The Nation Newspaper

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  • When Oke Ayedun-Ekiti youths marked day with a lecture

    When Oke Ayedun-Ekiti youths marked day with a lecture

    Oke Ayedun-Ekiti in Ekiti North local government area of the state witnessed an unusual development recently. The youths of the town marked the town’s day by gathering at the  City Hall in the town to discuss how their community can participate in the planned review of the 1999 constitution.

    According to the event’s facilitator, Engr. Olutoye Olatunji, the programme was organised to call attention to sections and portions of the constitution which, rather than aid, has hindered the people in terms of genuine aspirations and accommodation within the entity called Nigeria.

    He noted that communities in the country should be allowed necessary reins to voice concerns on aspects of the constitution which needs change to enable their lives, saying “this means there is need for you to sit at a round table to discuss the way and manner we want to live together as a people and as a nation.”

    “The very essence of federalism is the permission of democracy in the way the society is being governed, which means decisions and policies must be made to reflect the interests and opinions of the people rather than handed down fiats of an overriding power or authority.

    One of the discussants, the Very Rev. Funso Ala (JP) who thanked the organisers for taking the initiative to organize the lecture said the new constitution should concede more specific roles to the traditional institutions being the closest to the people.

    He averred that the present constitution appears too nebulous in the manner it has spelt the roles of the traditional rulers, saying it was time clarifications were made regarding actual roles of the traditional rulers.

    In a lecture delivered at the event,  Dr. Femi Omotoso, who explained that the constitution primarily set parametres of behaviour within a political system noted that the document serves as the bedrock of a society.

    Reviewing the colonial history of the country all which he said shared the attribute of being handed down by the British colonialists, Omotoso noted that the 1960 constitution, otherwise called the Independence Constitution, was not only designed by Nigerians, it equally gave them entire control over their affairs.

    He contended that since democracy is a cardinal aspect of the Nigerian constitution, allowing the constituent states some necessary reins of freedom would be necessary as useful affirmations of the new democratic dispensation.

    The lecturer observed that an ideal federation should necessarily allow its constituents have its own police while enjoying some say and latitude in how accruals from a federated pool of resources are shared among the constituents.

    Omotoso said there “is need for the redistribution of legislative powers over resources between the central/federal government and the state governments”, adding that the necessity for a removal of the immunity clause in the 1999 constitution arose out of the familiar penchant of the political class to pilfer from the public till.

    The lecturer equally canvassed a need for the incorporation of the social security scheme to enable hordes of disoriented citizens who are either too old to work while having no visible means of survival or could not find work despite either their qualifications or their physical ability.

    He said the prevailing lip service being paid popular participation in decision-making and development in the 1999 constitution has to yield way to more appreciable and fundamental accommodation of general opinions, saying there has to be actual efforts at making Nigerians participate in decisions and policies made in a nation they call and their own.

    Omotoso further canvassed the introduction of independent candidacy in the new constitution, saying it was time to ensure that political parties represent actual yeaning of the electorate.

    He added that the electoral bodies should also be sufficiently independent to conduct elections which shall be genuinely free and fair to allow for results that will represent the choices of the electorate.

    Other dignitaries at the event included Sir (Dr.) kayode Obembe represented by Otunba Dapo Adelusi; Mr. Segun Asake; The Very Revd Funso Ala; Chief Esan Ajibola; and Prof Funso Olorunfemi.

  • ‘What we’ve done with people’s mandate’

    ‘What we’ve done with people’s mandate’

    The chairman of Gbonyin Local Government in Ekiti State, Comrade Adeniyi Paul Abegunde, has explained what his administration has done with the people’s mandate, saying leadership is best served if it makes people the focal point.

    He spoke passionately about his efforts to re-focus on agriculture at the grassroots when he gave part of his account of stewardship to Newsextra at the council’s secretariat, Ode.

    On agricultural development, the council boss said his administration has acquired 1,000 hectares of land to be opened up and allotted to farmers to encourage mechanised farming; raised improved oil palm and cocoa seedlings for increased production; cultivated two hectares of improved maize; upgraded the teak plantation at Ode-Ekiti; raised birds that will lay eggs to increase people’s protein consumption and fattened pigs as a demonstration project for the same purpose.

    To boost education in his domain, Abegunde said he paid N7.14 million to students as bursary allowance in the 2010/2011 session, assuring that it would be an enduring gesture throughout his tenure.

    He also spoke of his efforts on healthcare: “Two rounds of National Immunisation Plus had been carried out. Besides, we have purchased a power-generating machine for the cold chain store at the Health Centre in Ode; repaired the one at the Comprehensive Health Centre in Agbado-Ekiti in addition to the purchase of five motorcycles for easy transportation of vaccine during immunisation.”

    The council boss revealed that he had made several efforts to ensure the security of lives and property in the area and also itemised the capital projects that had been executed there.

    Among the projects that were fully completed according to him were: Water system toilet and furniture and office equipment in the Local Government Secretariat; line drainage in front of lock-up store at Ijan-Ekiti; construction of five-kilometre township roads in nine sites covering eight communities in the local government area.

    The roads, according to him, included: Ilado in Ode, 540 metres; Ayedun/Ogbonomo Ijan, 540 metres; Asatedo in Iluomoba, 1460 metres; Omodowa Palace Road in Iro Ekiti, 120 metres; Oke Afin in Egbe, 320 metres; Ifinmi in Egbe, 270 metres; Odi Olowo, Imesi, 420 metres; Asura-Idekun in Aisegba, 1020 metres, and Oke Afin in Agbado, 320 metres.

    Construction of reinforced concrete line drainage, he added, was in progress in eight out of nine sites including 25-metre pipe culvert which he said, had been completed.

    Extension of electricity, he also disclosed, had been achieved on some routes in Ode, Imesi, Egbe, Agbado and Ijan.

    Also fully completed for use, according to Abegunde, were: Meter processing and servicing of electricity at New Basic Health Centre, Ode; extension and servicing of Phase Three office complexion at the secretariat; extension of electricity to Rt Hon. Wale Omirin’s Aven at Aisegba; installation of 300KVA, 33/41KV transformers at Ode, Imesi and Ijan; extension of electricity to St. Saviour African Pry School, Deeper Life Bible Church Road, and Oke Iro Ayeteju; Oke Odu Street, Imesi, Egbe Ekiti; New Era College road, Ode and Ajebamidele Road, Phase II, Iluomoba.

    His administration, he also said, had executed the following: Provision of office equipment for the political functionaries; renovation of open registry office; provision of temporary store for Fadama project; renovation of the council’s gate, security post receptionist post and conference hall; renovation of 10 open market stalls at Ijan, Eleyowo Market at Iro Ayeteju- Ekiti and the empowerment of Mr. Sunday Aluko, a victim of 2009 governorship re-run election.

    Maintaining that the people had remained the focus of his government, Abegunde further reeled off his achievements: “Part-payment of 2012 National Programme for Food Security (NPFS) and 2012 Fadama III Development Project counterpart contributions; repair of tractor; provision of borehole at Ologoji farm at Ijan; borehole at Iluomoba and another at the Oba’s palace and two motorized boreholes at Agric Department poultry farm site along Ijesa-Isu road, Ode.

    Listed among ongoing projects, according to him, were: Construction of one hand pump borehole on Ifon Street, Ijan; Aba Bolorunduro, Omuaran; Aisegba, Iro Ayeteju; repair of one motorised borehole on Ikesan Street along Igbemo Road, Ijan and another one at Ilupeju-Ijan.

    On sports and social development, he announced the following: Participation of the local government athletes in a competition at Sagamu, Ogun State; International Women Day Celebration; Ekiti State Community and Social Development programme Children’s Day celebration at Ado/Local Government level; distribution of emergency materials and monthly monitoring payment of allowances to the aged.

    Abegunde spoke further: “We have also been observing the following: Monthly release of fueling imprest of N50,000 for Effective Routine Immunization starting for March 2012; re-roofing leaked building of CHC Aisegba and CHC Ode; roofing of Model Health Centre at Aisegba and the electrification and connection of BAC Ode to national grid.

    Traditional and chieftaincy matters, the council boss said, have not escaped the attention of his administration. Apart from holding statutory monthly meetings, he explained that efforts are being made to fill the vacant stool of Ajagun of Iluomoba, noting that a request has been made to the Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs for permission to approve warrant chiefs.

  • Policeman killed as car falls off bridge

    A black Honda saloon car with registration number CY 691 LND yesterday fell off a bridge near Wuse Market, Abuja, killing the driver and a police corporal.

    A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who visited the scene, reports that the car knocked off the concrete embankment on the bridge before crashing into the ravine.

    The car was torn into pieces with the engine separating from the body.

    The Divisional Traffic Officer at the Wuse Police Station, Mr. Kassim Yusuf, confirmed the death of the driver, who, he said was a police corporal at the FCT Command.

    “The deceased, Isah Obadiah, was a corporal with the Special Anti Robbery Squad of the FCT Command.

    “He closed from duty and was heading home when the accident occurred,” he said.

    He said the victim’s body has been deposited at the Wuse General Hospital mortuary.

    Yusuf, who said the cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained, added that the body of the driver was flung out of the car.

    The Deputy Director of Operations, Road Traffic Services in the FCT, Mr. Yusuf Clark, said reckless driving might have caused the accident.

    “He must have skidded as a result of reckless driving. I believe he was moving at more than 100 km per hour,” he added.

     

  • Ibori’s $15m bribe: Clark calls for Lamorde’s sack

    Ibori’s $15m bribe: Clark calls for Lamorde’s sack

    IJAW leader Chief Edwin Clark has called for the sack of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, over the “shoddy handling” of the controversial $15 million bribe offered to the commission by former Delta State Governor James Ibori.

    Speaking with reporters yesterday in Abuja, Clark said Delta State elders, and Stakeholders, in September, 2009, petitioned the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) demanding that the money be returned to the state treasury.

    He said the needless controversy in which the money is shrouded by the suit filed by the EFCC has cast aspersions on the ability of the anti graft agency to fight corruption.

    Clark said: “Lamorde has displayed gross incompetence in the manner he is handling the case. Nigeria desires a more serious body to fight corruption and not the EFCC being manned by Lamorde.”

    The elder statesman said there is no controversy over the ownership of the money as is being insinuated by the EFCC in the suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    He said the EFCC and all involved in the forfeiture suit should be probed.

    Clark said: “The Ibori $15 million bribe scandal has revealed that the EFCC, as presently constituted, cannot fight corruption because it lacks the will, courage and determination to do so. The EFCC should be made up of men of honour and probity.

    “Despite the opinion some may hold of Lamorde, he should be investigated for the unholy role he played in the Ibori saga. Based on statements made by former EFCC Chairman Nuhu Ribadu; Lamorde, who was then the Director of Operations and James Garba, a staff of the commission, the ownership of the money is not in doubt, despite the fact that Ibori denied giving the bribe.”

    He said the money might have been offered as a bribe to Ribadu to compromise him on the allegations of the N120 billion supplementary budget fraud leveled against Ibori.

    Clark said: “Knowing that the $15 million bribe was originally part of the dropped charges in London Crown Court puts to rest the controversy about its ownership.

    “The affidavit sworn on August 10 by Bello Yahaya, a police officer attached to the commission, where he claimed that the money was of unknown origin, contains several contradictions, misinformation and lies. It makes one believe that there is more to the matter than meets the eyes.

    “The depositions ridicule the anti-corruption agency and portray it as not transparent, incompetent and uncommitted to the war against corruption.

    “Senator Andy Uba made a public statement about the source of the money and where it was given, which was widely circulated by the media. Yahaya lied when he claimed that the money was not collected from Uba but was merely picked from his residence.

    “This again is deliberate and unexpected from the anti-corruption agency. Yahaya claimed that Uba denied having anything to do with the money and refused to make any statement in respect of the matter. This is another deceit and cover-up by security agencies saddled with the anti-corruption war.

    “If Uba denied having anything to do with the money then, who gave them the order to collect the money in his house? Who gave them the money in his residence?”

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had granted an order forfeiting the money to the Federal Government, following an ex-parte application by the EFCC.

    Ibori allegedly offered the money as bribe to Ribadu through an undisclosed source in 2007.

    The money has since been kept in the CBN’s custody, after Ibori denied offering it to Ribadu.

    In an application filed to counter the forfeiture order, the Delta State Government claimed that the money belongs to it and should be returned to its treasury.

  • I’m for economic rebirth, says Oke

    The Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Chief Olusola Oke, has said his administration would usher in an economic rebirth of the state, if elected in the October 20 election.

    Oke spoke at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Akure, the state capital, during an interactive forum organised by the chairmen of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) chapter and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic (RUGIPO), Owo, chapter.

    The forum was under the auspices of Intellectual Platform.

    The former PDP Legal Adviser said Ondo State needs an economic rebirth.

    He said the state should have a deliberate economic agenda that would create opportunities, generate employment and ensure a secured future against likely external financial crisis.

    AAUA ASUU Chairman Dr Busuyi Mekusi, and his RUGIPO counterpart, Mr Olabamiji Kumuyi, said members of the academic community need to participate in the process that would bring quality leadership.

     

  • Omojola’s experience hits Lagos street

    After an unsuccessful sojourn to Spain in 2001, Funso Omojola, (aka Ekitikete) returned to Nigeria and dared all odds to rediscover his talent as an artist. His chance encounter with a roadside artist in Ikeja, Lagos was all he needed to get inspired. Since then, he has kept faith with the roadside practice.

    But this weekend, road side exhibition, a path less attractive to most Nigerian artists will be the focal point of many on Sunday, September 30 when Omojola rolls out his current collection of artworks for a solo exhibition on Ikosi Road, by Day Star Church, Ikeja, Lagos. The show entitled My Experience, will run till October 1, and will feature hundreds assemblage of miniatures, medium and large sizes of paintings and portraitures of some selected leaders from across the globe. The portraitures are done in prints and embellished with some of the icons’ quotable quotes, which add more value to the portraits. Among the leaders whose portraits will be display include the late Pa Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, Chinua Achebe, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Mother Theresa and Wole Soyinka. Others are John Rockefeller, Michael Jordan, Julius Caesar and Gani Fawehinmi. The collection is a pot-pouri of abstract, figurative and floral.

    In a preview session, Omojola who trained at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, said the exhibition is providing him the opportunity to share his personal experiences in life using his artworks as vehicles. He recalled that studio practice with the sum of ten thousand five hundred naria, which was his salary as a security guard in 2002. But he was full of thanks to God that today his art has improved with good clients too. For some time now, he has been exhibiting at the Day Star Church, Ikeja, Lagos every Sunday.

  • Behold, Lugard’s foot-bridge

    Behold, Lugard’s foot-bridge

    Nigeria used to be known as Southern and Northern protectorates, which existed differently under the supervision of the British colonialists. As the years went by, the need to merge these protectorates to form one colony was imminent due to factors such as railway construction and harmonised administration for effective governance.

    Zungeru was the former Capital of the Northern protectorate as well as the first national political capital of Nigeria between 1902 and 1916. It was at Zungeru that the amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorates took place in 1914, under the High Commissioner and later first Governor-General of Nigeria, Lord Frederick Lugard.

    During his era as Governor of the protectorate, apart from being instrumental to the successful amalgamation of Nigeria, his other achievements remain indelible in the annals of Nigeria history and development. In 1904 Lugard constructed a foot bridge, which was named after him (Lugard FootBridge). The bridge served as a link between his residence and other quarters of colonial Zungeru over river Kaduna. Shortly after amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorates Kaduna was made Northern Headquarters in preference over Jebba or Lokoja in 1920 by Lord Lugard. The Zungeru Foot bridge was moved to Gamji Gate Kaduna in 1954 and declared Historic Monument On 16th February, 1956 by Federal Department of Antiquities now National Commission For Museums and Monument under Antiquity Ordinance of 1953.

    The bridge currently serves as a tourist attraction to teaming populace and a reminder of infrastructure laid by the colonial administrators.

    The bridge is currently located in General Hassan Usman Katsina Park (formally Government Garden) which was established shortly after amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914 by Lord Lugard and lies at N 100 30.311 E 0070 27.206 with an elevation of 586M Above Sea Level.

    Lugard Foot Bridge is mounted over a tributary of river Kaduna which flows through Gamji Park.

    The Foot Bridge is an example of colonial engineering and construction before the advent of motorable roads and railway lines in Nigeria and a masterpiece which still maintains a solid shape, considering its age and exposure to harsh weather even though occasional maintenance is carried out.

    The bridge’s main body/deck is made up of strong iron, lattice design and other complementing features for safety and aesthetic purposes such as handrails, wire gauze while beams, girders, concrete are basically for structural strength and balancing of the bridge. It is made up of 42 wooden steps with its deck and pillar painted green white green like our national flag. The bridge is supported by two pillars on both sides which is further attached to a beam and abutments which as mentioned earlier are for structural strength. The bridge is 14.2m long and has a width of 1.75m.

    The century old bridge is understandably in need of maintenance, as it ages the quality, and strength declines. The bridge’s colour is fading gradually due to complete exposure to direct sunlight and rainfall. Therefore steps are being taken to preserve this monument from total decay which is of paramount importance and all hands must be on deck to uphold one of our national pride.

     

    •Hambolu is Heritage Officer II, National Museum, Kaduna.

  • Museum, NDE partner on job creation

    The National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) and the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) have entered into partnership on ways of creating jobs for the youth.

    They plan to explore employment opportunities through creative cultural industries and eco-museum. At an interactive session at NDE office, both agencies sought means of boosting their collaboration.

    NCMM Director-General, Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman, who led his management team to NDE Headquarters in Abuja, said the collaboration is geared towards impacting on the present administration’s transformation agenda. “Today marks a landmark in the history of National Commission for Museums and Monuments and National Directorate of Employment because we are about to establish a new partnership that will create an enabling environment for employment and empowerment of the teaming youths in this country through creative cultural industries and Eco-Museums,” he said.

    He stated that apart from the statutory function of collecting antiquities and preserving monuments, the commission also train craftsmen and women who are engaged in the production of outstanding works of art, adding that the process of producing them could be preserved and inculcated into the youths.

    Museum’s craft centres across the country are into production of pottery, calabash, leather works, black-smithing, raffia works and bead making. The partnership, according to the agencies would help strengthen the development of culture based enterprises among others.

    Usman explained that the NCMM would provide the expertise and technicians for the project collaboration, while National Directorate of Employment centers would be used for training artisans in craft making, skill acquisition, and development of entrepreneurial skills, preservation and utilisation of heritage resources based on cultural industries among the indigenous people. The involvement of NDE, he said, would be a viable way of fulfilling her corporate social responsibility and NCMM with NDE actualising its mission and vision.

    He said: “We can further involve developmental agencies like UNDP, NAPEP, SMEDAN and UNESCO to give financial and logistic supports for a broader perspective impetus to the partnership efforts in line with the federal government agenda of this administration”.

    NDE Director-General, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed assured that NDE is eager and willing to collaborate with the commission, noting that the directorate would support the commission to create employment around its activities.

    Mohammed suggested the setting up of a committee and nominated two of his directors as members. For the NCMM, the Director of Monument, Heritage and Site, Mr Oluremi Adedayo and Director of Museums, Ms Rosemary Bodam were nominated.

  • From furniture design to stainless steel fabrication

    Driven by the desire to provide quality service to its customers by offering modern and stable solutions in balustrade systems using stainless steel and extruded aluminum, Svengati+Poliform Limited was at the group expo tagged; Lagos Built 2012, at the Expo Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. The expo, which ran from September 18 to 20, featured a wide range of stainless steel and aluminum products.

    CEO of Svengali+Poliform Limited, Mr Anslem Tabansi, said the exhibition was part of a global platform being explored to showcase the company’s range of quality products and services to the Nigerian market, especially the discerning clients. He explained that participating in the expo was a timely outing at a time Svengali Designs Limited is partnering Turkey-based Poliform Metal Industry to provide latest technology products for the building sector. The expo featured mainly Turkish companies that are into designing, building, construction and home items. Tabansi explained that Svengali’s business relationship with Poliform dates back to about 15 years ago when his firm was into supply of quality interior decoration products such as furniture, project lighting and stainless steel works. Svengali grew from a mono product company making wrought iron products to a multifaceted one.

    Today, he has established an ultra modern multi-million naira factory at Ilupeju, Lagos for the manufacturing of quality stainless steel with the technical assistance from the Poliform, which handled the installation of equipment and training of the staff. “We don’t offer materials that are meant for everybody. We are able to offer quick services to client because we have factory on ground. Interestingly, we have a very unique installation system. The partnership is one that has done well for us in terms of technical assistance,” Tabansi said.

    General Manager, Poliform Metal Industry Mr Caglar Olcer, recalled that at the beginning he had some reservations in doing business with Nigerians but has found Tabansi to be a reliable and trust worthy businessman hence the partnership. “We later saw that Tabansi has a wide range of services and he pushed us to other areas of business that can add value to our services. All this while, we have had a perfect communication and hope to partner for more years to come,” Olcer said.

  • Kwara, Niger, others to replicate Lagos traffic management

    The governments of Kwara, Niger, Edo, Oyo and some other states are set to establish traffic law enforcement agencies to be fashioned after the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), it was learnt.

    The Executive Chairman of LASTMA, Mr .Young Arebame, said the states are seeking assistance from the Lagos State Government to establish the traffic agency.

    He told our reporter that ’’we have begun action to replicate LASTMA in those states as requested by the governments. We have put structures in place for the take-off of traffic law enforcement agencies.”

    According to him, the development underscored the value of traffic management in an environment and the success of the Lagos State Government initiative in traffic management to enhance the economic development of the state.

    He said the economy of the state depended on free flow of traffic.

    Arebame said: “Eighty per cent of inhabitants of any city make use of highways in moving goods. Where government fails to ensure this, it affects the economy.

    ‘’If goods are produced by manufacturers and they cannot move them to market in time, such goods will lose value. Traffic congestion leads to loss of man hours and constitutes health hazards to road users. This is why governments are proactive in tackling traffic problems.

    ‘’With the establishment of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) in Lagos, you can travel from Ikorodu to CMS on Lagos Island within 25 minutes. Unlike before when a commuter could spend the whole day on the road.

    ‘’If Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu had not established LASTMA that is sustained by Governor Babatunde Fashola, Lagos would have been groaning under traffic jam and the economy of the state would have suffered. That is to say the nation’s economy will be affected because Lagos is the nerve centre of the nation ‘s economy.”

    He said he is delighted that state governments are complementing each other in terms of development, adding, “this is what our leaders should be doing, instead of sabotaging themselves.”

    The LASTMA boss said: ’’It is on record that some politicians established a law enforcement agency called the Federal Road Management Agency (FERMA), with the intent of rivalling LASTMA on Lagos roads. The plan didn’t work. FERMA has become history.

    “We are not saying everybody in LASTMA is an angel. The founding fathers knew there would be bad eggs among the officials. That was why rules and guidelines were put in place, which are made known to them during the training. Officials who breach the rules are sanctioned.

    ‘’For the past two or three years, there has been a programme tagged: ‘The new face of LASTMA’, through which they undergo training and retraining on duty performance, human relations ,traffic rule enforcement and public relations. These trainings have impacted on the service delivery of our officials.’’