2014 BUDGET WAR: House queries Okonjo-Iweala over N7.1 trillion debt

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PAGE 2 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

The Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Prof Olusegun Oladimeji; Vice Chancellor, Prof Isaac Asuzu; Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, among others during the matriculation ceremony of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, yesterday.

L-R: A fellow, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Chief Ade Ajayi; Mr. Willy Ogbidi, the new National President of the institute; Dr. Rotimi Oladele; a former NIPR PRO, Bro Aramide Tola Noibi; Major Adebayo Shitta (rtd); and Mr. Babs Ogundeyi at the Lagos State NIPR chapter’s February meeting.

FUEL SCARCITY LOOMS

Wh ederation A ccount continues tto o bleed Whyy FFederation Account

BY JIDE AJANI

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HE policy of certifi cation introduced by the Naval Headquarters regarding ‘ship to ship’ (STS) discharge of petroleum products is threatening to create scarcity of the products in the country, Sunday Vanguard can report authoritatively.

This threat is coming in the form of delays in getting the military command to certify ‘STS’ operations.

There are fears the delays ‘ would affect the funds expected to accrue to the Federation Account because the cost has to be deducted from source and the balance remitted to the Account.

What goes into the Federation Account is net of the total operations from the crude lifted for sale.

Indeed, at press time, the exercise, a process by which the Navy High Command gives a signal from its Abuja headquarters before a vessel carrying petroleum products is allowed to discharge its content into a sister vessel, is said to be causing the delay of STS discharge by some vessels.

The signal, which is supposed to be given within 24hours of notification, is said to be creating a backlog on Nigeria’s waters.

The reason, Sunday Vanguard was reliably informed, is as a result of the recent change of guards at the highest echelon of the Navy.

Penultimate week, President Goodluck Jonathan replaced service chiefs. The new Chief of the Naval Staff is Rear Admiral Usman O. Jibrin.

He replaced Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba At the weekend, MT RHEMA, one of the mother vessels used for bringing in petroleum products, was said to have been delayed for over 20 days because it could not discharge into its daughter vessel, MT ANGEL 3.

Each day a vessel is delayed, the owner of the ship collects $20,000.

Sources told Sunday Vanguard, at the weekend, that between MT RHEMA and MT ANGEL 3, close to $1million had piled up due to the delay.

That is not all.

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A vessel, Torm Republican, was said to be waiting for naval signal and had not commenced discharge to a smaller vessel, Folawiyo.

Another vessel, Belisaire, was also said to be waiting for naval signal.

Then there is Princess Oge, with Energy Centurion, waiting for same signal; just as Cora A (STS) and Conger were equally waiting.

Sunday Vanguard was made to understand that

activities such as these account for some of the discrepancies that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, noticed in the nation’s finances.

A source at the CBN informed that “with these delays and activities which result in fines, there is no way the figures would add up when the calculated projections are put on the table”.

It was learnt that the big-

ger anxiety is the possible scarcity this may cause – though in the short run. The involvement of the Navy was said to have begun when it was suspected that unscrupulous elements were using vessels to ship arms into the country under the guise of bringing petroleum products.

The naval authorities have been firm in insisting that it must inspect and make sure that vessels purported to be

bringing in petroleum products do just that.

However, the Navy Headquarters expanded its scope of certification by insisting that if it does not give the signal, there should be no STS discharge.

Unfortunately, the 24hr time-line for this is being exceeded.

Worse still, many more ships may suffer the same fate if the delays continue.

Consequently, funds run-

ning into tens of millions of dollars would be paid as fines for delaying ships on Nigeria’s waters.

At the weekend, efforts were being made to alert the Group Managing Director of NNPC as well as the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources to this development.

Osun 20 14: Our mar o Go vt House unst oppable 201 marcch tto Govt unstoppable — Omisore

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE & DAPO AKINREFON

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overnorship aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP,in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, says his march to Oshogbo Government House come August 8 remained unstoppable.

Omisore spoke, yesterday, in Osogbo, at the flag off of his governorship ambition.

Addressing a huge crowd at the freedom park, Omisore highlighted his eightpoint agenda and decried the pauperisation of Osun people through “inhuman taxes, demolition of markets without alternatives, destruction of the state education heritage ,the creation of religious crisis in an otherwise harmonious state.”

The former chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, who spoke in Yoruba language, however, promised to restore the dignity of education, focus on agriculture and rural development among others.

Omisore said, “ I am here offering myself for service. I am here to right the wrongs and set our state on sustainable paths”.

A former governor of

Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, appealed to the people of Osun State to allow Omisore to govern the state. Fayose said, “Omisore should be allowed to govern Osun because the crowd here has shown that the people of the state are tired of the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.”

Notable personalities present at the declaration include a former deputy governor of Ogun State, Mr Abosede Ogunleye; a former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin; Osun State

Senator Iyiola Omisore, acknowledging cheers from his supporters at the Freedom Park, venue of his declaration in Oshogbo for the 2014 Osun State gubernatorial election, yesterday.

chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, Chief Bose Adedibu,

Prince Buruji Kashamu, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, Senator Folashade

Grace Bent, Ambassador Gunju Adeshakin and Senator Olu Alabi.

Passenger’s ffire ire alarm abor ts Abuja–Ibadan fflight light aborts

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU

A

passenger onboard an Overland flight from Abuja to Ibadan aborted the flight when he raised a false fire alarm just when the plane was about to take off from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Passengers were immediately evacuated.

Reacting to the incident, The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, said, “NCAA regrets the ugly incident of fire smoke alarm raised by an onboard passenger in a flight involving Overland enroute Ibadan from Abuja airport in the evening of Friday, 7th February, 2014.”

The statement, from the

Office of the Director of Aerodrome and Air Space Standards( DASS), said, “The air traffic incident at 16.27 UTC happened as the flight taxied to the holding position for takeoff when a passenger on board raised an alarm that

there was a fire smoke.

The pilots were quick to respond to the situation as they opened the emergency exit and ensured that all passengers on board were evacuated. “Though there was no smoke or fire

detector to the pilot, the aircraft was immediately taxied to the international apron. The NCAA uses this medium to assure the traveling public that there is no cause for alarm as the situation is very much under control.”

Oritsejafor urged to lead prayers for peace in Itsekiri land call in Warri. He expressed elicited gunfight and bloodletting from parties

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resident of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has been tasked to lead other Christian leaders of Itsekiri extraction to declare 14 days of fasting and prayers for peace in Ugborodo and Itsekiri land.

National Coordinator, Niger Delta Grassroots Organization (NDGO), Mr. Weyenmi Olley, made the

confidence that the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, whom he described as Godfearing, would back Oritsejafor and join in fasting and prayers for the restoration of Ugborodo to abiding peace.

Olley said the expected development from the $16billion Export Processing Zone (EPZ) project, which recently

battling for control, cannot be enjoyed by dead people or crisis-ridden land.

He appealed to the CAN President to bring his peacebrokering efforts on the national sphere in the President Goodluck Jonathan administration to bear on the situation in Ugborodo and restore abiding peace to Itsekiri land.

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014, PAGE 3

PAGE 4 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

BATTLE FOR SOKOTO Jonathan welcomes Bafarawa into PDP * Dep Gov: We will help Mr. President back to Aso Rock

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

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RESIDENT Good luck Jonathan, yesterday, formally received the former governor and leader of All Progressives Party, APC, in Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, into the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. At the Shehu Kangiwa Square in the Sokoto State capital, venue of the event, Jonathan assured the people of the state that with Bafarawa and Deputy Governor Mukhtari Shehu Shagari in the PDP, the more development was certain for Sokoto.

To the defecting governors and other officers of the PDP, who recently defected to APC, the President wished that Nigeria were to be a parliamentary state, he would have declared emergency election in their respective constituencies.

Bafarawa, in his address, said his defection to PDP was based on the popular decision and instruction of his supporters.

Sokoto is the only state

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in Nigeria that is presently administered by a governor/deputy governor leadership operating on different political platforms. Whereas Governor Aliyu Wamakko has defected from PDP to APC, his deputy and former Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Mukhtari Shehu Shagari, refused to move with his boss.

Earlier at the Bafarawa’s welcome event, the deputy governor appreciated the Federal Government presence that Jonathan had made possible in Sokoto especially in the area of the Al-Majiris Education System that, according to him, had now sent almajiris off Sokoto streets into learning engagement.

He concluded by telling the President, “Don’t worry yourself. 2015, we will, by the grace of Allah, send you back to Aso Rock.”

The event was well attended by top government officials and members of the National Working Committee of the PDP. They include Vice Presi-

dent Namadi Sambo; Senate President David Mark, Governors Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Ibrahim Shehu Shema (Katsina), Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and former Governors Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano), Abdul Kadir Kure (Niger) and Mahmuda Shinkafi (Zamfara).

Others are the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu and a former Minister of Aviation, Kema Chikwe among others.

BY PETER OKUTU

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HE elder brother of the wife of the former governor of Ebonyi State, Hon. Kennedy Ogba, was, at the weekend, kidnapped by four gunmen at his Nsuruakpa residence in Ohaukwu local government area.

The victim was seized around 5pm after attending a burial in his community.

Ogba, who is the immediate elder brother to Mrs Eunice Ukamaka Egwu, was member, representing Ohaukwu South in the state House of Assembly (2003-2007)

Ebonyi ex-governor’s in-law kidnapped and former Chairman of Ohaukwu LGA. A source close to the family told Sunday Vanguard some members passed the kidnappers at the gate of the family compound, when they were returning from the burial, but never suspected that they (kidnappers) were trailing them for the purpose of kidnapping Ogba.

He explained that the kidnappers entered the compound in a civil manner, accosted their victim

Northern CAN backs Atiku

BY HENRY UMORU

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TRONG indications emerged yesterday that the North-east Chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has thrown its weight behind former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ’s defection to All Progressives Congress, APC. The decision was taken at the end of consulta-

tions with critical stakeholders ahead of last Sunday’s defection to the APC, just as Atiku was said to have consulted with the North-east chapter of CAN. Responding to Atiku’s defection to APC, Public Relations Officer of the North-east Chapter of CAN, Mr. Jonathan A. Sambo, noted that Atiku has the credentials and genuine commitment to

“foster the unity of Nigeria as a whole.”

Sambo, who stressed that Atiku is remarkably different from other political “jingoists” seeking power in Nigeria, said, “We need a liberal leader who will carry everybody along, irrespective of his region, ethnicity or religion,” adding that such was the kind of leader Nigeria urgently needs to overcome her challenges.

when he was about entering his house and, before anybody could realize what was happening, they (kidnappers) took their victim and made away with family members cell phones so that they would not immediately make any contacts.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Ohaukwu local government, Mrs Chinyere Elom, who confirmed the incident, disclosed that the police were helping them to track down the kidnappers.

She stated that the kidnappers had established contact with the family with an unknown number, adding that the victim’s number had remained switched off since after the kidnap.

However, when contacted, the Eboyi State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Chris Anyanwu, said he had not received official report about the incident, saying “as soon as I get it, I will brief you.”

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2014 — PAGE 5

From left: The Most Rev. Charles Oderinde, groom's father; Lady Wemimo, bride’s mother; Mr. Abayomi Adeniyi Oderinde; his wife, Oluwarantimisirere Ayomini; Mrs. Margaret Oderinde, groom's mother; and Sir Demola Osinubi, bride’s father; during the solemnization of the holy matrimony between Oluwarantimisirere Ayomini Osinubi, daughter of Osinubi, Managing Director of Punch Newspapers; and Mr. Abayomi Adeniyi Oderinde, son of the Most Rev. Charles Oderinde; held at Methodist Church Nigeria, Awuse Estate, Opebi, Ikeja, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

From left: President Goodluck Jonathan; Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Muktar Shagari; former Governor Attahiru Bafarawa and Vice President Namadi Sambo during an occasion to welcome Bafarawa to the PDP, yesterday.

Northern leaders opposed to Jonathan are cowards—Yakassai them to work for the reBY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North tention of the presidency when the former president died. ”But they simply ran T is too late in the day for any right- away leaving me alone. thinking northern If they had joined me in leader to oppose Presi- the fight, we would have dent Goodluck succeeded”, he said.

Jonathan’s Presidency, ”Go and check the Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, records; I am the one the leader of the North- who wrote to the Senate ern Elders Council, President, David Mark, NEC, has said. to condemn the ‘invenYakassai, whose NEC tion’ of the Doctrine of was flagged off on Thursday, told Sunday Vanguard, in an exclusive inter view, that politicians against Jonathan were mere noisemakers, who ran away when Continued from page 1 there was the need to fight for northern presiearmarked N572 billion dency. to service N7.1 trillion The elder statesman stated that it was unfor- domestic debt in the 2014 tunate that those who Budget.

The House was redid not join him to fight for the actualisation of sponding to the minisnorthern presidency fol- ter’s office’s claim of last lowing the death of Pres- Thursday when it exident Umaru Musa plained that the Federal Yar ’Adua were the ones Government had been claiming to be fighting instrumental to a reducfor the North. tion in domestic borrow”I would say these peo- ing while speaking on ple are mere noisemak- the “uncontrollable rise ers because they ran in government recurrent away when the opportu- expenditure in the budgnity presented itself for

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Necessity, which has no place in the Nigerian Constitution, but not many of those who are making noise today assisted me in any way. ”I challenge them to come and explain where they were when I started the campaign for a northern president.

Where were they when I started the fight? The noisemakers do not wish Nigeria well.”

Yakassai explained that NEC was in full support of the forthcoming National Conference because he believed in the indivisibility of Nigeria, having worked over the years for the unity and progress of the country.

He suggested that anyone who had any idea on how to make Nigeria better should come forward and present same during the conference rather

than continue to fan the embers of hatred and division.

Yakassai denied the insinuation that his group was being backed by government to scuttle the North’s desire for the presidency, saying he was merely keen on promoting the unity and progress of Nigeria.

The inauguration of NEC in Kaduna, on Thursday, had come un-

der attacks by some northern politicians, who described it as a group made up of politicians who did not enjoy the mandate of the people but working for themselves.

Dr. Junaid Mohammed, second republic politician, even described the NEC as composed of political prostitutes out to do the bidding of the Presidency.

House queries Okonjo-Iweala over N7.1 trillion debt

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et.”

Tasking Okonjo-Iweala, the House said no one was excited about “the celebrated insignificant decline in domestic borrowing.”

It added: “The questions the people are asking are, ‘borrowing at what cost? What is the cost of the so-called reduced domestic borrowing? How is it serviced?

How are the decisions taken?”

The House of Representatives spoke in a statement by the Clerk of its Committee on Finance, Mr Farouk Mustapha.

The statement hinted that the minister would face the House at a public hearing scheduled for March 3 to 6.

“For us, we have carefully refrained from responding to the Minister ’s assertions and claims over the past couple of weeks in view of the fact that a public hearing at which the actual state of our economy will be known has already been scheduled for March 3-6, 2014,” the statement started.

It continued: “Nonetheless, we are compelled to say, as we have often stated, that no one is excited about the celebrat-

ed insignificant decline in domestic borrowing.” ” The questions the people are asking are, ‘borrowing at what cost?

What is the cost of the socalled reduced domestic borrowing? How is it serviced? How are the decisions taken?’ ” Beyond that, since the minister is in the habit of comparing our situation with those of other countries, why would she not tell Nigerians that the cost of our domestic borrowing remains one of the highest in the whole world? ”In 2011,our domestic debt stock was N5.6trillion. It rose to N6.5trn in 2012, and, by 2013, it climbed higher to N7.1trn.

” Domestic borrowing for 2011 stood at N852billion, N744bn in 2012 and N588bn in 2013.

For 2014, it is put at N572bn. ” The cost of servicing the debt was N495bn in 2011. In 2012, it increased to N559bn and jumped to N591bn in 2013. In 2014, a whopping N712bn has been earmarked for debt servicing. ”On the issue of rising recurrent expenditure, the minister should tell Nigerians her accomplishments in the drive to

lower it instead of repeatedly passing the buck.” ” It does not help to keep laying the blame at the doorsteps of previous administrations or attempt to drag late President Umaru Yar ‘Adua and President Goodluck Jonathan into the problem. ”The minister said cuts have been made in the recurrent expenditure but in what areas and by how much? Are the cuts made anything to be proud of?”

The Thursday statement by the media aide of the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Paul Nwabuikwu, had said his principal was not responsible for the rising recurment expenditure of the Federal Government. The statement said: “Though government is continuous and the minister has no desire to shirk her responsibilities, the effort to personalize these issues on the basis of inaccurate information must be roundly refuted.”

It explained: “The first point made by some senators is that she is responsible for the rising recurrent expenditure which, according to them, rose ‘from 69 per cent in the 2013 Budget

to 76 percent in the 2014 is inaccurate.’” He said the decline in the budget base is one of the factors responsible for the upsurge in the recurrent budget.

“The total expenditure of N4.64 trillion in the proposed 2014 is about a 7% decline from the 2013 budget level of N4.98tr. From a mathematical standpoint, this reduction in the budget base will result in a slight increase in the weight of the recurrent expenditure in the budget, which in absolute terms, has increased from 2013 levels”, the media aide said.

On the pensions factor, he said, “It is also important to note that the country is yet to fully absorb pension’s implications of the 2010 wage increases. Starting with the 2013 Budget, this administration commenced tackling the payment of outstanding military pensions, and the 2014 Budget will further address civilian pensions.

We have been under pressure from many quarters, including senators, to integrate the civilian component of pension, and doing so will further increase the recurrent budget.

Will the senators blame Okonjo-Iweala for this”?

PAGE 6 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

Oando pre-tax profit to hit N100bn after acquisition

BY FLORENCE NWOSE

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ANDO PLC will more than double its pre-tax profit to over N100 billion due to increased production via acquisition of ConocoPhillips’ (COP) Nigerian business.

Speaking during a visit to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Group Chief Executive, Oando PLC, Mr. Wale Tinubu, said post-acquisition, Oando’s Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) will rise from the current annual average of N45 billion to N100 billion. He also indicated that the increase

in earnings would lead to an improvement in dividend payout to shareholders in the near term and significantly enhance the company ’s growth initiatives.

While Oando has concluded all financial considerations for the $1.55 million acquisition, due process in the form of regulatory approval is required to officially close the deal. “All we require now is the consent of the minister, which is the legal requirement. The transaction will not be fully consummated until the minister ’s consent is received,” Tinubu said.

The audacious acquisition will be a game changer for Oando as it

will immediately position the company as the largest indigenous oil producer in Nigeria. Oando, through Oando Energy Resources, currently produces 4,500 barrels of crude oil per day from two producing fields, but with this acquisition it will start producing circa 50,000 barrels per day from six producing fields.

Tinubu said, “We are excited by what the future holds for our organisation as this acquisition will not only provide significant growth in size and scale, but also strengthen our position in the upstream sector. Oando embodies a multifaceted approach, and we aim to maintain our dominant positioning in the

midstream and downstream sectors, but this acquisition holds unprecedented opportunities for our upstream business.”

He also explained the rationale behind the company’s proposed N250 billion capital raise as a fresh capital-raising basket that will provide flexibility to aid growth plans in the medium term.

Oando has experienced exponential growth in its asset base since 2003 (N36billion) to (N515billion) in 2013 due to the diversification efforts from its maiden Downstream business that was acquired in the early 2000s to the fully integrated platform with major assets in the Midstream and Upstream.

Last week in brief

By Mariam Eko

Fulani herdsmen kills 22 in Plateau

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2 persons were killed in Plateau State by sus pected Fulani herdsmen. The herdsmen, from Mavo village in Wase local government area of the state, attacked the people in the community by opening fire on them.

An eye witness account said 10 houses were razed during the attack, with innocent people killed, while others fled to the bush. Also in Borno State, gunmen killed three persons in Askira village. The Borno State commissioner of police, Mr Lawal Tanko, described the incident as robbery attack, adding that the gunmen also carted away money belonging to restaurant owners and other traders.

Senators defection stalled

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ENATE President David Mark refused to read a defection letter handed to him by 11 senators. His absence kept the senators waiting and, when he eventually arrived, he refused to read the letter, saying it did not conform with Senate rules as the issue was already in court.

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014, PAGE 7

PAGE 8— SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

Fire down Igarra hills

*One town, several ‘monarchs’ *The masquerade festival connection

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garra is a sleepy commu ni ty in Akoko Edo Local Gov ernment Council of Edo State, but the peace in the community was punctured, Wednesday, January 15, during an alleged attempt by some youths to celebrate the annual Ekuochi masquerade festival which, according to the Otaru of Igarra, Oba Adeche Saiki, was banned since 1989. Igarra lies at the foot of Igarra hills popularly known as Kukuruku Hills. About five persons received gunshot injuries during the attempt to stop the festival . Apart from the controversy over the actual cause of the January 15 crisis, the Oshemdase, Oorenyi of Igarra, High Chief Gabriel Olorunfemi Ojo, who is one of the leaders of the opposing camp, said it was untrue that the youths were celebrating the Ekuochi, saying they only gathered to worship their deity called Erepa before they were attacked by some people. Besides, he insisted that the masquerade festival

was not banned and that the Otaru is not the paramount ruler of Igarra people. Nine persons were arrested by the police over the crisis and charged to court. But loyalists of the Otaru faulted the role played by the police in the crisis,insisting that innocent people were arrested while the real culprits are walking freely. Governor Adams Oshiomhole waded into the matter last week and promised to investigate the alleged ban of the masquerade festival. The governor, however, clarified the status of the Otaru, saying he remains the paramount ruler of Igarra people.

Sunday Vanguard visited the hilly city after the fracas and spoke with the key leaders.

Festival banned because we lose sons and daughters each time it is celebrated – Saiki The Otaru of Igarra, Oba Emmanuel Adeche Saiki 11, speaks on the crisis in the town Excerpts: I was born in 1942. I am about 72 years now but I ascended the throne of the Otaru in 1997. The crisis in town is about a mas-

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By Simon Ebegbulem, BeninCity

Each time it is celebrated, people have been killed, some maimed and even religious people like Christians were always complaining about it

querade where I understand there were fracas and some people were shot and arrests made.

This masquerade was banned long before I ascended the throne. The masquerade festival, we popularly call it Ekuochi, was banned in 1989 by my predecessor after the Igarra Traditional Council advised that the masquerade should be banned because of the violence that goes with it anytime it is celebrated. Each time it is celebrated, people have been

killed, some maimed and even religious people like Christians were always complaining about it. They wrote petitions against it and I remember I met one of such petitions written by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). I think based on the complaints from the community, my predecessor was forced to approach government asking that the masquerade be banned for good and it was banned. At that moment, nobody was staging it and there was peace in the town. They

normally hold it around December and January. Soon I ascended the throne, once it is that period, they always try to stage, but as soon as I hear the news, I will write to the Commissioner of Police that they should help us to stop it. I will also ask the DPO and the Area Commander to do the same. So every year they will try but as soon as they know that police are involved, they will stop.

Who are these people that always trying to stage it even when it has been banned?

This is a group of people, they call themselves Eziobe group of families who are equating their status to that of the Otaru, that the Otaru is for the royal family while they too are for their various families as heads and kings, they refer to themselves as monarchs. This has been on for sometimes and, recently, one of them said he celebrated 40 years anniversary as a monarch and tagged himself the longest serving monarch in Igarra.

And this was reported to the police. It is the very people

Continues on page 9

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014, PAGE 9

One town, many `monarchs’ protect that gazette against the will of most Igarra people. This has been the chieftaincy title in Igarra. And unfortunately, the current Otaru either by his own error or lack of understanding, tried to use force to gain the power which he does not have. Although the gazette gives him authority, you cannot acquire power from paper or from government. You can only get authority. It is the youths, it is the people of the community that have the powers.

Continued from page 8

So what is your view on the crisis?

I strongly believe the police did not handle the issue properly and that is why this thing happened because if they were

*The Otaru of Igarra, Oba Saiki II

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saying the ban on Ekuochi is not for the entire Igarra and that the Otaru banned Ekuochi for his family, that he has no power to ban their own Ekuochi. Then they forgot that even the oldest masquerade in the town is from the Otaru’s palace and ever since they were banned, we didn’t exclude anyone. But they don’t want to listen and, every year, they will instigate some boys to go and stage the masquerade. So what happened on the 15th of this month was the same issue. I attending the Armed Forces Remembrance Day when I got information from the Councillor representing Ward 2 that these people were again trying to stage this festival and he added that he had informed the DPO and the council chairman.

On my way back to the palace after the ceremony, I stopped over at the police station and met the DPO and told him of the information which he confirmed. I earlier mentioned two people to him strongly behind the move to stage the masquerade. It was these people I mentioned to the DPO that now came down and mentioned to him that they were the owner of the masquerade and that they were assuring the DPO that nothing will happen as they were going to do it uphill.

Then the DPO said they should follow him to the police station and while they were going there, the DPO evacuated all the policemen and the soldiers back to the police station. But as soon as they vacated the place, this masquerade came down and when they were coming, they were shooting all over.

But that is their stock in trade because each time they celebrate such, they do all sorts of violent activities, they can even be beating themselves, shooting guns to scare people who they perceive could challenge them. It was during this period that I heard that some people were shot. After the fracas, these perpetrators were directing the DPO to the houses of those they perceived as their enemies. The DPO was now entering into houses that were pointed to him. In a house, nobody was there because this thing happened between 4 pm and 6.30 pm. He even removed portraits of some landlords after he forced their homes opened. He also seized motorcycles and took them to the police station. The nine people arrested were the perceived enemies of the masquerade and they felt once they get them arrested, then they are actually doing the thing against the Otaru. I took my time to see the SSG (Secretary to the State Government) and briefed him and Governor Adams Oshiomhole on the issues.

So there was no record that Ekuochi was banned and there was no reason to even ban it because it is the culture of the people and it is a harmless festival

there, the masquerade would have not dared to come down to where the police were. But because they left, the incident happened; so I blame the police because they did not properly manage it.

Talking about the kingship, why the dispute over your kingship?

I

t is very unfortunate that af ter so many commissions of enquiry in the chieftaincy dispute in Igarra, some people are still trying to bring more problems. From the then Midwest Region, Bendel State and now Edo, several commissions of enquiry have been set up to look into the chieftaincy dispute in Igarra and all of them came to the same answer that the Otaru of Igarra is the paramount ruler of Igarra. As if this was not enough, these people went to court; the judgment was against them, the court ruled that the Otaru is the traditional ruler. They went to the Appeal Court around 1985 and the Appeal Court also dismissed their case and they never went further. But they continued to cause crisis all the time. This question of the masquerade is to spite the Otaru of Igarra in the eyes of the public, to deceive the public that there more than one traditional ruler in Igarra. In the first enquiry, they agreed that the Otaru is the paramount ruler but they should be made second in command. The royal family refused because the second in command in the palace is also from the royal family.

Message to my people My advice is that government

should affirm that decision that the Ekuochi masquerade stands banned because it is not helping the community. So many people have died as a result of that festival.

Our people only went to serve their deity – High Chief Ojo High Chief Gabriel Olorunfemi Ojo, the Oshemdase,Oorenyi of Igarra, presents his own story on the crisis. Excerpts: What happened on the 15th of January? t is not correct to say there was celebration of Ekuochi festival. What really happened was that the group that used to have the masquerade in Igarra was trying to serve their deity which was not a festival, but a religion. But the Otaru of Igarra cashed in on that because in recent years, what he has been doing is to harass the youths of the community who are opposed to his general leadership of the Igarra community.

People only tried to worship their juju, the name of the deity is called Erepa.

I

Why are you questioning the leadership of the Otaru?

There have been questions about the leadership of Igarra for many years. But the recent one started when Edict 16 of 1979 came in relation to traditional rulers and chiefs. Our people rose up to challenge what was contained in the edict that it was not correct and since then this crisis has been on. At the time the crisis started, the Otaru who was on the throne then, Opolose 11, made every effort to

But why is your group always playing up the masquerade issue when it has been banned because that was what led to the violence?

On the day in question, I was not at the venue but, as a ruler of the people, I was briefed.

The people worshipping that deity, that deity is not even inside town but on top of the rock, but people have to gather in a place to go and serve it and come back to entertain themselves. It is not a ceremony done in town. What happened that day was that the Otaru invited the police that people were going to celebrate the masquerade festival. The police went to the venue and confronted the leader of the group but they explained to the police that they were not celebrating Ekuochi festival, that what they were doing was to serve their juju. That they will only gather there and entertain the people. Police now said they should come to the police station to write an undertaking that nothing will go wrong, but, while they were still at the police station, shooting started. The youths came to the police station crying that people had been shot. The spot where people were shot was different from the venue where they were supposed to carry out the ceremony and that alone told us that there was a premeditated action. It is not the first time the Otaru of Igarra will do that. Precisely some time in 2007, he did a similar thing, December 28, he arrested some youths alleging that they were performing Ekuochi.

These people went to court and in 2008 the Appeal Court discharged and acquitted these people, saying that they did nothing wrong. In 2011, during the Erepa festival, a ceremony that the whole Igarra celebrates every six years, coincidentally the Comrade Governor witnessed that one, the programme which the youths used to perform, they come out to dance round the town to show that they are mature men, Otaru’s people shot at the crowd and it was the intervention of the police that saved the day. Then in 2013, a chief who is supposed to be very prominent in the Otaru’s palace just because of disagreement disappeared from the community; he is yet to be found. I am aware that the police are investigating the matter. The only excuse he is trying to give is that the youths are celebrating Ekuochi festival which is not correct.

I am not aware that the festival has been banned. In 2004, when we were trying to meet with the Otaru to find solution to this problem, five of us signed a memo together to say that the violent activities during this festival is becoming too much let us find solution to it, we banned the festival. When he was consulted, he turned around to write another letter to say he could not be party to our decision because he is the king. So he now went and unbanned Ekuochi, that was to tell you that there was nothing like government ban, if government banned the festival that would not have happened in 2004. So there was no record that Ekuochi was banned and there was no reason to even ban it because it is the culture of the people and it is a harmless festival.

How can you say it is harmless when each time the masquerade ceremony is celebrated people end up killing themselves?

I am happy that I made references and I quoted dates, let him quote the name of people that were killed in the course of the festival, you will find out that he does not have an answer. This allegation is not correct.

But why are you questioning his leadership as the Otaru?

What we are saying is that he is the Otaru of Igarra but he is not the paramount ruler of Igarra.

W

ho is the paramount ruler then?

Igarra has no paramount ruler as at today. We have clan heads and everybody is ruling his own people right from the origin of Igarra. Before this current Otaru, was his father ruling only his own clan?

Between 1926-1952, the Otaru that was reigning then, Aido, was ruling at Ugbogbo quarters.

In 1934-1966, another Otaru, Danagie 11, ruled, if you look at it properly, between 19341952 they were two Otarus, could it be said that one of them was the paramount ruler or that both were ruling the whole of Igarra? So there has not been no such central authority, everybody was ruling his own people. As at the time the gazette was promulgated, a member of the family who was Commissioner of Chieftain Affairs then, allegedly manipulated the system to give the impression that the Otaru is the paramount ruler of our people. But our people rejected that move; unfortunately, government has not given us ears to listen to us.

Way forward For peace to reign in Igarra, government should get the facts correctly and invite the warring parties to a round table talk, it is only when we sit to talk that we all will state our case. If government says we are not qualified to say our problem, so be it but I know that from the constitution that we are operating in Nigeria, we cannot be discriminated against and the power of the community lies with the people. And it is not government who appoints traditional rulers; they only recognize the person the communities choose and give him staff of office. Government should listen to us.

PAGE 10—SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

T

HE much anticipated report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry probing the May 7, 2013 massacre of security operatives in Alakio, Nasarawa State has been partially released following the commission and Governor Tanko Al-makura’s response to an affidavit filed by the legal adviser of Ombatse group, Zachary Zamani Allumuga.

In the suit filed by the legal adviser, he sought for reliefs on the abuse of the group’s fundamental human rights and an injunction to stop the commission from submitting its report and the state government from receiving the report and releasing the White Paper.

The governor and the commission seem to have fallen into the Ombatse legal adviser ’s trap as they have shown proof that they have been served the affidavit and responded swiftly to the issues raised by Allumaga.

In a counter affidavit filed by the secretary of the commission, Abubakar Sadiq Ishaq, who doubles as the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, the commission accused

NASARAWA KILLINGS

Ombatse goes to court!

Ombatseof perpetrating evil which held the state to ransom.

Abubakar, who declared that he was working under the authority of his chairman and other members of the commission, disclosed that the commission received a total of 22 memoranda and found Ombatse culpable of the offences leveled against it.

“That I know as a fact that a total of 22 memoranda were received by the commission and out of these numbers of the memoranda, six came from Ombatse group said to be represented by one Zachary Zamani Allumuga the applicant”, he said.

“That I read the supporting affidavit by the applicant and the memoranda submitted by all other persons, groups and/ or communities affected by the crises that led to the setting up of this

,,

By ABEL DANIEL

commission and i know as a fact that the said memoranda received revealed that the Ombatse group proscribed by the state government is opposite of what the applicant (Allumuga) claimed the group represents as

The commission’s secretary stated that despite the proscription of Ombatse, the group continued to unleash terror, mayhem, killing and destruction of lives and properties

deposed in paragraph 5,6,7,8,9,10,12,13 and 14 of the said supporting affidavit of the Ombatse.

Maiming, looting

“That I know as a fact that the memoranda received from various communities and persons that were attacked by Ombatse showed that the group is an ethnic militia that engages in killing, maiming, looting and dangerous acts that are inimical to good governance, peace, and security of Nasarawa state”.

The commission’s secretary stated that despite the proscription of Ombatse, the group continued to unleash terror, mayhem, killing and destruction of lives and properties”.

He described the suit filed

by Ombatse as useless as, according to him, the group cannot “demonstrate any wrong done to or likely to be done to the applicant by the commission to necessitate the action filed against the commission”.

In a second counter affidavit

Continues on page 14

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2014, PAGE 11

AFTER DARING RAIDS WHICH KILLED 40...

‘There is a plot to wipe out southern Kaduna people’ I

The Southern Kaduna Indigenes Progress Forum (SKPFo) announced, last week, it was dragging the governor to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague for complicity in what it termed “the genocide” against the Takad people

,,

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

t was rough for the people of Maroa and Atakad communi ties in Kaura Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, and bordering Plateau State, last week, as unknown gunmen, suspected to belong to a Fulani militia, killed not less than 40 people in two separate raids in which at least a soldier and a police man were also slain.

The Monday daring raid, which mainly affected Atakad villages, brought the total number of such invasions to 11 with about 100 deaths, and at least five villages razed. In one particular invasion, several families including those of John Mbakwe, Taiye Ojo, Daniel Ekpu and Isaiah Akinsanya were attacked. The families were displaced while many members are said to be missing.It was not clear why the families were attacked. But a source said it may not be unconnected with political affiliation. The violence started last Christmas eve.

The Atakads live mainly on the Kagoro-Kanawuri hills, and are blessed with vast, lush undulating fields, served by several perennial streams and spring sources.

The figures of the killing in the latest attack as obtained by Sunday Vanguard are as follows: Mayit village, a Takad settlement in Plateau State - 22 civilians, one soldier and one Mobile Policeman; Kirim village, Plateau State – 6; Danti - A Takad border village between Kaduna and Plateau States – 14. Mr Wayo Ndong, 70, remained missing at press time.These brought the

number of the killings to 34.The Catholic Church and many houses were burnt in Zangang in Kaura LGA, but there were no loss of lives there. The victims were given mass burial at about 2pm on Wednesday.Though Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State, occasionally, visits some scenes of attacks and always vows to fish out the culprits, preaching the need for peaceful co-existence, some groups seem not impressed.The Southern Kaduna Indigenes Progress Forum (SKPFo) announced, last week, it was dragging the governor to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague for complicity in what it termed “the genocide” against the Takad people.

Also, the Centre for Development and Rights Advocacy (CEDRA) called on the Federal Government to impose emergency rule in the state, saying Yero was incapable of securing Atakad and other parts of southern Kaduna.

All efforts by Sunday Vanguard to get the state government to react to

the SKPFo and CEDRA statements failed as the Director General (DG) Media to the governor, Mallam Ahmed Maiyaki, did not pick his calls and did not respond to text messages.

But a government official, who said he did not want his name mentioned, said the two groups were just seeking attention, saying Yero was doing his best for the Atakad people and needed support not hostility from the people of southern Kaduna.

‘Gov will face ICC’

In its press statement, SKIPFo explained why it was dragging Yero to the ICC: ”We believe that the genocide in southern Kaduna, especially the desperate campaign to wipe out the Takad people and occupy their pristine land by Fulani, and other jihadists, is not without the complicity of strong sponsors and mentors under the present government which has refused to take this issue seriously”, the group said.

“SKIPFo wishes, with all sense of responsibility, to place the entire dark cloud hanging over the Maroa and Takad areas of Kaura LGA on the shoulders of His Excellency, Alh. Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State.

“The utterances, actions and inactions of Gov. Yero on the mass murder of our people clearly points to the fact that he does not care a hoot about what happens to us, and has directly or indirectly encouraged the pogrom going on.

“For example, when the late Governor Patrick Yakowa was in power, on the 15th February, 2012, Rev Joseph Hayab, Special Assistant to the Governor on Christian Affairs, and Mallam Halliru Maraya, Special Assistant to the Governor on Muslims Affairs, and Ishaku Dogo Makama, Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Kaduna State, said, at a press conference, that after pocketing not less than N564 million in cash, apart from food stuff and other relief materials, Internally Displaced Persons (all Hausa/Fulani Muslims from Zonkwa) from the last April 2011 polls’ violence, had refused to leave the Hajj Camp, in Kawo, Kaduna.

“While the aforementioned enjoyed so much largesse from Yakowa, Yero, on his part, is not known to have offered a kobo to the much publicised 10,000 Takad refugees.

“He knows well that they are now under starvation since the Fulani made it impossible for them to return and cultivate their farms. Most of them are sick, traumatized without any form of assistance even as more violence is being visited on them on a daily basis under the watch of Yero. ”There is no further proof to show

*Continues on page

PAGE 12—SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

Kaduna and the Politics of 2015

By ISAIAH BALAT

I

N many ways, the politics of Kaduna State mirrors that of the country not only because the state is sharply divided along religious lines but also because of its ethnic composition that engenders a fierce competition for power between the geo-political sections. Even at that, the significance of Kaduna goes beyond its locality, essentially because it has, for decades, been the political headquarters of the North.

However, while the politics of the state has always been fascinating, never in recent history have we had the kind of situation that obtains today when some charlatans, who parade themselves as political leaders, would be selling all manner of dubious stories. Even when most people know that the forebears of some of these characters hail from Niger, Chad, Cameroun etc, that fact has never been an issue against them. But now, out of desperation, they want to divide the North with their half-digested “historical tales” that are neither here nor there, in the bid to get at the Vice President.

In what is no more than sheer political chicanery, a former elected governor of Kaduna State has suddenly become an “alien” in the state he ruled only until less than four years ago just because of the inordinate ambitions of some politicians.

That sort of politics should have no place in any decent society and it says so much about the character of those behind the campaign of calumny that they would rather hide behind the anonymity of faceless groups to do their dirty work.

Ordinarily, it would not have mattered if the essence of the madness is merely to profit from the electioneering season. But the agenda of the politicians in question is more sinister than that: they are bent on bringing others down in the bid to promote their own interests. And in doing that, nothing seems sacred to them so long as the end justifies the means.

While most of these political gamblers are already in the camp of the opposition and are surreptitiously working against the interest of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), they are still posturing as members, indeed leaders, of the ruling party and they would want the world to believe that they alone can deliver Kaduna to President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. And the plot they have devised is simply to denigrate the person of the Vice President in pursuit of their ambition.

So desperate have these politicians become that almost, on a daily basis now, they invent stories about how “unpopular” the VP has become in the North just as they are now screaming themselves hoarse about the “dwindling fortunes” of the PDP in Kaduna State. They persist because the VP would neither be distracted by the antics of those who do not wish the PDP and the Jonathan administration well

*VP Sambo nor join issues with political time-servers who would want to drag him down with them. Yet there should be a limit to the kind of dirty politicking that is becoming a daily fest now as we move towards the 2015 general elections.

As one of the five founding leaders and financiers of the PDP in Kaduna State, I consider it rather unfortunate that some misguided political manipulators in Abuja are buying into the fraud that because some people can make noise and have access to the media, nothing moves in Kaduna without them. But since these Abuja armchair “strategists” know little about the politics of Kaduna State, we can pardon their ignorance by telling them some home truths.

The first issue to tackle is whether the PDP is as “unpopular” in Kaduna State as some of these politicians would want the world to believe. A party that has always controlled the state since the inception of the current dispensation in 1999 with a history of performing governors should have no problem winning any election, even if there are some disgruntled elements within its fold.

Since I am not aware that any of the prominent politicians from Kaduna State who are holding elective or appointive offices has defected from the party, I therefore wonder where these faceless politicians get their stories from. But given the nature of the time we live in, it is easy to situate why there is a well-oiled campaign that PDP has suddenly become “unpopular” in Kaduna State. We have been on this road before, even though the stake seems to be higher now.

Indeed, in the build-up to the 2003 general elections in the state, the same scenario played out. At that time, some of our politicians threatened to defect from the PDP (a few actually did), but not long after the party

*Gov Muktar Ramallan Yero

So desperate have these politicians become that almost, on a daily basis now, they invent stories about how “unpopular” the VP has become in the North just as they are now screaming themselves hoarse about the “dwindling fortunes” of the PDP in Kaduna State recorded victory, they all crawled back. The same thing happened during the 2007 and 2011 elections. Yet despite the huffing and puffing of such characters, hallucinating that the fortunes of PDP had dwindled, the PDP emerged victorious as expected.

And in their shameless manner, they came back to the same party that they worked against in the course of the election.

In essence, what the foregoing reveals is that we are confronted with the same old tricks as we prepare for the 2015 general elections. Yet it is almost certain that once we are done with the 2015 elections, pin-drop silence will replace the present cacophony. Sadly, they will wait till 2019, and start all over again what has become their stock in trade.

However, what makes their antics very unfortunate this year is the fact that they have some cowardly puppeteers who determine the level of the noise they make. These puppeteers who straddle both the ruling PDP and the opposition APC are watching to see which side the political pendulum will swing in Kaduna State and although they may think they are clever, the good people of Kaduna State know them for professing loyalty to the PDP by day and hobnobbing with APC kingpins by night. Interest-

ingly, what seems to unite this self-serving group is their inability to come to terms with the rising profile of the Vice President, Arc. Namadi Sambo.

Evidently not comfortable with his position in the hierarchy of things in the state and the country, they erroneously assume that encouraging some light weight politicians to decamp from the PDP in his home state, and drawing media attention to such inanity would be a way of assailing the reputation of the VP. The cold calculation of those behind this campaign of calumny is to create the erroneous impression that the VP is a politician without strong following in Kaduna in particular and the North in general. If they succeed in their machination, on which they have some willing collaborators in Abuja, the idea is for these political desperadoes to position themselves as the 2015 “Northern Messiahs” for President Goodluck Jonathan.

While it is easy for critical observers to see through this cheap blackmail, those who seem determined to set back the hands of the clock would not allow peace to reign in Kaduna State. We should stop them in their tracks before they derail the PDP and the Jonathan adminis-

tration.

What I find particularly tragic is how some politicians would imagine that the upward trajectory of their political fortunes is entwined with the downfall of the Vice President.

And to achieve their objective, they are even ready to help the opposition make inroad into the state as we approach 2015, so as to justify their cold calculations.

But this strategy will not work because the people of Kaduna can see through the antics of those bent on creating a confusion from which they intend to benefit.

It is noteworthy that since the emergence of democracy in 1999, Kaduna State has been a solid bastion of the PDP, and will remain so, given the reality on the ground. While there exists a vocal minority who delight in promoting discord and hate, majority of our people recognize those who fight for their interest.

Just because those people have chosen to work behind the scenes does not, and cannot, suggest a dwindling of fortunes for the PDP in the state.

The point to underscore is that those brandishing such whimsical fantasies will do same to the APC once they have achieved their selfish goals and are looking for the next ‘greener pastures’. The absence of any ideological direction in their political life lends credence to their penchant to swiftly get into bed with the strangest political bedfellows and change camps whenever the music changes. But they are assured of meeting their political waterloo at the next general elections in Kaduna State.

From 1999 to date, I have participated in all the elections that produced the PDP governors in Kaduna State and it is also on record that I successfully coordinated (in the state) the elections that ushered in Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (of blessed memory) and Goodluck Jonathan. All these candidates defeated their opponents at each of these elections in Kaduna State. I can therefore say from experience and a position of practical knowledge that those playing the ostrich today will not have the last laugh in 2015.

The sheer strength of the PDP and its widespread acceptance has become so intimidating to other parties that the movement of a few individuals with doubtful political following is immedi-

ately highlighted as gain. But the reality will dawn on everyone when the PDP wins the state in 2015, because we are ready to continue working assiduously toward improving and expanding the fortunes of the people of Kaduna State.

That is the charge the Vice President is leading, not only in Kaduna but indeed in the entire North, no matter what the mischief makers may want their crowd to believe.

• Senator Balat, a former Minister and prominent politician from Kaduna State, is currently a Special Adviser to the President, in the office of the Vice President

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2014, PAGE 13

DIRECTIVE TO BLOCK EXECUTIVE BILLS

House can pass 2014 Budget without APC Reps – Hon. Leo Ogor

•’Defected lawmakers may still lose seats’

Leo Ogor, Deputy Leader of the House of Representatives, is a major stakeholder in the ruling People’s Democratic Party. He can be counted as a member of President Goodluck Jonathan’s kitchen cabinet. In this interview, he chides the opposition for trying to create crisis in the House and warns that PDP can successfully run the business of the House without the All Progressive Congress, APC. Excerpts:

In amending the Constitution, did you take into consideration the sixyear single tenure proposed by the Presidency?

The proposal for a six-year single term was never part of our deliberation. There was nothing of that nature, which was a mere proposal by The Presidency but was not sent to us. There was no attempt to change the present tenure system in the Constitution.

By SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North and EMMAN OVUAKPORIE Given the way things are going in Nigeria, are you worried?

If you want me to take a general perspective, I am a bit concerned about the crisis that has emerged in the northern part of the country, especially Borno, coupled with the fact that some people are hoisting flags that are alien to our country. Indeed, it bothers me because events of this nature are quite alien to our system. We are brothers of the same family and, when you see the challenges of this nature, I think every citizen of this country must be worried and we need to come together to find a lasting solution to the crisis.

Don’t you see the crisis as failure of leadership and the absence of appropriate laws to deal with violence in the land?

First I say capital No! What you are seeing today is even something that is a global phenomenon.

It is true but what helped those countries is how they responded to the challenge.

I also want to say that we in Nigeria never experienced this type of terrorism and we lack the experience to fight such war. If it is crimes like armed robbery and kidnapping, you can see how effective the police have been able to handle them. But I think, gradually, we will get to the stage where the Americans have reached in tackling terrorism. But let me say that we have more than enough laws to tackle whatever situation that may arise. But as it borders on terrorism, which is alien to us, we will overcome it if we work together as a united nation. I believe that the time has come for collective effort to tackle the rising crime in the land. The terrorists are not ghosts but humans, who live and work among Nigerians.

Do you think the National Assembly has lived up to expectations in making laws for this country?

We keep making laws to address the challenges that rear their heads in the country. If you are objective, you will appreciate the number of laws that we have made for the good of this country, among them, the Same-sex Bill, recently signed into law by Mr. President; Appropriation Law is one that we have never toyed with, knowing its importance to the nation and the people. We have done very

Leo Ogor well so far.

implemented.

But are you worried that almost all the resolutions of the NASS are generally ignored by The Presidency?

Let me say that resolutions of the NASS are persuasive and not binding.

Can you mention one of them as an example?

I am aware of the Single Window Project that the government awarded in respect of the management of the ports and, when we adopted a resolution stopping it, the President immediately respected our position.

But there are also many other resolutions that have not been implemented by government and I don’t think it is important to mention them here. Having said so, sometimes they may have one or two reasons they have not implemented certain resolutions. But like I said earlier, it is wrong for any government not to respect the resolutions of the NASS because the two organs are

So, why do you adopt a resolution in the first place?

It is more like the coming together of about 360 people and two heads are better than one. So, the resolutions of the House are persuasive. But the resolutions of both chambers of the NASS have something close to the force of law. And, if you look clearly, first, there are resolutions that the Executive has accepted and

partners in progress and must work hand in hand to achieve the collective objective of government in meeting the welfare and security of the citizenry.

Where are we regarding the amendment of the Constitution?

We have almost concluded the review process of the Constitution amendment. The only thing we need to do to move the process forward is to take it to the states Houses of Assembly to concur. We have taken time to do a very good job, putting a lot of checks and balances to give the country a good Constitution at the end of the day.

There is so much tension in the House of Representatives arising from the claim by the opposition APC that it is now in the majority there. What is the true position regarding your party, the PDP and other parties?

You have given us the opportunity to tell Nigerians the truth. The issue of rancour in the House is a non-issue.

It is a storm in the tea cup. I think there are some people who are interested in coming into the House through the backdoor. They want to avoid the main entrance and enter the House either through the ceiling or the balcony.

What do you mean?

On the 17th of January, some 37 members of the PDP went to court to seek an injunction against the clear provision of Section 68 (G) of the 1999 Constitution, which says that a member should vacate his seat if he crosses over to another party if there is no crisis in the party. But because these members are aware of this provision of the law, they went to court to seek an injunction over an action they have not taken. They came with an interlocutory injunction against the Speaker of the House of Representatives so that their seats might not be declared vacant. This is because an Abuja High Court had earlier ruled that there is no faction in PDP in the matter concerning Abubakar Baraje and the National Chairman of the party.

You are not correct. What the court ruled was that it did not recognise Baraje but Tukur as the PDP Chairman but did not say there was no crisis in PDP. But what does that imply?

The court did not say there was no crisis in the party. It said it only recognised Tukur, who came through an INEC organised convention. Does that not tell you that there is no faction in PDP? It shows clearly that there is no division in the party. I think it is

Continues on page 14

PAGE 14—SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

Continued from page 13 important that I draw reference in the case between Amaechi and the PDP, where the Supreme Court ruled that the seats occupied by any office holders belong to the party and not the individual.

These 37 members went to court knowing that their seats belong to the PDP. That matter is still pending in court. The issue therefore is that if they vacate their seats and go for election, we are still in the majority. It is important to get this clear. Now the question is, if for any reason, they decide to go to APC and the court rules that they must vacate their seats, they must have caused us irreparable damage. So, what we are saying here is that as democrats, who believe in the rule of law, let them wait until the court concludes the case before they defect to the other party. Until that matter is concluded, we cannot allow them to change the leadership. We have to be careful.

But the PDP has been excitedly taking lawmakers and governors from other parties into its fold without raising the issue of vacating

‘House can pass 2014 Budget without APC Reps’ seats. Why are you talking about vacating seats by defecting PDP lawmakers?

Self-interest is very important in politics. Let me also add that the only thing that is permanent in life is change and we are not scared of any change, but we insist on due process. I am giving you an assurance today that I am a democrat to the core; if tomorrow the court rules that the members of the PDP have the right to move over to the APC without vacating their seats in line with constitutional provisions, I would move the motion for the APC to take over the leadership. But until the court pronounces otherwise, we will not allow them to take over the leadership of the House through the backdoor because we did not ask them to go to court.

But they are saying that they are already more in number than the PDP in the House That is a pure joke because you know that the only

Continued from page 10 filed by the Permanent Secretary of Planning Commission, Suleiman Muhammed , who was the then Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health when he represented the governor at Alagoni Hills on February 2, he deposed that he was authorized by Al-makura and the Attorney General of the state to respond to Allumaga’s suit.

He countered the claim made by the Ombatse legal adviser that the group is out to promote peace and cleanse the ills of the society saying the group is an “ethnic militia that engages in killing, maiming, looting, and doing other dangerous acts that are inimical to the good government, peace and security of the state”.

Responding to the allegation raised by Allumuga that Almakura’s representative was at their gathering after its proscription, the Permanent Secretary said he represented the governor at the occasion because they were informed that the group was ready to turn a new leaf.

The Nasarawa government also employed the services of a law firm, J.S Okutepa, SAN, and company to respond to the grave allegations raised against the state governor and the commission at the state High Court of Justice.

Okutepa, SAN, urged the state High Court to dismiss the application filed by Ombatse legal adviser seeking for redress of the abuse of their fundamental human right.

He declared that the Ombatse group “has woefully failed to make out a case under the Fundamental Human Right Enforcement Procedure Rules, or any other law for that matter to be entitled to any of

Leo Ogor persons who have defected so far are the 37 members and the last two members. As things are today, anybody that defects from APC to PDP is welcome because of the merger of many parties into APC and nobody can question us in PDP. But until a compe-

tent court of law rules that there is a faction in PDP, any member who leaves will have his seat declared vacant.

But PDP will also have to await the court pronouncement on the defection.

The 37 members were smart because they went to court to seek an interpretation of the position of the law on defection. But now that they are in court, they want to vote for APC and no reasonable leadership would accept that.

We lead the party. I run the business of the party as the Deputy Leader of the House.

It is my responsibility and in my interest to protect my party interest on the floor of the House. I will not carry out an illegality but they themselves are power-thirsty. They want to take power at all costs.

They know the truth but they are trying to run away from it and it bleeds my heart. You saw the motion they came with on the Rivers crisis: they wanted the Inspector General of Police to be sacked without

giving him fair hearing, when our laws stipulate that no man should be dismissed without being heard.

But what has the House done about the crisis in Rivers or do you think that it is not a serious problem?

It is a very serious problem.

The matter is before competent committees in the House and we will come out with our findings and send our resolutions to the Executive for necessary actions.

What is the difference between the NASS and the impending National Conference? How are you going to locate the conference within the work of the National Assembly?

There is need for Nigerians to talk. It is necessary for Nigerians to air their views because there are a lot of tribal and religious crisis going on. Let me also say that the President, in his wisdom, has stated very clearly that whatever decision taken at the conference would be subjected to the NASS for ratification.

It is a very wise decision. It is now left for the NASS to look at what will come out of the talk-shop and filter in line with the powers vested on the

Ombatse goes to court! the reliefs sought”.

Pre-empt

T

he legal consultant also said Ombatse lacked substantial evidence to seek relief from court.

Reacting to the commission and the governor’s counter affidavit, the legal adviser of Ombatse, Allumuga, said they pre-empt the report of the commission.

The legal adviser also disclosed that the rationale behind his suing the governor and commission was the injustice perpetrated by the commission’s chairman during the proceedings as he gave instance of how the chairman shielded the governor over the alleged one million naira gift given to him and other members of Ombatse during a visit to Al-makura.

He added that the conduct of the chairman and members of the commission made him lose confidence in the report of the commission.

Allumuga also debunked the governor’s claim that the presence of his representative at Alagoni hills on February 2, 2013 was to reintegrate the group back to the society, saying the representative was at the prayer ground to promise them logistics that would aid their activities.

He added that a video clip would be produced in due time to substantiate his claims.

On the issue raised by Okutepa that Ombatse is not a registered group hence cannot sue or be sued, Allumuga said the court would determine its status.

Ombatse group had on October 20,

12013 filed a case at the High Court of Justice of Nasarawa State against the state governor, the Attorney General and the Judicial Commission of Inquiry probing Alakio killings and other related matters.

In the suit, the group opposed its proscription saying Nasarawa State notice No.4 of 2012 made by the governor is illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

According to Allumaga, the ratio-

nale for their assertion is because neither he nor any member was invited to be heard before the proscription was pronounced.

He declared that by virtue of S. 40 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, Ombatse has the right and freedom to assemble freely and to associate with other persons.

The group is seeking N500 million for the breach of its members fundamental human rights.

Taraba: Umar plans tto o arrest Suntai —Ex-Commissioners B Y OKEY NDIRIBE

A group of ex-Commissioners from Taraba State have raised the alarm over the alleged plot by the Acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, to arrest ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai.

The alarm was raised in Abuja

by Mr Rebo Usman on behalf former Commissioners of Suntai while speaking on the political crisis which has gripped the state since their former principal was involved in an air crash in 2012. “ Umar plans to put Suntai under house arrest in order to enable him achieve his goal of becoming the governor of the state through illegal means”, Usman said.

The group further alleged that as part of the plot, Umar sacked five

Commissioners who refused to cooperate with him in his bid to unseat Suntai through the production of a medical report which would have declared the ailing state chief executive as incapacitated.

Umar was also accused of sponsoring the change which took place in the leadership of the state House of Assembly for the purpose of “paving the way for a new leadership that would have helped him actualise his goal based on the medical report”.

The group observed that Umar waged a propaganda war against Suntai using the governor’s state of health as his focal point.

The former Commissioners called on President Goodluck Jonathan to act fast and prevent the situation in the state from degenerating into anarchy.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2014, PAGE 15

Another PDP lawmaker from the North-central described the Speaker’s ruling as “a dangerous trend that may reintroduce what we exhibited on this same floor in the 6th Assembly. “ ”We will go home for a

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE long vacation after we must have turned this House into a battle 2014 Budget: House ground. “ shutdown looms Speaker Tambuwal had, on Tuesday, apparently sensing that the House may go into chaos during the budget debate, set up a six-man Some members of the ruling People’s panel to review the observations of Hon EmmanDemocratic Party, PDP, on Tuesday, after uel Jime, APC, Benue State. the debate on 2014 Budget, vowed to Jime had argued that the budget was not accomdisrupt sessions, if the opposition All panied by estimates as required by Section 21 of Peoples Congress, APC, Reps continued the Fiscal Responsibility Act. to derail debate on it.

The lawmakers, angered by the ruling of the presiding officer, Aminu Tambuwal Missing oil money: Reps, Sanu, who had ruled that the debate should si and conflicting figures be deferred for another 24 hours, felt otherwise. Some PDP lawmakers, who Hon Toby Okechukwu, PDP, Enugu State has spoke anonymously to Sunday Vanwarned the Governor of the Central Bank of guard, described the ruling as against Nigeria, CBN, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to stop the interest of Nigeria and their party. overheating the polity.

One of the legislators from the SouthOkechukwu said the apex bank boss has provideast said, “The setting up of a six -man ed more than three conflicting figures on the panel consisting of three APC members issue of missing oil money. to look into Section 21 Sub section 1,2 “First it was $48.9bn, suddenly it dropped to and 3 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, $10.8bn and now he has provided another 2007 was uncalled”. stunning figure of $20bn, “the lawmaker fumed. ”We have been passing budgets without ”Nigerians should please ask him which figure recourse to such interpretation of those we should believe. sections since 2011, so why this develop”If the governor of our apex bank cannot give us ment now? ,” he wondered. a definite figure , who do we consult? Laymen? “ ”If this trend continues, we may have no choice than to shut down this 7th Assembly for good”.

Tinubu and the Kano Trojans

of democracy On Monday, six APC governors and their national leaders held an emergency meeting with their lawmakers at the NASS Complex to salute their courage so far in carrying out the party’s directive to shut down government.

A former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, singled out Kano lawmakers for praise, describing them as the true Trojans of democracy. ”Let me single out those of you from Kano and say that you deserve special commendation. Your leader, Abdulrahman Kawu, has done well. He has been leading you well, that is why you remain with us,” he said.

Tinubu said the APC would grow stronger and more politicians from the PDP would join the party so that they can rescue Nigerians together.

He called on the lawmakers not to look at their individual interest but that of Nigerians, saying “that is how we can rescue our country from the situation we find ourselves.”

The APC leader added, “They think they can go to the grassroots and remove what is impossible. I assure all of you from Bauchi, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Kwara and the rest that we won’t let you down”.

The Kano lawmakers, who refused to follow their former leader, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, to defect to the PDP, include the deputy minority leader, Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila; Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe,;Usman Adamu Gaya and Haruna Musa Fatahi. Other are Muhammad Sani Rano, Lawan Shehu Bichi, Abdulsalam Adamu, Badamasi Ayuba Danbatta, Nasir Baballe Ila and Nasir Ali Ahmed.

Asari Dokubo’s arrest echoes in House Chairman of the House Committee on Justice, Hon Ahmad Ali, has described the arrest of ex-militant, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, as a welcomed development as nobody is above the law. He said, “This shows fairness in treating citizens to be equal and that no one is above the law. ”When you say no one should engage in war mongering or hate language, it will be taken seriously. ” Henceforth anyone arrested should be tried. “

until after wide reading the letter. would come down.

He explained that under the consultations on the He said: “I can confirm to Senate spokesman, EnyinSenate rule, only the Senate legal implications of naya Abaribe, explained that you that on the matter of President can interpret the that. those who want to defect that Constitution. they could not come to Mark, sensing that the issue was also discussed conclusion because the the 11 embattled during the closed session Senate President, who Limping senators senators with their and it was also resolved that presided over the close About six senators either

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru friends in the APC the Senate, the Senate session, pleaded for time to limp or use walking stick. might cause crisis in seek legal clarification on the President in particular, Senator Ayogu Eze had some the Senate, on Wednesday, would have to seek further issue, given that it was leg challenge sometime ago, caused the parliament to go legal advice because of the pending in court. then the Odukpani Prince, into closed door session to serious legal issues that was According to him, reading see the possibility of settling thrown up during the discus- Senator Bassey out, who is the said letter would be coming back to his normal issues without the public sion. subjudice since the court self. But, recently, the witnessing the disagree“The legal issues relate to order had mandated the number of senators limping ment, but the tactic produced parties involved in the both the interpretation of the and using working stick little effect as the defectors

BY JOHNBOSCO matter to maintain the status Constitution and the interseems to be increasing. insisted that their letter must quo just as he blamed the 11 pretation of our rules within GBAKWURU Senator Philip Adudua was be read. the Senate. And more time senators for dragging the To cool frayed nerves, the was given for further consul- seen with walking stick leadership of the Senate to before Christmas break and, Senate President cashed-in The Senate, last week, tation. It was also resolved court in the first place, last week, the Senate on the on-going nationwide continued with the defection that when the Senate resaying the development had Minority Leader, Senator registration of membership drama which has become sumes plenary on stalled their movement George Akuma, joined the

by APC to adjourn till this ‘the more you look, the less Tuesday, that Senate will which ordinarily would have Tuesday so that tempers you see.’ now also look into the issue.” “club”. I believe all is well. been easily effected by Senate President David Mark refused to read the letter from the 11 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, senators seeking to defect to responsible for the genocide, against the Takad, ment that is incapable of performing that the All Progressives Con*Continued from page 11 of Southern Kaduna people. “Our lawyers, and crucial role is not worth staying in power gress, APC, on the grounds how he hates southern Kaduna their friends are taking the governor to the for a single second’. that the senators were people and encourages the sysInternational Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague elected individually to the very soon for aiding and abetting genocide, tematic genocide of the Takad by Selfish motive Senate and should leave against the Takad and Southern Kaduna starvation and violence But a top government official, who individually also if they people.“We hope to get him extradited even if after “Encouraged, by the feeble security spoke to Sunday Vanguard on condition intend to join another party. he has left office, so that he faces justice”. in place, a band of ravaging Fulani that his name would not be mentioned, But the past week witnessed militants invaded Takad villages said: “It is a pity that some people are a twist after the senators Emergency rule again, last Monday, and wiped out all just looking for attention to serve their CEDRA, in its own reaction to the killings, said mounted pressure that Mark the inhabitants before razing the that Kaduna State government should be suspendselfish motive. should read their defection villages. “SKIPfo believes that if it ed and a state of emergency imposed on the state.

The governor has done a lot for the were other ethnic nationalities notification on the floor of murdering Fulani at will as it is done In a statement by Dr. John Danfulani, Director of affected people of Kaura and he does parliament.

CEDRA, in Kaduna, CEDRA said: “ It is clear that us, the governor would have since not have to make noise about it. He is The Senate President made Governor Yero of Kaduna State and his security taken very aggressive measures to serious about peace and security and it clear to them that because team are deficit of the knowledge of effective stamp out the evil.. preaches it everywhere. This is the they had taken the principal “After collecting enough documentary administration and physical security managetime that southern Kaduna should officers to court, there was ment.

This has denied him/them the capacity to evidence, and studying all incriminatcooperate with him, and not be hostile no way he would succumb to carry out the number one duty of the state i.e ing information at our disposal, we are to him”. protection of lives and property of citizens under pressure to read the letter therefore holding His Excellency,

Senate still in defection confusion

A

Angst trail Atakad killings

Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero

their control. It is a global norm that any govern-

PAGE 16 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

A curriculum for out-of-school children

BY SONI DANIEL

T

he Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, NERDC, has taken steps to cater for out-of-school children in the South-South and South-East geo-political zones of the country with the development of a special curriculum for them.

Besides, the council has also fashioned out a special curriculum for Albinos and people with visual impairment in Nigeria, as part of its effort to ensure that all Nigerians, irrespective of their conditions, have access to basic education.

The Executive Secretary of the Council, Prof Godswill Obioma, who unveiled the package at a media chat in Abuja, said the agency was determined to fulfil its mandate to Nigerians and brighten their educational future.

Prof Obioma disclosed that the entrepreneurship programme developed for the South-East and South-South out-of-school youths comprised GSM Repairs, Screen Printing, Snacks Productions, Hair dressing and Barbing.

According to him, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) is also collaborating with NERDC, NABTEB, NBTE, international organization, NGOs, organized private sector, and the host communities towards implementing target intervention for providing

*Programmes for albinos, visually-impaired opportunities for specific classes of hard-to-reach school age population and the out-of-school youths in the two zones.

Obioma explained that the intervention by NERDC was aimed at providing better access for out-of-school youths to enable them to complete their education and enhance their leadership potentials.

Turning to the welfare of albinos, the council has also developed a mainstream programme to cater for those with albinism in Nigeria so as to give them a sense of belonging.

Under the package, albinism has been incorporated as a mainstream concept part of Basic School Curriculum and appropriate awareness created by the council to enable Nigerians to appreciate those with albinism.

The package aimed at sensitizing policy planners, albinos, parents, other students, teachers and communities on the challenges of albinism and its effects on albinos with implications for schooling and on the general wellbeing of albinos.

Apart from a blueprint on albinism, NERDC has, in collaboration with other stakeholders, developed a National Policy on Albinism, which has already been approved by the National Council on Education (NCE).

The policy makes it compulsory for

albinism to form part of the Basic Education curriculum and provide data on people living with albinism as well as develop core messages and frequently asked questions on socio cultural bias and bring to greater understanding in the minds of people on myths on albinism.

NERDC also has also gone further to provide for people with visual impairment by developing Resource roombased subjects curricula for such persons in Nigeria.

Another innovation by the council is the development of Instructional Sign Language Textbooks for Nigerian Schools (ISLTENS) with Flash Cards for learners with hearing impairment.

The Executive Secretary boasted that between 2007 and 2010, NERDC revised extant Senior Secondary School (SSS) curricula as well as developed new ones in line with the ideals of NEEDS for the acquisition of appropriate knowledge, skills and competencies that would engender uninterrupted curriculum content flow from the primary schools through secondary into tertiary education.

He said the curriculum emphasized excellence in chosen careers in the areas of science, arts, technology and humanities as well as deepen self-reliance and the ability of individuals to participate in national development.

ASO ROCK VIBES

DEFECTIONS:

Maku and the story of the monster

BY BEN AGANDE, ABUJA

T

he Minister of Information and the Supervising Minister for Defence, Mr Labran Maku, is one minister who does not spare critics of the Jonathan administration with his acerbic response to those he feels are unfair to the administration. He was in his acerbic best when he frontally attacked the gale of defections that swept through the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the rationalisation of the defectors action.

Apart from five governors of the PDP who have defected to the rival All Progressive Congress (APC), scores of members of the National Assembly have also pitched their tent with the opposition party.

Maku’s grouse with the defectors is not the fact that they joined the opposition party. His angst stemmed from the fact that, in doing so, they

deliberately and mischievously hid their shortcomings while spinning a yarn to paint the PDP as the monster.

And he did not spare any name when he addressed these people: nomads, shameless, people with no sense of justice and anti-democrats.

It is only a Maku, whom the Senate President once accused of talking carelessly, that can summon courage to exhibit such acerbity.

The president and ‘rough time this year’

A major change in the military high command was announced by President Goodluck Jonathan recently. Apart from sacking the heads of the army, the air force and the navy, Jonathan also announced the replacement of the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) as well as the service chiefs. Though such decision is the prerogative of the president, many see the development as

Labran Maku, Minister for Defence

Jonathan’s way of injecting new ideas into the fight against the multifarious security challenges in the country, ranging from the insurgency in the North-east, oil theft in the Niger Delta and kidnapping for ransom in the South-east. When the president, last Wednesday, decorated the new service chiefs and the CDS with their new ranks, he did not mince words in telling them the daunting challenge ahead of them.

“Whenever I am decorating military officers, I commend their wives because it is not easy to be barrackbased and then rise to this height. But (as for) the service chiefs, I don’t know whether I will congratulate you or I will sympathise with you because of

Obioma, who expressed delight with the quality of board members appointed for the council by the government, said the experience of the governing board would assist in moving NERDC forward.

Chairman of the Governing Board, Dr. Stephen Dike, announced that the primary and collective goal of the board was to maximize available resources and extant technology to strengthen and reposition NERDC to deliver on its core mandate of promoting educational research.

Dike, who was represented by Prof.

Chinyere Ohiri-Aniche said, “More specifically, we will be focusing on articulating and developing strategies and initiative that will transform the NERDC for greater performance and visibility in fulfilling its mandates for global competitiveness; and promote credible and empirical research in education, innovations in curriculum development and dissemination, and in education planning and policy formulation and implementation.

NERDC was established in 1988 by an enabling Decree No 53 (now Act No 53), merging four other agencies-Nigerians Educational Research Council (NERC), Comparative Education Study and Adaptation Centre (CESAC), Nigeria Book Development Council (NBDC) and Nigerian Language Centre (NLC) - into one, with a view to developing a strong educational research body in Nigeria.

the circumstances of the moment,” he said.

“That reminds me, when I was in secondary school, I read one article written by the late Dr. Tai Solarin, and there is one place where he said, ‘I wish you what I wish myself every year. May we have a rough time this year’. So, I think I will wish you what I wish myself every year and may we have a rough time this period because none of us will sleep till Nigerians in Borno State can sleep”. It was a tell order from the commander-in-chief that was not lost on the security chiefs.

But the president did not spoil the joyous mood of the military top brass, especially the CDS with his stern instructions. He lightened their mood too.

It is a common joke in the military that when a man is a colonel, for instance, his wife is a brigadier. This joke is borne out of the fact that though the man is the face of the rank, the wife is the unseen face that influences some of his major decisions, especially the very difficult ones. Obviously aware of this joke, after decorating the CDS with his new rank of Air Chief Marshal, Jonathan turned to the wife of the military chief and quipped: ‘Madam, I congratulate you and your husband. Since you are now a field marshal, who is the commander in chief? You or me?” The laughter that followed helped in no small measure to douse the tense atmosphere that prevailed at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa shortly after the president gave his marching order to the new service chiefs to tackle the security challenges in the country.

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014, PAGE 17

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

An appeal to Gov Uduaghan on Sapele roads Dear Sir,

S

APELE is one of the ancient towns in Nigeria. It was in fact one of the preferred destinations of the early Europeans who either came to do business or live in Nigeria. The town was famous for its rich timber reserve, a potential which was critical to the establishment of the African Timber and Plywood, ATP in its territory, the second largest timber and plywood industry in Sub Sahara Africa.

Ironically after many years of unfettered economic growth and prosperity Sapele, however, became one of the unfortunate victims of long years of military rule, as the economic fortunes of the town took a nose-dive in the 1980s, this was as most of the blue chips company in the area which included AT&P, the major labour employer in the town closed shop. Leading international brands like Kingsway, Kaycee, Singer, Bata, Lenard’s etc, also followed suit. This was accompanied by the closure and conversion of the Sapele Sea Port into a naval academy.

With the departure of these leading business concerns and coupled with the closure and conversion of the Sapele Sea Port to naval academy the town became a shadow of its old self.

It was only until recently, perhaps since the return of democratic governance (1999) that things started looking up for the town. To cut a long story short, the last few years has seen Sapele gradually returning to its glory days, as there have been an upswing of business activities in the town, a fact that can be identified in the town’s fast growing hospitality industry, prominent presence of most financial institutions inthe town, eye popping shopping malls, the sprouting up of eateries and leisure centres etc. Business and commercial activities in the town has also been significantly boosted by the entrant of Seplat Petroleum Company which bought over Shell’s BP oil wells in the locality.

Just as there has been an upsurge of busi-

ness activities in the town in the last few years, so also as there been visible expansion of its population size. One factor that significantly contributed to Sapele’s population explosion in recent years was the prolonged ethnic war in Warri, as a good number of families relocated to the town owing remarkably to its famed peaceful and friendly ambience.

However, the steady upsurge of the town’s population has also come with its own challenges as its public facilities particularly its roads are presently been overstretched. Suffice it to say that all the major roads in Sapele are today facing the huge challenge of vehicular congestion this is as most of the major roads in the town have become too small and narrow to handle the pressure of vehicles that are constantly plying it, a situation that has made traffic gridlock a common feature in most major roads in the town.

Sadly, the regular traffic gridlock being experienced in most major roads in the town is taking a drastic toll on busi-

ness activities, just as it is equally affecting employees of both public and private enterprises. For instance it is now common for most workers in public and private institutions in the town to arrive at their work place late. Those who want to arrive at their work place early rise up early so to avoid the usual traffic congestion.

The road traffic situation in Sapele is made worse by the large number of heavy duty vehicles that are regularly plying major roads in the town, it is either they are conveying petroleum products or bitumen from ASCA at Ogorode, or they are conveying heavy duty materials to and fro from Seplat flow stations at Shell Road or Oton. This is also not talking about the haulage trucks that regularly convey finished products from Flour Mills at Ogorode. The truth is that the traffic situation in Sapele is getting worse by the day, and something urgent needs to be done before the situation gets out of hand.

It is apparently against this background

that I want to appeal to the Delta State Governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan to come to the aid of Sapele residents by way of the state government embarking on the expansion of some major roads in the town to ease the suffering motorists and other road users are daily subjected to.

Our amiable governor knows that Sapele is about the only major town in Delta State that is without a dual-carriage way. Other smaller towns even some villages in the state enjoy this gesture of the state government.

I also want to use this opportunity to appeal to our amiable Governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan to extend his urban renewal program to Sapele. Sapele town and most of its roundabouts can make do with some face uplift and transformation.

Efforts in this direction could go a long way to attract investors to the town!

God bless Delta State!

God bless Sapele!

Ohwevwo Ufuoma Eugene, 08127029122

Re: A rebel in the church: My battles with Anglicans, Idahosa Dear Sir,

I

N pages 20 and 21 of the Sunday Van guard of January 5,. 2014, was a sto ry with the aforementioned caption, reported by Vanguard’s Sam Eyoboka and Gladys Abugoh.

I want to state that the publication was most unfortunate. I neither fought Idahosa nor Anglicans. And I was never a rebel in the Anglican Church or elsewhere.

Like every dedicated minister of God, I was actually the one who was being battled and fought – and running away from those who were pursuing me so as not to be injured by them.

Since the publication of that story many

well-meaning Nigerians have been reaching me by expressing their displeasure over that publication through telephone calls to me and in the social media.

Let me state that I was an obedient servant in the Anglican Church – doing what they asked me to do. I was only advising.

Which they are now practicing. These revelations were un-Anglican as it were in those days; because they have put all that advice into practice, it is now their system of life and worship. For example, fasting on Wednesday and Fridays; repetition of same prayers daily and the use of ‘Praise God, Alleluyah’, which is now their normal way of worship.

I never fought Idahosa, I was obedient and loyal to him; even though I was sec-

ond-in-command.

It should be remembered that my movement in those days – 1968 to 1972 – led to the outbreak of the present Pentecostal revival in the country.

Therefore, I want to stress through this rejoinder that: Throughout my time in the Anglican Church I was not a rebel and nobody ever called me a rebel. And I never fought or battled with Anglican or Idahosa.

Moreso, since leaving the Anglican Church and the Church of God Mission, my relationship with them had been warm and cordial.

Yours faithfully, Most Rev. Dr. CAO Apena (JP++).

Bethesda Gospel Mission Int. Inc.

PAGE 18 —SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

Akwa Ibom: Ibibios hold the aces in 2015 —1

T

HE story went on to quote one of the governors saying that they reminded Mu’azu of “our deal that brought him to power”.

Furthermore, they were reported to have said that “We know that as a former governor, he is still relating with those who were his colleagues between 1999 and 2007. Some of them are our political enemies.” Of all the governors from the class of 1999-2007, the one who illustrates the dilemma Mu’azu faces with this so called “deal” is Obong Victor Attah, the Father of Akwa Ibom State, AKS, and still the leader of the Ibibios, who constitute about sixty-five (65) per cent of the population of the state. But, before going forward on this column, permit me to take some steps backwards.

First, last week’s lead column was devoted to expressing my gratitude

to Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who was hounded out of office by the governors, just as they had done to some of Tukur ’s predecessors since Obasanjo handed over the party’s political structures to the governors in 2003 and then tried to use them for his third term ambition. Today, that demonstration of expediency over wisdom, in 2003, had produced unintended consequences – among which was the subordination of the National Chairman of PDP to the whims and caprices of the state governors.

Thus, when last week, I wrote about praying that Alhaji Tukur did not get the job, I actually had in mind that, at his age, he should not put himself in a position in which he would be pushed about by selfish individuals.

Nothing has proved how accurate my observation was than the announcement of the “deal” which had, more or less, required that Mu’azu must accept as his own and PDP’s enemies any-

Suffering and smiling….

18 days and still counting “Them go reach bed, power no dey, Them go reach road, go-slow go come, Them go reach road, police go slap, Them go reach road, army go whip, Them go look pocket, money no dey, Them go reach work, query ready.”

Fela

I

knew something was amiss, when my father quoted Fela’s shuffering and shmiling in his text to me, two days ago. Here is the text: “Shuffering and shmiling was Fela’s song some decades ago, except that we, in the community in Dopemu, Lagos, are not smiling. This is our fourteenth day without electricity; there has been no news as to when the light will be restored.

They did not inform us nor update us as to why we are without power. All our stored food in the fridge and freezer of meat, fish and other perishables have been destroyed and nobody is talking of making it good. Since the electricity was privatized, the compa-

ny Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) promised us continuous supply of energy and now see what they are doing to us.

The community under its leaders, Baale Shuab Afogunlowo and Rev. Fagbemi met to set up a strategic committee to confront this menace. But they are keeping their strategies to their chest”.

I asked him how they were coping, he said, it was an inconvenience and an additional costs. He was more concerned for those who are more disadvantaged and how this affects the community in general. This seems to be the consensus; that people in power and services do not care for the ordinary Nigerians.

Water is at the premium, especially for those who do not have access to free flowing water, they now have to pay over the odds for their water.

I asked my dad, if it has ever been this bad before, he said, bad is relative and

one so described by the PDP governors. The privatization of the PDP by the governors had never been more openly expressed. So, BOT members, Senators, House of Representatives and

,

“Beware of our political enemies, PDP govs warn Mu’azu”, PUNCH, January 30, 2014.

the governors. That, to me, is the best definition for a figurehead masquerading as Chairman.

What sort of self-respecting person will accept a top job under those conditions? PDP National Secretariat had become like a plane whose cockpit had been invaded by several persons instructing the pilot regarding how to fly the plane. And, what is the President’s position in all these? Is he also a victim of the hijack by the governors?

Nigerian leaders are never guided by history, even recent history. Phil Graham, late Publisher of the Washington Post, once described journalism as the “first rough draft of history”. Unfor-

PDP National Secretariat had become like a plane whose cockpit had been invaded by several persons instructing the pilot regarding how to fly the plane. And, what is the President’s position in all these? Is he also a victim of the hijack by the governors?

,

State Houses of Assemblies, as well as others within the party are only there to rubber stamp anyone who strikes a private deal with the governors.

Implied, but not stated, was the threat that Mu’azu, might be on his way out if he steps out of line as defined ONLY by

tunately, most Nigerian politicians have developed an active distaste for journalism – except those that white wash their activities. Otherwise, President Jonathan would have understood that President Obasanjo lost his bid for the third term in the Senate de-

I did not ask him to explain as I fully understood what he meant.

What is happening in Dopemu is happening in and around Nigeria, so can someone tell me, who says Nigeria is getting better?

Fela captured the state of our nation so succinctly and after decades since his song nothing has changed; in fact, everything has worsened.

This lack of power supply also has a knock on effect on so many things; the food sellers, the pepper grinders and the water sellers, not to talk of local businesses that rely mainly on some semblance of power to run their livelihood. They have had

fare no better as they live with noise pollution, carcinogenetic fumes and the fire hazards. This has a long impact on their quality of health.

As usual, like any other aspects of life in Nigeria, we expect no better; nothing works so get on with life. We have come to take it in our stride but the lack of constant power in Nigeria has costs lives and lost of man hours to the nation’s economy, that is incalculable.

Imagine, if we had continuous power, the benefit to Nigerians in terms of income, foreign investments, home grown businesses and the quality of life.

Well, we can only imag-

,

We have been conditioned to expect less and to be grateful for what we are given although, we pay for the service. We do not get a good service and we continue to pay over the odds

to rest their business, tools or facto in the additional cost of petrol to run the generator for their business.

To expect a regular supply of power seems to be beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians who cannot afford a generator or the petrol to run it. The health of those who can afford generators

,

ine because here we are, in 2014 that remains a pipe drain for many Nigerians and our nation. I remember when I was home many years ago, how the whole street would erupt in jubilation with “Up NEPA” when power is restored after hours of no light. Then, the neighborhood will

spite the active and passive support he received from the governors and the Chairman of the PDP – Colonel Ali (rtd). As the four years run out on them, and as fresh elections loom in the near future, the governors lose grip on power in their states. Suddenly, other factors, which determine the outcome of elections in states, take over. Ogun, Oyo, Osun,Edo, Ekiti, Ondo, Abia, Imo and Kano, to mention a few, changed hands on account of lame duck governors whose term were rapidly coming to an end.

Incumbent governors, serving out their second terms, have almost all, with few exceptions, while hoarding power, failed to understand that they are actually transient occupants of the seat of power, tenants really, instead of owners.

That explains why when they leave, as they must, the new tenant usually does not want them around.

The scenario developing in Akwa Ibom State is symptomatic of the problems facing Mu’azu and President Jonathan.

At the heart of the problems is ethnicity; and let nobody deceive anybody else about that. The ethnic issue, in turn, had recent historical origins.

As everybody believes, AKS stands on a tripod of three ethnic groups – the Ibibios (c65%), the Anangs (c25%) and the Orons (c10%). Just recently, someone sent me a message that there are two other minor ethnic

groups. But, we will not allow that to delay us here. The first question any carpenter must ask those of us who had constructed this political tripod is: what sort of a stool is that which stands on three such obviously unequal legs? To make the situation more lopsided, the Ibibios are represented in the three senatorial districts – Eket, Ikot Ekpene and Uyo. Numerically, the Ibibios can elect the governor of the AKS indefinitely. But, in 2007, led by former Governor Victor Attah, the Ibibios conceded the governorship to the Anangs, and out of that arrangement, Governor Godswill Akpabio emerged – raising hopes that one day the Orons would also have chance.

Something happened between 2007 and today.

Now, the Ibibios want the governorship back in 2015 and they don’t recognize Akpabio as the person to speak for them.

They want to speak for themselves….

ARE YOU A CANDIDATE FOR 2015?

I have advice for you.

Recruit your media and publicity team now – before others sign them on.

The 2015 elections will be media intensive and the selection of your promotion team might be the most important decision you can make. You delay it at your peril.

heave a sigh of resignation when, it goes off in the middle of watching a programme or sitting with family. Nothing, it seems has changed since then, over twenty-five years ago.

This remains a sad part of life in Nigeria today.

In the meantime, our leaders remain hell-bent holding desperately to the vestiges of power and money as if their very existence depends on it. To these desperados, I say to them; you will not be remembered and long after they are gone, people will, if at all, when they do speak of them, it will be with such derision and contempt. Do they care? Of course not! So why are our people giving them the keys to our nations ‘vaults, establishments and the corridor of power to them? Seriously, will you invite a burglar to guide your home and your family? So why do we celebrate incompetent services, leaders and corrupt businesses then?

We have been conditioned to expect less and to be grateful for what we are given although, we pay for the service. We do not get a good service and we continue to pay over the odds and then these incompetents then rub salt into the wounds when we dare protests, then they become indignant and dig deep into our pockets to pay more for the lack of service.

Where else in the world does

this happen and you have no way to address the injustice?

Only in Nigeria!

No wonder things do not run the way it should; our standard RAISON D'ÊTRE is to oil the machinery of incompetence and ineptness by more incompetence and belligerence.

And our leaders, well, they are a representation of the majority of Nigerian psyche; expect a lot for nothing. So the Nigerian mentality is, if you can then exploit some more and make them grateful for much less.

Some years ago, my older sister came to visit in the UK, after many years in Nigeria. She woke up so early one morning and she seemed as hurried as she got the iron and the ironing board out. She proceeded ironing her clothes so, when I asked her why she was ironing at such early hours.

She replied “I have to finish ironing before NEPA takes the light” well, it is only when her words sank in that she realized that she is not in Nigeria and that the power supply is constant.

It seemed that she had got so used to the routine back home and was primed for the interrupted power, which did not happen.

She then looked at me and told me not to utter a word about what had happened. So between me and you, am sure she would not mind that I share it to make a point.

V i s i t : www.delesobowale.com or Visit: www.facebook.com/biolasobowale

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014, PAGE 19

Does Jonathan also have a pact with Lord Lugard? ively believe that they are fighting against the nation’s disintegration.

During the military era, our armed forces imagined that national integration could be mechanically achieved; hence they cut to size any analyst who

,

D

URING the coloni al era, the British evolved what they called the policy of ‘colonial self-sufficiency’ to ensure that British tax payers’ money was not used to develop any colony. To sustain the policy in what became Nigeria, the colonial governor, Sir Frederick Lugard decided in 1914 to merge the Northern and Southern Protectorates of the colony of Nigeria because he was convinced that the combined resources of both Protectorates would be enough to run the colony. He was neither bothered about the existing lop-sided structure of his creation nor did he care about the opinions of the inhabitants on the subject. Since then till date, Nigerians have continued to protest the forced merger which Chief Obafemi Awolowo described as ‘a mere geographical expression’ and not a nation. Painfully, each opportunity that arises for restructuring and making a true nation of the entity is always thwarted by those in authority who na-

for the nation as if our leaders had a secret pact unknown to the rest of us with Lord Lugard to preserve his creation. Is this suspected pact also binding on President Goodluck Jonathan whose government recently declared the same no-go-

Why waste our collective energy on the puerile argument that the absence of a people’s constitution is our main problem when those who taught us modern government- the British-do not have a written constitution and yet do not have our type of political dilemma?

,

questioned the continued existence of the nation.

Even the political engineering scheme initiated by President Ibrahim Babangida was premised on what has become known as the indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria. Indeed, the ‘democratic’ government of President Olusegun Obasanjo decreed same

area which bars Nigerians from debating whether or not they wish to continue to belong to the Lugardian nation?

Perhaps many accept the existence of Nigeria as given but even if it is only me that feels otherwise, am I not entitled to my opinion? The other day I met some 3 men who were yet to come to

PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos,

08116759758

L

ARGELY, President Goodluck Jonathan is a man under intense pressure, notwithstanding his cool, calm and dapper looks in newspapers and television. I strongly believe that our political leaders deserve opprobrium for their outward show of opulence and indulgent materialism when a vast majority of ordinary Nigerians are facing severe existential challenges daily.

As I have stated several times in this column, a level-headed comparison of the physical changes in President Barak Obama of the United States and President Jonathan since they became leaders of their respective countries gives some insight into the degree of physical, mental, and emotional sacrifice both have made in the discharge of their duties. Although he retains his lean, boyish handsomeness, the American President has aged considerably, with expanding grey hair and deeper lines on his face.

Now, even in the worst of times and severe criticisms from different quarters, our own President continues to exude an aura of opulent wellbeing and meticulous grooming far removed from the grind of daily living experienced by most Nigerians. No matter the exculpatory shibboleths from

President Jonathan's hirelings in his defence, the fact is that, merely looking at him one cannot see any sign of a leader organically connected with the sufferings of his people. Our President looks so well fed and well groomed, with an air of imperturbability around him, that one wonders whether he really spends enough time thinking about how to transform Nigeria positively. It is a singular fact about the ruling class in Nigeria that their lifestyles are discordant with prevailing existential conditions in the society.

Lunatic corruption, official impunity, nepotism, indiscipline and shambolic economic planning have continued to be a leitmotif in the present civilian dispensation, a syndrome incubated and nurtured by previous administrations.

The war against corruption under President Jonathan is ineffective: virtually all the VIP thieves from 1999 to date, instead of serving prison terms, are free citizens enjoying proceeds of larceny.

Of course, the judiciary is neck deep in corruption too: there are corroborable allegations that some magistrates and judges write different judgments on particular cases, and the one they will deliver de-

pends on the person who gives the biggest bribe.

From the foregoing, it is clear that Mr. President still has a lot of work to do. Nevertheless, it is false to claim, as some politicians in All Progressives Congress (APC) do repeatedly, that President Jonathan is the worst leader to have governed Nigeria. The problem of nation building is incredibly complex and requires qualities such as creative imagination, selflessness, discipline, incorruptibility, and cognitive cum emotional intelligence especial-

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An old sour wine in a new wine bottle

terms with the universally accepted belief that God is the creator of mankind.

That such people otherwise called atheists exist has not in any way detracted from the overwhelming perception of God as the Almighty.

So, why can’t we allow those who do not believe in Nigeria to say so? Even if such Nigerians are few, the overriding benefit of letting them air their views cannot be overemphasized. This is because one of the canons of democracy is the guarantee of minority rights. In other words, everybody ought to be allowed to canvass his persuasion making it obvious that it is undemocratic to shut out any viewpoint. At the same time, in line with the dictates of democracy, the opportunity for the minority to have its say should not stop the majority from having its way.

Again, if the argument that most Nigerians will never support the dismemberment of the nation is true, why our leaders so scared of knowing the socalled few that hold a contrary opinion? The point to be made is that government’s posture that we are free to debate anything except the continued existence of Nigeria is undemocratic and a denial of each community’s right to self-determination.

Everything should be discussed and those issues which are unable to achieve 75% support as is being proposed would naturally fail. But if on the other hand, we continue to officially outlaw any discus-

sion on the continued existence of Nigeria, there would always be a call for another conference specifically for that by those who are unable to get into the one about to hold now.

Consequently, the subject would survive as a recurring element of blackmail until it is thrown open.

Similarly, it is wise to avoid the current controversy over the term ‘sovereign’. Those who want us to send the deliberations of our national conference to the National Assembly for ratification merely want to validate the existing disposition. But then they are, without knowing, creating room for calls for another conference by those who believe that the will of the people must prevail at all times. This is because the only thing in a democracy that is sovereign is people hence sovereignty belongs to the people in all democratic societies. Thus, those “elected” to represent the people should not be seen as greater than the people on whose behalf they purport to act. The earlier the intermediary role that is being canvassed for the legislature is removed the better. After all, we all know how elections are won in Nigeria!

Even those who did not contest any election but who call themselves elder statesmen are about to be selected as our representatives in the forthcoming national conference. Well if they are all fit and proper persons like the legendary

Emeka Anyaoku -one time Secretary General of the Commonwealth no one is likely to object. It will be a different issue if any of the so called statesmen are among persons who are often engaged in overheating the polity. It is better not to hold a conference than to have one made up of people that would ab initio wane public confidence on the subject. Indeed, a conference would have been unnecessary if over the years, we sincerely ran a true federal system that makes every Nigerian, a citizen of his country rather than that of his place of origin and obeyed the simple spirit instead of the letter of our constitution.

Why waste our collective energy on the puerile argument that the absence of a people’s constitution is our main problem when those who taught us modern government- the British-do not have a written constitution and yet do not have our type of political dilemma? Nigeria has continued to have problems not necessarily because of a bad constitution; the real problem has been insincerity and greed.

For example, despite the socalled deficiencies in our 1999 Constitution, the federal character principle is not of its own a bad arrangement. What has rendered it useless is the implementation which has turned it into a tool for discrimination as well as a device for enthroning mediocrity.

able improvement in the Lagos-Benin expressway, and the solid rehabilitation work still going on in portions of that road. Some of President Jonathan's actions, such as non-interference in judicial decisions concerning election petitions and privatisation of key aspects of electricity generation and distribution are commendable.

The main problem is that Mr. President is yet to show that he is ready to take and implement certain tough decisions necessary for a paradigm-shift towards efficient and prudent management of our national resources, as well as iron will to subdue corruption among the "high and mighty." Therefore, even if one is not convinced by the antiquated ethnic vituperations of some key mem-

welcome they usually give to PDP decampees, irrespective of the negative political baggage some of them are bringing from the ruling party. Worst still, prominent members of ACN are seriously persuading former President Olusegun Obasanjo to leave PDP and join the party. Have they forgotten so soon the opprobrium and insults some of them unleashed on Obasanjo when he was in office, and afterwards?

How can Bola Tinubu and his group sincerely hope to win Obasanjo to their party after all the name-calling and abuses?

In a sense, ACN is behaving like a political vulture feeding on a weakened PDP. Consider the recent decampment of Atiku Abubakar, erstwhile Vice President under Obasanjo. If ACN leaders are rejoicing that Abubakar has joined them, they should be careful.

Aside from the incredible wealth Abubakar and other expiring politicians who moved from PDP to ACN had amassed over the years mostly through government patronage, the acceptability cum electability of each decampee has dwindled considerably to the extent that PDP can still win the Presidency without them. In my humble opinion, APC is too desperate to dislodge PDP from Aso Rock, but it lacks solid ideological backbone to do the job. The very PDP chieftains stalwarts of APC had excoriated in the past are receiving enthusiastic welcome from cash-and-carry politicians in the new party. Now, given the number of decampments from PDP to ACN, the latter is increasingly becoming an old sour wine in a new wine bottle.

Soon, the battle for control of the party would take on

a very desperate turn as the new arrivals from PDP vie for key positions in ACN, which will clash with entrenched interests of those in ACN already. It is amazing the extent a typical Nigerian politician can go to get power and position.

Certainly, judging by its mediocre performance since 1999, PDP ought to be replaced in 2015 by a better grassroots party organised around social democratic principles or ideology. However, ACN is not the alternative party many Nigerians are hoping for, because it is a clone of PDP. More concretely, agbata ekee politicians solely motivated by greed and crude Machiavellism dominate ACN, just like the ruling party. As I indicated earlier, the overarching agendum of ACN is to produce the President next year. Yet, up to this moment, the party is yet to articulate a pragmatic blueprint or programme of action that would tackle the critical issues of contemporary Nigeria. The single-minded desire to produce an ACN President in the next election is too narrow and conspiratorial. Indeed, that is where the real test of the party would come, namely, selection of a formidable candidate to contest against President Jonathan, assuming he emerges as PDP's candidate. There is no guarantee that the good, the bad and the ugly in ACN would blend harmoniously to produce such a candidate - there are signs that it will be a herculean task for the party to produce a candidate without rancour and bitterness among its members. As a result, any person who thinks that ACN is a credible alternative to fumbling PDP should re-examine his or her position.

The ideological bankruptcy of ACN leaders is evident in the enthusiastic welcome they usually give to PDP decampees, irrespective of the negative political baggage some of them are bringing from the ruling party

ly among the leaders to make real progress within the shortest possible time.

It is true that President Jonathan has not manifested suitable combination of these qualities since becoming President over three years ago and that his economic team, led by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has performed below pass mark.

Yet, in terms of rehabilitation of old and construction of new roads, airports and other transport infrastructure, the present administration has achieved some meaningful results. A very good example is the notice-

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bers of the Northern establishment in ACN, President Jonathan has to really improve his job performance to enhance his electability in 2015, if he eventually decides to seek a second term in office. Concerning current political manoeuvrings, the rate at which members of the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are decamping to ACN is ridiculous, although for Bisi Akande and others it is a positive sign of nunc dimittis for PDP. In fact, the ideological bankruptcy of ACN leaders is evident in the enthusiastic

PAGE 20—SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

T

HAT man is a creation of the di vine is generally accepted by those who believe in a higher power. The Bible sheds light on a chronological work of creation of the earth, its features and all its creatures culminating in the creation of man. The bigger picture is often lost on most people and who can blame them? The Bible doesn’t dwell on the details that celebrate the mastery and genius that is creation. Like most people I don’t quite connect to the creation of Adam and Eve, that’s more legend than real to me.

I however remain forever intrigued by the miraculous journey that a woman takes for 9 months that produces a baby.

That is creation I can relate to and it’s a walk that only the divine can take credit for. The process of giving birth is often unpredictable and can take life as well as bring it. All the work that goes into the creation of a new baby can at best be monitored by doctors, no one knows for certain how it will end or even turn out; for all the advances of technology; we can’t form even a finger nail. It’s mind boggling that when it matters the most what a man becomes, he is helpless, a non-participant, a little helpless foetus, suspended in water, completely dependent on

his mother the host and the grace of God for life.

The work of creation is celebrated as perfect when a baby is born but from then on, its re-creation begins; as if to tell God, thank you but we can take it from here. An innocent baby is indoctrinated into a world of fear, and starts to learn the survival skills it never needed when it was wholly dependent on God for survival in its mother’s womb. Fear and not money is actually the root of all evil. Fear is the life blood of insecurity; it feeds hate, breeds ignorance and is the solid foundation for the ego. As babies we learn to fear the unknown, the untested, and the unexplored. We learn to fear water till we learn how to swim; we somehow forget we lived in water (the amniotic sac) for the first few months of life. As we grow our world becomes smaller and smaller till the urge to survive completely snuffs out the urge to explore, to conquer and experience the world around us. It has become something of an urban legend that George W Bush a two time president of the United States never stepped out of his country till he became president (probably not true).

Money wouldn’t have been an issue, but the point being made is that a per-

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The Re-creation of man

son who stays in a little part of the world has a small world view and as such unsuited for power or greatness.

There is a only so much we can blame on a child’s upbringing but the real and full re-creation of man is completed by that man himself. It starts with a budding ego, which becomes the master of his chariot as a young adult.

The ego creates an indelible impression that we are what we have, we are

Fear and not money is actually the root of all evil. Fear is the life blood of insecurity; it feeds hate, breeds ignorance and is the solid foundation for the ego. As babies we learn to fear the unknown, the untested, and the unexplored

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what we do and we are what people say or think of us. That mind-set may fuel and drive our ambition in the morning of our life but by the noon of life it is revealed as shallow, unfulfilling and totally unsatisfactory. It takes the coming of age to acquire the wisdom to dismantle the tripod deception of the ego. Firstly we are definitely not what we have; if that were so, it would mean that we are nothing if we lose our wealth and possessions. Sec-

ondly we can’t just be what we do, otherwise what happens when we retire and can no longer do whatever it is?

Thirdly the greatest lie of the ego is that we are our reputation; that all we are is what people think of us. If that were the case; should we cease to exist when we think we’ve lost people’s respect? Most people will scoff at the third one but truth be told most of us have made life changing decisions influenced by other people, either consciously or even unconsciously. It’s sad that our lives are half spent before we come into the realisation of our conscious and authentic selves as divine creations of a divine creator.

I was listening to an audio tape of Dr Wayne Dyer and he expressed very similar views. Replacing God with our ego is the beginning of the end for man and I can only pray that we go back to the innocence and freedom we enjoyed when we were being formed. I was once fiercely ambitious and it took a while to realise that acquisition upon acquisition of stuff brought no joy, no fulfilment and certainly no peace.

When we ally ourselves with wisdom, our consciousness changes from ambition to personal growth. We learn to forgive our limitations and explore our possibilities; we give God the place that’s rightfully His and surrender to whatever may come. Truth is whether we do or not; we control or influence nothing. Our attempts at re-creation of ourselves and others are a failure; proof is in the news and all the horrors unfolding daily. At this stage, in what is my afternoon of life; I am unlearning fear and dismantling my ego; trying really hard to be the perfect prototype that came out of my mother ’s womb.

COUNTING THEIR DEAD How 52 were killed in Plateau within 48 hours

BY TAYE OBATERU & MARIETHERESE NANLONG

”T

HE sanctity of human life appears to have no meaning again in Nigeria” was the reaction of a resident to the news of the massacre of about 20 people at Mavou in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State on Thursday. The killings come barely 48 hours after similar attacks on Atakar and Rajak villages of Riyom Local Government Area of the state which left about 32 dead.

Less than a month ago, scores of people were killed in a similar attack at Shonong village of the same local government area throwing the people into mourning in what has become a recurrent decimal for several years now. In more than 13 years, Plateau State has consistently been in the news for the attacks which have touched practically most of the 17 local government areas in the state.

For more than three years, many local government areas never had social gatherings for fear of attacks and even religious gatherings were held with heavy presence of security personnel and the programmes hurriedly held.

When on December 31, 2013, many churches held the crossover night into the new year and the people celebrated the coming of 2014 with fanfare, everyone thought the era of attacks was ending in the state.

But as if to prove the optimists wrong, on the new year eve, gunmen attacked and killed some people in a village gathering in Bokkos local government area. Shortly after, Barkin Ladi and

•Evacuating the dead from the Plateau.

Riyom local governments, which have had the bulk of the attacks in the state, witnessed more of such last month.

Among the 32 people killed at Atakar and Rajak were two members of the Special Task Force (STF) maintaining security in Plateau State.

Residents of Atakar and Rajak, which border Kaduna State, narrated that the gunmen stormed the village in the early hours of Tuesday.

They said the attackers came in a large number at about 3.am and their visit left 19 people dead at Rajak, 11 at Atakar while about 60 houses were

burnt.

A survivor, Joel Mana, said, “The gunmen started shooting sporadically and setting homes on fire. They then shot anyone that ran out of the house to escape”.

Member representing Riyom Constituency in Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr. Daniel Dem, again, had the unenviable task of confirming the attack, lamenting that scores of his constituents were killed barely a month after 40 people were lost to an attack at Shonong village.

Dem, who is the Majority Leader of

the House, noted that the latest attacks left over 70 people dead in less than one month. According to him, “The police confirmed to me that 32 members of my constituency were killed by the gunmen. Initially, we thought the casualty was 28, but it is actually 32 people and among those killed were two soldiers of the STF”.

He described the ease with which the attackers come and escape as a slap on security agencies and appealed to the Federal Government to approve the commencement of aerial surveillance of the area and deployment of more troops for a more effective security.

While the state was still mourning the killings at Atakar and Rajak, gunmen struck in Wase LG in the southern senatorial district, early Thursday, snuffing life out of at least 20 people.

Reports from the local government said the attackers, who invaded the village at abut 2.a.m., also torched about 10 houses.

A resident, who gave his name as Nangak, said the attackers came in large numbers and shot sporadically as they raided the village. There have been skirmishes among communities in the local government for some time now and the latest attack is suspected to be reprisal against previous hostilities.

With the spate of killings in various parts of the country which continue to portray Nigeria as a blood thirsty land, many are echoing the late reggae maestro, Bob Marley’s question in his ‘Buffalo Soldier’ album - “Where did it all begin, when will it end?”

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2014, PAGE 21

08112662589

The Antics of an ‘Area Father’!

O

NE thing about having a group of friends who is in tune with your lifestyle is there being no dull moments - not in your social life at least. A couple of years back, we were all having a boozy ‘do you remember when’ moments at Ini’s when Priscilla, a cousin of hers dropped by to chin-wag with us. She was in her early 40s, strickenly attractive and a successful estate agent. A divorcee with two boys, her last relationship had stretched over four stormy years until she kicked the man she once called her ‘soul mate’ out of her life. She wasn’t settled ten minutes with us when her phone rang. 30 minutes later, Festus was already at the door, grinning like a foolish love-lost man - Priscilla’s flavourof-the-moment, just made a not-so-impressive impression!

I’d met him once and saw right through him.

He was supposed to be running a security outfit and he definitely looked the part of a bouncer. He was over 6ft, I burly with a shaved head and a funny-looking tattoo. But he was a lively chap and we all grudgingly listened to his flash tales.

‘So you’re married,’ I

asked him, staring pointedly at a wedding ring on his finger. “No way,” he grinned. “l’m divorced. The ring wards off all the women who want to throw themselves at me.” Cheeky so-and-so! .

Yet rumour had it that as well as being a chronic womaniser, he’d been married a couple of times and had children all over the place. A sort of ‘for this corner, he deh dia’ kind of guy. An ‘area father ’ - meaning he could boast of kids dotted all over the neighbourhood. Rumour was also rife that he was one of the heirs of a very wealthy man who died a couples of years back and that Festus would soon inherit a large sum of money. Based on this, he proposed to Priscilla and grandious plans were made for the wedding. The poor girl put a deposit on most of the things needed for a society wedding including a big hall and an extremely expensive cake.

Needless to say, there was no wedding.

Weeks after what was to be the big day, Ini called to ask me to come over to hers as soon as I could. Priscilla was at the verge of committing suicide! I mean, how dra-

matic could you get! The Priscilla I met when I got to Ini’s-was a shadow of herself. Festus was in hospital after suffering a second stroke, four weeks ago. This time, the whole right side of his face was drooping and limp. “His blood pressure was so high the doctor said it caused a blood clot on his brain. He was lucky to be alive though and he’d discharged himself to come home. ‘It’s my family,’ he said, explaining why he had the massive stroke. ‘They don’t approve of the wed-

ding and they won’t attend.’

“I really felt sorry for him. He looked so horribly ill I couldn’t ask him why they kicked against our wedding. When he said he was stepping out to have a word with his family, I told him he wasn’t strong enough.

But he went anyway.

When I didn’t see him the next day, I phoned round everybody that could know of his whereabouts but nobody knew anything. When I called my office, my PA answered.

‘I don’t know how to tell you this,’ she said. ‘Uncle Festus left a voicemail on the office phone saying he’d done a terrible thing.’ I was dumbstruck. Desperate, I called the only member of his family a friend told me of. ‘I haven’t been in touch with Festus for two years’ The only contact he has with any of us is dad.’

Dad? What dad? Wasn’t he dead? So there was no inheritance? Just a pack of lies with me left holding an enormous bill for a wedding that was not likely to take place.

“A few day later, I woke on what should have been my wedding day. I received a text from my darling fiance: ‘I’m really sorry darling,’ it said.

‘Whatever rumours you must have heard, just know that in my heart of hearts, I really love you ... ‘ • Well, in my heart of hearts, the truth was now staring me in the face.

When I eventually got him on the phone, he agreed to meet me for a heart-to-heart this Saturday. That’s why I’m here.

I can’t face him or I would kill him. I ;want my cousin to help me find some answers to this nightmare.’ , It was obvious Priscilla was heart-broken.

“Festus’ love for me felt so real. How could he

have made me look like such a fool?” Remember what is said about if things look too good to be true, they probably are? In the end, Ini virtually twisted my arm to confront this love rat. I owed her one, I had no choice. But the charmer really disarmed me. He looked genuinely broken too and actually burst into tears when I asked him why he went to all that extent with Priscilla. “l’ve been married three times and I have 15 children - from my marriages and two other relationships”, he cried. It was all I could do not to keep my mouith gaping! “l’m still legally married to my current wife but I love Priscilla - heart, body and soul.

“I’m sorry I lied to her.

Once I started, the lies just kept on coming and I got carried away.

Please assure her I would repay all she had lost so I could get her back. It’s my only hope of redeeming my selfesteem from you and her family.” , The man’s audacity has no end! The best thing was for Priscilla to cut her ’losses and go back to the cautious care-free woman she once was.

Men!!

08052201867(Text Only)

Tightening the abdominals INBOX Hi Dr. Keep Fit, I use to have a very flat tummy but now I have a pot belly. What do you recommend? +234-080364***** I treated that in the paper not too long ago but I am doing it again for your benefit and that of other readers.

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or most people over thirty the abdominal region gets to be the least toned set of muscles of the body. We work with our hands and walk with our feet, therefore, somehow, those parts are almost always in better shape than the abdominal wall.

A trim waistline doesn’t only look impressive aesthetically, it also speaks volumes of the state of health of the individual.

Reduce the girth and presto! You instantly look youthful. You will begin to digest your food and ab-

C M Y K

sorb it more efficiently.

Once the belly is shrunk appreciably, we can then learn to perform certain exercises which can help the system achieve better bowel action - a veritable way of eliminating toxins.

As regards exercise, there are countless ways to deal with the bulge of the belly.

Some get results from practising sit-ups, others from leg-raises and so on.

But there are some less familiar practices that deal with flabby stomach a lot more thoroughly.

Besides strengthening the muscles of the abdomen, some of these practices can be used for purification purposes along with drinking large quantities of salt water. The following exercise will help trim the waist and keep it so, forever. I have had the same waist-

line since the past 42 years and I am 66 now. If yours truly can do it, so can you!

All it takes is diligence.

Lets consider the Rocking.

Technique: Sit with the hands placed on the floor at the back. Now, lunge both legs forwards and quickly draw them back and thrust them forth again. Keep this to and fro movement of the feet going continually. If you break the rhythm by hesitating you wll immediately fail to keep going.

You may do as few as 5 thrusts and withdrawals of the feet initially and then increase the number of times as you improve.

Benefits: The Rocking toughens the upper thigh and abdominal muscles.

The exercise is reputed to also improve the soundness of sleep.

The Abdominal Lift

Technique: Standing with the feet about a foot apart, breathe in deeply and exhale forcefully. Now, with the breath out, draw in the muscles of the abdomen until you have a hollow forming beneath the ribs. The hands should be placed on the thighs and the knees bent a little. Keep the trunk a bit tipped forward but don’t lower it. Maintain the retraction of the diaphragm by keeping both hands firmly pressed against the thighs as you lean on them.

Keep the position for as long as can be without breathing.

Then, ease up, stand erect and begin to breathe normally. Repeat only once more if you’re just starting this exercise. As regards this very exercise, Indra Devi advises gradually bringing it up to seven times adding one time each week.

Warning: People with a weak heart or serious abdominal or circulatory problems should refrain from this exercise.

*The Abdominal Lift

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

P AGE 22—SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

08056180152,

SMS only

Husband who resents his father-in-Iaw’s financial influence

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ATIENCE and her husband had been married for five years when they moved into a posh bungalow on a better side of Lagos. As they both showed guests round during the house-warming ceremony, they looked the perfect couple and took in the ooh and aah gasps of admirers.

The guests thought that Luke, the husband, must have made some appreciable progress in his job for him to be able to afford a pad like this.

Three years after, Luke was out of the house, the bitter feud that’d been brewing for a couple of years had now boiled over. One day, Luke came home from an allnight outing and found his suitcases neatly packed and waiting for him by the door. In the rain! Four fierce-liking men stood guard at the door, menacing looking cudgels in their hands.

I

was shocked and I guess the shock will never wear off,” Luke said a few months after the incident. “That’s what comes with marrying a rich man’s daughter. I can’t see my children now and my wife thinks I’m dirt, and it’s all thanks to my money-bag father-inlaw. He wants you to roll on the floor with gratitude whenever he shows you the slightest favour.

I mean, there are other:ways of showing gratitude without licking someone’s hands like a dog. Well, he has his daughter now,let him marry her!” Patience, his wife, was at pains to talk about a marriage she described as a waking ‘nightmare’. I sought her out to ask her side of the story. “That man is an animal,” she shuddered,

said I was to do what I deemed fit. I knew I no longer had a marriage anyway. Putting his things in the rain was a way of having my own back. He couldn’t take anything from the flat because they.were all daddy’s and he wouldn’t take the car. Let’s see how he likes scrimping and saving to keep up with his pet hobbies ... “ Leading A Horse to the Brook (Humour) man drove too fast down a country lane, skidded on some boulders and ended up in a ditch. Fortunately, a farmer appeared moments later, leading a big black horse. When he saw the man’s predicament, he offered to help.

“If we tie a rope round the car, I think old black Bess here will be able to help get it out.” So they tied the rope from the horse to the car and the farmer shouted, “come on Starlight, pull as hard as you can!” but the horse didn’t move.

A

remembering the things she said she had to go through to stay married to him. “Despite the good education he had, he had this giant complex about my parents’ wealth. Daddy was very generous to us when we got married. I am his first daughter and he gave us a brand new car and a furnished flat. Luke was quite happy letting daddy shoulder his responsibilities as that gave him extra cash for his twin obsessions: wine and women. I’d seen these traits in him before we got married and had naively assumed marriage would change him.

T

he women he ran around with were obviously a deliberate attempt to belittle me. Very uncouth and classless, they thought they were having a stab at the upper-class by sleeping with the same man that I was sleeping

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"

Tips to heal your relationship When we are unhappy in a relationship, we need

with. I felt really inadequate and humiliated. y friends told me that I was probably a bit too straight-laced; that men prefer firebrands in bed and that I should be more adventurous in the bedroom. They gave me a few pointers. So when next we made love and I wanted to try some of the things my friends advised, my husband just stopped. ‘What was all that for?’, he asked, I felt stupid. What the hell did he think it was for? He obviously preferred to have me subdued and unadventurous. After a few more incidents like this, he started giving me little lectures about how unfeminine it was for women to become sexually aggressive. Can you imagine what I did suddenly being turned into an aggression? I felt really angry; especially when he lectured wives shouldn’t be trollops!

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“After that, he criticized everything I did and openly ran down rich men and their kids with such a vengeance that it finally dawned on me that he really resented my coming from a rich family. The more Daddy did for us, the more he sneered at him. In fairness to my husband, daddy always had this impression that Luke was a lout and he never tried to hide his disapproval of him.

U

nfortunately, my husband proved my father right in the end. Our second child was on the way when daddy gave us the bungalow but my husband said we should pass it off as a furnished accommodation to the personal department of I his office so he could collect the rent. It was my dad who took me to the hospital when I was in labour. My husband was

to look to ourselves before we look at our partners-even if we think they are the ones "making us unhappy." We are responsible for our own happiness, first of all. Secondly, before you can approach him or her for all of the issues you'd like fixed, you must examine your role, some of which may contribute to the relationship problems.

Here are seven tips to help you look in the mirror so you can communicate with your partner... and heal your relationship: Resist complaining, listen, try not to interrupt or correct when your partner speaks. State your wants, give space when necessary, if your partner has become quiet take notice of it and respect his or her space. It is unproductive to try and pull the concern(s) out into the open.

Chris Onunaku.

08032988826 08184844015.

nowhere to be found. I had a difficult birth and had to be operated on.

Luke didn’t come to the hospital for days. On one of daddy’s visits to the hospital, his face was like thunder. He said he was just from our house and Luke was having this big party to welcome his;new son without even bothering to find out how mother and child were!

T

he final straw came about three months later when I woke up to ‘feed the baby and heard female giggles in the sitting room. When I went to investigate, I found my husband with two of his friends and four girls - they were obviously drunk to the eye-balls.

They grinned stupidly as I drove them out of the house. My husband went with them. I was really livid. That was when I phoned dad that I had had enough. He

T

hen the farmer shouted, “come on Silky, one, two, three. Pull!” But still the horse didn’t move. So for a third time the farmer yelled, “Ok, Dublin, pull now!” Nothing happened. Then he called, “Go on Black Bess, my beauty, pull hard.” This time, the horse took the strain and slowly pulled the car out of the ditch.

The motorist was very grateful but also a little puzzled. “Don’t mind me asking,” he said, “ But why did you call the horse by all those different names?” “Well, it’s like this,” explained the farmer, “Old Black Bess is blind and if she thought she was the only one pulling, she’d never have bothered trying.”

I live for you I I I I I I I

live live live live live live live

to love you, to see you happy, to adore you, to put a smile on your face, to see your dreams come through, to be your only man, to care and cherish you all day long,

I live to share my emotional thoughts with you, I live to see you through the storms.

Just know you are my princess; baby...

And I will stand by you...,because I have chosen you as my one and only wife, I will love you till the end of time...

James N Okonkwo (Freesoul) ngesina363k@yahoo.com 08066043380

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014, PAGE 23

Our radar coverage makes Nigeria’s skies safer —NAMA MD, Nnamdi Udoh

*’ How we removed the security challenge to flying in the N-Delta, Borno’ *Speaks on the ’one stop shop’ strategy to enhance airlines operations

BY DAN ETEGHE

can even spend more because training is very critical to us. I have mentioned the solar air field lighting that is already in place.

Engineer Mazi Nnamdi Udoh is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).In this interview, he speaks on the efforts of the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, to transform the aviation sector. Excerpts:

On communication

Nobody is talking about NITEL; everybody is on GSM. But every communication is based on atmospheric level either hydropher or the satellite-based. GSM is satellitebased, so the reason we have engineers is to address communication surveillance and navigational problems. As we speak, total VHF coverage in Nigeria is available. Of course if there is power failure, someone will fix it, if there is frequency deficiency, someone will fix it. But how would anybody have expected that a brand new aeroplane built by Airbus crashed? We are confident that the 1273 which is the southern frequency and the 1209 which is the northern frequency based in Sokoto and Maiduguri are in order, but once in a while Maiduguri may not have power for one week or two. When we had that kind of challenge, it af-

What should we expect in 2014?

W

E have a roadmap, and there is no oth er road other than the one that is in the map. In 2014, what we should expect is improvement in what we have been able to do in 2013.

In other words, we have to build on what is on ground.

What we are doing right now is to make sure that every airline files its flight plan online.

The airlines have also requested that we try to centralise it; you file your flight plan, you pay, then someone takes it to the tower and then we intervene at the Aeronautical Information Service Centre (AIS), the commercial and the tower. So when you pay in Lagos; say you are going to Owerri, the man in Owerri will not ask you for a hard copy of your flight plan. You go to NAMA portal first and file your flight plan; airlines are used to the hard paper kind of thing. Second, we need to improve the power situation. We had thought that by now, poor power supply will be a thing of the past. Like yesterday (Thursday), there was total power failure which may have affected most parts of Lagos. We are trying to adopt solar system to power our facilities, even for the air field lighting. Third is communication and surveillance, which we have firmly established with basic infrastructures. We are going further in the wide area of augmentation through the ADSB and the multilateration system for the Niger Delta.

On one stop shop payment

We listen to airlines’ complaints. The issue even went to the Senate where the relevant committee met and came out with a report. Now we are now going to call the stakeholders to another meeting.

But take for example Akure or Ibadan airport, where there is no general aviation activity as such, when they use the facilities, they won’t want to pay that kind of general aviation terminal fee. We buy into that so that when you go to such an airport, it is not necessary C M Y K

Engineer Mazi Nnamdi Udoh to pay. What we are saying is that when you pay in a onestop shop, on your return leg, you don’t pay since it is one manifest. So when people go to places like Ibadan, Akure, Minna where you don’t have much activities like the general aviation terminal, they will not pay the general aviation terminal airport fee and, of course, operators like Julius Berger or state governments who don’t use their aircraft for hire will also not pay what is called commercial tax but there must be a commensurate insurance file with NCAA to show that their planes are not for hire.

The bulk of what we have been able to do to move the aviation sector forward has been due to the support we have been receiving from the minister, Princess Stella Oduah who is always encouraging us to work optimally notwithstanding the challenges that we face

On Training

Presently, we are trying to graduate the next class in air traffic control and PPR. There are about three of them doing what is called flying hours completing. They are completing hours on the simulator. We have also done an internal advert that people with microbiology background and IT who like to be air traffic controllers can apply; it is mainly for people who want to change into air traffic services. For engineers, of course the last batch of the five years maintenance arrangement with the manufacturers of some of our facilities is going to be finalised this year with the last 12 engineers. So we will now start

sending them to South Africa and any other place where there is room for engineering training; of course the regular ones in navigational aids or air field lighting will remain. Our budget for training remains wide and, as you know, you can’t spend everything on training so that have money to spend on other areas.

On funding

NAMA survives on IGR. I make my money and, of course, we also have to appropriate it and have authorisation for payment. For manpower and development, we are spending like N500 million this year and we wish we

fected us. Now the Borno governor has donated a generator to us and we have reopened the airport, so communication problem between pilots and the control tower blamed on lack of communication has been conquered.

On charges

The five per cent ticket sales charge that customers pay to airlines, the airlines pay to an account domiciled in the NCAA and the director general has the responsibility to sign the sharing as approved by the accounting officers, that is, the minister and the permanent secretary. The

money is shared between NAMA, FAAN, AIPB, NCAT and NIMET. AIPB does not make money, NCAT too doesn’t make more money; you also know that NIMET is part of this group. And you could see that the direct contact with the airline is NAMA but NCAA is collecting the money. Any airline which wants to fly comes to NAMA to file a flight plan; if it is coming from abroad, its agents come to NAMA to get clearance. NAMA collects the money; FAAN now gets its landing fee, NCAA gets its share, NAMA gets its own, NCAT gets, NIMET and AIPB get and that is one fund that everybody gets something from.

On the issues between airlines and the aviation authorities

You know the Senate said they have not been briefed enough, so we should go and harmonise and, like I have always said, the customer will always be right. The more airlines I have in Nigeria, the better for me, so that I don’t have to stop those airlines owing me from flying. Even we welcome airlines from West African countries. Cameroon airlines came to pay because they wanted to start flying over our space. So I don’t believe that we have to ground an airline, some of them owing are still flying; outside that, one stop shop will always be a solution. When you pay the money, nobody will ask you any question because there is linkage between the agencies and the means of payment.

On the augmentation system

In the Niger Delta, we have finished the survey, we have the report. We are deploying the LDSB and multilateration which come under the augmentation system. Now we are going to need this also around Maiduguri and Yola airports because of the security issue since to fly airplanes there, nobody, except the military, knows how operations are going.

The bulk of what we have been able to do to move the aviation sector forward has been due to the support we have been receiving from the minister, Princess Stella Oduah who is always encouraging us to work optimally notwithstanding the challenges that we face. She is obviously impatient to get things in place in the sector. And I can assure you we won’t disappoint her.

PAGE 24—SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

Massive seizures of hard drugs, live ammunition hit Oyo .Suspects on trial for faking Customs document

BY UDEME CLEMENT

T

he Oyo/Osun Com mand of Nigeria Cus toms Service (NCS) has become the centre of activities since the second quarter of 2013, following massive seizures of offensive goods ranging from live ammunition to contra-band items. Now the attention of other security agencies and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officials have been attracted to the Command with the current seizure of vehicle loaded with Indian Hemp. Sunday Vanguard gathered that the Oyo/Osun NCS Command has two approved border stations, Aiyegun and Igbokoko, but to adequately curb smuggling, the Command has provided security coverage for eight outposts: Odo, Orita, Eruwa, Saki, Igbeti, Iseyin, Igbojaiye and Igbokoko, complemented by nine patrol teams. Now some suspects are in court, undergoing prosecution in Oyo for smuggling and being in possession of fake Customs documents. The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Mr. Oteri Richard, spoke on the issues: Since April 2013, Oyo/Osun Command known to be a quiet place has become the beehive of activities with incessant seizures of offensive items. What is behind these developments?

At present, our operational strategies and administrative network have been repositioned to enhance effective coverage of the Command.

This is expedient as the Comptroller General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko Inde, is working tirelessly to put the Service in good shape. He has provided us with necessary logistics to ensure efficiency in our operations. In Oyo/Osun, we are working with a team of over nine patrol units, well equipped to monitor the Command. For instance, our officers just intercepted a Toy-

From right: The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Oyo/Osun Command, Mr. Oteri Richard, Sector Commander, NDLEA, Omolade Faboyede, and other NDLEA officials, during the handing over of a vehicle load of hard drugs, intercepted by the Command recently.

At present, our operational strategies and administrative network have been repositioned to enhance effective coverage of the Command ota Sienna Bus, with registration number, EPE 39 AY and chassis number U224803, fully loaded with 29 sacks of Indian hemp, during patrol. The items have been handed over to NDLEA Oyo state Command for further investigations.

We are intensifying the execution of war against smuggling, utilising new strategies initiated by Dikko, with tremendous success. Aside

Seizure of live ammunition, intercepted by Oyo/Osun Customs Command, during operations recently. from seizures of hard drugs and live ammunition, we also uncovered new trend of smuggling prohibited items with different forms of concealments. For example, we intercepted 40footer container load of rice concealed with charcoal, a refrigerated truck loaded with over 300 bags of rice,

two trucks loads concealed with bags of groundnut shell, saw-dusts, yam flour and dried cassava tubers, with the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N82.7million. You see the level these smugglers can go. So, we are also using new intelligence driven strategies to track their nefarious activities

in the state. These are seen in the number of seizures and arrests made. Last year, we generated a total of N15.5 billion, as against N11.6billion recorded the previous year, which shows an increase of 14 per cent.

We recorded over 270 seizures with the DPV of N706.4million. Revenue wise, we exceeded our target in December 2013, which had never happened in the history of the Command. A total of 1,736 vehicles paid duty of over N172.1million, as against 1,102 vehicles, with revenue of N84.5million realised in 2012, which shows an increase of 34.1 per cent. 52,620 cartons of frozen products with the PDV of N321.7million were intercepted and destroyed in the presence of relevant government agencies in the state. Also, 227 assorted vehicles were intercepted within the period under review, and the DPV is put at N129.8million. Currently, we have some suspects who are undergoing prosecution in court over smuggling cases and being in possession of fake Customs documents, because the Command arrested suspects with fake documents for smuggled vehicles.

Investigation into the matter is on-going in order to burst the syndicates specialised in forging of Customs documents and in the long-run, it will reduce the incidence of smuggling of imported vehicles into the Command.

Aside from duty payment, what other sources of revenue do you have in your Command?

The two major sources of revenue are excise factories and duty payment from vehicles.

The excise factories are, British American Tobacco Nigeria, Nigeria Breweries Plc, International Breweries Ilesha. The Command is working hard to bring other extant factories within the Command under Customs control.

Kogi will be the tourist hub of Nigeria —Wada

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO THE Kogi State Governor, Capt. Idris Wada has stated that Kogi State will soon become the tourism hub of the country.

Governor Wada who stated this while commissioning a new ultra modern hotel - Reverton Hotel, in Lokoja, the State Capital also said the Kogi Hotels and the Confluence Beach Hotel will be privatized by the state government in resolve to make the state a tourist hub of the nation.

Wada who was represented by

the Deputy Governor, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi, said the state government will not rest on its oars until Lokoja and the entire state is made tourists’ delight for the country.

He expressed confidence that the new Reverton Hotel will measure up to the status of hospitality and tourism in the state, “I congratulate and commend the promoters of Reverton Hotel, not just for scaling up the status of hospitality services in Kogi State, but for facilitating the actualization of the vision of this administration to make Lokoja and indeed Kogi State, a tour-

ism hub in Nigeria.

“This contribution becomes more appreciated by the government because in the realization that availability of good hospitality architecture is a necessary condition for the promotion of tourism, the state has invested heavily in the development of its own hospitality structures, particularly the Confluence Beach Hotel and Kogi Hotels. These investments have been done, not for the purpose of competing with the private sector, but to stimulate interest in the sector. ”With the coming of Rever-

ton and similar private sector initiatives, our strategy for reinventing tourism development is indeed on course. It is the desire of government to privatize these investments, so that attention can be committed to core activities of government.”

Wada, however, advised the management of the hotel to stand by the codes of ethics of hospitality sector, as the hotel will help stimulate the economy of the state, promising that the state government will within a short period upgrade the access road to the hotel and its neighborhood.

The Managing Director of the Hotel, Mr. Funsho Fayemi, said the vision to site the hotel started four years ago in view of the need to give Lokoja a deserved place in the class of hotel despite fears from family and concerned friends that such business may face low patronage.

While thanking the state government for giving Lokoja, the state capital a face-lift, he urged them to provide an access road to the hotel premises, which presently operates with 70 staff and has the capacity of employing 200 staff when in full operation

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014, PAGE 25

08116759757 died instantly at the spot of crash.

The corpses of the deceased deposited at the mortuary of the Ondo town Trauma and Accident Centre were buried on Thursday.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Ondo Deputy Governor, Mr Daisi Ajayi ,who described the incident as not only painful but unfortunate, noted that his principal was on his way to Ondo for an official assignment when the incident occurred.

Ajayi said one of the security cars in the Deputy Governor’s convoy was badly damaged as a result of the incident.

E M I R P R I E H IN T N W O D T U C

d e l l i k Couple r i e h t h wit ! y b a b n r o b n u

Mourning

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*Journalists, Redeemed Church mourn pastor, pregnant wife, daughter who died in auto crash

BY DAYO JOHNSON, Akure

F

OR journalists, especially those of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Akure, February 1, 2014 will, for a long time to come, remain a sad day.

That was the day a young promising reporter, Alex Akinwale, 35, his wife, Kehinde Rebecca, daughter, Pauline, 2, and maid were killed in an auto crash. Akinwale was not only a reporter of note. He was also the chairman of the NTA Akure Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and a minister at the Ondo Province 1 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. His wife equally worked at the Marketing Department of the television station.

Their marriage was only five years old and blessed with two children. One of the children-a son, Paul, 5-was the sole survivor in their vehicle after the crash. At the time of crash, the deceased couple were reportedly expecting their third child as the wife was said to be six months pregnant.

For the deceased four, death came following a multiple crash said to have been caused by reckless driving by the driver of a traditional ruler, the Osunmakinde of Ife Tuntun, Osun *Above: State, Oba Obawure Taofeek Olaposi.

Alex Akinwale: Down. The family’s MPV ‘s The crash involved the convoy of wreckage (left); the couple on wedding day (right) Ondo State Deputy Governor Alhaji Ali Olanusi penultimate Saturday. husband joining the on-going 100 Governor’s convoy.

The previous day, Friday, the four days prayer and fasting retreat of the The monarch and a teenage occupant members of the family and their maid, RCCG in his church. They were only in the vehicle were receiving Bose, took off from their Oda Road, about five minutes-drive to Akure, treatment at the Trauma and Accident Akure residence for the burial around 12 noon, when tragedy struck Centre in Ondo town following the ceremony of the cousin of Mr at Aponmu-Owena along Akure – injuries they sustained. Olanusi’s car Akinwale in Ondo town in the family escaped the crash but the security Ondo Road. A white Toyota Camry car blue Toyota Sienna multi-purpose belonging to Oba Olaposi allegedly vehicle in his convoy was said to have vehicle (MPV). ran into the Deputy Governor’s convoy been severely damaged among other vehicles while trying to Akinwale family’s MPV was wrecked 100 days prayer overtake some vehicles including the and sympathisers had a tough time Akinwales. removing the family members from it. unday Vanguard learnt that the It was gathered that the traditional Alex and daughter made it to hospital family left Ondo heading back to ruler’s car rammed into the family’s but eventually gave up the ghost Akure after the burial with Rebecca car before hitting the Deputy while the wife and maid reportedly driving and with the hope of the

,,

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eanwhile, it has been mourning at the premises of the NTA Akure following the death of the couple and their child.

Workers continue to gather in groups to discuss the incident that claimed the Chairman of the NUJ Chapel.

A burial service was held for the couple on Thursday at Orimolade Comprehensive High School, Sabo, Ondo town. Meanwhile, NUJ has commiserated with the Akinwale family.

A delegation of the union, comprising the National Deputy President, Rotimi Obamuwagun; Ondo State Chairman, Akinfolayan Owanikin; and Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, visited the Akinwale family house in Ondo town.

Speaking on behalf of NUJ, Owanikin said the death of Alex was a great loss to the union and the journalism profession.

According to him, the deceased journalist was a thorough professional and an epitome of humility.

The union prayed God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Receiving the NUJ delegation on behalf of the Akinwale family, Alex’s brother, Damilola, said the death of the quartet was a rude shock to the family.

He thanked the delegation for the visit and support for the family at their trying time.

Also the B-Zone of the NUJ has described the death of the Chairman of NTA Akure Chapel and the two other members of his family as a colossal loss.

The zone, in a statement by its Vice President, Dele Atunbi lamented that the deceased persons were cut down in their prime in an avoidable autocrash traceable to the recklessness of some road users.

It bemoaned a situation which has turned Paul, the only survivor of the crash and son of the Akinwales, into an orphan.

PAGE 26— SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

08116759757

Suspected car snatcher shot dead in pastor’s bathroom

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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middle-aged man suspected to be a car snatcher was shot dead in the bathroom of a pastor (name withheld) in Kubwa, Abuja last week.

His three-man gang was being pursued after it allegedly snatched a vehicle from a victim when the suspects ran in different directions.

The deceased ran into an uncompleted building directly behind the pastor ’s house while trying to hide from the police. He jumped into the pastor ’s compound and then into his living room where the pastor ’s wife saw him about 1pm on Sunday in Pipeline, Kubwa and raised the alarm.

The pastor ’s wife, who was visibly startled by the incident, narrated her experience.

She told Sunday Vanguard: “We came back from church after service at about 1 pm. Soon thereafter, I sent my little brother to go and fetch water for our use. Suddenly, I heard sounds of footsteps like somebody was running. l quickly went out of my apartment to check what was happening. To my amazement, when I returned, l saw a man in my living room. I asked who he was, how he got to my apartment and what his mission was? He kept telling me he would explain to me later.”

She continued: “My little brother returned from where he went to fetch water outside the compound and joined me in asking the man how he got in and who he was. We also demanded that he should leave the house immediately but he still didn’t move. At that point, l rushed out with my little brother. We ran outside the gate to raise the alarm.

“Fortunately, l saw some policemen in mufti dragging a man and apparently looking out for the one in my house; so l drew their attention to the stranger in my house. The policemen rushed in. On getting to our living room, the man had run into my bathroom and hid there. All efforts by the policemen to persuade him to surrender were not fruitful; so they went into the bathroom to drag him out. But instead of him to quietly surrender, he engaged the

policemen in a scuttle, hence they shot him, ripping his intestines open and pulling down the door of my bathroom in the process”.

The pastor’s wife added, “l have never witnessed or experienced this kind of thing in my life.”

Also speaking to our reporter, the pastor said he was still in church after the wife and the children had left for home when he received a call from the wife asking him to come home immediately as there was an emergency. He heeded the call knowing that his wife hardly made such calls. ” I was in church when

Front row (L-R): The chairman, Negris Group Ltd., Sir Abidoye Ayoola, the Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Chukwuemeka Kamu Uche, the newly installed Bishop, Diocese of Lagos Mainland, Rt. Revd Issac Ayo Olawuyi, his wife, Funmi, and the Vice Chairman, Negris Group Ltd, Lady Olulanu Ayola, and others at Bishop Olawuyi Installation at Hoares Memorial Methodist Church Cathedral, Sabo, Yaba, Lagos.

Lola Shoneyin, Toni Kan @ Terra Kulture

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assava Republic author, Lola Shoneyin, and award winning poet and author of the critically acclaimed novel, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, will be in conversation with Toni Kan, award winning author of Nights of the Creaking Bed and Editor of the Sunday Sun Revue.

In Ondo, pregnancy is no longer a death sentence — Mimiko

BY DAYO JOHNSON Akure

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OVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko says his adminis tration has reversed the unwholesome trend that saw Ondo State being labelled the worst in maternal and child health care in the South-west.

He spoke in Akure at the commissioning of the state Primary Health

my wife called me to say l should come home quickly, that there was an emergency. I hurriedly headed straight home. On getting to my compound, l saw a corpse on the floor with policemen in mufti and two men arrested. l went into the house where my wife narrated the entire episode to me,” the pastor said. ”It was apparent that the man gained entry into the building from the uncompleted building behind us and entered my house as the door was not shut. ”I thank God for His intervention otherwise the suspect could have

strangled or killed my wife or members of my family before they ran out to draw people’s attention or, if he succeeded in over powering the police and taking the guns from them, l don’t know what would have happened.”

In an interview, the chairman of the community, Mr Chukwuma Samuel Keha, told Sunday Vanguard that the major problem of residents was security.

Keha said, “Our problem in this community is security. We hardly see police patrol. It is by the effort of residents that we were able to arrange security men to keep watch over the community.”

The policemen were said to have taken the corpse and the other two suspects away at the time our reporter got to the scene but blood stains and bullet shells were still seen scattered in the pastor ’s compound.

Care Development Board. ”We have demostrated avowed commitment and dedication to the removal of all obstacles inhibiting the required interface between the vunerable members of the society and quality health care delivery services,” the governor said.

“Today, the story has completely changed as Ondo State is now

The two will be engaging with the topic ‘Writing Sex, Sexuality and Morality’ with emphasis on Lola Shoneyin’s book which focuses on a polygamous household which implodes when the youngest wife’s search for a child exposes a secret.

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives also riffs slightly on same-sex

relationships which has become a very topical issue in the wake of the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act. The evening, which holds on Saturday, February 15 at Terra Kulture, promises to be a fitting finale to the Valentine season with two writers who are sassy, saucy and very iconoclastic.

credited for having the best maternal and child health care programme in Nigeria and beyond. ” Our Abiye (Safe Motherhood) programme has become a reference point not only in Nigeria but internationally.”

Mimiko explained that the establishment of the new outfit was another giant stride to further consolidate the achievement of government in the health sector.

According to him, on assumption of office, the state government put in place programmes that have yielded positive changes in the health care delivery.

He listed the interventions in the health sector to include the Mother and Child Hospital, Emergency Medical Trauma Center and the 25 units capacity renal dialysis center equipped with state-of-the-art equipment.

The state Health Commissioner, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, said that the establishment of the Primary Health Care Development Board was to consolidate the achievement of the administration in the health sector. Adeyanju lauded the governor for approving funds for the construction of the edificewhich was completed within six weeks.

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014, PAGE 27

08116759757 the entrance to the main building was locked with security men deployed to secure it daily, thereby denying Boniface access to his rented room in the main house and the space behind where he usually assembled his motorcycles and tricycles.

Okoro allegedly visited again on 24th May, 2013, with Mobile Policemen.

Barred from valuables

JUNGLE JUSTICE

zMan caught in eviction ‘palaver’, N20m goods trapped

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

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hief Boniface Ezeisi had no premonition of the loss ahead when he signed a tenancy deal with Alexis Properties Limited, the supposed manager of a rundown property at 26, Murtala Muhammed Int’l Airport Road, Lagos in 2010.

A major dealer in motorcycles and tricycles with branches across Nigeria and headquarters in Aba, Abia State, Boniface, Managing Director, Boney Marcus Industries Limited, arrived at a consensus with one Osanyidatola Kola and Adewale Maku of Alexis Properties to redevelop the property, pay a two-year rent and move in as tenant, beginning from July 1st, 2010.

“Based on that agreement, I rebuilt the front one-story building in the premises at the cost of over

ST AYING IN STA

N11,000,000 and furnished the top floor as my office while the ground floor served as showroom for the sales of my motorcycles, tricycles and spare parts.

“Aside the cost of rebuilding the property, my agreed rent was N720,000 for two years, which I paid to Alexis Properties. I subsequently paid a two-year rent of N250,000 for an additional room in the main building behind the one-story building I occupied in the premises. That particular tenancy commenced September 1st, 2010. In 2012, I equally renewed both rents to June and August 2013 respectively”, Boniface narrated to Sunday Vanguard.

Mysterious eviction

Trouble however struck on 19th March, 2013, when some police

UNN CRISIS:

‘Zik’s spirit will fight’

BY CHINENYEH OZOR, Nsukka

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he crisis at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) following the suspension of the institution’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Dr. Emeka Enejere, which sparked off protests by unions in the university together with youths of the host community, has attracted comments from the Chairman, Nsukka apex traditional decision making general assembly (Oha Nsukka), Chief Emeka Ugwu Chief Ugwu, who said spirit of the founding father of the university, the late Dr. Nnamid Azikiwe, would fight those sowing seeds of discord in the UNN. Ugwu described the face- off involving ASUU, NASU, SSANU, and the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bartho Okolo, as shameful , explaining that the wrangling in the university was the worst ever witnessed in its history.. He noted with dismay, that the appointment of Enejere as ProChancellor was the highest position

ever occupied by an Nsukka man, saying he was not allowed to serve out his tenure as he was removed less than one year after his appointment.

“It is not only that the spirit of Zik will fight to restore the dignity of man at both campuses of the university but the gods of Nsukka land would also never let those who executed the removal of the ProChancellor have peace of mind. The supervising Education Minister, Nyemson Wike, should let the public know the reasons for the removal of Dr. Enejere as the Chairman, Governing Council of the university”, he said.

“Oha Nsukak would join hands with ASUU, UNN Chapter to call on the Presidency to set up a judicial panel of inquiry to unveil the acts of Dr. Enejere that warranted his removal and also look into the allegations leveled against the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Okolo. I would like to point out that Prof. Chinedu Nebo, Minister of Power, who handed over to the incumbent Vice- Chancellor,

officers from Makinde Divisional Police Station, accompanied by a man simply identified as Okoro (aka Major Okoro), who allegedly claimed to be Chief Security Officer at Globacom Limited, visited Boniface. Okoro was alleged to have verbally given Boniface a 21-day ultimatum to vacate the property or face forced eviction.

When contacted by Boniface, Alexis Properties assured him he would not be forcefully evicted, but solicited his cooperation to start looking for alternative accommodation, giving Boniface another one month quit notice.

While negotiation was still on however, Okoro allegedly led a team of private security men, evicted all the occupants of the main building, sealed it up, leaving a stern warning to Boniface to vacate the front one-storey building within one week. Meanwhile,

left the shores of Nsukka with kudos and laurels because of his benchmark achievements at both Nsukka and Enugu campuses of the university in human and infrastructural development. The crisis at the university was because of Dr. Enejere’s alleged discovery of an alleged scam at the institution which the authorities saw as a threat to the administration and forced him out. Dr. Enejere came to sanitize the institution so that every other thing in the university would follow due process, that was why the first Nsukka man to occupy that position was suspended because some people felt he stepped on their

“With a wave of his hand, he instructed the private security men to force the lock to the one-story building I was occupying open, and my goods were recklessly thrown out. My workers were not allowed to take custody of the goods as the Mobile Policemen chased them away. Even when I got to the scene, the policemen threatened to rough handle me if I came close. When they finished, they locked up the premises and positioned private security men to prevent access, with my valuables within, even as I speak. I have lost over N20,000,000 worth of goods due to the illegal acts.

“What baffles me was the manner of the eviction and the impression that I occupied the office illegally. I am willing to evacuate the building. All I want now is access into it to enable me ascertain whether my valuables are intact and then I can move out. All efforts to get the police to intervene in the matter have been unfruitful and this is frustrating. I am a businessman and this is totally unfair to me in all ramifications”, Boniface sadly told Sunday Vanguard.

Conflicting ownership

Meanwhile, efforts by Sunday to contact Okoro proved futile, and when Osanyidatola of Alexis Properties was contacted for his side of the story, he insisted Globacom owned the property, and when asked whether Boniface defaulted in any way to have earned himself such shoddy eviction, Osanyidatola simply dismissed the subject as “a very long story”.

toes.

“We are still untying the knots of an alleged allegation that one of the leaders of Nsukka Youths Association sold out. We are investigating this because on the day Nsukka youths had a peaceful protest calling for the reinstatement of Dr. Enejere and the removal of the Vice- Chancellor, Prof.

Okolo, the leader rushed to the university radio “Lion FM” and announced that Nsukka Youths Association was not part of the protest and allegedly invited the police to disperse his colleagues with tear gas. Oha Nsukka has extended an invitation to him and his executive for explanations.”

Japan backs Nigeria's quest to make own vehicles Nigeria Limited, Chief Michael Ade

By Dayo Johnson Akure

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HE Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ryuichi Shoji, has

assured that his country was ready to support Nigeria’s Automobile Development Plan. Shoji said his country would also provide facilities to aid the development of education in Nigeria. He spoke in Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State during his visit to the campus of the Elizade University owned by the Chairman of Toyota

Ojo.According to him, Japan was ready to support Nigeria’s quest to develop it’s automobile industry and join the league of nations that produce vehicles. He however noted that the dream is a long term one, saying the country would spend years before the plan could be realised.

Shoji said apart from the development of technology by the country, Japan was ready to help in the area of human capacity development to be able to drive policy of government.

PAGE 28—SUNDAY, Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

Tosan Omiyi sw ept of ee t! swept offf her ffee eet!

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80th bash for Bolajoko Ajayi-Bembe

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eautiful Tosan Omiyi, daughter of the late Chief Fidelis Omiyi shed spinsterhood when her relationship with Yomi Adebanjo was consummated in a holy matrimony.

The couple exchanged the nuptial vows at the Victoria Fellowship Church, Alma Beach Estate, Lekki,Lagos before wowing the guests at the reception which held at the Monarch Gardens, also in the Lekki. Photos by Sola Oyelese

eing 80 couldn’t have been more memorable for Mrs Anthonia Bolajoko Ajayi-Bembe, mother of Mrs Peju Omolara, former Financial Controller, Vanguard Media Limited, when she celebrated her 80th birthday last weekend. Not only did her children and relatives come together to give her a befitting celebration, notable Lagosians were also present to honour her on the special occasion. Photos by Lamidi Bamidele

L-R: Mr Basil Omiyi, Mrs Bawo Omiyi, A.E. Okenrentie, the bride's mum and Mrs Mary Omiyi.

L-R:Mrs Feyi Oludipe; Mrs Gbemisola Omonubi; Mrs Abosede Kuti; Mr Lawson Shokunbi; Mrs Anthonia Ajayi-Bembe, celebrant; Mrs Peju Omolara and Mrs Sunbo Adeyanju.

The couple: Yomi and Tosan Adebanjo.

R-L: The couple, Mr and Mrs Yomi Adebanjo, with Engr and Mrs J. A Adenle, representing the groom's parents.

L-R: Sir Chief Spencer Akintunde Savage, Baale of Iju and Mrs Bolajoko Ajayi-Bembe, celebrant.

General and Mrs Tunji Olurin.

L-R:Mrs A. Akpieyi, Mr Joe Oroye, Chief J. J. Akpieyi, Mrs K. Grant and Chief Gilbert Grant.

Dr and Mrs Ernest Ndukwe.

L-R: Mrs Mary Omiyi, Deacon A. Balogun and Mr B. Ikomii C M Y K

L-R: Mrs Pat Orugboh , Mrs Lizzy Otuedon,Mr Joe Oroye and Mrs A. Akpieyi

L-R:Mrs Oluremi Bodede; Mrs Kikelomo Aderibigbe and Olori Aderonke Savage.

L-R: Alhaji Jide Lawal; Mrs Duro Lawal and Engr. Adeyinka Olalekan

SUNDAY, Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014, PAGE 29

11th CVL annual lecture holds entre for Values in Leadership, CVL, held its annual lecture, the 11th in the series, on Thursday at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA. The theme was “Leadership and the Scourge of Poverty in Africa. The event was presided over by the Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina. The lecture attracted high profile guests drawn from the public, corporate and business sectors. Photos by Akin Salau

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L-R:Prof & Dr (Mrs) Pat Utomi, founder/CEO, CVL, Prof Ebere Onwudiwe,Chairman of Occasion and Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, Minister of Agricuture and Rural Development, Guest Speaker.

Promise weds Michael

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ichael Osaro Ebie bid farewell to bachelorhood when he took former Miss Promise Isioma Nzemeke to the altar. The couple took their nuptial vows on Saturday, December 18, 2013 at Chapel of the Ascension (Anglican Communion), Agbor, Delta State before the Bishop of Ika Diocese, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Dr. P.I. Onekpe who led the service.

(L-R) Prof. Pat Utomi, Oluwasoromidayo George,Executive Director, British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATN) and Abimbola Okoya,General Manager, BATN.

The couple, Mr and Mrs Michael Osaro Ebie.

L-R: Mr Ben Murray-Bruce, Frank Okonta and Chike Nwanze.

L-R: Ms Ada Osakwe,Snr Investment Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture, Apostle Hayford Alile and Amb. Joe Keshi, Chairman, UBA

Isok o Mirr or publisher elida, marries Sam Isoko Mirror publisher,, FFelida,

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t was celebration all the way at Uzere Kingdom, Isoko South local government area of Delta State when Prince Omamoke Samuel Akiri took the publisher of Isoko Mirror newspaper, Comrade Felida Osede Essi, as wife. Many prominent personalities graced the occasion.

L-R: Rt. Rev. P.I. Onekpe, Rev. Canon V.N. Etumudun, Ven. Onyeka Okoh, the couple, Ven. Eric Elosia, Ven. S.A. Udume and P.E.O. Melekwe

Solidarity visit

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n delegation of Delta State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by the state chairman, Peter Nwaoboshi, visited the new PDP National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, on Wednesday.

The groom’s family during the bride-price paying ceremony.

The couple flanked by the groom‘s mother (middle) Mrs. Joanah Gold Akiri and some members of both families C M Y K

L-R:Peter Nwaoboshi, Ovuozourie Samuel Macaulay, Secretary to the Government (SSG) of Delta State & Paul Osaji.

The couple: Prince and Princess (Mrs.) Omamoke Samuel Akiri.

PAGE 30— SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

BY WALE AKINOLA

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The people decide!

t is not in the character of Nigerians to have confidence in government. The reason is not far-fetched. Successive governments – at all tiers – over the years failed them.

Lack of infrastructure and poor service delivery were the order of the day. So, when at the outset of the 3i’s initiative, designed by the Mimiko government of Ondo State to get the people to participate in the process of deciding the project that was close to their heart for implementation, Community Change Agents were sent to Oyin in Akoko North West LGA, the people simply sent them away. To them, they had had enough from government fond of making promises on infrastructural facilities without delivering on them. It took the intervention of the Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Community Development and Cooperative Services, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Osudolire, to persuade the Oyin Oba-incouncil to get the 3i’s process started with the return of the Change Agents to the community. In the process, town hall topped the list of the needs of the people. The Mimiko administration delivered the project in two months. The people could not believe their eyes. At the commissioning of the town hall, the paramount ruler of Oyin acknowledged the new dawn. He told Governor Olusegun Mimiko that the reason his people sent away the Community Change Agents when they first came to the community was because they had lost confidence in government which made promises in the past but failed to deliver.

The town hall in place within two months changed their pessimism about *UP: Students in new school; no more rape kidnapping. government.

DOWN: Gov. Mimiko commissioning the new school It is all the state administration needed to top-bottom support restore confidence in programme paradigm. government. The Oyin story We designed it because of is just a tip of the iceberg of our belief that, ultimately, the participatory the development of our state governance that is sweeping is in the hands of our people through Ondo State, thanks with government being the to the Mimiko catalyst”, Faboyede told administration. Tagged the Sunday Vanguard. Indeed, 3i’s, the concept emphasises the programme is Infrastructure, Institution aggressively transforming and Industry. According to rural communities in Ondo the Ondo State State with the people Commissioner for deciding the projects that Community Development come to them. The projects and Cooperative Services, are executed under the Engr. Clement Faboyede, Infrastructure plank of the whose ministry is driving 3i’s. The reason to get the the programme, 3i’s is people to decide the project unique in the sense that it is of their choice is simple. participatory in terms of the They know their most design at the community pressing needs as against democratically decided. The level. the former paradigm that programme starts when the entailed governmentCommunity Service Centre is Catalyst imposed projects. Under the determined based on “It is a clearly defined and new regime, the projects are accessibility by adjoining designed bottom-up and

•Ondo, Mimik o and a paradigm Mimiko shif vt. shiftt in community de devt.

We designed it because of our belief that, ultimately, the development of our state is in the hands of our people with government being the catalyst

communities. This is followed by the deployment of Community Change Agents. Faboyede described the Change Agents as “young graduates, high fliers who have been trained on how to fraternise with all strata of society”. They spend some time in the community, help the people to establish their most pressing needs and prioritise them. Government executes the project on top of the list within two months of the decision taken democratically by the community. Several months after Owode-Owena in Ifedore LGA got a secondary school built for them under the Infrastructure strand of the 3i’s christened, Quick Win, because of the fast nature of delivery, the community is still celebrating.

Rape and kidnapping

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he celebration is understood against he backdrop that the community previously sent its children to secondary school at Igbara-Oke, some seven kilometres away. A community leader told Sunday Vanguard that the

children at that time faced many hazards on their way to school including rape and kidnapping. When the rape and kidnapping got to the peak, according to the state Commission for Community Development and Cooperative Services, government arranged a satellite school in OwodeOwena affiliated to the Igbara-Oke secondary school so that the community children could attend school close to their homes.

The arrangement did not quite work, forcing some graduate-indegenes to offer voluntary teaching service to the community children.

A visit by Governor Mimiko to the community was all they needed for the satellite to assume the status of a full fledged school. Graduates who hitherto offered voluntary teaching service also got full employment.

This is the story behind Owode-Owena Comprehensive High School which invariably became the pilot scheme of Quick Win. Indeed, most of the projects have stories behind them.

Igbara-Oke, also in Ifedore LGA, is a beneficiary of a High Court, this time under the Self Help project of 31’s.

The community started the project but, unable to complete it, government completed it for them under the 3i’s scheme. No fewer than 64 communities in the LGA are beneficiaries of Quick Win projects with facilities including mono pump, solar powered borehole, basic health centre, motorable roads, classrooms and deep well there.

Striking feature

One striking feature of the Quick Win projects in Akoko area of the state is that what you have are mostly town halls. The town halls, completed with good finishings, have boreholes.

Faboyede told Sunday Vanguard the story behind the town halls: “In the Akoko area – northern senatorial district – owning town halls is like competition because the people see them as vessels of interaction where development starts”.

In Owo LGA, there are Itialekeyi and Ehinogbe cassava industries demanded by the people Continues on page 31

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014, PAGE 31

Continued from page 30 because the communities produce garri from cassava grown in large quantities in the area. The story is different in the southern senatorial district of Ondo State – riverine area – where the communities mostly demanded basic health centres and got them. The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, linked the demand to the age-long neglect of the riverine area which deprived them of health facilities. At the last count, no fewer than 661 Quick Win projects across the 18 LGAs of the state have been completed. After putting the projects in place, the next concern is sustainability especially in the light of poor *Akinmade maintenance culture in this part of the world. The Akure, the state capital, and sustainability of the projects trained in the art of is taken care of under the maintenance, book keeping, second plank of the 3i’s – accountability, fund raising, Institution. The state etc. government put in place a body of four persons in each Enter the cottage industries community to oversee the Their activities dovetail into maintenance of the projects. the third strand of the 3i’s – Faboyede called them Industry. When the Community Change Community Change Champions. These people – Champions returned home, about 1,200 of them from 350 government engaged them communities – were taken to as consultants to determine

The people decide!

*Faboyede the produce in which their respective cluster communities have comparative advantage that could serve as raw materials for cottage industries.

Consequently, the Agents identified 58 possible cottage industries that can be established in different parts of Ondo State. Out of the 58, government, according to the Commissioner for

Community Development and Cooperative Services, has identified four to serve as pilot namely: Cassava industry at Ajebamidele in Ifedore LGA; palm oil processing industry at Araromi-Obu in Odigbo LGA and juice processing industry at Ire in Owo LGA. For the reason of viability, the industries will be operated by cooperative societies, and the fund for establishment based on 70:30 percent government – community equity. The operation, Faboyede said, will follow the pattern of the Itialekeji and Ehiogbe cassava processing industries – Quick Win projects, already being managed by cooperative societies. The state Commissioner for Information, Akinmade, is excited about the 3i’s initiative which, according to him, has put development in Ondo in accelerated mode and checking rural-urban drift. He sees the initiative as outliving the current

government simply because the communities have taken ownership of the scheme.

Faboyede equally was optimistic that the initiative has come to stay. “We are starting the third leg which seeks to banish poverty”, he boasted, describing the concept as Kajola-Kajose.

“No vagabond government in future will come and scrap the scheme because of its populist nature”.

The Community Development Commissioner assured that more communities will benefit under the programme. He acknowledged that funding is a challenge, but said Ondo is far ahead of its Osun and Ogun neighbours in the implementation of community-oriented programmes in terms of scope and implementation, notwithstanding resources limitations.

Faboyede was full of praises for Gov. Mimiko for driving the scheme for which Ondo communities will for ever remember him.

Delta guber 2015: Who the cap fits

BY AMAECHI UDEMBA

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LL seems quiet now, at least, politically. By March this year, however, the political landscape in Delta State shall reach a feverish height as the race for 2015 general elections now fixed for February 2015, according to the recently released INEC time-table hots up.

Delta State, however, has always been a centre of interest to political watchers for very obvious reasons. Apart from being the big heart, her contribution to the nation’s social- economic milieu is huge. The state is the gateway to the Southeast region and other South-South states. It then means that the political happenings in this State of over 4 million persons should be of concern to all.

In the same vein, who takes over from Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan should be of genuine concern to all lovers of democracy and friends of Nigeria. Some measure of political footwork needs to be employed to ensure that the successor to Governor Uduaghan is not a neophyte in public governance. The person must be one that has been entrusted with public office before and has a proven track record to show for it.

As expected, some contenders have began to emerge. But like an lbo adage which literally means , ‘’ the first step of a child determines how quick he shall overcome the challenges of walking”, indications are that some of these contenders may be lacking in what Professor Pat Utomi had identified as the 4C skills and attributes. Professor Utomi classifies Competence, Commitment, Character and Compassion as

things needed in a person to be entrusted with leadership position.

In effect, the person Deltans should be looking for must be viewed from these parameters, otherwise, the gains already recorded through the three-point agenda of Governor Uduaghan stand the risk of being reversed.

For now, the following political gladiators from Delta North are known to be interested in the top job. They are :Hon Victor Ochei, Chief Clement Ofuani, Professor Sylvester Monye, Dr Mrs Ngozi Olejeme, Chief Godwin Obielum and Senator ifeanyi Okowa.

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o doubt, Hon Victor Ochei has given the legislative arm of government in Delta State its pride of place. The massive infrastructural development in the Delta State House of Assembly and the legislative quarters is something to be proud of. Since his assumption of office as Speaker, Ochei has consistently improved on the welfare of civil servants through the House of Assembly Service Commission.

Chief Clement Ofuani, is without any scintilla of doubt a brilliant economist. He rose from being a Special Assistant to David Edevbie, Commissioner for Finance during Chief Ibori’s regime to Commissioner for Economic Planning. He is perhaps the only one to have achieved that feat. He brought prudence to public expenditure.

Professor Sylvester Monye is currently the Economic Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Information from certain quarters says he is also from the World Bank just like Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, besides being a renowned consult-

ant to various financial institutions globally. He is also a member of the National Economic Council.

Not much is known of him in Delta State, except that he hails from Onicha-Ugbo and he is the brain behind Chelsea Microfinance Bank, Issele-Uku. Dr (Mrs) Ngozi Olejeme is the only female to have indicated interest in the top seat. Like Professor Monye, Dr Olejeme is relatively unknown. Investigation reveals that she hails from Asaba, the Delta State capital. She is rumoured to be close to the President. And may be banking on that to succeed Governor Udu-

current incumbent, he disappeared from the political scene.

S

enator ifeanyi Okowa. He started his political career from the local government level as Chairman of lka Northeast Local Government Council in the early 90s. There he was able to provide the enabling environment for market women, farmers and other self employed individuals to do their businesses. Then came a little political interregnum until 1998. He became a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) and has remained in PDP till date, one of the enduring

Some measure of political footwork needs to be employed to ensure that the successor to Governor Uduaghan is not a neophyte in public governance aghan.

Chief Godswin Obielum, is an ex –cop who pulled so much weight in 2006 that made former Governor lbori to dissolve the Delta State Executive Council. His awesome political power polarized lbori’s cabinet. Politicians fell over heels to befriend Obielum as he was touted as the ‘’ Abuja” anointed successor to Chief lbori. However, after the governorship primaries where he was defeated by the

characters of a democrat. He was Commissioner for Water Resources from 1999-2003 and that of Health from 2003-2007. He left indelible achievements in these two ministries.

In 2006, he contested the gubernatorial primaries and emerged second to Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan. Though the primaries were contentious, he decided to demonstrate unalloyed commitment to PDP by exemplify-

ing the spirit of ‘’ party above self”, an ingredient lacking in many politicians today.

Adored for his humility and his brand of politics which is devoid of extremism and absolutism of ‘’ do or die”, he was urged by the people to have a shot at the Senate. Today, as Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, representing Delta North in the red chamber, has been consistent in his drive for affordable and quality health services for Nigerians. He has been working tirelessly to ensure that the National Agency for Drugs and Foods Administration Control [NADFAC), the National Health Insurance Scheme are strengthened to serve Nigerians better. The National Health Bill is being fast tracked to ensure that it becomes a law as soon as possible.

F

rom the above, there is no gainsaying that Senator Okowa is an embodiment of the 4C skills and attributes. It is therefore important that we put parochial interest aside and work together for the betterment of our State. It is also instructive to say that there are qualified Deltans from the Central and South zone of the State to vie for this position, but the zeroing in on aspirants from Delta North Senatorial district alone is fuelled by the belief that for equity and fair play, the people of that zone should produce the next governor of Delta State.

Since 1999 till date, the people of Delta North have shown understanding and brotherliness to the people of Central and South Senatorial district . The time to reciprocate is now.

Udemba, is a public affairs analyst.

PAGE 32 — —SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

Email: vanguardwoman@gmail.com

When First Lady sought gender mainstreaming in governance

Patience Jonathan.....women inclusion deserves top priority

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

A

T a time when many had thought that the Affirmative Action Quota of 35 percent women inclusion in appointive positions had been met by the present dispensation, calls for gender mainstreaming recently resonated.

The calls which are in line with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, were reiterated at a one-day forum organised by the National Centre for Women Development ,NCWD, in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency,NOA, in Abuja.

Declaring the forum which was titled: “Do the Right Thing: Mainstream Gender in Governance for National Transformation” open, First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, while noting that Nigeria could not have attained its present level of development without the active participation of women, emphasised the need to carry women along.

According to her, “the inclusion of women in national developmental plans must be accorded top priority”.

Stating that the C M Y K

momentum for the inclusion of women in the political and economic decision making processes must be stepped up, the First Lady called for continued campaigns and policies formulations for gender mainstreaming at all levels of governance.

While commending the synergy of the NCWD and NOA, Dame Jonathan noted that the forum was worthy of emulation by all other MDAs. Director General, NCWD, Onyeka Onwenu, while commending the unrelenting efforts of the present administration in the realisation of the Affirmative Action Quota of 35 percent women inclusion in appointive positions, which had resulted in increased female representation in the Federal Executive Council to 31 percent, stated that a lot more still needed to be done. Despite all this, only nine percent of those who stood for elections in the April 2011 National Assembly elections were women.

This low representation of women means that the country is utilising less than half of its human resource base for its development, and without women in

Only nine per cent of those who stood for elections in the April 2011 National Assembly elections were women...

This means that the country is utilising less than half of its human resource

decision making positions the perspectives of the majority stakeholders in the country’s progress are ignored.

The NCWD, she said is

working hard to ensure that women agenda is pushed to the highest levels and encouraged women to start strategising for 2015 elections.

The Director General, NOA, Mike Omeri, noted that gender mainstreaming had become a cordial aspect of the transformation agenda and the development of the nation.

Other dignitaries at the forum were His Eminence, John Cardinal Onayaikan, who was the chairman of the occasion, Senator Helen Esuene and Sarah Jibril.

Highlight of the event was the launch of a computer software game, Fakaedu, named after the First Lady in recognition of her position and responsibility as the UN/ITU Global Champion of Child Online Security in Africa.

Women group gives succour to sickle cell patients

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

I

N a bid to reduce the scourge of sickle cell anemia and bring succor to persons living with sickle cell anemia, International Inner Wheel-IIW District 911 Nigeria recently held an awareness campaign to educate and sensitize young Nigerians on the need to know their genotype and also raise funds to assist sickle cell patients with Hip replacement surgery.

In her speech at the IIW 90th celebration in Lagos, Chairman, IIW D911, Elizabeth Olomofe-Kufeji, explained that the organisation decided to create awareness on sickle cell anemia and also raise funds for hip replacement surgery because of the many complications that accompany sickle cell anemia. “Most of these sickle cell patients are

on wheel chairs and we want to help those we can help to walk again by raising funds for them to go through a surgery which costs about a million naira per patient.

“We expect the government to do more campaign on radio, television and social media.

There is need for this awareness to be taken to the grassroots and even to primary schools”, she added.

In his lecture Dr.Emmanuel Teddy Alpoh of St. Luke’s Medical Hospital, said, “On no account should persons with the AS genotype tie the nuptial because for every pregnancy, they both have a 1\4 ratio of having an SS child.

We have had terrifying experiences where a couple had four children and every one of them is SS. Yes, we have seen cases where AS couples have no children with the SS

genotype but that is just one in a million “This awareness campaign is very important in other to educate young persons on the need to know their genotype and ensure that they don’t have children with sickle cell anemia because it is a life time of pain for the family, community and nation in general”, Dr. Teddy noted.

Lamenting the rate of quackery going on in the country, Teddy encouraged Nigerians to go to reputable laboratories for their genotype test and to also endeavour to go for a re-test if there is any doubt. He said a lot of laboratories cannot do blood group and genotype tests because of the sensitivity of both tests and the fact that a lot of families have been ruined as a result of misdiagnoses.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2014, PAGE

33

Email: vanguardwoman@gmail.com

Jonathan's administration, a blessing to womenfolk —Igho Onuesoke, Director, Network for Good Governance

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

M

RS Igho Pearl Onuesoke is the Director, Western Operation, Network for Good Governance (N4GG), an organisation devoted to networking and connecting government with the masses. In this interview, she speaks on the activities of the fiveyear-old organization, President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and women in governance amongst sundry issues.

What exactly does your organization seek to achieve?

We have made effective inputs in governance in Delta State and its environs, and we have our branches in all the states of the South-South. However, our target is to reach out more to the Nigerian masses in general and get them informed about governance and their own role in it We are also geared towards letting government know they are under check. We largely employ the use of technology and the social media and that makes our target achievable.

the cause for good governance, what are your plans towards ensuring a free and fair election in 2015?

We intend to educate the masses on their rights and how best to exercise such rights in a civil manner. We believe in a government that is free and fair; not in violence. This is a key focus in our education program on civil rights. Based on our campaign plan, we will educate the masses on their rights to vote and eschew every act of violence; the right to exercise their rights

Apart from the fact that we must support our own, Nigeria does not belong to any ethnic group. Whether from the minority or majority divide, we all have a stake

within the limit that is acceptable in the society.

Civility!

S

ome political players have disapproved of Jonathan contesting in 2015. What’s your position on that as one from the SouthSouth region?

Apart from the fact that we must support our own, Nigeria does not belong to any ethnic group. Whether from the minority or majority divide, we all have a stake in the government and governance of this country.

Besides, there is no incumbent who wants to come back that will not face challenges. Ironically, those challenging President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term are those who have ruled this nation in the past.

They were also challenged when they said they were coming back. So, that’s no big deal. Four years is actually not enough to complete gigantic projects.

Obasanjo did second and even wanted a third term!

Jonathan should be given another four years so as to complete his projects.

C

ould you enumerate some of his

As one championing

‘Culture: Preserve the best, leave harm behind’

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

I

T is estimated that more than 125 million girls and women alive today have been cut in 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East, where Female Genital Mutilation-FGM is most prevalent. If current trends continue, an estimated 86 million young girls worldwide are likely to experience some form of the practice by 2030, no thanks to a selfish, irrational tradition that only seeks to deny the female sex any form of sexual pleasure and

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threaten their lives.

Ending this tradition which basically involves partial or total removal of the external female genitalia is the crux of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) observed February 6th, and in commemoration of the event, the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, has urged Africa and the Middle East

to “strive to preserve the best in their culture, and leave harm behind as there is no developmental, religious or health reason to cut or mutilate any girl or woman.”

Pearl Onuesoke...standing for good governance

achievements that have resulted in your support for him?

Inflation has been low, the economy has been stable for women empowerment, there have been reforms in the power sector and revolution in agriculture. We know that there are some negative things but we also know there are alot of positive growth. He has really achieved a lot in road construction unlike in the past when traveling from Lagos to Warri by road was hell. Also, this administration has been able to put in place true democracy without bias to gender. There are a lot of women in government and they are doing well in their different capacities. Another thing is that election this time has been more peaceful.

Beside, the coming of the present INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, has made elections better organized. I am not saying there are no loopholes, but democracy this time has shown a better face.

But how would you score women in government generally?

They are doing well for the society because women, being good home keepers,

are also good office keepers. During my stay in Lagos, one woman leader I actually watched keenly was the former Deputy Governor, Sarah Sosan. I watched all she did, doubling as Commissioner for Education. She brought great change. Look at the woman heading the aviation sector, Stella Oduah, irrespective of what is happening to her presently. Look at what Ngozi Okojo-Iweala and Oby Ezekwesili have done.

Even on the international scene, women are doing well. I think we need more of them in government.

But it seems most of the women presently in government are creating more controversies than their male counterparts…

I want to ask you a question: when men were heading the aviation sector, were our airports as well equipped and beautiful as they are now? Under Stella Oduah, all airports in Nigeria are under-going massive reconstruction and she is a woman! You see, most of them are however easily targeted and attacked because they are women.

But the truth is that they are all doing well.

PAGE 34—SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

BUAF, Get Reel rejuvenates live thea

By Japhet Alakam

japhdave@yahoo.com 08056402376

Post-Oil City exhibition battles ecological, climate change

Roadmap for new political direction

By PRISCA SAM DURU VISUAL

A

•Viewers going round the exhibition hall

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sented in different media such as photography, drawing, digital imaging and video.

The exhibition showed that at the beginning of the 21st century, technologies exist that can achieve the vision of a sustainable city, a city that is part of a global grid, fueled by renewable energies. The possibility of the effort inspired attempts to transform people’s habits through community networks and active participation.

Mareike Borgstedt of Goethe Institut declared in an opening statement during

,

T

HE German Cultural Centre in Lagos, Goethe Institut, opened its first programme in 2014 with exhibition, tagged, “Post-Oil City: The History of the City’s Future”. The event which is a touring exhibition right on display at the Goethe Institut, Lagos began on Saturday, January 18, 2014 and will run till Friday, February 21, 2014. The exhibition which was previously on display in Johannesburg and Accra before the Lagos edition of the tour, is organised by the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (ifa), Stuttgart, in co-operation with ARCH+, Zeitschrift für Architektur und Städtebau, Berlin.

In an age when more than half of the world’s population takes shelter in the cities, the effects of climate change on urban life is an issue of great concern. The ‘Post-Oil City exhibition presents innovative projects in Asia, Africa, and America that address urgent questions which include, “How will the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy affect the process of urban planning and the city? How will the use of renewable energies affect urban metabolism and the politics of sustainability and mobility?” ’Post-Oil City,’ according to the institut, is as much about the future as it is about the past which is most evident in the subtitle – ‘The History of the City ‘s Future’ showing strongly that every vision of the future is based on a vision of the past.

And so, by contrasting 11 current projects in the field of sustainable urban planning with nine from the past, the exhibition portrayed the fact that many of today’s developments have their roots in the urban utopias of mid-20th-century modernism.

Works at the exhibition include, Post Fossil Fuel Infrastructure Conversion, Bolton Urban Up Landscape, The participatory City, Suburbanisation-Philadelphia, Automated Transit SystemsMasdar City, The Radical Concentric City, etc, which are pre-

By OKEY IFIONU REVIEW NY lengthy discussion of the political future of the Igbo of Southeast of Nigeria and their southern neighbours is likely to arouse a cynical curiousity among those who would rather that such co-operation never happens. Yet to many it is a matter that couldn’t be more topical than it is now given the leading role the Igbo played in the victory of President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 presidential election.

In his latest book, Uche Nwankwo is on top of his game.A socio-political and economic writer with incredible research and analytical skills, Nwankwo has written more than seven books, most of them eligible to be described as bold disquisitions on Nigeria’s preindependence and contemporary socioeconomic and political challenges. In all his works, he has demonstrated the rare ability to identify problems and their major causes, and to proffer practical solutions.

In his current book, the author delves into the unique roles and leadership qualities of some of the nation’s better known politicians. Although it is titled “Zik, Ndi-Igbo & Their Southern Neighbours” the book is largely an analytical look at the leadership qualities of many pre- independence Nigerian leaders. Whatever one’s political ideology or sympathies may be, there is something to draw your attention in this book. To say that it is bound to provoke controversies will be an understatement. There is so much new or at least re-examined information in the book to grab your attention.

The author takes a critical look at many historical epochs in the political development of Nigeria. He Xrays the forces that have shaped the political condition of the nation. These forces are multi-pronged. While acknowledging the uncompromising nationalism of the founding fathers, the author nonetheless equally puts the spotlight on the reality of ethnic chauvinism and savage class hegemony which had all conspired to keep the country below all enthusisatic pre-independence predictions. The retardist effect on the nation of the greed and misdirected ambition of the political class, and the injury occasioned by rabid ethnic particularism, are well demonstrated in this book.

Although many of the country’s leaders lived in the public eye, not every one really understood their true character as reflected in their utterances and actions. In a compelling portrait of each of these leaders, the author leaves the reader with all the facts upon which to base his judgment of each leader.

With contemporary Nigerian history as backdrop, Nwankwo addresses the persistent issue of whether the famous Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe was a genuine nationalist as many believe he was, or just a leader who worked for Igbo political domination of the Nigerian polity. Adducing well researched facts, the author proves that Zik was as true a nationalist as anyone can be in a multiethnic society like ours.

The author recounts in fine detail the

Post-Oil City exhibition is as much about the future as it is about the past as evident in the subtitle

,

the exhibition that, “Urban planning provides a laboratory for social as well as economical and ecological change. Some experiments discussed in ‘Post-Oil City’ are Masdar City (in Abu Dhabi) or Xeriton (in Dubai) but added that one does not need to travel down to Dubai to discover a Post-Oil City since Lagos provides a lot of potential for being a Post-Oil City.”

Borgdstedt, described the exhibition as a peep into the future through the lens of the past, explaining that the world’s different levels of development is better appreciated “when the a concise effort is made at understanding where and how it all began.”

Continuing, the institut’s representative also observed that since the discovery of oil deposit in Nigeria, the country’s economy has grown rapidly and no other city in the country portrays this development better than Lagos. Despite not having as much oil as other cities in the Nigeria’s Delta region, recent developments in the metropolis point towards its potential as city of the future.

It was also said that Lagos State’s interventions in public transport, housing, health care, and waste management, to a large extent, show a desire to catch up with events in the developed world.

Considering the influx of people into the city which would definitely affect existing infrastructure in the city, the exhibition posed a very pertinent question; Will Lagos be able to handle its status of a city of the future?.

Most of the projects are accompanied by computer animations and videoclips.

The models of the Masdar Plaza and Xeritown give an idea of how sustainable urban planning in Arab cities nowadays can look like.

1951 Western Nigeria Regional Elections; the controversy about carpet crossing by some Yoruba NCNC members to the Action Group (AG), a party led by the distinguished late Yoruba politician, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He also gave a fascinating history of the leading pre-independence political parties, their ideological inclinations, their membership and their ethnic leanings or otherwise.

The NCNC was clearly the most nationalist in outlook and was as strong in the Western Region as it was in the Eastern Region. But that was until the carpet crossing incident of 1951. Still the party continued to enjoy the devoted membership of great Yoruba leaders like the late T.O.S. Benson and the late political firebrand, Adegoke Adelabu who was quoted as saying during the 1957 NCNC convention at Aba, that he would have been welcomed into the camp of the AG or the Northern People’s Congress as an ally, but that he rejected “both tribalism and religion as the basis of party affilia-

Zik, Ndi- Igbo & Their Southern Neighbours - Creating a New Political Direction for Nigeria; Centrist Books Nigeria; 2013; PP. 358;

tion. In his own words, “I followed Zik because of ideology; let that ideology live on.”

The author takes us through the roots of the Igbo-Yoruba conflict in the nation’s politics. How much of this ostensible ethnic conflict is truly ethnic and how much is class-conflict? The book shows that though tribal politics cannot be denied in Nigeria, much of the conflict between the two main ethnic groups in the south has its roots in class and economic considerations. There is much insight into the nature of the Igbo and Yoruba political class and their ideology. The author’s careful narration of the historical origin of the political rivalry between the two main ethnic groups in the South is as dispassionate as possible. He skillfully takes the reader through the impact of this conflict on the polity, and

Continues on Page 35

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014, PAGE 35 tre with Closer

japhdave@yahoo.com 08056402376

Soyinka’s The Lion and The Jewel opens 8th Jos Festival of theatre

By JAPHET ALAKAM

Continued from Page 34

F

•A scene from one of the plays from previous editions of the festival.

Wole Soyinka’s The Lion And The Jewel on February 22nd and other plays will feature as follows: Federico Garcia Lorca’s The Shoemaker’s Wonderful Wife with the collaboration of the Embassy of Spain, Nigeria on 26th. February 27 will be the turn of Charles Fuller’s Zooman and The Sign,while February 28, will be the turn of August Wilson’s Two Trains Running.

On March 1st, will be the turn of The Conquest of The North Pole by Ladislav Smoljak and Zdenek Svera with the collaboration of the Embassy of the Czech Republic, Nigeria and it will come to end on March 2nd with Akolo James Anthony’s A Toast of Triumph.

In the tradition of the previous festivals, there will be workshops on arts management, salsa dance and directing/acting.

The 2014 festival is also being supported by Grand Cereals and Oil Mills Limited who have supported the festival consistently since 2004, the Jos Business School, the French Embassy, Nigeria and Julius Berger PLC alongside other corporate and individual supporters.

The festival being one of the activities of the annual AfricanAmerican History Month celebrations in Nigeria will shift to Abuja in March and May 2014.

BAUF rejuvenates live theatre with Closer

B

EETA Universal Arts Foundation (BUAF) ef forts at rejuvenating the culture of theatre, create platforms for individuals by providing opportunities for them to exhibit their talents and advance skills for their development, received a boost last December, with the stage production of Patrick Marber’s play, Closer.

The performance which was held December, 27th & 28th, 2013, at Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, attracted scores of theatre enthusiasts to the venue.

The play which was produced

by BUAF in collaboration with Eku Edewor’s Get Reel Production was sponsored by United Bank fpr Africa (UBA), Intercontinental Lagos, among others.

Directed by Najite Dede, the four-man (two males, two females) cast play featured Kalu Ikeagwu as Larry, Eku Edewor as Alic , Ochuko Oke as Dan and AMVCA nominee Bikiya Graham-Douglas as Anna. Described as “ a brilliant exploration into the brutal anatomy of modem romance, where a quartet of strangers meet, fall in love, and become caught up in a web of sexual desire and betrayal,” The play is no doubt a play ‘for adults only.

Set in a few small locales-a hospital room, a studio, a pair of living rooms, a cafe, a room in the museum, in front of a photo at a showing, a doctor’s office, a bench in front of a suggested aquarium, Closer the complex relationships between four persons within the course of four years. There is Dan the journalist who is a sensitive and C M Y K

selfish fellow with his head in the clouds, Anna the photographer who is blissfully depressed and keeps making the wrong choices in life based on such, Larry the dermatologist who is aggressive and a bit chauvinistic, and Alice (Eku Edewor) the stripper, a free spirit who puts up a wall of sarcasm and biting wit to hide the fact that she longs for love.

The central theme of Closer around truth. All the characters have a tense relationship with truth.

Closer has been described as a work that “gets under its audience’s skin, and ... not for the emotionally squeamish”, a work in which “Marber is alert to the cruel inequalities of love, as the characters;change partners in what sometimes comes over like a modem reworking of Coward’s Private Lives.

Explaining why she chose the play, Bikiya Graham-Douglas who is the founder and Chief Operat-

ing Officer of BUAF, informs that it is because it is a modem piece and she felt that many people will identify themselves in the characters. “I chose it because I wanted something different.

The way he tells the story through the characters is fresh different from anything we have seen on a Nigerian stage and I found it to be challenging. It is not just any commercial play, it’s for the theatre lover ... The audience reaction was very interesting. Most loved it, well from the reactions received while on stage and others who felt the language was too strong found it daunting but when they got over that and focused on the drama, they were spellbound.

“I was lucky to have Get Reel Production Work with me and the amazing cast and crew to bring the Play to life,” she said.

ODU holds conference

T

HE Ovu Development Un ion, ODU, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, has announced the date for its 2014 national conference.

The President General of Ovu Development Union, ODU, Chief Joseph Ukukor who announced March 1st, 2014 as the date for the conference, said from the inception of his administration he began to tackle some problems inherited from the past administration.

Ukukor mentioned some of the achievements as the return of Ovu Grammar School from the mis-

sionary to government school through the approval of the state government, the renovation of the dilapidated Ovu town hall into ultra modern town hall and the electrification of Emaka village from wooden to concrete poles, among others, while efforts are still on course to replace a vandalized transformer.

He called on all Ovu sons and daughters at home and in diaspora to turn up en masse to vote or to be voted for in the forthcoming Ovu national conference.

the clear political advantage all of that has conferred on the Northern political class. He also masterly navigates the narrative through the over-hyped subject of the Igbo domination of the Eastern minorities, the civil war years, the controversial role of Chief Awolowo in the near starvation and economic emasculation of the Igbo, the heady relationship between the late Biafran leader, Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Dr Azikiwe.

The author does not dissemble his disagreement with Ojukwu’s war strategies and tactics as well as what he described as his “disdain for, and relegation of Azikiwe” during the war. He excoriated the late Biafran leader for rejecting wise counsel on the war, and for what he called his “intransigence and fixation with secession.” In a way the tragic absurdities of the war and the internal recriminations that characterised it on the Biafran side would seem to justify Nwankwo’s anger. Many

,

DRAMA rom February 22nd to March 2nd, theatre lovers in Nigeria especially in the northern city of Jos will be treated to series of splendid performances as the 8th Jos Festival of Theatre 2014 kicks off.

The festival which will comprise of a full week of performances will be held at the Alliance Francaise, Jos and will be a combination of plays from the Nigerian repertory, a new Nigerian play and plays from the international repertory.

As usual , for the third time running, the festival will be supported by US Mission, Nigeria and apart from them, the Embassy of Spain and the Czech Embassy will also feature plays in the festival.

All the plays will be performed by talented actors with the introduction of two new directors into the festival organization. This has followed the pattern in the last two years of the festival where we have witnessed the introduction of two new directors each in the last editions alongside an array of young and talented amateur and professional actors.

The 2014 festival will open with the pre-festival play,

Roadmap for new political direction

The author does not dissemble his disagreement with Ojukwu’s war strategies and tactics as well as what he described as his “disdain for, and relegation of Azikiwe” during the war

,

though are sure to disagree on the amount of blame he lays at the door step of the revered defunct Biafran head of state for the defeat of Biafra. Was Ojukwu a prisoner of his own vaulting ambition and sense of insecurity as the author seems to suggest? Was the Oxford University- educated historian a menacing tyrant who would not brook any appearance of opposition? If he was indeed, was that largely responsible for the defeat of Biafra? These are only some of the points of controversy likely to be generated by this book.

Some of the author ’s views about the love-hate relationship between the Igbo and the minorities of the defunct Southeastern region are brutally frank. That relationship wasn’t always as cordial as it seems to be now.

It is true that unity is not the same thing as uniformity. The Igbo and the minorities of the defunct Southeast may not have the same attitudes to life but their shared aspirations for a fair

share of the nation’s patrimony will be more easily realised if there is greater political and economic co-operation or synergy amongst them.

The 358- page book ends with a number of highly interesting appendices including revealing book excerpts and press interviews with key socio-political actors. From these attachments the reader could glean the thinking of certain influential personalities and why they did some of the things they did in the near and distant past. Ayo Opadokun’s disclosure, for instance, of the internal divisions among the Yoruba political elites and the several efforts to unite them is quite fascinating. No less fascinating is Philip Efiong’s insight into the beginning and painful course of the civil war and also offered a recipe for avoiding a re-enactment of such a war.

In the third appendix which is a press interview

by Ohanaeze chieftain, Guy Ikokwu, we read juicy details about the excessive influence of money in the presidential system, and how this can be curbed.

Ikokwu who is a veteran of Nigerian politics also narrates how the Awolowo political fraternity got to know that Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo (retired) voted for Alhaji Shehu Shagari in the 1979 presidential election.

This, he says, is why the acolytes of the late political sage may never forgive Obasanjo nor readily support him politically.

Altogether, this book of political prognosis is largely a prescriptive dossier on how best the Igbo and their Southern neigbours, working with greater understanding, can achieve their common objectives within the Nigerian polity. There is hardly a better moment to put such recommendations into practice. Clearly, no one single ethnic or geo-political zone can go it alone if it must produce the president of the country. What is required is reasonable horse trading and compromises.

Arc. Nwankwo has produced a great book that shows how this can be achieved.

SONGS OF AFRICA

*Okey Ifionu, a former deputy managing director of THISDAY, is an Anglican priest and Editorial Board member of THE UNION.

PAGE 36 — SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

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SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014, PAGE 37

National Conference off to a shaky start

zWho will represent these ethnic nationalities - the Jugun, the Agae, the Agatu, the Bassa, the Bajju?

Senate President David Mark and House of Reps Speaker Aminu Tambuwal...to vet or not to vet conference

outcome.

By Dele Sobowale “The ninety ninth yard is still half-way there in a hundred yards race” Anonymous.

well as the risks the nation runs as it might degenerate into unintended consequences But the consolation was that there can be no progress unless we take some risks and find ways to re-order the country.

Certainly, nobody was stupid enough to assume that a solution would emerge which

pitfalls that might result from that idea. The modalities proposed by the Okunronmu Panel to the Federal Government have obviously discarded ethnicity as the basis for selection of participants and a storm of protest has erupted.

That has given some of the critics of the conference the first

“It is better The small ethnic groups are thus sometimes not to disadvantaged at the centre and follow great reformers at the state. Who then will speak for of abuses beyond the them at the conference to ensure that threshold of their devolution of powers to zones/states will not homes” - George mean continuation of their second class status Elliot, 1818-1880.

M

any people were enthusiastic about the proposed National Conference when it was first announced by the President of Nigeria, mainly because they strongly believed Nigeria needed to move from the rot in which it is stuck. They were also aware of all the options facing the nation in convoking such a conference, as

everywhere in Nigeria?

would satisfy everyone.

However, everybody would admit that one of the most widely canvassed ideas was a conference of ethnic nationalities. It was for this reason that Sunday Vanguard went to great lengths in a sixpart series, not only to list as many ethnic groups and others, but also to point out some of the

real opportunity to engage in self-congratulation. The critics have good reasons to feel vindicated. The criteria for the selection of participants have virtually guaranteed that the three largest ethnic groups – Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba - will again dominate the conference.

Why? A professional group, name

withheld, according to Sunday Vanguard sources, selected its own two representatives. The two are the current President (Delta/Igbo) and the VicePresident (Hausa/Fulani). If the selection were to be made two years ago, the President and Vice-President would have been Yoruba and Hausa/Fulani.

If the Nigerian Bar Association, which serves as proxy for other professional groups, is used as an example, then we can again see the problem. Virtually all the professional bodies in Nigeria are dominated by Yoruba and Igbo in that order, even if the current Presidents are not Yoruba or Igbo.

Despite the acknowledged high educational standards attained by all of them, the fact remains that their objectivity on matters pertaining to other ethnic groups can never be taken for granted.

The ethnic group absent is always held responsible for the problems of Nigeria and examples of their atrocities are dredged up, often without proof, to justify the crucifixion.

So unless care is taken, the National Conference, which will be dominated by the three large ethnic groups plus the Ijaw, the Urhobo and the Ibibio (hopefully), will end up creating a Nigeria not different from the present one and, consequently, will amount to a waste of time and the N7 billion allocated to it.

Next to ethnic representation is the matter of devolution of power from the central to the federating units. At the moment, the strong centre favours the three large ethnic groups to the detriment of the other ethnic groups. Federal character has always meant that any Federal Government organization – Ministry, Board, Agency, Commission, etc – with more than three people is deemed to have fulfilled the principle once Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo are on it.

Nobody cares about the absence of the Ogbaru, the Jugun, the Agae, the Agatu, the Bassa, the Bajju, the Farrough, the Gbagyi, the Mushere, the Obolo, the Tangale etc, etc on such bodies.

The small ethnic groups are thus disadvantaged at the centre and at the state. Who then will speak for them at the conference to ensure that devolution of powers to zones/ states will not mean continuation of their second class status everywhere in Nigeria? Although the small ethnic groups put together form the majority in Nigeria, they suffer from being divided.

Some small ethnic groups are fortunate. For example, the Anang, the Itsekiri and the Berom, whose sons are governors in their states, will ensure they are represented, but the Bachama, Gusu, Dendi and Utempa, etc, etc, whose sons are not in Government Houses, are out of luck with respect to placing their views on record at the conference to decide the fate of Nigeria.

Increasingly, the conference is resembling the 18th century partition of Africa by European nations – except that, this time, those sitting round the table to decide the fate of Nigeria’s over 200 ethnic groups will be only about 25 nationalities; who will, in turn, send it to the National Assembly, also dominated by the same group and which will send it to President Goodluck Jonathan, representing only Ijaw, to approve or veto.

God forbid a Constitution starting with the declaration “WE THE PEOPLE” would emerge from that exercise. It would be a worse fraud than the Constitution the military bequeathed to us. Many Nigerians contend that the British amalgamation of Nigeria was not based on professional groups; it was based on two zones – North and South – each with its own ethnic groups.

PAGE 38—SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

Okurounmu’s Committee betrayed ethnic nationalities — Agbeyegbe

CONFAB

•‘Recommendations designed to ridicule Mr President’ As controversy continues to trail the proposed National Conference, Fred Agbeyegbe, a lawyer and President of Movement for New Nigeria and Itsekiri National Congress, in this interview, expresses disappointment with the recommendations of the Okurounmu Committee which, according to him, fall short of using national dialogue to correct the master/servant relationship among ethnic groups in Nigeria.

I

BY HUGO ODIOGOR

t would appear that the Movement for New Nigeria is not satisfied with the modalities laid down by the Okurounmu Committee for the conduct of a National Conference?

At no point were we in the Movement for New Nigeria (MNN) interested in National Conference, and we will not allow any confusion between what we wanted and stood for, and what some people are surreptitiously using to replace it. We never wanted National Conference; we want Sovereign National Conference (SNC) and there is a big difference between the two.

What difference is there?

The difference between Sovereign National Conference and National Conference is that the people who would appear in a National Conference – as the committee has now brought out – are completely different from those who

have primordial sovereign and the inalienable right which nobody – by whatever form of legislation, coercion, intimidation or blackmail – can take away. The effect of it is that when they have spoken, they speak with the authority of those who can cede part of that sovereignty that they have or all of it, if they choose, to some other person or entity. As you can see, the committee report did not talk about ethnic nationalities because they were not talking about Sovereign National Conference.

Now that what you wanted is not offered, what do you do next?

We have never been in any position to do anything as such. We are a mere organisation, but we are an organisation that has developed from the realisation of the rights that the ethnic nationalities of Nigeria have, and the case that we make is the case of the ethnic nationalities. In terms of doing anything, it is our duty to point

That committee was made up of so many past holders of public office, representing a Nigeria as constituted by the 1999 Constitution, which document every right-thinking Nigerian has been saying is an embodiment of the slavery would appear in a Sovereign National Conference.

Those who will appear in a Sovereign National Conference are the owners of the land mass that make up Nigeria: The ethnic nationalities – the Yoruba, the Igbo, the Hausa, the Itsekiri, the Ijaw, the Tiv and the Edo. They are the ones who have the sovereignty. They

out to the peoples whose interests we represent what is going, so that they don’t make this mistake of thinking that what is going on, as it relates to the National Conference, is the same with what they have clamoured for over the years.

Whatever they then do, as a result of that realisation, is going to be of their own choosing.

The report we have is an

indication of the waste of time that that whole exercise has been. The irony of it is that President Jonathan came out – changing his mind about the position he took before – wanting to have a National Conference, although I admit that between him and us, there is this difference on the type of conference he wants and the one we want.

The report in effect did not do him any good whatsoever.

Perhaps to start with, through his own fault, even though he desired that Nigerians should come and talk about how best to hold a National Conference by his own terminology, the membership of the committee was an indication of what he wanted; it was an indication of people not wanting the change that they pretend to be talking about.

What went wrong with the committee?

That committee was made up of so many past holders of public office, representing a Nigeria as constituted by the 1999 Constitution, which document every rightthinking Nigerian has been saying is an embodiment of the slavery – master/servant relationship – that has been instituted in Nigeria. It then means that all those people can come up with what they already knew, which they have served, and had, on different occasions, taken oaths to support, to defend, and to implement. So it is not surprising that that committee did not come out with anything anywhere near what the generality of the Nigerian public, particularly the ethnic nationalities, want. It is obvious from the pages of that report what the ethnic nationalities want, which was spelt out in Calabar, in Benin, in Owerri, in Enugu, in Akure, in Minna, in Jos, and in Lagos. Majority of the demands made were ethnic nationalities based.

So how did the report arrive at all these things they were talking about that include local governments and senatorial districts? All those terminologies created by those who are in that master/servant relationship of the generality of the ethnic nationalities of

Agbeyegbe

Nigeria whom they chose as slaves. And it was obvious from all the requests that were made that what they wanted was that the ethnic nationalities are to be the ones deciding the codes and conduct of how to live together in this place called Nigeria, and particularly that they wanted to go back to what was the basis of setting up Nigeria, which is true fiscal federalism.

That is to say, if that is what the committee had presented, it would not have been talking about the longlist of items that they wanted to discuss, particularly at the level of representation of the discussants. This is because if the ethnic nationalities had their way, they will first and foremost talk to each other and come from the base with federating units that have agreed to live together because they have land contiguity before; at another stage, the units are federating themselves into a federal republic.

That is the only thing that would have at least resembled what we had before, where there were four Constitutions, and a fifth overriding Constitution that took its position and powers from the Constitutions of the federating units.

Some people have argued that Nigeria has expired.

What is your position?

Well, that is a matter for legal argument. Some people believe Nigeria remains intact in spite of the expiration of the 100 years of amalgamation, but others have countered that there is no such thing. I even read one Emeka (Chijioke) saying the ground norm of Nigeria remains the 1999 Constitution and that it is legal and that there is no such thing as expiration of the amalgamation.

Well, I am sure you how lawyers behave. At the end of the day, it is not a shouting match. It is not he who shouts louder or loudest in a crowd whose views are accepted. Unfortunately, no legal argument can be settled until both parties appear before an adjudicator who says this one is right and that one is wrong. The process as you know it may not even stop in one court; it goes up until it gets to the most superior court.

So, I don’t think that is a matter really for public consumption in terms of how it would be understood. I am replying that particular article in which I hope to Continues on page 40

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014, PAGE 39

CROSSFIRE

tive agenda for this conference, but we also admitted that our agenda is not exhaustive – it’s a 37-point agenda.

The conference can remove or add to it.

Our critics got it wrong

Fear of cleavages That is one thing that people who are clamouring for nationalities conference often overlook.

Every Nigerian belongs to one ethnic group or the other; we have 492 delegates and every one of them would belong to one ethnic nationality or the other.

But to go there and bond based on ethnicity and not on national interest would be unfortunate.

On federalism, for instance, I would expect delegates to discuss the issue in the national interest; just as I would expect them to discuss the issue of devolution in a nationalistic manner.

– Okurounmu

*‘Those in opposition are unrealistic idealists and unrepentant anti-Jonathan elements’

BY JIDE AJANI

In this interview, Senator Femi Okurounmu, Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee on National Conference, clears the air on what he describes as misconceptions as well as deliberate and malicious criticisms of President Goodluck Jonathan’s person. The senator comes across as a very passionate individual. But who wouldn’t be, especially when the works of your hand are being assailed without remorse?

Excerpts:

T

he challenge of representation That is a function of our census in Nigeria.

While we were meeting, we had wanted that, but our census figures never captured ethnicity and, therefore, we couldn’t.

The only way to know is to capture it in the next census.

The only way to do it is through a census. There is no way we could have done that.

If we had all the information, that would have met popular demand but we didn’t have that information.

Yes, I would have been the staunchest advocate – that is to know the number of Yorubas, Igbos, Hausas, Ijaws and all that and to be sure that the figures are authentic.

Timing of the conference and the political activities Even the most hardened critics of this conference agree that, for most time we have been having elections based on a fraudulent Constitution and that there is a need to have a new Constitution that is fair, just and guarantees equality. So, we cannot continue to have elections based on injustice, inequality and unfairness.

decisions.

What this conference guarantees Yes. That is the whole idea – to have a Constitution that would create those ideals.

A new Constitution before the next election Yes. The modalities released show how they (Conference delegates) will come to agreements and how to implement their agreements would be left for them to determine. They are to advise government on how the conclusions of the conference would be treated.

President changing his mind That was what the President said at that time.

But even before the President spoke, I had said the conclusion would go to a referendum but, at that time, many people were just giving their own opinions and suggestions.

After we went round the country, majority of the views was that it should go to a referendum.

But we also found that there was a significant body of opinion, on legalistic basis, that we cannot have a referendum unless our present Constitution is amended. They went as far as inviting scholars to come and lecture us about their position and we listened.

No government arranges a conference and says it wants the break-up of its country.

This conference is not to break-up Nigeria So, rather than take the risk of having the conference break up on that issue even before it starts, our committee decided that it was best to leave that decision for the conference to decide on its own. So, when Nigerians meet at the conference and they would know the rigours they would have gone through to get their decisions made, they would be in the position to determine how best that issue should be handled.

They should decide what they want to do with their

Composition and politicians I’ve heard people say there are more politicians going to the Confab and that politicians are not sincere.

Elder statesmen, 37 (delegates to conference); these are not necessarily politicians.

Somebody like Emeka Anyaoku is not a politician but he has served Nigeria in many capacities. And there are many of them like that who are leaders but are not politicians.

Yes, there would be politicians, but they would be limited. The only category of politicians would number just 10 – two persons per party (and these are parties that have representation in the National Assembly) Elder statesmen, retired military officers (they are relevant because they provide security), retired security personnel, retired police officers, traditional rulers, NLC, TUC. This composition reflects Nigeria as it is. All interest groups and all shades of opinions must be represented – that is what gives legitimacy.

If we shut out interest groups, they would claim that they were shut out and, therefore, frown.

Mind you, there is a tenta-

Vetting of the character of delegates It’s good we have said the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable.

We are not going there to see how Nigeria will break up but to see to the enthronement of a nation based on justice and equity and that is also why we have left the selection of the delegates to the stake holders.

The stakeholders, for instance, in labour are the labour unions. Labour has 24 delegates – 12 each for NLC and TUC. NBA has one because it is a professional body and all professional bodies have just one, so it’s not just the NBA alone – there is the Nigerian Society of Engineers, there is the Nigerian Medical Association, there is the Chartered Institute of Bankers (I think there are about 13 of them). The NUJ has two and it is under a different category. And all this talk about NBA, is it that the NBA is superior to the other bodies.

The President has two categories of nominations to make: 37 elder statesmen and six outstanding youths. So, the President is going to directly only nominate 43 people to the conference..

Meanwhile some people have been criticizing the President that he is going to nominate majority of the delegates – 43 out of 492, is that majority?

Yes, we know the importance of law but this conference is not about lawyers, it is about Nigeria as a country.

President Jonathan’s earlier position Continues on page 41

PAGE 40—SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

‘Ever ything in the Okurounmu Committee report is useless’ Continued from page 38

present argument’s contrary to the one that Emeka deployed. But for a fellow lawyer to tell me that Abdulsalami sat up one day and made a Constitution saying “ we the people” and that that Constitution is unassailable beats my imagination.

You are talking about master/servant relationship in Nigeria’s political configuration, many people will not agree with you. Can you explain further?

Is it not a master/servant relationship, when I as a Christian sit down in my part of the country, worshiping my God the way I know how, and, as bad as it is, the 1999 Constitution says there will be nothing like state or national religious adoption and practice in Nigeria. But my head of state declares that Nigeria is a member of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC)? And so it is, whether anyone likes it or not.

Is it not a master/servant relationship when some states up North declared that they are now Islamic states, again against the dictates of that Constitution, and nothing happens? And pursuant to that, there is an organisation called Boko Haram which says that what they are practising is Islamic religion which entitles them to kill other people and that they do not want to have anything to do with any place where there is a Church and they will bomb it at will.

Is it not a master/servant relationship that there is a Taraba jetty in my backyard in the Niger Delta? Is it not master/servant relationship that the oil wells in the Niger Delta where I come from are owned by those who come from the desert? What other proof of a master/ servant relationship do you want? Is it not a master/ servant relationship that after so many years of northern rule in Nigeria, one person, by the accident of Obasanjo’s chess-playing, becomes the head of state; and everybody up North is saying it is their property, he must get out of there at all costs?

Is it not a master/servant relationship that they said to me that Nigeria is a marriage made in heaven which cannot be dissolved when I, in the exercise of my rights, am saying the

structure of this country is wrong, it is hard on me, and let us bring about some amelioration of the hardship, and people object?

Is it not a master/servant relationship that for once an Igbo man becomes the Chief of the Army Staff, and, in exercise of the natural functions of his position, certain actions are taken which are nowhere near all the things that have happened before, and Ango Abdullahi and his so-called northern leaders come together to say they are referring him, in person and not the Nigerian government even, to the criminal court?

What else do you need to know that it is a master/ servant relationship?

With the recommendations that the Okuroumu Committee has made, and the criticisms that have been following it, what would you tell the President if he calls you to advise him on the matter?

I quite frankly don’t think it is necessary for him to call me to advise him. He has in his wisdom set up a committee, and all I should tell him is that the content of the report that his committee has given him is wrong; it is not correct; and will not do Nigeria any good; and that the people whose conference

Agbeyegbe the report is receiving, would you say that Okuroumu Committee has failed the people?

I wouldn’t say Okuroumu has failed the Nigerian people. He and his committee were not put there by the Nigerian people.

They were not put there by the ethnic nationalities. I

The committee has let down President Jonathan, and if the President does not know it, at the end of the day, the committee has bowed out, he is the one who is still sitting there and he is the one who has

their report we are talking about are the ethnic nationalities of Nigeria. They are those people who Fredrick Lugard, without regard, put together in his amalgamation. They are the ones who have never been given the opportunity before, the ones who have the primordial rights to put up a Constitution. A Constitution is the affair of the owners and sovereignty and rights. So he does not need any more advice than that. But if we want to emphasise it, that if he goes with that report, he would not be doing any justice. So, he should look for a way to shelve it and do the needful.

From the kind of knocks

cannot believe that if the ethnic nationalities want to set up a committee like that, Okuroumu is the one they will appoint. For one thing, he has not let them down; he has only let down President Jonathan who put him there.

The committee has let down President Jonathan, and if the President does not know it, at the end of the day, the committee has bowed out, he is the one who is still sitting there and he is the one who has their report.

The question now is: what is he going to do with it to make what his critics have been saying become untrue?

We all heard what his opponents and those at the other political fronts have

been saying, that he has an ulterior motive, that he is doing it for reasons other than wanting Nigeria to benefit, and that he is insincere. Of course I don’t believe any of these, I believe that he was well intentioned when he did what he did. The only question is, will this report give him want he really was looking for?

Do you have any specific grievance against the recommendation?

True, the thing is that this criticism of the report has been wholesale, but have they really been specific so that Jonathan himself can know why people are complaining about that report? I want to try: There are many things wrong with that report, and I want to say with all due respect to Okuroumu and his wise men that were put together, that everything in that report is useless.

I will start with the list of the items that they have put in that report because you cannot put any part of the report in isolation of one to the other. In as much as it was made to be a scheme of work that is followed, I choose a particular one.

They want elections to elect those who are going to attend; they want it to start in February; today is January 24, eight days to the end of the month. February is like tomorrow, and they want the conference in February. When is that election going to take place? They want it to be

concluded in three months to discuss the unnecessary long list that they have put there, which only repeats the contents of the useless 1999 Constitution. They think they are involved in an exercise of amending the 1999 Constitution; that is the only reason there could be that long list. But we are talking of a Sovereign National Conference.

So you have a long list that is unnecessary and you have to debate it, there is no time; they want to elect people into those places, there is no time, they want a Constitutional Conference – an exercise that give Nigerians a new Constitution – to take place within three months. How realistic is that?

As I go along, you will see that each and every one of the things they put there is to ridicule President Jonathan, because those things cannot be done. Now, they want four members to be elected from each senatorial district. In some senatorial districts of this country, there are some five, six, seven, eight, nine ethnic nationalities. When you have picked four, you are effectively saying that the views of other ethnic nationalities in that senatorial district are not necessary.

They are throwing controversy at the feet of President Jonathan.

There are some senatorial districts that have three ethnic nationalities like my own – Itsekiri, Ijaw, and Isoko – and you want four. When you have given each one representative, to which ethnic group will you give the remaining representation?

Are you not going to exhume all those differences between the Ijaw and the Itsekiri that have been boiling over the years to come to the fore all over again so that they can start killing themselves? So they can all be running to Abuja to complain, meanwhile the problem started from Abuja. Is this not another idea of divide and rule? Is that what the committee was supposed to be doing? So, how do you relate all of these things?

What is the need to go the bodies and institutions created by, and I repeat, those who were practising master and servant relationship, to go and solve the problems created by the policies of those masters in the first place? And then, even before you go and start talking about it, you go to the National Assembly, again an institution created by the 1999 Constitution, which is in fact the number one exhibit of master/servant relationship, to go and obtain permission to go and have a National Conference – an enabling law they call it. And assuming they even give it to you, when you now finish, you go back to that

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014, PAGE 41

‘Our critics got it wrong’ Continued from page 39

President Jonathan may have said earlier that the outcome of the conference would be returned to the National Assembly, but we have submitted our report and, based on our report, he changed his mind.

Don’t forget that the lawyers who argued that, unless the Constitution is amended, we cannot subject the outcome to a referendum, we also had

some who disagreed.

And whatever political viewpoint you hold, you would have lawyers, backing Legalities over referendum The legalities people talk about are legalities raised on both sides of the divide by those who wanted a referendum and those who didn’t want it.

This is not a conference over legalities. It is a political conference and

people will take political decisions. We must get the priorities and sequence right.

Firstly, people will take political decisions.

Those taking the decisions must reflect the Nigerian nation.

After that, you refer those decisions to lawyers to go and draft that Constitution.

Whatever you want them to do with it, you can mandate them as lawyers to do that for you. The de-

cisions to be made are not lawyers’ decision but decisions as Nigerians.

Optimism There is more to this conference.

Some people say the result of a conference or a new Constitution would not instruct a state governor to build roads or provide infrastructure, but the truth is that there is more to living in a good society than just good roads.

A good society is where everyone has confidence in the basic laws, the Constitution that guides us.

Many have argued that the Constitution we operate today is unfair to some sections of the country while it favours some.

Now, you do not redress such injustices by building roads. There are more important things.

People must have confidence in the Constitution that guides them.

No-go area The issue of the ‘no-go area’, which is the indivisibility of Nigeria, is in order.

No government arranges a conference and says it wants the break-up of its country.

This conference is not to break-up Nigeria.

People should go to the conference and express

their views. They should not be afraid to express their views.

Throughout our tours, we did not get anybody who came forward to say that (we should breakup). There is a consensus among Nigerians that they don’t want a breakup.

The whole idea of the confab is about the nation’s unity.

75% consensus You see, Nigerians are free to express their views on this.

President Jonathan has showed himself to be a listening President.

If Nigerians believe that 75% is too high for decisions to be agreed upon, they can make their views known even before the conference starts.

And the President, being a listening President, would listen to all their views Understanding the criticisms against confab There are two types of criticisms, against this confab and some of the things that are being said are not correct.

The first category of criticism is just malicious based on the fact that they don’t like Jonathan and, no matter what Jonathan does, they would always find something to criticize about it.

And that is the largest group. There are people who say the President would appoint the majority of delegates even when he is only appointing 43 out of 492. These people are the ones saying the outcome of the conference is going to the National Assembly when it is said that the decision about that is left to the conference itself. It is just because they don’t like Jonathan.

But this conference is not about Jonathan. This conference is about Nigeria and the future of our children.

The second category is made up of unrealistic idealists.

They are the ones who say three months is too short for the confab and they criticize Jonathan for that.

And if Jonathan had said nine months they would say ‘this man doesn’t want to go and he doesn’t want us to hold elections’.

So no matter what Jonathan says or does, they are ready to criticize.

If he says three months tentatively, that means it is not cast in stone – that is what tentative means.

And these are the same people who have been saying the President wants to use the conference to create distraction, that he doesn’t want to hold elections. But now he says ‘lets have it in three months before the election season begins’, they are still criticizing him.

•This interview was first aired on Channels Television

PAGE 42 — SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014,

INTRIGUING EXPERIENCES

By TAYE OBATERU You can call him a ‘restless’ young man whose head is bristling with ideas, but you cannot fail to see the passion and determination to succeed in his eyes. At 22, Emmanuel Okekunle, a senior secondary school graduate, has invented different items that show promise of an upcoming technologist or engineer. However, he regrets that many like him have been discouraged by lack of support and encouragement. He spoke to Sunday Vanguard. Excerpts:

P

lease tell us about yourself and what you have been doing.

I am a young inventor. I graduated from secondary school in 2010. I started trying my hands on innovations at the age of five. I made a wheel barrow with copper wire at the age of five which was able to carry five liters of water. I was using it to fetch water then. I moved from there, when I was seven, I designed movable toy cars using motors, batteries and tomato tins.

When I was in JSS1, I designed a toy helicopter. By the time I got to SS2, I had a teacher who encouraged us to put in more efforts in inventions as it could secure us scholarship to further our education. This encouraged me to try my hands on rechargeable lamp, rechargeable fan, emergency alarm, electric waste bin which converts waste to ashes, aquarium and so on.

When I left secondary school Cherubin and Seraphim College, Jos I started thinking of other things to do while waiting to further my education.

I went to the state Ministry of Science and Technology to tell them of my innovations, but I did not get any support. So I went to NTA, Jos which gave publicity to my inventions on national network.

Based on the publicity, the Plateau State Chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers invited me to see my works. However, nothing much came from that as they merely advised me to try and improve on the finishing of my works. It is not that I do not know that the finishing on my works is poor, but I cannot do much without financial support. I was not discouraged and when I saw a promo on NTA on science exhibition, I decided to go for it. I worked on a methane digester which our science teacher taught us while in school but which did not work. Luckily for me, it worked and I was able to use it to produce bio-gas using poultry droppings mixed with other things. I represented Plateau State in Abuja at a science and technology exhibition with it.

What exactly do you want now?

What people like me need is support to improve our knowledge and capabilities. If government can assist us, we can take Nigeria to higher levels technologically. Professors alone cannot achieve Vision 20-2020 for Nigeria. Government needs to C M Y K

*Okekunle ... I need help to invent

The boy who designed ‘helicopter’ in JSS1 encourage people like us. If people like me can be assisted with scholarship to further our education and advance our skills, we will be able to build on our natural talent. For instance, I am currently working on an electronic device for mitigating the effect of HIV/AIDS. It will use battery, resistor, transistor, diode and so on, which will be attached to the arm to reduce the level of virus in a victim’s body. I am still working on it and I am optimistic it would work.

Where did you get the knowledge for your inventions considering your level of education and what has been the reaction of your parents?

I see it as a natural talent from God. I just get the idea and begin to try my hands on them. If I am able to acquire necessary education with this Godgiven talent, I will be able to do a lot.

At first, it was difficult for my parents to appreciate what I was doing. I would pack tins and all manners of junk into the house and they would abuse me as being too playful. Those days, my mother would always throw away the things I pack to make my ‘toys’ before I return from school and would advise me to be less playful and face my studies. But when they saw that I was making a headway, they began to encourage me.

One would have expected that you should be in a higher institution by now since you completed secondary

When I was in JSS1, I designed a toy helicopter.

By the time I got to SS2, I had a teacher who encouraged us to put in more efforts in inventions as it could secure us scholarship to further our education school in 2010...

I have been applying for admission but I am yet to be lucky. I will write the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) this year again and I pray that I’ll be lucky. I know the value of education and a lot of people have been encouraging me to try and go to school to boost my talent. I believe that education will assist in actualizing my dreams and I will keep struggling until I secure admission.

We often read abut young inventors like you but we don’t hear of them again after the initial publicity. What do you think is the problem?

Many of them give up due to lack of encouragement from government and

other agencies. As my experience has shown, they just look at what you have done but do nothing to help you improve on what you have done. I have many friends who are gifted like me but many of them give up because of lack of assistance or encouragement to carry their ideas further. One about innovations is that the more you practice, the more knowledge you develop. So if we get sponsorship from government we will achieve more or even better than some of these technologically advanced countries.

We also need more encouragement from the ministries of science and technology. It is not enough to organize competitions where the only thing we get is coke and buns. They need to do more than that. We need people who will be willing to move the country to the next level in the area of science and technology. Both government and private people should show interest in young inventors, train them and employ them after that so that they can translate their ideas into reality. People like Dangote and Adenuga who have been trying in different areas should join hands with government to move Nigeria to greater heights technologically.

Some of your inventions that we have seen are rather crude-looking.

What are you trying to do to improve of this?

Everything is tied to finance, if I have the finance, it is not difficult to have better and attractive finishing for my inventions. I have gone to several exhibitions. What I need now is assistance to translate my inventions into reality. I have a lot of invention ideas in my head and with necessary assistance and encouragement, I will be able to translate them into concrete innovations.

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014, PAGE 43

INTRIGUING EXPERIENCES

David Mark, Anyim, Fashola and the Class of ‘88

By EMMANUEL UNA

•Mark

•Senator Liyel Imoke

•Ayim

W

ITH a membership that spans through governors; Senate President David Mark; Secretary to Federal Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; a former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Chibudum Nwuchi; Chief Judges;jurists and renown businessmen, the Nigerian Law School Class of ’88 may not just be braggadocios as it claims to be the most outstanding of all the classes that have graduated from the 50year-old apex law training institution..

It was in keeping with this acclaimed status that members of the class turned out in their numbers in Calabar for its silver jubilee anniversary celebration and fund raising ceremony. The roll call includes two of its three serving governors. Senator Liyel Imoke of Cross River State and Obong Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom States. Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State sent a representative.

Ayim; Senator Joy Emordi; ;Nwuche; Justice Elvis Ngele, Chief Judge of Ebonyi State; Boma Ozobia, eminent jurist and Chike Today the class Ekeluba, billionaire businessman, were all there. has produced three In an atmosphere devoid serving governors, of protocol, but rekindling the Senate Presitheir Law School days, the dent, the Secretary titles of ‘His Excellency”, “Justice’, “Honourable”, to the Federal Gov“Senator ” and the likes were ernment, Deputy kept aside as everyone Speaker, House of called one another by their Representatives, first names as “Liyel”, Chief Judges, “Godswill”, “Anyim” and “Joy” were freely used judges and I dare without anyone raising say some members eyebrows. The Class of our class are Prefect, Nwuche, could be billionaire busiseen exchange banters with a less prominent classmate nessmen as to who was brighter or performed better in class without insults imputed in up the dinner until it turned the exchange. to “breakfast” as a member The events started with a of the class put it. Moderfootball match in the U J ated by the trio of Akpabio, Esuene Stadium where the Imoke and Anyim, the fund Jubilee Group defeated the raising was marked by fun Legacy Group by two goals and exchange of banters to nothing and the Legacy among the class members as Group being forced to pay to who should donate which N3 million for losing. In the amount. evening, the events moved Ayim briefed the class on to the Tinapa Lake Side the need to raise the amount Hotel for the dinner and and hand it over in order to N150 million fund raising maintain the ego of the class for the development of as the most successful and Information and Communi- most outstanding of all the cations Centre (ICT) at the Law School classes since the Nigerian Law School, Lagos. inception of the school.

The fund raising, which According to him, the class started at about 10pm, held pledged the N150 million C M Y K

•Nwuche last year during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Nigerian Law School and fund raising ceremony to develop infrastructure in the school. . “We are committed to the cause of our alma mater. As 1988 graduates to fund the development of the ICT ccente at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, therefore, we must ensure we do everything to raise the money”.

He said he got the mandate of the class to attend the Law School 50th anniversary event and made a pledge, which was the highest, in keeping with the reputation of the class as the most successful of the classes that have passed out of the school. “The Class of ’86 attempted to compete with us, but we kept raising the bar and, when we got to N150 million, they succumbed; so we must raise that sum fast to enable work to begin on the ICT Centre project immediately”, the SGF said.

Akpabio, the Akwa Ibom governor, said though it was possible for one member of the class to raise the entire sum and hand it over, every member of the class has a stake in the institution and should be given the opportunity to participate in the building of the ICT Centre to express his love and commitment to the

•Joy Emordi institution that moulded him.

“Today the class has produced three serving governors, the Senate President, the Secretary to the Federal Government, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Chief Judges, judges and I dare say some members of our class are billionaire businessmen; so we have to give everyone the opportunity to express his love for his alma mater ”, Anyim told his colleagues.

The host of the event, Imoke, said the event,taking place 25 years after the set passed out of Law School, is a jubilee celebration, which should make everyone reflect on the past and the future of their lives vis-a-vis that of the country as it prepares to celebrates its centenary this year too.

The Cross Rivers governor said the class, which has members from all over the country, reflects how Nigeria is today. “The Nigerian Law School Class of ’88 has achieved so much success and, as we celebrate our 25 years of post Law School experience, we celebrate not just the class but what Nigeria is today; a collection of different ethnic groups and nationalities in one great land”, he stated.

According to him, the celebration is the bonding together of a people that would remain as one no

•Godswill Akpabio

•Babatunde Fashola matter the vagaries and challenges strewn across their path. “We today celebrate the bonding together that will remain with us; the hope of our greatness reflects the image of our great country”, Imoke added.. The event also featured the award of honours to deserving classmates including one of their teachers, Oba Victor David Olateru Olagbegi, the Olowo of Owo. Awards were given to members who have distinguished themselves in politics, business, legal practice and academics.

At the close of t he fund raising at about 2am, N145.7 million was raised leaving the sum of N 4.3 million as balance, a clear testament to the status of the class and its readiness to remain the top class of the apex law training institution.

PAGE 44 — SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

INTRIGUING EXPERIENCES

Benin Kingdom and the 1914 coup (2)

The concluding part of the centenary of the death of Oba Ovonranmwen of Benin Kingdom. were being blamed on omission of these rites.

Although the Resident regenerated the whole aftermath as a plot to arouse resentment against the colonial government, what became evident was that the people wanted their Oba back in the social affairs for any meaningful progress to be made. In 1906, there was a plot to bring back the Oba which of course the nervous colonial administration uncovered and heavily clamped down on it.

They went further to ensure that no monument, in whatever form, was installed in memory of Oba Ovonranmwen in Benin and beyond.

T

*Lord Lugard The troops of the West African frontiers used for the sack of Benin was deplored to Calabar and principally for the defence of the Niger Delta against possible German incursion.

Calabar now serving as the headquarters of the Niger coast protectorate also serving as a haven for a top political prisoner – Oba Ovonranmwen-who should be within the security glare of the regime in Calabar.

Vacuum

B

ack home in Benin was an unusual vacuum created by the deposition and deportation of the Oba of Benin to Calabar. The Benin throne by nature was a concatenate, engraft in a network of succession rituals.

An Oba necessarily ought to have joined his ancestors for the heir apparent to be relevant. A vacant throne by tradition would spell doom for a people whose Oba’s yearly atonement of the gods, etc. was a spiritual necessity for the well-being of the society. In addition, the political and social duties of the Oba were traditionally absolute, they were irreversible and irreplaceable and not nego-tiable.These duties by tradition could not be fulfill by a proxy in a borrowed g a r b .

The interregnum which came into existence after the event of 1897 articulated a Benin Native Council to recapture the authorities of a paramount chief.

The administrative reforms that followed even though appropriated a renegotiation of the chiefs loyalty and alleC M Y K

giance, it nevertheless ran into a brick wall in the implementation of policies. Except for the newly indoctrinated young chiefs, most of the senior chiefs declined to take a new oath of loyalty not of the Oba’s blessing.

In essence, the colonial rule in Benin was faced with insurmountable challenges which confounded the authorities.

Intelligence report from the Residence Office in Benin uncovered certain facts about the traditions, and customs of Benin especially in crucial areas of political, social and spiritual relationship, between the Oba and his subjects. The Benin kingship unlike in some other places, was not a factitious symbolism, masqueraded as a cultural expression of African cultural ingenuity.

It became evident that the Oba and his subjects were like two sides of a coin.

Deaths and disasters

D

uring the interregnum for example, the Obas failure to fulfill his yearly ritual obligation to the people was in their belief an invitation to a national disaster. This could only be stemmed by the Oba on the throne of his forefathers.

Successive administrative officers during the interregnum were overwhelmed and perturbed by the general disquiet generated by the Oba’s nonavailability and failure to perform Ugie erha Oba, the annual festival in honour of his father’s spirits. Deaths and disasters

he dignified burial obsequies that preceded the restoration even though closely monitored by colonial administrators in Benin was nevertheless a funeral with the Oba’s body secretly in place.

This gave credence to the hypothesis (Uhumwenkpenwiyoha) that the head of the tiger is recoverable from the forest.

Although the British colonial administration thought that his body was in fact in an unknown grave in Calabar, they would however had preferred the OSAMA BIN LADIN treatment for the Oba i.e. to deposit his

public schools in the country.

Other public schools’ houses were named after colonial administrators with the exception of Government College, Ughelli whose houses were named after trading posts.

Ovonranmwen, in their estimation, constituted a stumbling block to the smooth running of British treaty in Nigeria. Every effort was made therefore to totally obliterate him from the minds of his people or re-write his history and project him a malevolent villain. It is left for Nigerians to judge him a hundred years after whether he was a hero or a villain.

The First World War of 1914, the amalgamation of 1914, the death of Oba Ovonranmwen in 1914 and the restoration of the Benin monarchy in 1914 were by design crucial for the survival and success of British administration in Nigeria.

The British wanted to keep in tact territorial boundaries areas they had marked out as their territories as a defence against both internal and external detractors.

In Benin, the restoration of the monarchy with the heir apparent enthroned was the only way to break the political stalemate in Benin.

With this problem solved, the amalgamation of the country

In 1906, there was a plot to bring back the Oba which of course the nervous colonial administration uncovered and heavily clamped down on it body in the sea to foreclose totally his existence and reign. As late as 1937 when they set up Edo College, one of the foremost public schools in the colonial era , they agreed for the school houses to be named after Benin Obas (heroes) but disallowed any of the houses to be named after Ovoranmwen. Instead, Mr. Spear, a colonial education officer, was substituted for Ovonranmwen house. Other houses in the school bore names like Ozolua, Esigie, Eweka, Akenzua but not Ovonranmwen.

Hero or villain

E

do College was the only public school of that era that had the advantage of being named after Benin heroic personalities amongst all the

would be complete and the First World War could proceed as planned. Benin was later made to contribute towards the cost of one fighter plane.

The Indian and Sudanese experiment had taught the colonial regime in Nigeria to be cost effective in the administration of a large territory. Benin occupies a geographical position between the decentralized though structurally complex Ibo-type societies to the East and the urbanized centralized Yoruba kingdoms to the West.

Generally speaking, the Benin Kingdom may be defined as the area within which the Oba was recognized as the sole human arbiter of life and death. Thus the colony of Lagos, the Abeokuta native administration and the Niger Protectorate were merged into Southern Protector-

ate as the various northern emirates were merged into Northern Protectorate. The Northern and Southern Protectorates became one unit called Nigeria.

The conquering of Nigeria was piece meal. If by 1939, states were created instead of provinces, Nigeria would have been a more united country. By the 1951 Constitution, various provinces were made to constitute the region. It was arbitrary and lopsided. The North was three times the size of the two southern regions of the East and West.

There was now majority and minority groups in the three regions. The minority elements were treated as if they were conquered by the majority groups.

Thus constant reference to power oscillating between the North and the South by certain elements in the country is a contrivance of political insincerity.

T

he amalgamation was meant to serve British political economic and social interests in Nigeria which of course was not in doubt. The question often asked is whether we ought to celebrate a selfserving design of the colonial administration in Nigeria. And my simple answer to this question is that we should celebrate.

By this amalgamation, world view about us as a people kept together by the British is that we are the happiest group of people in the world We should celebrate our comic exuberance which has become our reference point in the comity of nations. Secondly, we should realize that what the colonialists merely planned to serve their selfish economic interest had become our political cornerstone – unity and of our self-actualization. We even had to fight a war of unity which was no longer in the perspective of the colonialists but of ourselves as a people kept together for a common destiny.

We may lament the enduring, uncultivated and unsustained legacies of the colonialists. This is because we are what we are.

For example, there is no reason whatsoever for us unable to sustain the artistic railway lines running from the South-west to North-east, South-east to North-west as giving expression to an amalgamated country. The coup of 1914 which transformed us into a nation has also left us with political, economic and social challenges which Nigerians only can handle. If national self-actualization is now our bequeathed legacy, the struggles of our heroes past ought to be acknowledged. The resistance of the coastal kings to imperialism in which they lost their kingdoms and thrones should not be lost in a wilderness of celebration of 100 years of our nation.

* Osawe, a historian, is a former member, House of Representatives.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2014, PAGE 45 sameyoboka@yahoo.com

08023145567 (sms only)

African clerics say no to gay marriage

By SAM EYOBOKA

F

OR five days over 50 eminent Christian clerics under the aegis of the Council of African Apostles gathered in Lagos, Nigeria for a meeting structur-ed to discuss and rub minds on specific issues that affect the Church in Africa.

The Council of African Apostles is a body comprising of Christian leaders in the Body of Christ from African countries. From January 28 to February 1, the clerics were in Lagos to chat a way forward for the Church in the continent.

Presiding bishop of TREM, Dr. Mike Okonkwo, host, Bishop Joe Imakando of Zambia, Dr.Mensa Otabil of Ghana and the chairman of the African Apostles, Bishop Tudor Bismark of Zimbabwe among other church leaders from the African continent attended the 2014 edition of the Council of African Apostles impartation conference at the Protea Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

Details of their deliberation were not disclosed to journalists but on January 31, members of the Council of African Apostles gathered at the TREM national headquarters, Anthony Oke, Gbagada Expressway, Lagos for the official closing of the 21-day prayer and fasting for Nigeria.

Answering reporters' quest-ion, the chairman of the group, Bishop Bismark said the essense of the meeting was to address some challenges facing the growth of the church, including corruption and the need to establish good governance in the continent.

He said: "There are various levels of gifts in the African continent that we believe should be harnessed to take the continent to its desired destination.

"So, we are basically empowering people on good governance and anti-corruption meas-

ures. This became a good platform for us to bring leaders together at the Church level, who lead hundreds of people in their countries, to talk about these issues as they affect them.

"We also looked at how to overcome the challenges and move forward as a united continent.

There are so many things that have come into discussion. We are looking at where we should be as Africans and where each country should be too. It’s a long term vision, which affects 20 years from now," he stated.

Asked to comment on challenge Same Sex Marriage and the pressure from the West, Bismark said: "The threat is not perculiar to Nigeria. It is the same. African Christians are united in their responses and attitudes. We know that this is an agenda that is packaged as a human rights issue. We are aware of where this is coming from and are prepared to resist them".

Presiding bishop of TREM, Dr. Okonkwo, responding to threat of gay marriage, said "the Bible is very clear on gay issue. He made them male and female. We do not support homosexuality and there are no two ways around it."

But don’t you think gays and lesbians deserve to live the way they want?

"No, they can’t live the way they like because there are things that destroy a nation. If you are talking about laws that have been signed that also infringed on fundamental human rights...This is not just about that but a fundamental, moral issue that can destroy a nation. I am standing with President Goodluck Jonathan on the position he had taken."

Asked what informed the decision to start 2014 with a 21-day fasting and prayer for the nation?, he said: "If there was any time the nation needed prayer

L-R: General Overseer, Deliverance Church, Kenya, Bishop Mark Karuiki; General Overseer, Efatha Ministry, Apostle Josephat Mwingira; General Overseer, The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, Bishop Mike Okonkwo; Chairman, African Apostles, Bishop Tudor Bismark; and General Overseer, Flock of Christ Mission, Bishop Simeon Okah, at the closing ceremony of 21-day fasting for the nation and African Apostles Conference in Lagos...on Friday. most, we all know it is this time. the nation. "I don’t think it is just for people to talk. No matter what, You will agree with me that there another talkshop. Yes, somehow there will be some things that will are lots of challenges and the best it will be the usual ways they do be discussed that can still be we can do under the circum- things in Nigeria. They might try helpful," he added. stance, as a church, in the face of to hijack certain things but I don’t the insecurity that faces us is to think it will be totally out of place pray.

"We are praying for Nigeria to be what God wants her to be in the continent and the comity of nations," he added.

What would be your advice to politicians ahead of the 2015 gen- DEAR SIR, WRITE on behalf of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Com eral elections? mission (NCPC) in respect of a publication in your widely He said: "I think one of the read newspaper of February 5, 2014 credited to one Rev. things they should focus on is development and not individual po- Robinson Oritsuwa titled: “FG urged to probe alleged injustice litical agendas. They should go in Christian Pilgrim Commission.”

No doubt, Rev. Robinson Oritsuwa was a Federal Commisbeyond their parties and look at how they can better the lots of sioner on the board of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commisthe citizens. There are lots and sion; he represented the South South geo-political zone belots of problems staring us as citi- tween 2008 and July 2013. He was the only member of Board zens and I think it is immoral to whose appointment was not renewed in July last year by the face the citizens without address- President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Instead, he was reing those problems. They should placed by Pastor Mike Abrakata as Federal Commissioner repbe concerned about performance resenting South South geo-political zone on NCPC Board.

It is saddening to read from your paper that Rev. Oritsuwa and not position."

On the proposed national con- claimed that Mr. President actually approved his return to the ference, Bishop Okonkwo said: Board, but was replaced by the NCPC boss. What evidence "Talking is important because if does Rev. Oritsuwa have to support this? Certainly none.

The fact remains that once Mr. President has approved the people continue to bottle what is in them, it will explode or im- name of any candidate for an appointment, no one can change plode one day and it won’t be it. I expected him to know better, having served as a member of good for us as a nation. So, let the Board for five years. This is most unfortunate because it is the people talk and as they talk, not within the powers of the Executive Secretary to add or reit will bring healing to them and move the name of any candidate on the Board of the Commission.

It is therefore malicious for Rev. Oritsuwa to resort to character assassination and campaign of calumny on the personality of the Executive Secretary of NCPC. What injustice is Rev. Oritsuwa talking about? For five years sound moral upbringing. he served on the Board of the Commission there was no injusThe cleric also urged chil- tice. Now that his appointment was not renewed by Mr. Presidren to obey and make their parents happy, saying they dent he is crying foul.

For the avoidance of doubt, the composition of NCPC Board should not embark on what is made up of distinguished clergy men and seasoned profeswill provoke their parents to sionals of high repute in the society. A board which is being curse them.

In his words: “Parents please chaired by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Comwatch your mouth when you munion), His Grace, the Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh should not speak to your children. Don’t be taken for granted. curse them but rather utter Rev. Oritsuwa should know that NCPC which he served for words that will benefit their five years is an organisation with high moral standard that canlives in future. All the bless- not be compromised. He should be conscious of the fact that as ings that my mother gave me then have lots of impact on my a reverend, he is trained to build the house of God and not to life. Children do not do what destroy. He should therefore, desist from pulling down God’s will make your parents to own organization. curse you. Make them happy ---Toruka Celestine Ogugua, Head, Media Unit so that they will bless you”.

Obey God’s commandment to excel ---Adeboye

By OLAYINKA LATONA

I

T was another time of prayer and thanksgiving as thousands of worshippers thronged the national headquarters of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Ebute Metta, Lagos for a special prayer session for all first born children.

General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye in his sermon titled; “Born to excel”, advised the worshippers to obey all God’s commandment for them to excel in life.

Quoting series of Bible vers-

es, Daddy Adeboye said excellence does not come cheap but requires lots of hard work, adding that excellence ought to reflect in every phase of man’s life. According to him, “reaching the top requires lots of struggle just as going down is very easy; choose to make it in life by obeying God and working hard.”

Advising parents, the man of God said they should always pray for their children instead of cursing them; stressing that parents should inspire children by devoting time, money and other resources to give them quality education and

RIGHT TO REPLY OUR STAND

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PAGE 46—SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

‘Most mega churches are dying from within’

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IGERIAN-BORN Church Growth consultant, Dr. Francis Akin-John, is of the opinion that some of the mega churches we see today in the country are not as healthy as we are made believe. Many of them, he says, are indeed dying gradually. In an interview with newsmen ahead of a conference, he spoke on this and several other issues. SAM EYOBOKA was there. Excerpts:

What is the focus of your proposed conference?

The theme is Church/ministry turnaround. You know everyone believes we have big and mega churches inside.

Everyone believes the Church in Nigeria is growing but our research revealed the contrary. Many of our mega churches are dying inside. And the small ones are folding up. Some are at the verge of closing down. If you consider many of our mega churches, you only find big structures. But when you get inside, you find the level of discipleship, love, commitment and even fellowship among members is poor.

The major emphasis in our churches today is praise and worship as well as collecting tithes and offering. Discipleship has become non-existent. So, we are looking at how we can do God’s church and not our churches. We want to look at biblical ways of doing church in terms of righteousness and commitment to God. How do you mean churches are dying when many assemblies are opening up at every corner of the nation?

You see it is very easy to see the mushrooming of churches. But historically, you find out many of the churches that existed about 15-20 years ago are no longer around. There used to be this church that was using the National Stadium in Lagos for programmes with headquarters somewhere in Iganmu.

The preacher was everywhere and popular. Today, that church has become a carcass. The church had about 500 branches in Lagos alone. But where are they today?

You have demoted him. You have reduced his resources and capacity. You should have transferred upcoming pastors to such small assemblies, not the other way round.

*Dr. Francis Akin-John What is your opinion on how headquarters treat local branches?

It is appalling to say the least. Many headquarters treat local assemblies like supermarkets where they pick whatever they need anything. You know most headquarters collect 100 per cent of total realisable incomes from local branches. They don’t pay the pastors well while local assemblies are denied initiatives to run things the way that suit their localities.

The issue of pastoral transfers is also contentious.

Do you think pastors should stay in local assemblies as long as is necessary or they should be moved frequently?

You see churches have different policies and minds on this issue. My take is that when pastors stay long on local churches, things are more stable. In Baptist churches, for example, the assemblies are more stable and the pastors more relaxed to operate because he knows he is there provided the church is growing and he stays out of money and women problems. The only thing that can take him out of the church is when he has quarrels with the executive council or God asks him to move elsewhere.

But in Pentecostal churches, the issue is tough. You see the transfer policy creating bad blood and illfeelings. I believe you don’t need to transfer a pastor once the church is growing and God is at work. As long as the members are not complaining and they love him, as long as he does not have moral and financial issues, then you don’t need to transfer him for God’s sake…

When our church leaders complain about Nigeria, I laugh a lot. Most of the problems in this country are spillover of what people learnt from churches There was another church in Lekki that was the biggest in Lagos in the 90s.

Today, the church has died with the founder. It even died before the founder died. There are Sundays I drive round churches and I see most of them halffilled. That is the truth. We may have like two or three mega churches with crowd; but the bulk of our mega churches are dying. Churches are closing shops and only the enlightened can see that.

But let’s even leave that, how about spirituality? How godly are the ones in the church? So, even if we have crowd and the society does not feel our impact then we are dying. Almost everyday, people are walking away from churches because of abuses and corrupt leadership. Spiritually speaking, churches are dying and becoming secular. People are in churches but not in Christ.

Are you getting results from the conferences?

My brother, we are getting testimonies I must confess. People are becoming enlightened and changing things in their churches. God is moving really though they can appear like small drops in an ocean.

…But the argument is such a functional pastor should go to a new ground and replicate the same feat… … No, no, no. Such transfer kills the local assemblies and hurts people. You see sheep follow shepherds.

When a pastor has been around for years, he has people willing to follow him wherever he goes. It kills the spiritual lives of members when there is high turnover of pastors. You can only justify transfer when the pastor is living in sin or he has run out of resources and messages. When the membership keeps going down, you can move him. But if not, leave the man for God’s sake.

You discover that in most cases we transfer pastors with 5,000 members to churches with 100 or 200 members. You have limited that pastor for God’s sake.

What would be the ideal policy on remittances to headquarter churches?

The ideal policy would be selfautonomy for local churches. I wish every church leader can practise this. The church in Jerusalem did not put any financial burden on the church in Antioch despite being the mother-church. When there was famine, the Antioch brethren, on their own, supported the Jerusalem church. This practice of having local churches as supermarkets that send their total incomes to the headquarters is wrong. It kills local churches and that is why many are opening branches.

God wants the local assem-blies to be vibrant. Denominat-ional leaders should practise the maxim: let go and let God. The idea is for local assemblies to send at least 20 per cent to the headquarters after three or four years so that they would have stabilised. If a new company comes to town, even government gives them tax holiday. Why can’t we do the same in churches? Why is it that when a branch starts today, they send all they generate to the headquarters?

When our church leaders complain about Nigeria, I laugh a lot.

Most of the problems in this country are spill-over of what people learnt from churches. The problem of over-centralisation was what the church handed over to the political structure. That is why in most headquarters church, there is so much stealing because they don’t do anything with the money.

Rather, they keep making more and spending nothing.

The signing of the Same-Sex Prohibition Bill into law has

generated a lot of criticisms.

How do you respond to them?

You will notice most of the criticisms are coming from Western nations. Many of them have even threatened to stop grants and aids to us. My attitude is that they can stop their aids. Who benefits from them anyway? Do these grants get to common Nigerians?

The law is a step in the right direction. It is not the only moral issue in the world. So, why are Western interests so interested in it if there is nothing behind it? We saw how God rained fire and brimstones on Sodom and Gomorrah, the people that really started it. If God dealt with them that way, why do we want to go that way too?

But can government legislate morality and haven’t the law violated fundamental human rights?

On morality, government is responsible to fight immorality in any society. When people are going hay wire, government can clean up. It doesn’t mean people won’t still do it but the law instills fear into those who do it. Stealing is also a moral issue. So, why are we not worried there are laws against it? On human rights, I believe it is a good argument but we can’t allow people to live freely without restraints. There will always be infringement on human rights, especially when they help society. You see homosexuals breed sexual predators that we cannot afford around here. The government should create fear in people’s hearts that when they are caught, they will be in trouble.

It is the duty of government to correct morals and even check people when they are behaving like animals and going out of line.

Church holds spiritual leadership conference

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KOYI Baptist Church, IBC, in conjunction with the Blackaby Ministry Internation-al, a US-based ministry, is organizing a 3-day spiritual leadership conference for church pastors and leaders to champion the development process of developing leaders for the nation, reports WILLIAM JIMOH. Announcing this in Lagos, Rev. Abioye Lawal, IBC pastor, stated that the programme scheduled for Monday to Wednesday at the church premises attracts N10,000 registration fee per participant covering conference materials and meal.

Rev. Lawal noted that the conference will teach participants how to integrate solid biblical leadership principles into their roles as leaders, as themes including; Leaders’ Calling, Leading the next generation, Challenges leaders face, Finishing well; among others will be discussed by Richard Blackaby and his team.

According to him, “The church has been concerned with the plight of leadership in the country; we did not only preach about the wrong acts in leadership; we believe that the Church also has a role to improve the quality of leadership in the country."

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2014, PAGE 47

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Y oldest b r o t h e r, Bayo, left Nigeria without telling anyone where he was going. He did not tell our aged parents, his wife or his children. And he did not tell Biodun and me, his brothers. Moreover, he communicated with no one thereafter, so we did not know his whereabouts. When our parents passed away one after the other, we had no way of reaching him. His safety became a matter of great concern. All we could do was to commit him to God in prayer, which was more than enough.

A wasted trip Some six years later, we got word that he was sighted in Gambia. I had to attend the funeral of a member of our church in Sierra Leone, so I decided to take the opportunity to go to Gambia to see if I could find him. The person who told us about him gave us the address of a street-corner shop in Serrekunda, Gambia. It was not difficult to find and I was directed to a barbershop where I met a Nigerian man.

He told me my brother had been living with him for years. But several months prior to my arrival, he left Serrekunda for a place called Basse.

I thought Gambia was a small country, but he assured me Basse was nine hours from Serrekunda by road. I told him that since I had come all the way from Nigeria, I would have no choice but to go

SEEING THE KINGDOM OF GOD and see him there. But the man said that would not be possible. My brother left no forwarding address. “So where would you look?” he asked.

I concluded that my trip to Gambia was in vain. I checked into a hotel and told the Lord: “It looks like you brought me to Gambia just so I can spend a quiet time with you.”

Kingdom dynamics But the next day, the Lord woke me up early in the morning. Out of the blue, he said: “Femi, let me tell you about the kingdom of God.” Then he started another session teaching me about kingdom dynamics.

I was an intellectual who came to believe in God as a result of a miracle healing from gunshot wounds. As a result, I was afraid that one day my intellect would confound my faith. I did not stop being intellectual because I gave my life to Christ, and in so many ways my faith had confounded my intellect.

However, I was afraid that one day I would read something or see something that would contradict my intellect and my

'2015: Vote for people of integrity'

By Olayinka Latona

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HEAD of the 2015 general election, Nigerians have been advised to vote for leaders of integrity who will deliver dividends of democracy and make life easier for the masses.

The call was made by the convener of the 10th annual Kingdom Life Summit of New Estate Baptist Church at a press conference in preparation for the church's programme tagged: “Wonders of the word” scheduled for Thursday through Friday at New Estate Baptist Church, Surulere, Lagos.

The chairman organising committee and convener of the event, Rev. Julius Omomola and other planning committee members lamented

that the nation’s growth had been slowed down because most of the leaders lack character and integrity.

They therefore urged the masses to act by voting against any corrupt leader, saying the nation would continue to retrogress until people of integrity were elected to lead.

On the annual summit, Rev. Omomola said; “The focus of this year will be on love for the bible, building a loving family, helping the young people to be focused and directional and raising ambassadors for Christ in all areas of life.”

Speakers expected to minister include: Brother Gbile Akanni, Rev. Chika Ossai-Ugbah, Rev. Mike Babatunde and Rev Samson Adedokun.

Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God faith would be shattered.

I was afraid, for example, that I would discover intellectually that some parts of the bible are false or contradictory. How then would I handle it?

I am told, for example, of a man who left the faith because of what he perceived to be conflicting reports on Jesus’ healing of blind Bartimaeus.

Mark 10:46 and Matthew 20:29 state that Jesus healed Bartimaeus as he went out of Jericho. However, Luke 18:35 states that Jesus healed him as he came near to Jericho.

The man apparently decided that if God could not make up his mind whether he healed Bartimaeus as he went out of Jericho or as he came to Jericho, then God was unreliable.

Born again One of those things I questioned was Jesus’ statement to his disciples that many of them would not die until they saw the kingdom of God. But, I thought, all his disciples are dead. According to

RCCG King’s Court, holds prayer confab

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HE Redeemed Christian Church of God, The King’s Court Parish, Ikeja, Lagos Province 27 will hold its annual prayer conference from February 11-16, 2014 in the church auditorium located at 12, Oyetubo Street, Off Ajao Road, Off Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos.

This year ’s conference holds with the theme: “Wait on the Lord”.

According to Pastor Ephraim Osunde, the resident pastor who also doubles as the assistant pastor-incharge of Lagos Province 27, speakers that will minister at the conference include; Dr. Steve Ogan, Rev. Mosy Madugba and Pastor Funso Odesola.

church history, all but one was martyred. And yet, the kingdom of God has still not arrived. After all, the church is still following the prayer guide of the Lord, which says: “Your kingdom come.

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

(Matthew 6:10).

So, to whom was Jesus referring? Who among his disciples did not taste of death until they saw the coming of God’s kingdom? Could Jesus have got it wrong? How could he have got it wrong?

Jesus is not merely truthful; he is the truth.

Moreover, he deliberately prefaced his statement by saying: “I tell you the truth.” (Luke 9:27).

So that morning in the Gambia, the Lord brought up this little question of my fears. He said: “Femi, you have been wondering what I meant in Luke 9:27. You have been asking who among my disciples did not die until he saw the coming of the kingdom of God. You said all the disciples are dead and the kingdom of God has still

By WILLIAM JIMOH

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HITNEY Clayton, Presidency of the Seventy, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints, LDS, has urged Nigerian Christians to take advantage of relative freedom currently enjoyed in the country to build strong faith in Jesus, rather than placing so much attention on their persecution.

Clayton who stated this while addressing worshippers at a special Sunday conference held at Lagos Central Stake of the Church as part of activities marking his visit to Africa, also commended the Nigerian government for upholding and encouraging religious freedom in the country.

According to him, “Wherever our members may be, the most important thing is to have

not arrived. So what could I have meant? Let me answer your question now.”

“Those who were alive after my death and resurrection, and who became born again at, or after, the Pentecost, saw the kingdom of God in their lifetime. Look at what I said to Nicodemus: ‘Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Once a man is born again, he can see the kingdom of God. The disciples were born again, so they saw the kingdom of God. What I want to do this morning is to show you the kingdom of God, since you also are born again.”

Miracle of miracles And so the Lord said to me: “Femi, let me show you the kingdom of God.” And just then, the telephone in my hotel room rang. The Lord said: “Answer the phone.” When I picked up the phone, the concierge said: “Dr. Aribisala, your brother would like to talk to you.”

I asked incredulously: “My brother? Where is he speaking from?” The man replied: “He is right here in the lobby.” I told him: “I am coming right

down.”

I put down the phone and could not believe my eyes. What just happened here? I saw it, as clear as daylight. The Lord had supernaturally moved my brother all the way from Basse, nine hours away to come down to Serrekunda to meet me. Bayo never knew I was coming. As I said, I had not heard from him in over six years. He had simply decided to come down to Serrekunda to see his friends. Little did he know that that decision was part of the Lord’s plan to bring him to Serrekunda to meet me.

When he got to the barber shop, the gentleman I had spoken to the night before quickly informed him that I had come to Gambia to see him. Then he gave him my hotel address.

There was nothing I could do but keep my brother waiting in the lobby, while I went down on my knees in my room and worshiped the Lord.

That is how God works.

That is the kingdom of God on the move; in the quiet. The natural man might call it a coincidence, not knowing that it is God that is at work.

God is at work, and he is at work spiritually. His kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, nevertheless the Most High reigns and rules in the affairs of his children. Jesus says: “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”

(John 9:39).

‘Look beyond persecution; build strong faith in Christ' strong faith in God for without it, you cannot go far in this journey.

“There are so many places on earth today where people are not free to practice their faith which was also the problem that faced pioneers of the church, but their faith in God helped them to overcome.

“Ensuring that religious right is encouraged in this country is a great tribute to the Nigerian Government and Nigerians as a whole. We quiet appreciate the fact that freedom of religion exists in this country.

Clayton added that, the big focus of the conference like every other conference of the church was to build faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and to

strengthen the family.

“We believe marriage was designed to lead the church thus the need for the family to be at peace to carry out its divine assignment.

“Our temples are our most sacred buildings and they represent the wonderful act of Jesus, his doctrines and full understanding of God and the mission of his church on the earth today.

Also speaking, the president of the Western Africa Area of the church, and a member of the Seventy, Elder LeGrand Curtis, admonished Nigerian Christians to promote the strength of the nation, rather than the negatives as it is often done by some international media.

PAGE 48—SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

When will our shackles be broken?

BY FEMI FANI-KAYODE VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Fundamental questions concerning the polity We are re-running the full text of this write up due to the operational challenge we had last week.

N the 20th April 1653 Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658), who was the Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland and the greatest statesman and revolutionary that England ever knew, stormed the English ‘’Rump Parliament’’ at Westminster and courageously pronounced the following words after which he sacked parliament and boldly took power. He said: ’’It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice; ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money. Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse; gold is your God; which of you have not barter ’d your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Republic? Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defil’d this sacred place, and turn’d the democracy temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices? Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress’d, are yourselves gone!

So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors. In the name of God, go!’’ .

Cromwell was undoubtedly one of the greatest and most courageous men that ever lived and he is certainly one of my heroes. Not only was he moved by a compelling and irresistable zeal and thirst for righteousness in high places and by the power of the Holy Spirit but he, like the biblical Jehu, was ready to pay the supreme price and sacrifice his life in order to effect it and bring lasting change to England. He abhorred corruption and injustice and his puritan roots and christian fundamentalist background and upbringing caused him to oppose the excesses of the Catholic church in his day and the awesome power and influence of the Catholic Bishops and their Pope. Quite apart

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VIEWPOINT

When will our Ahab be slaughtered in battle?

When will the Nigerian people say ‘’enough is enough’’

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from saving her her from the excesses of catholicism and the sheer brutality of the Jesuit Order and the Spanish Inquisition, Cromwell literally and single-handedly also saved England from the tyranny of absolutist monarchs and the evil of corrupt Parliamentarians. He was indeed the father of modern-day parliamentry and participatory democracy in Great Britain and it was he alone that shattered the myth and demonic philosophy of the ‘’divine right of kings’’ to rule with ‘’absolute power’’.

Let us carefully consider the words that he spoke and read them once again. Let us imbibe their spirit and feel their power and passion. These are sacred and divinely-inspired words that were spoken 361 years ago to a sitting all-powerful Parliament that had just triumphed in a civil war against the King of England and had chopped off his head. Cromwell, who was a Member of Parliament himself, had led the armies of that Parliament into the field of battle on numerous ocassions.

He was indeed the Commander of it’s army and the main inspiration and motivator for the revolution and rebellion against the King. Not only did he defeat the Royal Army of King Charles 1st in various battles and win the civil war but he also apprehended the King, arrested him, brought him to justice beforethe courts of law and had him executed. This was the first time that a King was brought to justice before a Court of Law and executed in the history of England. All seemed well and the House of Commons ruled until Cromwell noticed how the new-found power of this new Parliament had utterly corrupted it’s members. They were drunk with power and they wielded it with impugnity and no sense of decency and restraint. Worse still they were hopelessly corrupt. In time he knew that they would have to go as well. He knew that a new order, which truly imbibed the spirit of justice, accountability, good governance, decency, christian sobriety, restraint and democracy, had to be put in place.

He knew that only he could effect that change and that is precisely what he did by furiously storming Parliament, courageously confronting it’s members, speak-

ing those chilling yet insightful words and forcefully taking power from them 361 years ago. He risked everything, including life, liberty and limb. Yet, without hesitation, he did it all for his beloved England. He was moved and driven by his deeply religious convictions and his puritanical faith. Nothing could stop him and, for him, failure was not an option because He knew that God was with him. He not only succeeded beyond his wildest imagination but he also laid a glorious foundation for the future of England and he was probably the greatest reformer that ever ruled that great and sturdy island nation.

I look at Nigeria today and the behaviour of our collective overlords reminds me very much of the behaviour of the preCromwellian ‘’Rump Parliament’’ in England. Can anyone be in any doubt that it is time for us to speak those same words that Oliver Cromwell spoke to the English Pariament on April 20th, 1653 to our own our leaders here in Nigeria. Are those words not more appropiate for our leaders today than at any other time in our history? Yet who will utter them? Who will go forth courageously and speak truth to tyranny in the power of the Lord. When will our God raise our own deliverer?

Where is our own Oliver Cromwell or our own biblical Jehu? Where is our Elijah?

When will the Jezebels that rule our land be thrown down from the balcony and when will the dogs eat their flesh and drink their blood? When will our Ahab be slaughtered in battle? When will the Nigerian people say ‘’enough is enough’’ and demand the change that they so desperately crave and yearn? When will they wake up from their accursed slumber and wipe away the faecel mess with which they have been stained, smothered, blinded, deafened and silenced? When will the luciferian spell that has been placed upon them be finally broken? When will they be free of this unwholesome bondage and be rid of their godless fears? When will their shackles be finally broken and when will they see, feel, hear and live again? When, O when, will our people be free and when will they become the pride of Africa that they were destined to be?

Why has fate been so cruel to us and why has our star dimmed and refused to shine brightly? Why do we always take ten steps forward and twenty steps backwards? Why is our case and example one of constant failure, ineptitude, defeat, shame, lack and incompetence? What is wrong with the Federal Republic of Nigeria and what plagues and afflicts the Nigerian people?

Since 1960 every single one of our potential deliverers have failed. They have not been allowed to emerge and even when they do emerge they have not been allowed to succeed. They have either been killed, jailed, villified, belittled or destroyed by

the system and the neo-colonial conservative forces that have sworn to resist change. Worse still, the sheer naivety, nauseating timidity and simple lack of insight and foresight of the ordinary people, who seem to have cultivated an extraordinary capacity to tolerate injustice, incompetence, wickedness and evil in their land, does not help. As a matter of fact it is that attitude and that cowardly and weak mindset that has sustained the disastarous system that has held Nigeria captive since 1960. The average Nigerian would rather go to the church or to the mosque to bare his or her mind to the priest or imam and pray about his or her numerous challenges rather than march in the streets and demand a change for the better from their Government and President. Yet it is only in our country that men and women suffer from such a lack of firm resolve and such a sorry and tepid affliction. Karl Marx’s view that ‘’religion is the opium of the masses’’ has no greater meaning or significance anywhere in the world than in Nigeria where we all, in a most cowardly manner, hide behind the cleric and imam’s ornate robes and refuse to insist on our God-given rights from the government and the state. What a tragedy we have become. We deserve nothing but pity.

Other nations have been blessed with many Oliver Cromwell’s over the centuries and years yet sadly it is not so with us.

Ill-fortune is our portion and we are cursed because we enjoy killing and villifying all of our heroes and deliverers whilst others recognise and reverre theirs and grant them the right and opportunity to do that which they were born to do- that is to take their respective nations by the scruff of the neck, to take them from strength to strength and to lead them to glory.

These were great and noble men and women who made their mark and created a great legacy for their respective nations and peoples even though some of them were murdered, jailed and cut short whilst doing so. Yet in the end each and every one of them triumphed because they made a difference to their generation and to those that came after them from generation to generation. In the Nigerian context the question is this- when will our great stars emerge and when will Nigeria’s time to shine on the world stage come? When will the words of Oliver Cromwell find relevance in our space and when will the Lord answer our prayer and deliver us from the evil that plagues our land. May God bless and redeeme our beloved homeland. May He have mercy upon her, may He defend her, may He deliver her and may He cause His face to shine brightly upon her. One day our time will come. One day Nigeria shall shine.

Fani-Kayode was a Minister of Aviation

NBC: Crippled by broadcasters’ debts VIEWPOINT

BY PADE OLANIYONU VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF A mandate threatened by indebtedness

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F what value is an expired licence es pecially a broadcasting licence ? None.

Nil. Zero.

That exactly is the situation with a large number of the country’s broadcasting organisations. Technically (and actually) many broadcasting organisations are ineligible to keep doing what they are doing, given their repeated failure to pay for the renewal of their respective licences. Up until 9 January, the scale of default in payment by radio and television organisations, including cable and pay TV services providers, to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), stood at over N3trillion.

Stung by the size of debt, the NBC, last December, threatened to come down heavily on defaulters. The threat, issued via an ad-

vertorial published in newspapers, was titled, ‘Notice of sanctions on defaulters against the NBC Act’ and contained the list of organisations operating illegally with expired licences.

The advertorial split the defaulting organisations into three segments. Privately-owned stations had 18 entries, while those owned by government had 11. Also, there were 20 entries for those that were granted provisional licences, which have since expired.

The smallest of the debts stands at N1million, while the highest is N800 million.

Broken down, 16 private broadcasting organisations owe the NBC an aggregate of N1.7 trillion. The Nigeria Television Authority, NTA; Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, and 34 other state-owned owe N1.3 trillion. Also in the debt loop are radio and television stations owned by the Federal Capital Territory Authority. The exceptions are those owned by Cross River and Kaduna states.

The leading organisations in the league of debtors, according to that NBC advertorial, are Silverbird Communications, DAAR Communication, FRCN, NTA and Niger TV/Ra-

dio. For state-owned stations, the biggest defaulters are Niger, Kebbi, Borno, Plateau and Taraba.

The NBC also complained that the window given to licensees “to settle all outstanding licence and other statutory fees and levies have expired”, but stated that some have since paid up and have been issued new licence certificates. The commission similarly threatened to follow up the publication of defaulters’ names with enforcement sanctions in accordance with the NBC Act 2004.

On 9 January, NBC Director-General, Emeka Mba, issued what he said was a final warning to defaulters, when he told journalists in Abuja that any station that failed to pay up or substantially exhibit commitment to do so by the end of that month would cease to be a broadcaster. The warning went unheeded, while the sanction threatened was not applied. This has necessitated an extension of the deadline to 16 February with NBC expressing confidence that many of the stations have commenced plans to redeem their debts to avoid suspension of operations and possible revocation of licences.

Breaching the NBC Code will invite non-

renewal of licence and possible revocation of such. But in a country where influence, especially of the political variety, trumps due process, there are suspicions that many defaulters may end up not paying and also escape the sanctions recommended by the law. Protection from sanctions, it is suspected, will be sought from higher authorities. In a country where regulations are negated with impunity especially by those who claim to be friends of government, where the law is given scant consideration, this is a possibility. If influence triumphs over regulations, the NBC is certain to be hobbled in the drive towards digitisation of the broadcasting process, which it is leading. Recently, that was admitted by the D-G, NBC, who told journalists the need to accelerate the digitisation process is propelling the commission to recover debts from defaulting broadcasting organisations.

But can the NBC add bite to it’s bark? Will it withdraw these licenses and offer them to new businesses who remain on a long queue waiting for broadcasting licenses? The ball is in Mba’s court.

Olaniyonu, a public affairs analyst, lives in Lagos.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2014, PAGE 49

BY FUNMI IGBALAJOBI

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

A diagnosis of the Aviation Master Plan

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NE can now see clearly through the lies of those who say nothing is happening in the nation’s aviation sector. There is also evidence one can hold to conclude that there is a wellorchestrated campaign to discredit the Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, over what has happened in the sector over the past two years, specifically since 2011 when the minister took charge at the ministry. Every action taken by Oduah has attracted criticism from the selfappointed monitors of the aviation sector who did not see anything good in the Aviation Master Plan initiated by the minister which ,invariably includes the remodeling of the airports and restoration of obsolete facilities to make our skies safer. The airlines are also better monitored to ensure that what we have in our skies are not flying coffins instead of planes.

The critics’ campaign, especially in the media, was targeted at creating an adverse public image for the minister as to give the impression that she is a non-performer. The interview granted by Oduah and published in some newspapers is an eye opener to determine where the critics are coming from. Reading through the interview, one sees the rot that pervaded the whole gamut of the aviation sector on the assumption of office of the minister and how her efforts, fired by patriotic zeal, pitted her against those who had been benefitting from the rot but can no longer do so due to her intervention. Oduah could not have been left in doubt that the beneficiaries of the rot would fight back. The evidence of the fighting, apparently, is what we have seen over the past months. The minister alluded to this in the published interview.

Her words: “The transformation of the aviation industry could not be-

Understanding Stella Oduah gin without making fundamental charges. This meant that a number of tough decisions had to be taken, including exiting from various lopsided ‘concessions’ entered into previously. These decisions adversely affected several powerful interests benefitting from the arrangements to the detriment of the industry and the national interest, who have continued to fight and distort public perceptions of the actions which my team and I continue to take to transform the aviation industry”.

Many may have been tempted to understand Oduah through the lenses of her critics. But I make bold to say that the minister is better understood through her pronouncements juxtaposed with what we can see on the ground and verifiable in the aviation sector today. For instance, Oduah pointed out in the interview that her administration’s “consistent improvements in safety standards have resulted in ICAO classifying Nigeria as above global average in the implementation of ICAO’s Standard and Recommended Practices”. This is a verifiable fact.

ICAO is a global body overseeing civil aviation against which a person of the status of the minister cannot afford to make a false claim.

ICAO has standards. And the fact that our aviation activities are rated above “global average” owing to the on-going reforms in the sector puts a lie to the claim by the critics that Oduah is a non-performer. Our aviation sector did not just get this far.

The feat is a product of several months of hard work. Anybody who has of late visited our airports and knew the state of the airports in the past can attest to the fact that what we had as terminal buildings was a shame. The shame is laid bare by the minister herself when she said in the interview: “Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), the nation’s main gateway, had been left to rot and decay massively to the point that it had become unbefitting of our country. Nnamdi Azikwe

International Airport, Abuja (NAIA) had a domestic terminal better described as unfit for purpose. The international terminal of Mallam Aminu Kano Airport, Kano (MAKIA) was a very sad tale to tell. Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA) was, by far, the worst of all the airports”. Today, in place of the decayed structures, five brand new terminals are standing viz: Lagos – Five million – passenger capacity now ex-

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VIEWPOINT

Many may have been tempted to understand Oduah through the lenses of her critics. But I make bold to say that the minister is better understood through her pronouncements juxtaposed with what we can see on the ground and verifiable in the aviation sector today

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panded to eight million; Abuja – two million – passenger capacity; Port-Harcourt – two million – passenger capacity; Kano – one million – passenger capacity and Enugu – one million – passenger capacity. The terminals are complete with air conditioning, standby power systems, baggage belt systems, lifts, escalators and travelators. The minister also reeled out those things that have been done in the aviation under her watch but may not be visible to the vast majority of us. According to her, NIMET’s weather forecasts are now

more accurate and timely and even meet world standard. Windshear is a major weather hazard that contributed to many aircraft accidents in the past. By means of LLWAS, low level windshear can now be detected and early warning relayed to pilots via the air traffic controller (ATC) before take-off or landing.

With Doppler weather radar, NIMET can now detect and track hazardous weather systems on real time basis. Calibrated meteorological instruments guarantee reliability and ensure weather data reliability. In a nutshell, pilots now obtain accurate and reliable weather information prior to every flight out of our airports. On air accidents, the aviation authorities under Oduah has put in place the machinery that allows the downloading, extracting, decoding and analyzing aircraft accident data from the CVR and FDR (Black Boxes) in Abuja, thus saving time and money, speeding up the investigation process and upgrading the skills of aircraft accident investigators.

With the public release of all nine outstanding accident investigation reports from previous years, critical safety information in the form of 36 safety recommendations have been pushed out for implementation by the NCAA to aid in further enhancing the safety net.

The new air traffic management systems deployed under the TRACON project has improved the safety of the Nigerian airspace exponentially.

The TRACON and Safe Tower projects have significantly increased airspace capacity for the industry.

TRACON has helped us to introduce terminal radar control in addition to the en-route phases of flight, resulting in Reduced Separation Minima for aircraft, helping airlines save on flight times and fuel consumption and thus significantly reducing their operational costs. Effective search and rescue through real-time radar playback is now available to Nigeria through TRACON. The National College of Avi-

ation Technology has been reaccredited to train industry professionals in accordance with international standards.

Several aircraft and aircraft engines lying unserviceable have been overhauled and back in operation, significantly increasing training capacity for the college.

A new aircraft simulator, helicopter simulator, gas turbine engine simulator as well as a high tech 360 degree 3-D control tower simulator have been procured and installed in the college for the first time ever.

The college that had been all but grounded and extinct has been revived and is fast playing its rightful role of developing high quality professionals for the country’s aviation industry. The NCAA is being restructured to become a more proactive safety regulate, by emphasizing surveillance and co-operation with industry players, rather than a passive and reactive regulator. A new cadre of inspectors has been recruited and is being trained to reflect this focus on effective surveillance.

The NCAA is addressing the shortage of properly qualified flight inspectors by recruiting vastly experienced but recently retired raining Captains, to use as external examiners and to beef up its flight inspectorate. With the restructuring of the NCAA, Nigeria will have an affective, proactive aviation safety regulator similar to what is found in advance countries of the world.

The minister made a statement to underscore her passion to take the Nigerian aviation sector to the next level and make our skies much safer. Said she: “We shall constantly improve on the aviation safety standards and implement international best practices as we continue to execute the Aviation Master Plan and Road Map.” The only way we as Nigerians can help the minister to deliver an aviation industry that will be the envy of the world is to encourage her, rather than resorting to frivolous and unfounded claims of non-performance as we have seen in the past from critics.

*Igbalajobi, a public affairs commentator, is based in Lagos

NAFDAC: Patriotic stewardship and leadership

BY MARTINS F.O. IKHILAE VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Extolling the good works of Dr. Orhii in taking NAFDAC to greater heights

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HOUGH faced with prob lems inherited from past administrations in line with the common assertion that rectifying wrongs of decades is time consuming, Nigerians must indeed remain firm and resolute in their trust and belief that there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel.

On January 1 this year, President Goodluck Jonathan made bold his resolve never to be deterred by unnecessary criticisms and frivolous accusations aimed at misdirecting his focused administration.

He put aside sentiments and reappointed Dr Paul B. Orhii for a second term as substantive chief executive/director general of the nation’s health boosting organ - the National Agency For Foods Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC. This was against the wish of some Nigerians who were in favour of previous retrogressive stereotyped prac-

tice where according to them, directorship of the agency was allegedly ceded to a particular professional body – the pharmacists.

Since Dr Orhii took over the administration of the agency, it has recorded unique achievements such that currently NAFDAC has become the cynosure of all eyes both locally and internationally. This laudable performance would have eluded Nigerians if the re-appointed NAFDAC helmsman were to be a mere Pharmacist as canvassed by some unpatriotic elements.

Undoubtedly, Orhii”s assorted intellectual exposure and practical knowledge in the aspect being critically considered – pharmacy, foods and drugs: he is a medical doctor, lawyer and pharmacologist, makes him more competent for the job which statutorily specified experience that cuts across pharmacy, foods and drugs which invariably is in accordance with the legally stipulated requirement for the job.

It is evident that the broadness of Orhii’s academic exploits and exposure has in turn impacted positively on the agency and its operations.

For instance, despite the frustrating nature of our judicial process occasioned by undue postponement of cases as well as other operational bottlenecks which often leads to delay in judgment delivery,he suc-

cessfully brought his wealth of legal experience to bear on the agency’s enforcement activities culminating in the successful apprehension,prosecution and con-

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VIEWPOINT

It is evident that the broadness of Orhii’s academic exploits and exposure has in turn impacted positively on the agency and its operations

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viction of numerous NAFDAC regulated products counterfeiters.

This feat is acknowledged as very unique being first of its kind in the history of the agency’s enforcement endeavour since its inception. It is equally obvious that his distinct and internationalized experience as a medical doctor and pharmacologist

has equally enabled him to record numerous outstanding breakthroughs in NAFDAC. From infrastructural perspective, both operational and administrative facilities have been evolved, refurbished and upgraded to conform with international sophistication in health care delivery practices. This has led to availability of strategically localized modern laboratories with state-of-the art operational paraphernalia/technologies .

Orhii, though of a minority Tiv tribe in Benue State, has brought to Nigeria a distinct global reputation and status of being a premier nation to conceptualize, and inculcate cutting-edge technologies in combating NAFDAC regulated products counterfeiting.

Absolutely guided by patriotic tenets in accordance with the desire of President Jonathan, stringent efforts have been intensified to boost dependence on indigenous pharmaceutical production via facilitation of loans with minimal interest rate which will lead to more emp l o y m e n t opportunities,conservation of foreign exchange etc.This is, however, in partnership with the nation’s Bank of Industry.

Already, the agency has earned an international trust and responsibility as the United Nations has

assigned to it, the task of directing numerous countries worldwide on the mode of evolving suitable techniques for boosting quality of lifesaving pharmaceutical products.

It is a known fact that much has been achieved by the Dr Orhii-led NAFDAC management team in food safety, sanitization and regulation.

The agency has equally evolved the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point plan for food safety, leading to examination, monitoring, registration and certification of numerous food products as well as ensuring that caterers and bakers comply with the stipulated good hygienic practices of the agency.

It is certain, however, that by reappointing Dr. Orhii as NAFDAC boss, President Jonathan has, once more demonstrated his commitment towards boosting and bettering effective and efficient healthcare for the generality of Nigerians. On his part, it is needless to emphasize that Dr Orhii will further engineer and propel more unique breakthroughs and successes in this second phase of his leadership at the agency since “to whom much is given” they say, “much is indeed expected”.

Martins F.O.Ikhilae is a Lagos based Public Affairs Analyst

PAGE 50 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

WEDDING OF OONI’S D AUGHTER DA

The Solemnization of Holy Matrimony between Oluwaseyi, daughter of Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, and Olanrewaju, son of Professor and Mrs Olu Odeyemi, was held yesterday at the St Paul’s Anglican Church, Ayegbaju, Ile-Ife. Pictures by Dare Fasube

•Chief Bisi Omidiora, Oba Emmanuel Adebowale Elemure of Emurre Ekiti, Oba Ladejare Alaye of Efon and Oba Rufus Adejugbe Ewi of Ado Ekiti.

•Left Chief Tony Anenih, PDP BoT chairman; Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, Alake of Egba land and Olori Morisola Sijuade, mother of the bride.

•Dr Nggozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Chief Olanihun Ajayi

•Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and his wife.

•Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, Oshile of Oke Ona ;Egba Oba Victor Kiladejo, Osemawe of Ondo and Gen Adeyinka Adebayo rtd.

•Erelu Abiola Dosumu, Erelu Ojuolape Ojora and Otunba Adekunle Ojora.

Madam Elizabeth Ifijeh passes on Late Mrs. Elizabeth Ifijeh was committed to mother earth at her home town, Ojavun-Emai, Owan East Local Government of Edo State. Dignitaries from all walks of life came to pay their last respect to Mama. Photos by Barnabas Uzosike

•Left: Mr. Ogunleye Gbemiga; Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, Editor-in-Chief/GM Publication, Vanguard Newspapers; Mr. Ade Adeleye, GM Editor, The Nations Newspaper; Mr. Soji Omotunde, GM News, The Nations Newspaper; Mr. Austin Nkachukwu, Legal, The Nations Newspaper.

•Left: Rev. Peter Obadan; Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; Mr. & Mrs. Victor Ifijeh

•Mr. & Mrs. Victor Ifijeh

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2014, PAGE 51

NON-NEGOTIABLE UNIT Y

Nigerians never agreed to live together as a nation — Mike Ozekhome, SAN

By SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin City Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), the Akpakpavighivighi of Edo land, was recently honoured by the palace of the Oba of Benin with the chieftaincy title. In his joyous mood at his Benin City residence, he bared his mind on the proposed National Conference, saying that though President Gooduck must be commended, the conference will be another jamboree if several issues are not taken care off before the kick off.

Excerpts:

H

ow would you describe the modalities spelt out for the proposed National Conference by the Okuronmu Committee?

No matter the shortcomings of the National Conference as we have it today, we must give kudos to President Goodluck Jonathan for initiating the conference; for being C M Y K

*Says Jonathan can only expose hidden agenda on National Confab, if... able to brave the odds, to decide that Nigerians must talk. I am ashamed to see some campaigners for National Conference, even Sovereign National Conference turn their back to it because of political advantage. But in congratulating Jonathan for having the courage to organize the conference, let me point out some problem areas that he needs to look at for us to have a formidable and successful conference, otherwise we may be treating a serious ailment like leprosy with medicine meant for eczema or headache. The first challenge, which is one major hurdle that the conference will have to cross, is that as at today, there is no legislative law backing the National Conference. The more rational thing would have been that there will be a

bill before the National Assembly from Mr President which will give the structure for holding the conference.

The only thing Mr President has done (setting up the Okuronmu Committee which has submitted a report is strictly by him and on him alone as a person. It could be argued though, and I think this is the argument the advisers of Mr President has given to him, that Section 5 of the Constitution gives the executive powers of Nigeria to Mr President. Having a National Conference is part of the ingredients that will lead to peace, good governance and stability and security in Nigeria. That is hurdle number one.

The 2014 Budget challenge The second challenge the National

Conference will have is, where will the N7 billion for the project come from? The national budget is still before the National Assembly and with the tug of war of filibustering or not filibustering, numerical strength or no numerical strength, going on between the PDP and the APC, with the Labour Party, APGA being interested parties, nobody knows when the budget is going to be passed. And if it is not passed, where will Mr President get the money to carry out this confab? But I want to believe, unlike many other people, that N7billion is a small amount for us to talk and bring about peace to Nigeria, after all, that is the amount that some Permanent Secretariats and some Deputy Directors have been Continues on page 52

PAGE 52 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 9, 2014

`Nigerians never agreed to live together as a nation’

Two problems with 75 per cent voting strength There are two problems with 75, voting strength. One, some minorities from the Niger Delta who have been clamouring for resource control and who their northern counterparts have been telling to even show gratitude for the 13 per cent already given to them by way of revenue allocation, it will look like climbing Mount Everest for them to be able to get 75 per cent of members of the conference to vote that we should have resource control. I can’t see it happening. Problem number two is that we may end up with having a radical minority, against C M Y K

a helpless majority. Let us assume that 74 per cent has voted for an issue, that we want this issue resolved this way and the 74 per cent is one per cent short of the 75 per cent needed to pass this issue, it means voting on that issue has been defeated and if the voting is defeated, it means that 26 per cent, which is the silent but not tyrannical minority, has carried the day against 74 per cent majority just because the majority was one per cent less than the 75 per cent required. So head or tail, you are going to have a lot of injustice coming into play. The truth is that all Nigerians are equal stakeholders in the project or contraction called Nigeria. The 380 ethnic groups in Nigeria must be made to feel to be stakeholders, some of them should not be made to feel that they are clappers and members of the audience, Nigerians, for too long, have been made to stand on a tripod. A tripod is a three-legged creature, you all know that a three- legged creature is never balanced. You need four legs to stand and be balanced, could that be why Nigeria has been fumbling and wobbling? If you always take the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, what happens to the other 377 ethnic groups? Are you saying that Ozekhome, because he is a minority within a minority, God, in His infinite wisdom, is foolish to have created me to come from Iviukwe village in Etsako and not from one of the major ethnic groups? Now, if all of us must be given a sense of belonging, we should see ourselves as equal partners, not to do so is to treat equal unequally, or to treat unequal equally, either of them is major injustice. For too long, we have been having what (the late Chief MKO Abiola) will call a peace of the cemetery, of the grave yard, it is not peace.

,,

Continued from page 51 found to have pocketed in Nigeria. So I do not have problem with that amount because it is from that amount that stipends will be paid to delegates for the three months that the conference will last and will have to leave their businesses to be in Abuja.

The third challenge is the duration of this conference which has been put at three months. From my experience, as a member of the National Political Conference in 2005, as the Chairman of the Sub- committee on Civil Society and Media , from where I was later elected as the spokesman of the South- south delegates, three months, which was also earmarked for that conference, was definitely not enough; we had to write for extension to Obasanjo. Why? The conference is going to convene a plenary session, the first one to three weeks will be used at plenary session debating the modalities for the conference, what committees should be set up, what will be the object of each of the committees, you will need not less than one month for committees to sit down and do a clean job, two months already gone. Then the work of the committees will be brought back to plenary, each committees will bring out the items and each item will be debated one by one, and a conference that has about 496 members, each person will want to speak because any one who is not allowed to speak will say the conference has a hidden agenda. By the time 496 people are debating several issues, you will need about one and a half or two months for that.

After the debate and agreements are reached by these committees, they will again go back to the plenary for voting for each of the committee’s findings item by item. How do you spend three months to do all these?

That is challenge number three.

Challenge number four is the method of voting. Mr President said you must have a consensus on each subject matter. Consensus? Are we ever going to have a consensus on the issue of fiscal federalism , resource control, devolution of power from the center to the units? If we are not going to have consensus, how do we vote? Mr President and his people said 75 per cent of the people have to vote for each item to be agreed upon, that is a tall order.

‘I disagree’ Peace devoid of transparency, of justice, of equity, of mutual respect is, at best, peace of the grave yard. I disagree that the Federal Government said there is no-go area. We have passed the stage where we can say we cannot discuss Nigeria in all its ramifications; we even discuss God and how He created the world, it is in Genesis. Why are we afraid of discussing ourselves? Why are we scared of discussing where we are coming from, where we are and where we want to go to? Who said we cannot discuss the problems of Nigeria? We have never agreed to live together as a nation. There was a time when the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, once described Nigeria as a piece of historical mistake. Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the late sage, once described Nigeria as a piece of geographical expression. We were coupled together by the British. Even the name Nigeria was given to us by

The so-called indissolubility and indivisibility are mere rhetorics that cannot stand the test of time. Nigeria’s unity is negotiable, because failure to negotiate it is to postpone the evil day

Flora Shore, the daughter of a British General. That lady was later married to Captain Lord Lugard, the man who, in 1914, forcibly amalgamated the Northern Protectorate, the Southern Protectorate and the Lagos colony to found an amorphous contraption called the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

We were never united. Before 1914, we had different nationalities in Nigeria, we had the Benin Empire and it was then that the British killed Oba Ovonranwen. So we never negotiated to stay together and that is why till tomorrow, Nigerians believe more in their ethnic groupings. And you cannot blame anybody because, before the 1914 amalgamation, we were already recognized ethnic nationalities in this country, and how can you now give 90 slots to ethnic nationalities out of 380 while Mr President alone is having over 90 delegates, 25 per cent each? Nigeria’s unity is negotiable.

Rhetorics The so-called indissolubility and indivisibility are mere rhetorics that cannot stand the test of time. Nigeria’s unity is negotiable, because failure to negotiate it is to postpone the evil day.

India and Pakistan were once one country, but where are they today.

Already in Nigeria you have some separatist movements, Boko Haram has already planted flags in some communities in the North. MASSOB is craving for Biafra. OPC wants Oduduwa Republic. Arewa wants Northern hegemonic domination. The Middle Belt feels they are different people. Now, how do you say that these people who want to leave cannot negotiate the unity of Nigeria?

What about Ethiopia and Eritrea, one country before? The truth is that not to negotiate the unity of Nigeria has underpinned and undermined Nigeria’s development. While we don’t have confident in one another, while we are suspicious of one another, while we believe more in our ethnic nationalities, not to negotiate our unity is to continue to postpone the evil day. We must discuss all the issues from how Nigeria came to be, how we are now. That we are using about 75 per cent of our national budget to service recurrent expenditure and 25 per cent for capital expenditure is sickening. No nation can develop with that kind of meager allocation, we need to discuss it.

That is going to bring us to the other issue, who do we submit the report to. Mr President said we are going submit the outcome of the conference to the National Assembly so that they will put it in the Constitution, which Constitution? The 1999 Constitution that has shown it is fundamentally flawed being a military impose constitution, imposed on the people of Nigeria by 28 members of the Provisional Ruling Council headed by Gen.Abdulsalami Abubakar. Which makes the Constitution to lie when it says, in its preamble, that, we the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria have deiced to give ourselves the following Constitution”. We never gave ourselves that Constitution. Now the National Assembly, under Section 9 of that Constitution, is only empowered to amend the Constitution and promulgate ordinary laws; no where in Section 9 are they given