TheGuardianwww.ngrguardiannews.com

Conscience, Nurtured by TruthFriday, May 10, 2013 N150Vol. 29, No. 12,552

Outrage at Lafia attacks,death toll hits 30 From Saxone Akhaine (Kaduna), Madu Onuorah, Adamu Abuh , KarlsTsokar (Abuja), Mohammed Abubakar (Windhoek, Namibia), ChrisIrekamba(Lagos), Njadvara Musa(Maiduguri), Emmanuel Ande (Yola)and Charles Akpeji (Lafia)

AS the death toll in the at-tacks on security opera-

tives in Lafia, Nasarawa State,rose to 30 yesterday, the In-spector-General of Police(IGP), Mohammed Abubakar,vowed to arrest the killers andbring them to book.

The Nasarawa State PoliceCommissioner, Abayomi Ak-

IMF scoresNigeria’s economicperformancehigh

FOR the second time in oneweek, the Federal Govern-

ment’s economic policieshave received the approvalof two Breton woods institu-tions: the World Bank andthe International MonetaryFund (IMF).

According to them, thecountry’s economy is soundwith a positive outlook. Butthey warned that cautionmust be applied to spendingpressure to avoid the risk ofa decline in international oilprices in future.

Only last Tuesday, theWorld Bank elevated Nigeriato the elite club of countrieswith strong and sound

eremale, said yesterday thatthe death toll had hit 30 andthat all the bodies had beenrecovered. Besides, all the 25 members ofthe Presidential Committee

on Dialogue and Peaceful Res-olution of Security Chal-lenges in the North yesterday

met with 40 Boko Haramcom-manders and operatives atthe Kuje Minimum Security

Prison, on the outskirts ofAbuja, the nation’s capital.

• .IGP vows to arrest killers, panel meets Boko Haram leaders• Jonathan cancels Namibia trip, meets with service chiefs, others• Doctor shot over rejection of 22 policemen’s bodies • Reps seek probe, NLC decries govt’s response

President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor (on the floor) and members of Christian Elders Forum of Northern States during a prayer session on the state of insecurity in the country and awardpresentation to Oritsejafor in Abuja... yesterday PHOTO: PHILIP OJISUA

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• Cautions on expansionary spending,oil subsidiesFrom Mathias Okwe, (AssistantBusiness Editor, Abuja)

S’Court insists on political end to sovereignwealth’s dispute

CONCEDING to the FederalGovernment the last

chance to resolve the case onthe Sovereign Wealth FundAccount amicably, theSupreme Court in Abuja yes-terday held that the disputewas political and would bet-ter be resolved out-of-court.The apex court expressed thisview while speaking to theFederal Government’s legalteam led by Chief Wole Ola-nipekun (SAN) when the mat-ter came up.But the panel, presided overby Justice Walter Ononghenwho led six other justices, saidthat the court would have nochoice than to proceed withhearing the case should theFederal Government fail totake advantage of the out-of-court settlement option for

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From Lemmy Ughegbe, Abuja

Obama not coming to Nigeria soon - Page 6

2 NEWS THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013

Jonathan cancels Namibia trip, meets with service chiefs, othersCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Among the Boko Haram ter-ror suspects the presidentialpanel met with was the al-leged 2011 Christmas daybombing mastermind atMadalla, Niger State, KabiruSokoto. The committee mem-bers held a one-on-one discus-sion for over three hours withthe imprisoned terror sus-pects.Recalling the recent killing of

policemen in Bayelsa and Bor-no states, the IGP directed allthe field commanders andspecial units, including assis-tant inspectors-general of po-lice and commissioners ofpolice, to harness all resourcesavailable within their do-mains in ensuring that thereign of terror and lawlessnesswas brought to an end.In a statement in Abuja by the

Deputy Force Public RelationsOfficer (DFPRO), Frank Mba,the force high command saidthat it received the news of the“unprovoked and brutalkilling of scores of policemenwho were on legitimate as-signment in Nasarawa State”yesterday morning.

He said that this “disturbing,condemnable and highly dis-tressing incident, comingclosely after the ones in Bayel-sa and Borno states, hasthrown up new and emergingthreat on the part of policingour country.”

According to the statement,the IGP considers the attack asnot just on the Nigeria Policeand its officers and men but onthe collective will of Nigeriansto protect and preserve the in-tegrity of the country. “This wehave vowed to put an end to.We must put an end to thisendless circle of impunity,”the IGP said.

“The Nigeria Police Force

working in conjunction withall positive-minded Nigerianswill do everything within itspowers to fish out and bring tobook all those involved in thisand other similar killings oflaw enforcement agents”, headded.

Scores of policemen were re-portedly killed in NasarawaState on Wednesday by sus-pected militants. The killingsin Bayelsa and Borno states areyet to be unravelled.The rising insecurity has made

President Goodluck Jonathanto cancel his scheduled two-day official visit to Namibia.A statement by the Special Ad-

viser, Media and Publicity tothe President, Dr. ReubenAbati, noted that in view of re-cent developments at home inNigeria, Jonathan had to cutshort his visit to South Africaand aborted his state visit toNamibia which was due tostart yesterday.

According to the statement,“the President is returning toAbuja immediately to person-ally oversee efforts by nationalsecurity agencies to containthe fresh challenges to nation-al security which haveemerged this week in Borno,Plateau and Nasarawa states.”

He noted that the Presidentwould on arrival meet with theChief of Defence Staff, ServiceChiefs, Inspector-General of Po-lice and heads of national secu-rity services to review thesecurity situation in the coun-try.

The House of Representativesyesterday called for the institu-tion of a judicial panel of en-quiry to probe the Lafiakillings. While condoling withthe Nasarawa State govern-ment and families of the late se-curity operatives, the Houseurged the authorities at boththe state and federal levels to

explore dialogue with the war-ring parties to achieve lastingpeace.The lawmakers, who observed

a minute silence in honour ofthe slain, further urged the au-thorities to adequately com-pensate security operativesthat met their untimely deathin the hands of the assailants.

Also, the Nigeria Labour Con-gress (NLC) Vice President, IssaAremu and other labour lead-ers yesterday expressed con-cern over the handling of thestate of affairs in the country byJonathan.They urged him to bring to or-

der those undermining the se-curity of the nation andsubverting the democraticprocess.

Aremu, Chairman of theKaduna Branch of NLC, AdamuAngo and other Labour chiefs,converged on Kaduna yester-day, as they condemned the re-cent comments of the leader ofNiger Delta Volunteer Force(NDVF), Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo and the crisis withinthe ruling People’s DemocraticParty (PDP), which they be-lieved, could subvert the dem-ocratic political process in thecountry.Though the rally by the Labour

in Kaduna was to protestagainst the 19 northern gover-nors who unceremoniouslysuspended an earlier sched-uled meeting yesterday on thecomatose state of industry inthe North, they also used theoccasion to speak their mindsagainst Jonathan’s leadershipstyle in the handling of politi-cal, economic and social affairsin Nigeria.

Besides, piqued by the “out-right rejection” of 22 bodies ofslain policemen at Bama inBorno State by the University ofMaiduguri Teaching Hospital(UMTH) mortuary authoritiesyesterday, a medical doctorwas shot in the leg, while thehospital laboratories were alsoallegedly destroyed by the po-lice at 10.35 a.m.

An attendant said that themortuary was already filled upand could not contain the bod-ies of the slain policemenbrought from Bama onWednesday.The Spokesman of Borno State

Police Command, Gideon Jib-rin, confirmed yesterday’s inci-dent, but added that normalcyhad returned to the hospital. Jibrin said: “Yes, there was a po-

lice rampage at the UMTH. Theprofessor, (referring to theChief Medical Director, TahirOthman) called me on the de-velopment, but as I am talkingto you now, the situation is un-der control, as normalcy hasbeen restored and the peopleare going about their normalbusinesses.”

Arewa elders yesterday con-demned the killing of police-men in Lafia, saying that theFederal Government must acton the state of lawlessness inthe country before it degener-ated.

The statement by the ArewaConsultative Forum (ACF) Na-tional Publicity Secretary, An-thony Sani, said that thesecurity challenge facing thenation needed prompt inter-vention by government,adding that “the reported am-bush of police and SSS by theOmbatse worshippers in LafiaLocal Council of NasarawaState which resulted in the lossof 23 officers and eight vehiclesis tantamount to revolting.”

On his part, the Chief of AirStaff, Air Marshal Alexander S.Badeh, has identified unem-ployment and poverty as themajor security threat in thecountry.Badeh, who spoke in Vimtim,

his village in Mubi-North LocalCouncil of Adamawa State dur-ing the final football match ofthe maiden edition of the for-mer Falli Local Council cham-pionship competition, saidthat the aim of the fiesta was toengage the youths in activitiesthat could take them awayfrom evil acts.Also, the Archbishop of Lagos

Province and Bishop of LagosMainland, Church of Nigeria(Anglican Communion), MostRev. Adebayo D. Akinde, con-demned last Tuesday’s attackon Bama town in Borno State,where 55 people were report-edly killed.In an exclusive interview with

The Guardian on the forthcom-ing first session of the thirdSynod of the church slated forMay 16, 2013 at St. Jude’s Cathe-dral, Ebute-Metta, Lagos, theArchbishop of Lagos Province,who equally expressed his dis-pleasure at the Baga attack, de-scribed the two separateincidents as a declaration ofwar on the Nigerian nation. Hecalled on the Federal Govern-ment to check the crises.

IMF cautions on expansionaryspending, oil subsidiesCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1economies that can borrowfrom its International Bankfor Reconstruction and De-velopment (IBRD) lendingwindow because of the coun-try’s growth in national in-come and stability.And in what may appear as a

confirmation of the country’spositive rating by the WorldBank, the IMF yesterdayequally announced that Nige-ria’s economic reform pro-gramme was on track andadvised the government toremain focused on the plans.The IMF Senior Resident Rep-

resentative in Nigeria, Mr.Williams Scott Rogers, re-layed the Fund’s position onNigeria at a press briefing topresent the highlights of theStaff Report on the 2012 Arti-cle IV Consultation on thecountry which will soon bepublished.

Rogers commended the eco-nomic reform programme ofthe Nigerian government,saying they had succeeded toaid growth, particularly inthe non-oil sector as well asenthroning a verily soundbanking sector and drivingdown inflation.

He then advised the man-agers of the economy in thecountry to remain focusedand pursue the programmesto their logical conclusion,while warning against pres-sure on expansionary spend-ing because the Excess CrudeAccount Savings could bewiped off in just two monthsif a serious decline in interna-tional oil prices occurred.Rogers said: “Growth in Nige-

ria is expected to rebound in2013 and remain strong, driv-en by a vibrant non-oil sector.Inflation is expected to easefurther in the face of fiscaland monetary tightening.Tighter monetary policy hasdriven interest rates up, eas-ing inflationarypressure…Generating capi-tal inflows and helping theCBN to rebuild reserves whilestabilising the exchange rate.“Tighter fiscal policy has also

helped to rebuild the ECA, butbalances are well below earli-er levels. Declining world oilprices mean lower oil rev-enue. Even with expenditurerestraint, fiscal deficits areprojected to re-emerge. Com-

bination of stagnant oil ex-ports and continued growthin imports means smallercurrent account surpluses.“But with capital inflows and

outflows broadly in balance,the current account surplus-es would permit a rebuildingof international reserves.

Macro-economic perform-ance and policies in 2012 werebroadly positive. Fiscal tar-gets for 2013 and medium-term are consistent withmacro-economic stability,but additional measuresneeded.

“Planned savings in recur-rent spending will requirepublic sector reforms. Elimi-nation of subsidy would helpfiscal adjustment, mobilisenon-oil revenues, strengthenoil-price rule and oil savingsmechanism and there is needto strengthen the implemen-tation capacity of public in-vestment,” the IMFrepresentative said.

Specifically assessing theNigerian banking industry,he advised that the CentralBank of Nigeria (CBN) shouldcontinue to maintain a tightmonetary policy until therewere signs of durable reduc-tion of inflationary pressure.

He gave the sector the fol-lowing assessment and rec-ommendations:

“Health of banking systemhas improved considerably;credit to the private sector isgrowing again; banks fullycapitalised; more work onconsolidated and cross-bor-der supervision; a formal sun-set provision for AMCON tominimise fiscal risks andmoral hazard.”

On the fiscal side, Scot saidthere was urgent need forstructural reforms to en-hance productivity and glob-al competitiveness and alsothe need for quick conclusionof the electricity sector re-form for a quick win forgrowth and competitiveness.

He gave another prescrip-tion: “Quick passage of the Pe-troleum Industry Bill (PIB) totransform oil and gas sectorto increase investment; tradeprotection for ‘infant-indus-tries’ should be strictly time-bound; focus on measures toimprove competitivenessand export diversification iskey to long-term growth.”

Consultant of Media Practitioners Workshop, Prof. Mohammed Suleiman (left); Director, Research and Planning Global Straskills Consulting Limited, Auwalu Anwar and Editor, TheGuardian, Martins Oloja, during a workshop for media practitioners in Abuja... yesterday. (Story on Page 5) PHOTO: LADIDI LUCY ELUKPO

Our errors

IN a story entitled “Navy releases names of crashed air force’spilots” in the The Guardian of May 8, 2013 , we erroneously

put ‘navy’ instead of Nigerian Air Force as the agency whose pi-lots were involved. Also, Air Commodore Y. Anas, Nigerian AirForce Director of Public Relations and Information was re-ferred to as Navy’s Director of Information. The errors are re-gretted.

We also erred yesterday in the rider of our story on the RiversState crisis saying,”Patience Jonathan, gov’s aides tradewords,” Instead of “Patience Jonathan denies ordering securi-ty agents to go after gov.” The errors are regretted.

3

NewsTHE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013

PDP wades into Presidency, N’Assembly feud over budget From Bridget Chiedu Onochie andAzimazi Momoh Jimoh, Abuja

THE face-off between thePresidency and the Nation-

al Assembly over the 2013budget may soon be over asthe Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has waded into thematter.Meanwhile, for non-avail-

ability of lead debate (pream-ble), the Senate yesterday sus-pended the consideration of2013 Supplementary BudgetBill. The lawmakers also made itcompulsory for any sittingPresident to deliver a State ofthe Nation address yearly.This followed the passage ofthe Conference Bill for an Act

to make provision for theState of the Nation Address bythe President and for OtherMatters Connected therein2013.At a meeting between theSenate leadership and theparty’s Board of TrusteesChairman, Chief TonyAnenih, in the NationalAssembly yesterday, the dis-agreement between the twoarms of government over thebudget became an issue.

A source informed TheGuardian that although thebudget issue was not in the

agenda for the meeting, itwas raised by the lawmakersas one of the issues causingtrouble.It was learnt that Anenih

asked the Senate leadershipto be given an opportunity tointervene in the matter with aview to sorting out the greyareas and resolving them.A senator said: “We told himthat we are not happy withthe treatment we receivefrom the President on theissues of budget. It is not pos-sible that the President musthave his way all the time on

the issues of budget. We see itas a mark of serious disre-spect for the National Assem-bly if whatever the Presidentbrings to the National Assem-bly were meant to be rubber-stamped. It is not fair. Whatabout our own constitutionalresponsibilities on budget?”It was learnt that the PDP

Board of Trustees chairmanindicated his interest towardsmeeting the leadership of theSenate and the House of Rep-resentatives for the purposeof resolving the impasse.The House of Representatives

had earlier indicated that theamendment Bill sent to it lastmonth might not be attend-ed to.The Upper Chamber had

scheduled in its ThursdayOrder Paper, the considera-tion and debate of the linger-ing amendment request forthe supplementary budget.But immediately the debatewas set to commence, theSenate Leader, Senator VictorNdoma-Egba, said: “My leaddebate is not ready at themoment. So, I am not in aposition to take this bill yet. Itherefore, move that we sus-pend this till another legisla-tive day”.

Clark faults Reps over Kuku, DokuboFrom Chido Okafor Warri

IJAW National Leader, ChiefEdwin Kiagbodo Clark yes-

terday accused the House ofRepresentatives of being biasby asking for the arrest andprobe of the leader of theNiger Delta People’s Volun-teer Force Alhaji MujahidAsari Dokubo and Adviser tothe President on Amnesty Mr.Kingsley Kuku for theiralleged utterances over the2015 presidential polls.Clark rather urged the law-

makers to display fairness byalso probing the past utter-ances of some Northern lead-ers like Shehu Sani, Lawal Kei-ta, Gen Muhammadu Buhari(rtd), Mallam Adamu Ciroma,Farouk Aliu and several oth-ers who made similar inflam-matory statements againstPresident GoodluckJonathan.Clark said he supported the

lawmakers for condemningthe alleged utterances by “mytwo sons” (Dokubo andKuku), though Kuku has cate-gorically denied ever makingsuch statement while in theUnited States (U.S.). He, how-ever, added that the sameDokubo had in December

Air Force plane crashes in P’HarcourtFrom Madu Onuorah (Abuja) andKelvin Ebiri (Port Harcourt)

ANIGERIAN Air Force Mi-24Bhelicopter on a training

exercise crash-landed at theNigerian Air Force Base, PortHarcourt yesterday morning.Deputy Director of Public

Relations and Information ofthe Air Force, Group CaptainDele Alonge said in a state-ment in Abuja that “there wasno casualty as all the crewmembers came out unhurt.”Chief of Air Staff, Air MarshalAlex Sabundu Badeh hasalready constituted a team ofexperts to unravel the circum-stances that led to the acci-dent.Alonge pledged “furtherdetails of the crash will bemade known as investigationreveals.”

Aka Ikenga, OgidiUnion hold tributes for AchebeBy Odita Sunday

AS part of the burial rites forthe late literary icon, Prof.

Chinua Achebe, two differentIgbo groups, the Aka Ikengaand his Ogidi kinsmen resid-ing in Lagos State, under theumbrella of Ogidi Union(Nig.), have scheduled days oftributes in his honour.The Aka Ikenga event, “Chin-

ua Achebe: There was a Man,”holds on May 14, 2013 at theNigerian Institute of Interna-tional Affairs, Victoria Island,Lagos. Its president, ChiefGoddy Uwazurike, describedAchebe as “larger than life.”

Uwazurike told newsmenthat the group decided tomark Achebe’s exit in thefashion the literary iconwould have preferred if hewere alive. He stated: “Ourprogramme is a mixture ofculture, speakers and litera-ture.

Amaechi remainsRivers PDP leader,says WikeFrom Kelvin Ebiri, Port-Harcourt

MINISTER of State for Edu-cation, Nyesom Wike,

has admonished the FelixObuah-led People’s Demo-cratic Party (PDP) in RiversState to work with GovernorChibuike Amaechi, who isthe leader of the party in thestate. Meanwhile, the PDP elders

would soon resolve the crisisin the party in the state,according to a member ofthe PDP Board of Trustees(BoT), Gordon Bozimo.

But reacting Amaechi’sthreat to expose the mis-deeds of those fighting him,the minister said anyonethinking of exposing himwould be embarking on afruitless venture.Wike stated this yesterday

evening while addressingmembers of the PDP duringthe party committees’ inau-guration ceremony, whichtook place at the party’sheadquarters in Port Har-court .

2012 criticised PresidentJonathan, saying “Jonathanwill lose “2015 electionsbecause he was surroundedby greedy people’’, a state-ment, he said was applaudedby the President’s politicalopponents.Clark added: “One will like to

express strong reservationson the House’s reaction whichseems to be one sided and dis-criminatory because theHouse had not condemnedsimilar provocative seditionsand more inflammatory state-ments made by some Niger-ian leaders especially the

Northerners, more so whensome of the incitements aris-ing from such statements arecurrently causing serioussecurity problems in Nigeria.“Mr. Speaker and my most

respected Honourable mem-bers, I demand to know whythe most respected Green car-

pet House did not react tosuch statements. It is onlywhen a satisfactory answer isgiven for the lawmakers’silence to past inflammatorystatements that the Housecan be seen to be above sec-tional, tribal, political and reli-gious influence”.

INEC backs Umeh as APGA national chairmanFrom Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja

THERE may be no end yet tothe crisis rocking the All

Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA) as the IndependentNational Electoral Commis-sion (INEC) has stated that itwould only deal with theChief Victor Umeh-led factionas the authentic nationalbody of the party.

The INEC stated thisthrough a letter of recogni-tion which it sent to theUmeh-led faction of the APGAon Wednesday in Abuja, stat-ing that it would continue torelate with Umeh as the APGAnational chairman.

The letter, which was signedby INEC Secretary, AbdulahiKaugama, noted that the deci-sion to recognise the positionof the APGA national chair-man was based on the recentruling of the Court Appeal,which ordered a stay of execu-tion on the order of theEnugu High Court, which hadearlier sacked the Umeh-ledAPGA NEC.

The INEC letter with Refer-ence numberINEC/DPPM&L/APGA/003/T/358, dated May 8, 2013 read inpart, “The commission notesthe ruling of the Court ofAppeal which stayed execu-tion of the order of the Enugu

High Court that restrainedChief Victor Umeh fromparading himself as APGANational Chairman. Conse-quently, the commissionwill continue to relate withChief Victor Umeh as thenational chairman of APGA.”Reacting to the letter from

INEC, Umeh, who applaudedthe commission for the deci-sion, noted that the INEC hascontinued in its efforts to doeverything as a public insti-tution to preserve the rule oflaw in Nigeria, adding thatthe development wouldreturn the party to its nobleposition in Nigerian democ-racy.

“Even after the decision ofthe Court of Appeal in Enuguon April 8 that restored me asthe authentic national chair-man of our party, some otherpeople have continued toparade themselves as APGAnational chairman, knowingthat this country is rooted inthe rule of law and that thereis nothing anybody can do todisobey the decisions of theNigerian court, how muchmore an appellant court, wepatiently waited for the INEC,having informed it of theAppeal Court’s verdict to takeits decision on who to dealwith as APGA national chair-man.

• Absence of lead debate stalls Senate’s discussion on supplementary budget• Makes ‘State of the Nation’ address mandatory

Director, Registration and Regulatory Affairs, NAFDAC, Dr. Monica Eimunjeze (left); Director, Enforcement and Investigation, Mac Donald Garba; and

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 20134

NEWS 5THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013

S’Court insists on political end to sovereignwealth’s dispute

Appeal tribunal upholds Lagos ACN candidate’s electionBy Joseph Onyekwere

THE Lagos State Election Pe-titions Appeal Tribunal yes-

terday quashed the judgmentof the state election tribunalwhich ordered that a freshchairmanship election beheld in Yaba Local Council De-velopment Area (LCDA).The Appeal Tribunal subse-

quently affirmed the electionof Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN) candidate, Jide Jimohand his deputy, Mrs. Olumeg-bon Bola Lawal.In a unanimous decision, thefive-man panel headed by Jus-tice Opeyemi Oke held that allthe proceedings that led tothe judgment of the lower tri-bunal were conducted with-out jurisdiction.The appeal tribunal in its leadjudgment delivered by JusticeMojisola Dada held that thelower tribunal lacked juris-diction to conduct proceed-ings without any applicationfor extension of time and

without any order made ex-tending the proceedings of thetribunal beyond 30 days asprovided by Sections 14 and 54of the Tribunal Law.“I allow this appeal and dis-

miss the petition of the peti-tioner at the lower tribunal,the proceedings having beencaught by the provisions ofSection 14 (1) of the local gov-ernment election tribunallaw’’, Justice Dada held.The judge further ruled thatthe lower tribunal by opera-tion of the law lost jurisdictionto hear and deliver judgmentin the petition filed by the Peo-ples Democratic Party (PDP)candidate, Adeyemi Moyegun,upon the expiration of 30 daysprovided by the Local Govern-ment Election Tribunal Lawwhich establishes and vestedjurisdiction on the tribunal.The tribunal further held thatthe lower tribunal erred in lawwhen it held in its judgmentthat Section 14 of the State Elec-tion Tribunal Law is unconsti-

tutional on the ground that itoffends Section 36 of the Con-stitution.Besides, Justice Dada held

that the petitioner at the low-er tribunal (PDP candidate)had ample opportunity un-der the Local GovernmentElection Law to apply for en-largement of time withinwhich the tribunal could de-termine the petition butfailed to do so. ‘’Somethingcannot be built on nothing.The conduct of the proceed-ings without jurisdiction is anullity, a mere waste of time”,the tribunal held.The court further awarded

cost of N250,000 against thefirst respondent (Adeyemi

Moyegun). The lower tribunal nullifiedthe declaration of Mr. Jide Ji-moh of the ACN as the win-ner of the election held inYaba Local Council Develop-ment Area and ordered afresh poll in the council.The tribunal said it based itsdecisions on the irregulari-ties that took place duringthe conduct of the electionin the two councils.

New media, threat to social responsibility, say stakeholdersFrom Karls Tsokar, Abuja

THE advent of the new me-dia that has given a boost

to information dissemina-tion has changed the conceptof social responsibility, suchthat it poses a threat to otherconventional media of com-munication.This, among others, was theopinion of stakeholders yes-terday in Abuja at the one-dayworkshop on “Effective Un-derstanding and Reportingof Terrorism by the Mass Me-dia: A Constructive Ap-proach.” They added that news eventsas they occur are transmittedand circulated within min-utes, to a large audience,thereby threatening the rele-vance of the conventionalmedia and the possibility ofsieving the wheat from thechaff.The Editor, The Guardian

Newspapers, Mr. Martins Olo-ja, while presenting a paperon the Role of the Media in theManagement of Terrorism Re-ports, said “reporters on thebeat must be proactive in fil-

ing their news stories as theyevolve or such reports wouldlose their freshness”.Oloja said the e-revolution

has effected the change of theconcept of journalism suchthat “text, sound and video arebeing managed in a way thatit cannot be controlled.” Oloja also called on the secu-rity agencies in the country to“declassify information aboutterrorists and their sponsorsfor better reportage”.He said: “This can enhance

the notion of naming andshaming that the Hong Kongpeople used in fighting cor-ruption”. Because globalisa-tion has reduced the world toa small place, so that “the ex-pediency of expanding thefrontier of information andcommunication manage-ment by quiet declassifica-tion about terrorism andtheir sponsors” is in line withthe e-trend championed bythe new online media.Expunging on the historical

Court remands 14 oil thieves in prisonFrom Lemmy Ughegbe, Abuja

THE Economic and FinancialCrimes Commission (EFCC)

yesterday arraigned 14 sus-pected oil thieves before theFederal High Court, Abuja Di-vision, over acts of economicsabotage.The suspects included JosephAmaechi, Israel Friday, UbadiaFrancis, Abayomi Adebisi, Ab-dullahi Idris, Samuel Job, On-ah Peter Ode, Sabo TashaHassan and Abdullahi Moh’d.

Others are Abubakar Abdulka-dir, Ehiogu Paul, IbrahimSaidu, Garba Mohammed andBartholomew Onyema. Though they all pleaded not

guilty to the four-count chargebordering on criminal conspir-acy and illegal oil bunkering,the trial judge, Justice ElvisChukwu, ordered that they beremanded in prison custodypending the determination oftheir bail application fixed fornext Tuesday.However, the remand order

came after Justice Chukwu hadordered the EFCC prosecutor,Salisu Maigidadi, to commencetrial, contrary to his request foran adjournment to enablethem prepare for trial.

In a statement, the EFCCspokesman, Wilson Uwujaren,disclosed that the suspects werearrested at a military check-point at Toto, Nasarawa State, byofficers of the 177 Guards Battal-ion of the Nigerian Army, whileattempting to transport 14 trail-er loads of crude oil to northernstates.

evolution of terrorism andother such religion relatedrevolt in Northern Nigeria,Dr. Auwal Anwar said BokoHaram is just a reflection ofthe breakdown of law and or-der in the country and the on-ly way to control theinsurgents is to “bring backlaw and order” in the region.He said unlike Maitatsine,

Boko Haram members aresons and daughters of therich, who have western edu-cation and access to western

civilisation.Earlier, the Chief Imam Saha-ba Mosque Kundila Kano,Sheik Mohammad Othman,said journalists under-reportthe explanations scholars ofreligion give to justify certainactivities as they relate to Is-lam especially, thence the un-ending misconceptions.

President Goodluck Jonathan (right), his Benin Republic counterpart, Boni Yayi and former President of Cape Verde, Pedro Pires, during a meeting in Cape Town, South Africa...yesterday. PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the last time.The action, instituted by the36 state governors against theFederal Government, wasconsequently adjourned in-definitely to allow the twoparties reach a compromiseon the matter.Lead counsel to the state gov-ernors, Chief AdegboyegaSolomon Awomolo (SAN),had accused the Federal Gov-ernment of foot-dragging onout-of-court settlement pro-posals by the two parties.He told the apex court that acommittee put in place by thetwo parties had met and pre-pared the terms of settlementwhich he alleged were not im-plemented by the FederalGovernment for reasons bestknown to it.But Chief Olanipekun said

substantial progress hadbeen made on the issue and alittle more time was still need-ed for conclusion.At yesterday proceeding, theparties agreed that a case firstinstituted since 2006 byBauchi State would be used todetermine the rest and thatthe Supreme Court’s decisionon it would be binding on oth-er states.The apex court also agreed

that a motion seeking to fur-ther amend the statement ofclaims by the state governorswould be heard on December2, 2013.At the last mention and aftermonths of intense horse-trad-ing between the Federal Gov-ernment and governors of the36 states of the federation onthe possibility of reaching aconsensus over plans by theFederal Government to trans-fer $1 billion from the ExcessCrude Account to a new ac-count to be known as the “Sov-ereign Wealth Fund,” theparties had told the SupremeCourt that the out-of-courtsettlement option failed toyield any dividend.A seven-man panel of justicesof the apex court, presidedover by Justice ChukwumaEneh, had slated yesterday tocommence definite hearingon the constitutional issuesraised against the proposednew account by the 36 stategovernors.The governors had in a suitthey filed before the apexcourt on October 23, 2011sought an order declaring theplanned creation of the “Sov-ereign Wealth Fund” as un-constitutional.

Govt appoints Hajiya Ciroma, others as parastatals heads

THE Federal Government hasapproved the appointment

of a new managing director forthe Federal Inland Waterways(NIWA) and chief executive offi-cers in other federal parastatals.The new Managing Director forNIWA is Hajiya Inna Ciroma, aformer Minister of Women Af-fairs, rejected by women fromher home state Borno, when shewas nominated for a ministerialappointment in 2011 for alleged-ly not being of assistance tothem while she held public of-fice.Nigeria Broadcasting Commis-sion also got a new Director Gen-eral in Emeka Mba, hitherto ofthe Film and Censors Board,while Bature Masadi takes overSmall and Medium EnterpriseDevelopment Agency(SMEDAN) as Director General,as well as Engr. Danjuma Dabo,who is the new Managing Direc-tor of Nigerian Film Corpora-

From Karls Tsokar, Abuja

NUJ, workers shut downThisDayover pay

THE Nigeria Union of Jour-nalists (NUJ) made good its

threat at the beginning of themonth to picket media hous-es that owe journalistssalaries, as it yesterday haltedactivities at the ThisDaynews-papers headquarters in Apa-pa, Lagos, over six months’salary arrears.In the action carried out by

the NUJ in conjunction withthe National Union of Print-ing, Publishing and PaperProduct Workers, (NUPPP-PW), all print work, includingproduction of today’s inser-tions of the newspaper, washalted to enforce its ‘no-pay,no-work’ stance. Also, work-ers were refused entry intothe company’s premises. But before the NUJ notified

all media houses of the in-tending action, the Publisherof ThisDay newspapers, Ndu-ka Obaigbena, had on April 5,2013 sent a memo to themembers of staff in which heblamed the delay in paymentof salaries on last year’s BokoHaram attack on the newspa-pers’ Abuja offices, and prom-ised to clear the backlogwithin weeks.

By Tope Templer Olaiya

Sylva gets bail

FORMER governor of Bayel-sa State, Timipre Sylva whowas arrested on Wednesdayin Abuja by the Economic andFinancial Crimes Commis-sion (EFCC), has been grantedadministrative bail by thecommission. When contacted at press

time yesterday, EFCCspokesman, Wilson Uwu-jaren confirmed the bail butcould not ascertain if the for-mer governor had already leftthe premises of the commis-sion.

Sylva was arrested onWednesday by operatives ofthe EFCC allegedly hiding inhis mansion in Abuja. He wasarrested following his refusalto honour the commission’sinvitations.

From Abosede Musari, Abuja

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 20136 | NEWS

Obama not coming to Nigeria soonOsamgbi becomesNIMASA’s deputy director, heads PR

THE Nigerian Maritime Ad-ministration and SafetyAgency (NIMASA) has ap-pointed a renowned journal-ist, Mr. Isichei Osamgbi, as itsDeputy Director and Head,Public Relations (PR)According to the NIMASA Di-rector General, Mr. ZiakedePatrick Akpobolokemi,“Isichei Osamgbi is expectedto bring his immense wealthof experience in public andprivate sectors to bear on theagency’s operations andgrowth.”Osamgbi, who was last yearappointed NIMASA’s DeputyDirector/Head, Abuja ZonalOffice, was until then an em-ployee of Shell Nigeria be-tween 2007 and 2012. Withinthat period, he served in vari-ous capacities as Shell MediaRelations and Communica-tions Adviser. He was a keymember of the team thathelped restructure and resus-citate the image of the globaloil giant, providing a newprospect for its operations.Between 1996 and 2006, thenew NIMASA spokesman waswith THISDAY, where he heldseveral positions such as En-ergy Editor, Deputy PoliticalEditor, Deputy Group Busi-ness Editor, Business Editor(Nation’s Capital),Foreign/Diplomatic Editor,Deputy Group News Editor,Corporate/Public RelationsManager, and member ofTHISDAYBoard of Editors.

Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama (left); Vice President Namadi Sambo; Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice Presi-dent), Mohammed Kachalla Abubakar and Acting Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Benjamin Dikki, during a meeting on Na-tional Council on Privatisation held at the Presidential Vila in Abuja… yesterday PHOTO: PHILIP OJISUA

Nnewi plans PalaceMuseum projectTHE indegenes of Nnewi inAnambra State, led by theirruler, Igwe K.O.N. Orizu III,will be launching a N500 mil-lion Igwe Nnewi Palace Mu-seum Project billed to hostthe town’s cultural artifactsand antiquities of rare gem,according to the invitationletter sent to The Guardian.According to the planners,

the event scheduled for May25, 2013, at the Igwe’s Palace,has President GoodluckJonathan as special guest ofhonour, Governor Peter Obiof Anambra State as chiefhost, Governor Godswill Ak-pabio of Akwa Ibom State aschief launcher, while Ambas-sador Bianca Ojukwu wouldbe the lady of the day, amongmany other dignitaries and il-lustrious indegenes of thearea.The statement noted that

the Palace Museum wouldboast “something unique toNnewei and Igbo culture,ranging from traditional ar-chitecture, cuisines, songs,dance, relics and antiquities.”It would also house shoppingcomplex, library, conferencecentre, restaurant and café, aswell as chronicle auto partsmarkets in Nnewi.

Osamgbi

THOSE nursing the desire ofseeing President BarackObama of the United States(U.S.) visit Nigeria any timesoon, for whatever reason,should forget it, as the coun-try’s Deputy Assistant Secre-tary of Democracy, HumanRights and Labour, KarenHanrahan, said rather, “in alonger time that can happen,but there are no immediateplans.”At a roundtable yesterday

evening with a select Nigerianmedia team at the residenceof the U.S. Ambassador toNigeria, Hanrahan disclosedthat having visited the vio-lence-ravaged area of theNorth, including the deci-mated Baga in Bornu State,new concerns have nowarisen.“We found discrepancies inthe figures. There is a consen-sus that some bad things hap-pened. Now, we want the

Human Rights Commissionto carry out an independentinvestigation and make its re-port known to the public,” shesaid.And while fielding questionsjointly, the U.S. Ambassador toNigeria, Terence McCulley,also submitted that there wasnow a clear need to under-stand “the undercurrent fac-tors that drive the Boko Haraminsurgency,” that these fac-tors needed to be addressed,even through the transforma-tion agenda in the provisionof jobs and social services tothe people.A U.S. government statementon the new concerns in Nige-ria was also released yester-day, noting among others,that “as they did this week inBama, Boko Haram has ter-rorised the people of north-ern Nigeria, killing thousandsover the past three years withbombings, shootings, kidnap-pings and coordinated at-

tacks on security force facili-ties. “The United States condemnsBoko Haram’s campaign of ter-ror in the strongest terms andhas worked to help Nigeria ad-dress the threat of terrorism.Those members of Boko Haramresponsible for the violencemust be held accountable inaccordance with the rule oflaw.”The statement added: “TheU.S. values the strong partner-ship it has with Nigeria and re-spects the role Nigeria plays inthe world stage. We remaindeeply concerned about in-creasing insecurity in North-ern Nigeria and the potentialthreat it poses to stability inboth Nigeria and the region. “The rising cycle of violence isaffecting Nigerian citizens themost, with the number ofcivilian casualties increasing.”However, the U.S. decried theexcessive use of force andextra-judicial killings by the

Nigerian authorities, statingthat the “tragedy at Baga un-derscores the need for thegovernment of Nigeria to putcivilian protection at the fore-front of its insurgency cam-paign.” It added: “The governmentnow has the opportunity todemonstrate its commitmentto the rule of law and the well-being of all Nigerians by firstadopting tactics in the Norththat are effective and protectcivilians and, second, ensur-ing that the National HumanRights Commission carriesout an independent andtransparent investigation. “Reports from the investiga-tion must be made public andthose who committed or or-dered these crimes, regardlessof position, must be held ac-countable.” In any case, the U.S. wants thegovernment of Nigeria tobring to book members of theBoko Haram insurgency re-sponsible for the violence andkillings in parts of the North.

It said it was very concernedthat the current “indiscrimi-nate, force-based approach tocounter-terrorism is increas-ing extremism and decreas-ing confidence in the FederalGovernment. These tactics tar-nish Nigeria’s reputation asan emerging leader and a sta-ble democratic government.”Nevertheless, the U.S. doesnot have any immediate planto heighten the level of de-fence cooperation it currentlyhas with Nigeria, even thoughit welcomes a modification ofthe tactics of Nigerian securityarrangement to deal with ter-rorism, new ways of handinginsurgency, as well as differ-ent capacity building modelsfor the military Joint TaskForce.

Court rules June 6 on contempt charge against Police

JUSTICE Yetunde Idowu of aLagos High Court sitting inIkeja has fixed June 6, 2013,to decide whether to com-mit the state Commissionerof Police, Umar Manko, andtwo others to prison for con-tempt of court.Justice Idowu had on Feb-

ruary 18, 2013, ordered thePolice to produce two sus-pected kidnappers, PhilipTomi and Joel Wolomo, ortheir bodies before the courton a motion ex-partebrought by Chief SeliweiWilly Baidi.When the matter came upfor hearing yesterday, Baidiinformed the court that the

respondents had persist-ently refused to appear be-fore the court on alladjourned dates in spite ofbeing served the variouscourt processes, which proofof service were before thecourt.He submitted that the atti-tude of the respondents con-stituted contempt of court

and amounted to ridiculeand disrespect to the court.In his application, Baidi

prayed for an order of thecourt committing the re-spondents to prison for will-ful and unlawfuldisobedience of court order.According to him, “there is acase of willful disobedienceof court order by the respon-

dent and the reason is be-cause the respondents haveextra-judicially murderedthe applicants.“We, therefore, urge yourlordship to exercise yourpowers until they havepurged themselves of thecontempt. Let them come tocourt to tell us whether theyare still alive or not.”

By Yetunde Ayobami-Ojo

NEMA to addressboundary disputesnationwideFOLLOWING the incessantboundary disputes amongdifferent co-habiting groupsacross the country, the Na-tional Emergency Manage-ment Agency (NEMA) hasunfolded intervention plansto address the crisis.NEMA Director General, Mo-hammad Sani-Sidi, who dis-closed this during a technicaltour of the agency by the In-ternational Federation of Sur-veyors, expressed worry at therecurring conflicts that hadclaimed many lives, destroyedproperty and dislocated peo-ple’s means of livelihood.He noted that the crisis, occa-sioned by disagreements be-tween individuals andcommunities over border de-lineation, have retarded thedevelopment of affected com-munities and the nation ingeneral.According to Sani-Sidi, NEMAis intervening through theproper delineation and docu-mentation of all disputedlands and riparian bound-aries across states, councilsand communities across thecountry.

Tinubu warns against inflammatory comments on nation’s unity

AHEAD the 2015 elections,former governor of Lagos

State, Bola Tinubu, hassternly warned politiciansand other Nigerians to avoidtaking measures or makingcomments capable of threat-ening the unity of the coun-try.Tinubu, who spoke yester-day at the Nigerian Instituteof International Affairs(NIIA), Victoria Island, duringthe public presentation ofLest I Forget: Memoirs of Niger-ian Career Diplomat, writtenby Ambassador OladapoFafowora, said that in recenttimes, self-acclaimed friends,

as well as aides of the Presi-dent have been making com-ments that could jeopardisethe unity of the country.He described those com-

ments as insensitive, incitingand incendiary, adding thatsuch threats are utterly irre-sponsible and unjustifiable.According to him, “one says ifPresident Goodluck Jonathanis not re-elected in 2015, thetenuous peace now being en-joyed in the Niger Delta willnot be guaranteed. “Another builds on that, say-ing with all the crudity in hisbeing that not only will therebe no peace in the NigerDelta, there will also be nopeace everywhere across thecountry.

“Earlier, a gregarious presi-dential aide boasted that hewould no longer bear hisname if by 2014 the new po-litical platform called the AllProgressives Congress (APC)has not vanished into thinair. These are pretty strongwords.”The Action Congress of Nige-ria (ACN) chieftain said thestatements must be seen forwhat they are because “wordsare like eggs dropped fromgreat heights; you can nomore call them back than ig-nore the mess they leavewhen they fall.”He stressed that it was im-portant “for us” to keep quietwhen the dead-enders un-leash these kinds of words,

adding that the oppositionparties must not allow theethnic militias to ruin Nige-ria’s democracy or untie thecountry’s unity.“It is said that evil triumphswhen good men do nothing,”he said. “It is, therefore, in-cumbent on all our acknowl-edged good men to speak outagainst these ethnic jingoists,or those that the Nobel Lau-reate, Wole Soyinka, will call‘lickspittle’.“To the best of my knowl-edge, President GoodluckJonathan was elected by Nige-rians of different ethnicgroups, and no single ethnicgroup, whether minority ormajority, can single-hand-edly elect a President. No eth-

By Gbenga Akinfenwa andAdeniyi Adunola

nic warlord or grovelingaide can single-handedlyelect a President.”Tinubu disclosed that theframers of the country’s con-stitution apparently had it inmind when they said that,for a candidate to be electedPresident, he must win noless than one-third of thevotes cast at an election ineach of at least two-third ofall states of the federationand the Federal Capital Ter-ritory.“There is strength in ourunity, let us guard it jeal-ously,” he said, adding: “Letus work hard to keep ourcountry united. Above all, letus not take our unity forgranted.”

• U.S. wants Boko Haram members triedFrom Oghogho Obayuwana(Foreign Affairs Editor)

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013 NEWS 7

Govt okays collaboration of TACwith global agencies

Olanipekun lists corruption, impunity asdangers to NigeriaBy Joseph Onyekwere

THE former president of theNigeria Bar Association(NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun(SAN) has said that the issues ofsecurity, constitutionalism andcorruption must be criticallyaddressed for the corporateexistence of Nigeria.The revered lawyer explainedthat Nigeria is graduallybecoming a country wherelaws are emasculated withimpunity, adding that the situ-ation has become very worri-some.Olanipekun made the postu-

lations in a paper he presentedat the Nigerian Institute ofAdvanced Legal Studies (NIALS)in honour of the first DirectorGeneral of the Institute, late Dr.

Akinola Aguda on Tuesday tilt-ed: Law as an endangeredspecie.He said: “Three critical areas

have been examined within thecontext of this paper, that is,security, constitutionalism andcorruption. Each of the three ofthem is critical to the corporateexistence of Nigeria. God forbidour entering into the GuinnessBook of Records as the foremostcountry where law is emascu-lated with impunity.“Apart from the actual threat ofterrorism, which we face, howdoes one rationalise the audaci-ty of over 5,000 ex-kidnappersseeking amnesty and demand-ing for compensation from thegovernment because they vol-untarily surrendered theirarms? How do we also ratio-

nalise or defend the retentionin our statute books of an anti-quated law which stipulates apenalty of N750, 000.00 forsomeone convicted of corrupt-ly making do with or dissipat-ing pension funds amountingto N23.3 billion? The mockeryto which our laws is furthersubjected to can be clinicallyanalysed if we compare thatwithin the same clime, a hun-gry man or an unemployedyouth who stole the telephonehandset of a serving governorwas convicted and sentencedto a term of imprisonment of45 years by an Osogbo HighCourt.”He warned that in any countrywhere the laws are not obeyed,anarchy would set in, addingthat the populace would go

astray and become rudderlesswhen law is inefficient.“A hapless law attracts a hope-less citizenry; a bankrupt lawbreeds impotent people; whenlaw is inefficient, then thecountry becomes rudderless; iflaw is so frail, then the societyis encircled by a gathering ofunruly crowd; when andwhere law is disrespected, thepopulace would go astray andwhenever it is subjugated,anarchy becomes enthroned;at any given situation wherelaw can no longer tame, crimi-nals are born, bred and raisedto the positions of leadershipin every facet of national life;when law becomes the ser-vant, it automatically meta-morphoses to an endangeredspecie.

Arik made me lose money, lawyer tells court

Swedish Finance Minister, Anders Borg (left); Main One CEO, Funke Opeke; Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Development, Prince Adesegun Oniru;Swedish Development Cooperation Minister, Gunilla Carlsson; and Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Svante Kilander during the visit of the Swedish MinisterialDelegation to Main One’s Corporate Office… on Wednesday.

By Joseph Onyekwere

ALAGOS-BASED lawyer, Mr.Ikechukwu Chiaha yester-day opened up his testimonyin the suit he filed against ArikAir Limited at the Federal HighCourt, Lagos, saying the Air-line made him loose money.The lawyer had filed a N125

million damages suit overalleged cancellation of hisflight to Abuja and lost ofincome.Led in evidence by his coun-

sel, O. Oloyemi, Chiaha toldthe court that due to the can-cellation, he missed a legalbrief worth N50 million afterhis client accused him ofbeing unserious.The lawyer who sought to ten-der some documents opposedto by defence counsel, A.BOgunsusi, insisted that the air-line is liable to monetary com-pensation to him, haven madehim lost legal brief. The docu-ments he sought to tender areThe Punch and Peoples Dailynewspapers and a letter fromhis chambers.The lawyer asked the court toorder the airline to refundhim the lost N50 million, payhim N18, 000 as cost of the airticket, and N75 million as gen-eral damages.He also sought interest on

the total sum at 21 per centfrom September 1, 2010 untiljudgment is delivered, as wellas cost of the action.

But the trial judge,Mohammed Yunusa in abench ruling said the plaintiffneeds to obtained certifiedtrue copy of the documents hesought to tender so as to makeit comply with the require-ments of the evidence Act 2011and adjourned the matter to

June 18 for continuation of tri-al.Chiaha said he bought an Arikair ticket through Zenith Bankon August 31, 2010 and wasissued a boarding pass, num-bered ETKT 7252416610757-1.The flight was billed to departLagos for Abuja at 7.30 a.m. onSeptember 1, 2010.He explained that he arrived

at the airport as early as5.45a.m. and was checked in byArik officials, and eventuallytook his seat aboard the planebut that the plane never tookoff when it was 7.30 a.m. asscheduled. He and other pas-

sengers waited till 10 a.m., yetthe plane did not take off.According to Chiaha, Arik Airofficials later told passengersthat the plane was preventedfrom flying that day becausethe airline has not paid naviga-tional charges to the NigerianAirspace Management Agency(NAMA).The plaintiff said he was

forced to travel to Abuja byanother airline, but by thetime he arrived, he had beendebriefed by his client whosaid the lawyer did not showseriousness by honouring themeeting time and therefore

was not a man of his words.The lawyer said the flight

cancellation caused him“untold and unquantifiable”hardship as he lost the N50million brief, suffered psycho-logical trauma, loss of good-will, waste of precious timeand foreclosed his chances ofgetting further briefs from hisclient – Joofid Technical Com-pany Limited.Chiaha said the airline’s fail-ure to pay the navigationalcharges, which occasionedthe cancellation, was widelyreported in national dailieson September 2, 2010.

From Oghogho Obayuwana,Foreign Affairs Editor

FOLLOWING breaking ofnew frontiers of coopera-tion, the Federal Governmenthas given approval for collab-oration by the Technical AidsCorps (TAC) with global agen-cies and international organi-sation with the aim of advanc-ing Nigeria’s foreign policy

Ugolor seeksJonathan’s action inOyerinde’s murderFrom Itunu Ajayi, Abuja

THE principal suspect in thefirst degree murder of Olai-tan Oyerinde, the principal Sec-retary to the Edo State Gover-nor Adams Oshiomhole hascalled on President GoodluckJonathan to intervene andorder a proper investigation ofthe murder case.The Executive Director, Africa

Network for Environment andEconomic Justice (ANEEJ), Rev.David Ugolor, who was arrestedby the police and detained atthe wake of Oyerinde’s murdertold journalists in Abuja yester-day that it is high time thepolice boss came out clean inthe much celebrated murdercase. He lamented that activi-ties of the police has beenshrouded in insincerity sincethe unfortunate incident hap-pened. Ugolor said there was the needto conduct a proper investiga-tion into the case to unravel themanner in which the Policeunder the Deputy InspectorGeneral of Police, Peter Ganawho was the leader of investiga-tion and the Deputy Commis-sioner of Police DC Ezekiel han-dled the case.

Edo ACN tasks councilchairmen on performanceFrom Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City

EDO State leadership of theAction Congress of Nigeria(ACN) yesterday read the riotact to elected chairmen of thecouncils, urging them to repli-cate the developmental stridesof the state government intheir councils just as it threat-ened to sanction any of themwho do otherwise.

Chairman of the party,Thomas Okosun stated thiswhen he met with the electedchairmen in Benin City just ashe condemned the oppositionPeople’s Democratic Party(PDP)’s criticism of the councilelection.He said the PDP was not on

ground in the state; “it is funnybecause they only exist on thepages of newspapers in Abujabut nowhere to be found inEdo State”.Okosun told the chairmen

that “the reason why we arecelebrating victory today isbecause of the performance ofthe comrade governor andthat is exactly what wedemand from you as chair-men. We will entertain noexcuses for failure. You mustbe disciplined, the party hasremained united till today dueto discipline in the party”.

From Ali Garba, Bauchi

THE Bauchi State Commis-sioner, Ministry for WaterResources, Alhaji SaniMuhammad Bura has taskedjournalists in the state toenlighten and educates ruralcommunities on the impor-tance of clean environment,saying that people are not safewithout cleanness.Speaking during a courtesy

called by group of journalistsknown as Journalist for Waterand Sanitation in his officeyesterday, Bura said that thegroup has the responsibilityof creating awareness andmobilising communitieswith the aim of reducingwater borne diseases anddroplet in their domain.

objectives. Aside from the United

Nations (UN) Volunteer Serv-ice, the other internationalagencies for which a go aheadhas now been given for col-laboration, include the JapanAgency for InternationalCooperation (JICA) and theCanadian InternationalDevelopment Agency (CIDA).

And besides fresh requestsby newly independent SouthSudan and Timorlees govern-ments to join the TAC scheme,Nigeria is also now striving toconsolidate on its drive ofhelping in the effort by theAfrican Union (AU) to estab-lish an African Union Volun-teer Service. These and other disclosures

were made yesterday in Abujaby the Minister of State forForeign Affairs, Prof. ViolaOnwuliri at the start of the2012-2014 Biennium TAC ori-entation exercise where in theend, no fewer than 1,700 areexpected to be deployed tomostly African Caribbean andthe Pacific (ACP).Since its inception, 26 years

ago, about 10,000 volunteershad served in more than 40countries that include TheGambia, Sierra Leone, Equato-rial Guinea, Guyana, Uganda,Rwanda, Kenya (ShelterAfrique) and Ethiopia. Othersare Namibia, Mozambique,Seychelles, Eritrea, CongoBrazzaville, Liberia, GuineaBissau, Fiji Islands, Sao Tomeand Principe, Belize and Com-monwealth of Dominica. The Nigerian TAC scheme

currently has about 1,040Nigerian professionals con-tributing significantly to thesocio-economic developmentof the ACP countries. Addressing the Nigerian vol-

unteers, the minister stated,“As you go out as ‘develop-ment ambassadors’, note thatyou are to project the goodimage of your countrythrough excellent perform-ance and comportment. Youare therefore going to act as agood catalyst in promotingNigeria’s bilateral relationswith individual recipientcountries. “Let me assure you that gov-

ernment will continue to sup-port this programme whichhas become an effective andveritable instrument of Nige-ria’s Foreign Policy as well asthe delivery of Technical Assis-tance to sister African,Caribbean and Pacific coun-tries. The success of thescheme can also be measurednot only by the increasingnumber of requests fromrecipient countries but theincreasing demand for highcalibre manpower from recip-ient countries, away from themiddle level manpower beingrequested earlier. The govern-ment will therefore continueto do all it can within its limit-ed resources to ensure thatthe scheme continues to growfrom strength to strength,”she added. The Chief Executive Officer ofTAC ambassador MammanDaura also disclosed yesterdaythat owing to its successes andincreasing acceptability, thescheme has already attractedthe interest of the Common-wealth, which has sincesigned a Memorandum ofUnderstanding (MoU) withthe Federal Government inthis regard.

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 20138 | NEWS

Kwara gov lauds ex-VC, Alao, over NSCIA

‘Social media, threat to journalism’

GOVERNOR AbdulfatahAhmed of Kwara State has

commended the emergenceof the former Vice Chancellor,University of Ilorin, Prof.Isha’q Olanrewaju Oloyedeand the Aare Musulumi ofYorubaland, Alhaji Azeez

Arisekola Alao, as the new Sec-retary General and theDeputy President-General(South) of the NigerianSupreme Council for IslamicAffairs (NSCIA).

He said their appointmentwas a further testimony of theduo’s unquantifiable contri-butions to Islamic knowledge

Edo electoral bodyberates polls monitors

THE Edo State IndependentElectoral Commission

(EDSIEC) on Wednesday be-rated some election moni-tors and observers, who itsaid, were masquerading forsome political interest fromreports they have been pub-lishing on the April 20, 2013,local council election.

It, however, promised thepeople of the state credibleelection in Esan North-EastCouncil and other wards insome councils across thestate where polls were incon-clusive.

Addressing a press confer-ence on Wednesday in BeninCity, a member of the Com-mission, Prof. Stanley Oroba-tror, said many of theself-acclaimed election mon-itors who had been con-demning the election inAbuja, were those who didnot meet the criteria formonitoring the polls andalso failed to force the Com-mission to pay them for theexercise.

He said 104 individuals andnon- governmental organi-sations (NGOs) applied to beaccredited but that on ac-cepting their applications, “Itwas discovered that most ofthe applicants belonged tounregistered bodies whilesome had forged registrationcertificates”.

and religious harmony in thecountry and beyond.In a congratulatory message

signed by Ahmed’s ChiefPress Secretary, AbdulwahabOba, Oloyede, according tothe governor, has not only be-come a reference point in uni-versity administration inNigeria during whose tenure

Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayo Phillips (right); the state Deputy Governor, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; former Director-General, Nigerian LawSchool, Dr. Kole Abayomi; wife of Lagos State Governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola and Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okojie at the 5th year remembrance ofthe late Prof. Jadesola Akande titled “Uniting to end violence against women and girls” in Lagos… yesterday PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

From Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, Benin City

Court delivers judgmentin My Pikin trial May 16

AJUDGE of the Federal HighCourt, Lagos, Okechukwu

Okeke, on yesterday said hewould deliver judgment in asuit against Barewa Pharma-ceutical Company Limitedcharged with production ofalleged killer syrup, My Pikinon May 16.

Justice Okeke fixed the datefor judgment after parties inthe suit had adopted theirfinal written addresses.

The company is charged bythe National Agency for Foodand Drug Administration andControl (NAFDAC) togetherwith two of its employees,Adeyemo Abiodun and EbeleEromosele, on a six-countcharge bordering on the of-fence.Counsel to Barewa Company,Osaro Eghobamien (SAN),while adopting his address,urged the court to dischargeand acquit the accused,adding that the prosecutionhad failed to discharge theburden of proof placed on it.

Eghobamien argued thatNAFDAC’s case was incompe-tent as it failed to adopt a con-structive approach in provingsame.

He told the court that theprosecution would havedemonstrated a toxicologicalor pathological report toshow that the alleged“deaths” arose from con-sumption of My Pikin teethingsyrup”.

According to Eghobamien,the samples of the syrup col-lected from the defendantcompany was not shown tobe the same as that which wasanalysed, investigated andpresented before the court.“The process of scientific evi-

dence is that the samplestaken from the accused mustbe shown to be the same withthat analysed and presentedin court. The chain must notbe broken,” he told the court.

By Joseph Onyekwere

University of Ilorin enjoyedstable academic calendarthrough his unparalleled pen-chant for students’ disciplineand academic excellence

Alao, the governor said, in-vested his enormous re-sources in the promotion ofIslam and Muslim communi-ties and associations.

From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin

THE immediate past Com-missioner for Information

in Ondo State, Mr. Kayode Ak-inmade, on Wednesday, ad-vised relevant agencies ofgovernment in the country todeploy necessary instrumentsof law to check the growingabuse of the social media inorder to save the communica-tions industry.

Akinmade stated this whiledelivering a lecture, titled:“The Press as the Fourth Estateof the Realm, Fact or Fallacy”,at the orientation pro-gramme held for fresh stu-dents of the MassCommunication Depart-ment, Adekunle Ajasin Uni-versity, Akungba-Akoko.

He noted with concern that

the use of the Internet bymost Nigerians to post incor-rect information about issuesand events, if not immedi-ately controlled and checkedby government, could nega-tively affect the image of themedia industry.He lamented that most Nige-

rians prefer to believe infor-mation posted on theInternet by the users who haddone nothing to cross-checktheir facts, compared to well-investigated informationaired or published in the massmedia.

He said: “The Fourth Estatehas been eroded by the newmedia. Both newspapers’ cir-culation and advertising rev-enues are in decline as the

print media audience seekgreener pasture on-line. Thebroadcast media too have be-come dramatically affected bya persistent loss of audienceand revenue.

“With the increasing popu-larity of on-line social net-working, television has ceasedto be the fundamental sourceof people’s entertainment,news and information.

“As a consequence of the at-trition of the Fourth Estate,there has been a widespreadreduction in resources andstaff numbers. This siphoningoff of resources from thenewsroom has led inexorablyto a decline in journalisticstandards.”

The former image-maker of

the Ondo State governmentfurther noted that mostmedia establishments, be-cause of the current threat,were either being forced todownsize in order to remainin business or owe salariesand allowances of workers.

He expressed worry that ifnothing was urgently done tosave the mass media industryin Nigeria, the nation mayhave to contend with a situa-tion whereby corruptionwould be the order of the daysince there won’t be any cred-ible medium to check activi-ties of those in positions ofauthorities.

Akinmade also reviewed theownership structure of mostNigerian media establish-ments and concluded that ur-gent steps should be taken bygovernment to ensure thatstakeholders in the industryplay the game according tothe rules.

Although the former com-missioner contended that themanagement of mediahouses in the country had agreat role to play to sustaintheir business, he however,said such task should not be atthe instance of Nigerians whodeserved adequate and reli-able information.

Anambra PDP seeks return of PLOs, pledges fair primaries

ANAMBRA State chapter ofthe Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP) has called for thereturn of Presidential Liai-son Officers (PLOs) in thestates, particularly Anambra,and others where the partyis not in power. This was part of the findings

and recommendations ofthe PDP Harmonisation,Peace and Reconciliationcommittee led by the imme-diate past Chief Judge of thestate, Justice Paul Obidigwe. 

The committee, which wasset up by the state executivecommittee led by KenEmeakayi in March this year,during the handing over ofits report yesterday, statedthat the need for the liaisonofficers was borne out oftheir findings in the courseof their work. 

Obidigwe, while handingover the report yesterday,said due to the absence of aPDP governor on ground,the SURE-P programme,farm inputs/enumeration offarmers, reliefmaterials/funds distributionfor flood victims and othersuch democracy dividendwere clearly mismanagedbecause they were handed

over through a non-PDP ad-ministration. 

The retired jurist pointedout that the All ProgressivesGrand Alliance (APGA) ad-ministration that handledthe programmes used themas “tools of victimisation tonon-APGA members”. He,therefore, appealed for theconsideration of the estab-lishment of a PLO for the

state to supervise and handlesuch issues henceforth.Meanwhile, as preparations

for the November 2013 gov-ernorship polls in AnambraState gather steam, Emeakayihas assured all its aspiringmembers of free, fair andtransparent primaries. According to Emeakayi, “the

gubernatorial primaries ofthe party will be openly con-

tested and not selected,awarded, given or chosen.Every vote must count andmust be counted in our pri-maries.”

Assuring that the partymust reclaim the state in thenext governorship polls,Emeakayi thanked God andmembers for the return ofpeace and unity in the partyin the state now.

From Chuks Collins, Awka

China tops sources of fake drugs to Nigeria, says NAFDAC

THE National Agency forFood and Drug Adminis-

tration and Control (NAFDAC)yesterday confirmed in Lagosthat most fake and substan-dard food and drug productsimported into the countrywere sourced from China.

NAFDAC also revealed that

drug counterfeiters now op-erate from markets that dealon other commodities so asnot to draw attention of lawenforcement agencies ontheir nefarious activities.Director General of NAFDAC,

Dr. Paul Orhii, at a press brief-ing in Lagos on the arrest ofMr. Olisemeka Osefoh for theimportation of counterfeit

medicines worth over N106million from China, said: “Thesuspect has been interrogatedand his statement taken. Heconfessed to be in businesswith a cartel based in Chinawhere the products weresourced and stored in theirwarehouse before beingshipped to Nigeria. He hasalso given investigators infor-

mation on how the medicineswere illegally cleared throughTincan Island Port, Lagos. Thecounterfeit medicines havebeen sample against the sus-pect and he will be prose-cuted as soon as investigationis concluded.”The NAFDAC director general

said the agency is workingclosely with the Chinese Em-

By Chukwuma Muanya bassy in Nigeria to trackdown the criminal companyin China, which connivedwith the suspect to ship intothe country these counterfeitmedicines. “The agency hasenjoyed the support and co-operation of the Chinese Em-bassy in the fight againstdrug counterfeiting in thecountry,” he said.

Orhii said Osefoh was ar-rested by operatives fromNAFDAC investigation and en-forcement directorate follow-ing a tip-off.

He said the officials raided awarehouse located at Pro-gressive Traders’ Marketknown for the sale of jewelryand cosmetics productswithin Trade Fair Complex,Badagry Expressway, Lagos,and 158 cartons of Skinnealcream, 43 cartons of Funbact-A cream, 719 cartons of My-coten cream, 131 cartons ofNeurogesic cream, 56 cartonsof Rough Rider condom, 20cartons of Iman Luxury Pow-der and 205 cartons of HealBalm with estimated streetvalue of the counterfeit medi-cines, which is about two 20-feet container load forN106,210 only.Orhii said there would be no

sacred cow in the fightagainst counterfeit medi-cines and any counterfeiterarrested will be prosecutedaccording to the law of theland.He appealed on behalf of the

agency to members of thepublic, landlords and marketunions to report any suspi-cious activity relating to NAF-DAC regulated productsaround their community tothe nearest NAFDAC office forimmediate action and see itas part of their contributionin the fight against counter-feit and fake products.

Orhii said that henceforth,landlords of warehousesstocked with counterfeitdrugs and other substandardregulated products will be ar-rested and prosecuted as ac-complices.

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013 9

WorldReport

Prosecutors file corruption charges against Berlusconi

PROSECUTORS in Italy havefiled charges against for-

mer Prime Minister SilvioBerlusconi for allegedly brib-ing a left-wing senator €3.0million ($3.9 million) to joinhis party.

The announcement from theprosecutor’s office in Naplescame a day after a Milan courtupheld Berlusconi’s convic-tion in a separate case of taxfraud linked to his Mediasetbusiness empire.

Wednesday’s ruling con-firmed a sentence of four yearsin prison against Berlusconi

and a three-year amnesty, leav-ing a one-year prison sentence,which is suspended pendingan appeal.

Prosecutors yesterday allegedthe media baron paid off sena-tor Sergio De Gregorio afterelections in 2006 won by a cen-tre-left coalition led by RomanoProdi by just a handful of votes.

A few months later, De Grego-rio crossed the aisle and joinedthe Berlusconi opposition in amove that helped bring downProdi in 2008.

The subsequent electionswere won handily by Berlus-

U.S. court places kidnap suspect on $8m bail bond

UNITED States (U.S.) busdriver, Ariel Castro, was or-

dered held on an $8 millionbond yesterday on charges hekidnapped and raped threewomen and held them in hishome for a decade.

The 52-year-old suspect, in hisfirst court appearance sincethe revelation of a crime thathas shocked and disgusted anation, did not enter a plea andwas sent to county jail, wherehe is to be placed on suicidewatch.

Found inside the housewhere Ariel Castro allegedlyheld three women captive for adecade was a note from 2004

in which he called himself “asexual predator” in need ofhelp, local media reported.

Castro was arraigned for therape and kidnapping ofAmanda Berry, 27, Gina DeJe-sus, 23 and Michelle Knight, 32,who all emerged Monday fromthe unassuming Clevelandhouse owned by the formerschool bus driver.

Local television station WOIOinvestigative reporter ScottTaylor, on his Twitter feed, saidthe note was among dozens ofpieces of evidence that policerecovered when they combedthe two-story premises afterthe women’s escape.

Africa’s wealthiest man, Dangote, pledges touphold good corporate governance in Zambia

AFRICA’S wealthiest man,Nigeria’s Aliko Dangote,

has pledged to uphold goodcorporate governance andabide by the Zambian laws fol-lowing his investment in a ce-ment factory in the southernAfrican nation, Xinhua quotedZambia Daily Mail as reportingy e s t e r d a y .

Dangote, who is chairpersonof Dangote Group, said he in-tends to abide by the Zambianlaws through payment of alltax and statutory obligations

following the construction ofa $400 million cement plantin Masaiti District, CopperbeltP r o v i n c e .

“Our plan is to commencecorporate social responsibil-ity obligations in order to con-solidate on our relationshipwith communities in whichour future investments will belocated in Zambia,” he wasquoted as saying by the paperduring a meeting with Fi-nance Minister AlexanderChikwanda. 

Eritrea jailed about 10,000political prisoners, saysAmnesty InternationalERITREA has reportedly

jailed no fewer than10,000 political prisoners,many in “unimaginably atro-cious conditions”, accordingto a report by rights groupAmnesty International criti-cising the situation in the RedSea state.

The report claimed thatwith political oppositionbanned, independent mediaquashed and religious mi-norities targeted, the ex-rebelgovernment uses a system ofunderground cells and ship-ping containers to house theprisoners.

Claire Beston, Amnesty’s Er-itrea researcher, said: “Thegovernment has systemati-cally used arbitrary arrest anddetention without charge tocrush all opposition, to si-lence all dissent, and to pun-ish anyone who refuses tocomply with the repressiverestrictions it places on peo-ple’s lives.”

But Eritrea dismissed the re-port as “wild accusations”and said it “rejects in theclearest of terms” that it hadjailed thousands.

“The sordid picture it paintsresembles little to the reality,”Eritrea’s foreign ministry saidin a statement.

The report said “at least10,000” prisoners have “dis-appeared into secret and in-communicado detention” in

the Horn of Africa nation, butwarns it is impossible to knowthe exact figure.

The report was releasedahead of Eritrea’s celebrationsof 20 years of independenceon May 24, which followed anoverwhelming vote by thepeople to split from arch-foeEthiopia after years of bitterwar.

Eritrean rebels battled farbetter equipped Ethiopiantroops – backed first by theUnited States, then the SovietUnion – for three decades untilvictory in 1991, which was fol-lowed by a referendum twoyears later.

A subsequent border conflictwith Ethiopia from 1998-2000still simmers, which analystssaid Asmara uses as an excusefor its continued iron-rule.

The Castro brothers – Onil, Pedro and Ariel – arraigned at Cleveland Municipal Court for the kidnapping of three women in Cleveland in Cleveland, Ohio…yester-day. PHOTO: AFP

THE United Nations (UN) Se-curity Council has been

asked by Kenya to scrap the in-ternational crimes against hu-manity trials currentlyhanging on President UhuruKenyatta and his Vice Presi-dent William Ruto, accordingto a letter seen by AgenceFrance Presse (AFP) yesterday.

Kenyatta, 51, voted intopower in March elections, is togo on trial in July at the Inter-national Criminal Court (ICC)in The Hague for crimesagainst humanity relating topost-election violence in 2007-08.

Also Ruto, 46, faces threecounts of crimes against hu-manity for his role in thedeadly violence.

“What this delegation is ask-ing for is not deferral,” Kenya’sambassador to the UN,Macharia Kamau, wrote in aletter to the Council seen byAFP.

“What this delegation is ask-ing for is for the immediatetermination of the case at TheHague.”

The letter, dated May 2 andstamped confidential, is thefirst such official request forthe cases to be dropped.

However, while the SecurityCouncil can ask for a case to bedeferred for a year, it does nothave the authority to orderthat the ICC drop a case com-pletely, and diplomats at theUN said Kenya’s demand islikely to get a quick rejection.

“No formal response hasbeen made yet, but theKenyans will be told their re-quest is going nowhere,” saidone diplomat, speaking oncondition of anonymity.

The letter – which criticisesthe process as “neither impar-tial nor independent” – istherefore viewed more as a po-

litical appeal to drum up sup-port among allies rather thana practical step towards drop-ping ICC charges.

Kenya appealed to “friendlynations to use their good of-fices and prevail upon the In-ternational Criminal Court toreconsider the continuedprocess”.

Some 1,100 people died in

bloodshed after the 2007 elec-tions marred by allegations ofvote rigging, shatteringKenya’s image as a beacon ofregional stability.

What began as political riotsquickly turned into ethnickillings and reprisal attacks,plunging Kenya into its worstwave of violence since inde-pendence in 1963.

Rwanda, a temporary mem-ber of the 15-nation SecurityCouncil, raised the Kenyancase at a meeting with ICCprosecutor Fatou Bensoudaon Wednesday, and Bensoudasternly hit back at suggestionsthat her office’s action waspoliticised.

“The ICC has always and willalways continue to respect thesovereign equality of all states.The ICC however will not shyaway from investigating indi-viduals for any alleged crimesirrespective of their status,”Bensouda told council mem-bers.

Kenya asks United Nations to drop ICC charges against Kenyatta, Ruto

SOME gunmen yesterday kid-napped a son of Yousuf Raza

Gilani – a former Pakistaniprime minister – on the finalday of campaigning for land-mark elections, which the Tal-iban have vowed to bomb.

Ali Haider Gilani, 27, wasseized in a hail of gunfire on theoutskirts of the city of Multan inPunjab province.

Officials said his secretary anda bodyguard were killed andfour people wounded, accord-ing to Agence France Presse (AFP).

“People came on a motorbike.They also had a car with themand they opened fire and ab-

ducted Gilani’s son, Ali Haider,in a black Honda,” police officer,Khurram Shakur, told re-porters.

The ex-premier’s family is oneof the most powerful in Multanand a key clan in the PakistanPeople’s Party (PPP). The party’scampaign for re-election hasbeen dramatically curtailed bythreats from the Pakistani Tal-iban.

The insurgents, who have dis-missed the elections as unIs-lamic, said they have sentsuicide bombers to mount at-tacks on polling day, which istomorrow.

There was no claim of respon-sibility for the abduction ofHaider, a provincial assemblycandidate for the secular PPPwhose two other brothers arestanding for the national as-sembly.

Gilani senior was disqualifiedafter being sacked and indictedby the Supreme Court last yearfor refusing to reopen corrup-tion cases against the presi-dent.

“We will not allow people tosabotage the election,” he toldreporters after the kidnapping,calling on PPP activists to re-main “quiet and peaceful”. He

said the family had not beenprovided with security despitebeing threatened.

Meanwhile, around 25,000supporters of Pakistani politi-cian Imran Khan gathered in Is-lamabad late yesterday,enthusiastically waiting for theex-cricketer to address them byvideo link from hospital.

The charismatic 60-year-oldhas been ordered by doctors toremain immobile after suffer-ing fractured vertebrae and abroken rib on Tuesday afterfalling from a stage at a rally inLahore ahead of tomorrow’selections.

Son of Pakistan’s ex-PM kidnapped two days before landmark polls

The government hassystematically used ar-bitrary arrest and de-tention without chargeto crush all opposition,to silence all dissent,and to punish anyonewho refuses to complywith the repressive re-strictions it places onpeople’s lives.

Kenya appealed to friendly nations to use theirgood offices and prevail upon the InternationalCriminal Court to reconsider the continuedprocess.

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 201310

PoliticsMonguno: The man they didn’t knowWHEN the news broke that gunmen, sus-

pected to be members of the dreaded BokoHaram sect, had kidnapped elder statesmanand First Republic politician, Alhaji ShettimaAli Monguno, it elicited outrage and condem-nation across the nation.

Indeed, the circumstance and manner thefour-man gang abducted the 92-year-old for-mer minister on his way home after observinghis Juma’at prayers at the Mafoni Mosque inMaiduguri, almost brought the machinery ofgovernment in Borno State to a halt.Perhaps, if emotions had ruled the mind of his

abductors; if they had considered his pedigree,his age, philanthropy and contributions tonational development, particularly his homestate — Borno, maybe he would not have been aprey for such “evil” enterprise.  

Besides, for a man, who has been speaking tothe understanding of the Boko Haram about thedangerous security situation they have foistedon the North, and at the same time pleadingthe cause of the insurgents, as regards the gov-ernment dialoguing with them; abducting himwas not the right thing to do.

God forbid! How would the abductors haveexplained it to his family members, his commu-nity, his local council and state government,and the entire Nigeria had he died, on accountof his age, in their den? 

Well, perhaps unknown to his assaulters,Monguno, who has been confined to his home-stead due to old age, was a prominent figure inthe political firmament of the First Republic.

Reputed to be one of the respected education-ists in the northern part of Nigeria, Mongunowas born in Monguno, Borno State.

He attended the Monguno Primary School,and on completion, he proceeded to theTeachers’ College in Bauchi and Katsina; theCollege of Arts, Science and Technology, Zaria;and Moray House College of Education and theUniversity of Edinburgh.

He was a member of the Parliament in 1959when Nigeria was about to attain independ-ence. Between 1959 and 1965, he was EducationSecretary and Councilor for Education, Worksand Social Welfare in Borno Local Government.

Monguno shot into national reckoning whenhe became the Federal Minister for Air Forceand Internal Affairs in 1965 through 1966.

The veteran later became FederalCommissioner for Trade and Industries (1967-1971), and Minister of Mines and Power,Petroleum and Energy between 1972 and 1975under the military regime of General YakubuGowon (Rtd).

A tested technocrat, he was a leader of theNigerian delegation to the United NationsConference on Trade and Development(UNCAD II) held in New Delhi, India, in 1968 andmember, Nigerian delegation to the UnitedNations (UN) for over a decade.

He was chairman, Maiduguri MetropolitanCouncil (1977-78), member, ConstituentAssembly (1977-78), and president, theOrganisation of Petroleum ExportingCountries (OPEC), between 1972 and 1973.Suffice to say that it was Monguno, in his capac-

ity as OPEC president and FederalCommissioner for Mines and Power, whoannounced the postponement of the OPECmeeting in Tripoli, Libya on oil accord.

He was named Pro-Chancellor, University ofCalabar (1978-80), and Pro-Chancellor,University of Nigeria (1980-84).

During the Second Republic that kicked off in1979, Monguno was deputy national chairmanof the then ruling National Party of Nigeria(NPN) between 1980 and 1984, while Chief AdisaMeredith Akinloye, of blessed memory, waschairman.As a mark of his global acclaim, Monguno, who

holds the national honour of Commander ofthe Federal Republic (CFR), has bagged variousnational honours from other countries such asthe Ethiopian Empire, Republics of Egypt,

Sudan and Cameroun.He also holds keys to the cities of New York,

Louisville, Kentucky in the United States ofAmerica; Quito, Ecuador; and Luna in Peru.

With these achievements, what more does aman deserve other than rest. Unfortunately,members of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram,would not let Ali Monguno be.

The gunmen, who kidnapped him at theMafoni Juma’at mosque in Maiduguri, report-edly fired several gunshots into the air, to dis-perse the people, before fleeing with the 92-year-old, eyewitnesses said.Worshippers at the mosque, which is situated

in the heart of the Maiduguri metropolis, saidMonguno, who once lived in the area, has beenpatronising the mosque for decades and theabductors had carefully perfected their plansand executed it without resistance.

Despite alleged high concentration of BokoHaram insurgents in area, Monguno has main-tained close contacts with his extended familymembers, friends, neighbours and acquain-tances, who are still living there.

It was gathered that he was kidnapped, min-utes before 2p.m., after the Friday congrega-tional prayers, by a four-man gang, whichwhisked him into a waiting vehicle and disap-peared.

An eyewitness said the Friday congregation,with large concentration of old women and

children, burst into tears as the old timer wasseized from the hands of some people who werehelping him to get to his private car.

Interestingly, Monguno, as a source told TheGuardian, has been an advocate of a peaceful res-olution to the Boko Haram crisis.

“He (Monguno) refers to the insurgents asYaana (i.e., sons of Borno), and has been appeal-ing to them to stop violence and championtheir cause through peaceful means,” one of thesources said.

Monguno, an outspoken individual, who com-ments on virtually every national issue, is thechairman of the Borno Elders Forum (BEF) andmeetings are mostly held at his residence.

During a recent visit of President GoodluckJonathan to Maiduguri over the protracted BokoHaram crisis, Monguno, who many say is as fear-less as he is sincere in his words, faulted thepresident for saying that the insurgents werefaceless and deserve no amnesty.

Without sounding hawkish, a trademark ofsome elder statesmen in the country, or disre-spectful to the Office of the President, Mongunoreportedly insisted on dialogue with membersof the sect.

The nonagenarian, to the amazement of someattendees, told Jonathan: “To be frank, Mr.President, but for dialogue, you wouldn’t havebecome the president of this country today. “Our founding fathers, who got together and

By Dele Fanimo

begged the British government to handover  the reins of government, had to sittogether and forget their differences andagreed that if given (independence), we wouldlive together in harmony; we would respecteach other.”

He continued, this time very pointed: “Mr.President, sometimes, we wonder whetheryou are running a military government, ademocracy or something called diarchy. “We can hardly put our finger on what type of

government you are running, Mr. President.We hope the labours of our heroes past shallnot be in vain.”

Turning to the issue of the North, he advisedyou to “relate more with the governments ofNorthern Nigeria.” He added: “I have a feeling that there is some-

thing like misunderstanding between you,Mr. President, who has the responsibility ofrunning the entire country and the governorsof 19 States. We have told them, too, to alwaysbe together.”

From the foregoing, no other person couldput these issues — government dialogue withBoko Haram, the nature of government thatthe Jonathan administration runs, and closecooperation the central and state govern-ments.

Apart from his call to duty at various timesspanning over three and a half decades, Dr. AliMonguno has attracted enough goodwill tohimself, his state, the nation and the sub-Saharan Africa.Hence, the alleged N20 million payouts to his

abductors for his release — though refuted bythe Borno State governor, Alhaji KashimShettima — could not have been a wrong deci-sion to retrieve an icon, as Monguno, from thejaws of death.

Monguno

Mr. President, sometimes, we wonder whetheryou are running a military government, a democ-racy or something called diarchy. We can hardly

put our finger on what type of government you arerunning, Mr. President. We hope the labours of

our heroes past shall not be in vain.‘

’

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013 POLITICS 11

Ogboru, Ewherido plunge Delta DPP into crisis

THE unfolding scenario may justlead to the final fall of the political

house of Chief Great Ogboru. At theheart of the matter is the tusslebetween him and Senator PiusEwherido for the soul of theDemocratic Peoples Party (DPP) inDelta State, which Ogboru had care-fully and stoically built over theyears from the scratch.

Who, between the duo, should callthe shots, and maybe fly the flag ofthe party in Delta for the 2015 gover-norship election, seems to be thereal reason the state branch of theparty recently suspended Ewherido,former Deputy and Acting Speakerof the House of Assembly.

Also suspended by the party is theacting national deputy chairman,Mr. Olisemeka Akamukale, the vicechairman of Delta Central senatorialdistrict, Mr. Henry Olori, as well as aleader in Sapele local governmentcouncil, Mr. Cyril Ogodor.The crisis secretly rocking the party

in the state climaxed on Tuesdaywhen the State Executive Councilsuspended Ewherido, and someother top members.

Announcing the suspension, theDPP state chairman, Chief TonyEzeagwu, said the decision todescend on the alleged erring mem-bers was because of their flirtationwith the budding All ProgressivesCongress (APC), an action hedescribed as gross misconduct andanti-party activities.In a way, the 50-year-old senator is a

kind of interloper, who is probablyout to upset the apple cart, consider-ing the fact that before now, Ogboruhad been synonymous with theparty in the state, while his nemesis(Ewherido) was in the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP) and servedfor eight years in the House ofAssembly between 1999 and 2007. He decamped to the DPP during the

2011 general elections, when politi-cal scheming was too hot to handlein the PDP. And a magnanimous DPPgave him the platform to have a shotat the Senate and he won.

Nonetheless, the instant clash hadbeen brewing because of Ewherido’sambition, and his open romancewith the emerging APC was all thatwas needed to axe him.

Even though the decision to sus-pend the senator was announced bythe state chairman, political ana-lysts concluded that it was the handof Ogboru and the voice of the partychairman, Chief Ezeagwu.

A party source told The Guardian inAsaba that it is an open secret thatthe party leadership was also nothappy with Ewherido for romanc-ing with APC when Ogboru, who ranagainst Governor EmmanuelUduaghan of the ruling party inboth the January 2011 re-run and theApril 2011 elections, still has his casepending at the Supreme Court.The source added that Ogboru, who

had contested every governorshipelection in the state since 2003when he first ran against formerGovernor James Ibori, still wants torun in 2015. But the charismatic sen-ator may truncate his ambition.

Unlike when Ogboru was virtuallyunopposed as the party candidate,the source said that his word may nolonger be law in the APC and wouldhave to contend with other candi-dates in the party primaries shouldhe decide to run.

The source said that the statebranch of the party was also wary ofaligning with the APC against thePDP so as not to rattle PresidentGoodluck Jonathan, a fellow NigerDeltan in the 2015 elections.

According to the source, frombeing the top dog of the DPP where

the buck stops on his table, Ezeagwuis jittery that his influence in abrand new APC will be considerablywhittled down should he agree tothe merger. 

The source said that instead ofaligning with the opposition par-ties, a hopeful Ogboru, whose caseagainst Uduaghan, as regards the re-run election comes up early nextmonth at the Supreme Court, mightdecamp to the PDP if he won.

Ogboru was not disposed to beingpart of the merger, which Ewheridois very passionate about. Therefore,the senator from Delta Central andsome other top members of theparty had to be suspended last weekby the Chief Ezeagwu-led StateExecutive Council of the party “forengaging in anti-party activities.”

Undeterred by the unconditionalromance between the DPP at thenational level with the APC, theDelta State branch of the party hadresolved to maintain a splendid iso-lation from the merger effort whilethose romancing with the newparty were warned that they riskedexpulsion.

The leadership of the DPP in DeltaState, where it has the largest follow-ership across the country, distanceditself from the action on the groundthe merger conditions were clearlyspelt out.

In fact, Ezeagwu had warned mem-bers of the party to desist fromfraternising with other politicalassociations that are capable ofbalkanising the DPP.

He said: “We still remain DPP thatwe are and we have equally bannedevery affiliate political group mas-querading within the party to balka-nise it.”He advised the members, who want

to remain loyal to the DPP, not toassociate with another politicalassociation that tends to pull out its

faithful.However, determined to weather

the storm, Ewherido has dismissedthe report of his suspension fromthe DPP, insisting that he was still abona fide member of the party forthe simple reason that his suspen-sion was illegal.

He disagreed with the state partychairman, Ezeagwu, saying that theaccusation of flirting with the APCdid not hold water, as the nationalexecutive of the party had reached adeal with the APC to be part of themerger.

He said that the action of the statebranch of the party smacked of igno-rance because the executive councilmembers were not aware of thedecision of the leadership of theparty to fuse with the APC.

The lawmaker said: “I am still amember of DPP. The suspension wasnot in order. I never engaged in anti-party activities. I am a loyal memberof the DPP and can never go againstit.

“The fact is that Delta State execu-tive council is supposed to be part ofthe national executive, whichagreed to merge with APC. The DPPis now a part of APC; so, holdingmeetings with them is not illegal.”

Uncomfortable with the ongoingsquabbles, former Senator FrancisSpanner Okpozo disclosed that hedecided to wade into the crisisbecause the two (Ogboru andEwherido) were his political sonsand so could not afford to fold hishands and watch them engaged in arough fight.With a dismissive wave of the hand,

Okpozo said he was yet to believethat there was a real quarrelbetween Ogboru and Ewherido,adding that even if the two hadissues, he was ready to do everythingto settle them.

“I have no knowledge of a crisis

between the two gentlemen but if itis true that there is a quarrelbetween Ogboru and Ewherido, it isnot above the competence of meand others to resolve,” he said. “The quarrel will be ephemeral and

so, opponents should not takeadvantage of what they heard tocause disaffection between thetwo.”  

Trouble started last July whensome members of the party point-edly accused Ogboru for sponsor-ing Mr. Isaac Akpoveta, a candidateof the ruling PDP in the 2011 Houseof Assembly election against hisparty member, in a long-drawnlegal tangle against the victory ofthe DPP candidate.

But one year after the election, Mr.Rufus Akpodiete Edojah of the DPP,representing Ughelli NorthConstituency II, had finally heaved asigh of relief, courtesy of a FederalHigh Court in Asaba, which upheldhis victory in the April 26, 2011 elec-tion.

Dismissing the pre-election suit ofAkpoveta, Justice Ibrahim Bubaheld that going by the facts beforehim, there was no doubt thatAkpodiete was the real winner ofthe DPP primary and the subse-quent election.

Justice Buba averred that the peti-tion had no locus standi, as his oppo-nent failed woefully to prove hiscase beyond reasonable doubt.Even in victory, a renowned human

rights activist and former chairmanof the Nigerian Bar Association(NBA, Ughelli chapter), Mr. PeterWanogho, had harsh words for theDPP and Ogboru, who, he said,lacked the capability to take firmdecision on political matters, there-by causing crisis within his party.

Wanogho blamed Ogboru for hav-ing a hand in the numerous litiga-tion against the election of Edojah,all in a single-minded bid to subvert

the choice of members of the party.He charged: “All the litigation

brought against Akpodiete beforethe Federal High Court, Asaba, couldbe traceable to Ogboru with theintent of subverting or pervertingjustice against his own political fol-lowers whom he had fallen out with.

“He should go back to the drawingboard politically and think the wayof fighting for political goals.”

But Ezeagwu, who sharply dis-agreed with Wanogho, said that theactivist was acting the script of hissponsors in the PDP, who, he insist-ed, were bent on discrediting theDPP and its governorship candidate.

Again in August of 2012, the statebranch of the DPP described the pur-ported dissolution of the executivecouncil by some aggrieved mem-bers, as the machination of the PDPto stop it from taking part in theforthcoming council polls in thestate.For allegedly failing to conduct con-

gresses and convention at the expi-ration of their tenure, someaggrieved members of the party,totaling 44, claimed that the partyexecutive, from the ward to thenational level, had been dissolved.

But Ezeagwu thundered, sayingthat the action of the petitioners wasan aberration, stressing that the“faceless petitioners” were not mem-bers of the party, as their nameswere not in its register.

He described them as hirelings ofthe party’s opponents, who weredetermined to create the impres-sion that there was crisis within theDPP.

He added that the strategy was toensure that the Delta StateIndependent Electoral Commission(DSIEC) does not honour correspon-dence from the present cominglocal government elections in thestate.

Indicating that the current execu-tive was given a fresh mandate at theparty’s national convention held inJos in 2010, Ezeagwu queried: “And ifyou watch, it was only the 25 localgovernment areas of Delta State thatwere represented there.

“We have 36 states in this country,and only one state and the FCT is dis-solving the national body of a party;is that not an aberration?”He noted that it was not the right of

any individual, group or sycophantto register or de-register any politi-cal party but rather an exclusive pre-serve of the INEC.

Ezeagwu said the party was investi-gating the source of the advert,which, he claimed, had no address,with a view to taking necessaryactions against those involved in theplot.

The fortune of DPP, which beforenow was the main opposition partyin the state, and finished a strongsecond during the 2011 elections,seems to be on the decline.

Some members of the House ofAssembly, like Dr. Alphonsus Ojo(Ukwani Constituency), hadresigned their membership infavour of the PDP.

Dr. Olisa Imegwu had lost to thePDP candidate, Mr. Ossai Ossai, at thecourt, and Mr. Eme Mukoro ofUghelli Constituency lost to Mr.Taleb Tebite of the PDP, also at thecourt.

The suspension of SenatorEwherido and several others foralleged anti-party activities may bethe icing on the cake for a oncevibrant DPP that again and againgave — and still giving, that is at thecourt, though — the ruling PDPsleepless nights.

With the crisis in the party, there isno doubt that Ogboru is fighting themain battle of his political career. Itis still hazy whether his long trekwill finally lead him to theGovernment House, Asaba.   

From Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba

Ewherido Ogboru

A party source told The Guardian in Asaba that it is an opensecret that the party leadership was also not happy with

Ewherido for romancing with APC when Ogboru, who ran againstGovernor Emmanuel Uduaghan of the ruling party in both theJanuary 2011 re-run and the April 2011 elections, still has his

case pending at the Supreme Court.

‘’

TheMetroSectionTHE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 201312

EVERYONE who heard his confes-sion on Tuesday, after he was ar-rested by the Police in Enugu whileon a failed rape mission, agreedthat it was a major breakthroughin the fight against the rape of oldwomen in Opi Town, Nsukka LocalCouncil of Enugu State.For some time now, the peacefultown has been on the negative sideof the news following the activitiesof young boys whose ages range be-tween 18 and 22 years, who waylayand rape old women.Shamefully, most of the old

women and widows being rapedare grandmothers as well as thoseold enough to be their mothers.Yet, while various organizations,including the church and theUmuada Igbo International havecondemned and staged peacefulprotests severally in the commu-nity as well as rained curses on theperpetrators, the act has continuedunabated.These boys armed with machetesand other dangerous objectssearch and swoop on their victimsat night and forcefully make love tothem. Stories abound that some ofthe women have sustained variousdegrees of wounds while attempt-ing to flee from the young boys.One of the suspected rapists,

Nnanna Osondu, who had set outon Monday evening in search of anold woman to rape, but had hismission thwarted, narrated how

he, in company of other youngboys, usually rape old women andwidows in Opi community.Nnanna, 19, who was arrested bythe police while attempting to rapea 65-year-old woman, said they en-gaged in the notorious activity toderive pleasure and satisfy their sex-ual urge, stressing that it was notfor money making as being popu-larly speculated.On that fateful day, at about4.30p.m., Nnanna, said he was al-ready struggling with an oldwoman, whom he had threatened“with his knife”, when villagerspounded on him and handed himover to the police.Explaining their modus operandi, he

said they usually lay siege “againstany of our targeted victims alongthe road with sharp kitchen knives,which we used to threaten so thatshe would succumb to our sexualassault.”.He further disclosed that he hadraped many old women in the com-munity, adding that the intentionwas not for ritual purposes but tosatisfy his sexual urge since youngwomen refused to succumb to hiswish.“I will also like to marry but it is dif-ficult getting anybody to marry atthis time, because the young girlsare looking for wealthy personswho can take care of all their needs.I do not have such money and I

Briefs

have no good job at the moment,”he said, stressing that he droppedout of school a few years ago, aftercompleting his primary education.Although, he disclosed that he

had often left victims who raisedan alarm during an attempt, buthowever, confessed, that he wouldoften go to the homes of some ofthe identified victims at night tosatisfy his urge.Speaking on the development, thePolice Public Relations Officer inthe state, Ebere Amaraizu, dis-closed that the suspect had madeuseful statements that could helpthe command tackle the negativedevelopment.He noted that the trend had goneon unabated, despite several ef-forts by the Police to curb it, stress-ing that the suspect had expressedregrets and begged for forgivenessover his actions.He confirmed that operatives ofthe State Criminal and Investiga-tions Department (SCID) hadbegun full- scale investigations onthe incident, adding that the Policewere grateful for the effort of good-spirited members of the commu-nity for their prompt report andassistance.It would be recalled that UmuadaIgbo International, led by Mrs. KateEzeofor, had last year organized aprotest march in Opi Town aimedat putting a stop to the incident.The group cried out that unless thetrend was stopped, it was capableof attracting God’s anger on thecommunity as well as on the per-petrators.This was followed by a protest ledto the State House of Assembly by acoalition of non-governmental or-ganisations to call the attention ofthe lawmakers to the incident.A committee of the House led byNze Michael Onyeze was then setup to uncover the remote causes ofthe crime as well as make recom-mendations on how to check it.The Onyeze Committee made far-reaching decisions, including es-tablishing a police station in thetown, strengthening the vigilancegroups as well as encouraging theyoung boys on the need to be inschool, as a way of ending theproblem.

Old students meet

Egba Muslims to raiseN1 billion tomorrow

The suspect, 19-year-old Nnanna

AMEETING of OsogboGrammar School OldStudents Association, Lagosbranch, holds on Sunday,May 12, at the residence ofMr. Kayode Bankole atHouse 3, Gilbert Ochor Av-enue Thomas Estate, Ajah,Lagos at 3.00p.m.

‘How we rape old women of Opi’

Deeper Life holds vigil

Quarterly fellowship atBaptist Church

Latter Rain organises football matches

From Lawrence Njoku, Enugu

THE Deeper Christian LifeMinistry holds Night ofTotal Breakthrough on Sat-urday, May 18, 2013 at 6.00p.m. and Sunday, May 19,2013 at 8.00 a.m. at DeeperLife Conference Centre Kilo-metre 42, Lagos-Ibadan Ex-pressway.Pastor William FolorunshoKumuyi will minister.

THE Goodnews Baptist As-sociation will today andtomorrow hold its secondquarter fellowship at theShalom Baptist Church,Oreptal Bus Stop, Isheri,Lagos.The theme is: "YourHealth and Christian Serv-ice.”The moderator of the asso-ciation, Rev. Titi Ajadi saidthe theme was chosen tofurther expose members onstress management andhow to identify unsuspect-ing health conditions. The Assistant moderator,Rev Olajide Oke also said re-cent happenings had shownthat people needed to focuson their health even theyperform their Christian ob-ligations.

THE Egba Muslims Com-munity Council will to-morrow raise N1 billion forthe modernization of EgbaCentral Mosque and turban-ning of Capt. Rasheed Raji(rtd.) as the Baba Adeen ofEgbaland at the Alake ofEgba’s palace, Ake,Abeokuta, Ogun State a10.00a.m.Host is Ogun State Gover-nor, Ibikunle Amosun,Royal Fathers are the Sultanof Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’adAbubakar and the Alake ofEgbaland, Oba AdedotunGbadebo.Father of the Day is ChiefOlusegun Obasanjo andMother of the Day is AlhajaKubrat Adebisi Edionsere. Chief Launcher is AlhajiAliko Dangote and Chair-man, Abdul-Jabar ‘Bola Aji-bola.

AN Appeal Court sittingin Ilorin, Kwara Statecapita, has commencedhearing in the suit filedby the Olugbense RulingHouse against the HighCourt ruling that upheldthe appointment of ObaMohammed MufutauGbadamosi as the Olofa ofOfa in Offa Local Council.The trial court, in July2012, dismissed the suitfiled by the Magaji of theOlugbense Ruling House,Alhaji Sheu Oyeniyi, seek-ing to invalidate the ap-pointment of ObaGbadamosi as Olofa of Ofa.In the appeal filed on De-cember 20, 2012, counselto the appellants, John

Olusola Baiyeshea (SAN),prayed the court to setaside the judgment of theHigh Court, stating that“the trial judge wronglyrejected Exhibit ‘G’ in evi-dence.” He averred that “it is theoriginal copy of the KwaraState government’s pressstatement of 1969 inform-ing the general public andthe whole world that thechieftaincy crisis in Ofawas resolved by the gov-ernment, which recog-nised two ruling houses inOfa.“These are Olugbense andthe Anilelerin rulinghouses, and also estab-lished rotational chief-taincy in Ofa between thetwo ruling houses. A com-

bination of credible, co-gent, concrete and strongoral and documentary ev-idence and exhibits pre-sented by theclaimants/appellants arestrong enough to be re-lied upon to give judg-ment in favour of theclaimants.“The purported appoint-ment of AlhajiGbadamosi (5th respon-dent) is liable to be nulli-fied, and the 2ndclaimant/appellant,Prince Abdulrauf Adeg-boyega Keji, is entitled tobe declared and installedas the Olofa of Ofa.”According to him, “theprinciple, notion anddoctrine of fairness, jus-tice, equity and estoppels

In Kwara, Appeal Court begins hearing in Ofa stool suit

THE Latter Rain Assembly(LRA), in one of its out-reach programmes, is organ-izing football matchestomorrow between OgbaYouth Football Club /Star-land Football Club and Dairy-farm Estate Football Club /LRA Stars at the Nigeria Insti-tute of Journalism, Ogbafrom 10.00a.m. It will alsofeature career counsellingand training programme foryouths who wish to becomeprofessional footballers.

Shamefully, most of the oldwomen and widows beingraped are grandmothers aswell as those old enough tobe their mothers...variousorganizations, including thechurch and the Umuada IgboInternational have con-demned and staged peacefulprotests in the communityas well as rained curses onthe perpetrators, the act hascontinued

are applicable in favour ofthe appellants in this casein determining the rightof the ruling house topresent the candidate(Prince Keji) and not thecurrent Olofa to fill the va-cancy in the stool createdby the death of the imme-diate past Olofa in 2010from the same AnilelerinRuling House as the 5th re-spondent.“Your lordships areurged to give judgment infavour of the appellantsaccordingly, and orderthat the 2nd appellant beinstalled by the state gov-ernment forthwith. AlhajiGbadamosi’s appoint-ment/installation oughtto be nullified and anorder of perpetual injunc-

tion be made to restrainhim from further parad-ing himself as the Olofa ofOfa.”However, the lead coun-sel to the 1st to 7th respon-dents, R.A. Lawal Rabana(SAN) and KamaldeenAjibade, prayed the courtto dismiss the appeal anduphold the decision of thetrial court. According toRabana, “the succession tothe throne of Olofawasnever rotational and gov-ernment does not haveany right to dabble intotraditional/cultural issuesas the final decision isrested in the kingmakers.”The case has been ad-journed to May 20, 2013,for further cross-examina-tion.

From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013 METRO 13

Photonews

THE Emir of Gummi inZamfara State, His Royal

Highness, Aliyu AbaraGummi, is dead. He diedon Wednesday at UsmanuDanfodio UniversityTeaching Hospital, Sokoto,at the age of 75.Funeral prayer was heldyesterday and was led bythe Chief Imam of GummiCentral Mosque, ImamBala Muhammad Gummi.It was attended by thestate governor, Abdul’aziz

Emir of Gummi, Aliyu Gummi, dies at 75Yari Abubakar, his deputy,Malam Ibrahim Wakkala,Speaker of the State Houseof Assembly, Sanusi GarbaRikiji and other Emirs.The late emir was once amember of the NationalAssembly during the Sec-ond Republic, and the Sec-retary for the Movement ofthe Creation of ZamfaraState during the Shagariadministration.Gummi was buried inGummi, in accordancewith Islamic rites.He is survived by four

wives and 42 children. He was appointed theEmir of Gummi on October20, 2011 after the death ofhis predecessor, AlhajiAliyu Isa.Condoling the family, thegovernor urged the familyto consider it as an act ofGod, and described it as agreat loss not only to thepeople of Gummi Emiratebut the North in general.The governor prayedAllah to forgive all hisshortcomings during hislife -time on earth.

THE Deputy Leader,Lagos State House of As-

sembly, Lola Akande, hasblamed the Ministry ofPhysical Planning andUrban Development forthe collapse of a buildingat Ojodu area of the stateon Tuesday afternoon.Akande, who paid a visit

to the site on Wednesday,expressed shock over theincident, lamenting thatthe building situated atNo. 15, Bashiru Street,Ojodu , which belonged tothe Foursquare GospelChurch, had been markedfor demolition, but wasleft undemolished until itcollapsed, killing two peo-ple and injuring others.

At the scene of the inci-dent, she sympathisedwith the victims andmembers of the church. She said: “I blame the

ministry officials who hadmarked the building fordemolition, but did noth-ing about till it col-lapsed.”A similar case was on

Monday brought to thefloor of the Assembly byOmowunmi Olatunji-Edetover a building in JakandeEstate that was yet to bedemolished, though ithad been marked unsafeby the ministry. Olatunji-Edet, representing Osodi-Isolo II Constituency, hadsought a motion for quickdemolition of the de-fected building before its

collapse on residents.Akande urged the gov-

ernment to embark ondemolition of faulty build-ings that were alreadymarked to save lives of thepeople rather than havethem collapse on them.The lawmaker represent-

ing Ikeja II Constituencyexplained that the Househad received several let-ters from the public call-ing on the Ministry ofPhysical Planning andUrban Development to de-molish some defectedbuildings in the state.Akande said she had

personally contacted thestate emergency agency topromptly rescue somepeople feared trapped inthe collapsed building.

Lawmaker blames building collapse on govt’s negligenceBy Wole Oyebade

PHOTO: ISAAC TAIWO

Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN)customers in Ozara, Obosi in Anambra State protesting estimated billsat the headquarters in Enugu Electricity Distribution Company in Enugu...on Wednesday

Former Imo State Governor, Ikedi Ohakim (left) during a condolence visit to the widow of the late Pini Jason, Mrs.Oby Onyegbedue in Lagos...on Wednesday

PHOTO: NAN

Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Abdullateef Ibirogba (right), Commissioner for Scienceand Technology, Adebiyi Mabadeje, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Nike Animashaunand General Manager, the State Residents’ Registration Agency, Ms Yinka Fashola at the 2013 ministerial briefingto commemorate sixth years administration of Governor Fashola in Lagos ...on Wednesday

PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

From Isah Ibrahim,Gusau

Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya; wife of Ogun State Governor,Mrs. Olufunso Amosun; Chairman, Ijebu North Local Council, Otunba Olaide Osifeso and Sopen Lukele, Oke-Sopen, Oba M. A Yusuf during the commissioning of Airtel’s adopted school, St. John’s Primary School in Oke-Agbo, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State....yesterday

SATURDAY, May 11, 2013

TheGuardianConscience Nurtured by Truth

Of the over 1.5million candidates who sat for the Joint Admis-sion and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination this year,only 10 scored above 300 marks… this and other appallingresults of recent exams have raised fresh concerns over thequality of education Nigerian youths get from primary to ter-tiary levels. This week, we examine the impact on students ofthe declining reading culture, poor state of public and schoollibraries, the social media and other social factors like poorremuneration of teachers and pervasive corruption on stu-dents’ performance. And the way out of this sorry state of af-fairs

The Guardian On Saturday...you simply can’t put it down!

The constant social mediabuzz about Enugu State Gov-ernor’s death even when heis hale and hearty hasprompted many Enugu indi-genes to ask: “Who wants ourgovernor dead?”

PLUS

Who WantsSullivan

Chime Dead?After oil and gas, the textile industry is

next as potential money-spinner. Nigeriahas all it takes to lead the world in textileproduction—-the soil, the weather, theraw material —- cotton. What then is

standing in the way of a “textile boom”?

Is Education GoingTo The Dogs?

Nigeria’s Textile Industry Must Live Again

Trapping The ‘Other Woman’A suspicious wife set out to trapher husband’s mistress… Yes, shecaught the prey alright, but victorycan be, well…

TheGuardian

Editorial

14 |THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013

LETTER

Conscience is an open wound; only truth can heal it. Uthman dan Fodio 1754-1816

Conscience Nurtured by Truth

FOUNDER: ALEX U. IBRU (1945 – 2011)

Of lawlessness and the right to strike in Osun

SIR: It appears that Nigeriais still about the only coun-

try I know where anythinggoes. We are about the onlycountry I am aware of inwhich conducts are purport-edly guided by laws, butwhere impunity is actuallythe operative rule of behav-iour. And the thing aboutimpunity is that it renderslaw meaningless and makesan outright mockery of thewhole exercise of law-mak-ing. The real essence of thelaw is not in its making, butin its enforcement. It is abouttime we, as a country, gotserious about getting ourlaws obeyed and creating atruly law-governed society.The ongoing strike action bythe lecturers of higher insti-tutions in Osun State bringsthis problem back into focus.The Association of AcademicStaff in Osun State OwnedTertiary Institutions hadbeen doing battle with thegovernment over the usualstuffs; wages, retirement age,tax relief, pensions andsundry matters. Apparently,the long series of negotia-tions between the two partieshad failed to bridge their dif-fering positions and this hadculminated in a strike actionon the part of the academic

members of the four tertiaryinstitutions in the state –Osun State Polytechnic, Iree,Osun State College ofTechnology, Esa-Oke, andthe two Colleges ofEducation located in Ilesaand Ila-Orangun.The government had since

been calling on the lecturersto resume work and returnto the negotiating table. Theappeals from governmenthad fallen on deaf ears. Infrustration at the closure ofthese institutions and thepernicious impact it wouldhave on the future of itsinnocent students popula-tion, the students had decid-ed to intervene in the matterby having recourse to thelaw court. After all, the law issupposed to be the basis fordefining our relationships,whether as individuals or asgroups. Represented by theleaders of their respectiveunions, the students of thefour higher institutions inthe state had approached anOsogbo High Court to orderthe re-opening of theschools, which had beenshut due to the strike action.

The court on Wednesday,April 17 granted the stu-dents’ appeal and orderedthe striking lecturers to

immediately return to work.The judge in her ruling on anorder of interlocutory injunc-tion ordered the rectors andprovosts to re-open the fourinstitutions and resume aca-demic activities pending thedetermination of the originat-ing summons. But the lectur-ers had flagrantly ignored theorder and have yet to go backto classes.The issue here is not to ques-

tion the right of a labour unionto engage in a strike action, butto point out that that right isnot a licence for lawlessness.What makes a strike actionright is the law, and the use ofstrike to violate the same lawmakes it become unlawful.Therefore, by flouting the lawthat gives them the right tostrike, the lecturers are engag-ing in lawlessness rather thanexercising their right to strike.We must begin to realise that

the law was not made touphold the particular interestsof a person or group at alltimes and at all costs. The law ismade to provide for lawful andcivilised conducts in every-thing we do or say. It is the lawthat makes us what we are –civilised beings. And we mustlearn to respect it, whether ornot it suits our purpose.• Kola Adeyemi,Osogbo, Osun State.

FOR the Nigerian economy to grow, the nation’s foreign exchange earnings must bebetter managed than is being done now.At all times, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) withholds Federation Account (FA)

dollar accruals, and replaces that with CBN freshly printed purported naira equiva-lents for sharing to Federation Account beneficiaries. CBN disburses part of the with-held foreign exchange through the Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) andbureaux de change (BDCs). Generally, WDAS rates are lower and more business-friendly than BDC rates. Also, all genuine businesses operate accounts with DepositMoney Banks (DMBs), which have access to WDAS foreign exchange. Yet, the CBNshort-supplies WDAS demand while meeting in full BDC demand for government for-eign exchange every quarter. Therefore, to channel official foreign exchange throughBDCs amounts to a deliberate CBN policy to subvert genuine businesses.The CBN justifies short supply of WDAS demand on grounds that extreme bid rates

should be excluded. But such exclusion violates WDAS’ core principle. As a resultWDAS rates are artificial and render the naira overvalued. And so in 2012, even at theaverage effective central rate of N156.25/$1, the naira was overvalued notwithstandingCBN’s claims in the quarterly reports that the naira exchange rate was stable. No won-der then that WDAS rates lack public confidence and the economy pays a heavy pricefor the unrealistic naira exchange rate.For instance, in 2012, DMBs transacted $42.1 billion on supposed valid visible and

invisible imports while the outflow of foreign exchange through CBN andautonomous channels was $35.2 billion and $1.8 billion respectively. Against the com-bined outflow of $79.1 billion, the inflow of CBN and autonomous foreign exchangeamounted to $119.2 billion. Thus, the balance of some $40.1 billion along with the $5.6billion sold by CBN and BDCs was left in private hands.And they find ready use in unproductive and anti-economic activities such as rising

dollarisation of the economy, illegal and physical dollar transfer abroad, money laun-dering and smuggling, all at the expense of domestic production.It is CBN’s responsibility to channel foreign exchange available in the economy to

the most beneficial use. That is achievable by adopting a procedure that is consistentwith international best practice. To illustrate with unadjusted pooled 2012 data forthe sake of simplicity, if Federation Account dollar accruals had been allocated appro-priately through the beneficiaries’ Domiciliary Dollar Accounts (DDAs), there wouldhave occurred spread over the year in the single and open foreign exchange marketoperated by banks; a supply of dollars (from government and autonomous sources)totalling $119.2 billion and a demand of $79.1 billion by genuine end-users that wasbacked with naira funds already in the system. Such supply/demand scenario wouldhave produced a market-determined naira exchange rate that was realistic andoffered no cause to be defended by the apex bank. That exchange rate would havebeen attractive and tended to appreciate, thereby causing funds retained in DDAs tolose value. Partly to avoid suffering any losses and partly to settle naira commit-ments, banks would have been advised to sell the excess dollar supply of $40.1 billionto the CBN for additional naira funds at the market-determined rate or even at a pre-mium. Such last resort sale by DMBs of excess dollars builds up or swells externalreserves.It is absolutely desirable for the approach just illustrated to come into force as it has

several and extensive benefits. Firstly, it would lead to a complete reversal of econom-ic fortunes. It would eliminate the unyielding regime of excess liquidity and its atten-dant negative features of escalating non-investable national domestic debt, hostileeconomic environment, high inflation, high lending rates, unrealistic exchange rate,monetary tightening measures, restricted access to bank credit, high bank non-per-forming loans, comatose real sector, mounting joblessness and so on.Secondly, the accretion to external reserves as earlier noted was $11.6 billion. The

bulk is made up of so-called CBN foreign reserves whose purported substituted nairaequivalents have been shared and spent and so cannot again be released to govern-ment to fund necessary projects but are frittered away in the guise of defending thenaira while corruptly undermining the economy. By contrast, the illustrated appro-priate open-market sale of foreign exchange led the external reserves to grow by $40.1billion in the same year. Besides, external reserves so accumulated are whollyinvestable and may be drawn upon when necessary to fund additional governmentprojects at zero interest charge. So a healthy level of foreign reserves would rendersuperfluous any resort to multilateral borrowings at purported low interest chargebut which attract conveniently ignored unsavoury conditionalities of foreign inter-ference.Also, a healthily growing national pool of wholly investable external reserves should

end dependence on oil sector and break down the CBN-erected barriers inherent inbusinesses generating their own foreign exchange in order to achieve a diversifiedexport base. As a result, the intensity of economic activity and job creation would bedictated by domestic private and public/private partnership investments in the vari-ous sectors of the economy. These investments would rely on readily available cheapbank credit under the restored conducive economic environment for finance as wellas source foreign exchange for any external input needs from the open foreignexchange market that is linked to the expanding common pool of foreign reserves.The economy would consequently become indifferent to flighty foreign portfolioinvestments, fickle foreign direct investments and measly assistance by meddlesomemultilateral agencies. The CBN only has to define and constantly redefine the economic transactions that

should be eligible for the country’s foreign exchange as well as strictly enforce samewith an unwavering view to making the economy produce domestically to the maxi-mum possible level what the country consumes. That is the road to economic diversi-fication and rapid development.

The naira, the dollar andNigeria’s economy

15THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013

Business

‘With adequatefunding, DPR can generate N4tr yearly’

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Martin Woolnough (left);Immediate past Chariman, Olusegun Osunkeye; and the new Chairman, David Ifezulike at the company’s yearlygeneral meeting in Lagos. PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Metamorphosis of Land Rover engineering

Nigeria, a burgeoning market forbusiness aviation

BusinessTravel P47AutoWheels P43

By Sulaimon Salau

By Kamal Tayo Oropo

THE National Union ofPetroleum and Natural

Gas Workers (NUPENG) andthe Petroleum and NaturalGas Senior Staff Associationof Nigeria (PENGASSAN),arm of the Department ofPetroleum Resources(DPR), have renewed theiragitation for adequatefunding of the agency,insisting it has the capacityto generate about N4 tril-lion yearly, if properlyfunded.The workers, who threat-

ened to embark on anindefinite strike from nextweek Monday, said theywould not relent in theiragitations, until theFederal Government meetstheir needs.

It was gathered that thedepartment generatedabout N1.3 trillion for theFederal Government lastyear.The chairman of PENGAS-

SAN, DPR branch, AmbaNaoma-Egba, told TheGuardian, that the workersare now fully mobilizednationwide for the indefi-nite strike, which willinvolve shutting down ofall oil installations, petrole-um depots, jetties and ter-minals across the country.

Members of the unionhave been groaning under

what they described as‘unpleasant atmosphere’ inthe operations of the oilindustry regulatoryagency, including underfunding of the DPR, poorworking conditions, inade-quate welfare package forworkers and delayed reno-vation of its headquartersin Lagos.

The union also allegedirregularities in recentrecruitment and promo-tion of trainee staff in theDPR.

According to them,efforts to resolve the dis-agreement amicably withthe management haveyielded no results, whichprompted the unions toissue a 14-day ultimatum,which expires on SundayMay 12th, 2013.A source in DPR, revealed

that the department gener-ated over N1.3 trillion rev-enue for the FederalGovernment yearly, but itis not permitted to spendfrom the generated rev-enue, while its sister organ-izations like PetroleumEqualisation Fund (PEF),Petroleum Product PricingRegulatory Agency (PPPRA),the Petroleum TrainingInstitute and the NigerianNational Petroleum

Corporation (NNPC) areallowed to spend fromtheir internally generatedrevenue to augment theoverhead from govern-ment.“We generated about N1.3

trillion last year, but onlyreceived 0.3 per cent asbudget this year. Our over-head is so small that wecannot buy necessaryworking tools,” he said.DPR is statutorily vested

with the responsibility ofmonitoring crude oilexport, monitoring of qual-ity and quantity of petrole-um products in Nigeria.

A top executive of theDepartment also con-firmed that the inadequatefunding has hindered DPRfrom establishing offices inall states of the federation,adding that Nigeria is loos-ing a lot of revenue to limit-ed capabilities of theagency.He said if the DPR was ade-quately funded andallowed to operate opti-mally, it could generateover N4 trillion yearly.“The situation is uncom-

fortable, even procuring re-agents for petroleum prod-uct quality check andassessment is very diffi-cult,” he lamented.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Workers insist on strike

INTERNALLY GeneratedRevenue (IGR) in Lagos State

averages a total of N20billionmonthly, the StateCommissioner for EconomicPlanning and Budget, BenAkabueze, has disclosed.Akabueze revealed the figure

yesterday at the ongoing min-isterial press briefing to her-ald the sixth anniversary ofGovernor Babatunde Fasholain office.He said the N20billion how-

ever was on the average as thefigures rise and drop onmonthly basis depending onthe season and periods.According to him, “IGR trick-

les in everyday across differentagencies of the state, onemonth it could be up, the nextmonth it could be downdepending on seasonal con-siderations and all of that. Atthe end, we will have an aggre-gate for the year and you

Lagos generatesN20billon IGRmonthly

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 201316 BUSINESS

First Bank stakes $3.3 billion on oil, gas projectsFIRST Bank of Nigeria Plc

expended over $3.3 billion(N500 billion) in the financingof various oil and gas projectsin Nigeria last year. Thisfinancing package represents37.40 per cent of the bank’sportfolio.

The amount, the bank saidrepresented its total financingactivities for the upstream,midstream and downstreamsub-sectors of the oil and gasindustry.

The bank noted that it hascommitted $650 million for

the development of selectedmarginal field operation,while it expended $270 millionto offshore pipeline projectsand $234 million as local con-tract support for specializedvessel acquisition scheme.The bank’s Executive Director,

Corporate Banking, KehindeLawanson, who disclosed thisat a dinner organized at thejust-concluded OffshoreTechnology Conference inHouston, Texas, United Statesof America, said financing wasin line with the bank's effortsto boost local capacity in theoil and gas sector

He disclosed that the bank hasfinanced Atlantic Energy proj-ect of $289 million term loanand working capital; another$15.15 million team loan financ-ing to Fymak Marine andServices Nigeria Limited, $276million to OPL InternationalLimited.He said: "Our total play in the

oil and gas business as at 2012,which was the biggest in theindustry was well over N500billion. First Bank is widelyacknowledged as the leadingplayer in oil and gas financingand has a proven pedigree ofproviding both financial and

advisory backing for players inthe sector".He stated that the bank also

played very actively in the mar-ginal fields and had fundedwell over 25 per cent of thosewho bought the Shell's assets."We are committed to grow-

ing our involvement in the oiland gas industry and assistingparticularly indigenous firmstake full advantage of theopportunities in the industryin line with the Nigerian localcontent act," he said.Lawanson who listed some of

the Bank's activities in the sec-tor to include: Vessel financefacility of $52.0million for thepurchase of two jack-up

badges to be leased to MobilProducing for the execution ofa Mobil contract.

The U.S. Exim Bank providedfund for $36,021,786.55 (guar-anteed by First Bank); the pro-vision of a $15.15 million TermLoan to finance the acquisitionof two vessels to service a five-year charter party contractawarded by Chevron NigeriaLimited to Fymak Marine andOil Services Nigeria Limited, awholly indigenous company;the $29.04 million AssetFinance Facility for the pro-curement of a field mainte-nance vessel for Broron Oil andGas Limited. The vessel namedDSV Avianna was built in

Ghuangzou China in 2001.He also said the bank also

extended a $20million con-tract finance facility to executethe laying of umbilicals tohook up well heads of OK 23and OK 24 in the OKWORI sub-sea by Broron, financed theimportation of marine equip-ment required to execute a$207million contract fromone of the oil majors to lay 24-inch high pressure pipesacross Nembe-CawthorneChannel Trunk Line (NCTL), adistance covering about 44kmconsisting entirely of swampyterrain. The pipeline traversessix major rivers and about 44minor rivers and creeks.

From Roseline Okere, Houston, Texas

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 ‘Why autonomy of revenue bodies is imperative’

THE Chartered Institute ofTaxation of Nigeria (CITN) said

the autonomy of revenueauthorities in the country isessential in addressing leakagesassociated with taxation, whilealso serving as a panacea for thediversification of the nation’seconomy.The President of CITN, John FemiJegede, made the disclosure atthe formal opening of the insti-tute’s conference in Calabar onWednesday.He said the move would ensurethe achievement of targets, setbetter taxpayer enlightenmentprogramme; simpler assess-ment and payment procedures;comprehensive and reliabledatabase. Other benefits include training

and motivation of staff; account-ability on the part of the collect-ing agencies; fool proof tax clear-ance certification; relationshipwith government and privateagencies; and increased revenuegeneration.

On the other hand, the formerVice-Chancellor of University ofEkiti State Prof. Akin Oyebode,tasked citizens, and the govern-ment on accountability.He said that it is not all about

taxes on the citizenry, thoughnecessary, but also aboutaccountability and efficient uti-lization of the revenues onground.He said: "When people pay for

something, they value it more.The forum is emphasizing onaccountability because if youdon’t pay for something, it willlook like some goodies from thegovernment."This is our hard earned money

that is being spent, so govern-ment owes everyone explana-tion. Yes, it is good to have morerevenue through taxation, butmore critical importance lies onaccountability and transparen-cy."I am on record as having said

that corrupt public officials aredeserving of death penalty, justlike you have in China. But my

worry is that the country is toorelaxed with corruption. So, lifeimprisonment without optioncould be my best option and thiswould serve as deterrent."We must develop the capacity

to detect ill-gotten wealth’s andfollow the movement of trans-fers internationally through theInternet and entering intoarrangements with those coun-tries to help. The funds are part ofthe proceeds of tax."The judicial system is presently

in mess. The case of James Ibori isa clear evidence. Even the Britishprosecutor said he wonderedhow and why a certified thieffound his way to GovernmentHouse and this is the man thatNigeria's judicial system gave a'clean bill of health.'" Jegede said: "It is our belief that

government policies and pro-grammes in the area ofincreased revenue generationcan be best implemented with astate Internal Revenue Servicethat is autonomous and consist-ing of professionally competent

By Chijioke Nelsoncould average it out but as attoday it is about N20billionmonthly”.

He said the state had a pro-jected an IGR of N316.578 bil-lion out of its N499.605billion2013 fiscal budget, saying it ismore than the total budgets ofeach of the states in the coun-try excluding Delta, Rivers andAkwa Ibom.To realise this target, the state

is adopting measures includ-ing the expansion of the taxnet to cover more taxable per-sons living and doing busi-

ness in Lagos.Akabueze said the state gov-

ernment does not intend tointroduce any new tax, butwould leverage on existingtaxes as approved andempowered by the law of thefederation, to pursue the reali-sation of the objectives of thisyear’s budget.

According to Akabueze,major areas the budget hasbeen addressing since com-mencement of implementa-tion include security, food suf-ficiency, law and order, build-ing of critical transportation

infrastructure including theblue/red light rail, continuingexpansion of the Lagos-Badagry expressway, ferryservices, health and environ-ment.

On the state’s debt profile,Akabueze, who would howev-er, not give specific figureLagos is owing its local andinternational creditors, saidthe debt was no threat, as theincome accrued to the state’scoffers yearly, outstrips itstotal debts, some of which arelong-term loans due for fullrepayment 35 years ahead.

Lagos generates N20billon IGR monthly

SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013

The Guardian On Sunday is new, fresher, bolder; a delight to behold and more importantly, reader-friendly! Book a copy today.

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SPECIAL PLUS

NIGER DELTA: MilitantsReturn To The Creeks ASmilitants resume

their nefarious activi-ties in the creeks, The

Guardianon Sunday is ontheir trail, to see why theyare back. What went wrongwith the amnestyprogamme to make themgo back? Apart from militan-cy, criminality is on the rise;kidnapping and other anti-social activities are on therise in the Niger Delta. Why? Find the answers... on

Sunday.

Flour Mills, Africa’sBiggest Mill is a story youcannot afford to miss.The Group ManagingDirector, Paul Gbedebotells the success story.

PresidentialOverseasInvestmentHunt: CostsAnd Gains.

Members of Joint Task Force (JTF)

17THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 201318

Weekend

Autowheels P.43 Business Travels P.47

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013 19

African Union:

Arts & CultureP. 27

50 years of twists and turns50 years of twists and turns

Metamorphosisof Land Roverengineering

Jonathan’s romance withNollywood…Making an orphan ofother art forms

Nigeria, a burgeoning market for business aviation

20 WEEKEND THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10 , 2013

It’s been 50 long years since some great African leaders laid the foundation for a strong, united and economically strong Africa Union. But all throughthe years, there have been problems, some of them self-inflicted, on how to move along. The first generation of African leaders, who mooted the ideaare no more. But faced with economic and political problems, the current leaders have some other ideas. BOLA OLAJUNWON traces the evolution ofwhat started as an ambitious dream and examines why it has been difficult to achieve the African Union dream.

ence in 1957.However, before OAU’s establishment, the

main protagonists of the lofty dream of aunited Africa could not agree on how the en-visaged unity could be achieved. Thus, manyAfrican states had variously joined precursorbodies, like the Casablanca bloc, founded in1961 and led by Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana.The bloc wanted a federation of all Africanstates. Apart from Ghana, its other memberswere Algeria, Guinea, Morocco, Egypt, Maliand Libya. The second, known as Monrovian bloc, led

by Léopold Sédar Senghor of Senegal and po-litical actors in Nigeria, believed that unityshould be achieved gradually, especiallythrough economic cooperation. This blocdid not support the notion of one politicalfederation. Its other members includeLiberia, Ethiopia and most of the formerFrench colonies. A third group, theBrazzaville, consisted of representatives offormer French colonies still under powerfulFrench influence and indirect control. It wascomparatively weak and eventually sub-merged.However, despite the differences in ideol-

ogy and approach, the over-riding dream ofa unifying continental organisation was in-controvertible. Through the ingenuity ofEthiopia’s Emperor, Haile Selassie I; Nigeria’sPrime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa; Presi dent Sekou Toure of Guinea andLéopold Sédar Senghor of Senegal, overtureswere made to resolve the differences be-tween the Monrovia and Casablanca Groups,

first at Sanniquellie, Liberia and finally whenHaile Selassie invited the two groups toAddis Ababa, where OAU and its headquar-ters were subsequently established. The Nkrumah, Tafawa-Balewa factorNkrumah and his Casablanca group had

sought to define the roadmap for the pro-posed body, with a plan for a rapid unifica-tion of African countries under a federalpolitical system and a single market. Theidea would rapidly eliminate artificial bor-ders and tariffs. Nkrumah had contendedthat the new pan-African organization,should ‘seek ye first the political kingdom,and all things shall be added unto it.’But this position was rejected by other rep-

resentatives at the inaugural meeting inAddis Ababa, Ethiopia, held on May 24, 1963.Tafawa-Balewa, at the conference, summedup the position of those who believed ingradual unity: “There have been quite a lot ofviews on what we mean by African unity.Some of us have suggested that African unityshould be achieved by political fusion of thedifferent states in Africa. Some of us feel thatAfrican unity could be achieved by takingpractical steps in economic, educational, sci-entific and cultural co-operation, and by try-ing first to get the Africans to understandthemselves before embarking on the morecomplicated and more difficult arrange-ment of a union. My country stands for thepractical approach to the unity of the Africancontinent. I have listened to speeches in thisconference, and there have been only veryfew members, who spoke on the desirability

of having a political union. Almost all thespeeches indicated that a more practical ap-proach is much preferred by the majority ofthe delegation.”This speech and similar ones might have

informed the earlier aims of the new OAU asit was thereafter agreed that the new bodyshould gradually embrace unity and inte-gration. OAU’s aims, achievements and failures

The organisation was soon saddled withpromoting the unity and solidarity of theAfrican states, acting as a collective voice forthe continent. It set out to secure Africa’slong-term economic and political future; co-ordinate and intensify the co-operation ofAfrican states and was dedicated to the erad-ication of all forms of colonialism.

Since there were several states yet to be-come independent at that time, the OAU pro-posed two ways of ridding the continent ofcolonialism. Firstly, it would defend the in-terests of independent countries and help fa-cilitate the independence of those still undertheir colonial masters. Secondly, it would re-main neutral in terms of world affairs, pre-venting its members from being controlledby outside powers. It would also ensure thatall Africans enjoyed human rights and im-proved living standards. It would settle ar-guments and disputes between members —not through war, but peaceful negotiation.

It was also tasked with promoting inter-national co-operation, giving due regard tothe United Nations Charter and theUniversal Declaration of Human Rights; co-ordinating members’ political, diplomatic,economic, educational, cultural, health, sci-entific and defence policies. The organisa-tion was later energised the Abuja Treaty,which established the African EconomicCommunity (AEC) in May 1994.

Since many of its members were equallymembers of the United Nations (UN), this al-lowed them to stand together in unity tosafeguard Africa’s interests – especially in re-spect of fighting colonialism. The mainachievement of the OAU, to date, is eradica-tion of colonialism and minority rule in

THE growing aspiration for unity withinthe African continent by some leaders andpolitical actors before and soon after theirnations achieved independence necessitatedthe desire for a unifying continental bodythat later metamorphosed into theOrganisation of African Unity (OAU). It was established on May 25, 1963 in Addis

Ababa, Ethiopia after representatives of 32governments signed its Charter. Twenty-twoother states joined gradually over the years,with South Africa becoming its 53rd memberon May 23, 1994. South Sudan joined on July27, 2011 as the 54th member, after splittingfrom Sudan. Aside from three members un-der the hammer of the organisation forcoups d’état or political struggles, Moroccodecided to withdraw its membership follow-ing the admission of the Sahrawi ArabDemocratic Republic.Historical facts reveal the birth of OAU in

1963 was not the first attempt at inter-Africanunity. Rather, its formation was a conse-quence of several years of Pan-African senti-ments and pre-independence activities ofsome foremost African nationalists andstatesmen like Kwame Nkrumah, SekouToure, Jomo Kenyatta, Modibo Keita, AhmedBen Bella, Herbert Macaulay, NnamdiAzikiwe and Obafemi Awolowo among oth-ers. These nationalists contributed immensely

to pan-Africanism, to intensify their respec-tive countries’ struggles for independence.However, Pan-African movements and activ-ities were earlier driven by the black intel-lectuals of African descent in the UnitedStates (U.S.), the Caribbean and Europe, whostarted first as a protest movement of blackpeople against exploitation, racism and alsofighting for dignity and upliftment ofAfrican peoples. This movement was peopledby intellectuals, such as William Du Bois andGeorge Padmore, who along with others,spearheaded meetings in London,Manchester, Paris and New York as precur-sors to an all-Africa conference in Accra,Ghana which eventually became the firstblack African country to attain independ-

AU struggles to achieve lofty dreams, 50 years on

Nkrumah and his Casablanca group had sought to define the roadmapfor the proposed body, with a plan for a rapid unification of Africancountries under a federal political system and a single market. The ideawould rapidly eliminate artificial borders and tariffs. Nkrumah had con-tended that the new pan-African organization, should ‘seek ye first thepolitical kingdom, and all things shall be added unto it.’ But this positionwas rejected by other representatives at the inaugural meeting in AddisAbaba, Ethiopia, held on May 24, 1963. ’‘

African Union summit

WEEKEND 21THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10 , 2013

Africa. The OAU and its member-states gavefunds, weapons, training and military basesto rebels of colonised nations fighting for in-dependence or majority rule. The AfricanNational Congress (ANC) and Pan AfricanCongress (PAC), fighting apartheid. TheZANU and ZAPU, fighting for the independ-ence of Southern Rhodesia, were aided intheir endeavours by the OAU.

In the struggled against apartheid,African harbours were closed to the SouthAfrican government, and the South Africanaircraft were prohibited from flying over therest of the continent. The UN was forced bythe OAU to expel South Africa from bodiessuch as the World Health Organisation(WHO). Indeed, Nigeria’s active role as amember of frontline states in this regardwas immense. Although all African coun-tries eventually won their independence, itremained difficult for them to become to-tally independent of their former colonialmasters. There was often continued relianceon the former colonial powers for economicaids, which often came with strings at-tached. Loans were being paid back at highinterest-rates and mineral resources weresold to the countries giving aids at low rates.Nevertheless, the organisation was widely

criticised for “its penchant for barking andbeing unable to bite.” It struggled to enforceits own decisions, and its lack of armed forcemade military intervention exceedingly dif-ficult. Hence, total unity was difficult toachieve as the organisation was largely di-vided. The former French colonies, for in-stance, were still dependent on France, andthere was an additional split between thosethat supported the U.S. and those that sup-ported the former USSR during the ColdWar. Because of these divisions, it was hardfor the body to take action against states in-volved in internal conflicts. The policy ofnon-interference in the affairs of memberstates also limited the effectiveness of theOAU. Moreso, the infiltration of politics bymilitary adventurists and coupists withoutserious deterrent measures against them,contributed as Achilles’ heels of the organi-zation. For 40 years, the OAU battled toachieve some of its aims while at the sametime contending with challenges in view ofthe leeway permitted by member states, ex-ternal forces and its idea of each state’s “in-violable sovereignty.”The Need for UnityFor his clamour for strong unity and inte-

gration, Nkrumah was later labeled as far-sighted. It is also instructive that while ittook Europe 30 years to achieve theCasablanca idea, Africa is still struggling toeliminate the controls on the movement ofgoods, capital and labour within its regionaleconomic boundaries, with only theEconomic Community of West African States(ECOWAS) adjudged as having a semblanceof integration on the continent.And contrary to some insinuations that

the late Libyan leader, Muammar Ghaddafiwas at the forefront of the birth of theAfrican Union (AU), revelations indicate thatGaddafi may have supported the idea be-cause of “his own selfish aim to govern thecontinent at all cost.” It has been revealedthat former President Olusegun Obasanjo of

Nigeria, Algeria’s Abdelaziz Bouteflika andSouth Africa’s Thabo Mbeki were the re-formists who proved to be an asset and to-gether presided over the remaking andrethinking of the OAU, which now translatedinto AU. Obasanjo corroborated this fact in acurrent interview with an internationalmagazine. He said: “Thabo, myself andBouteflika: we worked just like three peas ina pod.”

The transformation of the OAU into AUbegan with a meeting at the Group of Eight(G8) Summit at Okinawa in July 2000.Bouteflika was then chairman of OAU. Mbekiwas leading the Non-Aligned Movement andObasanjo was chairing the Group of 77 de-veloping countries. The three leaders weretaken aback by the apparent imbalance inthe participation by African countries, whilean invitation was issued to Russia without se-rious consultation with China, India, SouthAfrica and other African countries. With lop-sided participation of others while Westernnations called the shots at the event, thethree African leaders agreed to call experts towork on plans for a new pan-African institu-tion that would promote peace and security,accountable governments and economic de-velopment.

But some die-hard opponents of the re-form rejected the idea. One of them, Gaddafi,who wanted to relaunch his diplomatic wiz-ardry after the lifting of sanctions by theWest, hosted an extraordinary summit inSirte, Libya in 1999 to create a United Statesof Africa, that would be run by a president, aunified Armed Forces, a single currency andmarket. The agenda of the summit was toagree within two days on this new notion.But Obasanjo and Mbeki thanked him for hisgenerosity and smartly pledged to workalong with him for a new OAU.

Thus, the AU was established on May 26,2001 in Addis Ababa and launched on July 9,2002 in South Africa to replace the OAU. Andthe turning point was the establishment of

its Peace and Security Council to resolve con-flicts, African Peer Review Mechanism to as-sess standards of governance and the NewPartnership for African Development, to fo-cus on development projects with privateand state finance.With these key steps, Obasanjo, Bouteflika

and Mbeki wrote the death warrant of OAUand they will always be remembered as partof those that shaped the past 50 and the next50 years of the organisation’s African trans-formation, as the AU’s Constitutive Act tooverturn impunity. The Act gave the AU theright to intervene in a member state, to re-store peace and security, and prevent warcrimes, genocide and crimes against human-ity, without the consent of a sitting govern-ment. It can also deal with “serious threat tolegitimate order.” These changes were seen as“being more radical than anything at-tempted by a continental organization.The new resurgence for pan-Africanism andAfrican Renaissance: Towards an effective AUThe theme of the recently concluded 20th

Ordinary Session of Assembly of Heads ofState and Government of African Union (AU),“Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance,”was apt going by the submissions of Africanand United Nations (UN) leaders and expertsamong.The theme, according to the leaders and ex-

perts, was instructive for a continental or-ganisation that had evolved in last 50 years.It is also appropriate for a continent in needof a re-birth from its problems of elusivepeace, instability, insecurity, conflicts, andhow to entrench economic development andtransformation from widespread poverty. Surprisingly too, the Chairperson of AU

Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma ofSouth Africa, got the backing of the Assemblyof Heads of States and Governments to alsouse the theme as the cornerstone of activitiesmarking the 50 years of the continental or-ganisation this month and how to leapfrogAfrica to a continent of the dream of its

founding fathers, beyond the next 50 yearswhile keying in its constituent units.However, with member states contributing

less than half of its budgets, analysts havequestioned the economic sovereignty of AU.The AU looks up to the World Bank, theEuropean Union and other development part-ners to pay most of its bills. Former ActingDirector General of Nigerian Institute of in-ternational Affairs, Prof. R. A. Akindele, whois now of the Department of PublicAdministration, Nasarawa State University,Keffi described the import of this financial in-solvency thus: “Unfortunately and regret-tably, internally-generated financial resourcecapacity has proven to be conspicuously andembarrassingly inadequate to meet the in-creasing demands on the policy and pro-gramme agenda of the union. Thisinadequacy is a function not only of thepoverty and gross underdevelopment of vir-tually all its member states but also, and per-haps more importantly, of failure to payregularly their assessed dues to the annualbudget, a habit which flows from thispoverty. Trapped in this financial mess,African Union leaders, for instance, have hadto carry the great shame of allowing the newheadquarters building of their organisationto be financed, built and furnished by theChinese government, and having to be habit-ually and routinely dependent on external fi-nancial and logistic support for carrying outmany of the responsibilities of their organi-sation.”Moreso, AU’s financial predicament is fur-

ther worsening by the demise of Gaddafi, whowas known for paying the dues of poor mem-bers, even if for self-interest. The new powerbrokers in Tripoli are no longer ready to playanother “Gaddafi.” The revolution in the Arabworld and the removal of Hosni Mubarak alsoaffected the fortune of AU and the position ofEgypt as a member of the “Big Five.” Algeriatoo is now concerned about the home frontwhile Nigeria is concentrating more on in-vestment diplomacy than being FatherChristmas in the face of a prying NationalAssembly. South Africa, too, is not ready to is-sue an open cheque to cover the gaps. Owing to the pathetic scenarios, Dlamini-

Zuma, in January this year, asked Obasanjo tochair a commission investigating alternativesources of for the AU. A report of the commis-sion will be submitted this month during thesummit marking the OAU/AU anniversary.Moreso, the AU Commission chairperson alsoheld a meeting in January with President ofAfrican Development Bank, Donald Kaberuand Executive Secretary of United NationsEconomic Commission, Carlos Lopes on waysto boost the economic status of the union.Lopes, speaking on the priority of the meet-ing, argued the need to “nurture a highly ed-ucated, healthy and skilled population thatcan imbibe technology and infrastructure”for African industrialization and growth.

Meanwhile, experts have canvassed thatthe AU must act as a united force to tackleproblems and challenges affecting Africa andits people. They called on African leaders tolook inward to pursue economic independ-ence, development and accelerate integra-tion, without waiting for the contribution oftheir western partners, who now contribute

AU struggles to achieve lofty dreams, 50 years on

Haile Selassie Nkrumah Balewa Senghor

ZumaHailemariam

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 201322

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013 23

ExecutiveBriefIn association with TRIPPLEA ASSOCIATES LIMITED

EDITION 266

for low level entry into the Oil and gas Industry; we then sawa need to train people to take up middle level and high leveltechnical positions in the Oil and gas Industry. Also prior toour coming into the scene in 2006, people who were priv-eledged had to travel outside the shores of Nigeria to get thesame certifications we are offering currently. We discovered alarge training gap of middle level and senior level technicalpersonnel and we filled it up. Currently we train for mostInternational Oil and Gas Companies in Nigeria and also alarge number of Oil Service companies and other major sec-tors like Aviation, Railways etc. We have the capacity to trainfor State Governments, Federal Government, LocalGovernments and any agency who want to train their Youthor people to take up middle level and high level technical

jobs in Nigeria and any-where in the world.

What would youdescribe as the criticalfactor that sustainedyour company?Best Professional andEthical practices.Ensuring bestInternational standardsare maintained. Weensure our clientsreceive the best tutor-ing and mentoringwith standards compa-rable in any part of theworld. We give room toindividuals who wantto sponsor themselvesall the assistance theyrequire to improvethemselves at a verycompetitive price. Weoffer various discountsto our clients to encour-age them invest in theirtraining. We offercourses Nigerian havebeen yearning to do forso long but has been farout of their reach. Weoffer courses such asNational ExaminationBoard of OccupationalSafety and Health(NEBOSH) InternationalGeneral certificate,International TechnicalCertificate in Oil andGas, Diploma. Thiscourse for instance isthe most recognizedsafety certification inthe world. A candidatewho takes this coursecan comfortably beemployed as a Safetyofficer anywhere in theworld. The safety indus-try is so large that ifGovernments can har-ness this opportunitywe are offering, all theyouths will beemployed comfortablywith good futureprospects.

How have you beenable to meet the stan-dards required of atraining firm at globallevel? All our trainingcourses are governedby international bodiesand we ensure all theirstandards are main-tained. We follow allthe laid down rules gov-erning the training andcertifications we do,and from time to time

we get audited by various agencies. We ensure all our tutors arequalified and approved to tutor in the areas we are using them.At our head office located at 1st Floor, Izzi House, 315 PH/AbaExpressway, Beside UBA, Rumuokwurushi, Port Harcourt, RiversState, and Lagos office at ground floor, Wing B, Elephant CementHouse, Alausa, Ikeja, we have established a dedicated customercare desk to handle all old and new customers alike with a swiftresponse. Customers can also contact the help desk at round theclock online by mail on info@gennesaretresources.com orthrough 08034012002 and 07040805587.

Were there any key incidents or life changing events thatinspired your decision to become an entrepreneur? I saw a sick-ening situation where our University and Polytechnic degreeswhere no longer being recognized by the oil companies and alot of jobs that should be coming to Nigerians were being hand-ed over to expatriates to do. It was a Nationalistic Anger in methat led me to start off Gennesaret resources to ensure thisanomaly was reversed.

What has been your biggest challenge since you ventured intobusiness and how were you able to surmount them? The biggest challenge was acceptability and finance.Acceptability was handled by time; consistently doing the rightthings has endeared us to the heart of all our clients. Howeverwe still need good Government back up to help compliment andencourage us to be more acceptable. Finance is always ongoing.We need to be supported by government to help get more tech-nical and practical kits. The financial institutions do not havepolicies to help finance technical education thereby most timeswe are caged off financially. We take one step at a time. It is slowbut as you move on people buys into your vision. We rely on a lotof private funding and foreign partnerships to fund our busi-ness; however it has been a long road.

What can government do differently to help the industry’sgrowth?Patronize us. State Governments especially those of the NigerDelta or Governments who desire their people to be trained andcertified with courses that can make them partakers in the Oiland Gas Industry as employers or employees. Also governmentagencies involved in youth empowerment e.g. Niger DeltaAmnesty, NDDC, PTDF etc. Government focus should be targetedat launching our people into middle level and high level techni-cal positions in the Oil and Gas Industry. It is painful whenGovernment for instance goes to a community with Oil anddecides to train the Youth as carpenters, painters, tailors andexpect the Oil companies to employ them. Government shouldlook at the industry and identify technical positions and get peo-ple trained in those areas.

What are your focus /projections for the organisation?We intend to increase our international training and certifica-tion to cover more technical areas relevant to this sector. We aretargeting Governments at all levels Community, Local, State andFederal to help train and certify their people to certain standardsas to position them for great opportunities.

How do you keep current with the latest developments andideas about oil and Gas Training? We do industry researchworldwide, we are members of the American Society of NonDestructive Testing (ASNT), Oil and Gas Trainers Association ofNigeria (OGTAN), Pipeline Professional Association of Nigeria(PLAN) and we attend a lot of workshops.

Do you have mentors, business coach or external consultantsthat you work closely with to grow yourself and your business? Ifyes, to what extent would you describe their impact on yourbusiness? We have external consultants and business coaches.They have filled our knowledge and experience gap. Our externalconsultants ensure our international standards remain consis-tent irrespective of the volume of business. We are in partner-ship with Quality Control Company Egypt, the only Accredited examina-tion center of ASNT in Africa.

How do you identify business opportunities and what metricsdo you use to measure their viability? We have our businessvision and mission, if a business falls in this category and is com-ing from a good source we would do.

Advice to young entrepreneurs:My advice to young entrepreneurs is to start business by creat-ing a Blue Ocean i.e. look for an area you can specialize in thatmeets specific needs in a specific industry through in-depthresearch before starting off. Ensure they have a very good knowl-edge and understanding of the area of business they want toventure into, get a mentor, read relevant books, attend businessseminars, do extensive market survey and trust God to succeed.

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Gennesaret Resources Nigeria Limited (GRNL) is an indige-nous company specializing in training and Certification in

Non Destructive Testing (NDT), Welding and Safety. They arealso involved in the areas of Project Resourcing/Procurement,Pipeline Laying Installation, Pipeline Maintenance, Upgradingof Oil & Gas Facilities, Lifting EquipmentInspection/Certification, Tubular Inspection, CorrosionMonitoring and Prevention, Fabrication and Maintenance ofTanks, Quality Assurance/Quality Control Services, SafetyTraining and NEBOSH Certifications as well as other services tothe Oil/Gas and Industrial Companies in Nigeria. TheManaging Director of the organisation Engineer Akinwale Eso,an alumnus of Lagos Business School and Shell IntensiveTraining Programme (SITP), in this interview speaks on theFocus of a CEO. He had worked for three Oil Service companiesbefore setting up Gennesaret Resources Nigeria Limited.

When you started out in business, what specific idea, purposeor vision was your key driving force in setting up Gennesaretresources? Gennesaret was born in March 2006 with specific focus onTraining and Certification in technical fields related to the Oiland Gas Industry and other major sectors of the economy. Thedriving force was to empower Nigerians and bring most ofthese International certifications to their door step. Prior toGennesaret coming into the picture, Technical training was

Empowering Nigerians throughInternational certifications in the Oil andGas Industry

Akinwale Eso

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10 , 201324 | EXECUTIVEBRIEF

Action is the foundational key to all success. Pablo Picasso

By Tito Philips, Jnr.

Executive Management The Paradox of Business: HUSTLEpreneurship VS Entrepreneurshipjust because they aren’turgent you keep postponingthem till it becomes too late.While being occupied withthe day-to-day operations ofyour business, you realizeyou’re no longer paying ade-quate attention to pursuingyour vision. You suddenly for-get about the change youoriginally set out to create inthe industry. You forget aboutthe very idea that inspiredyour going into business. Youget caught in doing businessas usual. While makingenough sales with your cur-rent product/service, you for-get about product/serviceinnovation. While satisfyingexisting customers, you fail topursue new ones. While pur-suing new ones, you fail to sat-isfy existing ones. On and on,you find yourself and yourbusiness falling short in oneor more important aspects ofyour business. All these arethe realities of being in busi-ness and all these are what Irefer to as the paradox of busi-ness.

The world of business is filledwith so many contradictoryroles, expectations and func-tions. It wouldn’t be out of

place to say that business isvery complex consisting ofseveral aspects that are so con-tradictory in nature. At oneend is the pressure [need] todo whatever you can to keepthe business going; this I referto as hustlepreneurship–doing business. At the otherend is the desire [want] tobuild your business intosomething great; this I refer toas entrepreneurship –buildingbusiness.HUSTLEpreneurship: the NEEDto do BusinessDreams, desires or aspirationsare important, but none ofthem comes true withoutaction, work, execution orhustle. The entrepreneurialjourney in most cases beginswith a dream, a desire or aspi-ration to create somethingsignificant that will positivelyalter the lives of many. This isa noble cause and as with allnoble cause, there’s need foraction, work, execution orhustle.Show me a successful entre-preneur and I will show you aman/woman who hustles. Inthe heart of entrepreneurshiplies hustlepreneurship. Youcannot have one without theother! Hustlepreneurship is

As an entrepreneur, whiletrying to build your busi-

ness, never forget to do busi-ness. And while trying to dobusiness, never forget to buildyour business. This is the par-adox of business; to do or tobuild? Mastering it is the defi-nition of business success.Ignoring it is the definition ofbusiness failure. To help youmaster this paradox of busi-ness is what this unusual arti-cle is about, like a game ofchess while trying to make amove always remember toprotect your king, read on!

What Is The Paradox OfBusiness?If you’ve been in business forsome time now, you willbegin to notice some certainre-occurring trends; whilepursuing more business yousometimes stray from yourprimary/core business. Youfind yourself doing someother business that is notyour core business so long asthey rake in some cash. Whiletrying to get your business offthe ground, you neglect somekey strategic elements thatcan help your business on thelong run. Deep down youknow they are important, but

the inevitable art of doing busi-ness. It is inevitable becauseyou simply cannot succeed inbusiness if you are not pre-pared to do business. But whatdoes it mean to do business?What does it mean to hustle?Doing Business Means….• Selling/closing a sale• Production/manufacturing• Freelancing/doing contracts• Managing your

Inventory/stock• Accepting any and every deal• Doing paper/administrative work

• Making contacts/networking• Pursuing more business/

revenue• Servicing existing

clients/customers• Day-to-day operations.Here’s the bottom-line when itcomes to hustlepreneurship;it’s all about focusing on theNOW, TODAY, SHORT TERM andforgetting or neglecting thefuture, tomorrow and longterm. If you only focus on todayas an entrepreneur, your busi-ness will not live to see tomor-row. This is what I call the mostdeadly trap of business; beingcaught up in doing business–hustlepreneurship. Manyentrepreneurs are not aware ofthis fact and that’s why their

businesses suffer. Ironically,many are aware of this factand yet their businesses stillsuffer. Why? Because hus-tlepreneurship alone is not allthat it takes to succeed in busi-ness. It is a necessary elementof business success, but cer-tainly not the ONLY element. Ihave met so many entrepre-neurs who hustle their heartsout in business and yet theystill struggle with their busi-ness. It is true you need to takeaction, work, execute and hus-tle to do business; but equallytrue is the fact that you shoulddream, plan, strategize andcreate structures to build yourbusiness.

Entrepreneurship: TheDESIRE to Build a Business Entrepreneurship is aboutstarting, growing and build-ing a business that matters.It is the deliberate use ofone’s life to create a signifi-cant company that helps tosolve one or more problemsplaguing humanity. As Ihave come to learn in busi-ness and also in life, it’s notjust action, work, executionor hustle alone thatamounts to success, no.What amount to success arestrategic action, smart work,organized execution anddeliberate hustle. This iswhat entrepreneurship

By Melissa Krivachek

Executive Finance

Finding fulfillment in yourfinances can be one of the

most daunting tasks that anyof us face throughout the year.It can be worse than findingthe energy to put on gymshoes and working out. Ifyou’re just plain tired of worry-ing about money I want toshare with you 6 steps to find-ing fulfillment in yourfinances. These simple stepscan change your mindset andyour results.

1. Work to Develop MultipleStreams of PASSIVE Income -Developing multiple streamsof passive income meansworking smarter and notharder. The difficulty comesfrom people trying to re-inventthe wheel. One of my favoriteways of creating passiveincome as a small business isby providing digital and physi-cal products I developed forconsumers to purchase where,how, and when they want toonline. The secret to creatingpassive income is YOU becauseyou already have the knowl-edge, you have a solution to aproblem people know theyhave, and you don’t have to bea techie, have a list, or a lot ofincome to develop a passivestream of income. Of coursethat isn’t the only way, you canbecome an affiliate of prod-ucts/services you believe in,you can get involved in Multi-Level or Network Marketing, oryou can invest in stocks,bonds, trades or even realestate. So when you hear therich get richer and the poorget poorer the ultimateway they findfulfillment intheir financesis they earnmore and work less, andnow you can to.

2. Invest for the Future - Thereare two ways to invest- peopleat work or money at work.Make your money work foryou. People at work makea living; money atwork creates a for-tune. Money atwork is whythe richget

richer. Invest money confident-ly, competently, and conserva-tively. Money is a touchy andprivate subject, invest in compa-nies you trust, consult with pro-fessionals you know, and talkabout the pros and cons as wellas length and return of invest-ment before making a decisionto invest.

3. Live Below Your Means - Thissuggestion is contradictory towhat most of us believe,because we are accustomed tocredit cards, loans, and otherdebt digging forms of payment.The third key to finding morefulfillments in your finances isto reduce non-essential expens-es. Avoid unnecessary debt.Living below your means is away to give you a measure ofcontrol and help you achievefinancial freedom. The pay-ments for your mortgage, car,credit cards, and any other debtyou have accumulated shouldbe less than 37% of your grossmonthly earnings. Sock away10% or more of your pretaxincome each month. Questionevery purchase. Utilize thedrives, needs, andawards that moti-vate you in orderto live below yourmeans and incor-porate financialdiscipline intoyour life. Thisdisciplinethroughouttime will carryover intootheraspects ofyourlife

andyou

will findyou are

happier,healthier, and

wealthier.

4. Improve Your CreditScore.

5. Strive to Achieve Great Resultswith Fewer Resources - The per-

son who can do this will alwaysbe in demand. Don’t throwmoney at every problem-throwcreativity and brain powerinstead. One of your greatestassets is using the resourcesyou do have to be resourcefulbecause if you can solve a prob-lem with a checkbook you real-ly don’t have a problem tobegin with. Creativity allowsinspiration to happen at thedeepest levels increasing pro-ductivity, profitability, andcredibility.

6. Embrace Lifelong Education -High Achievers go out of theirway to pursue educationalopportunities. Education doesnot necessarily mean formal orschooling, it means books,events, or other resources usedto gather information on a sub-ject that matters to you.Motivated people are learners,learners areearners. Theinvestmentsyou make

in yourown edu-cation canpay offhandsomely,both finan-cially and inthe quality ofyour life. It’simportant to

recognize allskills are learn-able, all businessskills are learnable,

all investment skills arelearnable, and you can

master all of these skills.You can learn anything you

need to learn to achieve anygoal you have in life. Identifyyour weakest skill and work onit every day until you’ve mas-tered it. There are many waysthat you can find fulfillment inyour finances but most impor-tantly finding fulfillment does-n’t mean having money, cars,fancy houses, luxury vacations,etc…It means being able tocontribute and give back to thecommunity. One of the mostimportant things we learn as aleader is we have the ability topay it forward vs. paying it backallowing others the opportuni-ty to finish rich too.

6 Keys to FindingFulfillment in Your Finances

By Brock Blake

Executive Health

I’m a young CEO. I started mycompany while I was still in

college at Brigham YoungUniversity (BYU). I was part ofBYU’s Collegiate ClubNational Championship soc-cer team in 1999. Playing soc-cer, starting my own businessand being a full-time studenttaught me the importance ofmaintaining balance in life. Itdidn’t take long to learn thatcertain activities can domi-nate life even when you havethe best intentions. When oneactivity consumes your life,other areas tend to suffer.Playing soccer (or any othercompetitive sport for thatmatter) was a great stressreliever for me. It’s somethingI’ve done since I was a littlekid and something that I stilldo today (though my skillshave deteriorated over theyears). I found out that whenschool and my business wereeating away at me and caus-ing me stress, the soccer fieldbecame my escape. After apractice or game, I’d comeaway with a clear mind. Ifound that it was usually afterstepping away from work orschool to play soccer that I’dcome up with the solution toa problem or have clarity on awhatever project I was work-ing on. I decided in collegethat I would do whatever ittakes to be able to maintain ahealthy balance betweenwork and other interests.

I’ve had several opportunitiesto abandon my commitmentto managing a healthy worklife balance but haveremained true. Even when Iwas fundraising and pitchingVCs on investing in Lendioand one potential investortold me, “I don’t know howanyone can try to be a dadand a CEO at the same time.The reality is that the startupwill need way too muchattention and it’s just notworth it to have a familywhile being a CEO.” I knewimmediately he would not bethe right partner. Being a dadis incredibly fulfilling andmeaningful. I believe that youcan be a successful CEO and

dad. And I’m on a mission toprove it. There are five key les-sons I’ve learned that havehelped me manage my role asCEO and dad. Most of these prin-ciples are applicable to anyother role within a company,not just the CEO:

1. Identify PrioritiesPrioritizing is critical to accom-plishing your goals. Jottingdown a list of items that aremost important allows you tomake decisions early aboutmeaningful activities andwhether or not they take prece-dence. Without priorities, theurgent will always take over andyou’ll be left frustrated that youmissed something of impor-tance for something else thatmay have been urgent, but lessimportant. The two highest pri-orities on my list (which I willrarely miss) are: 1) family dinnerand 2) daily time with eachchild.

2. Create a PlanOnce your priorities have beenestablished, I recommend creat-

ing a plan of attack that allowsyou to accomplish your high-est priorities. The plan will like-ly include a detailed scheduleof work, family time, meals, etc.For example, Sheryl Sandberg(COO at Facebook) has set aschedule to leave work eachday at 5:30 p.m. It’s obviousshe has set her priority (dinnerwith the kids) and has also cre-ated a plan on how she’ll beable to meet her prioritizedgoals.

3. Be disciplinedThe hardest part about execut-ing on the plan is being disci-plined enough that you canactually meet your goals. Everyweek, your plans & prioritieswill likely be challenged bysomething happening at theoffice. Appointment requestswill come, challenges will arise,meetings will go long, dead-lines will be looming, andthere will always be excuses tomake an exception. Duringthose times, your priorities willbe tested. However, most of theitems can be handled without

Keys to Successfully Maintain a Healthy Work Life Balance

TheatreRELIGIOUSbigotry, stereotypes, intolerance,ethnocentrism and their vices, which are

some of the problems bedeviling the existenceof Nigeria as a nation, were brought to thefront burner of live theatre for enthusiasts tosavour in the stage play Yoruba Romance. Written by Tyrone Terrence and directed byWilliams Benson, the play, which was staged atTerra Kulture, Lagos was produced byQuebic4Productions in collaboration with The-atre at Terra Kulture, an offshoot of Terra Kul-ture organisation.Adapted from A Marriage Proposal, a 17th cen-tury play by the Russian playwright, AntonChekhov, Yoruba Romance is a hilarious comedythat dispels deep-seated prejudices about inter-tribal relations in Nigeria.Centred on Ladoja (Omololu Sodiya), ChiefChibuzor (Chris Ubani Robert) and Nneka(Uduak Akrah Egom), the play tells the story ofhow Ladoja, an affluent 49-year old farmer,makes up his mind to marry Nneka, ChiefChibuzor’s daughter. Ladoja expresses his in-tent to Chibuzor, who is not only his neigh-bour, but has a long outstanding quarrel withhis family. Chibuzor, a rich Igbo businessman, has beenliving with his 36-year old daughter, as a singleparent since the demise of his wife. However,Ladoja’s desire brings back his joy, as his mienchanges; and not bothering about their differ-ences, he arranges for the two to meet in hishouse.Ladoja, lacking the tact to pass on his intent toNneka, begins to allude to his family wealthand escapade, thereby unearthing a long-buried land dispute matter between the twofamilies. This rekindles old wounds that makesChibuzor and his daughter to chase the loverboy away from their house. When Ladoja leaves, Chibuzor then let Nnekain on Ladoja’s visit. Thinking that it would infu-riate his daughter, Nneka, without mincingwords, asks her father to go fetch Ladoja forher, saying since her mother passed away noman had approached her for marriage, espe-cially as she was getting no younger. She ac-cuses her father of finding fault with all thesuitors she had brought home, saying hewould either reject them on religious grounds,ethnic biases or cultural difference.Nneka, recounting how she lost several eligi-ble suitors as a result of her father’s prejudices,insists that her father should fetch Ladoja. Sur-prised at Nneka’s sudden fondness for a Yorubaman, a fondness he describes as Yoruba ro-mance, Chibuzor, in spite of the evening rain,goest after Ladoja to pacify his daughter andonly child.The two, Ladoja and Nneka, fearing that if theydid not overlook their family and tribal differ-ences might end up living the rest of their liveswithout marrying, as both are already ad-vanced in age. They shun all obstacles to be onein matrimony.

The storyline reflects the true Nigerian storywith the characters seamlessly deliveringtheir roles. But going by the geographical rep-resentation of the country, Benson could beaccused of bias, as the characters that featurein the play are of the Igbo and the Yorubatribes. Knowing the tripodal politics of thecountry, a character should have played theHausa role instead of a mere mention of thetribe in passing. This neglect, to any observer,especially a foreigner, gives the impressionthat the various ills highlighted are commonbetween the two tribes featured in the play.Apart from that the play teaches that for thecountry to forge ahead as a nation, the vari-ous tribes must learn to tolerate one another,as not one ethnic group can be said to beflawless. It also urges the need to rise up to pa-triotic duties and for all to stop judging oth-

ers from individual cultural affinity.

WHILE tasking the director on some of thechallenges facing theatre practice in the

country, Benson attributed it to lack of space,sponsorship and funding, noting, “We lackthe space, venues and hall to present ourplays; but of late Terra Kulture has been verysupportive by providing the venue for playsto hold every month.” While commenting on the National Theatreas a space that is not living up to its expecta-tions, Benson noted, “If you look at the Na-tional Theatre, you will discover that notmost of us can afford the space. Secondly, it isnot conducive for most of our audience.When you invite someone to come there for ashow, the first thing that comes to mind arethe hoodlums that hang around the en-

trances. Though all that is being taken care ofnow, we still don’t know what is going on therewith regards to the quality of the facilities. Butthen, we are looking into going to the MUSONCentre, which is quite expensive for the up-coming producers to keep live theatre going.” On the issues of sponsorship, he said, “No, itnot exactly so, because some of sponsors justwant to buy into the programme by just doingtheir banner, sharing their fliers at the venueand they don’t want to have any other thing dowith the production. On our own side, thetime we go to them matters the most. If thetime of asking for sponsorship is too short,they will not listen to you because the approvalof fund goes through processes; so, it requiresplanning. The challenges you see are the onesthat border on the time frame, the venue forour production, sponsorship and having theright cast.”If getting funding for production is so muchof a trouble, why not cut cost and make use ofguerilla theatre to which Benson added, “Well,Guerilla theatre is good, but the truth about itis that Nigeria is not ready for such. Back in theUK, you will see the theatre in the streets. Youwill also find people come around them todrop money as a way of appreciating what theyare doing. But we know what that would bewhen we say let’s go to Ajegunle to perform. Itis not just cordoning the whole area, but willthe people support us by putting what theycould?“Everybody is struggling to survive and we alllive barely below $3 a day. I am not saying itwon’t work, but the efforts, the process and se-curity that go with it matters”.What then is the future of stage performance?“The future of theatre will stand if we keep onpushing it, showing integrity and are constantwith our production,” he stated. “Taking livetheatre to the street may keep the theatre ac-tive, but the question is: will we get the rightaudience to pay for it? “I am not sure aboutthat and until we get that right, street theatreremains a mirage. No matter how you do it,you must pay the actors because none of themwill be willing to let go their pay.”

LACKof sustainable growth anddevelopment in many Africancountries has been blamed on in-sufficient investment in the knowl-edge economy. This declarationwas made at the conference heldon Tuesday to kick off the 12th edi-tion of Nigerian InternationalBook Fair currently holding at themulti-purpose hall of University ofLagos. It has over 53 exhibitorsfrom around the world in atten-dance.Present at the conference werethe chairman of Subsidy Reinvest-ment Programme (SURE-P), Dr.Christopher Kolade who chairedthe conference; former AnambraState Governor, Dame Virgy Etiaba,author and the traditional ruler ofNdi Ikelionwu, His Royal Majesty,Prof. Chukwuemeka Ike and Man-aging Director of University PressPlc and chairman of the book fairtrust, Mr. Samuel Kolawole among

others.While speaking at the conference,the chairman, Nigerian Book FairTrust (NBFT), organisers of the In-ternational Book Fair, Kolawolesaid the fair was a forum where allrelevant stakeholders in the edu-cation sector and the book indus-try meet to examine issues, proffersolutions and implement pro-grammes that would bring aboutan all-round human and materialdevelopment in the educationalsector.With the theme, “Investment inthe knowledge economy as Vehi-cle for Sustainable Growth and De-velopment in Africa”, Kolawolesaid that sustainable growth anddevelopment had remained elu-sive for many African countries

due to several challenges such asinsufficient investment in theright sectors and conflicts and in-security.According to him, “If Africancountries can invest in the knowl-edge economy and make it pros-perous, then our desire for real,sustainable transformation willnot only be realizable but acceler-ated.”He said that the NBFT remainscommitted to her objectives of im-proving the reading culture inNigeria and bringing books closerto the people for better educationand for self-improvement.While presenting a paper on theabove theme, the guest speaker,Mr. Gbenro Adegbola said knowl-edge had always played a crucial

role in human development fromthe beginning of time. Accordingto him, “knowledge is the founda-tion of development; it is the driverof competitiveness and productiv-ity; it nurtures, cures; it is the en-abler of institutions andgovernance, and above all, it ispower.“At no time in history has knowl-edge been so central and takengreater importance in all areas ofhuman endeavor as now. It hasadded massive value to economicproduction through increases inproductivity, and the applicationof new technologies and new ideas-both in the form of new inven-tions and also new applications ofexisting knowledge; it has broughtrevolutionary changes to virtuallyall market sectors”.

By Omiko Awa

Invest in knowledge economy, experts tell Nigerians

By Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 201326 ARTS

Yoruba Romance … A fight against tribal biases

RevueART practitioners, culture producers, advo-

cates and activists in the country alike areagreed that President Goodluck Jonathan’sinterest in the country’s art sector deservescommendation, especially when he has con-sistently backed up such interest with actualprovision of funds.

Indeed, for many years, the sector had crieditself hoarse for government’s intervention asnoticeable in other parts of the world, whereart and culture are held in high esteem andproperly funded for their growth and contri-bution to the economic and social valuechain. It largely remained an orphan, as gov-ernment and corporate Nigeria stood aloof toits plight.

But then, Mr. Jonathan’s interventions beganto trickle in. First was the $200 million enter-tainment loan scheme made available twoyears ago. Only about three players in the sec-tor are said to have been able to access thefund because of its stringent conditions notunlike what obtains in accessing loans frombanks with collateral and all.

Only recently, Mr. President also pledged N3billion as grant for filmmakers, also known asNollywood. This is unprecedented in Nigeria’sculture history.

However, this provision has created a littleunease in the creative community, as it hadturned the logic of proper funding for the cre-ative sector for which practitioners had longyearned for upside down. Some see it as a one-sided, biased donation from the country’snumber one citizen who ought to see theentire creative community as his own and notjust one segment as the grant implies.

The President has not hidden his love for thecreative community since coming to power,first as deputy governor and then governor ofBayelsa State. Bayelsa was the only state thatwas receptive to a continent-wide reward sys-tem for filmmakers when the state startedhosting Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA)that was instituted by Peace Anyiam-Osigwe.

Indeed, Mr. President is yet to wean himselffrom that first love romance with the moviesector even after becoming President. But thisis where other members of the creative com-munity that are not filmmakers feel unease;they frown at Mr. President’s open bias forNollywood, the youngest art form to the oth-ers, which is only 20 years old. Some have sub-mitted that Mr. Jonathan has simply fallen inlove with Nollywood’s klieglights, and the fadthat characterise the world of make-believe towhich film belongs.

Some have argued that if Mr. President werenot enchanted by the irresistible charms ofNollywood, he would have paid attention tothe entire creative industry and not just onesegment of it at the expense of others – litera-ture, visual arts, music and theatre. The entirecreative community has long advocated forthe formal implementation of the NationalCultural Policy, which has as one of its pri-mary pillars the National Endowment Fundfor the Arts in which the grant Mr. Presidenthas generously doled out to Nollywood oughtto be a part.

PRO North, Association of Nigerian Authors(ANA), Mr. Richard Ali, is one of those whohave voiced out his concerns about thePresident’s romance with Nollywood at theexpense of other art forms in the country.

He noted, “President Jonathan has shown hispreference for the kleighlights of Nollywoodover other organs of culture such as theAssociation of Nigerian Authors. He recentlygave Nollywood another N3 billion after givingit $200 million. How much has he given ANAand Nigerian publishers? There isn’t a lot wecan do except continue to speak the truth topower. The President is turning his adminis-tration into a philistine one as far as booksand publishing are concerned and this is sad,sad in any sort of emphasis you can imagine”.

Ali’s grouse stems from the negligence thePresident’s own pet project, Bring Back theBook, has suffered. It was designed toentrench the book reading culture amongNigerians, but it appears the project is inlimbo at the moment, thus, leaving the writ-

ing community in exasperation.A former academic, many in the intellectual

community had hoped that the President’sbook project would inject a new lease of lifeinto the book campaign , but these were not tobe.

Former president of Association of NigerianAuthors, Dr. Wale Okediran, said, “Nigerianwriters certainly need a lot of support in theform of grants and policies. The President maynot be aware of the lopsided treatment ofNollywood industry and so, this is a ‘gentle’reminder”.

However, current president, Association ofNigerian Authors and professor of English atUniversity of Ibadan, Prof. Remi Raji-Oyelade,lent another dimension to the argument,when he proposed a National ArtsCommission just like the National SportsCommission and similar commissions for var-ious sectors of the economy. While commend-ing President Jonathan for the grant toNollywood, he further argued that officials inthe culture ministry were yet to do their jobproperly in giving correct advice to Mr.President on how best to approach issuesrelating to artists and the culture ministrythey are supposed to midwife.

He stated thus: “The award of N3 billion toNollywood is greatly welcome. It is unprece-dented and a good move in support of thecultural arm of our civilization and develop-ment as a nation. Yes, Nigerian writers andindustry do need this kind of patronage. Theproactive governmental support for writingand writers is long overdue. Commentarieshave been made on this issue in the past;suggestions have been made, and argu-ments have been pushed that lack of fund-ing and support for literary writing in thiscountry may just be one reason why the artof scripting, even in the film industry, isstunted. 

“I should qualify the nature of grant thatNigerian writers deserve from governmentsand corporations in this country. The kind ofsupport that we expect from government isone which will outlast individuals andendure. It will be better to have residenciesestablished for writers and other artistes(including musicians, painters, sculptorsand actors, handicraft artists and designers)under a properly organised National ArtCommission that has a UNESCO grade sta-tus. The example of the South African ArtCommission with panels and divisions forspecialist and particular creative arts is wor-thy of emulation. A one-off grant to writers,without real enduring institutions, is onlyhalf-measure.

“I do not think that the President is biasedin that award, because it is an ‘award’ whichis determined, sought for and granted, apresent handed-down to a group, albeit for apurpose. Given past experience, we get andgive support depending on different arbi-trary terms, and you cannot fault thePresidency on that. You can only say thatperhaps there are people in the culturalministry who are not doing their job proper-ly. There are people who should know betterwho are not giving the right and dispassion-ate advice to our leaders when it comes tosupport for the creative writing industry.Isn’t it therefore a systemic problem? Let theright things be done at the right time. As Isaid earlier, Nollywood itself suffers from thelack of federal support that Nigerian writingcurrently enjoys!”

But Managing Director of Ibadan-basedUniversity Press Plc, Mr. Samuel Kolawole,argued that doling out money never reallysolved problems unless a holistic assess-ment of an industry was made and policyissues followed through thoroughly, espe-cially in the book business. He stated, “Yes,the industry needs money, but it may not beby bringing money and putting it down likethat. The biggest mistake we make is tothink that money solves all our problems; itdoesn’t! It’s not all about money. N3 billiongrant for the book industry may not solve allits problems. If you’re not careful, thatmoney will split the industry apart. They willsee it as part of their national cake and seekmeans to grab it and lose sight of the reasonfor the money.

“What the publishing industry needs is pol-icy issues, especially policy implementation.That is what we need. Take a look at thecopyright commission and strengthen itsoperations so it can fight book piracy. Thatway you would be helping the book industry

Jonathan’s romance withNollywood… Making anorphan of other art forms

By Anote Ajeluorou

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013 ARTS 27

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Jonathan

It will be better to have resi-dencies established for writersand other artistes (includingmusicians, painters, sculptorsand actors, handicraft artistsand designers) under a prop-erly organised National ArtCommission that has a

UNESCO grade status. Theexample of the South AfricanArt Commission with panels

and divisions for specialist andparticular creative arts is wor-thy of emulation. A one-offgrant to writers, without realenduring institutions, is only

half-measure

Implement instrument on National EndowmentFunds for the Arts, Cultural Policy, create ArtCommission, say stakeholders

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013ARTS28

Zack Orji; Paul Obazele; Senior Special Assistant to the President, Mr. Oronto Douglas; a guest and Kanayo O. Kanayo at the Presiential Diner in honour of the creative industry in 2011

Acting trio: Rachel Oniga; Olu Jacobs and late Justuse Esiri at the diner PHOTOS: CHARLES OKOLO

in a long way. It will also help the readingculture because many authors are frustratedright now because they don’t get royaltiesfor their books because of pirates that are atwork and they don’t get money from theirpublishers. They quarrel with their publish-ers because they see their books everywherebut no money comes to them because thepublishers are not the ones distributingthem but pirates.

“If you want to improve reading culture, it’snot about giving money to authors to say ‘goand write books’. In my own opinion, that isnot what the publishing industry needs.Ensure that the copyright system works;fight against book piracy; recognize those inthe book chain as important contributors topolicy decision-making; carry them alongwhile making policy”.

SOME have argued that PresidentJonathan’s attachment stemmed from the

perceived ambassadorial role Nollywood hasplayed for the country outside. They arguethat Nollywood has opened up the space foroutsiders to see Nigerians up-close even totheir dressing rooms, bedrooms, diningtables and other intimate areas of Nigeriansocial life.

So much so that to see Nigeria as an openbook all you need do as an outsider is to seea couple of Nollywood movies.

Arguably, Nollywood, as a culture productfrom Nigeria, has done a lot to open upNigeria’s social space to the outside worldwith its peculiar storytelling. As a popularculture, it has been doing its part in expos-ing the different lifestyles of Nigerians to awide audience, perhaps, far wider than anyother art form has done to date. But hardlin-ers in the more intellectually engaging, stim-ulating art forms question the real worth ofNollywood’s ambassadorial role and its truesignificance as a culture export. They pointat the poor quality, the often poor usage oflanguage whether spoken or sub-titledEnglish from the local languages and thesheer indiscretion of some of its exposes,especially its inability to subtly, intelligentlyrepresent certain aspects of Nigerian cultureor ways of life.

These artists point at the level of voodoo orwitchcraft, where most outsiders seeNigerians as patrons of fetish and magic forvainglorious purposes. Such critics point toNigeria’s literature (which they, like their lit-erary grandfather Chinua Achebe superblyput it in his famous novel, Things Fall Apart),has a fame that ‘rests on solid personalachievement’. They point out that Nigerianliterature has long played a great ambassa-dorial role before the existence of Nollywood,Nigerian literature’s wayward grandson, wasborn.

Achebe with his famous Things Fall Apart,Wole Soyinka, as Black Africa’s first NobelLaureate and John Pepper Clark, as Africa’s

first professor of English had long beengreat cultural ambassadors for not justNigeria but the entire black Africa andbeyond. Younger generation of writers thatsuccessfully followed as successors havewon every available international prize onoffer: Niyi Osundare – Commonwealth Prize;Ben Okri – Booker Prize; Chimanmada NgoziAdichie – Orange Prize and Helon Habila, E.C.Osundu and Rotimi Babatunde – Caine Prize.These are all international prizes the entireworld of writers strongly covet.

In spite of these towering, landmarkingachievements by Nigerian men and womenof letters, Mr. President hasn’t seen it fit togive a grant to the book industry to helpwriters and publishers produce more award-winning books or to properly equip thenation’s dilapidated libraries so the countrycan continue to produce succeeding genera-tion of writers of immense promise.

After 20 years of existence, no Nollywoodfilm has been screened inside any of themajor pavilions at Canes Film Festival in

France or any major international film festi-val. Nigerian filmmakers are usually mostlyspectators in these milestone events. OnlyJeta Amata’s Amazing Grace managed a sidescreening at Caines a few years ago.

The visual art community isn’t left out inprojecting Nigeria’s culture abroad. Nameslike Ben Enwonwu readily come to mind. Hewas the first black African whom QueenElizabeth daintily sat for to have her portraitpainted!

Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy was anotherNigeria to be so honoured with the royal sit-ting for a portrait. Other visual art masterssuch as Yusuf Grillo, Bruce Onobrakpeya,Lamide Fakeye and David Dale have all putNigerian name indelibly on the visual arthistory of the world. Yet that cerebrallyacclaimed art sector is yet to receive a grantfor its huge contributions.

Of course, there was a time when a Nigerianex-leader was referred to as belonging toFela’s country! That was the immense powerthat the Afrobeat legend possessed outsidethe country so much so that a head of statewas so obscure as to belong to Fela’s country.Now, Fela’s son, Femi Kuti and King Sunny

Ade had sat alongside other world acclaimedmusicians to compete for honours at theAmerica Grammy Award. They did not win,but they shared the stage with some of theworld’s best. For now, Nollywood’s best stillhave a long way to go!

FOR former president, National Associationof Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) Mr.

Greg Odutayo government needed to eitherbuild cottage theatres or empower individu-als to build them so as to facilitate the stagingof plays at the grassroots and thereby employthose in the performance arts. Odutayo statedrecently,  “NANTAP’s cardinal objective for2013 is building theatre audiences across thecountry, so that practitioners can again startto speak for the people. And to achieve this,we need sustainable development for the sec-tor.

“Government must, as a matter of urgency,look into the establishment of cottage the-atres in at least in every local government inthe country. For this will help bring theatreand the allied arts to the people, aside fromcreating employment for the vast theatregraduates that are churned out every yearfrom our numerous universities; it is the onlyway to bring massive development to the sec-tor and generate employment for the youth.Such grant from government can help putcottage theatres all over the country to stimu-late theatre practice”.

Also, a respected but retired visual artteacher and practitioner, Mr. KoladeOshinowo berated government for not doingenough in the visual art sector. He said suchneglect had huge monetary loss to the coun-try and stressed that government must wakeup and take advantage of Nigeria’s vast art tal-ent and potentials and takes its pride of placeon the continent. Oshinowo noted, “I am usu-ally not very impressed when governmentmakes such grant pronouncement withoutconsideration given to other sectors of thearts. I believe government should adopt amuch more holistic approach in the giving ofgrants to the art sector rather than beingselective. For instance, the visual artists havebeen crying for years for a purpose-built artgallery for the nation. This is one of the rea-sons Nigeria is conspicuously missing on listof countries that host International ArtBiennials which would have been a majorsource of revenue earning for the country.What about artistic monuments in our publicspace? The list is endless”.

...A President’s preference for klieglights of NollywoodCONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

I am usually not veryimpressed when governmentmakes such grant pro-

nouncement without consid-eration given to other sec-tors of the arts. I believegovernment should adopt a

much more holisticapproach in the giving ofgrants to the art sector

rather than being selective.For instance, the visual

artists have been crying foryears for a purpose-built artgallery for the nation

FilmTHEREis no doubt that Nigerian movie indus-try has endeared itself to the minds of many

people within and outside Nigeria. It is also truethat the industry has provided a platform forjob creation and revenue earnings.Yet, in all its contributions to the entertain-ment industry and the Nigerian economy,stakeholders are concerned about the need forimproved content delivery to deepen interestand acceptance from the viewing public. This, itwas believed could be achieved by taking theneeds and expectations of consumers into con-sideration in the production and marketing offilms.At a Consumer Forum organised early lastweek by the National Film and Video CensorsBoard (NFVCB), consumers in particular wereeducated on some of the regulatory responsibil-ities of the agency. The idea was to enlightenthem on their crucial position of designingideas and proffering solutions that would helpin adding value to filmmaking in the country.The event attracted participation of stakehold-ers in entertainment and communication sec-tors including the former Director-General,National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Dr.Tom Adaba; former Director-General, NFVCB,Mr. Emeka Mba; Director of Public Affairs, Niger-ian Communication Commission, Tony Ojoboas well as one of the country’s foremost creativedirectors, Ruth Sankey.In her welcome address, Acting Director Gen-eral of the film board, Ms Patricia Bala, empha-sised the need for film consumers to maintainsynergy between the census board and film-makers. She informed that the consumer parlia-ment initiative, which was first of its kind, wasinfluenced by the need to endorse consumersas the third leg of the tripod in the film produc-tion chain.While describing consumers as the stamina forthe film industry, the censors’ boss harped onthe need to defend and engage them consider-ably in the business of film production andmarketing.She said, “We must carry them along as criticalstakeholders because without them, therewould be no us. This is the prime focus of theNational Film and Video Census Board.“We acknowledge that Nollywoodhas done ex-ceedingly well to project and unveil Nigeria innew colours to the world. That stands us out inAfrican and beyond and has placed Nigeria atshoulders with Hollywoodand paddling uscloser to Bollywood. The industry has createdjobs and fame and has contributed significantlyto our foreign exchange earnings.“This is the reason the consumer has becomeindispensable. Truly, there would not be any joband fame if these products were not cherishedby the consumer. They buy the content, love itand watch it. They crafted worldwide awardsthat today have become ‘The Oscars’. These arethe efforts of our consumers – the stakeholdersthat are the driving force behind this session”.Applauding consumers as an indispensable

partner in the industry, Bala pledged the com-mitment of the board in ensuring that the in-terest of consumes are protected at all times.She further stated: “The NFVCB remains verycommitted to the core mandate of identifyingand protecting the interest of consumers, toprotect and shield their minds from picturesthat would harm their passions, sensibilitiesand destinies.“We believe in the influence of film and videosin shaping the lives of consumers. Nigerianparents, like parents the world over, want abright future for their children. It is hoped thatsex and violence in our films and videos will becautiously moderated. The voice of consumerswill be heard in our films and videos”.It was her hope that at the end of the one-dayforum, the board would have succeeded in es-tablishing a new platform of constructive,strategic engagement with both filmmakersand film consumers.In his remarks, chairman of the occasion andformer Director General of Nigerian Broadcast-ing Commission, Dr Tom Adaba, traced the his-

tory of movie making in Nigeria to the days oftelevision. He also reiterated the relevance oftaking cognizance of people’s culture inmovies and advised producers to balance cre-ativity with responsibility.All those who spoke at the event harped onthe need for producers to go beyond the lurefor cash to project the image of the country ingood light. Filmmakers were admonished toalways project the positive side of Nigeriawhile bearing in mind that these films wereviewed beyond the shores of Nigeria.He noted, “Filmmakers should be more cre-ative in the handling of rituals and voodoo intheir films in order not to make Nigeria appeara country of ritual killers and fetish people be-fore the global community”.Meanwhile, the censors’ board on its part, wascharged to intensify efforts in its enlighten-ment campaigns to ensure that the generalpublic received sufficient enlightenment onthe need to look out for labels and logos of theagency on the jackets of films in the market.Prof. John Ellah was categorical on the need

for government to replace all obsolete teachingequipments and teaching aids in Nigerian uni-versities and replace them with modern onesto help in the teaching of film studies. He main-tained that if film students didn’t have theproper foundation, the industry would con-tinue to be confronted with the challenge of‘garbage in garbage out’.There was also a consensus that the Nigerianmovie industry was not child-friendly, as nochildren’s films were being produced.While commending government for the N3billion intervention funds for the film industry,participants called for stronger platforms forfilmmaker by investing more in the industry.The board was also commended for its initia-tive in organising the forum and urged that theforum to replicated across the country. Mean-while, practitioners were admonished to bemore professional in the handling of technicalinputs for better production. For instance, theysuggested that the use of zobo for blood-effectand the fire-crackers for bullets should be de-emphasised.

OMOTOLA Jolade Ekeinde andJim Iyke, two of the stars of the

action thriller, Last Flight to Abuja,will be available to hand out flighttickets to fans of the Nollywoodfilm, as the movie is set to be re-leased officially on May 20.This is part of the activities sched-uled by The Nollywood Factory, theproducers of the movie which re-cently clinched the Best Film by anAfrican Abroad in honour of victimsof last year’s plane crash at Iju out-skirts of Lagos one year after thetragic incident. According to astatement by the productionhouse, everyone who has a copy ofthe DVD is qualified to take part inthe campaign and only needs to filla coupon inside the movie jacket,which would be mailed back to thespecified address.

“The movie has garnered a lot offans in the past twelve months,going from one country to an-other, and from one film festival toanother, but now the opportunityhas come to let these fans ownwhat they have always desired. In-terestingly, some lucky fans wouldalso smile as the Nollywood Fac-tory and her associates would begiving out flight tickets to some ofour lucky fans at an event thatwould have the fans also meetingthe cast and crew members so ofthe film”, the statement said.In all about five tickets would behanded out to winners at an eventwhich would be attended by themembers of cast and crew of themovie reputed to have broken boxoffice records in West Africa, fol-lowing its successful outing at the

cinemas last year.The film written and directed byObi Emelonye grossed N8.5 millionin seven days, according to officialNigerian cinema ratings beatingmajor Hollywood blockbusterssuch as ‘Spiderman’ ‘Think like aMan’, ‘Avengers’ and ‘Madagascar’and was second only to the highly-rated blockbuster, ‘Dark KnightRises’ during the cinema screen-ings last year.Last Flight to Abuja, also the first Nol-lywood film to be shot mostly on anairplane also featured the likes ofHakeem Kae-Kazim, Ali Nuhu, JideKosoko, Olumide Bakare, FrancaBrown, Uche Odoputa, AnthonyMonjaro, Uru Eke and Celine Loaderamongst others.The movie is set in Nigeria and cap-tured a group of everyday Nigerian

travelers who boarded the lastFlamingo Airways flight scheduledto fly from Lagos, the commercialcity to Abuja, the capital, on a fatefulFriday night in 2006.Everything seemed alright as theplane was cruising at 30,000 feet,tranquil and on schedule. But like asnap of the finger, through a mix-ture of human error, technical fail-ure and sheer bad luck, the planerapidly develops major difficultiesthat send it battling on the brink ofdisaster.So far, the work has been gettingcritical international acclaim due toits technical details as well as the-matic relevance having addressedone of the recurring problems of theNigerian aviation system, which hasrecorded so many fatalities in thepast decade.

Board advocates closer filmmakers, consumers ties

By Bridget Chiedu Onochie

NFVCB Acting DG, Patricia Bala and former DG, Nigeria Broadcasting Commission, Dr. Tom Adaba at the forum

Jolade Ekeinde

Omotola, Jim Iyke to reward fans with tickets in Last Flight to Abuja

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Deals &Discounts TheGuardianConscience, Nurtured by Truth

In partnership with

Showblast

IN Nigeria, gaining employment with an oil firm is a big deal,especially among the youth. Many are ready to go to any

length just to secure the job. Aside from the usual fat takehome pay, the welfare package for oil workers seems to be themain attraction. In this part of the world, it’s a status thing. Butfor Timi Odikeme, who has been with Chevron Nigeria for yearsnow, life is beyond white-collar jobs with fat pay; it’s about pas-sion. Though he’s doing well in the oil sector, Odikeme has never

hidden his interest in the entertainment industry. As far as theBayelsa State native is concerned, music is a passion too pre-cious to let go. Right from his childhood, he has always nursedthe ambition of becoming a great saxophonist. Unfortunately,his tight schedule at the oilrig would not allow that dream tomaterialise.He enthused recently, “I enjoy saxophone; it gives me the

rhythm that makes me feel that all the components of musicare fussed into sax. I still nurse the dream of becoming a don insaxophone because it gives me pleasure”. A graduate of Petroleum Engineering from the Petroleum

Training Institute, Warri (PTI), Timi’s love for music dates backto his primary school days when he led his classmates in folksongs.“My lure to music was generated by my teacher when I was in

primary five; she taught us some folk songs and I was theleader of the group. From there, I developed interest in music,”he recalled.Even in church, Timi is always found in the music group. In

fact, he’s currently the music coordinator of his parish in PortHarcourt (Redeemed Christian Church of God). “In 2001, I established a programme called Praise Night. The

idea was to bring together Gospel music artistes from differentChurches to praise God and entertain the audience. It later de-veloped into a yearly programme in 2003.”It was in the course of producing the yearly Parise Night that

he discovered his first music group, Vessel of Praise.“It’s a music group comprising of three young men, who have

interest in promoting gospel music. They found themselves atthe Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori, so when I saw their talents, Idecided to assist them to actualize their dreams of becomingmusic stars.”Through Timi’s sponsorship, the group made up of M2k, Vita-

min C and Mr. Robison came out with songs that caught the at-tention of audience, especially in the South-South region of thecountry.“A lot of people appreciated their songs. In fact, one of their

tracks became a major praise song in most churches in DeltaState. But unfortunately, we were not able to push them. Wecouldn’t really cross the boundaries, as we had wanted to be-cause I didn’t have all the time to push things.”Discouraged by their inability to break into the mainstream of

the country’s music industry, the artistes resolved to joingospel singer, Asu Ekiye as vocal assistants.“For me, it was a good decision to move on because they are

talented boys. Working with Asu Ekiye gave the opportunity tolearn more. But while they were with Ekiye, we still maintainedcommunication because we had the dream of still working to-gether in the future.”Fortunately for Timi, Mr. Robison, one member of the group

resolved to go solo in an effort to actualize his dream.“I took him up, encouraged him and gave him all the support

to become a star. I took him to radio station and arranged pub-licity campaign for him. But at that time, I wasn’t seeing it as abusiness; it was a desire to satisfy my interest as a man wholoves music.”Determined to create a platform that would help music

artistes from the South-South region compete favourably withtheir counterparts in other parts of the world, Timi came upwith Tadok Global Production in 2012.“The dream actually came up when I hosted some artistes to a

Barbecue Nite in my house; that was when I hinted my plansto establish a record label. My aim is to create a platform forPort Harcourt based artistes to explore.”With departments such as music and video production,

music and video publishing, record label, event managementand entertainment outfit, Tadok is poised to change the faceof showbiz in Port Harcourt and it’s environs. Popularly calledTadok Music factory, the building boasts of a world classrecording facilities for audio-visual production, mass Duplica-tion of CD/DVD, standard dance studio with live band for re-hearsals and a well lighten garden with stage for liveperformances, album listening and other outdoorevents.“This is a multi million-naira studio. To be honest

with you, it runs over 15 million naira to put thisplace to this state, minus the building itself.”On why he resolved to start big, The CEO of

Tadok explained, “When I started Tadok, I waspaying for studio sessions for my artistes insmall studios. But after doing an in-depth re-search about studio ownership, South-Southartistes and the Nigerian artistes makingwaves in the music industry, I discovered thata standard professional studio that wouldhave been able to help our artistes compete fa-vorably with other artistes outside was miss-ing in the region. Most of them still mime theirown songs; even when given them an opportu-nity to play live, it is usually marred with a lot offlaws because they do not have places for re-hearsals or professional studios to build theirtalent.”According to Timi, Tadok Music Factory

is a product of long months of re-search within and outside thecountry.“I made several fact-finding

trips to within and outsidethe country and I discoveredthat songs by Port Harcourt-based artistes were missingfrom the list of songs onheavy rotation. I alsofound out that in South-South, they have a singlepattern of beat possibly,because most of the pro-ducers in the area weretrained by the same setof people. This is why Idecided to hire a goodmusic producer fromLagos and equiphim with all heneeded to workwith. The idea is forhim to infuse theLagos beat into theSouth-South beatand create some-thing exotic;equipment alonewill not makegood music,” hesaid.Driven by an ex-

ecutive team thatpossesses bothdepth and dy-namism, Tadok

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013ARTS36

Stories by Chuks Nwanne...The buzz in town

aims to achieve world-class quality production enhanced by aninnovative, Afro-politan sensibility. “Our deep understanding of the local market makes us the go-

to partner for foreign companies looking to explore the Niger-ian media and entertainment sectors and similarly, our vastinternational experience and contacts give local clients the com-fort that we are as up to date, in the mix and in the know as anyagency they may find in England, America or other creative capi-tals.”Already, three artistes, Blunt Ace, M. Tukay and Presh (of the KC-

Presh) have been signed on to the label, while plans are onground to discover more talents from the zone.

“Presh is a South-South artiste; we discovered him when hewas still with KC when they won the Star Quest reality

show in 2002.  I saw him as a talented; he could sing,but he limited himself to only rap and ended up

looking like a back up artiste for KC. The deal tomanage him was signed on May 23, 2012, and itruns for three years. He has been on a European

tour, specifically Spain, Austria, Italy, etc. to fur-ther promote him globally,” he said.With the huge funding he’s giving to music and

his passion for entertainment, you wonder whythe Bayelsa State native dished music for white-

collar job?“I’ve never seen myself as a musician; I’ve always

seen myself as a helper. Not only in music, even inthe Church, I’ve always been the supporter of posi-

tive indicatives. That’s why for many years, I’venever thought of becoming a pastor; I’ve al-

ways wanted to be the man that sup-ports vision for humanity.”

With the way he spokeabout church andreligion, you beginto wonder whyTimi decided towork with secu-lar artistes?

“If you lookedat the market,most of thegospel artistesare sufferingtoday becausethe churchesdo not careto listen totheir cry. Irememberhaving adiscus-sion withanartiste,whowas toper-form atmy

event. Bythe time

the guyexplained

to me whathe spends in

taking careof members

of his band,you discover

that at the end ofthe day, he is left

with little or noth-ing. So, to ensure

that my artistes don’tfind themselves in

that situation, I decidedthat while some of them

play gospel music, otherswould do secular songs.

However, I take time to en-sure that their lyrics conformto our standard.”

One-on-one with Tadok Boss

Working with Asu Ekiye gave the opportu-nity to learn more. But while they were

with Ekiye, we still maintained communi-cation because we had the dream of still

working together in the future

‘Tadok is a desire to satisfy my interestas a man who loves music’

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013 ARTS 37

Camp-Mulla

FEW months after he joined Naija FM as a pre-senter, comedian Erem Emeka Nehemiah,

otherwise known as Ajebo, has taken a newtwist in his career with a comedy album entitledHouse of Ajebo. Ahead of the release, the fast ris-ing stand-up comedian and creative writer hasdropped his first song, Lie lie.

With House of Ajebo, the past winner of AY Liveis confident that comedy fans will experiencesomething new.

“I am bringing humour and broadcasting to-gether, which is what I do on radio. This is mycreative gift to give a new face to comedy. We arebringing something new to the table by takingcomedy to another level. This is trendy andeverybody wants to listen to the song. We willrelease the video soon,” he assured.

According to the entertainer, a marketingdeal will soon be wrapped up for the distribu-tion of the album, which is expected to hit theshelves in June.

“You know everybody is waxing audio comedyCDs, where they just crack jokes from the begin-ning to the end.But I am offeringa comedy album.It is a comedyalbum where youhave about 14 to15 tracks. It in-cludes jokes andskits among oth-ers. It is not likethe stereotype,where you justcrack jokes. I amdoing a wellrounded comedyalbum, afterwhich we willshoot the video ofthe all album.”

ALL is now set for the first ever MTV All StarsKwaZulu-Natal music concert billed for May

18, at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, People’s Parkin Durban, South Africa. Conceived by MTV Base,the live show, which will parade notable Africanmusic stars, will be headlined by America’s rapgreat, Snoop Lion, formally called Snoop Dog.Nigeria’s D’Banj and Big Nuz will also join in theparade to entretain music fans at the concert inDurban. A charismatic performer, singer-songwriter,

D’Banj has risen to stardom, thanks to his innova-tive fusion of Afrobeat, Afropop and Afrofusionsounds, delivered in a combination of Yoruba,English and Pidgin English.  The self-styled KokoMaster and multi-platinum selling recordingartiste achieved global attention with his 2012smash-hit, Oliver Twist, which sold more than 11million copies worldwide and debuted at num-ber 9 on the UK National charts; just behind thelikes of Rihanna and Tulisa.Inspired and influenced by the late AfroBeat

maestro Fela Anikulapo Kuti, D’Banj has won ahost of awards including Best African Act at theMTV Europe Music Awards 2007, Artist of theYear at the MTV Africa Music Awards 2009, theBET Awards of 2011 for Best International Act andBest African Act at the 2012 MOBO Awards.Fresh from their appearance at the MTV Africa All

Stars tour in Nairobi, Kenya are the undisputedkings of kwaito, Big Nuz, the insanely talentedtrio that comprises Jojo (aka Mampintsha), Mzi(aka Danger) and Sbu (aka R Mashesha). Sinceforming in 2002, these award-winning Durbanhomeboys have confidently transformed theSouth African dance music landscape, growingunder the guidance of their mentor, DJ Tira, andgracing innumerable clubs and stages at homeand abroad with banging dancefloor favouritessuch as Umlilo, Ntombenhle, Serious and NewlandsWest.

HAVING worked for months under the shad-ows of the ‘big boys’ of EME Entertainment,

EME Soldier Raoul John Njeng-Njeng, popularlyknow as Skales, seems ready to strike his ownchord. In readiness for the release of his debuteffort, the artiste has dropped two new singles,Take Care Of Me and Denge Pose.Produced by Legendary Beatz, the two songs

are off his soon to be released debut work, AllThe Above. Known for numerous hit tracks suchas Mukulu, Komole, My Baby among many, Skalesis expected to drop his album later this year,though no exact date has been fixed.A fast rising act, Skales has wooed many audi-

ences around Nigeria with his unique rap styleand charm on stage; from the Zain Tru Search tal-ent competition in 2008, to the Soundcity Blastconcert in 2009, where he astonished the crowdwith a rap acapella.His journey into the world of music begun way

back in 2000, when he started writing his ownsongs and honing his rap skills in Kaduna,where he grew up. Between 2007 and 2008, thisadventurous young man travelled to Jos asoften as he could to work with some of Nigeria’sfinest producers, Jeremiah Gyang and Jesse Jagz.

AFTER a biennial National Delegates Confer-ence organised by a faction of the Perform-

ing Musicians Employers Association ofNigeria (PMAN), that saw the emergence ofHajia Amina O. Dangaji as the National presi-dent, the music body has called on membersto join forces with the new administration fora better performance.In a communique signed by the General Sec-

retary of the faction, Kenny A. George, theunion maintained that the dissolution of theprevious regime led by Ras Murphy van An-thony and institution of a new government,reflected the choice of the people in accor-dance with PMAN constitution.According to the scribe, the new executive

will run the affairs of the union for the nexttwo years, pending the approval by the officeof the Registrar of the Trade Unions and subse-quent ratification by congress of the new four-year term for both the national and statechapters as adopted by the conference. The conference, which had delegates from 27

state chapters including Federal capital Terri-tory (FCT) elected Hajia Amina O. Dangaji asthe president, Prince Jerry Demua 1st vice pres-ident, King Waleman 2nd vice president, DavidOlusegun (Alade) Treasurer, Seven Ex- officio

members and one National Trustee. Theywere consequently sworn-in by the unionsLegal Adviser V.J. Kara. Other resolutions adopted at the conference,

according to George, were the discharge ofmembers, who had been involved in anti-union activities that had adversely affectedthe fortune of the union. He stressed that theregistered office/National Secretariat ofPMAN remains at Ikeja, Lagos State and that ithas not been re-located as published by in thepapers last year. “The present administration under Hajia

Amina O. Dangaji should be protected andsupported since it’s a product of lawful andlegitimate succession order that is ready tomove PMAN to the next level,” he said.Meanwhile, the Oritz Williki/Bolaji Rosiji fac-

tion of PMAN has elected Questionmark boss,Kevin Lucciano Gabriel, as the PMAN interimpresident, with a mandate to serve for 18months. Installed on Saturday, April 27, Luc-ciano was elected after his opponent, gospelartiste & showbiz promoter, Skid Ikemefunastepped down for him.To run the union with Kevin Lucciano are fa-

mous musician & Time Na Money singer, MikeOkri, who was elected Vice President andMaureen Ejezie a.k.a Mama Entertainment(2nd Vice President). Singer Azeezat Allen alsoemerged PMAN Treasurer.

Durban hots up for MTV All Africa Stars

Discordant tunes in PMAN…

AHEAD of its debut today atthe Four Point Hotel,

Lagos, MeetOrbit.com, a newglobal social networking plat-form, has signed up topNigerian entertainers includ-ing musicians and Nollywoodstars to its platform. According to Adekunle Ayo-

dele, founder and CEO ofDataBox Technologies, theplatform behind the socialnetworking site,MeetOrbit.com will revolu-tionise the global concept ofsocial networking.“MeetOrbit.com is gathering

momentum following itslaunch in the U.S. This is adream come true for me. Theresponse has been over-whelming. As I speak to you,Nigerian acts are excited andhave signed up with the plat-form.”

Among Nigerian artistes al-ready on the platform areTrybe Records boss, eLDee,Sound Sultan, Koffi OwenGee, Abdulala, African Chinaand Baba Dee. Others are DJVinnie, GT D Guitarman,Jgansta, Laide Bakare, Lepa-cious Bose, Lova Bernard,Marcakay and MoyinoluwaOlutayo among others. Thesite has advanced forwardthinking features which fo-cuses on connecting peopleboth locally and globallythrough video chat technol-ogy. “MeetOrbit.com is the first

online platform with onlinecelebrity auction, dynamicprofile videos, and video shuf-fle chat with a galactic planettheme. For the first time on-line, people will be able to in-stantly collaborate with

MeetOrbit.com excites showbiz stars people locally and globally.Gone are the days of simplyfollowing celebrities that youadmire. People can come tothe platform and chat withthem from the comfort oftheir homes.”According to Ayodele, the aim

is to build a site that improveslives and reinvents the socialnetworking experience.“The site is based on a galactic

theme and has several subsites with unique purposesand features. They includeMeet A Friend, Profile Video,Video Shuffle Chat, Meet AMentor. Meet A Star and Ex-change Forum. The vision ofthe site is to create a universaland innovative platform thatreinvents how people connect,engage and transform theirsocial media experiencethrough video technology.”

SkalesAjebo

D’Banj

With Denge Pose, TakeCare Of Me, Skales isset for the big debut

SHOWBLAST

• Hajia Amina calls for peace, as Luciano emerges interim leaderBy Chika Onwukwe

Ajebo drops comedy album

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013ARTS38

Okonjo-Iweala, Duke and Okafor

Paul Igwe

CLINIC Matters is a television sitcom thathas captured and retained people’s in-

terest for a longtime now. Usually filledwith hilarious actions enacted by good roleinterpreters, the hospital-centered showhas won several national and internationalawards. However, the brain behind this produc-

tion is not known by many people due tohis choice of being behind the camera. Butfor those who know Paul Igwe, his creativityis never in doubt,An independent filmmaker, Igwe is the

eldest from a family of six. A native of ogutain Imo state, he is married with a kid. He stated recently, “My journey into the

motion picture industry started 14 yearsago and it has been an awesome experi-ence. I ventured as a movie director work-ing for different people. Then in 2007, Idecided to go into television; that year I di-rected a TV sitcom, Extended Family, whichwas produced by Bovi Ugboma. That wasthe programme that launched Bovi as acomic actor and a comedian.”When Extended Family was rested, Igwe

started Clinic Matters, which is today a bigproject.“I developed the passion for film when I

was in secondary school; we live in Agudasomewhere close to olufemi, where ZebEjiro had his office then. I can say that thebusiness of film production started thatplace and I admire the practitioners a lot,hence I decided to be among these creativeminds.” Do you have a formal training in this area? “After my secondary education. I went to

ITPAN Training School, where I got trainedas a director. I’m also a product of School ofMedia Communication Pan-African Univer-sity. If you come into a business and youdon’t have a formal training, you will justbe floating. Therefore, the training I hadhelped to shape and strengthen my career,

hence I was able to define what I needed.”To the producer, producing content is about

satisfying the demand of viewers. “It came to my understanding that you don’t

produce a content because you like and believein it, rather you produce a content because youwant to satisfy the demand of the people. Thefact that you believe in a project doesn’t meanthat other people will believe in it. You shouldbe sure that what you want to produce is whatthe society wants.” Before Clinic Matters, a survey was actually

carried out by the crew to ascertain what theaudience wanted.

“We got a positive result and we started.I also believe in professionalism and team-work; Adekunle Salau created and has beenscripting the programme till today. More so,if you watch Clinic Matters, you will discoverthat there is a feedback page at the end ofevery episode, from there we get views fromour audience. In fact, we are not doing whatwe want, but we carry people along.” on how he feels working behind the scene,

Igwe said, “that’s exactly what I want becauseI’m a very shy person. Sometimes, when I no-tice that people around me know who I am, Idon’t feel comfortable. Apart from that, I’mdetermined to leave a legacy. For instance, weall grew up to watch New Masquerade in the80’s; the show was very famous so as the char-acters. But we don’t know the producer ofthat programme. To me, by the time peoplebegin to recorgnise you, there is tendency toloose focus. When people don’t know you,they will criticize your work and say the truth,but when they know you, they may not saythe truth.”He continued: “Right now people appreciate

Clinic Matters irrespective of the fact that theydon’t know the owner and it gives me fulfill-ment.” For Igwe, there’s comfort working behind

the scene.“Sincerely, I feel satisfied; I feel in charged.

When you work behind the camera, you con-trol everything that happens before the cam-era. As a producer/director, I see myselfworking to actualise my vision and that givesme a lot of satisfaction.” As a filmmaker, Igwe’s greatest dream is, “to

do a sitcom that will be on the same pedestalwith programmes like Friends, Two & Half Menand others. I really want to do a productionthat will compete favorably with Hollywoodcreations and win the greatest award. ClinicMatters has won several awards, but that isnot our ultimate goal; we are looking at some-thing bigger.”

‘We are looking beyond Clinic Matters’MoviBuzz By Chika Onwukwe

Koga Open Housebreeds fresh talents

supervised by the Minister of Finance, Ngoziokonjo Iweala and Minister of Culture,Tourism and National orientation, ChiefEdem Duke. Also supporting the industry, theAkwa-Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabiodonated N50 million to the industry as thePresident’s reward for creativity.In his speech, the President acknowledged

the pivotal roles Nollywood has played in pro-moting the image of Nigeria both within andoutside the continent.

“There are three endeavours that uniteNigerians: sports, music and movies,” hesaid.However, since the announcement was

made, there have been discordant tunesamong practitioners, especially fromthose, who complained of not being car-ried along in the initiative. Also, some prac-titioners complain of inadequateinformation on the modalities for access-ing the grant; it has become a heated de-

bate in Nollywood.In an attempt to clear the air on the issue, the

Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Min-ister of Finance, okonjo-Iweala, in collaborationwith the Minister of Culture and Tourism, ChiefEdem Duke recently hosted Nollywood practition-ers to a townhall meeting at the Eko Hotel, Victo-ria Island, Lagos. Addressing the gathering, okonjo-Iweala in-

formed that the N3 billion intervention fund,which President Jonathan promised the Nigerianfilm industry last month, would not be sharedout as grants or loans. She stressed that the fund,contrary to the impression some stakeholdersmay be nursing, was to leave behind somethingsolid on which the industry can leverage on andgrow to a new level. She stated, “The N3 billion which the President

promised is meant to be a catalyst, which willhelp the industry leverage other sources of fund-ing and expertise and grow to a new level. Themoney will not solve every problem but it’s agood beginning. We need to use it well for thebenefit of this important industry and the bene-fit of the country”.The minister assured practitioners of Federal

Government’s commitment in ensuring that theintervention fund led to sustainable benefits forthe industry, noting, “The new grant will notoverride the earlier $200 million fund presentlybeing disbursed by both Nigeria Export-ImportBank, NEXIM and Bank of Industry, BoI.”In his remark, the Minister of Culture and

Tourism, Chief Edem Duke hinted on the need toreach a common position on key issues affectingthem, adding that the pervasive hostility andbickering among film practitioners in the coun-try remained an obstacle to the continuedgrowth of the industry.“Nollywood has become an important ambassa-

dor of Nigeria and the Presidential interventionfund underscores government’s appreciation ofthe platform and its great potential to contributesignificantly not only to the economy but also toa better understanding of Nigeria by the world.”At the end of the session, participants unani-

mously agreed on the need to develop a strongdistribution system and strengthen expertise todeepen professionalism in the industry. Thetownhall meeting, according to the organisers,was in line with the decision of the two min-istries to engage practitioners in the industryand to get their input and ideas on the best waysto deploy the funds to achieve set goal.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the Nigerianmotion picture industry known as Nolly-

wood, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathanstaged a special diner for practitioners inLagos. Held at the State House Marina, theevent, which was held under tight security,equally attracted top government officialsand some state governors, who came to showsupport for the industry.At that event, President Jonathan announced

a grant of N3 billion for the film industry, to be

Jonathan’s N3 billion grant… What ministers told Nollywood practitioners

SHoWBLAST

To demonstrated its willignness to support theentretainment industry, Koga Entertainment

recently organised an open House Talent Hunt.The session, which was held at the company’spremises in Ikeja, attracted hundreds of hope-fuls, who slugged it out with fellow contestatnsto impress the 10 judges made up of notablemusic producers in the country.A two-day talent hunt show, the search aims at

discovering new, untapped and talented musi-cians, singers or songwriters in all genres ofmusic. At the end of the show, 10 people were pic-ked and they get the opportunity of having theirsongs produced by 10 of the best producers.After two grueling days of wonderful perfor-

mances of rap, soul, R and B, jazz, reggae, fuji, gos-pel and soul music, 30 people were chosen toenter the final round. These 30 were narroweddown to the 10 winners, who are to be producedby each of the judges, while the remaining 20were compensated with a recording session eachat the renowned Koga studios.The producers at the show included oJB Jezreel

(produced Tuface’s African Queen), Mr Daz (pro-duced Faze’s Tattoo Girls), Puffy Tee (producedolu Maintain’s Yahooze) and Don Adah (produ-cessssssd Christine Ben Ameh’s Daddy). othersare Black Jersey (produced Nomoreloss’s ojuri),Kraftmatics (produced Mode 9), Phat E (produ-ced Jodie’s Kuchi Kuchi), P. Edwards (producedB.N.G), Jokaynie (produced Jimmy Jatt’s Stylee)and K.Solo. The winners and the producers would work

with Skinny Tweed (ojb Jezreel), D ribs (K Solo),Chindosky (Phat E), Brainchild (Jokaynie), Jam-min’ Jones (Mr. Daz), K Prince (Puffy Tee), Meka(Kraftmatics), G6 (Don Adah), John Bliss (PatrickEdwards) and omo Pastor (Black Jersey).According to Nomoreloss, the anchor at the

event, “Koga Entertainment hopes to bring thesetalents closer to their dreams with the talenthunt; we will produce a song for the top 10 fina-lists under these seasoned producers and signtwo exceptional ones from them”..

HeritageTHE question may be asked whether Lugardwas under any obligation to consult or ne-gotiate with the Nigerian population includ-ing the influential royal fathers, the traditionalrulers, the emirs, the educated elite and thegenerality of the people; and whether he al-lowed public opinion to guide his proposals.The fact that he did not do so would raise yet

another question about what gave Lugardsuch power to be able to decide on behalf ofNigerians whom he neither consulted nor ne-gotiate with, and whom he clearly did not con-sider necessary to share his views with.Perhaps the explanation can be found in thenature of colonial rule with its contempt forthe dignity and lack of respect for the rights ofthe colonised and dominated peoples.It would be difficult to accept the reasons ad-vanced by Lugard about the difficulties ofgathering Nigerian people together to discussissues that affected them. According to him,“the intelligent emirs of Northern Nigeria,whose voices would rightly carry, weight…cannot in any single case speak English, norcould they leave their emirates.”He added that the able and intelligent group

of educated natives at Calabar would havesuch great distances to travel that the cost,“and the time taken on journeys, would provean insuperable bar to attendance.”He also stated that he had been informed thatthe Nigerian members on the LegislativeCouncil “devote their undoubted debatingabilities largely to opposing each other’s viewsin Council.” But the main point is that the subject peopleswere not considered capable of making intelli-gent judgments even on matters that were ofdirect concern to them. Lugard therefore did not see the need to con-sult the indigenous people. Indeed he made itabundantly clear about where his loyaltyrested when he read the Queen’s Proclamationon 1 January 1900 on his appointment as HighCommissioner of Northern Nigeria: “Be itknown to all men, that by the order of herMost Gracious Majesty the Queen of GreatBritain and Ireland, Empress of India, the ad-ministration of the Protectorate of NorthernNigeria, hitherto known as the Niger Territo-ries…is hereby assumed by her Majesty.”But although there was no doubt that he wascontemptuous of the people whom he hadconquered, Lugard was wise enough to ensurethat their bitterness was not translated to hos-tility that could affect his administration. Thushe frequently sent gifts to the traditionalrulers whom he also enjoyed visiting. But hedid everything in secret and never introduceda dialogue with the people. It should thereforebe concluded that he had acted arbitrarily.It may be asked what gave Lugard such au-thority and influence? The answer seems sim-ple. Firstly we should note that no matter whatthe historians say about Lugard, it must be ad-mitted that the man was an achiever withgreat capacity for hard work. Furthermore, hewas a committed officer and a patriotic Britishduring the heyday of imperialism. This obser-vation may be confirmed by reading his inter-esting diaries in which he once made the entrythat he was glad to serve in spite of his lack ofpromotion or financial comfort.Lugard had behind him the powerful force ofthe British Empire, which was reliable, focusedand powerful, the type not possessed by theNigerian rulers or people who had no one torun for assistance of any type after a defeat,shame or failure. It was the reinforcement thatwas readily available to Lugard that mostlyhelped. The support in form of policy and pro-vision of an impressive fighting forceThe fact that Lugard was the personification ofBritish imperial power was most helpful tohim and helped him to wielded imperial con-trol without reservation and with confidence.He ensured that he was properly aligned withthe Colonial Office and cultivated the friend-ship of his superior officers whose support hecarefully elicited. For example he named thenew port being built in the Niger Delta afterLord Lewis Harcourt, then the Secretary ofState for the Colonies. He formed the habit ofsending private and confidential papers to the

Colonial Secretaries before continuing toprocess them. In that way, he ensured that healways had the assurance that the power andauthority of the British Government re-mained strongly behind him and at were athis disposal.He had also earned the confidence of the Sec-retary of State for the Colonies by his industry,bravery, military prowess and the determina-tion to succeed and subdue any force that mil-itated against bringing the people under theBritish imperial rule.With the British military and political mightbehind him he was set to dominate and im-pose his will and personal preferences. He wasthe imperial lord par excellence and the em-pire spoke and acted through him.The newspapers in Lagos were most criticalof the arbitrariness of the military dictator-ship of Lugard. Perhaps the most vocal ofthem, the Lagos weekly record, was loud in itscondemnation of Lugard whom it describedas “the conquering hero of punitive expedi-tions” and “the victim of exaggerated person-ality, induced by the autocratic powerconferred upon him through the indiscretionof a Lewis Harcourt.”The paper’s observation confirms the viewthat Lugard did not consult the indigenouspeople before taking decisions, and says that“So high was he in the clouds that he saw verylittle of the people he was called upon to gov-ern; and divorced as he was from their localsympathies and liberal aspirations.”The paper noted that Lugard had contempt

for the “educated natives”. As it put it: “True tohis disposition, Sir Frederick loathed the Edu-cated native and lived in constant dread of theNative Press, which at every turn foreshad-owed his sinister movements.” Lugard did not hide his preference for thecapital city to be in the north of Nigeria. Forone thing he was impressed by the method ofcultivation in the region, which he consid-ered more thorough and more advancedthan is usual in Africa.For another, he had a soft spot for Kano. Inhis address delivered in London in November1904, he spoke eloquently of Kano, applaud-ing that “It alone, among the cities of Africawhich I have seen, with the exception of Kat-sena, is worthy of the name of city, for itshouses are solid mud, with flat roofs impervi-ous to fire, and lasting through the centuries,instead of the beehive-shaped huts of the pop-ulous towns of the south.”Thirdly he seems to have taken great delight

in creating places and things where they didnot exist. That would be the explanation for

the emergence of Zungeru and Kaduna.The south was not an option. For there was

no love lost between Lugard and the south-ern educated elite whom he loathed and whoin return haunted him. It was not a secretthat Lugard dreaded being in Lagos. For example The Times of Nigeria, whichhad just resumed printing after two years ofsuspension, published on March 24, 1914,what it titled ‘Plain Talk and a Litany’ withthe prayer: ”Good Lord, deliver usFrom a prancing pro-consul who must havehis own way,From a born and bred in the law Chief justicewho mercilessly drafts out oppressive ordi-nances;From a colonial secretary who, having beeninfluenced by the man on the spot,Deliberately deafens his ears and shuts hiseyes to the moans and groans of an op-pressed people…” There was some suspicion that the object ofthe new railway line from Port Harcourt toKaduna was a deliberate attempt to injureLagos by diverting all the Northern exporttrade. Lugard considered Lagos Island as being illadapted to be the Capital of the SouthernProvinces. He remained very critical of thecity, complaining that its climate is enervat-ing; with damp winds from the sea.He was most critical of the central role thatwas being played by Lagos in the administra-tion of the country. As one report put it: “It isprecisely this over-centralization of powers inLagos which in many respects presents amost undesirable factor in the administra-tion of the country at large.”The correspondent, obviously echoing the

sentiments of Lugard and the anti-Lagos feel-ings had observed that “Lagos has become tono little extent a hothouse of social and polit-ical intrigue.” Zaria was considered as a possible locationfor the capital city and it was observed thatthe city “has many physical attractions”. Itwas however concluded that it was “probablytoo far north.”Zungeru was ruled out, as the verdict on thecity was that it was “admittedly not a suitablecentre for a capital”. And Lokoja came back tothe debate as the writer proposed that: A bet-ter site in many ways would be the heights ofMount Pattee, behind Lokoja, the strategiccentre of the protectorate”. The proviso wasthat “Lokoja would need to be linked up by abranch line to the Lagos railway”.But there was no enthusiasm to pursue that

line of action. Lugard would indeed have lovedto move the capital out of the colony of Lagos.But the outbreak of First World War shortlyafter the amalgamation of the Northern andSouthern parts of the country, with its result-ant financial stringency, made it difficult forLugard to continue with his proposals for thelocation of the capital city of the country towhat he considered ‘central place’. But Lagosemerged as the capital city of Nigeria, in spiteof the preference for an alternative location.However, Lugard ensured that Kaduna dou-bled as the capital city. No further action wastaken on the considerations of Lokoja andother cities. Lugard later reported his con-scious effort to adopt Kaduna as the capitalcity of Nigeria. To this end, he had located theWest African Frontier Force in the new cityfrom 1912, according to him, “to test the site”. He then began to actively develop Kaduna.During the years 1914 and 1915, he ensured thata number of houses were built in the city. Ac-cording to him, the houses were of a much im-proved type, built of brick, and some are fittedwith fireplaces. In his Report to the House ofCommons, he explained that “Each officer hasa separate house, which is situated in its owngarden of at least 1 ½ acres, in accordance withthe recommendations of a strong Committeeand the approval of the Secretary of State. Thissecures privacy and is popular, but it addsenormously to the size of township, themileage of the roads, and the distances to betraversed in going to and from daily work. Ifear, too, that the obligation to keep thesecompounds in good order will be found to in-volve considerable expense upon occupants,and will be a perennial source of trouble, un-less my proposals regarding prolonged resi-dential service are introduced, so that eachoccupant will feel his housed to be his homefor an appreciable length of time, and be as-sured of reaping the benefit of the care he be-stows on his garden and its produce. The sitewas covered with sparse forest, of which thebetter-grown trees have been retained. Theplanting of Dhub grass, to supplant the coarseprairie grass, has progressed. A temporarypiped water supply, pumped from theKaduna, is provided. A race -course, polo, ten-nis, cricket and golf grounds have beencleared and laid out, and are in much request.Exclusive of Government House, 51 residentialquarters had been erected by the end of 1918.”The Lagos press warmly received Lugard’ssuccessor, Sir High Clifford. The Lagos weeklyRecord of June 14 1919 noted that Sir Hugh Clif-ford’s fame has preceded his arrival on theseshores.Clifford reversed many of the decisions of Lu-gard but he kept the choice of Lagos intactand, unlike Lugard who felt ill at ease withLagos, Clifford felt at home in Lagos. Unlike Lu-gard, Clifford settled down in Lagos, which be-came undisputably confirmed as the capitalcity of the country. The Lagos Weekly Record comments on the de-cisive role played by Lugard in all matters con-cerning the administration of Nigeria in itseditorial: “The contests between Sir Frederick,the Educated native and the native Press overhis manifold administrative schemes were in-tellectual contests, pure and simple; and inevery such encounter the honours remainedwith the Educated Native and the Native Press;for Sir Frederick was hopelessly out of date,and it was quite easy to knock the bottom outof any political or administrative scheme de-riving its solitary sanction from the bottom ofmy will is my law and the autocratic powerconferred by the indiscretion of a Secretary ofState for the Colonies.” • Prof. Omolewa, from 2000 to 2009, served asPermanent Delegate and Ambassador of Nigeriato UNESCO.michaelomolewa@yahoo.co.uk

Lokoja and the migration ofNigeria’s capital cities (3)

By Michael Omolewa

Mount Patti

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013 ARTS 39

the contemporary art scene especially as itshows it takes its artists seriously enough. Italso shows a certain commitment to engagewith discourse of contemporary art, but oreimportantly, it is a great platform for commis-sioning new artworks, and exhibiting them toone of the widest possible audiences that canbe hoped for,” said the British Council in astatement to support Nigeria’s journey to theBiennale.Though participation of countries in the Bien-

nale is usually effected at the governmentallevel, maybe, because of the large funding re-quired in mounting a national pavilion at thesix-month long event, Nigeria, is going to the56th edition in 2015 on the platform of a pri-vate initiative.

For Boyo, Nigeria’s current plan to be part ofthe global art event is inspired by her visiton holiday in Venice in 2008, where she met agallery owner, Adriano Berengo.

During conversation with Barengo, she got toknow the importance of Nigeria participatingin future Venice Biennale. And “I began to re-search the possibility of such an exhibitionwhich would then include a possible appear-ance of Nigerian Film and eventually Architec-ture.”

The focus, she insisted, “stayed on art as amedium, I felt the country had ‘conquered’and would be able to participate at interna-

tional levels without any problems of quality.”She recalled how an attempt to take Nigeria

to the biennale in the past was not successfulas it was “challenged by the fact that a coun-try’s participation in the Biennale is usually atthe behest and sponsorship of the nationstate, which was not forthcoming at the time.” Currently, the missing government support

of the past, Boyo assured, has been secured.“This was done and with the necessary institu-tional and governmental support in hand byway of commitments from the Ministry ofTourism, Culture and National Orientation,the NGA and the great support from TheBritish council, Lagos who gave invaluable ad-vice”.

The planned Nigeria Pavilion, according tothe initiators, will focus on just visual arts.Reason? Art from Nigeria is not likely to raisequestions about quality or technical format‘the way film did during the 2007 edition’.

Some Nollywood films had been presented atthe 2007 edition, which drew flaks and com-ments about standard format at such anevent.

Indeed, Nigeria’s creative professionals suchas artists and curators in the visual arts sectorof the culture industry may not have been rep-resented via a national platform, but theyhave been impressive, individually and innon-governmental outings on the interna-

VisualArtsTHAT Nigeria does not have a pavilion at the

55th Venice Biennale holding from June 1 toNovember 24 is belated news. However, whatshould not be surprising is that come 2015,the country will make a bold statement at theart ‘Olympics’, no thanks to the efforts of a pri-vate initiative led by Ego Boyo.

Nigerian art supporters and promoters cancalm down and take some deep breath. Againand again. Oh yes, everything good is a com-ing, apology Sefi Atta. In fact, preparations forthe country’s participation at the show havebegun and possible challenges gradually beenidentified.

The Biennale has, over a century, been one ofthe most prestigious cultural institutions inthe world. It holds every two years — odd num-ber years — and is 118 years old.

Ever since its foundation in 1895, it has beenin the avant-garde, promoting new artistictrends and organising international events inthe contemporary arts in accordance with amulti-disciplinary model, which characterisesits unique nature.

Famous for the International Film Festival,the International Art Exhibition and for the In-ternational Architecture Exhibition, it contin-ues the great tradition of the Festival ofContemporary Music and Theatre, nowflanked by the Festival of ContemporaryDance. The Biennale promotes numerouspublishing initiatives in the same sectors andis an agenda-setting moment, when the mostsignificant trends in art are presented to ahuge audience of art lovers, artists, curatorsand collectors.

Already, the list of participating artists inMassimiliano Gioni’s exhibition, titled, The En-cyclopedic Palace, has been announced.

The list has a fair number of artists who havebeen featured at the New Museum, whereGioni serves as associate director and directorof exhibitions. Among them are GeorgeCondo (who had a show there in 2011, curatedby Laura Hoptman), Phyllida Barlow (a 2012show organised by Gary Carrion-Murayari), Otto Piene (who was included inthe 2012 show, Ghosts in the Machine, organ-ised by Messrs. Carrion-Murayari and Gioni),Ellen Altfest (a 2012 show by Jenny Moore) andTacita Dean (a 2012 show by Margot Nortonand Gioni).The show will also feature a dizzying array of

artists as well as cultural items such as ShakerGift Drawings and Haitian Vodou Flagsandyoung British artists who, according to Gioni,are “dealing with media culture in an innova-tive and unusual way.”

The Biennale has always been closed toAfrica. The few exceptions being Egypt, SouthAfrica (before the international boycott) and,in 1990, ‘Five Contemporary African Artists’were invited to represent the continent.

Since then, the art scene has considerablychanged. Dak’Art, the Senegalese contempo-rary art biennale, has sustained itself since1992. South Africa hosted two biennales, in1995 and 1997, the latter curated by Okwui En-wezor who subsequently was appointed artis-tic director of Documenta 11 (2002). And, in1999, with the support of the Ford Foundation,the Forum for African Arts, was created, whosemission was to secure and sustain an Africanpresence in Venice.

Headed by Salah Hassan, the Forum put ontwo successful exhibitions: Authentic/Ex-centric(2001) curated by Salah Hassan and Olu Ogu-ibe and Faultlines (2003) curated by GilaneTawadros.

These are but a few examples of shows thatdemonstrated contemporary art practicesfrom Africa and the Diaspora. Yet, it appar-ently took an ‘African tour’ to Senegal, Mali,Burkina Faso and South Africa, to convinceRobert Storr to make a rather belated call forproposals for an African Pavilion in 2007.

THE discussion on Nigeria pavilion in 2015drew stakeholders in the visual sector to

the Moorehouse Hotel, Ikoyi, courtesy of EgoBoyo-led Temple Productions with the sup-port of the National Gallery of Art (NGA),Abuja and assistance from the British Council,Lagos.

“Nigeria’s participation at the event will en-sure the country is seen as a serious player in

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 201340 ARTS

Commissionaire, proposed Nigeria Pavilion for Venice Biannale 2015, Ego Boyo during the meeting organized by the British Council,in Lagos, recently.

Nigeria Rising…A long walk toVenice Biennale

tional stage. Nigerians have made marks at such global

gatherings as the Documenta 11 exhibition(2002) in Germany, which was curated by Enwe-zor. He is currently the director at Haus derKurst, Munich.

Also, Bisi Silva, as a Nigerian curator, led Africato its recent, perhaps, first ever largest represen-tation at any visual arts event of global strengthlast March when 22 artists from West Africashowed at the Marker section of Art Dubai Fair2013. The yearly Dubai art fair is a gathering ofover 75 art galleries, 30 countries from acrossthe world.

THEMED Nigeria Rising: Journey to Venice Bien-nale, the discussion was robust and healthy,

though there were vituperations. As laudable asit sounded, the challenges have started emerg-ing.

Some of the challenges addressed shortly afterthree background presentations by art pro-moter, Boyo, who currently carries the toga‘Commissionaire, Nigeria Pavilion’; KatrinaSchwarz of Visual Arts section, British Council,London; and visiting director of NationalGallery of Zimbabwe, Doreen Sibanda

The complexity of having a non-governmentgroup spearhead Nigeria’s participation in theVenice Biennale started emerging as the presen-tation of National Gallery of Art (NGA), Abuja,which was ‘misunderstood’ nearly turned thegathering into a tumultuous one. However,Boyo, who had earlier disclosed, “we almostmade it to the 2013 edition”, appeared to havescaled through the apprehension raised, partic-ularly, of a possible hurdle from government. Anxiety started when the artist and teacher,

Mike Omoighe, of Yaba College of Technology,Lagos drew attention of the gathering to the Di-rector-General of NGA, Abdullahi Muku’s ad-dress. Omoighe had cited a “threat” tone of the re-

mark read by Muku’s representative, Mufu Oni-fade. While Muku expressed NGA’s delightabout the proposed-Nigerian Pavilion, he how-ever drew the attention of the British Council tothe “essence of collaborating with the NGA inall matters relating to contemporary NigerianArt.”

Muku reminded the gathering that it is theNGA’s ‘statutory responsibility’ to ensure thatcontemporary art of Nigeria is preserved and“properly propagated in accordance with theCountry’s legal provisions.”

Muku warned foreign organisations to stoptaking Nigerian art outside the country withoutconsulting with the NGA. He cited what he de-scribed as lack of consultation in a project of ac-quisition of Nigerian art involving UK-basedTate Gallery.

“Only recently, the Tate Gallery was in Nigeriafor acquisition of Nigerian Art. The action wasprecipitated without consultation with theNGA. Such actions are expected to be expeditedin consultation with the National Gallery inorder to preserve and sustain the mutually ben-efitting cultural relationship that exists be-tween Nigeria and the United Kingdom,” Mukupointed out.However, Boyo doused the rising tension that

emanated from the perceived threat tone of theDG’s remark by disclosing that the governmenthas been very supportive, so far. Also, there wasan assurance from Onifade that “the NGA fullysupport the ongoing plan for a Nigeria Pavilionat the 2015 Venice Biennale.

With the presentation of Schwarz andSibanda, which showed how the British Councilprovided logistics and other supports for thesuccessful hosting of Zimbabwe Pavilion at the2011 Venice Biennale, there is an indication thatthe Boyo-led proposed-Nigeria Pavilion has astronger chance of success: the private sectorblend offers by Boyo is an advantage given thechallenges within the civil service system.Perhaps, suggesting that the NGA is waking up

to its responsibility, the D-G used the gatheringto disclose the plan of government to give Nige-ria its first biennale this year. He stated: “I must,at this point, quickly remind this august gather-ing, of the lofty efforts of the NGArt at organiz-ing the first-ever Abuja Biennale coming uplater this year,”With this development, the NGA has added toits yearly, Art Expo Nigeria, but yet to reviveAfrican Regional Summit on Visual Arts (ARESUVA),which only had two editions, the debut in 2008and another a year after.

By Gregory Page-Nwakunorand Tajudeen Sowole

Nigeria’s participation at the event will ensure the country is seen as aserious player in the contemporary art scene especially as it shows ittakes its artists seriously enough. It also shows a certain commitment toengage with discourse of contemporary art, but ore importantly, it is agreat platform for commissioning new artworks, and exhibiting them to

one of the widest possible audiences that can be hoped for

gust 25, 2012, said the national bodyof visual artists has since it’s estab-lishment been not only a non-gov-ernmental collective equity of all fineartists, applied arts specialists and in-dustrial artists but “worked as an ef-fective connecting organ between artpractitioners and government. Sofar, it has played it’s role well in main-taining a very warm relationship be-tween the state and artists even inperiods when the nation face socialchallenges.”Enwonwu also intimated senators

on recent activities of his body. Hesaid: “In our efforts to keep playingthat role of connecting all membersof the Nigerian art community withthe pulsation of state at all times, wededicate our 50th year anniversary,which is holding this year, to issuesof core importance to the current na-tional agenda. Hence part of our mis-sion here today is to intimatedistinguished senators of the goldenjubilee celebration of SNA, holdingunder the theme: The Role of Art inNigeria’s Transformation. The com-

THE Society of Nigerian Artists(SNA) has flagged of its golden ju-bilee celebrations with a visit to theSenate Committee on Culture andTourism, National Assembly, Abuja.Chairman of the committee, Sena-tor Hassan Barata, who received theSNA delegation, bemoaned the stateof facilities and financing of theNigerian arts sector. He also calledon more public and private invest-ment in the arts, as the creative in-dustry remains a viable sector thatwill lift the country out of an almostsole dependence on crude oil.During the visit, leader of the dele-gation and President of SNA, Mr.Oliver Enwonwu, told the committeemembers that the Nigerian visualarts community is very keen at work-ing with the legislature and otherarms of government to achieve thecountry’s goal of radical economicand social transformation.According to him, the visual art sec-tor is behind government’s visionaryand timely “Transformation Agendaand the Senate for providing the vitaloversight legislative impetus for theadvancement of the country and thematurity of our democracy.”He informed the Senate that theSNA, established since 1963, supportsthe laudable national advancementrecorded through the legislative ac-tivities of the lawmakers who cur-rently represent the people ofNigeria in the National Assembly.Enwonwu, who was elected on Au-

memoration is all through this yearwith programmes set to hold acrossthe country.“Through this thrust, the SNA seeks tohighlight and appraise ways throughwhich the visual arts can contributeeconomically, socially, politically, in-tellectually and diplomatically inshaping our country. The celebrationwill feature in several platforms suchas intellectualconferences/webfrences; topical art ex-hibitions; book publication and an arttour within and beyond Nigeria. Allstate chapters of SNA are also stagingrelevant events under the sametheme.”According to him, “SNA has begun athorough reappraisal of the art cur-riculum in all art schools in Nigeria. Tothis effect, the body has held severalcorporate interactions with such rele-vant bodies as the National Universi-ties Commission (NUC); the NationalBoard for Technical Education (NBTE);as well as the organs for overseeingcolleges of education, secondary andprimary schools. The major thrust ofall meeting has been the need to re-ar-ticulate the programmes of art studyin Nigeria so as to meet standard 21stcentury practices. We are happy to in-form you that in all the organisationsthey were enthusiastic about inculcat-ing SNA’s views in the new editions oftheir art study curriculum.

“We have also opened windows ofcontact with relevant global bodiesfor visual arts practitioners and asso-ciations such as the International As-sociation of Artists and the worldintellectual property organisation.The SNA leader also disclosed that itis keen on winning young converts tothe arts through a new project ittagged the ‘catch-them-young’ artworkshop programmes. The project isfor secondary and primary schools.One of such programmes was con-cluded in the first week of March inthe Federal Capital Territory (FCT),Abuja.Enwonwu further told the legisla-tors: “We are here to appreciate the ef-forts of the National Assembly inenergising the economic advance-ment of Nigeria through the reposi-tioning of the arts sector. This isevident in on-going legislative workon bills to democratically strenghtenthe constitutional duties of MDAs inthe Ministry of Culture, Tourism andNational Orientation such as the Na-tional Gallery of Art (NGA) Bill, which,as at the last time in it’s process, it wasduring it’s First Reading in November2010 at the floor of the House of Rep-resentatives, and at the behest of thethen House Committee on CultureandTourism headed by Hon. K.G.B.Oguakwa Esq. all stakeholders, com-prising SNA, Ministry of Culture,Tourism and National Orientation,NGA and the clerk of the committeearrived at a harmonised document.But ever since, we have not heard ofany development on the bill.

ing is Believing is a global initiative to stopavoidable blindness. “With an ambitious target to raise $100 mil-lion by 2020, we’re committed to help elimi-nate avoidable blindness and visualimpairment. We continue to partner withleading eye-care organisations and charitiesto create sustainable eye-care services in im-poverished communities. Having raised over$55 million since 2003, we’re over half way toour target. Standard Chartered will continueto match every donation, dollar-for-dollar,”Sonoiki said.The charity lots are Oyerinde Olotu’s Old

Lagos, 2011 Oil On canvas; Olu Amoda’s X-RayPot 2012, mixed media; A. Akande’s Mask, oilon board; and Bruce Onobrakpeya’s Emedjo,metal oil relief edition.

IN its 10th edition, Arthouse will continue toadd more value to art from Africa, AccountsManager, Sumbo Biobaku, assured, statingthat the auction house takes “only 10 percentpremium from each sale, yet all the works areinsured” so long as they are within the posses-sion of Arthouse.On provenance, Sonoiki assured that Art-house would keep trying its best to maintainstandard, working with whoever submits apiece of work for auction. One of such meas-ures, she added, is to get everybody involved.“Every consignee signs an undertaken to takeresponsibility for provenance.”While the auction house hopes that the newentrants will impress, star sale of the auctionremains within the circle of the masters suchas Ben Enwonwu, Bruce Onobrakpeya, El Anat-sui and others in that cadre.At the last auction of Arthouse, Anatsui’s

Grandma’s Cloth Series VI (Oil on wooden pan-els, 132 x 262 cm.) was the star, as it went forN11.4 million. Also, Yusuf Grillo’s painting,Sango Worshipper (Oil on board 122 x 56 cm.,1961) estimated to fetch N7.5 -8.5 millionadded strength to the auction as it was soldfor N7.4 million. On helping young artists face the challengesof professional practice, the CEO of Arthouse,Kavita Chellaram, said the auction housewould soon flag off a foundation. The founda-tion, she explained would include a schemefor young artists to work under mentorshipwith established artists. “We are setting up afoundation to support art students at the uni-versity level; through a competition and aftergraduate we put the winners into a spacewhere they can work and under a mentor tocreate work and also support exhibition. Weare going to get the foundation off the groundthis year”.

AS the secondary art market in the countrycontinues to grow, another set of new en-

trants have been given opportunity to pitchtheir tents in the premiere art auction house,Arthouse Contemporary Limited. The debutant artists in the next auction,drawn from established and young artist cir-cles, join regular masters when the auctionopens tomorrow with a preview, ending withthe actual sale on Monday, May 13, at TheWheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos.Also, for the 10th auction, the charity section,

Seeing Is Believing, ‘administered’ by StandardChartered Bank, is aimed at supporting thefunding of ‘avoidable blindness’. And in strengthening the growth of visualarts, the auction house has disclosed that itwill set up a foundation to help young artistsprepare for the challenges of professional ca-reer. The established and new artists who aremaking their debut appearances includeMike Omoighe, Marcia Kure, Gary Stevens,Godfrey Okorodu, Ogbami Alenosi, Ato Ar-inze, Titus Agbara, Shola Fakeye, Babalola Law-son, Nana Nyan Acquah, Kate Badoe, FrankAsomani, Larry Otoo, Cheri Cherin and Olu-mide Onadipe. Others are Chris Atuba, DanIfon, Issac Emokpae, Moris Adoro, Mary Evans,Ndidi Emefiele, Denis Osakwe, Albert Ohams,Uche Peers and Obinna Makata. Manager and Specialist at Arthouse Contem-porary, Nana Sonoiki, said the aim of the auc-tion house is to keep expanding the scope ofAfrican art. The 10th auction, she said, is there-fore, featuring “117 lots of Nigerian and Ghana-ian artists, spanning the medium of painting,sculpture, mixed media and photography.”Over 200 entries were received from artistsand consignees within and outside Nigeria,Sonoiki disclosed. “As usual, it was difficult se-lecting 117 lots from as many as over 200works we got. Standard and quality were pri-ority in selecting the final lots. At the last auc-tion, 111 lots were on sale with about 80 percent sale.”She noted that with every auction, “we keepgetting higher quality works, particularlyfrom the old collection.” In fact, the ratio, shesaid, is “50:50 between the old and newworks.”

ON the charity lots, Sonoiki argued it’s a tra-dition, which the auction house has kept

going in the past few years “starting with acharity sale for the artist, David Dale.” Fourlots, she explained, would be sold for the See-ing Is Believing charity. According to a statement from the bank, See-

A mixed media piece by artist, Alex Nwokolo titled Head, 2013 Mixed media on canvas 152 x122 cm. (60 x 48 in.) is one of the works for the tenth Arthouse art auction

By Tajudeen Sowole

New entrants set to shine in art auction THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013 ARTS 41

SNA President, Mr. Oliver Enwonwu and Chairman Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, Sena-tor Hassan Barata, at the Senate Building, National Assembly, Abuja

Artists’ body begins golden jubilee celebrations

ArtHouse

Nitroso Dance Group in performance at the Federal Printng Press, Broad Street, on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Goethe Institut...in Lagos PHOTO: CHARLES OKOLO

Former Minister for Aviation, Chief Femi Fani Kayode; author of High Life: Amazing Lifestyles of Nigeria’s Rich and Famous, Lanre Alfred;Publisher of Ovation magazine, Dele Momodu; and Publisher of Encomiummagazine, Kunle Bakare at the public presentation of the bookon Wednesday… in Lagos

Ketchup

Legend’s draw for ‘DubaiShoppers’ holds today

Abuja International Film Festival calls for entries

THE 10th Abuja International film festival has called for filmsentries to be screened for the competition. Interested candi-

dates should send their films on DVD to AIFF, 85 St. FinbarrsRoad, Akoka, Lagos. Submission of entries ends on July 31, 2013.

Oju for exhibition

OJU, an exhibition of recent works by Gbenga Orimoloyeopens tomorrow, Saturday, 11 May 2013. Time is 5pm.

To Love a Ghost at Terra Kulture

THEATRE @terra will present Wole Oguntokun’s To Love aGhost every Sunday in May at 3pm and 6pm.

Wheatbaker, Ikoyi to auction art works

CONTEMPORARY art auction opens with previews tomorrowand Sunday while sales hold on Monday, May 13, 2013 at The

Wheatbaker, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Promasidor holds Quill Awards soon

COME May 18, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers ofCowbell milk, will hold its maiden edition of Quill Awards.

The event is billed to take place at Eko Hotel & Suites, VictoriaIsland, Lagos. Time is 5pm. The award is a platform in Nigeria toreward journalists for dedicated news reportage on industry,education, corporate social responsibility & nutrition issues allyear round. The award covers five categories among which arethe Brand Advocate of the Year, Best Corporate SocialResponsibility (CSR), Report of the Year, Most Educative Reportof the Year, Best Report on Nutrition and the Best Photo Story ofthe Year.

Amusing the Musecontinues

ARTIST and designer, Victor Ehikhamenor’s new body ofworks titled Amusing the Muse continues at Temple Muse,

Victoria Island, Lagos, for the next three weeks.

Artmosphereholds in Ibadan

THE fifth edition of the monthly art and entertainment event,Artmospherewill hold next Saturday, May 18 at Nustreams

Conference Centre, KM 110, Abeokuta Road, Off Alalubosa, GRA,Ibadan. Time is 3pm - 6pm.

Encasedopens on Sunday

DUKE Asidere’s art exhibition titled Encasedopens on Sunday,June 12 and ends 18, 2013 at Alexis Gallery, Victoria Island,

Lagos.

-Compiled by Florence Utor

Ketchup Steps in with Show Me Yur Rozay

WITH his impressive monsterhits and street demand,

Show Me Yur Rozay, EmmanuelNkemjika Onyido a.k.a Ketchuphas gradually warmed his wayinto the hearts of many fans with-in and outside Nigeria and themusic industry.

The award-winning dancehallact grew up listening to music ofDr. Ebenezer Obey, Sir ShinaPeters, Bob Marley andShakademus & the players. Hehad his education in Lagos andIfe before heading to AtlanticCollege, Kuala Lumpour,Malaysia, where he studied MassCommunications.

While in school, he kept alivehis love and passion for music. Hereleased his first official single,Nuvo in 2010, got major airplaysand bagged him an award at theMalaysian AEA Music Awards.

He returned to Nigeria in 2012to register his presence in themusic industry with another sin-gle, On The Beat featuring Rayce.He met with producer, EmmyACE

and together they created a newdirection for his music, a relation-ship that mid-wife the released ofthe club banger, Show Me YuhRozaywhich is getting massive air-play on radio stations and clubsacross the country. Not resting onhis oars, he immediately followedwith a chart-topping video for thehit single, which was directed bySquareball Adasa.

Asked how he got into music, hesaid, “Music was something Irealised I was going to do veryearly. Since I relocated back toNigeria, the reception from fansand the Nigerian industry hasbeen overwhelming.”

Currently working on his debutalbum, scheduled to be releaselater in the year, Ketchup hasbecome a household name withan increasing fan base. He advicesyoung and upcoming artistes likehim to focus on their dreams tillthey achieve the best. “Staystrong…work on your music anddon’t let people make you feel anyless than what you are. Work hardand dream big because it is achiev-able.”

THE first set of lucky winners that Legend Extra Stout will taketo Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for a unique shopping expe-

rience will emerge today. Nine of the 25 winners will be pickedvia a special raffle draw, which will be held at De Dems Park,Akowonjo Road, Egbeda, Lagos State.

To win a Dubai ticket for the Legend Real Deal promo, a con-sumer has to look under the crown corks of 33cl or 60cl bottlesof Legend Extra Stout for a numeric code. He or she would thentext this number to 30380 at the cost of N10.

Winners get the opportunity of shopping at selected stores inDubai. The catch however is that they have to pick items oftheir choice up to a value of one million naira within a speci-fied period.

MCSN sues COSON for N10m overalleged fraudulent registrationMUSICAL Copyright Society

of Nigeria (MCSN) hasinitiated a N10 million suitagainst Copyright Society ofNigeria (COSON) over allegedfraudulent misrepresenta-tion of facts during its regis-tration as collectiveManagement Organisation(CMO).In the suit filed at the FederalHigh Court, Lagos by MCSN’scounsel, Yemi Salman ofBanwo and Igbokwe law firm,MCSN is seeking a declarationthat COSON did not fulfill thestandard requirements ofregistration as a collectingsociety or a sole CollectiveManagement Organisation.Specifically, the plaintiff isasking the court presided byJustice Okon Abang to declare

that COSON failed to meetprovisions of the CopyrightAct, Cap. C28, Laws of theFederation of Nigeria, 2004(as amended and Copyright(Collective ManagementOrganisations) Regulations,2007, (Gazette N0. 96 of 2007and as such should not beregistered, licensed orapproved as a collecting soci-ety or a CMO to its exclusion.The plaintiff therefore wantan order revoking the licenceor approval as collecting soci-ety or collective ManagementOrganisation granted COSONby the Nigeria CopyrightCommission (NCC). Which itsaid was applied for, grantedand issued through a process

fraught with fraudulent mis-representation.Other reliefs sought by MSCNin the suit, which also hasNCC as the second defendantinclude,A declaration that theapproval or licence grantedby NCC to COSON as the sole acollecting society or a soleCollective ManagementOrganisation/ collecting soci-ety deprives it and its mem-bers, assignors and affiliatesof their fundamental andconstitutional rights to free-dom of association, freedomto own and enjoy property incopyright and access to jus-tice and as such unconstitu-tional, null and void.

By Daniel Anazia

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013ARTS 42

By Bertram Nwannekanma

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013

AutoWheels43

Metamorphosis of Land Rover engineering

IT was a gathering of the oldand new generations ofLand Rover siblings. From thefirst product rolled out of theproduction line in 1948 to thelatest edition, scheduled forunveiling later this year werepresent at the 65th anniver-sary held recently in theUnited Kingdom.Over 130 heritage productswere on display at the eventheld at Packington Estate,near Solihull.Interestingly, Packington

Estate served as the testingground for the original 1947-48 Land Rover prototypesthrough to the Range Roverdevelopment vehicles of thelate 1960’s and early 70’s.Indeed, it was a mixture of theold and the new as LandRover’s current model line-ups – the Defender, Discovery,Freelander, all-new RangeRover, all-new Range RoverSport and Range RoverEvoque and the brand’s latesttechnological innovations inthe form of the new electricDefender research vehicle andthe world’s first nine-speedtransmission for a passengercarIn attendance at the eventdesigned for stocktaking and

to mark the 65th anniversaryof the premium automobilemanufacturer were who iswho in the Land Rover familyand international motoringjournalists. The Guardian wasthe only Nigeria media at theevent.The ceremony was also char-actersised by various activitiesof which the climax was thevisit to the biggest car alu-minium factory in the worldand the revealing of the latestaddition to the Land Roverfamily, the all new, all alu-minium Range Rover Sportsbilled to be launched later thisyear. � In his welcome address, LandRover’s Global Brand DirectorJohn Edwards, said: “LandRover is celebrating 65 yearsof proud heritage. It is in fact adual celebration, as Marchsaw Land Rover deliver thestrongest ever monthly andquarterly sales performancein its history”. He added:“Since 1948, every componentin our vehicles has beendesigned and engineeredwith intent and Land Rovercontinues to this day, to buildthe world’s most capable all-purpose vehicles. A blend ofrefinement, performance andunmatched all-terrain capa-bility make Land Rover vehi-cles distinctive and unique,ready to tackle the world’smost challenging and inhos-

pitable terrain.”�According to him, the newRange Rover and Sport vari-ant were the result of signifi-cant investment in technolo-gy, engineering and manu-facturing facilities.“Investing in innovation hasalways been the lifeblood ofLand Rover and we will con-tinue to develop innovativenew technology and sustain-able motoring solutions forthe future, whilst retainingthe class-leading and leg-endary breadth of capabilitythat Land Rover’s heritage isbuilt upon,” he said. Obviously contended with itsachievements so far, theautomaker, which is repre-sented in Nigeria byCoscharis Motors, produceda limited edition of just 65unit of the Defender LXV,which it referred to as a cele-bratory Edition, a special edi-tion two-door, Defender 90Hard Top. The LXV borrows the same2.2-liter diesel engine fromthe standard Defender, goodfor 120 horsepower and 265lb-ft of torque, and equippedwith a six-speed manual gear-box. Available in SantoriniBlack or Fuji White, the vehi-cle features 16-inch sawtoothalloy wheels, as well as con-trasting Corris Grey at theroof, grille and headlight sur-

rounds. The interior is crafted with

seats, steering wheel and acenter compartmentwrapped in black leather, dis-tinguished with contraststitching in bright orange. �Major highlights of the eventswere media tour of the automaker’s two big factories inthe UK, the Solihull all alu-minium factory and theCarwood factory in Gaydonwhere the prototypes of theyet to be launched all newrange rover sports were sub-jected to some test drives toget a firsthand feel of the new

wonder on wheels built in anall aluminium form. � To achieve the greatest feat inits innovations, land roverunder the new managementof the Tata group has investedover one billion pounds innew factory to be able to pro-duce about 100,000 units ofvehicles a year. Besides, the company theGuardian gathered is notrelenting in its efforts to shunout more state of the art vehi-cles as it is presenting invest-ing in technologicallyadvanced innovations.Speaking on the milestone

achieved so far, the brand’schief programme engineer,Stuart Frith, said the companyunder the new managementhas been given so much inde-pendence that has evolvedinto the unique innovationscurrently being witnessed inthe Land Rover models. He noted while welcoming

the media to the Solihull fac-tory that the company had inthe last two years investedover 370 million pounds intotechnological advancementand human capital and capac-ity development.

AUTOWHEELS

By Yetunde Ebosele

Anniversary edition Rover

2013 Range Rover Sport

2013 Range Rover Sport

First Land Rover buit in 1948

DESPITE the efforts ofthe National Agencyfor Foods, Drugs

Administration andControl (NAFDAC) and theStandard Organisation ofNigeria (SON) to flush outsub-standard and fakeproducts in Nigeria, ourfindings have shown thatthere are some companiesthat are still producing orselling sub-standard fruitdrinks in the Nigerianmarket and this ugly trendhas become a source ofconcern to genuinestakeholders in thecountry.

In the same vein, the

findings also revealedsome companies that havedistinguished themselvesin the production andmarketing of quality andnutritious food/fruitdrinks in Nigeria. Indeed,the research furthershowed that thesecompanies do not onlyproduce fruit drinks withessential vitamins but alsopromote healthy livingand of internationalstandard.

In Nigeria, for anyproduct to assume a topquality position in themarket such a productmust be certified by

NAFDAC, SON and otherregulatory agencies. Theseagencies have over theyears performedcreditably well in ensuringthat Nigeria productsmeasure up tointernational standard.Today, we can proudly saythat some fruit drinks inNigeria are not onlycertified by NAFDAC butthey also meet EU, FDA andother internationalstandards. This portrays astrong corporatecommitment to give thebest to Nigerians.

Genuine stakeholderstherefore call on NAFDAC,

SON and other regulatoryagencies to flush out sub-standard and fakeproducts in the Nigerian

market. In this special report, we

bring to you companiesthat have shown

consistency in theproduction of quality andnutritious fruit drinks inNigeria.

Special Report On Companies That Produce Quality And Nutritious Fruit Drinks In Nigeria (Part 1)

…Experts Call On Nafdac To Flush Out Sub-Standard Fruit Drinks In Nigeria

DANSA FOODS LIMITED

DANSA FOODS LIMITED has carved aniche for itself through innovative

production and sales of quality andnutritious fruit drink in Nigeria andother Countries in Africa. The Companyis the beverage arm of Nigeria’s biggestconglomerate, the Dangote Group.Dansa Foods Limited was established in1994 but started commercial productionin 2006 with one Tetra pack line to multi-dimensional fruit juice production inthe country. Also, the Company is one ofthe Nigeria’s technologically mostintegrated companies with 16 beveragestate-of- the-art production lines whichinclude Tetra pack, SIG Combibloc,Krones, Sidel etc. Indeed Dansa is theonly Company in Nigeria producing in 6categories of the Non-Alcoholic .Beveragesector and also the first to pioneer the500ml Prisma pack in Nigeria.In addition to 100 percent pure fruitjuice produced by the company, Dansahas wide range of quality and nutritiousfruit drinks that cater for varied tastesand needs of the consumers. Theseproducts are Dansa Fruit Juice: availablein Orange, Tropical, Mixed Fruit, Orange-Mango, Pineapple, Apple, Citrus, RubyGrape in 500ml and 1 liter packs. FruitNectar, Dansa Fruit Nectar in Pineapple& Coconut, Orange & Pineapple andCherry& Grape in 500ml and 1 liter packs.Dansa Fruit Drinks: – Blackcurrant,Passion Fruit, Lemon-Lime, Pink Guava in250ml packs, Fruit Punch and Strawberryin 200ml AND also Dansa Fruit Drinks inmono flavours and 200ml doypacks -Pineapple, Orange, Citrus, Apple andBlackcurrant. Dansa products alsoincludes Sparkling Soft Drinks –Sparkling Kally - Guarana Twist & RedOrange, (exclusive to Dansa pan Nigeria)Apple Bite and Cola Thrill.Dairies (wet and dry)- Ziza FlavouredMilk and Ziza Yoghurt. Ziza Yoghurt include Blackcurrant, Plain,Strawberry, Peach-Banana, Orange etc, in250ml, 500ml, 1 liter packs. Ziza Flavoured Milk: Vanilla, Strawberry,Chocolate, Peach Banana in 250ml and500ml. Premium Drinking Water – MowaPremium Drinking Water is produced in50cl, 75cl and 150cl packs.As a one stop shop in the production andmarketing of quality and nutritious fruitdrinks in Nigeria, Dansa products arewidely available in every town andvillage nourishing, replenishing andrefreshing Nigerians. With its missionstatement “to provide nutritiousrefreshment, be the preferred choice ofconsumers and create value to all ourpartners” Dansa fruit drinks are fortifiedwith essential fibre, minerals andvitamins that promote healthy living.To give the best to its customers as apreferred choice in the fruit drinks

sector of the Nigerian economy, Dansaoffers to the consuming public across thecountry premium brands (A – Brands) inall categories. Moreso, all Dansa foodsbrands are duly certified by NAFDAC andmeet EU and FDA standards and those ofother local and international regulatoryagencies. According to Mr. ChibuikeKafor, Dansa's Head Marketing, we arepioneering new and major innovationsthat will drive volume of our businessand check grey imports into Nigeria andalso within Central and West Africa. Also,our current massive investment ininfrastructural facilities, human capitaland logistics are certainly clear evidencesof our strong determination to attain andsustain a leadership position in Nigeriaand give the best to the consumingpublic in Africa and beyond as a whole”.As a mark of distinction and appreciationof quality products of Dansa, thecompany has won several awards. Forinstance in 2009, the company wonProduct Excellence Award from ThisDayNewspaper. In 2011, the companyreceived West African Best Milk Beverageof the Year for Ziza flavoured milk byNigeria / West Africa Direct Marketinginstitute. The company also received 2011and 2012 Juice of the Year from NigerianBrands Celebrities. Dansa equallyreceived Product Excellence Award of2012 from CSR, just to mention but a few. To create more positive impacts in thelives of Nigerians, and entire humanity.Dansa made it a policy to partner withgroups, associations and organizations asavenues to touch the lives of the people.For instance Dansa became OfficialBeverage Partner for 2011 Miss EarthPageant- Nigeria, Official BeveragePartner for 2011 Ovation Red Carol,Official Beverage Partner-World FoodDay-Lagos in 2011 and 2012, OfficialBeverage Partner, for 2012 South-SouthSummit. Beverage Refreshment partnerfor Nigerian National Honours AwardCeremonies 2011 and 2012. Also, in 2011and 2012 Beverages Refreshment partnerfor the Nigerian Economic SummitGroup International Conferences,consistent Beverage Partner 2009 – 2013Lagos Polo tournaments and manyothers. Moreover, to set high standard for otherfruit juice manufacturing companies tofollow, the company is now harvestingquality fruits from its farms in Calabar,Kano etc and strict quality guidelines toensure that quality is not compromisedin any form.The company is manned by experiencedand seasoned professionals. Dansa ispoised to make Nigeria the Beveragedestination for Africa, Europe and Asia, asyou all know African fruits and theirsqueezes are hot demand in throughoutthe world..

…First Choice Quality & Nutritious Fruit Drinks In Nigeria

CWAY FOOD AND BEVERAGES LIMITED

ONE company that has distinguisheditself in the production and marketing

of quality and nutritious Milk / Fruit drinksin Nigeria is CWAY FOOD and BEVERAGESLIMITED.Since inception as a company in Nigeria,CWAY Food & Beverages has made it a policyto give the best quality Milk / Fruit drinks tothe consuming public. The companyparades wide range of products catering forconsumers with varied tastes and diverseage groupings. These products include:Nutri-Milk, available in apple, orange,pineapple and pear tastes. Another is TigoMilk drink, in 210ml bottles, speciallyformulated for growing kids (available inapple, orange and pineapple flavours. TheseMilk drinks are creamy, and enriched withvitamins and nutrients. Fruit Drink: Peach,mixed fruit and apple contain fruitconcentrates which are ideal for adults. Also,Tea Drinks – Iced Tea which comes withtherapeutic advantage, good for calmingthe nerves and reducing stress, a greatdrinks for adults.Being a foremost producer of nutritiousMilk/Fruit drinks that are fortified withessential vitamins, CWAY brand of Milk/Fruitdrinks are approved by NAFDAC and dulycertified by relevant regulatory agencies inthe country. According to Mr. Auscar Ikoro, the GroupBrand Communications Director, “in orderto give the best to our customer and at thesame time sustain our leading position inthe sector, we have put in place strict qualityguidelines, up-to-date laboratories forconstant testing of products, latestproduction lines and constantly improving

on our already installed lines. In addition,our staff welfare and safety are also uppermost in our daily operations and thisenables us to deliver on our brandpromise."Furthermore, it is worthy of note tomention that CWAY is not only a householdname in Nigeria but also a traditionalreference point whenever quality andnutritious Beverages are discussed inNigeria. CWAY Food & Beverages is a subsidiary of thelarger CWAY GROUP, The renown name inDispenser Water / Dispenser Machines. Thecompany is managed by seasoned andexperienced expatriates and Nigerians.

… Foremost Name In Quality And Nutritious Milk/FruitDrinks In Nigeria

Mr. Auscar Ikoro, the Group Brand Communications Director

CHELLARAMS PLC

Chellarams Plc, which emerged as abusiness force in Nigeria in the 1920s,

has grown into a diversified conglomeratewith array of numerous investmentsspanning distribution, manufacturing,brand development, services andpackaging of quality food drinks, tomention but a few.With brand development being one of itscore objectives, Chellarams investment inthe dairy and malted food drink market hasbeen an important growth strategy whichhas seen it developed and marketed threequality dairy brands and a malted fooddrink. The journey into dairy and maltedfood drink began with the marketing ofOldenburger milk, butter and cheese in1999. This was followed by theestablishment of an ultra – modernpackaging plant for the packaging of milkpowder in 2005 and subsequently, butterand cheese plant in 2008. The milkpackaging plant packages Oldenburgermilk powder, Regal milk powder; Real milkpowder and Real Activ malted food drink.All these milk and malted food drink arepackaged into various pack sizes of 7g., 10g.,25g., 375g., 400g., 500g., 900g and otherpack sizes, as desired.The quality of all these milk and maltedfood drink brands are not in doubt, as thehygienic condition under which they areproduced has the internationallyrecognized ISO 9001: 2008 certification.Moreover, the state – of – the – art foodpackaging equipment alongside thequality control laboratory, are used tomaintain quality standard. All availablelaboratory equipment in the packagingplant satisfies the global standard for

packaged products. As a major player in food packaging,Chellarams is not oblivious of the demandby the Nigerian consumer for qualityproducts of international standard.Therefore, Chellarams ensures that milkpowder and malted food drink from itspackaging facilities are packaged in moredurable flex materials. Moreover, allproducts are packaged in such a way thatdoes not allow any moisture into thepouch, hence retaining its good taste for along time. Also, in packaging all its fooddrinks, Chellarams ensures that 99%nitrogen is blown into the pouch to helpflush out air from it, thereby reducing theresidual oxygen content. This actionprevents decomposition and rancidity ofthe packaged milk powder, thus helping toincrease the shelf life of the products. Thisis done to ensure that customers getsatisfaction and good health they desire. Infurtherance of ensuring quality packagedfoods, all packaged foods from Chellaramsare expected to undergo leakage analysis,microbiological analysis, environmentalanalysis, chemical analysis, bulk densityanalysis, sensory analysis, to mention but afew.As an acknowledgement and show ofconfidence in the production process cumquality of the food drinks packaged byChellarams Plc, renowned food drinkcompanies and multinationals haveentered into an agreement withChellarams, for the packaging of theirpremium milk and coffee brands. This is anendorsement of Chellarams Plc as thehome of quality food drinks, conformingto the ISO 9001: 2008 certification.

The Home Of Quality Food Drinks

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 201344

45THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 201346

BusinessTravel47

AS other countries witnessed their generalaviation sectors shrink during the econom-ic downturn, Nigeria’s has thrived. According to experts, the industry is expectedto grow by 3.5 per cent this year. This follows a2.5 per cent increase year over year in 2012 anda 2.5 per cent increase in 2011. This growth has come from all sectors of thegeneral aviation industry especially from busi-ness aviation, according to experts who spokeat the Nigeria Business Aviation Conference,with theme, “The Emerging Market In BusinessAviation”, held in Lagos on Tuesday.Business aviation is a specialised form of avia-tion catering for business travel, charter servic-es and private jets ownership. Meanwhile, the total private jets in Nigeria hasbeen valued at $3.75 billion, just as stakeholdersput the total entire private jets in the country at150.On the average, each jet costs $25 million,

which carries both local and international reg-istrations.The total number of private jets in the countryhas made Nigeria the continent’s largest mar-ket of private jets.Across the nation’s airports and private

hangars are state-of-the-art Gulfstream (300.450, 550, 650); Bombardier Challenger (604,605) Global Express; Embraer Legacy; Dassault

Falcon; and Hawker Siddeley (125 - 800, 900XP),with supply countries such as the United States,Canada, Brazil and South Africa.Acquisition cost goes from $10 million to $65million; excluding other associated costs likeregistration and legal; remuneration of pilotand crew; fueling and maintenance; insurance,landing, parking and overflying.Depending on the jet usage and size, the associ-ated costs can be $250,000 to $1,000,000 peryear, according to experts, just as 70 per cent ofjet purchases are made with cash according toindustry sources.South Africa is, unsurprisingly, the business avi-ation leader in the region, but that is not to saythere aren’t other contenders moving up in theranks. Data shows that Nigeria and Ghana arequickly emerging as the second and thirdstrongest markets in the region.Nigeria and South Africa are the two largesteconomies in Africa. With over 160 million peo-ple, Nigeria is the biggest market for private jetoperators and other investments, after SouthAfrica .The country is home to close to 150 corporateaircraft, a number which is expected to rise asNigeria’s economy continues to flourish. It’s no secret that sub-Saharan Africa is one ofthe next big growth markets for business avia-tion. With an emerging class of high net worthindividuals (HNWI) and growing political stabil-ity it’s no wonder that companies around the

THE major problems confrontingthe nation’s aviation sector wereon Wednesday espoused by a teamof aviation experts from the WorldBank at the West and Central AfricaAir Transport Safety and SecurityProgramme for Nigeria’s aviationsector reform held in Lagos.Lead experts, Jean Marc Bourreau,David Crowther and Samuel Stein, intheir presentations, analysed theaviation agencies like the FederalAirports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN),the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority(NCAA), the Nigeria AirspaceManagement Agency (NAMA), theNigeria Meteorological Agency(NIMET) and the Nigeria College ofAviation Technology (NCAT) andcame with a verdict that the sectorin Nigeria should be free from polit-ical interference as being hindered

by political interference.For the NAMA, they noted that hugepolitical interference had done incal-culable damage to the agency withabsence of managerial autonomy,absence of long term plan, safety andserious communications gaps in theairspace. These they noted have stunt-ed the growth of the agency, whichthey also admitted, suffers fromfinancial dependence on the ministryfor survival.The disclosure underscores what

many have come to accept that NAMAhas serious work to do to close up thegaps in the airspace and to ensurethat all obsolete navigational andcommunication tools are replaced toboost air safety.Experts, especially air traffic con-

trollers and pilots have voiced theirdispleasure over alleged inefficiency

of some of the airspace safety tools.According to the trio, “whatever nav-igational aids that needs to bereplaced should be done immediate-ly. Most of them are obsolete”.For the Accident Investigation

Bureau (AIB), the experts stated thatthe agency needs to be structured ina way that it would only report to thePresidency and not the Ministry orMinister of Aviation.The AIB frailties were exposed afterthe release of over 30 accidentreports penultimate months.The release of the report was as aresult of enormous pressure fromNigerians and stakeholders who crit-icised the idea of keeping accidentreports on the shelf for years withoutmaking them public.The practice, according to sources, isfor AIB to investigate accidents, write

Challenges of aviation in Nigeria, by World Bank

Nigeria, a burgeoning market for business aviation

their reports and submit them to theMinistry of Aviation, which is accusedof sitting on them.Many, including Bellview Airlines,

expressed their displeasure over thereports, particularly the one involvingthe airline. The carrier cried blue mur-der when it discovered that the reportreleased to it some years ago by theAIB was different from the onereleased in February.In saner climes, the Ministry of

Aviation’s interference in aviationmatters is minimal or non-existent.The ministers of Aviation under thecontracting state of the InternationalCivil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) areconfined to policy making and eco-nomic regulations, while day to dayrunning of the sector are done byexperts who are trained in aviationissues.

The civil aviation community is actual-ly larger than we all think.The World Bank experts were less com-plimentary in their presentations asregards the FAAN, stressing that FAANas is it currently constituted, cannotprovide the needed drive to make thecountry’s airports what they should be.They noted that private sector shouldbe invited to assist the country in theprovision of infrastructure throughPublic Private Partnership as it is donein most parts of the globe.To them, FAAN as presently constitutedwould hardly provide enhanced serv-ice delivery unless the authority is pri-vatized to boost efficiency.With over 23 airports across the nation,these aerodromes have over stretchedthe finances of the agency with little orno effort to create other avenue for rev-enue generation to enhance its bot-tomline.

world are looking at the region as a buddingbusiness aviation hotspot.Bolstered by poor ground transportation

infrastructure and a lack of commercial airlineconnections, business aviation has found a wel-coming home in Nigeria. However, even private aviation has problems toovercome before business can really flourish. Among the largest issues facing operators insub-Saharan Africa today are the lack of anestablished regulatory environment leading toa variation of regulations from country tocountry, poor infrastructure, a lack of mainte-nance facilities and safety requirements, and ageneral shortage of experienced aviation per-sonnel.Within the region, South Africa is by far thestrongest business aviation market, account-ing for 18 per cent in the region. The growing markets of Nigeria and Ghana,however, are beginning to make an impactwith the former accounting for nine per cent ofregional searches and the latter accounting foreight per cent.For this sector to continue to thrive, the bankswould need to play crucial roles. But how muchrole have the banks played to ensure that thebusiness thrives? Their supports have beenenormous.It is ironical that while these finance housesshied away from supporting general aviation,this newfound business is receiving huge

financial backing because of the low risksinvolved. The description of aviation in Nigeria as high-risk industry has negatively hampered financ-ing of aircraft by local banks.While in the U.S., Europe, Middle East and someparts of South America, financial institutions arewilling and ready to finance aircraft acquisition.It is also the reason airlines like Emirates, BritishAirways, Air France, Ethiopian Airways, KLM andmany other strong carriers can make over 30 air-craft orders in one fell swoop.In these climes, interests on loans are singledigit based, repaid over a long period of time,mostly between 10 and 20 years.The reverse is the case in Nigeria where interestrates range between 25 and 34 per cent withshort term repayable arrangement.Also, because of the classification as a high risknation in aviation, insurance premiums are veryhigh for aircraft operated in Nigeria.The Managing Director of Guarantee Trust

Bank, Mr. Segun Agbaje, in his presentation atthe forum, which brought together aircraftmanufacturers like Embraer, Bombardier,Dassault Falcon, Gulfstream, aviation serviceproviders among others, disclosed that the glob-al private jet industry had experienced a resur-gence since the downturn in the marketbetween 2008 and 2009 occasioned by the glob-al financial crisis.

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013

Stories by Wole Shadare

A customised Private jet

NSE Daily Summary (Equities) as at 8/5/2013PRICE LIST OF SYMBOLS

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013

NigeriaCapitalMarket48

CAPITAL MARKET 49tHe GUArDiAN, Friday, May 10, 2013

NSE Daily Summary (Equities) as at 8/5/2013

PriCe GAiNers LOsers

shareholders laud Nestle’s dividend payout for 2012

FOr increasing sharehold-ers’ value on investment

through robust dividendpayout and adherence to

corporate governance prin-ciples, shareholders ofNestle Plc,  yesterday com-mended the company’sboard on its 2012 perform-ance, as they approve a pro-posed dividend of

N18.50kobo per share.the company had earlier

paid an interim dividend ofN1.50 kobo , and a final divi-dend of N18.50 kobo yester-day, making a total divi-dend of N20.00 per share

By Bukky Olajide

for the year 2012.the shareholders who

spoke at the company’s 44thyearly general meeting inLagos yesterday, applaudedthe appointment of the newChairman of the board, not-ing that the company hascontinued to stick to its ‘oldtradition’ in terms ofappointing its board mem-bers over the years.they commended the man-agement for the impressiveperformance and efficientrunning of the company,amid harsh economic envi-ronment.

the President of theindependent shareholdersAssociation of Nigeria

(isAN), sir sunny Nwosuexpressed satisfaction withthe state of affairs in thebank especially for abidingby strict corporate gover-nance principles and sus-taining its profitability.

He however urged theboard to do everythingwithin its powers to givebonus to shareholders inthe next financial year end.Nwosu explained that thereis need for the company tocommence crayfish and cof-fee production, noting thatthe successes achieved incassava production can bereplicated in the two prod-ucts.

Global stocks dip, as Nigeria’s rally by 1.7 per cent

stOCks around the worldslipped after setting a five

year high yesterday, while theU.s. dollar strengthened inthe wake of better-than-expected U.s. job market data.investors took profits inmajor global equity markets,but relatively upbeat eco-nomic data and ongoing sup-port from central banks keptequities near multi-yearhighs.

emerging Markets’ stocksalso dipped but stocks inNigeria gained 1.7 percent.

Financial analysts attributedthis to the consistent growththat Nigerian stocks are expe-riencing.

U.s. stocks were mostly lowerdespite data showing claimsfor unemployment insur-ance fell to a five-year low inthe latest week, with Wallstreet coming off a sustainedrally that has taken the s&P500 to record closing highsfor five straight sessions.Pull-backs have been short

and shallow despite recur-ring calls for a correction inU.s. equities. Globally, theexpectation of continuedaccommodative monetarypolicy from central banks hasmaintained support forstocks.Britain’s central bankbucked a recent trend and

held off easing its policy anyfurther after a string ofimproving economic num-bers pointed to a pick-up ingrowth during the secondquarter.the U.s. dollar strengthened

against the euro and yen asdemand for the Americancurrency increased broadly

in the wake of the better-than-expected initial joblessclaims.

Against the yen, the dollarturned higher to touch theday’s peak of 99.40 yen. it waslast at 99.32 yen, up 0.3 per-cent on the day.the euro hit session lows at$1.3085 after earlier hitting a

high of $1.3177. it was recentlydown 0.4 percent at $1.3102.the euro was also pressuredby slightly softer-than-expect-ed demand at a spanish debtauction, while spanish gov-ernment bond yields rose ontalk the country was plan-ning another deal in the nearfuture.

By Helen Oji

ADH records N2.1 billion profit in 2012AssOCiAteD Discount

House Limited (ADH) hasposted a profit after tax ofN2.1 billion for the full yearended December 31,2012.According to the company,

its profits after tax rose to N2.1billion, which represent anincrease of 208.1 per cent

while profit before taxincreased to N1.2 billion, rep-resenting a growth of 76.7percent.Commenting on the results,the Managing Director,Abubakar Jimoh, said: “Our performance for theyear was in line with the

groups expectations justify-ing the effectiveness of ourstrategy and implementationproficiencies. We achievedthese results by focusing onour “core business” whilerecording significantimprovement in our operat-ing efficiency.

“Net operating income wasup 44per cent, even as cost-to-income ratio declined by 900basis points to 52per cent.Going forward, the Board ofDirectors and Managementare committed to sustainingand improving on this per-formance.” he said.

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 201350

51

OpinionTHE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013

noise decibel has risen astronomically as eachprayer house or prayer centre tries to outdoeach other in their bid to attract gullible andhapless believers to their business centers orcorporate establishments. And so, in thishighly competitive industry the loud speakersget bigger and louder each passing day. Like atypical capitalist mogul who would not loseany moment or opportunity of expanding thesize of his profit margin, and so is ready to worknight and day without consideration of thewelfare of his/her workers, our neo-industrial en-trepreneurshave also ensured that no momentof the day or night is lost in advancing not thekingdom of God but their own kingdoms inthe name of religion. For this, reason, they havealso turned our nights into theaters of the ab-surd. The silence of the night, which is God’sprovidential gift to humankind to rest fromthe toil and heat of the day and recoup new en-ergies for the next day has been sacrilegiouslytransgressed and defiled by religious lunaticsall in the name of vigil. Since these mushroomchurches can be established at any availablespace, not even our private homes are insu-lated from their irritating noises. And so, oneis willy-nilly often forced to keep awake andparticipate in their nocturnal absurdity. I still cannot fathom how these self-deluded

men and women honestly believe that they arepraying to the God and Father of our Lord JesusChrist, when their actions are deliberate acts ofviolence against their fellow men and women.How can their prayers rise like incense beforethe throne of God when they do not under-stand or practice the first and most importantcommandment of God, which his Love of Godand Love of neighbour? How does their keep-ing thousands of men and women from hav-ing their deserved rest and peace after havingtoiled in the heat of the day constitute an act oflove of neighbour? How about the sick man orwoman who needs that night rest to regain hishealth? Or the student or teacher who needssome serenity and silence to prepare for an ex-amination or his/her lecture notes or some ac-ademic paper but cannot do so by reason of theendless ranting and raving of these insensitive“Christians” and “Moslems”? In fact, after sev-eral unsuccessful attempts to concentrate andmeditate on the Holy Scriptures before writingmy Sunday homily I give up in frustration and

ability all over the world, including in Nigeria. Why should we care about protecting intellectual property?

Consider the number of times every day you hear a new songon the radio, see a Nollywood movie, buy a trademarked prod-uct that you can be confident is produced to high standards, oruse a piece of technology, like a cellular telephone, that relieson the latest patented technology. The protection of intellec-tual property rights enhances a country’s development andpromotes its business and artistic environments. Such pro-tections stimulate advances that benefit the entire world – inthe form of technology, medicine, and other processes. An in-tellectual property rights regime that effectively and effi-ciently addresses protections and enforcement encouragesinnovation and consumer and business confidence, all ofwhich can lead to strong economic development and high-paying jobs. We commend the Nigerian Government’s commitment to

improving the protection of IPR, strengthening the ability ofNigerian officials and organisations to enforce existing laws,and developing its creative industries. This includes the re-form effort announced in November 2012 by the NigerianCopyright Commission (NCC) to modernize the legal and reg-ulatory framework for copyrights in Nigeria. These reformswill bring Nigerian copyright regulations in line with inter-national norms. But the U.S. and global community remainconcerned about inability to effectively enforce Nigeria’s IPlaws. This lack of resources is a major obstacle to protecting IPrights in Nigeria. It also restricts access by Nigerians to U.S.works and innovations; the lack of enforcement to prevent in-fringing IP rights in the digital environment is a challenge toU.S. companies that seek to distribute licensed, or legally pro-tected content in Nigeria. In Nigeria and across sub-Saharan Africa, the problem of fake

medications is so rampant that pharmaceutical companieshave had to develop methods to help combat counterfeit med-icines, such as the use of a mobile telephone verification sys-tem to identify authentic drugs from fakes. A society withmodern IP laws and institutions that effectively enforces theselaws, however, would not have to ask its citizens to confirmthe authenticity of the medications they are consuming. To help highlight the very real threat of counterfeit and sub-

standard medications, the U.S. Mission has partnered with theAnti-Counterfeiting Collaboration of Nigeria to promoteawareness of the dangers of counterfeit medicines through astudent poster campaign and a series of public service an-nouncements broadcast on radio stations throughout thecountry. We encourage the Government of Nigeria to devoteadditional resources to policing the sale of illicit goods. Pro-tecting intellectual property is crucial to protecting publichealth and safety in countries across the globe. The pace of new technological developments means that IP

is constantly evolving and, as a result, so must the laws andregulations designed to protect these materials. These devel-opments create new opportunities for rights holders and con-sumers alike, but they also open new avenues for infringers totake advantage of another’s creativity and innovation. We allhave the capacity to create, the right to protect that creation,and, most importantly, a responsibility to respect and adhereto IP laws. Information and communication technologies, safemedicines, and all the other innovations that form a growingpart of Nigeria’s economy are only possible because of intel-lectual property rights. The hopes we all have for a better fu-ture depend on those inventors and innovators who will makethe world more bountiful – if their creative efforts and hardwork are protected. • McCulley is the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria.

then settled to write this piece. The noise com-ing from a Church prayer kiosk at 1:30 amwould not allow me to meditate silently on theword of God. How can one violate one’s neigh-bour in a conscienceless manner and honestlybelieve that he/she is praying? This is the prob-lem with the kind of religion practiced in ourcountry. I would like note to be taken of myqualification. The problem is not religion itselfbut the kind of religion that we have here. It isa religion that is completely bereft of simpleand basic reason. It is a kind of religion that isa complete antithesis to the Catholic traditionthat always insists on faith and reason. Whenfaith is held without reason, then we have thissort of lunacy dressed up as religion. A religionthat does not stop to reflect is a scourge, aplague to humankind. Were it not for ecu-menical sensitivity, I would have, withoutmincing any word, categorically state that thekind of religion practiced in Nigeria since theadvent of Pentecostalism is, indeed, a scourge,a plague worse that the bubonic plague orblack death that ravaged Europe in the latemiddle ages. But I even wonder if Pentecostal-ism can be a true partner in ecumenical dia-logue since one needs the use of reason toconfront or dialogue on some matters.But what surprises me is that there are so-

called academic dons and other “educated”men and women who are at the head of theseprayer houses who cannot and do not stop fora moment to ask themselves how their faithand action square up with the Christian Gospeland with basic Christian moral demands. Butthis only goes to show that there are more cap-italist motivations than godly or spiritual mo-tivations undergirding these spiritualindustries and warehouses. Although our con-stitution guarantees every citizen the right andfreedom to religious expression, yet that rightdoes not envisage that religious expression be-come a nuisance to others. Religion must bepracticed within the bounds of reason and theChristian Gospel would add, within the boundsof charity. Any religion that lacks these is no re-ligion but a human contraption that mas-querades as religion.If these peddlers of false spiritualties, who areoften the first to quote the Scriptures, have anyunderstanding of Scripture, then they wouldhave known that if one must keep vigil, one

By Emeka Nwosuh

By Terence McCulley

Pentecostal spirituality and noise pollution

Creativity: Next generation in Nigeria

ONE of the front burner issues in contempo-rary international discourse is the environ-

mental problem of global warming. In spite ofskepticism expressed by some, world leaders, sci-entists, environmentalists and other concernedinstitutions are becoming increasingly con-vinced that human activities are significantly im-pacting on our environment in ways that aredegradatory, thus occasioning some climaticshifts and changes of which global warming isone of its effects. Although, Nigeria’s economicand industrial capacity and their resulting pol-lution that contributes to global warming ishighly insignificant when compared to those ofthe industrialized nations, the Nigerian govern-ment, characteristic of its profligacy and its su-perficiality has tried to play leading roles ininternational conferences on global warmingwhile paying no attention whatsoever to a dif-ferent kind of industrial pollution that ispresently ravaging our country.I am speaking of the noise pollution emanatingincessantly from the neo-industries calledchurches and prayer houses, and of coursemosques. Since the collapse of our manufactur-ing and production industries is more or lesscoterminous with the rise of Pentecostalism inNigeria, the industrial pollution has somewhatnot ceased. What we have is only a change in thetype of pollution taking place. The industrialnoise pollution and other waste pollution havegiven way to a different kind of noise and wastepollution, call it if you like, religious noise andwaste pollution. This pollution is by no means asdevastating as the pollution emanating frommanufacturing industries, if not more devastat-ing. The advent of Pentecostalism in Nigeria and in

the rest of Africa has come to mean an increasein the number of sources of noise pollution inour environment. Thus, one can, indeed, say thatthe rise of Pentecostalism has led to a propor-tionate rise in noise pollution in our villages,towns and cities. Although Nigerians andAfricans are generally said to be boisterous andperhaps loquacious, these have, however, noth-ing in common with the kind of scourging noisethat have invaded our public and private spaces.With the number of so-called churches andprayer houses springing up like mushrooms, the

must do so in quiet and lonely or separatedplace, but above all in SILENCE. Let them go readhow many times Jesus kept vigil and how he didthat. Let them go read about what Jesus saidabout praying like the pagans: their inter-minably winding and repetitious prayers all inthe name of speaking in tongues. Let them goread Paul’s advice to the Corinthian communityabout turning the liturgical gathering into a ca-cophony of lunatic voices. These scriptural pas-sages never enter into the radar of thesereligious pests. But this chicanery and triflingare not just found only among Pentecostal reli-gious merchants, but also among some Moslemsects who seem a moderate Islamic sect, yet theirall-night vigil akin to the Pentecostals has madethem equally obnoxious and reprehensible astheir Pentecostal counterparts. I would not endthis article without also indicting some groupswithin the so-called mainline churches, that alsocontribute their own quota of religious noisepollution. But of course, the blame lay squarelyon their pastors who rather than insist that theyfollow the traditional spirituality, allow them tofollow the infectious Pentecostal spirituality. Itis important to point out that vigil has alwaysbeen part of Catholic spirituality and traditionfrom the outset. This practice is what, in fact,marks its ascetic, monastic, and religious lifespirituality. But vigils were done in silence andwith minimum or no inconvenience to others. So when a parish priest encourages or allows

any kind of prayer session or religious gatheringto constitute a nuisance to others, he departsfrom the authentic spirituality of the CatholicChurch. It is the responsibility of those entrustedwith the custody of the life and mysteries of theChurch to step in and put an end to such aber-ration. Meanwhile, the lawmakers should putaside religious sentiments (real or feigned) andenact laws against noise pollution whether of areligious kind or of any other kind since this con-stitutes a nuisance and worse still a danger topublic and individual health. I know somemight find this article rather belligerent to-wards Pentecostalism, but I would dare anyoneto try having one or more Pentecostal churchesor prayer houses as neighbour, with a mosqueas jara, and then you will know what I am talk-ing about. Enough of these prayer warriors! • The Reverend father Nwosuh, OP, wrote fromLagos.

NIGERIA’S cultural patrimony includes contributions by im-mensely talented artists known around the world: musi-

cians like Fela Kuti, poets like Wole Soyinka, and writers likeChinua Achebe, among others. April 26 marked World Intel-lectual Property Day, a day on which we recognize the contri-butions creative individuals and industries bring to our globalcommunity and highlight the importance of preserving theirintellectual property (IP) around the world. The theme of thisyear’s World IP Day, “Creativity: The Next Generation,” remindsus that, as we honour the rich creative history of Nigeria, wemust continue to look for ways to encourage and foster Nige-ria’s future artists, musicians, poets, and authors. Supportingthis next generation will advance an already notable legacyand provide a cultural and economic platform to support theircreativity. “Intellectual property” is the globally recognized term we

give to creations of the mind and Intellectual Property Rights(IPR) is the label used for assigning ownership to protecthuman creativity. These rights are enforced through legalmechanisms – copyrights, patents, and trademarks – that en-sure the products we buy are genuine, and that our inventionsand works are attributed appropriately. Copyright laws en-courage the creation of artistic and literary works, computerprogrammes, and expressions of national culture. Patent lawsencourage the invention of new and improved products andprocesses, while ensuring the freest possible public access toinformation regarding those new products and processes.Trademark laws encourage the development and mainte-nance of high-quality products and services, and help compa-nies to promote customer loyalty. So, intellectual propertyrights protect not just inventors and creators; they also pro-tect consumers – those whose safety depends on product reli-

in the Benin mangrove full of mangrove-meat.But the man may not seem what he seems. Ifhe is not a perfect devourer of mangrove-meatpepper-soup, he surely must be a night-ravenwho can do a night-long beaking of beardedmeat, a special delicacy of several of my Etsakopals in or not in government. And the Edo Statehelmsman is a thorough-bred Etsako person-age! We do not know how much he budgetsfor food and drinks and tantalizers beyond thereach of, for example, the mass of his state’steachers and civil servants who are “truly hear-ing it,” to quote a phrase of this category of EdoState’s suffering workers, many of whom havebeen booted out of work and service for flimsyreasons, and many of whom also, since theirgenuine and mandatory retirement, are yet toget their benefits. Yet they voted for Mr. ACNGovernor whose office may be hoisting aLabour flag! Did they cooperate with him toenter government house to be so treated? Sohe and his hangers-on are chopping alonewhile the masses are salivating in vain? And is there any from his special school of pol-itics whose persons have retired from serviceand are yet to receive their gratuities? Is it evenright for retired civil servants or retired work-ers who gave our various states the best partsof their lives to no longer have access to man-grove-meat pepper-soup or Badagry cuisine ordesert tuwo shinkafi (pound rice) or Etsakobearded-meat? Perhaps we may be right to saythat our ACN “comrade” helmsman of EdoState is a conspirator after all, a conspiratoragainst the suffering workers in his state, work-ers and ex-workers who can’t eat well and whoare, to boot, taxed beyond measure and with-out qualms.

Opinion

Food in Nigerian politics

THERE must be a huge reason that explainsperfectly the hugely huge appetites of ourhulking politicians. I am perfectly sure, if nothugely so, that a good number of them musthave read or heard of the eternal William Shake-speare’s Julius Caesar. In their consciousness isthe eternal statement therein that lean men areprone to committing the eternal sin of con-spiracy. Anyone who wears a thin or lean shapeor frame, naturally or un-naturally, needs to besuspected and feared. Such a one never must betrusted. Not only must he be dangerous, but hecertainly also is dangerously dangerous as adastardly dastard conspirator. And, indeed, inpolitical circles, Nigerian brand and style, alllean and thin politicians must beef up theirlean and thin hulks without a huh and a hum.It doesn’t matter if they become gluttonousgluttons in the act and art of hum-buggingtheir respective lean hulls, with or without fearof any hubble-bubble from any quarters. Butthe quarters of the great Nigerian masses shallsend their deafening or earthquake of a hubble-bubble very soon. None of them shall escape it. Not even the ACNchaps and helmspersons in the respectivestates where they do their propaganda and hoyevery now and then shall escape the earth-quake hurrying nigh. They niggle us with theirhoy even though they are not very successfulyet in the beefing act and art. Take Edo State, forinstance. The chief helmsperson for more thanfour years now is still maintaining a bearingthat does not betray any sign of beefing. Per-haps he is yet to know how to navigate his route

By Obinna Uzoka

As BPE awakens

52 THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013

Festus Iyayi, where are you? Dipo Fashina,where are you? Jonathan Ihonde, where areyou? Baba Omojola, where are you? Our com-rade is in power! Where are you, O worthycomrades? Our comrade is in government! Oyou worthily tested comrades who neverfailed your flock, your once-fellow comrade isin power, is in government and is in author-ity. He is no longer eating with the masses. Heis no longer dining with workers. He is nolonger dining with comrades. His table is evenbeyond you now, I put it to you. Again, I put itto you: you no longer follow or understand hisfood-politics. I put it to you: he does not evenlisten to you anymore. In fact, he does noteven hear you any longer and he will neverhear you again, I put it to you… I put it toyou… I put it to you… He is now an outsiderwhose current food-politics is that of the non-comrade who is beefing up his fragile framethat is seemingly rejecting to be fatly and fat-tishly fat despite the fatty beefing up and thefatty food-budget whose true billions arelocked up in the cellar-heart of the erstwhilecomrade. What you planted, watered and nur-

tured to fruition is not what we truly have now,O true comrades! And the other governors, ACN and non-ACNones? How spicy is their food-and-drinksbudget? Are they eating and drinking theirteachers and civil servants and workers dry viaburdensome taxation and unpaid allowances,benefits, gratuities and merited sundry claimsdue them as and when due even after meritori-ous service and duties? Of course, we don’t knowwho among them are true governors of themasses, if any of them truly is. What we know,however, is that the majority of them are food-policy players, food-policy players whose food-policy is perfect fun that has no place for “foodprocessing factories” for the persons and per-sons and the people who constitute the broadbut hungry masses of Nigeria. Some of the gov-ernors have been doing six kilometres road forabout five or more years now. Na six kilometresroad man go chop? Nay! No!• Afejuku is a poet and professor of English and Lit-erature and Creative Writing at the University ofBenin, Benin City.

By Tony Afejuku

THERE have been debates as to what Napoleon exactly meantwhen he reportedly described China as a sleeping giant, andadded that when she wakes up she will move the world, or theworld will take note, or something to that effect. The debaters,like mind readers, must be right in giving the impression thatthe great French general and military strategist could havemeant a number of things, from simply urging everyone notto mess with China or risk serious repercussions, to suggest-ing that China is an all-round world power waiting to mani-fest its great potentials. And though Napoleon did not elaborate on that remark, Ithink both interpretations are right. In any case, the remarknow seems like prophecy in the light of how China has beentransformed into one of the world’s greatest economic and po-litical powers, which anyone ignores, or messes with, to theirown peril. Besides, Napoleon’s description of China as a giantcould be taken literally considering that, for size and popula-tion, China is indeed one of the world’s gigantesque nations,comparable – for size, or land mass – to such countries as theUnited States, Canada and Russia, and for population to onlyIndia, whose population, like China’s, has since crosses theone-billion mark. I suspect the reader would wonder why I have begun a piecetitled “As BPE Awakens” with such mention of Napoleon andChina. I can imagine the reader asking: What has whatNapoleon said about China got to do with the BPE – Bureau ofPublic Enterprises in full – whose mandate is not to engage insuch military exploits that made Napoleon famous, nor is it,as a government agency, so physically huge as to be compara-ble to the giant to which Napoleon compared China?To be sure, the broad mandate of the BPE includes such re-sponsibilities as implementing the policies of the NationalCouncil on Privatisation (NCP), advising the NPC on furtherpublic enterprises, which may be privatised or commer-cialised and on the capital restructuring needs of Nigerianpublic enterprises to be privatised. It also includes preparingpublic enterprises approved by the NCP for privatisation andcommercialisation, managing accounts for all commer-cialised enterprises for financial discipline, and vetting candi-dates for appointments as consultants, advisers, investmentbankers, issuing houses stockbrokers, solicitors, trustees, ac-countants and other professionals required for the purpose of

either privatisation or commercialisation. Finally, it includesmanaging post transactional performance monitoring andevaluation, minimising economic inequalities by promotingpublic welfare activities and promoting balanced regional de-velopment by developing industries in every part of the coun-try.In sum, the core mandate of the BPE is to manage the processthat ensures the smooth and successful privatisation or com-mercialisation of government-owned concerns, and therebytransform Nigeria from a public-sector driven economy to aprivate-sector driven economy. Ironically, in this role, the BPE,though not a large establishment by size, has superintendedover the fate of gigantic organisations like the NigerianTelecommunications Limited (NITEL), leading to the successfulprivatisation of the Nigerian telecommunications sector. It isalso now superintending over the fate of the Power HoldingCompany of Nigeria (PHCN), a behemoth of a public concernlike NITEL, which is currently transiting fully to private own-ership.And it is in relation to the huge, almost incalculable, impactof its discharge of its responsibilities, successfully or otherwise,that I think the PBE should be regarded as a giant, a sort of “cor-poration” Atlas on whose shoulders the future of the Nigerianbusiness/economic world rests with all the potentials inher-ent in that world. If it bears that responsibility lightly or trifleswith it, then that world and its future risks crashing with direconsequences to all stakeholders. But let it bear it responsibly,and that world and future could blossom, resulting in Nige-ria’s much-expected and long-overdue emergence as an eco-nomic powerhouse, one of the world’s 20 most industrialisednations by the year 2020. In my view, it must take a giant, how-ever physically “small”, to superintend over the fate of such gi-ants as NITEL and PHCN to (potentially) huge consequences forthe future of the Nigerian people. Those Nigerians familiar with the grave consequences of anyfailure of the BPE to discharge its mandate have been critical ofthe bureau as occasion demands, though sometimes withoutseeming to take into account the various factors that may re-side outside the bureau and its operations that could beblamed for such failure. For sad as it must be to say, it is truethat sometimes, in spite of the best efforts of Nigerian publicofficials and the agencies under their charge, the notorious“Nigerian factor” could make nonsense of their good work.And the “Nigerian factor” manifests sometimes as varioustypes of overbearing pressures from powerful vested interests

in high places, which the heads of such agencies can only ig-nore at great cost to their tenure, not excluding sudden lossof office. And those who criticise such agencies and their headsoften ignore the fact they operate within a larger socio-cul-tural and political context, and that one cannot work in achimney and be expected not to end up with some soot onone’s body. It is reassuring to note, however, that the BPE has apparentlyawakened to the need to discharge its duties with strict effi-ciency and patriotism, especially taking into account the man-ner it has conducted affairs related to the privatisation of theNigerian power sector since President Goodluck Jonathan re-portedly urged it not to trifle with its responsibilities underthe privatisation programme. Specifically, this efficiency and patriotism has manifested asthe improved amounts received so far for the assets of the pri-vatisation-bound PHCN successor companies. Not a few eye-brows were raised when it was first touted that the assets werevalued at N200 billion. But by March 21, 2013, eleven biddersfor the 12 PHCN successor companies had paid $469.03 millionfor those same assets, which approximates to N75 billion. Andconsidering that this amount represents 25 per cent paymentfor the assets of 12 out of 18 of such companies, it is clear thatthe total amount that would eventually accrue to the countryfor the sale of such assets, where applicable – after the paymentof the remaining 75 per cent – would far exceed the contro-versial N200 billion. Thus, the BPE’s awakening has mani-fested, among other ways, as its realisation of the need toengage in improved bargains for Nigeria in monetary andother terms. Not to commend the bureau for such improvement wouldbe to overlook the import of the Igbo saying: “E too dike n’nkeomere eme omekwa ozo.” (“Acknowledging a hero for what hehas done encourages him to do more”). Yet one should pro-ceed from taking note of such evidence of the awakening ofthe bureau to its patriotic responsibilities to urging it and itsadministrators to remain wide awake always, as even a fewmoments of relapse into somnolence could mean loss of mo-mentum in its current progress and with dire consequencesfor any gains recorded so far by the country from its new-fan-gled efficiency. Like China, I believe this awakening of the BPE hints at greaterprospects of efficiency in carrying out its functions under thepower sector reform. •Uzoka wrote from Lagos.

Is there any from his special school of politics whose persons haveretired from service and are yet to receive their gratuities? Is it evenright for retired civil servants or retired workers who gave our vari-ous states the best parts of their lives to no longer have access tomangrove-meat pepper-soup or Badagry cuisine or desert tuwoshinkafi (pound rice) or Etsako bearded-meat?

53

Reflections on Mother’s Day

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficentthe Merciful“And We have enjoined upon man, tohis parents, good treatment. His mothercarried him with hardship and gavebirth to him with hardship, and his ges-tation and weaning (period) is thirtymonths... (Q46-15)

BRETHREN, I had planned to engagean uncanny topic for our sermon

today. I tentatively titled it “Mad Menin Our Cities”. But just before I con-cluded the piece, I got informationthat the Mother’s Day comes up in acouple of days. I then paused amoment and said to myself- perhapsthat should take precedence. Is it notbecause the status and circumstanceof our mothers have not enjoyed thenecessary attention that has led to thehiatus and disjuncture in the circum-stance of humanity today? Is it not because mothers in our

world today have failed to guide andnurture their children to the best paththat we now have ‘bad’ men andwomen’ in our cities? What does Islamsay about women as mothers? Whatdoes Islam say about women as wives?What does Islam say about women asdaughters? Is it not true that younggirls who are properly nurtured bythe wombs that bore them oftenbecome good women who in turnbecome good wives and ultimatelygood mothers? Is it not true thatwhen girls are nurtured and accultur-ated to live in the abyss that theybecome women of crisis and ultimate-ly mothers of commotion andinfamy?

While pondering the above questions,I became attentive to yet anothersalient one. I asked myself: where is mymother? Let me also ask you: where isyour mother? When last did you visither, ask after her welfare and seek herblessings? What roles and responsi-bilities have the child, male or female,to the bosom that suckled him or herwhile in the cradle? Is it possible foryou to hope and pray for success inyour earthly pursuits while your moth-er bewails the day she brought you tothe world because of your wayward-ness and lack of care for her? Brethren,is it possible for the child to attain eter-nal redemption while his mother isangry with him?Brethren, the idea of marking or cele-brating “Mother’s Day” could bedescribed as a noble one. But a morepassionate contemplation of the statusof mothers across cultures and reli-gions would compel the suggestionthat dedicating a day to our mothers isnot enough. In fact, it could be seen atleast by the cynic, as an infraction inand of their status. The cynic couldeven say that once that day is passedthen mothers could jolly well revertback to their state of insignificance.This is because all other days belong tothe fathers.But the religion of Islam says no. If the

days of the year were to be apportionedat all and distributed between fathersand mothers, the latter should takethree quarters while the remainingquarter would go to the fathers. A mancame to al-Rasul (s.a.w.) and said: “OAllah’s Apostle! Who is more entitled tobe treated with the best companion-ship by me?” al-Rasul said, “Your moth-er.” The man said. “Who is next?” TheProphet said, “Your mother.” The manfurther said, “Who is next?” TheProphet said, “Your mother.” The manasked for the fourth time, “Who isnext?” The Prophet said, “Your father.”In the above text, the al-Rasul is expli-cating on the Quranic instructionwhich reads: Your Lord has decreed toyou that: You shall worship none butHim, and you shall be kind to your par-ents; if one or both of them live to theirold age in your lifetime, you shall notsay to them any word of contempt norrepel them and you shall address themin kind words. You shall lower to themyour wings of humility and pray: “OLord! Bestow on them Your blessingsjust as they cherished me when I was alittle child. “Your Lord knows best whatis in your hearts. If you do good deeds,certainly He is most forgiving to thosewho turn to Him in repentance”(Q17:23-25).The reason mothers occupy such an

iconic status in Islamic weltanschau-ung is simple. It derives from themajor responsibility they shoulder inthe course of preserving the humanrace. Theirs is the task of experiencinga combination of pain and pleasure,that at conception. Theirs is the task ofgoing through indescribable pain inthe labour room. To the mothers is theresponsibility of suckling and nurtur-ing the child for a maximum period oftwo and a half years (Q2: 233). Somebody asked al-Rasul: “Is it possi-ble for the child to recompense thegood done to him by his mother?” Al-Rasul replied in the negative. He said:“Your mother loved and nurtured youwhile you were in the cradle becauseshe wanted you to survive and be suc-cessful. But you care and nurture her ather old age because you know shewould soon pass into eternity!” Thusno matter the care we give our moth-ers such shall remain inferior to thecare they gave to us while we were stillyoung. In fact, when it is time to reward ourparents for the good they did to us, wealways look for alternatives. InAmerica, the aged are condemned tothe homes of the “seniors”. When youmeet an elderly woman begging foralms in our garages and on our streets,do you not wonder where her children

could be at that point in time?Brethren, those who make their agedparents suffer deprivation are sowingthe wind: he who sows the wind willreap the whirlwind.” Further, Ibn Al-Jawzî (d. 1201CE) expli-cates on Q2: 23-23 thus: “To be kind toone’s parents is to obey them whenthey order you to do something, unlessit is that which the Almighty has forbid-den; to give priority to their orders overvoluntary acts of worship; to abstainfrom that which they forbid you to do;to provide for them; to serve them; toapproach them with gentle humilityand mercy; not to raise your voice infront of them; nor to fix your glance onthem; nor to call them by their names;and to be patient with them.”But what about those whose mothershave passed on to eternity? Glory be tothe Almighty for Islam. I guess youknow that the death of your parentsdoes not mean the cessation of yourresponsibility to them. Those whoseparents have died are still expected todo the following for them and on theirbehalf: offering of prayers for them andembarking on noble projects in theirnames and with the intention that theAlmighty should reward them for theirgood deeds. When you recite chapter112of the glorious Quran and request thatyour Lord bring His reward to them intheir graves, you are sure that it shall beaccepted. The Almighty Allah specifical-ly commands us to pray for our dead asfollows: rabbir ham ummah kama rab-bayyani saghiran –O! My Lord! Bestowyour mercies on them the same waythey were merciful unto me while I wasin the cradle.”guardianfridayworship@gmail.com.

By Afis A. Oladosu

FridayWorship“Surely, the religion with Allah is ISLAM,complete submission”... Qur’an 3:19

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 201354

Sports

Customs’ take fourth game, beats GT-2000

NIGERIA CustomsBasketball Club got the

better of GT-2000 in yester-day’s opening game at thesecond phase of the ZenithBank Basketball League inAsaba, winning 72-58.

The teams observedWednesday as rest day andwere refreshed but it wasCustoms, who emerged vic-torious to record their fourthvictory of the second phase.

Coach of Nigeria Customs,Scott Nnaji told The Guardianthat the injection of youngplayers into his team hasmade it more mobile andcompetitive.

“What we have done is to

El Kanemi hitABS 4-1, Pillarsregain lead

EL Kanemi Warriors movedup in the Nigeria

Professional Football League(NPFL) table when it defeatedAbubakar Saraki (ABS) FC 4-1 ina Week 10 game decided inMaiduguri yesterday.

The win lifts the Borno sideto the 16th position in the 20-team league with 12 pointsfrom 10 games.           

Okpokwu Ebube opened thefloodgate of goals for ElKanemi barely two minutesinto the game, with EzekielThompson making it 2-0before 30 minutes.   

Five minutes into the secondhalf, Reuben Ogbonnaya senta freekick beyond the ABSgoalkeeper, while Ebube net-ted his second in the 68th

minute to complete the rout.   ABS got its solitary goal

through Otegbeye Ajibola inthe 89th minute.

Earlier on Wednesday,defending champions, KanoPillars beat Nasarawa United2-0 to regain top spot on thetable with 19 points.

Pillars could be toppled byEnugu Rangers, who will playtheir Week 10 match againstWikki Tourists in Bauchit o d a y .

Pillars got their goals in theseventh and 67th minutethrough Buhari Musa andRabiu Ali respectively.

In Katsina-Ala, Enyimbaforced Lobi Stars to a goallessdraw, their first away drawthis season.

At the Uyo TownshipStadium, Akwa United beatbasement side, Sharks, 3-0,with Ubong Ekpai and skipperNnamso Edo (twice) doing thed a m a g e .

Meanwhile, Kano StateGovernor, Rabiu Kwankwasohas charged the new govern-ing board of Kano Pillars to

keep the team abreast ofmodern trends in sportsd e v e l o p m e n t .

The governor, who gave thecharge while inauguratingthe members of the boardyesterday in Kano, said thatthere was the need to run theclub as a business enterprise.

“The most successful foot-ball clubs in Europe and else-where in the developedworld are owned by privatei n v e s t o r s .

“So, Kano Pillars must moveat par with the world and inthe nearest future, be able tostand on its feet and con-tribute in the drive forimproved revenue for ourstate,” Kwankwaso said.

The governor told theboard, headed by Abba Yola,that in most places across theworld, governments are notthe sole financiers of footballclubs. He said that rather,they benefited in terms of rev-enue from theclubs’ activities.

bring in young players toplay alongside the moreexperienced ones and thishad brought some balanceto the team.”

Nnaji, however, said thatthey would have to recruitmore experienced players ifthey hope to break into theelite rank.

“Our ambition is to be inthe final in Lagos and that ismotivating the players to dowell. Also, we need to contin-

ue winning because that iswhat will take us to the final,”Nnaji added.

The custom’s coach alsostated that the team’s abilityto correct its mistakes andsolve its defensive problemshave also contributed to itsimproved performance inAsaba.

He noted that the newteams have found the goingtough but stated that theinvolvement of more players

in the league was good forthe development of thegame. He said that playingmore games would also helpkeep the experienced playersin shape.

In some other gamesplayed, IGP Queens defeatedPlateau Rocks 52-51, FCYAngles beat AHIP Queens 60-34, Delta Force beat OluyoleBabes 51-34 while TarabaHurricanes lost to Coal CityQueens 45-46.

Denver’s Ujiri wins 2012-13 NBA BasketballExecutive of the Year awardNIGERIA’S Masai Ujiri, who

is Denver Nuggets’ execu-tive vice president(Basketball Operations), isthe recipient of the 2012-13NBA Basketball Executive ofthe Year award, the NBAannounced yesterday.

Ujiri was instrumental inassembling an ensemble cast– nine players averagedbetween 8.0 and 16.7 pointsand Denver’s bench rankedsecond overall in scoring(41.3 ppg) – that finished withthe league’s fourth-bestrecord (57-25, .695) andsecured the No. 3 seed in theWestern Conference Playoffs.

Denver’s league-best 38-3(.927) mark at Pepsi Centertied for the 14th best homemark in league history.

Over the summer, Ujiri aug-mented Denver’s roster byacquiring Andre Iguodalafrom Philadelphia in a four-team, 12-player deal, and here-signed JaVale McGee andAndre Miller.

Since joining the Nuggetsfront office prior to the 2010-11 season, Ujiri has draftedKenneth Faried (No. 22 over-all in 2011), and in addition toIguodala, McGee and Miller,has acquired Corey Brewer,Wilson Chandler, Ty Lawson,Danilo Gallinari and KostaKoufos via trades.

With those players com-prising the bulk of the roster,the Nuggets opened the 2012-13 campaign, as the NBA’sthird-youngest team with anaverage age of 24.9 years.

Despite their youth, theNuggets compiled two of theseven longest winningstreaks in the NBA in 2012-13,including a franchise-best-tying 15 straight wins (Feb. 23-March 23).

Additionally, according toNBA.com/Stats, Denver was aWestern Conference-best 24-4 (.857) after the All-Starbreak.

Ujiri, who spent three yearswith the Toronto Raptorsbefore joining the Nuggets,was named to his currentposition on August 27, 2010.He worked for the Nuggetsorganization as a scout from2003-07, and served as theteam’s director of interna-tional scouting during the2006-07 season.

Nishikori ousts Federer,Nadal cruises

DEFENDING champion,Roger Federer was

dumped out of the MadridMasters yesterday by worldnumber 14, Kei Nishikori, asthe Japanese came through 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in their third roundclash, reports Associated Press.

Second seed Federer, whohad just returned to the tourafter a two-month break, joinsworld number one, NovakDjokovic, in being eliminatedearly in the Spanish capitaland his lack of match practiceshowed.

One break was enough forNishikori to take the openingset 6-4, but Federer roaredback in the second to take it 6-1.

However, with the momen-tum seeming to be with the 17-time Grand Slam champion, itwas Nishikori, who edgedahead when he broke to move3-1 in the third. And after com-fortably holding serve in hisnext two service games, the23-year-old broke again to seala first career win over Federer.

“He was my idol actually, soto beat him, that was one ofmy goals for my tenniscareer,” Nishikori told a pressconference.

“That it happens on clay isamazing because, you know,it’s not my really favourite sur-face. I feel good, of course. Iwasn’t really expecting this, itis not easy, 6-2 in the third,that’s not easy against him.”

Three-time champion,Federer, who beat Nishikori instraight sets in their onlyother previous clash in Baselin 2011, admitted Nishikoriwas a deserving winner.

“I’m disappointed with mymatch. Today Nishikoriplayed better and the bestman won,” said Federer.

Rafael Nadal eased into thelast eight with a 6-2, 6-3 winover Mikhail Youzhny andwill next face either TommyHaas of Germany or Spanishcompatriot David Ferrer.

The 26-year-old Nadal nowstands at 28-2 on the season ashe looks to reach his seventhfinal since his comeback froma seven-month injury lay-offin February.

“Since I’ve been back Ihaven’t had the security that Iam in my perfect moment orthat I can give myself definitegoals,” said Nadal.“I just to have try and feel that

I am getting better and betterday after day. I have to havemy feet on the ground. I’vemade it to the quarter-finalsof Madrid, which, for me, it’slovely to be able to say thattoday.

“I’ll try to enjoy the quarter-final match tomorrow.”

On the women’s side, worldnumber one Serena Williamseased into the last eight as shedismantled 13th seed MariaKirilenko 6-3, 6-1 in just anhour and four minutes.

Williams didn’t even face abreak point during the matchas she steamrollered theRussian, and now facesSpaniard Anabel MedinaGarringues in the last eight.

American Serena Williams celebrates after winning her tennis match against Spanish player, Lourdes Dominguez Lino atthe Madrid Masters at the Magic Box (Caja Magica) sports complex in Madrid. PHOTO: AFP

Ujiri

Nigeria Professional Football League

Kwakwanso inaugurates new Pillars’ boardBy Christian Okpara

By Adeyinka Adedipe

• Serena also marches on

Madrid Masters

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10 , 2013

Ezekiel Imoh in action for his Belgian club

Ezekiel is one of Europeanfootball’s hottest youngstersALREADY awash with plen-

ty of striking expertise inthe shape of EmmanuelEmenike, Brown Ideye andIkechukwu Uche, freshlycrowned African champi-ons, Nigeria may haveunearthed another gem of agoalscorer.

Signed in January 2012from Nigerian second-tierside, 36 Lions – initially on asix-month loan deal, whichthen evolved into a perma-nent €600,000 transfer –the teenager only manageda total of 273 minutes in theBelgian club’s first team lastseason and he started thiscampaign on the bench. Butwhen new front-line sign-ings Marvin Ogunjimi andDudu Biton failed to deliver,the Nigerian made the mostof his opportunity toimpress.

“Imoh is the type of for-ward coaches love because

he’s always on the move,”says ex-Belgium marksman,Nordin Jban, who is now a TVpundit.

Although he still has muchto learn, especially when itcomes to improving his leftfoot and his tactical aware-ness, this son of a Lagospolice officer could certainlynot be accused of arresteddevelopment.

Explosive and fearless, he isalready attracting plenty ofnon-Belgian interest andStandard Chairman, RolandDuchatelet, is reported tohave turned down heftyoffers from a number ofRussian clubs, with severalFrench, Italian and Englishsides also thought to be hov-ering with serious intent.

“For the moment Imoh isonly thinking about hissporting challenge atStandard, not money,” insistshis agent, Luan Ahmetaj.

Former Falcons’ coach, Jossy Lad, is dead From Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan

AFTER a fierce battle to savethe life of the former coach

of the Super Falcons by friendsand well wishers, JosephLadipo, popularly known asJossy Lad, died yesterday at hisApata, Ibadan, residence.

The deceased was movedback home on Friday, May 3from the University CollegeHospital (UCH), Ibadan, wherehe was twice admitted forheart- related ailment.

His first son, Wale Ladiposaid his dad, who was earliersaid to have improved beforehe was discharged by theChief Medical Director of UCH,Prof. Temitope Alonge, suf-fered a set back which madethe family to resolve on takinghim abroad for further andbetter treatment. But thatarrangement was delayed bycash constrains.

When his death was con-firmed, his body was takenfrom his home for the mortu-

ary in an ambulance provid-ed by the Southwest zone oneof National SportsCommission (NSC).

Reacting to the death, hisclose associate, BanjiAkintayo, chairman of theIbadan Football Association(IFA), who also witnessed hislast moment said, “he lived afulfilled life, as a footballer, acoach and an administrator,he distinguished himself athis chosen career and leftpromising children behind.

Also his team-mate, NiyiAkande said, “I have lost agreat teammate, colleague

and good friend, I feel so sadand short of words.”

Chairman of 3SC, ToyinAkintunde, who was in Abujafor a meeting of NPFL Clubmanagers with LeagueManagement Committee(LMC), said via telephonethat Jossy Lad’s death wasshocking.

“There is virtually nothingwe can do when God says thetime has come… we triedour best but our dad hasgone to rest with the Lord.May God give his family thefortitude to bear theirreparable lost.”

AFN tasks invited junior athletes,officials on camp rules

THE Athletics Federation ofNigeria (AFN) yesterday

advised the 54 athletes and16 officials invited for camp-ing ahead of the 11th AfricanJunior Championships tostrictly adhere to camp rules.

AFN Technical Director,Navy Commodore OmatseyeNesiama told the NewsAgency of Nigeria (NAN) inLagos that this was to main-tain and ensure discipline atthe camp.

Nesiama said the camping,scheduled to open on May 13,would hold at the HighPerformance Centre (HPC),University of Port Harcourt,Rivers State.

“Athletes and officialsshould maintain strict camprules and discipline. I urgethem to abide by the code ofconduct,’’ he said.

Nesiama said that theAfrican championshipswould hold in Pretoria,South Africa from June 27 to30, to select qualifiers for the8th IAAF World YouthChampionships.

He added that the worldchampionships would holdfrom July 10 to July 14 at theRegional Sports Complex

Olimpiyski, Donetsk,Ukraine.

Nesiama said that differenttrials would as usual holdduring the camping, addingthat athletes, who fail tomeasure up to the expectedstandards would bedecamped.

NSC holds three-day sports medicine courseTHE Sports Medicine

Department of theNational Sports Commission(NSC), led by Dr. AbdulkadirMu`azu says it will hold athree-day course at theNational Institute of Sports(NIS) Auditorium, package B,National Stadium, Abuja,from Monday to Thursday,next week.

According to a release by thedepartment, Sports Minister/Chairman of the NSC, BolajiAbdullahi is expected to pres-ent a keynote address anddeclare the course open.

“The main objective of thecourse is to provide a basicsports medicine training inform of lectures in the areas ofdiagnosis and managementof sports injury, sports injuryprevention, assessing athletesfitness through conduction ofpre-competition medicalassessment (PCMA), issuesrelating to exercise in heatand fluid replacement, dop-ing in sports and need for fur-ther training for good prac-tice in line with international

best practices,” the releasesaid.

It added that the coursewould also provide a forumfor interaction between theSports Medicine Departmentof NSC and states MedicalPersonnel with the view offinding out the latter’s chal-lenges, especially Medicareduring Sports Festival andway forward.

“The course shall have as par-ticipants, two medical per-sonnel, one of which shall bethe chief medical officerdrawn from the 36 states andFCT, staff of the NSC’s SportsMedicine Department, andsports medicine practitionersunder the umbrella ofNASMED.”

“The department wishes tomake it an annual pro-gramme considering the vitalrole of Sports Medicine insports development. Moresono school in Nigeria offersSports Medicine as a course atboth undergraduate and postgraduate level,” the releasestated.

“Leaving for an elite champi-onship would be premature.He needs to play, not figureon the bench at a big club.”

His performances this sea-son will have hurt ClubBrugge more than most as hisfirst European trial was withStandard’s archrivals.However, his try-out inBruges was ended by a bizarredressing-room incident inwhich the youngster burnthis feet after rashly puttingthem in a bowl of scaldingwater without checking thetemperature.

“Club Brugge were unwill-ing to give him the time torecover and continue thistest,” explains Ahmetaj. “Afew weeks later Standarddecided to look at him andthey were convinced of hisqualities after just one ses-sion.”•Culled from WorldSoccer mag-azine.

THE newly-elected board ofthe Nigeria Boxing Board

of Control (NBB of C) yester-day promised to partnerwith international regulato-ry bodies to give boxing anew lease of life in the coun-try.

The NBB of C Secretary-General, Remi Aboderin dis-closed this to the NewsAgency of Nigeria (NAN) inLagos.

He said the body wouldwork with the InternationalAmateur Boxing Association(AIBA), the World BoxingOrganisation (WBO) and theWorld Boxing Council (WBC)for boxing growth in Nigeria.

According to him, the pri-mary objective of the board isto regulate the activities andgive adequate reports onamateur boxers, who wereready to turn professional.

“We are poised to ensurethat the Nigeria’s profession-al boxers are given a newlease of life by working insynergy with recognisedinternational regulatorybodies like the AIBA, WBO,WBC and the rest.

“We will also ensure thatprofessional boxers cases areproperly presented to theregulatory bodies, to ensurethat they are equally rated inthe international scene,’’

Aboderin said.The secretary then

appealed for more man-agers and promoters tocome on board to take overthe bunch of amateur box-ers, who are ready to turnprofessionals.He said this would furtherensure the promotion ofprofessional boxing beyondthe country.

Aboderin also urged theFederal Government to cre-ate an enabling environ-ment to attract both individ-uals and corporate organisa-tions to promote profession-al boxing in the country.“Our job is not to find spon-

sors, but to regulate profes-sional boxing. I hereby urgethe government to makelaws that will favour individ-uals and corporate organisa-tions for professional box-ing to thrive in the country,’’Aboderin said.

Aboderin was returnedunopposed as the board’ssecretary-general for anoth-er four-year term.Godwin Kanu also retained

his board’s Presidency bydefeating boxing promoter,Damola Omotosho 11-9 in akeenly contested electionheld on April 29 at theNational Stadium, Lagos.

New NBB of C board promises boxers new lease of life

SPORTS 55

Athletes compete at the maiden Premier Lotto Lagos Schools Athletics meet. PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Heroes Of THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 201356

Ukpong:Versatile athlete, who found fame in the gentleman’s gameOKON Ukpong is not one to shy away from

competition. At an early age, he learnt thatto achieve success, one has to strive hard and putin his best in whatever he is doing. This was hisguiding principle as he stepped out into theworld of sports and education in the early 1960sbefore he made his first step into school.

When others would have given up hope if theyhad no money to finance their education, theformer cricket star used his excellence in sportsto raise money to sponsor his education up tothe university level.

Growing up, Ukpong’s family house on Camp-bell Street on Lagos Island was close to RaceCourse, which had sporting facilities that af-forded him the opportunity to engage in eventslike football, cricket and tennis. He also fre-quented the Club Arcade to play squash and at atender age it was clear that he had a great pas-sion for sports.

Since he had few kids to play with in his neigh-bourhood, he was a regular face at Race Courseand Club Arcade where he linked up with otheryoung boys to learn the rudiments of the sport-ing activities they loved. At a tender age, his ver-satility was evident and he did all within hisreach to stay focused.

When it was time to start school, he enrolledinto St Andrew’s Primary School, but to his sur-prise, there were no sports facilities in thatschool. So, he knew from the beginning that hehad to do something to further his interest insports.

Because he was not deterred by the absence ofsporting facilities in his school, Ukpong locatedareas where he could hone his skills. He madethe Obalende Police Barracks the venue for foot-ball practice, and also joined a boys club at Cam-pos where he added table tennis and athletics tothe list of sports he was doing.

At the boys club, Ukpong took to goalkeepingand within a short time, he was adept betweenthe sticks, earning himself rave reviews. He said,“growing up for me was very eventful despitedoing so in that part of Lagos Island, which wasserene because of the presence of many offices.

“We had only three houses there and I learntto play cricket because I made friends with thekids of an expatriate, who lived next to myhouse. I also picked up interest in football, ten-nis and squash. I was also a regular face at theRace Course and Club Arcade where I did allmanner of games. All this was because I realisedearly in my life that I had love sports.”

The school annual inter house sports alwayspresented Ukpong the chance to show his ath-letics prowess. He was particularly good in thelong distance races, where he won laurels whilestill in primary five and six in the 880 metres andthe mile.

“What really motivated me during the interhouse meets was the little presents given to win-ners after the event. Also, people praised us forour efforts and each time I got complementsfrom my mates and fellow competitors, I felt ontop of the world,” he added.   

As a school footballer, Ukpong rose quickly onthe pitch and became the school team’s goal-keeper. His team took part in different competi-tions within Lagos Island and outside it. Heexplained, “we played so many games and ourfiercest rival was the St. John’s Primary School inAroloya. While in primary school I was selectedin the Lagos Island team that played againstteams from other part of the state.

“We played at grounds like the Campos Square,Lagos Island, pitches in Ijora, and Mushin,among many others. I remember vividly that wedefeated Olowogbowo area in 1971 or 1972. I wasin the same team with former Stationary Storesplayer and former Chairman of the Lagos StateFootball Association, (LSFA) Taiwo Afinni,” headded.

After leaving St Andrews, he moved toMethodist Boys High School in 1973 also on LagosIsland. Here, it was difficult for Ukpong to breakinto the school team and so he concentrated onplaying for his class during the inter class com-

For 15 years, Okon Ukpongwas the captain of the cricket national team out of the 20 years that he spent in the team.Although he was involved with many sports at an early age and showed a lot of promise in them, he settled for cricketin his senior years at Methodist Boys High School in Lagos. From the school he was selected to represent Lagos Stateat the 1977 National Sports Festival in Kaduna. He was then a class four student. After his secondary education, hemoved to the University of Ife where he teamed up with other top cricket players to win laurels at the Nigeria UniversityGames (NUGA), while playing for the national cricket team for 20 years. After retirement, he embraced the administra-tive side of the game, rising to become the only advanced cricket administrator in the country. He also holds the ICClevel two coaching certificate. Fielding questions from ADEYINKA ADEDIPE, Ukpong, reminisces on his days as school-boy athlete. He stated

petitions. There was no junior team in the school then

and to play for the main team as a junior boy,according to him, one had to be exceptionallyskillful. He had goalkeeper Egeleke as a rolemodel and fashioned his style along that of hisidol.

“At Methodist Boys, I had the intention of im-proving my goalkeeping skills and breakinginto the school team, but it was impossible be-cause they were a lot of very good senior boys.

“So, I decided to focus on doing well for myclass in the inter class competition.”

Apart from this, Ukpong also continued hisparticipation in table tennis, tennis and cricket.In his third year, he became a member of theschool’s cricket team and the fact that theschool had a standard field and facilities con-tributed to his development.      

Though, he did well in other sports, he stillthought he could develop his football skills to alevel he would be able to get into the schoolteam while he was in class four. He, however,jettisoned the idea when it became clear thathe would have to dedicate more time to foot-ball to the detriment of his academics.

Ukpong was also adept at athletics, but he alsofaced still competition in that, so he stuck to

cricket, which he had been exposed as early aswhen he was a nine-year old.

“At some point, I still thought I could playfootball for the school team and I started work-ing hard to realise that ambition but at a pointI knew it was impossible so I concentratedmostly on cricket and also did tennis, table ten-nis and squash. The athletics turf was also atough one for me and I played second fiddle tosome of the top athletes in the school.

“So, I settled for cricket and became a mem-ber of the school team in class three.”

The disappointment he experienced in foot-ball and athletics soon turned to a blessing inthe cricket oval. He quickly built a reputationfor himself and became one of the top playersin his school, while the Lagos State team selec-tors invited him to camp in preparation for theNational Sports Festival (NSF) in Kaduna in 1977.

He was still in class four and very young but,according to him, he competed well amongthe top players Nigeria had at the festival.

“My participation in the sports festival whilestill in school was a very big experience for mebecause we had many top players in the coun-try not only playing for Lagos, but also for otherstates that came for the festival. “I was very small but my skill helped me stay in

the team and I won a bronze with Lagos State.This experience actually prepared me for whatto expect in future,” he added.

After leaving the secondary school in 1978,Ukpong concentrated on becoming a topplayer and he pursued this ambition withvigour and in 1979, he was in the Lagos Statecricket team that won gold at the NSF in 1979.

“I was very happy to win gold in my second at-tempt at the sports festival. It was team-workand I would say we deserved the top prize. I canremember that I took part in the festival for thelast time in 1990 in Rivers State.”

Ukpong went on to win gold in the 1981 edi-tion in Benin and was also a winner with OyoState in 1983 after gaining admission into theUniversity of Ife to study International Rela-tions and later had his Masters degree in Fi-nancial Management from the sameuniversity.

In 1981, he was one of the young players se-lected and groomed for the future nationalteam. He was in the team that went on a tour ofEngland in preparation for the West AfricanCricket series of 1982. His performance duringthe tour was enough to convince the nationalhandlers of his prowess and he was drafted intothe main team on returning from the tour.

Ukpong

School SportsTHE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013 57

Ukpong:Versatile athlete, who found fame in the gentleman’s gameAccording to Ukpong, the tour was the cata-

lyst his career needed at that time. “The tour of England exposed us to top class fa-

cilities and the best of training. It was on thetour that I worked on some of my weaknesses.

“After each game or training, the handlerswould play the video tape to us, showing whatwe did well and the areas of our game weneeded to improve. We played against teamslike Bambury, the London City Council team,West Bromwich Albion Cricket Club and theBritish West Indies Airline team (BWIA), which Ilater played for in 1986.”

Making his debut at the West African Cricketchampionship in Banjul, he picked up the goldmedal. But he had some senior players in theteam to look up to for inspiration. These includeProf. Jide Bademosi, Segun Elliot, Ewa Henshaw,Dr. Biyi Ayodele, Dr. Bode Karonwi, Dr. DejiOtegbeye and Dr. Onyechi Jacob.

As a young man playing in the midst of edu-cated people, he vowed to also pursue his edu-cation with the same energy with which hepursued laurels in cricket. His performancealso earned him a place in the West Africanteam that played at the International CricketCouncil (ICC) World Cup in Birmingham in1982.

Back to the University of Ife, Ukpong had noproblem breaking into the school team. He wasin the team that played in the Nigeria Univer-sity Games (NUGA) in Zaria in 1982. They wonthe gold medal. The fact that he was seeing him-self through school, he had to play for theschool and the national team so that he couldhave funds for his education.

Because of his situation, he rarely had time forsocial events as he concentrated on sports andhis degree programmes. He explained, “my lifeat the University of Ife revolved around sportsand education. I didn’t have time for social ac-tivities and the fact that I sponsored myself inschool made it difficult for me to do otherthings.”

He also played 1984 NUGA in Ife, where theywon silver, and also won another silver in Uni-versity of Ibadan, losing to eventual winner,University of Lagos. He won gold again in 1988 atthe University of Port Harcourt. Apart fromdoing well in the oval, he also played squashand tennis at the NUGA level with a bronzemedal in squash in 1988 to show for it.  

At the Ife varsity, he played alongside SeyeFadahunsi, Soleye Hughes, Gbenga Akinyombo,Vincent Oliseh and Kome Agodo. For these play-ers, travelling became the norm, but they didtheir school proud wherever they went to play.

Ukpong was the national team captain for 15years having played in the team for 20 years be-fore retiring in 2002 after a few years break inthe late 1990s.

He recalls, “I had a fruitful time in the nationalteam… we won all the West African events Iwent for, losing once in my last year as a playerin 2002. I had a very poor outing and it was clearthat it was time for me to move on. We lost toSierra Leone that year and I was really sad be-cause I ended my national team career on a los-ing note.”

As a professional cricketer, Ukpong startedhis club career with the Lagos Amateur CricketClub where he played from 1977 to 1984, he wasin Ikoyi Nomads from 1985-1992, CosmopolitanCricket Club from 1993 to 2003 and ended hiscareer with Ibadan Cosmopolitan Cricket Club,from 2004 before retiring early this year.

He is currently the team manager of the Na-tional under-19 team.

The high point of his career, Ukpong stated,was when he went to the ICC World Cup in 1994in Kenya. He scored 103 against Singapore, 72against Singapore and also had high runsagainst Israel and Denmark. He said, “my great-est moment in cricket was at the ICC World Cupin 1994 where I had an outstanding tourna-ment. I scored a lot of runs against our oppo-nents.”

Ukpong played for three generations of the

national team, with his first starting in the 1980to 2000. That was his first stint in the nationalteam with such stars as Prof. Jide Bademosi,Segun Elliot, Ewa Henshaw, Dr. Biyi Ayodele, Dr.Bode Karonwi, Dr. Deji Otegbeye and Dr.Onyechi Jacob.His second generation include such players as

James Okedara, Dr. Yinka Gbotosho, KwesiSagoe, Uthe Ogbonmi, Dipo Idowu, SeyeFadahunsi, Soleye Hughes, Segun Elliot, BayoThompson, Uche Ntinu and Gbenga Akiny-ombo.

The third generation comprised DotunOlayinka, Tayo Okusanya, Dapo Adegoke, FemiOlayiwola, Oboh Omoigui, Endurance Ofem,Adewale Adeoye, Chuka Ahuchogwu and Emeka

Ahuchogwu.On quitting the game, Ukpong went fully into

stock broking haven taken professional courseswhile still active. He is a certified pension man-ager, but he is still involved in the coaching andadministration of cricket.

Ukpong was the technical director of the Nige-ria Cricket Federation (NCF) before he quit lastNovember, but he has been re-elected to be onthe board of the NCF for another four years.

As a certified ICC level two coach, Ukpong hasbeen involved with the training of coaches andplayers. He is also Nigeria’s only advancedcricket administrator and he teaches courses incricket organisation, budgeting, cricket ad-ministration and how to prepare meetings to

enhance the administrative part of the game. The courses he runs have taken him to Sierra

Leone, Ghana, Gambia, and Cameroun, apartfrom the ones he undertake in the Nigeria.   

Looking back on the days of the country’sglory in cricket, Ukpong is pained that thegame that brought him fame has declined con-siderably over the years. He laments, “for me,cricket has sank to an all time low and I wasforced to leave the last board because I toldthem this simple truth. It is unfortunate thatNigeria still plays on concrete when other coun-tries play on turf. We are only fooling ourselvesand we will start doing well when we switch tothe turf.”

Not satisfied with lamenting the downwardspiral of the game, Ukpong has promised to usehis membership of the new board to ensurethat cricket is played in most parts of the coun-try.

“Right now, we need to encourage manystates to start playing the game. For instance,we need to have under 13, 15, 17 and 19 teams sothat we can start grooming players for the fu-ture.

“Softball can also be used to encourage new

Ukpong at the International Cricket Conference (ICC) All rounder course at the National Stadium, Lagos in 2010

Ukpong (standing fourth from left) with members of the Ibadan Metropolitan Cricket Club

Right now, we need to encourage many states to start playing the game. For in-stance, we need to have under 13, 15, 17 and 19 teams so that we can startgrooming players for the future. Softball can also be used to encourage newplayers and states that are coming into the game. This will open opportunitiesfor youngsters to embrace the game.

SchoolSportsTHE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 201358

Milo Secondary School Basketball Championship

DESPITE losing to Benue’sJoseph Secondary School

in the group stage,Abdulbasit Yusuf single-handedly inspired Niger’sGovernment SecondarySchool to claim the titleahead of their opponent inthe Central Conference finalof Milo Secondary SchoolBasketball Championship.

It was Yusuf’s prowess thataided the Niger team to tri-umph over Benue side in theboys’ final of the champi-onship held at AkureTownship Stadium.

Although both sides hadmet during the group stagewith Benue team winning 22-20 points over the Niger side.But things turned out differ-ently in the final as captainYusuf motivated his side towin the encounter at 26-24points.

Yusuf, who was voted thetournament’s Most ValuablePlayer (MVP), could nothelped his side in the firstquarter as they lose 7-4.

But the team rediscoveredits form in the second quar-ter to win 6-5 and this pro-moted the team superb formin the last two quarters todominate the encounterthroughout.

An excited coach of theNiger side, SolomonAbiodun Tanko said, “we areproud of these boys becausethey played to instructions.We won because we workedon our inadequacies noticedwhen we lost to Benue in ourfirst match. Out target is toimprove because it is goingto be very tough in Lagos.”

For the victory, Yusuf admit-ted that it was not an easytask for them to overcome

the Benue side. He however,lauded their Benue counter-part, adding that the winwould spur them on in Lagosfinale.

“I knew we will emergechampions despite losingthe first set to the Benue boysbut I drew inspiration fromthe first game which we lostand incidentally, it was ourfirst match at the Akurezonal qualifier. That gave usmore determination becauseour coach kept remindingduring the game that theymust not defeat us again andthat helped us,” he said.

He added, “we all know thatwinning in Lagos is the ulti-mate and that is why we willbe going back to work oncewe get back to Minnabecause Lagos will host thebest teams from the variouszones of the country.”�

Yusuf inspires Nigerto victory at CentralConfab final

NASCOM will encourage schools to organisesports tournaments, says Idowu

By Olalekan Okusan

By Olalekan Okusan

TO drive sports across thecountry, National

Academicals SportsCommittee (NASCOM) haspromised to encourageschools to stage regularcompetitions within andamong themselves.With the poor performance

of the Team Nigeria at theLondon 2012 Olympics,NASCOM believes focusingon few selected sports at theschool level will improvethe standard of sports in thecountry.

According to Chairman ofNASCOM, Yemi Idowu, thereis need to invest in school

sports and this was whatprompted the presidency tomandate the NationalSports Commission (NSC) tocome up with a proposal onhow best to improve sports.

“Having reviewed the per-formance of the Nigerianathletes to the London 2012Olympic Games, the presi-dent had mandated theMinistry of Sports to comeup with a proposal on howbest to improve sports,while NASCOM is dealingwith children who are inschool and out of school,”he said.

Idowu, said NASCOM hasembarked on a reversiblerevolution for sports in

Sharks House lifts trophy at StandardBearers sports meetBy Olalekan Okusan

IT was a display of athleticsprowess at the 12th Inter

house sports competition ofStandard Bearers School, Lekki,in which Sharks Houseemerged overall winner with18 gold medals, 12 silver, and 12bronze medals.

Tagged: ‘2013 Mini Olympic,the competition, once againwitnessed parents’ total sup-port for a child’s athleticspotentials, as they cheeredtheir wards with passion andexcitement during the one-dayevent.

Lions House finished secondwith 12 gold, 14 silver and 13bronze medals, while EaglesHouse has 12 gold, 13 silver and18 bronze medals to settle forthird place.

The pupils competed withgreat zeal from the commence-ment of the game to win the

coveted trophy as evident in themedals but it was Sharks Housethat got the coveted trophy fortheir steady efforts in all theactivities.

An elated founder and schoolSuperintendent, Mrs. ModupeAdeyinka-Oni said that theschool attached importance toevery activity that aids child’stotal development.

“We lay great deal of impor-tance to every programme thatdevelops the total wellbeing ofa child. This is because a child’sgift makes way for the child andif a child excels in his or her tal-ents it motivates them to excelin other areas. That is why wecreated clubs for football, golf,swimming and we are intro-ducing basketball. At the end ofthe day, we have a child that isfully developed to face higherchallenges and excel in linewith his/her hobby.”

Red House lifts trophy at Greenwich athletics tournamentBy Isaac Taiwo

RED House has emerged theoverall winner of the maid-

en inter-house sports competi-tion of Greenwich Schools.

In all the events that featured,Red House was superior toYellow, Blue and Green Housesto clinch the golden trophy.

New Life Schools, EkoInternational Schools andChrist Lifeforte participated inthe invitational relay alsoadded colour to the event.

Speaking at the occasion, theschool Proprietress, Mrs.Folashade Ogunkolatidescribed the maiden editionof the competition as a mile-stone for the school.

“For the past three years, wehave been trying to organizethis event but have beenimpeded by circumstances

beyond our control. In Schoolcurriculum, it is not all aboutacademics as we also have cogni-tive, affective and psychomotive,” she said.

“All along, parents have beencomplaining that the area ofsports have been neglected orsegmented whereas state ofgood health is enhancedthrough sports and exercises. Itis also important that cog-nizance should be taken of stu-dents not all ending up beingmedical doctors, lawyers amongothers but some as athletes.

“ This therefore, compels gov-ernment to provide facilitiesthat will enhance sporting activ-ities in schools while the co-operation of parents andschools too can help to set upstandard sports centre,” shesaid.

schools with a special focuson the children, whom theybelieve are the bedrock ofsports development. Headded that the few selectedsports are less expensive,adding that this would beeasier for any school toorganise any of the sport, asit does not require expen-sive sports facilities.

According to him, athlet-ics, combat sports,(Taekwondo, Karate, Judo)ball games (volleyball, bas-ketball, table tennis, tennis,squash), football and calis-thenics (Dance andGymnastic) are the sixselected sports NASCOM hasadopted, stressing that thethey would meet with StatesGovernors to embrace theprogramme, while the com-mittee would require thesupport of States’ Ministryof Education in its efforts tomake the programme a real-ity by including  it in theirschools curriculum.

CCSF’s Inspire Future excites pupilsHUNDREDS of pupils that

featured in the ChikaChuwumerije SportsFoundation (CCSF) InspireThe Future programme atthe weekend in Jos are stillexcited about the experi-ence they had during theone-day exercise.

The event, which wasbankrolled by the grass-roots sports department ofthe National SportsCommission (NSC), had par-ents and guardians in atten-dance with the participantsbetween age four to 14 tak-ing through the rudimentsof taekwondo.

For the duo of FortuneWilliams and Miracle ChidiUba, the programme wasexciting and fun.

Williams, nine year-oldpupil of First Baptist Model

School, he was able toacquire skills in taekwondoas well as meet with otherpupils. “I now know how to

defend myself and onething that interest me in thetraining was that it was fullon fun,” he said.

Action from the Confluence Conference final in Lokoja….last week

Kids in action at the CCSF-organised training in Jos…last week

THE GUArdIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013 SPOrTS 59

dAVId Moyes hails from adifferent side of the river

Clyde to Sir Alex Ferguson, butthey have both ended up atthe final destination ofManchester United and OldTrafford.

The 50-year-old, confirmedas Ferguson’s successor yes-terday, is from Partick, whileFerguson is a famous son ofGovan,  but the Glaswegianpair now stand on commonground.

As Ferguson prepares to takehis leave after a 26-year reignas United Manager, Moyes willmove from Everton as the cho-sen one to pick up the mantlecarried by his fellow Scot withunprecedented success.

Moyes’ only silverware is the2000 division Two title withPreston and he has limitedEuropean experience - but inso many respects it is not asurprise that United regardedhim as the heir to Ferguson.He ends 11 years of punchingabove his weight at Everton tojoin one of the game’s super-powers.

When many cry out for goodBritish managers to be given achance at the top PremierLeague clubs, here we haveone being handed the biggestof them all. All withFerguson’s blessing.

Moyes first impressed the 71-year-old Ferguson when hewas leading Scottish FA coach-ing courses, brainstormingevents also attended by theyoung Jose Mourinho.

Moyes recalled, “they werereally vital. Those SFA courses,the staff coaches were AlexFerguson, Walter Smith, JimMcLean, Craig Brown andArchie Knox. What players orcoaches of the future wouldever get a chance to work withpeople like that?

“These guys gave up twoweeks of their summer tohelp develop people for thefuture. I was mad for it. I want-ed to hear from them. Part ofit was going to the pub in theevenings with them. I woulddo anything to get close totheir company.”

Moyes heard enough andFerguson saw enough for alasting good impression to beforged. The pair were almosttogether at United early in1999 when Moyes, forging areputation at Preston, wasjust beaten to the role of assis-tant manager at Old Trafford

Everton’s Scottish manager, David Moyes PHOTO: AFP

Moyes is Ferguson’s natural heirby Steve McClaren.

Even then Moyes was draw-ing comparisons with ayoung Ferguson, not simplybecause he was showing a nat-ural flair for coaching andmanagement but also withhis firebrand nature.

In July 2001 it even led towhat he described as a“regrettable” incident in anightclub on a pre-seasontour when an angry Moyesconfronted North End mid-field player Paul McKennaand goalkeeper, TepiMoilanen after two poorresults against German Thirddivision side SV WackerBerguhausen and TurkishFirst division clubKocaelispor.

“It is interesting thatManchester United are goingfor another British managerbecause a lot of big clubs, suchas Arsenal, Chelsea andManchester City have hiredforeign coaches with bignames.

“United have had all theirsuccess with British managersso why go in the oppositedirection? It makes sense togo down the same route.”

It was all part of the educa-tion and he succeeded one ofhis coach mentors WalterSmith at Everton in March2002, first moving the clubaway from relegation troublebefore laying the buildingblocks that have brought asuccession of top-10 finishes,European football and a placein the Champions Leaguequalifying stage in 2005,when they lost to eventualsemi-finalists Villarreal.

The long apprenticeshipserved by Moyes moved himto the top of Old Trafford’s listof successors to Fergusonwhen he decided to stepdown. Some will regard fol-lowing arguably the game’sgreatest manager as a poi-soned chalice but the

appointment has Ferguson’sfingerprints on it - he willsurely have assured those incontrol at Old Trafford thatMoyes fits the bill.

Moyes was schooled in thesame way as Ferguson, learn-ing his football on Glasgow’sstreets before taking his thirstfor knowledge into a playingcareer that started at Celticand finished at Preston,where he figured alongsideyoung loan signing davidBeckham in 1995.

Moyes said, “you had to lookafter yourself in Glasgow. Youhad to be sharp with yourtongue, or a good runner toget away from people, youhad to handle yourself. InGlasgow you call it being gal-lus.” 

They are qualities Fergusonwill have recognised andremembered as his thoughtsturned to retirement andUnited’s line of succession.

Married with two children,Moyes won instant favourwhen he walked into Evertonand - much to the chagrin ofLiverpool supporters -declared them “The People’sClub.” He will walk into “TheWorld’s Club” when he settlesbehind his new desk atCarrington.

United have appointed acoach, as well as, a manager.Moyes craves the trainingground as much as the man-ager’s office. He will delegateto trusted staff but still wantsto put on sessions himself.

And, like Ferguson, he can bespotted watching footballmatches in the most unlikelyplaces. It is an all-consumingpassion that mirrors the manhe succeeds. They even share alove of the horses.

It seemed Moyes’ lack ofEuropean experience mightcount against him in United’sconsiderations, but his will-ingness to give youth achance and ability to work on Fact File

STArTEd playing career at Celtic and finished at Preston, where he played alongside youngloan signing david Beckham between February and March 1995

Ten months after guiding Preston to the division One play-off final, Moyes took over at Evertonfrom Walter Smith in March 2002 Gave Wayne rooney his Premier League debut in August 2002 before selling him to ManchesterUnited two years later for a deal starting at £20m Steered Everton to fourth in 2005 and place in qualifying stages of Champions League Took Everton to FA Cup final in 2009, where they lost 2-1 to Chelsea after beating Man United insemi-final

With Ferguson

a strict budget at Evertonremoved the doubts. United will operate at the top

end of the market but Moyeshas been a shrewd judge else-where when signing playerssuch as Tim Cahill for £2mfrom Millwall and PhilJagielka from Sheffield Unitedfor £4m.

If there has been a criticismof Moyes during his Evertonyears it has been a suggestionthat caution is his defaultoption at the real pressurepoints.

Everton have often stumbledat their big moments underMoyes, notably in the FA Cupfinal against Chelsea in 2009,a desperate FA Cup semi-finalloss to Liverpool at Wembleylast season and this cam-paign’s calamitous 3-0 FA Cupquarter-final defeat to WiganAthletic at Goodison Park.

He will never have a betteropportunity or bigger stage toput matters right.

Moyes has also faced ques-tions about Everton’s playing

style - with an emphasis onwork ethic and organisationoften highlighted to damnhim with faint praise - but hewill respond by saying he wasoperating within his means.The Everton budget did notlend itself to the regular sign-ing of match-winners.

It was no coincidence thatwhen Moyes had his fullsquad available earlier thisseason, Everton’s followersbelieved they were watchingthe most attractive attackingfootball they had seen sincetheir 80s pomp.

Manchester United were wellbeaten, despite a narrow 1-0scoreline, on a thunderousnight at Goodison Park intheir first game this season.

Tactically, Moyes has longfavoured the use of a lonestriker with a midfield playerdropped off behind, for manyyears Cahill and earlier in thiscampaign Marouane Fellaini,with a solid midfield base. Thisseason fullbacks LeightonBaines and Seamus Coleman

have consistently providedattacking width to augmentSteven Pienaar and KevinMirallas.

If one of Moyes’ greateststrengths has been to cut hiscloth accordingly, then itwould be no surprise to seehim utilise the full range ofUnited’s attacking talents - itwould be foolish not to.

Moyes will now face newpressures but he has been avery popular figure with theMerseyside media he hasworked alongside for his timeat Everton. He has a reputa-tion for honesty and straightdealing which will serve himwell in the Old Trafford hot-house.

The Manchester Unitedexperience has broken menas well as made them, butafter observing Moyes at closequarters for so long,Ferguson, who will now takehis place in the boardroom,will be confident the rightman has taken his place. • Culled from BBCSports

It seemed Moyes’ lack of European experiencemight count against him in United’s considera-tions, but his willingness to give youth a chanceand ability to work on a strict budget at Evertonremoved the doubts. United will operate at the topend of the market, but Moyes has been a shrewdjudge elsewhere when signing players such as TimCahill for £2m from Millwall and Phil Jagielka fromSheffield United for £4m.

THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013

Golf Weekly60

PGA Nigeria Tour CEO office vacant, 17 months afterStories by Eno-Abasi Sunday

OVER a year and a half afterMr. Shola Lawson (Jnr.)

resigned his appointment asthe maiden chief executiveofficer (CEO)/ TourCommissioner of theProfessional GolfersAssociation (PGA) NigeriaTour, he is yet to be replacedby the Board of Directors ofthe body.

This development has led tothe office being held inabeyance, thereby truncatingthe dreams of the foundingfathers of the body.

The PGA Nigeria Tour wasestablished in 2007 by somestakeholders of the sport inthe country, including

Olusola Adekanola,Uyi Akpata and Ted Iwere. Itsobjectives include, but notlimited to securing tourna-ments for the ProfessionalGolfers’ Association ofNigeria (PGAN) helping bet-ter the standard of Nigerianpro golfers and generallyimproving the lot of profes-sional golf in the country.

Lawson had, upon his resig-nation, said he was proud tohave made contributions tothe development of profes-sional golf in Nigeria by rais-ing tournament prizemonies, as well as, bringingin more corporate entities tosponsor events and recog-nise with pro golf.

“The last four years havegiven me the privilege of

making modest contribu-tions to the development ofpro golf in Nigeria. We haveraised the bar in terms oftournament organisation,winning purses, sponsorreturns on investments,media support and playerremunerations.

“It has been a privilege serv-ing as the first CEO of the PGANigeria Tour. I hope that thehistory of Nigerian golf willfind my humble contribu-tions and service worthy ofmention for posterity,”Lawson said.

However, when the views ofthe PGAN were soughtregarding the impact of theabsence of the TourCEO/Commissioner on itsactivities, its Director of

Special Duties of the PGANand one of the members rep-resenting the body on theBoard of the PGA NigeriaTour, Dominic Andrewclaimed they were just finemuch as they were avoidingpitfalls of the past.

“A lot of things did not godown well in that officebefore now. So at themoment, a lot of work isgoing on because we do notwant to make the same mis-take twice. That is the reasonwe are quiet with what weare doing for now. Evenwithout anyone in thatoffice, I can say that Nigerianpro tour is getting strongerand there are a lot moreactivities on the part of thePGAN even with absence of

the PGA Nigeria Tour.He continued, “on the part

of PGAN we are only trying tomake sure that things areokay before we begin to talkor make pronouncementsregarding that appointment.PGA Nigeria Tour is a sub-sidiary of the PGAN and wegave it some form of autono-my to operate on its own sothat we can form a tour in thispart of the world. But theoffice, as then constituted,gave us a jamboree of somesort and not what we wanted.We do not want that to hap-pen again.

“Even though the outfit isnot functional now, it is instill in existence and we wanta proper golf tour like what isobtained in other parts of the

world. Until all the necessarythings are put in place,required steps taken, we willnot rush to make any pro-nouncements regarding thatoffice, he stated.

Andrew added, “what wewant to do is to see how wecan sustain our own activitiesin the PGAN for a period oftwo to three years. If we dothat successfully, we wouldconvert them to becomeactivities of the PGA NigeriaTour and eventually draw upa calendar, which will take usbeyond the shores of thiscountry. We are doing a lot ofwork in that directionalready, but we can’t saymuch until we have achieveda certain level of success.”

Nigerians in contention forCameroun International tourneyDESPITE playing 36 holes in

one day at the ongoingCameroon International GolfChampionship, two Nigerianplayers Gift Willy is in con-tention for the lion share of the$30, 000 tournament winningpurse.

Gift was delayed in Gabon bythe airline that was to ferryhim to Cameroun after he fin-ished runner-up at the PortGentil Open GolfChampionship in Gabon.

Having arrived behind sched-ule, he had to two rounds thesame day and in the processcarding -1 and +1 in that otherto place one shot behind club-house leader. CompatriotOche Odoh is hot on his heelsplacing joint third in the con-test at the end of round two.

Both departed the YaoundéGolf Club, where the first tworounds took place and werehaving their practice rounds atthe Likomba Golf Course inTiko, near Douala, when TheGuardian reached them on

phone.According to them, though

the course, where the conclud-ing part of the contest wouldtake place was very challeng-ing, they were prepared to beatit and walk away victorious.

They also said that eventhough the greens were not ingreat shape, they were poisedto play the course the way itwas and return home victori-ous.

Defending champion andNigeria’s best ranked profes-sional golfer by virtue of hispre-eminent position on theProfessional GolfersAssociation of Nigeria (PGAN)Order of Merit, Ghana-bornEmos Korblah was placed joint4th behind Odoh.

Korblah, who holds dual tourcards from Nigeria and Ghanaalso told The Guardian that hewas poised to take the tourna-ment in his stride in order notto commit blunders thatwould derail his successful titledefence.

Odoh

SEVERAL dignitaries includ-ing royalties and business

leaders are expected to tee-offin this year’s WellMannedAmateur Open GolfChampionship at the BlueElephant Cement Club,Sagamu, Ogun State.

Some of the dignitaries, whohave indicated interest in thetourney, which is in its fourthedition are Paramount rulerof Remo land, Oba MichaelAdeniyi Sonariwo, the Elepe ofEpe land, Oba AdewaleOsiberu and the Alaperu ofIperu among others.

Plant Manager, WapcoLafarge, Sagamu, Jerzy Sobalaand Managing Director ofWellManned, Uwem Udohwill also be part of the compe-

tition, which sponsors includeCoastland Energy Logistics Ltd,AOS-Orwell, Anbas EnergySystems Ltd, Lafem Oil & GasServices Ltd, OceanwindMarine & Logistics Ltd., andRecharge It Now Nigeria Ltd.

Captain of the club, SegunOnabolu, while speakingahead of the championshipsbilled to tee-off May 17, said theclub was ready to host andentertain visitors to the clubduring the event.   

Invited pros drawn from theSouth West region of the coun-try, are expected to open pro-ceedings on Friday, May 17th.They will be playing for a prizemoney of N1m while ladygolfers would also take theirturn same day. 

Remo, Epe monarchs, others forWellManned Amateur Open

THE GUARDIAN, Friday May 10, 2013 GOLFWEEKLY 61

RORY McIlroy hit a career-best six-under-par 66 atSawgrass in the first round ofthe Players Championship,yesterday.The world number two trailsearly leader Roberto Castro,who equalled the courserecord with a 63, by three.“It’s my best score aroundthis course by a long way,” hesaid. “I kept my ball in playfor the most part and didn’tmake any stupid mistakes.”World number one Tiger

Woods and former Masterschampion Bubba Watsonwere among the late startersin Florida.Meanwhile, Davis Love III

returned to the PGA Tour justin time to extend his streak atThe Players Championship.Love, who turned 49 last

month, missed the last threemonths while recoveringfrom back surgery. He’s mak-ing his return this week atTPC Sawgress, playing ThePlayers for the 28th consecu-tive year. His run started in1986, when he tied for 14th.He has won the tournamenttwice since, in 1992 and 2003.‘’It’s hard to stay competitivefor that long,’’ Love saidWednesday, a day before theopening round. ‘’If I startedback over again, I tell you in

2013 there is no way I’d make28 in a row. It’s too competi-tive now.‘’One, that means you’re old.And two, it means you’vestayed pretty competitive.I’m hoping that after this andthe hard work I’ve put in, it’sjust going to get better for awhile.’’Love had a two-level disk

fusion. He started puttingand chipping shortly aftersurgery and was hitting ballseight weeks later. He’s beenplaying full rounds for amonth, still trying to regainstrength in his left arm. Heconsidered coming back afew weeks ago at the RBCHeritage, but opted to waitfor The Players.‘’I’m excited to be here,’’ hesaid. ‘’I’m excited to be on thegolf course. I’m excited tocontinue that streak.Obviously, it was a big pointin the schedule that I don’twant to miss. I obviouslywanted to play before this,but I’m glad to be back on thegolf course, and Lord willing,continue this streak of feel-ing well for the rest of theweek.’’Love said his back has beenbothering him for more thana decade, even recalling con-versations with his doctor in

2000 about having surgery.The pain reached a new levelat Phoenix in early February.‘’I was at the point in Phoenixwhere I was very frustratedmentally,’’ Love said. ‘’I knewphysically I couldn’t do it. ... Iwas just grinding away, and

there was no reason to bedoing it. So finally I called mydoctor ... and said, ‘I’m justbeating my head against thewall, aren’t I?’ And he said,‘Yes, you are. You’re going tohave that surgery. You canhave it now, you can have it

in the summer or you canhave it in the fall, but you’regoing to have it this year.‘’So I just went ahead and Idid it. I literally woke up aftersurgery and I knew I was fine.I felt so much better. Thepain was gone. The tingling

was almost gone in my fin-gers. And since then all it’sbeen is trying to get my armstrength back, and that’sbeen a longer process thanI’d like, but my therapiststhink I’m ahead of schedule,so I’m excited.’’

The Players Championship

McIlroy makes solidstart as Love returns

Mcilroy

nis with one of my mentors. Like allgreat teachers, Van Horn is a life-longlearner. He was excited to share newinsights and new discoveries that he hasmade observing the game today.I arranged for Ademola Oduwole, thepublisher of TennisLife Africa, to interviewWelby. He asked Van Horn who was hisbest student.Van Horn gave Charlie Pasarell honor-able mention. Charlie was one of Welby’sbeginner’s that he grinded and polishedinto the no. 1-ranked player in America.but then Welby answered the questionwith a true and detailed story.He said he did not remember the nameof his best student, but that he was aman in his mid-30s who attended one ofhis summer camps. He had played threesports; changing with the seasons. Thestudent, as Welby explained, got histoughness from football, his footworkand touch from basketball and his serv-ice motion from baseball. Welby’s beststudent was an entry-level adult begin-ner. This camper was a successful business-man on a mission. After attending fivedays of camp he went home and didexactly what Van Horn had told him. Hemade arrangements to return to thecamp at the end of the same summer foranother week. Welby’s best student wasat the airport on his way home but heintentionally missed his flight to driveback and ask Welby one more question:“How do you keep score?” It was thatquestion that made him Welby’s beststudent.Van Horn, as always, was making a point.I understood. I have the privilege ofbeing a disciple of Welby. The studentdid what he was told. First control yourgrip, then control your swing and yourbalance. Strategy is meaningless withoutstrokes. Practice slowly and endlessly.Stand in front of the mirror and shadow-swing thousands of times. Hit the wallwith a dead ball off of two bounces. Letthe body and mind connect by doing theroutines over and over. Don’t let yourimpulses become your habits in the

beginning stages. Let the first steps be steps.Developing Champions Takes TimeTennis teaching and tennis learning are not“fast food.” you cannot microwave a ten-nis game. It has to be built—and well-built—slowly, over time.Van Horn’s best student simply lis-tened and followed directions. Heknew practice ratios such as 15 min-utes on a backboard is equivalent toone hour on court because of thenumber of balls hit.What’s the rush? Most tennis play-ers generally are going nowherefast. A Welby-ism: “Most people playat tennis. Less than 5 percent ofpeople play tennis.”Van Horn is an artist and to him ten-nis is art. He expressed during ourget-together how appreciative he isfor having lived long enough towatch and study another tennisartist, Roger Federer.Welby, like Federer, showed that effi-cient and effortless strokes are aes-thetically appealing. Virginia Wade,the former Wimbledon champion,once said, “Winning tenniswill not lead to beautifultennis, rather beautiful ten-nis will lead to winning tennis.”Parents, understand Welby’s point.One must ask a long, long list ofquestions and practice a long, longlist of routines before their energygoes into winning. Thetennis industry has gonealmost totally to a “game-based” methodology. The methodis to make it fun, so the studentscome back and pros make moremoney. but let’s slow down, have some reflec-tive thought, and learnfrom a true tennis mas-ter like Welby Van Horn.Teach a “form-based” sys-tem, at least for part ofpractice sessions. Maybe you’llmake a bit less money, but fel-low tennis teachers, you’ll make more players.That’s what Welby did.

TennisBy Steve Smith

THe PASSIOn TO PLAy a sport oftenis compromised by injury, but itis particularly upsetting when

one’s body signals a problem due tooveruse or an underlying problem.The good news for tennis players, aswell as other athletes, is that orthope-dics has advanced to provide so manyways to get them back to their activelifestyles and onto the courts. Onehas only to look back to the 1960s torealize the progress in relieving thepain and restoring function occur-ring, for example, in the hip.

Dr. Harlan Amstutz, whopractices orthopedic surgery at theJoint Replacement Institute at St.Vincent Medical Center in LosAngeles, has been at the forefront ofhip care since the 1970s as an investi-gator and inventor of solutions. Hepoints out that hip pain often is activ-ity-related, and when it becomes per-sistent and more constant, especiallyif there is also a loss of motion, thenosteoarthritis may be the cause.

Mild arthritis often is con-trolled by over-the-counter anti-inflammatories and held at bay for

HEALTH & FITNESS

In association with

62 THe GUARDIAn, Friday, May 10, 2013

WeLby VAn HORn was both aworld-class player and a world-class teacher. Dr. Alex Mayer,

whose two sons, Sandy and Gene, bothhad Top-10 world rankings, once saidthat Van Horn was in a class by himselfwhen it came to ranking tennis teach-ers.As a player, Welby reached the US Openfinal at the age of 19 in 1939. PeteSampras surpassed his record in 1990when he was 19 (and was further awayfrom his 20th birthday). Van Horn’splaying career was interrupted byworld War II. He only played threeGrand Slams because he accepted part-time lesson money while he workedfull-time in an aircraft factory. In the1940s, Welby won both the nationalProfessional Singles and nationalProfessional Doubles titles.As a teacher, Welby developed his ownsystem of instruction. It was his intel-lect and independence that allowedhim to assemble the best pathway forbeginning a player. The Van Horn for-mat was based on logic and principledon “balance.” Welby, a Californian,taught a small number of kids on asmall number of courts (4), on thesmall island of Puerto Rico. but hisresults were big. For example, in 1959,five of his students were ranked in theTop 24 in the 15-and-under age group,which was as many as came out ofSouthern California that year, and morethan all of Florida produced.I worked for Welby and his systemworked for my students. I have onlyworked with developmental players;avoiding being one who recruits play-ers with previously accomplishedresults. yes, Van Horn’s fundamentalshave stood the test of time. For exam-ple, I have had my students win titles atthe boys’ national Championships inKalamazoo, and my student’s studentswin titles at Kalamazoo.

Finding the bestRecently I returned to the well—the wellof true tennis genius. Welby is almost90. I spent a couple of days talking ten-

Hip “resurfacing,” rather thanreplacement, may be the answer fortennis players looking to get back in

the game.

some time by a regimen of drugs andactivity reduction. However, some-times the pain can’t be controlled. Ababy-boomer has options today thathis grandfather did not have. After athorough consultation, physical examand X-rays, the patient will be able toconsider new options to regain hissporting life.

‘Resurface,’ Don’t ReplaceAgain, the good news is that there areoptions. Amstutz has a substantialnumber of patient-athletes who havereturned to vigorous sports—tennisplayers, cyclists, mountain climbers,skiers and dancers to name a few—after a procedure called “resurfacingof the hip” with metal-on-metal bear-ings. Amstutz pioneered the tech-nique of resurfacing, an alternative tototal hip replacement. Resurfacing does not require removalof part of the head of the femur. Hipresurfacing was developed initially asan alternative to total hip replace-ment for younger, active patients.(Often hip replacement meansnumerous revisions and follow-upsurgeries as patients grow older.)Resurfacing buys time, saves bone,achieves equal leg length due to itbeing anatomically neutral, has

Shooting from

the HipBy Patricia Price

Lessons from a world-class teacher

Steve Smith has 35 years of diversified experience. Academically, he designed and developed the first accredited comprehensive degree program for tennis teachers. Six of his formerstudents, once developed in their formative years, have won NCAA National titles. Clinically, he’s studied under and worked for tennis teaching legends.

HEALTH & FITNESS

work and own the new strokes he had the privi-lege of briefly experiencing.

Learning in IncrementsThe point is, you learn in increments and babysteps. There are no exceptions. Everyone learns inincrements. Once you have learned a stroke ortechnique you must take that technique to anextremely high level of development in practicebefore you can apply it in a match. Usually, withenough practice, the application in a match hap-pens by itself—automatically. A phrase I like touse to describe this concept is, “When the stu-dent is ready, the stroke will appear!”To be able to apply a technique from practice to

63THE GUARDIAN, Friday, May 10, 2013

By Tom VenezianoShooting from the hip

IHAVE BEEN A STUDENT of the art of learningfor many years. It fascinates me. I do notteach players how to learn tennis. I teach

players how to learn to learn tennis. My understanding of learning was born frommuch curiosity about the process—trial anderror, and years of teaching experience, plusstudying coaches and athletes, and being fortu-nate enough have had good leadership andmentors. After working with students for over 30 years Iconcluded that most people are just notattuned to learning and all the myriad phasesand complexities involved in learning. Take forinstance intellectual knowledge (knowledgeyou can understand and repeat back) versusapplication knowledge (knowledge you canapply automatically). Players constantly mixthem up! For example, students have told me manytimes, “I know that already, why do I have to doit again?” My answer is always the same. Youmay know it but you are not doing it. Until youcan do something automatically in applicationform, you do not own that shot or stroke orserve. Application form means applying thetechnique instinctively in match play, not justin practice.

Integrating Technique into Match PlayYou must integrate what you learn in practiceinto your matches. Just because you can per-form a technique in practice does not meanyou can perform that technique in match play.You must slowly integrate that technique intoyour match play by continuing to practiceuntil it happens automatically in your matchplay. If you can perform a stroke only in yourpractice, then you do not have “applicationknowledge” yet. But if you are patient and con-tinue practicing, the technique will comearound in your match play. Just relax and keepup the repetition.Here is an example: At my club I was coachingone of the pros who was experiencing a hugebreakthrough in application knowledge. Oneday, after months and months of practice onhis forehand and backhand groundstrokes, hegot on the court to practice and out came thesefluid, beautifully balanced, well-timed strokes.With renewed optimism, he thought he hadarrived! Or had he? I explained, to no avail, thatthis is only the genesis of true success. There isstill a ways to go to own these strokes.Another pro at my club has won every tourna-ment around. He is a tough, resourceful player.The pro I coach often plays him to test howwell he is performing. He loses every time, buthas improved to 6-4 and even 7-5 set scores.Well, after this breakthrough he thought, “I’mready to take on the best, right now!” After his practice and a word of caution fromme, he went off to find the other pro.Unfortunately he found him! They hopped ona court and played a set. The result: 6-1. My stu-dent went down in flames! He overplayedeverything, trying to emulate how he had per-formed in practice. He came back disheartenedand discouraged, but still eager to get back to

THE ART OF PRACTICING

You Need to Learnto Learn Tennis!

“If you are patient and continue practicing,the technique will comearound in your match

play.”

proven thus far to have good longevity,and is now viable for older players aswell. As the name “resurfacing” connotes, thesurgeon removes the arthritis by aseries of steps, reshaping the head ofthe femur and covering it with a metalcup, which then fits into a thin bone-conserving shell that attaches to thepelvis. By contrast, total hip replace-ment requires that the head and neckof the femur be removed and a steminserted into the bone shaft. In the resurfacing prosthesis the largefemoral component, which is the samesize as the original head, reduces therisk of post-operative dislocation whilethe manufactured metal-on-metal bear-ing has very low wear rates. The femoralhead and neck of the hip joint are pre-served; bone mineral density is pre-served and maintained. These two fac-tors also provide the best conditions fora successful conversion to a convention-al, stemmed-type total hip replacementshould this ever be necessary.

Active Lifestyles AgainWith the recently FDA-approvedConserve Plus metal-metal surface hipreplacement device designed byAmstutz, there have been no femoralfractures in his last 700 cases, andpatients with implants are enjoyinghighly active lifestyles without pain, dis-comfort or other impairments. Optimalcomponent design, technique andpatient selection are the keys to success.Some of his early patients are now 11 to13 years post-op and are regularly play-ing tennis, other racquet sports andcompetitive volleyball, and one is evenballet dancing.A lover of tennis, Ronald Luce was expe-riencing severe right hip pain that wasprohibiting his ability to play. After suf-fering for 2-1/2 years and putting off sur-gery for as long as possible, which canoften lead to further bone deteriora-tion, Amstutz performed surface hipreplacement surgery in 2000 whenLuce was 49. Now, 10 years later, Luce plays singlesfour times a week and works out four tofive times a week. “I couldn’t speakmore highly of this procedure,” he says,adding that he feels completely “nor-mal” when playing tennis and exercis-ing and is grateful to have had thechance to get his lifestyle back.

For more information on hip resurfac-ing and on the Joint ReplacementInstitute at St. Vincent Medical Center, visit www.jri-docs.com or call 888-674-3627.

match play, your rate of learning must exceedyour rate of forgetting. When you are in thebeginning stages of learning a technique, yourrate of forgetting exceeds your rate of learning.You must keep practicing to allow the naturallearning process to mature. One day the rate oflearning will exceed the rate of forgetting andbingo! The stroke or technique will be all yoursin a match.Learning is tricky business. You must slowlyprepare your mind and body to accept newinformation, and then once this information islearned, integrate it into your body’s automaticnature.Stop being frustrated by attempting to usewhat you have just learned too soon.Remember to learn in increments and do notforget that integrating what you learned inpractice into your match play is one of thoseincrements!

Tom Veneziano, a tennis coach for over 30 years,teaches at the Westheimer Indoor Tennis Club inHouston, Texas. As the developer of the TennisWarrior System, Veneziano has produced booksand audio CDs that are available at www.ten-niswarrior.com.

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Friday, May 10, 2013TheGuardianConscience, Nurtured by Truth

The YOUTHSPEAK Column which is published daily is an initiative of THE GUARDIAN, andpowered by RISE NETWORKS, Nigeria’s Leading Youth Development Centre, as a substantialadvocacy platform available for ALL Nigerian Youth to engage Leadership at all levels, engageSociety and contribute to National Discourse on diverse issues especially those that are pecu-liar to Nigeria. Regarding submission of articles, we welcome writers‘ contributions by way ofwell crafted, analytical and thought provoking opinion pieces that are concise, topical andnon-defamatory! All articles (which are not expected to be more than 2000 words) should besent to editorial@risenetworks.org To read the online Version of this same article plus pastpublications and to find out more about Youth Speak, please visitwww.risenetworks.org/youthspeak and join the ongoing National Conversations’’.

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IN the developed countries particularly,the European countries, women dominat-ed numerous positions in the media hous-es. About 60 per cent of all field reporters arefemale, behind the camera, more than halfof newscasters, producers and writers arefemale. Several reasons are behind this shift. Equalopportunity of employment laws and thejournalism profession’s promotion of diver-sity have certainly helped. Additionally,news director realised that half their poten-tial audience are female and might wel-come a women’s perspective of news events. Some observers find the dwindling per-

centage of male in video journalism a dis-turbing trend that might lead to the “femi-nisation” of television news, and the alien-ation of the male viewers in the audience.Others note that today’s male audience ismore accustomed to seeing females in pow-erful roles, and the growing journalisticgender disparity should be of little conse-quence. At any rate, it is highly probable thatthe television newsroom will continue to bea place populated by a majority of female. The recent trend in broadcast news showsthat, when television news first started itwas a male-dominated profession. Femalereporters were rare, and female anchorseven rarer. All this has changed. Starting inthe 1980, the number of female anchorssteadily increased. By 1990s the number ofthe female anchors equated the number ofmale anchors. But today, female anchorsoutnumbered male anchors. The male pair-ing is the typical co-anchor arrangement,but female-female teams are more com-mon, as are solo female anchors. What israre these days is what was typical a fewdecades ago: a male-male anchor team or asolo male.However, in Nigeria the reverse is the case.Over the years, research has shown that theprevalence of women stereotypes in themass media can be damaging to the statusof women in the society. Tuchman and oth-ers had called the mass media portrayal ofwomen, a symbolic annihilation of womanwhich could be brought about by trivializa-tion or the absence of women could wellhave its roots in the formal education, train-ing given to the media practitioners. It hasbeen noted with regard to communicatingthe status of women in terms of content, it isnot simply what the media said or how theysay it that bolsters stereotypes and limitedor skewed perceptions of women. Equallyimportant is what they do not say.

The stereotyping of women whom themass media are guilty of can also have itsorigin in mass communication depart-ments dominated by andocentric tenden-cies. Most of the editorial board membersfor training newspapers or magazines pub-lished by departments of mass communica-tion in Nigeria tertiary institutions are dom-inated by male students except the tokenone or two female students who may beappointed as either society page editor orher assistant or as entertainment editor andher assistant in the editorial board.However, stereotype is even among the

women themselves not only in the massmedia. It was observed in a situation wherea head of mass communication depart-ment, IBB University in a routine task whichconstitutes supervision of an editorialboard for one of the training newspaperpublication (IBBU trumpet) by the depart-ment. The HOD set up editorial board baseon the inauguration by students, the femalestudents were busy inaugurating the malecounterparts without voting themselves. Atthe end, the editorial board was dominatedby the male students with a token of afemale student for soft duty. As a matter of fact, enrolment figures showthat roughly equal members of male andfemale students are admitted into the coun-try’s communication schools. From thissimple action, the stereotyping of womenjournalists are only fit for the soft and fea-ture aspects of mass media work is alreadybeing inculcated in the student journalists.The veiled admonition here is that men

to keep women in the chains of poverty,silencing and excluding them and allow-ing men to take the larger share ofresources. Nigeria media seem to maintain the sta-

tus quo through excluding women, givingthem little voice demeaning them throughvarious forms of behaviours and increas-ing their vulnerability. Yet it is vital thatthis cycle is broken for the liberation ofwomen as Roach suggests would imply theliberation of the host of other poor. The cul-ture of silence need to be addressed inNigeria media as poverty seem gradually todisappear in media reports, obliterated bystories about the rich, top government offi-cials, head of government and their rela-tions. Ordinary Nigerians which includethe Nigerian women are not key players inthe media; this can be observed in Nigeriawhere media houses are dominated mensingle media house. Issues concerning themajority are simply avoided. The Nigerianmedia like her counterpart in other devel-oping countries have been criticise for itsempty content in emphasising news andreports such as a former head of state hascalled for improvement in life for ruraldwellers, the head of the civil service hassaid that structures are being put in placethat will generate job opportunities andfight poverty. Often time who said whatbecomes more pronounced than what wassaid, that is, what was said become lessbearing than the actual news. One thing isclear; the presence of Nigeria women in themedia is inhibited by governmental bod-ies, media owners even among journalistswho are still not gender satisfied.Despite some growth in a female employ-ment in areas such as programming, thestatus of women in this sector reproduceswomen’s subordinate status in the broadersociety. For every one woman employed inthe state radio stations and state and feder-al television stations, there were sevenmale employees. However, female journal-ists are concentrated in the lowest statuspositions and tend to be relegated to cover-age of woman’s and social issues ratherthan news and current affairs. The factorsresponsible for the low representation ofwoman in broadcasting are cultural fac-tors, male chauvinism and lack of dedica-tion. Greater visibility of female broadcast-ers in the higher ranks of the industry andin news-oriented reporting positions isessential to undercut stereotype of womanas wives and mothers only.It is pertinent to say here that gone are thedays when the media was considered to beno place for a woman, times have changedto more and more women joining thefourth estate. However, just as woman inthe larger society have broken many tradi-tional barriers on politics, economic andsocial areas while their male counterpartshave undergone less of an attitudinalchange, women journalists too have tocope with similar biases within the profes-sion. In the coming years, the number ofwomen covering hard beats will undoubt-edly grow, just as more men will becomeinterested in writing on softer issues butwhether this will also be accompaniedwith a change in perceptions is the mootpoint. • Musa Efukun Jeremiah, 300 LevelDepartment of Mass Communications,Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University.Lapai, Niger State.

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E-mail letters@ngrguardiannews.com; www.ngrguardiannews.com(ISSN NO 0189-5125)Editor:MARTINS OLOJA . ABC

Nigerian women and thepractice of journalism play the strong and important roles,women the weak and unimportant one.When the students join the workforce,women journalists both as reporters andeditors are more likely to handle featurestories while hard news is made theexclusive province of their male counter-parts. The inferiority complex with thiskind of division of labour breeds in themedia women could condition themregard themselves as incapable of mak-ing any significance contributions tomass communication, thus causingthose among them who are not verydetermined to give up any effort to makean impact in their jobs. In the face of this kind of division of

labour, it appears inevitable that packag-ing of media content will be done toreflect a male perspective, thus givingrise to problems of sexism and genderbias in mass communication. In thistype of situation, one guess is as good as

another what type of news will theymake? In explaining gender bias, it hasbeen noted that news is not one reporterview of an event but a social, consensualproduct molded by a variety of considera-tion. Thus, it might be possible that jour-nalists internalise popular perceptionsand social stereotypes into consensualdefinitions of what is news. As these per-ceptions and stereotypes are perpetuatedin Nigeria, it becomes doubtful that sex-ism and stereotyped presentations ofwomen will soon disappear from thecountry’s mass media content. Poverty is a multi-faceted condition in

most countries of the world; women rep-resent more than half this population. Itis documented that they performs thelowest paid activities and are concentrat-ed in the low-end jobs and occupations.MacClintock writes that women do twothirds of the world’s property. In a coun-try like Nigeria, culture and religion help

By Musa Efukun Jeremiah

Mohammed Garba, NUJ president

Nigeria media seem to maintainthe status quo through exclud-ing women, giving them littlevoice demeaning them throughvarious forms of behaviours andincreasing their vulnerability.Yet it is vital that this cycle isbroken for the liberation ofwomen as Roach suggestswould imply the liberation of thehost of other poor. ’

‘