nation0521

Two kids 

found dead 

in Ibadan 

NEWS – Page 8 

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper 

Newspaper of the Year 

•Gunmen in military fatigue abduct Jonathan’s cousins 

•AND MORE ON 

•U.S varsity names Olatunji Dare emeritus prof PAGES 4,5,6&58 

•Lawyers fault Fed Govt’s plan on Wike’s inauguration 

•Court stops IG from arresting Saraki over disputed loan 

•www.thenationonlineng.net 

VOL. 10, NO. 3221 THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM N150.00 

•INSIDE: 

GOVT UPGRADES ADEYEMI COLLEGE, FOUR OTHERS TO VARSITY P5 

Jonathan leaves $60b debt 

for Buhari, says Osinbajo 

Blair recommends 

drastic decisions 

in first 100 days 

From Tony Akowe, Abuja 

THE grim picture of the economy was yesterday 

laid bare in Abuja by Vice-President-elect 

Yemi Osinbajo. 

He said: 

•110million Nigerians are feeling the pangs of 

poverty; 

•a $60b debt is to be inherited by the 

Muhammadu Buhari administration; 

•21% of this year’s budget will be spent on servicing 

debts; and 

•two-third of the 36 states cannot pay workers’ 

salaries. 

It was all at the opening of a two-day policy 

dialogue on the implementation of the agenda 

for change. 

Prof. Osinbajo said: “We are concerned that 

our economy is currently in perhaps its worst 

moment in history. Local and international debt 

stands at US$60 billion. Our Debt servicing bill 

for 2015 is N953.6 billion, 21% of our budget. 

On account of severely dwindled resources, over 

two-thirds of the states in Nigeria owe salaries. 

Federal institutions are not in much better shape. 

Today, the nation borrows to fund recurrent 

expenditure. 

“The figure of extreme poverty in our society- 

110 million by current estimates- makes it clear 

that our biggest national problem is the extreme 

poverty of the majority. Thus, no analysis is required 

to conclude that dealing with poverty and 

its implications is a priority.” 

He went on: “In the course of the election campaign, 

we ran an issues-based campaign that 

identified certain areas of public policy as high 

? 

WILL THE CHIBOK 

GIRLS KIDNAPPED 

ON APRIL 15, 

LAST YEAR 

EVER RETURN? 

•A man soaked in blood (right) being taken away 

by a policeman after the violence ... yesterday 

Three feared 

dead in 

priorities for propelling 

Nigeria forward. 

We addressed the 

challenges of the 

economy, insecurity, 

corruption and jobs Ado-Ekiti 

creation. 

NEWS 

“We spoke to the 

challenge of provid- violence 

PAGE 7 

•One of the scenes of the violence ... yesterday 

Continued on page 4 

PDP Chairman Mu’azu resigns as 

Jonathan, NWC withdraw support 

NEWS 

PAGES 4&58 

•BoT chair Anenih quits •Party to discipline Fani-Kayode 

•EDUCATION P25 •SPORTS P23 •POLITICS P43 •NATURAL HEALTH P45 •FOREIGN P60

2 

NEWS 

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 

•Osun State Governor 

Rauf Aregbesola (right), 

his Oyo State counterpart, 

Governor Abiola 

Ajimobi (left) and 

Lagos State Governorelect, 

Mr. Akin Ambode 

at the Progressive 

Governors' Forum retreat 

at the Yar'Adua Center, 

Abuja...yesterday. 

How history 

will remember 

Okonjo-Iweala 

•Prof. Uchenna Udeani of the Department of Science & Technology Education, University of Lagos (left), Corporate 

Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Mr. Kufre Ekanem (middle) and Human Resources Director, Nigerian Breweries 

Plc., Mr. Victor Famuyibo at a news conference to kick-off the Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative of Nigerian Breweries 

- Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund in Lagos...yesterday. 

•From left: Wife of Lagos State Governor, Dame AbimbolaFashola (left); Group Chief Executive Officer, Dufil Prima 

Foods Plc, Deepak Singhal; Coordinator,Indomie Fans Club, Mrs. Faith Joshua and Brand Manager, Dufil Primal Foods 

Plc.,Amber Yadav at the kick-off of Indomie Fans Club Children Day in Lagos...yesterday. PHOTO: BOLA OMILABU. 

•From left: Chief Marketing Officer, MTN, Mr Bayo Adekanbi; winners of MTN TRU TALK,Valentine Peterson and 

Kareem Waheed; General Manager, Consumer Marketing, Mr Richard Iweanoge and Head Regulation & Monitoring, 

National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Lagos Zonal Office, Mr Jude Ogaga at the MTN Best 11 Promo in 

Lagos...yesterday. 

PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN. 

She was invited to put the country on a 

sound economic footing as Minister of Finance 

and Coordinating Minister for the 

Economy. But, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s 

cure has been worse than the malady. In 

this analysis, Assistant Editor NDUKA 

CHIEJINA describes the ex-World Bank 

Managing Director as a heroine abroad 

and a villain at home. 

UNDER Dr. Ngozi Okonjo- 

Iweala’s two terms as Finance 

Minister, the economy witnessed 

boom and burst. As a member 

of the Federal Executive Council, she 

has been applauded and vilified, both 

locally and internationally. 

In April 2014, Fitch Ratings affirmed 

its robust ‘BB’ sovereign rating of Nigeria 

with a stable outlook to demonstrate 

that the country was on the right 

economic trajectory. 

It cited some positive features of the 

economy to support its position. These 

included: improving stability in the 

economy after the suspension of 

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Central Bank 

of Nigeria Governor (CBN), the perceived 

boost of the Excess Crude Account 

(ECA); rising oil production and 

improved efforts to tackle pipeline 

vandalism. 

However, by March 2015, the same 

Fitch Ratings reversed the country’s 

outlook from stable to negative over 

what it described as political uncertainty 

in keenly contested elections 

and other issues expected to follow the 

polls, including falling oil prices at the 

international market. 

Fitch cautioned that the economic 

performance could be weakened 

partly due to the erosion of fiscal and 

external buffers and over-dependence 

on oil revenue. 

Nigeria’s ratings, Fitch said, “are 

constrained by weak governance, as 

measured by the World Bank, low per 

capita income, even after the 89 per 

cent uplift to 2013 GDP due to rebasing 

and vulnerability of public finances 

and reserves to oil price volatility.” 

A step forward, two backward 

Under the administration of former 

President Olusegun Obasanjo, she successfully 

used her connection with the 

World Bank and International Monetary 

Fund (IMF) to secure debt relief 

for the country. But, it was like pulling 

down the house she built because 

in her second coming, Nigeria is being 

weighed down by the N12 trillion 

owed local and foreign creditors. 

Each time that Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala 

and her team get foreign loan, they tell 

Nigerians the facility is secured under 

concessionary terms with long 

moratorium. The team is always quick 

to add that the repayment period is 

convenient and at single-digit interest 

rate. 

That is where it all ends. The finance 

minister and her team have never for 

once advertised the details for public 

debate to ascertain if the terms are actually 

favourable. 

Perceived outside the country as a 

reform-minded economist, back at 

home, her reforms and policies have 

left much to be desired. 

ANALYSIS 

One of such reforms was the attempt 

to rid the civil service of ghost workers. 

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala promoted 

treasury reforms to improve efficiency 

in public sector accounting and finance. 

Reforms without result 

Some of these included: the Treasury 

Single Accounts (TSA); the Integrated 

Personnel and Payroll Information 

System (IPPIS); the Government 

Integrated and Financial Management 

Information System (GIFMIS) and the 

adoption of the International Public 

Sector Accounting System (IPSAS). 

The measures were said to have 

blocked the leakage of over N60 billion 

from the treasury that would have 

been paid to ghost workers. Nobody 

was fingered and sanctioned as culprit. 

So, the reform was at best, sweeping 

the dust under the rug. 

At the height of the crude oil price 

slump, the minister listed the areas 

where fresh revenue would be generated 

to include taxes on luxury items; 

stoppage of abuses of investments incentives 

such as exemptions and waivers 

and diversification of the economy. 

The stoppage of waivers, which she 

defended at the TEDxEuston as a government 

policy “where we give incentives 

to industries or business people 

to spur them to invest in the economy” 

was described as “a bunch of corruption” 

because they only favoured individuals, 

rather than a sector. 

It is certain that President Goodluck 

Jonathan will bequeath the controversial 

waiver granted to Indian traders 

on rice importation to the incoming 

Muhammadu Buhari administration. 

The Indians hide under the duty 

relief to import above the approved 

quantity and bring in other goods not 

covered by the waiver. 

The waiver scandal has pitted the 

Nigerian Customs Service against the 

finance minister following claims that 

the nation is being robbed of the 

much-needed revenue through these 

waivers. 

Going by the claims of the Agriculture 

Minister, Dr. Akinwunmi 

Adesina, those who imported rice 

above their approved quotas are owing 

the Federal Government N36 billion. 

But, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala was always 

quick to say that the economy 

was in good shape whenever critics 

warned that the economy was nosediving. 

Subsidy controversy 

In 2012, an attempt by the Federal 

Government to remove petrol subsidy 

was resisted by Nigerians. 

Today, the Federal Government and

THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 3 

Soon, you will 

start asking the 

citizens to pay 

this or that tax, 

while some faceless 

‘thieves’ 

were pocketing 

over $40 million 

per day from oil 

alone 

••Dr. Okonjo-Iweala flanked by Board Chairman, United States (U.S.) Federal Reserve, Janet Yellen (left) and Prof Salovey in New Haven, Connecticut...on Monday. ‘ 

Yale honours Okonjo-Iweala with doctorate degree 

MINISTER of Finance and 

Coordinating Minister for 

the Economy Dr. Ngozi 

Okonjo-Iweala has been honoured 

with a doctorate degree by Yale University, 

one of United States (U.S.) 

prestigious institutions. 

A statement from the her spokesperson 

Paul Nwabuikwu said Mrs. 

Okonjo-Iweala was awarded a Doctor 

of Humane Letters at Yale’s 2015 

Commencement Ceremony in New 

Haven, Connecticut on Monday. 

The statement reads: “She will be 

the second Nigerian in the university’s 

314-year history to receive its 

highest honour after Nobel laureate 

From Nduka Chiejina 

(Assistant Editor) 

Wole Soyinka, who received an honorary 

Doctor of Letters in 1980.” 

Nwabuikwu said the President of 

the University, Prof. Peter Salovey 

described Okonjo-Iweala as “a brilliant 

reformer and dedicated public 

servant”. 

He went on to state that “the minister 

has spearheaded efforts to stabilise 

and grow Nigeria’s economy, 

battling widespread government corruption 

and creating greater fiscal 

transparency and discipline”. 

The varsity’s honorary doctorate 

degree is seen globally as a very im- 

portant honour. 

According to the institution “those 

who have received honorary degree 

are scholars, public servants, Nobel 

Prize winners and heads of states. 

“Collectively, they represent the 

aspirations of this institution. Yale 

honorary degree recipients serve as 

models of excellence and service to 

our students, to our graduates, to our 

community and to the world,” 

Nwabiukwu quoted the institution as 

saying. 

He said the economic team she led 

as finance minister helped Nigeria to 

obtain debt relief in 2004, wiping out 

$30 billion of Paris Club debt, a development 

that led to a tripling of 

the growth rates. 

During her second coming in 2011 

as the Minister of Finance/Coordinating 

Minister for the Economy, Mrs. 

Okonjo-Iweala, according to 

Nwabiukwu, has focused on building 

solid foundations and institutions 

critical for the survival and sustenance 

of the economy. 

“She bravely fought corruption in 

governance with fierce dedication 

and unflagging energy” Nwabuikwu 

said. 

The minister was honoured alongside 

the Chair of the Board of Governors 

of U.S. Federal Reserve System, 

Janet Yellen, popular Beninoise 

Singer and songwriter Angelique 

Kidjo, university professor and 

founding member of the Institute for 

Comparative Literature & Society at 

Columbia University, Gayatari 

Chakravorty Spivak, professor and 

director of the Starr Center for Human 

Genetics at Rockefeller University, 

Jeffrey Michael Friedman, inventors 

and entrepreneurs Elon Musk and 

Dean Kamen among others. 

Yale had in the past honored a 

handful of other Africans such as Liberian 

President Ellen Johnson- 

Sirleaf and South African notable 

cleric, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. 

‘ 

Major Oil Marketers Association of 

Nigeria (MOMAN) are locked in a 

subsidy controversy that has disrupted 

the fuel supply chain for more 

than a month. The parties cannot 

agree on the actual outstanding figures. 

The minister says it is N130 billion, 

but MOMAN insists it is N200 

billion. 

Nigerians may live with the lingering 

fuel shortage beyond the May 29 

handover date as stakeholders in the 

distribution network have predicted 

that the scarcity will not end in two 

weeks. 

Lack of faith 

What the current fuel scarcity has 

exposed is that MOMAN has little or 

no faith in the Sovereign Debt Note 

(SDN) that the minister purportedly 

directed the Debt Management Office 

(DMO) to issue to them as against the 

hard cash they have been used to. 

After a four-hour talk penultimate 

Monday, a meeting between the minister 

and MOMAN ended in a deadlock. 

The implication of MONAN’s lack 

of faith in the SDN is that other holders 

of government bonds and notes 

may have second thoughts on these 

instruments, further denting the fragile 

credibility of the notes. 

For four years, the President 

Jonathan administration paid lip service 

to the provision of affordable housing. 

After saying that the Federal 

Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) as 

having failed in its mandate to deliver 

on mass housing through mortgage financing, 

with a national housing deficit 

of 17 million, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala 

engineered the creation of the Nigerian 

Mortgage Refinancing Company 

(NMRC) to provide affordable housing 

for Nigerians. 

After the first 10,000 selected for the 

scheme, the minister said about 2,000 

have been able to secure mortgages to 

own their houses, the dream of owning 

a house through affordable mortgage 

financing is now fast disappearing. 

The reason for this is that the government 

fixed the interest rates for 

mortgage. It believed that the Primary 

Mortgage Institutions (PMIs) will tag 

along without due consideration to 

market variables. It also tried to play 

on the fact that business owners are 

short-term investors, who are eager 

to recoup their investments at the 

shortest time. Most of the 10,000 

NMRC potential house owners are 

still searching for PMIs to fund their 

house ownership dreams. 

Failing to plan 

One legacy that haunts Mrs. 

Okonjo-Iweala as the Minister of Finance 

and Coordinating Minister for 

the Economy is the fall of the naira. 

For two years, the world new that the 

United States (U.S.) was going to unleash 

its shale oil into the market, a 

development that would compel 

America to shelve further purchase 

of crude from its less strategic crude 

oil sellers in favour of its oil. 

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala has never 

shied away from hitting governors for 

mounting pressure on the Federal 

Government to share the Excess 

Crude Account (ECA). In her argument, 

the monies should be left for the 

rainy day. 

The rainy day is here but the Federal 

Government which got the lion’s 

share of the ECA has nothing to fall 

back on. Many thought a wise manager 

of the economy would have kept 

the federal share of the funds to justify 

her position. 

Other components of the foreign 

reserve were squandered and when 

the inevitable happened, the CBN was 

left to scramble to save the naira by 

using the foreign reserve. Nigerians 

from all walks of life lost humongous 

amounts of money to this recklessness. 

At the January 2015 Federation Account 

Allocation Committee (FAAC) 

meeting, it was disclosed that a paltry 

$2 billion was left in the ECA and 

since then, the government has been 

silent on the exact amount in the ECA. 

The foreign reserve is in the neighbourhood 

of $30 billion which might finance 

six months of imports. 

Scathing remarks 

Recently, former CBN Governor 

Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo took 

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala to the cleaners, 

with his analysis of the economy under 

her stewardship. 

Soludo said: “Under you as Minister 

of Finance and Coordinator for the 

Economy, the basket of our national 

treasury is leaking profusely from all 

sides. Just a few illustrations! First, you 

admit that ‘oil theft’ has reduced oil 

output from the average 2.3 – 2.4 million 

barrels per day (mpd) to 1.95mpd 

(meaning that at least 350,000 to 

450,000 barrels per day are being ‘stolen’. 

“On the average of 400,000 per day 

and the oil prices over the past four 

years, it comes to about $60 billion ‘stolen’ 

in just four years. In today’s exchange 

rate, that is about N12.6 trillion. 

This is at a time of cessation of crisis in 

the Niger Delta and amnesty programme. 

“Can you tell Nigerians how much 

the amnesty programme costs and also 

the annual cost for ‘protecting’ the 

pipelines and security of oil wells? And 

the ‘thieves’ are spirits?” 

The former CBN chief added that the 

minimum foreign exchange reserves 

should have been at least $90 billion 

by now and you did not challenge it. 

Rather it is about $30 billion, meaning 

that gross mismanagement has denied 

the country some $60 billion or another 

N12.6 trillion. 

He said: “Now add the ‘missing’ $20 

billion from the NNPC... how many 

trillions of naira were paid for oil subsidy 

(unappropriated?). How many 

trillions (in actual fact) have been ‘lost’ 

through customs duty waivers over the 

last four years? As coordinator of the 

economy, can you tell Nigerians why 

the price of automotive gas oil (AGO), 

popularly called diesel, has still not 

come down despite the crash in global 

crude oil prices, and how much is being 

appropriated by friends in the 

process? 

“Do you really know (as coordinator 

and minister of finance) how many 

trillions of naira, self- financing government 

agencies earn and spend? I 

have a long list but let me wait for now. 

I do not want to talk about other ‘black 

pots’ that impinge on national security. 

“My estimate, Madam, is that probably 

more than N30 trillion has either 

been stolen or lost or unaccounted for 

or simply mismanaged under your 

watchful eyes in the past four years. 

Soon, you will start asking the citizens 

to pay this or that tax, while some faceless 

‘thieves’ were pocketing over $40 

million per day from oil alone.” 

Record of failed policies 

Despite the launch of the employment 

creation initiatives like YouWin 

and Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) 

to depopulate the unemployment 

market, the National Bureau of Statistics 

(NBS) recently released a data that 

Nigeria has 6.8 per cent unemployment 

rate. 

Despite the falling prices of oil at the 

international market, the minister 

used $65 per barrel to prepare the 2015 

Appropriation Bill at a time a barrel 

of crude was below $40 at the international 

market. 

Nigerians lost all hope in the 

economy and its managers when the 

minister announced during her 2015 

Budget analysis that the government 

had borrowed N473 billion to pay 

workers salaries in the first quarter of 

this year. 

In her characteristic manner, she 

quipped that Nigeria was still not 

broke. 

Overwhelmed by allegations of 

missing funds by the Emir of Kano, 

Alhaji Sanusi Lamido and the enlarged 

Nigeria Governors’ Forum 

(NGF), the minister, through her 

spokesman Paul Nwabuikwu said it 

was strange for the NGF to allege that 

$20 billion was missing from the ECA. 

In a chat with The Financial Times, 

Sanusi insisted that more than $18 billion 

remained unaccounted for. 

The Yale varsity award 

But in the wake of these controversies 

at home, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala was 

on Monday honoured by Yale University, 

one of America’s most prestigious 

institutions, with a Doctor of Humane 

Letters at its Commencement Ceremony 

in New Haven, Connecticut. 

Giving her the award, university’s 

President Prof Peter Salovey described 

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala as “a briiliant reformer 

and dedicated public servant 

who has spearheaded efforts to stabilise 

and grow Nigeria’s economy, battling 

widespread government corruption 

and creating greater fiscal transparency 

and discipline.” 

It is on record that lack of the political 

will to tackle corruption and provide 

security accounted for fall the 

Jonathan administration. 

Yesterday, President-elect Prof 

Yemi Osinbajo said the outgoing administration 

will leave behind a $60 

billion debt, the worst-ever debt portfolio 

to be inherited in the country’s 

history. 

Osinbajo spoke in Abuja at the opening 

of a two-day policy dialogue on 

the implementation of the agenda for 

change. 

His words: "We are concerned that 

our economy is currently in perhaps 

its worst moment in history. Local and 

international debt stands at $60 billion. 

Our debt servicing bill for 2015 is 

N953.6 billion, 21 per cent of our 

budget. On account of severely dwindled 

resources, over two-thirds of the 

states in Nigeria owe salaries. Federal 

institutions are not in much better 

shape. Today, the nation borrows to 

fund recurrent expenditure. 

"The figures of extreme poverty in 

our society - 110 million by current 

estimates - makes it clear that our biggest 

national problem is the extreme 

poverty of the majority. “ 

Was Yale University right in its rating 

of the former World Bank Managing 

Director? Time will tell.

4 THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 

NEWS 

U.S. varsity names 

Dare emeritus prof 

PROFESSOR Olatunji Dare, a communication 

scholar, author, satirist, famous 

columnist, and former Chair of 

The Guardian Editorial Board, has been named 

Professor of Communication, Emeritus, by 

Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois, USA. 

Bradley University President Joanne K. 

Glasser said the appointment was in recognition 

of Dare’s many years of outstanding 

service. 

“This institution is better for what you have 

contributed through your talents, energy and 

dedication” Glasser said. 

Dare, the author of Matters Arising and Diary 

of a Debacle: Tracking Nigeria’s Failed Democratic 

Transition (1988-1994), formally retired 

from Bradley University recently. He was 

honored last July at his 70th in Lagos by colleagues, 

former students and admirers with 

a festschrift entitled, Public Intellectuals, the 

Public Sphere and the Public Spirit: Essays in 

Honour of Olatunji Dare, edited by Wale 

Adebanwi of the University of California- 

Davis, USA. 

In her letter informing him of the honour, 

Bradley University President Glasser said she 

hoped in retirement Dare would remain in 

close contact with the university and participate 

in its affairs wherever and whenever 

possible. 

Professor Dare, an editorial adviser of The 

NATION since its inception, taught journalism 

and international communication at Bradley 

for 19 years until his retirement last 

week. before then, he taught at the University 

of Lagos. 

At Bradley, he won awards for excellence 

in teaching and research, and was a recipient 

of the President’s Award for meritorious 

service. 

Before he was forced to flee to United States 

in 1996 under General Sani Abacha, Dare 

served as Chair of the Editorial Board and 

Editorial Page Editor for The Guardian, in addition 

to writing a weekly column widely 

appreciated for its wit, depth, and felicity of 

language. 

Dare, who is one of Nigeria’s most accomplished 

editorialists, was awarded 

Jonathan leaves $60b debt for Buhari, says Osinbajo 

Continued from page 1 

ing opportunities for selfactualisation 

to millions of 

our young people who face 

an uncertain future with understandable 

anxiety. We 

also addressed the challenge 

of providing for the most vulnerable 

segments of our 

population by equipping 

them with the tools to emerge 

from the crippling limitations 

of poverty to achieve dignified 

and productive citizenship. 

“This is also against the 

backdrop of a highly unequal 

society in which, by some 

reckoning, the largest chunk 

of the benefits of our national 

wealth accrues to a small percentage 

of our population. 

Our manifesto offered a vision 

of shared prosperity and 

socio-economic inclusion for 

all Nigerians, that leaves no 

one behind in the pursuit of 

a prosperous and fulfilling 

life.” 

Osinbajo spoke of the reason 

for the dialogue - “to interrogate 

these positions and 

propositions before a wider 

audience and to launch a robust 

public conversation on 

policy directions and priorities 

that will help inform our 

ASUDDEN “palace 

coup” by members of 

the National Working 

Committee(NWC) forced 

yesterday’s resignation of 

Peoples Democratic Party 

(PDP) chairman Alhaji 

Adams Mu’azu. 

It was apparent that he had 

lost the confidence of President 

Goodluck Jonathan, 

administration’s approach in 

the next four years 

The sessions, he said, will 

explore a wide range of 

policy priorities including the 

diversification of the 

economy in the wake of declining 

oil revenues by engendering 

job-led growth, 

the revitalization of agriculture 

in pursuit of job creation 

and food security, improving 

the regulatory frameworks in 

our most strategic sphere of 

economic activity - the oil and 

gas sector, improving access 

to qualitative and affordable 

healthcare, reducing inequality, 

reforming our education 

system to close the gender 

gap in access to education 

and to enable our children 

become effective contestants 

in the global economy, expand 

participatory diversity 

and inclusion in public life 

and tackle inefficiency and 

graft in public service. 

“But the Vice-Presidentelect 

warned that the forum 

is not intended to produce a 

comprehensive agenda. 

“Rather, it is designed to inaugurate 

a robust conversation 

that will continue long 

after we have left these precincts. 

Our immediate duty 

the Louis Lyons Prize for Conscience 

and Integrity in Journalism 

by the Harvard University-based 

Nieman Foundation, and the 

Hellmann-Hammett Grant for 

courage in the face of political persecution, 

presented by Human 

Rights Watch. 

Dare holds a BSc (First Class 

Honours) from the University of 

today is to set the tone for 

what we desire to be a serious 

and intelligent dialogue 

about the future of our nation.” 

“Consequently, this forum 

cannot and will not be another 

talk shop. Our deliberations 

must be informed and 

pointed submissions that lay 

adequate emphasis on the 

‘how’ of implementation.” 

“We have a few days to goto 

enter into a new bold Nigerian 

enterprise. There are 

many hurdles to scale but we 

are confident that by God’s 

grace our Nation will serve 

its people well,” Osinbajo 

said. 

The Director, Directorate of 

Policy, Research and Strategy 

of the Presidential Campaign 

Council and former Ekiti 

State Governor Kayode 

Fayemi, said the event 

marked the rounding off of 

the work of the directorate 

which worked behind the 

scene throughout the campaign. 

Fayemi said: “This event is 

the gratifying culmination of 

an assignment that commenced 

several months ago. 

The Directorate of Policy, Research 

and Strategy has been 

Lagos, the MSJ from Columbia University, 

New York, where he won the 

Robert Curry Prize in editorial writing, 

and a Ph.D. in communication 

research from Indiana University, 

specializing in International Communication 

and in Public Policy. 

His highly regarded column, “At 

Home Abroad” appears in The Nation 

on Tuesdays. 

behind the scenes contributing 

our modest quota to the 

presidential campaign of our 

then candidate in the March 

28, 2015 general election, and 

now president-elect, 

Muhammadu Buhari. 

“Indeed, prior to this, some 

of us in the directorate had 

worked with other patriotic 

party members to develop a 

most compelling manifesto. 

We subsequently ensured the 

harmonisation of the manifesto 

with the personal ideals 

of our president-elect, 

thus creating a necessary coherence 

of all aspects of our 

party’s expressions, that lent 

a powerful clarity and focus 

to our message of change.” 

Fayemi spoke of the 

directorate’s behind-thescene 

work, adding that “this 

momentary exposure is, 

infact, our final curtain call”. 

He attested to the 

directorate’s effectiveness, saying: 

“The outcome of the historic 

polls attests to the fact that 

not only did the right candidate 

and party triumph, the 

right ideas and the right approach 

also prevailed. The 

majority of Nigerians demonstrated 

their readiness to be 

taken seriously as voters, and 

Take drastic decisions in first 

100 days, Blair advises Buhari 

FORMER British Prime 

Minister Tony Blair said 

yesterday that the incoming 

Muhammadu Buhari 

administration must capitalise 

on the goodwill of his 

election in his first 100 days 

in office to take drastic decisions 

that will impact positively 

on the economy in the 

long run. 

Represented by Lord 

Mandelson at a two-day 

policy dialogue on the implementation 

of the agenda for 

change organised by the 

Policy Research and Strategy 

Directorate of the All 

Progressives Congress (APC) 

Presidential Campaign 

Council, Blair said one of 

such decisions will be to drastically 

overhaul the oil sector, 

reposition the Nigeria National 

Petroleum Corporation 

(NNPC) and eliminate the 

corruption in the sector. 

He said: “Let me give you 

an example of another emerging 

economy that I have 

spent time more recently. 

President of Indonesia was 

elected last year with huge 

public support. As a foremost 

businessman without link to 

the political elite, he was 

hailed as a leader who could 

transform Indonesia. 

“One of the things he did 

after being inaugurated last 

October was to slash 

Indonesia’s hugely expensive 

and inefficient, but yet popular 

fuel subsidy, a policy decision 

which had toppled 

previous administrations 

and consistently brought 

people out into the streets. He 

decided to do it straight 

away. 

duly rewarded the party that 

sincerely addressed their 

pressing issues. This commitment 

to seriously tackling the 

themes that affect the lives of 

our people remains a cardinal 

principle of our pact with Nigerians 

and informs the convening 

of this policy dialogue.” 

Accordng to him, “a majority 

of the lead presenters in 

this dialogue are members of 

the directorate and have all 

been instrumental in crafting 

the policy priorities and 

propositions that helped decisively 

swing the fate of 

Africa’s largest democracy in 

favour of progressive forces.” 

“In a sense, the phase of 

policy conception is over and 

we are entering the phase of 

execution, governance, of 

providing tangible developmental 

deliverables.” 

Fayemi said, adding: “The 

challenge of translating ideas 

into policy and praxis now 

looms large. Given the degree 

of work that has been put in 

by the Directorate and our 

well documented national 

problems of policy implementation, 

the focus should 

now be on evolving an institutional 

framework to deliver 

the agenda for change.” 

Mu’azu quits as PDP chair after losing Jonathan’s support 

From Yusuf Alli, 

Augustine Ehikioya and 

Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja 

governors and top leaders of 

the party. 

The National Working Committee 

(NWC) members came 

together and placed a conference 

phone call to Mu’azu, 

who is abroad for medical reasons, 

to step down. 

•Prof. Dare displaying Award for Meritorious Service presented by Glasser (right) 

A source said: “When the 

NWC members placed a call 

to Mu’azu, they threatened to 

pass a vote of no confidence 

on him by Wednesday if he 

did not resign. 

“To avoid being disgraced 

through a palace coup by NWC 

members, Mu’azu quickly offered 

to resign to avoid being 

humiliated out of power. 

“The forces behind the 

ouster of Mu’azu used a divide 

and rule method. They 

set NWC members against 

him to achieve their aim. At 

the end of the day, Mu’azu 

was left in the lurch and he 

had to throw in the towel.” 

Investigation by our correspondent 

revealed that a recuperating 

Mu’azu was dis- 

turbed that the doors of the 

Presidential Villa were shut 

against him following his refusal 

to leave office. 

It was gathered that in the last 

two weeks, Mu’azu had limited 

access to the Villa signposting 

that the game was up. 

A top source, who spoke at 

about 6pm yesterday, said: 



“He had that goodwill and 

had that authority and that 

was the time to move. Obviously, 

when there was a low 

price of oil, it made it less 

painful, but it was welltimed. 

“On one part, the new 

President has demonstrated 

to his people and the international 

market that he was serious 

about economic reform 

and that he was no longer to 

be underestimated and the 

protests on the streets ended 

up being minimal compared 

to previous times. 

“As you know, addiction to 

fuel subsidy is not limited to 

Indonesia. I am saying take 

advantage of that goodwill of 

being elected to take difficult 

decisions that may inflict immediate 

pains, but are in the 

long terms of interest to the 

country and the government. 

“What you do in the first 

100 days is important and 

symbolic and can also have 

tremendously positive repercussion 

for the government 

and throughout country. You 

have a limited window of 

opportunity to make an impact 

as a government. Looking 

at Nigeria, I would say 

your vulnerability is corruption 

and that is not new to 

you, particularly around the 

oil sector. 

“People in this country 

seem to be able to do things 

with impunity and beyond 

the reach of the rule of law or 

proper accountability and the 

judicial system. You can 

crack the NNPC nut or you 

can make a start on it in the 

first 100 days and if you do 

so, you would have built a 

very strong foundation for 

what you have to do in the 

next four years and beyond. 

“I think that ensuring that 

all government revenue goes 

into a single government account 

will be a good start. 

Those revenue from your 

natural resource are so vital 

for the country and for your 

future. I think that will send 

a very strong message. We 

did the same thing when we 

came in in 1997 when we 

gave the Bank of England its 

independence and that gave 

us an instant reputation for 

fiscal prudence. 

“It is quite courageous for 

a government to give power 

away to another entity. There 

were people who voted for 

the others, mostly in the 

south and the east of the 

country. You need to show 

the people who didn’t vote 


•Blair 

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08023006969, 

08052592524


NEWS 

•President Goodluck Jonathan (middle); Vice President Namadi Sambo (fifth left); Minister of State 2 for Foreign Affairs, Senator Musliu Obanikoro (fourth right) and a delegation of ambassadors 

of African countries to Nigeria, after their meeting with President Jonathan at the Presidential Villa in Abuja...yesterday. 

PHOTO: NAN 

APC, lawyers fault Fed Govt on 

Wike’s swearing-in 

THE Rivers State All 

Progressives Congress 

(APC) and three senior 

lawyers have faulted the Attorney 

General of the Federation 

(AGF), Mohammed 

Adoke (SAN), on the directive 

to the Chief Judge of 

Bayelsa State, Justice Kate 

Abiri, to swear in Rivers 

State’s governor-elect 

Nyesom Wike on May 29. 

Adoke had, while issuing 

the directive to the Bayelsa’s 

Chief Judge on Tuesday, argued 

that where there is a vacuum in 

the offices of the Chief Judge of 

Rivers State and the state’s 

President of the Customary 

Court of Appeal, the constitution 

empowers any person to 

administer the oath of office on 

the governor-elect. 

He hinged his decision on the 

provision of Section 185(1)(2) of 

the Constitution and the need 

to avert constitutional crisis in 

the state. 

Rivers State has been without 

a Chief Judge and President 

of the Customary Court of Appeal 

since last year following 

the disagreement between the 

state governor, Rotimi 

Amaechi, and the National Judicial 

Council (NJC) over 

Amaechi’s choice of Justice Peter 

Agumagu as the chief judge. 

The NJC faulted the choice of 

Akumagu, who was the President 

of the state’s Customary 

Court of Appeal and suspended 

him from acting in that capacity 

and as a judicial officer for 

allegedly breaching his oath of 

office. He is currently in court. 

But, the Rivers State APC, 

through its Publicity Secretary, 

Chris Finebone, yesterday in 

Port Harcourt, asked Adoke not 

to mislead Nigerians. 

The party noted that Adoke 

was being coerced by the powers-that-be 

on his position on 

the inauguration of Wike, a 

By Adebisi Onanuga and 

Eric Ikhilae, Abuja, Bisi 

Olaniyi, Port Harcourt 

former Minister of State for 

Education. 

It said: “The AGF has spoken. 

We are sure that his directive is 

as unconvincing as can be, with 

regard to the section of the constitution 

cited to justify his action. 

Definitely, Mr. 

Mohammed Adoke knows he 

has been goaded into an action 

that he neither believes in nor 

convinced is right. We knew all 

along that this day will come. 

Perhaps, the game has just begun, 

because Section 185 (2) of 

the Constitution of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria he cited in 

no way suggests or implies that 

it is the AGF that should make 

such appointment or issue such 

directive. Therefore, the APC 

rejects the directive in its entirety. 

“Nothing in any part of the 

constitution suggests that the 

AGF can direct or order any 

judge of any state in Nigeria 

in any direction whatsoever. 

“Therefore, the order or directive 

by Mr. Adoke to the 

Chief Judge of Bayelsa State to 

swear in Nyesom Wike as the 

Governor of Rivers State on 

May 29 is illegal, null and 

void.” 

The party warned Adoke 

not to create crisis or cause 

confusion in the crude oil and 

gas-rich state. 

Three lawyers - former Edo 

State Attorney-General Chief 

Charles Uwensuyi- 

Edosomwan (SAN), former 

Chairman of the Nigerian Bar 

Association (NBA) Ikeja Branch 

Adebamigbe Omole and 

Lagos lawyer and rights activist, 

Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa - 

said the decision of Adoke was 

Union alleges plot by Chidoka to 

recruit aides into agencies 

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor 

THE Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association 

of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) has alleged plan by 

the out-going Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita 

Chidoka, to place his personal aides into aviation 

parastatals in a last-minute recruitment move. 

ATSSSAN, after its meeting in Lagos, said it resolved 

to use available and legitimate means at its disposal to 

ensure that the plan “does not see the light of day”. 

The aides, the union claimed, were being recruited 

into the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN) 

, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), 

the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the 

Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET). 

It said such plan was detrimental to the career of 

civil servants in the agencies. 

A statement by Comrade Captain Terling, for General 

Secretary of ATSSSAN, warned chief executives to 

resist all antics of the minister or face the wrath of the 

union as none of such persons will ever be allowed to 

resume in any of the parastatals. 

All efforts to reach the minister were futile yesterday. 

unconstitutional. 

Uwensuyi-Edosomwan believed 

that any competent 

judge or the most senior judge 

in Rivers State could have been 

drafted to swear in the governor 

elect. 

“This issue of cross border, 

going to get a Chief Judge in 

Bayelsa State is absurd and I 

do not think that it is constitutionally 

sound for him to do 

that. I can imagine the Chief 

Judge of Rivers State coming 

to swear in the governor-elect, 

but I cannot imagine the chief 

judge of another state coming 

to swear-in the governorelect”, 

he said. 

Uwensuyi-Edosomwan admitted 

that the constitution 

never anticipated a situation 

where there would be no chief 

judge to swear in an in-coming 

governor in any state and 

that a situation that could lead 

to confusion would arise in the 

state. 

He maintained that the country 

could not afford a breach of 

the constitution by going to 

shop for a chief judge of another 

state to swear in the governor 

elect. 

The former Edo State Attorney-General 

noted that the development 

is another test case 

for the courts. 

He said: “Let us see what the 

courts would say whether it is 

right for the Chief Judge of a 

state to swear-in the governor 

of another state”. 

Omole described the decision 

of the Attorney-General as part 

of the culture of impunity that 

has been bringing the country 

to ridicule and negating the rule 

of law. 

He added that what Adoke 

had done was to apply political 

solution to the constitutional 

problem in Rivers State in an 

PRESIDENT Goodluck 

Jonathan yesterday 

called on the global community 

and Nigerians to support 

the incoming government 

of President-elect Muhammadu 

Buhari. 

He spoke while receiving 

members of the African Ambassadors 

Group, who were on a 

farewell and solidarity visit to 

the State House, Abuja. 

The President, according to a 

statement by his Special Adviser 

on Media and Publicity, Dr. 

Reuben Abati, said that the incoming 

government will need 

the cooperation and commitment 

of the global community 

and Nigerians to effectively deliver 

on its promises to the 

people. 

He said: “The President-elect 

is not new to governance in Af- 

attempt to avert crisis since 

there must be no vacuum in 

government. 

The former NBA chairman, 

however, blamed the situation 

on the National Judicial Council 

(NJC), which, he said, did not 

handle the judicial crisis in the 

state very well. 

“That is why a political situation 

is now being applied to a 

constitutional matter,” he said. 

Adegboruwa argued that in a 

federal system of government 

like Nigeria, it did not lie with 

the Adoke to issue such directive 

to a state’s Chief Judge, 

when such Chief Judge was not 

answerable or subservient to 

him. 

He contended that the responsibility 

for requesting the service 

of another state’s Chief 

Judge, where a state lacked a 

chief judge, rests solely with the 

state without a chief judge. 

In this case, he said it lies with 

only the Governor of Rivers 

State to make such request. 

Adegboruwa, who described 

Adoke’s directive as “a continuation 

of the impunity that has 

characterised the outgoing administration 

of President 

Goodluck Jonathan,” urged the 

Bayelsa Chief Judge to ignore 

the directive. 

He appealed to Amaechi to 

put the interest of the state 

above political considerations 

and request the assistance of the 

Bayelsa Chief Judge, because he 

alone possesses the legal authority. 

“It is unconstitutional for the 

Hon AGF to be issuing directives 

to a sitting Chief Judge of a 

state, in a federation. The swearing 

in of a governor of a state is 

a matter for the internal affairs 

of that state and this cannot be 

usurped or taken over by the 

Hon AGF,” he said 

Jonathan seeks global 

support for Buhari 

From Augustine Ehikioya, 

Abuja 

rica. So, I want you to show the 

same commitment to him as 

you have to me. The Presidentelect 

knows that our commitment 

is always to project Africa. 

I am urging you to extend the 

same warmth and solidarity you 

have shown to me to him.” 

He enjoined African leaders 

to encourage trade within the 

continent by building infrastructures 

and institutions that promote 

trade and relationships. 

The President recalled working 

extensively for more than 

five years with other African 

Presidents to forestall crisis in 

some African countries, especially 

in the West African subregion, 

and also leading peace 

efforts in Cote ‘d’Ivoire, Mali and 

Guinea Bissau. 

Acceptance ‘ll determine House 

of Reps’ Speaker, says Jibrin 

AN aspirant for House of Representatives’ Speaker, 

Abdulmumin Jibrin, has said acceptance by members 

rather than zonal endorsements will determine who wins. 

Jibrin, chairman of the House Committee on Finance, spoke in 

Abuja against the background of endorsements being claimed by 

some of the aspirants. 

Apart from Jibrin, other aspirants are: Minority Leader Femi 

Gbajabiamila, Mohammed Tahir Mongonu and Yakubu Dogara. 

Jibrin said: “As evident with the outgoing seventh Assembly, 

members of the House of Representatives chose their leaders based 

on acceptance, not purported endorsement being bandied in the 

media. I am confident that the eighth Assembly will continue this 

laudable democratic trend.” 

He challenged other speakership aspirants to clearly articulate 

their legislative agenda instead of bandying “fake” endorsement 

claims. 

“All the endorsement claims and counter-claims have ended 

up as fake and lies. However, the focus should be acceptability not 

fake endorsements. Secondly, I have concentrated clearly in what 

I will do if elected. But, other aspirants are simply struggling to be 

Speaker in a do-or-die manner. I challenge them (aspirants) to 

come out with their agenda, if they are sure it will be in the new 

spirit of change!” Jibrin added. 

The Kano lawmaker hailed the president-elect, Muhammadu 

Buhari, on his promise not to interfere in the selection of leaders 

of the National Assembly and allow for “due process”. 

He added: “With the recent powerful and patriotic statement 

from the president-elect, the coast has been cleared for competence 

and merit to determine who becomes Speaker of the 8th 

Assembly.” 

Varsity honours Agric 

Minister Adesina 

THE Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. 

Akinwumi Adesina, has received honorary Doctor of Agriculture 

degree from the Purdue University, West 

Lafayette, Indiana, in the United States (U.S.). The award was conferred 

on him last Friday during spring commencement ceremonies 

in the West Lafayette campus' Elliott Hall of Music. 

Dr. Adesina was one of the two awardees for Honorary Doctorate 

degree awards during the ceremony, the second being William 

"Bill" Dudley Jr., president and CEO of the Bechtel Group, who got 

Doctor of Engineering degree. Both Adesina and Dudley are 

Purdue alumni. 

While conferring the award on Adesina, the President of Purdue 

University, Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. paid glowing tributes to the 

minister for his exemplary performance, which earned him recognition 

as one of the honorees. 

Earlier on Friday, Dr. Adesina was honoured in the College of 

Agriculture, where he gave a lecture on lessons to learn from 

Nigerian agricultural transformation. 

Dean of the college, Dr. Jay T. Akridge, hailed the minister for 

deploying his intellect into transforming agriculture under his 

watch as a minister and was glad that an alumnus of Purdue lived 

up to their expectation. Dr. Adesina, in his presentation to the 

college, underscored the importance of inclusive growth in agriculture, 

which has taken a turn for the better under his watch as a 

minister. 

On his bid for AfDB presidency, Dr. Adesina outlined his cardinal 

programme on assumption of office. 

FEC upgrades five institutions 

to varsity status 

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja 

THE Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided by President 

Goodluck Jonathan yesterday approved conversion of five 

tertiary institutions to universities status. 

The Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, who briefed State 

House correspondents at the end of the meeting, said that the 

approval included upgrading of four old Federal Colleges of Education 

to new Universities of Education. 

According to him, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo State 

now to be known as Adeyemi University of Education, Ondo, 

Federal College of Education, Zaria changed to Federal University 

of Education, Zaria, Federal College of Education, Kano now 

to be called Federal University of Education, Kano while Alvan 

Ikoku College of Education, Owerri is now approved as Alvan 

Ikoku University of Education, Owerri. 

He said the fifth institution is the Medical Health Sciences College 

in Otukpo now changed to the Federal University of Health 

Sciences, Otukpo.

6 

NEWS 

THE Governing Board of the National 

Theatre has rejected the 

concession of the edifice and 

ordered the General Manager of the 

complex, Mallam Kabir Yusuf, to stay 

action. 

The board directed that the 

groundbreaking handover of the complex 

to a Dubai firm today should be 

stopped. 

It advised the management of the 

theatre to allow the incoming administration 

of President-elect 

Muhammadu Buhari to determine the 

fate of the theatre. 

The board made its position known 

in a May 18 memo signed by its chairman, 

Chief M.W. Ishaya, to the theatre’s 

general manager. 

The same memo was sent to the 

Minister of Tourism and Culture, 

Edem Duke. 

The memo said: “My attention and 

other members of the board have been 

drawn on recent reports regarding the 

National Theatre of which I am forced 

to make the following observations: 

“If you recall in our last meeting of 

April 23rd 2015, I requested that you 

explain to the board members the true 

position of the transaction entered in 

between a Dubai based company and 

the National Theatre, which you 

faulted all the claims in the social media 

and newspaper publications. 

“Though you casually informed the 

board that a ground breaking ceremony 

was coming up either on May 

20, 2015 of which even as of today no 

memo on the event has been presented 

to me or the board for approval. 

“Consequently, no mention has 

ever been made in any of our meeting 

that the National Assembly had once 

directed that we stay action on the concession 

and likewise the BPE’s advice 

on the issue. 

“In light of the above, and considering 

that a new government is soon to 

take over, I am hereby on behalf of 

majority of board members advising 

you to stay action on the issue and all 

arrangements for the groundbreaking 

and any other commitments on the 

subject matter until further notice.” 

Following a row over plans by the 

Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National 

Orientation to turn the complex 

into a hotel, the House of Representatives 

had on April 8, 2013, directed 

Duke to stay further action on the concession. 

The ministry, however, defied the 

National Assembly last week by resuscitating 

the bid for the National 

Theatre. 

This prompted a petition to the minister 

by the Amalgamated Union of 

Public Corporations Civil Service 

Technical and Recreational Services 

Employees (AUPCTRE). 

AUPCTRE in the petition said it 

would not accept any underhand bidding 

process. 

Besides the concession of the theatre, 

the board chairman also raised other 

issues with the theatre’s management. 

He advised the theatre management 

to stay action on appeal against a judgment 

in favour of trade unions in the 

organisation. 

The memo added: “Information has 

also reached me that in the case with 

the unions, the court last week ruled 

in their favour. 

“To give peace a chance in the 

organisation, I am stressing here that 

no appeal should be made on the ruling 

until the board sits and determines 

what action is to be taken. Meanwhile, 

all that is in the court ruling be adhered 

to accordingly please.” 

The board chairman also queried 

alleged spending of N40 million on 

road shows to South Africa, London 

and Dubai. 

He said: “There are speculations also 

in the media that N40 million was 

spent for the road show to South Africa, 

London and Dubai. 


National Theatre’s board rejects concession 

FORMER Vice President Atiku 

Abubakar has asked All 

Progressives Congress (APC’s) 

governors-elect to “be governors of 

example” as their action or inaction 

will determine the direction of the 

party’s change agenda. 

Atiku, who spoke in Abuja at a 

meeting of the Progressives Governors 

Forum, said being example of 

change will change Nigerian for 

•Dubai firm may take over facility today 

From Yusuf Alli, Managing 

Editor, Northern Operation 

Court stops IGP, others from arresting 

Saraki over disputed bank loan 

•Atiku 

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja 

A 

FEDERAL High Court in 

Abuja yesterday stopped the 

Inspector General of Police 

(IGP) from inviting or arresting the 

former Kwara State Governor, Bukola 

Saraki, over alleged bank loan being 

investigated by the Police Special 

Fraud Unit since 2012. 

Justice Ahmed Mohammed, in a 

judgment yesterday, also barred the 

IGP and his agents, especially the operatives 

in the Special Fraud Unit 

(SFU), from harassing, intimidating 

and breaching the fundamental rights 

of the former governor and his aides. 

The judgment was on a fundamental 

human rights enforcement suit 

filed against the IGP and others by the 

former governor. 

Justice Mohammed held that any 

attempt to commence any further interrogation 

of Saraki, which actually 

started since 2012 and over an issue 

already declared closed by the Minister 

of Justice, will amount to a breach 

of fundamental rights of the senator. 

The judge noted that it would be 

unfair for the senator to be subjected 

to further interrogation by Police having 

been cleared of any wrongdoing 

by the AGF in the report police willingly 

submitted to the minister. 

Justice Mohammed’s decision was 

particularly informed by a legal opinion 

by the Attorney General of the 

Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, 

Mohammed Adoke (SAN), that 

the allegations of wrongdoing against 

Saraki were baseless and unfounded. 

The legal opinion of the minister, 

which was tendered in court, was a 

response to the report submitted to 

him by the Inspector General of Police 

on police findings in a complaint 

of Joy Petroleum Limited. 

The judge said the court had no 

choice than to give effect to the legal 

opinion of the Minister of Justice that 

the complaints against Saraki were 

baseless, unfounded and not supported 

with any documentary evidence 

since he has no link with Joy 

Petroleum Limited, the complainant. 

The court also held that police ought 

to have stopped any further harassment 

of the senator since the AGF had 

officially written to the Inspector General 

of Police to discontinue the matter. 

Justice Mohammed refused to rely 

on the depositions of Police that they 

were acting on further evidence, adding 

that the failure by Police to attach 

even a single document to support the 

bogus claim was fatal to their depositions. 

“In law, the court cannot rely on any 

averment that is not supported with 

even a faint documentary evidence”. 

“The failure of Police to produce in 

court the provisional findings submitted 

to the Minister of Justice and the 

letter of the Minister to the Police indicate 

that the case was not favourable 

to the Police”. 

The judge also quashed and set aside 

the three letters of invitation sent by 

Police to Saraki for further interrogation 

in relation to the loan, for having 

no effects whatsoever. 

Saraki had sued the IGP over series 

of letters of invitation extended to him 

by the police to appear before the Special 

Fraud Unit for further investigation 

over the bank loan. 

“The board is however surprised to 

hear that the amount was spent knowing 

well that not all members and 

those listed in the proposal were able 

to make it to all the places mentioned. 

“It is, therefore, important that all 

beneficiaries with the amount paid to 

them be accounted for and the balance 

which would have been returned to 

the treasury receipted and made available 

to the board in its next meeting 

please.” 

It faulted the alleged maltreatment 

of the board members by the theatre 

management. 

“It is over a year since the board was 

inaugurated and to this day, no appointment 

letter has been issued to 

any member. You severally promised 

to get this done but to no avail. 

“Now that the board may be winding 

up soon, it is important to know 

its entitlements as board members 

even if it is for record purposes. 

“Your prompt action and inaction 

on the issues raised above will be appreciated 

please,” it said. 

Be governors of example, Atiku tells APC governors-elect 

•Progressive governors to implement common programmes 

•Two of the contestants for the office of Senate President, Senate Minority Leader Senator George Akume (left) and 

Senator Ahmed Lawan, after the valedictory sevice for late Senator Uche Chukwumerije at the National Assembly 

Abuja...yesterday 

Senate eulogises Chukwumerije, Zannah 

THE Senate conducted a solemn 

session yesterday to 

mark the demise of Senators 

Uche Chukwumerije and Ahmed 

Zannah. 

The upper chamber devoted the 

day to eulogise the late lawmakers 

as senators took turns to extol them. 

Chukwumerije died on Sunday 

April 19. Zannah died on May 16. 

Senate Leader Victor Ndoma- 

Egba led the tribute with a motion 

entitled: “Demise of Senator Uche 


good, adding that they must be 

humble in the dealing with Nigerians 

and “not like the Peoples Democratic 

Party (PDP)”. 

The former vice president paid tributes 

to five former governors of the 

party, who have completed their tenure 

of office, stressing that their doggedness 

and leadership style have 

showed what an APC government 

will do in the country. 

According to him, “I enjoin all our 

incoming governors to be governors 

of example. If they do so, Nigeria will 

be changed for good. We must be 

humble in all our dealings with Nigerians; 

not like PDP. We must have 

candour; lead them by example and 

plea for their patience when necessary. 

If we are transparent and honest with 

them, they will give us their support. 

“As we ponder what the agenda of 

the incoming government will be 

within the context of the party’s manifesto, 

we need not go too far from 

where to begin. We only need to look 

at what the governors of examples 

have done and seek to improve on 

them and avoid some of the challenges 

they face. 

“We must avoid becoming the PDP 

of our recent history; we must avoid 

the very things that brought the PDP 

to its knees, such as winner takes all, 

greed, arrogance, impunity, corruption, 

treachery and so on. We must try 

to be a better party and better managers 

of our beloved country.” 

On the outgoing governors, Atiku 

said: “I am extremely pleased to congratulate 

my friends, Governor Rotimi 

Ameachi, Babatunde Fashola, Rabiu 

Kwankwaso, and Aliyu Wamako of 

Sokoto for successfully completing 

their tenures as governors of Rivers, 

Lagos, Kano and Sokoto states. 

“Governor Fashola and his predecessor, 

Governor Tinubu helped to 

legitimise the progressive governors 

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant 

Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja 

Chukwumerije and Senator Ahmed 

Zannah.” 

Senate President David Mark lamented 

that ‘this is not the best of 

time for us” with the death of two 

senators in quick succession. 

Ndoma-Egba paid glowing tribute 

to the two senators in his motion, 

which was also endorsed by 

106 other senators. 

in the Southwest and by extension 

Nigeria since we return to civil rule in 

1999. 

“Nobody would again wonder what 

an APC government could do in office. 

In the Southsouth, Governor 

Ameachi and later Oshiomhole 

showed what an APC government 

will look like and so also is the sitting 

governor in the Southeast in the person 

of Governor of Imo State and 

Chairman of Progressives Governors 

Forum, Anayo Rochas Okorocha. 

“Up North, Governors Kwankwaso 

and Wamako have been shining examples 

of what Progressives Governors 

could do as well as what Ameachi 

did there in Rivers under the platform 

of PDP before the environment in that 

party (PDP) made it difficult for them 

to continue to bring positive change 

to their people and Nigeria.” 

He lauded the Progressives Governors 

Forum for organising the retreat. 

Governors of APC have agreed to 

Other senators, who paid tribute 

to the late colleagues included, Senators 

Ike Ekweremadu, Ganiyu Solomon, 

Olusola Adeyeye, Ali 

Ndume, Abdul Ningi, Bello Tukur, 

Gbenga Kaka and George Thompson 

Sekibo. 

Senator Tukur specifically called 

on the Senate that the Abuja Cancer 

Diagnosis Centre is fully 

equipped to carry out its functions. 

implement uniform programmes as 

contained in the party's manifestoes. 

A communiqué released after 

their retreat said the governors 

agreed: 

"That all those who hold leadership 

positions in the party are ready 

to instigate the right followership 

that will produce results. That the 

Nigerian economy needs to be diversified, 

especially towards agriculture. 

"That the country cannot decide 

to entirely ban importations of foreign 

products, but look for ways to 

create a competitive market with 

those products that are being imported." 

The APC governors also agreed 

that from the day of inauguration, 

the activities of the progressives 

will determine the stature of the 

party for the future; “hence the need 

for all to begin works that will 

speak, rather than a replication of 

promises.”


NEWS 

Three feared dead in Ado-Ekiti 

THREE persons were 

reportedly killed yesterday 

in Ado-Ekiti, 

the Ekiti State capital, in a 

clash between drivers and 

Hausa traders. 

The clash paralysed traffic, 

commercial and social 

activities in the town for 

about eight hours. 

Fifteen shops were set 

ablaze and many vehicles 

damaged. 

The property destroyed 

belonged mainly to butchers 

and Hausa traders, who 

launched counter-attacks 

against the drivers. 

The number of victims 

could not be ascertained as 

they were rushed to various 

hospitals by policemen and 

sympathisers. 

Sources claimed that three 

persons died and an unspecified 

number injured but police 

spokesman Alberto 

Adeyemi said only four persons 

were injured. 

The police spokesperson 

Osun to ex-HoS: you’re ignorant of public finance 

OSUN State Governor 

Rauf Aregbesola yesterday 

took a swipe 

at the former Head of Service, 

Elder Segun Akinwusi, 

who said unpaid salaries 

were caused by financial 

recklessness. 

Akinwusi, in a report 

published in yesterday’s 

Punch, said the Aregbesola 

administration had borrowed 

more than its capacity. 

He said this was why the 

state cannot pay its workers. 

But the government, in a 

statement by the Director, 

Bureau of Communication 

and Strategy, Semiu Okanlawon, 

said Akinwusi has 

demonstrated that “he lacks 

basic knowledge of public 

finance”. 

The statement said: “It is 

not unexpected for the likes 

of Akinwusi to want to 

score cheap popularity and 

political points with issues 

of delayed salaries. 

“But his reasons for the 

delay are wide off the mark 

for any intelligent rationalisation. 

“The Director-General of 

the Debt Management Office, 

Dr. Abraham Nwakwo, 

told the world last year that 

From Odunayo Ogunmola, 

Ado Ekiti 

said two units of Police Mobile 

Force (PMF) were deployed 

in the trouble spots. 

The clash was fierce in areas, 

such as Atikankan 

(which has the highest concentration 

of Hausa in Ado- 

Ekiti), Old Garage, Ijigbo, 

Isato, Igbehin and Erekesan 

Market. 

Businesses were paralysed 

in places, such as Irona, Okesa, 

Okeyinmi and Ajilosun. 

Two of the victims reportedly 

died at Atikankan, 

where the violence spread 

to later in the day. 

A cameraman working for 

a Lagos television station, 

CORE TV, Sunday Adigun, 

was injured by hoodlums, 

who smashed his camera. 

Hoodlums had a field day 

as they looted shops, carting 

away money and goods. 

The hoodlums were 

armed with guns, bottles, 

charms, machetes, cudgels, 

knives, petrol and matches. 

Smoke from burning 

shops billowed into the sky. 

Banks, shops, motor 

parks, markets and other 

commercial outlets were 

shut. 

Sources said the mayhem 

followed the alleged robbing 

of a commercial driver’s 

wife. 

It was gathered that 

N36,000 was snatched from 

the woman on Sunday 

night. 

The culprit allegedly escaped 

through Sabo, which 

has a high concentration of 

Hausa. 

Cases of bag snatching 

and robbery are commonplace 

in the Old Garage-Ijigbo 

axis. 

Unconfirmed reports also 

claimed that the driver’s 

wife was raped. 

It was learnt that the drivers 

launched a manhunt for 

the culprit. 

The drivers stormed the 

houses of the Hausa, who 

also launched counter-attacks. 

Ijigbo, Mugbagba, Oja 

Oba, New Garage and Old 

Garage were turned to a 

war zone. 

The bureaux de change 

operated by the Hausa were 

attacked with cash both in 

local and foreign currencies 

stolen by hoodlums. 

Heaps of destroyed items, 

such as onions, pepper, tomatoes, 

dried fish were 

burnt with their relics littering 

the ground. 

The Commissioner of Police, 

Etop John James, led a 

team of policemen in 15 patrol 

vehicles to bring the 

situation under control. 

James’ presence brought 

normalcy to the scene 

where he was present but 

clashes continued in other 

areas. 

Armed policemen stood 

guard at various flashpoints. 

•Chairman, Lagos State Local Government Service Commission, Moshood Oluwole Ojikutu (third right); Permanent Secretary, 

Sewanu Fadipe (left) with commissioners of the local government commission: Dr. Waheed Ipaye (second left); Otunba Olugbenga 

Osibodu (third left); Alani Sunmonu (second right) and Prince Adebusayo Adebayo at the commission’s retreat on road-map 

to 2015 in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos...yesterday. 

Teachers, council workers 

to be paid Feb salaries 

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo 

OSUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has approved 

the payment of February salaries of staff of local 

governments and primary school teachers. 

A statement by the Head of Service, Sunday Owoeye, said 

retirees are also to be paid their pensions allowances up to 

February. 

But he said retired primary school teachers would receive 

their own pension allowances up to January. 

He thanked local government workers, teachers and 

retirees for their patience, cooperation and understanding. 

Owoeye assured that the government will clear all salary 

arrears and pensions owed all workers and retirees within 

the shortest possible time. 

no one can fault Osun’s debt 

portfolio as the state did not 

borrow beyond its capacity. 

What has changed after 

that? 

“For Akinwusi to attribute 

unpaid salaries to 

what he thinks are excessive 

borrowings merely confirms 

mischief, ignorance 

and calculated moves to 

misinform the public. 

“Just yesterday, the papers 

were awash with queries 

to the Finance Minister, 

Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, 

to explain the whereabouts 

of the $20 billion Excess 

Crude Account funds. 

“If the issue of delayed 

salaries cuts across the entire 

country and even the 

Federal Government, can 

we then say that all the states 

have borrowed beyond their 

capacities? 

“Has the Federal Government 

too borrowed beyond 

its capacities? As at last 

week, some workers under 

the employment of the Federal 

Government countered 

the Finance Minister over 

her claim that the Federal 

Government is not owing 

any of its workers. 

“In all honesty, can Akinwusi 

come up with evidence 

to defend his claim that the 

Aregbesola administration 

borrowed ‘twice the value 

of road projects it is executing’ 

according to him? 

“Nigerians should be reminded 

that this was the 

same Akinwusi, who ignorantly 

told the world last 

year that Osun had borrowed 

more than N300 billion 

to the consternation of 

knowledgeable people. 

“If a state like Osun had 

borrowed N300 billion, Mr. 

Akinwusi forgot to explain 

how much would be required 

to pay interest on the 

loan let alone the capital. 

“Would the state have survived 

till 2014 if it had been 

under such heavy burden?” 

Aregbesola, the statement 

added, has run a very prudent 

administration. 

“That the national revenue 

crisis has forced Osun to 

join states with delayed salaries 

does not obliterate the 

facts of his achievements,” 

Okanlawon stated 

The statement urged the 

people to dismiss Akinwusi’s 

claims. 

UI donates equipment to police 

THE Vice-Chancellor, 

University of Ibadan, 

(UI), Prof Isaac Adewole, 

has lauded the police 

for their role during the general 

elections. 

Adewole spoke when he 

donated some hospital items 

to the Nigeria Police Medical 

Services (NPMS) in 

Ibadan. 

The items donated include 

a 7.5 KVA inverter, 10 

inverter batteries, 10 

computer sets and one 

650KVA UPS. 

Adewole said the election 

would go down in history as 

the most peaceful due to the 

role of the police. 

He said: “We know that 

during the strikes in either 

Ogun gets mini lab 

From Oseheye Okwuofu, 

Ibadan 

AMINI laboratory has been opened in Abeokuta, the 

Ogun State capital, to meet the health demands of the 

people. 

Inaugurating the laboratory, the Commissioner for 

Health,Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, said it will check all drugs 

coming into the Central Medical Store to detect fake and 

adulterated drugs. 

He said: “We are living in the shadow of danger by taking 

sub-standard drugs. So with the mini lab we can be rest assured 

of better drugs across the state.’’ 

Soyinka said the government would work directly with 

manufacturers to guarantee quality products. 

The Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Modupe Olurin, said the 

mini lab would also serve as a source of revenue for the 

government. 

AN Akure activist-lawyer, 

Morakinyo 

Ogele, has decried the 

spate of kidnappings in Ekiti 

State. 

In a statement yesterday in 

Akure, the Ondo State 

capital,Ogele accused the police 

of failing to stem the tide 

of crimes in the state. 

The lawyer issued a sevenday 

ultimatum to the police 

AMEMBER of the Oyo 

State House of Assembly, 

Michael 

Adeyemo, has said he is not 

struggling to lead the Eighth 

Assembly. 

Adeyemo, a member of the 

All Progressives Congress 

(APC), is representing Ibarapa 

East State Constituency. 

The lawmaker said he has 

not approached or lobbied 

anyone since the April 11 election. 

According to him, the position 

is to be determined by 

7 

UCH or UI, we can send our 

patients to your hospital 

knowing that the police don’t 

go on strike, that’s why we 

are investing in you,” Adewole 

said. 

Deputy Commissioner of 

Police (NPMS) Mrs Efunsola 

Sowemimo said to ensure the 

provision of optimal care, the 

NPMS has commenced the 

upgrading of facilities in 

Agodi, Challenge, Oyo and 

Ogbomoso. 

“The vision of the AIG Medical, 

Dr Grace Okudo, is to 

strengthen the primary health 

care delivery in NPMS,” she 

said. 

Activist seeks end to kidnapping 

From Damisi Ojo, Akure 

to arrest the kidnappers and 

their sponsors. 

Ogele said: ”Why are the 

police keeping quiet? The 

police are not doing enough 

to protect the people. 

”The Ekiti State Police 

Command should tell the 

world why it has not arrested 

any kidnappers or prevented 

their operations.” 

‘I’m not struggling to be speaker’ 

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan 

elected members and party 

leaders across the state. 

Besides, the lawmaker said 

positions are in the hands of 

God, adding that He gives 

them to whoever He wishes. 

“I have not discussed with 

anybody that I want to be 

Speaker. I have not contended 

with anybody or struggled 

with anybody over the position. 

All I know is that I have 

been re-elected to serve my 

people for another four 

years.” 

Skye Bank trains 22 journalists 

Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta 

TWENTY-two journalists in Ogun State were yesterday 

trained in “digital reporting” to widen their horizon 

and efficiency in today’s digitalised world. 

The beneficiaries, drawn from the print and electronic media, 

were exposed to how i-phones, android and smartphones can 

be used to break news speedily . 

The one day workshop in Abeokuta, the state capital, was 

facilitated by Skye Bank Plc. 

The resource person, Mr Taiwo Obe, a Common Wealth 

fellow, in his lecture titled: “ Disruption of things”, said 

technology has blurred and erased the line of divide between 

those in the print and electronic media. 

Obe who is a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors 

(NGE), said journalists are now story tellers, telling stories 

in a digital age. 

‘Put aside personal ambition’ 

THE Action Group of 

the All Progressives 

Congress (APC) in 

Ekiti State has said party 

members must set aside 

muscle-flexing and self-seeking 

plots within the party. 

It said “this is the time to 

come together to fight a common 

enemy”. 

The group vowed to resist 

anyone promoting personal 

ambition at a period that calls 

for collective struggle. 

A statement by its spokesperson, 

Segun Dipe, said 

while it is the right of anyone 

to aspire to any position, 

it is selfish and an act of irresponsibility 

on the part of 

any party faithful to ignore 

the challenges at hand. 

“Everyone should key into 

confronting the monster terrorising 

our landscape and 

dehumanising our people. It 

must be a collective struggle 

to fight the common enemy 

and bring peace and sanity 

back to our state.”


NEWS 

IoD to host Uduaghan at 

Govt Meets Business forum 

ELTA State Governor 

Emmanuel 

DUduaghan will be the 

guest speaker at the 

Institute of Directors’ 

(IoD’s) Government 

Meets Business forum 

tomorrow. 

The event will begin 

at 11am at the Iris Hall 

of Eko Hotel and 

Suites, Victoria Island, 

Lagos. Governor Uduaghan 

is expected to 

give account of how the 

Delta beyond Oil initiative 

of his administration 

has laid a good 

foundation for sustainable 

development of 

Delta State. 

IoD’s Director-General 

Victor Banjo announced 

in Lagos yesterday 

that the forum 

was designed to promote 

accountability and 

Two found dead in Ibadan 

TWO bodies have 

been discovered at a 

bungalow, 13, Cele 

Close, Agbowo, Ibadan. 

The bodies of Amarachi 

Ukoha (16) and Munachi 

Madagu ( three) were 

found inside one of the 

eight rooms in the house. 

Their mother, Chinoye 

Ukoha, said her son, Monachi 

and her sister, Amarachi, 

lived with her and 

reassure investors 

about the sustainability 

of policies introduced 

by government 

at various levels. 

The event will also 

feature the public presentation 

of a book, titled: 

Sustainable Development, 

edited by the 

Chairman of the Editorial 

Board of The Nation, 

Mr Sam Omatseye, 

and a former Delta 

State Commissioner 

of Information, Mr 

Oma Djebah. 

IoD Nigeria, founded 

in 1983, is a prime leadership 

organisation 

that champions good 

governance and promotes 

business ethics 

in Nigeria. 

It is an affiliate of the 

Institute of Directors 

in the United Kingdom 

(UK). 

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan 

complained of stomach 

ache on Tuesday night. 

She said she gave them 

some drugs and only 

discovered their 

bodies yesterday morning. 

The case has been reported 

at Kajorepo Police 

Station and the bodies 

taken to Adeoyo 

mortuary. 

•Members of staff of the National Hospital Abuja, protesting the non-implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary 

Structure in Abuja…yesterday. 

PHOTO:NAN 

Ekiti health workers protest 

HEALTH workers in 

Ekiti State yesterday 

protested the 

kidnapping of some of their 

colleagues. 

Acting under the aegis of 

the Joint Health Sector 

Unions (JOHESU) and 

Medical and Health Workers 

Union ( MHWU), they 

marched on the Governor’s 

Office, demanding the 

release of their colleagues. 

The State Chairman of 

MHWU, Raymond Ade- 

Adesanmi, said members of 

the union could not perform 

their duties for fear of being 

•Threaten indefinite strike 


Ado-Ekiti 

kidnapped. 

Ade-Adesanmi, who is also 

the state Chairman of the 

Nigeria Labour Congress 

(NLC), said if the trend 

continued, the health 

workers would be forced to 

embark on an industrial 

action. 

The protesters carried placards 

with various 

inscriptions, such as 

“Kidnapping is alien to Ekiti 

people” and “Ekiti health 

workers say no to Kidnapping”, 

among others. 

The Head of Service (HoS), 

Dr. Gbenga Faseluka, who 

APC UK expands 

THE Elders’ Forum of 

the All Progressives 

Congress (APC) in 

Ekiti State has expressed satisfaction 

with the return of 

the House of Representatives 

member, Opeyemi Bamidele, 

to the progressives 

fold. 

The body also advised the 

Commissioner of Police, 

Etop John James, to be fair 

to all parties and not to be 

fooled by the antics of the 

Peoples Democratic Party 

(PDP). 

The group’s Publicity Sec- 

THE United Kingdom (UK) chapter of 

the All Progressives Congress (APC) 

has expanded with the inauguration 

of the Bedfordshire chapter . 

Speaking at the event held at the University 

of Bedfordshire, Luton, the country’s 

APC Chairman , Dr Phillip Ideawor, praised 

members for their commitment to the values 

of the party. 

Ideawor also praised Nigerians for choosing 

the party in the last general election. 

He added that the APC UK supported 

Buhari because it recognised that the country 

needs reformation. 

The Chairman said the UK chapter has a 

pool of competent talents and professionals, 

who can be of service to the incoming 

APC government. 

He urged the Bedfordshire chapter to set 

standards for other branches. 

The Chairman of Bedfordshire APC, 

Patrick Obuseh, said the chapter came into 

being as a result of the members’ passion 

for progress. 

Other members of the Executive are Yemi 

Kolawole (Secretary); Tunde Ajisola 

(Organising Secretary); Christian Uchenna 

(Treasurer) and Muyiwa Odufowokan 

(Publicity Secretary), 

received the protesters, 

pleaded with them not to 

embark on any strike. 

Faseluka described the 

strike threat as panicky, unprofessional, 

and counterproductive. 

He regretted that most of 

the victims were public servants 

from the academia and 

health sectors. 

The HoS said the government 

was working to ensuring 

the safe release of the 

victims. 

Faseluka said since preliminary 

investigations revealed 

that none of the abductees 

was kidnapped from 

the workplace, it may be 

hasty to conclude that particular 

professions were being 

targeted. 

Faseluka added: “ Governor 

Ayodele Fayose has 

been working hard to ensure 

adequate security in the 

state, especially by instituting 

a Security Trust Fund. 

“Logistics had been provided 

for joint security for 

the military, police and other 

security agencies.” 

He said the governor was 

out of the state to secure 

more commitments from the 

Federal Government. 

The HoS said a special security 

squad deployed to the 

state has arrived. 

“I urge public servants to 

go about their duties without 

fear.” 

Bamidele gets rousing welcome to APC 


Ado-Ekiti 

retary, Dr. Bayo Orire, said 

Bamidele’s return portends 

a good development for the 

party and a boost to its fortunes. 

Bamidele had on Tuesday 

defected from the Labour 

Party (LP) to the APC alongside 

his supporters and 

members of his political platform, 

Bibiire Coalition. 

Orire noted that Bamidele 

would add value to the APC 

and contribute to efforts to 

reposition the party for future 

challenges. 

He described the lawmaker 

as a great asset needed by 

the party in its bid to bounce 

back into reckoning. 

The party elder, however, 

warned some leaders and 

members of the party 

against working against 

those willing to join the party. 

He said what the APC 

needs is unity of purpose to 

tackle the alleged misrule of 

the PDP and not politics of 

exclusion and brooding over 

past differences. 

‘Investigate mutiny charge’ 

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan 

AMILITARY officer, Sgt Felix Elegbe, 

has urged the President-elect, 

Muhammadu Buhari, to investigate 

alleged mutiny charges against his friend, 

Military Warrant Officer, Stephen Aigbe, by 

the Army in 1996. 

Aigbe was charged with mutiny in 1996; he 

was released 10 years later without his 

emoluments and severance pay. 

Elegbe, in a statement yesterday in Ibadan, 

described Aigbe as a diligent, and loyal 

person, who has served the military 

meritoriously for 36 years without blemish. 

According to him, the mutiny allegation 

was a ruse. 

“The most disturbing is that the officers 

who planned and perpetuated this crime 

knew the consequences of their actions, hence 

they allowed the matter to be in abeyance for 

years. 

“The Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of 

Army Staff and the Director of Defence 

Information should investigate the degrading 

treatment meted out to Aigbe. I beg you all 

not to ignore this issue, for he is a veteran 

without any emoluments or severance pay,” 

he said


9

10 THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015


CITYBEATS 

L 

AGOS commercial vehicle 

drivers yesterday attributed 

the hike in fares to 

high petrol price and long queues 

at filling stations. 

Some of them urged the Department 

of Petroleum Resources (DPR) 

to regulate petrol price and ensure 

its availability. 

Mr Salaudeen Ajibola, who plies 

Idumota-Oshodi route, said that he 

buys petrol at the black market at 

high cost. 

“Since the commencement of 

petrol scarcity, I spend up to N10, 

000 in buying the product every 

day as against N5, 000 before the 

scarcity. How do I make up for the 

extra money if transport fares are 

not increased?’’ he asked. 

Mr Paul Onu, who plies Orile – 

Oyingbo route, said the business 

was no longer lucrative. 

Onu said: “Transport business is 

no longer lucrative because of the 

long hours wasted in queuing for 

petrol at filling stations; most stations 

are no longer selling at the 

regulated price of N87 per litre. 

“The time we could have spent 

on the road carrying passengers are 

used at filling stations; sometimes 

we make only one or two trips in a 

day. At the filling station that I just 

bought fuel now; the pump price 

is N130 while some sell for N150. 

“If I buy at filling stations sell- 

Drug trafficker jailed nine months 

AFEDERAL High Court 

in Lagos yesterday 

sentenced Emeka 

Otah to nine months imprisonment 

for Indian hemp trafficking. 

Justice James Tsoho sentenced 

Otah to prison after 

he pleaded guilty to the offence. 

The judge sentenced Otah 

after reviewing the facts of 

the case provided by Mr 

Idris Danjuma, an exhibit 

keeper at the National Drug 

Law Enforcement Agency 

(NDLEA). 

Tsoho said the prosecution 

L 

AFIAJI Development 

Association President 

Babatunde Abozo, 

has assured Lagosians that 

Governor-elect Akinwunmi 

Ambode will ensure more 

development at the 

grassroots. 

Abozo, who described 

Ambode as a grassroots man, 

said he would follow the footsteps 

of Governor Babatunde 

Fashola and former Governor 

Bola Tinubu. 

"He would continue from 

there and develop more. He 

even has more experience 

when it comes to administrative 

issues because he has 

been a council treasurer. I 

knew him when he was the 

council treasurer of Mushin 

Local Government under 

Willy Akinlude's administration. 

From there, he went 

to Ajeromi-Ifelodun before 

becoming the Accountant- 

General of the state and that 

is the heart of the work. So, 

the experience is there, he 

knows all the nooks and 

crannies of the state. With his 

experience and even as a 

young chap, he is younger, 

more dynamic, more vast in 

his grassroots affairs, I am 

sure Lagos State would have 

more transformation during 

his tenure," he said. 

Ambode, he said, is well 

known in Lafiaji on Lagos 

Island, adding that is his 

base. 

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827 

Why we hiked fares, by bus drivers 

ing at the approved prize of N87 

per litre, l will have to remain there 

for hours. I cannot afford to buy at 

the black market because fares cannot 

be increased outrageously on 

the route I ply as there are other 

had proved its case beyond 

reasonable doubt, adding 

that the sentence would take 

effect from February 25, the 

day the convict was arrested. 

The judge also ordered 

that all exhibits should be 

returned to the NDLEA for 

destruction within 90 days if 

there is no appeal against the 

verdict. 

The Prosecutor, Mr Aliyu 

Abubakar, said forensic 

analysis proved that the substance 

found on Otah tested 

positive to cannabis sativa, 

a drug similar to cocaine. 

He said the convict committed 

the offence on February 

25, at Gbaji Check Point 

at Seme Border on Badagry, 

Lagos. 

The offence, he said, contravened 

Section 11 (c) of the 

NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws 

of the Federation 2004. 

Before the sentencing, the 

convict’s counsel, Mr G. U. 

Okaka, prayed the court to 

be lenient on his client. 

“He has learnt his lessons 

in a hard way. My client is 

remorseful and has promised 

never to involve himself 

in such an illicit business,’’ 

the counsel said. 

Ambode ‘ll ensure grassroots ‘growth’ 

•Ambode 

•Stranded commuters trekking in Lagos...yesterday 

By Tajudeen Adebanjo 

"The place is called 

Talonyoju Junction. He is 

one of the forces in that junction. 

So, Lafiaji as a whole 

was for Ambode. We supported 

him for continuity 

and more development. 

Moreso, Lagos State Government 

has been supporting 

Lafiaji Development Association 

with our 

programmes because this is 

our state and we want more 

development in it." 

He urged Lagosians to be 

patient with the incoming 

administration, saying: 

"They should be a little bit 

patient. He would come in 

•Abozo 

gradually. Ambode is a more 

managerial and social; he 

will definitely improve on 

what this outgoing administration 

has done." 

A39-YEAR-OLD driver, Azeez 

Kolawole, was yesterday arraigned 

before an Apapa Senior Magistrate’s 

Court in Lagos, for allegedly stabbing his 

neighbour on the neck with a broken 

bottle. 

Kolawole, who lives on Ibadan Street, 

Benna Bus Stop in Ajegunle, Lagos, denied 

committing the offence. 

Prosecuting Police Corporal John 

Iberedem, said the accused assaulted 

Jamiu Isiaka by stabbing him on May 15 

AMIDDLE-age man, 

Mr Samson Musa, 

yesterday asked an 

Ojo Customary Court in 

Lagos to dissolve his marriage 

because his wife is carrying 

another man's pregnancy. 

Musa said his wife, 

Tunrayo, of three years, was 

sleeping with other men. 

He said Tunrayo's sixmonth 

pregnancy was not 

his. 

"I can't live with a woman 

that is promiscuous, sleeping 

around, troublesome 

and does not have any regard 

for me," he said. 

Musa also asked the court 

to grant him custody of their 

two-year-old son "so that the 

boy will not grow up to be 

like his mother". 

competitors who will prefer to go 

for less.” 

A commuter, Mr Taiwo 

Bamgbade, who lives at Ojota and 

works on the Island, said the fare 

hike was taking its toll on commuters. 

“You can imagine me spending 

up to N1, 000 or more to the office 

instead of N500 before now and 

there is no increase in salary; how 

do I cope with other responsibilities,” 

he asked. 

Transport fare from Oshodi to 

the Island which hitherto cost 

N200, has gone up to N300; Ojota 

to the Island jumped to between 

N400 and N500 from N300. 

'My wife is carrying another 

man's pregnancy' 

A3 6-YEAR-OLD 

barber, Azeez 

Adewale, was 

arraigned yesterday before 

an Oshodi Magistrate’s Court 

in Lagos for peeping at a 

female neighbour in the 

bathroom. 

Adewale, who resides at 

Arowojobe Street, Oshodi, 

Lagos, is being tried for 

breach of peace and assault. 

Prosecuting Police 

Corporal Kehinde Olatunde 

said the accused committed 

the offence on May 17. 

He said the accused peeped 

at his neighbour, Miss 

Victoria Emmanuel, in the 

bathroom while she was 

taking her bath. 

"Tunrayo cannot take good 

care of our albino son,'' he 

said. 

He said because to his 

wife's ''promiscuity", their 

son, Faruk, has been given 

many names at the motor 

park where she trades. 

"I can't take it any longer," 

he said. 

Tunrayo, 38, urged the 

court to disregard Musa's 

allegations, saying he abandoned 

her. 

She said Musa is not providing 

well enough for her. 

"My husband does not take 

care of me and that is why I 

find myself roaming the 

streets because of no accommodation. 

"I was even raped twice in 

a container while hawking 

water in sachet popularly 

known as `pure water.' Yes, 

I cannot say who owns this 

pregnancy, but as for my son, 

I will not release him. After 

all, Musa did not pay any 

bride price on me," she said. 

The court's President, Chief 

Joseph Ogunmola, advised 

the petitioner to retrace his 

steps and act as a responsible 

father and husband. 

He ordered that a test be 

done to ascertain the paternity 

of the disputed pregnancy. 

``I will advise the petitioner 

to also try to 

formalise his marriage,'' 

Ogunmola said. 

``I also advise the respondent 

to stop having multiple 

sexual mates,'' he added. 

He adjourned the case to 

June 22. 

Barber ‘peeps’ at woman in bathroom 

“The accused was secretly 

looking at the complainant 

when she was bathing,” he 

said. 

Olatunde said the accused 

was sitting at the passage 

when the complainant left for 

the bathroom with a bucket 

of water. 

“The accused sneaked and 

followed her behind, he went 

to the back of the bathroom 

where there is a small hole, 

stood there and was peeping 

at her while she bathed,” he 

said. 

The prosecutor said when 

the complainant noticed that 

someone was watching her, 

she poured the person soap 

water. 

Driver accused of stabbing neighbour 

at their residence. 

“The complainant said he was in his room 

when he heard Kolawole beating his wife. 

“Isiaka left his room to settle the fight 

between the couple when the accused stabbed 

him with a broken bottle on the neck,” he said. 

The prosecutor said Kolawole contravened 

Section 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 

2011. 

Senior Magistrate G.L. Otepo granted the 

accused N50,000 bail with one surety in the 

like sum, and adjourned the case till July 7. 

11 

“While she was bathing, 

she sighted an eye looking 

at her through a small hole 

in the bathroom and she 

poured the person soap water 

on the eye. 

“The accused forcefully 

opened the bathroom door, 

descended on the 

complainant by punching 

her severally on her face, and 

she quickly shouted for help 

and neighbours came to her 

rescue,” Olatunde said. 

He said before then, the 

accused had on two different 

occasions knocked on the 

complainant’s door at 

midnight, saying he wanted 

to give her a message. 

“The accused knocked the 

complainant’s door at 

midnight begging her to 

allow him enter that her 

friend sent him to her, the 

complainant always ignored 

him, telling him to wait for 

day to break,” he said. 

The offence, Olatunde said, 

contravened Sections 166 and 

171 of the Criminal Law of 

Lagos State. 

The accused pleaded not 

guilty and was granted N50, 

000 bail with one surety in 

the like sum. 

Magistrate Akeem Fashola 

adjourned the case to June 8.


CITYBEATS 

Tanker drivers insist on strike 

TRIKING Petroleum 

Tanker Drivers (PTD) 

said yesterday they Swould not call off the action 

until oil marketers are paid 

their subsidy claims. 

Sahara Oil and Gas Unit of 

PTD, Auditor-General Isiaka 

Aremu said the strike would 

end once the marketers are 

paid. 

Petroleum products became 

scarce in Lagos about 

four weeks ago, following a 

disagreement between the 

Federal Government and the 

oil marketers over N200 billion 

subsidy claim. 

TRADITIONAL ruler 

of Onigbongbo in 

Ikeja, Lagos 

Munirudin Yusuf, has denied 

confronting the government 

with his directive on 

water bills. 

On Monday, Yusuf in an 

interview with the News 

Agency of Nigeria (NAN), 

directed every household in 

his community to disregard 

water bills from the Lagos 

State Water Corporation. 

The traditional told NAN 

yesterday that after the publication, 

some members of 

his community, including 

some of his chiefs, accused 

him of confronting government 

with the directive. 

Yusuf said: “I’m not in any 

way trying to revolt against 

the government. I gave the 

directive based on several 

complaints from my subjects 

THE NATION 

BUSINESS 

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net 

THE Nigeria Copyrights Com 

mission (NCC) yesterday 

blamed poor funding from 

thr Federal Government for its inability 

to effectively discharge its 

respponsibilities, especially its 

fight against piracy. 

It said fighting piracy has been 

difficult without proper funding. 

Its Director of Enforcement, Augustine 

Amodu, who spoke while 

inaugurating anti-piracy units for 

book sellers and disc/cassette sellers 

in the state, said the Commission 

has secured 58 convictions 

across the country for pirated works 

on broadcast, optical disk, book and 

software piracy. 

The marketers are claiming 

that they are being owed 

N200 billion, but the government 

is contending that it is 

N131 billion. 

The disagreement degenerated 

into non-importation 

of petroleum products and 

the consequent scarcity. 

A NAN correspondent, 

who monitored depots in 

Apapa, Lagos, reported that 

no petroleum tanker was allowed 

to load there. 

The tank farms visited 

were ASCON Oil and Gas; 

Ibeto Oil and Gas; Capital 

Oil and Gas; Total Oil and 

From Victor Oluwasegun 

and Dele Anofi, Abuja 

DIVISION among 

members of the 

House of Representatives 

over the provison of 

Clause 209 of the Petroleum 

Industry Bill (PIB) has led to 

the suspension of the consideration 

of the report of the 

Ad-hoc Committee on PIB. 

The lawmakers were at 

variance over how much 

should accrue to the country 

from exploratory licences issued 

to prospective companies 

in the petroleum industry. 

The arguement degenerated 

into a North - South issue 

after the contentious 

clause was found missing in 

the report. 

This led to the suspension 

of the consideration of the 

report till a Committee saddled 

with the responsibility 

of examining the grey areas 

reports back to the House 

next week. 

The observation of Kyari 

Gujbahu of the All 

Progressives Congress 

(APC), Borno, centered on 

the clause that deals with 

holders of exploratory licence 

to prospective operators 

in the industry and the 

monetary benefit therein. 

According to him, as contained 

in the draft report, 

revenue from activities of oil 

companies to be used for the 

take off of River Basins exploratory 

activities was 

pegged at $4 per barrel of 

gas and 20 cents for a barrel 

of crude. 

He said: “In the draft report 

which was referred for final 

compilation by committee, 

the sharing formula between 

government and oil compa- 

Commercial banks are not manufacturing-friendly 

as their interest 

rates are usually very high; therefore, 

commercial banks remain a 

major challenge to the sector. Even 

the Bank of Industry’s (BoI) framework, 

which pegs interest rate at 

nine per cent, only finances machinery 

acquisition; it does not cater for 

working capital. 

-MAN President, Dr Frank Jacobs 

Reps suspend PIB report over contentious clause 

Why we can’t fight piracy, by NCC 

From Osagie Otabor, Benin 

He said the commission recently 

seized 20 containers of pirated 

books worth over N6.6billion. 

“Paucity of fund is affecting our 

operations. In law enforcement, 

without funding, it will be difficult 

to fight the crime you are fighting. 

It is so difficult. We have tried our 

best to do what we are doing. We 

are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. 

“We have done much to ensure 

convictions. We will keep on prosecuting 

those arrested. We have 

seized books and pirated works.” 

Explaining why the anti-piracy 

Gas; NIPCO Oil and Gas, and 

Folawiyo Oil and Gas, Sahara 

Oil and Gas; Integrated 

Oil and Gas; MRS Oil and 

Gas and Mobil Oil and Gas. 

When Mr Tokunbo 

Korodo, National Union of 

Petroleum and Natural Gas 

Workers (NUPENG) Southwest 

Chairman, was contacted, 

he said: “Sorry, I can’t 

talk right now.” 

Also Mr Adewole Olufemi, 

Secretary-General of the Depot 

and Petroleum Products 

Marketers Association 

(DAPPMA), did not respond 

to phone calls. 

Monarch denies confronting govt on water bills 

on the water bills and for 

government to take action. 

“I’ve been receiving calls 

from my subjects who accused 

me of declaring war 

against the state government. 

I have never declared war 

against the government and 

have no intention to do such 

because the government has 

been co-operating with me 

since my reign. I stand to be 

SIX brilliant but 

i n d i g e n t 

undergraduates have 

been endowed with a yearly 

scholarship of N100, 000, 

courtesy of the Rotary 

District 9110 Educational 

and Welfare Endowment 

Fund (DEWEF). 

Since inception in 1991, 

DEWEF has churned out 42 

graduates. 

Cheques were presented 

exonerated from such false allegation.’ 

According to him, his subjects 

will only be cheated to 

pay bills for water which was 

not supplied. 

“This is because the corporation 

has not relented in 

bringing outrageous bills to 

a community which has not 

benefited from its services,” 

he said. 

L 

AGOS State Governor 

Babatunde 

Fashola yesterday 

urged Ikorodu residents to 

use the new Ikorodu expressway 

well to preserve 

the facility. 

Describing the road as the 

first of its kind in the state, 

with BRT lanes and bus 

stops on its median, Fashola 

said there was need to prepare 

users for what its expected 

of them. 

Fashola said the people 

must treasure the facility 

because the engineering 

drawings that eventually 

produced it were rejected 

thrice at the States Executive 

Council before they were 

accepted for implementation. 

Fashola who was represented 

by his Special Adviser 

on Education, Otunba 

Fatai Olukoga, at a stakeholders’ 

meeting at the 

Lagos Metropolitan Area 

Transortation Authority 

(LAMATA) workyard in 

Majidun, said the road, 

which is built with tax pay- 

task force was inaugurated, Amodu 

said the Commission wanted to 

replicate the success recorded with 

the establishment of anti-piracy 

task force at Ajegunle, Lagos State. 

He urged the task force members 

not to intimidate their members 

but to educate them to avoid patronising 

pirated works. 

He said: “If we fight piracy with 

force and we are not moving foward, 

we will use the people to fight piracy. 

We will prosecute any association 

found wanting if we found pirated 

copies in their shops. We will 

prosecute them. We are using them 

to fight them. It worked perfectly in 

Ajegunle. 

nies for the development of 

River Basins across the country 

was $4 per barrel. 

“I now wonder why that has 

disappeared from this clause 

as contained in this report.” 

Abdurahman Terab (APC, 

Borno) supported him, saying, 

“This suggestion is not a 

new thing in play in countries 

where there is oil. It’s been in 

use in Chad, Niger and even 

Ghana. 

“This fund is not meant to 

develop the areas where the 

Basins are located but meant 

for the development of the 

Basins for the purpose of exploration 

of resources therein 

in furtherance of the nation’s 

economic growth”. 

On the other hand, Sokonte 

Davies (APC, Rivers) disagreed 

noting that it is impossible 

to peg it at $4 per barrel 

as it would have been too 

much to be used as a take off 

fund. 

“Even the 20 cent per barrel 

is a lot of money that can 

be used to kick start any exploration 

activity anywhere. 

“If we must do it, let’s leave 

it at 20 cents per barrel of gas 

and 2 cents per barrel of 

crude”. 

NNPC workers join NPDC strike 

AS the strike by the Nigerian 

Petroleum Development 

Company (NPDC) workers 

enters its fourth day, the entire labour 

unions of the Nigerian National 

Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) - 

Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior 

Staff Association of Nigeria 

(PENGASSAN) and the National Union 

of Petroleum and Natural Gas 

Workers (NUPENG)–have joined 

their subsidiary NDPC unions to 

fight the transfer of operatorship of 

Shell divested oil blocks. 

The striking NNPC workers yesterday 

switched off power and threw 

the NNPC towers into darkness. 

A source at the NNPC said she 

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827 

Use Ikorodu road well, says Fashola 

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe 

ers’ money, must be protected. 

He said government 

would frown at driving 

against 

traffic, 

overspeeding and the conversion 

of walkways and 

lay-bys into trading posts or 

turning them into a mechanic 

yard.” 

The road, he said, must be 

cleared of all obstructions to 

allow free flow of traffic and 

enable the masses to enjoy 

its benefit. 

LAMATA’s Managing Director 

Dr Dayo Mobereola 

urged those who turned the 

BRT median into parking 

lot, especially at Owode 

Onirin, to desist from such 

practice, as the BRT buses 

would soon be deployed on 

the road. 

He said LAMATA would 

be deploying about 400 

buses between next month 

and July to boost public 

transportation within and 

outside Ikorodu. 

Mobereola represented 

by Mr Gbenga Dairo, a director 

in the agency, listed 

a number of don’ts for motorists, 

adding that there 

would also be “strict compliance 

with the state’s traffic 

law”. 

He said: “Motorists 

should also obey all traffic 

signs, while hawking are 

prohibited in and around 

bus shelters and the BRT terminals, 

even as shelters, terminals 

and laybys have been 

designated as no sleeping 

areas for commuters. 

“Okada operators are restricted 

on the expressway 

and should not be found on 

the BRT lanes, while cutting 

of the road for any purpose 

whatsoever has been outlawed 

as enough ducts have 

been put at strategic places 

along the corridor.” 

Mobereola said though 

work was not completed on 

the road, the agency 

thought it should bring the 

stakeholders together to 

enlighten them on how they 

could help the government 

preserve it. 

Rotary endows six undergraduates 

By Nneka Nwaneri 

yesterday at the District 

office in Ikeja, Lagos. 

“Part of the criteria for 

selection includes the fact 

that the students must be 

brilliant and be in their 200 

level in the university. Upon 

application, a careful 

rigorous selection process 

and assessment of their 100 

level performances and 

family background 

constitute some of the 

criteria for selection,” said 

a past district Governor Mr 

Adeniji Raji. 

Raji said the gesture is to 

address the humanitarian 

needs of the society by 

assisting students in 

government institutions 

situated in Lagos and Ogun. 

The District Incoming 

Governor Otunba Bola 

Onabadejo said the gesture 

is a way of investing in the 

future of the youth and 

putting smiles on their faces 

through contributions of its 

members. 

One of the beneficiaries of 

the scholarship six years 

ago, Dr Adeyinka Abdul- 

Hakeem, who was at the 

event, hopes to pursue 

residency training in 

International Medicine in 

the United States. 

• House Speaker Aminu 

Tambuwal 

By Emeka Ugwuanyi 

couldn’t fathom the reason behind 

the strike. 

She said: “My candid response 

is that NPDC lacks the capacity to 

operate these assets. In fact, NPDC 

was operating only two small 

blocks and suddenly another eight 

blocks from Shell’s divestments 

were transferred to it by the 

NNPC. “We don’t have the financial 

and requisite personnel to 

manage these blocks and this is the 

reason for the transfer of the 

operatorship to the indigenous 

firms in joint venture partnership 

with them (NPDC).”


13



15


INDUSTRY 

‘Why infrastructural projects 

are delayed in Nigeria’ 

NIGERIA recorded over $93 bil 

lion in infrastructure deficit 

over the years, and for government 

to attract additional infrastructure 

financing for increased delivery 

of projects, it needs to renew 

its focus on delivering financial instruments, 

Managing Director of 

Hortigraph Nigeria Limited, Murtala 

Abubakar, has said. 

Speaking at the unveiling of the 

Standards Organisation of Nigeria 

(SON) Metrology Institute in Enugu, 

Abubakar said infrastructural 

projects in the country are often not 

delivered within the agreed timeline 

due to financing gap that often keeps 

contractors at sites beyond agreed 

period, while widening the budget 

of the project. 

Indeed, a recent report by 

PricewaterhouseCoopers Limited 

showed that Nigeria’s infrastructure 

projects are most times behind the 

scheduled date of delivery by at least 

two years, while budget estimates 

are double the original estimates. 

Abubakar noted that in addressing 

By Chikodi Okereocha 

this key challenge of financing, cost 

of funds should be addressed, adding 

that financial instruments required 

to attract additional infrastructure 

financing to the country 

like, bridge equity, secured loans, refinancing/secondary 

transactions, as 

well as credit enhancement and other 

risk mitigation measures geared at 

attracting non-traditional funders 

such as institutional investors and 

international investment banks 

should be created. 

He explained that his company, 

with many years of experience in key 

mass housing and infrastructural 

projects, hopes to complete the metrology 

institute within the timeline 

of three years considering other major 

variables. “As a civil engineering 

firm with at least 15 years experience 

in housing and government 

projects, the Nigerian Metrology Institute 

(NMI) is the first project that 

the firm would be executing for SON 

and we have commenced work to 

ensure that the timeline of three years 

is met while ensuring that the quality 

and standards of the project are 

not undermined. 

”We are also working to ensure 

the sustainability and environmental 

friendliness of the project 

by ensuring that it complies with 

the Environmental Impact Assessment 

(EIA) requirements,” he 

added. 

Already, PwC in its report had 

stated that, “infrastructure plays a 

key role in economic growth and 

reducing poverty having a 5-25 per 

cent yearly return on investment 

as an economic multiplier. 

“Those countries that have been 

most successful in developing and 

maintaining infrastructure have 

established programmes of 

prioritised investment opportunities 

with a number of features, including 

clear political support, 

proper legal and regulatory structure, 

a procurement framework 

that can be understood by both 

procurers and bidders, and credible 

project timetables,” he said. 

•President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Remi Bello discussing with the Ambassador 

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to Nigeria, Her Excellency, Mrs. Samia 

Zekaria Gutu, during her courtesy visit to the Chamber. 

BoI urges investment in solid 

minerals 

THE Bank of Industry (BoI) has 

called on the Federal Govern 

ment to pay attention to funding 

investments in the solid minerals 

sector, noting that the industry has 

the potential to attract huge foreign 

exchange if developed. 

Its Managing Director, Mr. Rasheed 

Olaoluwa, explained that most countries 

in the continent have been able 

to achieve economic growth because 

they have invested a lot of resources 

into developing their natural resources. 

Olaoluwa, in a chat with The Nation, 

pointed out that Nigeria has 

not been able to develop its solid 

mineral space, calling on the government 

to fund a geological data 

in the country and conduct an international 

bid to develop the industry. 

“Botswana has been able to make 

millions of dollars from gold mining. 

Nigeria should look towards 

this direction by investing in solid 

minerals where the country has a 

comparative advantage to diversify 

the economy,” he added. 

The BOI boss, however, stated 

that the development finance institution 

has an authorised capital of 

about N250 billion, with N146 billion 

as paid up. “We want to take 

steps to look at an alternative way 

of funding the financial institution 

because our capital has always 

come from the government. We are 

looking at other sources already,” 

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie 

he said. 

He said in terms of Non Performing 

Loans (NPLs), the bank recorded 

a relative high NPL in the 

past, but stressed that the bank had 

embarked on a number of initiatives 

to review the NPL downward, 

including recovery of loans that 

were not properly monitored. 

“In a nutshell, today, at the BOI, 

our NPL is less than five per cent. 

The development bank in Brazil, 

their NPL is 2.2 per cent. The development 

bank in South Africa, the 

NPL is 16.8 per cent. With less than 

five per cent as NPL, BOI’s ratio is 

not bad,” he said. 

Olaoluwa, however, said the bank 

has done a lot to support Small and 

Medium Enterprises (SMEs), but 

stressed that what the sector needs 

goes beyond finance. 

He added that the bank is giving 

the loans and also looking at making 

the lending process more efficient 

to assist the SMEs. 

“This is why we appointed over 

100 Business Development Service 

Providers (BDSPs) to help the SMEs 

prepare lendable business plans to 

access BOI’s business loans,” he 

added. 

He said the bank is automating its 

processes to give SMEs the opportunity 

to enjoy the benefit of automation. 

“A lot of SMEs are unable 

to keep records because they do not 

have an accountant, who understands 

the technical details of debit 

and credit. We are looking at a 

model to empower SMEs to transact 

businesses with their mobile 

phones on their own without the 

help of any accountant,” he said. 

The BOI boss decried the lack of 

patronage of locally produced 

goods, saying that Nigerians must 

patronise Made-in-Nigeria goods 

for the country to achieve economic 

growth. “It is in our national interest. 

We are all complaining about 

lack of jobs, we are complaining 

about economic issues, if we do not 

patronise our local producers, we 

will not make any progress,” he 

noted. 

According to him, there are 

people, who have invested in 

facilities to produce locally, but 

they cannot sell and they go bankrupt 

and lay off staff. But if they 

produce and are able to sell, they 

are able to grow and hire more 

people, translating to economic 

growth. 

“I am not saying that we should 

support any producer because there 

are people who are local producers 

and they produce trash, but there 

are few companies producing to 

meet international standards and 

such companies should be 

patronised,” he added. 

•Dangote 

INDIGENES of communities 

hosting Dangote Cement Plc, in 

Ibese, Yewa and Ewekoro in 

Ogun State are in for better times, 

as the cement company announced 

the inauguration of 19 various Corporate 

Social Service (CSR) projects 

for them. 

In what is regarded as a major 

boost to its CSR profile, projects 

by the cement company would 

cover various social sectors, including 

water, education, electricity, 

roads, IT etc. 

It would be recalled that the company 

had some years ago instituted 

scholarships for indigenes of any 

of its host communities in any 

higher institution and secondary 

schools. Over 90 of them have since 

benefited from the scholarships. 

The management said it was 

poised to making life more meaningful 

to all members of the over 

16 communities bordering the cement 

plant and that it would ensure 

that all projects meet the specific 

needs of each community. 

Executive Director, Stakeholder 

Management and Corporate Communication, 

Mr. Mansur Ahmed, 

an engineer, explained that the 

projects were agreed upon after a 

careful deliberation and discussion 

with the Obas, Chiefs and the youth 

leaders of the communities so that 

the project could be relevant to 

their needs. 

He thanked the traditional rulers 

and other community leaders 

for their cooperation with the 

Dangote Cement management, 

noting that it was as a result of the 

collaboration that made possible 

the peace and tranquillity enjoyed 

THE second quarter issue of Af 

rican Banker Magazine has 

profiled Nigeria’s Minister of 

Agriculture and Rural Development, 

Akinwumi Adesina and seven other 

candidates vying for the African Development 

Bank (AFDB) Presidency. 

In the magazine’s one-to-one sessions, 

Adesina and other candidates, 

for the continent’s premier multilateral 

financial institution, shared their 

strategic visions, priorities and agendas 

for the bank. 

In the extensive dossier, the eight 

candidates indicated their suitability 

for this momentous job and the 

credentials required to lead Africa’s 

most prominent development institution. 

The eight candidates spoke candidly 

and openly about their ambitions 

for the bank. Among the eight 

contenders vying for the Presidency, 

five currently serve as ministers, one 

former minister and a Development 

Banking specialist. 

Adesina feels that his experience 

in transforming the agricultural sector 

in Nigeria, and his first experience 

working and operating in various 

African countries will keep him 

Dangote 

inaugurates 

projects 

for 

communities 

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie 

in the host communities. 

Ahmed promised the community 

leaders that Dangote Cement 

would continue to be alive to its 

responsibilities and urged them to 

come forward to offer useful ideas 

and advice that could propel the 

company to do more for the development 

of the communities. 

He highlighted some of the 

projects to include: three domestic 

boreholes for Elere, Babalawo and 

Kajola Communities; 10 domestic 

boreholes for Afami, Ajibawo, 

Aga-Akinronbi, Aga-Owoyele, 

Aga-Ashade, Abule Oke, Abule 

Maria, Ijako-Orile, Wasimi-Imasayi 

and Balogun; four industrial boreholes 

for Ibese (2) and Imasayi (2); 

Construction of 10 classrooms for 

Ibese and construction of another 

five classrooms for Balogun communities. 

He listed others as the award of 

scholarship to 77 indigenes between 

2013 and 2014 sessions for 

secondary pupils, Polytechnic and 

University students, who are native 

of the host communities. 

The company is also providing 

Community Information Technology 

Training at Ibese, Aga-Olowo, 

and Ijako-Orile, where two batches 

have already finished training, 

while the construction of Ibese/ 

Ilaro road, and that of Ibese/Itori 

road for all the communities are ongoing. 

He said these were aside the fact 

that the grading of community internal 

road network along Wasimi- 

Imasayi is under construction and 

the drain work at Olu of Ilaro/Paramount 

Ruler’s road, Ilaro, is nearing 

completion. 

The Dangote Group boss also informed 

that the electrification and 

transformer replacement at Afami 

and Ibese has been awarded while 

the construction of 10 bathrooms 

and toilets with overhead tanks is 

ongoing for Balogun community. 

He explained that the drilling of 

boreholes and the overhead tanks 

is completed, while standby 7.5 KV 

generators to complement the infrastructure 

are awaiting installation. 

African Banker Magazine 

profiles Adesina, others 

for AfDB presidency 

in good stead. “My vision is based 

on continuing decentralisation and 

increasing support for private initiatives,” 

he said. 

Having overseen Ethiopia’s strong 

growth into one of Africa’s leading 

economies, the country’s Finance 

Minister, Sufian Ahmed, believes 

the AfDB will be safe in his experienced 

hands. 

The former Minister Finance of Tunisia, 

Jaloul Ayed, asserts that his 

banking experience has allowed him 

to gain a clear understanding of 

Africa’s full potential. He calls for 

an AfDB that is closer to its markets. 

Chad’s Minister of Finance and 

Budget, Kordjé Bedoumra, states that 

following his previous tenure at the 

AfDB, he has the experience and expertise 

to improve operational efficiency 

of the bank as well as shape 

its short and long term policies. 

The only female candidate in the 

race is Cape Verde Minister of Finance 

and Planning, Cristina 

Duarte, who says whatever improvements 

need to be made, the 

AfDB can never forget its mission, 

which is to serve Africa and its 

people.


17 

COMMENTARY 

S the Jonathan regime winds 

down, a post-mortem beckons. 

What were its strengths or its fail- 

ings, and how much of a legacy will resonate 

a generation from now when historians 

ponder its era? 

Whatever we say today may be revised 

by a generation or two from now for ill or 

for good. But the moment compels us to 

look back at a regime that is incapable of 

sliding into the oblivion of memory. 

It was a period of intense activities, but 

it was marked by epic failures. Its greatest 

undoing however was its failure, some 

will say unwillingness, to tackle the fundamental 

flaw of the Nigerian nation: a 

value system. The consequence of this 

was a reign of impunity, the subversion 

of the rule of law and the inability of institutions 

to rise to their promise. 

No doubt, President Goodluck Ebele 

Jonathan ascended the throne in historic 

circumstances. His predecessor, Umar 

Yar’Adua, died in office, and that un- 

EDITORIALS 

The Jonathan years (1) 

• With institutions in disarray and corruption in full sway, the Jonathan legacy is a 

poor instance of how to shepherd a nation 

A 

leashed a constitutional 

crisis that 

some thought threatened 

our frail democracy. 

A cabal loyal to the 

dying leader jousted 

with him, ethnic moguls 

whipped up 

atavistic sentiments, 

lawmakers clutched 

at straws for a way 

out, the leadership of 

the judiciary was 

hazy, ambitious politicians 

schemed 

with subversive opportunism, 

and furtive 

speculations of 

military intervention 

stirred conversations 

about the longevity 

of our political 

experiment. 

Eventually, the nation 

settled for a 

workable oddity 

known as the doctrine 

of necessity, 

and Jonathan 

segued from acting 

president to full 

president. Months 

later he staked himself 

as presidential 

candidate for his 

• Jonathan 

party, the People’s Democratic Party 

(PDP). It was from that time that questions 

arose about his sense of values as some 

Nigerians wondered if it was right as a 

signatory to a zoning arrangement that 

Jonathan decided to run. 

But the resistance was feeble and he 

rode to power on two sentiments that 

would later dog his era: religion and tribe. 

Once he won the 2011 polls, he rode the 

wave of these two sentiments, and occluded 

the north and Muslims in what his 

followers described invidiously as a pan- 

Nigerian mandate. 

The first value that suffered was a sense 

of fairness and inclusiveness. He never 

built a bridge across to his northern subjects, 

even if in an act of ill grace his runner-up, 

Muhammadu Buhari, did not 

come out in strong and clear terms to condemn 

and dissociate himself from the turbulence 

that racked parts of the north in 

the aftermath of his historic victory. 

Rather President Jonathan consciously 

played a politics of divide and rule, and 

showed ethnic partiality in his association, 

appointments and preference of visits in 

the course of his reign. 

That was the beginning and it turned 

out he was not willing either by words, 

deeds or symbolism to shed that image. 

When the Boko Haram insurgency tore 

the north apart, he and his men began to 

see it in terms of a conspiracy theory 

rather than a task to cement a fractured 

nation and emphasise the sameness of a 

heterogeneous people. The result was a 

neglect of the war whose narrative culminated 

in the abduction of about 276 

girls from a school in the rustic town 

known as Chibok. 

His handling of it started with rage 

against the news breakers and then denial. 

His wife, Patience, made a mournfully 

comic drama out of it by subverting 

the culture of mourning when she – and 

later the president -invited the mourners 

to Abuja rather than visit them in their 

downcast homes. She also turned the visit 

into a platform to castigate the 

government’s perceived enemies. 

With the ethnic tension, add the reli- 

gious. We do not begrudge the president 

his right to confess a faith. But he turned 

it into a balkanizing treasure. He started 

to play up the pious card, and became a 

president as pilgrim not only in his sojourns 

to churches and sermons on pulpits 

but also his act in Jerusalem. 

As the election cycle came to an end, 

his visits to Lagos became emblematic of 

his manipulation of ethnic and religious 

cards. A few years earlier, he said that 

the non-indigenes outnumbered the indigenes 

in Lagos. He exploited that in the 

firestorm of election campaigns. 

President Jonathan also surrounded 

himself with persons who had cases to 

answer on corruption. Significant was a 

former governor who received presidential 

pardon and became a mainstay of his 

regime. He also had ministers tarred 

with either corruption or appearance of 

it, but the president looked the other way 

and in other instances sullied the dignity 

of his office by lining up behind 

them. 

One instance concerned the aviation 

minister, Stella Oduah, who was accused 

of corruption and double standards, 

and the matter lingered with the 

media and civil society bodies pelting 

the president with various epithets. The 

president never issued a statement to 

dissociate his government from her activities. 

He hid under a reshuffle to step 

her down, while she still played a role, if 

informal, in the running of government. 

Before that Abdulrasheed Maina was 

involved in a pension fraud case, and 

the matter that involved the fortunes and 

welfare of millions of our senior citizens 

ended shamefully. Maina was a close 

confidant of the president and he was 

never brought to book in spite of an official 

indictment. 

The most contentious 

was the accusation 

that came from 

the former governor 

of the Central Bank of 

Nigeria to the effect 

that about $50 billion 

of our oil money 

could not be accounted 

for. Although 

it was later 

denied and pruned to 

$12 billion by the 

government under finance 

minister Ngozi 

Okonjo-Iweala, the 

Jonathan Presidency 

never did any clear 

accountability of the 

money. The newly 

unified Governors 

Forum that included 

mainstays of those 

who defended the 

J o n a t h a n 

administration’s footloose 

regime, agreed 

it was $20 billion. 

When the Jonathan 

administration asked 

a 

firm, 

PriceWaterhouse 

Cooper Nigeria, to 

look at the books of 

the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation 

(NNPC), it turned out to be an 

elaborate charade. The NNPC and the 

Central Bank did not cooperate with the 

audit team. 

Even when his oil minister, Diezani 

Alison-Madueke, was accused of spending 

a superlative sum of N10 billion on 

air travels, she shunned the flurry of 

media inquiries and snubbed the National 

Assembly. 

The lesson is that the Jonathan administration 

ruined institutions, allowed corruption 

to fester and the nation reeled 

morally.The Buhari administration that 

will succeed it will do well to watch out 

for any moral traps and lead this country 

on the path of a values rebirth. If the 

Jonathan era failed, his should act as a 

bail-out era. 

‘The lesson is that the Jonathan administration ruined institutions, 

allowed corruption to fester and the nation reeled 

morally.The Buhari administration that will succeed it will 

do well to watch out for any moral traps and lead this country 

on the path of a values rebirth. If the Jonathan era failed, 

his should act as a bail-out era’ 

LETTER 

God loves Nigeria 

IR: If there is any nation on this planet earth 

so favoured of God, Nigeria if not the first 

Scannot be third because of a truth, God cares 

for Nigeria. There are series of events and indices 

that point to this assertion. In the early stage 

of our nationhood, we survived a brutal civil 

war, which was enough to see to the end of this 

nation. We survived Maitasine’s war, religious 

riots, many military coups, youth restiveness, 

terrorism attacks and Islamic insurgency; that we 

still remain a strong nation is very amazing. 

Despite all the satanic prognostications and 

doomsday prophecies that Nigeria will break 

up in 2015, God has proved Himself faithful on 

our behalf. We have demonstrated to the whole 

world that we are mature and able as a nation to 

find solutions to our squabbles and solve any 

problem without recourse to any foreign country. 

We stood united against Ebola virus and won; 

some even made the supreme sacrifices to save 

the rest of us, which has made our nation a cynosure 

of all eyes in the international community. 

So for this year’s election to have come and gone 

without the nation’s disintegration, we all share 

in the credit. 

Kudos should be given to President Jonathan 

for making history as the first sitting president 

to conced defeat to the opposition in a keenly 

contested elections. 

That is why to whom much is given, much is 

expected; the incoming government of General 

Muhammadu Buhari should brace up to the challenges 

ahead, because the masses of this country 

are banking on him to liberate them from the 

shackles of poverty and unemployment ravaging 

the nation. He should get his acts right by 

hitting the ground running to defeat the monster 

of corruption as he stated during the election 

period. He should be magnanimous in victory 

by treating every Nigerian equally. 

A situation in which some few people sit down 

to share our collective patrimony should be 

quickly addressed. It is unfortunate that many 

past leaders shared our oil blocks among themselves. 

He should be ready to step on toes and 

cancel all these oil licences. 

The issue of jumbo pay for the legislators 

should be looked into; the situation in which a 

Nigerian senator earns about $181,000 per month, 

and their counterparts in the US earns about $174, 

000 annually is incongruous and ludicrous. 

He will definitely get the backing of the majority 

of Nigerians in his bid to recover stolen 

funds from corrupt officials without minding 

whose horse is gored. 

The fuel subsidy is another debacle that needs 

urgent attention. He should make use of people 

with impeccable character to man the oil sector. 

Our refineries should be put to maximum use to 

reduce the price and hardship being experienced 

by Nigerians in getting fuel. 

Stable electricity is very essential to the growth 

of our national economy; infrastructural development 

will facilitate industrial growth and job 

creation. He should focus on these. With God on 

our side, Nigeria is on the path of greatness, and 

I wish the incoming administration the best of 

luck and God’s guidance 

• Pastor Mark Debo Taiwo, 

Takie/Ikoyi Road, Ogbomoso. 

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18 

CARTOON & LETTERS 


IR: The governorship 

election in Oyo might have 

come and gone. However, Smatters arising from that election 

will take some time to fade away. 

The result might have shocked 

some people especially one of the 

contestants to the point of being 

sedated. Some have attributed the 

victory of Governor Abiola 

Ajimobi to the Buhari 

phenomenon. Whereas, the factor 

may not be dismissed outright, the 

fact remains that it is being 

exaggerated or over emphasized. 

The truth however is that it is the 

chief and sole mourner of the 

election result that was the architect 

of his own doom. This can be traced 

to the hate campaign against 

Ajimobi. A campaign not about 

issues but total falsehood aimed at 

denigrating and impugning the 

integrity of the governor. Part of 

the anti-Ajimobi propaganda was 

to send some social miscreants to 

the streets, motor parks and 

markets abusing and maligning 

the person of the governor, that he 

was set to demolish houses and 

markets once he was re-elected. 

On the part of the governor, he 

remained well composed and civil, 

quoting facts and figures to debunk 

wild and false allegations against 

him. However, even at the risk of 

losing the election, Ajimobi 

remained unfazed and fully 

consistent about his policy of 

discouraging roadside trading in 

the state. 

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E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.net 

Ajimobi: An election’s aftermath 

As part of strategy to deny 

Ajimobi the honour of peace and 

serenity which his administration 

had guaranteed in the last four 

years, sporadic violence and 

unprovoked attacks were 

organized across the city of Ibadan, 

one of which led to the shooting of 

a police officer to death. 

In his bid to spread 

infrastructural development across 

the State, Ajimobi dualized the 

road in Iseyin. The opposition was 

quick to fault it as a white elephant 

project claiming that there are not 

enough vehicles to ply such roads. 

That particular statement no doubt 

ignited the anger of Oke-Ogun 

indigene to the extent of 

mobilizing massive support for 

Ajimobi. 

The nefarious role of some civil 

servants and teachers in the state 

who turned themselves to 

infamous agents of an opposition 

party with all kinds of 

unintelligible and unsustainable 

blackmail of falsehood against the 

administration and person of 

Ajimobi was enough to provoke 

the elite class of the state into 

action. This was a class of people 

who hitherto was not interested in 

who ruled them and never cared 

to exercise their franchise. This 

time around however, they felt 

insulted by the ‘one eyed king’ 

syndrome of the supposedly 

educated civil servants. Their 

determination was further 

reinforced by the awful nostalgia 

of the previous administration 

when one could hardly sleep with 

two eyes closed. They were quick 

to realize that the kind of hate 

campaign being orchestrated by 

the opposition was a mere 

Lamido, Aliyu, not Muazu deserve the boot 

SIR: I wish to comment on the 

recent call by Governor 

Babangida Aliyu of Niger 

State and Sule Lamido of Jigawa 

State for Adamu Muazu to resign as 

PDP Chairman and for pre-empting 

a government that has not taken off. 

These men played prominent 

roles in the 16 years failure of the 

PDP and they never advised the government 

on what to do because they 

were part of the looting machine. 

These men were behind PDP’s failure. 

They led some northern PDP 

governors to vote against Jonathan’s 

candidate in the governors’ forum 

election. They were the one that led 

the G-7 governors round the country 

campaigning for a northern 

president. Lamido did not defect 

because of the money laundering 

case against his children. Babangida 

rehearsal or a warm up of what to 

witness should they win the 

election. 

For the first time in recent 

history of the state, only one person 

would preside over the House of 

Assembly for four years. There 

were instances in the past where 

legislators were thrown down 

through the window by sponsored 

party thugs. Some of the legislators 

affected remain maimed to date. 

That Ajimobi could sustain that 

kind of harmonious relationship 

only confirmed him as an adept in 

the doctrine of separation of 

We need to revisit the past 

Aliyu said he wanted to consult the 

elders of the party in his state. When 

did Muazu the game-changer become 

the brain behind PDP failure? 

If there is anybody worth expelling 

from the PDP, it is Babangida 

and Lamido. 

•Okorie Emmanuel, 

Makurdi 

SIR: Nigerians were caught 

aback when during the heat 

of the last general elections, 

the president-elect, General 

Muhammadu Buhari made an 

unpopular promise that his government 

was not going to probe 

the past governments after initially 

promising to make all who 

have stolen the commonwealth 

to return their loots. The declaration, 

although unpopular and 

against the public expectation, 

was forgivable because it was 

considered a political calculation. 

But it would be however unforgivable 

if in practice the president-elect 

still uphold that promise. 

It was an unholy promise, in 

the first place, because by that 

singular act, the General had indirectly 

told the Nigerian populace 

that the most politically relevant, 

and powerful set of people 

in the nation were corrupt, and 

that any attempt to seek a probe 

of their stewardship could spell 

doom for the his administration. 

Like I said, it is forgivable if it was 

a political ploy. But now that the 

election is won, a visit to the past 

is inevitable. 

Someone may argue that visiting 

the past would erase the said 

honesty claim of the Presidentelect, 

but I think otherwise be- 

powers. 

In the past, if the governor was 

not battling the legislators, it 

would be that he was involved in 

dividing the rank of the traditional 

rulers in the state. Whereas 

previous governors enjoyed a 

phoney play of supremacy among 

traditional rulers, whereas, but for 

undue interference from the 

executive, the order of hierarchy 

among Obas was never in dispute. 

Especially in the case of the Alaafin, 

that the governor could maintain 

a cordial relationship with the 

foremost Yoruba traditional ruler 

for four years scored him another 

first in the game of peace. While 

that revealed Ajimobi as a humble 

administrator, it also showed that 

the Alaafin was not as fastidious as 

some think but rather a man of high 

taste in service and delivery 

standard. 

• Agboola Sanni, 

Ibadan, Oyo State. 

cause now that it is very glaring 

that the incoming government is 

inheriting an empty treasury, and 

a huge national debt, the need for 

developmental funds could warrant 

a renege on the said promise. 

Besides, the president-elect 

would not be seen as a trucebreaker 

if he only makes the 

thieves refund what they have 

stolen without having to send 

anybody to jail. 

No Nigerian is willing to be told 

stories after two years of the incoming 

government. We do not 

want to hear why the APC government 

could not perform. We 

do not what to be told to pay more 

tax in other for the government to 

give us the dividends of democracy; 

so let them go for the stolen 

money. It is necessary, and crucial 

in such a time as this. 

• Ohimai Daniel, 

Lagos.


COMMENTS 

W 

HAT a time to come to 

power! Some will say that 

it is a wrong time; others 

will contend otherwise and argue 

that you knew what was at stake 

before you sought the highest office 

in the land. No matter which side of 

the divide one is, the truth is that 

not many will pray to be in your 

shoes, at least under the present circumstance. 

I do not envy you for the 

cross you will carry from May 29 

when you formally take office. I call 

it a cross because you are coming to 

power at a time that nothing works 

in our country. 

Things are so bad that many are 

wondering where you will start 

from. There is a lot to be done and 

considering the legendary impatience 

of your compatriots, you will 

have your hands full from day one. 

Permit me to say that a nation as 

blessed as ours should not be where 

it is today. Our country should be at 

the top, considering our natural endowments, 

but painfully the reverse 

is the case. We are on the lowest rung 

of the Human Development Index 

(HDI). 

The question is: how well have we 

managed our God given wealth? 

Rather than use these resources for 

the development of our common 

patrimony, our leaders have been 

diverting them to personal use. 

I will be putting it mildly to say 

that you will be inheriting a mess. 

Our people know that you are one 

402 DAYS AFTER 

WHERE ARE THE 

ABDUCTED CHIBOK 

GIRLS? 

Lame duck activism 

president that will be coming to 

power with the odds so stacked 

against you. No president in our history 

ever came to power with things 

so bad like this. Even in 1983 when 

you took over power from President 

Shehu Shagari, things were not as 

bad as they are now. Compared to 

what we are seeing now, things were 

far, far better then, even with the 

profligacy of the Shagari administration. 

We said the Shagari administration 

was corrupt. Ha-ha! Nigerians 

will eat their word with what 

is happening right before their eyes 

now. 

Everything points to a hard time 

for you in office; not the kind of hard 

time outgoing President Goodluck 

Jonathan predicted for himself and 

his aides after their exit. Yours will 

be the hard time of meeting the expectations 

of our long suffering 

people, who through thick and thin, 

absorbed all that was thrown at them 

by the government. They were 

asked to tighten their belts; they did. 

But those in government slackened 

theirs to have more room to stash 

away their loot. This is why today 

nothing is working. Security has collapsed. 

The economy is in tatters; 

electricity has gone kaput; fuel, especially 

petrol and kerosine, is scarce 

despite the billions of naira spent 

on subsidy; education is in a 

shambles. The real sector, the economic 

live wire of a nation, is comatose; 

agriculture is ensnared in the 

politics of waivers. 

These, indeed, are not the best of 

times for anybody, not even a lion 

heart like you, to take power. The 

picture of the economy painted by 

All Progressives Congress (APC) 

governors when they met with you 

last May 5 is scary. We knew all along 

that things were bad; we didn’t know 

HAVE been bewildered by the sudden excitement 

and activities of the outgoing 

administration in the last two or so weeks. Let- 

Iters of sacking of people and appointment of their 

replacement have been coming out of the presidency 

with amazing rapidity and frequency as if this was 

the beginning of the Jonathan administration. I can 

understand the president saying he remains in 

charge of the country until the night of May 28. 

Nobody can dispute this. What is disputable is the 

sense in giving out appointment letters of four years 

on the eve of the end of the president’s term. This 

appears to me as a sick joke. 

What is surprising is that people are turning out in 

their Sunday dresses to be sworn into jobs which all 

sensible people know will be cancelled by a single 

statement by the new administration saying all councils 

and boards of parastatals are dissolved with 

immediate effect. When I asked a friend why apparently 

sensible people are travelling long distances 

to assemble in Abuja to be sworn into councils and 

boards at this late hour in the life of the current 

administration, his answer was that the appointments 

would boost their curriculum vitae no matter 

if the appointments last only a week. 

The question really is that should state affairs be 

dealt with so cavalierly? I read the letter of General 

Adeyinka Adebayo to the president complaining 

about the rude way he was removed as Pro-chancellor 

and chairman of the Governing Council of the 

University of Ibadan. I felt very bad and sad for 

two reasons. I did not think my beloved General 

should have accepted the job in the first place. But 

having accepted it, he should have been treated with 

the dignity that a man of his status and previous 

exalted positions he held in this country when many 

of the current players on Nigerian stage were in diapers. 

Placing an advertorial in newspapers to remove 

a man like General Adebayo was rude, indecorous 

and unflattering especially without giving 

reasons and allowing the imagination to wander 

away conjecturing all kinds of scenarios. 

The directive to a foreign company setting up 

manufacturing business in Lagos to move to Bayelsa 

State by somebody who has been in the presidency, 

first as vice president and later as president for eight 

years and then waiting for the last weeks in office 

before realizing that charity begins at home and then 

depriving one of his constituencies manufacturing 

jobs is what can be described as double jeopardy 

against the person of the president because he ends 

looking bad in Lagos and Bayelsa. The people in 

Bayelsa will say so he just remembered us while 

those in Lagos will say look at the man who was 

running around here some weeks ago telling us we 

are all brothers! No matter the economic rationale, 

the timing is bad. President Jonathan should be concerned 

about his legacy and what his place will be 

in the history of the country and he must not let last 

minute poor judgement ruin his legacy. 

Right now problems are piling up towards the end 

of his tenure. An oil-producing country is lying prostrate 

because there is no fuel at the pumps for people 

to buy. This in a country that has four refineries 

which for lack of vision are not working. Dangote 

in 2011 offered to buy, I believe the refineries in 

Port Harcourt and Kaduna but this government refused 

and kept paying trillions to party men as fuel 

subsidies. Now, the chicken has come home to roost. 

The country is broke. The president is therefore 

handing over to his successor a bankrupt country. 

Not only that, the insurgency in the North-east is 

still active. This is in spite of hiring Boer mercenaries 

from South Africa to fight along Nigerian troops, 

the very type of people who used to shoot Africans 

as wild game during the days of the obnoxious apart- 

‘This president can go down into history as one that helped the country 

to overcome its wasting its oil revenue on consumption by the elite. Let 

this president carry the burden of cancelling the so-called subsidies on 

petroleum products’ 

Letter to Buhari 

that they were that bad until the 

governors spoke. Outgoing Minister 

of Finance/Coordinating Minister 

of the Economy Dr Ngozi 

Okonjo-Iweala, who had all along 

rated the economy high, also finally 

came clean with us by stating the 

obvious : the economy is in doldrums. 

Why did it take her this long 

to confirm that ‘’Nigeria is facing a 

serious cash crunch’’. 

Because of the severity of the problem, 

she said, the country was forced 

to borrow N473 billion to finance 

recurrent expenditure. Such borrowings, 

as even a lay man would 

know, is not expected to yield any 

returns. Rather, the government 

will offset the debts at a very high 

interest rate. It is simple economics 

that you do not borrow to pay salaries. 

But that is what the federal and 

state governments have been doing, 

to prevent a collapse of the public/ 

civil service because of the non-payment 

of salaries. Despite these huge 

borrowings, the Federal Government 

and many of the states are still 

owing workers’ salaries. 

So, you can understand where the 

governors were coming from when 

they appealed to you to come to 

their aid when you resume duty next 

week. ‘’One of the issues of concern 

to all of us’’, said APC Governorship 

Forum Chairman and Imo State 

Governor Rochas Okorocha, ‘’is the 

state of the economy, which is already 

in a bad shape and we have 

come to notify the incoming president 

of the challenges ahead of him. 

As it stands today, most states of the 

federation have not been able to pay 

salaries and even the Federal Government 

has not paid April salaries”. 

To Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria got 

into this financial mess because of 

the falling oil price. She forgot to 

heid racist regime. 

One of them was 

interviewed 

recently in England 

about the 

mercenaries’ treatment 

of Africans 

in Nigeria’s 

North-east, he 

merely demurred 

and said they 

treated them well! 

Coming from a 

people who recently 

felt Africans 

w e r e 

untermenschen or sub humans, one can imagine how 

we who fought against the racist South Africans 

played into their hands while also paying them 

handsomely for our humiliation 

This president can go down into history as one 

that helped the country to overcome its wasting its 

oil revenue on consumption by the elite. Let this 

president carry the burden of cancelling the socalled 

subsidies on petroleum products. We are already 

buying the stuff at 120 or 130 Naira a litre. If 

this is what the price should be, let the president 

tell us and remove the burden from Buhari. I mean 

the president is not running for office again, he can 

afford to help us bite the bullet of deregulated petrol 

price. He will be remembered for his sacrificially 

bearing the burden of a policy that may not be palatable 

to most Nigerians but has become necessary 

in the peculiar circumstance we find ourselves. 

The president’s activism should not be confined 

and restricted to personnel changes in the dying 

hours of his administration; it should extend to a 

policy he genuinely believes in but was afraid to 

implement because of politics. He tried this earlier 

in his administration. We should not mind his sudden 

reduction of the price of petrol as part of his 

electoral politics. The time has now come when the 

statesman of a president comes forward with the 

right policy on deregulated price of petrol before 

the curtains come down. 

add that government’s inefficiency 

is also a contributory factor. The solution, 

Okonjo-Iweala claims, is for 

Nigeria to sell off some of its assets 

or use them to borrow money to 

manage the economy. Knowing how 

Nigerians will react to such a move, 

Okonjo-Iweala said the decision has 

been left to you to take. So, if you 

decide to take her advice, you may 

take off on the note of borrowing to 

sustain the government and then run 

into trouble with Nigerians, who 

will not applaud such move at all. 

If the economy is bad, as you 

well know, everything is bad 

about a country. A country is 

as good as its economy. For rebasing 

our gross domestic product (GDP), 

which merely enhanced the basket 

of goods and services in the 

economy without any attendant 

benefit to the people, Okonjo-Iweala 

attempted to pass it off as an economic 

masterstroke when she knew 

it was not. If the rebasing actually 

amounted to anything, we will not 

be complaining that we are broke 

today, while a whole Federal Government 

cannot pay salaries. So, 

where is the gain of their much 

vaunted rebasing? 

It is clear that what you are going 

to inherit is a debased and not a 

rebased economy. The importance 

of the economy to any nation cannot 

be overemphasised. But it is sad 

that you are being handed a weak 

economy. Even though Nigerians 

know that, what they are interested 

in is how you will grow it and make 

life better for them after all these 

years of waste. They are not ready 

for excuses on why things cannot be 

made better within a short time of 

your assuming office. 

It is just unfortunate that you are 

coming to power when the people’s 

Jide 

Osuntokun 

Lawal 

Ogienagbon 

lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net 

SMS ONLY: 08099400204, 08112661612 

patience has been so taxed by those 

who did not mean well for our country. 

Please, do not see their impatience 

(which should be expected 

though) as antagonism; it is not. It is 

an expression of their frustrations 

with the system over the years. 

You do not have anything to fear 

because once you start well, you can 

be sure of winning over the people, 

who have for long being taken for 

granted. We look up to you to make 

the difference in our lives and bring 

the much desired change to our 

country. May God help you. 

‘It is clear that what 

you are going to inherit 

is a debased and not a 

rebased economy. 

Even though Nigerians 

know that, what they 

are interested in is how 

you will grow it and 

make life better for 

them within a short 

time’

20 

COMMENTS 

F what federalism sets out to achieve is ‘individual 

and group rights defined in form 

of language, culture, and religion or socio- Ieconomic status’, the Yoruba by their history 

and temperament are federalists. Unfortunately, 

out of sheer mischief, the Hausa Fulani, who 

according to Richard Sklar settled for confederacy 

in 1953, (ostensibly because their region 

was 70 years behind the south in educational 

development and because of the south’s disrespect 

for their culture), and the Igbo and NCNC 

that opted for unitary system in 1959 (because 

of their mobility and educational advancement 

since they stand to gain more from a unitary 

system) have often turned around to accuse 

Awo and the Yoruba of tribalism for insisting 

on a workable federal arrangement. 

A workable federal arrangement that will 

guarantee freedom, liberty and equality for 

every linguistic group from the unfriendly inhabitants 

of the Mama Hills and the unsocial 

Mumuye of Muri Province became a lifelong 

pursuit for Awo who once accused his political 

opponents of carousing around while he burnt 

the midnight oil proffering solution to Nigeria 

problems. He started his crusade with the publication 

of “Nigeria: Path to Freedom” as a student 

at the age of 36 in 1945. 

As a 39-year old Yoruba representative at the 

1948 Ibadan General Conference on the Review 

of the 1946 Richard’s Constitution, he canvassed 

vigorously for a federal structure based on ethnic 

nationalities as against the northern delegates’ 

insistence on a loose federation, with 

the centre controlling only Defence, External 

Affairs, Customs and the eastern delegates’ advocacy 

of a unitary system. Awo, accompanied 

by the late Alfred Rewane, his dependable ally 

and a pillar of Action Group took the crusade to 

Ahmadu Bello’s house in Kaduna. The meetings 

yielded no fruit because the Sardauna, according 

to Rewane reminded Awo that those 

whose freedom he sought were once his ancestors’ 

properties. Awo remained undaunted. Two 

other meetings were held at different times at 

the Ikorodu house of Alhaji Gbadamosi and in 

Awo’s Ibadan residence. Awo’s pursuit of freedom 

for the people of the Calabar, Ogoja and 

Rivers (COR Province), the Middle Belt and the 

North Eastern Nigeria, attracted little or no support 

from his Yoruba party members like S. L. 

Akintola, Bode Thomas and Rotimi Williams 

who did not mind confederation as canvassed 

by the north or any system for that matter as 

long as it guaranteed that the West was not ‘ruled 

by a one- eyed man king’. 

At the 1958 Lancaster House constitutional 

conference where October 1, 1960 was announced 

as the date for Nigerian independence 

LL my life, I have always been attracted to public 

office. When I decided to run for public office, I 

was concerned about the poverty level in the land, 

Aand the inability of the federal, state and local 

governments to function at the level they ought to. In 

seeking public office, I looked at the national, state and 

local governments’ budgets. I tried to understand why 

Nigeria was not as developed as it ought to be. And 

what I saw was shocking and very alarming. Those of 

us in the private sector understand how we should run 

a company, and things we should do and the ones we 

shouldn’t do. 

At the federal budget, a couple of things shook me. For 

instance, one percent of the federal budget is spent on 

pilgrims for both Muslims and Christians; three percent 

is spent for the National Assembly for 469 people; 30 

percent is spent on 1.2 million civil servants; 88 percent 

is spent on recurrent expenditure while only 12 percent 

is spent on capital expenditure. 

State governments have no money. Most states in this 

country today, if they were to be companies, they would 

have closed shop. And no company will lend them 

money. The federal government inclusive. To say that 

we are broke is an understatement. A few things must 

happen to enable us grow the economy, and we must 

shrink the way we spend money in this country. 

The problem facing this country is not about the North 

versus the South, neither is it about Christianity versus 

Islam or APC versus PDP. Rather,the problem is ‘Right 

versus Wrong”. I was interviewed by a magazine 

recently, and they asked me about the problem of the 

North-east and South-south. I replied that the issue with 

the North-east is not about religion and that of the Southsouth 

is underdevelopment. It’s very simple, we are a 

small minority of people, the leadership of Nigeria, 

consuming all the resources of my people and leaving 

the rest of us in abject poverty. 

That will not work. We must learn to be humble, learn 

to preserve what we have and learn also to be kind for 

the rest of us to have what to eat, and our children to go 

to school; providing health care facilities for everyone; 

education for the children, job creation and infrastructure 

development for our people. You don’t understand why 

young men of today have access to an AK-47 to kill us 

because we do not provide for them. We pay no attention 

to the least of us. 

In our responses, we want to be living large; have more 

Osinbajo and Awo’s 

inherited burden 

by the British Secretary for the colonies, Chief 

Awolowo was the only delegate that stood up 

to insist that independence for Nigeria as a corporate 

entity was not enough. “People of Nigeria”, 

he had argued, “must as individual citizens 

enjoy liberty, prosperity and equality under 

the law and Nigeria constitution”. 

Probably as a result of the rivalry between 

Zik and Awo or out of envy for his unrivalled 

achievement in the West between 1952 and 1959, 

the Igbo ‘unitarists’ found a willing partner in 

the ‘confederal’ Hausa Fulani feudal lords desirous 

of protecting their fiefdom from contamination 

by Awo’s endless talk of freedom and 

liberty which partly precipitated the Tiv insurrection 

in early days of independence, to throw 

the advocate of freedom and justice into prison 

barely two years after independence. They labelled 

Awo a tribalist and coup plotter on the 

strength of an entry in his diary where he stated 

he had a dream that he became the Prime Minister 

of Nigeria. He was jailed for 10 years by 

political opponents who swore he would be too 

old if he ever survived his prison years to question 

how they govern Nigeria. Unfortunately, 

having removed one leg of the tripod, (AG in 

the West) the dispute over the 1963 census crisis 

between the east and the north which was settled 

in favour of the latter by the courts was all that 

was needed for the collapse of Nigeria’s edifice 

consuming in the process, most of those who 

had betrayed the spirit of the Nigerian constitution 

in 1962. 

The coming of the military in 1966 was a continuation 

of the bitter war between the Igbo 

and Hausa Fulani political elite. Both President 

Azikiwe and Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa had 

made overtures to the military over the dis- 

puted 1964 elections. A segment of the military 

that was sympathetic to Zik and NCNC used 

the 1966 coup as a cover to clear out those who 

opted to support Balewa in deference to the constitution. 

The July counter coup and reprisal 

mindless killing of Igbos by northern soldiers 

was an answer to the January selective killing 

of non-Igbo political and military leaders. An 

ill-equipped and ill-educated military and their 

selfish Igbo and Hausa Fulani politicians later 

plunged the nation into an avoidable 30 months 

civil war (1967-1970), replaced a workable structure 

with an unwieldy 36 states and 776 LGAs. 

Igbo and Hausa political elite are the beneficiaries 

of the current anarchy which allows the 

almighty powerful federal government to undermine 

the authority of weak states through 

local governments. This and other calamities 

that befell our nation in the last 50 years could 

have been averted if we had not rejected Awo’s 

‘Nigeria: Path to Freedom.” 

Now for the first time in our nation’s history, 

the mainstream Yoruba political tendency 

embraced by Awo and his supporters is 

partnering with the Hausa-Fulani north to provide 

an alternative developmental paradigm 

to that which the coalition of Igbo and Hausa 

Fulani political elite had adopted since independence 

in 1960 to pilot the affairs of the country 

which has only left a legacy of thousands of 

underprivileged illiterate Igbo youths who 

roam the streets of our urban centres hawking 

substandard imported goods and their northern 

counterparts who according to Alhaji 

Kashim Shettima, became ‘victims of mass 

hunger and anger, mass unemployment, bad 

infrastructure, mass illiteracy and ignorance and 

general hopelessness’. Today, Osibanjo has an 

advisers, buy bullet-proof cars and have more 

bodyguards. That will not work. We must come together 

and understand that we must all grow and develop 

together as a people. Anyone you leave behind, you have 

created a problem for the rest of us. It’s not enough to 

send your children to study in Switzerland, and buy 

your houses in Dubai, live a life of extreme wealth and 

you expect those you left behind to clap for you. 

They don’t do what I call the NTV generation. The past 

presidents could not shut down Fela Anikulapo Kuti, 

and you said they can shut down a hundred million 

people? You think, you are smart and your lifestyle is 

not being watched by those you govern? When you seek 

public office, you seek it to lead by example. 

You don’t seek public office to play lord over the people 

who voted you into office. The world has changed, and 

we must change too. It is not just talking about change, 

we must have real change. And for us to change, we 

must understand what drives our people. There is too 

much hunger in the land. 

So, let’s make a deal. Let’s say for instance , to reduce 

expenditure, only the President and the Vice President 

will fly First Class, while governors and ministers fly 

Business Class. When you travel abroad you don’t need 

to lodge in a $4000 hotel paid with the taxpayers money. 

I have never stayed in a hotel that is more than $300 in 

my life, not because I cannot afford it but when I think, at 

the end of the month, I must pay my workers, pay taxes, 

how do I justify staying in a $4000 hotel room? It doesn’t 

make any sense to me. 

I have never flown First Class in my life. As a young 

man I flew Business Class and I do so, on purpose. I 

have a choice but I choose to fly Business Class which is 

the right thing to do. You sit here and talk about 

nationalism and patriotism, and the lights are turned 

off, you spend over N1.5 million traveling to London. 

That amount of money will feed a whole family for a 

whole year. It makes no sense. The problem in Nigeria is 

the rich versus the poor. The crisis we have in this 

country is “a class warfare.” 


Challenges before the 8 th Senate 

By Ben Murray-Bruce 

unenviable burden of working closely with 

Muhammadu Buhari who incidentally had restructuring 

in his manifesto in 2011 and 2015 to 

take us out of the woods after 50 years of rejecting 

the boundless possibilities contained in 

Awo’s “Path to Nigeria’s freedom’. 

Osinbajo is starting where Awo stopped in 

1962. Yoruba want for others what they want 

for themselves. His mandate from the Yoruba 

is therefore very clear and unambiguous. It is 

not about sharing offices. The Yoruba was after 

all, the worse for Obasanjo’s presidency. The 

Yoruba lost nothing conceding PDP Speakership 

of the current Lower House to the northwest. 

The Yoruba want a restructured Nigeria with 

constituents power over law and order, education 

and public information; a restructured Nigeria 

where there is freedom and justice for all; 

a restructured Nigeria that protects the right of 

indigenes as enshrined in the UN charter; a restructured 

Nigeria where it will be impossible 

to climb the palm tree from the top by becoming 

a President without representing anyone or 

making billions from allocation of oil block 

just because you claim to be a Nigerian. 

It is restructuring that can end the orgy of 

killing of hundreds of helpless women and children 

at night in the Middle Belt region by unidentified 

‘Fulani herdsmen’. Categorizing all 

forms of fraudulent activities ranging from the 

peddling of fake drugs to hawking of smuggled 

substandard goods as ‘business’ can only be 

stopped by restructuring. It is also the answer 

to corruption as 

there 

will be less to steal in Abuja while the government 

of South-south states especially Bayelsa 

where most of the state past chief executives 

have been accused by EFCC of converting over 

70% of state allocations to personal use will be 

forced to face its own demon within a Southsouth 

zone or region or let off if the zone accepts 

President Jonathan’s thesis that ‘stealing 

government funds is not corruption’. Finally, it 

is the answer to Boko Haram who will be free 

to close down all schools and hospitals and revert 

to the cave age where services of doctors 

and engineers would not be needed. 

I am sure Prof Osinbajo and Buhari, the president-elect 

have no illusion that their mandate 

or their capacity to confront the social problems 

facing the country is the answer to the 

structural problems that have bedevilled Nigeria 

since 1962. Their mandate and ultimate success 

in tackling social issues only provide a historic 

opportunity to study development in other 

societies such as India, Canada, Russia and even 

Europe and develop the political will to put an 

to the man-made structural problems bedevilling 

our nation since 1962. 

In the next 35 years, if we do not control our 

consumption behavour, the emerging generation will rise 

against us. The world has changed but we have not 

changed. When we go abroad to look for aids, in Britain, 

the man we speak to, my counterparts in the British 

parliament go to work by train and taxi. 

Nigeria is too poor for our leaders to act like multibillionaires, 

and Nigeria is too rich for the people to be 

so poor. I don’t like what is happening in the power 

sector as well as the energy sector. I do not wish to buy 

petrol and I do not wish to go to any gas station ever 

again. I want to drive a car powered by the sun. I asked 

Kia Motors to bring electrically powered car into this 

country. The reason I asked them to bring in the electrical 

car is because we need to be free. 

In the Senate, I’m going to sponsor a bill that will help 

every poor home in this country so that they can survive. 

I need your support, if my colleagues say no, you say 

yes. I want you people to tell my colleagues to create a 

billion dollar fund to have solar power invented in every 

home in Nigeria, so that every child can watch television 

and listen to the radio. Every Nigerian has a choice as a 

Nigerian and as a politician. You are either a producer 

or you are a consumer. 

l0000•Bruce is Senator-elect representing Bayelsa East 

Senatorial District and Chairman of the Silverbird Group 

‘You don’t seek public office to play 

lord over the people who voted you 

into office. The world has changed, 

and we must change too. It is not just 

talking about change, we must have 

real change. And for us to change, 

we must understand what drives our 

people. There is too much hunger 

in the land’


COMMENTS 

ONESTLY, as a proud Ekiti man, I had 

watched with embarrassment what, 

for want of better expression, can be 

Hsummarized as hustling for photo-ops by Dr. 

Kayode Fayemi whenever and wherever General 

Muhammadu Buhari appeared since 

emerging President-elect on March 28. 

Whether receiving visitors or seeing them off, 

the immediate past Ekiti governor would always 

be seen sticking behind the General as 

if he were the ADC. 

I always thought this was a bit self-demeaning 

for a man who, until recently, was a 

governor and, what’s more, a custodian of a 

doctorate degree. Here was a man who spent 

the better part of his four-year tenure in Ekiti 

sloganeering that Ekiti, the acclaimed “fountain 

of knowledge”, is a land of “Uyi” 

(honour). But what could be more 

dishonourable than this open grovelling before 

the new man of power in full native regalia: 

over-starched clothes and Awo cap. 

Certainly, this conduct does not speak well 

of our great state, the land of great men like 

Aare Afe Babalola, Prince Julius Adelusi- 

Adeluyi, Prof Niyi Osundare, Prof Akin 

Oyebode, and Femi Falana, SAN. 

I am sure General Buhari himself would 

be embarrassed by the fawning, the kind exhibited 

by Area Boys (Almajiris) at the sight 

of a VIP at a public gathering in anticipation 

of some form of “stomach infrastructure” (edible 

or monetary gift). While it is true that it 

is season of scrambling for the spoils of the 

electoral victory of March 28, but Fayemi honestly 

didn’t have to do this to be noticed by 

GMB as nothing can change whatever appointment 

God has destined him to get in the 

new dispensation. 

I thought I was alone in this observation 

until I read a brilliant article widely published 

in the Nigerian media and online written by 

one Hakeem Adisa where the writer made 

some startling revelations which appear to 

confirm that there is more to Dr. Fayemi’s 

theatrics lately in Abuja. Adisa’s piece was 

entitled, “What does Kayode Fayemi want?” 

Predictably, the former governor’s media 

bodyguard named Olayinka Oyebode rose 

stoutly to the occasion by defending his principal 

in a rejoinder published in Daily Sun of 

May 12 as a man of sterling academic credentials 

who, according to him, left indelible footprints 

in Ekiti. More illuminations were 

WITH a few days to May 29 handover 

date, two major talking points have 

gained prominence and remained in 

the front burner of public discourse as Nigeria 

marches to a new start at the presidency. 

Surreptitiously though, there is a third. 

One, the possible composition of General 

Muhammadu Buhari’s new cabinet. and, who 

is qualified in character, experience, exposure 

and acceptability, to lead the Senate, as well 

as the Lower House, and other leaders of the 

National Assembly. 

Understandably, these deserve the scrutiny 

and attention they are getting seeing that any 

mistake by whatever means and proportion, 

would spell doom and largely put a clog on 

the wheel of the incoming administration. 

Equally, such mistakes will equally hamper 

the delivery of the much elusive dividends 

of democracy and put the nation at grave risk 

having walked this far in search of peoplecentred 

leadership. 

This is why it has become expedient that 

one gives the President-elect, General Buhari, 

a helping hand, and make him aware of some 

dangerous political bumps likely to pose a 

threat to his government; if for nothing, to 

assist him steady himself in this crucial time 

when decisions that will make or mar his 

administration are taken. 

The covert talking point among most discerning 

Nigerians is the possibility of our 

man of the moment, GMB to rebound. Those 

who expressed this concern are probably 

phobic of the military background of the incoming 

president, forgetting that for the General 

to submit himself to the democratic process 

of selection of candidates of his party 

depicted readiness to abide by democratic 

norms. Though only time and happenstance 

will vindicate him, it is critical that GMB be 

cautitious and govern by the law of the land. 

While everyone who contributed to the 

success of the All Progressives Congress party 

(APC) at the election deserves a pat on the 

back, a moment comes and that moment is 

here, when national interest is allowed to 

stand taller than parochial or party interest 

anyone might have as the nation considers 

who will lead it at all the strategic positions 

in the new administration. 

There is no doubt that this season calls for 

Fayemi and ghost of Judas 

By Segun Adedeji 

brought to the debate by yet another article 

written by The Nation’s engaging columnist, 

Segun Ayobolu, in a back-page article on Saturday 

May 16, with the provocative title, 

“Ekiti: Who is to blame?” 

In his own submission, Oyebode would 

have us believe that Adisa’s article is a hatchet 

job sponsored by those uncomfortable with 

Fayemi’s rising profile. Hear him: “Needless 

to say that Fayemi’s achievements in the four 

years he served as governor of Ekiti State are 

well documented in the hearts of the people 

and have become a standard through which 

the incumbent administration and future administrations 

would be measured.” 

Really? I thought that was very, very cheap. 

That is the hallmark of intellectual featherweights 

who will not address issues raised 

but quickly resort to name-calling to divert 

attention. When Oyebode boasted that 

Fayemi’s legacy in Ekiti is imperishable, one 

is left wondering if he was referring to the 

N60m-worth “water bed” his principal procured 

for the new N3.5b Government House 

which he rushed to build towards the end of 

his first term in the delusion that he would 

get a second term to luxuriate in. What a classic 

case of misplaced priority in a largely 

agrarian state where poverty stares you on 

the street. Thank God, Ekiti people denied him 

that carnal desire by voting him out in the 

governorship polls last year. Let Fayemi be 

content with sleeping in the “water bed” in 

his personal house in Isan. 

Again, it is also intellectually fraudulent 

for Oyebode to suggest that Fayemi’s trouncing 

by “Oshoko” (Governor Ayo Fayose) was 

a fluke or something aided by the use of the 

military by PDP last year in the June 2014 

governorship election. If that was the real reason, 

how come Fayemi also could not deliver 

Ekiti for APC in the March 28 and April 11 

elections? The truth of the matter is that he is 

a political disaster with no electoral value 

whatsoever. 

I had expected Oyebode to knock off the 

By Victor Peter 

a deeper reflection before deciding who becomes 

which minister or not. While GMB 

seems transparently concerned about the future 

and progress of Nigeria, it is not impossible 

that certain personalities who see the 

emergence of the APC as an opportunity to 

either accumulate more wealth or seek to 

control Nigeria, might work at cross lines. 

These are speedbrakers Buhari must be weary 

of. 

In all democracies, beyond the passion to 

serve fatherland, the equitable distribution 

of political offices plays critical role in determining 

the speed, shape and manner of 

progress by any administration. However, 

this must not be above competence, dignity 

and resourcefulness. It is on this backdrop 

that care must be taken by the new APC government 

and President-elect to ensure no individual 

or group lords it on the party and 

nation as intense lobbying continues over 

political offices and appointments at the presidency 

and the National Assembly leadership. 

As a highly principled and incorruptible 

man, character traits that endeared him to 

Nigerians, it is important that General Buhari 

watches out for booby traps that some greedy 

and selfish politicians might put on his path 

to undermine him. Not just that, it is also 

important to avoid walking the same path 

that burnt President Jonathan’s fingers and 

gave PDP the bloody nose it deserved. Today, 

everyone can see that those who misled 

President Jonathan are, without qualms, already 

jumping ship and directly and indirectly 

fraternizing with the incoming government, 

abandoning the man they once 

praised to high heavens. This is a big lesson 

for the President-elect. 

And, one quick lesson to take away here is 

that if he bends too low to feather the interest 

of any politician at the expense of national 

interest, such a politician like those who advised 

President Jonathan, will not be there 

when Nigerians begin to throw stones at his 

bottom of the charge of treacherous hypocrisy 

against his boss by categorically denying 

the talk-of-the-town today that Fayemi 

actually worked against the emergence of 

Chief Odigie-Oyegun as APC national chair 

at the Abuja convention last year. Just as I 

expected him to also deny the strong rumour 

that the bulk of Ekiti delegates loyal to 

Fayemi voted for another candidate (from the 

North-east) in the presidential primaries of 

last November in the laughable expectation 

that he would be made the running-mate. I, 

therefore, consider Oyebode’s recourse to 

sophistry instead of answering these weighty 

allegations directly as most ungodly and totally 

bereft of Fayemi’s much-trumpeted 

“Uyi” (honour). You don’t work clandestinely 

against a man yesterday and today pretend 

to be his fiercest advocate. That exactly is what 

Judas did to Jesus Christ in the biblical times. 

So, GMB should beware. 

Another point I consider distasteful in 

Oyebode’s article is his attempt to present his 

principal in shoes that were clearly bigger 

than him. While not denying Fayemi was 

engaged with the African Leadership Forum 

owned by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, this 

amateur media spin-doctor spoilt matters by 

saying the relationship flowed from a partnership 

between his boss and the then sitting 

president. With regards to the Oputa Panel, 

Fayemi was falsely presented as the “technical 

consultant” to the commission. This is 

quite belittling of far more accomplished intellectuals 

and moral titans like now late Justice 

Chukwudifu Oputa and Bishop Mathew 

Hassan Kukah (MHK) who most Nigerians 

saw as the heart and soul of the commission. 

I guess Oyebode had to inflate the profile of 

his boss to make him look like a big player 

even before becoming governor. Haba! Could 

this also be part of “Uyi” his boss spent all his 

tenure romanticizing? 

It is for this reason I totally align myself 

with the submission of Segun Ayobolu that 

Fayemi’s political incompetence and lust for 

luxurious lifestyle in office ought to be isolated 

from the deeply progressive philosophy 

APC professes. 

Bumps GMB must avoid 

government when it falters. Invariably, such 

a politician will not stop the PVCs when they 

make a return to the polling booths after four 

years. 

There is no doubt that critical to establishing 

himself as a leader who means well, the 

President-elect must fight some urgent 

battles, especially the battle against graft. 

Good as this is, given that corruption has been 

the bane of Nigeria’s development, care must 

also be taken to ensure that it is not turned 

into a political witch-hunt. Records are well 

too clear on how the President Jonathan’s 

anti-graft battles and those of previous governments 

ended and the costs to Nigerians. It 

is also well, too clear, the costs, politically, to 

those who oiled the battle wheels rather deceptively. 

President Jonathan, for instance, where he 

ever showed the will to fight graft, was deceived 

into fixing his guess on the wrong 

people, while those who walked his corridors 

and dined with him, daily, had their 10 

fingers on the national till. It cost him reelection. 

Therefore, when the President-elect 

is sworn in on May 29, he must avoid these 

pitfalls like a plague. There should not be 

any form of persecution of perceived political 

opponents or supposedly corrupt, except 

those already indicted. 

One recalls how strangely, President 

Jonathan ran unjustifiably after perceived 

political adversaries with the EFCC, while 

in a typical case of double standards, his government 

openly fraternized with those who 

were arraigned, tried and convicted of financial 

crimes! 

In Jonathan’s government, we had the allegation 

of missing $20 billion from the Nigeria 

National Petroleum Corporation 

(NNPC) account by former governor of Central 

Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido 

Sanusi ignored, while the banking czar was 

forced on compulsory leave for blowing the 

alarm. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the political 

strategist was also invited, four years 

after leaving office, by the EFCC on phantom 

charges, but only because he remained 

21 

As far as proud Ekiti sons like me are concerned, 

the Ekiti vote of June 21, March 28 and 

April 11 was not necessarily an endorsement 

of the “Jankara” politics of Fayose or thumbup 

for the so-called “stomach infrastructure”. 

Rather, it was an emphatic denunciation of 

Fayemi’s politics of “N60m water bed”, elitism, 

treachery, betrayal, empty arrogance and 

over-ambition. If APC would recover the lost 

“fountain of knowledge”, it is high time its 

leadership learnt to relegate characters like 

Fayemi to the back seat and shop for new faces 

to play up. That is the bitter truth. 

Talking about betrayal, I think Hakeem 

Adisa was too charitable by only saying 

Fayemi betrayed Asiwaju Bola Ahmed 

Tinubu who brought him from nowhere, 

empowered him and smoothed his way to 

Ekiti Government House in 2014. We were 

told of how a “powerful commissioner in 

Lagos” mobilized the seed money with which 

Fayemi began his journey to power in 2005. 

We have been told how he double-crossed 

Fayose who had joined forces with him to 

rout PDP in the titanic battle of Ido-Osi in 

2009 under the gentleman’s agreement that 

“Oshoko” would be given the senatorial ticket 

in 2011. But, as the story goes, once a wily 

Fayemi was ensconced in Ekiti Government 

House, he stopped picking phone calls from 

Fayose. 

What had not been fully told is the story of 

how Honorable Opeyemi Bamidele was similarly 

stabbed in the back by the relatively 

younger Fayemi. His sophistry notwithstanding, 

Oyebode could not deny that it was Hon 

Bamidele who introduced his principal to 

Asiwaju in 2005. Then, the incumbent Reps 

member was a commissioner in Lagos. With 

his fake smile and contrived diffident airs, 

Fayemi not only got all he wanted from the 

Jagaban but also had Bamidele at his corner 

throughout the dirty battle to oust PDP from 

Ekiti between 2006 and 2010. But once Fayemi 

became governor, one of the earliest decisions 

he took was to remove Bamidele’s father 

as unit leader of ACN! So much for the 

treachery and perfidy of a “technocratic politician”. 

I only hope Buhari or anyone who truly 

loves him and APC would read this article 

and learn one or two lessons. 

•Architect Adedeji wrote from Ikole-Ekiti. 

an unapologetic democrat with an aversion 

to the impunities perpetrated by the outgoing 


In his case, Jonathan unleashed the EFCC 

on Senator Bukola Saraki of Kwara State, two 

years after he left office. Curiously, even 

when the same Saraki had got a clean bill 

from the Economic and Financial Crimes 

Commission (EFCC) in 2006, Jonathan’s 

government made him their prime target 

after the former governor activated the 

alarm over the fuel subsidy scam. Today, 

the same alarm has yet to stop sounding over 

the fuel subsidy scam! 

While these cases and many more present 

a picture of a government that was irredeemably 

on auto self-destruct, perhaps, the case 

of Chief James Onanefe Ibori, a former governor 

of Delta State, typifies another wrong 

move in the name of anti-graft battle by 

President Jonathan. When Ibori still enjoyed 

a rosy relationship with President Jonathan, 

he was treated as a saint to a point that his 

case files were missing in government 

records! But when their paths crossed, President 

Jonathan pretended that he did not 

know what to do to save him, but backed 

people like Chief DSP Alamieseghia and 

Chief Bode George. Ibori, today, is still serving 

a jail term in the United Kingdom after 

a ridiculous and curious trial process in Nigeria. 

Having overcome a government defined 

by years of needless manipulation and witchhunt, 

there is no better way to start afresh 

than building structures that engender respect 

for due diligence and due process, devoid 

of any form of the impunity that eventually 

destroyed the PDP. 

This is why the President-elect and by 

extension, those who mean well for Nigeria, 

must do well by ensuring that the selection 

of ministers, advisers, National Assembly 

leaders enjoy popular participation 

rather than manipulation and 

parochial primordial sentiments. 

• Victor, a public commentator, writes in from 

Lagos


25 

THE NATION 

EDUCATION 

THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 

The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council 

(NERDC) has curriculums for primary and secondary schools. But 

not all schools are using these curriculums, report KOFOWOROLA 

BELO-OSAGIE, ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA, OLUWATOYIN 

ADELEYE, and JANE CHIJIOKE. 

• Pupils learning in a private school. 

• 

Much ado about 

schools’ curriculums 

•Prof Osarenren 

•Mrs Atilola 

THE jury is still out on the 

matter. Even though, there 

are curriculums for 

primary and secondary 

schools developed by the 

Nigerian Educational Research and 

Development Council (NERDC). 

Private schools do not see anything 

good in them. Is that right? To 

stakeholders, this is an issue that must 

be thrashed out to save education. 

While all public primary and 

secondary schools (including Federal 

Government Colleges, and militaryrun 

schools) and many private 

schools implement these 

curriculums, other private schools, 

particularly those that serve the elite, 

run foreign curriculums to appeal to 

their market segment. It has become 

fashionable for private schools to 

‘Spirit of Lagos’ contest 

saves 

school’s 

furniture 

-Page 28 

mix the Nigerian curriculums with 

whatever foreign curriculums they 

find attractive. 

Many experts see this as a shaddy 

committment and are seeking a law 

to make the Nigerian curriculum 

compulsory. 

The Nigerian curriculums 

One of the services provided by 

NERDC is curriculum development. 

INSIDE 

Ex-RSUST 

student 

stranded in 

Ugandan 

varsity 

-Page 37 

Established in 1998, NERDC designs 

curriculums for all levels of 

education. It draws from the 

National Policy on Education (NPE) 

of 1977 (last reviewed in 2004), which 

stipulates that Nigerians must be 

educated for self reliance, individual 

and national development. 

With the passing of the Universal 

Basic Education (UBE) Law in 2004, 

NERDC developed the Basic 

IT was to enjoy a stable 

academic calendar that 

Mouhammed Ahmed 

Zein transferred his 

studentship from Rivers 

State University of 

Science and Technology 

(RSUST), Port Harcourt, 

to Kampala 

International 

University, Uganda. 

Education Curriculum (BEC) in 2008 

in tandem with the UBE goals, which 

seek to provide a minimum of nine 

years of quality education (primary 

and junior secondary) for all schoolage 

children. 

Dr Moses Salau, Head, NERDC 

Southwest Zone, said at a workshop 

in Lagos last Monday that the 

expectation for any child that passes 

through the BEC is to have acquired 

‘ 

My school is an international school and those are the international 

programmes we run. We do not write the Senior School Certificate 

Examination (SSCE), but if our students are interested in that, they 

can register for that on their own outside the school 

CAMPUS 

LIFE 

Long way to 

a dream 

-Page 29 

appropriate levels of literacy, 

numeracy, manipulative, 

communication and life skills, as well 

as ethical, moral and civic values 

needed for laying a solid foundation 

for life-long learning. 

The BEC, which was revised and 

deployed in schools from the start of 

the 2014/2015 academic calendar last 

September, reduced subjects taken at 

primary and junior secondary level 

to a maximum of 10 (from 17). 

Primary i.e 1-3 pupils take English, 

Mathematics, Basic Science and 

Technology, Nigerian Language, 

Religious and National Values 

(RNV), Cultural and Creative Arts 

(CCA) and Pre-Vocational Studies 

(PVS)as core subjects, and Arabic 

’ •A 10-page section 

on campus news, people etc 

•Continued on page 26


EDUCATION 

Edo lawmakers adopt 

five-year term for AAU VC 

Much ado about schools’ curriculums 

•Continued from page 25 

Language as elective. From Primary 

Four, they begin to study French. 

RNV encompasses subjects, such as, 

Christian Religious Studies (CRS), 

Islamic Religious Studies(IRS), Social 

Studies, Civic Education and Security 

Education as themes. PVS is an 

umbrella subject for Home 

Economics, Agriculture and 

Entrepreneurship; Basic Science and 

Technology (BST) covers Basic 

Science, Basic Technology, Physical 

Health Education (PHE) and 

Information Technology (IT). 

Salau said globally-relevant issues 

such as security, disaster and risk 

reduction, climate change, and peace 

and conflict resolution have been 

infused into the new curriculum to 

ensure that the present-day learners 

are educated in line with current 

realities. 

The NERDC followed up the BEC 

curriculum with the launch of the 

Senior Secondary School (SSS) 

curriculum which was first deployed 

in schools in 2011. 

Under the curriculum, SS1-3 pupils 

take English Language, General 

mathematics, one Trade/ 

Entrepreneurship subject, and Civic 

Education as core subjects. The 

electives are selected from four fields 

of study namely: Science and 

mathematics, Technology, 

Humanities, and Business Studies. 

Regarding the Trade/ 

Entrepreneurship subject, pupils are 

expected to choose from 36 subjects 

such as: Auto Body Repair and Spray 

Painting, Auto Mechanical Work, 

Welding and Fabrication 

Engineering Craft Practice, Painting 

and Decorating, Plumbing and 

Pipefitting, Carpentry and Joinery, 

Catering Craft Practice, 

Cosmetology, and Photography, 

among others. 

However, despite these laudable 

changes, there are two main issues 

that affect the new curriculums - 

acceptability and problems of 

implementation. 

Why schools use foreign 

curriculums 

While the issue of implementation 

can be addressed with increased 

awareness, development of 

instructional materials and 

textbooks to cover all thematic areas 

of the curriculum, and training of 

teachers to handle the new subject 

areas, the issue of acceptability is 

more difficult. 

Many school owners and 

administrators feel that using the 

Nigerian curriculum alone is 

inadequate preparation for pupils 

that may seek to school outside 

Nigeria later in life. 

The Lagos State government has 

made it compulsory for all schools 

to follow the Nigerian curriculum. 

However, Director of Curriculum 

From Osemwengie Ben 

Ogbemudia, Benin 

ABILL to amend the Law establishing 

Ambrose Alli 

University (AAU), 

Ekpoma on the tenure of the Vice- 

Chancellor has passed second 

reading on the floor of the Edo 

State House of Assembly. 

Leading debate to amend the 

bill, the Majority Leader, Philip 

Shaibu, said the principal Law 

provided for a two term of four 

years. 

Shaibu said the amendment 

seeks to correct the principal Law 

by stipulating a five-year single 

tenure for the Vice-Chancellor of 

the Institution. 

“Mr. Speaker, the school is currently 

operating a five year single 

term against the two terms of four 

years provided for by the Law. 

This amendment seeks to give a 

definite number of years as the 

tenure of the Vice Chancellor,” 

Shaibu said. 

Other Lawmakers supported 

the amendment, adding that, the 

amendment would correct the 

tension that arises in the contest 

for the position. 

The House therefore suspended 

Rules 20. 21, 42 and 48 

to begin debate for the amendment 

of the bill. 

Services, Mrs Joy Ojei, said at a 

workshop when the question came 

up, that some schools that prepare 

their pupils for foreign examinations 

are given concession, but with the 

provision that they must use the 

Nigerian curriculum. 

However, implementation of this 

policy is yet to be seen because some 

schools insist on following the 

curriculum that suits their students. 

Mr Abraham Ogunkanmbi, 

Montessori Director/pre-school 

principal, Greensprings Schools, 

Lekki campus, said the pre-school 

section of the school runs the 

Montessori curriculum; the primary 

school runs the British National 

Curriculum, while the secondary 

school works with the Cambridge 

International General Certificate of 

Secondary Education. It also runs the 

International Baccalaureate 

curriculum after secondary school. 

He believes that schools should be 

free to run whatever curriculum they 

like. 

He said: "My school is an 

international school and those are the 

international programmes we run. 

We do not write the Senior School 

Certificate Examination (SSCE), but 

if our students are interested in that, 

they can register for that on their own 

outside the school. The individual 

school should determine the kind of 

curriculum they would like to run, 

based on their discretion, because 

you cannot tell me what you want 

me to run in my school, being an 

international school. But we do a lot 

of cultural events and quite a lot of 

things that have to do with Nigeria 

are explored in my school." 

For many other schools, mixing the 

local and foreign curriculum is the 

best way to make children more 

rounded for the international 

market. 

Ifunanya Ezenba, supervisor of 

Chrisland Schools, Victoria Garden 

City, Lagos, said her school runs both 

Nigerian and British curricula to 

prepare them for foreign education. 

"We are raising international 

children who have the tendency to 

travel out of the country. So this 

would broaden their scope; and with 

the British curriculum, those who 

spend their holidays abroad can go 

for summer lessons and the methods 

of teaching would not be too strange 

to them. Limiting them to only 

Nigerian curriculum would not do 

them any good. The most important 

thing is to have a child-centered 

education that can prepare them for 

the outside world, not just to pass 

•ICAN President, Mr Chidi Ajaegbu (right), shaking hands with Balogun Bisi Omidiora, a past president, while 

another past president, High Chief Olusola Oguntimehin, Lisa of Ondo Kingdom looks on at the inauguration of 

the ICAN lecture theatre donated to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. 

exam. So that anywhere they find 

themselves in the world, they would 

have the confidence to compete 

favourably with any child,” she said. 

Proprietress of Diamonds Mine 

School, Ogba, Lagos, Mrs Romoke 

Aderibigbe, shares a similar view, 

but added that her school uses the 

British curriculum to support the 

Nigerian version, which is important 

because of the cultural values. 

"It is very important that all 

Nigerian schools embrace a uniform 

curriculum, and naturally, that 

would be the Nigerian curriculum. 

The British, American and other 

curricula are good also, but just as a 

supportive means of exposing the 

children to practical methods of 

education being used by their mates 

in other parts of the world, so that if 

they travel for further studies abroad, 

the methods would not appear too 

strange to them. But the emphasis 

remains on the fact that we are on 

Nigerian soil, Nigerian curriculum 

is the best for us," she said. 

Plans are underway for Hallmark 

Secondary School, Ondo, Ondo State, 

to begin offering the British 

curriculum. 

Its Head of Academics, Pastor 

Abimbola Teibo said it has become 

necessary to flow with the current 

trend - though he admitted that 

Nigerians excel abroad even after 

being trained up to secondary level 

with the local curriculum. 

"We run the Nigerian curriculum 

presently, but plans are underway to 

delve into the Cambridge IGCSE 

from next year. We also prepare our 

students for SAT, TOEFL. Though we 

are Nigerians, but some of our 

students also travel abroad for 

further studies and they cope very 

well, despite the fact that we have 

been using the Nigerian curriculum. 

However, I think the hybrid is better 

for now, because there are lots of 

opportunities available for our 

students to study abroad. With an 

exposure to these international 

curricula, they would have an added 

advantage to win scholarships to 

study abroad," he said. 

Criticisms of Nigerian 

curriculums 

A Principal in a public school in 

Agboju area of Lagos State (names 

withheld), said given the 

opportunity, he would like the 

Nigerian curriculum to 

accommodate components of both 

British and American curriculums for 

improved functionality. 

"Our curriculum here is too 

theoretical and regimented; and this 

is why we have too much scramble 

for university education. Students 

are only interested in certificates but 

not what they can do with their 

hands. Our curriculum needs to move 

from a class-based to field-based 

teaching which will widen students 

horizon and further expose them to 

technology," he said. 

Dr Lanre Aiyejuye of Sports 

Education, Adeniran Ogunsanya 

College of Education, AOCOED, 

Ijaniki, suggested the redesigning of 

the Nigerian curriculum in a way 

that links it with others. 

Principal of an international school 

in Egbeda area of Lagos who also 

pleaded anonymity said the school 

operates both Nigerian and British 

curriculums because Nigerian 

curriculum encourages cramming. 

"Here, we prefer the British 

curriculum because it encourages the 

understanding of concepts than the 

Nigerian version which is mostly 

based on cramming," he said. 

He said the British curriculum is 

favoured by the parents and the 

school because it is elitist and 

synonymous with the 'international' 

learning which the school claims. 

"If you claim your school is 

international in nature and there is 

no element of any international 

curriculum, how then can you justify 

such claim?" he wondered. 

Experts disagree 

Contrary to the thoughts of 

educationists, researchers disagree 

with the practice of mixing the 

curriculum in the name of 

internationalisation. 

Many base their argument on the 

need for learners to be able to 

function within the Nigerian society, 

which they believe is impossible to 

achieve with a foreign curriculum. 

Dr Salau describes it as a disservice 

to the learners, who would become 

misfit in the Nigerian society. 

"We are in Nigeria. Are you 

training those students for export or 

development of Nigeria? When you 

start training them with foreign 

curriculum, they would not be able 

to fit into the Nigerian society and 

would become misfits in the long 

run. 

"National curriculum is developed 

taking into consideration the overall 

development of a child, and taking 

into cognizance international best 

practices," he said. 

Associate professor of Curriculum, 

University of Lagos, Dr Rosita Igwe, 

‘We are in Nigeria. Are you training those students for export 

or development of Nigeria? When you start training them 

with foreign curriculum, they would not be able to fit into the 

Nigerian society and would become misfits in the long run’ 

‘ 

also faults the practice. She said 

curriculum is of a necessity 

developed around a culture, which 

the learners must imbibe. 

She said: "That is part of the 

problem Nigeria is having. We do 

not have confidence; we are just 

semi-literates. We do not know what 

education is all about. They think 

education is all about doing English. 

Education builds confidence in you, 

makes you self reliant, you 

appreciate your culture and your 

person and not you want to be like 

an American. How can you be that 

when you are in Nigeria, how are 

you going to function? Remember 

you talk about functionality in the 

curriculum and you cannot function 

outside somebody's culture. 

American culture, British culture 

design their curriculum why can't 

Nigeria culture design our 

curriculum?" 

Dr Igwe also urged government to 

end the practice, which she said was 

impossible in other countries. 

"Government should legislate 

against that. Do they run Nigerian 

curriculum in America or in Britain 

or even in Ghana that is close to us? 

Let us sit up and do it right," she said. 

Lending her voice to the argument, 

Lead consultant of Covenant 

Educational Consultancy, Mrs Foluso 

Atilola, said every Nigerian school 

should run the Nigerian curriculum, 

whether they are affiliated with any 

other country or not. 

"They are in our land, so no matter 

what, we must teach them our own 

value systems, even if it is a British 

school. Otherwise, they may never 

be able to adapt to the Nigerian 

system of education and career path," 

she said. 

Prof Ngozi Osarenren, head of 

Educational Foundation department, 

UNILAG, said at a summit, convened 

by Covenant Educational 

Consultancy during the Nigerian 

International Book Fair (NIBF) last 

week, that mixing curricula could 

lead to confusion for the learners. 

"Curb confusion in schools 

curriculums. Some schools have 

adopted the British curriculum, 

others the American curriculum. 

Some even claim theirs is a hybrid 

curriculum. Then we have the 

Nigerian curriculum. Which society 

are you preparing the children for? 

When you run a British curriculum 

in the Nigerian society, what is your 

assurance that every child that 

attends your school will go for higher 

education in Britain?" 

Mr Mark Okoh, whose school, Caro 

Favoured Schools, Apapa, Lagos, 

runs only the Nigerian curriculum 

with successes, said educationists 

should be proud to be associated 

with the Nigerian curriculum. 

"When you run a foreign 

curriculum in your school, you are 

telling the children and the society 

that the Nigerian mode of education 

is inferior to that of the outside world 

and you are not promoting our own 

value system. So here we run the 

Nigerian curriculum because we are 

Nigerians," she said.


EDUCATION 

•The pupils writing poems. 

THE World Poetry Day took 

on a special meaning for pupils 

of Bwari Government 

Day Secondary School, Abuja, last 

Thursday as they spent the day reviewing 

and writing poems. 

The programme, organised by 

members of the Julius Berger Corporate 

Social Responsibility (CSR) 

team as part of the company's Literacy 

Campaign, was facilitated by 

renowned Nigerian poet, Dike 

Chukwumerije. 

Chukwumerije, an author of 

eight books and the winner of several 

Performance Poetry Competitions 

in Nigeria, made the pupils 

to read works of several Nigerian 

Scandinavian countries okay 

Yoruba language in schools 

THE countries that make up the 

Scandinavian have approved 

the teaching of Yoruba language 

in their schools. 

The Scandinavia, made up of Norway, 

Sweden, Denmark, Finland and 

Iceland, gave the approval late in 2014. 

This revelation was made on Saturday 

by the Sweden Coordinator 

of the Oodua Progressive Union, Victor 

Mobolaji Adewale, during the 

Europe meeting of the Union held in 

Istanbul, Turkey. 

Adewale, who also emerged as the 

Deputy Coordinator of the body in 

Europe, said the approval followed 

the well attended launch of the Union 

in Sweden on November 29, 2014. 

He said it was attended by government 

officials from the Scandinavian 

countries who thereafter okayed the 

teaching of Yoruba language in their 

schools. 

He said the Union also has the OPU 

radio functioning in the Scandinavian 

countries, using it as a medium of 

popularising the Yoruba language 

and reaching out to people of like 

minds. 

"We are happy to report that the 

Yoruba language has got the approval 

of the authorities for it to be 

taught in schools in the Scandinavian 

countries. It is a major breakthrough 

for us in popularising our mother 

tongue," he said. 

The Convener of the OPU and National 

Coordinator of the Oodua 

People's Congress, Otunba Gani 

Adams, who expressed happiness at 

the development, said one of the reasons 

for the summit was capacity 

building. 

He advised the Europe chapters of 

the OPU to be aggressive in expanding 

their coasts by building more 

chapters - and should aim towards 

covering 25 countries out of the 28 in 

Europe. Adams added that OPU was 

now present in 56 countries and 

urged the group to collaborate with 

the Nigerian embassies in the various 

countries. 

"Protecting the image of Nigeria is 

important. Liaise with the embassies, 

the Missions of Nigeria in all the 

countries where you are based. They 

are the representatives of Nigeria 

out here," he said. 

The Publisher of Freedom Online, 

Julius Berger 

teaches 

pupils to write 

poets, and learn to write their own 

poems using poetic literary devices. 

The workshop was the firm's 

way of teaching the pupils new literacy 

skills, public speaking and 

self-confidence. 

The CSR team also donated 600 

books of mixed genre to the 

school's library. •Mrs Salu-Hundeyin 

By Segun Adebowale 

Gabriel Akinadewo, delivered a lecture 

on: "Leadership and the Nigerian 

challenge." 

Akinadewo admonished members 

of the OPU to develop leadership 

capacity in order to run a truly strong 

organisation. 

Among those who attended the 

meeting was the paramount ruler of 

Arigidi Akoko in Ondo State, Oba 

Yisa Olanipekun. 

One of the major highlights of the 

meeting was the emergence of the 

executive members of the Europe 

chapter. The Coordinator of the 

chapter is Akogun Banjo Ojo. 

Culled from theeagleonline.com.ng 

WITH pomp and excitement, 

Ridos House Montessori 

School, held her maiden 

Inter House Sports competition 

penultimate Friday at the Lagos State 

University Museum Centre, Agege, 

Lagos. 

The competition was keenly contested 

by the four houses of the 

school, named Emerald (Green), Topaz 

(Yellow), Coral (Red) and Sapphire 

(Blue). 

THE next eighty-three days will 

be busy for field workers of 

the National Population 

Commission (NPC) as they move 

around over 30,000 households, pan- 

Nigeria, to conduct the National 

Education Data Survey (NEDS). 

The survey is a follow up to the 

Nigeria Demographic and Health 

Survey (NDHS) carried out in 2013, 

which involved women aged 15-59, 

and men aged 15-69. 

NPC Federal Commissioner for 

Lagos State, Mrs Abimbola Salu- 

Hundeyin, said at a briefing held at 

the commission's conference room 

in Lagos on Tuesday that the survey, 

which took off on May 4, would 

examine the educational status of 

children aged four to 16 in those 

households visited in 2013. 

Reading a speech on behalf of the 

NPC Chairman, Chief Eze 

Duruiheoma, Mrs Salu-Hundeyin, 

Akwa Ibom indigene shines 

at Imperial College 

•Gets Ph.D scholarship 

THE Imperial College London 

has awarded a Ph.D scholarship 

programme to an Akwa 

Ibom indigene, Miss Christiana 

Udoh, who emerged the best graduating 

student in her M.Sc programme 

in advanced Chemical Engineering. 

Miss Christiana is the daughter of 

Dr. Esio Udoh, the erstwhile House 

of Representatives member, who represented 

Oron Federal Constituency 

in the National Assembly. 

Udoh, who attended her convocation, 

told journalists that Christian 

had also graduated as the best Chemical 

Engineering student at the 

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science 

and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana 

in 2012 setting the record of the best 

NPC to interview 30,000 

for education survey 

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie and 

Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti 

said the commission hopes to record 

the education data of 45,000 during 

the survey. 

"The survey expects to interview a 

total of at least 30,000 parents/guardians 

aged 4-16. The interview will 

focus on reasons for not attending 

school and for dropping out of school, 

frequency of absenteeism, and reasons 

for missing school, cost of 

schooling, and other issues," she said. 

She said 850 households in Lagos 

would be visited and urged the respondents 

to cooperate with the 

NPC field workers. 

Highlighting the benefits of the 

survey, Mrs Salu-Hundeyin said it 

would provide political leaders with 

veritable data to plan and address 

problems in the education sector. 

"This survey will help us to know 

the educational status - whether truly 

we are improving educationally. It 

is going to increase awareness. It is 

going to help the government. Don't 

Ridos school holds 1st Sports contest 

However, it was Topaz House that 

carried the day with 12 gold, four silver 

and five bronze medals. Emerald 

followed in second position with 

nine gold, 13 silver and six bronze; 

while Coral House emerged third 

position with six Gold, 11 Silver and 

seven bronze medals. 

Sports events contested included: 

15m, 50m, 75m, 100m 200m, and relay 

races, picking the balls, invited 

school race, filling the bottle, and sack 

races; as well as parents and staff races. 

In her welcome address, Managing 

Director, Ridos House Montessori 

School, Mrs. Toritseju Akharume, 

encouraged the pupils to engage in 

sporting activities to complement 

their academic endeavours to achieve 

holistic development. 

"Academic learning and sports education 

complement each other. Physi- 

27 

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo 

result by a female student since the 

university was established in 1959. 

The lawmaker thanked the Niger 

Delta Development Commission 

(NDDC) for giving her a partial scholarship 

for the Master's programme. 

He urged the commission to give 

full scholarship to gifted scholars 

from the Niger Delta region studying 

anywhere in the world. 

"She is like her other siblings. In 

2006 she picked 15 out of 21 prizes 

given out at the graduation in Air 

Force Secondary, Uyo, Akwa Ibom 

State. Same year, she led Akwa Ibom 

State team for the NNPC Science quiz 

contest in Abuja and the state took 

first position out of 27 states that 

participated," he said. 

forget that population commission 

is the best authority on demographic 

data. So this data will help the government 

of Lagos State in particular 

and Nigeria as a whole to plan 

in the area of education," she said in 

an interview. 

At a similar briefing in Ekiti, the 

Federal Commissioner for the state, 

Adeniyi Fadairo, also urged the respondents 

to supply truthful answers 

to the officials. 

He further explained that the purpose 

of the survey is to seek out reasons 

for low enrolment, attendance, 

and poor learning outcomes, among 

others. 

"The outcome of the 2015 NEDS 

will inform programming that 

would improve levels of student enrollment 

and attendance, as well as 

facilitate equitable access to quality 

schooling for all children in Nigeria," 

he said. 

The survey, which is conducted 

once in five years, would come up 

next in 2020. 

By Oluwatoyin Adeleye 

‘This survey will help us to know the 

educational status - whether truly we 

are improving educationally’ 

•From left: Mr. Osuya, Mrs Akharume, Mr. Bode Bernard, a Guest; Mr Orits Ojeikhoai, MD, Brand Optimal, and Mr. Dave Akharume, Chairman of the 

school at the event. 

cal activity is vital to the holistic development 

of young people, fostering 

the physical, social and emotional 

health," she said. 

The Ridos boss also said physical 

education is an essential component 

of quality education in schools. 

"Not only do physical education 

programmes promote physical activity, 

such programmes also correlate 

to improved academic performance 

under certain conditions, while sports 

can also, under the right conditions, 

provide health alternatives to defiant 

behaviours such as drug abuse, 

violence and crime," she said.

28 

EDUCATION 


‘Spirit of Lagos’ contest 

saves school’s furniture 

FOR its ingenuity, resourcefulness 

and creativity in solving 

problems of damaged school 

furniture, a team from the Government 

College, Ketu, Epe won the 

Spirit of Lagos School Challenge last 

Thursday. 

Members of the team wowed the 

Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke 

Orelope-Adefulire and the panel of 

judges, not only because of their 

well-implemented project, but because 

of their lucid presentation – 

beating five other teams at the event 

held at the Governor’s hall, Lagos 

State Secretariat, Alausa. 

In response to the challenge to 

solve a problem in their environment, 

they came up with a plan to 

repair broken down school furniture 

by themselves. They built a 

workshop, sewed overalls, raised 

funds, created awareness and bought 

tools used to do the work. At the 

end of the 26-day project, they repaired 

over 251 pieces of classroom 

and teacher furniture, saved the 

school over N360,000.00 for repairs 

(at N700 per piece), and the Lagos 

State government over N1,805,000 

that it would have cost to construct 

new ones (at N5,000 per pair). 

In the course of the project, they 

faced many challenges including 

having to rebuild their workshop 

after it was destroyed by a rainstorm, 

and injury to one of the team 

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie 

members while doing repairs. They 

were also mocked by fellow pupils 

and teachers who derogatorily 

called them “Anjonu Eko”, which 

when translated means Lagos demons. 

However, they came out strong, 

resourcefully finding ways to combat 

their challenges. To address the 

mockery, they conducted an awareness 

campaign to get the support of 

the school community and change 

their attitude to how they handle 

school property. The campaign was 

anchored on such slogans as Save 

our Treasure (SOT) and Do it Yourself 

(DIY). They also succeeded in 

getting the school principal to purchase 

cooking gas for use in the 

kitchen to end the practice of using 

broken down furniture as firewood. 

The team from Community Senior 

Grammar School, Gberigbe, 

representing Education District 

Three, came second in the challenge 

for its Wipe out Dirt campaign in 

their school. They did a good job of 

building a colourful dump site and 

baskets that separates dirt into categories 

(biodegradable, nylon, paper 

and plastic) and carrying out an 

awareness campaign. 

Representatives of Education District 

I, Ifesowapo/Aboru Senior Secondary 

School, Agege, emerged the 

• Mrs Orelope-Adefulire (middle) with pupils of Government College Ketu, Epe. 

third place winner with their waste 

to wealth project. They devised 

means to convert waste plastic 

bottles and sachets to various useful 

products such as tiles, asphalt for 

road construction, and the like. 

In her address, the Deputy Governor 

praised the pupils for “demonstrating 

capacity and responsibility. 

She urged them to cultivate a love 

for Lagos State and contribute to its 

growth as the most important city 

in Nigeria. 

“I want you to leave this hall with 

• From left: Prof Darah, Prof Junaidu, Chairman of the occasion, Mr Ayo Ojeniyi, Chairman, Nigerian Book 

Fair Trust, Alhaji Rilwanu Abdulsalami and Managing Director, Africa, Repro India Limited, Mukesh Dhruve. 

THE poor state of Nigerian education 

sector dominated discussions 

at the 2015 Nigerian 

International Book Fair (NIBF) held 

last week. 

The week-long book fair had about 

100 exhibitors displaying books, and 

other participants engaging in dialogues 

with major stakeholders in the 

book industry at the multipurpose 

hall of the University of Lagos 

(UNILAG). 

In conferences, children's 

programmes and cultural displays, 

they uncovered what they referred 

to as how the education and book 

culture should be portrayed in Nigeria. 

In his speech at the international 

conference of the fair with the theme: 

"African youth empowerment 

through book for sustainable national 

development", the keynote 

speaker, Prof Godini Darah, urged 

Nigerians to clamour for a change in 

how education-related issues are 

handled. 

The professor of Oral Literature 

and Cultural Studies from the Delta 

State University (DELSU), Abraka, 

condemned the way government 

and Nigerians manage matters relating 

to education and decried the 

low budget attributed to the sector 

every year, in comparison with other 

countries. 

Darah said: "The government must 

take the initiative. How much do we 

spend in Nigeria on education? The 

amount we spend on education is too 

low. I have looked at figures from 

other countries and they spend a lot. 

South Africa spends about 21 per cent 

of their budget on education, in 

Egypt they spend about 18 per cent, 

Ghana spends about 25 per cent consistently. 

We spend only about eight 

per cent in our budget on education." 

He lamented that government and 

Nigerians have focused more on 

such areas as dance, music, sports 

among others, rather than important 

sector like education. 

The professor urged all governments 

to practise free education 

policy, as he was a product of the 

Obafemi Awolowo free education 

scheme of 1965. 

"The first empowerment we should 

do is to give free education to everybody. 

We have done it before. How 

would I be here now, if not for that 

scheme? You would not know those 

who are intelligent in your country 

until you give everybody equal opportunity," 

he said. 

Prof Darah encouraged government 

to invest in gathering, recycling 

and translation of knowledge 

through books, to boost the publishing 

industry and increase the 

nation's per capita income. 

He also recommended that a Bank 

of Books be created to fund book 

publishing. 

"It is those you train that will invent. 

Government must put a certain 

amount aside for authors, publishers 

and researchers so that they do 

not have to scratch their heads for 

funds to publish knowledge. There 

should be a Bank of Books," he said. 

Also speaking, chairman of the occasion 

and Acting Executive Secretary 

of the Nigerian Educational Research 

and Development Council 

(NERDC), Prof Ismail Junaidu, decried 

Nigerians' bad attitude to reading. 

"It is not only illiterates that do not 

care about books; even professors 

make the same mistake. You see a 

Nigerian asking the wrong questions, 

because he is too lazy to read 

the signs," he said: 

Junaidu attributed this habit to 

most Nigerians not having been 

brought up to read books. 

To address this problem, he said 

a love for Lagos. Change must start 

now. When you are at the bus stop 

you have to queue. You should not 

be late to school – that is the Spirit 

of Lagos,” she said. 

Counsel to the Lagos State governor, 

Mrs Oyikan Badejo- 

Ogunsanya, praised the pupils for 

their efforts, which she said was 

impressive. 

“I want to thank you for lifting 

the Spirit of Lagos high; coming up 

with innovations that would better 

your lives as students,” she said. 

Tship board has approved the 

payment of bursary to its indigenes 

studying in Nigerian Law School 

and Maritime Academy, Oron, 

Akwa Ibom State. 

A statement signed by the Director, 

Lagos State Scholarship Board, 

Mrs Omauton Yetunde Jegede, di- 

the NERDC has infused: "conspicuous 

issues on various reading skills 

into the schools' curriculum, so that 

we can catch our children young to 

develop the culture of reading, because 

if you do not have that culture, 

books would be irrelevant." 

Condemning strikes by educational 

institutions, Junaidu said the 

effect on the society is usually felt by 

the future generation. 

"We should all be concerned when 

we see teachers, lecturers and academics 

on strike. The effect would 

reflect on the society as late as 20 or 

30 years and it is our children that 

would be affected by our mistakes 

of today," he said. 

Managing Director of Books and 

Prints Limited, Yaba, Lagos State, 

Mrs Oluronke Orimalade encouraged 

government to include 

bookshops and book sellers in the 

making of education and book-related 

policies to help the industry 

grow. 

She said: "When you kill 

bookshops, you are killing the reading 

culture. You must encourage 

bookshops to grow and include them 

in education policy-making processes." 

The Spirit of Lagos Project Director, 

Olaniyi Omotoso, also praised 

the various schools for their excellent 

performance and described 

them all as winners for proposing 

laudable projects. 

Other schools in the finale were: 

Agidingbi Grammar School, 

Agidingbi (District VI), Ajara Senior 

and Junior Secondary in Badagry 

(District V), and Ideal Girls’ Junior 

& Senior High School/Obele Community 

Junior & Senior High 

School, Surulere (District IV). 

Lagos okays N39.6m bursary 

for law, maritime students 

HE Lagos State Government 

through the state's scholar- 

Don faults poor funding at book fair 

By Oluwatoyin Adeleye 

VICE Chancellor of the University 

of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof 

Abdulganiyu Ambali has 

urged academics to key into the expanding 

need for poultry products to 

research on how to improve output. 

Speaking at the opening ceremony 

of the fifth World Poultry Science Association 

(WPSA), Nigeria branch 

conference, held in Ilorin, Ambali 

rected all concerned beneficiaries 

to visit the board's office for documentation 

in order to collect their 

bursary. 

A total of 192 indigenes of the state 

studying in Nigerian Law School 

and six in Maritime Academy, 

Oron, Akwa Ibom State will be 

given N200,000 each, which comes 

to about N39,600,000. 

UNILORIN VC woos 

academics on poultry research 

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin 

said poultry production contributed 

107 million tonnes to world meat 

production in 2013, which is set to 

improve in coming years. 

Quoting the Organisation of Economic 

Cooperation and Development 

(OECD) and Food and Agricultural 

Organisation (FAO), the professor 

of veterinary medicine added 

that poultry meat products would expand 

by 2.3 per cent every year, attaining 

annual output of 134.5 tonnes 

worldwide by 2023. 

To this end, Ambali said Nigerian 

academics must act fast so the country 

can be self-sufficient in the provision 

of poultry products. 

He said: "In order to advance poultry 

production both now and later, experts 

like you will have to devote more academic 

attention to the dynamics of, and 

challenges posed by biosecurity and 

molecular biology, organic products, 

advancing early growth and profitability, 

gut microbiome and health as well 

as locally adapted highly productive 

breeds. 

"At UNILORIN, we shall continue to 

build capacity in these areas and others 

as evident in our recent establishment 

of the Institute of Molecular Science 

and Biotechnology. We strongly 

believe that Nigeria has no business 

importing basic agricultural products, 

poultry inclusive, if we were to get 

our bearing right and this is why we 

take research in these areas seriously. 

"Food is a critical component of a 

happy life and this is why the Yoruba 

say that when hunger is out of poverty, 

poverty becomes nil. We can 

then appreciate a situation where one 

does not just but eats highly nutritious 

food as those obtained poultry 

and poultry products."

Face to 

face with 

a rapist 

Page 31 

THE NATION 

Saving 

the 

creative 

industry 

Page 36 

*CAMPUSES 

*NEWS 

*PEOPLE 

*KUDOS& 

KNOCKS 

*GRANTS 

CAMPUS LIFE 


Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net 

0805-450-3104 email: campusbeat@yahoo.com 

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net 

•OSUSTECH students protesting on the Igbokoda Highway. Inset: An abandoned building on the campus. 

Eight years after it was founded, the Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH) in Okitipupa is still 

struggling to make its mark. There are no academic facilities, good hostels and other requirements for conducive learning. 

The institution has hiked its fee – an action, which drew the ire of students. TAIWO ADEBULU reports. 

IT was meant to boost the learning 

of science and technology 

in the Sunshine State of Ondo. 

But, eight years after its opening, 

the Ondo State University of Science 

and Technolgy (OSUTECH) 

has failed to live up to its core mandate. 

For its serenity and Spartan nature, 

Igodan-Lisa, a rural settlement 

in Okitipupa in Ondo South 

Senatorial District, was chosen as 

the best location for the institution. 

Apart from the structures that 

welcome visitors to the campus, 

the institution appears to be at its 

foundation years. 

The stretch of the road that extends 

to the academic area from the 

main entrance is still under construction 

and has no gate, except 

the structure, which bears the 

name of the institution. The pathway 

from the entrance is covered 

in thick bushes; the untarred road 

leads to the heart of the campus, 

where uncompleted buildings 

stand. The buildings are classrooms 

and offices being constructed 

by the government but 

Long way to a dream 

•How varsity is coping with lack of facilities 

they seem to have been abandoned. 

For lacking necessary structures 

to aid its programmes’ accreditation, 

the university could not take 

off as its licence was revoked by 

the National Universities Commission 

(NUC) in 2010. 

The institution started academic 

programmes in January 2011 and 

matriculated its first set of students 

on March 3, 2011. The university, 

which initially occupied 

the facilities of the Government 

Technical College in Idepe, moved 

to its permanent site in 2012. 

Two years ago, the NUC approved 

the 10 programmes being 

run by the institution. But, the 

school’s facilities remain in a bad 

shape. 

To draw the attention of the public 

to the state of the infrastructure, 

OSUSTECH students, penultimate 

Monday, took to the highway to 

protest what they called “total neglect” 

of the institution by the state 

government. They disrupted traffic 

when they held a sit-out on the 

Igbokoda highway, singing antigovernment 

songs. 

Although the protest was 

sparked by fee hike, but the students 

used it to express their displeasure 

over the state of the 

school’s facilities. 

The protesters condemned the 

management’s action to convert 

the Students’ Union Building to the 

Centre for Entrepreneurship Training 

(CELT) for lack of space to accommodate 

the Centre. 

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the 

management took over the building 

because, in its view, the institution 

is not ripe for students’ 

unionism. 

Before the demonstration, the 

students had a peace meeting with 

the representatives of the management 

at the school auditorium. 

The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof 

Tolu Odugbemi, was absent at the 

meeting, but the school was represented 

by the Director of Academic 

Planning Prof Akintunde 

Akinwande, Dean of Faculty of 

Science, Prof. David Teniola, Registrar, 

Mr Wonuola Ekundayo and 

Head of Department of Mathematical 

Science, Dr Gabriel 

Ekundayo. 

The meeting, CAMPUSLIFE 

gathered, ended abruptly when a 

student, Henry Okunomo, was allegedly 

threatened with expulsion 

by Prof Akinwande. To forestall 

breakdown of order, the 

management ordered that the 

school be closed. 

This was said to have enraged 

the students as they moved towards 

the school entrance to barricade 

all exits. Afterwards, they 

marched on the mini campus, to 

galvanise their colleagues for action. 

The protest was guarded by 

riot policemen. 

A student, Oyewole Oyetakin, 

100-Level Geophysics, said: “How 

do you expect us not to protest? 

Where else should we go when we 

don’t have hostels and our tuition 

fee increased with nothing to 

show for it? This rain cannot stop 

us. We want improvement in 

OSUSTECH.” 

Our correspondent gathered that 

the tuition fee was increased from 

N100,000 to N125,000 for Ondo indigenes, 

while fee for non-indigenes 

was jerked from N150,000 to 

N175,000. 

•Continued on page 30 

•Final year student dies in road accident•13 bag First Class at DELSU convocation-P32

30 

CAMPUS LIFE 

Cheery news from 

the Diaspora 

Tday, when he finished the book he was 

HE inventor and physicist, Joe 

Jacobson was lounging on a beach one 

reading and realised he hadn’t brought another. 

Plenty of sun left in the day, but no 

book to fill the afternoon. At that moment, 

he envisioned an electronic book with light, 

thin, pages that - at the touch of a button - 

could receive the words of an entire book 

or newspaper through the airwaves. 

And, at the touch of a button, a different 

book or newspaper would appear. Using no 

back lighting, readable in direct sun and at 

any angle, the image would draw no power 

once it had appeared — enabling the device 

to avoid heavy batteries. It was through his 

imagination that the e-ink came into being. 

Even now, years after that idea became a 

real product, it almost sounds like magic. 

That is what innovation does. 

E-ink is hardly an isolated example. Two 

of the wealthiest tech companies on the 

planet right now, Apple and Google, continue 

to introduce stunning products. They 

were recently ranked as among the five 

most innovative companies in the world by 

both Business Week and Fast Company. 

Modern China also appears to be hitting its 

innovation stride, fueled by its unprecedented 

economic boom backed by government 

support. 

Talking about Apple; it recently purchased 

HopStop.com, Inc. (HopStop), an online city 

transit guide offering door-to-door subway 

and bus directions and maps for over 140 

cities around the world using its website, or 

apps for iPhone, iPad and formerly Android. 

Interestingly, the company was founded in 

2005 by a Nigerian; Mr. Chinedu Echeruo, 

who was named one of the top 100 fastest 

growing software companies in the United 

States in 2011. It was reported that Apple 

bought the app for $1 billion. 

Since the release of iOS 6 in September 

2012, in which Apple replaced support for 

Google Maps with their own mapping, 

HopStop has been named as one of the top 

transit apps for Apple products by multiple 

publishers including Business Insider, Fast 

Company and Wired. 

Through it, users can get step-by-step pub- 

Long way to a dream 

•Continued from page 29 

To douse tension in Okitipupa, 

Governor Olusegun Mimiko invited 

the students to Akure, the 

state capital, for dialogue. Mimiko 

agreed to reduce the fees in two 

weeks and eliminate all the services 

for which students pay, 

CAMPUSLIFE gathered. 

The governor, it was gathered, 

also promised to construct a new 

main gate and sports complex for 

the school. 

A lecturer, who pleaded anonymity, 

said the protesters had 

genuine reasons to show their 

grievances. He said: “It is good the 

students met with the governor, 

because there is a strong indication 

that the governor may abandon 

the school to fund the proposed 

Ondo State University of 

Medical Sciences in Ondo. Where 

would he get money to fund 

OSUSTECH and the new one in his 

home town? What happened in 

Ogun State may also happen in 

Ondo. We will end up thinking of 

merging the three universities to 

sustain their funding.” 

Gbenga Akinsuyi, a Computer 

Science student, said the campus 

lacks basic facilities. He said there 

was no reason for fee hike when 

the university was faced with poor 

facilities. 

He said: “The governor promised 

that no students of higher institution 

in the state would pay 

more than N25,000 as tuition fee. 

But, we pay N125,000 and 

N175,000. Our internet fee is 

N20,000 and we don’t have access 

to it. The establishment of 

OSUSTECH has brought nothing 

lic transit, walking, taxi, biking, and 

hourly car rental directions based on 

the travel options selected (departure 

time, transportation mode, more 

walking vs. more transfers, etc.). 

Other major functions include 

nearby stations, which allows users 

to find subway or bus stops near an address, 

as well as providing transit maps and schedules. 

HopStop also calculates calories burned 

and per passenger carbon emissions savings 

for each transit route. 

The City Guide also assist users find attractions, 

bars, restaurants, hotels, shopping areas, 

and other businesses. The Community 

tab offers users the ability to plan a trip with 

multiple destinations, including City Guide 

listings and custom locations. 

So what propelled him to come out with the 

innovation? His own difficulties traversing 

through New York City while working on 

Wall Street inspired him to create the technological 

solution. Nearly 10 years later, the free 

mobile application and website HopStop.com 

assists travelers by guiding them to subway 

stations and bus stops in more than 300 cities 

worldwide, including London, San Francisco, 

Paris and Toronto. 

“Every entrepreneur starts off thinking 

‘What’s a problem I can fix?’ he told The New 

York Times. “The problem for me was how to 

get from Point A to Point B in New York.” 

Hailed as Black Enterprise’s 2007 Small Business 

Innovator of the Year and listed in the 

magazine’s ‘Top 40 under 40’ list, the serial 

entrepreneur also founded Tripology.com, a 

U.S.-based Internet company, in 2010. Echeruo, 

39 is now a partner in a private equity firm in 

Accra, Ghana. He grew up in Eastern Nigeria 

and attended Kings College, Lagos. He later 

attended Syracuse University and the Harvard 

Business School in the United States where he 

founded Hopstop.com after working for several 

years in the mergers and acquisitions and 

leveraged finance groups of J.P Morgan Chase 

where he was involved in a broad range of 

M&A, financing and private equity transactions. 

He also worked at AM Investment Partners, 

a $500 million volatility-driven convertible 

in the last eight years. The campus 

is bushy and we kill snakes 

every day. The road from the university 

entrance is filled with 

granites and nothing has changed. 

There is no even a health centre.” 

Yemi Fafoluyi, president of Save 

Ikale Youth Vanguard, an Akurebased 

pressure group, said the 

group supported the students’ 

protest. 

Pastor Babatope Ayesanmi, an 

elder in the host community, decried 

what he called the slow pace 

of development in the institution. 

He said: “The institution is becoming 

a white elephant project. 

A faculty has been there for five 

years without facilities. The university 

is becoming a caricature of 

higher institution. The campus has 

been carefully abandoned.” 

The Chief Press Secretary to the 

Ondo State Governor, Mr Eni 

Akinsola, said there was nothing 

wrong in students expressing their 

grievances to the governor. He said 

the campus had been re-opened after 

the students met with Mimiko, 

adding that the governor is attending 

to the needs of the school. 

“OSUSTECH is still a young university 

and we must appreciate that 

all its courses have been approved. 

Obafemi Awolowo University in 

Ile-Ife was founded a long time ago 

and it is still undergoing 

infrastructural development. The 

Ondo State government will resolve 

everything and the students’ grievances.” 

Although activities have returned 

to the campus, students said they 

would not relent to call for improvement 

in facilities until the 

governor fulfil his promise. 

Pushing 

Out 

with 

Agbo Agbo 

08116759750 

(SMS only) 

•aagboa@gmail.com 

bond arbitrage hedge fund. Tripology.com, 

an interactive travel referral service focused 

on connecting travelers with travel specialists 

which was later acquired by American 

travel and navigation information company, 

Rand McNally is another of his innovation. 

Not resting on his oars, this proud Nigerian 

is working on yet another venture, but this 

time focused on small businesses in Africa. 

According to him, “There is no reason why 

every entrepreneur should have to reinvent 

the wheel every single time in all the countries 

in Africa. My idea is to essentially have 

one place where a budding entrepreneur can 

access a template for starting a business, and 

then customise it to suit their own situation; 

essentially, a business-in-a-box.” 

Another Nigerian, Ufot Ekong, who studied 

Robotics and Electrical Engineering at 

Tokai University, Tokyo, Japan emerged the 

best all round graduating student of the institution 

this session. He graduated with First 

Class Honours. 

The last time anyone graduated with a similar 

Grade Points Average (GPA) was 50 years 

ago which makes his feat unique. Ufot, a 

multi-talented youth, has artistry in music, 

specialising in Saxophone. He distinguished 

himself from the outset in the school when he 

won the Japanese language best student 

award. 

To think that he combined two jobs with 

studies, won six other awards in the University, 

makes his story more compelling. Ufot, 

who lived in Lagos while in Nigeria, is the 

director of Strictly African Japan, an African 

retail wears and accessories shop. 

Aside from paying himself through school, 

Ufot who has already started his PhD 

programme works with auto giant Nissan 

where he has already patented two products. 

For his project, he made an electric car that 

goes as fast as 128 kilometres per hour. The 


ESSAY CONTEST FOR UNDERGRADUATES 

The Nation, Nigeria, in collaboration with African Liberty Organisation for Development (ALOD) 

and Network for a Free Society (NFS), is calling for entries into the 2015 essay competition. 

Details are as follows: 

Topic: Government regulations and controls are the biggest threat to jobs in Africa today. Discuss using 

practical examples 

Participants must discuss the topic using contemporary examples. 

Qualification: Participant must be a student in any tertiary institutions (university, polytechnic, 

college of education and technical schools) in all African countries. The format of the text should be 

in Microsoft Word and not more than 1,500 words. 

Interested student can visit: www.networkforafreesociety.org for useful background materials 

on the theme of this contest. Be informed that no participant is allowed to lift materials directly 

from works of any author and claim to be his/her own. Plagiarism automatically disqualifies any 

entry, which contains work of another author. 

If any text or sentence is copied from another author’s work, it must be shown in quotation marks 

and writer must credit the original author at the bottom of the paper. 

On the first page of the completed essay, participant must write his/her full names, department, 

and year of study and name of institution. Also include your email address and functional mobile 

phone number. 

All entries should be sent to: adedayo.thomas@gmail.com 

Entries will be received between March 26 and June 26, 2015. Late entries will not be accepted. 

Winners will be announced on July 29, 2015. 

PRIZES 

1st-George Ayittey (Platinum Prize): $1,000 and scholarship to the 2015 Liberty Camp in Kenya 

from August 5 to 9, 2015 OR Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) 

in Ghana from August 19 to 23, 2015 

2nd-Anthony Fisher (Gold Prize): $700 and scholarship to the 2015 Liberty Camp in Kenya 


in Ghana from August 19 to 23, 2015 

3rd-Franklin Cudjoe (Silver Prize): $500 and scholarship to the 2015 Liberty Camp in Kenya 


in Ghana from August 19 to23, 2015 

4th- The Nation CAMPUSLIFE (Media Bronze Prize): $300 and scholarship to the 2015 Liberty 

Camp in Kenya from August 5 to 9, 2015 OR Students and Young Professional African Liberty 

Academy (SYPALA) in Ghana from August 19 to 23, 2015 

We also have eight consolation prize of $50 each. 

car drives on charged batteries. He plans to 

drive it May 29, in Abuja, Nigeria to celebrate 

Buhari’s inauguration. 

This cheering news couldn’t have come at 

a better time. Nigeria is on the verge of having 

a new government and as expected, expectations 

are at an all-time high. Majority 

of Nigerians want a country that can produce 

the likes of Ufot and Chinedu on its 

soil. 

In their book “Why Nations fail,” Massachusetts 

Institute of Technology (MIT) economist 

Daron Acemoglu and the Harvard University 

political scientist James A. Robinson 

argue that for any economic success political 

institutions must be sufficiently 

centralised to provide basic public services 

including justice, the enforcement of contracts, 

and education. Given that these functions 

are carried out, “inclusive” institutions 

enable innovative energies to emerge and 

lead to continuing growth as exemplified 

by the Industrial Revolution. 

“Extractive” institutions can also deliver 

growth but only when the economy is 

distant from the technological frontier. 

These extractive institutions will ultimately 

fail, however, when innovations and “creative 

destruction” are needed to push the 

frontier. Hence, while success may be possible 

for a while under extractive institutions 

continuing success is possible only 

under inclusive institutions. 

What we need going forward is a creative 

economy which enables people use their 

creative imagination to create an ideas. This 

will revolve around an economic system 

where value is based on novel imaginative 

qualities rather than the traditional resources 

of land, labour and capital. 

In the second half of the 20th century these 

ideas were expressed as the Post-Industrial 

Society, Information Society, Knowledge 

Society and Network Society. These concepts 

prioritised data and knowledge as the new 

sources of growth. The growth of China’s 

economy since 1980 has been stimulated by 

market-based creativity and innovation. 

Europe, America, Japan, China and other 

countries see creativity as the dominant economic 

force affecting jobs, economic growth 

and social welfare. The 2014 OECD Forum 

declared: “Creativity and innovation are 

now driving the economy, reshaping entire 

industries and stimulating inclusive 

growth.” 

We cannot afford to be left behind as these 

two Nigerians have shown that it is possible 

to excel if given the right environment.


CAMPUS LIFE 

Face to face with a rapist 

But for providence, a 400-Level female student of the Department 

of Political Science of the University of Ilorin 

(UNILORIN) in Kwara State would have been raped by a 

graduate, who had just finished his National Youth Service. 

The victim relives her experience to WALE AJETUNMOBI. 

TRUST can be likened to a tiny but 

strong chord that can endure; but, it 

takes a moment of disappointment 

to severe it forever. By now, Zulihat 

Adebimpe (not her real name) may have 

stopped to trust anybody again. The 400- 

Level Political Science student of University 

of Ilorin (UNILORIN) in Kwara State 

capital escaped being raped penultimate 

week by a male friend whom she trusted. 

She could only feel helpless after being 

overpowered by her male friend whose 

sense had been overwhelmed by a sharp 

moment of libido. But for a brief seizure, 

which threw the culprit, Qaseem (other 

names withheld), off-balance, perhaps the 

victim would still been writhing in psychological 

depression and trauma. 

Zulihat, who had just been inducted into 

a coven of hijab sisters as young female 

Muslims are called, said she excessively 

trusted the man who attempted to rape her. 

She described the moment of struggling 

against the assailant as terrible, because 

nobody came to her rescue when she 

screamed for help. Zulihat said she was 

more disappointed because the incident 

happened in an apartment which Qaseem 

claimed to be his family house. 

Qaseem, it was learnt, graduated from Department 

of Political Science of UNILORIN 

in 2013 and had just finished his National 

Youth Service. He became friend with 

Zulihat, while he was in school but lost 

contact with her when he went for Youth 

Service. 

But, Zulihat said the culprit got her phone 

number from Facebook, after which he 

called and sent her message on Whatsapp, a 

mobile instant messaging application. 

She said: “After his graduation, I heard 

from Qaseem last month. He called me at 

1:30am while I was observing a midnight 

prayer and we spoke for a while before I 

returned to the prayer. The following morning, 

his calls kept coming in and I was surprised 

he requested that I should visit him. 

I did not have inkling of what he was up to, 

because we had chatted many times in the 

past on my reluctance to visit people I hardly 

know. 

“But he kept pestering me to visit him. I 

told him I was being cautious against assault, 

because I hardly forgive myself for 

my mistakes. A week later, I decided to 

visit him after he pleaded. He agreed to 

pick me up at Post Office area with his 

motorcycle to his family house in Ilorin.” 

Zulihat said she did not expect harm from 

Qaseem, since they are both Muslims and 

they understand what the Holy Qur’an said 

about pre-marital mating. 

She added: “Both of us are Muslims and I 

expected fair treatment from him. He took 

me to an apartment, which I believe is not 

his family house. But given his harmless 

countenance and humility, I agreed to go 

into the building with him. He offered me 

water, which I delayed in drinking. He 

brought out his photo album and he used 

the opportunity to move closer to me. I 

sensed he was up to something untoward; 

then, I dropped the photo album and asked 

to take my leave. 

“He suddenly changed his attitude and 

looked at me seductively. I stood up to 

leave the apartment but he pulled me 

back. He pushed me on the bed and as I 

made effort to get up, he landed on me 

with force. I struggled with him for a moment 

but when my strength could not save 

31 

me, I screamed for help. His neighbours 

could not hear my cry. 

“I pleaded with him not to do it and told 

him I am a virgin. I told him that, even if 

I was ready for intercourse, it should not 

be by violation. I pleaded with him, using 

the religion we both share, but all to no 

avail. He continued making his effort pull 

off my hijab, which was too thick and covered 

all parts of my body.” 

After a while, Zulihat said she noticed 

her assailant began to shake feverishly 

and fell on the floor. She ran to the door 

to escape but it was locked. 

“Qaseem got up again and grabbed my 

hand. He knelt and begged that I should 

forgive is uncontrollable act. He said he 

was seduced by my presence. I told him to 

open the door for me to leave. He obliged 

and I ran out of the building. Everything 

happened within 10 minutes. 

“The following day, he came to check 

me in school but I ignored him. He sent 

messages on Whatsapp, pleading for his immoral 

act. I did not reply any of his messages 

because he betrayed my trust. I am 

being traumatised psychologically because 

I don’t forgive myself easily for my 

mistakes.” 

If Qassem had succeeded, Zulihat said he 

would have been thrown into an endless 

agony by a friend she trusted. She said she 

decided not to report the matter at the police 

station because of stigmatisation that 

may arise after the incident becomes 

open. Besides, she did not want her personal 

mistakes to expose her fellow Muslim 

sisters to public disgrace. 

She said: “If I had reported the matter to 

the police, the law may set him free or 

find him guilty but it would not stop me 

from regretting my decision to visit him at 

home. My religion will always find me 

guilty and punish me for visiting a man 

who is not a member of my family or husband.” 

Medical students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Nnewi, Anambra State, held a memorial for nine of their 

colleagues who died in a fire on the campus 14 years ago. On the occasion, they drew attention to the state of facilities in 

the school. FRANKLIN ONWUBIKO (Mass Communication) reports. 

•Zulihat 

•The only ambulance in the college 

Forever in their hearts 

AT the College of Health Science of 

the Nnamdi Azikiwe University 

(UNIZIK) in Nnewi, Anambra State, 

May 9 is a special day. On May 9, 2001, nine 

medical students were burnt in a midnight 

fire, which razed the female hostel. Fourteen 

years after, the ugly incident is still 

fresh in the medical students’ memories. To 

them, the tragedy is a reminder of the neglect 

of the college by the government. 

The victims included Adaobi Amilo, 

Amara Ezeliora, Chinenye Nedolisa, 

Obiageli Muokwugwo, Ugoma Ositanwosu, 

Doris Ekpo and the courageous 

Chukwuneke Chinedu, who reportedly died 

as she made efforts to save her roommates 

from the inferno. 

“These victims could still be alive if the 

college had functional ambulance to properly 

convey them to the hospital,” president 

of Students’ Association Government 

in the college, Jennifer Ikediugwu, said. The 

only functional ambulance in the school, she 

said, broke down while conveying the victims 

to the university Teaching Hospital. 

To remember their fallen colleagues, students 

came out en masse on Friday to commemorate 

the incident and say prayers for 

the victims. In his comment, the chairman 

of the occasion and Dean, Faculty of Medicine, 

Dr Ebele Ugochukwu, described the 

incident as unfortunate, advising the students 

on the need to keep to regulation 

pasted in their hostels to avert reoccurrence 

of the sad incident. 

Mama Ozi, a trader on the campus, who 

witnessed the incident, gave a moving account 

of what transpired in the day. The audience 

moved into a moment of grief when 

she explained how the victims writhed in 

pain as they were being transported to the 

hospital in rickety ambulance. She described 

incident as tragic, expressing disappointment 

that school still does not have good 

ambulance fourteen years after. 

Delivering the memorial lecture, Reverend 

Father Maurice Izunwa spoke on selflessness 

as exhibited by the late 

Chukwuneke, who defied the fury of the 

fire in a bid to save her colleagues trapped 

•Jennifer laying a wreath as other students watch during the memorial 

in the hostel. The clergy urged students to 

emulate Chukwuneke’s heroic act and gallantry. 

The Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof 

Ken Nworgu, said the management shared 

in the grief of the victims’ family, saying 

the school would always remember the deceased. 

He added that the victims’ death was 

regrettable, urging students to always ensure 

their safety and be steadfast in act of 

selflessness. He promised to take the request 

of more ambulance by the students to the 

management. 

Also addressing the students, the president 

of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), 

Noble Eyisi, gave the reason for participating 

in the memorial as a way of lending 

support to students on Nnewi campus. He 

said called for unity among students, noting: 

“In unity, we can properly channel our 

welfare.” 

Noble reiterated his commitment to carry 

all students along in the union’s activities, assuring 

that the request for a new ambulance 

would be pursued vigorously. 

While lamenting the poor learning environment 

in the college, Jennifer said: “The College 

has been in existence for so many years 

now and it has produced seasoned medical 

practitioners who are saving lives all over 

the world. But our own lives as students are 

endangered by the state of the facilities in the 

school. This campus has been terribly neglected 

for years. The entire students of the 

college cry out with one voice. We need help.” 

High points of the event were musical and 

drama renditions by the students. The students 

also led a procession to a memorial monument 

to pay respects to their fallen heroes. 

After the session, a student, Millicent Ekwudo, 

seized the opportunity to restate the abysmal 

state of the school’s facilities, appealing to the 

authorities to improve on the facilities to secure 

the life of students. After the presentation, 

the students shouted: “we need ambulance.”

32 

CAMPUS LIFE 

Final year 

student dies in 

road accident 

OLABISI Onabanjo University 

(OOU) in Ago Iwoye, Ogun 

State was thrown into 

mourning, following the death of a 

final year Banking and Finance student. 

Jenifer Chinonso Azuh died in 

an auto accident in Benin City, the 

Edo State capital. 

The news of Jenifer’s death hit the 

campus like a thunderbolt, leaving 

lecturers and students in grief. Her 

classmates wept and wailed endlessly. 

The late Jenifer was recently 

elected the president of Rotaract Club 

on the campus but she died before 

the swearing-in. She was also selected 

as the chairperson of the 

fundraising committee for the purchase 

of OOU Catholic Students’ bus. 

Last Thursday, her remains were 

buried in her hometown in Anambra 

•The procession of the principal officers to the event 

THIRTEEN graduates of the 

Delta State University (DELSU) 

in Abraka bagged a First Class 

during the institution’s Ninth convocation 

held last weekend. The valedictorians 

were among 9,648 graduating 

students conferred with first 

degrees and diplomas at the ceremony 

held at Convocation Arena in 

Site III of the institution. 

The ceremony also witnessed conferment 

of post-graduate degrees and 

honorary degrees to the deserving 

people. 

The Governor of Delta State, Dr 

Emmanuel Uduaghan, led the pack 

of dignitaries, including his deputy, 

Prof Amos Utuama (SAN), and tradi- 

From Ese Okoduwa and 

Daniel Akpotaire, 

DELSU 

tional rulers in the state. 

The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Victor 

Peretomode, said the ceremony 

was to celebrate the efforts and time 

invested by the graduands during 

their days in school, urging the graduates 

to see the convocation as another 

beginning in their lives. He urged 

them to dream big and reflect on their 

aims in life. 

Governor Uduaghan urged the 

graduands not to give up hope on the 

future of the country, noting that the 

objective of Delta Beyond Oil was to 

13 bag First Class at DELSU convocation 

PROF Aloysius Okolie, 

former chairman of the University 

of Nigeria, Nsukka 

(UNN) chapter of the Academic 

Staff Union of Universities 

(ASUU), has delivered the 92nd inaugural 

lecture of the university 

titled: Global political economy and 

development of underdevelopment: 

Different people, same market and glorification 

of poverty. 

Okolie, a professor of Political 

Science, urged Federal Government 

to refocus the country’s academic 

curriculum to reflect domestic 

needs in order to make 

graduates employable. He said 

such move would bring out expertise 

and skills locally to move 

the nation’s education forward 

and fast-track economic development. 

He said: “There is need to reformulate 

and refocus the academic 

curriculum in the country to reflect 

needs, so as to get efficient 

manpower. Content used to address 

externalised needs and values 

are a disguised strategy for 

advancing academic imperialism 

and deepening the incidence of 

self-repudiation and self-delu- 

•Students joined Catholic priests in silent prayers after the interment 

open up the state’s economy and provide 

jobs for indigenes that are qualified. 

The convocation ceremony was also 

an opportunity for the governor to 

commission projects in the school. 

One of the projects is the newly-built 

Faculty of Education complex. 

Highlight if the ceremony included 

presentation of automatic employment 

to the overall best graduating 

student, Miss Anthonia Michael of the 

Department of Botany. She was also 

given scholarship up to doctoral level. 

In her speech, Anthonia expressed 

gratitude to God for making her feat 

possible and promised to always 

strive for excellence. 

Ex-ASUU chair delivers UNN’s 92nd lecture 

From Oladele Oge 

UNN 

sion.” 

To be separated from the umbilical 

cord of underdevelopment, he 

said developing countries must 

believe in themselves and 

prioritise development strategies 

based on traditional values. 

He added: “Developing countries 

should begin to address the 

issue of poverty which is assuming 

a dangerous dimension. They 

should provide funds and critical 

infrastructure needed to support 

development as well as revive 

abandoned cottage and small 

scaled industries. In as much as 

everybody must be equal, the gap 

between the poor and the rich 

should not be too wide.” 

The political scientist said basics 

of global political economy 

were challenges facing peripheral 

social formations in developing 

countries. 

Development, he said, is a product 

of sound, sustained and cogent 

planning and administrations of 

curative pills purchased at a genuine 

market and attuned to the 

needs of the target. 

He said: “Underdevelopment 

can be likened to the blind, chaotic 

and unregulated administration 

of curative pills purchased 

for cancer patient and wrongly administered 

to malaria patient.” 

The lecturer said power and 

sanctity of ballot box should be 

strengthened and preserved by 

allowing the electoral process to 

reflect the choices of the people. 

“The electoral process should reflect 

choices and ideal of the 

people and they must be allowed 

to vote and choose public office 

holders freely. The power and 

sanctity of ballot box should be 

strengthened and preserved,” he 

said. 

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Benjamin 

Ozumba, represented by his 

deputy for Academics, Prof 

Polycarp Chigbu, said the university 

would continue to enrich the 

knowledge of its members and 

the public by giving them intellectual 

meals from erudite scholars, 

who have distinguished themselves 

in their fields. 

The lecture, held at Princesses 

Alexandra Hall, was well-attended 

by lecturers and students. 

From Sanya Boluwatife 

OOU 

State. Some students attended the funeral, 

while many stayed back on the 

campus to say prayers for her. 

The deceased brother, Arinze 

Azuh, a publisher of Yes! International 

Magazine on wrote her 

Facebook wall: “I am tempted to 

question God, but I won’t. Not today, 

not tomorrow and not even forever. 

Never ever will I do that. And 

in spite of how much death has dared 

me. My youngest sister, the baby of 

the house and our last born; the ever 

cheerful and gregarious Augusta 

Chinonso Azuh died in an auto crash. 

“I am crest-fallen and devastated 

beyond words. Yet, I won’t question 

my God. I won’t even ask anybody 

why a tragedy of this numbing proportion 

should visit my family again. 

And so soon after the demise of our 

patriarch, Ichie Azuh Chimezie.” 

In his tribute, Austine Falujo, a 500- 

Level Law student, who spoke on behalf 

of Nigeria Federation of Catholic 

Students (NFCS), said: “On that 

day, she left with the hope of returning 

to us, but sadly it was the last 

moment we saw and heard from her. 

Words cannot express how much we 

THE Students’ Union Government 

(SUG) of the University 

of Ilorin 

(UNILORIN) has held the third 

youth leadership summit in 

honour of Mr Afolabi Obembe, 

the Executive Director, World 

View International. The event, 

with the theme: Students unionism 

and activism, featured presentation 

of the union journal. 

In his address, the union president, 

Ahmed Ishawo, said the 

theme was to discuss whether students’ 

Union activities should be 

about demonstration against the 

school authorities. 

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor for 

Research Technology and Innovation, 

Prof Gabriel Olatunji, said 

unionism would be a platform for 

academic excellence with good 

leadership and not by protest. He 

said there was need for higher institutions 

to train students in leadership 

values for the country to 

have responsible youths. 

Prof Olatunji, who represented 

Vice-Chancellor, Prof 

Abdulganiyu Ambali, said he was 

not surprised by the theme of the 

summit, given the decadence 

among students. He stressed that 

THE Department of 

Counselling of the Crawford 

University in Atan-Agbara, 

Ogun State has held a counselling 

session for its students with the 

theme: Counselling towards academic 

excellence. The event was held at 

the school Multipurpose Hall. 

The session was aimed at educating 

the students about the positive 

effects of seeking counseling while 

they stay on the campus. 

Speaking on Counselling services 

and the benefits to staff and students 

of tertiary institutions, the 

institution’s Guidance Counsellor, 

Mrs Olushola Coker, said good 

counselling would help students to 

reach upper most level in social, 

educational and economic development. 

Represented by Dr E.O. Aramide, 

a counsellor, Mrs Coker, however, 

said counselling cannot proffer solutions 

to all human problems but 

said good advice could assist in reducing 

social problem facing mankind. 

She advised higher institutions 

to integrate guiding and counselling 

into their curriculum irrespective 

of discipline to guide the 

youth aright and build a peaceful 

nation. 


•The late Jenifer 

love you but God loves you more.” 

Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, the 

NFCS President, Johnson Leonard, 

described the deceased as friendly, 

accommodating and hardworking. “I 

still can’t believe Jenifer is dead. She 

called me in April and told me she 

was working on how to get funds for 

the purchase of our bus. This is very 

painful. We will really miss her.” 

‘Unionism is not for destruction’ 

From Kehinde Ogunlade 

UNILORIN 

the institution would continue 

train students in good leadership 

values and character. 

Obembe said any union that 

makes protest its potent tool is destructive, 

cautioning members of 

the audience against destroying 

school properties in the name of 

protest. He said: “Students’ unionism 

is about what the students’ 

leader can achieve in the interest 

of students and how they can express 

their grievances without 

violence. Leaders are individuals 

who help create options and opportunities. 

They help identify 

choices and solve problems. Leaders 

build coalitions for progress 

and not destruction.” 

He said students’ union leadership 

should be dynamic in the 21st 

Century and be a partner in 

progress. He advised the SUG 

leaders to maintain good relationship 

with the school authorities. 

The highpoint of the event was 

the presentation of awards to the 

honouree and the unveiling of the 

SUG journal. Obembe thanked the 

students for the honour. 

Varsity counsels 

students against vices 

From Daniel Adeoye 

CRAWFORD 

Dr S.O. Awosoga, the 

institution’s Acting Director of 

Health Services, spoke on Health 

viewpoint for enhancing students’ 

academic excellence during which he 

explained how good health could 

enhance academic excellence. He 

listed physical and emotional 

abuse, chronic illness, unwanted 

pregnancies and abortions as factors 

that could affect students’ 

health status, thereby hindering 

their efforts to achieve excellence. 

Awosoga advised the students to 

take their careers services and shun 

vices which can truncate their academic 

pursuits. He said: “The university 

management has shown 

care to all students by guiding, 

monitoring and always advising 

them on how to achieve their 

dreams. Students must shun all 

vices and take your studies seriously.” 

The event was attended by the 

Vice-Chancellor, Prof Samson 

Ayanlaja; Chairman of Governing 

Council, Prof Peter Okebukola, 

Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr B.A. 

Onyekwere, Parents’ Forum members 

and students.

33 

CAMPUS LIFE 


‘KSU belongs 

to grade ‘A’ 

varsity’ 

•Prof Aina (right) discussing with Ajayi at the event 

How students can achieve their dreams, by Enactus chief 

FOR five days last week, over 

300 students from 34 higher 

institutions converged on the 

Ekiti State University (EKSU) for a 

leadership training organised by 

Enactus Nigeria, a youth non-profit 

organisation. 

The Acting Country Director for 

Enactus, Mr. Michael Ajayi, said the 

event was aimed at training students 

on how to implement and 

achieve their sustainable project 

plan. 

Each Enactus team in the participating 

school will present 10 com- 

•Some of the matriculating students with their lecturers 

NO fewer than 2,830 freshers 

took the oath of matriculation 

at Heritage Polytechnic 

in Eket, Akwa Ibom State last weekend. 

The new intakes were told to 

be of good behavior and shun vices 

that could dent the image of the institution. 

Any student found guilty 

of misconduct will be expelled, the 

school management said. 

The Registrar, Mrs Iniobong 

Ekott, administered the oath on the 

students, who were admitted into 

full and part time studies for National 

Diploma (ND) and Higher 

National Diploma (HND). 

The Rector, Elder Udoyiu 

UNIVERSITY (KSU) in 

Anyigba has held matriculation 

for its fresher charging 

them not to allow themselves 

to be carried away by the social 

life around the university environment. 

No few than 4, 396 students 

were admitted. 

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof 

Hassan Isah, assured the students 

of the management’s readiness to 

create platform for hard-working 

and serious-minded students to 

achieve their aims. He told the 

students to be worthy ambassadors 

of the university, advising 

them against engaging in vices, 

such as cultism, examination mal- 

From Olatunji Awe 

EKSU 

munity-based projects and select 10 

project leaders to present the plan 

on their behalf. 

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Patrick 

Aina, reiterated the school’s readiness 

to partner with Enactus to engender 

intellectual development 

among its students. He said: “We 

want our students to mingle with 

their peers from other schools to 

share ideas and challenges and also 

look for possible solution to such 

challenge. This is the best way to 

develop their intellects.” 

After the training, the participants 

visited Ikogosi Waterfall in Ikogosi 

Ekiti to unwind. The excursion featured 

talent hunt show and platform 

where Enatcus members from 

other school interact with themselves. 

Participants also presented a 

dummy plan on how they would 

achieve their projects. Implementation 

plan of the EKSU team was 

adjudged as the best project and the 

team qualified to the final stage. 

Ajayi praised the university management 

for supporting the initiative, 

saying the event was the best 

since its inception in 2013. 

Olusegun Falana, a 300-Level student 

in Obafemi Awolowo University 

(OAU) in Ile-Ife, described the 

training as educative and fun. “I 

would love to come again if given 

the opportunity,” he said. 

Abdulgafar Onilearo, a student of 

Kwara State University, said: “I am 

refreshed and glad to be in Ikogosi 

warm spring. The organisers must 

be commended for this event.” 

Poly advises freshers on drug abuse 

From Sam Ibok 

UYO 

Udoyiu, urged the students to take 

their studies seriously and also be 

good ambassadors of their families 

and communities. He said of the 

over 5,000 candidates applied to 

the polytechnic, but only 2,830 met 

the admission requirements. 

Udoyiu advised the freshers to 

maximise the opportunity of their 

admission to add values to their 

lives, urging them to shun cultism, 

drug abuse, prostitution and others 

vices that could make them to 

lose focus of their academic pursuits. 

The occasion witnessed a large 

turnout of parents, guardians and 

relatives of the students. The 

freshers expressed joy, describing 

the ceremony as a milestone in 

their lives. 

Gideon Bassey, ND 1 Business 

Administration, said: “It is a wonderful 

and memorable day for me. 

I am glad to have my friends and 

Kogi varsity matriculates 4, 396 

From Mohammed Yabagi 

KSU 

practice, harassment and drug 

abuse. The VC said the school had 

zero tolerance for misconduct. 

Isah stressed the need for the students 

to obey the school rules, 

adding that the management 

would not hesitate wield a big 

stick on anyone found flouting the 

institution’s regulations. He prepared 

the minds of the students 

towards the challenges they may 

face during their stay on the campus, 

noting that accommodation 

remained the major problem. 

Isah said: “Our wish is to accommodate 

all students on campus, 

because this is most appropriate 

for learning, scholarship, research 

and discipline. However, we face 

challenges in accommodating all 

students and this is not peculiar 

to this university only.” 

The VC assured that efforts were 

being made to address the situation, 

citing the recent commissioning 

of two new hostel blocks 

family members celebrating this 

day with me today. I hope this matriculation 

would be the starting 

point of excellence in my life.” 

Emmanuel Ngonsor admitted 

into Business Administration Department, 

said: “I thank God for 

keeping me alive to witness this 

special day. I pray that God 

strengthen us through our periods 

of studies.” 

Nte John and Christianah 

Amanawaji promised to take their 

studies seriously. 

by Governor Idris Wada. 

He used the occasion to reiterate 

his call to well-meaning 

people in the state and publicspirited 

individuals to come to 

the aid of the institution, saying 

government alone cannot solve 

the problem. 

A breakdown shows that 394 

were admitted into the Faculty of 

Agriculture, 679 in Faculty of Arts 

and Humanities, 806 in Faculty of 

Education, 84 in Faculty of Law, 

779 in Management Sciences and 

42 in College of Medicine. 

The faculties of Natural Sciences 

and Social Sciences had 615 and 

997 freshers. 

From Mohammed Yabagi 

KSU 

CONTRARY to the purported 2015 

ranking of Nigerian universities published 

by a blog site, Vice-Chancellor 

(VC) of Kogi State University (KSU) 

in Anyigba, Prof Hassan Isah, has dismissed 

his school’s position on the 

list. 

Prof Isah said the university belongs 

to Category A in the comity of universities 

as confirmed by independent 

accreditation bodies and the National 

Universities Commission (NUC). 

He debunked the assertion that that 

ranking was released by the NUC, 

saying the commission does not carry 

out rankings. What NUC does time 

to time, the VC said, is accreditation 

of programmes of universities. 

He said after accreditation visit to 

schools, the NUC team would inform 

stakeholders on the outcome of the 

exercise through a letter to the Vice- 

Chancellor of such school. The reports, 

he said, are published weekly in the 

NUC bulletin and publication on its 

website. 

He said there were no programmes 

denied accreditation in the university 

and that, 75 per cent of the school 

programmes had full accreditation 

status. He said any university with 70 

per cent or more of its programmes 

on full accreditation belongs to category 

A. 

KSU, he added, scored 71.45 per cent 

in the first institutional accreditation 

conducted in 2011, which he said represented 

‘A’ status and valid for seven 

years. He said the university was 

among first-rated state universities 

and seventh among 26 major universities. 

Prof Isah said the Institute of Chartered 

Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), 

last August, also conducted its own 

accreditation visitation to the university 

to assess its Accounting 

programme, at the end of which the 

university was scored 76 per cent. 

He assured parents and guardians 

that the school is in good hands and 

have a healthy academic status. 

Computer 

Science 

students elect 

leaders 

From Daniel Adeoye 

CRAWFORD 

MEMBERS of the National 

Association of Computer 

Science Students 

(NACOSS), Crawford University 

chapter, have elected their leaders. 

The elections, which held last 

Friday, started with the screening 

of candidates by the electoral 

committee; this was followed by 

a debate and manifesto during 

which the candidates explained 

their programmes for students. 

Voting started at 11am in the 

department’s Lecture Room and 

ended at 2pm. The position of the 

president was keenly contested. 

Samuel Jegede emerged the 

president-elect with 69.20 per cent 

of the total votes. His opponent, 

Chibuzor Umeilechukwu, had 

28.8 per cent. Godwin Umekwe 

garnered 89.40 per cent votes cast 

to become the vice president-elect 

but contested unopposed. 

Others elected include Samuel 

Salami, Software Director, Caleb 

Chibuike, Hardware Director, 

Henry Isaiah, Director of External 

Affairs, Precious Aderimiki, 

General Secretary and Tayo 

Fabiyi, Sport Director.

34 

CAMPUS LIFE 


Members of BrandiQ 

Club in three higher 

institutions have 

visited Synthesis 

Communication to 

learn from the 

masters. GILBERT 

ALASA reports. 

Saving the 

creative 

industry 

TO hone their skills in marketing 

communication, executive 

members of BrandiQ Campus 

Club visited the corporate headquarters 

of Synthesis Communications 

last Thursday. 

The visit turned out to be an intellectual 

exercise. The representatives 

of the club in the University of Lagos 

(UNILAG) and the Lagos State University 

(LASU), Ojo joined their counterparts 

in Redeemers’ University 

(RUN) to chart a new course for 

marketing communications across 

campuses. 

The students were led by a lecturer, 

Dr Omowale Adelabu. The President 

of the club in RUN, Opeyemi 

Adebiyi, a 400-Level Mass Communication 

student, said the visit was a 

familiarisation tour. 

“We are here to learn about system 

of working of the Synthesis Communications 

as the franchise owner of 

BrandiQ magazine and also to 

familiarise ourselves with the man- 

•Ekeh (sitting second left) and Agbo (sitting right) and other staff with the students after the excursion 

agement of the firm. We will share 

our activities so far with the management 

and our future plans for the 

club especially for our forthcoming 

Mass Communication Week,” 

Opeyemi said. 

Receiving the students, the firm’s 

Managing Director and Editor-in- 

Chief of BrandiQ, Mr Desmond Ekeh, 

praised the students for the visit, hailing 

them for making good use of the 

opportunity provided by the platform 

to improve their studies and 

enhance their knowledge base. 

Ekeh said: “BrandiQ is committed 

to excellence and leadership through 

knowledge transfer. We are proud of 

what the club has achieved in 

Redeemer’s University with the support 

of the school lecturers and management. 

We respect the foresight 

and responsiveness of the university 

towards the platform, what is to 

build mind and soul. We trust they 

will record more progress to 

complement their achievements so 

far. We will encourage the other 

universities to emulate the club for 

the benefit of students and the society 

at large.” 

Ekeh informed the students how 

the company started, stressing that 

the firm’s management was committed 

to its vision and that of the 

magazine. He emphasised the need 

for training of quality graduates and 

skilled manpower for marketing 

communication, adding that it 

would serve as a basis for sustaining 

the creative industry. 

He said the firm would continue 

to train responsible and enterprising 

youths to contribute their quota to 

the nation building. This, he said, is 

the reason for regular workshops 

and seminars held by the magazine 

to support students in their academic 

pursuits and provide a platform 

to expand the national conversation 

and build a virile nation. 

In his remarks, Dr Adelabu commended 

the magazine in growing 

the knowledge base of students 

through its activities. He said: “Over 

the years, the Department of Mass 

Communication in Redeemer’s University 

has benefitted immensely 

from the club’s initiatives and the 

free copies of magazine. The 

Marcomm Academy segment of the 

magazine has become an official 

toolbox of the department. This explains 

why the department was able 

to convince the school management 

to promptly provide all the support 

that the BrandiQ Club needed take 

flourish.” 

He also revealed that the club executives 

had lined up programmes 

they would embark on in partnership 

with the firm’s management. 

Opeyemi presented the club’s 

SHE never dreamed to become 

an entrepreneur as a graduating 

student of the Federal Poly- 

technic, Offa (OFFA POLY) in Kwara 

State, but the 10-month strike by the 

Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics 

(ASUP) offered Nneamaka 

Ezeimo an opportunity to try her 

hands in bead making. Six months 

after the ASUP called off its, 

Nneamaka has acquired fame in the 

business and has floated her own 

company - Nicky Beads World. 

She could not stay at home while 

polytechnic teachers close campuses. 

She used the period to learn how to 

make beads and wire works. “I said 

to myself, let me do this. I don’t know 

where it will be useful,” she said. 

According to Nneamaka, who is 

now a Corps member, the decision 

paid up and after her Nation Youth 

Service, she does not have plan to 

search for white-collar job. 

Nneamaka, who studied Mass 

Communication, said she learned the 

vocation stage by stage. “I first learnt 

how to make local beads,” she said. 

“Then I followed this by learning 

how to make wire works, and then 

the combination of beads and wire 

works. I studied Mass Communication, 

but this does not correlate with 

what I love doing now. I have discovered 

bead making is what I like 

to do most.” 

Her first job, she said, is the turning 

point in her life. “I was very 

happy when I won my first contract 

in bead making. The first job I did 

was for a friend’s sister, who was 

getting married. My friend told me 

her sister would need bead works for 

the Asoebi (uniform) they picked. 

They asked me to make simple beads 

for the ladies. Because of the perfect 

work I did, they gave me the exact 

price I charged. 

I made the beads and packaged it. 

I told myself that, since I could 

agenda for the 2015 BrandiQ Week 

with the theme: Building a world class 

university: The role of brand management. 

She explained that the theme was 

chosen as a demonstration of the club’s 

commitment to the goal of the 

university. 

Opeyemi said the programme, which 

has been scheduled for next month, 

would feature a public lecture, award 

presentations, a get-together and handover 

ceremony to a new executive. 

The firm’s Deputy Managing Director 

and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of 

BrandiQ, Mr Agbo Agbo, hailed the 

initiative, pledging the firm 

management’s support to the event 

to be held at the Redeemer’s University. 

He also commended the plans 

initiated by the BrandiQ clubs in 

UNILAG and LASU to inaugurate 

their local chapters to enable them 

hold major events on their campuses. 

While many of her peers may have done nothing worthwhile during the 10-month strike by the Academic Staff Union of 

Polytechnics (ASUP) last year, Nneamaka Ezeimo, who graduated from the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY), learnt a 

vocation that will make her self-reliant after her Youth Service. JENNIFER UMEH (ND II Mass Communication) writes. 

Gains of 

strike 

achieve this, then I could do more 

things and making improvement. I 

keep on learning and I have not 

stopped, because I desire to grow 

bigger.” 

Asked if starting was rosy, 

Nneamaka said she had doubts if her 

craftwork would go beyond her 

thought. “We live in a society where 

people believe they have to patronise 

people they know,” she said, adding: 

“They want to deal with name. When 

I started, it was difficult. Even when 

you show people pictures, they will 

tell you ‘no problem, we will get back 

to you. Some people will tell you they 

have regular clients they patronise. 

People thought I could not do it. But 

I told myself I would continue to do 

what I know how to do best.” 

How lucrative is the vocation? 

Nneamaka said bead making could 

be money-spinning if the makers develop 

their creativity and satisfy their 

clients’ taste. She said the biggest job 

she had done was given to her by an 

American-based client, who wanted 

a unique design. 

“It was not easy to get the client’s 

taste but I used my initiative to get 

the job done. I have built my own 

taste and know what people love. It 

could be stressful, but if one has to 

make efforts to deliever what is good 

to clients,” she said. 

If Nneamaka had not been a bead 

maker, what else would she do? “I 

would have been a caterer,” she said. 

“I like meeting people and attending 

to their needs. Although I am a shy 

person, I have been meeting clients 

and guests at social functions,” she 

added. 

•Nneamaka


CAMPUS LIFE 

Should young Nigerians stop dreaming? 

THE good book says that our 

young men shall dream 

dreams and our old men 

shall see visions. Even though I 

believe in the infallible words of 

God, the plight of the Nigerian 

youth tempts me to reconsider the 

veracity or accuracy of my faith. 

Permit me to say that the dreaming 

atmosphere in Nigeria is fast 

diminishing. That should not come 

across as a scandal. Millions of 

Nigerian youths go to sleep – that 

is for those who can still sleep – sad, 

confused, frustrated, heartbroken et 

al. Under such conditions, the 

consequence of sleeping is the 

repetition of horror dreams. With 

every passing day, it becomes more 

and more agonisingly difficult to 

dream because obstacles abound to 

cut short the actualisation of such 

dreams. Even when the dreams are 

shared with friends, family 

members and pastors who 

ordinarily should be supportive, 

they almost always make it a point 

of responsibility to cast the doubtful 

look and give compelling reasons 

why such lofty dreams may never 

come true. At the end of the day, 

those with a weaker willpower are 

left with no option than to abandon 

their dreams to perish. Worse still, 

if one decides to press on with his 

dreams, the harsh masquerading 

realities in Nigeria attempt to drive 

every iota of motivation away. 

The rule of thumb is: study hard, 

make a first class, graduate and 

then get a good job. Such is the 

advice given by parents, religious 

fellowships, lecturers and friends. 

Why not? They argue. For even the 

JUST like Paul the octopus who 

shot to fame during the 2010 

FIFA World Cup in South 

Africa for correctly predicting the 

outcome of eight matches, there is 

a gentleman cum politician of our 

time who predicted that the 

incumbent president, Dr 

Goodluck Jonathan, will lose the 

just concluded 2015 general 

election earlier this year. His 

name is Dim James, who I prefer 

to address as Octopus Uche.His 

prediction was not accentuated 

because he is not one of these 

prophets who politicised the 

straw of their oracular utterances. 

As anarchetypal democrat, he 

believed that for democracy to 

survivethere is need for a potent 

opposition just like the case of All 

Progressives Congress (APC) in 

the build-up to the 2015 elections. 

His prediction started to manifest 

when PresidentJonathan took side 

publicly on the Governors’ Forum 

imbroglio. And many wondered 

NATURE, by all variables, is 

replete with all sort of good, 

bad and ugly expressions 

which represent the complexity 

higher animals are made of. Truly, it 

is not demeaning to describe men as 

political animals, but one 

distinguishing factor which 

differentiates men from other smaller 

animals is their application of logic, 

methodology and deep thinking in 

resolving life’s complex questions. 

Men are equally known to employ 

diplomacy at the sight of an untoward 

situation, to mitigate a looming 

disaster or douse possible tension. 

More so, the dynamic manipulation 

of people’s minds in the midst of 

conflicted interests, encapsulates the 

whole idea of bio-cultural diversity. 

Now check this. On a typical night, 

the well-tarred road leading to the 

“State of Harmony” hotel is a lovely 

sight to behold. Maidens, in their 

handful, would besiege the road 

forming a horizontal line whose 

margin would never break. Clad in 

scriptures implore us to “study to 

show thy self approved”. Maybe 

such advice helps, but does that 

really ease the gruesome realities 

that we have to face in Nigeria even 

with the first class certificates and 

knowledge? 

In recent times, more and more 

emphasis has been laid on 

entrepreneurship. But if you intend 

starting a business, don’t you 

require start-up capital? How do 

you go about raising such capital? 

Recently a friend and I approached 

some banks to solicit for 

sponsorship for an intended career 

summit. Now, as student leaders, 

we also brought our own bumper 

offer of benefits to them. But ask me 

what happened: They each said 

they will get back to us, but till now, 

many months after the scheduled 

date of the summit, we have gotten 

no response whatsoever. This left 

me thinking. Were all the friendly 

and supportive adverts placed by 

these banks in the media meant to 

inspire people or in reality to kill 

their dreams? Imagine the very 

familiar scenario where you pass 

through fire to pay your way 

through school. You cry now and 

again as a result of hunger. You 

suffer deprivations. You beg and 

borrow from classmates and you 

face the humiliation and all 

attendant consequences of being 

walked out of examination halls 

because you have not paid your 

school fees, just like my fourth year 

in school, and somehow you still 

manage to finish. Then you emerge 

with the much emphasised 

Nigerian certificate and join the 

labour market. One and two years 

pass but you have no job. You turn 

to business, come up with an idea 

and then approach the banks for 

loans and aid but they quietly 

show you the door. You try 

everything possible and yet 

nothing substantial comes from the 

government, friends or relations. 

This is the typical Nigerian story. 

In fact, I know a young chap who 

finished his first degree and 

frantically searched for a job for 

three years with no luck. He raised 

money from friends and relations 

to pursue a Masters Degree in 

order to improve his chances of 

getting a job. He went to a 

university located in the south 

west region and finally obtained a 

Masters degree. Yet, this chap 

hawked his resume for three 

additional years before becoming 

a bus driver in the commercial city 

of Lagos. Now tell me, how will 

our youths dream dreams under 

unfriendly atmospheres such as 

this? 

In any case, should Nigerian 

youths stop dreaming because 

dreams are difficult to realise 

around here? Should we keep 

mute in the place of prayers and 

allow the forces of darkness lay 

siege on the dreams of the Nigeria 

youths? Should we stop working 

hard because hope is farfetched? 

The answer is no. Nigerian youths 

can’t give up and must not give 

up. We must keep fighting until 

we prevail. We must keep 

pushing, hitting and knocking 

until the heavens quake for a 

positive answer. 

By Dumebi Chukwuemeka 

I am aware of the naked truth 

that opportunities are becoming 

scarce, education is dancing with 

the winds and suffering is ever 

increasing. Our airports are 

endowed with dead birds called 

airplanes and many of our roads 

are death traps. I know it seems 

like to work hard is to chase the 

wind, but what can we do? For as 

long as there is breathe in us, we 

must never stop dreaming, never 

stop hoping and never let go of 

the ultimate victory which we 

seek, for weeping may endure for 

the night but joy will definitely 

come in the morning. A wise man 

once said that success is 

Meet Uche, the octopus 

By Nzube Iheji 

who was cajoling the president to 

protect the interest of a dubious 

few rather than respect and 

protect the sanctity of the choice 

of the majority. For obvious 

reasons, it was hard to imagine 

how 16 has come to be greater 

than 19. My basic mathematical 

knowledge fails me here. 

The result was the defection of 

five powerful governors to APC 

just because President Jonathan 

decided to strike his own sheep at 

his own peril. Anyway, that is a 

lesson for democracy. 

And with the benefit of such 

insight, Uche the Octopus was 

quick to warn anyone that the 

battle has been lost by President 

Jonathan. Many dismissed the 

warning with a wave of the hand, 

their various kinds of stunning outfits, 

the beautiful ones amongst, mindful 

of the likely hiccups, love setting the 

niche on fire, beating every show 

hands down. They plaster their face 

with rounds of indian cosmetics like 

those placed on compulsive dose of 

narcotic drugs. Unlike the dark days 

of anarchy when the bevies of beauties 

refuse to vacate the centre stage, then 

it becomes a battle of survival between 

the beautiful and the ugly ones. 

Cashing in on their flamboyant 

carriage with sparks in their eyes, the 

night marauders command the 

servitude of the potential night 

bidders, by manoeuvring their way to 

the realm of the mighty. The train of 

posh rides parked by the lots remains 

a wonderful side attraction. 

They cling to their shadows like a 

basking in the understanding that 

no incumbent leader loses out in 

our brand of politics. The last 

straw that broke the camel’s back 

was Mr President‘s unresolved rift 

with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo 

and the latter’s insistence ona 

single tenure by President 

Jonathan. 

His last public action of tearing 

his membership card and his 

subsequent support to General 

Buhari did more harm than good 

to PDP as a party. Even though 

majority of the party stakeholders 

saw this move as nothing, the 

Octopus saw it as a great damage 

and an irreparable one with the 

2015 general election in sight. 

Even with the controversial 

postponement of the polls and 

GEJ’s last minute implosion in 

Lagos and the entire South west, 

new couple set to savour a scintillating 

honeymoon. Judging from the other 

side of attraction, the fame teasers are 

already there forming their own 

parallel government. They are set to 

unseat the incumbents, who denied 

their supposed birth rights. 

Against the background of this 

bleak socio-economic outlook of the 

society, the day-to-day exploits of 

these night explorers preaches the 

lessons in life’s existential realities. 

Rather than being subservient to the 

dictating tune of dare-devil, they play 

along the night marauding about the 

streets in sanctified nudity. 

It is highly pitiable that the society 

fails to uphold the supposed values 

naturally inherent in every being. The 

craze for materialismhas become the 

cardinal target of every young mind; 

average , old and so on. Regrettably, 

morality which was a dignifying 

the damage had long been done. 

The Octopus maintained his 

ground, predicating his argument 

on the fact that it is suicidal to 

negotiate at the war front with the 

enemy. In what seemed like 

flogging a dead horse, President 

Jonathan was unable to garner 

reasonable armoury to challenge 

the gospel of change championed 

by the Buhari camp. And even 

after the election, the party has 

been enmeshed in a flurry of 

scandals and internal elbowshoving, 

showing the many cracks 

on the PDP wall. 

To be candid, this prediction 

stoked deep-seated hatred 

between the Octopus and his 

associate who failed to appreciate 

reality as well as close relatives 

who saw General Buhari as a 

religious extremist. 

Understanding Western mentality 

By Toyin Ali 

emblem in the yester-year 

generation, became blended due to 

the overbearing influence of 

civilisation. This became outwardly 

manifested with thecurrent trends of 

insanity daily incorporated into our 

culture. 

Of course, the elderly ones out there 

have forgotten that where history 

fails to takes its didactic course, the 

younger generation shall drown in 

hollow abyss. Must African youths 

get thoroughly immersed in the socalled 

Caucasian civilisation? Of 

what logic is it when the society runs 

into complete jeopardy just because 

we cherish the seemingly decaying 

western values, alienable doctrines 

and racial-centric idealism? 

It is of sound belief that the 

monumental collapse of our 

respective traditional and cultural 

institutions, culminated in the 

opportunity that woos 

preparedness, so each one must be 

prepared whenever opportunity 

comescalling. 

If you don’t have almighty God, 

get hold of him for he is freely 

available. If you don’t have any 

education, it is never too late. Are 

you lacking in skills? Acquire 

some. They abound. The end is 

that when opportunity does come 

your way, you may not be the 

reason why you don’t shine. 

Ignore the loafers, discouragers, 

time wasters, never-do-wells and 

hope killers positioned 

everywhere along your journey. 

Their enterprise is contagious; 

remember evil communication 

corrupts good manners. Seek like 

minds, achievers, positive people 

and trail blazers whose thought 

processes are higher than yours. 

Finally, if you forget anything 

else don’t forget that all that 

matters in this life is God. Cling 

to him for he is the author and 

finisher of our faith. The 

scriptures say that the horses and 

chariots are ready for battle but 

victory belongs to God. The race 

is neither to the swift nor the battle 

to the strong but the conclusion of 

all matters lie with God who shows 

mercy upon whom he chooses to 

show compassion. 

To the Nigerian youths I say, keep 

holding on to your dreams, Let us 

keep dreaming, for our victory is 

sure. 

•Dumebi, just graduated from 

Metallurgical and Materials 

Engineering, UNN 

But Octopus saw the enviable 

consistency in the man and the 

party which laid the platform for 

his glory. Like water, he 

remained unmoved and 

continued to maintainhis ground. 

This gives credence to the saying 

that “truth is incontrovertible; 

malice may attack it, ignorance 

may dribble it, but in the end 

there it is.” 

Even though this gentleman 

was not celebrated like our 

prophets when he made this 

prediction, one cannot help but 

acknowledge the strength of his 

faith, his foresight and his 

consistency and accuracy. In 

Uche the Octopus, we see a 

politician driven by the plight of 

his people and one that is poised 

to serve his people in truth. Also 

in him,we see a quintessential 

apostle of democracy who sees the 

future of the Nigerian dream. 

•Nzube, 500-Level Law student, 

ABSU 

sudden demise of societal values. The 

cause for re-modelling the tainted 

image of our society have eventually 

vanquished into the thin air, for 

which revival of the present situation 

of things appears somewhat watery 

and unconquerable. As inspired by 

Price Pritchett, change always comes 

bearing gift. And if such dreamed 

change will gravitate into reality, 

everyone, including the young and 

old minds, must brace up to the 

challenges. 

Coming to terms with the 

hypocrisy of the old and present 

generations, society must have a 

rethink and reinvigorate the 

seemingly weak traditional structure 

as against its original strong 

background during pre-civilisation 

years. Perhaps, the course of history 

never eschews the heroic deeds of the 

past generations but it dawns on the 

new generation to reset a new tune of 

history. 

•Toyin, 300-Level Law, UNILORIN

36 

CAMPUS LIFE 


•The inductees after the event 

NO fewer than 52 graduating 

students of the College of 

Health Sciences of the 

Usmanu Danfodiyo University, 

Sokoto (UDUS) took Hippocratic 

Oath at a ceremony held at the 

school auditorium on Tuesday last 

week. 

The Deputy Speaker of the Kwara 

State House of Assembly 

Muhammad Gana Yisa led the pack 

of dignitaries to the 26th induction 

of the university. 

The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof 

Abdullah Zuru, was represented by 

his deputy for Administration, Prof 

Malamin Mode. 

From Yasin Olawumi 

UDUS 

Provost of College of Health Sciences, 

Prof Mungadi, in his address, 

said the college had produced some 

of the best medical doctors in the 

country, saying there was no doubt 

the graduands would have courage 

to repeat the excellence for which the 

college is known. 

The VC congratulated the induct- 

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600 

Varsity inducts 52 medical doctors 

ees on the successful completion of 

their programme, urging them to 

adhere to the ethics of the profession. 

He also advised them to be ambassadors 

of the university and use there 

knowledge for the benefit of humanity. 

Yisa said he was delighted to be at 

the ceremony and to witness induction 

of his first son into medical 

profession. He congratulated the 

graduands and advised them to uphold 

the ethics and use it to guide 

their conduct. 

Prof A.U. Sanga of the Economics Department 

said: “The management deserves 

our praise for providing conducive 

environment at the college for 

the graduands to achieve their aims. 

They are fortunate to pass through 

school. I will advise them to serve 

humanity with the oath they have 

taken.” 

Chief Medical Director of the 

school’s Teaching Hospital, Dr Yakubu 

Sheu, said the graduands worked for 

three years in the Teaching Hospital, 

praising the provost for creating a level 

playing field for all the graduates. He 

said the graduands were exposed to low 

and extreme cases while at the hospital, 

urging them to follow to the rule of the 

practice. 

The highpoint was the administration 

of the oath on the inductees and 

their introduction to the profession. 

•Members of the club releasing the balloon into the atmosphere 

FUTA students launch balloon in 

space contest 

MEMBERS of Space Club at 

the Federal University of 

Technology, Akure 

(FUTA), Ondo State have participated 

in the just-concluded Global Space 

Balloon Challenge (GSBC) held on 

Saturday. The contest was held simultaneously 

across the world, with participants 

launching their balloons and 

taking the video to send to the 

organisers. 

The students, who represented West 

Africa in the contest, launched a 600 

gram balloon, which flowed into the 

atmosphere at an ascent rate of 300 

metre per minute. They balloon travelled 

a distance of 32km into space. 

Besides, they also performed a pollution 

experiment, taking the vertical 

profile measurement of the concentration 

of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere. 

The experiment, the students 

said, is important to understand global 

warming and climate research. 

According to the FUTA team leader, 

Temidayo Oniosun, the feat was 

achieved after weeks of preparation. 

He said: “The club members were di- 

From Temidayo Oniosun 

FUTA 

vided into groups to work on different 

aspects of the project, which includes 

weather forecast, payload design 

and tracking system, which built 

a compartment in the balloon that has 

a camera taking video of the earth as 

the balloon ascends. We also have 

tracking device and sensor for measuring 

the concentration of carbon 

monoxide.” 

The aim of the project is to provide 

a platform on which students can expand 

their knowledge in space science 

and applications, which can prepare 

them to become leaders in space technology, 

said Prof J. Akinyede, FUTA’s 

Director of Centre for Space Research 

and Application. 

Over 200 local teams in the 42 countries 

participated in the contest. Winners 

will be announced in July by 

organisers of the contest. 

The club comprises 70 students of 

various departments, who operate 

under the Centre for Space Research 

and Application with a mission to 

produce next generation of space leaders. 

The club has project groups, including 

Astronomy, Cosmology, Global 

Navigation Satellite System, Robotics 

and Space Engineering, among 

others. 

‘The club members were divided into groups to work 

on different aspects of the project, which includes 

weather forecast, payload design and tracking system, 

which built a compartment in the balloon that has a 

camera taking video of the earth as the balloon ascends’


EDUCATION 

• Tobi (middle), with his parents Mrs. 'Shade Ashafa and Senator 'Gbenga Ashafa during his graduation from the 

George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA, where he bagged a Master of Law in National Security and 

U.S. Foreign Relations Law. 

• Prof Ralph Akinfeleye (left) Dr Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, Ag. Head, Mass Communication Department, University 

of Lagos (UNILAG); Dr Sunday Oloruntola and Dr Ibrahim Ismail - all of Mass Communication Department, with 

Dr Fassy Yusuf and his wife, Iyabo, at a reception in honour of Yusuf who bagged Doctorate Degree at UNILAG. 

59 OAU students bag alumni scholarship 

THE joy of 59 outstanding undergraduates 

of Obafemi 

Awolowo University (OAU) 

knew no bounds when they won 

scholarships worth over N3 million 

during the OAU Muslim Graduates' 

Association's annual reunion convention 

held at the institution's 

campus in Ile-Ife, Osun State. 

On hand to present the scholarship 

to the lucky students were erudite 

lawyer and business tycoon, 

Dr. Wale Babalakin, who was also 

the guest speaker at the event; 

chairman board of trustees of the 

association, Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti; National 

President, Prof. Abdulwahab 

Egbewole; chairman of the occasion, 

and Secretary General, Nigeria 

Supreme Council for Islamic 

Affairs, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede. 

One of the recipients from the 

Faculty of Arts (who does not wish 

to be named) thanked the 

organisers of the scholarship for 

making their dreams come true. 

"As you can see some of us are 

from the less privileged homes but 

endowed with extra-ordinary intellect 

by Almighty Allah. Through 

THE Vice Chancellor, Federal 

University of Technology 

Minna (FUTMinna), Prof. 

Musbau Akanji, has said research and 

infrastructural development in the 

country's higher institutions will continue 

to be hampered if the problem 

of funding is not properly addressed. 

The vice chancellor said this when 

he received members of the Senior 

Executive Course 37, of the Nigeria 

Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies 

(NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, Plateau State 

at Gidan Kwano campus of the uni- 

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna 

versity. 

Represented by the Deputy Vice 

Chancellor, (Academic), Prof 

Abdullahi Bala, the don lamented 

that funding had been the bane of 

universities in the country. 

Akanji said the challenge of funding 

has affected most universities in 

the areas of research output, infra- 

benevolence of these people, we 

have been able to achieve our 

dreams which would have been 

jeopardised due to financial constraints. 

I pray that God will continue 

to bless them and enlarge 

their coasts," she said. 

National President of the association, 

Prof Egbewole, said 

through the initiative, the group 

has been able to touch many lives. 

"Since the inception of the 

programme in 2009/2010 academic 

session, UNIFEMGA has 

awarded scholarship to students of 

OAU worth N17, 566,000.00. It is 

gratifying to note and put on 

record that 16 of our awardees 

bagged First Class degrees at the 

last convocation of the university," 

he said. 

Egbewole implored the awardees 

to learn one lesson from the gesture: 

that giving back to the society 

is the only way it can be sustained. 

Also speaking, the OAU Vice- 

Chancellor, Prof Bamitale Omole, 

who was represented by the 

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), 

Prof. Ayobami Salami, praised 

the association for its benevolence 

and support to the university. 

"For so many years, they have 

been consistent and exceptional in 

awarding scholarship to their students. 

If we can assist five or six of 

them, the story will not be the 

same. As an institution, we will 

continue to partner with you," 

Salami said. 

Founded over two decades ago, 

apart from providing the scholarship 

to outstanding undergraduates 

and postgraduate students, the association 

seeks to educate, enlighten 

and address societal issues. 

The annual convention in its 11th 

year running provides opportunity 

to members and the academic community 

to celebrate, network and 

seek ways to improve their alma 

mater. 

Other dignitaries at the event included 

the Chief Imam of OAU 

Central Mosque, Prof. Abubakar 

Sanusi; Governor Rauf Aregebsola 

of Osun State, who was represented 

by Mr Basil Lawal; Alhaji Ahmed 

Popoola, and Alhaji Abdulwaheed 

Odeyimka. 

IT was to enjoy a stable academic 

calendar that Mouhammed 

Ahmed Zein transferred his 

studentship from Rivers State University 

of Science and Technology 

(RSUST), Port Harcourt, to Kampala 

International University, Uganda. 

However, his education has become 

threatened due to financial 

problems. 

Mouhammed, who was born to a 

Lebanese father and Nigerian 

mother, was advised by his father to 

change schools when RSUST suffered 

unsteady academic calendar as a result 

of perennial strikes. But then, 

things were good for his father, who 

worked in Port Harcourt. 

Sadly, since his dad lost his job, 

Mouhammed has been unable to pay 

fees at his new school where he is 

studying civil engineering. The university 

authorities have given him a 

three-week deadline to complete payment 

or risk not writing examinations. 

Out of desperation, Mouhammed's 

•Rafiu Ebiti (left) and Tunde Popoola at the event. 

37 

Ex-RSUST student 

stranded in Ugandan varsity 

•Begs for help 

College gets 

new provost 

GOVERNOR Gabriel Suswam 

has approved the appointment 

of Dr Orkpe Mathias 

Nder as the new provost of College 

of Education (COE), Katsina- 

Ala, Benue State. 

Nder takes over from Dr Hans 

Senwua, whose tenure expired recently. 

Nder is an associate Professor of 

Literature in English at the University 

of Agriculture Makurdi (UAM). 

Since his appointment was made 

public, students, parents, and lecturers 

have commended Suswam 

for Nder's appointment. 

They praised his sound academic 

background, administrative experience, 

and integrity while serving 

in various positions at AUN. 

Nder, who has since assumed 

From Precious Dikewoha, Port 

Harcourt 

worried father, Ahmed Zein, visited 

the Port Harcourt office of The Nation 

to appeal to the public for help. 

Mouhammed, who also spoke with 

this reporter on phone from Uganda, 

said he has also lost his accommodation 

because of his inability to pay. 

He appealed to Nigerians for help. 

He said: "I am calling on wellmeaning 

Nigerians, organisations 

and those who can offer help to me 

to assist me. I don't want to drop out 

of school because my father lost his 

job. As one whose mother is from 

Nigeria, I know I have a lot to offer 

this country. I want Nigerian government 

to assist me. 

"I am presently facing financial difficulties 

and I'm stranded here, I don't 

know what to do. My exams are 

coming up by next month. The university 

has said if I don't pay they 

will send me out of school. I have 

nothing to eat, and my accommodation 

has expired. I want Nigerians to 

assist, no matter how little it is." 

•Dr Nder 

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi 

duty, would be confronted with 

checking indiscipline among workers 

and students of the college who 

are notorious for taking to streets 

to protest the slightest policy of the 

school and events they quarrel with. 

Lack of funds hampers research, says FUTMinna VC 

structure and quality of their graduates 

and therefore called on private 

organisations and individuals to 

support the development of the education 

sector of the country. 

He praised the Tertiary Education 

Trust Fund (TETFUND) and Petroleum 

Technology Development 

Fund (PTDF) for funding research 

and infrastructural development in 

tertiary institutions. 

The vice chancellor also decried 

the management of basic education 

by local and state governments, saying 

it had affected the quality of the 

country's basic education sector. 

He appealed for adequate funding 

of the sector, stressing that education 

remains the bedrock of any development. 

Leader of the team, Air Cdr. 

Emmanuel Jekada (rtd) said the purpose 

of the visit was to interact with 

the university management to learn 

about the institution's problems and 

proffer solutions. 

Jekada said the country's educational 

system needed urgent attention 

to address the myriad of problems 

confronting the sector.

38 

CAMPUS LIFE 

IBBUL FILE 

NIPSS praises 

IBBUL programmes 

THE management of Ibrahim 

Badamasi Babangida University, 

Lapai (IBBUL), has been commended 

for initiating developmental 

academic programmes 

that will accelerate the socioeconomic 

fortunes of Niger State 

and Nigeria at large. Air Commodore 

Emmanuel Jekada (rtd), gave 

the commendation while he led 

the Senior Executive Course 37 of 

2015 participants of the National 

Institute for Policy and Strategic 

Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, who were 

on a study tour to the university. 

He expressed satisfaction with 

IBBUL's infrastructural stride, 

applauding the Niger State government 

for establishing the 

institution. Jekada stressed that 

every effort should be made to 

ensure that the funding system is 

enduring for sustainability. 

Jekada said the visit was part of 

traditional mandates of participants 

to undertake a tour to 

research and educational institutions 

nationwide with a view to 

expanding their knowledge on 

critical issues affecting the sector 

and how to evolve policies that 

could help mitigate some challenges. 

In his response, IBBUL Vice- 

Chancellor, Prof Muhammad 

Nasir Maiturare told participants 

that the university, with her 10 

years of modest history has 

evolved through developmental 

stages and now ranks high among 

its equals. 

NUC pledges ties 

THE Executive Secretary, National 

Universities Commission (NUC), 

Prof Julius Okojie, has assured the 

management of IBBUL of a cordial 

working relationship in order 

to enable the institution compete 

favourably with her peers across 

the globe. 

Okojie gave the assurance when 

the university management led by 

its Vice-Chancellor, Prof 

Muhammad Nasir Maiturare, 

called on his office in Abuja. 

Okojie underscored the need for 

stronger collaboration and linkage 

among universities and NUC 

if the former are to catch up with 

best practices of the contemporary 

competitive world knowledge. 

He advised the university management 

to always ensure that the 

Basic Minimum Academic Standard 

(BMAS) for every programme 

is strictly adhered to and should 

also liaise with the commission 

while planning the introduction of 

any academic programme for 

assistance. Earlier, the Prof 

Maiturare, stated that the visit was 

intended to seek from NUC, areas 

that would put the IBBUL on a 

better standing and to acquaint the 

commission with the current 

leadership of the university. 

Monash International 

Merit Scholarships 

Bachelor/Masters Degree 

Study in: Australia 

Course starts Semester 2, 2015 

Brief description: Monash 

University is offering a number of 

scholarship programmes including 

the Monash University International 

Merit Scholarships for outstanding 

international students who wish to 

pursue an undergraduate or 

postgraduate degree at Monash 

SCHOLARSHIPS 

APPROACHING DEADLINE 

University. 

Host Institution(s): Monash 

University in Australia 

Field(s) of study: Any eligible fulltime 

undergraduate or postgraduate 

(coursework) programmes offered at 

the university 

Target group: International 

students from all countries. Countries 

with strategic priorities for Monash 

will be given preference. 

Number of Scholarships: 31 

scholarships will be available in 2015. 

Scholarship value/inclusions: 

$10,000 for a full time study load (48 

credit points) paid per year until the 

minimum number of points for your 

degree are completed. 

Eligibility: International student 

•Commencing students with a full 

Monash course offer or continuing 

students, and 

•Undertaking a full time 

undergraduate or postgraduate 

(coursework) degree at a Monash 

campus in Australia 

Application instructions: Before 

applying for this scholarship, you 

must have received a full Monash 

course offer with no conditions. You 


must submit a separate application 

form for this scholarship by the 

deadline. The next deadlines are 15 

March/15 April/12 June 2015 for 

Semester 2, 2015. 

It is important to visit the official 

website (link found below) to access 

the application form and for detailed 

information on how to apply for 

this scholarship. 

Website: Official Scholarship 

Website: 

http:// 

www.monash.edu.au/study/ 

scholarships/international/ 

international-merit.html 

‘Our approach to education is holistic’ 

ITS approach to education is to 

engender spiritual, rational and 

emotional intelligence in its 

students; and this is why every 

programme of Regenesys Business 

School is weaved around its motto- 

‘awakening potential’. The philosophy 

is to have people discover their 

innate potentials and consolidate on 

same to build better leadership. 

“We believe that every human 

being has great potentials that are 

blocked by our fears. Our role is to 

block those fears so that people can 

now achieve their aspirations. Our 

mission is making the world a better 

place by developing and becoming 

better leaders. The problem the 

world is involved in today is lack 

of dedication and leadership in 

management skills; so by developing 

leaders, we are creating a ripple 

effect for families, organisations,” 

said Regenesys Business School 

Chairperson, Dr Marko Savania 

during a one day seminar on Effective 

Strategy; held at Eko Hotel and 

By Adegunle Olugbamila 

Suites on Friday last week. 

“It’s holistic education is one of 

the initiatives of Regenesys,” 

Savania continued. “We approach 

education holistically by developing 

rational, emotional and spiritual 

intelligence of our students”. 

Savania said the seminar would 

be a forerunner to several other similar 

programmes Regenesys would 

be rolling out especially in facets of 

business and human resources. 

The theme of the seminar, Savania 

explained, is not only tailored towards 

Nigeria’s needs alone but 

stretches globally since organisations 

now face stiff competitions. 

“The initiative is not tailored to 

Nigeria alone. Globally, competitive 

strategy is 

compelling.Companies are competing 

not only within their immediate 

locality but across the globe. So 

there is a clear need to develop a 

robust strategy that allows you 

compete and also think globally. It 

is to expose people to global best 

practices, to inspire participants to 

share experiences as well as to 

learn,“ he added. 

Regenesys Country Head, Supo 

Fawole, noted that the Regenesys, 

though started in South Africa yet 

birthed in Nigeria two years ago, 

aligning its strategy in two key areas 

of leadership and management. 

According to Fawole, Regenesys 

offers service in three key areas of 

academic qualification-post graduate 

diploma, executive education as 

well as short skills programme. 

The seminar was being replicated 

all through last week in Mumbai, 

Johannesburg in South Africa and 

Nigeria. 

“If you look at where Regenesys 

is located-India, South Africa and 

Nigeria are three key emerging 

markets each with a potential to 

make significant impact in the 

world. So taking this programme 

to a different location simply shows 

At 50, we are indebted to the founding 

fathers, says Auchi Poly Rector 

HOW would you describe 

Auchi Polytechnic at 50? 

It is a long and glorious 

history. If the institution were a human 

being, at 50 it would be time to 

sit back and do an appraisal. So, as a 

first generation technological institution, 

there is so much to which we 

can proudly lay claim. Our products 

are playing active roles in different 

critical sectors of the nation's 

economy. Our hands and brains are 

contributing immeasurably to national 

development. 

As an alumnus, what is your assessment 

first as a former student, lecturer 

and now a Rector? 

The institution undeniably has 

gone through transitions. We are indebted 

to the founding authorities 

that laboured to establish the 

institution's administrative, academic 

and social framework, and 

passed the torch down the line to us. 

Administrations come and go, but 

Auchi Polytechnic remains and there 

is always posterity to judge the net 

impact of our contributions. 

At 50, are you satisfied with the 

level of infrastructural development 

in the institution so far? 

Without doubt, we have made our 

modest contributions to the 

infrastructural transformation of 

Auchi Polytechnic. But our target is 

to create a learning environment in 

which students do not struggle for 

use of lecture rooms; where our laboratories 

have the right equipment and 

facilities such that on graduation, our 

products are left with the choice to 

either seek paid employment or be 

self employed; where the library system 

guarantees access to current reading 

and research materials, both in 

hard and electronic copies; where our 

teaching and non-teaching staff are 

properly motivated, comfortably accommodated 

and demonstrate the 

right quality of efficiency because 

they are exposed to quality capacity 

development programmes both locally 

and internationally. 

Have you been able to attract the 

attention of donor agencies for assistance 

in your drive to take the institution 

to greater heights? 

It is not easy to get the attention of 

these global agencies for now. But 

very soon, it will be the agencies seeking 

to partner with us when the inputs 

we are making now begin to 

mature. Meanwhile, we are making 

prudent use of our internally generated 

revenue, coupled with generous 

support from government agencies, 

to achieve our set developmental objectives. 

What are the major challenges you 

have faced in your first few years in 

office? 

I was brought up to see challenges 

as necessary ingredients for positive 

growth and development. 

I have held different posts in this 

institution, thus, my appointment as 

Rector only increased the scale of decisions 

and issues that require attention. 

My driving urge has been to justify 

the confidence reposed in me by 

the President, and to assure myself 

that I can do it. The teething challenges 

I faced only served as the tonic needed 

to stay focused on the tasks that faced 

us as a first generation polytechnic. 

there is a lot we can learn from each 

other. The market is so huge and 

the challenge of education is so big 

in Africa generally that the space is 

big enough for everybody to play,” 

Fawole said. 

At present, Fawole said 

Regenesys enjoys scholarships 

from Microsoft to run two of its 

programmes across 10 African nations. 

This is in addition to an agreement 

with global communication 

outfit MTN’s I-learning platform in 

which Regenesys provides exclusive 

and high quality educational 

content across 14 African countries, 

among others. 

“Participants will go away with 

impact that gives you confident 

about the future,” said Savanja on 

expectation of participants at the 

seminar. “You can achieve your 

dreams. Things that were being discussed 

are things that people have 

read about but to come together in 

learning environments like this has 

tremendous impact on you.” 

Dr. Philipa O. Idogho is the Rector of Auchi Polytechnic, an institution which recently clocked 

50. In this chat with OSEMWENGIE BEN OGBEMUDIA, Mrs Idogho speaks on the journey so 

far, stressing that challenges are meant to become instruments for positive growth. 

• From left: Dr. Olopade Williams, Vice-Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Mrs 

Marquis, Dr. Lolu Ojo, Guest Speaker; and Prof Grace Onawunmi at the annual Prof. V. O. Marquis Memorial 

lecture organised by the faculty. 

•Dr Idogho 

How cordial is your relationship 

with your team of management and 

staff for the past years? 

I must give thanks to God who has 

given me an amazing management 

team to work with these past years. 

What else can one wish for when one's 

management team and staff evolve 

into a close family unit where the 

common objective is to ensure things 

work well? You cannot ask for more. 

There is this insinuation around that 

some of the lecturers are involved in 

blocking and sexual harassment, how 

true is this? 

Over the years, we have orientated 

our staff, both teaching and non-teaching, 

to set and observe respectable 

work ethics and personal moral standards, 

to take pride in the names they 

bear in and out of office. I am proud of 

my staff. Nevertheless, there are appropriate 

administrative instruments 

to deal with unethical conduct by staff, 

if and when they are reported. 

What is your assessment of the academic 

performance of students over 

the years? 

There are many factors. They include 

quality of learning environment, 

quality of print and non-print 

learning materials, quality, experience 

and motivation level of teaching 

staff, and the students themselves.


EDUCATION 

NNPC quiz competition: Akwa Ibom dwarfs others 

•Organisers frown at poor performance in Physics 

PUPILS of Top Faith Secondary 

School, Akwa Ibom 

State, have emerged winner 

in the finals of the Southsouth 

zonal 2015 annual quiz competition 

organised by the Nigerian 


(NNPC). 

However, the organisers were 

unimpressed by the performance 

of the participating schools in 

Physics, which was one of the core 

subjects in the sciences and mathematics 

contest. 

But the Akwa Ibom team 

dazzled, topping the competition 

held at the West African Peoples’ 

Institute, Calabar, with about 50 

points ahead of other contestants 

from Rivers, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa 

and Cross River states. 

The competition featured science 

subjects including Chemistry, Biology, 

English language, Physics 

and Mathematics. 

Speaking at the event, NNPC 

General Manager, (Corporate 

Affairs) Mr Ohi Alegbe, charged 

participants to take their studies 

more seriously and develop 

interest in science-related subjects. 

He applauded the winners for 

Senator Tinubu 

counsels pupils 

on leadership 

THE management of Dansol 

High School, Ikeja in Lagos 

has held its sixth annual leadership 

lecture of the school. The lecture 

with the theme: Becoming 21st 

Century leaders of value and integrity, 

gave tips on good leadership. The 

event was held last Saturday. 

The school hall venue of the event 

was filled to capacity. It also featured 

events such as cultural activities, 

beauty pageant and award presentation. 

The guest speaker,Senator 

Oluremi Tinubu, who spoke on: 

The need for Godly leadership in 21st 

century, admonished the pupils on 

the kind of lifestyle they must 

adopt to become leaders of value 

and integrity. According to Mrs 

Tinubu, sound leadership skills do 

not necessarily have to be innate, 

but can also be learned. 

"One of the myths surrounding 

leadership is that it is determined 

by distinctive dispositional characteristics. 

However, it is important 

to note that leadership also 

develops through hard work and 

careful observation”, she said. 

their astute performance in the 

various rounds of the competition. 

“For you to emerge winner in 

this stage shows that you are actually 

a star in your school,” he 

said. 

Earlier, coordinator of the competition 

for the NNPC, Mr. 

Olatayo Sani, frowned at the poor 

performance, saying that most of 

the contestants answered the 

questions based on trial and error 

instead of with confidence on 

their choice answers. 

“I am not impressed with what 

is happening here. Without options 

your students cannot answer 

a question, which is very bad. That 

shows that they are all answering 

based on guess work and 

their poor performance in Physics 

is of concern too which needs 

to be addressed,” he said 

The Cross River State Commissioner 

for Education Prof. Offiong 

Offiong, expressed gratitude to 

organisers for grooming participants 

in the field of science as the 

basis for development of any nation. 

One of the winners from Top 

Challenges of leadership is the 

perception of weakness among female 

folk, which to Tinubu, is not 

true because the feminine race is 

strong and capable of delivering. 

Faith Secondary School, 

Chidibem, attributed their success 

to hard work and efforts of the coordinating 

teachers whom he said, 

nurtured them to take part in the 

competition. 

• Senator Tinubu (middle) after receiving her award. With her are: Mr Oladapo (second right), Mrs Majolagbe 

(right), Mrs Atobalo Oluwole (second left) and Ifeatu. 

By Opeyemi Samuel 

‘Females are built so strong yet we 

think we are weak; we have to find 

that inbuilt energy. Stop pushing 

women backward, we can do more’ 

She, therefore, urged the female 

folk to not limit their achievements 

as a result of gender reasons. 

"Females are built so strong yet 

we think we are weak; we have to 

find that inbuilt energy. Stop pushing 

women backward, we can do 

more,'' Senator Tinubu added. 

She also urged the students to 

start developing themselves from 

their present stage. 

"You cannot learn everything in 

the tertiary institution. For the fact 

that you are the architect of your 

39 

He expressed optimism that the 

school would emerge victorious at 

the forthcoming national competition. 

•From right: Lordson Daki, Head, Development at Zaccheus Onumba Dibiaezue Memorial Libraries (ZODML); 

Idowu Omona, Education District Official; Usman Imana,Communications Manager, Stanbic IBTC Bank; Uzoamaka 

Okoye, Executive Assistant, ZODML, and other dignitaries with the pupils of Lagos Progressive Secondary School, 

Lagos, when the bank donated books to the school. 

life and fortune, you must try to 

develop yourself. Develop yourself 

with things around you. The essence 

of this programme is to prepare 

you for leadership position in 

future and enable you to plan ahead 

of your ambition.'' 

A cultural troupe thereafter 

mounted the podium and thrilled 

the audience to endless applause. 

Senator Tinubu was honoured with 

Dansol Leadership award while 

Miss Ifeatu Nwosu in Junior Secondary 

School (JSS) 3 was also 

given an award for being an 

epitome of wisdom for 2014/ 2015 

session. 

Also speaking, Special Adviser 

(media) to Senator Tinubu, Mr 

Maxwell Adegbenro said such forum 

would expose pupils to good 

leadership traits early in life, adding 

that this would ultimately benefit 

Nigeria in future. 

Principal of the school, Mr Esan 

Oladapo, told reporters the rationale 

behind the annual event. He 

said: "We see our students as future 

leaders and yearly we get people 

that are doing well in the society to 

come over and talk to them. We 

believe that they will be able to 

learn one or two things from their 

personal life. Mrs Tinubu's speech 

today has really inspired them.” 

Also present at the event were 

Hon Lola Akande, Barrister Taiwo 

Adeoluwa (Secretary to Ogun State 

Government), Mr Tunde Akinmiju 

and parents. 

Society holds anniversary 

THE Nigeria Society for the 

Blind (FNSB) Oshodi, will 

hold its 60TH anniversary on 

Saturday,May 23 at the Muson Centre, 

Onikan Lagos. 

Announcing the event in a briefing, 

FNBS Executive Chairman, 

Mrs. Biola Agbaje said the event 

will be used to feature FNSB's laudable 

achievements especially the 

Vocation Training Centre (VTC). 

The outgoing Lagos State Governor, 

Babatunde Raji Fashola and 

his wife Dame Abimbola would 

be the chief guests of honour including 

other notable personalities, 

Agbaje said. 

By Emmanuel Udodinma 

Going down memory lane, 

Agbaje recalled how the society 

was established in May 1955 with 

the aim of training and giving hope 

to visually handicapped adolescents 

and adults in Nigeria. 

The centre, she explained, has 

trained over 2000 blind men and 

women to acquire skills in Braille 

writing and reading, typewriting, 

handcrafts, telephone switchboard 

operation, computer operation, mobility 

skills, among others, which 

are necessary for job placement in 

the industry or self employment. 

•From left: Mrs Yinka Adedoyin, Council Member, Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind (FNSB); Mrs Agbaje and 

Chief Olu Falomo, Past Executive Council Chairman, (FNSB), at the briefing.

40 

EDUCATION 

Nigeria needs human skills 

for growth, says expert 

AN investment expert, Dr 

Mikeal Lucas, has identified 

youth empowerment as key 

to sustainable economy development 

in the country. 

He said providing quality youth 

programmes would create an environment 

to develop social and emotional 

skills. 

Lucas spoke at a lecture titled: 

"Global economy downturn with 

reference to oil price and implication 

for human capital/youth development'' 

organised by the College 

of Management Services, Bells 

University of Technology, Ota in 

Ogun State. 

Also the Chief Executive Officer, 

Kapital Investment and Properties, 

said crude oil, which is the main stay 

of the country's economy, is not well 

utilised, as it needs machineries, 

technology and skills for its extraction 

and exploitation processes 

which the country lacks. 

"The question now is why a country 

richly blessed with oil and other 

natural resources remains in pov- 

• Category 

Manager, Fab 

Cleaning, 

Unilever, 

Ibironke 

Ugbaja (left), 

and Brand 

Ambassador 

Omo, Ali 

Nuhu (right) 

presenting a 

N500,000 

cheque to 

Clementina 

Emmanuel of 

Mafah 

Education 

Centre, Benin, 

second place 

winner of the 

Omo Imagine 

and Achieve 

Competition 

in Lagos. 

By Jane Chijioke 

erty? The simple answer among 

other reasons, would be that Nigeria 

lacks the capacity to add value to 

its crude oil," Lucas said. 

He further said as a result of lack 

of technical know-how when it was 

discovered, the exploitation has 

been dominated by foreign investors. 

As a result, huge earnings generated 

from the oil sector are repatriated 

by the foreigners to their 

countries, thus leaving Nigeria with 

meagre resources for development. 

The investment expert urged 

government to invest in the youth 

by making them feel physically and 

emotionally safe, a sense of belonging, 

helping them develop selfworth 

and ease their journey to self 

discovery. 

He also advocated for 

programmes that would help youth 

develop quality relationships as 

well as discuss conflicting values 

with their peers and adults. 

Lucas also counseled the govern- 

Workshop enlightens teachers about 

revised UBE curriculum 

HE Learn Africa mega workshop 

for primary school 

Mathematics and English Tteachers held in Maryland, Lagos, 

last Monday was an eye opener for 

participants who got opportunity to 

learn about the revised Universal 

Basic Education (UBE) curriculum. 

Southwest Zonal Director of the 

Nigerian Education Research and 

Development Council (NERDC), Dr 

Moses Salau, clarified misconceptions 

about the new curriculum to 

the teachers drawn from public and 

private primary schools. 

For instance, contrary to the practice 

by some schools in renaming 

the primary classes basic 1-6, Salau 

said the implementation of the nineyear 

universal basic education (UBE) 

scheme is a policy that pegs the minimum 

level of education in Nigeria 

at JSS3, and not a structure that alters 

the 6-3-3-4 system of education. 

"The nine-year of basic education 

is still divided into six years of primary 

and three years of junior secondary 

education. It is a policy, not 

an education structure. It is still 

called Primary 1-6, not Basic 1-6; and 

JSS1-3, not Basic 7-9," he said. 

Giving the features of the revised 

curriculum, Salau said Nigeria has 

followed best practices to reduce the 

number of subjects taken at primary 

and junior secondary school levels 

from between 12-16 to between six 

and 10. 

He said: "The feedback on the UBE 

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie 

curriculum called for an urgent need 

to achieve the following: 

•Reduction in the number of subjects 

to meet global standard without 

compromising quality. In 

Kenya, primary schools do seven 

subjects; in U.S., six; in Malaysia; 

nine, while in Nigeria, we had 16-27 

subjects. 

•An elimination of repeated topics 

within various subjects 

•The inclusion/reflection of national/global 

issues such as: security 

education, disaster risk reduction 

education, climate change, and peace 

and conflict resolution. 

"The new revised curriculum has 

reduced subjects at the basic level 

into 10 teachable subjects. Every 

learner who successfully completes 

the nine-year UBE curriculum must 

have acquired appropriate levels of 

literacy, numeracy, mathematical 

manipulative skills, communication, 

as well as ethical, moral and 

civic values needed for laying a solid 

foundation for life-long learning." 

The reduction was achieved by 

combining subjects with similar 

themes together. 

While primary 1-3 do seven compulsory 

subjects (English, Mathematics, 

Nigerian Languages, Basic Science 

and Technology, Pre-Vocational Studies, 

Religious and Value Education, 

and Cultural/Creative Arts); primary 

four-six add French to the seven. 

• Dr Lucas 

ment to revive agriculture and solid 

minerals, which were sustainable 

sources of revenue for the country 

long before the discovery of crude 

oil, and encourage the development 

of the private sector. 

"The government needs to make 

the private sector the engine of 

growth in order to export goods and 

services as well as create the enabling 

environment for direct foreign investment. 

It should also strengthen 

the sectors that drive growth such as 

infrastructure, agriculture and housing 

while reducing waste with renewed 

focus on prudence among 

others," he said. 

To effectively implement the curriculum, 

which was put into use with 

primary one class from the start of 

the 2014/2015 academic session last 

September, Salau said the NERDC 

recommends progressive as against 

blanket implementation. He said 

that is why only primary one have 

started with it and would continue 

until they get to primary six (in 2019). 

He said other classes would not have 

the foundation to use the curriculum 

if implemented across board. 

In his speech, Managing Director, 

Learn Africa Plc, Mr Segun Oladipo, 

said the training was organised to 

help teachers to be better productive. 

"This is one of our regular initiatives 

to support teacher education so 

that they can sharpen their skills and 

acquire additional knowledge that 

could empower them to improve the 

effectiveness of teaching and make 

learning more interesting for the 

students," he said. 

He thanked the Lagos State Commissioner 

for Education, Mrs 

Olayinka Oladunjoye for how she 

carried stakeholders along. 

Mrs Oladunjoye, who was represented 

by Mrs Joy Ojei, Director, 

Curriculum Services, also praised the 

firm for its long-term partnership 

with the state in teacher training and 

providing instructional materials. 

Various resource persons who 

specialised in Mathematics and 

English, taught the teachers new 

teaching techniques. 

Edo's 

shining 

example 


EDUTALK with 

Tfor reviewing the tenure of 

HE Edo State House of Assembly 

should be praised 

vice chancellors at the Ambrose Alli 

University (AAU), Ekpoma, from a 

renewable term of four years to a 

single term of five years. 

The review is enshrined in the law 

guiding the operations of federal 

universities, which was championed 

by the Academic Staff Union 

of Universities (ASUU). 

Kofoworola 

Belo-Osagie 

Kofosagie@yahoo.com 

08054503077 (SMS only) 

For a long time, the union has been urging state governments to approve 

similar laws for state-owned universities. But that has not been the 

case as governors have been known to extend the tenures of vice-chancellors 

they appoint beyond five years. This has almost always been met 

with resistance by the local chapter of the union and other workers. It 

usually snowballs into crisis that disrupts the academic calendars of such 

institutions. Examples abound all over Nigeria. 

Limiting the tenure to a single term would ease the transition process in 

universities and allow vice chancellors to focus their energies on doing a 

good job within the five years they have rather than seeking to renew 

their tenures, which may invariably take their eyes off the ball - running 

the university well - and make them begin lobbying various stakeholders 

and putting out fires caused by the opposition. 

Edo State has set an example that should be emulated by all other state 

governments. Generally, the governments need to give the university 

and other tertiary institutions greater autonomy to run their affairs. They 

should desist from imposing principal officers and let the laid down procedures 

for selecting such officials work meritoriously. It would only 

serve to improve the institutions - and that is the ultimate goal of setting 

them up - so they can work effectively. 

Workers' unions in our tertiary institutions also need to learn one or 

two lessons: that the transition process from one administration to another 

is usually too problematic for an academic environment. Though 

institutions should serve as shining examples for society, it is sadly not 

the case most of the time. In universities, polytechnics and colleges of 

education, which are supposed to be examples of civility and advancement, 

we find tribalism, nepotism, backbiting and the pull-them-down 

syndrome. I was shocked to learn from a former rector that a few months 

to the end of his tenure, a worker told him that he would be disgraced out 

of office "because no rector is allowed to leave in peace." I have also heard 

about workers of a particular university boasting that they remove vice 

chancellors. Such behaviour is unbecoming of academic institutions and 

should be eliminated from the system. The gown should set a good example 

for the town. We hope this will be the case in future. 

‘Though institutions should serve as shining 

examples for society, it is sadly not the 

case most of the time. In universities, polytechnics 

and colleges of education, which 

are supposed to be examples of civility and 

advancement, we find tribalism, nepotism, 

backbiting and the pull-them-down syndrome’ 

From my Inbox 

Re: For passion or by compulsion (May 14, 2015) 

I just read your article. It was nice. Just yesterday, I was thinking how 

Nigerian schools could limit a student's choices. It seems you picked up 

some ideas in my head. I faced similar challenges when I was in JSS3. I did 

not really know what I wanted to do but I opted for science class. I avoided 

commercial class because of Accounting. I really wanted to do Literature 

in English and History but I couldn't because I was in science class. 

Sometimes I feel there should be no strict grouping of classes. I mean, 

one should be allowed to choose from the different options - do some 

exploring before settling. If SS1 can be structured in a way that all students 

can choose different subjects, it would be good. 

I am happy that Hephzber found her passion. You know switching courses 

in other institutions in the country is not an easy thing. From Chianu 

Akukwe. 

Worola, I do enjoy your write up. It is educative and commendable. 

Keep it up. From 0816937---. 

Re: The bad headmaster (April 23, 2015) 

It is necessary as a victim that I keep your column, "The Bad Headmaster", 

in my archive. In 1970 our Headmaster denied us our primary school 

certificates and secondary school admission letters for six of us. That 

action denied us going to secondary school until 1973 when he was transferred 

to another place. 

We will continue to be grateful to God as most of us were successful in 

life. The poor wretched headmaster died last year. He suffered in life. The 

evil men do lives after them. The good often interred with the bones. Bala 

Musa, Kano. 

I am very satisfied with your write ups in Edutalk. Keep it up. From 

08036054---. Air Force Military School, Jos.


THE NATION THURSDAY MAY 21, 2015 

POLITICS 

MEDIA scholars and practitioners 

gathered recently 

to give an appraisal on the 

performance of the media before, 

during and after the presidential 

election. It was at the two-day workshop 

organised by the Media Scholar 

Network (MSN) in collaboration 

with the Independent National Electoral 

Commission (INEC). It was 

held at the Conference Hall, University 

of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, under 

the theme: “Fair Election Reporting: 

Sustaining Best Practices”. 

Convener, Professor Ayo 

Olukotun, set the ball rolling when 

he said the role of the media in election 

coverage is an issue that has 

generated debate and controversy at 

scholarly and polemical levels. It is 

not for nothing that observer groups 

monitoring elections in developing 

democracies have constantly fingered 

the lack of media level playing-field 

at election seasons as an 

obstacle to free and fair elections as 

to democratic consolidation. 

Olukotun, a lecturer at the Department 

of International Relations, 

Obafemi Awolowo University 

(OAU), Ile-Ife, noted that the international 

observer groups monitoring 

Nigerian elections such as the 

European Union (EU) have complained 

consistently of biased coverage 

of elections, as well as differential 

access of political parties to the 

media. Their complaint is corroborated 

by the Transition Monitoring 

Group (TMG), a coalition of domestic 

civil society groups which is engaged 

in election monitoring, he 

said.State-owned media are particularly 

guilty of this, according to the 

don. “They do not operate as public 

service media, but as more or less 

the mouthpieces of the political parties 

that control them. Also in the 

same category are privately-owned 

media where interests of the proprietor 

interfere with objective reporting,” 

he added. 

Professor Lai Oso of the Department 

of Mass Communication, Lagos 

State University (LASU), also 

lamented that a lot of media organisations 

took sides and were biased 

in their reportage and coverage of 

different political parties and their 

activities. He said rather than give 

fair hearing to all candidates and 

their political parties, some media 

organisations decided to show solidarity 

to some candidates and to 

vilify others. This, he said, was a total 

deviation from the code of ethics 

that guides the media profession. 

On ethical conduct, Oso said: 

“Good journalism requires decent 

conduct that conforms to acceptable 

social norms, values and ethical 

codes.” Oso was equally miffed by 

the role played by the management 

of some print and electronic media. 

He said they threw caution to the 

wind and behaved like politicians. 

He said: “Editors dished out opinions 

as news, projected hate 

speeches, hate documentaries for 

selfish interest. Some newspapers 

editors could not apply their sense 

of judgment to turn down adverts 

that was intended to incite the public 

against opposition candidates or 

leaders? Why should an editor accept 

a death wish advert to be published 

in his paper? Why should 

editors be consulting for political 

parties campaign organisations? 

These are sad developments that 

must be addressed by regulatory 

agencies for the sake of the future of 

journalism in this country.” 

According to him, “the media was 

expected to be the unifying factor for 

‘ 

It is not for nothing that observer groups 

monitoring elections in developing democracies 

have constantly fingered the lack of 

media level playing-field at election seasons 

as an obstacle to free and fair elections 

as to democratic consolidation 

The role of the media throughout the electioneering period was under the spotlight recently at a two-day 

workshop organised by Media Scholars Network (MSN). At the event, the partisan role of the media was 

highlighted by scholars and professionals, Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN reports. 

Election reporting: Knocks for the watchdog 

• 

all interest groups, but unfortunately 

some media executives were brazenly 

partisan. If politicians come 

with raw and indecorous content, is 

it not the media’s responsibility as 

professionals to determine what will 

suit the sensitivities and sensibilities 

of Nigerian readers and viewers by 

toning down such adverts or asking 

the advertiser to go and refine his 

production? 

In his paper titled: “Objectivity in 

Journalism: An Elusive Ideal”, Oso 

explained that the way and manner 

political gladiators conducted themselves 

and their politics no doubt 

influenced the way journalists behaved 

as producers of news and the 

type of political news available to 

them. “In a society where almost 

everything is seen from the prisms 

of religion, ethnicity, region and 

other differences, it is very difficult 

for the journalist to adhere to any 

universal notion of objectivity or 

other ethical principle,” he said. 

In his own assessment, a South 

Africa-based communication specialist, 

Mr Bunmi Makinwa, opined 

that the media could have done 

much better than they did in the coverage 

of pre-voting phase of the 

presidential election. According to 

him: “The crucial communication 

exchange between candidates and 

electorate, facilitated by the media, 

hardly took place. The knowledge of 

candidates, understanding of issues, 

analysis of performance of candidates 

and political parties hardly featured 

in any serious way in many of 

the media. 

“The mass media failed unreservedly 

in its professional duty of being 

a source of information and education 

of the populace. In analyses 

of information, verification of facts 

by parties, ascertaining claims by 

candidates, there was too little of 

substance. And whatever little that 

was done was not prominent in 

‘ 

They do not operate as public service 

media, but as more or less the mouthpieces 

of the political parties that control them. 

Also in the same category are privatelyowned 

media where interests of the proprietor 

interfere with objective reporting 

’ 

‘ 

In the aspect of 

conflict and sensitivity, 

the media 

failed to live up to 

expectations. There 

were sensational 

headlines There 

were significant areas 

of non compliance 

with the code 

of conduct while 

there were few areas 

of compliance 

‘ 

43 

most of the media and even less so 

in newspapers that traditionally 

serve such important purposes. 

Many candidates are yet really unknown 

and surprises should be expected 

from people who will assume 

political offices. 

“Even in the use of adverts, positioning 

of candidates and political 

parties, the public media especially 

did very poorly. A major area of 

uneasiness was the easy acquiescence 

of the official media organisations 

to unbridled use (more of misuse) 

by their government owners, 

both federal and state. The situation 

went even further: public roads, offices, 

buildings and other infrastructure 

were “colonized” by the said 

governments and wantonly used for 

their messaging, adverts and promotion, 

including excluding opposition 

from their uses, even when they 

wanted to pay as required. Such 

abuse of official organs and structures 

should stop. There should be 

better regulation, monitoring and 

sanctions of uses of public facilities 

during electioneering. It is encouraging 

that some political parties 

sought court interventions and obtained 

judgment against the abuse.” 

In assessing the media coverage of 

the presidential election, former Editor 

of National Interest, Mr Tony 

Iyare, noted that the Nigerian Media 

Code of Election Coverage sets 

the guidelines of the conduct of journalists 

in reporting election issues in 

all spheres. Many of the guidelines, 

he observed, were observed in 

breach across board. 

For instance, Section 1.0 which 

deals with equitable access says: 

“The performance of campaign platform 

and public role of the Nigerian 

media during election requires deference 

to the right of parties and candidates 

in elections to equitable media 

access especially as envisaged by 

legislative and institutional frameworks 

and other relevant instruments 

including the Electoral Act (as 

amended), the Nigerian Broadcasting 

Code (as revised) and the Nigerian 

Press Organisation Code of Ethics 

for Nigerian journalists. It also requires 

giving opportunity to underrepresented 

groups to express their 

views. 

Section 1.1 states the responsibility 

of media organisations to include: 

A broadcast medium shall ensure 

equitable allocation of time at specific 

but similar periods for all parties 

contesting elections to state their 

programmes; a media organisation 

shall regularly apply the principle of 

equity in the coverage and reportage 

of campaigns and other activities 

of parties and candidates contesting 

elections; a media organisation 

shall at all times uphold the right 

of parties and candidates to reply to 

allegations made against them and 

that a broadcast medium shall strive 

to ensure the participation of all parties 

and candidates contesting elections 

in political debates. 

The code also says in Section 1.2 that 

a media organisation shall, as a matter 

of deliberate editorial policy, target 

under-represented groups, especially 

women, youths, persons living 

with disabilities and rural dwellers in 

the coverage of electoral processes. 

According to Iyare, the report of 

the monitoring project conducted 

jointly by the International Press 

Centre and Nigerian Press Council 

with the support of the United Nations 

Development Project (UNDP) 

which covered some national and 

regional newspapers in addition to 

online and social medium platforms, 

generally applauded the media for 

devoting the highest percentage of 

the reporting of issues to campaigns, 

which it argued clearly showed an 

attemptto bring the attention of voters 

to what the candidates and parties 

stand for. 

But the report noted “it was regrettable 

that political and electoral conflicts 

had the better part of media 

attention than voter education which 

really should have been at the core 

of reporting for the month given the 

contentious issues of PVCs TVCs 

and card readers”. 

Speaking on the performance of 

the media, former Editorial Board 

Chairperson of the Nigerian Compass, 

Mrs Tayo Agunbiade said 

some reports were obviously biased, 

while many adverts contained inflammatory 

comments. According 

to her, the media didn’t exhibit a 

high level of professionalism in handling 

the last election, particularly as 

it regards publication of hate 

speeches. There were clear violations 

of the ethics. 

“In the aspect of conflict and sensitivity, 

the media failed to live up 

to expectations. There were sensational 

headlines There were significant 

areas of non compliance with 

the code of conduct while there were 

few areas of compliance. 

“Procedures should be established 

that monitor and ensure that election 

reporting prior to, during and after 

is fair, unbiased, neutral, non-partisan 

and not sensational. We must 

ensure that space are allocated to all 

parties fairly and reports should be 

balanced and not in favour of any 

party or persons.” 

To guide against partisan role of 

the media in future election coverage, 

Makinwa suggested that all 

publicly-owned media, including 

public service broadcasters, should 

respect strict rules of impartiality 

and balance, particularly when reporting 

on the governing party/parties 

and on government decisions 

and actions during an election period. 

This implies that equal coverage 

should be given to arguments in 

favour of both sides in any referendum. 

The media should grant all parties 

and candidates equitable access to 

communicate their messages directly 

with the public, either for free 

or at subsidised rate. Equitable access 

means fair and non-discriminatory 

access allocated according to 

objective criteria for measuring overall 

levels of support, and includes 

factors such as timing of access and 

any fees. 

Olukotun stressed the need for 

continuous training and re-training 

programmes for journalists. He said: 

“It is important that journalists and 

stakeholders in the information enterprise 

from time to time to meet to 

review their craft with a view to determining 

whether they are maintaining 

or falling short of best practices. 

“Obviously the role of the media 

in providing accurate information 

and objective reporting as well as 

analysis in a season of election cannot 

be over-emphasised. The media 

are crucial to the dissemination of 

credible information as well as providing 

a communication level playing 

field to the principal competitors 

and even to the electoral umpire, 

namely the Independent National 

Electoral Commission (INEC).” 

‘

44 

POLITICS 

Nigeria: Political power imbalance: 

The bane and chain down of Nigeria’s 

progress and development 

•Excerpts from a 261-page book by Sir Olaniwun Ajayi 

...Continued from yesterday. 

T 

HE Yorubas have undoubtedly occupied this homeland 

for many centuries. When the Portuguese arrived 

on the coast in the 15th century, their political organisation 

into a number of major and minor states had already 

been evolved, and may well have been in existence for several 

hundred years, as an examination of their king-lists and other 

oral data suggest. Their language, despite its many dialects, 

provides the main evidence of a common origin and cultural 

heritage... 

In this connection, it is intriguing to observe the views of 

Lord Lugard in his early days as High Commissioner for Northern 

Nigeria. On page 25 paragraph 36, which formed part of 

his 1902 Annual Report on Northern Nigeria to both Houses 

of Parliament through the Colonial Office, in part wrote thus: 

“...The case of these alien conquerors (the Fulani) is wholly 

different from that of ancient chiefs ruling over people of their 

own race for long centuries past, as I believe in the case, for 

instance, with the Yoruba chiefs of Lagos, who are of the same 

race with their subjects, and have held their position for centuries 

with well - established system of communal land tenure...” 

Furthermore, Lord Lugard's biographer, Margery Perham 

said; “...The Yorubas, at least for centuries before British annexation, 

had taken to living in towns, and were indeed the 

most urban -minded of all African peoples, though it must be 

remembered that the people thus concentrated were still mainly 

farmers..." 55 

We may add yet another view regarding the state of development 

even before the advent of Europeans, particularly the 

British. That is the view of the great scholar and author, James 

S. Coleman, who stated that: 

"The Yoruba people may rightly claim to be the largest cultural 

aggregation in West Africa with a history of political unity 

and a common historical tradition... Additional distinguishing 

feature of the Yoruba are of significance. One is the comparative 

large-scale political organisation which existed before 

the British intrusion.... The whole Yoruba system was marked 

by check and counter-check:" and the superstructure was essentially 

that of a constitutional monarchy. 56 

Finally, the prudence or advisability of corralling the manifest 

and intellectual views of experts and eminent persons will 

be amply met by adding the considered statement of a former 

Governor-General, Sir Arthur Richards, (later Lord Milverton) 

as recorded in his memoir by his biographer, Richard Peel. He 

stated, among other things, of the Yoruba: 

"...The people of Western Province had, like the North, a more 

developed system of native administration and, in addition, 

an authoritarian, kingly rule handed down for centuries and 

therefore in many ways more bred in the bone."57 

Chapter 3 

The Igbo Nation 

The origin of Igbo people would appear to be a great conjecture 

as various writers hold different views with respect to 

where the Igbo originated. For example, M.D.W. Jeffreys held 

the view that the Igbo originated from Egypt. Whereas some 

Igbo writers, claimed that the lgbo were Hebrew or Egyptian, 

stating that the origin of Aro was the Nile Valley. 58 

Perhaps for the purpose of this book, it will be sufficient to 

limit our research into the origin of the Igbo people to the fact 

that the Igbo have been in their present settlement for very 

many centuries. This view is supported by the evidence produced 

by the research report of Professor D.D. Hartle's test 

excavation in the University of Nigeria Nsukka Agricultural 

farm, which produced evidence of human settlement, dating 

back to 2555 BC. The evidence went further to state that the 

materials recovered from the excavation, like 'unfired clay 

vessels' were like the unfired articles being used in Nsukka. 

We can then infer from the excavation evidence that the people 

of Nsukka are the descendant of the people occupying 

the area from time immemorial. The further inference from 

that hypothesis is that Nri-Awka-Orlu sector would appear 

to be the earliest centre from which Igbo waves of migration 

started. This view is confirmed by Talbot and Mulhall in their 

book - The Physical Anthropology of Southern Nigeria, Page 

4. They said: 

"The Ibo have no tradition from elsewhere and appear to 

have settled in the thickly populated parts of Nri-Awka and 

Isu-Ama areas for a very long period and to have spread from 

there." 

There is no record that the Igbo had a common ancestor. 

However, there were cases of various units of villages where 

people got together and made arrangement, whereby they 

looked upon themselves as brothers. Such villages or groups 

could unite for a purpose like forming themselves into constituency 

or community. 

Geographically, substantial part of south-eastern Nigeria, 

which is the geopolitical region of Igbo people, is covered by 

dense forest and challenged by erosion. 

Sir Alan Burns, the author of History of Nigeria (7th Revised 

Edition) wrote on Page 59 of his book: 

"...At the time that Lord Lugard wrote the most important 

•Sir Olaniwun 

‘ 

‘ 

The origin of Igbo people would 

appear to be a great conjecture as 

various writers hold different 

views with respect to where the 

Igbo originated. For example, 

M.D.W. Jeffreys held the view that 

the Igbo originated from Egypt 

’ 

of these was the large lbo tribe. Among these people there 

was no highly recognised form of government and little tribal 

cohesion; practically every village was independent, and so 

great was the isolation of each small community that the inhabitants 

of neighbouring villages often speak in entirely different 

dialects...” 

Margery Perham, writing on Lord Lugard in 1960 said: 

Early in 1915, for example, he went on tour in the southeast, 

driving the first train along the sixteen miles of rail, between 

Port Harcourt and Imo River. From there he went north 

into the heart of the densely populated lbo country, visiting 

the coal field and calling at the headquarters of districts. He 

was greeted everywhere by the forest people, the women giving 

him the almost universal greeting of female Africa of shrill 

"lululuing" (many of the women of all ages were absolutely 

nude and Ah you, quite shocked, turned his back on them). 

Coal and railway-cutting focused his attention more upon 

geology than humanity. But he had an eye for the natural 

beauty of Enugu, the future Eastern capital, which was then 

almost virgin bush. 

Political organisation, a remarkable chieftaincy system and 

a well established urbanisation which were the hallmarks of 

Yoruba nation before the British came were non - existent in 

lgbo nation. That state of development in the south-east 

(Igboland) was a problem to Lugard with particular regard 

to indirect rule. 

In 1900, Lord Lugard, as he later became, inaugurated the 

Protectorate in northern Nigeria which was later divided into 

Provinces. In the capital of each province, was a senior British 

official, known as Resident. Government policy was to 

the effect that the African rulers, mostly Emirs and their council 

and courts, were running the administration. This was the 

system later known as Indirect Rule. 

In this regard, Lugard had a lot of problems in the South - 

east. There was no organisation nor chiefs as were in the northern 

protectorate. Indeed, Margery Perham made an indecent 

reference to the lgbo as: 

“Coastal group in the region and a people of beastly living, 

without a god, laws, religion or commonwealth... Lugard 

could appreciate the formidable fact of their social fragmentation 

but are we then to assume that the attempt to adapt the 

THE NATION THURSDAY MAY 21, 2015 

With the growing power of the Hausa, a peace immigration 

into the country of a people called Fulani took place. Where 

they came from, nobody knew. A school of thought said they 

came from India. Some others opined that they were Jews, 

others argued that they were Malayan or Phoenician 

fundamental principle of Indirect Rule to these intractable 

human conditions...” 

However, because there were no rulers and chiefs in 

Igboland, the British government had to appoint chiefs by 

warrant in order to operate the Indirect Rule. 

As to what remains of the history of Igbo people is not of 

any historical importance and relevance, it will be expedient 

to close up here and go to the history of Hausa/ Fulani. 

Chapter 4 

Hausa/ Fulani 

Unlike the case of the Yoruba and somewhat similar to the 

case of the Igbo, there is, hitherto, no known origin of the 

Hausa people. All we know is that the Hausa speaking people 

are, to a great extent, of Nigeria origin. It would appear 

however, that as there are not many who could be identified 

as Hausa, those who speak the language are very many 

throughout the northern half of Africa, including Mecca. 

Despite paucity of records, it is recognised that Kano, Zaria, 

Daura, Gobir, Katsina, Rano and Zamfara, were the original 

seven states of the Hausa in Nigeria. 

With respect to religion, the people called Hausa would 

probably be pagans before the advent of the Islamic religion 

which came into Hausa community about thirteenth century. 

Thus, Muhammadanism spread quickly, making rapid 

progress among the people. The new religion affected both 

the religious and social life of the Hausa people. With the 

passage of time, a form of government developed among 

them. Each state had its king and judicial system which administered 

the law. In other words, a structure of an organised 

community was already present among them. 

Since the Hausa could not claim a common origin or ancestor 

like Oduduwa for the Yoruba, each state was independent 

of the others. With time this state of separateness or individualism 

gave room for an engendered jealousy and disaffection 

which ultimately brought about internecine wars. 

Thus, for example, Zaria waged war against the Hausa and 

conquered the Hausa countries to the south and brought down 

Bauchi, just as Gobir fought all nomad tribes of the northern 

desert. Kano fought Borno without successes. But Bornu 

fought successfully Hausaland, while Askia, the King of 

Sonhay conquered Katsina and Kano and made them provinces 

of his empire. 

With the growing power of the Hausa, a peace immigration 

into the country of a people called Fulani took place. 

Where they came from, nobody knew. A school of thought 

said they came from India. Some others opined that they were 

Jews, others argued that they were Malayan or Phoenician. 

The generally accepted view however, was that they came 

from upper Egypt and moved westwards to the Atlantic Coast 

where most of them settled and some years later, some of 

them moved in the direction of Nigeria around the thirteenth 

century. They mingled with the Hausa and intermarried with 

them and adopted Muhammadan religion. In due course, their 

superior intelligence placed them in position of importance 

and power. 

For many years however, the Fulani remained a subject race 

in Hausaland. However, in 1804, Othman dan Fodio, a Fulani 

Sheikh, rose among the Fulani group. Othman dan Fodio ran 

into conflict with the King of Gobir whom, with his Fulani 

followers, he defeated in a decisive battle. Consequently, following 

the defeat of Gobir and his followers, Othman dan 

Fodio became and recognised as the Sarkin Musulmi. His 

followers, the Fulani, sought and obtained his approval to 

wage war and conquer the Hausa among whom they had 

been living on sufferance. 

The holy war began and Othman dan Fodio encouraged 

and boldened his followers to wage war in the name of Allah 

and His Prophet against pagans and unbelievers and those 

who appeared to them to be lukewarm. Not only were they 

conquered, their property was also taken as spoil. 

In 1808, Borno, a Mohammadan country, was attacked by 

Othman's fanatical followers, although not all the followers 

of Othman were Fulani. In truth, this was the Jihad which the 

natives in the country saw as preservation of their religion 

and so supported it. The Jihad was not a full success but it 

was at such a stage that Othman could hand over the country 

to his brother called Abdullahi and his son, Bello. Before he 

died in 1817, Othman had divided the country between his 

brother, Abdullahi, who made himself Gando, and Bello to 

be in charge of Sokoto, and recognised as Sarkin Musulumi. 

Bello had a turbulent reign as he had to contend with constant 

warfare against the tribes who would not embrace Fulani rule. 

A bit of peace came to Bello towards the closing years of his 

reign. The supporters and their descendants firmly owed allegiance 

to Sokoto, the seat of Bello. Sokoto became an empire 

which gradually included the emirates of Adamawa, 

Gombe, Hadeija, Kano, Katsina, Daura, Katagun, Bauchi, and 

Zaria. His troubled reign notwithstanding, Bello made for 

himself, time to study. He in time, became an author of several 

works on history, geography and theology. 

It is intriguing to observe Bello, who was a learned person 

ordered that all the Hausa records in his domain should be 

destroyed. They were in fact, destroyed. He died in 1837. His 

brother, Abubakar Atiku, succeeded him. 

Chapter 5 

Fate and future of Nigeria's minorities 

Towards the latter part of 1943, O.G.R. Williams, the head 

of the West African Department of Colonial Office, took the 

initiative of writing a memorandum on 'Constitutional development 

in West Africa. 

’ 

• To be continued.


NATURAL HEALTH 

Anti-aging tips for Buhari in Change era (7) 

“E 

more than 360 million (faithful) heart beats.” Patricia Bragg 

in ‘The miracles of fasting’. 

VERY day, the average heart, your best friend, beats 

100,000 times and pumps 2,000 gallons of blood for 

nourishing your body. In 70 years, that adds up to 

QUOTATION 

“To understand high blood pressure, you need to know a 

few interesting facts about the heart. The human heart beats 

an average 70 times per minute, 100,000 times a day and 2.5 

billion times in a lifetime. With each heart beat, about 2.5 ounces of 

blood are pumped through the heart … that is 1,980 gallons every 

day..’, Judy Limberg Mcfarland in Aging without growing 

old. 

MAY 29 is only seven days away. That is the D-DAY on 

which outgoing president Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan will hand 

power over to president elect Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (rtd). 

Many hearts are pounding. Many people must feel their hearts 

agitating against their throats. The big thieves in public offices 

must be wishing the hands of the clock can still be turned 

backwards and events would come up that will save them 

the pains or trauma of Buhari succeeding Jonathan. Buhari 

said a few weeks ago, after defeating Jonathan in the presidential 

election, that a major change will occur in Nigeria in 

June. No one as yet knows what change will come from this 

seemingly incorruptible man who has promised to sweep 

the dirty, foul-smelling Aegean stables clean of dirt, grit and 

odour. In a country where many public officers are big-time 

thieves, as Senator–elect Ben Bruce said recently, an echo of 

the incumbent Emir of kano, Sanusi, when he was Governor 

of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Buhari’s testimonials make 

us believe he can tidy up the financial and economic mess 

into which the Jonathan Administration over six years has 

plunged Nigeria. Here are the records: 

•Buhari has only two houses and about N1million in his bank 

accounts 

•Buhari has been Governor of Borno State 

•Buhari has been Nigeria’s oil minister two times,one as chairman 

of the presidential task force on petroleum. 

•Buhari has been head of State (President) 

•Buhari has held many Seniour military commands, one of which 

is enough to make a multi-billionaire of a big- thief incumbent 

I cannot vouch for Nigerian figures. The word going round 

is that former Nigerian Presidents are on N24 million pension 

a year and that retired Nigerian generals earn a pension 

upkeep of about N2.4 million a year. The rhyme of these 

figures almost makes me wish to doubt their veracity. Nevertheless, 

as we know, there is no smoke without a fire behind 

it. The story is that some retired generals who were 

former heads of state draw both pensions, but buhari accepted 

to draw only his general’s pension. 

If we can trust these credentials to be true, we can expect 

major commotions in the polity and in the economy. That’s 

why I believe, from open talk and whispers throughout the 

country, some great events of our time are shaping up for 

manifestation. If you would recall one of the columns in the 

Jonathan, Buhari, the rich and the poor series, I almost gave the 

election to Jonathan after he postponed the polls for weeks 

and, in that period, literally hurled Nigeria’s treasury at the 

voters. I recalled then a spiritual code for understanding the 

time in which we stand, in this case… 

As we march towards the end of time, belief in the power of money 

would reach its zenith or climax and many people will replace the 

Truth, that is God, with money. 

IN retrospect, we can now see that many voters, even in 

Lagos, fell for the President’s money. But, at that, 

Jonathan Buhari column suggested, a Jonathan victory 

would guarantee no safety for the thieving Nigerian Establishment 

because, unknown to many people, we stand in the 

precints of a great purification of the earth from all Opposition 

to light and goodness. A great event occurred in Nigeria 

about 40 years ago to plug our country in the mainstream of 

the spiritual cleansing process. It was, therefore, a question of 

time before the leader would arrive whose aura would link 

up with the ethereal forces at play and anchor them in the 

Government and other social institutions. A Jonathan victory 

would not have hatched this march. The heat and the fire 

would merely have diverted their course to spring up elsewhere. 

Who can stop the flow of water? Even when you surround 

it with concrete, it would merely percolate into the 

soil to find a new level for its flow. 

Our hearts are pounding now because we do not know what 

Buhari would do? Would he cut his own pay to, say, N5 million 

a month and ask senators to downgrade theirs to, say, N3 

million. How would he tackle the mess in the oil and gas 

sector? Will he declare a State of Economy Emergency? How 

would he reform the Army and the Police? What about the 

Customs and Excise department and the immigration service? 

Will he wish to know how federal roads in a Southsouth 

state cost about N3 billion naira per kilometre in laterite 

terrain and less than half of that on the same terrain in a 

nearby state? Will he reverse all the appointments and other 

decisions of lame-duck President Jonathan intended to plant 

human land mines around him? 

What of the US 500 million Oil and gas project at the Lekki 

EPZ in Lagos lame-duck President Jonathan has unilaterally 

ordered be taken to Bayelsa, his home state? Even if Buhari 

would like to stick to agreement with international power 

brokers not to probe Jonathan, for which reason he has promised 

to treat the outgoing President with “respect and understanding,” 

what would happen if private citizens file allegations 

against the Jonathan administration and, in the process 

of tackling them, the president’s name and involvement keep 

popping up? Our hearts are pounding, I keep saying. I have 

refused to be connected to municipal electricity supply for 

about 12 years running because the bill is outraging. With 

my children now on their own, I live alone. I run no electrical 

appliance, not even television or fridge, I leave home about 

10 a.m and return about 11 p.m, have, my bath and go to 

sleep. Why should I pay N 40,000 a month for electricity I do 

not consume simply because, from its size, the electricity– 

man believes the house should gulp that much every month. 

You can be sure that if I am a thief and can steal money to pay 

the bill this month, the bill will go up next month, electricity 

would not be regular, the process will go on and the owners 

of electricity will be smiling to the bank, raking in money 

from millions of people they do not deserve to earn and poisoning 

the economy as the cost of electricity is plastered on 

goods and services. Jonathan promised to deliver us all from 

this mafia, but failed. Will Buhari be man enough to look 

them straight in the eye and tackle them? Will he take electricity 

back from the mafia? He owns them nothing, the contributed 

billions of Naira into Jonathan’s election campaign 

fund, not his, which was funded by poor people and some 

rich friends. 

Buhari’s heart 

Gen. Buhari’s heart, too, must be pounding. He would move 

the levers alright. And that will ignite a chain of events. But 

there is no man who moves a lever or who starts a process 

who can ever determine its dimensions or end. For these 

events soon don their own garbs modulated by other influences, 

and go their own way, far, far away from the originators 

imagination. Buhari must wonder if he can find the right 

people to do the job he wishes to accomplish. Was this why 

he suggested we should expect no miracles? Will there be 

moles in the house? What if Senators rebel and Governors 

hijack the government? If he cannot dislodge the mafias within 

three months will they not regroup and with new found confidence 

confront him? Does he recognise that when the lair of 

a poisonous snake is lifted, it will surely lift its head and 

attack the intruder unless it is killed outright. Buharis victory 

at the polls has exposed and lifted the lair of the poisonous 

snake which is now waiting for the opportune time to take its 

revenge. 

Pounding heart 

The heart does not pound on its own. It pounds when we 

are afraid. Fear may be conscious or unconscious. Whatever 

it is, fear keeps us on our toes to make us survive the event(s) 

we are afraid of. What keeps us on our toes to fight the fear 

causing event or to flee from it are stress hormones which are 

poured into the blood stream by adrenal glands, the antistress 

glands located on top of each Kidney. When we are 

afraid of anything or situation. 

These hormones are double-edged swords. They enhance 

our survival in dreadful situations. But they may also harm 

our organs and our health if they persistently flood the blood 

stream over a prolonged period of time, as happens to many 

people who live under stressful conditions as the next four 

years may bring upon some people Buhari will be de-establishing 

and upon himself who must be in stressful battle gear. 

Do not forget that we hardly forget the past. Buhari would 

surely remember that, as Head of State, a military coup which 

brought Ibrahim Babangida to power was staged against him 

when it was thought that he was going too far with social 

reforms! 

This column is incompetent to address major problems the 

heart may suffer from in this situation. That is the realm for 

cardiologists or heart doctors. But it can venture nevertheless 

on a limited scale into some of the common heart troubles in 

Nigeria from which senior citizens suffer, including: 

•Hypertension or elevated blood pressure 

•Congestive heart failure 

•Heart attack 

•Enlarged heart 

•Angina pectoris 

•Low blood pressure or hypotension and palpitation 

The list can be endless. So are the remedies to these conditions 

as stated, only a few of them will be addressed, and 

e-mail:johnolufemikusa@yahoo.com or johnolufemikusa@gmail.com Tel: 08116759749, 08034004247, 08116759749 

briefly. 

Hypertension 

To understand hypertension, we must understand that the 

blood or the river of life flows around the body to give each 

of the 100 trillion or so cells which compose it nutrients and 

oxygen, and to remove their waste products or poisons for 

evacuation from the body. The heart as a pumping machine 

pumps blood through many blood vessels of varying sizes 

and receives used or deoxygenated blood which it pumps 

back to the lungs for oxygenation. Oxygenated blood is 

pumped out again. Blood vessels are meant to be unblocked 

and supple, so they can dilate easily when blood flows through 

them. If they are blocked and hardened like stone they offer 

resistance to blood flow. Normal resistance of blood vessels 

to blood flow which does not permit through them is essential 

hypertension. This tension drives the blood along homewards 

to its target. If there is too little magnesium in the blood, an 

excess of calcium, its antagonist, may cause the extra or excess 

calcium to deposit in soft muscles of blood vessels. This causes 

hardening or tightening called arterosclerosis. It increases resistance 

to blood flow, and hypertension. Thus, a deficiency 

of magnesium can be a cause of hypertension. This deficiency 

is prevalent today because many people do not eat greens, 

especially deep, leafy vegetables, or take green food supplements 

such as liquid or capsulated chlorophyll, wheatgrass, 

spirulina, barley grass, spinach and kale powder drink or a 

mix grill of about 40 green plants in varying formulas. Many 

physicians believe the best blood pressure is 120/80. The top 

reading is called Systolic, the bottom one Diastolic. The diastolic 

reading is considered more relevant. For many years I 

ran a 110/70 blood pressure which nowadays sometimes 

drops to 100/sixty-something. In such situations fending towards 

low blood pressure or hypertension, I wish I had around 

me the herbal supplement BROOM TOPS, which is good for 

low blood pressure or CARROT JUICE, which elevates blood 

pressure whole carrot doesn’t. But I find a useful friend in L- 

Arginine or a product called STAMINEX which is on and off 

the Nigerian shelf. 

LOCKAGES of all sorts occur in the blood vessels. One 

of them is caused by HOMOCYSTEINE, a greasy by product 

of the break-down of a protein. This can be easily 

Bdissolved and thorough fare created for the blood by any 

good blood thinner. Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12 and folic acid 

in a good formula performs this trick. So does cayenne. I have 

found useful, also, Serrapeptese, which dissolves growth. This 

as well, Brome lain, which tackles pain, as well as Attokenese. 

Sometimes, the blockage is due to fatty cholesterol plaque or 

the failure of the anticlotting factor, which allows blood platelets 

to spike and dump. The aforementioned blood thinners 

“defrost” the platelet clumps. So does the fatty plaque. Additionally, 

fish oil and Lecithin help against cholesterol buildup 

known also as atheromas (atherosclerosis) Please note the 

difference between arterosclerosis and artherosclerosis. 

Heart attack 

In a heart attack, the vessel is taking blood to the heart (the 

carotic arteries) are blocked. A warning may have been coming 

from swellings in the legs which are due to blockages of 

blood circulation, or from chest pains called argina pectoris. 

chips of a blocking matter may escape from the foot to blood 

circulation to the heart. When the heart does not get enough 

blood for its sustenance and to pump, it packs up like a pumping 

machine without fuel or water to pump. 

Enlarged heart 

An enlarged heart is often due to secondary hypertension. 

Primary hypertension results more from dietary deficiencies 

such as potassium, magnesium, and Vitamin E deficiency. In 

secondary hypertension, many vital organs such as the liver 

and the kidneys are so congested, blood cannot easily flow 

through them. In this case, they resist blood flow, and the 

heart has to enlarge in order to pack more power to pump 

harder in order to overcome resistance to blood flow. But this 

over stretches its muscles and may damage or kill them. This 

condition often responds to Vitamin B1 and garlic therapy, 

according to Rex Adams in Miracle medicine foods. Hawthorn 

berries and Co-Enzyme Q10 or CoQ10 do it also. 

Angina pectoris 

The carotid artery is hardly harder than a soft drinks straw. 

When it is blocked, chest pains may arise in the left side of the 

chest and may, be followed by shooting pains in the left arm 

from the scapula (shoulder blade) to the fingers. 

Now, let’s hear from Judy Limberg Mcfarland and Jean 

Carper and, perhaps also, from Patricia Bragg. Judy Mcfarland, 

in Aging without growing old, one of the books this series 

recommends for your library, says: 

“In most nations, every other death is caused by cardio 

vascular disease, both in men and women… Co-Enzyme Q10, 

also called CoQ10, Ubiquinol 10 or Vitamin Q, is now being 

called a ‘miracle nutrient’ by many. It is an essential component 

of metabolic process involved in energy (ATP) production. 

Dr Karl Folkers, who was professor and director of the 

Institute for Biomedical Research at the University of Texas 

in Austin, has been recognised for years as the world’s leading 

researcher on CoQ10. I had the honor of hearing Dr. 

Folkers’ lecture at the America Academy of Antiaging Conference 

in 1996. He was over 90 years old and charming. During 

his lecture, Dr. Folkers said, ‘I don’t use the word cure 

lightly, but CoQ10 is the cure for heart disease’ he has concluded 

biochemical, biomedical and clinical research on 

CoQ10 for some 35 years and has succeeded in establishing 

its structure and in isolating CoQ10 in human heart. The highest 

concentration of the enzyme is in the heart’s muscle. His 

research shows a definite link in CoQ10 deficiency and human 

heart disease.



THE NATION 

BUSINESS 

LABOUR 

Fuel crisis deepens as NUPENG, PENGASSAN strike continues 

THE crisis in the oil sector 

seems to be deepening as 

workers of the Nigeria Petro- 

leum Development Company 

(NPDC), under the aegis of the Petroleum 

and National Gas Senior 

Staff Association of Nigeria, 

PENGASSAN, and the National 

Union of Petroleum and Natural 

Gas Workers, NUPENG, early this 

week, shut down their operations. 

The unions directed NPDC employees, 

a subsidiary of the Nigerian 


(NNPC) to shutdown indefi- 

HE organised labour has 

urged the incoming admin- 

Tistration of President-Elect, 

nitely their locations and all oil 

production facilities nationwide in 

a bid to force the Minister of Petroleum 

Resources, Mrs. Diezani 

Alison-Madueke and the Federal 

Government to reverse the transfer 

of operatorship of OMLs 42, 40 

and 30. 

The assets were previously operated 

by Shell. 

The unions are aggrieved that the 

sale of the assets did not follow due 

process and would affect the fortunes 

of the NPDC and its workers. 

Labour to Buhari: Reduce 

cost of governance 

• Urges lawmakers to follow suit 

Muhammadu Buhari, to drastically 

reduce the high cost of governance 

by cutting irrelevant expenses. Labour 

particularly harped on the 

need to cut down on political appointments, 

adding that the current 

situation where lawmakers fix 

their salaries and allowances must 

be discouraged and discontinued. 

The workers, under the aegis of 

Chemical and Non-Metallic Senior 

Staff Association (CANMPSSA), at 

its First Quadrennial Delegate 

Conference in Sango Ota, Ogun 

State, warned Buhari against making 

the same mistake of the outgoing 


CANMPSSA National President, 

Comrade Abdul Gafar Mohammed, 

who was re-elected for another 

four years at the conference, 

lamented that the high cost of governance 

has continued to weigh 

down the economy. 

“We call on Mr. President to take 

urgent steps to address the issue of 

the remuneration of political office 

holders,”he said, noting that the 

PSSDC harps on quality service delivery by 

State to realise its 

public workers 

FOR Lagos 

vision of becoming Africa’s 

model megacity, its workers 

must continually deliver quality 

service residents, who daily 

transact business in the state or 

require its services. 

The Director-General of the 

state’s Public Service Staff Development 

Centre (PSSDC), Mrs 

Olubunmi Fabamwo, said this at 

the celebration of the Service 

Charter Day, and the unveiling 

of the centre’s service charter 

document. 

At the event, which held at the 

centre’s library in Magodo, Mrs 

Fabamwo said as a capacity building 

institution and one of the 14 

pilot Ministries Departments and 

Agencies (MDAs), for the charter, 

PSSDC will continue to train 

manpower that would be change 

Stories by Toba Agboola 

president must use the opportunity 

to deal decisively with the matter 

that has put the nation in an unfavourable 

economic climate. “It is 

clear to us that the creation of a 

new Nigeria, which is equitable, 

just and development-oriented, is 

not possible if this issue is not addressed 

and resolved. Our legislator 

and indeed, our elected public 

officers’ pay must reflect the reality 

of the average earnings in the 

economy,” he added. 

Comrade Mohammed said a case 

where one of the serving governors 

was reported to have disengaged 

over 2,000 aides was appalling. 

He, however, called for salaries 

of political office holders to be 

moved to the National Salaries, 

Incomes and Wages Commission 

to ensure probity. 

“There is a need for the settling 

of the salaries of political office 

holders to be moved to the National 

Salaries, Incomes and Wages 

Commission so that the same underlying 

parameters can be used 

in establishing guidelines for all 

public sector employees and 

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe 

agents in running government 

business. 

Describing service as critical to 

government, Fabamwo said 

workers must key into delivering 

cutting edge services, and that 

was why PSSDC as the training 

arm of government keyed into 

the charter to build a sustainable 

platform for the state to continue 

getting things right. 

Noting that no leader can be effective 

if he cannot serve, Mrs 

Fabamwo said the best leaders 

are good servants. “Leadership is 

service and service is leadership,” 

Mrs Fabamwo noted. 

She added that PSSDC is committed 

to the vision of Governor 

• Kaigama receiving an award of excellence from Comrade Abdul Gafar Mohammed at the 1st Quadrennial 

Delegates Conference of CANMPSSA in Sango Ota, Ogun State. 

elected officers,” he maintained. 

The CANMPSSA boss said corruption 

is at the root of many of 

Nigeria’s problems. “Corruption 

takes many forms and infiltrates 

all political institutions and economic 

sectors. Corruption has not 

only impinged on the nation’s 

economy, but also battered our 

image among the comity of nations. 

Huge allocations running 

into billions and trillions of naira 

Babatunde Fashola who, while 

launching the charter in 2012, 

looked forward to building a state 

with a strong cultural identity 

that would not only drive the nation’s 

social and political trends, 

but become one of the top 10 

megacities of the world in terms 

of urban living indices. 

She said the service charter is 

meant to inculcate in all public 

workers the fact that they are employed 

to give quality, fast and 

reliable service to the over 20 

million residents of Lagos, who 

would need their services everyday. 

She said a well trained 

worker, who internalised this 

ethos would go ahead and with 

others to build strong and virile 

institutions that would sustain an 

enduring legacy for coming generations. 

NLC urged to shelve planned shutdown of NIPOST 

HE Nigeria Labour Congress 

(NLC) has been urged to stop 

the plan to shut down TNIPOST headquarters. 

President, Senior Staff Association 

of Communications, Transport and 

Corporations (SSACTAC), 

Nigeria Postal Service NIPOST, 

branch, Mr. Gabriel Imafidon, made 

the appeal in Abuja while responding 

to a letter sent by the NLC on 

its plans to picket the office. 

According to Imafidon, the 

planned shutdown is over allega- 

tions of diversion of check-off dues 

of staff of the Nigerian Union of 

Postal Telecommunication Employ 

(NUPTE), NIPOST branch, 

to SSACTAC coffers. He added that 

the union would prefer to dialogue 

with NUPTE and for NLC to seek 

clarification on labour laws establishing 

it before picketing its office. 

He said: “NLC has directed all 

its industrial unions to contribute 

50 persons each to join in 

the picketing. We don’t want to join 

issues with them on the pages of 

newspapers or the electronic media. 

The way they are going about it 

shows elements of highhandedness. 

We stand to be corrected. 

We urge the NLC to 

seek clarification within the ambit 

of the law. 

“We expected that the NLC, as a 

sister body, would work to ensure 

peace between SSACTAC and 

NUPTE through dialogue, or better 

still, advise NUPTE to go to court 

and challenge the management’s 

action.’’ 

Mr. Emeka Offor’s Elcrest Exploration 

and Production Nigeria 

Limited, a joint venture company 

of Eland Oil & Gas Plc, was 

awarded the operatorship of OML 

40, while Mr. Ernest Ezedialu 

Obiejesi’s NECONDE is the operator 

of OML 42. 

A source from the union, who 

pleaded anonymity, said the strike 

is not national, adding that it is 

only an arm of the NNPC in Benin. 

He said the workers are agitated 

that they were kept in the dark by 

the management in the entire process, 

and are of the opinion that 

management’s decision would not 

only threaten their jobs, but will 

jeopardise the future of the industry. 

He said the strike had resulted 

from a breakdown in communication 

between the management of 

the company and the unions. 

Speaking on the development, 

the President, Trade Union Congress, 

TUC, Comrade Bobboi 

Kaigama, calls on the Federal Government 

to immediately halt and 

reverse the last minutes transfers 

are made to power development, 

roads, agriculture, and other sectors 

annually without measurable 

and meaningful corresponding 

achievement,” he said. 

On its part, the Trade Union Congress 

(TUC) has frowned at the way 

public office holders pay themselves 

severance benefits running 

into billions of naira without addressing 

the legitimate concerns of 

the workers on pension and gratuity. 

Speaking after the national executive 

council meeting of TUC, its 

president, Comrade Bobboi 

Kaigama said: “We want to call on 

the incoming government to drastically 

reduce the high cost of governance 

in the country.” 

He said there is also the need to 

47 

of the operatorship of OML 42, 

OML 40 and OML 30, which are 

being arbitrarily handed over to 

Neconde Energy Limited, Eland/ 

Elcrest and Shore Line respectively. 

”We demand immediate reinstatement 

of the operatorship 

rights of the Nigeria Petroleum 

Development Company (NPDC), 

the NNPC subsidiary that has been 

successfully operating the assets to 

avert the brewing industrial crisis 

in NNPC in view of the impact it 

will have on the ongoing transition 

process,” Kaigama said. 

cut down on political appointments 

and that the situation 

whereby lawmakers fix their own 

salaries and allowances be discouraged 

and discontinued. “We encourage 

lawmakers to follow suit,” 

he said, calling for a review of the 

salaries and allowances of workers. 

“The council has noted with serious 

concern that the minimum 

wage of N18, 000.00, which is less 

than $90 has not been implemented 

in some states. In particular, the 

congress condemns all the state 

governments owing workers’ salaries, 

as it is unhealthy for the nation. 

The Congress-in-session calls 

on the incoming government to restore 

payment of gratuity along 

with pension,” Kaigama said. 

Fed Govt relocates Co-operative 

Dept to ministry 

HE Federal Government has 

approved the movement of 

the Federal Department of TCooperatives from the Federal 

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural 

Development to the Ministry of 

Labour and Productivity in accordance 

with the provisions of the 

Cooperatives Development Act 

CAP. 23 and Nigerian Cooperative 

Society Act CAP. N98. 

The office of the Head of the Civil 

Service of the Federation, in granting 

the approval, directed Labour 

Ministry to take necessary steps in 

relocating the department in accordance 

with its enabling laws, 

adding that its current location in 

the Department of Cooperatives, 

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural 

Development, is irregular and 

should therefore, be re-located accordingly. 

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry 

of Labour and Productivity, Dr. 

Clement Illoh, in line with the approval, 

has re-established the Cooperative 

Department in the Ministry, 

charged with the broad man- 

date of ensuring effective coverage, 

coordination and improved 

performance of Cooperative Departments 

of all sectors of the national 

economy. 

He assured of the Labour Ministry’s 

commitment to best practices, 

delivery of quality services and 

restoration of people’s confidence 

in cooperative administration in 

Nigeria. 

Dr. Illoh also announced the appointment 

of Mrs. Mojisola 

Sonubi, a Director in the ministry, 

to oversee the activities of the 

Department of Federal Cooperative 

in the Ministry. 

Relying, Mrs. Sonubi called on 

the states departments of Cooperatives, 

Federation of Cooperative 

Colleges, non-governmental 

organisations (NGOs) and other 

relevant national cooperative organisations 

and special agencies 

to cooperate with the Ministry’s 

federal department of Cooperative 

as the coordinating centre for 

cooperative activities in the country.

48 


THE NATION 

e-Business 

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com e-mail: e-business@thenationonlineng.net 

lukajanaku02@gmail.com 

Anger over unsolicited text messages 

Unsolicited text messages have become one of the many challenges subscribers have to contend with. While the messages could so often be 

provocative, customers are forced to pay for them, largely because they are either ignorant of what to do is complacent. But the Nigerian 

Communications Commission (NCC) says aggrieved subscribers should stop suffering in silence, reports LUCAS AJANAKU. 

HE had left her business for 

the day to be part of one of the 

sessions of the monthly STelecoms Consumer Parliament 

(TCP) convened at the MUSON 

Centre, Onikan, Lagos, by the 

Nigerian Communications 

Commission (NCC). She had reasons 

to do so. For three years, she has been 

carrying the burden of receiving no 

fewer than 40 unsolicited text 

messages on her phone daily. 

She gave her name as Hajia Binta 

Maina, dealer in Dangote products. 

A woman in her late 50s, she sprang 

up from her seat, clutched her mobile 

phone and beckoned on officials of 

the NCC to come and see what she 

had been passing through with 

agonies all these years. According 

to her, the text messages were 

imposed on her by fraudulent value 

added service (VAS) providers 

riding on the infrastructure of 

Globacom, her mobile network 

operator (MNO). Bitter, she 

lamented that she had consistently 

loaded air time which so very often 

gradually gets depleted. 

She said: “I have been living with 

this problem over the past three 

years. I receive about 40 text 

messages daily from my service 

provider. If I were not advanced in 

age, some of the messages were 

capable of breaking my marriage. 

Imagine my husband opening my 

phone and reading a message such 

as; ‘I love you’. I have visited three 

offices of Glo and had even taken 

my case to the head office of the 

company in Victoria Island where 

an Indian man attended to me and 

assured me that the text messages 

and loss of money will stop. They 

said there is a code I could use to opt 

out. I used it but the more I used the 

code, the more the messages come 

in. 

“As I speak with you, it has not 

stopped. So when I heard that this 

meeting is taking place today, I 

decided to sacrifice everything I have 

to do today to bring my problem to 

the world.” 

Another subscriber, Madam Joy 

Adeniran, a window living in Itele, 

a suburb of Sango Ota, Ogun State, 

had been promised by one of her 

customers that she was going to 

make payment into her bank account 

so that she could go to the market 

the following day to stock her shop. 

She waited all day long to receive 

transaction alert from her bank but 

nothing came. Frustrated, she called 

the customer that promised to pay 

money into her bank account at 

about 10pm to find out what the 

problem was. 

She was assured of the payment 

and encouraged to wait for the 

transaction alert because that will 

form the basis of her going to 

Idumota, Lagos to buy goods for her 

shop. 

“It was like a vigil for me. I must 

get confirmation before setting out 

from Itele to Lagos latest by 5am the 

following morning. So, I kept 

waiting for the alert. When my text 

message alert tone rang at about 

12.30 midnight, I sprang up from my 

bed, reached for the phone. When I 

opened the message box, it was one 

useless message sent at that ungodly 

hour by my MNO. I was so pissed 

off and felt like smashing the device 

on the concrete wall,” she lamented. 

Hajia Maina and Mrs Adeniran are 

just a few of the over 140 million 

active subscribers that daily go 

through the pains of unsolicited text 

messages on their mobile phones. 

The messages come in torrents, 

sometimes blocking genuine 

messages from being received. “I 

have to delete these messages to 

allow important messages to be 

delivered because if I don’t do that, 

the icon showing that a message is 

waiting will keep popping up. It is 

very sad,” Alvin Afadama, an intern, 

lamented. 

NCC’s position 

Director, Public Affairs, NCC, 

Tony Ojobo, said the Commission 

has issued a lot of directives aimed 

at minimising as much as possible, 

the burden of unsolicited text 

messages to all the operators, adding 

that the regulator had even 

sanctioned the operators for not 

playing by the rules. 

He said the regulator has 

consistently urged the MNOs to 

install powerful firewalls to prevent 

unbridled influx of unsolicited text 

messages to their customers. 

He said: “We have made our 

position known on this matter. We 

have warned against sending 

messages to subscribers at night on 

their networks. The Commission is 

putting its foot down against the 

operators and monitoring their 

activities and giving them various 

regulations to ensure that this does 

not happen. We encourage 

subscribers to go to the operators, 

walk to their customer care centers; 

call customer call centers to lodge 

their complaints and give them 

detailed explanations about the 

content of the text message, the time 

you got them and from which 

number. 

“Agreed, most of these things 

come from VAS providers. They are 

not actually coming from the 

network service providers; some of 

them may come from them but most 

are from VAS providers with the 

knowledge of the service providers 

anyway. These things are like pipes 

for them to transmit their services 

and sometimes they get services 

through the system without them 

being able to detect it. It happens all 

over the world but we are insisting 

that they should be able to provide 

various types of systems that should 

be able to detect these unsolicited 

text messages especially those that 

are not wanted. The customers have 

a right to stop them. Send stop to the 

number that sent the message and it 

will stop and if it doesn’t stop; walk 

to our Lagos office at Bankole Oki 

Street, Ikoyi and complain. We take 

such complaints seriously because 

they infringe on the rights of the 

customers. 

“If you fail to get redress, you can 

also call us on our toll-free number 

on 622. Additionally I would like to 

say that this is a global problem it 

does not happen only in Nigeria 

alone.” 

Its Zonal Controller, Lagos, 

Okechukwu Aniweke, however said 

there are also positive sides to the 

unsolicited messages. According to 

him, unexpected bank alerts, 

warning about impending disasters, 

• Base transmission station (Insert: NCC EVC Eugene Juwah) 

outbreak of epidemic disease, 

outbreak of fatal disease such as the 

Ebola and warnings about how to 

avoid contacting them, alert about 

fire disasters and even armed 

robbery attack. He said some 

‘unsolicited’ text message have been 

so useful to the customers as they 

have helped to save lives, adding 

however that this is not to say the 

MNOs and VAS providers should 

not respect the right of their 

customers to have peaceful rest in 

their homes. 

Operators react 

Head, Network Operations, 

Globacom, Aremu Olajide, said 

most of the messages that customers 

complain about are not sent by the 

MNOs, arguing that VAS providers 

licensed by the NCC send the 

messages but using the MNOs. 

Customer Care Executive at MTN, 

Akinwale Goodluck agrees with 

Olajide. According to him, a huge 

percentage of the unsolicited 

messages on the network are 

actually generated on the internet. 

He said with the rise of the internet, 

it was possible for somebody to be 

in Asia and send mass messages to 

millions of subscribers in the 

country. He said though there are 

subsisting contractual agreements 

with bulk SMS providers, the telco 

is however strict with its terms of 

engagement. 

VAS providers speak 

The umbrella body of VAS 

providers in the country, the 

Wireless Application Service 

Providers Association of Nigeria 

(WASPAN), has absolved itself of 

any blame. The group blamed the 

raft of unsolicited messages on what 

it described as “rogue VAS 

providers.” 

Its National Coordinating 

Consultant, Simon Aderinlola, who 

described WASPAN as a selfregulatory 

body of firms licensed by 

the NCC that have at least 

connection with one MNO in 

Nigeria providing VAS. 

He said: “In answering that other 

aspect of your question about 

messages getting to people may be 

at night, they are rogue VAS 

services. By rogue VAS services, the 

Commission has tried immensely, 

to halt their operation. There is a 

framework for licensing but it is 

gathering momentum. There are 

some who actually open business to 

do wrong things. 

“The more the right regulation is 

put in place such that you are not 

killing innovation, but ensuring that 

the customer is protected and the 

rules are clear and transparent, the 

better for all of us. 

He commended the regulator for 

creating a forum for the MNOs, VAS 

providers and other stakeholders to 

come together to tackle the problem 

of unsolicited messages. 

“I must say this is the first of its 

kind forum of this nature where you 

have the operators, the VAS 

providers and the NCC all giving 

their own ideas on how things can 

work and I am sure the more we have 

session of this nature, the more we 

will be able to drive things forward,” 

he said.


49



51



53

54 

EQUITIES 

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE 

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 20-05-15 



term financial forecasts indicating 

that the bank will grow 

its top-line and profitability 

consecutively over the next 

three years to about N110 billion 

and N30 billion respectively. 

Managing director, Unity 

Bank Plc, Mr Henry 

Semenitari, who addressed 

the investing public at the Nigerian 

Stock Exchange (NSE) 

yesterday, said the bank would 

achieve its financial targets as 

these are anchored on a viable 

growth strategy, which will 

ensure increasing operational 

efficiency over the years. 

He outlined that the bank 

plans to achieve profit before 

tax of N20.26 billion in 2015 

and subsequently scale up to 

N26.13 billion and N30.41 billion 

in 2016 and 2017 respectively. 

He added that the bank plans 

to grow top-line earnings consecutively 

to N76.26 billion in 

2015 and N88.52 billion and 

N109.49 billion in 2016 and 

2017 respectively. 

Semenitari assured that the 

bank has been well-positioned 

to achieve its financial targets 

noting that the rebound from 

By Taofik Salako 

Capital Market Editor 

Unity Bank eyes N30b profit, 

HE management of 

Unity Bank Plc yester- 

N110b earnings 

Tday rolled out its shorta 

loss position of N33.64 billion 

in December 2013 to a 

profit position of N13.6 billion 

before tax in 2014 financial 

year evidenced the remarkable 

turnaround the bank had 

witnessed. 

According to him, agriculture 

sector remains a major 

strategic focus of the bank 

based on its historical strength 

while it would also focus on 

emerging middle market entrepreneurs 

to remain retail 

bank of choice. 

He pointed out that the recent 

share reconstruction by 

the bank was done to ensure 

that the bank can begin dividend 

payment in the nearest 

future and create better value 

for all shareholders. 

Key extracts of the audited 

report and accounts of the bank 

for the year ended December 

31, 2014 showed that gross 

earnings rose from N62.83 billion 

in 2013 to N77.07 billion 

in 2014. Interest income had 

grown from N52.2 billion in 

2013 to N62.64 billion in 2014 

while net interest income rose 


from N30.14 billion to N45.45 

billion. Fee and commission 

income stood at N10.71 billion 

in 2014 as against N7.33 billion 

in 2013. Other incomes 

totaled N3.72 billion in 2014 

compared with N3.30 billion 

in 2013. 

After taxes, net profit stood 

at N10.69 billion in 2014 compared 

with net loss after tax of 

N22.58 billion in 2013. Earnings 

per share thus turned positive 

with a modest 17.45 kobo 

in 2014 in contrast with loss 

per share of 58.74 kobo recorded 

in previous year. 

The balance sheet of the bank 

also firmed up substantially. 

Total assets rose to N413.31 

billion in 2014 as against 

N403.63 billion in 2013. Total 

liabilities meanwhile 

dropped from N375.42 billion 

in 2013 to N337.04 billion in 

2014. Shareholders’ funds 

closed 2014 at N76.26 billion 

as against N28.21 billion in 

2013. 

Unity Bank had raised N39.22 

billion new equity funds in 

2014 through a combined 

rights issue of N19.22 billion 

and special placement of N20 

billion.


55

56 

SHOWBIZ 

UNIPORT 

next on 

Fayrouz 

L’Original 

auditions 

NOWN for its history as a 

fashion centre in Nigeria, a 

gulf Port Harcourt, the Rivers State 

capital once again, as organisers of 

creative talent hunt show, 

Fayrouz L’Original, make their entry 

into the University of Port 

Harcourt this weekend. 

Still at the audition stage, the Port 

Harcourt edition is coming after 

last weekend’s highly patronised 

event at the University of 

Ibadan, Oyo State. 

Billed to hold this Saturday, at 

the International Student Centre 

Conference Hall, the audition will 

have talented students of UNIPORT 

and other cities within the South 

Region, showcasing their artistic 

talents in the areas of fashion de- 

• Nex2 performing Iyawo Mi 

Awhat looks like the possible 

winners is beginning to be evident, 

going by the performances of some 

of the contestants. 

After the most-aided contestant, 

Sther, was eventually evicted last 

week, the remaining five candidates 

on the show played a game of supremacy, 

each singing two Nigerian 

hits, to impress the audience and 

judges. 

But it appears K-Peace was the 

most favoured on the night, singing 

Shake body by Skales. That performance 

further stamped him as the 

people’s favourite. Having picked 

up the tempo from where Dolu left 

off, he put up an electrifying and sensational 

show that got him a standing 

ovation from Darey and others. 

“I can watch him all night. He 

looks like a true performer, let’s be 

honest. The song is not exactly vocally 

challenging, but he showed the 

ability to carry the audience along 

and get response from them because 

he is a performer,” said Mannie, a 

guest judge on the show. 

The night had started on a low key, 

as Classiq Tunez and Preye failed to 

deliver on their renditions of 

Wizkid’s Show me the money and 

Johnny by Yemi Alade respectively. 

Mannie, an on-air-personality with 

Cool FM, believed that Classiq Tunez 

struggled with his pitch while Preye, 

on the other hand, produced a somewhat 

interesting performance, but 

did not light up the stage with the 

appropriate energetic dance re- 

• Rhema, Kelechi Amadi Obi, Nnenna Ifebigh Hemeson, April By Kunbi and Mai Atafo (2) 

Ksense of belonging will ensigning, 

modelling, photography 

and make-up artistry. 

The event will be anchored by 

fashion experts such as ace photographer, 

Kelechi Amadi-Obi, 

National Retail Artiste House of 

Tara Rhema Akabuogu and renowned 

designers, Mai 

Atafo and Kunbi Oyelese of April 

by Kunbi who make up the jury. 

Organisers say the winning team 

will be chosen to represent the region 

and contest with four other 

teams at the semi-final stage of 

• K-Peace 

Nods for K-Peace, Nex2, Preye on Nigerian Idol 5 

S the ongoing Nigerian Idol 

5 inches towards climax, 

quired to match the theme of the 

song. 

Dolu showed a different stuff when 

she performed Tiwa Savage’s 

Wanted. “After all the struggles, it’s 

nice to see you come of age. You are 

beginning to own the stage, oozing 

confidence,” said Darey. 

Nex2’s performance of Davido’s 

Gobe was a reflection of the typical 

energetic performance he appears to 

have made his own on the show. 

In the second round of performance, 

Classiq Tunez, like his first 

show, failed to hit the form that has 

endeared him to his fans on the show. 

His delivery of Wizkid’s Back to the 

Matter was adjudged flat, as it did 

not resonate with the audience and 

judges who were unimpressed with 

a telling puckered brow. As a result 

of that, Mannie advised him to avoid 

songs by Wizkid while Dede, echoing 

same sentiments with Darey, 

noted it was worse than the previous 

one. 

“For today, I am sorry, my brother, 

your second outing was worse than 

your first,” he noted. 

The other four contestants gave 

good accounts of themselves, but the 

duo of Preye and Nex2 produced the 

two best performances of the second 

half. 

Preye’s rendition of Kcee’s Limpopo 

was enough to make up for the obvious 

gaps noticeable in her first half 

showing. She may not rank among 

the Show’s great dancers, but she did 

enough to provoke a standing ovation 

from the four judges. 

Nex2 posted his best performance 

ever on the show when he took to 

the stage to perform Timi Dakolo’s 

Iyawo Mi. It was one performance that 

etched itself in many minds with the 

accompaniment of theatrics. 

The show, which focuses on discovering 

Nigerian youths with talent 

in music and giving them a 

unique platform to take shots at stardom, 

is staking a whooping N7.5 

million cash reward for the wouldbe 

winner. The cash prize is complemented 

with a brand new SUV, a 

recording deal worth N7.5 million 

with South-Africa’s Universal Music 

label and some high-end devices. 

Nigerian Idol season 5 is sponsored 

by Etisalat Nigeria, Payporte, 

Cool Fm, Tantalizers, Cadbury Nigeria, 

Zaron, Dabur Toothpaste, So- 

Klin, ORS and Ellis Suites. 

F 

EMI Robinson, who first acted the 

role of Village Headmaster in the 

now rested soap opera, Village 

Headmaster is dead. 

The veteran actor who was also pioneer 

Director of Programmes, Ogun State 

Television (OGTV) died yesterday morning 

at Ayodele Hospital, Fagba, Ifako Ijaiye, 

Lagos. He was 74. He would have been 75 

in September. 

He acted alongside the likes of Justus Esiri 

and Chief Olusegun Olusola. 

‘He was a great man,’ his son, Wole 

Robinson said. ‘He tried as much he could 

to change the world.’ 

In an interview he granted to Newswatch 

the competition, holding at the 

Obudu Cattle ranch, Calabar, in 

June. 

The Port Harcourt audition will 

be followed by another on May 

30, at the University of Nigeria, 

Enugu, before rounding off at the 

SEVEN key members of the Nigerian 

nightclub and entertainment 

industry have been 

selected by owners of Jack Daniel’s 

Single Barrel for a weeklong trip to 

their Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee. 

The trip will afford them the opportunity 

of having a customised 

barrel of the product for their hangouts, 

as they will personally handselect 

their choice of Jack Daniel’s 

Single Barrel with the Master Distiller 

and Master Taster of the product. 

The trip is anchored on the 

company’s ‘Buy The Barrel Program’, 

and those selected for the event are, 

Frank Okamigbo of The Place 

LoungeLekki by Papas; Charles 

Okpaleke, Partnering Owner, Play 

Abuja; Shina Peller, CEO of Quilox 

Night Club& Aquila Group; Ibukun 

Shoboyede and Niran Odulana, coowners 

of Road Runners Night Club; 

Abubakar Atodo Isah, co-owner of 

Caribbean Lounge Abuja and Chris 

Ubosi, MD, Megaletrics Limited, 

mother company to The Beat FM, 

Classic FM and Naija FM. 

With the barrels and bottles specially 

customised according to their 

specifications, there is no doubt they 

will be bringing class and uniqueness 

to their outfits, as the entertainment 

and nightlife industry is experiencing 

a boom. 


University of Lagos on Friday, 

June 5 and Saturday, June 6. 

In its second season, the show, 

tagged the Fayrouz L’Original Expression 

is sponsored by Fayrouz, 

and aims to reward young creative 

talents. 

Peller, Obosi, others on Jack 

Daniel’s Lynchburg trip 

THE video of ‘Save The Last 

Dance’, the latest single from 

JJC, was on Tuesday, trending 

on Twitter. Save the last dance 

is a song which borrows a cover 

from a popular Hausa tune and focuses 

on trust. According to JJC’s 

Youtube page, ‘without TRUST, we 

have nothing.’ 

As at Tuesday morning, the video 

had over 99, 000 views on Youtube. 

Produced by Puffy Tee and directed 

by Mr. Moe Musa under 

While away, they are expected to 

meet with Jack Daniel’s master distiller, 

Jeff Arnett, for a private tour of 

the grounds where they will learn 

about the history of the brand and 

will also experience a personal tasting 

session by the distillery’s master 

taster, Chris Fletcher. 

One barrel is specially selected out 

of every 100 barrels by the Master 

Distiller Jeff Arnett, and set aside to 

mature in the highest reaches of the 

Jack Daniel’s barrelhouse where dramatic 

temperature changes cause the 

colour and taste to deepen further creating 

a smooth, one-of-a-kind flavour 

and robust taste. Every barrel selected 

gives the whiskey a different flavour 

and that’s why it’s hard to find two 

bottles of Single Barrel the same. 

By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi 

• Shina Peller 

JJC’s video trend on Twitter 

By Joe Agbro Jr. 

Bigboyz Entertainment, the song 

came out after the release of his autobiographical 

hit song, My Life. 

Known for his classic singles, We 

are Africans, African Skank, Eru and 

My Life, among others, the singer/ 

songwriter/musician is always 

praised for his live onstage performances. 

His album titled Skillz is scheduled 

to come out soon. 

Femi Robinson, Village Headmaster, is dead 

By Joe Agbro Jr. 

newspaper in January, Robinson who 

studied Botany at the University of Ile-Ife 

(Obafemi Awolowo University) said he 

was sad to be a Nigerian because the 

country did not focus on getting solutions 

to her problems. 

“When I say I regret living in this 

country, it’s because I have done a lot of 

things to help this country. When we were 

having problems with buying and selling, 

I started a television programme called: 

Shopper’s Guide; that was what later gave 

rise to the establishment of National 

Agency for Food Drugs and 

Administrative Control (NAFDAC).”


NEWS 

•The queen, Brenda flanked by Bez (left) and Globacom’s Group Business Director, Kunle Akanmu (Right) 

21-year old crowned Miss Lagos NYSC 

WENTY-ONE-YEAR 

old Brenda Evbodaghe, 

a graduate of TMass Communication from 

Covenant University has been 

crowned queen of the Lagos 

NYSC Miss Bold and Beautiful 

pageant sponsored by Globacom. 

Evbodaghe, from Edo State 

beat other ladies to emerge the 

winner of the pageant which 

was anchored by the humour 

merchant, Gbenga Adeyinka. 

The pageant was part of the 

activities lined up for the night 

of fun and entertainment organised 

by Globacom to welcome 

the 2015 “Batch A” corps members 

to the NYSC Orientation 

Camp, Iyana Ipaja. 

The contestants appeared in 

three costumes: Full NYSC 

Corps regalia, evening gown 

and native wears. 

Brenda was declared winner 

by a unanimous decision from 

the judges comprising Glo ambassadors 

Bez, Ego Ogbaru 

and NYSC officials. She won 

an iPhone 6 with 4.5 Gb data 

and N5,000 worth Glo Airtime. 

Iwuese Oluchi Precious, a 

Business Administration graduate 

from Babcock University 

was first runner-up and won a 

Samsung Duos with 4.5 Gb data 

and 5,000 airtime, while Judith 

Nze, a Biomedical Science graduate 

from the University of 

Wolverhampton, England 

came third, winning a Samsung 

Duos. 

Reacting, Brenda said: “I feel 

happy; I never expected to win. 

It’s a very happy moment for 

me. This crown, I’m sure will 

spur me into giving my best 

during the service year. I will 

use it as a springboard to 

achieve my dream in the wider 

society”. 

Ezekwesili, BBOG to DHQ: where’re the girls 

HE BringBackOurGirls 

and its coordinator, 

Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili Tyesterday said it has not been 

engaging in hate campaign 

against the military. 

They also said it would not 

recant its observations on military 

operations in the North- 

East. 

They raised three posers for 

the military including a categorical 

statement on the 

whereabouts of the 219 Chibok 

girls. 

The posers are: 

* Where exactly are our 219 

#ChibokGirls? 

*Is there no military or human 

intelligence to enable us 

at least locate the whereabouts 

of all or some of them? 

* Is the raid on Sambisa now 

completed and if so, what news 

do we have on the whereabouts 

of our 219 girls who both the 

military, the National Security 

Advisor and the President had 

at various times promised 

would be rescued from captivity 

before May 29th? 

Ezekwesili and BBOG made 

their position known in a May 

19 letter to the Director of Defence 

Information, Maj-Gen 

Chris Olukolade. 

Olukolade stirred the hornet’s 

nest in a previous letter to 

Ezekwesili and the BBOG. 

The BBOG said it does not 

harbour any mole in its midst 

and asked military to respond 

to three posers. 

The letter, signed by Ezekwesili, 

said in part: “However, 

as you can see, we remain 

engaged and determined to receive 

progress reports from our 

military on their effort to bring 

back our girls. We were in fact 

hoping that part of your letter 

would have provided a 

progress update on the state of 

the military mission to rescue 

our girls. 

“Once again, we thank you 

for writing. We hope we have 

convincingly persuaded you 

that our Movement is strictly 

engaged in empathy centered 

advocacy for our 219 #Chibok- 

Girls who must be given the 

justice of successful rescue after 

400 days in terrorist captivity. 

From Yusuf Ali, Abuja 

“Their continued captivity 

traumatizes our Movement and 

every one in our nation and all 

over the world who share the 

bond of humanity with our 219 

#ChibokGirls. 

“Our ChibokGirls are victims 

of the failure of our government 

to rescue them and others we 

may still not know were abducted 

so far. That is why we as 

a Movement shall not stop advocating 

for them. 

“That is also why we are open 

to working with our Military 

and Government until our nation 

succeeds in this important 

endeavor of bringing back our 

ChibokGirls and all other abducted 

citizens of Nigeria. 

“So we use this opportunity 

of our reply to once more ask: 

“Where exactly are our 219 #ChibokGirls?” 

. “Is there no military 

or human intelligence to 

enable us at least locate the 

whereabout of all or some of 

them?” 

“Is the raid on Sambisa now 

completed and if so, what news 

do we have on the whereabout 

of our 219 girls who both the 

military, the National Security 

Advisor and the President had 

at various times promised 

would be rescued from captivity 

before May 29th?”. 

We demand that the Military 

urgently presents a mission update 

to the parents, our Movement 

and the wider public on 

the current plans for the rescue 

of our #ChibokGirls.” 

The BBOG also responded to 

all issues raised by Olukolade 

in his letter. 

The group added: We acknowledge 

receipt of your correspondence 

dated 14 May 2015 

and noted your concerns about 

our advocacy movement 

#BringBackOurGirls which has 

since April 30, 2014 been advocating 

for rescue of the 219 #ChibokGirls 

abducted 400 days ago 

at their school on April 14, 2014. 

“We especially noted the following 

four key messages in 

your letter to our Movement. 

“We wish to respond to the 

four key issues raised in your 

letter as follows: 

“Our #BringBackOurGirls 

movement is a Citizens- led 

movement with open membership 

of all citizens who choose 

to identify with the cause of our 

219 #ChibokGirls. 

“No one individual or group 

of persons within the Movement 

can determine the direction 

or position of our Movement 

on the issues we advocate. 

This is because, the basis of all 

our decisions is Collectivism. 

“Moreover, both our Movement 

and our members are guided 

by a set of Core Values of 

Hope, Unity, Motivation, Affability, 

Nationalism, Integrity, 

Transparency, Empathy, Equity, 

Discipline and Sacrifice (HU- 

MANITEEDS) in our advocacy. 

“In our public and private 

communication, we are also 

guided by our rule of highest 

respect for adherence to the sanctity 

of facts or empirical evidence 

rather than anecdotes. 

“Our communications- statements, 

briefs, member representations 

- all pass through one 

of the strongest internal quality 

control process to ensure accuracy 

in our messages. 

“Therefore, we wish to 

strongly assure you that #Bring- 

BackOurGirls has never and 

will never be susceptible to the 

kind of influence of any one or 

group of individual(s) engaging 

in a “hate campaign against 

you or our military”. 

“Such act would contradict 

our Core Values and our strictly 

empirical advocacy for the 

Government and military to 

deliver on their duty. 

“Thus, our singularity of purpose 

remains the rescue of our 

#ChibokGirls and all other abducted 

victims of the North East 

terrorist scourge. We shall continue 

to be civil and professional 

in our advocacy as we have 

widely been acclaimed to be 

since it commenced more than 

a year ago. 

“As a Citizens’ movement, 

#BringBackOurGirls is a demand 

for accountability from 

especially our Federal Government 

which has the constitutional 

duty for security of all citizens. 

In shaping our demand, 

we rely on publicly available 

news from your Directorate as 

well as all known credible media 

platforms. 

“In furtherance of our civic 

duty to be eternally vigilant we 

launched our Accountability 

Tools for rigorously monitoring, 

organizing and analyzing 

all news reports on the counter 

insurgency war in order to draw 

out key issues on which we 

could engage as citizens with 

our Government to help improve 

the prospects of success 

of the military efforts. 

“As earlier stated be reassured 

that all our statements 

and posts on social media conveying 

the results of our Monitoring/Accountability 

Initiatives 

have to undergo stringent 

quality control processes. It is 

after these that they are released 

with utmost sense of responsibility 

and a readiness to defend 

our position with evidence. 

“We therefore stand by all our 

analyses and assessments as 

conveyed in our statements. 

This explains why, so far, we 

have never had to recant, deny, 

or apologize for any statements 

we have made in the more than 

one year of our advocacy. 

“Nevertheless, we are open 

to receiving any specific instances 

or episodes of factual 

inaccuracy resulting from our 

monitoring, analysis, assessment, 

questions, scrutiny and 

statements. 

“We also recall our meeting 

of the 6th May 2014 with you 

and the Chief of Defense Staff 

team at the Defense Head Quarters. 

We had at that meeting 

agreed that the military will 

act in ways consistent with civil-military 

relations and democratic 

accountability by hosting 

us to a regular meetings to 

discuss the progress of your 

rescue mission for our girls and 

more broadly, the prosecution 

of the counter-insurgency war. 

“It is regrettable that subsequently 

following that agreement, 

none of such meetings 

ever happened again and that 

instead, our attempt to participate 

in your National Information 

Center briefings was frustrated 

and then prohibited.” 

Why Mu’azu quit as PDP chairman 


“We were expecting him to 

follow international convention 

and decorum but he was 

behaving as if it was normal 

to lose a general election woefully. 

“The President, PDP governors 

and party leaders expected 

him to read their body 

language but he was blind. Instead 

of pressurising him to 

resign, all these leaders isolated 

him in the past few 

weeks. 

“The isolation informed his 

desperate tweets which did 

not help his case at all. It was 

really sad that a politician of 

his calibre does not know 

when to quit.” 

Responding to a question, 

the source added: “At a point, 

Villa’s doors were shut 

against him as he had limited 

or no access to the seat of 

power. It was at this point that 

he knew the game was up and 

he chose to quit yesterday. 

“The alternative would have 

been to call an emergency 

meeting of the National Executive 

Committee next week 

to force him to resign. They 

actually wanted to settle 

Mu’azu’s case before May 29. 

Some PDP governors and leaders 

did not believe that Muazu 

was truly ill and recuperating 

in Singapore. 

“Mu’azu realised that the 

forces were overwhelming 

and there was no way he 

could survive it.” 

Another highly-placed 

source added: “What hastened 

his resignation was the coming 

together of all NWC 

members who placed a call to 

the PDP chairman to leave. 

“It was a sudden palace 

coup by the NWC members 

who had risen in support of 

Mu’azu in the last three weeks. 

“Rather than sinking with 

Muazu, the NWC members 

were clever in staging a palace 

coup against him. 

“Mu’azu felt the NWC 

members, who were part of 

all he did in office, have 

stabbed him in the back. When 

your team members say they 

have lost confidence in you, 

certainly you will become 

helpless.” 

It was also gathered that relatives, 

friends and associates of 

Mu’azu were shocked by the 

insults being heaped on their 

man and decided to advise 

him to quit. 

“I think the relatives, friends 

and associates on Tuesday felt 

they have had enough of these 

insults and prevailed on 

Mu’azu to “leave their job”. 

A governor said: “Our position 

is that all the NWC members 

should go for a new set 

of leaders. Is there any difference 

between Mu’azu and his 

successor, Secondus if we want 

to reform the party? 

“The NWC messed up our 

primaries, some of them became 

traders and even when 

the President advised them not 

to touch the expression of interest 

and nomination fees paid 

by aspirants, they blew all. 

”Why do you expect us to 

retain such a reckless team. 

Mu’azu’s resignation is just 

the beginning of more cleansing 

in the party. To ask 

Secondus to be in charge is like 

seeking a difference between 

six and half a dozen.” 

A few hours after Mu’azu’s 

exit, Secondus met with President 

Goodluck Jonathan at the 

Presidential Villa, Abuja. 

Secondus arrived the Presidential 

Villa around 5.15 p.m 

with Bayelsa State Governor 

Seriake Dickson. 

He acknowledged greetings 

from those congratulating him. 

Secondus and Dickson 

walked out together from the 

President’s office around 6.17 

p.m. 

Mu’azu’s resignation letter 

was said to have been delivered 

to Secondus. He is to act 

as chairman pending the emergence 

of a substantive chair. 

National Secretary, Prof. 

Wale Oladipo, told reporters 

that the NWC had received 

and accepted the chairman’s 

resignation. 

He said the NWC would 

meet today, to decide on the 

correct position of the status 

of the Chairman, Board of 

Trustees of the PDP, Chief 

Tony Anenih. He did not 

elaborate. But Anenih later 

resigned. 

Oladipo, who declined to 

state whether other members 

of the NWC would also resign, 

expressed confidence in 

the ability of the remaining 

party officials to run its affairs. 

He announced the setting up 

of a seven-member disciplinary 

committee with yet to be 

stated terms of reference. According 

to him, the committee 

is headed by Chief 

Michael Addul. 

Other members of the committee 

are Chief Mike 

Ogiadohme, Senator Teslim 

Folarin, Dr. Akilu Indabawa, 

Dr. Hassan Kafayas, Barr 

Nonye Nwangwu while Barr. 

Tony Caesar Okeke will serve 

as Secretary. 

The committee, he said, will 

be inaugurated on Tuesday at 

the party’s secretariat. 

He pleaded for calm and the 

understanding of all members 

and other critical stakeholders, 

and urged any member 

with genuine grievances to 

channel such through the appropriate 

organs. 

The embattled party officials 

have written to Fani- 

Kayode querying the validity 

of his membership of the party. 

According to them, Fani- 

Kayode would face sanctions 

if his membership is found to 

be invalid. 

The party also queried the 

Deputy National Organising 

Secretary, Chief Okey 

Nnadozie, over non remittance 

of N2.5 million meant 

for the transportation of state 

chairmen during the last party 

convention. 

The letter, signed by 

Oladipo said “In view of the 

gravity of the allegation, the 

NWC invites you to its meeting 

holding onThursday, May 

21, 2015 by 10 am at the NWC 

Hall”. 

Mu’azu, who proceeded on 

medical trip abroad shortly after 

the election, is yet to return 

to the country. 

Freedom night at MABCI 

M 

IRACLE 

Assembly Bible Church Incorporated 

(MABCI) aka City of Joy will hold an all night 

programme tagged: ‘June Freedom Night (Vigil)’. The 

session, ‘God of Vengeance Fight My Case’, is scheduled for 

June 5 at 10pm at church auditorium, 80, Ajose Street, Mende, 

Maryland. 

According to the hosts, Bishop and Evang. (Mrs) Theophilus 

Ugo Chukwu, vengeance is of God and He will contend against 

those who contend against worshippers.

58 

NEWS 

•L-R: Deputy Vice- 

Chancellor, Academy, 

University of Ibadan, 

Prof. Gbemisola Oke, 

Vice-Chancellor University 

of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac 

Adewole receiving an 

award from Commissioner 

of Police Oyo 

State, Muhammed Katsina 

during the courtesy 

visit of Prof. Isaac Adewole 

to Oyo State Police 

Command Hospital at 

Police Headquarter 

Eleyele... 

Ibadan. 

PHOTO: FEMI 

ILESANMI 

EKITI State Governor Ayodele 

Fayose described 

the resignation as a 

good development for the turbulent 

party. 

Speaking through his 

Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu 

Adelusi, Fayose, who has 

been calling for Mu’azu’s removal, 

said: “We see it as a 

welcome development. When 

a political party loses an election, 

the moral thing for the 

leadership of that party is to 

quit office. 

Muazu and others ought 

not to have waited for the call 

for their resignation before 

doing the right thing. We 

hope others would follow his 

step. This will allow re-engineering 

of the party to make 

it a virile opposition party.” 

Gunmen abduct Jonathan’s cousins in Bayelsa 

•Abductors wear military camouflage 

PATIENCE Egbeni and 

Kate Eni, two cousins 

of President Goodluck 

Jonathan, have been abducted 

by gunmen at Akimpelai, 

Ogbia Local Government 

Area of Bayelsa State. 

It was learnt that six gunmen 

stormed the riverbank 

in the community at 8.30am 

on Tuesday and abducted the 

women. 

The victims were said to 

have been snatched from 

their provision stores on the 

riverbank. 

A source, who spoke in 

confidence, said the hoodlums 

forced the women into 

a waiting speedboat and 

took them to an unknown 

Fayose, George: exit good for party 

Former Deputy National 

Chairman of the PDP Chief 

Olabode George described 

Muazu’s resignation as “the best 

thing to have happened to us”. 

George, a member of PDP’s 

National Caucus, said the resignation 

has proved that “PDP 

is made up of people with integrity”. 

He also described the setting 

aside of zoning by the All 

Progressives Congress (APC) 

for national offices such as 

Senate President and Speaker 

of the House of Representatives 

as “dangerous”. 

“It is in our party’s interest. 

It is the best thing to have 

happened to us. It shows that 

PDP has a strong norm and 

culture and it will allow us 

reposition our party. 

“We are happier than before 

because PDP will become 

stronger to face the challenges 

ahead. As from May 29, we 

will become the opposition 

party at the national level. We 

need to restrategise. 

“He (Mu’azu) has done the 

honourable thing to do and 

that is why PDP is different 

from other parties. Mu’azu is 

a foundation member of the 

party, a founding governor. 

He has followed the path of 

honour like President Goodluck 

Jonathan. I wish him the 

best of luck”. 

On zoning, he said: “APC 

is making a big mistake 

which is a very dangerous concept 

for the polity. That means 

we are back in 1960. How can 

you say you are setting aside 

Anenih resigns after NWC’s 

‘curious’ letter 

•’I quit for Jonathan to takeover 

From Mike Odiegwu, 

Yenagoa 

place. 

The incident, which occurred 

a few days to a grand 

reception being organised 

for Dr Jonathan on May 29, 

was said to have devastated 

the President’s kinsmen. 

The source said: “The victims 

are two maternal cousins 

of the President. We 

know that they have been 

preparing to welcome the 

President after the May 29 

handover. Unless they are 

rescued before then, their 

dream of spokesman Butswat 

Asinim, an Assistant Superintendent 

of Police (ASP), 

said the gunmen were 

dressed in military camouflage. 

Egbeni is 35 years old. 

He said: “The gunmen 

were dressed in military camouflage. 

They went to the 

provision stores of the victims 

at the riverside and abducted 

them into a waiting 

speedboat.” 

Asinim said the Marine 

and Anti-Kidnapping Squad 

of the police, including the 

Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation 

Pulo Shield, had been contacted. 

Following the incident, 

zoning? It is dangerous. I just 

pray that General Muhammadu 

Buhari will rise above 

tribal sentiment to manage 

everybody” 

Director of Media of the 

PDP Presidential Campaign 

Organisation, Chief Femi 

Fani-Kayode said Mu’azu did 

the honourable thing by turning 

in his resignation. 

He called on other members 

of the NWC to take a cue from 

the ex party chair by resigning 

their positions without delay. 

According to him, the party 

would not get out of its festering 

crisis with the remaining 

NWC members on board. 

“They should respect the wish 

of the majority of party members 

and resign because they 

have failed”, he stated. 

From: Yusuf Alli, Managing 

Editor, Northern Operation 

He considered the letter “offensive 

from small boys” who 

did not know how the party 

was formed. He also took exception 

to such insults from the 

small minds in the party, the 

source said, adding that: 

“I can tell you authoritatively 

that the letter from PDP secretariat 

informed his resignation 

as BOT chairman.” 

But Anenih made no reference 

to any correspondence between 

him and the party. 

He said he was stepping 

down to allow Jonathan to assume 

the office of the BOT chairman. 

He also cited the current state 

of affairs in the party as a major 

factor for his stepping down. 

Anenih, in a May 20 onepage 

letter to President Goodluck 

Jonathan 

Titled the”Notice of my decision 

to step down as Chairman, 

Board of Trustees of the 

Peoples Democratic Party”, 

Anenih said his decision would 

enable President Jonathan to 

effectively assume the chairmanship 

of the BoT. 

The letter reads: “Your Excellency 

will recall that in a conversation 

I had with you a few 

weeks ago, I had offered to step 

down from the office of the 

Chairman of our party’s Board 

of Trustees and proposed to 

hand over to you as its new 

Chairman in a ceremony that 

would have taken place on the 

23rd of May, 2015. I had also 

repeated this position in our 

subsequent meetings. 

“As a follow up to the above 

proposal and in view of the current 

state of affairs in our party, 

I have decided to formally put 

my offer in writing to enable 

you effectively assume the 

Chairmanship of Board of Trust- 

•Anenih 

ees or approve a process that 

will enable any other member 

of the BoT who is considered 

competent, to assume the position. 

“Kindly accept therefore, 

this letter as notice of my decision 

to step down from the position 

of Chairman of the BoT 

of our party with effect from 

today, the 20th of May, 2015. 

“I am happy to inform you 

that, I remain a loyal foundation 

member of our great party 

and will continue to pray for 

the prosperity of Nigeria, our 

party, and for you and your 

family. 

“Your Excellency, kindly 

accept the expression of my 

highest regards.” 

the Ogbia clan of the Ijaw 

Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide 

urged the kidnappers to 

release the women immediately. 

The clan’s Chairman Osaanya 

Osaanya said no ransom 

should be paid for the 

women’s freedom. 

He said: “We are calling 

on the kidnappers to, as a 

matter of urgency, return 

those innocent women. We 

will go after them, if they 

refuse to heed our call. We 

will assist security agencies 

to make sure that those poor 

women are released with 

immediate effect.” 


No reconciliation with 

Amaechi’s NGF, says Jang faction 

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja 

THE Governor Jonah Jang led faction of the Nigeria Governors 

Forum (NGF) has denied reconciling with the Rotimi Amaechi 

led NGF. 

A statement yesterday by the Secretary and Administrator of 

the faction, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, quoted governors in the Jang 

faction as saying any such reconciliation attempt was futile. 

According to the statement, majority of the governors will be 

out of office in a matter of days and therefore should leave issues 

of reconciliation, reorganisation and a new chairman to the incoming 

governors. 

The statement further described the purported reconciliation 

as a selfish attempt by a group of governors to force new leadership 

of the forum on the in-coming governors. 

The faction noted that both the its chairman, Jonah Jang of 

Plateau State and his deputy, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo 

State along with a majority of governors were visibly absent 

because they did not consider it a priority at this late hour to be 

part of “a selfish project”. 

Governors in the Jang faction, mainly of the Peoples Democratic 

Party (PDP) that attended Monday’s meeting of the governors, 

where the reconciliation was brokered were: Godswill 

Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Ramalan Yero 

(Kaduna); and Saidu Dakingari (Kebbi). 

Others were Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Deputy Governor 

of Kogi State, Yomi Awoniyi; and Isa Yuguda (Bauchi). 

Religious leaders 

urged to promote peace 

RELIGIOUS leaders have been urged to use their position 

to promote peace and unity in the country. 

Chief Executive Officer of the Strength in Diversity Development 

Centre, Lagos, Imam Shefiu Abdulkareem Majemu, 

gave the advice at a workshop on Religion, Conflict Prevention 

and Good Governance at the Religious Literacy Centre of the 

Harvard Divinity School, Harvard University, Boston, USA. 

Majemu said the workshop was organised to build capacity of 

the participants in the critical area of religious understanding 

and literacy. He said religion is a veritable tool that could be 

used to prevent ethnic violence and enhance good governance. 

Ondo varsity students protest 

From Damisi Ojo, Akure 

THE Chairman of the 

Board of Trustees (BoT) 

of the Peoples Democrat- 

ic Party (PDP), Chief Tony 

Anenih, yesterday resigned after 

receiving an alleged curious 

letter from the National 

Working Committee (NWC) 

on suspected anti-party’s activities 

in Imo State during the 

governorship poll. 

But Anenih said he stepped 

down from the position to allow 

President Goodluck 

Jonathan to assume the office. 

Investigation by our correspondent 

revealed that the 

NWC was unhappy that 

Anenih’s godson, Sen. Ifeanyi 

Ararume worked against PDP 

candidate Deputy House 

Speaker Emeka Ihedioha. 

A source said: “Anenih’s resignation 

was preemptive because 

the NWC had started investigating 

his alleged antiparty 

activities in Imo State. In 

fact, the NWC wrote him a letter 

to explain what went wrong 

in Imo State and why disciplinary 

action should not be taken 

against him. 

STUDENTS of the Ondo State University of Science and 

Technology (OSUSTECH) in Okitipupa Local Government 

yesterday resumed their protest against alleged poor 

working and learning conditions. 

The protesters locked the main gate of the institution at 

Igodan, thereby preventing workers from entering the institution. 

Their action caused gridlock on the Okitipupa/Igbokoda 

Road. 

A 200-Level student, Omotola Benson, hinged their grievances 

on exorbitant school fees, payment of ICT fees without 

the facilities, neglect of the university by the government and 

non-payment of the staff salaries. 

Benson said indigenous students pay N125,000 as school fees, 

while non-indigenes pay N175,000 

The students’ body urged the government to focus more on 

the institution by responding to the demands of the students. 

APC candidate, agent 

write IGP over threat to life 

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja 

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for 

Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency of Akwa 

Ibom State in the April election, Eshiet Offiong, has petitioned 

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase over 

alleged threats to his and one of his agents, Namso Udorok’s 

Iwes. 

The petitoner accused a member of the House of Representatives 

of sending threat messages to him and his agent. 

The APC candidate, who alerted the police chief to the threat 

through his counsel, Felix Udoh, said other APC candidates in 

the constituency were being threatened by the lawmaker whose 

number and identity were attached to the petition. 

He urged the IGP to probe the threats and bring those behind 

them to justice. 

The May 8 petition reads: “At 9.45pm and 10.15pm on May 6, 

Namso R. Udorok received a call in his phone with the following 

number 08167638250 from a phone number wherein the 

suspect threatened to deal with our clients. 

“At 8am on May 7, the suspect, through the same number, 

also called Namso R. Udorok on phone number 08167638250, 

stressing and reaffirming his decision to deal with our clients 

and all those who were APC agents in Ukanafun/Oruk Anam 

Federal Constituency’s election on March 28. 

“The suspect is a member of the House of Representatives. 

He was also a candidate for the March 28 election. 

“The lives of our clients and the APC agents are in great 

danger. In view of the great danger and magnitude of the allegations, 

we apply to you and your good offices to investigate 

the allegations and bring to book the person involved in the 

crime, in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the land. 

“Take all necessary actions to protect our clients and APC 

agents in Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency of Akwa 

Ibom State. 

“We hereby place on records that should anything happen 

to our clients and/or any of the APC members in the Ukanafun/ 

Oriuk Anam Federal Constituency, the member of the House 

should be held responsible.”


NEWS 

N2.7b SURE-P 

funds row 

divides Kaduna 

Assembly 

•Hospitalised Clerk 

under pressure to sign 

From Abdulgafar 

Alabelewe, Kaduna 

HE Clerk of the Kaduna 

State House of 

Assembly, Umma TAliyu Hikima, is under pressure 

to sign and approve the 

spending of N2.744 billion 

local governments’ Subsidy 

Reinvestment Empowerment 

Programme (SURE-P) 

funds by Governor Mukhtar 

Ramalan Yero, it was learnt 

yesterday. 

The governor, last week, 

wrote to the lawmakers, 

asking for an approval to 

spend the 2014 SURE-P funds 

for the 23 local governments. 

But Yero’s letter, it was 

also learnt, has divided the 

lawmakers. 

While the governor got 

the approval of some key 

principal officers of the Assembly, 

14 members rejected 

the letter on the ground 

that the Executive could not 

give satisfactory reasons on 

how it would spend the 

funds, less than two weeks 

to the expiration to its tenure. 

The 14 lawmakers described 

the governor’s request 

as “gross financial 

recklessness and lastminute 

looting and squandering 

of public funds”. 

It was learnt that Hikima, 

who has been hospitalised, 

was being threatened to 

sign the approval or face 

suspension. 

The clerk’s inability to 

sign the approval, sources 

said, was premised on the 

fact that the 2014 SURE-P 

funds were not in this year’s 

budget. 

The reasoning is that it is 

improper for the outgoing 

government to spend 50 per 

cent of the money on a 

project captured in this 

year’s budget. 

A member of the Assembly, 

who spoke in confidence, 

told our correspondent 

that Hikima was threatened 

to sign the approval of 

face suspension. 

He said: “I can confirm to 

you that they want to force 

the Clerk to sign their approval. 

In the event that she 

refuses to sign, they will suspend 

her and appoint an Acting 

Clerk who will in turn 

sign the document for the 

Executive to spend the 

funds.” 

Governor-elect Nasir El- 

Rufai has vowed to investigate 

and punish anyone culpable 

in the SURE-P funds’ 

diversion. 

Ministry drops death sentence 

against ‘killer bride’ 

HE Kano State Ministry 

of Justice has 

requested a Kano THigh Court to free, Wosilat 

Tasiu, 14, who was arraigned 

over the alleged 

murder of her 35-year-old 

husband and three others, 

who ate the poisonous meal 

she gave them. 

The Attorney-General and 

Commissioner for Justice 

had filed a four-count 

charge bordering on culpable 

homicide against the 

teenage. 

•From left: Registrar, Landmark University, Dr Daniel Rotimi; guest lecturer, Prof. James Olukosi; Vice-Chancellor, Prof. 

Joseph Afolayan and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Enoch Oyawoye, at the fourth public lecture series of the institution in 

Omu-Aran, Kwara State...yesterday 

PHOTO: NAN 

Primary school pupil stabbed to 

death in Kano 

SCHOOLGIRL of 

Fagge Special Primary 

School in AKano, whose name could 

not be ascertained, was yesterday 

stabbed to death by 

unidentified assailants. 

The incident was said to 

have occurred at 1pm at the 

school’s pit toilet. 

It was learnt that the assailants 

scaled the fence and 

abducted a male and a female 

pupils when classes 

were in progress. 

The two pupils were reportedly 

dumped inside a 

pit toilet. 

The schoolgirl was 

stabbed on the head, which 

FEDERAL High 

Court in Abuja yesterday 

voided the ACertificate of Return issued 

by the Independent 

National Electoral Commission 

(INEC) to Christian 

Abah, the Peoples 

Democratic Party (PDP) 

candidate for the Ado/ 

Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal 

Constituency in Benue 

State. 

The House of Representatives 

candidate was 

found guilty of forging the 

certificate he presented to 

INEC. 

In a judgment yesterday, 

Justice Adeniyi Ademola 

held that the allegation of 

certificate forgery levelled 

against Abah by the plaintiff, 

Hassan Saleh, was 

true. 

The commissioner was 

seeking a death penalty to 

be passed on the accused. 

But the government reversed 

its death sentence on 

the teenager. 

A lawyer, Lamido Soron 

Dinki, filed an application, 

on behalf of the Ministry of 

Justice, to save Tasiu from 

the hangman’s noose. 

From Kolade Adeyemi, 

Kano 

caused her death. 

It was also learnt that the 

male pupil survived the attack. 

When our reporter visited 

the school, the pit toilet, 

where the pupils were attacked, 

was locked. 

A security man on the 

school premises, Mallam 

Ibrahim Dan Sariki, told our 

reporter that at 1pm yesterday, 

some hoodlums scaled 

the school fence and at- 

The lawyer urged the 

court to squash the charges 

against Tasiu and set her free. 

But the court declined to 

grant the request. 

It adjourned the matter 

till June 9. 

The court held that the 

application was brought 

orally, adding that, its request 

for the dismissal of the 

charges against the accused 

ought to be in writing. 

tacked two pupils. 

He said the hoodlums 

dragged the pupils into the 

toilet and stabbed them repeatedly 

on the head. 

Dan Sariki said the schoolgirl 

died, following thr injured 

she sustained on the 

head while the boy survived. 

Police spokesman Musa 

Magaji Majiya, an Assistant 

Superintendent of Police 

(ASP), confirmed the incident. 

He said immediately the 

police were alerted by the 

letter by the Registrar of 

the polytechnic, Suleiman 

Buba, confirmed that the 

certificate presented by 

Abah to INEC was forged. 

The judge granted the 11 

prayers sought by the 

plaintiff and four other ancillary 

reliefs. 

The judge ordered that 

Abah be prosecuted for forgery, 

perjury and falsification 

of results. 

Abah had been declared 

unopposed and elected, being 

the only candidate presented 

for the March 28 

election. 

Justice Ademola declared 

Assistant Headmaster, they 

by drafted the crack squad 

to the scene. 

On arrival, Majiya said 

the police met the victims 

in a pool of blood. 

According to him, the police 

took photographs of the 

toilet, where their blood was 

splashed and rushed the pupils 

to a hospital, where the 

girl was confirmed dead. 

Majiya said the male pupil 

was responding well to 

treatment. 

The spokesman said investigation 

into the incident 

had begun, adding that 

the motive behind the attack 

had not been established. 

Court voids Benue Rep-elect’s victory for 

certificate forgery 

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano 

•Lawmaker’ to be replaced, prosecuted 

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja 

Saleh, who emerged second 

behind Abah in the 

PDP primaries, claimed 

that Abah forged an Ordinary 

National Diploma 

(OND) certificate in Accountancy 

he claimed to 

have obtained from the 

Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, 

in 1985. 

Justice Ademola said his 

findings revealed that an 

earlier judgment of the 

National/State Assembly 

Election Petition Tribunal 

sitting in Makurdi, the 

state capital, delivered on 

September 6, 2011, and a 

AGOS State Governor 

Babatunde 

Fashola will next LTuesday inaugurate Candel 

Company Limited’s 

integrated manufacturing 

facility for crop protection 

chemicals and fertilisers at 

the Lekki Free Zone, Lagos. 

The facility has five 

process plants for Soluble 

Liquids (SL), Emulsifiable 

Concentrates (EC) and Suspension 

Concentrates (SC) 

of products from diverse 

chemical families. 

all the votes that accrued 

to Abah in the PDP’s primaries 

on December 6, 

2014, as wasted. 

The judge also declared 

Saleh the winner of the 

primaries. 

He directed INEC to issue 

a fresh certificate of return 

to Saleh. 

The court also ordered 

the incoming Speaker of 

the Eighth National Assembly 

to swear in Saleh 

as the member representing 

Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo 

Federal Constituency. 

Justice Ademola came 

down hard on the defence 

lawyer, Sunday Ameh 

(SAN), for the “frivolous 

applications and tactics” to 

delay to frustrate the hearing 

of the case. 

Fashola to inaugurate agric plant 

It has sufficient capacity 

to supply Candel’s own 

distribution network in 

Nigeria and Ghana with 

enough spare capacity for 

third parties in Nigeria 

and overseas. 

The company’s Chairman, 

Charles Anudu, said: 

“We are determined to restore 

the quality standard 

that has since declined in 

our industry by ensuring 

that every product that is 

made in our facility meets 

the highest international 

standard 

59 

Kwara transport 

workers protest 

plan to repeal 

law 

From Adekunle Jimoh, 

Ilorin 

SCORES of Kwara State 

Transport Corporation, 

also called Kwara Express, 

protested yesterday the 

alleged plan by the House 

of Assembly to repeal the 

edict establishing the 

corporation. 

The workers stormed the 

premises of Harmony 

Holdings Limited on the 

Ibrahim Taiwo Road, 

Ilorin, the state capital. 

Harmony Holdings 

Limited is the supervising 

company for the corporation. 

The protesters dressed in 

the company’s uniforms. 

They chanted solidarity 

songs, condemning the 

decision of the government 

to repeal the act establishing 

the corporation. 

Last September, Governor 

Abdulfatah Ahmed 

presented a Bill to the 

House of Assembly, seeking 

to repeal the edict. 

The chairman of the 

workers’ union, Alhaji Ajao 

Jaji, led the protest. 

He said the workers 

condemned the plan to 

repeal the act. 

Jaji said the workers 

were at Harmony Holdings 

to seek its intercession. 

The chairman recalled 

that the workers, last 

September, held a similar 

protest at the House of 

Assembly. 

He added that the corporation 

wished to remain in 

state public service and 

condemned a move to 

repeal the act establishing 

the corporation. 

Addressing reporters 

after holding a closed-door 

meeting with the protesters’ 

leaders, the Group 

Managing Director of 

Harmony Holdings, Tope 

Daramola, said the company 

was not among the 

stakeholders calling for the 

repeal of the act. 

NB to reward 

teachers 

By Jane Chijioke 

NIGERIAN Breweries PLC 

(NB PLC) will celebrate 

and reward public 

secondary school teachers 

for their diligence. 

Its Corporate Affairs 

Adviser, Kufre Ekanem, 

said this at a briefing to 

unveil the maiden edition 

of the ‘Maltina Teacher of 

the Year’. 

A five- step evaluation 

process for entries will 

produce 37 ‘Best Teachers’ 

from the 36 states and the 

Federal Capital 

Territory(FCT). 

The 37 teachers would 

compete at the national 

level where the best 

teacher will emerge with a 

grand prize of N1million 

for five years. 

His/her school will be 

given a classroom block. 

The first runner-up will 

receive N1million and 

second runner-up N750, 

000. 

All the 37 teachers would 

be celebrated on October 5 

to commemorate the 

World Teacher’s Day. 

The entry form will 

close on June 30.

60 

FOREIGN NEWS 

Indonesia, Malaysia agree to 

take in migrant ships 

THE fate of thousands of 

migrants believed to be 

stranded in the Andaman 

Sea may have taken a 

step toward resolution with 

the conclusion of talks between 

Indonesia, Malaysia 

and Thailand. 

At least two of the countries 

— Indonesia and Malaysia 

— have agreed to offer the 

migrants shelter provided 

they are resettled within one 

year, Malaysian state news 

agency Bernama reports. 

In recent weeks, hundreds 

of migrants crammed onto 

ships have been arriving in the 

waters of both countries. 

They’re believed to be Rohingya 

fleeing persecution in 

Myanmar, which is also 

known as Burma, and economic 

migrants from Bangladesh. 

The agreement was announced 

yesterday in a joint 

statement released shortly after 

initial talks concluded. 

•Netanyahu 

Athree-month experimental 

program of 

separation between 

Jews and Palestinians on 

bus routes running from 

Israel to the West Bank 

was suspended yesterday, 

only hours after it reportedly 

began. 

A senior official in the 

office of Israeli Prime Minister 

Benjamin Netanyahu 

told CNN that the Prime 

Minister had stepped in after 

deciding that the program 

— backed by Defence 

Minister Moshe Yaalon — 

NIGERIAN Diplomat, 

Mr. Noah Ichaba 

was last Saturday 

beaten up to stupor by the 

police on the street of Equatorial 

Guinea. 

The incident occurred at 

kilometer 6, Roundabout, 

Bata police checkpoint. 

It was also discovered 

that Nigerians have been 

facing unfair treatment 

from the police in that country. 

In its reaction, the Nigerian 

Consulate in Bata condemned 

the police action and 

also demanded for an unreserved 

apology from the 

government. 

According to a Note Verbale 

raised by the Nigerian 

Bin Laden raid: U.S. releases more documents 

U.S. officials have released 

documents 

that they say were 

found at Osama Bin Laden’s 

secret compound in Pakistan 

during a raid in 2011. 

Special operators killed 

the al-Qaeda chief during 

that operation and recovered 

the documents that officials 

have branded Bin 

Laden’s Bookshelf. 

As well as Arabic correspondence, 

there are English 

language books by Bob 

Woodward and Noam 

Chomsky, and others on 

economic and military theory. 

More documents may yet 

was not acceptable. 

“These proposals are 

unacceptable to the Prime 

Minister. He spoke this 

morning with the defense 

minister and it was decided 

to freeze the whole matter,” 

the official said. 

It is not clear what will 

happen with the experimental 

program now. 

Word of the suspension 

came within hours of Israel 

Radio reporting that the 

Israeli Ministry of Defence 

had started the trial separation 

of Jews and Palestinians 

on bus lines running 

in the occupied West Bank. 

Under the pilot plan, 

Palestinians who travel to 

work in Israel through the 

four main checkpoints 

could return to the West 


Israel suspends trial Palestinian 

bus segregation programme 

From Vincent Ikuomola, 

Abuja 

Consulate-General in Bata, 

Ichaba who had with him his 

diplomatic Identity Card 

was dragged out of a taxi 

and physically assaulted and 

in the process had facial 

wounds. 

The Note Verbale reads 

in part: 

“Consequent to this unfortunate 

incident which 

demonstrated the unfair 

treatment which even our 

nationals often received 

from policemen during 

“control” is now extending 

to diplomats which is the violation 

of Diplomatic Immunity 

accorded diplomats 

Bank only through the 

same checkpoints they exited. 

This means they could 

not return on Israeli buses, 

as they have done until 

now, but would have to 

ride on Palestinian-only 

buses. 

According to Israeli 

news website Haaretz, this 

could lengthen some Palestinian 

workers’ journeys 

by as much as two hours a 

day. 

The Israeli security apparatus 

said the program 

was being put into place to 

boost security by improving 

the surveillance of Palestinians 

entering Israel. It 

was also aimed at reducing 

friction between Israelis 

and Palestinians. 

by Vienna Convention. 

“The Consulate-General 

of Nigeria wishes to express 

it’s outright dismay for the 

action of the policeman and 

demands for an unreserved 

apology and the host authorities 

guarantee of its 

Diplomats’ safety in the 

country.” 

Narrating his experience, 

Ichaba said he was on his 

way to Cinco market when 

the driver of the taxi-cab he 

boarded stopped at a traffic 

point and suddenly an Equatorial 

Guinean policeman 

emerged and asked for his 

papers in Spanish. 

The diplomat who does 

not understand Spanish said 

it was through the help of a 

be released. 

The Office of the Director 

of National Intelligence said 

a “rigorous” review had taken 

place before the documents 

were released. 

The documents were recovered 

at this house in Abottabad, 

Pakistan during a 2011 

raid in which Bin Laden was 

killed 

The documents include a 

number of translated letters, 

notes, and other material detailing 

al-Qaeda operations. 

Many of the documents also 

have a version available in 

Arabic. 

There is also section entitled 

Materials Regarding 

France, which includes a 

number of academic reports 

and articles about the 

France’s military, politics 

and economy. 

Also included is a document 

described as a “suicide 

prevention guide”, several 

English language books including 

Bob Woodward’s 

Obama’s Wars, several 

maps, and a few video game 

guides. 

Some of the material that 

has been included in the 

trove was previously declassified 

for use in federal 

prosecutions. 

Israel’s President Reuven 

Rivlin said he had spoken 

with Yaalon yesterday 

and “welcomed halting the 

process that that could 

have led to an unthinkable 

separation between bus 

lines for Jews and Arabs.” 

As one who loves Israel, 

he said, “I have nothing 

but regret for the discordant 

voices that we heard 

this morning, supporting 

the separation between 

Jews and Arabs on the basis 

of ideas that have no 

place being heard or said. 

Such statements go against 

the very foundations of the 

State of Israel, and impact 

upon our very ability to establish 

here a Jewish and 

democratic state. 

Equitoria Guinea police beat up Nigerian diplomat 

N.Korea claims nuclear breakthrough 

NORTH Korea said yesterday 

that it has the 

ability to miniaturize 

nuclear weapons, a key step 

toward building nuclear 

missiles. 

Analysts and U.S. officials 

have said previously that 

they suspected Kim Jong 

Un’s regime was working 

toward accomplishing the 

technical feat, which is needed 

to fit a nuclear device on 

the tip of a ballistic missile. 

But the official U.S. response 

was skepticism. 

“Our assessment of North 

Korea’s nuclear capabilities 

has not changed,” National 

Security Council spokesman 

Patrick Ventrell said in 

a statement. “We do not 

think that they have that capacity.” 

“However, they are 

working on developing a 

number of long range missiles, 

including intercontinental 

ballistic missiles, 

that could eventually threaten 

our allies and the homeland,” 

the U.S. spokesman 

added. “That is why the Administration 

is working to 

improve regional and 

homeland missile defenses 

and continuing to work 

with the other members of 

the six-party talks to bring 

North Korea back into compliance 

with its non-proliferation 

commitments.” 

The six-party talks refer 

to nuclear disarmament efforts 

by the United States, 

North Korea, South Korea, 

China, Japan and Russia. 

But the North Korean assertion 

was unequivocal. 

“We have had the capability 

of miniaturizing nuclear 

warheads, as well as 

producing multiform weapons, 

for some time,” the 

North Korean military said 

in a statement carried by the 

state-run Korean Central 

News Agency. 

“We can also guarantee 

the accuracy not only of 

short-to-mid-range but also 

long-range rocket launches, 

for which we have had the 

technology for a long 

time,” the statement said. 

Despite the U.S.’ official 

skepticism, Pyongyang’s 

announcement about miniaturization 

— the first time 

it has publicly made such a 

claim — tallies with some 

recent assessments from 

senior U.S. military officials. 

U.S. Army Gen. Curtis 

co-passenger he got to understand 

and immediately 

brought out his Diplomatic 

Identity Card which was issued 

by the Foreign Ministry 

of Republic of Equatorial 

Guinea. 

The policeman, according 

to Ichaba refused to take 

a look at the ID and instead 

was asked to alight from the 

cab. 

While he was asking to 

know why he was asked to 

alight from the cab, the policeman 

slapped him and 

also pulled him down from 

the cab and continued raining 

punches on him. 

All these the diplomat 

said happened in the glare of 

the multitude of onlookers. 

Scaparrotti, the commander 

of U.S. forces in Korea, 

said in October that he 

thought North Korea was 

capable of miniaturizing a 

nuclear device. 

And Adm. Bill Gortney, 

the commander of North 

American Aerospace Defence 

Command, told reporters 

last month that the 

U.S. military believed that 

Pyongyang could put a nuclear 

weapon on a road-mobile 

missile and “shoot it at 

the (U.S.) homeland.” 

Gortney added, though, 

that the United States 

doesn’t think that the missile 

in question, the KN-08, 

has been tested. And he 

said he was confident U.S. 

defenses would be able to 

intercept any potential 

North Korean attack. 

•Bin Laden 

In 2012, some documents 

recovered in the raid were 

released by the research 

wing of the US military 

academy, West Point.


NEWS 

‘Take drastic decisions in first 100 days’ 


for you that you represent 

their interest as much as the 

people who voted for you. 

This was what we called big 

tent politics during Tony 

Blair era.” 

He went on: “I must say 

you have the expectations 

and the ambitions of 173 million 

Nigerians in your hands. 

You have the hopes of an entire 

continent as well as the 

eyes of the entire world focused 

on your efforts. But I 

tell you people are excited 

about what is about to happen 

in Nigeria. They really 

feel a sense of expectation of 

faith and hope.” 

Mandelson spoke of the 

Blair administration experience. 

He said: “I remember 

when we Tony and I and the 

rest of office in Britain in 

1997, the first time in time in 

18 long years in opposition 

and many of us Ministers, 

including the Prime minister 

himself, had never been in 

government before, not even 

a junior parliamentary or Secretary 

of State, the lowest for 

ministerial life. We were all 

new. I was the third man. I 

want to share with you the 

first rule of government because 

it is irrelevant to you. 

Be true to your word. Be true 

to your mandate. 

“We were elected new but 

as a result of keeping exactly 

to our word, mandate and 

manifestos, we kept the trust 

of the bristly people for the 

following 30 years and it was 

only when our offer became 

frankly vague that we lost 

lost direction as a government 

and ultimately lost the 

election in 2010.” 

“In effect, we gave it away 

that election by losing direction. 

So that is something for 

you to bear in mind as you 

start looking ahead to your 

next election and to the one 

after that. 

“At the beginning for us, 

there was nothing easy at all. 

We discovered some important 

things pretty quickly. 

The first thing is that the 

skills of leadership that take 

you to government are not 

the same skills you need to be 

successful in government. 

You have to switch from 

what you were campaigning 

when you are in office. 

“You have to switch from a 

persuader where the tools of 

your trade are your words to 

being a CEO where is the 

deeds and how you extract 

the best results from those 

that matter. That is the difference 

between being a persuader 

and and being a CEO. 

One is about words, the other 

is about deeds.” 

Mandelson explained what 

he meant, saying: “Now, I am 

not saying you should stop 

communicating the moment 

you reach office. You have to 

keep explaining , educating 

and agitating for change and 

reforms to keep people behind 

and following you. But 

to change from being chief 

wordsmith to chief 

implementer and the truth is 

that many governments actually 

fall on that first hurdle.” 

He went on: “And this 

leads to my second theme. 

Government, by definition, is 

a team effort. In this job, 

whatever you fit into the 

leadership of government is 

to inspire people and to make 

them believe in you and in 

what you are doing and you 

judge others by the same high 

standards of integrity and efficiency 

that you must apply 

each and every one of you to 

yourselves. 

“There is a new generation 

of people in politics, in business 

too and across the society 

who are not interested in 

ideology and all the the established 

ways of doing things 

but you want to deliver 

change in that country, in a 

pragmatic, inspired way and 

as far as possible in a consensual 

way. I suspect most of 

the people in this room falling 

into that category.” 

He advised the incoming 

administration to prioritise 

its actions. 

“A science of priorities, a 

science of proper planning of 

defining goals, creating date 

systems that crack progress 

and developing the routines 

that make sure you keep all 

these going even amid the 

crisis that blow up. And they 

will,” he said. 

Communication, he said, is 

key to a successful administration. 

Mandelson said: “Strategy 

without communications is 

like a car without headlamps. 

But what about the substance? 

The substance is what 

you have to do as a new reforming 

government. How 

do you actually start driving 

that car? I talked earlier about 

team method and getting everyone 

pointing in this same 

direction, identifying the 

goals and pointing people 

working towards those 

agreed goals. 

“But here is the road. If you 

are talking generally about 

change, about reforms, in 

principle, believe me, everyone 

will be in favour of it. It 

is when you start reforming 

individual departments 

within the government, when 

you start pushing to the spot- 

•Prof. Osinbajo flanked by Fayemi and Mandelson …yesterday. 

light on individual ministries 

and individual policies, certainly, 

there will be a thousand 

reasons why it 

shouldn’t be there or it 

shouldn’t be now. 

“The other thing I want to 

come back to is priority. You 

need priority in what you 

want to deliver to your country, 

but here is the challenge. 

Every day, there is one fresh 

crisis, some media events, 

some scandals or some personnel 

problem to contend



63

THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 10, NO. 3221 

COMMENT 

& DEB 

EBATE 

WHEN President Jonathan formally 

hands over power to the Presidentelect, 

retired General Muhammadu 

Buhari on May 29, in Abuja, it will be the first 

time ever in Nigeria that such a peaceful handover 

of power has taken place at the centre between 

a defeated ruling party and the opposition 

party. At the states level such transitions 

have successfully taken place in Osun, and Ekiti 

states, among others, but not without some acrimony 

and rancor. 

In the case of the current transition from the 

PDP Federal Government to the incoming APC 

Federal Government , it has gone on better than 

most people would have imagined, or expected, 

but not without some strains. This should 

not be altogether surprising as the presidential 

election was bitterly fought and hateful. The 

stakes involved were very high. But once Jonathan 

conceded defeat to Buhari it reduced political 

tension in the country and mitigated any 

fears that Jonathan might find a way of not 

handing over to Buhari, even if the handing over 

is grudging and rancorous on the part of the 

outgoing PDP Federal Government . But, despite 

the current strains between the two parties 

over the transition, steady progress is being 

made towards the handing over. The PDP Federal 

Government should not be expected to hand 

over its ‘black box’ and financial secrets to the 

incoming APC Federal Government . These will 

be concealed as much as possible and Buhari 

will have to go looking for them by the necessary 

probes after he has been sworn in. But as 

far as President Jonathan is concerned there is 

really no evidence that he is reluctant to hand 

over to the President- elect, Buhari. As I write 

this piece, it has been reported that President 

Jonathan and his family have moved from Aso 

Rock, the president’s official residence, to the 

adjoining Glass House, to enable the necessary 

refurbishing of the residence to be done. So, the 

transition is on course. 

However, there have been some complaints 

from the APC, particularly by Lai Mohammed, 

its spokesman, that the PDP Federal Government 

has been dragging its feet on the transition 

and has not extended to the APC the cooperation 

needed and expected for a smooth handing 

over of power. Specifically, Lai Mohammed 

was reported last week as saying that only two 

meetings had been held between the two transition 

teams, and that the transition process was 

not as cordial as it should be. Basically, the 

transition process should involve the outgoing 

PDP Federal Government handing over to its 

APC successor the critical information required 

about national security and the state of the economy. 

The APC incoming Federal Government 

needs to know the true state of the national 

security and the economy to enable it fully comprehend 

the challenges ahead of it. If this vital 

information is being withheld from it barely 

weeks before it takes over, then the APC has 

every right to complain, particularly as the state 

of the economy now appears to be worse than 

was known before the March elections. Buhari 

will inherit a terrible economic legacy. 

President Jonathan has also been widely 

criticised for making some hasty and morally 

questionable appointments on the eve of his 

GOODLUCK Jonathan’s last defeat was 

on March 28 when he lost the 

presidential election, right? No. It 

was on May 19 when his electoral coup against 

the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) 

unravelled. True, as the Yoruba say, truth 

overtakes falsehood’s millennial lead with 

but a burst in seconds! 

Just a brief recall. On 23 May 2013, NGF 

held its election for chairman. Against 

presidential will, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, 

Rivers governor and outgoing chairman, recontested. 

President Jonathan, who earlier 

had warned Governor Amaechi on the dire 

consequences of re-contesting without Aso 

Rock’s approval, sponsored Jonah Jang, 

Plateau governor. But at the end, the 

presidential candidate got trumped, 19-16. 

But instead of the democratic Jonathan to 

accept the result, not to talk of respecting the 

federal doctrine that governors are no 

presidential prefects but elected leaders of 

their own states, the all-mighty president 

www.thenationonlineng.net 

OMMENT & D 

DAPO FAFOWORA 

FROM THE 

SUMMIT 

dapo.fafowora@thenationonlineng.net 

The strains of transition 

•Jonathan 

•Buhari 

departure from office. Among these are the confirmation 

of the appointment of Mr. Solomon 

Arase as the new Inspector General of Police, in 

replacement of Mr. Suleiman Abba, and the new 

CEO of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), 

Mr. Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero, two powerful 

public institutions. Let me add that I have absolutely 

nothing personally against these two gentlemen 

whom I have never met. But I consider 

the timing of the appointments questionable. In 

addition, it was reported that President Jonathan 

had directed the relevant Federal Government 

agencies to relocate the $500m LADOL oil and 

gas project in the Lagos Export Free Zone to 

Agga in Bayelsa State, even though it is really a 

private sector project. A federal high court has 

ruled against this order; an embarrassment to 

the President which he brought on himself by the 

unjustified order. 

These hasty and spiteful decisions by President 

Jonathan and his inflammatory comments 

at a recent Church service in Abuja that he expected 

that he and his ministers would be persecuted 

by the new APC Federal Government on 

leaving office at the end of May are deeply regrettable 

as they send the wrong message and 

signals to his officials involved in the transition 

arrangements. The loss of power can be traumatic 

particularly where, as in this case, it was 

not really expected. In that situation his officials 

would be led by the President’s comments 

to withhold from the APC Transition team information 

vital to the success of the incoming 

APC Federal Government. They would try to 

cover up financial and other misdemeanours for 

which they could be punished or held responsible 

by the new government. 

As far as the recent critical public appointments 

by President Jonathan are concerned, the 

TODAY IN THE NATION 

‘This president can go down into history as one that 

helped the country to overcome its wasting its oil revenue 

on consumption by the elite. Let this president 

carry the burden of cancelling the so-called subsidies 

on petroleum products’ 

JIDE OSUNTOKUN 

PDP has argued that, until May 29, when he 

officially hands over power to General Buhari, 

he is in charge of the Federal Government , and 

still enjoys the power and privilege of making 

such powerful appointments. That constitutional 

position is correct. It is within his purview 

and competence to make such appointments. 

But his critics will be right in arguing, as they 

have done, that making such critical appointments 

a few weeks before leaving office, is improper. 

If Buhari is so disposed such appointments 

by Jonathan can be easily reversed after 

he assumes office in two weeks time. It will 

equally be both legitimate and constitutional 

and it is only the officials concerned that will 

suffer the consequences involved. 

However, such blatant and politically motivated 

public appointments by Jonathan, and 

Buhari’s probable response by reversing them, 

tend to undermine the integrity of public institutions 

and the public’s confidence in such appointments. 

For instance, in justifying the removal 

of his former IGP, Suleiman Abba, Jonathan 

was reported as claiming that Abba could 

not maintain discipline in the Nigeria Police. But 

he only discovered this lapse in Abba after he 

lost the presidential election. When the PDP won 

the state elections in Ekiti and Ondo with the 

blatant help of the Nigeria Police Abba kept his 

job. Jonathan was highhanded in this particular 

case, as in several others, in removing senior 

public officials in such a cavalier manner. Public 

officials are there to serve the public interest, 

and not the personal or political interests of those 

who might be in power temporarily. 

Nigeria needs strong state institutions. Despite 

its enormous resources, Nigeria is still a 

weak state with weak public institutions. It is a 

weak state because of the fragility of its public 

institutions, the integrity of which is constantly 

being undermined by its leaders for reasons of 

political and personal expediency. A modern 

state has to be based on the rule of law which 

requires the stability of its public institutions 

and respect by the politicians for the professionalism 

and security of its officials. As shown 

by the recent regrettable actions of President 

Jonathan, this vital lesson has not been learnt 

by Nigeria’s leaders over the years as they continue 

to bend public institutions to their own 

political preferences and predilections. In this 

matter, I write with some experience and authority 

as I have watched sadly over the years 

how the Nigerian diplomatic service, in which I 

HARDBALL 

Jonathan’s last defeat 

decreed 16 greater than 19 — and pronto, 

declared Jang his NGF chairman. 

Old man Jang himself did the Yoruba 

equivalent of daring God but fleeing in panic 

before man. He went to church, doing 

thanksgiving in an election he lost in the eyes 

of God (for, in God’s name, how can 16 be 

greater than 19?) but won in the eyes of a man 

— a mere mortal though he was all-mighty 

but misguided president of the Federal 

Republic. 

But as it is often with those that play God, 

both Jonathan and Jang have ended in shame. 

Jonathan got clobbered at the March 28 

presidential election, the first Nigerian sitting 

president to suffer defeat. Perhaps it took that 

defeat for Jang to remember he had all along 

dressed himself up in borrowed (and 

fraudulent) robes? With no illicit cover from 

the exiting Nebuchadnezzar of Aso Rock, he 

suddenly remembered he was NGF chair only 

in his own imagination! Talk of futility of 

impunity! 

On May 19 — 10 long days from the end of 

Jonathan’s presidential reign — the NGF 

declared itself re-united; and elected 

AbdulAziz Yari, the Zamfara governor, as 

new chairman. Though old man Jang was 

still not man enough to be there to physically 

eat crow, he reportedly sent in a message 

renouncing his claim to NGF chair and 

confirming Amaechi as the real deal. 

Jonathan, more often than not playing the 

crude power bully when a suave projection 

of influence would do, learnt the hard way. 

He fell flat on his face — again, like the tortoise 

in Yoruba folklore, who swore never to 

return from his trip until he was disgraced. 

Jonathan spectacularly demystified the office 

of president of the Federal Republic. The 

spent a greater part of my public service, including 

serving as Ambassador at the UN, is 

being progressively weakened and destroyed 

by one Federal Government after the other, both 

civilian and military. A once proud and competent 

diplomatic service, the envy of many 

African states, has been brought to its knees by 

persistent political interference and humiliation 

of its key officials. The new APCFederal Government 

will have to start thinking of how these 

state institutions can be rebuilt in the coming 

years. 

But the strains observed in the current transition 

process are also due partly to the absence 

of an agreed standard procedure which 

the two parties are obliged to observe during 

the transition. Part of the difficulty here is that 

while Nigeria has adopted the US presidential 

system, its bureaucracy still runs largely on the 

lines of the British civil service that it inherited 

at independence. For instance, in Britain, unlike 

in the US, an outgoing government is not 

under any real obligation to prepare any handing 

over notes to its successor. British succession 

of political power is surgical and brutal, 

without any intervening period of handing over. 

Once a government is defeated, the prime minister 

immediately tenders his resignation to the 

Queen, who promptly invites the leader of the 

party that appears to her to have a majority in 

the House of Commons to form a new government. 

If he is able to do so, he moves immediately 

into 10, Downing Street, the official residence 

of British prime ministers. There is no 

formality about handing over by the outgoing 

or defeated prime minister who simply disappears 

through the back door of 10, Downing 

Street, while the new prime minister enters the 

residence through the front door. 

Moreover, before elections, the official 

records of the outgoing government and its 

ministers are kept sealed in the archives by the 

heads (permanent under secretaries) of the various 

ministries. The incoming government and 

ministers are actually denied access to them. 

They cannot be compelled, except by a court 

ruling, to release these records and documents 

to an incoming government. Instead, the new 

government is given briefs based on its party 

manifesto and programmes on which the heads 

of departments will have prepared a critique. 

The whole idea is to let the new government 

make its own decisions and mistakes as the old 

one and to protect the confidentiality of advice 

previously given by the top civil servants to the 

outgoing government. This is the source of the 

integrity and great powers enjoyed by top British 

civil servants who remain in office while the 

politicians come and go. This is what accounts 

for its famed stability. 

In the case of Nigeria, it is now necessary 

to review the transition process to determine 

the range of records and information that an 

outgoing government should make available to 

the incoming government. It is not necessary or 

desirable that this should be done by law or 

legislation. Instead, it should be done by convention 

developed over the years. 

• For comments, send SMS to 08054503031 

•Hardball is not the opinion 

of the columnist featured above 

incoming Muhammadu Buhari should please 

learn from his predecessor’s all-muscle-nobrain 

penchant. 

But more damaging, on the conceptual lane, 

Jonathan tried to destroy NGF, a gubernatorial 

pressure group and key democratic institution, 

to which he ironically earlier belonged. He 

failed — but only just; but not before the harm 

had been done. 

As for NGF itself, it was a tragic tale of the 

national body of governors sacrificing its 

essence to temporary, high-octane partisan 

gaming. They ended up the grand victims. It 

was during this period of sponsored disunity 

that Aso Rock grossly mismanaged the 

Federation Account, so much so that both itself 

and most states failed on their salary 

commitments. 

Hardball hopes NGF has learnt its lessons. 

Before Nigeria restructures to productive 

federalism, the NGF, whichever party holds 

court in Abuja, must band together to secure 

its full rights under the law. 

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Mila 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790. WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO

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