October 06, 2014

Newspaper of the Year

APC, PDP battle over Ebola control NEWS Page 4

•‘Jonathan can’t claim credit’

News Lawyers: probe Ekiti attacks P7 Sports Emenike lashes Keshi again P24 Business ‘72mw lost to transmission crash’ P6

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 9, NO. 2993 MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

•INSIDE: SULTAN FOR STATE POLICE P4 TRUCK KILLS COUPLE, FOUR OTHERS IN ONDO P8

•Picnickers on Bar Beach, Victoria Island, Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

Army to fight Boko Haram with Civilian JTF recruits

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WHEN WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15 BE FREED?

Troops deployed in bid to rescue minister’s relations

T

HE Presidency is weighing options on how to increase the number of troops in the troubled Northeast.

A top military source, who spoke in confidence, said the depletion of troops nationwide, as a result of security challenges in at least 30 states, made the measure necessary.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

He said it had become “urgent to beef up troops” in the Northeast.

The highly-placed source said: “From all indications, the Presidency may soon consider recruiting qualified, competent, courageous members of Civilian JTF into special security forces to be well-trained and

equipped in the war on terror.

“Rather than arming the volunteer groups who are proving their worth and staking their lives to protect their communities with mere sticks and knives against Boko Haram terrorists, the system is considering proposals from security and military experts who believe recruitment of

qualified youths may be the best option against creating militias that could be problems in future.

“Background checks, antecedents and past exploits and contributions of individual volunteers will be taken into consideration to avoid recruiting those with evil and crimiContinued on page 4

•ENUGU PDP IN DISARRAY OVER CONSENSUS CANDIDATE UGWUANYI P9

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

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From vibrant

•From left: Chief Pilot, Arik Airline Capt. Adetokunbo Adekunbi, Deputy Managing Director, Capt. Ado Sanusi, Managing Director, Mr. Chris Ndulue, Senior Manager, Customer Loyalty/ Customers Relation Manager, Mr. Kaushalya de Alwis and Assistant Vice President, Global Sales and Distribution, Mr. Trevor Henry during the launch of the airline's frequent flyer programme tagged 'Arik Affinity Wings' at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja .

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

In the past, textile companies were major employers of labour. All efforts to revive the ailing sectors have tried but yet to achieve the desired results, making many wonder if the good old days will ever return, writes IBRAHIM MAMMAGA

I

•From left: Director, Developer Platforms, Microsoft West East and Central Africa, Dele Akinsade, Deputy CEO, Chams PLC, Olufemi Williams, Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology Adebiyi Mabadeje and Chairman, SmartCity Resorts Plc, Demola Aladekomo at the private presentation of the 48 hectares SmartCity Innovation Hub in Lagos .

NDUSTRIALISTS note that Nigeria had one of the best textile industries in the world with more than 180 functional factories in the early 1980s.

They recall that the textile industry in Nigeria then was vibrant and it used to be the second largest in Africa, after Egypt, providing more than 800,000 direct and five million indirect jobs for Nigerians.

They observe that at that time, multi-purpose textile machines such as shuttles, knitting, spindles, among others, improved productivity in the textile sector and ensured good quality of products.

Mr Oladele Hunsu, the President, Nigeria Union of Textile and Garment Workers of Nigeria (NUTGWN), said that textile factories such as United Nigerian Textile Ltd., Aswani Textile Mill, Afprint Plc, Asaba Textile Mill, Edo Textile Mill, among others, were the pride of the sector at that moment.

Analysts, however, note that the fortunes of the sector began to dwindle in 1994 due to political crises and the lack of political will to implement some policies which could enhance productivity in the sector.

•Supertex Industries: Now wasting away

They opine that the situation was worsened by lifting of the ban on importation of textile goods in 1997, massive smuggling of foreign textile products into the country and increased taxes and levies imposed on the industries.

They observe further that these developments led to the closure of various textile industries, including Afprint Plc, Aba Textile Mill, Asaba Textile Mill, Specomill, Unitex, Supertex, Royal Spinners, NTM and Oodua Textile Mill.

The analysts recall that the popular Aswani Textile Mill was forced to transmute into Chellarams Plc — dealing in nylon and bicycles — while Afprint Plc in Lagos became Kewalram Nigeria Ltd. and started selling cars.

Statistics from the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN) indicate that as of 2007, not more than 30 textile industries across the country were functioning with less than 30,000 workers.

The statistics also reveal that the nine textile mills in Kaduna were closed down by the end of 2007and their workers were thrown into the labour market.

Ebola patient in A T •From left: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Ashton and Layton, Mr. Gbenga X-Adebija; Executive Director, CSR-In-Action, Ms. Bekeme Masade; Public Affairs Manager, Lagos and West, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, Mrs. Ifeoma Okoye; Manager, Social Performance and Planning Policy, Government Affairs, Chevron Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Esimaje Brikinn; and Managing Partner, Zenera Consulting, Mr. Meka Olowola, during a news conference on the 2014 edition of PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN Sustainability in the Extrative Industries in Lagos

• Head of Litigation, Babalakin & Co, Tola Oshobi (left)speaking at a news conference on debt controversy between BiCourtney and Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) in Lagos...With him are Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd., (BASL) , Mr. Christophe Penninck and Chief Operating Officer (BASL), Ms. Adebisi PHOTO; ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE Awoniyi.

HE first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States was fighting for his life at a Dallas hospital yesterday and appeared not to be receiving any of the experimental medicines for the virus, the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Thomas Eric Duncan became ill after arriving in the Texas city from Liberia two weeks ago, heightening concerns that the worst Ebola epidemic on record could spread from West Africa, where it began in March. The hemorrhagic fever has killed at least 3,400 people out of at least 7,490 probable, suspected and confirmed cases.

"The man in Dallas, who is fighting for his life, is the only patient to develop Ebola in the United States," CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden said on CNN's "State of the Union."

In a media briefing with reporters on Sunday, Frieden said he was scheduled to brief President Barack Obama today.

He said doses of the experimental medicine ZMapp were "all gone" and the drug is "not going to be available anytime soon."

A second experimental drug can be "difficult to use and can actually make someone sicker," he said.

Frieden said the doctor and the patient's family would decide whether

to use the drug, but if "they wanted to, they would have access to it."

"As far as we understand, experimental medicine is not being used," Frieden said. "It's really up to his treating physicians, himself, his family what treatment to take."

Duncan remained in critical condition, Wendell Watson, spokesman for Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, said on Sunday.

Texas law enforcement officials were also seeking a "low- risk" man who was one of 38 people who had potentially had contact with Duncan, health officials told the media briefing.

The man had tested negative for fever on Saturday, but officials said they wanted to continue to monitor him.

At Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, parishioners prayed for Duncan, congregation member Louise Troh who is quarantined because of her close contact with Duncan - and both of their families.

"Although this disease has become personal to us, we realize we're not the first to know its devastation, and we are not the ones most desperately affected," Associate Pastor Mark Wingfeld told the church audience.

He encouraged parishioners to focus not only on the Dallas family but also on those in West Africa stricken with Ebola.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

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NEWS

t textile industries to ghost towns

• Workers of Kaduna Textiles Industries protesting unpaid entitlements

Expressing concern about the situation, the members of NUTGWN recently raised alarm that the closure of the industries had compelled many of the big players in the industry to change their businesses.

Lending credence to this, statistics from MAN state that the capacity utilisation profile of the nation’s textile industry has declined by 9.5 per cent between 2011 and 2013.

The statistics state that “the capacity utilisation dipped to 50.8 per cent in 2012 from 54.5 per cent recorded in 2011, in spite of the Federal Government’s N100 billion intervention funds to the sector.

“Also, the sector’s capacity utilisation further dropped to 44.9 per cent in 2013, indicating a cumulative depreciation of 9.5 per cent during the period.’’

Describing the trend as worrisome, NUTGWN admits that although the Federal Government has made several efforts at revamping the sector, multiple interventions are needed to fully revitalise the sector.

Hunsu, the president of the association, therefore, urged the concerned authorities to implement existing eco-

nomic policies, aimed at guarding against smuggling of foreign fabrics into the country.

He said the nation incurred an annual loss of N75 billion due to the smuggling of textile products into the country, insisting that smuggled products accounted for 90 per cent of the textile products in the Nigerian market.

According to him, although the Federal Government has made concerted efforts to revive the industry through the N100 Cotton and Textile Intervention Fund in 2009, few companies have been able to access the funds.

Beyond the intervention, Mr Olanrewaju Jaiyeola, the President, National Textile Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (NTMAN), urged the Federal Government to adopt a protectionist policy for the textile sector so as to provoke its revival.

He said the lack of funds was not the only problem plaguing the textile industry, insisting that a well-implemented, manufacturers-friendly policy would turn the sector around.

Sharing similar sentiments, Dr John Osemede, the Director-General, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Com-

merce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), solicited a proactive measure to guard against the importation of textile products.

Alhaji Ali Madugu, the National Vice President of MAN, corroborated his view, insisting that the major challenges facing the industry were importation of foreign fabrics to the country and smuggling of Nigerian textile products to other countries.

In his view, Alhaji Aliyu Bello, the Company Secretary of Funtua Textile Ltd., one of the few surviving textile factories in Nigeria, said that multiple taxations by the federal, state and local governments were some of the challenges facing the sector.

However, Mr Bimbo Ashiru, the Commissioner for Commerce in Ogun, attributed the closure of the two textile mills in the state to lack of funds and importation of foreign fabrics.

He said bthe mills — Shokas Lace Factory in Ijebu-Igbo and Austro Embroidery Mill in Aiyepe — could not easily source for foreign exchange to import some of the needed materials from Austria before their closure more than a decade ago.

Ashiru said attempt by the firms to

bring the prices of their products down affected the quality of the products, adding this, therefore, affected the people’s patronage of the products.

“The cost of importing materials for production was unfortunately on the high side, compared to the prices of imported textile materials,’’ he added.

Irrespective of the myriad challenges facing the sector, Mr Andy Edobor, the President, Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture in Edo, underscored the need to initiate pragmatic efforts to revive the textile industry, as part of the country’s economic diversification plans.

All the same, Mr Navdeep Sodhi, a textile consultant, stressed that Nigeria would need a minimum of N205 billion to revamp the sector.

Sodhi, the Managing Consultant of Gherzi Sub-Sahara, an international textile consulting firm, said that with this amount, the local textile industry would be able to capture more than 40 per cent of the Nigerian market by 2015.

“Today, the market share of the industry is only 15 per cent because of the poor state of the sector. The key

issue for the industry was the lack of funds; if you are looking for money, it is not just there,’’ he said.

Sodhi said the government’s intervention was just to subsidise interest rates on loans or compensate for the interest rates so that the cost of obtaining the funds would not be too cumbersome.

Nevertheless, stakeholders believe that any effort to revive the textile industry will somewhat be futile unless there is an improvement in the power situation in the country, while bank loans become accessible to entrepreneurs at a low interest rate.

Besides, the stakeholders call on the government to curtail the smuggling of foreign fabrics, improve the patronage of local materials and sensitise the citizens to the importance of patronising locally produced fabrics.

Above all, they underscore the need for the government to demonstrate the political will to implement sound policies which can provoke the revival of textile plants and ensure the sustainable growth of the textile sector.

•Mammaga is of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

America ‘fighting for his life’, says CDC chief In Nebraska, another hospital was preparing for the arrival of an Ebola patient who contracted the virus in Liberia, a spokesman said on Sunday.

Nebraska Medical Center spokesman Taylor Wilson would only identify the patient as a male U.S. citizen expected to arrive on Monday. But the father of Ashoka Mukpo, a freelance cameraman working for NBC News who contracted Ebola in Liberia, told Reuters on Friday that his son was going to Nebraska for treatment.

Duncan's case has highlighted problems that American public health officials are trying furiously to address: The Dallas hospital that admitted him initially did not recognize the deadly disease and sent him home with antibiotics, only for him to return two days later in an ambulance.

"The issue of the missed diagnosis initially is concerning," Frieden said, adding that public health officials had redoubled their efforts to raise awareness of the disease.

"We're seeing more people calling us, considering the possibility of Ebola - that's what we want to see," he said on CNN. "We don't want people not to be diagnosed."

Frieden said he was confident the disease would not spread widely within the United States. U.S. officials are also scaling up their response in

West Africa, where Ebola presents an enormous challenge, he added.

"But it's going to take time," Frieden said. "The virus is spreading so fast that it's hard to keep up."

When asked on Sunday if the United States should suspend flights to and from affected countries or impose a visa ban on travelers from those countries, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said "absolutely not."

"When you start closing off countries like that, there is a real danger of making things worse," Fauci said on "Fox News Sunday."

"You can cause unrest in the country," he said. "It's conceivable that governments could fall if you just isolate them completely."

The CDC has identified 10 people who had direct contact with Duncan as being at greatest risk of infection.

Another 38 were being monitored as potential contacts, out of 114 people initially evaluated for exposure risks.

None from either group has shown symptoms, Frieden said.

At Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, where Louise Troh, the quarantined girlfriend of the first patient in the United States diagnosed with Ebola, is a member of the congregation, greeters passed out bulletins and

shook hands at the church entrances.

Members hugged one another in greeting shortly before the service began. A couple hundred people sat in the pews of the church and began to pray for the patient, Thomas Eric Duncan, and for Troh and both of their families.

Associate Pastor Mark Wingfeld led the opening prayer and encouraged members not only to focus on the family in Dallas but also on those stricken with the deadly virus in West Africa who don't have the same access to medical care.

"Although this disease has become personal to us, we realise we're not the first to know its devastation and we are not the ones most desperately affected," Wingfeld told parishioners.

"We pray that you calm the anxious hearts of so many in our city. Help the ignorant understand the truth."

Parishioners were told by church officials earlier in the week that neither Troh nor any of her family members had attended services since Duncan's arrival so there was no chance of exposure within the congregation.

Medical authorities have identified 10 people who had direct contact with Duncan as being at greatest risk of infection. Troh, whom Duncan has been staying with since he arrived on a visit

from West Africa, is one of them.

"Whether there had been contact or not, maybe we would be acting differently, but I'd like to think we wouldn't," Julie Sorrels, 33, said.

Some African immigrants in Dallas are worried that the case of a Liberian man who is sick with the Ebola virus in a city hospital is generating ill-feeling, including some taunts and finger-pointing, toward the wider community.

"Some people around here see us as bringing the disease and that's just not right," said a Liberian who asked to be called Sekou.

Some African immigrants in Dallas, while saying they are thankful to the United States and its people for taking them in, say handshakes are fewer and curious glances more frequent since Thomas Eric Duncan was admitted to hospital last month with Ebola. His was the first diagnosed case of the disease in the United States.

Duncan, who was visiting from Liberia when he fell ill, was staying in the melting-pot neighborhood of Vickery Meadow, home to about 25,000 people who speak more than 30 languages.

The Dallas case has put authorities and the public on alert over concerns that the Ebola epidemic could spread

from West Africa, where it began in March and where it has killed more than 3,400 people. The epidemic has hit hardest in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Some immigrants from Somalia wearing traditional clothing that includes headscarves for women, say they have seen fingers pointed their way on the neighbourhood streets.

"People are looking at us in a bad way. We didn't have anything to do with this. Somalia does not have Ebola. It is on the other side of Africa," said Shadiya Abdi, 27, an immigrant from Somalia.

At schools in Vickery Park, where five students who came in close contact with Duncan have temporarily stopped attending school, some of the other children of African immigrants have been branded 'Ebola kids'," said local politician Eric Williams.

In downtown Dallas, near where tourists gather at the site of President John F. Kennedy's assassination, an Ethiopian parking lot attendant who gave his name only as Ayob said a few people have started to see him as an object of suspicion.

There were nearly 2 million people in the United States who came from sub-Saharan Africa, according to 2010 U.S. Census data.

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THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

Sultan for state police

S •President Goodluck Jonathan (right) being received by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) women on his arrival at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos …yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Boko Haram: Military to strengthen troops in Northeast Continued from page 1

nal intents into the specialised forces.

“Other considerations include the fact that such local volunteers understand the terrain of such environment and politics of the insurgents.”

Another source said: “It has also been discovered that if members of the CJTF are adequately trained and equipped, they could dare the terrorists in the held communities.

“They had in the past with bare hands arrested Boko Haram kingpins and handed them over to security personnel.

“A lot of members of the CJTF have been killed by terrorists because they are not armed and trained in counter-insurgency operations.”

In videos released by Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, he had continued to warn CJTF against supporting the military. He had also shown the execution or slaughtering of captured CJTF members in his videos.

“Many have also called for the recruitment of courageous and qualified young Nigerians who are passionate

116,000 displaced persons in Yobe, says NEMA

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HERE are 116,000 people displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in Yobe State, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said yesterday.

Relief items worth N500m have been distributed to the 116,000 internally displaced persons by the Presidential Committee on Relief Procurement and Distribution.

The agency, in a statement yesterday, said the Federal Government approved N1.5bn for the special committee under NEMA’s chairmanship.

While distributing the relief materials in Damaturu, NEMA Director General Sani Sidi, who is also the PCRP chairman, said the items were procured based on identified basic needs of the people.

According to him, proper arrangements had been made to ensure direct distribution to the target beneficiaries, adding that the items would be distributed by NEMA officials in collaboration with officials of the Yobe State government and the Nigerian Red Cross.

Sidi, who was represented by the agency’s Director of Disaster Risk Reduction, Mr. Alhassan Nuhu, said another consignment was in Gashua for distribution to the IDPs in the northern areas of the state.

to build career in the military rather than the jobless ones who join the military only to engage in acts of indiscipline, desertion and mutiny at a critical period of national life,” the source said.

The recruits are to be trained in the use of arms and basic ethics of rules of engagement, among others, be-

From Joel Duku, Damaturu

He said about 15,000 displaced persons were in Damaturu while others were in various locations across the state.

Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Abdu Bulama, said the relief items were in furtherance of the fight against insurgency and provision of necessary support to those affected by the security challenge in the NorthEast.

Yobe State Governor, Mr. Ibrahim Geidam, who was represented by his deputy Abubakar Aliyu assured that the state would cooperate with the Federal Government to address the security challenge and support the affected persons He had announced over the weekend that since the inception of the Boko Haram insurgency the state had expended over N10 billion.

Aliyu who spoke during Dr. Bulama’s visit lamented that the huge amount of money the state is sinking on the fight of the insurgency is becoming a source of concern especially considering the meagre allocation the state gets from the federation account.

He said the state spends approximately N300million monthly for logistics of military per-

fore deployment.

Another source spokes of how troops had been depleted, no thanks to increasing security challenges nationwide. “It takes three to four years to train well-qualified troops. The nation cannot afford the luxury of waiting for some years to train troops while leaving security chal-

Continued on page 56

lenges unattended to,” the source said.

Troops were yesterday deployed in the Adamawa State home town of Youth Development Minister Mr. Boni Haruna to rescue his trapped relations and others at the mercy of the Boko Haram.

The insurgents have in the Continued on page 56

TATE police campaigners have won a major backing – from the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III. The leader of Muslims said yesterday: ”Most state governments, if not all, provide one form of assistance or the other to security agencies; they build or renovate offices for them. The time for the creation of state police is now.’’

He spoke at the Sokoto State Government House when he paid a Sallah homage to Governor Aliyu Wamakko.

“The creation of state police would help in addressing the security challenges in parts of the nation,’’ the Sultan said.

His comment got Wamakko’s endorsement The governor said state police would assist in reducing the difficulty being faced by policemen often deployed in states other than theirs.

“State governments have continued to suffer so much as a result of the security challenge, the security of

lives and property will be enhanced if state police is created,’’ Wamakko added.

Also yesterday the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir, urged Nigerians to shun violence during the 2015 general elections.

He spoke at the Katsina State Government House when he visited Governor Ibrahim Shema, on a Sallah homage.

Kabir noted that nothing was achieved through violence, hence the need for the people to shun such tendencies.

He called on politicians to play politics in accordance with the rules and regulations for the development of democracy and the country in general.

The Emir criticised politicians who instigated the youth to cause mayhem and destroy lives and property for their selfish interests.

He urged parents to ensure proper upbringing of their children and wards to prevent them from being manipulated by politicians who engage them as thugs.

Continued on page 56

Synagogue: ‘South African families still waiting for bodies’

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AMILIES of South Africans who died in the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) collapse have an indefinite wait for the return of the bodies which continue to decompose, the South Africa government said.

“We wish we had (a timeline). We are entirely at the mercy of the Nigerians,” said government spokesperson Phumla Williams.

She said that the SA government had decided that it needed to have a frank discussion with the families about the state the bodies would be in when they were returned.

She said the families were told: “We are appealing to you that you expect the worst.

I don’t think you want to see your relative in the state that they are in...The majority of them - I don’t think that they are looking good”.

Earlier the Sunday Independent reported that in some mortuaries, bodies were being kept cool with fans and no refrigeration, a claim the Nigerian government denied.

On Friday, it was announced that the post-mortems of all the 116 victims had been completed. Eighty South Africans were among those killed when the multistorey guest house attached to the Synagogue Church of All Nations in Lagos collapsed on 12 September.

Williams said that they believed three or four of the bodies from South Africans killed were in a better state because they had been embalmed quickly.

The government had hoped that the process of repatriation would move Continued on page 56

APC to PDP, Jonathan: stop taking credit for Ebola control ‘APC frustrated by Nigeria’s success’ T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday told President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stop taking credit for the country’s successful containment of the Ebola Disease Virus (EVD).

It said it would amount to dishonesty for the President and his party to turn what was a collective effort to a campaign issue.

But the PDP fired back, saying the APC preferred that “the Ebola scourge continued unabated in Nigeria so as to have what to blame the PDPled government for”.

The PDP made its position known in a response to a statement by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

The APC said President Jonathan and his party were wrong to have appropriated the credit for the successful containment of the EVD without giving due credit to the real heroes of the successful battle: Dr. Stella Adadevoh and her colleagues at the First Consultant Hospital; officials

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday lambasted the APC for what it called yet another failed attempt to discredit the PDP-led Federal Government and relegate its efforts in the containment of the Ebola Virus Disease.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement said the APC is frustrated and unhappy because Nigerians are happy with the PDP-led Federal Government for “the speed and energy with which it tackled the scourge and brought it under control.”

“We know that the APC prefers that the Ebola scourge continued unabated in Nigeria so as to have what to blame the PDP-led government for. Now that it has been contained, the APC is frustrated because the people are happy with President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP-

of the ministries of Health in Lagos and Rivers states and the patriotic Nigerian volunteers, among others.

It described as a cheap shot and a shameless venture the President’s decision to make the Ebola success story a campaign issue during a PDP rally in Benin, giving the impres-

led Federal Government for the proactive manner with which the disease was confronted and overcame”, the party said.

The PDP insisted that the national success recorded on Ebola was because President Goodluck Jonathan refused to politicise the issue but took the bull by the horns through an aggressive multi-sectoral approach for treatment, awareness and control to the admiration of all Nigerians and the international community.

“The PDP makes bold to state that the multi-sectoral approach deployed by the Federal Government with the concerted collaboration of the Federal Ministries of Health, Aviation, Information, Education, Transport and other relevant agencies such as the Nigerian Immigration Service for intensive screening,

sion that only the PDP deserves the credit for the successful containment of the disease.

The APC said while indeed Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu exhibited the kind of professionalism and purposefulness that are not common with the Jonathan Adminis-

quarantine and treatment efforts as well as the massive awareness which ended the spread of the disease and resulted in its containment in our country.

“We are also amused by the contradictions in the APC’s statement in which it also commended the roles played by the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu in the containment effort.

We ask, is the minister not appointed and supervised by President Goodluck Jonathan? Is he not of the PDP? Or is the APC now trying to appropriate him?

“Apart from concerted collaborations using the Federal Ministry of Health, it is on record that President Jonathan released N200 million each to Lagos and Rivers States to help in fighting the disease, including improvement of health facilities and public enlightenment

tration during the battle against Ebola, it will be uncharitable for the PDP-led Federal Government to pretend as if the governments of the two affected states did nothing.

The party reminded President Jonathan that the two states hit by Ebola, Lagos and

Continued on page 56

Rivers, are APC states, and that the promptness, purposefulness, doggedness and determination shown by the governors contributed largely to the successful containment of the virulent disease. ‘’The cities of Lagos and Port Harcourt are perhaps the largest metropolis to have ever

•Mohammed

been hit by the EVD since the first outbreak was recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo almost 40 years ago, and any mishandling of the disease could have spelt disaster not just for the cities but for the country as a whole. ‘’But the ever-dogged and determined Governors Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers states employed the same winning strategies that have Continued on page 56

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•From left: Senator Gbenga Obadara; Hon Jumoke Okoya-Thomas; President, Dangote Group of Companies Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Dr Christopher Kolade and his wife; Senior Pastor of Trinity House Church Ituah Ighodalo; his wife Ibidun; son of late Dr Stella Adadevoh, Bankole Cardoso; representative of Deputy Governor of Lagos, Mrs Ronikeji Shobayo and Managing Director of First City Group Sir Peter Obaseki when the church honoured five Nigerians in Lagos... yesterday.

PHOTO: NNEKA NWANERI

‘Tax evasion’: Reps probe N700b Shell gas project

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HE House of Representatives, on resumption from the Eid-el-Kabir break, is to investigate a N700 billion Shell gas project, following allegations of tax evasion.

The project in Bayelsa State, is said to have contravened the Statutory Development Permit (commonly called Building Permit), as required under the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Act CAP 138, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; the Petroleum Act of 1969 (CAP 350) First schedule Section 2 (3); Paragraph 35 and Petroleum (Drilling and Production) Regulations L.N 69 of 1969; Regulation 18.

The probe follows a petition by Chidi David Adebanya, a former Interface Manager of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), against officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who allegedly demanded N120 million bribe from him.

The gas project, according to the 280-page petition sent to the House Committee on Public Petition, “is the largest Shell project in sub-Saharan Africa, costing $4.2 billion (N700 billion), occupying a land area of two million sq.m (about half

•EFCC officials in alleged N120m bribery scam From Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

of Lagos Island) and producing one billion scf (1,000,000,000 standard cubic feet) of gas and 100,000 barrels of oil per day, earning about $30 million (N5 billion) daily in revenue.”

A member of the House, Peter Edeh, (Ezzah North/ Ishielu Federal Constituency), who brought the petition on behalf of Chidi David Adabanya, prayed “the House to investigate Mr. Chile Okoroma and Olaolu Adegbite, directors of the EFCC, who were allegedly involved in corrupt practices and official misconduct in connivance with the SPDC, to ensure transparency, equity and justice.”

The investigation is conducted by the Ozor Azuibike-led Committee on Public Petitions.

The petitioner alleged that Shell failed to pay taxes worth N7 billion to the Bayelsa State government as building permit fees on the Gbaran Ubie Integrated Oil and Gas project in Gbarantoro Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Adabanya in the petition dated May 21, said: “Things took a bad turn

Fed Govt, ODUA plan trade fair

T

HE Federal Government has concluded plans to partner Odua Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ODUACCIMA), for a regional international trade fair, which will attract over 5,000 exhibitors and participants.

The Chairman, 2014 Odua International Trade Fair Planning Committee, Asiwaju Olaitan Alabi, spoke at a news conference at the MKO Trade Fair Complex, Abeokuta, to herald the trade fair slated for November 21.

Accompanied by the National President of Oduaccima, Iyalode Alaba Lawson and other Southwest executives, the chairman said the fair would hold at the Trans-Amusement Park, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

He said: “Oduaccima is an association of the chambers of commerce and industry in the Southwest, comprising Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti states. It will organise this trade fair in

collaboration with the Federal Government and the Southwest governments,” Alabi said the theme of the fair is ‘Promoting Mass Agricultural Production and Agro Processing as Panacea to Unemployment and Poverty in Nigeria’.

He explained that the association’s mission is to complement the efforts of the state governments to revitalise and bring back the lost glory of agriculture through annual international trade fairs.

Iyalode Lawson urged Southwest governors to forget their political differences and face the reality of the permanent economic ties, which bind them.

She said: “Development Agenda of Western Nigeria (DAWN) is an incredible initiative that should not be politicised. Agriculture, being the mainstay of our economy in those days, was the unifying factor that bound us from Lagos to the River Niger. This same agriculture can still bind us in the present Southwest.”

in June 2010 when Forstech reported SPDC for underpayments to the Bayelsa State government wherein the then governor, Timipre Sylvia, cried out on the N4.1 billion underpayment to the Bayelsa State government by the SPDC. “To avert international reputation damage, which the Forstech allegation of fraud and tax evasion will cause, SPDC hurriedly put up a petition against me, alleging that I conspired with the Bayelsa State government to defraud it (SPDC) of the amounts so far paid and engaged the service of the EFCC to ‘help’ them recover the payments so far made to the consultant. It is not surprising that the EFCC was a willing collaborator, given the SPDC– styled cooperation with the EFCC.” Adabanya, who accused EFCC of corruption, said one of the EFCC directors, Chile Okoroma, in October 2011 “demanded N120 million from me to close the allegations of the SPDC against me.”

He said it was within his powers to swing the case whichever way he chose, “so I should choose which way it will be because he has to share the money with Olaolu Adegbite and

Farida Waziri and according to him, make returns to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, before this matter can close.

He (Okoroma) boasted that I dare not play smart by reporting it because no one will believe it.”

Adabanya said although the Bayelsa State House of Assembly had found the SPDC guilty of fraud and tax evasion and had passed a resolution urging SPDC to pay the company but it refused to do so.

The petitioner wondered why EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, had failed to arrest SPDC officials.

Lamorde has said the allegation against the agency was not true.

In a letter dated July 14, signed by Lamorde, the agency said Adebanya had been charged to court over the issue, hence it would not allow the two directors accused of demanding the N120 million bribe to appear before the House committee.

“While we acknowledge the fact that the hearing is a good opportunity to correct the gross misinformation in the petition, there is no doubt that we will go against the rational norms of natural justice and inviting anarchy in the criminal jus-

tice sector if we allow our directors of Operations and Legal departments to join issues with an accused at a public investigative hearing in this matter without prejudicing the criminal case before the court,” Lamorde said.

Adabanya, in another letter of July 24, to the Chairman, Public Petitions Committee and another dated August 11 to Speaker Aminu Tambuwal countered Lamorde, saying rather than respond to the weighty allegations against his agency before the House Committee, the EFCC chief is hiding under “rationalisations.”

He said: “Lamorde has no tenable response to the specific issues of illegal acts of the SPDC, EFCC corruption, abuse of office, official misconduct, lack of due process, executive lawlessness, subversion and cover-ups under his watch, which are the facts I have raised and supported with verifiable evidence. He seeks comfort in rationalisations, name calling, abusiveness and subjudice with the hope to divert attention from the subject matter.”

The committee has invited SPDC and EFCC, as well as the Bayelsa State government and other stakeholders to appear before it after the Eid-el- Kabir break for further investigations.

‘Blame Jonathan for failing to end Boko Haram’

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HE poor command by President Goodluck Jonathan and the politicisation of the military have been identified as reasons for the Army’s inability to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

A Kaduna-based retired army officer, Capt.

Abdulhakeem Adegoke Alawuje, spoke while fielding questions from reporters in Kaduna at the weekend.

Capt. Alawuje, who served in the 29 Motorised Infantry Battalion said he participated in peacekeeping and the Army never failed to crush insurgents.

Said he: “If there is anything worse than poor command, I will use such word. There is no effective command and no sincerity from the commanders.

These are the two things I

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

see. There is no sincerity in the command and it is very poor.

“When you look at the Army of yesteryear compared to that of today, it is still the same Army. But in the past there was no serious politics. When you look it at it now, it is different. When there is politics in the Army, definitely it will be very difficult for it to deliver. This is the problem we are facing.

“The chief security officer of the country is Mr. President. He is the one everyone will cry to in a time as this. But in a situation whereby the President is politicising security matters, there will be a serious problem. I am speaking

from experience.

“This Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast has been ravaging the country for almost five years. With my own experience, I don’t believe this thing is just happening. I don’t want to believe that. I want to believe that some people, even in the government, are involved in this thing.

If not, the Nigerian Army, which has been in every part of the world to keep the peace, would have crushed the insurgency.

“I thank God, I was part of the operation in Sierra Leone. I was involved in that operation. We know the order with which we left Nigeria. We know how we penetrated Sierra-Leone and we know how we dealt with the rebels there. “But, to my greatest surprise, we

Shun national convention, LP tells members

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HE national leadership of the Labour Party (LP) yesterday warned members, particularly those seeking elective offices, to be wary of the planned national convention of the LP slated for this Friday in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

The party alleged that the convention is being sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to collapse LP nationwide and railroad members into its (PDP’s) fold with the connivance of Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

are facing the same problem in our country. It is still the same here. I know the competence of the Army. I know what they can do. But in this situation, they find it difficult to solve the problem. Nigerians should unite. They should forget about their religious and ethnic differences. We should ask President Jonathan what he has been doing.

“I discussed with a friend recently and he said the President has been doing his best. But, I said, if he has actually done his best, then it means his best has not yielded any positive result, he should re-strategise. The President said he knows those behind Boko Haram.

Nigerians have failed to ask him to bring those behind the insurgency to book.

“Let us ask them what they want. What are they up to? Nigerians have refused to do that and Mr. President has refused to bring them to book. They keep killing innocent people. If we keep quiet, the situation will worsen.”

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THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

NEWS Ex-ASUU boss bemoans poor education From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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FORMER Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) boss has said the educational system is dysfunctional to make the nation a forerunner in the global education system.

The ex-president of the union and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the National Education Summit, organised by the four unions in the universities, Dr. Dipo Fashina, spoke in Ibadan at the weekend while briefing reporters on the coming summit holding in Abuja between October 27 and November 1.

Fashina said the summit would review the educational system with a view to restructuring it to liberate Nigerians.

According to the former ASUU leader, the educational system is one sided, promoting the interests of the world’s powers, who colonised Africa, making the need to develop an educational system, which can serve the interests of Nigerians a necessity.

He said: “The four main unions in tertiary institutions are organising a national education summit, the purpose of which is to look for what will be a liberating educational system in the country.

“We want to look at the educational system, whether it is universities, colleges of education, education teaching institutes, polytechnics, primary and secondary schools.”

Fashina noted that Nigerians need an empowerment through an educational system, which can make them live a decent life.

He lamented that the ruling class toyed with education by only emphasising profit-making and entrepreneurship and not quality service.

The ex-ASUU chief said for the country to be a stakeholder in the global system, it must restructure its educational system to promote development.

“There is a way in which social scientists talk about education. They talk in terms of functionalism. Education in Nigeria is dysfunctional. It is one sided in the sense that it promotes the interests of the powers in the world, who have ruled Africa since slavery and after slavery. It has only functioned to reinforce the colonial rule. This means we do not have an educational system that can serve Nigerians.

“What do Nigerians want?

They want to live a decent life, good food, jobs, shelter, medical facilities, etc. This is where education is essential. For any sphere of life, we are thinking about, health, agriculture, even things that seem obvious, which keep the family going.”

Ekiti: APC spokesmen slam govt’s response

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HE Conference of the All Progressives Party (APC) Publicity Secretaries has condemned Federal Government’s response to the attack on Ekiti State judiciary.

The group’s Chairman, Joe Igbokwe, said in a statement yesterday: “The response of the Federal Government to the attack on judges and the judiciary in Ekiti State is tardy and regrettable, and in the view of the Conference of APC State Publicity Secretaries (CAPS), there cannot be any other explanation except that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)controlled Federal Government is interested in perverting justice in the Southwest state.

“Our position is further reinforced by the fact that the sitting governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, was on September 29 at a ceremony

presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan officially addressed as ‘the former governor of Ekiti State’ without the intervention of the President or any of the government functionaries at the ceremony.

“This shows PDP’s disregard for decorum, protocol and orderly conduct in preference to its whims and caprices. It shows the PDP has no regard for law and order and is ruled by the same selfish interests that have wrecked the country in its sad 15 years in power.

“Never before in the chequered history of this nation has a lawful judicial tribunal of three learned judges been disrupted by known persons, who have been allowed to walk the streets and celebrate their crime.

“Never before has a high court judge, no less a chief

judge of a state, been physically brutalised by persons with high-stake political interests linked to that of the PDP-controlled Federal Government, and the security agencies controlled by the same government feigned helplessness, while the Federal Government simply listed the chief judges of neighbouring Southwest states for ‘national honours’. “’The assailants attacked Justice John Adeyeye, beat him up and ripped his clothes for being allegedly rude to Mr. Ayodele Fayose’, reported Premium Times, an online newspaper. When we expected the highest level of condemnation by a Federal Government that has been astute in bending the machinery of government to serve the nihilistic interests of the PDP, what we got was the listing of chief judges of neighbouring Southwest

states, with the exclusion of Ekiti, for national honours.

We wonder what else can convince Nigerians that the PDP-Federal Government is complicit in the assault on the temple and officers of justice in Ekiti.

“The big question is: Did security fail or was it allowed to fail? Were the security agencies acting on instruction or the ludicrous ‘orders from above’ in feigning inaction as the Fayoseled PDP hoodlums and ghouls trampled and desecrated the hallowed portals of justice in Ekiti? Is what happened in Ekiti a statesponsored act of terrorism targeted at the law to bend it to the desires of the PDP? When we remember that Fayose was impeached, is still facing a murder charge as well as a corruption charge and was seen good enough to be the PDP gov-

ernorship candidate in Ekiti, we feel certain that what happened with the brazen attack on the judiciary was a premeditated effort to muscle justice and pocket the judiciary and we feel certain that the Jonathan government and the PDP are complicit in this heinous crime against the state.

“We suspect high level conspiracy in this crime against the judiciary. Our position is reinforced by the suspicious reaction of the PDP-Federal Government to this crime. Its reaction and actions betray a tacit support to this heinous crime and is indicative of its tacit support to the bestial act of Fayose and his thugs.

“While we demand immediate action to save the judiciary from the hands of commissioned hoodlums, we urge the judiciary in Ekiti and elsewhere to stand firm and resist any attempt to cow it and make it a vassal of the PDP.”

Pray for good governance, says APC chief From Tony Akowe, Abuja

MEMBER of the Board of Trustees of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Sam Nkire, has urged Nigerians to use the period of the Eidel-Kabir to pray for good governance.

He said bad governance and nepotism had robbed the country of its potential to be great.

In his message to Muslims, made available to The Nation in Abuja yesterday, Nkire said they should not just embark on festivities, but should use the period to pray for good and purposeful governance.

He said governance had gone so bad that Nigerians needed to pray to make their leaders change, adding that no amount of prayer was too much.

Nkire said non-Muslims should also pray “at this festive season to ask God for a better leadership next year.”

He said it was obvious that many criminals went into crimes due to bad governance arising from nepotism and corruption by the leaders.

The APC chieftain said it was necessary that Nigerians should choose good leaders in the coming elections.

He enjoined Nigerians to pray for an end to the Boko Haram insurgency.

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•From left: The Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom, Oba Dr. Victor Adesimbo Kiladejo, former ICAN president, Sir Simeon Olusola Oguntimehin and Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, at the installation of Oguntimehin as the Lisa of Ondo Kingdom...at the weekend.

UN gets petition on $9.3 million ‘arms deal’

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DIASPORA group, Nigeria Unite Group, has petitioned the Office of the Secretary- General of the United Nations (UN) on the alleged $9.3million arms deal.

The group in a petition by the Coordinator and Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Hussaini and Francis John, said the arms deal was a violation of the principles enshrined in the global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).

By Sina Fadare

The statement said: “Although the government has admitted knowledge of the deal, it has denied any complicity in the attempt to commit a crime.

“This is a violation of the principles enshrined in the global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Moreover, the explanations given by the two Nigerians and one Israeli arrested by the South African

investigators are flawed and riddled with discrepancies.”

The body said the manner of the transaction and the channel the money passed through, called for questioning, adding that government was covering up the arms contract with an unauthorised agency.

It said that the UN should act on its petition to enable Nigerians know the truth.

Drawing a parallel between the revelations by an

Australian Hostage Negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davis and the botched arms deal, the group said the UN must take urgent and holistic measures to investigate the issues, to ensure peace and security.

The statement further reads: “We demand a full, urgent and independent investigation by the UN into the $9.3million arms deal, which is suspicious and flawed by the international standards of arms sales.

TCN fails to send out 72.01MW

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HE Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has again failed to wheel 72.01megawatts (MW) out of the 3,556.70MW, generated by the generation companies (Gencos).

The data obtained from the Federal Ministry of Power, posted on its website yesterday, indicated that TCN could only evacuate 3,484.69MW of the total generated power on October 2.

The statistic also showed that the sector recorded peak generation of 3,888.40MW the

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

same day.

TCN on September 28 recorded a wheeling gap of 71.6MW from the 3,449.85MW that the Gencos produced.

Although the company claimed that it has a guaranteed 6,000MW capacity, it has maintained an evacuation gap, which the generation and distribution companies (Discos) finger as one of the reasons the sector still lags behind in terms of power

supply.

The position of the Discos was evident between September 15 and 19 when the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) were on strike and the TCN could not wheel the generated energy.

When asked to account for the gap, the TCN General Manager (Public Affairs), Mrs. Seun Olagunju, told The Nation on the phone that it

was due to the fire outbreak at the transmission station in Apo, Abuja.

This is in tandem with what the Chairman, Heirs Holdings Ltd and Transcorp, Mr. Tony Elumelu, said on September 10 that in the country, one of the biggest challenges to power generation was transmission.

He was quoted in a statement by the Communications Manager (Marketing & Corporate Communications), Bolanle Omisore, as saying that “while Ughelli

Power Plant generated at full capacity for the first time in July, we’ve been asked to scale down generation because of the outdated transmission systems. For every 100MW generated and sent to transmission companies, 40 per cent is lost, in part because of this infrastructure issue.”

But Mrs. Olagunju explained that it is easier to blame government-owned TCN, being the only publicly- owned entity in the power value chain, insisting

that in the history of the Nigerian power sector, it has never generated power beyond the company’s wheeling capacity of 6,000MW. She debunked Elumelu’s statement, saying it is not true.

“It is easier to blame TCN because it is the only government-owned company in the sector. Nigeria has never generated up to 5,000MW and TCN has a guaranteed capacity of 6,000MW. We can evacuate 6,000MW if they can generate it,” she said.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

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NEWS Chibok girls may not be found, says Obasanjo

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ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo was quoted yesterday as saying that many of the abducted Chibok school girls may never be reunited with their families.

The Hausa service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) quoted him as saying many of the girls might give birth to children for the Boko Haram insurgents.

The former President said that succeeding generations would continue to remember the girls.

“I believe that some of

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

them will never return. We will still be hearing about them many years from now.

Some will give birth to children of the Boko Haram members, but if they cannot take care of them in the forest, they may release them,” he said.

The former President had said in June that he could negotiate the release of the girls if the government gave him the permission to do so.

But the government said he did not need any permission to take action.

Ogun FRSC holds Sallah safety campaign

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HE Ogun State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Adegoke Adetunji, has urged passengers not to rely on drivers for their safety while travelling.

Adetuji made the plea at Kuto Garage in Abeokuta, Ogun State, when he led his corps’ members, including special marshals, on a road safety campaign at the garage.

He said the theme of the campaign, “Road safety is a share responsibility, was designed to educate everyone that safety depends on the drivers, passengers and other road users.

The sector commander said in line with the drive to achieve the FRSC’s 2014 goals of reducing road accidents, especially at the festive seasons, travellers should join the corps to tackle road lawlessness.

He noted that the exercise was designed to cater for the sallah celebration and to address violations of road traffic regulations.

Adetunji advised the passengers, travellers and commuters to sensibly and not aggressively caution any driver, who want to go contrary to traffic rules and regulations, such as the use of cell phones while driving.

‘Ekiti is formidable in education’

•Dr. Fayemi

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KITI State has said the feat attained by 24-year old Oluwadara Olaoluwa as the youngest PhD holder in Physics in Africa and in Mathematics in Nigeria has justified its investment in education.

The government, at the weekend, described the feat as a reflection of the quality of education in the state and an attestation that Ekiti remained in the forefront in education in Nigeria and Africa.

It vowed to provide all necessary infrastructural facilities, educational materials and conducive learning environment in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions to enable the state keep its pride of place in the education sector.

Governor Kayode Fayemi made the commitment at inauguration of the Main Gate to the College of Education (COED), Ikere-Ekiti, as part of the projects to mark the fourth anniversary of his administration.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Prof.

Modupe Adelabu, stressed that education, which remained the state’s main industry, has earned Ekiti the Fountain of Knowledge acronym.

He said the government was proud of the COED as one of the best in the country and with the highest enrolment of students among such institutions.

His words: “This institution is one of the best you can find anywhere in Nigeria with the kind of educational facilities such as lecture theatres, technical workshops, laboratories that are in place, as well as academic and non-academic members of staff whose capacities have been adequately developed with local, national and international training and workshops to enable them compete favourably with their colleagues anywhere in the country and even be lecturers in universities.”

The governor said the gate, which will create the first impression on passers-by and visitors to the institution, would add to the good image it has earned through academic performance.

Praising the provost and the management of the college for the judicious and prudent use of funds and grants, Fayemi advised students to make the best use of facilities provided by the government.

In her remark, the Provost, Prof. Francisca Aladejana, said the college, which is the state’s oldest institution, was created 34 years ago and has been without a perimeter fence and a befitting main entrance, which has exposed the institution to invaders among other dangers.

The provost, who thanked the government for restoring the yearly grant to the institution, noted that the main gate was built and several other capital projects implemented from the N155, 455,000 released to the institution by the government.

Also inaugurated at the weekend were a storey building of six classrooms and a three-classroom block at St. Andrew’s Primary School, Emure-Ekiti and the ultramodern Early Childhood Development Education Centre (ECDEC) in Ikere-Ekiti.

•L-R Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, SchoolRun Consult and School Safety Administrator Mrs. BC Akin-Alabi, Director General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mrs. Omolara Odebunmi and Lagos State Education District VI Officer, Alebiosu Omoboye, at the Lagos School Safety capacity-building conference at Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, Lagos.

PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

Lawyers ask Rights’ Commission to probe attacks on Ekiti court, others

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OME lawyers involved in the suit challenging the eligibility of Ekiti State’s Governor-elect, Mr. Ayo Fasose, have petitioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

They accused Fayose and his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), of threatening their lives and violating their rights to practice their profession.

The lawyers, Norrison Quakers (SAN) and M.J. Onigbanjo (SAN), in a petition addressed to NHRC’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Bem Angwe, dated September 29, accused the PDP of organising the thugs that invaded the Ekiti High Court premises on September 22.

The petitioners said the thugs attacked Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi, the claimants, lawyers, judiciary workers and others in court.

The petition reads: “We write to report to your office and formally bring to your attention the barbaric and barefaced violation of the constitutionally guaranteed rights of the claimants (litigants), claimants’ counsel, the judge and other officers of the court by thugs who were organised by the PDP on the September 22, 2014 and invaded the Ekiti State High Court, particularly Honourable Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi’s courtroom.

“The claimants, having instituted a suit challenging the eligibility of Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose to contest the June 21, 2014 Ekiti gubernatorial election were in court on the said September 22, 2014.

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

“On the said date, the claimants were represented in court, the 1st to 3rd defendants, the 4th defendants, the second defendants were all represented , while a handful of Fayose’s supporters, who were sporting Fayose branded shirts, were hanging outside the courtroom, which was full by the corridor.

“The court, in delivering its ruling, held that it has jurisdiction to hear and determine the substantive matter before it, as striking out the names of the 2nd claimant and 2nd defendant for being non-juristic persons did not affect the substantive suit before the court.

“The court thereafter stood down the matter till 12p.m for ruling on the application of the 1st and 3rd defendants.

After the court rise, Owoseni Ajayi met with the supporters and explained to them what had transpired in court and the implications because shortly after, there were mumblings and arguments outside.

“Sometime after 11a.m, the police and other security operatives told the gathering in the court premises to leave as they were growing in numbers. Around 11.30a.m, we heard voices from inside the courtroom and upon looking outside the window, we discovered that a light-skinned man wearing a white Yoruba traditional attire, whom we later learnt is one of Fayose’s right-hand men, led the crowd into the court premises and court room. Although the

police initially resisted, however, the crowd under the leadership of the light-skinned man prevailed due to their large numbers.

“Subsequently, the man and a part of his crowd marched into Justice Ogunyemi courtroom where they started to stir trouble by challenging the police officers on their partiality in allowing the claimants to sit in the courtroom and not the defendants. It was obvious that this group of people had another agenda, which subsequently unfolded. One of the litigants was dragged from his seat, assaulted and physically brutalised before forcefully dragging him on the floor out of the courtroom while police officers stood by helplessly.”

The lawyers added that “in close sequence to coming into the courtroom, outside the window, we saw hoodlums in large numbers carrying cudgels, branches that were snapped off the tree in the court premises, metal objects and other instruments we could not ascertain at that point, they proceeded to harass and assault litigants in the court premises. The hoodlums later came back to the court where we were and were saying ‘awon APC na da’ (where are the APC supporters).

“Owoseni Ajayi, the lawyer, who appeared for the 1st and 3rd defendants (PDP and Fayose), instructed the hoodlums not to assault any lawyer. He was also heard saying, ‘this kind of thing is bound to happen, you cannot expect the judge to deliver the kind of ruling he delivered and this

breakdown will not happen.

They are justified to react this way.’

“We are therefore apprehensive for our safety and that of our legal team’s lives, the dignity of our human persons, our right to practice our profession and our clients’ rights as citizens of Nigeria to seek redress in the court of law. All the foregoing rights mentioned above were clearly violated by the instigated mob, whose objectives included ensuring that the court did not deliver its scheduled ruling at 12 noon and or conduct any other business thereafter and to bully, intimidate and instill fear in the court in an attempt to obstruct justice to the point where the court would be too apprehensive to subsequently hear the case prior to the swearing in of Fayose on the October 16, 2014.

“Should this unfortunate display of desecration of the hallowed temple of justice, which is supposed to be the last hope of the common man be allowed to persist unprosecuted, we all would be recorded for posterity as the people who sat with arms folded while miscreants and hooligans took over and controlled the administration of justice and overall balance of the society.”

The petitioners urged the NHRC to use its good office and wherewithal to investigate the matter, with a view to unearthing those behind “this shameful display of banditry and gross violation of human rights with a view to prosecuting and bringing them to justice.”

Why unity among Nigerians is elusive, by Alaafin

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HE Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has lamented how hatred, distrust and prejudices have developed into monsters threatening the unity of the country and its citizenry.

He spoke at the weekend while addressing reporters in his palace, shortly after performing the Eid-el-Kabir prayer at Agunpopo praying ground.

Oba Adeyemi said: “Our differences also define our perception of one another.

The distrust is so deep-seated that we have an incongruent group of people rather than compatriots with a shared destiny. Our diversi-

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

ty has become our worst nightmare.”

The paramount ruler wondered why the citizenry often exhibit the worst form of ethnic, religious and primordial prejudice toward one another.

The Alaafin noted that intolerance has led the nation to the brink, threatening its unity with deep scars in the national psyche.

“After more than 50 years of independence, we are still not more than strange bedfellows forced to cohabit under the same roof. Our co-existence as a people has long been defined by our differ-

ences rather than the strength of our diversity.”

The Alaafin, who advocated aggressive value system reorientation, warned that there would be continuous agitation and unrest until the country’s system was able to guarantee economic justice and equality to the people.

He also stressed that poverty in the midst of plenty was unfathomable.

“What is more, the growing apathy about governance and increasing rate of poverty, especially at the grassroots, is due to defective concept and implementation of local government administration in the country .The political, administrative and judicial powers

of traditional rulers had been undermined first by the British and then the creation of local system of government, which made the monarchs powerless on-lookers.

“One of the greatest negative consequences of this whittling down of powers of traditional rulers is the noninvolvement of traditional rulers in the concept and implementation of grass-roots governance.”

Oba Adeyemi noted that traditional rulers can effectively mobilise their people for active participation in community development because of their place and status among their people.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

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NEWS

Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun and his wife, Olufunso (middle), flanked by children during the Ileya Kiddies Party at the House of Assembly Ground, OkeMosan, Abeokuta ...yesterday.

Alao-Akala floats radio station From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

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ORMER Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala has established Parrot FM, the first private radio station in Ogbomosho, his hometown.

Alao-Akala, speaking at the inauguration of the station, said it was established to fill the communication gap in the area.

He added that a television station would soon be established.

The former governor had, last month in Ibadan, the state capital, launched his bid to return to the Agodi Government House next year.

His son, Olamijuwonlo, who is chairman of the station, said it was established to facilitate information dissemination to the people.

Atiku to open Ekiti hospital

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KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi, as part of activities marking the fourth anniversary of his administration, will lead other eminent personalities to the Oba Adejugbe Hospital Complex in Ado-Ekiti today.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is expected to be a special guest of honour at the event, will inaugurate the 300-bed hospital.

Also billed for inauguration are the renovated general hospitals in Ijero and Okemesi by the former Governor of the Old Western Region, Maj-Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd).

Truck kills couple, four others in Ondo

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LL was gloomy at the weekend in OkaAkoko, Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State where a n e w l y married c o u p l e and four other persons were killed by a truck.

The truck, it was gathered, ran into the residence of the couple located close to Oka hills.

The couple, who were said to be sleeping in their

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From Damisi Ojo, Akure

bedroom when the incident happened, died instantly.

A resident of the area, who identified himself as Gidado, said the accident occurred when most of the residents were still sleeping.

It was gathered that the truck, which was travelling to Abuja, belongs to a manufacturing company.

Besides the couple, four o t h e r p e r s o n s were also killed by the truck.

Gidado said the victims were returning from a prayer.

Accidents are frequent on the road, which is plied by trucks.

Most of the trucks belong to manufacturing companies.

Some of the trucks are often parked dangerously

on the road, a situation which affects a traffic flow and result in accidents.

It was gathered that the remains of the couple, whose names could not be ascertained, as well as the other victims, had been deposited at a government hospital.

No official of the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) has commented on the acccident.

Two die in Ogun cults clash

WO persons suspected to be secret cults’ members have been killed and others injured in a pre-dawn attack and counter-attack between rival groups in Ijebu-Igbo, the headquarters of Ijebu North Local Government Council Area, Ogun State.

A gun battle between two warring cult groups - Eye Confraternity (the Air Lords) and the Aiye Confraternity (the Black Axe) was said to have begun around 3:56a.m at the Aleke OkeSopin area of the town.

Residents were thrown into panic as they were woke

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

up by the sounds of sporadic gunshots.

The dead were identified as 28 year-old Abiodun Adeniye and Taiwo Yusuf (24).

Their remains have been deposited at a morgue in the town, awaiting a postmortem examination.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the incident, told reporters that cutlasses, pairs of scissors, guns, expended bullets, live

cartridges, cults’ paraphernalia and charms were recovered from the groups.

Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), added that the clash informed why the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ikemefuna Okoye, directed all anti-crime teams in the state to relocate momentarily to Ijebu for adequate protection of lives and property, particularly during the Ojude Oba festival.

Adejobi said the police would not relent in its efforts in tackling activities of cultists in any part of the state “via robust intelligence

•IGP Suleiman Abba

and sophisticated policing.”

He appealed to Ogun residents to collaborate with the police and other security agencies to succeed in the war against cultism and security of lives and property.

Conduct Bureau directs Fayemi, others to declare assets

D

IRECTOR, Code of Conduct Bureau in Ekiti State, Mr. Akinfolarin Feyisola, has directed Governor Kayode Fayemi to declare his “end of tenure assets” unfailingly before the expiration of his tenure.

Feyisola, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, said the directive also affected the outgoing deputy governor and other political

office-holders.

He said all the affected public officers had been duly informed.

The bureau chief said it was mandatory for every political office-holderto declare their assets when coming and leaving office.

He added that defaulters would be dragged before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for contravening the law.

According to him, some of

‘The director said the current closure of all courts in the state was a challenge for those who had filled their forms, but have nowhere to swear affidavit or do other court processes’ the officers had started collecting the assets declaration

forms after receiving the reminder of the constitutional provision.

The director said the current closure of all courts in the state was a challenge for those who had filled their forms, but have nowhere to swear affidavit or do other court processes.

Feyisola advised those who are yet to collect or complete their assets forms to do so immediately, while awaiting the re-opening of the courts.

Ajimobi to deliver N5b market in Dec From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

O

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi will inaugurate another neighbourhood market in Ibadan, the state capital, in December, it was learnt.

The market, whose construction will cost N5.5 billion, is located near old airport at Sanngo area of the city.

The market, to be named Samnda Business Complex, is a modern neighbourhood market coming after the first one located at Scout Camp, Molete.

The project, which is aimed at meeting the needs of traders in the city, is being undertaken as a joint project between WEMABOD TAHC and the government.

The government plans to deliver about 4,000 shops in three phases with social amenities, including a clinic, police and fire stations, banks, a minishopping mall, parks and play area for children, green areas and a warehouse.

Speaking during a visit to assess progress of work at the site, the Chairman of WEMABOD Estates Limited, Erelu Angela Adebayo, expressed satisfaction with the extent of work done on the project and assured that inauguration of the first phase would be done in December with 1,450 shops available for traders.

The shops include blocks of open stalls and locked-up shops ranging from N500,000 to N1,500,000 each.

The Managing Director of the partnering firm, WEMABOD TAHC Limited, Mr. Kayode Adeleke, lauded the government for embarking on project, saying it would be one of the largest markets in the country when completed.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

9

NEWS

Enugu PDP caucus in disarray over consensus candidate

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HE caucus of the Enugu State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been divided over its consensus candidate.

But Governor Sullivan Chime, who has been accused of masterminding the process that led to the emergence of House of Representatives member Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the party's consensus candidate, has denied any wrongdoing.

Many prominent members of the party boycotted last Saturday's caucus meeting to show their disapproval of what they called a brazen attempt by one man and a few people around him to impose an unpopular candidate on the party.

Among the party's stalwarts who stayed away from the meeting are: Senate Deputy President Ike Ekweremadu, former governor of old Anambra State Senator Jim Nwobodo, Senator Fidelis Okoro, Rear Admiral Allison Madueke, Chief Anayo Onwuegbu, former Information Minister Frank Nweke Jnr, former Power Minister Prof. Barth Nnaji, former Foreign Affairs Minister Dubem Onyia and Senator Ayogu Eze, who has been insisting that the party should hold a primary instead of ratifying a consensus candidate.

Others include former Senate President Ken Nnamani, who was said to be away in the United States, and several prominent members of the caucus.

It was learnt that Chime tried to convince opponents of consensus to attend the meeting, calling them severally on his phone.

Some of the leaders reportedly said they would not allow the governor to use them as the rubberstamp to his "handpicked candidate".

They wondered why the governor suddenly began to show them affection, after allegedly alienating them for about eight years.

"The governor never took the call of any leader of Enugu State for nearly eight years. I will be a fool to fall for this emergency love. It's a Greek gift," one of the party's chieftains, who spoke

•Chime: I didn't anoint Ugwuanyi •Enugu PDP ratifies consensus candidate From Chris Oji, Enugu

in confidence, told our reporter.

It was also learnt that the governor changed his "usual" authoritative voice for a conciliatory tone to persuade the members to toe his line.

Some of those at the meeting said they were surprised by the haste with which it was conducted.

They also alleged that nobody was allowed to comment or move the motion on the consensus controversy.

Some of the party's stalwarts said they would not attend the meeting because the consensus candidacy violated the party's constitution.

"There is no way I would have joined them to flout the instruction and guidelines of the party. No way! The PDP constitution is superior to any individual in the party, no matter how highly placed," another party chieftain said.

But Chime denied the allegation that he masterminded Ugwuanyi's emergence as the consensus candidate.

The governor addressed reporters at the weekend after the caucus meeting of the PDP, saying members of the party chose the lawmaker.

Chime, who gave a rundown of how Ugwuanyi was endorsed by the people of Enugu North Senatorial District, where the governorship is zoned to, dismissed insinuations that he imposed him on the party.

The governor said party members from the three senatorial zones chose Ugwuanyi.

He said: "I was there as the umpire; I didn't participate in the deliberations. Mine was to guide them, to coordinate what was happening. So, everybody who wanted to speak was given the chance to speak.

"All those who indicated interest one way or the other were there. All elected officials - government, public officers, state and national - were there. Past and present leaders were there. So, we met and, unanimously at the end of deliberations, it was put to a formal motion. Many of the aspirants stepped down for Ugwuanyi.

•Ugwuanyi

•Chime

•Eze

"Those who had expressed concerns earlier, thinking that they were called to just endorse a particular candidate, after hearing from their kinsmen, changed their views and withdrew from the race. "Interestingly, at the end of the day, the two persons who moved and supported the motion were actually contestants who stepped down. Fidel Ayogu moved the motion and it was seconded by former Deputy Governor Okey Itanyi. The motion was unanimously endorsed; everybody supported it.

"When I asked if anybody was against the motion, not a single person raised his hand.

So, they all endorsed it."

Chime explained that marketing his preferred candidate would not be difficult because of what he called his wide acceptability.

The governor said his hope and prayers were to make history as the first governor whose successor emerged through a consensus.

He stressed that it would be fool-hardy for anybody to challenge the lawmaker, either at the PDP primary election or at the general election next February.

On the statement by the party's national leadership, warning state chapters against endorsing candidates, Chime noted that instead of the warning, the party should pat states on the back for having consensus candidates through dialogue.

He said: "The party cannot and will never be against the

party coming together to agree on a candidate. What should be their problem, if any, is if any level of the party stops other people from buying forms. Here, people are free to buy forms. We endorsed the President as a consensus candidate. It won't stop him from going for the primaries.

"But it will be a mere formality. Any other person coming out will be coming there to ridicule himself because the party has spoken.

But it can't stop anybody from buying form constitutionally.

"That we have endorsed him (Ugwuanyi) is a statement to whoever that is coming that the party has spoken. But if you like, the party wants to make some money. If you like, you can pick your form.

Nobody will stop anybody from buying forms. Buy your form and go for the primaries. What you find, you will take. Nobody is going against the party directives.

"I'm not sure what they said affects us. As far as Enugu is concerned, we are not stopping anybody from contesting.

"Thank God, under the present dispensation, all forms are bought in Abuja.

Nobody has the powers to stop you from buying forms.

If anything, the party should encourage it. They should congratulate us for this feat, for coming together to say this is our choice."

According to him, almost all the aspirants, who initially indicated interest to run for

the governorship seat, have backed Ugwuanyi, who represents Udenu/Igboeze North in the National Assembly.

Chime described the development as a major feat and an example for other states to learn from.

"All of them (aspirants) have queued behind him, as far as I know. If it had not been by a consensus, all of those persons would have been saying things in the papers. They would have been telling you different things. As at today, it is only Senator Ayogu Eze who is opposing the arrangement, for reasons best known to him," he said.

Also, the Enugu State caucus of the PDP has approved Ugwuanyi as its consensus candidate.

Rising from a special meeting yesterday at the Government House in Enugu, the caucus reviewed the series of endorsements for Ugwuanyi by the three senatorial districts' caucuses.

The motion for his adoption was moved by a House of Representatives member, Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, and seconded by a former PDP National Secretary and member of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Rex Onyeabor.

The caucus assured Ugwuanyi of its support to win the election.

The party said it had not barred any aspirant from contesting the governorship election, if such a person insists on participating in the primary.

In a statement by its State

Publicity Secretary, Dr. Okey Eze, the party explained that the clarification was necessary because of the "erroneous impression" in some sections of the media through an aggrieved aspirant.

The party said the aspirant claimed that he was denied the right to participate in the governorship primary election.

It stressed that the PDP in Enugu State had always resolved its matters through dialogue and consultations with the people.

The Enugu PDP said such approach had always worked for the party, adding that it had never stopped other aspirants from participating in its primaries.

It wondered why a major beneficiary of the process was raising what it called a false alarm to whip up negative sentiments against the party.

The party stressed that the choice of Ugwuanyi did not foreclose the planned governorship primary or prevent other aspirants from taking part.

It said Ugwuanyi would still go through the primary election to be voted for by the delegates, with other aspirants who insist on contesting.

At the meeting were Governor Sullivan Chime, Deputy Governor Ralph Nwoye, State Chairman Vita Abba, Senator Gil Emeka Nnaji, House of Assembly Speaker Eugene Odo, Power Minister Prof Chinedu Nebo, members of the House of Representatives and members of the Board of Trustees (BoT).

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu reportedly took permission that he was out of the country and would abide by the outcome of the meeting.

Other apologies were said to have been received from Jim Nwobodo; former Senate President Senator Ken Nnamani; a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dubem Onyia and Senator Fidelis Okoro.

Ugwuanyi is expected to be presented to the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the party this week for final endorsement before the governorship primary.

Three babies rescued as police smash Obi’s aide, commissioner disagree on sport facilities had not been reported the HE Anambra State PoR Valentine Obienyem, the meinitiated the first disabled sports competition. baby factory command. lice Command at the dia aide to former Anambra State Obi hosted the Flying Eagles twice and placed

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weekend smashed a baby factory in Odekpe, Ogbaru Local Government Area.

The police said they rescued three babies from the “factory”.

Also, a woman, simply identified as “nurse”, was arrested.

The police uncovered the place when a girl, according to a source, was delivered of a baby boy. But the child was allegedly sold off.

The mother was said to have raised the alarm.

The source said security operatives recovered the baby later from the owner of the home and handed it over to

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

the mother.

Police spokesman Uchenna Eze confirmed the incident to reporters yesterday in Awka, the state capital.

He said the operation was handled by the state’s joint task force, comprising the military, the police and men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

But the police could not confirm a similar incident in Nnewi, where a cache of arms was reportedly discovered at an erosion site.

Eze said the arms discovery

Our reporter learnt yesterday that the operation took the security operatives to a bush in Nnewi, where a suspect, simply identified as Ogbonna was arrested.

The suspect reportedly had a polythene bag containing Indian hemp.

It was also learnt that the same security operatives stormed an uncompleted estate at Uruagu Nnewi allegedly owned by suspected businessman living overseas.

Items recovered arms included an AK-47 rifle, a military rifle, handcuffs, 1,500 live ammunition and 30 fully loaded magazines.

Community decries ‘marginalisation’

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HE people of Ohodo community in Enugu State have urged Governor Sullivan Chime to intervene in what they called “deliberate political marginalisation” of the community by some elements in Igbo Etiti Local Government Area.

A statement yesterday by the Chairman of the Lagos branch of Ohodo Welfare Association, Mr. Matthew Ezeaku, alleged that some people planned to perpetually subju-

gate Ohodo to political extinction.

The statement reads: “Ohodo community is the third largest community in Igbo Etiti Local Government, in population and voting strength. Yet, it is being sidelined in political appointments and elective positions.

“Since the inception of the local government, none of our sons or daughters has had a shot at the local government as the chairman, or vice chairman or even secretary to the local government...”

M

Governor Peter Obi, has disagreed with Sports Commissioner Tony Nnaecheta that the Willie Obiano administration inherited dilapidated sporting infrastructure.

Obienyem said the commissioner was either misquoted or was unable to convey his thoughts properly and endangered the facts.

The former aide said Obi was the only governor who ensured the even development of all sectors in Anambra State.

He said: “By the time he became governor, no aspect of the state was working. In sports, Anambra State lay prostrate. But today, through the efforts of Mr. Obi, the state has three mini-stadia, namely: Justice Ikpeazu Stadium, Onitsha South Stadium and Awka Stadium. Obii rehabilitated the Ime Obi and Rojenny stadia at Onitsha and Oba. “He re-introduced school sports. From 15th position in 2011, Anambra came fifth in 2012 and third in National Schools’ Sports in 2013. It won gold medals in the male and female National Youths Sports Federation (YSFON) in 2012. This qualified Anambra to represent Nigeria at the World Youths Sports Federation in Oslo, Norway. In May 2013, Anambra funded the state’s footballers to the world’s pre-season tournament at Antalia, Turkey, where six Anambra athletes were selected for professional careers in Europe.

“Obi initiated the first Governor’s Unity Cup and the first Traders’ Cup in 2013. He

members of old Rangers (Football Club) on monthly stipends and provided buses for them, the Ministry of Sports, the Anambra State chapter of the Nigerian National Supporters’ Club and the National Youth Council.

“Rather than acknowledge this and build on them - and even surpass them – Nnaecheta described the state of sporting facilities as shameful. When prominent persons in the state said they voted the present governor because of Obi’s achievements, what does the commissioner think they were saying?”

Obienyem said the Justice Ikpeazu Stadium, which prompted the commissioner’s reaction, was built over seven years ago.

According to him, continuity means amending, expanding or even shortening parts of the stadium, where necessary.

The former aide noted such is the practice for development everywhere, not the “ill-motivated condemnation” that could be deduced from the commissioner’s words.

He said: “I do not think the commissioner did a background study of his ministry before taking off; this is what good administrators do. If he did, he would have known that the Onitsha Local Government headquarters was knocked down and relocated for Obi to build the stadium under reference.”

Obienyem regretted what he called “a misleading report by a commissioner,” adding it was bad that in the midst of many false stories on Anambra on the social media.

“Is this not the case of seeing chaos rising and adding to it?” Obienyem queried.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

10

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Shun aggression, Muslims told

Bank’s multi-storey structure illegal, says Braithwaite

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LDER statesman and renowned legal practitioner, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite has told an Ikeja High Court in Lagos that a 14-storey building being constructed by Standard Chartered Bank is illegal.

Under cross-examination by the bank’s counsel, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, Braithwaite told Justice Doris Okuwobi that the building which also has a multi-level car park opposite his residence on Victoria Island negates town planning law.

When Adegbonmire demanded to know if he was not aware that the structure was going to be erected, the former National Advance Party (NAP) presidential candidate said though he was not officially informed, he learnt of the structure and approached the court to stop it.

Before the cross examination, Braithwaite’s counsel, Razaq Okesiji sought the court’s leave to file some documents including the structure’s picture.

Justice Okuwobi granted the request and admitted the documents as exhibits C15 (1), (11) and (111), C16 and C17.

Leading his client in ex-

By Adebisi Onanuga

amination, Okesiji asked Braithwaite to identify from the picture the level of the structure. Adegbonmire opposed the examination, forcing the court to take a short recess to rule on the matter.

In her ruling, Justice Okuwobi dismissed Adegbonmire’s objection, holding that the exhibit upon which the question arose touches on the res (the suit’s subject-matter.) She said it was in order for the claimant to explain the contents of the documents he front-loaded to the court.

Responding to the question, Braithwaite said in violation of the court, construction “has now reached the 14th storey and a five level car park from floor two when injunction was granted.

The judge with the consent of parties adjourned further proceedings to October 28 and 30.

At the last hearing, Justice Okuwobi dismissed an application filed by the bank against the plaintiff’s amended statement of claims for lack of merit.

Justice Okuwobi held that she did not see how the issues raised by the claimant

had hampered the case.

She said: “I do not foresee that the defendant/applicant will be denied the right to plead his own case in full and that he will be denied the right to fair hearing.

“For this reason, this application cannot sail through. Consequently, it is accordingly hereby dismissed.”

The bank prayed the court to strike out some paragraphs of the claimant’s reply to its amended statement of defence.

The application followed Briathwaite’s response to the bank’s amended statement of defence in which he raised some “vital” issues to support his position.

SCB’s Adegbonmire urged the court to strike out certain paragraphs it considered inimical alleging that the claimant is introducing new facts outside the issue in contention.

Okesiji opposed the motion, saying the contents of the claimant’s reply to the defence statement and witness statement on oath were relevant to the subject matter of the suit. He said they are necessitated by the averments in the amended statement of the defence and the documents introduced by the defence, which were not

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

A

•Dr. Braithwaite

in existence when the amended statement of claims was filed.

The claimant, he said, neither departed, contradicted nor added new item to its claim, which should prejudice the defendant.

Citing several Supreme Court authorities, Okesiji said the reply was within the claimant’s rights, adding that Order 15, Rule 19 of the High Court Rules allows new pleadings to come up in a reply.

He urged the court to dismiss the defendant’s application, pointing out that the claimant’s reply to amended statement of defence and the statement on oath which the defendant seeks to strike out relate to the Environmental Impact Assessment

Procedure in Nigeria. The failure of the defendant to comply with this procedure, has always been the kernel of the claimant’s case, he said.

In the suit, Braithwaite is seeking an order declaring illegal, the erection of a 15storey commercial building and multi-level car park by the bank in an otherwise residential area on Victoria Island, Lagos.

The claimant said he is uncomfortable with the bank’s installation of giant industrial generators directly opposite his house with the concomitant fumes and noise pollution.

Braithwaite is praying for N10billion damages and a demolition of the building.

‘I married her despite being told we are incompatible’

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•Picnikers at Barbeach Victoria Island in Lagos during the Eid-El-Kabir celebration ... yesterday.

PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

FTER three different clerics revealed we were not compatible, I still married her. Now, I am trapped in a loveless marriage.” These were the words of a 50-year-old trader, Akintoye Oladejo, who is praying the Alakuko Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve his 25-year-old marriage to Folashade. He alleges that she frequently attacks him on trivial issues.

He said: “I have not known peace since I married Folashade. She publicly harasses my female friends because she thinks I am having extramarital affair. I was ashamed when my wife publicly referred to me as a thief for no reason.

“I first brought her case to court in 2009 to formally divorce her because we have been separated for six years but I was prevailed upon to

Security operatives recover five trucks of stolen fuel

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O fewer than five trucks loaded with petroleum products were recovered from vandals’ hideout in Majidun, Ikorodu, on the outskirts of Lagos at the weekend.

The stolen petroleum products were recovered in a joint operation by Army, naval and Nigeria Security Service and Civil Defence Corps officials.

It was gathered that the operatives also arrested 50 suspected vandals, seized 100 canoes and 3,000 jerricans filled with fuel at their hideout.

Sources said fear gripped residents when the armed security officials stormed the creeks around the com-

By Jude Isiguzo

•Arrests 50

munity, impounding several ferries loaded with petroleum products.

Most youths in the area fled the community in fear of being mistakenly arrested as vandals.

The operation, which was still on as of 1pm yesterday, was said to have started at about 2am on Saturday.

A helicopter painted in the uniform usually worn by naval officers was sighted hovering around the area.

The operation also caused gridlock from Agric busstop to Majidun, as the gunwielding men ransacked motorists.

They also accosted some

commercial bus operators.

At the creeks, armed men were seen directing civilians to offload the fuel from ferries into the trucks.

A bus conductor, who shuttles between Ketu and Ikorodu, condemned the exercise.

He said: “We were coming from Ikorodu Garage when they stopped our bus. I was forced to carry several Jerry cans of fuel; 50 litres for that matter. It is very annoying.

You can see how they are leading innocent passersby to watersides to offload fuel.”

A resident, Kabiru Kola, said the activity of the secu-

rity agents created panic in the residents, adding that some of them fled the community.

“We have been holding our breath since 2am when the operation started. Most people, especially boys, have left the community for the fear of being taken as suspects. The perpetrators have run away while some of them have been arrested.

Two days ago, I noticed that a helicopter hovered around here for five hours. Since then, I have been expecting something like this,” he said.

The spokesperson of Lagos State Command of NSCDC, Mr. Mefor Chibuzor, confirmed the operation.

N Islamic group, Nasril-Lahi-L-Fathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT), has enjoined Muslims to live peacefully with others irrespective of their religious differences.

Speaking at the induction of the new executive and Council of Elders for its Ikotun, Lagos Branch, the second Vice President of NASFAT Worldwide, Alhaji Wasiu Bolaji, said such attitude would convince others that Islam “is truly a religion of peace.”

Bolaji said: “It’s unfortunate that the act of terrorism around the world today is being linked to Muslims. Yet, those who know the truth have decided to conceal the fact about the real causes of terrorism and human cruelty that we are all witnessing today. Islam is a religion of peace anytime; you don’t need to be confused otherwise. You should go and study your holy book thoroughly in case of any doubt; Islam was never evangelised with the swords. All the wars fought by Prophet Muhammad were defensive wars against the very aggressive infidels. And those were commonsensical wars anyway.”

He said the corps was alerted on Sunday morning.

Chibuzor added that the security agencies would continue oppressing vandals until they desist from tampering with the pipes.

“A joint operation involving our men, naval and army officials are ongoing now around Agric and Majidun in the Ikorodu area. Some vandals have been arrested while thousands of kegs loaded with petroleum products were recovered from the scene of crime. The creeks were busted following an intelligence report. We will continue to run after the vandals until they stop destroying the government property across the waters,” he said.

By Basirat Braimah withdraw the case after she agreed to change. Each time I return home with money, my wife steals from it.

“My wife gladly rented out a shop I locked when I was out of town. She doesn’t seek my permission at all.

Her attitude disgusts me.

Each time my children visit me, she beats them mercilessly. The last time they visited, my wife brought policemen to arrest me. Our second child was in my wife’s care when she got pregnant. How? Who? and where? I still don’t know.

She seized our children’s phones saying they would inform me about what was happening in their house.

“After I had spent N80,000 to process our fourth child’s admission into the university, which was successful, my wife stopped him from accepting the admission. So, I want a divorce this time because my wife has refused to change for the better.”

Objecting to the divorce, 44year-old Folashade said: ”The suffering started when he married another woman. I made a vow not to sleep with him since he married another woman after me. His wanting a divorce is because I refused to sleep with him and this has been like that for eight years.

I don’t want our marriage dissolved because my children have no other father.

“Yes, I stole his money and rented out his shop because he doesn’t give us allowance.”

Their first child, who was present, pleaded with the court to settle her parents’ dispute.

The court’s President, Chief Awos Awosola, fixed a chamber discussion for the parties and adjourned the case till October 23, for judgment.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

11

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After 36 years in Kirikiri, man seeks pardon

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E was 19 when he got to the Kirikiri Maximum Prison in Lagos on November 17, 1978.

Thirty-six years after, Steven Ojoko is still an inmate there.

In 2001, former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu commented his sentence to life jail following which he was removed from death row.

Ojoko, who hails from Bayelsa State, has grown grey hair in prison. He looks frail and wears a permanent scowl on his face. Pa Oldest as he is called by other inmates wants out and he is appealing to the Federal and Lagos State Governments to release him.

“I have learnt my lesson”, he told our reporter who met him. Ojoko was sentenced to death in 1984 for armed robbery.

‘

I don’t wish to die here. I have spent the most productive part of my life here. I appeal to the Government of Lagos State and the Federal Government to set me free and grant me pardon. I have learnt my lesson. This life has not been good to me From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

He was a trainee photographer, with a primary school leaving certificate.

“I don’t wish to die here. I have spent the most productive part of my life here. I appeal to the Government of Lagos State and the Federal Government to set me free and grant me pardon. I have learnt my lesson. This life has not been good to me,” Ojoko, who clocked 55 years old on June 17 said.

Ojoko, who once lived with his parents in Lagos,

said he was arrested on August 25 by the police, for armed robbery and was taken before an High Court in Ikeja, which remanded him in prison on November 17, 1978 pending his trial.

On April 27, 1984, Justice I. O. Agoro (rtd) sentenced him to death.

Seeking pardon on grounds that he has “changed”, Ojoko said.

“Since I could not practice photography here (prison) because there are no facilities, I decided to learn other trades.

I have since learnt how to

’

make soap, cream and related products. I also know how to process snacks like fish roll, meat pie and all other products made from flour. When there are events here, I am asked to make the snacks that are served to guests.

“I thank the former Lagos State governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who in 2001 converted my death sentence to life imprisonment. I am now appealing to the government of Lagos State and the Federal Government to give me total freedom. I promise to play my part in

the society as a good citizen. I have learnt my lesson.

“I hope to rely on the vocation I have learnt here in sustaining myself and helping the society when I am set free. So, I am pleading with the government to help me out of here.

I have spent the most productive part of my life here.

“I am 55 years now. I was born on June 17, 1959. I lost my parents during this crisis.

Although my late father has a house in Lagos, I hope to return to Bayelsa State once I am pardoned and set free. My relatives live there,” Ojoko said.

The Officer in Charge (OIC), Kirikiri Maximum Prison, M. O. O. Olaniran, an Assistant Controller of Prisons, confirmed Ojoko’s claim of being the oldest inmate in the prison, saying he has been there for about 36 years.

•Zakari Ibrahim, Comptroller General Nigeria Prison Service

THE NATION MONDAY OCTOBER 6, 2014

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NEWS ‘We won’t support Jonathan’ From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

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UNDREDS of Ijaw youths, under the aegis of Izon Ibe Global Policy Network (IGPN), have said they will not support the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The group also condemned statements by some Ijaw leaders that Nigeria will break up, if Jonathan loses the election.

The group, whose membership is drawn from Edo, Ondo, Delta and Rivers states, in a statement by its spokesman, Ayubalayefa Dennis, said it would support the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

PDP chiefs kick against zoning

Dickson, lawmakers clash over return tickets

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ENATORS and House of Representatives members from Bayelsa State are at loggerheads with Governor Seriake Dickson over zoning.

The crisis was said to have been triggered by a statement by the pioneer state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Charles Dorgu, at a rally in Sagbama last week.

Dorgu was quoted to have said that the state chapter had zoned the three senatorial seats and the five House of Reps seats to areas outside the lawmakers’ wards.

He was also quoted to have insisted that the tickets would be zoned for two terms with Sagbama producing the senator for Bayelsa West and Ekeremor producing the House of Rep member.

Council chairmen back zoning

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HE Chairmen of Ekeremor and Sagbama local government areas, Billy Tobiyei and Willy Oyadougha, have called on indigenes to remain committed to the zoning formula adopted by political leaders, elders and stakeholders.

In their joint statement, the chairmen described the zoning formula adopted at the senatorial district’s rally on September 28 as the people’s decision.

The statement said the National Assembly From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

The senators affected by the controversial zoning formula include Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa Central); Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa West) and Clever Ikisikpo (Bayelsa East).

Their counterparts in the House of Representatives are

positions were for two tenures each and should be rotated between the two local governments for equity, justice and fair play.

It said this formula informed the people’s decision to zone the senatorial seat to Ekeremor after Sagbama had enjoyed its two consecutive tenures between 1999 and 2007.

The chairmen urged youths not to allow themselves be used to cause any breach of the peace.

Foingha Jephthah (Nembe/ Brass); Henry Ofongo (Southern Ijaw); Warman Ogoriba (Yenegoa/KolokumaOpokumo); Dr Stella Dorgu (Sagbama/Ekeremor) and Nadu Karibo (Ogbia).

Stakeholders from Ekeremor and Sagbama in Bayelsa West have kicked against the move, describing

it as an attempt to cause disaffection among the people.

At a meeting in Yenagoa, the state capital, the stakeholders insisted that the 26 electoral wards in Bayelsa West had ceded the ticket to Lokpobiri.

Convener of the meeting and group leader Dennis Daunemighan was quoted to have said that the zoning ar-

NANISC boss praises Jonathan

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OME leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State have criticised the planned zoning of the governorship ticket to the North senatorial district.

According to them, zoning the position rather than considering popularity and population could lead to the wrong choice, which could lead to protest votes and loss of the election.

A former PDP Chairman in Ndokwa West Local Government, Godwin Mgbabago and a former member of the House of Assembly, Joe Adigwe, said at the weekend that historical facts and figures showed that the 2011 governorship election in Delta did not produce results.

The PDP chiefs warned that “those fronting and anointing inexperienced politicians do not mean well for the PDP. “On the basis of demography and electoral value, everyone knows the Urhobo control over 60 per cent of the voting strength in Delta State.

“Yet, they have been out of power for eight years and their representation in the Federal Government has been limited to two appointments compared to Delta North, which has over 14 appointments.”

‘Pay water bills’

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ROSS River State Commissioner for Water Resources and Managing Director of the State Water Board Elemi Etowa has condemned som refuse to pay their bills.

He said the water board had challenges for the first time in more than 10 years, in providing 24 hours water supply to residents because the generating set that powers the facilities is faulty.

“With the PPP arrangement, we use diesel generators to operate on a permanent basis.

“About three weeks ago, we had a little challenge although we were still delivering water but not regularly.

He said the board was spending much more to provide treated water to the people but that the consumers were not playing their part.

“We use generators daily. It costs us five times the cost of using regular power supply to run the system. We are charging N150 per cubic metre but it costs us N350 to produce what we are selling at N150; so the revenue that comes in cannot really produce what we need.”

rangement being canvassed was divisive and inciting.

He said: “The decision on who represents Bayelsa West at the National Assembly, particularly the Senate, should be informed by cognate experience, proven track record of competence, capacity to attract infrastructural development and ability to bring about robust perspective to help stabilise the polity at this crucial period of our national history.”

A party chieftain, Abeke Ebikake, said Sagbama had produced three senators.

He listed them as Felix Obaro, Diffa Emmanuel and John Braibaifa, adding that Ekeremor had served only twice.

“The pronouncement that the senatorial seat should go to Sagbama again is wrong. It is not proper.”

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• Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi inaugurating the Tonye Harry Stadium in Degema built by the Degema Local Government ...at the weekend. With him are the State All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman Ibiamu Davies Ikanya (left) and the council Chairman, Daddy Ipokima.

Hotel guest ‘beaten up’ in Bayelsa

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GUESTat Peretimi Hotels on Imgbi Road, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has alleged that the manager hired operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) to shoot him.

The customer, who identified himself as Preye Bozimo, said three suspected DSS operatives were led by the manager of the hotel to ‘beat him up’.

It was gathered that the victim is the son of the Chairman of the Governing Board, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Gordon Bozimo.

It was learnt that following the incident, the hotel was shut for about five days.

Bozimo, who hails from Bomadi, Delta State, spoke from his bed at the surgical ward of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa.

The victim, a building contractor and founder of Prezimo Global Resources, said he and his cousin, Nathaniel Alaweremi, lodged in the hotel on September 30.

He said trouble started when he and his cousin started arguing in the room.

The quarrel, Bozimo said, attracted the hotel manager, whose office was opposite their room.

He said: “Last Tuesday, I

Uduaghan’s ambition ‘divides Ijaw, Itsekiri’

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From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

came into Yenagoa and lodged at Peretimi Hotel on Imgbi Road. My cousin and I had an argument.

“The manager said we were noisy and didn’t think we could stay in the hotel. We told her to refund our money. “ I told her that she was not supposed to treat her customers this way.

“She left and came in with three men. They were in suits and dark glasses, carrying two guns and a big rifle. Immediately, they asked my cousin to leave the room.

They locked me inside.

“The next thing, I heard was a shot and I realised I had been shot in the stomach.

They started hitting me. They took my money, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, watch, shoes and car key.

“When my cousin came, they threatened to shoot him in the leg. They took me to their station.

“I asked why they shot me like a criminal. They said they are security agents and they can do anything.”

His cousin, who corroborated the story, insisted that men of the DSS were hired by the hotel manager to beat and shoot his cousin.

HAIRMAN of the National Association of Nigerian Indigenous Shipping Companies Isaka Adebayo has praised President Goodluck Jonathan for the establishment of the Calabar Channel Management Company.

He said stakeholders were grateful for the company as its establishment would decongest the Lagos and Port Harcourt ports and open up new frontiers in Calabar.

The chairman noted that prior to the establishment, maritime activities were restricted to Lagos and PortHarcourt.

He said with the Calabar company, activities in the Nigeria Export Processing Zone (NEPZ) and Tinapa would pick up.

“This is a welcome development. Since the news came to us, there has been jubilation because this is an avenue to expand our activities,” he said.

• Bozimo

DSS State Director Dawa Everest could not be reached for comments and the police said they were yet to get details of the incident.

RESH crisis is brewing between the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic groups in Delta State over the “sharing” of key political offices in Warri and Delta South Senatorial district.

A similar bickering over the location of a local government headquarters sparked off a seven-year violence between the neighbours in 1997.

Our reporter gathered that the latest tension is over sharing of the National Assembly, State Assembly and council chairmanship slots in Warri South, Southwest and North local governments.

Reports are rife that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan (an Itsekiri) is set for a battle with incumbent Senator James Manager (an Ijaw) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket in Delta South.

Although the governor seems almost certain of win-

From Shola O’Neil, Port Harcourt

ning it, Ijaw PDP politicians in Gbaramatu have vowed to resist the move.

The politicians, under the auspices of Concerned PDP members in Gbaramatu, in an open letter to the national chairman last week, urged him to use “wisdom to steer the PDP ship to a safe harbour.”

The letter, by Monday Torousei and Powede Uyadongha, said: “Mr chairman, the Itsekiri are at it again.

“Just recently, the governor fixed three Itsekiri candidates in the three Warri local governments. There have been rumblings because of the ‘satanic’ arrangement.

“They are also preparing to feature candidates in the Warri Federal Constituency and the House of Assembly constituencies.”

‘We’ll support Attah’s decision’

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ibesikpo Asutan, Akwa Ibom State, said yesterday that the decision on who it will support in the governorship primary rests on former Governor Victor Attah.

The chapter Chairman, Emmanuel Ukim, said this when an aspirant, Benjamin Okoko, visited him at the party secretariat.

Ukim said the party would support all aspirants and create a level playing field.

He said: “We thank you for visiting us today.

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

Ibesikpo people, you have seen a good, humble party man today coming to solicit our support.

“But Attah will guide us to make our decision because he is our leader. Whoever Attah says we will support is the person we will support but we urge you to keep consulting and by God’s grace you will succeed.”

Okoko thanked the people for the reception, love and solidarity. He urged them to remember how he helped Attah win the party ticket.

THE NATION MONDAY OCTOBER 6, 2014

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

FROM OTHER LANDS

Still on the 2014 National Honours

Easy money •Our banks have too many charges that do not allow them to work hard for profit

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ERHAPS without meaning to, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may have offered an important perspective to the paradox of banks raking bumper profits at a time when minimal lending activities are going on. We refer here to the CBN’s Revised Guide to Bank Charges issued to banks and discount houses on March 27, last year.

Although the guide seeks primarily to provide “a standard for the application of charges on various types of products and services Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria offer to their customers” and to minimise the potentials of conflict between the banks and their customers, most striking in the revised guide is the sheer number of charges available to the banks (one count puts the charges at more than 100) to make profit, even without as much as breaking a sweat. Aside the more familiar charges like Commission on Turnover (COT), cheque books and counter cheques, bank transfers, ATM usage, and of course the industrywide charge called current and savings accounts maintenance charge– the latter ostensibly for merely holding money in a savings account, there are other countless imaginable charges under the sun.

Despite its immense merits, the revised guide obviously suffers from its tacit endorsement of the extant culture of armchair banking which has left the Nigerian financial services sector with little or no incentive for innovation. And, if we may also add; the omnibus guide has

done nothing more than legitimise the practices under which the bankers would sit in the comfort of their offices to make a fortune rather than get their hands dirty with the business of lending to customers.

As business entities, this newspaper understands the need for the banks to make profit. No doubt, a good number of bank charges could pass for value-added services and hence legitimate; the truth of course is that nearly an equal number of the charges are not only spurious but are actually freebies designed to pad up the banks’ bottom-lines. Our grouse is when banks settle in the safe comfort zone of paper profits with nary benefits to the larger economy. It stems from our basic understanding that banks are primarily in the business of mobilisation and transfer of savings and other resources from depositors to borrowers and sundry investors. Flowing from this is their expectation of revenue or profit from the interest rate spread, that is, the difference between the deposit interest rate paid to the depositors and the lending interest rate charged borrowers.

We consider other activities as either ancillary or at best, tangential. Unfortunately, what we have in the country today is a situation where the banks are content to settle on fringe activities that have little to do with their core business.

Our worry, if it could be so put – derives essentially from the continuing derogation from that important tradition of fi-

nancial intermediation.

The CBN has a lot to do to get the banks on that traditional path. Today, many of our banks are known to sit atop huge deposits – which if only they could find the will – can be deployed to grow the real sector. The obverse side is that many businesses are known to be in dire need of venture capital – many of them shut out of credit for reasons that are inexplicable.

Perhaps a good way to start is for the CBN to consider removing some of the charges which are no more than avenues for making easy money. But even more importantly, the Bankers Committee must commit to finding a pathway that works for the overall benefits of the economy. It is as much in the interest of the economy as theirs too.

‘Perhaps a good way to start is for the CBN to consider removing some of the charges which are no more than avenues for making easy money. But even more importantly, the Bankers Committee must commit to finding a pathway that works for the overall benefits of the economy. It is as much in the interest of the economy as theirs too’

Undue haste Customs has no right to increase vehicle tariff when bill is yet to be passed into law

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NE challenge facing the automotive industry in Nigeria is daunting, what with poor infrastructure, particularly lack of electricity. The result is that Nigeria’s plan to acquire automotive industry technology through the establishment of assembly plants in the 1970s spectacularly flopped. So, despite the high hopes then that Nigeria was on its way to self-reliance in the automotive industry, the country presently depends on the importation of vehicles, which in 2012 amounted to N600 billion. The Federal Government, in an attempt to reverse the huge foreign exchange outflow sent the Nigerian Automotive Industry Bill, which has passed the second reading at the Senate.

Surprisingly, for reasons probably known only to the Nigeria Customs Service, it has started to implement the tariff

‘So, if the infrastructure that would make production of made-in-Nigeria vehicles competitive is not yet in place, and the bill on it is yet to be passed into law, on what basis did the Customs increase the burden of Nigerians who wish to own vehicles, with that unlawful tariff? ‘

structure in the bill, even when the bill is yet to be passed as law. In our opinion, that move by the Customs on cars when the law is not yet in place, is unlawful and should be reversed immediately.

While no doubt the bill before the National Assembly is laudable, the proposal may be untenable, unless the challenges that saw the death of such companies as Leyland, Steyr, ANAMCO, Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria (PAN) and a host of other automobile and allied companies, that were household names in the country, are first resolved.

In his contribution to the debate on the bill, Senate President David Mark correctly stated: “the bill is good on paper, this will remain absolutely good on paper, but in practice, it will be difficult”.

He also said: “My suggestion is that this is an excellent bill, we should pass it, but we should let the government know that for the bill to succeed, a few things have to be in place”. Of course the major challenge noted by the Senate President was that, if the auto industry was going to run on generator for 24 hours, it would not compete internationally. So, if the infrastructure that would make production of made-in-Nigeria vehicles competitive is not yet in place, and the bill on it is yet to be passed into law, on what basis did the Customs increase the burden of Nigerians who wish to own vehicles, with that unlawful tariff?

Even as we urge the Customs to withdraw the imposed tariff, we earnestly look

forward to a revamped auto industry in Nigeria, considering the huge benefits accruable from that. Such benefits would come in terms of job creation, increase in the Gross Domestic Product; the stimulation of the micro, small and medium enterprises, the bedrock of any viable economy. As also proposed in the bill, allied industries like the tyre manufacturing companies which closed in droves from the shores of Nigeria would also bounce back once the other things have been put in place. Furthermore, skill acquisition and technology transfer would come with such resuscitation.

Another worthy provision in the bill is the incentives of pioneer status, income tax relief and other incentives which would be needed to stimulate the investment to steer the industry. As also noted by many analysts, a revamped tyre manufacturing industry would lead to increase in local rubber production.

Indeed, the benefits are enormous. But all the hope would become forlorn unless electricity, which is the basic requirement of modern industrialisation, is first put in place. We doubt whether investors would put their money into ventures they know would fail because of lack of the basic infrastructure. Therefore, the way to go for now is not to further burden Nigerians with high tariffs on imported cars, new or second-hand, as that may lead to increase in smuggling, which would further weaken the economy.

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S President Goodluck Jonathan handed out about 306 awards at the 2014 National Honours Award Ceremony in Abuja last week, critical newspaper editorials and other comments trailed the process of selection of recipients.

Yet, this year’s national honours award was significant in many respects. Unlike in the past when the list of awardees was dominated by politicians and cronies of the powers that be, the President appears to have reacted to criticisms by elevating merit and honest service to fatherland as the main criteria for receiving the national honours.

Although politicians appear to still have good numbers on the award list, this year’s national honours award is very remarkable because many of those whose names ought to be on the list were actually honoured.

From pro-democracy and civil rights activists to opposition politicians; from wealthy and successful businessmen and women to an honest taxi driver and steadfast steward; from our gallant ambassadors in sports to trailblazing entertainers, an appreciative country said “thank you” to deserving citizens who had first brought honour and pride to our nation.

Joe Okei-Odumakin who led the nationwide protest against the withdrawal of petroleum subsidy that nearly brought down Jonathan’s government, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, chairman of the All Progressives Congress, the main opposition working to upstage the PDP government, Kenneth Nnebue, the acclaimed founder of the money spinning entertainment industry, Nollywood, Blessing Okagbare, the sprint queen who has caused our national anthem to be heard on different podiums across the world, are among many other deserving awardees.

The high point was the honouring of three very distinguished citizens – in their own right. First is the 77-year-old Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi who designed the national flag who was honoured with the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic, OFR. That past administrations had continually overlooked the man who gave us a national symbol for over five decades after independence is a strong comment on our reward system and the low premium we had placed on national service.

As if to add an icing on the cake, President Jonathan showed his compassionate side by placing the flag designer on the salary of Special Assistant to the President, for life. Now, who can fathom any reason why Pa Akinkunmi even in his old age would not be ready to die for his country?

As with Pa Akinkunmi, President Jonathan also honoured a longstanding steward in the presidential villa, Onuh Isaac Michael. Michael, we are told, has served nine presidents and perhaps more than nine first ladies, right from former President Shehu Shagari.

The story of the diligence and sacrifice of this steward who it was said does not catch more than four hours of sleep everyday just to commute from Nasarawa State where he could afford an accommodation to his duty post in Aso Villa, in the heart of the city, is moving.

It is also good advertisement for the national honours award this year that a mere but dutiful traffic warden, Solomon Dauda, who does his job with animated passion and admirable spirit was spotted and honoured with the Member of the Order of the Niger, and a house for good measure as well. The recognition of this enigmatic officer will continually be a source of inspiration and encouragement to other citizens who might think that the services they provide and the effort they put in are unnoticed and inconsequential to national growth.

But by far the most deserving of all the recipients of the national honours on the day was Citizen Imeh Usuah, a taxi driver who took pains to trace and return to his passenger N18 Million that he forgot in his cab.

In a country badly labelled as corrupt, this taxi driver’s conduct is not only exemplary and edifying but also a refreshing reminder of the pristine values on which our country was erected by the founding fathers.

•Francis Ehigiator, Benin City.

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina

• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •General Manager (Abuja Press) Kehinde Olowu •AGM (PH Press) Tunde Olasogba

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness

•Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) •Press Manager Yomi Odunuga Udensi Chikaodi •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Legal Counsel John Unachukwu •Group Business Editor Simeon Ebulu • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye •Group Sports Editor Ade Ojeikere •Acting Manager (sales) •Editorial Page Editor Olaribigbe Bello Sanya Oni

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THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: “Where is it easier to do business in Nigeria?” It was the Management and Board of Editors of Nigeria’s leading business newspaper, Business Day, that first answered the question in 2013 when it declared Ogun State the fastest-growing economy and first choice for industrialists and entrepreneurs among the 36 states in Nigeria. According to the financial newspaper, Ogun State, under the leadership of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, won the prestigious award “because it has the highest number of businesses established in its domain and that the government has made the environment more attractive to investors. Ogun also has the highest positive number of Gross Domestic Product in the last one year, the number of bank branches has increased more than that of other states in the last three years and its financial inclusion, particularly the embrace of cashless economy and use of Automated Teller Machine by residents had increased tremendously.”

If anyone thought that the breakthrough was a fluke and was only a national recognition, then wait for this. The report of the World Bank, Doing Business in Nigeria 2014,

EDITOR’S MAIL BAG SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 800 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.net

Ogun State: From F9 to A1 rates Ogun, out of 35 states and FCT, as one of the five states “that made the biggest strides towards the national frontier of good practices.”

The biennial report, released last Monday, puts Ogun in the exclusive club of the top reforming states in Nigeria.

This, to many observers, is an extraordinary performance by the current government of Ogun State.

The giant strides made by the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, in the last three years are better appreciated when compared to the situation of the state before he mounted the saddle of leadership in May, 2011. The same World Bank, in 2008 and 2010 reports, ranked Ogun State as one of the lowest over-

all performers among the 36 states in Nigeria in terms of ease of doing business. In other words, Ogun State was by then not conducive to business. If a student that had ‘Credit’ as a grade in 2010 now has ‘Distinction’, we say he or she has improved. But when a student that secured ‘Failure’ as a grade in 2010 now has ‘Distinction’, it is no longer a mere improvement but complete transformation.

“Thanks to a concerted effort across federal and state authorities, and in collaboration with the private sector, Ogun improved on three of the four Doing Business indicators benchmarked,” the World Bank says.

The report observes further that in Ogun State, “The construction permitting system was radically

Chinese ‘perestroika’ cometh?

IR: Last week, tens of thousands of Hong Kong students took to the in streets in an unprecedented occupation aimed at protesting the Beijing’s interference in Hong Kong’s chief executive election due for 2017. With the development, Beijing is faced with arguably its most serious crisis since the Tienanmen square.

The students are afraid that the screening cum nomination committee set up by the Chinese People Congress (NPC ) will decimate the value of their jealously guarded democracy as candidates hostile to Beijing may not see the light of the day.

The students leading the democracy push are not unaware of the unforgettable horrific scene of the tank man and the lone protesterstudent at the Tienanmen Square in 1989 and the crackdown that sent dozens of students gathered around

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the iconic goddess of Democracy to their early graves. Yet, they appear determined to press on.

Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region(SAR) of China on July 1, 1997 when Britain, (Hong Kong’s colonial master) handed it over to the latter based on the principle of ‘one state, two systems (meaning that Beijing will not tamper with Hong Kong’s democratic antecedent of colonialism) expected to last for 40 years before the Chinese communist government can decide for them.

With the demand for the resignation of the current Hong Kong Chief Executive, Chinese President Xi Jinping is faced with the dilemma of either toeing the path trod by then Chinese Paramount leader Deng Xiaoping (who in in1989 ordered the crackdown on peaceful demonstrating students at the Tienanmen Square) and

face international sanction, or to yield to the demands of demonstrators and hence face the domino effect in Mainland China.

Unable to choose between the deep blue sea and the Devil described above, the Chinese Communist Government seemed happy to remain in middle – at this time throwing its weight behind Chief Executive CY Leung whom the demonstrators has given an ultimatum to vacate the government building with the caveat that the street occupation will turn to Government House Occupation if CY Leung fails to resign by last Thursday.

In the coming days, the singular question on the lips of many is – which path will Beijing tread; or are we experiencing the beginning of Chinese ‘perestroika’ ?

• Asikason Jonathan, Enugwu-Ukwu, Anambra State.

overhauled, with the state government authorities decentralising the approval system and a new committee monitoring delays. Building permit applications and payments can now be made simultaneously in district offices. Private professionals issue environmental-impact assessments in accordance with the conditions and templates set out in a framework agreement. The certificate of completion is issued on the spot, immediately following the final inspection.”

To begin a business in the current Ogun State, according to World Bank, “entrepreneurs no longer

need to travel to Ibadan or Lagos, thanks to the Federal Inland Revenue Service’s new stamp duty office in Abeokuta. In addition, the state Ministry of Commerce and Industry abolished the requirement for a physical inspection of the business premises - today, a proof of company address, such as a utility bill, is sufficient.

“A business premises permit is issued on the spot upon payment of the fee. Finally, Ogun’s Bureau of Lands digitalised property records with the aim of enabling electronic title searches and making property registration more efficient.”

Amosun has moved Ogun State from F9 under the last administration to A1 in just three years of being the governor. One can imagine how successful Ogun would become by the time Amosun, through the grace of God, concludes eight yeas in office!

• Soyombo Opeyemi Abeokuta

IBEDC: Harbinger of revolution?

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IR: The famous Arab spring which swept away many governments in the Arab world in 2012 and caused the raging war in Syria began as a child play when a Tunisian vendor set himself ablaze in protest against police brutality.

We need to recollect that French revolution of 1789, which led to the fall of the monarchy in France was caused by scarcity of bread at that time. To say that Nigeria is rife for revolution is to say the obvious.

Revolution in this context means change which can be forceful or peaceful. The socio-economic and political crisis engulfing the nation which have led to high cost of living, hyper-inflation, unemployment and under-employment, insurgency, violent armed robbery, kidnapping, rigging of elections, assaults on high court judges, and abject poverty are all pointers to the fact that Nigeria needs changes.

The activities of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), particularly as relates to outrageous billing regime could trigger revolution in Nigeria. This

may sound an exaggeration, but the examples in history mentioned above show that it may be real. The protest by some electricity users in Ogbomoso few weeks ago, over what they termed crazy bills is the basis of my assertion hence I am using this avenue to appeal to the organization to watch its activities and not set the nation on fire because of its desire to meet exploitative targets. The protesters embarked on a series of protests from September 15 through Wednesday September 17, to denounce the excesses of the IBEDC. The protesters went as far as dumping their crazy bills at the Divisional Police Officer (DPO’s) office at Owode, Ogbomoso. This was followed by protest to the palace of the monarch, Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi, Ajagungbade III. To forestall such ugly scenario in future, the government must caution private organizations in service industries to stop exploitation of the people.

• Adewuyi Adegbite.

Apake, Ogbomoso.

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COMMENTS

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T is imaginable that she was an unseen presence at the show, and possibly other ethereal beings were in attendance. “Why not now?” she might have wondered.

Those in a position to answer the question could easily have acted in a way that would have made the poser out of the question. But because they didn’t, the September 29 National Honours’ investiture seemed like an event that had lost its soul and had become soulless; these two conditions may not be the same.

Speaking of souls, particularly the souls of the dead, perhaps such apparitions were at the venue, International Conference Centre, Abuja, just to see the spectacle organised by the living dead. Or is there a better description for those who are biologically alive but morally dead?

The celebration of deadened consciousness, which the event projected on account of glaring and jarring omissions in the list of awardees, represented yet another instance of institutional insensitivity. In this specific case, the institution is no other than the country’s presidency, or more precisely, the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

It would take a phenomenal leap of the imagination to grasp the administration’s tactless treatment of the memory of those who recently paid the ultimate price and made a supreme sacrifice for the country. It would probably be more appropriate to call it an egregious insult which the departed do not deserve.

What is even more unacceptably unthinking and unfeeling is the brusque defence by Dr Doyin Okupe, Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Jonathan, who reportedly said via his Twitter account that the national honours were not given posthumously. It is instructive that between September 19 when the full list of awardees was publicised and September 29 when they were decorated, there were loud calls from concerned quarters highlighting the nauseating exclusion.

Two of such wake-up calls will suffice. The Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Cross River State chapter, Dr. Callistus Enyuma, said: “One would expect that she should not be neglected when honours are given. I believe it is not too late for her to be included on the honours’ list.

She must have that honour.” Next, the President of Jojaina

‘It is food for thought that these particular honourees, who could have exploited the publicity opportunity to further rubbish the administration and what it stands for by maintaining a respectable distance, chose the path of counter-productive accommodation’ “Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man.” – Mahatma Ghandi ITH the passing of every other day, world inhabitants get aggressively intolerant with each other.

Due to diminishing diplomatic composure, lack of statecraft, unwillingness to let go and self destructive instincts as occasioned by environmental degradation and population explosion, violence is brewing across hitherto peaceful borders.

Aside states that are at arms with each other, fissiparous terrorists groups with no defined territorial boundary like Al-Qaeda, Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad alias Boko Haram, Islamic State of Iraq and Levant, ISIL, National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad, MNLA, amongst others are causing havoc, creating international nuisance and bloodshed. At every turn around the world, chaos reign supreme; Ukraine in Eastern Europe, Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan in Middle East, Somalia in East Africa, Central African Republic, South Sudan in North Africa, Mali and Nigeria in West Africa, are just few collections of unrest across the globe.

Violence can be narrowed down to any behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something. The World Health Organization defines violence as “the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, which either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment, or deprivation. Over the years, incidence of violence had grown in leaps and bounds, from medieval warring empires collecting slaves and colonizing nations, to nations at war in themselves in a civil context, to materialist wars of diamonds and crude oil that has further impoverished the people than liberate them.

In the last decade, violence or violent uprising has been tied around religion, protecting sovereign states, seeking inclusive democracy, reducing the ownership of nuclear weapon and combating world terrorism. In Africa, violence as occasioned by rural banditry has been exponential as nomads try to seek greener pasture through relatively declining grazing lands which presumably was caused by population explosion and urban expansion. Amidst these are also sectarian violence claiming lives every other day.

Today, the world is unsettled, chaotic, brutish, nasty and dangerously positioned. Under the cover of religious bigotry, territorial realignment, ethnic dominance, resource control, sustenance of geographical sovereignty, expansion of political dynasty and establishment of world hegemony, human blood are being violently spilled. We are fast losing our humanity and this portray clearly that the entire world is in disarray. We have continuously harped on our fault lines as a basis to wage and remain at war. To be frank, it is the self-

W

Ameyo’s apparition and Amosun’s ecstasy Deck of the National Association of Seadogs, Mr. Fabian Avoh, said: “Let us ask the Federal Government or precisely the presidency what yardstick was used in including all sorts of people on the list of the highest honour in the land when Adadevoh, who sacrificed her life, was not on the list.”

In a reasonable context, the inclusion of Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh who died on August 19 should have been beyond question, even if by way of special mention at the event and by immortalising her. She was the most prominent among the country’s health care workers who died of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) after contracting it from the Liberian- American Patrick Sawyer who brought it into the country and died from it on July 25. It is noteworthy that the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, said of her role: “She it was who took the initiative to intimate the ministry concerning the index case; and substantially to her credit, the moderate containment achieved we owe to her and her colleagues.” There is no doubt that the professional intervention of Adadevoh and others arrested the possibility of a wide-spread dispersal of the deadly virus. The Jonathan administration must be suffering from inattentional blindness.

Even more intriguing is the likelihood that the government may also be afflicted with complicated confusion. Two days after the disquieting silence on the EVD-related deaths of health care personnel who worked at First Consultants Medical Centre, Obalende, Lagos, Jonathan referred to the tragedies superficially. He said in his October 1 address on the country’s 54th Independence Day: “I appreciate and welcome the spirit of collaboration, unity and partnership with which we confronted the threat of the Ebola Virus Disease.

I thank all Nigerians for working together to prevent what could have become a major epidemic. I particularly thank the medical personnel, some of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice.” Could this be interpreted as thanking the dead for dying? What a way to reward heroic self-sacrifice!

Interestingly, Jonathan’s idea of reward seemed suspect, if not mischievous, especially in connection with three personalities who made this year’s national honours’ list of 305 awardees: the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a former governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; and the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who is on his way out, having lost controversially in the June governorship election to Ayo Fayose of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) . Considering that the men are members of the APC, the intensely critical opposition party with a strong ambition to rule the country, their inclusion may have been no more than a wily attempt to present the Jonathan administration and the PDP as perhaps dispassionate and uninfluenced by zero-sum mentality. They were given the title, Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

It is food for thought that these particular honourees, who could have exploited the publicity opportunity to further rubbish the administration and what it stands for by maintaining a respectable distance, chose the path of counterproductive accommodation. Odigie-Oyegun was represented at the ceremony. Fayemi, rather than be in Abuja to receive the national honour, attended the opening ceremony of the Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi Centre for Gender and Social Policy Studies donated by his wife to the Obafemi Awolwo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. He was quoted as saying: “It is thus at great cost that I am here in demonstration of my dedication to a worthy cause. Nothing can be more important than this. The CON can be posted to me by courier, but nobody can post this to me.” In both cases, there was a sufficient indication of acceptance.

Amosun surpassed them by displaying a petty ecstasy. Not only did he attend the investiture, he apparently got carried away. Listen to him: “When you are given an award like this, you are honoured; it is a call for more service. It is like describing an elephant; it is from the perspective from which you are looking at it. Yes, there may be one or two misgivings about it; people will talk anyway. I think whoever is given, it is a call to serve more, render selfless service to the nation and to our different states.”

It would appear that Amosun may not have reflected on the governmental performance of the giver. Has Jonathan himself shown a satisfactory understanding of the concept of service in political office? Why would he desire to encourage what may be indeed alien to him? What is the subtext of this dramatic political scheming?

Craving for a peaceful world

By Sulaimon Mojeed-Sanni centred instinct to subjugate other nations, individuals or corporations to the whims and caprices of an aggressor(s) that has continued to escalate the divide. The world as a whole needs to stand up to this challenge in the face of an abiding aphorism – threat of injustice anywhere is threat to justice everywhere.

It was Austrian neurologist, Sigmund Freud, who tried to explain that humans naturally grow from the state of childlike impetuous actions to a state of creating balance and judging between what is right and wrong. Taking a clue from Freud’s theory of ID, Ego and Super Ego, we as humans need to know what is right or wrong. Capitalizing on the depravity of others to gain mundane advantage places a burden of rightness on every cause of action that has led to shedding of human blood; discriminatory practices, arms trading, debt burden, population explosion, climate change, economic deprivation, child labour, unemployment and gender inequality.

Another major obstacle to attaining world peace is the proliferation of arms. Isn’t it scandalous that the nations with the highest sales in arms are the most peaceful? They are, the agent provocateurs currently running around as peace advocates. Developing nations get loans from developed nations to purchase arms to annihilate their own people. This stringed action entrenched them in the vicious circle of debt repayment that further impoverishes the people.

Wars bring more wars not peace, even the biblical postulation of an eye for an eye as contained in the law given to Moses has been overridden by Jesus Christ’s abiding love and the will to forgive and forget. Prophet Muhammad in copious texts established that the religion he came to redefine called Islam means peace. Mahatma Ghandi once said, ”an eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.” Today, non-violence, sculpture of a knotted gun by Karl Fredrik stands permanently outside UN Headquarters in New York. The revolver with a knotted barrel and the muzzle pointing upwards tacitly depicts the need to destroy and discontinue the production of weapons of human destruction of all categories.

Human beings are the eyes of the world; violence brings tears to the world’s eyes. The United Nations choose October 2 to commemorate and “disseminate the message of nonviolence, including through education and public awareness.”

It advocates for “the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence” and the desire “to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence”. Despite the UN’s advocacy, peace still remains the most expensive commodity

in the global market.

It may seem that the idea of world peace is an illusion when the greed of man is not tamed, and conflict amongst humans continues unabated, but well managed human interaction hinged on structured diplomatic manoeuvring can reduce conflict to barest minimum. Truth be told, one of the major hindrance to world peace is the politics of influence exercised by the super powers that double as world police. The proliferation of small arms and its regulation within the international community is also of great concern. Inasmuch as arms can still be purchased arbitrarily at the black market, curtailing violence would remain Herculean task.

In the bid to prevent war, some theorists advocated for a military deterrence strategy, Mutually Assured Destruction, MAD, that suggest possible annihilation of either the attacker or defender, but they would have seen the futility of the theory that seek to stockpile armour under perceived fears of attack.

Rather than abate, acquiring nuclear weapons has led to more killing than bringing peace. As long as we still have states that carry nuclear, biological and chemical weapons under the umbrella of defensive weapons, peace would remain an illusion. We should remember people go to war believing that they have been cheated, they go to war to seek presumed justice, and they go to war to seek redress. As much as we try to be empathetic in regards to why they are taking arms, the world must as a point of duty condemn violence in whatever form.

In a monograph on ‘Boko Haram, the Government and Peace Negotiation’, Professor James B. Kantiok, stated that “peace cannot be brought about by fine phrases, jingles and nice lectures; it involves hard work and sacrifice.

Unemployment causes many to stray into the waiting hands of eccentric rebels who cash on their state of lack to buy their loyalty. We sure can achieve a non-violent world, but it would start with food on every man’s table and a sense of belonging. Corruption is also an albatross to peaceful coexistence; governmental institutions should be strengthened to monitor developmental project compliance.

The citizens must be given a sense of belonging to participate in government and chose for themselves their representatives in a transparent, peaceful and democratically acceptable manner. Today, a huge number of youths in what has been termed ‘Umbrella Revolution’ are occupying Central Park in Hong Kong, demanding for an inclusive democracy. One can only hope it does not get too violent before the government listen to its people. Peace is not abstract, it is visual.

Mojeed-Sanni writes from Centre for Democracy and Development, Abuja.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

22

COMMENTS

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CONTRADICTION is playing out in Enugu State following the adoption of a serving member of the House of Representatives, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the governorship consensus candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the coming elections. Reports had it that Ugwuanyi’s emergence was the outcome of a stakeholders meeting convened by Governor Sullivan Chime for all governorship aspirants from Enugu North senatorial district where the governorship was zoned. In that meeting, many of the aspirants were said to have stepped down for Ugwuanyi culminating in the adoption of a motion to have him as the sole candidate of the party in the 2015 elections.

But the matter did not go down well with one of the leading aspirants and Senate’s works committee chairman, Ayogu Eze who was also at the meeting where the consensus was purportedly arrived at. Eze has alleged that he was invited to the meeting without being privy of its agenda and questioned the process that threw up the so-called consensus candidate. He had contended that the meeting was arranged to produce a pre-determined outcome leaving other aspirants without any choice and vowed to pursue his governorship ambition to its logical conclusion.

Eze further questioned the democratic credentials of such a kangaroo arrangement that did not seek the views of all the aspirants before the final decision was taken.

Since then, accusations have been levied from the camps of those opposed to the consensus arrangement and its supporters. A pressure group in the state condemned it on the grounds that it is a “desecration of democratic norms and internal democracy”.

But some others have sought to fault Eze arguing that the process was democratic as it is in tandem with the PDP constitution 2012, as amended. One of such persons was Justina Eze, a member of the Board of Trustees BOT

Emeka OMEIHE 08112662675 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

Enugu’s troubled consensus of the party. The BOT member feared that the chances of the zone producing the governor could be imperiled if Senator Eze continues to vilify the process leading to the consensus.

As things stand, the Enugu East caucus of the party has also in a meeting at Government House endorsed Ugwuanyi as the consensus candidate with the West senatorial zone about to cue in. Despite the issues raised by Eze, all indications are that Ugwuanyi’s adoption is a fait accompli. It does not appear there is much Eze can do as Chime who is driving the process will likely have his way given the much abused incumbency factor. Soon, we may begin to see all manner of hurdles placed on the road to the ambition of Eze for daring to challenge the decision of the incumbent.

But the issues that have been thrown up by this singular exercise cannot be wished away despite whatever merits there is in the consensus option.

Inherent in them are posers as to the justification for a consensus contrivance that does not really offer any choice to other candidates because the processes leading to it were shrouded in secrecy. To what extent then can we rightly argue that such an option approxi-

‘We cannot build consensus when a behemoth somewhere sits in his bedroom and decrees his anointed person as the candidate. That is the issue that played out in the Enugu case. And that is why it is generating so much heat. Chime may have his way after all. But those whose ambitions he dashed in that abrupt manner are also within their rights to impugn the process’

T

HE recently conducted referendum by the people of Scotland to decide their future has come and gone.

About 1.8 million Scots (55%) cast a decisive “NO” vote for independence as against about 1.5 million (45%) who voted for independence from the United Kingdom. Scotland, a country with a projected population of about six million people and occupying a territory of approximately 79,000 square kilometres joined the United Kingdom of Great Britain more than 300 years ago through the act of Union in 1707.

The referendum took the entire world by storm going by fact that the Union had actually endured for more than three centuries thus the prospect of its dissolution at this time and age would have had far-reaching and unimaginable consequences for many nations of the world with contrived or lopsided union.

The conclusion by many political observers throughout the intense campaign period was that if the people of Scotland after more than 300 years in the United Kingdom would now agitate for independence, then obviously the act of the Union ab initio was inherently defective. The result of the referendum has further polarized the Scottish people going by the closeness of the result – 55% for the “NO” vote as against 45% for the “YES” vote.

At the commencement of the campaigns, it became obvious that the Scottish people had extremely a raw deal in the United Kingdom of Great Britain hence the initial opinion polls which had predicted a comfortable lead by the campaigners for “YES” vote. This scenario of imminent victory continued until the bigwigs at Westminster led by the Prime Minister, David Cameron and the immediate past Labour Party, Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, himself is a Scot, desperately rushed to Scotland and with last minute passionate appeals to the undecided voters not to vote “YES” for independence while adopting all manners of political gimmicks including naked blackmail and outright intimidation as well as the belated token or half-hearted promises to the Scottish people for them to remain in the United Kingdom.

This was the last trump card that dramatically changed the tide of opinion in favour of the “NO” vote on the eve of the historic referendum.

For the 1.5million people that voted “YES”, Scotland will never be the same again, hence the spirit of nationalism and identity already ignited by the referendum will certainly remain with the people for generations yet to come. It had been proved time and time again that gross or naked injustice, inequality, and lack of fairness tend to breed mass discontentment, distrust and perpetual fear of domination by one group of people over others. The consequences are separatist tendencies and agitations for autonomy or self determination by the perceived marginalized segment as was the case with the people of Scotland.

In Africa, the erstwhile colonial powers particularly the British lumped together people of diverse ethnic, socio-cultural and religious backgrounds and orientation as one country and eventually granted them independence as one nation.

mates the pristine tenets of representative democracy when it is deliberately manipulated to produce a known outcome?

It would appear that is the point Eze is making. He does not seem to be against consensus as a policy. He is not particularly against Ugwuanyi as a person. He is against the absence of rigorous negotiations before the meeting where Ugwuanyi was adopted was convened. Had such discussions been in motion and invitees to the meeting told its agenda, the current controversy would have been minimized.

It would appear to me that the senator reacted the way he did because the decision took him unawares. He may have put in so much in the pursuit of his ambition with high hopes to sail through. He may also have made plans the next day for the same purpose. For such an aspirant to attend a seemingly innocuous meeting, only to have his ambition dashed in one fell swoop is definitely bound to ruffle shoulders. His predicament should be appreciated. What it has brought to the fore, is the conflict we trigger off when we abridge that freedom of choice that stands out democracy as the most admired form of governance framework. It is for the same reason that some people constantly pick holes with the issue of zoning.

Before now, we have been told of the array of choices which democracy promotes.

If it is executed in its pure form, it will have no room for the contrived consensus that was the outcome of the Enugu North caucus meeting. It will also not admit the zoning of

the governorship position to that zone. Zoning and the consensus option have their limitations when democracy is conceived in its pure form. But they are not entirely out of place within the democratic process. The issue is not just a rejection of consensus or zoning, but the logic, fairness and equity of the processes that produce them.

The raging controversy in the Enugu case should be seen in this light. It is not a vote of no confidence in those options but a demand for them not to be turned into a tool by those in authority to subvert the collective will of the people. After all, Eze accepted the zoning of the governorship slot to the north without raising eyebrows. His opponents may finger a contradiction in his accepting zoning with one hand and rejecting consensus with the other. They may also raise questions regarding his silence when the two other zones were shunted out of the governorship race just to allow the north which has not had a shot at it take their turn. That issue can be raised. And the argument can go on and on. But the fact that the zoning of the governorship post to the north commanded general acceptance showed it was considered fair and equitable.

There was sufficient evidence to support such a proposition. Same was not the case with the consensus option. The process ought to have been preceded by weeks of negotiations among the aspirants and their leaders. Apart from preparing their minds that primaries are likely to be streamlined, it will save them the energy and huge expenditure that have become part and parcel of electioneering campaigns on these shores.

Moreover, if all of them had been taken into confidence, those who considered their chances slim, may have chickened out of the race leaving the most serious ones who can then be engaged in the consensus discussions.

It is true that consensus may not satisfy all, just as direct primaries will leave a lot of casualties in its trail. But serious efforts must be made to build such consensus in both word and deed. We cannot build consensus when a behemoth somewhere sits in his bedroom and decrees his anointed person as the candidate.

That is the issue that played out in the Enugu case. And that is why it is generating so much heat. Chime may have his way after all. But those whose ambitions he dashed in that abrupt manner are also within their rights to impugn the process.

Lessons from Scottish referendum

By Nze Nwabueze Akabogu Cases abound in Africa where this situation has continued to fuel endless crisis, armed conflicts and socio-political instability in those countries due to the forced union and incompatibility among the diverse groups that make up the countries. The recent independence of the people of South Sudan from Sudan is a typical case in point where the southern Sudanese felt that they could no longer peacefully coexist with their northern “brothers” as a result of deep-rooted animosity engendered by ethno-religious and irreconcilable differences between the mainly Moslem north and mainly Christian south. This situation was further aggravated when the Sudanese government officially adopted Islam as a state religion to the detriment of the mainly Christian south. This ugly situation consequently degenerated into armed conflicts between the two divided sections of Sudan.

There are many other volatile parts of the world or flash points where people still harbour strong separatist tendencies as a result of not having a fair deal. Some of these include the French speaking people of Quebec in Canada; the people of Eastern Ukraine of the former Soviet Union who with the strong support of Russia are currently fighting for self determination or independence from Ukraine. Only recently the people of “Catalonia” in Spain staged a huge demonstration in that country calling for the independence of Catalonia from Spain ostensibly taking a cue from the Scots.

However, in the African context, it was the erstwhile colonial powers that forcibly brought together strange bedfellows with incompatible and irreconcilable ethno-religious, and socio-cultural backgrounds to form a union or country without their consent purely for their selfish economic interest. A case in point was the defunct Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland then ruled by the British under Sir Roy Welensky. During the long agitation for independence which later culminated in the armed struggle by the nationalist forces led by the indefatigable and foremost freedom fighter, Robert Mugabe, along with other freedom fighters such as Joshua Nkomo, Ndabaningi Sithole, Abel Muzorewa and many others, the British in their wisdom and legendary act of diplomacy quickly realised that the people of Rhodesia and Nyasaland could never peacefully co-exist as one nation and as such, proceeded to grant independence separately first to Northern Rhodesia now Zambia, followed by Nyasalnd, now Malawi, and lastly, Southern Rhodesia now Zimbabwe after a long and bitter armed struggle by the African liberation forces. The white minority settlers in Southern Rhodesia then led by racist Prime Minister Ian Smith had wanted to entrench white minority government modelled on the obnoxious former apartheid system in South Africa. Ian Smith in obvious self delusion had dared the British authorities when

he unilaterally declared independence for Rhodesia (UDI) in 1965 and that led to the intensification of the armed struggle by the nationalist forces which eventually crushed the resistance of Ian Smith and his white minority racist regime paving the way for the independence of Zimbabwe from Britain in 1980.

In the same vein, the British granted independence separately to India and Pakistan in the Indian sub-continent in 1947 due to the simple fact that India with a huge population of predominantly Hindu religion could never peacefully coexist with Pakistan also with a huge population of predominantly Muslim religion as one nation. Again, the Republic of Bangladesh which was part of Pakistan later broke away after a long and bitter civil war and gained her independence in 1971.

There are many similar instances throughout the world where people decided to leave the union or country they had voluntarily joined due to certain factors that were inimical to their collective interest and destiny such as the cases already mentioned.

It is an obvious truism that unity is strength, thus people of diverse ethnic, socio-cultural and religious backgrounds could freely come together to form a union or a country. However, justice, equity, fairness, mutual respect and trust between and among the people must be the guiding principle for the union to survive.

It is a sad commentary that in the case of our dear country Nigeria, the erstwhile British colonial powers after the infamous and forced amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates in 1914 proceeded to grant independence to Nigeria as one nation despite all the available empirical indices which pointed to the fact that the diverse ethnic, sociocultural, cum religious groups could not peacefully co-exist as one nation. The Nigerian nation has continued to pay very dearly for this forced amalgamation up till date.

The only solution to the current endemic multifarious challenges confronting the nation is for Nigeria to quickly return to the regional structure of government with full and undiluted fiscal autonomy, where the present six geo-political zones would possibly be increased to eight zones with their separate constitutions, police force and regional army. Any further delay to the restructuring of the Nigerian polity in line with the above recommendations might spell doom to the corporate existence of the country as one nation or entity.

The country should take a cue from other volatile parts of the world where the nationalist or separatist movements are daily gathering momentum and attracting global attention. It is said that a stitch in time saves nine and therefore, the Nigerian authorities should quickly read the handwriting on the wall and take the bull by the horn by facing the stark realities of the current desperate situation and act decisively to save the nation from the looming catastrophe.

• Akabogu (JP) wrote from Enugwu-Ukwu, Anambra State.

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THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014 Sovereign Wealth Funds are managed conservatively.

They don’t borrow money the way banks do, so you can’t compare this business to banking business. This business does not expose itself to that kind of risk. It is not the same thing as private equity •Managing Director/CEO, NSI A, Uche Orji

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

CEO

JOBS

‘Privatised power sector requires enforcement agency’ - P. 37

Jobs from going green - P. 35 News Briefing Customs seizes N140m worth of vehicles THE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operation Unit, Zone ‘C’ has impounded over 88 exotic vehicles estimated at N140million after bursting a smuggling ring.

–Page 26

Lagos to sanitise cooperative societies THE Lagos State government has said it plans to sanitise cooperative societies in the state. It said it will soon start a revalidation exercise of cooperative societies in the state as a starting point.

–Page 26

NIA seeks Fed Govt’s intervention in CITA

• From left: Secretary to Rivers State Government, Mr. George Feyii; Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru; Chief of Staff, Government House, Sir. Tony Okocha; Director MTN Foundation,Mr. Dennis Okoro, during the presentation of security vehicles to the state government by MTN Foundation under its Security Support Project (MTNF-SSP) at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

INSURERS under the aegis of the Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA) have led a delegation to the Federal Government to seek the suspension or waiver of some sections of the Companies’ Income Tax Act (CITA) 2007, which is threatening the insurance industry.

–Page 34

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil Cocoa

-$117.4/barrel -$2,686.35/metric ton

Coffee

- ¢132.70/pound

Cotton

- ¢95.17pound

Gold

-$1,396.9/troy

Sugar

-$163/lb RATES

Inflation

-8.2%

Treasury

Bills

-

10.58%(91d) Maximum lending -30% Prime lending

-15.87%

Savings rate

-3%

91-day NTB

-15%

Time Deposit

-5.49%

MPR

-12%

Foreign Reserve

$39.6b

FOREX CFA

-0.2958

EUR

-206.9

£

-242.1

$

-156

¥

-1.9179

SDR

-238

RIYAL

-40.472

Meters’ shortage hits distribution firms

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HE distribution compa nies (DISCos) unbun dled from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) have been hit by shortage of pre-paid meters.

The privatisation of the successor companies, including the generation companies (GENCos), was done, among others, to improve electricity supply but sector analysts say since their coming into existence about a year ago, this expectation has not been met.

Officials of Ikeja and Eko Electricity Distribution Companies (IKEDC and EKEDC) told The Nation that both firms do not have prepaid

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

meters. Besides, there is a backlog of customers who have paid and have been awaiting collection for months.

“I confirm to you that we do not have pre-paid meters at the moment. But you cannot tell customers that we have exhausted our stock.

“The Federal Government has stopped importation and sale of prepaid meters presently. Therefore, we only make efforts to see if we can deliver to customers that have already paid but for customers that are making fresh purchase, we cannot guarantee that now.

“The fact is that the sale of pre-paid meters has been suspended until further notice,” the source said.

With the scarcity of prepaid meters, the application of estimated billing for electricity consumers might likely increase. The prepaid metering system was introduced to reduce or eliminate estimated billing system because customers complained bitterly of being given outrageous bills. Prepaid metering enables a customer to plan his or her consumption according to his or her income.

Customers, who spoke to The Nation at Somolu, Ikorodu, Island Business

Paucity of funds threatens solid mineral devt , say miners

T

HE Miners Association of Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to intervene in the mining sector by providing it with multiple financial windows.

It lamented that poor funding of the sub-sector is responsible for its low contributions to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), stressing if well funded, it could also open employment opportunities for the growing army of the jobless in the country.

Its President, Alhaji Sani Shehu said though the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) was inaugurated last year, he lamented that the fund is yet to be disbursed while other donor agencies such as the second phase of the World Bank’s Sustainable Management of Minerals Resources (SMMRP) has

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

also not been forthcoming.

He said: “Interventions that are to be provided for the sector are yet to fully come.

“For me, we need multiple financial windows to be able to move the industry forward.”

He argued that the sector requires collective effort to move it forward, stressing that operators, government, foreign investors and legislature must cooperate for the advancement of the industry.

He said: “But let me also confess that moving the industry forward is supposed to be of collective efforts: the government, the operators, foreign investors, legislators.

“All the critical stakeholders in the industry must work together to be

able to push the industry to the next level. “ He said funding has been the major challenge after the last SMMRP project elapsed in 2012.

The miners’ boss added that lack of infrastructure is another challenge militating against the progress of the sector, stressing that “miners of industrial minerals can mine products from the north, to the south where the industries are concentrated.”

He said infrastructures are not available to transport the minerals to wherever they are needed for processing.

Shehu averred that since the challenges are funding and infrastructure, the association is seeking the cooperation of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) for the transportation of industrial minerals at a very cheap and affordable cost.

Units, among others, said they had been at the offices of the DISCos several times.

They lamented that though they had paid for the meters, they were unable get them.

Others said they had money on them but couldn’t pay as the power firms said there were no meters to sell to them.

The new investors have

been complaining about poor revenue collection from customers, which is below their projections on takeover of the assets in November last year.

To improve revenue generation, the DISCos are exploring alternative sources of power supply, especially through embedded and captive power generation.

Ex CBN chief urges banks, others on corporate governance

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ANKS, insurance firms, stock-broking firms and other operators in the nation’s financial services still need to improve on corporate governance mechanism to prevent untoward practices and compete favourably with their counterparts abroad, the former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Ernest Ebi has said.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Fellows Evening 2014, organised by the Institute of Directors (IoD) in Lagos, Ebi said financial markets operators and regulators have since the 2008 global meltdown learned their lessons.

He urged the CBN, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and other bodies to build on the corporate governance platforms they have laid to foster growth.

He said: ‘’ When it comes to adherence to the best practices of corporate governance in Nigeria, I can say banks, and other companies have tried because sharp practices and other problems that came up in the wake of the 2008 upheaval has reduced. But there is a room for improvement. We still have a lot of

By Akinola Ajibade

work to do in that area if we want to be reckoned with globally.’’

According to him, IoD, the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), and other relevant institution have done well in the area of corporate governance by ensuring that executive directors, non-executive directors and members of board of quoted companies know their rights, roles, and limitations.

Ebi said independent directors are pillars of corporate governance because they express views that are in the best interest of the companies. ‘’Independent Directors are Non-Executive Directors.

They do not have pecuniary interest in companies. Theirs is to express views on issues such as shareholding, improvement on shareholders’ welfare and others. That is why I challenge the IoD in my paper to roll up their sleeves and do something on the issue, by educating the public on the roles of independent directors, establishing a committee or sub-committee on independent directorship to encourage growth of companies,’’ he added.

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BUSINESS NEWS Expert urges NCAA on regulatory fleet consolidation

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From left: Lecturer, Dept of Electrical and Information Engineering, Covenant University, Nigeria, Dr Adoghe Anthony; Marketing Manager, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Anne Ihugba; Head, Network Engineering, Vodaocm Business Nigeria,Olumide Idowu Manager; and Engr Adesuyi Richardson of the Dept of Electrical and Information Engineering, Covenant University, Nigeria during the Industrial Visit to Vodacom facility in Lagos.

Customs seizes N140m worth of vehicles

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HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operation Unit, Zone ‘C’ has impounded over 88 exotic vehicles estimated at N140million after bursting a smuggling ring.

The command said the vehicles were impounded in the South-east and Southsouth geo-political zone of the country by the operatives of the zone.

Findings revealed that 20 persons were arrested in connection with the smuggled vehicles, with additional six smugglers apprehended in connection with other goods.

Its Area Controller, Mr Victor Dimka, said it was gathered, deployed over 20 officers in mufti in Benin/ Agbor axis and other communities to track the smuggled vehicles.

The vehicles, findings revealed, included Lexus Jeep, Sienna Bus, Toyota and Nissan cars among others.

Smuggling is said to be on the increase in the areas, following the collection of 35

By Oluwakemi Dauda

per cent duty on used vehicles.

Customs officers in the zone, it was learnt, are making life difficult for smugglers by also impounding 576 bags of rice.

Others items seized by the command, findings revealed , included 458 two stroke engine generators and 2,060 gallons of vegetable oil and 18 used tyres with DPV of over N150million Contacted, Dimka said that 89 exotic vehicles were impounded and a trailer load of 1,620 cartons of vegetable oil cleverly concealed with empty jerry cans to deceives is officers and men were seized and the driver arrested on the Benin – Ore road and detained.

Giving the breakdown of the seizures made, Dimka said his officers on the Owerri axis also seized a container load of 112 bales of textiles material, 40 feet container comprising garments and assorted types of furniture.

The Controller added that four trucks containing 1,932 (50kg) bags of rice was impounded on the Benin axis; while eight bags of Indian hemp weighed 399.5kg was found in a luxury bus at Udi LGA on the Onitsha/Enugu, which was neatly concealed with passengers luggage. The driver and the items, he said, are in Customs custody.

He said the anti-smuggling drive was part of the Customs’ move to enforce the new auto policy, prevent the influx of prohibited goods and boost the economy.

Dimka expressed dismay at the rate of smuggling in the country despite consistent arrests of the culprits, saying that the Service has acquired world class communication gadgets to track down smugglers, adding that the synergy between Customs, NDLEA, the Police, Army and the SSS has aided the war against smugglers.

“We have our men all over the places and they have been trained in the modern tech-

niques of anti-smuggling and with the state of the art gadgets we now have, it has become much more difficult for smugglers to operate without being detected”, he added.

He advised the public to always contact the help desk of any Customs formation to ascertain the genuineness of their vehicle clearance document before payment to avoid seizure.

“It does not take anything to pay Customs Duty. We are taking time to warn people again that if you are buying a vehicle, ensure you verify that the vehicle pass through our command.

“If not, go and pay because our officers and men across the country will get you one day and impound the vehicle,” he warned.

Dimka thanked the Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi for equipping officers and men of the service and called on Nigerians to join hands with Customs in its war against smuggling and smugglers

Lagos to sanitise cooperative societies

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HE Lagos State govern ment has said it plans to sanitise cooperative societies in the state. It said it will soon start a revalidation exercise of cooperative societies in the state as a starting point.

Its State Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, said Area Officers from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives are already positioned for effective monitoring of activities of cooperative societies.

Also, as part of the measure, the number of Area Offices for monitoring has been increased from 15 to 20 so as to effectively and efficiently capture the societies.

“Every year, all cooperative societies now have to come for validation. This will enable us to know existing societies and those that are not; and those illegal ones will be taken out,” Lawal explained.

He also explained that efforts

By Muyiwa Lucas

to boost food security in the state have led it to join in the commemoration of the World Food Day, slated for October 16.

He said 3, 000 farmers will be empowered by the state government as a means of stimulating interest in food production for the state’s residents. These categories of farmers will include but not limited to food processors, fishermen, marketers, and others.

When properly articulated, Lawal said the initiative will enable the State attain its 2018 25 per cent target for food self sufficiency.

“We have given out forms to our cooperative societies.

There is no way we can produce enough food for the 22 million Lagosians, but we shall continue to increase our self sufficiency level. We have a target of reaching 25 per cent by 2016. We are sensitizing farmers and even going beyond Lagos state to get arable land. We started from five per

cent and now its 10 per cent and then we move to 25 per cent by 2016. We cannot do it alone,” he said, adding that the state has been able to secure arable land in other neighbouring states for interested farmers.

He said for instance, Lawal disclosed that Oyo State is giving the state 2, 000 hectares of arable land; Osun 1, 000 hectares, and Ogun 500 hectares for a start. He therefore charged farmers to see the ministry as partners to support them at all times because agriculture is now the way to go.

Earlier, Lawal had undertaken an inspection tour of the secretariat and multi-purpose building of the Lagos State Cooperatives Federation (LASCOFED), currently under construction. Although he commended the federation for their effort on the building, he however charged them to speed up work on the project.

Its President, Mr. Oriyomi Ayeola, said so far, N136.3

million has been spent on the project and blamed the slow pace of work on the reluctance of co-operators to pay the N200 project levy for the project.

Ayeola said the estimated two million co-operators in the state had responded timely for the levy, the project would have been long completed. He regrets that presently, the Federation has no structure that is befitting to be called the secretariat, unlike what other African countries’ cooperative federations have.

He listed the benefits inherent in the project to include a 20 and 25 per cent discount on rent for co-operators and societies respectively when using the facility.

He said: “We are appealing that you use your good office to help us ensure that this money gets to us on time.”

Lawal, therefore, directed the Permanent Secretary in the ministry to find a means of making co-operators pay the N200 levy for the project.

RESIDENT of Aviation Roundtable, Captain Deie Ore has canvassed a regulatory fleet consolidation process to be initiated

by Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), for the strengthening of local operators, adding that it should be supported by the National Assembly.

He said such regulatory fleet consolidation process would assist domestic carriers to have sizeable aircraft fleet to ensure safe and secured operations.

Ore said the proposal has become imperative because of the myriad of challenges domestic operators are struggling with in a hostile business climate.

He said investment in aviation has become unattractive because of low returns on investment that only high net worth entrepreneurs could dare venture into.

He said: “High net-worth Entrepreneurs should be encouraged to invest in the industry to facilitate the efficient funding and management of local airlines. A regulatory fleet consolidation process should be initiated by the NCAA with the backing of the National Assembly as a way of strengthening the local operators.”

He said many operators were struggling to keep their business afloat because of multiple charges and other disincentives.

Ore said: “The business climate is getting unfriendly .

This is becoming more disturbing because of the high cost of aircraft.

“It has become critical that all service providers to the airlines (public and private) should maintain a comprehensive insurance portfolio to mitigate damages to airlines’ equipment as provided for in Part 18 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation

Kelvin Osa Okunbor

Regulations of 2012.

The insurance premium paid by local operators is very high and worrisome and should be addressed by relevant authorities and organisations.

“As an industry, I am of the opinion that certification of our airports and other proactive economic indices will help to put the industry in the right path.

“The high cost of aviation fuel (JET A1) is affecting the profitability of the airlines.

The bridging of supply by fuel trucks and demurrage are part of the problems and should be addressed by government and marketers.

“The multiple entries, frequencies and capacities allocated to foreign airlines are adversely affecting the growth and survival of local operators.

“Government should therefore urgently review this trend in line with the stoppage of payment of royalties by foreign airlines.

“There is a need to review the certification and operations of private jets as safety and security of the nation is being threatened while nonscheduled operators are being short changed.

“We call for increased monitoring of economic regulation on the airlines by the NCAA to ascertain their financial health as provided for in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations in 2012.

“I encourage local operators to form alliances/cooperation in order to tap into the benefits of economics of scale and scope which will accrue from such exercise.

“The use of foreign registered aircraft with foreign crew denies Nigerians of employment and dilutes the Nigerian content provision.”

Insecurity in Northeast threatens rice production

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N the face of increasing security in the Northeast an expert, Prof Abiodun Adeloye said there is unrelenting pressure on farmers to grow more rice .

Speaking with The Nation, Adeloye, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Ilorin said the threat of Boko Haram has left the North lower in rice output, particulary the North -east part of the country.

Adeloye said there is increasing pressure on the land in the Northern part of the country which armed conflicts is producing low productivity.

According to him, there are substantial cases of insecurity, following Boko Haram attack on farmers and farm land .

This, he explained makes access to land difficult ,coupled, soil infertility, poor access to fertilisers and other inputs.

According to him, the deplorable condition has made farming more challenging.

The situation, he noted, has caused farmers to abort their initial expectations of increasing rice area.

In view of the severe lack of capacity in rice production, he said it was throttling the development of the rice sector.

By Daniel Essiet

He underlined the need to close the gap between consumption and production.This,however, requires strengthening the capacity of national programme to realise rice potential.

Adeloye said the country needs to develop competitive and equitable rice value chains, reduce imports, and enhance trade.

He expressed hope that the Rice Transformational Agenda would help the nation reduce reliance on imports by stimulating domestic production and offering new incentives for corporate investments in value chain activities The Deputy Director, Department of General Administration, Agricultural and Rural Management Institute(ARMTI),Dr Ademola Adeyemo said the rice sector is dominated by a largely fragmented production and milling industry, with limited new investment in either production or processing.

Besides, he added that there are constraints such as lack of consistent, reliable supply of high-grade paddy to the mills and the presence of viable large mills.

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BUSINESS AFRICA

Lagos investigates death in Chinese firm The Lagos State government said it has started preliminary investigations into the circumstances that led to the death of Nnamdi Solomon, 25, a junior worker with Linda Manufacturing Company, a Chinese firm located in Iju on the outskirts of the city.

The firm manufactures Expression hair attachment.

The death had provoked protest by its workers who alleged they have been unfairly treated. The state government has also shut the premises of the company indefinitely.

Nnamdi’s lifeless body was found at the backyard of the company last week.

One of the workers who is also a colleague of the deceased, Mary Okonkwo, said the late Nnamdi complained of stomach ache and complained to his supervisor, but instead of referring him to the hospital or

By Toba Agboola

allowing him to go home and take care of himself, he was asked to manage the condition be emduring the pains.

She said: “Nnamdi complained of stomach ache around 2pm on Wednesday and he reported to Madam Chidinma, his supervisor. He was asked to manage his condition.

However, there is a rule that if you miss work for like three times, no matter the reason(s), you will be sacked. There is a way they use to count the number of days.

“Nnamdi has missed wok for about three times as a result of illness in the past and he knew that if he should miss again, he will be sacked. And since they refused to allow him to go home so as to treat himself, he also tried to manage it as they have said.

“On Thursday, we saw his lifeless body inside the gutter at the backyard of the company, covered with cartons, they ordered all the staff not to say anything about it. They later called an ambulance o come and pick the body.

When asked whether there is any hospital within the company where Nnamdi would have been treated, she said: “We have a clinic which specialises in on first aid treatment. If you complain of anything, they will only give you paracetamol. If you sustain a serious injury, you are on your own.”

The workers also alleged that in spite of the closure of the company by the state government, there were still people working inside it.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), Dr Femi Oke-

Osanyintolu said the company has been shut down indefinitely on the order of state government.

He said there was no truth in the allegation that the company is still operating, adding that there are two companies operating within the premises.

Oke-Osanyintolu said: “It is not true that the company is operating. Those that you see going inside are the staff of another company within the same premises. Linda Manufacturing Company is not operating for now. They are the staff of Sophia Group, another company within the premises.”

He said the agency is at the moment investigating the death of Nnamdi.

He said the company will not be allowed to open till investigations are completed, adding that the company must also meet the conditions.

“We have put the situation under

control and we may not allow it to operate until after we have done our findings. They must also meet with the condition. That is, they have to follow the rules and regulations that have to do with occupational safety,” he said.

But the Head of Operation, Linda Manufacturing Company, Mr Monday Joseph said it is not true that the company does not have a well equipped hospital. He said in case it is a serious situation, workers are referred to another hospital close to the company.

He dismissed allegation about management not caring about the welfare of the workers as unfounded as the late Nnamdi did not appear sick on the day he died.

RAS expands to serve European and African regional carriers

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•From left: Commercial Sales Supervisor, Multichoice Nigeria; Busuyi Ogunduyile, Nigerian Ambassador to France , Ambassador Olufemi Ani, Rtd and General Manager, Marketing, MultiChoice Nigeria , Martin Mabutho during the DStv Estate Activation held in Victoria Garden City, Lekki, Lagos .

‘Business index soars, records 34 improvements’ says worldbank N IGERIA has recorded significant improvements in its Doing Business Index within the last four years, the World Bank’s Doing Business in Nigeria 2014 Report has revealed.

This year’s report is the third in a series of reports analysing business regulations across Nigeria.

The study, which benchmarked four regulatory areas such as starting a business; dealing with construction permits; registering property and enforcing contracts, also measured the progress made by the respective states since January 2010, when the last benchmarking exercise was conducted.

According to the report, from 2010 till date, the country recorded 34 improvements in its Ease of Doing Business Index, of which 13 focused on starting a business, eight on dealing with construction permits, 10 on registering property, and three on enforcing contracts.

Specifically, the report stated: “For the first time, Doing Business in Nigeria 2014 recorded reforms that make it easier to start a business. In nine states, it is now faster to register a new business with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

“Hiring new staff, computerisation, management training, opening a bank

desk within the Corporate Affairs Commission premises, and better tracking of applications were some of the measures taken to increase efficiency.”

It added, “By opening stamp-duty and tax registration offices in several new locations, the federal tax authority eliminated the need to travel out of state in Anambra, Cross River, Edo, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, and Zamfara.

“In Anambra, Delta, Lagos and Ogun, registering the business premises with the state authorities was streamlined. The average time required to deal with construction permits in Nigeria is 63 days—significantly faster than the sub-Saharan Africa average of 171 days.”

Speaking during the public presentation of the report in Abuja, the World Bank Country Director, Nigeria, Ms. Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly, said 22 states in Nigeria had recorded significant improvements in their Ease of Doing Business ratings within the period under review.

The states are: Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Jigawa,

Kaduna, Katsina, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers and Zamfara states.

She said: “Since 2005, Sub-National Doing Business Projects have benchmarked more than 355 locations in 55 countries and have recorded 389 business regulatory reforms. They measure progress in four regulatory areas, such as starting a business, dealing with construction permits, registering property and enforcing contracts.

“Twenty-two states have improved

in at least one of the four areas we measured. Most states have improved their business environment since 2010.

However, five states - Cross River, Niger, Ogun, Ekiti and Rivers stood out for introducing several high-impact reforms that narrowed the gap to best practices the most.”

Marie-Nelly noted that the improvement in the Ease of Doing Business in most of the states of the federation was a positive landmark for the Federal Government’s Doing Business and Investment Climate Reforms Programme, which it is currently implementing in partnership with the World Bank and DFID.

HEINLAND Air Service (RAS) has enjoyed a busy 12 months completing the expansion of its central European headquarters in Mönchengladbach, near Dusseldorf, Germany, with an enhanced facility, effectively twice the size.

It now offers a new, second largest hangar (4,300m2) including workshops and storage, plus space for six ATR 42/72 aircraft.

The overall 8,500m2 facility features an ever-growing spare parts warehouse, which includes many hard-tofind parts made available by the company’s “parting out” of surplus ATR aircraft. RAS has made the investment in response to continued demand from European carriers for expert maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services.

RAS will be showcasing its enhanced capabilities and resources at this week’s European Regions Airline Association General Assembly in Barcelona, Spain (Booth A13) and next month at Aviation Week’s MRO Europe Conference, during 7-9 October, at IFEMA Madrid, Spain.

Complementing its ATR network partner capabilities, RAS also has the flexibility to provide comprehensive EASA Part 145 approved MRO on other narrow-bodied aircraft including Airbus A318 to A321, Boeing 737Classic to NG. Other turboprop types, which RAS expertly maintains, repairs and overhauls, include the Bombardier Dash 8, Fokker F27 Mk050, Jetstream and Shorts 300 series.

“When they look closer, this region’s airlines discover that RAS offers them many unique advantages,” said Chief Operating Officer (COO), Walter Lange. “Our flexibility, convenience, competence and customer-focused services set us apart,” he said.

RAS has also announced the completion of its African facility at Eros Airport in Windhoek, Namibia; a venture announced at the ERA General Assembly 2013 in Salzburg.

Completion on a large new hangar at the RAS’ Aviation Centre makes for a convenient MRO destination for the country’s expanding regional carriers. New approvals have been recently received from Botswana and South Africa, enabling RAS’s Aviation Centre to become the Sub-Saharan destination for professional Embraer ERJ 135/145 MRO services.

Ladipo Market chief denies reconstruction claim

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HE Chairman, Ladipo International Auto Spare Parts Market, Kingsley Ogunor has denied claims that the multi-billionaire market is to be demolished and reconstructed.

In a statement, he said there was no time the leadership of the market sat to take such a crucial decision. He allayed fears of the shop owners, saying that they should go about their duties and that their tenancy was safe.

Ogunor said: “The main market is not a virgin land, like when the stake-

holders came together to reconstruct the adjacent called Aguiyi Ironsi Trade Centre. This is a portion of land that is duly occupied and pays its tenancy. Ladipo Main Market as at today is the parent market of Aguiyi Ironsi Trade Centre.”

He said though a portion of the land is a subject of litigation between the Mushin Local Government (LGA) and the Owoyemi family, the Lagos State House of Assembly was looking for an amicable resolution of the contentious 60 per cent/40 per cent sharing formula.

He said there was no communication

from the outgoing council chairman on the matter and that they even met last week on the issue.

In a report, the pioneer chairman of the association Mr Echefu Akachukwu alleged that the market would be rebuilt and shops reallocated under a 20year lease given to his firm in a deal with some banks. But Ogunor said was not true.

He said: “The unsuspecting public should disregard any communication or publications emanating from him because it is of no effect.’’

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

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INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

US unemployment rate hit a six-year low T

HE US unemployment rate dipped to 5.9 per cent in September, a six-year low, official figures have shown.

The rate fell from 6.1 per cent in August and is the lowest recorded since July 2008.

US Labour Department also said that employers added 248,000 jobs last month, and the job growth figures for August and July were revised upwards.

The jobs figures are seen as a significant gauge of the health of the economy and there has been much debate over when US interest rates will rise.

The US Federal Reserve has kept interest

rates close to zero since the financial crisis in 2008.

US markets cheered the news, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising over 100 points.

The US dollar was pushed higher as expectations rose that interest rates would go up sooner than previously predicted.

“The most important item in this report is the drop in the unemployment rate below six per cent. (Fed Chair Janet) Yellen has said there is only so much slack if the unemployment rate falls below six per cent,” said Christopher Low, chief economist at FTN Financial in New York.

The Federal Reserve’s stimulus programme, known as “quantitative easing”, is due to end this month. Its aim was to keep long-term interest rates low using the purchase of bonds, and thus to boost spending.

The Federal Reserve has indicated it will raise short term interest rates if the economy continues to grow. Janet Yellen has given no firm date for the rise, but the Fed has said the move will come at a “considerable time” after the stimulus programme ends.

“This (jobless) number will continue to support the notion that the economy is growing,” said Paul Nolte at Kingsview Asset Man-

agement in Chicago, “and it isn’t so strong that the Fed will raise rates anytime soon”.

The Labour Department said 69,000 more jobs were created in July and August than previously estimated. It also said nearly 100,000 jobseekers stopped looking for work in September.

The largest rise in employment was in professional and business services, including management and legal services, which saw an increase of 81,000 jobs in September.

The retail sector added 35,000 jobs compared with the previous month. Employment in the health care, construction and leisure and hospitality sectors also continued to increase.

B/A to resume flights between Kuala Lumpur, London

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RITISH Airways has announced that it will resume direct daily flights from Kuala Lumpur to London from May 27, 2015.

British Airways will be the only airline to offer premium economy seating between London and Kuala Lumpur.

The daily service will be operated by a fourcabin Boeing 777-200ER, featuring 12 seats in First, 48 in Club World business class, 32 in World Traveller Plus premium economy class and a further 127 in World Traveller economy class. The flight’s early morning arrival in London allows passengers a full day in the city or plenty of time to catch easy and convenient connecting flights to other destinations in the UK and Europe.

Jamie Cassidy, British Airways’ area general manager for the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, said: “It’s wonderful to be back in Malaysia.

We are starting the new flights in response to strong customer demand for direct flights to Kuala Lumpur.”

“As Malaysia’s economy grows, it is becoming an even more important trading partner with the UK, and Britain has long been a favourite destination for Malaysians to study, shop and experience its rich heritage.”

Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, Managing Director of Malaysia Airports, said: “I greatly welcome the return of British Airways to Malaysia. This announcement underlines the strength and vibrancy of the air travel market between the United Kingdom and Malaysia and I believe that this new route of British Airways will bring about positive impact of great proportions to both countries from the economical, political, social and cultural standpoints.

“To British Airways, I wish them best in their preparations to reconnect the two great cities of London and Kuala Lumpur and am confident that KLIA will add value and enhance British Airways’ huge global network.”

British Airways, then operating as Imperial Airways, first began flying to Malaysia on December 9, 1933 using an Armstrong Whitworth Atlanta. The flight left from London Croydon Airport and made 22 stops before eventually reaching Alor Star (now Alor Setar) nine days later, compared with 12 hours and 45 minutes for the new flight.

Another British Airways’ predecessor, BOAC, first started flying to Kuala Lumpur on August 1, 1956, using the Canadair Argonaut ‘Coronet’ service on the outbound route and the Lockheed Constellation ‘Majestic’ service on the return.

The airline suspended services to Kuala Lumpur in 2001 as global travel slowed after the 9/11 incident.

The flights will arrive at and depart from London’s Heathrow Terminal 5, named the world’s best airport terminal for three years running by travellers polled by Skytrax. T5 is known for its efficiency, convenience and world-class shopping and luxurious lounges, as well as easy connections to other places in Europe, the UK, Africa and the Americas. T5 is used exclusively by British Airways and its sister airline Iberia.

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•President Goodluck Jonathan (left) and Executive Director, Dangote Industry Limited, Mr Knut Ulvmoen, during his conferment of MFR honour by the President, last week in Abuja.

IMF approves $21.5b for sustainable growth

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HE International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Executive Board approved $21.5 billion in financing for member countries, in addition to $220 million in concessional financing for lowincome countries, the Managing Director, Christine Lagarde, has said.

She said the Board also reviewed facilities such as the Flexible Credit Line, the Precautionary and Liquidity Line, and the Rapid Financing instrument—to make sure that they continue to help countries as effectively as possible. The membership also agreed to transfer gold profits to help meet the financing needs of low-income members in the years ahead.

Her comments are contained in the IMF foreword to the institution’s Annual Report, 2014 titled, ‘From Stabilisation to Sustainable Growth, published over the weekend.

She said.since the crisis broke, the institution has provided training to all of its members and technical assistance to 90 percent of them, helping countries

design, build, and strengthen the institutions that make up the building blocks of economic success.

For the fourth straight year, the Fund increased its delivery of technical assistance, especially in lowincome countries, and increased spending on training. Demand for technical assistance continues to be strongest in the fiscal area, but it has been growing across all regions. Over the past year, the IMF launched new tools and courses, opened a new regional technical assistance center in Ghana, and received $181 million in new donor funds.

Seven years after the onset of the global financial crisis, the world still has a way to go to secure a sustainable recovery marked by strong growth that supports rapid job creation and benefits all, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director, Christine Lagarde, has said.

“The recovery is ongoing, but it is still too slow and fragile, subject to the vagaries of financial sentiment. Millions of people are still looking for work. The level of

uncertainty might be diminishing, but it is certainly not disappearing.” Ms. Lagarde said that “throughout the crisis and in the recovery period, the IMF has been, and continues to be, an indispensible agent of economic cooperation” for its membership.

The IMF has made it a priority to better integrate bilateral and multilateral monitoring and advice. The Managing Director’s Global Policy Agenda, laid out at both the Annual Meetings in 2013 and the Spring Meetings in 2014, emphasized the need to strengthen the coherence of policies and cooperation among policymakers. The priorities are clear: advanced economies need to focus on measured and wellcommunicated policy choices to secure the recovery; emerging markets need to strengthen their fundamentals, reduce their vulnerabilities, and step up structural reforms; and everyone needs to embrace cooperation and engage in dialogue.

BP asks court to reconsider ‘gross negligence’ ruling

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P has asked a US court to reconsider its ruling of “gross negligence” over a 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, which boosted its potential fines to around $18bn (£11.1bn).

BP said that Judge Barbier’s ruling in Louisiana was based on evidence he had said he would not consider in court.

For this reason, the oil company said the ruling should either be amended or there should be a new trial.

The incident killed 11 workers and was the worst offshore spill in US history.

The company has already set aside more than $42bn to cover the total cost of the accident.

BP said in a statement: “Through its motion, BP has asked the District Court to amend its September 4 Order or, in the alternative, to grant a new trial because the Court’s findings and conclusions are based substantially on expert witness opinions that the Court appropriately and expressly excluded from evidence at trial.

“Because those opinions were excluded by the Court, they cannot support key aspects of the Court’s findings, which should therefore be set

aside. “... the Court should order a new trial to permit BP to explore the lack of basis for the witness’s opinion.”

Judge Barbier had ruled that BP should shoulder 67 per cent of the blame for the spill, with drilling rig owner, Transocean, responsible for 30 per cent and cement firm, Halliburton responsible for 3 per cent.

He ruled that BP would be “subject to enhanced civil penalties” due to its “gross negligence” and “wilful misconduct”.

US, EU ‘make progress’ in free trade area talks

FFICIALS from the United States and the European Union say they have made progress as they seek to sweep away trade barriers.

Teams from the two sides have held a week of discussions in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

If successful an agreement would create the world’s biggest free trade zone.

The chief US negotiator, Dan Mullaney, said the ultimate goal is to “create opportunities for job creating trade and investment”.

They are trying to do that by eliminating tariffs (taxes on imported goods) and removing what Mr Mullaney called “non-tariff obstacles”.

This was the seventh formal round in an exercise that began last year.

Mr Mullaney said they have “progressed from discussing general approaches to the spadework of reviewing the many proposals that each side has put on the table.”

The planned agreement is known as the TransAtlantic Trade and Investment Partnership or TTIP. At a closing press conference, the chief negotiators from the two sides declined to give a timetable for finishing the exercise, insisting that it’s important to get it right.

But while trade officials get on with detail, some of the general principles continue to generate vocal opposition.

Perhaps the most controversial area is the provision for foreign investors to go to an interna-

tional tribunal for compensation if a government breaks the rules in a way that harms the company’s interests.

The EU has held a public consultation on the provision and is currently analysing the responses.

The Chief European negotiator, Ignacio Garcia Bercero, said there was no discussion of that during the latest talks.

The opposition to this idea has been taken up by the German government, so it remains uncertain whether it would appear in any final agreement.

Other critics are concerned that an agreement will drive down standards of consumer protection and food safety and will cost jobs.

They also complain that the texts that negotiators are working on are not made public.

Polly Jones of the World Development Movement says: “until there is public scrutiny of the negotiating texts, we do not know what standards are being lowered.”

Director of War on Want, John Hilary, argues that TTIP undermines democracy.

He says some of the provisions would result in government regulations effectively being subject to a “vetting process” by private business, if the plans to enable companies to sue governments and for business representatives to sit on regulatory bodies go ahead.

The negotiators say standards won’t be lowered and that they are open to a wide range of views.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

29

ISSUES Access to adequate, secured and timely supply of quality seedlings has been a pain in the neck of farmers. It constitutes one of the major hurdles on the nation’s way to achieving food self-sufficiency, writes DANIEL ESSIET.

Why access to quality seedlings is key to agricultural growth

W

ITH an abundance of tillable land, untapped water, and an eager labour force, the push for massive expansion of agricultural production to achieve food security should be a smooth sail. But this has not been the case. Although the Federal Government, riding on the back of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) that has seen a renewed interest in investing in the sector, sought to reduce food insecurity, improve families’ nutrition and promote economic growth, experts say that timely supply of adequate and quality seedlings to farmers remains an issue.

Some of them argued that Nigeria requires a long-term seeds strategy that can guarantee timely access to adequate and quality seedlings to farmers if the ATA must become a reality.

The Director, Africa Region, Cassava Adding Value to Africa (CAVA), Dr. Kola Adebayo is one of them. Adebayo said seeds are the most important input in all crop-based agriculture and a prerequisite for food production. He noted that without good seeds, farmers don’t have chance of a good harvest.

While improved varieties are available for almost all staple crops, Adebayo said many Nigerian farmers still use seed of a narrow selection of varieties from their previous harvests or other unregulated sources. According to him, farmers rely on the practice of saving, exchanging and reusing harvested seeds as their main source of planting materials. After harvests, they select grains, store them, and then use them for the following farming season.

Such practice, Adebayo said, leaves most farmers uncertain about variety identity and seed quality, a situation that throws up issues around disease and pest infestation, genetic and physical purity, and germination rate. He pointed out, for instance, that many farmers have had to plant seeds that carry viruses and/ or bacteria. “In the growing plants, these viruses and bacteria can cause wilt, which leads to lower yields,” he told The Nation.

The Director, CAVA reiterated that sustainable improvement of crop productivity is necessary to address the challenge of food insecurity. Seeds, he explained, is the basis for crop improvement, allowing farmers and plant breeders to develop cultivars with high levels of adaptation.

He said this is why a lot of efforts are put into breeding improved varieties in terms of yield and tolerance to production limitations such as drought and diseases .

Adebayo noted that improved varieties and hybrid seeds have became key ingredients of green revolution, which is why Federal Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, is encouraging farmers to use seed species and varieties that are adapted to the growing environment. Already, government has since developed a number of improved, early maturing, stable, and drought tolerant varieties of millet, maize, cassava, and cowpea,

•Beans

which are later used for distribution and multiplication.

However, Adebayo said the formal seed sector can only provide for a fraction of the certified seed requirements for farmers. Besides, majority of the farmers acknowledged the benefits of using these varieties, but the main reason for not using them is the nonavailability, poor accessibility and lack of extension advice. He explained however, that farmers’ access to quality seeds depends on the types available and the mode of supply.

The Director observed, for instance, that advances in breeding particularly the rise of modern genetics for hybrid seed development have put the selection of seeds on a firm scientific basis. He said farmers benefit from improved seed varieties because of increased expected yields and reduced need for pesticides. Besides, there is simpler and less expensive weed control with herbicide tolerant plants. But such benefits come at a price. For instance, farmers pay high price for hybrid seeds.

While the adoption of improved varieties

has been significant, a Consultant at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (ITTA), Prof Lateef Sanni, said the share of total seed supply remains low.

While pointing out that local production and distribution of good quality seeds is an important aspect of agriculture, he said that maintaining seeds quality is very important prior to planting. This, he explained, is because older mother plants are more susceptible to diseases.

He stressed that it is important to maintain the quality of seeds to allow farmers to eliminate possible sources of disease and abnormality. Sanni said farmers have become more aware of the importance of high quality seeds, new varieties, and seed multiplication techniques. And with the support of the Federal Government, he said, the agriculture sector is benefitting from a national programme that is supporting the existing seed system through the provision of varieties from research centres.

The approach, according to him, aims to increase and speed up farmers’ access to novel types, while at the same time strength-

‘

Lack of awareness of the importance of improved seeds coupled with unavailability of same make farmers resort to the use of own saved seeds with resultant low productivity. Most Nigerian farmers obtain seeds either from the previous season’s crop or purchase grains in the open market and plant without regards to genetic purity. Hence, their average yields are among the lowest in the world•

’

ening the existing institutional and social networks which supply seeds to farmers on a continuous basis. The effort, he disclosed, started with an assessment of the existing seed systems. This meant looking at the factors, which guide farmers’ preferences, at the institutions which provide access to these varieties, and at how the flow of existing and new genotypes can be continued.

For the National Programme Director, West African Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP), Prof Damian Chikwendu, WAAPP has been providing support to research institutes to breed and propagate local rice varieties and provide seeds and ecological awareness to farmers. The project, he said, has been very effective in spreading new varieties through farmer multiplication activities.

With its local distribution channels, the programme has recorded success in improving the dissemination, accessibility and availability of quality seeds of the adopted improved varieties.

According to Chikwendu, newly introduced varieties has become part of the farmer stock, and the importance of the multiplication, repayment and exchange system is well recognised by the farmers after their experience with such seeds. He explained that farmers’ efforts to explore certified seeds and varieties are higher without the support of the government.

He however, said that to guarantee the production of good seeds, the varieties have to undergo a process of certification.

As the WAAPP Programme Director explained, the certification process involves accredited seed growers who must adhere to the technical guidelines set by the National Seed Council whose mandate is to test and certify foundation seeds developed by the research institutes. Once the • Continued on page 30

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

30

ISSUES

Why access to quality seedlings is key to agricultural growth •Continued from page 29

improved varieties entered the system, WAAPP encourages farmers to ensure that the seeds are returned through repayment to enable other farmers take advantage of it. He however, regretted that seed repayment rates are low mainly due to poor availability of storage facilities, little monitoring and follow up, and lack of awareness in general.

He said farmers have certain expectations from new crop varieties as promised by the breeders. To realise these expectations, seeds of new varieties must be made available to the farmers in adequate quantity and quality and at affordable prices.

Unfortunately, however, the Nigerian seed industry, according to Chikwendu, has not fully developed and does not have the capacity to perform this role very well. He disclosed, for instance, that the current national seed uptake is less than 10 per cent, while the regulatory and enforcement capacity in the industry has been weak.

Through training, WAAPP has increased awareness about the benefits of repayment and has been helping farmers keep the returned seeds until redistributed.

Chikwendu said WAAPP Nigeria is train Nigerian breeders in India to help the nation improve on breeding technologies. He acknowledged that government has limited resources and cannot meet the communities’ seed requirements.

The Nation learnt that despite the presence of commercial seed growers, the challenge of meeting farmers’ seed requirements persists. Besides, farmers often complain of the quality of the seeds being delivered, the efficiency of the seed delivery system and the availability of the volume of seeds required.

But as a form of quality assurance, the research institutes maintain a core population of good seeds. They clean the seeds after harvest and ensure that moisture content is standard before seeds are given to farmers.

Seed banks, companies to the rescue Chikwendu recommends that Nigeria needs seed companies to develop and sell seeds for different crop varieties. Commercial seed companies, according to him, select seeds for characteristics such as high yield, quality and resistance to pests and diseases. For Sanni, seed banks could do the magic. According to him, community seed banks function very much like commercial banks only that the transfers are not in money but in seeds.

Community seed banks collect, grow and store seed to distribute to farmers. Seeds of food crops that are stored in the bank are provided free of charge to members of a seed bank. The member then sows the seed and after harvesting the crop, returns double the amount of seeds to the seed bank. To ensure the continuous quality of seeds managed by the seed bank, members set down some rules such as banning the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Some seed banks earn some income from processing activities, adding value to crop produce.

Sanni said local farmers can start a seed bank to conserve local seeds and crops so farmers can use them. By promoting seed bank, he said farmers are taught to save the seeds from their favourite vegetable and flower varieties that grow in their own backyards. The seeds are then collected and stored in the seed bank and made available to the community. Some seeds are sold to the public, while others are distributed free to seed bank members on the condition that they will grow, save, and return to the bank double the amount of seed taken.

Under the seed-bank model, no one farm or garden is responsible for growing all the seeds for the community. Instead, with many different growers saving just one or two varieties, the risk of seed contamination by cross-pollination can be minimized, and a crop failure in one garden does not jeopardize the whole seed supply.

Seed-bank model, its many challenges Interesting as the seed bank model is, it is

•Sanni

•Chikwendu

‘

Newly introduced varieties has become part of the farmer stock, and the importance of the multiplication, repayment and exchange system is well recognised by the farmers after their experience with such seeds

’

not without challenges. Adebayo said, for instance, that poor farmers have tended to lack confidence, knowledge and resources to fully experiment and take the risk in the first instance to experiment with new seeds. Another challenge, he said, is encouraging farmers to adapt sustainable farming techniques. To encourage farmers, certified seeds from the formal sector need to be integrated and diffused into the farmers’ seed system through the practice of saving, re-using and exchanging seeds.

Experts identify other challenges of community seed banks to include lack of policy, lack of common understanding of community seed banks, low coverage, lack of capacity building efforts, declining interest from farmers, and limited scientific knowledge of the replacement of local varieties by hybrids and modern varieties, among others.

The way out According to Adebayo, the development and maintenance of a sustainable seed supply system is essential to improve food security, especially in conditions where farmers’ seed stocks have been severely affected, or farmers have become dependant on relief aid. The main goal of community seed banks, he maintained, is to promote plant genetic resources conservation. He therefore, argued that there is need for government to promote community seed banks to increase food production through increased seed replacement rates and increased availability of farmer preferred varieties.

For a start, government, he recommended, must develop guidelines and pilot its own community seed banks and also strengthen local institutions, improve information systems, and also mainstream community seed banks into the national system. He also made a case for the formation of policy and

•Adebayo

‘

‘

Farmers rely on the With the support of the practice of saving, Federal Government, exchanging and re-using the agriculture sector is benefitting from harvested seeds as their main source of planting anational programme materials. After harvests, that is supporting the they select grains, store existing seed system them, and then use them through the provision for the following of varieties farming season. from research centres.

’

legal mechanisms and the establishment of a seed revolving fund. Besides, there is need to develop a mechanism for providing subsidies and registration of community seed banks in the government system as well as linking community seed banks with the national genebank or seed bank.

Imperatives of implementing the recommendations As far experts in the agric sector are concerned, lack of awareness of the importance of improved seeds coupled with unavailability of same make farmers resort to the use of own saved seeds with resultant low productivity. Most Nigerian farmers obtain seeds either from the previous season’s crop or purchase grains in the open market and plant without regards to genetic purity hence their average yields are among the lowest in the world.• The experts also note that the realisation of the importance of the utilisation of seeds, coupled with the attendant increased productivity has led to the need for the emergence of small and medium scale seed producers in rural areas, just as seed delivery system has become a critical foundation for all the intervention programmes being put in place to mitigate the food crisis.

They also note the impact of high quality seedlings on national food security and other government initiatives as well as the implementation of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) harmonized regulatory framework, which advocated compulsory certification of all classes of seeds, and endorsed the establishment of satellite seed testing laboratories in each member state.

Experts also identify the lack of trust in local seed markets as a problem even for large commercial farmers, some of who have

’

invested heavily to plant hundreds of acres with high yield hybrids that simply didn’t germinate. For small-scale farmers, fear of counterfeits leaves commercial seeds out of the question: when a failed harvest means outright hunger, any risk is considered too big to take.

Nigeria’s seed sector is said to have evolved over the last 30 years in terms of seed science and commercial seed production capabilities. However, the sector is still under-performing in terms of meeting the agricultural seed needs of the country. Consequently, government imported rice seeds in 2012, while vegetable seeds are still mostly imported through informal channels.

The development and performance of the seed sector is constrained by many factors which include weak technical capacity, poor market mechanisms, inefficient enforcement of seed law, information asymmetry, insufficient capital investment and low utilization of innovations.

However, in a bid to address the above challenges, the Federal Government, through the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) is supporting the Community Based Seed Development Scheme aimed at making high quality seeds available in the rural areas.

In addition, the Community Based Seed System is expected to increase seed adoption rates and reduce drastically the use of farmers’ saved seed through the production of improved seed in the rural areas.

NASC, in a bid to enhance the production, processing and marketing of improved seeds in the rural areas, is also providing a motorised maize shellers, rice reapers, mobile seed processing plants and NASCbranded agro-seed dealer kiosks.

Can these interventions do the magic?

Time, they say, will tell.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

31

MONEYLINK

AMCON to redeem N1tr bonds this month

T

HE Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) is expected to redeem N1 trillion out of its N5.7 trillion bonds. The bonds redemption is expected to raise the liquidity levels in the market and based on analysts’ assessment, will impact on interbank rates.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Access Bank Nigeria Plc, Seyi Kumapayi said his bank has N65 billion AMCON bonds which will be redeemed within the month.

Already, increased government spending ahead of next year’s gen-

Stories by Collins Nweze

eral elections is taking liquidity pressure on the economy to new heights.

Head of Research, Standard Chartered Bank, Razia Khan said the liquidity surge in liquidity, which set in this month, was foreseen by at the last Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, hence the interest rate was left unchanged at 12 per cent.

“The decision at the last MPC meeting was largely as expected – with all rates kept on hold. While

mention was made of the upward pressure on inflation, with the CBN stating that it would be carefully monitoring liquidity levels, the committee nonetheless restated the governor’s goal of lower interest rates in the long-term,” she said.

She said the committee’s position raises key questions around how the CBN might react when liquidity pressures are even more pronounced than they are now.

Khan said the macro-prudential measures announced by the CBN, the increased capital requirement for Bureau De Change (BDCs)

should help at the margin. But global factors will also be keys – with much pointing to a confluence of greater pressures in fourth quarter of 2014.

Continuing, she said while the long-term goal may well be lower rates to boost private sector credit, to achieve some level of policy accommodation in order to ‘support’ the real economy, the way in which the CBN chooses to navigate upcoming challenges will be carefully monitored.

“Maintaining faith in the stability of the foreign exchange rate,

Ecobank’s Giant Prize promo excites customers

T

HE recently introduced Giant Prize Give Away promotion by Ecobank is beginning to have positive impact as prospective customers besieged the various branches of the lender for enquiries on account opening procedures.

Investigations in some of the branches of the bank showed customer relation officers attending to prospective customers’ enquiries.

According to one of the prospective customers, he decided to commence business relationship with the bank because of the various prizes outlined in the promo and excellent service delivery the bank is noted for.

Ecobank Nigeria recently unveiled the promo to reward existing and new customers who actively operate their current and savings accounts. The promo, which is the second edition, commenced in September through February 2015. It gives participating customers opportunity to win over N10 million cash and loads of other prizes at both monthly and

grand draws through to the end of the promotion.

Announcing the exercise in Lagos, Deputy Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Tony Okpanachi, said the lender decided to reintroduce the promo because of the success recorded in the first edition. He noted that feedback from customers was positive and impressive, adding that, Ecobank is firmly committed to rewarding its loyal customers, even as it offers them the best of banking services.

According to him, “Ecobank is

D

EPUTY Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, has congratulated Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (GMD/CEO) of Diamond Bank Plc, Dr. Alex Otti on the conferment on him, the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) by President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2014 National Merit Awards.

Ihedioha, who spoke at a dinner

Offer Price

AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND

168.40 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.69 1.39 1,686.30 1,131.76 122.87 121.16 1,117.51 1.2381 1.2875 0.8705 1.0829

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

in Abuja to honour the bank chief, said that Otti was a rare bred Nigerian whose intellect, character, integrity and work ethic have singled him out as a man that aims for excellence and great results in all that he does.

“Dr. Otti has distinguished himself as a seasoned banker as evidenced in the impressive growth of Diamond Bank under his leadership. His footprints, so far, chal-

Transaction Dates 29/09/2014 24/09/2014 22/09/2014 ECONOMIC INDICATORS

8.5%

Monetary Policy Rate

12.0%

CHANGE

Foreign Reserves Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

11.21

12.35

10.17

IKEJAHOTEL

1.82

2.00

9.89

INTENEGINS

0.55

0.59

7.27

SKYEBANK

2.70

2.87

6.30

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

FCMB

4.25

4.51

6.12

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

UBN

8.95

9.39

4.92

15.08

15.75

4.44

AFRIPRUD

3.20

3.30

3.13

ABCTRANS

0.66

0.68

3.03

NEM

0.77

0.79

2.60

SYMBOL INTERLINK GUINNESS PZ NAHCO

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CHANGE

4.90

4.66

-4.90

204.24

195.70

-4.18

33.25

32.15

-3.31

5.15

4.98

-3.30

Unity Bank’s Q3 pretax profit leaps to N12b

U

NITY Bank said on Friday that its pretax profit for the first nine months of its financial year jumped to N12.01 billion ($73.13 million) from N1.20 billion in the same period last year.

Revenue also rose to N48.77 billion from N45.39 billion last year, it said in a filing with the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) this year, approved the appointment of Mr. Henry James Semenitari as the managing director and chief executive officer of Unity Bank Plc. With the approval, Semenitari replaced Rislanudeen Muhammad, who had been holding forte in acting capacity since the departure of Ado Yakubu Wanka, who resigned in August 2013.

Semenitari has valued and consistent banking experience in operations, internal control, commercial and retail banking, consumer banking, corporate banking (Energy) among others acquired from various banks over a 22-year career.

RETAIL DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM (RDAS)

Inflation: August

LOSERS AS AT 02-10-14

even in the face of these challenges, in an environment of low Treasury Bills yields will be key,” she said.

DATA BANK

CHAMPION

CCNN

lenge us as a nation to move on to more progressive accomplishments. His entrepreneurial efforts, particularly in promoting entrepreneurship across the country, have also been outstanding and we are assured that this honour will encourage him as he continues to play pivotal roles in the banking industry and to humanity at large,” the Deputy Speaker said.

Bid Price 168.06 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.68 1.33 1,686.30 1,131.08 122.06 120.30 1,116.70 1,2298 1,2875 0.8539 1.0829

GAINERS AS AT 02-10-14

SYMBOL

vantage.

While encouraging non customers to walk into any Ecobank branch and open an account, he explained that to qualify for monthly draws, under the classic and direct category, a customer needs to make fresh deposits of N10, 000 into their current or savings accounts each month for 60 days, adding that depositing multiples of N10, 000 gives the customer more chances of winning and maintaining a minimum of N10, 000 for 150 days qualifies the customer for the grand draw.

Deputy Speaker lauds Diamond Bank chief

Name

• UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

committed to reward its customers and contribute significantly to the growth of the Nigerian economy.

As the largest Pan African banking network in Africa, Ecobank is the best platform to provide economic empowerment to our peoples across Africa hence its determination to build scale in Nigeria through products and services that provide convenience and value for customers.”

Okpanachi further explained that to ensure numerous customers benefit from the various prizes; the promo has been categorised into two - Classic and Direct, and Ad-

• AMCON CEO, Mustapha Chike-Obi

Money Supply (M2)

Amount Sold in ($) 499.95m 349.96m 349.96m

CBN EXCHANGE RATES September 29, 2014

Currency

Buying (N)

Selling (N)

$39.5b

US Dollar

154.70

155.71

$97.9

Pounds Sterling

250.7724

252.3929

Euro

200.3394

201.634

Swiss Franc

165.7385

166.8095

Yen

1.445

1.4544

CFA

0.286

0.306

231.3531

232.8481

25.1773

25.3409

N16.42 trillion.

N17.2 trillion 16.5%

NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

Tenor

Amount Offered in ($) 500m 350m 350m

19-09-14 Rate (%) Rate (%) 29-09-14

WAUA Yuan/Renminbi

Overnight (O/N)

11.00

10.917

Riyal

41.259

41.5256

1M

12.464

12.393

SDR

232.156

233.6562

3M

13.281

13.201

6M

14.205

14.110

FOREX RATES

MAYBAKER

1.17

1.72

-2.82

HONYFLOUR

4.10

4.00

-2.44

R-DAS ($/N)

157.29

157.29

EVANSMED

2.10

2.05

-2.38

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

162.75

RTBRISCOE

0.87

0.85

-2.30

ETERNA

3.82

3.74

-2.09

Parallel ($/N)

167.50

167.50

NPFMCRFBK

1.02

1.00

-1.96

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

Sept. 29, 2014

Rates

T-bills - 91

10.10

T-bills - 182

10.22

T-bills - 364

10.30

Bond - 3yrs

11.52

Bond - 5yrs

11.55

Bond - 7yrs

12.13

32

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 3-10-14

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 3-10-14

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

33

EQUITIES

How Oteh’s reelection as AMERC chair’ll T aid Nigeria HE reelection of the Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms. Arunma Oteh as chairperson of the African/Middle East Regional Committee (AMERC) is a further boost to Nigeria’s credentials in the international community, analysts have said.

They said this appointment is not just a good commendation, but speaks volume of how Nigeria is being perceived out there by discerning publics, and is a testament to the fact that the country’s leadership potential is overwhelming.

Ms. Oteh was reelected unopposed at the 39th annual conference of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, based on the experience that she has garnnered, as well as the quality leadership Nigeria has provided over the years.She is to head AMERC for the next two years.

By this election, Oteh is to serve on the Executive Committee, the highest decision making organ of the global body for the next two years. Saudi Arabia was re elected and Egypt was elected for two years.

In her acceptance speech, said her election as AMERC chair is a demonstration of the confidence on her, her team at SEC and Nigeria as a whole. She pledged to be a loud voice representing the Region’s interest and commitment, assuring that the Region will do its best to uphold the goals and ideals of the global body.

She said: “We believe that our work is very important to IOSCO and that it is very important to the market. One of the things we have achieved in the last two years, has been greater inclusion and cohesion. This has not come from the work of the executive alone, but by the work of all of us.

“I am excited about the opportunity given us to lead this Commit-

By Taofik Salako, Capital Market Editor

tee again for the next two years, and we will continue to ensure that our committee is the best in IOSCO.” Oteh disclosed that there is an increasing focus on the capital market away from banking and finance, as banks are still dealing with the challenges of the global financial crisis, adding that the challenge for the regulators is to raise an enabling environment that would not increase risk for the investors and operators.

She said capital markets are very critical to the economy of every nation. The capital market is really the answer, as it does not only provide financing but creates the environment where the right products are available. We come together to support each other in enforcement, share information because we believe the world is global Ms. Oteh, said IOSCO has suc-

ceeded so far because of co-operation between countries, adding that in AMERC, “we can focus on the things that are most important to us and it is heartwarming that we are making progress in our respective countries,” Oteh added.

She stated that her priority would be to build capacity among AMERC- member countries and promote the integrity of the securities’ markets to engender investor confidence which are critical to the development of the AMERC capital markets and economies.

Her words: “I will do my best and will continue to rely on your support to ensure that AMERC continues to grow stronger and stronger.

We will embrace global best practices to ensure that our markets are world class markets.”

Ms. Oteh described the regional meetings as very critical because it is a forum for all members to share lessons and address some of the issues that are most pertinent for the

Region.

She described the theme of this year’s meeting: ‘Market based financing for global growth, A forward looking approach,’ as apt at a time when there is greater recognition in the countries and globally about the value of capital markets, notably for job creation through funding, SMEs or large companies through fostering economic inclusion and also to meet the huge infrastructure financing requirement.

In his remarks, Chairman of IOSCO Board, Greg Medcraft, said the organisation is determined to build on the changes and the good work it has done in the past to ensure that markets can fund the real economy and drive economic growth globally which in turn he said, would improve standard of living.

Medcraft also emphasised the ongoing innovation driven complexities in production, markets and technology adding “we are living in a digital world and we have to stay above the game by recognising the risks early and putting measures in place to nip it early.

“Digital disruptions to business models is a serious challenge and it is important that we as regulators understand how to mitigate risks.”

Medcraft disclosed that there are great opportunities in the global capital markets, but added that regulators need to set their priorities right in order to access such opportunities.

As a first step, he said IOSCO is committed to supporting members by designing a funding a sustainable capacity building programmes which actually meets their needs and also continue to focus on system information of principles and standards.

IOSCO was established in 1983 as the standard setter for the securities industry worldwide and currently has over one hundred ordinary members. IOSCO is recognised as the leading international policy forum for securities regulators. The organisation’s membership regulates more than 95% of the world’s securities markets in over 100 jurisdictions and its membership is steadily growing.

Africa Prudential Registrars Plc hosts maiden investors’ forum

A

AFRICA Prudential Registrars Plc (APR), one of the foremost registrars in Nigeria, last week hosted its maiden Investors’ Forum themed “Building a stronger and more vibrant capital market; the Role of Registrar” highlighting the importance of delivering a customer-focused, technologically driven service for corporations.

The Investors’ Forum is taking place following the launch of her e-Registrar Solutions (eRS), the first of its kind in the share registration business in Nigeria, and a marked departure from conventional share registration practices.

The solutions which now form the benchmark for e-Share registration services across West Africa are designed to allow access to personalized information anytime, anywhere, via a secure portal. The eRS is a selection of innovative share registration portals, including SharePortal designed for shareholders; ClientHall for Client Companies; BrokerOnline for Stockbroking firms; and RightOnline for processing of Right Issues. Each of the portals boasts of unique time and costsaving features.

The forum, which drew participants from businesses across Nigeria, along with the launch of the e-Registrar portals are driving a change within the industry to become best-in-class across Africa.

•From left: Head International relations Division, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria, Mr. O. W Akpan, Head Kano Zonal Office of SEC, Adamu Sambo, Ms. Oteh and the Executive Commissioner, Corporate Services SEC, Rt.Hon. Garuba Zakawanu in Rio de Janeir.

F

Stakeholders laud Wema Bank’s forum

OR stakeholders who graced the Wema Bank’s trade forum, the bank deserves commendation.

According to a cross-section of participants at the forum, the interface and discussion session were not only enriching but opened new vista of opportunities in the major commanding heights of the economy.

Justifying the need for the event, Mr. Segun Oloketuyi, Managing Director of Wema Bank plc, said the trade forum was part of efforts aimed at sensitising stakeholders on developments within the sector as well as bring various parties – stakeholders and regulators together to discuss issues, challenges and chart a way forward for future development and policy formulation.

Oloketuyi also said that as part of the ongoing positive transformation at Wema Bank, the bank was well poised to support businesses in the areas of trade and structured finance. He further disclosed that in recent times, Wema Bank has attracted over USD100million in

lines of credit for foreign trade and another USD50million in structured finance lines from various institutions.

The Deputy Comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Services, Aber T Benjamin spoke on the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) scheme, which was introduced by the Nigerian Customs Service in 2013 to fasttrack the clearance of cargo and reduce costs at the nation’s ports. He also went ahead to introduce the new web-based trade portal of the Nigeria Customs Services to handle a customer’s end-to-end trade needs.

Echoing similar sentiments, Onyinye Ahuchogu, Deputy Director, Trade & Exchange Dept, Central Bank of Nigeria commended Wema Bank for the strides it has made in the past four years.

She also implored all stakeholders. She also spoke of the CBN’s partnership with other relevant institutions in making the international trade process simple and effective in Nigeria.

One of the initiatives that came into being as a result of this partnership is the electronic form M. In recent times, Wema Bank has invested significantly in IT infra-

structure to boost service delivery to its customers and provide excellent, value-adding services. It was also disclosed at the forum that the bank has recently completed a webbased poertal to enable its customers conduct their international trade transactions from the comfort of their offices with minimal interactions with the branches.

Established in 1945, Wema Bank is Nigeria’s longest surviving indigenous financial institution. The Bank offers a range of corporate, retail, SME, electronic banking and financial advisory services to its numerous customers.

Caverton Helicopters wins ‘safety conscious contractor of the year’ award actively ready to learn from previN recognition of its 75 million

I

Lost Time Injury (LTI) free man-hour, The Production Directorate of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria has awarded Caverton Helicopters the Safety Conscious Contractor of the Year Award.

Caverton was nominated and

won the award in the Medium and High Risk category. The justification for the award according to Shell: “Caverton Helicopters developed safety programs to improve staff safety culture. Raising the bar engagement sessions, Safety Survey and ‘Aim for Zero’ Campaign and

ous incidents”.

The award ceremony which took place at Shell Port Harcourt was received by the Base Managing Pilot on behalf of Caverton Helicopters. Caverton Helicopters is a subsidiary of Caverton Offshore Support Group PLC (COSG).

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THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS INSURANCE

NIA seeks Fed Govt’s intervention in CITA I

NSURERS under the aegis of the Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA) have led a delegation to the Federal Government to seek the suspension or waiver of some sections of the Companies’ Income Tax Act (CITA) 2007, which is threatening the insurance industry.

The insurers complained to the Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, who received them in his office in Abuja that the law places a heavy tax burden on insurance companies operating in Nigeria, thus making it unattractive to investors.

The NIA chairman, Mr. Godwin Wiggle who made the position of the insurers known to the government, also congratulated Yuguda on the conferment of the national award of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on him by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The NIA helmsman said the obnoxious law placed a cap on expenses and claims payable by insurance companies, adding that it was discouraging foreign direct investment in the insurance sector.

He urged the minister to assist the industry by setting in motion the process of amending the law to reflect present day realities and in line with global trends and best practices. He said: “Whilst congratulating you, I wish to take this opportunity to draw the attention of the Minister of State to the crippling effects of CITA 2007 on insurance business.

Stories by Omobola Tolu-Kusimo

“The law expects insurance companies to pay 20 per cent of their premium as tax irrespective of expenses or losses incurred. We believe that it is not only punitive, it is also anti-investment.”

Wiggle supported his position with a brief presentation to the minister highlighting some of the critical sections in CITA 2007. He said: “These are losses carried forward. Section 14(7) of the Companies Income Tax Act (CITA), 2007 as amended restricts the number of years over which an insurance company can carry forward its tax losses to four years.

“The basis for calculation of unexpired risk; this has to do with adoption of different basis for the computation of minimum tax payable by insurance companies. This is as specified in Section 14(8)(b) and Section 14(9)(c) of CITA 2007.

This basis differs significantly from that adopted for other Nigerian companies.

“It also includes the minimum tax. Section 14(8) (a) prescribing percentage basis of calculation of reserves for unexpired risks for tax purposes rather than time apportionment which is prescribed in Section 20(1) (a) of the Insurance Act 2003.

“There is the issue of deductibility. Section 14(8) (b) of CITA amendment provides for the restriction of other reserves, claims and outgoings for the purpose of

• From left: Deputy Chairman, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Mr. Eddie Efekoha, Chairman Mr. Godwin Wiggle, Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda and Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel when the NIA Chairman and members of the Governing Council during a courtesy visit to Minister of State for Finance in Abuja

computing taxes payable by insurance companies.”

The NIA Chairman implored the minister to convene a meeting of key stakeholders, which will include the Federal Inland Revenue service, the National Insurance Commission, Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigerian Insurers Association with a view to critically assessing the relevant provisions of the Act and make recommendation on the way forward.

The Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel, also appealed to the minister to assist the insurance

companies to resolve the issue of heavy taxation placed on them by the law. He said: “I will very much appreciate your intervention. We have tried so much in the past but we have not been able to make much headway on the matter. I am sure that with your intervention, there will be light at the end of the tunnel. We will be grateful if the minister will do this for the companies.”

Replying, Yuguda expressed surprise that such a law had been in existence since 2007 without any concrete move to address it. He

T

HE Senate has confirmed Chinelo Anohu-Amazu as Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom).

The Director- General was recently nominated by President Goodluck Jonathan in a letter to Senate President, David Mark, asking the upper chamber to confirm her appointment.

In the letter, President Jonathan said the appointment was in consonance with the provisions of the

promised to give his support to the association and provide the political push to help the industry solve the problem.

“I am surprised that this law has been in existence since 2007.

Yes, government wants income from taxes but not taxes that will kill businesses. Once I have your position paper on this matter, I will set up a committee and I promise to give it my support and the needed political push to ease the process of addressing the issues you have raised,” he said.

Senate confirms Anohu-Amazu as PenCom DG Pension Reform Act 2004 as amended.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary, charged the new DG to bring transformation to the pension industry to ensure that pensioners are paid their entitlement as and when due.

Insurance industry mourns IGI chief • From left: Chief Risk Officer, Anchor Insurance Company Limited, Austin Inegbenehi, Chief Internal Auditor, Archibong Udeme, Company Secretary, Ime Umoh, Mr Adeduro, General Manager, Business Development & Market), Uzo Ofurum and Kehinde Olaniyi, Head, Brand Management & Corporate Communication at the event in Lagos.

Anchor Insurance shareholders’ fund grows NCHOR Insurance Comlicensed in October 1989 and began to N4.1b pany Limited has grown operations in November of the same

A

shareholders fund from N3.9 billion to N4.1 billion in the year 2013 representing a 6.4 per cent growth, its Managing Director, Ademayowa Adeduro, has said.

Adeduro made this known to reporters at a media parley held in Lagos. He said the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) recently approved the company’s 2013 financial statements. He said that the company was able to achieve that due to commitment to best industry practices, adding that the management is preparing to celebrate the company’s 25 years of existence.

According to him, the company’s income grew to N145 million in 2013 as against N117 in 2012, representing an increase of 24 percent. He said the company has paid claims promptly in excess of N1 billion and has consistently declared profit and paid dividends to its shareholders in the last four years.

The Anchor boss further said that

management has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Akwa Ibom State Government to provide Passenger Welfare Insurance cover to passengers from the state to other parts of the country.

He said the initiative is a landmark achievement aimed at ensuring that road users at the grassroots get adequate cover when they are travelling out of the state.

Speaking on the company’s 25 years anniversary which will be marked in Akwa Ibom, he said the highlights of events for celebration are essay competition for secondary schools, commissioning of projects and anniversary dinner/long service award.

Anchor Insurance was established by the government of Akwa Ibom State in the south of Nigeria as a stateowned insurance company underwriting general business (non-life) and special risk classes of insurance.

The company was established and

year. In 2008, a new management was introduced, headed by Adeduro as managing director to pilot and reposition the company as a 21st Century service delivery brand. The company was rebranded and the brand identity changed from the old logo to the new logo. In 2009, the company branch network increased from five to 14 in major 12 cities of Nigeria.

Determined to take advantage of the local content policy in oil and energy insurance, Anchor Insurance obtained licence from the Department of Petroleum Resources to take part in the underwriting of oil and gas insurance. The same year, the company relocated its corporate head office from a temporary site in Victoria Island to Lekki Phase 1, with the intention to strategically reposition the company to serve the insuring public better and to provide a more suitable and conducive working environment for staff.

T

HE Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) and the Association of Registered Insurance Agents of Nigeria (ARIAN) have commiserated with the board, management and staff of Industrial and General Insurance Plc (IGI), over the passing away of their Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Oluremi Olowude.

The NCRIB described the death of Olowude as a colossal loss to the Nigerian insurance industry and entire nation at large. NCRIB President, Ayodapo Shoderu, noted that the council identified with the immediate family members of Late Olowude, management and staff of his company at this moment of grief.

He said: “Definitely, the exit of Olowude signals the close of a chapter in the history of the reformation of the industry, considering his pivotal roles in giving the industry a new look through founding of IGI Plc. “Olowude’s frankness, resourcefulness and love for the industry were legendary and would be missed for a long time to come.

In the same vein, the Association of Registered Insurance Agents of Nigeria (ARIAN), said it was shocked and saddened to hear about the demise of the immediate past Chairman of Nigeria Insurers Association {NIA} and Vice Chair-

man/founder of IGI, Late Remi Olowude.

ARIAN President, Gbadebo Olamerun said: “We met on different occasions discussing on how to increase and improve the penetration of insurance in our dear country. His contributions were germane to the development of the industry, for he was noted for his doggedness toward improving the insurance industry”.

Olowude died on Saturday, September 27, in an hospital in the United States, after a brief illness.

He was aged 63.

The company’s Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, Steve Ilo, announced the death to reporters. The company described by the company as a visionary entrepreneur with remarkable patriotic zeal. He was said to have built a virile conglomerate with interests in insurance, banking, health management services, construction, and telecommunications services.

He was a frontline member of Corporate Nigeria and the immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA).

The company stated: “IGI Plc, which he founded in 1992, is a leading insurance company in Nigeria underwriting all classes of insurance business. IGI is also present in Uganda, Rwanda and The Gambia, with a representative office in London.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

35

THE NATION

BUSINESS JOBS

• Truck with waste

Jobs from going green

In line with global shift to environmental conservation to avert the adverse impacts of climate change, more than half a million jobs are expected to be created for youths and fresh graduates through proper management of wastes, especillay when channeled to renewable energy, across the country, TOBA AGBOOLA writes.

T

HE value chain created by the management of the huge wastes generated in the country has resulted in the large number of people benefiting from that sector through job creation and poverty alleviation.

Few months back, during a presentation on job creation in waste management, experts said waste management directly linked to the promotion of and use of renewable energy holds the key to ending unemployment in Africa and around the world.

In other climes where waste management has been properly harnessed, it has led to the creation of thousands of jobs.

A recent research on job creation conducted by the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria (ISM) indicated that waste management and associated services could create about 575,000 jobs annually, if effectively run.

Jobs creation in the industry includes waste classification and management, norms and standards setters, licensing, industry waste

management plants’ factory workers, manufacturers of waste polythene bags and waste loaders.

Its Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Adeyemi Mapaderun, said: “Considering the fact that Nigeria generates massive tons of waste daily, it has become imperative that she should look more closely at the possibilities of eradicating or reducing its high unemploy•Continued on page 36

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THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

JOBS

Jobs from going green •Continued from page 35

ment level which is at over 40 per cent.”

The ISM registrar said waste management jobs will also help reduce negative environmental impacts which in turn leads to enterprises and economies that are environmentally, economically and socially sustainable.

“Apart from generating and sustaining employment opportunities, such jobs (waste management and cleaning jobs) reduces the consumption of energy and raw materials, limit green house gas emissions, minimise waste and pollution and protect and restore the ecosystems,” he explained.

Former Consultant to African Development Bank, (AfDB), Mr Julius Okpere, said the chain of value that waste management brings to bear as far as the issues of job creation is concerned, is very long. According to him, from skilled and unskilled labour, to highly technical and complex process that requires sound engineering prowess and the best of brains, waste management has a place for all. He said there should be no room for bemoaning unemployment when the long chain of value waste management can offer has not been fully explored.

“If between 60 and 80 per ent is recyclable then, the waste that can be diverted from landfill is around 8000 tonnes daily. The potential for the diversion of waste from landfills can therefore be considered utterly untapped,” he

• Mapaderun

said.

Recognising the critical importance of creating jobs on a large scale in Nigeria, other experts in job creation said the over 10,000 tonnes of waste generated daily from Lagos alone for instance, and which the state government has taken advantage of, could be built upon to serve as a starting point for massive job creation initiative on a national scale.

Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr Ola Oresanya, said the authority evacuates 10,000

• Oresanya

tonnes of refuse daily, saying 1,000 tonnes will fill 100 trailers.

According to Oresanya, in the state, no fewer than half a million people now benefit from the management of wastes through direct and indirect employment.

Oresanya, who spoke about the success LAWMA has achieved since taking over, said he started with only 10 trucks and now the agency has 834 trucks evacuating wastes from the 377 wards in the state.

He said: “Every waste you throw out is not a waste unless you waste

it. The huge population of Lagos is a blessing in terms of the wastes the residents generate because it is being recycled at various sites to create energy and various items.”

Oresanya said some of the wastes is being recycled into fertiliser at its Ikorodu recycling plant, which he said is one of the biggest in Africa.

He said his agency is half way into implementing its 15-year development road map, adding that there is effective partnership with private sector in waste management whuch he said has resulted in the success of LAWMA.

‘A recent research on job creation conducted by the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria (ISM) indicated that waste management and associated services could create about 575,000 jobs annually if effectively managed’

He said thousands of youths have been recruited to police the streets of state round the clock to prevent wastes from being dumped indiscriminately on the roads as was the case some years ago, adding that residents are also being sensitised on the need to keep their environment clean and dispose off their wastes properly.

A Consultant and Managing Director, Purple Consult Limited, Tope Awosegba said many entrepreneurs and would-be investors who initially felt challenged doing business are gradually moving into the waste management and cleaning business.

Urging young graduates and experienced professionals to create jobs for themselves and others by keying into the emerging but highly sustainable world of waste management, Awosegba said the waste-to-electricity project markets is a job spinner as people will be employed to collect the waste and also work in the conversion process that will generate electricity.

He argued that promoting waste minimisation, re-use, recycling and recovery; ensuring effective and efficient delivery of waste service and growing the contribution of the waste sector to the green economy are areas where job creation in the industry can be focused.

Last month, the National Assembly took a step to enhance the regulation of biotechnology and application of genetically modified organisms in the country.

As part of the move, the senate passed a bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of the National Biosafety Management Agency, with the sole responsibility of providing regulatory framework, institutional and administrative mechanism for safety measures in the application of modern Bio-technology in Nigeria.

The lawmakers are of the opinion that the bill will resolve the issue of job and wealth creation through waste management and allied products; research with the prospects of genetic improvement of crops such as maize, cow pea, cassava, sorghum and integrated soil fertility management.

CAREER MANAGEMENT

A

JOB application (referred to as cover letter by Ameri cans) is the first impression a potential employer gets of you, and it can make or break your chances. As you only get one chance to make a positive first impression, then you need to be careful and do your levl best to do everything right.

Something to honest confession: Following these guidelines perfectly won’t guarantee that all your application will get you somewhere as some manager look for some pretty strange things.

Application form Some jobs require an application form and some don’t. When there is an application form ( sometimes called application blank), it asks for the information the employer most wants to know, like work experience.

Most information required is already on the Resume. Nevertheless, it is important thing is to include all the relevant information.

The reason employers take this route is to provide a standard format for assessing applicants. Don’t leave a field blank unless it’s optional or you don’t have any relevant information to include.

Another important thing to do right is how you format the information in each field. If you format things like your phone number or your name (I have seen it) incor-

How to apply for a job

By Olu Oyeniran

rectly, an employer is likely to assume you have poor communication skills. This means proper capitalization in text, proper grouping in phone numbers and proper layout of things like addresses.

Cover letter Sometimes entry level positions wouldn’t require a cover letter but all higher level and professional jobs do. Your cover letter should be tailored to the specifically to the job you’re applying for and, when possible, addressed directly to the hiring manager or the person-with-thepower- to-hire. A cover letter should be brief, generally one page and never more than two, and professionally written. You should clearly state why you think you would be most suited to the position and the organisation.

It’s crucial that your spelling and grammar are correct. One spelling error could remove you from consideration instantly.

Read over your cover letter at least once, probably twice, before it goes off to an employer.Better

still, get somebody to look it over for you.

Résumé Your résumé is the core of your application and thus the most important. It’s always a good idea to tailor your résumé to the job somewhat and you absolutely must format it correctly.

(You’ve probably noticed a theme.) It should be separated into sections that deal with the things employers look for, like work experience and education.

Be sure to keep all your points brief. Say the most important things firstHiring managers have a large volume of applications to review and only have a few minutes to look at each one .

Typos, grammatical errors are a no, no, no. If you feel needs to be expanded on you can do so in your cover letter but only if it’s particularly relevant.

Email application Even though email is usually regarded as quite casual, an email application is not. You generally don’t need a separate cover/application letter, the

email body can serve that purpose. All the same rules apply to the email that apply to a conventional cover letter. The subject line should always contain the position you’re applying for.

Addressing the hiring manager In cases where you know the name of the hiring manager, you need to address them properly.

The rule of thumb is to start as formal as possible and get more casual when they indicate it’s appropriate. Obviously, if all you know is a first name then it’s appropriate to use it but if you know a surname then that’s what you should use to start with.

The only exception is when you have no indication of what the appropriate salutation would be, like if they have a unisex first name such as Alex. If you’re applying to me, you should start by addressing me as Mr. Oyeniran and later, once I’ve demonstrated that I’m a fairly casual employer you could start addressing me as Steve or Steven if you’d like.

Truth is the last part hardly apply in this part of the world.

Application method Most job postings include how you should apply and all list at least one piece of contact information. When there’s an application method listed, that’s how you need to apply. Otherwise you could be eliminated without your application even being read. If there’s only contact information, then the method is at your discretion, just be sure to do it properly.

Hopefully you found this helpful and will make your job search easier.

EkiniConsult & Associates is organising 3 free and open workshops, “Knocking on the Right Doors- Strategies for Uncovering the Hidden Job Market” for The Nation readers in Lagos. A free eBook of the same title will be given to those who may not be able to. If you are interested, send-in your name, location, email address and GSM no to 080-8384-3230. Precede with the word ‘ATTEND’ for those who want to come and ‘FREE EBOOK’ for those who want the free eBook only.

•Oyeniran is Lead Consultant, EkiniConsult & Associates. He can be reached on Jobsearchhow.com.ng Tel 08083843230 (SMS Only).

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

37

THE CEO

‘Privatised power sector requires enforcement agency’ • Ewesor

At the time the Electricity Management Services Limited (EMSL) was set up, stakeholders in the power sector raised concerns about the possibility of conflicts with other agencies in the sector. The Managing Director, EMSL, Mr Peter O. Ewesor, an engineer, in this interview with JOHN OFIKHENUA, argues that the regulator cannot regulate and at the same time enforce because technical expertise is required to checkmate the operations of the firms.

T

HERE is an allegation that the Electricity Management Service Limited (EMSL) is implementing the “Operation Light Up Nigeria” project, which is the core mandate of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA). How true is this?

I think, first and foremost, that is not true.

Operation Electrify Nigeria is the function of the Federal Ministry of Power. So it is the Federal Ministry of Power that is handling the Operation Light Up Nigeria projects, not REA. Although it is a rural programme, it is a special project handled by the Federal Ministry of Power, as I know it.

The argument is that since it is a rural project, it should have been executed by the REA. It is also alleged that the projects are skewed in favour of Bayelsa State. How were the project’s site chosen?

That project is not under EMSL. I have no information about that because it is entirely not within our jurisdiction. You can’t see EMSL advertise anything about Operation Light Up Nigeria.

Does this mean that you are not implementing any projects under the project?

No! Operation Light Up Nigeria was commissioned by Mr. President at Mpape. I was invited to the event as an agency of government; it was executed by the Ministry of Power. Basically, it is not within our jurisdiction to do that. I do not know of any other information on it not to talk about the

projects in Bayelsa State.

Is there any function of EMSL that the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is not already performing? Don’t you think your agency is a duplication of the roles which other agencies are already performing?

There is no duplication between our functions and the functions of NERC. I have repeatedly told energy correspondents that NERC is the regulator, which is supposed to be the agency of government to make laws, regulations, codes, and standards. But an enforcement agency of government is always separated from the regulator. It is not only in Nigeria that we have two bodies in the same sector- there is Energy Commission,

Ghana and also Energy Utilities Commission in Ghana. These are two different regulatory agencies of government dealing with economic and commercial regulations and the other is dealing with technical regulations. But our case is quite different. The Minister of Power has saddled the EMSL with the enforcement of the technical standards in the industry, which was being performed by the Electrical Inspectorate Services Department of the Federal Ministry of Power.

And when EMSL was formed and inaugurated in September last year, the Minister of Power found it very imperative and said we cannot leave the enforcement undone because NERC was established. So, since 2005 when NERC was formed till date, and even

‘If meters that don’t meet NERC’s metering code are allowed to come into the country, they will constitute a lot of waste of energy resources. In fact, they are going to be industrial waste. What we have not realised in this country is that when you bring equipment and the equipment cannot be used, then it becomes an industrial waste. We nust begin to define how we deal with industrial waste because we must clean up the system when we are talking about toxic wastes and others’

before EMSL was created, this enforcement of technical and safety standards, inspection and testing and certification are being performed by the Electrical Inspectorate Services Department of the Federal Ministry of Power, and that may be the reason, under the Section 98 under which this enforcement was being performed, it was retained. And as such, the power to do those functions means the EIS of the Federal Ministry of Power is still the sole body that is performing those functions. But as you know, the industry has been privatised, it is no longer under government and so to give effectiveness and make it something that is actually more efficient, they now moved those functions and all the facilities and expertise to the EMSL to form the core functions and services to be performed. As we speak today, it is only EMSL that has the capacity in terms of equipment, in terms of expertise. We have well-trained engineers that are holding 16 offices across the country to do what we call inspection, testing and certification.

What are we achieving with this? It is basically to ensure that the projects are properly planned; they have been properly designed, they have been properly installed, and that after commissioning, they will be delivered back to them in a safe manner. Otherwise, government cannot be the technical guide •Continued on page 38

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

38

THE CEO

‘Privatised power sector requires enforcement agency’ •Continued from page 37

of enforcement in the industry. And in any case, the function was not in any way ascribed to NERC either in the regulation on in any way or by any statement.

Is the technical expertise you talk about in the local content context or you import the services for the supervision of operation in the industry?

As it stands today, we have all the technical expertise which has been developed over the past 50 years. I was the head of that division in the Federal Ministry of Power. I joined that service 33 years before I was appointed as the Managing Director, and we inspect, test and certify projects from generation to transmission to distribution to utilisation and all the components in the value chain. We actually have the expertise to deal with it. Our men have been trained internationally, locally and they are today in this country. In fact, in this sub-region, no other agency of government or private individual that has engineers with the core competence- the expertise and the skill to do technical services, in testing and certification. But now that we are in EMSL we are going to enhance the capacity of our staff by actually exposing them all to international best practices, as the technology is evolving. I can tell you clearly that there is no agency of government including NERC, to say they have the skill and expertise we have in EMSL. And to buttress this point, the consultant, which I repeatedly mentioned that developed the framework for setting up NERC, made it very clear that they don’t have that capacity, and that they should not bore themselves with those functions that require specialised skills and expertise. Those reports are there. And the Presidential Task

Force equally this year published and made it very clear that they should allow EMSL to be performing its functions, and that in the long run, they should set up a technical independent organisation to be doing the work. So the present scenario is not overlapping. It is not overlapping with any agency’s functions. These functions have remained in the ministry and industry, which you cannot play with if we want to develop our power sector, especially now you have private investors, who are profit oriented, who need to actually survive. Before now, if there is an electrical fault, which may have led to the death of somebody, you can’t sue government, and government too could not sue you. But today, I can tell you that if there is electrical accident, maybe somebody’s house has a fault, he can sue (the power firm), and the power firms too can sue. And when you look at that, one should be very careful with the system to ensure that the networks are properly monitored; that we tell them that this is not correct and make sure you correct this as soon as possible to avert danger. He will correct it and avert that particular danger. Somebody was talking recently saying they have technical expertise, there is no technical gap in the industry. It is surprising to note that somebody would say there is no technical gap when the inspectors in the industry are the inspectors we have for now which are struggling to do the activities in the industry to make sure that the networks are safe. That is why you find (thank God you are in this country) when a line drops in Port-Harcourt landed on people’s head, they could be amputated. But if there is enforcement, it could actually be effective if with a bill we are actually given the teeth to do it, these things can be

‘There are a whole lot of things that we have been doing. There was an accident recently in Abuja where people died and we actually made the Abuja DISCO to go and correct it. We insisted that the installations that are all over the place are corrected and once our men reported to them, they did the right thing correcting it’

• Ewesor

minimised, they can be eliminated.

As it is now, does your office have the power to supervise the operations of the DISCOs and GENCOs? Of course, by the policy pronouncement of the Honourable Minister of Power, yes we do.

Have you started exercising the power?

Of course, since September last year. We have started. If you have been listening to news, you would have known that we have been doing that. We have been to some of the DISCOs to sensitise them. They are new in the business and we have to let them know why they have to do certain things correctly and what the benefit of our worth to them is. For example, now you find the lines are going through trees and there is a lot of gaps and we can assist them to ensure as much as possible that if they clean up the line, you have more power going to peoples’ homes and houses. There are a whole lot of things that we have been doing.

There was an accident recently in Abuja where people died and we actually made the Abuja DISCO to go and correct it. We insisted that the installations that are all over the place are corrected and once our men reported to them, they did the right thing correcting it. Everywhere, you see trees on the line, once we report to them, they must act.

How do you think the operations of EMSL can save the country from losing revenues?

Our operations can save the country a whole lot of things; it is unquantifiable. We are going to save this country a lot of funds and resources. I hope you are aware that we are in charge of ensuring that the meters that are brought into the country are of the right quality. If somebody brings meter into this country and the meter is not of the right right standard, and it is not of international standard as specified by the metering code that is made by NERC, we have to checkmate it. If meters that don’t meet NERC’s metering code are allowed to come into the country, they will constitute a lot of waste of energy resources. In fact, they are going to be industrial waste. What we have not realised in this country is that when you bring equipment and the equipment cannot be used, then it becomes an industrial waste. We nust begin to define how we deal with industrial waste because we must clean up the system when we are talking about toxic wastes and others.

How do you regulate this?

Once we have checked and tested an equipment and it is not of the right quality, the person will be prevented from bringing it in. But what we do is that before we bring an equipment into Nigeria, we bring about three pieces to be tested. After the test, if we find it not good enough, we will not allow you to bring them into the country. But if that skill is not there such that the man just brings in all the meters it is a colossal waste because the meters cannot be used, the instruments cannot be used and then nothing will work. Both the supplier and the government will be losing their revenue and scarce resources because in this country, people think when you lose money, it is only you that lose the money. The government is still losing money because any money that is provided now is by the government. It is only by virtue of the functions of your activities that the money becomes your money. So if you use it wisely, it will be to your benefit and the country and the government, and the benefit of

• Ewesor

‘We checked some transformers in recent times, we found out that the man was asked to install 500KV and he went and put 300KV. From our test, we were able to discover that; that is shortchanging the consumers because the transformer can only carry a total load of 300KV. After that, the transformer will blow, and that is why you have a lot of bad transformers all over the place because they are not maximising our resources’ every person. We checked some transformers in recent times, we found out that the man was asked to install 500KV and he went and put 300KV. From our test, we were able to discover that; that is shortchanging the consumers because the transformer can only carry a total load of 300KV. After that, the transformer will blow, and that is why you have a lot of bad transformers all over the place because they are not maximising our resources. You also find that somebody was asked to install a 150mm cable, and he has gone outside the country to bring conductors; brought 120mm. So what has that got to do? It means it cannot deliver the quantity of power that it ought to deliver with the right size of cable. EMSL is actually going to save the country a lot of resources, and create the right and conducive environment for people to work. In fact, some of these DISCOs’ workers would climb wooden pole that are not too tall, may be the pole cuts, the man falls, the pole falls and he breaks his hand or he is even dead. So there are a lot of things we need to look at, but many people are asking about the duplication of the functions. What is the duplication here?

One man is to make the law, set the standards; somebody else is to enforce it. It is not only here that it is happening.

Are there examples to buttress this point?

In Ministry of Environment, there are so many regulators and enforcement agencies. In aviation, they are there. For example, the first thing that happened was that somebody said you people are doing the work of Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON). It is not true but we and SON are collaborating. What do we want to achieve? We want to achieve quality, and one agency does not just do the quality and say we have done it. They will create the standard with the relevant agencies of government and somebody will enforce it. That is what we call a specific industry practice because SON will not be everywhere. But

EMSL in the power sector will try to be everywhere to ensure that all products, equipment, materials being used in the industry are of the right quality. The construction that has been made, we make sure it is of the right standard. Presently, we are monitoring some special installations within and around this country the result of which we will soon publish. We are not waiting for anybody because we know somebody has alleged that the agency of government assigned to do technical enforcement is doing procurement. We have three meter test stations in this country. It is a facility taken over from the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), well equipped and standardised. So we have advertised and some of these things we are going to execute them.

How much do you think the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) is losing as a result of substandard equipment?

You can’t really say the actual amount but the money government is losing to inferior equipment, sub-standard equipment and items is something that needed to be urgently addressed. We should think of how to empower and enhance the capacity of EMSL to carry out its functions so that we can reduce these kinds of inferior materials coming into the country in the first place and ensure that they are not being used in the system. If you do your research very well, go to some of the companies not just the DISCOs and GENCOs because our work is not restricted to DISCOs and GENCOs. Our work covers anywhere they are using electricity. Recently we went to inspect a project in Lagos; we discovered that what the person has done is what he cannot do in his own complex and international complex. And we stopped him. You cannot connect that. It is our resources, even if you bring your own money from another country to work here, you are doing business with the purpose of recovering the money and then leaving us with ramshackle, carcass, then it doesn’t make any sense.

39

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

BUSINESS MOTORING

‘We need cars by Nigerians for Nigerians’ Meet Jelani Aliyu (MFR), a top American automotive designer who is from Sokoto State. He designed Chevrolet Volt, 2014 Chevrolet Camaro, as well as Bumblebee, a car featured in the popular movie ‘Transformer 4’, an American movie that made more than a billion dollars profit within few weeks of its release. Our New York correspondent ADEOLA OLADELE-FAYEHUN met with Aliyu for tips on how to revamp Nigeria’s transportation system.

W

HAT do we need to revamp our transportation system in Nigeria?

We need vehicles designed specifically for Africa, for Nigeria, because the conditions are different. We have extreme heat, we have extreme dust, and there are places with a lot of humidity. So we need to identify that this is our locality and conditions we face everyday, and design vehicles for that. For example, if you go to Alaska, you won’t drive a BMW, you would drive a snowmobile. It’s designed for a lot of snow. So we need to design vehicles for extreme conditions of Africa, and the economic structure of Africa, something people can afford.

The vehicles made in the US, England, or Japan, are primarily for those markets. A lot of the vehicles that are in Africa, happen to be transplanted into that part of the world. I always say a lot of the reasons that systems fail in Africa is not because Africans inherently don’t want to maintain products or technology, but a lot of those are not specifically for those parts of the world. So we need vehicles, products, architecture that is done specifically for those climatic condition, so that they’re effective and enable people to live comfortable lives, and enable them to prosper.

What about foreigners assembling cars in Nigeria? The government describes them as made in Nigeria cars It’s a start. I see more commitment from our government to move our nation forward; I see a lot of initiatives. However, I don’t think the cars for Nigerians by Nigerians have yet been made, and that’s what we need to do.

In addition to having international players in Nigeria, we need to also cultivate the local talents to produce cars that would be affordable. Foreign made cars have their merit, but the common man on the farm, or the person using a bicycle who has a family of seven, or someone riding a motorcycle with a family of 15, those vehicles are not there for them. And those people must be given priority, to enable the production of safe, modern, and affordable vehicles that almost each and every Nigerian can afford as long as you have a job, so that vehicle does not yet exist.

As Nigerians we need to enable that vehicle, not just Nigerians, but other African countries. With the way technology works, we need to collaborate with other countries.

Before we can design cars in Nigeria, what has to be in place?

Having an automobile design school is an important factor in the development of any nation. Not just to assemble vehicles, or to produce them in the country, but to create them, design them in that country, by the citizens of that country who really understand the culture and the needs of that country. So let the government identify individuals who are talented to lead us in the transportation design and set up institutions within the country that would help them establish and go through the courses, so that when they’re done, they can be effective in creating and developing vehicles for Nigeria.

Also, our infrastructures need to be updated. I know a lot of roads are being constructed and trains, but we need to do more and make sure the roads are perfect, safe, and right, every square, every mile must be perfect. Our roads have to be the best.

• Aliyu in front of Chevrolet Volt, one of the cars he designed

There are new technologies making roads safer, that help you to see the road markings better at night due to the materials used. So if there are no street lights, or your head lambs go bad, you can still see the road markings.

Also, there needs to be very intensive drivers education in Nigeria.

Before anyone can be given a license, we have to make sure they are the best drivers they could be, they have to know all the rules and defensive driving, so they can also know what the other driver is doing in advance.

We have to make sure people are excellent drivers.

Trains have the ability to move large number of people all at once, and it can easily connect cities and states, and I know they’re working on it, that is a very good start. But we need to pump more funds into that, and also look into newer technologies, not just the same old diesel locomotives, but also electromagnetic Maglev trains. There are some newer technologies that are unbelievably inexpensive that can be applied in Nigeria to move people fast.

However, we need to have stable electricity first.

Are there advantages to the abundance of sun in Nigeria that can help revamp our transportation system?

Solar energy is a crucial part of Nigeria’s development. A clean source of energy that could help the country move forward at a much faster pace.

Whenever I call home, people complain that it’s very hot, but the heat is

actually a blessing. We need to leverage this for the development of our country in setting up solar power plants to feed whole communities, and also in developing solar powered systems that you can take anywhere without worrying about access to electricity. Such as how a Canadian company came up with a solar laptop in collaboration with Eco Sahel company.

We can apply the same principle to designing cars, and it would take time, it’s not a one day thing. It could be applied to a lot of other products as well, including trains and aeroplanes.

Industrial design needs to be given a lot of importance for the development of Nigeria. Which means we won’t have to depend so much on fuel either.

How can young Nigerians also harness their talents like you?

The most important thing is to first recognize your talent. Everybody is gifted, usually it’s things you love doing without being pushed to do it.

Once you identify your talent, I would suggest you concentrate on them. If it’s drawing, keep drawing. Identify what you’re really good at, and work with people that will support you.

Unfortunately we don’t have automotive school in Nigeria. I had to leave Nigeria to pursue my dream. There are many youths with similar talent in Nigeria that can even take it farther than I have, I searched for schools around the world. So students have to look beyond Nigeria to develop their talents.

What about parents who want their children to be doctors or lawyers?

It’s good to be doctors or lawyers, but there are many other exciting careers out there that they need to explore. Now the youth of Nigeria have access to the Internet, and they should use it as a tool to grow and be exposed to other materials out there. So I urge parents to really help their children, give the access to the Internet and make sure they use it as a tool to open their mind to other possibilities.

My immediate family and some family friends were very supportive, but a lot of other people thought I was only wasting my time drawing cars because we don’t make cars in Nigeria.

But I never gave up. I kept drawing and drawing, that helped me to develop my talent. Whenever my dad and my older brother travel, they would bring me magazines with different car designs. I’ll give the same advice to a lot of young people in Nigeria, if a lot of people say what you’re doing is wrong, you’ll never get anywhere with that, keep trying, never give up. And parents should not push their children to be what they wanted to be when they were young.

What would it take for you to come home to do what you’re doing?

Not much. The important thing to understand is that, you can affect any society from anywhere. I left Nigeria to become a designer, and Nigeria has always been on my heart. Whenever I go home, it’s very difficult to come back. I can go back to Nigeria right away and make a difference when given an opportunity to do so.

What I am is an industrial designer.

‘We can apply the same principle to designing cars, and it would take time, it’s not a one day thing. It could be applied to a lot of other products as well, including trains and aeroplanes. Industrial design needs to be given a lot of importance for the development of Nigeria. Which means we won’t have to depend so much on fuel either’

My passion goes beyond cars; it’s about making a difference to any society.

After the interview, Aliyu asked to deliver a three-minute inspirational message he prepared for Nigerians.

Below is the transcript: Never be afraid of success – by Jelani Aliyu We must never underestimate the significance of human imagination, the ability to envision a dramatically positive and dynamic future. Every great city, every monument, every historic feat, as it stands for all the world to see was once sphere of thought, pure imagination acted upon and brought into reality.

To imagine is to dream, to dream is to tune into the ever-amazing possibilities of the future. And when we do dream, it must be big. Because to dream small, is to totally underestimate the amazing capabilities that lie within each and every one of us.

Our own country Nigeria, from the Atlantic shoreline in the south through the grasslands of the middle belt, all the way to the rolling hills and the bright blue skies of the North, Nigeria is truly a magnificent and blessed country.

Yes we have crude oil, yes we have natural gas and a wide variety of raw materials, and yes we have fertile soil that can be cultivated to feed hundreds of millions, but above all, at our very core, what we have is our humanity, that magical inner spirit that glows from within, that magical inner spirit that makes us an integral, and crucial part of the human civilization.

So we must see ourselves not just as Nigerians, but as members of a global community, sharing constructive ideas, sharing inspirations and together coming up with solutions for the betterment of humanity worldwide. We as Nigerians must not be afraid of success, no one must be afraid to succeed but we must all individually and collectively focus on progressive opportunities and solutions.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

40

MOTORING

Automotive giants to test strength at Abuja Fair W ITH a resolve to flaunt the best and the latest as well as demonstrate their poise to play strongly in the emerging Nigeria automotive market as dictated by the demands of the nation’s new auto policy, reputable giants in both the domestic and global automotive are strongly preparing to showcase at the Eagle Square venue of the 16th edition of Abuja International Motor Fair.

According to the organisers of the event “virtually all the leading names in the industry in Nigeria as well as overseas have booked stands to showcase the best in the sector at the event.”

The strategic platform Abuja International Motor fair offers is very ample for auto firms to demonstrate to Nigerians and the

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

rest of the world their readiness to play strong in the emerging automotive sector which offers vista of opportunities with its abundant potentials.

Chairman of the organising committee, Mr Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, applauded the high interest being showed by reputable automotive giants.

He noted that providing a platform for all segments of the automotive sector to showcase their best and latest and thereby fast tracking the development of the sector in Nigeria remains the main objective of the fair.

Agwu said more companies in the oil lube sector, spare parts and accessories, security and financials are almost finalising their

participation in the event.

“These companies have resolved to keep faith with their potential and existing customers as they have packaged series of offers ranging from budget cars to good pricing, special fair rebates and promotions, responsive customer care services and lots of supporting benefits for

their customers so as to keep on driving the car on their dream. All these they promised to unveiled at the show ground,” Agwu said.

According to him, no fewer than 20,000 visitors would grace the event.

“Abuja International Motor Fair will be an unparalleled gathering

of established brands as well as new entrants will be at the fair. The imperative of this event cannot be over-emphasised as more companies are keying into efforts to harness the enormous potentials in the automobile, parts and accessories market in the country,” he said.

Ford recalls 850,000 vehicles

A

FORD has recalled 850,050 models that span a couple of the brand’s most popular sellers in North America, including the Fusion and Escape. Reportedly, the issue stems from a problem with the restraints control module, which may experience a short circuit.

“If a short circuit occurs, the airbag warning indicator will illuminate,” Ford said. “Depending on the location of the short circuit, the deployable restraint systems (e.g., airbags, pretensioners, side curtains) may not function as intended in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury,” Ford added.

Other affected models include the C-Max hybrid and the Lincoln MKZ, all from the 2013 and 2014 model years. About 745,000 of the vehicles were located within the United States and federalised territories, about 82,000 of them were sold in Canada, and the remaining 20,000 were sold in Mexico. This brings Ford’s recall totals for the year so far to about 3.9 million, and while that figure is dwarfed by the more than 30 million recalled by fellow Michigan resident General Motors, it is still about three times the number of cars that the brand recalled last year, according to the New York Times.

Ford said that it was not yet aware of any injuries or deaths that might have occurred as a result of the defect, but it detected the problem as part of its “normal internal

processes,” such as warranty claims, Kelli Felker, a company spokeswoman, wrote in an email to the New York Times. Felker noted that the airbag issue was not in any way related to the massive 14-million unit recall by Takata Corp. earlier this year, an effort that spanned many automakers around the world — including Ford. The control module at hand is not manufactured by Takata. While the Fusion has largely missed the rounds of software updates and other fizes, the Escape and C-Max models have been notably susceptible to recalls. The Escape was recalled numerous times (for different years) over fire risks. Both were brought in earlier this year for a problem with the same restraints control module; 595,000 vehicles were covered under that previous effort. The Ford Fusion is the automaker’s bestselling car in the U.S. and its second vehicle (along with the F-150) sitting in the top 10 on the domestic market. Through the first eight months of 2014, Ford sold 218,892 models of the midsize sedan. Ford’s Escape sits just behind in 11th place with 208,444 models sold in 2014.

Alliance delights Jaguar customers in Ghana

A

•Porsche Cayenne

Porsche Cayenne celebrates world premiere in Paris P

ORSCHE celebrates the launch of its new Cayenne S E-Hybrid, with a world premiere at the Paris Motor Show last Thursday. The world’s first plugin hybrid in the premium SUV segment sets the standard among luxury all-wheel-drive vehicles and makes Porsche a marketleader in the production of plug-in hybrid cars. Together with the Panamera S E-Hybrid and the 918 Spyder, the Stuttgart-based sports car manufacturer is the only brand to offer three plug-in models.

Alongside the Cayenne S E-Hybrid, the company will also present model updates of the Cayenne S,

Cayenne Turbo, Cayenne Diesel and Cayenne S Diesel in Paris. All new models feature increased efficiency, even more precise handling, streamlined design and an extensive list of standard equipment.

As a result of the brand’s advanced plug-in hybrid technology, the Cayenne S E-Hybrid has a fuel economy of only 3.4 litres per 100 kilometres and CO2 emissions of a mere 79 grams per kilometre, which are all impressive figures for an all-wheel-drive car. Global mar-

ket reaction to models featuring the advanced hybrid drive concept has been positive. In the first eight months of 2014, the company delivered a total of 16,698 Panamera units, of which 1,513 units (9 per cent) were Panamera S E-Hybrid models.

The Cayenne S E-Hybrid was unveiled to the world for the first time, alongside showcases of the Cayenne Diesel, Cayenne S Diesel, Cayenne S and the flagship Cayenne Turbo at a press conference during the Paris Motor Show.

S the official Jaguar distributor for Ghana, Alliance Motors has delighted customers from its new premises since opening.

Taking over the responsibility as Jaguar Land Rover’s official presence in Ghana, Alliance Motors has rejuvenated the brand in the market. Even while servicing customers from a temporary facility, rewards from their significant investment are already being felt.

“We have embraced our responsibility as custodians of two such iconic brands: Jaguar Land Rover,” says Suzette Knudgaard, General Manager of Alliance Motors Ghana.

“Jaguar Land Rover customers have a home in Ghana and we are proud to call it Alliance Motors.

“We are well-pleased with Alliance Motors’ progress in the Ghanaian market over the past two years,” says Nigel Clarke, Operations Director of Jaguar Land Rover sub-Sahara Africa.

“Our customers in Ghana are beginning to appreciate the global Jaguar Land Rover experience, be it in new or pre-owned sales or service.”

Alliance Motors is owned by Tata Motors Ghana and consequently enjoys a close relationship with Jaguar Land Rover. The Ghanaian environment provides a naturally healthy market for Jaguar Land Rover. The expanding economy has increased demand for premium vehicles, while the growing Ghanaian infrastructure will continue to drive demand for Jaguar and Land Rover products too.

From November 24 to 28,Alliance Motors will be giving Jaguar owners an opportunity to bring in their vehicles for a free health check at the Health Check Service Clinic. All health checks are completed by trained technicians to ensure that all work is carried out as per Jaguar standards and quality.

SAFE DRIVING

Road accidents will remain high if…(4) •Continue from lastweek

When multitudes of people are rushing and competing to do the same job, there is always the tendency to neglect other or more vital jobs that could have been better done if there is distinct separation of powers or result – oriented definition of duties.

No matter the duties that any of these officers may put forward, the bottom-line is income generation and illegal extortion.

They are unknowingly creating emotional pressure for the drivers which is a great cause of road accidents.

• The Federal Road Safety Commission regulates the driving schools in Nigeria. The Vehicle Inspection Department of

the state government regulates the driving schools, state drivers institutes regulate the driving schools, the Nigeria Police Force intervenes in the operation of driving schools, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria intervenes in the operation of driving schools and the Board of Internal Revenue in some states also intervenes in the operation of driving schools in some states in Nigeria. To whom then are the driving schools in Nigeria responsible to or should take orders from? Unless this is defined and enforced, there will continue to be a dangerous disorder not favourable to road safety education in Nigeria.

In some vein, the Motor Vehicle Licencing Authorities and the

Board of Internal Revenue handle the issue of Learners permit to learners. The learners permit confers the right on learners to drive on the road pending the issuance of driver licence to the candidates.

How can an agency that is not responsible for the training of drivers issue learners permit which certifies them okay to driver?

By all standards, it is the driving schools that train the candidates that can confirm if they are qualified to be issued learners permit.

This means that the state governments should allow only driving schools to issue learners permit to the candidates on their behalf on mutually agreed terms. It is time to do things right to get the right result in the interest of our dear

nation, Nigeria.

Every rider must be subjected to pre – licence and pre – licence renewal comprehensive theory and practical training and tests in the driving schools since they cannot be completely phased out in Nigeria today because of the state of the economy and poor road infrastructures.

All other road users such as animal rearers, truck pushers, bicycle riders, school children and pedestrians must be subjected to regular training and re – training using different fora (including radio, television, newspapers and road shows). Multi – sectoral and holistic approach must be employed by the government through their agencies and other stakeholders to

Jide Owatunmise Registrar / Chief Executive, Professional Driving and Safety Academy

ensure that we are truly committed in words and in deed to accomplishment to the goals of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety in Nigeria.

• Concluded

2014

THE NATION MONDAY OCTOBER 6, 2014

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THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

44

SHOWBIZ

My last moment with Taiwo Oshadipe, by manager

A

GAIN, the Nigerian entertainment industry recorded another painful loss last Friday when the news of the sudden death of Taiwo Oshadipe, one of the singing duo of the popular Oshadipe Twins broke.

Even as many are still pained about the loss, their manager, Olu Akinsanya, who initially declined any comment on the incident due to shock, has revealed that the actress and singer might have died of complications arising from chestrelated pains.

In an exclusive interview with The Nation, he said she was admitted at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, about a month ago and was given some medications.

According to him, “The illness wasn’t serious. She felt better when she started taking the drugs. But surprisingly, she suffered a relapse this week. On Wednesday, she called her doctor who treated her at LASUTH and was told to come over to his private hospital, as he wouldn’t be around at LASUTH until Friday.

“She went to the hospital, where the doctor carried out some medical checks on her and gave her some drugs.

He also gave her an appointment for Friday. But unfortunately, in the early hours of the day, she started complaining of pains.

“This time, it was very severe; so, her

‘

It is still very shocking to me.

I saw her on Wednesday and we talked and joked. We even talked about my forthcoming wedding. She promised to play at my wedding, so she asked me not to invite any other musician.

’

By Mercy Michael

twin sister, Kehinde, decided to rush her to LASUTH. However, upon reaching the hospital, she was confirmed dead. So,

•Oshadipe twins

2face Idibia, Tiwa Savage, others thrill at The Beat FM Tripple 9 concert

I

T was a night of glamour and fun as artistes and fans of The Beat FM 99.9 turned out in style for the celebration of its fifth anniversary tagged The Tripple 9 Concert on Tuesday, September 30, at Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

T h e CEO of Beat FM, C h r i s Ubosi said the concert was held to celebrate •Ubosi those who had supported the station in the last five years.

“We came here with a plan. We knew the circumstances before we entered into the business.

With the goodwill that we have plus support from a lot of our friends, we have

by 8.00a.m., Kehinde called me and I had to rush to LASUTH to see her for myself.

“It is still very shocking to me. I saw her on Wednesday and we talked and joked. We even talked about my forthcoming wedding. She promised to play at my wedding, so she asked me not to invite any other musician.

“The autopsy report will be out soon. But I know she had recovered from the illness. The last thing she complained about was the chest pain and that was what led to her death two days after.”

He further revealed that the twins lost their elder brother on the day of their album launch three years ago.

The Oshadipe Twins are known for playing contemporary, inspirational and gospel music. They shot into the limelight with the song, Dide Olorun Mi. Since the news of her death broke, fans have been posting condolence messages on her Facebook page.

By Ovwe Medeme

been able to overcome our challenges. There have been problems, which we will not lie about. But the fact that we were able to get to where we are shows that with hard work and proper planning, everything can go well in this country,” Also, the station’s Programme Director, Olisa Adibua, described the last five years as “wonderful years”, adding that “It has been a fantastic ride. We have been embraced by the people of Nigeria; we have been surprised at the way they embraced us and we are grateful for the love they have shown us. We hope that we can retain the level and quality of what we started. We are celebrating five years of being in existence in Nigeria and we hope to get better as time goes on.”

Top Nigerian music sensations who thrilled guests at the party include 2face, MI, Ill Bliss, Idibia, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Omawunmi, Waje and Chidinma.

•From left: Nollywood actress, Rita Dominic, CEO of AFRIFF, Chioma ude, AFRIFF Artistic Director, Keith Shiri and AFRIFF Goodwill Ambassador, Xolile Tshabalala

AFRIFF 2014: Organisers announce festival’s top films

T

HE organisers of the annual Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) have announced The Square, an Oscar-nominated documentary by Egyptian filmmaker, Jehan Noujaim, as the opening night film and Hard To Get, from first-time feature director, Zee Ntuli, as the closing night movie.

The festival’s Artistic Director, Keith Shiri, said during a press conference at the Eko Hotel and Suites, at the weekend, that AFRIFF 2014 would once again celebrate the amazing artistry that African filmmakers are known for.

He said: “Our opening night film is The Square, an Oscar-nominated documentary by the Egyptian filmmaker, Jehan Noujaim. This is a stunning film that charts the course of three years of Egyptian political upheaval that began in 2011. Our closing night film, Hard To Get, is a compact, highly enjoyable, kinetic and action thriller. The young South African director, Zee Ntuli, displays a mastery of the action genre with breezy performances from its main cast.”

Shiri, who was flanked by AFRIFF Founder/CEO, Chioma Ude as well as the

•Invasion 1879 gets special screening festival’s Goodwill Ambassadors, South African actress Xolile Tshabalala and Nollywood star Rita Dominic, noted that this year’s selection is an array of feature films, in addition to “some hard-hitting documentaries and a generous selection of shorts representing over 30 countries from all the regions of Africa.”

According to him, other films that have made it into the festival’s official selection include Gone Too Far, an adaption from Bola Agbaje’s Olivier award-winning play set in London. Directed by Destiny Ekaragha, the outrageously enjoyable comedy focuses on two estranged Nigerian brothers as they meet for the first time.

He further stated: “Difret is another affecting feature debut from Ethiopia, detailing the traumatic experience of an Ethiopian girl accused of killing a man who had sexually abused her. Nigeria is strongly represented again this year with Tunde Kelani’s Dazzling Mirage, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen’s Invasion 1897 and the much-anticipated Kunle Afolayan’s October 1.

“There is equally a feast of compelling stories in the short films category, among which is the African Metropolis’ six short films that examine the complexity of urban life from Abidjan, Cairo, Dakar, Johannesburg, Lagos and Nairobi.”

Emphasizing Nigeria’s strong representation at the festival, Ude revealed that Invasion 1897, an epic on the historical Benin Empire, would enjoy a special screening at the festival The film features top Nigerian stars such as Segun Arinze, Paul Obazele, Charles Inojie, the late Justus Esiri and Mike Omoregbe who played the lead role as Omo n’ Oba Ovanrawmen Nogbaisi.

In addition to the wide range of films, the festival also offers industry platforms for skill acquisition, financing, pitching, symposia on digital distribution and piracy.

AFRIFF 2014 is scheduled to take place at the popular Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort, Calabar, Cross River State, from November 9 to 16.

EMCOAN: Content owners threaten showdown with defaulters

I

T may no longer be business as usual between the Electronic Media Content Owners Association of Nigeria (EMCOAN) and media agencies, as its leadership is set for a showdown with some media agencies that seem be a pain of sorts in the heads of its members.

To further underscore its new resolve, the leadership of the association has directed its members to henceforth discontinue any business relationship with the erring agencies until further notice, as part of the actions being taken by to get the affected agencies to pay up what it called the “huge debt being owed its members and to begin to project electronic media content owners as vital partners” In a release, the Executive Council of the association said it was time the media agencies recognised the invaluable contributions of its members to their operations.

The President of EMCOAN, Mrs. Debbie Odutayo, said: “For some time now, the Association has complained about the manner in which media agencies treat independent producers, especially re-

By Babatunde Sulaiman

garding payment. The affected media agencies default with reckless abandon on the agreement signed by both parties, completely oblivious of the harsh terrain, where producers go through thick and thin to produce programmes and battle TV stations to ensure transmission so that advert placements run at all costs.”

The statement further alleged that the affected agencies had owed EMCOAN members millions of Naira for several years.

“Apart from delayed and irregular payments, these agencies demand a ridiculous and unjustifiable 25% volume discounts, even when the contract being issued cannot be said to be in any volume.

In some cases, some of these media agencies take more, even up to 40%, thereby stifling members to run at a huge loss,” the statement further stated.

Consequently, the association has resolved to publish the names of the affected media agencies, if “they refuse to do due diligence within the specified time” The association started while some notable Nigerian producers were on a trip to Ghana in 2012, with the sole aim of bringing content owners under one

umbrella, where their needs and challenges in the industry would be tabled with a view to proffering lasting solutions.

The statement further stated that members of the association had always cried out against alleged injustice in the hands of other players like the media houses, advertising agencies, media monitors etc.

“Television and radio stations demand prepayment from content owners, knowing full well that the agencies who give them ads to run within their programmes never pre-pay.”

Another challenge we face with the media houses is the non-transmission of programmes without prior information given to the content owners.

This causes untold loss of revenues as the advertisements originally scheduled to run on affected editions cannot be billed to agencies or clients.

On the other hand, agencies default on the agreed payment plans, thereby causing content owners to renege on their financial obligations to all concerned.

Apart from delayed payments, the volume discounts and other extras they request content owners to oblige them are stifling.

•Mrs. Odutayo

This affects profitability and the effect spirals down,” the statement said. The association further alleged that media monitoring agencies oftentimes delay reports and sometimes give error reports.

“A lot of time is wasted on refuting their claims, at the end of which payment time is unduly prolonged or even an outright loss of revenue when stations refuse to produce offair dub, claiming that the time interval is too long,” it stated.

MONDAY OCTOBER 6, 2014

45

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

OYO POLITICS The Oyo State All Progressives Congress (APC) is crisis ridden, ahead of next year’s elections. Assistant LEKE SALAUDEEN examines the impact the crisis may have on the re-election bid of Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

Can Ajimobi break second term jinx?

M

ANY stakeholders believe that, judging by his performance in the last three and half years, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State deserves a second term.

But, in the light of latest developments, the governor, who is the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), can no longer take his reelection for granted. This is owing to the intra-party squabble that has polarised the party. The crisis has weakened the party structure and decimated its membership. The crisis started manifesting, shortly after Ajimobi’s inauguration in May 2011. It was alleged that the governor did not consult the party leadership while constituting his cabinet and that he picked his commissioners from outside the party. At the, time, aggrieved party members, who claimed to have worked for his victory, protest to registered against the decision.

The feud led to the defection of Senator Femi Lanlehin (Oyo South) and Senator Ayoade Adeseun (Oyo Central). The duo accused Ajimobi of shutting out party stakeholders from his administration. Lanlehin defected to the Accord Party, while Adeseun joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Many party leaders are not happy with the governor’s attitude towards stakeholders and they are contemplating leaving the fold. It was learnt that a chieftain of the party, Chief Michael Koleoso, prevailed on aggrieved members, including the two senators, not to dump the party to no avail.

Analysts see the exit of the two senators as a dangerous signal for the APC, saying it under scores a reflection of the selfish ambition of party leaders who are supposed to work together to ensure the party’s success at the polls next year. The governor, they say, must improve his relationship with the people and work harder on the membership drive.

Apparently, Ajimobi has a different view. He sees the defection of Lanlehin as a big relief, according to observers, because he considers the latter as a major threat to his re-election bid.

Lanlehin had never hidden his plan to contest for the governorship election next year. He was the major opponent of Ajimobi for the ticket in 2011, but he lost to the governor. He was however pacified with the Oyo South senatorial ticket. In spite of the attempt to mend the cracks, the relationship between them has not been cordial.

Lanlehin is the most vocal critic of the Ajimobi Administration.

Against this background, an epic battle for the Agodi Government House is in the offing. The question on the lips of many observers is; can Ajimobi break the second term jinx? The history of the state suggests that no governor has ever won a second term.

A party stalwart, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, beyond Lanlehin and Adeseun’s exit, the internal wrangling in the party is weakening its structure. He said the governor has given little or no regard to other stakeholders in the appointments of commissioners, advisers and the caretaker chairmen of the 33 local government areas.

He said: “When the appointments into political office were to be made, shortly after 2011 election, Governor Ajimobi told party leaders to submit names of nominees, which they did.

‘Akintola said any political party that underrates the influence of Alafin of Oyo, the Olubadan of Ibadan and Soun of Ogbomoso is doomed politically.

He said the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) is also influential in deciding the political direction for the people. He said it was not Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) that won the election for Ajimobi in 2011.

Rather, he was the choice of the elite’ • Ajimobi

But, to their utter dismay, most of the nominees didn’t make the list. The governor allocated juicy positions to his loyalists referred to as ‘Senaco’.

Since then, the party has been divided between Senaco and those of former Governor Lam Adeshina, known as ‘Lamists.”

He said the last cabinet reshuffle has created rumbles within the party.

Some of the commissioners, he said, were sent packing because of their loyalty to the Lam Adesina group.

From the opposition’s point of view, the governor’s performance alone cannot earn him a second tenure.

Former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP Alhaji Yekini Adeojo said the governor cannot get a second term. He explained that some of the governor’s policies have brought hardship to the people. He cited the Urban Renewal Project, which has led to the demolition of structures. But the government has defended its action by explaining that alternatives are being provided to the affected persons, despite the fact that nobody allocated the structures being demolished to the owners.

A youth activist, Mr. Akin Olagunju, however disagreed with Adeojo’s position. He said Ajimobi is set to rewrite the political history of Oyo State by becoming the first governor to run and win a second term notwithstanding the opposition propaganda.

Olagunju said the crisis rocking the PDP in the state may be a big plus for Ajimobi, if the party remains divided.

The chairman of the APC, Chief Akin Oke, also dismissed the idea that Oyo people do not elect a governor twice.

He described it as a myth, saying the performance of Ajimobi in his first term so far has surpassed the imagination of the opposition and would see him through the polls. Oke said the experience of the people during the Alao-Akala’s administration

would also be a key factor in determining the success of Ajimobi at the poll.

He argued that the restoration of peace by the governor cannot be wished away. He maintained that if no governor had served the state twice, Ajimobi would be the first to do so because of his excellent performance.

The governor himself has vowed to break the second term jinx saying he will be the first governor to achieve that. “I will be the first governor to break that jinx. Who says Ibadan never serves a governor twice? I will be the first to achieve that,” he said.

Ajimobi maintained that, since he was the one serving the people of Ibadan and Oyo State in general, the notion would not apply to him. His words: “We are the one serving the people and not the people serving us.

The notion that no governor ever served twice in Oyo State is wrong because Awolowo and Akintola governed the state twice. Ajimobi stressed that his performance would speak for him in the next election.

Dr. Lekan Olagoke, an Ibadan-based university don, agreed with Oke and Ajimobi. He argued that the governor’s activities have impacted positively on the lives of the people. “He has shown greater commitment to service through his Urban Renewal Programme, which had placed the major cities in the state on a new pedestal,” he noted.

Olagoke made reference to Ibadan, which hitherto was classified as the dirtiest city in West Africa, pointiing out that Ajimobi has successfully changed the face of the metropolis. He said the governor has restored peace and security in Ibadan, which used to be a theatre of war between the warring factions of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). Other achievements, according to him, are the dualisation of roads leading to all the major cities and towns around the capital; youth empowerment scheme for

unemployed graduates; and free medical services for the people including surgical operations.

The political scientist argued that the ideal thing in a society where performance is the criteria for re-election is to allow Ajimobi to have a second term.

Similarly, Alhaji Wasiu Adekunle, a trader based in Ibadan, is rooting for Ajimobi’s re-election to enable him complete the numerous projects. He commended Ajimobi for his developmental strides.

Adekunle lauded the Ajimobi Administration for putting smiles on the faces of market men and women, and artisans, through the provision of N300 million interest-free loans. “In fairness to him, Ajimobi cannot be written off as a non-performer, considering where the state is coming from. He is the best thing to have ever happened to the state in terms of governance,” he said.

Legal luminary Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) said the politics of Oyo State is unique in the sense that it is not political parties that would determine who wins the election. According to him, traditional, professional and cultural elites determine who governs the state.

Akintola said any political party that underrates the influence of Alaafin of Oyo, the Olubadan of Ibadan and Soun of Ogbomoso is doomed politically. He said the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) is also influential in deciding the political direction for the people. He said it was not Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) that won the election for Ajimobi in 2011. Rather, he was the choice of the elite. “I know the role played by the Alafin and the late Alhaji Azeez Arisekola Alao in that election. I know the role played by Chief Lekan Balogun, Senator Teslim Folarin, Elder Wole

Oyelese and Chief Yekini Adeojo, despite the fact that all of them are PDP members. It was the collective effort of the elite that brought Ajimobi to power, not ACN or APC”, he added.

For Moshood Erubami, the President of Nigeria Voters Assembly, a civil society organisation, there is no doubt that Ajimobi would be returned by the electorates in next year’s election.

He said the governor has demonstrated enough courage to assist the people and ensure that governance meets their genuine desires.

Erubami said: “This is a governor that is daily adding value reconstructing the state, re-orienting the indigenes, restoring hope and transforming governance with demonstrated character of integrity. His style of governance has been posing questions to his predecessors about where the monies being committed to development projects during his administration were being put during their own tenure that nothing concrete was visible beyond fuji and juju fanfare on daily basis.

“The face of Ibadan had remained rough, dirty and structurally defective in the last 30 years, with nothing to show for the years of government and governance in the state. This made it difficult to attract investors to site industry in the state, thereby reducing it to a teacher’s state without major platform for sustainable human development.

“The current environmental beautification effort of government is quite discernible to all as everyone can note the order being brought to motor garages, the changing face of our road, reduction in traffic hold-ups. Past governments had created different security outfits to address insecurity and other societal decay, but none was as effective and mobile as Operation Burst, which is ever mobile and steadfast in curbing brigandage in the society. Never before has any administration introduced a security outfit that is as mobile and effective as Operation Burst.”

No civilian governor has spent more than a term in Oyo State, since it was created in 1976. The late Chief Bola Ige, who was elected in 1979 tried to retain the position in 1983, but lost to Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, who took over from Ige in October, 1983, spent only three months in office due to military intervention. The late Chief Kolapo Ishola, who came into office during the transition programme of Gen, Ibrahim Babangida did not also complete his first term due to Gen. Sani Abacha’s coup that overthrew the Interim National Government (ING) headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan in 1993.

The late Adesina, who came to office in 1999, could not win in 2003. He lost to Rasheed Ladoja, who had a turbulent tenure, following a face-off with the strong man of Ibadan politics, the late Chief Lamidi Adedibu. Ladoja’s impeachment and his eventual restoration by the Supreme Court prevented him from seeking a second term. The PDP had already conducted its primaries and the ticket for the 2007 election had been given to AlaoAkala before his reinstatement. AlaoAkala won the election. He governed for four years. His attempt to secure a second term in 2011 also failed, like those of his predecessors.

THE NATION MONDAY OCTOBER 6, 2014

46

POLITICS Former Secretary to the Taraba State Government (SSG) Ambassador Emmanuel Njiwah, in this interview, says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will not win the governorship election, if Acting Governor Garba becomes the flag bearer for next year’s poll. Senior Correspondent FANEN IHYONGO met himj in Jalingo, the state capital.

‘PDP will lose Taraba, if Umar gets ticket’ W

HY were you sacked from the Taraba State Executive Council by Acting Governor Garba Umar?

You have asked me as a person, but I will speak on behalf of the team that was sacked by the deputy governor. First and foremost, Garba Umar became the deputy governor by appointment; he did not contest the election with Governor Danbaba Suntai. He only came onboard when our former deputy governor, Sani Abubakar Danladi, was impeached by the House of Assembly. Umar had spent barely three weeks when Suntai had a plane crash with his security aides.

The deputy governor did not know anything about governance. He was in the private sector, but he had to take over the mantle of leadership as the acting governor, following the governor’s mishap. But, before the crash, Suntai had set up committees for disbursing the flood funds for the purchase of relief materials for those who were affected by the flood disaster in 2012. The main committee was chaired by the deputy governor, with some of us as members, including the Chief of Staff, the former Head of Service and Commissioners for Justice, Environment, Finance, Health and Information. Most of the job had been done before the governor had the crash. There were two main committees in charge of purchases.

The materials bought were determined by the main committee through the logistics committee, which was to do market survey and identify the quantity, quality and price of the items to be purchased. No member of the main committee was involved in purchases, except the wife of the Chief of Staff, now the SSG, who got the contract to purchase the items. So, I don’t know the money Umar said we tampered with. The reports of the two committees are there. There is no missing fund in the report. There is nobody who said he was not giving some money to purchase items. I don’t know how I, as the SSG, who was in the main committee, tampered with the funds. Even the commissioners who were involved in the purchases returned more than nine million naira as discount from the purchases.

But, there was a report...

When the report was submitted, it was supposed to be scrutinised by the executive.

But, the deputy governor, who was now in acting capacity, was finding a way to do away with some of us. He was trying without success to lobby some of us to assist him to take over as the substantive governor. He wanted me, particularly, to prepare a memo stating that Suntai was incapacitated so that his deputy can assume his office. He promised to make me the deputy governor, with the sum of N100 million, lobbied through a permanent secretary and two other commissioners, which I will only mention their names, if he (Umar) denies this. This was what happened. So, he decided to link the commissioners who were very loyal to Suntai and I, who refused to write the memo, with the flood funds so as to remove us from office. No one tampered with the flood funds. It was what he planned and executed. The report is there and it was even published in one of the newspapers in the state for the public to see. So, I don’t know how he got us indicted. The truth is that nobody tampered with the flood dis-

‘The deputy governor said he booted us from office because, according to him, we are corrupt. We said we are innocent. We went to court, but the deputy governor is preempting the judgment by saying we are corrupt. I don’t know where he got his own judgment or whether he has taken over the duties of the court’ •Njiwah

aster money. Few minutes before he sacked us, Umar asked his Muslim brother; the former commissioner of health; to resign his appointment. The former Commissioner for Information was not sacked, but he voluntarily left the government when Umar was disloyal to the governor. The truth is that Governor Suntai had warned that nobody should take even transport fare from the funds and we all complied. So, the deputy governor should explain his source and how we tampered with the flood funds.

What did you do when you were sacked?

We went to court within the first three days, because we knew we were wrongly sacked. We went to court in July last year.

The judgment was to be passed on May 11, but the court is yet to rule on the case. I wish to say somebody somewhere is tampering with justice in the state, but I don’t want to talk about the matter, since it is already in the court of law. The deputy governor said he booted us from office because, according to him, we are corrupt. We said we are innocent. We went to court, but the deputy governor is pre-empting the judgment by saying we are corrupt. I don’t know where he got his own judgment or whether he has taken over the duties of the court.

How much did the committees spend?

N100 million was set aside to rehabilitate the infrastructure that was affected by the flood. These included infrastructure for schools, dispensaries, mosques, churches and culverts. So, apart from some bank charges, about two hundred million naira was disbursed.

What happened to the N100 million, at the time you were sacked?

It was intact in the state’s treasury. All the funds disbursed were from the treasury and the Commissioner for Finance submitted a letter informing us that the N100 million was still intact.

Umar has always said his relationship with

his boss is still very cordial and that he is taking care of the governor and his family.

Do you have a different view?

There is no better word to describe the kind of relationship he presently has with the governor. It is not cordial in any way.

Immediately the governor had the plane crash, Umar started plotting on how he could take over. Anybody who has a cordial relationwith his boss would not do that.

He also removed all the appointees of the governor to clear the way for him to become the substantive governor. Is that cordiality? He said he is taking care of the governor. It is not true. Suntai is the executive governor of the state and he is entitled to be taken care of by the government and not

by Garba Umar. Umar does not have the resources to take care of Suntai. Before his appointment as the deputy governor, Umar was not a rich man. All we knew about him was that he was a trader, selling nuvan (mosquito insecticides) in Gombe State. So, Umar does not have the capacity to take care of Suntai in any regard. It is the government that is supposed to take care of the governor, but the government being run by Umar is not doing that.

How has the state fared under Umar?

If there is any time in the life of Taraba State that there was the worst administration, Umar’s time is worse than that worst.

Somehow, I have been in the government of Taraba State at various times, since its creation. I was a director in the ministry, commissioner, board chairman and SSG. So, I know that no government, military and civilian, has been as bad as the one steered

by Umar. He has not developed anything in the state. All the projects started by Suntai have stopped. The state university, which Suntai established for the education of our children, is not being funded. When I was there, I had to persuade him to fund the university, but he would not. The other time

the university wanted to embark on strike, but for the intervention of a third fund and other federal government agencies in the tertiary institutions, the university would have been closed down. It is not being funded by the deputy governor, who has declared himself as the acting governor.

Taraba State is in its worst period. Under Suntai, even when all the Northeastern states had some crises, Taraba never experienced any. The governor was proactive and he knew how to arrest the crisis and crackdown on suspected insurgents. There is insecurity. As the acting governor, he is the chief security officer. As the chief security officer, he should be able to know where the roof is leaking to mend it. But, he is not doing that. He seems to be taking side. And the reason is simply because he is hell-bent to take over Taraba. So, he cannot hesitate to do anything that can pave the way for him to succeed.

The acting governor claimed that he has done well. If the people asks him to contest, he said he will contest...

I don’t know that kind of clarion call. Honestly, the greatest mistake Suntai has made in his life was picking Umar as his deputy.

There can be no mistake worse than this.

Suntai had relied solely on elders to pick someone for him from the Northern zone.

The governor did not know this man. If he had known, he wouldn’t have picked him.

The College of Agriculture Governing Board had paid him a courtesy call. The members advanced some demands. I was there as the SSG. He told them, yes, I would do these things; no I would not do those ones. At the end, I summed up the things he said he was going to do and those he turned down. I prepared a memo in that regard for his consideration and approval. But, upon giving him the memo, he asked me what is this SSG? I told him these are the things you approved for the college. He said no, I didn’t mean what I said; it was only a political talk. I asked what do you mean Your Excellency? I told him he is acting governor, so whatever he promises the people or public institutions, he has to fulfill it and that’s how the government works. Then, I asked him why he gave them fake promise. May be, that is why he is angry at me. I doubt if he has granted those requests.

Was there any agreement between Umar and Suntai that Umar would not run for office? If there is, was the agreement written or oral?

On several occasions, Governor Suntai emphasised to him (Umar) that I have brought you to complete my tenure with me. Under no account should you nurse any form of ambition to contest, because the Northern and Central zones have produced governors. So, in 2015, we shall relinquish power to the Southern zone, and the reason why I appointed you as my deputy is because of your age; so that you would not have any ambition to take over. So, please abide by this and, if at the end of our tenure, you don’t see me advancing you, don’t be annoyed because we must give the governorship slot to where it belongs for justice and equity. Umar said no, I am very okay sir; I am not going to contest. But now, he has forgotten.

APC chietain joins House of Assembly race

F

• Ajijola

ORMER Chairman of Ajeromi Local Government Area of Lagos State, Dr Abiola Ajijola, is eyeing the House of Assembly seat in Ajeromi/Ifelodun Constituency 1 in next year’s elections.

The seat is currently occupied by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Kolawole Taiwo, who has been serving in the House since 1999.

Ajijola said he wanted to bounce back, 17 years after leaving power. The medical practitioner said: “Although I left office in 1997 after a remarkable 16-month experience in grassroots administration before the

By Dada Aladelokun

military coup, I have always been a card-carrying member of progressive parties, including the Alliance for Democracy (AD), the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). In fact, I belong to the party’s apex leadership body known as G10 in my local government area.

“I am in the race to step up my commitment to bringing the fruits of governance to the people. I firmly believe that,with patriotic representation in the

House, my constituency should be better than it is today and it takes selfless representation driven by undiluted patriotism to turn things around for the people. This is my concern.”

Ajijola said that the fifth term aganda of Hon. Taiwo would not threaten his ambition. He said: “He (Taiwo) is no threat to my ambition; in fact, most people see my coming out as his greatest challenge because of my popularity based on what I did when I was chairman and my unbroken relationship with the people. This is democracy, a system that gives room for freedom of choice by the

electorate. “ Hon Taiwo has served for four terms in the House and people have seen what he could do. I feel it is simply fair for someone else to have a shot and bring his acumen to bear in further serving the constituency in the best interest of the people.”

The aspirant said the exemplary services delivered by the party’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, when he governed the state and Governor Babatunde Fashola’s exploits are enough to convince Lagosians that the APC is better than the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

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THE NATION MONDAY OCTOBER 6, 2014

POLITICS Group accuses Jega of bias

All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial aspirant in Ekiti South District Ayodele Adu spoke with EMMANUEL OLADESU and SINA FADARE on his agenda and other partisan issues.

By Raymond Mordi

T

‘Ekiti ‘ll vote for personality in 2015’

Y

OU have a flourishing career in the banking world. What at tracted you to politics?

According to a German philosopher, a political illiterate is the worst of illiterates. The inaction of those who do not participate in politics is what causes the social injustices we are all talking about in the society.

They don’t know that not participating in politics make the price of rice in the market to go beyond the reach of the common man.

If you are not participating in politics, you are killing the economy and not helping the coming generation.

As a man, no matter how comfortable you are, you must find a way of contributing your quota to the development of others and see how you can impact into the lives of the people. The zeal to do that has encouraged me to go into politics.

In my constituency, l see a lot of poverty. Even, at times, it is difficult for people to raise their children’s school fees when l was growing up.

So, I made up my mind that, if l have the opportunity, l will assist all those that are in need. At my private level, l have been trying to give succour to the needy and meet a lot of people’s demand in my little way. If l have the opportunity to serve the people therefore, l will be able to take care of their needs at a global level. For example, l have given scholarship to some people, donated to community projects and assisted in one way or the order, but there is little one can do at an individual level. That is why l want to be in politics so that l can render more services to my people. If you are in government, you can see to policy formulation and execution, especially policies that have direct positive impact on millions of people. The Senate, which l am aspiring to go, is a place where you discuss the fortune of the country.

I want to go to the Senate to utilise my wealth of experience in the financial and stock exchange, which I have garnered in the last 16 years, so that the country at large will tap from this opportunity. In the US, erudite lawyers and professionals are in the Senate to rob minds together and come up with a law that will assist the country in its developments.

Technocrats are always afraid to swim in the murky waters of politics. What is the motivation?

There is always a challenge in any area of human endeavour. Politics is

not exempted. I have the determination to serve my people in any capacity. That is why l want to go to the Senate. I like challenges and, like l have always overcome them in the past, l will do that of politics and I will have a remarkable achievement at the end.

Yes, Nigerian politics is murky, but it all depends on the approach and the tenacity of purpose that you put into it. In Ekiti, l have met with the chairmen of the 64 wards. They are more political and intelligent than l expected. I was able to lay my cards on the table and share my vision and dream of giving it all to the total emancipation of my people from poverty and penury that are ravaging them now. That is why l sold my profile to them. They are very excited about it and majority of them are praying that l will be their senator next year.

If you go to the state now and you talk to anybody on the street, they will tell you that that is our next senator because l was able to sell myself to the people and they are very passionate about my credential and humble background. Although the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will be the party in power next year, that does not change anything because l parade one of the best credential and the people of the state will want me to represent them in the Senate without a recourse to any party. Take, for instance, if they want to talk on the issue of finance in the Senate, if l am fortunate to be there, definitely, l will play a major role because of my background.

How do you think you can make a difference from the previous people who had represented Ekiti in the Senate?

My main focus will be the irreversible investment. Ekiti people are agrarian in nature. There is poor economic development. You cannot create market, unless you create institutional changes there. I will try to use my contact, both locally and internationally, to benefit my community and my country at large.

In the past, the state was unlucky to have some people who are mere on lookers in the Senate and all their constituency allowances were spent on their family. They bought few okada and keke NAPEP. That is not how to empower the people. l can assure the people of Ekiti that a new dawn has come and an expert is about

•Adu

to go to the Senate to change their economic fortune.

What is your chance, in view of the politics of stomach infrastructure, which is in vogue now?

I still believe that the people of Ekiti did not practice the politics of stomach infrastructure. We have a politically conscious society and the people respect you for what you are and what you can offer, in terms of developmental programmes. They also did not like a situation where you take them for granted. They want you to accord them with little honour. They want to see that you are humble and that you can actually relate with them at any level and that you are accessible to them, especially at the point of their need. For example, l distributed about 30,000 exercise books when I declared my intention officially to my people. I had to give them to students going to school free of charge as my own little contribution to their educational success. This will encourage parents to save millions of naira that could have been expended on these books.

By so doing, in my little way, we are re- creating wealth. I donated the exercise books, not for any reason, apart for the fact that the students need them at this particular period that they are resuming and it will equally assist their parents. If that is the only way l can assist my people, l will do it in a million times, if l have the resources. I am always happy and fulfilled when l put smile on the faces of others.

What is the assurance that the APC will pick you as its candidate?

Credibility and high profile that l parade will be an advantage for me.

My profile is all over the state and particularly, my senatorial district and it is verifiable. People know my background and the family. This election will not be on party basis. It will be based on personality. It is about the person who is qualified to be there and who will make an ppreciable impact. I have all what it takes to make a difference.

From left: All Progressives Congress (APC) National Publicity Secretary (APC) Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Chairman, Lagos APC, Otunba Henry Ajomale; Chairman, Apapa/Iganmu Local Council Development Area,(LCDA),Dr Samuel Adedayo, and former People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), leader in Apapa/Iganmu Community, Prince Kayode Obadiah, at a ceremony marking Obadiah’s defection from the PDP to the APC in Lagos.

HE National Chairman of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN), Mr. Segun Sango, has chided the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for refusing to register the association, although it has met all the requirements stipulated in the 1999 Constitution and the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended).

Sango told reporters in Lagos that the action of the Professor Attahiru Jega-led commission undercored the capitalist ruling elite’s quest to exclude the masses from genuine political participation. “It is the machination of people who do not want the masses to have control over the political process in Nigeria,” he added.

The refusal to register the SPN, he noted, is a negation of the political and legal struggle inspired by the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi and the National Conscience Party (NCP). He said the litigation on this issue involving Alhaji Balarabe Musa and the INEC was decided in favour of the push for an all-inclusive participation. .

Sango said that, since then, the law has liberated the political space and permitted the registration of many political parties.

His added: “The rejection by the INEC of the SPN’s application for registration as a political party, after the association has fully met the conditions for such purpose in the 1999 Constitution as amended and the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended), represents a serious political throw back to 2002, which was the period before the Supreme Court made its pronouncement on the rules and protocol for the transformation of political associations to political parties.

“The proliferation of political parties that came in the wake of the landmark judgement has not in any sense offered genuine socio-economic and political opportunities to the vast majority of the working masses because severally and collectively, these parties are committed to pro-rich capitalist viewpoints.”

Sango said the SPN has instituted a legal action against the INEC to protest “its refusal to issue our certificate of registration in mid July 2014 and its subsequent decision communicated to us on August 12 that the SPN’s registration is terminated.”

He said members of the association would continue to utilise legal, democratic and political means to agitate for its registra•Sango tion.

Show interest in governance, Akpabio tells youths

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KWA Ibom Governor Godswill Akapbio has urged the youths to show interest in governance, adding that they should be drivers of development.

He spoke at an inter-denominational service to mark the 27th anniversary of the state creation and the 54th independence anniversary.

The theme of the event, which held at the Ibom Hall Grounds, Uyo, was: “The God of Grace.”

Akpabio said: “I charge the youths to rise up and protect the uncommon transformation of the state because there must be maintenance and sustainability of the developmental projects.

“I also charge the youths to shun tribal sentiments and vote for a person, who will sustain the uncommon transformation as the next governor.”

The governor said the next governor would sustain the legacy of his administration, urging the people to vote for a focused, sincere, liberal and non-tribalist candidate.

Akpabio said the service was organised to thank God for what He had done for the state He said: “When God gives you the opportunity to serve, do it sincerely and stop criticising others. I will not be distracted by critics. My administration will also continue to partner with the church.

The governor congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan over his endorsement by various stakeholders. He urged the people to support the administration.

A cleric, Bishop Emma Isong of the Christian Central Chapel International (CCCI), spoke on the theme: “Building A Legacy.” He said the governor has impacted on the state.

He charged politicians to build worthy legacies while in office.

Bishop Isong, on behalf of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Cross River State chapter, presented a plaque to Governor Akpabio as ‘The Most Christian Friendly Governor’.

The Chairman of the Christian Association Of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Cletus Bassey, also extolled the virtures of the governor.

He commended Akpabio for partnering with the church and touching the lives of Christians in the state.

•Akpabio

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THE NATION MONDAY OCTOBER 6, 2014

Kwara South All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial aspirant Anu Ibiwoye, in this interview with ADEKUNLE JIMOH, speaks about the Ahmed Administration and why the governor deserves a second term.

‘No zoning in Rivers PDP’ From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

‘PDP can’t beat APC in Kwara’ R

W

HY are you contesting for the Senate?

All of us are political beings and we look at what goes on in our environment. I have developed interest in politics when I was a banker and when I was Special Assistant to the Minister of Women Affairs and Youth Development. From that platform, I have become interested in what is going on in my community. I have realised that we do not have the kind of representation that we should have, particularly in the Kwara South. And when you look at the politicians on the field, I felt we needed to come out boldly to say we can improve on the quality of representation and we came into politics as a direct response to the gap that was obvious in our representation in Kwara South.

I also believe there is the need to provide mentorship for our youths; young people that we can identify with, young people who can identify with us and who we could correct and channel their energies into constructive use. We felt that gap was there and they needed somebody who will be committed to the people in getting result.

Do you think you have the wherewithal to delve into the murky waters of politics?

I may not have the kind of money that people throw around in politics, but I have been able to achieve everything I needed to do.

I am not playing money politics. I am not buying people. Of course, you need money to run your programmes, and projects, but I am not buying the people’s conscience.

I am using the little that I have to project my message and appeal to the people. So far, God has been able to meet my needs. I have not borrowed or done any launching.

I have not been begging. I have people who have supported me with their resources. I have people supporting me with their time and energy.

There are different categories of people. There are people who are out to do a contract. We are going to pay them for the services they are rendering. There are other people who see themselves as partners in this project; that this thing we are doing belongs to all of us. It is not about monetary gains, but a commitment to what we want to achieve. Politics is not about money. Some people have money and they are throwing it around. But, you also find out that it is not how much you spend that determines what you get; it is about how well you are able to connect to the people.

Politics in Nigeria has been monetised because of poverty and deprivation. We hope we can get more people to do empowerment programmes to alleviate poverty in addition to what government is doing. So, it is something that we all must collectively to move this country forward.

What is the assurance that you will emerge as the senatorial candidate at the primaries?

I am happy that the party has said there is no automatic ticket for anybody. It means everybody will go to the electorate to canvass for votes. That is a right step in the right direction. At least, it is a departure from imposition. In 2011, I also had the opportunity to do what I am trying to do now and you will also see that we are course. We ran election in 2011 and even, when we did not win, we did not leave Kwara.

We didn’t leave the people. We have continued on the course and

•Ibiwoye

we have metamorphosed into the APC. We have been building the party; working with leadership and government to ensure that the dividends of democracy are delivered to the people. You find out that government is now more responsive, more proactive and it is more committed to delivering dividends of democracy to the people. So, this for me, is not only about position, but it is about getting a better society for our people through representation.

You are from the South. What is your view on the second term ambition of Governor Ahmed?

Naturally, the South should be allowed to have a second shot at the governorship. I think more importantly, I would support the governor for a second term. This is necessary to ensure stability and enable him complete his programmes. The governor has done well and he has good intention for the people, particularly people of the South. I have interacted with him personally and I was with him while on tour of project sites in Kwara South. We saw rural electrification and roads under construction and more importantly, he had an opportunity to get a feedback from the people.

I am a committed supporter of his second term because I believe that that will afford him the opportunity to complete those projects he has started.

Is Kwara better under the APC administration?

Certainly, Kwara will fare better under the APC. One of the problems we are facing is that the Federal Government has not been accountable to the people.

‘The South should be allowed to have a second shot at the governorship. I think more importantly, I would support the governor for a second term.

This is necessary to ensure stability and enable him complete his programmes. The governor has done well and he has good intention for the people’

They have always relied on the federal might. Now, you have a government that is in the opposition at the national and state levels. We have seen in Nigeria today that it is possible for an incumbent to lose an election. We saw that in Ekiti. We have also seen in Osun that it is possible for an incumbent to retain power, if he is in touch with the people at the grassroots and delivering dividends of democracy. There is no federal might that can displace you. Now, more than ever before, the people have become the centre of the activities of government.

So, there is change and it is clear.

PDP is banking on the federal might to wrest power from the APC in Kwara. What is your view?

They should go and learn from Osun. The federal might will not deliver anything to the PDP. It is a misplaced priority and I think they should go and work to get popular votes from the electorate.

The federal might will not deliver anything to anybody in Kwara.

This government is with the people. The people have decided to stay with the APC and there is no federal might that canh change anything in Kwara. We have made our choice and the APC is our choice.

What is your reaction to Saraki’s defection to the APC My interpretation of what had happened is that it has become very clear that Nigeria needs a rescue mission and Saraki is a very influential politician. He has been a major supporter of government; a major stabiliser. He was the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum for almost four years and that forum brought stability to governance. And, at a critical point, when late President Yar’Adua died, the forum brought stability in a transition.

Some governors insisted that the Federal Government should do the right thing and when they refused to do that, a few of them took a decision to join the progressives to salvage the country. His defection to the APC was a bold step at rescuing Nigeria from the crutches of people who currently run the country; who have no will to rescue Nigeria from the myriad of problems confronting the country. These problems include insecurity, corruption, unemployment and power outage. This is the time when like-minded people should come together to rescue the country so that we can move forward. And I believe that Senator Bukola Saraki is leading that group of people to chart a new political course for this country.

What is your advice to Kwara youths?

The future belongs to the young people and, as long as they do not brace up for the challenge, things that are important will continue to elude them. There are opportunities for many young people in Nigeria. Dr Bukola Saraki was a governor as a youth and it is very clear that he has laid the foundation for greatness in Kwara. A generation of young people is running this country. We must get our young people prepared to take responsibilities because, if theydo not focus and channel their energies to constructive use, these opportunities will continue to elude them. I am a young man and I have come this far by dint of hard work and commitment and I believe we should harness the potentials of our youths and channel their energies to constructive use so that they can truly be the leaders of tomorrow.

IVERS State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Chief Ferdinand Alabraba has declared that the governorship ticket will not be zoned to any senatorial district or ethnic group.

Alabraba said the “no-zoning principle” is consistent with the position of the state executive committee of the party. Members of the committee include the chairmen of the 23 local government chapters, lawmakers, and other leaders.

Alabraba said, based on this position, the slot would not be zoned to any ethnic nationality, local council and district.

Alabraba, who spoke in Port Harcourt, the state capital, added: said: “It is not in the best interest of our party to zone or limit the selection of a governorship candidate to any zone, district or ethnic nationality. We must ensure that the party gives aspirants a level playing field.

“The prevailing circumstance demands that the party should put its best candidate forward and the only democratic avenue that is available to the PDP is to conduct primaries for aspirants.”

The PDP chieftain acknowledged the existence of an unwritten riverine/ upland arrangement, which gives the ethnic groups opportunities for representations in elective offices. But, he insisted that the arrangement will deprive the PDP the chance of beating the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the polls.

He said that the PDP is in a trying time, adding that members never anticipated the defection of Governor Rotimi Amaechi from the party.

Alabraba praisedhe Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, for leading the party, following the exit of the governor.

He said Amaechi, his aides, pro-government contractors and friends were the PDP financial war chest before the defection.

Alabraba said: “Without Wike, the PDP would have become extinct in Rivers State. Governor Amaechi took the structure of the PDP with him to the APC. When it happened, PDP members were dejected, but they did nothing, until Wike rose up to the challenge.

“How can you run on the platform of a party without contributing to the growth and development of the party? They forget that we are in party politics.

For anyone to run on the platform of the party, he or she has to identify with the party. How can they achieve their ambition, if they do not identify with the party?

“My advice to them is to come close to the party, identify with the part, contribute to the party, and mobilise support for the party so that the party can be stronger to enable them actualise their ambitions. They should also support the leadership of the party as it is today. Clearly, Wike has demonstrated unparalleled leadership that has taken the PDP to where it is today in Rivers State”.

Group backs President for second term

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GROUP, ‘Women for Goodluck 2015’, has urged Nigerians to support the second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The group explained that the President has the right to seek for another term in office, advising critics to study the constitution. in next year’s election. It said his achievements are many.

Its National Coordinator, Ambassador Fatima Adams, spoke at the investiture of the organisation’s National Patro, Oguefi Emma Otunabo, in Lagos.

She said, for the first time, the nation has a President , who has decided to implement the ‘35 per cent Affirmative Action plan’ for women, in consonance with the resolution of the Beijing Conference.

She said: “For the first time in Nigeria, 13 women took the oath of office as members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and first Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and the first female President of the Court of appeal was appointed by President Jonathan.’’

Adams highlighted the the President’s achievements. They include the implementation of the Transformation Agenda, rehabilitation of federal roads, especially the Benin-Ore road, the construction of the Second Niger Bridge, the rehabilitation of railways and seaports, the renovation and the remodelling of airports, and the building of an auto assembly plant.

Others include the cessation of fuel subsidy and the allocation of more funds to tackle insecurity.

Urging women to support the President, Adams assured that he will not abandon thenm after the poll.

Otunabo hailed the group, saying that it has a laudable objective.

He added: “As a man who has been in the vanguard of women empowerment and welfare, this responsibility is not new to me. I solicit for your assistance to succeed.”

Ogun PDP woos LP members From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

T

HE Chairman of the Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bayo Dayo, has urged Labour Party(LP) members to join the PDP. Dayo spoke at a rally in Ijebu-Igbo, where he received over 250 defectors from the Accord Party(AP) and the All Progressives Congress(APC).

He said the APC leader, Governor Ibikunle Amosun and the LP leader, former Governor Gbenga Daniel, cannot lead the state to the promised land.

Dayo urged the defectors, including the LP Chairman in Ijebu East Local Government, Mr Ganiyu Ishola, to work for the success of the PDP in Ijebu East Senatorial District.

He said Daniel has been dropping the name of President Goodluck Jonathan, thereby creating the impression that they can be relevant through the back door.

Dayo described the LP as a sinking ship, urging the members to desert it before it is too late.

PDP chieftain Dapo Abiodun, who attended the rally, said he was in Ijebu-Igbo to hold consultation the party leader and financier in the Southwest, Prince Buruji Kashamu, stressing he would make the outcome of the consultation known to party supporters soon.

•Dayo

THE NATION MONDAY OCTOBER 6, 2014

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THE NATION MONDAY OCTOBER 6, 2014 USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS ON ANY EMERGENCY Council endorses the useful phone numbers submitted by the security agents for easy access in case of any emergency on the metropolitan roads. Accordingly, the general public may easily Contact KAROTA for: Breakdown of Vehicle(s), Traffic Congestion, Accidents, and Illegal/Wrong Parking to kindly Call KAROTA through the following numbers on – 08091626747. Similarly, the State Police Command could be contacted on – 08032419754, 08123821575. In addition, the State Fire Service can be contacted on – 07051246833, 08191778888.

169TH KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING PREPARED BY COUNCIL AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, KANO.

I

t is comprehensively on record that since inception of the present administration, it has pursued various tangible projects/programmes evident in all Sectors. No doubt, this administration is committed to deliver on its campaign and inauguration promises made by the Chief Executive in the person of Governor Engr.

Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE whose resolve is provision of good governance and copious leadership in which prudence and transparency are the main guiding principles in the utilization of resources.

of good spirited individuals and organizations who strive in good deeds and as well contribute in supporting the event.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved the

It is apparent that the hopes and aspirations of people are being salvaged in the State with an unsurpassed vigour and steady momentum. The quantity and quality of Government services have improved across all Sectors especially agricultural production, education, provision of social amenities, health care delivery, road construction/rehabilitation, beautification of Urban Kano, etc.

trimmed sum of N5,000,000.00 for the smooth conduct of the exercise.

Indeed Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE has proved pundits wrong as he has vigorously strived to emancipate the welfare of the citizenry of Kano with his exemplary leadership style of simplicity and dedication to developing the State.

The Executive Council held its One Hundred and Sixty Ninth (169th) meeting on Thursday 2nd October, 2014 (8th Zhul – Hajj, 1435 AH). During the deliberation, twenty four (24) memorandum were approved for execution, out of the fourty three (43) submitted by twelve (12) MDAs with an expenditure of Seven Hundred and Thirty Million, Eighty Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty One Naira, Seventy Two Kobo (N730,089,421.72), based on sectoral allocation as per the following breakdown:1.

EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME SECTOR It is quite amazing that with the coming of the present administration under the able leadership of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE various empowerment programmes have been executed across the State. This is with a view to enhancing the socio – economic well being of the citizenry, such programmes to mention a few include the following; i.

Training of over 3000 women on modern fish farming at the Fisheries Institute, Bagauda. ii.

Training of over 5000 women on poultry farming/hatching at Poultry Institute Tukwui in Makoda Local Government. iii.

Training of over 6000 Youths on Lafiya Jari/Barbing across the State. iv.

Training of over 2000 women on soap making, embroidery design etc. v.

Training of sizable number of youths/women on livestock farming at Livestock Institute, Bagauda. vi.

Provision of 100no. Tricycles to the Meat Haulers Association to ensure sanity and hygienic distribution of meat across the State.

It is imperative to note that the Executive Council today considered and approved the following memorandum on empowerment; a) Third (3rd) Batch Three – Weeks Training of 500 Female Youths for the Establishment of Small Scale Home – Based Enterprises in Home Baking, Herbs/ Spices Production, Sweets/Sugar Craft who were selected from the eight (8) metropolitan Local Government Councils to be supervised by the Community Reorientation Council (CRC) at the total cost of N20,955,000.00 b) Government Sponsorship in respect of two (2) Kano State Indigenes under 504 Programme to pursue their studies at Hariot Watt University in the sum of N9,160,450.00 as their tuition fees and other logistics. c) The Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport submitted a request for funds for the provision of package to be issued to first (1st) graduating students of the Kano Driving Institute, of which the sum of N1,729,560.00 was considered by the Council to be expended as follows; i.

Driving license for all the graduants at the cost of N1,421,200.00. ii.

Issuance of certificate to each graduants at the cost of N50,000.00. iii.

Purchase of T – Shirt, Face Cap and Hijab at the cost of N208,360.00. iv.

Printing of programme booklet at the cost of N50,000.00. d) Request for Funds for the Conduct of 2014/2015 State Qur’anic Recitation Competition.

It has been a tradition that the State Musabaqah Competition is being organized annually to acquaint the participants to be well prepared for the National and International Qur’anic Recitation Competition.

In this respect the State Sharia Commission submitted a request in the sum of N10,000,000.00 as transport allowances, feeding, printing of vital document, public sensitization and other logistics to cater for the conduct of the programme across 44 Local Government Areas of the State. However council noted contribution

Rabi’u Musa Kwankawaso

PROVISION OF POTABLE WATER 2.

Since the inception of the present administration efforts were made towards improvement in the provision of portable drinking water across the 44 Local Government Areas of the State, through the rehabilitation/overhauling the twenty eight (28) Regional Water Schemes including the Tamburawa and Challawa Water Treatment Plants, the supply and laying of 1000MM and 600MM Ductile Pipes over 250 kilo meter to boost and improve water supply at various location such as; i.

Bagwai to Mil Tara ii.

Bagwai to Tsanyawa iii.

Challawa to Gwauron Dutse iv.

Joda to Yankaba to Gezawa v.

Tamburawa to Hadejia Road Request for funds for the supply of Diesel to Challawa and Tamburawa Water Treatment Plants.

Similarly, and in consideration of the need to address the incessant power failure from KEDCO which hampers the provision of water supply at the Regional Water Plants, the Ministry of Water Resources submitted a request for as increase of the sum of N30,790,000.00 for the supply of diesel to Tamburawa and Challawa Water Plants to maintain steady water supply at full capacity.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved the requested sum of N30,790,000.00, in addition to the sum of N89,988,533.33, which now brings to the total of monthly release of the sum of N120,778,533.33 for the commitment.

3.

INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT SECTOR In general term, the advent of the present administration had remodeled Kano into a befitting/excelled State among other States in the Nation which featured the construction of three (3) flyovers, construction of underpass at Kabuga and Gadon Kaya, construction of the three (3) Mega Cities of Kwankwasiyya, Amana and Bandirawo, the installation/maintenance of the street and traffic lights within the metropolis and the construction of Ring Type Drainage and Culverts with Walkways Interlocks and expansion of major roads (i.e. Hadejia Road, Zaria Road, Gwarzo Road and Sheikh Ja’afar Road) in the metropolis. a.

Provision of Street and Traffic Lights Beautification of Urban Kano is among the cardinal resolutions of the present administration in Kano State under the leadership of the second incumbency of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. Provision of Street lights along major roads in the metropolis is one activity that predominates for the dual purpose of beautification and provision of security.

Considering relevance and congruence of the project to the laudable policy of beautifying Urban Kano, Council approved release of the requested sum of N155,512,238.00to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to enable the Task Force on Installation, Repairs/Reactivation of Street and Traffic Control Lights execute the projects cited below; i.

Installation of New Single Arm Street Lighting Covering Gwarzo Road Bye - Pass totaling (2.8KM) at the cost of N63,987,451.40.

ii.

Installation of New Street Lighting Along Ashton Road from Airport Junction to INEC/Hajj Camp Junction Through Air Force Base to Close Up with Sani Abacha Way totaling (3.5KM) at the cost of N91,524,876.60.

b.

Construction and Installation of Advance Road Signage Gantry Extension on the Existing Four (4) Structures (Zaria, Gwarzo and Hadejia Roads) and Additional One (1) at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport Exit.

Equally, the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport having examined the importance of the Advance Road Signage Gantry to the general public as an inscription to the road users while driving along the way, submitted a request in the sum of N51,324,629.90 for the execution of the project, Accordingly, Council considered and approved as requested.

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THE NATION MONDAY OCTOBER 6, 2014 c.

In another development, a request for Funds for the Construction of Ring Type Drainage and Culverts at Kadawa Lemu Avenue (Layin Gidan Kankara), Gwale Local Government Area in Collaboration with Zaman Lafiya Alheri Association was submitted by the Sustainable Kano Project.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved for the release of the sum of N7,548,960.82 for the construction works in order to prevent the occurrence of annual devastating flood/attendant with loss of lives and properties.

d.

Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) It could be recall that Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) was established by the present administration with the aim of ensuring strict compliance of traffic rules and regulations along the major roads within the metropolis.

It is against the foregoing development, the Agency through the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport submitted the following requests. i.

Request for Funds for the Personnel Training and Re – Training for Kano Road and Traffic Agency (KAROTA) with a view to improve the quality of service and enhance their capacity. Accordingly, Council considered and approved for the release of the sum of N5,336,500.00 for the programme. ii.

Request for Funds for the Continuation of Enforcement of regulations on the Street Decongestion/Illegal Motor Parks in Metropolitan Kano in order to pave way for easy movement along the roads was submitted for Government consideration. Council considered and approved for the release of the sum of N11,403,960.00 for the measures. iii.

Request for Funds for the Public Sensitization and Awareness on the Activities of KAROTA through the Media and Publications for the enlightenment of the general public especially road users was also submitted for consideration. Council considered and approved for the release of the sum of N3,844,840.00 as requested.

Supply of Diesel to Street/Traffic Lights Committee and MDAs. e.

It is important to point out that the good work undertaken by the Taskforce Committee on Street and Traffic Lights on the continuous provision of lighting on our major streets and MDAs need no emphasis. The Committee relentlessly sources the supply of electrical energy required from standby electricity generators powered by diesel (AGO). The supplywas summarized and presented to Council for consideration as follows; i.

Request for Funds for the Payment of Diesel Supplied to MDAs for the Months of March, May, June and July, 2014 which, Council considered and approved for the release of the sum of N53,502,000.00 for the commitment. ii.

Request for Funds for the Payment of Diesel Supplied to the Taskforce on Street/Traffic Lights for the Month of August, 2014. Council considered and approved for the release of the sum of N109,529,200.00.

Request for Funds for the Routine Maintenance of Metropolitan Roads. f.

By KANO URBAN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (KNUPDA) Council acknowledged with appreciation the level of work undertaken for the repairs and maintenance of major roads in the metropolis which was aimed at providing easy movement of motorist and beautifying the city.

Accordingly, Council noted, considered and approved for the release of the sum of N100,000,000.00 to enable the continuation of the Routine Maintenance of Metropolitan Roads.

HEALTH SECTOR 4.

The present administration resolved to transform the health sector in Kano State has yielded positive results such as the establishment of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, creation of Lafiya Jari Programme where more than 1600 indigenes were trained on health related issues and after the training, a capital of N150,000.00 was given to each beneficiary to start their chemist business both within and outside the State. Distribution of drugs of over N500,000,000.00 to health facilities in the State, establishment of the permanent site of Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency at Kwanar Madobi, procurement of ten (10) emergency response ambulances at the cost of over N119,000,000.00 which is aimed at reaching to grass – root people and hard to reach areas where minor medical activities and therapeutic cases are carried out and each ambulance is assigned to cover some Local Government Areas in the State.

In addition to above the six (6) memorandum submitted to Council by the Ministry of Health were approved for execution as follows; a) Request for Funds for the Repair of Existing X – Ray Machines at Twelve (12) Selected Health Centers (Hospitals):In consideration of the dire need to provide X – Ray Services in all our Hospitals for effective Health Care Service Delivery as a key part for medical diagnosis/ investigations and to achieve the cardinal objective of the present administration towards total reinvigoration of the State through provision of quality Health Care Services to the teeming people of the State, the Ministry of Health submitted a request to Council for the repairs and rehabilitation of existing X – Ray Machines/Lead Lining works second (2nd) phase at the twelve (12) additional selected Hospitals in the State.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved the sum of N28,817,880.00 for the repairs and rehabilitation of X – Ray Machines at the twelve (12) additional selected Health Facilities. b) Request for Funds on the Needs for the Establishment of Dental Unit in Each of the Eight (8) Referral Centers and Procurement of Ultra – Sound Scanning Machines for Twenty Eight (28) Hospitals:In its effort to decongest the recently rehabilitated and equipped State Referral Dental Center situated at Zaria Road, the Ministry came up with a proposal for the establishment of a Dental Unit in each of the eight (8) selected Referral Centers and the procurement of Ultra – Sound Scanning Machines (with various specification) to twenty eight (28) selected Hospitals to the tune of N153,960,000.00.

Council considered and approved the release of the sum for the stated purpose.

c)

Request for Funds on the Need for Procurement of Additional Four (4) Kwankwasiyya Medical Outreach Ambulances:In its effort to expand the Kwankwasiyya Medical Outreach activities to other areas/ Communities associated with non – medical facilities close to them, the Ministry submitted a proposal to Council for the procurement of four (4) additional Hospital Ambulances.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved the purchase of two (2no.) ambulance at cost of N25,763,798.00. d)

Request for Funds on the Need to Pay Registration Fees and the Conduct of Professional Final Qualifying Examination – School of Nursing Kano, Scheduled 3rd – 8th November, 2014:The significance of examination fees paid by the students during the period of their studies and the need for reimbursement of the expenditure incurred cannot be over emphasized.

Having noted the above, the Ministry submitted a request in the sum of N4,359,000.00 for the conduct of professional qualifying examination in respect of eighty two (82no.) students at School of Nursing were Council approved as requested. e) Need to Set Up Kano State Management Team for HIV/AIDS. The Ministry of Health submitted a request on the need for the establishment of a Management Team for the control of HIV/AIDS that would be responsible for the comprehensive/implementation plan for the epidemic disease in the State.

Council considered and approved for the setting up of the Management Team.

5.

JUSTICE SECTOR It is a well known fact that the exits cordial relationship between the Justice Sector and the present administration, in which the administration implemented many laudable project/programmes in order to boost the administration of Justice in the State. Such as:• Construction of twenty seven (27no.) additional Sharia Courts across the State.

• Construction of twenty seven (27no.) additional Magistrate Courts in the State.

• Renovation/rehabilitation of the existing Courts across the State.

• Provision of funds for training and re – training of both Senior and Junior in the Sector.

• Procurement of vehicle to the Sector.

In a nutshell, the administration has achieved a remarkable progress in the Sector.

Request for Funds to Enable the Team to Commence the Implementation of its Programmes.

In its bid to continuously implement the laudable programmes, the Justice Sector Reform Team is requesting the release of the sum of N20,000,000.00 for the successful implementation of its programmes in the identified areas as follow; i.

The criminal case tracking system. ii.

Sensitization of general public on rape and other criminal cases. iii.

Pursuance of alternative dispute resolutions through Communities mediation centers. iv.

Payment of State Briefs for less privilege members of the society.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved the release of the trimmed sum of N10,000,000.00 for the commitments.

UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES OF THE 168TH SITTING 1.

COMMENDATION ON CONFERMENT OF NATIONAL HONOURS Council noted the conferment of National Honours to three (3) reputable indigenes of the State who have contributed to the development of the State and the Country in general. Those honoured are; i.

The Deputy Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (OFR) ii.

Justice Abubakar Wali (CON) and iii.

Professor Hafiz Abubakar (MFR) Similarly, Council wishes to felicitate with the recipients of the ward and called on them to do more to ensure the progress and further development of the State and the Country.

2.

MONTHLY SANITATION EXERCISE Council noted the successful conduct of the monthly sanitation exercise and thanked the general public for the co – operation given during the exercise where 107no. defaulters were arraigned before the Mobile Court and the sum of N362,650.00 was realized as fines.

CONDOLENCE MESSAGE 3.

Council wishes to extend its condolence message to the families of Late Galadiman Kano Alhaji Tijjani Hashim who died in the early hours of Monday 29th September, 2014. Furthermore, Council prayed to the Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant the deceased Jannatul Firdaus and the Family the Fortitude to bear the loss, Ameen.

4.

RECRUITMENT OF A PRINCIPAL AND CLASSROOM TEACHERS OF SCIENCE/MATHEMATICS FOR THE NEWLY FIRST LADY’S COLLEGE (KANO) FROM EGYPT Council noted the recently conducted recruitment of a Principal and Science Teachers for the newly established First Lady’s College (Kano) who were from Egypt and will report to duty ending of October, 2014.

SIGNED: HON. COMMISSIONER, INFORMATION, INTERNAL AFFAIRS, YOUTH, SPORTS & CULTURE, KANO STATE

52

THE NATION MONDAY OCTOBER 6, 2014

With ekpoita :funtreatsvilla@yahoo.com / 08077706130

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS 1. Finalised (9) 7. Employ (3) 8. Tear (3) 9. Succeeded (3) 10. Consumed (3) 12. per Unit (4) 13. Bird (4) 14. Beer (3) 16. Imitate (3) 18. Bed (3) 19. Resort (3) 21. Justly (9)

DOWN

1. Correspond (9) 2. Pinch (3) 3. Sexual Desire (4) 4. Ourselves (2) 5. Moisture (3) 6. Discourage (4) 10. Expression of Surprise (3) 11. Get with Difficulty (3) 15. Enumerate (4) 17. Bird (3) 18. Taxi (4) 20. Father (2)

MISSING LETTERS All the words in the columns below have lost their first letters as indicated by the blank spaces above them. You are required to find and affix them. When done, all the first letters will form a 9-letter, sexually offensive word or action. Happy Puzzling!‘

Sands of Time

In 1970, inspired by escalating violence and political unrest over the Vietnam War, Gaye wrote the landmark song “What’s Going On.” Despite clashes with Motown over the Marvin Gaye “War is not the answer, because only love can conquer song’s creative direction, the single was released in 1971 and became an instant smash. Its success prompted Gaye to hate.” – Marvin Gaye take even more risks, both musically and politically.

In 1972, Gaye moved to Los Angeles and soon met Janis Hunter, who would later become his second wife. Inspired in part by his newfound independence, Gaye recorded one of the most revered love anthems of all time, “Let’s Get It On.” The song became his second number one Billboard hit, cementing

his

crossover

appeal

once

and

for

all.

After two decades at Motown, Gaye signed with CBS’s Columbia Records in 1982 and began to work on his last album, Midnight Love. The lead single from that album, “Sexual Healing,” became a huge comeback hit for the R&B star and earned him his first two Grammy Awards and an American Music Award for Favorite Soul Single.

Marvin Gaye was born on April 2, 1939, in Washington, D.C. Also known as the “Prince of Soul,” he was born Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. (he added the “e” to his last name later in life) in Washington, D.C., on April 2, 1939. Gaye was raised under the strict control of his father, Reverend Marvin Gay Sr., the minister at a local church, against a bleak backdrop of widespread violence in his neighborhood.

Throughout his childhood, Marvin Gaye often found peace in music, mastering the piano and drums at a young age.

Until high school, his singing experience was limited to church revivals, but soon he developed a love for R&B and doo-wop that would set the foundation for his career. In the late 1950s, Gaye joined a vocal group called The New Moonglows.

The talented singer had a phenomenal range that spanned three vocal styles and he soon impressed the group’s founder, Harvey Fuqua. It wasn’t long before Gaye and Fuqua both came to the attention of Detroit music impresario Berry Gordy and were signed to Gordy’s legendary Motown Records.

Pep Talk

HUMOUR True Believers The two thousand member Baptist church was filled to overflowing capacity one Sunday morning. The preacher was ready to start the sermon when two men, dressed in long black coats and black hats entered thru the rear of the church.

In 1975, Gaye’s wife Anna Gordy — Barry Gordy’s daughter — filed for divorce, and two years later Gaye married Hunter, who had by then given birth to their daughter, Nona (born September 4, 1974) and their son Frankie (born November 16, 1975). Gaye also had an adopted son (Marvin Pentz Gaye III) from his previous marriage. The singer’s marriage to Hunter proved short lived and tumultuous, ending in divorce in 1981.

One of the two men walked to the middle of the church while the other stayed at the back of the church. They both then reached under their coats and withdrew automatic weapons. The one in the middle announced, “Everyone willing to take a bullet for Jesus stay in your seats!”

Naturally, the pews emptied, followed by the choir. The deacons ran out the door, followed by the choir director and the assistant pastor.

Despite his successful comeback in the early 1980s, Gaye struggled badly with the substance abuse and bouts of depression that had plagued him for most of his life. After his last tour, he moved into his parents’ house. There he and his father fell into a pattern of violent fights and quarrels that recalled conflicts that had haunted the family for decades. On April 1, 1984, Marvin Gaye Sr. shot and killed his son after a physical altercation; the father claimed he acted in self-defense but would later be convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

Three years after his death, Marvin Gaye Jr. was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Creating beautiful art from a troubled life, Gaye again and again brought his vision, range, and artistry to the world stage. At the end of his career, he admitted he no longer made music for pleasure; instead, he said, “I record so that I can feed people what they need, what they feel. Hopefully, I record so that I can help someone overcome a bad time.”

After a few moments, there were about twenty people left sitting in the church. The preacher was holding steady in the pulpit. The men put their weapons away and said, gently, to the preacher, “All right, pastor, the hypocrites are gone now. You may begin the service.”

Getting Into Fights A young couple drove several miles down a country road, not saying a word.

An earlier discussion had led to an argument, and neither wanted to concede their position.

As they passed a barnyard of mules and pigs, the husband sarcastically asked, “Are they relatives of yours?”

“Yes,” his wife replied. “I married into the family.”

Our ideas like orange plants, spread out in proportion to the size of the box which imprisons the roots.

– Edward Bulwer Lytton

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

53

With ekpoita :funtreatsvilla@yahoo.com / 08077706130

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

DOWN

1.Cook in Oven (4) 4.Fruit (4) 8. Writing Fluid (3) 9. Through (3) 10. Remit (4) 11. Breakwater (4) 12. Cushion (3) 14. Vase (3) 16. Beverage (3) 18. Policeman (3) 20. Exhibition (5) 22. Wrath (3) 23. Resort (3) 25. Knob on Root (4) 26. Remain (4)

1.Revel (4) 2.Benevolent (4) 3.Final (3) 5.Eager (4) 6. Bind (3) 7. Obtain as reward (4) 11. Metal Vessel (3) 12. Group of Lions (5) 13. You in Plural (2) 15. Perform (2) 16. City (4) 17. Dry (4) 18. Price (4) 19. Make Supplication (4) 20. Dispose (3) 21. Mineral (3)

MINI-SUDOKU Fill in the missing numbers in the grid to ensure that every row, column and 2 by 3 box contains the numbers 1 - 6.

5

3

6 4

6 1

5

4

HUMOUR Catching Lions An American zoologist told 2 Ibo men to catch lions for him at price of $20,000 per lion.

The Ibo men went into the forest to catch lions, after a fruitless search they fell asleep from exhaustion.

A short while later one of them heard the roar of a lion and woke up, he saw 150 lions surrounding them, instead of him to find an escape route, he woke his friend up and said; “EMEKA! EMEKA!! WAKE UP, WE DON HAMMER!!”

A Welcome Father Mother: Son I’m sorry I slept with someone that is not your dad 23 years ago. And that person is your real father.

Son: Mum, what rubbish! How am I to deal with this?! You should be hanged.

Mother: I am sorry he was my first love and I could not marry him... because we are of different religion. He is on the phone at the moment and wants to speak with his son for the first time ever.

Son: No I am speaking to no one.

Bob is the only father i know and so will that be.

Mother: Please don’t be so upset.

Just talk to him.

Son: Ok, I will give him a piece of my mind!

Phone: Morning Son, I am Aliko Dangote. Iam your real father.

Son: Dad! Dad!! Dad!!! Thank God! Ohhhhhhhhhhhh Thank God!!!!!!

Love u so much Dad!!!!! I’ve been looking for you for so long.

Pep Talk

Reflections The Seed A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business.

Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.

He said, “It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you. “The young executives were Shocked, but the boss continued. “I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO.” One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.

Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn’t have a plant and he felt like a failure.

Six months went by — still nothing in Jim’s pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn’t say anything to his colleagues, however, he just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - he so wanted the seed to grow. A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.

Jim told his wife that he wasn’t going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful — in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.

Jim just tried to hide in the back. “My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have rgrown” said the CEO. “Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!”All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, “The CEO knows I’m a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!”When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed - Jim told him the story. The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, “Behold your next Chief Executive Officer!His name is Jim!” Jim couldn’t believe it. Jim couldn’t even grow his seed.”How could he be the new CEO?” the others said. Then the CEO said, “One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow. All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers.

When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer.

3

1 3

1

2 1

4

WORDS & ORIGIN ”Caesarean section” A Caesarean section, also spelled Caesarian or Cesarean and often without the upper case C, is the surgical delivery of a child. It is a term with an interesting etymology and lots of associated folklore. üÿThe term comes from the name of Julius Caesar, who according to legend was delivered by this method. From R. Jonas’s 1540 translation of Roesslin’s Byrth of Mankynde: They that are borne after this fashion be called cesares, for because they be cut out of theyr mothers belly, whervpon also the noble Romane cesar the .j. of that name in Rome toke his name.

Although this is where the term Caesarean comes from, this legend about Julius’s birth is almost certainly false.

While surgical deliveries were known in ancient Rome, they invariably resulted in the death of the mother and Julius’s mother, Aurelia, lived well into her son’s adulthood. It is possible that one of Julius’ ancestors was delivered in this fashion and bequeathed the name to the family. Although Pliny reports that the name comes from caesaries, or hair, as the future dictator of Rome was born with a full head of hair.

The term Caesarian section dates to 1615, first appearing in Helkiah Crooke’s A Description of the Body of Man.

MISSING LETTERS All the words in the grid have lost their first letters. You are to fill them to ensure that an 11-letter word with the meaning “Rite of Marriage” is formed.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 A R R O C I M I O W I T I A D O R E C N A N E D P E N E N E S Y K

Nothing contributes so much to tranquilize the mind as a steady purpose-a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye. - Mary Shelley

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

54

FOREIGN NEWS

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

Hong Kong leader offers talks with protesters

H

ONG Kong’s embattled leader refused to step down Thursday, as pro-democracy protesters have demanded, and instead offered talks to defuse a week of massive street demonstrations that are the biggest challenge to Beijing’s authority since China took control of the former British colony in 1997.

Student leaders of the protests did not immediately respond to the announcement by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying. A wider pro-democracy group that joined the mass protests, Occupy Central, welcomed the talks but insisted that Leung still should resign.Occupy Central “hopes the talks can provide a turning point in the current political stalemate,” it said in a statement.

“However, we reiterate our view that Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying is the one responsible for the stalemate, and that he must step down. ”Leung made his comments at a news conference just minutes before a deadline that had been set by the protesters for him to quit.Leung asked the territory’s top civil servant, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam, to arrange the talks.Lam, standing beside Leung, said she would seek to meet with student leaders of the protests as soon as possible. ”I hope both sides will be satisfied,” she said. “Students had wanted a public meeting but I hope that we can have some flexibility to discuss details. ”The protesters want Beijing to reverse its decision that all candidates in an inaugural 2017

Sweden to recognise Palestinian state

T

HE twists and turns in Brazil’s presidential race ended for at least a few hours yesterday as millions of Brazilians cast ballots in an election expected to force a threeweek runoff campaign between incumbent Dilma Rousseff and one of her two top challengers.

Rousseff held a commanding lead in all recent opinion polls, with her support rising to 46 percent in a survey released hours before the vote. But even the leader said it was unlikely she could push through to win the absolute majority required to avoid a second-round election. ”I’m not operating with that idea, I’m working with the idea there will be a runoff,” Rousseff said just before casting her vote early yesterday in southern Brazil, where she lived for many years and first entered politics.

She’ll likely face either former environment minister and senator Marina Silva or Aecio Neves, the former governor of Brazil’s second-biggest state, both of whom also cast their ballots and flashed V for victory signs and big smiles. They were deadlocked in the most recent

surveys, following Silva’s steep drop in polls after aggressive campaigning by Rousseff. ”The fear campaign that Dilma and her marketing people have set up against Marina Silva has had a strong effect,” said David Fleischer, a political science professor at the University of Brasilia.

“Dilma’s people are saying Marina will abolish ... things they’ve gained through government social programs. ”That’s the heart of an apparent contradiction of this unpredictable campaign that saw Silva only enter the race in mid-August when a plane crash killed Eduardo Campos, her Social Party’s top candidate, with whom she was running as the vice presidential candidate.

Opinion surveys say around 70 percent of Brazilians say they want change - as made plain by mammoth anti-government protests held around the country last year blasting Brazil’s woeful public services despite the nation’s heavy tax burden.Yet surveys also find that nearly three-fourths of Brazilians say they are satisfied with their lives.

election for chief executive must be approved by a committee of mostly pro-Beijing elites. They say China is reneging on its promise that the city’s top leader will be chosen through “universal suffrage.”

Before Leung’s announcement, the heads of two major universities whose students joined in launching the protests appeared before a jittery crowd massed in front of the entrance to the leader’s office and appealed for calm.Afterward, the atmosphere was palpably calmer, but many protesters expressed disappointment. ”They didn’t mention anything about when they are going to talk, no details, nothing,” said Joanna Wong, 28, who works in the aviation industry. Wong said she would stay at the protest site to see how the student groups react to the announcement.

Marketing professional Heiman Chan, 25, said the talks should take place right away.”If we need to wait two or three days, the crowd will become smaller and there will be fewer people to support this movement,” she said.

“That’s why the government just keeps us waiting.”Earlier in the day, police brought in supplies of tear gas and other riot gear, and the protesters prepared face masks and goggles as tensions rose in the standoff outside the imposing govern-

ment compound near the waterfront.

Police warned of serious consequences if the protesters tried to surround or occupy government buildings, as they had threatened to do if Leung didn’t resign by the end of Thursday.

Leung said shortly before midnight that the authorities would continue to tolerate the protests as long as participants did not charge police lines, but urged them to stop their occupation of much of the downtown area.

Hong Kong’s pro-democracy activists appeared divided after some agreed to remove some barriers blocking roads and sidewalks ahead of a Monday deadline set by the government and scale back their protests, while others refused to budge.An alliance of students that has led the massive protests that began on university campuses and then spread to the city’s streets said yesterday that it was resuming discussions with the government over holding talks on their demands for wider political reforms. But it vowed to continue the protests while details of the talks were being worked out, and said those preparations would be halted if the authorities used force to clear protesters from areas they have been occupying for over a week.”

As to whether the government will keep its word we will just have to see,” the Hong Kong

Federation of Students said in a statement. “In the meantime all we can do is preliminary preparations. ”Earlier in the day, students occupying the area just outside city government headquarters agreed to remove some barricades that were blocking the building’s entrance, after the government said it would do whatever was necessary to ensure 3,000 civil servants would have full access to their offices today.

The partial withdrawal appeared to be part of a strategy to regroup in another part of town, as protesters were urged to shift from other areas to Hong Kong’s Admiralty shopping and business district, a central location near the government’s main offices that has served as an informal headquarters for the protests.

Officials said they intended to have key streets open for schools and offices by Monday morning, but it was unclear whether they would act to clear the streets and other areas by force or just settle for a partial victory in clearing some roads. The government announced a reopening of schools and some roads, but indicated some disruptions were likely to continue.”

To restore order, we are determined and we are confident we have the capability to take any necessary action,” said police spokesman Steve Hui.

“There should not be any unreasonable, unnecessary obstruction by any members of the public.”

Television footage showed a protest representative shaking hands with a police officer outside government headquarters and the two sides removing some barricades together.

About 300 demonstrators stood by outside the government building’s main entrance, but then many sat back down and refused to leave.”I’m against any kind of withdrawal or tendency to surrender,” said Do Chan, a protester in his 30s.

“I think withdrawing, I mean shaking hands with the police, is a very ugly gesture of surrender.”

Across the harbor in Hong Kong’s Mong Kok district, where protesters had clashed with those opposed to their sitins, some demonstrators heeded calls to head home or shift to Admiralty.

Others, however, said they were determined to stay. The hundreds of people milling around in the blue collar shopping district - the scene of ugly confrontations overnight between protesters, their opponents and police - appeared relatively relaxed as many began to clear out, though some said they were just heading home.”I don’t know what the next step is, but I will not retreat.

Brazilians vote in election full of surprises

T

HE twists and turns in Brazil’s presidential race ended for at least a few hours yesterday as millions of Brazilians cast ballots in an election expected to force a threeweek runoff campaign between incumbent Dilma Rousseff and one of her two top challengers.

Rousseff held a commanding lead in all recent opinion polls, with her support rising to 46 percent in a survey released hours before the vote. But even the leader said it was unlikely she could push through to win the absolute majority required to avoid a second-round election. ”I’m not operating with that idea, I’m working with the idea there will be a runoff,” Rousseff said just before casting her vote early yesterday in southern Brazil, where she lived for many years and first entered politics.

She’ll likely face either former environment minister and senator Marina Silva or Aecio Neves, the former governor of Brazil’s second-biggest state, both of whom also cast their ballots and flashed V for victory signs and big smiles.

They were deadlocked in the

most recent surveys, following Silva’s steep drop in polls after aggressive campaigning by Rousseff. ”The fear campaign that Dilma and her marketing people have set up against Marina Silva has had a strong effect,” said David Fleischer, a political science professor at the University of Brasilia.

“Dilma’s people are saying Marina will abolish ... things they’ve gained through government social programs.”That’s the heart of an apparent contradiction of this unpredictable campaign that saw Silva only enter the race in mid-August when a plane crash killed Eduardo Campos, her Social Party’s top candidate, with whom she was running as the vice presidential candidate.

Opinion surveys say around 70 percent of Brazilians say they want change - as made plain by mammoth anti-government protests held around the country last year blasting Brazil’s woeful public services despite the nation’s heavy tax burden.Yet surveys also find that nearly three-fourths of Brazilians say they are satisfied with their lives.

•Protesters in Hong Kong...yesterday.

Mass grave found as Mexico probes town's violence

S

ECURITY forces investigating the role of municipal police in clashes in this southern city a week ago found a mass grave on the edge of town, raising fears the pits might hold 43 students missing since the violence that also resulted in six shooting deaths.

Jesus Lopez, the father of one of the missing students, told The Associated Press that a delegation of family and school representatives would come to Iguala on Sunday to get information about developments in the case from authorities.

“We cannot say anything. We are very nervous, but until they inform us, there is nothing,” said Lopez, whose 19-year-old son, Giovani, hasn’t been seen since the violence last weekend.

Separately, a group of students and relatives of the missing young people said they planned to march Sunday from Aytozinapa Normal school to the state

capital of Chilpancingo to demand information in the case.

Anger over the discovery of the graves exploded Saturday night when a group of young people from the school protested outside the governor’s Chilpancingo residence. They threw Molotov cocktails and overturned a car after state authorities told them they would not allow them to travel to the graves to determine if the bodies are those of their missing classmates.

Guerrero State Prosecutor Inaky Blanco did not say Saturday night how many bodies were in the burial pits uncovered on a hillside on Iguala’s outskirts, and he declined to speculate about whether the dead were the missing students.

“It would be irresponsible” to jump to conclusions before tests to identify the bodies, Blanco said. Officials said the federal Attorney General’s Office and

the National Human Rights Commission had sent teams of experts to aid state authorities in identifying the remains.

About 100 soldiers, marines and federal and state police on Saturday cordoned off the area where the grave site was found in the poor Pueblo Viejo district of Iguala, which is about 120 miles (200 kilometers) south of Mexico City.

Blanco said eight more people had been arrested in the case, adding to the 22 Iguala city police officers detained after a police confrontation with student protesters last weekend set off a series of violent incidents in the city.

The prosecutor has said state investigators had obtained videos showing that local police arrested an undetermined number of students after the initial clash and took them away.

He said some of the eight newly arrested people were

members of an organized crime gang, adding that some of them had given key clues leading to the discovery of the mass grave.

Blanco said his investigators had found that “elements of the municipal police are part of organised crime.” He also said his office was searching for Iguala Mayor Jose Luis Abarca and had alerted officials across Mexico to be on the lookout for him.

The governor had charged earlier in the week that organized crime had infiltrated the city government.

State prosecutors have said the first bloodshed occurred when city police shot at buses that had been hijacked by protesting students from a teachers college, killing three youths and wounding 25. A few hours later, unidentified masked gunmen shot at two taxis and a bus carrying a soccer team on the main highway, killing two people on the bus and one in a taxi.

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

55

FOREIGN NEWS

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

North and South Korea ‘agree to talks’

N

ORTH and South Korea have agreed to resume formal highlevel talks that had effectively been suspended since February, reports from South Korea say.

The agreement came during a surprise visit to South Korea

by North Korean officials for the closing ceremony of the Asian Games.

The visit was led by two topranking North Korean officials seen as close aides to leader Kim Jong-un.

Both sides were said to have agreed to meet again within the next few weeks.

Hwang Pyong-so, seen as

the second-most powerful man in North Korea, held talks with Ryoo Kihl-jae, the South’s reunification minister, on Saturday after flying to Incheon to attend the sporting event.

Mr Hwang is the top political officer at the Korean People’s Army. The other two members of the North’s delegation were Choe Ryong-hae and Kim Yang-gon - key members of the ruling Workers’ Party.

It is not known what was discussed at the meeting and neither party has commented publicly on the talks.

The BBC’s Stephen Evans in

Seoul says the talks are something of a breakthrough given the level of insult thrown at the South by the North in recent years.

Relations between the two have been practically non-existent for four years, but the North’s economic troubles seem to have forced a change of tack, our correspondent adds.

The two Koreas remain technically at war because the 195053 conflict was ended with a truce.

The surprise meeting comes amid ongoing speculation about the health of the North’s leader.

Mr Kim has not been seen in public since 3 September. A recent official documentary showed him limping.

Meanwhile, North Korea’s ambassador to the UN, So Se Pyong, said on Friday that the country was ready to resume talks on its nuclear programme.

In an interview with Reuters news agency, Mr So also said the North was not planning any missile or nuclear tests.

North Korea pledged to abandon its nuclear programme in 2005, but it has been conducting missile and nuclear tests since the negotiations broke down in 2008.

Vatican holds synod on family life

P

OPE Francis has opened a gathering of more than 200 senior Roman Catholic bishops by urging them not to impose what he called “intolerable moral burdens” on believers.

The gathering, known as a synod, is discussing the Church’s position on controversial issues.

They will be joined by lay Catholics to debate abortion, contraception, homosexuality and divorce.

The synod will last two weeks and no immediate changes are expected.

At a Mass opening the gathering, the Pope said he hoped bishops would participate freely in the discussions.

“Synod gatherings are not meant to discuss beautiful and clever ideas, or to see who is more intelligent,” Pope Francis said. Rather, it’s an opportunity to “work generously with authentic freedom and humble creativity,” he said.

Previous synods have had set agendas, with proceedings tightly controlled by the powerful cardinals of the Roman Curia, the central government of the Church, correspondents say.

Many Catholics hope that Pope Francis’ reformist attitude will help to modernise and revitalise the Church Pope Francis was elected to lead the Church in 2013 after his predecessor Benedict XI retired The synod will focus particularly on issues related to family life.

Last year, a global survey launched by Pope Francis suggested that the majority of Catholics rejected Church teaching on issues such as sex and contraception.

On Saturday, the Pontiff said he hoped Bishops would respond to the “epochal changes” that families were living through.

As one of the world’s oldest religious institutions, the Catholic Church is in no hurry to change its teachings, says the BBC’s religious affairs correspondent Caroline Wyatt in Rome.

Despite that, many Catholics are hoping the meetings might lead to some change, our correspondent adds.

After these two weeks of debate, the Synod will gather again in a year’s time to continue its review.

Somali troops ‘capture key port town

S •Officials of North and South Korea during talks in Seoul...yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

Former Haiti President Duvalier dies

H

AITI’s former ruler Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier has died of a heart attack in the capital Port-au-Prince aged 63, official sources say.

Duvalier was just 19 when in 1971 he inherited the title of “president-for-life” from his father, the notorious Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier.

He was accused of corruption, human rights abuses and repression in his rule, which ended in a 1986 uprising.

After years of exile in France, he returned to Haiti in 2011.

His death was announced

by Haiti’s health minister, and the ex-leader’s attorney Reynold Georges confirmed he died at home on Saturday.

At the time of his swearing in, Jean-Claude Duvalier was the youngest president in the world.

Initially it seemed that there could be a significant move

away from his father’s harsh regime, underpinned as it was

by Haiti’s notorious secret police, the Tontons Macoutes, says BBC world affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge.

For some time, Jean-Claude Duvalier was the youngest president in the world He moved closer to the Americans, from whom his father had been estranged. US businesses moved in and he allowed limited press freedom.

But Jean-Claude Duvalier lived lavishly. His statesponsored wedding reportedly cost $5m in 1980, while most of the people in his ravaged nation endured the worst poverty in the Western hemisphere.

Repression continued, too, and amid massive unrest in 1986 he fled to France.

Human rights groups say thousands of political

prisoners were tortured or killed under his rule, and he was accused of massive corruption.

He described his return to Haiti - a year after it was devastated by a major earthquake, as a gesture of solidarity to the nation.

His unexpected return to Haiti saw him arrested and charged, but the case against him stalled But he was arrested and charged, and although released he finally appeared in court in February 2013, where in an emotionally-charged hearing in front of some of his alleged victims, he denied responsibility for abuses carried out during his time as president.

Judges ruled he could face crimes against humanity charges, but the case had stalled some time before he died.

Jean-Claude ‘Baby Doc’

Duvalier · Took over presidency aged just 19 when his father, Haiti’s authoritarian leader Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier, died in 1971 · Called himself “presidentfor-life” and ruled with an iron fist, aided by a brutal private militia known as the Tontons Macoutes · Accused of corruption and human rights abuses that prompted more than 100,000 Haitians to flee the country during his presidency · Ruled for 15 years before outbreak of popular protests led him to flee to France in 1986 · Asked Haitian people for forgiveness for “errors” made during his rule in a 2007 radio interview.

Returned to Haiti in 2011 as it was supposed to hold run-off elections to choose successor to outgoing President Rene Preval

Kurds warn of Turkey’s role in IS

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HILE the shelling of the Syrian town of Kobane continues and Turkish tanks sit idle, Kurds on either side of the border are inclined to be deeply sceptical of pledges from Ankara.

“I think it’s a bluff. I don’t see anything,” said Ferhat Anik, a Kurd from the Turkish city of Mardin, when asked about the Turkish prime minister’s apparent pledge not to let Kobane fall.

The legacy of decades of bloody conflict between Tur-

key and its own Kurdish population has left deep psychological scars and levels of mistrust bordering on paranoia” Anik is one of hundreds of Kurdish volunteers drawn to the border area in the past two weeks. They’ve come to express solidarity with their Syrian cousins. Some Kurds also try to smuggle aid or fighters across the border.

As he spoke, from a position overlooking the fence, occasional explosions could be heard in the distance. The eastern fringes of the besieged

town came under shellfire again on Friday morning and puffs of smoke could be seen rising from a strategic hill above the town.

There were also occasional bursts of small arms fire, suggesting Islamic State (IS) fighters may once again be trying to enter Kobane.

An IS tank was also clearly visible, moving across agricultural ground no more than two or three kilometres from the edge of town.

Turkish Kurds like Ferhat Anik suspect that Turkey is

happy to see Kobane fall, since this would represent a significant blow for the Syrian Kurdish YPG, and by extension its Kurdish ally in Turkey, the outlawed PKK guerrilla group.

Turkish Kurds scuffled with Turkish soldiers as they tried to cross the border to help the battle against Islamic State fighters advancing on the mainly Syrian Kurdish town of Kobane Anything that keeps Kurds on the back foot, they believe, is good news for Ankara.

OMALI government troops backed by African Union (AU) forces have taken the last coastal stronghold of the al-Shabab Islamist group.

But the AU told the BBC the joint forces were not yet in full control of the town, and the AU had parked its heavy armour on its outskirts.

Barawe, 220km (135 miles) south-west of the capital Mogadishu, has not been run by the central government for 23 years.

The AU says al-Shabab used Barawe as a base to launch attacks on the capital.

Residents said many of the al-Qaeda-aligned militants had begun withdrawing from the key port town on Friday.

“The situation is calm, the militiamen had fled before the forces reached the town,” regional governor Abdukadir Mohamed Nur said.

Al-Shabab has lost control of several towns in the past month, but still controls large swathes of territory in rural areas.

The BBC’s Emmanuel Igunza says the news is a significant blow to al-Shabab because they had used Barawe as a supply route for weapons and food and as a base for a lucrative charcoal business.

The loss of Barawe - after six years under their control comes a month after alShabab’s leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane, was killed by a US air strike near the town. US strikes have also targeted other senior militants in and around Barawe.

The group, which is estimated to have at least 5,000 fighters, wants to overthrow the UNbacked Somali government and has imposed a strict version of Sharia in areas under its control.

Last week, a woman was stoned to death in Barawe for alleged adultery.

Correspondents say alShabab tends to tactically withdraw from areas when faced with a large offensive, but leaves some fighters within the civilian population to launch attacks later.

British hostage freed in Libya

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RITISH teacher David Bolam has been released after being held hostage by militants in Libya since May. The Foreign Office said Mr Bolam, who taught at the nowclosed International School Benghazi, was “safe and well” and had been reunited with his family.

Mr Bolam’s MP in Craven Arms in Shropshire said he was “delighted” that the 63-year-old was back home safely.

It is thought the teacher’s release was secured by local political factions and that money changed hands.

Mr Bolam’s kidnapping had not been reported at the request of the Foreign Office and his family.

BBC world affairs correspondent Caroline Hawley said she understood demands for a ransom had been made to the school and that money was handed over to secure his release.

She said it was “unclear” how much money was paid and who paid it, but the Foreign Office was not involved in the negotiations.

Mr Bolam, who flew back to the UK on Thursday night, had been working in Libya for seven years.

He had appeared in a video posted online on 28 August.

Wearing a white T-shirt and sitting in a concrete room, he appealed to UK Prime Minister David Cameron to secure his release.

He said he was in good health and had been held “a very long time”.

Mr Bolam was vice-principal at the International School Benghazi when he was kidnapped .

There had been fears Mr Bolam faced the same fate as British hostages held by Islamic State (IS) militants operating in Syria and Iraq, BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera said.

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THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

NEWS Sultan for state police

Boko Haram: Military to strengthen troops in Northeast last 24 hours seized the minister’s Kuburshosho hometown in Michika Local Government Area.

Besides vandalising the minister’s house, the rampaging insurgents also looted many homes and shops be-

fore setting them ablaze.

It was gathered that while some of the indigenes escaped, many got trapped.

Among those trapped are relatives of the minister who could not be located as at press time.

A source said: “Troops have been deployed in

Kuburshosho to rescue the relatives of the Minister and other indigenes of the town.

“The troops were ordered to flush out the insurgents from the area and Garta, which was also overrun by the sect.

“So, the battle to liberate the minister’s town is ongoing.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “The sect made spirited efforts to capture Kamale but River Kamale which overflew its bank, naturally repelled them.”

More than 10,000 people from Michika Local Government Area are presently seeking refuge in Yola.

Synagogue: ‘South African families still waiting for bodies’ Continued from page 4

quickly after the post-mortems.

However, this process had been frustrated by the fact that Nigerian officials had insisted on doing DNA testing themselves.

“They don’t have the technology.”

She said that South Africans had hoped “at least to assist” in the process since.

Nevertheless, the government was still waiting to hear if the bodies had been transported to a service provider

for the testing.

“We don’t know when they are going to finish.”

She said the government had also learned that “because of the state in which the bodies are in, the DNA testing is not going to be a quick process”.

This left the government reluctant to estimate a date for the return of the bodies as it did not want to create unnecessary expectations.

However, Williams asserted that “at any stage; we [the SA government] are ready to go and fetch (the bodies)”.

Amnesty opposes death penalty for 12 soldiers

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HE Amnesty International has opposed the court marshal of 12 soldiers and the death penalty imposed by a military court in Abuja.

The military court, three weeks ago, convicted 12 solders for mutiny after they fired shots at their General Officer Commanding (GOC) in Borno State.

The Amnesty International

Media Director, Susana Flood, at the weekend, said the organisation was opposed to death penalty notwithstanding the offence.

The statement reads: “The reason we have not said anything about the conviction is because we are unable to monitor the trial to be able to say it is fair, which is very important for us. We have to back our comment with fact.

“We oppose death penalty in all instances. In case of the soldiers, we are opposing their death sentence. We are looking at the trial to study all that transpired”.

She noted that human right abuse would not just end one day, but scored the organisation high on the success recorded.

“If you look at our work on the death penalty and you ex-

amine the statistics when we started campaign against death penalty, which was over 20 years and compare to now, you will see that a number of countries executing prisoners have decreased.

“Sadly, Nigeria is still executing. Eliminating death has been a slow bit of progress, but you can see the achievement we have made around the world”.

Ebola control: ‘APC frustrated by Nigeria’s success’ Continued from page 4

across board.

“The President acknowledged the Nigerian Spirit which made the citizens to put their religious, political and ethnic differences aside

in fighting this common enemy. This includes PDP national officers who personally and collectively engaged in various activities in containing the scourge including creating awareness through the

#EBOLAIceBucketChallenge and personal financial donations while the APC was busy seeking political capital out of the unfortunate situation.

“However, what the APC

must understand is that Nigerians and indeed the international community are happy with the President Goodluck Jonathan-led PDP administration on the rapid response and eventual containment of the Ebola Virus Disease, and no amount of propaganda and blackmail will take this away”, the PDP said.

‘116,000 displaced persons in Yobe’

Continued from page 4

sonnel, adding that the state had also distributed relief material worth sum of N430milion for internally displaced people.

He urged the Federal Government which he described as a ‘big brother’ to come to Yobe’s rescue by allocating special grant to enable the state continue its amelioration programme.

•Sultan Abubakar Continued from page 4

He also urged wealthy individuals to complement the governments’ efforts by contributing to the development of education.

Shema urged the people to shun politics of “bitterness and do-or-die affair”.

“People should note that leadership is from God as He gives it to whom He pleases at the time He wishes,’’ he said.

He called on Nigerians to embrace acts that were capable of strengthening the unity of the nation and desist from ethnicity and religious sentiments during the 2015 electioneering campaigns.

Shema said his administration had accorded education top priority, offered free education at primary and secondary levels and scholarship to students of tertiary institutions at home and abroad.

He said that the state government would soon inaugurate ICT centres in Katsina to make the youth computer literate in line with the global trend.

The governor also noted that the government had built more than 340 primary healthcare centres to enhance healthcare delivery.

APC, PDP battle over Ebola control Continued from page 4

stood their states out of the pack and quickly rose to the occasion, putting in place measures that ensured a quick curtailing of the EVD spread.

The measures include painstaking contact-tracing, unrelenting follow-up and creative treatment of infected patients even without access to the experimental drug Zmapp. ‘’There is no doubt that Nigeria is fortunate that the EVD outbreaks were recorded in those two states. It is a measure of the high premium that the Chief Executives of the states place on human life, a testimony to the strong health systems they are building and an indication of their purposeful approach to governance that they successfully contained the disease, thus earning Nigeria a rare accolade from the global community. ‘’Unlike the President and the PDP, we will also like to give credit to the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, for acting out of

character with the do-nothing Jonathan Administration. We hope President Jonathan and his party will stop making the Ebola success story in which opposition states were the main actors a fulcrum of their campaign for the 2015 general elections. They cannot and should not take credit for the containment of Ebola in Nigeria,’’ APC said.

The party also advised President Jonathan not to use the Ebola containment effort as another tool to divide Nigerians along party lines. ‘’President Jonathan is the most divisive President in Nigeria’s history. He inherited a united Nigeria, but has divided the country along ethnic and religious lines on the altar of selfish personal ambition and short-term opportunism. It will amount to a monumental tragedy if the President will again use the Ebola success story, which has earned Nigeria a rare acclamation from the global community, as a tool to further divide Nigerians,’’ it said.

2015: PDP chiefs kick against Delta zoning

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OME leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State have criticised the planned zoning of the governorship ticket of the party to the North senatorial district.

According to them, zoning the position rather than consider popularity and population could lead to the wrong choice which would lead to protest votes and loss of the election.

A former PDP chairman in Ndokwa West local government, Godwin Mgbabago, a former member of the House of Assembly and one-time chair of the party in Aniocha South Joe Adigwe, said at the weekend that recent historical facts and figures show that the 2011 governorship election in Delta state did not produce results that exhibited the usual complexion of incumbency strength.

They said if as an imcumbent, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan could not produce an overwhelming victory in 2011, how could he do so in 2015 if he puts up his candidate instead of the

candidate of choice by party members?

“Given similar circumstances where the governor is yet to command great followership in the party, his capacity to sway voters in favour of his anointed candidate may have minimal impact for victory especially where the governor imposes an unpopular candidate," they said.

The PDP chiefs warned that “those fronting and or anointing inexperienced politicians do not mean well for both the PDP and Mr. President.

"On the basis of demography and electoral value, everyone knows the Urhobo control over 60 per cent of the voting strength in Delta State. Yet,they have been out of power in the state for eight years and their representation in the PDP federal government has been limited to two appointments compared to Delta North which has over 14 appointments.

"Delta state is totally for PDP and it is expected that President Goodluck Jonathan will sweep it again in 2015 as he did in 2011 with Delta

Central accounting for about 60 per cent of the votes he obtained. Without Urhobo votes, the PDP cannot repeat that feat in 2015. There are many who are working hard to deny President Jonathan a second term, an agenda Deltans must not be part of,” the party leaders alleged.

The party leaders urged PDP members to give an opportunity to Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege, “the leading candidate from Delta Central, who can effortlessly deliver victory for the party.”

Omo-Agege is described by the party chiefs as “experienced, having been Secretary to the State Government (SSG), having the support, trust and confidence of the Urhobo Progressive Union, the Urhobo people and Deltans across board.

“As an Orogun man with historical ties to the people of Aboh in Delta North and a huge pool of political associates across the 25 local government areas of the state, Omo-Agege has emerged as the one with the grassroots support among the aspirants.”

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

57

NEWS Remi Oyo was a role model, says Aliyu From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

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IGER State Governor Babangida Aliyu has described the late Mrs. Oluremi Oyo as a role model for women in the media.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Israel Ebije, Aliyu said the former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) would be remembered for her role in repositioning media practice in Nigeria.

He urged women journalists to emulate her hard work, discipline and determination, adding that her attitude to work earned her great heights.

The governor said: “Mrs. Oyo competed favourably with her male counterparts and attained enviable heights within and outside the newsroom. She was a thoroughbred media icon, who raised the bar of professionalism to enviable heights. She was indeed an accomplished professional.

“Her death is a great loss. It is sad that her demise came a few weeks after another talented media manager and journalists, Dimgba Igwe, was knocked down by a yet-to-be-identified hit-and-run driver in Lagos.

Her death is a huge loss to the media.”

Aliyu said the late Mrs Oyo belonged to the class of patriotic journalists, who placed national interest above personal interests.

Fake soldier in police net

‘AdoptBuhariasAPC’sconsensuscandidate’

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UPPORTERS of former Head of State and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain General Muhammadu Buhari are pushing for his adoption as the party’s consensus presidential candidate.

They are putting pressure on the APC leadership to drop its plan of a Modified Direct primary adopted by the National Executive Council, saying the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would infiltrate the primary.

One of the general’s support groups, the Buhari Vanguard, in a statement, said having a consensus candidate would save cost and prevent rancour.

Chairman of the group Jasper Azuatalam, who signed the statement, said the

group considered all relevant laws, including the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution, as they relate to the emergence of a presidential candidate and concluded that consensus was the most viable, cost-effective and unifying option for the party.

The statement reads: “As an opposition party that has promised to reduce corruption in Nigeria, it will be in good faith to avoid an indirect primary election, which will cost so much money and lead to financial inducement by some who still believe in money politics against credibility and popularity.

“In the same manner, an indirect primary will give the ruling party an opportunity to infiltrate the APC by

influencing delegates with money and planting moles within the delegates to influence who emerges as the presidential candidate. This is because they know the candidate to beat in the APC and the PDP will do all in its power to make sure that such candidate does not emerge as the APC’s presidential standard bearer.

“We also believe that the bitterness, rancour and disaffection that may arise from the contest will weaken the APC and give the PDP undue advantage ahead of the 2015 presidential election. It is clear from all available statistics and parameters that the PDP has no locus standi in the 2015 presidential election, as it will lose woefully in a free

and fair contest because of its abysmal performance in government, which has earned them the wrath of Nigerians.

“A consensual arrangement, as stipulated in Article 20 of the APC’s Constitution and Section 87 (6) of the Electoral Act, is surely the best option available for the APC. This will save the APC the unnecessary litigations, rancour and strife that accompany presidential primaries. If the PDP, with all the resources available to it and the power of incumbency, is working towards a consensual arrangement by adopting Goodluck Jonathan, it will be unwise for an opposition party to want to sell the dangerous region.”

From James Azania, Lokoja

A

FAKE soldier, Mohammed Usman, was among suspects paraded yesterday by the police in Kogi State.

According to the police, Usman, dressed in military uniform, had been extorting money and collecting wares from traders in the name of “his boss”.

The 32-year old father of three said he got the uniform from a friend, but denied using it to intimidate people.

Usman said: “I got the uniform from a soldier friend.

I never stole in my life. I use the uniform to snap pictures. They came to arrest me in my house. The policemen that arrested me are my friends. They come to my house; we eat and drink, but they arrested me for impersonation because they saw Army uniform in my house.”

Also paraded were Hinmikalu Joseph (35) and Michael Ogule Babatunde (26), who allegedly prepared Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

Olawumi Awe, Sunday Owa and Sule Kolo were paraded for allegedly operating an illegal arms factory.

Items recovered from them included two AK 47 rifles, 19 locally-made single barrel guns, five wooden rifle butts, 26 new cut-to-size barrel pipes, two vehicles and military gears.

Commissioner of Police Paul Okafor warned criminals to stay away from the state.

He said over 20 suspects were in police net for various offences.

Suswam’s man to head Gemade’s campaign From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

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ENATOR Barnabas Gemade has appointed Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam’s man, Mr Mike Koundon, as the head of his campaign team.

Gemade is seeking re-election into the Senate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Koundon hails from Logo Local Government Area, same as Suswam.

He is a former chairman of the council and has a cordial relationship with the governor.

Suswam is from Gaambetiev and Koundon, Ugondo.

Gemade inaugurated his campaign team at the weekend at his G.R.A. home in Gboko.

He urged members of the team not to be afraid of being molested or intimidated by his opponents, and to shun character assassination.

Gemade said he has represented the people of Benue North East well and deserves another term.

Kondoun assured Gemade that the team would deliver on its mandate.

•

•Usman (middle) and others...yesterday.

Saraki blames Fed Govt for Ilorin flood

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HAIRMAN of the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology Senator Bukola Saraki has blamed the Federal Government for the flood in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Saraki said its failure to complete the channellisation of the River Asa in Ilorin led to the loss of property worth millions of naira by residents loving on the river’s path.

The contract for the channellisation of the river was awarded during the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’adua, but work did not begin until about three years ago.

This year, flood has affected residents at the south-

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

ern end of the river. Saraki, who visited some of the affected areas at the weekend, said his committee would invite the minister of Environment and the Ecological Fund Unit in the Presidency to shed light on the matter when the Senate reconvenes after the holidays.

He said there was no excuse for not completing the project, urging the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assist those displaced by the flood.

Saraki said: “If the job was done according to the programme, we could have

avoided the destruction of over 300 houses. The noncompletion of the contract is responsible for the displacement of the occupants of the flooded houses and some people are responsible for that. Somebody must be held accountable; somebody must ensure that the contractors’ claim of paucity of fund is rectified. More funds should be released to the contractors.

“We are lucky that no life was lost. The funds are available, so they should be made available to the contractors.

This is the kind of thing that made us review the efficacy of the ecological funds. If necessary steps are not taken and flooding happens again,

God forbid, lives might be lost. There is need for prompt action and the state government has written NEMA to ensure that relief materials are provided for the victims.

“The people don’t care about who is at fault between the awarding ministry and the contractors, all they want is for the job to be done. Any further damage or loss of life will amount to recklessness on the part of those responsible for the project. NEMA and the Federal Government should compensate the victims. If the job was concluded on schedule, we would not witness what is happening today.”

Yuguda celebrates Sallah with kinsmen

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AUCHI State Governor Isa Yuguda celebrated Eid-el-Kabir with his kinsmen in Yuguda for the first time decades after his parents left the quiet farming community.

The village is 25 minutes drive from Bauchi, the state capital, and four minutes drive from Tudun-Gambo Junction, off the Yankari Games Reserve road in Alkaleri Local Government Area.

It is located on a flat fertile farming land good for rearing domestic animals and producing cereals. The village has a population of about 2,000, including petty traders.

Besides a newly built Cottage Hospital, with state-of-theart medical facilities and a Doc-

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

tors’ Quarters, which has not been inaugurated, Yuguda has a primary school and a few hand-pump boreholes.

The governor, dressed in white babariga, was accompanied to the village by his immediate family, some security operatives and drivers.

He gave “Sallah kolanut” to his guests, among who were nomadic Fulani, who were seeing him for the first time.

Addressing his kinsmen in fluent Fufulde (Fulani language), Yuguda, who has barely seven months to complete his eight-year tenure, said his administration was committed to developing rural ar-

eas and giving every resident a sense of belonging.

He said: “If rural areas develop, the economic potential of rural people will be greatly enhanced. Urban migration will be minimal and life expectancy of the people will increase.”

The governor promised to link Yuguda to Juwara, Kundak, Bununu and Bauchi by road, adding: “The remaining part of my tenure will be used to empower the people and provide social facilities for you as part of your social rights, for it is your right to enjoy the dividends of democracy, having voted for people of your choice.

My administration will do its best to make life better for you, so that you too will feel the posi-

tive impact of democracy.”

Yuguda urged them to remain peace loving and accommodate visitors.

Two rams were slaughtered after the Raka’at prayers, led by the village’s Chief Imam, Mallam Ahmadu Shehu.

Shehu urged the people to be tolerant, forgiving, prayerful and show love to one another.

Yuguda inspected the Cottage Hospital and treated the villagers to a sumptuous meal.

The Village Head, Mallam Hamza Musa, thanked the governor for celebrating with them, saying: “We will tell the story to even our unborn children.”

Musa said Yuguda’s actions showed that he was humble.

•Yuguda looking at a flyer on the Cottage Hospital...at the weekend.

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SPORT EXTRA

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SPORT EXTRA

TRANSFERS... TRANSFERS...TRANSFERS... TRANSFERS... TRANSFERS...

No intentions to sign Cavani —Wenger P

REMIER League giants Manchester United and Chelsea have been handed an unexpected boost in the race for Paris Saint-Germain forward Edinson Cavani, as it has been revealed that Arsene Wenger has no interest in signing him.

Speculation that the Uruguayan hit-man would make a move to the Emirates Stadium at some point in the near future has been rife since this summer, with the acquisition of a world-class forward though to be high on Wenger’s list of priorities.

Now though, according to French newspaper Le 10 Sport, citing journalist Pierre Menes, the speculation has been put to rest.

Menes claims he has spoken with Wenger on the topic, and believes that the 64-year-old has no interest in buying Cavani, who has a

AC Milan consider summer move for Liverpool midfielder

• Cavani

Tottenham step up attempts for Rodriguez

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OTTENHAM are stepping up their attempts to sign Southampton forward Jay Rodriguez amid competition from Manchester City and Liverpool .

Spurs have made Rodriguez one of their top targets for the January transfer window despite the knee ligament injury that has kept him out since April.

Rodriguez is stepping up his return to fitness and is expected to be back to action at the start of November.

Mauricio Pochettino wants a versatile striker in the winter window after missing out on Danny Welbeck and is keen to reunite with Saints star Rodriguez.

Spurs are confident of winning the race for the 25-yearold having spent months working on the deal, including extensive talks during the summer.

Despite constant links with a summer deal, Spurs always planned to wait for Rodriguez’s return from injury ahead of a January move and are now ready to step up their interest.

The lure of working again with Pochettino and more play-

• Rodriguez

price tag of £55million.

“I spent three hours with Arsene Wenger and I can tell you he is not interested. This field is only about him, nothing more,” Menes told Telefoot.

Despite only having moved to the Parc des Princes last summer from Napoli, Cavani has failed to settle properly in Ligue 1, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s presence has seen him forced to play out of position for the majority of his tenure there.

As such he’s thought to be unhappy enough to leave if a suitable opportunity arises, with Financial Fair Play rules serving to further make his position unstable.

PSG have to sell players to raise the cash for business endeavours of their own, and so Laurent Blanc may well try to sell Cavani to either United or Chelsea in the forthcoming transfer windows.

ing opportunities give Spurs the edge over City and Liverpool.

City are understood to have made contact with Rodriguez’s representatives over a potential deal and the England international could boost the club’s homegrown player requirements for both the Premier League and the Champions League.

Liverpool are long-term admirers of Rodriguez and are closely monitoring his situation with a view to a potential transfer.

Rodriguez joined Southampton from Burnley in 2012 in a •9 million deal and excelled under Pochettino last season as he scored 15 goals in 33 league appearances.

IVERPOOL youngster Suso had been a January target for AC Milan, but are willing to wait until the summer following news of the midfielder’s injury, according to TalkSport.

Milan were thought to be keen on acquiring the midfielder in the coming transfer window, but news has leaked that the 20 yearold now requires surgery on his groin has put them off.

The Spaniard could be injured until late January, and it is thought that the Serie A club will monitor the situation closely.

Suso spent last season on loan with La Liga side Almeria, where he made 33 league appearances, contributing to their survival in the Spanish top division.

Since returning to Liverpool, he has made one appearance from the bench,

L

PSG in ambitious bid for Raheem Sterling

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ARIS Saint-Germain are eyeing an ambitious swoop for Liverpool star Raheem Sterling, The Independent can reveal.

The England international has almost three years left on his deal at Anfield and he is in no rush to sign a contract extension.

But, with the latest contract talks believed to have hit a standstill, Paris Saint-Germain are ready to come in and offer the youngster a lucrative deal in an attempt to lure him to Parc des Princes.

According to The Independent, the Saints would triple Sterling’s salary which currently stands at £43,000 per week.

Liverpool will obviously go the extra mile to keep their hold of their prized asset and they can be trusted to seriously improve their latest offer believed to be around £63,000 per week.

• Sterling Raheem Sterling, who already has 9 England caps, has impressed since making his debut at Anfield, scoring a total of 14 goals in 67 Premier League outings.

where he came on in extratime of the League Cup game versus Middlesborough, and scored to help his side go to a penalty shoot-out, where he managed to net twice more in a whopping 14-13 penalties win.

Lambert monitors Agbonlahor

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AUL Lambert will assess Gabriel Agbonlahor after the forward missed Aston Villa’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City through illness.

Agbonlahor had been due to start Saturday’s Premier League clash at Villa Park, but was forced to withdraw in the warm-up, with Andreas Weimann taking his place in the XI. Villa went on to lose 2-0 as late goals from Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero put the seal on a third consecutive defeat after previous reverses at the hands of Arsenal and Chelsea.

With the Premier League taking a break due to the upcoming international fixtures, Agbonlahor has a fortnight to recover before Villa are next in action at Everton on October 18.

“In the warm-up he came in and he didn’t feel well at all,” Lambert said.

“The doctor saw him and sent him home. We’ll see how he is on Monday.

• Agbonlahor “You run the risk if you play somebody who’s not well, especially in that magnitude of a game.”It was a blow because Gabby’s speed is a major point for us. I thought Andy [Wiemann] went in there and did well.

“It threw me off guard because I didn’t know until he came in that he wasn’t feeling well.”

‘Tevez in line for recall’

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ERARDO Martino insists Carlos Tevez will soon be recalled to the Argentina squad if he continues his current form for club side Juventus.

The forward last featured for his country three years ago and has not played since a substitute appearance in the 2011 Copa America quarter-final, which Argentina lost on penalties to eventual champions Uruguay.

Tevez scored 21 goals in

all competitions for Juve last season, but that failed to earn him a recall under Alejandro Sabella.

The 30-year-old has begun the 2014-15 campaign in similar vein, netting six goals in as many appearances for the Turin giants, but Tevez was still not included in Martino’s party to take on Brazil and Hong Kong in upcoming friendlies.

“Tevez’s absence draws attention as it has done for two or three years,” Martino said.

60

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

SPORT EXTRA Pardew galvanised by messages of support

• Pardew LAN Pardew has taken heart from the support he has received following a testing few weeks as Newcastle United manager.

Speculation regarding Pardew’s future has been frenzied so far in 2014-15 as a sizeable section of the club’s supporters have vented their frustration at a string of poor results.

A

A run of one victory in their last 15 Premier League games plus a winless start to the new top-flight season has seen the pressure gradually increase on the former Southampton boss.

But Pardew’s men showed great spirit to twice come from behind in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Swansea City, although the 53-year-old knows he needs to secure that elusive first league win.

“We’ve got to get our season going,” stressed Pardew.

“I’ve had lots of messages of support from within the game.

“We know the tension isn’t going to go away but I think we’ve got a bit of confidence to lean on going into our next home game [against Leicester City after the international break].

“Hopefully we can win that.

“I have to just focus on the team and improve the team as best as I can.

“We need to make sure we grind out a win and get some confidence.

“The team gave it everything [at Swansea]. We’re a better team than we’re showing at the moment.”

Berahino will only get better — Irvine

W

EST Brom head coach Alan Irvine believes Saido Berahino will only continue to improve after his flying start to the 2014-15 campaign.

The Burundi-born England Under-21 international scored five Premier League goals in 32 appearances last season, but has matched that tally already after just seven games this term, as well as adding the winner in a League Cup win over Hull City last week.

Berahino is level with Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero in the league scoring charts, behind only Diego Costa of Chelsea, who has seven strikes to his name.

The 21-year-old netted from the penalty spot in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Liverpool and, with some beginning to tout Berahino for a possible England call-up, Irvine believes the forward will only get better as he looks to develop his game.

S

• Hughes

Toure always committed ANUEL Pellegrini insists Yaya Toure’s commitment to the Manchester City cause has never been in question.

The Ivory Coast international has borne the brunt of criticism at times this season after failing to reach the heights that saw him score 20 Premier League goals for the champions last term.

It follows a close-season of uncertainty that saw rumours Toure could be set to a bigmoney exit from the Etihad Stadium following a reported falling out with the club.

However, Toure stayed put and he finally got off the mark in the top flight in the 2014-15 campaign by scoring in City’s 2-0 win at Aston Villa on Saturday.

City manager Pellegrini is adamant that Toure has always been fully committed to City and believes personal problems off the pitch, including the death of his brother Ibrahim in June, may have had an impact on his performances.

“Maybe [he had trouble] with personal problems but he did not have any problem of commitment with the club or anyone at the club,” Pellegrini said.

“He has a lot of different things in his private life but he did not want to go anywhere and is absolutely committed to this club.

“Last season Yaya also

M

• Toure

played bad games and good games but he scored so many goals that everyone talked about that.

“We are starting the season and the important thing is that Yaya knows that he must improve every game. He is trying to do it so I don’t have any concern about him.”

Pellegrini also praised the impact of playmaker David Silva, who put in an impressive showing at Villa Park.

“I think that David worked very well,” he added. “It is the [type of] game where David must be very important to try and find the space, with so

many legs defending in their own box.

“I think he played a very good game, same as [James] Milner, same as [Frank] Lampard and both strikers [Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko] who made all the movement so that David could find them.”

Hodgson: Rooney doesn’t have a disciplinary problem

E

• Irvine “Everybody’s talking about Saido at the moment and understandably so,” the Scot said.

“He’s a really talented young player and he’s going to miss chances.

“He’s still got plenty of things to work on he knows that, he’s very level-headed and a very grounded lad.”

Hughes calls for improvement TOKE boss Mark Hughes believes his side performed below the level they are capable of in the defeat to Sunderland.

The visitors were very much in the game at 1-1, but some slack defending allowed Sunderland to regain the lead very quickly, and Stoke never looked like getting back in the match after that.

PELLEGRINI

Hughes, whose Stoke side had won 2-1 at Sunderland in the Capital One Cup 11 days earlier, admitted the visitors had got what they deserved.

“It was not great from us today to be perfectly honest,” Hughes told Sky Sports.

“We didn’t really defend correctly or with any kind of purpose in that opening period and as a consequence, we gave up two goals, two really easy goals.

“Sunderland, to their credit, were able to win the game quite comfortably. We didn’t ask enough questions of them.

They probably had three strikes on goal and scored three goals.”

Hughes revealed after the game that Victor Moses, who lasted just 18 minutes, had limped off with a recurrence of the thigh problem he felt after Monday night’s win over Newcastle.

“We have got two or three players who are going to be out for a while, which doesn’t look good,” Hughes added. “We need a squad.”

NGLAND manager Roy Hodgson does not believe captain Wayne Rooney has a temperament issue in the wake of his threegame Premier League ban.

Rooney missed Manchester United’s clash with Everton on Sunday, and will also miss fixtures against West Brom and Chelsea in October after kicking out at Aston Villa’s Stewart Downing last week.

While it was Rooney’s first red card in almost three years, the 28-year-old United skipper has had his disciplinary record heavily scrutinised following the incident.

Hodgson, however, has no concerns about Rooney, instead praising the striker’s passion ahead of upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers against San Marino and Estonia.

“People suggested there was a lack of discipline and so on but, in my dealings with him,

• Rooney

nothing could be further from the truth,” Hodgson said.

“If someone wants to write that Rooney hasn’t got the temperament I can’t stop them doing it. But they are wrong.”

Hodgson, however, claimed that Rooney has not got the accent to deliver lectures to his team-mates, due to his upbrining on Merseyside, though he has hailed his desire to play.

Hodgson added: “Everyone knows Wayne is not the sort of person with his Liverpool accent who is going to be able to stand up in front of a lecture room of people.

“But he doesn’t need to. All he has to do is make certain the players he is talking to understand where he is coming from.

“The great thing with Wayne, as it was with [his predecessor] Steven [Gerrard], is the passion that they have for football, for their country, and for their

clubs - both were basically oneclub men if you take Rooney leaving Everton at a young age.

“They can transmit that passion to a lot of those younger players. They can get their points across. They won’t do it

maybe quite as eloquently as someone like myself could, but that doesn’t matter.

“He will get the message across and the message will be more powerful coming from him. We want to tap into that.”

More pain to come - Rodgers

A

FRUSTRATED Brendan Rodgers admitted more pain could follow for a Liverpool team with “no resemblance” to the one of last season.

The Northern Irishman’s men have struggled this campaign as several new signings slowly settle in to a side that went close to winning the Premier League last season.

Rodgers’ 14th-placed side host West Brom on Saturday having won just two of their opening six league outings.

He said Liverpool looked unrecognisable to the team that finished two points adrift of champions Manchester City in 2013-14.

“I think the pain is for now. I think it’s unfortunate,” Rodgers said.

“It’s hard for the supporters and I understand that. It must be so difficult at the moment to see a team that for 18 months has been so fluent and dynamic.

“Now they probably look and see a team with maybe no resemblance to that in many ways. I understand that and there is no-one more frustrated than myself.”

With Luis Suarez departing for Barcelona, Liverpool brought in the likes of Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Lazar Markovic and Mario Balotelli.

Rodgers believes once the signings settle, his team will return to where they were.

• Rodgers He is lamenting his side’s inability to break lines and get in behind, particularly with striker Daniel Sturridge out injured.

“We look at our game, where we’re a big threat in transition when we’ve won the ball back and we’re on the break... but we don’t look a threat on the break at the moment,” Rodgers said.

“You could argue that we don’t even play in transition.

We’re getting no-one in behind, no-one breaking lines.

“Once we lose that movement and speed of Sturridge and the link up of other people within that - that has broken the dynamic a little bit for us.

“We just have to persevere until I get the squad back - until we get Emre Can back, Joe Allen, Daniel and the others.

Then I think we will return to that level.”

2014

THE NATION MONDAY OCTOBER 6, 2014

61

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

62

SPORT EXTRA

W

ORLD No 1 Novak Djokovic was in a league of his own as he took Tomas Berdych apart, winning 6-0 6-2, to claim the China Open title yesterday.

The top seed sealed victory in just 66 minutes, firing 19 winners and taking six of the eight break points offered to him.

He produced a perfect opening set of tennis to bagel the Czech after 29 minutes of brilliance and was on course for a rare 'double bagel', leading 60 5-0, before a relieved Berdych staged a brief fightback.

Djokovic was seeing the ball early and returning with tremendous length as his opponent struggled to stay with him.

The Serb won 11 games in a row when Berdych took his second break point opportunity of the 12th game to raucous applause inside a soldout National Tennis Center in Beijing.

Czech hopeful Berdych, who reached the final of the tournament he won back in 2011, held serve to love in the next, but the relentless seven-time grand slam champion was not to be denied his fifth title of

CHINA OPEN:

Di Maria: Leaving Madrid a step up for my career

Beijing my lucky A place, says Djokovic

•Djokovic

the year and 46th of his career after serving out the match.

Victory helped Djokovic

improve his unblemished record at the tournament to 24-0.

"Beijing is definitely my

lucky place, I enjoy coming here," Djokovic said to the crowd after his stunning victory over the third seed.

NGEL Di Maria says that leaving Real Madrid for Manchester United this summer has been a boost to his career.

The Argentina international winger had been pushed down the pecking order at the Santiago Bernabeu before the Red Devils swooped in with a British-record •77 million bid.

Di Maria has settled in superbly to Old Trafford, scoring his third Premier League goal in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Everton, and he is convinced that the transfer was the right decision for him.

Speaking before Sunday’s match, he told MUTV: "Leaving a club like Real and coming to as big a club as Manchester United makes you grow as a player and helps you progress in your career.

"It was a very important moment and I'm really happy here.

"With every day that goes by, I feel much more relaxed and settled here. I've got a house and my family are happy.

"Since the day I arrived, people have shown real warmth towards me – at every corner kick or free kick, or even during open play, every time I have the ball I feel they're right behind me. That always makes you feel even happier.

"Let's hope things go well for me so I can be here for many years to come.”

•Di Maria

No regrets pushing Kenyans capture all four titles in Lisbon Mourinho, says Wenger IAAF GOLD LABEL ROAD RACES:

K

Samuel Ndungu winning the Lisbon Marathon yesterday PHOTO : WWW.PHOTORUN.NET

ENYAN runners executed a clean sweep and won all four races

at the two IAAF Gold Label Road Races - the Rock ’n’ Roll EDP Lisbon Marathon and the Rock ’n’ Roll Vodafone Half Marathon contested in the Portuguese capital yesterday.

Samuel Ndungu and Visiline Jepkesho took the top honours in the marathon, winning in 2:08:21 and 2:26:47, both times course records despite rather windy conditions.

Ndungu secured his victory just after the 29th kilometre, when his compatriot Lawrence Kimayo fell after tripping over a pacemaker.

“I was very happy for the win here in Lisbon. I enjoyed this course, flat and the pacemaker made his job very well,” said Ndungu, clearly referring to the tempo set rather than the fact that one of his main rivals had been hindered.

The leading men, including the first five finishers and

their pacemakers, went through the halfway point in 1:03:52, which was close to what Ndungu wanted in his bid to break his personal best of 2:07:04, which had been set when winning the 2012 Lake Biwa Marathon.

“I intended to run under 2:07, but it wasn’t possible today. No problem with anything, it just wasn’t the day.

I’ve prepared myself very well for Lisbon and I achieved my goal. Not the time, but the finish,” added Ndungu.

Robert Kwambai was a distant second, more than two minutes behind Ndungu in 2:10:33, with the badly shaken Kimayo third in 2:12:17 to complete an all-Kenyan men’s podium in the marathon.

1:01:06, a time which surely would have been much closer to the hour in stiller conditions Geremew hung on to finish second in 1:02:25 with Kusuro third, four second in arrears, and Oloitipitt fourth in 1:02:36

Frustrated Serena in doubt for WTA finale Barzagli out for at least a month

W

ORLD number one Serena Williams said on Friday that

she might be forced to skip the WTA season final this month in Singapore if her fitness does not improve over the next fortnight.

The top seed retired for a second-straight week in

•Williams

China, withdrawing from a Beijing quarter-final with Samantha Stour because of a left knee injury.

The 33-year-old is due to fly to Europe for a scan and is making no decisions prior to seeing doctors.

Williams also withdrew last week in Wuhan and was helped from the court because she was ill. Her elder sister Venus pulled out this week in Beijing after feeling poorly.

Williams is clearly unhappy with her current fitness situation and may well be worried about fronting up in Singapore at the WTA Finals from October 27.

“I don’t know yet,” she said.

“I haven’t had time to get a scan. I’m going to do all that and see what is the root of the problem.

“If I feel this way for Singapore, I don’t think it’s smart for me to play. Other than that, I’m just going to see how it goes.”

J

UVENTUS defender Andrea Barzagli will be out for at least a month

after it was confirmed he has a stress fracture in his right heel.

The 2006 World Cup-winner has yet to feature this season after sustaining the problem ahead of the new campaign. coach Massimiliano •Head Barzagli

Allegri has been patient with the defender's recovery, but yesterday's news comes as a further setback.

In a brief statement released on their official website, Juve confirmed that Barzagli had seen a specialist and was suffering from a stress fracture.

Barzagli will now suspend his planned recovery programme and will continue treatment and specific

A

RSENE Wenger insisted he did not regret his touchline spat with Jose Mourinho during Arsenal's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea yesterday.

Eden Hazard's first-half penalty and Diego Costa's ninth goal of the season saw the hosts to victory in a fiery Premier League encounter at Stamford Bridge.

Laurent Koscielny, Calum Chambers and Danny Welbeck were all arguably fortunate not to be given their marching orders by referee Martin Atkinson, while Gary Cahill's aggressive challenge on Alexis Sanchez sparked an altercation between the two managers on the touchline during the opening period.

Wenger entered Mourinho's technical area and laid his hands on the Portuguese's chest, before Atkinson called both coaches over to calm tempers.

The Frenchman explained his actions in a post-match press conference, and was unequivocal in his response when asked if he regretted the incident.

"No," he said. "What is to regret after that?

"I wanted to go from A to B and somebody confronted me in between without any sign of welcome.

"B was Sanchez, to see how badly he was injured.

Honestly, I don't listen to what he [Mourinho] says."

Wenger conceded that he had pushed Mourinho "a little", and felt some of Chelsea's players were perhaps fortunate not to be sent off.

"I think Oscar was lucky to stay on the pitch with the repeated fouls he made," said Wenger.

"He got a yellow card in the 88th minute and he was purposefully fouling on every break. [Branislav] Ivanovic as well, there were some bad fouls but that's down to the referee, it's not down to me."

Defeat means Arsenal's unbeaten start to the league campaign has come to an end, but Wenger felt there was little to choose between his side and Chelsea.

"It was down to the little things that were on their side but it was a very even game," he said.

"If you look at the number of saves our keeper had made you find nothing, and theirs as well, so the game was about who can take advantage of an opportunity.

"We couldn't score and they did so at the end of the day you have to say yes [Chelsea were more ruthless]."

•Barzagli

•Wenger (l) and Mourinho getting into a scuffle during yesterday’s match at the Stamford Bridge

63

THE NATION MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014

SPORT EXTRA AHEAD OF SUDAN V NIGERIA

Eagles arrive in Abuja camp today • Egwuekwe is early bird

P

LAYERS of the Super Eagles are expected in Abuja today to begin Nigeria’s camping exercise for the 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match away to

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja Sudan this weekend.

The team’s Media Officer, Ben Alaiya told NationSport that the players, whether plying their trades at home

or abroad, should be in Abuja today.

Some of the players were involved in their clubs’ league matches on Saturday and yesterday, nevertheless, Alaiya said all of them have

• Egwuekwe

Moses' injury worries Keshi

H

EAD coach of the Nigeria national team, Stephen Keshi has expressed worry over the recent injury picked up by Stoke City winger, Victor Moses.

Moses pulled up injured in Stoke’s 1-3 defeat to

RESULTS England - Premier League ManUtd 2 - 1 Everton Tottenham 1 - 0 Soton Chelsea 2 - 0 Arsenal West Ham 2 - 0 QPR England - Championship N'gham F. 2 - 2 Ipswich Italy - Serie A Empoli 3 - 0 Palermo Lazio 3 - 2 Sassuolo Parma 1 - 2 Genoa S’pdoria 1 - 0 Atalanta Udinese 1 - 1 Cesena Juventus 3 - 2 Roma Spain - Liga BBVA Sevilla 4 - 1 Deportivo Celta Vigo 1 - 3 Villarreal Espanyol 2 - 0 Sociedad Germany - Bundesliga Wolfsburg 1 - 0 Augsburg Gladbach 1 - 1 Mainz 05 France - Ligue 1 Saint Etienne 0 - 1 Toulouse Guingamp 0 - 1 Nantes Lyon 3 - 0 Lille Netherlands - Eredivisie PSV 3 - 0 Excelsior Alkmaar 2 - 2 Twente Feyenoord 4 - 0 G’ningen Ajax 0 - 0 Zwolle Belgium - Jupiler League C.Brugge 3 - 0 S. Liege Anderlecht 0 - 0 Genk

Sunderland in the Barclays English Premier League on Saturday.

He provided the assist for Stoke’s solitary goal at the Stadium of Light, dispatched by Charlie Adam, before he was forced off with the injury.

He is now a huge doubt for Nigeria’s 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying double-header against Sudan.

Speaking exclusively to supersport.com, Keshi expressed concern about the injury and expressed hope that it is not as serious as is feared in some quarters.

“I was naturally worried to see him (Moses) get injured (on Saturday). He’s been in good form and I just hope that the injury is not that serious because we need him for those important games against Sudan,” Keshi said.

Meanwhile Stoke City manager, Mark Hughes says the extent of Moses’ injury is not yet clear.

He suffered a recurrence of the tight thigh he injured in Monday’s win over Newcastle, but Hughes defended the deci-

sion to start the on-loan winger against the Black Cats.

“Victor had a bit of tightness after the Newcastle game (on Monday).

“But he felt discomfort and we weren’t going to take a risk.

We are hoping it’s nothing serious, but given nothing showed on the scan we’ve got to get to the bottom of what’s causing it,” he said.

• Moses

been told they must be in camp latest tonight.

“The camp officially opens today and we expect many of the players to hit Abuja latest tomorrow (today) night,” Alaiya said.

“You know some of them were involved in their clubs’ matches on Saturday and today (Sunday) too. Players like Mikel Obi played in Chelsea’s 2-0 victory against Arsenal while Efe Ambrose of Celtic also played today.”

He continued: “Training will start tomorrow evening because some of the players will be available to start training. But in the night we expect many of them to arrive.”

Warri Wolves captain, Azubuike Egwuekwe is already in Abuja for the exercise.

“Yes, I am already in Abuja on time for camping for the Sudan match,” the lanky central defender told NationSport. “You know that the matches against Sudan are vital for our qualification for the Nations Cup. So I don’t want to take chances at all likewise my colleagues who have all promised to be in Abuja unfailingly tomorrow.”

His Wolves team mate, Gbolahan Salami has also promised to be among the early arrivals in Abuja today.

NationSport scooped that caretaker coach of the team Stephen Keshi along with the team’s technical crew are in Abuja to receive the players.

Pardew hails Sammy Ameobi

U

NDER fire Newcastle United coach, Alan Pardew has showered praise on Sammy Amoebi after his game-changing display from the bench to help the team draw 2-2 at Swansea City.

Ameobi is into the last year of his contract at Newcastle United and with no extension yet on the cards, Pardew urged the Nigerian to produce more of the same after his assist for Newcastle who fought from going behind twice to draw 2-2 with Swansea City.

“Sammy Ameobi did a great job when he came on the pitch, we have been waiting for him for a long, long time," Pardew said after the game.

“He’s 6ft 5in, I was with him in the lift and his head was touching the bloody ceiling.

“This is a guy with unbelievable technical ability; he has to deliver this year.”

FC Taraba, FA chairman disagree over crisis claim

T

HESE are not the best times for Taraba Football Club as the crisis rocking the Nigeria Premier League side seems to be getting worse.

The Taraba State permanent secretary in the ministry of social, youth and sports in the state, Hussaini Modibo, who is intensifying effort to take charge of the running of the club, is locked in a battle with the management of the team headed by former international, Tijani Babangida.

NationSport gathered that the situation has become frustrating for the players, management and technical officials as they watch helplessly while the permanent secretary, who also doubles as the state’s Football Association (FA) chairman, dictates the day-to-day running of the club without recourse to the management.

It was learnt that the condition in the club has become terrible as the management of the club under the leadership of Tijani Babangida has been starved of funds to the extent that players, management and technical officials have not received their salaries for

Chima wins Norwegian League, targets history

D

ANIEL Chima has expressed delight after Molde clinched the Norwegian Premier League title with four games to spare, following their 2-1 win over home team Viking on Saturday in the 26th round.

The victory at the Viking Stadion (Stavanger) means Molde have opened up an unassailable 13-point lead over nearest challengers for the Tippeligaen crown, Odd Grenland, who lost ground after drawing 22 with Aalesund. ''This year has been my best season in Molde. I got to play a lot of games which built my self confidence in the game. ''The reason we have the title now is that we kept our focus and didn't drop our guard for a moment. The name Molde scares most teams,'' a delighted Chima told SL10.ng.

Owoeri nets eighth goal in Sweden

O

N-FORM Nigeria striker John Owoeri was the hero of his Swedish club Atvidaberg when he scored a brace in a 3-1 win at Halmstads on Saturday to take his goals’ haul

to eight.

Atvidaberg are now ninth on the league table with 37 points from 27 games.

He scored his first goal of the game in the 36th minute to give Atvidaberg a 2-1

lead.

Owoeri completed his brace in the 52nd minute to give his team a 3-1 lead.

He played for 72 minutes and was substituted with Simon Skrabb.

By Adeyinka Adedipe five months. Apart from the salary, they are also hardly paid their allowances.

However, Modibo stated that there was no crisis in the team as the management reports to the FA, which he heads. He stated that Babangida is a consultant to the team and the chairman of the club remains the Taraba State commissioner for sports.

He stated that the FA and the sports ministry have been behind the success of Taraba FC and wondered why anyone would think that there is a power tussle at the club. “For the sake of clarification, Babangida is a consultant to the team and the commissioner for sports is the chairman of the club,” Modibo said.

He called on football stakeholders in the state to rally round the team and stop fomenting crises that could tear the club apart.

What we should be doing now is to see how the team retains its Premier League status.

“I guess this is the handiwork of those who do not want the team to progress,” the FA boss added.

• Chima

Having wrapped up the title in style, there is a possibility that the Molde number 27 will become the first foreigner to win five titles in four seasons, if the newly crowned Tippeligaen champions don't stumble against Odd Grenland in the Cup final. ''We are aiming for the Cup title as well to win it back-to-back. I am among the four foreigners in the history of Norwegian football to win gold four times in a row. ''Winning the cup will break the record and make me and my teammate the two foreigners to win five gold in four years in Norway,'' Chima concluded.

The 23-year-old joined Molde four years ago, and has played 104 games in the league (with 30 goals) since making his debut against Brann on August 1, 2010.

TODAY IN THE NATION

MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL 9 NO 2,990

‘We cannot build consensus when a behemoth somewhere sits in his bedroom and decrees his anointed person as the candidate. That is the issue that played out in the Enugu case. And that is why it is generating so much heat. Chime may have his way after all.

EMEKA OMEIHE

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

“LIVE all you can; it’s a mistake not to. It doesn’t so much matter what you do in particular so long as you have your life. If you haven’t had that what have you had? … I haven’t done so enough before—and now I’m too old; too old at any rate for what I see. …

What one loses one loses; make no mistake about that. … Still, we have the illusion of freedom; therefore don’t be, like me, without the memory of that illusion. I was either, at the right time, too stupid or too intelligent to have it; I don’t quite know which.

Of course at present I’m a case of reaction against the mistake. … Do what you like so long as you don’t make my mistake. For it was a mistake. Live!” – Henry James

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchnation@gmail.com 08054501081(sms only) Twitter: @samomatseye

O

NE afternoon in 1997, I walked into Mike Awoyinfa’s office and it was not the clatter of his type writer that ushered me in. Nor his familiar voice calling out for a copy. The air collapsed under an aroma.

Before my eyes caught him as I stood on the threshold of his door, I wondered aloud. Who had turned the office of the Weekend Concord into a kitchen of rare delicacy?

When I saw Mike, he was crouching in furious enjoyment over a plate. Pounded yam and what?

“It’s Igbo soup,” he said between swallowfulls. I was evidently an unwelcome guest in his hour of union between palate and plate.

“Ask Dimgba,” he commanded. I was already hungry. I went out and asked Dimgba whose palate was also talking to plate.

“It’s oha soup,” said Dimgba Igwe. It was my induction to that Igbo delicacy, but it was also a moment in national unity. Mike did not know the name of the soup. But he tried it because his friend, Dimbga, an Igbo man, ordered it. He also ordered it, and enjoyed it. Theirs was not a culinary union. It was a union of hearts that transcended tribe, history, family.

They were twins by soul.

“We are birds of different colours,” crooned Mike at the service of songs held for him at the Evangel Pentecostal Church on October 4. But they flocked together in stunning harmony in a friendship that lasted 30 years. It had the potential of another 20-year run if the impetuous madness of a car driver had not ended Dimgba’s life while jogging on September 6.

Those of us who witnessed the friendship of Mike and Dimgba saw a mini-Nigeria. Tongues and tribes did not differ. In a corporate life where heads and deputies often did not agree, they were an alloy. The chemistry was unlikely given the trajectory of a larger Nigeria. I witnessed this unfolding, and it never occurred to me or anyone I knew that there was any tension, any suggestion that anything could bring them apart. Ordinarily, anyone who wrote such a script would be tagged a dreamer. Mike a free spirit. Dimgba a contained personality.

Mike a lover of the social tempers of the day, such as music, drama, Sina Peters, etc. Dimgba in thrall of gospel music. Mike of the outdoors.

Dimgba a home buddy. Mike a poet. Dimgba a word processor. Mike the adventurous. Dimgba

As Dimgba departs

‘

Their friendship did not make Dimgba less an Igbo man or Mike less a Yoruba man. It only made them more Nigerian •The late Dimgba

•Awoyinfa

the cautionary tale. Mike a Yoruba man.

Dimgba an Igbo man. Their paths tracked in the opposite.

Their friendship did not make Dimgba less an Igbo man or Mike less a Yoruba man.

It only made them more Nigerian. But reality trumped imagination. Anyone who anticipated tension at the beginning now rooted for them. But they did not need anyone’s prayers.

They were always together, in Lagos, in London, in the New York, in Germany.

“It is not as if we did not quarrel,” Mike announced at the service of songs to a hall packed with media icons. Doyin Abiola. Sam Amuka. Ray Ekpu. Dan Agbese. Nduka Irabor.

Etc. He referred to his jeans affection. Dimgba did not like jeans. He was always formally dolled up. He recalled an occasion when the even-tempered governor of Delta State was looking for them. Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan did not see Mike but noticed Dimgba. According to Mike, Dimgba poked fun at him afterwards, saying how could the governor have noticed him when he was dressed like a mechanic? Ditto when they travelled business class when his sartorial humility was out of sync with others. Or when they drove to a

RIPPLES FAYOSE LED THUGS TO ATTACK COURTS–says Ekiti CJ

Show me your FRIENDS and I’ll tell you who you are

’

fuel station and Mike would not want to pay for petrol, and Dimgba poked at the “Ijebu man.”

Dimgba alone could reel out a biography of Mike at his 60th birthday. Affectionate and unflattering, it was executed with the candour of a brother. Dimgba trusted him saying he could leave everything in Mike’s hands and “go to sleep.”

New Telegraph Managing Director Eric Osagie and I saw them in their Weekend Concord days as a study of human harmony. Osagie worked under them. I wrote a regular column.

In fact, Mike was the first person to believe in me as a columnist and made me write every

Giving unto Caesar what is God’s

T

HE leadership of the Anglican Church gave a political award to President Goodluck Jonathan last week. They called it the Primatial Award for Excellence in Christian Stewardship. It is a shame that an offshoot of the Church of England could stoop so low to give an award that has no bearing in the Bible. What has the president done to warrant the citation that he has distributed Nigeria’s resources equitably to all Nigerians. What Nigerians. They also mentioned Al majiri. Almajiri school is not going

HARDBALL

A

H, in Nigeria’s ever ludicrous theatre, two Ayos strut the stage: one, of the Pentecostal-religious hue, who also doubles as secular president of Nigerian Christendom; the other, of the partisan political stock, who only last August won a stunning election in Ekiti, but now appears set to selfdestroy, even before taking office.

To both, the scriptural dictate, indeed diktat: beware of the wide and merry way that leads to perdition. Embrace the straight and narrow path that leads to salvation.

Are these two Ayos beyond redemption?

Hardly. Say the scriptures, after all: God does not want the sinner to perish but to repent and be saved. Still, do the duo take this to heart?

From the rapid-fire preacher, in the mould of a savvy sports-caster running live football commentary on radio, and donning his inimitable Afro hair, Ayo Oritsejafor has come a long way from the dashing spiritual side-kick to the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa. From the adorable and respected tele-evangelist, who always signed off each excellent delivery with “ma wife, Mama Helen”, the beautiful and chaste one beaming by his side, Pastor Oritsejafor has scaled the apex of Nigerian Christendom, berthing as Christian Association of Nigeria

week based on the day’s cover story. Dimbga was the one that enforced the discipline.

Dimgba also made the point of getting me paid for it.

“Would you take your column to your landlord at the end of the month?” quipped Dimgba.

Eric and I saw how Dimgba made Mike shine.

Mike was impulsive as Dimgba was the stabiliser. Mike bubbled with ideas but the technocrat in Dimbga delivered the goods. Mike wanted to work for money but Dimgba knew how to turn it into bread and butter. They played without jealousy or envy. That is why private and work life merged.

Their homes are next to each other, and there is no fence. Between this Yoruba man and this Igbo there is no barrier. That is the trust we do not have in the real world. Mike lamented that when he fainted on a Paris street years ago, Dimgba revived him. But he was not around for his friend when death visited him on a Nigerian road. He was out of the country.

The church launched a trust fund for Dimgba’s family, his wife, boys and girls. All the governors and the president ought to deposit something handsome now into that purse before their attentions move away as humans do. Dimgba was a special journalist.

Mike also now carries the burden of both families. It was evident when Dimgba’s son, Chinazam, paid tribute to his father. He broke into tears, especially when he said the hit-andrun driver “killed a legend, but not his legacy”.

Mike put his arms around him like a father in consolation.

He also nodded in approval as Dimgba’s daughter, Victory, rendered a song of plaintive power for her dad. Victory’s voice, kinetic and electric, is a talent that must be nurtured to stardom.

But he also lived a good life and enjoyed it.

Mike spoke about their travels, how in Helsinki he exulted at Sibelius Monument in honour of the composer Jean Sibelius, whose song inspired the Biafran anthem. In Egypt they saw Pharaoh’s tomb where Dimgba mused on the vanity of power. In Israel at River Jordan and how now he regrets turning down Dimgba’s offer to baptise him.

Dimgba lived his life well in tune with Henry James’ advice in The Ambassadors: “Live all you can.” Dimgba did.

Ayo, beware of the wide and merry way...

(CAN) president.

But like an object that has vaulted a dizzying height and is set for a plummet, our beloved pastor appears hooked on the wide and merry way the Bible so sternly warns against.

When a pastor cruises around in a private jet (O, it is for air evangelism — besides, my God is not a wretched God!), blindly takes CAN under him to uncritical partisanship and still grandstands, even when faced with a shameful scandal, involving his evangelical jet in probable money-laundering cum gun-running, running into $9.3 million, the wide and merry way beckons.

And to think the revered pastor was paraphrased by a newspaper as having claimed “enemies of Christianity were linking him to the deal”! So, the pastor is Nigerian Christendom and Nigerian Christendom is the pastor? Indeed,

to solve the boy or girl education in the North.

In fact, it will become a term of derision and discrimination in future. Do schools for all.

Such tokens are no virtue. There are more almajiri than the schools can take. Where did Nicholas Okoh and his errant clergymen get their statistics of equity from? They were playing the politics of religion at a time that the Nigerian church is under a moral attack. With all the corruption story around this presidency? They gave Caesar what belongs to God, or stellar men of God in our midst.

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above perdition urgently calls!

The good pastor should take the wise counsel of Femi Falana: If his presidential lobbies shield him from prosecution for breaching the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), which insists that “a jet registered for the facilitation of evangelism cannot be leased to another company for commercial purposes as churches are registered under CAMA as nonprofit making organisations”, he should at least publicly apologise to Nigerians; and, like fumbling but remorseful King David, over the Uriah-Bathsheba affair, seek private forgiveness from his God. Otherwise, perdition beckons!

As for the other Ayo, Fayose, he of stomach infrastructure in the rocky enclave of Ekiti, scandal and chaos appear, to him, second nature! Like the same Biblical King David, from whose house the sword never departed, Ayo Fayose and trouble would appear bound like fish and water.

The embattled governor-elect is entitled to his plea of innocence. But it is instructive that it is when he makes the precincts of the courts that a judge gets mugged; and it was when he lost a judicial call that a courtroom got invaded and court records shredded!

Ayo, my son, beware of the wide and merry way...

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