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July 27, 2012 Vol. 2, No. 168 ... ... ... ... ... A common bondA common bondA common bondA common bondA common bond N150.00

2012 Budget: PDPdismisses Reps’ threatto impeach Jonathan

www.nationalaccordnewspaper.com

Dana Planecrash:Coroner tosummonRed Cross,Conoil,others

From ADEYEMI ADEBANJO,Lagos

Continued on page 2

•L-R: Muhammadu Buhari, former Head of State, Dora Akunyili, former Minister of Information, Chinwoke Mbadinuju, former AnambraState governor and Mohammed Uwais, former Justice of the Federation, during public presentation of the book: “How I GovernedAnambra State: Stewardship and Accountability”, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Wale Elekolusi

Page 2

Excitement as London Olympics begin

Disowns Tukur, Ali sons’ involvement in subsidy scam

The Lagos coroner will onMonday issue benchwarrants to some oil

companies and emergencyrelief agencies to appear andtestify before the inquest intothe ill-fated June 3 DanaAirline plane crash in the Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos.

The Lagos Coroner,Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe,made this known on Thursdaywhile responding to asubmission Mr Femi Falana,whose law firm, FalanaandFalana Chambers,petitioned the Lagos state ChiefCoroner, Justice LateefatOkunnu, for an inquiry intothe incident.

Those to be issued with benchwarrant include the NigeriaRed Cross Society, Conoil Plcand Total Nigeria Ltd.

Falana reminded the coronerat the resumed hearing of theinquest on Thursday that someoil companies and reliefagencies that have been servedwith summons were yet toappear before it.

Falana also suggested that thepolice be ordered to investigatethe people that were killed onthe ground, pointing out that

By BLESSING ARUA

Youths from all over the worldwould proudly adorn thecolours of their countries as

the biggest single sports festivalon earth; the Olympic Gamesofficially kick off in London today.

Olympics opening ceremoniesusually unveil the best of a blendof culture, music and technology,giving the stadium a frenzyfeeling for spectators andtelevision viewers world-wide.

The Games would last till 12th

August with the main closingsports in athletics at the OlympicsStadium in East London.

On the whole, 26 Olympicssports would feature in 34 venueswithin and around London.Already, 9 million tickets havebeen bought for the events.

The 30th in the series, over10,500 athletes will beparticipating in the Gamescovering 302 individual events.204 countries would be

participating in the Olympics.Also, 20, 000 individual

journalists and mediaorganizations would beam bothlive and still pictures to viewersacross the world.

All the Africa countries areparticipating in the Games,drawing more participants thanthe 2008 Games in Beijing,China.

In the Beijing Games, which tookplace from 8-24 August, about 10,

newsPAGE 2 Friday, July 27, 2012, National Accord

2012 Budget: PDP dismisses Reps’ threat to impeach Jonathan

Excitement as London Olympics...Continued from page 1

The People’s DemocraticParty (PDP) dismissedlast week’s threat by the

House of Representatives toimpeach President GoodluckJonathan should he fail toimplement the 2012 budget by aSeptember 18 deadline.

PDP national deputy chairman,Dr Sam Sam Jaja, who spoke withnewsmen at the end of the party’s313th National WorkingCommittee (NWC) meeting Abujathat the party has resolved toaddress the issue diplomaticallyrather than clamping down on itsmembers clamouring for thepresident’s impeachment.

Minority leader of the lowerchamber, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila(ACN, Lagos), had whilecontributing to a motion on theslow implementation of the 2012budget last week, raised the issueof impeachment againstJonathan, but was over-ruled bythe Speaker, Alhaji AminuTambuwal.

Jaja said that impeachmentthreats were not new in Nigeriaand other democratic countries,adding that what was requiredwas to sort out all the gray areas tolay the matter to rest.

“It is not the first time a presidenthas been threatened withimpeachment, not only in thiscountry, in America several

By Our CORRESPONDENT presidents have been threatenedwith impeachment. What theparty is doing is taking up theprocess, because there it is a processwhich the party will meet thepeople, there are yes…many ofthem are PDP people, I agree, butthey have their grievances,” Jajasaid.

“We will not also say that theyare PDP people and of course wewill lord it over them. This thingmust be attended todiplomatically, so that whereveranybody has gone wrong, it willbe sorted out and eventually thisstorm will definitely die down,” thelawmaker said.

Jaja said that while thelawmakers may have some pointsover the implementation of thebudget, the matter was being over-stretched as the executive musthave reasons why some aspects ofthe budget have not beenimplemented.

“At times we over bloat thesethings, but the party has set upmachineries to look into all thegrievances of the members of theNational Assembly and what is theposition of the president,” the PDPnational deputy chairman said.

“There must be an area for thetwo parties to meet and this thingshould be resolved for the interestof democracy in this country. Sothere is no threat actually, as itwere, it is the usual thing thathappens in any democratic

process,” he added.Responding to a question on the

indictment of the son of the party’snational chairman, AlhajiBamanga Tukur, Mahmud andthe son of Dr Ahmadu Ali, Nasir,in the oil subsidy scam, Jaja saidthe duo were on their own asmatured adults and they shouldcarry their own cross.

He said that their parents shouldnot be held accountable for theiractions, stressing that PDP did notsend them on any errand and theparty will not go into the matteras the pair is presumed innocentuntil proven otherwise by court ofcompetent jurisdiction.

“On the issue of some PDPmembers being involved in oilsubsidy, these are individuals,everybody bears his own cross.There are governors who are nowfacing prosecution as a result oftheir actions and inactions, so it isnot a party thing. PDP did not sendanybody to go and misbehave,”Jaja said.

“Even if you mention mychairman’s son, he is up to age,assuming he is to go to jail theywill not come and jail the NationalChairman, because he did not sendhim,” the PDP national chairmansaid.

“He is a man of age and he has ahousehold, he has his family,everybody can account for his ownposition and of course it has beenmentioned, until they are proved

guilty they still remain innocent,”he added.

“So the party cannot just get outand breath down on them andbegin to condemn them. They willbe given equal opportunity todefend themselves in a competent

it is not the responsibility of theAccident Investigation Bureau(AIB).

He said AIB was only toinvestigate the causes of thecrash of ill-fated plane.

Komolafe and otherinterested parties also agreed toschedule appearance ofwitnesses following thesubmission of the counsel to theNigeria Airspace ManagementAuthority (NAMA), Mr ObiOkwusogu.

The court directed that anyof the witnesses who intend tosubmit a deposition shouldforward it to the court two daysbefore the day they would givesuch evidence.

According to the schedule,Channels Television andAfrican Independent Television(AIT) are to appear on Mondayto show the clips of the crash onthe day it happened.

The Lagos State EmergencyManagement Authority

(LASEMA) and Julius Berger,that had earlier beensummoned but failed to showup, are scheduled to appear onTuesday, along with theNational EmergencyManagement Agency (NEMA).

The AIB represented by MSMaureen Tsenongo, told thecoroner that she intended tosubmit a written depositionand requested that she bescheduled to make anappearance on Wednesday,August 1 to enable her producethe bureau’s witnesses.

The coroner also granted therequest of the counsel to theNigeria Civil AviationAuthority (NCAA), Mr.Babatunde Irukera and hisFederal Airport Authority ofNigeria (FAAN) counterpart,C. Chiwete, to appear onThursday, August 2 andMonday, August 6,respectively.

Komolafe thereafteradjourned the next sitting ofthe coroner to Monday, July30.

Dana Plane crash:Coroner to summon...

Continued from page 1

942 athletes participated with100, 000 volunteers and 24, 566press accreditations from 159countries. The main athleticsvenue was called the “Birds’Nest.”

Also in Beijing, more than 40world records and over 130Olympics records were broken.

Perhaps the London Olympicsprovide the greatest securitychallenge for Britain with theWestern country’s involvement

in issues concerning the MiddleEast, especially in countries likeAfghanistanand Iraq as well asYemen and Somalia amongstothers.

As in all Olympic Games, thehighlight would be in track andfield drawing huge spectators.

In the London Games, all eyeswould be on Jamaica’s Usain Bolt,who holds the 100 and 200meters titles for men.

However, Nigeria’s BlessingOkagbare, who has won the 100meters in the London meet and

Golden League in Monaco in goodtimes, is the hope of the countryin London.

Also, Chika Chukwumerije, whowon a bronze medal at the BeijingGames, and who is Captain ofTeam Nigeria, is another medalhopeful in London.

Besides, Nigeria is a strongcontender in boxing,weightlifting and wrestling andis medal hopeful. On the whole,31 athletes would representNigeria in the Games.

So let the Games begin.

The Debt ManagementOffice (DMO) is to beginthe payment of fuel

subsidy expenditure to oilmarketers, whose claims hadbeen verified as soon as thesupporting Sovereign Debt Notesare provided by the PetroleumProducts Pricing and RegulatoryAgency (PPPRA).

The coordinating Minister forthe Economy and Minister ofFinance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,gave this directive in a statementby her Senior Special Assistant(Media), Mr Paul Nwabuikwu.

The statement said thedirective was issued to reinforcethe federal government’sdetermination to ensure thatthere was no disruption in fuelsupplies across the country.

The minister said that followingthe reportof the PresidentialCommittee headed by Mr AigbojeAig-Imoukhuede, it was clearthat some marketers also owedgovernment significant sums ofmoney should be paid.

Okonjo-Iweala said in view ofthe assurance that were funds tomeet marketers’ claims, therewas no reason for marketers orother stakeholders to go on strikebecause government wasaddressing the subsidy paymentissues in a structured way thatwill continue to protect theinterests of the country and thoseof genuine marketers.

FG begins fuel subsidypayment to marketers

By DAVID AGBA It is recalled that paymentsbased on verified claims resumedafter the June meeting of theFederation Accounts AllocationsCommittee (FAAC) whenpayments totaling 17 billionnaira were made.

To prevent overpayments,verification of claims was acornerstone of the proceduresadopted by the Federal Ministryof Finance for managing fuelsubsidy payments.

The oil marketers have overthe past few weeks beenthreatening to suspend fuelimports, if government refusedto pay some of their outstandingclaims, adding that the high costof bank credit was eating uptheir profit margins.

Fuel importers including theNigerian National PetroleumCorporation, received 1.1 trillionnaira in fraudulent subsidiesfrom the government between2009 and 2011, according to aparliamentary committee thatreported on the issue in April.

President Goodluck Jonathanpartially reinstated the subsidyafter unions staged a weeklongstrike in January against hisattempt to scrap it. Nigeriaimports most of its petroleumneeds because it lacks therefining capacity to meetdomestic demand. More so, itsfour refineries have overtimeremained incapable of producingat their installed capacity.

President Goodluck Jonathansaid on Thursday that thechallenging political and

security situation facing severalAfrican countries were the greatestimpediments to the attainment ofpeace on the continent.

“As we grapple with oldchallenges, new threats such asdrug and human trafficking,climate change, kidnapping,terrorism, poverty, sectarianconflicts and others take centerstage,” Jonathan said at the 7thSummit of the African First LadiesPeace Mission in Abuja.

Jonathan stressed that all suchchallenges seek to undermine thegovernments’ determined efforts towork towards achieving sustainablepeace and development in theirvarious countries.

“It is of great concern that womenand children, especially the girl-child, are the main victims of thisunfortunate situation. They are notonly subjected to dehumanizing

Jonathan identifies politics, insecurity as threats to peaceBy YUSUF OZI-USMAN conditions, they are often times the

targets of abuse, resulting in theviolation of internationalconventions on the rights of womenand girls, to which African countriesare parties,” the president said.

“There is no doubt that theprevailing circumstance requiresstrong advocacy, cooperation,human development, the sharingof knowledge and the protection ofbasic rights. Credible voices thatdraw attention to the dangers ofconflict, the plight of women andchildren under difficultcircumstances need to be heard moreloudly,” he added.

Jonathan said all the stakeholdersmust work together as individualsand countries to promote the causeof peace, saying that they have aduty to promote love and harmonyin the continent.

He said the theme of this year’ssummit: “The Africa Woman: Avoice for Peace,” was pertinent to themain contemporary challenges.

The president said Africa’s FirstLadies who played the roles of wives,

mothers and leaders, haveimportant roles to play in thepromotion of peace and security onthe continent.

He looked at the history and saidthat it is rich with examples of theenviable role that women played inmaintaining peace and stability.

In recent times, Jonathan said, thecontribution of women to theECOWAS mediation efforts that ledto the resolution of the civil war andpolitical crisis in Liberia and SierraLeone was particularly noteworthy.

“The AFLPM must continue toserve as a voice for thedisempowered, the dispossessed andthe violated, especially women andchildren. More importantly, it mustcontinue to stand firm as a specialadvocate for peace and the growthof our mother continent,” thepresident said.

“To achieve these goals, AFLPMmust encourage governments toimplement existing internationallegal frameworks that promotepeace, security and humandevelopment.”

court of law; until they are foundguilty then the party will come outand take a position. But for now,for the party to begin to condemnthem is absolutely premature andprejudice,” the PDP stalwartstressed.

PAGE 3National Accord, Friday, July 27, 2012

news

Suswam locks Benue HOS, 2commissioners out of SEC meeting

•First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan (2nd-l), African First Ladies and Heads of Delegation, admiringthe model of the Permanent Secretariat of African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) in Abuja,yesterday.

Benue state GovernorGabriel Suswam lockedthe Head of Service and

two commissioners from thestate executive council (SEC)at the Makurdi GovernmentHouse on Wednesday after theyarrived late.

The Head of Service, Mr MikeIordye, the commissioner forworks, housing and transport,Mr. Benjamin Ashaver andthat of sports, Mr AondowaseChia, were all barred from theCabinet Hall as the governortried to enforce his new policy

to curb negligence andunseriousness among hisexecutive council members,officials said.

They said the refusal of entryto the three top cabinetmembers was as aconsequence of their reportedlackluster attitude towardskeeping to time during SECmeetings, and this was also toserve as a lesson to others.

The head of service andsports commissioner,National Accord gathered,left Government Houseshortly after they were deniedentry, but the works and

The Minister of WaterResources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe,urged the FederalGovernment and the citizenson Thursday to handle therecurring crises in Jos, Plateaustate, as a national issue.

The minister made the plea inAbuja, while fielding questionsfrom journalists at the ongoingAfrican First Ladies Peace Mission(AFLPM) Summit.

Ochekpe, who hails from BarkinLadi Local Government Area ofPlateau, stressed that all Nigeriansshould be involved in efforts totackle the crises in Jos and otherparts of Plateau.

“For the conflict or crisis in Jos,the solution is a Nigerian solution;it’s one that all Nigerians have to bepart of in resolving,” she said.

“It’s not a crisis that should belocalised because the people who livein Jos come from different parts ofthis country and from differentparts of the world. I believe thatwhen we talk to each other sincerelyand when we are all committed toresolving conflicts, there would nolonger be any problems,’’ theminister said.

However, Ochekpe commendedthe African First Ladies for theirinitiative aimed at ensuring peaceon the African continent.

The minister acknowledged theefforts of the AFLPM to resolveconflicts in the region.

“The programme is widelyreceived and supported by all; weare happy about the role of FirstLadies in ensuring peace in oursocieties, communities, countriesand in Africa at large,” Ochekpesaid.

“It is a mission that should besupported by all; I dare say that theyare well-focused because whereverthere is a conflict, women andchildren suffer more,” the ministerstated.

“The women are the ones who aremostly displaced, who bear the

Jos crisis should be treated as anational problem, says Ochekpe

brunt. It is either their young onesare drafted to fight the cause theyare not mature enough for, or theirhusbands are in it. They oftenbecome widows and sometimeschildless,’’ she said.

Ochekpe noted that the presenceof Nigerian governors’ wives andtop government officials at thesummit was a clear indication ofthe resolve of the country’s womenleaders to resolve conflicts in theirvarious states.

“We are happy that thisprogramme is taking place inNigeria. We have lots of challenges,I believe that the message from thismeeting will not be left here but willbe taken right down to thegrassroots,” the minister noted.

“We look forward to supportingthe First Ladies as much as we can,’’she said.

On ways of resolving waterconflicts in Nigeria, Ochekpe saidthat her ministry was working onan Integrated Water ManagementPlan to encourage water sharingamong all parts of the country.

She said this plan would curtailthe advent of water conflicts in areascurrently experiencing scarcity ofwater across the country.

“In some parts of the world, thereis already water scarcity and so, thepeople are moving from one place toanother. The solution to that will beintegrated water management andhaving a shared vision about watermanagement,’’ said the minister.

Ochekpe urged those regions withexcess water sources to share thewater with others, while refrainingfrom the temptation of impoundingtheir water sources to the detrimentof other populations.

“Sometimes when dams areconstructed and the water issupposed to be released from timeto time by control means; somepeople upstream refuse to release itand that puts the peopledownstream in some difficulties,”she said.

From ATI TERKULA, Makurdi

A pathologist at the LagosState University TeachingHospital (LASUTH),Professor Obafunwa, told aLagos corona on Wednesdaythat most of the victims ofthe June 3, 2012, Danaplane crash at Iju-Ishagaarea of Lagos state, wereburnt to such an extentthat it was difficult todetermine their sexes.

Giving evidence beforeMagistrate Oyetade Komolafe,Obafunwa said that about 152bodies were identified forautopsy, adding that some ofthem exhibited superficialburns while others showedfractures around the limbs,arms and skull.

Obafunwa spoke after awarning by the corona to theAccident Investigation Bureau(AIB) to register theirappearance at the next hearingin the matter or risk sanctions.

The pathologist said thatmost of the bodies were burnt

We could not determine sex of DanaPlane crash victims – Pathologist

From ADEYEMI ADEBANJO,Lagos

to such an extent that theywere bent over (in boxers’position).

“We were unable todetermine the exact sex. Inmost cases, there were no bloodand or body fluid in thevictims,” Obafunwa said.

He said about 50 of the totalfigure were fairly complete, 16of the cases were body parts andin seven of the cases there werebone fragments.

The medical practitioner alsoconfirmed that there was thepossibility of some of thevictims surviving even afterthe plane crash landed in thedensely populated area as therewas evidence of fumeinhalation by some of thedeceased.

He pointed out that the resultof the drug test/analysiscarried out on the victimswould confirm this position.

The pathologist cited thecommonest factor leading tothe death of the victims asmultiple injuries includingdamage to the brain, fracturedarms and legs, fractured breast

plate, fracture in the lungs,severe blood loss, adding thatthese factors were responsiblefor about 60 percent of death.

On the issue of identificationof the victims, Obafunwa saidthe exercise was scheduled tobe completed next week andthat the bodies will be releasedto their family members afterthe completion of the exercise.

“We are presently doing thefinal editing of the postmortem. DNA test will befinalised by next week.Chemical analysis result maybe released in the next two tothree weeks,” he said.

“We have completed 80percent of the job. For the firsttime in the country we aremoving away from massburial to specificallyidentifying the bodies,” thedoctor said.

Aside from relations of thevictims of the crash, othersrepresented at the inquiryinclude the Nigeria PoliceForce, Dana Airline, FederalAirport Authority of Nigeriaand civil society groups.

The Chairman of theZamfara state workers’verification committee,Alhaji Ahmed Abubakar, saidon Thursday that hiscommittee uncovered morethan 7,000 ghost andredundant workers on thegovernment’s payroll.

The committee was set up by theZamfara state government lastApril to determine the authenticworkforce of the state followingagitation by the state NigeriaLabour Congress (NLC) forimplementation of 18,000 nairaminimum wage.

Abubakar told GovernorAbdulazeez Yari while submittingan interim report of the committeethat after a thorough audit of theworkforce in the state, it wasdiscovered that out of the 28,183workers being paid salaries, only21,067 were genuinely workingfor the state government.

He pointed out that while a lot ofworkers were collecting salarieswithout place of posting, thousandsof non-existing and redundantworkers bloated the state civilservice pay roll.

Abubakar said the committeehad also discovered that someworkers smuggled their way intothe state civil service using forgedcertificates.

Committee uncovers 7,000 ghost,redundant workers on Zamfara payroll

The committee cited an exampleof the state female education boardwhere 2,388 workers were on thepayroll of the government, butsurprisingly, could only capture1,539 workers in the verificationexercise.

He lamented that more than 50per cent of the Government Housestaff members comprised ofmainly “the ghost and redundant”workers.

Other governmentestablishments with large numberof ghost workers includedMinistries of Animal Health,Education, Teachers’ Service,Arabic and Islamic, HospitalServices Management andScience and Technical Teachers’Boards.

Yari, who received the report,commended the committee forthe speedy completion of itsassignment.

The governor, who wasrepresented by his deputy, AlhajiIbrahim Wakkala, restated thedetermination of the governmentto flush out unproductive workersas a way to rejuvenate the civilservice to meet the challenges ofglobal service delivery.

He said the government wouldwaste no time in implementingthe recommendations of thecommittee, no matter who it hurt.

transport commissionerstayed back to see the end ofthe meeting which lastedabout two hours.

Suswam had on Tuesday atthe official flag-off of fertiliserand agro-chemicalsdistribution for 2012 croppingseason at Igbor village in Gwerlocal government area of thestate, assured that he was notgoing to tolerate any act ofirresponsibility from anyofficial, no matter how highlyplaced.

He said anyone caughtengaging in any unsatisfactorybehavior would be sanctioned.

newsPAGE 4 Friday, July 27, 2012, National Accord

•L-R: Ministers of Housing, Ms Amal Pepple; Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, and Mines andSteel Development, Musa Sada at the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.

If only Attah Mills heededmy warnings – Bishop Jatau

As the whole West Africansub region and indeed theentire continent mourn

the death of the Ghanaianformer President, John AttahMills, a call has been made bythe Presiding Bishop of the FaithHill Prophetic Assembly, BishopEmmanuel Jatau to all publicoffice holders and indeed thosethat have regards for propheticinsights to learn from themistakes of the past in order toavoid a pre mature abortion oftheir destinies on earth.

The Bishop who spoke to theNational Accord yesterdaysaid he saw the death of thisbastion of African democracy farback in 2010 in a vision Godshowed him about the nation ofGhana, Libya and a few othercountries.

According to him, on the 3rd ofSeptember 2010, after the deathof Nigeria’s Umaru Yar’Adua,God gave him a message to passacross to the late Presidentwhich he said he took theresponsibility of sending one ofhis pastors to Ghana in order todeliver the message.

A copy of the letter he gave toNational Accord reads thus:“In my night rest of yesterday,the lord revealed a number ofimportant issues concerningyour administration, your goodself and your country to me”, hesaid.

Continuing further, the Clericsaid, “In line with the leading ofthe Holy Spirit, I hereby presentthem to you as follows: pleasepray against corpses in the citycapital which will be attributedto another Jerry Rawlings of the

century or due to electionrigging, political system failureor ill health in the form of heart,kidney or liver failure. Thankyou as you take time out of yourprecious time to pray in spite ofyour tight schedule, sir,” theletter said.

This spiritual warning wasneither heeded to noracknowledged, the result, theBishop says was “Theunfortunate incident thathappened on the 24th of July inwhich out of the blue, deathcame calling unannounced andthe whole country, sub regionand continent thrown intoanother session of mourning”.

In his usual weekly propheticreleases in October 2010, a copyof which was made available tothe National Accord, he statedcategorically that “If intensiveprayers were not offered by thePresidents of Ghana, Liberia,Gambia and Libya, deaths wouldloom in these countries’government houses”. A yearlater, Gaddafi who was said tobe a strongman on the continentwas cut down like a commoncriminal and now in a bizarremanner, Ghana lost someonewhom the whole worldcelebrates as the President of acountry described as the bastionof democracy on the continent.

This is not the first time thatthis type of unfortunateincident would happen when hisprophesies are taken withlevity. In 2005 when SosolisoAircraft crashed in the gardencity of Port Harcourt in Octoberof that year, this Cleric hadearlier warned one Mrs. White,(now late) in the month ofAugust not to travel by air

Kogi doctorsset to eliminateintra-sectoralbrain drain

The Kogi state chapter of theNigeria Medical Association(NMA) said on Wednesday thatit has set in motion strategies toencourage its members to acceptpostings to rural areas whereterminal diseases are prevalent.

The chairman of theassociation, Dr Attah Ameh, saidthis at a press briefing in Lokojaas part of activities marking thisyear’s annual general meetingof the association (AGM).

Ameh said that a proposal hasalready been sent to the stategovernment to ensure thatadequate facilities and welfarepackages are enhanced for allcategories of medicalprofessionals who are posted tothe rural areas as a panacea forrural-urban brain drain.

“If a doctor who is working inthe cottage hospital hasadequate equipment to workwith and commensurateconditions of living, he may notwant to come to the urban citiesfor greener pastures,” he said.

The chairman stated that as aremedial measure, thegovernment should introduce aspecial welfare package formedical professionals working inrural areas as an incentive todiscourage them from rejectingrural postings.

The NMA boss said that thetheme of this year’s AGM is“Health Care Delivery in Kogistate: A SWOT analysis,” addingthat the meeting would examineadvocacy to creating awarenessof terminal diseases among thepopulace.

Ameh, who noted that it wasunfortunate that most peopleare living with some killerdiseases like hypertension anddiabetes without knowing it, saidthe association would use theevent to offer free diagnosis andtreatment to people.

He said a team of doctorsselected to treat people will bedivided into three to handle thethree senatorial zones of thestate.

The NMA chairman said thatthe three-day event will focus oncreating awareness on thetreatment of diseases likehypertension, hepatitis B,diabetes, HIV /AIDS andmalaria, adding that treatedmosquito nets would bedistributed free-of-charge towomen.

Ameh said the association wasworking hard to increase thefrequency of its advocacy fromonce to three times a year so asto reach the majority of thetarget audience.

He called on the populace toavail themselves of thisopportunity to come to thedesignated centres for counselingand treatment, stressing thatthe process of using informationfrom antenatal to measure HIV/AIDS prevalence was notadequate, the association wouldrather want to use generalpopulation as a base data.

between that month andOctober.

Faithfully, the woman obeyeduntil a week to the day she diedin that ill-fated aircraft becauseshe rather decided to listen toher daughter, (a formerstudent of Loyola Jesuit Collegewho also died in the crash) thatthey should go by air ratherthan land to their base in PortHarcourt after the womanattended the graduationceremony of her daughter fromthat school.

According to this Man of Godwho is described in manyquarters as a gift to the nation,intensive prayers should bemade for journalists and mediahouses in the country becauseas he says, “A lot of Nigeriannewspapers will run intofinancial troubles in the lastquarter of 2012 even as assaulton journalists will be stepped upbecause of the planned attack bybusiness men and politicianswhose secrets are in the handsof those press men”.

Even the new President ofGhana, he said, if not prayerful,his presidential ambition willhead for the rock as there will bea sharp difference between himand Jerry Rawlings which willeventually create seriousdisharmony in the country andhis party will break up.

He says he sees time runningout on political office holdersespecially law makers whom hesaid will in the short time fromnow be stoned on the streets evenas he said Speaker AminuTambuwal should be veryprayerful or else a new Speakerwill take over from him beforehis tenure expires.

From ATOBOR JULIUS, Lokoja

Fayemi distributes7,880 chairs, desksto Ekiti schools

Governor Kayode Fayemi hascommissioned about 7,880desks and chairs fordistribution to publicprimary and juniorsecondary schools in Ekitistate in a new step to enhanceservice delivery in theeducation sector.

The governor is also expected toflag-off the Operation RenovateAll Schools in Ekiti (ORASE)programme on Thursday in eachof the three senatorial districts ofthe state.

Speaking in Ado Ekiti at the flag-off of the furniture and treeplanting campaign, Fayemi saidthat the state government placespremium on the education sector.

He stressed that it wasexpedient to mobilise all availableresources to rescue the sector fromthe rot that has displaced it fromtaking the lead in Nigeria’seducational system as well asensure quality education for theyounger generation.

The governor said the decisionto revamp the sector was not amere pledge but an “irrevocablecontract” that he has with thepeople of the state, hence themulti-dimensional and pragmaticapproach to education reformsince he assumed office in 2010.

Fayemi added that thedistribution of furniture was notonly aimed at ensuring thecomfort of pupils in the classroom,but also to create a condusivelearning environment that wouldassist in how well they assimilatetheir studies.

On the renovation of schools,the governor said that 100 out ofthe 180 schools in the state wouldwear a new look as they would notonly be rebuilt, but would also beequipped with 40,000 tables andchairs in the next two months.

Fayemi, who planted some treenurseries, said this was anecessary step in complementingthe force of nature as the world isfaced with challenges of globalwarming, adding that the trees,on maturity, would not onlyperform the wind breaking role,but also add to the beauty of theenvironment.

Speaking on the distribution ofgraduation gowns, the governorsaid the gesture was to get theattention of parents who areendeared to some high profileschools on turning theirgraduating pupils out in colourfulgraduating ceremony likeuniversity convocation.

The executive chairman of theState Universal Basic EducationBoard, Professor Modupe Adelabu,said the distribution of furnitureand tree planting were gearedtowards creating a pupil-friendlyenvironment where teaching andlearning, supported withinstructional materials, can takeplace.

Adelabu said that by thebeginning of the 2012/13academic session, a new set of7,880 chairs and desks wouldhave been distributed to bothprimary and junior secondaryschools for the use of both pupilsand their teachers.

She added that the presentadministration had invested somuch in the education sector andthe efforts were already yieldingpositive results.

By ANTHONY MALIKI

From ROTIMI OJOMOYELA,Ado Ekiti

PAGE 5National Accord, Friday, July 27, 2012

newsKano to benefit from 60megawatts solar power plant

• Mamman Nasir Ali (r) and Mahmud Tukur (m), leaving the court after their arraignment by EFCCover fuel subsidy at Ikeja High Court in Lagos, yesterday.

Kano state is to benefit from a60 megawatt (MWs) solarpower plant under a joint

project of Nigeria-GermanyEnergy Partnership, coordinatedby the National Energy Council.

The Senior Special Assistant tothe President on EnergyPartnerships Alhaji IbrahimShehu Njidda, made this knownduring a visit to Governor RabiuMusa Kwankwaso at the Kano stateGovernment House, saying theproject was part of plans to tap theabundant solar energy in thecountry, especially in northernNigeria, for development purposes.

“We discovered that for us to haveenergy, we should not wait for thefuture gas line backbone, that issupposed to come from Calabar toKano because we do not know how

Delta farmer gets death byhanging sentence for murder

long it will take for that particularproject to materialise as has beenenvisaged in the Gas Master PlanProject of the country,” Njidda said.

He explained that it was becauseof this that the National EnergyCouncil (NEC) and the Nigeria-German Energy Partnership cameup with the project, which is basedon scientific investigation thatsubstantial solar radiation is inabundance in all the northernstates.

The special assistant said thatinitially, the project was a pilot one,consisting 30 megawatts solarplant for each of the selected statesof the federation, adding thatbecause of the solar energyabundance, every state seemed tobe interested in it.

He however, explained that basedon a meeting with the Kano stategovernor earlier, it was reasonedthat Kano needed two power plants

Delta state commissioner fortransport, Mr Ben Igbakpa, hassaid the government’s decisionto lay off 19 staff of its masstransit firm was based on theinability to offer the servicesthey were employed to render.

The commissioner said thesacked workers had abandonedtheir civil responsibilities at theDelta Line, adding that they alsovandalised and sold parts of thevehicles in their care, therebyrendering most of the company’sfleet unserviceable.

“We also observed that many ofthe motor mechanics had notacquired skills in that area beforethey were employed by thecompany,” Igbakpa said, addingthat apart from their ‘itching palms,’they were found to be redundant,an act that could not be condonedby Governor EmmanuelUduaghan-led administration.

He said the state government plansto privatise the transport company,noting that since the decision wastaken, abandoned vehicles in its fleethave been repaired.

The commissioner said that over96 workers in the company havebeen laid off for various offences,adding that some workers wereredeployed to the securitydepartment as they fell short of therequirements to take on higherresponsibilities in the company.

“It is confirmed that Delta-Linestinks of fraud, and the governmentis not taking it kindly on that,therefore there is seriousinvestigation going on to remove thebad eggs,” the commissioner said.

Why We Sacked 19Delta Line workers– Commissioner

with a total capacity of 60megawatts, so as to stimulateeconomic growth by creatingemployment, businessopportunities and incomegeneration.

Governor Kwankwaso promisedthat his administration would doits best in meeting sharedobligations toward actualising theproject.

The governor said he hoped to seethat Kano was the first state tobenefit from the solar energyproject, pointing out that the projectwould be of immense benefit to thestate and Nigeria as a whole.

The representatives of theNigeria-German EnergyPartnership, the NEC and theSecretary to Kano StateGovernment, Rabi’u SulaimanBichi, jointly signed a Memorandaof Understanding to signal thecommencement of the project.

An Ogwashi-uku high courtin Delta state hassentenced Chukwutem Eke,a farmer, to death byhanging after convictinghim for the murder of a 15-year-old boy.

Justice Theresa Diai, said inher judgment on Tuesday thatEke was guilty of the murdercharge, adding that theprosecution led by Mr O.FEnenmo, successfullyestablished the ingredients ofmurder against Eke.

During prosecution,neighbours had confirmed thatthe accused person beheadedthe teenager for rituals, butdenied committing the offence.

“Having found ChukwutemEke guilty of the murder of

Chukwudi Ossai, I herebysentence you to death, that yoube hung by the neck until yoube dead. May God have mercyon your soul,”Justice Diairuled.

The Judge however,discharged the second accusedperson in the case, oneOgorchukwu Omolu, who wasstanding trial for the samemurder of

Ossai on the ground thoseingredients of the offence ofconspiracy to commit murderagainst him could not beproved by the prosecution.

Both Eke and Omolu, atractor operator, were chargedon a two count of murder andconspiracy to commit murder,punishable under section 324and 319(1) Cap 48 volume IIof the Criminal Code Law of

Bendel state of Nigeria asapplicable to Delta state.

Eke, a native of Ogume,Ndokwa West localgovernment area of Deltastate, was said to haveattacked the late Ossai, and hissister Onuwa, both of whomhad gone to weed their father’sfarm on November 30, 2008.

While the sister managed toescape from their assailant,the younger brother wasunlucky and was left at themercy of the accused whochopped off his head andremoved other vital parts of hisbody.

During cross examination,sister to the deceased narratedhow she escaped during theattack, adding that it was thesame day her brother waskilled.

From ALEX MOMOH OGWEMOH,Kano

Family members of a 70-year-old woman, Mrs RebeccaAdewumi, killed recently inOmuo Ekiti for allegedwitchcraft, has rejected theoutcome of an autopsy conductedon her by pathologists at theEkiti State Teaching Hospital,which rubbished the claim thatthe woman was tortured todeath.

The family also raised an alarm overthreats from a group of youths in thecommunity to banish them from thetown over the claim that theirmembers had been arrested by thepolice following complaints that theymasterminded the killing.

A family member and cousin to thedeceased, Mr Gabriel Omokanju, whomade this known in an interview withnewsmen in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday,said that the claim that the womandied as a result of foot ulcer, a woundshe carried for over two decades beforeher demise, was an attempt tocommute the case from murder tomanslaughter.

Alleging that the result wasmanipulated, the family said that themedical experts who performed theautopsy did not critically examine thedeceased, but only took note of her skinand found that there was no lacerationon the woman’s body to confirm thatshe was tortured to death.

Though the result of the postmortemhas not been made public yet, thefamily had the idea of the result,having been present when theexamination was done.

“On the autopsy, we are not satisfiedwith the outcome. It was manipulated.They said there was no laceration onher skin to confirm that she wastortured to death. They also claimedthat there was no mutilation on herfingers as we had earlieralleged,”Omokanju said.

“When they opened her stomach,they confirmed that she was notpoisoned to death but they found fewgrains of rice in her stomach 18 daysafter she had died, but no extractionfrom her stomach to confirm this. Thiswoman did not eat until she gave upso I don’t know where and when sheate the rice,” he queried.

Omokanju added that thepathologists confirmed that thepeeling of the deceased’s skin did notsuggest any torture, contrary to thefamily’s suspicion that that was asymptom of maltreatment.

He said the youths recently besiegedhis younger brother Mr TaiwoOmokanju’s home, beat him up andchased out the occupants of the house.

Omokanju revealed that the youthshad during the attack on his youngerbrother, allegedly threatened to burndown their family house, if they refusedto go on exile.

However, the Commissioner of Police,Mr Sotonye Wakama, said that nobodywas arrested in connection with thekilling, predicating this on lack ofwitnesses to volunteer information toconfirm the veracity of the claim thatthe deceased was tortured to death.

Adewumi was allegedly tortured todeath on June 30, 2012, by a youth’sgroup called ‘Omekula,’ for allegedlyafflicting her step-son, Ola Adewumi,with a strange illness throughwitchcraft.

Miffed by Mrs Adewumi’sdehumanisation culminating in her‘untimely’ death , the family hadpetitioned the commissioner of police,calling for the immediate arrest andprosecution of the perpetrators of thealleged killing.

Family rejectsautopsy reporton woman killedfor witchcraftFrom OCHEI MATTHEW, Asaba

From ROTIMI OJOMOYELA,Ado Ekiti

From OCHEI MATTHEW, Asaba

The Kebbi State UniversalBasic Education Board(SUBEB) has earmarked 140million naira to train 4,000teachers in the state.

The secretary of the board,Alhaji Sodangi Bello, said this inan interview with the NewsAgency of Nigeria (NAN) inBirnin Kebbi on Wednesday.

“The state in conjunction withthe federal government hasfashioned out a programme totrain and avail teachers withmodern methodology ofteaching.

“The society is dynamic, so wehave to be current,” he said.

Bello said last year, 5,000teachers were trained, addingSUBEB had received 140 millionnaira this year from the federalgovernment for the training ofteachers.

He said the federal governmentand the MillenniumDevelopment Goals (MDGs)would train headmasters in thestate from August this year.

“The state version of thetraining takes place at the endof August, 2012,” Bello said.

He said the board would notallow any vacuum during thetraining period, adding that theexercise was an annual event.

Kebbi SUBEBearmarks N140m forteachers’ training

PAGE 6 Friday, July 27, 2012, National Accord

opinion

STATE HOUSEMATTERS

YUSUF OZI-USMANBy

08075237773

oziusman@yahoo.com

High sounding economic gHigh sounding economic gHigh sounding economic gHigh sounding economic gHigh sounding economic grrrrrammarammarammarammarammar,,,,,figures: signifying nothingfigures: signifying nothingfigures: signifying nothingfigures: signifying nothingfigures: signifying nothing

Nigerians have neverbeen assailed with bigeconomic jargons

and high sounding figures bygovernment functionariessince the nation’sindependence, like they arenow witnessing.

Indeed, the governmentofficials, including the financeminister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; the minister ofPower, Professor BerthNnaji; the agric minister, Dr.Akinwunmi Adesina andtheir counterparts in thetrade andinvestmentministry, Dr. OlusegunAganga as well as even theinformation ministry,Labaran Maku have beenchurning out figures andblowing grammar to justifythe level of growth thenation’s economy or socio-economy has attained.

The rate of their tirades hasbecome not only laughablebut has attained some levelof impossibility, even to anordinary man like me whobelieves simply in results.The way they carry on withall sorts of jargons andintimidating grammar showthem out as if they are notaddressing Nigerians or as ifthey are just emerging fromother planets.

Only just last year, Dr.Olusegun Aganga rose to therostrum and announced thatthe Federal Government hadcreated about 1,401,242 jobswithin its first year in office.According to Aganga, underhis ministry, the Bank ofIndustry created 1,335,000jobs; the Small and MediumEnterprises Development

Agency, 31,122; Onne Oil andGas Free Zone, 30,000 andother Free Trade Zonesunder the Nigeria ExportProcessing Zones Authority,5,120. These give a total of1,401,242 jobs.

He went on to say that thevalue of loans approved byBoI to SMEs increased by68per cent or N77.74bn fromN114.30bn to N192.04bn,while the estimated jobscreated also increased by 34per cent or 335,000 from1,000,000 to 1,335,000 inthe year.

The minister of agricultureand Natural resources, Dr.Adesida is not lacking in bothgrammar and high flyingfigures. In fact, he has forsometimes now beenbubbling with mind buglingfigures not only on theproduction of food and thehuge amount of money thenation had made there from,but also the interest so many

international bodies haveshown in growing theagriculture in Nigeria.

The minister alsoannounced that the nationhas recently exported 1.1million metric tons of cassavaworth a total of $136 Million(about N21.7 billion) to othercountries.

According to him, thegovernment is alreadysubstituting wheat with highquality Cassava and thatbread development Fundswould be established tosupport the Master Backersin the use of modular Mills.

“Nigeria is the largestproducer of cassava in theworld but Nigeria does notadd value to cassava. Wewere able to show thatsubstitution of wheat withcassava can work. We aremoving forward substitutingwhat we produce for what weare importing. As we importwheat, we are creating jobs

for other countries. Nigeria,he added, is currentlyproducing 700 of the Mills.

Adesina also painted abeautiful picture of howInternational Fund forAgricultural Development(IFAD) and the AfricanDevelopment Bank (ADB)have approved 1.23 billiondollars (about N200 billion)to Nigeria to boost foodproduction, in addition to 900million dollars (about N123billion) which the World Bankhas also approved for the samepurpose. This is not to talkabout another 250 milliondollars (aboutN40 billion) bythe ADB to support thetransformation agenda ofPresident Goodluck Jonathanon agriculture.

Finance minister, Okonjo-Iweala also bandied somefigures to assuage the angryHouse of Reps members whothreatened to initiate a moveto impeach the President onaccount of poorimplementation of the 2012budget. The minister said thatas at the middle of this month,56 percent of the capitalprojects in the budget havebeen achieved, just as ProfessorNnaji has been bandyingimpossible figures to show howmany mega watts that havebeen added to the nation’s drive

Indeed, for ordinary Nigerians and, ofcourse, not so ordinary ones, the figuresbeing quoted and grammar that is being

blown are nothing more than imagelaundering and acknowledgement of the fact

that nothing is actually moving. Nigeriansare not interested in the huge amount ofmoney the government is busy giving out,

nor the number of international bodies thatare investing in the nation’s economy,especially when such do not in any way

translate into cheap product in the markets

By RALPH IKE

Driving a motor vehicleon Nigerian roads isoften perilous because

of people’s life style, in termsof excessive use of alcoholand hard drugs.

A drunk person on wheelscould hardly control himself,let alone his vehicle. Becauseof his level of intoxication; heis simply delirious. Havingbeen affected by delirium, theindividual suffers from atemporary mental disorder;he behaves as one having afever. Delirium is alsocharacterized byexcitement, hallucination oran apparent perception, asby sight or hearing, for which

Road safety sense for Nigeriansthere is no real externalcause. Sometimes, delirium isassociated with violentemotion.

The truth is that anintoxicated person ismentally poisoned; he haspoor sense of reasoning orjudgment. A motor vehicledriver or motorist in thiscondition is particularlydangerous to road trafficsafety. The use of hard drugsproduces similar effects as forexcessive intake of alcohol.Such motor vehicle drivers ormotorist have invaded us.

They are on the roads ofNigeria’s major cities wherethey maim or kill someinnocent road users. Day inand out, hundreds of

Nigerians get killed on theroads by this category of madmotorist. These insanepeople on steering hardlyadhere to driving rules andregulations. A motoristunder the influence ofalcohol or hard drug may notlook round or make use of thedriving mirror beforemoving off. He may neverlook at the driving mirror, tosee that no one is about toovertake him. But, drivingrules dictate that beforemoving off one shouldobserve properly and giventhe required signal. In otherwords, a good motoristshould only move out and offwhen it is safe to do so andwithout causing

for efficient power supply.Indeed, for ordinary

Nigerians and, of course, notso ordinary ones, the figuresbeing quoted and grammarthat is being blown are nothingmore than image launderingand acknowledgement of thefact that nothing is actuallymoving.

Nigerians are not interestedin the huge amount of moneythe government is busy givingout, nor the number ofinternational bodies that areinvesting in the nation’seconomy, especially whensuch do not in any waytranslate into cheapproducts in the markets.LestI forget, at present, prices ofcommon commodities suchas yam tubers, garri, pepper,tomatoes, rice, beans and soon, have skyrocketed in themarkets, and these are thingsthat worry ordinaryNigerians not the boardroomfigures of how far thegovernment has gone.

the earlier these grammarblowing ministers and theirlikes come to term with theserealities the better, though,such realities even if they know,may not stop them fromperpetually covering up theirinadequacies with figures,figures and figures with well-tailored grammar.

inconvenience to other roadusers. While a good motoristwould give way to passing andovertaking vehicles, themotorist under the influenceof alcohol or hard drug couldcareless.

An intelligent and sobermotorist knows when andhow to overtake anothervehicle. Overtaking mustnever be carried out unlessone can do so withoutdanger to himself or others.While attempting toovertake, one should beespecially careful duringpoor visibility e.g. at dust,mist or fog when it is moredifficult to judge speed anddistance.

Statistics show that most

accidents on Nigerian roadsoccur during overtakingmodes, as a result of poorjudgment of speed anddistance. The worstaccident mode on Nigerianroads is overtaking in a blindcorner or dangerous bend.A good number of Nigerianmotorist are guilty in thisregards. The guilty onesshould bear in mind thatovertaking is a skilfulexercise in the real sense ofthe expression. It takes a lotof time, practice andexperience to perfect in theart of good overtaking. Eventhe most skilful drivers ormotorists have the tendencyto misjudge the speed of theoncoming vehicles.

politicsPAGE 10 Friday, July 27, 2012, National Accord

Nasarawa stateopposition PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP)and a High Court Judgeare bickering overbribery allegationsraised against a Registrarin the court.

In a scenario of accusationsand counter-accusations; the(PDP has petitioned the StateChief Judge, Justice AhmedUbangari over the conduct ofthe Judge of High Court 1,Keffi, Nasarawa state, JusticeRidwan Maiwada Abdullahi.

Also, the High Court Judgehas accused the courtRegistrar of collecting bribefrom the state PDP in orderto stall the proceedings of thecase.

The issues were raised in apetition titled “Lack ofconfidence on the presidingJudge, Honourable JusticeRidwan M. Abdullahi in the

case of Hon. Emmanuel Bakoand 8 others (Plaintiffs)against Hon. Yunana Iliyaand 10 others (Defendants)”in connection to the casepresided over by JusticeAbdullahi”.

Bako and eight othersmembers of the PDP in thestate are challenging theelections that brought aboutthe enthronement of theYunana Iliya led executive aswell as praying the court todeclare the State Congressesof the party that producedtrhe officials null and void.

In the petition madeavailable to NationalAccord in Lafia, the statePDP chairman, Yunana Iliya;state secretary, AdamuOyanki and six others hascondemned the suggestion ofthe Judge that it had bribedthe Registrar, thus calling onthe state chief judge totransfer the case to anothercourt.

NasarNasarNasarNasarNasaraaaaawwwwwa PDPa PDPa PDPa PDPa PDP,,,,, J J J J Judgudgudgudgudgeeeee,,,,, bic bic bic bic bickkkkker oer oer oer oer ovvvvver briberer briberer briberer briberer bribery alley alley alley alley allegggggaaaaations ations ations ations ations agggggainst Rainst Rainst Rainst Rainst Reeeeegistrgistrgistrgistrgistrararararar

PDP yPDP yPDP yPDP yPDP youth wouth wouth wouth wouth warararararn Ecn Ecn Ecn Ecn Echochochochochochohohohohoaaaaagggggainst drainst drainst drainst drainst draaaaagggggging Goging Goging Goging Goging GovvvvvWada into his EFCC caseWada into his EFCC caseWada into his EFCC caseWada into his EFCC caseWada into his EFCC case

The PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP)National Youth RebirthForum (NYRF) hascautioned Alhaji IsaJibril Echocho againstdragging Governor IdrisWada into the Economicand Financial CrimesCommission (EFCC)case standing againsthim at the moment .

A statement jointly signedby Adeyemi Olabode John,national leader, AlhajiAbdulwaheed Umar, nationalsecretary and OkontaJohnson, national publicitysecretary released in Abujayesterday, stated that AlhajiEchocho should respond to

questions on his tenure atAfribank Plc rather than dragWada’s name into the case.

The forum said, “We areworried and disturbed thatinstead of Alhaji Jibril Isa toreact and answer to thequestions on the matter thatchallenges his activities whilehe was an employee ofAfribank Plc, he has resortedto cheap blackmail andunnecessary politicalcolouration of a very straightforward allegation”.

“ The matter is one thatquestions the position of theformer leadership of EFCCby making him prosecutingwitness in a case that heactively and officiallyparticipated in as a part of theleadership of Afribank Plcduring the period that costthe bankruptcy of the bank”.

“It is much moredisturbing that this man hasnow involved a police officerwho doubles as the ADC tothe governor in this grievousand highly disturbing fraudthat happened outside KogiState. We read with pain theallegation that the ADCwhom they alleged hascontact with the leadershipof EFCC is the author andsponsor of the genuine callfor EFCC to charge AlhajiEchocho and not as aprosecuting witness,” thestatement said.

ImpeacImpeacImpeacImpeacImpeachment thrhment thrhment thrhment thrhment threaeaeaeaeat:t:t:t:t: Maku Maku Maku Maku Makuasks Rasks Rasks Rasks Rasks Reeeeeps to shut upps to shut upps to shut upps to shut upps to shut up

Information minister,yesterday asked membersof the House of

Representatives to stopthreatening PresidentGoodluck Jonathan withimpeachment over the budgetimplementation for 2012.

“The President does not needto be threatened before he doesthings that would improve theliving standards of Nigerians.What would the House of Repsexpect the President to do, if itis not the full implementationof budget?”

The minister who briefedstate House correspondentsalong with Finance minister,Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala shortlyafter the Federal ExecutiveCouncil (FEC) meetingyesterday said: “it is not for theHouse of Representatives to tellus (the Executive arm ofgovernment) what we shoulddo”.

“The reason of our being hereis to implement budget andcarry out other programmesthat would improve the livesof Nigerians.”

Responding to the threat byHouse of Reps that the budgetmust be 100 percentimplemented by September,the finance minister said thereis no country in the world thathad implemented budget 100percent.

Okonjo-Iweala said howeverthat the executive wouldcontinue to do its best toimplement at least 80 percentof the budget before the end ofthe year.

According to her, as at themiddle of this month,implementation of the 2012budget on capital projects was56 percent, adding that thiswas a great leap from 39percent implementation rateby May last year.

Okonjo-Iweala said thatthere has been a monthlymeeting with the Presidentspecifically to review thebudget performances, sayingthat members of the NationalAssembly have been part ofboth budget making andimplementation.

The finance minister praisedthe executive for attaining 56percent budget

implementation against thebackground of the fact that thebudget only came intooperation in March this year.

The House ofRepresentatives, on Thursdaylast week, threatened tocommence impeachmentmoves on President Jonathanover what it described as poorimplementation of the 2012budget.

The lawmakers also queriedOkonjo-Iweala over non-releaseof funds to Ministries,Departments and Agencies(MDAs) of government toimplement projects.

They further urged PresidentJonathan to direct Okonjo-Iweala to stop forthwith herviolation of the 2012 budget aspassed by the NationalAssembly and release,accordingly, first and secondquarters’ appropriation to theMDAs and implement thebudget to the letter.

The House’s resolutionfollowed a motion moved byAlbert Sam-Tsokwa and 20others. The motion wasentitled: “Poor implementationof the 2012 budget,” and notedthat “while the recurrentexpenditure has kept pace withexpectations, capital budgetimplementation seriously lags

By TERNA DOKI

From TOR VANDE-ACKA, Lafia Iliya and others membersof his executive who signedthe petition which was datedJuly 23rd 2012; addressed tothe state chief judge andcopied to the Chief Justice ofthe Federation and NationalJudicial Council, condemnedthe bribery allegations raisedagainst them by the Judge.

The petitioners who arealso the defendants in the casesaid Justice Abdullahi made

the allegation in the opencourtroom when he accusedthe Registrar who explainedthat he had “mistakenly” takenthe file relating to the case tothe Appeal Court in Makurdi.

They stressed “My Lord(state chief judge), thecomment of the judge in thecommon sense inferencesuggests that we are the onesthat bribed the Registrar totake the file to the Court of

Appeal (in Makurdi) becauseit is we (Defendants) thatappealed against his ruling tothe Court of Appeal.”

The petitioners were of theopinion that the high courtjudge has always showninterest in the case throughhis conduct but that the heightof it was the briberyallegations he raised againstthem and more so in the opencourtroom.

…says President doesn’tneed threats to do his Job

By YUSUF OZI –USMAN

behind and leaves much to bedesired.”

According to Mr Sam-Tsokwa, “whereas themajority of MDAs havereached advanced stages in theimplementation of theprocurement process, they areunable to release contractaward letters as a result of therelease of insufficient funds ornon-release of funds, which hasfurther exacerbated thecrushing burden ofaccumulated debts.”

He said that the 2012national budget was passedwith aggregate expenditurefigure of N4.887 trillion,including the N180 billion forthe Subsidy Re-InvestmentProgramme (SURE-P).

Various chairmen of theHouse committees thatcontributed to the debate,which generated heatedarguments and emotions,berated the executive for thepoor implementation of the2012 budget and equallyfrowned on the false alarmbeing raised by the Minister ofFinance that the country wasbroke.

The lawmakers thensubmitted that from the datathey obtained from variousgovernment revenuegenerating agencies, except theNigerian National PetroleumCorporation (NNPC), thecountry’s economy was notdoing badly, as most of theagencies were said to havealready surpassed theirtargets.

The Minority Leader of theHouse, Femi Gbajabiamialahad noted that PresidentJonathan promised Nigeriansa budget of transformation butthat “what we have is a budgetof abracadabra and a voodooeconomy.”

Supporting his impeachmentcall, quoting Section 143,Gbajabiamila said: “if by thetime we resume in September18, 2012, budget has not beenimplemented by 100 percent,we shall begin theimpeachment process on Mr.President.”

•Minister of Information, LabaranMaku

•Gov Idris Wada

politicsPAGE 12 National Accord, Friday, July 27, 2012

But I know that people arelooking at it from the political

angle, where they feel thatGovernors will maneuver

their ways during electionsand things like that.

StaStaStaStaState crte crte crte crte creaeaeaeaeation is no solutiontion is no solutiontion is no solutiontion is no solutiontion is no solutionto Plato Plato Plato Plato Plateau crisisteau crisisteau crisisteau crisisteau crisis – – – – – Hon.Hon.Hon.Hon.Hon. TirTirTirTirTirselselselselsel

Like others, wouldyou say the declarationof state of emergency isnot the solution to theinsecurity problems inPlateau State?

Yes, I want to believe thatstate of emergency is not thesolution to the problem. Whyis it so? It is simply becausethe only way is to encouragestate policing. This isbecause even in the case ofstate of emergency, they stillhave their way. There areinstances where the Militarymen will tell you that theycan’t tackle a situation untilthey receive directive. Thatis the line of bureaucracy thatis affecting the whole thing.And sometimes, we look atsuch reactions as deliberate;a kind of connivance to dealwith us. That is the way welook at it. So, the best is forgovernors to be given somesupremacy on issues like this.That is why we shouldencourage state police.

But many have arguedthat State Police wouldeasily be abused bygovernors. Do you sharethe same conviction?

Well, I want to believe thatthe State Governors areleaders, just like any otherleader. This is not juststarting with Nigeria. In theUnited States, it is beingpracticed. You see that thesecurity system there isdecentralized. The stateshave their own, while theequivalent of our LocalGovernment Areas here, alsohave their own.

It is when it is decentralizedthat you have the power tocontrol the security. In asituation where the securitymen only wait for directive totackle a bad situation, youcannot solve the problems.For instance, a DivisionalPolice Officer in a LocalGovernment tells you that heis waiting for the

Commissioner from the StatePolice Headquarters fordirective to do certainthings. The Commissionerwill also tell you that he iswaiting for directive fromAbuja. It is worrisome if youlook at the line of references.Meanwhile, killings havebeen effected, crises are on,and virtually nothing is donebecause you have to wait forall these directives. But in aState where we have theGovernor as the ChiefSecurity Officer, he will reactimmediately, because it is athis own domain. He wouldnot likely waste any time.That is the way I look at it.

But I know that people arelooking at it from the politicalangle, where they feel thatGovernors will maneuvertheir ways during electionsand things like that. But Ithink we should look at themore serious problem ofinsecurity.

Many in Plateau haveclaimed it is even betterfor the Special TaskForce (STF) to go andthat they are betterwithout the STF thanwith it. Do you share thisview?

Yes, we are actuallyadvocating for that. And ofcourse, as far as we areconcerned, we have not seenanything with the State ofEmergency. The deploymentand re-enforcement upon re-enforcement has not yielded

anything. So, to us, it is asgood as saying let them go.And in fact, if you look at theconsistency of the attacks, itis even on the increase now,compared to what used to

happen.We have not been

encouraging violence. Wehave been doing our best toensure that our peoplemaintain peace. But then,there is difference betweenwhen people come to attackyou, and nothing is beingdone about it. It is better youare left to ensure about yourself defense. We have neversaid that we will attack, butlet us just be allowed todefend ourselves. I think thatthis point is clear; we shouldbe allowed for self defense.And the Constitution is clear,we should be allowed for selfdefense. If you have come to

kill me in my house, there isa way that I can push you, sothat I can run away. It is selfdefense in law.

So, to the best of myknowledge, I have not seenanything the Military is doingon the Plateau and someparts of this country.

Many people alsoextensively blame thesituation on the inabilityof the FederalGovernment to act onvarious reports ofprevious cases ofviolence on the Plateau.Do you also think so?

Yes, it is true. We have

HON. INNOCENT Z. TIRSEL is representing Shendan/Mikang/Qua'an/Pan FederalConstituency of Plateau State in the House of Representatives. In this interview with ourNational Assembly Correspondents OGBU NGENE and GABRIEL AGBONIKA, the Repsmember says while Plateau people have conceded political rights to settlers, no miraclewould make them surrender their traditional rights to non-indigenous peoples, not evencreation of s new state among other issues. Excerpts.

• Hon. Innocent Z. Tirsel

• Continued on page 14

PAGE 14 Friday, July 27, 2012, National Accord

politicsStaStaStaStaState crte crte crte crte creaeaeaeaeation is no solution to Plation is no solution to Plation is no solution to Plation is no solution to Plation is no solution to Plateauteauteauteauteau...............

• Hon. Innocent Z. Tirsel

• Continued on page 13

I don’t accept it as a solutionbecause one of the factors for the

creation of a State is culturalaffinity, historical background.

There are certain things that youneed to have in common that

would make it easier for a society.

series of reports from Plateau, andnone of them has been implemented.There have been several reports onthe previous cases, but none of themhas been implemented. And if theywere implemented, that is where I toldyou that certain things would havebeen properly addressed. There arethe issues of citizenship and indigene-ship; our limitations as a people. Allthese things are supposed to be there.There were a lot of InvestigativePanels set up by the FederalGovernment, but none of the reportshas been implemented. And it hasseriously contributed to theproblems. We don’t know what hasbeen happening at Abuja. We havehad very good reports and goodrecommendations that are left there.We expect the Federal Governmentto implement whatever Panel’srecommended.

In fact, to our greatest amazement,in the face of all the reports, coupledwith the rising cases of violence, theFederal Government seems not to bedoing anything about them. So, Itotally agree that it has been one ofthe major contributory factors forthe Plateau crisis.

In the face of all these lapses,is it right to say that you are ina hopeless situation?

It is not hopeless as such. But justlike I said earlier, why we are beingcheated on the Plateau is that peoplehave been coming to deal with us andgo free. And we don’t want to take thelaws into our hands. Some of us whoare the representatives of the peoplehave also been trying our best atcalming our people. You hardly canhear about any Plateau man going toattack anybody. It is those who comein that attack us in our houses andvillages. That is what we areexperiencing. So, it is not hopeless assuch.

But it is only hopeless at the pointof the Federal Government; the wayand manner they handle the Plateaumatter.

Of course, the State was trying tosolve the problem. Let me tell you, ata point in time, the State took adrastic action; and we were almostovercoming the issue, not until whenthe State of Emergency was declared.We were almost overcoming it at thatpoint. The solution of the problemwas setback by the declaration ofState of Emergency.

And the presence of the Force hasalways brought about suspicions ofconnivance or conspiracy. BothChristians and Moslems wouldcomplain of bias. But the fundamentalquestion is, “what is the cause of theproblem?”

The cause of the problem isencroachment. I think we shouldknow our limits. And that will solve

the problem. The Plateau man hasnot gone to Bauchi to fight. ThePlateau man has not gone to Sokototo fight. I keep citing examples. I say,as an indigene of Plateau State, I ama citizen of Nigeria; and can reside inSokoto, but I can never interfere,with their traditional institution. Icannot become the Sultan of Sokoto.I cannot become the Oba of Lagos.Let’s call a spade a spade. I shouldhave my limits when I am living there.

These are the kind of things we aregoing through in Plateau. It startedfrom them. There was an attempt to

make an Hausa man a ParamountRuler of a place in Jos North. Itstarted there. We have the records,and when we were trying to protectour territory, people now said that wewere not accommodating otherpeople.

But in politics, as stipulated in theConstitution of Nigeria, everybody isallowed to contest anywhere. Andthey have been doing it. Today, evenin the National Assembly, we havemembers representing Plateau whoare Hausa/Fulani. They are also therein the State House of Assembly, as

well as Local Government Areas.There are Yoruba’s and Igbos servingas Councilors in Jos. And not only inelections, on appointments, have wegiven them positions.

So, while we have never said no tothese, they shouldn’t interfere withwhat is our own. And that has alwaysbeen the issue. This is the beginningof the problem. And because weresisted, it became a problem. And itwill interest you to know that the Chiefof Ogbomosho was one of the earlysettlers in Jos. In fact, he has a hotel,popularly known as Terminus hotel,from where the ‘Terminus” was gotas the name of this major part of Jos.He named the hotel “Terminus”because it is located near the NigerianRailway Terminal. And the name ofthe entire area became Terminus tilltoday. That man should have soughtto become the Chief of Jos. Butrightly, he went back to his origin tobecome the Chief.

And one of the other things we arefacing with these people is that anytime you talk to them, they tell you,“We don’t know where we camefrom. This is our place”. How can yousit down over-night and say that youdon’t know where you are comingfrom? How will we not know, whenevery now and then, we fill forms andgive out our curricula, indicatingwhere were are coming from; andsome people will claim that they don’tknow where they are coming from?.I think that is a lie. That is a lie.

And it is in the Constitution, thatthere are number of years wheresettlers become indigenes of aparticular place, especially when it isa virgin place. But in this case, youare coming to meet people in theirplace.

But sometimes, I look at our solidminerals as the reason. Most of themcame for mining, but when the miningwas over, they couldn’t get backagain. They settled there. And ofcourse, we enjoyed them. We weretogether. We accommodated themand gave them places; and allowedthem to get a lot of things, but thenthey are intervening with ourtraditional institution.

That is just the issue. Do you see creating a State

for them as the solution to thisparticular problem, as well asother places with similarissues?

I don’t accept it as a solutionbecause one of the factors for thecreation of a State is cultural affinity,historical background. There arecertain things that you need to havein common that would make it easierfor a society. But in a situation whereyou have diverse people, they willfind it very difficult to live together.

• Continued from page 12

PAGE 13National Accord, Friday, July 27, 2012

politics

OGSIEC promises torespect rule of Law

•Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State (5th from l) inspecting areas affected by flood in GombeMetropolis.

Chairman of the OgunState IndependentElectoral Commission

(OGSIEC),Alhaja RisikatOgunfemi says hercommission will continue toperform its activities withinthe ambit of the law.

She made the remarkyesterday in Abeokuta whilepresenting certificate ofreturn to the Chairman electof Imeko Afon Localgovernment, Engr. AyilaraTajudeen .

The OGSIEC Chairman who

said her commission was acreation of law explained thatthe electoral body believedthat for democracy to thrivethere must be genuinerespect for the rule of law.

While noting that the delayin the release of the electionresults for Imeko Afon wasas a result of OGSIECs respectfor the rule of law, she saidthe body would continue toobey all court orders,provided that such ordersfollowed due process.

She said” in whatever wehave been doing at OGSIEC,we have allowedtransparency to be our

The Peoples DemocraticParty(PDP), Ekiti StateChapter, has declared thatharmonization of theState Working Committeeas being agitated byaggrieved members of theparty was illegal andunconstitutional.

The party urged itsaggrieved members to stoptheir continued agitation forharmonization of the StateWorking Committee (SWC) inthe State to protect the party’sconstitution.

The party Chairman in theState, Chief MakanjuolaOgundipe and his Deputy, HonFemi Bamisile, made thestatement in Ado Ekitiyesterday after a meeting withthe former Governor of OyoState, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala who was on areconciliation move to Ekiti.

The duo said the Ekiti Stateparty executive was legallyelected and any move forharmonization will betantamount to illegality.

Speaking to newsmen afterthe brief meeting held at ChiefClement Awoyelu’s House inEkute quarters in Ado Ekiti,praised the former GovernorAkala for clearly stating thathe was not in the State toharmonize the executive but toreconcile the aggrievedmembers with the mainstream.

It will be recalled that shortlyafter the conduct of the StateCongress election, whereOgundipe, a close ally of formerGovernor Ayodele Fayose andthe Minister of Police Affairs,Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade hasemerged, the party has notknown peace to date.

Ogundipe and 13 members ofthe SWC , emerged fromOlubolade/Fayose’s group andthose sponsored by former

Ekiti PDP Chairmanpreaches reconciliation

Governor Segun Oni fordifferent positions lost out inthe election.

“There should not be any basisfor harmonization. Electionwas validly conducted andvictors emerged in thepresence of the representativesof the National leadership andINEC, so any arrangement forharmonization between us andthe aggrieved is tantamount toillegality and totally uncalled-for”, Ogundipe said.

He commended Akala forbeing on the side of the truthand logical reasoning thatelection was held and formaking his stance known thatall he was pursuing is totalreconciliation for PDP to beformidable enough to dislodgethe ruling Action Congress ofNigeria in 2014 Governorshipelection in the State.

Lending credence toOgundipe’s position, Bamisileadded that the reconciliationwill be pursued thoroughly, sothat the aggrieved could sheaththeir swords and join theOgundipe-led executive to re-energize PDP ahead of futureelections.

He said the present executiveis not taking a hard position onthe issue of the Congressconducted ,but was onlystanding on the side of theConstitution, which they havesworn to uphold.

Speaking against the backdropof how the executive membershave shunned the reconciliationmeeting earlier scheduled tohold in Ibadan about a monthago,Bamisile retorted “the crisisemanated in Ekiti and weexpected that the matter wouldbe allowed for our leaders hereto handle rather than referringus to Ibadan.

“What I am sure of is that, thismatter will be resolved in away that there won’t be anyVictor or vanquished”,Bamisile assured.

From OYINDAMOLA IDOWU,Abeokuta

Ugbah who spoke toNational Accord inconfidence said that Ugbahand some leaders of theparty including Chief JohnUsaka were furious whenthey allegedly discoveredthat over N16m that wasbudgeted for the event wasdiscovered to have ended inprivate pockets of individualssaddled with theresponsibility of putting theoccasion together.

He cited an example thatthough a former chairman ofone of the local governmentsin the state was mobilized

Financial misappropriation scatters Benue ACNFrom ATI TERKULA, Makurdi with N500, 000 for venue, it

became an embarrassingsituation when after thechurch service; there was noadequate arrangements atthe venue of reception.

Tension was heightenedwhen three days after theevent, there was no newsabout the elaborate occasionfrom both the print andelectronic media in the statewhere the leaders inquiredonly to discover thatN200,000 that was voted tofacilitate publicity never leftthe itchy the palms thatcollected it from the purse.

watchword because Officialsof OGSIEC have nothing tohide”

It is on record that 19 out ofthe 20 elected chairmenwere on Monday presentedwith their certificates ofreturn by OGSIEC , but thatof Imeko Afon localgovernment was delayedbecause of a court order.

Speaking with newsmenafter receiving his certificateof return, the new Chairmanof Imeko Afon localgovernment Engr. Tajudeenassured that he wouldembark on peoples orientedprogrammes

Benue state chapter ofthe opposition ActionCongress of Nigeria(ACN) is at the momentembroiled in series ofcrises, hinging on lack ofconfidence and allegedf i n a n c i a lmisappropriation.

National Accord,gathered that already, theformer Senate President, Dr.Iyorchia Ayu is at aprolonged loggerheads withthe former governor of thestate and incumbent

Minority leader of theNigerian Senate, SenatorGeorge Akume, whorepresents Benue NorthWest, over the stateleadership of the number oneopposition party.

However, NationalAccord gathered that therecent development thatgenerated more sparks waslast Sunday’s thanksgivingorganized by some Benueelders to thank God for thelife of the 2011 gubernatorialcandidate of the ACN in thestate, Prof. Steve Ugbah.

A source close to Prof.

A leader of the youth,Saater Tiseer told NationalAccord that his group had toseek audience with Ugbah toavail him of the schemingbehaviour of some of hislieutenants who don’t care tocarry them along in any of theparty activities .

He however said that sinceUgbah pleaded with thempromising change for thebetter in the running of theparty’s programmes. Whencontacted, the state secretaryof the party, Mr. JonathanGyuse said, ‘we have no crisesplease’.

From ROTIMI OJOMOYELA,Ado-Ekiti

newsPAGE 15NATIONAL ACCORD, Friday, July 27, 2012

Borno Govt. to fumigate drains, canals to prevent diseasesThe Borno State EnvironmentalProtection Agency (BOSEPA) isto embark on the fumigation ofpublic drains and canals in theMaiduguri, as part of measuresto prevent outbreak of diseases.

The agency's GeneralManager, Alhaji Abba Aji, statedthis in an interview with the

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)yesterday in Maiduguri.

``We are working towardsfumigation and spraying ofchemicals in the entiremetropolis to prevent diseaseoutbreaks.

``The objective is to preventmalaria and cholera outbreaks,

which are associated with therainy season,'' Aji said.

He said that the chemicals willbe sprayed in drainage andwater channels to prevent thegrowth of vermin and disease-carrying vectors frommultiplying.

Aji added that the exercise

Etsu Nupe callson govt tocreate jobsParamount traditional

ruler and Chairman ofNiger State Council ofChiefs, His royal

highness, Etsu Nupe ,YahayaAbubakar, has advised variousgovernments in the country todo everything humanlypossible to create employmentopportunities for the army ofunemployed youths as apanacea for the current securitychallenges that the Nigeria isfacing.

The royal father said that forthe nation to experience peaceand stability, government mustbegin to create an enablingenvironment that will provideemployment opportunities forthe youths in the countrythrough sustainableagricultural programmes.

Abubakar said that,government should begin toshow responsibility to the lotsof her people by decentralizingher policies with fullimplementation, to variouslocalities in the states, in order

• Director, Planning, Statistics and Documentation, National Human Rights Commission, Mrs EmilyHerbert, delivering a paper at the one-day sensitization meeting of MDAs on national action planningin Abuja.

would also concentrate ondensely populated and floodravaged areas for effectiveresult.

He explained that the exercisewould have taken place at thestart of the rains, but for thecurfew imposed on parts of thestate by the Joint Task Force

to earn government supportand bring about the neededpeace in the country.

Abubakar made the call in hispalace while receiving inaudience, the leadership of theNigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ), Abuja Council, whichpaid him a condolence visit onthe demise of his mother, in BidaNiger state.

The Etsu Nupe, said that anation where the basic needs ofthe people such as food, shelterand clothing as well asemployment opportunities, isnot made available, there isevery possibility of chaos andpolitical unrest, especially nowthat imitation throughimproved technology is now theorder of the day in mostdeveloped countries.

Speaking earlier, Chairman ofthe Abuja Council of the NUJ,Comrade Chuks Ehirim,informed that the media inNigeria, which has a very crucialrole to play in the continuedunity of the country, as well astraditional institutions, is set toseek synergy and partnership

between the Nupe TraditionalCouncil, especially in this timeof threat to nationaldevelopment.

He stressed that, thetraditional rulers require thenecessary constitutionalbackings to enable themgalvanize the people towardsnation building and mitigateany untoward behaviorcapable of derailing thedevelopment of the country.

Ehirim further called forthe collaboration of thetraditional council with theNUJ, for timely solutions androadmaps to issues ofnational importance that willfoster the bonds of unity,brotherhood and religiousharmony in the country.

The leadership of the AbujaNUJ, used the occasion tocondole with the Etsu Nupeover the demise of hismother, Hajiya GoggoBantigi Abubakar, whom itdescribed as a woman ofsubstance, and prayed thatGod grants him the fortitudeto bear the loss.

(JTF) on operation restoreorder.

``We could not pray thechemicals due to the curfew,which restricted movements ofindividuals from 6 p.m. to 7a.m. Now that the curfew isrelaxed we have enough time tospray,'' Aji said.

By CHUKS EHIRIM

Duke urgesNigerians toembrace goodvirtuesThe Minister of Culture, Tourismand National Orientation, ChiefEdem Duke, in Abuja on Tuesdayurged Nigerians to embracegood virtues.

Duke made the call at theopening of a four-dayprogramme, with the theme``Restoring National Securityand Peace through Value Re-orientation'', organised by theNational Orientation Agency(NOA). By being virtuous anddoing the right thing, we will bere-defining ourselves,'' theminister said.

He said Nigeria was endowedwith natural resources and ``wemust therefore not allow themto overwhelm us.''

Duke observed that Nigerianshad also recorded success indifferent parts of the world asprofessionals, contributing tothe development of their hostcountries and making sure peacereigned there.

He therefore urged allNigerians to believe in theirability to excel in all theirundertakings.

World IgboCongressadmitted intoUNECOSOCThe World Igbo Congress(WIC), a non-governmentalorganisation (NGO), has beenadmitted into the UnitedNations' Economic and SocialCouncil (ECOSOC).

Dr. Acho Orabuchi, MediaDirector of WIC, announcedthis in a statement madeavailable to the UNCorrespondent of the NewsAgency of Nigeria (NAN) inNew York on Tuesday.

The statement said WIC'sadmission took place during aregular session of the worldbody in Geneva on Tuesday.

``The world bodyunanimously voted to ratify theadmission of WIC into theECOSOC of the UN on a SpecialConsultative Status,'' it said.

NAN reports that Article 71of the UN Charter opened thedoor, providing for suitablearrangements for consultationwith NGOs.

To be eligible for consultativestatus, an NGO must have beenin existence for at least twoyears and must have anestablished headquarters.

Being in existence meansbeing officially registered withthe appropriate governmentauthorities as an NGO or non-profit body.

Also, for an NGO to gain thisstatus, it must have, amongothers, a democratically-adopted constitution andauthority to speak for itsmembers.

It must also have arepresentative structure,appropriate mechanisms ofaccountability and democraticand transparent decision-making processes.

The basic resources of theorganisation must be derived,in the main part, fromcontributions of the nationalaffiliates or other componentsor from individual members.

With the status, the body nowhas the opportunity to takeadvantage of the economicdevelopment programmes ofseveral UN agencies thatpartner with NGOs under theECOSOC arrangement,' WICsaid in the statement.

It added that WIC wouldutilise the resources of the UNorgans that deal with socialissues, which would help thegroup deal with Igbo social andeconomic issues.

Lagos DeputyGov. tasks CJon quickdispensationof justiceThe Lagos State DeputyGovernor, Mrs AdejokeOrelope-Adefulire, has urged thenew State Chief Judge, AyotundePhilips, to create an enablingenvironment that wouldguarantee efficient dispensationof justice.

Orelope-Adefulire made thecall in Ikeja on Tuesday when shereceived Phillips in her office.

She noted that theadministration of justice hadbeen taken to a greater height byher predecessor, JusticeInumidun Akande, and urgedher to sustain the tempo. Icharge you to sustain the tempoof administration of justice in thestate for others to follow and thisassignment comes with a hugeresponsibility," she said.

The deputy governor advisedthe chief judge to work with theState Attorney General andCommissioner for Justice toreview the various laws of thestate.

newsPAGE 16NATIONAL ACCORD, Friday, July 27, 2012

Time to reinvigorate devtstrategies in Anambra – Onuogbolu

Former SpeakerAnambra State Houseof Assembly, Hon.Bart Onuogbolu, has

said that tomorrow's plan by thestate's former governor, Dr.Chiwonke Mbadinuju, to presentthe fruits of his labor to theNigerian public in a book"Stewardship andAccountability: How I Governed

Anambra State" will throw intolimelight the developmentchallenges the state encounteredsince 1999 to date.

Hon. Onuogbolu said in pressstatement issued in Abujayesterday, that the event offersan opportunity to x-ray and re-assess the successivedevelopmental strategies inNigeria and Anambra state inparticular with the prospect ofbeing able to identify areas that

need improvement.He noted that "The book will

open up option of approaches forthose who occupy publicpositions like governorsnationwide especially theincumbent Anambra stategovernor, Peter Obi.

"Without a doubt, Anambra, afrontline Igbo state, has been inthe news since 1999 both forgood and bad reasons. Given thecomplexity of the state and the

Residents protestdemolition in New KuchigoroSome residents of NewKuchigoro in Abuja onTuesday protested againstthe demolition of theirhouses by AbujaDevelopment ControlDepartment.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that theprotesters mounted a roadblock along the Games Villageroute in the Federal CapitalTerritory and made bonfires toexpress their anger.

However, a large contingentof security personnel was atthe scene to calm down theprotesters and maintain peace.

Mr Johnson Garba, aresident of the village, toldNAN that only one week noticewas given to them to leave thearea and stressed that the time

• Niger State stand at the Nigeria Culture and Expo Market at Stratford, London.

Dass LG is mostpeaceful in Bauchi

Dass Local Government Area inBauchi State has been adjudgedthe most peaceful with theprovision of adequate security.

This was made known by thechairman, CaretakerCommittee, Alhaji MohammedAlhassan, who also describedsecurity maintenance as thebed-rock of his localgovernment administration.

"Dass local government hasbeen known for living in peace,we have adequate security andlaw and order has been theorder of the day right from timeimmemorial", Alhassan said.

Alhaji Alhassan who wasfielding reporters' questions inBauchi noted that it was for thisreason that whenever there iscrisis in neighbouring localgovernment or southsenatorial district which amongothers, comprised of Dass,

From USMAN SHEHU Bauchi

By CHUKS EHIRIM industry of its residents, not lessis expected. From the fiercebattles of the godfathers andtheir patrons in Abuja, whostopped Mbadinuju's dynamicleadership to the kidnapping ofNgige; to the denial of Peter Obi'smandate for three years; and nowto the crisis bedeviling the rulingPDP in the state, Anambra statehas missed series of opportunitiesto better the lots of the people."Hon. Onogbolu said.

He said he was appealing, as amajor stakeholder, for allAnambra people to bury thehatchet, join hands together,unite and ensure thatgovernment deliversdemocracy dividends to thepeople.

It is an act of courage thatwould benefit not just thegovernment of Anambra and itspeople but also the entirecountry."

people run to the localgovernment area for safety.

"I want to say that withoutmincing words that this is whywhenever there is crisis aroundDass local government oraround Bauchi state, peoplefrom nooks and corners fromthe trouble areas run to Dass toseek for shelter and weaccommodate them", hestated.

The caretaker chairmanexplained that as a result of thecouncil's securitymaintenance, the population ofthe local government and itsDass headquarters in particularhas been increasinggeometrically.

Alhassan said that his councilon assumption to duty hasbeen maintaining that securitystatus of Dass local governmentwith all the necessary supportand cooperation it has beenreceiving from the Yuguda ledadministration in the state.

was too short for them torelocate elsewhere.

``Most residents in thevillage had gone to theirvarious places of work beforethe demolition team came andthey destroyed all ourproperty,'' he said.

Garba said the residents ofthe village were non-indigenes, who bought plotsfrom the indigenes.

Another resident, GraceAyuba, also expressed angerover the demolition, sayingtheir property, includingfarms, were destroyed duringthe exercise.

The residents claimed thatsome villagers died during thedemolition.

Mrs Josie Mudashiru, Headof Public Relations Unit,

Department of DevelopmentControl, Abuja MetropolitanManagement Council, toldNAN that the people weregiven sufficient notice.

``We gave them enoughnotice before we commencedthe demolition, " she said.

``There was no life lost,rather they attacked us;injured one of our officers;vandalised our vehicle andprevented us from carryingout our duty,'' Mudashiru said.

She said that the demolitionto be carried out in 19 villages,would affect only the buildingsof non-indigenes, shanties andillegal structures.

Also, ACP Sunday Odukoya,the leader of the policecontingent, said no life was lostduring the demolition.

State police will address securitychallenges, says Jos MonarchThe Gbong Gwom Jos, DaGyang Buba, on Tuesday saidthat Nigeria's security situationwould improve if individualstates were allowed to own theirpolice forces.

Buba, who spoke at a funeralservice for Sen. Gyang Datongheld at the Government House,Rayfield, Jos, called for anamendment of the Constitutionto legalise state police.

``After all, the dailysponsoring and running of theNigerian Police is done bygovernors across the country.It is the governors that providevehicles and other gadgets forthe force to work with.

``In the case of Plateauspecifically, the police menhardly know the terrain ofwhere they have been posted towork. But if there is a statepolice, they wouldn't need tolearn the terrain afresh.

``In the midst of the horrorin Plateau State, our governor

cannot even control anysecurity operative, even theBoys Brigade of the church,'' hesaid.

The monarch also pickedholes in the nation's federalcharacter policy, declaring thatit was not functioning.

Buba regretted thatgovernors were not in controlof the security of their statesbecause of the presentconstitutional arrangement,calling for prompt amendmentof the Constitution to improvethe situation.

He said that the continuousattacks in Plateau was anagenda by people seeking todestroy the state, noting thatsome ``enemies'' were bent ondestroying the state.

The traditional ruler said thatsome unseen forces were alsobent on `capturing andcontrolling'' Plateau at all cost,urging the people to unite andpray against such forces.

newsPAGE 17NATIONAL ACCORD, Friday, July 27, 2012

Cassava exportrakes in N21.7bn,says agric ministerMinister of agriculture andnatural resources, Dr.Akinwunmi Ayo Adesina hasannounced the export of 1.1million metric tons of cassavawhich has raked in a total of$136 Million (about N21.7billion) for the country.

The minister spoke to StateHouse correspondents alongwith special adviser toPresident Goodluck Jonathan,Dr. Reuben Abati shortly afterpresenting his ministry'sbudgetary performance to thePresident at the PresidentialVilla.

He said that the governmentis already substituting wheatwith high quality Cassava,adding that bread developmentFunds would be established tosupport the Master Backers inthe use of modular Mills.

"Nigeria is the largestproducer of cassava in theworld but Nigeria does not add

value to cassava. We were ableto show that substitution ofwheat with cassava can work.

"We are moving forwardsubstituting what we producefor what we are importing. Aswe import wheat, we arecreating jobs for othercountries.

The minister said that Nigeriais currently producing 700 ofthe Mills, adding that thecountry needs to haveenzymes and cassavaenhancers.

"I am pleased to report thatwithin 90 days Cassava breadwas commercialized by UACand not by government .This isthe first time this will everhappen in Africa. The bread is60 percent cheaper than othersand it has a lower level ofGlycemic."

The minister regretted thatNigeria has been losing about60n percent of the food itsfarmers produce because therehas been no good processing

By YUSUF OZI-USMAN

• Abiola Ajimobi, Governor of Oyo State, Olajumoke Akinjide, Representative of the President andSagir Hamidu, Director of Special Duties, FCTA during the visit by the delegation of the President tothe governor over the demise of his mother, Sikirat Abeje Ajimobi in Ibadan, recently.

Kogi police boss blamesresidents for crime surge

The Commissioner of Police inKogi State, Alhaji MuhammedMusa Katsina, has lampoonedresidents for not exposingcriminals in their domainsaying the attitude wasresponsible for the rise ofcriminal activities in thecountry.

The CP made the assertionfollowing the attack on Unitybank and a police station atIyara in Ijumu Localgovernment Area of the state.

Katsina stated this in his officerecently while briefingjournalists of the activities ofthe command said a situationwhere some of the affectedcommunities were not willingto divulge information to thepolice will hamper theefficiency of the police in fishingout criminals.

"While some communities insome parts of the state arecooperating with the police,others refused to corporatewith us. The success recordedin the discovery of bombfactory in some parts of thestate was as a result of the

system to add value to them."In terms of improving rural

infrastructure, access tomarket and value services, thetransformational agenda ofPresident Jonathan inagriculture is very clear.

"We are going to add 20Million metric tons of food to thedomestic food supply by 2015,"

On the budget performanceby his ministry, Dr. Akinwunmisaid that since the budget waspassed on the 15th of March,2012 and the agriculture' sseason started in January, onlyN13.8 billion out of the N48.1billion allocated for capitalproject has been released

"And so far, we have spent9.4Billion of the amountreleased. We have achieved 68percent utilization at least forthe main Ministry, while someof our parastatals haveachieved as much as 100percent of the amount releasedto them from March when thebudget was passed."

From ATABOR JULIUS, Lokoja cooperation from the public."these miscreants live with usand carry out their activity intheir area before going foroperation yet they refused toinform the police," he charged.

He said so far one suspect hasbeen nabbed by his men whohad earlier laid ambushwarning conspirators of theconsequences of their action asthe command is determined topunish whoever that wascaught no matter highly placedin the society at the end of theinvestigation.

The police boss hinted thatthe command's strategy isyielding results as more bombfactories have been discoveredand high profile robberies havebeen foiled

The CP however dispel therumor that two dead bodieswere found at the scene sayingthat it has not been confirmedas the police is still combingthe area to locate the corpse .

It would be recalled that therobbers had last week Fridaybomb a police station and unitybank branch at Iyara killing apoliceman and injuredanother.

Coalition seeks more slotsfor local waste contractors

A group, Coalition of HumanRights Organizations in Oyostate has asked the stategovernment to consider andgive more slots to the statebased waste managementcontractors to ensure justiceand fairness in the selection ofcontractors.

The coalition made thisknown through a petition lettertitled RE: BIDDING FOR THECLEAN STREET INITIATIVEOF THE OYO STATE SOLIDWASTE MANAGEMENTAUTHORITY - REQUEST FORA JUSTICE AND EQUITYaddressed to the stateGovernor Senator AbiolaAjimobi signed by its chairmanComrade Kunle Fajemboladated July 17th 2012 and madeavailable to our correspondentin Ibadan the state capital.

The state based contractorsaccording to the statement arethose who worked for theparty's success in the lastelections and are familiar withthe terrain of the state.

The body accused the stateMinistry of Environment andHabitats and the statechairman of WasteManagement Authority, Eng.Adebisi Adesina for allegedlybrought "foreign contractors"from Lagos at the detriment ofthe state based ones who"worked tirelessly andseriously" to ensure that theparty emerged at the last

elections.The letter reads: "we received

protests letters from variouscontractors who bided for theClean Street Initiative by theOyo State Waste ManagementAuthority. The content of theletters was that there wasinjustice in the criteria themanagement used to select thecontractors.

"Also, the protesterscomplained that most of thecontractors out of the selected12 came from Lagos state,while the people /contractorsthat worked seriously andtirelessly for the party toemerge in the state weredenied their rights todemocratic dividends. Whyshould it be, is it because thechairman of the Oyo StateWaste Management Authoritywas imported from Lagos stateto become the Chairman" thestatement queried.

The group lamented that the12 contractors selected out ofabout 40 that bided for thecontract were not enough toservice the 12 service areaswith about 60 routes just as iturged the two partiesconcerned; Ministry ofEnvironment and Habitats andthe Waste ManagementAuthority chair to address theissue with equity to increase thenumber from 12 and considermore local contractors to givethem chances to serve theirpeople and also enjoydividends of democracy.

From MUSLIUDEEN ADEBAYO,Ibadan

Imo Commissioner for Health,Dr Joe Njoku, has said hisministry would distribute 1.8million Long-LastingInsecticidal Nets (LLINs) toresidents of the state's 27 LocalGovernment Areas (LGAs).

Njoku who stated this at aceremony to flag off the LLIN'sUniversal Distribution

Imo to distribute 1.8m mosquito netsin 27 LGAs, says Commissioner

Campaign on Tuesday inOwerri, said the distributionwould take place from July 26to July 29.

He said 18,000 traineddistributors and otherimplementers working fromthe communities through theLGAs to the state level wouldbe involved.

The commissioner said at theend of the campaign everyhousehold in the state wouldhave received at least twoLLINs.

He said this would enable atleast 80 per cent of childrenunder five years of age andpregnant women to sleep in thenets.

The worrisome state ofinsecurity in Nigeriawhich largely started

about two years ago gave riseto the formation of theAssociation of Stakeholders forNational Unity (ASNU) by agroup of patriotic journalistsand friends of the media onSaturday April 21, 2012 atSun City Estate, Abuja.

Their worries include theharsh realities currently facedby Nigeria, a nation whosebinding fabrics are now beingseriously threatened byinternecine crises and theacute suffering of the citizensas a result. These crises rangefrom terrorism, religiousintolerance, ethnocentrism,politically induced violence,kidnapping and the like. All ofthese have resulted in steadyerosion of the pillars of Nigerianunity and the withering ofindividual’s sense of nationalfeeling. The problems havebeen aggravated by somesevere economic, social andpolitical ills afflicting theNigerian society today with

NGO’NGO’NGO’NGO’NGO’s loud call fs loud call fs loud call fs loud call fs loud call for naor naor naor naor national unitytional unitytional unitytional unitytional unity,,,,,rrrrre-orientae-orientae-orientae-orientae-orientation and rtion and rtion and rtion and rtion and re-ae-ae-ae-ae-awwwwwakakakakakeningeningeningeningening

PAGE 19

featureNational Accord, Friday, July 27, 2012

• President Goodluck Jonathan

The Association of Stakeholders for National Unity, (ASNU) led by some mediagurus, including the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the FCT Minister, Mr.Nosike Ogbuehi, Gbenga Onaiyga of Radio Nigeria and Yusuf Addy of NTA,among others, on Friday 20 July, 2012, at the NUJ Press Centre, Utako-Abuja,made a clarion call through its coordinator, Mr. Ogbuehi, for national unity, re-orientation and re-awakening among Nigerians, in the face of the country’spresent turbulent times. CHRIS DNK RICHARDS was there and reports.

debilitating symptoms ofpoverty, pervasive corruption,greed, poor governance andwidespread societalindiscipline.

The truth is that for anenduring solution to be foundto the myriad of problemsconfronting Nigeria, all thestakeholders need to work inconcert with one another. Non-Governmental Organizationsroles are civic andcomplimentary. In the courseof implementation ofprogrammes, NGOs shall beinterfacing with willingindividuals, socio-culturalgroups, companies, faith andethnic organizations,ministries, departments andagencies with similaraspirations and objectives.Undoubtedly the task ofuniting and blendingNigerians into a compact unitis not a cakewalk. However,true patriots should be certainthat through collective effortsby citizens from all parts of thecountry, the nation shallexperience a successful re-

launch to unity, peace andgreatness.

As ASNU hopes to expand andacculturate its qualitativemembership to propagate themessage of a new Nigeriafounded on unity, love, peaceand common brotherhood,Nigerians shall look forward totriggering a positive chainreaction that will help spreadthe message of rebirth andreawakening vertically andhorizontally from Abuja to thefarthest communities andhouseholds in the country.Through such method, largesegments of the country’s 170million people population willbe exposed to positiveattitudinal change based onsound reason, dialogue, suasionand re-orientation.

As ASNU members aredetermined to contribute theirquota towards changing themindset of Nigerians,especially the youths andstudents for the better, theyare expected to team up withlike-minds to educate andpersuade deviant citizens andadults to refrain from extremepositions, views and beliefswhich threaten the nation’splural society.

Today, many Nigerians,especially youths, who havenot been sufficiently exposed tothe diversities of the country,hold strong but often erroneousassumptions. ASNU believablywill be committed to dissuadingthe people from such wrongpaths. The task ahead is scarybut not insurmountable ifNigerians can persevere andhave their trust in God.

Some of the aims andobjectives of the body are thepromotion of unity of all

Nigerians, irrespective ofethnic, religious, cultural andgeographical diversities. This isin view of the reality thatwhere there are two or morereligions and language groups,there must be suspicionsnaturally. However, thedifference relates to how thesuspicions are managed in aparticular country. In the caseof Nigeria, Nigerians especiallythe political and religiousleaders seem not to have doneenough since 1960 to managesuch unavoidable suspicionsand fears among the country’scomponent groups.

This movement shall,therefore, be expected toemploy multi-dimensionalstrategies in promoting betterunderstanding, tolerance andpeaceful coexistence as well asharmony and brotherly loveamong all Nigerians.

Nigerians can be likened to arich pot of soup whoseirresistible ingredients aremade up of its diverse ethnicity,religion, culture, geographyand other heritage. Withoutthe rich combination ofingredients, the soup becomestasteless and monotonous.Therefore, Nigeria’s diversityis her greatest source ofattraction, beauty andstrength.

Furthermore, the group’spursuit of the promotion ofacceptability, integration andoneness among all Nigerians sothat all citizens can live, workand feel at home and enjoy allrights and privileges in anypart of their choice, promotionand honouring of successfulinter-ethnic and inter-religious marriages should beencouraged by all well meaning

Nigerians. Also, its engagement in unity

as well as re-orientationcampaigns, mobilization,awareness and membershipdrive, among others, throughthe mass media, including theprint, electronic and newinteractive social networks likefacebook, twitter and mobiletelephone should equally beseen as a welcome developmentfrom the promotion ofinvestment and generaldevelopmental activities byNigerians in different parts ofthe country and not just withintheir ancestral states, zones orregions.

It is worthy to note that ASNUactivities shall includeidentifying and campaigningagainst all tendencies,practices or utterances thattend to disunite or divideNigerians. It is in this directionthat unity stakeholders shallrise against all actions whichtend to incite, agitate andcreate mistrust or rancouramong Nigerians.

In this vein, the group shouldbe resolute in supporting thecampaign against corruption,greed and work towards theenthronement ofaccountability and goodgovernance in Nigeria. Theyshould uphold the sanctity ofhuman lives by campaigningagainst all forms of violence,terrorism and wantondestruction of lives andproperty.

ASNU should encourageissue-based and violence-freepoliticking as well as promotefree, fair and credible electionsas irreducible benchmark forNigeria’s democraticsustenance and development.

Freedom of association for all,the engendering of spirit ofpatriotism and nationalismamong Nigerians shouldequally be their concern. Theyshould stridently project thegood sides of the country andrise against unjustified bashingof Nigeria by Nigerians andnon- Nigerians alike.

There is no doubt that withthe calibers of the GbengaOnayigas, Yusuf Adis, NosikeOgbuehis and other top mediapractitioners, patriots andfriends cut across differentsegments of the Nigeriansociety, coming together to finda lasting solution to thecountry’s protracted myriad ofproblems will definitely find itsway with the support and co-operation of all and sundry ,especially the political class,religious leaders and thetraditional rulers.

In conclusion, it is, therefore,pertinent that patriots andstakeholders in the unity ofNigeria should rise and join thismovement by registering asmembers.

...a nation whose binding fabricsare now being seriously threatenedby internecine crises and the acutesuffering of the citizens as a result.These crises range from terrorism,

religious intolerance,ethnocentrism, politically inducedviolence, kidnapping and the like

PAGE 21PAGE 20

2012 oil and gas forum, pathway to Vision20: 2020 and transformation agenda

NATIONAL ACCORD Friday, July 27, 2012 NATIONAL ACCORD

special report

The oil and gas sector,no doubt, hasremained the

mainstay of Nigerianeconomy for a long time

now, even though franticefforts are being made todiversify the nation’seconomy, thus dependingless on oil, which has been

viewed in most quarters asmore of a curse thanblessing to Nigerian people.But the fact still remainsvery strong that the oil and

gas sector is currently thelife wire of Nigerianeconomy.

In order words, proceedsfrom a well and efficientlycoordinated, organised andmanaged oil and gas sectorcan, in turn, help finance, inproper terms, investmentsin the real sector of thenation’s economy, such asagriculture or agro-alliedand manufacturing sub-sectors. Consequently andexpectedly too, this willprovide further anavalanche of jobopportunities for theemployable workforce inthe society and then createwealth, especially in themanufacturing and agro-allied subsectors, which areoften private sector-driven.

Statistics has even shownthat even though the oil andgas sector is currentlydominating the nation’seconomy, themanufacturing and theagro-allied sectors havealtogether provided moreemployment for the everteaming population ofemployable men andwomen in the country. Andto sustain this tempo, the oiland gas sector, from whichthe petrochemicalindustries can be grown, hasto be developed andstrengthened, especially torealise both the local andinternational visions forNigeria and drive theTransformation Agenda ofthe federal government toits logical conclusion.

It is in the light of this thatthe coming 2012 Oil andGas Trade andInvestment Forum,

‘NOG-Invests 2012’, forshort, is considered animperative undertaking.NOG Invests 2012 isslated to hold at Onne,Rivers State, from 20 to 21September, this year. Theprogramme which is beingorganised by the FederalMinistry of Trade andInvestment in conjunctionwith the Orlean Invest WestAfrica Limited and otherrelevant stakeholders,under the auspices ofPrivate-Public Partnership( PPP), has a major theme,which is tagged“ H a r n e s s i n gI n v e s t m e n tOpportunities in the Oiland Gas Sector: TheRole of the Oil and GasFree Trade Zones in theT r a n s f o r m a t i o nAgenda” and the two othersub-themes one of which is“Leveraging on theBenefits of Investing inNigerian Free TradeZones”, while the other is“Enhancing LocalContent within theContext of the Oil andGas Free Trade Zones.”

The main and the sub-themes are all aimed ataccelerating the attainmentof the Vision 20:2020 andthe transformation Agenda,both of which have been thestrong desire and focus ofthe present administration,even as the topics fordiscussion at the foruminclude: *How has Oil andGas Free Trades Zones faredin the past years and whereare we heading? *FreeTrade Zone, a suredestination for theachievement of Nigeria

Statistics has even shown that eventhough the oil and gas sector is

currently dominating the nation’seconomy, the manufacturing and theagro-allied sectors have altogether

provided more employment for the everteaming population of employable men

and women in the country...

Content Policy*Deregulation of thepetroleum downstreamsector, a transformationalinstrument on wealth andjob creation, and *Theprivatisation of the publicenterprises, Onne Oil andGas Free Trade Zoneexperience.

The objectives of the two-day occasion include,showcasing the successstory of Onne Oil and GasFree Trade Zone; attractingdomestic and foreign directinvestment to the OnneZone; attractinginvestment to other FreeTrade Zones in Nigeria;promoting Public PrivatePartnership (PPP);enhancing the role ofprivate sector in driving theeconomy; reducing thepressure on public;encouraging the inflow offoreign direct investment (FDI) into other sectors ofthe economy; and creatingjobs, wealth as well asreducing poverty. Othersare enhancingindustrialisation; boostingstrategic business alliancesthat will lead to survival andsustainability of visionaryNigerian businesses in thelonger term; improving theeconomy to achieving thevision of being among thetop 20 economies by 2020;understanding the vastBusiness GrowthOpportunities in the FreeTrade Zones and to utilisethem to expand theirbusinesses; identify andutilise the vastopportunities in thecountry to grow theirbusinesses, using the

• Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke•Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Trade & Investment

lessons of successfulcountries; andunderstanding the benefitsand applications of theincentives offered in FreeTrade Zones (FTZs)Initiatives and learning thestrategies to grow theirbusinesses.

Briefing journalists onFriday 20 July, 2012, in theoffice of the PermanentSecretary, Federal Ministryof Trade and Investment, inAbuja, about this comingevent, the Chairman of theOrganising Committee for20 12 Oil and Gas Forum atOnne, Mr. DavidAdejunwon, who is theministry’s Director ofTrade, disclosed that theOnne Forum would be heldin September 20 and 21,2012. While stating that theTechnical Committeealready set up for theaugust event had held aseries of meetings, he alsorevealed participants,including senior officialsfrom the oil and gasindustry across the world,are expected at the Forum.

Adejunwon said furtherthat the Forum wouldprovide an opportunity forthe coming together ofbuyers and suppliers in alllocations, who may belooking for products andservices that would helptheir business decisionneeds, adding that theForum would also paradeforeign investors,diplomats, state governors,ministers of variousministries, captains ofindustries, private sectoroperators in oil and gas

industry. According to him,the Forum would at last beadjudged the largest andrichest of core investors,both foreign and local, onoil and gas industry inNigeria. He noted, “Thesuccess story of last yearevent resulted into aresolution that this event besustained and organised onannual basis but similar toOil and Gas InvestmentForum, often organised inHouston Texas, in UnitedStates of America.”

Disclosing that currentlywell over 150 companiesare operating within OnneOil and Gas Free TradeZone, he recalled that theNigerian Port Authority(NPA) used to own Onne Oiland Gas Free Trade Zone,but that the ownership hasnow been passed toconcessioners, stressingthat major stakeholders inthe Zone would want to seehow well it has beentransformed ever since theownership changed hands.

While explaining thefocus of the Forum,Adejunwon stated,” Itwould be a focused andhigh-level occasion; theevent will be an excellentplatform to initiate newbusiness relationships, withtailored networking.Sponsors can achieve theface-to-face contact thatovercrowded trade showscannot deliver”, adding,”The Onne Oil and Gas FreeZone Complex is strategicfor easy accessibility fromnotable hotels in PortHarcourt, Rivers State”,and assuring of full security

in the complex.He listed the sponsor of

the Forum to include,Orlean Invest West Africa,Onne Oil and Gas Free ZoneAuthority, NNPC,Petroleum TechnologyDevelopment Funds (PTDF),NGC, Nigerian PortAuthority (NPA), NigerianExport Processing ZoneAuthority (NEPZA), banks,airlines, hotels and majoroil companies operatingwithin the zone, amongothers.

The event will help createfurther awareness of theexistence of the Onne Oiland Gas Free Zone, amongmany entrepreneurs, asmost entrepreneurs inAfrica, including Nigeria,lack awareness of free tradezones and what benefits

could accrue to them.Reacting to a pressinterview questionrecently, the formerGeneral Manager of NigeriaExport Processing ZonesAuthority (NEPZA) and nowExecutive Secretary ofAfrica Free ZonesAssociation (AFZA) Mr.Chris Ndibe, also shared thisview, when he stated: “It istrue that many Africanentrepreneurs are stillunaware of the enormouspotentials of Free TradeZones for reason borderingon our level of promoting ourzones in this continent. ManyAfrican countries, includingNigeria, that have establishedfree trade zones are not givingit the publicity it requires. Inthe feasibility report of zonesdevelopment, promotion is

always given priority butbecause of the costinvolved, most countriesalways do not meet up withthe promotion which ismade up of advertising,public relations andpersonal selling, allexpensive all over theworld and normallyclassified under capitalbudget if you must makeimpacts.” He pointed out,however, that most Africancountries tend to classifypromotion underoverhead, which,unfortunately waters downthe consideration andallocation, adding that at theend of the day money isspent but the effect is notachieved, due to poor orlow level of the promotionexecuted in a year.

Just at the weekend, Mr. David Adejunwon, director of trade, Federal Ministryof Trade and Investment and chairman, Organising Committee, 2012 Oil andGas Forum, coming up next September, in Onne, Rivers State, briefed thepress in Abuja, on the efforts being made towards making the event a successand the benefits thereof. CLEM KHENA-OGBENA, Head, Features Desk, reports.

FCT Council round-upPAGE 27

Efab International Schoolorganises 3rd Graduation

concluded for the school tocompete with its equivalentsin US, UK and other advancedcountries. The head teacher,Lady Carol Oseke who boastedthat her pupils could competefavourably with othersinternationally, just as sheinformed that they came outin colours when they sat forentrance examinations withother pupils from otherschools

The Directress of the school

also in a chat admitted thather ambition to promoteeducation was being met. Shetherefore disclosed that theyensured that the poor likethose from motherless babies’homes were givenscholarships. The princesshowever commended thegovernment for its good plansto move education to the nextlevel. She therefore called onthe government to extend itsgestures to the private

schools, by assisting them inthe areas of provision offacilities that will makelearning conducive forcommon aim of promotion ofeducation to be achieved inthe country.

However, differentacademic competitions werewitnessed during theoccasion, of which MissChristine Kia emerged as thenew queen of the schoolduring beauty contest.

National Accord, Friday, July 27, 2012

Efab InternationalSchool in Efab Estateunder Mbora District

of the Federal CapitalTerritory has recentlygraduated 3rd set of itsstudents and pupils.

The chairman of theoccasion, Idongesit Akpan ina chat commended theschool for meeting up withinternational standard.Akpan therefore called on theGovernment to bemotivating private schoolsby providing them with wellequipped libraries,laboratories, blocks of class-rooms and computers inorder to continue to help inpromoting of education inNigeria.

The company secretary ofEfab properties Ltd, Barr.Obinna Ajoku whorepresented its chairman,Chief Fabian Nwora as aspecial guest of honour alsocommended the school forperformance. Ajokutherefore said that he was notsurprise at the children’sperformance due to theantecedent of the directressof the school, PrincessEvelyn Nwora, just as heurged them to keep the pace

Similarly speaking was theDeputy Director (Academic),Centre for Distance Learningand Continuing Education,University of Abuja, Dr (Mrs)Rosemary Udeozor who saidthat the school had all it takesto make learning conducive,adding that provision ofburden facilities by the schoolwould go a long way.

Speaking on behalf of theparents was the vicechairperson of the school’sParents TeachersAssociation (PTA), AishaY.Y. Abubakar who hailed theteachers for the quality ofknowledge imparted to herchild, just as she urged themto continue to effect changesas time changes.

Promising to ensure thatthe teachers motivation iscontinued for more effectiveperformance, the principal ofthe school Davis Imeinformed that the school hasbeen made a centre for WestAfrican Examination Council(WAEC), NationalExamination Council (NECO),even as he added thatExamination ResourceCentre (ERC) and otherrelated authorities haverecognized the school. Hetherefore said that allarrangements have been

• Cutting of Cake during occasion

Over two hundred womenthat cut across politicalbackground and religionhave been empowered inthe Abaji Area Council ofthe Federal CapitalTerritory Abuja, throughfood stuff and cashpresentation amounting toa whooping amount ofmoney put at two hundredmillion naira (N200m).

In an interview with thechairman, Alhaji MusaMuhammad said such ademonstration was to fulfillsome of his campaign promisesto the electorate adding that allthe beneficiaries werenominated by their electivecouncilors from the area.

He noted that the programtagged ‘ aggressive womenempowerment programm’ isaimed at providingenablement for women of allcategories within the council tobecome economicallyindependent as wee as be ableto contribute their very bestthe socio-economicdevelopment of the council.

The chairman said the soleaims of the program is toempower women from allbackgrounds in the councilnoting that the first phase hasjust commerce and was able totake care of more than twohundred women which cutacross various background andunions including the widows,the orphans and the lessprivileged ones.

The chairman who furtherspoke of his readiness to createmore people empowerment forhis electorate stressed the needfor support in kind in other toenable him succeed in all hisplan for the people and thecouncil.

He said while the council isdoing its best to promote peoplewelfare and projects, peoplemust always see the need ofreciprocating such candid actby acting in harmony with thestandard set by the council inorder for it to succeed in allramifications.

Abaji spendsN200M onempowerment

Stories By PAUL EFFIONG

Farmers may soon smilein the Kwali Area Council ofthe Federal CapitalTerritory(FCT) due to thecouncil plan to partneringwith the Amadu BelloUniversity Zaria forimproved seedling aimed atimproving farmersproductivity in the area.

Speaking in interview withnational accord in his officeyesterday, the Head ofAgricultural Department in thecouncil,Alhaji Alhassan Ibrahimdisclosed that their move hasalready been made known to theagric department of theUniversity and they are waitingfor the approval as well as fundto execute the projects in thecouncil. Alhaji Ibrahim whostressed the important of earlydistribution of fertilizers tofarmers in the territoryexplained that his council havealready acquired some plots of

Kwali to partner ABU forimprove variety of seeds

lands to enable them provideadditional support throughpromotion of various farmingtypes and techniques for betteryield and harvest.

He noted that his councilintends to begins first with somealready marked plot that belongto registered farmers so thatfarmers from other places couldcue in with what they do foronward promotion andprojection of farming activities.

According to him, the councilhas already provided threetractors who are alreadyworking on the proposed land forthe expected projects becausethey intend the project to beginas urgent as possible for thecommon good of both thefarmers and the council ingeneral.Although the costimplication of the project was notstated as at the time of thisinterview, source close to thecouncil had earlier revealed that

it may cost the councilexorbitant amount due to thepurchase of improved variety ofseeds along with other chemicalswhich are meant to improvefarmers productivity in the area.

AMAC to restructureKugbo Funiture Market

Kugbo Furniture Marketwould soon be given face liftin order to contribute it bestto the socio-economicdevelopment of the councilin terms of revenuegeneration .

Speaking while on a visit to themarket,the chairman of theAbuja Municipal Area council,Hon.Micha Jiba lamented overdeplorable condition of themarket hence his promised toeffect immediate structuraladjustment in the market foroptimal service

delivery.According toinformation from the office ofsupervisory counselor forSpecial duties in the council,Mr.Sunday Alabi, the council isputting finishing touches on itslast plan to effect needed changesin the market for the benefit ofall traders and the council.Thecouncil , according toSupervisory councilor on specialDuties is doing all that isnecessary to ensure that theupgrading of the market takeplace in no distance time withouta cost to occupant of the market.

FCT Council round-upPAGE 26

WWWWWe are are are are are re re re re readeadeadeadeady to maky to maky to maky to maky to make e e e e AbAbAbAbAbuja cuja cuja cuja cuja clean – lean – lean – lean – lean – AdeAdeAdeAdeAdebababababayyyyyooooo

You are relatively new inyour present department,what are your aspirations?

Although am new in thedepartment, I want to say that Iamnot new in the Board, we have beenworking for some years now ,though with challenges, we are notdeterred because we want to makea different, we want to do whatothers have not been able toaccomplish in their tenure, and weare equal to the tax.For yourquestion, we are trying to lay aformidable foundation for our staffto follow particularly theenforcement squad. TheEnforcement squad is now acting asthe leader or the mentor throughwhich we could get daily report onthe daily activities of theunits.They are also answerable totheir supervisors from differentbeats, which are recentlydiscovered high activities pointscaused by activities such as trafficcongestions, high concentration ofhawkers as long as othernuisances. some of these areasmarked as highest area ofconcentration of nuisancesincludes, Wuse Marker area,Utako, Jabi areas,Juluious BeggerJunction as well as Okonjo Iweala’saxis still at Utako.We also havesecurity operatives working alongwith them and are on uniforms totake care of the operations alongwith assistant directors who are tomonitor the activities of those whoare on field activities andsupervisors who are in charge ofthe operations.I also go foroperations, some are in Jabi, wuseas well as other places. Evenyesterday and almost every day Igo out for operation, this week I readto them the Riot Act, because fromour findings, one of the challengeshas been that of a compromise, itcould be very challenging for one toresist temptation from the publicwho may want to induced them soas not to carry out their legitimateactivities to the people and the FCT.They may think that they can buypeople over because of staying in anillegal place for business. So Iwarned them against collectingbribe, not just for themselves andalso for me and other senior staff ofthe Board no matter the position,and that If they have been doing sobefore they should stop because thepopular slogan said’ everyday forthe thief but one day for the owner’urging them to be honest andcommitted to their duties.I alsowarned them against covering theiridentity, because their uniformsidentified them with the public as thetype of beats and areas they cover,

National Accord, Friday, July 27, 2012

Mrs Aishat Adebayo is the current Deputy Director Monitoring and Enforcement Unit of the Abuja Environmental ProtectionBoard(AEPB),Though she is the first female in the Board to manned the department, the ever ready and no nonsense deputydirector reiterated her readiness to address all the lapses, challenges in the discharge of her duties to the Board, she warnsresidents against certain behaviors ,caution staff against bribery. Could she move the board forward to the admiration of herdirector and the minister? This interview highlights salient’s points on how she intends to move the board forward. PAUL EFIONGcaptured her in this interview. Excerpts:

so if any is caught in the act he orshe shall immediately be fired toserve as a deterrent to othermember staff who may want tofollow such an illegal footstep.Weare doing these not to wit huntanybody or group of person but toinstill in them the need fordiscipline.If your caught your arefired, we collected three uniformsyesterday, and I want to believe thatmore would still be collected. I wantall of them particularly the squadmembers to be more organized aswell as be serious over their dutiesto enable all including thesupervisors work as a team.We wantthem to be serious and follow the laydown rules and procedure to enableus be successful even as I cannot doit myself alone, I rely on them forthe success in this job ,I want tomake sure that the departmentsucceed as well as ensure thateverything that will make themsucceed in the department is there.I go round everyday to ensure allthat they suppose to do, hence ourcollaboration with the police afterthe approval of the commissionerFCT after final approval to ensure

that every where we work we havecomplete support of the DPO’s inthose places to because we arepartners toward ensuring that thecurrent security situation in theFCT and the country in general ismade to improve, as well as madethe city clean and tidy as a modelcity in Africa.

What happen to the ‘girls ofeasy virtue’ popularly referredto as commercial sexworkers,do you also havemeasures that could curtailtheir effect in the night?

Yes, we have a schedule for bothday and night, the essence of this toensure that all those things thatcontribute to nuisances in the cityis completely remove anderadicated to fulfill our dreams andobjectives.On our day timesprogrammed we have recorded ahuge success in the city, while thereare still some lingering problemsagainst our effective enforcementand implementation of the nightprogram, but we hope to surmountall the factors militating against theprocess in no distance time for theglory of God and the capital city. Let

me tell you that we have started withthe two shift arrangement here, thefirst one is within the day while thesecond shift commences during lateevening. We are collaborating withthe Society Against Prostitution andChild Labor (SAPCLA) whilecarrying out operation againstcommercial sex workers in theterritory. We also start suchoperations late and not by teno’clock 12am or so. Remember thistime is an odd hour, which nobodyunder normal circumstance can beoutside his or her house in such houror time, most often we identifypeople of that caliber through whatshe wears, although the NGO Imention earlier can speak more onthis, they have an empowerment orrehabilitation centers where someof these repentant commercial sexworkers are empoweredeconomically, through training andskill acquisition as well as skill.

Before your entry into thisdepartment we gathered nowoman has served here , and Iwant to believe that thedepartment is verychallenging, are you preparedfor the task that lies ahead?

I am not afraid, how can I be afraidwhen I have been working heresince, I am not new in the systembut new only in this department,beside I have gone round in all thedepartment here apart from Admin.And Finance.Every step one take isa challenge, at several occasion Ihave had the opportunity ofstanding in for our director when hewas away for some cogent nationalofficial assignment, I have been upand doing in the board but let metell you that with God nothing isimpossible , I strongly believe thatGod who gave me this position willalso empower me to do my best.

What final message do youhave for the FCT residents?

My message is that Abujaresidents should not view AEPB astheir enemies, they are not againstanybody or the residents, our visionis that operates within thedesignated areas assigned forthat,do not sale in the hawkersprohibited areas but in the marketas approved by the government andnever you sale in the trafficcongested areas because ouroperatives are always on ground toensure that proper thing is done atevery point and on time.For taxi orbus drivers they must always loadat the designated areas and notalong the road causing traffic jam ,don’t obstruct roads. Residentsmust not also buy along the road dueto security implication and roadobstruction.

•Mrs Aishat Adebayo

PAGE 28 Friday, July 27, 2012, National Accord

Maritime Admin: NIMASAMaritime Admin: NIMASAMaritime Admin: NIMASAMaritime Admin: NIMASAMaritime Admin: NIMASAenacts 12 frenacts 12 frenacts 12 frenacts 12 frenacts 12 fresh resh resh resh resh reeeeegulagulagulagulagulationstionstionstionstions

Maritime administration inthe country may soonwitness dramatic

changes as the Nigerian MaritimeAdministration and SafetyAgency (NIMASA), has concludedmoves to enact twelve regulatoryinstruments with a view toensuring better safety and sanityin the territorial waters.

This is coming, even as theagency ,has assured of animminent end to the controversialgranting of waivers for foreignoperators under the excuse thatindigenous operators lacked therequired capacity to do the job.

Director General of NIMASA Mr.Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi,dropped this hints in Lagosyesterday in a paper on “Issues inEnforcement of NIMASA Act-theLegal Perspectives” which hedelivered at a training workshoporganized by the MaritimeReporters Association of Nigeria(MARAN).

According to the NIMASA boss,who was represented by theagency’s Executive Secretary andLegal Adviser, Barrister MatthewEgbadon, the agency could nolonger remain helpless in the faceof a mirage of bottlenecksmilitating against the successfulimplementation of the CabotageAct.

To this end, he said the agencyhad no choice than to roll out thefresh regulations in order tosafeguard the industry in line withits statutory role of administrationand enforcement of the provisionsof the Cabotage Act 2003 andMerchant Shipping Act 2007,even though the latter isrestrictive.

Akpobolokemi listed some of theregulations to include, that ofprevention of sewage, garbagedumps, ships registration as wellas regulation on dangerous/obnoxious wastes, amongst others.

He however, stressed that suchregulations should not be seen asnovel in maritime administration,“because they apply in othercountries as well”.

Lamenting the absence of thepowers of prosecution as availableto NIMASA under the CabotageAct, the DG pointed out that the incases of perceived breeches of theAct; enforcement officers couldonly detain the erring vessel andthereafter apply to the FederalHigh Courts for prosecution.

“What we have done is to applyto the Attorney General of theFederation to consider the need toaccord us the powers ofprosecution, because the delayoften experienced is a set back onthe administration of justice.

“Pending the granting of ourrequest, we have to continue withthe traditional way of referringcases to the office of the AG…and

The Federal Governmentof Nigeria has inauguratedtwo technical committees:The Doing Business andCompetitive Committee aswell as the Investor-CareCommittee, respectively totackle problems militatingagainst doing business in thecountry.

Inaugurating the committeesin Abuja, Minister of Trade andInvestment, Dr OlusegunAganga, said the exercise was afollow-up to an earlierinauguration by the Secretaryto the Government of theFederation, Anyim Pius Anyim.

Aganga explained that thecommittees would see to theinflow of Foreign DirectInvestment, FDI and ultimatelyimprove the country’s rankingin the global competitivenessindex, adding that they wereexpected to address policy issues,inhibiting Nigeria’s competitivebusiness environment anddesign fair and transparentbusiness operational procedures.

The minister said they werealso to address policies to enhancethe image of the country andbuild investors’ confidence in theeconomy.

He said that members of thetwo technical committees wereselected by the heads of theirrespective MDAs.

Aganga said: “We haveassembled very bright andseasoned officers from variousministries, departments andagencies who were selected bytheir chief executives torepresent their MDAs in thetechnical committees of the twocommittees.

He stated that theinauguration of the committeescame in the wake of varioussocial and economic reformsbeing embarked upon by theFederal Government totransform the nation’seconomy.

The minister chargedmembers of the committees towork assiduously to ensure thatthe country significantlyimproved its investmentclimate and doing businessranking as soon as possible.

The two committees have theMinister of Trade andInvestment as Chairman withmembership drawn fromMinistries, Departments andAgencies, MDAs of the federalgovernment.

The MDAs include Ministriesof Finance, Power, Mining,Justice, Nigerian NationalPetroleum Corporation, NigeriaImmigration Service, CentralBank of Nigeria, Federal InlandRevenue Service and theNigeria Customs Service amongothers.

•- L-R: Former Head of Department of Chemistry, Unibadan, Prof. Oladele Osibanjo; Vice Chancellor,Prof. Isaac Adewole; Dean of Public Health, Prof. Oladimeji Oladepo, at a training workshop onresponsible conduct in research in Ibadan, yesterday.

CFA 0.2839 0.2939 0.3039

DANISH KRONER 26.3083 26.394 26.6797

EURO 197.0569 1976938 198.3307

POUNDS STERLING 246.6537 2474509 2482481

RIYAL 41.2489 41.3823 41.5156

SDR 235.8711 236.6335 237.3958

SWISS FRANC 163.9813 164.5113 165.0413

US DOLLAR 154.7 155.2 155.7

WAUA 236.412 237.1761 237.9402

YEN 1.9213 1.9275 1.9357

17/052012 BUYING (NGN) CENTRAL (NGN)SELL-

ING

(NGN)

Bureau d Change Rates

BUYING

Dollar N158

Euro N206

Pound N257

SELLING

Dollar N159

Euro N208

Pound N259

Source: S&J Bureau De Change, WuseZone 4, Abuja

this slows down the process of justiceleading to avoidable losses incurredby the ship owners” he said.

Also speaking on the issue ofwrecks removal, the NIMASA DG,pointed out that when the newregulations come into full force, allhindrances against safety andsecurity of the waterways wouldbe put in check, since it was theprimary responsibility of theAgency to do so.

Akpobolokemi recalled that theneed to jealously guide suchresponsibility informed why theagency had to raise issues with theLagos State government earlierwhen the latter sought to engageprivate individuals in removingwrecks and derelicts off thecoastlines.

“We had to write to them todiscuss with us first because it isour primary responsibility. Weare not saying that lack thecapacity to do so, but they canonly do it by partnering withus…after all, they cannot removethe wrecks and take them away,they still need to hand them overto us” he said.

By CLEM KHENA-OGBENA

FG moves toaddress business,investmentbottlenecks

BPE carBPE carBPE carBPE carBPE carpetspetspetspetspetsPHCN wPHCN wPHCN wPHCN wPHCN worororororkkkkkererererersssssooooovvvvver demandser demandser demandser demandser demands

The Director General of theBureau of Public Enterprises(BPE), Ms. BolanleOnagoruwa has accusedPower Holding Company ofNigeria (PHCN), of holdingthe country to ransom.

The comments by thePrivatisation Bureau is comingon the heel of the signing of thecontract for the management ofthe Transmission Company ofNigeria (TCN)

According to the BPE DG, asituation where the PHCNworkers union would work tofrustrate the privatizationprocess is unacceptable.

“We have responded to theirdemands, we started off bypaying them their monetizationwhich was over N50million,theyreceived 50 percent increase insalary, we have done everythingpossible to take care of theirconcerns

“So there is really no reason fora few people who are the workersof PHCN, they are not even up to40 percent are going to take thewhole of Nigeria of over160million people who are cryingfor power to ransom

Ms. Onagoruwa pointed outthat despite several attempts byBPE for an amicable resolution tothe issue, the Union has remainedunreasonable in their demands.

“The Union cannot say we havenot engaged them; we have hadabout eight meetings with theunions. Every time they had onething or the other and we keptcoming back to the table; eventhough they tried to frustrate us.We listened to their concerns buttheir last concern is reallyunreasonable.”

The BPE boss wondered whythe PHCN expects government tobreak the law in order to pleasethem.

According to her, “we evenagreed that the federalgovernment would pay both theircontribution which they havenot paid and the federalgovernment contribution whichwould take it up to 15percent.That is also not acceptable tothem; they are saying they wantto collect 25 percent which isagainst the law.”

Waxing rhetorical, the BPE bosssaid, why the Union of PHCNwould feel they must behavedifferently from 160millinNigerians, insisting that thePHCN workers need to conformto the Pensions law of 200.

By BENJAMIN UMUTEME

From STELLA WILLIAMS,Lagos

PAGE 29National Accord, Friday, July 27, 2012

businessSON shuts shopsSON shuts shopsSON shuts shopsSON shuts shopsSON shuts shops,,,,, seiz seiz seiz seiz seizes fes fes fes fes fakakakakakeeeeegggggoods woods woods woods woods worororororth millions ofth millions ofth millions ofth millions ofth millions of nair nair nair nair nairaaaaa

The StandardsOrganisation of Nigeria,SON at the weekend stormedmarkets nationwidecontinuation of its zerotolerance campaign for fakeand sub-standard productssequel to the expiration ofthe two-week ultimatumgiven traders to rid theirshops of such commodities.

In Abuja, fake and sub-standard products worthmillions of naira were seizedfrom traders, whose shops werealso sealed up. Places visited bySON’s enforcement team are theInternational BuildingMaterials Markets at Dei-dei, inAbuja and Mararaba, inNasarawa State.

The Director-General of SON,Dr. Joseph Odumodu, hadvowed that the ultimatumwould not be extended asrequired by the leaders of thetraders to save the country ofdangerous items.

The Abuja enforcement teamled by Barrister Paul Angyaseized sub-standard items likecables, electric bulbs, iron rods,roofing sheets, among otherbuilding materials for test toprove the claims of their sellersthat they were originalproducts.

Angya told journalists thatthe exercise was incontinuation of SON’s zerotolerance campaign for sub-standard products in thecountry, especially after theexpiration of the two-weekultimatum to the traders.

Angya stated, “What we aredoing today is to implement theultimatum we gave them twoweeks ago, the campaign isgoing to be sustained; there isno time limit to it. We will makesure that every sub-standardproduct is eliminated from themarket so the message is veryclear and you can see the levelof resistance”.

“We have done oursurveillance before coming here(Dei-dei market) as you can seethat there are many shops in themarket, but we went straightto those identified to be selling

Ibori:Ibori:Ibori:Ibori:Ibori: Cour Cour Cour Cour Court gt gt gt gt grrrrrants interim orants interim orants interim orants interim orants interim orderderderderderffffforforforforforfeiting $15m in CBN to FGeiting $15m in CBN to FGeiting $15m in CBN to FGeiting $15m in CBN to FGeiting $15m in CBN to FG

An interim order forfeitingthe sum of 15 million USDollars being an

unclaimed property inpossession of Central Bank ofNigeria to the FederalGovernment was yesterdaygranted by a Federal HighCourt sitting in Abuja .

Justice Gabriel Kolawole ofthe Federal High court grantedthe interim order pending thepublication (in Thisdaynewspaper) and hearing of theMotion on Notice for the finalforfeiture order of the saidproperty.

In this connection, the courtadjourned the matter toSeptember 17, 2012 for anybonafide owner of the said sumto come before the court to showcause why the final order offorfeiture should not be madein favour of FederalGovernment of Nigeria.

The sum is said to have beenidling away in the strong roomof the Central Bank of Nigeriasince 2007 and that it wasallegedly sent to the Economicand Financial CrimesCommission to compromise theinvestigation of former DeltaState Governor, Mr. JamesIbori.

Meanwhile, Ibori had deniedthe ownership of the sum andit has since been with theCentral Bank of Nigeria.

In the main suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/415/2012, the FederalGovernment of Nigeria,Attorney General of theFederation and Economic andFinancial Crimes Commission

are 1st, 2nd and 3rd applicantsrespectively while CentralBank of Nigeria is therespondent.

Specifically, the applicantsprayed the court for thefollowing reliefs:

“An Interim Order of thisHonourable Court forfeitingthe sum of USD 15, 000,000(Fifteen Million Dollars) beingan unclaimed property inpossession of Central Bank ofNigeria to the FederalGovernment of Nigeriapending the publication andhearing of the Motion on Noticefor the final forfeiture order ofthe said property.”

“An Order of this HonourableCourt directing the publicationin any National Newspaper ofthe interim order under relief1 above for anyone who isinterested in the property toappear before this HonourableCourt to show cause within 14days why the final order offorfeiture should not be madein favour of FederalGovernment of Nigeria.”

Against the foregoing, thecourt granted relief one ascouched above while relief twowould be looked into on theadjournment day after thepublication in Thisdaynewspaper must have beendone and appearance if any ofthe bonafide owner of the sumin question before the court onSeptember 17, 2012, being theadjournment date.

On the grounds upon whichthe application was brought,applicants counsel, Rotimi

Jacobs, said “the sum of USD15,000,000 was received bythe officers of the Economic andFinancial Crimes Commissionfrom an undisclosed agent ofJames Ibori in 2007 as a bribeto compromise hisinvestigation”.

Besides, he said that theEFCC deposited the said suminto the strong room no. 1 of theCentral Bank of Nigeria andthat Ibori denied giving themoney to the commission orany of its officers.

Meawhile one Bello Yahaya,a Superintendent of Policeattached to EFCC, in a 14paragraph affidavit averredthat “the issue of giving bribewas raised by me in myaffidavit sworn to on 9thJanuary, 2008 in opposition toJames Ibori’s bail applicationwhen he was eventuallycharged to court for moneylaundering offences”.

In addition, Yahaya who saidthat he was one of theinvestigators assigned by theEFCC to investigate the case ofJames Ibori stated that whilethe investigation was on,Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, thethen chairman of EFCC calledthe investigation team led byMr. Ibrahim Lamorde (thethen Director of Operations,now EFCC chairman) to “pickup cash in the sum of USD15,000,000. 00 (FifteenMillion Dollars) given to himand the commission throughan undisclosed agent of the saidJames Ibori”.

• King Sunny Ade and his band performing at the sports and cultural exchange event organised byBank of Industry (BOI), in London.

—Ex-Delta g—Ex-Delta g—Ex-Delta g—Ex-Delta g—Ex-Delta gooooov denies ov denies ov denies ov denies ov denies ownerwnerwnerwnerwnershipshipshipshipshipBy YAHAYA TAIDI

By CLEM KHENA-OGBENA sub-standard products and it isgoing to be a continuous exerciseacross the six geo-political zonesof this country”, he added.

Angya, who is also theDirector of HumanDevelopment in theorganization, said the seizedproducts would be tested afterwhich the originals would bereturned to their owners whilethe fake ones would bedestroyed.

He appealed to Nigerians toassist the agency in its efforts toeradicate sub-standardproducts in the country,particularly by patronizingonly the products that have theNigeria Industrial Standard,NIS certification mark in thecase of locally made productsand SON mark for foreignproducts.

Some of the traders, who spokewith journalists at the twomarkets, directed the SON to goand raid the wharf and Alabainternational market in Lagosif it was truly ready to check theinflux of sub-standard productsinto the country.

According to Emeka Eze,electric cable seller at Dei-deimarket, “most of these productswere produced in China andentered the country throughLagos, where they were checkedand certified to be good for use”.

“These people (SON officials)should just leave us alone so thatwe can continue to earn ourliving through this legitimatemeans or do they want us tobecome robbers to feed ourfamilies? Most of us in thismarket don’t sell fake productsthat is the truth”, he said.

Though some of the tradersadmitted that they sell sub-standard products, they arguedthat “many Nigerians preferredcheap items because of the costdifference with the originalones”

“Economic situation in thiscountry has made it difficult formany people to afford originalproducts. Many of them who aredisturbing us here today use‘Tokunbo’ products in theirhouses, including their clothand shoes”, a trader who simplygave his name as Henry alleged.

Egbin PEgbin PEgbin PEgbin PEgbin Pooooowwwwwer Staer Staer Staer Staer Stationtiontiontiontion’’’’’sssssoutput hits 1,100mw-CEOoutput hits 1,100mw-CEOoutput hits 1,100mw-CEOoutput hits 1,100mw-CEOoutput hits 1,100mw-CEO

Mike Uzoigwe, the ChiefExecutive Officer ofEgbin Power Station, hassaid that the station’spower generation hasincreased to 1,100 from900 mega watts.

Uzoigwe on Tuesday inLagos disclosed that five outof the six turbines of 220 mweach were currently workingat full capacity.

He said, that the increasewas due to the ongoingrehabilitation of the powerstation.

Uzoigwe said that

By BENJAMIN UMUTEME rehabilitation work on thesixth turbine would soon becompleted.

“Most of the hydro dams inthe country are doing well.The water level has increasedcompared to when it waslow,’’ he said.

Uzoigwe assured Nigeriansof stable power supply whenall the ongoingrehabilitations andupgrading of power stationswere completed.

He said that the country’spower generation, whichcurrently stands at 3,800mw would soon increase.

PAGE 30 Friday, July 27, 2012, National Accord

oil & gas

Nexen offers Nigeria’sstake, others for $15.1bChinese oil firm CNOOC

has concluded a deal toacquire Nexen for USD

15.1 bln.The deal will giveCNOOC ownership of oil andgas assets offshore Nigeria,western Canada, the UKNorth Sea and the Gulf ofMexico that produces207,000 barrels a day,boosting the Chinesecompany’s output by about20 per cent.

China’s biggest overseasenergy acquisition to date,CNOOC Ltd on Monday saidit has reached an agreementto acquire Canadian oil-and-gas producer Nexen Inc for

USD 15.1 billion in cash.State-owned CNOOC,

China’s largest offshore oiland gas explorer will payUSD 27.50 per share, apremium of 61 per cent toCalgary-based Nexen’sclosing price on Friday onthe New York StockExchange.

In a separate deal, ChinaPetrochemical Corp(Sinopec) will acquire a 49per cent stake in the UK unitof Canada’s Talisman EnergyInc for USD 1.5 billion, theCanadian firm said in astatement Monday.

The NEXEN deal is thesecond attempt to buy NorthAmerican oil and gas

producer after politicalopposition blocked CNOOC’sUSD 19 billion bid for UnocalCorp in 2005.

Nexen’s boardrecommended the deal to itsshareholders.

“The aggregate value of theconsideration of theproposed acquisition isapproximately USD 15.1billion, and is to be payablein cash,” CNOOC said in astatement filed on the HongKong stock exchange.

CNOOC will offer to buyNexen’s preferred shares andthe Canadian company’s debtof USD 4.3 billion will remainin place, the statement said.Beijing-based CNOOC will pay

By ESE AWHOTU for the acquisition usingexisting cash funds andexternal financing.

The agreement includes abreakup fee of USD 425million if the deal isterminated under certaincircumstances.

“The acquisition of Nexenwill expand the group’soverseas business andresource base in order todeliver long-term sustainablegrowth,” CNOOC. “Nexen willcomplement the group’slarge offshore productionfootprint in China.”

Chinese companies have sofar spent USD 23 billion since2005 in buying Canadianenergy firms.

Oil tradesOil tradesOil tradesOil tradesOil tradesbelow Oilbelow Oilbelow Oilbelow Oilbelow Oil$90 a bar$90 a bar$90 a bar$90 a bar$90 a barrrrrrelelelelel

Oil prices fell for the thirdtime in four days in NewYork on speculation anincrease in U.S. crudestockpiles signaledslowing demand in theworld’s biggest consumerof the commodity.

Futures slid as much as 0.8percent after the industry-funded American PetroleumInstitute said inventoriesrose 1.35 million barrels lastweek. An Energy Departmentreport today may showsupplies dropped 1 millionbarrels, according to aBloomberg News survey. TheInternational Monetary Fundsaid China’s slowing economyfaces significant downsiderisks and relies too much oninvestment.

“Given the background ofreduced confidence, risinginventories can be a reflectionof sluggish demand,” said RicSpooner, a chief marketanalyst at CMC Markets inSydney. “What’s happening inChina is a key component forpeople’s demand outlook foroil.”

Crude for Septemberdelivery decreased as muchas 69 cents to $87.85 a barrelin electronic trading on theNew York MercantileExchange.The contractyesterday climbed 0.4percent to $88.50, the highestsince July 20. Prices are down11 percent this year.

Brent oil for Septembersettlement on the London-based ICE Futures Europeexchange fell as much as 65cents, or 0.6 percent, to$102.77 a barrel. TheEuropean benchmark crudewas at a $15.03 premium tothe New York-traded WestTexas Intermediate grade,from $14.92 yesterday.

NNPC oNNPC oNNPC oNNPC oNNPC owwwwwed N1.1tred N1.1tred N1.1tred N1.1tred N1.1trn subsidn subsidn subsidn subsidn subsidy dey dey dey dey debtsbtsbtsbtsbts

• KOICA training participants on e-government at a training with with Prof. Kwon

…as cour…as cour…as cour…as cour…as court heart heart heart heart hears subsids subsids subsids subsids subsidy fry fry fry fry fraudsteraudsteraudsteraudsteraudsters case todas case todas case todas case todas case todayyyyyA Lagos High Courtyesterday adjourned thearraignment of theaccused oil subsidyfraudsters till Thursday,reason being the inabilityof one of the accusedpersons to appear in court.

Also, yesterday Reutersreported the Nigerian NationalPetroleum Corporation(NNPC) as saying that it wasbeing owed $7 billion (aboutN1.1 trillion) in fuel importsubsidy debts.

The NNPC, said that, thedebts where capable of wipingout savings supposed toprotect Nigeria’s economyfrom oil price dips.

“As at the end of May 2012NNPC had unpaid (subsidy)claims of N1.134 trillionnaira,” Fidel Pepple,spokesman for the NNPC, toldReuters.

Nigeria’s Excess CrudeAccount (ECA), where it savesoil revenues over abenchmark price of $72 abarrel, held $6.9 billion onJuly 19, not enough to payNNPC’s subsidy claims, letalone a string of other fuelimporters’ debts.

Nigeria’s Central BankGovernor Lamido Sanusi saidon Tuesday risks to Africa’ssecond biggest economy fromhigh government spending,

worsening security problemsand lower oil output were“ominous.”

Two fuel import unions havethreatened to strike this weekover unpaid subsidies, riskingfuel shortages in Africa’s mostpopulous nation, an issuewhich has prompted publicprotests in the past.

People are already queuingfor hours to get petrol atinflated prices in some regionsin the oil-producing Niger Deltain the south of the country.

Nigeria is among the top 10crude oil exporters in the worldbut due to decades of

corruption andmismanagement it has toimport most of its refined fuelneeds, the report noted.

NNPC said it had 46 days offuel supplies and it would do itsbest to meet demand despite“limited resources.”

On the oil subsidy fraud, onlythree out of the accusedsuspects showed up in court.The judge therefore adjournedthe case till Thursday, sayingthat all the accused personsmust be in court for thearraignment.

The lawyer to the Economicand Financial Crimes

Commission (EFCC) appealedto the court to adjourn thearraignment till Thursday toenable the Attorney General ofthe Federation to appear incourt.

It would be recalled that theEFCC had on Tuesday unveiledthe first group of 20 suspectedfraudsters billed forarraignment over theirinvolvement in the subsidyscam.

The suspects includeMahmud Tukur, the son of thenational chairman of the rulingPeoples Democratic Party,Bamanga Tukur.

PAGE 31NATIONAL ACCORD, Friday, July 27, 2012

oil & gas

$5b Shell fine: Legislatorsaction justifiableThe plan by Nigerian legislators at the

Federal House of Representatives tomake Royal Dutch Shell Plc, the

country’s biggest oil company, pay a fineof up to $5 billion for oil spillage in theNiger-Delta region has been a subject ofdebate.

The action is making news world wideand leaves many agape, as to what the endresult would be. The paramount questionsbeing asked by many Nigerians is can theHouse of Representative get Shell to paythe proposed fine? What will this actiontranslate to?

The nation is again at a cross road withShell in her oil history. This is because ofthe enormity of the decision they have totake regarding the pollution of their hydro-carbon rich zone.

Armed with the Petroleum IndustryBill(PIB),the federal legislators are not justgoing to take the next step in our efforts atensuring compliance with goodenvironmental practices in oil and gasoperations, but also to consolidate the oilrevenue, and a take a monumentaldecision about the future of oil of thiscountry.

Going by the plan of the representatives,Shell would be fined as much as $5 billionby the federal government of Nigeria foroil spillage ,which occurred last year inBayelsa state, in the oil rich Niger-Deltaregion of the country.

Last year an estimated 40,000 barrelsof oil leaked at Shell’s Bonga offshore facilityin Niger-Delta region. The oil giant and itssister companies blamed the spillage onsabotage, but the Nigerian authorities arenot bugged by this claim as the have movedto fine the oil giant.

Shell has already confirmed the move,that it faces a $5 billion fine for its Bonga oilspill offshore Nigeria late last year, butadded that it doesn’t “believe there is anybasis in law” for such a punishment.

“We do not believe there is any basis inlaw for such a fine,” said a Shell spokesman.“Neither do we believe that Shell NigeriaExploration and Production Company hascommitted any infraction of Nigerian lawto warrant such a fine.”

The company’s Nigerian subsidiary“responded to this incident withprofessionalism and acted with the consentof the necessary authorities at all times toprevent environmental impact as a resultof the incident,” Shell said in a statement.

The leak at the 200,000 barrel-a-dayBonga field in December was Nigeria’sworst offshore spill in more than a decadeand resulted in at least 40,000 barrels ofoil spilling into the ocean.

The large penalty comes at a time ofheightened concern over the safety ofoffshore oil production, following BP PLC’sdisastrous Deepwater Horizon explosionand oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.Shell is currently facing intense scrutinyfrom U.S. authorities and environmentalgroups as it prepares to drill for oil offshoreAlaska.

The fine is particularly severe incomparison to other recent incidents. Basedon Shell’s estimate of the 40,000 barrels ofoil spilled in the Bonga leak, the fine equatesto around $125,000 a barrel.

Mr Peter Idabor, head of NOSDRA,recently asked the National Assembly toconsider the fine.Iraborw was said to havebased his recommendation on the fact that

By ESE AWHOTU

the $5 billion penalty was consistent withsimilar fines in other oil-producingcountries like Venezuela and Brazil.

If lawmakers decide to endorse Mr.Idabor’s recommendation, the fine will bethe largest ever imposed on Shell. Even inNigeria, where the firm has pumpedcommercial oil since the 1950s, Shell’sbiggest charge to date was a $40.5 millioncourt-imposed fine for a series of spills inOgoniland dating back to the 1970s,according to BBC.

Shell was forced to halt production fromthe 200,000 barrel-a-day Bonga field inDecember after a leak occurred during aroutine tanker loading operation. The resultwas one of Nigeria’s worst oil spills in morethan a decade.

However, Shell claims that none of thecrude reached land and that much of theleaked oil dispersed naturally in the wateror evaporated. Some crude did wash upalong the Western Niger Delta coastline,which Shell cleaned up, despite expressingdoubts that it originated from Bonga.

Oil spillage is one of the major factorsresponsible for the agitation’s that led tomilitancy in the Niger-Delta region.Successive Nigerian governments havecome up with stringent majors to deal withthe situation to no avail. The localcommunities in the Niger-Delta havedragged Shell to court in London overenvironmental degradation to seek redress,

as the phenomena has left themimpoverished and reduced life expectancy

Analysts consider the decision to fine Shellfor the Bonga spill, as one that is justified.The oil communities in the Niger-Deltaregion have been applauding the action.The reasons for this are not far fetched. TheNiger-Delta region has borne the brunt ofNigeria’s quest for economic developmentand prosperity. It is the goose that lays thegolden egg. But, regrettably, it has been along neglected goose.

The mighty reservoir of hydro-carbons,which God in his infinite mercies, placed inthe zone, has been a blessing to all parts ofNigeria. We all know that, in spite ofappearances, the glittering cars in ourstreets, the golden mansions and thescattered development, very manyNigerians are still excluded from thebenefits of God’s given wealth of our nation.

Indeed, for many of the communities inNiger-Delta, the exploitation of oilresources has been more of a curse than ablessing.

It has brought massive pollution, socialdislocation, economic deprivation andincessant conflicts, worsened by harshenvironment.

The Niger-Delta and Nigeria by andlarge, neither has, nor reaped the benefitsof the wealth under its feet. Today there isa pervasive feeling of outrage at theeconomic injustice which has been our

common lot. This has, regrettably, beenexpressed in youth restiveness which oughtnot to be endorsed or encouraged.

The federal government has madefrantic effort at accelerating developmentin the Niger-Delta region, the efforts arecommendable, i.e. the establishment of thePresidential Council on the Socio-EconomicDevelopment of the Coastal States, inaddition to the Niger-Delta DevelopmentCommission (NDDC) by the PresidentOlusegun Obasanjo administration.However, for now, what the generality ofthe people face and see is neglect, alienationand deprivation.

The reality of Nigeria’s economic historyis that the Niger-Delta has been undercompensated for its massive contributionto national economic development. Theregion has been consistent in declaring thisfact, and has always used peaceful meansof pursuing the goals of getting our peoplewhat rightly belongs to them. They havepursued, relentlessly, the allocation ofappropriate resources to their zone throughderivation and other instruments. They didthis most vigorously at the last NationalPolitical Reform Conference and during theaborted Constitutional Review Exercise ofthe former Obasanjo régime. Yet they areyet to attain their goal and it would be rightto say that the region is still a victim ofeconomic injustice.

The Niger-Delta deprivation iscompounded by the injustice which theyhave suffered at the political level. TheSouth-South has been excluded from thehighest office in the land in the nearly fortysix years of Nigeria’s independence. Theregion, if the truth must be told, anoppressed zone, if not an oppressed people.The oppression of this region has directlybearing on all Nigerians because this wherethe bulk of wealth of the nation comes from.

It was a good development that Nigeriansdecided to support the first democraticallyelected president from the zone, byendorsing the candidature of PresidentGoodluck Jonathan for the presidentialelection in the 2011 election, which he won.

The emergence of Jonathan as president,put to rest militancy and unholy agitationsin the Niger-Delta region. The relative calmthat has been recorded in the area shouldform a basis for a thorough review, andmonitoring of oil operations in the zone, toend issues of pollution and spills, which aremajor factors championed by the oilcompanies operating in the zone, andcausing agitations and youth restiveness.

The issue at hand is that the currentpresident of Nigeria is from the South-Southzone. The decision to work collectivelytowards a South-South president was takenat different meetings held by the elders andleaders of the zone.

The zone had never produced a presidentor head of state, either military or civilian,since our independence in 1960.Yet this isa zone that can rightly be described as theanchor of Nigeria’s unity and without anydoubt the pillar of her economy.

Historically, the South-South zone hasalways been a part of all efforts directed atforging unity. Their political choices andlinkages have always been determined bytheir commitment to nation-building.

There is need for Nigerians to pursue aconstructive engagement with all sectionsof the Nigerian nation. Our commitmentto the Nigerian project should be total and,Nigerians must not relent in seeking itsachievement, nowhere is this more clearlydemonstrated than in the economic sector.

Bringing Shell to book for itsenvironmental degradation in the Niger-Delta is a decision Nigerians must takecollectively, it’s the way forward.

• Speaker Aminu Tambuwal

The fine is particularly severe in comparisonto other recent incidents. Based on Shell’s

estimate of the 40,000 barrels of oil spilled inthe Bonga leak, the fine equates to around

$125,000 a barrel.

PAGE 32 Friday, July 27, 2012, National Accord

FCTInsideInsideInsideInsideInside

MaMaMaMaMatctctctctching orhing orhing orhing orhing orderderderderders fs fs fs fs for FCTor FCTor FCTor FCTor FCTcontrcontrcontrcontrcontractoractoractoractoractorsssss,,,,, 500 plots r 500 plots r 500 plots r 500 plots r 500 plots readeadeadeadeady fy fy fy fy for deor deor deor deor devtvtvtvtvt

The Federal Capital TerritoryAdministration, FCTA hassaid over 500 plots of land are

ready for development and wouldbe handed over to their respectiveowners in October. This wasdisclosed yesterday by the FCTMinister, Senator BalaMohammed.

The FCT administration alsogave a match order to itscontractors to hasten work on allongoing projects.

Represented at the inspectiontour of projects at MaitamaExtension also known as GoodluckDistrict, Guzape District, all inAbuja, the Special Assistant, SA,to the Minister on Projects, Hon.

Stories By JONATHAN IPAA various linked roads the FCTA waspartnering neighbouring states ofNasarawa and Niger to help openthe city centre for a freer trafficinflow.

One of such roads, he mentionedare the Gitata-Mpape-Abuja road,the Karshi-Apo, Abuja road whichare ongoing, saying commuterswill soon ripe of their benefit. TheFCT administration also called onthe firms handling the projects tohasten up as residents wereanxious to have them put in use.

The official also re-intaliated theFCT concern over the trafficsituation in the city, assuring itscommitment for a collaborativeeffort by all agencies charge withthe responsibility of freeing Abujaof its traffic held ups.

• Victorious Victorous Jikwoyi SAGE team

[Dr] Ajah Nwanbueze Igwe,Senator Bala expressed satisfactionover the spate of work going on.

The minister who also inspectedfacility at the city tower, said workwas ongoing though with littlehitches caused by the heavy rains,was assured of an Octobercompletion and hand over of theGuzape project.

Asphalt and earth work were ateighty percent completion, theofficial was told by MangrovetechNigeria limited, the indigenousconstruction firm handling theproject at Goodluck District.

Speaking with newsmen afterthe tour, Igwe assured residents ofintense supervision of FCTAprojects to ensure timely delivery.

Senator Bala also spoke on the

In order to tackle theperennial traffic problems inthe Federal CapitalTerritory, especially withinAbuja metropolis at peakhours, the FCTAdministration has re-established it’s phased outMobile Courts to sit atdesignated areas.

The Mobile Courts werescrapped recently due to lack offunding them, a source revealed.

However, a press statementquoting the Chief Press Secretaryto the FCT Minister, Senator BalaMohammed, Alhaji Sule HazatMohammed, said, the FCTMinister, Senator Bala AbdulkadirMohammed had at the weekend,while reviewing traffic situation inthe territory set up the scheme.

In its efforts to effectively sanitizeand clean the serene environmentof the Capital City, the Ministerremarked that within this onemonth, the DRTS has successfullyclosed down colonies of illegal

...R...R...R...R...Re-estae-estae-estae-estae-estabbbbblishes mobile courlishes mobile courlishes mobile courlishes mobile courlishes mobile court ft ft ft ft for tror tror tror tror trafafafafaffffffic ofic ofic ofic ofic offffffencesencesencesencesencesmechanic workshops in Utako,Central Business District, Jabi,Maitama, Wuse, Garki I and GarkiII.

The Minister also revealed thatthe FCT Directorate of Road TrafficServices (DRTS) has been havingregular sitting of this Mobile Courtfor the purpose of prosecutingtraffic offenders; signalling thatthe problems associated with alltraffic offences may be coming toan end.

Senator Mohammed reiteratedthe regular sitting of this Court iscomplementing other measuresput in place by his administrationto address the issue of traffic lawviolations in the Federal CapitalTerritory.

He disclosed that so far, theMobile Court sat at AYA, GamesVillages, Area One under Bridge,Maitama Junction by HabibaSuper Market, Dei-Dei Junction,Kubwa Junction, Bwari Junction,Dutse Alhaji Junction andGwagwalada by Giri Junction.

According to him, within onemonth that the Mobile Court hasbeen sitting, a total of 48 trafficoffenders were arraigned to serveas deterrent.

Senator Mohammed furtherdisclosed that in the course ofclosure of these workshops, 22abandoned vehicles wereevacuated, while 10 accidentedvehicles from Kado EstateRoundabout and Umaru MusaYar’Adua Expressway (AirportRoad) were removed.

“In addition, we evacuated 40accidence and abandoned vehiclesfrom the Abuja Leasing Company’soffice in Katampe District,” headded.

The Minister solicited for thecooperation of all residents of theFederal Capital Territoryespecially the motoring public torid Abuja of reckless anddangerous usage of its roads thatoften times lead to avoidableaccidents as well as loss of livesand property.

The FCT Administrationyesterday announced thewithdrawer of temporarypermits given to companiesinvolved in quarry activitiesin the Federal CapitalTerritory, Abuja.

FCT Minister, Senator BalaMohammed made this disclosurewhile meeting with some officialsof the Abuja MetropolitanManagement Council (AMMC) inhis office in Abuja.

The Minister thus, directed thatthe FCT Development ControlDepartment gets the list of quarryoperators from the Federal CapitalDevelopment Authority toeffectively enforce the removal.

Mohammed revealed that theFCT Development ControlDepartment has also suspended theprocessing of all building plansubmitted where quarry activitiesare on-going.

The Minister also disclosed thatout of the list of the first batchforwarded to his office by the FCTDevelopment Control Departmentamong all the property seeking forre-validation, nine of suchstructures after undergoingintegrity test have failed theintegrity test.

He directed the BuildingInspectorate Division of the FCTDevelopment Control to invigorateaction in handling the anticipatedflurry of submissions by affecteddevelopers of the abandonedprojects.

According to him, databasecreated for the scheme as well asnecessary information will beplaced on the departmental websitewith photo clips to enable regularmonitoring and update as workprogresses on individual sites.

He also further revealed that4,077 illegal structures have been

Why FCT withdrawspermit from quarry coys

removed at Iddo Sarki, Gosa, Tuggeand Sauka villages along theUmaru Musa Yar’AduaExpressway (Airport Road); addingthat the exercise will be sustained.

The Minister said that 18 illegalstructures have also been removedin Jikwoyi District, 57 shanties inCentral Business District, 47 illegalbatchers in Wuse II District.

Mohammed solicited for thecooperation of the residents of theFederal Capital Territory to ridAbuja of all illegal structures;reiterating that Abuja remains thewindow in which the World seesNigeria and therefore we cannotafford to fail.

SAGE World Cup: VictoriousJikwoyi College goes again

Pride FCT boys and students of theStudents for the Advancement ofGlobal Entrepreneurship, SAGEhave arrived California, UnitedStates of America, USA. They arerepresenting Nigeria at the 10th

SAGE world cup and anniversary.The fourth time champions left

the Nnamdi Azikiwe InternationalAirport, Abuja Tuesday enrouteLagos to New York. Team advisor,Mr. James Olurotimi stated this onphone early Wednesday.

The team is expected toparticipate in quiz, educationalcompetitions and skill acquisitiongames among others with 31 otherworld class colleges.

The FCT Secretary for Education,Mallam Kabiru Usman is at head ofthe FCT team while the lads led byVictor Terkimbi Ipaa are leadingthe Jikwoyi and Jibi students.

A ceremony is scheduled toreceive the global champions by thefounder of the SAGE, Prof. CurtisDe-Berg Wednesday night inCalifornia was consummatedamidst applause as many studentswatch with admiration.

The Association of MedicalLaboratory ScientistsCouncil of Nigeria (AMLSCN)has called on PresidentGoodluck Jonathan not toassent into law the NationalHealth Bill, as was passed bythe National Assembly.

In an interview with ourreporter, the chairman ofAMLSCN, Federal CapitalTerritory (FCT) chapter, Dr.Ifeanyi Casmir warned that ifPresident Jonathan assents to thebill as passed by the NationalAssembly it would spell doom forthe health sector in the country.

“President Jonathan has takenthe best action by withholdingthe assent to the National HealthBill. This action by Mr. Presidentis in the best interest of Nigerians.This is because assenting to thatbill, as passed by the Nationalassembly means that Nigeriansand the general public would beshort changed”, he said.

Dr. Ifeanyi alleged that theNational Health Bill wasprepared in favour of medicaldoctors in the country, without

FCT Lab scientists cautionFCT Lab scientists cautionFCT Lab scientists cautionFCT Lab scientists cautionFCT Lab scientists cautionFG on Health BillFG on Health BillFG on Health BillFG on Health BillFG on Health Bill

the input of other professionals inthe health sector, adding thatmedical doctors alone, anywherein the world cannot providehealthcare delivery services.

He argued that if he bill issigned into law by the president,it would generate a lot ofbureaucratic problems, whichaccording to him, would led tobloated services and lock jam ingovernance, a situation thesystem might not be prepared tohandle.

The Laboratory scientistadvised that the variousprofessional groups in the healthcare sector in Nigeria should beallowed to exhibit themselves tothe fullest, without any form ofrestriction or frustration,because by so doing, the healthwould lose its best hands.

He continued: “Monolithichealthcare delivery system isgone with the past. People shouldbrace and meet with globaltrends. The global trend is thatthe health care system isinterdependent and multi-disciplinary”.

PAGE 33National Accord, Friday, July 27, 2012

SP RTSGrand finale dunks off August 7

The grand finale of thisyear’s Nestle MiloSecondary Schools

Basketball Championship willdunk off on Tuesday, August 7to end on Saturday, August 11at the Indoor Sports Hall of theNational Stadium, Surulere,Lagos.

Unveiling plans for this year’sevent which is the 14thedition, Managing Director ofNestle Nigeria Plc., Mr. MartinWoolnough, said thechampionship is aimed atdiscovering and nurturing thesporting skills of futurechampions.

“The championship hascontinued not only to expose,but to harness, the enormouspotential of our youth and theabundant basketball talents inthe country,” he said.

Woolnough expresseddelights that this year’s editionhas witnessed tremendousimprovement with about 5000scholls participating.

“The geographic scope of theregional conferences played in

Stories By AYO BADRU, Lagos

SYLVESTER IKUEJAMOYE

MANDATEWith

08052952190(SMS only)

sylvestermoye@yahoo.com

Nigeria flag will be among many others that will behoisted at the London 2012 Olympic Games holdingin the city of London. Nigeria has been participating

in the games since 1952 held in Helsinki-Finland. However,our participation is more or less to make up the number.

The highest number of medals we have won at aparticular Olympic games since our debut in 1952 was thesix [6] medals posted at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics withChioma Ajuwa and the U-23 Olympic Football Team thatgave Nigeria her very first Gold Medals in the history ofour participation in the Games. At the debut of Nigeria inthe 1952 Helsinki-Finland Olympic Games, the Countrywent with nine [9] Athletes and participated in athleticsonly but won no medal. At the 1956 Melbourne-AustraliaGames, we went with Ten [10] Athletes and participatedin Athletics alone but won no medal. Again at the Rome-Italy 1960 Olympic Games, Nigeria went with Thirteen[13] Athletes, and participated in Athletics and Boxing,again no medal was won.

At the 1964 Tokyo-Japan Games, Nigeria went with 14Athletes and participated in Athletics and Boxing wherehistory was made by winning her very first medal [Bronze]in the history of the Games. The Bronze Medal was securedthrough Boxing.

In the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games, Nigeria wentwith Thirty-Six [36] Athletes and participated inAthletics, Boxing and Football but no medal to show for it.The Country participated in the 1972 Munich, GermanyGames with Twenty Seven [27] Athletes and participatedin Athletics and Boxing but managed to win a Bronzemedal. The 1976 Montreal, Canada Games was boycottedby the entire continent of Africa due to New Zealandsporting link with apartheid in South Africa, so Nigeriawas not there. The 1980 Moscow, Russia Games was a woefulouting for Nigeria, with fifty-three [53] Athletesparticipating in Athletics, Boxing, Weightlifting, Footballand Wrestling, no medal was won.

The 1984 Los Angeles, USA Games was also notapplausible as Nigeria only managed one Silver and oneBronze Medal with forty-nine [49] Athletes for six [6]sports, namely-Athletics, Boxing, Table Tennis, Tennis,Wrestling and Weightlifting. The outing in Soul ’88-SouthKorea was that of a sorry experience, with Seventy NineAthletes competing in eight [8] sports, namely, Athletics,Judo, Boxing, Football, Table Tennis, Weightlifting, Tennisand Wrestling, Nigeria came back empty handed.Barcelona- Spain 1972 with 59 Athletes in Nine [9] sportsas follows; Boxing, Athletics, Judo, Swimming,Weightlifting, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Wrestling andHandball, Nigeria garnered four [4] medals- 3 Silver and 1Bronze.

The most successful outing for Nigeria in the history ofour participation in the Games was at the 1996 AtlantaGames where Nigeria won her very first GOLD medal andindeed two Gold medals, one Silver and three Bronze withseventy-seven Athletes in eight [8] sports, namely,Athletics, Football, Boxing, Table Tennis, Judo,Weightlifting, Wrestling and Tennis. The catalogue offailure and bitter experience persisted through the 2000

Re-London 2012:Are we set?

Continued on page 35

• A basketball player

MILO SECONDARY SCHOOLS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

June was also expanded toinclude Asaba, Akure, Lokojaand Ilorin.

“The improvement reflectsthe brand’s ambition to givemore to the development of thegame of basketball in thecountry,” said Woolnough.

He thanked the NigeriaBasketball Federation (NBBF),the National Collegiate SportsFoundation (NCSF) and theNigeria School SportsFederation (NSSF) as well as allstakeholders for the success ofthe championship so far.

Milo Brand’s Manager, Mrs.Funmi Oshineye hascounsled players andofficials of the participatingschools in the grand finale ofthis year’s edition of the MiloSecondary SchoolsBasketball Championship touphold the spirit of fair Play.

Oshineye in a chat with ourcorrespondnet said the true aimof the championship can only beachieved if only the officials canbe truthful by ensuring thatonly eligible players participatein this grand finale.

“We’ve come far with thischampionship since the last 14years and for us to trullyachieve our aim in this year’s

...Oshineye counsels players, officialsedition, is for the players andofficials to uphold the spirit ofFair Play.

“The officials have been told touse only eligible players and wehope they will abide with thatfor the good and interest of alllovers of the game,” she said.

She added that though thespirit of Fair Play in theprevious championships, sometalents discovered in the pasthave found their ways into thenational team and other majorleagues around the world.

Meanwhile, all the 12finalists schools namely: AsabaGirls Grammar School, DeltaState, St. AugusutineSeminary School, Ezamgbo,

Ebonyi State, Yejide GirlsGrammar school, Ibadan, OyoState, Greater TomorrowCollege, Akoko, Ondo State,Girls Government Secondaryschool, Zing, Taraba State andAhmadiyya Coolege, Kano,Kano State.

The remaining six are,Queen of the Rosary SecondarySchool, Gboko, Benue State,Government SecondarySchool, Ilorin, Kwara State,Government SecondarySchool, Minna, Niger State,International School, Lagos,Ajigbeda Girls Senior HighSchool, Lagos and St. Jude GirlsSecondary school, Amarata,Bayelsa State.

The last four teams in theongoing DStv BasketballLeague Final 8 Playoffs willresume action today at theIndoor Sports Hall of theNational Stadium, Surulere,Lagos as the semifinal matcheshot up.

In the first semifinal match of theday, leaders of Group A, DodanWarriors will square up withrunners up in group B, RoyalHoopers who are the defendingchampions of the championshipwhile the second semifinal matchwill be between leaders of Group B,Kano Pillars and runners up of

DSTV BASKETBALL LEAGUE FINAL 8 PLAYOFFS

Last four teams battle for final ticketsGroup A, Lagos Islanders.

The winner of the first semifinalmatch will face the winner of thesecond semifinal match in the finalof the championship slated for thesame venue on Saturday, July 28while the losers of the semifinalmatches would fight for the thirdplace position before the finalmatch.

Meanwhile, chief coach of RoyalHoopers, Ogoh Odaudu, haspromised that his team will not giveup the title without a fight to thelast.

“We will fight to defend our title tothe last with our blood. We’ve come

this far and we will not give up easily.We will fight to the last with our bloodand we pray God to crown oureffortsd with success”, he said.

However, proprietor of DodanWarriors, Col. Sam Ahmedu thoughsaid the match with Royal Hooperswill be tough, he expressed confidencethat his players will live up toexpectations.

“it will be tough but we will notdisappoint our followers. We havethe materials to win the title for usthis year and we will give it our bestwith determination and hard work,we will achieve success,” said Col.Ahmedu.

Friday, July 27, 2012, National AccordPAGE 34

SPORTS

•South Africans with their Olympic medals

CAS imposes equestrian athlete onSouth Africa Olympic CommitteeThe Court of Arbitration

for Sport (CAS) hasordered the South Africa

Sports Confederation andOlympic Committee (SASCOC)to include horse rider AlexPeternell in its Olympic team.

Tuddy Reddy, SASCOC ChiefExecutive Officer, said this tonewsmen in Johannesburgyesterday where he describedthe CAS ruling as a sad day forthe body.

“It is indeed a very sad dayfor us as a country to beordered to select an athleteinto Team South Africa againstour will.

“But being a disciplinedmember of the OlympicMovement, we have tocomply.

“The CAS has unfortunatelyruled in favour of AlexPeternell and has ordered boththe South Africa EquestrianFederation (SAEF) andSASCOC to include him in ourteam,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), reports that the U.K.based South African hadapproached the CAS after theSAEF had turned down hisnomination for the OlympicGames.

This was the second attemptby Peternell to take SASCOCand the SAEF to the CAS.

“As we all know, this athletehas been based in the U.K. forthe last 11 years consecutivelyand we have now been

ordered to include him in theequestrian discipline,” Ruddysaid.

He said SASCOC have triedpersistently to support PaulHart in his quest for Olympicrepresentation.

“It is with a great sense ofregret that one of our loyalcountrymen, Paul Hart, has tobear the brunt of this sadsituation.

This decision is unfortunateas it forces upon the SouthAfrican public an athlete that

they do not recognise and onethat they do not necessarilysupport,” Reddy said.

He added that it wasabundantly clear from thecomments posted on theirofficial website, that the SouthAfrican public hascontinuously supported Hart asthe preferred athlete forselection.

“Unfortunately with this rulingof CAS, we cannot deviate in anyway, as this ruling gives a clearindication that the selection of

Odaudu tips Hoopers to retain Final 8 Basketball title

Peternell has been made by CASand we are now implementingtheir decision.

“While this whole affair isregrettable, for the sake of theOlympic Games it is importantto move forward and focus ourenergies on the job on handand concentrate on our team’spreparation,” he said.

Ondo State kick boxer,Ayodele Michael, yesterdayvowed to defend the goldmedal he won at the17th National Sports Festivalin 2011 in Port Harcourt.

Ayodele told the News Agencyof Nigeria (NAN) in Akure thathe won the gold in 81 kg otherwiseknown as ‘low contact’ division.

“I am ready to defend my goldmedal at the next festival inNovember in Lagos,” he said.

He said that he had beenwinning medals for the state innational festivals since 2002 andthat he was ready to defend hisgold in ‘Eko 2012’.

“I have always been a finalistsince 2007 in boxing and I wongold in Port Harcourt in kickboxing’s low contact division in2011 .

“I had to switch from boxing tokick boxing, having exceeded thethree times an athlete canrepresent a state in a particularsport.

“I have always been achampion; I am fit and ready todefend my title in kick boxing,”he said.

NAN reports that Ayodelehad at the 2007 GatewayFestival represented Ondo Statein boxing and won silver.

He also represented the state inKADA Festival in 2009 and alsowon gold.

Festival:Ondo kickboxer readyto defendmedal

•Plateau United players

Coach Ogoh Odaudu of thePort Harcourt-basedRoyal Hoopers BasketballClub yesterday tipped theteam to retain the ongoing2011/12 DSTV Men’sBasketball PremierLeague title.

Odaudu told the NewsAgency of Nigeria (NAN) at theIndoor Hall, National Stadium,Surulere, that the team was

poised to win thechampionship which ends onJuly 28.

He said: “Our only goal rightnow is to retain the DSTV titleagain, this year.

“This is so paramount,having won two out of the threedeterminant group matches.”

According to the Hoopers’coach, all the teams at thechampionship could be

defeated.“From my observation of all

the matches played byparticipating clubs at thechampionship, I don’t thinkthere is any team the Hooperscannot beat in thecompetition.’’

The Hoopers recorded twostraight victories againstMinna-based Niger PottersBasketball Club and the PoliceBaton of Lagos, with scores at81-50 and 61-46,respectively.

The team has thus qualifiedfor the classification stage ofthe championship, scheduledfor Friday.

Other clubs in theclassification stage of thecompetition are the DodanWarriors of Lagos and the KanoPillars Basketball Club of Kano.

Similarly, the Warriors’ coach,Adeka Odaudu, said his teamwould dethrone the defendingchampions, having maintaineda 14-match unbeaten run in theregular season.

“I thinkwe haveall it takest odethronethe RoyalHoopers,this year,by thegrace ofGod.”

T h ec o a c hcautionedt h eH o o p e r sa g a i n s tbeing tooconfidento fretainingt h echampionship

t i t l e ,s a y i n gthat all theparticipatingteams hadt h e i rstrategies.

PUBLIC NOTICECENTER FOR COMMUNICATION, RESEARCH

MATTERS AND DEVELOPMENTTHIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HASAPPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATIONUNDER PART 'C' OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF1990.THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. PROF.EMMAN -OWUMS OWUAMALAM (JP) -CHAIRMAN2. BARR.NORBERT ONYEMECHALU -MEMBER3. MRS.GLORIA OWUAMALAM -SECRETARYTHE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:1. THE PROVIDE FOR THE PUBLICATION OF JOURNALS, BOOKS, MANUALS,HANDBOOKS AND OTHER ACADEMIC CONTENTS IN CONVENTIONAL ANDELECTRONIC FORMS DEALING WITH COMMUNICATION AND DEVELOPMENTRELATED ISSUES.2. TO INITIATE PLATFORM FOR CONFERENCES, SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS ANDTRAINING.3. TO SERVE AS AN AGENCY FOR SHARING DEVELOPMENT INFORMATIONTHROUGH DESIGNS, PRODUCTIONS, SPECIAL EVENTS AND OTHERSTRATEGIES..ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THEREGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRISCRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJAWITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: BARR.NORBERT ONYEMECHALU

PUBLIC NOTICEAL-AMEEN CENTRAL MOSQUE,

APAPA AJAO,LAGOSTHIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIEDTO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART'C' OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. ALHAJI JAMIU SALISU OLOLADE2. MR.RAZAQ YEKINNI3. MR.ISA OLA ALAUSA4. ALHAJI ABDURAHMAN APENA5. ALHAJI KAREEM AYINDE-OMO6.MRS. MUIBAT BALOGUN7. MRS. MULIKAT GANIY SALAUDEENTHE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:1. THE PROMOTION OF ISLAMIC EDUCATION AND OTHER FORMS OF EDUCATIONOF MEMBERS.2. PROPAGATION OF ISLAM BY DISSEMINATION OF THE TRUE KNOWLEDGE OFTHE HOLY QUÁN AND HADITHS TO ALL PEOPLE.3. ADVANCEMENT AND REFORMATION OF MEMBERS AND ALL MUSLIMS INGENERAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TRUE PRINCIPLE OF ISLAM..ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THEREGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRISCRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHINTWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: BARR.CHIOMA UNEGBU

PAGE 35

SPORTSNational Accord, Friday, July 27, 2012

How Johny Akinyemi becameNigeria’s first Olympic canoeistJohny Akinyemi needed a

“miracle” and a newnation to get to the

Olympic Games.The 23-year-old will become

Nigeria’s first Olympic slalomcanoeist at London 2012,having beaten the Beijing2008 bronze medallist in arace-off to secure his place.

But Akinyemi has lived andtrained in the Cheshire town ofWarrington all his life, as hisaccent attests, and admits heis “not the darkest Nigerianyou’re going to see, by a longw a y ” .

He grew up as part of theBritish slalom squad’s juniorprogramme, racing alongsidenames he can now expect toface as rivals at the Games, butswitched to Nigeria in 2008.

“My dad’s side of the family isNigerian - my grandad camefrom Lagos - and when yougrow up as a mixed-race guyin the UK, you go through atime when you almost‘discover’ yourself and yourroots,” explains Akinyemi.

“Around that time I wasreally looking into myNigerian heritage, which issomething I’m proud of, and Ilearnt a lot about myself. Myidentity came through that.

“Warrington is not the mostethnically diverse place in theworld and, when you’re mixed-race, it’s sometimes difficult towrestle with your identity. ButI’m proud to be Nigerian, andproud to be British as well.”

In early 2008, Akinyemimade his first trip to the nationhe now calls his own, spendingseveral hours at Lagos passportcontrol trying to get hisdocuments back. “I wasinitiated into Nigeriancorruption straight away,” herecalls, ruefully.

Once in the country he

• Johnny

Sydney, Australia to 2004Athens as well as the 2008Beijing, China OlympicGames. Nigeria went to theSydney Games with Ninetyone [91] Athletes in Eight [8]sports, Football, Athletics,Table Tennis, Weightlifting, Boxing, Wrestling,Judo and Swimming, posting[3] Silver medals only.

In Athens, Nigeria wentwith Eighty-Four Athletesand participated in [10]sports, namely- Football,Weightlifting, Table Tennis,Basketball, Judo,Taekwondo, Swimming,Athletics, Boxing andWrestling but was only‘LUCKY’ to come home withtwo [2] Bronze medals. Atthe 2008 Beijing-ChinaGames, Nigeria went withNinety [90] Athletes andparticipated in Ten [10]sports; Athletics,Badminton, Boxing,Football, Judo, Swimming,Table-Tennis, Taekwondo,Weightlifting andWrestling with Four [4]Medals made up of one[1]Silver and three [3] Bronzeto show for it. The history ofour outing is certainly notan enviable one. MANDATEshould like to ask again,ARE WE SET? And howprepared are we to registera more meaningful presence

at the 2012 LondonOlympic Games?

MANDATE should like tocommend the position ofthe Hon. Minister/Chairman, NationalSports Commission on theFederal Governmentdirective to do away withcrowd of people that willnot be of value to theGames. It is alsocommendable thatgovernment has been upand doing in the release ofadequate funds as well asother necessary supportfor both pre-training,during training and to theperiod of the Games.Mandate can only wishTeam Nigeria the verybest of LUCK at theLONDON 2012 OlympicsGames. Do l hearsomebody say No Room ForEXCUSE? Next weekedition of this column willbe coming from London,the venue of the 2012Olympic Games. Until wemeet again next weekTHURSDAY, do stay out oftrouble and God blessNigeria.

NB: Mandate will like tocommiserate with thegovernment and goodpeople of Ghana andparticularly my very goodfriend, Dr, Owusu Ansah onthe death of their President,Atta Evans Mills.

Continued from page 33

Re-London 2012:Are we set?

discovered that, while slalomcanoeing meant nothing tomost Nigerians, his Christianfaith certainly did.

“Religion is really importantto me. It’s the main thing, thefoundation of my life really,”he says. “I went to churchwhile I was in Nigeria and thatwas pretty intense.

“They have big, big churchesand there’s a lot of shouting -it’s really vibrant. I’m not usedto that at the Baptist churchI’m at [in Warrington], it’s abit more peaceful!

“Everyone in Nigeriawelcomed me with open arms.I was worried whether peoplewould accept me when Iswitched but my name helped.When I said, ‘I’m JohnyAkinyemi,’ they said, ‘Ah,you’re a Nigerian.’ I’mprivileged that they allow meto canoe for them.”

Akinyemi believes his faithhas done more than buildbridges for his canoeing career.

“All of 2011, I was buildingup for my Olympic qualifier inSouth Africa. I knew it wouldbe a straight race, winner takesall, between me and BenjaminBoukpeti, the Olympic bronzemedallist from 2008,” heexplained.

“I think, in South Africa, myreligion got me through. A lotof people back in Nigeria, andin Warrington, were prayingfor me.

“After the semi-final, where Icame fourth, I was disappointedand the nerves were setting in.I took a step back, read some ofthe Bible - Psalms 18 - and I feltpeople’s prayers giving mestrength and peace on the startline.

“I beat Boukpeti and I thinkGod was with me on that run. Ithink of it as a modern-daymiracle, because he’s a really

good paddler. When you see hismuscles, you’ll understand,”he jokes. “I needed that extra.”

If Akinyemi is still cementingthe connection to his newcountry then his rivalBoukpeti’s allegiance to Togo,for whom he won that bronzemedal in 2008, is yet moretangential.

Boukpeti was born and raisedin France and had visited Togoonly once, a trip to see hisgrandmother as a child, priorto the Beijing Games.

No other African hasthreatened the podium inOlympic canoe slalom. Part ofthat is through a shortage ofappropriate facilities, andAkinyemi is determined tomake a difference to the sportin Nigeria once London 2012 isover.

“Nigerian slalom is verymuch in its early developmentstages and, at the moment, I’mthe only athlete competing atan international level,” hesays.

“The rest of the guys are inthe lagoons of Lagos paddlingand, when I go there, that’swhere I train. I do my weightsand fitness in the nationalstadium, and paddle on thelagoons.

“It’s interesting to see - youlook around and there arecanoes everywhere in Nigerianheritages. On the lagoons youhave villages where people usecanoes as their main mode oftransport.

“After the Olympics, I’ll go toCalabar [a city in south-eastern Nigeria] and see if wecan find any white water to setup a club there. If we can justget the kids growing up aroundcanoes into a competitiveenvironment, and into theright kind of boat, then thefuture is pretty bright.”

Chelsea are to lodge a newbid for Nigeria forwardVictor Moses that could beworth up to £9million,reports said.

Wigan have thus far rejectedthree lower offers, which havealso included taking JoshMcEachran or Romelu Lukakuon loan from Chelsea.

Moses, 21, has a year left onhis contract and he is valuedat £10m by chairman DaveWhelan, who is interested onlyin a cash deal.

It is now understood the twoclubs are close to reaching anagreement, with Chelseaprepared to pay£6m up frontand another £3m inperformance-related add-ons,according to the LondonEvening Standard.

Chelsea have chased severalattacking players over the

Chelsea table £9m for Victor MosesChelsea table £9m for Victor MosesChelsea table £9m for Victor MosesChelsea table £9m for Victor MosesChelsea table £9m for Victor Mosessummer, including Hulk,Willian, Andre Schurrle andRobert Lewandowski, butMoses appeals to them becauseof his potential and the fact hewill also qualify as a home-grown player for theChampions League.

Chelsea must pay cash to landMoses, who Wigan’s second goalin a 3-1 win over Mitchendofin a pre-season game inAustria.

Wigan chairman DaveWhelan has declared he will notlet Moses go on the cheap,telling the Champions Leagueand FA Cup holders to put upor shut up.

Whelan said: “They need topay the brass up front. Wedon’t want any part-exchangedeals they have offered.

“Victor is one of the mostexciting young talents around,

so little wonder Chelsea wanthim, but if they want him theyare going to have to pay theprice.

“We are not interested inpicking up one of their playerson loan or in part exchange.

“They know the price forMoses.”

•Victor Moses

PAGE 36

SPORTSFriday, July 27, 2012, National Accord

King Sunny Ade, others herald Nigeria’sparticipation at London OlympicsNigeria’s Afro King

Sunny Ade andother top Nigerian

artists heralded Nigeria’sparticipation in the LondonOlympics at a sports andcultural expo to mark thebeginning of the games.

Other artists include Tuface,Asa, Nato C, Kaziah Jones,Seun Kuti, Waje and MsWaliyah Abiola, the late ChiefMKO Abiola’s daughter whoshowed her stuff as anupcoming artist to beat.

The Europe Correspondentof the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), covered the show atthe Nigeria Hospitality Houseat Stratford, the OlympicGames site, on Tuesday nightin London.

NAN reports that musiclovers trooped out to watchthe performances whichlasted into the early hours ofthe morning.

Some of the fans who spokewith NAN commended theinitiative and theperformances by the artists,which they said, had projectedthe image of the country in apositive way.

“It is amazing to see theabundance of talents comingfrom Nigeria; these guys are ofinternational standard,’’Richmond Green, a Briton said.

Green, who suggested thatmore publicity should be doneto project the positive aspectsof Nigeria, added: “I loveSunny Ade and Asa.’’

Also, a delighted Mr GoriAlepute, who has lived in theUK for 30 years, wonderedaloud at the abundant talentsin Nigeria.

“It is really shocking but alsodelightful to hear some of theseyoung artists like Asa, KaziahJones. They are really verygood. I am really very happyand proud tonight,’’ Aleputesaid.

Ms Evelyn Oputu, theManaging Director, Bank ofIndustry, the organisers of theevent, said the initiative “is aspectacular 12-weeknationwide celebration ofshowcasing the very best ofculture during the LondonOlympics.’’

The events which will runfrom July 25 to Aug 15 will alsofeature a Night with Prof. WoleSoyinka, with performance oftwo of his plays, The Lion andthe Jewel and The King MustDance Naked.

Also some Nigerian authorsand writers including RotimiBabatunde, winner of the 2012Caine Prize would read fromvarious books on July 26, July30 and July 31. •King Sunny Ade will support Team Nigeria in London Olympics

international competitions.Mr Dabo-Ere Dokubo, Chairman

of the LOC, who disclosed this tothe News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Port Harcourt, laudedtalents on display at thecompetition which is tagged:“Amaechi Cup”.

“The level and quality ofplayers in this competition arevery good; they have shown a highlevel of discipline and dedicationat the tournament.

“The championship will enableus to select the best crop of youngand talented players that willrepresent the state in nationaland international age-groupcompetitions,” Dokubo said.

He expressed optimism that thetournament, which was still inits first round stage, would assistthe state to discover many newtalents.

The chairman, therefore, urgedplayers to take advantage of thecompetition to impress scoutsfrom the Nigerian PremierLeague.

Dokubo reiterated that N18million would be shared as prizemoney at the tournament, withthe winners collecting N10million, runners-up, N5 millionand the third-place winners N3million.

“The event will not end there;we are also planning to selectplayers that will performcreditably in internationalcompetitions,” Dokubo said.

According to him, 32 streetteams, mainly for youths residingin the Old Port Harcourt Township

Amaechi Cup 2012: LOC chairman lauds talents on display

• Gov Amaechi

The Local OrganisingCommittee (LOC) of theongoing Old Port HarcourtTownship/Borokiri Soccercompetition in Port Harcourton Wednesday pledged toselect talented players fromthe championship for

PUBLIC NOTICELION OF JUDAH PROPHETIC AND

DELIVERANCE MINISTRYTHIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TOTHE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART 'C' OF THECOMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. SAMUEL MADUABUCHUKWU2. NKIRUKA MIRIAN UGWUMBA3. SAMUEL CHIDUBEM SAMUEL4. OBINNA PATRICK ODURUKWETHE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:1. TO PREACH, TEACH AND PROPAGATE THE TOTAL UNADULTERATED ANDUNALLOYED GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THECOUNTRY.2. TO AVAL THE PROPHETIC, HEALING AND DELIVERANCE PROVISION OF GOD TO ALLMEN INCLUDING THE MEDICALLY INCURABLE AILMENTS THROUGH THE GOSPEL OFJESUS CHRIST PROCLAIMED IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT .3. TO PRINT PUBLISH AND DISTRIBUTE FREELY RELIGIOUS OR OTHER EDUCATIONALLITERATURE INCLUDING TRACTS, MAGAZINES, PERIODICAL, CIRCULAR BOOKS,ARTICLES OR MAKE SUCH OTHER PUBLICATIONS AND EXPRESSIONS OF OPINION ASMAY BE CONSISTENT WITH ITS AIMS AND OBJECTIVES.ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THEREGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRISCRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHINTWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION.

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and the Borokiri area of RiversState, are taking part in thecompetition.

He said that the teams weredivided into eight groups of fourteams each.

Dokubo said that thetournament, which is sponsoredby the state’s Ministry of Sports,was to showcase young talents inthe state.

“The competition will cut acrossthe state as we are progressing,but we want to begin with theyouth living in old Port HarcourtTownship and Borokiri,” headded.

In matches played so far, theBille Street Team beat BonnyStreet Team 2-1, Creek RoadTeam defeated Moscow RoadTeam, also by a 2-1 margin, whilethe Takoradi Street Team defeatedthe Sokoto Street Team 3-1.

Coach Abiye Tamunoiyalla ofthe Bonny Street Team, however,assured that his team’s loss in thepreliminary rounds of thechampionship would not deter itfrom qualifying from the group.

The competition which staredon July 21, is scheduled to end onAug. 18.

C o a c hH u t t o nLondon ofBille StreetTeam saidthat thecompetition,w h i c haims att a k i n gunemployedyouths offt h es t r e e t s , would alsohelp tostem crimein thestate.

PAGE 37

diplomatic loungeAtta Mills deaAtta Mills deaAtta Mills deaAtta Mills deaAtta Mills death,th,th,th,th, loss to ECO loss to ECO loss to ECO loss to ECO loss to ECOWWWWWASASASASAS,,,,,AAAAAU U U U U –minister–minister–minister–minister–minister

Minister of ForeignAffairs, Mr.O l u g b e n g aAshiru has

described the death ofPresident John Atta Mills ofGhana as “a great lossto ECOWAS and Africa.”

Ashiru told the NewsAgency of Nigeria (NAN)in an interview, that Millswas a stabilising factorwho contributed to theunity of ECOWAS and theAfrican Union (AU).

Mills, aged 68, who waselected President in2009, died on Tuesdaywhile receiving medicaltreatment at a militaryhospital, according to astatement from theGhanaian Presidency.

“President Mills wasselfless in serving his

National Accord, Wednesday, July 27, 2012

Late Ghana President, John Atta Mills

people and unswerving insustaining democracy inGhana, Nigerians mournwith our brothers andsisters in Ghana.

“His sudden death is agreat loss not just toGhana but to Africa, weshall miss his wisecounsel in both ECOWASand the AU, may his Soulrest in peace,’’ Ashirusaid.

Ashiru assured thepeople and governmentof Ghana that Nigeriawould work closely withMills successor.

In accordance withGhana’s constitution,Vice-President JohnMahama was sworn-in aspresident in anemergency session ofparliament.

ECOECOECOECOECOWWWWWAS parAS parAS parAS parAS parliament,liament,liament,liament,liament, R R R R Reeeeepspspspspseuloeuloeuloeuloeulogise lagise lagise lagise lagise late Ghanaian Prte Ghanaian Prte Ghanaian Prte Ghanaian Prte Ghanaian Presidentesidentesidentesidentesident

The Speaker of the ECOWASParliament, Sen. IkeEkweremadu, has describedas shocking and grievous,the death of President JohnAtta-Mills of Ghana.

Ekweremadu, who is theDeputy President of theNigerian Senate, said thedeath came to theCommunity’s Parliament asa rude shock.

The Speaker of the ECOWASparliament extolled the latePresident as a true son ofAfrica who gave his very besttoward democracy anddevelopment on thecontinent.

He said: “The West Africansub-region and indeed Africahas lost a pan-African andvisionary who championedthe course of democracy,good governance, peace,stability, integration, anddevelopment in the WestAfrican sub-region.

“The ECOWAS Parliamentin particular will rememberhim as one of its pillars ofsupport and a strongproponent of theenhancement of the powersof the CommunityParliament.”

A statement by his Specialadviser on media UcheAnichukwu saidEkweremadu, condoled withthe Government and peopleof Ghana, urging them towork to sustain the laudableprinciples, visions, andlegacies bequeathed by thelate President.

Also, the House ofRepresentatives condoledwith the people of Ghanaover the death of latePresident Atta-Mills.

A statement issued byRep. Zakari Mohammed(PDP-Kwara), theChairman, HouseCommittee on Media and

Public Affairs, describedthe death of Atta-Mills as agreat loss not only to Ghanabut to Africa in general.

The statement said thelate president was anembodiment of humility,honesty and transparency.

It said that his wisecounsel on thedevelopment of the regionwould be greatly missed.

“We in the 7th Assemblywhile commiserating withour brothers and sisters inGhana are consoled by theexemplary l ife the latepolitician l ived and diedfor,” it said.

It said late Atta-Millswould also be missedfor preaching politicswithout bitterness.

Atta-Mills, who clocked68 years on July 22,reportedly died after a briefillness at a military hospitalin Accra.

USAID donaUSAID donaUSAID donaUSAID donaUSAID donates 13,000 tetes 13,000 tetes 13,000 tetes 13,000 tetes 13,000 text books to Kxt books to Kxt books to Kxt books to Kxt books to Kanoanoanoanoanobooks would be distributedamong the public schools inthe state.

The governor appealed topublic-spirited individuals andphilanthropic groups tocontribute their quota towardsthe development of education inthe state by emulating theinternational agencies.

In her remarks, the USAID stateCoordinator, Hajiya NafisatuAdo, said the books weredonated to enhance teachingand learning in the schools.

Kano State Government hastaken delivery of 13,000books donated by the UnitedStates Agency for InternationalDevelopment (USAID), with apledge to strengthenpartnership withinternational donors oneducation development.

Gov. Rabi’u Kwankwasomade thepledge after receiving theassorted text books in Kano.

He identified education asthe most veritable tool for

s o c i o - e c o n o m i ctransformation in any societyand reiterated thegovernment’s commitmenttowards the improvement ofthe education sector.

According to him, thegovernment has established20 new institutes as part of itsrenewed effort to give moreyouths the opportunity tobroaden their knowledge andacquire life-changing skills.

He lauded the gesturefrom USAID, saying that the

WWWWWorororororld Bank,ld Bank,ld Bank,ld Bank,ld Bank, IF IF IF IF IFADADADADAD,,,,, ADBADBADBADBADBaaaaapprpprpprpprpprooooovvvvve $1.23bn fe $1.23bn fe $1.23bn fe $1.23bn fe $1.23bn for aor aor aor aor agggggricricricricricdededededev in Nigv in Nigv in Nigv in Nigv in Nigeriaeriaeriaeriaeria -Minister -Minister -Minister -Minister -Minister

The World Bank,International Fund forAgricultural Development(IFAD) and the AfricanDevelopment Bank (ADB)have approved 1.23 billiondollars to boost foodproduction in Nigeria.

The Minister ofAgriculture, Dr AkinwumiAdesina, stated this inAbuja on Tuesday whilebriefing State Housecorrespondents on theactivities of the ministry.

He said 900 milliondollars was approved by theWorld Bank, 250 milliondollars by ADBand 80million dollars by IFAD.

He said that 500 milliondollars of the 900 milliondollars obtained from theWorld Bank was meant foragriculture, while 400million dollars wouldsupport water and irrigationprojects.

“The internationalcommunity is rallyinground our efforts.

“As you know, the WorldBank has agreed to invest900 million dollars behinda g r i c u l t u r a ltransformation in Nigeria,500 mill ion dollars foragriculture and 400 milliondollars for water andirrigation.

“The International Fundfor AgriculturalDevelopment (IFAD), theirboard has approved therelease of 80 million dollarsto Nigeria to support the

a g r i c u l t u r a ltransformation going on inNigeria.

“The AfricanDevelopment Bank isconsidering 250 milliondollars in support of thetransformation agenda onagriculture,’’ the ministersaid.

According to him, BillGates, an Americanbill ionaire andphilanthropist, has agreedto sit on the eminentpersons group to advisePresident GoodluckJonathan on mattersconcerning agriculture andhealth.

He said the Bil l andMelinda Gates Foundationhad also agreed to establishan office in Nigeria to makethe country “a priority forthe foundation”.

The minister said Nigeriawould soon witness a ”Cocoa Revolution” as thecountry had taken deliveryof new eight high yieldingbreeds of cocoa seedlings.

He said the breeds,expected to yield eighttonnes per hectare, couldmature in two and a halfyears as against the normalsix years maturity periodof the other breeds.

Adesina also said that theFederal Government haddistributed about 114million seedlings to farmersfree as part of deliberateefforts to boost agriculturalactivities.

PAGE 38 Thursday, July 26, 2012, National Accord

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PAGE 39

opinionA question ofA question ofA question ofA question ofA question of honour f honour f honour f honour f honour for INEC and NBor INEC and NBor INEC and NBor INEC and NBor INEC and NBAAAAAThe honour of two apparently

distinct and different bodiesINEC and the NBA has been

clearly challenged by two of theirstakeholders and for everybody’ssake these two bodies cannot affordto pretend that the challenge was notthrown. INEC is the IndependentNational Electoral Commission,Nigeria’s apex electoral regulator;INEC would like to and does defineitself as the country’s main agent fordemocracy. That is nonsense, at mostit is one of the agents, but let us leavesuch clarifications for another day.They are not the only ones with self-presentation and identity crises.

The Nigeria Bar Association is theumbrella professional association ofall lawyers admitted to the Bar inNigeria. In presenting itself, the NBAplaces emphasis on being a non-forprofit association engaged in thepromotion and protection of humanrights, the rule of law and goodgovernance in Nigeria. That is verytrue but their main calling card is thatonly active NBA Full Members, i.epaying members, can engage inpracticing law in Nigeria.

Let us start with the electoralcommission.

INEC and its chairman, ProfessorJega were recently openly accused bythe newly reelected Governor of EdoState, Adams Oshiomole inrelationship to the just concludedelections in that state. The Governoris accusing the Commission and itschairman of logistical incompetencethat led to the long delays indistributing electoral materials todesignated polling centres he is alsoaccusing the commission and itschairman of gross administrative andmanagerial incompetence fordeploying a certain Mr IshmaelIgbani, who according to AdamsOshiomole, has a reputation forpresiding over several riggedelections in the region, including EdoState in 2007. The Governor is alsoaccusing the commission and byextension its chairman ofdeliberately manipulating votersregister to create confusion in thestate. Oshiomole raised his concernsbefore the elections and reiteratedthem after the elections that he won.

These are very serious indictmentsof the mode of operation of theElectoral Commission and its head thechairman has to clear thecommission’s name. Professor Jegahas to do more than that, he wascalled directly into question by theGovernor and has been asked by thesame Governor to take responsibility for these malpractices. It is aquestion of honour for INEC and itschairman and they need to dosomething about.

By repeating these accusationseven after he won the elections,Governor Oshiomole is doing thecountry a huge service. It is anhonorable thing to do and we shouldall be grateful to him. He could have

National Accord, Friday, July 27, 2012

By ANTHONY KILA

just pocketed his victory, maybe goon to teach his party members andthose close to him how to winelections and leave the rest of thesystem, the Nigerian system to rot.We all do that when we just take careof our own personal important buttiny interest and do nothing about theNigerian system. Of course,sometimes we have no choice but tosend our children to private schools,and to go to private hospitals or evengo abroad for treatment when we canafford it. Let us be clear, for those thatcan afford it that is all legitimate, it ishuman and understandable but thehonorable and I daresay noble thingto do will be to raise the flag and to callthe attention of those in charge tooversee the failing schools, bad roadsand hospitals that are not working asthey should do.

Professor Jega cannot let these levels

of accusation pass without doinganything about it. He needs to come tosave the honour of the commission andindeed his own personal honour. Thereare no two ways about it Oshiomole caneither be wrong or right but Jega needsto prove it. If the Chairman holds thatthe governor is wrong then he needs totell us his side of the stories and betterstill give us facts to prove theGovernor’s allegations are wrong. Thepeople of Nigeria need to be assuredthat the Chairman of its electoralcommission appreciates theimportance of his role and that he fullyunderstands what is unacceptable ofhim and that he is willing to live up tosuch expectations. In doing so heshould reserve the right to denounceand even sue those that accuse him offalling below such expectations. If theChairman on the other hand holds thatthe governor is right then he needs to

take full responsibility of his misdoings,apologize to all and tell us what heintends doing to redeem himself.Taking responsibility is generallyhonorable and he needs not worryabout further consequence, Nigeriansare not only tolerant we are evenindulgent.

The Nigerian Bar Association toorecently had their elections and sadlyEmeka Ngige the defeated presidentialcandidate of the association is cryingfoul. He is making very preciseaccusations in which he is alleging thebody that handled the election of grossmalpractices and high level ofcorruption. For a body that calls itsmembers learned and holds themonopoly of legal practice in the landthis is unacceptable. The NBA has toolittle a population and has tooimportant a reputation and stake in thesociety for the executive to get awaywith anything below a perfect election.If they want to remain worthy of thestatus of their peers across the globethen members and executives of theNBA need to feel insulted and eager todefend their honour from such attacks.Emeka Ngige can either be wrong orright but NBA needs to prove it. It isnot enough to give declarations to thepress; they need to do so with facts andbefore the law. It is a question ofhonour for the NBA, if Emeka Ngige’sallegations are wrong then he needs tobe disciplined for it but if he is right thenall those that are guilty need to bedisciplined.

•INEC Chariman, Prof. Attahiru Jega

These are very serious indictments of the mode ofoperation of the Electoral Commission and its headthe chairman has to clear the commission’s name.Professor Jega has to do more than that, he was

called directly into question by the Governor and hasbeen asked by the same Governor to take

responsibility for these malpractices. It is a questionof honour for INEC and its chairman and they need

to do something about.