How President's letter sent aggrieved govs out of PDP

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We did not give sack ultimatum to ASUU — Jonathan Says he would consult

BY BEN AGANDE, Abuja

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RESIDENT G o o d l u c k J o n a t h a n literally disowned the seven-day ultimatum to striking university lecturers to return to work, yesterday, saying the Committee of Vice Chancellors (CVC) issued the deadline.

According to him, the supervising minister of education, Mr. Nyeson Wike, only made the ultimatum public.

The ultimatum, which began counting last Thursday, ends on Wednesday.

Jonathan, also, yesterday, described the ASUU prolonged strike as subversive.

The industrial action, which started on July 1, enters the sixth month today.

“We didn’t give them ultimatum. It was the committee of Vice Chancellors that took that decision. The supervising minister of education only passed on the decision.

What ASUU is doing is no longer trade dispute but subversive action”, the president said.

Saying, however, that government will consult on the deadline to ASUU members, he said, “So that we will not be perceived to be insensitive, we will consult on the deadline”.

Jonathan spoke, yesterday, while responding to an appeal by a former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, that government should reconsider its ultimatum to the ASUU members to return to work or be sacked.

Alamieyeseigha made his plea at Bayelsa State Government House, Yenagoa, during a meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state caucus.

According to the President, “What ASUU is doing is no longer trade union. I have intervened in other labour issues before now, once I invite them they respond and after the meeting they take decision and call off the strike. Atimes we don’t

even give them a long notice unlike in the case of ASUU that were given four days notice before the meeting. As you are meeting to resolve trade disputes, you expect the trade unions to get their officials ready, what was expected having met with the highest authority in the land for long hours, was for ASUU to immediately issue statement within 12 or latest 24 hours to state their position whether they were accepting government’s offer or not.

And if they are not accepting they state the reason why. ”But despite the fact that I had the longest meeting with ASUU in my political history, we did not start that meeting until around 2 p.m. and the meeting ended the next day in the early hours of the morning. As far as the government of Nigeria was concern all the critical people that should be in a meeting were there, so what else do they want? ”After that they didn’t meet until one week, despite the fact that you met with the highest authority. It was unfortunate one of them, Prof.

Iyayi died. ”The way ASUU has conducted the matter shows they were extreme and when iyayi died they now said the strike was now indefinite, our children have been at home for over five months”.

President Jonathan also thanked the Bayelsa people for their prayers and support while he fell ill in L o n d o n .

He emphasised the need for party faithful to be united, stressing that the key to political success was the unity of the people and that divided people bring about a lot of issues.

In his remarks, Governor Seriake Dickson commended Jonathan’s deep interest in the state caucus and making out time despite his tight schedule to be part of it, where issues affecting the party are discussed and

SOLUTION

L-R: Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora; Senator Ganiu Olanrenwaju Solomon; Senate President, David Mark; and Senator Babajide Omoworare, during Senator Omoworare's mother funeral service, Princess Teniade Omoworare at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Lagere Ile Ife, yesterday. solutions found.

Govt has done enough for ASUU - UNIJOS VC Meanwhile, the ViceChancellor of University of Jos, Prof. Hayard Mafuyai, yesterday, said the Federal Government has done enough and even shown commitment for ASUU to call-off the strike.

The VC spoke while answering questions from journalists at the end of the year dinner and award night of UNIJOS 80-85 Alumni Group in Abuja.

He said the challenges facing the education sector in the country over the decades cannot be corrected overnight, so ASUU should call-off the s t r i k e .

“We just met with the Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, and we have been appealing to our colleagues and ASUU to do what we believe should be done, that is to call off the strike,” Mafuyai said. ”I think the Federal Government has done enough to move the education sector forward as the ills of many decades cannot be corrected overnight and we should listen to the mood of the nation to call-off the strike

in the overall public i n t e r e s t ” .

When he was asked about the security situation in Jos and how it has affected University of Jos, he blamed the media for poor reportage and how it is adversely affecting socioeconomic development of the university and Plateau State.

‘Threat won’t end strike’ In a related development, students affected by the ASUU strike say threat would not end the impasse.

The National Coordinator, Education Rights

Lagos to demolish houses under high tension lines

…blames shortfall in FAAC over delay in projects completion

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS State government, yesterday, said structures erected underhigh tension power lines in the state would be demolished to avert electrocution of residents.

Commissioner for the

5 bishops ‘banned from officiating in N-Delta’

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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IVE Pentecostal bishops have been banned from officiating in any bishopric gathering in the Niger Delta.

A terse statement, issued yesterday by Pentecostal Bishops in the Niger Delta and signed by the acting National Secretary of the organisation, Bishop David Benedict, said the unnamed bishops committed a sacrilegious act when, in company of seven other clerics from the region, indulged in

Campaign (ERC), Hassan Soweto, who spoke on the ultimatum to ASUU, said threat will only worsen the situation. “If the FG goes ahead with the threat, then ASUU, the trade union movement and civil society organisations should be expected to respond with nationwide mass protest and demonstrations,” Soweto said.

Victor Samuel, a law student of Ekiti State University, also reacting, said: “With the assertion of the Federal Government, should it sound as if we rule by positivist theory? This is

just a barking from the government as it would make no appreciative effort but make the situation more critical.”

Adeola Oluwatayo, a 300 level journalism student of LASU, said the threat won’t end the strike, but rather make the lecturers a d a m a n t .

Emmanuel Eca, a final year student, University of Calabar saw the threat by government as an empty one because it has failed in it’s responsibility. “The question to ponder over is why the FG has continued in reneging on its agreements? They could have averted the strike in the first place by keeping to the terms of the agreement. They should stop playing with our f u t u r e . ” Another student, Macaulay Adeleye, went political in his reaction when he said: “The threat by the Federal Government won’t materialize at the end of the day due to the fact that it is not all institutions that can embark on such a step and overwhelm the lecturers.”

Going by the threat, ASUU said it was evident that the Federal Government was not ready to implement the agreement it reached with the union.

The treasurer of the union, Dr. Ademola Aremu, said government would only succeed in wasting the time of Nigerians and the youths in the country if it failed to perfect the agreement.

alleged disgraceful act “ without minding their highly exalted position in Christendom”.

While commending the National President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, and the South-south Chairman, Arch-Bishop God-dowell Avwormakpa, for suspending the bishops, lauded the CAN President for his effort to religious body in the country.

The group called for peace between Governor Chibuike Amaechi and President Goodluck Jonathan.

Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, disclosed this after monitoring the November edition of the monthly sanitation exercise in Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area, LCDA, alongside his counterpart from Information and Strategy, Aderemi Ibirogba, and the council chairman, Mr. Yusuf Shakiru.

Bello, however, blamed the delay in embarking on some strategic projects and delivery of ongoing construction works on the shortage in the statutory allocation from the Federation Account.

The commissioner lamented: “Ordinarily, how can people be erecting

structures under high tension? It is a noted matter over the years that people shouldn’t build under the high tension power lines. But look at that place, the entire area was unplanned. And they are demanding for drainage. They have invaded the place and destroyed the natural habitat.”

He went on: “If fact what we should do is to demolish the entire houses under high tension and I have instructed the ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to

Continues on page 7

Vanguard cameraman dies

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A N G U A R D Cameraman in Enugu zonal office, Mr. Hillary Ezeugwu, is dead The passed on at the Annunciation Hospital, Emene, Enugu in the early hours of yesterday following a brief illness, Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State,

yesterday expressed shock over the demise.

Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Chukwudi Achife, the governor described Ezeugwu as a dedicated professional who had used his lenses to positively project the state which he covered for many years until his sad departure.

PAGE 6 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 1, 2013

FG must be stopped from selling refineries — Oil workers

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

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ORKERS in the oil industry have explained their resolve to

frustrate the sale of the four government refineries, saying well-meaning Nigerians must join hands with organized labour to ensure that the refineries are not handed over to fronts and cronies of the Presidency.

Under the umbrella of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and its Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, P E N G A S S A N , counterpart, the workers insisted that government officials deliberately sabotaged the TurnAround Maintenance, TAM, and supply of crude to the refineries to have reasons to sell the refineries

Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, during the commissioning, of a stateof-the-art armory at the Oghara Headquarters of the Nigerian Naval Logistics Command in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday to their cronies.

Operating under the aegis of NUPENGASSAN (a fusion of NUPENG and PENGASSAN), the unions proposed the option of strategic partnership

between government and Organised Private Sector, OPS, or the modified Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, model with a national oil company, NOC, as owners

of the four refineries holding a 49 equity share, while core investors hold 51.

“This planned outright sale is uncalled for, inimical to economy and Nigeria as a nation. It will only benefit the officials of government who are pushing for the sale as their fronts and cronies are already being positioned to buy the refineries as scrap.

We have said no to it and we will continue to say no.

If government refuses to listen to voice of reason, we will have no other option to do the needful (shut down the sector) to protect these assets for generations unborn,” PENGASSAN president, Comrade Babatunde Ogun, said. “We (NUPENG and PENGASSAN), made our position on this known for a very long time. Even in our position paper on Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, we also started what should be done to the refineries.

As soon government woke up and made known this repulsive planned sale of the refineries, NUPENG issued a statement denouncing it and we also issued a statement advising

government to jettison the idea to avoid unnecessary industrial unrest in the sector. The planned sale is anti-Nigeria, anti-people and will not benefit the drivers and their cronies.”

It would be recalled that while reacting to the announcement of the planned sale of the refineries in 2014, Ogun threatened that the workers would resist the privatisation of the refineries because it was against national interest.

He insisted that government should deal with the problem of pipelines vandalism that hamper supply crude oil to the refineries as well as carry out TAM and see whether the refineries would not work.

According to him, the issue of the privatisation of the refineries had been on the front burner since President Olusegun Obasanjo regime, when the government through the Bureau for Public Enterprises hastily sold the refineries, recalling that because of public outcry, the sale was reversed by the late President Umar Yar ’Adua.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 1, 2013— PAGE 7

Anambra: Obiano to be declared winner today * APGA maintains lead * Voter apathy mars supplementary election * Residents flout restriction order * ‘APC, LP agents’ take part

By Vincent Ujumadu, Tony Edike and Enyim Enyim

the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Anambra State, Prince Ken Emeakayi, has accused the APC of causing mischief and deceiving Nigerians.

Emeakayi spoke with journalists at Akpkogwe polling booth Ogidi ward 1 where he had gone to observe the supplementary election.

He said that despite APC’s call on voters to boycott the election, the party has agents in all the polling units.

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ARRING any u n e x p e c t e d development, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Willie Obiano, will today, be declared winner of the governorship election in Anambra State. yesterday ’s B efore

supplementary election conducted in 210 polling units in 16 local councils across the state where the exercise was cancelled during the November 16 exercise, Obiano was already coasting home to victory, having scored the highest number of votes and securing 25 per cent in 18 of the 21 local government areas of the state.

The 16 local government areas where INEC conducted the supplementary election are Aguata, Awka North, Awka South, Anambra East, Anambra West, Ayamelum, Anaocha, Ekwusigo, Idemili North and Idemili South. Others are Ihiala, Nnewi South, Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Orumba North and Oyi. Residents flout restriction order Though there was restriction of movement in the affected areas, some people were still doing their normal businesses and traffic was light on the roads in all the areas.

Soldiers were stationed along all the roads leading to Idemili North local government area and Onitsha South local government area, which had the highest number of polling units of 160 and 17 respectively where the supplementary election took place.

APC, LP agents take part Though the All Progressive Congress, APC, the Labour Party, LP, and the campaign organization of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Comrade Tony Nwoye, said they would not participate in the exercise, their agents were seen in many polling units. However, while APGA and PDP agents wore tags, those who claimed to be APC agents did not wear their tags. At Abatete in Idemili north, agents of the PDP and LP were at the polling units.

Voters’ apathy In all the polling units where the supplementary polls took place yesterday, there was very low turnout of voters and heavy presence of security operatives.

In most polling units visited by Sunday Vanguard, electoral officials and sensitive electoral materials arrived early. But, despite the early arrival of these materials, the number of eligible voters, who came out for the accreditation exercise, was very low compared to the turn-out during the November 16 and 17 elections.

Early results At Zik Avenue, Onitsha polling

Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government, Mr Udom Emmanuel (middle), receiving an award on behalf of Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, after his investiture as Patron of the Nigeria/British Chamber of Commerce in Lagos. units 8, 9 and 10, APGA scored 18 votes, APC – 8, while PDP polled 6. At polling unit 006, APC scored 9, APGA got 26, while PDP scored 2.

REC commends Anambra voters, says there’s no boycott Despite the low turn out, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers, Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak, who supervised the election in Onitsha South

and Onitsha North council areas, commended the people of Anambra for coming out to vote yesterday ’s supplementary governorship election.

Ikoiwak spoke at Okija Hall where voting took place in four polling units.

APC out to cause mischief – PDP chairman Meanwhile, the Chairman of

INEC ignores Ubah’s case Meanwhile, the supplementary poll held, yesterday, in apparent disregard of a case by the LP candidate in the November 16 election, Dr Ifeanyi Ubah, seeking to stop it.

A letter by Ubah’s lawyers, Olagoke Fakunle, SAN, and Co, to INEC Chairman, Prof.

Attahiru Jega, dated November 29, 2013, notified INEC about the case.

“You would have noticed that amongst the processes is a Motion on Notice for interlocutory in juntion restraining you from conducting any further election in Anambra State, with regard to the office of the Governor of the State, until

the court has had an opportunity to review the legality of your preelection processes towards that election”, the letter said.

“It was for the reason of the urgency and importance of this action that the Federal High Court, on 28th November 2013, made an order to abridge the time within which you and other Defendants may file your responses to both the application for injunction and the originating summons. The court also granted accelerated hearing of the matter by adjourning the hearing to 9th December, 2013.

“We therefore hereby demand that you postpone the proposed supplementary election for the Governor of Anambra state to avoid a situation whereby you would have foisted a fait accompli on the court and the court in response will therefore be constrained to void everything you have done including the outcome of the proposed supplementary election, with attendant waste of national resources.

“The appropriate thing for you to do at this stage, therefore, is to enter appearance and file your responses to the processes you have been served with and await the court’s determination of the illegality or otherwise of the preelection process leading to your decision to hold a supplementary election for the Governor of Anambra State, before you continue with any further plans for the conduct of any election of the Governor of Anambra State.”

Lagos to demolish houses under high tension lines Continued from page 5 take note and deal with that.

“That place was ordinarily a wet land. And we all know the nature of wetland especially what it does to nature. And they want us to construct drainage under high tension, who will ever do that? We cannot do drainage under high tension.”

Responding to the demands of the residents for construction of more roads and drainages, Bello said funding “has been a major challenge in executing the state’s capital projects this year.”

Meanwhile, the state government has restated its commitment to the improvement of all inputs necessary for the delivery of quality education in the State’s public schools to enable them turn out potential future leaders of the country.

The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba, said the administration has never lost sight of its responsibility to the citizenry especially in the area of education.

The Commissioner told journalists, yesterday, that the school environment, general infrastructure, type and sufficiency of learning equipment and the quality of the teaching personnel are some of the areas which, according to him, government has focused on over the years with visible and positive outcome as shown in the steadily improving West African School Certificate results.

“85percent passed English, 84percent passed mathematics and 84percent scaled through in biology to make the students

performance exceed World Bank benchmark”, he said.

Also as a Strategy of involving the wider society in the task of providing the right education for the children, the government, he said, has evolved the Adopt-ASchool programme with which individuals and corporate organizations are encouraged to

take on any of the following school environment improving activities like provision of ICT laboratory, student furniture, construction of new or rehabilitation of existing classrooms and construction of toilets.

The commissioner appealed to

stakeholders to have confidence in the state government by reaching out to escalate their observations through the existing channels of communication saying the state will always partner with people for an improved and robust education sector.

NDDC underfunded by N600bn — Aginighan *Seeks redress in 2014

BY WALE AKINOLA

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ROM 2001 to 2013, all the annual appropriation bills send to the National Assembly made arbitrary allocations as Federal Government contribution to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). As at December 31, 2012, the NDDC had been underfunded by the Federal Government to the tune of N600 billion.”

With these words, a former acting Managing Director of the NDDC, Pastor Power Ziakede Aginighan, protested the “underfunding” of the commission.

In a press statement at the weekend, entitled, ‘Do not kill the NDDC’, Aginighan said: “This is reminiscent of the very bitter history of Federal Government’s pattern of creating and deliberately killing various agencies meant for the development of the

Niger Delta region from the Niger Delta Development Board (NDDB) established in 1961 to OMPADEC established in 1992”.

According to him, the people of the Niger Delta will hold all Presidents who have headed the Executive arm of the various administrations from 2001 to date primarily responsible for the underdevelopment of the region resulting from the breach of the Act. “Secondly, liability for this breach of the law also lies on the National Assembly for negligence inf ailing to checkmate the executive arm of government.

Thirdly, the 27 Senators and 73 Honourable members of the House of Representatives representing the nine NDDC member states namely, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ondo, Imo and Rivers have done a great disservice to their constituents for not crying foul over an executive action that amounts

to short-changing those they represent”, the former NDDC boss said.

“Now that the 2014 Appropriation Bill is to be presented by the President, I demand for the umpteenth time that both President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Assembly put a halt to his unjustifiable underdevelopment of the Niger Delta region by ensuring that the NDDC receives the total backlog of the underfunding by the Federal Government. This is an obligation of the Federal Government to the people of the Niger Delta. It is not a favour sought by them for which they should be begging endlessly. The release of the funds legally due to the NDDC to the Senator Bassey Henshaw-led Board with definitely empower the Commission to deliver on its mandate of fast-tracking the development of the Niger Delta region”.

PAGE 8 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 1, 2013

Why I was arrested in Benin Republic, by Asari Dokubo

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

*Says Jonathan intervened on his behalf

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former President of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahid DokuboAsari, who was arrested last week in Republic of Benin, has accused those opposed to the second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan of masterminding his arrest.

Asari, who apparently betrayed emotion on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Friday night, also said he was arrested and interrogated by Benin officials over an allegation from Nigeria that he is a leader of Boko Haram.

Speaking to journalists at the airport, he also described as lies the report that Jonathan sent a presidential jet to fly him into Nigeria from Benin.

His words: “Crisis is normal, it can also happen here in Nigeria, it can happen anywhere in the world. The people and government of Republic of Benin have no problem with me.

But if people alleged

LAST WEEK IN BRIEF

By Mariam Eko

Police seals Kwara PDP secretariat

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HERE was commotion at Kwara State secretariat of the Peoples Democratic PDP, in Ilorin, the state capital, yesterday, when mobile policemen took over the place following the merger of ‘New PDP’, aka nPDP with the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The secretariat is being claimed by members of the old PDP in the state following the defection of the nPDP to APC. Scores of mobile policemen blocked all roads leading

to the secretariat at the Government Reservation Area where Senator Bukola Saraki was billed to address his supporters.

Several police vans were seen in and around the secretariat loaded with heavily armed mobile policemen.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Femi Fabode, who was also at the secretariat, told journalists that the presence of policemen was to forestall breakdown of law and order.

40 Boko Haram suspects killed

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L-r : Ini Onuk, CEO ThistlePraxis Consulting, Archbishop of Abuja, John Onaiyekan and Ndidi Nwuneli, of Leap Africa, at the just concluded World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council in Abu Dhabi. that somebody is a leader of Boko Haram, the government of that country will investigate the person. ”The allegation has much to do with 2015 because when you read comments on social media,

you find out that people who are against President Goodluck Jonathan said they should vilify me, and make sure I die before 2015. But they are not going to succeed. I am not going to die. I will be present in 2015, and I will

do what I am going to do to ensure that Jonathan wins in 2015. There is nothing they can do about it. This is their last fight and it is so unfortunate that the way they are going with show how immature they are.

“I just arrived from Cotonou. I drove in my car from Cotonou to Lagos airport where I boarded a flight to Abuja. The report is not true. No presidential jet was sent to me. ”I do business in Cotonou, and I have been living in Cotonou since 2008. Politically, people who are in Nigeria are trying to fabricate lies, which are not variable, and send it to Republic of Benin government. So I was taken for interrogation and they found that the allegations were false, and I was promptly released with over 20 of my staff who were also taken in.”

The former warlord, however, said his arrest was a blessing in disguise as he had an opportunity of meeting with officials of Benin after his interrogation. “I have met with the top and powerful people in Republic of Benin.

Since I went to that country, I have never had any reason to meet with their government officials, but this crisis has made it possible for me to meet with all top government functionaries of the Republic of Benin. The crisis has raised my profile in that country.”

Asked whether President Jonathan intervened to secure his release, he said: “It is not just only President Jonathan that intervened, Nigerians generally intervened. The number of people that came into Cotonou the day I was taken in, and the following day, were over one thousand.”

HE military raided Boko Haram hideouts in Bita village, Borno State, last week. This was aimed at flushing out insurgents who were suspected to have fled from recent attacks and hiding in bushes on the Sambisa Game Reserve.

The insurgents had attacked the area recently by bombing of public schools, a new generation bank and also road attacks.

Meanwhile, over 40 sus-

pected Boko Haram members were killed by the military using air strikes and ground troops from the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Bita Village, Damboa-Gwoza Road in Borno State. On a routine visit to Maiduguri, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika advised military officers to be steadfast as there would be war and destruction of Boko Haram camps in the state.

Plateau attacks: Monarchs to be arrested

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LATEAU State Com missioner of Police, Mr. Chris Olukpe, has threatened to arrest traditional and tribal leaders in the state whose area had recorded attacks by unknown criminals.

Disclosing this at a stakeholders meeting in Jos which constituted various tribes in Plateau North Senatorial zone, he said leaders were accomplices, as they had failed

in their responsibility as custodians of the society.

He however gave the Berom and Fulani traditional leaders in Barkin Ladi, a seven-day ultimatum to produce those responsible for the recent killings in the area.

Over 300 people had been killed in Uypang area of Barkin Ladi, while three Fulani herdsmen were killed in Forom village.

PHCN privatization, blackout persists

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ARELY a month af ter the PHCN took a new management, electricity supply has remained irregular and in some areas worsened.

It was gathered that the power sector had been grappling with shortage of manpower since the massive and indiscriminate sacking of the defunct PHCN workers.

However, power supply had dropped by 450MW from the peak generation of 4,500MW as a result of alleged unpaid gas fee to Nigerian Gas Company, NGC.

Reacting to the report, the General Manager (Public Affairs), Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, Mrs. Sain Olagunju said the drop in power supply was a result of vandalism of gas pipelines supplying gas to Okai Power Plant in Delta State. This, she said, resulted in the shutdown of the power station and unavoidable power rationing nationwide.

She further stressed that it had been repaired, adding that it would take a while for power supply to stabilise in the country.

Court reinstates Obio/Akpor LG exco

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Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has reinstated the Timothy Nsirim-led executive in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, replaced by a caretaker committee of the state government last April.

The court however nullified the appointment of the caretaker committee chairman, Mr. Chikordi Dike which has been running the council since the

suspension.

In a statement, the reinstated chairman, Mr. Nsirim Timothy said he would move into the council after all concerned had been served with the court judgment.

Reacting the information and communications commissioner, Mrs. Ibim Seminitari, representing the state government said the state government would respect the court’s decision.

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013, PAGE 9

"INEC this... INEC that, everything is JEGAJEGA! Now what?"

All letters bearing writers' names and full addresses should be typed and forwarded to: The Editor, Sunday Vanguard, Kirikiri Canal, P. M. B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. E-mail: sunvanguardmail@yahoo.com

ASUU strike and its implication on our education system Dear Sir,

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popular African proverb says “ when two elephants fight, it is the grasses that suffer ”.

When a change is much delayed, the consequences are often unimaginable.

It is not that such crisis or violence is planned but it often comes as a result of either frustration or natural instinct in human to resist oppressions.

This was exactly the events in the Achebe’s Arrows of god. “When Eze Ulu, the chief priest, despite the suffering of his people was bent on cutting his pound of flesh on the very people he was to protect. Thus, he lived to regret the consequences. as he did not only lose the respect given to him as the chief priest but his followers lost faith in his leadership as a priest.

By the end of this month, the current ASUU strike will be five months and few weeks old. A time sufficient enough for a successful semester to begin and end. Yet, all pleas for both parties to resolve their differences have been futile. Though somebody will say “ we have seen strike longer than this, but the truth is, today and yesterday can never be the same.

What is more disturbing is the fact that both the president and most, if not all his cabinet members were at one

time or the other a member of ASUU. Yet these issue seem linger on. We pretend not to understand the implications of the strike. Today crime rate has increased with Nigerians falling victim by the day. It is only a fool that do not know when to leave a stage. It is high time this strike is called off to save Nigerians from this trouble. Let us learn from history before we turn into history. We, the students need to go back to the class room. When two brothers are in a fight the outsiders are made the king. This strike is simply making the private

universities popular. Let’s save our public educational system. Actions such as this were what killed our public secondary schools. Today, you have turned to public universities may God save us. If our elders and the leaders treat the only legacy that can transform this nation with such levity, what hope do we have?

Public education is the only hope of the poor to rise, do we murder it? If we do, what do we tell our children and the younger generations? The west crossed seas and mountains to bring this legacy because of its value

and transformation power. Do we now murder it? This question is left for vour leaders and the lecturers to answer.

Some of our leaders and the elders couldn’t have gotten to this height if not for education; there should be a re-think in the way things are going.

Don’t cross the bridge and get it broken. Let this impasse be resolved for the good of the children, both born and yet to come.

Nonye Uzor English and Literary Studies, Delta State University, Abraka

When will our politics stop being a do-or-die affair?

Dear Sir,

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UR politicians should bury their heads in shame that in this 21st century after making our brand of politics to be the most lucrative venture in our country, the quickest avenue to instant wealth and a lifetime of comfort without sweat, they have equally turned it into a do-or-die affair during elections, leading to the deployment of thousands of security agencies, as if we are in a state of

emergency or as if war has broken out!

You need to see the thousands of policemen and soldiers that have been drafted to Anambra State to deter our politicians from unleashing mayhem against each other and disturbing the voters in casting their votes in the governorship election of Anambra State in a peaceful atmosphere.

Our politicians should grow up by emulating how elections are held in USA, Britain, India etc where voters cast their votes in peace without heavy

police presence and without fearing that thugs will come to the polling centers to snatch away ballot boxes with guns blazing to scare away voters or that the election results will be manipulated in favour of one party or the other by the electoral body.

Ifeka OkonkwoPlot 44, Ahocol Housing Estate, Phase II, GRA Awka

PAGE 10 —SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013

Where is the honour in Nigerian politics?

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mosque was he shown to be worshipping? The CAN President has simply carried his support too far. And, many are beginning to think it cannot be for nothing. As the late Chief M.K.O Abiola had observed, “Nobody stands in the rain all day long for nothing”. Is it not possible for CAN to sacrifice whatever they (I have excluded myself from the nonsense) are getting to regain some sense of selfrespect? More to the point, the CAN President, like any Nigerian, enjoys the protection of the constitution to support who and what he wants. But, he cannot presume to represent all of us in his choice of politicians to support. Where, for Christ’s sake, is the sacrifice - when the benefits are so openly advertised?

Then permit me to go straight to the top – “Politics without principles” – which is the real focus of this column. The bungled Anambra State Governor’s election had merely served to illustrate the total absence of principles or honour among our political classes; and sections of the media. n the last line to last I week’s column; titled BEHOLD THE WORLD’S LARGEST SLAVE REPUBLIC, I predicted that despite the violation of our rights

Old wines, new bottles Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber. ~Plato

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AR from me stating the obvious, the writing has been glaringly on the wall and so it came as no surprise.

The mutineers have finally taken a decisive turn. So rather than walk the plank, the renegades seven jumped the ship in a spectacular fashion.

This comes a day after GEJ called off the last ditch attempt to reconcile the fractious 7 back into the PDP fold. Actually, it is 6 (Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Abdulfattah Ahmed (Kwara) and Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto).The governor, Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, are mulling things over .

Despite this development, the captain and his spin doctors have been reassuring the party faithful and the misguided, that the current move is merely a

storm in a teacup! They want us to believe that the power base is water tight.

This has definitely put the proverbial spanners in the works to the planned GEJ triumphant ride come 2015.

The spin doctors have been scrambling for air time to deny the extent of the damage and to reiterate that the party and the people have not lost confidence in the president. That in itself is an understatement but I am sure, they have no choice but to deny the huge gap in this monumental debacle.

Far from me gloating, the alternative is not promising either, for those who have left the PDP are as culpable as those that remain in the ailing party. They have been party to the wanton abuse of power, level of corruption and misappropriation of our common wealth.

As far as I am concerned there is no saint in this faction or in the merger.

I am sure there are people who are used to bargaining with their reasoning; that it is better than the devil you know! I disagree. We should demand

to free movement through Anambra State, the election would still end up inconclusive. I was writing that column on the morning of the election. Today,

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“Politics without principle Wealth without work Knowledge without character Business without morality Worship without sacrifice M.Ghandi, founder of modern India, 1869-1948.

(VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 245).

ECAUSE I am a Christian Evange list and have boldly made several predictions on these pages, which have turned out to be true, unlike those who wait for a disaster and then call a press conference to claim they predicted it, let me start with the last among the things which Ghandi predicted would destroy any nation – “Worship without sacrifice”. In my entire life, and my family was deeply involved in politics since the First Republic, I have never known of a religious leader, Muslim or Christian, who had ever, so openly, wrapped himself around a Prime Minister or President as the present CAN President. The man has so compromised Christians as to leave little room for doubt that he is partisan.

Before Jonathan, there was Yar’Adua. None of us can remember a Muslim cleric who was seen so often with the late President. Who was photographed with him when he went to Mecca on Holy Pilgrimage? In whose

do the same? The reader can see how we dig a hole on a road we intend to travel through in the future because we don’t think.

As predicted, the election was a disgrace. Where principles and honour count for anything in public service, the officer, who promises great results but delivers an electoral disaster does not wait to conduct inquiries into what went wrong.

Honourably, he would resign and allow someone else to conduct that inquiry which must necessarily start with his own role in the calamity. Professor Jega falls far short of the global standard when such calam-

Who on earth is the leader of this rabble called PDP? Where else on earth had this experience been replicated?

The largest black nation on earth is also the greatest disgrace to black people worldwide

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we have an inconclusive election on our hands and most of what will follow is predictable – starting from what the INEC Chairman, Professor Jega, would do.

Jega promised us the “best election ever”. For this, he got the Police, with the President’s approval, to violate the constitution by restricting free movement in an entire state to Nigerians.

Weddings, funeral ceremonies were messed up – just for this. That was a coup.

Even, if the election was perfect, allowing a Police coup would have been a steep price to pay because we allowed a precedent which might haunt us in the future.

What if the Army decides to

ities occur. Already, the likely losers don’t trust him to conduct a better supplementary election when the main event is so obviously replete with irregularities.

INEC, deliberately or inadvertently, had played into the hands of politicians and political parties, as well as media commentators by conducting this sham election. But, INEC had never conducted a perfect election, as we all know.

I ran out of space in last week’s last line. I wanted to add that all the political parties, especially APC, and the contestants themselves would only accept an election as free and fair only if their candidate won. Fur-

better and no less, that politicians work for the good of the country and its citizens and not for their selfaggrandizement. If we do not call our politicians to account, then this merger and the status quo remains unchanged and in fact, it will be worse. It will be case of decanting the same old wine in new bottles; is still the same old wine but more pungent and repellent.

Call me a cynic, I am yet to see a definite vision

Politicians become desperate and resort to desperate measures and this can only spell more hardship for the Nigerians.

The vitriolic has begun to flow, the Special adviser to GEJ on political affairs, Ahmed Gulak, said of the defection that "outside there is nothing and that the PDP is the only party".

In the same vein he offers the olive branch to the G7 that they still have a chance to be welcomed back into the party. Can this man make up his mind?

He also maintains that "The Presidency does not feel threatened, the PDP does not feel threatened," methinks he protests too much. I feel that the PDP tree has been shaken to the roots and they are in denial as this assault will not disappear. The Akwa Ibom State governor and chairman of the PDP Governor Forum, Godswill Akpabio said that they should respect the position of the president even if they do not respect the president as a person. He stated " that the president was prepared to continue to have a dialogue with any other group, not just G-7 and any group of Nigerians who are outside the party, either trying to come in". And those who have "grievances" and that he wishes to use this opportunity to remind all PDP members that the peace process initiated by President Goodluck Jonathan is still on course

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If we do not call our politicians to account, then this merger and the status quo remains unchanged and in fact, it will be worse. It will be a case of decanting the same old wine in new bottles

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from our leading politicians that does not compromise the nation further. So, this has fully opened up the political landscape but it is not going to be a free ride for either party from here on.

They all know there is much at stake(our commonwealth) and neither of the parties will give ground without a fight .

thermore, their media practitioners could be trusted to have written two articles – one praising and the other denouncing INEC, depending on the outcome – before the results are released.

Thereafter, every columnist, writing for the paper, tailors his submissions to fit the party line. None dares hold a different opinion.

Where is the honour? Is it humanly possible for twenty well-educated and erudite people to hold the same position on every issue (National Conference, Justice Salami etc) on which they are called upon to write comments? y family was bless M ed with Nigeria’s oldest set of female surviv-

ing triplets, until one died three months ago at 55.

Even the three never agreed on everything. The worst part of it; the minute some of these fellows cross to another media house their tunes change. Where is the honour?

If religious leaders and members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm are so openly partisan, what else can we expect of the political class who are generally shameless?

APC’s position was predictable and, to be candid, it is becoming boring. The only election lost by the ACN, a major partner in APC, and which was not denounced by its media mouth organs, was the 2011 Presidential election. Nobody asked how PDP, which had lost all the other elections in the Southwest, suddenly won the Presidential elections by a landslide – because they all knew the truth and it did their reputation no good. In fact, they helped to elect the Jonathan who they now loudly insult every single day. If GEJ is a disaster, as they claim, and we wish to thank him for his patience, humility and spirit of accommodation". Apparently, the peace meeting between the President and aggrieved members is scheduled to take place on the 1st of December. We will see what happens then. As the former British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson famously said, "a week is a long time in politics".

My father's response to: Be a criticDenrele, two issues have been very sensitive - religion and ethnicity. People are blind and cannot reason in this country. We cannot because of that not do our duties to God and our country. Please, give as much as you get. They did not spare me and I do not see them treating you with kid gloves. And you are not a kid, in May, you will be 50. You own this country as well, God bless you, the daughter of Kola Animasaun. I would not because of them come out, even momentarily, of retirement.

National HIV Testing Week "The First wealth is health."

--- Ralph Waldo Emerson This week in the UK, 22nd to 29th of November marks the National HIV Testing Week. HIV can stop your body from working properly, making it more difficult for you to fight off infection so you become ill more often.

they helped to create that calamity. They should tell us what was the inducement for asking their supporters to switch their votes to Jonathan in 2011. It was not for nothing.

If, however, there is a pathetic political organization in Nigeria, indeed, the entire world today, it is the PDP. It prides itself as the biggest political party in Africa. It is quite possible that, one day, the rest of Africa might not want to be associated with Nigeria – on account of PDP alone.

The election was declared inconclusive by INEC itself and the electoral body was getting ready to conduct an inquiry into what went wrong. Yet, the Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr Methu, whose entire family could not vote, had already declared it “credible”. Meanwhile, the PDP candidate and the Labour candidate, who until the last minute was in PDP, had rejected the results announced and asked for the elections to be repeated; meaning, our rights to free movement will be violated again for another sham election. ho on earth is the W leader of this rabble called PDP? Where else on

earth had this experience been replicated? The largest black nation on earth is also the greatest disgrace to black people worldwide.

Now Jonathan, who had, so far, failed to solve the problem of ASUU strike, unemployment, security, power supply, food security and terrorism, as well as 2014 Budget, must now find time to sort out the mess in Anambra State. If crude oil has become a curse, what is PDP? V i s i t www.delesobowale.com

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So there is a huge promotion and awareness drive for adults of all persuasion to take HIV test in particular, amongst African men. The campaign is called "IT STARTS WITH ME" raises awareness and helps emphases the personal role that each and every African can play in stopping the spread of HIV in its tracks and drawing the whole community together in that effort.

The more people that test for HIV, the fewer people will be infected.

The statistics speaks for itself; one in five people with HIV are UNDIAGNOSED, with the number of cases in gay men reaching an alltime high. That 21,900 people out of 98,400 with HIV in the UK do not know they have it. The overall number of new cases was up 1% on the previous year.

Gay men remain the group most affected by HIV, followed by black African men and women. HIV is a major public health concern in Africa, and in the UK more than 100,000 people live with HIV. Although HIV cannot yet be cured, it can be treated.

Do not dice with your life or that of others, stay protected and get tested. I have worked in the black community for so many years and I have often come across newly diagnosed cases and some have failed to tell their spouses and continue to live in denial while callously affecting others.

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013, PAGE 11

Corruption in Nigeria: Is it a perception?

A third point which naturally flows against this backdrop is that corruption in Nigeria may not be as real as it is perceived. This is because Transparency International -a global organisation that often projects Nigeria as one of the most corrupt countries in the world is fond of speaking from two sides of the mouth by stating that it arrived at its damaging conclusion on the basis of

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HERE appears to be some measure of unanimity among analysts both within and outside Nigeria that the nation is a highly corrupt society. The country’s successive governments since the return of democracy in 1999 do not quite agree.

This can be deduced from certain viewpoints that are usually officially canvassed on behalf of the nation. The first is that there is corruption everywhere, making it obvious that it is not peculiar to Nigeria. Some say, if the British knew nothing about corruption, the term would not have evolved as an English word.

The second point is the argument that corruption in Nigeria is over exaggerated by some unpatriotic citizens; prominent among them are Nigerian journalists - a group to which this writer belongs. It is said that instead of embracing developmental journalism, they are always washing their nation’s “not too clean linen” in the public. Journalists of other countries, it is argued, are not that reckless with the image of their own countries.

casional warnings by the Bank on the subject. Only 2 weeks ago, the apex bank disclosed that high level corruption among other challenges accounts for the bane of the nation’s development. The bank spoke through its Deputy Governor (Operation), Mr. Tunde Lemo at the Egba Economic Summit in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

In earnest, the CBN has always been blunt in its

It is difficult to count the CBN among those who think that corruption in Nigeria is a mere perception; otherwise how do we explain the pains of the Bank in dealing with the increase of dud cheques recorded in the nation’s banks? perception.

Well, if corruption in Nigeria is not in essence a reality but a mere perception, it seems germane to identify whose perception it is.

The Central Bank of Nigeria is certainly not one of its sources considering the oc-

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warnings; apportioning blames when necessary. At the Monetary Policy Committee of last August, for instance , the Bank’s Deputy Governor (Corporate Services), Alhaji Suleiman Barau revealed that corruption in the public sector was

PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos,

08116759758

How lecturers underdeveloped the universities (3) times misappropriate available funds. Meanwhile ASUU leaders and activists insist that government must provide everything universities need to function, even relatively inexpensive items these institutions, through imaginative financial management, can comfortably provide for themselves. In this connection, any university that does not have good classrooms, decent toilets for both staff and students, markers and dusters for lecturers, fairly good library and basic equipment like Bunsen burners for laboratory work ought not to have been licensed to operate by the NUC in the first instance. Approving halfbaked universities just because of the explosion in the number of candidates seeking university admission is a waste of time, money and human resources.

Yet, NUC continues to approve such universities, with the active connivance of senior academics and Professors for whom "anything goes" as long as their financial demands are met. Now, instead of Vice Chancellors wasting money on things of tangential value, such as creating new directorates, lavish convocation ceremonies and purchase of vehicles among others, they should use such funds to provide affordable items for teaching and learning.

It is pertinent to observe that, in virtually all universities transparent accountability with respect to funds for capital projects and money derived from internally generated revenue is lacking. For a change, ASUU should be demanding from university authorities across the country proper accountability with re-

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OWEVER, and this is the crux of the matter, those responsible for running the universities on daily basis have, through financial rascality, misused available financial resources. Wastages and corruption in the system are legion. They include explosive increase in the purchase of official cars, frequent unnecessary trips by top management of universities many of whom are senior academics, huge allowances and gifts for members of university councils, lavish convocation ceremonies, overpriced contracts awarded to relatives, friends and cronies of VIPs in various campuses most of which are poorly executed, and so on.

I am sure that many senior academics at different levels of authority will have serious cases to answer if the federal and state governments undertake thorough independent audit of the entire financial transactions of universities. Hence, although our political leaders deserve opprobrium for neglecting the universities and wasting available resources on self-aggrandisement, sometimes criticism of government for not providing basic facilities in our institutions of higher learning is misplaced because highly placed lecturers in positions of authority often-

being fuelled by Governments’ deposits and borrowing which undermine competitiveness of banks.

According to Barau, governments were over-borrowing and wasteful in the management of public resources.

Earlier, the Governor of the Bank, Sanusi Lamido had himself fingered corruption as a major problem facing the economy which can deny the nation long term investment. This probably explains why the CBN has this year aggressively moved to checkmate corruption. One of the steps was the withdrawal of licenses of several forex dealers. The Bank’s Trade and Exchange Department, said the licenses of 238 Bureau de Change (BDC) operators in the country were withdrawn to forestall the herculean activities of money launderers in the country. The CBN was obviously not dealing with a perception considering its finding that in 2012 alone, billions of dollars were ferried across the ports of the country to locations like Dubai, France, Egypt, and Austria etc. By checkmating the operators, the CBN sought to stop political and private sector partnership greed in the country.

From what has been said so far, it is difficult to count the CBN among those who think that corruption in Nigeria is a mere perception; otherwise how do we explain the pains of the Bank in dealing with the inacademics in the relevant departments as consultants, are ghettoes compared to the world class structures built before that time at the University of Lagos, such as UNILAG library, faculty of engineering building, the Senate Building the Council Chambers, Main Auditorium, etc.

Another problem is the ethnicisation of key positions in the universities, and I will use appointment of Vice Chancellors to illustrate the point. Ideally, by its mandate, a university is supposed to be universalistic in orientation since its mission consists in the pursuit of knowledge of The True, The Good and The Beautiful. This implies that merit, excellence, and proven record of performance must be the decisive factors

I just cannot understand why ASUU has never worked to ensure that a good system for students' evaluation of lecturers' performance is instituted in universities as one of the factors that determine the career movement of lecturers

spect to the subventions from government for capital expenditure, instead of blaming government all the time for petty items like Bunsen burners, toilets, fans etc. It is well known that the new buildings and facilities in various campuses are below the standard established in the years from 1962 to around 1990, which is a reflection of unimaginative planning and lack of Platonic aesthetic sensibility amongst university authorities.

This is corroborated by the fact that buildings constructed in Nigerian universities from around the 1990s, supervised by senior

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in the selection of candidates for the elevated position of VC. Nevertheless, for a sizeable percentage of lecturers the most important factor is the ethnic origin of a potential VC; the question of merit and competence is secondary.

On several occasions, lecturers from a particular ethnic group where a university is located insist that a "son of the soil" must be the VC or else they will make things extremely difficult for any non-indigene who has the audacity to take up the post. It is a measure of increasing indulgent narrow-minded provincialism in the academia that virtu-

crease of dud cheques recorded in the nation’s banks? According to the CBN, over 167,507 dud cheques, with a total value of N166 billion were processed by Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) between January and December 2012. In liaison with financial institutions and law enforcement agencies therefore, the CBN decided to stem the tide of dud cheque issuance which was adversely affecting the stability of the financial system. Accordingly, the Apex bank decided to henceforth forward the account details of errant customers to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution.

How does the EFCC itself see corruption in the nation? The answer appears to lie in the way the commission shouted itself hoarse the other day over its finding that about $129bn has been fraudulently transferred out of Nigeria in the last 10 years through various sources such as corruption, tax avoidance and evasions, illegal mining activities, drugs and human trafficking. The EFCC says it has tackled the subject head-on by collaborating with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to address illicit financial flows out of the country from which it recovered about $13 million.

The Chairman of the Commission Ibrahim Lamorde, made these disclosures at a strategic regional work-

shop in Abuja.

Well, no matter the popularity of the claim that corruption is a mere perception, it is no doubt a worrying one that semantics cannot dismiss. Only last week, the media reported the anxiety of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over the level of corruption within the justice sector in the country. According to the report, NBA President Chief Okey Wali (SAN) was said to have urged the EFCC, to make public the names of all the sitting Judges currently under investigation, saying it will be in the interest of the nation to ‘name and shame’ such judicial officers.

The point that has obviously been made is that virtually everyone is worried about what a few people often classify as a mere perception. In fact, an analyst may not be too far from correct if he describes a political office in Nigeria as a temptation considering the list of indicted former political office holders in the country. As it is now, it seems as if the difference between those indicted and those yet to be so treated may not be more than luck.

More importantly, if as we hear, a third of our oil is stolen, it is foolhardy to say that corruption in Nigeria is a perception because such a posture would certainly hinder the nation from frontally attacking it as well as making it hard for her to differentiate its real cause from the symptom.

ally all VCs in our universities hail from the culture area where the institutions are located.

Once upon a time, when Nigerian universities were truly Ivory Towers, the Vice Chancellors of the Universities of Ibadan, Lagos, and Nigeria, Nsukka, hailed from the same ethnic group, and from my research, they performed well. Why must the VC of UNN be an Igbo?

Must the VC of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, be a Yoruba? I am not aware of any principled stance of ASUU against the ethnicisation of Vice Chancellorship in our universities, which is unfortunate because that position is critical in the proper day-to-day management of universities, and ethnicity is neither a necessary nor sufficient criterion for selecting the most qualified candidate for the job.

Anyway, Nigerian academics in general have retreated into the cocoon of ethnic parochialism, because it provides many of them a strong platform for negotiating and competing effectively in the system to make up for deficiencies in cognitive and emotional intelligence as well as in character. Even in the recruitment and promotion of lecturers, several heads of departments, deans of faculties, provosts of colleges and VCs have consistently sacrificed merit on the altar of ethnicity. Students even allege that some lecturers give preferential treatment to students from their ethnic group while grading examination scripts, tests and take home assignments. To summarise: the proclivity of an increasing number of lecturers to put ethnic considerations before merit and capacity to perform is a dangerous trend that has im-

pacted negatively on our universities; colleagues should begin to think seriously about how to discourage the practice. Lecturers are mainly responsible for the skewed procedure and requirements for promotion of academics, which allows square pegs to be in round holes in our universities.

Now, the criteria for advancement from one cadre to another are set by academics with the approval of university councils. I maintain that the system is inadequate because it places too much emphasis on journal publications, especially foreign ones, and neglects quality of teaching. Many truant lecturers with poor teaching skills have successfully exploited the weaknesses in the system and became Professors either by cloning and plagiarising works written by others (including graduate students), publishing in non-existent or very obscure journals or by recycling the same set of ideas in different publication outlets.

Indeed, some desperate colleagues connive with unscrupulous individuals outside Nigeria to float phantom journals just for attaining the professorial rank after which the so-called journal will sink into oblivion. Of course, some lecturers neglect teaching, and concentrate on publishing half-baked and badly argued ideas in order to be "high flyers" in the system. I just cannot understand why ASUU has never worked to ensure that a good system for students' evaluation of lecturers' performance is instituted in universities as one of the factors that determine the career movement of lecturers.

TO BE CONTINUED

PAGE 12—SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013

metic seal.

There was an aura of deep and effulgent corruption emanating from that area of Nigerian life. In 1979, the Shagari government was forced by the public interest activism of the late Professor Ayodele Awojobi and Afrobeat musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti to open up investigations into the alleged missing N2.8 billion by empanelling the Ayo Irikefe Commission of Inquiry.

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OVERNOR Chibuike Rotimi Amechi has opened an impor tant debate about Nigeria’s oil industry, and it is an important question. How much oil does Nigeria sell daily? How much of this actually reflects in Nigeria’s revenue accounts?

This has been a mystery. Indeed Nigeria’s oil revenue account is one of the most secret of mysteries, made even more so by a most secretive administration whose executive authority is so wide-ranging that it can afford to play God on this matter.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation is run like a secret cult. It does not account to the public although the Act of parliament establishing it requires that it makes public Nigeria’s oil account regularly. But for as long as Nigerians can remember, the NNPC has not published a verifiable true account of revenue earnings accruing to the government of Nigeria from oil and sundry sales.

The Ministry has been run like a personal fiefdom, and has generally made the issue of the records of oil sales a need-to-know, available perhaps only to the President. But oil is Nigeria’s public resource. Its management is at the heart of Nigeria’s economic life. It is from the sale of oil mostly that Nigeria’s public expenditure depends. It is a strategic aspect of Nigeria’s national political and economic life, and its management has to be accountable and transparent. But this is not so. In the eight years of Olusegun Obasanjo’s presidency, after the transition from military tyranny, the federal government did not account to Nigerians about the quantity of oil sold nor about the true accruing revenue from oil. In those eight years, Nigeria’s oil sales and production was placed under a her-

The minister for Finance, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has of course refuted any loss of money from the excess crude account, but she quite frankly sounds unconvincing, and so again we need to ask: is money missing from the excess crude account, minister

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There was also the senate committee that investigated the loss of the money from Midland’s Bank, and in the end, it came to nought. The alleged missing N2.8 billion happened under the watch of Muhammadu Buhari as Minister for oil and Olusegun Obasanjo as Head of the Military government. Nothing came of those inquiries. The Irikefe Tribunal re-

The age of power

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OME people think strength is pow er under control, others say power is the ability to control and effect change. I believe power is the ability and even privilege to determine a course of action and then influence the result. The sad truth is that most people feel themselves to be at the mercy of fate, of reality.

They feel powerless and emotionally, financially and spiritually impotent. It takes many years to actually become emancipated from this very depressing mindset and step into a realisation that power has been there for the taking and the using all along. I am not preaching a motivational message to give people a feel good burst of adrenaline; I am stating a fact that is becoming truer for me the older I get. Is power spiritual or political manipulation, gross abuse of authority, position and wealth or is it just a simple acceptance of responsibility, possibility and eventuality? I believe the latter to be very true.

It is possible that some people acquire what I believe to be power very early in life and I have met some very fearless and very young individuals. Please note that I use the word, fearless to describe powerful people and it is deliberate. Powerful people are very fearless and it doesn't come from a place of false bravado or stupidity; it

comes from a place of acceptance. They are normal people who refuse to let fear limit them, so they move and sometimes achieve what the rest of us think is impossible. I will admit to being hitherto fear driven and I actually considered the rigid controls I put in place to protect my emotions, my physical and financial well being power. Living in any sort of cage is weakness and it doesn't matter whether your cage is a one bedroom apartment in Mushin or the state house in Abuja. Living large and and living for show at other people's expense is anything but powerful. Living accountably and equitably is powerful; it's simple, it's fearless. Taking responsibility for actions taken under our sphere of influence is powerful and only the foolish defer responsibility.

Growing old is not a right and youth is often terminal. I look at the young people now with a mixture of compassion, admiration and pity. Compassion because I once walked in their shoes and know their struggles. Admiration because opportunities and inventions that we didn't dare dream are common place and available to help them. Pity because youths are never able to accept responsibility or foresee consequences of impulses. The young mistake exuberance for strength, they confuse re-

revenue sharing formula. There are two problems here: the separate oil account from excess crude sold is under the signatures of the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Petroleum. Nigerians live by faith, and whatever we are told by the Ministers of Finance and the Petroleum is gospel, no questions asked.

Nigerians do not know exactly how much oil Nigeria sells.

The president has told Nigerians that various problems including crude theft and the current slide in the global oil market has resulted in a significant production shortfall. But skeptics are asking: how much in real barrels does Nigeria produce daily? Nobody knows this. It is shrouded in mystery and it leads to major disenchantments. Nigerians suspect that much more Nigerian oil is in the market than is currently accounted for. The second point raised

by Chibuike Amechi in Sokoto at the NGF retreat is the possibility that the Jonathan government may have authorized, without regard for the governors and Nigerian people, the unaccounted use or withdrawal of $5billion from Nigeria’s excess crude account.

Amechi claims that as at January, the excess crude account stood at $9billion, but currently stands at $4billion.

“We don’t know who took the $5billion.” Amechi should know because as governor of Rivers state and chairman of the NGF, even if now its factional group, he has access to the financial intelligence that ought to matter to the state. His allegation cannot be easily dismissed as baseless. The minister for Finance, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has of course refuted any loss of money from the excess crude account, but she quite frankly sounds unconvincing, and so again we need to ask: is money missing from the excess crude account, minister? Nigerians should ask this question about this money until we get a full picture.

The National Assembly as the chief purser of the nation must initiate an inquiry into this affair and into the general question of the management of Nigeria’s major nest egg and the health of the goose that lays those golden eggs. It is time we had greater oversight over the petroleum ministry and over the running of Nigeria’s financial affairs.

bellion with power and for some of them its often at death's door that they realise their mistake. We've all been there, living on the edge, taking silly risks, like there is no tomorrow, feeling like we know better than our elders, dismissing their caution as timidity, we all once thought we were untouchable. Power is actually realising our limitations and taking responsibility, time will always tell that no one is untouchable; thats a truth the powerful know well.

petitions and gave thanks to God that youth did not consume me. My next statement started a solemn discussion. "Youth is a disease".. I should mention that one of my passengers used to race power bikes in his younger years and he had friends who had died way back then. My older self considers it madness to run a red light or tailgate another car but these were the stunts my younger self considered fun. For me the age of rebellion was also the age of impotence and that covers most of my youth if not all of it. Rebellion and exuberance is not power; its a lack of it; its just attention seeking and an exhibition of insecurity and possibly foolishness, that is a disease.

Driving in different parts of the world can be hazardous, different rules apply in dif-

,

The oil revenue mystery

ports absolved the parties, but it left a lingering level of distrust in the minds of Nigerians about the management of Nigeria’s oil resources. The lingering suspicion was given further oomph with the alleged misuse or misapplication of the oil “windfall” from the Gulf war in 1990 by the Babangida military administration for which Abacha set up the Okigbo panel.

The Okigbo reports clearly indicted the administration for the mismanagement of the revenue which in the words of the report was applied to mostly “non-regenerative investments.” Various commentators on the Okigbo report of 1993 have continually missed the point of the report: its core grouse, or the basis of its indictment of the Babangida administration was in the misapplication or misadministration of the windfall, rather than in any express accusation of its loss. It was from that “windfall” for instance that the Babangida government bought the famous Mercedes Benz cars for the Supreme Court judges that became quite the subject of media scandal. In any case, I dwell on these past questions because the management of Nigeria’s revenue particularly from oil on the federation account has been a serious point of contention in Nigeria. It is the monkey on the shoulders of Nigeria’s federalism.

How much control the President has over the Federation account; how accountable the presidency is to the federating governments on the question of the national revenue account has often been the subject of serious contention within the context of Nigerian federalism. The problem is in the pool account – the so-called federation account and the various accounts that service it. Every financial year, the federal government sets the budget benchmark for oil sales.

Typically, they calculate the price for oil at a lower rate than is obtained in the market. While the federal government plans based on a specific revenue benchmark, the excess that comes from the sales is paid into an agreed account called the “Excess Crude Account.” This account is serviced as part of the federation account belonging to the government of Nigeria – that is the federal, state and local governments, and to be disbursed according to the

Living accountably and equitably is powerful; it's simple, it's fearless.

Taking responsibility for actions taken under our sphere of influence is powerful and only the foolish defer responsibility

,

ferent countries, it takes all the concentration one can muster to drive on the right side of the road half the time. A couple of days ago I was driving outside the country and I was being teased by my passengers who thought I was too cautious. I laughed and my mind went back to the daredevil driver I used to be!! I silently remembered the high speeds, 360 turns, screeching com-

I am well into middle age and I can confidently say this is the age of power! Is that to say that age bequeaths power as a rite of passage? No, not at all. The age of power begins at different stages for different people but power begins with acceptability and responsibility and that has nothing to do with age. I know some people over 50 who are more irresponsible than toddlers; their age has not brought growth and they never will taste power. Power is a by product of growth; you suddenly realise you have it when you stop struggling to get it.

Power is accepting failure and re strategising to start again, power is courage under fire, power is considering others and being accountable for my part in eventualities.

Driving on a cold dark winter night; I felt the weight of responsibility but I knew God was in control. I had been entrusted with the safety of my passengers and my sister's car and I was going to do my very best.

Power is accepting that I can only do the best possible within my sphere of influence; the rest is in God's hands. The age of power begins when one truly appreciates the greatness of the insignificant and the magnitude of the tiny! In the bigger picture, anything and everything is vital and all matter. Is anyone ever truly powerful? No, not at all, that acceptance is the power.

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013, PAGE 13

Prologue

How Jonathan handed aggrieved govs the excuse they needed

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

I

T was an opportunity and they grabbed it with both hands.

The aggrieved governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, (G-7) wanted a reason to dump their party and they were handed one by no other person than President Goodluck Jonathan himself.

And although some of the seven governors explained that they all knew that Jonathan was not prepared to meet with them and resolve the issues that gave rise to the crisis, given his body language and the sustained acts of impunity arising from the party leadership, they waited for the appropriate time.

LETTER-IN-CHIEF FROM COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF In fact, one of the governors confided in Sunday Vanguard that the impression they got from the President’s body language suggested a “great deal that we were being taken for a ride”.

The meeting that was supposed to have been held on October 7, 2013 but which was postponed because some members of the G-7 had gone for the Hajj, appeared to have been permanently kept in abeyance.

Sunday Vanguard was made to understand that whereas the Hajj had been concluded and another meeting expected to be scheduled and held, nothing of the sort was in the horizon.

“It got to a point that we all decided to write a reminder to Mr. President”, one of the governors disclosed.

The content of the letter was simply to “ remind Mr. President of the importance of time and the fact that he needed to meet with us”.

Rather than a quick response to their letter, the governors did not get any from the Villa.

*The President’s letter that infuriated G-7 *Defection, best decision of my life - Kwankwaso From the tone and contents of the letter from the Villa, it became clear to all of us that the President was not interested in resolving the contentious issues and we decided to leave the party for them and go over to the APC Corroborating this, another governor revealed to Sunday Vanguard that what they got was a belated response, the content of which was “not only uncomplimentary, it showed clearly that some people were deceiving President Jonathan about their sense of self importance”.

The response jolted the governors.

“We were surprised to see a belated letter from the Presidency which should have read something like ‘based on earlier talks’ or ‘based on earlier exploratory talks with a view to achieving peace for our great party’, what we got was a letter telling us that ‘in response to our request for a peace meeting, the President has decided to meet with us.

“The impression the tone of the letter conveyed was that we were the ones seeking to make peace with President

Jonathan.

“Meanwhile, we staged an open walkout on him at Eagle Square during that sham described as a national convention; they leaders of the party called a meeting and we decided to honour our leaders and elders by attending the meeting; a committee was set up and we also accorded the committee some level of due regard and respect, only to be slapped with such a letter that can best be described as impudent.

“From the tone and contents of the letter from the Villa, it became clear to all of us that the President was not interested in resolving the contentious issues and we decided to leave the party for them and go over to the APC”.

Even the last opportunity to avert the defection was bungled last Sunday.

Although the seven governors had waited for him to meet with them in Abuja, as scheduled, the President surreptitiously called off the peace parley, claiming that he was tired after returning from the meeting of the Honorary International Investors Council, HIIC, in London. Jonathan shot himself on the foot by calling off the meeting when all the governors had already settled down in Asokoro waiting for his arrival for the final push to salvage the party from the brink.

“The President wanted to give the whole world the erroneous impression that it was the seven of us, who actually sought for peace, forgetting that he had intervened before and asked us to sheath our sword and we respected him and still waited,” the governor explained.

“As far as we are concerned, we are gone to the APC for good and there is

no turning back. Any of the governors, who wants to still remain in PDP can do so; but for me, it is over and forever,” the governor said.

THE DRAMA OF DEFECTION Meanwhile, Aminu Kano House, an imposing edifice on Jose Marty Crescent, in the high brow Asokoro District of Abuja, is not a thoroughfare.

Vehicles don’t stop and pick passengers around the building, which is the official residence of the governor of Kano State. Neighbours of Aminu Kano House including Lagos House and Ondo House - are aware of the unwritten rule prohibiting loitering around the area. But that Tuesday morning, the golden rule was consciously waved for political expediency. As early as 8am, scores of vehicles had started piling up opposite the house. As the vehicles screeched to a halt, the occupants moved towards the governor ’s residence. Before long, convoys bearing political bigwigs from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressive Congress, APC, also breezed in and went straight into the waiting arms of their host, Dr. Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso, the Kano State Governor.

Kwankwaso, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Murtala Nyako, a retired admiral and governor of Adamawa, GovernorAhmed Abdulfatah of Kwara, Babangida Aliyu of Niger State and chieftains of the rampaging APC had gathered there for one main reason: to make a clear statement that they there were fed up with the political crisis in the ruling Continues on page 14 C M Y K

PAGE 14 — SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013

Tinubu Continued from page 13 party and were ready to move over to the opposition APC. And, already waiting eagerly to receive the decampees into their fold, were APC bigwigs, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, Ogbonanya Onu and scores of other chieftains. On the side of the leadership of the faction of the PDP popularly known as nPDP, were the chairman, Alhaji Kawu Abubakar Baraje, Dr. Sam Jaja, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Senators Bukola Saraki, Adamu Abdullahi and former Bayelsa governor, Chief Timipre Sylva.

Inside the expansive building, the defecting governors met for about three hours with their new-found party and concrete decisions taken before they emerged to address anxious reporters on the lobby of Aminu Kano House. ”We are merging,” Baraje, said; and added that “all these are implications of merging! What we are telling you is that we have merged and we have agreed to merge”.

But as they sauntered out with broad smiles on their faces, it was clear also that some dramatic developments that could jostle the merger arrangement had just taken place to the discomfort of the parties. Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, and his Kwara counterpart, who were at the parley, had sneaked out even before the final decision to merge was taken. While Abdulfatah, a scion of Bukola Saraki, took permission from his boss to travel, Aliyu, on the other hand, stormed out of the venue when the decision to merge with APC was being taken. He, like his Jigawa counterpart, Sule Lamido, does not appear to favour a hurried defection to the opposition earlier than January next year. For that disagreement on transition timeline, Lamido did not even come to the venue of the meeting. Sokoto governor, Aliyu Wamakko, a staunch believer in the early defection to APC, was out in Senegal, attending an international development programme but had sent words to his peers to count on his support.

Not many can fault the two governors for their deft decision given the peculiar socio-political atmosphere in the two states. Both are walking on a tight rope, which requires tact and patience and political engineering to sort out. Even before now, Lamido’s traducers had used tar brush to paint him black, apparently to scuttle his alleged presidential ambition and weaken him and his supporters. The C M Y K

Atiku

Buhari Federal Government-controlled Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been unleashing its hound dogs on the Lamido family, bringing up accusations of huge money laundering against his two sons. In fact, the children were in detention as at the time the governors were to move over to the APC. It was therefore impudent for Lamido to have closed his eyes, take a plunge into the opposition when his beloved children were languishing in the EFCC gulag. His decision actually paid off, as the children were left off the hook subsequently – at least for now.

Babangida, on the other hand, has been very discrete about his next political move because he is surrounded by political sharks, whose allegiance to the Presidency is rather very difficult to decipher. Not many can say what if former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida and his successor, Abdulsalam Abubakar, are angry or happy with President Goodluck Jonathan or if they would ever support a party with Gen. Muhammadu Buhari playing an active role.

As a man, who defers seriously to the

a common position on when to move to the APC, clearly demonstrates the intense war that has been raging between those wholly committed to the new marriage and those opposed to the deal.

The inability of the two men to also make up their mind at once over the matter, has now given the PDP a ray of hope that it had not lost all members of the G-7 to the opposition.

That glimpse may be responsible for the party’s somewhat initial arrogance and refusal to admit the painful loss of its stalwarts and field commanders to its main rival at a time it should be consolidating for the big showdown in 2015.

Sounding surefooted as ever, the Presidency and the PDP leadership dismissed the defection by the five governors as a non-issue that did not pose any serious challenge to its electoral fortunes.

Political Adviser to the President, Ahmed Gulak, was quick to call the bluff even without weighing the full import of his boast. “The Presidency does not feel threatened. PDP is the party to beat. We have heard it before; even people who occupied higher offices left the party and still came

The inability of the two men to also make up their mind at once over the matter, has now given the PDP a ray of hope that it had not lost all members of the G-7 to the opposition two former heads of state, known to be actively involved in Niger state and Nigerian politics, it would be foolhardy for Aliyu to cross over blindly to the opposition without getting the clearance of the political decisionmakers in his domain.

In fact, the fear is that leaving PDP at all not even now or in the future, would effectively deny him the slim political edge and structures that he enjoys as a governor and could therefore quicken his plunge into his political wilderness. Both former heads of state are said to have their preferred candidates for the governorship of the state and it is not likely that the governor can adequately and effectively confront them from the fringes of opposition in Niger State.

For sure, the difficulty in arriving at

back to its fold.

“It is good that the five governors have shown the world that they have taken a stand to leave so that PDP will not be distracted,” the adviser noted.

But just as the statement was sinking, the PDP National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, who is at the centre of the raging storm, came out openly to admit that the defection of the five governors was shocking and an anger taken too far. He hit the nail on the head, arguing that the governors should still pursue the option of dialogue and reconciliation.

Tukur ’s mild tone differs sharply with the acidic tongue of his National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, who dismissed the governors’ action as inconsequential.

Metuh said, “We wish to state

Saraki categorically that the PDP remains unperturbed as we are now rid of detractors and distractions.

“We urge all our members nationwide to remain focused and close ranks, now that agents of distraction have finally left our ranks,” the PDP spokesman pleaded.

Despite its hard lined posturing, it is clear that the party has been hit below the belt and its top echelon left tongue-tied. President Goodluck Jonathan, whose hard line hawks unwittingly frustrated an early resolution of the intra-party feud that finally decimated the once cohesive party, is yet to find enough courage to openly speak on the matter.

BEST DECISION OF MY LIFE KWANKWASO Kano State Governor, Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso, told Vanguard in an interview that defecting to the APC was one of the best decisions he had ever taken and that he would stand by it.

Kwankwaso said that he came to the conclusion to move over to the opposition party after the PDP, which he co-founded in 1998, deliberately and consistently undermined him and his administration in all matters relating to him and his office.

The governor said, “Let me say this and very clearly; the decision we made to move over to the APC is one of the best ever taken by me and we have no regret whatsoever. I stand by it and I will always abide by it.”

It is to be noted that the crack in the ranks of the PDP poses a real threat to its winning streak and may as well reshape its future. As things stand, any further slide in its ranks, may effectively push it to the precipice and render it impotent in the nation’s political arena. With the latest development, PDP which initially had a sweeping majority of 27 governors and almost 90 senators is now facing serious threat from the new APC. The PDP now has 18 governors with the APC following with 16. There are reports that no fewer than five more PDP governors may be on their way to pitting tent with the APC and that would put a final nail on the PDP coffin.

All hope is not however lost if the party wakes up from its slumber and makes amend where it hurt some persons. But as it is today, the PDP appears as a man who has put his hand into a burning furnace and cannot hope to get out without some burns. How soon it withdraws from the searing heat will also determine its health now and in the months ahead.

But is it ready?

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013 — PAGE 15

C M Y K

PAGE 16 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 1, 2013

TROUBLE IN OSHODI

Baba Ijebu battles Fashola buses

BY OLASUNKANMI AROWOLO

E

Lotto marketers, popularly known as Baba Ijebu agents in BRT bus shelter at Oshodi (Inset: BRT buses) the bus stop, no one came to send them packing, even when they started using the place as garage, government did nothing about it. So, knowing that the bus drivers and conductors are our major customers, it is a good place to put up the Baba Ijebu business. To start the business, all that is needed is to register, get your machine and a place to start-up.

So we’ve been here for long, and the business is going well.”

Tussle

L

di-Abeokuta express way.

Commenting on the issue, a security officer, and a regular commuter of the road, who identified himself as Baba Yel-

,,

FFORTS by Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State to sustain the new look of the once chaotic Oshodi are being hampered as a section of the area dedicated as the terminus for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) has been virtually taken-over

by Danfo, the yellow commercial buses.

This is even as the designated bus shed where passengers queue to board the BRT buses has been turned into lotto centres, forcing the BRT drivers and commuters to the expressway.

When Sunday Vanguard visited the area, it was business as usual for lotto marketers, popularly known as Baba Ijebu agents, and their customers. While some customers thronged the BRT bus-stop in search of winning numbers for the morning game, known as Monday Special, some, who played and lost the previous night’s game, Sunday Special, were observed putting up a disappointing face, hoping for Baba (owner of Premier Lotto) to pay subsequently.

Also, Baba Ijebu agents were observed bragging before their customers that there were Bankers (sure and winning numbers) for the day, convincing them not to miss out in the opportunity to becoming thousandnaires and millionaires when results were announced from the Premier Lotto, Ojuelegba head office later in the day.

Meanwhile, concerned residents and passers-by expressed the fear that if the state government did not act, Oshodi may return to the old order which saw frightening traffic jams following the threat posed by the takeover of the BRT terminals by the illegal occupants.

Speaking with one of the Baba Ijebu agents, who simply referred to himself simply as Wasiu, he described their occupation of the BRT terminal as an opportunity given them by the state authorities, as nobody had come to evict them from the place.

He said: “We made good use of the opportunity given us to carry out our businesses within the BRT terminus. When Danfo buses started parking at

amenting their plight, as they have been forced evicted to the expressway to pick and drop passengers, a BRT bus official, who craved anonymity, said: “When the Danfo drivers started struggling tactically to take over the bus shelter, it was easy for them because the BRT bus drivers couldn’t find their way to park and pick waiting passengers.

As the relevant authorities couldn’t do anything to stop the illegal occupation, the BRT bus drivers, who must continue their business, had to move to the expressway to pick up passengers.”

This outright disregard for law and order, Sunday Vanguard gathered, largely contributes to the traffic motorists sometimes suffer on the Osho-

ment needs a platform to monitor and make sure that nothing goes wrong.

“In time past, the state government has tried but, when

This is even as the designated bus shed where passengers queue to board the BRT buses has been turned into lotto centres, forcing the BRT drivers and commuters to the expressway

low, said: “It is so disappointing that Oshodi is fast turning into business centres where no one see nothing wrong in committing unlawful acts.”

Olusegun, another road user, said: “Lagos State government isn’t doing enough. If government is serious on what they call the ‘Mega-City Project’, after investing much in same, there is need to assign forces to monitor, so as to ensure things are going right.

The BRT transport scheme is a very good initiative but the development in Oshodi BRT bus stop is a bad one. Looking at continuity after doing a good work, the state govern-

you look at how activities in Oshodi unfold presently, you will notice that the yellow buses have returned to their routine-parking illegally on the highway, using the BRT terminus as motor park.”

Making meet

C

ends

ommenting on the BRT shed which has turned into Baba Ijebu lotto centre, Olusegun said: “They are just doing their business. They are fellow Lagosians. They want to make end means. In economics, it is where yo have larger demands that business

would grow fast. When you look at Oshodi, people that surround the environment are people you would catch when it comes to a business like Baba Ijebu. The yellow bus drivers, conductors, and others like Agberos amid social miscreants are their regular customers and they are there all around Oshodi.”

Another commutter on the Oshodi Abeokuta expressway, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Oshodi has now become chaotic. His words, “The Oshodi expressway, especially where we have the main bus stop, linking Bolade, has become chaotic.

“Police traffic officers, even LASTMA, are not working as effectively as they used to.

They have relaxed about everything the commercial bus drivers just do what ever they like.”

He revealed that “as a matter of fact, they have cut into a part of the road where they use to make (illegal) u-turn without going into the traffic light.” “Immediately the governor assumed office, Oshodi was cleared and they did very well, but it has gone back to what it used to be. In fact there’s a barbing salon by the road, everything has gone back to the former Oshodi, except that there is no market like it used to be.”

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013, PAGE

17

is the third biggest crime in Nigeria. It also increases prostitution and spread of infections. Some of the young girls, in an attempt to overcome the psychological t r a u m a associated with giving up or selling their babies, resort to t a k i n g dangerous drugs including psychoactive or psychotropic substances like marijuana and o t h e r depressants. This could have long term negative implications for our polity.

*CSP Frank Mba

PAR TNERS IN CRIME

How teenagers, desperate couples fuel baby factories — Police KINGSLEY Abuja

OMONOBI-

B

aby factories where teens are kept and made to bear children for a token and the babies sold have become the order of the day. As shocking, immoral and unreligious as it may seem, some Nigerians still indulge in the act. In this interview, Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba, speaks on what the police are doing to check the t r e n d .

There have, of late, been an increase in cases of baby factories as discovered by the police, especially in the South-east. What do you think is responsible for the development?

An exposition of the concept of baby factories tells us the cause of this ugly trade. Baby factories are locations where young ladies or girls, some teenagers or little above that, are harboured and deliberately encouraged or forced to become pregnant and subsequently give up their babies for sale. The fact that these ladies are from povertystricken background makes it possible for them to be easily enticed with the offer of monetary gains by the operators of these illegal baby farms. After paying some

token to these young mothers, the babies are sold to buyers for illegal adoptions.

Can you throw more light on the cause of this problem?

As earlier stated, one of the major factors that fuel the crime is the pecuniary benefit associated with it. This is further fueled by the patronage the operators enjoy from desperate couples who have, in their wrong belief, reduced marriage to mere baby making unions. You can imagine that, in some cases, the prices of these babies differ in sex and occasionally in complexion.

Baby boys are costlier because, in this part of the world, some wrongly believe that having baby boys gives the woman legitimacy and strong hold on her marriage. Other factors that fuel the crime are greed and ungodliness which are the common traits of those in this unwholesome practice. We can also add that illiteracy and ignorance on the part of the teenage victims who are either deceived or given false promises or even expressly forced into baby-making homes, play significant roles h e r e .

As a law enforcement agency, what strategies have the police put in place to control the ugly trend?

Our strategies are two pronged. First is through core law enforcement strategies and secondly through nontraditional law enforcement approach. Law enforcement strategies in this case include intelligence gathering, raiding of suspected baby factories as well as arresting and prosecuting the operators and their clients. In doing this, we adopt another a strategy which I can call ‘naming and shaming’. In this case, suspects are exposed to the public through the publication of their pictures and stories.

This sometimes serves as a disincentive to those still indulging in the unwholesome practice.

What about the second strategy which you said is non-traditional law enforcement approach?

The non-traditional approach is through public education and enlightenment, just as we are doing now through this interview and also through counseling of victims who are mostly underage girls. It must also be stated that we are constantly training and re-training our men on how to improve on their capacity to handle the crime of this nature. In addition, the IGP is also making efforts at strengthening our special branches, including Juvenile Welfare Centres (JWC) and Anti-Human Trafficking Unit that handle cases of child trafficking and such other

exploitation of women and c h i l d r e n .

Are there laws against baby farming?

Yes. Firstly, the exploitation of these girls for such purpose is against their fundamental human rights. Secondly, it offends the anti-human trafficking laws and other related statutes. Thirdly, it is against the Child Rights Act because some of these women

Is there a n y t h i n g government can do to stem the trend?

Government can contribute in several ways to control this, through the strengthening of our adoption laws and putting machineries in place to monitor compliance to standards in the approved motherless babies’ homes. This is necessary because some of these homes are filthy for human existence while some have veered off from being such homes to baby-breeding factories. On the other hand, government may take steps to subsidize fertility treatment such as assisted reproductive technology (ART), including in vitro fertilization (IVF) to help couples in need, address the problem of infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss. This will help reduce the quest for ready-made babies.

How do we prevent this recurring problem?

To prevent this crime, parents must totally embrace their responsibilities to their children.

This cannot be divorced from the proper education of the child.

Again, couples must also

The truth is that most of these girls run into these baby factories in an attempt to seek protection from parental or family chastisement and indeed the associated stigma arising from such ‘unwanted’ pregnancies are under-age who are incapable of taking their own decisions. It is also amounts to another form of slavery which was banned decades ago. Abduction of young girls and child theft are offences under our laws.

Can we say that this practice has negative image on our society?

Indeed there are negative implications of this crime. It gives us negative perceptions and soils our image in other climes.

Just recently, the EU published a report saying human trafficking

realize, through effective reorientations, that marriage goes beyond just being a babymaking union; they must come to terms with this reality to avoid the wild desperation to have a child at all costs. We must also stop stigmatizing young girls for having ‘illegitimate’ pregnancies. The truth is that most of these girls run into these baby factories in an attempt to seek protection from parental or

family chastisement and indeed the associated stigma arising from such ‘unwanted’ teenage pregnancies.

PAGE 18 — SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013

ALL FOR LOVE!

I left Catholic Church in obedience to my wife — Nollywood producer Eyengho

C

omrade Alex Eyengho is the President of the Association of Nollywood Core Nollywood Producers,ANCOP, and publisher of Warri Mirror, a regional magazine that focuses on the Niger Delta issues. He got married to his wife,Mrs. Matel Eyengho, about 15 years ago. The couple share the story of their journey into marriage.

How I met my wife I met my wife on location where we went to shoot an epic film, Nana of the Niger Delta, in 1989. I was the assistant director of the film and I was playing the sublead role. The film eventually won an award. In fact, it was the first Zuma award organized by Nigerian Film Corporation for that year. It won the best documentary drama of the year. That’s where I met my wife, who then was my girl friend. But two years after shooting the film, I walked her down the aisle.

Accepting my proposal It was not easy for her to accept my marriage proposal. She was very arrogant when I met her. She gave me a lot of conditions including that she could not drink pure water because she met me drinking pure water. I had to condition myself to look for money to buy her bottled water even while I was drinking pure water.

She did a lot of bragging but I was very persistent because I knew from day one that she is wife, and I was not prepared to let go .

I told her from the outset that I was coming to marry her and not to play hide and seek game. Incidentally, I auditioned her when she was coming for a role in the film, and I ensured she got a role in the film. That was how started and seventeen years down the line, we are still together till date.

The journey so far In every marriage, there are always ups and downs.

We have had our own ups

and downs, but the bottom line is where are we today as a couple. The bottom line is, after 15 years of marriage, I’m still with my wife. We are solidly together, maintaining the family. That’s the most important thing to us in respective of the hiccups of marriages.

Courtship A lot of people believe in courtship. I courted my wife for about two years or thereabouts. But the most important thing is that the very first day I set my eyes on her while on location, I told her straight away that I was going to marry her even though I had nothing then as a bachelor. She was living larger than I was then. But I was determined to marry her. So, we courted for two years, and, instructively, within the two years, I was making progress. During this period, I started a newspaper that focused on

*Alex Eyengho and wife lieved in me, and she saw the prospect in me because when I met her, I had nothing to show for my love for her. It’s nothing as if I convinced her with money. I convinced her by words of mouth.

Secrets It has to do with communication. We communicate a lot even though once in a while we experience communication breakdown. But the bottom line is that even if there is a communication breakdown, we try to work around it. We try to retrace our steps, and find out where we have gone wrong and make amends. I think what makes a man or a woman is the ability to say I’m sorry when you know you have goofed. That’s what has kept us together for the past 15 years.

In every marriage, there are always ups and downs. We have had our own ups and downs, but the bottom line is where are we today as a couple. The bottom line is, after 15 years of marriage, I’m still with my wife. We are solidly together, maintaining the family Niger Delta called, Warri Mirror, which later became Warri Mirror Magazine.

The newspaper grew from strength to strength and became a magazine. Today, the magazine is a reference point for anybody who wants to know anything about the Niger Delta. She was there when I started the magazine.

My first love was journalism before I dabbled into film making. I studied mass communication both at first degree and master ’s levels.

She gave all the support then to become who I am today as a journalist and film maker. She be-

What I don’t like She challenges me a lot, and she’s my number one critic. In fact, there’s nothing I do that is right. Anything I do is wrong before her, but at the end of the day, we always come to an agreement. Initially, I would quarrel with her. But I think I like her as my critic.

Influence She dragged me into Foursquare Gospel Church.

I was born into a Catholic home, but when I met my wife, she insisted that we must wed in Foursquare Gospel Church. Initially, I

kicked and quarrelled, but, at the end of the day, she had her way. Since then, I have never gone back to Catholic. It’s not a weakness for a woman to drag her husband to where she’s worshipping, rather it’s a

strength for a man to accept to follow his wife because women are more perspective in terms of religion and faith.

But, above all, I have never regretted joining Foursquare Gospel Church, courtesy of my wife.

I thought he was joking — Wife How I met him Like he rightly said, we met while on a movie location. When he saw me, he was attracted to me and did not hide it.

He was asking the director of the project, Mr Joe Dudu, who happened to be my teacher during my secondary school days, who I was.

Later, Joe Dudu told me that he loved me but I didn’t believe. Initially, I thought he was joking.

During our rehearsals, he kept pestering me, but I never believed him. I told me he was going to marry even though he had nothing. I tried to discourage him by telling him that I was in a relationship but he never gave.

When I was through with my role, I left the set, but he was still contacting me, visiting and buying me gifts.

After about five months, I decided to give

him a chance. That was when we started courting.

Reason for giving him tough time I didn’t know much about him in the first place, and, more over, he just met me and proposed marriage. It’s doesn’t work that way.

SUNDAY

Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013, PAGE 19

FUMBI FANEYE:

Bank manager turned farmer

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

I

magine you studied at the prestigious University of Ife, graduated first-class in Computer Science with Economics in 1998, got hired immediately by Procter & Gamble Nigeria Limited with mouth-watering remunerations even while still a Youth Corps member, got employed again by Citizens International Bank Limited in less than two years, and in less than one year, was hired by Zenith Bank Plc. ‘God’s on my side!’, you definitely must have begun to think. Now, imagine you gradually rose meritoriously to a managerial rank with all your needs at your beck and call and suddenly, you inevitably have to resign. That’s Fumbi Faneye’s tale. After scouting fruitlessly for a new job, Fumbi who had just bagged an M.Sc in Finance from the University of Lagos eventually settled for farming on a six acre land in Ota, Ogun State. Now the executive director of Joshella Farms Services Limited where he focuses on livestock and crops, Fumbi who also qualified as a chartered accountant (ACCA, UK) shared his story in an exclusive encounter with Vanguard.

He had been an efficient employee all along and least expected to be jolted by the rightsizing his 11-year employer, Zenith Bank Plc., was going to embark on in April 2012.

Fumbi Faneye was at that time heading its Card Operations (Card Admin, ChargeBack, Pin Control and Reconciliation Units). Eventually, he had to put in his resignation when his fate became uncertain. Being a former top echelon employee, securing a new job became almost impossible and he had to take his destiny in his hands because he very much dreaded the deprivation that surrounded his childhood.

Childhood deprivation For one who had been on the breadline, not even a wee taste of poverty must be given a second chance.

“I lost my father before age three and my mum was a very junior staff in a Federal Government establishment. As the first child, I went through school with so much deprivation. Luckily, God gave me one asset despite the fact that I grew up in Somolu area of Lagos where you popularly find touts; I was exceptionally brilliant! My mum had just me and my younger sister for my dad but remarried after his demise and had three more kids.

Unfortunately, every responsibility was virtually on her. My mum had to sacrifice virtually all she had to see me through school; it was so bad that she could not afford a TV throughout. I couldn’t even afford a single textbook throughout my degree programme but always had to borrow from friends to read.

Luckily, I had some textbooks from someone that was a year ahead of me. I was studying Computer Science but when my mates were buying desktop computers, I could not even dream of owning one! I however knew where I was going to and therefore did not allow my situation determine my disposition; everyone who knew me would tell

‘My kids can’t believe I’m now a farmer’ •Fumbi Faneye’

I consistently went to this lady’s farm for six months for a form of internship. I would drive down from Lagos to Ogun state, change my dress and then join her workers... you I was always a happy person. That was why I was able to graduate firstclass. In the real sense, my predicament was so bad that I could not afford money to transport myself to Zamfara where I was posted to for my National Youth Service Corp-NYSC; a cousin had to lend me money”, he recollected.

Venturing into farming Sure, nobody would suffer all that and allow poverty a second chance!

So, shortly after his resignation, Fumbi met a former junior colleague who was already a farmer. He visited her farm and was convinced about the line of business. Without seeking further opinion, he delved into the world of agriculture, acquiring six acres of land and a truck.

Internship on farmland “Meanwhile, I consistently went to this lady’s farm for six months for a form of internship. I would drive down from Lagos to Ogun state, change my dress and then join her workers as if I was one of them. I never failed to ask questions when necessary. After

gaining enough knowledge, I operationally started Joshella Farms in January 2013, beginning with 6,000 laying birds. I also got 500 cockerels which I sold off during the festive period. I’m presently breeding more cockerels for the end of year sale too. I actually fabricated the first cages.

Now, I’m in the process of procuring cages from China and by the grace of God, they will soon arrive Nigeria. I’m also venturing into plantain and cassava production”, Fumbi said.

Challenges “God has been faithful. We’ve been heavily into the supply of eggs and a major challenge now is meeting up with demand. Already, the demand is almost thrice our supply and I’m seriously planning to boost the supply. As I expand, the next line will be to venture into feed mill production, so as to reduce cost of production.

Optimism “If some of those who built conglomerates had left business in frustration, such conglomerates would never have existed. Big farms like Obasanjo’s would not even have been in existence! When I tell people I’m a farmer, they laugh at me; it even took my own kids a long time to internalize the fact that their daddy now farms! It’s a little beginning but I’m trusting God that by this time next year we will be greater. So far, He has been faithful because apart from creating employment for myself, I have been able to create employment for seven others who work for me.

Advice “Don’t get too comfortable with life. I’m not insinuating you leave your job, but if you’re working under anyone, have alternative sources of income. If I had started something like this while in the bank, it would have been easier to fall back on.

Also, save for the rainy day because I would not have survived if I were a spend-thrift”, Fumbi enthused.

•A section of broilers in Fumbi's Poultry farm

—SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 1, 2013 PAGE 20 —

Email: vanguardwoman@gmail.com (08054650907- SMS only)

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

A “

S men, we own the house with its entire property, including our wives. If women shouldn’t be our properties then why are we asked to pay so much to take them from their parents? Beating your wife is not violence, so, the world should stop putting it that way. Women ask for too much and sometimes have to be dealt with to be called to order!

My wife is my property and I have every right over her; after all, didn’t I buy her with my money? Sometimes you hear people say husbands rape their wives, but how possible is that? Is the man not supposed to have right over his wife?

Anyway, if my wife dares to deny me sex then it means she has given me a clean license to go out and enjoy myself!”

Believe it or not, those military-inspired words came from a Nigerian male in his early 40s, to a group of women under the aegis of Young Women’s Christian Association-YWCA Nigeria, who were campaigning against gender-based violence in commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence 2013 in Lagos. The mindset of this young man who simply identified himself as Bature puts a mark on the appropriateness of the theme of the 16-day activism: “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Women!” which runs from November 25th to December 10th.

Unabated rise Spousal abuse which is popularly known as domestic violence occurs when one person in an intimate relationship or marriage tries to dominate, control or bully the other.

This takes various forms such as beating, forced sex(rape), emotional abuse, neglect, economic deprivation, to mention but few. Unfortunately, spousal abuse continues to occur in every region of the world, with the majority of the world’s women experiencing violence inflicted by an intimate partner at some point in their lives. Back home in Nigeria, unequal power relations between men and women, particularly in homes, increasingly manifests in a culture of discrimination and violence. This has continued unabated, despite ratified

The failure of government in this regard has presented the need to look more inward... Agape love forgives and does not hurt, so, if it is present in marriages, there will be peace both in our homes and in the society

Ending militarism in the home •Love, only remedy - Experts international treaties which bestow on government at all levels the responsibility to

prevent, protect individuals from human rights abuse, and punish violence against

Why we're violent towards women -Men speak

P

ERHAPS more women would be able to reduce, if not eliminate, domestic violence in their homes when they find out the grievances of their partners. Hear what some husbands say.

Women are very difficult

They do not improve on themselves - Joseph, Engineer

W

T

- Emeka, Bizman

omen are like chameleons and they launch different characters on a daily basis; you can’t predict them. Most of them behave well only when their husbands have money to give to them, but as soon as that man’s resources turn sour, they begin to misbehave. I personally do not derive pleasure in beating my wife because the Bible tells us we automatically become one after exchanging marital vows, but believe me, most women are difficult.

here has to be some awareness for women to also know how to handle the home because it is their responsibility to make the home comfortable. There is the need for a woman to keep enhancing those things that attracted her husband to her but most women become lackadaisical as soon as they are married!

They should learn to dress better, cook better, learn new dishes and behave better. Having said these, for peace in our homes, we should all go back to the word of wisdom- the Bible.

women, whether perpetrated by private or public actors.

Ending domestic violence The failure of government in this regard has presented the need to look more inward in the fight against domestic violence.

“Women and men both have a role to play in curbing violence. More importantly, women should understand that on them dwells the task of building the home. When there is love in a family, that family will definitely stand. Agape love forgives and does not hurt, so, if it is present in marriages, there will be peace both in our homes and in the society. A man who enjoys love in his home will not go about raping his daughter or other girls outside; he will think first of how such would affect his wife”, Barrister Esther Omaka, Chairman, Fund Raising, YWCA Nigeria, suggested during a walk against violence carried out by the organisation last Thursday in Lagos.

Meanwhile, Chief Oprah Benson, during a session organised by the West African Women AssociationWAWA in partnership with the Intergovernmental Action Group against

Money Laundering in West Africa- GIABA to mark the 16-day activism, suggested the need for women to learn to identify spousal abuse.

“There’s too much violence and a lot of provocative behaviours from people who should know better. A huge problem on ground is that some women do not know when they are being abused! Violence against women is a crime against humanity and that’s the reason I also strongly support the proposed life imprisonment penalty for rape.”

For Chief Agnes OtoboOjehomon, Board Secretary, WAWA, “Women have to learn to report cases of violence rather than being reluctant. Sadly, for many who are able to report, as soon as the case is almost becoming public, they withdraw it. So, we could see that women have a job to do in ending domestic violence.”

Hwongchun Majak, National President- YWCA, again reiterated the need for husbands and wife to stay in love, emphasising that it would help sustain peace in the home and reduce violence.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 1, 2013,

PAGE 21

Email: vanguardwoman@gmail.com (08054650907- SMS only)

Aramide Keshinro The amazon remodeling dental therapy in Nigeria

*Aramide

By OLAYINKA LATONA

A

mother, dentist, lawyer and events planner, Aramide Keshinro who is currently the Registrar/CEO, Dental Therapists Registration Board of Nigeria, is one woman who diligently maximizes every opportunity that comes her way. At the Dental Therapists Registration Board of Nigeria where she is saddled with the responsibility of registering, licensing and guiding qualified professionals from registered institutions, Aramide is leaving no stone unturned as she is presently working assiduously to reduce quackery in the profession to the barest minimum. Enjoy our chat with her!

Tell us a little about yourself?

I attended Ansar-Ud-Deen Grammar school in Lagos and then proceeded to the Federal Dental School, Enugu, where I studied Dental Therapy. In the process of increasing my knowledge, I studied Law at the Lagos State University, graduated in 2007 and went

to Law School in 2008.

But what on earth could have attracted a dentist to law?

I aspired to be a lawyer right from childhood but was unable to gain admission to study law after two attempts.

In those days we had the opportunity to do all subjects in secondary school so I was able to have foreknowledge of science, commercial and art subjects. My husband, Barrister Adisa Keshinro, being a lawyer, encouraged me to let the dream see the light of day. After my call to bar, I intended practicing with him because he is a seasoned legal practitioner but somehow, the call to be Acting Registrar of the Dental Therapist Board came. Later, I was made the Registrar and I believe it is a call to serve my fatherland and also contribute my quota to the nation’s development. Currently, I’m doing a Masters programme in Public Health.

What are the activities of the Dental Therapist Associ-

ation Board of Nigeria?

The board is saddled with the responsibility of registering and licensing qualified professionals from registered institutions, making sure that the schools training these cadres are accredited by the board. The board also makes sure those schools' curriculums are up-to-date and in accordance with the laid

qualified professionals are registered and licensed.

Hitherto, qualified dentists did not bother about registering with the board but now, we are able to get the list of graduating students and organize the national board examination for them. Once they pass the test, they are registered and given a certificate of license which automat-

Nigerian women should not rest on their oars; aim high because nobody knows when a certificate might become useful. down rules of the board, organises programmes for registered professionals and works to reduce quackery to the barest minimum in the profession.

How far have you gone in this fight against quacks in the profession?

The board ensures that all

ically qualifies them to practice. The board is at the peak of setting up a task force that will be in charge of arresting those that are not part of the board in any part of the county. Practitioners found guilty will face the consequences.

What’s your opinion on

Nigerians’ approach to oral health?

Oral health is an integral part of general health. Hence, there are lots of enlightenments, seminars and free dental check-ups going on in the country especially at the grassroots level and it has been observed that most Nigerians are now aware of the importance of oral health.

Actually, the health of your mouth mirrors the condition of your body as a whole. For example, when your mouth is healthy, chances are, your overall health is good too. On the other hand, if you have poor oral health, you may have other health problems.

Nigerians should know that good oral health may actually prevent certain diseases from occurring.

How do you cope with the home front with all these responsibilities?

It is not very easy combining all these efforts; it takes determination and I’m lucky to have an understanding and cooperating husband.

When I got the letter inviting me to come serve as the board’s registrar, I informed him and he encouraged me to take up the appointment. As a mother, I have grown-up children who are graduates except for the last one. I however do not have any little child in need of nursing.

If a woman does not have an understanding husband, she may not be able to realise her dream and also cope with the home front.

Advise for women folk?

Nigerian women should not rest on their oars; aim high because nobody knows when a certificate might become useful. Just like when I was having my Higher National Diploma-OND in Dental Therapy; I was thinking I would go for law so that I could fall back to it when I retire from civil service. But behold, the law is helping today because as a lawyer I can read between the lines of every documents. I never knew it would be useful in this way!

PAGE 22 — SUSNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013

‘Why National Conference will be different from others’

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE, Benin Greg Agbonkina is a Russian trained medical doctor. In 1991, he was in the Edo State governorship race on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (PDP) but had to step down for Chief John Odigie- Oyegun who eventually won the ticket.

He was a delegate to the late Gen, Sani Abacha 1994/1995 National Conference where he moved the motion of not less than 13 percent derivation principle for oil producing states in the sharing of the Federation Account. In this interview on the planned National Dialogue, he calls for a return to the 1960 Independent Constitution and regionalism as well as the adoption of the French model of government. Nigerians, he says, must embrace the dialogue as a way of finding lasting solutions to the problems facing the country.

Excerpts: D

R.

What is your take on the proposed National Dialogue?

Many people believe nothing good will come out of it.

The National Dialogue will yield many good fruits that will bring this country back to sustainable development. The conference did not come as a result of the wish of Jonathan; it came as a result of the wish of the different groups in the countr y. They have been clamouring for years to have an ethnic based national constitutional conference, ethnic based in the sense that the country at amalgamation was a conglomeration of ethnic empires and groups that made up both the Northern and Southern Protectorates. And before independence, there was a constitutional conference in London where the different stakeholders put their interests on the table and an agreement was reached. That led to the Independence Constitution. We saw the good that came out of the operations of the Independent Constitution, but, somewhere along the line, that Constitution was not only abridged, it was violated by the first military regime that suspended the Constitution and brought in a unitary system of government not based on

agreed wish of the constituents that make up Nigeria. Since then, Nigeria has been groping in the dark; nothing has been done to return us to where we started; then, the war decree that was promulgated by the Gowon regime removed the smallest ingredient that was binding the country together as a federal entity. Jonathan’s conference should return us to where we missed the point and the first assignment of the ethnic nationalities that will gather at that conference is to pass a resolution that we have agreed to live together. Secondly, as a basis of living together, the National Assembly should enact a law that would return the constitution that was in operation before the colonialists left us to be the new national constitution. If that is done, all the clamoring and wastages taking place now will be a thing of the past. Without mincing words, we should give it to General Sani Abacha because the conference he called between1994-1995 is the only legacy he left. It laid the six zonal structures that we have in the country today. It was the first time after independence that states were created almost on equal basis along the six zones: Bayelsa was created from the Southsouth, Ebonyi from the Southeast, Ekiti from the South- west, Jigawa from North- west, Gombe from North- east and Nassarawa from North- central. The local governments created in Edo State also followed the same principle.

From Edo South, two local governments were created, one from Edo Central and one from Edo North. Thirdly, the revenue allocation that we are enjoying today and has brought seemingly peace to the country, that is, the 13 percent derivative principles, was arrived at that conference and, since then, no amendment has been made either by the National Assembly or by the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission because it is so difficult to get an agreement that will cover the entire country by the few nominated people.

There have constitutional conferences in this country since 1942 and repor ts not implemented. What makes you think the Jonathan conference will not follow the same way?

Well, if I may correct you, no

*DR. Greg Agbonkina

military administration, in fact no administration in this country has set up a national constitutional conference other than the one that was set up by late Gen Sani Abacha and I told you that it achieved results and, if not for the sudden death of Gen Abacha, there was a Committee on the Devolution of Powers that was going to remove 50 percent of what the Federal Government is doing now to the states and allocation of funds was to follow.

Secondly, the six zonal structures in the country came from that conference and the revenue allocation we are enjoying now.

For emphasis, I was a member of that constitutional conference representing Edo State in the Revenue Allocation Committee, in the state and local government creation committee and in the Committee of National Consensus, I moved the motion “of not less than 13 percent” Derivation Principle. Other conferences organized by other military Heads of State were not conferences; they were constituent assemblies and constituent assemblies are different from constitutional conferences.

Since the Lanchester House Constitutional Conference, which gave birth to the Independent Constitution, the nearest to that was the 1994/95 National Constitutional

Conference, but the South-west said they did not send their first eleven to that conference.

Governor Aliyu Babangida warned the North the other day in Yola to send their first eleven to the National Dialogue. In the 1994/95 conference, the North sent their first eleven led by Gen.

presidency. That rotational presidency gave rise to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo because in 1993 during the SDPNRC days, the presidency was zoned to the South-West and North-East. That was how Chief MKO Abiola who won from the South-west contested with the person from the North-east, Babagana Kingibe. Because both of them were from the zones to which the presidency was zoned, one became the presidential candidate and the other the vicepresidential candidate even though they were both Muslims.

That was what informed Chief Obasanjo becoming the presidential candidate of our party to pacify the South-west that lost the presidency and that was why Atiku Abubakar who was already an elected governor of Adamawa State became VicePresident to Obasanjo. In other words, if they had ruled well, the presidency would not have gone to the North-west but to the Northeast and the South-south because these were the only areas that have not had it. When the G.7 were going round consultating, they saw former President Shehu Shagari from the North-west; they Gen Muhammadu Buhari in the North-east, they saw Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar and Gen Ibrahim Babangida from the North-central, they saw former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme from the South- east and 9nment that we have seen either by its operations or even by its proclamation has brought no good to this country. It has brought only wastages. In other words, if all of us work together to bake a cake, all of us should be there when the cake is being shared; a situation whereby the governor of a state determines what happens in the state House of Assembly, determines what happens in the local government cannot bring about any sustainable development and transparent use of funds generated either internally or externally by the government. Therefore, a parliamentary system of government is more desirable for

Without mincing words, we should give it to General Sani Abacha because the conference he called between1994-1995 is the only legacy he left.

It laid the six zonal structures that we have in the country today Shehu Yar’Adua, the South- east sent their first eleven led by former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme, Chukwuemeka OdumegwuOjukwu and Sam Mbakwe; the South-south sent their first eleven led by Chief Tony Anenih, myself, Don Etiebet, Victor Attah who later become governor of AkwaIbom State, Dr. Peter Odili who became governor of Rivers State and Senator Aniete Okon.

Although Chief E.K.Clark was not a member, he was a very useful accessory and, without him, we would not have been able to secure the 13 percent derivation.

And we arrived at rotational

a diverse country like Nigeria. We can still have the position of President, a modified type of the presidential system with the parliamentary system which we advocated for during the 1994/ 1995 Constitutional Conference.

That is, there should be a Prime Minister who should be head of government and responsible to the President and the National Assembly.

A quasi parliamentary/presidential system is the best for this country.

Today Okonjo – Iweala is almost acting as a Prime Minister as Coordinating Minister of the Economy.

SUNDAY Vanguard , DECEMBER 1 , 2013, P AGE 23

Just how low would you sink to survive?!

P

ROSTITUTION is a word that’s scarcely used these days - except in circles of crude and unenlightened people.

Instead, you hear the word ‘escort’, ‘mistress’ and, as Alice once put it, ‘a gentleman’s companion’. I’d run into her at an exclusive party. She’d come in the arms of a good friend who promptly plunked her next to where I sat. Tall, sophisticated and wellturned out, she smiled confidently as I curiously assessed her. We all know Gbeke, her ‘companion’ was not only married, he was old enough to be her father.

But that’s no news these days as relationships take on the meaning you want them to take. She was a relatively friendly woman who kept asking questions. I was a bit irritated, why didn’t she go and pester her partner?

As soon as she knew who I was, there was no stopping her. I was like her counsellor. Before the night ended, she’d told me she was a single mother and an undergraduate. That really got my interest.

“When I first got admission into the university, we were so poor my mother couldn’t afford the fees,” she told me.

“Our father died a few years before, leaving my mum, a kerosene seller, with four children. I’m the eldest and much as I

would love to further my studies, we had no rich relatives eager to shoulder such responsibiIity.

“Finding a job wasn’t easy either, so I opted for a receptionist job and that’s where I met Gbeke. He was my boss’ childhood friend and often stopped to have a word with me. I felt flattered. With time, I told him about my predicament;. He was really sympathetic and often gave me money. Thanks to his generosity, I :was able to afford sexy clothes and shoes, courtesy of the second hand market. It’s amazing what you can pick up at these markets at next to nothing. My grooming improved too and Gbeke used to bring me perfumes when he travelled - those were safer than squeezing female clothes into his suitcase in case his nosey wife gets inquisitive. Anyway, we eventually became lovers.

“He insisted I gave my getting admission to the university another go now that my daughter was five. He helped with the funds and even used his clout to get me in.

Thanks to him, I will be finishing this year and might even do a masters degree. Some of my friends are critical of what I do, but that doesn’t faze me. My duties are simple compared to the remuneration. I’m there to provide com-

pany for.men, to entertain them, to look respectable so they could take me out and brag they could still pull young women.

•.

“Since I started going out with Gbeke, I’d been lucky to have one or two men on the side including my former boss, who is Gbeke’s friend. From time to time, sex would come up and I have the common sense to use condoms. Apart from Gbeke, I don’t kiss or do oral sex - that way, the men know it’s strictly business. I’ve since discovered that a lot of these aging men you see get a lot of kicks from having the chance to undress a young sexy body, to touch, fondle and caress her. For me, sex with them is functional. The service I provide is as easy as that of an actress; performing on stage. And it’s not different from

what most married women do these days to keep their marriage. I have friends and relatives who can’t really stand their husbands.

Either such husband’s figure have gone to the dogs or they ’d had so many open affairs their wives no longer respect them. But, anytime such husbands want sex be rest assured the wives would grit their teeth and get on with it in spite of the fact they get no enjoyment from such an act. It is the little price they have to pay for the lavish lifestyle the husbands provide and the hefty school fees private schools charge.”

As soon as I could get a word in, I told her the wives she referred to were doing it with only their husbands, not multiple partners. “I’m sure you know that’s not true?” she told me

smugly. “What woman wouldn’t want to enjoy sex? If they’re not enjoying it with their husbands, then they have substitutes on the side they ’ll happily take off their clothes for.

No-strings attached sex is always fun. A few of them don’t even mind paying for services of a young student. A friend I met recently told me he was the chief executive of a firm. He has a guest house and I meet him there on a regular basis.

In his late 40s with a wife and five kids, he is always busy. I’m sure his wife has forgotten what regular sex with him feels like.

But every Tuesday, we meet at his guest house.

Whenever I ask how his day went, he would just shrug and say ‘busy ’.

Within minutes, we would have finished with the refreshment he always provides. Then he would

give me that look that signals he wants sex.

I’m used to the routine.

I just lay underneath him, listen to this heavy panting as my thoughts disengage. At that point, I’m just a simple solution to an aging, dissatisfied man’s problems. At the end of it, I get dressed and let him drift off to sleep. He’d have put my envelope in my handbag and I will quietly slip out of the guest house ... “ “Once in a while, I ask myself, why I do what I do, but the answer is as simple as why anyone would work as a nurse, a clerk or a teacher. Because it’s a job. My mum and siblings benefit from the money I bring in and my daughter is thriving. I even have a boyfriend who doesn’t know what I do all he knows is that I’m a hardworking undergraduate. My feelings for him are quite different from what I feel for my ‘clients’. These men don’t turn me on. They are older men who work too hard and have little family life. When I get back to my one-room apartment paid for by Gbeke, I’m just a normal undergraduate again; not a disillusioned hustler plying her trade in the right places. Simply put, it’s a life that works for me.

Thanks to it, money’s not a worry for me now. I don’t really like what I do but it’s what you can term a trade-off ... “

08052201867(Text Only)

Rapid ageing: The anti-dote

I

C M Y K

T’S normal in this age to expect scientific proof of anything and everything.

If science has a standpoint on something we want to know it. We are encouraged to do or not to do.

This means we live our day to day lives with a lot more confidence. We do not have to tread too gingerly as if in total darkness.

One of the things we should all know by now, if we don’t already is the proven fact that exercise can reverse the hand of the clock. Exercise can make you feel younger and live life fuller.

Try and introduce a daily exercise discipline into your life. Early morning is best for some. Well, temperaments differ. In this case suit yourself. What time you exercise should not matter much. The practice is the thing.

For me the total lack of need for any tool is what I

find most appealing about yoga.

Once you’ve picked up the techniques to performing a few of them all what you’ll ever need for practice is just a little space and enthusiasm hinged to the knowledge that you’re doing yourself a great favour.

Don’t dwell on the negative thoughts of what happens to those who fail to exercise.

You should think thoughts that say you’re improving physically, emotionally and mentally.

There are times when we feel very low in spirits and in the body. The practice of the postures will restore your sense of aliveness. It will help put back the joy into your life. The Asians or postures are definite anti-depressants.

If you have been unduly assailed by too much excitement you can practise the relaxation technique to quieten you down.

In fact a daily practice of say twenty minutes of relaxation is good for everyone. More so if you are hypertensive. Remember there’s proof that with the practice of meditation high blood pressure can be reduced to levels only possible before with medication.

The body must go through one hell of a house-cleaning to do that.

Remember the body is selfhealing. You only need to take away the obstacles and presto!

Let’s see how you get by with the following two postures: The Camel Technique: Sitting on the legs and toes out stretched put the palms of the hands float down just behind the toes. Now lean on the hand and throw the head back.

Take a deep breath and slowly lift the heels and thrust forward the lower part of the body and hump-

ing up the chest which means your spine being arched. Retain the posture for a while and return to sitting on the heels with the head held high and breathe out. Rest and repeat.

Benefits: The camel posture affects the go-nards and thyroid glands. The spine regains elasticity. It is also a great help against constipation and gas.

Head to knee posture (standing) Technique: Stand with feet together. Raise your hands straight over head.

Breathe in as you do so.

Now bend your upper body down dropping your hands.

Keep your breathe out.

Keep the palms down and your forehead brought into contact with your knees.

And stay in this position for a while and as you inhale return to standing position. You may repeat a couple more times. This posture maintains elasticity of both spine and hamstrings. Those into sports will do well to practise this very posture. It’s a great insurance against pulling

hamstrings - a common happening at athletic meetings and soccer games. This posture massages deeply the regions of the abdomen

and pelvis. Women folk who suffer painful periods should practice this before the onset of their periods.

With it they get relief.

The Camel

Yoga classes STARTED at 32 Adetokunbo Ademola, Victoria Island, Lagos, 9.10am on Saturdays

PAGE 24—SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 1, 2013

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

08056180152,

SMS only

A serial cheater never changes!

W

HENEVER the word, ‘mistress’ is mentioned, up springs the image of a calculating vamp dressed in skimpy clothes and expensive hair extensions, ready to lure away husbands without a second thought to the families of such men. But sometimes, the truth is usually more complicated.

As a result, many women who find themselves the ‘other woman’ are caught in situations they never bargained for.

Take the case of Mylah for instance. “I wasn’t looking for a relationship when I met Jacob,’ she told me, a bit sad. ‘I’d just split up from my husband of 11 years and was busy looking after the three children of the marriage.

“Jacob was a friend’s elder brother and we met at my friend’s 40th birthday party. He told me he’s been estranged from his wife for months and was waiting for his divorce to be finalized.

According to him, his wife hadn’t really adapted to the fact that wives were supposed to behave differently from when they were abroad and when they finally relocated to Nigeria. I didn’t ask ‘him for details and our relationship quickly took up from there. He gave me his mobile number as well as his home’s and visited every spare minute he got. Gradually, we became very fond of each other and he sometimes slept over at mine.

“He lived alone and when he suggested I moved in with him, I agreed. The children were in the boarding house - and having them for the holidays wouldn’t be a problem. As soon as Jacob’s divorce was

through, he promised we would get married - I was very happy. The fact that he was technically married didn’t bother me and he openly let me know when he was popping over to his old house to see his two children. I was after all, a mother and knew the importance of both parents to children.

“I later discovered that life with Jacob wasn’t always smooth-sailing.

When we had rows, he would storm off for hours.

Then last year, the friend I met him through arranged for us to come with her family to the Benin Republic to see a relative - and have a holiday in the process. I jumped at the chance and Jacob was quite willing to go. The morning we were to go, he picked up a quarrel and stormed off again. I was furious when he didn’t turn up hours later, fearing he might be in an accident. I called my friend to cancel the trip, telling her why. She calmly told me Jacob was already outside their house in the car with his wife! I was in shock. I’d believed him 100 per cent when he said they’d split. I’d had no reason not to. We were living together for heaven’s sake!

I asked my friend to take the phone to him, but he refused to talk to me.

“My friend later called me from their hotel room to tell me she didn’t believe there was any divorce. That Jacob and his wife were still very much together. That as far as she knew, they’d only had a temporary separation because they’d been having violent arguments, but that Jacob had still been going round to his family home to try to sort things out. I thought of all those times when

structive and damages families. The way he treats his wife is quite often how you can expect to be treated in future.”

he’d dropped in on his wife, supposedly to see the kids, and felt really ill. I’d been the other woman all along without even realizing it - ‘I would never have encouraged the relationship if I knew I was going to be a bit on the side.

“I felt as if someone close to me had died. When he eventually turned up though, he was full of apologies. He said he was so mad after our row and went to his wife, asking her on the spur of the moment if she wanted to come away with him - and she said yes!

I looked really skeptical at him and his story, but he swore his marriage had really been over and my friend told me she said all she did because she didn’t know better. And like a fool I believed him! I warned him I’d never be a mistress and he swore I wasn’t - and that the divorce would soon be through and we would get married.

After that he became the charming and loving man I’d fallen for. But I soon realized he was up to his old tricks. Only instead of cheating on his wife with me, he was cheating on me with a colleague in his office. I saw him flirting away with her at a party and I just knew. In the end, I packed my things and went

back to my flat - thank goodness I hadn’t let it go. Within days of my leaving, this colleague of his had moved in! I feel really sad about what I’d just gone through. If I’d thought for a moment that Jacob’s marriage wasn’t completely over, I’d never have got involved with him. He made me feel so cheap.

It just shows if he’s going to lie to his wife, he’ll lie to his lover too ...

According to a former ‘ reluctant mistress’, `Many more men have affairs than ever leave their wives, and if they’re going to, it is generally early on in the relationship. Even for the mistress who has a ‘happy ending’, there’s often a price to be paid. If she gets the man and marries him then has a rocky patch later on, quite often, she’ll find herself thinking: “ls he having an affair? He did it to her, he could do it to me,’ it’s far better to wait for the split to happen and then start a relationship. My advice is to try to steer clear of the role of the ‘other woman’ - it is self-de-

that I love you. And if I am to live a million years my love for you will still remain ever fresh and unshakeable in my heart.

Akachukwu Ferdinand.

08063819314

True Love

Y

OUR column to express your loving thoughts in words to your sweetheart. Don’t be shy. Let it flow and let him or her know how dearly you feel.

Write now in not more than 75 words to: The Editor, Sunday Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. E.mail: sunlovenotes@yahoo.com Please mark your envelope: “LOVE NOTES"

I made no mistake

I have made a lot of mistake in my life but I must confess that I did not make any mistake when I said

True love passes all understandings.

True love Expresses loyalty.

True love hurts but can learn how to mend.

True love dreams the highest dreams.

True love waits until the stars visit the day.

True love seeks good for the other.

True love lends forgiveness.

True love cries but washes away the pains.

True love makes an ignorant boy a mature man.

True love softens the heart of a girl to a nurtured woman.

True love never lies.

Could Your Man Be Having An Affair?

Here, a marriage counsellor who has spent sixteen years sifting through the ruins of other people’s relationships, gives his analysis of how a partnership can lose its way, and a few suggestions for not letting it happen. (a) Signs she is having an affair: Look for a sudden short-term drop-off sex.

Everyone has appetites - exactly where is she satisfying hers? Radically different sexual behaviour: if she suddenly starts suggesting things he hasn’t done before, or doing things very differently even if it’s better, where is she getting the ideas from? Sudden increase in working hours: ‘This can easily be innocent, but where’s the extra cash? (You might never know if lover boy is giving her over-time pay!) Sexual transmitted infections: Towels and toilet seat explanations simply aren’t good enough. (b) Things she is getting from an affair that she is not getting at home: Excitement that is the main thing. Having a secret life. If you are clever enough, your marriage should be her secret life!

Full time attention: He is trying harder than you. Usually a step up, someone better than the husband in at least one respect - looks, money, youth. (c) Mistakes husbands make: Not adjusting to the fact that you are married.

Like it or not, you are

now part of a double act, and you can’t carry on as if nothing’s happened.

Women like to see visible signs of commitment, so cut down on after work drinks with the boys. . Getting Fat: It sounds harsh, but there are a lot of thin guys out there who’ll be trying it on your wife. .

Taking her for granted: Undervaluing her, expecting her to be there and expecting her not to get suspicious when you’re having affairs..

Over-working: A lot of high-achieving guys drive themselves hard often thinking it is for the sake of their wives or family. But putting in excessive hours to generate your wealth just provides her with motive, means and opportunity for adultery.

However painful, there comes a time when a marriage is beyond repair, continues the counsellor. According to him, “Violence is not a good sign. Some relationships survive it, but it’s always a black mark, never to be forgotten. It happens to the men more than you’d think; big, strong men sometimes; they just don’t defend themselves against their violent wives.

Child Abuse: Again mainly perpetrated by men, but occasionally women. “If she’s with someone clearly out of your league. If she’s that ruthlessly upwardly mobile, you’ve had it. “If addictions are involved: Gambling, drinking, drugs, whatever, it blocks everything else out and people get pushed away past their limits ...

Finally, you are to remember that when your relationship is threatened, you must spend some time away from the environment.

True love loves a person until forever.

True love sees love even though the hair is white.

And most of all...TRUE LOVE never breaks promises, until the vow has been done!

Chris Onunaku dekris4real@gmail.com 08032988826/08184844015.My Dearest,

I can't stop loving you

I am still standing on same spot where you left my heart to rot. At first I thought I'd make it through, but it seems like I can't stop loving you, it is getting very hard to be strong, cause I have been missing you since you left. Now, I don't have anymore tears to cry, still my heart can't seem to say goodbye. I love you.

Emma Mine 07051037749 Delta State

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013, PAGE 25

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• Mass burial for victims

BY TAYE OBATERU

T

uesday, November 26, 2013 will remain indelible in the minds of the people of Fan District of Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, not for cheer, but for melancholy. It was a day when 40 of their people, mostly women and children, were murdered in cold blood by unknown attackers who raided four villages in the middle of the night. Among those killed were entire households. And as has become the norm somewhat, the attackers, said to have been many, had a field day perpetrating their evil with no security agent around to challenge them.

About 10 people were injured by the attackers who also set fire to houses of their victims leaving some of the corpses charred.

The anguish of the people of Tatu, Rahure, Bwok and Dorong was palpable and infectious. Emotions flowed as the people narrated how the attackers unleashed terror on defenseless women and children. Take, for instance, the story of a oneyear-old who, woken from sleep when the assailants arrived at about 12.30 am and, frightened at the sight of the strangers, started crying. This was said to have infuriated the attackers who shot him tearing his tender and small body into pieces. The remains had to be gathered for burial.

MIDNIGHT MASSACRE

’One-year-old baby shot at close range’ •Families wiped out!

“A boy of about one year, who was crying when the invaders attacked the family, was shot at close range and his remains littered the room when we got there. We are short of words to describe this barbaric incident”, the village head of Tatu, Da Pam Tsok, said. Tsok said he was lucky to have escaped the attack disclosing that the assailants concentrated on two households where they killed all the 15 members.

“The attack was carried out in a barbaric manner that defies comprehension. At about 1am on Tuesday, I started hearing gunshots; so I rushed out of my home and headed in the direction of the gunshots only to see the corpses of our people who were murdered in cold blood by the attackers. Our village was under siege for more than 30 minutes They killed 15 people in two

A boy of about one year, who was crying when the invaders attacked the family, was shot at close range and his remains littered the room when we got there households and set the houses on fire. We are shocked by the attack because we had no quarrel with any group or person and we have been living in peace with non natives in our midst,” he added.

The story was the same at Rawuru village where a man and his seven children were murdered by the attackers. A relation, Job Chollom, said the gunmen stormed the village at about 12.30 am. and lamented the railure of security men

whom he said were not too far away to come to their rescue. He added that nine people were killed in the village while five were injured by the attackers whom he said wore military uniforms and surrounded the village before launching the attack.

The attackers also killed 10 people at Bwok and seven at Dorong village and had disappeared by the time men of the Special Task Force, STF, maintaining security in the Plateau State

got there. Interim Administrator of the local government area, Mr. Habila Dungs, who said he was informed of the attacks around 12 midnight, confirmed that about 40 people were killed in the attacks on the four villages.

He noted that security men had difficulties accessing the villages, describing the attack as barbaric.

The mutilated corpses, some of which were burnt beyond recognition were given mass burials in the different villages. President of the Church of Christ in Nations, COCIN, Dr. Soja Bewarang after the mass burial at Tatu, expressed worry that the presence of security men “all over the place” did not deter the attackers. He condemned frequent attacks on the communities in the state by those who appear bent on wiping out the people. He called on government and security agencies to do more to secure the people, noting that killings had become a source of embarrassment for the country.

An STF statement signed its Media Officer, Captain Salisu Mustapha, confirmed the attacks, explaining that the assailants fled on sighting members of the task force whom he said responded promptly to distress calls. It added that the Commander of the STF, Major General David Enetie, had visited the villages to assess the situation during which he pledged that everything would be done to track down the perpetrators. The statement called on the people to remain law abiding, cooperate with security agencies “and jealously guard the relative peace we are enjoying on the Plateau.”

Sunday Vanguard learnt that the STF has stepped up patrol of the area while more troops have been deployed.

The attack on the four villages, coming days after similar attacks in Shendam Local Government Area and the alert by Governor Jonah Jang of security reports revealing plans to disrupt the Christmas festivities in the state, is setting many people on edge. Many residents expressed the hope that necessary steps would be taken to avoid a relapse into the situation of some years back, when attacks and killings became rampant, throwing the people of the state into despair.

PAGE 26 — SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013

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Alaba traders accuse police of extortion

‘No more Fulani herdsmen, natives conflicts in Delta’ A

lhaji Auwalu Tukur is the Special Assistant to Delta State Governor on Special Duties and also the chairman of Arewa community in South-south and South-east. In this interview, Tukur speaks on how government is collaborating with the people to promote peace in the state.

Excerpts: How long have you been in Delta State?

I was born and brought up in Asaba. I am a businessman and also a politician. I started politics when I was in secondary school during the NRC and SDP period. When I finished school, I continued my business and politics too.

I joined UNCP during the Abacha era; I was their PRO then. I later became a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.

His Excellency, Chief James Ibori became the flag-bearer of the party and we mobilized our people to vote for him.

He really did well and got our support throughout his two tenures. I was a board member of the Pilgrim Welfare Board. When Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan came in, he also appointed me a special assistant to him and this is our second term in office.

When you look at this country, Dr. Uduaghan is the first governor to appoint many non-indigenes into his cabinet. Today, you have an Hausa man in his cabinet representing the Arewa community, that is myself. We also have special assistant to the governor representing the Yoruba community, Mr. Ola Oni. We have another one representing the Igbo community, Attani Nwachukwu, and we have Mrs. Linda Nwokolo in charge of Akwa Ibom/Cross River. There is another special assistant looking after other minority tribes in the South-south. That you see these non-indigenes in government means the governor likes everyone living in the state and takes everybody as one. He is a man that believes in fairness, unity and peaceful coexistence of this country.

You have been government since 1999; how do you assess the PDP government right from the tenure of

Ibori till date?

Ibori laid the foundation, now, if you see the massive infrastructural development that is taking place in the state, especially in Warri and Asaba, you see the influx of people into Delta State to invest.

Asaba is wearing a new look. Today, Delta State is the fastest growing state in the West African sub-region. We have massive construction of roads going on and we have the

Now you no longer hear stories about Fulani herdsmen clashing with farmers because we have talked to them best schools. It is only in this state that you have you primary school children being taught with computers.

The governor has empowered Deltans beyond reasonable doubt through micro-credit, and YETA. Many youths are being trained at Songhai, Amukpe.

Even youths that are nonDeltans, Hausa and Yoruba are being empowered through the initiative of Uduaghan. The governor is a true Nigerian; he is a man that fears God. Some years ago, some people from across the Niger ran to Delta State for shelter and the state government catered for all those that ran into the state. They were given shelter, food, security and to crown it all he gave them over 11 hectares of land to trade. If go to along Onitsha/Asaba road you will see a very big market being operated by my people.

In terms of security, you know there is peace and

BY MARIAM EKO

T

raders in Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos, have petitioned the chairman, Police Service Commission and the Inspector General of Police for alleged arbitrary arrest, detention and extortion of its members by the police in the area. The petitioners, under the aegis of Industrial Market Association, through their counsel, Mr. Eric Igweokolo, accused the police of undermining the activities of their adhoc committee led by Chief Emeka Nnona. According to Igweokolo, following a court order, the Ojo Local Government Area was mandated to take over the management and maintenance of law and order in the market pending the determination of a suit filed by one Chief Valentine Obasi.

He pleaded with the police to release the group’s members still in their custody, while allowing the court to serve the course of justice in the matter.

Extend SURE-P to NYSC Skill Acquisition Programme — Jonathan’s aide

BY CALEB AYANSINA

S •Alhaji Auwalu Tukur security in the three points agenda of the governor. So, in terms of peace and security, today in Delta we have peace. Before, you hear of kidnapping, today that is no longer the case. And that is why you see investors both foreign and local pouring into the state.

In term of infrastructure, government is constructing the Ughelli/Asaba express road so that traders from across the Niger can move their goods to Warri and from Warri to Asaba and Onitsha.

Look at the massive development at the international airport. It is the first of its kind in the Southsouth.

As special assistant to the governor on special duties, how have you used your position to promote peace between Deltans and Fulani herdsmen?

Deltans are peaceful and very accommodating. We were born here and we grew up here, we never had any problems until recently when there was a problem with Fulani herdsmen and farmers. I had several meetings with the Fulanis and I cautioned them. Delta is a peaceful state and we have been living in peace for decades. We do not want what is happening in other states to happen in Delta State. Now you no longer hear stories about Fulani herdsmen clashing with farmers because we have talked to them.

enior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Student Matters, Comrade Jude Imagwe has suggested an extension of the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Skill Acquisition Programme.

Imagwe, who made the suggestion during his visit to the NYSC orientation camp in Paiko, Niger State, said this would address the problem of shortage of fund that hampers the entrepreneurship programme of the scheme.

He urged the corps members to take advantage of the skill acquisition programme while in camp so as to increase their chances of being an employer of labour, instead of looking for white collar jobs.

“Most likely someday, we will get to the stage where fund will be provided for the scheme in the SURE-P to strengthen it. But lets not look at the fund part of it first, but making good use of the skills gotten from the scheme”, he said.

Meanwhile, the state coordinator, Mrs Justina Andirya, in her welcome remarks, disclosed that Niger State government had increased the state allowance of corps members in the state from N3,000 to N6,000 monthly.

She said Niger State government had opened a tender for the development of the permanent camp into a more standard one, adding that the scheme in the state had employed the services of professionals to train corps members on skills acquisition.

Oil consor tium donat es consortium donates N1 00m cches hes N100m hestt clinic ttoo Ekiti

By Gbenga Ariyibi

A

consortium of oil producing companies has donated a chest clinic worth about N100 million to Ekiti State government.

The consortium includes Statoil Nigeria Limited, Famfa Oil Limited, Nigeria National Petroleum Company and Petroleo Basileiro Nigeria Limited.

The clinic, according to the facilitator and Director of Government Affairs, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Senator Gbenga Aluko, has facilities which include x-ray machine, laboratories, wards and treatment rooms.

Speaking during the official handing over of the multi million naira project built within the premises of Oba Rufus Adejugbe General Hospital, Ado Ekiti, the Acting General Manager, NAPIMS, a subsidiary of the NNPC , Mr Fidel Pepple, said the gesture was part of the social responsibilities of the Agbami Partners.

According to him,the conglomerate had also embarked on other projects which include science laboratories , implementation of awareness programmes on HIV/AIDS , malaria and other diseases in several communities across the six geopolitical zones in the country to better the lives of the citizens.

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013, PAGE 27

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28 YEARS ON WHEEL CHAIR

‘God so gracious to me’ if it could buy into the idea of helping people living with disability. It approved it and we have gone round the 36 states bettering the lives of people living with disability. We have distributed mobility aids numbering 15,000. That means that about 15,000 people living with disability have been given mobility aids, walking sticks, hearing aids. We should give kudos to MTN for this gesture.

In the last five years, they have spent nothing less than a billion naira.”

While thanking God and trying to wipe the tears that strolled down her face, Akole said she had resigned to fate but commended MTNF for remembering • Mrs.Grace Idowu people like them.

Items distributed at the event which attracted the Deputy Governor of Oyo

BY OLA AJAYI, IBADAN State, Otunba Moses Alake Adeyemo, and many other dignitaries include wheel efore cruel fate confined Mrs.Grace chairs, hearing aids, talking phones, Idowu, founder of a non-governmental cycles, brailles, and other mobility aids. organisation, Independent People Living with Disabilities, to the wheel chair in The Chairman, MTN Foundation, Ambassador Hamzat Ahmadu, said since 1985, she was a vibrant young lady with a promising future. She had lofty ideas on how 2009, the organisation has moved across the country putting smiles on faces of to become somebody important in life. people, especially these special people.

Though fate dealt a cruel blow on her when He explained that the initiative was an accident happened to her which affected predicated on their belief that by her spinal cord, she has since refused to join accepting and the league of physically empowering fellow challenged people who Though fate dealt a citizens, “we are not think the only way to cruel blow on her , she only performing a earn a living is through humane and noble begging. Whereas her has since refused to deed, but are also legs are not strong contributing to the join the league of physically enough to make her socio-economic walk about, her strong challenged people who think development of our will to brace all odds country. As you can the only way to earn a living has kept her going. imagine, a man or a Today, when she looks is through begging woman who is able to back and feels a tinge of move around with a sadness about the wheel chair will be unfortunate accident that claimed her legs 28 years ago, she is full better able to engage in meaningful income-generating activity, thus earning a of thanks to the telecommunication giant, living and taking care of the family.”

MTN Foundation, MTNF, which has made ”So far, we have invested over N7billion her forget her past sorrow. She can boast of in executing projects in 338 sites across many things that God has done for her the country”, he hinted. Explaining especially being given the opportunity to further on this all important service to wipe off sorrowful tears and trauma of humanity, the Executive Secretary, MTN neglect that thousands of other physically Foundation, Nonny Ugboma, stated that challenged people are experiencing. that the body recognises the urgent need She caught the attention of Sunday Vanguard when she spoke eloquently during to positively impact the lives of this segment of the society and commenced the presentation of mobility aids to hundreds the MTN Fundation Disability Support of physically challenged people who Project, MTNF-DSP in 2009. According to benefitted from the milk of kindness of the her, the implementation of the project was MTNF at the SDM Building, Agodi, UCH rolled out in three phases over a threeRoad, Ibadan. year period across the country in She said, “I sustained injury to my spinal cord 28 years ago. I didn’t resign to fate but I partnership with Independent Living Programme for Persons with disabilities. took up the challenge and contacted MTNF

B

L-R: Consultant, Primary Health Care (PHC), LUTH, Prof.

Olayinka Abosede; Special Adviser on PHC to Gov. Fashola of Lagos State, Dr Yewande Adesina; Chairman of the occasion, Chief Molade Okoya Thomas and the immediate past chairman, Lagos State Medical Guild, Dr Olumuyiwa Odosote, at the opening of the 2013 AGM of the Guild held in Ikeja.

L-R: A former Health Minister and president, Igbimo Ure Ekiti, Prince Julius Adelusi – Adeluyi; the special guest of honour, Sir Remi Omotosho, and a former CEO, UAC of Nigeria, Mr Ayo Ajayi, during a reception in honour of Omotosho on his appointment as the Chairman, Standard Chartered Bank Ltd

by Igbimo Ure Ekiti.

Hon Prince Arua Arunsi ( member representing Ohafia/ Arochukwu Federal constituency in the House of Representatives)(r) receiving an award as an outstanding representative, for attracting road projects to his constituency worth more than N8 billion and promoting pro-human bills in the National Assembly from Mr. Salih Yakubu, Executive Director of Centre for Ethics and Self Value Orientation (an international NGO promoting ethical leadership, exposing corruption, ethical education and value re-orientation of global citizens) in Abuja.

PAGE 28—SUNDAY, Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013

Cent enar thle tic Club Centenar enaryy celebration of Sapele A Athle thletic

C

entenary anniversary of the Sapele Athletic Club which commenced on Friday,November 22nd is expected to be brought to climax with a number of events.

The week-long ceremony has seen the Club playing host to various sporting activities attended by Club members and dignitaries from across the country.

Last week, fabulous prizes were won in different categories by members and guests who participated in the sports. Here in pictures are moments from the ceremonies.

L-R:The Club President, Mr Mike Eboh (l) discussing with Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan Delta Sate\s representative, Hon Opkonu Gabriel.

L-R:Chief K.B. Omatseye, HRM Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Hon Okpuno Gabriel and Mr Mike Eboh.

L-R: Chief William Avwighoride, Chief Walter Oyo, Chief ((Mrs) E.E. Onokpa, Chief Lucky Ayomanor, Chief Mrs Margeret Unukegwo and Chief M. Jowho.

L-R:Mr Tony Uba, Mr Ighele Taiye, Chief Felix Aniran, Chief Faith Gbagi and Pa Ovas Esiri.

L-R: Chief Faith Gbagi, Mr Mike Eboh, a security official, HRM Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, one of his palace chiefs and Hon. Okponu Gabriel accompanying the monarch to the arena on arrival.

L-R: Mr Victor Ologagamue, Chief S.A. Temiagim, Chief D.O. Abeke, Chief Joseph Onomor, Chief Fredrick Eba, Chief J.Y. Odebala, Chief (Mrs) Felicia Odebal and Chief William Avwighoride.

PROMOTION:

Newly promoted Lt. Col. Abdulrazaq Kazeem and Colonel Odi were decorated with their new ranks last week.

Lt Colonel Abdulrazaq Kazeem being decorated by Major General Ibifuro Dibi, Commander AHQ Garrison & Mrs Bilqis Colonel Odi being decorated

by Hon Batera Chairman House Committee on Army & Major General BVT Kwaji, Group Managing Director, Army Welfare Holdings

Lt. Col Kazeem been congratulated by Major Gen. Dibi

Colonel Odi being Congratulated by Major Gen. Abdallah Murina

SUNDAY, Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013, PAGE 29

Pot-pourri of style as Ritalori Ogbebor gives daughter in marriage

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op businesswoman and Igba of Warri, Chief (Mrs) Rita Lori Ogbebor, hosted the top echelon of the society, penultimate Saturday, when she gave the hand of her daughter, Jesimi Edowaye, in a marriage to Adewale Omowunmi Shote. The couple took their matrimonial vows at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Gbaja, Surulere, Lagos. Photos by Diran Oshe

The couple, Mr and Mrs Adewale Omowunmi Shote.

L-R: Mr Godfrey Etikerentse, Mr Fred Agbeyegbe and Mrs Shola Williams

L-R: Alhaji Adetola Shote, groom’s father, Mrs Irene Abosede Emmanuel, groom’s mother , Chief (Mrs ) Rita Lori Ogbebor , bride’s mother and Col.onel Paul Osa Ogbebor, bride’s father.

Admiral Ndubusi Kanu, former governor of Lagos State and wife.

L-R: Colonel and Mrs C. O. Ekundayo with General Oladipo Diya.

L-R: Mrs Rita Amuka, Mr Fred Agbeyegbe and Chief Akin Disu, the Bobagunwa of Lagos.

L-R: Chief E. F. Esisi, Chief Kofi Kartey and Prof (Mrs ) Grace Alele-Williams, former VC, UNIBEN

Former Immigration CG gives daughter in wedlock

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ormer Comptroller General of Immigration e r v i c e , Mr Chukwurah Udeh, was a happy father of the bride when his daughter, Nkechi Imelda, and her heart-throb, Oziegbe were joined together at a traditional wedding in Abuja which had the movers and shakers of the society in attendance. Photos by Gbemiga Olamikan S

R-L: Bride’s mum, Mrs Udeh, chatting with Chairman, Editorial Board, Vanguard, Mr Ikeddy Isiguzo.

L-R: Mr. Chukwurah Udeh, with in- laws, Lady Ibudun Uduehi and Engr. Pius Uduedhi and wife

L-R: Bride’s father, Mr. Chukwurah Udeh with former Dep. Comptroller General of Immigrations, Mr. Aliyu Abdullahi

From left: Mr. Udeh, chatting with Ifedima dancers

PAGE 30, SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013, PAGE 31

PAGE 32— SUNDAY

Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013

POLICY SOMMERSAULT

From paper money to polymer, back to paper money

BY UDEME CLEMENT

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ESS than 10 years after launching the polymer naira notes into the financial market, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has concluded plans to scrap the monetary policy on polymer note printing by 2014. Earlier this year, the deputy governor, banking supervision, Mr Tunde Lemo, stressed that the decision by the apex bank to halt printing of polymer notes was due to the discovery that they fade easily, despite previous experiments which showed the superiority of polymer to paper notes in terms of quality and resistance to water.

Now the CBN explains that replacement of polymer with paper notes is imperative as part of the on-going reform in the financial sector and would bring more economic benefits. Some experts spoke with Sunday Vanguard: We need to support government policies aimed at developing the financial sector— Ajakaiye A professor of economics and one-time Director General, Nigeria Institute for Social and Economic Research (NISER), Prof. Olu Ajakaiye said, “To start with, we need to support government policies aimed at developing the financial sector to stimulate holistic growth. In doing that, we should also look at the period when the polymer notes were introduced and the policy evaluation of that time in our economy. The monetary policy on polymer notes was introduced by the CBN under the leadership of the former governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo. Precisely, it was in 2008 that Soludo first unveiled the 20 naira polymer note to the public, initially to test its acceptance.

After that initial demonstration, the current governor of CBN, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who came in as Soludo’s successor, went ahead in 2009 to formally release the remaining 5, 10 and 50 naira versions of the polymer notes, which are still in use now.

“Therefore, within six years that these notes had been in circulation, the apex bank must have been carrying out systematic experiments on them to ascertain the quality and durability, which informed the recent decision to reverse the policy. What I am saying here is that the pronouncement by the CBN to reverse the policy may be anchored on the condition of durability of the existing polymer notes in circulation. During the process of evaluation and experiments carried out on the polymer notes, the CBN must have discovered that the polymer notes fade quickly, and, as such, are not durable like the paper notes.

“So, coming to the issue of economic implications, I want to believe that the CBN must have done its home work exhaustively

I want to believe that the apex bank has also taken cognisance of the issue of counterfeiting associated with paper naira notes and would put measures in place to address this problem while reversing the policy on polymer notes before making that pronouncement. People should also understand the fact that the apex bank does not just wake up to make any pronouncement on important monetary policies without carrying out wide consultations and thorough assessment of the current economic situation in the country. The good thing is the fact that, the apex bank has also said that switching to paper naira notes for some denominations may not attract additional cost of printing. It implies that CBN must have analysed the entire process before making the pronouncement”.

Counterfeiting could be tackled with modern technology – Igwe Giving his own perspective, Mr Silas Igwe, an entrepreneur, said, “Most people are concerned

about counterfeiting that is common with paper notes, especially when you buy things at night, but that should not be a problem because counterfeiting could be checked with the use of modern technology like what obtains in developed countries.

I want to believe that the apex bank has also taken cognisance of the issue of counterfeiting associated with paper naira notes and would put measures in place to address this problem while reversing the policy on polymer notes.

“Beyond that, Nigerians should reason with the CBN in the areas of durability and economic benefits that would come in the long-run, which is what the monetary authority is talking about. We must also realise that to achieve the target of being among the top 20 economies by 2020 depends on the approach we

use in growing all sectors of our economy, especially the financials industry. “Currently, the banking industry is relatively stable because the monetary policies and implementation strategies are well suited. So, let us support the CBN in its effort to restore confidence of the banking public in the sector.”

Aside from scrapping polymer notes, the CBN should address the issue of fake cheques— Udoh A legal practitioner and national co-ordinator, Centre for Societal Values and Development, Mr. Silas Udoh, says apart from scrapping the policy on printing of polymer notes, the CBN should urgently look at the issue of incessant issuing of fake cheques by some

individuals. “Also, the CBN must take serious steps to ensure that those found culpable of issuing fake cheques are made to face the wrath of the law. Doing this would further sanitise the financial sector and serve as a deterrent to others,”he pointed out.

“The reality is that some commercial banks even collaborate with outsiders to perpetuate fraud in the system and such financial institutions must be sanctioned appropriately by the CBN. If that is not done, it may thwart the effort of CBN in making Nigeria a cashless economy. At the moment, the CBN is doing a good job and this step must be seen as part of the reform programme to enhance robust growth in the financial industry”.

‘For Customs, its now risk mgt in cargo clearance’ benefits of this initiative?

BY UDEME CLEMENT

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he Tincan Island Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is focusing on trade facilitation, capacity building and risk management in line with the global trend of Customs operations to enhance revenue generation for economic growth and development. Sunday Vanguard, during a visit to Tincan Island, gathered that the Command is doing more of risk management in cargo clearance to ensure better service delivery in the nation’s port. The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Comptroller Zakare Jubrin, speaks on the economic benefits of their new operational

Comptroller Zakare Jubrin techniques.

Your Command is adopting new operational techniques to facilitate trade at the nation’s port. What are the economic

To start with, the on-going reform in NCS has transformed the entire Service to promote efficiency in all aspects of our operations like what obtains in advanced countries all over the world. The initiative is to key into the economic transformation agenda of the Federal Government to enhance long-term growth and sustainable development. The current Customs operation is intelligence driven with tremendous economic benefits in terms of increase in revenue generation for government, trade facilitation and antismuggling campaign to curtail smuggling of contra-band items into the country. For example, we recorded a huge increase in

revenue generation from January to October 2013 due to this operational efficiency and better service delivery.

Talking about revenue collection, could you give us the statistics in naira and kobo about what your Command realised in 2013 fiscal year?

From January to October this year, we recorded over N196.7billion, as against N170.9billion generated the same period in 2012. This shows a huge difference of N25.7billion. In January 2013 alone, we recorded N16.3billion, as against N14.5billion realised the same period in 2012. Others include Continues on page 33

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013, PAGE 33

Nexim Bank as catalyst for solid mineral devt

BY SYLVESTER AROH

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HE transformation agenda of the Jonathan administration has been equivocal in its determination to liberate Nigeria from the shackles of the nation’s monoeconomic dependence on the oil sector.

It is to this end that the Jonathan administration has embarked on revitalising the solid mineral sector. Nigeria is blessed with rich mineral resources. It is on record that almost all the thirty-six states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory have one or more mineral deposits in stock. Unfortunately these mineral deposits are yet to be maximally harnessed in Nigeria until recently.

It is against this backdrop that the Jonathan administration’s efforts in making the mineral sector work have been appreciated by micro-economic development observers in Nigeria. It is also crystal clear that the development of the solid mineral sector in Nigeria can only be achieved when specialized institutions in the nation’s micro and macroeconomic sector play their roles m a x i m a l l y .

Nexim Bank, one of such institutions, has taken the bull by the horn by spearheading the development of the solid mineral sector in Nigeria. Like President Goodluck Jonathan rightly observed, the mineral sector, together with manufacturing, agro-processing and services (tourism and entertainment), are the constituents of Nigeria’s ‘Mass Agenda’ conceptualized to intervene, and thereby drive growth in the non-oil sectors of Nigeria’s economy. The managing director/chief executive of Nexim Bank, Mr Roberts Orya, has not minced his words in making the impacts of the bank open in the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to him, “Nexim Bank’s intervention in the solid mineral sector is structured as is the case with other three sectors of focus.

We combine funding with capacity-building. We engage stakeholders to identify obstacles to the growth of the solid mineral sector. And we look at efficient ways to remove the barriers.”

The development of Nigeria’s solid mineral sector is a global challenge. It involves not only making the sector merely open for investors but providing the atmosphere for such operations to be conducive and encouraged.

This Nexim Bank has come to fill the gap in conjunction with other stakeholders.

“Once we have the initial local private investment in place, with government approval, I am pretty confident that foreign capital will follow. Like the oil and gas sector, we can attract global companies to come here (Nigeria) and invest in the solid mineral sector, .”Orya said.

The intervention of Nexim Bank, as well as other specialized institutions, has been enhanced following the passage of the Minerals and Mining Act 1999 which provided a robust legislative framework for the sector.

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi Coal On a general note, the solid mineral sector of Nigeria has great prospect for many reasons.

The recent roadmap by the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development is encouraging. Apart from the roadmap, Orya is of the opinion that other measures already adopted in the sector will revamp the mineral sector.

At the last count, the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, with a wider mandate) has confirmed that Nigeria is blessed with thirty-four solid minerals currently being promoted for investment. The minerals are capable of playing a key role in Nigeria’s housing, infrastructure, and construction industry. They include coal, iron ore, limestone, granite, marble, bitumen, gypsum, talc, lead/zinc, gold, kaolin, copper, soda-ash, rock salt, uranium, limestone, uranium, tin, asbestos, columbite, to mention a few. One huge benefit of the Orya-led Nexim Bank in contributing maximally to the development of solid mineral is the sector ’s multiplier effect in job creation for the teeming youths of Nigeria. From available records, the number of youths unemployed outweighs those employed. The imbalance has also led to the economic retrogression of Nigeria as a lot of manpower is constantly being

Nexim Bank

Economic analysts are of the opinion that if Nexim Bank sincerely delves into the solid mineral sector as well as other non-oil sectors, Nigeria will mark a sporadic economic turnaround wasted due to under-utilisation of the nation’s human potentialities.

Thus the intervention of Nexim Bank in diversifying the solid mineral sector is a welcome development because it is a singular act that will make the fortunes of Nigeria not the same again.

The recent assertion of Orya that Nexim Bank has resolved to create and sustain 15, 000 jobs in the non-oil sector has been heartrending. The chief executive has therefore assured that Nexim Bank will make this laudable goal realizable through the provision of finance and enhance industrial capacity as well as support the acquisition and adoption of new and clean technologies, thereby ensuring competitiveness of Nigerian products and manufacturing operations.

“The bank’s funding

intervention in support of exports has created and sustained 60, 000 jobs in the past few years: 2009 – 25000 jobs, 2011 – 35, 000 jobs. The bank support has attracted foreign generation of about 100 million dollars annually, making a total of 200 million in the past years, “Orya said.

The determination of Nexim Bank to generate multitude of jobs in Nigeria is premised on huge intervention in the sectors with higher investment potentialities such as mining, agriculture, tourism and creative arts.

Economic analysts are of the opinion that if Nexim Bank sincerely delves into the solid mineral sector as well as other non-oil sectors, Nigeria will mark a sporadic economic turnaround. Records also indicate that the bank is not

new in this sector because it has supported the Nigerian non-oil export to the tune of N20 billion naira. Orya said, “As regard the intervention in the next five years, our strategic plan is to support the non-oil sector to the following minimum level: 2011, N37 billion; N2012, N41 billion; 2013, N50 billion; 2014, N63 billion; and 2015, N94 billion.”

He added that although the solid mineral sector is capital intensive, the bank has identified with it because the sector is strategic in the nation’s e c o n o m y .

His words: “In the area of solid mineral sector, we are working in partnership with the industry’s stakeholders to take formal mining off the ground again.

Although mining is capital intensive, the Nigerian solid mineral sector needs more than funding. The legal and regulatory frameworks in Nigeria are works in progress.

Nexim Bank has so far provided 2 billion naira in early funding to help some commercial miners to develop their sites in order to start operations and invite further funding from other sources apart from the long-term commitment of Nexim Bank to the nascent industry.”

*Aroh is the Northern Regional Editor of a Lagos based research intelligence magazine

For Customs, its now risk mgt in cargo clearance’ Continued from page 32 N16.2billion in February, N17.5billion in March, N19.1billion in April, N19.9billion in May, N17.6billion in June, N20.4billion in July, N23.6billion in August this year, N23.3billion in September and N22.3billion in October. Our seizures returns for the same period in 2013 include 40ft containers, 20ft containers, unpacked vehicles and others items with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N531.3million.

Your Command is also focusing on risk management in cargo clearance. Could you give us insight into how risk management relates to

Customs operations?

We are also focusing on risk management because this is important for economic stability and sustainable growth. As such, the top Customs management is already putting measures in place for adequate capacity building programmes for clearing agents on areas like classification of goods, valuation methods and the need for them to ensure compliance in giving honest declarations in their Customs documentations. Aside from that, the Service has also developed a new ICT software known as Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) to fast track Customs procedures and guarantee immediate

release of goods at the nation’s ports. PAAR is coming as a replacement for Risk Assessment Report (RAR), which had been in use before now to guide us on the level of intervention in the clearance of goods from the ports What is the difference between PAAR and RAR? The difference is the modern technology associated with the new software, which is PAAR. For instance, the software has a risk management system, which could be accessible to relevant agencies of government for faster, better services delivery and operational efficiency. The software also has what is called integrated risk

management platform that could be used by various regulatory agencies operating within the nation’s ports. Such agencies include Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Nigerian Agriculture Quarantine Service (NAQS) among others. This device comes with a web-based system that utilises modern technologies for greater efficiency. We give credit to the Comptroller General of Customs, Dikko Inde, because this achievement is part of the on-going reforms in the Service to enhance rapid economic transformation.

PAGE 34—SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013

Jonathan’s Agenda: Answering the Road Question...

BY GODWIN SOGOLO

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Apapa-Oshodi Expressway before the ongoing rehabilitation work. of neglect and inadequate funding of road infrastructure.

More than two years on, the situation has changed, dramatically, with marked improvement in the conditions of the roads, as a result of the unprecedented and massive rehabilitation, reconstruction and expansion of major arterial highways under the leadership of Jonathan and the purposeful management of Onolememen.

As stated in the Mid-Term Report presented by him, “The Federal Ministry of Works has been alert and responsive to the strategic importance of Nigerian roads and the need to make them motorable, safe and pleasurable for roads users .... The Ministry prioritised its 160 on-going projects and began the process of rehabilitating and completing the most strategic ones, based on the funds available.”

It is noteworthy that the Ministry’s programmes of road construction and rehabilitation cut across the length and breadth of the county. There is no zone or even State where the Ministry is not engaged through its numerous construction and rehabilitation projects. The under-listed road and bridge projects are some of the Ministry’s undertakings which have either been completed in the last two years or are at various stages of completion: • A p a p a - O s h o d i Expressway was an embarrassment and a source of agony to many Nigerians before the Jonathan administration. It has been improved upon tremendously in the past one year.

• Benin-Ore-Shagamu Highway - a 262.5 km, connecting the Southwest, Southsouth and Southeast; was not only a “death trap,” but also a nightmare for travellers who spent over 9 hours travelling from Lagos to Benin City. That was before Jonathan’s transformation agenda. Today, although the project is on-going, there is marked improvement on this road and the Lagos-Benin City journey has now been reduced to between 3-4 hours.

• The Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja dualization project is an arterial highway, linking the Southeast, South-south and Southwest to the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja. Before Jonathan, this project suffered delay due to inadequate funding. However, in the past ten months, the Ministry of Works has intensified efforts in moving the project towards

completion which is scheduled for October, 2014.

• The Kano-Maiduguri dualization project is the major arterial highway connecting Kano and Borno States, via Jigawa, Bauchi and Yobe States.

Awarded since 2006, the project witnessed rapid progress in the past ten months with a projection that it would be completed in December, 2014.

• The Onitsha-Enugu Road rehabilitation project covering some 108 km which, like other major projects, suffered slow pace of work due to inadequate funding. And, like the others, this project has enjoyed enhanced funding by the Jonathan administration and its completion is now targeted for December, 2013.

• The Ibadan-Ilorin Road is a major North-South arterial highway that passes through towns such as Oyo and Ogbomosho.

Section III (Ogbomosho-Ilorin) of this

,

HE transformation agenda of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is obviously gathering momentum and yielding great results in all sectors, going by the comprehensive Mid-Term Reports presented by the various Ministries. Contrary to the propaganda in the media, fundamental changes are taking place and the foundations of sustainable development are being made.

Only on rare occasions do some sections of the media admit, and grudgingly too, that there are signs of improvement in areas such as the economy, agriculture, power supply, women empowerment and now, security, especially since the declaration of emergency in the three Northern States of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

One of the sectors in which there has been remarkable development is road infrastructure. Yet, the interest of the media in this sector has been on how terribly bad Nigerian roads were, ignoring what has been done or is being done in recent times to change the situation.

Millions of Nigeria are unaware of the history of road construction in the country and the importance of road transportation to the economy and national integration. Nor, are they aware of the severity of the challenges confronting the sector and the on-going transformation of Nigerian roads.

The history of road construction in Nigeria dates back to 1914 when there was less than 3,600 kilometres of paved roads. At independence in 1960, the Nigerian landscape was dotted with a skeletal network of trunk roads, secondary and feeder roads. Today, the network of roads is in excess of 200,000 km. It is worth noting that a large number of these roads were constructed before the 1980s.

Since then, the nation’s major challenge has been that of maintaining the existing roads rather than constructing new ones.

Knowing the place of road infrastructure in the overall development of the nation, the choice of a Minister to lead the sector has always been carefully made. It was not, therefore, surprising that President Jonathan picked Architect Mike Onolememen as the Minister of Works.

Onolememen, a professional to the core, knows his onions. Not only did he, from the outset, understand his mandate and the challenge before him, he also knew the importance of the sector assigned to him, which many consider to be key to sustainable development in the country.

When Jonathan assumed office on May 29, 2011, Nigerian roads were described as “death traps.”

The administration inherited over 160 road projects, none of which was completed. Indeed, many of the projects had been abandoned while interim certificates remained unpaid.

In addition, the morale of engineers in the Ministry of Works was very low. This sorry state of affairs was due to decades

road (Section I) and Onitsha Eastern bye-pass Section I in Anambra State; completion of the rehabilitation of ObiozaraUburu-Ishiagu-Awgu Road, Phase I, in Ebonyi and Enugu States; construction of a bridge at Lafenwa in Ogun State; rehabilitation of 8 Nos. expansion joints on 3rd Mainland Bridge (Phase I) in Lagos State; and, dualization of Ibadan-Ilorin Road section I (Ibadan-Oyo) in Oyo State.

There are other road projects, including bridge constructions.

Among them are the Loko-Oweto Bridge, linking Nasarawa State to Benue State; the Onitsha Head-Bridge end of OnitshaEnugu highway; the Kano Western bye-pass flyover; the Kaduna eastern bye-pass, between Kakau and Kashia road flyover in Kaduna State; and the 84-km Lafia-Awe- Obi-Tunga road in Nasarawa State.

The Ministry of Works has, in the past two years, invested great

It is noteworthy that the Ministry’s programmes of road construction and rehabilitation cut across the length and breadth of the county. There is no zone or even State where the Ministry is not engaged through its numerous construction and rehabilitation projects

dualization project has been completed while Section 1 (Ibadan-Oyo) is near completion.

Within the last two years, the following road projects have either been completed or are near completion: construction of Gombe bye-pass, in Gombe State; rehabilitation of KatsinaDaura road, in Katsina State; rehabilitation of Aba-Owerri road, in Abia State; construction of Eleme junction flyover and the dualization of access road to Onne Port, Phases I & II, in Rivers State; rehabilitation/ construction of Ijebu IgboAjegunle-Araromi-Ife-Sekona road, section II in Ogun and Osun States; emergency reinstatement of collapsed section of Gombe-Potiskum road (km.12) in Gombe State; completion of the construction of Mararaba-Bali road in Taraba State. They also include: rehabilitation of Hadejia-Nguru Road, Phase I (HadejiaKirikasama) in Jigawa State; dualization of Onitsha-Owerri

,

efforts and huge resources in tackling the problems of gully erosions and washouts across the country. The projects include those of the Gombe-Potiskum road washout in Gombe State; Auchi-Okene washout in Edo State; Ayogwiri road washout in Edo State; the Onitsha-Enugu road washout at Km 6 and km 30 and Km 35 in Anambra State.

One of the strategies that account for Onolememen’s huge success is his willingness to partner international agencies, particularly the African Development Bank and the World Bank with which the Ministry has collaborated in funding many road projects.

More importantly, the minister is fully committed to the transformation agenda based on the belief that to attain the goal of good and sustainable road network in Nigeria, the private sector must be involved. He has, for this reason, continued to seek the participation of private sector investors in the concession of

major road projects, including: Second Niger Bridge linking Delta and Anambra States; Bridge over River Niger at Nupeko, Niger State, and expansion and upgrading of Apakun-Murtala Mohammed International Airport road, in Lagos State.

In many of the major road projects, the Ministry is collaborating with the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) which has facilitated the pace of work in some of the road projects, including the dualization of the Abuja-Lokoja road, Kano-Maiduguri road, Benin-Ore-Shagamu expressway, the Onitsha-Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway and the Loko-Oweto Bridge.

It is remarkable that, last year, the Ministry successfully carried out repairs/replacement of the Expansion Joints of the Third Mainland Bridge, with minimum discomfort to Nigerian road users. Also noteworthy is the success in executing the rehabilitation of the Jebba Bridge, including hydro-demolition and replacement of expansion joints, asphalting, road furniture and street lighting.

• Given these achievements, it is difficult, even for the opposition, not to accept that the Ministry of Works is working hard to improve road infrastructure in Nigeria and that the Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda is on course, as far as road sector is concerned.

Onolememen’s performance justifies Jonathan’s choice of professionals for certain key positions in his cabinet. Indeed, Onolememen is doing for the Ministry of Works what Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is doing for the economy, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi for the banking sector, and Olusegun Aganga for Trade and Investment, Stella Oduah for the aviation, Dieziani Alison Madueke for the petroleum sector, Dr Paul Orhii for the nation’s drug administration sector, Arumah Oteh for the security and exchange sector, etc.

There could not have been a better person to transform Nigerian roads than a chartered Architect and professional construction manager of over 25 years cognate experience in the private and public sector of this country. He has the knowledge, expertise and, above all, the vision. So, on appointment as the Minister of Works, his philosophy was simple and straightforward: “In solving a difficult problem, do not attack the symbols. Rather, study the background and root-causes of the problem, and then proceed to tackle it.” That, precisely, was the strategy adopted by Onolememen on assumption of work at the Ministry.

Having studied the situation, comprehensively, Onolememen concluded first, that he needed to re-organise the Ministry for greater effectiveness. So, he created more departments and directorates in the six zones to allow for closer supervision of projects at each of the nation’s geopolitical regions.

Secondly, he was convinced that there were abandoned projects. His answer was to prioritise and concentrate on a few of the existing projects. As a result, he was able to complete, within 2 years, 80 out of the 160 on-going projects that he inherited.The minister ’s prioritisation also debunked the misconception that the cost of road construction in Nigeria is higher than in other parts of the world.

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013, PAGE 35

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nce upon a time, millions of children all over the world were afflicted by a crippling, incurable and fatal infectious disease known as poliomyelitis (polio). Today, the world is heaving a sigh of relief because polio is on the verge of eradication. While experts note that ending polio will be an historic feat for humanity, and also a huge part of efforts to reach every child with a range of life-saving vaccines, one organization that has relentlessly pursued the dream of global polio eradication is Rotary International. It has a simple strategy – prevent infection by immunizing every child until transmission stops and the world is polio-free. According to Dr Tunji Funso, Chairman, Nigeria National PolioPlus, this is a mission possible. Funso, who is also past District Governor, Rotary Nigeria, says with consistent vaccination, the world would soon be free of polio just like it did with small pox. He speaks on Rotary’s polio eradication drive.

Excerpts: The polio virus Polio is a highly contagious viral infection that affects the nervous system. Children can be infected with polio when they eat or drink food and water contaminated with the virus or when they come into direct contact with an infected person’s faecal matter.

The virus enters the body orally, and travels to the intestines where it multiplies. Eventually, the virus passes into the blood stream and attacks the nervous system - the spinal cord and brain.

The virus damages nerve cells and can cause crippling paralysis, sometimes overnight.

Generally polio affects children under three, but adults can contract it as well.

Eradication drive Rotary International has been at the forefront spearheading concerted global efforts to eradicate polio from the world.

With its over 1.2 million-member volunteers’ network base, it collaborates with various governments, partners and agencies to stem the devastating onslaughts of the polio scourge around the world. It was estimated that the deadly virus which attacks children below age five was responsible for about 350,000 deaths globally in 1998 and infects about 1,000 children daily. The most substantial structure and alliance forged in this direction and saddled with the responsibility to coordinate total polio eradication was the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) led by Rotary International, WHO and UNICEF, and launched by the World Health Assembly in 1988 where all governments of the world made commitments to work towards total eradication of polio.

The initiative was inspired by Rotary International’s 1985 pledge to raise $120 million toward immunising all of the world’s children against the disease. Rotary set out to raise $120 million but raised $240 million.

Essence of eradication The whole world cannot afford to be idle about the polio virus

A COUNTRY IN BAD COMPANY

Only Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan are still polio endemic

— Dr Tunji Funso,Chairman, Nigeria National PolioPlus Committee *How we are kicking it out’ * because it has come so far and must strive to win the war completely. We are 99 per cent on our way to eradicating polio but, as every long distance runner knows, it is that last mile that is most difficult and requires bringing out not only physical resources but mental as well.

Failure to eradicate polio from these last remaining strongholds could result in as many as 200, 000 new cases every year, within 10 years, all over the world. This is why the World Polio Day is so designated to focus on the polio disease. In previous years, WPV has spread from polio-endemic countries to neighbouring countries and sometimes beyond.

12 previously polio-free countries had WPV circulation in 2011.

Global progress Of the three polio viruses WPV1, WPV2 and WPV3, only WPV1 still exists. The other two have been eradicated. WPV 3 has ceased to exist anywhere in the world since November 2012.

Today, only three countries are polio endemic, Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan, a significant shift from the 125 endemic countries in 1998, and 223 reported cases in 2012. As at October 2013 just about one case of infection is recorded in two days on the average and more than 100 countries have stopped transmission. The progress made so far was possible due to the relentless efforts of Rotary International in driving the largest public private partnership in history by advocacy using its over 1.2 million-member volunteers around the world. While we advocate, raise funds and actively participate in immunizing children, our partners the governments of the world, WHO, UNICEF, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have been providing financial, technical and human resources to get the job done.

Nigerian situation As of October 4, 2013, there were

49 cases of confirmed Wild Polio Virus in nine states compared to 101 cases in 11 states same period 2012. A total of 122 WPV cases (103 WPV1 and 19 WPV3) were reported in 2012 - a 97 percent increase from 62 cases (47 WPV1 and 15 WPV3) reported in 2011. As at October 4, 2013, Nigeria had only one confirmed circulating vaccine derived poliovirus (cVDPV2) in one state compared to five cases in two states same period in 2012. There has been a remarkable progress.

World Polio Day Though the impact of the joint efforts (GPEI) is quite substantial and has been pegged at 99 per cent success rate, children would only be free when polio has been totally eradicated from the world like the small pox. In view of this, October 24, globally earmarked as the World Polio Day continues to serve as a veritable tool in drawing attention to this all important issue across the world and reminding all of the commitments and dire need to rid the world of polio.

Global commemoration Rotary is passionate and committed to the annual programme which serves as a good platform to generate interest and increase awareness towards total eradication of polio..

Currently, Nigeria requires one billion doses of the oral polio vaccine annually and NNPC is striving to raise $500million for the total eradication of polio in Nigeria alone. We are working with various partners this year, we are therefore partnering Cycology, a foremost cycling club in Lagos to remind everyone of this important issue and also strive to raise $500million funds to support Rotary’s global efforts in this direction.

Rotary Bike-A-Thon As part of activities to mark this year’s edition, Rotary, on October 19, organized a charity cycling event tagged Rotary Bike-a-Thon to highlight the strategic importance of raising awareness

level, collaboration and embracing the oral vaccinations to aid complete eradication of the virus in Nigeria and globally. It was to remind all and people in the southern part of the country that polio is still with us and we need to get the job of polio eradication done by working to end polio now.

The event tagged the “ThisClose campaign” featured registered and well kitted riders including Rotary Club members, Cycology Riding Club members and others in a 5km, 10km and 50km exhibition ride. Star actress Funke Akindele was appointed by Rotary in Nigeria to join other

*Funso ball. Tremendous progress has been made in the high risk states in the north but we court disaster if we do not ensure all children in Nigeria are immunized against polio otherwise even most of the southern states that have been polio free for a few years now can see a re-emergence of polio with catastrophic consequences.

Everyone needs to join hands with

As of October 4, 2013, there were 49 cases of confirmed Wild Polio Virus in nine states compared to 101 cases in 11 states same period 2012 notable global Rotary polio icons, Bill Gates, Desmond Tutu, Isabella Fontana, Donnie Yen, Jackie Chan, Dan Maraya, Sani Dana and many others in creating awareness for polio in a fun and practical way. Akindele would also be spearheading the grassroots enlightenment outreach in the rural areas.

Challenges It was Rotary international coming from the experience of successful immunization campaigns in the Philippines who in the early 80s proposed to the World Health Organization (WHO) to consider a programme to eradicate polio from the world.

Hitherto the strategy was just to protect children from getting polio by giving routine immunization.

The end game strategy for polio eradication requires that we continue to keep our eyes on the

others as polio free areas stand a great risk of infection as long as there are still cases of infection in any other location. The recent outbreaks in Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan which have been polio free for some years are quite instructive in this regard. For as long as polio exist anywhere in the world no child is free from polio no matter where they live.

End of polio America still continues to immunize its children against polio though it has been polio free for about 40 years. I urge every Nigerian parent and guardian to embrace immunization as it is very safe and necessary to fortify children against polio.

Let parents, guardians and care givers continue to take their children for immunization until polio is eradicated from the world.

PAGE 36—SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013

AVIATION: Attitude of Nigerians may endanger air safety – Onyema

•Says solution to air crashes is maintenance

C

hairman of the Foun dation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN) and a cadet pilot, Mr Allen Onyema, speaks on how to make Nigeria’s airspace safe among other issues.

What is your take on controversies trailing the proposed national carrier giving the Nigeria Airways experience?

What I think the government should bother itself with is providing the necessary infrastructure for the private sector to thrive in aviation. I do not support government running an airline. Airline has several avenues for leakages. Even private owners find it extremely difficult controlling corrupt practices within their system.

Government cannot and will never be able to run this business. The government has a sincere disposition towards setting up a national carrier but the truth is that corruption, in the coming years, will destroy the airline.

If the privately owned airlines cannot effectively curb leakages in their system, government would be worse off.

Our airspace is becoming unsafe once again, as somebody interested in Aviation, what do you make of that?

You may be right and wrong that our airspace is becoming unsafe because of the not-toogood stories of the past.

About a year ago, Dana Airline crashed, we had the helicopter crash in Bayelsa and now you have the Associated Airlines plane crashing, these may prompt anyone to say that the skies are not safe. However, it may not be totally correct to say that our space is unsafe.

It’s unfortunate and regrettable that these things happened. Some of these things could be avoided but that is not to say that they do not happen in other places.

It’s just that when it happens in other places, the way they react and the things they put in place to forestall recurrence is not the way it happens over here. As far as I can say for now, the Nigerian skies are very safe despite the Dana and Associated plane crashes.

We also had the IRS that was guarded to land in

Kaduna and a Cargo airline that made air return...

This country needs the media to understand aviation very well, that is, the dynamics of aviation and the dynamics of flying. If we all understand it, we would be spared a lot of the stories going round. Every country has air returns on daily basis.

Air return is a precautionary measure, it’s not that there is going to be a disaster. It is like when you are driving your car and one of your dashboard lights shows, you should stop and look at the car, to know what it is. It may be ordinary fuse which may not actually endanger the car.

It could be something serious.

So, when a pilot notices an adverse signal in the air after take-off, the only way he could stop is to turn back or land at an alternate airport.

The attitude of Nigerians and the press might endanger flight safety in this country. The way the media report aviation issues might endanger flight safety. When a pilot decides to take precautionary measures of going back to base, what you see in the newspapers the next morning is ‘ABC plane almost crashed! Danger averted! 98 people escape death!’

No, you don’t say it this way. In the developed nations with world class facilities, they do air returns regularly, you can have more than 20 air returns in a day.

But in Nigeria, once it happens, the Minister must resign is what you hear. Time may come when these airlines, in order to keep afloat, will beg their pilots to see how they could manage it to the end and not have an air return. And it could spell disaster.

The Aviation Minister was quoted to have said that air crashes are inevitable. What do you make of that statement?

I’m not the mouth-piece of the minister and I wasn’t there to know how she put it.

But I’m sure what she wanted to say was that there are times you can’t avoid these things not that every air crash is inevitable. There are certain things that are avoidable. Whether we like it or not, the present regime has tried for the aviation industry.

We must accept that. This present minister has given our airports a facelift. Despite all the things that were done

*Mr Allen Onyema

in the past, this present minister and the government have gone a step further. It has never happened in this country; to give zero import duty to importers of aircraft and aircraft spare parts; now, you don’t pay a dime! And the government did these because they want to support flight safety. They said that the money operators would have used to pay heavily in taxes, they could channel to maintenance.

So government has done its best. And don’t forget, there is a regulatory body. Nigerians should understand that there are certain agencies that are autonomous. In fact, if it is found that government is over-bearing on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in a manner that is regarded as a distraction globally, Nigeria can be sanctioned seriously.

People don’t understand this. The question is, who maintains the planes for these airlines? The solution to all these air crashes is maintenance. NCAA should be able to ask questions. Some of these things may also be human errors, 90 per cent of air crashes all over the world are due to human errors.

Is maintenance part of human error?

Both maintenance and

pilots are human errors. Most times, the pilots are part of the human errors. There are procedures you must follow. If the pilot fails to follow procedures, there will be problem.

Talking about Nigeria, you said we are impatient, when a plane does air return consecutively within a short time, it boils down to poor maintenance...

I know what you are trying to say. I’m not saying that

and I support any pilot who deems it fit to come back. So, the frequency of it might be as a result of poor maintenance. The civil aviation regulation stipulates that when there’s poor maintenance, such plane must be grounded. If a particular plane does that several times in a week, the plane must be grounded and proper look taken at it.

So, the most important thing NCAA should do is to ask every airline, every private operator, even the private jets, who maintains your plane? The NCAA should carry out periodic audit of every airline to determine the maintenance status of their fleet.

There are different kinds of maintenance system. We have the equivalent system, where the airline can employ aircraft maintenance engineers from different places. There is also the one that allows you to entrust your maintenance to an MRO - that is, a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Organization.

For example, the Equivalent System demands the airline operator to advertise and take engineers they feel are qualified for the kinds of plane they have. They are your own staff working for you, then, they will be undertaking your line maintenance.

In the other system, you contract a Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) organization. An MRO must have had the approval and capability to maintain the kind of fleet you have. You have some MROs that maintain only Boeing. So, if you have airbus, they can’t sign contract with you. Some may be maintaining Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, etc and are approved by their own regulatory bodies. When they come here, the NCAA must assess and certify them to work in Nigeria before you sign a contract with them.

The MRO works full time

It has never happened in this country; to give zero import duty to importers of aircraft and aircraft spare parts; now, you don’t pay a dime! And the government did these things because they want to support flight safety people don’t cut corners. It is obvious they do. But what I’m saying is that in all cases where people have air returns they should be encouraged to continue doing that if they notice anything. It is the pilot’s discretion to decide to continue the flight after seeing the signal on the dashboard. It’s not every red light that brings down the plane. So, it depends on the pilot. Some will come back

with the airline and ensures that every plane in operation is airworthy. Once contracted, you can never force them to sign off into service any plane that is not airworthy.

MRO is better because you don’t have the headache of bothering yourself about your staff. The MROs bring about quality because they have their name to protect and if anything goes wrong, the

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013, PAGE 37

By Simon Ebegbulem, Benin-City

F

UGAR, the home town of the former Chief of General Staff (CGS), the late Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe, aka NNS FEARLESS, stood still penultimate weekend, when the community hosted eminent Nigerians who attended the burial ceremony of their son. It was tears throughout the burial; the reason for the love which the people exhibited is not far-fetched. In 1996, while Akhigbe was the CGS, equivalent to the Vice President, he created Etsako Central local government from the old Etsako East. He built roads and provided electricity among other infrastructures for the community. So, in Fugar, he was held in high esteem and his people always showed appreciation each time he called on them. That is why even though he was a leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he instructed his people to vote for Governor Adams Oshiomhole of the ACN in 2007 when he faulted the way the leadership of the PDP imposed candidates for elections.

Akhigbe’s burial attracted dignitaries such as the VicePresident Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and his wife, Oshiomhole, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Chief Tony Anenih and Minister of Works, Arch.Mike, Onolemenmen, among others. St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Fugar, venue of the funeral Mass was filled to the brim. Elder brother of the deceased, Chief Alemo Akhigbe, who spoke at the service, appealed to the Federal Government to immortalize the late admiral due to his contributions to the nation’s democracy. Oshiomhole, Mark and others poured encomium on him.

But to the surprise of many of the guests that came, particularly from Abuja, the Chief of Staff (COS) to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadohme, was conspicuously absent at the burial even though he was said to be in Fugar because of the burial. Sunday Vanguard was informed by family sources that the COS was barred from attending the burial by the Akhigbe family following the instructions left behind by the latter that Oghiadohme should not be welcomed at his burial.

Sambo, Mark and Oshiomhole reportedly visited

•Akhigbe lying in state

FEAR OF THE DEAD

Why Ogiadohme, Jonathan’s aide, did not attend Akhigbe’s burial Ogiadohme at his country home after the church service at St Theresa. The COS allegedly adhered to the instruction left behind by his former boss by sitting in his house quietly to entertain his own guests. As far back as 1998, Akhigbe was said to have been instrumental to the election of Oghiadohme into the House of Representatives. Before the election, Oghiadohme was said to be Personal Assistant to the late admiral.

Akhigbe then allegedly facilitated the election of Oghiadohme as deputy governor of Edo State under Governor Lucky Igbinedion.

That was after the Abdulsalami Abubakar led government decided to relinquish power to civilians. But their relationship went sour, Sunday Vanguard gathered, when Akhigbe lamented that even as deputy governor, Oghiadohme could not attract development projects to Fugar apart from the ones he Akhigbe put in place while he was CGS. Apart from that, after Oghiadohme became COS to the President, a section of the PDP in

Edo North senatorial district, where both of them hail from, anointed Oghiadohme as the leader of Edo North people, an action Akhigbe saw as an attempt to undermine the late admiral by his former PA. Sunday Vanguard learnt that it was during this

the COS visited him at his hospital bed and asked for forgiveness. The late admiral was said to have assured that he had forgiven him but admonished him to go to the village and retract the claim he made against him.

Oghiadohme reportedly came back to Nigeria. It

Sunday Vanguard was informed by family sources that the COS was barred from attending the burial by the Akhigbe family following the instructions left behind by the latter that Oghiadohme should not be welcomed at his burial period that Oghiadohme made some claim against his former boss. The claim , it was gathered, did not go down well with Akhigbe and he decided to stay away from Oghiadohme for several years.

However, a family source said that while the former CGS was sick in London,

was not clear whether the COS carried out the former CGS instruction. After the death of the admiral, Oghiadohme allegedly visited the family in Fugar and gave some money to them to use to entertain visitors before the burial. But when Akhigbe’s immediate family heard of it, they reportedly in-

formed the head of the Akhigbe family to return the money, and that was when they disclosed that their father left instruction that Oghiadohme should not attend the burial because he failed to do what the late admiral advised him to do in London. According to a family source, “That was why even though the COS was in Fugar, he could not attend the burial notwithstanding that he was supposed to be the chief host. Nobody from the community would have welcomed him there because, as far as the community was concerned, he had become a persona non grata.

There was a time the Fugar Progressive Union tried to intervene in the matter but it was difficult. We knew we have a problem but solving it was another problem because this was not the kind of thing you start explaining.

It is because of this issue that you noticed that Oghiadohme can never win any election in his booth in Fugar because Fugar people are angry with him”.

PAGE 38 — SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013

ASUU PROLONGED STRIKE

Our losses, frustrations, by students, parents, businessmen

BY TAYE OBATERU AS the nation hopes for a quick resolution of the fivemonth old strike by the academic staff of universities, students, parents, business people and other Nigerians in Jos speak on how the strike has affected them.

L

University of Lagos: When will the students go back to school? have continued to appeal to ASUU to call its members back to work because of the immediate effect of the strike on students, their parents and others, as well as the long term damage it would do to the education sector and the society at large.

Many cite the danger of leaving vibrant youths idle for a long time which could lead them into unhealthy behavior.

Some even claim that many students have taken to crime, prostitution and other vices as Satan finds work for their idle hands. Students have themselves expressed their frustration at different fora for losing valuable time they should be using for studies and moving towards their goals in life to a prolonged strike.

Ukah Emele, a 400 level student of the University of Jos, expressed his feelings thus: “The strike has affected me nearly in every aspect. I practically feel like five months have been deleted out of my life already. I mean, I would have been a graduate today and possibly serving my fatherland. In as much as I have been able to do a few things, I would have done a lot more if I had graduated as scheduled.

I am losing flair for academics, no thanks to the FG/ASSU situation.”

Another student, Philip Ekigwe, said the strike has devastated him emotionally putting a cog in the wheel of his dreams. “I’ll say the prolonged ASUU strike has affected me negatively. It is so because not only has the strike devasted me emotionally, it has also forcefully put me behind my schedule of progress.

It has shortened my elaborate plans for the future to a mere

,,

IKE a joke, the strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, is going into the sixth month.

When it started on July 1, 2013, many had expected it to last only a few weeks.

Many students were initially reluctant to leave school for home expecting the strike to be suspended ‘soon’. Their expectation has been dashed and the strike has dragged from weeks to months clocking almost half a year.

The negotiations between the Federal Government and ASUU since the strike started is yet to result in any positive development. Although hope rose following a meeting of the ASUU leadership with a government team led by President Goodluck Jonathan, which was said to have lasted about 14 hours, certain developments seem to have compounded the situation resulting in further frustration for students, their parents and other Nigerians. The major development was the death of former ASUU President, Professor Festus Iyayi, in an automobile accident on his way to the meeting of the National Executive Committee meeting of the union in Kano to deliberate on the referendum by members based on the meeting with President Jonathan.

His sudden death forced ASUU to suspend the meeting for which the nation had waited expecting an end to the strike.

While some claimed the meeting was suspended indefinitely, the social media was awash with speculations, mostly unfounded, that ASUU would not meet until January. The rumor aggravated the distress of all those concerned who want an end to the strike.

Contrary to the speculations, however, the meeting eventually held penultimate week but the outcome was equally disappointing to many as, rather than an announcement of an end to the strike, ASUU came up with some conditions that must be met for the strike to be called off. Many Nigerians

With the strike all my plans are shattered and yet I cannot plan further. It has made me less enthusiastic about reading and education

dream that breaks with the break of dawn. You can imagine a four-year degree programme which I had hoped to complete in 2012 now dragging to God knows when”, Ekigwe said.

“With the strike all my plans are shattered and yet I cannot plan further. It has made me less enthusiastic about reading and education. In session, schooling makes the mind active and searching. But the strike has made me lazy and dull. I can’t remember the number of times I had need of my books since the strike commenced”.

In the absence of much to do and the lack of interest in studying occasioned by the lack of an idea of when the strike would end, students spoken to said they have been finding ways of keeping busy to engage their minds. For Emmanuel Kalu, who is lucky to be skilled in computer programming, he has been working “to keep my mind busy.”

He, however, expressed concern that the situation was not pleasant as students who opt to work often have to settle for

menial jobs because they are unqualified for professional jobs. He agreed that the situation could lead to increase in crime and prostitution.

Emele was also worried about the possible backlash of the strike, noting, “ we have seen crime rates soaring since this industrial action started. Take a look at the social media, it is all about the book of lamentations, report of all sorts of wrong activities occasioned by idleness - rape, armed robbery, unwanted pregnancies, prostitution and possibly suicides.”

The students are not alone in the lament as parents are equally grief-stricken seeing their children idling away for months. Those interviewed said they have had to incur additional expenses feeding and taking care of their children and wards much more than when schools were in session. According to Ambrose Amali, whose three undergraduate students are affected by the strike, “the children seem to consume more because of idleness. Initially I was harsh on them blaming them for being

wasteful as their constant report of this or that has finished was upsetting my budget, but I now try to understand their frustration.”

Upkeep Amali explained that beyond the issue of additional upkeep expenses is the greater worry of the danger of keeping vibrant youths who are naturally restless idle. “It is a disturbing situation. You know you cannot keep this young people in one place for too long.

They keep finding excuses to go out ad there is little you can do as a parent because you know it is caused by boredom.

So you just continue to hope and pray that they don’t come to harm’s way”, he said.

Unlike Amali, Mrs Catherine Emerole, another parent, is in constant fear of her children falling into bad company. “I have two of them who are affected by the strike and the situation is giving me serious problems. Whenever I go to work, I am always afraid of the type of friends they might have taken home or gone to mix with. When school was in session, they were always busy studying or doing their assignments but tell them to study now and they tell you, ‘for what, when we don’t know when ASUU will call off their strike”, she said.

“This is why we have been appealing to ASUU to consider the long term consequence of this strike and call off the strike. We know that they are fighting for things to be better but they should also see things from the perspective of we the parents who are disturbed that the future of our children are being jeopardized”.

Different stroke for different folks, goes the saying. While parents and students are lamenting the waste of time occasioned by the strike, it is a different ball game for those doing business within and around university campuses who said their sources of daily bread have been negatively affected by the strike. From business centre operators to food and provision sellers and commercial vehicle operators, it has been five difficult months as students who form the bulk of their customers are out of school. Many of them told of how it has been a tough journey since the strike began and students out of school. At the university of Jos, many shops at the Students Centre at the Bauchi Road campus have been closed for lack of business. The few that still open say business is at its lowest ebb. “You can see for yourself that there is no business. How many people can you see in this whole place? We are just coming because this is our place of business and we have nowhere else to go. The situation is really bad and we are having to look elsewhere to be

Continues on page 39

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013, PAGE 39

ASUU, Please leave this fight for another day

H

E that fights and runs away lives to fight another day!” is an ancient proverb that conveys a profound message.

Paraphrasing this, one can say that ‘not all fights must be won at once’. Looking at the recent events in the education sector, it is almost evident that the current strike carried out by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is not anywhere near over, or so the leadership of the union may have us believe.

In Nigeria's education sector, strike actions are very frequent. In 1999, the universities were shut down for over six months over issues that bothered around increased funding for universities, welfare of members and development of dilapidated infrastructure in the university system.

In 2001, the universities were again shut down over the same issues. Between 2003 and 2007, the schools were shut down twice for the same reasons. Consequently students were made to stay idle at home for months. In 2009, the struggle continued and yet again the tertiary education sector was closed for over four months.

To put to an end to the 2009 strike action, the Federal Government set up a team to tackle and provide a lasting solution to the problem. A committee of pro-chancellors of various schools and other respected individuals were given the task.

Grey areas raised by the striking lecturers included the autonomy of universities (specifically, they sought the government to reduce its influence over decision making in the various schools); an increase in retirement age of professors from 65 to 70; increase in funding of federal universities. They also demanded that the Federal Government make education intervention fund available for state-owned universities (which are the responsibilities of the state governments); and as expected an increase in the welfare packages of union members. It took over four months, several meetings, countless deliberations and negotiations for an agreement to be reached and signed. With the benefit of hindsight, it has become very obvious that some of the terms of the agreement are not implementable. The Senate President, and many analysts have echoed this position.

For example, ASUU proposed that the government takes steps necessary to ensure that 26% of the country's budget be allocated to the education sector as advocated by UNESCO and that 50% of that

allocation be allotted to tertiary education. In translation, ASUU requested that 13% of the nation's budget be allocated to the universities. Considering the fact that Nigeria is a vast nation with a diversified economy, and the recent security challenges in the country, it was almost impossible for government to live up to its own side of the bargain fully.

Nonetheless, the government did increase funding of the education sector and in turn the universities. Budgetary allocation to the educational sector has been on the increase since 2011. It moved from 7% in 2010 to 7.4% in 2011. In 2012, there was a significant increase that saw the education sector receiving 8.43% of the national budget hitting an all-time highest allocation for the sector (Ministry of Finance, August 2012).

In 2013, aside from allocations to trust funds like the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and its sister agencies, the education received a lion share of 8.67% of the nation's budget which is about N426.53 billion, making history as the highest allocation to the sector and the first time that the sector received the highest allocation of the budget. Sadly, only 14% of this figure is for capital expenditure, which in turn means that 86% went into recurrent expenditure (Budget Office web release November 2013.)

The trend clearly shows commitment on the part of government to improve education standard in the nation. Despite these interventions, ASUU deemed it fit to embark on another industrial closure in 2013. On July 1, 2013, the union embarked on another strike action, over what it tagged as the failure of government to honor an agreement entered with the union (ASUU).

After several failed meetings, and several attempts by government frustrated, ASUU eventually had an audience with Mr President.

The meeting brought relief to most Nigerians even union leaders seemed optimisticl.

ASUU leaders promised to take the benefits and conclusions from the presidential intervention back to its members. This was an indication that the strike would soon be called off.

Ironically, ASUU has come up with new conditions before the schools can be reopened.

The three conditions as contained in a letter written to the supervising Minister of Education, Mr Nyesom Wike, dated 25th November 2013 include payment of accumulated salaries owed to them during the strike period, initial release

Jonathan

These new conditions only confirm the fears of many Nigerians that ASUU has been infiltrated by politicians as a tool against the incumbent administration.

Naturally, one would have expected a sign of goodwill with the reopening of the schools before more bargaining

,,

By Kareem Malik

of N100 billion for schools this year and the payment of a balance of N1.1 trillion Naira spread out for the next four years starting in 2014.

These new conditions only confirm the fears of many Nigerians that ASUU has been infiltrated by politicians as a tool against the incumbent administration. Naturally, one would have expected a sign of goodwill with the re-opening of the schools before more bargaining. Hasn't the government done enough? One would have expected that since the striking lecturers received the sympathy of many Nigerians, and the ears of Mr President, resumption of the schools would have been a sign of good faith. It is worthy to note that during the tenure of President Obasanjo, the striking lecturers went on strike without pay. Jonathan hasn't done the same. Does ASUU take his gentility for granted?

Can a nation tackle all its problems at once? No!!! But can a nation tackle its problems over time? Yes. ASUU should give the government time to carry out already agreed areas.

*Malik is a post graduate student of the University of Kano. Km2012@yahoo.com

Our losses, frustrations, by students, parents, businessmen Continued from page 38 able to fend for our families”, Emeka, a business centre operator explained.

Diversion Similarly, only a few of the inter-campus commercial cabs still operate around the university because others have diverted to other routes since the strike started. According to Ganiyu Aransiola, one of the cab drivers, “ we have been thrown out of business because of the strike. Without students, our business is usually dull but this one has affected us more because of the long strike.

That is why many of our people are now plying other routes to be able to earn some income to take care of their families.”

Parents and students alike renewed their appeal to both the Federal Government and the striking lecturers to find an end to the impasse because of the negative effects of the strike on them and the society in general. They say they have suffered enough and should be saved further frustration that could arise from a continuation of the strike.

Said Emele, “The Federal

Government should honour agreements. Like one famous Nollywood actor said in his song, ‘agreement is agreement’. If government must ask for renegotiation which obviously has prolonged this strike, it should first honour the one it entered with ASUU in 2009; even if the terms were unfair, it is agreement. Whatever ASUU is asking is largely aimed at making our educational system better and by extension the whole country, so government should not be scuttling plans to make the sector better today and be telling us about Vision 20:2020 tomorrow. That is hypocritical.

“On the part of ASUU, it is good to protest wrongs, but they have to be careful not to make striking a leisure activity. I mean, let’s face it, the teachers are facing a government that has historically failed to manage almost anything properly, so staying out of class rooms indefinitely is only leaving the students worst off as they are the grass that are suffering. ASUU must find other means to protest their employer ’s negligence; this strike has become one too many.”

His position was shared by

Ekigwe who said: “My call to ASUU is that they should call off the strike, return to the classroom while exploring other means of pursuing their grievances. ASUU should realize that strike has not repaired any of the decays they decried. Instead, it has decayed it the more. Federal Government should on its part, be mindful of its obligations whether on agreement or not and be committed to it.”

Losses Virtually all those spoken to agreed that the society generally, was losing a lot from the strike given its implication for various segments of the society and especially for innocent students who are the proverbial grass that suffer from repeated strikes. All expressed the hope that ASUU would consider their plight and suspend the strike. As Kalu puts it, “ we appreciate that ASUU is fighting to make things better, but there are other ways for their voice to be heard rather than the strike option. We the students are the ones feeling the brunt of the strike and they should take this into consideration and call off the strike.”

PAGE 40—Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013

By DELE SOBOWALE “A President is helped by what he gets into his mind. His first need is information. No doubt he needs the data that advisers can provide. He also needs the little things they fail to mention-” Neudstadt, in POWER AND PRESIDENTS. RESIDENT Lyndon B Johnson, 1908-1973, who succeeded assassinated Kennedy, was not charismatic. Yet, he got more bills passed under the Great Society Programme than any other President in four years. Asked how he did it, he answered, “I knew my appointed officials won’t tell me all I needed to know. So, I had a Special Assistant whose duty was to bring to my attention what the critics were saying. Once in a while, I would invite one of them and ask him face to face to tell me what was wrong with our programme or execution. It was always revealing.”

Jonathan needs to know that he does not always get all the facts from his staff.

P

INTRODUCTION “What does corrupting time not diminish”- Horace, 65-8 B.C. (VAGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 247).

That annual budgets would thereafter be presented to the National Assembly, NASS, on time was one of the promises made by the Federal Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, CME, shortly after returning for a second tenure. The 2014 Budget had followed the tradition established

by President Obasanjo, even when Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was Finance Minister. It had arrived later than expected and landed straight into a storm of controversy. Most of the blame for the altercations can easily be placed at the door-step of the Executive branch of government.

More to the point, the Minister of Finance had disappointed, not only Nigerians, but, her most ardent admirers. No serious government handles its annual budgets this way.

Certainly, the Minister cannot recollect one year in all her twentyfive, at the World Bank, when the annual budget was presented late and without a credible summary of the achievements for the previous year. Professional stakeholders had expected the Federal Government to render the account of its stewardship in 2013; at least up to the third quarter. There was none. That is not global standard which everybody expected of a former World Bank official; especially a former Managing Director. Is the Minister succumbing to the environment in which she finds herself instead of raising standards? Back in July, the Minister of Finance had ruffled the feathers of members of the National Assembly, over the 2013 Budget amendment proposals. She was reported to have said that the “Nigerian economy will shut down

by September” if the budget amendment was not approved, as presented by the Executive branch before proceeding on their annual recess. Although the Minister later

•Jonathan

Okonjo-Iweala

•David Mark

•Tambuwal

2014 BUDGET SERIES (1)

Born in controversy, heading for rancour disclaimed the statement, a resolution of the House, passed during a plenary session in Abuja, accused her of “blackmailing the National Assembly and inciting Nigerians against the Parliament.” Honourable Samson Osagie, the Minority Chief Whip, probably spoke the minds of most of the lawmakers when he declared: “The Minister seems to know everything about the economy more than any other Nigerian. We can no longer take it.” Her conduct, when she was invited to explain her role in the Ministry of Aviation Duty

Every budget includes some grey areas, controversial elements which are tucked in by the Executive branch hoping to get them accepted based on the President’s clout. A President with a definite and committed majority gets more of those passed than one without Waiver scandal, had done very little to endear her to the NASS. She had got up to leave before being dismissed, as was customary at those hearings and she had to be

called back to observe protocol. A lawmaker later observed that “the woman is too arrogant for my liking.”

Continues on page 41

Vanguard, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2013 — 41

Continued from Pg hostility to the Finance Minister, the President already has an uphill task to get the 2014 Budget passed as presented. To make matters worse for the President, the Minister of Finance is not the only Minister whose reputation will not induce the NASS to approve the budget in a hurry. The Minister of Petroleum is another. NNPC is her albatross; left to the NASS, the top managers of the NNPC would be packed off in handcuffs. Lately, the Ministry of Education also lost prestige and if the same Minister for Aviation will be stepping up to defend her Ministry’s budget, the NASS might as well go on indefinite recess – the clash of political parties and legislators will ensure that some of the sessions will be rowdy. Clearly, the President’s core team of Ministers has become a heavy liability on this vital matter.

THE DWINDLING MAJORITY “A week is a long time in politics”, said Sir Harold Wilson, the pipe smoking and longest serving Labour Prime Minister in British history.

There are times when the President of Nigeria must feel as if he was elected several decades ago. An American President, John F Kennedy, 1917-1963, once said that, “there is nothing worse for a leader than to look back and discover that nobody is following”. On the 2014 Budget, Jonathan is not assured of many followers in the NASS. The coalition of forces, which brought President Jonathan into office in 2011, has been melting, slowly but surely, like butter left out in the scourging sun. The President no longer enjoys the support of all the PDP lawmakers in both chambres of the National Assembly; meanwhile, the opposition, hitherto, working independently, has fused into a solid block. In addition, there are scandals, real or imagined, regarding NNPC and remittances to the Federation Account. The illegal Excess Crude Account, ECA, which had been used to augment shortfalls in revenue, is gradually being exhausted; external reserves are declining and nobody seems to know what happened to all the funds devoted to SURE-P. Just last week, Ondo State was announcing that they have not heard of SURE-P. And, to cap it all, the President cancelled planned budget presentation twice; went off to London; fell ill and returned with nothing substantially achieved. Altogether, it had not been the best of times for President Jonathan and the Finance Minister.

WHAT TO EXPECT “In times of victory, prophets are unnecessary distractions”- Trevor Roper (VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, p 204). Even the most loyal Jonathan supporter and his best friend must accept that this is no time of victory for the President. Judged by several indices of economic health (external and domestic debt, job creation, poverty alleviation, infrastructural development, advancement of

•Diezani

•Aviation Minister Odua

Born in controversy, heading for rancour education and scientific research, health services etc), there is very little for optimism. Furthermore, the 2014 Budget promises a series of cuts in government expenditure across the board. Recurrent and capital expenditure will both get slashed; interests paid on the nation’s mounting debts will climb and the President will inevitably deliver another one of those addresses asking Nigerians “to make sacrifices.” That appeal will not be well received; especially given the rising mountain of scandals (fuel subsidy, pension, police housing scheme, crude oil theft, NNPC remittances, Lawan/Otedola bribery case, Aviation Ministry Duty Waiver etc) on which the Executive branch is sitting. Reduced government spending, delayed payments to contractors and late passage of the 2014 Budget are by themselves guaranteed to hinder progress – even if the budget is passed as presented. Unfortunately, the 2014 Budget will be presented to the most hostile NASS since the first Supplementary Budget sent in by Obasanjo in 1999. In 1999, that year in which we started on this new journey, and which seems so many centuries ago, the President could count on total support from all the members of his political party who constituted about 67% of the NASS. Today, even with three senators from each state, the President cannot be guaranteed majority support. When the mind turns to the House of Representatives, where northern

Reduced government spending, delayed payments to contractors and late passage of the 2014 Budget are by themselves guaranteed to hinder progress – even if the budget is passed as presented

states enjoy absolute majority, and consider the fact that members from Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger, among others, are on war footing against the President’s party, it requires no special knowledge or wisdom to realize that this will be the most hotly debated budget ever.

Delay is certain. There were delays in the past; even when the NASS was more friendly. The 2014 Budget will be a test of our ability to manage a difficult situation.

UNCERTAIN POWER SITUATION IN 2014-5 “If we want Presidents alive and

fully useful, we should pick them from among experienced politicians of extra-ordinary temperament”Richard Neudstadt, in POWER AND PRESIDENTS. Underlying all these uncertainties is the confused power situation as we head into 2014. The preparations for the 2015 elections should start in earnest by the middle of the year.

But, in reality, the scramble for power has started already and 2014 Budget is destined to be one of the hostages of 2015 elections. Every budget includes some grey areas, controversial elements which are tucked in by the Executive branch hoping to get them accepted based on the President’s clout. A President with a definite and committed majority gets more of those passed than one without. When the power situation is uncertain or the President is perceived as weak, those provisions in the budget are seized upon by political opponents to frustrate the President. After the failure of the third term gambit, Obasanjo became a lame duck President as far as the NASS was concerned – even when he still had enough power within the party to impose a terminally ill candidate as President. By contrast, Jonathan’s position is uncertain – partly by choice. He has not declared his intentions for 2015. The advantage in that posture is to make it difficult to treat him as a lame duck; just in case he chooses to run for the second term. The disadvantage is just as clear; his stance makes it impossible for any possible supporter to be so openly and totally committed to his cause when the battle for the 2014 Budget starts. Yet for difficult budget battles, as Obama’s experience in the USA had demonstrated, a President needs absolute support of his allies in the NASS. Without that, the 2014 Budget is headed for the dustbin.

PAGE 42 —SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013

GOV’S ABDULFATAH’S DEFECTION AND THE FEAR OF SARAKI

‘Our colleagues in Kwara APC have nothing to worry about’

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

P

rince Yemi Afolayan was Kwara State secretary of the PDP before the former ruling party in the state merged with APC. Afolayan was a member of th e Kwara

House of Assembly and special adviser on political affairs to former Governor Bukola Saraki before he became party chairman.

He speaks on the defection of the PDP faction to which Governor Abdulfatah and his predecessor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, belong to the APC. Excerpts of i n t e r v i e w : There are fears in Kwara APC that the Sarakis would hijack the party following the high profile defection from the PDP. What is your r e a c t i o n ?

When there is change in a system, people always find it difficult to adjust.

Our colleagues in APC have nothing to fear because our leader, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki,

believes in an egalitarian society where there are equal opportunities for everybody; and Saraki is coming into APC with an election winning machinery from which our brothers and sisters in APC will benefit. The project, Kwara, is key to everybody whether you are in APC, PDP or those who are still reluctant to come. I’m using this medium to tell all and sundry that there is no problem, nothing to be afraid of; we are together because we need to work together. The fact is that the merger of PDP and APC in Kwara is good for us because it will accelerate the development of our state and also assist in the empowerment of individuals as well as add value to the populace. I urge those people who are afraid to be patient, get themselves out of garment of fear because those of us who are following Dr Saraki into

APC know that he is not vindictive; we will do things together.

What are the expectations following the merger?

The merger is a welcome development that will deepen the developmental process in the state. The merger will ensure all inclusive politics in the state, consolidate the current transformation and deliver more dividends of democracy.

In fact, to a very large extent, the merger was a manifestation of like- minds coming together for the good of all, without any bias. So in Kwara today, APC remains a credible option as it houses likeminded progressives.

There is a claim that APC never had structure in Kwara. Is that true?

Our chairman was surely misquoted. How could a party that contested the last gubernatorial election in the state not have structure?

They have and we are now one. I advise Kwarans to see the merger as a clarion call on all to be state builders and transit Kwara into a model state in Nigeria.

What is going on in the state and what are the expectations in view of this development?

You can see in the media that

K

w

a

r

a

.

What is your reaction to the people of Offa and others who are said to be reluctant?

Prince Yemi Afolayan when statements were made by our leaders that we have merged and we strictly complied. And in the agreement to merge, there are certain modalities that we need to work out. These modalities are being worked out by our leaders and as soon as it is completed we will now come together and integrate.

It is this integration that is very important and once it is concluded everybody will know and be on the same page. Anybody who is reluctant to come, we will reach out to them and let them see reason why this new change is good in

Our people in Offa are the same, we are one and the same people. For those who are afraid or nursing some animosity, they should put their minds at rest. At the party and leadership levels, we will reach out to them and have heart to heart discussion with them so that they will know where we are coming from so that nobody is left in the cold. Arrangements are being worked out and everything is being sorted out and at the end of the day everybody will be happy for it.

This change came suddenly and, when change comes suddenly like that, people are bound to react; what is in it, what do we stand to benefit? APC has grown bigger than before and, all over Nigeria today now, APC has become a national party.

In the same light, Dr Bukola Saraki is our leader in the state; that is sacrosanct, not debatable. He has discussed and is still discussing with the leaders of APC at the national level, he is still discussing with the leaders of APC at the state level, we will all work together to

ensure that we all benefit. It is not going to be a one sided thing; but for the global effect of Kwara and indeed Nigerians.

What can you say about the threat of the old PDP to control the state in the next elections?

I know the on-going merger talks in the hierarchy of the leadership of APC will be successful, it means we will then have one full house in Kwara. Remember the ACN and CPC, now APC, were the major opposition parties in Kwara and they participated in the last gubernatorial election, nothing like old PDP then.

This scenario I gave you remained so until lately when this merger development came up. This issue of old PDP in Kwara or whatever you call it only exists in ideology and not in reality.

They can be in Abuja or anywhere and label themselves old PDP; but talking politics, if they come to Kwara, they cannot win election in their sitting room talk less of their wards or local government, because nobody knows or recognises them as politicians in the state. So tell me how these people can rule Kwara when the real politicians have come together in APC? It is just an idle talk.

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013 — PAGE 43

PAGE 44 —SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013

400 NORTHERNERS BRIBERY CLAIM: Gov Aliyu inciting Nigerians ahead of 2015 — Onuesoke A

former Peoples Democrat ic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Delta State and currently Special Projects Director in the office of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, in this interview, speaks on the crisis in the PDP, the gains of the Jonathan presidency, Uduaghan’s achievements and the need to jettison zoning system among other issues.

Excerpts: Just recently, Chairman of Northern States Governors Forum and Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, accused the leadership of PDP of bribing 400 northerners to pave the way for President Goodluck Jonathan Presidency in 2015.

How do you see the allegation?

It is not an allegation, but a statement of fact. Aliyu has been synonymous with distraction. He has been making the leadership of the country look as if it is a child’s play. Like I keep saying, the G7 governors are spent forces. They know they do not have political career prospect come 2015. So all Aliyu as the Chairman of Northern States Governors is doing is to frustrate the national development focus of President Goodluck Jonathan.

BY EJIRO IDAMA

O

NE unmistakable and dis cernible thread that has run through the programmes and policies of Delta State Governor Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan is his uncommon concern and care for the welfare of the less privileged. This innate trait in the governor came to the fore once again in Warsaw, Poland at the UN Conference on Climate Change.

Uduaghan, a founding member of R20, an international organisation of sub-national governments, NGOs, corporations and educational institutions across the world which are committed to combating climate change, speaking at a panel discussion on “Enhancing adaptation and resilience at the local level” at the UN conference on climate change (COP 19/CMP 9), lamented the challenges of adaptation to climate change on the rural people, who are most vulnerable to the devastating impact of flooding.

As proceedings at the conference went on, the humane nature in Uduaghan became agitated and uncomfortable. The care and concern of a medical doctor in him could not bear with the urbancentric direction of the discussions. Thus, when the opportunity came for him to make his presentation, he drew global attention to the plight of the underprivileged.

“What I see here is a lot of attention being given to issues in the cities and urbanization, which is important but I will like to see some attention paid to the lives of the people in the rural communities. During extreme weather event like flooding, these are people whose economic and social means are destroyed and they have a lot of difficult time getting on their feet. So the text that will emerge from this conference must reflect the necessity of providing means to improve the adaptation and resilience of the rural communities,”he said.

The governor was speaking

When Aliyu makes statement trying to incite people against the Federal Government, it is something we cannot condone. Why doesn’t Aliyu focus on the development of Niger State instead of making an inciting statement. Niger is the least developed state for the eight years of Aliyu’s rule.

The same Aliyu alleged that if politics is a game of number, northerners may produce the President come 2015. Is this a statement of fact?

I disagree, the North is not more populated than the South.

I have the satellite Google report on Nigeria’s population. The South of Nigeria has 69% as against 31% of the North. The most populated state in northern Nigeria is Kano with 44 local government areas. After Kano, there is no other city that is up to the Urhobo of Ughelli in Delta State. So where is the population from? Aliyu should also be aware that northerners are lagging behind in terms of awareness of voting. We are not referring to the blind population. We are not talking about the Talakawas who cannot separate the voter ’s card from the ATM card.

The Northerners are not more election aware than we do. The fastest growing city in Africa as

•Chief Sunny Onuesoke you know is Lagos State from the southern part of the country. So could Aliyu compare the population of even Port Harcourt to that of Kaduna?

Do you subscribe to Goodluck Jonathan contesting in 2015?

Is Babangida Aliyu telling me President Goodluck Jonthan is not qualified to contest in 2015?

Does someone from his arid base North tell us from the South who is qualified to contest for the office of the President? We should be in position to dictate to northerners who is going to be the President of Nigeria.

Do you advise the President to contest in 2015?

Jonathan is the President of the country. Constitutional he has the right to contest for second term. If he knows that it suits him better to contest, then he should. But I, for one, have started campaigning for Jonathan. I have been setting up committees for the youth wing known as 2015 Advancement for Jonathan Network.

The committee is already working in Edo and Akwa-Ibom, up to our headquarters in Rivers State. It is one of the biggest youth organisations in the world with big boys in the western world, in diaspora and we have a solid base in United States of America.

Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has faced serious criticism of non performance and you being an indigene of Delta State what is your assessment of such criticism?

We should learn how to criticize people based on facts. I am an optimist. I have been a follower of the governor ’s developmental programmes.

This is not because I am a Project Director. Delta State is ahead of infrastructural development than any other state in the country. My friends who came from Newscastle to Del-

The human face of Delta beyond oil from experience. He saw firsthand the havoc, the sorrow and the devastation people at the bank of the River Niger suffered in the wake of the 2012 horrifying flood that submerged about two-third of Delta State. The victims, who were majorly rural dwellers lost houses, farmlands and in some cases loved ones to the flood.

He therefore challenged the international community to pay more attention to the impact of climate change on the people living in the rural communities, stating that enough is not being done to increase their resilience to cope with climate change.

Uduaghan informed the audience that his administration has been doing a lot within the constraint of resources to implement robust adaptation and mitigation measures as the state is prone to flooding.

The governor listed the collaboration with UNDP to organise the Territorial Approach to Climate (TACC) study, now completed with the production of the Integrated Territorial Climate Plan (ITCP) and captures adaptation and mitigation strategies across all, including the rural communities. He also explained that, based on the ITCP report, the state would encourage the use of energy saving stoves, to reduce the felling of trees for energy use at the rural communities. He also listed the use of energy efficient fish dryers and biogas digester that will turn kitchen waste to cooking gas as other initiatives his government is encouraging.

Uduaghan stated that his administration will pursue tree planting initiatives to act as green belt in coastal communities to forestall erosion and flooding. He also talked about the recently launched Carbon Exchange Desk, explaining: “The Carbon Exchange Desk will serve as a clearing house for carbon credits re-

Governor Uduaghan

,

BY EPHRAIM OSUJI

ta State were surprised at the level of infrastructural development to the extent of describing the state as an infrastructural wilderness. My governor wants to embarrass the people with infrastructural development. The roads are t h e r e . We have the best health infrastructures. Unlike other states where they have one or two cities, in Delta has more than 14 mega cities.

Must we criticize to become who we want to be? No. I am not crazy about Uduaghan, but I am crazy about the infrastructure this administration has put in place.

Do you zoning of political offices?

I hate to hear the word zoning, because it is against merit. All I am after is somebody who can deliver the goods, somebody who can pilot the train to where the light is under the tunnel.

Whether you are Igala or Ibo, if I see an Hausa or Yoruba man who can perform well and he wants to contest in Delta State, I will vote for him. I do not support rotation or zoning, I support merit.

Are you indirectly saying the governorship election in Delta State in 2015 should be thrown open?

Why should it not be thrown open. You must pass through a process mill. The best must emerge. Zoning is about negotiation. Give and take. Anybody is qualified to be governor of Delta State.

The programmes of the Uduaghan administration are clear testimonies that the man has innate burden and concern for the well-being of the ordinary folks

,

lated transactions. Delta is the first state in Nigeria to do this.”

True to his words, the governor took pragmatic steps towards alleviating the plight of the victims of the 2012 flood that swept through the country. The governor, who was outside the country when the flood broke out, immediately set up a high-powered emergency committee chaired by his deputy, Prof. Amos Utuama, which travelled the length and breadth of the state and set up

camps in strategic locations to cater for the displaced persons.

He went ahead to inaugurate another committee chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice, Francis Tabai, to manage the N500 million intervention fund for the flood victims provided by the Federal Government.

Uncommon burden for the underprivileged dots his award winning micro-credit programme that has provided economic support to over a hundred thousand economically weak persons, majority of whom are women, in the state. Reports from the Commissioner of Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Antonia Ashiedu, indicates that most beneficiaries of the scheme who started as small scale businesses have grown to medium enterprises and are now exporting some of their products.

The administration’s free rural, maternal and child medicare programmes, where urban poor and rural folks are treated free of charge are no less welfarist. Under the free rural health scheme, which has moved to about 400 rural communities in the state, over 100,000 patients have received medical treatment, including surgeries.

Data from the state Ministry of Health indicate that over 600,000 clinical attendance have been recorded under the free maternal care scheme since its inception in 2008. The scheme provides free medical care for pregnant women from conception to child birth.

Prior to the scheme, the maternal mortality rate in the state was about 450 deaths in every 100,000 pregnant women but the figure has dropped to about 211 deaths, the lowest in the country.

The state government’s urban, rural and riverine transportation schemes that provide comfortable means of transportation for the citizens at drastically subsidized prices, also have imprints of a man with the well-being of the

less privileged at heart. The Mass Transit Scheme at the moment has about 800 buses on its fleet, including 50 Marcopolo buses, 40 school shuttle buses and nine civilian buses for tertiary institutions. The governor ’s target is to increase the fleet to one thousand buses before leaving office.

Rural folks used to rickety vehicles now board fully air-conditioned buses at little cost. Urban dwellers who were at the mercy of Shylock taxi and bus drivers now take pleasure in boarding comfortable buses, popularly called ‘Uduaghan Buses’ at very cheap rates. Riverside dwellers too now move about in comfortable boats.

Most of the dilapidated schools have given way to modern buildings. Uduaghan on assumption of office ensured that students in public schools are enrolled for the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Council on Education (NECO) examinations free.

The state’s bursary and scholarship programme has afforded students the opportunity to realise their dream of tertiary education.

Statics from the Bursary and Scholarship Board indicate that over 80,000 students have benefitted from the bursary scheme between 2009 and 2012, while 1, 236 students in law school have also benefitted under the period.

Over 90 students have also benefitted from the overseers scholarship scheme while no less than 300 have been granted scholarship under the first class scheme.

The programmes of the Uduaghan administration are clear testimonies that the man has innate burden and concern for the well-being of the ordinary folks.

Ejiro Idama is a public affairs commentator

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013, PAGE 45

ANAMBRA: INEC and the APC challenge

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

T

•APC rally at INEC office in Abuja Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, (rtd) and one-time Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The procession took off at 11.40 am. It was led by leaders of the party including,:the National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; Buhari; Tinubu and former governor of old Abia State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu. Other notable members of the party who participated in the protest were: former Governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba; former governor of Kano State, Senator Kabiru Gaya; former governor of Zamfara State, Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima; former governor of Benue State, Senator George Akume and former governor of Ekiti State, Niyi Adebayo.

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HE All Progressive Congress is set to launch a fresh offensive against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over the electoral body’s handling of two elections it recently conducted, the Delta Central Senatorial bye-election and the Anambra State governorship election, which was concluded yesterday. The party ’s leadership has made it clear that it would seek judicial intervention to challenge the outcome of the Anambra governorship poll in line with the provisions of the law.

The APC only last Thursday marched through the streets of Abuja in what looked like an exhibition of its newly acquired status; a party whose trunk and tentacles may have displaced that of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the National Assembly. Indeed, observers believe that the Thursday protest, which began like a carnival at the new national headquarters of the party, was more of a celebration of the events of the past few days following APC’s snatching of five governors from the ruling party to swell the number of state chief executives within their ranks from 11 to 16.

Observers say it was clear that APC would surely do something to flaunt its new status after Rotimi Amaechi, Murtala Nyako, Abdulfatah Ahmed, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Aliyu Magatakarda Wammako, governors of Rivers, Adamawa, Kwara, Kano and Sokoto states respectively, dumped the PDP and embraced the largest opposition party in the country.

Hence, it was not entirely a surprise when the leadership of APC announced last Wednesday that it would march on the headquarters of the electoral commission to lodge its complaints against INEC’s recent performance in the area of conducting elections.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that members and supporters of the party had began assembling at its newly acquired secretariat as early as 8 am.

As more and more party supporters thronged the venue, with music blaring out of several large loud speakers, it did not take long before the atmosphere turned into a mini-carnival.

There was more drumming and dancing as the crowd increased. No doubt, the din attracted the attention of residents of the normally serene Blantyre Street in Wuse Two area of the city.

The crowd intermittently went it into a frenzy with the arrival of chieftains of the party. There was sustained screaming and frenzied dancing with the arrival of former

was cheered along the way by some passers-by while others dismissed them as a bunch of jesters.

Dressed in white T-shirts with the party’s logo, the APC protesters, who also comprised a sizable number of National Assembly members, rendered songs with lyrics that conveyed their grievances. With their brooms raised, some of them sang “We have decided to sweep INEC”. Others chanted “Jega Must go”, “Anambra election must be cancelled”.

The procession arrived Zambezi Street at exactly 11.50 am but were barricaded by a police armored personnel carrier. A detachment of policemen led by an Assistant Commissioner reinforced the blockade

We demand the cancellation of the last governorship election held in Anambra State.

We reject the supplementary election scheduled to hold tomorrow because of the widespread irregularities which took place during the first exercise held two weeks ago

,

The cynosure of all eyes during the march from Blantyre Street, through Adetokunbo Ademola and eventually the Zambezi Crescent headquarters of INEC was the open van on which Buhari, Tinubu, Akande, Onu and Adebayo were ensconced under the scorching sun.The procession

mounted by the police vehicle.

A handful of soldiers were stationed in the background.

One of them later drove a military van to completely block the way to INEC headquarters.

Forced to stop The APC leaders were forced

to stop at the barricade and speak through a loud speaker.

Akande, who spoke first, said the party embarked on the protest to condemn INEC’s handling of recent elections in Anambra and Delta States.

The APC leader also wanted to know why the commission had refused to conduct any election in Oguta constituency (Imo State) since 2011.

According to Akande: “ We are here to say no to rigging.

We have come here to hand over our petition to the leadership of INEC. We demand the cancellation of the last governorship election held in Anambra State. We reject the supplementary election scheduled to hold tomorrow because of the wide-spread irregularities which took place during the first exercise held two weeks ago”.Buhari, Tinubu and Onu spoke along the same line.

The procession circulated leaflets with several inscriptions on them. Some of them read: “Jega, not the INEC messiah, resign now”, “Overhaul INEC now! 2015, this INEC not capable”, “INEC, just one, authentic permanent voters register please!”, “Oguta election, not concluded, why?”, “2015, no hope with Jega”.

INEC had, penultimate Friday, fixed yesterday for the conduct of supplementary governorship election in 210 wards across Anambra State.

The election, held on November 16, had been declared in-

conclusive by the Returning Officer , Prof. James Epoke, citing the huge number of votes that were affected by the cancellation of the election in the 210 polling units, as his reason.

APC, last week, responded to INEC’s handling of the controversial poll by calling for the arrest and prosecution of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the state, Prof.

Chukwuemeka Onukaogu. This was contained in a letter the party wrote to the Chairman of the commission , Prof Attahiru Jega . In the letter, APC demanded that INEC discontinue all arrangements for the conduct of the supplementary election and insisted that no candidate should be declared as winner until a fresh election is held.

The party’s leadership also threatened to go to court if the electoral body shunned its advice and proceeds to conduct the supplementary election.

APC also demanded that the Anambra REC be transferred and another person appointed for the state before the conduct of fresh governorship poll.

Senator Chris Ngige was the PDP candidate in the election.

Chief Obiano, who had the highest number of votes in the November 16 poll, vied on the platform of APGA; Comrade Nwoye represented the PDP which Mr Ifeanyi Ubah was the LP candidate.

PAGE 46 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 1, 2013

Aliu, ICAO and Nigerian Aviation

BY JOEL OBI

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Safe flight to the new helmsman of global aviation body

D

R Olumuyiwa Benard Aliyu, a Nigerian, is now the President of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the global body that regulates civil aviation. He was elected by the unanimous vote of all 36-member states of the Council on

November 18 at the 38th General Assembly of the organisation in Montreal, Canada. He is the fifth President of the Council. Aliu’s tenure commences on January 01, 2014.

His election is historic for Nigeria, Nigerians in the diaspora and Africa.

In the 69-year history of the organisation, no African had been elected to head the body. Incumbent President, Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez, a Mexican, is to serve out his tenure on December 31, giving way to Aliu. It was known several months, even years ahead, that Gonzalez would end his tenure in 2013, so the vacancy was not only anticipated, but very well ‘advertised’.

Nigeria, like many other member states, including those from Africa, was eligible to file in a candidate. To be sure, the Presidency of ICAO is a very coveted position, and any memberstate with guts would relish an opportunity to clinch the top job. It was a trophy up for grabs by the very ambitious, courageous and most determined. Nigeria, not known to shy away from a fight where the prize is high, didn’t need a second invitation. But someone had to act, and fast too.

Enter Aviation Minister, Princess

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VIEWPOINT

Aliu’s election brings to bold relief, the internal contradictions in the nation’s aviation industry and provides valuable lessons for all of us. Here is a man, the product of a sector that is roundly vilified at home but being held up in the most respected international aviation circle as the torch bearer and symbol of Aviation excellence

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Stella Adaeze Oduah. A consummate goal-getter, Oduah sees clear opportunities where many others grope to hazard even a wild guess. The dream looked tall and far-fetched, but with Oduah, no dream, especially that which has the potential to bring honour, dignity and prestige to Nigeria, is unattainable. With bullish determination, and full support of her principal, President Goodluck Jonathan, Oduah resolved to give the ICAO Presidency a long shot, knowing, as it were, that we have in Aliu, as qualified a candidate as anyone could imagine.

When the news started making the rounds that Nigeria was angling to contest the position, not a few thought the Minister and Nigeria were on a

fancy and wild goose chase. But there was a feeling of inevitability by Oduah in the project. Pronto, she dispatched a high-powered team made up of officials from the Ministry of Aviation and Foreign Affairs on the campaign train. From one country to another and from one continent to the next, the team made the push for Nigeria’s candidature. As endorsement after endorsement poured in, one message the team kept bringing back was that the international aviation community was not only aware of, but also hugely encouraged by the milestones and transformation taking place back home in the nation’s aviation sector.

What was more; the recent ICAO audit had listed Nigeria as one of the 14 African countries whose safety record was above the recommended global average. In addition to Aliu’s personality and qualifications, this counted for much in the eyes of voting member-states. If any country had a right to aspire to the Presidency of the body, especially from Africa, that country was Nigeria, they echoed over and over again.

Sitting in that oval Council Chamber on that chilly Montreal winter afternoon of the election, you would truly be proud to be a Nigerian. Even when everyone knew that the election had literally been sealed and waiting to be delivered, there was still a huge sense of anticipation and anxiety in the air.

This however quickly melted away when proceedings commenced and representative after representative not only endorsed Nigeria’s candidature, but also took turns to heap high praise on the qualifications of Aliu for the job.

Incumbent President Gonzalez capped it up when he declared how happy he was to be succeeded by the highly regarded Nigerian. And as he declared Aliu duly elected by unanimous vote, the serene Council Cham-

ber erupted into one huge clapping orchestra to welcome the incoming President who himself was not in the hall during the election proceedings.

As Council Members stood in ovation, Nigerians in the hall found themselves standing taller in awe and welldeserved glorification. It was a scene to behold as Nigeria’s ‘flag’ was literally hoisted in one of the most revered of international arenas.

In his acceptance speech, the President–elect, Aliu, was full of gratitude to Jonathan, Oduah and the government and people of Nigeria for not only nominating him but also for “all the support and facilities put at my disposal in the process leading to this historic occasion”.

For the Aviation Minister, the election is yet another significant milestone in the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government in the aviation sector. Oduah described the election as a landmark event in the history of Africa.

Aliu’s election brings to bold relief, the internal contradictions in the nation’s aviation industry and provides valuable lessons for all of us. Here is a man, the product of a sector that is roundly vilified at home but being held up in the most respected international aviation circle as the torch bearer and symbol of Aviation excellence.

Maybe, just maybe, his election would engender the much-needed self-belief in the capabilities and possibilities that abound in the nation’s aviation sector and provide operators of the system the necessary space to actualise dreams beyond borders. To Aliu, we can only wish you a safe flight as ICAO President. * Obi is the Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Aviation. He contributed this piece from Montreal, Canada.

Madam Imanatue exits at 101 TRIBUTE

BY JOHN OGIGBAH VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF TThe life and times of self-made centenarian

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OWARDS evening hours of a glorious day in 1912 (two years before the amalgamation of the southern and northern protectorates to form Nigeria) was born a precious little baby girl, who, unknown to her parents, was destined to touch her community. This bundle of joy was born into the family of Mr & Mrs Osunan, EBU-UZEA village in Esan North, Edo State.

Her father took keen interest in her and this helped in moulding some positive attitudinal traits in mama.

Mama’s parents were basically into farming and trading. She wasted no time at her tender age in giving a helping hand and ensuring that all was well with the farming and trading activities. Mama was extremely dutiful and this helped her later in life.

Mama started off with farming and was compelled to trade off the excesses of her farm produce. Before she got married, she was well established by the standard of those years as a very successful trader in farm produce. She

would plant and harvest cassava. The cassava was processed to garri and she soon had several farm settlements. She also farmed and sold melon.

Mama bought rubber directly from the tappers into basins which she sold in bulk to middle men.

She also veered into buying fresh river fish from local fishermen. She went as far as Uromi to sell of her wares.

She was indeed a community leader who organized her peers. She settled disputes amongst his kinsmen.

She was a contented woman, free thinking and free minded.

Longevity runs in the family. Her elder sister lived beyond 100 years. Proper values and discipline extended her life span. She always considered the next person. No wonder the song writer wrote: ”Lord help me live from day to day In such a self forgetful way that even when I kneel to pray My prayer shall be for others Others, Lord, yes others Let this motto be Help me to live for others That I may live like thee.

Help me in all the work I do To ever be sincere and tr ue And know that all I’d do for you Must needs be done for others Others, Lord, yes others Let this motto be Help me to live for others

And my new work, in heaven begun May I forget, the crown I’ve won While thinking still of others Others, Lord, yes others Let this motto be Help me to live for others That I may live like thee.

During the civil war man Her role during the Nigerian civil war was unparalleled. She fed the young and old. Little did she know that she had planted herself as a renowned community leader. Her principles were hinged on 1)FAIR PLAY 2)EQUITY 3)SOCIAL JUSTICE 4)SACRIFICE 5)HARD WORK 6)SIMPLICITY 7 ) D E T E R M I N AT I O N Late Madam Imanatue That

I

may

live

like

thee.

Let ‘self ’ be crucified and slain And buried deep and all in vain May efforts be to rise again Unless to live for others Others, Lord, yes others Let this motto be Help me to live for others That I may live like thee.

And when on earth, my work is done

The only regrets she had in life was losing two of her children to the cold hands of death. Her doggedness and determination saw her through those trials.

She was healthy all the way. She was never carried from hospital to hospital, she walked around and was on her feet even on the day she passed on.

She is survived by four children, numerous grand-children, cousins, nephews, in-laws and great grand children amongst whom is Mr. Moike Mimanatue (Aka Pamon) of Mobil Producing Unlimted.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 1, 2013, PAGE 47

BY DELE SOBOWALE VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Pitfalls in a government policy

“

The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously” – Hubert Humphrey, 1911-1978, Senator and later Vice President of the United States.

UBERT Humphrey – made that remark on August 25, 1965, in Madison Wisconsin, US during a heated debate about human rights in America. I have filed it away since then for occasions such as this.

Mr Paul Nwabuikwu, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy, sent a rejoinder on Wednesday, November 20, 2013, to a PUNCH Editorial of November 18, 2013 entitled, “Jonathan, Okonjo-Iweala and Waivers”.

Paul’s rejoinder - which he must have insisted should be carried on the same editorial page- was, certainly, for maximum exposure. Unfortunately, for the Federal Minister of Finance and the Federal Government, it turned out to be maximum exposure of evasions couched in the flowery language of beleaguered spin doctors. The rejoinder, to say the least, was unconvincing and Paul, one of the best in the business, must have been having an off-day.

Perhaps, he should have waited a few days before writing that rejoinder instead of hastily sending a reply which did neither the government nor the Minister, nor Paul any good.

Paul expressed shock at the PUNCH editorial. But, more shocking is his defence. For instance, he informed readers, “A sector-wide waiver policy was introduced to provide specific incentives for some strategic jobcreating sectors. Under this re-

H

Duty waivers: FMF defends the indefensible poorly gime, all businesses in a sector have access to the same incentives”. He then went to list the sectors in the next paragraph.

One would be tempted to assume that a valid case had been made for the implementation of the duty waiver policy under this government and Minister. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Governments from time immemorial have always laid down policies for duty waiver for reasons known to the policymakers.

So, having a policy is not an invention of this government or this particular Minister. It is universal. But, establishing a policy and implementing it faithfully is another matter. One searches, in vain, in Paul’s defence for a statement which states categorically that the policy laid out had been implemented to the letter. That was the point of the PUNCH editorial.

However, there is information in the public domain which would point to the possibility that there might have been lapses here and there. Everybody now knows that Lagos State government was granted duty waiver to import buses for Eko Sports Festival; which is a purely domestic affair. Those same buses, or perfect substitutes, are available in Nigeria with various local representatives of global manufacturers. Why grant a waiver to import what is generally available in Nigeria? In what way would the festival have suffered if the buses were procured in Nigeria and not imported? That is akin to a hunter setting out in search of big animals and wasting his bullets on bush rats!!!

Furthermore, Paul had not mentioned any monitoring mechanism established by government to ensure that duty waivers grant-

ed for agricultural equipment had not been diverted to something else – bullet proof cars for instance. Again, one of the revelations from Oduahgate relates to how easily duty waivers granted in good faith might be abused.

In the last paragraph, Paul declared: “It is clear that PUNCH is deliberately hounding the Coordinating Minister for the Economy who is widely recognized for the strict professional standards at home and abroad, during her

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VIEWPOINT

She had been responsible for introducing two accounts which are unconstitutional and which are subject to abuse by the Federal Government. The first was the Excess Crude Account, ECA

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25-year career at the World Bank and her five years of dedicated service to her country as Finance Minister ”. That is simply pathetic. It is pathetic when anybody in public service resorts to “tears” when being carpeted for what citizens consider questionable management of the finances of a nation. A short answer to Paul is contained in the old dictum: “If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen”. But that would only make it possible for the Minister to continue to cling to the “victim” theory to explain why the search light is beamed on her Ministr y.

Therefore, let me take on Paul on

his own submission. First, the 25 years Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala spent at the World Bank were not spent at the top. We know very little about her earlier years as a career World Bank staff. Furthermore, the World Bank, long before she joined, had been a well regulated institution. And, will remain one long after people have stopped remembering she was there. Even the President of the World Bank does not have the latitude which a Minister in Nigeria enjoys. No staff member of the bank would have obeyed any of the instructions which resulted in Oduahgate. So, it is easy to be virtuous when the culture of the organization makes it almost impossible to do otherwise. By contrast, the Nigerian government is characterized by impunity, immunity, lawlessness and mind-boggling corruption. It is difficult to be virtuous in such a setting. The Okonjo-Iweala, who the PUNCH and the rest of us are questioning, is the one in Abuja not America.

In her five years of what Paul described as “dedicated service to her country”, she had been responsible for introducing two accounts which are unconstitutional and which are subject to abuse by the Federal Government. The first was the Excess Crude Account, ECA, which she unilaterally imposed on the nation. There is no provision for the ECA in our constitution – irrespective of the elegant economic justifications for it. The second was the Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF. Again, I am challenging the Minister to point to the section of the Constitution which empowers the Federal Government to “save” states and local governments’ money on their behalf.

As a Managing Director of the

World Bank, Okonjo -Iweala could not have opened an account outside the mandate of the bank – even if the President had directed her to do so. In Nigeria she opened two. That is the difference organization culture makes. And Paul knows that. So, regardless of the Minister’s personal integrity, which is not in question, at the moment, there is very little transparency about the implementation of the duty waiver policy.

Finally, one would have expected Paul, in that final paragraph, to silence critics by providing, or promising to provide, the list of the beneficiaries of duty waiver, since 2011. That way, Nigerians would be able to decide for themselves whether or not the execution of the policy is in line with its stated objectives.

However, just in case others have forgotten, it was during Dr Okonjo-Iweala’s first tenure of office as Finance Minister that the lion’s share of duty waivers were granted to a northern business mogul and friend of President Olusegun Obasanjo as well as organizations which could not possibly be regarded as strategic to economic development. I am a Christian. But, the duty waivers granted to the Redeemed Church cannot possibly be regarded as promoting economic development - unless, of course— building churches is so classified.

In that case, there are at least 20,000 churches waiting for their own duty waiver certificates.

This explanation is totally unacceptable. It has, actually, done the Minister more harm than good – and Paul too! *Dele Sobowale, Economist, Financial Analyst and Consultant, lives at 11, Vincent Street, Lagos.

Nwariaku: A prodigy goes to glory TRIBUTE

BY FOLU OLAMITI TRIBUTE IN BRIEF A renown engineer rests with the Lord When beggars die, there are no comets seen, but heavens themselves blaze forth the deaths of Princes – Shakespeare DEATH is everywhere, always on the prowl to take mortals on the journey of no return. But Williams Shakespeare makes us to believe that the death of a prince often evokes agony, sorrow and a great sense of loss. He was right because no one loves to lose his dearest and most precious man.

This is to say that the value or rather the worth of a man is best measured after his death.

The thought of Shakespeare comes to play in the passing on to glory of Dr. MacDonald Samuel Chikwendu Nwariaku, a role model and one of the world’s best intellectual icons. He lived an exemplary life as a puritan and commanded respect in every circle he worked and lived. These are great attributes that would have made him a celebrity even in the great beyond.

Late Nwariaku Indeed, the late Nwariaku, an engineer, in life symbolised the best essence of human dignity and good worth in character and conduct. He was a great mind the type of which was rare among his peers and acquaintances, just as he lived through life anchoring his ways on Spartan discipline and enviable devotion to spirituality and services to God. His death was a huge loss to those who knew him well as a fountain of love, epitome of hard work and a mind with milk of human kindness.

A quintessential family man and lover of peace, the deceased was a transformational agent whose public and private life was completely devoted to humanity, as he applied his God-given rich intellectual knowledge and moral

virtues to change the society better than he met it.

He was a man of immense stature who bestrode the world’s engineering landscape like a colossus. Nwariaku hailed from Umudinkwa, Avodim, Ubakala, in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State. The urbane and accomplished engineer began to edify his sojourn in life with a quest for sound education. He attended the famous Methodist College, Uzuakoli, Abia State and the Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha, Anambra State, from where he earned the Cambridge School Certificate in Grade 1, in 1948.

For 16 years, he dedicated his life to academic adventures, revolving within various world class colleges and universities, including the famous Dartmouth College, Hanover, USA; the Imperial College, London and the Kings College, University of Durham, NewCastle.

A soil scientist and engineering expert par excellence, Nwariaku obtained the prized DIC in Highways and Airports in 1959, after obtaining his B.Sc degree three years earlier and bagged the PhD in applied science in 1964.

A patriotic Nigerian who served his fatherland with uncommon zeal and selflessness, the late Nwariaku worked in many areas of the public service and de-

livered his hubristic best in key aspects of civil engineering designs and construction, including roads, bridges, dams, airports, wharfs, water supplies and nuclear energy, whose contributions spanned the domestic and i n t e r n a t i o n a l environments.

The late Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, FNSE, and “Distinguished Merit Award” winner contributed immensely to development of national infrastructure including involvement in the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge, Damaturu-Yola-Ngure Road, CalabarOgoja-Maiduguri Road, Potiskum-Rigachukun Road and serving as Resident Engineer and a member of the Task Force that built the Imo International Airport.

During his research days in the university, his academic pursuits were interspersed with practical trainings and researches during which he was involved in the construction of airstrips on ice, Alaska, US; highways constructions in Copenhagen, Denmark and Saskoping, Sweden; and construction of airport on coral at Gan Island, Southern Indian Ocean, amongst others.

In demonstration of his intellectual creativity, Nwariaku added his name to the engineering discipline literary Hall of Fame with the launching of his book,

‘Principles and Practice in Road Maintenance’, in 2009. The book is described by professionals as a hallmark of intellectual fecundity that is bound to inform future thoughts on road maintenance principles and practice across all climes.

In his private life, the late humanist devoted substantial time and resources to building a family that ordinarily symbolises an ideal home, a model of moral and spiritual virtues.

Married to Dame Julie OnumNwariaku, a member of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the deceased bequeathed a worthy legacy in a son and another intellectual prodigy, Prof Fiemu Nwariaku, and a grandson, Ikenna.

His priceless works have made him a man that a country like Nigeria should not miss at this critical point of its dire needs.

Though we need this fine gentle man as a people, we remain helpless because God needs him more. What else can we say than to wish him well in his passage to eternity? Adieu, our father, uncle and brother, as we wish you a blissful rest in the bosom of the Lord.

Nwariaku’s was buried yesterday after a funeral service at Saint Thomas Anglican Church, Ubakala in Umuahia South LGA, Abia State.

PAGE 48—SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 1, 2013 sameyoboka@yahoo.com

08023145567 (sms only)

If the poor can't eat, the rich can't sleep----Bishop Odedeji

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youths have been at home for the past four months. I’m not happy! I believe many parents are not happy with the development. In the past four months, a lot of them have joined bad gangs, a lot of them have even died, because I heard that some students were involved in an accident. I’m sure a lot might have been pregnant or into a lot of atrocities. An idle mind, they say, is the devil’s workshop. It’s unfortunate that these things are happening when our president happened to be a lecturer before and one would have expected he’d know the implications of the strike. I’m told he has been trying to make sure that this thing is resolved; but as long as it has not been resolved, to a common man, he has not done well. I believe it’s high time that this country looked for another means of settling rifts and rancor in the education and other sectors. It seems that in our country today, the only language that our leaders understand is strike and that is why every parastatal is going that way because they believe that’s the only way they’ll get their voices heard. We condemn the leaders in this country, what of the followers? If the followers are good, the leaders themselves can be replaced.

IGHT Reverend James Olusola Odedeji was consecrated bishop on February 24, 2013 and was enthroned on April 28 to preside over the Anglican diocese of Lagos West. Our SAM EYOBOKA was there when he addressed addressed religious correspondents recently. Here are excerpts from that parley: How did you receive the news of your election as the bishop of Lagos West Diocese?

I know they went to the Ibru Centre, AgbarhaOtor in Delta State for the bishops' retreat and I am aware that the agenda included the election of bishops into the three dioceses of Akure, Oshogbo and Lagos West. All along, we’ve been praying for God to give us a leader that will replace our Papa.

We were expecting that after election, the delegates will come home and our bishop would be announced. On this fateful Wednesday, January 9, I returned from the cathedral tired after a prayer meeting. I managed to eat a light dinner and went to bed. I was asleep when I received a text message.

I ignored it because I was tired. After the third beep, something said to my spirit to open my phone. So I opened it and saw the first text 'Congratulations, God has done it.' I didn’t know what was happening, so I assumed that some people I prayed for had received their testimony. I looked at the second one, I saw 'Congratulations my lord.' I still felt that might have been a mistake. But the third one was so explicit; 'You have just been elected the bishop of council of Lagos West.' It was at that point that it dawned on me and the sleep went away. I called my wife and she advised that we must be very sure.

We were trying to pray while the whole compound has turned into jubilation, my parlour was flooded, the outside was flooded, everybody saying congratulations. The phone was ringing; when they could not get me, they called my wife. We didn’t sleep till about 2:38 a.m. When they asked me to address the people, I didn’t know what to say than to say let us thank God. I must be honest, I believed that one day I may be, but I never expected it now because I still have a lot of years ahead. Number two, I never expected to be elected bishop of Lagos West. But I won’t tell you that I never expected to be a bishop in life because I entered the work at a very tender age. I was 22 when I entered Emmanuel College. I was ordained two years later and I have gone to schools. I became a dean at 42 and being a dean at 42, there is the likelihood that one day I would become a bishop.

How far has it been?

It has been glorious, interesting, it has been challenging; but I must confess, God has been in control. The first thing that we did was to visit all the churches in different locations. As of today, I have visited 328 churches and had confirmation services in so many churches. We have confirmed about 1,799 candidates and have also done some other duties like laying of foundation for churches.

We have attended spiritual programmes, been to lots of dioceses in this part of the country to exchange pleasantries.

Considering the very big shoes you've stepped into, what has been the major challenge that you have faced?

Let me first of all address what you said about the big shoe, when I came in. I have decided not to put my legs in anybody’s shoes. I want to wear my own shoe because God knows why He has done what He did. So it has been challenging because this diocese is the largest diocese in Nigeria. We have 30 archdeaconries, we have population. I can tell you that population is an advantage. We have some churches with over 4,000. We have more than 8,000 members here. For a young bishop like me to pastor such a large church, you can be sure that it’ll be very demanding, but like I’ll always say, God has been in control. He has been supplying the necessary anointing and energy to cope. All that I solicit

*Rt. Rev. James Olusola Odedeji from my people is prayer.

What are those things you would like to do differently from what you have seen?

I have been saying it everywhere; I have three major areas that I believe God is asking me to impact. The first one, this diocese is blessed with human and material resources: we have people, we have churches, we have men, and we have women.

But I believe that everything is not naira and kobo. I want to lay serious emphasis on the spiritual growth of the members. I don’t want anybody to leave the church and go to hell. My idea is that I want every member to be

call pragmatic evangelism in an aggressive manner. It is not evangelism to share tracts to people, to communicate to people about the saving power of God, the salvation plan of our saviour but also to influence our community until they buy our lifestyle. Because the Bible tells us that not everyone who calls Him Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of God, but everyone who does the will of my father and the will of my father is that we must be our brothers’ keeper.

I said to some of my people here that there’s no point you being rich and some people are wallowing in poverty. All the crimes in the country are not

It’s unfortunate that these things are happening when our president happened to be a lecturer before candidates of heaven. So spiritual growth, spiritual revival will be my major focus. I believe that Jesus Christ was not drunk when He said 'seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all other things will be added unto you.' The second one is about the youths. I want youth empowerment, not only by putting food on the table, but being able to breed young men and women for the next generation because we are all products of our past experiences. This country I believe can only get better through the younger people coming up. I want us to lay emphasis on the youth development, youth involvement in activities of the church. The third one is what they

unconnected to the fact that people are hungry. We can see poverty boldly written on the faces of our people. And when a poor man cannot eat, a rich man cannot sleep. We are known to be the most generous diocese in Nigeria and that we will continue to do as long as God continues to support us. I believe so much that your money cannot buy heaven or secure eternity.

Talking about youth empowerment, what is your take on the continued closure of their schools as a result of ASUU strike?

It’s unfortunate that these

What is your stand on Pentecostalism and Anglicanism?

The Anglican Church I know has a heritage and doctrines; but I think it’s an error of terminology for anybody to say a particular church is Pentecostal. Every church is expected to be Pentecostal because we all trace our origin to the day of Pentecost. So the Anglican Church is Pentecostal because we believe in the practices of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the senior partner in whatever we do in the church.

So I don’t have anything against the new generation churches because they’ve actually added to us. I believe with the arrival of the new generation churches, we are now awake. If you attend some of our programs now, you’ll be wondering whether this was the Anglican Church you used to know. I don’t know the message you will hear anywhere that you cannot hear here. The joy we have today is that most of our leaders and the bishops are evangelical in nature and the youths are finding their feet seriously in our church. When you go to the US, UK, you’ll discover that some of our churches there are empty; but in Nigeria, particularly in this part of the country, we ensure that many of our youths who had gone, are coming back in their thousands. And if at this age I’m a bishop, you’ll know its part of the allowances given to young people to grow because I consider myself to be a young man.

What is your take on the challenge in the Anglican Communion?

That’s the trouble on ground. In the global Anglican Future Conference, we believe in the authority of the scripture and we are not going to bow down for the authority of man. It is human madness to say that a man and a man can get married. It is barbaric! When God created the world, He created Adam. He could have created another Adam that will have the same features, but He created Eve. It is part of the devil’s intervention in the affairs of the world. The devil is taking charge of the world because the world has been too lukewarm. It is as a result of prayerlessness and carelessness.

But now the church is coming up, like this conference we went for, everybody was of the opinion that that is not scriptural. We have not changed our names, we are still Anglicans, but we are professing the true Anglicans. The conference we went, we are projecting into the future, saying that whatever that might have happened, we are trying to push it aside and we are looking at the glorious future that will respect God, respect righteousness and holiness.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 1, 2013, PAGE 49

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HRISTIANS love to win. We sing praise songs declaring we are on the winning side. We give our churches names like “Winners’ Chapel.”

Therefore, we readily appropriate the story of David killing Goliath. However, Jesus proffers in the New Testament a completely different approach. That approach is anathema to us killing any Goliaths. On the contrary, it requires us to lay down our lives. Jesus says: “Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.” (Luke 17: 33).

Wining by losing The Holy Spirit presented this challenge to me in no uncertain terms.

He said: “Femi, you love to win don’t you? But in order for you to walk with me, you have to learn to lose. You have to accept defeat. Are you prepared to do this?”

This is a major facet of Jesus’ kingdom dynamics that Goliath-killing Christians refuse to understand. In the kingdom of God, we win by losing.

It is needful for Christians to appreciate that the true disciple of Jesus is first and foremost a loser as opposed to a winner. If we are not prepared to lose, we cannot walk with Jesus. It is true that the believer is “a winner in the Lord Jesus.”

But being a winner in Christ is completely different from being a winner in the world like Goliath-killing David.

your exercise of self-control. It will be in the fact that this is a fight you could so easily have won but have chosen to lose for my sake. You are going to win this fight by losing it.”

DAVID DID NOT KILL GOLIATH (3) In order for us to be winners in Christ, we have to be losers in the world. In order for us to be winners in the spirit, we have to be losers in the flesh.

That is the glory of the cross of Jesus, and that is the reason why many find Jesus’ approach to life so unacceptable. Jesus is a stumbling stone. He is a rock of offence because of the cross. The cross requires us to lose and not to win. But most Christians, don’t like to lose.

As a result, we become enemies of the cross.

The champion There is a wonderful Christian film made by the gospel singer Carman called The Champion.

The finale is a boxing match and by the end of the film, the audience is on its feet. The good guy, a believer, knocks out the bad guy, an unbeliever.

And when he lands the knockout punch and becomes the new Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World, the Christian audience goes crazy with shouts of approval.

But the truth of the matter is that films like The Champion miss and undermine the fundamental message of Christianity, which is the cross. The Champion appeals to the

On the cross of Calvary, the greatest heavyweight boxing fight in history was practically over even before it started.

Jesus was knocked out in the very first round flesh. The “baddie” is given a thorough beating. But Jesus does not excite the flesh. Indeed, Jesus does not appeal to the flesh. If The Champion had wanted to be true to the gospel, Carman would have lost the championship fight.

And it would have been in losing it that he would have been victorious.

That is the glory of the cross.

The glory of the cross is heavenly and it is spiritual. It is sown in dishonour. It is sown in weakness. It is sown in defeat. Today, many wear the cross as an ornament.

But it was originally an instrument of humiliation, shame and defeat.

Nobody would wear a cross in the days of Jesus. It would have been synonymous today to wearing an electric chair as an ornament.

Knock-out On the cross of Calvary, the greatest heavyweight boxing fight in

BSN ends 2013 School Bible Competition

By OLAYINKA LATONA

B

IBLE Society of Nigeria recently held the 11th edition of its annual secondary school bible competition at The Apostolic Church, Palmgrove, Lagos.

Participants drawn from the Eastern zone, Western zone, North Western zone and North Eastern zone of the country included students from ECWA Baba Alhamdu Secondary School, Kano, Methodist High School, Aba, Orita Mefa Baptist Model School, Ibadan and Lugga Government Day Secondary School, Taraba State.

At the end of the competition which was anchored by Mrs. Sylvia Ogolowa, Methodist High School, Aba came

first with 318 points and was closely followed by Orita Mefa Baptist Model School with 313 points.

Lugga Government Day Secondary School came third with 296 points while ECWA Baba Alhamdu Secondary School got 280 points to come forth.

A representative of Methodist High School, Aba Chinecherem Agu expressed gratitude to God for the victory and implored youths to shun cultism and embrace the Word of God. In her words: “I appreciate Bible Society of Nigeria for giving us this wonderful opportunity. I will advise other students to shun evil and be closer to God”.

General Secretary of BSN, Rev. Dare Ajiboye advised Nigerian youths

to stand out for God in their dealings no matter the challenges; noting that “when you are standing out for Jesus, your mates will call you names but don’t relent as you will soon or later be celebrated and become a champion."

A Redeemed Christian Church of God pastor, Adebowale Oyeniyi, who chaired the occasion, advised youths to focus on their studies instead of wasting their entire time on the social media.

“A youth inspired to be a world leader and an agent of change must face his/her books, not using the internet to defraud but rather use it to build the nation. Youths should stand be world changers, not to be corrupt or looters of treasury”.

the history of the world was over practically before it started. Jesus was knocked out in the very first round. He himself proclaimed his own defeat. After he took the first few blows, he said: “It is finished.” Then he died and they carried him out feet first. They did not even rush him to the hospital. They dumped him in the grave and buried him. This is the antithesis of David killing Goliath.

The thieves crucified with Jesus put up a better fight. They took much longer to die. In fact, they had to break their bones in order to speed up their death.

Imagine this scenario.

You have been training for months for an epic bout of your life. One week to the fight your trainer, the Holy Spirit, informs you that the man you are going to fight is actually no match for you. On a good day, you would knock him out in the very first minute of the very first round.

Nevertheless, he tells T was amidst joy and thankful hearts towards God that members, friends, associates and well wishers of Celebration Church gathered recently to celebrate the first anniversary of the church, reports WILLIAM JIMOH. The celebration tagged: “Christ is everything” witnessed a series of special renditions, exhibition and a symposium on the theme to make participants place Christ at the centre of their doctrines while celebrat-

I

you: “I want you to lose the fight. Throughout the fight, I don’t want you to throw any punch that will hurt him. In the third round, he will land one punch and I want you to fall down and stay down.

The punch itself will not be that devastating. Nevertheless, I want you to allow yourself to be counted out.”

Just think what would happen if you were to obey. You would lose face.

People would come to see you as nothing but a sissy. You would not be able to hold up your head in your neighbourhood.

Nobody would have any regard for you again. You would become another shame-faced Roberto Duran who walked out on a major boxing match with Sugar Ray Leonard saying: “No more, no more,” and has never been able to live it down.

“Precious Holy Spirit; can’t I lose through a decision? Can’t you allow the fight to go the distance and then I lose on points? Must it be through a humiliating knock-out and as early as in the third round?”

“Yes,” the Holy Spirit insists, “it must be through a knock-out in the third round. Your victory is going to be entirely spiritual. It is going to come from

Lamb of God Jesus says: “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life---only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.

This command I received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18).

What would you do in such a situation? Can you “win by losing?” Can you agree to be defeated?

Can you agree to lose a fight you are more than able to win? Can you agree to a situation in which, thereafter, every one regards you as a loser but only God sees you as a winner?

How can a Christian, of like passions with Elijah, be a lamb in the ring of life? How can we make it as a lamb in a world where the tough get going when the going gets tough? How can the lamb even get on the bus where there is only one seat left for 30 waiting passengers? That is the challenge of the Christian faith and the answer is anathema to David killing Goliath.

Jesus says: “Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27).

(To be Continued).

Celebration Church marks one ing their salvation on a daily basis.

In his message, lead pastor/founder, Pastor Emmanuel Iren, urged Christians to emulate Christ who regardless of divinity took the form of man in order to rescue Man from sin.

According to him, it is important for Christians to put Christ in everything they do since Christ represent everything to them by dying that they

might have life and be saved.

“Here, we teach people to acknowledge and demonstrate the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all they do. Therefore, wherever a Christian finds himself, he owes God a responsibility to reveal Christ to his fellow workers. Every contact he makes should be an opportunity to let people know who Christ is by reflecting his presence and love in his life.

Cleric tasks Nigerians on peaceful living

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OUNDER/Spir itual leader of Holy Unity Church of Christ C&S, His Holiness Messiah Kalejaiye has advised Nigerians to dwell and live together in peace irrespective of ethnic and religious differences, reports

OLAYINKA LATONA. Speaking at the 25th anniversary ceremony of his church at the national headquarters in Olodi, Apapa, Lagos the cleric stressed the need for Nigerians to shun greed, selfishness and love one another, pointing out that

God is not an author of confusion and will not encourage His people to habour animosity against one another.

He also advised governments at all levels to provide social amenities that will make life meaningful for the citizens.

PAGE 50—SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013 japhdave@yahoo.com 08056402376

Ogunlowo’s Re-awakening brings back the beauty of African pride

Anthonymaria’s antidote for broken heart

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

REVIEW

M

an’s inability to un derstand that the physical things before him, including himself are controlled by God gave birth to Wisdom: A Discovery In A Nation With A Broken Heart.

The 112 pages book by A n t h o n y m a r i a Odukaesieme, a Medical Practitioner, Researcher in Marine Plants and a Complementary Technologist in Phyto Medicine chronicles the journey of Anthonymaria from Nigeria in 1997 to Bangkok-Thailand for a better business opportunities and contacts.

But when eventually his visa expires and he has to obtain a re-entry permit visa at a neighboring country in Laos through Thailand border, called Nongkai city, his efforts meet a brick wall as he is refused entry to Laos on grounds that there was no record of his entry to Thailand. He is held in custody for a period of seven months and three weeks.

The book records that while

Traditional carved box, one of the works exhibited by Joseph Ogunlowo

VISUAL

O

ne of the defining fea tures of modern time exhibitions is the colours that characterize the paintings or photographs displayed at the halls, but the recent exhibition by Joseph Ogunlowo was totally different from that.

The exhibition titled Re- Awakening, a solo art exhibition which focused on traditional art is a testimony of the creative and resilient spirit of the real African man. It opened on November 23, at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos and closed on November 29.

The works displayed were real traditional art carved in various forms that represents the true African art. The exhibition is very special in the sense that the works can be used and enjoyed by all despite religion, age or sex. With the way, Africans are patronising anything foreign, the exhibition is indeed another wake up call for Africans to go back to their root. or the Fiditi-born tradi tional art carver, Joseph Ogunlowo who started as a sales boy in an art shop in Lekki, Lagos in 1995 with a dream of becoming a master carver, a dream he pursued vigorously until 2007, when his shop that served as his studio was demolished, this exhibition, which is his first solo is an indication that he has bounced back.

The exhibition which brought many art lovers, diplomats and followers of the young carver to the National Museum, was declared open by famous art promoter, Prince Yemisi Shyllon.

It featured over 80 high quality wood works made for both functional and decorative purposes at home and office. They include dining tables, storage bench, bar stand, mirror frame, side shelve, bar stood, jewelry box, wall hanging and dressing mirror. Others include trays,

F

Opon Ayo set, animal crafts like Tortoise, Grass cutter, Girrafe and others. Some of the works are; Wall Panel, depicting the Osogbo setting, women making clothes with customers buying from them.

Village setting, depicting cocoa harvesters, women pounding yam, some grinding pepper and a man on top of a tree bringing fire woods. Others include, Animal kingdom, Celebration of Iyemoja etc.

A look at of some of the works displayed at the hall , one will notice the creative ingenuity of the young man who was not formally trained in an art school as a sculptor, but have been able to produce unique and fantastic works that have endeared him to the high and low. The works takes one back to the good old days when our great grand fathers enjoyed the gift of nature.

Speaking about the exhibition, Joseph said that, Re -awakening is just an-

,

BY JAPHET ALAKAM

Bead Brass Mask Shyllon who was impressed with his works said, “they are very unique and his symmetry in colours are nice. He has a great potentials and should be encouraged. I first know about him through the wife of the wife of then US Counsul General to Nigeria,

With the way Africans are patronising anything foreign, the exhibition is indeed another wake up call for Africans to go back to their roots

nouncing his survival and coming back after what befell him in 2007, when his new art shop at the Lekki Art Market was pulled down by the bulldozers of Fashola. “I lost everything, it was only the grace of God that sustained me.”

Joseph also pointed out that the quality of the works differentiates it from that of roadside sellers and that is why his works are patronised by many art lovers and diplomats.

Speaking about the works,

,

Kathleen Stanford, he made a fantastic table for them and I have since patronised him in providing me such tables.

His creativity is fantastic, he got so much talents in him and one owes him a duty to give him opportunity to prosper.” or Rick Clark, Group Managing Director of PAI Group, one of the visitors at the exhibition “he does excellent job, the quality is superb. It is a very great work of art and the breadth of work here is charming.”

F

lease on 24th day of September 1999, the thought to become a moral crusader and defender of truth is fully ignited. The book which is presented in chapters exposes the inhumanity, selfishness and negative application of power by man to fellow men.

As events unfold, the author masterfully implores all to join hands in the fight for freedom from the devil, which all have, out of selfish and worldly desires, allowed to penetrate and misdirect their lives from the truth which is Jesus Christ.

The book emanates from the author’s travails in search of that which is unknown, is a piece of gold in the hand of any intending traveler to foreign land, as readers will think twice before making a step further.

Readers will no doubt, learn from the author’s experience especially where knowledge of truth and wisdom, lifted him from the state of despondency to the unshakeable base.

With its contents devoid of errors, compact and with esthetically designed cover

he is confined in Nongkai Central Prison the author takes a special interest in counseling over hundreds of prisoners, who mostly were children, and a nine year old who happens to be the youngest.

Although, faced with language barrier there, they were able to understand his teachings which was therapeutic enough to ameliorate their sufferings while in confinement. The sufferings of these lots and the murder of a defenseless inmate Wisdom: A Discovery In A Nation for refusing to adore With A Broken Heart; the portrait of their Anthonymaria A.A Odukaesieme; king and god on the Littlebook Publishers; PP. 112. prison wall and the image of their goddess which readily captures one’s Imina Sakarina and other isinterest, Wisdom: A Dissues, resulted in covery In A Nation With A Anthonymaria’s resolve to Broken Heart comes as a work as counselor as well as more dignifying approach cry out to God for restorato disseminating avenues tion of peace and harmony to restoring moral values throughout the world. to readers.

He captures the scenario nthonymaria’s life thus, “ Oh reader, feel the changing documentacry for wisdom, for truth and tion comes at a right time justice, the cry for freedom when the need to re-brand the that generated democracy, characteristics of a people of and the freedom of worship. a Country where tugs are the Feel the cry of a good conscience, a dying inmate in friends of the law, where chains as he groaned in promiscuity drug and hupains, similar to the pain man trafficking, and child and cry of Christ Jesus deabuse have surpassed a humanized on the cross: My concerned issue of debate God, My God, why have for posterity. It is recomyou deserted me.” mended for everyone’s readShortly after the author’s reing pleasure.

A

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013 — PAGE 51

PAGE 52 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 1, 2013

Schools sports, youth games strategic to NSC — Yakmut

BY BEN EFE

N

ATIONAL Sports Commission director of youth development, Alhasan Yakmut has dismissed insinuations that the National Schools Sports Festival, and the forth coming National Youth Games were a duplication of efforts.

There have been suggestions by certain Nigerian sports officials that the two events be merged to streamline expenses and also give the young athletes a breathing space since both competitions were two weeks apart.

The National School Sports festival ended yesterday in Ilorin, Kwara State with Cross River dominating the event. Starting from December 5, some of these athletes will be heading for Abuja for the maiden National Youth Games.

However, Mr. Yakmut put up a convincing argument that both events were crucial to

the efforts by the NSC to reinvent sports development especially from the grassroots. He added that the President, Goodluck Jonathan was very keen to see the sector booming and that was why he approved N16m for the school sports festival for it to go

on without hitches.

“What we are doing is strategic. I am aware that people have been questioning the rationale of having the two competitions in quick succession.

“But I must state that the School Sports festival is essentially for

because we are looking at the African Youth Championships and the Junior Olympics.

“This is why we are partnering with the Schools Sports Federation to guarantee a flow of youth talents every year. President Jonathan helped the schools sports

with N16m and this is the first time in a long while this kind of gesture will be happening.

The government is really serious about reviving our grassroots sports,” stated Mr. Yakmut, a former national volleyball player.

Enugu Sports Club swears in new executive T

An action during an U-15 Football match between Rivers State in blue jersey and Anambra State at the National Schools Sports Festival which ended in Ilorin yesterday.

HE newly elected management team of the Enugu Sports Club led by Chief Okey Chukwu has been inaugurated with a pledge by the new chairman to sanitize the membership of the club, reports TONY EDIKE, Enugu Highlight of the occasion was the swearing in of the 15-member executive including Chief Andy Egbo, Vice Chairman, Dr Cajetan Onyedum, Secretary and Professor

Chike Anibeze, Media Secretary, who were charged by the club’s president to provide quality leadership for the oldest club in the Eastern region. Three personalities namely Chief Innocent Chuk-wuma of Innoson Group of Companies, Chief Ignatius Nnubia and Chief Willie Okeke were also honoured as Patrons of the club while funds were raised for the execution of some of the club’s projects.

12 months; and the average number of points gained from matches older than 12 months (depreciates yearly).

Calculation of points for a single match The number of points that can be won in a match depends on the following factors: •Was the match won or drawn? (M) •How important was the match (ranging from a friendly match to a FIFA World Cup™ match)? (I) •How strong was the opposing team in terms of ranking position and the confederation to which they belong? (T and C) These factors are brought together in the following formula to ascertain the total number of points (P).

P=MxIxTxC The following criteria apply to the calculation of points: M:Points for match result Teams gain 3 points for a victory, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a defeat. In a penalty

shoot-out, the winning team gains 2 points and the losing team gains 1 point.

I:Importance of match Friendly match (including small competitions):I = 1.0 FIFA World Cup™ qualifier or confederation-level qualifier:I = 2.5 Confederation-level final competition or FIFA Confederations Cup:I = 3.0 FIFA World Cup™ final competition:I = 4.0 T:Strength of opposing team The strength of the opponents is based on the formula: 200 – the ranking position of the o p p o n e n t s As an exception to this formula, the team at the top of the ranking is always assigned the value 200 and the teams ranked 150th and below are assigned a minimum value of 50.

The ranking position is taken from the opponents’ ranking in the most recently published FIFA/CocaCola World Ranking.

C:Strength of confederation When calculating matches between teams from different confederations, the mean value of the confederations to which the two competing teams belong is used. The strength of a confederation is calculated on the basis of the number of victories by that confederation at the last three FIFA World Cup™ competitions.

Their values are as follows: UEFA/CONMEBOL 1.00 CONCACAF 0.88 AFC/CAF 0.86 OFC 0.85 After going through this, I believe the doubting Thomases amongst us would now know how it is done and that Nigeria gets what she truly deserves.

Nigeria was once voted the 5th best country in the world when the Super Eagles dazzled all at the 1994 World Cup in the USA. Then nobody doubted the ranking procedure nor called FIFA names.Let’s pray the Eagles shine always.

The furore over FIFA rankings D URING the week, FIFA released its monthly rankings for November and put Nigeria at the 36 th position, a three step drop from 33 rd last month. Nigerian football fans yelled and called FIFA all sorts of names, condemning the ranking entirely.

Their cry is understandable considering the rise from grass to grace of the Super Eagles since they shocked themselves and the entire world with the January Africa Nations Cup victory in South Africa. They have also gone ahead to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the first time they are doing so without too much stress and the usual permutation by their die-hard

under-15 athletes. The National Youth Games is for Under-17 athletes.

“It is only the events we don’t have in the National Youth Games that are open to under17 at the school sports.

Permit me to explain that these two events are like a nursery for us; this is

fans. After listening to many radio programmes in Lagos with the fans holding divergent views on the issue, some very ridiculous, it was clear that many of them were arguing from points of ignorance. Even the explanation by Nigerian CAF and FIFA committee member, Paul Bassey didn’t assuage their anger.

Unknown to most Nigerians, points are not awarded like it is done in league matches across the world, that is three points for a win, one for a draw and nothing for a loss. They believe that after winning the Nations Cup and winning most of their World Cup qualifiers, Nigeria should have climbed above Cote

d’Ivoire to occupy the top position in Africa.

For the benefit of those who don’t surf the internet or who have never visited the FIFA site, I have downloaded the ranking procedure below from fifa.com for them to know how FIFA arrives at the monthly ranking and therefore not biased against Nigeria as most of them think.

The basic logic of these calculations is simple: any team that does well in world football wins points which enable it to climb the world ranking.

A team’s total number of points over a fouryear period is determined by adding: · the average number of points gained from matches during the past

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013 — PAGE 53

C M Y K

PAGE 54 – SUNDAY VANGUARD, DECEMBER 1, 2013

Don’t jeopardise your son’s career, Ugbade warns Ihenacho Snr

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DUKA Ugbade is a legend in world football. As a starry-eyed youth, he led a group of unsung Nigerians to lift the first FIFA JVC U-16 World Championship in 1985 in China. Ugbade grew to play for Nigeria in the Flying Eagles and the Super Eagles. His only regret to date is that he was prevented from being the first Nigerian to go to all the FIFA World Cups in his active days.

Today, however, Ugbade remains the only Coach in the world to have won the FIFA U-17 World Cup as a player and as a coach. He spoke with Jacob Ajom about the Eaglets’ triumph in the United Arab Emirates.

Excerpts.

You were the first man to lift the FIFA U-17 World Cup trophy as a player, and today, as a coach, you were part of the crew that groomed a set of players to win the cup for Nigeria for the fourth time. How did you feel after your boys won the trophy in UAE? Wonderful, wonderful.

It was awesome, a feeling I cannot easily explain. It was an amazing feeling.

But I give thanks and glory to God who made it possible for this achievement to come through.

And I must also thank the Nigeria Football Federation for giving me the opportunity to serve my country in another capacity. I am happy.

How was it possible for you and your colleagues in the technical crew led

by Manu Garba able to mould a near perfect team that conquered the world?

It is the science of the game. It is the new thing blowing across the continent; education and I hope we will build on it through football education to be able to meet up

•Ugbade with the demands of modern football.

In the African championship the Eaglets ended up with a silver. How was it possible for you to conquer the world in the UAE? We learnt a lot from our defeat in Morocco. It taught us that no matter

•Iheanacho how good you are, you can still be beaten. The head coach, Manu Garba must be commended because he was hard on the boys. He warned against any slip. Every opponent was accorded equal respect and our approach was such that we never considered a match was

won until the final whistle. We also put in a lot of hard work and the level of commitment and dedication was high on the part of the boys.

After the UAE triumph, football agents, guardians, parents have been running heads over heels in a bid to either sell or

take control of these boys. What is your view or advise to your players?

It was expected. But my advise to parents and guardians of these players is that they should take it easy. They must look before they leap so that they can get the best deal

for their wards. They must be very very careful in what they are doing or trying to do.

We just heard Kelecchi Iheanacho is going to Manchester City. What is your take on this?

I don’t know, the family should decide. But I learnt the boy does not want to go to City. I learnt he is interested in going to Portugal. The only thing I want to say is that the guardians or father should be careful so as not to jeopardise his son’s career.

It was reported that you, together with the Golden Eaglets head coach, Manu Garba have been upgraded to handle the Flying Eagles. Can you confirm this?

I don’t know. It is only the Nigeria Football Federation that can confirm or deny that. For now, I am still an assistant coach with the U-17 team. I am a professional coach, if the NFF deems it fit to promote us the chief coach , Manu Garba is there, when they speak or contact him first then he will contact us.

Ngerem faults NSC’s appointment of American coaches

BY BEN EFE

F

ORMER Athletics Federation of Nigeria president, Dan Ngerem has picked holes in the appointment of two American coaches by the National Sports Commission.

This is just as he reviled that there were other alternatives open for exploitation by the Sports minister, Bolaji Abdullahi who gleefully announced the coming of Annie Taylor and Eric Campbell.

Ngerem said that the process that lead to the

appointment of the coaches should have been made more open to all coaches most especially Nigerians who are capable of producing result with the right motivation. He argued that Taylor and Campbell could not be classified as world class coaches since they have not produced any recognizable athletics star.

“What is all this talk about hiring foreign coaches for AFN and also conducting the interview in London as reported?

How many Nigerian coaches would have been able to attend with the airfare, accomm-odation and upkeep variables? Who conducted the interview and what is the pedigree of the consultant/consultants?

“How much was the consultant paid and how many NSC staff and/or AFN Board Members were in London for the exercises and who bankrolled the expenses “Most nagging question of all - where was the exercise advertised and in which Nigerian medium...Or did they design the programme in such away that it is skewed against our hard working local coaches?

Is that the best and optimal use of scarce resources and finances?” Ngerem queried.

He submitted that there were a number of bilateral relationships that the NSC

•Ngerem could have explored, but it appeared that these were ignored.

“We have bilateral relationships with Cuba and Germany.

“Portugal promised Nigeria technical and coaching assistance when we negotiated on behalf of Nigeria when they poached Francis Obikwelu who was abandoned by Nigeria the athlete suffered an injury in Sydney 2000. Spain also promised us technical and coaching assistance when they poached Gloria Alozie with borderline illegality (when Spain flouted IAAF rules on change of nationa-lity) we then applied to have her European Champion-ship medals withdrawn and to compens-ate Nigeria they offered technical and coaching support “Also Nigeria Institute of

•Bolaji Abdullahi Sports and Australia Institute of Sports bilateral agreement where MTN then CEO Adrian Wood put down $600,000.00 (Six hundred thousand dollars during our trip with President Obasanjo to Australia and in full glare of the world media).

“Nigeria has IOC/Olympic Afrique and IAAF/AAC training budding training centres - have they applied to these international bodies for assistance and they refused....? All these are documented and it is in the Ministry of Sports/NSC “Why have we embarked on this expensive and tortuous experiment especially at a time when the so called ‘king of sports’ in Nigeria (football) is doing very well with local bred talent,” added the former AFN boss.

He stated that Germany

and Cuba had agreed to pay for the coaches that may have been on the programme.

“This was on the condition that Nigeria will provide their accommodation and transport. As AFN president then, I had offered to defray these costs and the offer still stands.

“We are fast becoming a one athlete country with Delta State graciously bank rolling all most everything and dictating to all and sundry apace “We are grateful to Delta State however, one wonders if the Delta State impasse is a replacement for properly articulated sports policy framework to develop athletics in the country - what happens if the present sports loving Governor Leaves in a few short years....?

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013 — PAGE 55

SUNDAY Vanguard, DECEMBER 1, 2013

Sfaxien win 3rd Confed Cup title *Edge out TP Mazembe 3-2 aggregate

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UNISIANS CS Sfax ien claimed their third Confederation Cup title with a 3-2 aggregate win over TP Mazembe, despite losing an engrossing second leg 2-1.

The Tunisians went into the deciding tie in Lubumbashi with a 2-0 advantage from last week’s first leg in Rades.

But the Congolese giants evened up the tie

RESULTS Aston Villa Cardiff Everton Norwich West Ham Newcastle

0 0 4 1 3 2

Sunderland Arsenal Stoke City Crystal Fulham West Brom

0 3 0 0 0 1

•Dike... eyes move to Efe Ambrose’s Celtic.

EPL battle: Victor Moses sets 20 *As Dike’s set to join goals target for self Ambrose at Celtic S

UPER Eagles and Liverpool striker Victor Moses is set to end the goal drought that has hit him since switching tents to the Brendan Rodgers’ side as he has set a target of 20 goals for himself by the close of the season.

The on-loan Chelsea player who has failed to find the back of the net since scoring against Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium in September is hoping to add to his tally in coming months.

“I just want to score goals. I wanted to score around 20 goals this season,” the 22-year-old told the club’s website.

“We’ve still got lots of games to go, so hopefully I can get up to that target. I think I’ve got the ability to do that so I’m looking forward to every game.

“I want to keep working hard in training and do-

ing what I’m good at, which is working hard for the team. When I first came, I was starting.

“Now, the manager has got a different view and he wants to mix things around a little bit. I just have to be patient until my time comes. I’ll kick on from there and help the team,” he concluded.

Meanwhile some sort of silver-lining might be in store for Moses’ Super Eagles team-mate and Toronto FC striker, Bright Dike as reports in Canada have suggested that a communication channel has been opened as regards the striker joining up with Celtic FC for a training stint with the Scottish champions.

Dike, who scored for Nigeria in the Super Eagles 2-2 draw with Italy at Fulham’s Craven Cottage, is reportedly scheduled to be at Celtic Park to begin

Ugbade warns Iheanacho’s father — P.54

training with Celtic FC Scottish sports outlet STV Sports also revealed that Dike will team up with the Bhoys in a bid to keep the striker in shape prior to the start of the 2014 MLS season in the coming days.

It is however clear if

Celtic manager Neil Lennon, who also has Nigerian international, Efe Ambrose in his squad, will make a move for the striker who has stated clearly he wants to be part of Nigeria’s squad to next year’s World Cup in Brazil.

with two goals in the first 23 minutes through strikers Cheibane Traore and Mbwana Samata.

The visitors soaked up the pressure and struck late, with an 88th-minute header from forward Fakhreddine Ben Youssef to wrap up the title.

Mazembe’s French coach Patrice Carteron had said before the tie that his team would need to do something special to turn the tables on the Tunisians, and they quickly restored parity.

Sfaxien, coached by former Dutch World Cup captain Ruud Krol, dealt with the home side’s onslaught and hit back two minutes from time through Tunisian international Ben Youssef to secure the trophy for a third time.

Ben Youssef proved his value for his club, after also being involved in both Sfaxien goals in the first leg.

The victory also caps a fine year for Krol, after he led the Sfax club to their first league triumph in eight years in May. That achievement led to him being given the chance to take charge of the Tunisia national team for the country ’s final World Cup play-off match against Cameroon.

Sfaxien were previously winners in 2007 and 2008 and runners-up in 2010.

They pocket $660,000 (nearly 500,000 euros) in prize money and will take on Champions League winners Al Ahly of Egypt in the prestigious Confederation of African Football Super Cup next year.

The Confederation Cup was launched in 2004 when the African Cup Winners’ Cup and Confederation of African Football Cup were combined.

Today’s matches Tottenham Hull City Chelsea Man City

v Man Utd v Liverpool v S’hampton v Swansea

1.00 pm 3.05 pm 5.10 pm 5.10 pm

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1.Nobel-winning Archbishop (7-4) 5.Sailor (3) 7.Consumed (5) 8.Domesticates (5) 9.Ovum (3) 10.Electricity counting gadgets (6) 13.Highlander (4) 15.Poem (3) 17.One that contests (9) 20.Nigerian tribe (5) 22.Cereal (5) 24.Demoted (9) 27.Pig’s pen (3) 29.No one (4) 30.Sulks (6) 33.Away (3) 35.Presses (5) 36.Till (5) 37. Swine (3) 38. “The Man Who Saw Tomorrow” (11)

DOWN 1.Sleeping vision (5) 2.Possessor (5) 3.Tax (4) 4.Depressing (9) 5.Argentinian dance (5) 6.Wash lightly (5) 11.Greek letter (3) 12.Distress call (1-1-1) 14.English boy’s name (5) 16.Obstacle (3) 17.Bovine animal (3) 18.Mindfulness (9) 19.Alarm (5) 21.Help (3) 23.Village house (3) 25.Gnome (3) 26.Vast age (3) 27.Condescend (5) 28.Youthful (5) 31.Circular (5) 32.Trades (5) 34.Old Russian King (4)

SOLUTION on page 55

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