

Morocco, with its Sharifian dynasty is modernising royal tyranny and Tunisia that first raised the flag of Arab Spring has just elected an 88 year old president. There has been no peace in Libya since Africa colluded with the West to murder Muamar Ghadafi, its late mercurial sittight leader. Now the country is partly occupied by ISIS with loyalty to Al-Baghdadi its murdering caliph somewhere in Mosul. Egypt tried some form of Islamic democracy under the Muslim Brotherhood President Muhammad Morsi before General Muhammad Al-sisi threw him out and the country has therefore murdered sleep. FIS (Front Islamique du Salut) is waiting for Algeria under its eternal leader Abdul-aziz Bouteflika to collapse.

Nigeria has the biggest economy on the continent and has 25% of Africa’s population. Its 170 million people are poorly served by a conniving and corrupt regime at all levels. Its problems are compounded not only by the fissiparous tendencies of religious schism but deep seated

ethnic animosity of one group against the other thus making national consensus near impossible. Leaders of Nigeria are oblivious of the fact that other Africans look up to them. Therefore if the country fails it will drag the entire Jide continent down Osuntokun with her.

It is really sad that just a few years ago, Africa was seen as the frontier of opportunity and economic growth. Like a mirage this hope of a happy African decade has disappeared. What this illusion has proved is that prosperity cannot be built on export of raw materials and minerals alone. Africans must add value to their God-given endowments. Secondly, Africans must be eternally vigilant about their self-serving and self-aggrandising leaders if the fruit of liberty and development is to come to them and to the generations of Africans yet to be born.

There is also a need for massive civic education in Africa to prepare the citizens for their civic responsibilities and rights. Not only that, the place of the black man in the world needs to be emphasised. We are not living in a cocoon isolated from the rest of the world. We therefore have to march in tandem with the rest of civilised world observing the norms of civilised behaviour.

‘It is really sad that just a few years ago, Africa was seen as the frontier of opportunity and economic growth. Like a mirage this hope of a happy African decade has disappeared. What this illusion has proved is that prosperity cannot be built on export of raw materials and minerals alone’

Jega : An electoral umpire's burden Jonathan made a statement with his choice of Jega, who he knew as an uncompromising figure, yet chose him for the highly sensitive INEC job. Jega is not just an academic, he is a unionist to boot, having been president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the late 80s. He led ASUU during the military regime and he gave a good account of himself.

A man like him is no doubt needed to head INEC, which under Iwu had become an appendage of government. Since his coming, Jega has tried his utmost to maintain the independence of INEC, despite coming under blistering attacks from the parties sometimes for being impartial. This is expected. There is no way Jega could have satisfied all the parties, especially when it comes to elections. There is no party that wishes to lose an election; every party wants to win and where it does not, the next thing is to cry foul.

It is understandable when a party challenges the competence of the electoral umpire after an election.

If that happens, it is likely the party is crying because it lost. But when before an election everything is being done to rubbish the electoral umpire, then something must be amiss. It becomes more worrisome when those badmouthing the electoral umpire are members of the ruling party. In the past few months, Jega has been the butt of destructive criticisms by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its chieftains and the problem they have with him is because he never agreed with them that the February 14 and 28 elections as initially scheduled should be postponed.

Although the party gave the impression that it was not bothered one way or the other with what INEC decides to do about the elec-

tions, latter events showed that the party, its national leader, that is the president, and its leading lights were all for the postponement of the elections, but getting Jega to do their bidding without being seen as the ones pulling the string was their problem. They eventually got the security chiefs to force Jega's hands to shift the polls to March 28 and April 11. Despite having their way, they are still after Jega. They are not ready to let him be until they push him out of office.

Why does PDP want Jega out of office? It is to ensure that it has its way at the polls. His integrity that counted in his favour when he was appointed in 2010 is now hanging around his neck as an albatross. The PDP can no longer stand the integrity of the man whose praise the president sang to high heavens when he was appointing him five years ago as INEC chairman. So, instead of getting set for the rescheduled elections, the party is busy fishing for reasons to get Jega out of the way to enable it rig its way back into power. So far, they have not given any tangible reason why Jega should not conduct the forthcoming elections.

Having succeeded in getting the elections postponed, one would have expected PDP to go back to the drawing board to plan and map out plans for the forthcoming elections. But no, it is not doing that; all it is after is to get Jega replaced by another professor, who it can manipulate to get its way at the polls.

But removing Jega legally will not be easy. So, they will not take the legal route; they may give him the Lamido Sanusi treatment. Remember, the president went outside the enabling Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act to get Sanusi out of the way because he was too vocal for his liking. With Jega too independ-

ent-minded for his liking, Jonathan may devise a way of removing him without following the Constitution.

According to Section 157 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, subject to the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, a person holding any of the offices to which this section applies may only be removed from that office by the president acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that he be so removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any cause) or for misconduct. By virtue of this provision, the president cannot on his own remove Jega nor can he send him on terminal leave whimsically.

But then, this is Nigeria where anything goes. he cards are stacked against those who want Jega out of INEC. They do not have a case against him; they are just afraid that with him at the helm, they cannot get INEC to rig the elections for PDP. They said the elections should be postponed because millions of eligible voters had not collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Now that a substantial number has collected PVCs, their song is that the Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs), which have been exchanged for PVCs, should be used for the elections. Does this make sense? Does it not show that some people somewhere are afraid of contesting the elections? Jega conducted one of the best elections ever

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Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net SMS ONLY: 08099400204, 08112661612

held in this country in 2011 and since then, INEC under his watch, has been improving with the series of staggered elections held in some states.

Like every human being, Jega is not a saint. But, what sin has he committed to warrant the call for his removal by PDP chieftains and their cohorts. What do they know that we do not know that informed their call? Is it at this 11th hour that we should be talking of removing Jega or sending him on terminal leave when he is not sick nor involved in any misdemeanour? All these PDP chieftains are doing is to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it. The president should not fall for their trick. It is heartening that the president has reassured the world that he won't remove Jega.

But we hope that when push becomes shove, the president will not sing a different tune.

‘The cards are stacked against those who want Jega out of INEC. They do not have a case against him; they are just afraid that with him at the helm, they cannot get INEC to rig the elections for PDP’

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

20

COMMENTS

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T is no more in doubt that President Jonathan is a very cynical leader. And with the on-going PDP’s game of deceit, appeal to religion and ethnic sentiments after 16 years of uninspiring leadership, Nigerians must have come to the sad conclusion that PDP is contemptuous of Nigerians. And if Nigerians needed any further proof, the appointment of Femi Fani-Kayode as Director General of PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, (PDPPCO) and his on-going war against the person of General Muhammadu Buhari is all that is needed. Add this to the President’s admission during his chat with Tell editors shortly after his inauguration back in 2011 that he is ‘never moved to action by public opinion’, the picture one gets is that of a President who does not give a damn about how we feel as Nigerians.

For a man who few months back wrote the President off as “a wicked and insensitive leader”, whose “chapter has been finally closed by OBJ with his letter”; who predicted that “All Progressives Congress, APC, would form the next government at the centre” and wrote off PDP by saying “PDP as we once knew her has gone forever; the ship has hit the rocks and she has sunk to the bottom of the sea; she is dead and buried” to have emerged as the best the President and PDP can find to launder their image is a measure of the value they place on credibility. And finally that a man standing trial before a High Court in Lagos for alleged money laundering was appointed by the President and his party as chief image maker, is not only scandalous, it is an assault on our collective sensibilities. It speaks volumes about “the President Jonathan we don’t know”. (apology to Reuben Abati) The ignoble role his father played in the destruction of Yoruba land is well documented. Chief S B Falegan, a former Managing Director of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) in his new book My YesterYears describes Chief Remi Fani-Kayode as “belonging to a group of political rascals who engaged in the selfish pursuit of greed, and personal enrichment at the expense of the country.” And reviewing for Nigerians, Chief Remi Fani-Kayode’s rascal antecedents in the Nigeria’s politics during the NPN, he says, Femi Fani-Kayode, ‘who could say President Jonathan government is a bad omen to the country and thereafter decamp to the PDP to engage in a re-twisted propaganda, has only taken after his father’s styles”. And in fighting Jonathan’s war, Femi like the chip of the old block, has been trying to outdo his father who literarily aided the NPC ruling party to dig its own grave.

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HATED General Muhammadu Buhari.

Intensely.

This feeling developed in 1984. First, his non-smiling visage including that of Tunde Idiagbon, his late deputy, evoked no warmth.

The apocryphal story that they wear permanent scowls because there was nothing cheerful about Nigeria’s situation at a period when South West Nigeria, encompassing his official abode, made Alawada Baba Sala the highest rated comedy show was paradoxical to me then.

I was especially livid athis War Against Indiscipline (WAI) dictum mandating Nigerians to queue for virtually everything in a country where lawlessness is deified as wisdom. I scoffed at his directive’s impracticality against the odious rat race in Nigeria, especially in Lagos. Personally, my timely arrival at all destinations is guaranteed with a good meal for balanced legs, firmly tucking my handbag under my armpits to escape Houdini-inspired pickpockets, energetically elbowing other jostling prospective bus passengers and hopping, banana jump-style onto a moving Molue bus.

And I’m good.

But the orientation worked. Apart from queuing, archetypal stubborn Nigerians became excellent examples of WAI-themed orderliness and discipline in thought, behaviour and expectation through eschewing all forms of indiscipline.

Thirty-one years ago, Buhari foresaw that leaders’ ability to effectively lead is always dependent on the quality of followership behind him which Indiscipline obstructs in Nigeria.

Economically, I blamed his austerity measures for causing reduction in my pocket money despite my Economics tutor’s adulations of Buhari’s removal or reduction of national expenditure excesses, startof Nigeria’s first vicious anti-corruption war, reducing the balance of payment deficit by tightening importation and executing 15 percent cut from his predecessor President Shehu Shagari’s 1983 Budget.

Consequently, total capital expenditure decreased by 16.08 percent, capital defence

Fani-Kayode: fighting GEJ’s battle without grace First, it was about Buhari’s West African School Certificate. Sponsored government paid agents laid siege on television houses especially the respected Channels TV tasking our patience by insisting that Buhari, a retired four star General of the Nigerian Army, who attended the best military schools in the world, a former military Head of State ‘has no papers’, and therefore not qualified to contest for a position he had vied for thrice between 2003 and 2011. And when finally the authorities of Buhari’s old school presented his WAEC results, Fani-Kayode accused Buhari of perjury.

Thereafter, Fani-Kayode’s heartache became Buhari’s age despite evidence of serving heads of states around the world that are of Buhari’s age. Fani-Kayode moved on to accuse Buhari of toppling Shagari’s government. It turned out Shagari was in fact removed by Babangida, Gusau and Abacha who merely used Buhari to buy credibility and legitimacy because of his personal integrity. Twenty months later, they deposed him and unfolded their own agenda which included ‘a transition without end’, acceptance of IMF loan and liberalization of our economy which started the era of sharing of our national patrimony among privileged members of the military and their political and socio economic counterparts.

Then last week on the eve of presidential election that would have held two weeks back but for the mischief of panic stricken PDP, Fani-Kayode addressed journalists in Abuja to announce that “the Federal Government has concluded arrangements and may soon drag General Buhari before the International

Criminal Court” for the mindless killings that followed Jonathan’s victory in 2011. But they would wait until after the election FaniKayode swore would be won by PDP. But for now, following Buhari’s successful outing in London to sell himself, his agenda and counter PDP’s propaganda that cast him as an irredeemable dictator, Fani-Kayode has opened another battle front. He swore “General Muhammadu Buhari last Thursday’s outing at the Chatham House in London was a monumental failure.” He also took on Chatham House, blaming it for offering “its prestigious platform to sell a bad product to the world”.

The question is why Fani-Kayode who in view of his new position is at liberty to change his earlier perception of Jonathan as “‘wicked and insensitive leader” is losing sleep over Buhari’s ‘failed’ visit that may not necessarily take anything away from the engrained image of his principal’s among the western nations as ‘a deeply corrupt government’ (Hilary Clinton,) ‘A failed Nigerian leader’; (Economist), ‘A failed president’ (Washington Post), and A lousy incumbent’ (New York Times).

Jonathan’s government, whose intelligence has failed it in locating the whereabouts of close to 300 secondary school girls abducted from their dormitories about 10 months back or finding out the identities of the criminals who engage in an orgy of killing of women and children in their sleep in the middle belt region of Nigeria, has suddenly rediscovered itself only two days after Buhari’s visit to Chatham House. Fani-Kayode listed “some interesting facts about Buhari’s Chatham

House out”, gathered through intelligence: ‘The event was organised only two days before it took place and well after Buhari had arrived in London; ‘The questions that were asked were given to him two days before the event and the answers were prepared for him and given to him to rehearse’; and ‘The programme lasted for only 55 minutes and only five questions, which were all planted, were asked’.

Lest we forget, government intelligence according to Fani-Kayode also indicated that Buhari who depends on donations of as low as N100 from the masses of Nigeria who have faith in his ability to fix Nigeria, budgeted N5 billion for what was termed “the Buhari’s London jamboree”.

Government intelligence however missed out Buhari’s plan to turn all the aircrafts in the presidential fleet to form the nucleus of a new Nigeria Airways because he considered it wasteful for President Jonathan to keep a fleet of over six aircraft when the Prime Minister of Britain like many of his western counterparts fly public airlines.

But I think what should worry Nigerians is Fani-Kayode’s foreboding boast that “the government would first demystify Buhari by defeating him at the polls”, and that the PDP “would win the Presidential and general elections slated for March 28 and April 11 respectively” while vowing that “the APC will never smell power”.

But looking at the past and critically assessing PDP that often scores landslide victories in opposition strongholds as it recently did in Ekiti state, I think there is the need for eternal vigilance by the opposition as well as all Nigerians that still have faith in our nation. Chief Remi Fani-Kayode, after defecting to the opposition NCNC in the First Republic first called on the federal government to declare state of emergency in the West and later told the Yoruba that whether they voted for his new party or not, NNDP would win the election. It is part of our history that the Balewa government illegally declared state of emergency and went ahead to supervise the rigging of the 1965 Western Region election.

President Jonathan and PDP have always found a way to undermine the constitution to achieve their set goals. The cases of the illegal removal of Justice Ayo Salami, the illegal suspension of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as CBN governor and to some extent the President’s open support of losers of Nigerian Governors Forum election are clear indications that President Jonathan and PDP can swing any surprise.

They just don’t give a damn.

I hate Buhari and I love Jonathan!

By Modupe Ogunbayo expenses by 80.9 percent, while agriculture, transport and communication, education and health spending decreased by 78.7 percent, 76.1 percent, 58.2 percent and 58.7 percent respectively.

These austere policies alienated him from the elite. Probably, the country’s international airports would overflow with the rich departing Nigeria immediately upon his announcement as the country’s new president.

Again, I smirked at his tenure’s controversies. Many journalists and politicians bemoaned Decree No. 4. Human rights groups flayed him for his government’s decision to execute drug peddlers. These issues among others denigrate peoples’ fundamental human rights. My distaste grew. Recently, an American friend prodded me to soft-pedal on Buhari because interpretations of profound political events continually evolve. “Even Abraham Lincoln is still vilified in certain parts of USA today for abolishing the slave trade,” he said.

Then, a revelation from Dora Akunyili, the indomitable former Director General of Nigerian Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and former Minister of Information thawed me. She returned the remainder of allotted funds to PTF’s coffers after returning from a company-sponsored foreign medical trip while working, on secondment from University of Nigeria, with Buhari, the chairman, at Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF). The overwhelming positive impression she made on him led to Buhari’s recommendation of her when former President Obasanjo approached him for help in appointing a cerebral, bold and incorruptible NAFDAC’s DG to rid the nation of counterfeit drugs. Akunyili was Igbo and a born-again Christian. Buhari is Fulani and a devout Muslim. To Buhari, what mattered was the content of her character; he is neither a religious extremist nor a tribalist.

Still, I mocked his perennial ambition to rule

Nigeria again. I wondered why him? I dismissed him as lacking today’s energy and dynamism in tackling the country’s myriad problems. However, as the nation experienced three civilian leaders since 1999 without a commensurate improvement in Nigeria, I had an epiphany. Why not him? He is very fearless, disciplined and passionate about changing Nigeria. At his age, embezzlement cannot be his political aim. And as rumours spread about his health, I noted his vigour and lucidity outshine that of some in my generation.

Besides, I churlishly cherish the idea of burdening Buhari with the job since his ilk saddled us with them in the initial analysis.

Now, I love President Goodluck Jonathan.

His affable persona and Mosaic dove-like demeanour is endearing. His ascension to power, never through vaulting over-ambition, but by events proudly proclaimed by his loyalists as predestined via positive happenstances provoked a fervent envy at his lot. In typical Nigerian copy-cat syndrome, the name, Goodluck, quickly became a fad. His trajectory from “having no shoes”to gaining a doctorate degree and variously occupying the topmost offices at state and national level is a record yet unmatched on Nigeria’s political landscape.

Jonathan’s unemployment panacea as contained in his Transformation Agenda especially fascinated me for the plan noted “unemployment surged from 11.9 percent in 2006 to 14.6 percent in 2007 and 21.1 percent by January 2010.” Noticing the plan’s solutions, I practically swooned.That admiration quickly faded. No decisive or profound happenings occurred to concretise the hero-worship.

Granted, we cannot beckon on Utopia overnight, but after six years of Goodluck, many previously employed when he created the plan are now jobless. Reno Omokri, Jonathan’s former special assistant on social media, said over 250,000 Nigerian youths are employed.

Certainly, not from the general population but probably within the rehabilitated and amnestied

militants now buying warships or moving from point A to point B in luxury jets. Even, those are hardly half of that statistic.

Everythingis in shambles. Equally troubling is Obasanjo’s revelations that Jonathan squandered $25 billion left by his administration in the Excess Crude Account and depleted $45 billion foreign reserves, which increased to about $67billion under Yar’Adua, to $30 billion. The response, that the balance is now $34.4 billion, is laughable.

Feeding expenses is skyrocketing yet the Central Bank of Nigeria says inflation is less galloping now because it is at 9.50 one-digit rate and food import bill reduced from N1.1 trillion in 2011, to N648 billion in 2012, “placing Nigeria firmly on the path to food selfsufficiency.” But that statement rings hollow on any shopping excursions at Lagos’Mile 2 commodities market.

In the 1960s, Nigeria was ranked an emerging economy alongside Malaysia and Singapore.

Under Peoples’ Democratic Party’s rulership within 16 years, Nigeria declined from being a low middle-income country and amongst the 50 richest countries worldwide to one of the 30 poorest. Today, Singapore has the third highest per-capita GDP globally and Malaysia’s, $14,800.

Nowadays, our bedfellows are Somalia and Syria.

Jonathan’s buck-passing is mind-boggling.

He said his inheritance of Nigeria’s problems excuses his inability to provide quick solutions.

But, Jonathan’s emergence and continuing candidacy is on PDP’s platform,the same party under which the nation’s woes worsened. This implicates him. It is Jonathan’s conditions of service to provide solutions to Nigeria’s problems. He willingly applied for the position. And with or without a lion-like heart, Jonathan ought to have delivered. He did not.

Not surprisingly, I am no longer enamoured with Jonathan or his continued rule.

• Ogunbayo writes from Lagos.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

21

COMMENTS

G

REED, corruption, self-serving criminal conduct – all these and more are part of human life in every nation or society.

They are part of what all known religions among men would classify as “man’s sin nature”. In every known polity in the long history of man, there have always been some leading men and women who use their offices to serve their personal purposes in obviously criminal ways. Public corruption is part of the experience of governance everywhere.

As I write these words, I have open before me many lists from the United States governance and leadership experience. I limit my search to lists of public officials convicted of corruption or other crimes in the past decade. Each list runs to many many pages – lists of “Federal Officials Convicted of Corruption”, “Federal Officials Convicted of Crimes”, “Federal Officials under Sex and other Scandals”, “State and Local Officials Convicted of Corruption”, “State and Local Officials Convicted of Crimes”. Most of the officials on these lists were arrested while in office, and tried, convicted and jailed. The lists contain the names of state governors, federal ministers, federal and state senators and representatives, mayors, members of county governments, military officers, police officers, assistants working for these high-placed public officials, etc. As of this moment, there are tens of these former public officials serving jail terms in prisons across the United States. In short, no members of any nation are more, or less, prone to corruption and criminal conduct than the rest of humanity.

But, at that point, we come to the differences.

In some countries, the degree of tolerance of public corruption is very low. In America, the degree of tolerance of corruption and criminal behavior in public office is so low that if any public official, no matter how high, engages in corruption or crime, he is very likely to get caught and to end up in jail. Very many things in America’s group life contribute to that picture. In general, Americans love their country so much, and cherish their laws and traditions so passionately, that if a public official engages in corruption or wrong doing, someone in his office, or someone close to him, is likely to step out some day to tell it. A person who speaks out like that (known as the ‘whistle blower’) is protected by the law – so that he does not have to fear persecution by his superiors. The news media play a very mighty

F

EW people are likely to be surprised that the Jonathan administration has not reacted to the recording released by Sahara Reporters in which a junior defence minister claims that he was mandated by the president” to draft a couple of army officers to facilitate and coordinate a subversion of the 2014 Ekiti governorship elections. Having personalised state security institutions, and having become accustomed to suborning law-enforcement agencies for partisan, often criminal, political assignments, any president overcome with hubris enough to play the strongman can afford to treat the people with contempt. Incidentally, barring a columnist’s comments, as well as brief stories from some newspapers, the public has maintained a funereal silence over this horrifying revelation. Does this seeming lack of interest imply a feeling amongst the populace that the country has, in any case, opted out of the civilised world, owing to the barbarity of Nigerian rulers, and their impunity-hardened proclivity for criminality?

Or, perhaps Nigerians themselves have become indifferent to their own collective plight because everybody is preoccupied with “claiming” his personal material salvation in accordance with the individualism-ethos of miraclepeddling Pentecostal neo-Christianity? That none of our civil-society associations has so far raised its voice over this affair - NLC, NBA, Roman Catholic Bishops and Guild of Editors - also gives the impression that one and all have taken the Sahara Reporters’ revelation as no more than the latest token of the moral collapse of the Nigerian state.

Nevertheless, I am personally surprised that Jonathan’s no. 1 attack dog has not been fuming with righteous indignation at what would, if untrue, be outrageous slander of his master’s reputation. This must indeed also be an awkward time for even the urbane artists at white-washing sepulchers. But, what can the smartest geniuses at advertising deep-black as sparkling white (depending on circumstances and inducements) do in this difficult-to-deny involvement of the president in a subversion of the electoral process? For now, these professional equivocators appear to be waiting for it to blow over, seeing their boss, like the proverbial dog fated to be lost, can no longer hear the hunter’s horn.

In a situation like this concerning the alleged involvement of powerful people in serious crime for which they have not been formally

Nigeria: Public corruption is king! role in this too. Once the news breaks that some public official is suspected of wrong doing, American journalists don’t seem ever to be able to give up the case as long as there remains any unresolved part of it.

Much more importantly, America’s law enforcement officials are exceptionally dedicated to their tasks. No American public official is so high that the American police and secret service would not keep an eye on him. If any suspicion of wrong-doing arises against any official of the Federal Government, the Federal Attorney General (though a member of the party in power) would rev up his office (the Department of Justice) to investigate. If the wrong-doing is big, he may choose to appoint a Special Investigator from outside to handle the investigation. And if any wrong doing is found, his lawyers would start prosecution against the offender. If it is the President, he would hand him over the Congress for impeachment processes. A president was so investigated and impeached in the 1970s. Another was so investigated but narrowly managed to avoid impeachment in the 1980s. Recently, federal detectives got hint that a governor was demanding material rewards for doing official favours. They bugged his phones, recorded the criminal conversations -arrested him and landed him in court. He is in jail. Many years back, a popular politician, after serving as governor of his state, became Vice-President of America.

Law enforcement officials in his state discovered that he had evaded taxes during the years when he had served as governor.

They raised up criminal charges against him.

He confessed in order to get a smaller punishment and not go to jail (Americans call it “making a plea bargain”). As his smaller punishment, he was ordered to resign from his position as Vice-President. He resigned in disgrace. While investigating a president for some suspicion of wrong-doing, law enforcement officials wanted to take some blood from his arm as evidence. Some secret service officers went to the White House and

told the president what they had come for. The president rolled up his shirt sleeve, and the secret service officers brought out their needle and syringe and drew the blood they wanted and went their way. Yes, that is the way it is.

America takes serious steps to protect itself from possible rampages by wrong doers.

America is a land of law.

In comparison with America, Nigeria is just one crooked and lawless jungle, a land of the powerful and the influential, a land over which the whims and caprices of the powerful and influential reign. Corruption is therefore king in Nigeria – king unrestrained and impossible to restrain. And the reasons are quite easy to see. Altogether, it often seems as if Nigeria is a country without citizens. Everybody (including the journalist and the law enforcement functionary) is so consumed with trying to benefit from whatever is going on (no matter how terribly dishonest and corrupt) that nobody ever does anything to protect Nigeria against wrong doers. In Nigeria, the man occupying the position of the Attorney General is, unashamedly, a lawyer for the party in power. He himself would readily take part in criminal acts, if such acts benefit his party. No powerful evil doer needs to fear him – except, occasionally, members of opposition parties who are foolish enough to refuse decamp to the party in power when they come under investigation by law enforcement. For public officials at federal, state and local government levels, if they belong to the party in control of the Federal Government, the freedom to steal public resources, to corrupt their offices, to distort the governmental system, and to commit crimes, is limitless. The police, the secret service and, now, the military would, as errand boys of the Nigerian president, readily flout Nigerian laws. Essentially, Nigeria is a country without any kind of law enforcement.

An important feature of this awful picture is the nationality factor. Every Nigerian president tends to surround himself with appointees from his own nationality. And, cocooned in that inner circle, he and they can do any evil without any

Gbogun gboro fear of consequences. For them to steal enormous amounts of public wealth is, to them, a fair share for their nationality. To some nationalities, in fact, public corruption is justified by the teachings of religion.

It is day-dreaming to think that these aberrations can be eliminated substantially and abidingly in Nigeria. Conceivably, a major dose of power decentralization can help. But there are some nationalities to whom strong centralization is gospel and decentralization is anathema – and who would start a war to prevent decentralization. Those who advocate that Nigeria should split up into smaller and ethnically less diverse countries make a lot of sense.

‘Nigeria is just one crooked and lawless jungle, a land of the powerful and the influential, a land over which the whims and caprices of the powerful and influential reign. Corruption is therefore king in Nigeria – king unrestrained and impossible to restrain’

Jonathan and Ekiti election scandal

By G.A. Akinola charged, and over which they themselves are keeping silent, perhaps the only way to go is by the law of probabilities. The main issue, then, is what is already known about the abuses to which the Jonathan government has often subjected the security forces, including the military, during national elections.

All Nigerian rulers, right from Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa, have always considered it part of their prerogative to use the army for partisan political interests, including influencing the conduct of elections. However, in matters of scale, and in the brazenness of the abuse, Jonathan would appear to have been far more daring than his predecessors. It was in the Ekiti elections of June 2014, conducted when the Boko Haram insurgency which began five years earlier was still fiercely raging, that the largest numbers of troops so far were deployed for elections. Yet, the polling was far outside the theatre of the insurrection. Apart from the regular army, the Ekiti elections, as well as the ones in Osun two months later, for the first time in the country’s history, witnessed a number of uniformed, gun-toting masked men. These “soldiers” it was subsequently learnt, were used to pick up opposition party candidates, along with party officials and agents, to be either locked up, or guarded by the uniformed and masked, party thugs for the two or so days the elections lasted. Some of these masked soldiers of spurious provenance also went about the streets of Ekiti and Osun towns, shooting into the air, intimidating the populace, and causing consternation and panic.

It is also instructive that during the Ekiti elections, two state governors, who are members of the APC opposition party, were prevented by soldiers from entering the state. A “chieftain” of the ruling party, a professional political thug with obnoxious reputation, from Anambra State, was however escorted by soldiers to Ekiti where local opposition politicians had already been put away to ensure that they could not monitor the process and conduct of the elections either at the polls, or at the collation centres.

A number of questions are pertinent at this

point: Were the soldiers who prevented Governors Rotimi Amaechi and Adams Oshiomhole from entering Ekiti to monitor the elections, and those who escorted Chris Uba to the state not acting under orders? What duties, under the constitution were the police minister and junior defence minister, in Ekiti to perform during ‘the elections? And finally, why were the opposition party men incarcerated during the course of the elections, only to be released without charges immediately after? Whoever can adequately explain away these questions in relation to the mysteries of what actually transpired at the Ekiti governorship elections, can as well cast doubt on the audio, and now even the video, recordings, of the conclave of criminals, haggling over how to rig the elections.

Short of a personal confession, it is obvious that only a judicial pronouncement can determine whether Jonathan indeed authorised a subversion of the Ekiti governorship polls. I am only, like any citizen is entitled to, expressing dismay at the president and his administration pretending that they are unaware of the grave allegations about their involvement.

Equally grave are the implications for the president’s person and office, and for the image of the country and its people. This is as if Richard Nixon and his administration were to keep mum when the Watergate story’s dirty ramifications began to unfold. Even if Jonathan, in his usual self-and-office- compromising attitude, does not “give a damn” about what Nigerians think of his excesses, does he also not care about the standards and values which prevail in the conduct of public affairs in civilised countries, and about the opinions and feelings concerning pariahs that dare defy and defile these international usages? ‘Unfortunately, whether he takes these things into consideration or not, it is the country which ultimately suffers, just like during the regime of Sani Abacha, whose infamy Jonathan seems to be now aiming at surpassing.

In view of the above, Jonathan should immediately empower the Chief Justice of the Federation to set up an independent panel of inquiry into the Sahara Reporters’ revelations.

Should the president fail to do this, the Ni-

geria Bar Association should proceed to organise the probe.

While the issue of Nigeria’s image in the international community over the Ekiti governorship elections affair is of the utmost importance, a far more crucial issue is the implications of the scandal for the current situation in Nigeria itself. In one respect, the Sahara Reporters’ revelations could not have come at a more appropriate occasion. Today, Nigeria again seems to be drifting into another crisis of political succession, a situation generated in the main by the ambitions of an incumbent ruler to do what other presidents before him have brazenly gotten away with - namely, to appropriate state powers to manipulate the electoral process to his advantage and that of his party. The eight-year rule of the loathsome moral nihilist, Babangida, was a study, as well as a variation of some sort, in this tragic political chicanery. Nor was the Obasanjo presidency much different. (In this context, I believe it is high time Abdulsalaami Abubakar, came before Nigerians to apologise for the stable-institution-inhibiting, and the pro-one-party dictatorship of a fraudulent constitution that he imposed on the country in 1999).

Given Jonathan’s constricted and clannish worldview, unredeemed by weak character, he thinks that to fail in his bid for a second term in power would be tantamount to discrimination against him because of his ethnic origin. Hence he does not seem to care whether his schemes for re-election bring the country crashing down over his head. Jonathan should rather see his entitlement to enjoy the prerogative of even appointing the INEC chairman (not to talk of otherwise influencing elections) as comparable to exercising the antiquated divine right of kings. For, when the people decided to terminate such sweeping powers, they chopped off the heads of monarchs who resisted the tide of change. By the way, Jonathan swore to uphold something called the Nigerian constitution. So what does the faith he wears like his trademark hat say about allegiance to this sacred document? Perhaps his crowd of spiritual advisors should remind him.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

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25

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

Free education is common at primary and secondary levels. Surprisingly, it has been in practice at Imo State University (IMSU) in the past two years. How has the government been coping, considering the huge cost of funding university education? OKODILI NDIDI reports.

‘It’s a blessing for us’

• The entranace to IMSU.

•Indigent parents, students hail Imo varsity’s free education

W

HEN Governor Rochas Okorocha announced on February 14, 2012 that he was introducing free education from primary to tertiary levels in Imo State, many thumped their noses at him. It sounded too good to be true to many when he made the promise at the Imo Freedom Square in Owerri, the state capital.

He also promised indigenous students N100,000 scholarship every session. Some politicians condemned the policy, saying it is unsustainable.

But, for two years now, students of Imo State origin have been enjoying free education. They get N100,000 each - 70 per cent of which represents bursary, and the remaining, a loan/

grant from the government which they will offset when they start working.

National Diploma (ND) students at Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo get N60,000, (N40,000 bursary; N20,000 loan); their Higher National Diploma (HND) counterparts get N80,000 (N60,000 bursary; and N20,000 loan).

When it was introduced, critics said the policy favoured the few indigenes enrolled at IMSU and not in other schools. Today, the indigenes and non-indigenes enjoy 100 per cent

‘

tuition-free tertiary education. The non-indigenes became beneficiaries from the 2014/2015 academic session.

Before the introduction of free education, the university management was planning to review tuition fees from N100,000 to N150, 000. The plan was dropped when the policy came into being.

Before they became beneficiaries, the non-indigenes paid N50, 000 per session, representing a 50 per cent reduction in fees.

The only fees the students pay cover

It has helped many families in the state. For instance, four of us are in this university: I and three of my sisters.

It would have been too much for my parents INSIDE

VC refutes claims about varsity’s licence’s withdrawal

ALL the academic programmes of Samuel Adegboyega University, (SAU), Ogwa, Edo State, have been fully accredited by the National Universities Commission, (NUC)...

-Page 33

medical, accommodation and sundry charges.

For the students and their parents, the policy is a blessing. At the beginning of every session, the students get N100, 000, which they pick up at the palaces of their traditional rulers and pay to the university as tuition fee.

The students are praying that the policy would be sustained, after Okorocha's tenure.

Chidiebube Kingsley, a 200Level student of Fine and Applied Arts, said

Lagos distributes new primary school leavers’ certificates -Page 35

CAMPUS LIFE Life in Geregu community -Page 29

’

he never believed it until he got his cheque.

"At first I was in doubt about the workability of the programme until I collected my cheque from the secretariat of the Community Government Council in my community, Umuta in Ngo-Okpala Local Government Area and paid it into the bank as my tuition fee. That was when I believed it was for real".

For Ifeyinwa Udoaru, a 100-Level Mass Communication student, being in school with three other siblings at the same time has been made possible by the policy.

"I am lucky to be a beneficiary of the free education programme. It has helped many families in the state. For •Continued on page 26

•A 10-page section on campus news, people etc

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

26

EDUCATION

•Candidates for the 2015 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) waiting for their print outs containing details about the venue and date of the examination at the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) office in Benin on Tuesday.

‘It’s a blessing for us’ •Continued from page 25 instance, four of us are in this university: I and three of my sisters.

It would have been too much for my parents," she said.

Another indigenous student, Kingsley Ibeh, said critics have no case as the university is not lacking in funding and infrastructure despite the policy.

"Those criticising the free education programme are doing so for political reasons. We the students are grateful to the Governor for introducing the programme. Talking about the facilities in the university now and the quality of learning, even when we were paying school fees, it was not this good.

"For instance since the programme started the school has not gone on strike for one day; the students are graduating in record time; and the university is one of the most sought after among state-owned universities," he said As a non-indigene, Paulinus Yaro, a 200-Level Law student from Rivers State, said the students appreciate the governor's gesture.

"When it was announced, we thought it was one of the many tricks by politicians but so far so good it has worked and we are grateful," he said.

He, however, appealed to the management and the government to reduce the cost of accommodation, which is between N90,000 and N100,000.

"The only challenge we are facing as students is the high cost of accommodation and we are appealing to the authorities to do something in that direction to assist the students," he said.

Jude Njoaguani, a 100-Level student of Business Administration and Management from Delta State, called for a law to back the policy to guarantee its sustenance.

"It is not just enough to introduce the programme but should be hinged on a strong legislative framework that will ensure that it is sustained beyond the present administration. The programme is a huge relief for both indigenous and non-indigenous students and we pray that it is not truncated by politicians. We hope that the free education programme does not affect the intake of non-indigenes," he said.

Their parents are also hailing the policy.

Nze Njoku, a retired civil servant whose two children are in the university, described critics of the programme as "enemies of the common people".

Vice Chancellor of the Imo State University (IMSU), Prof Ukachukwu Awuzie speaks on the secret of running a tuition-free university and the scorecard of his administration with OKODILI NDIDI.

How we run free education at IMSU, by VC

H

OW will you rate the performance of the free education programme?

Impressive. The free education of the Imo State University is a huge success. As we speak Commissioners of Education from other states have been coming to the University to study how we managed the programme so that they can introduce it in their respective states.

How have you been able to manage the university relying mainly on subvention?

It has always been my candid opinion that universities should, to a great extent, be self sustaining financially. I have always reiterated my plan to lay a solid foundation, upon the expiration of my tenure, which would ensure that the university would be able to generate a bulk of the resources for its operations through research outlets, endowments, alumni organisations and partnerships/ linkages with national and international organizations.

Upon assumption of duty, I discovered that the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine had been focusing more on theoretical rather than practical aspect of its mandate. To put the Faculty on sound footing and to ensure that it serves not only as an institute for the propagation of knowledge, but also a major income earner for the university, my administration has been able to among other things; increased the number of birds in the poultry section to such an extent that the poultry presently sells eggs and birds to the university community and members of the public. We increased the number of pigs in the piggery and as a result, products of the piggery are now in the open market. We also established eight fish ponds stocked with over 2,000 fingerlings. It is expected that within the shortest possible time, these ponds would prove to be major income earners for the university.

My administration also resuscitated the moribund feed mill on Campus that was neglected by previous administrations and it is now performing at optimal capacity. Upon the realization of the place of such feed mill in the drive for improved income generation for the university, my administration will remain committed o its continued expansion.

Being a Vice-Chancellor is quite different from being a unionist. In the first 12 months of your tenure as the substantive Vice Chancellor, what have you done to transform the institution?

Upon my appointment as the Acting Vice-Chancellor by the Visitor to the University, Governor Rochas Okorocha

"It would have been impossible for me to cater for two of my children in the university at a time as a pensioner.

When my eldest child was in the university, then I was still working, I knew how tough it was for me, not to talk of now that I am no more working. The free education programme has made it possible for many parents like me to send our children to the university," he said.

Mrs. Agnes Agbakuru, a widowed petty trader, described the policy as "God's gift to Imo State".

"My two daughters are currently studying in two different state-owned

on November 22nd, 2012, I set about putting in place the relevant governance and administrative infrastructure necessary for the smooth running of the university. • Prof Awuzie To this effect, I demonstrated to the Visitor the need for the urgent constitution of the Governing Council for the university.

Prior to this time, the absence of a council for the university had been a huge impediment to the development of sustainable and robust governance and administrative framework for the university.

The advent of the 7th Governing Council has brought in its wake; the commencement of the process for the ethical rebirth within the university community and the process for a comprehensive intellectual values re-engineering among staff and students. No doubt my administration has made tremendous and appreciable progress in this regard as sound moral, ethical and intellectual values have begun to permeate the institution's environment.

Also the Senate before the advent of my administration had uncertain days of meeting. Under my administration, our University like other Universities now has a definite date of meeting and a robust calendar for its functions, as each meeting's deliberations are followed up with action sheets.

In what other ways have you brought your past experiences to bear in the management of the University in the last one year?

As a foremost academic and a trade unionist, I understand the need to maintain high standards within the university community. I understand the essence of the proper incentivisation of the workers, particularly through regular payment of salaries and prompt sponsorship of staff and students to international and national conferences, workshops and seminars. My administration has in the past two years in collaboration with the TETFund research fund, sponsored over 16 members of Staff for MSc and PhD programmes at both international and local Universities.

This is considered as a necessary step towards the development of a virile and robust University.

tertiary institutions and I don't pay any tuition fee except for minor sundry charges and I am grateful to the state government," she said.

Imo State Commissioner for Education Mrs. Mma Nzeribe told The Nation that the prudent management of resources and the priority placed on qualitative education.

She said: "We have been able to achieve a total free education because the governor in his wisdom blocked all avenues that previous administrations were using to siphon public funds and ploughed the resources back into education in

fulfilment of his campaign promises.

Today, it is a huge success and those criticising it are also beneficiaries as they have their children in stateowned tertiary institutions."

Besides, from free tuition, the government raised the university’s monthly subvention from N57 million to N257 million.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ukachukwu Awuzie, said the university has thrived under the policy because of management’s judicious use of its funds.

Ukachukwu, immediate past president of the Academic Staff Union

‘Free education at the university level is possible in Nigeria; it depends on how you apply the resources. All it takes is honesty, transparency, accountability and passion.

When these are applied, free education is possible’

of Universities (ASUU) said: "Free education at the university level is possible in Nigeria, it depends on how you apply the resources. All it takes is honesty, transparency, accountability and passion. When these are applied free education is possible. In Imo State we have free education because the governor is committed to ensuring that every Imo child has access to university education irrespective of their social background. It is this passion and the prudent application of resources that has made it possible."

The VC noted that contrary to expectation, there has been an upsourge in students’ population has even increased.

"On the contrary, the number of indigenous students admitted in the university has sharply increased since the introduction of free education because every family wants to benefit from the programme. For instance in the 2014/2015 session, we matriculated a total number of 5,215 students, out of which 4618 are from Imo State," he said.

Awuzie said the quality of learning has not been compromised because of the policy.

"Talking about the quality of teaching and learning, it is the quality of leadership that determines the standard of the institution and not free education," he said.

He said the university has become a model for other states from where people have been coming to see things for themselves.

"The free education of the Imo State university is a huge success. As we speak Commissioners of Education from other states have been coming to the University to study how we managed the programme so that they can introduce it in their states," he said.

The Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ralph Njoku Obi, said efforts are being made to boost the university’s internally-generated revenue (IGR).

"In the effort by the university to increase its revenue generation the management has revamped the poultry and feed mill and plans are also on to establish a printing press among other projects," he said.

A lecturer, who pleaded anonymity, praised the government and the management for making the policy worthwhile.

He said: "The free education programme, contrary to the earlier fear that it will compromise the standard of education, has fared very well. The success can be attributed to the commitment of the state government but largely to the sterling leadership provided by the VC, Prof Ukachukwu Awuzie.

"Most members of the university community may not be at liberty to comment on the programme because of political persuasions but we have never had any cause to complain since the programme was introduced. We have received our salaries and other entitlements as when due and the current facility upgrade going on in the uiversity has impacted positively on the quality of teaching and learning.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

27

EDUCATION

FUNAAB donates bee kits to farmers

T

HE Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC) of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has donated two sets of Beekeeping equipment with complete set of costumes to the farming community of Ijo-Agbe in Opeji, Odeda Local Government area of Ogun State.

The donation was done during a training workshop on "Modern Beekeeping and Medicinal Value of Honey" for farmers drawn from IjoAgbe, Ilawo, Boonu-Ola, Tigba, Olorunsogo, Asebi-Sotan Titun, and Opeji villages, and staff of the Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP).

The Director of AMREC, Prof

Carolyn Afolami, said such training would help farmers to diversify their resources and reduce the risks associated with absolute dependence on conventional crop and animal production, as sources of income.

She said that Beekeeping requires little land space and is an ideal enterprise for small scale and resourcepoor farmers.

She was optimistic that the training would boost the population of Beekeeping farmers and increase the production of quality honey to meet the increasing demand of consumers and industries.

Apart from the environmental benefits of increasing yield through pollination by bees, Beekeepers would also enjoy additional economic ben-

efits of supplying raw materials for the production of alcoholic beverages, feed for livestock, drug ingredients and cosmetics, among others.

Presenting the equipment, the Programme Leader, Training and Farm Demonstrations (TFD) of AMREC, Dr. Jacob Olaoye, said that 60 percent of proceeds from the beehives will be kept by the community for other agricultural pursuits, while the remaining 40 percent would come to AMREC, to further empower other communities. Participants were taken on different training modules like "Apiary Selection, Establishment and Management", by Dr. Adedoyin Osipitan; "Honey and Traditions, Medicinal Uses and Beekeeping Practice", by

AOCOED FILE Exams start next Monday

• Prof Afolami

Professor Samuel Oluwalana and "Value Addition, Packaging and Marketing of Bee Hive Products", by Dr. Olufunmilayo Oluwalana.

NTA college matriculates 236

T

College salutes new HOS

•Cross section of the new students.

essary equipment and conducive environment for you to be creatively engaged.

Let me note that the broadcast industry is a very demanding one and the competitiveness is growing by the day. But I am proud to announce to you that our students have been doing us proud by winning laurels at

A

local and international competitions," Bewell added.

She admonished them to abide by the oath they took. She thanked ABU Vice-Chancellor Bewell expressed appreciation to ABU Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

Abdullahi Mustapha, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Kayode

‘What the college offers is not just academic theories, but also relevant practical and professional knowhow that will make you industry-ready for the broadcast world’

Group tasks youth on elections GROUP known as Alhaji Okoh Dauda Okekere Education Foundation (AODOEF) has urged Nigerian youth to participate actively in the forthcoming general elections coming up later this month.

The group called on the youths to come out en-mass to vote for the candidates of their choice in the elections.

Chairman of AODOEF, Mohammed K. Dauda, an engineer spoke this in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital at a leadership summit organised by the National Congress of Nigerian Students (NACONS).

The theme of the summit was: "Youth roles as agents of violencefree elections."

He added that the future of the youths is in their hands. They have the largest number in the population of Nigeria. They should come out enmass during the coming election to vote for the leaders of their choice."

Dauda said that Nigeria may continue to experience youth unrest if the issues of unemployment and improper funding of education are not addressed.

He expressed concern over youth unrest and some criminal acts in

Vehicle tags mandatory VEHICLES owners driving within the AOCOED campus must now collect vehicle tags at points of entry and exit.

The college management has warned that nobody is exempted and that defaulters would be made to pay a fine and may be delayed by security officials. The workers were also warned to handle the tags with care so they don’t get into wrong hands.

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

HE Nigeria Television College, Jos, has conducted the oath of matriculation to its 236 new students for a degree programme for the 2014/2015 academic session.

The new students cut across various fields of journalism including: Television Journalism, Television Production and Television Engineering. Thirty eight of the students are in 100 level, while other 198 are 200level direct entry students respectively.

The institution popularly known as TV College is a professional training institution run by the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) for the training of broadcast journalists. At the inception, the college The which is affiliated to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, used to be known as 'NTA Training Centre' where workers in the organisation were trained.

It was however expanded to admit fresh secondary school leavers for a full degree program; even though the college still serves its mandate of training and retraining NTA staff.

The college Ag.Rector Halima Bewell said the 31 year-old college offers both theory and practical knowledge to make students have an edge.

"What the college offers is not just academic theories, but also relevant practical and professional knowhow that will make you industry-ready for the broadcast world. We will therefore try our best within available financial ambience to provide the nec-

THE first semester examination for full time NCE students (Part I & II) for the 2014/2015 academic session at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) will commence from Monday, March 9 and end on Friday, March 27.

Students have been advised to complete all forms of registration (course and examination registration) before the commencement of the examination; while Deans and departmental heads have been told that all examinations must be accommodated within the stipulated period.

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

some parts of the country, charging governments at all levels to provide employment opportunities for the youth and fund education adequately.

Kameel who chaired the occasion, noted that if Nigerian youth are gainfully employed, there will be no time for them to carry out any criminal act.

"The quality of education is poor.

Governments need to act fast to tackle the challenges and improve on it. They should pay attention to the education sector and try as much as possible to reduce the number of private schools, build teachers' schools. In short they should take total ownership of education. They should provide employment for the youth to curb violence," he said.

He described the programme as a mark of fulfilling their role of impacting on the society.

"They are not preaching cultism.

They are not preaching violence.

They are only trying to make the society better place to live in and they want people to realize and learn through them what their positive role is during the coming general elections", he noted.

T

HE old Students Association of Ikosi Methodist High School, Agbowa-Ikosi, renamed Lagos State Model College, Agbowa, has concluded plans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the school next month. It will hold on the school's premises at Agbowa, Epe Area of Lagos State.

Its President, Alhaji K.J. Ajisebutu, (a.k.a. 'Magnet Bollar'), in a statement said the celebrations, which were earlier planned for February 5, had to be shifted because of the political situation in the country at the time.

Activities lined up for the three-day event starting April 22, include Christian and Muslim prayers, career guidance talk and parliamentary session with the current pupils, a novelty match and cultural displays.

‘It commenced academic work in 1948 under the name Ikosi Central Industrial Primary School, Agbowa before being renamed Ikosi Central Modern School in 1960’

Omojuwa, and head of department Mass Communications, Mallam Rabiu Ismaila and others top principals of the university.

One of the new students Pam Musa, a journalist in Jos said: "This is a rear privilege, I will maximize the opportunity because it is my desire to acquire a degree in Journalism and here I am. So I shall place much value on this opportunity" Another student, Miss Jamila Michael, also had this to say: "To me this is a dream come true. I had tried twice in the past but was not lucky to get admission. I decided to try it again and I am here already, so I will not play with this opportunity for granted."

Alumni to celebrate alma mater at 50 Highlight of the programme, will be the launch of N500 million hall project, a gala night where the Association would honour some retired teachers and old pupils of the school and a donation of customised laptops to the pupils.

Ikosi Methodist High School, Agbowa was founded on February 5, 1965. It commenced academic work in 1948 under the name Ikosi Central Industrial Primary School, Agbowa before being renamed Ikosi Central Modern School in 1960. The school was the first secondary school to be established in the then Ikosi District Council.

Some of the products of the school include ex-speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jokotola Pelumi; a former commissioner for Housing in Lagos State, Comrade Dele Onabokun; a former senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi and the late Abowa of Abowa, Oba Joseph Akilolu Odumeru.

THE Governing Council, management, workers and students of AOCOED have congratulated the 18th Head of Service (HOS), Lagos State Civil Service. Mrs. Folashade Sherifat Jaji.

Jaji’s appointment followed the retirement of Mrs. Josephine Williams on Friday, February 13, 2015. Until her new appointment, Mrs Jaji was the most senior of all the serving permanent secretaries in the Lagos State civil service. The college therefore wishes her a peaceful tenure in office.

IBBU FILE VC promises alumni land THE Vice-Chancellor of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) in Lapai, Niger State, Prof Muhammad Nasir Maiturare, has promised to acquire an appropriate location that would serve as secretariat for the university's Alumni Association.

He made this known when members of the association, led by its President, Mallam Umar Saba Baba, visited him.

The Vice-Chancellor however urged the association to make do with the Alumni Office for now. He said when they have large meetings they could liaise with the Liaison Office at the university Guesthouse for proper accommodation.

He appraised the Alumni's strategic plan and urged them to work assiduously in seeing to its implementation, stressing that a lot would be done to make them very relevant to the system.

NAAT visits VC, makes demands THE IBBU branch of the National Association of Academic technologists (NAAT) has urged the Vice Chancellor to improve laboratory facilities in the university.

Speaking when the body visited the Vice Chancellor, Prof Muhammad Nasir Maiturare, to welcome him to the university, the chairman, Mallam Ndanusa Katcha called on the Vice-Chancellor to look into the construction of laboratories and provision of equipment given the laboratory risks involved in their work. He also appealed to the VC to facilitate the promotion of members, SIWES and fellowship trainings.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

28

EDUCATION SCHOOL SPORTS

AAUA FILE Ex VC lauds progress NINE years after serving as the Vice Chancellor of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State, Prof. Funso Akere, visited the institution recently and was impressed with what he saw.

Akere who was received by the Principal Officers of the university toured facilities on campus, including the iconic Senate Building and the 30-Classroom Quadrangle.

He said he was awed by the huge infrastructural development and ethics entrenched by his successor, Prof. Femi Mimiko, who completed his tenure last December.

Akere charged members of the university community to concentrate on skill-based researches to further complement academic excellence in the institution.

He said, "There is a current research trend which is designed to make universities design skilledbased programmes such that students, upon graduation, can be relevant and employable in the developing industries. It is designed to make such graduates set up vocations based on the entrepreneurial skills acquired.

AAUA must strive to key into this to remain relevant to the society."

Lectures begin next week OLD students of AAUA will resume classes for the 2014/2015 academic session on Monday.

They resumed between February 22 and March 1, and have spent the intervening time doing their registration. New students are to begin their classes on March 15.

According to the Academic Calendar approved by the University Senate last week, Preregistration (on-line) exercise for the newly admitted students will hold between February 22 and 28, 2015.

Akoko Muslim leaders visit VC THE AAUA Vice Chancellor, Prof.

Igbekele Ajibefun, played host to the Muslim leaders in Akoko Land recently. The visitors were the leaders of the Muslim community in Akoko Southwest, Akoko Northeast, Akoko Northwest and Akoko Southeast.

The Imam of Ikare Akoko and Chairman of the Muslim community in Akoko Land, Alhaji Abbas Muhammad, said the visit was a usual practice for the Muslim community to honour new leadership of the University.

He said Ajibefun' appointment as the new VC was not unconnected with his excellent records as Rector of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo. He prayed that God would continue to give him strength and wisdom to take the university to greater heights and sought partnership between the community and the university.

Responding, the VC assured the leaders of a mutually-rewarding partnership between the institution and the Muslim fold.

SCHOOL SPORTS

SCHOOL SPORTS

Plus size pupils, others dazzle at Wellspring

P

LUS size pupils can do very well in sports if challenged.

Goodness (Red) House of Wellspring College, Omole Phase 2, Ikeja, Lagos, knows how to make use of its very big members. They serve the house well during the Tug of War event of the school's inter-house sports competition. Last year, the house easily overpowered others in the event.

The plus-size boys and girls repeated the feat at the ninth edition of the school's inter-house competition held at the Agege Stadium recently.

They showed the others were no match for them, pulling the teams from Grace (Blue) House and Favour (Green) House over the line in no time and demonstrating that they were heavy for a good purpose.

However, it was not only in the Tug of War that Goodness showed class. Its athletes dominated most of the track events decided that including the sprint races (100m, 200m), the relays, sack race, and lime and spoon races such that a parent, Mrs Ifeoluwapo Akintola, joked that they used performance enhancing drugs.

At the end of the day, the House won 15 gold, eight silver, nine bronze medals to lift the overall winners' trophy.

•Goodness House during the march past Stories by Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

Praise (Yellow) House came second with nine gold, 12 silver, 12 bronze; while Grace House came third with eight gold, 10 silver, and six bronze.

Favour House had the least number of medals - six gold, eight silver, and 11 bronze. However, this did not detract from the feeling of accomplishment of its members as they won the gold in the march past event with 50 points. Given the level of preparation they put into dressing their king, queen, princess and royal family, as well as the display they put up, the gold meant a lot to them.

Mrs Akintola, whose daughter, Faith, acted as the princess of the entourage, was particularly happy as she also sewed the beautifullydesigned Indian Attire worn by the

entire group, which added colour to their performance.

On the stands, she made parents around her laugh when she exclaimed: "Up Green! Yes O! They can't beat us. I fasted o!"

Praise came second with 47 points in the March Past, while Goodness was third with 46 points. Favour came fourth with 42 points.

Speaking seriously, Mrs Akintola told The Nation that schools should encourage pupils to do more of sports, physical activities and healthy eating.

"Schools should do more sporting activities; they should let children exercise more. Also, when they eat a lot of fruits rather than junk food, they tend to have more energy," she said.

In her speech, the principal, Mrs

Oluwayemisi Oloriade, said sport does a lot of physical and social good.

"In addition to promoting good health among the competitors, an occasion such as this also forges good relations and goodwill among competitors in the spirit of sportsmanship. It a universal truth that sports has gone a long way in reducing ill will among nations today and new bonds of cooperation and loyalty are formed every day in world politics. Hence, the world has stayed for over seventy years without a third world war. If only sports should be enthroned without any form of selfishness, pride and self-aggrandizement, rancor, ill feeling and war among nations and groups would be a thing of the past," she said.

Sportsmanship can teach politicians to win honourably

P

ARTICIPATING in sports is an important part of King's College culture, says its Principal, Otunba Dele Olapeju.

However, he adds that the boys are taught to learn to be modest in victory or in defeat - a lesson he said

politicians need to learn.

Olapeju spoke at the 95th interhouse sports competition of the 106year old school held at its main campus behind the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos Island.

He said: "We need to prove to our

nation that engaging in competitions either political or otherwise is not a duel or warfare and therefore should not emit bad blood and violence either verbal of physical.

"In education, we have the cognitive, psychomotor and effective

•From left: Ugorji and Dr Nwabiala inspecting the guard.

domain. All these domains make a total man. If you are good in sports, and you don't have the character, you become an embarrassment to the nation. King's College is promoting values. If you are losing, you lose gallantly and if you are winning, you win with humility, it's not about you winning all the time."

He appealed to old boys, corporate organizations and others to donate to the school's sports endowment fund to further develop sports in the college.

Oladele, who retires in November, said that sport has grown tremendously at the college since he assumed office five years ago.

The track and field activities that took place at the competition provided much entertainment for guests, parents and the pupils. The various track events were interspersed with calisthenics performances by the junior pupils of King's College and the girls from Queen's College.

At the end of stiff competition, Panes House came first with 17 gold, 15 silver, and 11 bronze medals. They were followed by Mckee Wright (13 gold, 21 silver, and 10 bronze medals) in second position; Hyde Johnson in the third position (10 gold, seven silver, and 13 bronze).

Harman's House was fourth with five gold, 12 silver and 12 bronze medals.

FSTC is grooming future athletes for Nigeria, says Principal

T

HE 44th Annual Inter-House Sports of the Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC), Yaba gave the principal, Rev Chris Ugorji, an opportunity to blow the school's trumpet in sports.

Ugorji said talents discovered during the school's sporting meets are already making waves at important competitions. The most prominent of the achievements were the medals the school won at the Lagos State Secondary School Sports Festival, tagged, Ibile Games, held between January

26 and February 6 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

The principal said the college won 15 medals, made up of five gold, four silver and six bronze. The five gold medals were won by Omeje Anslem (200 metres junior boys event); Kate Tope (long jump, boys); Kareem Samsideen (who won two gold medals in gymnastics), and Samuel Adara (chess).

He said the achievements are because of the importance the college attaches to sports.

"Let it be on record that at FSTC, Yaba, sport is given deserving recognition, support and attention.

Through our annual Inter-House Sports competitions, hidden and budding talents are discovered among our students and we shall stop at nothing to nurture and bring these talents to limelight," he said.

In his speech, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, Dr Mac John Nwaobiala also said the Federal Government is commitment to encouraging youth to par-

ticipate in sports to breed future athletes for the country.

"We want see how we can encourage our young people to get to their peak through sports because we are usually not happy when Nigeria is identified as age cheats during major international sport tournament. We want to create an environment where budding talents would be brought up to national level and eventually bring glory to the country,'' he said.

To this end, he said the ministry is initiating policies to transform the

Federal Unity Colleges into centres of excellence in academics and sports.

Meanwhile, the invitation relay race was one of the most interesting features of the inter-house sports.

Many secondary schools from within and outside Lagos honoured the invitation of the host school, and added colour to the event - just as there were many principals of Federal Unity Colleges as well as several directors from the Federal Ministry of Education (FME), Abuja that graced the competition.

Rain of blows at parliament

*CAMPUSES

Taste of Edo culture

*NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

Page 42

Page 31

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: campusbeat@yahoo.com THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

•A scene in the drama depicting how youths indulge in smoking and gambling

Drama is all about make-belief.

This explains the moving performance of Theatre Arts students of the Kogi State University (KSU) Anyigba, who depicted, life in Geregu, a community in Ajaokuta Local Government Area. MOHAMMED YABAGI (300-Level Mass Communication) reports.

Life in Geregu community

D

RAMA is life. This aphorism was brought home when Theatre Arts students of the Kogi State University (KSU) in Anyingba, staged a Drama, depicting life in Geregu, a sprawling community in Ajaokuta Local Government Area. It was a satirical play with a punchy delivery.

Satire is a literature tool used to criticise behaviour, vices, follies and shortcomings using humour.

During the four-hour event, the mood of the audience members rose and fell with the play’s tempo.

The characters were participating in the town and gown project of the department, tagged: Community Theatre for Development (CTD), which uses theatre as a tool to expose societal ills and to make people conscious of their cultures.

The students were led to Geregu by their teachers, including the Head of Department, Dr Williams Onogu, and course tutors Prof James Ator-Alachi and Mr Jonathan Okpanachi.

They gathered the residents on an open field for the event.

The drama started with pupils of LGEA Primary School staging a cultural dance, which drew intermittent applause from the crowd. The pupils danced to the tune played by Gbadankolo – a group of elders in the community.

The students came on stage, rendering folksongs. The delivery excited the locals, who sang along with them.

Dramatising the lack of lavatory facilities in most houses in Geregu, the students sent message on the importance of sanitation.

The community, according to the drama, is not environmentally friendly, resulting in diseases, such as diarrhoea.

The play also touched on congestion and high cost of rent in the community. An episode illustrated how people purify well water with alum to make it safe for drinking, because the community lacks pipe-borne water. The students, through the play, taught the residents alternative way of purifying the water.

PHOTO: MOHAMMED YABAGI

‘We hope to use this project to assist the people to prioritise their problems and find a way of solving them. We need to ensure that they are assisted in channelling their grievances to the right quarters, whether it is government or an individual that would help attend to these problems’ Poverty is not strange in Geregu as it is in many communities. This was also captured in the drama, which depicted how families could not afford basic necessities of life.

The drama demonstrated how Geregu’s proximity to Itobe, an Igala town, threatened commerce in the community market, and why collapse of Ajaokuta Steel Company also affected trading. The illustration was captured in a song: “Aja steel don go, market don go” (Ajaokuta Steel Company has become moribund, so also has Geregu market).

Other societal phenomena captured in the drama included illiteracy, child trafficking, street hawking, teenage pregnancy, gambling, smoking and excessive drinking of alcohol.

Prof Ator-Alachi hailed the students for the “brilliant performance”. The drama, he said, took the students two weeks •Continued on page 30

•Session of ‘baptism’ trails DELSU matriculation-P32•42 English students play friendly match -P41

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

30

CAMPUS LIFE

The Josephines of our world Pushing

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IFE can really be tough if you reside in a bustling city like Lagos, it is even tougher when you’re unemployed or earn a paltry N7, 800 monthly. When you tell people what you earn they marvel at how you’ve been able to make ends meet.

How do you pay your house rent, recharge your phone, eat decent meals or even transport yourself to work? They often wonder. Then one day you went to work and while doing your daily chore, you came across N12 million in ‘cool cash’ staring right at you from the blues!

An expected battle raged in your mind.

Has ‘god’ suddenly blessed me? With this amount I can live like a king, walk away from this demeaning job, buy a good tokunbo, or even a brand new Toyota Corolla car and cruise around my poverty stricken neighbourhood flaunting my new found wealth.

As your imagination ran riot within, another voice of caution said; wait a minute, this isn’t yours, you weren’t brought up to take that which is not yours.

The voice also reminded you that you’ve returned money that wasn’t yours in the past. You knew instantly this was the best way to go even though some people may call you mumu, ode or mugu. You eventually made the ‘painful’ decision of returning the N12 million to the rightful owner. By that singular act you became an instant celebrity. People – including rights groups - suddenly want to associate with you because of your unusual integrity. You weren’t bothered that you were given a paltry $50 (N10, 500) as reward for your honesty.

This story is not fiction – even though I tried to weave a story around it; it actually happened here in Lagos! Unbelievable?

Not really. One lovely young lady, Miss Josephine Agwu, a cleaner – yes, a cleaner - with one of the cleaning concessionaires at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos did just that. According to the Nigerian Tribune story, she will be honoured and probably rewarded by the Lagos State House of Assembly for finding and returning the N12 million to the owner.

According to the Newspaper, the House of Assembly took the decision to invite Josephine to appear before it at a later date during its sitting following resumption from a month long recess. Deputy Whip of the House, Honourable Rotimi Abiru, had under Matter of Urgent Public Importance, raised the issue, calling the attention of his colleagues to the

Out with

Agbo Agbo 08116759750 (SMS only)

fact that Josephine was returning lost money for the third time. Abiru said that the affected lady, who earns a monthly salary of N7, 800, was given just $50 the second time she found and returned a lost money.

Speaking on what motivated her to do what she did; Josephine words were quite instructive, “If I had taken what doesn’t belong to me, God will punish me. I am contented with my N7, 800 monthly salary.

It was not my money. I believe when it pleases God, He will bless the work of my hand and will make me rich.” Can you beat that! In a Nigeria where most people believe we are all corrupt and dishonest. But we are all not like that; it is often the bad egg that produces awful stench.

We have other Nigerians like Josephine, both within and outside our shores. I will concentrate today on three of them to show that there are still ‘ordinary’ Nigerians out there passing the integrity and honesty test with high flying distinction.

Two years ago, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Abuja rewarded Mr. Umeh Usuah, an Abuja taxi cab driver with N30, 000 for returning the sum of N18 million left in his cab by a passenger who he picked up at a hotel. Usuah said he was at the car-wash when he discovered a bag left in his car by a passenger and he decided to do the right thing by returning it to the owner.

For this exemplary display of honesty, the Abuja taxi cab driver who plies the Abuja Airport road route was recognised by the NOA. While presenting the cash reward to Usuah, the Director-General of the Agency, Mr. Mike Omeri, said back then that any Nigerian who displays such exemplary

•aagboa@gmail.com behaviour such as Usuah’s deserves to be celebrated. He said the award would be given to any Nigerian irrespective of status or class that showed act that depicts the values and culture of Nigeria.

Narrating the circumstances which led to his returning the money, the cab-driver said, “My mind went back to the man who I dropped at the hotel and I immediately alerted my chairman and he instructed me to go back to the place where I dropped him.

I saw him and delivered his bag to him. I believe that was the right thing to do.”

According to report, a representative of the Aviation Minister, Mr. Oche Elias, said it was a rare display of honesty, adding that it was “a huge integrity and trust exhibited

by Usuah”. The aviation ministry later organised a dinner in Usuah’s honour to show to the world that integrity pays.

In faraway Spain, A Nigerian tissue seller also passed the integrity test and was praised as a “Good Samaritan” after he returned •16,000 he found in a briefcase that fell from a car in December 2014. 35 year old Peter Angelina, who makes a living selling tissue paper at a traffic light junction at the corner of Calle Juan Diaz de Solis and Ruben Dario in Seville, Spain, was selling his wares on Dec. 3rd when he noticed a small briefcase left on the roof of a car.

The briefcase fell to the ground when the driver of the car pulled away. Peter picked up the briefcase and ran after the vehicle, trying to flag the driver down to return the case to him but couldn’t get the attention of the driver. He then took the briefcase to a police station near the junction.

When police opened the briefcase, they found •3,150 in cash and six cheques with

a combined value of •13,000 as well as some documents and a mobile telephone.

More money than the man who left Lagos Nigeria for London, then Spain over 10 years had ever seen in his life.

According to Euronews which reported the story, Spanish Police tracked down the owner of the briefcase, a 42-year-old businessman from Seville, and returned his belongings. The man later found Peter and rewarded him with •100.

“People say I could have kept the money and then thrown the briefcase away but I am not like that, and God wouldn’t have liked that. I am not crazy, I am a good man.” Peter was quoted as telling a local media.

It turns out Peter Angelina is a doctor, but cannot practice medicine in Spain because his degree from Nigeria is not recognised in Spain. He started studying medicine in Seville five years ago and sells tissues to afford his studies. He also gets a little financial help from his father who is reportedly a policeman in Nigeria.

These are ordinary Nigerians who have every reason to take that which did not belong to them but resisted the temptations. They may not be rich today but they have a good conscience and can sleep with both eyes closed fearing nothing.

But unfortunately, this cannot be said of some Nigerians, especially some in public offices. The stealing by government officials in our country is systematic, planned, organised, endemic, and extreme.

Nigeria’s thieving autocrats loot the treasury and spare no funds - no matter how consolidated. They spare no assets or public accounts because they are morally depraved and ethically bankrupt.

They steal so much that no matter how lavish their life styles within the country become, they can only use a fraction of their loot in their life time. Most times their loots are hidden in foreign bank accounts in tax havens, mainly in Switzerland.

Their stealing spree creates huge holes in the development process at home; hence home is unstable and unsafe to keep stolen funds. Home may explode at any minute.

Regardless of this however, these three Nigerians have shown that there is hope for the country if we can get the leadership challenge right.

Ogunleye resumes as NIJ Provost

T •The Gbadankolo drummers entertaining members of audience

•Alhaji Geregu

Life in Geregu community •Continued from page 29

of rehearsal. He described theatre as the best medium to tell emotive stories about people and societies.

He said: “The students were taught different skills on developing scenario into drama; the skill of facilitating, watching and talking about societal challenges through a play. As was seen in the drama, the characters were interested in exposing the ills in the community and the failure of leadership. In doing that, they tried to inject life into the drama and the people were surprised to know what has been going on in their community.

“We hope to use this project to assist the people to prioritise their problems and find a way of solving them. We need to ensure that they are assisted in channelling their

grievances to the right quarters, whether it is government or an individual that would help attend to these problems.”

Dr Onogu said the project sought to use drama as tool for development. “We want to show that it is not every problem in the society that is caused by government; people also have their own faults. This is the kind of theatre arts that seeks to merge the town and gown. It is taught in all universities that offer theatre arts as a course,” he said.

On how the department came about the story, Onogu said: “We go to communities to conduct research into their lives. We try to know the challenges they face and use it to write our script. On the case of Geregu, we carried out extensive

research on the community and sat down to analyse the information and data we got. It is from the data that we write our scripts. What we do first is to create a scenario from the sketch and then develop it.”

The community head, Alhaji Habib Idris Geregu, said the drama struck an emotional chord in people’s hearts. He said: “The drama illustrated all aspects of our problems in this community. They have shown us our faults and what we are not doing well as members of the community. Parents learnt what our youths and children indulge in behind our back. We have learnt from this and we will sensitise our people to change their ways. We also urge the government to initiate development projects in the community.”

HE new Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in Ogba, Lagos, Mr Gbemiga Ogunleye, resumed on Monday. The former helmsman, Dr Elizabeth Nkem, handed over to her successor at a simple ceremony held last Friday in the school premises.

The ceremony, CAMPUSLIFE gathered, did not last for more than 50 minutes and was attended by the staff. It was learnt that the former provost organised a “thank you” party for staff after she handed over.

The new provost was in the school on Monday to inspect facilities of the institution. A staff member, who pleaded for anonymity, said the new administration was coming to improve on the achievements of his predecessor, but added that there were many things left undone by the former provost.

Students welcomed the development, hoping that the new helmsman would bring desired change needed in the institute.

Adebukola Folarin, a student, said that the task before the new provost included digitalisation of the school’s activities to promote excellence. In this age, she said, the school has no reason not to have a functioning website and digital library.

Another student, who did not say his name, said: “Since the new provost is an experienced media practitioner and has worked in both print and electronic media outfits, we should expect meaningful changes in

•Ogunleye

From Samson Uwala NIJ OGBA

‘Since the new provost is an experienced media practitioner and has worked in both print and electronic media outfits, we should expect meaningful changes in the school’ the school. The administrative bottleneck that characterised the past administration should not repeat itself under the new provost.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

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CAMPUS LIFE

Rain of blows at parliament Members of the legislative arm of the Nigeria Universities Accounting Students’ Association (NUASA) at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) converged for business, but the sitting ended abruptly when they started throwing blows, reports AFEES LASISI (300-Level Political Science).

I

T started peacefully as a factfinding exercise. But, suddenly, there were heated arguments which ended in the throwing of blows.

It was all at the parliamentary sitting of Nigeria Universities Accounting Students’ Association (NUASA) in the Department of Accounting of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).

Members of the legislative arm of the association turned the place into a boxing arena following a disagreement.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the parliament asked the President, Vincent Adeoba, to present his report on the state of the association and explain how N1.7 million

•Members of the parliament during the fight

realised from an event the association held in January was spent.

It was gathered that , while giving the report , Vincent was interrupted severally by the Speaker, Olajide Famakin. Another member, it was learnt, also accused the president of dressing shabbily.

An enraged Vincent, CAMPUSLIFE learnt, walked out on the parliament. The president reportedly told the Speaker that members had breached the association’s constitution by disrespecting his office.

Olajide consequently wrote a letter to the president, demanding an apology. But Vincent refused to apologise. Rather, the president asked the parliament members to

apologise for disrespecting his office.

Vincent said: “I obliged to attend the parliamentary sitting to state the interest of our association members and I deserve to be respected because of my office. But, this was not accorded to me by the parliamentarians.”

The Speaker fixed another sitting for last Saturday and invited the president. But, the sitting erupted in violence when the Speaker suspended a member for raising a constitutional order.

This led to rancour as members called for suspension of those who misbehaved at the previous sitting.

In ensuing melee, members threw blows. Some of them tried

to take away the mace.

A member, who simply identified himself as Olatunde, described the incident as unfortunate, accusing the Speaker of disrupting proceeding because of his personal grudge against the president. “The Speaker should be blamed for the fight,” he said.

A student-reporter, Sodiq Oyeleke, was attacked by two members while trying to take pictures. Sodiq described the attack bad.

He said: “I was attacked and pushed to the wall by two members I recognise as Abdullahi and Fatuga. This is getting too much.

Campus writers are being attacked by ignorant students who don’t

appreciate the work we are doing.

Most of these people attacking us call themselves activists but they are nothing but hooligans.”

A member of the parliament, Ibikunle Akingbade, said the incident was caused by the Speaker’s handling of the parliament.

He said: “It is normal for us to disagree on issues when we go for meetings, but today’s fracas was caused by some members who had earlier said that the sitting would be a battle field. They are unhappy with Olajide’s style of leadership.”

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that it took the intervention of NUASA president to douse the tension.

The Speaker and the president declined comments.

The refusal of commercial bus drivers to revert to the old fare and reduce the number of their passengers has pitched them against students of Ekiti State University (EKSU). Last week, the students barred the buses from entering the campus unless the drivers accede to their demands. BAMIDELE ADIO (200-Level Social Studies Education) reports.

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HE crisis at the Ekiti State University (EKSU) may be far from over, given students’ complaints over the “excess” load of commercial vehicles plying the campus were carrying. The students accused drivers of mini buses called Akoto of subjecting them to inhuman treatment by carrying excess passengers to make “excess profits”.

Penultimate Friday, activities on the campus were disrupted when the students protested over the matter. Besides, the students are calling for a reduction in transport fare, which was increased to N70.

Before fuel subsidy was removed, the fare from Iworoko, where most of the students reside, to the campus was N50, with the buses carrying seven passengers each. Following subsidy removal, the fare was increased to N70 with 10 passengers in a bus.

Following the reduction in petrol price from N97 to N87, students expected the bus operators to slash the fare. But, the drivers have not done so.

In anger, students barred their colleagues from boarding the buses. The drivers were not allowed into the campus by the protesters, who asked them to see students as human beings.

Olayemi Atoki, a 400-Level English and Literary Studies student, said: “Naturally, we are not supposed to plead with the drivers to reduce the fare. But, they are telling us that they are insensitive to our plight by not

•An Akoto at the school bus stop

Students, drivers at war over fare having the plan to reduce the fare despite the slash in petrol pump price.”

A commercial driver, who gave his name as Muri, said the prevailing economic condition would not make them to reduce the fare. “We increased the fare in 2012, because of oil subsidy and bad road. If you are aware of the situation then, it is still the

same condition because from the campus to Iworoko is about 30minutes journey. You don’t expect us to revert to N50.”

Another driver, who preferred to be called Dongo, said: “We also have families to cater for.

We cannot reduce the transport fare to N50 because it would not be profitable.”

A 400-Level Faculty of Science

student, Ifemide Aduloju, said the drivers had no reason not to reduce the fare since the conditions that warranted the increment had changed.

She said: “The fare was increased because of poor road and petrol price. This is 2015, the Iworoko road is now in good shape and the journey is about 20 minutes. There should be re-

duction without anyone telling them.”

Atunbotan Eniafe, a 300-Level Political Science student, described the fare as outrageous, saying the drivers must stop exploiting students. He said the sitting arrangement must also be changed from 10 passengers to seven if the drivers are not willing to reduce the fare.

“We only demand that the bus drivers reduce the fare to N50 and maintain the 4-4-2 sitting arrangement or maintain the N70 fare and adjust the sitting arrangement to 3-3-1,” he said.

According to Akeem Lasisi, a student of Management Science, the university management should be blamed for the drivers’ effrontery to exploit the students. “They are seeing us as money-making venture. We pay all sort of fees, including N10,000 for internet; we don’t have internet access. All of these give the drivers the courage to also exploit us,” he said.

Oyenusi Ijigbami, a 400-Level student of Faculty of Science, also blamed the management.

The university, he said, introduced Entrepreneurship Skill Course (ESC) and asked students to pay N1,000. “Why should we pay for a course introduced by the management?

This is extortion and the commercial bus operators derive their courage from this,” he said.

Oyenusi said students were yet to attend lecture on the course but the management kept asking students to pay the fee.

2015 polls: Nigerian students meet in London THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

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CAMPUS LIFE Session of ‘baptism’ trails DELSU matriculation

Be good ambassadors, Rector urges students

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HE Rector, Abia State Polytechnic (Abia Poly), Elder Allwell Onukaogu, has urged freshers of the institution to take their studies seriously and be good ambassadors of their families and the college.

He spoke at the institution’s matriculation.

Over 5, 250 freshers have sworn to an oath, promising to be of good behaviour. The students promised to shun cultism and examination during their matriculation, assuring that their conduct would not dent the image of the institution.

Of the over 10,000 applicants, who applied to study at the polytechnic, Onukaogu said only 5,250 met the admission requirement.

They were admitted into programmes in regular and parttime courses for National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND).

Onukaogu advised the freshers to use the opportunity of their admis-

S

TUDENTS of the Delta State University (DELSU) have indulged in a wild celebration, with their senior colleagues “baptising” them to welcome them to the school.

The freshers were called out by their senior for the rite. When most of the freshers refused to come out, students carrying bowls of dirty water moved into hostels to conduct the rite.

Some of them, who locked their doors, were “bapatised” through the windows.

A pre-degree student in Anatomy department, Sandra Oghenemaro, disapproved the behaviour, saying: “I don’t think it is appropriate to splash anyone with dirty water and paint. I will not allow anyone to do this to me during my matriculation.”

A resident of Abraka, who simply gave his name as Maro, said he witnessed a scene where some female students were tarred with paint and dirty water. He condemned the action, describing it as nonsense.

A new student in Botany Department, Nicole Akpomeyoma, said she had no choice than to allow her senior colleagues to participate in the ‘which’ Earlier, at the institution matriculation, which held at the 1000capacity Site 3 Hall, the institution’s Vice Chancellor Prof Victor Peretomonde advised the students to make the pursuit of knowledge a priority.

He said the university had grown to be a model citadel for research and

sion to add values to their lives. He told them the destructive effect of cultism, drug abuse and prostitution, stressing that the vices could never help them in their academic pursuits.

The occasion witnessed a large turnout of students, parents and guardians. Some of the freshers described the ceremony as a milestone in their lives.

Mary Ikorwa, a 100-Level Accounting student, said: “It is a memorable day for me. I am glad to have my friends and family members celebrating this day with me today. I hope this matriculation would be the starting point of excellence in my life.”

Wisdom Nwosu, Ikorwa’s classmate thanked God for keeping him alive to witness his “special day” with his relatives and friends. He promised to graduate on top of her class.

UNILAG to restore unionism •Some students ‘baptising’ a fresher with dirty water

From Ese Okoduwa DELSU learning, urging the freshers not to breach the oath of matriculation they swore to.

The Registrar, Mr Ejiro Udjo, said a total of 4,361 were admitted out of 25,000 applicants that applied to the university. He told the students to see themselves as privileged 0 advising them not to indulge in act that could

make the university to expel them.

Some of the students, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, could not hide their joy for being undergraduates.

Mary Hayble, 100-Level Anatomy, described the ceremony as memorable, having applied to the school twice before her admission.

Jessica Oseafian in Biochemistry promised to abide by the rules and regulation governing the institution.

M

EMBERS of the National Association of Delta State Students (NADESSTU) at the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi (AUCHI POLY) were all smiles last week when the government released the list of beneficiaries of the state bursary.

When the list of beneficiaries in the polytechnic was pasted, students rushed to check their names. The verification followed at various locations on the campus.

NADESSTU President, Emmanuel Oweki, hailed Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for the prompt release of the money, saying the stipend would encourage them to strive for excellence.

He said: “The bursary payment is an indication that our government is interested in education of the youth. We are grateful for the payment and we will continue to support his programmes for the youth.”

The association president said students would be paid N19,500, noting that the money would be paid two weeks after the screening.

The beneficiaries are expected to purchase a card at Zenith Bank for a PIN number that will enable them register online with their Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) registration number.

Oweki said the screening method would prevent students that are not eligible for the payment to receive bursary.

He added: “We have a large number of students for this screening and those persons who are not from Delta State will be screened out” On the complaints by beneficiaries who were admitted through pre-

From Sam Ibok ABIA POLY

Bursary excites Delta students •Some of the beneficiaries checking their names on the list

From Sampson Unamka and Richard Obote AUCHI POLY degree programmes, Oweki said meeting was ongoing with officials of Delta State Scholarship Board to remove JAMB registration number as criterion for the payment.

A beneficiary, Victory Odjegba, a HND II Polymer Technology student, said: “We appreciate the government for the payment, because it is coming at a time we need the

money. I think the money is not too small neither is it too big. We just appreciate the money comes at the right time.”

Another beneficiary, Godfrey Kurudu, a ND II Computer Science student, said: “We are grateful for this gesture by Governor Uduaghan, because the money is helpful in a way. It is not all students that come from rich background; students whose parents cannot cater for their needs will be happy to get the stipend.”

•VC warns against violence

T

HE management of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has promised to restore students’ unionism on the campus.

Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA) Prof. Tunde Babawale,who broke the news, said elections would be held into the offices of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) this month.

Babawale gave two options to the students. These were subjected to vote. He said: “We have called this meeting to hear from the students what they want as regards the timing of restoring students’ union.”

The dean suggested that the election could be held this month if students would agree to suspension of Article 7, which stipulates the tenure of the union leaders.

Babawale said the second option was for the conduct election in second semester but the tenure of the union leaders would end with the session. He said union leaders that would be elected might not have opportunity to consult members of the Constitution Drafting Committee

•Prof Bello

Group hails poly council on appointment

From Abdul-Hameed Oyegbade OSOGBO to the appointment of Registrar for the institution. We shall continue to monitor events unfolding in the institution and lend our voice to competence and excellence.”

The group noted that the process of Salawu’s appointment followed the due process, dismissing the notion that the new Registrar was the council’s favourite candidate.

He added: “It is our position that the action of faceless individuals who have been attacking the new Registrar in the media was needless. The new Registrar is capable. He had a Second Class (Upper Division) in English Language and a Master’s in Counselling Psychology at the Obafemi Awolowo University.

The group also praised Governor Rauf Aregbesola for allowing giving the council to appoint the best man.

C

OMMITTEE for Quality Education has hailed the Governing Council of the Osun State Polytechnic (OSPOLY) in Iree over the appointment of Mr Salawu Busari Moruf as the Registrar.

In a statement signed by its coordinator, Mr Aanuoluwa Ifesanmi, the group praised the council for the choice of Salawu, describing it as round peg in a round hole. He said Salawu would deploy his brilliance, competence and academic qualification to raise the bar of excellence in the administration of the polytechnic.

He said: “We congratulate the Governing Council for standing on the side of integrity with regards

From Kelechi Amakoh UNILAG (CDC), who are graduating.

The student representatives are made up of students’ leaders in all faculties, departments, Halls of Residence and class governors.

A total of 158 voted for the first option; 124 supported the second option. With majority supporting holding the election this month, electioneering may start in the next few days on the campus.

But, the management cautioned students to ensure peace during the election, urging them to reject act that may truncate the session.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Rahman Bello, gave the warning last Friday when he met with student leaders’ in the auditorium.

He said: “I urge you all to give support to the management even as we progress in our plan to restore students’ unionism. We do not want any act that may truncate the academic session or one that will take us back to the dark days.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

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CAMPUS LIFE

•The returning students’ team before the match

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O build friendship among students of English and Literary Studies at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), the institution’s chapter of the National Association of Students’ of English and Literary Studies (NASELS) has organised a friendly football match for them.

Freshers played against their senior colleagues during the match held on

Ibrahim (second right) with Acting Sport Secretary, Afolabi Timileyin (right), the freshers’ team captain, Augustus Tobe, (second right), returning students’ team captain, Funbi Otubu (left) and the match officials.

English students play friendly match From Ibrahim Yusuff UNILAG the institution’s Sport Centre.

The NASELS President, Ibrahim Yusuff, noted that the aim of the match was to familiarise members and build friendship for common good. He told

the players not to see the match as a competition but a friendly exercise.

His words: “The objective of this match is not to win by all means. What matters is not the victory for either freshers’ or returning students’ teams.

It is a friendly match to make us know

ourselves and start productive friendship that will benefit us academically. I implore you to play with caution and do not injure one another.”

At the end of the 70-minute match, the returning students’ team won by

Poly inducts freshers

T

HE Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo in Ondo State has inducted no fewer than 2,000 students for the 2014/2015 academic session.

The 22nd Matriculation was held at the institution’s Sport Complex, where parents and guardians of the freshers gathered to witness the ceremony.

The Acting Rector, Mr Idowu Ologunagba, congratulated the freshers on their admission, promising that his administration would sustain the stable academic calendar. He advised the students to be law-abiding and to conduct themselves with a deep sense of responsibility at all times.

three goals to two.

A player in the winning team, Samuel Davis, a 300-Level student, hailed his colleagues for their enthusiasm towards the match, stressing that the aim of the event was not misplaced.

“The match was a success despite challenges at the beginning. The enthusiasm of both students contributed to the success of the match,” he said.

From Richard Adura-Ilesanmi RUGIPO Ologunagba enjoined them to imbibe dialogue to press home their demands, rather than taking laws into their hands.

The Rector assured them that management would continue to provide conducive environment and good facilities to aid their learning, noting that plans were on to provide more infrastructure for students’ comfort.

He reassured the students of his commitment to enforce the existing ban on sale of handout by lecturers and to sustain the discipline among staff and students.

The students took the oath administered by the Registrar. Some of them, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, promised to obey the rules and regulation of the school.

• Pastor Fatokun and his wife with some of the youths at the event

Fellowship fetes youths on Val’s Day

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O mark the Valentine’s Day, the Stone Campus Fellowship of the University of Ibadan (UI) and Singles’ Fellowship, a youth arm of the Word Alive Ministries, held a special event for bachelors and spinsters. The Penton Rise building in Bodija where the event held was beautifully decorated in red and white ribbons.

The organisers said the event, which was tagged: Ahava, was to educate the participants about true love and the essence of the celebration. Ahava is Hebrew word for love.

From Stanley Ibeku UI Participants were told that love builds an everlasting relationship, loyalty and benevolence. They were also told that love seeks well-being of others and does not fade.

The Head of Singles’ Fellowship, Pastor Ayo Fatokun, urged the participants to abide and abound in the love of God, saying: “God has commanded everyone to love their enemies and true love does not hurry but endures all things and is always generous, humble and polite.”

The Singles’ President, Mr Tope

Orimoloye, reminded the participants on why they must love and show loyalty to their partner. According to him, love for God must come first before showing love to neighbours.

He urged the participants to promote justice, love and peace where they live. He thanked the president of the Word Alive Ministries International Alex Adegboye, and his wife for their support for students’ fellowships at the UI. The event featured singing and dancing.

Be law-abiding, provost advises freshers

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HE Provost Federal College of Education (FCE) in Eha-Amufu, Enugu State, Prof Ben Mbah, has urged freshers admitted by the institution to be disciplined and lawabiding. He spoke during the college’s matriculation where with 1,200 students the oath.

The provost said that the college expected the students to behave responsibly, urging them not to abuse freedom they enjoy to infringe on the rights of their colleagues and members of the college community.

He said: “I advise you to give attention to your study; this will earn you good grades. If you have any challenges, don’t hesitate to share them with your lecturer or Heads of Depart-

From Oladele Oge FCE ENUGU ments, so that they will help you find solution to them.”

The provost warned the freshers not to join groups of unserious students, who only have interest in fashion and parties. He told them to justify their parents’ investment by rejecting such groups.

He also warned against malpractice, saying: “At the end of three years, you are expected to pass all prescribed courses for you to be qualified to be awarded National Certificate of Education (NCE). The college has zero tolerance for examination malprac-

tice.”

Mbah spoke the management’s plan to improve facilities, noting that the school had invested in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to enhance quality teaching and learning.

Some of the freshers spoke to CAMPUSLIFE. Precious Ogechukwu, students of Department of English and Social Science, and Samson Abaji in the Department Physical Education, said they were happy to be part of the freshers, promising to focus on their studies.

The ceremony was attended by parents, guardians and friends of the students.

•The freshers taking the oath

Lagos donates camp to NYSC

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HE Lagos State chapter of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has got piece of land from the state government to build its permanent site.

The NYSC Co-ordinator in Lagos, Mr Cyril Akhanemhe, spoke at a meeting of NYSC staff at the state said the site is in the Ikorodu, noting that Governor

By Medina Kanabe LAGOS Babatunde Fashola promised to facilitate the speedy development of the site to ensure immediate operation.

The governor was quoted to have assured the body that his remaining days in office would not slow the pace of development on the site.

Ahanemhe, who was posted to Lagos last December, pledged to work closely with all necessary bodies to ensure the speedy completion of the camp. He urged for cooperation of all staff to achieve the aim.

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CAMPUS LIFE

•Ogieriakhi (middle) with some of the Edo students after the event

Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos, was agog last weekend, as students of Edo State marked their cultural day.

EVERISTUS ONWUZURIKE (Mass Communication, Lagos State University) reports.

Taste of Edo culture

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HEY adorned colourful wrappers, with brown beads on their necks and heads. They entertained members of the audience with their choreographed dance steps, which were in tune with beats from the traditional talking drum.

The audience cheered excitedly.

This was the scene at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) last weekend when students from Edo State held their cultural day.

According to the students, who gathered under the aegis of the National Association of Edo Students (NAES), the event was to redefine their culture and connect them to their roots.

The students moved round the campus to create awareness for the event. Their elegant traditional attires attracted attention. They invited their colleagues to feel the touch of Edo culture at an open ground near the Bursary Unit - the venue for the event.

The event was graced by the association’s Grand Patron, Mr Osunde Ogieriakhi, NAES past presi-

dent Samuel Igiebor and Oghenerume Opni, a member of the South South Students’ Forum.

Declaring the event open, NAES president, Ohenhen Osayamen presented nut to Ogieriakhi, who chaired the occasion. Ogieriakhi’s breaking of the kolanut signalled the beginning of the ceremony.

Ogieriakhi hailed the students for coming together to promote their culture. He said such event would make Edo youths living outside the state to be conscious of their roots and heritage.

He said: “It is interesting that you are holding this event annually to celebrate our culture, even as many forget because of the many challenges we face in the nation. This will rekindle the enthusiasm of many youths to identify with their origin and learn the culture.”

Ohenhen said the event unified all ethnic nationalities in Edo State.

“Whether you are Bini, Esan or Afemai, we can come together to achieve one goal. We want to be united by our culture and tell people

•Ogieriakhi (left) presenting a certificate to one of the students

that unity can be achieved through respect for one another’s culture and belief,” he said.

He urged members to identify with their culture, noting that the Edo heritage would be preserved if the students showed interest in their culture. He pleaded with the government to support the association’s drive to keep the Edo culture alive.

The Vice President, Moses Edosa, said the ceremony was celebrated

with “Ema” in line with the tradition of using pounded yam to promote culture. He highlighted the group’s achievements, which he said, included education and website design training.

The highlight of the event was the performance of traditional dances of some ethnic groups in Edo State by the association’s troupe. This excited the audience, with guests showering the dancers with money. Members

of the association’s executive were also presented with certificates of service by the patron.

A student, Oni Osazeme, praised the association for keeping the event going, saying he felt a sense of belonging during the event. He said: “I feel as if I am in my village being in the midst of my people I share heritage with. It connects me to my root and makes me feel a sense of belonging.”

Travelling is part of education, but for members of Rotaract Club in District 9110, who travelled to Ghana last week, it was beyond learning. The trip was an opportunity to build friendship with their counterparts in Ghana. DAYO OJERINDE reports.

F

OR members of Rotaract Club in District 9110 in Nigeria, it was fun all the way to Ghana.

There was no dull moment during the 10-hour journey. Their ribracking jokes made the Friendship Exchange Trip lively and interesting.

The students, numbering about 30, were in Ghana on excursion. They were led by District Representative, Oluwadamilare Oduonikosi, who said the journey would linger in their memories.

“Although the journey was stressful,” Ayobami Sowale, who is the International Service Director of the club, said, “we all have nice experiences to share about the trip.”

The students took off from Lagos, passing through Benin Republic and Togo from where they entered Ghana.

Their first port of call was the Nigeria High Commission in Accra, where the team visited with the High Commissioner, Oluseyi Onafowokan.

Onafowokan urged them to be worthy ambassadors of their country.

“Nigeria is a country of men and women of good character, who promote our values wherever they find themselves. No matter the period of your stay here, you must uphold our objectives and desist from acts that can stain our national flag,” he said.

Friendship across borders Onafowokan advised the students to participate in electoral process, urging them to reject any politician that may want to use them to perpetrate violence.

The team visited some tourist attraction sites before returning home. On what they learnt from their trip, president of Okokomaiko, Lagos chapter of the club, Ada Ahaotu said: “We learnt about the Ghanaian culture and its ageless relationship with Nigeria in economy, politics and heritage.”

Maxwell Seshie, the co-ordinator of the club in Ghana, said the visit afforded the Rotaract members to engage in discussion on culture and politics. “The visit by our Nigerian colleagues gave us the opportunity to make new friends, exchange contacts and learn about our cultures. We also discussed politics where we made some salient points about the forth coming elections in Nigeria. We are also contemplating to reciprocate the gesture. We want to go and learn about Nigeria as well.”

Another Ghanaian student Michael Drez said: “I have special

attraction for Nigerian attires. I have always wished to visit Lagos because of our cultural ties with Nigeria. I believe this visit will promote understanding among our members and make them to respect other people’s

culture.”

Constance Jaiyeola, the immediate past president of The Polytechnic, Ibadan (IBADAN POLY) chapter of the club, described the trip as educative, noting that she made new

friends and learnt new things about Ghanaian heritage.

She said: “Learning does not end in the four walls of our classrooms.

This Friendship Exchange trip will indeed linger in our memories because it will always be a reference for bilateral activities that will come up in future.”

•From left: Miss Blessing Umeh, a member of Foursquare Students’ Fellowship (FSF) at the McPherson University (McU), and the FSF President Michael Magnus (right) presenting gifts to the General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church, Reverend Felix Meduoye during his visit to university.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

35

CAMPUS LIFE

I

T was Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the greatest American activists of all times, who said: “I refuse to accept that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality...

I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.”

In making this assertion, one would not be wrong to assume that the late Martin Luther King dreamt about the many hostilities that countries, especially developing ones like Nigeria, would face when they get to the crossroad of decision making. Hence, his belief that brotherhood is achievable, no matter the level of deterioration of societal values.

There is acrimony all over the world. The United States and Russia are engaged in a cold war over the crisis in Ukraine. There is the war against insurgency in Nigeria to which billions of state resources have been committed. In soccer, there is an ongoing war against racism. For instance, English Football Federation has introduced a strong sanction to whip football clubs and players into line.

In politics, there is always war of words between opposing political parties. As the nation waits for the elections, there have been acrimony and war of words between politicians. While some see it as healthy, others see it as an invita-

T

tion to the destabilisation. Off course, peace is not the absence of war but relative peace is achievable through respect and brotherhood.

Being independent-minded, humans have freewill to make choices from what they want and by their philosophies. Therefore, people have rights to make their choice of all the candidates seeking elective positions in the coming general elections.

But, it is appalling to see that politicians try to make these God-given rights of the people difficult by inducement and violence. While some resort to violence to gain political relevance, others buy votes by taking advantage of prevalence economic situation in the country.

It can be said that no election has generated fear and tension as the coming general elections. The situation is further worsened by the prediction of a foreign agency that the outcome of the election could divide the country.

Already, drumbeats of war are in the air. Before the elections, several people have been killed and scores injured. The political atmosphere is tensed.

Since the amalgamation of the Nigeria, the nation has passed through crisis, including a ruinous civil war in 1967, and yet, it is still surviving.

But the significance of this election

has made pundits to predict breakup.

With some foreseeing war, many people are beginning to raise concern for peace and stability of the country. Many southern traders in the North, who travelled home for the Christmas, have refused to return because of violent outcome that may follow the election.

We have had group of ex-Niger Delta militants who have threatened war should President Goodluck Jonathan loses the election. There are other similar elements in the North, who are threatening to foment trouble should the election goes against their wishes.

Apart from the areas where the Boko Haram insurgency has continued to thrive, there are some place in the North that are naturally hostile and violence-prone. In the Southern part, we also have such places where electoral violence is a culture.

In all of these, the peace of the country and its people is being threatened as the polls draw close.

Corps members, in particular, are most likely at risk because they will be used as ad-hoc staff to conduct the election.

The violence visited on Corps members after 2011 general elections is still fresh in our memory. I could remem-

ber the apprehension that gripped the family when my brother, who was then a Corps member in the North, narrated to us how he escaped when political thugs snatched ballot box at the polling unit he was a presiding officer. If he had tried to stop them, the story would definitely have been different today.

Obliging to serve one’s fatherland in any part of the country should not be a death sentence. Over the years, people had argued that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) should not post Corps members to areas outside their region. While this call may be good as a result of the volatility of various communities, but by living with other people and learning their culture strengthen unity.

As we eagerly await the election, parents are worried as to the safety of their children in places far away from home. This is not supposed to be so. Nigeria is our country and we should be able to live in any part without fear.

Peace is a necessary ingredient for the continuous coexistence of the country. And for peace to reign, the life of every citizen must be protected at all cost.

So, in the face of challenges, the fact remains that Nigerians can choose to surmount these challenges by toeing the part of peace and mutual re-

By Philip Okorodudu spect.

Like Prof Charles Soludo noted in his recent article to the Minister of Finance, this is not the time to keep quiet, Nigerians must play their part to ensure a lasting solution to our current challenges by lending their voices and playing their roles positively in their little corners, whether in position of authority or not so as to ensure a better legacy for the generations yet unborn for. Albert Einstein said: “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.”

Philip, is a Corps member, NYSC JALINGO

How not to empower the youth HE quality of the youth can be a parameter by which the future of any na-

tion can be measured. If the youth are relegated to the background in the scheme of things, the failure of such society becomes imminent.

This, therefore, reinforces the belief that youth empowerment is key in nation-building.

There is no gainsaying the fact future lies with the youth. In unmistakable terms, empowering the youth means investing in the future. The former Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Mr Koffi Annan, said: “Young people should be at the forefront of global change and innovation. If empowered, they can be the agents for development and peace. If they are left on society’s margins, all of us will be impoverished...”

But how do we empower the youths? It is sad that youth empowerment as a concept has been a mockery in Nigeria nowadays.

Politicians have continued to abuse the very philosophy of the ideal. To them, it is all about giving the youth tricycles and motorcycles for commercial transport. Of course, such gestures certainly help them financially, but this is far from youth empowerment, which is a complete transformation of young one through capacity building and active participation in decision making process.

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That peace may reign

HE amalgamation of the Southern and Northern protectorates in 1914 brought joy to the founding fathers of the Nigerian project. To cynics, the amalgamation was a mistake; it should never have happened. Whatever the case, our founding fathers were interested in a free and prosperous nation where all men can dream and pursue their own happiness. Hence, the 1960 independence from Britain reignited hope in the feasibility of that collective aspiration.

But almost 55 years later, the labour of these men seems to be futile. Developments in the country strongly contrast the noble intentions of these heroes. In fact, if resurrection were possible, many of

Youth empowerment is characterised by certain factors, which include sound education, policy making involvement and innovation. Education propels the youth to a state of self-dependence, thereby making them to contribute meaningfully to national growth.

An educated youth will not only be enlightened, but will gain exposure spiced with confidence and positive mindset.

Diogenes Leartius observed: “The foundation of every state is the education of its youth.” As a nation, are we making education as a cardinal programme in youth empowerment? Until we do away with obsolete tradition of emphasising on certificate and exams-grade education, and not on attention to learning, capacity building and skill acquisition, a true youth development may continue to be a mirage.”

How much of the youth are involved in decision making processes? While the elder may rely on their traditional knowledge to formulate policies and make decision, youths can change the society with their innovative minds. Even if they cannot to contribute state matters satisfactorily, the mere involvement gives them the sense of belonging and also prepares them as experienced successors.

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon advises: “Let us acknowledge and celebrate what the youth can do to build a safer, more just

By Kingsley Amatanweze world. Let us strengthen our efforts to include young people in policies, programme and decision-making processes that benefit their futures and ours.”

As a young man, I know what I can achieve with my innovative mind. Ditto, many other youths.

But, do we have good platforms that support and encourage abilities of the youth? There may have been several platforms, including this space, which The Nation reserves for budding writers; but, we need more to engage ourselves and our leaders construc-

If we do nothing

them certainly would be ashamed or embarrassed to return to Nigeria. But such revulsion is not out of place especially when one considers the darkness that hounds us as a people.

The contemporary Nigeria is a comic spectacle of sorts. It is like the theatre of the absurd once propagated by Samuel Beckett. Politician stash away money in foreign accounts. On their return, they amass an avalanche of chieftaincy titles.

They dine with religious leaders, smiling cunningly to clicking cameras. They face press men and wrap us in empty boasts, hollow plans

and unending promises. They steal billions of naira and the whole matter dies down at the courts of law.

But the poor who steals onion in the market becomes a candidate for detention, torture and dehumanization.

Nigeria is a gripping drama scene.

It’s exactly 325 days since hundreds of schools girls were whisked away by hounded, callous men. It took the government a while to admit that the innocent girls were kidnapped.

As if to worsen a bad situation, the government has not only failed to rescue the poor girls, it has also abandoned them to their own

tively for a better country.

Students had risen to several historic events, where their number and contributions were needed to effect changes in the society. They had pursued popular causes that turned out to be beneficial to the society and people. But, politicians and management have weakened the spirits of students by actions or policies that negate the essence of youth development.

Many students have been victimised in the process of making contributions to a cause that can benefit the society. Some students now see the unionism as an avenue to amass wealth and mingle with the elite. This is the reason why National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has become moribund and an club for hooligans and errand boys for politicians.

Before a nation could claim to have empowered its youths, it must have reduced unemployment to the barest minimum. The number of unemployed young people is increasing exponentially. This is consequence of failed education system and unhealthy business environment. It accentuates the need to make our education more practical and skilloriented. It should be able to make the youth self-reliant. In addition, there is the need to stabilise and consolidate the achievements in the power sector to aid healthy busi-

ness investment.

Furthermore, the youths should be encouraged to learn new skills or to develop their innate abilities even while in school. Many potential abound in the youths that could change the face of the society if tapped into. Some are good writers, poets, actors, athletes, footballers, fashion designers, painters, singers, entrepreneurs, graphic designers etc. These are untapped talents that can help solve the problems of unemployment and youth restiveness.

I will use the case of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to show what lack of good programmes for the youths can breed. Not developing the young minds causes disruption of the social order. Uneducated youths feel hopeless and ready to vent their frustrations on the society which neglect them.

We must know that the youth have a lot of energy and potential that can be tapped into for the benefit of the society. If we fail to redesign youth empowerment, the young one will become a threat to national peace and progress. And on this inevitability of youth development for Nigeria’s progress and survival, I stand.

devices. Their parents have wept and probably exhausted all the tears in their eyes. Every day, they wake up to the reality of a callous society; a society bereft of love. Somewhere in the inner recesses of their souls, they wish they were not Nigerians.

They feel short-changed by a system that was supposed to protect everyone; the weak, the strong and the vulnerable.

Tales of bloodshed dot our headlines every day. Mass carnage and human plunder are recurring decimals of the Nigerian story. Bombs and bullets are common denominators that contend with the soul of our nation. They strike us in the air, on the road and even while asleep.

Our government has failed to pro-

tect us against these foul elements.

We have seen scores of security men wasted in the face of this gory war.

They were not properly armed.

Even though security takes a chunk of our annual budgetary allocation, they lacked sufficient armoury to challenge the guerrilla-styled Boko Haram.

What about massive stealing? A whooping N20 billion was allegedly missing from our coffers and when former CBN chief raised the alarm, we treated it as false. The presidency deemed it expedient to suspend him.

So, revealing a crime is itself a crime? But then, that is the Nigerian theatre. What we have failed to realise is that Sanusi’s suspension is

•Kingsley just finished from Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, UNN

•Continued on page 36

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

36

CAMPUS LIFE Poly gets emergency and trauma complex

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HE Federal Polytechnic in Bida (BIDA POLY), Niger State has inaugurated a multi-million naira Emergency and Trauma Complex built by the institution with National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to improve medical service on the campus.

The NHIS Executive Secretary, Dr Femi Thomas, the Chairman of the institution’s Governing Council, Chief Theophilus Bamigboye, Rector, Mr Abdullahi Sule, and representative of the Etsu Nupe, were among those who attended the event.

The complex, which was also funded by Tiship and Drug, is equipped with a digital X-ray and ultra-sound facilities to handle severe emergency cases.

Other facilities in the complex include a cardiovascular monitoring gadget and a digitallyequipped conference unit with Internet facility to download medical information.

Dr Thomas, represented by the NHIS Director Programmes, Mr Jonathan Eke, praised the institution’s management for its stride in quality healthcare delivery, noting that the commissioning of the com-

•The Trauma Centre

From Samuel Adeleke BIDA POLY plex showed a mark of good leadership.

The NHIS official said the project was a bold initiative by the man-

agement, urging the polytechnic authorities to spend unutilised funds to further equip the centre.

Thomas pledged to co-operate with the school to ensure the centre delivered quality healthcare services

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

to students.

Bamigboye hailed the NHIS for supporting the project. He challenged the polytechnic’s Medical Director and staff to ensure maintenance of the complex. He said his vision was to ensure the transformation of the polytechnic better than he met it, stressing that the management would continue to train its staff on service delivery.

Sule described the trauma centre as gift to the polytechnic and its host community. He praised the Governing Council for giving him support and free hand to embark on the

project.

The Medical Director, Dr Abdulmalik Mustapha, said: “The mission of the trauma centre is to provide excellent healthcare services to the staff, families, students and members of the school community.”

He added that the medical centre received commendation letters from the council for judicious management of resources and improvement of healthcare services.

Mustapha said the medical centre had been improved from a single room with a nurse in 1978 to a 21 bed centre in 2014 equipped with sophisticated medical equipment.

If we do nothing •Continued from page 35

a tacit approval of corruption.

And yet, President Jonathan tells Nigerians that he is an apostle of anti-corruption even after granting a controversial pardon to his master, Dipreye Alamiyesiegha. What a better way to endorse graft, I mused.

The present Nigeria is certainly not the type envisaged by our founding fathers. They dreamed of a nation where all men and women, irrespective of their ethnic and religious affiliations, would find meaning to the essence of their existence.

But today, that dream seems to have frittered away. Ethno-religious crisis has torn the nation apart, resulting in narrow politics and bloodshed. Our democracy currently totters on the fringes of collapse just like the global democratic recession popularised by New York Times’ Thomas L. Friedman. People choose certain candidates not on the basis of their content and merit but their ancestral roots and the type of god they worship.

We are yet to get it right on education. Even though Nigeria prides itself as the giant of Africa, that title seems like an unmerited award when education is placed on the front burner. Since 2009, the government is yet to honour its own terms with the Academic Staff union of Universities (ASUU). That is a massive blow to any government that wants to maintain the trust of the people. As trust in government wanes globally due to years of broken promises, our government is giving Nigerians more reasons to hold back and never to trust in the credibility of the institution of government.

In the face of these lingering crises, some persons have advocated

By Benjamin Idoko for a break-up. They believe the amalgamation narrative was hasty and not well thought out. They believe Nigeria was never a single nation. But the questions remain: who and who will form these new divisions and how many are they going to be? Who becomes what under the new arrangements? How do we manage the power tussle and scramble that would follow such moves? Many of us are clearly not ready for these upheavals especially at this stage of our history.

The challenges we face as a nation are enormous. And our current reality is an antithesis to the lofty ideals of these founding fathers.

Pushing for break-up is never the solution. It is even suicidal to evade the problems that currently stare us in the face. So we will have to take the appropriate step, the right move to reclaim the beauty of the Nigerian dream. A brighter tomorrow is possible if only we act today.

Benjamin just finished Physics Education, UNIAGRIC

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

37

EDUCATION

6,443 swear oath at UI distance learning matriculation

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HE University of Ibadan (UI) on Monday matriculated 6,443 students for its Distance Learning (DL) undergraduate degree programme.

At the ceremony which held at the International Conference Centre of the university, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole said the students were lucky to be the first to be admitted to study full degree programmes through distance learning.

"By this matriculation, you occupy an eminent position in the history of Distance Learning Centre and UI by being the first set of students to study on a full complement of Open Distance Learning platform. This platform is the result of the centre's repositioning agenda that commenced over three years ago," he said.

Adewole said a total of 7,716 applications were received for the 2013/2014 academic session into the six programmes but only 6,443 were admitted.

The programmes are: Economics, Psychology, Political Science, Social Works, Philosophy/Public Affairs, and English.

Counseling them not to feel inferior, the Adewole explained that the students are the same with their regular counterparts, stressing that the programme

A

FUNAAB alumni urged to give even if only N1,000

A

N appeal has gone out to former students of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) to key into the institution's 'Alumni Give Back Programme'.

The initiative is to raise funds to complete various projects in the university. They have been told that even N1,000 towards each project is welcome and would make a difference.

A statement from the university noted that names of donors would be published on its website and the 'Alumni Give Back Programme' brochure.

Donations could be made from any part of the world into: Prize and Endowment Account, FUNAAB Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Plc, Account Number: 0106761783.

Vocational training for farmers

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

uses the same workers and facilities of the university, and runs the same curriculum. He said the only difference is the mode of study.

"You are all bona-fide students of the university with the same rights, privileges and responsibilities. At the last convocation, UI graduated six first class students from its distance learning mode. Many have even continued to pursue higher degrees up to PhD level.

"Your curricular, interactive sessions, examinations and assessment would be handled by the same facilitators who handle these courses for regular students. You also have the benefit of real time online academic support. The university does not discriminate between certificates of students in the two modes," he said.

Adewole warned the new students to abstain from anti-social activities.

He also said student unionism is alien to the mode under which they would study in the university.

The immediate past Director of the Distance Learning Centre (DLC), Prof. Francis Egbokhare, delivered the matriculation lecture.

Varsity’s licence intact, LL the academic says VC programmes of Samuel

Adegboyega University, (SAU), Ogwa, Edo State, have been fully accredited by the National Universities Commission, (NUC).

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Bernard Aigbokhan, who disclosed this to reporters in Abuja after a meeting with the NUC management, said reports that SAU's licence, issued in 2011, is to be revoked, was false.

Reacting to a publication in a national daily last week Aigbokhan said: "I wonder who the said source at the NUC is?

For a university whose students had attended international academic competition and won prizes, a university that has an ongoing staff exchange programme with a University in Cuba, that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has accredited as a centre for the Computer Based Test, CBT, examination, that has a multipurpose hall of 1200 sitting capacity and a library that can conveniently accommodate 555 users

FUNAAB FILE

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

at a time and is currently partnering with the Ministry of Agriculture to nurse hectres of palm trees, it is laughable for it to be reported that its licence is to be revoked by the NUC." He added that, the fact that the reporter failed to disclose the source of his information at the NUC, makes the report a questionable one.

Presenting the license, Number 45, signed and issued by the NUC on March 7, 2011 to SAU, Prof Aigbokan urged stakeholders especially parents to remain calm.

Aigbokhan who said Ford Foundation gave research grants to some lecturers in the university to carry out research works, also added that, a team of 10 experts from NUC was at the university to evaluate the landmarks so far achieved by the university within its short period of existence.

• Prof Makinde (left) with Mr Bunmi Akinyemiju, Group Managing Director, Venture Garden Group at the event.

Babcock signs e-learning pact with EDUTECH

B

ABCOCK University and Edutech Advanced Business Solutions, a private education technology company championing e-learning in Nigeria, have signed an agreement to deploy e-learning solutions for some of the university's programmes.

Speaking at the ceremony, the President/Vice-Chancellor of Babcock, Prof. James Kayode Makinde, said the platform would make education more accessible.

"E-learning is the way of the future and we are delighted to be a part of it. It is a significant day for Babcock, and not just Babcock, but for Nigeria as well because this development makes education accessible, available and affordable.

"The e-learning programme would also allow Babcock quadruple its student population whilst still maintaining existing infrastructure because students will be able to have access to education without necessarily being in the classroom," he said.

General Manager of Edutech, Prof. Abiola Awosika, said the company is supporting institu-

tions to roll-out their distance learning programmes through its e-learning solutions.

"We are working with schools across Nigeria to provide the vital logistical components of their online programmes, including comprehensive student support services from orientation to enrolment and through to graduation; as well as practical learning experiences within distant communities around the country," he said.

The MoU kicks off a series of activities to prepare the university for the eLearning programme. These include setting up of the hosting and networking infrastructure, course content digitizing and video lecture capture.

All of these deployments will create a suitable environment for the constant functioning of eLearning channels and materials to ensure 24-hours accessibility.

Upon the National University Commission's (NUC) approval, Prof Makinde said courses for the university's distance learning programme will be announced.

• Joshua Agbede (left), receiving his certificate of participation from Dr Uzo Uchenna (middle), Director of Programs, Lagos Business School (LBS) at the conclusion of the Venture in Management Programme (VIMP). With them is Steve Iwenjora, Vice President, African Capital Alliance (ACA) Foundation on the closing day of VIMP 2015 at LBS.

THE Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC) of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has organised a one-day vocational workshop in natural body cream production and Do-it-Yourself sewing practices for women farmers from FUNAAB Extension and Community-based Farming Scheme (COBFAS) communities.

Speaking at the occasion, the ViceChancellor, Prof Olusola Oyewole, who was represented by the Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (CENTS), Prof Femi Onifade, said the training focused on practical application of skills learnt as against theory or conventional academic training.

He said the programme would achieve two Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), namely: eradication of extreme poverty and hunger as well as the promotion of gender equity and empowerment of women.

Oyewole implored participants to maximise the opportunity by adopting the technology for use in their respective communities.

As representatives of their various communities, Director of AMREC, Prof Carolyn Afolami, urged participants to take the training serious so as to replicate the knowledge with members of their communities.

Guest House workers retool THE Management of FUNAAB Guest House has organised an inhouse training programme on Hotel Management aimed at improving productivity of workers employed at the FUNAAB Guest House, International Scholars' and Resource Centre, Royal Greens Guest House as well as the Royal Kitchen.

Chairperson, Board of FUNAAB Guest House, Dr. Helen Bodunde, said the training is the first of three planned for this year.

She commended the professionalism of the resource persons, Messrs. Abioye Adedipe and Emmanuel Adeyefa, of the Department of Hospitality and Tourism. She charged the trainees to abide by what they were taught in areas of Customer Relations Services, Decorum and Service Delivery. Appraising the programme, Mr. Oyewole Olaniyi, a receptionist at the Royal Greens Guest House, commended the management for the initiative, which will not only add to their knowledge in the hotel business but also enhance service delivery. Miss Adekola Omotola of the International Scholars’ and Resource Centre added that the training is an eye-opener.

Toilets for boys' hostel APPLE Life Foundation (ALF), Lagos, has donated a block of six toilets/bathrooms to the Boys' Hostel of FUNAAB International School (FUNIS).

Speaking at the event, the Principal, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Juba, said the foundation was prompted to make the donation following a visit to the hostel by its representative last October.

She promised to get more sponsors to contribute to the school's development. While assuring proper and efficient maintenance of the facility, she added that the gesture would boost the morale and academic performance of the pupils.

The Director of ALF, Mrs. Olayinka Makinde, said the foundation was established 16 years ago to seek ways to impact people's lives, particularly children, widows and the aged, positively.

She urged people to contribute in a sustainable way, saying that giving scholarships may not be enough.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

38

CAMPUS LIFE EKSU FILE

Inaugural lecture, Tuesday A PROFESSOR of Food Chemistry and Deputy ViceChancellor (Academic), Ekiti State University (EKSU), Mrs. Ibiyinka Ogunlade, will on Tuesday next week deliver a lecture titled: “Food and Chemistry: Catalysts for Sustainable Development”.

The lecture, which is EKSU’s 41st inaugural, will have as its chairman, the school’s ViceChancellor, Prof Patrick Oladipo Aina. The Lecture holds at 2pm.

VC advises at matric THE Vice-Chancellor, Ekiti State University (EKSU), Prof Patrick Oladipo Aina, has urged fresh students of the institution to face their studies and avoid unnecessary prolongation of their stay in the university.

Prof Aina gave the admonition during the matriculation of fresh students for the 2014/2015 academic session.

He said: “You do not need to spend five to six years for a fouryear course.” noting that they should consider themselves lucky to be among those chosen from the legion of candidates who applied to EKSU. The Registrar of the University, Mr. Adebisi Ogunyemi, administered the matriculation oath on the students.

DVC harps on honesty THE Deputy Vice- Chancellor (Development), Ekiti State University (EKSU) Prof Olufemi Adeoluwa, has asked the youths to be honest and painstaking in whatever they do.

He said this while exchanging views with pupils of Peace and Joy Group of Schools, IkereEkiti, Ekiti State, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

Adeoluwa said youths should have the fear of God, stressing that nothing can be achieved without His grace.

He told them that the teaching profession is rewarding when professionalism is applied.

The pupils had asked him various questions bordering on life experience.

The pupils led by Mr Akinbote Abiodun came from classes in primary to Junior Secondary School.

SCHOLARSHIPS APPROACHING DEADLINE High Achiever Foundation Prize for African Students at University of Nottingham in UK, 2015 UNIVERSITY of Nottingham is inviting applications for high achiever foundation prizes available for African students. Up to three prizes of £2,000 towards tuition fees will be awarded for the first year only.

Applicants should already hold an offer to start a full-time foundation programme at Nottingham in September 2015.

Students will only be eligible to receive this high achiever prize if they meet the conditions of their academic offer. The application deadline is 27 March 2015.

Study Subject(s): Prizes are awarded in the areas of arts, business, engineering, science and social sciences.

Course Level: Prizes are available for pursuing foundation courses at University of Nottingham. Scholarship Provider: University of Nottingham, UK Scholarship can be taken at: UK Eligibility: Applicants can apply for this high achiever prize if you: •are a national of (or permanently domiciled in) Africa and •are classed as an overseas student for fee purposes and

•already hold an offer to start a fulltime foundation programme at Nottingham in September 2015.

Scholarship Open for International Students: Students of Africa including Nigeria, can apply for these foundation prizes.

Scholarship Description: The University of Nottingham foundation courses provide an entry route to selected degrees in arts, business, engineering, science and social sciences and are an opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge needed to undertake a bachelor's degree while studying at a world-class university.

Number of award(s): Up to 3 foundation prizes are available.

Duration of award(s): The high achiever prize is for the first year only. What does it cover? The value of these foundation prizes is £2,000 towards tuition fees.

Selection Criteria: Not Known Notification: Candidates will be notified of the outcome of their application in late June.

How to Apply: The mode of applying is online.

Scholarship Application Deadline: The application deadline is 27 March 2015.

Read more: High Achiever Foundation Prize for Africans in UK, 2015 Scholarship Positions 2015 2016 http://scholarship-positions.com

Country Scholarships for Postgraduate Students at Keele University in UK, 2015 Keele University is offering a postgraduate scholarship for the students of Nigeria, Ghana, Thailand, Vietnam and India. This scholarship will be awarded to the applicant who has achieved a minimum of a 2.1 (Ghana, Nigeria) / 3.0 CGPA (Thailand) / 8.0 out of 10 (Vietnam) / 1st class (India) in their first degree, and who shows exceptional motivation for coming to study at Keele. Scholarship has a value of £5000 The application deadline is 30th March 2015.

Study Subject(s): Scholarship is awarded in all subjects available at the university.

Course Level: Scholarship is available for postgraduate study.

Scholarship Provider: Keele University, UK. Scholarship can be taken at: UK Eligibility: This scholarship will be awarded to the applicant who has achieved a minimum of a 2.1 (Ghana, Nigeria) / 3.0 CGPA (Thailand) / 8.0 out of 10 (Vietnam) / 1st class (India) in their first degree, and who shows exceptional motivation for coming to study at Keele.

Scholarship Open for International Students: Students of Nigeria, Ghana, Thailand, Vietnam and India are eligible

to apply for this postgraduate scholarship.

Scholarship Description: Keele University is delighted to announce that it is offering a scholarship of £5000 for one postgraduate student applying from each of the following countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Thailand, Vietnam and India.

Number of award(s): Only one scholarship is offered.

Duration of award(s): Not Known What does it cover? The value of scholarship is £5000.

Selection criteria: Not Known Notification: Not Known How to Apply: To apply for the scholarship, please ensure that you have already completed an application to Keele, and then email international-atkeele.ac.uk with the subject title 'Country Scholarship'. Applicants will need to submit: •A 500-word essay explaining why you believe you should receive the scholarship •Details of your application, including your full name, intended course and student number Scholarship Application Deadline: The application deadline is 30th March 2015.

Read more: 2015 Keele University Postgraduate Scholarship, UK Scholarship Positions 2015 2016 http://scholarship-positions.com

No fee increase in ABUAD, says management

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FE Babalola University, AdoEkiti (ABUAD), has debunked rumours making the rounds on some social media and dailies that the university has increased its tuition for the 2014/2015 academic session.

The university described the rumour as coming from some mischief makers, who are bent on discrediting the university’s achievements within the five years of its existence.

"For the record, we would like to say unambiguously that very much to the contrary, we have not increased our school fees regime for the university," said the university's image maker, Tunde Olofintila.

In a statement, Olofintula said there was no increase in fees in all the school’s programmes as being rumoured. He, however, said there was an increase strictly for Medicine students proceeding on clinical training.

"All we have done in tandem with standard practice everywhere in the world was a marginal increase in the school fees of our medical students, who, after recording 94 per cent success in their first MBBS examination, would be proceeding on clinical studies at the ultra-modern Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, where

•Medical fees expensive worldwide

By Adegunle Olugbamila

we have committed over N2.5 billion to upgrade facilities," the statement said.

"The point must be made here that medical students, who are proceeding on clinical studies have not paid any fees since the beginning of the ongoing academic session because we have to be sure of the number that will be proceeding on clinical training to determine the fee that will be applicable to each and everyone.

It was the 94 per cent of the students that made it to the clinical class that were handed the new school fees in tandem with the new status and peculiarity of their training and no other student in any programme whatsoever,” he said.

Olofintula noted that it is common knowledge that medical training,

because of its peculiar nature, is expensive all over the world.

"In order to stay in line with the established tradition of excellence for our clinical study, like every other part of academic programme, we required new laboratory equipment and additional consultants/ teachers as a result of which we have to increase faculty staff in the College of Medicine and Health Sciences from 35-112. To add more, our modern equipment were all ordered from overseas at the time that naira crashed so badly in the capital market as a result of which prices have almost doubled,” the statement added.

However, when viewed comparatively with other private universities offering Medicine in Nigeria, Olofintula maintained that ABUAD fees still rank the least because of the

‘For the record, we would like to say unambiguously that very much to the contrary, we have not increased our school fees regime for the university’

N400.00 subsidy the Founder, Aare Afe Babalola, offers each student.

When compared with overseas institutions, Olofintula put the difference at 60 per cent less.

"The university wishes to assure all parents and other stakeholders that it will relentlessly seek ways of providing globally competitive education at the most minimal cost.

"Like any good material, quality education is costly. All the same, ABUAD is prepared to consider hardship peculiar to any individual and work out payment schedule that will mitigate such peculiar hardship,” he said.

According to him, the university has a culture of offering scholarships to children whose parents either lose their jobs, or die while studying in ABUAD. He admonished parents to take advantage of the annual scholarship scheme where students, who made a Cumulate Grade Point Average of 5.0, go home with N500.00 while their counterparts with CGPA 4.8 get N200.000.

"The fee for our students going on clinical training is not peculiar to ABUAD as all other private universities, who are striving for excellence.

But one thing is sure: you will get value for every naira you spend here,” he said.

Group pushes indigenous language at National Assembly

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HE use of Nigerian languages as means of communication at the National Assembly and other official meetings and conferences will promote the country's diverse cultures.

A socio-cultural group, Egbe Akomolede ati Asa Yoruba (Association of Teachers of Yoruba Language and Culture of Nigeria), Lagos State Chapter, made this known at the UNESCO's World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.

Guest speaker at the event, Dr Ayinde Abimbola of the Faculty of Education, University of Lagos (UNILAG), emphasised that writing minutes of official meetings in indigenous languages would resurrect the dwindling beauty of Nigeria's cultural diversity.

His words: "English must not always stand as lingua franca; government should make Yoruba language one of the languages to be used to write minutes at national meetings and conferences. Whoever wants to know the meaning of what is said or written in our local dialects should ask for a translation and provision would be made for that, just as the Kenyan writer, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, had done."

The educationist faulted govern-

By Oluwatoyin Adeleye

ments for the gradual depletion of Nigerian local dialects, advocating teaching of cultural values and norms of one's dialect in schools as a criterion for gaining admission into tertiary institutions.

"How can indigenous language not be a compulsory subject in secondary schools? Even foreigners come into the country to learn our languages, which invariably include our culture and they also teach them in higher institutions abroad; yet they are not compulsory here. This is bad," Abimbola lamented.

Abimbola also advised teachers of local languages and those who speak their dialect to learn more about their identity and top same with professional degrees to place themselves above others.

Another speaker, Mr Olasunkanmi Tela, wanted families to speak and embrace Yoruba language in their homes in order to pass the cultural values to their children. He advocated teaching culture and good character with Yoruba folklores and rhymes for language sustainability.

Chairperson of the Lagos State chapter of the Akomolede ati Asa Yoruba Association, Mrs Adebola Lawal, said: "People without language are animals, so we are happy that God has

given us this language to train, educate, achieve and accomplish feats. For government to suddenly make the indigenous languages no longer compulsory for school certificate examinations, it means they do not see it as relevant anymore.

"It is the importance of the language that led to foreigners coming over to learn the language. Government is trying, but their best is not enough. So we want it to be used in public gatherings and official meetings so that our culture, which is our

pride, would not die."

Chairman of the Association for Alimosho Local Government, Lagos State, Mrs Rafikat Yusuf, said once a child understands his mother's tongue, learning a second language becomes a lot easier.

• From left: Principal Assistant Registrar Students Affairs Lagos State University S. Yekini, Asst. Director National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Lagos State, Mrs H. Aladuge, NYSC Coordinator Mr Akhanemhe A. Cyril, LASU Dean Student Affairs Prof. Kabir Akinyemi, Director, Center for Information, Press and Public Relations LASU Mrs Ronke Osho at a briefing for prospective NYSC members of the university.

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EDUCATION

Lagos distributes new primary school leavers’ certificates T HE Lagos State government, has begun the issuance of attestation/testimonial certificate to pupils who complete their sixyear primary education in both public and private primary schools.

The initiative is to end the practice of primary school pupils of transiting into secondary school from Primary Five without completing the sixth year of primary education.

Presenting the certificates to some select public and private primary schools on Monday at the Ministry of Education conference room, the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, said it is necessary that pupils go through primary six before being admitted into secondary school.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

“This policy of issuance of the certificate to primary schools leavers upon completion of Primary Six education in Lagos State is part of the ongoing reforms in the state. It is my conviction that pupils must have completed primary six before going into secondary school and it is not right for pupils to go through primary 1-6 without any form of certification at the end of the education,” she said.

The document, which is the first of its kind by any state in the country, has the photographs of the bearer embossed on it, like certificates is-

sued by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

Congratulating the first set of recipients, Mrs Oladunjoye said the bearers would be happy to have their photographs on their certificates, which is an evidence of completing primary school.

The First School Leaving Certificate was abolished in 2005 when the Federal Government began implementing the Universal Basic Education (UBE) scheme, which raised the minimum level of education from Primary Six to JSS3. The National Common Entrance Examination

(NCEE) used for admitting JSS1 pupils into the Federal Unity Colleges was also abolished (but was reinstated in 2010). Primary schools were told not to restrict pupils from being admitted into secondary schools.

Some of the schools that collected their certificates included Dopemu Primary School; Divine Touch Nursery/Primary School; Dairy Farm Primary School; Ahmed Memorial Primary School; Abiks Private Nursery/Primary School all in Agege.

Others were Vetland Primary School; New Oko-Oba Primary School; Home Science Nursery/Primary School; Damiland Nursery/ Primary School; African Church Primary School; St Peter’s Anglican Pri-

•Mrs Oladunjoye

mary School; Rahmat Islamyat Nursery/Primary School; Police Children Nursery/Primary School; Lagos State Primary Education Board Model Nursery/Primary School and Anifowose Primary School, Ikeja.

Group urges review of HIV treatment for students

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HE Programme Manager for Positive Action for Treatment Access (PATA), Francis Umoh, has called for the decentralisation of the voluntary and counselling centres (VCT) to rural areas.

He said the measure would help increase awareness and access to treatment of HIV and AIDS in rural areas where incidence of infection is often high.

Umoh made this known at a health seminar and free medical fair organised by E-Hon for Yealth Initiative (EHI), sub-project of the Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative (CYFI), an Initiative established by the United States Consulate, Lagos for over 500 pupils drawn from across three education districts in Lagos.

The programme featured talks on drug abuse, HIV and AIDS awareness, free medical test, counselling session, as well as distribution of educational materials. Umoh noted that despite comprehensive care services for HIV and AIDS patients in secondary and tertiary hospitals, promoting VCT at the primary health care centre is the entry point for the reduction of HIV and AIDS infection.

"The first port of call is to promote VCT for HIV patients in primary health care centre because it is the first call of entry of HIV infection and we have to reach the youth wherever they are," he said.

He cited a recent research conducted

by PATA in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Health and UNICEF that shows that many HIV positive secondary school pupils are dropping out of the treatment circle because of the challenge of transportation and the structure created around the VCT that is not friendly to them.

By Adeola Ogunlade

Team leader of the fair, Kikilope Olarore said the project was established to provide an interactive ehealth information dissemination platform that will enlighten and engage at least 5,000 adolescents in Lagos on adolescent-relevant healthcare issues through SMS, social media, radio drama and a medical fair.

She said that the project, which started officially with support and authorization from the Lagos State Ministry of Education in July 2014, is currently engaging at least 2,500 adolescents and secondary school pupils through SMS and social media across 11 schools in the six Education Districts.

The health information sent through SMS and social media platforms (especially Facebook and 2go) is based on sexual reproductive health, substance abuse and general hygiene.

Centre launches mobile video tutorials

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N order to make learning attractive to pupils through technology, the Education Advancement Centre (EAC), Ibadan, has launched the School on 'Air Mobile Digital Video Tutorials'.

The mobile digital video, which captivates the reading attention of student, is available on mobile phones and android tablets with 13 subjects for Senior Secondary School I to III. Launching the initiative, the Director of EAC, Pastor Muyiwa Bamgbose, noted that children of nowadays are digital natives beset with lots of distracting alternatives.

Group donates books to schools

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EMBERS of the National Association of Yoruba Descendants in North America, United States of America and Canada, has donated note books worth thousands of naira to some schools in the Southwest of the country as part of their self-help project at lifting the burden of parents and guardians.

The beneficiary schools include: St. Charles Grammar School Osogbo, Osun State; Playfair Memorial College, Omu Aran, Kwara State; Methodist Primary School, Idale-Idanre, Ondo State; Remo Secondary School, Sagamu and Immanuel School Isonyin both in Ogun State; Saint Luke's Demonstration Primary School, Molete, Ibadan, Oyo State and Iropora High School, Iropora, Ekiti, Ekiti State.

Others are: St John's Primary School, Oluyoro, Ibadan, Oyo State; Baptist Primary School, Ipapo Oyo State; St Mary Convent School, Lagos; and St Stephen’s Primary School, Igbotako, Ondo State.

Presenting the books to Saint Luke's Demonstration Primary Schoo, Molete, Ibadan, the past President of the group in Washington DC,

• Gen Oladayo Popoola, former Military Administrator of Oyo State, receiving a School-On-Air Mobile Video package from Mrs Deola Bamgbose, wife of the director, Educational Advancement Centre (EAC) at the event.

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

Chief Lekan Awojooju, said beneficiary schools were nominated by the alumni, and natives, who paid for onward distribution of the notebooks to their schools.

He said basic education is the most fundamental of all stages of education, adding that a child with solid foundation at the basic level will excel in other stages.

Awojooju said the objective was to help in the association’s little way of alleviating the plight of the people, and complimenting government's effort in the education sub-sector.

"We are all aware that there are more students than notebooks given to each nominated schools; it will be appreciated if the administrators of each school take it upon themselves to distribute the notebooks according to the needs of their students," Awojooju said.

He implored pupils to make their books their closest companion if they must be great in future.

The headteacher of the school, Mrs Eunice Olagbenro, thanked the association for the gesture, promising that the pupils would use the books judiciously.

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

According to him, there is need to go into their world, which is attached to pictures, abbreviation, video and gaming.

"To reach them and captivate their attention, we came up with School on Air and this led us to the birth of School on Air Mobile Videos, which is available anywhere and anytime.

It requires little power and it's affordable.

"Based on our analysis, we discovered that the most important factor in education is teachers, but the de-

velopment and deployment of teachers are not something that happen over a few years. So, we looked at a way we can leverage technology to impact a lot of student and that was how we started Mobile Learning as an intervention tool in 2011. However, we discovered that students don't like text any longer and that is how we came up with School on Air," he said.

Bamgbose disclosed that the video files are scheduled on monthly basis for students so that their syllabus can be planned.

The EAC boss said the centre also

‘Children of nowadays are digital natives beset with lots of distracting alternatives. there is need to go into their world’

designed a version for schools, where they can request for video files in bulk according to their work plan and shown on a larger television screens or projector.

In their separate remarks, zonal coordinators of the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB), Mrs Bola Elushade and her counterpart in West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Mrs Aina Odefemi, said the initiative will go a long way to addressing mass failure among students. Mrs Elushade said the device would make it easier for students to study and listen to their teachers without the restriction of a classroom, adding that it will make studying more attractive and creative.

She commended the management of EAC for the laudable initiative particularly at the time when studying appears to be losing its novelty.

On her part, Mrs ?Odefemi equally hopes the device would serve same purpose.

• Board Chairman of Mims Nursery and Primary School, Prince Abdul Mujeeb Ogungbayi (middle), receiving trophy won by Master Abdur Raheem Sobur and Rodiyyah Akanni at the League Of Muslim School Proprietors (LEAMSP), Lagos State Chapter, Quiz Competition at his office in Bajulaiye, Shomolu, Lagos.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

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EDUCATION

French Village needs TETfund grants, monarch appeals

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HE AKRAN of Badagry Kingdom, De Wheno menuToyi 1, has appealed to the Federal Government to make the Nigeria-French Language Village (NFLV) a beneficiary of the Tertiary Education Trust fund (TETfund) grants.

The monarch warned that its non inclusion may pose a threat to its survival and other inter-university centres.

NFLV caters for the Language immersion programme for students of French Language in universities and colleges of education.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

The TETfund is a Federal Government agency set up to disburse the two per cent tax of accessible funds of private companies to tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

A statement by the Public Relations Officers (PRO) of the NFLV, Mr Festus Okundia, revealed that the monarch made the plea while welcoming the new Director of the inter-university institution, Prof Raufu Adebisi, to his palace.

The traditional ruler while appealing said the institution could

only survive if it is adequately funded.

"No educational institution can survive in the face of paucity of funds," he said.

The monarch lauded the achievements of the institution and urged its new management to build on the village's rapid development and rebranding for greater accomplishment.

On his part, Prof Adebisi thanked the monarch for the warm reception and promised to continue to promote the relationship.

• From left: Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio and Vice-President Namadi Sambo welcoming President Goodluck Jonathan to the Combined 2012, 2013 & 2014 President's National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Honours Award at the Presidential Villa.

VC welcomes freshers to FUOYE HE Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof Isaac Asuzu, has assured the 893 students admitted for the 2014/2015 academic session that they would not regret choosing the university.

The students were admitted into the faculties of Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Science.

He said despite its young age, the institution has all it takes for any serious student to excel.

"Everything has been put in place to make learning easy for you in FUOYE. You must make use of all the resources to your utmost advantage. Avail yourself of the opportunities available to make your period of study here a pleasant one.

Listen, participate and ask questions where and when need be in

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order to get prepared and functional for university education in FUOYE", he charged them.

Recounting some of the strides of the university, Asuzu said FUOYE is the only one among the universities established in 2011 by the Federal Government that has started running engineering programmes and is placed 17th among all Nigerians universities in the 2014 Webometrics ranking.

He also said a student is currently studying at Hamdong University, South Korea on an exchange programme, while three others were recently awarded scholarships by the Federal government and Chevron.

Asuzu admonished the students to make personal commitments to their studies and parents/guardians and strive to imbibe the motto

of FUOYE which is "Innovation and character for national transformation".

Also speaking, the special guest of honour, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Olusola Kolapo Eleka, praised the university's strides.

"The way the university grows is amazing as it has outgrown all its contemporaries," he said.

Kolapo pledged the readiness of the present administration in the state to assist FUOYE in any areas of need.

Also present at the occasion was the representative of Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Ahmed Zakariya.

The university matriculated its first set of students on February 14, 2012. They are to graduate this year.

‘Education funding too poor’

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SCHOOL administrator, Mrs Grace Edun, has challenged the government to allocate more funds to the education sector for meaningful development to take place.

Nrs Edun of Grace High School Gbagada, Lagos, said this in a meeting with some of her school's stakeholders. The current budgetary allocation to education, she said, is below the standard of other countries and gives little consideration to the poor.

She said: "We need to improve funding for education (in order) to give poor parents and students opportunity to enjoy the dividends of democracy. If we want meaningful development we must increase funding for education. I remember when we took our students to Singapore, we discovered that they spend about 20 per cent of their budget on education, yet Nigeria

By Rukayat Jimoh

spends only 8 per cent on education."

Mrs Edun believed that the change will lift the nation's educational system to world standard and earn international respect.

She urged candidates jostling for political positions in the forthcoming elections to give preference to education sector and focus on the need to eradicate corruption, mismanagement and waste in the nation in their campaigns rather than personality attacks.

"It is important to return to the good old days when our educational system was well-respected worldwide.

“Let the politicians address issues instead of abusing one another (because) we are looking for someone to help us give hope to our children and our nation," she said.

Mrs Edun also underscored the importance of introducing more for-

eign languages into school curricula to keep up with international trends and promote global peace. She explained that her school introduced Mandarin as a subject because it is the language that is currently gaining more recognition because of the growing importance of China in world trade and politics.

She said: "It is in line with international standard that we decided to introduce Chinese language.

Some people have been wondering how many foreign languages our children will have to learn. But I do not think the children will lose anything if they learn English, French and Chinese.

“It does not prevent them from learning our indigenous languages.

All we want is a situation where our students can compete with their peers around the world. This is part of the views that education should promote global peace."

EDUTALK

with

So free education is doable!

AM one person who is skeptical about free education and I will give my reasons.

For many years, free education has been synonymous with poor education. The common scenario Kofoworola is that the government announces it is implementing free education and says the learners should not pay fees. It then promises to Kofosagie@yahoo.com build structures and provide text08054503077 (SMS only) books, and other facilities for all public schools. However, when you visit schools, what greets you is the opposite: overcrowded classrooms, ill-equipped laboratories and workshop, and libraries empty of books. Also, the school structures are usually dilapidated (fallen roofs, no windows or doors, crumbling building, name it), toilets non-existent or so bad that they are locked up, and no water or electricity supply. School buses and sports facilities are a plus; any public school that has them is extremely lucky.

In such situations, teachers are not likely to be committed to their duties; and pupils would play truancy - after all, it is easy to slip out of a school that has a broken fence or leaky roofs or no toilets. The result comes out as poor learning outcomes. It is common knowledge that generally many of our learners do not achieve the minimum benchmark in public examinations.

Public schools are also prone to problems of insecurity because street urchins make the premises their homes - where they hold football matches, smoke hemp, sleep and pass waste. And as if that is not bad enough, they also threaten the teachers and pupils of the schools.

This picture of free public education has made the policy unattractive. While it worked in 1960s when it was introduced by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, critics have argued that corruption and increasing population and pressing demands of other sectors have made it impracticable in present-day Nigeria.

But of recent, some state governments offering free education have made efforts to improve facilities in public primary and secondary schools. For instance, Rivers, Lagos, Edo, and lately Imo States, to name some, have tried a lot in this regard. Rivers started with the construction of some state-the-art primary schools. Lagos also built some model secondary schools and initiated the Eko Secondary Education Project, which has provided grants directly to secondary schools to provide their own facilities and train teachers. We have applauded many of these governments.

However, at tertiary level, state governments have not tried to use free education to show how charitable they are. They are more likely to announce bursaries and scholarships (both local and international) to brilliant and indigent students, or reduce tuition fees. The part of tuition fee reduction is what I have quarreled with in the past. Ekiti and Lagos states have slashed fees of recent. Last week, the Lagos State University (LASU) even refunded over N200 million to students as surplus over tuition fees they had paid before the government slashed the fees to N25,000. Why I question tuition-fee reduction is that while students are happy - and rightly so - about paying less because times are hard, the school managements have to deal with further reduction of funds in its coffers. Most times, the government that reduces fees does not pay the difference to the schools to fill the gap in revenue created by the fee slash.

It was therefore heartwarming to learn that a state in Nigeria has been doing so since 2012. When Governor Rochas Okorocha cancelled fees at the Imo State-owned tertiary institutions, he followed it up with a cheque of N100,000 for each student of Imo State University (IMSU). (Students in other institutions in the state enjoy free education as well). This means that the university is still generating the amount it would have gotten from tuition fees; yet, the institution still gets its subvention from the state government.

Other state governors need to follow the Okorocha approach. If they do, universities will not have to come up with all kinds of levies to make the money back in other ways. While the governments put their houses in order, managements of tertiary institutions also need to make judicious use of funds. It is not only political office holders that mismanage funds; heads of tertiary are not saints. If they use the funds that come to them well, our institutions will not be as bad as they are.

If Prof Ukachukwu Awuzie, the immediate past National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), who is presently the vice chancellor of IMSU can actually run his university without students paying fees and says free education, then other school managers should take a second look at how they manage funds.

Awuzie said: "Free education at the university level is possible in Nigeria, it depends on how you apply the resources. All it takes is honesty, transparency, accountability and passion. When these are applied free education is possible". Let us prove him right.

I

Belo-Osagie

‘Why I question tuition-fee reduction is that while students are happy - and rightly so - about paying less because times are hard, the school managements have to deal with further reduction of funds in its coffers. Most times, the government that reduces fees does not pay the difference to the schools to fill the gap in revenue created by the fee slash’

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Amaechi has laid a good founda‘ Governor tion for the state and we will continue with the projects he has started ‘

...

85 D AYS TO GO ...85 DA All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, is optimistic that he will win the March 28 election. In this interview with EMMANUEL OLADESU, he explains why he believes the APC will have an upper hand.

Group warns against interim govt, election shift

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‘APC ‘ll defeat PDP in Rivers’

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OU claim Nyesom Wike is your friend. Are you surprised by the allegations of violence attributed to him and his party?

Yes, but there are many friends you have that you cannot predict what they can do!

How are you sure you will get the security agencies to implement the plans you have outlined to protect the people of Rivers State?

Everything you deal with in life depends on season and context. For those of us who are Christians, the book of Ecclesiastes says that there is time for everything. I know that if I get there, the contexts will be different, the factors at play will be different and I am optimistic that I will get all the cooperation I need to implement my security programme.

Rivers State will be peaceful again.

Are you optimistic that the votes will count?

I am optimistic that the votes will count. Rivers people are looking forward to installing the type of government they deserve. They won’t be intimidated by anybody; they won’t be harassed by anybody; they won’t submit to threat and intimidation. It is a matter of time and we will rise to the occasion. We will cast our votes, we will defend our votes and we will ensure that our votes count. I am convinced about that.

I am also optimistic that we will get the cooperation of security agencies and will continue to spotlight what is going on in Rivers State and will attract the attention of the nation and the international community. It is not optional, because if votes don’t count in Rivers State, there is no guarantee that it will count elsewhere in the country. Today, we might isolate what is going on in Rivers State and say this is Rivers. If this trend of violence continues, people in other areas may be emboldened and the whole country will turn into crisis.

So, we must all work together to ensure that we stem the tide of political violence in Rivers. It is in our collective interest and I am sure that Nigerians are listening.

What is your fallback option?

I have no fallback option, order than working with other stakeholders to ensure that the elections are free and fair. Up till now, nobody has found a better form of government than democracy. Democracy is our only option and we need to make sacrifices to ensure that it works.

Will you follow the Ekiti example, by petitioning the National Human Rights Commission over the spate of violence?

The situation in Ekiti is not as bad as it is in Rivers. Ours is worse than Ekiti and it is degenerating daily.

We have made a few petitions to the National Human Rights Commission and we will continue to do so, hoping that somebody will pay attention to our cry in Rivers. So, it is not about following the Ekiti example and we will continue to act within the ambits of the law; we will not go outside the law to arrest the situation.

The alternative is to have a lawless state and that is anarchy; that is not the option in any civilised society. We are civilised men and women and will not resort to self help.

You have repeatedly stated you would continue with the policies of the present administration. To what extent?

Governor Amaechi has laid a good foundation for the state and we will continue with the projects he has started. But, that does not mean that we will adopt all his policies and programmes. No two governments can be the same, just as no two individuals can be the same, even if they are Siamese twins. We will progress based on contexts and challenges that we confront, but if we are going to continue with most of his programmes.

‘I can feel the pulse of Rivers people... If this election is conducted three times, I will win three times’

•Peterside

Would you continue with Amaechi’s policies?

The teachers are being retrained as you are aware and the retraining is for a maximum period of one year. Some of them are in Oxford University and other UK-based universities, while the remaining ones are in Nigerian universities, under a phased programme. After some time, you won’t have Indians run the system again because we would have improved the capacity of our people, so that we can get world class education.

We shouldn’t compromise our standards because we are scared of what people will say. A leader shows the people the way and not the people showing the leader the way.

How are you sure that you will win the election on April 11?

I am not a man who will waste my time on things that are not viable. I can feel the pulse of Rivers people; I know what the issues are and I have been involved in politics in Rivers State longer than anybody who is running today, including Nyesom Wike. If this election is conducted three times, I will win three times.

I am happy you said that there may be a correlation between the outcome of the presidential election and the state election. As we speak, no one can say with certainty that either Buhari or Jonathan will win the election.

I know that Rivers people are enlightened enough and the national scene is clear enough on who would win, no matter how we pretend. All of us have an idea who will win the election and we won’t be struggling with six week shift, if somebody was not leading and leading clearly.

•From left: Chief Chijoke Uzokwe, Mr. Mike Enendu, Senator Chris Ngige, Chief Emmanuel Ojukwu and Dr. Ndidi Ngige at a town hall meeting held by the All Progressives Congress (APC) senator with his compatriots from Alor, Anambra State, at the Alor Development Union Centre in Lagos, last Sunday.

HUMAN rights group, Nigerians United for Democracy (NUD), has cautioned the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against any act that could truncate the nation’s democracy The group said, based on his body language, President Goodluck Jonathan is tilting towards the convocation of an interim government.

Its National Convener, Comrade Waheed Saka, frowned at the decision to shift the general election, which was initially scheduled to hold on February 14 and 28, saying any further untoward development may spell doom for the country.

Saka, who spoke at a press conference in Lagos, said his group will join other groups to mobilize Nigerians to protest against the institution of an interim government or a further shift in the election dates.

He said there are indications that the new election dates are not sacrosanct, as the Chairman, Independent National Electora Commission, Prof. Atahiru Jega was

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

planning to further shift the election dates.

According to him, “INEC appears not to have fully prepared for the election and recent statement by the INEC Chairman that only the service chiefs could guarantee the conduct of elections was an indication that the elections may still be postponed.”

However, he stated that the rights activists across the country have resolved to mobilize students, artisans and others to protest against further shift of election dates.

He urged INEC not to postpone the elections again for any reason, adding that “any attempt to postpone the election will not augur well, as the human rights community will fight the anti-democratic forcesto a standstill.”

Saka called on the National Security Adviser and all security chiefs in the country to sign an undertaking that the elections would hold as scheduled and that contrary action should be treated with disdain.

‘Elections must hold’

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AGOS State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Mr. Dipo Okeyomi has lamented that that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has lost its independence.

He urged its Chairman, Prof.

Attahiru Jega, to redeem the image of the agency by resisting pressures from the government and the ruling party.

Urging the commission to conduct the polls as re-scheduled, Okeyomi said the current assignment has implications for Jega’s public service career.

He lamented that that the elections were shifted because the President knew that he would lose.

Okeyomi said the election was postponed because of the grand conspiracy between the government and security chiefs.

He added: “How can the NSA and service chiefs be dictating to INEC? What is happening in Nigeria can never happen in the United States of America and other developed democracies.”

Okeyomi predicted success for the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, at the poll.

He said the General has better plans for the country, urging Nigerians to vote for him.

The politician said, if elected, Buhari will replicate the achievements of APC governors at the centre.-

Nwabueze, others to parley with Jonathan, Buhari

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MINENT leaders of thought and leading political activists under the aegis of the Nigeria Consensus Group are set to interface with the two leading presidential candidates Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari on their plans for the political restructuring of Nigeria Addressing reporters in Lagos, their spokesperson Olawale Okunniyi said the leaders will scrutinise the candidates.

“Since the extension of the 2015 elections, our leadership has come under intense pressure from both associates and key players in the ongoing electoral process to take a stand and tilt its influence one way or the other This has triggered a series of informal consultations expected to dovetail into a major national agenda setting parley initially slated to hold on March 3, but now rescheduled to hold in the second week of March for strategic reasons“ The group also informed that its initial consultations have already observed the possibility of a nation wide imbroglio in the aftermath of the 2015 elections, which, according to the body, can only be nipped by a “credible Coalition Government

of National Unity formed basically to initiate an elected Constituent Assembly for the restructuring of Nigeria along the lines of democratic federalism for constitutional democracy and popular governance to thrive in Nigeria” Okunniyi, however expressed hope that both Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and General Mohammadu Buhari will be available, cooperative and submit themselves to the impartial scrutiny of these leaders of thought and leading political activists in the country to enable the body make popular intervention on the 2015 elections

•Nwabueze

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THE NATION THURSDAY MARCH 5, 2015

‘ ...

85 D AYS TO GO ...85 DA

We align with the huge success story Lagos has been in the past 16 years under APC leadership and we are happy that Ndigbo have expanded tremendously in this period, investing hugely in the expanding economy of Lagos and exploiting the promises of the state, enjoying excellent security, good infrastructures, good transportation and a friendly business environment

‘

In this piece, the Co-ordinator of the Association for the ‘Defence of Igbo Interests in Lagos’, Group queries Comrade Chris Nwokobia, explains why Ndigbo will vote for the All Progressives Con- Jonathan over gress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, at the April 11 election. renewed Boko

‘Why Ndigbo ‘ll vote APC in Lagos’ Haram war A I N all parts of Lagos, we have been inundated with innuendoes that will clearly endanger Ndigbo, their properties and other interests in Lagos if not well handled. We are concerned because there is a raging feeling all over Lagos that Igbo are deep into a conspiracy to undermine the political interests of the Yoruba and help impose an anti-Yoruba surrogate in Lagos, as a way of mocking and undermining the political interests of the Yoruba Nation.

We see this as dangerous and we note that this has sparked hostile reactions and promises to spark more reactions after the election.

We are compelled to state that Ndigbo are parts and parcel of Lagos and that we share an excellent relationship with the people of Lagos, especially the Yoruba. We state also that Ndigbo are the prime beneficiaries of the conducive environment Lagos offers, that Ndigbo are the prime beneficiaries of the good, orderly and secure governance in Lagos, especially in the past sixteen years, we note that Igbo businesses and spirit of enterprise have flowered so well in the new Lagos, a working and modern Mega City that offers a home for all Nigerians and offers an expansive environment for Igbo businesses to thrive unimpeded.

Our concern is that these great benefits stand to be endangered by a misreading of the present and unfolding political situation in the country, where it is being made to seem as if Igbo are in the forefront of what is seen as a political battle to upstage the Yoruba in Lagos. We are concerned that the greedy and selfish interests of some self-serving Igbo masquerading as leaders of Igbo people and self serving groups, stand to endanger the Igbo in Lagos in the near future hence we issue this disclaimer.

We want to state the afore-mentioned impressions amounts to a misreading of the Igbo in Lagos and their well known republican disposition especially as it relates to issues and politics in Nigeria and do not represent the feelings and political inclination of the majority of Igbos who do their business, live their lives and work in Lagos unimpeded.

We note that the PDP has been brash, immodest and loud in dropping the good name of Ndigbo for their political ambition to rule Lagos.

We note the insinuation being created all over Lagos at present that Igbo are being mobilized with huge money and resources to work for PDP. While we do not deny this, we insist that this is restricted to few people who are transacting business with the name of Ndigbo. They neither represent the generality of Ndigbo nor do they represent credible Igbo platforms, which have worked well with Yoruba since the amalgamation of Nigeria.

We align with the huge success story Lagos has been in the past sixteen years under APC leadership and we are happy that Ndigbo have expanded tremendously in this period, investing hugely in the expanding economy of Lagos and exploiting the promises of the state, enjoying excellent security, good infrastructures, good transportation and a friendly business environment.

Given that there is clear danger ahead, we want to state that Ndigbo are not part of the indecent money sharing going on now as a campaign

•Comrade Nwokobia (second right); the Women Leader Mrs. Nkechi Chukwueke; Chief Chris Ekwolo and Dr. Harris Chuma, at a press conference in Lagos ... yesterday.

strategy of President Jonathan and the PDP. This is not to dispute that various so-called Igbo groups are not partaking in this malfeasance. They are on their own and represent themselves the few members of their groups and families. Millions of Igbo in Lagos are not part of this and we wonder how much it will take to settle all Igbo in Lagos. Those who have partaken in the sharing of dollars and Naira are on their own, if we must restate this fact. They should not drag Ndigbo to their illicit business.

Proceeding further, we want to advance reasons why Ndigbo must vote the APC government in Lagos.

Why vote APC? • APC Lagos has shown through actions and deeds that it understands what leadership is all about. It has shown leadership in Lagos and made Lagos a destination for all Nigerians especially for Ndigbo when the Federal Government under PDP has abdicated its responsibility to Nigerians.

• APC government in Lagos has made the issue of Security the number one agenda and this has made it possible for Igbo businesses to thrive in Lagos. When kidnappers ravaged the South East I know many Igbo Lagosians who traveled to the village to bring their parents to Lagos. Today, Lagos is the safest state of Nigeria where Igbos sleeps with both eyes closed and do their lawful businesses without molestation.

•APC government in Lagos led by Governor Fashola fought Ebola to a standstill and effectively stopped the spread to other parts of Nigeria. This led the United Nations to declare Nigeria Ebola free. It could have been worse if not because of this courageous intervention that led the way in curbing this deadly virus in Nigeria.

• APC government in Lagos has created a conducive atmosphere for Igbo businesses to thrive in Lagos whether is Real estate, Commerce, Transport, Artisans, Okada, Churches,

Construction and other professions.

• More than 500 Igbo are working in Lagos State Ministries and LGAs in various capacities, including the powerful office of Commissioner for Budget and Planning. Time and space will not permit me to mention their names here. In Abia State, a PDP Governor, Theodore Orji sacked Igbo from Anambra, Enugu, Imo and Ebonyi states.

•Lagos APC government has fought for justice for Igbo Lagosians like Miss Uzoma Okere who was assaulted by a Naval Rating. Lagos also funded the treatment of a popular Actress, Ngozi Nwosu, OJB Jezreel, Prince Ifeanyi Dike, etc abroad. Lagos APC government not only rehabilitated the family of the late Human Rights Activist, Chima Ubani, it also gave the family a house and offered his children scholarship to all levels of education when the Federal Government and his home PDP State government turned their backs on his family after he died fighting for the masses. APC government in Lagos has fought for countless number of Igbo Lagosians to get justice in Lagos. Again time and space will not permit me to mention their names here.

• Lagos is the second home for Igbo in Nigeria. Check the number of Igbo in Lagos. Check the volume of investment and check the successes. This can only happen because a stable and trusted APC government has been in place. Contrast this with what obtains at the Federal Level where PDP holds sway.

• Under APC government, Lagos is the fifth largest economy in Africa, larger than the economies of many African countries. Today, Lagos remains the driver of the Nigerian economy and pulls its weakest links.

This is what the Igbo need to thrive and excel and not the consumptive politics the PDP promotes which excels in looting and sharing parts of the loot during election time.

• APC government in Lagos has remained a pacesetter for other states

‘APC government in Lagos has created a conducive atmosphere for Igbo businesses to thrive in Lagos whether is real estate, commerce, transport, artisans, okada, churches, construction and other professions’

to copy in Nigeria. Every good idea, every good thing, every evidence of good leadership you see anywhere in the country must have a link and or connection with Lagos. APC government is a thinking government and you do not prefer a fourtheleven for the first-eleven.

• It is better for Ndigbo in Lagos to work with those they know than to plan a deal with total strangers. His Royal Highness, the Oba of Lagos Oba Rilwanu Akiolu has told all Lagosians that they do not want PDP anywhere on their soil. Igbo in Lagos should listen to him as a mark of respect. PDP has devastated Yoruba land since 1999 from Ogun to Oyo, from Ondo to Ekiti and to Osun. PDP has devastated Nigeria in 16 years and made the country a laughing stock in the comity of nations. Yoruba see PDP as a virus. That is why they formed an alliance with the North to stop PDP. • A lot of money is exchanging hands in Lagos but money cannot buy friendship or relationship. Friendship and Relationship are built over years of hard work and commitment. Money can buy you a bed but it cannot buy sleep. Money can buy you a car but it cannot buy you safety. Money can buy you the best shoes in the world but you need to have legs to wear shoes. If Igbo make the mistake of investing in a dying horse by voting PDP at a time other Nigerians are rejecting it for its sixteen wasteful years in power, it will neither affect the electoral choice of Lagosians nor make any positive difference for Igbo. It will rather worsen their woes in Nigeria especially in Lagos where they co-exist and compete favorably with other Nigerians. Igbo be warned.

Wake-up call: In concluding, we want to debunk the impression being created that Ndigbo are against the present wind of change in Nigeria. We want to correct the impression that Ndigbo are very comfortable with the state of affairs in Nigeria.

We are all for change and Ndigbo will maintain significant presence in the change movement sweeping all over Nigeria.

GROUP, the Patriotic Nigeria, has berated the Federal Government for waiting till election period before intensifying the anti-terror war.

The group said in a statement that many have died in the hands of the insurgents.

Its media consultant, Idowu Quadri, said the Federal government allowed the carnage to continue for six years before intensifying action terrorists.

He said the President decided to take a decisive action because he was confronted with a looming defeat at the general elections.

“Though it is relieving to hear various stories of the successful raids by the Nigerian Army and the allied forces on the insurgents, but every patriotic Nigerian must interrogate this issue very well and demand to know what brought about the delay in taking the appropriate military actions,” the group said.

The group accused the Federal Government of abdicating its responsibilities towards the citizens by failing to confront the Boko Haram menace as timely as was necessary. It added that Nigerians have confidence in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police and other security agencies whose collaborations could have brought an end to the carnage.

APC wants Ekiti rigging investigated

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has called for a thorough investigation, arrest and prosecution of the officials implicated in the recently released audio clip of a meeting where the plan to rig the June 21, 2014 governorship election in Ekiti was hatched.

Those implicated includes serving and former government officials, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains and military personnel whose ignoble roles were revealed in the audio clip.

Those whose voices and names were revealed in the audio recording of the meeting released

by Captain Sagir Koli of the 32nd Artillery Brigade in Ekiti State, included the current state governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose who was at the time the PDP governorship candidate.

Others are: the Minister for Police Affairs, Mr. Jelili Adesiyan; his predecessor, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (retd.); then Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro; the Commanding Officer in charge of soldiers deployed to provide security for the election, Brig.-Gen. Aliyu Momoh and a PDP stalwart, Senator Iyiola Omisore among others.

But, the APC protest letter to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega said it was Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke and Inspector- General of Police (IGP), Mr. Suleiman Abba, that flayed the secret meeting, as against the tenets of democracy and electoral law.

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

47

THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

CLINIC DAY

Prof Olukemi Odukoya, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, University of Lagos (UNILAG) and leader of the research team in the Department of Pharmacognosy, answers the question below:

How to get grants for traditional medicine care Introduction

Acquisition of machines/equipment/ consumables; purchase of an automated tea bag packing machine to measure, fill and seal herbal medicinal teas; tea packaging filters; plastic containers and UV Light air steriliser for the processing laboratory.

In addition, the project has been able to do a collection of plant materials.

The collection, drying and grinding and bagging of plant materials is on-going. The demand is being documented by the research assistant. The team has also visited the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board Medicinal Plant Propagation site at Itoikin and the Board already committed a portion of the land to construction of ‘Green house’ for cultivation.

Question:

Brief project background

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HE Lagos State Research and Development Council (LRDC) is a Lagos State Government initiative to drive research and innovation in Lagos State. Part of the objectives of the LRDC are to develop an economic and business climate that rewards innovation; develop and support initiatives that takes innovative ideas to implementation; enabling legislation and policies for innovation; develop human, physical and technological resources for innovation; create strong networks to facilitate the flow of ideas, expertise and knowledge for innovation; develop policies and incentives to encourage private-sector investment in innovation and research and development and also invest in research and innovation via grants, equity funding and match funding.

The team at the Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos (UNILAG) identified that there is a dearth of access to primary health care. And where available, may not be affordable. We made a proposal on this, i.e, making healthcare more accessible to Lagos residents. The proposal was successful and the project we proposed is already ongoing.

It is a Model herbal clinic for the Department of Pharmacognosy in collaboration with the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board (LSTMB) with the aim of teaching, research and direct community assistance pur-

I understand that the Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos (UNILAG) is a recipient of Lagos State Research and Development Council (LSRDC) grant. Please can I get more information on this?

Iretiola Daudu, 42 year old Researcher, Ipakodo, Lagos. poses where herbal medicines with proven efficacy through thorough, verifiable and reproducible research as a contributor to the primary health care of people. The project will translate the experience gained from the model herbal clinic located within the building of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos and equipped with formulations from the research efforts of the academic staff to model clinics within designated primary health centres in Lagos State.

The title of the Research project is: Translational research from gown to town: Development of model herbal clinics and medicinal plants regeneration centres in Lagos

•Prof Odukoya

State. I am the team leader while other members are Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi; Dr. (Mrs) Glory Ajayi; Dr. Abimbola A. Sowemimo; Dr. Joy I. Odimegwu and late Prof Gbemisola A. Agbelusi.

The amount received from the Lagos State Research and Development Council is Two million, two hundred and fifty six thousand, two hundred and fifty naira (N2, 256,250).

It is good Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board has several success stories to its credit.

They have been able to successfully retrain Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA) for effective use within the community hence reducing maternal mortalities. They have also put in place a good referral system to the primary health centres. Also, it has been recorded that the dropout rate for immunisation within the state at TBA facilities has been found to be lower than at government hospitals.

Stated project objectives •Transformation of laboratory research work to practical everyday use for Lagos communities for better health for all.

•Promoting research for solutions to common-but-difficult to solve ailments e.g. obesity, fertility, sickle cell anemia, cancers, malaria, microbial infections etc.

•Introducing and training Pharmacy students and teachers on real-life solutions proffered by herbal medicines in disease management and eradication to be applied to public health systems.

•Regeneration of medicinal plants in common use to tackle the ever-present problem of their depletion and encourage use of materials that are locally sourced from our local environment.

•Introducing to the environment what has been taken from it in an eco-friendly manner.

•Encouraging cultivation of medicinal plants as a means of supporting the economy and raising the current low standard of living of the medicinal plant farmers.

•Provide dividends of democracy through the integration of herbal medicines into primary health care.

The team has done the following to date:

Preliminary impact of grant Indication of preliminary impact of the project as executed so far: The automated tea bag packing machine can automatically complete such functions as bag-making, filling, measuring, sealing, thread feeding, labeling, cutting and counting, thus reducing labor expenses and improving production efficiency and sterility. Thus the Faculty can boast of a well-equipped herbal processing laboratory set to provide researchers and students with specialised skills on the formulation of herbal teas. It is the first to be recorded in any University across the nation. It will assist in the practical training of Pharmacy students and teachers on formulation of real-life solutions proffered by herbal medicines in disease management and eradication to be applied to public health systems.

The team in collaboration with the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board team is set to support the takeoff at two designated sites, for the model herbal clinic (Onikan, and Ikorodu). The Onikan clinic is in the process of renovation by the research team.

Clinic dates have been scheduled out for consultation and management of disease states with the Traditional Medicine Board as follows: Mondays- stress; Tuesdays- Hypertension; Wednesdays- Diabetes; Thursdays- General consultation, including Sickle Cell anaemia and then Fridays are for antenatal and infertility.

Visited the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board Medicinal Plant Propagation site at Itoikin and the Board already committed a portion of the land to Construction of green house for cultivation.

Constraint/Limitation The team waited for a long time for the supply of the automated tea bagging machine; infrequent power supply affecting the grinding of the plant materials. We are able to proffer solutions to the identified problems with the supply of the machine and team awaiting supplies of other machines for the next phase and the purchase of a power generator.

Evaluation: The level of project completion against the stated overall targets/performance indicators is 65 percent completed.

OUTSTANDING ACTIVITIES AND WORKPLAN FOR IMPLEMENTATION S/N • • • • • •An automated tea bagging machine acquired with the grant.

Description of Activity Mass production of herbal medicines for sale to the community Awareness campaign of the Improved Model Herbal Clinic Purchase and installation of laminar flow hood for medicinal plant tissue culture for micro propagation and regeneration of known herbals at risk Mass production of herbal plantlets for distribution to herbal farmers and to herbal garden in the University Construction of green house for cultivation unit of herbal clinic

Duration Ongoing Feb./ March 2015 February 2015 March 2015 Feb./March 2015

THE NATION THURSDAY,MARCH 5, 2015

48

NATURAL HEALTH

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A 2015 review of Nature’s Friends (8)

HEN my wife telephoned me last week to ask if I had heard about SALADMASTER, my mind went straight to a young university graduate who sells all kinds of salads in Pen Cinema, Agege, area of Lagos. He was unemployed and withering until he recognised his education may not necessarily be to make him a paid worker but to open his faculties so he could design self employment for himself to eke a living however small.

“No”, replied my wife. “Saladmaster is a machine designed for cooking food without water”.

It was intriguing. And, as they say in spiritual terms, “When the student is ready, the teacher appears”. I decided last week I would examine this concept of cooking and provide an exploratory report this week. So, last Sunday, as I prepared for this, a resident in my neighbourhood who had witnessed a demonstration of this machine, and knows of my passion for doing things, including cooking, the natural way, dropped by on a visit, the Saladmaster being the last thing on his mind. For people who believe in the roles of the forces of Nature in our lives, the rest of the story will be readily understandable. When you throw up a thought, the radiations of that thought are caught by Nature beings whose work activities are in this area. They fashion these rays into a form which they may bring before the gaze or attention of people who have the tendency to actualise that thought. If, for example, I need money to finish off a project, they may link this thought to people who may give me jobs to earn an income from which I can fund the project. I believe it was through this activity that this gentleman dropped by on a visit. For, suddenly, he asked me if I knew about Saladmaster.

Being on orthodox medical doctor veering into Alternative Medicine and always itching to gladden his heart that he is one step ahead of me, he expected me to be at sea. So, he was bowled over when he learned I knew about saladmaster.

Apparently, a demonstration had been done in his apartment the day before. He called the agent on the telephone, and in about 10 minutes, the machines were brought to my home. But a boisterous situation warranted the shifting of the demonstration to another day. So, what is the Saladmaster?

Saladmaster ARRY Lemmons, the owner, reports that the company was established in 1946 but became operational in 1947 in his home. He invested $9,000, had only one product, three salesmen but, one year after, he had more than 100 distributors. By 1949, three years after, Mr. Lemmon had to invest $50,000 in a new office building. In 1950, Mr. Lemmon introduced another product, Mirror Master, an Aluminium Cookware. Stainless steel cookware did not exist at that time. In 1952, Saladmaster came up with 18 to 8 (3ply) stainless steel cookware. More stainless steel products joined the stable as time progressed.

According to a product literature on Saladmaster machine: “The cooking surface of Saladmaster is 316 Titanium stainless steel. It is the highest grade of steel used in the cookware industry. Saladmaster’s raw materials are manufactured exclusively for Saladmaster in the U.S. and Switzerland, unlike other metals originating from overseas, our metal is clean, non corrosive, non porous and highly resistant to chemical attack”.

It is reported that, with Saladmaster, cooking can be done without oil, and that it is easier to clean than regular stainless steel cookware. Saladmaster 316-Ti is equipped with a vapour valve which helps to regulate temperature to avoid damage to vitamins and other nutrients while, at the same time, allowing heat high enough to kill bacteria. This feature is said to make it cook faster under low heat and preserve an average of 93 percent of your food nutrients”. Vitamins and minerals are thought to become damaged at temperatures above 200 degrees Fahrenheit which is inevitable with common cooking practice such as boiling, steaming and microwaving.

There is yet another advantage Saladmaster is said to have.

Often, many people believe a heavier pan is a better pan.

Saladmaster says “NO”. For Saladmaster, the average cooking pan has several layers of heat-conducting alloys only at the bottom of the pan where the heating source contacts the pan. This is said to be the reason food burns easily in these pots or stick to the bottom and why, to prevent this, the food has to be turned and turned in the pot to distribute the heat.

This problem is reported to be solved in Saladmaster 316-Ti through “super-thermo-cool construction”. This is a combination of metals designed to distribute the heat evenly over 360 degree matrix. “This allows your food to cook faster at lower temperatures without the need of stirring. Each piece of cookware is considered like a mini oven, you can even bake a cake at the top of the stove”, says a Mastersalad manual.

What the Saladmaster agent was to demonstrate to me included the superiority of 316-Ti surgical steel, from which the pots are made, over 304-Ti surgical steel from which most brands of stainless steel pots are made. I threw away all my aluminium cooking pots when I became aware that they leach aluminium into food, for which I had to add to my diet food supplements which choate or drag out these toxic metals from the body. Such supplements include Zinc, Zeolite Pure and Diatomaceous or Diatom, also called food grade Edible Earth. Now, I am being educated that the stainless steel pots to which I turned are only a shade better. So, it means I have to change these pots again. But I have not witnessed a demonstration, as I said. Thus, I rely on the product manual which advises: “Saladmaster’s unique construction allows you to fry chicken without added oil or grease. Heat large or small skillet over medium heat two to three minutes, until a few drops of water splashed in the pan

H

long period of time. The healing process may cause inflammation. But so does, also, toxins, heavy metals, microbes and other factors. I often ask my friends to block one nostril and breathe with the other. It is only then they find one nostril may have become partially or completely blocked.

Many hearts are inflamed (carditis). The asthma sufferer needs no special education to know his or her lungs may be inflamed. Piles are nothing but enlarged blood vessels in the anus. Jethro Kloss reports in his BACK TO EDEN that when he was privileged to work in a morgue (mortuary), he found that inflammation must have been a major cause of the death of many people.

Ayuverdic medicine advises us that “the inflammatory properties of Eclipta make it an effective remedy for conditions such as joint pains and arthritis” and that it is also useful for the treatment of cough, asthma and acidity”.

When the leaves of Eclipta are mixed with honey, it is a worm remedy in children, it is said.

bed and dance. Add chicken pieces, pressing them against bottom and side of pan. For a healthier option, remove skin and fat before cooking. Meat may stick but will loosen as browning continues. Place lid on pan slightly after when meat loosens, turn and fry until golden brown and cooked through about ten minutes”.

I look forward, as I said, to a live demonstration of cooking without water, and frying without oil.

Eclipta I received from one well wisher, Dr. Sam Asomugha, a New Year present which I consider a great gift. I had told him my health plan this year was to improve the health and functions of my liver and eyes. What I got from him last month was an ECLIPTA tincture.

Eclipta is an Ayuverdic herb which, literally speaking, means king of the hair. So popular is this herb that it is claimed to help health many in condition such as healthy hair, liver health, nerves, healthy skin, cholesterol and blood sugar control, anti-inflamation and gynaecological problems. It is anti-viral, anti bacterial, is an antioxidant, antispasmodic, spleen and is kidney cleansing, warming, vision improving and has a positive impact on the digestive system.

Healthy hair Eclipta is used in Ayuverdic medicine to rejuvenate hair, prevent hair fall, baldness, dandruff and premature graying. Many shampoos contain it. Eclipta oil or powder or paste is applied to the scalp. When used for detoxification, the positive effects rebound on the hair and skin.

Liver health Powder of the root is used for liver conditions, including cirrhosis, hepatitis, jaundice, anaemia and gall bladder congestion. It is reported, also, to help enlarged spleen. Other problems which this herb helps to curb are listed in Ajuverdic medicine to include kidney disorders, urinary tract infections, piles and impure blood.

The Nerves We are nothing but our nerves. They keep us awake when we should be up on our feet, and make us fall asleep when we should. Eclipta is considered effective for insomnia and for supporting sound and restful sleep. Keen memory, good vision and hearing profit from Eclipta therapy as well. Antistress and anti-aging, perhaps through its antioxidant properties, the oil is reported useful for headaches, tension, anxiety and migraine.

Healthy Skin When the blood is loaded with toxins, and the liver, kidneys and digestive system do not eliminate toxins as well as they should, one of the first signs of this trouble is unhealthy skin. The body tries to eliminate these poisons through the skin which, in fact, is the largest organ of detoxification.

Thus, the detoxifying effects of Eclipta is said to help conditions such as eczema, cracked heels, athletes foot, insect bites and stings.

Cholesterol and blood sugar Blood sugar imbalances and high blood cholesterol are serious issues for many people. Low blood sugar may cause dizziness fainting and death in extreme cases. High blood sugar may damage the eyes and the kidneys, for example, while high blood cholesterol may cause heart attacks, strokes and blood vessel damage. Some studies have shown Eclipta is able to lower blood LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol and triglycerides levels in addition to raising High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. LDL is the bad cholesterol, HDL, is the good guy. Other studies show Eclipta reduces blood glucose level and blood pressure.

Anti-Inflammation Inflammation is desirable for healing. But when it becomes prolonged, it becomes damaging. Unfortunately many people have organs which have become inflamed over a

e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com

GYNAECOLOGY This is an area of Eclipta which would be of interest to many men and women these days of increased male and female reproduction system troubles.

Eclipta leaves are indicated for miscarriage and abortion...interine bleeding and post delivery pain. Eclipta is, indeed, good news for people who wish to protect their livers and upgrade liver function. Studies in Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh say it is hepaprotective, that is, it is liver protecting. A well known herb for this is Milk thistle.

This herb gained its popularity after it passed the carbontetrachloride test. In the experiment, animals were divided into three groups. One group was given carbon tetrachloride without milk thistle. They all died. Carbon tetrachloride damages the liver. Another group given milk thistle 24 hours before carbon tetrachloride suffered partial mortality. The last group, given milk thistle for days before being given carbon tetrachloride suffered the least mortality. This led to the conclusion that milk thistle protects the liver against all sorts of poisons. Eclipta, too, was found to overcome carbon tetrachloride in the livers of rats. Its pro-active chemical substances, say one report, “showed significant stimulatory effect on liver cell regeneration”. The alcoholic extract was “found to have good anti-hepatoxic activity as assessed in induced liver damage in albino rats” the liver gained weight when given Eclipta.

Eclipta may also be helpful in cancer therapy. In 2011, a study reported in the Journal of Ethno pharmacology said researchers investigated anti-cancer potential of Eclipta against liver cancer. The researchers said that alcoholic extracts of Eclipta inhibited the growth of cancer cells and had cytotoxic effects meaning that it was efficient in killing the cancer cells. The study suggested that Eclipta prevented proliferation of cancer cells by destroying their DNA molecules.

Thus, it effectively inhibited growth of the cancer.

In respect of Eclipta anti-microbial effects, an article appeared in the Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Microbials of May 2011. It reported a study of the II antimicrobial effects of Eclipta Alba on secondary infections of patients undergoing anti-cancer treatment, samples were gathered from 40 oral cancer patients. Nine different pathogenic bacteria species were identified in the samples. The bacteria included staphylococcus aureus, which causes Staph infections, Escherichia Coli (E.Coli), which causes gastrointestinal problems and Staph epidermis. This is a common cause of boils and barber’s rash. The researchers reported that “Eclipta alba was an effective microbial agent against all of the tested organisms and encouraged future studies to test the efficacy and safety of this herbal remedy”.

Vitiligo

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DISTRESSED young man asked me last week what he could do to overcome vitiligo which had begun to creep in around his neck. Vitiligo is a discolouration of the skin pigment found in all races, especially among dark skin people such as Africans. Many possible causes have been spoken of, and these have led to varied suggestions either from the management of this condition or its cure.

Vitiligo begins with damage to the cells which give the skin its pigment or colour. The cells are called melanin. The damage expresses as white chalk spots or patches. Some researchers believe toxin overload in the liver and failure of the excretory organs, including the lungs, liver, intestine and kidneys to do their work efficiently leads to an extra workload for the skin. As the toxin load bombards the skin, free radicals attack its cells, damaging them. So, one way to combat vitiligo is through the use of antioxidants specific to the skin. Many proprietary products for this purpose have been developed and are present on the Nigerian Alternative Medicine market. One of them is Bells Help for Skin Disorders.

Another is Amazon Skin – P. I took interest in Grape Seed extract after I read in the book of an American doctor of how this herb helped to cure his skin damage caused by stress induced free radicals. I have watched, with joy, as this herb has helped people I suggest it to. Some other researchers believe vitiligo is an auto-immune system disease which marks the pigment cells for destruction. If this is the case, Grape Seed Extract may also help. In Dr. Ray Strand’s what your doctor doesn’t know about nutrition may be killing you, he reports the case of a man with autoimmune disease which shot up his ANA (Anti-Nuclear Antibody) thousands of times above normal levels. His doctors suggested chemotherapy. He declined. Instead, he added large doses of Grape Seed Extract to his nutritional support regimen of minerals and vitamins. One year after, his ANA normalised.

Tel: 08116759749, 08034004247, 07025077303

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INDUSTRY

BoI to build synergy with local meter manufacturer

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METER manufacturing company in Ogun State, MOMAS Electric Meters Manufacturing Company Ltd (MEMMCOL) has said it can manufacture all the metres needed by the electricity distribution companies (DISCO’s) in the country.

Its Chairman, Mr. Kola Balogun, spoke while conducting the Managing Director of Bank of Industry (BoI), Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa and his team round his factory on the Lagos/ Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State.

Balogun, an engineer, also told The Nation that he set up the firm to manufacture digital prepaid electricity meters.

He said the company has developed some world-class standard products to provide electricity metering solutions, using the latest technologies in design and production.

Balogun, who noted that the company believes in the local content policy of the Federal Government, said Nigeria can no longer depend on other countries for its technological requirement, adding that it should develop and create value with appropriate policies to encourage indigenous firms.

He said his firm has almost 100 per cent local content in human resources and materials, adding that he employs young Nigerians and equips them with requisite training locally and internationally. “We have invested a lot of resources in our people through training and retraining.

Some of our engineers have been trained in India and in the United States (US) to ensure that they compete favourably with their counterparts anywhere in the world,” Balogun said.

He said with tenacity of purpose and appropriate technology, including smart technology and ruggedness, the company has produced integrated circuit and silicon conductors, noting that it was a bold step in the sector for an indigenous company because of its high technology value.

Responding, BoI’s chief praised the company for its technology, noting that they are comparable to others around the globe. He urged that the nation’s industrial policy be skewed

•Firm boasts of meeting local capacity in meter manufacturing

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Assist. Editor

towards companies such as MEMMCOL to turn the economy around.

He said the company can meet local demand in the metering system for the energy and the telecoms sector.

According to him, for a country with over 130 million telephone subscribers, the company and the public will be best for it. He said: “The technology solves two particular problems such as cash flow for the subscriber and for the telecommunication companies to have proper billing for their customers.”

Olaoluwa advised the firm to explore opportunities in the sector and

exploit its core competence. On the cost advantage of the metering system, he implored telecommunication companies to stop importing metres as the locally produced ones are more efficient and cheaper. He said the bank is looking in the area of off-grid solar energy solutions for the sector hence, a Nigerian entity at the forefront of technology transfer should be supported.

The MEMMCOL chief executive said: “Other countries support their experts. Having a stable naira will give us advantage because we also source some of our materials abroad. Within the pricing index of the regulator we can compete with imported products. We have interactive meter that works with a

phone such that with your phone you can calculate your load profile from your office or home. However, this, we acknowledge, requires a lot of campaign to educate the public because of the knowledge gap. The phone interactive metre technology is smart and indigenous to us. Our client profile is growing by the day” He called on the government to build a national payment gateway to encourage the DISCO’s key into the new technology to discourage people from queuing to pay for electricity bills and buying recharge cards from hawkers. The technology, he said, affords people the opportunity to do their businesses from the comfort of their homes.

On support from the government,

he said the company received fiveyear tax holiday from and financial support from BoI The BoI boss said as a development bank, the bank wants to key in into the government’s campaign of Lightup- Nigeria. This was the reason for supporting energy solutions in six locations of the country, he added.

According to Olaoluwa, the support for MEMMCOL is to encourage it to grow to a level like its counterpart in the US, Solar Energy, which has grown into a multi-billion dollar company.

He pledged that the bank would provide a portal to profile its quality customers with good output to interact with and patronise one another.

He said if supported, the company could employ about 500 workers instead of the 100 has at the moment.

•From left: Hadeza Olaosebikan, Divisional Director, Large Scale,BoI Joseph Babatunde, Olaoluwa, Balogun at MEMMCOL office when BoI team paid them a visit.

PHOTO: OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE PHOTPHO

Govt signs $1b MoU on mortgage refinancing

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IGERIA’S mortgage refinancing initiative got a boost when the Federal Government signed a $1 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cantor Fitzgerald, an American Mortgage Company, to support the initiative.

At the signing in Abuja, Minister of Finance/Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala, said the deal was welcomed.

“This is yet another good development at a time when our economy is going through some difficulties. At a time we are suffering from the impact of drop in the oil price, an investment company of this repute has come to say they want to be part of this economy.

“We are very trilled they are about the biggest in the mortgage business in the U.S. and they have come to us to talk to us in Nigeria. They are very excited with what we are doing in Nigeria and as a result, they want to sign a MoU with us to work with the Nigeria Mortgage Refinancing Company (NMRC) to be able to work with us at the value chain in financing,” she said.

The Minister said what this means is that it would make the dream of opening the housing and mortgage financing market a reality.

According to her, the signing of the MoU marked the future milestone in initiating the NMRC as a liquidity company to service the primary and secondary mortgage market.

She said under the 10,000 mortgage refinancing project of the Federal Government, of 66,000 applications, 25,000 had been processed and pre-

By Chikodi Okereocha with agency report

qualified. She noted that 9,000 had received offer letters and 33 people got mortgages in Abuja.

“This is progress from where we are and we now know that it takes much more time than what we thought it was when we started,” Mrs OkonjoIweala said, adding that government was working on a number of initiatives that would enable Nigerians access mortgages at affordable price.

She said the government was working with the National Pension Commission to see how workers could access their pension to get mortgages.

This, she said, would help to eliminate the challenge of getting bulk money to pay off the equity on mortgage.

“We are also looking at other ways to collaborate with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other agencies to see how we can make the homes as affordable as possible. We are looking at the cost of construction because that’s another way to bring the cost of the houses lower,’’ she added.

She said the Cantor Fitzgerald would also build houses and beneficiaries would receive the mortgages at a reasonable interest rate.

Prof. Charles Inyan-Etteh of NMRC said the occasion marked a new beginning for the NMRC, which just started full operations. “This marks a new chapter for the Federal Government in the commitment to the provision of affordable houses to Nigerians,’’ he said.

He said the aim of establishing

NMRC was to provide affordable mortgages to Nigerians through funding of the primary lenders of the mortgages. He said NMRC had received its licence to operate. He assured of the commitment of the company in investing in the housing sector and to the transformation of mortgage system in the country.

Mr Jack Hefternan, Managing Director, Debt Capital Markets, Cantor Fitzgerald, said the company was es-

tablished in 1945, adding that it has branches in almost all countries. He said the company would invest $1 billion to help synchronise what the NMRC was doing in Nigeria.

He said the company would work with local firms, to follow up on every step of the value chain to help deliver affordable housing to Nigerians.

He said the houses the company would provide would cost between eight and N15 million.

Mr. Charles William of the same company said the organisation had received an approval to provide about 10,000 homes.

According to him, the houses will be spread across four locations: Abuja, Kaduna, Lagos and Enugu and would take between six months and one year to complete them.

“The states involved have provided us with lands and we will take off from first April,’’ he disclosed.

‘Biotechnology’ll boost farming, alleviate poverty’

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HE use of modern biotechnology will boost farming and alleviate poverty among Nigerian farmers, National Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr Karbir Umar, has said.

Umar stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja while commending the Senate for the passage of a bill seeking to establish the National Bio-Safety Management Agency.

Biotechnology is the use of modern scientific techniques, including genetic engineering to improve or modify plants, animals or micro organisms.

The National Bio-Safety Management Agency will regulate the application of biotechnology in the country and ensure that it does not have negative effect on human health and the environment.

Umar said when the technology is applied it would boost yields and

increase income of farmers in the country. “This is a welcome development; it will take our farmers out of poverty and out of subsistence farming.

“Biotech enhances the yields of seeds; with minimum input, it will produce the desired high quantity, which when sold will increase the income of farmers,” he said.

The AFAN chairman said the association was partnering with local and international seeds companies to further increase seeds accessibility to farmers.

He appealed to the Federal Government to open up more windows for financing and the possibilities of processing all agricultural produce in the country.

The chairman acknowledged that the government was making efforts to fund agriculture through the N220 billion micro, medium and small enterprise fund.

He urged farmers to key into various government programmes and vote wisely in the forthcoming general elections, saying that if there is peace and security in Nigeria, agriculture will replace oil.

Volkswagen targets cost-saving strategies

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OLKSWAGEN said it has adopted some cost-saving tar gets. It’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Martin Winterkorn, said in an interview on German TV Channel ZDF that the company was on track with efficient programmes to achieve the targets.

He said he hoped the programmes

•Saves on News9 inside INDUSTRY NEW as Bus Industry 05-03-2015

would help the company to narrow the profit gap with international rivals.

It would be recalled that the Europe’s largest carmaker sold a record 10.1 million vehicles across the multi-brand group last year.

But the company is seeking to cut costs at its core division by five billion euros ($5.66 billion) over the next two years.

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EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 04-03-15

Access Bank extends N53b rights issue

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HAREHOLDERS of Ac cess Bank Plc have been granted additional two weeks to pick up their rights in the ongoing rights issue of N52.6 billion.

The management of the bank urged shareholders to take advantage of the extension to pick up their rights. It is expected that trading on the rights issue on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) will also continue during the period.

Rising Access Bank’s share price helped the equities market to sustain its bullish run.

The bank’s share price rose marginally by 0.15 per cent yesterday, substantially higher than 0.05 per cent recorded by the average benchmark index at the NSE, the All Share Index (ASI).

Aggregate market value of all quoted equities on the NSE rose from N10.210 trillion to close at N10.215 trillion while the ASI inched up from its opening index of 30,601.13 points to close at 30,614.93 points. This moderated average year-to-date return to -

•Equities still bullish Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

already talking to institutional investors, high net-worth investors and individuals, particularly investors who understand the value of long term investments.

Many shareholders have commended the performance of the bank and ability of its management to consistently enhance the quality and value of their investments.

Damola Adekunle, a Lagosbased shareholder and selfavowed satisfied customer, expressed optimism that the rights issue would be fully subscribed citing the quality of the bank’s leadership and its vision.

He added that some of the strategic initiatives and decisions taken in the last couple of years have signalled that the bank is heading in the right direction.

The net proceeds of the issue will be used to boost the bank’s working capital, enhance its information technology and expand branch network. These are expected to ultimately lead to improved performance and returns to investors.

11.66 per cent.

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the extension of Access Bank Plc’s rights issue to March 18, 2015. Access Bank is offering 7.63 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to existing shareholders at N6.90 per share. The rights issue, which opened on January 26 2015, was initially scheduled to close yesterday.

The bank stated that the extension of the acceptance period was done to give shareholders ample time to subscribe for their rights.

Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, urged shareholders to take advantage of this extension to fully exercise their rights, assuring them of quality return on their investments.

“We are going to give good returns on investment as our target is to be among top three banks in 2017,” Wigwe said.

He added that the bank was DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 04-03-15

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NEWS

•Suporters welcoming Elechi (in red cap atop a car) ...yesterday

Women protest plot to impeach Elechi

Impeachment: Court restrains Ebonyi Assembly From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

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HOUSANDS of women yesterday held a peaceful rally in support of Ebonyi State Governor Martin Elechi, warning against his impeachment.

The protesters, who carried placards, were being monitored by security operatives.

Some of the placards read: “Burning of Ebonyi Assembly will not make Umahi a governor,”; “Ebonyi women condemn our governor’s impeachment”; “Ebonyi women say no to political violence”; and “Peace is our watchword, say no to violence”, among others.

The rally, which began at the Abakaliki Township Stadium, was attended by a crowd, causing a gridlock on the old Enugu Road.

Women groups, traders, Hausa and Yoruba communities participated in the rally.

The protesters decried the impeachment threat and resolved to support President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election.

Condemning politicallymotivated killings, they condemned the threat to women members of the House of Assembly and urged the President’s wife to rescue

Governor returns from Abuja to rousing welcome

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BONYI State Governor Martin Elechi was yesterday given a rousing welcome to Abakaliki by thousands of women and youths.

The governor, who is facing an impeachment threat from the House of Assembly, travelled to Abuja last weekend for a parley to resolve the crisis. He was invited by President Goodluck Jonathan.

As his plane touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, about 2:30pm, he was met by a crowd of supporters.

Chanting solidarity songs, they danced and praised Elechi, who the supporters described as a peaceful and upright man.

The governor drove to the Government House where he addressed them.

Thanking the people for their support, Elechi urged them to support the Jonathan administration.

He said only the people could remove a government they put in power.

“Anybody who doubts that Ebonyi State has a full-fledged democracy, let him From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

them.

“People are maimed, Ebonyians are killed on a daily basis. Everything has gone wrong because of one man’s ambition to become governor.

“Our lawmakers have been bought with a mess of pot-

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

come and see for himself. The state is the home of democracy. You have proved that you put the government in place, so you are protecting the government, your own government, nobody imposed it on you; you chose it. So you will protect it, you will defend it, you will stand by it. Whoever opposes you is doing so at his own peril.

“But remember, we are peace lovers. The Bible says if you receive a slap on one cheek, you turn the other one. But I say to you, if somebody beats me on one cheek, if I cannot turn the other cheek, I will run away; you will not run away, you will know what to do.

“If you have been following President Jonathan’s campaigns, his emphasis is on the youth and leaders of tomorrow. You are our great hope. We have been running; we have to hand over the baton to you. So, you have to support him because he means well for you.

“He came here to campaign; he is still campaigning. Please, make sure you vote for him.”

tage to abuse the governor.

Speaker Nwazunku and his cohorts have thrown caution to the winds by abusing elders.

“Ebonyi women stand for our governor and the reelection of our President, but in the governorship election, we must vote for an indigene, who possesses the milk of human kindness.”

Addressing the women, Chief Timothy Odaah said Elechi fulfilled his campaign promises and did not commit any impeachable offence.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Dr. Boniface Chima hailed the protesters for the solidarity shown to Elechi and urged them to sustain the support.

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N Abakaliki High Court, presided over by Justice John Igboji, yesterday granted an interlocutory injunction, restraining the Ebonyi State House of Assembly from proceeding with the impeachment processes against Governor Martin Elechi.

The order followed a motion ex-parte brought by Governor Martin Elechi against the Speaker, Chukwuma Nwazunku and Chief Whip Kingsley Ikoro on behalf of 14 members of the Assembly as well as five others.

Joined in the suit are House of Assembly, the chief judge, commissioner of Police, inspector-general and the attorneygeneral of the federation and minister of Justice.

In the motion filed by Chief G. Tagbo Ike on behalf of the plaintiff, Governor Elechi asked the court to grant him the order pursuant to Order IV Rules 3 and 4 ©(IV) and (V); Order V Rule 7(B) and (D) of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009.

The judge adjourned the matter for a substantive hearing till Tuesday.

APC candidate holds interactive session tomorrow

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Plateau State Hon. Simon Lalong will hold an interactive session with all stakeholders in justice sector tomorrow at Hill Station Hotel, Jos. A statement from his campaign office said the interactive session earlier scheduled for last weekend was cancelled in honour of victims of last week’s twin bomb blasts.

The statement added that the meeting, though primarily for stakeholders in the justice sec-

Defence chief insists polls shift wasn’t political

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HE military high command broke its silence on the controversy surrounding the postponement of the February 14 elections, with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh insisting the action was not political.

Air Chief Marshal Badeh who was in Lagos to receive items and drugs worth over N70million donated by the Association of Pharmaceutical Importers of Nigeria (APIN) to the military as contribution to

By Precious Igbonwelundu

the war against insurgents, said the request was to enable security agencies contain terrorism.

He stated that although the military had long placed demands for certain equipment to enable it quell insurgency, their delivery coincided with the period for the election, hence, necessitating the shift to enable the military prosecute the war and crush the sect.

“I do not want to bring

politics into it, whoever wants to bring politics into what we are doing, it’s left for him. I want whoever that is saying that to know that war machines are not picked up from the shelf, if it were, we would not have gotten them.

“When you make orders, it takes time to produce and it takes time also to train on them. So we did not place the orders today, we had placed orders before now and when they started coming we asked for more time to combat the

insurgents before the elections and I can guarantee you that there is no politics in the demand for shift in date, it’s just because we were receiving the equipment,” said Air Chief Marshal Badeh.

The CDS said part of the strategy in tackling insecurity is to build a synergy with the civil populace for support and vigilance in reporting the activities of suspicious elements and the movements of insurgents.

“This is borne out of our

strong conviction that the war against insurgents is not a war for the armed forces alone. As I have always said, when the military is at war, it is not the military alone that is at war, rather it is the entire nation.

“Accordingly, all instruments of national power, ranging from the diplomatic, information, military and economic are employed to ensure that threats to national security are contained and defeated,” he said.”

By John Austin Unachukwu

tor, would accommodate interested members of the public.

The statement said the campaign rally for Jos North Local Government Area will hold on Saturday.

Lalong met with members of Jos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) where he informed them of his intention to contest the governorship election.

The lawyers pledged to support him.

Buhari’s supporters decry ‘violence’ From: Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

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UPPORTERS of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, have cried out over alleged attacks on their colleagues in the Southeast.

The National Coordinator of the group under the aegis of the Mass Movement for Buhari (MMB), Kenneth Ibe-Kalu, said the alleged attacks were becoming unbearable.

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NEWS ‘Protests against broadcast rules violations’

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GROUP, Concerned Citizens of Akwa Ibom State (CCAIS), has protested the alleged violation of broadcast rules by the state-owned media.

The group has petitioned the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), accusing the state-funded radio and television stations of giving airtime advantage to the government, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its agents.

A protest letter, titled: “Protest over Broadcast Violations in Akwa Ibom State”, signed by Chairman and Secretary, Austin Akan and Emmanuel Ukpong, drew the NBC’s attention to the alleged abuse of the broadcast codes in the operations of the state radio and television stations. It mentioned that the stations had been unprofessional, biased, discriminating, unfair and unethical in the coverage of events and programmes in the state.

The group accused the broadcast stations of dancing to the whims and caprices of the state government, the PDP and its agents in doing its statutory work. They said the station, funded by tax payers, deliberately stopped advertisements from other parties and excluded them from their news coverage.

‘Balancing of news items is really strange to these stations,’ the letter noted.

Concern as Tompolo, Emami shun $16b H project peace meeting OPE brightened for the $16 billion Gas City Project in Warri, Delta State, yesterday, as the Ijaw and Itsekiri hosts agreed on the groundbreaking ceremony for the strategic project.

But the truce brokered by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was received with mixed feelings, following the absence of the protagonists, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) and Chief Ayirimi Emami, representing Ijaw and Itsekiri interests.

Governor Uduaghan, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sunny Ogefere, said: “The two groups resolved to make room for peace as well as ensure that the $16b Gas City Project takes off successfully.”

Under the terms of the peace deal, it was gathered that the gas city would be named Ogidigben Gas City, while the deep sea port part

From Shola O’Neil, Port Harcourt

of the project would be removed from the contentious Kpokpo to Gbaramatu Kingdom.

Mr Austin Oboroegbeyi, who spoke on behalf of Ugborodo and Chief Godspower Gbenekama of Gbaramatu said they agreed that the Gas Industrial City would be named after Ogidigben and the Deep Sea Port after Gbaramatu.

NNPC’s Group Executive Director (Gas and Power) Dr David Ige said the title of the project would not affect the original concept of the project, stressing: “They (projects) are inter-dependent projects.”

However, independent investigation by our reporter showed that there

were concerns that the peace deal could be a political move by The Presidency in view of the condemnation that greeted President Goodluck Jonathan’s noshow at the initial ceremony slated for last November.

The President shied away, citing security reports, after Tompolo, exleader of the defunct militant group and his Gbaramatu kinsmen threatened violence if the President went ahead with the ceremony.

The Itsekiri ethnic group, in reaction to the development, threatened to give block vote to the APC candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, prompting the President to make three quick visits to the state within weeks and a private

visit to the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, Tompolo and Emami.

Reacting to yesterday’s peace deal, a representative of a foreign investor in the project said: “The move to reconcile the actors is a good one, even though I must say that absence of the key players is not a good omen.

“People are talking and we are hearing that the move may be more of a plan to get votes than a serious commitment to the project and that is the worry of my clients and even some persons within the NNPC.” Our findings showed that concerns about the duo’s absence was heightened by report that Emami was planning to challenge the part of the truce, which allegedly conferred ownership of ‘Itsekiri land’ on their Ijaw

‘Rivers Muslims fear attack if Jonathan loses’ From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

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HE Rivers State chapter of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has said its members are living in fear following threats by ex-militants if President Goodluck Jonathan loses the 2015 election.

Leader of the council Alhaji Nasir Awhelebe Uhor yesterday said ex-militants had threatened to kill their members if Jonathan’s second tenure ambition was scuttled.

He said half of the Muslims in Port Harcourt had left the town to their states.

Awhelebe advised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to caution their members, adding that Gen. Muhammadu Buhari had many Christian supporters and it would be wrong to start suspecting Muslims in the state of being Gen. Buhari’s supporters.

The cleric noted that allowing Muslims to relocate because of threat would worsen the security situation because it could lead to the killing of Christians in the North.

“As a group, we are calling on the PDP in the state, and other stakeholders, to warn anybody against threatening our members. We have the right as Muslims to vote our choice. It is wrong for ex-militants to tell our members that they will kill them if Jonathan loses the 2015 election.

“We didn’t endorse any candidate at the state and at federal level; all we did is to ask our members to vote their choices.’’

•Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi plaiting the hair of a woman during his door-to-door campaign in Bonny Island, Rivers State...yesterday

‘Wike’s threat to expose Peterside empty’

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HE Greater Together Campaign Organisation has described as empty the threat by the the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, to make public the financial dealings of All progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside.

This, the organisation noted, is another smear campaign that would fail.

“Ordinarily, we would have ignored this spurious threat on our candidate but for the misleading impact it could create on the public; Dr. Peterside in all his public life has acted with integrity and fear of God”.

The organisation said Dr. Peterside will never employ blackmail as a strategy; emphasising that such threat would not affect or distract its candidate’s plans and commitment towards victory at the April 11 election.

The organisation said it appreciates the dilemma of the PDP candidate, who faces imminent defeat.

“Wike is already aware of failure, and he is struggling to wriggle out of it. But this reality should not warrant cheap blackmail, threats and falsehood as a means of survival. One would have expected the PDP candidate to device other ways.

“As an organisation, our actions are guided by the belief that God chooses leaders and not through acts of desperation as demonstrated by Wike and his PDP”, saying: “Never in the history of Rivers State was there this level of violence and terror on any political party as the APC has been subjected to.”

The organisation challenged Wike to make good his threat and be mature in his approach to politics by facing issues rather than resorting to cheap blackmail and falsehood.

Nigerians tired of PDP’s excuses, says Oshiomhole

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OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has taken a swipe at the Federal Government for buffeting Nigerians with excuses, saying Nigerians are tired of waiting in vain for the party to get its act right and are yearning for change.

Speaking on Wednesday when over 3,000 members of the Edo State Welders Association visited him at the Government House, Oshiomhole said despite the media hype from the PDP

Federal Government about revolution in agriculture, he was surprised to read in the newspapers that the country still imports rice.

According to him, “they say we are doing well in agriculture but we are importing rice and PDP says those who import rice have not paid export duties, so I ask, ‘what happened to the agricultural revolution we are celebrating’?

Can you be importing what you are producing?

Everywhere you turn to, it’s always excuses and that is why

in Edo we have said it is about ‘eye-mark’, not ‘I shall’, but ‘I have’ and you can see it”, he said.

The governor said as March 28 approaches, “the issues in the election are between the forces of the status quo, business as usual continuity versus change. They tell us there is train, but I don’t know when last you entered train but we see it on television. ‘’Second River Niger Bridge, we see it on television.

They said they have created millions of jobs but we only

see it on the pages of newpapers. ‘’They arrange some welldressed young boys and get them to do fake confessions.

We see young farmers wearing three piece suits and they say they are farmers.”

The governor said it was laughable that rather than own up to its inefficiency, the PDP Federal Government is blamed APC for the fuel scarcity, saying the Sure-P programme has been bastardised as it is now used to patronise political thugs of the PDP.

neighbours.

A source close to the enigmatic activist, said: “His position is in tandem with the views of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II that the Itsekiri would no longer pay for peace with their land.

He is going to challenge any part of the deal that is against court judgments and historic documents, which showed that the lands in question are owned by the Itsekiri people.”

The Nation on Sunday exclusively reported a heated argument between the two actors during a clear-the-air meeting before their meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday.

Jonathan has fought corruption, says PDP From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said President Goodluck Jonathan had fought corruption through education and the reorientation of Nigerians.

The party said Jonathan’s method of fighting corruption had more positive impact than the draconic and barbaric methods, which led the country nowhere in previous years.

In a communiqué at the end of Southsouth Zonal Executive Committee of the PDP in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, the committee noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was not prepared to conduct February 14, 2015 presidential election.

The committee thanked Nigerians for accepting the postponement in good faith.

The communique, which was read by National Vice Chairman, PDP, Southsouth Zone, Dr. Cairo Ojuogbo and signed by the Publicity Secretary, PDP, Southsouth Zone, Mr. Imo-Owo Okpokpo, said the panacea for peace in Nigeria was a second term for President Goodluck Jonathan.

The committee said the Federal Government, under Jonathan, had demonstrated courageous and visionary leadership, resulting in remarkable infrastructural transformation.

The committee said it was satisfied with Jonathan’s performance, especially the construction of over 25,000km of motorable roads as against the 4,500km he met in 2011.

The communiqué reads: “The committee condemns the desperation of the opposition party and frowns at the recent foreign trips, baseless shuttle for diplomacy targeted at whipping up sentiment against the PDP-led government in Nigeria.

“Every country in the world adapts its own brand of democracy, and in Nigeria we recognise zoning.

“That the panacea for peace in this country is a second term for President Goodluck Jonathan.

“The committee notes that INEC was not prepared for the February 14 presidential election and appreciates Nigerians for accepting the postponement in good faith.’’

THE NATION THURSDAY MARCH 5, 2015

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NEWS From left: Honourable Jumoke OkoyaThomas, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, First Lady, Abimbola Fashola, widow, Olivet Okoya-Thomas, Leila Fowler and Senator Oluremi Tinubu, during the evening of tribute of the late Molade Okoya-Thomas, at Trinity House, Zion Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos... yesterday Photo: Solomon Adeola

I didn’t spite my deputy, says Aliyu From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

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IGER State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu said yesterday that he did not spite his deputy, Ahmed Musa Ibeto, in his decision to hand over the administration of the state to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, when he went on vacation.

He defended his decision to appoint the Speaker, Adamu Usman, after swearing-in three commissioners into the executive council.

Those sworn-in are Alhaji Yussuf Tagwai, Hajia Hassana Adamu and Abbas Bello, who resigned their positions to contest the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election late last year.

Aliyu, who reacted to the issue for the first time since he returned from vacation, said he had a good working and personal relationships with his deputy and would not do anything to spite him.

The governor said: “I did not spite the deputy governor. As far as I am concerned, he is still the deputy governor.”

He said he handed over to the Speaker because the Deputy Governor wrote him that he would travel for the lesser hajj on February 19 last month, the same day he was to travel.

Aliyu said he saw the Deputy Governor on the television attending a meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) where he had defected and assumed that he would leave for the lesser hajj from Abuja.

He added: “I had no option but to hand over to the Speaker, as provided for by the 1999 constitution, as amended.

If the Speaker had been unavailable I would have handed over to the Chief Judge.”

The governor said his relationship with Ibeto was cordial to the extent that it became a reference point in political circles, adding that their closeness made him to bring him to the Government House premises.

Aliyu said: “Constitutionally, he (Ibeto) is still the deputy governor, he will function as the deputy governor till the end of our tenure.”

Aliyu posted Tagwai to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, while Bello will be in charge of the Ministry of the Environment and Hajia Adamu will take charge of the Ministry of Women Affairs.

Troops kill 70 Boko Haram insurgents

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T least 70 members of the Boko Haram sect have been killed

by Nigerian troops and civilian vigilance groups.

The killings occurred as the Army foiled the plan of a would-be suicide bomber to attack Konduga, near Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, witnesses told AFP. Soldiers engaged in a sixhour battle with 150 fighters, who had entered Konduga, disguised as cattle herders.

“At the last count, 73 Boko Haram insurgents were killed in the foiled attack,”

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

a civilian vigilance group member, Butari Mala, said.

“Among those killed was a suicide bomber, who was shot inside his car loaded with explosives before he could reach his target.

“The rest fled into the bush, but were pursued and bombarded by a fighter jet deployed from Maiduguri.”

A military source in Maiduguri, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed Mala’s account, including the death toll.

Another resident said:

“Unknown to the Boko Haram gunmen, herdsmen in Konduga had been asked to keep away from some designated no-go areas.

“So when the gunmen came in through these designated areas, it was clear to soldiers they were not genuine herdsmen and they met the soldiers waiting for them.”

Boko Haram’s planned attack was foiled weeks after the Army announced that the fight against the insurgents was almost over.

The announcement followed the government’s de-

cision to delay elections amid security concerns.

Last month, African Union troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin were deployed to halt the insurgence.

At the beginning of this month, Boko Haram released a video showing the interrogation and beheading of two Nigerians, described as police informers.

The video spread fears that the group is merging with Islamic State (Isis) insurgents, who are renowned for releasing footage of fighters decapitating hostages.

Police arrest woman for attempt to sell PVCs

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ADUNA State Police Command has arrested a 30-yearold woman (name not ascertained), a mother of two children, for attempting to sell Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), including hers, to a party chieftain.

Spokesman for the Police Command, DSP Abubakar Zubairu, confirmed the development to reporters in Kaduna yesterday.

He said the woman was arrested when attempting to sell PVCs at the Kabala ward in Kaduna North local Government.

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

Abubakar said upon interrogation, she confessed to the crime, saying she attempted to sell the PVCs because she needed money to pay her father’s hospital bills.

The spokesman, who said the woman is in detention at the state CID, added that the command is investigating the matter.

It was learnt that the woman attempted to sell the PVCs to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Women Leader, Hajiya Hajara

Mairiga, who alerted the police.

She told the police that the suspect, whose name could not be ascertained at press time, came to her house on Monday and told her that she wanted to sell her PVC and those of others.

The PDP women leader, who spoke to our reporter at Kabala Doki Police Station, said for sometime, electronic media have linked her with buying of PVCs from residents, an allegation she refuted.

She said: “What has happened today has vindicated

me because I have never asked anybody to sell his or her PVC to me. I know this is the handiwork of my opponents and the fact that Kabala ward is the ward of the Vice President. We have been victims of blackmail but I thank Allah that I’ve been vindicated.”

For weeks in Kaduna, there have been unconfirmed rumour of the buying and selling of PVCS. Until now, no person has been arrested.

The public have been advised to desist from either buying or selling PVCs.

‘PDP campaigning without Jonathan’s posters’

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HE Director-General of the Ibrahim Gaidam Campaign Organisation, Alhaji Sidi Yakubu Karasuwa, has said it is shameful that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Adamu Maina Waziri, is afraid to print his posters with those of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said: “Unlike our Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, who proudly prints his posters with those of our amiable presidential candidate, Gen.

From Duku Joel, Damaturu

Muhammadu Buhari, the PDP governorship candidate is ashamed to print his posters with President Jonathan’s because they are aware that the man is a failure. This is shameful.”

Karasuwa, who spoke at one of the Zone C rallies in Machina, noted that “if you are not proud of your product, how then can you market it.

PDP members know that their party is a failure, including their presidential candidate, President Jonathan. This is why

they cannot present him to the people. The party’s candidates are even afraid to associate themselves with their presidential candidate, an indication of the failure of the ruling government at the centre.”

He boasted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe State has no opposition, stressing that Waziri was a serial failure and history would repeat itself on April 11.

Karasuwa said: “Everybody knows that Waziri cannot defeat us in any election.

We have defeated him not once or twice. It won’t be a different story this time. The APC in Yobe is waxing stronger than ever. No party can defeat us.”

Others who spoke at the rally were the Speaker, Yobe State House of Assembly, Adamu Dala Dogo, Secretary to Yobe State Government, Babagoni Machina, an engineer, the lawmaker representing Zone C in the National Assembly, Senator Ahmed Lawan and other APC stalwarts.

APC governorship candidate trains 60 VVF patients

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HE governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi State, Senator Atiku Bagudu, in conjunction with the Muna Hand Craft Cosmetics Enterprises,

From Khadijat Saidu Birnin Kebbi

has trained over 60 Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) patients in skill acquisition programme.

The coordinator of the programme, Hajiya Maimuna Abdulhai, said the training took them four days and it would help them to be self employed.

She said the items donated worth N400,000, adding that they were trained to produce air fresheners, kid soaps, handbags, necklaces, key holders, etc.

Rector cries out over land encroachment •Urges Fed Govt to intervene From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

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HE Rector of Kaduna Polytechnic, Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim, yesterday decried the encroachment on the College of Administrative and Social Science campus land located on the bypass, by the Gbagyi community, in Chikun Local Government.

He urged the Federal Government to intervene by stopping the Gbagyi community from encroaching on its land.

Addressing reporters in his office, Dr. Muhammad said the land belonged to the institution since 1976 and that it was bought by the then Northern region.

He said the original land owners were compensated for the 1000 hectres by the government.

“We paid for the land and we got our certificate of occupancy. It was about 1000 hectres, but the Gbagi community has been encroaching on the land inch by inch, which is unfortunate. The matter was taken to court, but the late Patrick Yakowa, the then governor, intervened and asked us to settle the issue out of court.

Benue State commissioner dies From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

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HE Benue State Commissioner for Rural Development and Cooperatives, Aondowase Aondowase Chia, is dead.

He died yesterday. He took ill in the office and was rushed to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital Makurdi, where he died.

Sources said he was hale and hearty before he became ill after defending the ministry’s budget in the House of Assembly.

The Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, Omadachi Oklobia, described his late colleague as an easygoing man, whose quality contributions would be missed by the executive council.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS

LENT

Theme: War against your Prince of Persia 1 Tanzania floods sweep the first day that thou didst set thine heart... I am Shinyanga ‘killing 38 people’ from come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of

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LOODING in northwestern Tanzania has killed at least 38 people and left hundreds of others homeless, police in the Shinyanga region have told the BBC. The downpours were accompanied by hail and strong winds meaning many people had no chance of escaping, senior police officer Justus Kamugisha said.

The rains have severely damaged mud houses and

blocked roads, making rescue operations difficult, he added.

More than 60 rescued people are being treated for their injuries in hospital.

The BBC’s Hassan Mhelela in Tanzania says most people in Shinyanga make their living by subsistence farming.

But the weather has wreaked havoc on the landscape and crops of maize and cotton have been destroyed and livestock killed, he says.

Zimbabwe President Mugabe sued by former Zanu-PF allies IMBABWE President Robert Mugabe has been sued for wrongful dismissal by two former ruling party senior officials.

The pair were expelled from the party in December and February for allegedly supporting a plot against him.

Ruagare Gumbo and Didymus Mutasa have filed papers in the High Court of Zimbabwe seeking an order to reinstate them into Zanu-PF. Mr Gumbo told the BBC that President Mugabe was a “dictator” and that he should step down.

In an unprecedented move, they are seeking that the court also strike down reforms that President Mugabe brought in at the party conference last December.

If successful, the president’s two former stalwarts would

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call for an extraordinary congress of the party where a new leader could be elected to replace the 91 year old.

Speaking to the BBC’s Brian Hungwe, Mr Gumbo, a former Zanu-PF spokesman, said he might set up his own political party if the court challenge failed.

Even if the pair do win back their places, Mr Gumbo says it would be impossible to work with President Mugabe, “There is no basis of working with him, he is a dictator.

He tells you what to do, if you don’t then he fires you. So how can I work with a man like that?” he told the BBC The former party spokesman does not believe that President Mugabe is fully in control of his party and that the president’s wife, Grace Mugabe, is now “running the show”.

Persia withstood me one....” (Daniel 10:12-13)

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AJORITY of people, apart from fools, attests to the fact that there is God, which gives credence to the cliche THERE IS GOD O! (Psalm 14:1a). It is further believed that God hears whenever we call on Him because “ He that planted the ear, shall He not hear? He that formed the eye, shall He not see? (Psalm 94:9). God told Jeremiah that, “Thus saith the Lord the maker thereof, the Lord that formed it, to establish it; the Lord is his name; Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not (Jeremiah 33:2-3).

There are also instances that God not only hears before His children call but He acts before they speak and grant them what He believes is right, good and proper for them. God told Isaiah in Isaiah 65:24 that, “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear”.

Besides that, because He is God, the creator of heaven and earth (Isaiah 40:28), He has capacity to “....do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think....” (Ephesians 3:20) It is in that light that Jesus Christ admonished that it is needless to act like unbelievers who use vain repetitions thinking that by so doing their prayers shall be answered. He said that God knows the things that we need, even before we make the requests (Matthew 6:7-8). He expounded further in John 16:23 that “......Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it you”.

It is however apt to state that His promises are not without boundaries - there are conditions attached to actualisation of His promises (cf Deut. 28:1-13). For instance, Paul told the Ephesians in Ephesians 3:20 that God’s willingness to surprise with His miracles is dependent on the power that works inside believers. 1 John 5:14 confirms it further that, “...this is the confidence that we have in Him that, if we ask any thing ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, He heareth us”.

From our text, Daniel’s prayers were answered since the first day that He called on God but the response was delayed by the Prince of Persia. Who or what is The Prince of Persia? The Prince of Persia represents whatever is capable of not allowing believers have access to answered prayers. One ‘Prince of Persia’ that is gaining unabated territories across the globe now, more that ever in history, is sin. We are in the perilous times that Paul told Timothy about when people shall be “.... lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of plea-

sures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof...(2Timothy 3:2-5) The Almighty God is holy and cannot behold iniquities.

Habakkuk 1:13 said about Him that, “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously....” His principal requirement before He answers whenever we call on Him is to run away from sin.

God told the rulers of Sodom in Isaiah 1:15 that, “... when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear for your hands are full of blood”. In Isaiah 59:1-2, God said further that “.....the Lord ‘s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness (Isaiah 59:1-3).

At this time of lent brethren, it is expedient to declare war against sin lest more terrible things befall us as individuals or as a nation. Jesus Christ told the man delivered from captivity of 38years when He met him in the temple the same thing in John 5:14. Kindly be informed that “....the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity ( 2 Timothy 2:19). A cursory look at majority of the healing and deliverances that Jesus Christ did, and is still doing, it is obvious that they are caused by sin. Sin is temporarily pleasurable but eternally destructive. Sin is poison coated with sugary substances to attract its victims before destruction.

Paul told the Romans that “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin (Romans 4:7-8). For God to do exceeding abundantly above all you ask or think brethren, you need to come to Jesus Christ, accept Him as your Lord and Saviour, confess your sins to Him, make a commitment not to sin again no matter how enjoyable it may seem, separate yourself from friends and family members that encourage you to sin and be a serious member of a Bible believing church.

Prayers: Lord, forgive me my sins and give me grace to live above the lures of the devil and pleasures of this temporal world, in Jesus’ name.

NEWS APC accuses PDP of plot to blackmail Jega, Tinubu Continued from page 4

per cent of who are from the home state of the outfit’s top brass, in violation of the provisions of the Constitution, especially as the recruitment does not reflect the Federal Character .Nocturnal meetings are being held between various heads of national security agencies and the leadership of the PDP to undermine the coming elections.”

Mohammed alleged that the Presidency has hired two Israelis and a Belgian to hack and corrupt INEC computers on election day, adding that the trio have been paid 25 percent of their contract fees upfront.

He added: “Huge funds are being provided for retired and serving security personnel to buy up PVCs, with the hope that they can be used once the card reader is compromised.

Remember, gentlemen, that there is a case in court seeking to declare the use of the card reader in the forthcoming elections unconstitutional.

“In the days leading up to the elections, the Jonathan administration is planning to give the opposition the Ekiti treatment by massively arresting key opposition leaders, with a view to destabilising their ranks, putting them away and paving the way for

a free rein of their rigging agents. Towards this end, thousands of signed blank detention orders have been procured.

“As part of the plan to implicate our leaders, illegal substances may be put into their checked-in luggage during local and international flights.

That is why we are calling on our leaders to travel only with their carry-on baggage.”

Jonathan’s campaign insists on soldiers Continued from page 4

“We take exception to their fiction and false claims and we will not take this matter lightly,” Fani-Kayode said, adding that the APC was mounting a smear campaign against the ruling party.

He continued: “The APC and its leaders are simply unraveling and falling apart at the seams. They are the ones who had perfected a plan to rig the forthcoming elections through the lopsided distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

“They were very comfortable with the fact that 34 per cent of registered voters had not collected their PVCs as at February 14 just before the presidential election was postponed.

“The APC and its leaders said they were ready for that election when it was obvious that the PVC collection rate in the North, comprising some of the traditional strongholds of their presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, was higher than the

collection rate in the South, the traditional support base of our candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan.

“We are happy that many eligible voters are now going out to collect their PVCs. We know that the APC and its leaders are not happy about this development because they had wanted to railroad themselves on the nation through a compromised and rigged election.

“How can they be happy when the advantage they obviously enjoyed before the postponement of the February 14 presidential election has now been removed?

“Our position on the card reader remains that the machine has not been tested in any election and there are bases for genuine concern over the use of the machine, for the first time, in a crucial election of this magnitude.

“We are aware of the plot by the APC, working in cahoots with some strategically placed and retrogressive elements, to use the card readers to frus-

trate accreditation in some parts of the country while not enforcing strict use of the machines in some other parts.

“The truth is that if they go ahead with that wicked plot, the APC and its collaborators will only be preparing the ground for mass resistance.

They can be rest assured that we will not sit by idly and allow such a thing to unfold.

“The APC and its leaders are merchants of violence.

They are creating laughable

scenarios and possibilities that will feed into their agenda to cause chaos and violence before, during and after the forthcoming elections.

“This is why we insist on the deployment of soldiers in the forthcoming elections as it was done in the gubernatorial elections in Edo and Osun where APC won, in Ondo where Labour Party won, in Anambra where APGA won, and in Ekiti where the PDP won.”

‘APC’s false alarm, a reflection of its inner thoughts’

•Metuh Continued from page 4

ory to recall that it is not the PDP but APC that had issues with security agencies over attempts to hack into INEC’s data base and to clone the PVCs. It is also not the PDP but the APC that has complicities with some compromised INEC officials on biased distribution of PVCs in select states especially, Lagos and other APC states.” the PDP said.

The ruling party also debunked allegations of plans to use security agencies to intimidate or implicate opposition leaders describing such

as “part of APC’s worn out antics of attempting to use nuisance alarm to heat up the system having failed to articulate credible manifesto to secure genuine followership among Nigerians.”

“Nigerians are aware that this is not the first time the opposition would be raising such alarms just for Nigerians to find out that they are lies.

We have here a group of people who are being haunted by failure and self inflicted woes. APC has all along been deluding itself as a government in waiting with some phantom popular image it created for itself in the social media. Now that reality has dawn it in the face, it has resorted to deploying all manners of antics in a failed attempt to win the sympathy of Nigerians”, it said.

Ex-Governor Audu's aide assaults EFCC operative in court

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ORMER Kogi State Governor Abubakar Audu yesterday assaulted an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in court in Abuja.

Audu is in court to answer charges for an alleged involvement in a contract scam to the tune of N11 billion.

He reportedly ordered his security aide (a police officer) to assault an operative of the EFCC, Haruna Ashade, for

daring to take his photograph in court. EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren, said Ashade, who was assigned to cover the proceedings, was carrying out his duties when Audu’s aide descended on him.

Recounting how it happened, Uwugiaren said: “The sudden realisation that his image might have been captured by the cameraman incensed Prince Audu. Seething with rage, he demanded for

the camera. When Ashade refused to hand the equipment over to the accused person, Prince Audu called on one of his aides, a police inspector, to forcefully collect the camera from Ashade and delete his pictures from it,” Uwujaren explained. “A scuffle ensured, which threw the court into confusion. Audu’s aide rained blows on Ashade in the attempt to snatch the camera from him. It took the personal intervention of Justice Ademo-

la Adeniyi, who was about coming out of his chambers, to restore order. “Justice Adeniyi sent one of his assistants and his orderly to restrain Prince Audu’s aide. He was said to have ordered the release of the camera for it to be kept in the custody of the court until after the sitting. Ashade obliged them. “However, to the dismay of officials of the EFCC, when the camera was released, all the pictures taken in court had been deleted.”

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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

NEWS Obanikoro: Senate in shouting match

‘No retreat, no surrender against Boko Haram’ Continued from page 4

strategic plans. A very significant number of identified terrorists’ enclaves have already been pounded and destroyed in the course of continuing air strikes.

“Ground forces are also conducting assaults along with necessary mopping up, cordon and search operations in communities and locations previously occupied by terrorists.”

Olukolade said troops were already set for subsequent phases of the battle against the insurgents.

He said all communities being occupied by the insurgents would be reclaimed and displaced citizens returned to their homes.

He said: “The stage is also set for the conduct of subsequent phases earmarked as part of the campaign. In the process, many communities have been sufficiently cleared to guarantee the return of citizens to their normal lives.

“The scope is being expanded to ensure that more communities are mopped up and cleansed of every vestige of terrorism. All the towns where the activities of the terrorists are still noticeable will be duly mopped up very soon.”

Gen. Olukolade denied allegations that foreign troops from Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic were behind the success recorded against Boko Haram.

He said: “The truth of the matter is that the current turn of the tide against the terrorists is an initiative conceived and is being driven by the Nigerian military, but enjoying the backing of the reinvigorated Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which has troops from Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

“The continuous aerial bombardment of identified terrorists’ cells and hideouts by the Nigerian Air Force and subsequent ground offensive by the Nigerian troops pursuing the dislodged terrorists is proving worthwhile.

“Our partners are entrusted with employing the instrumentality of the MultiNational Joint Task Force to contain any terrorists who heads towards our borders with neighbouring countries and preventing the formation of any new safe haven elsewhere. ”The forces have been working very hard in consonance with the terms and spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding that preceded this operation. They are effectively checkmating trans-border activities of the terrorists.

“There have been instances where these provisions for the operation of the MNJTF have afforded our partners the latitude required to pursue or beat back a retreating band of terrorists into Nigerian territory as was the case in Gamboru and other locations not far from the border.

“Unfortunately, some interest groups who seek to misinterpret this fruitful collaboration are seeking to drive a wedge between the Nigerian military and her supporting military formations or contingent by deliberately trying to denigrate and ridicule the effort of the Nigerian forces.”

Olukolade repeatedly said there had been no compromise of any aspect of Nigeria’s sovereignty or soil to any foreign force He said: “If other militaries that have just joined the war against the terrorists would be described in some warped reports as “battle-hardened”, how would any sensible commentator or reporter describe the gallant Nigerian forces that have been battling these mercenary-ridden terrorists for over five years now say?

“The antics of some foreign media and their local collaborators who will stop at nothing to bring the Nigerian military to disrepute are no longer new or unusual. The Nigerian military will not be distracted or detracted from the current momentum which is geared towards stamping out terrorism not only in Nigeria but in the entire sub-region.

“It is of necessity therefore to reiterate that much as we

value and appreciate the ongoing collaborative effort of the troop contributing nations of the Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), there has been no compromise of any aspect of Nigeria’s sovereignty or soil to any foreign force.

“This counter terrorist operation is comprehensively driven by Nigerian forces.

Other members of the MNJTF have so far successfully denied the common enemy freedom of trans-border operations and this is in consonance with the idea of the multinational coalition initiated as far back as 1998. ”Be that as it may, we are conscious that the fight is not over and the Nigerian military will, therefore, not relent. Nothing will be taken for granted. All Nigerians are equally enjoined to maintain this posture.

“We must at all times remain vigilant and conscious of our environment and be on the lookout for unrepentant terrorists, their collaborators or sympathisers who will stop at nothing in their resolve to destroy our country and civilization.”

The DHQ spokesman pleaded with Nigerians to refrain from comments and acts which could undermine the morale of troops at the battle front.

He added: “However, while these support and show of love are being savoured, the attitude and activities of segments of the society who are still hell bent on undermining the morale of our fighting force by deliberately playing down the operational successes so far achieved remains very unfortunate indeed.

“In a bid to spitefully drown the efforts of our troops, this group of people have been mischievously and exaggeratingly reporting the supportive roles of foreign allies to the detriment of our operational success in the fight against terror.

“They go to every extent to ridicule, taunt or project every falsehood, purely to score some points in the clandes-

Continued from page 4

•Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh

tine sympathy for the terrorists. This unpatriotic posture is directly or indirectly undermining the esteemed status of Nigeria in the comity of nations.

“The need has therefore arisen for a call on the media to beware of the mischief and conspiracy by some theorists who are still bent on orchestrating a well-rehearsed smear campaign against the Nigerian military. They have been struggling to attribute the recent defeats inflicted on the terrorists to the invincibility of other forces or military outfits other than Nigeria’s. “ Olukolade praised Nigerians who had shown solidarity and support for troops in the Northeast.

He said: “Irrespective of the skepticism of ardent critics and cynics in and out of the country, this recent show of solidarity has proved to be a great morale booster. The sight of every segment of the Nigerian society coming out in unison to cheer and celebrate the modest achievement of the nation’s forces is inspiring indeed. ”We thank the President and Commander-in-Chief for the confidence he reposes on his troops and for the support and encouragement he has always extended to the military. We thank the cross section of the political class for their kind words of encouragement and equally appreciate the wonderful effort of the media and some civil society groups who organised rallies and marches both in Abuja and Lagos to express support for the military.”

should be allowed to grill the former minister of state for Defence because of the circumstances surrounding his nomination.

He is among those whose voices were taped while planning to use the military to rig last year’s Ekiti State governorship election.

The opposition lawmakers were also said to have reminded the Senate President that the suit filed against Obanikoro’s nomination was still pending in a Lagos court.

Those opposed to Obanikoro’s screening were also said to have insisted that it will be sub judice for the Senate to act on a matter that is pending before a court.

Mark was said to have reasoned that if Obanikoro was made to answer questions, the tradition of the Senate would have been destroyed.

At that point, a shouting match broke out between those who wanted to maintain the status quo of “bow and go” and those who insisted on drilling Obanikoro especially on his alleged role in the Ekiti governorship poll rigging plot.

The unruly situation was said to have lasted for over 30

minutes after which Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu reportedly calmed frayed nerves.

The Senators were said to have agreed to screen some of the nominees and to defer Obanikoro’s screening .

Some of the opposition lawmakers vowed to resist any attempt to either cajole or cow them to support Obanikoro’s screening and confirmation.

The nominees screened included Senator Patricia Akwashiki (Nasarawa State), who was asked to “bow and go” Prof. Nicholas Akise Ada (Benue State), Col. Augustine Okwudiri Akobundu (Abia State) and Mr. Fidelis Nwankwo (Ebonyi State).

The Senate adjourned till Tuesday.

Apart from Obanikoro, Mrs. Hauwa’u Lawan (Jigawa State), Mr. Kenneth Kobani (River State) and Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya (Taraba State) were yet to be screened.

After the closed session, Mark merely read out the names of screened nominees and said the Senate would continue the screening of the remaining nominees next week.

Govt to pay oil marketers N30b for forex losses Continued from page 4

of Credit had been opened by banks on behalf of the marketers.

He urged any marketer who is experiencing delay in its Letters of Credit to alert the CBN, promising to ensure the issue is resolved amicably.

Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) Executive Secretary Obafemi Olawore said the queues will ease off in the next few days as 495 trucks of fuel to Lagos, Abuja and other places.

According to him, massive movement of fuel in the last three days had been complemented with the importation of three cargoes of petrol following the agreements secured with the CBN and the Finance ministry.

He said: “On Monday, major marketers moved 132 truckloads of fuel to Lagos while 87 truckloads were moved to Abuja, and this is exclusive to the quantity moved by the NNPC, independent marketers and other marketers. ”On Tuesday, 137 trucks were moved to Lagos while 139 trucks were moved to Abuja. You can see that the amount we moved to Abuja was far more than the quantity we moved on Monday. It normally takes between three and four days to transport fuel from Lagos to Abuja; hence we believe the queues will ease off by weekend, latest.”

He added that “our actions are deliberate, to ensure that the queues vanish and normalcy returns. I want to tell Nigerians that tougher days are over; normalcy is expected to return pretty soon”.

President Deby to Shekau: surrender Continued from page 4

eral Government. The military once said it had killed him.

He is also wanted by the United States which placed bounty on his head and that of some of the sect’s leaders.

Chad’s army has waged a series of battles against Boko Haram as part of a cross-border military campaign and has re-taken territory the militant group held in Borno State.

The Chadian army is considered one of the best in West Africa and is backed by a strong air force. It first deployed to help Cameroon fend off Boko Haram and is now pressing southwest into Nigerian territory after capturing the border town of Gamboru last month.

Boko Haram, a Sunni militant group, has killed thousands of people in Nigeria during a six-year insurgency to carve out an Islamic caliphate.

It has also staged a series of cross- border attacks into Chad, Cameroon and Niger.

62

THE NATION THURSDAY MARCH 5, 2015

THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

63

SPORT EXTRA

Oduamadi eyes Super Eagles' recall L

ATINA FC of Italy attacking midfielder,

Nnamdi Oduamadi has reiterated his desire to play for the Super Eagles in the March 26 international friendly game with Bolivia if invited.

Oduamadi last played for the Eagles during the CAF Confederation Cup in 2013 in Brazil after injury prevented him from making the cut for the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup. He returned to club football action on Tuesday after a three-match suspension in a Week 29 Serie B clash with Bologna where he helped his club to a goalless draw away.

Latina, the club he joined on loan from AC Milan in January after he left Crotone from where he started the season.

In a telephone chat with NationSport yesterday, an elated Oduamadi stated that he was more than happy to serve out his ban and to play a great part in his club's impressive goalless draw away to second placed Bologna on Tuesday.

He said even though Latina Calcio are 10 points away from the play-off spots presently occupied by Carpi(56), Bologna(48), Frosinone(47), Vicenza(47), Avellino(46) and Livorno(44) they are aiming to close the gap in the remaining 13 games before the end of the season.

Oduamadi said he had remained injury free since the beginning of the current campaign, adding that he had

•Wants action against Bolivia on March 26 From Tunde Liadi, Owerri

been featuring regularly for Latina Calcio too.

He said if he was considered worthy of an invitation for the game with Bolivia and other subsequent matches, he would gladly honour it but if not, he would use the opportunity to continue helping Latina towards their late push for a place in the play off.

"I am happy to return to the pitch again after my three game suspension. It was not was not easy being on the sideline not on the account of injury but because of a perceived wrongdoing I never committed. I don't want to continue to dwell on it because it is in the past now.

"I am glad that my coming back coincided with our goalless draw with

Bologna and I can't ask for more," Oduamadi disclosed.

On the Eagles game with Bolivia, Oduamadi told NationSport:" I will be glad if I am invited for the game with Bolivia because it is my dream to continue to play for Nigeria. But if I am not invited, it is not the end of the world. I will stay back and continue helping my club.

Falcons’ FIFA World Cup plans threatened

T

HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Women’s football department is on the verge of hitting the panic button after revelation the team coordinators are sweating over the failure to seal deals for quality friendly matches with 93 days to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.

Sadly, the team only recently resumed camp due to pressure from stakeholders when it seemed the Football Federation had their hands tied with concerns for the Men’s junior teams continental engagements and no practicable grounds plan for the ladies.

However, Coach of

•No friendly game in sight the Falcons, Edwin Okon is a man in a fix because the team, crowned Continental champions, are pitched against top oppositions in their World Cup group including 2-time World Champions The US Women’s Soccer

Team.

M e a n w h i l e , Chairperson of the Nigerian Women Football League, Dilichukwu Onyedinma painted the gloomy picture of the current situation in the Falcons camp.

•Oduamadi

TODAY IN THE NATION ‘The cards are stacked against those who want Jega out of INEC. They do not have a case against him; they are just afraid that with him at the helm, they cannot get INEC to rig the elections for PDP’ THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

T

HEY just don’t have a clue. So they often said of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Not anymore.

The opposition party – sorry, the ruling party, Africa’s biggest and the one that has sworn to rule Nigeria for 60 years, in the first instance - has been derided as a gang of clueless politicians and expired tricksters, fraudsters and pranksters by some idle commentators who don’t see any redeeming feature in the President Goodluck Jonathan administration’sTransformation Agenda (TA).

With just a few days to the general elections, the party has regained its form. The President was in Lagos the other day to listen to some youths with whom he danced Shoki – the erotic dance in which the dancer covers his right eye with his right palm, bends his or her legs and throws his or her left arm across the body, which is twisted seductively. Dr Jonathan, polo shirt, designer fez cap and all, made a good job of it. He was all smiles. The young men and women were struggling for selfies with His Excellency.

Soon, those who say he has no clue will see how the new vote harvesting formula will be pressed into service. Never mind that some of the President’s guests were actually decked out in dresses that left so much to the imagination. A friend of mine who saw it all on television praised the President’s endurance as one girl, almost topless, laps exposed and face beaming, sat next to His Excellency, holding his hand and screaming excitedly into the mic.

But the season of clues, apparently occasioned by the dubious – that’s what the critics call it – six-week postponement of the general elections is not all about wooing would-be voters or devising new baits for votes. Gone are the days when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), confronted by the myriads of ailments that trouble Nigeria, simply wrung its hands in utter cluelessness. Not anymore.

Consider the long petrol queues at our filling stations. Just before now, it used to be rows and rows of jerry cans that went on as far as our eyes could see, waiting to be filled with kerosene. Now the days of fisticuffs at petrol pumps are back. Fares have gone up and many man-hours have been lost. After a rigorous research – a source told me that no fewer than 10 professors of no mean reputation joined forces in the mental exertion – PDP Chairman Adamu Muazu broke the news: the All Progressives Congress (APC) is behind the fuel crisis.

Even before he finished announcing this remarkable breakthrough, those critics of whom I had earlier spoken, the ones who are so blind to the marvel of TA, started grumbling. Does APC own the filling stations? Is APC behind the multi-billion dollar fuel subsidy fraud? Are those named in the massive fraud not the ones leading Jonathan’s campaign? Who has been frus-

RIPPLES

VOL. 10, NO. 3144

GBENGA OMOTOSO

EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK

gbenga.omotoso@thenationonlineng.net

•Editor of the Year (DAME)

Now they have a clue

•President Jonathan and one of the youths

trating Jonathan’s attempts to fix the refineries? The questions were many.

Instead of hailing Muazu for this discovery, the critics pilloried him to no end. The soft ones said his announcement was an unparalleled exhibition of buffoonery. Others, the harsh critics, called Muazu a misfit. Haba!

Just for announcing the result of a painstaking exercise? Yet, some demanded an apology, saying since Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has confirmed that marketers were being owed N185b, the honourable thing is to apologise to the PDP. Apology? Won’t that show cluelessness?

Even the recent crash of the naira against the dollar has been seen in the ruling party as a device of the opposition to weaken the local currency, make it worthless and, by so doing, incite the unsuspecting citizenry against the government. But, those who do not understand the politics of the policy have explained that the tumbling oil prices have affected the strength of the naira against the dollar. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), after many battles to prop up the naira, eventually devalued the currency, they said.

After a sober reflection on the matter and due consultations with its team of financial experts, the PDP, I am told by a source, is set to announce its discovery of how the APC caused the naira to slip before pushing it to fall, a devastating fall from which it is struggling to recover – all because it wants to take power from PDP. It takes a party of intellectuals to get such a clue. Kudos to

HARDBALL

I NEVER SAID I WON’T SEEK SECOND TERM– Jonathan

I

Okay, any EYE WITNESS, Sir?

PDP. Boko Haram has been around for some time. Its leader Mohammed Yusuf was murdered in police custody in 2009. The incident changed the group dramatically, sending it on a violent mission from which it has refused to return. Thousands are dead, hundreds, among them the pitiable Chibok schoolgirls, are being held hostage and several others are conscripted into the sect’s forces, forced to fight for nothing.

Now, the PDP has a clue. Boko Haram’s sponsors are in the APC. Like every other discovery, this has infuriated the critics, who have been querying the assertion. At what point did APC start sponsoring Boko Haram? Are the states worst-hit by the insurgency not APC’s? Why was Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the APC presidential candidate, attacked by bombers suspected to be on errand for the sect in Kaduna? Are some of those accused of being the godfathers of the deadly sect not found around the President? Don’t they go about with soldiers as if they are some war commanders?

The critics, who obviously still doubt that the PDP has a clue to the ocean of problems in which we are immersed, went on: “Is it the business of the opposition party to fund and equip the armed forces? Where is our soldiers’ newfound fire power coming from? Why did it take the Commander-inChief so long to go near the trouble spot?

Why won’t he go to Chibok to comfort the parents of the abducted girls and assure them that their kids will never be forgotten?”

Trust the PDP. It would not be moved by such sanctimonious talks of showing leadership and empathy. No. Only recently it found a clue to the dwindling power supply. From about 4,000 MW at its peak, power generation has dipped to 2,886.87MW. Those who claim to be familiar with the industry have said that the power situation has gone this bad because a major gas supplier has shut down its facility for routine repairs. The PDP and its followers would have accepted such an explanation, had things been normal, but this is a season of politics. I am sure by now you should know those behind the poor power supply. And

T sounded like doublespeak when President Goodluck Jonathan said in an interview with Al Jazeera on Monday: “The security service did not want to take any chance. They did not tell Nigerians that they must rout Boko Haram 100 per cent before the elections could be conducted. But, they want to degrade Boko Haram to the extent that, they will not have the strength to disrupt the elections. That is the key thing.” He was responding to a question on the contentious rescheduling of the country’s general elections on alleged security grounds.

It is interesting that Jonathan played the role of an interpreter of the military’s mind and goal, but his attempted clarification lacked clarity. If the aim of the military ahead of the polls is not to crush the Islamist guerilla force but merely to weaken it, then it makes sense to wonder about the level of impotency that would make the terroristic group less forceful and less effective. Perhaps only Jonathan and the military have

Man in a muddle the answer.

In another instance of unclear presentation, Jonathan said in response to a question on corruption: “Yes, we have corruption cases…we have cases of people stealing; no doubt about that. I always say that, call a thief a thief. I am not saying that we don’t have this element of corruption or stealing.”

He continued: “If you start from the former Central Bank governor, who initially said that $49.8 billion was missing… I don’t know how he came about that figure. The next moment he changed from $49.8 billion to $12 billion. The next day it was $20 billion.

Up to this time I don’t know which is the correct accusation.”

Okay, so Jonathan is not certain about the actual accusation. Then he went on to say: “The Senate set up a committee and they used consultants; they looked into it and said over

LAWAL OGIENAGBON

no prize for guessing right.

Until recently, there has been so much outcry about a missing $20b oil money.

Amid the din, the President cautioned us all to draw the line between stealing and corruption. “If you look at the perception of corruption or perception index, people talk about corruption now because it has become a political issue. And when you promote something to a level of politics, of course, it will blow out of proportion,” he said on Monday in an interview with Al Jazeera.

Dr Jonathan went on: “Yes, we have corruption cases…we have cases of people stealing; no doubt about that. I always say that, call a thief a thief. I am not saying that we don’t have this element of corruption or stealing. If you start from the former Central Bank governor, who initially said that $49.8 billion was missing; $49.8 billion is a lot of money. What is the budget of this country for God’s sake?

“Our budget has been a little over N3 trillion. Federal Government’s budget is about $18-20 billion a year and you are saying we lost $49.8 billion. If today we lose $49.8 billion, federal and state governments will not pay salaries. I don’t know how he came about that figure. The next moment he changed from $49.8 billion to $12 billion.

The next day, it was $20 billion. Up to this time, I don’t know which is the correct accusation. The Senate set up a committee and they used consultants; they looked into it and said over $2 billion that could not be properly balanced. They did not say that somebody stole it. No evidence to say it was stolen but that it was not properly balanced.”

Sir, before concluding that no money is missing or stolen, wouldn’t you rather check with the APC? We have been celebrating our narrow escape from the Ebola disease, which American-Liberian Patrick Sawyer imported to Lagos. Nobody knew why and how the late Sawyer chose to come to Nigeria. A source has just told me that as part of its campaign scheme, the PDP is set to reveal, after a presidential panel’s prognosis of the disease, those who not just advised the man to come here, but physically helped him to land in Lagos. I guess you have a clue to the answer. Again, no prize for guessing right. APC. Another source has told me of a massive investigation that will unravel the secret of how our over $60b foreign reserve (2008) went down to $32b. The money, said the source, is likely to reduce further if the authorities do not move fast to smash the politics that has led to this significant depletion. Even as we await the result of this venture, isn’t it easy to guess who is behind this? Go ahead and guess, but again don’t expect a handshake for guessing right.

Now, who says our President and his party are clueless?

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above $2 billion could not be properly balanced.

They did not say that somebody stole it. No evidence to say it was stolen but that it was not properly balanced.” Doesn’t this seem like doublethink? Did Jonathan consider why the figure involved was “not properly balanced?” Couldn’t this be because it was stolen?

When Jonathan speaks in such confusing and confounding manner, how does he expect to be rated on believability? Another question, what does he think of the intelligence of the public? It is disturbing that the context was an interview with an international medium, which further exposed his confusion to a global audience.

It would appear that Jonathan is facing a severe challenge concerning clarity of thought and speech, but this certainly cannot excuse his noticeable doublethink and doublespeak, which may be contrived.

Whichever way, the picture is that of a man in a muddle, or a muddle-headed man.

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