Jul 18, 2012 - Nigeria World News

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

FG orders Okorocha to reinstate 27 sacked LG chairmen

ABUJA — THE Federal Government, yesterday asked the Governor of Imo State, Chief Rochas Okorocha, to respect the sanctity of the Nigerian judiciary by re-instating the 27 sacked local government chairmen in the state, in-line with an order of the Owerri Division of the Appeal Court.

The FG, in a statement by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, maintained that section 7 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, guarantees the existence of a system of democratically elected Local Government Councils throughout the federation.

According to the AGF, “The attention of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been drawn to the lingering controversy that has trailed the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Owerri Judicial Division in Appeal No. CA/OW/215/2011, Barr Enyinna Onuegbu & 26 Ors v. Attorney General of Imo State & 3 Ors dated July 5, 2012 which declared as illegal and unconstitutional the action of the Governor of Imo State, purporting to dissolve the democratically elected Local Government Councils in the State before the expiration of their constitutionally guaranteed tenure.

”It is apposite to note that section 7 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, guarantees the existence of a system of democratically elected Local Government Councils throughout the federation. The judgment of the Court of Appeal aforementioned has only confirmed this position.

”I therefore call on all concerned to respect the judgment of the Court of Appeal and give due regard to the provisions of the Constitution which all elected officials of government have sworn to uphold. This will not only inspire confidence in the polity but will also deepen our fledgling democracy.

Imo govt should respect Court of Appeal judgment

”In the light of the foregoing and in consonance with this administration’s avowed commitment to the enthronement of the rule of law in the federation, I hereby call on Imo state government and all relevant agencies of government to abide by the judgment of the Court of Appeal and ensure that the judgment of the Court of Appeal is given its full effect.”

It will be recalled that upon his assumption of office under the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Governor Okorocha, sent the 27 LG chairman and Councillors who were in office whilst his predecessor, Ikedi Ohakim of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, held sway, packing.

However, the Owerri Division of the appellate court, on July 4, voided the action of the governor, directing that he should recall the sacked LG chairmen.

In a unanimous judgment, the court which was presided over by Justice Uwani Abbaji, stressed that the governor lacked the powers to sack elected governments at the third-tier of governance in the state, just as the panel equally nullified the appointment of Transition Committee Chairmen by the governor to replace the sacked council chairmen.

Governor Okorocha had in his maiden broadcast in June 2011, announced the sacking of the elected council chairmen, and later appointed transitional committee chairmen to run the 27 council areas in the state.

His action led the sacked officials to seek redress before an Owerri High Court, contending that the governor acted beyond his constitutional powers.

Consequently, the trial court, presided by the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Benjamin Njemanze, held that the governor had no powers to remove the chairmen from office.

The court, however, noted that the council chairmen failed to prove that they were sacked from office as they claimed, resulting in the filing of the appeal by the council chairmen.

Delivering judgment at the appellate court, Justice Abbaji observed that all the submissions and arguments of the appellants and respondents were reviewed.

She noted that the high court in its earlier judgment confirmed that the governor axiomatically had no power to sack the democratically elected chairmen.

She further held that the local government system was a constitutional matter and any action on the system ought to have followed constitutional provisions.

Therefore, the court overruled the governor, even as he was restrained from interfering in the administration of the Local Government administration system in the state.

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

Court orders 18 banks to freeze firm’s account

3:35 PM News No Comments

LAGOS – A Lagos High Court has granted a garnishee order freezing money in the accounts of an oil servicing firm, Qed International (Oil & Gas) Limited, in 18 commercial banks in the country over its alleged refusal to pay a judgment debt of $406,803 (N65.8 million).

Justice Dotun Adefope-Okojie granted the order sequel to a motion ex-parte by Orion Engineering Services Ltd.
Qed International had dragged three firms, including Orion Engineering before the court, seeking some declaratory orders against the defendants.

The oil servicing firm has Mr. Femi Omotayo as its principal officer and director. He is now the Managing Director of AOS Orwell Limited in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The firm had entered into an agency relation with Orion Engineering Services Ltd in November 2008 for the supply of personnel and engineers to provide service for Shell’s oil rigs and other assignments particularly on the Sea Eagle Vessel Offshore.

It was alleged that Qed International withheld and diverted over $462,688.88 and N36.1 million due to Orion Engineering for the supply of personnel and engineers to Shell and other assignments thereof particularly on the Sea Eagle Vessel Offshore.

The withholding and diversion of the money was against the clear terms of the agency relationship with Orion Engineering to the criminal investigation by the Special Fraud Unit, SFU, of Nigerian Police Force, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Omotayo, who was the Managing Director of Qed International at the time of the transaction, initiated a court action at the Federal High Court, Lagos, seeking various orders to curtail the investigative powers of the police.

However, Qed International similarly instituted a suit against Orion Engineering Services Ltd on February 18, 2011 at the Lagos State High Court, seeking some declaratory orders against the defendants. Judgment was entered against Qed International in the suit initiated by it on November 15, 2011.

In the judgment, the court held that the sum of $406,803 and N14.4million, being the outstanding payments on invoices due to Orion Engineering Services Ltd by Qed International as mutually agreed and as contained in the terms of settlement dated the October 31, 2011 be dully discharged and completed within a period of six months from November 15, 2011 of entering the terms of settlement as the judgment of the court.

Though some part of judgment debt had been paid, Orion Engineering, however, went to court, asking for the garnishee order nisi against the banks holding the accounts of Qed International over the balance of $406,803.

By INNOCENT ANABA

Falcons battle Cameroon at African Women’s Championship

2:04 PM Sports No Comments

Defending champions Nigeria will have the chance to gain some revenge over Cameroon at the finals of the African Women’s Championship later this year.

They were drawn in Group B on Tuesday by the Confederation of African Football with Ivory Coast and Ethiopia.

The Indomitable Lionesses beat the Super Falcons to reach the Olympic football tournament.

AWC hosts Equatorial Guinea will face the other Olympic-bound side South Africa as well as Senegal and DR Congo.

Nigeria have won the AWC six times and the only side to break their stranglehold on the event is Equatorial Guinea, who clinched the title on home soil in 2008.

The tournament will kick off on 28th October in Malabo with Equatorial Guinea taking on South Africa and that will be followed by Senegal against DR Congo.

Group B will begin the following day in Bata with Nigeria against Cameroon followed by Ivory Coast taking on debutants Ethiopia

The top two teams from each group will meet in the semi-finals with the final scheduled for 11 November at the Nouveau Stade in Malabo.

Group A: Equatorial Guinea, South Africa, Senegal, DR Congo

Group B: Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia.

PHCN valuation not N200bn says NERC

1:45 PM News No Comments

CALABAR— NIGERIAN Electricity Regulatory Commission, has denied allegation by National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, that Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, was valued for N200 billion and that the ongoing privatization process was shrouded in fraud.

General Secretary of NUEE and Deputy President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Joe Ajaero, had recently alleged that the purported valuation of PHCN lacked transparency and that there was plot by Federal Government to sell the company to its cronies.

Speaking at the second seminar for Judges on regulation in the electric power sector organised by NERC in collaboration with National Judicial Institute in Calabar, Cross River State, yesterday, Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi, said nobody had valued PHCN for N200 billion.

He said: “Nobody has valued the power sector to be N200 billion, we are the one who did the asset valuation based on the available asset. Two things are clear, the whole process of selling the asset will be transparent. The committee are there evaluating them, after which the report will published for Nigerians.

“I can assure you that NERC will not approve any sell of public enterprises that is not transparent and does not bring value to the Nigeria people. We will not accept or approve any sweet heart deal and back room deal, everything will be transparent and if there are any questionable transaction and the public write to us we will cancel that transaction,” he said.

Dr. Amadi, said that before the privatization, valuation of PHCN’s assets would be done by experts.

“The valuation for Port-Harcourt Company is different from that of other distribution companies. These are actual evaluation by experts. They will go to the field, assess the transformers, give the value and use the depreciation asset valuation method.”

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

FBN Capital floats fixed income funds

12:45 PM Business No Comments

In a bid to help investors diversify their investments and reduce risk , FBN Capital Limited, an investment and Asset Management subsidiary of the First Bank Group, has floated a fixed income and money market instruments.

According to the MD/CEO of FBN Capital, Mr. Kayode Akinkugbe, ‘the launch of both funds at the same time will offer investors exposure to short term and liquid money market Instruments. Yields on investments will provide portfolio diversification as well as the ability to gain exposure to different sectors of the economy.”

He stated that the funds are targeted at Retail Investors, High Net worth Investors (HNI), Institutions, Corporates, Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s), Governments institutions, Charities, Endowments, Trusts, Sinking Funds, Reserve Funds, Religious bodies anyone who wants to save and invest outside the equity market.

According to him, “The funds are managed by very experienced and well qualified investment professionals with verifiable and excellent performance records. The FBN Money Market fund has a minimum initial subscription of only N5,000 at an offer price of N100 (one hundred naira) per unit, while the FBN Fixed Income Fund has an initial minimum amount of N100, 000 (one hundred thousand naira) per unit. Additionally, investing in the Funds offers tax advantages as income accrued and payable to investors is tax free.”

The Director and Head of Asset Management of the company, Mr. Michael Oyebola stated “both funds will provide steady and attractive returns as are attainable in the market today. Unit holders will receive value in the form of interest income and investors will be able to purchase and sell the units in the fund on any business day throughout the funds life. They are very good additions to savings portfolios, with better interest earnings”.

The funds offer a number of benefits, including access to current rates in the Bond and Treasury Bill markets. They also provide access to a high level of liquidity – meaning investors can easily sell their holdings and receive their cash back plus accumulated returns.

By PETER EGWUATU

Married Olympic couple can’t room together

12:07 PM Sports No Comments

Asumnu is Clean, Says AFN

Marriage has its ups and its downs, but the downs don’t usually include being unable to sleep together.

Sunday, Nick Green, chef de mission of the Australian Olympic Committee, told Australian Olympic shooters Russell and Lauryn Mark via email that they would not be able to room together in the Olympic Village during this month’s London Games.

The husband and wife Olympians are calling the mandate stupid and believe it was set off by Russell’s pro-sleeping pill stance and Lauryn’s provocative photo shoot in the latest issue of The Zoo, an Australian magazine geared towards the fellows.

Meanwhile the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), yesterday refuted claims in a section of the sporting press that sprinter, Gloria Asumnu, was one of the three top Nigeria athletes that tested positive to banned substances.

President of the AFN, Chief Solomon Ogba, said yesterday that the clarification became necessary because of wild speculations about the three Nigerian athletes that failed the dope tests carried out at the Nigerian Olympic trials in Calabar last month.

“This clarification has become necessary because of the wrong impression it was creating in track & field circles. Despite our federation’s appeal to journalists to exercise caution in handling the matter, because of the procedures involved, a section of the sporting press has gone to town to speculate those they believed are involved. For the record, we want to say here that Gloria Asumnu is not one of the three athletes,” observed the AFN chief yesterday in a statement.

Ogba insisted that once the final result of the dope carried out on Nigerian athletes is ready, “we are going to address the media on it and athletes found to have run foul of the law on dope would be made to face the consequences of their actions. This present board has zero tolerance for dope and will do everything possible to ensure that we compete fair and square at the London Games without bringing any embarrassment to Nigeria.”

Until the final result of the dope, the AFN chief urged the media to exercise caution in handling the issue. “Any of the athletes that is not involved in the dope failure and are scandalised in the media have every right to seek redress in court.

Last week, the AFN announced the dropping of three athletes from the London Games because they tested positive to banned drugs. The federation had insisted that those involved were entitled to fair hearing and possibly going for the testing of their ‘B’ sample to authenticate the result of the tests carried out in Calabar.

Asumnu’s personal American coach, Garfiel Ellenwood, was equally dropped not because he was involved in any dope with any of Nigerian athletes but because he was once punished for a violation in his previous employment.

Vanguard

10-year-old boy killed in Jos school attack

11:50 AM News No Comments

LAGOS (AFP) – A ten-year-old boy was on Tuesday killed when an assailant fired a heavy weapon at an Islamic school in the city of Jos, an area plagued by sectarian violence, officials and residents said.

Witnesses described a man dressed in red firing what appeared to be a rocket launcher at the school in the Bukuru area of Jos. Initial reports had suggested a local government building was the target.

“An Islamic school was the target of the attack,” said Pam Ayuba, the spokesman for the governor of Plateau State, where Jos is the capital.

Police spokesman Emmanuel Abuh said the assailant fired a “rocket propelled grenade” from the Jero road that runs adjacent to the school.

“A 10-year-old boy was hit on the head… and he died,” said Abuh, adding that the attacker fled the scene before he could be apprehended.

The victim was said to be a bystander and not enrolled at the school where students were studying for exams when they came under attack, according to locals.

A resident of the targeted area said a lone attacker “dressed in red” stood on the street outside the school and fired a heavy weapon.

“The missile deflected and hit the wall of the school, killing (the young person),” resident Murtala Abdullahi told AFP.

Nurul Islam is a seminary in Jos’s Kerana neighbourhood that combines both secular, Western-style education with an Islamic curriculum.

Two weeks ago, a bomb was discovered on its premises which was defused before it exploded, Abdullahi and other residents said.

Ayuba charged that the “attack is a deliberate effort to distract the security services.”

Tension is high in Plateau state after the military said it planned to launch campaigns to root out gunmen suspected of belonging to a mainly Muslim group of herdsmen accused of killing more than 100 people earlier this month.

On July 7, gunmen suspected of belonging to the Fulani tribe stormed mainly Christian villages and killed more than 80 people.

Another 22 people, including two senior politicians, were killed the following day in an attack on the funeral of the previous day’s victims. The graveyard raid was also blamed on the Fulani.

Mustapha told AFP on Monday that hundreds have reportedly fled from several areas expected to be targeted by the imminent military operations.

Fulani pastoralists have long-standing grievances against Plateau state’s mainly Christian leaders, including disputes over land rights and claims of discrimination.

Jos has also been attacked several times by the radical Islamist group Boko Haram, responsible for scores of attacks across northern and central Nigeria since the middle of 2009.

Aside from inter-communal violence involving the Fulani, Jos has for several years seen sporadic clashes between Muslim and Christian groups, which have left thousands dead.

Plateau state is in Nigeria’s so-called “Middle Belt,” on the dividing line between the mainly Christian south and majority Muslim north in Africa’s most populous country.

Amid the security crisis, political and security leaders, including Governor Jonah Jang, held a meeting in Jos on Monday.

They declared “that Plateau state is under siege” in a statement issued after the talks and said more dialogue between key leaders of both dominant faiths was needed to stem the violence.

Vanguard News

CONHESS 10: FG, health workers meeting deadlocked

10:18 AM Health, News No Comments

THE meeting between the Federal Government and Health sector unions to resolve the lingering dispute between them has ended in deadlock. The matter was however, referred to the National Industrial Court, NIC, for arbitration and both parties have been asked to maintain the status quo pending the resolution.

The issues in contention are non-skipping of salary CONHESS 10, consultancy and specialist allowance, National Health Bill and call/shift duty and other allowances.

In a statement by leaders of MHWUN, NUPMTPAM, NASU, NANNM and SSAUTHRIAI, on behalf of the health sector unions, stated that the trade dispute shall be referred by the Minister of Labour and Productivity to the National Industrial Court, NIC, for judicial process and subsequent interpretation.

Meanwhile, the status quo ante should be maintained by parties to the trade dispute. No trade union member shall be victimized by the management for any act or omission as a result of this trade dispute. There shall be no lock-out or strike in accordance with the provisions of section 18 of the Trade Disputes Act, CAP T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to amongst other statutory requirement; provide an enabling environment for the resolution of the dispute.

The implication of the above was that pending the resolution of the contentious issues, the status quo ante before the circular that generated the trade dispute would be maintained by both parties.”

According to the statement “Following the industrial action embarked upon by the Joint Health Sector Unions on 4th April, 2012 on various issues pertaining to the welfare of our members, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity apprehended the matter and invited us and the Federal Ministry of Health to a meeting towards a resolution of the issues at stake.

To demonstrate the seriousness the Federal Government attached to peace in the health sector, Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of Civil Service of the Federation, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission were part of the meeting.

Both parties commenced negotiation on 5th June, 2012 but regrettably due to the posture of the Federal Ministry of Health, the contentious issues could not be resolved.

At the resumed negotiation today 16th July, 2012, the issues still ended in deadlock on both the substantive and other issues at stake. This therefore led the mediator, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity to refer some of the issues to National Industrial Court for adjudication.

By VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

Idoko brokers partnership deal between Sunshine, FC Cape Town

8:08 AM Sports No Comments

Sunshine Stars of Akure and South African clubside, FC Cape Town have entered into agreement to stimulate football investment from the commercial perspectives.

The deal was brokered by the Executive Director of the Ondo State Football Agency (OSFA), Mike Idoko after a four-day visit to the club’s office in Sacony Road, Parow, Cape Town.

According to the owner and chairman of FC Cape Town, Errol Dicks, the visit of Idoko was part of their three-year “Stimulus Plan, READ the game & win the game,” a strategic blueprint intended to stimulate FC Cape Town to the elite league.

“This plan represents an enhanced platform designed to transform FC Cape Town into a winning and successful football club in pursuit of excellence in South Africa and beyond”, Dicks said on phone.

According to him, “Idoko is rated high in South Africa like Ivan Xhosa because he has been successful in all the clubs he has handled. That is why we invited him over to help bring players from Nigeria and elsewhere in line with our drive.

Without PDP democracy will collapse – Jonathan

7:00 AM Politics No Comments

President Goodluck Jonathan
| credits:

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday told chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party that democracy would have collapsed in the country without their party.

Jonathan also assured the PDP leaders that he would soon direct key government ministries and security apparatus to brief them, beginning with the National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

The President at the PDP 60th National Executive Commiittee meeting in Abuja said, “People who want to drown us know that without PDP, probably, the republic would have collapsed.”

The PDP NEC held barely 72 hours after the party’s candidate lost by a wide margin in the Edo State governorship poll.

Drawing inference from the collapse of the First and Second republics, Jonathan said but for the tolerance of the ruling party, the current democratic dispensation would have come to an end.

He said the intention of the opposition was to drown the PDP by painting it as a bad party. Jonathan accused the opposition of adopting ‘philosophy’ of “when you say the wrong thing one thousand times, it becomes the right thing.”

He attributed the ‘philosophy’ to Adolf Hitler. However the President must have a quote widely attributed to Joseph Goebbels in mind.

Goebbels reportedly said, “If you tell a big lie enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.”

He said, “We witnessed what happened in the First Republic. Because we witnessed what happened in the first republic and we know the circumstances that led to the collapse of the First Republic and Second Republic.

“We know what is happening in other African countries. If the ruling party over-intimidates and over-imposes, using the weight of the Federal Government and the citizens revolt, it weakens the political system and creates confusion and instability.”

He said that though the PDP controls the Federal Government, it operates a system that allows the opposition to fly higher than the ruling party.

“They abuse us more, but we allow it. And it is the PDP that is handling the affairs of the country, that is stabilising the democracy in the country,” he added.

Jonathan told the PDP NEC members that the activities of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, had forced his government to re-prioritise, saying he had changed focus to tackling security challenges instead of employment and the provision of electricity.

The President said, “During campaign, our emphasis was more on job creation, power but now what worries us most is security. This is because you must be alive before you will eat food.

“So, if you are not safe, you can’t even think of hunger because a dead person does not need food. So, security is very, very fundamental.”

He said that events of the past weeks indicated that the activities of Boko Haram had been curtailed, adding that the killings last week in Plateau State had nothing to do with the sect.

He said, “If you look at this issue of Boko Haram, for the past three weeks, except the incident in Plateau State, which of course is unfortunate but had nothing to do with Boko Haram, we will continue to work with Governor Jonah Jang and other leaders from the state to make sure that we resolve the crisis in Plateau State. That had nothing to do with Boko Haram.

“But outside that, we would see that there are some trends, there is some hope and God willing, the issue of Boko Haram will also come down.”

On the economy, he said his government was taking a number of measures in areas like Agriculture and Water Resources, adding that reforms were also being worked on in the petroleum sector.

He said he would start the briefing of the PDP NEC members at their next meeting with Dasuki.

He said, “From time to time, I will call some of the ministers to make presentations to NEC. We will start with the National Security Adviser in the next NEC meeting. The NEC people will have the opportunity to ask questions.

“So, I believe that what we need to is that from time to time, any NEC meeting we have I can call on some ministers manning key ministries to brief us.”

He also promised to come to the next NEC meeting with his formal statement on what “we intend to do and the vision of government.”

Earlier, the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, had outlined his vision for the party in his opening remarks.

He said the party must inculcate the acceptance of ideological norms to change the people’s perception about democracy.

The meeting was attended by 16 governors. But the two ex-chairmen of the party’s Board of Trustees, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Tony Anenih, were absent from the meeting.

BY OLUSOLA FABIYI, ABUJA

ACN loses bid to unseat Imoke

3:53 AM News, Politics No Comments

Liyel Imoke
| credits:

The Action Congress of Nigeria on Tuesday lost its bid to unseat Senator Liyel Imoke as governor of Cross River State, following the dismissal of its petition brought before the Election Petitions Tribunal.

The party had on March 23, 2012, filed a petition against the declaration of the Peoples Democratic Party’s’ candidate as winner of the February 25 governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

In the petition no EPT/CR/GOV/1/2012, the ACN and its candidate, Mr. Usani Usani, claimed that the PDP did not conduct primaries in accordance with section 8 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 as Amended.

The party, therefore, challenged the validity of the nomination of Imoke as candidate for the PDP in the said election.

ACN also alleged irregularities in the conduct of the election and inflation of results in violation of section 138 of the Electoral Act 2010 as Amended.

The party urged the tribunal to either disqualify the PDP candidate and declare the ACN candidate winner of the election or nullify the election in its entirety.

The ACN joined INEC, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, PDP and Imoke as respondents.

In his judgment, Justice Ishaq Bello stated that the issue of nomination of a candidate was the sole responsibility of a party.

“It is only a member of the same political party that can challenge the nomination of a candidate,” he said.

The presiding Judge further said the Supreme Court ruling on January 27, which terminated the tenure of Imoke, did not mention anything about primary election.

In his reaction, lead counsel for the ACN, Prof. Tony Ukam, said he was disappointed with the judgment.

“We are very disappointed but thank God there was always opportunity for redress,” he said.

Counsel for the PDP, Mr. Barth Izato, described the judgment as “very right” and thanked the judges for their objectivity.

BY MUDIAGA AFFE, CALABAR

As the Village Headmaster goes home

3:00 AM News No Comments

Late Ambassador Segun Olusola
| credits: odili.net

He had looked forward to joining the Octogenarian club. Often when he met an older colleague of his in the media, Hadj Alade Odunewu, his usual banter was “Alhaji, seeing people like you ageing so gracefully, I am hopeful that the Lord will permit us to join your league”.

He loved life and he lived it to the fullest, doing things that gave him fulfilment in the arts, broadcasting and the media world in general. When I often teased him if he was not busier in retirement than when he was in paid employment, he would always plead God’s abiding grace.

The Lord was truly gracious to Segun Olusola, one of Nigeria’s earliest television producers, former ambassador to Ethiopia and the Organisation of African Unity; founder, Africa Refugees Foundation, promoter of the Ajibulu Moniya Gallery, culture and arts patron and trustee of the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence.

He packed a lot into his 77 years on earth. In the area of broadcasting, he created a well regarded programme, The Village Headmaster, which was adjudged the longest running television drama serial until it was rested. In the deliberate effort to promote an industry reward system, he was one of the earliest trustees of D.A.M.E. He also endowed a prize for Television Drama in memory of his first wife, Elsie Olusola, an acclaimed actor and broadcaster in her own right, who predeceased him 21 years ago. His AREF foundation ranks as one of the earliest and respected efforts in the area of addressing refugee problems in our land. And his face was a welcome fixture at many respected outings in the culture sector. As Olatunji Dare has posited, in him the word “icon” had a natural habitat.

I first made his acquaintance on television in the mid 60s when he was with the then Nigerian Television Service. I recall seeing him and Dr. Christopher Kolade act in the celebrated film, Taiwo Sango, that was serialised for two or three weeks. My image of him in that film has subsisted to date. Olusola, clad in traditional attire, was the custodian of tradition, who stayed back on the farm whilst Kolade was the urbane one who had travelled abroad and needed to be reconciled to the realities in the land. In real life, I do not recall ever seeing Olusola in Western dress, not in Enugu when I met him at the NTA office in 1985, and not since I became his colleague on the D.A.M.E. Board in 1993.

The story of his association with D.A.M.E. is worth telling as it widens our understanding of the man and his eagerness to support worthy ventures. He had just returned to Lagos after a successful tenure as ambassador. On the advice of Mr. Taiwo Allimi, I had approached him alongside Taiwo Obe to support our efforts at D.A.M.E. Not only did he accept the invitation, he needed little persuading before endowing the Television Drama prize. Throughout the period he served on the Board, he was a mentor in words and deeds. His was the experienced voice that was generous with advice; his was a constant presence at our public outings. In the 19 years that he served on the Board he missed only one outing of the annual D.A.M.E. presentation, which will host its 21st edition this year. He did not foist his ideas on others; he was content to be part of an ennobling scheme. Often, he recommended regular reviews of our preparation to ensure necessary grounds were covered.

His words at the 2nd D.A.M.E. in December 1993 where he was the Guest Speaker speak of his abiding faith in media professionalism: “Those who are privileged to be professionals in the media must regard their calling as caretakers of a publicly owned resource. It is a sacred trust, for which dedication, sustained training and public accountability are indispensable”.

For his contributions to the development of the media, he was honoured alongside Christopher Kolade and Ted Mukoro with the D.A.M.E. Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. They were the second set of Nigerians after Dr. Babatunde Jose, Chief Alade Odunewu and Mr. Sam Amuka to be so decorated. Seated next to me at the awards night, he wondered if our decision was valid since he was not invited to the meeting of the Board where it was taken. I told him he was invited but regretted the letter only reached him after the decision had been taken. He knew he had been shielded from a matter that concerned him, so he greeted my response with a knowing nod and hearty laughter!

Last July 19 at the celebration of 20 years of Diamond Publications, Chief Olusola at Uncle Sam Amuka’s prompting supervised the cutting of the anniversary cake, imbuing the act with humour and panache. In my view Chief Olusola’s eagerness to help or serve overexposed him and took a huge toll on him. It was always a marvel watching him juggle the contending commitments he faced daily.

As his remains are interred on July 20, I pray that the torch of excellence which he joined others to light in the media and other fields will continue to glow. May the heavens accept his soul!

•Idowu is the CEO, Diamond Publications Ltd

BY LANRE IDOWU

NEC accepts Obasanjo’s resignation

2:57 AM News No Comments

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo
| credits:

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s resignation as Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees has been accepted.

The Secretary of the Board, Senator Walid Jubril, confirmed this at the party’s secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday.

Jibril said the resignation was accepted at a board meeting in Abuja on Monday night.

Jibril, who spoke with reporters after the party’s National Executive Committee meeting, also said Obasanjo attended the meeting.

He, however, said the board had yet to decide on Obasanjo’s replacement, saying a decision would be taken after the party had ratified its new constitution.

He said, “The BoT did not discuss Obasanjo’s replacement, but accepted his resignation. No one has been nominated or tipped to replace him for now.”

However, our correspondent learnt that a former National Chairman of the party, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, is being tipped to take over the position.

If Ali is elected, Jibril might be asked to resign as both of them are from the North Central. While Ali is from Kogi State Jibril is from Nassarawa State.

Meanwhile, moves by the NWC of the party to reconstitute the party’s Disciplinary Committee suffered a setback on Tuesday as women present at the NEC meeting protested against the lopsidedness in its proposed membership composition.

PDP Chairman, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, in his memo to the party’s NEC dated July 16, 2012 recommended seven people as members of the committee.

Those on the list were Mr. Femi Pedro( Chairman), Okey Ezenwa(South-East), Chidi Wiyoka(South-South), Tanimu Adamson(North-Central), Yakubu Shehu(North-West), Yusuf Jangwe(North-East) and Bola Doherty(South-West).

The NEC directed that the members of the NWC should look into the list and attend to the grievances of the women.

The Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, who confirmed the development, said the party was right in its decision, adding that the NWC would look into the issues that were “raised at the NEC and consider them before representing the list at the next NEC meeting”.

BY OLUSOLA FABIYI, ABUJA

PDP is finished politically in Edo – Ihonvbere

2:55 AM Politics 1 Comment

BENIN—FORMER Special Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Project Monitoring and Implementation, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, yesterday, said Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was finished politically, adding “nothing can revive PDP in Edo State.”

Prof. Ihonvbere, in Benin, yesterday, insisted that the performance of Governor Adams Oshiomhole in the last three and half years was the magic wand that ensured his victory at the poll.

He noted that the results of the election showed that the people rejected PDP, “as a party of wickedness, failure, darkness, led by insensitive people, who do not mean well for the people of Edo State.”

“Our victory is 100 percent. The godfather could not find God neither could he find the father. The fixer was thoroughly and mercilessly fixed. He lost his ward, local government area and senatorial district. Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN is on solid ground. It does not need to bother about the future.

“There are vanquished people here in Edo. PDP people have been vanquished and you cannot touch them with a ten-foot pole. You don’t say no victor no vanquished. Oshiomhole has to be wary of them. The matter is settled. Oshiomhole is in power and those of us who came to support will ensure that the energy for development does not derail.

“What may come up is what kind of political future Oshiomhole would be looking at after four years. He may decide to say I have done enough, I am popular, called it quit and set up an institute on labour relations and carry out consultancy. He may decide to go for higher office. What will determine the future of Edo State is what will determine the nature of the next presidential election. Adams has nothing to worry about at all.”

Prof. Ihonvbere added that Governor Oshiomhole has a duty to handover an ACN that will win the next governorship election ‘because he (Oshiomhole) has to lead the campaign.’

By GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

Jonathan sets up committee on Belgore committee report

2:54 AM News No Comments

Goodluck Jonathan and Alfa Belgore
| credits:

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday set up another committee to study the report of the Justice Alfa Belgore-led Presidential Committee on the Review of the Constitution.

The committee, which is headed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Bello Adoke (SAN), has three weeks to submit its report.

A statement by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, said the setting up of the committee was sequel to the submission of the report of the Presidential committee on the review of outstanding issues from recent constitutional conferences in Nigeria.

The committee will, among others, “identify the areas/issues on which the review committee affirmed consensus earlier reached in previous conferences and for which the review committee prepared draft bills for consideration and legislation, identify the areas/issues on which past constitutional conferences had arrived at a consensus but which the review committee felt the consensus was no longer current or relevant and therefore did not prepare any draft bills.”

The committee will also “identify areas/issues on which the previous conferences and the review committee did not reach a consensus; study each of the draft bills submitted by the review committee and make recommendations for the government to either accept, modify or reject them in part or whole as the case may be.”

The Belgore-led committee, which submitted its report on July 10, had recommended “(a) Reduction of powers at the centre and devolution of same to the states federating units; (b) Allow the centre to retain necessary powers to enable it exercise its sovereignty, (c) Enable the centre to act for the federating units in areas of common and mutually beneficial interest and services,” amongst others.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has dissolved the Board of the National Commission for Refugees chaired by Prof. Abayomi Durosinmi-Etti.

A statement by the SGF said the dissolution followed “the recent developments that have hampered smooth operations at the NCR.”

BY FRIDAY OLOKOR, ABUJA

Reclaiming Premiership title our priority – Alex Ferguson

2:50 AM Sports No Comments

DURBAN, South Africa (AFP) – Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson wants the English Premier League trophy back at Old Trafford next season.

He told a media conference Tuesday in this Indian Ocean city that regaining the symbol of English football supremacy was “priority number one” after being pipped at the post by neighbours Manchester City last season.

Expensively assembled City scored twice in stoppage time to defeat QPR 3-2 at home on the final day of the season and win the title on goal difference from United, who won 1-0 at Sunderland in a match played simultaneously.

“I want to recover the title after the disappointment of last season,” said Ferguson ahead of the first of six pre-season matches here Wednesday against mid-table South African Premiership outfit AmaZulu FC.

“We either win the title or come second — it is an important part of the history of our club over the past 20 years,” he stressed on a warm mid-winter day in a city that attracts millions of tourists annually.

“United have to recover as the club have done so many times in the past. That is our target this year. Priority number one is to win the English Premier League title back.”

Amid rumours that Manchester City are preparing to woo prolific Dutch scorer Robin van Persie from Arsenal, Ferguson gave a brief Premier League history lesson to illustrate the resilience of his Red Devils.

“When Arsenal won the title from us in 1998, we won the treble the following year. Then Chelsea came along and got off to a flier in the league for the first two years so we changed our pre-season a little to ensure quick starts.”

With stars like Wayne Rooney resting after Euro 2012 commitments, others like Ryan Giggs competing at the London Olympics and captain Nemanja Vidic among those injured, United have brought a severely depleted squad to South Africa.

However, Ferguson once again went back in time to demonstrate that AmaZulu should be wary of his Red Babes when they clash before a sell-out 50,000 crowd at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

“When I started picking young players, we played Port Vale in a League Cup game and an MP protested to the government, saying we were cheating the public and they wanted their money back.

“Little did she know she was watching perhaps the greatest group of young players to come through at a football club in England. The same applies here,” he said.

The United manager hinted that midfielders Jesse Lingard and Robbie Brady could face AmaZulu, who are coached by Swede Roger Palmgren and captained by Zimbabwe goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini.

Budget deficit: FG to cut domestic debts – NEC

2:49 AM Business, News No Comments

Abuja — The Federal Government, yesterday, indicated that it would cut domestic debts in order to ensure that the level of deficit in the nation’s budget is reduced significantly.

Similarly, lawyers for the Federal Government and the 36 states of the federation have been given two weeks to finalise the positions of both parties on the Excess Crude Account to find a solution before the next National Economic Council, NEC, meeting.

These were the highlights of the National Economic Council meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

The meeting which was presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo had in attendance some governors of the 36 states, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Minister of National Planning and Minister of State, Finance.

Addressing State House correspondents after the meeting, Minister of State for Finance, Yerima Ngama, said: “A review of the present state of indebtedness and facilities by various international financial institutions such as the World Bank through the IDA window, ADB, Islamic Development Bank, ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development and also the China EXIM Bank, was done.

“We also discussed the borrowing plan going forward in the next three years. The Federal Ministry of Finance is going to provide the information of all the facilities that state government can access especially those under the IDA window and the state will now apply for whatever project it wants to finance with the funds and this will be articulated and a meeting will be called with the National Assembly for the defence of these facilities and after approval then, the state will access.

“The Federal Ministry of Finance will also make separate presentation on the borrowing plan in the next NEC and this presentation will actually give a summary of the indebtedness between now and the next NEC with the Federal Ministry of Finance and various state governments on all the facilities that we need to borrow for th-e next three years.

“On a policy level, we want to slow down on the domestic debts. In fact, we want to ensure that going forward, that the level of deficit in our budget is reduced significantly so that we don’t add on to the domestic debts. So, we are actually mindful of our debts level.”

Ultimatum to FG, states’ counsel

On the decision of the NEC for the Federal and state governments counsel to reach a settlement before the next meeting, CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, said the meeting agreed that the Ministry of Finance and the governors should sit and agree before the next NEC meeting, though the date was not disclosed.

According to Sanusi, “this solution is important because the Supreme Court has given us till September 2 for an out-of-court settlement to be reached. If it is not reached then, the trial will continue.”

But from all indications, both parties are willing to arrive at an understanding of what is due to each party and also an understanding of how the indebtedness of any party to the other will be settled.”

Sanusi said the sub-committee set up to fashion out out-of-court settlement had submitted its report.

“It is an interim report, the lawyers representing both parties have been discussing, there has been significant progress in terms of harmonising positions.

The major issues that were the subject of contention were the excess crude account, the signature bonuses; collection cost; waivers and concessions; other dividends and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR); CBN charges which has been sorted out; NLG dividends; proceeds on sale of government properties; privatisation proceeds; establishments and operation of federation account and incidental matters- FG expenditure on state and LGAs”he said.

By Ben Agande

The Nigerian software lion has roared

2:45 AM Technology No Comments

Suppressed Development and Under-development of Indigenous Software

The Nigerian Software Lion has roared in an effort to occupy the international software space – this has come to pass. Engr. Chijioke Simeon Agu, a Fellow of the Nigeria Computer society and past president of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) accomplished the feat before his dawn.

It will be recalled that many decades ago – 1980’s, Tara Systems (Nig) Limited emerged as one of the first Oracle-based application developers in the national and international circuit. Indeed, the first known digital signature ported into Oracle Database was said to have been developed in Nigeria by Tara. Not only that, the Oracle-based application software developed by Tara was exported abroad.

The Nigeria Local Content Act 2010 was enacted in April, 2010 as the quantum of composite value added or created in the Nigerian economy by a systematic development of capacity and capabilities through the deliberate utilization of Nigerian human, material and intellectual resources and services in the Nigerian economy in order to stimulate growth of indigenous capacity.

National Software initiatives constitute a significant part of the content under the act.
Also the Federal Government, through its circular, reference No. SGF/OP/I/S.3/VII/795 2006 directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to operate strictly on the patronage of Nigerian Developed Computer Software and services.

The Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Act 2010 (‘the Act’) was signed into law on 22 April 2010. With effect from this date, the Act is expected to be applicable to all matters pertaining to Nigerian content in respect of all operations or transactions carried out in or connected with the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

Meanwhile, comparative studies have shown that by extension, Information and Communications Technology and Software in particular represent the core operation and transactions processes referred to in the Act. Nigeria can create at least one million jobs in the software sector within 24 months and earn an estimated $10billion USD annually after a critical incubation program of 3-5years.

The Act is designed to give the force of law to the Nigerian Content Policy, the objective of which is to increase the quantum of composite value added to or created in the Nigerian economy, through a systematic development of capacity and capabilities for the deliberate utilisation of Nigerian human and material resources and services.

From its inception in early 2000, the Nigerian Content Policy envisioned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation served as the basis for measuring and ensuring local participation and job creation for Nigerians in the oil and gas industry.

In pursuit of global quality standards, the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) in April 2012 on behalf of Software Nigeria received an International Quality (QC 100) Award conferred on her by Arch of Europe at the Intercontinental Hotel in Frankfurt – Germany.

In light of all the above, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) has continuously advocated that Software operational and transaction related information and data from organizations referenced in the Act, including Banking and Financial Institutions on the level of compliance with the Local Content Act 2010 with respect to the application of indigenous software.

This is informed by the fact that government Transformation Agenda may not be effectively implemented unless indigenous Software content and services delivery is made a very high priority. The senior advocate of local content in Nigeria software space is undoubtedly, Engr. Chijioke Simeon Agu, who recently passed on to higher glory.

He was the founding President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), a distinguished IT practitioner, Software Industry Pioneer and Fellow of the Nigeria Computer Society. He left many legacies behind.

But the core focus of this write-up is how conscious is the nation on the critical and strategic imperatives of indigenous and global Software for national survivability? Like Hussein Bolt, he has beaten all known records in the Software Ecosystem in Nigeria. He laid the foundation for the development of software Nigeria with his 10 point agenda to the Federal Government which led to the establishment of the National Software Development Initiative is 2005.

For the records, Engr Simeon Agu was the Great Lion of ICT-Nigeria, whose words alone awakened an entire IT industry; whose presence inspired confidence in a fledgling industry to go forth and claim its due; a fiercely loyal friend and a competitor respected by all. His roar will be missed by us all, as will his sure guidance and sagacity.

By Chris Uwaje

Edo: Oshiomhole victory, hard lesson for PDP – Mark

2:45 AM News No Comments

ABUJA—SENATE President, David Mark yesterday reflected on the victory of Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole at last Saturday’s elections and declared that the era of imposition of candidates on the people was over.

Mark who made the remark after the confirmation of three new Resident Electoral Commissioners, REC for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC said the defeat was a hard lesson for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The Senate President also pointed out that the National Assembly was committed to ensuring the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in the country, saying the peoples’ vote must be allowed to count.

“I think that is a hard lesson that the majority party has learnt from the Edo election. We hope that when these three nominees go there, they will ensure that elections are free, fair and that they are credible and that the PDP government will like to ensure that.”

The three RECs confirmed yesterday were Mr. Habu Zarma Hinna, Mr. Ikoiwak Aniedi Abasi and Mr. Baritor Lenusikpugi Kpagih.

Mr. Hinna represents Gombe State at the commission, while Abasi will be representing Akwa Ibom State at INEC and Kpagih will be representing Rivers at the commission.

Meanwhile President Goodluck Jonathan has asked the Senate to confirm Mr. Ekpo Una Nta as the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offenses Commission, ICPC.

President Jonathan through the letter also withdrew the nomination of Mr. Francis Elechi who was initially confirmed by the Senate as the Chairman of the commission.

The letter read, “Mr. Francis Elechi has been earlier confirmed by the Senate as the Chairman of board of ICPC, however, emerging circumstances precluded him from assuming the position of Chairman of ICPC.

“Consequently, I had to forward the name of Ekpo Una Nta, a serving member and acting chairman of the board for consideration as chairman of ICPC board. I hereby wish to formally withdraw the earlier nomination of Mr. Francis Elechi as chairman of ICPC.

By INALEGWU SHAIBU

FRSC acquires equipment to check over-speeding

2:42 AM News No Comments

Eket (Akwa Ibom) – Mr Yakubu Attah, Zonal Commanding Officer of the FRSC Zone 6 Command of the commission said on Monday that the commission had acquired an equipment to check over-speeding by drivers.

Attah, an Assistant Corps Marshal in charge of Zone 6 in Port Harcourt, said in an interview in Eket that the commission was also poised to check over-loading.

Attah disclosed that the commission recently took delivery of hand-held radar guns to monitor motorists who drove beyond speed limits.

”Over-speeding and over-loading are of serious concern to the FRSC.

”Recently, the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Mr Osita Chidoka, procured some hand-held radar guns to clamp down on over-speeding drivers.

“So over-speeding will soon be a thing of the past, all we need to do with the new drivers’ licence is to take your number and arrest you on the point of renewing your vehicle papers.

“So you may over-speed but you are not far from us, ” he said.

On the recommendation that the FRSC should be scrapped or merged with the police, Attah said that such calls would not be justified, in view of the strategic nature of the commission on safety of commuters on the nation’s roads.

“It is not justifiable because FRSC has come a long way, FRSC is a household name, above all, the FRSC is the lead agency in terms of road safety administration and management.

“It is not justifiable at all, I am of the view that the government should have a re-think, ” he said.

The Zonal Commanding Officer said that he was committed to boosting the morale of the commission’s officers and men as a way of improving their productivity.

He said that Chidoka appreciated the sacrifices being made by the commission’s officers in discharging their duties. (NAN)

Ojerinde affirms e-test for prospective undergraduates

2:35 AM Education, News No Comments

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, will from next year commence e-testing of prospective university admission seekers in the conduct of it examinations.

JAMB Registrar, Prof ‘Dibu Ojerinde made this disclosure Tuesday in Makurdi while on courtesy call on Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State.

He said the board decided to introduce the electronic testing for prospective undergraduates in order to check the rising cases of examination practices being perpetrated by candidates.

According to him, “The e-testing if finally introduced will check the cases of malpractices by JAMB candidates which has become a source of worry for all stakeholders”.

“When introduced, the e-testing technology would also ensure that our candidates instantly receive the result of their examination at their centres at he end of the examination”, Prof. Ojerinde said.

He said since the e-testing would be computer based, it would encourage computer literacy adding that students could also use cell phones for the examination stressing that the new method which would be put to practice by next year will not be made compulsory for all the candidates.

According to him, ‘what we are going to do is to put the new method to practice as from next year while there is option for candidates to go manual, using pencils and examination sheets, but by the next three years it will be made mandatory for all candidates sitting for JAMB examination to use the new technology’.

“We did a survey and about 76 percent respondents approved e-testing so starting from next year we will commence putting it to practice but not until three years time that we will fully implement it, so whoever prefer manual next year and in two years time will be allowed”, he said.

He further stated that as soon as the board perfects the new technology, other examination bodies; WAEC, NECO and NTI will follow suit.

Governor Gabriel Suswam who commended the board for the new innovation expressed optimism that it would go a long way to curb examination malpractices in the country and also called on the board to find means of halting the miracle centers across the country.

By PETER DURU, MAKURDI

INEC issues Certificate of Return to Oshiomhole

2:31 AM News, Politics No Comments

BENIN CITY – Re- elected Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Tuesday, collected his Certificate of Return from Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and expressed gratitude to Oba of Benin and Edo people.

The certificate was issued to him at 7pm by INEC National Commissioner, Col. Muhammed Hammanga (rtd).

Addressing newsmen, Oshiomhole said: “My candidature has re-united Edo people across the three senatorial districts and this is some thing that had never happened before. For the first time across the 18 local government areas, people spoke with one voice. Now the challenge is to ensure even development gets to the 18 councils.

“I am particularly grateful to the great people of Benin kingdom for burying the whole idea of ethnic politics in the life of this state. I am encouraged by this. As you can see, I won more votes here than in my council. That for me is an outstanding statement and I am committed to servicing that trust.

“There is no way that you can go through electioneering campaign without saying some thing that will make one uncomfortable, to all those who may have been offended, apologies from my heart. And if any one also offended me, I have forgiven even when it had not been offered.”

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

Edo guber poll has re-enacted one man, one vote doctrine – IBB

2:29 AM Politics No Comments

LAGOS — FORMER Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, has said Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Edo State where Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was re-elected as governor of the state, has re-enacted the doctrine of one man, one vote being canvassed by most Nigerians.

In a statement entitled “The Power of the People,” Babangida said the election had further reassured the polity that under a well coordinated electoral engagement, the people’s power as expressed through votes, would usually prevail over any other manifestations.

ACN supporters sweeping the road at Ugbowo road, after the announcement of the Edo Governorship Election result in Benin on Sunday (15/7/12). NAN photos

The former Military President congratulated the voters of Edo State for doing justice to their consciences and diligence to their decision by re-electing Oshiomhole to continue to stir the ship in the nation’s heartbeat state.

According to the statement, “as a keen observer of the politics of the nation, with particular interest in Edo State, I watched all the televised campaigns of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, where the Comrade Governor presented to the people of the state his scorecard in the last three and a half years. I was particularly enthralled by his show of energy and rhythmic dance steps which helped to add colour and relief to the entire campaign exercise.

“The way and manner he read out scores of his achievements as a governor for such a short period of time, presented him as one who understands the demand of leadership and the challenges of governance in the state. Comrade Oshiomhole has indeed impressed me in several ways. He thinks for the future of Edo State and his economic vision captured in his campaign manifesto will help the state to regain its lost glory.

Congratulations

“Let me, therefore, use this opportunity to join millions of other Nigerians to say very big congratulations to the Comrade Governor of Edo State, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, for this unique achievement in a state and against a party that parades hitherto political heavy weight.

“This ennobling and humbling feat is only possible in an atmosphere of well mobilised and conscientised voters, who might have resolved to sustain the mantra of one man, one vote as the fundamental basis of representative democracy.

“This feat deserves double celebration; first on account of the fact that the people did show vigilance throughout the exercise, and secondly on account of the civil nature of the military personnel that were drafted to the state to offer security support to the exercise.

The lesson

“The lesson to take away from the entire Edo election is that Nigeria can truly get it right, if we all are resolved that we will not rig elections and if election outcomes are made to reflect the wishes and aspirations of the people. Edo State has become a trail blazer in this unique dimension of making votes to count after elections. I congratulate you all.”

Advises Oshiomhole

“Now, the expectation of the people from the governor will surely multiply because the entire state spoke unanimously that the Comrade Governor is their Governor. The Comrade Governor must redouble his efforts to ensure that those expectations are met and those mouth-watering campaign promises are fulfilled.

During my last visit to Edo State at the burial ceremony of my late friend and brother, Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, I saw quite a number of ongoing projects which are a mark of government intervention in the state. I have also watched a few documentaries about the new thinking in Edo State. All these are cheering news and it is expected that the Comrade Governor will use the opportunity of his second term of office to open up the state and leverage on the economic infrastructure to make life more meaningful for the people. On this count, I do not envy the Comrade Governor at all.”

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

FG woos global business leaders in London

2:26 AM Business 1 Comment

The Federal Government has pledged its support for the High Level Investment and Business Summit on Nigeria taking place in London between July 30 and August 1, 2012.

The summit with the theme “Nigeria- the World’s Most Vibrant Market’’ is to be declared open by President Goodluck Jonathan, And it is organized to ensure that Nigeria seizes the opportunity of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to link Nigerian entrepreneurs to the global economic system and project the country to the international community as one of the world’s best investment destinations.

The event that is being organized by the Bank of Industry, under the supervision of the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga is expected to feature over 350 delegates comprising businessmen, diplomats, government representatives, representatives of transnational corporations (TNCs), multinational organizations, international financial institutions, multilateral agencies and Nigeria’s leading international development partners from across the world.

Among Nigerian ministers that are expected to attend the business summit is the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Honorable Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Trade and Investment Minister, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, Petroleum Minister, Mrs Deziani Allison Madueke, others are the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina and the Minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji, Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke as well as the Central Bank Governor, Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

A number of Governors including those of Anambra, Kogi, Niger, Delta, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo and Ekiti States will be attending the summit with a view to attracting foreign investors to their respective states.

Also Africa’s number one Industrialist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President Manufactures Association of Nigeria, Chief Kola Jamodu, CEO , ECOBANK Group, Mr. Arnold Ekpe, former Group Managing Director of the United Bank for Africa, Mr. Tony Elumelu and many private sector leaders have confirmed their participation at the summit.

Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Dr. Kandeh Yumkella will lead the team of foreign dignitaries that include Mr. Stephen Jennings, CEO, Renaissance Capital and the Chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Mr. Jim O’Neill.

Meanwhile, The United Kingdom Trade and Investment Department and the Commonwealth Business Council are also collaborating with the Bank of Industry in putting together Nigeria’s High Level Investment Summit.

By WILLIAM JIMOH

Fashola ‘arrests’ Col, Sergeant on BRT lane

2:23 AM News No Comments

‘Those officers I caught are very bad examples for the military’

LAGOS – Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, arrested two military officers who drove on the dedicated Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, lane.

The two military officers, who were accosted on the BRT lane at the Outer Marina in Central Lagos, were Colonel K. I. Yusuf, who drove in an Army Green Peugeot 406 with registration Number BO1 – 150 NA and Staff Sergeant Adeomi A.J, who drove in a black Toyota Camry car.

CAUGHT IN THE ACT…Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, (right) asking Colonel K. I. Yusuf why he drove on the BRT lane illegally, when he was apprehended being driven in an Army Green Peugeot 406 with number-plate BO1-150 NA at Outer Marina in Central Lagos, Tuesday 17th July

Realising that the game was up, Col. Yusuf came down from his car, saluted several times and kept muttering: “I am sorry, very, very sorry” with the governor enquiring why, a senior military officer, Yusuf, chose to break the law instead of preserving it.

Speaking after the incident, Fashola described as very unfortunate the fact that those who ought to stand behind in defence of democratic values were the ones violating them.

Fashola, who noted that the highest level of the military command had expressed their commitment to supporting democracy and to subjecting themselves and their officers to the laws of the country, declared: “Those officers that I caught today are very bad examples for the military.”
The governor said he had already made a representation to the superiors of the culprits, expressing optimism that they would be sanctioned appropriately.

He, however, added, “But it signifies my commitment and the commitment of the Lagos State Government that all those who will not comply with our laws should leave our state. We will not back down”.

“There is a zero-tolerance for lawlessness. There is zero-tolerance for breach of our regulations and we are going to do more of this. We are going to take control of our traffic. We cannot build our way out of traffic congestion; our responsibility is to manage traffic and manage congestion.”

Insisting that people must behave themselves, Fashola declared, “I don’t use BRT lane, I sit in traffic and I expect everyone who wants to drive his car to do same. The alternative is to use the bus.

“The bus is for those who cannot afford to buy cars. They have the right also to use the road and we cannot encroach on that lane which we have reserved for them. This is democratisation of the road and I will defend it.”

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

200 rendered homeless as evacuees vow to remain on water

2:18 AM News No Comments

No fewer than 200 people were rendered homeless, yesterday, when the demolition exercise that commenced at Makoko area of Lagos entered day two. Many of the residents said the exercise took them unawares as there was no prior notice from Lagos State government before it started around 10am, Monday.

Most of the structures were makeshift shanties built on waters, which most of the residents claimed were built to make life easier for them. The residents, who are mainly fishermen who migrated from Badagry, said there was no alternative provision by Lagos State government.

As at 6.30pm, yesterday, many displaced victims were seen hanging around in canoes on water as there was no place to lay their heads.

Evacuees speak

A mother of five, Mrs. Christiana Agbogla, was seen lying down on some of her belongings, saying one of her children, who is two years old was receiving treatment from a nurse when a flying boat arrived the area and some men came out to demolish their structure.

Another victim simply called Zende, who was heavily pregnant, lamented that she could not salvage her belongings as there was no one to assist her when the exercise began in her area. Some of the victims also said they will remain on the water as long as they were alive.

They chorused: “We are used to the river due to the nature of our business. We need a place to park our canoes and nets, hence our reasons to be closer to waters. No life was lost in the exercise, because we have trained our children to swim. In this place, a one-year-old baby can swim very well.”

The Alase of Egun, Baale Francis Agoyon, said their grandfather inherited the land from University of Lagos many years ago and there was no plan for relocation.

Baale of Sogunro Community, Chief Johnson Idunsa, said they were given about nine days notice by the state government.
He said: “The community is mourning because many of our residents have been rendered homeless.”

Quit order

The quit notice stated that the owners of the shanties occupying and developing shanties and unwholesome structures on the waterfront, thereby constituting environmental nuisance, security risk, impediment to economic and gainful utilisation of the waterfront such as navigation, entertainment, recreation, among others, should vacate the area within 72 hours.

*Mobile home after demolition of abode.

Lagos justifies demolition

As the ongoing clearing of Makoko waterfront in Yaba Local Council Development Area, LCDA, continues, where thousands of residents have been displaced, Lagos State government, yesterday, explained that it embarked on the exercise to save lives and property of residents and also to aid execution of government’s original plan for the area.

It would be recalled that thousands of Makoko/Iwaya residents of Waterfront community, whose structures were built close to a power line on the lagoon, were Monday displaced following the expiration of a 72-hour quit order. The joint task force comprising policemen, soldiers and officials of Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI, carried out the demolition exercise.

Most of the residents, who lived and make a living from fishing on the water and petty trading have been rendered homeless as a result of the demolition.

Giving the clarification about government’s intention, state Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Prince Adesegun Oniru, said the government took the decisive step to ensure the safety of residents, adding “their continuous stay leaves them at the mercy of being victims of environmental hazards.”

Oniru, who dismissed the insinuation that the exercise was being carried out to prevent occurrence of dreaded activities of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, added that the forecast of rainfall for the year and its attendant consequences, if they remain on the water ways, was the motivating factor to the clearing exercise.

He said: “It is true that the state government issued them notice to quit. However, we had met the community leaders about a month ago and government’s plan was conveyed to them. They knew what the government was planning for the area and beyond that the LCDA leader in the area also met with us and we told them the same thing about government’s plan for the area.

“They got quit notice from the state government before we embarked on what is going on now in Makoko.

Our plan for evacuees

Oniru, in explaining what the state plans to do with the affected area, said: “The question is why we are doing what we are doing now? The reason is not far-fetched. We are doing it for the safety of the areas and dwellers.

“First is to clear the environment and the entire vicinity of the danger that is looming in that area. I’m talking about rise in water level, global warming and the danger looming in that area with regards to thunder storms and heavy rains that we are having in that area and in Lagos generally.

“If you look at that area properly, there are electric cables and other structures that run across the shanties on the water. All you need is one spark and everything will disappear overnight. We all live in Lagos and we know the thunderstorm that we have been experiencing; the lightening, too. So, what we are doing there is to protect lives of the people on that water.

“Should they be there at all? The answer is no.

“It is not a fixed address for anybody. If you are to ask me what plans we have for them, where we are relocating them to for example; my answer to that is that these people came from somewhere.

“They didn’t just grow up on that water and wherever it is that they came from they can easily go back to the place. That area is not a safe place for anybody to reside in.”

After demolition

Oniru said: An assessment will be done by Ministry of Physical Planning and the Environment, Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA, will be carried out by Ministry of Environment before government can actually come up with a scheme or proposal for the entire area. That is the plan we have for now.”

Neighbours rejoice

Meantime, residents of neighbouring communities such as Akoka and Bariga, expressed joy over the demolition exercise, noting the operation would eliminate the security problem they encountered from criminals who often attacked them from the waterfront, which had become hideouts for criminals who live within the community.

Some of the residents of Bariga, Makoko, Iwaya and Akoka also stated that the demolition exercise would stop the flood problem they faced, adding that the shanties erected on the water front obstructed free-flow of water into the Lagoon, thereby making the community prone to flooding during the rainy season.

The community

Makoko is a small community in the Yaba Local Government Area of Lagos State. Majority of the people who live there are the Ilajes and the Eguns, from the Western part of Nigeria. Their main occupation is fishing. This is largely because their structures virtually float on water.

One won’t understand the depth of poverty there until one visits the community. Their homes are made of wood and built on water. When it rains, their safety is better imagined than described. The residents move from one part of the community to the other with canoes. Walking long distances is usually not encouraged, except one is a good swimmer because the planks used in construction of bridges are weak and could give way at any time. However, the single-plank bridges are inevitable for short distance.

Exercise has no human face— PDP

Meanwhile, Lagos State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has condemned the way in which Makoko settlers were displaced by the state government. In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Gani Taofik, the party argued that previous eviction of settlers, just like this one, has never been with a human face.

While it faulted the way the settlers were “dispossessed of their abodes and area of occupation,” the party expressed concern over the ordeal of the traders.

It said: “Lagos PDP views the sudden demolition of the Makoko area as a surprise. This is coming on the heels of the fact that the ACN-led Lagos State government is supposed to be a government of progressives as acclaimed.

“There cannot be any justification for the eviction of people from their abode and area of occupation; people of Makoko are known to be riverine-based and fishermen.”

3 babies drown—Residents

The displaced residents, yesterday accused the state government agents of drowning three babies while several others were injured during the exercise, which they said came as a surprise.

When Vanguard visited the scene of the clearing exercise, it was gathered that three babies got drowned in the confusion that ensued when officials from the state government stormed the area for demolition.

It was also learnt that the babies were between the ages of one week and three months.

According to the aggrieved former residents, one of the babies was on his bed and got drowned when his mother went out to buy foodstuff for the family. It was also learnt that the baby was in company of his sibling, who was two years older.

Produce evidence— Lagos

However, Oniru, whose ministry is supervising the exercise, debunked the claim that some babies got drowned in the process of clearing the shanties, yesterday.

He said: “The story can not be true. I am not aware of such reports as I speak to you now. The story is untrue, unfounded and baseless. In a community like that where everyone, including a toddler, is a great swimmer.

“Those spreading such news are mischief makers. I will implore you to ignore them. We challenge them to produce the evidence.”

Confirming the development, the Baale of the Sogunro-Pedro, Chief Johnson Agbojeti, said the incident occurred immediately the exercise commenced.

Agbojeti said: “The baby was in the house when the officials came. The mother was out to buy food stuff for the family.”

He added that the house was among those first demolished by KAI and other security officials.

One of the parents, who said his baby died during the demolition, Mr. Celetine Aginsu, declined commenting on the child’s death, but confirmed that his structure was the first to be demolished.

However, Mr. Peter Ajape, who said his own baby eventually got saved, said that his wife went out when the demolition started.

He said: “Unknown to the officials, they demolished the structure with the baby fast asleep in the house. Immediately they cut off one of the pillars that held the structure, the baby fell into the water.”

Ajape noted that it took the intervention of those around to rescue the baby.

Vanguard News

MDAs not transparent in contract awards – BPP

2:14 AM News No Comments

ABUJA — THE Bureau for Public Procurement has flayed what it called ‘non adherence to Public Procurement Act’ by government ministries, departments and agencies, saying the development was adversely affecting Federal Government’s fight against corruption.

The agency said it observed that most biddings and contract awards carried out by government’s ministries, department and agencies were without regard to due process.

The agency’s Director, Research and Planning, Mr Anthony Ikor, disclosed this, yesterday, in Abuja at the opening of a two-day procurement capacity workshop organised by the National Directorate of Employment, NDE, in collaboration with the Bureau for Public Procurement, BPP.

He said despite sensitisation campaigns the BPP had carried out on Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, there was still non adherence to Public Procurement Acts, saying unless there was a change of attitude, government’s crusade on fight against corruption would be effort in futility.

Ikor, who was also one of the resource persons at the two-day event, reminded participants that the agency had the right not only to enforce the Act but prosecute offenders, disclosing that archival records were going to be opened for participants. This, he said, was because “we have observed that most agencies, after training, abandoned what they were taught.”

Declaring the occasion open, Director-General, National Directorate of Employment, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed, said the development informed his leadership to collaborate with the BPP for the workshop to keep his staff abreast with the need to carry out their statutory functions in accordance with the laid-down role.

He re-affirmed the determination of his leadership not to go contrary to the Public Procurement Acts just as he disclosed that his strict adherence to the acts had always led to complaints by contractors in his organisation.

“We in the NDE are always wary of this and I can assure you that we will continue to carry out our functions with strict adherence to public procurement process”, he assured.

Mallam Abubakar Mohammed hinted that he was worried over the negative image being given Nigeria and its citizens in connection with corruption, saying all hands must be on deck with a view to changing the development.

He decried the poor funding of some agencies, saying the National Directorate of Employment was being hindered from carrying out certain programmes to better the lots of the society, saying in spite of this, he was determined to take the NDE to a greater level.

By JOSEPH ERUNKE

Nigeria World News

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