Vol. 2 N0. 414 Monday, July 30, 2012 N150

AZA MSUE AND SINA FADARE

The presidential can-didate of the Action Congress of Nige-ria, ACN, in the 2011 polls and former Chairman of Economic and Finan-cial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Rib-adu, has called for a cred-ible opposition to the rul-ing Peoples Democractic Party, PDP, in 2015.

He spoke at the week-end in Kaduna during the

7th annual Ramadan lec-tures organised by the Ni-geria Television Authori-ty, NTA, and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN.

Ribadu, who is the Chairman, Presidential Task Force Committee on Petroleum, noted that the nation was in dire need of a credible alternative to the PDP.

He said the ongoing merger talks among op-position political parties would be the only option

Nigeria needs alternative to PDP, says Ribadu

Subsidy fraudsters are govt sponsors Bakare

Insecurity:

2015:

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Energy Bank gets top ratings in Ghana

BUSINESSTHE SECTION

P.A2, P.12 Free insidensinsisisiideddededede

Heirs Holdings unveils new structure

OBJ, IBB call for dialogue with militias P.7Editors express concern over high spate of crime

P.5

P.11,12

P.2

Dana crash: Family feuds delay compensation paymentAirline

13 die in Ore-Benin Expressway auto crash

Subsidy fraud: My son is answerable for his actions Arisekola

P.6

Onolememen

Oduah

Quit now, ACN tells Tukur

Air Force officer, orderly killed as police battle terrorists

Nigerias Alade Aminu (right) blocks Tunisias Marouan Kechrid (8) during their Olympic basketball game in London yesterday. Nigeria won 60-56

Nigeria needs alternative to PDP, says Ribadu CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Insecurity: OBJ, IBB call for dialogue with militias

for Nigerians to confront the PDP.

His words: I am 100 per cent in support of the merger move by the op-position political parties in Nigeria. I believe that there is the need for all the political parties in Nigeria to come together particu-larly those who are in the opposition.

Nigeria is in dire need of a credible alternative to PDP. If the parties come together, chances are that they would be able to have a formidable party that will confront PDP and un-til that is done, hopefully, it will bring relief to Nige-rians.

The former EFCC boss, who was retired prema-turely as Assistant Inspec-tor-General of Police, also noted that the Nigeria Po-lice Force is in tatters and should be urgently fixed for the nation to overcome its security and internal challenges.

The police must be re-formed for peace to reign in Nigeria, Ribadu said.

The issue of security is very clear. We have a constitution in Nigeria that says the organ or the government agency that is responsible for ensur-ing that we have security, peace and stability is the Nigeria Police Force. Work on the Nigeria Po-lice Force, fix the Nigeria Police Force, it is their own responsibility, no one else.

Today, however, the Nigeria Police Force is tat-tered. It is in bad shape. If we want to have peace, if we want to have a genuine sustainable peace in this country, law enforcement, rule of law, then fix the Nigeria Police Force, he said.

Commenting on the fuel subsidy scam, the former anti-corruption czar said only the Petroleum Prod-ucts Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, could tell Nigerians the true posi-tion of the much-talked about oil import fraud, saying that the organisa-tion is directly responsible for importation of all pe-troleum products and sub-sidy payments.

The problem of oil subsidy fraud we are fac-ing today is directly the responsibility of the PPPRA, as the regulatory

agency in the petroleum sector.

If you want to know what really happened in the whole oil scandal you just have to go to the PPPRA because they are the ones that approves the licences for people to im-port petroleum products, he said.

Meanwhile, Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Lat-ter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has said that his message against perverse and corrupt lead-ers has not changed and that he would not tone down his message despite his being grilled by the State Security Service, SSS, last week in Lagos on the matter.

Bakare said: Whenever you ask the prophet to tone down his message, his God will respond on his behalf. The answer to tone down is tone up.

In the days of Presi-dent Olusegun Obasanjo, the message that shook the nation was titled No more walls preached on March 7, 1999. Today the message is stronger and bolder.

The convener of the Save Nigerian Group, SNG, said that those who are in the helm of affairs of the nation are set of deceitful and insincere leaders who lacked the wisdom and political will to do what is right.

My message has not changed since the days of the military. A corrupt, perverse, wasteful, direc-tionless and clueless gov-ernment is offensive to me and should be offensive to every intelligent patriot in this nation.

The messages I preach are only biased in favour of righteousness, justice and truth. To this, I plead guilty because there is nothing anyone can do against truth, but for the truth.

If I am being asked to tone down my message be-cause of perceived parti-sanship, those asking me to do so have only succeeded in precipitating a tone up and examples abound in scriptures which I encour-age our security service agents and men of the armed forces and the police to read and meditate on in the pursuit of their lawful duties, he added.

Bakare also said that the recent arraignment of those involved in the oil CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

L-R: Acting Minister of Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada; guest lecturer, Prof. David Mba and the Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology, Air Vice-Marshal Olusola Oshoniyi, at the 41st graduation ceremony of the institute in Kaduna at the weekend.

subsidy scandal was a mere charade, stressing that the brains behind the scam were those who sponsored the election of President Goodluck Jonathan and top members of his cabinet.

The cleric, who spoke yesterday while deliver-ing the second part of his sermon in his church tagged, How to change government peacefully and make society better, said that what was going on in the arraignment of the so-called subsidy fraudsters was a mere window dressing, and, therefore, would not tone down his preaching but tone it up.

The shenanigans and the charade going on in respect of the subsidy thieves, in my consid-

ered opinion are that the efforts of this gov-ernment cannot deliver justice, neither are they meant to.

Bakare also berated the wife of the President for her activities. Can you imagine that as the nation is burning, Dame Patience Jona-than, the First Lady, is busy pursuing and obtaining the status of an absentee Permanent Secretary? Does this make any intelligent sense except to politi-cal morons and imbe-ciles?

The cleric warned the security agencies to re-channel their en-ergies towards doing their primary assign-ment of maintaining

peace and providing se-curity for Nigerians in-stead of arresting people for saying the truth.

Otherwise they are going to see the wrath of God.

Be careful how you carry out your assign-ment against genuine servants of God by any label, Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher. Be careful not to obey the last order, es-pecially if the last order is evil or against natural justice, you cannot obey such without bringing damnation upon your own head.

He challenged the se-curity men to always obey the voice of God in their assignments be-cause it is wise to obey a

wise counsel than a fool-ish order that will lead to double condemnation.

Dont assume you will get away with the evil you perpetrate against the priests when you turn to do same with the prophet. Just remem-ber that judgement even-tually fell upon King Saul, his sons and servants, he noted.

Bakare likened a few in-telligent technocrats who are sincere but find them-selves at the corridor of power with somebody who put on a white garment and falls inside a pit.

He noted that they had the opportunity to get out of the mess now before they were also consumed by the imminent prophet-ic revolution.

AYODELE OJODEPUTY EDITOR, POLITICS

Piqued by parlous state of insecurity in the country, for-mer President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-military President, Ibrahim Baban-gida have called for urgent steps to address the situa-tion.

Violent activities by various armed groups, es-pecially in the North, have claimed dozens of lives in the past months threaten-ing the continued peaceful co-existence of Nigeria.

The ex-heads of state called for a process to kick-start dialogue with armed belligerents.

Obasanjo and Baban-gida in a joint statement titled, A call for peace and dialogue made available to National Mirror yester-day lamented the state of insecurity and loss of lives in the country.

They described the se-curity situation as unac-ceptable and unbearable.

Obasanjo in an inter-view with National Mir-ror yesterday confirmed that he met Babangida last week to review the state of the nation. He said their position represents that of the countrys former presi-dents and heads of state.

Yes, Babangida and I met where we took the decision to issue the state-

ment. We are concerned about the development in the country. We cant fold our hands and allow the situation to degenerate, Obasanjo told National Mirror.

According to them: Unfolding events in our dear motherland, Nigeria, over the last few years are threatening to unravel the nearly a century old labour of our founding fathers and subsequent generations in building a strong, united, peaceful nation that can accom-modate and cater for the needs and aspirations of our diverse communities.

Internecine crises are raging across the land

unabated with damaging consequences on the so-cial, political and econom-ic life of the nation. And in the process, untold hard-ships are being visited on all citizens in one form or another on a daily basis.

The loss of innocent lives being experienced by the day across the nation is simply unbearable.

Currently, the nation is gripped by a regime of fear and uncertainty that virtually all citizens have difficulties going about their normal day to day lives without great anxi-ety and trepidation. This cannot be allowed to con-tinue!

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net2 Monday, July 30, 2012News

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 3Monday, July 30, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net4 Monday, July 30, 2012 Photo News

L-R: Priority Account Supervisor, DHL Express Ghana, Mrs. Emelia Egeme-Ari; Customer Care and Quality Manager, Anglophone Africa, Mr. Joseph Aghogban; Head of Customer Service, Sierra Leone, Mrs. Francess Sawyerr and Head of Customer Service, Liberia, Mrs. Juno Gono during the Companys training for Anglophone Africa in Lagos at the weekend.

L-R: Vice-Chancellor, Osun State University, Prof. Sola Akinrinade; Governor Rauf Aregbeso-la; his Deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori; Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola and Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Omowonuola Oyesosin, during the commissioning of College Library and Information Technology Building of the University, Ejigbo Campus, yesterday in Ejigbo.

L-R: Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Dr. Sam Adenekan; Category Business Manager Milo, Mrs. Doja Ekeruche; Managing Director, Mr. Martin Woolnough; President, Nigeria School Sports Federation, Mallam Muhammed Ibrahim and Secretary, National Collegiate Sports Federation, Mr. Lanre Balogun, during the 14th Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship press conference in Lagos at the weekend. PHOTO: BAYOOR EWUOSO

L-R: Special Guest, Mr. Moses Onuwe; Deputy Director, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mrs. Boade Akinola; Author, Mr. Udeme Akpan; Guest Speaker Prof. Hilary Inyang and Editor, National Mirror, Mr. Seyi Fasugba, during the presentation of a book Fundamentals of Energy and Environmental Journalism in Lagos at the weekend. PHOTO: ADEMOLA AKINLABI

National News

Govts borrowing spree linked to real sector crisis TOLA AKINMUTIMIABUJA

Despite claims by the Federal Govern-ment that it is com-mitted to revitalising the real sector of the economy by a combination of fis-cal and monetary policies, indications are that the 15 months of President Goodluck Jonathans ad-ministration have left the manufacturing and other productive sectors of the economy worse than they were two years ago.

Investigations by Na-tional Mirror showed that the increasing scrambling by the Federal and state governments for available funds in the banks through the sale of long term secu-rities like bonds and Trea-sury Bills to fund their projects has continued to aggravate the crowding ef-fects on the private sector, with its negative implica-tions for manufacturers efforts to revive ailing com-panies in the country.

For instance, with in-terest rates on bank credit hovering around 22 per cent and 28 per cent currently depending on the tenure of

loan, manufacturers are no longer capable of borrow-ing even as the banks prefer to stake the available funds on government securities in view of the prospects of returns and certainty of re-payment.

The government secu-rities have returns of be-tween 13 and 17 per cent, which make them more at-tractive to lenders, who are shunning loan applications by manufacturers due to perceived risks associated with lending to them.

As at now, the domes-tic debt profile occasioned by sustained borrowing stands at about N5.21trn as the federal and state gov-ernments continue their borrowing drive to bridge the revenue shortfalls in their budgets.

A reflection of the crip-pling effect of the high cost of funds in the real sec-tor is that despite efforts of government to create enabling environment for businesses, total installed capacity utilisation in the sector based on figures by the Manufacturers Associ-ation of Nigeria, MAN, for the for the second quarter of 2012 stood at about 49 per

cent, compared to the 47.5 per cent in the preceding quarter.

The value of industrial production showed similar marginal improvement, rising from about N130bn to N150bn at the end of the second quarter.

Analysts, however, point-ed out that the statistical growth has yet to reflect in job creation and other positive performance in-dicators that are crucial to financial stability and sustainable growth of the economy.

The growth largely re-mains exclusive to the extent that the multiplier effects are lacking as the nations poverty level ranks among the highest in the world today.

A financial expert, Dr. Boniface Chizea, argued that it would be self-delu-sion for policy makers to ex-pect growth in the real sec-tor when cost of funds is too high for manufacturers to afford, adding that govern-ments propensity to bor-row from the same market remains a major factor why banks are not always eager to lend to real sector, which is perceived to be riskier.

The fact is that many of the banks prefer to lend to the public sector enti-ties because it is safer and repayment period is short. The banks know that when the monthly allocation is disbursed to the tiers of government, they will get paid and by implication make more profit as against the real sector, which has a longer repayment cycle.

There is no gainsaying the fact that high interest rate is not healthy for any economy or business. So, as long as governments con-tinue to source money from the market and because there is minimal risk in lending to them, the banks would also prefer to do busi-ness with them, he said.

The Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Mr. Muda Yusuf, said the credit and interest rate structure would continue to create distortions in the economy and undermine governments efforts to make its growth inclusive.

He said: The credit situ-ation has been further com-pounded by the fact that government treasury bills and bonds have returns of

between 13 and 17 per cent. The consequence is that available funds are being mopped up by government. It is clearly more attractive now to invest in govern-ment securities than invest in ventures that would cre-ate jobs.

Even banks now would rather buy treasury bills and government bonds than give loans to investors. This credit and interest rate structure would con-tinue to create distortions in the economy, which will only perpetuate the phe-nomenon of jobless growth and further depress the stock market.

Also reacting a leading industrialist, Chief Mo-lade Okoya Thomas, said things are very tough gen-erally now

The business mogul however said he would not like to comment further since he was carrying out some study on the business environment after which he would be in a position to speak elaborately on issues in the economy.

Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had warned during the 2012 budget briefing in Abuja

that government was be-coming uncomfortable with the domestic compo-nent of the countrys debt in the light of the rising interest rates and other micro and macroeconomic indices that could threaten current drive toward mac-roeconomic stability of the economy.

She said in view of the negative implications of the rising domestic bor-rowing for the health of the economy, government was determined to ensure that domestic debt, which cur-rently stands at N5.96 trn is reduced to about N500bn in the Medium Term by 2015.

The National Assembly has also lent its voice to the current clamour for reduc-tion in government borrow-ing as a means of achieving the broad policy objectives of stimulating economic growth and fiscal stability.

The Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts had last November raised the alarm over the growing domestic debt portfolio and called on the Executive to halt the drift towards eco-nomic strangulation and total collapse of the real sector.

Dana crash: Family feuds delay compensation payment Airline

Insecurity: OBJ, IBB call for dialogue with militiasL-R: Former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and Ghanaian President, Dr. John Dramani Mahama, during a condolence visit over the death of President John Atta Mills, in Accra, Ghana, at the weekend.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

OLUSEGUN KOIKI AND TOBORE OVUORIE

The management of Dana Air has said that disagreements among some of the families of the June 3 crash victims were part of the reasons for the delay in the payment of the initial $30,000 compensa-tion that was due by July 3.

Speaking with National Mirror at the weekend, the airlines Group Media Man-ager, Mr. Tony Usidamen, said that internal wran-glings among victims fami-lies and incomplete docu-mentation were part of the reasons the airlines insurer was yet to complete the part-payment.

He explained that some family members had ten-dered unverified documents which identified them as the next- of-kin to claim the money but were later ex-posed through its verifica-tion processes.

Usidamen insisted that the airline had adequate insurance cover for the aircraft, adding that funds were also available to pay compensation.

He could not, however, tell when the remaining balance of $70, 000 would be paid in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, recommended stan-dards and practices. The media manager said that the airline would follow strictly the ICAO convention on pay-ment of compensations to

victims families. Usidamen explained that

the airline had paid more than the seven families it ini-tially advertised, but refused to give a definite figure.

He said: We have paid more than seven families, but as Im talking to you now, I dont have the exact figure with me and I dont want to be misquoted in the media.

Definitely, we have paid more than 30 families. I will find out later from the in-surer, but I can tell you that more people have completed the legal verification. I can confirm with the legal de-partment.

It is the legal verification that is delaying the final pay-ment to some families. Most people did not come out on time and we had some situ-ations whereby two people came out from the same family, laying claim to the next-of-kin, which is why this legal verification is very important.

Some people will bring fake documents only for you to realise that the right per-son comes out later. We want to be sure that the right next-of-kin is paid.

Again, you must under-stand that a lot of people started coming close to the end of the 30 days deadline for the commencement of payment. The legal docu-ment is very necessary in or-der to ensure that the money goes to the right family. The money is there, it is not an issue, it is just to ensure that its gets to the right family.

The former leaders not-ed that the spate of inse-curity had made people to question the rationale for the continued existence of Nigeria, but insisted that the continued existence of Nigeria is not negotiable.

Part of the statement reads: For us, and we be-lieve for millions of other Nigerians, the continued unity of this nation is not only priceless but non-ne-gotiable.

A deeply worrying trend that is emerging from this terrible situa-tion is that a pervasive cynicism is beginning to set in, so much so that mil-lions of true Nigerian pa-triots are starting to ques-tion the platform upon which the unity of this

country rests. This is simply unten-

able. The people of this country must not allow whatever sense of frustra-tion, fear and despair we are experiencing now to supersede our hopes for a collective destiny which lies in our continued exis-tence as a nation.

They also urged the Federal Government to be-gin dialogue with armed militias.

As the holy month of Ramadan commences, Nigerians, wherever they are and whatever religion they profess, are accorded a great opportunity to turn the tide against insecurity, violence and hatred.

Religious leaders, in particular, have an even greater challenge to use

the immense virtues of this holy period to incul-cate among the millions of citizens the spirit of mutual respect, humility and forgiveness.

Ample opportunities are, therefore, at hand to bring all armed bellig-erents to table for mean-ingful dialogue with the authorities for our future and that of our children and grandchildren, they said.

The leaders said that no development could take place in an atmo-sphere of violence and hatred.

We need to reiterate that no meaningful de-velopment can ever oc-cur in an atmosphere of violence and hatred. His-tory has shown that any

society that is built on the structures of violence and intolerance cannot prosper.

We need to appreciate that God in His infinite mercy has blessed our country with abundant re-sources and talents, but we need peace and harmony to harness them not just for our own well-being but also that of our children and grandchildren. We owe this future generations of Nigerians this much.

On our part, we are ready to do whatever is possible to promote the quest for peace and har-mony. And we are ready to join hands with all patri-ots to sustain and further enhance the unity and progress of this country.

The former presidents

called on governments at all levels to scale up efforts at addressing the security challenges confronting the nation.

The statement added: While we are very much aware of the efforts vari-ous governments in the country are making to confront the escalating security challenges across the country, we believe that it is time that these efforts are scaled up to be more involving and inclu-sive.

In this regard, what-ever robust security mea-sures are put in place to contain the situation, as is normal in such cir-cumstance; they must be complemented with an equally intensive process of community involve-

ment. We, therefore, urge all governments in the country, starting with all the 774 local councils to comprehensively engage their communities at the various levels, including elders, youth organisa-tions, trade unions and as-sociations, women bodies, the clergy and other com-munity stakeholders.

We also call on the federal and state govern-ments not only to encour-age these grassroots en-gagements for peace and beneficial coexistence but should work out the framework to sustain the engagement. In all these efforts, it is important to emphasise that our diver-sity is a cause for celebra-tion not a cause for lamen-tations.

Had people come in earlier, we would have finished pay-ment, but we understand why some people did not come out on time. Some of them were still mourning.

On when the final pay-ment would be paid, he said: I cant immediately ascer-tain that but I know that based on the convention, it is supposed to be paid only after the bodies have been properly identified. The funds are here in Nigeria and we are ready to pay the final amount when all the laid down procedures have been completed.

The payment is not an issue at all. We want to fulfill our obligations to the fami-lies as soon as possible. But some processes have to be

followed if not, it will cre-ate problems for us and the families in the future.

The Managing Director of Prestige Assurance, Mr. Anand Mittal, confirmed last night that additional compensation payments had been made but could not give an exact figure of the number of beneficiaries.

When our correspondent called the office of Danas solic-itors, Yomi Oshikoya and Co, in Lagos on Friday, a lawyer who claimed to be in charge of the payment declined to com-ment on the matter.

Meanwhile, families of some of the victims of the crash have accused the La-gos State government and officials at the mortuary of the Lagos State University

Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) of not being straightforward.

Speaking to National Mirror, some of the fami-lies, who did not want their names mentioned, said that if care is not taken, this whole Dana mess will end like other plane crashes in which the truth was not re-vealed, bereaved families denied access to the corpses of their loved ones and com-pensations were never paid.

The families, therefore, requested the state govern-ment and its officials at the LASUTH morgue to investi-gate why some corpses were released to some families even when the DNA results were not yet out, while oth-ers who had identified their dead relatives beyond rea-

sonable doubts were told to wait for the release of the DNA results.

Other allegations were that some families allegedly paid money to collect the corpses of their relatives while those who had identi-fied theirs beyond every rea-sonable doubt were denied collection.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Lateef Ibi-rogba, said Lagos State was only out to help the families of the victims.

He said: I dont think anyone in his right frame of mind will say such. What would we gain? We are not Dana, were just the govern-ment on ground and dont want anyone to be short-changed.

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 5Monday, July 30, 2012 News

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net6 Monday, July 30, 2012 National News

L-R: Assistant Director, Home Finance, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr. Nasiru Nabage, Sokoto State Accountant General, Alhaji Aminu Abdullahi and Secretary, Federation Account Allocation Committee, Mr. James Nongo, at a sensitisation workshop for stakeholders in the North-West zone, in Kaduna, at the weekend. PHOTO: NAN

Hold Okonjo-Iweala for 2012 budget breach Reps

Fuel subsidy: My son answerable for his actions Arisekola

Panel proposes $10bn leasing fi rm for aviation industry

Presidency reconsiders Otehs recall, seeks independent opinion

TORDUE SALEMABUJA

The House of Repre-sentatives yesterday accused the Presi-dency of breaching the Ap-propriations Act, even as it said that the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, should be held re-sponsible for the breach.

The House also dis-missed a statement attrib-uted to the minister that the 2012 budget was yet to be fully implemented be-cause the National Assem-blys Constituency Proj-

ects stood as an obstacle. The House spokesman,

Hon. Zakari Mohammed, said in a statement that the minister was breaching the budget law by using her own discretion to decide which aspect of the budget was implementable.

He said: The House of Representatives will like to restate its concern on the poor and selective im-plementation of the 2012 budget by the executive arm of government and the attitude of officials of government saddled with the responsibility of im-

plementing the Appropria-tion Act.

For the avoidance of doubt, Sections 6 and 7 of the 2012 Appropriation Act clearly say what officials of government and in this case the honourable minis-ter of finance is permitted to do.

Section 6 of the Appro-priation Act, 2012, states that: The minister of fi-nance shall ensure that funds appropriated under this Act are released to the appropriate agencies and or organs of government as and when due, provided

that no funds for any quar-ter of the fiscal year shall be deferred without prior waiver from the National Assembly.

Mark and note the choice of the word shall, which is mandatory un-der the circumstance, not discretionary. This is what the minister is expected to do. It is not within her powers to pick and choose projects and programmes to fund as has been the case with the Appropria-tion Act 2012. Her piece meal and discretionary re-lease of funds for projects

contrary to the schedule approved in the Appro-priation Act is unlawful. She is, in fact, apparently breaking the law.

What the law requires the minister to do is en-sure that all funds appro-priated for projects within a particular quarter are re-leased to all the Ministries, Departments and Agen-cies, MDAs, as at when due without preference. If the revenue target is not achieved in any particular period, it is the responsi-bility of the Hon. Minister to seek for waiver from the

National Assembly. This has not been the case.

This is not to say that funds should be released and accessed by MDAs without due process and actual execution of proj-ects. In other words, there should be value for money.

In disagreeing with the minister on the delay in the full implementation of the budget, Mohammed noted that constituency projects constituted just 10 per cent of the entire budget and could not be a hindrance to its implemen-tation.

AYODELE OJODEPUTY EDITOR (POLITICS)

The Ibadan-based business mogul and Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Azeez Arisekola-Alao, yesterday said that his son, Abdullahi, being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Com-mission, EFCC, for fuel sub-sidy fraud was answerable for his actions.

Abdullahi, the Manag-ing Director of Axenergy, is being tried for illegally ben-efitting from subsidy pay-ment running into billions of naira.

Abdullahi Alao is an adult and a businessman do-ing business like every Ni-

gerian. He is answerable for his actions and transactions under the law of the land.

As an adult and a true Muslim, there is no doubt that he knows what is wrong and what is right, Arisekola-Alao said in a statement.

The younger Alao was docked at a Lagos High Court on Thursday.

Also, the National Chair-man of the Peoples Demo-cratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, had dis-tanced himself from the involvement of his son, Mahmud, the Managing Director of Eterna Oil and Gas, in the fuel subsidy scam.

Meanwhile, the Action

Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has called on Tukur to step aside for now.

The party, in a statement issued yesterday by its Na-tional Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said there was a moral burden on Tukur if he continued to stay in office.

The party said: It is im-portant to say here that the fuel subsidy scam trial will be held in two courts: the court of law and the court of public opinion. While Al-haji Bamanga Tukur is not facing any charges in the court of law over the scam, he is definitely a star sus-pect in the court of public opinion. That is why many Nigerians are already in-

sinuating that nothing will come out of the trial, especially as far as his son is concerned. This is an allusion to the influence bestowed upon him by his high office.

While we have nothing but absolute confidence in the ability of the judicial process to ensure justice, we believe that anything that can reinforce the impres-sion of thwarted justice in the fuel subsidy scam trial should be removed. Tukurs continued stay in office is one of such.

The ACN noted that the continued stay in office of Tukur would have negative effect on the outcome of the investigation.

TOLA AKINMUTIMIABUJA

The Technical and Ad-ministrative Review Panel on Domestic Airlines, TARPDA, has pro-posed the establishment of a leasing company with an initial investment capital of $10bn (about N1.62tn) to provide long-term fund-ing support to operators to upgrade the quality of air-craft in the industry.

The panel, which sub-mitted its report to the government at the week-end, specifically put the re-sponsibility of establishing the company on the Fed-eral Government, even as it urged the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to also create windows of improved long-term lending to operators at low interest rates, among other revival palliatives recommended for the ail-ing sector.

The Chairman of the panel, Group Captain John Obakpolor, while present-ing the report to the Min-

ister of Aviation in Abuja, Princess Stella Oduah, be-moaned the decay of criti-cal infrastructural facilities among other constraints identified in the sector and called for the overhauling of the systems through a state of emergency pro-gramme.

According to the docu-ment which summarised its recommendations, in all, the panel held a total of 35 sittings during which 98 persons were interviewed from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, the domestic airlines, other stakeholders in the sec-tor and studied copious documents from both the enabling Act as well other relevant documents locally and internationally, before arriving at its 41 recom-mendations contained in the final report.

The report says: The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, should empower com-mercial banks to create a window for long-term low interest funding for direct

lending to aviation. The in-dustry will require at least N500bn for this purpose.

An aircraft leasing com-pany with an initial invest-ment of $10bn should also be set up by the Federal Government to acquire modern aircraft directly from major manufactur-ers and lease to qualifying Nigerian air operators at preferential rates. This will help in the reduction of op-erating cost and improve-ment of efficiency and com-petitiveness.

Specifically, the panel disclosed that its investi-gations on Dana Airline revealed that the manage-ment of the airline failed to observe standard and recommended practices, particularly the use of Technical Logbook, in the maintenance of its aircraft, adding that it was also found out that in some in-stances, the surveillance by NCCA inspectors on the airlines maintenance prac-tices were below expecta-tion.

ROTIMI FADEYI AND TORDUE SALEMABUJA

The Presidency may have rescinded its decision to reinstate the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Ms. Arunma Oteh, as it has asked for an independent

opinion on the challenges facing the commission.

A source at the Presiden-cy told our correspondent that the decision was based on the workers outrage that greeted her return a fortnight ago, following the report of Price Water Coo-pers Limited, a renowned audit firm, on the accounts of the commission.

The President gave the directive for a fresh comprehensive report on Oteh in order to have a well-informed opinion of the matter and to be fair to everyone including the employees of the commis-sion who protested her re-turn as DG of SEC. This fresh comprehensive report would finally determine the fate of Oteh as to whether she would remain as DG of SEC or vacate the seat finally. So, the matter is not closed yet as her reinstate-ment is not the end of the matter, the source said.

It added that President Goodluck Jonathans direc-tive for a comprehensive report on the SEC was not because of the impeach-ment threat by the House

of Representatives.In the same vein, the

House of Representatives has said it was maintaining its stand on its recommen-dation that Oteh face trial for alleged capital market offences.

The spokesman of the House, Hon. Zakari Mu-hammed (PDP/Kwara), who made this known, said whereas the Presiden-cy was free to review the House report; its decision on the matter remained un-changed.

He said: I dont really want to comment on the Presidents decision to set up a committee to pro-vide details on the Oteh matter, but all I can say as the spokesman is that the President has the right to look at the issue adminis-tratively.

It is the normal practice for the executive to do that, but that does not affect our decision as a House (that Oteh be tried).

The House had two weeks ago, before its ad-journment for an eight-week recess, called for the removal of Ms. Oteh.

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 7Monday, July 30, 2012 National News

The bridge at Shoyinka street in Oko-Oba area of Lagos, washed away by flood at the weekend. PHOTO: NAN

Dr. Adesina

OLUSEGUN KOIKI

The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NU-ATE) has raised the alarm over the poor state of com-munication gadgets with-in the Nigerian airspace, warning that if not prop-erly rectified, over-flyers will continue to avoid the country and might lead to another avoidable acci-dent in the sector.

NUATE also said that the inadequate commu-nication gadgets lead to revenue loss to the coun-try and further expose the countrys security situa-tion to the outside world.

A petition written to the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, on July 18, 2012 and signed by NUATE President, Com-rade Mohammed Safiya-nu, complained about the state of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria fa-cilities and safety of the airspace, which it said had deteriorated over the years.

The current situation, the petition noted affects the communication be-

tween Air Traffic Control-lers in the control tower and pilots in the air.

The petition with ref-erence number NUATE/NP/001/28/05/2KI2 and made available to Na-tional Mirror over the weekend was received by Oduah on July 20, 2012.

NUATE, in the petition called for the provision of Controller-Pilot-Data-Link Communication (CPDLC), which it said would have been a remedy to the situation, stressing that the countrys neigh-bouring countries like Ghana have such facili-ties, which further made their airspace more valu-able and safer.

He emphasised that absence of CPDLC in Ni-geria has made over flyers to abdicate the countrys airspace for other coun-tries despite their longer distance to their final des-tinations.

Safiyanu said over fly-ers avoiding the coun-trys airspace include Air France 889 from Kin-shasa to Paris, Air France 995 from Johannesburg to Paris, Air France 900 from Yaound to Paris,

Air France 928 from Lu-anda to Paris, Air France 896 from Brazzzaville to Paris.

Others are South Af-rican Airways 237 from London to Johannesburg, SAA 260 from Johannes-burg to Frankfurt, SAA 261 from Frankfurt to Johannesburg, SAA 264

from Johannesburg to Munich and SAA 265 from Munich to Johannesburg.

The NUATE president, in the petition advised the minister to call for the World, African and Nigerian navigational chart routes for details and urged her to consult foreign carriers involved

for more details on the de-grading state of the safety tools.

He also urged Oduah to contact the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for up-to-date in-formation on the current situation while he equally urged her to call for all the air traffic control closed

logbooks for Lagos, Kano, Port-Harcourt and Abuja from January, 2012 till date.

He explained that sev-erally, air traffic control-lers through the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) do receive Air Safety Reports from airlines flying Nigerian airspace.

Aviation workers raise the alarm over poor gadgets

MESHACK IDEHEN

The Federal Govern-ment has said it will soon commence moves to improve the pro-duction of fish in the coun-try, in order to bridge the gap between the demand and supply of the product.

Speaking in Lagos at the weekend, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural De-velopment, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, said Nigeria is currently spending a huge amount annually on the importation of fish, adding that the practice will soon come to an end with the schemes the government is putting in place.

The minister, who visited

several fish farm projects, including the Nigerian In-stitute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NI-OMR), said that the country cannot continue to support the economy of other coun-tries through the importa-tion of fish despite the enor-mous local opportunities available in the country.

The minister, while charging the management of NIOMR to play the role expected of it as the only research institute with ma-rine fisheries mandate in Nigeria, said the importa-tion of fish to Nigeria must stop to enable the nation strategise and get to the level of exporting cultured shrimps and other seafood.

Adesina disclosed that the Federal Government has already committed 50 percent of the cost on the building of oceanography and fisheries deep sea re-search vessel for the pur-pose of exploring deep sea resources, saying also that the vessel will enable Nige-ria improve in the produc-tion of fish beyond the level of 50 metres to 200 metres ocean depth.

SAM OLUWALANA

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has expressed shock at the state of insecurity in the country, particularly the armed robbery attack on one of its members, Mr. Steve Nwosu, the Editor of Daily Sun who was robbed and shot by some hoodlums

last week in Lagos. The Editors said this in

a communiqus issued at the end of its 2012 second quarter Standing Commit-tee Meeting in Lagos, last Friday where it reviewed the Guilds activities for the first and second quarters of 2012 and its programmes for the rest of the year.

It also examined the state of the nation, espe-

cially in the areas of secu-rity and other burning na-tional issues and expressed concern about the situation and other issues of na-tional importance despite repeated assurances by the government.

The editors, however, were happy with the will shown by the Federal Gov-ernment to prosecute those indicted in the oil subsidy

scam, urging the govern-ment to observe due dili-gent in this direction.

It also commends INEC for the peaceful conduct of the recent governorship election in Edo State while also advising it to note the noticeable lapses in the ex-ercise to avoid recurrence in the forthcoming guber-natorial poll in Ondo State later in the year.

KUNLE AZEEZ

The National Lottery Regulatory Com-mission (NLRC) has projected that Nigeria has the potential to generate N300bn annually through lottery activities by tele-coms companies and other business organisations if the rules and regulations guiding lottery are followed and lottery activities are rid of fraudulent practices.

Director-General, NLRC, Dr. Peter Igho, said this dur-ing a recent visit to the Com-missioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit, Mr. Tunde Og-unsakin.

Igho, who said the aim of the visit was to strengthen partnership with the po-lice towards ensuring that

fraudulent activities in lot-tery business is addressed, said Nigeria can earn huge revenue for good cause from lottery.

He said unlike gambling, which is illegal and only benefits a few individuals, lotteries, all over the world, are legitimate and have been a reliable source of revenue for many countries to imple-ment social projects that ben-efits the whole citizens.

He, however, said that Nigeria has yet to enjoy the full benefits from ongo-ing lotteries in the country because many people do it fraudulently and they dont do it with transparency and honesty.

He said a survey car-ried out by the commission

had shown that Nigerias telecoms revolution had opened a new vista for or-ganisations to engage in lottery without recourse to the provision of the Nige-ria Lottery Act, NLA, 2005, which give NLRC the power to regulates transparency in lottery business. He said only people with credible characters should run lot-tery business.

He said it was amazing how companies had left their primary business to focus on running promos and lotteries to make money for themselves rather than doing so in a mutually-bene-ficial arrangement as stipu-lated by the law.

While explaining part of the ongoing restructuring at

the NLRC, the DG said the body has increased the size of its headquarters in Abuja and increased regional of-fices to 14, coupled with the education of the businesses on the rules and regulations guiding lottery business while ensuring close moni-toring of lotteries by tele-com firms and other ogan-isations in the country.

He also stated that though, NLRC had contin-ued to enjoy the cooperation of the police; the commis-sion wanted such coopera-tion strengthened in order to tackle fraud in lottery business.

Reacting, Mr. Ogunsakin promised to partner with NLRC in ensuring transpar-ency in lottery business.

Nigeria must cease importation of fi sh Minister

Telecoms lottery, others can earn Nigeria N300bn annually

Editors express concern over state of insecurity

Partners police to tackle fraud

L R: Former Minister, Commerce and Tourism, Chief Bola Kuforiji-Olubi; Dr. Harold Sodipo; Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and the deceaseds son, Mr. Dapo Sodipo, during the Memorial Service in honour of the late former Minister of Youths, Omooba Adedamola Harold Sodipo, held at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Diocese of Egba (Anglican Communion), Ikereku, Abeokuta... yesterday.

Oyo to dredge 38 streams to check fl ood

Emulate Awolowo, HID charges politiciansFEMI OYEWESOABEOKUTA

Wife of the late sage and the ma-triarch of the Awolowo dynasty, Chief H. I. D. Awolowo, has asked Nigerian leaders in all strata to ensure that they leave good legacies behind which generation yet un-born would be proud of.

She gave the charge while hosting the National Chair-man of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Og-bonnaya Onu, who paid her a courtesy visit at the week-end in her Ikenne residence in Ikenne Local Govern-ment Area of Ogun State.

Mrs. Awolowo urged those in position of au-thority, particularly politi-cians, to emulate her late husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who left the good legacy of a united Nigeria.

Earlier in his speech, Onu had blamed the myriad of problems, particularly the insecurity challenges which he described as self-inflicted, on those in posi-tions of authority.

WALE FOLARINOSOGBO

Governor Rauf Aregbesola has re-stated the commit-ment of his administra-tion to the development of qualitative and sound education in Osun State.

He said this at the in-auguration of a library of the College of Agriculture, Ejigbo campus of the Uni-versity of Osun, UNIOSUN.

The governor also de-bunked the allegation that his administration was planning to reduce or can-cel any of the six campuses of the university.

Aregbesola said the era of empty political prom-ises to the people had gone for good, adding that he had reservation on the es-tablishment of the univer-sity at the time it was es-tablished by the immediate past government because at

the time, the state had chal-lenges with basic education at the primary and second-ary levels.

The governor promised that the government would use the available resources at its disposal judiciously to develop and promote all the campuses of the uni-versity.

He said: The cost of running a university is enormous. It is a money-guzzling institution with-out corresponding revenue coming to the covers of the government.

We will join you to make the university great. We have many things to do. We must ensure that we equip pupils from primary and second-ary schools with sound edu-cation before sending them to this university.

That is why we ear-marked N30bn to make basic education functional and appreciative.

The ANPP chairman, who eulogised the virtues of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, also disclosed that his party was already considering adopting the progressive philosophy of the late sage, particularly on the convic-tion that Nigerians must enjoy free, qualitative and compulsory education at all levels.

Onu, who attributed inse-curity and religious acrimo-ny as the major challenges facing the country to poor level of education, called

for the adoption of the five cardinal programmes of the defunct Unity Party of Nige-ria, UPN,

He said: With these, the country may be free from the myriad of problems facing it.

The chairman prom-ised that the political class would do whatever it could for the unity of the country, adding that Nigeria had the potential to lead the world.

Our governors have been working; we have vi-able economy, arable land and wonderful Nigerians.

Self-reliant graduates, our target FUOYE VC

Well provide sound education, says Aregbesola

ABIODUN NEJOADO EKITI

Products of the newly-established Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, FUOYE, would be job-cre-ators and self-reliant.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said this during the orientation programme organised for the students at the weekend on the campus of the insti-tution at Oye-Ekiti.

However, to achieve these objectives, he said all the students must take courses in entrepreneurial or skill acquisition pro-grammes, irrespective of their disciplines.

The students, according to him, must also be comput-er literate and proficient in Information and Communi-cation Technology, ICT, to be able to interact and compete favourably with their peers in any part of the globe.

KEMI OLAITANIBADAN

The Commandant General of the Nige-ria Security and Civ-il Defence Corps, NSCDC, Dr. Ade Abolunrin, at the weekend charged Nigerias leadership to develop a sus-tainable national agenda which would move the country forward.

He gave the charge while delivering the second per-sonality lecture of the Faculty of Education, Uni-versity of Ibadan, entitled; Civil Populace, Internal Security and National De-velopment: Any Hope?

Abolurin said such an agenda and development plan would work only if it reflected the wishes and as-pirations of Nigeria, Nigeri-ans and the federating units.

He said only people-

Leaders must drive Nigerias growth

KEMI OLAITANIBADAN

Oyo State Govern-ment said it would dredge 38 streams across the state to prevent flood, following warning by the National Emergen-cy Management Agency, NEMA, that the South-West would still experi-ence a lot of rain.

The Commissioner for Environment and Habi-tat, Mr. Wasiu Dauda, who

made the disclosure while speaking with journalists in Ibadan at the weekend, said the dredging would cost over N300m.

He said the government had already dredged 43 streams in its bid to ensure a flood-free period through-out the raining season.

The commissioner said the government was leav-ing no stone unturned to prevent a repeat of the Au-gust 26, 2011 flood disaster in any part of the state.

Dauda disclosed that Governor Abiola Ajimobi held a meeting with stake-holders last week on how to curb flooding in the state.

The decision to dredge 38 more streams, according to him, was taken at the meet-ing.

The commissioner add-ed that the World Bank had also signified its intention to assist the government in finding lasting solution to the problem of flooding in the state, especially in

Ibadan.He said that the appro-

priate authorities in the state would soon commence the removal of structures blocking free flow of water in the flood prone areas.

Dauda said that officials of the ministry were mov-ing round markets and other important places across the state to educate the people on the need to stop dumping refuse in the streams.

On the threat by the

women sweepers to stage a nude protest over alleged cut in their salary and the non-payment of their June salary, the commissioner denied the allegation.

According to him, there are two categories of sweep-ers totalling 1,500.

Sweepers in the first category, he said, were employed by the Sanitary Inspection Unit of his ministry, while those in the second category were employed by contractors

handling the supervision of some routes in the state capital.

He disclosed that while those directly employed were earning N7,200 month-ly salary, those in the other category were being paid N6,000 per month by their supervising contractors.

Dauda attributed the non-payment of their June salary to the recent trans-fer of the sweepers to the State Waste Management Authority.

oriented policies could en-sure security which had eluded the country, adding that there must be sincere efforts to wipe out corrup-tion, eradicate poverty and make human beings the central concern in the quest for national development.

The NSCDC boss linked the insecurity challenge in the country to the grad-ual erosion of core values among the people.

He said: I do not see it as a failure of governance or ineptitude of our secu-rity agencies, rather this menace crept in through a gradual erosion of our core traditional values; a col-lapse of our collective ide-als and belief systems. We are no longer our brothers keepers, problems are no longer shared; communal living is no longer fashion-able as we drift towards in-dividualism.

HID Awolowo

Nebo said one of the major policies of the uni-versity was the focus on the character and all-round development of students in addition to learning.

He said: We encourage their lecturers to post as-signments for the students on the web, while students are expected to access them through the same process and go a little bit by doing a lot of researches on their own through the internet.

Our problems are self-in-flicted; we can solve them if we are serious, Onu added.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.netMonday, July 30, 20128 South West

ANPP chair seeks adoption of UPN programmes

L-R: Chairman, Ojokoro Local Council Development Area, Hon. Benjamin Olabinjo; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba; his Environment counterpart, Mr. Tunji Bello, during the environmental sanitation monitoring exercise in Lagos, at the weekend.

464 Lagos retirees to get N2.8bn

Ogun restates commitment to infrastructural developmentFEMI OYEWESOABEOKUTA

Ogun State govern-ment has reiterated its commitment towards creating an en-abling environment even as it pledged to build nec-essary infrastructure for business to thrive in the state.

State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, gave the assurance over the weekend during a meeting with the members of the Ogun State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OGUNC-CIMA) led by their Presi-dent, Bayo Ikujenyo.

The commissioners assurance was coming against the backdrop of the alleged threat by in-dustrialists in the state to close factories and relocate their businesses due to the sorry state of infrastruc-ture in the state.

Ashiru said the pres-ent administration in the

HAKEEM GBADAMOSIAKURE

The Anglican Bishop of Owo Diocese, Rt. Rev. James Oladun-joye, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to ar-rest the sponsors of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, to save the nation from disintegration.

The cleric said the in-ability of the Federal Gov-ernment to arrest the spon-sors of the sect with a view to bringing them to justice may spell doom for this ad-ministration.

Oladunjoye stated this in a charge he read at the weekend during the third session of the 10th Syn-od held at the St. Pauls Church, Ijagba in the Ose Local Government Area of the state.

He said even if the coun-try breaks up, members of the deadly sect would still be terrorizing Christians and southerners in their midst and the problem could lead to a full blown war when the attacked de-cides to carry arms against their aggressor.

state was not oblivious of its promise of creating what it called Ogun Stan-dard which ensures the survival of every business through the provision of necessary infrastructure.

Speaking further, the commissioner said con-trary to the claims in some quarters, the bad roads leading to the Ag-bara Industrial Estate

and such other areas belonged to the Federal Government; stressing that the state government had taken it upon itself to rehabilitate such roads in order to make them mo-torable.

The commissioner also disclosed that the state government has embarked on the rehabilitation of other federal roads in the

state as part of its efforts to attract more investors.

He, however, enjoined investors and companies already operating in the industrial estates within the state to pay their taxes and levies regularly to en-able the state government raise funds for the provi-sion of needed infrastruc-ture in such industrial ar-eas and the state at large.

Monarch commends Aregbesola on council creation

Cleric urges Jonathan to arrest Boko Haram sponsors

WALE FOLARINOSOGBO

The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipe-kun, has commended the Osun State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, for em-barking on the process of creating more local govern-ment councils in the state.

The monarch, who gave the commendation in his palace while addressing members of the Osogbo Solidarity Support Group (OSSG), who paid him a courtesy visit, described the move as a welcome de-

velopment which would further enhance the growth and development of the state.

His words: The gover-nors intention to create more local government council is a laudable one. It is a unique move that must be commended and we must salute the governor for his vision and foresight.

The royal father also commended the governor for the construction of the Ayegbaju international market in Osogbo, the state capital, saying that the move showed the commit-

ment of the governor to the growth of the state.

Describing the move as a step in the right direction, Oba Olanipekun said the market will go a long way in transforming the state capital from a glorified lo-cal government area to a modern state capital.

Speaking on the occa-sion, the President of the OSSG, Alhaji Kamorudeen Yusuf Efe, urged the mon-arch to impress the need to contribute to the progress and development of the town by the indigenes both at home and abroad.

August 1, 2012. Hussein said the exer-

cise is a follow-up to the fifth Retirement Bond pre-sentation ceremony, adding that the Retirement Bond Certificate represents ac-crued pension rights made up of gratuity and pension entitlements before March 31, 2007 when the Contribu-tory Pension Scheme com-menced in the state.

He added that payment into the Retirement Bene-fits Bond Redemption fund set aside for the redemp-tion of accrued pension rights is also religiously pursued.

The Director-Generals words: In the same vein, a pension fund was also creat-ed and was funded monthly with a view to ensuring that funds are made avail-able to meet unforeseen pension liabilities that may arise when, for example more than those projected to leave service voluntarily choose to do so.

Stressing the commit-ment of the state govern-ment to the administration of the Contributory Pen-sion Scheme in Nigeria, the director-general em-phasised that the state had already redeemed the Re-

WALE FOLARINOSOGBO

Renowned Ifa priest, Chief Ifayemi Ele-buibon, has recom-mended traditional oath taking for public officers as a panacea to corruption in the country.

Elebuibon, who made the recommendation while speaking with jour-nalists at the inaugura-tion of Araba palace and the installation of chiefs of Araba palace at the House of Culture, Elebui-bon Estate Osogbo, said the move would go a long way in curbing corrupt practices among public of-fice holders.

According to him, the rate at which corrup-tion pervades every fac-ets of our society makes it imperative to compel civil servants and politi-cal office holders to take their oath of office the traditional way, adding that the move would in-still fear into such office holders and make them to serve the people sin-cerely.

He lamented that cor-ruption has dented the

Corruption: Priest wants traditional oath taking for public offi cers

MURITALA AYINLA

Lagos State gover-nor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) will redeem Retirement Bond Certificates worth N2, 788,368,394.27 to 464 retir-ees who have served the state diligently for the bet-ter part of their lives.

Director-General of the Lagos State Pension Commission, Mr. Rotimi Adekunle Hussain, who re-vealed this, said the 464 re-tirees would be presented with the Retirement Bond Certificates on Wednesday,

tirement Bond Certificates worth N7, 544, 922, 856, 70k into the Retirement Sav-ings Accounts of 1, 471 re-tirees in five batches.

Hussain encouraged the retirees to endeavour to fol-low and understand fully, the procedure of retire-ment benefit documenta-tion in order to facilitate quick access to their RSA, urging them to carefully weigh the two exit options of Programmed Withdraw-al by the Pension Fund Ad-ministrators and Annuity for Life by Insurance Com-panies and make the best choice.

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 9Monday, July 30, 2012 South West

image of the country to the extent that Nigerians abroad and those holding important international positions as well as other hard-working and honest Nigerians can no longer walk with their shoulders high.

The traditionalist, who is the Araba of Osogbo also pointed out that since independence, corrup-tion has contributed im-mensely to the lack of growth and development in the country. He added that rather than helping to curb corruption, the civil service has contrib-uted to the perpetration of the shameful act through their collaboration with politicians in their bid to corner the resources of the people.

His words: The situa-tion in the country is very disheartening, you wake up daily and hear of bil-lions that are misappro-priated and the people are living in abject poverty. If we want to eradicate the menace, we should go back to our root and make traditional oath taking into public office a nation-al affair.

Oladunjoyes words: The sponsors of Boko Ha-ram are no longer in gov-ernment or in the corridors of power which they believe is their birthright. They are those that had been pushed away from controlling the national cake.

We have said it with all emphasis, that the sponsors of this sect are well known to those in government es-pecially the President.

What the President seems to have forgotten is that the country does not belong to the Muslims alone and if he continues to keep quiet on these atroci-ties, it can lead to disinte-gration under his tenure.

Jonathan

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net10 South East Monday, July 30, 2012

Gunmen abduct Anambra traditional ruler Gunmen yesterday kidnapped Robert Chukwudilim Eze, the traditional ruler of Ukpo community in Du-nukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Eze, who is also related to Chief Arthur Eze, a business magnate, was ab-ducted around 11.20a.m. in

his palace, after attending a church service at St. Marys Anglican Church, Upko.

A witness told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, that the traditional ruler had just alighted from his black Hilux security van when the assailants ab-ducted him.

The witness said that

four gunmen stormed the palace in a green jeep and shot at the vehicle when the traditional ruler, his driver and his personal assistant refused to open the vehicles door.

The Hilux van was rid-dled with bullets, while two of its tyres were de-flated, apparently punc-

tured by the bullets.Besides, there were

also some royal beads scattered on the ground, while some bullet shells had been picked by the Divisional Police Officer in-charge of the area, who was conducting prelimi-nary investigations.

Confirming the inci-

dent, the state Police Pub-lic Relations Officer, Mr. Raphael Uzoigwe, said the command had launched an investigation into the matter.

He said: The kidnap was carried out by four men who operated in a jeep after the traditional ruler attended a church

service at St. Marys Church.

Nobody was shot or killed; the gunmen only shot sporadically into the air to scare people away.

We are making ar-rangements to liberate the traditional ruler; we have begun combing the area.

DENNIS AGBOENUGU

All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, said at the weekend that the crisis rocking the party was not a signpost to its breakup.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Ber-nad Akoma, who said this in a statement, disclosed that the crisis would make the party stronger, focused and more united at the end.

He said that APGA, from inception, was a party built on a solid spirit of being ones brothers keeper.

Akoma also disclosed that contrary to specula-

tions in the media of a grand design to do away with some of the party leaders, APGA had no intention to expel the arrowheads of the party, es-pecially Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State.

He said: The leadership of the party has not at any level discussed, conceived nor muted the idea to sus-pend not to talk of expel-ling Mr. Peter Obi from the party, despite the seeming disagreement now rocking the party.

We, the members, recog-nise the fact that APGA as a party has stood on a tri-pod of three personalities which include Mr. Peter Obi, our late leader Dim

Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu and of course our National Chairman, Sir Victor Umeh.

The party, at all times, has accorded due regard and maximum respect to its leaders and this does not include rewarding them with expulsion. The crisis in the party now, which is a mere family squabble, has not degenerated to the level of throwing over board the huge contributions invested by these individuals as to denigrate them with threats of suspension or expulsion from the party.

Akoma noted that publi-cations in some media about plans to expel Obi from the

party could best be described as the figment of the writers imagination, stressing that Obi remained a strong fac-tor and a pillar of the party from which APGA drew its strength and inspirations.

Even in the face of the present bickering in the par-ty, the National Chairman, Victor Umeh, in a show of large heart, has continued to extend invitation to Obi for the partys forthcoming National Executive Coun-cil, NEC, meeting sched-uled for August.

This further demon-strates that the party has no problem with its gover-nor in Anambra State, he added.

No plans to expel Obi, says APGA

UNN moves to boost livestock production

L-R:General Manager, Interfact, Mr. D. Deshmanker, Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, Managing Director, SABmiller, Nigeria, Mr. Johan de Kok and Business Development Manager, Peter Stuttart, during the inspection of ongoing work at the site of the brewery construction in Onitsha, Anambra State, at the weekend.

DENNIS AGBOENUGU

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Uni-versity of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, will soon acquire diagnostic equip-ment to boost sustainable livestock production in ru-ral areas.

The institutions Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Barth Okolo, said at a workshop organised by the faculty that his administration had approved the purchase of

new diagnostic equipment for the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

He said every step made to improve livestock was a step in the right direction.

The Vice-Chancellor, who spoke through the Dean of the faculty, Prof. C. N. Uchendu, said the work-shop was timely consider-ing the great potentials which the university had in the area of research and personnel.

He described the Veteri-nary Teaching Hospital as

a one stop facility which helps to teach farmers the current trends in livestock production and the only channel through which the public can benefit and improve their livestock pro-duction.

The Director of the Vet-erinary Teaching Hospital who is also the Coordinator of the workshop, Dr. C. A. Eze, noted that this was the first time the hospital was organising the event.

He said the workshop came at a time when vet-

erinary profession and other allied professions as well as stakeholders in the livestock industry were re-quired to partner to make agriculture a business for sustainable economic de-velopment nationwide.

SOLA ADEBAYOWARRI

Oil workers under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, yesterday resumed opera-tions, hours after the sus-pension of the nationwide strike embarked upon in solidarity with indepen-dent petroleum products marketers over unpaid subsidy claims, among other issues affecting the oil industry.

The strike was called-off after a meeting between the Federal Government del-egation and labour leaders in Abuja on Friday night.

Consequently, the Pe-troleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, a strategic wing of NUPENG, resumed normal loading of petroleum prod-ucts across the country yes-terday.

Also, members of De-pots and Petroleum Prod-ucts Marketers Association of Nigeria, DAPMAN, and Jetty and Petroleum Tank Farm Owners of Nigeria, JEPTFON, have returned to their duty posts.

Investigation showed that all public and private loading depots and jetties, which were deserted since Thursday when the strike commenced, came alive yesterday.

In Warri, Delta State, our correspondent, who visited Warri Refinery Depot, oper-ated by the Nigerian Nation-al Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, reported that tanker drivers and oil dealers re-sumed normal loading and supply of petroleum prod-ucts across the country.

However, in-house engi-neers yesterday continued the battle to bring Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company, WRPC, back on stream, five days after it was shut down.

Meanwhile, the Chair-man of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Asso-ciation of Nigeria, IPMAN, Delta State chapter, Chief Akpos Edafevwotu, hailed the speedy resolution of the impasse.

Edafevwotu, in an inter-view with our correspon-dent, confirmed that IP-MAN had resumed steady supply of petroleum prod-ucts to the public.

Oil workers resume, as Warri Refinery remains shutPTD begins loading of petroleum products

WALE IGBINTADE

The National Indus-trial Court, NIC, sit-ting in Lagos will today begin hearing in a N970m suit filed by former employees of the Zenith Bank over alleged termina-tion of their appointments.

The presiding judge, Jus-tice F. I. Kola-Olalere, had, in a ruling, dismissed the request of the bank seek-ing stay of proceedings and described the application as an abuse of court process.

The bank had, in a pre-liminary objection, chal-

lenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit, contending that the case did not disclose any reasonable course of ac-tion.

But, Mrs. Kola-Olalere held that the court had ju-risdiction to hear the suit and declared that the ob-jection raised by the bank lacked merit.

Counsel to the bank, Mr. Kola Awodeyin, SAN, then appealed against the ruling and urged the court to stay proceedings, pending the hearing and determination of the suit at the Court of Appeal.

Court hears N970m suit against bank today

Education Minister, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 11Monday, July 30, 2012 South South

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, during the inspection of the de-flooding process in Warri, at the weekend.

13 die in Ore-Benin Expressway auto crash

Dickson canvasses private-sector driven economies in Africa EMMA GBEMUDUYENAGOA

Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, has advocated for private sector driven economies to foster rapid development among African countries.

Dickson said economic relations in the continent should go beyond the for-mal government to govern-ment framework, stressing that diplomatic relations should support and deepen economic policies.

The governor, who spoke at the weekend in Yenagoa, at a business meeting with a South African delegation led by the wife of its President, Nompumelelo Zuma, rea-soned that the essence of Afri-can unity would be lost, if the process of economic regional integration was not targeted in making life meaningful for an average man.

While stressing the need for mutually beneficial trade relations between Bayelsa State and South Af-rica, Dickson called for the harnessing of Africas re-

The Delta State govern-ment yesterday said it will step on toes in its bid to de-flood the oil city of Warri and other flood-prone areas of the state.

To this end, the state gov-ernment said it will demol-ish houses and other struc-tures on natural waterways to achieve this.

Speaking to journalists at the weekend in Warri while monitoring the last sanitation exercise, Gover-nor Emmanuel Uduaghan said: We will step on toes of anybody in our desire to de-flood Warri and other parts of the state; we must get it right this time around, hence we are ready to step on toes of anybody obstruct-ing the free flow of water in our cities and towns.

According to the gover-nor, If you have built on natural water channels, we will come after you and pull down your structure. I have directed the Commissioner

for Environment, who is go-ing around with me in the monitoring exercise to bring down all structures blocking easy flow of water and no-body can intimidate us.

I am happy with the way the environment com-missioner is going about the directive I gave him. What we are doing is for the good of our people and there is no stopping us.

Addressing the residents of Otirikpen Street, off Odion in the McDermott Road area of Warri, Gover-nor Uduaghan said: Most of the flooding that we have in this environment is man-made. People just open their eyes and build structures on natural waterways. Others dump their refuse right on the drainage. Of course wa-ter will always find a way to go through and that is what has been happening. And it has no way to pass that is why the whole place is get-ting flooded.

sources to liberate the con-tinent from the shackles of under-development.

His words: My deci-sion to visit South Africa shortly after my election was informed by the fact that Africa has come of age .There is nothing the conti-nent cannot achieve if both Nigeria and South Africa agree to work together. My administration is commit-

ted to encourage private sector participation and di-versify the states economy by veering into tourism, ag-riculture and aqua-culture.

A bill seeking to estab-lish the Bayelsa State De-velopment Corporation to manage the assets of gov-ernment will be forwarded to the legislature within the shortest possible time to underline the states com-

mitment to making mas-sive investments in every sector of the economy.

The governor said when established, the corpora-tion would establish offices in South Africa, Brazil, United States of America, United Kingdom and India, to adequately explore busi-ness opportunities in these countries to the full advan-tage of the state.

Development in aviation sector, vindication for Akpabio

Delta govt to demolish structures on waterways

The massive ongoing development proj-ects being embarked upon by the Akwa Ibom State governor, Chief God-swill Akpabio, especially in the aviation sector, have been described as world class and of immense na-tional interest with great relevance to the people.

This disclosure was made by the Special Assis-tant on Media to the Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr. Jackson Udom, following the recommendation of the Technical Administra-tive Review Panel set up by the Federal Government to

investigate the June 3, 2012 Dana plane crash in Lagos, that government should fast-track the completion of the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facil-ity at the Akwa Interna-tional Airport, Uyo.

According to Udom, The recommendation of Air Commodore John Obakpolor on the MRO facility in Akwa Ibom is a vindication of the efforts of Governor Akpabio in the aviation sector in the state.

The recommendation shows that all his projects are of international stan-dard and they are impor-

AMOUR UDEMUDEASABA

The forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence (FJHD) has condemned in its entirety the hosting of the African first ladies summit in Abu-ja, describing it as a jambo-ree and a waste of public funds by the Presidency.

A statement signed by the groups National Coor-dinator, Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi and made available to National Mirror in Asaba said; FJHD condemned in its entirety the African first ladies summit in Abu-ja when youth unemploy-ment, pandemic poverty, insecurity, public infra-structural decay, hunger and official corruption etc;

Rights group condemns African fi rst ladies summit

OLUSEGUN KOIKI AND SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN

At least 13 people were burnt to death in a fatal accident that occurred early yester-day morning on the busy Ore-Benin Expressway, ac-cording to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

The FRSC Deputy Corps Public Education Officer, Mr. Bisi Kazeem and the Unit Commander of FRSC Toll Gate Office, Mr. Ameen

Adewale, said the accident occurred at about 7.45 am around Kilometre 53 at a point before Ofosu town in Edo State.

The accident reportedly involved two vehicles: a fully loaded Toyota Hiace bus with the inscription: Anam-bra Mass Transit Company with registration number: Lagos YB 610 EPE and an Iveco truck with registration number: Lagos AAA 962 XB.

The bus was heading to Awka from Lagos while the truck was heading to Lagos

from an unknown destination. While FRSC officials at

the scene said a total of 16 people, all male and most of whom were passengers of the bus, were involved in the accident that left 13 people dead while the life of three other passengers were said to be hanging precariously on life support facility.

It was reliably gathered that the accident resulted from traffic rule violation as the bus driver was said to be driving against the traffic.

National Mirror learnt

that as the bus drove against the traffic, facing the Iveco truck that was de-scending a slope as a result of which there was a head on collision.

Kazzem said both the dead and the injured were taken to Shiloh Hospital in Ugbogui town for treat-ment while the corpses of the dead passengers were deposited at the hospital mortuary for embalmment and identification.

He added that one of the injured passengers is being

kept alive by an oxygen sup-port machine as at the time of filing this report.

It is unfortunate that the avoidable accident was caused by the driver of the Anambra Mass Transit bus, who without any rea-son drove against traffic on the Benin-Ore lane. In his violation of road ethics, he rammed into an oncoming Iveco truck descending a slope and that action re-sulted in a head-on colli-sion.

The bus was coming

from Lagos carrying trad-ers dealing in electronics. Thirteen out of the 16 pas-sengers in the bus died instantly including the driver. Two other passen-gers in the truck survived the crash, which occurred about a kilometer away from the boundary between Ondo and Edo State before Okada town, Kazzem said.

The accident resulted in a gridlock for much of the morning before FRSC of-ficials cleared the road to ease the traffic.

have reached their zenith nationwide.

The group called on President Goodluck Jona-than to wake up from his slumber by urgently roll-ing out the blue-print of its transformation agenda for implementation for the benefit of the downtrodden and traumatised masses of the nation or in the alterna-tive tenders his resignation forthwith before he is dis-graced out of office.

The group also called on all erring state governors of the federation, whom they said have failed to democra-tise local government areas in their various states to toe the line of Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution before they incur the wrath of the people.

Akpabio

tant not only to the state but also the country. You will recall that the governor not only built the airport from the scratch, he approved the overhaul of the MRO facility and has promised that it would be completed any time soon.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net12 Monday, July 30, 2012 North

CHINEDUM EMEANAPORT HARCOURT

As the arguments for the creation of more states in Nige-ria continued, the Tiv com-munity in the South-South has expressed its support for the creation of a state for the Tiv from the present Benue State.

Speaking at a civic re-ception by Mzough U Tiv (MUT) in the South-South in honour of five of its sons who have excelled in their careers, Engr. Ben Akaa-kar, President-General of the Tiv group in the South-South said the creation of a state for Tiv people is also an aspiration for Tivs in the southern part of the coun-try.

He said Tivs are about the fifth largest tribe in Ni-geria, scattered in several

states, but dont have a state of their own, describing it as an anomaly.

The Tiv group in the South-South, we have an as-piration. The Tiv people are now in five different states of the country and Tiv, be-ing about the fourth or fifth largest tribe in Nigeria, are the only people who dont have a state of their own.

This is an anomaly in present day Nigeria and we will like that to be cor-rected, if the constitution is going to be amended.

He said the Tiv should have two or three states of their own so that they can also develop the place and contribute more to the Ni-gerian project.

Also speaking on the im-perative of a state for the Tivs, Mr. Sebastian Hon SAN, said he supports the struggle 100 percent.

Gunmen kill Air Force officer, orderly, driver, others

Members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) stationed in Lokoja, Kogi State, yesterday intercepted 20 vehicles conveying more than 103 children to an un-known destination.

The JTF Commander, Lt-Col. Gabriel Olorun-yomi, made this known in Lokoja yesterday.

He said his men became curious when they discov-ered that the occupants of the vehicles were mostly children, accompanied by some men and women.

He said the vehicles and the occupants had been taken to the Army Records Headquarters in Lokoja, where they would be screened to ascertain their actual destination.

Olorunyomi, however, said that 103 of the pas-sengers were children with ages between three and 16 years, while 79 oth-ers were of 19 years to 53.

He said preliminary in-vestigations revealed that the vehicles were convey-ing the passengers from different communities in Benue, Cross Rivers and

Kogi States. Most of the passen-

gers are from Obi, Oju and Gwer Local Government Areas of Benue, while the remaining few are from Iyala Local Government Area of Cross Rivers and Olamaboro Local Govern-ment Area of Kogi, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all the passengers, apart from giving similar excuses for their move-ment from their various communities, also said that they were all head-ing to Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos and Edo States.

NAN also learnt that most of the passengers conceded that they were heading to the South-West states for the first time in search of vacation jobs, while some said that they wanted to go and work in the farm in those states.

Two of the drivers, Bo-laji Olusola and Adedeji Oluwaseun, told journal-ists that they picked up the passengers at motor parks.

They said some of the passengers paid their transport fares at the load-ing points, while some promised to pay theirs when they got to their des-tinations.

NAN recalls that the JTF on July 27 arrested a man conveying 10 chil-dren with ages ranging between six years and 16 in an ash coloured Camry car to Lagos.

The man, who was ar-rested on the same route, was later handed over to the police for interroga-tion.

Also speaking to jour-nalists, the Commander of Army Records, Maj-Gen, Alphonsus Chukwu, said the children might be victims of child traffick-ing.

He said initial interro-gations revealed that the children would be received at their destinations by some yet-to-be-identified persons, who would then pay their transport fares to the drivers.

Chukwu said the driv-ers were also suspected to be accomplices, as they

failed to produce the pas-sengers manifest and agreed to carry many of the passengers without collecting their transport fares at the loading points.

The army officer said the vehicles, drivers and passengers would be transferred to the police for proper investigations and action.

Chukwu, however, said that the development in-dicated that many parents had failed in their respon-sibility toward their chil-drens upbringing.

He urged parents to take proper care of their children so as to ensure that they did not fall into wrong hands.

Trafficking: JTF intercepts 20 vehicles with 103 children

AUGUSTINE MADU-WESTKANO

An unidentified Air Force Officer, his driver and orderly were among five persons killed in Kano yesterday in separate operations by suspected Boko Haram

terrorists.The gunmen, on motor

bikes were said to have ambushed an air force staff car belonging to the Air Force Director of Fi-nance. It was, however, not certain as at press time whether the director was in the car when the gun-

Tivs in South-South lend support for Tiv state

L-R : Emir of Birnin Gwari, Malam Zubair Jibril; representative of the Emir of Zazzau, Sarki Fadan Zazzau, Alhaji Abbas Ahmed Fatikan and Sheikh Ahmed Abubakar Gumi, during the 7th Annual Ramadan Lecture in Kaduna, at the weekend.

IGP, Muhammed Abubakar

MESHACK IDEHEN

Pan-African proprie-tary investment com-pany, Heirs Holdings, has said it has made execu-tive level appointments in three key subsidiaries, in-cluding the appointment of a Group Chief Operating Officer, as part of the new operating structure of the company.

The company said also that the new appointments underscore Heirs Holdings focus on the financial ser-vices, energy, agribusiness, real estate and hospitality sectors, including its com-mitment to attracting senior management talent, even as the firm continues to de-ploy its proprietary