Vol. 1 N0. 115 Tuesday, June 7, 2011 N150 Vol. 2 N0. 410 Tuesday, July 24, 2012 N150

P.4,5

P.2,6

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Impeachment threat against President patriotic Reps

Air Nigeria to recommence domestic, regional operation soon

JAMES ABRAHAMJOS

Tragedy struck again in Jos, the Plateau State capital, as no fewer than 35 people were confirmed dead yesterday, following a flood disaster which ravaged some parts of the city on Sunday.

Several other people were also discovered miss-ing and were yet to be

FG, Manitoba sign $23.7m TCN management deal

Jonathan lamentscrude oil theft

Flood kills 35 in Jos

Nnaji

Displaced residents of Makoko protesting the demolition of their houses in Lagos yesterday. Inset: Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba; Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola; Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello and Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulure, during the governors address to the protest-ers. Story on page 8 PHOTOS: ADEMOLA AKINLABI

Look inward for development, Nguigi wa Thiongo urges Africa

Nigeria to receive $350m London Games windfall P.30

3 DAYSTO GO

JULY 27 - AUGUST 12, 2012

P.7

WE WERE SLEEPING WHEN WE HEARD WATER RUSHING INTO THE HOUSE AND THE WHOLE PLACE BECAME LIKE A STREAMI IMMEDIATELY RUSHED TO WHERE MY CHILDREN WERE SLEEPING BUT DID NOT SEE THEM... I WAS CONFUSED AND RUSHED

TO WHERE MY WIFE WAS, BUT BEFORE I COULD ENTER HER ROOM, THE ENTIRE HOUSE COLLAPSED

SSS quizzes Pastor Bakare over anti-Jonathan comments

P.7

...scores missing, 200 houses destroyed

Flood kills 35 in Jos, scores missing, 200 houses destroyed

I lost seven children in one night

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Jonathan laments persistent crude oil theft

found, while more than 200 houses were destroyed.

Areas mostly affected include Anguwan Rogo, Gangare and Rikkos, all in Jos North Local Govern-ment area of the state.

National Mirror gath-ered that the rain, which started about 9p.m. that resulted in the flooding of houses which were built on the bank of River Rik-kos, which overflowed its banks during the down-pour.

It was gathered that most of those who died were women and children who were already asleep as the rain was falling. Some corpses have al-ready been recovered and deposited at a morgue.

So far, we have recov-ered 16 corpses but many others are still missing, the Publicity Secretary of Jamaatul-Nasril- Islam, Alhaji Faruk Umar, said.

We have just buried 14 corpses, while two bodies have just been discovered. But we are still searching for more bodies because many people are still miss-ing.

More than 200 houses were washed away follow-ing the flooding of Rikkos River, he added, listing the worst-hit areas as Gan-gare and Ungwan-Rogo.

There had earlier been a heavy rainfall between 3p.m. and 5p.m. on Sun-day. Then, the heavier downpour started again about 9p.m. and lasted till 10:30p.m.

The Secretary of the Red Cross in Plateau State, Mennaseh Pampe, con-firmed the death toll. He said 35 bodies had so far been recovered.

Phampe said among the victims are a 90-year-old woman and a three-month-old baby, adding that casu-alty figure is likely to rise.

Rainwater and wa-ter from the Lamingo dam swept across several neighbourhoods in the city, he explained.

We are still searching for more bodies as many people have been declared missing.

Reacting to the inci-dent, a community leader in Gangare, Alhaji Guda Usman Ali, said, once there is a downpour, even

Some of the people rendered homeless when their houses were destroyed by flood at Rikkos in Jos yesterday. Inset: The flood. PHOTO: NAN

ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday vowed that his ad-ministration would stop the large-scale theft of the nations crude oil by Nigeri-ans and foreigners.

He lamented that the country was losing huge revenues from the criminal activity.

Speaking in Abuja at the opening of the Presidential Maritime Security Retreat at the Aso Rock Villa, Presi-dent Jonathan said that those who indulged in the embarrassing act should bury their heads under the pillow in shame.

Oil giant, Shell, recently estimated that Nigeria los-es about $5bn (N775bn) to the theft of 150,000 barrels of crude oil annually by

highly organised gangs.The President said: It

is extremely embarrassing that it is only in Nigeria that crude oil is stolen; it is very bad news and I believe that Nigerians and foreign-ers who indulge in that act need to throw their heads under the pillow.

All over the world it is only in Nigeria that crude oil is stolen. We are not the only oil producing country,

why is it that it is only in Nigeria that people steal crude oil? This must stop.

In fact, if we have been doing well, by now Nigeria is supposed to have the best academies and institutions that will train Nigerians in the oil and gas sector be-cause these are areas that in the 50s, we were leading.

Other African countries are supposed to be sending people here for training but

now we are rather going out to train our people.

He explained that giv-en the importance of the maritime sector in the national economy, his ad-ministration had an un-compromising obligation to safeguard its territorial waters against all threats, including poaching, pi-racy, pipeline vandalism, coastal insecurity, crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, non-payment of statutory levies and charges, illegal entry of ships into the na-tions territorial waters and illegal importation of arms and hard drugs.

Jonathan noted that al-though the West African coast had the richest fisher-ies resources in Africa, the inability of the region to take advantage of this natural en-dowment had been attributed to inadequate law enforce-ment and industry capacity.

The President explained that the cost of piracy to the economy was unacceptably high, stressing that pirates frustrated fishing activi-ties and threatened invest-ments in the West African Coast while higher insur-ance premium and charges

on ships sailing along the Gulf of Guinea impacted negatively on the economy and image.

He also said that pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft resulted in serious loss of revenue to government even as maritime environ-mental degradation from such disasters affected the well-being of Nigerians.

He noted that the Mari-time Operations Coordinat-ing Committee is already working to address all il-legalities in the maritime sector, stressing that gov-ernment is determined to reverse this situation. We will protect our natural re-sources and ensure their sustainable use for the ben-efit of present and future generations.

He explained that the committee comprises all maritime agencies, Minis-tries of Transport, Finance and Justice, adding that a sustainable patrol arrange-ment to enhance collection of revenue and ensure mar-itime safety had also been approved.

He stated that his admin-istration was encouraging

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if it doesnt rain in the area, water comes from around Dilimi down to Rikkos and Gangare, not-ing that the stream even flows into Lake Chad.

Its a serious disaster, because several people have died, many are

missing and several oth-ers rendered homeless.

The only thing that I will urge the government to do is to come and re-pair this place for them, so that they can go far away from the river, be-cause once you are away

from the river, the flood will not affect you, Us-man added.

The Director, Relief and Rehabilitation of the National Emergency Management Author-ity, NEMA, Mr. Edward Maigida, said the search

and rescue team had started work, adding that 50 people were still miss-ing.

He said the agency could not give the actual number of displaced per-sons for now, noting that

Mallam Albdul-hamed Hussaini lost seven of her children to the flood disas-ter.

Hussaini, who resides in Rikkos, recounted his experience to National Mirror last night in Jos.

According to him: I have 12 children and lost seven of them to flood. Six corpses of my children were discovered yesterday morning while the body of one is yet to be found.

Hussaini said the un-fortunate happened in the night when they were sleeping and there was no way he could rescue all the children as the flood came with force and submerged the entire building.

He said his condition

was unstable, while call-ing for rehabilitation as he had no place to lay his head with the remaining children and a wife.

Similarly, Mrs. Indo Ab-dulmumin, who lost six of her children, explained how the incident occurred.

She said: I was asleep when my husband woke me up and saw water flow-ing into our compound. I picked a Ghana-must-go bag and put our clothes in-side. The water had flood-ed our rooms. We went into the room to pick the young boys, but we couldnt be-cause the wall had already collapsed. And when my husband tried to enter he also discovered that the flood had taken them away.

I have lost six of my

children; four girls and two boys. The oldest being 13 and the smallest being 90 days old. Then one be-longs to my nephew. I am now left with only two sur-viving children; a lady of 17 years and a boy of two years.

I accept this as a tes-timony from Allah; I only prayed that Allah will have mercy on them, and also console our hearts.

Her husband, Alhaji Abdulmumin, also con-firmed the incident to our reporter.

Fifteen-year-old Faisal also told National Mirror that he and his father were attending the Ramadan tafsir, when the rain was falling heavily and they could not get home.

Abdulmumin said that after some times, his mother called him on the phone and he had her praising Allah, later the call went off.

We were at the tafsir at night and there was down-pour. We tried to rush home with my father, we couldnt pass, because all the roads were flooded. My mother who was at home then called me on the phone, she mentioned the name of Allah, while I heard the voices of my younger ones screaming and crying, suddenly the line cut off, he said.

That was all, our house was destroyed, and my mother, Hajiya, with my four younger ones, have not been seen up till now.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net2 Tuesday, July 24, 2012News

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 3Tuesday, July 24, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net4 Tuesday, July 24, 2012 Photo News National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Deputy High Commissioner, Government of Canada, Mr. Jean Gauthier; Managing Director, Manitoba Hydro International, Mr. Lorne Halpenny; Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji; Director- General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Ms. Bolanle Onagoruwa and Chairman, Technical Committee of National Council on Privatisation, Mr. Peterside Atedo, during the signing of Management Contract for Transmission Company of Nigeria in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

L-R: Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie; Acting Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ekpo Nta and Hon. Member, Prof. Olu Aina, during a joint press conference by ICPC/NUC on System Review of Nigerian Universities in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

L-R: Representative of the Minister of Education and Principal, Federal Government College, Lagos-Ijanikin, Mrs. Ibukun Oyewole; Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr Phillips Oduoza; renowned author, Professor Ngugi wa Thiongo; and MD, UBA Foundation, Ms Ijeoma Aso, during the formal launch of Read Africa 2012, an initiative of UBA Foundation to rekindle learning culture among youths in Africa, held at the UBA Head Office in Lagos, yesterday.

Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi (left) receiving the winners cup of the 2011 Garden City Games from the Local Organising Committe (LOC) Chairman, Engr. Tele Ikuru, during the presentation of its report of the Games to the governor at the Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday.

CBN may reduce banks liquidity, cash reserve ratios, experts say

Air Nigeria to recommence domestic, regional operations soon

AYO OLESIN

As the Monetary Policy Committee prepares to an-nounce its decisions on the interest rate today, fi-nancial analysts surveyed by National Mirror yester-day hinted at the possibil-ity of the Central Bank of Nigeria reducing banks Cash Reserve Ratio and Liquidity Ratio instead of trimming the Monetary Policy Rate due to infla-tionary concerns.

The analysts were how-ever in agreement that there is no basis for further monetary tightening even if inflation remained in the double digits.

Rather, the case is being made for a loosening of the monetary stance expected to favour economic growth, which has decelerated in recent months as high rates take an exacting toll on business, especially real sector entities.

Chief Executive Offi-cer, Economic Associates, a Lagos-based think tank, Dr. Ayo Teriba said the MPR appeared to have been raised to high and had re-

sulted in a slowdown in eco-nomic growth.

Growth has decelerated and I think the MPC needs to relegate inflationary con-cerns and treat growth as priority. There is no need for positive real interest rates. The MPR does not need to be higher than infla-tion at this time. What they have done is to make the yield curve higher than the rate of inflation, yet inves-tors are not looking at the MPR, he said.

Teriba said that if the MPC was not inclined to cutting the MPR, it could reduce the Liquidity Ra-tio and Cash Reserve Ra-tio currently standing at 30 per cent and eight per cent respectively or re-move the asymmetric cor-ridor of plus or minus two per cent around the MPR and see how the market rates behave, before tak-ing a final decision on a rate cut.

Analysts at First Securi-ties Discount House also said they expect the MPC to change its monetary policy stance in favour of mon-etary easing based on cur-rent economic realities and the short-to-medium term

OLUSEGUN KOIKI

The management of Air Nigeria has said that plans are underway by the company to recommence domestic and regional flight opera-tions.

A statement signed at the weekend by the companys Media Relations Manager, Mr. Sam Ogbogoro, stated that the resumption of services would be announced soon.

Besides, Ogobgoro said

that there had been series of meetings between board, management and employ-ees over the last few weeks on the resumption plans.

He said that its em-ployees had, however, re-affirmed their loyalty to safeguard the airline from external forces, which he said had been trying to sab-otage the airlines achieve-ments of the last two years that culminated with the successful launch of the growth strategy on May 16, 2012, with the start of the

Lagos London route. The statement reads:

Air Nigeria staff have also established employ-ees counsel that comprises representatives across all the departments of the airline. The employees counsel will regularly meet with the top management to discuss plans and per-formance of the airline as well as follow-up of issues that have been raised by staff. Employees have also assured their readiness for the immediate start of do-

mestic and regional opera-tions.

We would also like to in-form that the Lagos Lon-don - Lagos flights are op-erating to schedule and are not affected by the tempo-rary suspension directive of the NCAA. Passengers are therefore encouraged to proceed with their con-firmed itinerary while intending customers can make their reservations through all our sales chan-nels or by calling the con-tact centre on 01-2711111.

National News

outlook.Specifically, FSDH ana-

lysts expect a cut in the MPR from 12 per cent to 10 per cent, while the two per cent corridor is main-tained.

They also foresee a re-duction in the Cash Reserve Ratio and Liquidity Ratio to five per cent and 25 per cent from eight per cent and 30 per cent respectively and the continuation of Open Market Operation (OMO) to manage liquidity and direct short-term yields to desired levels.

Analysts at DLM Re-

search, while acknowledg-ing inflationary threats, said the MPC may maintain the benchmark rate at the current level but still main-tained their position which favours a gradual reduction of the benchmark rate to single-digit levels.

Our position is in-formed by the need to grow the domestic bond market, increase production, pro-vide appropriately-priced long term financing to the real sector, strengthen the naira and place the econo-my on a path to sustainable growth amongst other is-

sues, the analysts said in a note to investors yesterday.

However, First Bank Capital analysts said while it expects the MPC to hold its policy rate unchanged at 12 per cent, we see little rationale for tightening, and acknowledge that the argument for easing is un-dermined by lingering in-flation concerns and by the strengthening global head-winds.

The analysts noted that the MPC would be swayed by the CBNs in-house pro-jections, which forecast 14.5 per cent inflation this

month taking into account higher electricity tariff and anticipated effect of increased import tariff on rice and wheat and possible fuel price hike later in the year.

They noted that the MPC appeared not convinced that monetary policy will address declines in the agri-culture and oil and gas sec-tors with significant effect on GDP and foresee that the MPC may be tempted to trim its policy rate in the last quarter depending on the inflation rate and global outlook.

Jonathan laments persistent crude oil theft

FG, Manitoba sign $23.7m TCN management deal

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

TOLA AKINMUTIMI AND MESHACK IDEHEN

The Federal Govern-ment and Manitoba Hydro Interna-tional of Canada yester-day signed a contract for the management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, for three years.

This is part of the Fed-eral Governments efforts to drive the power sector reforms aimed at boosting power generation and dis-tribution in the country.

The Director-General, Bureau of Public Enter-prises, BPE, Ms. Bolanle Onagoruwa, who signed on behalf of the Federal Government, listed the key objectives of the contract agreement valued at about $23.7m (N3.6bn).

They include stabilisa-tion of the grid, reduction in electricity losses during transmission, provision for the achievement of certain predetermined targets that will improve grid security and general performance and cultural change and staff re-orientation.

Others are provision for reward and penalty clauses as incentives for success, provision of efficient man-agement of government investments, ensuring ad-equate and equitable gen-eration dispatch according to a fair merit order based on sound regulatory prin-ciples, ensuring fair market settlements between elec-tricity traders and provi-sion of skills and expertise transfer to Nigerian coun-terparts who will serve as deputy and other positions to the management staff of the company.

Onagoruwa said: With the signing of the agree-ment, the Federal Govern-ment expects the manage-ment contractor to mobilise and resume on Monday, July 30, 2012 with all the eight key personnel and the associ-ated support staff.

In order to ensure a seamless operational tran-sition to the management contractor and obtain staff cooperation, a workshop/briefing session will hold on Thursday, July 26, 2012 to sensitise staff of TCN, allay their fears and secure their commitment.

The Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, allayed the workers fears on the on-going reform, stressing that it would benefit the country in terms of socio-economic multiplier effects.

The minister also noted that the workers would also benefit by building on their technical competences and skills that might help them in getting employed in the global market in the long run.

He said: What I want to assure the senior staff who are going to be affected is, it is best to support progress and reform because you will be the beneficiary.

In fact, let me say that when we had an interac-tive session with senior management teams of TCN and Manitoba, I told them that what Manitoba Hydro International is doing is depicting the business of managing transmission business and electricity business to other countries.

If we do things right, TCN of Nigeria can have TCN International and by that we would have gained competence and best prac-tices and we will be able to sell our competence else-where. That is something we should aim at.

Meanwhile, workers in the electricity sector have rejected the decision of the Federal Government not to pay severance benefits to workers of TCN

They said this develop-ment was based on the statement credited to Nnaji, that the workers should not expect severance pay be-cause the company (TCN) was not being privatised.

However, the President of Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Corporations, SSAEAC, Mr. Bede Opara, told our corre-spondent yesterday that the ministers comments would not help the reform process.

Opara explained that even if it is argued that the compa-nies, particularly TCN, were not being privatised, elec-tricity workers are wiser and know better than what the minister was saying.

He noted that the work-ers in the sector were due for the severance package which the Federal Govern-ment had already approved.

Also, a senior official of National Union of Electric-ity Employees, NUEE, Mr. Samuel Idoka, told Nation-al Mirror that electricity

workers were committed to the reforms, but the minis-ter should stop playing on their intelligence by insist-ing that the TCN and other power sector companies were not being privatised.

He explained that the radio and television jingles currently being aired on stations across the coun-try proved that the govern-ment was privatising, con-trary to what the minister was saying.

Idoka argued that if what was going on at the TCN was not privatisation, what it then meant was that the whole power sector reforms process was faulty and being executed on a false premise.

But the minister in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Ogbuagu Anikwe, said the workers should find out from the three unions in the electricity sector if the ongoing negotia-tions included payment of benefits to workers of the other companies from the unbundled Power Hold-ing Company of Nigeria, PHCN, totalling 17 in all.

He explained that gov-ernment had already ap-proved the employment of additional engineers and technicians, instead of the rumoured privatisation, adding that privatising TCN would require sorting out labour issues, a situa-tion the government was trying to avoid.

He said the current managers of TCN would understudy the expatriate managers and keep acting as their shadows.

The Nigerian chief ex-ecutive officer and executive directors will still function as the number two person in their current positions, to understudy the new manag-ers, he said.

On the workers that pro-tested at TCN head office, Anikwe said the minister had warned the workers who prevented the new manage-ment of the company from having access to the office to desist from the act, stressing that their protests would not yield results.

He said that some of the workers had in the last three days used all manner of force to prevent conscien-tious and law-abiding TCN employees from not only car-rying out their legitimate du-ties but even gaining access to their offices.

L-R: Vice-President Namadi Sambo; President Goodluck Jonathan and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, at the Presi-dential Retreat on Maritime Security in Abuja , yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

an integrated port security system in all the ports for maximum results.

According to the presi-dent: The amnesty pro-gramme is yielding the desired fruits as typified in improved security along the coast, in offshore oil infra-structure, capacity develop-ment and job creation.

The President added: We have recently stream-lined and simplified the ports operational and ad-ministrative procedures. While these efforts are pro-ducing positive outcomes, they are not enough. More needs to be done.

This workshop pro-vides an opportunity to cap-italise on the gains so far made and to find durable solutions to the challenges in the maritime sector.

Jonathan told partici-pants to focus on evolving a strong intelligence base and information gathering systems and measures for

crude oil theft to be com-pletely eliminated.

He also charged them to come up with plans that provide details on roles and responsibilities of stake-holders and timelines for harnessing the huge poten-tials in the maritime sector so that our losses will, in the shortest possible time, be converted to net gains.

Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Min-ister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, raised the alarm on the increasing incidence of oil theft and piracy.

She said that the situa-tion was worrisome as it threatened close to $600m (about N93bn) of fishing ex-ports, adding that the prob-lem of piracy had not been solved.

Okonjo-Iweala said that the retreat would focus attention on harnessing the potential of the sector, stressing that the cost of inadequate maritime safety

and security to the Nigeri-an society and the economy had been significant.

According to the minis-ter: The objective of the retreat includes the need to come up with concrete ini-tiatives that we can imple-ment over the next six to 18 months to allow Nigerians to harness the opportuni-ties we have in the sector.

The sector facilitates trade and commerce, en-ables us to export our goods and earn foreign exchange amongst others. The sector also generates significant revenue for government basically by Customs and Excise du-ties, and by leveraging our maritime resources such as fishing.

In addition, a signifi-cant number of Nigeri-ans are employed by the sector. However, there are challenges. Preliminary analysis and interviews of some key stakeholders in this sector conducted by

Mackenzie and Company highlighted some key chal-lenges which we must focus on addressing today.

She said that challenges include improving safety and security of maritime waters, increasing local par-ticipation and cabotage; completing the port re-forms and maximising our revenue potential from the sector.

The minister also noted that the Indigenous Ship Owners Association of Nigeria had disclosed that the nation was losing over N2trn annually in capital flight to foreign countries which own vessels that were used to lift about 150 million tonnes of cargos, including oil products from the coun-try as there was no Nigerian flagged ship currently ply-ing international routes.

Nigerian-owned vessels make up less than one per cent of the global fleet and are quite old with an aver-age of 30 years of age.

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 5Tuesday, July 24, 2012 News

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net6 Tuesday, July 24, 2012 National News

2012 budget: Impeachment threat in national interest RepsTORDUE SALEMABUJA

The threat by the House of Represen-tatives to impeach President Goodluck Jona-than is patriotic, the House spokesman said yesterday.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Me-dia and Public Affairs, Hon. Zakari Muhammed, stated this yesterday in response to insinuations from the Presidency that the House threat is selfish and far from altruistic.

He dismissed responses from commentators sus-pected to be coming from the Presidency as spurious and mere misreading of the Houses position.

According to the spokes-man, the warning of the House was for the good of the country and meant to jolt the president to action

on the budget.This bold and patriotic

step by the Seventh Assem-bly has attracted different comments from a lot of quarters, expectedly, there-fore some sponsored news editorial and commentar-ies choose to deliberately misinform the public on the rationale behind our na-tionalistic stand, he said.

Muhammed reiterated the earlier position of the House saying; For the avoidance of doubt, whilst

we are aware that all rev-enue generating agencies have surpassed their annu-al target by mid-year. The House is worried that this positive development did not reflect in the implemen-tation of the budget for the benefit of Nigerians.

He recalled that; Aris-ing from the Thursday, July 19, 2012 plenary which discussed extensively the snail speed implementation of the 2012 Appropriation Act, by Mr. President and the attendant ultimatum is-sued, that if by September 30, 2012, when the House resume from recess, there was no marked improve-ment, The House would be left with no choice than to initiative impeachment proceedings.

According to him, This trend (not implementing budgets),if not arrested would worsen the already

fragile state of the nation, hence the need for our quick intervention.

He regretted that such an altruistic stance of the House would be interpreted as selfish and negative.

To then insinuate that the House of Representa-tives took this noble step to satisfy pressure from a po-litical party or because the constituency projects were not awarded to members or because of the drama that followed the presentation of the fuel subsidy report, is to say the least malicious damaging and uncharita-ble.

According to him, We in the legislature are lawmak-ers and not contractors and that the constituency proj-ects execution has been the exclusive preserves of the executive and its agencies, at no time has there been any argument on this.

Tambuwal

L-R: Assistant General Manager, Planning, Research and Statistics, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Mrs. Nma Ossi; South-East Zonal Coordinator, Dr. Emma Ohuakanwa and Head, Technical Operations, Mrs. Cecelia Ochor, during a news conference on the forth-coming Owerri NHIS/Police Interactive Session, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

INUSA NDAHI AND AZA MSUE

Five persons, includ-ing three brothers were yesterday shot dead by gunmen in parts of the troubled Borno State capital, Maiduguri.

The three brothers were killed in the morning at Nganaram area of the city just moments after they left their parents.

It was gathered that the visit to their parents was pre-arranged by the broth-ers in their normal custom and tradition of dropping foodstuffs for the celebra-tion of Ramadan.

A source revealed that the brothers had brought foodstuffs to their aged par-ents to break the Ramadan fasting daily and they were on their way back from the area when incidentally they were attacked and killed.

The source further re-vealed that their Toyota Camry car was snatched from them and taken away to an unknown destination.

When the area was visited by our correspondent yes-terday afternoon there was apprehension and mourning with many contemplating relocating from the area for fear of another attack.

In a related development, there was shooting at Gam-boru area of the city, known

for incessant attacks from the notorious Boko Haram sect.

In yesterdays shooting it was learnt that two persons were shot dead around the Customs office in the area which led to many resi-dents of the area scamper-ing to safety.

When contacted to con-firm the incidents, the spokesman of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, said he was not aware of the killings.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air force yesterday said it has developed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for surveil-lance and intelligence gath-ering to assist government to tackle terrorism threat

in crisis-prone areas of the country.

The Air force added that they are in the process of developing a robot device that would detonate any kind of bomb from a far dis-tance.

The commandant of the Nigerian Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna, Air Vice-Marshal John Oshon-iyi, said this at a pre-gradua-tion press conference of the institute in Kaduna.

The institute, affiliated to Cardiff University in the United Kingdom would mark its 41 graduation ceremony with the theme: Transform-ing Aerospace Technology in Nigeria through Research and Development: The Role of AFIT.

TORDUE SALEMABUJA

The House of Repre-sentatives Special Committee on Ethics and Privileges may compel the Chairman, Zenon Oil and Gas Limited, Mr. Femi Otedola, to appear before it in camera, National Mirror has gathered.

Otedola had, a month ago, insisted a hearing on his allegation that sacked Chairman of the Provi-sional House Committee on Subsidy Regime, Hon. Faruk Lawan (PDP/Kano) took a $500,000 bribe from him to drop his companys name on the list of oil mar-keting companies that de-frauded the country on the pretext of petroleum prod-ucts import, be held in the open.

But the Ethics Commit-tee Chairman, Hon. Gambo Dan-Musa (PDP/Katsina) and other members insist-ed Otedola must appear in a secret session, in line with Section 60 of the 1999 Con-stitution.

A member of the Com-mittee, Hon. Orker Jev (ACN/Benue), who spoke with National Mirror, said; The committee may have to compel any party involved (in the allegation of bribery) to address in a manner that it deems fit within the provi-sions of its rules and the 1999

Constitution. The lawmaker said:

The investigation that the Ethics and Privileges Com-mittee is conducting is a cleansing mechanism that every organisation has.

According to him, We are not conducting a gen-eral investigation to decide whether Otedola is right or wrong or whatever, but all we are concerned about is our member (Lawan).

When the matter came up on the floor, Faruk Lawan was suspended as a member of Education Committee and he was also removed as a member of the Ad hoc on subsidy. We have to look into some of these allegations to determine whether they are true or not.

If at the end of the day, we discover that indeed something like that hap-pened, then we will make recommendations to the House. But we need to get to the root of the matter, by talking to all those who were mentioned.

Hon. Faruk Lawan ear-lier gave an extensive infor-mation on what he claimed happened and we needed to talk to other sides; every-body that was mentioned to get to the root of the mat-ter, so that we know who exactly is telling the truth and whether there is any blame to apportion and all of that, he submitted.

ROTIMI FADEYIABUJA

Transport Minister, Senator Idris Umar, yesterday said that the Federal Government may consider possible leg-islation that would compel international companies operating in the country to patronise indigenous vessel owners.

According to him, such legislation would address the ongoing practice in the maritime sector which ex-cluded local shippers from participating in major mar-itime business.

Speaking to State House Correspondents yesterday at the end of the Maritime sector Presidential retreat in Abuja, Umar said he does not support the idea where Nigerians, who own vessels, would be denied patronage.

His words: There are people who are complain-

ing that they have acquired vessels and their vessels are not being patronised by the oil companies. Of course, we are going to look at this, if it is legislation, if it is a policy issue we are going to look at this.

I dont support the idea that Nigerians when they used their hard earn mon-ey to acquire vessels should be deprived patronage by international oil compa-nies. It is absolutely wrong, we have to empower our people and that is the posi-tion of government, Umar added.

He stressed that the boom being witnessed in the sector was made possi-ble because of the enabling environment put in place by the Federal Government.

While highlighting the importance of the retreat, Umar said it was aimed at harnessing potentials in the maritime sector.

Gunmen kill fi ve in Maiduguri

$3m bribe: Reps to resume hearing next week

FG may consider laws to support Nigerian vessel owners

Air force develops vehicle for intelligence gathering

May force Otedola to appear in camera

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net Tuesday, July 24, 2012 7News

SSS quizzes Bakare over call for Jonathans resignationOLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

Following his sermon on Sunday where he castigated the ad-ministration of President Goodluck Jonathan over the state of the nation and called for his resignation, the pastor of Latter Rain Assembly and vice presi-dential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, in the 2011 general elections, Dr. Tunde Bakare, was yesterday in-terrogated by the State Se-curity Services, SSS.

Bakare was invited to the SSS Shangisha, Lagos office through a letter with refer-ence number O.9/3757, dat-ed July 23 and signed by A. Salami for the SSS director.

The letter reads in part: I am directed to invite you to interview (sic) the State

Director of the State Secu-rity Services (SSS) at the Command Headquarters along CMD Road Shangi-sha, Magodo, Lagos on Monday, 23rd July at 14.00 hours.

Accept the assurance of the State Director of Securitys highest esteem, please.

Bakare had on Sunday delivered a damning ser-mon, entitled: How to change government peace-fully and make society bet-ter, in his church, at Plot 4, Akilo Road, Ogba, Ikeja, La-gos, where he said that with the prevalent sad events in the country, occasioned by corruption, insecurity, hun-ger and poverty, the Presi-dent should resign from office, since he lacked the capacity to steer the ship of the nation back on course.

Bakare, who arrived at

National Youth Service Corps Batch B members at the close of their orientation course in Kaduna, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

the SSS office about 15.10 hours, was not allowed to enter with his car and aides. He, however, went in to meet with the SSS direc-tor.

Sources disclosed that the parley was a friendly in-teraction where the SSS ap-pealed to the fiery preacher

to tone down his messages and was told to stop attack-ing the President.

But the convener of the Save Nigeria Group, SNG, told the SSS director that he delivered his message the way he received it from God.

After the parley, howev-

er, it was gathered that the SSS called for Bakares car to come into the SSS prem-ises to pick him up. He left the SSS premises at 16.20 hours, one hour and 10 min-utes after he arrived.

Bakare had in the ser-mon, which earned him the SSS invitation, described

Jonathan as a victim of circumstance.

He said: The purpose of any meaningful govern-ment is the welfare and security of the people, but in our clime, neither wel-fare nor security of lives and property of our people seems to matter anymore.

President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democrat-ic Party, PDP yesterday asked an Abuja High Court to dismiss a suit filed by a member of the party, Mr. Cyriacus Njoku.

Njoku, in a suit filed on March 20, is seeking a declaration of court that Jonathans tenure started on May 6, 2010.

He also urged the court

to hold that Jonathans two terms should end on May 29, 2015 having taken his second oath of office on May 29, 2011; Njoku also wanted the court to hold that by virtue of Section 136 (1) (b) of the constitu-tion, no person (including Jonathan) should take the oath of allegiance and the oath of office prescribed to in the Seventh Schedule to this constitution more than twice.

The aggrieved PDP chieftain also wanted an order of injunction re-straining Jonathan from further contesting or at-tempting to vie for Presi-dent after May 29, 2015 when his tenure should, by the constitution, end.

Others joined in the suit were the PDP and the In-dependent National Elec-toral Commission, INEC.

At the resumed hearing of the suit before Justice

Mudashiru Oniyangi, the President, through his counsel, Kelechi Normeh, in a preliminary objec-tion, asked the court to discountenance the suit.

Normeh, who is hold-ing brief of Ade Okeaya-Inneh (SAN) described the suit as frivolous and vexatious and

meant to make the court to labour in futility because it was purely an academic exercise.

SAM OLUWALANA

Shell Nigeria Explora-tion and Production Company will have to wait till September to know its fate concerning the $5bn fine slammed on it by the Federal Government, when the House of Representa-tives returns from its sum-mer recess.

This is contained in a statement issued yesterday by the Chairman of the Media and Public Affairs

Committee of the House of Representatives, Moham-med Zakari.

The Ministry of Petro-leum Resources had last week recommended that Shell pay the penalty for an incident on the offshore Bonga field last December that caused 40,000 barrels of crude to spill into the Gulf of Guinea.

According to Zakari, the House of Representatives will hear a report from the Committee on the Environ-ment when it returns from

$5bn fi ne: Shell knows fate Sept

ICPC, NUC investigate corruption in varsities

Look inward for development, Nguigi wa Thiongo urges Africa

2015: President, PDP ask court to dismiss suit

its annual recess in Septem-ber and decide whether to approve the fine.

Shell was forced to halt production from the 200,000 barrel-a-day Bonga field in December after a leak oc-curred during a routine tanker loading operation. The result was one of Nige-rias worst oil spills in more than a decade.

The money will go to the development of the communities in those ar-eas where the oil spill has caused environmental dam-

age, Zakari said. Shell has continually

maintained that the oil spilled from Bonga never reached the Nigerian coastline some 120 kilometres away.

The oil giant said none of the crude reached land and that much of the leaked oil dispersed naturally in the water or evaporated. Some crude did wash up along the Western Niger Delta coastline, which Shell cleaned up, despite the com-panys constant denial that it originated from Bonga.

OBIORA IFOHABUJA

The Independent Cor-rupt Practices and other related offenc-es Commission, ICPC, and the National Universities

Commission, NUC, yester-day began a pilot study of three universities aimed at verifying claims of massive corruption in almost all facets of university admin-istration in the country.

Addressing a joint press

TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

African countries, including Nige-ria, must strive to secure their base in all spheres of life and not de-pend on Europe and Ameri-ca for their development.

Celebrated author and professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of Califor-nia, United States, Ngugi wa Thiongo, said this in Lagos yesterday at the launch of the second edi-tion of Read Africa.

It was organised by the United Bank for Africa, UBA, as part of its Corpo-rate Social Responsibility, CSR, on education.

By the initiative, accord-ing to organiser, every Af-rican child is expected to have a book to read and on a continuous basis.

However, Thiongo, a guest speaker at the forum, who also said he was always proud to see an African in control of international is-

sues, urged both young and old to improve and enlight-en their minds by reading relevant materials.

He said: The more we read, the more we develop our minds, expand our scope in knowledge and creativity, as well as ability to achieve our dreams and aspirations for life.

Decrying the negative in-fluence of internet on chil-dren and youths nowadays, the renowned author said it was only what was in the brain that would remain even if all material acquisi-tion was gone.

Speaking earlier, the Managing Director of UBA, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, said the bank instituted Read Africa to encourage read-ing especially among the youth in all African coun-tries.

He, however, called on students in particular to concentrate for now on their studies by using their time for something profit-able rather than getting dis-tracted by internet.

conference in Abuja, the ICPC Chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta, and the NUC Execu-tive Secretary, Prof. Julius Okojie, said the aim was to generate empirical data upon which far-reaching policy decisions would be formulated.

They said that almost on a daily basis, the anti-graft body received petitions from students, staff, unions and other stakeholders making all manners of al-legations of corrupt prac-tices and abuses in most of the tertiary institutions.

These petitions high-light fragrant abuse of processes in student admis-sions, examinations, ap-pointment and promotion of staff, sexual harassment and victimisation of appli-cants, students and staff, syndicated plagiarism.

Petitions were also received on delay or non-payment of gratuities and pension to pensioners, non-adherence to bidding processes in the award of contracts, bastardising accreditation processes through deception, run-ning unapproved study centres, affiliates and pro-grammes, establishing and operating unapproved and consequently illegal univer-sities, they said.

Both Ekpo and Okojie disclosed that these ac-tivities have brought about frustrating, disruptive and fatal consequences on in-nocent members of the university community, the nation and even the inter-national ranking of the universities due to institu-tional decay, corruption and blatant abuse of processes.

L-R: Author of the book and former Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe; former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; wife of the author, Sola and renowned businessman, Chief Oludolapo Akinkugbe (CON), during the public presentation of the book, From Excellence to Distinction: The University of Lagos on Worlds Intellectual Map, in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

Obasanjo hails Ibidapo-Obes legacies as UNILAG VC

Dana Air crash: Coroner laments witnesses low turn-out FRANCIS FAMOROTI

A coroners court in Alimosho district of Lagos State conduct-ing inquest into the June 3, 2012 Dana Plane crash yes-terday expressed concern over the low turn-out of wit-nesses at the proceedings.

The magistrate presid-ing at the coroners court, Mr. Oyetade Komolafe, who stated this at the resumed hearing of the proceedings yesterday eventually ad-journed further sitting till tomorrow.

The coroner also direct-ed that henceforth the court would relocate from Abule Egba magistrate courts to the premises of Ikeja Judi-cial division that has ade-quate space to cope with the influx of witnesses.

When proceedings began yesterday, only few people and witnesses were avail-able prompting the coroner to state that all the witness-es are duty-bound to attend the court.

According to him, Let all the witnesses know this.

MURITALA AYINLA

Hundreds of dis-placed residents of Makoko Waterfront yesterday stormed the La-gos State Governors Office in Alausa, protesting their eviction by the state gov-ernment, just as the state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, reiterated that their eviction was in the in-terest of the slum dwellers.

As early as 9.00 am, the protesters, who arrived in about 25 commercial buses barricaded the State House, Alausa, Ikeja for hours, chanting war songs and call-ing on the governor to re-verse the state governments decision on their eviction.

They also demanded for justice in the brutal murder of one their traditional rul-ers, Chief Timothy Hunt-oyanwha, who was shot by the Marine Police Officer, Corporal Boma Pebble on Saturday while trying to pacify the demolition team.

The protesters that consisted of various civil groups such as: Ilaje Na-tional Alliance Movement; Slum Dwellers Liberty Fo-rum; Social and Economic Rights Action Centre; Lagos Marginalised Com-munity Forum and others were led by human rights activists.

On their placards were inscriptions such as: Leave Makoko residents alone; Respect us citizens of Lagos; We are not for-eigners; Lagos Govern-ment Respect our Privacy; We are Nigerians dont eject us, among others.

Speaking before the gov-ernor, the Baale of Jejelai-ye, one of the affected com-munities, Komayan Yusuf, said the residents had been living in the slum for years and have nowhere to move to after their eviction.

His words: A fish can-not come to the ground and live, dont let us die. You are our governor and our father, listen to us. Please ask them to stop demolish-

ing our structures because it is not in your character to send people out. We are here to tell you our griev-ances; we are not here for violence.

He debunked the ru-mour that the shanties have become criminal hideouts, adding that he was speaking on behalf of thousands resi-dents in the affected area.

Responding, Governor Fashola expressed his con-dolence over the death of the traditional ruler in the course of the demolition exercise, adding that gov-ernment recognises their existence and their means of livelihood.

While advising them to be wary of people who may be benefiting from their mis-fortune, he said government is ready to allocate land to those who apply for it.

Fasholas words: The truth must be told, some people are benefitting from your difficulty, that is the truth, in the guise of being your friends, forming all sorts of lies, purporting to help you, but it never gets to you.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Commissioner of Po-lice, Mr. Umar Manko, yes-terday visited the family of late monarch who was al-legedly killed by a police of-ficer during the demolition of structures in Makoko area of Lagos.

Addressing the com-munity, Manko said the incidence which led to the death of the victim will be thoroughly investigated and assured the family of the deceased that justice will prevail at the end of the investigation.

You are under duty to be here. We will not be shop-ping for witnesses. People have to be here to give eye-witness accounts.

The coroner was par-ticularly unhappy that a counsel, Chukwu Agu, rep-resenting the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, failed to bring his witness said to be an employee e of the Homicide Section of the Force.

Komolafe told Agu to ensure that the witness was available at the next

adjourned date since the police was highly involved in the investigation of the crash.

Mr. Femi Falana urged the coroner to compel wit-nesses to appear before the court but the coroner said for now he would give them a chance to appear voluntarily. He might be compelled to wield the big stick if they continued to shun the hearings.

Earlier, an officer of the Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Gbadebo Olaogun, who

was the only witness, had testified on the role of the agency in the management and mitigation of disaster with reference to its activi-ties during the Dana air crash.

According to him, The crash was detected by the former Director of the La-gos State Fire Service and he informed the Fire Ser-vice at 15:56 hours (3:56 pm). At 15:57 hours, two appli-ances were ready. The Fire Service got there by 16:10 hours.

One die, nine others injured in auto crash

Makoko residents storm Govt House, barricade roads

FEMI OYEWESOABEOKUTA

At least one person was confirmed dead while nine others were critically injured in an auto crash which oc-curred in Awowo village, along Abeokuta-Lagos Ex-pressway in Ogun State yes-terday.

The accident occurred around 12:05pm when the front tyre of a commercial bus, a Mazda with registra-

tion number LAGOS BU 339 EPE, bursted while the bus somersaulted trice.

The Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Itori unit, Mr. Fatai Bakare, who con-firmed the accident yes-terday, said the passenger bus was on a very high speed when the accident oc-curred.

The unit commander added that one person died on the spot while nine oth-ers were on danger list as at the time of filing this re-

MOJEED ALABI

Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday paid glowing tributes to the former Vice-Chancel-lor of the University of Lagos and President, Nige-rian Academy of Science, Prof. Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe.

The encomiums came for Ibidapo-Obe for what Chief Obasanjo described as his sound legacies of ad-ministrative and academic

brilliance during his seven years tenure as the institu-tions vice-chancellor.

The applause came dur-ing the official launch and presentation of Ibidapo-Obes selected speeches and lectures while he held sway as the universitys helmsman. The book is titled: From Excellence to Distinction: The University of Lagos on Worlds Intel-lectual Map.

Ibidapo-Obe, who was the universitys vice-chan-cellor between 2001 and 2007, was described as an

astute university admin-istrator and one with a leadership sense, who com-bined academic excellence with transparency and ac-countability.

Chief Obasanjo, whose tenure as elected president coincided with the tenure of Ibidapo-Obe, said he was not only familiar with the happenings on the university campus during the period, but was also in-strumental to the authors achievements, having seen him as a dependable ally.

I hope Chief Afe Baba-

lola could be here because I believe the period of Ibidapo-Obe as the VC and Chief Babalola as the Pro-Chancellor could be re-garded as the universitys glorious days. UNILAG, as a cosmopolitan university, benefited from his net-work of friends based on his humane character and leadership acumen.

With people like Ibida-po-Obe and several oth-ers we have here today, I can say it clearly that Ni-geria has got noble men and women who can re-

Fashola

port.Bakare, who said the

body of the deceased had been deposited at the morgue of Ifo General Hos-pital, he added that those who sustained injuries had also been taken to the same hospital where they were receiving treatment.

He, however, warned mo-torists against patronising sellers of used tyres popu-larly called Tokunbo, stressing that such was not suitable for Nigerians roads.

cord world-class achieve-ments, Obasanjo said.

He then charged the current leadership in the university to aspire to surpass the former VCs achievements by making the institution to become one of the first 1,000 global universities.

In his remark, the universitys Acting Vice-

Chancellor, Prof. Rahman Bello, said it was during the authors tenure that UNILAG was ranked by National Universities Commission (NUC) as the best university in the country while its vice-chancellor and pro-chan-cellor were also ranked the best by the same com-mission.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.netTuesday, July 24, 2012 8 South West

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net Tuesday, July 24, 2012 9South West

Cross section of the newly-elected 19 local government chairmen in Ogun State taking oath of office in Abeokuta, yesterday.

Amosun

KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ms. Jumoke Akin-jide, has assured that the Boko Haram insurgency and other security chal-lenges confronting the country would soon be tackled.

She spoke yesterday in Ibadan when she led a Fed-eral Government delega-tion to deliver President Goodluck Jonathans con-dolence letter to Oyo State

Governor Abiola Ajimobi over the death of his moth-er, Alhaja Alhaja Sikirat Ajimobi.

Alhaja Ajimobi, 85, died last week in Ibadan.

Ms. Akinjide said the Federal Government is committed to ensuring se-curity of all Nigerians and their property at all times.

Describing the Boko Haram insurgence as tem-porary, the minister said it would soon fade out be-cause of the steps being taken by the government to tackle the menace.

Ms. Akinjide said: The

security situation is wor-rying because the first task of every government is the safety of its people and this the present administration is doing .We are very sure the insecurity issue you talked about is temporary and government is working very hard upon its action programmes to surmount the problem. It is our prior-ity and remained top on the government agenda.

She said there would be no going back in the gov-ernments efforts at finding a lasting solution to the in-security, adding that those

responsible for the prob-lem are in the minority.

Reading the letter of con-dolence to Ajimobi, she said: We are here to represent President Goodluck Jona-than to commiserate and to celebrate Mamas life, hav-ing seen the fulfillment that any mother will want to see.

Governor Ajimobi lauded the President for his good leadership qualities, saying: President Goodluck Jona-than is my friend, despite that we are not in the same party, yet he sees everybody as one and that is how things should be.

Nigerias security challenges over soon Akinjide

Amosun promises prompt release of allocation to LGs FEMI OYEWESOABEOKUTA

Ogun State Governor Ibi-kunle Amosun yester-day promised prompt release of allocation to all the local government areas in the state.

Amosun spoke at the inauguration of the newly elected 19 local government chairmen held at the June 12 Cultural Center, Kuto, Abeo-kuta, the state capital.

He urged the local gov-ernment chairmen to im-mediately devise ingenious means within the legal framework to increase In-ternally Generated Funds (IGR) to finance develop-mental projects in their ar-eas.

Reiterating that the local government is the closest to the people, the governor ad-vised the chairmen to create a synergy between federal, state and their respective councils to ensure that vot-ers enjoy dividends of de-mocracy.

Amosun also commend-ed the State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) for conducting a successful council election which he described as a great manifestation of the Ogun standard that sets new benchmarks.

Making a veil reference to some former local gov-ernment chairmen in the administration of the imme-diate past Governor Gbenga Daniel, who acquired gi-gantic hotels within few months of their assumption of office, Amosun advised the new council chairmen against diverting public funds for personal use.

Continued from page 2some of them were being

sheltered at the College of Arabic and Islamic Studies in Jos.

We are conducting a census to ascertain their number and work out im-mediate intervention be-fore some lasting arrange-ments.

We are also still assess-ing the situation around the vicinities and shall do what we can do immediately before getting to the head-quarters, he said.

The NEMA official said: We are again going to sit with relevant government agencies because anything

to do with flooding means that so many things are wrong, especially town planning.

If we must address this, we must seat together look at all those things that lead to flooding.

The Public Relations Officer of the state Police Command, Mr. Emmanuel Abu, described the incident as a natural disaster, say-ing, however, that he had not received detailed report of the incident.

I will get back to you im-mediately we have the full details, he told our corre-spondent on phone.

Meanwhile, a victim of

the flood, Mr. Adam Ah-mad, said that he was still searching for his wife and two children.

I am not sure they are still alive; but I can only say that I am still searching for them, a visibly shaken Ah-mad told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Jos.

We were sleeping when we heard water rushing into the house and before we realised what was hap-pening, the whole place be-came like a stream.

I immediately rushed to where my children were sleeping but did not see them; the whole place was taken over by water with a

high speed current sweep-ing all around me.

I was confused and rushed to where my wife was, but before I could enter her room, the entire house collapsed.

It is a miracle that I es-caped because the water al-most consumed me. It got to my neck before I rushed out of the building.

The building is lying over there, he said, point-ing to the debris of what used to be his house.

Ahmad, who could not hold back tears, said that life was not worth living without his family.

The state government

in a statement by Commis-sioner for Information and Communication, Abraham Yiljap, expressed sadness over the disaster, even as Governor Jonah Jang di-rected that the State Relief Committee should step in immediately to provide as-sistance to the victims.

Government is sad-dened by this unexpected natural phenomenon, which has brought grief to the people in its wake.

Consequently, Gover-nor Jang has directed the State Relief Committee to step in with immediate and provide relief for the sur-viving victims.

Fayemi calls for robust funding of nations universities

OJO OYEWAMIDE AKURE

Former militants in Ondo State have said that they would sup-port the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the forth-coming governorship elec-tion if the party picks a for-mer Chairman of the Ondo

Ondo poll: Ex-militants give condition for backing ACN

Flood kills 35 in Jos, scores missing, 200 houses destroyed

WALE FOLARIN OSOGBO

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has called for increase funding of the nations uni-versities with a view to en-hance their competiveness in the global university sys-tem.

Fayemi made the call yesterday in Osogbo while delivering the second convo-cation lecture of the Osun State University titled: Re-positioning Nigerian Uni-versities within a Dynamic Global University System: Challenges and Prospects.

He said that the explosion in the nations population and the dwindling resources of mono-product economic nature of the country had shown that the government alone could not provide suf-ficient number of universi-ties to cater for the needs of an increasingly youthful population.

Stressing the need for partnership among the pri-vate and public universi-ties, the governor called on wealthy Nigerians and cor-porate bodies to show full commitment to the creation of a more civilized society through regular endow-ments to universities.

State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Chief Ad-ewale Omojuwa, as the run-ning mate of its candidate.

The former militants yesterday made their posi-tion known in a statement signed by Samagbeyi Felix, Ikuesan Kudi, Sa-patan Omotehinse, Hibo Ogbaro, Sunny Sedara,

Ahunmo Ehimore, Bigjoe Orola, Ajimosun Oriole, Papa Obakpolor, Esan-more Sosor among others.

They said Omojuwa impacted positively on the lives of the people in the oil producing commu-nities while he was the Chairman of OSOPADEC.

According to the statement, the former

militants in Ilaje Local Government Area have endorsed Omojuwa for the position and unani-mously resolved to sup-port ACN.

The statement said: We have unanimously resolved to work for ACN in the election on the con-dition that Chief Adewale Omojuwa is chosen as the

partys deputy governor-ship candidate. This state-ment should not be seen as a treat, but as a real-ity of the political situa-tion in the coastal area of Ondo State.

We are not imposing him on the ACN, but we are only appealing to the leadership of the party to see Chief Adewale Omo-

juwa as a politician and leader that can brighten the chances of ACN and make the party secure our supports in the forthcom-ing election.

We have many other politicians that are of good characters, but Chief Omojuwa posses an outstanding record of ser-vice.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Adoke, posited that such comment which generated the controversy might have emanated from sheer mis-information about the true situation on ground.

He said: I am therefore surprised at the press state-ment credited to the Attor-ney-General of the Federa-tion who I believe may not have been well informed about the true situation on ground. I am dismayed at the resort to self help by the council chairmen with the active connivance of the po-lice, acting as sherriff with-

out proper court order. This is clearly against the prin-ciple of respect to the rule of law and due process.

CHRIS NJOKUOWERRI

Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okoro-cha, has invited the re-instated local government chairmen to a meeting on Friday, saying that every party must obey the rule of law to ensure peaceful coexistence of all Imo citi-zens.

Speaking with journal-ists at the Government House, Owerri, Okorocha, who just returned from an economic trip to the United States, promised to always uphold the rule of law as well as protect the interest of everyone in the state.

He said: I am concerned about the unnecessary con-troversy surrounding the judgement of the Court of Appeal. As you are aware, the decision of the Court of Appeal has been appealed at the Supreme Court. A motion for stay of execu-tion has also been filed.

When I took office, I swore to uphold the rule of law and I am aware that once an application for stay is pending in a court, the status quo remains.

The governor, who ex-pressed surprise at the statement credited to the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, and Min-ister of Justice, Mohammed

CHARLES OKEKEAWKA

Governor Peter Obi yesterday inaugu-rated the Nanka Comprehensive Health Centre in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Obi said the health centre located in Agbiligba village was part of the programmes being initiated to improve the lives of the people in the 13 communities of Nanka.

Speaking at the ceremo-ny, the governor said that the inauguration of the health centre would boost the im-munisation programme of the government which had reached a high level of over 85 per cent coverage, mater-nal and infant health.

He urged the community to take over full ownership of the health centre as they were the major beneficia-ries.

The dignitaries at the cer-emony included the mem-ber representing Orumba North constituency in the state House of Assembly, Mr. Romanus Obi, the Chair-man, Transition Committee

Nanka health centre, boost to maternal, infant healthcare Obi

NWABUEZE OKONKWOONITSHA

Members of the family of a tor-ture victim have called on the police author-ities in Anambra State to ensure justice in the death of Osita Okafor in police custody.

The family members said two policemen at-tached to the Divisional Po-lice Station, Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State al-legedly tortured Okafor, 45 years old, to death while in detention.

Corporal Felix Egbo-sun and Inspector Charles Odigwe, they said, had on September 14, 2010 arrested and detained Okafor when he had gone to Ogidi Police Station to recover his prop-erty earlier taken away by the policemen.

Though the family said former Police Commis-sioner in the state, Mr. Muhtari Ibrahim, had dis-missed the policemen, af-ter orderly room trial, the whereabouts of the inspec-tor were unknown as police had not produced him in court for trial.

Counsel to the family of the deceased, Mr. Chris Ajugwe, said that the po-lice refused to produce the inspector who was party to the murder of the de-ceased, adding that his ab-sence was stalling trial in the matter.

He said that the judge of the Ogidi High Court where the case is, Justice Onochie Anyalebechi, had threatened to strike out the case if the police refused to bring the inspector to court for trial.

Ajugwe said Okafor was a businessman who trav-elled out to Ghana to buy goods but when he came back and noticed that his house had been broken into, he enquired from his neigh-bours who told him that some policemen came and evacuated his household property to the station while he was away.

He noted that on get-ting to the station, the po-licemen arrested Okafor clamped him into deten-tion where he died after a few days as a result of the severe torture and inhu-man treatment he was sub-jected to while in the police

custody. The lawyer added that

the reason given by the police for arresting and detaining the deceased was that he was sharing the same apartment with an armed robbery suspect who was earlier arrested by the police.

A source in the office of the Director of Public Pros-ecutions, DPP, disclosed that the family of the de-

ceased said that Okafor came home and was told that the police from the Ogidi station had carried his property to the station because his neighbour, one Hyacinth Agbo, was arrest-ed for armed robbery.

The source noted that based on that informa-tion, the deceased went to the police station with his friends to enquire why his property was evacuated to

the station. The source added that

on getting there, the de-ceased and his friends were arrested and thrown into the cell.

It was gathered that while the deceased was being tortured by the two policemen, his younger brother came to get him on bail when his health condition started deterio-rating as a result of the

severe torture but the po-lice refused him bail and continued torturing him till death.

The source added that when Okafors brother got information of what hap-pened, he went to ask the police to release the de-ceased for medical treat-ment but the Investigating Police Officer, IPO, Corpo-ral Felix started harassing him with gun.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012 10 South East

Anambra State Governor Peter Obi (right) and Bishop Owen Nwokolo of the Diocese on the Niger, Anglican Communion, at the presentation of the keys of a new ambulance donated to Iyi-Enu Hospital in Ogidi, yesterday.

Death in custody: Victims family cries for justice

Okorocha invites LG chairmen to meeting Friday

Okorocha

in Orumba North Local Gov-ernment, Mr. Emeka Aforka, and the immediate past Commissioner for Health, Prof. Amobi Ilika, who in his speech said the health cen-tre would also be used for community health training and research programmes by the medical students of the Anambra State Univer-sity, Amaku, Awka.

Also, the Secretary Gen-eral of Nanka Patriotic Union, the town union gov-ernment, Mr. Patrick Em-ezuo, commended the gov-ernor for supporting the actualisation of the project.

CHRIS NJOKUOWERRI

The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal Uni-versity of Technol-ogy, Owerri, FUTO, Prof. Chigozie Asiabaka, said the fund from the Federal Gov-ernment was insufficient to meet the operating cost of the institution.

He added that the uni-

versity had suffered several funding challenges as a re-sult of the global economic meltdown.

Asiabaka spoke while briefing the press yesterday in Owerri, the Imo State cap-ital, on his first anniversary as the sixth substantive vice-chancellor of the university.

He said because of this financial challenge, labora-tories and classrooms in the

university had remained grossly inadequate and poorly equipped to the det-riment of effective teaching and learning.

The VC also disclosed that poor electricity sup-ply from the Power Hold-ing Company of Nigeria, PHCN, had also affected the institutions research ac-tivities and administrative process.

Poor funding, hindering FUTOs achievements VC

NWABUEZE OKONKWOONITSHA

The people of Oma-bala area in Anam-bra North Senato-rial District of Anambra State said that in 2014, it would be their turn to pro-duce Governor Peter Obis successor.

They said that since Anambra Central and Anambra South Senato-rial districts had at vari-ous times produced the governor, since the pres-

ent Anambra State was carved out from the old Anambra State in 1991, Anambra North should be given the chance to pro-duce the governor in 2014.

This call was made by the Senior Special Ad-viser (Special Duties) to Chief Victor Umeh, the embattled National Chair-man of the All Progres-sives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Lawrence Anikpe, and the Trea-surer of Omabala Union, Chief Chike Obidigbo.

2014: Its our turn to produce Anambra gov Omabala people

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 11Tuesday, July 24 , 2012 South South

Orthopaedic experts at the Delta State University Teach-ing Hospital, DELSUTH, Oghara, have carried out a hip replacement surgery.

The surgery done on a 29-year-old Ete Erueyin on July 5 came six weeks after a knee replacement operation was carried out in the hospital.

According to Profes-sor Godwin Iwegbu, who led the team of experts in the operation, hip replace-ment medical condition is usually for those aging.

He, however, said that the surgery was neces-sary for young Erueyin because of the high level of damage of his hip bone resulting from the ste-

roids he received for the bronchial asthma he suf-fered.

Iwegbu explained that damage to hip joint is characterised by severe pains, tilted body posture, difficulty in sitting, stand-ing and most of all walk-ing, even short distances as was the case of Eruey-in.

Governor Seriake Dickson

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (middle) and some of the traditional rulers from Edo Central during a visit to the governor, yesterday.

SOLA ADEBAYO AND AMOUR UDEMUDE

Delta State Head of Service, HOS, Mr. Okey Ofili, on Sunday escaped death by a whisker in a failed at-tempt by five gunmen to kidnap him in Asaba, the state capital.

Although the HOS es-caped from the gunmen, his leg was ruptured by bullets. He is currently on intensive care at an un-disclosed medical centre in the state capital.

Ofili became the lat-est victim of the security breaches in the state, es-pecially in Asaba, Warri and other major cities in the oil-rich state.

It was gathered that gunmen swooped on Ofili despite the heavy pres-ence of security agents in the state capital. Security was beefed up in Asaba to herald the meeting of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Consti-tution, which ended in the area on Sunday.

It was also learnt the gunmen trailed the HOS to a popular eatery op-erated by the wife of a senior member of Delta

Ill fulfi l my electoral promises -OshiomholeSEBASTINE EBHUOMHANBENIN

Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole of Edo State said he would fulfil every promise he made during his cam-paign across every nook and cranny of the state.

The governor also prom-ised to defend the rights of Edo citizens, regardless of who they voted for in the gov-ernorship election.

Oshiomhole spoke at the weekend while receiving some traditional rulers from Edo Central District who

came to congratulate him on his victory.

Led by the Onojie of Opo-ji, Zaiki Aidenojie Ehidiame, the traditional rulers de-scribed Oshiomhole as the governor who truly had the genuine mandate of all Edo people.

They said Edo State had never witnessed an election as transparent and as peace-ful as that of July 14, which rendered thugs in the state jobless.

We have come to con-gratulate the governor on the victory which revealed Gods hand at work. We are

also appreciative of the role of the Oba of Benin, who spoke on peace and progress during the election. We have full confidence in you as the governor. We have the gov-ernor that has the genuine mandate of the people. You are the governor of every Edo man, the traditional rulers said.

In his response, Oshiom-hole thanked the traditional rulers for their prayers and support that ensured a peaceful and credible elec-tion in Edo State.

He said: As royal fathers, you have made the point

that you do not belong to any political party but that you cannot be neutral. As Adolor of Esanland (the tra-ditional title they conferred on the governor before the election), you have done me proud as the people voted for their Adolor in every ward. We will fulfil all those prom-ises made on my visit to your domains. It is now time to re-turn to work, I will carry all royal fathers along.

While commending the Oba of Benin for remind-ing the people that all Edo people actually traced their origins to Benin, the gov-

Bayelsa: Pirates seize vessel crew, collect N3m ransom

DELSUTH performs hip replacement surgery

Gunmen shoot Delta HOS in abduction attempt

Kidnapper dies in shootout with police SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN,BENIN

Men of the anti-kid-nap squad of the Edo State Police Command have shot and killed a suspected kidnap-per in Benin City.

The suspect, whose name was not disclosed at press time, was a member of a four-man kidnapped gang which the police al-leged was responsible for the recent kidnap of a Be-nin-based female lawyer.

The anti-kidnap squad, it was learnt, also succeed-ed in arresting two mem-bers of the gang.

According to police sources, the operatives, who were acting on a tip-off, traced the kidnap-pers who were driving in their operational Honda Sport Utility Vehicle, SUV, around Ogida Po-

lice Station in Upper Siluko Road of Benin City.

Arms, ammunition and cash were recovered from the kidnappers.

It was also learnt that the female lawyer, who is a wife of a professor in one of the higher institutions in the state, was kidnapped in Benin City penultimate Sunday. It was gathered that she regained her free-dom after paying an un-disclosed ransom to her abductors.

Sources said the law-yers abduction triggered the covert investigation by security agents in the capi-tal city which led to the en-counter with the gang.

Commenting on the arrest, the state police spokesman, DSP Anthony Airhuoyo, said a full-scale investigation was going on with the assistance of those in police net.

EMMA GBEMUDUYENAGOA

Sea pirates attacked a fishing trawler off the coast of Akassa in Brass local government, Bayelsa State, abducted the cap-tain and a crew member and held them hostage

for four days in a man-grove forest.

The attack took place at the weekend.

The pirates, according to one of the hostages, collected N3m ransom from the vic-tims firm before releasing them.

It was learnt that both vic-tims were blindfolded, beaten and denied food while being held at the sea pirates den before conveying them to Awegbene in Sagbama Lo-cal Government where they were pushed inside the river to find their way.

It was also gathered that a woman on a fishing expedi-tion in a canoe at Awegbene saved the victims.

The Captain of the fishing trawler, who simply identified himself as Sabastine, said that the beatings received from the sea pirates were hav-ing an adverse effect on them.

Sabastine, who said they were employees of Atlantic Shrimpers Limited, Lagos, said that they were taken to an unknown destination where they were kept for four days without food.

He said: Our attackers

were fully armed and they took me and my colleague to an unknown destination. They kept us in the mangrove forest for four days without food. We were maltreated, beaten even with gun butts. They collected N3m ransom from our company before al-lowing us to go.

After receiving the ran-som, they agreed with our company that they will de-liver us safely at Amassoma. But this was not to be. While taking us out today, they blindfolded us and took us on a speedboat ride. We thought they were really taking us to Amassoma, but getting to around Awegbene commu-nity they pushed us into the river and sped off. We were rescued by a woman.

In an interview, the Proj-ect Officer of Environmental Rights Action, ERA, Bayelsa State, Alagoa Morris, who saw the victims, said they were assisted with a boat ride from Awegbene to Amas-soma because they were stranded.

Morris said the captain and the crew member bought new clothes and bathroom slippers at Amassoma.

State cabinet, located a few metres from the state police command head-quarters and Inter Bau roundabout, where the police had stationed an armoured car to ward off criminals.

Findings showed that Ofili was ordered into a waiting car by the gun-wielding youths as he came out of the eatery. He challenged and resisted the order, a development which reportedly infuri-ated the gunmen.

Consequently, the hood-

lums opened fire on one of his legs, apparently to convince him about the seriousness of their mis-sion.

The gunshots attracted some policemen attached to a new generation bank, who stormed the scene.

The kidnappers fled the scene following the inter-vention of the police.

The state Commission-er of Police, Mr. Ikechuk-wu Aduba, also raced to the scene and made ef-forts to apprehend the hoodlums.

Ofili, writhing in pains from the gunshot wound, was rushed to a medical centre in the metropolis.

The civil servants were gripped by fear yesterday as information about the fate of the HOS filtered into the state secretariat.

Yesterday, security was beefed up at the eatery, whose patronage has be-come a show of loyalty to the powers that be in the state.

Armed policemen kept vigil at the eatery and its neighbourhood.

ernor maintained that the government would defend every Edo citizen regard-less of how he or she voted in the election.

I am humbled by the outcome of the election, Edo people reminded us we are one and the same and they want a governor that must apply the resources for the development of vari-ous parts of our state, he added.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net12 Tuesday, July 24, 2012 North

The Adamawa State Ministry of Health yesterday said it re-corded a few cases of chol-era outbreak in some local government areas.

The Director for Disease Control, Dr Chidama Bar-ka, said in Yola, state capi-tal, that the cases were re-corded in Lamurde, Ganye and some parts of Numan.

Barka, who attributed the outbreak to dirtiness associated with the indis-criminate dumping of re-

fuse, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the cases were quickly treated and contained effectively.

The director expressed concern over what he de-scribed as the ugly attitude of rampant dumping of re-fuse by the people.

He said that the lack of commitment by the commu-nity towards environmen-tal sanitation contributed to the re-emergence of the killer-infection in the state.

Barka said: This year,

we are lucky that there were pocket cases of cholera in the state.

The cases were recorded in Lamurde, Ganye and some parts of Numan, and we are able to contain them in time.

Even though, there is no report of death, the ugly head is not buried, be-cause refuse is still dumped around and potable water is also limited to the people.

After laboratory tests, almost all the sachet wa-

ter products on our major streets contain some con-taminant agents which are harmful, while empty poly-thene bags also poise dan-ger to the environment.

He said that since govern-ment alone could not afford to provide potable water for all, the private sector should step in.

The director said, Issues of environmental sanita-tion and provision of po-table water for the people of the state cannot be done by

Cholera cases recorded in Adamawa LGsJAMES ABRAHAM JOS

Thirty of the 802 members of the Na-tional Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who earlier applied for redeployment in Plateau State have with-drawn their applications.

Speaking yesterday at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Batch B orienta-tion course held in Bukuru, the NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Maram Maful, said that of the 802 corps members that applied for deployment, 30 had written to withdraw their applications, while others are still contemplat-ing their withdrawal.

Maful said the request would be forwarded to the NYSC headquarters and warned those who chose to stay back against joining local politics, but to partici-pate actively in individual and group projects.

He said no corps mem-ber would be posted to cri-ses-prone areas except the spouse of a married corps member is in such area.

Meanwhile, Governor Jonah Jang, represented by the Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon. Lohfa Bako, assured the corps members of security of their lives.

Governors meet Thursday over insecurity

AZA MSUE KADUNA

The Arewa Consulta-tive Forum (ACF) yesterday rejected President Goodluck Jona-thans proposed seven-year single tenure, just as it called for the removal of offshore oil derivation to South-South against the North.

In a memo sent to the National Assembly on the proposed 1999 Constitu-tion amendment, ACF said that the continued calculation of oil offshore to South-South derivation allocations would not help economic advancement of other regions.

ACF National Public-ity Secretary, Mr. Anthony Sani, disclosed this to Na-tional Mirror in Kaduna on the forums input to Na-tional Assembly over the proposed amendment.

Sani said ACF sent 16 contributions, which

among were state creation, offshore oil explorations, lo-cal government autonomy, to the National Assembly.

He said: Single tenure of any kind will not solve Nigerias problems; two terms has no obstacle to per-formance of any political of-fice holder in this country. If Nigerians want, they should adopt Chile system where an elected political office holder cannot hand over to himself or herself.

The single term will create more corruption in this country. I read in some newspapers that National Assembly at their recent retreat in Uyo talked about the single tenure again, there is no need for discuss-ing single tenure.

In some of our con-tributions to the National Assembly on the proposed constitution amendment, as far as we are concern, re-source control is to compen-sate communities for the degradation, but in case of

ACF asks NAssembly to reject seven-year single term

Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang with his wife, Talatu, during a funeral service for the late state House of Assembly Majority Leader, Hon. Gyang Fulani, in Jos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

offshore oil far away in the sea, how does it affect peo-ple? So there is no need of calculating offshore oil to oil producing states. Once offshore oil exploration is not calculated together with Niger Delta deriva-tion, more resources will alleviate poverty in non-oil producing states, it will im-prove agriculture as well.

No need for states cre-ation again, the issue of state creation should put on hold. But we back auton-omy of local government, council joint accounts should be scrapped, state government should only supervise the third tier of government.

Plateau: Corps members withdraw redeployment applications

PRISCILLA DENNISMINNA

Apparently worried by the security challenges con-fronting the North, the Northern Governors Fo-rum (NGF) has fixed an emergency meeting of the body for July 26, 2012 in order to bring to end the menace.

The forums chairman, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State said the 19 governors were determined to end the violence that had led to the loss of many lives and property in the region.

Speaking in Minna, the Niger State capital, Gover-nor Aliyus Chief Press Sec-retary, Danladi Ndayebo, exp